cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the thickness of the tear film lipid layer using high resolution microscopy.

Abstract Interferometry is an optical technique that have been used to quantify the lipid layer of the precorneal tear film, and to investigate the relationship between lipid layer thickness and tear film evaporation. However, the relationship between lipid layer thickness and the rate of evaporation is far from consistent. One possible reason is the inherent limit of contemporary interferometric systems, which employ objectives with relatively long depth of focus (DOF) (>15 μm or more), which tend to collect excessive extra-planar noise. This limitation may negatively affect the accuracy of the characterization and thickness measurement of the lipid layer. The current system incorporated an objective with limited DOF (∼1.5 μm) into a custom-built optical microscope to image the tear film lipid layer in humans. An algorithm was also developed to process these images. One major outcome of this system is that thick lipid layers exhibit higher variation in thickness values than thin or normal-thickness lipid layers. The variations may reflect the structural differences of the lipid layer, which may offer a novel dimension to explain the missing correlation between lipid layer thickness and evaporation. In summary, the development of the high resolution microscopy system and associated data processing algorithm may provide new insights into the lipid layer structure, topography and their relation to the tear film evaporation rate.
MARCH1 ubiquitin ligase rescues thymic dendritic cells from MHCII proteotoxicity and supports regulatory T cell development and repertoire expansion

Membrane-Associated RING-CH1 (MARCH1) is an ubiquitin ligase preferentially expressed in antigen-presenting cells and mediating ubiquitination and degradation of MHCII and CD86. MARCH1 deficiency results in a significant reduction in the number of thymic regulatory T (Treg) cells in mice, implicating an important role of this molecule in Treg cell development. However, neither the mechanism by which MARCH1 supports Treg cell development nor its impact on Treg cell function has been clearly defined. Here we report that the role of MARCH1 in Treg cell development critically depends on its expression in dendritic cells and its activity to ubiquitinate MHCII. Importantly, not the MHCII ubiquitination per se but its consequences to MHCII proteostasis is essential for dendritic cells to organize surface proteins appropriately, make a stable conjugate with thymocytes, and provide them with sufficient signal for Treg cell differentiation. When MARCH1-mediated MHCII proteostasis in dendritic cells fails, Treg cells develop to a markedly reduced number and a substantially restricted TCR repertoire in the thymus, resulting in the function of these cells to suppress graft-versus-host-disease severely impaired. Thus, MARCH1-mediated MHCII proteostasis plays an essential role for thymic dendritic cells to select regulatory T cells in abundance and diversity required for proper immune suppression.
Management of Perianal Abscess and Fistula-in-Ano

Perirectal abscess and fistulae are a common diagnosis in general surgery. The presentation can vary from a small, localized process to serious systemic illness. Management of these processes depends on a thorough knowledge of anatomy and the patient’s comorbid conditions.
Computing with Relevance and Purpose: A Review of Culturally Relevant Education in Computing

The purpose of the present review was to identify culturally responsive education (CRE) tools and strategies within K-12 computing education. A systematic literature review of studies on CRE across 20 years was conducted. A narrative synthesis was applied to code the final studies into six themes: sociopolitical consciousness raising, heritage culture through artifacts, vernacular culture, lived experiences, community connections, and personalization. These common themes in CRE can help empower and attend to the needs of marginalized students in technology education. Furthermore, the review serves as an important overview for researchers and educators attempting to achieve equity in computing education.
Connexin Mediated Signaling in Bone

Abstract Bone cells communicate with each other through gap junction channels formed by connexin proteins. Connexin43 (Cx43) is the most abundant connexin expressed in osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes. Connexins form hemichannels in unopposed cell members, allowing the communication of the cells with the extracellular environment. Connexins also function as scaffolding molecules through the interaction of C-terminus domain with intracellular signaling and structural proteins. Cx43 regulate bone cell differentiation and survival, and participate on the effect of mechanical, hormonal, and pharmacologic stimuli in these cells. Further, Cx43 is also involved in bone aging and primary and metastatic cancer in bone.
How can process-based researchers bridge the gap between individuals and groups? Discover the dynamic p-technique

Abstract Behavioral researchers are concluding that conventional group-based analyses often mask meaningful individual differences and do not necessarily map onto the change processes within the lives of individual humans. Hayes et al. (2018) have called for a renewed focus on idiographic research, but with methods capable of nuanced multivariate insights and capable of scaling to nomothetic generalizations. To that end, we present a statistical technique we believe may be useful for the task: the dynamic p-technique. The dynamic p-technique can accommodate multivariate longitudinal data and may be used to conduct single-subject and group-level analyses. After introducing the dynamic p-technique, we provide several examples of how it may be used in practice by presenting the step-by-step analyses of single-subject daily-diary dataset wherein we examined the day-to-day associations between ADHD difficulties and psychotropic medication. Although it has been underutilized by behavioral researchers, we believe p-technique analyses are particularly well-suited to model personal dynamics with nuance and within context and allow researchers to inductively build from idiographic patterns to nomothetic trends. For a fine-grain walk-through of the analyses presented, including the data and statistical code, link to our supplemental materials https://osf.io/cbyj3/
Eddy-Wind-Topography Interaction Dynamics

Abstract : This research is seeking to advance the fundamental understanding of eddy-wind-topography interaction dynamics, thereby improving our ability of predicting meso- and sub-mesoscale eddy variability.
N3-Ligated nickel(II) diketonate complexes: synthesis, characterization and evaluation of O2 reactivity

Interest in O2-dependent aliphatic carbon–carbon (C–C) bond cleavage reactions of first row divalent metal diketonate complexes stems from the desire to further understand the reaction pathways of enzymes such as DKE1 and to extract information to develop applications in organic synthesis. A recent report of O2-dependent aliphatic C–C bond cleavage at ambient temperature in Ni(II) diketonate complexes supported by a tridentate nitrogen donor ligand [(MBBP)Ni(PhC(O)CHC(O)Ph)]Cl (7-Cl; MBBP = 2,6-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine) in the presence of NEt3 spurred our interest in further examining the chemistry of such complexes. A series of new TERPY-ligated Ni(II) diketonate complexes of the general formula [(TERPY)Ni(R2-1,3-diketonate)]ClO4 (1: R = CH3; 2: R = C(CH3)3; 3: R = Ph) was prepared under air and characterized using single crystal X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, 1H NMR, ESI-MS, FTIR, and UV-vis. Analysis of the reaction mixtures in which these complexes were generated using 1H NMR and ESI-MS revealed the presence of both the desired diketonate complex and the bis-TERPY derivative [(TERPY)2Ni](ClO4)2 (4). Through selective crystallization 1–3 were isolated in analytically pure form. Analysis of reaction mixtures leading to the formation of the MBBP analogs [(MBBP)Ni(R2-1,3-diketonate)]X (X = ClO4: 5: R = CH3; 6: R = C(CH3)3; 7-ClO4: R = Ph; X = Cl: 7-Cl: R = Ph) using 1H NMR and ESI-MS revealed the presence of [(MBBP)2Ni](ClO4)2 (8). Analysis of aerobic acetonitrile solutions of analytically pure 1–3, 5 and 6 containing NEt3 and in some cases H2O using 1H NMR and UV-vis revealed evidence for the formation of additional bis-ligand complexes (4 and 8) but suggested no oxidative diketonate cleavage reactivity. Analysis of the organic products generated from 3, 7-ClO4 and 7-Cl revealed unaltered dibenzoylmethane. Our results therefore indicate that N3-ligated Ni(II) complexes of unsubstituted diketonate ligands do not exhibit O2-dependent aliphatic C–C bond clevage at room temperature, including in the presence of NEt3 and/or H2O.
Minding the (Opportunity) Gap: Critical Consciousness Pedagogy in College Gateway Courses

This article describes the operationalization of critical consciousness development within gateway courses at a community college in the Northeast. Reviewing the relevant literature, the article ar...
Use of Medical Marijuana for Complex Symptom Management in a Pediatric Patient with Epidermolysis Bullosa

Background: Pain and nausea associated with chronic disease are often difficult to manage. Myriad studies have shown that inadequate symptom management leads to poor quality of life and function. This problem is magnified in pediatric patients, with its impact on normal development and family life. Medical marijuana demonstrates efficacy in managing pain and nausea in adults. However, there is a significant research gap regarding its …
Portion size and consistency as indicators of complementary food energy intake

We evaluated whether novel portion size and consistency indicators can identify children with low complementary food energy intake in southern Ethiopia. We conducted 24-h dietary recalls with caregivers of 548 children aged 6-13 months; additionally, caregivers estimated their child's usual portion size using uncooked rice and selected which of five photographs of porridges of varying consistencies most closely matched the food their child usually ate. Complementary food energy and density from the 24-h recall were used as reference values. We computed correlation coefficients and areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) and conducted sensitivity and specificity analyses to classify children with low complementary food energy intake. The median complementary food energy intakes for children 6-8, 9-11 and 12-13 months were 312, 322 and 375 kcal; median estimated portion sizes were 50, 58 and 64 ml, respectively. Estimated portion size correlated with total complementary food energy intake and with average energy and quantity consumed per feeding (r = 0.42, 0.46 and 0.45, respectively, all p < 0.001). Reported food consistency was weakly correlated with total complementary food energy intake (r = 0.18) and density (r = 0.10), and energy density of porridge only (r = 0.24, all p < 0.05). Predicted energy intake combining feeding frequency and portion size predicted inadequate energy intake better than did feeding frequency alone in infants 6-8 months [∆AUC = 0.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04, 0.28] and 9-11 months (∆AUC = 0.09, 95% CI 0.04, 0.14). Caregiver estimates of portion size can improve identification of infants with low complementary food energy intake when more robust dietary assessment is not feasible.
Water Capture Mechanisms at Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Interfaces

Water capture mechanisms of zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-90 are revealed by differentiating the water clustering at interior interfaces of ZIF-90 and the center pore filling step, using vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy (VSFG) at a one-micron spatial resolution. Spectral lineshapes of VSFG and IR spectra suggest that OD modes of heavy water in both water clustering and center pore filling steps experience similar environments, which is unexpected as weaker hydrogen bond interactions are involved in initial water clustering at interior surfaces. VSFG intensity shows similar dependence on the relative humidity as the adsorption isotherm, suggesting that water clustering and pore filling occur simultaneously. MD simulations based on MB-pol corroborate the experimental observations, indicating that water clustering and center pore filling happen nearly simultaneously within each pore, with water filling the other pores sequentially. The integration of nonlinear optics with computational simulations provides critical mechanistic insights into the pore filling mechanism that could be applied to the rational design of future MOFs.
Robotic High-Throughput Biomanufacturing and Functional Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Summary Efficient translation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) requires scalable cell manufacturing strategies for optimal self-renewal and functional differentiation. Traditional manual cell culture is variable and labor intensive, posing challenges for high-throughput applications. Here, we established a robotic platform and automated all essential steps of hiPSC culture and differentiation under chemically defined conditions. This approach allowed rapid and standardized manufacturing of billions of hiPSCs that can be produced in parallel from up to 90 different patient- and disease-specific cell lines. Moreover, we established automated multi-lineage differentiation and generated functional neurons, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes. To validate our approach, we compared robotic and manual cell culture operations and performed comprehensive molecular and cellular characterizations (e.g., single-cell transcriptomics, mass cytometry, metabolism, electrophysiology) to benchmark industrial-scale cell culture operations toward building an integrated platform for efficient cell manufacturing for disease modeling, drug screening, and cell therapy.
The role of acidic phospholipids in glucagon action on rat liver adenylate cyclase.

Abstract We have examined the effects of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus (Bc) and from Clostridium perfringens (Cp) on various parameters involved in the activity and response of adenylate cyclase to glucagon in rat liver plasma membranes. A crude preparation of Cp-phospholipase C hydrolyzes "neutral" phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin) in these membranes. In contrast, highly purified Bc-phospholipase C hydrolyzes acidic phospholipids (phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol) but not sphingomyelin. Treatment of the membranes with either type of phospholipase does not alter basal adenylate cyclase activity or the stimulatory effects of fluoride ion on the enzyme system. Bc-phospholipase C abolishes the effects of glucagon on adenylate cyclase whereas Cp-phospholipase C causes only partial loss of glucagon response even after hydrolysis of 60% of the membrane phospholipids. These findings provide evidence that acidic phospholipids are more specifically involved in glucagon activation of adenylate cyclase. Acidic phospholipids are not directly involved in the binding of glucagon to its receptor. Treatment with Bc-phospholipase C results in a 10-fold reduction in the affinity but not the quantity of specific binding sites for glucagon. Binding of Des-His-glucagon, a competitive, inactive analogue of glucagon is unaffected by Bc-phospholipase C treatment and displays the same apparent affinity as does glucagon for the binding sites in phospholipase-treated membranes. These findings suggest that acidic phospholipids are involved in the liganding of the histidine residue of glucagon to a regulatory site responsible for glucagon action. GTP, which is required for glucagon action on adenylate cyclase and which increases the rate of dissociation of glucagon from its receptor, does not exert these effects in Bc-phospholipase C-treated membranes. GTP also does not alter the rate of dissociation of Des-His-glucagon from the binding sites in either untreated or treated membranes, indicating that the histidine residue of glucagon is required for the effects of GTP to be expressed. It appears, therefore, that GTP and the histidine residue of glucagon bind to a common site involved both in the activation of adenylate cyclase and in the dissociation of glucagon from its receptor. Acidic phospholipids are required for the concerted effects of glucagon and GTP at this site.
Effects of L-glutamate on viabilities of cultured diploid skin fibroblasts and lymphocytes. Increased toxicity not observed in Huntington's disease.

The toxicity of l-glutamic acid toward cultured fibroblasts and lymphocytes from age-matched, sex-matched controls, patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and patients with other diseases has been studied. In an initial non-blinded study, l-glutamic acid (15 mM) exerted a significant toxic effect on HD fibroblasts, decreasing viability by approximately 60% after 48 h exposure. The magnitude of the toxic effect on HD fibroblasts as a group was significantly different from the mean effect on the normal control group (P < 0.003) and non-HD control group (P < 0.004). However, there was variability in the sensitivity of a given fibroblast culture to l-glutamate. This toxic effect was also seen in several normal control and non-HD control fibroblasts. In a second blinded study using cultured fibroblasts from HD patients and age-matched, sexmatched controls, we were unable to distinguish between HD and control cultures. No difference in l-glutamate toxicity was observed between control and HD lymphocytes in short-term cultures. We conclude that the toxicity of l-glutamate is not specific for HD cells and that this experimental approach will be of little value in identifying cells from patients with HD.
Pensions legislation from Brussels

Right from the outset, two of the fundamental objectives of the European Union (as it is called today) have been to facilitate the free movement of labour and the free movement of capital across member states. One of the areas where obstacles to achieving these objectives still remain is that of pensions and social security; another is the wide variation in tax regimes across the EU.
Death and lysis of leptospirae when cultured in asbestos-filtered growth media

Death and lysis of leptospirae, when cultured in asbestos-filtered bovine albumin polysorbate 80 media, was quantitated. The pathogens (virulent and avirulent) required 2 x 10(6) cells/ml to initiate growth in such media, whereas inocula of 2 to 20 cells/ml grew in control medium. Saprophytic leptospirae initiated growth from 2 cells/ml in asbestos-filtered medium as well as control medium. The adverse action of asbestos-filtered medium was not removed by storage of medium for 2 years at 25 C and was not diminished when such medium was frozen at -80 C. Washing with water, HCl and NaHCO(3)-NaCl, citric acid, and medium components did not remove the lytic activity associated with asbestos-filtered culture medium. Continuous subculture in asbestos-filtered medium was possible from large inocula; however, upon subsequent dilution and reinoculation into asbestos-filtered media, there was no evidence of acquired resistance, and all pathogens failed to grow.
Titan atmospheric probe

Increased scientific interest in the structure and composition of Titan's atmosphere, clouds and surface have led to the study of mission options to the Saturnian system with the main goal of placing a probe into the atmosphere of the satellite. Two probe concepts have been studied by NASA: the first concept, a slightly modified Galileo probe capable of withstanding approximately 50 earth G during atmospheric entry heating and deceleration, would consist of a blunted 53 degree, 136-cm-diameter half-angle cone with a hemispherical afterbody, and a descent module containing scientific instruments and a parachute; the second concept, a system designed to provide in situ atmospheric measurements of Titan's organic haze layer, would consist of a probe using a 165-cm deployable graphite fabric decelerator, a 50-cm-diameter cylindrical descent module containing five instruments and a 2.5 m-diameter parachute and a 50-cm-radius spherical nose cap. Although the modified Galileo probe is feasible, its scientific drawback includes its inability to obtain in situ measurements above approximately 100 km.
Surface Coat of Meloidogyne incognita.

The nematode surface coat is defined as an extracuticular component on the outermost layer of the nematode body wall, visualized only by electron microscopy. Surface coat proteins of Meloidogyne incognita race 3 infective juveniles were characterized by electrophoresis and Western blotting of extracts from radioiodine and biotin-labeled nematodes. Extraction of labeled nematodes with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide yielded a principal protein band larger than 250 kDa and, with water soluble biotin, several faint bands ranging from 31 kDa to 179 kDa. The pattern of labeling was similar for both labeling methods. Western blots of unlabeled proteins were probed with a panel of biotin-lectin conjugates, but only Concanavalin A bound to the principal band. Nematodes labeled with radioiodine and biotin released¹²[sup5]I and biotin-labeled molecules into water after 20 hours incubation, indicating that surface coat proteins may be loosely attached to the nematode. Antiserum to the partially purified principal protein bound to the surface of live nematodes and to several proteins on Western blots. Differential patterns of antibody labeling were obtained on immuno-blots of extracts from M. incognita race 1, 2, and 3; Meloidogyne hapla race 2; and Meloidogyne arenaria cytological race B. Key words: cuticle, electron microscopy, immunology, lectin, Meloidogyne arenaria, M. hapla, M. incognita, Meloidogyne spp., protein, root-knot nematode, surface coat
Functional Impulsivity and Speeded Ability Test Performance

The current study examines the influence of functional impulsivity on speeded ability test performance. As predicted, functional impulsivity was positively related to number of items attempted (i.e., speed), but its impact on total score was more complex. In particular, analysis of the relations between ability, functional impulsivity and accuracy revealed evidence of a suppressor effect. Specifically, functional impulsivity was found to be negatively related to accuracy, but only after ability differences were controlled. Taken as whole, the current results suggest functional impulsivity may influence test-taking behavior, but it likely does not result in a systematic influence on observed scores. Directions for further research needed to clarify these relations are discussed.
Evaluation of the single radial diffusion technique for detection of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) infection in Heliothis zea

Abstract The single radial diffusion test is an effective method for detection of nuclear polyhedrosis virus infection in Heliothis zea larvae. Virus antigens were detected in some instances 48 hr after the larvae were exposed to virus. Most larvae tested positively for virus antigens 72 hr after exposure to the virus. The tests could be read within 4 hr if the incubation temperature was 35°C, and within 24 hr at 22°C.
Interpersonal Dependency in Child Abuse Perpetrators and Victims: A Meta-Analytic Review

Meta-analysis of studies assessing interpersonal dependency in child abuse perpetrators (N of studies = 7) and victims (N of studies = 9) indicated that perpetrators have higher dependency levels than nonabusing controls (d = 0.43), and child abuse victims have higher dependency levels in early adulthood than people who were not abused as children (d = 0.47). An array of other personality traits and disorders showed comparable associations with abuse suggesting that in both populations increased dependency reflects a generalized increase in pathology and distress. Theoretical implications of these results are discussed, and suggestions for future research on dependency and abuse are offered.
IMPROVED ION-EXCHANGED HPLC METHOD IN mAb USING pH GRADIENT AND ITS COMPARISON WITH cIEF

Ion-exchange chromatography (IEX) and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) are two common methods used for molecular charge heterogeneity analysis of therapeutic proteins. The two methods are complementary to each other and each method has its own advantage and disadvantages. For example, a sample injected on an IEX column can be easily fraction collected but, sometimes, it lacks the ability to provide good separation of charge variants, such as those present in monoclonal antibody (mAb) samples. While cIEF has much better resolution than IEX, the separated peaks cannot be collected. Recently, pIsep, a new ion chromatographic technique developed by CryoBioPhysica, has been successfully applied to analyze charged heterogeneities in mAbs. The pIsep separation utilizes an external pH gradient and the charged variants are resolved based on pI differences. In this study, an acidic variant co-eluted with main peak on traditional salt-gradient cation-exchange chromatography (CEX) is separated by pIsep and the f...
The Paired-like Homeodomain Protein, Arix, Mediates Protein Kinase A-stimulated Dopamine β-Hydroxylase Gene Transcription through Its Phosphorylation Status

The homeodomain transcription factor Arix/Phox2a plays a critical role in the specification of noradrenergic neurons by inducing the expression of dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH), the terminal enzyme for noradrenaline biosynthesis. In reporter assays, Arix together with activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) potentiates DBH gene transcription. We have evaluated whether post-translational modification of Arix regulates PKA-mediated DBH gene transcription. We found that Arix is constitutively phosphorylatedin vivo at the basal level and that the phosphorylation level is substantially decreased upon stimulation of the PKA pathway. The change in the Arix phosphorylation state coincides with DNA binding activity of Arix. Treatment of cells with forskolin results in a robust enhancement of the DNA binding of Arix, which is reversed by treatment with serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors. Consistent with the DNA binding activity of Arix, treatment of cultured cells with phosphatase inhibitors diminishes transcriptional activation with Arix plus forskolin. Amino acid analysis demonstrates the presence of phosphoserine within Arix. The results collectively suggest that dephosphorylation of Arix is a necessary event to fully activate PKA-mediated DBH transcription. Thus, the present study demonstrates that Arix can integrate extrinsic signals through post-translational modification, regulating DBH gene transcription in response to activation of the PKA pathway.
Adrenalectomy ameliorates ablative nephropathy in the rat independently of corticosterone maintenance level.

Adrenalectomy ameliorates ablative nephropathy in the rat independently of corticosterone maintenance level. The roles of the adrenal gland and of dietary protein level in ablative nephropathy in the rat were examined by comparing adrenalectomized rats, replaced with corticosterone at low physiological (1 and 2) or high physiological (3 and 4) levels with intact rats (5 and 6). All groups were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy and followed 12 weeks on a regular diet (2, 4 and 6) or a reduced protein diet (1,3 and 5). Groups 1, 2, 5 and 6 all grew at the same rate but groups 3 and 4 grew less, though food intake was nearly the same in all. Higher dietary protein, higher corticosterone maintenance level, and the presence of intact adrenal glands all increased proteinuria significantly. Extracellular fluid volume ( 82 Br space) was identical in all groups at 8 and 12 weeks, because the animals were given a choice of water or saline to drink. Mortality was highest (50%) in Group 6 and lowest (11%) in Group 1, but these differences were not significant. Final inulin clearance was significantly improved by adrenalectomy when non-survivors were scored as having zero clearance, but not if the analysis was limited to survivors. It was not affected by diet or by corticosterone level. Renal histopathological scores were also improved significantly by adrenalectomy and by protein restriction, but were not influenced by corticosterone level. Thus adrenalectomy and dietary protein restriction independently ameliorate ablative nephropathy, but corticosterone replacement level has no effects, except on proteinuria. The results indicate that the deleterious effects of dietary protein on renal histopathology persist in the absence of the adrenals, and suggest that some substance other than corticosterone produced by the adrenal (?cortisol) plays an even greater role in the progression of ablative nephropathy in the rat.
The Upper Envelope of Piecewise Linear Functions: Algorithms and Applications

This paper studies applications of envelopes of piecewise linear functions to problems in computational geometry. Among these applications we find problems involving hidden line/surface elimination, motion planning, transversals of polytopes, and a new type of Voronoi diagram for clusters of points. All results are either combinatorial or computational in nature. They are based on the combinatorial analysis in two companion papers [PS] and [E2] and a divide-and-conquer algorithm for computing envelopes described in this paper.
Whitman and the Afterlife: "Sparkles from the Wheel"

Reads "Sparkles from the Wheel" as a poem "about time, especially in relation to the afterlife," that views life as "an ongoing sequence of spiraling trajectories in which every ending is always a new beginning."
Complete controllability to a closed target set

The complete controllability to a closed target setG of nonlinear systems is studied. In the linear case, states completely controllable toG are characterized in closed form. Using a geometric growth condition, a necessary and sufficient condition for the complete controllability toG of the system\(\dot x\)=A(t)x+k(t, u) is given, making it possible to study the perturbed nonlinear system. Some examples are given.
Species specificity of polypeptide chain initiation.

Ribosomes of B. stearothermophilus differ from those of Escherichia coli in initiating the synthesis of only one protein coded for by bacteriophage f2 RNA, irrespective of the reaction conditions, supernatant enzymes or tRNA used.
The Principal and The Prince: Machiavelli And School Leadership

In order to act decisively an executive must often exceed his or her base of authority. Taking the initiative is cru cial to strong leadership. It also means the executive is always vulner able to criticism when actions tran scend that authority. Niccolo Machi avelli is credited for these unusual insights into the modern concept of the executive.
Verbal and Spatial Processing Efficiency in 32 Children with Sex Chromosome Abnormalities

ABSTRACT: Spatial and linguistic processing efficiency was evaluated in sixty 8- to 18-yr-old children, including thirteen 47,XXY boys, eleven 47,XXX girls, six girls with 45,X, two girls with 46,X,Xq-, and 28 chromosomally normal controls. Results indicated that the 47,XXX girls performed significantly below controls on all four cognitive tests. Scores of the X monosomy group were reduced on both spatial tests, one requiring rapid information processing and one without time requirements, which is consistent with previous reports of spatial thinking deficits in these propositae. The X monosomy girls also had difficulty completing the high efficiency but not the low efficiency verbal tests. Scores in the 47,XXY group did not differ from controls on either spatial test or on the low efficiency verbal task. When required to rapidly access verbal information from memory, however, the performance of these boys was significantly impaired. This finding confirms earlier reports of impeded verbal fluency in these propositi. Alteration in capacity to rapidly process information appears to distinguish 47,XXY boys and X monosomy girls from their chromosomally normal peers, and suggests that adaptations in their educational setting should be introduced to allow additional time to learn and complete work.
Development and Performance of an Ultrawideband Stepped-Frequency Radar for Landmine and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detection

Under support from the Army Research Laboratory’s Partnerships in Research Transition program, a stepped-frequency radar (SFR) is currently under development, which allows for manipulation of the radiated spectrum while still maintaining an effective ultra-wide bandwidth. The SFR is a vehicle-mounted forward-looking ground-penetrating radar designed for high-resolution detection of buried landmines and improvised explosive devices. The SFR can be configured to precisely excise prohibited or interfering frequency bands and also possesses frequency-hopping capabilities. This paper discusses the expected performance features of the SFR as derived from laboratory testing and characterization. Ghosts and artifacts appearing in the range profile arise from gaps in the operating band when the system is configured to omit specific frequencies. An analysis of these effects is discussed and our current solution is presented. Future prospects for the SFR are also discussed, including data collection campaigns at the Army’s Adelphi Laboratory Center and the Countermine Test Site.
RNA heptamers that direct RNA cleavage by mammalian tRNA 3′ processing endoribonuclease

Mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease (3' tRNase) can recognize and cleave any target RNA that forms a precursor tRNA-like complex with another RNA. Various sets of RNA molecules were tested to identify the smallest RNA that can direct target RNA cleavage by 3' tRNase. A 3' half tRNAArgwas cleaved efficiently by 3' tRNase in the presence of small 5' half tRNAArgvariants, the D stem-loop region of which was partially deleted. Remarkably, 3' tRNase also cleaved the 3' half tRNAArgin the presence of a 7 nt 5' tRNAArg composed only of the acceptor stem region with a catalytic efficiency comparable with that of cleavage directed by an intact 5' half tRNAArg. The catalytic efficiency of cleavage directed by the heptamer decreased as the stability of the T stem-loop structures of 3' half tRNAArg variants decreased. No heptamer-directed cleavage of a 3' half tRNAArg without T stem base pairs was detected. A heptamer also directed cleavage of an HIV-1 RNA containing a stable hairpin structure. These findings suggest that in the presence of an RNA heptamer, 3' tRNase can discriminate and eliminate target RNAs that possess a stable hairpin adjacent to the heptamer binding sequence from a large complex RNA pool.
Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT 52/48 thick films with (100) and random crystallorgraphic orientation

Ferroelectric Pb(Zr1−xTix)O3 (PZT) films have been extensively studied for active components in microelectromechanical systems. The properties of PZT films depend on many parameters, including composition, orientation, film thickness and microstructure. In this study, the effects of crystallographic orientation on the dielectric and transverse piezoelectric properties of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT 52/48) films are reported. Crack free random and highly (100) oriented PZT(52/48) films up to ∼ 7 μm thick were deposited using a sol-gel process on Pt (111)/Ti/SiO2/Si and Pt(100)/SiO2/Si substrates, respectively. The dielectric permittivity (at 1kHz) for the (100) oriented films was 980-1000, and for the random films ∼ 930-950. In both cases, tana was less than 0.03. The remanent polarization (∼ 30 μC/cm2) of random PZT films was larger than that of (100) oriented PZT films. The transverse piezoelectric coefficient (d31(eff)) of PZT films was measured by the wafer flexure method. The d31(eff) coefficient of random PZT thick films (-80pC/N) was larger than that of (100) oriented films (-60pC/N) when poled at 80 kV/cm for 15 min.
A Model of Human Occupation, Part 3, Benign and Vicious Cycles

Earlier papers in this series conceptualized occupation as an open system phenomenon, with change the central theme. This paper presents an explanation of adaptive and maladaptive changes in the concept of benign and vicious cycles. Hypothetical case material is used to illustrate how the model could be applied to an explanation of change in occupational behavior. The paper also outlines how the concept of benign and vicious cycles, as conceptualized in the present model, can guide clinical intervention.
The construction of M-ary (d,/spl infin/) codes that achieve capacity and have the fewest number of encoder states

The existence of 100% efficient (i.e., capacity-achieving) fixed-rate codes for input-constrained, noiseless channels is guaranteed provided the channel has rational capacity. A class of M-ary runlength-limited (M,d,/spl infin/) constraints was shown in previous work to have rational capacity. In this correspondence we present a code construction procedure for obtaining 100% efficient codes with the fewest number of encoder states for all (M,d,/spl infin/) constraints with rational capacity. The decoders are sliding-block decoders with sliding window size d+1.
Translating cell-free fetal DNA technology: structural lessons from non-invasive RhD blood typing.

This work was supported by NIH grant P50 HG003389 (Center for Integrating Ethics and Genetic Research). Dr Cho is additionally supported by NIH grant 1 U54 RR024374-01A1 (Stanford Center for Clinical and Translational Education and Research).Disclaimer statementMary E. Norton is a principal investigator on clinical trial NCT0145167, sponsored by Ariosa Diagnostics. The other authors declare no competing interests.
The lexical design of a digital computer for a large-scale real-time application

THE Lincoln Laboratory and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) have, during the past 3 years, worked out the design for a new digital computer which is the central component of a large-scale real-time system. In this system, data from many sources are fed automatically into the computer where they are processed under programmed control. A complete compilation of the real-time situation is made by the computer and presented to operators by means of a special display system. The computer automatically generates control commands for the external environment in response to corrections and command information fed into it by the operators.
Irreducible polynomials over GF(2) with prescribed coefficients

For an even positive integer n, we determine formulas for the number of irreducible polynomials of degree n over GF(2) in which the coefficients of x^n^-^1,x^n^-^2 and x^n^-^3 are specified in advance. Formulas for the number of elements in GF(2^n) with the first three traces specified are also given.
Synthesis of antisense oligonucleotides conjugated to a multivalent carbohydrate cluster for cellular targeting.

Carrier-mediated delivery holds great promise for significantly improving the cellular uptake and therefore the therapeutic efficacy of antisense oligonucleotides in vivo. A multivalent carbohydrate recognition motif for the asialoglycoprotein receptor has been designed for tissue- and cell-specific delivery of antisense drugs to parenchymal liver cells. To combine low molecular weight with high receptor affinity, the synthetic ligand contains three galactosyl residues attached to a cholane scaffold via e-aminocapramide linkers. Three-dimensional structural calculations indicate that this unique design provides proper spacing and orientation of the three galactosyl residues to accomplish high affinity binding to the receptor. Covalent conjugation of the bulky carbohydrate cluster to oligonucleotides has been achieved by solid-phase synthesis using low-loaded macroporous resins and optimized synthesis protocols.
The evolving radiology landscape: the importance of effective leadership

Advances in technology and imaging techniques have propelled radiology into the centre of diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. However, all this success has come at a price, with radiology departments persistently struggling to keep up with increasing demand. In response, radiologists in many countries are giving up an increasing proportion of their traditional workload, often driven by teleradiology, causing them to become less visible within their organizations. As such, radiologists now risk being viewed as commodities by their peers. The failure to meet the increasing stakeholder expectations is, at least in part, due to lack of radiology leadership. While the drivers for the radiology profession and the organizational structures for radiologists vary from country to country, this article will discuss the characteristics of good leadership and how these can be used to ensure radiologists remain centre stage in the provision of high-quality clinical care in any healthcare environment.
Organizational Learning in Schools under Sanction

The focus on “school turnaround” has become central to policy and practice in the United States as a result of school accountability, yet little remains known about school improvement under sanction. This study uses theories of organizational learning to understand the processes through which educators search for and adopt reform strategies, as well as the extent to which these schools’ organizational culture and climate are conducive to this type of learning. Our mixed methods study involves document analysis, intensive case studies, and a survey of teachers in schools under sanction in a large urban school district in the USA. We found limited evidence of organizational learning, and instead evidence suggested superficial use of restructuring planning, rare diagnoses of root causes of low performance, and limited engagement in learning processes of school staff. In addition, schools relied on exploitation resulting in the recycling of previous practices. In part, the limited organizational learning in evidence was the result of structures and climates within these low-performing schools that inhibited a more learning-oriented approach to reform. Our study has implications for school improvement under accountability policies as it uncovers important challenges that limit organizational learning and, as a result, school improvement under sanction.
On the regulation of lipolysis in an insect egg. Observations in vitro.

Abstract The triglycerides of eggs of the western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera LeConte, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae ) are unavailable to an apparently freely active triglyceride lipase (glycerol ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) in isotonic homogenates. Homogenization of the eggs in a hypotonic medium or treatment of isotonic homogenates with freeze-thaw or sonication will release the triglycerides permitting hydrolysis by endogenous lipase. The observations suggest that a case of structure-linked substrate latency has been observed.
Current-driven vortex domain wall dynamics by micromagnetic simulations

Current-driven vortex wall dynamics is studied by means of a two-dimensional analytical model and micromagnetic simulation. By constructing a trial function for the vortex wall in the magnetic wire, we analytically solve for domain wall velocity and deformation in the presence of the current-induced spin torque. A critical current for the domain wall transformation from the vortex wall to the transverse wall is calculated. A comparison between the field- and current-driven wall dynamics is carried out. Micromagnetic simulations are performed to verify our analytical results.
Borehole techniques identifying subsurface chimney heights in loose ground—some experiences above underground nuclear explosions

Abstract The location of the subsurface top of the chimney formed by the collapse of the cavity resulting from an underground nuclear explosion is examined at five sites at the Nevada Test Site. The chimneys were investigated by drilling, coring, geophysical logging (density, gamma-ray, caliper), and seismic velocity surveys. The identification of the top of the chimney can be complicated by chimney termination in friable volcanic rock of relatively high porosity. The presence of an apical void in three of the five cases is confirmed as the chimney horizon by coincidence with anomalies observed in coring, caliper and gamma-ray logging (two cases), seismic velocity, and drilling. In the two cases where an apical void is not present, several of these techniques yield anomalies at identical horizons, however, the exact depth of chimney penetration is subject to some degree of uncertainty. This is due chiefly to the extent to which core recovery and seismic velocity may be affected by perturbations in the tuff above the chimney due to the explosion and collapse. The data suggest, however, that the depth uncertainty may be only of the order of 10 m if several indicators are available. Of all indicators, core recovery and seismic velocity indicate anomalous horizons in every case. Because radiation products associated with the explosion are contained within the immediate vicinity of the cavity, gamma-ray logs are generally not diagnostic of chimney penetration. In no case is the denisty log indicative of the presence of the chimney.
A general-purpose memory reliability simulator

With rapid advances in computer memory capacity and performance, coupled with corresponding increases in the expense of field service calls, memory reliability and optimal maintenance strategies have become more and more important in terms of customer satisfaction and field service cost. At the same time, significant improvements in error correction and recovery over recent years have made the prediction of uncorrectable error and field service frequency much more difficult. This paper describes a Monte Carlo simulator which can predict uncorrectable error rates and field-replaceable-unit replacement rates for a wide range of memory architectures and under a variety of maintenance strategies. The model provides valuable information for performing sensitivity studies of intrinsic failure rates for memory components, for performing tradeoff studies of alternative storage module and card organizations, for evaluating system functions, and for establishing optimum maintenance strategies.
Isolabelling and Chromosome Strandedness

IF cells of eukaryotes are pulse-labelled with tritiated thymidine and then allowed to pass through mitosis (M1) and complete a second round of DNA replication (S2) without label, at the next mitosis (M2) the label is seen to segregate semi-conservatively; that is, with the exception of sister chromatid exchanges, all the label will pass to one chromatid1–4.
Aspects of atmospheric circulation: the late Pleistocene (0–950,000 yr) record of eolian deposition in the pacific ocean

Rea, D. K., 1990. Aspects of atmospheric circulation: the late Pleistocene (0-950,000 yr) record of eolian deposition in the Pacific Ocean. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol, Palaeoecok, 78: 217-227. The eolian component of pelagic sediments provides a proxy record of atmospheric circulation intensity and of dust transport. Examination of those records indicates that the atmosphere responds to orbital forcing but that during the past 875,000 years the.variability in atmospheric circulation is at much shorter periods than the 100,000-year variation in ice volume. The mid-Brunhes climatic event is well characterized in the eolian grain-size records and in records of sea-surface phenomena; it is not seen in proxy indicators of either deep-water or ice-volume variability. The increase in the amplitude of paleoclimatic variability that denotes the early/late Pleistocene transition occurs suddenly about 875,000 years ago in the eolian grain-size record, which is about 20,000 to 25,000 years earlier than the transition in the deep sea CaCO3-dissolution record or in the 8180 proxy record of ice volume.