cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
E2M: A Deep Learning Framework for Associating Combinatorial Methylation Patterns with Gene Expression

We focus on the new problem of determining which methylation patterns in gene promoters strongly associate with gene expression in cancer cells of different types. Although a number of results regarding the influence of methylation on expression data have been reported in the literature, our approach is unique in so far that it retrospectively predicts the combinations of methylated sites in promoter regions of genes that are reflected in the expression data. Reversing the traditional prediction order in many cases makes estimation of the model parameters easier, as real-valued data are used to predict categorical data, rather than vice-versa; in addition, our approach allows one to better assess the overall influence of methylation in modulating expression via state-of-the-art learning methods. For this purpose, we developed a novel neural network learning framework termed E2M (Expression-to-Methylation) to predict the status of different methylation sites in promoter regions of several bio-marker genes based on a sufficient statistics of the whole gene expression captured through Landmark genes. We ran our experiments on unquantized and quantized expression sets and neural network weights to illustrate the robustness of the method and reduce the storage footprint of the processing pipeline.
The Triad of Impairment in ASD

This chapter explains the three core areas of impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorder: communication/language (expressive, receptive, and mixed), behavioral challenges (stereotypical motor behavior, restrictive, repetitive), and social interaction. In addition to these major challenges, sensory issues are also described. Many parents of children and adults on the autism spectrum experience additional parenting problems because of both sensory issues and the core areas of impairment in their child or children with ASD. Parents describe themselves as “uber-parents” who face difficult challenges with their kids: repetitive behaviors, aggression, non-compliance, perseveration, and anxiety. Many parents find themselves taking on multiple roles that tax their time and resources as they look for interventions to help their child with a variety of issues, track their child’s progress, pay for interventions, create a structured environment conducive to learning at home, and provide support based on their child’s level of understanding and functional ability. This chapter examines the challenges of parents and offers some applications of technology that can be used for practicing communication skills and making social connections.
Transformation and release of phosphorus during rice bran pyrolysis: Effect of reactor configurations under various conditions

Abstract This study reports the release and transformation of phosphorus (P) in products of pyrolysis of a P-rich biomass (rice bran) at 400–900 °C. The focus is the effect of reactor configurations, including slow heating pyrolysis in a fixed-bed reactor, and fast heating pyrolysis in drop-tube/fixed bed reactors with continuous and pulse feeding, respectively. For slow heating pyrolysis in the fixed-bed reactor, little P was released in the studied temperature range. For fast heating pyrolysis in the drop-tube/fixed-bed reactors, the release of P is small but appreciable at 400–700 °C. However, as temperature increases further to 900 °C, the release of P increases significantly to 8.1% and 22.4% under continuous feeding and pulse feeding configurations, respectively. The results clearly show that the interactions between volatiles and char enhance the release of P. Further investigation shows that P in rice bran is dominantly (∼96%) organic potassium phytate. The results also show that such organic phosphorus in biomass is thermally unstable and transformed into acid-soluble inorganic P even at temperatures as low as 400 °C. At a temperature above 800 °C, acid-soluble inorganic P can react with other inorganic species in char and is transformed into acid-insoluble inorganic P species during rice bran pyrolysis. In the volatiles generated in situ during rice bran pyrolysis, more than 95% of P are presented in tar as organically-bound P that can be completely converted into water-soluble P or phosphorus oxides during in situ combustion at 950 °C.
Audit Committee Oversight and Financial Reporting Reliability: Are Audit Committees Overloaded?

We examine the relation between audit committee (AC) responsibilities and financial reporting reliability. AC responsibilities have increased over time, prompting concerns that overloading ACs may impair financial reporting. Using new AC charter-based proxies to measure AC responsibilities, we find that AC’s risk-related oversight responsibilities are associated with reduced financial reporting reliability, as proxied by restatements – consistent with AC overload by distraction. The effects of this overload are (i) weaker when ACs have more members to share the duties and when ACs engage high quality auditors and (ii) exacerbated when AC members and auditors are busy with multiple board appointments and busy season audits, respectively. We also find that the harmful effect on financial reporting holds only when the AC has the highest level of risk-related oversight responsibilities. In contrast, we find that AC oversight over internal controls is associated with improved financial statement reliability. To our knowledge, we are the first to document that the nature of AC duties impacts the AC’s ability to promote financial reporting reliability.
Alkaline Stability of Novel Aminated Polyphenylene-Based Polymers in Bipolar Membranes

This research investigated stability of two novel aminated polyphenylene polymers as anion exchange layers in bipolar membranes. Bipolar membrane stability was tested under operating conditions of 50 mA/cm2, and under conditions of soaking in room temperature 1 M NaOH. The stability of the custom made bipolar membranes was compared with those for two commercial membranes. For the polyphenylene-based membranes, there was no measurable increase in operating voltage when run continuously at a current density of 50 mA/cm2. For the two commercial membranes, the operating voltages increased by 3.2 to 4.4 mV per day when operated continuously over an 85 day testing period. Commercial membrane degradation in 1 M NaOH was similar to that under real operating conditions, with average rates of voltage increase of 3.2 to 3.5 mV/d. The custom made membrane containing a quaternary ammonium-tethered poly(biphenylalkylene) (PBPA) anion exchange layer did not show any loss in performance in either stability test. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations were used to calculate activation barriers and reaction energies for nucleophilic attack on the polymer backbones and cation functional groups on each of the four anion exchange polymers. Cation loss from all four polymers was thermodynamically favorable, with activation barriers ranging from 64 to 138 kJ/mol. The two commercial polysulfone-based anion exchange membranes were susceptible to cleavage of the ether bonds. However, the polyphenylene-based anion exchange polymers were considerably more stable with respect to backbone cleavage. The DFT calculations showing that the PBPA polymer was the most stable confirmed the results of the stability tests.
Legal Versus Psychological Contracts: When Does a Mortgage Default Settlement Contract Become a Contract?

This study increases understanding of the mortgage default settlement process by examining how borrowers make decisions during contract negotiations. We explore two main research questions: (1) Do borrowers experience a difference between psychological and legal contracts? and (2) Does inequity aversion, or the dislike of being taken advantage of, influence the willingness of a borrower to withdraw from a mortgage default settlement contract? Our findings suggest borrowers do not conflate legal versus psychological contracts in this setting, a result which contradicts previous research findings. Moreover, as defaulting borrowers appear to place relatively little value on a clean credit report, they do not differentially enter/withdraw from contract negotiations based on a lender’s unwillingness/inability to clear their credit report. These findings, which run counter to conventional wisdom, may well reflect the emerging divide in the U.S. between individuals and large institutions. Specifically, borrowers do not appear to trust lending institutions, nor do they seem to care deeply about conventional underwriting and risk signaling metrics such as credit reports. Thus, in order to successfully and optimally resolve the voluminous magnitude of outstanding, toxic mortgage debt, a revolutionary new approach to negotiating with borrowers that reflects these new norms must be considered. Examination of a second dataset suggests these results are based on the cultural and legal environment in the U.S., and therefore may not be generalizable to other countries.
Resource Utilization among Infants who Undergo Tracheostomy before 1 Year of Age

Background: Infants undergoing tracheostomy placement require complex multidisciplinary follow up and frequent re-hospitalizations. Few studies have analyzed the burden of ongoing care in this population. It is essential to understand the characteristics of post-tracheostomy resource utilization in order to design targeted strategies to improve care in this high-risk population. Given that most tracheostomies in children are done under 1 year of age and primary indications for infant tracheostomy are airway disorders and chronic lung disease, it is paramount to …
A new method to assess mesoscale contributions to meridional heat transport in the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract. The meridional heat transport (MHT) in the North Atlantic is critically important to climate variability and the global overturning circulation. A wide range of ocean processes contribute to North Atlantic MHT, ranging from basin-scale overturning and gyre motions to mesoscale instabilities (such as eddies). However, previous analyses of “eddy” MHT in the region have mostly focused on the contributions of time-variable velocity and temperature, rather than considering the association of MHT with distinct spatial scales within the basin. In this study, a zonal spatial-scale decomposition separates large-scale from mesoscale velocity and temperature contributions to MHT, in order to characterize the physical processes driving MHT. Using this approach, we found that the mesoscale contributions to the time-mean and interannual/decadal (ID) variability of MHT in the latitude range 39–45 ∘ N are larger than large-scale horizontal contributions, though smaller than the overturning contributions. Considering the 40 ∘ N transect as a case study, large-scale ID variability is mostly generated close to the western boundary. In contrast, most ID MHT variability associated with mesoscales originates in two distinct regions: a western boundary region (70–60 ∘ W) associated with 1- to 4-year interannual variations and an interior region (50–35 ∘ W) associated with decadal variations. Surface eddy kinetic energy is not a reliable indicator of high MHT episodes, but the large-scale meridional temperature gradient is an important factor, by influencing the local temperature variance as well as the local correlation of velocity and temperature. Most of the mesoscale contribution to MHT at 40 ∘ N is associated with transient and propagating processes, but stationary mesoscale structures explain most of the mesoscale MHT south of the Gulf Stream separation, highlighting the differences between the temporal and spatial decomposition of meridional temperature fluxes.
Early cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita masquerading as ulcerated retiform purpura: a diagnostic trap.

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) is a rare congenital cutaneous vascular anomaly with a reticular marbled erythematous pattern, which can result in isolated benign skin lesions or less commonly be associated with systemic anomalies. Occasionally, the characteristic pattern of CMTC lesions is masked on initial presentation, creating a diagnostic conundrum that can result in unnecessary workups to rule out vasculopathy. We present the case of a female newborn with a red-blue ulcerated skin lesion on the right leg and foot, which initially appeared as retiform purpura but evolved to exhibit the mottled pattern of CMTC by 5 days of age. Clinicians must be made aware of this potential diagnostic trap in early CMTC to avoid invasive skin biopsies and unnecessary laboratory testing in neonates.
A Novel Client/Server Protocol for Web-based Communication over UDP on a Bare Machine

Bare machines enable clients and servers to communicate without using an operating system or kernel. We describe the design and implementation of a novel UDP-based protocol for communication between a bare machine Web server and client using HTTP. The protocol is simple, easy to code, reliable and inherently secure. We include code snippets to illustrate unique features in our approach. Results from preliminary measurements are also given to demonstrate the potential performance improvement due to using UDP instead of TCP.
Trends in the use of residential settings among older adults

OBJECTIVES As the U.S. population ages, the prevalence of disability and functional limitations, and demand for long-term services and supports (LTSS), will increase. This study identified the distribution of older adults across different residential settings, and how their health characteristics have changed over time. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of older adults residing in traditional housing, community-based residential facilities (CBRF), and nursing facilities using three data sources: The Medicare Current Beneficiary, 2008 and 2013; the Health and Retirement Study, 2008 and 2014; and the National Health and Aging Trends Study, 2011 and 2015. We calculated age-standardized prevalence of older adults by setting, functional limitations, and comorbidities, and tested for health characteristics changes relative to the baseline year (2002). RESULTS The proportion of older adults in traditional housing increased over time, relative to baseline (p < 0.05), while the proportion of older adults in CBRF was unchanged. The proportion of nursing facility residents declined from 2002 to 2013 in the MCBS (p < 0.05). The prevalence of dementia and functional limitations among traditional housing residents increased, relative to the baseline year in the HRS and MCBS (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION The proportion of older adults residing in traditional housing is increasing, while the nursing facility population is decreasing. This change may not be due to better health; rather, older adults may be relying on non-institutional LTSS.
Spectral Conditions for the Bipancyclic Bipartite Graphs

Let $G = (X, Y; E)$ be a bipartite graph with two vertex partition subsets $X$ and $Y$. $G$ is said to be balanced if $|X| = |Y|$. $G$ is said to be bipancyclic if it contains cycles of every even length from $4$ to $|V(G)|$. In this note, we present spectral conditions for the bipancyclic bipartite graphs.
Long-term thermal aging of parylene conformal coating under high humidity and its effects on tin whisker mitigation

Abstract Usage of pure tin (Sn) or Sn-rich alloy in electronics industry is growing, which makes them more susceptible to the spontaneous growth of tin whiskers. The risk of having these whiskers can be dramatically mitigated by applying a conformal coating such as parylene C. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the degradation of parylene C coating (with two thicknesses, 12.5 μm and 25 μm) during thermal aging in high humidity environment (85 °C/85% relative humidity for up to 5000 h) and its effect on the tin whisker mitigation property. It was observed that under the high temperature and high humidity (HTHH) environment, the oxidation occurs at early times, followed by bond scission, resulting in the loss in strength and modulus of the parylene coating. After 2500 h of aging, due to the degradation of the silane agent at the tin/parylene interface, the adhesion of the parylene coating on the tin surface was significantly weakened, which resulted in extensive corrosion of the tin solderpads. The loss of adhesion of the coating, along with the corrosion of the tin surface facilitated tin whisker nucleation at the interface while the loss of mechanical strength and the brittleness made the growing whiskers penetrate easily through the coating. Tin whiskers with a smaller diameter were buckled and grew along the delaminated interfacial region while those with a larger diameter penetrated and continued to grow through the coating. Although the thicker parylene coating helped delay the complete penetration and increase the critical diameter of whiskers for complete penetration, it showed more tin whisker activities and easy penetration by large diameter whiskers due to poorer adhesion. Hence, the effectiveness of the parylene coating on tin whisker mitigation will depend on its degradation kinetics of mechanical properties and adhesion under such harsh conditions.
Linguistics and Evolution: A Developmental Approach

Evolutionary linguistics - an approach to language study that takes into account our origins and development as a species - has rapidly developed in recent years. Informed by the latest findings in evolutionary theory, this book sets language within the context of human biology and development, taking ideas from fields such as psychology, neurology, biology, anthropology, genetics and cognitive science. By factoring an evolutionary and developmental perspective into the theoretical framework, the author replaces old questions - such as 'what is language?' - with new questions, such as 'how do living beings become 'languaging' living beings?' Linguistics and Evolution offers readers the first rethinking of an introductory approach to linguistics since Leonard Bloomfield's 1933 Language. It will be of significant interest to advanced students and researchers in all subfields of linguistics, and the related fields of biology, anthropology, cognitive science and psychology.
Built-in Object Security

Modern programming languages and systems provide much support for security. Through strong typing, they can substantially reduce the opportunities for low-level coding errors that could result in buffer overflows and other vulnerabilities. They also allow protection by encapsulation and the treatment of objects as unforgeable capabilities. In addition, they sometimes include rich security infrastructures, for example libraries for authentication and authorization.
Synaptic transmission and plasticity in the superficial dorsal horn.

Publisher Summary The dorsal horn of the spinal cord is the site of the first synaptic relay in nociceptive pathways transferring and processing input from primary sensory neurons to intrinsic and projection neurons. The synaptic contact between the central terminals of primary sensory and dorsal horn neurons is highly ordered functionally, chemically, and topographically. The most superficial laminae of the dorsal horn are of fundamental importance for nociceptive transmission by virtue of the fact that it is here that most small caliber myelinated (Aδ) and unmyelinated (C) fibers terminate. Lamina II is of particular interest as the sensory input to this area is almost entirely C-fiber in nature. Unlike laminae I and V, where many projection neurons are located, almost all lamina II neurons are intrinsic intemeurons. The development of the in vitro spinal cord slice preparation has promoted advances in understanding of short- and long-term synaptic plasticity in the dorsal horn. Recently, the whole-cell patch clamp technique has been adapted for recording from dorsal horn neurons in vivo . This powerful new technique permits the examination of synaptic transmission and plasticity at the single cell level in response to diverse peripheral stimuli. A combination of both in vitro and in vivo approaches will lead to further advances in the understanding of nociceptive processing as it occurs during both physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions.
Assembly of γ- with α-Globin Chains to Form Human Fetal Hemoglobin in Vitro and in Vivo

Abstract Soluble γ-globin chains were expressed in bacteria and purified to assess the mechanism of γ- and α-chain assembly to form Hb F. Formation of Hb F in vitro following incubation of equimolar mixtures of γ and α chains was about 4 × 105-fold slower than assembly of α and β chains to form Hb A in vitro. Results of assembly for γ116Ile→His and γ112Thr→Asp chains with α chains were similar to that of β chains, whereas assembly of γ112Thr→Cys and α chains was similar to wild type γ chains, indicating that amino acid differences at α1β1 and α1γ1 interaction sites between γ116 Ile and β116 His are responsible for the different assembly rates in vitro in the formation of Hb F and Hb A. Homoassembly in vitro of individual γ chains as assessed by size-exclusion chromatography shows that γ and γ112Thr→Cys chains form stable dimers like αβ and αγ that do not dissociate readily into monomers like β chains. In contrast, γ116Ile→His chains form monomers and dimers upon dilution. These results are consistent with the slower assembly rate in vitro of γ and γ112Thr→Cys with α chains, whereas the faster rate of assembly of γ116Ile→His and γ112Thr→Asp chains with α chains, like β chains, may be caused by dissociation to monomers. These results suggest that dissociation of γ2 dimers to monomers limits formation of Hb F in vitro. However, yields of soluble Hb F expressed in bacteria were similar to Hb A, and no unassembled α and γ chains were detected. These results indicate that γ chains assemble in vivo with α chains prior to forming stable γ2 dimers, possibly binding to α chains as partially folded nascent γ-globin chains prior to release from polyribosomes.
The human display

Review of L'invention du Sauvage (Human Zoos: The Invention of the Savage) , Musee du quai Branly, Paris
Nucleosynthesis in Stellar Explosions

The final evolution and explosion of stars from 10 M⊙ to 106 M⊙ are reviewed with emphasis on factors affecting the expected nucleosynthesis. We order our paper in a sequence of decreasing mass. If, as many suspect, the stellar birth function was peaked towards larger masses at earlier times (see e.g., Silk 1977; but also see Palla, Salpeter, and Stahler 1983), this sequence of masses might also be regarded as a temporal sequence. At each stage of Galactic chemical evolution stars form from the ashes of preceding generations which typically had greater mass. A wide variety of Type I supernova models, most based upon accreting white dwarf stars, are also explored using the expected light curves, spectra, and nucleosynthesis as diagnostics. No clearly favored Type I model emerges that is capable of simultaneously satisfying all three constraints.
Radar loss of target track (LOTT) expert system

The development, architecture, and operation of a knowledge-based expert system which analyzes and interprets radar track data and determines the reason for loss of target track are described. Track and system data recorded in real time during operation of a phased-array radar system are analyzed offline (in a postmission phase) by this expert system. LOTT incorporates the knowledge and reasoning processes of the radar engineer analyst and is designed to act in either a stand-alone mode or as a decision aid to radar operations analysts. It is shown to be a successful and effective tool to aid the radar track analyst. >
Games computers play: simulating characteristic function game playing agents with classifier systems

Many game theorists are turning to evolutionary simulations to model the behavior of boundedly rational agents. This new methodology allows researchers to observe purely adaptive behaviors in games, to observe differences of behavior due to changes in the games' parameters, to discover equilibria in games that are too complex to calculate analytically, and to discover new strategies for playing the games. I extend this methodology to a more complex class of games than had previously been attempted. I create a coevolutionary environment in which three agents, represented by classifier systems, play a characteristic function game. Although the agents have no computational capabilities, they learn to adapt reasonably intelligent behavior. >
Habitat Selection by the Endangered New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse on an Irrigated Floodplain

Abstract The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius luteus is endemic to the American Southwest. It has undergone severe declines in distribution over the past century and it has been list...
A note extending Grosskopf, Hayes, Taylor and Weber, "Anticipating the consequences of school reform: A new use of DEA"

Abstract The article cited in the current paper's title shows how to extend Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate future, as well as past and present, performance. This is accomplished by relaxing some of the constraints that reflect the presence of imposed regulations, and then re-computing the evaluations under these alternate conditions. We here extend this approach to account for “long-run” and “short-run” behaviors, and the related bodies of theory that play prominent roles in microeconomics.
Phytoplankton production and nutrient distributions in a subtropical estuary: Importance of freshwater flow

The relationships between phytoplankton productivity, nutrient distributions, and freshwater flow were examined in a seasonal study conducted in Escambia Bay, Florida, USA, located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Five sites oriented along the salinity gradient were sampled 24 times over the 28-mo period from 1999 to 2001. Water column profiles of temperature and salinity were measured along with surface chlorophyll and surface inorganic nutrient concentrations. Primary productivity was measured at 2 sites on 11 dates, and estimated for the remaining dates and sites using an empirical regression model relating phytoplankton net production to the product of chlorophyll, euphotic zone depth, and daily solar insolation. Freshwater flow into the system varied markedly over the study period with record low flow during 2000, a flood event in March 2001, and subsequent resumption of normal flow. Flushing times ranged from 1 d during the flood to 20 d during the drought. Freshwater input strongly affected surface salinity distributions, nutrient flux, chlorophyll, and primary productivity. The flood caused high turbidity and rapid flushing, severely reducing phytoplankton production and biomass accumulation. Following the flood, phytoplankton biomass and productivity sharply increased. Analysis of nutrient distributions suggested Escambia Bay phytoplankton alternated between phosphorus limitation during normal flow and nitrogen limitation during low flow periods. This study found that Escambia Bay is a moderately productive estuary, with an average annual integrated phytoplankton production rate of 290 g C m−2 yr−1.
MorphoTools: a set of R functions for morphometric analysis

A set of R functions for the convenient handling of morphometric analysis is provided. No previous knowledge of R is required. The functions include data import from Excel or tab-delimited text files, descriptive statistics for populations and taxa, histograms of characters, correlation matrices of characters, cluster analysis, principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis with permutation tests, classificatory discriminant analysis and k-nearest neighbour classification. The use of the functions is demonstrated on a sample data set. Detailed descriptions of the functions and examples of the scripts for producing graphics are included as an electronic appendix. Documentation and function definitions can be downloaded from http://www.prf.jcu.cz/systematics/morphotools.html .
Local micelle concentration fluctuations in microfluidic flows and its relation to a flow-induced structured phase (FISP)

Shear-induced structures (SIS) are known to form in flows of wormlike micellar solutions. In simple shear cases these structures (SIS) are temporary and disintegrate upon cessation of the flow; while in certain mixed-flow cases these flow-induced structured phases (FISPs) are stable and long-lived. Here, we compare the flow of a micellar solution in a microfluidic device containing an array of microposts, with that of Poiseuille flow in a microchannel. In the former case a stable permanent FISP can be produced, whereas in the latter no structured phase (SIS or FISP) occurs. Using the fluorescent dye Nile Red, we are able to observe the local micelle concentration of the solutions during flow. We find that in the microfluidic device containing microposts, we can generate local concentration variation on the order of up to 25% that strongly correlates with the FISP, while in the microchannel with Poiseuille flow, no measurable concentration differences are observed. The relevance of these concentration variations for the formation of the FISP are discussed. The use of Nile Red as a probe into the local micelle concentration may also serve as a simple and complementary optical tool (i.e. with birefrigence and light scattering) towards investigation of a variety of flow-induced structures, as opposed to more complicated and expensive scattering techniques that involve neutrons and X-rays.
A test of positive illusions versus shared reality models of relationship satisfaction among gay, lesbian, and heterosexual couples

According to the positive illusions model (Murray, Holmes, & Griffin, 1996a), people in romantic relationships are more satisfied when they view their partners more favorably than the partners see themselves. By contrast, shared reality theory (Hardin & Conley, 2001) emphasizes the benefits of perceiving a partner as the partner sees himself or herself. We analyzed archived data from the American Couples Study (Blumstein & Schwartz, 1983) to test the applicability of the positive illusions model to gay and lesbian relationships. Structural equation models demonstrated that the positive illusions model effectively explains relationships among lesbian, gay, heterosexual cohabitating, and married couples.
Isomers of Al 13 clusters and their interaction with alkali atoms

Global optimization of the geometry of ${\mathrm{Al}}_{13}$ cluster using the density-functional theory and generalized gradient approximation yields two nearly degenerate isomers having Jahn-Teller distorted icosahedral and decahedral structures. As these two isomers of ${\mathrm{Al}}_{13}$ interact with alkali-atoms X $(X=\mathrm{Li},$ Na, K, Rb, and Cs), the Jahn-Teller distortions in the bare cluster isomers disappear in all cases except in Cs. The binding energy of alkali atoms, X to ${\mathrm{Al}}_{13}$ systematically decreases from Li to Cs for both the isomers. This is shown to result from a competition between the size and the ionization potential of the alkali atoms. In addition, the difference in the total energies between icosahedral and decahedral structures containing the alkali atoms becomes smaller than that between the bare ${\mathrm{Al}}_{13}$ isomers. The vertical ionization potentials of ${\mathrm{Al}}_{3}X$ is larger than that of ${\mathrm{Al}}_{13}$ in the decahedral structure while the opposite is the case with the icosahedral isomer. The above results based on a frozen core approximation were repeated using an all-electron basis. While there are quantitative differences between these results, these are negligible at the present level of theory.
Evidence for Kinesin-related Proteins Associated with the Axoneme of Retinal Photoreceptors

Abstract Situated at the junction between inner and outer segment, the connecting cilium of retinal photoreceptors supports regulated transport of molecules that function distally, while restricting diffusion of membrane proteins from one plasmalemmal domain to the other. Both functions are thought to be performed by a group of proteins stably or transiently associated with the axoneme. We have identified two types of unique polypeptides which associated with the axoneme in a nucleotide-dependent manner: they bind to the axonemes in the presence of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-PNP, and are solubilized in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The first group contained glyconjugates, previously shown to be part of the axoneme–plasmalemma cross-linkers at the connecting cilium. The second group cross-reacted with antibodies to two different conserved peptide sequences (called LAGSE and HIPYR) of kinesin-related proteins, and included polypeptides of∼85–97 kDa. Immunofluorescence microscopy of whole-mounted axonemes with the two anti-kinesin antibodies showed labeling throughout the axoneme, including the connecting cilium-basal body region. These results suggest that the identified proteins may serve as motor molecules for transport of material to the outer segment via the connecting cilium.
Laparoscopic ureteral reconstruction for benign stricture disease.

OBJECTIVES To describe our experience with laparoscopic ureteral reconstruction in the adult patient with benign ureteral stricture disease. METHODS We retrospectively compared laparoscopic (n = 12) and open (n = 34) ureteroureterostomy, ureteroneocystostomy, and Boari flap procedures conducted from January 1999 to November 2005 for benign stricture disease. The demographic, operative, complication, and outcome data were analyzed and compared. RESULTS The patient demographics and ureteral stricture etiology, location, and length were equivalent between the open and laparoscopic groups. The open surgical group had greater operative blood loss (258 versus 86 mL; P = 0.002) and a longer hospital stay (median 5 days versus 3 days; P <0.001) compared with the laparoscopic group. The overall complication rate in the open and laparoscopic groups was 15% and 8%, respectively (P = 0.225). Ureteral patency had been successfully reestablished in all 12 patients (100%) in the laparoscopic group at a mean follow-up of 23 months. In the open group, patency had been achieved in 30 patients (96%) at a mean follow-up of 43 months. No significant difference was found in patency success (P = 0.544) or the duration of follow-up (P = 0.098) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic ureteral reconstructive surgery is technically feasible and efficacious in treating benign ureteral stricture disease in adults.
The 2004 Mw6.0 Parkfield, California, earthquake: Inversion of near-source ground motion using multiple data sets

On 28 September 2004, the M(w)6.0 Parkfield earthquake became the most densely recorded earthquake for near-source ground-motion. To infer the kinematic nature of this event we invert the strong-motion data. The non-linear global inversion yields slip amplitude, slip rake, average rupture velocity, and rise time over the fault. By using subsets of the data, we study the dependence of the kinematic solutions on data input. The inversions reveal that the slip amplitude was less than 0.65 m and outline two major areas of slip; one that laterally surrounds the hypocenter, preferentially extending to its SE; the other 10 to 20 km NW of the hypocenter, at a depth between 2 and 8 km. The slip amplitude we obtain for each point on the fault varies less than 0.15 m depending on data set used; the rake angle variability is less than 40 degrees.
Approximation of potential integral by radial bases for solutions of Helmholtz equation

For a Helmholtz equation Δu(x) + κ 2 u(x) = f(x) in a region of R s , s ≥ 2, where Δ is the Laplace operator and κ = a + ib is a complex number with b ≥ 0, a particular solution is given by a potential integral. In this paper the potential integral is approximated by using radial bases with the order of approximation derived.
Patterned Protein Layers on Solid Substrates by Thin Stamp Microcontact Printing

Microcontact printing (μCP) is a new method of molecularly patterning surfaces on a micrometer scale. In this paper, we present the extension of microcontact printing to producing patterned layers of proteins on solid substrates. μCP avoids the use of strong acids and bases necessary in photolithographic patterning, allowing its use for patterning of proteins and other biological layers. We also describe the methods of thin stamp microcontact printing that allow printing of isolated features previously unattainable by microcontact printing. A solution of polylysine in borate-buffered saline was printed onto a glass coverslip, yielding micrometer scale features over an area of 4 cm2.
Rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection: Aspect-ratio dependence of the initial bifurcations.

The initial bifurcations in rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection are studied in the range of dimensionless rotation rate 0[lt][Omega][lt]2150 for a cylindrical cell with an aspect ratio of 2.5. We used simultaneous optical-shadowgraph, heat-transport, and local-temperature measurements to determine the stability and characteristics of the azimuthally periodic wall convection state. We also show that the second transition corresponds to the onset of bulk convection. Our results for critical Rayleigh numbers, precession frequencies, and critical mode numbers agree well with theoretical results. The dynamics of the wall convection state can be described by a complex Ginzburg-Landau amplitude equation.
Electrophysiological insights into conceptual disorganization in schizophrenia

Abstract Disorganized speech, or thought disorder, in schizophrenia may reflect abnormal processing of meaningful concepts. To examine whether schizophrenia involves abnormalities in how a meaningful context influences processing of concepts strongly, weakly, or not related to it, we used the N400, an event-related brain potential (ERP) index of semantic relatedness. ERPs were recorded from schizophrenia patients (n = 18) and normal controls (n = 18) while they viewed category definitions (e.g., a type of fruit), each followed by a target word that was either a high-typicality category exemplar (apple), low-typicality exemplar (cherry), or non-exemplar (clamp). Participants' task was to indicate via button-press whether or not the target belonged to the category. In both patients and controls, N400 amplitude was largest (most negative) for non-exemplars, intermediate for low-typicality exemplars, and smallest (least negative) for high-typicality exemplars. Compared to controls, patients showed a trend toward reduced N400 amplitude differences between non-exemplars and low-typicality exemplars. Most importantly, within patients, reduced N400 amplitude differences between high- and low-typicality exemplars were correlated with psychotic symptoms. This association of an N400 index of semantic processing with psychotic symptoms suggests that psychosis in schizophrenia may be associated with greater similarity in how concepts strongly and weakly meaningfully related to their context are processed.
1995 observations of Martian dust storms using the Hubble Space Telescope

A synoptic monitoring program of Mars using the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope has resulted in the observation of discrete dust activity for two dates following the 1995 opposition. Data obtained on April 8 (Ls=82°) and August 21, 1995 (Ls=145°) reveal the presence of local dust storms in the northern polar region. In addition, the August images show activity over the Hellas basin. We present a multispectral analysis of the data from which we derive lower bounds to the atmospheric dust loading. Our technique directly models the absolute photometry, and consequently also provides estimates of the cloud opacity and the ozone columns for the regions analyzed.
Generalized tuberculosis of the lymph nodes and multiple cystic tuberculosis of the bones

Summary A detailed report is given of two cases of the rare condition, generalized tuberculosis of the lymph nodes. In one of these there was associated multiple cystic tuberculosis of the bones (Jungling).
Proceedings of the 2014 A.S.P.E.N. Research Workshop The Interface Between Nutrition and the Gut Microbiome: Implications and Applications for Human Health

The human and earth microbiomes are among the most important biological agents in understanding and preventing disease. Technology is advancing at a fast pace and allowing for high-resolution analysis of the composition and function of our microbial partners across regions, space, and time. Bioinformaticists and biostatisticians are developing ever more elegant displays to understand the generated megadatasets. A virtual cyberinfrastructure of search engines to cross-reference the rapidly developing data is emerging in line with technologic advances. Nutrition science will reap the benefits of this new field, and its role in preserving the earth and the humans who inhabit it will become evidently clear. In this report we highlight some of the topics of an A.S.P.E.N.-sponsored symposium held during Clinical Nutrition Week in 2013 that address the importance of the human microbiome to human health and disease.
Nomenclature of a developmental zone of the adrenal cortex of mammals

Abstract This paper presents a compilation of names applied to a developmental zone of the adrenal cortex of mammals. The characteristics of this zone which various mammals have in common are: (1) large, polyhedral cells with acidophilic cytoplasm and indistinct cell boundaries; (2) located between the maturing cortex and medulla; and (3) disappearance as an entity as the cortical material assumes its permanent pattern. In view of present knowledge it is felt that the name best suited to describe this zone is “transient-zone”.
Uniform Decay properties of a model in structural acoustics

Abstract We investigate decay properties for a system of coupled partial differential equations which model the interaction between acoustic waves in a cavity and the walls of the cavity. In this system a wave equation is coupled to a structurally damped plate or beam equation. The underlying semigroup for this system is not uniformly stable, but when the system is appropriately restricted we obtain some uniform stability. We present two results of this type. For the first result, we assume that the initial wave data is zero, and the initial plate or beam data is in the natural energy space; then the corresponding solution to system decays uniformly to zero. For the second result, we assume that the initial condition is in the natural energy space and the control function is L 2 (0,∞) (in time) into the control space; then the beam displacement and velocity are both L 2 (0,∞) into a space with two spatial derivatives.
Perovskites: is the ultimate memory in sight?

With silicon microelectronics approaching fundamental limits, new concepts for high-density memory devices are sought. The individual switching of dislocations in oxides may offer just the right alternative.
ARTEMIS: a VMS based Fastbus module testing and evaluation system

A flexible Fastbus module testing and evaluation system is described. It has been developed in conjunction with the Ames Waveform Digitizer being used in the DELPHI experiment at LEP (Large Electron Positron Collider). The system hardware includes a DEC MicroVAX II (or equivalent) running microVMS with Fastbus and GPIB instrumentation buses. The software is menu driven, makes extensive use of the screen management routines of the VAX/VMS system, and is designed for easy modification. In a period of about four months, 600 Fastbus modules currently in use in the DELPHI experiment were tested and debugged. >
Authoring languages/systems comparisons

AbstractAuthoring Languages and Systems (AL/S) are being marketed to K-12 educators with hopes that teachers will use them to develop their own CAI. Because the literature has not addressed the use of AL/S in K-12 settings (they only recently have been made available to K-12 educators), there is a need to examine the AL/S and how teachers are using them. This article describes twelve AL/S which are being marketed to K-12 teachers and compares their features. Also included in the article is a discussion of the probability of wide-spread use of AL/S in K-12 settings, the factors affecting the extent of their use, and some new approaches to CAI development tools.
Substrate attenuation : an approach to improve antibody catalysis

Abstract Antibodies raised to quinaldine phosphonamide 1a showed no ability to hydrolyze its most homologous substrates amide and ester 2 and 3, respectively. However, within this same set of antibodies some thirteen showed a great propensity to hydrolyse a structurally similar naphthyl ester. In addition to heteroatom discrimination one of the antibodies examined in detail displayed an increase in catalytic efficiency presumably via weak apparent binding (Km) when phenylesters were employed as substrates. These findings suggest abzyme catalysis may be improved via substrate attenuation. Antibodies raised to quinaldine phosphonamide 1a showed no ability to hydrolyze its most homologous substrates amide and ester 2 and 3, respectively. However, within this same set of antibodies some thirteen showed a great propensity to hydrolyse a structurally similar naphthyl ester. In addition to heteroatom discrimination one of the antibodies examined in detail displayed an increase in catalytic efficiency presumably via weak apparent binding (Km) when phenylesters were employed as substrates. These findings suggest abzyme catalysis may be improved via substrate attenuation.
Conformational changes of single-stranded DNA.

Abstract The conformation of intact, essentially monodisperse, single-stranded T7 DNA was studied in solutions between 0.001 and 1 m -NaCl at neutral and alkaline pH and temperatures between 5 and 35 °C. Over-all shape is assessed by measurement of S 20,w 0 , and base stacking by absorbance at 260 mμ. The results are interpreted in terms of intrastrand interactions between the bases: stacking which occurs in the absence of H-bonding is referred to as free stacking; associations which involve H-bonding (as well as stacking) are referred to as folding. Folding has large effects on both absorbance and S 20,w 0 ; free stacking has a much smaller effect on absorbance and essentially no effect on S 20,w 0 . Folding is sensitive to change in ionic strength, temperature, and pH; free stacking depends mainly on temperature and is affected to a lesser extent, if at all, by alkaline titration or by changes in ionic strength. The transition between unfolded and folded forms can be measured by changes in either absorbance or sedimentation coefficient; the two measurements give broadly similar results but do not agree exactly. The differences are interpreted in terms of short-range and long-range folding, the former involving associations between bases which are near each other in the chain, the latter involving associations between bases which are widely separated along the contour length of the chain. Knowledge of the conformational state of single-stranded T7 DNA over the above range of conditions allows study of the effects of conformation on reactions which might have biological significance. The succeeding paper (Studier, 1969) shows that folding is a major influence on the renaturation and aggregation of single-stranded DNA.
Medicine may change our genes.

The prospect of medical technology modifying genetic evolution is as amazing as it is troubling