cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study of the planetary boundary layer over the polynya downwind of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea using aircraft data

Turbulence data collected with the gust probe system on the NOAA P-3 aircraft over the polynya downwind of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea are used to study the fluxes of heat, momentum, and moisture from the polynya. The data also allow study of the effect of the topography of St. Lawrence Island on the atmospheric boundary-layer flow over the polynya and ultimately on ice production in the polynya. Two cases are studied: one (Feb. 15, 1982) where the topographic effects are minimal and the other (Feb. 18, 1983) where the topographic effects are dominant. Calculation of the surface drag coefficient, C D, for the Feb. 15, 1982 case over young grey/white ice gave a value of 1.2 × 10-3, which is in close agreement with previous results. The value of the drag coefficient for the grey/white ice regime on Feb. 18, 1983, where the upstream topography on St. Lawrence Island had an important influence on the flow over the polynya, was 3.2 × 10-3. It was determined that this higher value was related to the more efficient mixing of momentum downward by turbulent eddies generated by flow over and around the topography. The area-averaged heat transfer coefficient, C H, over the polynya was on the order of 1.1 × 10-3 for both days, but there were large variations in heat flux across the polynya due to variations in the flow caused by the topography. Conditional sampling techniques applied to the turbulence data showed that the fractional areas occupied by updrafts and downdrafts were 28% and 36%, respectively, and that these results were within the range of values found in previous studies for over-land and over-ocean conditions.
Assessing the locational efficiency of a system of hospitals

(1988). Assessing the locational efficiency of a system of hospitals. Applied Economics: Vol. 20, No. 8, pp. 1087-1098.
An efficiency analysis of household energy use

Abstract A new method to estimate the energy efficiency of households is presented. Households are treated as productive units organized to provide services for the occupants. The approach to measuring efficiency compares a group of productive units along several dimensions of input resources and service outputs. The comparison identifies a subset of units that are considered efficient because they require the fewest resources per unit of service provided. The efficient units form a production possibility frontier of best practice in service provision. All other units are compared to this best practice frontier and their index of efficiency is based on their distance from that frontier. Data from the 1979 Household Screener Survey are used to construct a household typology. Two different energy efficiency models are explored. One model uses the annual consumption of electric and non-electric fuels as the input resources. The other uses the annual expenditures for the two fuel types. Both models use the number of rooms and the number of people in the dwelling as proxies for the service outputs. A regression analysis of the two sets of efficiency scores indicates that the more efficient units used electric heat, had higher ratios of non-electric to electric fuel inputs, and were owner-occupied.
45.2: DisplayPort™: The Emerging Converged Digital Display Interface Technology and Implementation in Mobile Computing Platforms

We present an overview of DisplayPort, the emerging digital display interface technology, compare it with the existing display interfaces, and describe its hardware and software implementation in the next-generation Intel® integrated graphics chipsets for PC platforms, especially focusing on the Notebook panel application.
Influence of repeated oxytocin injections on composition of dairy cows' milk.

Abstract Milk fat, solids-not-fat, protein, and lactose were determined in milk from normal milking, followed by four successive intravenous oxytocic injections at 20-minute intervals. Milk fat per cent increased through the first oxytocic sample, then decreased to approximately the fat content of milk obtained by normal milking procedures. Solids-not-fat, protein, and lactose were all significantly (P
THE DIAGNOSIS OF LOWER EXTREMITY DEEP VENOUS THROBOSIS

The diagnosis of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is critical to emergency physicians because of the risk of pulmonary embolism. This article reviews the diagnostic modalities available for patients with suspected lower extremity DVT. The use of compression ultrasonography and the recent advances in the D-dimer assays are emphasized. A clinical algorithm that utilizes a non invasive approach to this potentially life threatening disease is presented.
Anterolateral thigh vastus lateralis myocutaneous flap for vulvar reconstruction after radical vulvectomy: a preliminary experience.

Abstract Background. There are many myocutaneous flap methods which have been reported for the immediate reconstruction of large vulvar defects created by deforming radical cancer surgery in the female perineum except for the anterolateral thigh vastus lateralis myocutaneous flap. The present report describes our preliminary experience with the use of this flap in a patient who underwent radical vulvectomy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Case. A 75-year-old woman underwent radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy due to right vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. The large vulvar defect was immediately reconstructed by using anterolateral thigh vastus lateralis myocutaneous flap. The postoperative course was uneventful. In addition to the expected primary healing, the neovulva had a relatively normal appearance with satisfactory sensation and function and the donor defect was found to be minimal both functionally and aesthetically. Conclusion. This technique can be used as an alternative method for vulvar reconstruction after radical vulvectomy. Further studies are warranted to prove the efficacy of this myocutaneous flap in reconstructing large vulvar defects.
On the correlation between mantle plume flux and the frequency of reversals of the geomagnetic field

The validity of concept that impulsive changes in the volume flux of material rising from the base of the mantle via plumes can cause rapid changes in the heat flux from the core and in the behavior of the geomagnetic field is investigated. It is found that the natural time scale of variations in the heat flux from the core is about 109 years, a time scale far longer than that associated with the long-term changes in the frequency of reversals of the magnetic field; following an impulsive change in plume flux, the heat flux from the core changes on a time scale of several billion years, i.e., on a time scale of the age of the earth. A harmonic variation in the volume flux up plumes results in a similar harmonic variation in the heat flux from the core, but with a phase lag of π/4 and a greatly diminished amplitude. The lack of correlation between mantle plume flux and core heat flux is due to the long natural time scale of the lower mantle and the large thermal inertia of the D″ layer (compared with the heat flux from the core). This calls into question the currently fashionable idea of a direct and immediate correlation between plume volume flux and heat flux from the core.
Direction sensing rotational filter for an optical correlator

The output of an optical correlator is sensitive to rotations of the input object. However, the correlator cannot distinguish the direction of this rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise). We introduce a rotation- ally sensitive multiplexed filter that senses both the direction and amount of rotation of the input object without employing iterative filter techniques. Our filter simultaneously forms three correlation outputs at three different spatial locations. Each output represents the correlation of the input ob- ject with a different rotated version of the reference object. Comparison of the three correlation outputs enables the direction and amount of ro- tation to be determined. This approach is insensitive to changes in the input object intensity because the various correlation peaks are formed simultaneously. Experimental results show an angular sensitivity of less than 0.5 deg. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(98)00401-2) Subject terms: recognition techniques; alignment; correlators; filters; pattern rec- ognition.
Protein synthesis in Fundulus heteroclitus muscle.

1. 1. Kinetics of 14C-leucine incorporation into Fundulus heteroclitus muscle protein was observed as a function of physiological and environmental factors. 2. 2. Protein synthesis increased with temperature up to a critical point of 26–29°C beyond which it decreased sharply. 3. 3. Incorporation was reduced by: fasting, decreasing dissolved oxygen below 2·5 mg/l. and stress from insufficient water volumes. 4. 4. Leucine incorporation was increased by insulin, but not changed significantly by exercise, darkness, fish size or sex. 5. 5. Characteristic individual and group variability was encountered. 6. 6. Growth regulating factors and those influencing protein synthesis were compared to evaluate the feasibility of this technique for estimating the adequacy of an environment.
An automatic feature generation approach to multiple instance learning and its applications to image databases

Automatic content-based image categorization is a challenging research topic and has many practical applications. Images are usually represented as bags of feature vectors, and the categorization problem is studied in the Multiple-Instance Learning (MIL) framework. In this paper, we propose a novel learning technique which transforms the MIL problem into a standard supervised learning problem by defining a feature vector for each image bag. Specifically, the feature vectors of the image bags are grouped into clusters and each cluster is given a label. Using these labels, each instance of an image bag can be replaced by a corresponding label to obtain a bag of cluster labels. Data mining can then be employed to uncover common label patterns for each image category. These label patterns are converted into bags of feature vectors; and they are used to transform each image bag in the data set into a feature vector such that each vector element is the distance of the image bag to a distinct pattern bag. With this new image representation, standard supervised learning algorithms can be applied to classify the images into the pre-defined categories. Our experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed technique in categorization accuracy as compared to state-of-the-art methods.
Effect of Humic Constituents on the Transformation of Chlorinated Phenols and Anilines in the Presence of Oxidoreductive Enzymes or Birnessite

Chlorinated phenols and anilines are transformed and detoxified in soil through oxidative coupling reactions mediated by enzymes or metal oxides. The reactions may be influenced by humic constituents, such as syringaldehyde or catechol, that originate from lignin decomposition and are also subject to oxidative coupling. In this study, the effect of humic constituents on xenobiotic transformation was evaluated in vitro based on the determination of unreacted chlorophenols and chloroanilines. In experiments with peroxidase, laccase, and birnessite (δ-MnO2), the transformation of most chlorophenols was considerably enhanced by the addition of syringaldehyde. Less enhancement was observed using 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and the addition of catechol resulted in a reduction of most transformations. The opposite was observed in experiments with tyrosinase, in which case catechol caused considerable enhancement of chlorophenol transformation. The varying effect of catechol can be explained by different transformatio...
Stable conformations of CH 3 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OH: a comparison of theoretical methods

This article presents the results of an extensive examination of the stable conformations of CH3CH2OCH2CH2OH at various levels of theory. In particular, 41 initial conformations are optimized using the MM2 force field in BIGSTRN-3; the MINDO/3, MNDO, and AM1 Hamiltonians in AMPAC 2.2; the PM3 Hamiltonian in MOPAC 7.0; and at the HF/STO-3G and HF/3-21G levels using Gaussian 92. The optimized HF/3-21G structures are reoptimized at the HF/6-31G(d) level, and the unique structures are optimized again at the MP2 = FULL/6-31G(d) level. In addition, single-point MP2/6-31G(d) calculations are performed using the HF/6-31G(d) geometries. The goal is to determine the relative accuracy of each method and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Light-regulated and organ-specific expression of a wheat Cab gene in transgenic tobacco

Many of our most important crop plants are monocotyledons, including wheat, corn, rice and barley. No routine transformation system for monocotyledons has been reported, such as the Ti-mediated gene transfer system for dicotyledons facilitated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Indirect evidence suggests that Ti-plasmid DNA is transferred into and expressed in A. tumefaciens-infected wound tissues of plants from Liliaceae and Amaryllidaceae, but these observations have not been extended to monocotyledons of greatest agricultural importance. Regeneration of monocotyledons is usually blocked at the callus-stage, further complicating the possibility of exploring the regulated expression of their genes, and thus preventing identification of the regulatory domains of monocotyledonous genes in a homologous nuclear background. To circumvent these difficulties, we investigated whether monocotyledonous genes can be expressed and correctly regulated in dicotyledons. We have introduced a wheat gene (whAB1.6) encoding the major chlorophyll a/b binding protein (Cab) of the light-harvesting complex into the genomes of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum SR1) and petunia (Petunia hybrida) via a Ti-DNA-mediated gene transfer system which allows the transformed cells to regenerate into whole plants. Here we report for the first time the light-regulated and organ-specific expression of a monocotyledonous gene in transgenic dicotyledonous plants.
Antennas with discrete resistive loading built by direct-write fabrication

This research presents results for "Altshuler"-type antennas (Altshuler, 1961) constructed using direct-write fabrication on a flexible substrate. These antennas are conductive monopoles with discrete resistive loading placed a quarter-wavelength from the open end. "Altshuler"-type antennas exhibit input impedance bandwidths on the order of 2 to 1 (ratio of the highest to lowest acceptable frequency) whereas comparable unloaded monopoles typically have bandwidths on the order of a few percent about a center frequency. The conductive portions (traces) of the antennas are made by direct-write fabrication using a silver-based nano-ink(s).
Degenerative lumbar instability

The degenerative process typically results in a stiff but stable lumbar spine; however, occasionally instability may result. The primary forms of degenerative lumbar instability are spondylolisthesis, which is a translation of a single vertebra over another or a more global degenerative scoliosis. All forms of lumbar instability can result in back pain and neural compression. Most forms of degeneration that result in instability are self-limited and can be treated through non-operative means; however, some forms may be progressive and significantly symptomatic so that patients will require surgery.
Landau theory of coherent interphase interfaces.

Landau theory is used to study a (flat) coherent interface between two distinct phases. The average lattice parameter along the interface plane is constrained to be fixed, while the lattice parameter perpendicular to the plane may vary. When (long-range) stress is present in (at least) one of the two bulk phases, the interface free energy $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ and stress ${f}_{\mathrm{ij}}$ are no longer convention-independent quantities, in general. Using a particular convention (analogous to a Gibbs dividing surface), $\ensuremath{\sigma}$, ${f}_{\mathrm{ij}}$, and the interface profile are calculated.
Amygdala Transcriptome and Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning in a Rat Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Severe stress or trauma can cause permanent changes in brain circuitry, leading to dysregulation of fear responses and the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To date, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying stress-induced long-term plasticity in fear circuits. We addressed this question by using global gene expression profiling in an animal model of PTSD, stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL). A total of 15 footshocks were used to induce SEFL and the volatile anesthetic isoflurane was used to suppress the behavioral effects of stress. Gene expression in lateral/basolateral amygdala was measured using microarrays at 3 weeks after the exposure to different combinations of shock and isoflurane. Shock produced robust effects on amygdalar transcriptome and isoflurane blocked or reversed many of the stress-induced changes. We used a modular approach to molecular profiles of shock and isoflurane and built a network of regulated genes, functional categories, and cell types that represent a mechanistic foundation of perturbation-induced plasticity in the amygdala. This analysis partitioned perturbation-induced changes in gene expression into neuron- and astrocyte-specific changes, highlighting a previously underappreciated role of astroglia in amygdalar plasticity. Many neuron-enriched genes were highly correlated with astrocyte-enriched genes, suggesting coordinated transcriptional responses to environmental challenges in these cell types. Several individual genes were validated using RT-PCR and behavioral pharmacology. This study is the first to propose specific cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying SEFL, an animal model of PTSD, and to nominate novel molecular and cellular targets with potential for therapeutic intervention in PTSD, including glycine and neuropeptide systems, chromatin remodeling, and gliotransmission.
Utilization of a Specially-Designed Sediment Colonization Chamber to Examine Hyporheic Water Chemistry and Microbial Communities

ABSTRACT A multi-purpose colonization chamber is described for examining microbial community activity within streambed hyporheic and parafluvial regions, particularly where cherty or cobbly sediments prohibited standard coring techniques. The chamber allows 1) sampling of water chemistry and biofilm-colonized sediments from three depth intervals and 2) in situ time-course experiments with minimal disturbance within shallow groundwater environments beneath and adjacent to streambeds.
Anderson localization and breakdown of hydrodynamics in random ferromagnets.

The dynamic structure factor of Heisenberg magnets with weak randomness is computed. Under circumstances which are explained in detail, we find failure of hydrodynamic theory in the longitudinal structure factor due to localization of spin waves. Localization induces a power-law dependence on q and \ensuremath{\omega} for the neutron scattering line shape near magnetic Bragg spots. The exponent describing the power law is related to the correlation-length exponent of Anderson localization. Random anisotropy magnets appear to be promising candidates for experimental investigations.
Internet intervention for increasing physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background:Physical activity has been associated with improvements in walking mobility and quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), and yet this population is largely sedentary and inactive compared with the general population.Objectives:We conducted a pilot, randomized controlled trial (RCT) for examining the effect of an Internet intervention based on social cognitive theory (SCT) for favorably increasing physical activity among persons with MS. We further examined variables from SCT as possible mediators of the Internet intervention.Methods:We randomly allocated 54 persons with MS into either an Internet intervention condition or a waitlist control condition. The participants completed measures of physical activity, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, functional limitations, and goal setting before and after the 12-week period.Results:The intervention group reported a statistically significant (p = 0.01) and large increase in physical activity over time (d = 0.72), whereas the control ...
Quantification of imidacloprid toxicity to avocado thrips, Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), using a combined bioassay and ELISA approach

A competitive ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique was evaluated for quantifying titres of imidacloprid in homogenates of leaf discs sampled from avocado plants treated with systemic applications of imidacloprid 240 g litre−1SC (Admire®). Matrix effects were evident with undiluted leaf tissue homogenates, but these were effectively eliminated by dilution of homogenates in water. In a field trial conducted in a commercial nursery, there was an excellent correlation between imidacloprid residues within leaves and avocado thrips (Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara) mortality. However, with subsequent sampling over a 2-month period, the relationship between mortality and apparent imidacloprid concentration became less robust, suggesting that the material was being degraded within the plant to non-toxic metabolites. Nevertheless, assessments of thrips mortality on leaves that had been recently treated with imidacloprid established a lower threshold of activity for imidacloprid residues of 6 ng cm−2 leaf. Limitations on the use of ELISA to quantify the impact of systemic insecticides on pest populations are discussed. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of Sponsorship, Web Site Design, and Google Ranking on the Credibility of Online Information

Online searches for reliable information present a challenge, given the enormous amount of information and variety of sources-many questionable sources offer information on Web sites with an appealing design, which may signal high credibility through appearance. Drawing on a persuasion perspective, conceptualizations for online information credibility, and information foraging theory, a main experiment n = 574 and a follow-up study n = 293 examined influences of Web site sponsorship, Web site design appeal, and search engine ranking on online information credibility. Results show that sponsor credibility affected information assessment, whereas a more appealing Web site design could not compensate for low sponsor credibility. Additionally, a high search-engine ranking increased sponsor credibility and thus influenced information credibility indirectly.
Enabling Scaleable, Efficient, Non-visual Web Browsing Services

Over the last few decades, the discipline of Web Accessibility has been focused on building more efficient and more effective speech generators for Web Browsers. The visual browser interface is central to the current paradigm. However, in many cases, visual interaction is not required or desired, e.g. it is not relevant for blind people. More generally, when the input and output points are WAV files, SMS messages or natural queries, it becomes very clear that going through the visual user interface is overkill. In this paper we introduce a solution to this problem - a scalable, efficient, non-visual web browser that works with a Web whose central assumption is that visual interaction is an integral part of the user experience.
Near-infrared spectroscopy of a hydroecological indicator: new tool for determining sustainable yield for Floridan aquifer system

Pond-cypress (Taxodium ascendens Brong.) is a dominant canopy species in depressional wetlands of the south-eastern Coastal Plain. Unsustainable withdrawals from the karst Floridan aquifer system have caused premature decline and death of pond-cypress trees, presumably owing to altered hydroperiods (which alter the flow of water and nutrients in trees). There has been no scientifically based means to determine sustainable yield from this regional aquifer system or to detect early stages of physical/ecological damage associated with groundwater mining and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR, which also can alter natural hydroperiods). In this study, the relationship between visual symptoms (indicators) of stress or premature decline, and spectral reflectance was evaluated using dried, milled branch tips collected from natural stands of mature pond-cypress. Depressional systems evaluated represented four of the six aquifer system subregions where subsurface perturbations from groundwater mining: (i) were presumed not to be occurring (reference wetlands); (ii) may be occurring but are not documented; and (iii) have been confirmed. Sampled trees were assigned to one of three stress classes (1, no/minimal; 2, moderate; 3, severe) based on the visual indicators. Partial least squares–linear discriminant analysis of second derivative spectral transformations in the visible/shortwave near-infrared (NIR) region (400–1100 nm) and the NIR region (1100–2500 nm) was used to evaluate the samples in assigned classes. Class 1 samples were discriminated from combined class 2 and 3 samples in the NIR region with 100% and 97% accuracy for consecutive winter sample periods (before bud-break). The percentage of correctly classified samples in this spectral region was lower (85%) for summer samples (full leaf-out). Second-derivative models for the NIR region developed from the winter data sets predicted assigned classes for alternate winter’s samples with an accuracy of 97% and 100%. High correlation between spectral reflectance of dried, milled branch tips collected from mature pond-cypress in winter and visual indicators of premature decline suggests in situ pond-cypress are hydroecological indicators of anthropogenic subsurface hydroperiod perturbations. This approach provides objective means for early detection of unsustainable aquifer yield and adverse impacts from ASR activities in the south-eastern Coastal Plain. Used in conjunction with hydrological monitoring and modelling, the hydroecological indicators should provide the means with which sustainable yield in the south-eastern Coastal Plain can be achieved and maintained. Copyright  2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Permeability of fluid-phase phospholipid bilayers: assessment and useful correlations for permeability screening and other applications.

ABSTRACT Permeability data ( P lip/w ) for liquid crystalline phospholipid bilayers composed of egg lecithin and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) are analyzed in terms of a mathematical model that accounts for free surface area and chain-ordering effects in the bilayer as well as size and lipophilicity of the permeating species. Free surface area and chain ordering are largely determined by temperature and cholesterol content of the membrane, molecular size is represented by molecular weight, and lipophilicity of the barrier region is represented by the 1,9-decadiene/water partition coefficient, following earlier work by Xiang, Anderson, and coworkers. A correlating variable χ = MW n σ /(1– σ ) is used to link the results from different membrane systems, where different values of n are tried, and σ denotes a reduced phospholipid density. The group (1– σ )/ σ is a measure of free surface area, but can also be interpreted in terms of free volume. A single exponential function of χ is developed that is able to correlate 39 observations of P lip/w for different compounds in egg lecithin at low density, and 22 observations for acetic acid in DMPC at higher densities, spanning nine orders of magnitude to within an rms error for log 10 P lip/w of 0.20. The best fit found for n = 0.87 ultimately makes χ much closer to the ratio of molecular to free volumes than surface areas. The results serve as a starting point for estimating passive permeability of cell membranes to nonionized solutes as a function of temperature and cholesterol content of the membrane.
Fault localization based on failure-inducing combinations

Combinatorial testing has been shown to be a very effective testing strategy. After a failure is detected, the next task is to identify the fault that causes the failure. In this paper, we present an approach to fault localization that leverages the result of combinatorial testing. Our approach is based on a notion called failure-inducing combinations. A combination is failure-inducing if it causes any test in which it appears to fail. Given a failure-inducing combination, our approach derives a group of tests that are likely to exercise similar traces but produce different outcomes. These tests are then analyzed to locate the faults. We conducted an experiment in which our approach was applied to the Siemens suite as well as the grep program from the SIR repository that has 10068 lines of code. The experimental results show that our approach can effectively and efficiently localize the faults in these programs.
Wireless implantable microsystems: high-density electronic interfaces to the nervous system

This paper describes the development of a high-density electronic interface to the central nervous system. Silicon micromachined electrode arrays now permit the long-term monitoring of neural activity in vivo as well as the insertion of electronic signals into neural networks at the cellular level. Efforts to understand and engineer the biology of the implant/tissue interface are also underway. These electrode arrays are facilitating significant advances in our understanding of the nervous system, and merged with on-chip circuitry, signal processing, microfluidics, and wireless interfaces, they are forming the basis for a family of neural prostheses for the possible treatment of disorders such as blindness, deafness, paralysis, severe epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease.
The activated glucocorticoid receptor modulates presumptive autoregulation of ribosomal protein S6 protein kinase, p70 S6K.

Protein metabolism in eukaryotic organisms is defined by a synthesis-degradation equilibrium that is subject to regulation by hormonal and nutritional signals. In mammalian tissues such as skeletal muscle, glucocorticoid hormones specify a catabolic response that influences both protein synthetic and protein degradative pathways. With regard to the former, glucocorticoids attenuate mRNA translation at two levels: translational efficiency, i.e. translation initiation, and translational capacity, i.e. ribosome biogenesis. Glucocorticoids may impair translational capacity through the ribosomal S6 protein kinase (p70 S6K), a recognized glucocorticoid target and an effector of ribosomal protein synthesis. We demonstrate here that the reduction in growth factor-activated p70 S6K activity by glucocorticoids depends upon a functional glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and that the GR is both necessary and sufficient to render p70 S6K subject to glucocorticoid regulation. Furthermore, the DNA binding and transcriptional activation but not repression properties of the GR are indispensable for p70 S6K regulation. Finally, a mutational analysis of the p70 S6K carboxyl terminus indicates that this region confers glucocorticoid sensitivity, and thus glucocorticoids may facilitate autoinhibition of the enzyme ultimately reducing the efficiency with which T389 is phosphorylated.
Developing design rules to avert cracking and debonding in integrated circuit structures

Abstract In an integrated circuit, stresses come from many sources (e.g., differential thermal expansion and electromigration). The circuit structures are never perfect, possibly containing crack-like flaws. The stresses may drive the pre-existing cracks to grow and cause circuit failure. We explore a fracture mechanics approach to formulate design rules to avert crack growth. We adopt a strategy based on two attributes of integrated circuits. First, high tensile sress is generated by internal misfit, and is therefore confined in small regions with size comparable to the feature dimension. Second, the fabrication process is controlled down to the individual features, so that the pre-existing cracks are expected to be smaller than the feature sizes. Instead of considering pre-existing crack, we consider all possible pre-existing cracks, and require that none of them should grow. Such a no-cracking condition is independent of the nature of pre-existing cracks; rather, it depends on parameters that define a circuit structure, such as the feature size and the aspect ratios of the geometry. Furthermore, the stress singularity at sharp corners in a circuit structure does not cause any particular difficulty. We illustrate these ideas with elementary examples involving blanket films and isolated interconnect lines. Then in the spirit of design rules, we investigate a multilevel interconnect test structure to avert channeling cracks caused by differential thermal expansion.
RACK1 interacts with filamin-A to regulate plasma membrane levels of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

Mutations in cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), a chloride channel in the apical membranes of secretory epithelial cells, underlie the fatal genetic disorder cystic fibrosis. Certain C...
Optimizing the Functionality of Teams with Dispersed Individuals an Exploration into the Conditions for Effective Knowledge Management Applications in Virtual Teams

As the technological environment is constantly changing and becoming more global, organizations must continue to find ways to compete advantageously. Teams are increasingly being used as a mechanism for accomplishing organizational work yet researchers are still exploring what leads to the ability to learn as an organization or to exhibit effective knowledge management. A parallel trend is the dispersion of organizations globally and the set of virtual teams and even virtual organizations operating in different places and times. One body of research that may help in understanding how to improve the functioning of virtual teams focuses on Transactive Memory Systems (TMSs). Prior studies have indicated that TMS emergence leads to improved team performance. Therefore, the present research explores and analyzes the roles that influential factors play in TMS emergence and maintenance in virtual teams. Specifically, a number of factors will be investigated with a goal of identifying how best to utilize findings...
Water and Nutrient Outflow Following the Ecological Restoration of a Ponderosa Pine‐Bunchgrass Ecosystem

In the late 1800s, fire suppression, livestock grazing, and a wet and warm climate led to an irruption of pine regeneration in Pinus ponderosa Laws. (ponderosa pine) forests of the southwestern United States. Pines invaded bunchgrass openings, causing stand structure changes that increased the number of standreplacing fires. Ecological restoration, via thinning and prescribed burning, is being used to decrease the risk of stand-replacing fires and ameliorate other effects of pine invasion. The effects of aboveground restoration on belowground processes are poorly understood. We used a hydrologic model and soil water nutrient concentrations, measured monthly below the rooting zone, to estimate restoration effects on nutrient losses by leaching from a mature ponderosa pine forest near Flagstaff, Arizona. Replicated restoration treatments included thinning to pre-1880 stand densities (partial restoration), thinning plus forest floor fuel reduction followed by a prescribed burn (complete restoration),
Transcriptional analyses of antifungal drug resistance in Candida albicans

Oral infections with the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans are one of the most frequent and earliest opportunistic infections in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. The widespread use of azole antifungal drugs has led to the development of drug-resistant isolates. Several molecular mechanisms that contribute to drug resistance have been identified, including increased mRNA levels for two types of efflux pump genes: the ATP binding cassette transporter CDRs (CDR1 and CDR2) and the major facilitator MDR1. Using Northern blot analyses, the expression patterns of these genes have been determined during logarithmic and stationary phases of cell growth and during growth in different carbon sources in a set of matched susceptible and fluconazole-resistant isolates that have been characterized previously. MDR1, CDR1, and CDR2 are expressed early during logarithmic growth, CDR4 is expressed late during logarithmic growth, and CDR1 is preferentially expressed in stationary-phase cells. There is a small decrease in expression of these genes when the cells are grown in carbon sources other than glucose. While increased mRNA levels of efflux pump genes are commonly associated with azole resistance, the causes of increased mRNA levels have not yet been resolved. Southern blot analysis demonstrates that the increased mRNA levels in these isolates are not the result of gene amplification. Nuclear run-on assays show that MDR1 and CDR mRNAs are transcriptionally overexpressed in the resistant isolate, suggesting that the antifungal drug resistance in this series is associated with the promoter and trans-acting factors of the CDR1, CDR2, and MDR1 genes.
When an ecological regime shift is really just stochastic noise

Populations of marine species wax and wane over time and space, reflecting environmental forcing, biological dynamics, and in some cases human perturbations, such as fishing, habitat destruction, and climate change (1). The growing availability of multidecadal observational records opens new windows on how ocean ecosystems function, but the analysis and interpretation of such long time-series also requires new mathematical tools and conceptual models (2). Population time-series often show strong variations at decadal time-scales, and a central question is whether this arises from nonlinear biological processes or simply tracking of external physical variability (3). Borrowing from climate research, Di Lorenzo and Ohman (4) develop a new approach for deciphering links between physical forcing and biological response, using as a test case time-series of marine zooplankton abundances off the coast of California.
The Maid Freed from the Gallows

THE ballad known under the title The Maid Freed from the Gallows is known not only from the collection of Child but also from the classical treatise of F. B. Gummere, in which it is used with great skill to prove the author's well-known theory of ballad origins.' In that ballad, a girl condemned to die on the gallows, we are not told why, calls upon her father and her mother to rescue her, but in vain. Finally she calls on her 'own true love,' who without hesitation pays the ransom (or bribe) and thus frees the victim. We are not told, of course, of any consequences of this peculiar interference with the king's justice. In this form, the ballad reads like a commonplace document relating an event of a type that cannot have been uncommon in Merry Old England in the long period that lies between the Norman Conquest and the end of the eighteenth century. Suffice it to recall a scene in the opening chapter of Sir Walter Scott's admirable Heart of Mid-Lothian, supposed to have occurred in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the early part of the reign of George ii. What puts us on our guard is the significant fact that the same ballad has been found elsewhere, with noteworthy variations.2 Closely related to the ballad is an English folk-tale from Yorkshire, derived, probably, from some ballad version, as may be inferred from the verses interspersed in the prose text.3 In this version, a girl is to be hanged for having lost a golden ball. Standing at the foot of the gallows, she invokes her mother, then her father, and lastly her brother, all in vain. At long last her lover appears, who has succeeded in getting hold of the lost ball, at the risk of his own life. He presents it to the judges and thus saves her life. In a German ballad from Westphalia, a girl, in the power of a mysterious 'skipper' and in danger of death, successively implores her father, her brother, and her love to rescue her. The two former refuse to sell their purple coats to save her life. Her lover sells his own person (apparently because he has no purple coat or anything else of value), and thus redeems her.4 The rationalist method of interpreting the old ballad poetry was ready at hand with the suggestion that the mysterious 'skipper' is simply a pirate who has abducted the heroine. Unfortunately, this explanation failed to explain why the girl's life should be in danger: pirates were certainly not in the habit of slaying their fair victims but preferred to sell them at a handsome profit. This rationalist explanation was suggested in the first place by a Sicilian ballad printed in 1874.5 There a young woman is abducted by Tunisian pirates on the
Bimodal leaky prediction for error resilient video streaming

A novel video coding scheme based on leaky prediction is proposed and its superiority against conventional predictive video coding is demonstrated in environments with moderate to heavy packet loss. The strength of the scheme stems from the fact that it explicitly takes into account the two modes of operation (packet loss or no packet loss) at the decoder and optimizes the corresponding reconstruction filters together with the prediction filter at the encoder simultaneously. The prediction coefficient tends to be significantly smaller than the correlation coefficient between two corresponding frames.
Graduate Students' Training Experiences with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues

The doctoral training experiences of 69 counseling and 38 clinical psychology graduate students in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) issues prior to internship were examined. Descriptive statistics revealed that training in these issues was inadequate. A majority of respondents did not feel that their course work prepared them well to work with LGB clients. Less training was provided in bisexual issues than gay or lesbian issues. Comparisons between clinical and counseling respondents indicated that counseling programs had better records of training in LGB issues. Multiple regressions revealed several predictors of respondents' feelings of preparation to work with LGB clients, including formal training experiences, encouragement to explore heterosexist biases, modeling by trainers, and personal experiences and contacts. Results varied by target group (i.e., patterns of prediction differed for preparation to work with lesbian women, gay men, or bisexual people). Implications for training and suggestions for...
Building novel nanophotonics devices using symmetry considerations (Presentation Recording)

Symmetries play a fundamental role in engineering. In this talk, I will show how symmetry considerations can enable novel nanophotonics devices with advanced functionalities. Novel electromagnetic cavities that can hold light for an infinite amount of time will be introduced as well as the design of novel metamaterials built solely from symmetry considerations. I will present a realized closed ring negative index metamaterial and a self-assembled symmetry breaking metamaterials with controllable optical response.
Impaired Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 1A Expression in Alzheimer's Disease.

Background/Aims: Recent studies have indicated a link between the impaired capacity of de novo protein synthesis and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moreover, it has been established that eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) plays a critical role in maintaining long-term synaptic plasticity, a cellular model for learning and memory. The aim of the present study is to determine whether brain eEF1A protein levels are dysregulated in brain tissue from AD patients compared with controls. Methods: Postmortem human brain samples collected from patients clinically diagnosed as AD, and from age-matched healthy controls, were utilized for this study. Both Western blot and immunohistochemistry approaches were utilized to investigate the potential alteration of eEF1A protein levels by using a specific antibody. Results: Our data demonstrate that eEF1A expression is reduced in AD patients in the hippocampus, but not in the cerebellum or midfrontal gyrus. Furthermore, immunohistochemical experiments reveal that neuronal eEF1A reduction in the AD hippocampus is localized to the CA1 and dentate gyrus, but not to the CA3. Conclusion: Dysregulation of eEF1A and its associated signaling pathways might represent novel molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether eEF1A is a viable therapeutic target for AD and other cognitive syndromes.
Urea transport processes are induced in rat IMCD subsegments when urine concentrating ability is reduced.

Infusing urea into low-protein-fed mammals increases urine concentration within 5–10 min. To determine which urea transporter may be responsible, we measured urea transport in perfused IMCD3 segmen...
Comparison of pollutant concentrations from weekly discrete versus composite samples for residential dry-weather runoff

Abstract As urbanization has increased, so has degradation of urban streams. Urban water quality monitoring has focused on storm runoff sampling, but in arid climates, dry-weather runoff is a significant contributor of pollutants to aquatic systems. The majority of dry-weather runoff studies sample a small window of the entire dry-season. For this study constituent concentrations were compared using two sampling protocols. The first protocol repeatedly collected samples on the same day of the week at the same time of day. The second protocol collected samples during two week-long intensive sampling events consisting of sample collection every hour for 24 h for seven consecutive days. The two protocols were compared to determine if sampling at the same time of the week was representative of the entire week. For nitrate, total phosphorous, fipronil, permethrin, total organic carbon, and total suspended solids, sampling at the same time was not representative of the weekly mean; however, variability was observed between sites and constituents. For those constituent concentrations with significant differences seen between the two protocols, load adjustment factors (LAF) were determined, using a ratio of treatment means, and employed to adjust dry-season load estimates. Future work should include determining if LAF values can be used at similar sites excluded from the study or for similar constituents from the current sampling sites.
Deer feeding selectivity for invasive plants

Native generalist herbivores might limit plant invasion by consuming invading plants or enhance plant invasion by selectively avoiding them. The role of herbivores in plant invasion has been investigated in relation to plant native/introduced status, however, a knowledge gap exists about whether food selection occurs according to native/introduced status or to species. We tested preference of the native herbivore white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for widespread and frequently occurring invasive introduced and native plants in the northeastern United States. Multiple-choice deer preference trials were conducted for the species and relative preference was determined using biomass consumption and feeding behavior. While more native than introduced plant biomass was consumed overall, deer food selection varied strongly by plant species. Results show consistent deer avoidance of several invasive introduced plants (Alliaria petiolata, Berberis thunbergii, and Microstegium vimineum) and a native plant (Dennstaedtia punctilobula). Other invasive introduced plants (Celastrus orbiculatus, Ligustrum vulgare, and Lonicera morrowii) and a native plant (Acer rubrum) were highly preferred. These results provide evidence that herbivore impacts on plant invaders depend on plant species palatability. Consequently, herbivore selectivity likely plays an important role in the invasion process. To the extent that herbivory impacts population demographics, these results suggest that native generalist herbivores promote enemy release of some plant invaders by avoiding them and contribute to biotic resistance of others by consuming them.