cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment with Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Increases Chondrogenesis by Periosteum In Vitro

The repair of defects in articular cartilage with hyaline tissue that is resilient to wear is a challenging problem. Fibrocartilaginous tissue forms in response to injury through the articular surface and degenerates under mechanical load. Because periosteum contains cells, which are capable of synthesizing cartilage matrix proteins, it has been used to repair defects in articular surfaces. Treatment of periosteal grafts with growth factors, particularly those that elicit chondrocyte gene expression, may improve tissue regeneration. Gene expression by periosteal explants in vitro was measured. Expression of type II collagen and aggrecan mRNA was increased in response to treatment with IGF-I. Furthermore, IGF-I treatment caused an increase in type II collagen and aggrecan mRNA that was time and concentration dependent. The effect of short and long-term (continuous) incubations was compared to determine if a pretreatment could be used to condition a graft for subsequent surgical use. Short-term incubation i...
Freezing nucleation in aqueous electrolytes

Experiments were performed to determine the extent to which the nucleating abilities of artificial and natural freezing nuclei are influenced by the presence of salts dissolved in water. Four different nucleants (at fixed concentrations) were tested in combinations with 10–20 soluble salts using the drop freezing technique. Changes in freezing temperatures were determined for each nucleant–salt combination at salt concentrations of 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 molal. Major differences were noted in the responses of the different nucleants and it was concluded that the influence of dissolved salts on heterogeneous freezing nucleation is not due to changes in the bulk water structure, but results from modifications at the nucleant–embryo interface. The measurements indicate that the salt contents of cloud droplets can be expected to alter the ice nucleating activities of suspended particles by as much as ±4°C. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1975.tb01692.x
Collaborative standards development and adoption with network externalities

We study industry-based collaborative standard development and adoption by firms in a consortium setting, when the standard is open and free. We present a game-theoretical model that recognizes the fact that 1) firm's decision to develop or adopt is endogenous, e.g. firms only participate in the development if doing so dominates being a passive adopter of the standard or not adopting at all; 2) the standard is jointly developed by all participating firms; 3) the standard adoption has network externalities, i.e. the more firms use the standard, the more valuable it is to all adopters; 4) developing firms have insider benefit based on their involvement in the standardization, which results in lower adoption cost. We find that 1) no firm want to be a passive adopter if there is no benefit of waiting in adoption; 2) when the benefit of waiting is lower than a threshold, there are no passive adopters and 3) developing firm's contribution is not a function of the network externalities.
Synthesis, isolation and characterization of some iron(II) complexes with mixed α,α′-diimine ligands

Abstract Syntheses are described for mixed ligand complexes of the type [Fe(pehn) n L 3−n L 3−n ]X 2 and [Fe(terpy)(TPTZ)]X 2 (where n = 1 or 2, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, L = methyl, phenyl, nitro, or chloro substituted 1,10-phenanthroline, terpy = 2,2′,2″-terpyridine, TPTZ = tris (2′-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine and X = ClO 4 − and I − ) and [Fe(phen) n L′ 3-n ] (where n = 2 and L′ = 4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthrolinato, 4,7- diphenyl,1,10-phenanthroline-disulfonato or dimethylglyoximato; also where n = 1 and L′ = 4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthrolinato, 1,10-phenanthrolinato, 1, 10-phenanthroline-5-sulfonato or phenyl-2-pyridyl ketoximato). The formal oxidation-reduction potentials and visible absorption spectra of these mixed ligand complexes show certain regularities in comparisons with related unmixed complexes that are of theoretical interest and practical significance. These are discussed.
Identification and characterization of FrzZ, a novel response regulator necessary for swarming and fruiting‐body formation in Myxococcus xanthus

The frz genes of Myxococcus xanthus constitute a signal-transduction pathway that processes chemotactic information in a manner analogous to that found in enteric bacteria. Ultimately, these genes regulate the frequency of individual cell reversal. We report here the identification of a novel component of this signal-transduction pathway, designated frzZ, which was discovered as an open reading frame located 5' to the frz operon but transcribed in the opposite orientation. The translational start site of frzZ is 170 base pairs from that of frzA.frzZ utilizes a promoter similar to the sigma 70 promoters of Escherichia coli, and encodes a 290-amino-acid soluble protein, FrzZ (M(r) 30,500). FrzZ contains two domains, both of which show strong homology to CheY and other members of the response-regulator family. Linking these domains is a 39-amino-acid region that is very rich in alanine and proline (38% Ala and 33% Pro). A frzZ null mutant showed abnormally low reversal rates when compared to the wild-type control and was unable to form fruiting bodies on starvation medium, but it did form 'frizzy' aggregates. In addition, the frzZ mutant was defective in swarming, particularly on soft agar (0.3% w/v). However, unlike most frz mutants, the frzZ mutant was able to respond to attractants and repellents in the spatial chemotaxis assay. The discovery of FrzZ demonstrates that the M. xanthus frz signal-transduction pathway utilizes multiple response-regulator (CheY-like) proteins.
Converging flow of tumbling nematic liquid crystals

Abstract A similarity solution of the Leslie-Ericksen equations is obtained for flow between converging planes for nematic liquid crystals which experience a tumbling instability (α3 > 0). The relative intensities of the stabilizing extensional flow near the centre plane, the destabilizing shear flow near the bounding plane, and the stabilizing Frank elasticity near both the boundary and the centre planes admit a variety of director distributions, depending on the rheological parameters; all distributions become unstable at critical values of the Ericksen number, leading to splay-bend walls for α3 close to zero. A radial inhomogeneous magnetic field can suppress the instability. Closed-form analytical solutions are obtained for the transitions and the characteristic dimensions of splay-bend walls and boundary layers.
Experimental motion analysis of flexible mechanism and drive system using high-speed camera and digital imaging technique

Abstract This paper presents a high-speed cinephotogrammetry combined with a digital image processing experimental technique which studies the entire motion of the linkage connected to a gear reduction and a DC motor. The light-weight reflectors placed on a flexible four-bar linkage are monitored by a high-speed camera. The film is then digitized and the entire motion affected by the whole system is analyzed.
Decreased ascorbic acid entry into cornea of streptozotocin-diabetic rats and guinea-pigs

High L-ascorbic acid (AA) levels in aqueous humor and intraocular tissues including lens and cornea are thought to protect against the harmful effects of the photochemical and ambient oxidation reactions involving oxygen and its radicals. Our pulse-chase studies follow a bolus of radiolabeled test molecules including [14C]L-ascorbic acid and [3H]L-glucose (L-glu) introduced into the blood at time t = 0, and determine the time-dependent concentrations of these labeled molecules as they move into aqueous humor, corneal endothelium and stroma tissues. Calculated entry and exit rate constants provide a representative measure of the functional state of passive and carrier mediated transport mechanisms in situ in normal and diabetic animals. Diabetic rats were categorized in terms of length of time exposed to a uniform, monitored streptozotocin (stz) diabetes as: short term (10-20 days); mid-term (40-60 days); and long term (100+ days). In the rat, we observed little change in entry rate of L-glu (a passive marker) into aqueous humor [control Ki = 0.0216 +/- 0.0021 (n = 14)/mid-term stz-diabetes Ki = 0.0202 +/- 0.0027 (n = 10)] and a modest decrease in the entry rate of AA into aqueous humor [control KAi = 0.0231 +/- 0.0022 (n = 14)/mid-term stz-diabetes KAi = 0.0201 +/- 0.0034 (n = 10)]. At corneal endothelium, we noted a significant decrease in the active movement of AA [control KE = 0.614 +/- 0.053 (n = 14)/mid-term stz-diabetes KE = 0.220 +/- 0.026 (n = 9)] while the passive L-glu entry rate remained essentially unchanged.+
Characterization of REC104, a gene required for early meiotic recombination in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The REC104 gene was initially defined by mutations that rescued the inviability of a rad52 spo13 haploid strain in meiosis. We have observed that rec104 mutant strains undergo essentially no induction of meiotic gene conversion, and we have not been able to detect any meiotic crossing over in such strains. The REC104 gene has no apparent role in mitosis, since mutations have no observable effect on growth, mitotic recombination, or DNA repair. The DNA sequence of REC104 reveals that it is a previously unknown gene with a coding region of 549-bp, and genetic mapping has localized the gene to chromosome VIll near FUR1. Expression of the REC104 gene is induced in meiosis, and it appears that the gene is not transcribed in mitotic cells. Possible roles for the REC104 gene product in meiosis are discussed. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Finite element analysis of interface cracks in rubber materials

Abstract An interface crack analysis in two different rubber materials is carried out using a plane stress non-linear finite element method. A center cracked plate and a cracked pure shear specimen are used in the present analysis. The results obtained for tearing energy are validated for an interface crack in a center cracked plate made of two Neo-Hookean materials. After validation, the tearing energy calculations are made for an interface crack in two Neo-Hookean materials, two Mooney-Rivlin materials, and between Neo-Hookean and Mooney-Rivlin materials. The presented results of maximum tearing energy direction around the crack tip for the three cases illustrate the possible direction of crack growth initiation. It is shown that tearing energy for an interface crack in a pure shear specimen is approximately constant for the three crack lengths considered in different rubber material models.
Clinical electroencephalographic observations on institutionalized mongoloids confirmed by karyotype.

Abstract Two hundred and seventy-nine EEGs were recorded on 202 institutionalized mongoloid patients, ages 1 month to 63 years, whose diagnoses had been confirmed by karyotype. The EEGs were analyzed by conventional impressionistic clinical interpretation. The following conclusions are drawn, based upon the results of the present study and predominant findings reported in the literature: 1. 1. The rate of EEG abnormality in mongoloids is greater (20–25%) than that in the general population. 2. 2. Rates of EEG abnormality in mongoloids are age-related. The highest rates are found during childhood (prior to 14 years of age). Abnormality rates during young adulthood are no higher than those for the general population. They appear to rise prematurely in the 5th and 6th decades, consistent with clinical and pathological observations of acceleration of aging processes in mongoloids. 3. 3. The rate of so-called seizure activity in mongoloids is elevated (9%). Ninety percent of records with “seizure activity” are obtained on subjects under 14 years of age. They are usually not associated with a history of seizures. In general, EEG abnormalities are not well correlated with specific behavioral or neurological signs and symptoms in mongoloids. 4. 4. There is no conclusive evidence that rates or types of EEG abnormality are different in patients with the rarer trisomy 21 mosaic and D/G translocation karyotypes than in patients with the trisomy 21 karyotype.
Assignment of 1H and 13C NMR spectra of retinoic acid ester isomers observed in the long-wavelength UV-induced photostationary state

1H and 13C chemical shift assignments, obtained with the aid of two-dimensional heteronuclear shift correlation and double-quantum coherence 13C-INADEQUATE experiments, are reported for four retinoic acid ester isomers observed at the photo-stationary state. Also detailed are 1H assignments for three additiona isomers obtained in insufficient amounts for 13C measurements.
Plant-Wide Waste Management. 2. Decision Making under Uncertainty

The synthesis and optimization of plant-wide waste management policies under uncertainty is the subject of this paper. The combinatorial synthesis methodology (Chakraborty, A.; Linninger, A. A. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2002, 41 (18), 4591−4604) was adapted to incorporate variations in the expected waste loads. In its first stage, automatic generation of recovery and treatment flowsheet produces a superstructure that embeds all plant-wide waste management policies. In the subsequent optimization phase, plant-wide policies with a desired degree of operational flexibility against uncertainty are developed. The proposed problem formulation leads to linear mathematical models for quantifying the probability of uncertain parameter variations affecting expected operating cost, emissions, and plant capacities. The paper discusses different flexibility measures, their purpose for process design under uncertainty, and mathematical models for their application to the synthesis of robust plant-wide waste management polic...
Hardware efficient seizure prediction algorithm

ABSTRACT Epilepsy affects 2.5 million people in the USA, 15% of which cannot be treated with traditional methods. Effective treatments require reliable prediction of seizures to increase their effectiveness and quality -of-life. Phase synchronization phenomenon of two distant neuron populations for a short period of time just prior to a seizure episode is utilized for such prediction. This paper presents a hardware efficient prediction algorithm using phase -difference (PD) method instead of the commonly used phase -locking statistics (PLS) . The dataset has been collected from publicly available OCHB -MIT Scalp EEG DatabaseO that consists of scalp EEG recordings from 10 pediatric subjects with intractable seizures. The seizure channel is selected based on the maximum value of the standard deviation during seizure, while the reference channel has the minimum value of the standard d eviation. Data from these two channels is conditioned with a band-pass (f lc = 10Hz, f hc = 12.5Hz) 6
Prelimbic and infralimbic cortical regions differentially encode cocaine-associated stimuli and cocaine-seeking before and following abstinence

Cocaine stimuli often trigger relapse of drug-taking, even following periods of prolonged abstinence. Here, electrophysiological recordings were made in rats (n = 29) to determine how neurons in the prelimbic (PrL) or infralimbic (IL) regions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) encode cocaine-associated stimuli and cocaine-seeking, and whether this processing is differentially altered after 1 month of cocaine abstinence. After self-administration training, neurons (n = 308) in the mPFC were recorded during a single test session conducted either the next day or 1 month later. Test sessions consisted of three phases during which (i) the tone-houselight stimulus previously paired with cocaine infusion during self-administration was randomly presented by the experimenter, (ii) rats responded on the lever previously associated with cocaine during extinction and (iii) the tone-houselight was presented randomly between cocaine-reinforced responding during resumption of cocaine self-administration. PrL neurons showed enhanced encoding of the cocaine stimulus and drug-seeking behavior (under extinction and self-administration) following 30 days of abstinence. In contrast, although IL neurons encoded cocaine cues and cocaine-seeking, there were no pronounced changes in IL responsiveness following 30 days of abstinence. Importantly, cue-related changes do not represent a generalised stimulus-evoked discharge as PrL and IL neurons in control animals (n = 4) exhibited negligible recruitment by the tone-houselight stimulus. The results support the view that, following abstinence, neural encoding in the PrL but not IL may play a key role in enhanced cocaine-seeking, particularly following re-exposure to cocaine-associated cues.
DSPs See Gains in Their Impact on New Medical Imaging Designs [Special Reports]

Digital signal processing (DSP) is having a major impact on advancing the state of the art of medical imaging. The advantages of DSP are well established: They operate in real time, they're highly reliable, and they are very energy efficient. They're also relatively inexpensive. But the medical imaging market continues to push for more technical innovation. That's putting more focus on higher image quality and designing smaller systems.
Toughening by aligned, frictionally constrained fibers

Abstract T he M ode I fracture toughness of a brittle material reinforced by aligned brittle fibers is studied theoretically. The fibers are assumed to slip relative to the matrix when a critical interface shear stress is reached, and the toughening action of the fibers is presumed to be due to bridging of crack faces in the vicinity of the crack front. The toughening due to the fiber reinforcement is related to basic parameters associated with the related problem of steady-state matrix cracking in the presence of intact fibers. Bridge lengths at fracture and fracture resistance curves are calculated.
A simultaneous multielement flame atomic absorption study for the removal of lead, zinc, and copper by an algal biomass

Abstract The effects of parameters such as pH, concentration of metals in solution, mass of algae, and residence time of algae were investigated as they relate to the uptake and removal of Pb, Zn, and Cu simultaneously from aqueous solutions by an algae biomass, Chlorella Vulgaris. This is the first detailed study of the binding of three metals simultaneously to Chlorella Vulgaris. The aforementioned parameters were found to have varying degrees of influence on the adsorption of metals to Chlorella Vulgaris. Analysis was performed using a Simultaneous Multi‐element Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer.
Probing the neutron star equation of state with gravitational wave detectors

Coalescing binary neutron stars (NS) are expected to be an important source of gravitational waves detectable by laser interferometers. We discuss recent theoretical work on the hydrodynamics of NS binary mergers and possible methods for determining the NS compactness ratio M/R and constraining the equation of state of dense nuclear matter using gravitational wave signals. One particularly simple and promising method is based on the properties of quasi-equilibrium binary NS sequences and does no require full hydrodynamic merger calculations.
Activation of innate immunity by prostate specific antigen (PSA)

BACKGROUND Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease secreted by the prostatic epithelium. The only known function of the protein is to cleave seminogelin. We wished to determine if PSA activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). METHODS PBMC and selected sub-populations were cultured with purified PSA. Secretion of IFNγ was measured by cytokine capture flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS We observed secretion of IFNγ and a proliferative response in PBMC cultured with PSA. We found that NK cells were the source of the IFNγ but NK cells were not directly stimulated by PSA. Rather, a soluble factor secreted primarily by CD14 monocytes in response to PSA stimulated NK cells to secrete IFNγ. DISCUSSION PSA induces a pro-inflammatory response that results in the secretion of INFγ by NK cells. The presence of large amounts of PSA could contribute to the common finding of inflammatory infiltrates in the prostate. Prostate 66: 1592–1599, 2006. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Management of severe epidermolysis bullosa by haematopoietic transplant: principles, perspectives and pitfalls

People with severe forms of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) develop widespread blistering and progressively debilitating multisystem complications that may result in a shortened lifespan. As some wounds in EB individuals are difficult or impossible to access with topical therapy, we examined the potential of systemic therapy with normal haematopoietic stem cells. In both animal models and children with EB, healthy donor cells from the haematopoietic graft migrated to the injured skin; simultaneously, there was an increase in the production of skin-specific structural proteins deficient in EB, increased skin integrity and reduced tendency to blister formation. Even though the majority of evaluable individuals have had a positive response in skin healing, frequently changing their quality of life, the improvement in lifestyle has been varied and the overall clinical response incomplete. To change the current amelioration of disease into a full cure, we propose to (i) increase safety as well as efficacy of haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) using co-infusion of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells with haematopoietic stem cells and non-myeloablative conditioning for transplant; (ii) optimize homing of donor cells into the skin erosions in animal models of EB; and (iii) discover and test new drugs for EB therapy using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells. We conclude that although HCT has always been a risky treatment restricted to those with serious life-threatening or debilitating diseases, by most benchmarks, the results of HCT in EB have shown that HCT has the potential of being a durable, systemic therapy for people with severe forms of EB.
The validity of rating procedures to index the hierarchical level of categories

Abstract Mean ratings of Concreteness vs Abstractness, Imagability, Categorizability, Meaningfulness, Familiarity, Number of Attributes, and Pleasantness were tested as predictors of the hierarchical level of 440 categories within 22 hierarchies. Neither Concreteness nor Imagability was related to hierarchical level, either monotonically or curvilinearly, whereas Number of Attributes was a near-perfect predictor. A second study investigated the process by which subjects rate the number of attributes in a category, using five instructional conditions, two focused on the number of associated attributes, two on the number of common attributes, and one on the number of instances. Only one kind of process seemed to be involved in all five types of ratings: The broader the category, the larger the numerical value that is naturally associated with it.
Interaction of airspace partitions and traffic flow management delay with weather

The interaction of partitioning the airspace and delaying flights in the presence of convective weather is explored to study how re-partitioning the airspace can help reduce congestion and delay. Three approaches with varying complexities are employed to compute the ground delays. In the first approach, an airspace partition of 335 high-altitude sectors that is based on clear weather day traffic is used. Routes are then created to avoid regions of convective weather. With traffic flow management, this approach establishes the baseline with per-flight delay of 8.4 minutes. In the second approach, traffic flow management is used to select routes and assign departure delays such that only the airport capacity constraints are met. This results in 6.7 minutes of average departure delay. The airspace is then partitioned with a specified capacity. It is shown that airspace-capacity-induced delay can be reduced to zero at a cost of 20 percent more sectors for the examined scenario. While the first two approaches investigate the upper and lower bounds in terms of delay and number of sectors, the third approach investigates the tradeoff between the number of sectors and the delay by re-applying the traffic flow management using the re-partitioned sectors. In this approach, the weather constraints are reflected in the sector partitions, and the delay is shared between airspace and airports. The solutions discovered by this approach are 6.9 minutes of average delay with a 312 sector configuration and 8.1 minutes of delay with a 253 sector configuration. Results show that a sector design that is tailored to the traffic and weather pattern can reduce delay while reducing the number of sectors at the same time. However, airspace partitioning can only address the delays caused by airspace congestion. Even in the presence of convective weather, the airport capacity constraint causes the majority of the delay.
Higgs Mass Prediction for Realistic String/M Theory Vacua

Recently it has been recognized that in compactified $\mathrm{\text{string}}/M$ theories that satisfy cosmological constraints, it is possible to derive some robust and generic predictions for particle physics and cosmology with very mild assumptions. When the matter and gauge content below the compactification scale is that of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), it is possible to make precise predictions. In this case, we predict that there will be a single standard model-like Higgs boson with a calculable mass $105\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{M}_{h}\ensuremath{\lesssim}129\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ depending on $\mathrm{tan}﻿\ensuremath{\beta}$ (the ratio of the Higgs vevs in the MSSM). For $\mathrm{tan}﻿\ensuremath{\beta}g7$, the prediction is $122\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{M}_{h}\ensuremath{\lesssim}129\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$.
CONTRAST MECHANISMS IN THE THERMOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPE

The thermoacoustic microscope [1–9] uses a modulated particle beam (electrons, photons or ions) as a heat source on (or near) the surface of the sample, and a piezoelectric transducer attached elsewhere on the sample as a detector of acoustic waves generated by the beam. The modulation frequency is typically 103 to 107 Hz, so the acoustic signal is in the sonic to ultrasonic range. These acoustic signals are used to produce images of surface and near surface features of the solid by scanning the source over the face of the sample. In order to make full use of this type of microscope as a quantitative NDE tool, one must be able to interpret the images in terms of the physical properties of the features being imaged. The interpretation of an image resulting from variations in, say, the elastic constants as if it were caused by variations in, say, thermal expansion coefficient, could lead to totally incorrect conclusions about the nature of a defect. This paper summarizes a theoretical analysis which can form a basis for assessing the relative importance of different contrast mechanisms.
Why are some human disease-associated mutations fixed in mice?

A recent comparative genomic analysis revealed the presence of nucleotide sequences in mouse that are known to be disease-associated in humans, yet the mouse appears normal. In this article we formulate and test several hypotheses in an attempt to explain why these apparently deleterious mutations become fixed in mice. We find that except for one case, the fixations of the disease-associated mutations occurred before the separation of Mus musculus and Mus spretus at least 1 million years ago and that the fixations are not attributable to a founder effect during the recent history of mouse breeding. About 80% of the cases involve diseases that occur before reproductive age in humans and these substitutions are unlikely to have been fixed because of the inefficiency of natural selection against late-onset diseases. We conclude that the compensatory mutation hypothesis remains the most probable explanation for the majority of the fixations of disease mutations in mice.
Bubble Behavior in Nucleate Boiling Experiment Aboard the Space Shuttle

Boiling dynamics in microgravity need to be better understood before heat transfer systems based on boiling mechanism can be developed for space applications. This paper presents the results of a nucleate boiling experiment aboard Space Shuttle Endeavor (STS108). The experiment utilized nickel-chromium resistance wire to boil water in microgravity, and the data was recorded with a CCD camera and six thermistors. This data was analyzed to determine the behavior of bubble formation, detachment from the heating wire, and travel in the water with effects of drag on bubble movement. Bubbles were observed to be ejected from the wire, travel through and eventually stop in the unsaturated water. The data from this experiment is in good agreement with the results of theoretical equations used to model bubble-fluid dynamics in microgravity. The primary conclusion from this experiment is that a bubble can be ejected from a heated wire in the absence of gravity, instead of the creation of a single large vapor bubble. Further conclusions from this research could be applied to the development of safe and efficient heat transfer systems for microgravity and terrestrial applications.
Liquid phase aldol condensation reactions with MgO-ZrO2 and shape-selective nitrogen-substituted NaY

Abstract The aldol condensation reactions of furfural/hydroxymethylfurfural (furfurals) with acetone/propanal in water–methanol solvents were studied over the solid base catalysts MgO–ZrO 2 , NaY and nitrogen-substituted NaY (Nit-NaY). The reactions were conducted at 120 °C and 750 psig of He in batch reactors. Nit-NaY exhibited catalytic activity for aldol condensation comparable to MgO–ZrO 2 and much higher than that of NaY, indicative of the increased base strength after replacing the bridging oxygen with the lower electronegativity nitrogen over Nit-NaY. The aldol condensation of furfurals with acetone produces two different products, the monomer and the dimer. The monomer is formed from reaction of furfurals with acetone. The dimer is formed from reaction of the monomer with furfurals. MgO–ZrO 2 had a higher selectivity towards dimer formation. In contrast, Nit-NaY was more selective towards the monomer product due to the cage size in the FAU structure, indicating that Nit-NaY is a shape selective base catalyst. Increasing the water concentration in the feed solution or increasing the feed concentration led to both increased catalytic activity and dimer selectivity. The Nit-NaY catalyst was not stable and lost catalytic activity when recycled due to leaching of the framework nitrogen. Different characterization techniques, including XRD, high resolution Ar adsorption isotherm, basic sites titration, CO 2 TPD-MS, TGA and 29 Si SP MAS NMR, were used here to characterize the fresh and spent catalysts. The results show that Nit-NaY maintains only part of the FAU-type crystal structure. Furthermore, the base strength over Nit-NaY was found to be between that of Mg 2+ –O 2− pair and Mg(OH) 2 . The reaction mechanism over Nit-NaY was discussed.
The variability of interconnected wind plants

We present the first frequency-dependent analyses of the geographic smoothing of wind power’s variability, analyzing the interconnected measured output of 20 wind plants in Texas. Reductions in variability occur at frequencies corresponding to times shorter than � 24 h and are quantified by measuring the departure from a Kolmogorov spectrum. At a frequency of 2.8 � 10 � 4 Hz (corresponding to 1 h), an 87% reduction of the variability of a single wind plant is obtained by interconnecting 4 wind plants. Interconnecting the remaining 16 wind plants produces only an additional 8% reduction. We use step change analyses and correlation coefficients to compare our results with previous studies, finding that wind power ramps up faster than it ramps down for each of the step change intervals analyzed and that correlation between the power output of wind plants 200 km away is half that of co-located wind plants. To examine variability at very low frequencies, we estimate yearly wind energy production in the Great Plains region of the United States from automated wind observations at airports covering 36 years. The estimated wind power has significant inter-annual variability and the severity of wind drought years is estimated to be about half that observed nationally for hydroelectric power.
The British Climate Change Act: A Critical Evaluation and Proposed Alternative Approach

This paper evaluates the United Kingdom's Climate Change Act of 2008 in terms of the implied rates of decarbonization of the UK economy for a short-term and a long-term target established in law. The paper uses the Kaya identity to structure the evaluation, employing both a bottom up approach (based on projections of future UK population, economic growth, and technology) and a top down approach (deriving implied rates of decarbonization consistent with the targets and various rates of projected economic growth). Both approaches indicate that the UK economy would have to achieve annual rates of decarbonization in excess of 4 or 5%. To place these numbers in context, the UK would have to achieve the 2006 carbon efficiency of France by about 2015, a level of effort comparable to the building of about 30 new nuclear power plants, displacing an equivalent amount of fossil energy. The paper argues that the magnitude of the task implied by the UK Climate Change Act strongly suggests that it is on course to fail, and discusses implications.
In-situ root extent measurements by electrical capacitance methods

A conceptual model is presented that provides a rational basis for using plant root capacitance as an in-situ measurement for assessing plant root development. This method is based on measuring the electricla capacitance of an equivalent parallel resistance-capacitance circuit formed by the interface between soil-water and the plant root surface. Nutrient solution studies using tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) showed a good correlation between plant root capacitance and root mass. Stage of development studies showed plant root capacitance measurements capable of detecting root development rate and suggested the method to be sensitive to root function. Soil water content was shown to have a significant effect on plant root capacitance measurement. The possibility of using this technique to assess relative root function is discussed. Positioning of the plant shoot electrode was shown to also have a significant effect on measurement of plant root capacitance, demonstrating the need for using consistent measurement techniques. The electrical capacitance method shows considerable promise. More research is needed before it can be used routinely.
Analysis of resistance to Xylella fastidiosa within a hybrid population of Pera sweet orange × Murcott tangor

Resistance to Xylella fastidiosa was evaluated within a population of 20 interspecific hybrids of Pera sweet orange and Murcott tangor under greenhouse conditions. Efficiency of inoculation, multiplication of bacteria within the plants, xylem vessel morphology, and symptom expression were analysed. The rate of infection ranged from 40 to 100% (average 70%) for all genotypes analysed. Xylella fastidiosa populations ranged from log 0·59 to log 2·13 cells mg−1 tissue for the resistant hybrids. These values were significantly different (P = 0·05) from those obtained for the tolerant (no symptoms but bacteria recovered) or susceptible (symptoms and bacteria recovered) hybrids (log 3·02 to log 4·06 cells mg−1). Xylella fastidiosa was recovered from all hybrids (log 2·31 to 5·03 CFU mg−1 tissue) except the resistant ones. The first foliar symptoms appeared at least 90 days post-inoculation, the time varying according to genotype. No correlation between xylem vessel morphology and disease expression was observed, indicating that the resistance was the result of a genetic response of the host. According to this hypothesis, a high broad-based heritability index for resistance was obtained (0·96) at 210 days from X. fastidiosa inoculations, using bacterial quantification by real-time PCR, which indicated that the influence of the number of bacteria was the result of genetic rather than environmental variations.
Advising Undergraduates Who Wish to Become Clinicians

This article is written for advisers of undergraduates who aspire to be clinicians. It describes alternatives to traditional clinical psychology programs, including counseling psychology programs, professional schools of psychology, school psychology programs, medical school, and schools of social work. Strategies for increasing the likelihood of applicants being admitted to highly competitive programs in clinical psychology are also presented.
A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE REGIME SHIFT‐“JUNK FOOD”‐NUTRITIONAL STRESS HYPOTHESIS FOR THE DECLINE OF THE WESTERN STOCK OF STELLER SEA LION

Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the central and western Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea have declined by 80% in the last 30 yr. One hypothesis for the decline in this western Steller sea lion population is that a climate regime shift in 1976–1977 changed the species composition of the fish community and reduced the nutritional quality (energy density) of the sea lion prey field. This in turn led to nutritional stress and reduced individual fitness, survival, and reproduction of sea lions. Implications of this regime shift-“junk food” hypothesis are that (1) the recruitment and abundance of supposed high quality species (e.g., Pacific herring, Clupea pallasi) decreased while those of supposed low quality (e.g., species in the family Gadidae) increased following the regime shift, (2) Steller sea lion diets shifted in response to this change in fish community structure, and (3) a diet composed principally of gadids (e.g., walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma) is detrimental to sea lion fitness and survival. We examine data relating to each of these implications and find little support for the hypothesis that increases in the availability and consumption of gadids following the regime shift are primarily responsible for the decline of the western population of Steller sea lion.
Elementary Steps of Contraction Probed by Sinusoidal Analysis Technique in Rabbit Psoas Fibers

Elementary steps of contraction were probed by sinusoidal analysis technique in skinned fibers from the rabbit psoas muscle during maximal Ca2+ activation (pCa 4.55–4.82) at 20°C and 200 mM ionic strength. Our study included the effects of MgATP, MgADP, and Pi concentrations, and an ATP hydrolysis rate measurement. We increased the frequency range up to 350 Hz, and resolved an extra process (D), in addition to well defined processes (A), (B), and (C). Based on these studies, we established a cross-bridge scheme consisting of six attached states, one detached state, and transitions between these states. We deduced all kinetic constants to specify the scheme. The scheme uniquely explains our data, and no other scheme with an equal degree of simplicity could explain our data. We correlated process (D) to ATP isomerization, process (C) to cross-bridge detachment, and process (B) to cross-bridge attachment. We deduced the tension per cross-bridge state, which indicates that force is generated on cross-bridge attachment and before Pi-release. We also found that the rate constants of elementary steps become progressively slower starting from ATP binding to the myosin head and ending by ADP isomerization, and this stepwise slowing may be the essential and integral part of the energy transduction mechanism by muscle.
Minimum cost content distribution using network coding: Replication vs. coding

Large scale content distribution over the internet has been the focus of numerous studies in recent years. In the traditional server-client model, the server may suffer from overload when a popular file stored at the server is frequently requested. In order to reduce the cost at servers and decrease the retrieval time for clients, distributed storage solutions that operate by dividing the file into pieces and placing copies of the pieces (replication) or coded versions of the pieces (coding) at multiple source nodes have been proposed. Network coding has also been used in large content distribution. In this work, we consider multicasting a file that can be broken into small pieces to multiple clients over a network with network coding. The network contains a set of source nodes that can store either subsets or coded version of the pieces of the file. We are interested in finding the optimal storage capacity and flows over the edges for the subset case and the coded case, respectively, such that the joint cost of transmission at edges and storage at sources is minimized. We provide succinct formulations of the corresponding optimization problems by using information measures. By the insight gained from the two formulations, a gap linear program which can compute the cost gap between the subset case and the coded case is formulated. A greedy algorithm is developed to find a suboptimal solution of the gap LP. In particular, we show that when there are two source nodes, there is no loss in considering subset sources. Furthermore, in the case of three source nodes, we derive a tight upper bound on the cost gap between the two cases. Algorithms for determining the content of the source nodes are also provided.
Disseminated cutaneous Nocardia brasiliensis infection.

: Nocardia brasiliensis is an uncommon pathogen in the United States despite its presence in soil samples. It is most frequently seen in patients who are immunosuppressed, but can occur in the immunocompetent host also. Usually in a healthy host the infection is localized to one area of the body. Disseminated infection was diagnosed in a healthy child who recovered fully after initiation of oral sulfonamide therapy. We suspect that the source was soil to which the patient was exposed during a family camping trip. Nocardia asteroides is the most frequent cause of nocardial infections in North America (1). These infections are unusual in healthy individuals, occurring more often in immunologically compromised hosts (1). They are usually acquired by a pulmonary route and may disseminate widely, most commonly to the central nervous system and skin. Nocardia brasiliensis, when it does occur in the United States, usually causes a chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous infection manifesting itself as mycetoma, abscess, or ulcer (2). We saw acute suppurative lymphocutaneous Nocardia brasiliensis infection in an otherwise healthy 2-year-old boy.
Carbohydrate (CHO) Oxidation in Patients with Type B Insulin Resistance

Total body carbohydrate (CHO) and fat oxidation rates, plasma glucose, free fatty acid, and insulin concentrations were determined in two patients with the type B syndrome of severe insulin resistance and in normal controls in response to insulin infusions (1-100 mU/kg/min) and to a test meal. In addition, insulin was infused at higher rates (10-1000 mU/kg/min) in one of the two patients while plasma glucose concentrations were clamped first at 195 and later at 244 mg/dl. During the postabsorptive state, resting metabolic rates (RMR) were 914 and 979 cal/min/1.73 m2 in the two patients (controls: 1018 +/- 85 cal/min/1.73 m2). Patients met 85% and 83% of their caloric requirements by oxidizing fat (controls: 63 +/- 7%). Protein oxidation accounted for 15% and 13% (controls: 14 +/- 3%) of energy requirements and CHO oxidation for 0% and 0%, respectively, in both patients (controls: 23 +/- 5%). Infusion of insulin at a rate of 10 mU/kg/min raised plasma insulin concentrations from 1400 and 440 microU/ml to 6000 and 2500 microU/ml, respectively, in patients 1 and 2 (controls: from 4 +/- 0.3 to 1288 +/- 50 microU/ml), but had no effects on rates of CHO, fat, or protein oxidation in either patient. By comparison, the rate of CHO oxidation in controls rose about sixfold from 40 +/- 8 to 234 +/- 12 mg/min/1.73 m2. Infusion of 1000 mU/kg/min in combination with an increase in plasma glucose from 195 +/- 1.1 to 244 +/- 1.9 mg/dl in patient 1, however, raised CHO oxidation from 0 to 36 mg/min/1.73 m2 and lowered fat oxidation from 105 to 69 mg/min/1.73 m2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Turning germ cells into stem cells

Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of the gametes of the adult animal, can give rise to two types of pluripotent stem cells. In vivo, PGCs can give rise to embryonal carcinoma cells, the pluripotent stem cells of testicular tumors. Cultured PGCs exposed to a specific cocktail of growth factors give rise to embryonic germ cells, pluripotent stem cells that can contribute to all the lineages of chimeric embryos including the germline. The conversion of PGCs into pluripotent stem cells is a remarkably similar process to nuclear reprogramming in which a somatic nucleus is reprogrammed in the egg cytoplasm. Understanding the genetics of embryonal carcinoma cell formation and the growth factor signaling pathways controlling embryonic germ cell derivation could tell us much about the molecular controls on developmental potency in mammals.
“Top 10” reasons: When adding persuasive arguments reduces persuasion

Across four studies, we show that experts’ efforts to strengthen the persuasiveness of health and civic duty-related appeals actually weakened them. When designing “Top 10” reasons lists to get people to quit smoking, encourage young people to vote, and persuade individuals to engage in fitness, governmental (studies 1–2) and non-profit (study 3) agencies chose to include mildly strong reasons alongside strong ones in their effort to be as persuasive as possible. However, from the target audience’s perspective, those mildly favorable reasons actually decreased the persuasiveness of the message compared to a condition in which fewer but only highly persuasive reasons were used. Building upon the Presenter’s Paradox by Weaver, Garcia & Schwarz (Journal of Consumer Research 39 (3):445–460, 2012), these results demonstrate that averaging in impression formation occurs not only in targets commonly thought of as unified entities such as consumer products and people but also occurs in persuasion contexts where the individual arguments comprising a message are independent of each other.
Effect of pulsing ultrasound on phacoemulsification efficiency

Purpose To evaluate pulse type technology used to remove lens fragments during phacoemulsification. Setting John A. Moran Eye Center Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods Lens nuclei soaked in 10 mL of 10% neutral buffered formalin for 2 hours were placed in 10 mL of balanced salt solution. Lenses were cut into 2 mm × 2 mm cubes; no more than 36 hours later, cubes were randomly selected for testing. Two aspiration and 2 vacuum settings were assessed at moderate- and high-flow and vacuum (30 mL/min and 300 mm/Hg, low-flow vacuum; 50 mL/min and 500 mm/Hg, high-flow vacuum), with continuous 50 milliseconds on and off (long pulse) and 6 milliseconds on and off (micropulse) ultrasound. Results There was a significant difference in efficiency favoring micropulse compared with combined long pulse and continuous pulse in high-flow vacuum at 80% power ( P = .018) and between combined long pulse and continuous pulse versus micropulse in high-flow vacuum at 20% power ( P = .019). Low-flow vacuum micropulse was more efficient than continuous (19.7%) ( P P P Conclusion Micropulse technology was better than continuous and long pulse at moderate but not high-flow and vacuum settings. At the higher setting, chatter was observed less often, with all modalities more efficient than the lower setting.