cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-esteem: a closer look at clinical interventions

Self-esteem, a positive regard for oneself, is a universal need for every human being and a key component in restoring and maintaining mental and physical health. Yet, this important concept is remarkably neglected in nursing literature and easily overlooked in clinical practice. This article examines the existing research on the antecedents of self-esteem and compiles a list of factors which can facilitate the nurse's therapeutic effect on her client's positive self-concept. From this list, specific nursing interventions are provided for raising and maintaining a client's self-esteem. Since the impact of nursing interventions varies with clinical circumstances, the nursing actions are correlated with their most effective health care settings. This article provides a global and practical approach to the enhancement of clients' self-esteem.
Larval Growth of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Resulting Root Injury to Three Citrus Varieties in Two Soil Types

Larval growth and intraspecific competition of Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) larvae and consequent root injury in container-grown citrus in the greenhouse were evaluated. Roots of Carrizo citrange, Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck × Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.; Cleopatra mandarin, C. reticulata Blanco, and Swingle citrumelo, C. paradisi Macf. × P. trifoliata (L.) Raf. rootstock seedlings grown in Candler fine sand and potting soil were colonized with different populations of D. abbreviatus larvae. Larvae were exposed to the seedlings for 79 d. Larval growth and development increased steadily for ≈70 d on all rootstock-soil combinations, at which time most larvae were instars 6–8. Most feeding injury occurred to roots when larvae were between instars 3 and 6. Larval weight reached a plateau at ≈70 d, but often declined between 70 and 79 d. When larvae were small, injury to seedlings developed slowly, primarily on fibrous roots, then feeding increased rapidly, often resulting in total consumption of both fibrous root and bark tissue. Although not statistically significant, root injury developed slightly slower on Swingle citrumelo compared with Carrizo and Cleopatra rootstocks, but damage was comparable by 79 d. Little or no difference in consumptive benefit to the larvae was found between the rootstocks. Based on larval weight days, little feeding injury occurred during the first 21 d, but increased rapidly between 21 and 60 d. Soil type affected the rate of larval growth and development, with potting soil contributing to greater growth rates. Detritus in potting soil provided little or no nutritional resource, suggesting that the effect of potting soil on larval development was primarily physical. In addition, fewer inoculated larvae per seedling exhibited greater weight gains than higher infestation densities, suggesting that intraspecific competition for nutritional resources influenced larval development.
The sorption of water vapor by multilayered composite films measured using infrared spectroscopy

Abstract Organic/inorganic composite films formed by the alternate adsorption of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and exfoliated sheets of Laponite RD, a synthetic sheet-silicate mineral, respond dramatically to changes in ambient relative humidity. We have used a chemically selective analytical technique, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, to monitor the sorption and desorption of water vapor by a film over a wide range (∼0–87%) of relative humidity. Correlation of the IR response to separate gravimetric measurements indicated that this method provides a quantitative measure of water in the film. The response of the film was stable over a period of at least 2 months.
Questionnaires: Simply Complex

Hodgkinson and Edelstein (Aug. 72) create the impression that college and university officials are either careless or ignorant in responding to questionnaires. An alternative perspective is that careless or ignorant questionnaire construction precludes responses. Questionnaire items are frequently worded in such general terms that one must "guess" what the questioner is trying to ascertain. Few questionnaires appear to have been pretested, and probably even fewer have any data on reliability before they are distributed.
Localization and Visualization of Depth-Resolved Changes in Attenuation Coefficient During Focal Seizure Propagation with Optical Coherence Tomography

Localization of OCT-derived optical changes in a focal seizure model was used to differentiate active versus inactive cortical tissue in vivo, demonstrating OCT’s potential as a tool for studying brain activity with high spatiotemporal resolution.
Experimental pancreatic preservation prior to islet isolation and transplantation.

Abstract Preservation of the Lewis rat pancreas prior to islet isolation was accomplished by initial intraductal distension with the University of Wisconsin (UW) hydroxyethyl starch-lactobionate solution to which collagenase had been added, followed by simple cold storage at 4°C for 0, 3, 12, 24, and 48 hr ( n = 16–21 at each interval). The pancreases were then processed by digestion and mechanical dispersion to produce free islets of Langerhans. The mean islet yields (± standard errors of the means) were controls = 819 ± 58 ( n = 21), 3 hr = 867 ± 51 ( n = 20), 12 hr = 770 ± 71 ( n = 16), 24 hr = 805 ± 62 ( n = 18), and 48 hr = 722 ± 55 ( n = 16). None of these means differed significantly. The islets from pairs of donor pancreases (mean dose of islets = 1586 ± 72) were transplanted intraportally into single isogeneic recipients with streptozotocin-induced diabetes (plasma glucose > 400). The preservation interval directly influenced the outcome of these islet isografts in the following manner: (i) Rates of functional success (nonfasting glucose n = 10), 3 hr ( n = 8), and 12 hr ( n = 8); 86% with a storage time of 24 hr ( n = 7); and 0% after 48 hr ( n = 8). (ii) Return of euglycemia was increasingly delayed with increasing preservation intervals. Controls were all euglycemic after 1 day, whereas the mean times (±SEM) to euglycemia in the preservation groups were 3 hr = 4.4 ± 1.8 days, 12 hr = 6.0 ± 2.5 days, and 24 hr = 7.0 ± 2.9 days. (iii) Intravenous glucose tolerance was impaired in those animals receiving islets from pancreases stored for > 12 hr, when compared with animals receiving fresh islets. Mean K values (1–15 min) were controls = −4.07 ± 0.36, 3 hr = − 4.81 ± 0.39, 12 hr = − 5.38 ± 0.87, and 24 hr = − 2.56 ± 0.55. The mean value in the 24-hr group was significantly different from that in the controls ( P P
Multiple, Interconvertible States of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Three recent studies, including Buecker et al. (2010), in this issue of Cell Stem Cell, report that human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can exist in distinct but interconvertible states and describe a robust expansion of human ESCs/iPSCs that resemble mouse ESCs.
Godunov computational fluid dynamics method for extreme flow velocities and any equation of state

An inviscid computational fluid dynamics code that can handle multiple component species, simple chemical reactions, a completely general equation of state, and velocities up to hundreds of kilometers per second is described. Radiation effects are not included. The code uses a sliding grid technique to handle multiple moving zones containing different media. Third-order extrapolations and interpolations are used to determine cell boundary values of the primitive variables. Limiting techniques then are applied to these values to maintain code accuracy and stability. First- and second-order Godunov procedures are used to calculate the cell boundary fluxes. The cell center values are updated in time using an explicit MacCormack predictor-corrector technique that is second-order accurate in time. The code was proofed with benchmark test cases, including Riemann's shock tube problem at pressure ratios up to 104, impacts of ideal-gas and dense media zones at closing velocities up to 220 km/s, detonation waves in stoichiometric hydrogen-oxyge n mixtures, ideal-gas wedge and cone flows, and a wedge flow of iron at a speed of 110 km/s. The results of these proof tests are discussed. The agreement between the CFD results and the exact solutions is found to be excellent.
Direct measurement of the transverse velocity of dark spatial solitons

We describe the direct experimental measurement of the transverse propagation velocities of dark spatial solitons. Good agreement is obtained from a comparison of the velocities measured experimentally and the velocities predicted by the two-dimensional theory of Zakharov and Shabat [Sov. Phys. JETP 37, 823 (1973)].
Non-canonical functions of RGS proteins

Regulators of G protein signalling (RGS) proteins are united into a family by the presence of the RGS domain which serves as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for various Galpha subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. Through this mechanism, RGS proteins regulate signalling of numerous G protein-coupled receptors. In addition to the RGS domains, RGS proteins contain diverse regions of various lengths that regulate intracellular localization, GAP activity or receptor selectivity of RGS proteins, often through interaction with other partners. However, it is becoming increasingly appreciated that through these non-RGS regions, RGS proteins can serve non-canonical functions distinct from inactivation of Galpha subunits. This review summarizes the data implicating RGS proteins in the (i) regulation of G protein signalling by non-canonical mechanisms, (ii) regulation of non-G protein signalling, (iii) signal transduction from receptors not coupled to G proteins, (iv) activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, and (v) non-canonical functions in the nucleus.
Axial response of high-resolution microendoscopy in scattering media

High-resolution microendoscopy (HRME) uses epi-fluorescence imaging with a coherent fiber-optic bundle to enable in vivo examination of cellular morphology. While the HRME platform has recently gained popularity as a simple alternative to confocal endomicroscopy, the axial response of HRME in thick, scattering tissue has yet to be described quantitatively. These details are important because when analyzing images collected by HRME, out-of-focus light may affect the accuracy of quantitative parameters such as nuclear-to-cytoplasm ratio, which has been proposed as a diagnostic indicator of dysplasia or cancer. In this study we investigated the imaging properties of the HRME system by using phantoms simulating scattering tissue with fluorescently labeled nuclei. We directly compared HRME imaging with confocal endomicroscopy in phantoms and in vivo human tissue. HRME images defocused (deep) objects with apparent diameters and intensity levels that are in agreement with a simple geometric model. Out-of-focus nuclei contribute a relatively low, uniform background level to images which neither leads to the erroneous appearance of large nuclei from deep layers, nor prevents accurate imaging of superficial nuclei with high contrast.
Fine structure of the Caenorhabditis elegans secretory—excretory system

The secretory-excretory system of C. elegans, reconstructed from serial-section electron micrographs of larvae, is composed of four cells, the nuclei of which are located on the ventral side of the pharynx and adjacent intestine. (1) The pore cell encloses the terminal one-third of the excretory duct which leads to an excretory pore at the ventral midline. (2) The duct cell surrounds the excretory duct with a lamellar membrane from the origin of the duct at the excretory sinus to the pore cell boundary. (3) A large H-shaped excretory cell extends bilateral canals anteriorly and posteriorly nearly the entire length of the worm. The excretory sinus within the cell body joins the lumena of the canals with the origin of the duct. (4) A binucleate, A-shaped gland cell extends bilateral processes anteriorly from cell bodies located just behind the pharynx. These processes are fused at the anterior tip of the cell, where the cell enters the circumpharyngeal nerve ring. The processes are also joined at the anterior edge of the excretory cell body, where the excretory cell and gland are joined to the duct cell at the origin of the duct. Secretory granules may be concentrated in the gland near this secretory-excretory junction. Although the gland cells of all growing developmental stages stain positively with paraldehyde-fuchsin, the gland of the dauer larva stage (a developmentally arrested third-stage larva) does not stain, nor do glands of starved worms of other stages. Dauer larvae uniquely lack secretory granules, and the gland cytoplasm is displaced by a labyrinth of large, transparent spaces. Exit from the dauer stage results in the return of active secretory morphology in fourth-stage larvae.
Using virtual machines in a K-12 Outreach program to increase interest in information security fields

With projected high growth in STEM occupations and the desire to keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy, there are many initiatives in STEM education to develop highly skilled workers. In addition to preparing for careers in the STEM fields, it is being more and more recognized that STEM training is a valuable part of an education in any field. The study of STEM fields can lead to the development of valuable problem-solving skills, as well as critical and analytical thinking. Students learn to solve new problems and draw conclusions based upon previously learned principles in STEM studies. Additionally, there are many jobs that are STEM-related, that is not directly in a STEM field but requiring some form of STEM skills. The Information Sciences and Technology (IST) and Security and Risk Analysis (SRA) programs at Penn State Berks recognize the importance of STEM curriculum to education, employment, and the filling of industry demands. In addition to supporting this education through our own programs, we realize that the development of these skills, as well as the nurturing of interest in these fields, must start well before a student enters college. In order to support this, we have implemented an annual Summer Camp that focuses on the development of interest and skills in STEM fields in the K-12 environment across a diversity of backgrounds.
Dependence of the Ionization Energy of Phosphorous Donor in 4H-SiC on Doping Concentration

4H-SiC implanted with high dose of phosphorus has been shown to exhibit lower sheet resistance than 4H-SiC implanted with high dose of nitrogen. In this paper, we have implanted various doses (1x1014cm-2, 2x1014cm-2, 1x1015cm-2 and 4x1015cm-2) of phosphorus into 4H-SiC in order to extract the ionization energy of phosphorus in 4H-SiC as a function of the doping concentration. Variable temperature Hall effect measurements were performed in the temperature range from 60-600K. Least square fits using the charge neutrality equation with two donor levels were used to extract the ionization energies and donor concentrations from the measured data. The ionization energies for both, the hexagonal (53meV, 49meV and 26meV) and the cubic (109meV, 101meV and 74meV) site decreased as the donor concentration (5x1018cm-3, 9.8x1018cm-3 and 3.4x1019cm-3) increased.
The non-redundant role of N-WASP in podosome-mediated matrix degradation in macrophages

Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein (WASP) is a hematopoietic cell-specific regulator of Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization. Despite the presence of the highly homologous N-WASP (neural-WASP), macrophages from WAS patients are devoid of podosomes, adhesion structures in cells of the monocytic lineage capable of matrix degradation via matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), suggesting that WASP and N-WASP play unique roles in macrophages. To determine whether N-WASP also plays a unique role in macrophage function, N-WASP expression was reduced using silencing RNA in a sub-line of RAW 264.7 macrophages (RAW/LR5). Similar to reduction in WASP levels, cells with reduced N-WASP levels were rounder and less polarized. Interestingly, podosomes still formed when N-WASP was reduced but they were unable to perform matrix degradation. This defect was rescued by re-expression of N-WASP, but not by over-expression of WASP, indicating that these proteins play distinct roles in podosome function. Additionally, reducing N-WASP levels mistargets the metalloprotease MT1-MMP and it no longer localizes to podosomes. However, N-WASP was only found to co-localize with MT1-MMP positive vesicles at podosomes, suggesting that N-WASP may play a role on the targeting or fusion of MMP-containing vesicles to podosomes in macrophage-like cells.
Evaluation of whole and lipid-extracted algae meals in the diets of juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus).

Abstract As aquaculture continues to expand, protein sources have become more costly and less available. Simultaneously, lipid-extracted algae (LEA) meals, which areco-products of bio-diesel production are becoming increasingly available. By integrating LEA into aquaculture diets, feed prices could possibly be lowered and bio-diesel production would have an additional revenue stream. Three separate feeding trials of either 7 or 8 week duration were conducted to evaluate four different algal meals as partial replacements for fishmeal and soy protein concentrate in diets for juvenile red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ) initially weighing 1.9, 5.2 and 13.0 g/fish. In the first trial, whole algae meal and LEA derived from Navicula sp. replaced 5 or 10% of the crude protein (CP) in the reference diet based on equal contributions from fishmeal and soy protein concentrate. Weight gain, feed efficiency (FE), survival, condition indices including hepatosomatic index, intraperitoneal fat ratio and muscle ratio as well as whole-body proximate composition were not significantly ( P > 0.05) affected by substituting any of the algal products for fishmeal and soy protein concentrate in the reference diet. However, protein and energy retention values were significantly reduced in fish fed the diet with LEA meal included at 10% of dietary protein compared to fish fed the reference diet. Algal inclusion reduced the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) for CP by an average of 3%, while ADC for energy increased by an average of 8%. A second feeding trial evaluated incrementally higher levels of LEA derived from Chlorella sp., by replacing 5, 10, 20, and 25% of the CP in the reference diet. Weight gain, FE, and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly reduced at substitution levels of 20 and 25% but there were no differences in condition indices or whole-body proximate composition. The third feeding trial evaluated smaller incremental levels of LEA derived from Nannochloropsis salina , replacing 5, 7.5, 10, and 15% of the CP in the reference diet. Weight gain, FE, survival, and PER as well as intraperitoneal fat ratio and whole-body lipid were significantly reduced in fish fed the diet with 15% substitution. Based on the results of these experiments, replacement of up to 10% of CP from fishmeal and soy protein concentrate with LEA was possible without causing significant reductions in fish performance. Overall, the whole algae product proved a more nutritious product than LEA meals when fed to juvenile red drum.
Cortical mapping of right hemisphere functions.

Right hemisphere functions were examined during cortical stimulation in six patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. Two patients showed mild hemispatial neglect and constructional disability with stimulation of several sites in the inferior parietal lobule and posterior temporal lobe. Two other patients showed no disruption of visuospatial functions with stimulation of similar parietal or posterior temporal sites. Nonverbal acoustic perception of environmental sounds was not disrupted with stimulation of right superior temporal cortex in one patient, and musical abilities were not affected by right superior temporal stimulation in another patient. Nondominant hemisphere functions may be more widely distributed and less localized than linguistic functions in the dominant hemisphere.
Multimodal efferent and recurrent neurons in the medial lobes of cockroach mushroom bodies.

Previous electrophysiological studies of cockroach mushroom bodies demonstrated the sensitivity of efferent neurons to multimodal stimuli. The present account describes the morphology and physiology of several types of efferent neurons with dendrites in the medial lobes. In general, efferent neurons respond to a variety of modalities in a context-specific manner, responding to specific combinations or specific sequences of multimodal stimuli. Efferent neurons that show endogenous activity have dendritic specializations that extend to laminae of Kenyon cell axons equipped with many synaptic vesicles, termed “dark” laminae. Efferent neurons that are active only during stimulation have dendritic specializations that branch mainly among Kenyon cell axons having few vesicles and forming the “pale” laminae. A new category of “recurrent” efferent neuron has been identified that provides feedback or feedforward connections between different parts of the mushroom body. Some of these neurons are immunopositive to antibodies raised against the inhibitory transmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid. Feedback pathways to the calyces arise from satellite neuropils adjacent to the medial lobes, which receive axon collaterals of efferent neurons. Efferent neurons are uniquely identifiable. Each morphological type occurs at the same location in the mushroom bodies of different individuals. Medial lobe efferent neurons terminate in the lateral protocerebrum among the endings of antennal lobe projection neurons. It is suggested that information about the sensory context of olfactory (or other) stimuli is relayed by efferent neurons to the lateral protocerebrum where it is integrated with information about odors relayed by antennal lobe projection neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 409:647–663, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Succession and success: A new look at an old concept

The concept of “succession,” originally borrowed from plant ecologists, has been employed fruitfully by sociologists for over half a century. Social scientists. however, have tended to use the inherently dynamic concept in a relatively static way. Building on recent critiques, this paper notes that there are basically four meanings of the term that have special relevance to sociology, with traditional usage representing only one of the four. A meaning that has largely been ignored to date—"autogenic sociocultural succession”, in this paper's terminology—holds particular potential, drawing attention to the possibility that apparently “successful” actions can be self‐displacing as well as self‐reinforcing. Succession, as redefined, offers promise for conceptualizing social change not as a series of discrete steps, but as an ongoing process.
Performance of Prediction Models for BRCA Mutation Carriage in Three Racial/Ethnic Groups: Findings from the Northern California Breast Cancer Family Registry

Purpose: Patients with early-onset breast and/or ovarian cancer frequently wish to know if they inherited a mutation in one of the cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 or BRCA2 . Accurate carrier prediction models are needed to target costly testing. Two widely used models, BRCAPRO and BOADICEA, were developed using data from non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), but their accuracies have not been evaluated in other racial/ethnic populations. Methods: We evaluated the BRCAPRO and BOADICEA models in a population-based series of African American, Hispanic, and NHW breast cancer patients tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. We assessed model calibration by evaluating observed versus predicted mutations and attribute diagrams, and model discrimination using areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Both models were well-calibrated within each racial/ethnic group, with some exceptions. BOADICEA overpredicted mutations in African Americans and older NHWs, and BRCAPRO underpredicted in Hispanics. In all racial/ethnic groups, the models overpredicted in cases whose personal and family histories indicated >80% probability of carriage. The two models showed similar discrimination in each racial/ethnic group, discriminating least well in Hispanics. For example, BRCAPRO's areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 83% (95% confidence interval, 63-93%) for NHWs, compared with 74% (59-85%) for African Americans and 58% (45-70%) for Hispanics. Conclusions: The poor performance of the model for Hispanics may be due to model misspecification in this racial/ethnic group. However, it may also reflect racial/ethnic differences in the distributions of personal and family histories among breast cancer cases in the Northern California population. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(4):1084–91)
Prevalence, pathophysiology, and clinical significance of post-heart transplant atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Background Atrial rhythm disturbances, in particular atrial fibrillation (AF) and flutter (AFL), are common in the denervated transplanted heart. However, there is a relative paucity of data in the prevalence, mechanism of arrhythmia, and long-term significance. Objectives (1) Determine the prevalence of AF and AFL in heart transplant patients, (2) define the echo/Doppler features associated with arrhythmia, and (3) evaluate the impact of arrhythmia on long-term survival. Methods All patients who received an orthotopic heart transplant at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between 1988 and 2000 were included. Analysis of serial electrocardiograms and Holter monitor records provided evidence of AF or AFL development. Variables including general patient demographics, histology-proven rejection numbers and grades, results of serial coronary angiography, endomyocardial biopsy specimens, and echocardiographic studies performed at 6 weeks and 3 years after transplant were obtained to determine variables predictive of arrhythmia development. Results There were 167 heart transplant recipients, of which 16 (9.5%) developed AF and another 25 (15.0%) developed AFL over 6.5 ± 3.4 years. Patients who developed AF or AFL had lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fractions (56.6% ± 1.6% vs 62.5% ± 1.5%, p p p p p p p = 0.10). Thirty-nine of 167 patients died: 13 in the arrhythmia group and 26 in the normal sinus rhythm group. Development of atrial dysrhythmia adversely affected the outcome in the first 5 years ( p p p p = 0.01), pre-transplant cardiac amyloidosis (HR, 5.02; 95% CI 2.37–10.62; p p = 0.03), mitral deceleration time p 30 mm ( p Conclusion Development of AF/AFL post-heart transplantation is not uncommon and is associated with decreased long-term survival. Cumulative effects of repeated moderate-to-severe (grade 3 or more) rejections that result in increased cardiac fibrosis are associated with the development of AFL, but not AF. Similarly advanced restrictive diastolic dysfunction caused by fibrosis from repeated moderate-to-severe (grade 3 or more) rejections was predominant in the patients with arrhythmia and was a marker of poor long-term outcome.
Vaccine prospects for amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica is a eukaryotic protozoan parasite and is the causative agent of amebic colitis and amebic liver abscess. Many insights into the innate and acquired immune responses to infection with E. histolytica have been made in recent years. These findings have provided a foundation for producing a vaccine that could help to prevent the initial establishment of infection in the intestinal wall. The galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific lectin on the surface of the ameba is an immunodominant molecule that is highly conserved and has an integral role in the stimulation of these immune responses. The structure of the lectin has been defined, and the heavy subunit with its cysteine-rich region has been demonstrated in animal models to have some efficacy as a possible vaccine agent for prevention of amebic infection. Finding an ideal animal model of amebic intestinal infection has been difficult, but the C3H mouse and severe combined immunodeficient mouse-human intestinal xenograft models have both provided valuable insights into the first line of immune defense at the mucosal wall of the colon. Providing safe food and water to all people in the developing world is a formidable task that is not achievable in the foreseeable future. However, a vaccine for amebiasis could make a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality from the disease. Many components of the ameba are immunogenic and may serve as targets for a future vaccine, including the galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine lectin, the serine-rich E. histolytica protein, cysteine proteinases, lipophosphoglycans, amebapores and the 29-kDa protein.
Compensation of loss in propagating surface plasmon by optical gain

We experimentally demonstrate ~30% elongation of the surface plasmon propagation length and show that the full compensation of the surface plasmon loss by optical gain is within the reach.
Efficient VLSI implementation of iterative solutions to sparse linear systems

Abstract We propose a novel way of solving systems of linear equations with sparse coefficient matrices using iterative methods on a VLSI array. The nonzero entries of the coefficient matrix are mapped onto a processor array of size √e × √e, where e is the number of nonzero elements, n is the number of equations and e ⩾ n. The data transport problem that arises because of this mapping is solved using an efficient routing technique. Preprocessing is carried out on the iteration matrix of the system to compute the routing control-words that are used in the data transfer. This results in O(√e) time for each iteration of the method, with a small constant factor. As compared to existing VLSI methods for solving the problem, the proposed method yields a superior time performance, greater ease of programmability and an area efficient design. We also develop a second implementation of our algorithm that uses a slightly higher number of communication steps, but reduces the number of arithmetic operations to O(log e). The latter algorithm is suitable for many other architectures as well. The algorithm can be implemented in O(log e) time using e processors on a hypercube, shuffle-exchange, and cube-connected-cycles.
Patterns of calcium oxalate crystals in young tropical leaves: a possible role as an anti-herbivory defense

Fueron evaluados los patrones espaciales y temporales de concentracion de clorofila a corno un indicador de la biomasa fitoplanctonica, en el sistema fluvio-deltaico Pom-Atasta, asociado a la Laguna de Terminos en la costa de Campeche. Se estudiaron las variaciones estacionales, regionales, nictemerales y verticales, las cuales se relacionaron con las condiciones ambientales. Se analizo un ciclo anual a traves de muestras mensuales en localidades contrastantes por su regimen de salinidad, en dos niveles de la columna de agua En las localidades de mayor dinamica hidrologica se efectuaron series de tiempo de 24 horas. La concentracion de clorofila a fue cuantificada por espectrofotometria. Las concentraciones mas altas se presentaron durante la estacion seca, con un promedio de 19.86 mg.m-3 y las mas bajas durante la estacion de lluvias con promedio de 3 mg.m-3 El pro, medio general en el ciclo anual fue de 13.25 mg.m-3 en la superficie y de 15.5 mg.m-3 en el fondo. Se observo tambien un patron regional con los valores mas altos en los sitios de menor influencia de marea. Fue evidente un amplio intervalo de, variaci6n de la concentraci6n de pigmento durante el ciclo anual y en los diferentes regiones del sistema. Estos patrones de variaci6n estan muy relacionados con los cambios hidrologicos resultantes del balance de aguas de marea, precipitacion pluvial, descargas y escurrimientos.
Locating emergencies in a campus using wi-fi access point association data

Despite much progress in emergency management, effective techniques for real-time tracking of emergency events are still lacking. We envision a promising direction to achieve real-time emergency tracking is through widely adopted smartphones. In this paper, we explore the first step in achieving this goal, namely, locating emergency in real time using smartphones. Our main contribution is a novel approach that locates emergencies by analyzing AP (access point) association events collected from a campus Wi-Fi network. It is motivated by the observation that human behavior and mobility pattern are significantly altered in the face of emergency, which is reflected in how their smartphones associate with the APs in the network. More specifically, our approach locates emergency by discovering APs with abnormal association patterns using Extreme Value Theory (EVT). Preliminary evaluation using real data collected from a university campus network demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach.
Structural insights into the protein splicing mechanism of PI-SceI.

Abstract PI-SceI is a member of a class of proteins (inteins) that excise themselves from a precursor protein and in the process ligate the flanking protein sequences (exteins). We report here the 2.1-A resolution crystal structure of a PI-SceI miniprecursor (VMA29) containing 10 N-terminal extein residues and 4 C-terminal extein residues. Mutations at the N- and C-terminal splicing junctions, blocking in vivo protein splicing, allowed the miniprecursor to be purified and crystallized. The structure reveals both the N- and C-terminal scissile peptide bonds to be in distortedtrans conformations (τ ≈ 100°). Modeling of the wild-type PI-SceI based on the VMA29 structure indicates a large conformational change (movement of >9 A) must occur to allow transesterification to be completed. A zinc atom was discovered at the C-terminal splicing junction. Residues Cys455, His453, and Glu80 along with a water molecule (Wat53) chelate the zinc atom. The crystal structure of VMA29 has captured the intein in its pre-spliced state.
The Pterosaur Collection at the Natural History Museum, London, UK: an Overview and List of Specimens, with Description of Recent Curatorial Developments

: The pterosaur collection at the Natural History Museum is of great historical importance. Most of the material is figured or cited, and several specimens are types or casts of types. Pterosaurs from UK localities are well represented, but foreign material is also present as original specimens and as high quality casts. The entire collection has been recorded in a database and curatorial improvements have been made, which has improved physical and virtual access to the collection. Although many of the specimens were collected as long ago as the early 1800s, they are still useful today. A full list of Natural History Museum pterosaur specimens is published, for the first time since 1888.
Induction of hyperthyroxinemia in BALB/C but not in several other strains of mice.

We recently expressed the extracellular domain of the human TSHR (ETSHR) protein using a baculovirus expression system and purified it to homogeneity. The ETSHR specifically binds both TSH and antibodies to TSHR. In the present study, C57BL/6J, SJL/J, BALB/cJ and BlOBR.SgSnJ mice were immunized with the recombinant ETSHR or an equivalent amount of control antigen. All strains of mice produced high titers of antibody against the TSHR protein which were capable of blocking the binding of TSH to native TSHR. However, only BALB/cJ mice showed significantly elevated levels of thyroxine in their sera compared to the control mice. Similarly, BALB/cJ mice primed with ETSHR and then challenged with thyroid membranes showed significantly elevated levels of thyroxine. In addition, histopathological examination of thyroid glands from affected mice showed morphological changes characterized by hydropic and subnuclear vacuolar changes and focal scalloping, with no apparent inflammation or glandular destruction. Moreove...
Antidepressant treatment normalizes hypoactivity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during emotional interference processing in major depression

Background Major depression (MDD) is characterized by altered emotion processing and deficits in cognitive control. In cognitive interference tasks, patients with MDD have shown excessive amygdala activity and under-recruitment of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of antidepressant treatment on anomalous neural activity in cognitive-control and emotion-processing circuitry.
Surface participation and dielectric loss in superconducting qubits

We study the energy relaxation times (T1) of superconducting transmon qubits in 3D cavities as a function of dielectric participation ratios of material surfaces. This surface participation ratio, representing the fraction of electric field energy stored in a dissipative surface layer, is computed by a two-step finite-element simulation and experimentally varied by qubit geometry. With a clean electromagnetic environment and suppressed non-equilibrium quasiparticle density, we find an approximately proportional relation between the transmon relaxation rates and surface participation ratios. These results suggest dielectric dissipation arising from material interfaces is the major limiting factor for the T1 of transmons in 3D circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture. Our analysis also supports the notion of spatial discreteness of surface dielectric dissipation.
High energy radiation effects on ultimate mechanical properties and fractography of nylon 6 fibres

Nylon 6 fibres were irradiated with up to 60 Mrad of cobalt-60 gamma radiation in air or up to 76μC of 4.5 MeV cyclotron-accelerated protons in vacuum. The products of the irradiations were then characterized by the resulting changes in ultimate mechanical properties and in fracture morphology when tested at 21° C under selected conditions of fibre moisture content. In general, the results show a progressive deterioration of tensile properties, an increase in torsional brittleness, and a decreasing flex life, with increasing dose, and display some dependence on fibre moisture content. The effects are most pronounced in the first interval of dose; i.e. 10 Mrads gamma irradiation and 12μC of high energy protons. The rate of deterioration of these mechanical properties generally slows with subsequent dose increases. An annulus/core fracture morphology was found in the gamma-irradiated material which was not in evidence for material irradiated with protons in vacuum. The morphology of the proton-irradiated tensile breaks are characteristic of a brittle material; flex fatigue fracture surfaces were often characterized by step-like formations reminiscent of kink bands. Discussion of the data in terms of radiochemical processes, structure-property relations, and implications for accelerated ageing programs are included.
Advancing effects analysis for integrated, large-scale wildfire risk assessment

In this article, we describe the design and development of a quantitative, geospatial risk assessment tool intended to facilitate monitoring trends in wildfire risk over time and to provide information useful in prioritizing fuels treatments and mitigation measures. The research effort is designed to develop, from a strategic view, a first approximation of how both fire likelihood and intensity influence risk to social, economic, and ecological values at regional and national scales. Three main components are required to generate wildfire risk outputs: (1) burn probability maps generated from wildfire simulations, (2) spatially identified highly valued resources (HVRs), and (3) response functions that describe the effects of fire (beneficial or detrimental) on the HVR. Analyzing fire effects has to date presented a major challenge to integrated risk assessments, due to a limited understanding of the type and magnitude of changes wrought by wildfire to ecological and other nonmarket values. This work advances wildfire effects analysis, recognizing knowledge uncertainty and appropriately managing it through the use of an expert systems approach. Specifically, this work entailed consultation with 10 fire and fuels program management officials from federal agencies with fire management responsibilities in order to define quantitative resource response relationships as a function of fire intensity. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept application of the wildland fire risk assessment tool, using the state of Oregon as a case study.
Incremental hardware estimation during hardware/software functional partitioning

To aid in the functional partitioning of a system into interacting hardware and software components, fast yet accurate estimations of hardware size are necessary. We introduce a technique for obtaining such estimates in two orders of magnitude less time than previous approaches without sacrificing substantial accuracy, by incrementally updating a design model for a changed partition rather than re-estimating entirely. >
Radiosensitivity of thymic interleukin-7 production and thymopoiesis after bone marrow transplantation.

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is the major thymopoietic cytokine. Injections of IL-7 after murine bone marrow transplantation (BMT) correct defects in thymic differentiation, including thymic hypocellularity, abnormal differentiation of CD3− CD4−CD8− (triple-negative [TN]) thymocytes into CD4+ CD8+ (double-positive [DP]) cells, and antigen-specific mature T-lymphocyte proliferation. To determine whether IL-7 production is decreased in BMT recipients, BMT was performed with congenic murine donor-recipient strains and escalating doses of pre-BMT conditioning. Increasing doses of radiation resulted in decreased thymic cellularity and maturation from the TN to the DP stage. Quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that intrathymic production of IL-7 was significantly decreased in irradiated mice than in nonirradiated controls. Decline in IL-7 transcript levels was correlated with the dose of radiation administered. Analyses of the numbers of CD45− major histocompatibility complex class II+ thymic stromal cells suggested that the mechanism for the decreased IL-7 production was loss of IL-7–producing thymic stromal cells. Experiments indicated that pre-BMT conditioning with radiation led to decreased stromal production of IL-7 and consequent blocks in the maturation of thymocytes. They provided a mechanism for both the abnormal thymopoiesis observed after BMT and the previously observed beneficial effects of IL-7 administration in murine models. Impaired production of IL-7 by thymic stroma may be a general model for the clinically observed adverse effects of cytotoxic therapy on thymopoiesis.
Effects of Surface Exchange Coefficients and Turbulence Length Scales on the Intensity and Structure of Numerically Simulated Hurricanes

AbstractUsing numerical simulations, this study examines the sensitivity of hurricane intensity and structure to changes in the surface exchange coefficients and to changes in the length scales of a turbulence parameterization. Compared to other recent articles on the topic, this study uses higher vertical resolution, more values for the turbulence length scales, a different initial environment (including higher sea surface temperature), a broader specification of surface exchange coefficients, a more realistic microphysics scheme, and a set of three-dimensional simulations. The primary conclusions from a recent study by Bryan and Rotunno are all upheld: maximum intensity is strongly affected by the horizontal turbulence length scale lh but not by the vertical turbulence length scale lυ, and the ratio of surface exchange coefficients for enthalpy and momentum, Ck/Cd, has less effect on maximum wind speed than suggested by an often-cited theoretical model. The model output is further evaluated against vari...
The potential of amine-containing dendrimer mass standards for internal calibration of peptides

In order to ensure accurate mass determinations, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers must be calibrated regularly. While peptides and proteins represent the most widely used calibration standards due to their monodispersity, known masses and availability, their limited shelf-life complicates their use. Recently, polyester dendrimer calibrants have been introduced as an alternative because, in addition to monodispersity and relative molecular masses as high as 30,000, they exhibit vastly improved stability and broad compatibility with both matrices and solvents. However, the use of these initially reported polyester dendrimers as internal calibrants for the analysis of peptides or proteins presents a unique problem because these dendrimers typically require ionization with metal cations, while amino acid-based compounds preferentially ionize via protonation of an amine. To address this complication, dendrimers bearing a single amine were prepared which demonstrate the ability to easily ionize via protonation with either acidic matrices or dilute solutions of trifluoroacetic acid. This class of amine-containing dendrimers shows promise as a calibrant system specifically designed for the internal calibration of peptides.
Does the Social Value of a Brand Matter? An Empirical Investigation of the Impact of Brand Social Engagement on Firm's Financial Performance

Shan Lin is Assistant Professor of Marketing, College of Business, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL 60446 (phone: 815-836-5804, email: linsh@lewisu.edu) William T. Ross Jr. is Voya Financial Global Chair and Professor of Marketing, School of Business, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269 (phone: 860-486-8491, email: bill.ross@business.uconn.edu) Hongju Liu is Associate Professor of Marketing, School of Business, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, (phone: 860-486-8397, email: hliu@business.uconn.edu)
Maximum power point tracking algorithms for single-stage photovoltaic power plants under time-varying reactive power injection

Abstract The power electronic interface of traditional grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems includes a boost dc/dc converter and an inverter. In large PV power plants, the boost converter is usually eliminated by connecting an appropriate number of PV panels in series to achieve the desired voltage. This architecture, referred to as single-stage topology, is the subject of this paper. The paper presents a unified dynamic model which is able to reproduce the behavior of any single-stage PV power plant with an arbitrary PV array configuration through a single circuital representation. A methodology based on this unified model is developed to enhance the performance of standard iterative maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms under time-varying reactive power injection. In particular, enhanced versions of the perturb & observe and incremental conductance algorithms are discussed. Furthermore, a predictive MPPT algorithm based on a neural network is proposed to improve the dynamic of the dc-link voltage. The unified model and MPPT control schemes are validated via detailed PSCAD/EMTDC computer simulations in a 450 kW PV system, designed according to a typical “1000 V dc” architecture. Real solar irradiance and cell temperature data collected in a partially cloudy day are utilized in the simulations, providing comparative performance under rapidly changing atmospheric conditions.
Controlled Polymerization of Next-Generation Renewable Monomers and Beyond

Natural molecular biomass plays an important role in the field of renewable polymers, as they can be directly used or derivatized as monomers for controlled polymerization, in a way similar to many petroleum-derived monomers. We deliver this perspective primarily based on a monomer approach. Biomass-derived monomers are separated into four major categories according to their natural resource origins: (1) oxygen-rich monomers including carboxylic acids (lactic acid, succinic acid, itaconic acid, and levulinic acid) and furan; (2) hydrocarbon-rich monomers including vegetable oils, fatty acids, terpenes, terpenoids and resin acids; (3) hydrocarbon monomers (bio-olefins); and (4) non-hydrocarbon monomers (carbon dioxide). A variety of emerging synthetic tools (controlled polymerization and click chemistry) are particularly summarized. An overview on future opportunities and challenges, which are critical to promote biorefinery in the production of renewable chemicals and polymers, is given.