cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bioavailability and compositional changes of dissolved organic matter in urban headwaters

In urban stream networks, the headwaters are comprised of engineered headwaters where particulate organic matter collects during and between storms. During storms, dissolved organic matter leached from these pools is transported to the stream as stormflow connects these ephemeral channels to the network. Throughout the urban network, microbial processing consumes, produces, and transforms DOM, changing its chemical composition and concentration. In this study, we characterized how microbial processing changes the composition and inferred lability of DOM from stormflow samples and leachates of potential DOM sources by pairing optical measurements of DOM composition with measurements of DOC concentration during incubation with a common bacterial community. We found that over 6 days (the approximate residence time of water stored in urban headwater infrastructure) microbial processing significantly altered DOM composition, increasing the chemodiversity of DOM in leachates but not stormflow samples. Particularly in leachates, this initial change in composition was accompanied by little change in DOC concentration. After 60 days of microbial processing, both samples of stormflow and leachates lost more than half their initial DOC concentration on average, and became more similar in composition with indices indicating humic, aromatic DOM generally considered to be recalcitrant. This work provides new evidence that leached organic matter undergoes transient increases in chemodiversity through bacterial action on the DOM pool before further processing leaves behind more homogenous and recalcitrant DOM.
Halal Certification of Insect-Based Food: a critique

In 2013, the United Nations began to campaign for insect consumption as a rich source of high-quality protein and minerals, to thwart the predicted global food shortage and to reduce greenhouse emission. Consequently, entomophagy (or insect consumption) began to receive stronger impetus, and many food industries and investors are developing an interest in insect-based food production. With the global edible insect market estimated to reach US$1.2 billion by 2023, and the Halal industry predicted to reach US$2.6 trillion by 2023, a good understanding of the interplay between the two industries is a necessity. However, while more insects are increasingly becoming parts of processed foods globally, halal certification bodies do not hold a unified stand on the halalness of insects and their extracts, and some of the arguments raised by some Islamists lack rigorous analysis. This paper juxtaposed the views of the four Sunni Madhabs (schools of Islamic Canon law) on insect consumption and drew on the Qur’an linguistics to derive the relevant factors that must be considered when certifying insect-based gastronomic items as Halal . The novelty of this paper lies in exposing the cultural milieu that informed the verdicts of the classical scholars on insect consumption, which later became the harbinger for the controversies among the contemporary halal certification bodies. The paper seeks to pave the way for a unified Islamic stand with regards to insect consumption. Keywords: Insect-consumption, Insect-based food, halal certification, Halalan-Tayyiban, Islamic Classical scholars.
The Good Fit — Why Medical Applicants’ Personal Statements Are Anything but Personal

The Good Fit Mental illness is so stigmatized that despite its disproportionate prevalence in the field I was entering, I had to pretend I’d never faced it. My personal statement was the first of m...
Patch testing in skin of color: A brief report.

It is critical that dermatology training prepares physicians to recognize cutaneous changes in skin of color populations. Patch testing is the gold standard for identifying triggers of contact dermatitis and can be challenging to interpret in skin of color given the need to see erythema, particularly for a 1 + positive interpretation. Given the paucity of clinical images of skin of color in the literature, we provide images of two pediatric patients presenting with positive patch tests to demonstrate an approach to the clinical interpretation of patch testing in patients with more melanin in the skin.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Legal Education

The legal world will change dramatically during the careers of students currently in law school. Innovations in science, technology, economics, business, political arrangements, and social structures will require different legal services and entirely different mechanisms for delivering those services. A “Fourth Industrial Revolution” (4IR) may describe the changes that are already beginning to occur. The first Industrial Revolution saw the use of steam power for production; the second, mass production and electrical power; and the third, semiconductors and the digital innovation. 4IR is riding on several developing technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and the massive data bases on which they run, an entirely new form of computation (likely “quantum computing”), blockchains, genetic editing and related biotechnology, 3-D printing, intelligent robots, energy storage, nanotechnology, and nearly universal interconnectivity of devices and people. These changes have significant implications for all parts of society, including law and the legal system. The professional practice of students who are now in law school will be affected dramatically by these changes, and these graduates will be expected to carry society’s burden of harnessing, encouraging, and finding legal controls to offer society the benefits of these new technologies while limiting the undesirable side effects. 4IR will have many positive effects on legal practice—making it more efficient, reducing the drudgery of repetitive activities, and creating whole new areas and types of practice. Many see it as a threat to the current economics of practice, and in some ways it will be. The recurring, repetitive practice will begin to disappear, done much cheaper and better by machines. Preparing students for that kind of practice is, therefore, problematic. Advanced technology will lead to a wide range of new and creative legal services, and allow the legal profession to create legal services (not lawyers) available for everyone who needs them. This article identifies 22 competencies that law schools need to consider in preparing students for professional practice and the task of seeing to the system of justice and law. This will require law schools to adjust the education of students and focus every part of the curriculum on those competencies. Law schools will also need to change their research missions, appoint full-time and adjunct faculty who will be experts in newer areas of teaching and scholarship, and make much better use of every part of their curriculum. The resistance of law schools to change is easily overstated. Change is usually more evolutionary than dramatic. The challenge now is that there is not enough time to slowly begin to prepare students for their professional life in the 4IR. The article concludes with several ideas about accelerating the process without crashing.
Multimodal sensing and intuitive steering assistance improve navigation and mobility for people with impaired vision.

Globally, more than 250 million people have impaired vision and face challenges navigating outside their homes, affecting their independence, mental health, and physical health. Navigating unfamili...
A Child's Guide to the Solow Model

The Solow model is widely regarded as the workhorse model of the theory of economic growth. While at one point this model was something first confronted by graduate students, it has filtered down to the intermediate and sometimes to the principles of macroeconomics course. Many have commented on how difficult it is to teach the Solow model to undergraduates, especially to students in the principles of macroeconomics course. In this paper, we demonstrate that if we assume that the level of savings is autonomous, the essence of the stock-flow adjustment of the Solow model becomes much easier to comprehend.
Hungary's New Media Regulation and the Constitutional Court

At the end of 2010, the Hungarian Parliament adopted two controversial Acts, Act CIV of 2010 on the freedom of the press and the fundamental rules on media content, (hereinafter: Press Freedom Act) and Act CLXXXV of 2010 on media services and mass media (hereinafter: Media Act), thereby rearranging the landscape of media regulation. Under its decision no. 165/2011. (XII. 20.) AB, the Constitutional Court passed resolutions on a number of issues relating to media regulation.
Spatial distribution results for efficient multi-agent navigation

Coordinated navigation to a single perfectly known target by multiple cooperating sensor-equipped agents in a partially known static environment is investigated. Original results on the spatial distribution of the agents under an-optimal policy are derived using dynamic programming and neurodynamic programming techniques. Practical implications are discussed.
Programming by Demonstration Using Version Space Algebra

Programming by demonstration enables users to easily personalize their applications, automating repetitive tasks simply by executing a few examples. We formalize programming by demonstration as a machine learning problem: given the changes in the application state that result from the user's demonstrated actions, learn the general program that maps from one application state to the next. We present a methodology for learning in this space of complex functions. First we extend version spaces to learn arbitrary functions, not just concepts. Then we introduce the version space algebra, a method for composing simpler version spaces to construct more complex spaces. Finally, we apply our version space algebra to the text-editing domain and describe an implemented system called SMARTedit that learns repetitive text-editing procedures by example. We evaluate our approach by measuring the number of examples required for the system to learn a procedure that works on the remainder of examples, and by an informal user study measuring the effort users spend using our system versus performing the task by hand. The results show that SMARTedit is capable of generalizing correctly from as few as one or two examples, and that users generally save a significant amount of effort when completing tasks with SMARTedit's help.
Crystallization of the one-component plasma at finite temperature.

We have determined the coexistence at positive temperature between a Wigner crystal and a fluid plasma using path integral Monte Carlo. The total energies are significantly different from classical and semiclassical predictions. The location of the phase transition between liquid and solid is higher in temperature than predicted by a generalized Lindemann criterion. Some features of the phase diagram can be understood using a novel application of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. We find a maximum melting temperature of $6.0(5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}\mathrm{Ry}$ at ${r}_{s}\ensuremath{\simeq}180(20)$.
Kinetics of horseradish peroxidase migration through cerebral cortex.

Abstract This study provides a semiquantitative description of the migration of the extracellular space marker, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), through the cerebral cortex. Following a continuous subarachnoid infusion of HRP, this marker was fixed rapidly within the cortical extracellular space (ECS) by intravascular aldehyde perfusion fixation. Microscopic measurements of the maximum depth of penetration of HRP into the cortex perpendicular to the pial surface were taken from coronal whole brain sections of rabbits that had been exposed to HRP for varying periods of time. The depth of penetration plotted as a function of time of exposure to HRP produced a ‘diffusion profile’. The failure of experimental points to conform to an ideal diffusion curve indicates that simple diffusion alone is an inadequate explanation of the rate of movement of large molecules solutes from the subarachnoid space through the cerebral cortical ECS. The complex pattern of migration velocity of HRP through cortex may be due to alterations of flux of this solute which result from variations in the volume of ECS in different cortical laminae and to the presence of bulk flow of extracellular fluid in the deeper cortical regions.
Glass transitions in ionic polymers

Abstract : The glass transition temperatures of an inorganic anionic phosphate polymer system was studied over a wide range of counterions. It was shown that the glass transition temperature could be varied between -10C to + 520C, and that a plot of the glass Transition Temperature versus the ratio of the cation change (g) to internuclear distance between the cation and the oxygen on the polymer backbone ('a') yielded a straight line over the entire temperature range; a theoretical justification for this linearity was presented. It was further shown that the increase in the glass transition with (g/a) is due not only to an increase in the interchain forces, but also to an increase in the carrier to internal rotation between neighboring groups. (Author)
Factors Associated with Separation and Ongoing Violence among Women with Civil Protective Orders

This study examined a large sample of women recruited out of court at the time they received a civil protective order to better understand relationship status after obtaining a protective order (PO) and factors associated with protective order violations. Results are consistent with prior research suggesting that the protective order may be the impetus in separating from the abusive partner for some women, while for other women it is part of the separation process. Results also indicated that five out of ten women who did not continue a relationship experienced a violation while seven out of ten women who did continue a relationship with the PO partner experienced a violation. The majority of women felt safer and reported they believed the protective order was effective 13 months post-PO, regardless of relationship status. Furthermore, stalking played a significant role in separation from an abusive relationship and in protective order violations regardless of relationship status. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Long-term survival, nutritional autonomy, and quality of life after intestinal and multivisceral transplantation.

OBJECTIVE To assess long-term survival, graft function, and health-related quality of life (QOL) after visceral transplantation. BACKGROUND Despite continual improvement in early survival, the long-term therapeutic efficacy of visceral transplantation has yet to be defined. METHODS A prospective cross-sectional study was performed on 227 visceral allograft recipients who survived beyond the 5-year milestone. Clinical data were used to assess outcome including graft function and long-term survival predictors. The socioeconomic milestones and QOL measures were assessed by clinical evaluation, professional consultation, and validated QOL inventory. RESULTS Of 376 recipients, 227 survived beyond 5 years, with conditional survival of 75% at 10 years and 61% at 15 years. With a mean follow-up of 10 ± 4 years, 177 (92 adults, 85 children) are alive, with 118 (67%) recipients 18 years or older. Nonfunctional social support and noninclusion of the liver in the visceral allograft are the most significant survival risk factors. Nutritional autonomy was achievable in 160 (90%) survivors, with current serum albumin level of 3.7 ± 0.5 gm/dL and body mass index of 25 ± 6 kg/m(2). Despite coexistence or development of neuropsychiatric disorders, most survivors were reintegrated to society with self-sustained socioeconomic status. In parallel, most of the psychological, emotional, and social QOL measures significantly (P < 0.05) improved after transplantation. Current morbidities with potential impact on global health included dysmotility (59%), hypertension (37%), osteoporosis (22%), and diabetes (11%), with significantly (P < 0.05) higher incidence among adult recipients. CONCLUSIONS With new tactics to further improve long-term survival including social support measures, visceral transplantation has achieved excellent nutritional autonomy and good QOL.
Characterization of semiconductor interfaces with synchrotron radiation

Abstract Photoemission spectroscopy and other techniques based on synchrotron radiation are extensively used to investigate the formation of metal-semiconductor interfaces, heterojunction interfaces and gas chemisorption on semiconductor surfaces. We review the present status and the predicted future development of this active area of research. In particular, we discuss the interplay of factors such as interface defects and metal-induced gap states in the establishment of Schottky barriers and of heterojunction band discontinuities. We also discuss the future use of photoemission in an “integrated” production-characterization technology for solid-state devices, based on synchrotron radiation. Finally, we comment on the predicted impact of the new, ultrabright synchrotron radiation sources under development at Berkeley and Trieste.
Optimal Replacement Policies for Rejuvenated Assets

The Faustmann-Samuelson solution for optimal asset rotation is extended to consider both asset rejuvenation and nonconstant prices. A dynamic theoretical model is developed in terms of an optimal control problem with discontinuous control variables, and numerical solution procedures are outlined. The model is applied to layer hen replacement where hen rejuvenation by forced molting is a common industrial practice. Results indicate a sensitivity between the decision to rejuvenate or replace a hen and the egg price cycle, suggesting a mixed rotation strategy.
Solubility and diffusivity of water and of salts in an aromatic polyamide film

Abstract The solubility and the diffusivity for water and NaCl in a fully aromatic polyamide (PA) film have been determined. From these the “intrinsic permeability characteristics” of this polymer have been calculated and its suitability for desalination by reverse osmosis is compared with that of the commonly used cellulose acetate (CA). It has been found that, although the solubility of NaCl in the PA film is higher than that in a CA film, PA membranes will reject salt better than CA membranes having identical structure and morphology. This is because the diffusivity of NaCl through the PA film is substantially lower, and the permeability of water through it (as well as the solubility and the diffusivity of water in it) are higher than the comparable values for CA films.
Rabbit and rat hepatic lectins have two sugar-combining sites per monomeric unit.

Summary Binding characteristics of the galactose/ N -acetylgalactosaminespecific, hepatic lectins of rabbit and rat were studied using small, high-affinity ligands containing two and three N -acetylgalactosamine residues per molecule [Lee, R. T. and Lee, Y. C. (1987) Glycoconjugate J. 4 , 317–328]. These N -acetylgalactosamine cluster ligands have the receptor—ligand dissociation constants in nanomolar range, so that the lectin—ligand interaction can be easily studied by an equilibrium (gel chromatography) or non-equilibrium (fast filtration assay) method. The results suggest that there exist on the average two N -acetylgalactosamine-combining sites per monomeric unit of both the rabbit and rat lectins.
Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in taconite tailings. II. Effects of reclamation practices

Abstract A factorial field experiment was conducted to study the effects of two reclamation treatments (papermill sludge amendment and straw mulch) on populations of spores of mycorrhizal fungi and the percentage of plant root length colonized by mycorrhizal fungi. Unreclaimed taconite tailings were found to be essentially devoid of propagules of mycorrhizal fungi, but mycorrhizae developed rapidly following reclamation. Extremely high spore densities and levels of root colonization were observed in less than two growing seasons. Spore population densities in reclaimed taconite tailings were frequently 100-fold greater than those observed by other researchers in natural, undisturbed soils. Papermill sludge and straw mulch significantly affected sporulation of mycorrhizal fungi. Tailings amended with papermill sludge also supported significantly greater plant biomass than did unamended tailings; providing a plausible explanation for increased sporulation. In contrast, tailings treated with straw mulch contained significantly fewer spores than did unmulched tailings. Suppression of sporulation of mycorrhizal fungi may have been caused by antagonistic soil organisms introduced with the straw to the taconite tailings.
ACCURATE PARALLEL INTEGRATION OF LARGE SPARSE SYSTEMS OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

We describe a MIMD parallel code to solve a general class of ordinary differential equations, with particular emphasis on the large, sparse systems arising from space discretization of systems of parabolic partial differential equations. The main goals of this work are sharp bounds on the accuracy of the computed solution and flexibility of the software. We discuss the sources of error in solving differential equations, and the resulting constraints on time steps. We also discuss the theory of a posteriori error analysis for the Galerkin finite element methods, and its implementation in error control and estimation. The software is designed in a matrix-free fashion, which enables the solver to effectively tackle large sparse systems with minimal memory consumption and an easy and natural transition to MIMD (distributed memory) parallelism. In addition, there is no need for the choice of a particular representation of a sparse matrix. All memory is dynamically allocated, with a new expandable array object used for archiving results. The implicit solution of the discrete equations is carried out by replaceable modules: the nonlinear solver module may be a full Newton scheme or a quasi-Newton; these in turn are implemented with a linear solver, for which we have used both a direct solver and QMR, an iterative (Krylov space) method. Three computations are presented: the Lorenz system, which has dimension three and the discretized versions of the (partial-differential) bistable equation in one and two dimensions. The Lorenz system demonstrates the quality of the error estimation. The discretized bistable examples provide large sparse systems, and our precise error estimation shows, contrary to standard error estimates, that reliable computation is possible for large times.
Low cost trace-driven memory simulation using SimPoint

Trace-driven memory simulation tools such as MetaSim Tracer [1] capture the address stream of an application during an instrumented program run. Various statistics can be measured using the in-flight address stream including anticipated cache hit rates. This paper reports on performance improvements of MetaSim Tracer gained by using techniques developed in SimPoint [2]. Concurrent research [3] addresses techniques that can be used to reduce the instrumentation overhead involved in memory tracing, and this work addresses a technique that can be used to decrease the amount of cache simulation that is required on top of this. The result is a tool for trace driven cache simulation that is practical to use for memory performance studies of full sized scientific applications.
The continued in vivo evaluation of the wear of restorative resins

This study reports on the 3-year results of a method designed to measure the in vivo wear rates of resin systems in denture teeth. Adaptic and Profile showed the most amounts of wear, followed by Finesse, Miradapt, and Isopast. The least amounts of wear were seen with Isosit and Silar. The similarity to the magnitudes of wear reported in other studies suggests the appropriateness of using this technique.
Silicon-germanium alloy growth control and characterization

Silicon-germanium alloy has been grown on silicon substrates by the hydrogen reduction of silicon tetrachloride and germanium tetrachloride as well as the pyrolysis of silane and germane. The film growth characteristics in the first few minutes have been studied using an SEM. Techniques have been developed for growing high germanium content films which are single crystal and have surfaces suitable for MOS device fabrication.
Triggered drug delivery systems

Abstract Previous approaches to the development of self-regulated drug delivery systems are briefly reviewed. The few systems which have been studied are based on either changes in the permeability or the rate of surface erosion of polymers in response to changes in the local environment. External stimuli have included light and pH and, in some systems, an enzymatic reaction has been used to induce the pH change. The use of antibodies bound to surface haptens is now being studied as a means of suppressing the permeability and the enzymatic biodegradation of polymeric delivery systems. The appearance of haptens in the circulatory system reverses the antibody binding and triggers drug release from the polymer matrix. The linkage of this mechanism to natural biochemistry as a means of creating reversible systems is considered. Methods of binding haptens to the surface and bulk of two different polymers are described, as are the syntheses of new polymers designed to undergo enzymatic surface erosion. A self-regulated method of delivery of metal chelating agents is proposed. It is intended that delivery be triggered by the metal, be specific for the metal, and proportionalto the metal concentration. Preliminary results demonstrating metal selectivity, and the synthesis of new polyionophores, are presented.
Interferometric Spectroscopy in the Far Infra-red

RESOLVING power in the far infra-red region of the spectrum is limited in dispersion spectrometers by the small amounts of power available for measurement. The procedures for isolating unwanted orders with grating instruments and for discrimination against stray light not only reduce further the available power but also require elaborate instruments. We find an attractive alternative for this spectral region in interferometric spectroscopy, and this communication gives some pertinent experimental results.
The relationship of sex and sex role to trait and situationally specific anxiety types

Abstract While considerable research has investigated the relationship of sex and/or sex role to general or trait anxiety, little is known about their relationship to more specific anxiety types. Based on the postulate that sex and sex-role differences may depend on the extent to which an anxiety-producing situation represents a sex-stereotypic domain, the present study compared their relationships to four measures of anxiety: Math anxiety, test anxiety, and two measures of trait anxiety. Subjects were 180 undergraduate students enrolled in introductory psychology courses. Although females reported higher levels of anxiety on all four scales than did males, a discriminant function analysis indicated that math anxiety was the strongest contributor to the separation of the sexes. Significant score differences as a function of sex role were found using the STAI A-Trait scale, and a significant sex × sex-role interaction was found for scores on the S-R Inventory of Anxiousness. Feminine-typed males and undifferentiated females reported highest anxiety levels in comparison to same-sex individuals. Implications for the understanding and treatment of both general and situationally specific anxiety are discussed.
Attenuation of relapse to cocaine seeking by dopamine D1 receptor agonists and antagonists in non-human primates

Dopamine D1 receptor agonists and antagonists attenuate reinstatement of cocaine seeking in a non-human primate model of relapse. The mechanisms by which these different classes of D1 receptor drugs produce these similar effects on cocaine seeking are unknown. This study investigated how D1 receptor agonists and antagonists alter the shape and position of the dose–response function for reinstatement of drug seeking induced by a cocaine prime accompanied by restoration of the cocaine-paired stimulus. Squirrel monkeys were given extensive histories of cocaine self-administration under a second-order fixed-interval, fixed-ratio schedule of i.v. drug injection. Drug seeking was then extinguished by replacing cocaine with vehicle and eliminating the cocaine-paired stimulus. In subsequent test sessions, in which the cocaine-paired stimulus was re-introduced, priming injections of cocaine alone or combined with the different D1 receptor high- and low-efficacy agonists and antagonists (SKF 82958, SKF 81297, SKF 83959, ecopipam; n=3–4 per drug condition) were tested for their ability to reinstate extinguished cocaine seeking. Cocaine priming accompanied by the restoration of the cocaine-paired stimulus induced a dose-dependent reinstatement of drug seeking. When combined with cocaine, all D1 receptor agonists and antagonists produced rightward and downward shifts in the cocaine dose–response function. However, combined pretreatment of SKF81297 (agonist) and ecopipam (antagonist) inhibited cocaine seeking less than either drug individually. These findings suggest that D1 receptor high- and low-efficacy agonists as well as antagonists attenuate reinstatement of cocaine seeking in part via pharmacologically opposing actions at a common population of D1 receptors.
A sensitive radioimmunoassay for the antiviral agent BW248U [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine].

Abstract A sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the new antiviral agent, BW248U [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine], has been developed. The antisera used in the assay were obtained by immunizing rabbits with a succinyl-BW248U-rabbit serum albumin conjugate. In the assay, a single tube per sample is employed throughout, succinyl-[3H]BW248U is used as the antigen, and only 0.1 ml of sample per tube is required. The procedure does not require sample extraction, and ammonium sulfate is used as the precipitating agent. The RIA has a useful range of 0.05 to 50 nmol of BW248U/ml and the concentrations of the drug determined by this method are in good agreement with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography. Naturally occurring purine bases and nucleosides, as well as a wide variety of nonrelated drugs, do not interfere with the assay. When antiserum from one rabbit was employed, the association constant with succinyl-[3H]BW248U was found to be 2.05 × 108 liters/mol while that for [3H]BW248U was 10-fold less.
Review essay / retributivism and its rivals

Igor Primoratz, Justifying Legal Punishment Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, and London: Humanities Press, 1989, x + 196 pp.; bibliography.
Planning for Hazard Mitigation in the U.S.-Mexican Border Region: An Assessment of Hazardous Waste Generation Rates for Transportation

Abstract This paper provides an assessment of the trends in hazardous waste shipments across the U.S.‐Mexican border. These wastes are generated in the maquiladoras (assembly plants) operating in the northern border of Mexico and are expected to be shipped back to the United States under the conditions imposed by the Environmental Cooperation Agreement. However, very little of such waste is actually sent back. This study first estimates generation rates for hazardous waste, based on shipment data, by type of maquiladora industry for 1995 and prior years. Second, it uses Sonora, Mexico, as a case to illustrate the impending problems of waste transportation and treatment by projecting hazardous waste shipments to 2005. The paper concludes with some suggested research to address the current policy impasse in managing hazardous wastes in the U.S.‐Mexican border.
Competitive Binding of Off-Flavor Compounds with Soy Protein and β-Cyclodextrin in a Ternary System: A Model Study

Removal of soy protein (SP)-bound 2-nonanone by β-cyclodextrin (βCD) was studied using an equilibrium dialysis technique. It was observed that in the presence of βCD, a significant (p < 0.05) amount of SP-bound 2-nonanone could be removed in a concentration-dependent manner. Up to 94% of SP-bound 2-nonanone was stripped from SP when 6 mM βCD was present in the system. However, in thermodynamic terms, the net standard free energy change for transfer of 2-nonanone from SP to βCD, i.e., \( \Updelta \Updelta G^\circ_{{{\text{SP}} \to \beta {\text{CD}}}} \), was essentially zero, implying that the apparent equilibrium binding constant for the formation of βCD–2-nonanone complex was essentially same as that for the SP–2-nonanone complex formation in the ternary system. This indicated that stripping-off of 2-nonanone from SP by βCD was driven by the mass action ratio. Based on these results, it is shown that βCD can be used effectively for removing SP-bound off-flavor carbonyl compounds.
Selective G-Quadruplex DNA Recognition by a New Class of Designed Cyanines

A variety of cyanines provide versatile and sensitive agents acting as DNA stains and sensors and have been structurally modified to bind in the DNA minor groove in a sequence dependent manner. Similarly, we are developing a new set of cyanines that have been designed to achieve highly selective binding to DNA G-quadruplexes with much weaker binding to DNA duplexes. A systematic set of structurally analogous trimethine cyanines has been synthesized and evaluated for quadruplex targeting. The results reveal that elevated quadruplex binding and specificity are highly sensitive to the polymethine chain length, heterocyclic structure and intrinsic charge of the compound. Biophysical experiments show that the compounds display significant selectivity for quadruplex binding with a higher preference for parallel stranded quadruplexes, such as cMYC. NMR studies revealed the primary binding through an end-stacking mode and SPR studies showed the strongest compounds have primary KD values below 100 nM that are nearly 100-fold weaker for duplexes. The high selectivity of these newly designed trimethine cyanines for quadruplexes as well as their ability to discriminate between different quadruplexes are extremely promising features to develop them as novel probes for targeting quadruplexes in vivo.
Effect of a Shallow Weak Zone on Fault Rupture: Numerical Simulation of Scale-Model Experiments

Scale-model earthquake experiments provide detailed, subsurface recordings of rupture propagation and fault motion that are unavailable for natural earthquakes and thereby offer an opportunity to test numerical earthquake simulation methods. Among the advantages realized from the use of experimental data are optimal sensor locations, precise knowledge of bulk and surface properties of the medium, detailed knowledge of the initial stress state, and experimental repeatability. We perform numerical simulations that closely reproduce the shape and duration of the acceleration pulses recorded adjacent to the fault surface in the foam rubber earthquake experiments of Brune and Anooshehpoor (1998). Outside of the event nucleation zone, experimental and simulated rupture velocities are nearly indistinguishable. With adjustment of the static friction coefficient within the constraints imposed by experimental measurements, the absolute amplitudes of the accelerations can be brought into close agreement, typically within a few tens of percent. Close agreement between simulation and experiment is also maintained when the frictional strength of the upper part of the fault plane is varied. The agreement of the numerical and experimental results verifies that the discrete numerical model accurately represents the continuum dynamics of the spontaneous rupture problem. The numerical simulations also facilitate further interpretation of the scale-model experiments. They support an interpretation in which fault displacement in the foam experiments occurs predominantly through a conventional frictional sliding mechanism rather than during fault opening episodes, resulting in a cracklike rather than pulselike mode of slip. The simulations further suggest a reinterpretation of the apparent rupture velocity measurements in the fault weak zone, with rupture slowing rather than accelerating. They also predict that the weak zone diminishes surface accelerations and velocities (relative to a uniform fault model) out to a distance that scales with weak-zone depth and may enhance amplitudes slightly at intermediate distances. Manuscript received 23 October 2001.
Immunodeficiency: UNC-93B gets a toll call

Defects in innate immunity have moved to center stage in the past five years. This can be explained, at least in part, by the development of molecular assays and genetic tools that enable new approaches. Two recent studies using these elegant tools show that a transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum protein, UNC-93B, is essential for the normal response to signaling through the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that respond to viral infection, TLR3, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9.
P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) event-related potentials (ERPs): People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) vs. age-matched controls

highlights abstract Objective: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) aimed at restoring communication to people with severe neuromuscular disabilities often use event-related potentials (ERPs) in scalp-recorded EEG activity. Up to the present, most research and development in this area has been done in the laboratory with young healthy control subjects. In order to facilitate the development of BCI most useful to people with dis- abilities, the present study set out to: (1) determine whether people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and healthy, age-matched volunteers (HVs) differ in the speed and accuracy of their ERP-based BCI use; (2) compare the ERP characteristics of these two groups; and (3) identify ERP-related factors that might enable improvement in BCI performance for people with disabilities. Methods: Sixteen EEG channels were recorded while people with ALS or healthy age-matched volunteers (HVs) used a P300-based BCI. The subjects with ALS had little or no remaining useful motor control (mean ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised 9.4 (±9.5SD) (range 0-25)). Each subject attended to a target item as the items in a 6 6 visual matrix flashed. The BCI used a stepwise linear discriminant function (SWLDA) to determine the item the user wished to select (i.e., the target item). Offline analyses assessed the laten- cies, amplitudes, and locations of ERPs to the target and non-target items for people with ALS and age- matched control subjects. Results: BCI accuracy and communication rate did not differ significantly between ALS users and HVs. Although ERP morphology was similar for the two groups, their target ERPs differed significantly in the location and amplitude of the late positivity (P300), the amplitude of the early negativity (N200), and the latency of the late negativity (LN). Conclusions: The differences in target ERP components between people with ALS and age-matched HVs are consistent with the growing recognition that ALS may affect cortical function. The development of BCIs for use by this population may begin with studies in HVs but also needs to include studies in people with ALS. Their differences in ERP components may affect the selection of electrode montages, and might
Can You Trust Your Memory Trace? A Comparison of Memory Traces from Binary Instrumentation and Simulation

Simulation is employed extensively to perform exploration of design spaces by computer designers. Contemporary simulation environments are now increasingly complex comprising of support for multiple cores and full operating systems. Resource use between simulation environments vary widely because of these different system contexts and the fact that multi-threaded applications have intrinsic non-determinism. In addition, more recent simulation environments use Dynamic Binary Instrumentation (DBI) traces collected on the system context (OS, library, threading API) of the host system. Methodologies that have been employed to validate and compare simulation frameworks are usually limited to comparing CPI and cache statistics and do not provide a detailed function-level breakdown or understanding of the source of mismatches. In this work, we attempt to identify and quantify the true sources of mismatch between a DBI framework and a full system simulation framework. We use memory traces of multithreaded applications that have been annotated with function call information to allow for a breakdown of the source of mismatch within an application. To the best of our knowledge, this level of detail in comparison has not been attempted before, especially with traces of multi-threaded applications. In this study, we find that the sources of mismatch come mainly from threading mechanisms/threading API function calls, Library/System function calls and User Space condition synchronization. Based on the results of the study, we identify specific functions in each category of mismatch. We then propose a few ways to close the gap and enable more reliable simulation for design space exploration.
Influence of thyroidectomy on blood lipids of the dog.

ALTHOUGH an inverse relation between the level of thyroid activity and the content of one or other lipid constituent in the blood of both man and animals has been repeatedly observed (1–5), nothing is known of the mechanism that governs this relation. In an attempt to determine its nature, it seemed desirable t o examine first the permanency and degree of consistency of lipid changes that follow complete excision of the gland. In the present investigation, the choleseterol, phospo lipids and total fatty acids of the blood were observed at short intervals for as long as 214 days after thyroidectomy. It is shown that the blood lipid response to thyroidec tomy is quite irregular and variable. Despite the presence of greatly increased amounts of lipids in the blood of the thyroidectomizied dog, sudden reductions in their amounts or even a return to normal concentrations may occur.
Does ADHD moderate the manifestation of anxiety disorders in children

The main aim of this study was to examine the moderating effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on anxiety disorders in children. Data were analyzed from a large referred sample of children with anxiety disorder without comorbid ADHD (anxiety disorder, N = 253), anxiety disorder plus comorbid ADHD (anxiety disorder + ADHD, N = 704), and ADHD without comorbid anxiety disorder (ADHD, N = 511). Children were comprehensively assessed, including by structured diagnostic interview (K-SADS-E). Overall rates of individual anxiety disorders, as well as age of onset and severity of illness were not significantly different in the presence of comorbid ADHD. School functioning in children with anxiety disorders was negatively impacted by the presence of comorbid ADHD. Frequency of mental health treatment in children with anxiety disorders was significantly increased in the presence of comorbid ADHD. ADHD had a limited impact on the manifestation of anxiety disorder in children suggesting that ADHD and anxiety disorders are independently expressed.
The Extension of Westphalian Sovereignty: State Building and the Abolition of Extraterritoriality

What explains the abolition of extraterritoriality in world politics? Which factors account for the variation in the timing of the abolition process? I develop a state-building explanation for the abolition of extraterritoriality. I find that traditional explanations of the abolition of extraterritoriality that rely on power and culture do not account for Western states’ decisions to keep or abolish extraterritoriality. I suggest that the state-building practices of non-Western countries, specifically the institutionalization of a state-based legal system, are key to explaining why Western states decided to keep or abolish extraterritoriality. I test my argument against alternative explanations using a comparative case study of the abolition process in Japan and China.
Role of Aggressive Factors in the Pathogenesis of Peptic Ulcer Disease

Acid and pepsin are the major aggressive factors believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease. On the average, patients with duodenal ulcer disease have higher than normal basal, nocturnal, and pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion. Food-stimulated acid secretion, however, is normal in duodenal ulcer patients. The reason for higher basal and nocturnal acid secretion is not known but may be secondary to higher than normal basal serum gastrin concentrations in duodenal ulcer patients. Average serum pepsinogen levels also are higher than normal in patients with duodenal ulcer disease, suggesting that luminal pepsin concentrations also are higher. Patients with gastric ulcers have either normal or lower than normal acid secretion. This suggests that factors other than acid and pepsin may play a role in causing gastric ulcers. Reflux of bile and pancreatic juice into the stomach of patients with gastric ulcers has been suggested as one of the aggressive factors playing a role in the development of gastric ulcers.
Trade-Off Between Energy Consumption and Utility Cost in the Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory

In contrast to building energy conversion equipment, less improvement has been achieved in thermal energy distribution, storage and control systems in terms of energy efficiency and peak load reduction potential. Cooling of commercial buildings contributes significantly to the peak demand placed on an electrical utility grid. Time-of-use electricity rates are designed to encourage shifting of electrical loads to off-peak periods at night and weekends. Buildings can respond to these pricing signals by shifting cooling-related thermal loads either by precooling the building’s massive structure (passive storage) or by using active thermal energy storage systems such as ice storage. Recent theoretical and experimental work showed that the simultaneous utilization of active and passive building thermal storage inventory can save significant amounts of utility costs to the building operator, yet in many cases at the expense of increased electrical energy consumption. This article investigates an approach to ensure that a commercial building utilizing both thermal batteries does not incur excessive energy consumption. The model-based predictive building controller is modified to trade off energy cost against energy consumption. This work shows that buildings can be operated in a demand-responsive fashion to substantially reduce utility costs, however, at the expense of increased energy consumption. Placing a greater emphasis on energy consumption led to a reduction in the savings potential. In the limiting case of energy-optimal control, the reference control was replicated, i.e., if only energy consumption is of concern, neither active nor passive building thermal storage should be utilized. On the other hand, cost-optimal control suggests strongly utilizing both thermal storage inventories.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Import of Transcription Factor MTF1 into the Yeast Mitochondria Takes Place through an Unusual Pathway

We report studies of the import into mitochondria of MTF1, a nucleus-encoded factor that markedly stimulates the specific transcription of mitochondrial DNA. Unlike most of the mitochondrial precursor proteins studied so far, import of MTF1 does not appear to require a receptor on the outer membrane, membrane potential across the inner membrane, or ATP hydrolysis. Its import is not affected by low temperature. It lacks a cleavable presequence but translocates across the inner membrane through its amino terminus; its sorting is independent of hsp60. Our results indicate an unusual and distinct import pathway for MTF1 into the yeast mitochondria.