cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of the dynamic changes in functional cerebral oxidative metabolism from tissue mitochondria to blood oxygen.

The dynamic properties of the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO2) during changes in brain activity remain unclear. Therefore, the spatial and temporal evolution of functional increases in CMRO2 was investigated in the rat somato-sensory cortex during forelimb stimulation under a suppressed blood flow response condition. Temporally, stimulation elicited a fast increase in tissue mitochondria CMRO2 described by a time constant of ~1 second measured using flavoprotein autofluorescence imaging. CMRO2-driven changes in the tissue oxygen tension measured using an oxygen electrode and blood oxygenation measured using optical imaging of intrinsic signal followed; however, these changes were slow with time constants of ~5 and ~10 seconds, respectively. This slow change in CMRO2-driven blood oxygenation partly explains the commonly observed post-stimulus blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) undershoot. Spatially, the changes in mitochondria CMRO2 were similar to the changes in blood oxygenation. Finally, the increases in CMRO2 were well correlated with the evoked multi-unit spiking activity. These findings show that dynamic CMRO2 calculations made using only blood oxygenation data (e.g., BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)) do not directly reflect the temporal changes in the tissue's mitochondria metabolic rate; however, the findings presented can bridge the gap between the changes in cellular oxidative rate and blood oxygenation.
Commentary Questions in Japanese: Cognitive Sources and Pragmatic Resources

This paper examines the nature of questioning in Japanese by concentrating on questions taking the so-called n(o) da construction, i.e., "commentary questions" or CQs. Going beyond the cognitive and pragmatic features associated with "commentary predicates" explored in my earlier study, I argue that CQs foreground the speaker-listener interpersonal dialogicality. CQs are chosen when modal features of an utterance — including socially as well as emotionally motivated modalities — need to be brought into focus. The high frequency of CQs (approximately once in every three to four questioning opportunities) in the data examined suggests the relative importance of "interactional dialogicality" in Japanese.
Trusting the Trust Literature: What Applied and Theoretical Literatures Have in Common

This presentation is a comparison of business, academic, and military literature on trust. What are the relationships among the academic, more theoretical literature and the more applied realm of business and military literature when trust in teams is explored? This presentation will explore the constructs involved when each literature discusses the overlaps and gaps within trust. In addition, this presentation will discuss how each literature looks at team trust in leadership, leader trust in team members, and trust among team members. References to trust in teams will be coded and analyzed.
Surface properties of membrane systems. Transport of staphylococcal δ-toxin from aqueous to membrane phase

Hemolytic δ-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus was soluble in either water, methanol or chloroform/methanol (2 : 1, v/v). The toxin spread readily from distilled water into films with pressures (π) of 10 dynes/cm on water and 30 dynes/cm on 6 M urea; from chloroform/methanol it produced 40 dynes/cm pressure on distilled water. The toxin adsorbed barely from water (π = 1 dyne/cm) but it did rapidly from 6 M urea (π = 35 dynes/cm). The protein films had unusually high surface potentials, which increased with the film pressure and decreased with increasing both pH and urea concentration in the aqueous phase. The fluorescence of 1-aniline 8-naphthalene sulfonate with δ-toxin was much greater than that with RNAase and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine itself, indicating probably a marked lipid-binding character of the toxin. By circular dichroism the α-helix content of δ-toxin was 42% in water, 45% in methanol, 24% in 6 M urea. Infrared spectroscopy showed predominant α-helix in both 2H2O and deuterated chloroform/methanol as well as in films spread from either solvent on 2H2O. In spreading from 6 M [2H]urea, in which the major infrared absorption was that of [2H]urea with peaks at 1600 and 1480 cm−1, and δ-toxin film showed prevalently non-α-helix structures with major peak intensities at 1633 cm−1 > 1680 cm−1, indicating the appearance of new β-aggregated and β-antiparallel pleated sheet structures in the film. The data prove that (1) high pressure protein films can consist of α-helix as well as non-α-helix structures and, differently from another cytolytic protein, melittin, δ-toxin does not resume the α-helix conformation in going into the film phase from the extended chain in 6 M urea; (2) conformational changes are important in the transport of proteins from aqueous to lipid or membrane phase; (3) δ-toxin is by far more versatile in structural dynamics and more surface active than α-toxin.
Persistence of Metarhizium anisopliae incorporated into soilless potting media for control of the black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus in container-grown ornamentals

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the persistence of Metarhizium anisopliae (F52), measured as infectivity against black vine weevil larvae, in a soilless potting medium at six wholesale nursery locations across the Willamette Valley, Oregon. A granule formulation (0.30 and 0.60 kg/m3) was incorporated into media at planting and fungal persistence determined over two growing seasons. The fungus persisted in the potting media over the duration of the experiment with 50–60% of the larvae exposed to treated media becoming infected at the end of the experiment. The percentage of infected larvae gradually declined from ⩾90% on week 3 to 40–60% by week 19. Larval infection rebounded over the fall and winter months of 2004 to 75–80% followed again by a slow decline over the course of the second growing season.
Video Games and Laparoscopic Surgery

The aim of this study was to determine whether playing video games is associated with improved laparoscopic performance. Participants performed three timed laparoscopic tasks on a pelvic trainer as a pretest. Next, subjects had 10 minutes of playing time on a video game. For the post-test, subjects again performed three timed laparoscopic tasks on the pelvic trainer. Tasks that were performed were intended to measure hand–eye coordination, ambidexterity, and depth perception. Paired-samples t-tests were used to measure differences between the pre- and post-tests: There was a significant difference between pegs that were transferred (p = 0.001) and between the number of pegs dropped (p = 0.013). There was also a significant difference in the pre- and post-tests on cutting open a filled condom (p = 0.008). Last, the number of rubber bands stretched in the pre- and post-tests was significantly different (p = 0.000). In conclusion, playing video games improved laparoscopic skills and time to complete the tasks.
The physical state of the obscuring torus in Seyfert galaxies

Calculations are presented describing the ionization, chemical, and thermal state of molecular material in the obscuring tori close to the nuclei of many Seyfert galaxies. These are unusual molecular clouds: their electron fractions are about .001 and their temperatures are about 1000 K. Cooling is accomplished primarily by radiation of NIR H2 lines and FIR CO lines. High-J (C-12)(O-16) rotational lines should eventually be detectable from the nearer Seyfert galaxies. Medium-J lines due to (C-13)(O-16) and (C-12)(O-18) as well as (C-12)(O-16) should also be strong. Because ordinary molecular clouds are weak in these lines, the nuclear CO emissions can be distinguished from CO emission farther out in the host galaxy's disk.
System design for optical PPM communications with diode combining

The most efficient way to encode laser diodes for maximum data rate is studied. Three different system architectures are considered, with combining achieved by dichroic mirrors operating in conjunction with a pulse-position-modulated (PPM) format. The basic criterion is to maximize the data rate with increasing number of diodes, while maintaining diode power constraints and decoding bit error probability. The three systems are: power combining into a single pulse, followed by PPM encoding; parallel channels, in which each diode is separately PPM encoded; and color coding, in which diodes are encoded over a common wavelength-time slot alphabet. Data rate equations are presented as a function of the number of diodes, mirror combining losses, PPM alphabet size, and the operating optical signal-to-noise ratio. >
Distributed model consensus for models of locally biased measurements in wireless sensor networks

In a wireless sensor network, the sensors collect measurements from their local environments and build a model from those measurements in order to draw conclusions. Distributed model consensus allows sensors to make inferences about the global state of the deployment environment, by sharing models among the sensors, rather than raw data. In this paper, we analyze a regression model consensus framework based on graphical models. We compare its performance to a baseline alternative based on gossip averaging. Convergence and accuracy issues arise in the belief propagation used in the graphical model method, when the underlying communication topology contains cycles. Through simulation, we evaluate the performance on random geometric graph network topologies containing cycles.
Sample size and power calculations based on generalized linear mixed models with correlated binary outcomes

The generalized linear mixed model (GLIMMIX) provides a powerful technique to model correlated outcomes with different types of distributions. The model can now be easily implemented with SAS PROC GLIMMIX in version 9.1. For binary outcomes, linearization methods of penalized quasi-likelihood (PQL) or marginal quasi-likelihood (MQL) provide relatively accurate variance estimates for fixed effects. Using GLIMMIX based on these linearization methods, we derived formulas for power and sample size calculations for longitudinal designs with attrition over time. We found that the power and sample size estimates depend on the within-subject correlation and the size of random effects. In this article, we present tables of minimum sample sizes commonly used to test hypotheses for longitudinal studies. A simulation study was used to compare the results. We also provide a Web link to the SAS macro that we developed to compute power and sample sizes for correlated binary outcomes.
The development of thermal analysis instrumentation 1955–1985

Abstract The development of thermal analysis instruments in the author's laboratory from 1955 to 1985 is discussed. In the 1955–1965 period, instruments were developed to solve a specific chemical problem. From 1970 to the present, new instruments were developed to advance the state of the art of thermal analysis instrumentation. Instruments described include thermobalances, DTA, EGD-EGA, light emission, thermoelectrometry, and others.
Aflatoxin and hepatocellular carcinoma: a useful paradigm for environmentally induced carcinogenesis.

Aflatoxin is believed to be a major causative agent in the high incidence of primary liver cancer seen in certain regions of the world. In Fujian Province, an aflatoxin-endemic region of China, we compared the cigarette smoking habits of 200 primary hepatoma patients with those of 200 matched nonhepatoma controls. We excluded from our study all individuals with evidence of hepatitis B virus serum antigen and/or alcoholic cirrhosis. Interestingly, two groups of hepatoma patients could be discerned. In patients more than 50 years of age, a significantly higher number of cases of primary hepatoma was found among nonsmokers than smokers (odds ratio = 2.06; 95% confidence interval = 1.32–3.20). In patients less than 50 years of age, this difference was not seen. Previous studies in the rat, mouse and duck had suggested that agents present in cigarette smoke might induce a cytochrome P450-mediated detoxication pathway, leading to protection against aflatoxin-induced primary liver cancer. Our clinical data in the present study are therefore consistent with the previous laboratory animal experiments. Mutations of the p53 gene are found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer. Specific mutations might reflect exposure to specific carcinogens and we have screened HCC samples from patients in 14 different countries to determine the frequency of a hotspot mutation at codon 249 of the tumour suppressor p53 gene. We detected mutations in 17% of tumours (12/72) from four countries in south Africa and the southeast coast of Asia. There was no codon 249 mutation in 95 specimens of HCC from other geographical locations including North America, Europe, Middle East, and Japan. Worldwide, the presence of the codon 249 mutation in HCCs correlated with high risk of exposure to aflatoxins and the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Further studies were completed in two groups of HBV-infected patients at different risks of exposure to aflatoxins. 53% of patients (8/15) from Mozambique at high risk of aflatoxin exposure had a tumour with a codon 249 mutation, in contrast with 8% of patients from Transkei (1/12) who were at low risk. HCC is an endemic disease in Mozambique and accounts for up to two thirds of all tumours in men. A codon 249 mutation of the p53 gene identifies an endemic form of HCC strongly associated with dietary aflatoxin intake.
Mechanisms of potato leafhopper resistance in soybean lines isogenic for pubescence type

Seldom is the potato leafhopper (PLH) [Empoasca fabae (Harris)] a problem on the pubescent soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars that currently dominate U.S. production. The questions remain, however, whether a higher level of resistance is needed and if alternative mechanisms of resistance are available to combat this potential insect pest (.)
English Calvinism and the Crowd: Coriolanus and the History of Religious Reform

Late Tudor London comes alive when Stephen Greenblatt's acclaimed biography of William Shakespeare, shadowing its subject, takes to the streets. “The unprecedented concentration of bodies jostling … crossing and recrossing the great bridge, pressing into taverns and theaters and churches,” Greenblatt suggests, is a “key to the whole spectacle” of crowds in the playwright's histories and tragedies. To be sure, his little excursions in London left their mark on his scripts, yet he scrupulously sifted his literary sources from which he drew characters and crises onto the stage. He prowled around Plutarch and read Stow and Hollinshed on the wars of succession he chronicled. Nonetheless, “the sight of all those people—along with the noise, the smell of their breath, and their rowdiness and potential for violence—seems,” Greenblatt says, “to have been Shakespeare's first and most enduring impression of the city” in the 1580s and to have been the inspiration for the “greasy aprons” and “gross diets” of “tag-rag people” or rabble in his plays. There, onstage, the glory that was Rome and the grit of fifteenth-century England were “suffused less with the otherness of the past than with the familiar coordinates of Shakespeare's own present.” And familiarity bred contempt for “the sweaty multitude.” “All those people” were terribly, dangerously unpredictable or, as with Jack Cade's crowd in the second part of Henry VI, just plain dangerous. Cade stirred his prole followers to kill the city's more cultured citizens. Sinisterly self-interested tribunes—or so they may have seemed to some playgoers—swayed the crowd in Coriolanus against the play's protagonist, Rome's most noble soldier. And commoners could be “lightly blown to and fro.”
Behavioral Intervention, Nutrition, and Exercise Trials in Heart Failure

With the aging of the population and advances in acute treatment of ischemic events and surgical techniques for coronary artery and valvular heart disease, the prevalence of heart failure has been increasing. Lifestyle modifications are an integral part of preventing and treating most pathologic human conditions, and include behavioral modifications, diet, and exercise. Despite advances in medical and device therapy for heart failure, clinicians still hope that patients will adhere to nonpharmacologic interventions, some of which can actually improve symptoms and quality of life. This article reviews the role of these lifestyle modifications in preventing and treating heart failure.
Interpretation of new evidence for free quarks

Taking the recent results of LaRue, Fairbank, and Phillips at face value and assuming the fractional charge observed on three out of nine niobium balls was due to quarks, it is concluded that these three balls contained at least three d-bar quarks and two u quarks on their surfaces. It is shown that this result is not inconsistent with the negative results of other quark searches provided that primordial quarks are predominantly positively charged, the u-d mass difference is less than the electron mass, and total confinement is invalid. A cosmological proof is given that primordial quarks must be positively charged.
Markets contagion during financial crisis: A regime-switching approach☆

Abstract Within a Markov regime-switching VAR framework, we investigate the contagion effects among the stock market, real estate market, credit default market, and energy market covering the most recent financial crisis period when markets experience regime shifts. The results demonstrate that the watershed of regimes occurs around the start of the subprime crisis in 2007, after which the “risky” regime dominates the evolution of market chaos. During the financial crisis, excluding their own shocks, stock market shock and oil price shock are the main driving forces behind the credit default market and stock market variations, respectively. The energy market also appears to be more responsive to the stock market movements than the shocks originating from housing and credit markets. However, the impacts from the credit default market on the real estate market are not significant as expected.
Levofloxacin-Resistant Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae in the United States: Evidence for Clonal Spread and the Impact of Conjugate Pneumococcal Vaccine

The emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance in sterile-site isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae is documented in this study characterizing all invasive levofloxacin-resistant (MIC, > or = 8 mg/liter) S. pneumoniae isolates (n = 50) obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Active Bacterial Core Surveillance from 1998 to 2002. Resistance among all isolates increased from 0.1% in 1998 to 0.6% in 2001 (P = 0.008) but decreased to 0.4% in 2002, while resistance among vaccine serotypes continued to increase from 0.3% in 1998 to 1.0% in 2002, suggesting that fluoroquinolones continue to exert selective pressure on these vaccine serotypes. Only 22% of resistant isolates were not covered by the conjugate vaccine serogroups. Multilocus sequence typing revealed that 58% of resistant strains were related to five international clones identified by the Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network, with the Spain(23F)-1 clone being most frequent (16% of all isolates). Thirty-six percent of the isolates were coresistant to penicillin, 44% were coresistant to macrolides, and 28% were multiresistant to penicillin, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones. Fifty percent of the isolates were resistant to any three drug classes. Ninety-four percent of the isolates had multiple mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions of the gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE genes. In 16% of the isolates, there was evidence of an active efflux mechanism. An unusual isolate was found that showed only a single parE mutation and for which the ciprofloxacin MIC was lower (2 mg/liter) than that of levofloxacin (8 mg/liter). Our results suggest that invasive pneumococcal isolates resistant to levofloxacin in the United States show considerable evidence of multiple resistance and of clonal spread.
Active CO2 reservoir management for sustainable geothermal energy extraction and reduced leakage

Subsurface storage space is gaining recognition as a commodity for industrial and energy recovery operations. Geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration (GCS), wherein supercritical CO2 is injected into subsurface storage space, is under broad development in sedimentary reservoirs – particularly for hydrocarbon production, which uses supercritical CO2 as part of a carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) scheme. A novel CCUS operation is presented whereby we investigate the staged deployment of a coupled geothermal energy extraction (GEE)-GCS operation in geothermal sedimentary reservoirs that re-circulates extracted fluids. We identify sedimentary resources of the continental USA that have significant temperature at depths suitable for GCS. To predict the impact of a GEE-GCS operation, a reservoir-scale semi-analytical model is used to simulate brine and CO2 migration through existing leakage pathways. With the goal of integrating GEE and GCS, a well-site design exercise is undertaken, where we develop an idealized configuration for CO2 and brine production/reinjection wells. Results show potential geothermal sedimentary reservoirs suitable for GEE deployment exist in the continental USA; however the characteristics of each site should be investigated through a first stage GEE-operation to determine GCS capacity. Our active CO2 reservoir management simulations demonstrate a decrease in injection and reservoir overpressures, a reduced migration of CO2 within the reservoir during active injection/extraction, and a reduced risk of brine and CO2 migration. With the use of the developed concentric-ring well pattern, we demonstrate the longevity of thermal productivity from an ideal GEE site, while providing sufficient CO2 storage volume and trapping to act as a sequestration operation. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
HUMAN FACTORS DESIGN, VERIFICATION, AND VALIDATION FOR TWO TYPES OF CONTROL ROOM UPGRADES AT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

This paper describes the NUREG-0711 based human factors engineering (HFE) phases and associated elements required to support design, verification and validation (V&V), and implementation of a new plant process computer (PPC) and turbine control system (TCS) at a representative nuclear power plant. This paper reviews ways to take a human-system interface (HSI) specification and use it when migrating legacy PPC displays or designing displays with new functionality. These displays undergo iterative usability testing during the design phase and then undergo an integrated system validation (ISV) in a full scope control room training simulator. Following the successful demonstration of operator performance with the systems during the ISV, the new system is implemented at the plant, first in the training simulator and then in the main control room.
Applying RE-AIM to the Evaluation of FUEL Your Life A Worksite Translation of DPP

Weight management programs are becoming increasingly common in workplace settings; however, few target middle-aged men. The purpose of this article is to describe the process evaluation of a worksite translation of the Diabetes Prevention Program in a predominantly middle-aged male population. The translated program, FUEL Your Life, was largely self-directed, with support from peer health coaches and occupational health nurses. The RE-AIM (Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance) framework was used to examine the factors that influenced program implementation using data from an environmental assessment, participant surveys, peer health coach surveys, and occupational health nurse interviews. An overwhelming majority of the employees who enrolled in the study were overweight or obese (92%). Overall, the program was effective for weight maintenance; those with higher levels of participation and engagement had better weight loss outcomes. The peer health coach and family elements of the inter...
Effect of increasing dialysate flow rate on diffusive mass transfer of urea, phosphate and β2-microglobulin during clinical haemodialysis

Background. Diffusive clearance depends on blood and dialysate flow rates and the overall mass transfer area coefficient (KoA) of the dialyzer. Although KoA should be constant for a given dialyzer, urea KoA has been reported to vary with dialysate flow rate possibly because of improvements in flow distribution. This study examined the dependence of KoA for urea, phosphate and β2-microglobulin on dialysate flow rate in dialyzers containing undulating fibers to promote flow distribution and two different fiber packing densities. Methods. Twelve stable haemodialysis patients underwent dialysis with four different dialyzers, each used with a blood flow rate of 400 mL/min and dialysate flow rates of 350, 500 and 800 mL/min. Clearances of urea, phosphate and β2-microglobulin were measured and KoA values calculated. Results. Clearances of urea and phosphate, but not β2-microglobulin, increased significantly with increasing dialysate flow rate. However, increasing dialysate flow rate had no significant effect on KoA or Ko for any of the three solutes examined, although Ko for urea and phosphate increased significantly as the average flow velocity in the dialysate compartment increased. Conclusions. For dialyzers with features that promote good dialysate flow distribution, increasing dialysate flow rate beyond 600 mL/min at a blood flow rate of 400 mL/min is likely to have only a modest impact on dialyzer performance, limited to the theoretical increase predicted for a constant KoA.
Dynamic visualization techniques for high consequence software

This report documents a prototype tool developed to investigate the use of visualization and virtual reality technologies for improving software surety confidence. The tool is utilized within the execution phase of the software life cycle. It provides a capability to monitor an executing program against prespecified requirements constraints provided in a program written in the requirements specification language SAGE. The resulting Software Attribute Visual Analysis Tool (SAVAnT) also provides a technique to assess the completeness of a software specification. The prototype tool is described along with the requirements constraint language after a brief literature review is presented. Examples of how the tool can be used are also presented. In conclusion, the most significant advantage of this tool is to provide a first step in evaluating specification completeness, and to provide a more productive method for program comprehension and debugging. The expected payoff is increased software surety confidence, increased program comprehension, and reduced development and debugging time.
Radiosynthesis of [11C] N-Methyl and N,N′-Dimethyl Ethanolamine for Measuring Phospholipid Metabolism Using PET Imaging

Phosphoglycerides are important in the formation of cellular and organelle membranes in rapidly growing tumors. The most abundant phosphoglycerides in higher plants and animals are phosphatidyletha...
Class, Control, and Relational Indignity: Labor Process Foundations for Workplace Humiliation, Conflict, and Shame

This article investigates how complex combinations of control contribute to class variations in the experience of work through their impacts on relational aspects of workplace dignity. Analysis of ...
Post-Coital Contraceptive Activity and Estrogen Receptor Binding Affinity of Phenolic Steroids

Estradiol, estradiol-16a, estriol and a series of positional isomers of estriol were tested for their post-coital contraceptive activity, and their ability to compete with estradiol for the cytosolic estrogen receptor protein of rat uteri. Estrogenicity was determined for each compound in immature rats with single injections and in mature castrated rats by injecting the lowest fully contraceptive dose for four consecutive days. All compounds were active anti-implantational agents, varying in required dosage from 4/tig to 2000 /ag (total dosage over 4 days). The rank order of contraceptive activity was found to be: estradiol ?estriol = epiestriol > 11/3 - (OH) - estradiol > estradiol - 16a > 7a-(OH)-estradiol > 6/3-(OH)-estradiol, while the order of estrogenicity at levels of contraceptive activity in the ovariectomized mature rat was: epiestriol = estriol < 7a - (OH) - estradiol < estradiol - 16a < 6/8 - (OH) - estradiol = 11)8 - (OH) - estradiol < estradiol-17)8. Reasonably good correlation between compe...
ADRA2B deletion variant selectively predicts stress-induced enhancement of long-term memory in females

Clarifying the mechanisms that underlie stress-induced alterations of learning and memory may lend important insight into susceptibility factors governing the development of stress-related psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous work has shown that carriers of the ADRA2B Glu(301)-Glu(303) deletion variant exhibit enhanced emotional memory, greater amygdala responses to emotional stimuli and greater intrusiveness of traumatic memories. We speculated that carriers of this deletion variant might also be more vulnerable to stress-induced enhancements of long-term memory, which would implicate the variant as a possible susceptibility factor for traumatic memory formation. One hundred and twenty participants (72 males, 48 females) submerged their hand in ice cold (stress) or warm (no stress) water for 3min. Immediately afterwards, they studied a list of 42 words varying in emotional valence and arousal and then completed an immediate free recall test. Twenty-four hours later, participants' memory for the word list was examined via free recall and recognition assessments. Stressed participants exhibiting greater heart rate responses to the stressor had enhanced recall on the 24-h assessment. Importantly, this enhancement was independent of the emotional nature of the learned information. In contrast to previous work, we did not observe a general enhancement of memory for emotional information in ADRA2B deletion carriers. However, stressed female ADRA2B deletion carriers, particularly those exhibiting greater heart rate responses to the stressor, did demonstrate greater recognition memory than all other groups. Collectively, these findings implicate autonomic mechanisms in the pre-learning stress-induced enhancement of long-term memory and suggest that the ADRA2B deletion variant may selectively predict stress effects on memory in females. Such findings lend important insight into the physiological mechanisms underlying stress effects on learning and their sex-dependent nature.
Depth-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy as a probe of defect structure in oxides

Depth-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy (DRCLS) is a powerful technique for probing the nature of defects in oxides, both electronically and spatially on a nanometer scales. The information derived from this technique provides a tool to guide the growth and processing of state-of-the-art semiconductors and dielectrics for micro- and opto-electronics. DRCLS is particularly effective in probing electronic and chemical structure within ultrathin films, beyond the capabilities of conventional techniques. This talk highlights the capabilities of DRCLS with recent results from conventional oxides such as ZnO, to complex oxides such as the perovskite titanates, and the high-K dielectric HfO 2 . These studies establish the physical nature of native point defects in these materials as well as their spatial distribution on a nanometer scale. Deep level transient and optical spectroscopies (DLTS and DLOS), capacitance-voltage, as well as atomic force microscopy (AFM) combined with Kelvin Force Probe Microscopy (KPFM) provide methods to calibrate the observed luminescence features in terms of defect densities and carrier concentrations in these materials. DRCLS combined with these calibration techniques reveal dramatic increases in defect densities within tens of nanometers of surfaces and interfaces. In turn, such defect segregation has major effects on metal-semiconductor Schottky barrier formation, dielectric loss in capacitance structures at RF frequencies, and interface trapping in metal-oxide-semiconductor structures. For all these electronically-active oxides, DRCLS provides a rapid, non-destructive and highly sensitive method to evaluate localized electronic states and guide the growth and processing of these materials to achieve state-of-the-art device structures.
Increased DNA methylation status of the serotonin receptor 5HTR1A gene promoter in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Abstract Background Epigenetic changes may play a role in the etiology of psychotic diseases. It has been demonstrated that the serotonin receptor, 5HTR1A, is implicated in schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD). The aim of this study was to investigate the methylation status of a promoter region of the 5HTR1A gene in BPD and SCZ patients. Methods Our study included 58 BPD and 40 SCZ (DSM-IV criteria) as well as 67 control subjects. DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes and high-resolution melt (HRM) method was used for analysis. Results Non-parametric analysis of variance (Kruskal–Wallis) within groups was significant: H = 67.6; p U -test showed increased methylation level in both BPD (Z = − 7.4; p 0.0001) and SCZ (Z = 4.2; p 0.0001) compared to controls. No effect either of age or gender by own, was observed. ANCOVA revealed a modest effect of age/gender covariance ( F = 3.99; p Limitation We used a peripheral tissue. The relationship between methylation of blood and brain DNA is not well known. Data need to be replicated in a brain tissue. Conclusion We observed increased DNA methylation in the promoter region of the 5HTR1A gene of SCZ and BPD. This could explain the reported decrease of the receptor expression. The current study supports the growing interest of DNA methylation in psychopathology.
Which is better for cDNA-microarray-based classification: ratios or direct intensities

Motivation: There are two general methods for making gene-expression microarrays: one is to hybridize a single test set of labeled targets to the probe, and measure the background-subtracted intensity at each probe site; the other is to hybridize both a test and a reference set of differentially labeled targets to a single detector array, and measure the ratio of the background-subtracted intensities at each probe site. Which method is better depends on the variability in the cell system and the random factors resulting from the microarray technology. It also depends on the purpose for which the microarray is being used. Classification is a fundamental application and it is the one considered here. Results: This paper describes a model-based simulation paradigm that compares the classification accuracy provided by these methods over a variety of noise types and presents the results of a study modeled on noise typical of cDNA microarray data. The model consists of four parts: (1) the measurement equation for genes in the reference state; (2) the measurement equation for genes in the test state; (3) the ratio and normalization procedure for a dual-channel system; and (4) the intensity and normalization procedure for a single-channel system. In the reference state, the mean intensities are modeled as a shifted exponential distribution, and the intensity for a particular gene is modeled via a normal distribution, Normal(I, αI), about its mean intensity I, with α being the coefficient of variation of the cell system. In the test state, some genes have their intensities up-regulated by a random factor. The model includes a number of random factors affecting intensity measurement: deposition gain d, labeling gain, and post-image-processing residual noise. The key conclusion resulting from the study is that the coefficient of variation governing the randomness of the intensities and the deposition gain are the most important factors for determining whether a single-channel or dual-channel system provides superior classification, and the decision region in the α-d plane is approximately linear. Supplementary information: A companion website containing supplementary and background material can be accessed at http://ee.tamu.edu/~edward/ratio_intensity/
Opportunity Evaluation as Rule‐Based Decision Making

We draw from cognitive science literature on rule-based thinking to develop and empirically test a theoretical framework of entrepreneurial opportunity evaluation. We argue that entrepreneurs make use of socially constructed rules to discern the attractiveness of an opportunity, for them, specifically. Using conjoint analysis data of 498 decisions made by 62 entrepreneurs, we find that entrepreneurs' use of rules regarding opportunity novelty, resource efficiency, and worst-case scenario significantly influences entrepreneurs' evaluations of opportunities and that individual differences in opportunity market and technology knowledge augment the effect of the rules on opportunity attractiveness. Additionally, we document that the worst-case scenario diminishes the positive effect of other rule criteria (e.g. novelty, resource efficiency) on opportunity evaluation and that market and technology knowledge further influence the negative effects of the worst-case scenario.
Endophyte presence as a potential stressor on growth and survival in Antarctic macroalgal hosts

Filamentous algal endophytes are common in many species of macroalgae along the Antarctic Peninsula, but their influence on host physiology is unknown. However, worldwide endophyte–macroalgae symbioses are known to be detrimental to vital functions of a host. The growth and survival of four Antarctic rhodophyte species were examined in situ under varying loads of endophyte infection. Growth was measured through relative growth rate and surface-area-corrected growth rate, and survivorship of individuals was documented throughout the experiment. The relationship between hosts and their endophytes was best described as innocuous in Myriogramme manginii, mildly pathogenic in Gymnogongrus turquetii and Trematocarpus antarcticus, and pathogenic in Iridaea cordata. Deterioration of thalli and decreased growth rates may be natural in the late austral summer when this experiment took place; however, the effects of increased infection probably expedited deterioration of the host. Endophytes in this study were pigme...
Ten Men and Women Got Married Today: Noun Coordination and the Intersective Theory of Conjunction

e word and can be used both intersectively, as in John lies and cheats, and collectively, as in John and Mary met. Research has tried to determine which one of these two meanings is basic. Focusing on coordination of nouns (liar and cheat), this paper argues that the basic meaning of and is intersective. is theory has been successfully applied to coordination of other kinds of constituents (Partee & Rooth, 1983; Winter, 2001). Certain cases of noun coordination (men and women) challenge this view and have therefore been argued to favor the collective theory (Heycock & Zamparelli, 2005). e main result of this paper is that the intersective theory actually predicts the collective behavior of and in men and women. And leads to collectivity by interacting with silent operators involving set minimization and choice functions, which have been postulated to account for phenomena involving indenites, collective predicates, and coordinations of noun phrases (Winter, 2001). is paper also shows that the collective theory does not generalize to coordinations of noun phrases in the way it has been previously suggested.
A low-power video motion estimation array processor

For remote-sensing and portable video encoding applications, reducing power consumption is important due to the limited power budget. In systems such as MPEG, motion estimation (ME) accounts for most of the compression and computation. In ME processing, each image frame is broken into macro-blocks (MB) for searching in the previous or next frame using mean absolute difference (MAD) as the metric function. When a good match is found, the motion vector and error block are sent. Smart searches have fewer MAD operations than brute-force search, saving power with some loss in compression ratio. The brute-force and a variation of 2Log algorithms are compared in this paper.
Roads Less Traveled Finding a Path to Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine

An increasing number of health seekers in the United States are looking outside conventional medicine to address their health needs. It is estimated that in the United States, 38% of adults use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Extant research characterizes CAM users as a unified homogeneous group, with little understanding of the differences among them in terms of attitudes toward body, wellness, disease, and pivotal aspects of their personal histories. In this article, we seek to better understand the nuances of who uses CAM and why, using the following questions: How do people communicate their life stories that explain their decision to use CAM? How do the life stories enable us to understand the similarities and differences among CAM users? Based on analysis of the narratives of 18 individuals, three clusters or types of CAM users emerged: natives, immigrants, and tourists. In an effort to push our analysis further, we theorized three dimensions that help to explain CAM users' objectives, motives, and resultant sense of empowerment. Together, these dimensions comprise The Pathfinder Model of CAM Usage. The Pathfinder Model can be useful to clarify self-understanding among CAM users themselves, as well as for conventional and alternative practitioners, as they establish a working relationship and communicate with their patients during medical encounters. Understanding the path of the health seeker can help influence the quality of the relationship and the communicative strategies providers use to educate and influence.
Beyond allostery: Catalytic regulation of a deoxyribozyme through an entropy-driven DNA amplifier

The programmability and replicability of RNA and DNA have respectively enabled the design and selection of a number of allosteric ribozymes and deoxyribozymes. These catalysts have been adapted to function as signal transducers in biosensors and biochemical reaction networks both in vitro and in vivo. However, allosteric control of nucleic acid catalysts is currently limited by the fact that one molecule of effector (input) generally regulates at most one molecule of ribozyme or deoxyribozyme (output). In consequence, allosteric control is usually inefficient when the concentration of input molecules is low. In contrast, catalytic regulation of protein enzymes, as in protein phosphorylation cascades, generally allows one input molecule (e.g., one kinase molecule) to regulate multiple output molecules (e.g., kinase substrates). Achieving such catalytic signal amplification would also be of great utility for nucleic acid circuits. Here we show that allosteric regulation of nucleic acid enzymes can be coupled to signal amplification in an entropy-driven DNA circuit. In this circuit, kinetically trapped DNA logic gates are triggered by a specific sequence, and upon execution generate a peroxidase deoxyribozyme that converts a colorless substrate (ABTS) into a green product (ABTS•+). This scheme provides a new paradigm for the design of enzyme-free biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics.
Forward‐in‐time upwind‐weighted methods in ocean modelling

The World Ocean presents a remarkably wide range of spatial and temporal scales within complicated domains. At larger scales, beyond a few tens of meters, the ocean circulation can be seen to separate into quasi-horizontal and vertical directions, with the magnitude of mixing differing by many orders of magnitude between the two. It is within this context, and with additional constraints of flux-conservation when used for coupled climate simulation, that transport schemes are placed within ocean general circulation models. Forward-in-time upwind-weighted methods have made gradual, steady inroads into the field. We review this evolution from centred-in-time centred-in-space schemes, first discussing temporally hybrid models (centred discretization of the momentum equations with forward-in-time treatment of the scalar transport equations), then fully forward-in-time models, touching on a number of test problems and analyses that have provided guidance to these model development efforts and discussing selected results.
Predictive fault tolerant placement in distributed video servers

Abstract: A high degree of data availability is required to ensure QoS in distributed video server environments. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for fault tolerant data placement in a distributed video server that determines the placement of video objects so as to ensure continuity of video requests in the event of node failures. Our performance studies indicate that object distribution strategies have a significant impact on the video placement process.
V(O2) recovery kinetics in the horse following moderate, heavy, and severe exercise.

At the onset of exercise, horses exhibit O2 uptake (V˙o 2) kinetics that are qualitatively similar to those of humans. In humans, there is a marked dissymmetry between on- and off-kinetics forV˙o 2...
Hybrid Silicon Laser Technology: A Thermal Perspective

In this paper, the hybrid silicon laser integration platform is analyzed from a thermal perspective. Key laser performance limitations are identified under high temperature and high electrical power operating conditions. Particular attention is paid to the low thermal conductivity buried oxide layer that is utilized for optical confinement. A novel approach is presented and demonstrated to reduce the effect of the buried oxide and its application to a variety of thermally limited hybrid silicon devices is discussed.
Blind identification of FIR channels with multiple users via spatio-temporal processing

A new method is proposed for blind identification of possibly nonminimum phase FIR channels with multiple users. The technique exploits the structure of the signals received by an antenna array in both the temporal and spatial frequency domains. Although in the single antenna case it is necessary to use cyclostationary signals or higher order statistics to identify the magnitude and phase of the channel, the present authors circumvent such a requirement by exploiting certain multichannel features of the array. They show that if multiple users are present, the nonminimum phase channels associated with each user can still be identified from the second-order statistics, provided additional spatial structure exists.
Detecting infectious and biological contaminants aboard aircraft - Is it feasible?

The spread of disease via commercial airliner travel is a significant and realistic threat. To shed some light on the feasibility of detecting airborne pathogens a sensor integration study has been conducted in this work in addition to computational investigations of the contaminant transport in an aircraft cabin. Our sensor study took into consideration the sensor sensitivity as well as the size, weight and power of commercial off the shelf devices. The computational fluid dynamic simulations were implemented for investigating extreme coughing and sneezing scenarios. The principle finding was that the contaminant concentration is relatively low when compared to the sensitivity available in current state of the art devices. Therefore, this study proposes a novel device/method to detect existence of pathogens. Moreover, it concludes that a collector is also required.
COLLISIONAL GRANULAR FLOWS WITH AND WITHOUT GAS INTERACTIONS IN MICROGRAVITY

We illustrate the convenience of a long-lasting microgravity environment to study flows of granular materials with and without gas interaction. We consider collisional granular flows of nearly elastic identical spheres in an axisymmetric Couette channel featuring two cylindrical moving bumpy boundaries and two flat walls. We review governing equations for these flows, illustrate their solutions and compare them with numerical simulations.