cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypothalamic sites of progestin action on aggression and sexual behavior in female Syrian hamsters

Abstract The effects of intracranial implants of the synthetic progestin, promegestone (R5020), on aggression and sexual behavior were examined in female Syrian hamsters. Ovariectomized female hamsters showed high levels of aggression and no lordosis towards stimulus male and female hamsters, both prior to and after estradiol benzoate treatment. Forty-six hr after estradiol treatment (10 μg SC), 10% crystalline promegestone was applied bilaterally (27 ga cannulae) to the ventromedial hypothalamus. When tested 5–7 hr later, these animals had a significant reduction in the rate of attacks towards females, with no lordosis responding to a male. In contrast, promegestone in the caudal anterior hypothalamus activated low levels of lordosis, yet these females maintained high levels of aggression towards stimulus females. Females receiving promegestone in the rostral anterior hypothalamus, and control females receiving intracranial cholesterol, maintained high levels of aggression and no lordosis. Estradiol treatment alone enhanced pelvic movements in response to experimenter-applied perineal stimulation in a majority of females ( 18 22 compared with 4 22 prior to estradiol injection), with intracranial treatments having no further effect. These results indicate that progestins act on aggression and sexual behavior in female Syrian hamsters at different hypothalamic loci.
Production of weak bosons and Higgs bosons in e-e- collisions.

We present calculations of cross sections for single ${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and Z production and ${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, ${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$Z, ${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$\ensuremath{\gamma}, ZZ, and ${\mathit{W}}^{+}$${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ pair production within the standard model at ${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ linear colliders. We evaluate standard-model Higgs boson production in the channels ${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$H, ${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$\ensuremath{\nu}${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$H, and ${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ZH. We also illustrate the enhancements in the ${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\mathit{W}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ cross section that would result from a strongly interacting Higgs sector or from a ${\mathit{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ resonance in a Higgs doublet+triplet model.
Optical interconnects for future high performance integrated circuits

Abstract Miniaturization paradigm leads to a rapid performance deterioration of Copper wires in the future, despite lower dielectric constant materials between the lines. This work examines optical interconnects as an alternative for high performance silicon integrated circuits, and compares it with future metal interconnects. Both global signaling and clock distribution applications are considered. For clocking, power dissipation, where as, for global signaling, both power and delay are compared with metal-based interconnects. We show that for high switching activity, long global signaling wires, it is favorable to switch to optical interconnects on both power and delay account. Whereas, a metal-based interconnect system is more favorable for shorter links.
Bone healing and spinal fusion

Bone is a tissue that constantly undergoes deposition, resorption of stromal matrix, and remodeling. These processes may be altered by a variety of chemical, mechanical, cellular, and pathological mechanisms. Understanding the physiology of bone healing and the mechanisms affecting this process is important not only when evaluating normal skeletal development but also when initiating fracture repair. Because the ultimate success of spinal fusions involves creation of an osseous union, we focus this review on the anatomy and physiology of bone under physiological conditions, normal bone healing and mechanisms that alter it, and available adjuvant therapies that may enhance healing potential in a clinical setting.
Immigration reduction offers chance for softer landing

Abstract Stakeholders to consider when evaluating mass immigration include the immigrants themselves, various socioeconomic sectors in the receiving countries, and those remaining in the developing countries that migrants leave. This paper suggests that those remaining will be harmed because emigration stimulates fertility. Continuing high fertility is an obstacle to the saving and investment that are needed for even modest rises in the standard of living. The fertility opportunity hypothesis , illustrated in this paper, suggests that perceptions of economic opportunity control fertility rates. Fertility rises or stays high if people perceive that opportunity is expanding. If the emigration option creates the impression of vast opportunity, fertility is likely to stay high in countries that emigrants leave. This result is detrimental in the long run, and overwhelms the immediate benefit of remittances and opportunities enjoyed by immigrants themselves.
Space-Time Receiver for Multi-Rate CDMA Systems: Multi-Code and VariableSpreading Length Access Methods Comparison

This work proposed the linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) space-time receivers for synchronous multi-rate direct sequence code devision multiple access (DS/CDMA) systems. The performance of the proposed receivers is analyzed. The high-rate (HR) LMMSE space-time receiver with combining technique can provide essentially the same performance for low-rate (LR) users as LR LMMSE space-time receiver while eliminate the time delay for the HR users. The performance of the proposed multi-rate LMMSE space-time receivers are studied in the context of two multi-rate access methods: multi-code (MC) access where high data rate users multiplex their information streams onto multiple codes, and variable spreading length (VSL) access where signature sequences of different lengths are assigned to users with different data rates. Through the simulation results, we show that: (a) the proposed multi-rate LMMSE space-time receivers are optimum near-far resistant; (b) the proposed multi-rate LMMSE space-time receivers have a clear performance improvement compared to the time only LMMSE dual rate receiver; (c) there is a performance gain of the proposed multi-rate LMMSE space-time receivers compared to the multi-rate decorrelating space-time receiver when near-far ratio (NFR) is low; (d) The performance difference between MMSE combining and MRC in multi-rate system is much more pronounced than in single-rate system. Simulations also show that the VSL access method is more robust than MC access method considering changing rate-ratio in multi-rate systems.
Metabolic End-products of Anaerobic Spermatozoan Metabolism

DURING anaerobic fructolysis by mammalian spermatozoa, fructose is reportedly metabolized by way of glycolysis to lactic acid1,2. Results from many anaerobic metabolic investigations in our laboratory, however, in which bovine spermatozoa were incubated for 4 h at 37° C have consistently yielded low lactic acid values in relation to the fructose utilized. This failure to account for all the metabolized fructose as lactic acid led us to investigate the possibility that other metabolic acids were being formed and, if so, to determine if the level of carbon dioxide in the gaseous phase, previously reported to influence spermatozoan metabolism3, affected the formation of these acids.
Ground-Based Vibration Response of a Spinning, Cyclic, Symmetric Rotor With Gyroscopic and Centrifugal Softening Effects

This paper is to study ground-based vibration response of a spinning, cyclic, symmetric rotor through a theoretical analysis and an experimental study. The theoretical analysis consists of three steps. The first step is to analyze the vibration characteristics of a stationary, cyclic, symmetric rotor with N identical substructures. For each vibration mode, we identify a phase index n and derive a Fourier expansion of the mode shape in terms of the phase index n. The second step is to predict the rotor-based vibration response of the spinning, cyclic, symmetric rotor based on the Fourier expansion of the mode shapes and the phase indices. The rotor-based formulation includes gyroscopic and centrifugal softening terms. Moreover, rotor-based response of repeated modes and distinct modes is obtained analytically. The third step is to transform the rotor-based response to ground-based response using the Fourier expansion of the stationary mode shapes. The theoretical analysis leads to the following conclusions. First, gyroscopic effects have no significant effects on distinct modes. Second, the presence of gyroscopic and centrifugal softening effects causes the repeated modes to split into two modes with distinct frequencies ω 1 and ω 2 in the rotor-based coordinates. Third, the transformation to ground-based observers leads to primary and secondary frequency components. In general, the ground-based response presents frequency branches in the Campbell diagram at ω 1 ±kω 3 and ω 2 ±kω 3 , where k is phase index n plus an integer multiple of cyclic symmetry N. When the gyroscopic effect is significantly greater than the centrifugal softening effect, two of the four frequency branches vanish. The remaining frequency branches take the form of either ω 1 +kω 3 and ω 2 -kω 3 or ω 1 -kω 3 and ω 2 +kω 3 . To verify these predictions, we also conduct a modal testing on a spinning disk carrying four pairs of brackets evenly spaced in the circumferential direction with ground-based excitations and responses. The disk-bracket system is mounted on a high-speed, air-bearing spindle. An automatic hammer excites the spinning disk-bracket system and a laser Doppler vibrometer measures its vibration response. A spectrum analyzer processes the hammer excitation force and the vibrometer measurements to obtain waterfall plots at various spin speeds. The measured primary and secondary frequency branches from the waterfall plots agree well with those predicted analytically.
Comparison of Illumigene, Simplexa, and AmpliVue Clostridium difficile Molecular Assays for Diagnosis of C. difficile Infection

We compared the performance of the Simplexa Universal Direct (Focus Diagnostics) and AmpliVue (Quidel Corporation) assays to that of the Illumigene assay (Meridian Bioscience, Inc.) for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection. Two hundred deidentified remnant diarrheal stool specimens were tested by the Simplexa, AmpliVue, and Illumigene methods. Specimens with discrepant results among the three assays and a representative number of concordant specimens were further evaluated by toxigenic culture. The sensitivity and specificity were 98 and 100% and 96 and 100% for the Simplexa Universal Direct and AmpliVue assays, respectively. Both assays are easy to perform, with rapid turn-around-times, supporting their utility in the clinical laboratory as routine diagnostic platforms.
Histamine H3 receptor-mediated suppression of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the submucous plexus of guinea-pig small intestine

Abstract Conventional intracellular microelectrodes and marker injection techniques were used to study the actions of histamine on inhibitory synaptic transmission in the submucous plexus of guinea-pig small intestine. Bath application of histamine (1–300 μM) reversibly suppressed both noradrenergic and non-adrenergic slow inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects of histamine were mimicked by the selective histamine H3 receptor agonist R(−)-α-methylhistamine but not the selective histamine H1 receptor agonist, 6-[2-(4-imidazolyl)ethylamino]-N-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl) heptanecarboxamide (HTMT dimaleate), or the selective histamine H2 receptor agonist, dimaprit. The histamine H3 receptor antagonist, thioperamide, blocked the effects of histamine. Histamine H1 and H2 receptor antagonists did not change the action of histamine. Hyperpolarizing responses to focal application of norepinephrine or somatostatin by pressure ejection from micropipettes were unaffected by histamine and R(−)-α-methylhistamine. The results suggest that histamine acts at presynaptic histamine H3 receptors on the terminals of sympathetic postganglionic fibers and intrinsic somatostatinergic nerves in the small intestine to suppress the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and somatostatin.
A role for surface topography in creating and maintaining bone at titanium endosseous implants

Abstract Statement of problem. A variety of claims are made regarding the effects of surface topography on implant osseointegration. Many in vivo and in vitro experimental observations have key limitations in their interpretations. Purpose. This review considers the major claims made concerning the effects of commercially pure (cp) titanium implant surface topography on osseointegration. Important findings of consensus are highlighted, and existing controversies are revealed. Material and methods. This review considers many of the research publications listed in MEDLINE and presented in biomedical research publications and textbooks. Results. Implant surface topography is not well defined in the marketplace or consistently reported among experimental studies. Many in vitro evaluations are not predictive of or correlated with in vivo outcomes. In some culture models, increased surface topography positively affects pro-osteogenic cellular activities. Animal models reveal modest increases in bone-to-implant contact and increases in the biomechanical interlock of the implant with bone for implants of increased surface topography. Existing information fails to define increased surface topography as a risk factor for peri-implant inflammation. Conclusion. Increased cp titanium implant surface topography improves the bone-to-implant contact and the mechanical properties of the enhanced interface. Growing clinical evidence for increased bone-to-implant contact at altered cp titanium implants confirms the temporally limited observations made in preclinical studies. In the absence of controlled comparative clinical trials, the aggregate experimental evidence supports the use of cp titanium implants with increased surface topography. (J Prosthet Dent 2000;84:522-34.)
Recreational Effects of Marijuana and Alcohol: Some Descriptive Dimensions

Effect-orientation and relaxation are singled out as potentially useful concepts for social research on the recreational effects of marijuana and alcohol. Factor analyses of questionnaire data from a large study of marijuana and alcohol users reveal that these concepts coherently describe independent dimensions of recreational effects. Relaxation is generally characteristic of the effects of both drugs, but the effect-orientations of marijuana and alcohol differ considerably. The effects of both drugs change predictably along the two dimensions as drug-using situations change. These findings are related to important problems for further social research on recreational drug effects.
Sociology of science as a means to a more authentic, inclusive science education

In this article, we argue that insights from scholarship in the sociology of science can provide a powerful basis for making science education more authentic and inclusive. Drawing on recent work in the sociology of science, we describe how adopting sociological ideas as integral components of science curricula and instruction can provide opportunities for students that a traditional approach cannot. We focus on three insights from sociology—social networking, peer review, and skepticism—to demonstrate how sociological understandings can inform and improve the content, structure, and pedagogy of science classrooms. We argue that shifts in the balance of power and authority that result from explicit attention to these aspects of the nature of science offer a more authentic science education for all. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 35: 483–499, 1998.
Nanodiamond imaging: A new molecular imaging approach

A new molecular imaging approach is proposed that combines optical detection and magnetic field gradients to achieve high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. Called Nanodiamond Imaging, this new modality images the location of nanodiamonds within a living organism. Since nanodiamonds can be tagged with biologically active molecules and are nontoxic, Nanodiamond Imaging may become an important biomedical research tool with possible clinical application. A Nanodiamond Imaging system actually senses a particular type of defect in the nanodiamond called the nitrogen-vacancy center. A prototype system has been built that was tested by imaging an artificial target within a volume of chicken breast. The resolving power should be &#60;100 µm with modest improvements, significantly finer than PET, SPECT, and in-vivo optical imaging. The sensitivity of the imaging system, taking into account foreseen improvements, should be better than a 10 nanomolar concentration of carbon atoms, referenced to a 1 mm3 voxel volume and one second of measurement time (10 nM·mm3·Hz−1/2)—a similar sensitivity to the other molecular imaging techniques, but with a stable, non-radioactive tracer
SIMULATION OF A CRISIS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK: A SERENDIPITOUS EVALUATION

An experimental design responsive to a unique opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of simulation as a training, research, and design environment for crisis management was developed when an actual crisis situation occurred less than a week after the authors had observed and evaluated a full-scale training simulation. The crisis event at the Robert E. Ginna nuclear facility in upstate New York paralleled the simulation in location, content, and scope. The results reported in this paper are based upon a combination of personal interviews and the analysis of written communication logs. Hypotheses were tested concerning the predictive dimensions of the simulation with respect to individual descriptors related to stress and response capabilities, communication descriptors related to content and frequency, and network descriptors related to structure and utilization. The results are interpreted in the context of implications for training, research, and design.
Probabilistic logic with minimum perplexity: Application to language modeling

Any statistical model based on training encounters sparse configurations. These data are those that have not been encountered (or seen) during the training phase. This inherent problem is a big challenge to many scientific communities. The statistical estimation of rare events is usually performed through the maximum likelihood (ML) criterion. However, it is well-known that the ML estimator is sensitive to extreme values that is therefore non-reliable. To answer this challenge, we propose a novel approach based on probabilistic logic (PL) and the minimal perplexity criterion. In our approach, configurations are considered as probabilistic events such as predicates related through logical connectors. Our method was applied to estimate word trigram probability values from a corpus. Experimental results conducted on several test sets show that the PL method with minimal perplexity has outperformed both the ''Absolute Discounting'', and the ''Good-Turing Discounting'' techniques.
Territoriality and reproductive behaviour in the goldsinny, Ctenolabrus rupestris L.

Territoriality and reproductive behaviour of the Goldsinny, Ctenolabrus rupestris, was studied in the waters around Tjarno on the Swedish west coast. Observations were made by SCUBA-diving and from an observation raft and in aquaria. Patrolling, foraging, courtship and aggression were defined and quantified throughout the reproductive season and after. Spawning activity was also examined and it has been found that one male spawns with several females. During spawning accesory males may be present at fertilisation and their role is discussed. Both sinking and floating eggs were recorded, which are discussed. After spawning some females became territorial as well as some subadults. The territories showed a consistency according to their boundaries and occupants from year to year.
Simultaneous NMR assignment of backbone and side chain amides in large proteins with IS-TROSY

A new strategy for the simultaneous NMR assignment of both backbone and side chain amides in large proteins with isotopomer-selective transverse-relaxation-optimized spectroscopy (IS-TROSY) is reported. The method considers aspects of both the NMR sample preparation and the experimental design. First, the protein is dissolved in a buffer with 50%H2O/50%D2O in order to promote the population of semideuterated NHD isotopomers in side chain amides of Asn/Gln residues. Second, a 13C′-coupled 2D 15N–1H IS-TROSY spectrum provides a stereospecific distinction between the geminal protons in the E and Z configurations of the carboxyamide group. Third, a suite of IS-TROSY-based triple-resonance NMR experiments, e.g. 3D IS-TROSY-HNCA and 3D IS-TROSY-HNCACB, are designed to correlate aliphatic carbon atoms with backbone amides and, for Asn/Gln residues, at the same time with side chain amides. The NMR assignment procedure is similar to that for small proteins using conventional 3D HNCA/3D HNCACB spectra, in which, however, signals from NH2 groups are often very weak or even missing due to the use of broad-band proton decoupling schemes and NOE data have to be used as a remedy. For large proteins, the use of conventional TROSY experiments makes resonances of side chain amides not observable at all. The application of IS-TROSY experiments to the 35-kDa yeast cytosine deaminase has established a complete resonance assignment for the backbone and stereospecific assignment for side chain amides, which otherwise could not be achieved with existing NMR experiments. Thus, the development of IS-TROSY-based method provides new opportunities for the NMR study of important structural and biological roles of carboxyamides and side chain moieties of arginine and lysine residues in large proteins as well as amino moieties in nucleic acids.
Photoconductive cadmium sulfide hemicylindrical shell nanowire ensembles.

We report the synthesis and characterization of hemicylindrical shell nanowires (HSNWs) composed of nanocrystalline cadmium sulfide (CdS). CdS HSNWs were synthesized by first electrodepositing microcrystalline cadmium (Cd) nanowires by electrochemical step-edge decoration on graphite electrode surfaces and then converting these Cd nanowires into CdS by exposure to H2S at elevated temperature. These nanowires had a hemicylindrical shell morphology that was produced by the Kirkendall effect, involving disparate rates for diffusion of Cd and S atoms within the nascent CdS layer during the conversion from Cd to CdS. The outer diameter of the CdS HSNWs was 1.6−2.4 times that of Cd precursor nanowires and was adjustable over the range from 116 to 550 nm. CdS HSNWs showed strong, band-edge photoluminescence at 2.45 eV and a fast, reversible, and stable photoconductivity response in air characterized by “on” and “off” times of less than 15 ms.
Synthesis of glycerol 1,2-carbonate by transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate using triethylamine as a facile separable homogeneous catalyst

The synthesis of glycerol 1,2-carbonate (GC) by transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) using triethylamine (TEA) as a facile separable homogeneous catalyst has been studied at different temperatures, DMC/glycerol molar ratios and TEA/glycerol molar ratios. Reaction rate increases dramatically with temperature and TEA/glycerol molar ratio but the reaction is difficult to stop in the target molecule at the highest TEA/glycerol molar ratios because GC undergoes further transesterification to glycerol dicarbonate (GDC). However, good reaction control can be achieved by working at a TEA/glycerol molar ratio of 0.1: a 99% glycerol conversion and a 98% GC yield are obtained in 2.5 h with a DMC/glycerol molar ratio of 4 at refluxing temperature (88 °C → 68 °C). At 90 °C glycidol is also formed in 6–10% yields. A mechanism to justify its synthesis is proposed. GDC formation can be avoided at conversions below 100% but in this case GC is highly impurified with glycerol after solvent removal by evaporation. To separate both chemicals a liquid–liquid extraction method has been developed. Selective extraction solvents for GC, such as methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) or DMC, were found using the method of miscibility numbers. GC is selectively extracted at room temperature in MIBK in a 100% yield with purity higher than 98% from a glycerol–GC mixture consisting of 80 wt% GC by using a MIBK/mixture mass ratio of 1.6 and three extraction steps.
Teaching computing and programming fundamentals via App Inventor for Android

In this age of growing importance for interdisciplinary studies, the field of computing, and its indispensable component, programming, have become increasingly important not only for STEM areas but also for many other fields. Computational chemistry, bio-informatics, computational linguistics, computational toxicology, etc. are just a few examples of the crossover disciplines that benefit significantly from the developments in the computing and Information Technology (IT). Instructors are facing more challenges today than ever in trying to come up with new, fresh and appealing methodologies to attract and retain students in delivering computing and IT related topics to a much broader audience. Computing courses and topics both for majors and non-majors need new approaches that motivate students to feel comfortable with the lifelong learning of computing concepts and tools. The goal of this paper is to summarize our teaching experience in and the great potential of App Inventor for Android (AIA) in broadening the appeal and diffusion of fundamental computing and programming concepts. With a pedagogical foundation stemming from constructionist learning and contextualized computing education, we present our motivation and the details of courses that can greatly benefit from AIA.
The weak null condition for Einstein's equations

Abstract We show that Einstein's equations of General Relativity expressed in wave coordinates satisfy a ‘weak null condition’. In a forthcoming article we will use this to prove a global existence result for Einstein's equations in wave coordinates with small initial data. To cite this article: H. Lindblad, I. Rodnianski, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 336 (2003).
Simultaneous perturbation method for processing magnetospheric images

Daniel C. ChinThe Johns Hopkins University AppliedPhysics Laboratory11100 Johns Hopkins RoadLaurel, Maryland 20723-6099E-mail: daniel.chin@jhuapl.eduAbstract. Extracting a multivariate nonlinear physical model from a setof satellite images is considered as a multivariate nonlinear regressionproblem. Multiple local solutions often prevent gradient type algorithmsfrom obtaining global optimal solutions. A method of solving this problemis presented based on the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approxi-mation (SPSA) algorithm. The method is applied to a problem of estimat-ing the distribution of energetic ion populations in the magnetospherefrom global images of the magnetosphere. The approach uses multipleobjective functions: single image errors and the summation of squareimage errors. The algorithm is demonstrated on simulated energetic-neutral atom (ENA) images. Within a reasonable number of functionevaluations, the process converges and reconstructs the images with amean square error less than or equal to 0.1% of the original image. Also,the SPSA method is compared with results obtained from simulated an-nealing (SAN) in a single objective function setting. In the comparisonstudy, SPSA has a 3:1 advantage over SAN in both accuracy and efﬁ-ciency measures.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Four Prymnesiophyte Algae

Genomic studies of bacteria, archaea and viruses have provided insights into the microbial world by unveiling potential functional capabilities and molecular pathways. However, the rate of discovery has been slower among microbial eukaryotes, whose genomes are larger and more complex. Transcriptomic approaches provide a cost-effective alternative for examining genetic potential and physiological responses of microbial eukaryotes to environmental stimuli. In this study, we generated and compared the transcriptomes of four globally-distributed, bloom-forming prymnesiophyte algae: Prymnesium parvum, Chrysochromulina brevifilum, Chrysochromulina ericina and Phaeocystis antarctica. Our results revealed that the four transcriptomes possess a set of core genes that are similar in number and shared across all four organisms. The functional classifications of these core genes using the euKaryotic Orthologous Genes (KOG) database were also similar among the four study organisms. More broadly, when the frequencies of different cellular and physiological functions were compared with other protists, the species clustered by both phylogeny and nutritional modes. Thus, these clustering patterns provide insight into genomic factors relating to both evolutionary relationships as well as trophic ecology. This paper provides a novel comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of ecologically important and closely related prymnesiophyte protists and advances an emerging field of study that uses transcriptomics to reveal ecology and function in protists.
Genetic Reinforcement Learning for Neurocontrol Problems

Empirical tests indicate that at least one class of genetic algorithms yields good performance for neural network weight optimization in terms of learning rates and scalability. The successful application of these genetic algorithms to supervised learning problems sets the stage for the use of genetic algorithms in reinforcement learning problems. On a simulated inverted-pendulum control problem, “genetic reinforcement learning” produces competitive results with AHC, another well-known reinforcement learning paradigm for neural networks that employs the temporal difference method. These algorithms are compared in terms of learning rates, performance-based generalization, and control behavior over time.
Kinetics of base-catalyzed degradation of phenyl d-gluco-pyranosides

Abstract The kinetics of base-catalyzed cleavage of the glycosidic linkage in phenyl α- and β- d -glucopyranoside have been studied at various concentrations of base, and are interpreted in terms of formation of anionic species as reactive intermediates, accompanied by a minor mechanism of bimolecular, nucleophilic substitution. The data indicate that, in M sodium hydroxide solution, more than 80% of the cleavage reaction proceeds through an intramolecular-displacement process facilitated by the anchimeric assistance of the hydroxyl group at C-6, and C-2, for the α- and β- d -glycoside, respectively. However, the bimolecular substitution reaction becomes increasingly apparent as the alkalinity is raised above 1.5 M concentration of base.
Effect of Postharvest Holding Conditions on the Quality of Salt‐Stock Pickles

Quality changes of green- and salt-stock cucumbers held at 5, 20, and 30°C up to 6 days prior to brining were evaluated. Cucumbers held at 5°C showed firm texture, low respiration rates, minimum weight loss, and good quality stock after fermentation. Increasing postharvest holding temperatures and times prior to brining resulted in loss of firmness, high respiration rates, increased weight loss, and a decrease in salt-stock quality. Salt-stock pickle defects increased dramatically under high temperature long time holding periods due to textural degradation and internal softening. Brining directly after harvest yielded the highest quality salt-stock. Cucumbers held 2 days at 20°C or 6 days at 5°C resulted in good salt-stock quality.
The formation of the Regius Chair of rhetoric and Belles Lettres at the university of Edinburgh

During the mid‐eighteenth century, a combination of circumstances—cultural, political, and educational—created a public environment in which the formation of the Regius Chair of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres at the University of Edinburgh was a logical development. Several figures at Edinburgh who preceded Blair included material related to rhetoric and belles lettres in their lectures, among them John Stevenson, William Cleghorn, Adam Smith, and Robert Watson. The curricular events leading up to Blair's appointment to the Chair demonstrate that The University of Edinburgh was reflecting and reacting to the social situation outside its walls rather than instituting a preconceived design for either the discipline of rhetoric or the new discipline of literature and literary criticism.
Nonlinear Programming Superstructure for Optimal Dynamic Operations of Simulated Moving Bed Processes

Over the past decade, many operating modifications have been proposed for simulated moving bed (SMB) processes, including three-zone, VARICOL, and PowerFeed. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to find the most efficient operating scheme for a particular application. In this study, we generalize the standard SMB operation by considering a superstructure optimization problem with time-variant flow rates. The optimization problem, constrained by a partial differential algebraic equations (PDAEs) model, is fully discretized both in temporal and spatial domains. The resulting nonlinear programming (NLP) problem is handled by IPOPT 3.0, an interior-point solver. In case studies of linear and bi-Langmuir isotherms, our approach successfully finds the optimal operating scheme and parameters. Moreover, through the formulation and solution of a multi-objective optimization problem, we confirm that our approach has the potential to find more advantageous operating schemes than the standard SMB or PowerFeed operati...
CNS site of antiarrhythmic action of diphenlyhydantion (DPH) in the cat

Abstract Diphenylhydantoin (DPH) is known to be a potent anticonvulsant agent, useful in treating and preventing grand mal seizures. More recently, DPH was reported also to be a potent antiarrhythmic agent acting by means of a depressant action on the heart. The present experiments demonstrated that DPH has also a potent antiarrhythmic action when administered to the CNS. The posterolateral hypothalamus was stimulated in cats to evoke cardiac arrhythmias of varying severity both during and after stimulation. In general, it was found that the post-stimulus arrhythmias were obtained more readily than those during stimulation. The mean effective dose of DPH required to prevent the arrhythmias via the i.v. route was 11.9 mg/kg, and that via the vertebral artery route and via the fourth ventricular route was only 1.9–1.4 and 1.4 mg/kg, respectively. These results suggest that though DPH has identifiable antiarrhythmic action on the heart itself it has a strong antiarrhthmic effect via the central nervous system as well.
On the Ethicality of Internal Consumption in Multilevel Marketing

This paper examines the ethicality of internal consumption in multilevel marketing. Internal consumption occurs when distributors in a multilevel marketing organization purchase and personally consume the products and services of their multilevel marketing firm. The paper documents that internal consumption is a common, widespread phenomenon found in all types of firms and that criticism of this aspect of multilevel marketing as being unethical and fraudulent is misplaced.
Brain-derived growth factor is a chemoattractant for fibroblasts and astroglial cells.

Summary Bovine brain-derived growth factor (BDGF), a 16–17 kDa protein with biochemical properties resembling brain-derived acidic fibroblast growth factor (acidic FGF) and endothelial cell growth factor, was found to have potent chemotactic activity for bovine ligament fibroblasts, human skin fibroblasts and rat astroglial cells, maximal at 100–200 pg/ml. The chemotactic activity was completely blocked by protamine sulfate (5 ug/ml), an inhibitor of receptor-binding and mitogenic activity of BDGF. BDGF did not stimulate migration of human monocytes. These results indicate that the effects of BDGF ‘in vivo’ might extend to mesenchymal cell recruitment.
Does use of a PACS increase the number of images per study? A case study in ultrasound

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of a PACS in ultrasound increased the number of images acquired per examination. The hypothesis that such an increase does occur was based on anecdotal information; this study sought to test the hypothesis. There was no significant difference in the total number of images per study for film and PACS.
A fern spore storage protein is genetically similar to the 1.7 S seed storage protein of Brassica napus

The ostrich fern,Matteuccia struthiopteris L., contains two globulin spore storage proteins of 2.2 S and 11.3 S, with physical characteristics similar to those of seed storage proteins ofBrassica napus (rapeseed) andRaphanus sativus (radish). By the use of a cloned cDNA that encodes the 1.7 SB. napus storage protein (napin), gene sequences that hybridized with napin were detected in fern nuclear DNA, and a 900-nucleotide homologous mRNA was detected in developing spores.In vitro translation of this fern mRNA produced a 22-kD polypeptide comparable in size to the 21-kD precursor polypeptide identified inBrassica. No hybridizations were observed between theBrassica 12 S clone and either fern DNA or developing spore mRNA.
Surgical lung biopsy in adult respiratory distress syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Background Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has a high mortality rate and consumes considerable health care resources. It is not clear whether specimens obtained from open lung biopsy (OLB) in ARDS provide a specific diagnosis, alter therapy, or affect outcome. This meta-analysis attempts to determine whether OLB is safe, provides a specific diagnosis, changes therapy, or affects survival. Methods A computerized search was performed of Medline and PubMed from January 1988 to December 2012 of English language studies of acute respiratory failure and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates that evaluated OLB in primarily adult mechanically ventilated patients. Of 194 abstracts retrieved, 64 articles were reviewed; 130 articles were excluded because they did not evaluate OLB. After applying the selection criteria, 24 articles were included. Results OLB in ARDS provided a specific diagnosis in 84% of patients and altered management in 73%. Hospital mortality was 43%. The complication rate for OLB in ARDS was 22%, but death from OLB was rare. Conclusions OLB in ARDS is a potentially productive procedure that provides a specific diagnosis and leads to a change in management in high proportions of patients. ARDS has a high mortality rate, which OLB does not appear to increase. Owing to a lack of randomized controlled trials, a survival advantage of OLB in ARDS could not be demonstrated.
Small-angle impurity scattering and the spin Hall conductivity in two-dimensional semiconductor systems

An arbitrarily small concentration of impurities can affect the spin Hall conductivity in a two-dimensional semiconductor system. We develop a Boltzmann-like equation that can be used for impurity scattering with an arbitrary angular dependence, and for an arbitrary angular dependence of the spin-orbit field $\mathbf{b}(\mathbf{k})$ around the Fermi surface. For a model applicable to a two-dimensional hole system in GaAs, if the impurity scattering is not isotropic, we find that the spin Hall conductivity depends on the derivative of $b$ with respect to the energy, on deviations from a parabolic band structure, and on the angular dependence of the scattering. In principle, the resulting spin Hall conductivity can be larger or smaller than the ``intrinsic value,'' and can have an opposite sign. In the limit of small-angle scattering, in a model appropriate for small hole concentrations, where the band is parabolic and $b\ensuremath{\propto}{k}^{3}$, the spin Hall conductivity has an opposite sign from the intrinsic value, and has a larger magnitude. Our analysis assumes that the spin-orbit splitting $b$ and the transport scattering rate ${\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ are both small compared to the Fermi energy, but the method is valid for an arbitrary value of $b\ensuremath{\tau}$.
A high resolution powder neutron diffraction study of the novel layered oxide BiMo2O7OD · 2D2O

Abstract High resolution powder neutron diffraction data have been collected on the deuterated analog of the layered oxide BiMo 2 O 7 OH · 2 H 2 O . Analysis using the Rietveld method has provided the locations of the deuterium atoms and led to an excellent structural refinement in space group P2 1 /m with a = 6.3594(1) A , b = 11.5976(1) A , c = 5.7962(1) A , and β = 113.434(1) °. The model refined to give R wp = 6.69%, R I = 7.30%, and gc 2 = 2.75 for 55 variables (47 structural) and 475 reflections. The location of the deuterium atoms confirms the prediction made in a previous synchrotron X-ray study but the details are more complex than expected. A full description of the deuterium bonding is provided.
Designing two factor experiments for selecting interactions

Abstract This paper considers the problem of devising a single stage procedure for selecting the treatment combination associated with the largest interaction in a two-factor r fx× c experiment having independent normally distributed observations with common known variance. The intuitive procedure based on the best linear unbiased estimators of the population interactions is employed. Initially an indifference zone formulation is used; the problem of determining the least favorable configuration is reduced to a nonlinear programming problem with log concave objective function and a convex polytope as feasible region. A solution technique is introduced in the context of an illustrative example. The problem is also considered using a preferred population formulation; this approach requires a strengthened version of the indifference zone probability requirement. It is shown that the same sample size guarantees this requirement as does the earlier one.
A trafficking-deficient mutant of KCC3 reveals dominant-negative effects on K-Cl cotransport function.

The K–Cl cotransporter (KCC) functions in maintaining chloride and volume homeostasis in a variety of cells. In the process of cloning the mouse KCC3 cDNA, we came across a cloning mutation (E289G) that rendered the cotransporter inactive in functional assays in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Through biochemical studies, we demonstrate that the mutant E289G cotransporter is glycosylation-deficient, does not move beyond the endoplasmic reticulum or the early Golgi, and thus fails to reach the plasma membrane. We establish through co-immunoprecipitation experiments that both wild-type and mutant KCC3 with KCC2 results in the formation of hetero-dimers. We further demonstrate that formation of these hetero-dimers prevents the proper trafficking of the cotransporter to the plasma membrane, resulting in a significant decrease in cotransporter function. This effect is due to interaction between the K–Cl cotransporter isoforms, as this was not observed when KCC3-E289G was co-expressed with NKCC1. Our studies also reveal that the glutamic acid residue is essential to K–Cl cotransporter function, as the corresponding mutation in KCC2 also leads to an absence of function. Interestingly, mutation of this conserved glutamic acid residue in the Na+-dependent cation-chloride cotransporters had no effect on NKCC1 function in isosmotic conditions, but diminished cotransporter activity under hypertonicity. Together, our data show that the glutamic acid residue (E289) is essential for proper trafficking and function of KCCs and that expression of a non-functional but full-length K–Cl cotransporter might results in dominant-negative effects on other K–Cl cotransporters.
Two Types of Autonomy

Although I agree with Sabine Muller's (2009) conclusion that we should first seek to find alternatives to amputation for patients suffering from Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID), I disagree ...
Propofol-Related Infusion Syndrome in Intensive Care Patients

The Institute of Medicine has identified adverse drug events as factors that significantly contribute to increased patient morbidity and mortality. As critically ill patients receive numerous drugs to treat a multitude of complicated health problems, they are at high risk for adverse drug events. Sedation is often a key requirement for the optimal management of critical illness, and propofol, a common sedative, has many desirable characteristics that make it the ideal agent in numerous circumstances. However, over the last decade, increasing numbers of reports have described a potentially fatal adverse effect called propofol-related infusion syndrome. Whether this adverse drug event is preventable is unclear, but recommendations have been proposed to minimize the potential for development of this syndrome. Research is under way to collect data on the use of propofol in intensive care units and on its prevalence.
Military personnel with chronic symptoms following blast traumatic brain injury have differential expression of neuronal recovery and epidermal growth factor receptor genes.

Objective: Approximately one-quarter of military personnel who deployed to combat stations sustained one or more blast-related, closed-head injuries. The mechanisms associated with blast exposure that give rise to traumatic brain injury (TBI), and place military personnel at high risk for chronic symptoms of post-concussive disorder (PCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression are not elucidated. Methods: To investigate the mechanisms of persistent blast related symptoms, we examined expression profiles of transcripts across the genome to determine the role of gene activity in chronic symptoms following blast-TBI. Active duty military personnel with (1) a medical record of a blast-TBI that occurred during deployment (n=19) were compared to control participants without TBI (n=17). Controls were matched to cases on demographic factors including age, gender and race, and also in diagnoses of sleep disturbance, and symptoms of PTSD and depression. Due to the high number of PCD symptoms in the TBI+ group, we did not match on this variable. Using expression profiles of transcripts in microarray platform in peripheral samples of whole blood, significantly differentially expressed gene lists were generated. Statistical threshold is based on criteria of 1.5 magnitude fold-change (up or down) and p-values with multiple test correction (false discovery rate; FDR<0.05). Results: There were 34 transcripts in 29 genes that were differentially regulated in blast-TBI participants compared to controls. Up-regulated genes included epithelial cell transforming sequence and zinc finger proteins, which are necessary for astrocyte differentiation following injury. Tensin-1, which has been implicated in neuronal recovery in preclinical TBI models, was down-regulated in blast-TBI participants. Protein ubiquitination genes, such as epidermal growth factor receptor, were also down-regulated and identified a