cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development to metamorphosis of the nemertean pilidium larva

The nemertean pilidium is one of the most notable planktotrophic larval types among marine invertebrates. The juvenile forms inside the larva from a series of isolated rudiments, called the imaginal discs. The development culminates in catastrophic metamorphosis, in which the larval body is consumed by the juvenile worm. Although the pilidium was first described in 1847, and is commonly found among marine plankton, there is not a single complete description of its development. The few published studies of pilidial development are based on observations of typically unidentified larvae opportunistically collected from plankton at various developmental stages. The development of Micrura alaskensis, a common Northwest Pacific coast intertidal nemertean, is described from fertilization to metamorphosis. A staging scheme is proposed based on characteristic developmental milestones. Three pairs of imaginal discs develop as invaginations of larval epidermis. The cephalic discs invaginate from the larval epidermis above the ciliated band, while the cerebral organ discs and the trunk discs invaginate below the ciliated band. All paired imaginal disc invaginations are closely associated with different portions of the larval ciliated band. In addition, two unpaired rudiments contribute to the juvenile - the proboscis rudiment and the dorsal rudiment, which do not develop as invaginations. A pair of thick-walled esophageal pouches previously thought to represent nephridial rudiments give rise to the juvenile foregut. Branched rudiments of protonephridia, and their efferent ducts are also described. Larval and juvenile serotonergic nervous systems are briefly described. Development of the juvenile is completed by 5-8 weeks at 11-15 degrees C. During the rapid metamorphosis the juvenile emerges from and devours the larva. This study is the first description of pilidial development from fertilization to metamorphosis in a single species. It is illustrated with photomicrographs of live larvae, diagrams, confocal images, and videos. The findings are discussed in the context of previously published accounts of pilidial development, with which they disagree on several accounts. The results described here indicate a different number, origin and fate of various juvenile rudiments. The proposed staging scheme will be useful in subsequent studies of pilidial development.
Proton relaxation in 13C-enriched molecules; 13C T1 and NOE data from proton magnetic resonance measurements☆

The proton relaxation of several 13C-labeled molecules has been studied. A comparison of the spin-lattice relaxation rate of the center proton resonances corresponding to the unlabeled molecule with the relaxation rates of the 13C satellites enables the contribution of the 13C1H dipolar interaction to be accurately determined. This interaction is roughly equivalent in magnitude to the 1H1H dipolar interaction for a methylene group due to the smaller 13C1H distance. The data can be used to obtain reasonable values for the T113C, of protonated carbons. A comparison with the directly measured T113c values enables a quick determination of the nuclear Overhauser enhancement to be made.
Individual Adolescents' Perceptions of Interactions with Friends and Parents:

Two patterns of interactions adolescents experience with friends, mothers, and fathers were examined. They were (a) commands based on greater authority and experience (unilateral) and (b) negotiati...
Waiting for the Barbarians: HBO's Deadwood as a Post-9/11 Ritual of Disquiet

We argue that the HBO series Deadwood reflects post-9/11 angst regarding the domestic and international scenes by simultaneously exploiting and subverting the narrative comfort and cathartic closure characteristic of the traditional American Western. In doing so, we contend, Deadwood functions as a ritual of disquiet that poses three key challenges to the conventions of the American monomythic formula that informs the traditional Western genre. First, there is no Edenic community to redeem. Second, the morality, practicality, and psychological satisfaction associated with retributive justice are called into question. And third, there is the felt loss of a clear moral compass, and with this loss doubts are raised regarding conventional mythic notions of the hero, and indeed of heroism itself.
Superthermal electron transport model for Mars

This study presents a multistream superthermal electron transport model for the Mars space environment. This model includes the magnetic inhomogeneity effects, which is vital to understand electron motion around Mars. The convergence tests on the step sizes of variables are carried out and appropriate grid setups are determined. In addition, we have examined three physical parameters, F10.7 values, thermal electron/plasma density, and neutral densities. Through the investigation of F10.7 values, an interesting fact about the Hinteregger model is found that the photon flux of each wavelength is scaled differently. The resultant photoelectron fluxes also show a nonuniform percentage of increase. The results of plasma density and neutral densities tests are consistent with previous theories, such as the expected degradation of fluxes in the low-energy range with increased thermal electron/plasma density, and the elevated peak altitude of photoelectron fluxes with increased neutral densities. The examination of these physical parameters indicates the model's ability to simulate various environments and verifies the model's performance. Finally, a data-model comparison is carried out and the modeled omnidirectional fluxes agree well (within a factor of 2) with the observation.
ANGULAR CORRELATIONS OF THE RADIATIONS FROM DEUTERON STRIPPING REACTIONS

The general problem of the angular correlation of the radiations from excited states of nuclei produced in stripping reactions is discussed using the theory of Butler. The ($d,p\ensuremath{\gamma}$) correlation is given explicitly.
The Application of Raman Spectroscopy to the Study of Gas Hydrates

: Raman spectroscopy is reviewed with particular emphasis placed on its application to gas hydrates. Experimental examples discussed include studies of the totally symmetric C-H stretching vibration ν1 (A1) of methane in both synthetic and natural hydrate samples (from the JAPEX/JNOC/GSC Mallik 2L-38 research well); a comparison of the coupled O-H vibrations of water in the host lattice of CH4 hydrate and ice Ih at low temperature; and local structural details of the relaxation of the hydrogen-bonded water on crystallization to structure II hydrate of amorphous tetrahydrofuran (THF) aqueous solutions. This paper is intended to be an introduction to Raman spectroscopy with specific examples from research at the National Research Council of Canada, and is aimed at those who wish to apply the technique as a tool to investigate gas hydrates.
Flux-flow noise in type-II superconductors

Measurements of flux flow in type-II superconductors by a direct flux-detection method are described. A superconducting-quantum-interference-device magnetometer is employed to monitor the fluctuating component of flux changes in the central part of ${\mathrm{In}}_{0.9}$${\mathrm{Pb}}_{0.1}$ alloy samples as a function of the transport current. Experimental results show that the behavior of flux flow in the high-current region is significantly different from that near the onset. For high-current values, the noise-power spectral density can be fitted quite well by a Lorentzian form, and the rolloff frequency varies linearly with the current as well as the length, but not the width, of the detection loop. A simple model is proposed to account for these observations. The number of moving bundles is estimated from the data, and its low value suggests that only a small fraction of flux lines form sizable bundles that can be detected in this experiment. In the near-onset region, the average ac output of the detector shows several distinct peaks as the transport current is increased. Power spectra exhibit the form of 1/f noise at the peak positions, whereas deviations from 1/f noise are found at positions away from the peaks. The 1/f noise as well as deviations from 1/f can be explained by assuming a velocity spread of the moving bundles.
A composite trans-Atlantic heat flow profile between 20°S and 35°S

Abstract Sixty new measurements together with published heat flow data in the South Atlantic between 20°S and 35°S latitude have been analyzed. Heat flux is greater through the eastern Mid-Atlantic Ridge flank and basin than their counterparts on the west but the standard deviation or spatial variation is greater on the west, contrary to expectation based on sediment thickness. The variance in the data indicates that this asymmetry in mean heat flux is statistically significant at 87% confidence level. A pair of ridge-flank minima appear in a composite trans-Atlantic profile of heat flux versus sea-floor age, suggesting hydrothermal circulation in the young oceanic crust. The Walvis Ridge has a mean excess heat flux of 28 mW m −2 (0.7 μcal cm −2 sec −1 ) above the surrounding Cape and Angola Basins, and decreases along the ridge towards the northeast. Consistent with the apparent asymmetric distribution in the South Atlantic, it is also significantly higher than that of the Rio Grande Rise. We hypothesize that the trend and larger mean heat flux of the Walvis Ridge is best explained by a hot-spot origin, perhaps combined with higher radioactivity in the crust. However, the morphologic and heat flow differences between the Walvis Ridge and Rio Grande Rise suggest that these features have different geologic histories.
Bio-inspired Source Seeking with no Explicit Gradient Estimation

Abstract Inspired by behaviors of fish groups seeking darker (shaded) regions in environments with complex lighting variations, we develop distributed source-seeking algorithms for a group of sensing agents with no explicit gradient estimation. We choose a baseline for agent groups and decompose the velocity of each agent into two parts. The first part, which is perpendicular to the baseline, is chosen to be proportional to the measurements, agreeing with observations from fish groups. The second part, which is parallel to the baseline, can be designed to control the relative distances among the agents. This decomposition is leveraged to implement formation-maintaining strategies and source seeking behaviors for the entire group. We prove that the moving direction of a group will converge towards the gradient direction while the formation is maintained.
Current status of homogeneous enzyme immunoassays

Recent advances in homogeneous enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) are discussed. EIA methods have been developed with comparable sensitivity to those of radioimmunoassay (RIA). EIAs have become established in many clinical laboratories and are generally being employed for: 1) homogeneous assay of low molecular weight compounds such as drugs and antibiotics present in biological samples at relatively high concentrations, 2) qualitative and semiquantitative assays for viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic antigens and antibodies, 3) tissue immunohistochemical localization of antigens and antibodies, and 4) alternatives to RIA in smaller laboratories. This paper discusses the principles and applications of newer homogeneous assays such as avidin-biotin enzyme, hybrid antibody, insoluble sub state and cloned enzyme donor, and electrochemical immunoassays. Future instrumentation for EIAs with the use of biosensors is also discussed.
Asymptotically reliable transport of multimedia/graphics over wireless channels

We propose a multiple-delivery transport service tailored for graphics and video transported over connections with wireless access. This service operates at the interface between the transport and application layers, balancing the subjective delay and image quality objectives of the application with the low reliability and limited bandwidth of the wireless link. While techniques like forward-error correction, interleaving and retransmission improve reliability over wireless links, they also increase latency substantially when bandwidth is limited. Certain forms of interactive multimedia datatypes can benefit from an initial delivery of a corrupt packet to lower the perceptual latency, as long as reliable delivery occurs eventually. Multiple delivery of successively refined versions of the received packet, terminating when a sufficiently reliable version arrives, exploits the redundancy inherently required to improve reliability without a traffic penalty. Modifications to acknowledgment-repeat-request (ARQ) methods to implement this transport service are proposed, which we term `leaky ARQ'. For the specific case of pixel-coded window-based text/graphics, we describe additional functions needed to more effectively support urgent delivery and asymptotic reliability. X server emulation suggests that users will accept a multi-second delay between a (possibly corrupt) packet and the ultimate reliably-delivered version. The relaxed delay for reliable delivery can be exploited for traffic capacity improvement using scheduling of retransmissions.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Selection of Cardiac Transplantation Candidates in 2010

Heart failure is a progressive disease that now affects >5 million patients in the United States. Recent estimates suggest that between 5% and 10% of all patients with heart failure (HF) have advanced, or stage D, disease, which is associated with a very high mortality and very poor quality of life.1 In the most advanced phase of HF, heart transplantation (HT) has been the only means of improving the quality of life and survival in these patients. With the advances in immunosuppression therapy, 1-year survival after cardiac transplantation approaches 90%, with 50% of patients surviving >11 years.2 With the improving results of cardiac transplantation, more patients are referred for transplantation evaluation. Moreover, patients with comorbidities who in the past would not be suitable transplantation candidates are now often considered for transplantation.3 Unfortunately, this life-saving therapy is available to only a fraction of those who need it because of the constant shortage of available donors. Over the last 2 decades, only 2200 patients underwent HT annually in the United States. This has resulted in increasing number of patients awaiting transplants with longer waiting times. Efforts to modify the US heart allocation scheme to prioritize organ allocation to those candidates who are the least likely to survive was first introduced by the US United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) in 1989 as a high-priority UNOS status 1 listing. In 1999, this evolved into a 2-tiered system with UNOS status 1A and 1B.4 These changes resulted in a shorter waiting time and a significant improvement in survival on the HT waiting lists.5 Median time to cardiac transplantation has declined from 359 days in 1999 to 113 days in 2007. With the decline in waiting time, the absolute mortality rate for status 1A has declined from 21.7% in 1999 …
On the estimation of stock-market reaction to corporate layoff announcements

Abstract This study investigates the stock-market reaction to layoff announcements where more than 1000 workers are affected. We employ a dummy variable regression (DVR) version of the market model and compare the results obtained using ordinary least squares (OLS) versus exponential GARCH (EGARCH), and value-weighted (VW) versus equally weighted (EW) market index. We find that the stock market responds negatively to layoffs attributed to low demand. We also find that contrary to prior research, the market reacts positively to restructuring-related layoffs on the announcement date. This pattern of market reaction is observed regardless of the market index used or the parameter estimation methods employed, although the empirical results indicate that using EGARCH/VW market index tends to generate fewer statistically significant test results and smaller (in the absolute size of the cumulative) abnormal returns (ARs). Taken together, our study provides additional support for the claim that studies of stock-market reaction to corporate events must account for the time variation in return volatility. Ignoring these could result in erroneous inferences.
Co-localization of corticotropin releasing factor and vasopressin mRNA in neurones after adrenalectomy.

The discrete anatomical distribution of arginine vasopressin and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) immunoreactivity in the para-ventricular nucleus (PVN) of the rat hypothalamus is altered after adrenalectomy1–3. Not only is the immunostaining of both peptides enhanced, but vasopressin immunoreactivity, normally confined to the magnocellular subdivision, becomes clear in a large percentage of CRF neurones in the parvocellular subdivision2. These changes in immunoreactivity may reflect changes in post-translational events, peptide metabolism or genomic activity that lead indirectly or directly to the enhanced expression of vasopressin. Here we report that levels of transcripts homologous to vasopressin messenger RNA increase in the PVN after adrenalectomy, in parallel with increases in vasopressin immunoreactivity. In fact, after adrenalectomy, vasopressin mRNA can be detected in CRF-immunoreactive neurones. These results indicate that a considerable degree of plasticity is retained by the adult neuronal genome of the rat and that this plasticity may be modulated by the endocrine environment.
Simulation of mechanical response in crystallizing polymers: crystallization under constant shearing deformations

Abstract Using a model developed by Negahban et al. ((1993), Int. J. Eng. Sci. 31(1), 93–113), the mechanical response of crystallizing polymers under two different constant shearing deformations are simulated. Stress relaxation and mechanical moduli during the crystallization process are evaluated. Residual strains after unloading are calculated. Results are plotted for material constants representing natural rubber.
Investigating the molecular mechanism of pamidronate‐induced in vitro cytotoxicity in canine osteosarcoma cells

Introduction: Pamidronate is used to treat metastatic bone lesions in human cancer patients. By directly inhibiting the mevalonate pathway, pamidronate disrupts GTPase-binding protein prenylation, resulting in osteoclast apoptosis. Pamidronate has been demonstrated to exert dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects in several canine malignant osteoblastic cell lines. However, the exact cytotoxic mechanism remains speculative. The purpose of this study was to investigate and characterize the molecular mechanism of pamidronate-induced cytotoxicity in canine malignant osteoblasts. Methods: The involvement of farnesyl or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase inhibition was evaluated by performing rescue experiments with cells incubated for 48 hours with cytotoxic concentrations of pamidronate (50 and 100 μM), with or without farnesol (FOH) and geranylgeraniol (GGOH). Cell lysates were fluorometrically-assessed for caspase-3-like activity (R&D Systems) following incubation with varying concentrations of pamidronate (control, 50 and 100 μM) for 48 hours. The expression of a prenylated GTPase protein, Rap1 A, was qualitatively evaluated with immunoblotting using a polyclonal goat antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) in cells incubated for 48 hours with varying concentrations of pamidronate (0, 1, 10, 50, and 100 μM). Results: In cells treated with lower cytotoxic concentrations of pamidronate (50 μM) for 48 hours, the addition of GGOH, but not FOH, was able to diminish the degree cytotoxicity, p ≤ 0.05. However, cells incubated with higher cytotoxic concentrations of pamidronate (100 μM), neither GGOH nor FOH were able to reduce the level of pamidronate-induced cytotoxicity. Caspase-3-like activity directly correlated with the degree of pamidronate-induced cytotoxicity. Cells treated with pamidronate at 50 μM and 100 μM increased caspase-3-like activity by 5.3 and 7.1-fold, respectively over untreated controls. The detection of Rap1A by immunoblotting requires further optimization. Conclusions: Pamidronate-induced cytotoxicity in canine osteosarcoma cells may share a similar mechanism as has been demonstrated for osteoclasts. Inhibition of the mevalonate pathway appears to contribute to the observed cytotoxicity at lower doses of pamidronate. In addition, caspase-3-like activity contributes to the apoptotic process induced by pamidronate in malignant canine osteoblasts.
Prevention and reversal of dopamine receptor supersensitivity by cyclo(leucyl-glycyl) (CLG): Biphasic dose-response curves

Abstract Chronic administration (21 days) of haloperidol (HAL) (IP, 1.0 mg/kg/day) induced a behavioral supersensitivity (stereotypic sniffing) to dopamine (DA) agonists (apomorphine) and upregulation (increased B max for sulpiride-inhibitable [ 3 H]spiroperidol binding) of striatal and limbic D 2 DA receptors (DAr). Coadministration of cyclo(leucyl-glycyl) (CLG; 8mg/kg, SC; every third day, every other day, but not every day) with HAL attenuated the behavioral supersensitivity. D 2 -DAr binding assays showed 1) that CLG-induced changes in B max parallel these behavioral changes and 2) that the biphasic CLG dose-response curve may involve CLG failure at high cumulative doses to lower B max . CLG also reversed an already established D 2 DAr supersensitivity/upregulation (i.e., when CLG was injected daily for four days after the withdrawal or HAL). CLG alone did not alter behavior or binding. CLG's ability to both prevent and reverse D 2 DAr upregulation/supersensitivity in animal models suggests that CLG may be useful, within a therapeutic window, in clinical disorders that are thought to involve upregulated DAr (e.g., tardive dyskinesia, L -DOPA-induced dyskinesias, and schizophrenia).
Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on the Extraction of Chymosin

Abstract Improvement of chymosin (rennin) production is limited by a prolonged extraction process. An ultrasonic method of chymosin extraction was developed to increase efficiency. The application of ultrasonic energy significantly reduced time required for the extraction process as a result of abomasum tissue dispersing, destruction of the cells, intensive blending, separation of particles, and increase of the interphase abomasum-extraction medium. The ultrasonic extraction process significantly increased yield of chymosin. Optimal technological parameters for extraction and properties of extraction medium were established: time of ultrasonic treatment (45min), intensity of ultrasound (3.34 W/cm 2 ), temperature of extraction medium (15°C), NaCl concentration in solution (5%), ratio of abomasum to extracting solution (1:18), NaCl concentration in solution (5%), ratio of abomasum to extracting solution (1:18), pH of solution (4.2 to 4.3), time of chymosin extract activation (7h), degree of abomasum shredding (strips 5 to 8mm wide), and time of abomasum swelling (20min).
Are Heterogeneous or Homogeneous Groups More Beneficial to Students

This study investigated the relative benefits to the student of working in homogeneous versus heterogeneous classroom groups. Correlation analysis of 18 desirable outcomes versus 8 personality-based heterogeneity variables reveals that heterogeneity associates with advantages as well as disadvantages. Ways in which group composition might be customized to benefit students with particular needs or to emphasize particular goals are described, along with their potential downsides.
The interaction of hypothalamic self-stimulation and temperature regulation

Places dans un environnement froid, les rats qui avaient des electrodes implantes dans l'hypothalamus posterieur, preferaient la stimulation intracrannienne a un rechauffement de l'environnement; de ce fait, ils devenaient hypothermiques. Les rats qui avaient des electrodes implantes dans l'hypothalamus anterieur actionnaient alternativement les leviers de chauffage et ceux du courant electrique; ils evitaient ainsi de devenir hypothermiques.
Primary production at 47°N and 20°W in the North Atlantic Ocean: a comparison between the 14C incubation method and the mixed layer carbon budget

Abstract Primary production in the oceanshas been estimated mainly on the basis of in vitro incubation measurements. An implicit assumption is that the growth rate of phytoplankton observed in vitro represents that occurring in the freely circulating water of the euphotic zone. We have tested this assumption at 47°N-20°W in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean during the initial stages of a spring phytoplankton bloom. The daily primary production was measured by means of the 14C assimilation method, in which the incubation bottles were suspended in the ocean from dawn to dusk daily (about 14 h). The mean daily carbon assimilation rate in the photic zone and in the mixed layer was 107 ± 23 and 84 ± 18 mmol C m −2 day ∗−1 (where day ∗ = 14 daylight hours), respectively, during the 12-day period between 26 April and 7 May 1989. The mixed layer carbon assimilation data are found to be consistent with the in situ CO2 utilization rate of 82 ± 17 mmol C m − day ∗−1 estimated on the basis of the thickness of surface mixed layer, the CO2 concentration in it, and the air-sea CO2 flux. We conclude that primary production in the open ocean appears to be well represented by the in vitro measurements, if the samples are incubated under the in situ light and temperature conditions. The mean daily reduction rate of the total CO2 concentration observed in the mixed layer over the 12-day period is 2.3 μmol kg−1 day−1, about 75% of the rate, 3.1 μmol kg−1 day∗−1, expected from the rate of primary production. About 8.5% of this difference is explained by the atmospheric CO2 flux, and the remaining 16.5% may be attributed to the respiration and the influx of CO2-rich waters from the mixed layer.
Affective behavior changes in cats following operant conditioning of amygdaloid EEG activity

Abstract Enhanced agonistic behaviors were observed in cats following training, using biofeedback techniques, which increased the EEG activity recorded from the lateral amygdaloid nucleus. The animals' affective behavior returned to pretraining baseline levels after the elevated EEG activity had been extinguished. Results are discussed in the context of the significance of high frequency electrical activity of the brain.
Competitive intelligence: Lessons from the trenches

This article is adapted from the introduction to the recently published book Proven Strategies in Competitive Intelligence: Lessons from the Trenches, edited by John E. Prescott and Stephen H. Miller (2001, John Wiley & Sons). Along with his own research, Dr. Prescott draws key lessons from articles published over the past five years in the pages of Competitive Intelligence Review, including competitive intelligence (CI) case studies and competitive technical intelligence (CTI) case studies, as well as articles describing, from a case study perspective, CI and CTI research tools and analytical techniques. The four overarching lessons he finds and explains are (1) CI programs require a clearly articulated role that emerges through a process of (re)learning the intelligence needs of organizational members; (2) the set of outputs from a CI program must be disseminated on a timely basis, provide actionable implications, and be perceived as credible and trustworthy; (3) in organizations, an intelligence-driven culture is built one person at a time, through intelligence skill enhancement, human network development, and mechanisms that facilitate the flow of information; and (4) the evolution of CI programs is a natural phenomenon driven by the needs of the corporation, feedback, and quality enhancement techniques. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
MSOAR 2.0: Incorporating tandem duplications into ortholog assignment based on genome rearrangement

Ortholog assignment is a critical and fundamental problem in comparative genomics, since orthologs are considered to be functional counterparts in different species and can be used to infer molecular functions of one species from those of other species. MSOAR is a recently developed high-throughput system for assigning one-to-one orthologs between closely related species on a genome scale. It attempts to reconstruct the evolutionary history of input genomes in terms of genome rearrangement and gene duplication events. It assumes that a gene duplication event inserts a duplicated gene into the genome of interest at a random location (i.e., the random duplication model). However, in practice, biologists believe that genes are often duplicated by tandem duplications, where a duplicated gene is located next to the original copy (i.e., the tandem duplication model). In this paper, we develop MSOAR 2.0, an improved system for one-to-one ortholog assignment. For a pair of input genomes, the system first focuses on the tandemly duplicated genes of each genome and tries to identify among them those that were duplicated after the speciation (i.e., the so-called inparalogs), using a simple phylogenetic tree reconciliation method. For each such set of tandemly duplicated inparalogs, all but one gene will be deleted from the concerned genome (because they cannot possibly appear in any one-to-one ortholog pairs), and MSOAR is invoked. Using both simulated and real data experiments, we show that MSOAR 2.0 is able to achieve a better sensitivity and specificity than MSOAR. In comparison with the well-known genome-scale ortholog assignment tool InParanoid, Ensembl ortholog database, and the orthology information extracted from the well-known whole-genome multiple alignment program MultiZ, MSOAR 2.0 shows the highest sensitivity. Although the specificity of MSOAR 2.0 is slightly worse than that of InParanoid in the real data experiments, it is actually better than that of InParanoid in the simulation tests. Our preliminary experimental results demonstrate that MSOAR 2.0 is a highly accurate tool for one-to-one ortholog assignment between closely related genomes. The software is available to the public for free and included as online supplementary material.
Optimization-based feature selection with adaptive instance sampling

Preprocessing the data to filter out redundant and irrelevant features is one of the most important steps in the data mining process. Careful feature selection may improve both the computational time of inducing subsequent models and the quality of those models. Using fewer features often leads to simpler and easier to interpret models, and selecting important feature can lead to important insights into the application. The feature selection problem is inherently a combinatorial optimization problem. This paper builds on a metaheuristic called the nested partitions method that has been shown to be particularly effective for the feature selection problem. Specifically, we focus on the scalability of the method and show that its performance is vastly improved by incorporating random sampling of instances. Furthermore, we develop an adaptive variant of the algorithm that dynamically determines the required sample rate. The adaptive algorithm is shown to perform very well when applied to a set of standard test problems.
Primary immunodeficiency diseases in Australia and New Zealand.

Introduction Despite rapid developments in the science of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID), population characteristics and the burden of disease are poorly characterized. Aggregated data on PID via patient registries are a key component of the public health response. The web-enabled Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy PID Register was designed and implemented to address gaps in knowledge of PID.
Singular Value Sensitivity Based Optimal Control of Embedded VSC-HVDC for Steady-State Voltage Stability Enhancement

In this paper, we propose a novel control algorithm for improving steady-state (quasi-static) voltage stability by use of an embedded voltage source converter (VSC) based high voltage direct current (HVDC) system. In this paper, the terms “steady-state” and “quasi-static” are used interchangeably. By embedded HVDC, we refer to a meshed AC system with all HVDC terminals connected within the same AC grid. The sensitivity between VSC control input and the voltage stability margin is introduced. Based on this sensitivity, the proposed control algorithm jointly satisfies system-wide voltage stability margin as well as local voltage magnitude requirements. The proposed approach is to first migrate the entire system to have sufficient voltage stability margin, and then to correct any voltage magnitude violation while keeping that stability margin. A contour-based visualization of the VSC capability space for maintaining system voltage stability is introduced, which can effectively illustrate how the singular value sensitivity (SVS) based control achieves both the local and global voltage stability requirements. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is shown via case studies on a 6-bus and 118-bus system with and without static VAR compensation.
Implications of post-thrusting extension and underplating for P-T-t paths in granulite terranes:A Grenville example

Mineral zoning studies in several granulite terranes have yielded nearly isobaric retrograde pressure-temperature ( P-T ) paths with significant path dispersion. Explanations include magmatic underplating, incomplete isostatic rebound following thrusting, and cooling after tectonic denudation associated with crustal extension. One-dimensional thermal models help to interpret the P-T-t (time) paths generated by such processes. Basaltic underplating yields P-T paths in good agreement with data for the Grenville province of Ontario, but yields T-t paths that disagree strongly with thermochronometry. In addition, seismic, heat-flow, and gravity data from the Grenville province are not consistent with a mafic lower crust. Calculations based on simple thrust models agree with the T-t data, but yield isothermal rather than isobaric initial P-T paths, and consistently underestimate the pressure at which peak temperature is achieved. The only model we found that fits both the P-T and T-t data incorporates a post-thrusting episode of tectonic denudation near the peak of metamorphism. This model also suggests that the temperature dependence of diffusion in garnet may explain the difference between measured isobaric and isothermal paths in granulites and amphibolites.
A comparison of differential reinforcement and noncontingent reinforcement for the treatment of a child's multiply controlled problem behavior

Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) and differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) with escape as the reinforcer were evaluated after an initial functional analysis indicated the problem behaviors exhibited by a 7 year old child were maintained by escape. When NCR and DRO did not decrease the problem behaviors, a second functional analysis was conducted and showed that the behaviors were maintained by attention and escape. DRO with attention and escape as reinforcers was compared to NCR with attention and escape as reinforcers for the treatment of the child’s multiply controlled behavior problems. Results showed that DRO and NCR were both effective at reducing the problem behavior to low levels and increasing compliance. Copyright # 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clarification of vehicle cone index with reference to mean maximum pressure

Abstract The US Army developed Vehicle Cone Index (VCI) as a metric for directly quantifying the ability of vehicles to traverse soft-soil terrain. In order to ensure minimum soft-soil performance capabilities for their new military vehicles, the US Army has used VCI for many years as a performance specification. The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (UK MOD) has used the Mean Maximum Pressure (MMP) parameter for many years as a performance specification. It has been demonstrated that the MMP parameter relates to soft-soil performance capabilities, and hence, the UK MOD has ensured minimum performance capabilities for their new military vehicles by using MMP specifications. Both the VCI and MMP specification approaches have served their users well, but fundamental differences in the two specification approaches have produced some misunderstandings concerning what VCI really is and how it relates to MMP. This article clarifies that VCI is a performance metric, not a set of predictive equations, explains how VCI is measured, and compares different methods of predicting VCI for one-pass performance (i.e., VCI1) of wheeled vehicles in fat clay soils. It is further clarified that MMP should not be compared with VCI but instead with Mobility Index (MI), which is the principal parameter used by the US Army for predicting VCI. Relationships are presented for using MMP to predict VCI1 for wheeled vehicles in clay, and the resulting relationships allow comparison between MMP and MI in terms of their ability to predict VCI. Seventy-nine VCI1 performance measurements were used for the comparison, and they demonstrate that MI describes the historical performance data somewhat better than MMP.
Surface creation and segmentation for 3D point clouds of an urban environment

This paper presents a fast and robust approach to surface creation and feature extraction. The methodology is based on segmentation of point clouds iteratively till a set bound is reached. This paper concentrates on developing the methodology for developing planar surfaces. To achieve this goal vegetation is filtered and planar surfaces are created using the Delaunay triangulation. Surface creation process uses segmented point clouds based on fluctuation of normal of the surfaces in the segmented cubes. Results produced using this technique show the effect of imposing geometric constraints on the reconstruction to generate realistic surfaces.
Skin Cancer in Skin of Color

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States.1 While skin cancer is less common in people with skin of color, it is more often associated with an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality as compared to white counterparts.2,3 This imbalance has significant public health concerns. Current skin cancer campaigns focus on Caucasian patients in high-risk groups. There is a paucity of literature on skin cancer in skin of color. Most physicians do not immediately associate skin cancer with skin of color, and little is known about the sun-protective behaviors of those with skin of color. Similarly the collection of statistics for skin cancer in skin of color is challenging as non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are not consistently reported to tumor registries, and many NMSCs in skin of color are reported as melanomas. According to the 2,000 census,4 by the year 2050, 50% of the US population will be non-white. This changing demographic, combined with the disparate mortality, makes it imperative that physicians become familiar with skin cancer in skin of color so that they may better educate these patients on risk factors and early detection.
Why Do Physicians Vary So Widely in Their Referral Rates

OBJECTIVE: To determine which physician practice and psychological factors contribute to observed variation in primary care physicians’ referral rates.
An Autonomous Controller for Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps, Residential Solar Thermal Collection, and Hydronic Floor Heating

A unique autonomous control system was developed to manage the HVAC components of a residence built specifically for an ultra-efficient home competition. Some of the home’s HVAC components that contribute to its ultra-efficiency (and necessitate such an autonomous controller) include multiple ductless mini-split heat pumps, multiple hydronic heated floor loops, multiple circulating ceiling fans, and a closed-loop solar thermal collection and storage system that not only provides hot water to the hydronic heated floors, but also supplies the home with domestic hot water.The autonomous controller integrates all this equipment with a mixture of technology that includes power-line communications, both wired and wireless TCP/IP network signals, low-voltage wiring, and infrared signals. By utilizing these many different methods to communicate with equipment around the home, the controller is able to simultaneously regulate components and systems that are often considered “stand alone” or impractical to implement in residential buildings due to their need for constant manual operation. The result is an HVAC system that consumes very little energy while still providing an expected level of comfort.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Depth profiles of aluminum and sodium near surfaces: Nuclear resonance method☆

Depth profiles of aluminum and sodium implanted into silicon carbide, silicon and silicon dioxide have been measured by means of sharp resonances in the reactions 27Al(p,γ)28Si and 23Na(p,γ)24Mg. The absolute number of impurity atoms has been determined and compared with that indicated by charge integration during implantation. Adjacent areas of some specimens have been measured by the Cameca ion-beam mass spectrometer and the nuclear resonance method; results are compared. A depth resolution of less than 20 A has been demonstrated for Al very near the surface of SiC. Information concerning the migration of sodium in SiO2 under ion bombardment is presented. Depth profiles are extracted from gamma-ray yield curves taking into account the beam energy distribution, the resonance shape, the average proton energy loss in the sample and the energy loss straggling.
The coldest neutron star

If, as is suggested in some theories of subatomic particles, all baryons are unstable against decay into leptons, with lifetimes of about 10/sup 30/ years, then various astronomical objects have minimum surface temperatures. This temperature is about 0.4 /sup 0/K for a main sequence star, 4 /sup 0/K for a white dwarf, and 100 /sup 0/K for a neutron star.
High frame-rate MR-guided near-infrared tomography system to monitor breast hemodynamics

A near-infrared (NIR) tomography system with spectral-encoded sources at two wavelength bands was built to quantify the temporal contrast at 20 Hz bandwidth, while imaging breast tissue. The NIR system was integrated with a magnetic resonance (MR) machine through a custom breast coil interface, and both NIR data and MR images were acquired simultaneously. MR images provided breast tissue structural information for NIR reconstruction. Acquisition of finger pulse oximeter (PO) plethysmogram was synchronized with the NIR system in the experiment to offer a frequency-locked reference. The recovered absorption coefficients of the breast at two wavelengths showed identical temporal frequency as the PO output, proving this multi-modality design can recover the small pulsatile variation of absorption property in breast tissue related to the heartbeat. And it also showed the system's ability on novel contrast imaging of fast flow signals in deep tissue.
Elastic properties of amorphous and crystalline B1−xCx and boron at low temperatures

Abstract We present measurements of the internal friction ( Q −1 ) and speed of sound variation (δ v / v 0 ) of amorphous boron ( a -B) and amorphous B 9 C ( a -B 9 C). The elastic properties of these materials, which can only be produced as thin films, are consistent with those of other amorphous solids measured to date and exhibit good agreement with the tunneling model (TM) of amorphous solids. The TM parameter P γ t 2 / ρ v t 2 extracted from the elastic data has the same order of magnitude as that observed for all amorphous solids studied to date; a review will be presented. Using the results from the elastic measurements, we calculate the T 2 thermal conductivity Λ expected in the TM regime ( T ≤1 K) for a -B. The predicted thermal conductivity falls within the expected range for amorphous solids and agrees with the thermal conductivity of the crystalline icosahedral boride MB 68-δ (M=Y, Gd), which has been previously shown to exhibit glass-like excitations. We have also measured the internal friction and speed of sound variation of bulk polycrystalline c -B 1− x C x at low temperatures (0.07 K T x c -B 1− x C x sample ( x =0.1, c -B 9 C) is comparable to that for a -B and a -B 9 C, thereby confirming the inherent glass-like vibrational properties of carbon-deficient c -B 1− x C x . Such behavior supports the glass-like character of carbon-deficient c -B 1− x C x high temperature ( T >50 K) thermal transport reported previously and provides the first experimental evidence for the presence of two-level systems (TLS) in these crystalline solids. However, discrepancies with the tunneling model are present; the data for c -B 1− x C x bear some similarity to those for amorphous metals in which electronic relaxation channels are active, although details are still unclear. Previous studies have shown that the TM quantity C = P γ t 2 / ρ v t 2 (“tunneling strength”) is essentially independent of the material's shear modulus G = ρ v t 2 over a factor of ∼17. The elastic data presented in this work now extend the observed independence of the tunneling strength, C , over a factor of ∼70 in shear modulus.
Abstract 3243: Differential effects of caloric and carbohydrate restriction upon prostate cancer tumor growth in a mouse model

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Background: Caloric restriction (CR) has been shown to be anti_cancer. However, whether these effects are the result of generalized reduction in overall caloric intake or reduced intake of macronutrients (i.e. carbohydrates) are unknown. We sought to investigate the differential effects of caloric and carbohydrate restriction upon prostate cancer tumor growth in a xenograft model. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 male SCID mice were injected subcutaneously with the LAPC-4 cell line. Mice were randomized to 1 of 4 diets: ad libitum Western diet (WD, 49% carbohydrates, 35% fat, and 16% protein), pair-fed No Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet (NCKD; 1% carbohydrates, 83% fat, 16% protein), Western diet calorically restricted (WD-CR), and NCKD calorically restricted (NCKD-CR). Calorically restricted arms were fed 75% of the calories of their reference diet group. Tumor volumes and body weights were measured twice weekly. Mice were sacrificed when tumor volumes reached 1,000 mm3. Results: Relative to WD, there was a suggestion of smaller body weights in both NCKD-CR and WD-CR arms (rank-sum, p≤0.06). There was trend for heavier mice in the NCKD group (rank-sum, p=0.09). By day 50, median tumor volumes for NCKD, WD-CR, and NCKD-CR were 45, 51, and 62% smaller than WD (rank-sum, all p≤0.001). At any time point, there were no significant differences in tumor volume among the NCKD, NCKD-CR, and WD-CR arms. However, there was a suggestion of smaller tumors in the NCKD-CR arm by day 42 relative to NCKD and WD-CR (p<0.11). Diet was significantly associated with mouse survival (log\_rank, p=0.004). In 2\_way comparisons, NCKD, NCKD-CR, and WD-CR had significantly prolonged survival relative to WD (log_rank, all p≤0.02). However, no difference in survival was seen among any caloric or carbohydrate restricted arms (log rank, p≤0.16). A total of 34 mice died due to infection prior to their tumors reaching 1,000mm3 and therefore were not included in the survival analyse (WD-CR, n=14; NCKD, n=5; NCKD-CR, n =15). Conclusions: Both CR and carbohydrate restriction without weight loss are effective in delaying tumor growth and improving mouse survival. We found no differences between caloric and carbohydrate restricted arms, though this may relate to loss of study power due to mouse infections. CR may further weaken the immune system of immunocompromised mice subjecting them to increased risk of infections. A confirmatory study is underway in a high-level barrier facility. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3243.