cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the nucleoside triphosphatase activity of poliovirus protein 2C reveals a mechanism by which guanidine inhibits poliovirus replication.

Abstract The highly conserved non-structural protein 2C of picornaviruses is involved in viral genome replication and encapsidation and in the rearrangement of intracellular structures. 2C binds RNA, has nucleoside triphosphatase activity, and shares three motifs with superfamily III helicases. Motifs “A” and “B” are involved in nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) binding and hydrolysis, whereas a function for motif “C” has not yet been demonstrated. Poliovirus RNA replication is inhibited by millimolar concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl). Resistance and dependence to GdnHCl map to 2C. To characterize the nucleoside triphosphatase activity of 2C, we purified poliovirus recombinant 2C fused to glutathioneS-transferase (GST-2C) from Escherichia coli. GST-2C hydrolyzed ATP with a K m of 0.7 mm. Other NTPs, including GTP, competed with ATP for binding to 2C but were poor substrates for hydrolysis. Mutation of conserved residues in motif A and B abolished ATPase activity, as did mutation of the conserved asparagine residue in motif C, an observation indicating the involvement of this motif in ATP hydrolysis. GdnHCl at millimolar concentrations inhibited ATP hydrolysis. Mutations in 2C that confer poliovirus resistant to or dependent on GdnHCl increased the tolerance to GdnHCl up to 100-fold.
Bonding between polyacrylamide and smectite

Abstract In various applications of polyacrylamide (PAM) in soil erosion control, soil conditioning, water treatment, and oil recovery, the polymer mainly reacts with clay minerals. The objective of this study was to investigate the probable bonding mechanisms between PAM and smectite, a common clay mineral that occurs in soils and sediments. Three polyacrylamides – nonionic PAM 903N, cationic PAM 494C, and anionic PAM 836A – were investigated. Additionally, the impact of exchangeable cation, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Al3+, Cu2+, and Ni2+, on bonding strength was investigated. The PAM-smectite complexes were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. After adsorption on Ca2+-smectite, the asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of the NH2 groups of nonionic PAM blue-shifted 140 and 186 cm−1, respectively, suggesting that the amino group was less H-bonded in the adsorbed PAM than in the bulk polymer. The C O band showed only a 3 cm−1 blue-shift, suggesting that the carbonyl oxygen was still bonded by other atoms or ions. The IR-band shifts were affected by the exchangeable cation. For example, the stretching vibrations of NH2 and C O bonds of adsorbed PAM in complexes containing transition-metal cations (Cu2+ or Ni2+) occurred at frequencies 20 and 9 cm−1 lower than those containing exchangeable alkali cations (Na+ or K+). The IR bands of amide groups of the complexes containing exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+, and Al3+ fell between those containing transition-metal cations and those containing alkali cations. The IR band shifts suggest that carbonyl (C O) oxygens contributed more than the amino group (NH2) to the bonding between PAMs and smectite. The IR-band shifts associated with the exchangeable cation suggest that: (1) an ion-dipole interaction or coordination occurs between the amide groups of the PAMs and the exchangeable cations and (2) hydrogen bonding exists between the amide groups and water molecules in the hydration shells of exchangeable cations. Similar IR band shifts were observed in the cationic PAM 494C- and anionic PAM 836A-smectite complexes, suggesting that the nonionic acrylamide units in these copolymers reacted similarly with smectite as the nonionic PAM 903N.
Edema-horn, an abnormal mutant of Biomphalaria glabrata.

Abstract An abnormal condition is reported in the pulmonate gastropod Biomphalaria glabrata involving body edema and flaring of the shell aperture. Selection and selfing of isolated snails suggested this character is inherited. Crossing experiments indicated the character is inherited as a simple recessive.
Connectivity effects in isomeric naphthalenedinitrenes

[figure: see text] UV-vis, FTIR, and ESR spectroscopic studies were carried out on samples of 1,4- and 1,5-naphthalenediazide that were photolyzed at cryogenic temperatures in argon and frozen solvent matrices. Mononitrenes and diiminediyl systems are produced. Spectral and computational results are consistent with quinonoidal singlet ground-state structures for the diiminediyls, rather than aromatic dinitrene structures.
Distribution of photon absorption rates across the rat retina

1. An investigation into the distribution of light intensity across the rat retina was carried out on excised, intact rat eyes exposed to Ganzfeld illumination from a helium-neon laser (543 nm). 2. Some of the light entering the eyes exits through the sclera where its intensity can be monitored with an optical 'pick-up' that samples the intensity coming from a small region of external sclera and underlying retina. The spatial resolution of the pick-up is such that it samples light that has passed through ca 2 % of the rods in the rat eye. 3. Some of the laser light is absorbed by the rod pigment, rhodopsin, which gradually bleaches. Bleaching in the retina, in turn, causes an exponential increase in intensity emanating from the sclera. By monitoring this intensity increase, we are able to measure two important parameters in a single bleaching run: the local rhodopsin concentration and the local intensity falling on the rods. 4. With an ocular transmission photometer, we have measured both the local intensity and the local rhodopsin concentration across wide regions of rat retina. Both pigmented and albino rats were studied. 5. The distributions of rhodopsin and intensity were both nearly uniform; consequently, the product, (rhodopsin concentration) x (intensity), was similarly nearly equal across the retina. This means that the initial rate of photon absorption is about the same at all retinal locations. 6. Interpreted in terms of photostasis (the regulation of daily photon catch), this means that the rate of photon absorption is about the same in each rod, viz. 14 400 photons absorbed per rod per second. Since this rate of absorption is sufficient to saturate the rod, one possible purpose of photostasis is to maintain the rod system in a saturated state during daylight hours.
Update on psoriasis therapy: a perspective from the USA.

Because physicians from different nations frequently acquire the use of a new medication at different times, the international exchange of experiences with the new medication is valuable in max-imizing its efficacy worldwide. In recent years, many new therapeutic agents have been approved for treating psoriasis in the United States. These include the topical agent calcipotriol and the systemic agents acitretin and cyclosporine. In addition to new agents, a new therapeutic paradigm, sequential therapy, has been introduced recently. It is the hope of the authors that by sharing this paradigm and experiences with these agents in the United States, dermatologists in Japan may gain further insight into optimizing the use of these agents in the treatment of psoriasis.
Molecular evolution: Hidden diversity sparks adaptation

Although some genetic mutations have clear effects, others have been considered neutral and inconsequential. Such cryptic mutations can nonetheless facilitate adaptation to new environments. See Letter p.92 Some mutations, known as cryptic mutations, have no observable effect on an organism's phenotype unless combined with other mutations or environmental changes. As the originally cryptic variation can turn out to be beneficial in such new conditions, it has been proposed that it may facilitate evolutionary adaptation — or 'evolvability', but this has not been rigorously demonstrated experimentally because of the complexity of both natural genomes and environments. In a study of a simplified system in vitro — the catalytic activity of a single RNA enzyme — Andreas Wagner and colleagues demonstrate that a population that has accumulated more cryptic variation adapts more rapidly to a new chemical environment than a competing population with fewer variations. The existence of such a pre-adaptation mechanism would have fundamental implications for animal and plant breeding, as well as for complex trait diseases in humans.
Community Design Parameters and the Performance of Residential Cogeneration Systems

The integration of cogeneration systems in residential and mixed-use communities has the potential of reducing their energy demand and harmful emissions and can thus play asignificant role in increasing their environmental sustainability. This study investigated the impact of selected planning and architectural design parameters on the environmental and economic performances of centralized cogeneration systems integrated into residential communities in U.S.cold climates. Parameters investigated include: 1) density, 2) use mix, 3) street configuration, 4) housing typology, 5) envelope and building systems’ efficiencies, and 6) passive solar energyutilization. The study integrated several simulation tools into a procedure to assess the impact of each design parameter on the cogeneration system performance. This assessment procedure included: developing a base-line model representing typical design characteristics of U.S. residential communities; assessing the cogeneration system’s performance within this model using three performance indicators: percentage of reduction in primary energy use, percentage of reduction in CO2 emissions; and internal rate of return; assessing the impact of each parameter on the system performance through developing 46 design variations of the base-line model representing potential changes in each parameter and calculating the three indicators for each variation; and finally, using a multi-attribute decision analysis methodology to evaluate the relative impact of each parameter on the cogeneration system performance. The study results show that planning parameters had a higher impact on the cogeneration system performance than architectural ones. Also, a significant correlation was found between design characteristics identified as favorable for the cogeneration system performance and those of sustainable residential communities. These include high densities, high use mix, interconnected street networks, and mixing of housing typologies. This indicates a higher potential for integrating cogeneration systems in sustainable communities.Keywords: cogeneration; residential & mixed use communities; energy efficiency; district heating
Fatigue Properties of Type 304 Stainless Steel in High Pressure Hydrogen at Room Temperature

Etude sous des pressions d'hydrogene jusqu'a 40 MPa. Le nombre de cycles a la rupture et la limite de fatigue diminuent quand la pression d'hydrogene augmente. On deduit de l'observation de modes de rupture de fatigue que la croissance des fissures de fatigue est due a l'hydrogene le long des interfaces entre la martensite et l'austenite
Resonance Raman spectroscopic investigation of the mechanism and kinetics of the degradation of N,N-hexamethylene bishexamide, a Nylon 6,6 model compound

Abstract We report a mechanistic study of the photo-oxidative degradation of N,N-hexamethylene bishexamide, a Nylon 6,6 model compound. Resonant Raman intensities of the amide and its previously identified enal degradation product are recorded as a function of the duration of the irradiation of the amide with 266 nm laser pulses. The time dependences of the Raman intensities are consistent with those predicted by a kinetic mechanism for photo-oxidation. In particular, the rate of formation of the enal, probed by monitoring the Raman intensity of its CO stretch peak at 1680 cm−1, agrees well with the rate of cleavage of the C–N bond in the amide, revealed by the time dependence of the intensity of the Am II (C–N stretch) vibration at 1537 cm−1. Rate constants for important steps in the degradation mechanism are obtained from the analysis.
Molecular response to the pathogen Phytophthora sojae among ten soybean near isogenic lines revealed by comparative transcriptomics

Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRR) of soybean, caused by Phytophthora sojae, is controlled by Rps genes. However, little is known regarding the Rps-induced molecular responses to P. sojae and how they actually overlap. We thus sequenced, analyzed, and compared the transcriptomes of 10 near isogenic lines (NILs), each with a unique Rps gene/allele, and the susceptible parent Williams, pre- and post-inoculation with the pathogen. A total of 4,330 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in Williams versus 2,014 to 5,499 DEGs in individual NILs upon inoculation with the pathogen. Comparisons of the DEGs between the NILs and Williams identified incompatible interaction genes (IIGs) and compatible interaction genes (CIGs). Hierarchical cluster and heatmap analyses consistently grouped the NILs into three clusters: Cluster I (Rps1-a), Cluster II (Rps1-b, 1-c and 1-k) and Cluster III (Rps3-a, 3-b, 3-c, 4, 5, and 6), suggesting an overlap in Rps-induced defense signaling among certain NILs. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed associations between members of the WRKY family and incompatible reactions and between a number of phytohormone signaling pathways and incompatible/compatible interactions. These associations appear to be distinguished according to the NIL clusters. This study characterized genes and multiple branches of putative regulatory networks associated with resistance to P. sojae in ten soybean NILs, and depicted functional “fingerprints” of individual Rps-mediated resistance responses through comparative transcriptomic analysis. Of particular interest are dramatic variations of detected DEGs, putatively involved in ethylene (ET)-, jasmonic acid (JA)-, (reactive oxygen species) ROS-, and (MAP-kinase) MAPK- signaling, among these soybean NILs, implicating their important roles of these signaling in differentiating molecular defense responses. We hypothesize that different timing and robustness in defense signaling to the same pathogen may be largely responsible for such variations.
Synthesis, structure, and unusual reactivity of β-halovinyl cobalt porphyrin complexes

The preparation, structures, and reactivity of tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) cobalt halovinyl complexes are reported. Beta-halovinyl complexes of (TPP)Co(E-CHCHX) (X = Br and I) were prepared from the insertion of acetylene into the cobalt halide bonds of the corresponding halide complexes. The reactivity of these compounds and of the previously reported (TPP)Co(E-CHCHCl), was studied in depth, and it was found that complex reactivity increased with the leaving group ability of the halide. A trans-dichlorovinyl cobalt porphyrin complex, (TPP)Co(Z-CClCHCl), was also prepared through the reaction of (TPP)CoNa and TCE. The structures of (TPP)Co(E-CHCHBr), (TPP)Co(Z-CClCHCl), and (TPP)Co(C(2)H) are reported. The C-C bond length of the vinyl group was found to vary for the beta-halovinyl complexes (TPP)Co(E-CHCHX) from 1.211 A for X = Br to 1.234 A for X = Cl and 1.320 A for (TPP)Co(Z-CClCHCl). A comparison of these structures to many chlorovinyl cobalt complexes shows that trans-2-halo substitution results in a dramatically decreased vinyl C-C bond length. The mechanism of halide substitution for the beta-halovinyl complexes was investigated with kinetic experiments that indicated a dissociative mechanism and supported the intermediacy of a cobalt acetylene complex.
Further analysis of the heat transfer characteristics of a bubble-induced water jet impinging on an ice surface

The dimensional correlation presented in reference [1] summarizing the heat transfer characteristics of a bubble-induced water jet impinging on an ice surface has been re-analyzed and can be fairly expressed in one of the four dimensionless forms. The recommended correlation with correlation coefficient of 0.936 is NuR = 0.8045 (Pr)13(ReDi)0.881n(R), in which NuR = hR/kw, h is the average heat transfer coefficient, R is the radius of heat transfer area, kw is the thermal conductivity of water; ReDi = Divw/vw where velocity over impingement, vw is the kinematic viscosity of water and n(R) is expressed as an n(R) = 1/R [R(12R - 1) + ln(L+R)]12.
TL.8, a new antigenic determinant of the TL system.

Here we describe a new determinant, TL.8, generated by immunizing Tla a mice with Tla d cells. Like TL.4, TL.8 is absent from Tla a cells, but unlike TL.4, TL.8 is detectable on normal thymocytes in some strains of mice
Exploring Actor and Partner Effects in Associations Between Marriage and Parenting for Mothers and Fathers

Objective. The authors assessed positive and negative qualities of mothers' and fathers' marital interaction behavior in relation to each parent's observed parenting sensitivity, applying the actor–partner interdependence model. Marital behaviors expressed (actor effects) and marital behaviors experienced (partner effects) were distinguished to explore spillover processes between marriage and parenting for mothers and fathers. Design. Positive and negative marital interaction behaviors of 70 mothers and fathers were rated from observations of a discussion task when children were in first grade. Parental sensitivity was represented by a latent factor derived from observational ratings of mother–child and father–child interactions in Grades 1, 3, and 5. Results. Experiences of marital hostility and marital withdrawal from their spouse undermined mothers' and fathers' parenting sensitivity (partner effects), controlling for each parent's own marital behaviors (actor effects) and each parent's psychological a...
Competing for large-scale infrastructure projects in the emerging Asian markets: Factors of success

Abstract This paper aims to provide some general guidance and factors of success for those interested in the burgeoning Asian infrastructure sector. What separates successful foreign contractors from those that flounder? This investigation is based on interviews with managers, directors and other executives from American construction and engineering firms that have had an established and successful presence in the region for at least 10 years. Also interviewed were representatives from government and local firms. The two groups typically play a vital role in the prosperity of the foreign contractor. Three general success themes emerged from our investigation: the growing competitive role of knowledge transfer, the use of local firm networks for managing government entities and the importance of adapting firm risk orientation to the host country's legal and cultural environment. The authors provide an overview of the challenges facing these emerging economies as well as the challenges to firms wishing to gain entry. The concept of a “triple alliance” between foreign firms, government constituencies and local entities is used as a framework for analysis.
Alternation for termination

Proving termination of sequential programs is an important problem, both for establishing the total correctness of systems and as a component of proving more general termination and liveness properties. We present a new algorithm, TREX, that determines if a sequential program terminates on all inputs. The key characteristic of TREX is that it alternates between refining an overapproximation and an under-approximation of each loop in a sequential program. In order to prove termination, TREX maintains an over-approximation of the set of states that can be reached at the head of the loop. In order to prove nontermination, it maintains an under-approximation of the set of paths through the body of the loop. The over-approximation and under-approximation are used to refine each other iteratively, and help TREX to arrive quickly at a proof of either termination or non-termination. TREX refines the approximations in alternation by composing three different program analyses: (1) local termination provers that can quickly handle intricate loops, but not whole programs, (2) non-termination provers that analyze one cycle through a loop, but not all paths, and (3) global safety provers that can check safety properties of large programs, but cannot check liveness properties. This structure allows TREX to be instantiated using any of the pre-existing techniques for proving termination or non-termination of individual loops. We evaluated TREX by applying it to prove termination or find bugs for a set of real-world programs and termination analysis benchmarks. Our results demonstrate that alternation allows TREX to prove termination or produce certified termination bugs more effectively than previous techniques.
A tale of two tunnels: Memory, archaeology, and the Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad is a widely known but generally misunderstood historical phenomenon that has recently become a focus of much scholarly and popular attention. To understand the Underground ...
Contra "el gran desorden sexual": Los nacionalistas y la sexualidad, 1919-1940

Este trabajo aborda el tema de la familia y la sexualidad en la tradicion nacionalista argentina. Se pregunta por las estrategias practicas y discursivas que desde el nacionalismo se difundieron en la sociedad con el objeto de reproducir el orden social. Estas estrategias remiten a la difusion de determinados valores que exaltan la virilidad masculina, el matrimonio enmarcado en los rituales cristianos y la familia. El culto nacionalista a la femineidad enfatizaba la pasividad y un sentido mariano de la maternidad. Las verdaderas masculinidad y femineidad eran incompatibles con la sensualidad, ya que ponian en riesgo el control social y los principios de la civilizacion cristiana.
Multi-modal data fusion schemes for integrated classification of imaging and non-imaging biomedical data

With a wide array of multi-modal, multi-protocol, and multi-scale biomedical data available for disease diagnosis and prognosis, there is a need for quantitative tools to combine such varied channels of information, especially imaging and non-imaging data (e.g. spectroscopy, proteomics). The major problem in such quantitative data integration lies in reconciling the large spread in the range of dimensionalities and scales across the different modalities. The primary goal of quantitative data integration is to build combined meta-classifiers; however these efforts are thwarted by challenges in (1) homogeneous representation of the data channels, (2) fusing the attributes to construct an integrated feature vector, and (3) the choice of learning strategy for training the integrated classifier. In this paper, we seek to (a) define the characteristics that guide the 4 independent methods for quantitative data fusion that use the idea of a meta-space for building integrated multi-modal, multi-scale meta-classifiers, and (b) attempt to understand the key components which allowed each method to succeed. These methods include (1) Generalized Embedding Concatenation (GEC), (2) Consensus Embedding (CE), (3) Semi-Supervised Multi-Kernel Graph Embedding (SeSMiK), and (4) Boosted Embedding Combination (BEC). In order to evaluate the optimal scheme for fusing imaging and non-imaging data, we compared these 4 schemes for the problems of combining (a) multi-parametric MRI with spectroscopy for prostate cancer (CaP) diagnosis in vivo, and (b) histological image with proteomic signatures (obtained via mass spectrometry) for predicting prognosis in CaP patients. The kernel combination approach (SeSMiK) marginally outperformed the embedding combination schemes. Additionally, intelligent weighting of the data channels (based on their relative importance) appeared to outperform unweighted strategies. All 4 strategies easily outperformed a naive decision fusion approach, suggesting that data integration methods will play an important role in the rapidly emerging field of integrated diagnostics and personalized healthcare.
The Influence of Chronic Exposure to Antipsychotic Medications on Brain Size before and after Tissue Fixation: A Comparison of Haloperidol and Olanzapine in Macaque Monkeys

It is unclear to what degree antipsychotic therapy confounds longitudinal imaging studies and post-mortem studies of subjects with schizophrenia. To investigate this problem, we developed a non-human primate model of chronic antipsychotic exposure. Three groups of six macaque monkeys each were exposed to oral haloperidol, olanzapine or sham for a 17-27 month period. The resulting plasma drug levels were comparable to those seen in subjects with schizophrenia treated with these medications. After the exposure, we observed an 8-11% reduction in mean fresh brain weights as well as left cerebrum fresh weights and volumes in both drug-treated groups compared to sham animals. The differences were observed across all major brain regions (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and cerebellum), but appeared most robust in the frontal and parietal regions. Stereological analysis of the parietal region using Cavalieri's principle revealed similar volume reductions in both gray and white matter. In addition, we assessed the subsequent tissue shrinkage due to standard histological processing and found no evidence of differential shrinkage due to drug exposure. However, we observed a pronounced general shrinkage effect of approximately 20% and a highly significant variation in shrinkage across brain regions. In conclusion, chronic exposure of non-human primates to antipsychotics was associated with reduced brain volume. Antipsychotic medication may confound post-mortem studies and longitudinal imaging studies of subjects with schizophrenia that depend upon volumetric measures.
Mutagenesis of Embryogenic Cultures of Soybean and Detecting Polymorphisms Using RAPD Markers

Embryogenic suspension cultures of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Iroquois) were subjected to mutagenesis using varying concentrations (1, 3, 10, and 30 mM) of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). Depending on the concentration of EMS used, the mean survival rate of embryogenic cultures decreased from 74 % (1 mM EMS) to 43 % after 30 mM EMS treatment. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to determine whether induction of genetic variability in embryogenic cultures in response to the different EMS treatments may result in identification of polymorphic markers. Two of 35 ‘core’ primers tested revealed polymorphisms. One of the primers, OPO-01/1150, revealed polymorphism in tissue treated with 10 mM EMS, while the other primer, OPO-05/1200, revealed polymorphism in tissue treated with either 1 or 30 mM EMS. These results suggest that RAPD markers are useful in detecting mutations in embryogenic cultures of soybean.
The Use of A Nafion-H® Reactor Column in an HPLC System for the Catalysis of Cyclization Reactions

Abstract A conventional analytical HPLC system is modified by the addition of a catalytic Nafion-H® reactor column placed between the injector and a typical analytical column. The reactor column promotes cyclization reactions and the analytical column separates the reactant and product(s). In the reactions attempted, the analytical column has given baseline separation of the reactant from the desired product(s). Recoveries, yields and purities are generally equal to or better than those obtained with conventional synthesis and workup techniques. The advantages of this system are the rapidity of the reaction, separation, and ease of workup. Product(s) are readily recovered from the low-boiling solvents used and intact reactant may be recovered and reinjected. Three functional groups leading to cyclization are presented and the effects of solvent composition, temperature and flow rate are discussed in detail for one reaction.
How long does a cough last? Comparing patients' expectations with data from a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE We hypothesized that antibiotic overuse for acute cough illness (ACI) is in part due to a mismatch between patients’ expectations and the natural history of ACI. METHODS We performed a population-based random digit dialing survey of 493 adults in Georgia to determine their expectations regarding the duration of ACI. We also performed a systematic review of observational studies and the placebo or untreated control groups of randomized controlled trials to determine the duration of ACI from the published medical literature. We included studies of otherwise healthy adults with undifferentiated ACI, no clear bacterial cause, data on at least 1 cough outcome, and at least 1 week of follow-up. RESULTS The mean duration of cough in the published literature was 17.8 days. Survey respondents reported a median duration of 5 to 7 days and a mean duration of 7.2 to 9.3 days depending on the specific scenario. Patients expecting a longer duration of illness were more likely to be white, female, and have self-reported asthma or chronic lung disease. Independent predictors of the belief that antibiotics are always helpful included nonwhite race (OR = 1.82, 95% CI, 1.14–2.92), some college education or less (OR = 2.08, 95% CI, 1.26–3.45), and previous antibiotics for ACI (OR = 2.20, 95% CI, 1.34–3.55). CONCLUSIONS There is a mismatch between patients’ expectations regarding the duration of ACI and the actual duration based on the best available evidence. Efforts to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use should target this discrepancy.
Computer Science Principles With EarSketch (Abstract Only)

EarSketch (http://earsketch.gatech.edu) is an integrated curriculum, software toolset, audio loop library, and social sharing site that teaches computing principles through digital music composition and remixing. Attendees will learn to code in Python and/or JavaScript to place audio clips, create rhythms, and add and control effects within a multi-track digital audio workstation (DAW) environment while learning computing concepts such as variables, iteration, conditionals, strings, lists, functions, and recursion. Participants write code to make music, with a focus on popular genres such as hip hop. The agenda outlines the pedagogy of connecting musical expression to computation to broaden participation and engagement in computing; the underlying concept of thickly authentic STEAM that drives this approach; the alignment of the curriculum and learning environment with CS Principles; and basic musical concepts underlying EarSketch. The intended audience for this workshop is secondary and early post secondary CS educators. The course is of particular relevance to CS Principles teachers but also applicable to any introductory programming or computing course. No prior musical knowledge or experience is expected and no prior programming experience with Python or JavaScript is required.
Stayin' alive: survival of mycorrhizal fungal propagules from 6-yr-old forest soil

Spores and sclerotia are the main propagules that allow fungi to persist through unfavorable conditions and disperse into new environments. Despite their importance, very little is known about their longevity and dormancy, especially in ectomycorrhizal fungi. To assess the viability of ectomycorrhizal fungal spores in forest soil, we collected and buried non-sterile forest soil, in pots, in the field distant from an inoculum source. After 6 yr, a subset of this soil was assayed for viable spores by baiting the fungi with Bishop pine (Pinus muricata) seedlings. Our results show that the three most frequent colonizers in year 1 continued to colonize significant percentages of seedlings in year 6: Wilcoxina mikolae (77 %), Rhizopogon vulgaris (13 %) and Suillus brevipes (9 %). While three species that colonized low percentages of seedlings in year 1, Suillus pungens (1 %), Rhizopogon salebrosus (2 %), and Thelephora terrestris (5 %) were not recovered in year 6. Laccaria proxima, a species not seen in year 1, was recovered on a single seedling in year 6. This is the first report of long-term survival of S. brevipes and W. mikolae. Our results reveal a more complete picture of ectomycorrhizal fungal spore longevity in soil spore banks.
A computational study of the reaction kinetics of methyl radicals with trifluorohalomethanes

This article discusses a computational study of the reaction kinetics of methyl radicals with trifluorohalomethanes.
Selective microRNA uridylation by Zcchc6 (TUT7) and Zcchc11 (TUT4)

Recent small RNA sequencing data has uncovered 3′ end modification of mature microRNAs (miRNAs). This non-templated nucleotide addition can impact miRNA gene regulatory networks through the control of miRNA stability or by interfering with the repression of target mRNAs. The miRNA modifying enzymes responsible for this regulation remain largely uncharacterized. Here we describe the ability for two related terminal uridyl transferases (TUTases), Zcchc6 (TUT7) and Zcchc11 (TUT4), to 3′ mono-uridylate a specific subset of miRNAs involved in cell differentiation and Homeobox (Hox) gene control. Zcchc6/11 selectively uridylates these miRNAs in vitro, and we biochemically define a bipartite sequence motif that is necessary and sufficient to confer Zcchc6/11 catalyzed uridylation. Depletion of these TUTases in cultured cells causes the selective loss of 3′ mono-uridylation of many of the same miRNAs. Upon TUTase-dependent loss of uridylation, we observe a concomitant increase in non-templated 3′ mono-adenylation. Furthermore, TUTase inhibition in Zebrafish embryos causes developmental defects and aberrant Hox expression. Our results uncover the molecular basis for selective miRNA mono-uridylation by Zcchc6/11, highlight the precise control of different 3′ miRNA modifications in cells and have implications for miRNA and Hox gene regulation during development.
The genus Paragehyra (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae) in southern Madagascar

Paragehyra Angel is a gekkonine genus endemic to Madagascar. From 1929 until the present, the genus was represented only by the holotype of the single known species. Paragehyra petiti. The type locality of P. petiti is in the driest part of Madagascar (south-west) where rainless periods may exceed 11 months and the original vegetation consists of thorn scrub or dry deciduous forest. No new individuals of P. petiti were observed. However, a second, undescribed species of the genus was discovered in October 1990 on the opposite side of the island (south-east) in primary-low montane rainforest. The new form was observed at four localities at the southernmost extremity of rainforest in Madagascar.
The Unexpected Value of Litigation: A Real Options Perspective

In this Article, we suggest that litigation can be analyzed as though it is a competitive research and development project. Developing this analogy, we present a two-stage real option model of the litigation process that involves sequential information revelation and bargaining over the surplus generated by early settlement. Litigants are risk-neutral and have no private information. The model generates results that, we believe, have analytic and normative significance for the economic analysis of litigation. From an analytic perspective, we demonstrate that negative expected value (NEV) lawsuits are analogous to out of the money call options held by plaintiffs and that every NEV lawsuit is credible if the variance of the information revealed during the course of the litigation is sufficiently large. This finding helps explain the prevalence of a class of lawsuits that has proved puzzling to traditional, expected value-based modes of litigation analysis. The model also suggests that risk-neutral defendants can act as though they are risk-averse and that risk-neutral plaintiffs can act as though they are risk-seeking because increases in variance can increase a lawsuit's settlement option value just as it increases a call option's value without regard to the holder's degree of risk aversion. Models that presume defendants' relative risk aversion may therefore rely on an unnecessary assumption. Our model also suggests that a lawsuit's option settlement value is not a monotonically increasing function of the variance of the information revealed during the litigation. In particular, at low levels of variance a lawsuit's option settlement value may equal its traditional expected value, but as variance increases its option settlement value can display a discontinuity after which its option settlement value becomes a monotonically increasing function of variance. NEV lawsuits can also display "dead zones" - regions of variance over which the claim is not credible even though it is credible over higher or lower levels of variance. Comparative statics analysis also quantifies the extent to which a lawsuit's settlement value increases as plaintiff's litigation expenses occur later in the litigation process, as the ratio of defendant-to-plaintiff litigation expense increases and as plaintiff bargaining power increases. From a normative perspective, we offer an "impossibility conjecture" suggesting that the mere presence of an irreducible degree of uncertainty endemic to the litigation process can be sufficient to prevent private litigation incentives from equating to socially optimal incentives, even if one adopts all other assumptions necessary to equate private and social incentives. It follows that it may be impossible to articulate normative principles of law through substantive standards that ignore the uncertainty inherent in the litigation process and the procedural environment in which the litigation occurs.
The Politics of Motor Fuel Taxes and Infrastructure Funds in France and the United States

The US. and France have adopted contrasting models of motor fuel tax and highway finance policy. Fuel tax revenues are dedicated to state and federal highway funds in America, keeping taxes quite low, but preventing them from contributing to the general treasury. French motor fuel taxes are higher and make up nearly 11 percent of the central government's general revenues, excluding social security contributions. French highway finance relies heavily on tolls. Pressure from the US. federal deficit has reduced the highway trust fund's ability to protect highway spending from budgetary competition. Political and procedural changes in Congress make it likely that the U.S.will move away from exclusive dedication of motor fuel taxes.
Optimal release conditions for the free throw in men's basketball

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum release conditions for the free throw in men's basketball. The study used hundreds of thousands of three-dimensional simulations of basketball trajectories. Five release variables were studied: release height, release speed, launch angle, side angle, and back spin. The free throw shooter was assumed to shoot at 70% and to release the ball 2.134 m (7 ft) above the ground. We found that the shooter should place up to 3 Hz of back spin on the ball, should aim the ball towards the back of the ring, and should launch the ball at 52° to the horizontal. We also found that it is desirable to release the ball as high above the ground as possible, as long as this does not adversely affect the player's launch consistency.
Applications of CFD Modeling in GDI Engine Piston Optimization

This paper describes a CFD modeling based approach to address design challenges in GDI (gasoline direct injection) engine combustion system development. A Ford in-house developed CFD code MESIM (Multidimensional Engine Simulation) was applied to the study. Gasoline fuel is multi-component in nature and behaves very differently from the single component fuel representation under various operating conditions. A multi-component fuel model has been developed and is incorporated in MESIM code. To apply the model in engine simulations, a multi-component fuel recipe that represents the vaporization characteristics of gasoline is also developed using a numerical model that simulates the ASTM D86 fuel distillation experimental procedure. The effect of the multi-component model on the fuel air mixture preparations under different engine conditions is investigated. The modeling approach is applied to guide the GDI engine piston designs. Effects of piston designs on the fuel air mixture preparation are presented. It is found that the multi-component fuel model is critical to the accuracy of the model prediction of the fuel air preparation process, particularly under cold start conditions.
An automatic beat detection algorithm for pressure signals

Beat detection algorithms have many clinical applications including pulse oximetry, cardiac arrhythmia detection, and cardiac output monitoring. Most of these algorithms have been developed by medical device companies and are proprietary. Thus, researchers who wish to investigate pulse contour analysis must rely on manual annotations or develop their own algorithms. We designed an automatic detection algorithm for pressure signals that locates the first peak following each heart beat. This is called the percussion peak in intracranial pressure (ICP) signals and the systolic peak in arterial blood pressure (ABP) and pulse oximetry (SpO/sub 2/) signals. The algorithm incorporates a filter bank with variable cutoff frequencies, spectral estimates of the heart rate, rank-order nonlinear filters, and decision logic. We prospectively measured the performance of the algorithm compared to expert annotations of ICP, ABP, and SpO/sub 2/ signals acquired from pediatric intensive care unit patients. The algorithm achieved a sensitivity of 99.36% and positive predictivity of 98.43% on a dataset consisting of 42,539 beats.
Selecting random latin hypercube dimensions and designs through estimation of maximum absolute pairwise correlation

Latin hypercubes are the most widely used class of design for high-dimensional computer experiments. However, the high correlations that can occur in developing these designs can complicate subsequent analyses. Efforts to reduce or eliminate correlations can be complex and computationally expensive. Consequently, researchers often use uncorrected Latin hypercube designs in their experiments and accept any resulting multicollinearity issues. In this paper, we establish guidelines for selecting the number of runs and/or the number of variables for random Latin hypercube designs that are likely to yield an acceptable degree of correlation. Applying our policies and tools, analysts can generate satisfactory random Latin hypercube designs without the need for complex algorithms.
A phase II pilot trial incorporating bevacizumab into dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel in patients with lymph node positive breast cancer: a trial coordinated by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

ABSTRACT Background E2104 was designed to evaluate the safety of two different strategies incorporating bevacizumab into anthracycline-containing adjuvant therapy as a precursor to a definitive randomized phase III trial. Patients and methods Patients were sequentially assigned to one of two treatment arms. In addition to dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel (Taxol) (ddAC→T), all patients received bevacizumab (10 mg/kg every 2 weeks × 26) initiated either concurrently with AC (Arm A: ddBAC→BT→B) or with paclitaxel (Arm B: ddAC→BT→B). The primary end point was incidence of clinically apparent cardiac dysfunction (CHF). Results Patients enrolled were 226 in number (Arm A 104, Arm B 122). Grade 3 hypertension, thrombosis, proteinuria and hemorrhage were reported for 12, 2, 2 and 15% or >10% to below the lower limit of normal post AC or post bevacizumab. Conclusions Incorporation of bevacizumab into anthracycline-containing adjuvant therapy does not result in prohibitive cardiac toxicity. The definitive phase III trial (E5103) was activated with systematic and extensive cardiac monitoring to define the true impact of bevacizumab on cardiac function.
E‐mail as a motivating literacy event for one struggling reader: Donna's case

Abstract This article synthesizes the case study of one struggling fourth‐grade reader who participated in a semester‐long, literature‐based, e‐mail collaborative with a pre‐service teacher. Using case study methodology and the constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967), this study explores the nature of this e‐mail partnership. The data include the e‐mail correspondences, written reflections by the pre‐service teacher, interviews with the participants, and field notes. Grounded in theories of motivation and constructivism, as well as sociocultural theory, this study suggests that the authentic, social nature of e‐mail served as a motivating literacy event for the fourth grader. Implications for literacy teachers and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Effects of interference with cerebellar maturation on the development of locomotion. An experimental model of neurobehavioral retardation.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an experimental model of neurobehavioral retardation to discuss the effects of interference with cerebellar maturation on the development of locomotion. It has been recognized that experimental interference with cerebellar and motor development does not represent mental retardation. However, it does constitute an instance of neural and behavioral retardation, one that offers many experimental advantages over the retardation of other neural and behavioral systems. The cerebellum is an easily accessible and widely studied structure that develops in the rat to a large extent after birth when experimental manipulations can be easily applied. The objective study of overt motor development, as opposed to many covert mental phenomena, offers many experimental advantages. Interference with postnatal cerebellar development is studied by focal low-level X-irradiation. .
Recent references May through August 1992

In support of a continuing program of systematic evaluation of nuclear structure data, the National Nuclear Data Center maintains a complete computer file of references to the nuclear physics literature. Each reference is tagged by a keyword string, which indicates the kinds of data contained in the article. This master file of Nuclear Structure References (NSR) contains complete keyword indexes to literature published since 1969, with partial indexing of older references. Listed are Key Numbers and Keywords, a reaction index, and references and secondary sources for the data.
Modeling Downhole Natural Separation Using a Bubble Tracking Method

For any pumping artificial lift system in petroleum industry, the free gas significantly affects the performance of the pump and the system above the pump. A model, though not a complete two-phase flow model, has been developed for the effective prediction of separation efficiency across a wide range of production conditions. The model presented is divided into two main parts, the single-phase flow field solution and the bubble tracking method. The first part of the model solves the single-phase liquid flow field using the CFD approach. Then, a simple bubble-tracking method was applied to estimate the down-hole natural separation efficiency for two-phase flow. A comparison between the results of the model and the experimental data was conducted. It shows a very good agreement with the experimental data for lower gas void fractions (bubble flow regime).Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Application of inkjet printing technology to produce test materials of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5 triazcyclohexane for trace explosive analysis.

The feasibility of the use of piezoelectric drop-on-demand inkjet printing to prepare test materials for trace explosive analysis is demonstrated. RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5 triazcyclohexane) was formulated into inkjet printable solutions and jetted onto substrates suitable for calibration of the ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) instruments currently deployed worldwide for contraband screening. Gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and ultraviolet−visible (UV−vis) absorption spectroscopy were used to verify inkjet printer solution concentrations and the quantity of explosive dispensed onto test materials. Reproducibility of the inkjet printing process for mass deposition of the explosive RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5 triazcyclohexane) was determined to be better than 2% for a single day of printing and better than 3% day-to-day.