cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of interprocedural side effects in a parallel programming environment

This paper addresses the analysis of subroutine side effects in the ParaScope programming environment, an ambitious collection of tools for developing, understanding, and compiling parallel programs. In spite of significant progress in the optimization of programs for execution on parallel and vector computers, compilers must still be very conservative when optimizing the code surrounding a call site, due to the lack of information about the code in the subroutine being invoked. This has resulted in the development of algorithms for interprocedural analysis of the side effects of a subroutine, which summarize the body of a subroutine, producing approximate information to improve optimization. This paper reviews the effectiveness of these methods in preparing programs for execution on parallel computers. It is shown that existing techniques are insufficient and a new technique, called regular section analysis, will be described.
Association of changes in intracellular cyclic AMP with changes in phagocytosis in cultured rat pigment epithelium.

Papavarine, cholera toxin, and isoproterenol each elevated cyclic AMP in cultured rat retinal pigment epithelium and reduced the phagocytosis of isolated rod outer segments (38–66% of controls) during a 4 hour incubation. In addition, cultured pigment epithelium was preincubated with 25 mM exogenous cyclic AMP for two days and then incubated with outer segments for 4 hours either in the continued presence of exogenous cyclic AMP (condition A) or in the absence of exogenous cyclic AMP (condition B). Under condition B phagocytosis was 38% higher than under condition A. Intracellular cyclic AMP decreased under condition B but remained constant under condition A. These observations provide evidence that short term decreases in intracellular cyclic AMP are associated with increases in phagocytosis of outer segments by cultured rat pigment epithelium.
Ventilation efficiencies and thermal comfort results of a desk-edge-mounted task ventilation system

LBNL-53798 VENTILATION EFFICIENCIES AND THERMAL COMFORT RESULTS OF A DESK-EDGE-MOUNTED TASK VENTILATION SYSTEM D Faulkner, WJ Fisk, DP Sullivan, and SM Lee Indoor Environment Department Environmental Energy Technologies Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, USA September 2003 This work was supported by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098
Diffusion Modeling of the Radiative Transfer in a Non-Absorbing Foam Layer

Techniques for determining the properties foam are of interest due to the number of industrial process in which they play a significant role. A technique known as diffusing-wave spectroscopy has shown promise as a method for determining the radiative properties of foam. In diffusing-wave spectroscopy, an amplitude modulated laser beam is injected into the foam layer, and the reflected flux and the phase shift between the incident and the reflected beams are measured. Relationships between these measurable quantities and the radiative properties of the foam are derived using the diffusion approximation. The objective of this paper is to investigate the conditions for which the diffusion approximation accurately predicts the time dependent reflectance of a laser pulse from the surface of a non-absorbing from layer. The accuracy of the diffusion approximation is assessed by comparison with Monte Carlo simulations.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Purification of human blood platelet monoamine oxidase

Monoamine oxidase B has been purified from human blood platelets 185-fold to a specific activity of 113 nmole/min/mg protein by a combination of Triton X-100 solubilization and ion exchange chromatography. A protein fraction corresponding to 58,000 Da on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was identified as monoamine oxidase by its ability to bind [3H]Pargyline.
MORAL DILEMMAS AND OFFENCE

In 1963 Roderick Chisholm proposed a category of acts called “offences” to capture what he called acts of “permissive ill-doing.” Chisholm’s proposal has proven to be controversial. Here I propose that some progress can be made in validating acts of offence by focusing upon moral dilemmas. Given the problems which have been alleged to beset moral dilemmas, this may initially seem like a puzzling strategy. However, I will call attention to a type of moral dilemma unlike what is standardly discussed in the literature and attempt to show that those who acknowledge that such dilemmas are possible are likewise obliged to acknowledge that acts of offence are possible. My suggestion, then, is that, since the former are plausible to acknowledge, so are the latter.
Anterior and Anterolateral Approaches for THA Are Associated With Lower Dislocation Risk Without Higher Revision Risk

Background Lack of consensus continues regarding the benefit of anteriorly based surgical approaches for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of aseptic revision, septic revision, and dislocations for various approaches used in primary THAs from a community-based healthcare organization.
Parties, slavery, and the Union in antebellum Georgia

At the heart of Georgia's secession from the Union in 1861 were two ideological cornerstones, the protection of white men's liberty and the defense of African slavery, Anthony Gene Carey argues in this comprehensive, analytical narrative of the three decades leading up to the Civil War.
Design and Operation of Huntley Station No. 2

Discussion of paper by H. M. Cushing published in the June 1935 issue, pages 632–45, and presented for oral discussion at the power generation session of the summer convention, Ithaca, N. Y., June 25, 1935. C. M. Gilt (Brooklyn Edison Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.): The engineers who designed the Huntley Station No. 2 had the good fortune of being able to make a combined design of distribution system and generating station without having to adapt the station to an existing distribution system. In so doing they were among the first to take advantage of the 2-winding principle which has been used in both generators and transformers. By means of this, circuit breaker current capacities and interrupting ratings are reduced, the need for bus reactors is eliminated or greatly reduced, the reactance between bus sections is high while the normal through reactance from generator to load is kept low. Associated with these advantages are 2 disadvantages, one of which is the fact that there is no independent control of voltage and phase angle of the 2 windings with the result that unequal loadings result in unequal voltages and phase angle differences between bus sections. It is especially important that voltage and phase angle differences be kept small when a low voltage network is fed directly from the generating station busses without intervening feeder regulation. Comparatively small phase angle differences may trip open and cause frequent operation of sensitive network switches on lightly loaded transformers or cause overloads on heavily loaded transformers. The other disadvantage resulting from the 2 winding designs is the impracticability of transferring load from one bus section to another through the transformer (or generator) tying the bus sections together. This condition may result in real loss in station economy if it requires operating units with loadings that differ materially from those giving maximum station economy.
Species variants of the IsK protein: differences in kinetics, voltage dependence, and La3+ block of the currents expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

We have compared the slowly activating K+ currents (IsK) resulting from the expression of the human, mouse, or rat IsK proteins in Xenopus oocytes, utilizing natural, species-dependent sequence variations to initiate structure-function studies of this channel. Differences were found between the human and rodent currents in their voltage dependence, kinetics, and sensitivity to external La3+. The current/voltage relationships of the human and rat IsK currents differed significantly, with greater depolarizations required for activation of the human channel. The first 30 s of activation during depolarizations to potentials between −10 and +40 mV was best described by a triexponential function for each of the three species variants. The activation rates were, however, significantly faster for the human current than for either of the rodent forms. Similarly, deactivation kinetics were best described as a biexponential decay for each of the species variants but the human currents deactivated more rapidly than the rodent currents. The human and the rodent forms of IsK were also differentially affected by external La3+. Low concentrations (10, 50 μM) rapidly and reversibly reduced the magnitude of the mouse and rat currents during a test depolarization and increased the deactivation rates of the tail currents. In contrast, the magnitude and deactivation rates of the human IsK currents were unaffected by 50 μM La3+.
Reading Derrida Reading Derrida: Deconstruction as Self‐Inheritance

Abstract Derrida argued at great length early on in his career that texts live on in the absence of their author. The question remains, however, of precisely how this survival takes place. In this paper I argue that the life of Derrida’s own œuvre is sustained through his particular practice of self‐inheritance. I justify this claim by focusing on one moment in the text Rogues: Two Essays on Reason, in which Derrida inherits from himself through self‐citation. In citing himself while at the same time modifying his citation, Derrida sets into motion a deconstruction of his own text that he does not seem to anticipate. It is this movement of deconstruction that enables Derrida’s text to live on.
Three-dimensional visualization of electrical variables in the ventricular wall of the heart

A set of programs developed to display the potentials and the magnitudes of the estimated potential gradients generated by defibrillation shocks are discussed. There are three types of displays. The first type displays three-dimensional surfaces constructed from electrode locations. Potentials or gradient magnitudes are interpolated over each surface and are displayed as spatial changes in intensity or hue. The second type of display is a three-dimensional surface reconstruction of the heart and electrodes. This display is used to verify the three-dimensional electrode coordinates that are obtained from digitized images of the heart. The third type of display is a volume reconstruction of the myocardium. In this display, spatial changes in potentials or gradient magnitudes in the myocardial volume are represented by spatially varying the hues of the volume elements. The electrical values of most volume elements are interpolated by means of a three-dimensional method based on discrete smooth interpolating. >
Incentive-Based Technology Start-Up Program for Undergraduate Students

This paper summarizes the partnership between Dakota State University (DSU) and the Lake Area Improvement Corporation (LAIC) that supports the Center for TechnoEntrepreneurism at Dakota State University (CT@DSU). Special attention is paid to the operational details of the CT@DSU involving: interacting and servicing student venture ideas, establishing a realistic timeline, developing a CT@DSU Board of Advisors comprised of DSU faculty and community business leaders, expanding partnerships with external entities to provide specialty assistance to student ventures, providing student entrepreneurs with the appropriate amount of training related to starting a technology venture, partnering with area technology entrepreneurs for lessons learned and best practices, and creating and executing a realistic milestone-driven approach to student venture incentives and capital injection. This paper provides a 90 day review of the formation of the CT@DSU, milestones reached, and future work yet to be undertaken.
Sub-millimeter tests of the gravitational inverse-square law

Motivated by a variety of theories that predict new effects, we tested the gravitational ${1/r}^{2}$ law at separations between 10.77 mm and $137\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ using two different 10-fold azimuthally symmetric torsion pendulums and rotating 10-fold symmetric attractors. Our work improves upon other experiments by up to a factor of about 100. We found no deviation from Newtonian physics at the 95% confidence level and interpret these results as constraints on extensions of the standard model that predict Yukawa or power-law forces. We set a constraint on the largest single extra dimension (assuming toroidal compactification and that one extra dimension is significantly larger than all the others) of ${R}_{*}l~160\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m},$ and on two equal-sized large extra dimensions of ${R}_{*}l~130\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}.$ Yukawa interactions with $|\ensuremath{\alpha}|g~1$ are ruled out at 95% confidence for $\ensuremath{\lambda}g~197\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}.$ Extra-dimensions scenarios stabilized by radions are restricted to unification masses ${M}_{*}g~3.0\mathrm{TeV}{/c}^{2},$ regardless of the number of large extra dimensions. We also provide new constraints on power-law potentials $V(r)\ensuremath{\propto}{r}^{\ensuremath{-}k}$ with k between 2 and 5 and on the ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5}$ couplings of pseudoscalars with $ml~10\mathrm{meV}{/c}^{2}.$
Optimizing Plasmonic Grating Sensors for Limit of Detection Based on a Cramer–Rao Bound

We explore the impact of the geometrical features such as the period, duty cycle, and thickness on the performance of a metal-dielectric plasmonic grating sensor. The sensor is designed to operate at the wavelength of 850 nm for water-monitoring applications. Limit of detection (LOD) is chosen as the performance metric for the optimization of the sensor design. The LOD metric is based on a Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) and offers a theoretical lower limit on the estimation uncertainty of the spectral shift in the proposed sensor. We show that the lowest values of LOD correspond to grating designs, which result in step-like spectral features. An optimum grating design corresponds to gold stripes that are 160 nm thick and 456 nm wide on glass where the stripes are separated by 74 nm. Although our study is focused on a particular design and application, our methods and observations are applicable to a wide range of plasmonic grating sensor designs.
Changes in mitral regurgitation after replacement of the stenotic aortic valve.

Background. Concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) is frequently seen in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis. This study was undertaken to characterize the magnitude of MR in these patients and identify factors associated with significant postoperative change. Methods. Between 2002 and 2006, 391 patients with stenotic AV disease but no structural mitral valve disease underwent AVR without coronary artery bypass grafting. Excluded were 164 patients with combined aortic and mitral intervention, right heart surgery, or moderate to severe aortic insufficiency, to yield a final study group of 227 patients. Follow-up echographic evaluation of MR was obtained in 87 of 219 patients (40%) discharged alive without mitral valve intervention. Results. Overall mortality was 3.5%. After AVR, intraoperative MR severity improved in 66% of patients. Independent predictors of lower postoperative MR were small left atrial size (p 0.03), the presence of aortic insufficiency (p < 0.01), and preoperative congestive heart failure (p 0.04). Prosthetic valve type or size was not an independent predictor of postoperative MR. After adjustment for intraoperative underestimation of MR grade, there was no difference between the postprocedural MR grade and the early or late follow-up MR grade (p 0.6 and p 0.8, respectively). Conclusions. The results of this study support a conservative, tailored approach to concomitant mitral surgery in patients presenting for correction of aortic stenosis who demonstrate functional mitral regurgitation. Characteristics associated with resolution may allow for identification of patients most likely to benefit from mitral valve repair or replacement.
Reflection/transmission coefficients and azimuthal anisotropy in marine seismic studies

SUMMARY introduce two methods for inferring the direction of vertical fractures from marine seismic data. First we derive the necessary reflection and transmission coefficients for an interface between a liquid and an azimuthally anisotropic solid. Next we show that multicomponent ocean bottom seismometer data from surface airgun sources along two perpendicular shot lines can be rotated into the principal directions of azimuthal anisotropy to determine the orientation of vertical fractures. Finally we show that P-wave amplitude versus offset (AVO) depends on the orientation of the shot line with respect to the vertical fractures. Thus P-wave AVO can also be used to determine fracture orientation.
Proteome changes induced by aluminium stress in tomato roots

Growth inhibition in acid soils due to Al stress affects crop production worldwide. To understand mechanisms in sensitive crops that are affected by Al stress, a proteomic analysis of primary tomato root tissue, grown in Al-amended and non-amended liquid cultures, was performed. DIGE-SDS-MALDI-TOF-TOF analysis of these tissues resulted in the identification of 49 proteins that were differentially accumulated. Dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, and catalase enzymes associated with antioxidant activities were induced in Al-treated roots. Induced enzyme proteins associated with detoxification were mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase, catechol oxidase, quinone reductase, and lactoylglutathione lyase. The germin-like (oxalate oxidase) proteins, the malate dehydrogenase, wali7 and heavy-metal associated domain-containing proteins were suppressed. VHA-ATP that encodes for the catalytic subunit A of the vacuolar ATP synthase was induced and two ATPase subunit 1 isoforms were suppressed. Several proteins in the active methyl cycle, including SAMS, quercetin 3-O-methyltransferase and AdoHcyase, were induced by Al stress. Other induced proteins were isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase and the GDSL-motif lipase hydrolase family protein. NADPH-dependent flavin reductase and beta-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase were suppressed.
Studies on the distribution of factor I and acetylcholine in crustacean peripheral nerve.

Extracts of whole nerve (chelipeds of Cancer magister) cause inhibition of impulse generation of the crayfish stretch receptor preparation, similar to that produced by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This is not found with extracts containing only sensory or sensory and motor fibers. Extracts of inhibitory fibers inhibit the stretch receptor discharge—indicating an inhibitory action equivalent to that of up to 30,000 micrograms of GABA per gm. wet weight of inhibitor fiber. This high value is taken as an indication that the inhibitory substance in crab inhibitory fibers is not identical with gamma-aminobutyric acid. Whole nerves were found to contain 1.7 to 6.7 µg. acetylcholine per gm. nerve tissue (clam ventricle and frog rectus abdominis muscle). No acetylcholine could be detected in extracts of motor and inhibitory fibers. The acetylcholine content of sensory fibers can account for the acetylcholine activity of whole nerve extract. It is concluded that the factor I of crustacean nerve is an exclusive property of the inhibitory fibers. The results support the assumption that factor I is the transmitter substance of inhibitory neurons in these animals. The absence of acetylcholine in motor fibers indicates that this substance does not function as a transmitter of motor impulses in Crustacea, and explains the previously observed failure of the substance to elicit motor responses in these animals. The function of acetylcholine in sensory fibers is not yet clarified.
Ricardian Equivalence: Evidence from South American Countries

This study deals with the intergenerational effect of national debt. We try to find out whether the government deficit incurred today has any adverse effect on the generations to come. More specifically, this study tests the notion that any deficit acquired by the government today is offset by the private sector by reducing their consumption and increasing their savings to pay for the debt some times in the future. Since the time horizon for the government is longer than that of the private agents, the private agents altruistically bequeath what they have saved along with interest earned to their offsprings. This study empirically verifies the debt neutrality hypothesis for several South American countries for which workable data were available. The results do not support the debt neutrality hypothesis and show that economic agents consider government bonds net wealth affecting their consumption in a positive way.
A new look at time, speed, and the manager

Executive Overview In today's economy, the company that survives will be the one that can develop, produce, and deliver products and services to customers faster than its competitors. Managing for speed requires more than exhorting employees to “work faster.” Beliefs and behaviors related to time can influence how both individual employees and work groups perceive their work, their organization, and each other—and those perceptions play a role in the productivity of the organization. Managers in a marketplace characterized by “survival of the fastest” will need the ability to recognize and deal with temporal forces that exist in any organization and can make the difference between faster and not fast enough.
Improved Antimicrobial Host Defense in Mice following Poly-(1,6)-β-d-Glucopyranosyl-(1,3)-β-d-Glucopyranose Glucan Treatment by a Gender-Dependent Immune Mechanism

Clinical trials with biological modifiers targeting specific inflammatory mediators associated with severe sepsis have shown no or limited survival benefit. The approach taken in studies reported here was to limit the point source of intra-abdominal infection by potentiating innate immune function, thereby lessening the severity of sepsis and improving survival. Soluble beta-glucans, glucose polymers of the fungal cell wall, have been shown to stimulate innate immune host defense in animal and human studies when administered prior to an infectious challenge. We evaluated the effects of poly-(1,6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1,3)-β-d-glucopyranose glucan (PGG glucan) on overall survival when administered intraperitoneally after the onset of polymicrobial infection by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Since gender-dependent differences in host immune response to infection have been reported, male and female mice were prospectively stratified for PGG glucan treatment. Outbred CD-1 mice were administered 10 mg/kg of body weight PGG glucan or the polysaccharide control, dextran, 1 h after CLP. Six hours after CLP, blood samples were obtained for cytokine measurements. Surprisingly, a gender-dependent effect on the response to PGG glucan was revealed. PGG glucan enhanced survival in female mice over a 10-day period, but survival in males was improved for only 24 h. In female mice, PGG glucan reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 levels and reduced the bacterial burden in the liver. Ovariectomy abrogated the response to PGG glucan. Together, the translational potential of these findings is the indicated use of PGG glucan given locally, rather than intravenously, for improved source control during the management of sepsis. This therapy does not require prophylactic beta-glucan administration.
Compartmentalization of the nucleus

The nucleus is a spatially organized compartment. The most obvious way in which this is achieved is at the level of chromosomes. The positioning of chromosomes with respect to nuclear landmarks and with respect to each other is both non-random and cell-type specific. This suggests that cells possess molecular mechanisms to influence the folding and disposition of chromosomes within the nucleus. The localization of many proteins is also heterogeneous within the nucleus. Therefore, chromosome folding and the localization of proteins leads to a model in which individual genes are positioned in distinct protein environments that can affect their transcriptional state. We focus here on the spatial organization of the nucleus and how it impacts upon gene expression.
The risk of acoustic neuromas from using cell phones

In a recently reported study, an elevated risk of acoustic neuromas, a benign tumor of the auditory nerve, was found among persons in Sweden with 10 or more years of cell-phone use. There was no association with use less than 10 years, nor for other measures of use, such as cumulative hours of use or cumulative number of calls made. Tumors occurred more frequently on the side of the head on which the cell phone was typically used. Given the recent introduction and popularization of digital phones - this study used five years as the time since first regular use - these results provide only limited guidance with regard to the risk of short-term use of cell phones or exposure to wireless radiation, and do not indicate the relative risk from using an analog or digital phone alone.
An apparatus for bearing-bypass testing of bolted joints

A dual-control test system measuring the strength of graphite/epoxy specimens under tension and compression for a wide range of bearing-bypass load ratios is presented. The bearing-bypass strengths of single-fastener specimens are measured for damage onset and ultimate failure and are plotted against one another. The results indicate that an initiated damage grows to failure in the same mode for most cases. However, if the damage is initiated in the compression-reacted-bearing mode, the specimens fail in the offset-compression mode. It is concluded that this type of transition can occur in multi-fastener joints under compression and complicate the strength predictions.
An open problem in matching sets of 3D lines

Methods for matching sets of 3D lines depend on whether line lengths are finite or infinite. In terms of line lengths, three basic cases arise in matching sets of lines: (1) finite to finite, (2) finite to infinite, and (3) infinite to infinite. For cases 1 and 2, which have not been treated in the literature, we present convergent iterative algorithms that (almost) always find the best match. For case 3, O.D. Faugeras and M. Hebert (FH) (1986) have proposed a popular iterative method that cannot be guaranteed to converge. We present an alternative approach that does converge. However, we also show that neither the FH solution, nor our solution is invariant with respect to coordinate transforms, which renders any best match meaningless. Thus, a satisfactory solution to case 3 does not yet exist. We discuss the underlying problem, which is the representation of infinite lines, and suggest alternatives that may lead to an invariant solution.
Are hospitals seasonally inefficient? Evidence from Washington State

Efficiency measurement has been one of the most extensively explored areas of health services research over the past two decades. Despite this attention, few studies have examined whether a provider's efficiency varies on a monthly, quarterly or other, sub-annual basis. This article presents an empirical study that looks for evidence of seasonal inefficiency. Using a quarterly panel of general, acute-care hospitals from Washington State, we find that hospital efficiency does vary over time; however, the nature of this dynamic inefficiency depends on the type of efficiency being measured. Our results suggest that technical and cost efficiency vary by quarter. Allocative and scale efficiency also vary on a quarterly basis, but only if the data are jointly disaggregated by quarter and another, firm-specific factor such as size or operating status. Thus, future research, corporate decisions and government policies designed to improve the efficiency of hospital care need to account for seasonal trends in hospi...
Nibbling at CRF receptor control of feeding and gastrocolonic motility

Inadequate pharmacological tools, until recently, hindered the understanding of the roles of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor subtypes in appetite regulation and gastrocolonic motor function. Now, novel ligands that are selective for CRF(1) or CRF(2) receptors are helping to uncover the specific functions of CRF receptor subtypes. Central or peripheral CRF(2) receptor activation suppresses feeding independently of CRF(1) receptors. In the rat, central administration of CRF(2) receptor agonists promotes satiation without eliciting the malaise, behavioral arousal or anxiogenesis associated with CRF(1) receptor agonists. Conversely, central administration of CRF(1) receptor agonists elicits short-onset anorexia independently of CRF(2) receptor activation. With respect to gastrointestinal motor function, stress inhibits gastric motility through CRF(2) receptor-dependent central autonomic and peripheral myenteric systems. By contrast, stress stimulates colonic motility via CRF(1) receptor-dependent sacral parasympathetic and colonic myenteric mechanisms. These findings have important physiological implications and suggest targeted approaches for the pharmacotherapy of obesity and stress-related functional gastrointestinal and eating disorders.
Coupled multiphysics analysis of the TF coil structure in the NSTX upgrade

The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) is being upgraded to increase plasma current to 2 MA and central toroidal magnetic field to 1 Tesla [1]. The upgrades include a replacement of the centerstack and addition of a second neutral beam. The Inner legs of the TF coil which are at the core of the new larger NSTX upgrade center stack are designed to carry twice the current of the existing TF coils. The inner and outer legs of the TF coil are connected through a set of flexible straps that allow for the thermal growth of the center stack and the out of plane twisting moments in the TF coils. Electromagnetic interaction of the TF, OH and PF coils results in loads on the TF coil structure. The TF flexible straps and structural components of the machine have to withstand these loads. Coupled electromagnetic, thermal and structural analyses were performed. The results of these analyses, which will be presented in detail in this paper, have led to the validation of the design of TF flexible straps and compliance with the requirements of the NSTX structural design criteria.
Interspecific Quorum Sensing Mediates the Resuscitation of Viable but Nonculturable Vibrios

Entry and exit from dormancy are essential survival mechanisms utilized by microorganisms to cope with harsh environments. Many bacteria, including the opportunistic human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus, enter a form of dormancy known as the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. VBNC cells can resuscitate when suitable conditions arise, yet the molecular mechanisms facilitating resuscitation in most bacteria are not well understood. We discovered that bacterial cell-free supernatants (CFS) can awaken preexisting dormant vibrio populations within oysters and seawater, while CFS from a quorum sensing mutant was unable to produce the same resuscitative effect. Furthermore, the quorum sensing autoinducer AI-2 could induce resuscitation of VBNC V. vulnificus in vitro, and VBNC cells of a mutant unable to produce AI-2 were unable to resuscitate unless the cultures were supplemented with exogenous AI-2. The quorum sensing inhibitor cinnamaldehyde delayed the resuscitation of wild-type VBNC cells, confirming the importance of quorum sensing in resuscitation. By monitoring AI-2 production by VBNC cultures over time, we found quorum sensing signaling to be critical for the natural resuscitation process. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms stimulating VBNC cell exit from dormancy, which has significant implications for microbial ecology and public health.
Pulmonary Effects of Chronic Exposure to Liposome Aerosols in Mice

Administering liposome-encapsulated drugs by aerosols could be a feasible way of targeting drugs to the lung, specifically to pulmonary alveolar macrophages (AM). In the mouse model, we characterized uptake of carboxyfluorescein- (CF-) labeled liposomes by AM in vivo after acute inhalation of liposome aerosols, and the effects of chronic exposure to liposome aerosols on lung histology and AM function. Mice were placed in a nose-only exposure module and exposed to liposome or saline aerosols for 1 h per day, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. Five mice of both the experimental and control groups were removed weekly and their lungs examined. Liposomes were made from hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) at 50 mg/mL. In vivo uptake of liposomes by AM was documented by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). A consistent amount of 1-3 mu;g of lipid inhaled per dosing per mouse was estimated from fluorescence measurements. Addition of Triton X-100 to BAL caused a significan...
Logical Form of Complex Sentences in Task-Oriented Dialogues

Introduction Although most NLP researchers agree that a level of "logical form" is a necessary step toward the goal of representing the meaning of a sentence, few people agree on the content and form of this level of representation. An even smaller number of people have considered the complex action sentences that are often expressed in taskoriented dialogues. Most existing logical form representations have been developed for single-clause sentences that express assertions about properties or actual actions and in which time is not a main concern. In contrast, utterances in task-oriented dialogues often express unrealized actions, e.g., ( la), multiple actions and relations between them, e.g., ( lb) , and temporal information, e.g., (lc):
Applied and transformed understanding in Introductory Psychology: analysis of a final essay assignment

This paper describes a case study of the impact of the introductory psychology course on students' understanding of their life experiences and course-related ideas. Student responses to a final essay assignment were analyzed to construct composites for areas of applied and transformed understanding. Results are important for psychology teachers and general educators seeking to better understand the potential applicability of course concepts to students' lives. The study also has broader cross-disciplinary relevance in demonstrating the use of the final essay assignment for promoting concept application and reflection and for assessing the impact of our courses on student understanding.
Feedforward learning control with application to trajectory tracking of a flexible beam

A simple approach to the feedforward compensation in the tip-tracking control of flexible beam is presented. The approach is based on probing the system with a finite number of independent input signals and then fitting the corresponding output signals to a desired output trajectory. Since neither the dynamic model nor the full state of the beam is required, and the method applies to the tracking of a fixed, finite time output trajectory, the scheme is considered as a learning control strategy. Due to the assumed linearity, this problem is transformed into a standard least square problem. Controller saturation can be incorporated, resulting in a constrained-least-squares problem. The basic method has also been generalized to linear time-varying systems and nonlinear systems. Experimental and simulation results are presented to demonstrate the overall viability. >
Role of Mg2+ in Hammerhead Ribozyme Catalysis from Molecular Simulation

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate the role of Mg2+ in the full-length hammerhead ribozyme cleavage reaction. In particular, the aim of this work is to characterize the binding mode and conformational events that give rise to catalytically active conformations and stabilization of the transition state. Toward this end, a series of eight 12 ns molecular dynamics simulations have been performed with different divalent metal binding occupations for the reactant, early and late transition state using recently developed force field parameters for metal ions and reactive intermediates in RNA catalysis. In addition, hybrid QM/MM calculations of the early and late transition state were performed to study the proton-transfer step in general acid catalysis that is facilitated by the catalytic Mg2+ ion. The simulations suggest that Mg2+ is profoundly involved in the hammerhead ribozyme mechanism both at structural and catalytic levels. Binding of Mg2+ in the active site plays a key structural role in the stabilization of stem I and II and to facilitate formation of near attack conformations and interactions between the nucleophile and G12, the implicated general base catalyst. In the transition state, Mg2+ binds in a bridging position where it stabilizes the accumulated charge of the leaving group while interacting with the 2'OH of G8, the implicated general acid catalyst. The QM/MM simulations provide support that, in the late transition state, the 2'OH of G8 can transfer a proton to the leaving group while directly coordinating the bridging Mg2+ ion. The present study provides evidence for the role of Mg2+ in hammerhead ribozyme catalysis. The proposed simulation model reconciles the interpretation of available experimental structural and biochemical data, and provides a starting point for more detailed investigation of the chemical reaction path with combined QM/MM methods.
Exploration and Elaboration of Reported Insulin Superagonism through Site-Selective Replacement at TyrB26

Introduction Insulin has virtually the universal ability to lower blood glucose and is currently used in multiple forms by millions of patients in the treatment of diabetes. DNA technology has facilitated the biosynthesis of insulin and various related analogs in unlimited quantity. Nonetheless, the relatively low potency of insulin renders it a unique commercial challenge where yearly production is measured in tonnage. The low inherent potency of insulin is a significant obstacle in the development of noninvasive methods for insulin administration since low bioavailability is commonly reported. A recent report [1] outlined replacements for TyrB26 in a C-terminally shortened insulin analog that yielded unprecedented increases in in vitro potency. Bioactivity constituted measurement of glucose transport in isolated primary rat adipocytes and insulin receptor binding in plasma membranes. N-methylHisB26, des(27-30) insulin prepared via semi-synthesis was reported to possess increased potency relative to native insulin, in excess of fifty-fold in receptor binding and tenfold in stimulating glucose uptake. We have explored this observation through synthesis of the same insulin analog by chain combination with totally synthetic A and B chains. Bioactivity was measured relative to insulin in engineered cells that over-express the human insulin receptor. Additionally, we have prepared a number of more acidic B26 insulin analogs to further elaborate the molecular basis for the superagonism.
Proline and lysine residues provide modulatory switches in amyloid formation: Insights from prion protein.

Amyloidogenic proteins have an increased propensity to reorganize into the highly structured, β sheet rich structures that characterize amyloid. The probability of attaining these highly structured assemblies is influenced by multiple factors, including amino acid composition and environmental conditions. Evolutionary selection for amino acid sequences that prevent amyloid formation could further modulate amyloid-forming propensity. Indeed, we have recently identified specific proline and lysine residues, contained within a highly conserved central region of prion protein (PrP), that impede PrP amyloid formation in vitro. These prolines are mutated in certain forms of the human familial genetic disease, Gerstmann-Straussler-Schneiker (GSS) syndrome. Here, I discuss the influence of these proline and lysine residues on PrP amyloid formation and how such anti-amyloidogenic primary amino acid sequences might be modulated to influence protein amyloidogenicity.
Failure mode of aluminum foam sandwich panels

The sandwich structure with metallurgy bonding interface and glu-bonding interface were carried out by the static three-point bending test.The effect of material deformation behavior and interface bonding strength on the failure mode were investigated.The results showed that the limit load of sandwich structure during pack rolling process higher than those with stickiness technology,the failure characteristic of sandwich structure with metallurgy bonding interface was the combination of core shear failure and indentation.We correct the related model through applying the superimposition effect of indentation and core shear failure to provide a theoretical basis for the limited load of sandwich structure.
Three New Species of Genus Myospila (Diptera∶Muscidae) from Sichuan, China

Three new species, i. e. Myospila kandingica sp. nov., Myospila frigora sp. nov. and Myospila frigoroida sp. nov. belonging to Myospila Rondani, 1856 are described and figured in the present paper. The type specimens are kept in Institute of Plant Physiology Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. 1. Myospila Kangdingica sp. nov. (Fig. 1). ♂: Body length 7.0～8.0mm. This new species is similar to Myospila angustifrons Malloch, 1922, however, the eyes sparsely covered with long hairs, that for the latter densely covered with ones; parafacialia as width as 3rd antennal segment, however, that for the latter about one-third time of the width of one; fore tibia without pv seta, however, that for the latter with it; surstyli in male new moon-alike in profile in lateral view, however, that for the latter straight; posterior half part of both of piece of cerci separately, that for the latter is fused in posterior view. ♀: Unknown. Holotype ♂, Kangding (Mt. Paomashan, 2900 m; 30°07′N, 101°58′E), Sichuan Prov., 18 Aug. 1983, collected by FENG Yan. Paratypes: 4♂♂, same as holotype; 1♂, Mt. Erlangshan (Ganhaizi, 2780 m; 29°54′N, 102°09′E ), Sichuan Prov., 24 Jun, 1982, same collector as holotype. Etymology : The new species is named after the type species collecting from the Kangding, Sichuan Prov. 2. Myospila frigora sp. nov. (Fig. 2).♂:Body length 6.5 mm. This new species is similar to Myospila flavilauta Xue et Li, 1996, however, the 3rd and 4th tergites without lateral spot, that for the latter with one; frontal bristles is 10, that for the latter is 5～6; 5th sternite arm 0.5 time as long as basal part, that for the latter as long as one; surstyli in male as long as cerci, that for the latter longer than the cerci obviously. ♀: Unknown. Holotype ♂, Yaan (Mt. Laobanshan, 800 m; 29°59′N, 102°57′E), Sichuan Prov., 03 Nov. 1987, collected by FENG Yan. Etymology: The new species is named after the type species collecting from a cold weather. 3. Myospila frigoroida sp. nov. (Fig. 3).♂: Body length 5.5 mm. This new species is similar to Myospila frigora sp. nov., however, the frontal bristles is 4, that for the latter is 10; posterior intraalar bristles is 2, that for the latter is 1; 6th tergite with posterior marginal bristles, that for the latter without it; both of antennal segment of basal part dark-yellow, that for the latter bright black; outline in overall of 5th sternite is rectangle, that for the latter is cone alike in ventral view; surstyli in male not go into hiding at the back of cerci, and longer than cerci in posterior view, that for the latter is go into hiding at the back of one, and shorter than the cerci. ♀: Unknown. Holotype ♂, Yaan (Mt. Laobanshan, 800 m; 29°59′N, 102°57′E), Sichuan Prov. 20 Nov. 1992, collected by FENG Yan.
Caution – graphic images: the politics of obscene dead bodies

Hardly has one been able to engage with the recent spectacle created by ISIS beheadings and killings without encountering a warning of the graphic descriptions and images to follow in a written new...
Validation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Diagnosis as the Primary Cause of Renal Failure in the US Renal Data System

Objective Using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) classification as gold standards, we determined sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of having SLE denoted as the primary cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the US Renal Data System (USRDS). Methods ESRD patients were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes in electronic medical records of 1 large tertiary care center, Montefiore Hospital, from 2006 to 2012. Clinical data were extracted and reviewed to establish SLE diagnosis. Data were linked by social security number, name, and date of birth to the USRDS, where primary causes of ESRD were ascertained. Results Of 7,396 ESRD patients at Montefiore, 97 met ACR/SLICC SLE criteria, and 86 had SLE by record only. Among the 97 SLE patients, the attributed causes of ESRD in the USRDS were 77 SLE and 12 with other causes (unspecified glomerulonephritis, hypertension, scleroderma), and 8 missing. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for SLE in the USRDS were 79%, 99.9%, 93%, and 99.7%, respectively. Of the 60 patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis, 44 (73%) had SLE as primary ESRD cause in the USRDS. Attribution of the primary ESRD causes among SLE patients with ACR/SLICC criteria differed by race, ethnicity, and transplant status. Conclusion The diagnosis of SLE as the primary cause of ESRD in the USRDS has good sensitivity, and excellent specificity, PPV, and NPV. Nationwide access to medical records and biopsy reports may significantly improve sensitivity of SLE diagnosis.
Understanding innovation engines: Automated creativity and improved stochastic optimization via deep learning

The Achilles Heel of stochastic optimization algorithms is getting trapped on local optima. Novelty Search mitigates this problem by encouraging exploration in all interesting directions by replacing the performance objective with a reward for novel behaviors. This reward for novel behaviors has traditionally required a human-crafted, behavioral distance function. While Novelty Search is a major conceptual breakthrough and outperforms traditional stochastic optimization on certain problems, it is not clear how to apply it to challenging, high-dimensional problems where specifying a useful behavioral distance function is difficult. For example, in the space of images, how do you encourage novelty to produce hawks and heroes instead of endless pixel static? Here we propose a new algorithm, the Innovation Engine, that builds on Novelty Search by replacing the human-crafted behavioral distance with a Deep Neural Network DNN that can recognize interesting differences between phenotypes. The key insight is that DNNs can recognize similarities and differences between phenotypes at an abstract level, wherein novelty means interesting novelty. For example, a DNN-based novelty search in the image space does not explore in the low-level pixel space, but instead creates a pressure to create new types of images e.g., churches, mosques, obelisks, etc.. Here, we describe the long-term vision for the Innovation Engine algorithm, which involves many technical challenges that remain to be solved. We then implement a simplified version of the algorithm that enables us to explore some of the algorithm's key motivations. Our initial results, in the domain of images, suggest that Innovation Engines could ultimately automate the production of endless streams of interesting solutions in any domain: for example, producing intelligent software, robot controllers, optimized physical components, and art.