cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical features of hybrid molecular/biological-quantum dot systems governed by energy transfer processes

Energy transfer processes are continually being explored in both molecular and biological systems that are coupled to colloidal quantum dots (QDs). Quantum dots display unique size and composition dependent photophysical properties. The conjoining of QDs with various molecular and biological components has led to the development of a range of hybrid materials for energy-related applications. These hybrid systems vary in complexity from those composed of QDs and dyes to that of intricate assemblies of QDs with different proteins and light-harvesting complexes. The optical profiles of these systems such as absorption, emission, and fluorescence lifetime are often influenced by energy transfer processes. In this Review, we discuss the evolving field of molecular/biological-QD systems and enumerate on the interesting optical features these systems exhibit due to energy transfer. We also provide our perspective on the challenges and future directions that are worthy of investigation in this field.
Earthworm cocoons: The cryptic side of invasive earthworm populations

Abstract Asian earthworms in the pheretimoid group are currently invading hardwood forests in the northeastern USA. Population studies of these earthworms typically focus on life stages after hatching. However, the more cryptic part of these populations, cocoons, has largely been ignored. This paper is concentrating on cocoon abundance of two pheretimoid species through the year, and on identifying their readiness to hatch as determined by the presence of embryos that were well-advanced in their development. We wanted to know when viable cocoons were present and what their embryonic development was. We found that unhatched cocoons and ready-to-hatch embryos were present all year round. At the Horticultural Research Center of the University of Vermont, A. tokioensis cocoon abundance (mean ± standard error) varied between 1203 ± 167 m−2 in the winter and 498 ± 79 m−2 in the summer. Here A. agrestis varied between 439 ± 62 m−2 in the spring and 722 ± 70 m−2 in the fall. At another site dominated by A. agrestis, cocoon abundance varied between 753 ± 150 m−2 in the spring and 1386 ± 167 m−2 in the winter. Cocoon production was estimated at about 0.6 cocoons per worm per day. We raise the question whether cocoons have a longer-term survival function beyond overwintering of the population, akin to the function of the seed bank of annual plants.
The effects of multipactor on the quality of a complex signal propagating in a transmission line

Multipactor is a much studied resonant AC discharge that is harmful to microwave components and circuits. There is substantial current interest in this topic because of its threat to satellite communications. In this paper, an analytical transmission line model is presented to assess the effects of multipactor, should it happen, on the distortion of a signal. The model is applicable to any input signal (analog or digital) once the electron multipactor current it causes is specified. Examples using planar and coaxial transmission lines are given on a simple dynamical model of the multipactor current. Single and multitone signals are treated, with some results presented in the In-phase and Quadrature plots.
Bayesian inference for parameter estimation in lactoferrin-mediated iron transport across blood-brain barrier.

Abstract Background In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, excessive irons as well as lactoferrin (Lf), but not transferrin (Tf), have been found in and around the affected regions of the brain. These evidences suggest that lactoferrin plays a critical role during neurodegenerative diseases, although Lf-mediated iron transport across blood-brain barrier (BBB) is negligible compared to that of transferrin in normal condition. However, the kinetics of lactoferrins and lactoferrin-mediated iron transport are still unknown. Method To determine the kinetic rate constants of lactoferrin-mediated iron transport through BBB, a mass-action based ordinary differential equation model has been presented. A Bayesian framework is developed to estimate the kinetic rate parameters from posterior probability density functions. The iron transport across BBB is studied by considering both Lf- and Tf-mediated pathways for both normal and pathologic conditions. Results Using the point estimates of kinetic parameters, our model can effectively reproduce the experimental data of iron transport through BBB endothelial cells. The robustness of the model and parameter estimation process are further verified by perturbation of kinetic parameters. Our results show that surge in high-affinity receptor density increases lactoferrin as well as iron in the brain. Conclusions Due to the lack of a feedback loop such as iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) for lactoferrin, iron can transport to the brain continuously, which might increase brain iron to pathological levels and can contribute to neurodegeneration. General significance This study provides an improved understanding of presence of lactoferrin and iron in the brain during neurodegenerative diseases.
A New Event-detection Method Based on Composite Windows in NILM for Industrial Settings

A wide variety of industrial loads lead to the difficulties of non-intrusive load monitoring method for industrial settings, and the transient states of industrial electric loads vary as well. Accurate and timely detection of status changes of loads is the cornerstone of the entire algorithm. A new event-detection method based on composite-window analysis in non-intrusive load monitoring for industrial settings is presented in this paper. The method is compared with cumulative-sum method and the results indicate that the new method can detect transient state on multiple time scales with an average F1-measure equal to 82.9%, better than 62.3% of the state-of-art on industrial loads dataset.
Dynamic Switching of SiC Power MOSFETs Based on Analytical Subcircuit Model

Compared to silicon counterparts, silicon carbide (SiC) power mosfet s have lower on -state resistance and faster switching speed, which in turn makes them better candidates for high-voltage power switching applications. This creates a growing need to develop device models for such SiC power devices. The models that are currently being used are mostly physics-based models, which require all the physical parameters of the device and are not so suitable for real time hardware in loop simulations. In this article, we show a subcircuit model based on the analytical study using nonlinear curve fitting method for modeling of dynamic switching behavior. Using a 1.2 kV, 17 A mosfet as a testbed, this subcircuit model is validated by implementing the model into Synopsys Saber in comparison with the measured dc characteristics, the Saber mosfet Tool model, and the manufacturer's model. The switching behavior of the device at 800 V/17 A and 800 V/5.5 A based on the subcircuit model were also compared and validated with experimental measurements, the Saber mosfet model, and manufacturer's model. Excellent agreements were achieved on both dc characteristics and switching behaviors. On the LTspice platform, the computation time of the analytical subcircuit model is 4.5 times faster than the manufacturer's model. This subcircuit model is adoptable and suitable for real time hardware in loop simulations and power converter designs .
Hierarchical Bayesian Framework for Bus Dwell Time Prediction

In many applications, uncertainty regarding the duration of activities complicates the generation of accurate plans and schedules. Such is the case for the problem considered in this paper - predicting the arrival times of buses at signalized intersections. Direct vehicle-to-infrastructure communication of location, speed and heading information offers unprecedented opportunities for real-time optimization of traffic signal timing plans, but to be useful bus arrival time prediction must reliably account for bus dwell time at near-side bus stops. To address this problem, we propose a novel, Bayesian hierarchical approach for constructing bus dwell time duration distributions from historical data. Unlike traditional statistical learning techniques, the proposed approach relies on minimal data, is inherently adaptive to time varying task duration distribution, and provides a rich description of confidence for decision making, all of which are important in the bus dwell time prediction context. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated using historical data provided by a local transit authority on bus dwell times at urban bus stops. Our results show that the dwell time distributions generated by our approach yield significantly more accurate predictions than those generated by both standard regression techniques and a more data intensive deep learning approach.
The Power of Celebrity Health Events: Meta-analysis of the Relationship between Audience Involvement and Behavioral Intentions.

Audience involvement processes – such as parasocial interaction and identification – may impact an individual’s response to celebrity health events, yet to date, no synthesis of the literature exis...
Optimal training for adversarial games

We consider adversarial games solved by a continuous version of the simultaneous gradient descent method, whose associated differential system is induced by a Hamiltonian function. In this case the solution obtained by training does never converge to the Nash equilibrium, but it might be closest to it at some special time instance. We analyse this optimal training time in two distinct situations: the hyperbolic and elliptic types of equilibria, covering the case of quadratic Hamiltonians. The case of more general Hamiltonian functions can be treated similarly after they are replaced by their quadratic approximations.
The impact of frailty according to Clinical Frailty Scale on clinical outcome in patients with heart failure.

AIMS There is currently no gold standard in evaluating frailty in patients with heart failure (HF), and the prognostic value of frailty according to the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) on mortality in patients with HF is still unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS Among consecutive 596 patients after their discharge from HF in Kokura Memorial Hospital (Kitakyushu, Japan) during 2015, their frailty at discharge was assessed according to CFS. Patients were classified into three groups: low (N = 232, 38.9%), intermediate (N = 230, 38.6%), and high (N = 134, 22.5%). The primary endpoint was defined as 2 year all-cause death. The mean age was 76.6 ± 10.1 years, and 55.3% were men in entire cohort. There were significant differences in age, living environment, and dementia among low, intermediate, and high CFS groups. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and co-morbidities such as severe renal failure and severe anaemia tended to increase with frailty severity, while body mass index (BMI) and albumin level tended to decrease with frailty severity. Two year cumulative incidences of all-cause death for the three groups were 12.8%, 25.4%, and 52.7% (P < 0.001), respectively. This significant difference in the risk for all-cause death among the CFS groups was driven by the risk for cardiac (8.6%, 14.2%, and 31.0%, respectively, P < 0.001) and non-cardiac death (4.6%, 13.0%, and 31.4%, respectively, P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis showed that high frailty was independently associated with all-cause death (intermediate CFS group: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.43, 95% confidence interval, 0.86-2.36, P = 0.16; high CFS group: adjusted hazard ratio, 3.90, 95% confidence interval, 2.32-6.55, P < 0.001), and this result was consistent, irrespective of stratification based on age, sex, BMI, and LVEF without significant interaction. CONCLUSIONS The simple CFS tool was successful in predicting the risk for all-cause death in patients with HF, and frailty according to CFS was independently associated with all-cause death irrespective of stratification based on age, sex, BMI, and LVEF without significant interaction. The CFS is a valuable prognostic tool in clinical settings.
Sourcing Aztalan pipestone ear spools and its implications for interpreting Cahokian targeted acquisition and interaction

Identifying ancient patterns of trade, exchange, and social relations through the tracking of the origin point and final place of deposition of objects is an integral part of archaeological researc...
Lexical diffusion is not lexical analogy

AbstractThis paper refutes Kiparsky's claim that lexical diffusion “behave[s] like lexical analogy in every respect” (1995:643). Evidence from American English glide deletion, t/d deletion, and vowel reduction/deletion before /r/ is elicited to demonstrate the gradient nature of lexical diffusion, as opposed to the quantal nature Kiparsky attributes to lexical analogy. Kiparsky's claim that “the mechanism [for lexical diffusion] is analogical in just the sense in which, for example, the regularization of kine to cows is analogical” is refuted by reference to sound changes which affect the most frequent words first, not the least frequent, as happens in truly analogical changes. In fact, two stress shifts in English, both of which would affect Stratum 1 phonology, exhibit differing patterns of diffusion. It is shown that the use of the term lexical analogy is ambiguous, that Kiparsky uses it to mean both the motivation behind the actuation of the change and the means by which the change is implemented in t...
Evidence for a bidomain structure of constitutive cerebellar nitric oxide synthase

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent formation of NO and citrulline from L-arginine and molecular oxygen. The localization of the heme-binding consensus sequence in the NH2-terminal half of NOS and of the binding sequences for nucleotides (FMN and FAD) in the COOH-terminal half suggests a bidomain structure. In addition, the presence of a putative calmodulin-binding sequence between the heme- and flavin-binding domains of the enzyme suggests a role for calmodulin in modulating a spatial orientation of these domains that is required for catalytic activity. First, to determine the effects of calmodulin and the functionality of the separated domains, Ca2+/calmodulin binding-induced conformational changes in NOS were measured by fluorescence quenching, from which a binding constant of approximately 1 nM for calmodulin was calculated. Second, electron transport to various artificial acceptors was measured. The addition of Ca2+/calmodulin increased cytochrome c reduction from 10-15-fold while stimulating the rate of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and ferricyanide reduction only slightly, if at all. Calmodulin stimulation of NOS results in NADPH-mediated cytochrome c reduction, which is sensitive to superoxide dismutase, and the reduction of acetylated cytochrome c, which is only weakly reducible by unstimulated NOS. Thus, this stimulated activity is presumably superoxide anion-mediated. Third, limited proteolysis of NOS in the absence of calmodulin resulted in a time-dependent increase in cytochrome c reductase activity, which was not inhibitable by superoxide dismutase, and a decrease in catalysis of NO formation. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the tryptic digest demonstrated the formation of approximately 89- and approximately 79-kDa fragments. Sequence analysis of the peptides confirmed that trypsin cleaves the enzyme in the putative calmodulin-binding region beginning with Ala728. This region was protected from proteolysis by the addition of Ca2+/calmodulin. The separated NH2-terminal domain exhibited the characteristic spectrum of bound heme, while the COOH-terminal domain showed the characteristic spectrum of bound flavins. Other cleavage patterns were obtained in the presence of calmodulin. The data demonstrate that the heme- and flavin-binding domains of NOS can be isolated in functionally intact forms.
Prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: a systematic review of termination rates (1995-2011).

Objective The objective of this study was to review the published literature on pregnancy termination following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in the United States. Method A systematic search of US English-language articles (1995–2011) was conducted to identify primary research studies that reported data for pregnancies with definitive prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome with subsequent pregnancy termination. Studies that provided indirect estimates of pregnancy termination, such as mathematical models, were excluded. The weighted mean termination rate was calculated across studies. Results Twenty-four studies were accepted. The weighted mean termination rate was 67% (range: 61%–93%) among seven population-based studies, 85% (range: 60%–90%) among nine hospital-based studies, and 50% (range: 0%–100%) among eight anomaly-based studies. Evidence suggests that termination rates have decreased in recent years. Termination rates also varied with maternal age, gestational age, and maternal race/ethnicity. Conclusion This systematic review presents the largest synthesis of United States data on termination rates following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Evidence suggests that termination rates are lower than noted in a previous review that was based on less contemporary studies and had an international focus. Heterogeneity across studies suggests that a summary termination rate may not be applicable to the entire US population. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Binding of Ribosomes to Cytoplasmic Reticulum of Bacillus megaterium

Abstract Schlessinger, David (Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.), Vincent T. Marchesi, and Benjamin C. K. Kwan. Binding of ribosomes to cytoplasmic reticulum of Bacillus megaterium. J. Bacteriol. 90:456–466. 1965.—As many as 60% of the cellular ribosomes are bound to membrane “ghosts” in lysozyme lysates in 0.02 m Mg2+. Bound ribosomes labeled with C14-uracil do not exchange with added unlabeled ribosomes, even after disruption of the cell membrane by sonic treatment. Electron micrographs of thin sections of ghosts, or of fragments produced by sonic disruption of protoplasts, indicate that the ribosomes are distributed on a reticular matrix which extends throughout the cytoplasm. The binding of ribosomes to this matrix is insensitive to ribonuclease or deoxyribonuclease, and has many other features in common with the binding of ribonucleoprotein to the membranous elements of the mammalian microsomal fraction, though the reticulum does not appear to be membranous. Thus, functioning ribosomes may be bound to a cytoplasmic structure in all cell types.
Etiologies and consequences of adolescent drug use: implications for prevention.

This paper reviews recent results and work in progress from a longitudinal study of drug use etiologies and consequences. Early- and mid-adolescent drug use patterns, personality, and behavioral correlates were studies in a large sample of normal youth beginning in the mid-1970's. To determine the correlates and consequences of adolescent drug use, controlling for related tendencies such as lack of social conformity and deviat friendship networks, 654 youngsters were folled into young adulthood and their behaviors and lifestyles evaluated. Teenage drug use was found to disrupt many critical developmental tasks of adolesence and young adulthood. Tendencies to use many different drugs as an adolescent led in young adulthood to increased drug crime involvement, decreased college involvement, increased job instability, income, psychotism, and stealing episodes. Intervention efforts should be directed not only towards decreasing drug use, but also towards improving personal maturity, social skills, and economi...
Victorian Pornography and the Laws of Genre

The term ‘pornography’ is in many ways characteristically Victorian in that the prolific, generative, and public debates on how to identify, isolate, and contain sexuality are all hallmarks of the production of Victorian sexuality more widely conceived. Not only did the Victorians consolidate ‘pornography’ as a genre category, but the approaches they developed for delineating the category have proved tenacious. Even though the 20th century sees the primary medium for pornography shift from print to film, the legal definitions of pornography that were laid out with respect to print in the 19th century continue to structure the regulation and understanding of 20th-century pornographic film. Books and articles published on 19th-century pornography over the course of the last decade have laid out strong arguments for the fact that pornography does not demarcate a discernibly unique set of textual features. Pornography has acted as a constituent part of how the Victorian period negotiated not only ‘sexuality’ as such, but also phenomena as diverse as expert culture, radical politics, science, race, and psychology.
Anomalous carbonate precipitates; is the Precambrian the key to the Permian?

Late Permian reefs of the Capitan complex, west Texas; the Magnesian Limestone, England; Chuenmuping reef, south China; and elsewhere contain anomalously large volumes of aragonite and calcite marine cements and sea-floor crusts, as well as abundant microbial precipitates. These components strongly influenced reef growth and may have been responsible for the construction of rigid, open reefal frames in which bryozoans and sponges became encrusted and structurally reinforced. In some cases, such as the upper biostrome of the Magnesian Limestone, precipitated microbialites and inorganic crusts were the primary constituents of the reef core. These microbial and inorganic reefs do not have modern marine counterparts; on the contrary, their textures and genesis are best understood through comparison with the older rock record, particularly that of the early Precambrian. Early Precambrian reefal facies are interpreted to have formed in a stratified ocean with anoxic deep waters enriched in carbonate alkalinity. Upwelling mixed deep and surface waters, resulting in massive seafloor precipitation of aragonite and calcite. During Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic time, the ocean became more fully oxidized, and seafloor carbonate precipitation was significantly reduced. However, during the late Neoproterozoic, sizeable volumes of deep ocean water once again became anoxic for protracted intervals; the distinctive "cap carbonates" found above Neoproterozoic tillites attest to renewed upwelling of anoxic bottom water enriched in carbonate alkalinity and 12C. Anomalous late Permian seafloor precipitates are interpreted as the product, at least in part, of similar processes. Massive carbonate precipitation was favored by: 1) reduced shelf space for carbonate precipitation, 2) increased flux of Ca to the oceans during increased continental erosion, 3) deep basinal anoxia that generated upwelling waters with elevated alkalinities, and 4) further evolution of ocean water in the restricted Delaware, Zechstein, and other basins. Temporal coincidence of these processes resulted in surface seawater that was greatly supersaturated by Phanerozoic standards and whose only precedents occurred in Precambrian oceans.
Shape analysis and classification of lgl-type and wild-type neurons

Among the tumor suppressors identified in Drosophila, lgl is one of a few whose proliferative phenotype is shown to be secondary to a loss of cell polarity. Studies of lgl mutant phenotypes are likely to contribute to our understanding of both tumorigenesis as well as neural development mechanisms. However, alterations of neuronal development as a result of key protein mutations are not easy to describe without quantifiable parameters. This work presents a fully automated imaging technique that involves skeletonization and histogram-based features such as kurtosis to find and quantify discriminative morphological phenotypes that can be used to automatically distinguish normal wild-type neurons from lgl mutant neurons.
Restriction of vesicular stomatitis virus in a nonpermissive rabbit cell line is at the level of protein synthesis

Abstract Replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is restricted in a line of rabbit cornea (RC-60) cells; less than one infectious particle is produced per infected cell. We show that VSV is blocked at the level of viral-specific protein synthesis. VSV proteins are synthesized early in infection but the rate of VSV protein synthesis declines rapidly as infection proceeds. At times when synthesis of VSV proteins is barely detectable, VSV mRNA is produced and polyribosome structures are present. The VSV mRNA recovered from the polysome region directs the synthesis of VSV proteins in an in vitro reticulocyte translation system. This suggests that protein synthesis is blocked at some step beyond the level of initiation possibly at the level of elongation. Coinfection with vaccinia virus converts RC-60 cells to a permissive host. In contrast to the abortive infection with VSV alone, VSV proteins are synthesized throughout the replication cycle in doubly infected cells. Vaccinia supplies a product essential for sustained protein synthesis in the abortive system. We have confirmed that the replication of genome length 42 S RNA does not occur at late times in the abortive infection. This lack of 42 S RNA replication is explained by the shut-off of VSV protein synthesis, since continuous protein synthesis is required for the replication of VSV 42 S RNA.
Hemocompatibility of Hydrophilic Antimicrobial Copolymers of Alkylated 4-Vinylpyridine

Quaternized poly(vinylpyridine) (PVP) is a polymer with inherent antimicrobial properties that is effective against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, viruses, and yeast cells. However, quaternized PVP has poor biocompatibility, which prevents its use in biomaterial applications. Copolymerization was examined as a method of modifying the structure to incorporate biocompatibility. Polyethyleneglycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) are polymers generally known to be biocompatible and thus were chosen as comonomers. Random copolymers of 4-vinylpyridine and PEGMA or HEMA were synthesized via free radical polymerization and quaternized with bromohexane. Copolymer biocompatibility was characterized by interaction with human red blood cells to analyze hemolysis. Hemolysis of human red blood cells was conducted on insoluble films and on water-soluble polymers in a serial dilution study. Hemolysis results demonstrated that blood compatibility does not depend on P...
Commentary: The Year in Endocrine Genetics for Basic Scientists

During the past several years, one of the most interesting and challenging issues in endocrine genetics is determining how to integrate the findings and approaches traditionally used to understand the powerful, single-gene mutations causing endocrine syndromes with those newer techniques used to dissect the complex genetic architecture of polygenic conditions. With this overriding consideration in mind, it makes sense to begin these considerations with recent novel findings derived from the study of a particularly prismatic monogenic disorder, isolated GnRH deficiency, in defining an area of neuroendocrinology and development. Careful study of this human disease model has been employed successfully by several groups to provide unique windows through which to gain an improved understanding of the challenging issues of the developmental biology of the GnRH neurons where previous nonhuman approaches have had significant technical limitations. For example, study of this disorder has provided the field of neuroendocrinology with several unique insights into the surprising origins and early development of the GnRH neuronal network. Its associated clinical phenotypes have helped to unearth a growing list of genes responsible for GnRH neuronal specification, migration, and neuroendocrine function. Finally, this human genetic model is beginning to provide increasing evidence of interactions between these single genes, clearly demonstrating that an oligogenic genetic architecture underlies this condition.
Age differences in dual-task performance: Procedures, assumptions, and results☆

Abstract The secondary task paradigm requires subjects to perform a primary task of interest concurrently with an attention-demanding secondary task. In recent years, an increasing number of developmental studies have utilized the paradigm to test for age differences in the mental resource requirements of various cognitive tasks. The present paper reviews the findings from the developmental secondary-task research and discuss the various assumptions which underlie the use of the secondary-task paradigm to test for age differences in resource demands. The results reviewed suggest that there are age-related differences during childhood in the amount of cognitive resources required to perform a variety of cognitive tasks and to execute a variety of cognitive operations. However, many of the methodological and theoretical assumptions upon which these conclusions are based are open to challenge. It is concluded that, in the future, researchers using secondary-task procedures should make more of an attempt to validate their conclusions through the use of convergent operations.
Anharmonic Potentials in Supercooled Liquids: The Soft-Potential Model

Instantaneous normal modes (INM) are the harmonic approximation to liquid dynamics. This is an extension of the phonon description of lattice dynamics, in which case Bloch's theorem shows that all modes are extended. Long-range order is destroyed in liquids and glasses, and the INM spectrum has contributions from both extended and localized modes. We use the soft-potential mode to describe localized modes. This model is a high-temperature extension of the standard two-level-system model for glasses. The equilibrium position of any atom in the liquid has only temporary character, and relaxation processes in the liquid are associated with particles hopping over potential energy barriers. Barrier tops have negative curvature so that an INM spectrum has an imaginary frequency (unstable) lobe in addition to the conventional stable mode contributions; conversely the unstable modes carry information about diffusion. We derive analytic expressions for the frequency and temperature dependence of the unstable lobe that are in agreement with results from computer simulations. Self-diffusion of particles in the liquid is governed by the fraction of unstable modes originating from double-well potentials. For the diffusion constant, we find a crossover behavior from Arrhenius temperature dependence to Zwanzig-B\"assler dependence. We find an explicit expression for the distribution of barrier heights. In agreement with Stillinger's inherent structure approach to glass-forming liquids, this distribution is uniform, or Gaussian, for high and low temperatures, respectively.
Transient elongational flow behavior of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

Abstract The transient elongational viscosity behavior of two thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers, LCPs (hydroxypropylcellulose, HPC, and a copolyester of 2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid and para -hydroxybenzoic acid, Vectra A900), has been found to be similar to that determined for isotropic melts of linear polyolefins such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Measurements were made on a newly constructed rotary clamp extensional rheometer designed to handle low-viscosity materials at high temperatures. The values of were observed to follow linear viscoelastic behavior at low strains and subsequently show mild strain hardening with increasing strain. The elongational flow behavior of HPC in the isotropic state was also determined and compared to that in the anisotropic state. Differences in the behavior appear to be related to differences in the structure of the melt and might indicate the influence of the melt state on the flow behavior of LCPs. However, the generality of these results to other LCP systems is uncertain because of the possible influence of residual crystallinity. The predictions of the Doi theory for elongational flow were also compared to the experimental behavior of the isotropic and anisotropic melts. It was found that the Doi theory could not predict quantitatively the elongational flow behavior of LCPs when the parameters in the model were determined from shear viscosity data. Additionally, while the Doi theory showed some qualitative agreement with the experimental behavior of both isotropic and anisotropic melts at low strains, it was unable to predict the strain-hardening behavior seen in those systems.
The need for “apples-to-apples” comparisons of carbon dioxide source and sink estimates

The global land-based carbon dioxide (CO2) sink can be derived from the difference between fossil fuel emissions and the sum of estimated increases of CO2 in the atmosphere and in the ocean [Houghton, 2010]. For the purposes of developing policy to limit CO2 emissions, it is necessary to refine scientific understanding of the land CO2 flux in terms of its spatial and temporal patterns, as well as the underlying drivers. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) is the commonly used measure of the land flux and is defined as the net vertical exchange of CO2 between a specified horizontal surface and the atmosphere above it over a given period of time. NEE estimates are reported from the atmospheric perspective, such that a positive value represents emissions (a land source) and a negative value represents removals (a land sink). This term represents a seemingly simple concept, and it was given a clear definition as one of the key carbon cycle variables by Chapin et al. [2006]. However, considerable confusion still arises around its usage, and the ambiguity is traceable primarily to the suite of different approaches used to estimate it.
Evolution by the Grassroots

Imagine the Earth without grasses. There would be no lawns or meadows. No prairies. No savannahs or steppes. No wheat fields or rice paddies. No sugar cane. No sheep, elephants or horses. No people. We live in the age of grass. Indeed, from our point of view, the evolution of grasses was one of the most momentous events in the history of the Earth. Which is why Fm nominating them for Life-form of the Month: March. Let's limber up with a few facts. In general, grasses spread their pollen by wind, so they are not dependent on bees or other insects. Grasses also grow fast, and can easily colonize patches of bare ground, or move into a landscape after a fire. They can withstand being eaten (or mown) better than most other plants, because their leaves grow from the base, not the top. Like all plants, they make energy from the sun by means of photosynthesis. However, grasses have repeatedly evolved a variation known as C4 photosynthesis that uses less water, and is thus a particular advantage in hot, dry places, or when carbon dioxide levels are low. This has allowed
Modeling epigenetic modifications under multiple treatment conditions

ChIP-chip is a powerful tool for epigenetic research. However, current statistical methods are developed primarily for detecting transcription factor binding sites, and there is currently no satisfactory method for incorporating covariates such as time, hormone levels, and genotypes. In this study, we develop a varying coefficient model for epigenetic modifications such as histone acetylation and DNA methylation. By taking into account the special features of ChIP-chip data, a plug-in type method is derived for bandwidth selection in the local linear fitting of the varying coefficient model. Our results show that analyses using the proposed varying coefficient model can effectively detect diverse characteristics of epigenetic modifications over genomic regions as well as across different treatment conditions.
Kolmogorov, random processes, and Newtonian dynamics

It is shown how Kolmogorov's ideas and results led to the establishment that some Newtonian systems are in essence identical to random processes.
Challenges for ultra-high density spectral storage

ABSTRACT A review of the status of ultra-high density spectral storage has been presented. Keywords: Ultra-High Density Spectral Storage, Spectral Memories, Terabits Storage, Spectral Holeburning, Optical Holeburning, Multi-layer Th infilm, Power-Gated Holeburning, Optical Materials, Rare Earths 1. INTRODUCTION Spectral Storage offers the highest possible storage densities thus far. Terabits per square inch and even more have been shown to be possible, in principle. Spectral storage is unlike any other type of storage. Magnetic, holographic, multi-layer storage [1], etc., are all macroscopic scale storage in the sense that the macroscopic properties of the recording material are transformed to record a series of zeros and ones. Spectral storage is at the atomic or microscopic scale. A small number of atoms in a solid-state medium are used to store a bit of information. This is responsible for the high storage density of spectral storage. A cubic micron of solid has ~10 18
Outcomes and in-hospital treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation by early defibrillation.

Objective To describe and evaluate the in-hospital treatment of ventricular arrhythmias and underlying structural heart disease in patients who survive ventricular fibrillation (VF) out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in a region with a high survival rate after hospital discharge. Patients and Methods The study included all patients presenting in Olmsted County, Minnesota, who had experienced OHCA between November 1990 and December 2000 and who underwent defibrillation of VF by an emergency medical service system. Results Of 200 patients who experienced VF arrest, 138 (69%) survived to hospital admission (7 died in the emergency department before admission), and 79 (40%) were discharged. Of patients who were discharged, 37 (47%) had a reversible cause of the arrest (perimyocardial infarction) and received treatment of the primary process. The other 42 patients who were discharged had ischemic coronary heart disease (CHD) (n=25), nonischemic CHD (n=10), or idiopathic VF (n=7). Four of the patients with CHD but no left ventricular dysfunction were treated with coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention alone. A total of 52 patients (66%) were candidates for electrophysiologic testing. Of these patients, 48 (92%) underwent electrophysiologic testing; of these patients, 10 received amiodarone alone, and 35 received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) (of whom 3 also received amiodarone). Patients who did not receive ICD therapy typically presented before 1998 with CHD and underwent coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention only. Of 79 patients who were discharged, 14 (18%) with an ICD have received subsequent shocks. Nineteen (24%) of 79 patients have died, 5 of a primary cardiac etiology (including 2 with repeated OHCA). Conclusions The VF OHCA survival rate is high in the setting of rapid defibrillation, with 40% of patients being discharged from the hospital. By the end of the 10-year study, more patients were receiving antiarrhythmic therapy, in particular ICD implantation, after hospital admission. Overall, the long-term survival in patients with VF OHCA is favorable.
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) neurotoxicity: cellular and molecular mechanisms

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) is a very popular drug of abuse. This has led to new intense concerns relevant to its nefarious neuropsychiatric effects. These adverse events might be related to the neurotoxic effects of the drug. Although the mechanisms of MDMA-induced neurotoxicity remain to be fully characterized, exposure to the drug can cause acute and long-term neurotoxic effects in animals and nonhuman primates. Recent studies have also documented possible toxic effects in the developing fetus. Nevertheless, there is still much debate concerning the effects of the drug in humans and how to best extrapolate animal and nonhuman primate data to the human condition. Herein, we review the evidence documenting the adverse effects of the drug in some animal models. We also discuss possible mechanisms for the development of MDMA neurotoxicity. Data supporting deleterious effects of this drug on the developing fetus are also described. Much remains to be done in order to clarify the molecular and biochemical pathways involved in the long-term neuroplastic changes associated with MDMA abuse.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMPETITION IN AN OLD-FIELD PLANT COMMUNITY'

A series of field neighborhood experiments was performed to compare the competitive effects of seven plant species on the performance of transplanted individuals of Solidago canadensis. The neighbor species included conspecifics and species of a variety of growth forms that co-occur with S. canadensis in old fields. There were strong competitive effects on the transplants; average S. canadensis growth was reduced 17-62% by the presence of neighbors growing at natural densities. The responses to gradients of increasing neighbor density or biomass appeared to be nonlinear, with decreasing effects of adding more neigh- bors at higher neighbor density or biomass. Competitive effects were compared among neighbor species at three levels: effects at natural densities, per-individual (population density) effects, and per-gram (biomass den- sity) effects. The magnitude of total effects at natural densities varied with the species of neighbor plants and was stronger for neighbor species with greater total biomass of plants per unit area. The magnitude of effects of each individual also varied with neighbor species and was stronger for neighbor species with larger mean biomass per individual. Conse- quently, per-gram competitive effects did not differ among the neighbor species. Thus, it appears that the differences in competitive effects among species were primarily due to differences in size or abundance, rather than to more subtle differences in aspects of resource use. The responses of target Solidago canadensis individuals to neighborhood competition were very variable. A maximum of 40% of the variance in individual performance was explained by any one of the measures of abundance of neighbors, and, in half of the neighbor species, < 100% of the variance in target performance was explained by abundance of neigh- bors. Competition intensity seems to limit the maximum potential growth of individuals, but actual growth was often below the boundary determined by competition.
Markers of Exposure to Carcinogens: Methods for Human Biomonitoring

Methods have been developed for the detection of exposure to carcinogens and other DNA-damaging agents in experimental animals and humans, through the detection of carcinogens or metabolic derivatives of them in body fluids or adducts bound covalently to DNA or hemoglobin. These methods are being applied in studies of exposure to environmental carcinogens, the results of which demonstrate their adequacy for detecting ambient exposures. The successful use of urinary markers of genotoxic exposures has been reported with respect to nitrosoproline as an indicator of exposure to N-nitroso compounds. The same approach has been used to detect aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) metabolites and AFB1-N7-Gua as markers of exposure to aflatoxin B1. Detection of adducts formed between genotoxic agents and hemoglobin has been reported in studies of populations occupationally exposed to ethylene oxide, in which 3-hydroxyhistidine and 3-hydroxyva-line have been measured, and in smokers, whose hemoglobin has been found to contain levels...
Measurement of cirrus cloud optical properties from ground- and aircraft-based high-spectral-resolution interferometry

High spectral resolution Fourier transform spectrometry has been used to derive cirrus cloud optical properties. Data from both ground- and aircraft-based observations, combined with lidar and radiosonde measurements, will be shown from various field campaigns to demonstrate our approach. Ground-based results are from the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer, based at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program Cloud and Radiation Testbed. Aircraft measurements are from the Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder acquired during the SAFARI-2000 mission in South Africa. It is anticipated that long-term cirrus measurements on a seasonal scale will produce a cloud climatology based on synoptic conditions which can be parameterized on a global scale for use in GCMs.
Tissue-engineered Neogenesis of Human-shaped Mandibular Condyle from Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The temporomandibular joint is susceptible to diseases and trauma that may ultimately lead to structural degeneration. Current approaches for replacing degenerated mandibular condyles suffer from deficiencies such as donor site morbidity, immunorejection, implant wear and tear, and pathogen transmission. The hypothesis of this study was that a human-shaped mandibular condyle can be tissue-engineered from rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) encapsulated in a biocompatible polymer. Rat bone marrow MSCs were isolated and induced to differentiate into chondrogenic and osteogenic cells in vitro, and encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel in two stratified layers molded into the shape of a cadaver human mandibular condyle. Eight weeks following in vivo implantation of the bilayered osteochondral constructs in the dorsum of immunodeficient mice, mandibular condyles formed de novo. Microscopic evaluation of the tissue-engineered mandibular condyle demonstrated two stratified layers of histogenesis of cartilaginous and osseous phenotypes. The current approach is being refined for ultimate therapeutic applications.
Mammalian Tissue Trypsin-like Enzymes: Substrate Specificity and Inhibitory Potency of Substituted Isocoumarin Mechanism-Based Inhibitors, Benzamidine Derivatives, and Arginine Fluoroalkyl Ketone Transition-State Inhibitors

Abstract Amino acid and peptide thioesters which contained Arg or Lys in the P 1 position were tested as substrates for rat skin tryptase, and the kinetic constants k cat / K M for the better substrates such as Z-Aba-Arg-SBzl, and Z-Gly-Arg-SBzl were over 5,000,000 M −1 s −1 . The inhibitory potency of arginine fluoroalkyl ketones, benzamidine derivatives, and substituted isocoumarins containing basic functional groups was studied with rat skin tryptase, human lung tryptase, human skin tryptase, and bovine trypsin. 1-Naphthoyl-Arg-CF 3 was the best arginine fluoroalkyl ketone reversible inhibitor for rat skin tryptase with a K I of 0.9 μM. 1-(4-Amidinophenyl)-3-(4-phenoxyphenyl) urea showed competitive inhibition against bovine trypsin and rat skin tryptase with K I values of 2 and 4 μM, respectively. Isocoumarin derivatives with isothioureidoalkoxy substituents at the 3 position were potent irreversible inhibitors of these three tryptases with k obs /[ I ] values of 10 4 -10 5 M −1 s −1 . 4-Chloro-3-(2-isothioureido)ethoxy-7-phenylcarbamoylaminoisocoumarin and 7-benzylcarbamoylamino-4-chloro-3-(3-isothioureido)propoxyisocoumarin inactivated trypsin and formed stable trypsin-inhibitor complexes which regained less than 8% of activity upon standing in the pH 7.5 buffer and regained 30-75% of activity in the presence of 0.3 M NH 2 OH after 1 day, In contrast, the complexes with rat skin tryptase regained activity rapidly, indicating differences in the inhibition mechanism and active site structures of these related enzymes.