cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disagreement, Aggregate Trading Volume, and Excess Market Returns

Unusually high aggregate stock trading volume in one week predicts higher excess market returns in the following week, especially when accompanied by high market volatility. This predictive relation is robust across alternative measures of aggregate trading volume. In out-of-sample forecasting tests, unusually high aggregate volume outperforms a host of other variables that have been shown to forecast the equity premium. Our evidence is most consistent with a risk premium associated with shocks to market-wide disagreement among market participants. Return autocorrelations, visibility effects, and market sentiment do not explain our findings.
Mortality of Solenopsis invicta Workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) After Indirect Exposure to Spores of Three Entomopathogenic Fungi

Mortality caused by indirect exposure to Metarhizium brunneum and Beauveria bassiana (GHA and NI8) to the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), workers was evaluated. Groups of 50 workers were placed in one side of dual-box arenas. The opposite side of the arenas was lined with filter paper squares previously sprayed with unformulated purified spores (106 spores/ml) suspended in 0.2% Ethal TDA 3, HLB 8 of the three fungal strains, or untreated filter paper squares as the control. Daily observations were done for 1 wk to determine mortality. Dead ants from each treatment and control were collected, surface cleaned, and placed in PDA media and incubated at 27°C, 60% RH for 7 d to detect fungal growth. The presence of fungal growth in the dead ants confirmed that fungal spores infected workers while walking on the treated paper. In the M. brunneum and B. bassiana GHA treatments, 51.35 and 56.68% of the workers died, respectively, during days 1 and 2. However, only 9.47 and 35.96% of the mortality could be explained by fungal infection by M. brunneum and B. bassiana GHA, respectively. Most of the mortality observed in the B. bassiana NI8 treatment (84.48%) occurred later (between days 4-6) and most of this mortality occurring during day 4 (89.06%) could be explained by B. bassiana infection. Overall mortality was significantly higher in the B. bassiana NI8 treatment than the other two fungi tested and control. Potential application of these fungal strains for fire ant control are discussed.
Arabidopsis EMSY-like (EML) histone readers are necessary for post-fertilization seed development, but prevent fertilization-independent seed formation

Abstract Seed development is a complex regulatory process that includes a transition from gametophytic to sporophytic program. The synchronized development of different seed compartments (seed coat, endosperm and embryo) depends on a balance in parental genome contributions. In the most severe cases, the disruption of the balance leads to seed abortion. This represents one of the main obstacles for the engineering of asexual reproduction through seeds (apomixis), and for generating new interspecies hybrids. The repression of auxin synthesis by the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) is a major mechanism contributing to sensing genome balance. However, current efforts focusing on decreasing PRC2 or elevating auxin levels have not yet resulted in the production of apomictic seed. Here, we show that EMSY-Like Tudor/Agenet H3K36me3 histone readers EML1 and EML3 are necessary for early stages of seed development to proceed at a normal rate in Arabidopsis. We further demonstrate that both EML1 and EML3 are required to prevent the initiation of seed development in the absence of fertilization. Based on the whole genome expression analysis, we identify auxin transport and signaling genes as the most enriched downstream targets of EML1 and EML3. We hypothesize that EML1 and EML3 function to repress and soften paternal gene expression by fine-tuning auxin responses. Discovery of this pathway may contribute to the engineering of apomixis and interspecies hybrids.
Convenient Catalytic Free Radical Reductions of Alkyl Halides Using an Organotin Reagent on Non-Cross-Linked Polystyrene Support

A highly efficient and catalytic organotin reagent on soluble support has been developed for free radical reactions. The non-cross-linked polystyrene copolymer support allows solubility in most organic solvents such as CHCl3, benzene, THF, dimethylacetamide (DMA), DMF, and EtOAc; however, the tin reagent can be readily obtained as a white powder from cold methanol. A variety of alkyl halides (1°, 2°, 3°, aryl) underwent radical reductions in good isolated yields (60−93%) using only 0.01−0.2 equiv of the polymer catalyst.
Looking on the bright side and seeing it vividly: interpretation bias and involuntary mental imagery are related to risk for bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND Involuntary mental imagery is elevated among people with bipolar disorder, and has been shown to shape biases in interpretation of ambiguous information. However, it is not clear whether biases in interpretation of ambiguous scenarios can be observed in those at risk for bipolar disorder, or whether involuntary imagery is related to such a bias. AIMS In the present study, we extended a prominent model of bipolar cognition to an at-risk sample. We specifically tested whether positive interpretation bias and involuntary mental imagery are linked to a greater risk of bipolar disorder. METHOD Young adults (N = 169) completed measures of risk for bipolar disorder (the Hypomanic Personality Scale [HPS]), interpretation bias, and involuntary mental imagery. RESULTS Higher scores on the HPS were significantly correlated with more positive interpretations of ambiguous scenarios (β = 0.29, p <. 01) and more frequent involuntary mental imagery (β = 0.22, p < .01). There was no evidence of an interaction between interpretation bias and mental imagery in predicting HPS score, β = .04, p = .62. CONCLUSIONS Further research is warranted to determine if intrusive imagery or interpretation bias influence the development of bipolar disorder over time in those at risk.
Unpredicted Internal Geometric Reconfiguration of an Enclosed Space Formed by Heteroepitaxy

Epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) over a free-standing dielectric mask is an unexplored territory in selective epitaxy growth (SEG) of semiconductors. By shrinking the dielectric mask dimension to...
PROTON MR SPECTROSCOPY IN NEOPLASTIC AND NON-NEOPLASTIC BRAIN DISORDERS

The basic principles of proton MR spectroscopy as well as newer and more advanced related techniques are reviewed. Spectroscopy is capable of differentiating normal from pathologic brain and provides tissue specificity greater than that of imaging in many instances. Spectroscopic mapping allows for the visualization of the concentration of different metabolites and their distribution within a lesion. This article emphasizes the utility of proton MR spectroscopy in the diagnosis of brain tumors, postradiation therapy changes, infections, degenerative brain disorders, hepatic encephalopathy, ischemia, and demyelination.
Understanding the Effect of Retail Therapy: Interrelationship between Body Shame, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Weight Preoccupation

The goal of this study is to better understand the effect of retail therapy based on individuals’ body shame, weight preoccupation, and body mass index (BMI). Based on individuals’ levels of body shame, BMI, and weight preoccupation, retail therapy was found to be significant for individuals who experienced body shame. Individuals may shop in order to compensate for personal features, and by doing so, they may rectify their negative perceptions of their appearance. The effect of retail therapy was not significantly different, based on the degree of individuals’ weight preoccupation, except for negative mood reduction. Shopping was more effective in reducing a negative mood for individuals with weight preoccupation. These individuals may use clothing to camouflage their perceived flaws, such as wearing loose-fitting clothes. While it is plausible that the effect of retail therapy significantly varies based on BMI, there were no significant differences, regardless of individuals’ BMI.
Self-oxidation-formed boron oxide as a tunnel barrier in SmB6 junctions

Abstract Samarium hexaboride (SmB6) belongs to a novel class of quantum matter known as topological Kondo insulators. By utilizing planar tunneling spectroscopy, signatures of spin excitons that interact with the topological surface states have been observed. To uncover additional details about this interaction, the effect on the characteristic features by plasma cleaning and ion beam etching processes, employed to clean the SmB6 crystal surface, are examined. Additionally, the effect of the plasma oxidation process used to form the tunnel barrier is analysed. Comparing the conductance spectra to simulations based on the Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model revealed that the junctions with the highest resistances also had the weakest barrier strengths. Such seemingly contradictory observations may be explained by considering a barrier containing layers of B6O or B3O in addition to B2O3. This suboxide formation appears to be most dominant at higher ion beam energies as well as lower plasma oxidation powers.
Macroeconomic Impact of the Itaipú Treaty Review for Paraguay

With the debt obligation of Itaipu Binational being completed paid off by 2023, the Annex C of the Treaty of Itaipu, which governs the operation and revenue distribution of the Itaipu Dam, is due for review and possible revisions. The implications for Paraguay’s export revenues and fiscal position are potentially significant. The paper reviews the current energy distribution and sales arrangements of Itaipu and the potential implication of the Annex C revision for the future.
Mutation-Specific Signaling Profiles and Therapeutic Vulnerabilities of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Abstract Background: Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is an uncommon, frequently fatal clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm of early childhood driven by mutations in Ras pathway genes and characterized by hyperactive Ras/MAPK signaling. Clinical outcomes for many children with JMML remain dismal despite use of cytoreductive chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, indicating continued need for new therapeutic approaches. Others and we have demonstrated promising preclinical activity of MEK inhibition in PTPN 11 -mutant (PTPN11) JMML, but the specific signaling characteristics and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities of the more recently-discovered CBL -mutant (CBL) JMML are not known. We hypothesized that genetic subtypes of JMML have distinct biochemical signaling profiles that may be differentially targeted with specific kinase inhibitors. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we created induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from children with JMML harboring somatic PTPN11E76K or germline CBLY371 mutations and from a normal healthy donor. We measured hypersensitivity of iPSCs to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in methylcellulose-based colony-forming unit assays (MCAs). We then assessed the ability of MEK, JAK, and PI3K pathway inhibitors (Figure 1) to inhibit colony formation and signaling phosphoproteins using MCAs and phosphoflow cytometry (PC) analysis, respectively. Results: We observed similar in vitro GM-CSF hypersensitivity and colony formation of PTPN11 and CBL iPSCs in MCAs, recapitulating the phenotype of primary JMML cells. We detected constitutive Ras/MAPK (phosphorylated ERK; pERK) and PI3K pathway signaling (pS6 and pAkt) by PC analysis in both PTPN11 and CBL iPSCs versus control iPSCs (p Conclusions: Our studies demonstrate mutation-specific signaling profiles of JMML iPSCs and therapeutic potential of Ras/MAPK, JAK/STAT, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway kinase inhibitors in genetic subsets of JMML. Creation of additional iPSCs from patients with other JMML-associated mutations will facilitate assessment of additional drugs, alone or as combination therapy. Clinical investigation of mutation-specific kinase inhibitor therapies in children with JMML is warranted. Download : Download high-res image (141KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures Tasian: Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Research Funding. Gandre-Babbe: GlaxoSmithKline: Employment.
Potential limitations of using a modal aerosol approach for sulfate geoengineering applications in climate models

Abstract. Simulating the complex aerosol microphysical processes in a comprehensive Earth System Model can be very computationally intensive and therefore many models utilize a modal approach, where aerosol size distributions are represented by observations-derived lognormal functions. This approach has been shown to yield satisfactory results in a large array of applications, but there may be cases where the simplification in this approach may produce some shortcomings. In this work we show specific conditions under which the current approximations used in modal approaches might yield some incorrect answers. Using results from the Community Earth System Model v1 (CESM1) Geoengineering Large Ensemble (GLENS) project, we analyze the effects in the troposphere of a continuous increasing load of sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere, with the aim of counteracting the surface warming produced by non-mitigated increasing greenhouse gases concentration between 2020–2100. We show that the simulated results pertaining to the evolution of sea salt and dust aerosols in the upper troposphere are not realistic due to internal mixing assumptions in the modal aerosol treatment, which in this case reduces the size, and thus the settling velocities, of those particles and ultimately changes their mixing ratio below the tropopause. The unnatural increase of these aerosol species affects, in turn, the simulation of upper tropospheric ice formation, resulting in an increase in ice clouds that is not due to any meaningful physical mechanisms. While we show that this does not significantly affect the overall results of the simulations, we point to some areas where results should be interpreted with care in modeling simulations using similar approximations: in particular, the evolution of upper tropospheric clouds when large amount of sulfate is present in the stratosphere, as after a large explosive volcanic eruption or in similar stratospheric aerosol injection cases. Finally, we suggest that this could be avoided if sulfate aerosols in the coarse mode, the predominant species in these situation, are treated separately from other aerosol species in the model.
Overcoming Cancer Cell Resistance to Death Receptor Targeted Therapies

Death receptors (DRs) are promising targets for cancer therapies because of their ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. These receptors are characterized by an intracellular death domain, which transmits a death signal from their cognate ligands, including TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). Currently, multiple clinical trials are underway to evaluate the antitumor activity of recombinant human TRAIL and agonistic antibodies to its receptors DR4 and DR5. Although the products have shown a tolerated safety profile in the completed phase 1 studies, a large number of cancer cell lines are found to be resistant to these agents, raising a concern about their clinical efficacy. This review provides an update of recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer cell resistance to DR4/DR5 targeted therapies. This information will be further discussed with respect to combinational strategies to overcome or bypass resistance mechanisms towards a better treatment outcome.
Magnetic Shielding and Chemical Shifts: Basics

This article presents a brief introduction to the physical origins of the magnetic shielding tensor and its symmetry properties. Following the introduction, the basic theory of nonrelativistic magnetic shielding is presented, followed by a qualitative description of the computational methods available for calculations of magnetic shieldings, including the limitations of the current methods. The references provide a comprehensive listing of papers and reviews for readers interested in learning in more detail about the theory and calculations of magnetic shielding tensors. Keywords: theory of magnetic shielding; calculation of chemical shifts
Enhancing the Arabic Treebank: a Collaborative Effort toward New Annotation Guidelines

The Arabic Treebank team at the Linguistic Data Consortium has significantly revised and enhanced its annotation guidelines and procedure over the past year. Improvements were made to both the morphological and syntactic annotation guidelines, and annotators were trained in the new guidelines, focusing on areas of low inter-annotator agreement. The revised guidelines are now being applied in annotation production, and the combination of the revised guidelines and a period of intensive annotator training has raised inter-annotator agreement f-measure scores already and has also improved parsing results.
Set‐based tests for genetic association in longitudinal studies

Genetic association studies with longitudinal markers of chronic diseases (e.g., blood pressure, body mass index) provide a valuable opportunity to explore how genetic variants affect traits over time by utilizing the full trajectory of longitudinal outcomes. Since these traits are likely influenced by the joint effect of multiple variants in a gene, a joint analysis of these variants considering linkage disequilibrium (LD) may help to explain additional phenotypic variation. In this article, we propose a longitudinal genetic random field model (LGRF), to test the association between a phenotype measured repeatedly during the course of an observational study and a set of genetic variants. Generalized score type tests are developed, which we show are robust to misspecification of within-subject correlation, a feature that is desirable for longitudinal analysis. In addition, a joint test incorporating gene-time interaction is further proposed. Computational advancement is made for scalable implementation of the proposed methods in large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The proposed methods are evaluated through extensive simulation studies and illustrated using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Our simulation results indicate substantial gain in power using LGRF when compared with two commonly used existing alternatives: (i) single marker tests using longitudinal outcome and (ii) existing gene-based tests using the average value of repeated measurements as the outcome.
Relationship Between Growth of Corn Earworm and Fall Armyworm Larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Maysin Concentration in Corn Silks

Plant resistance to insects, specifically antibiotic resistance, offers biologically, economically, and environmentally sound alternatives to pesticides for controlling the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), in corn, Zea mays L. Our study was done to determine the relationship between maysin concentration in corn silks and growth of corn earwonn and fall armyworm larvae. Silks, or methanol extracts from the silks of a large number of corn entries mixed in meridic diets, were evaluated by feeding them to neonate larvae and measuring subsequent larval growth at 8 or 9 d. Silks from several corn entries showed high antibiosis and a high maysin content. A range of highly significant negative relationships between weight of larvae and maysin concentration was observed.
A personal news agent that talks, learns and explains

Most work on intelligent information agents has thus far focused on systems that are accessible through the World Wide Web. As demanding schedules prohibit people from continuous access to their computers, there is a clear demand for information systems that do not require workstation access or graphical user interfaces. We present a personal news agent that is designed to become part of an intelligent, IP-enabled radio, which uses synthesized speech to read news stories to a user. Based on voice feedback from the user, the system automatically adapts to the user’s preferences and interests. In addition to time-coded feedback, we explore two components of the system that facilitate the automated induction of accurate interest profiles. First, we motivate the use of a multistrategy machine learning approach that allows for the induction of user models that consist of separate models for long-term and short-term interests. Second, we investigate the use of "concept feedback", a novel form of user feedback that is based on our agent's capability to construct explanations for the reasons that have led to a specific classification. Users can then critique these explanations which, from a machine learning perspective, allows for more direct changes to an induced concept than through the inclusion of additional training examples. We evaluate the proposed algorithms on user data collected with a prototype of our system, and assess the performance contributions of the system's individual components.
Contrast enhancement of thallium-201 myocardial scintigrams: improved sensitivity with diminished specificity in coronary disease detection

Thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy (TMS) has become an increasingly popular noninvasive technique with a high diagnostic specificity, but a somewhat lower sensitivity for coronary disease (CAD) detection. Many centers now routinely employ computer techniques to contrast enhance scintigrams, but the resulting changes in sensitivity and specificity have not been carefully evaluated. In the present study, three observers with different levels of experience blindly interpreted both unprocessed and enhanced exercise TMS from 40 patients with CAD and from 15 without significant obstructions. The sensitivity for CAD achieved by each observer was higher with the enhanced scintigrams (increase from an average of 80% to 93%), but there was concomitant loss of specificity (from 93% to 73%). Similarly, significant changes were present in the sensitivity and specificity with which ischemic regions were diagnosed. In addition, contrast enhancement facilitated interpretation of TMS studies, particularly in making comparisons between exercise scintigrams and subsequent rest or redistribution images. Contrast enhancement affected the interpretations of the inexperienced observer most significantly. We conclude that contrast enhancement improves TMS sensitivity but results in some loss of specificity. The variable effect of enhancement on observers with different levels of experience suggests that laboratories should critically evaluate their own results before routinely employing computer processing.
Wage Patterns and Wage Policy in Modern China 1919–1972

Preface 1. Wage structure and development 2. The structure of industrial wages before 1949 3. The level and structure of wages since 1949 4. The effectiveness of wage policy 5. The process of wage determination: plans and evaluation 6. The process of wage determination: the wage reforms 7. The limits of wage control 8. The overall incentive structure: wage forms, job tenure and emulation 9. Optimal incentive policy and the future of the Chinese economy 10. Analytical summary Bibliography Indexes.
CHARGE STATES AND EXCITATION OF FAST HEAVY IONS PASSING THROUGH SOLIDS: A NEW MODEL FOR THE DENSITY EFFECT.

The theory of Bohr and Lindhard for electron capture and loss by heavy ions penetrating through solids has been modified. It is concluded that the difference in the average equilibrium charge of fast ions traversing solids and dilute gases is mainly due to Auger processes which occur after the ions leave the solid. The charge states inside solids are \char22{} in disagreement with the deductions of Bohr and Lindhard \char22{} not much larger than those in gases.
Generalized Networks, Generalized Upper Bounding and Decomposition of the Convex Simplex Method

If the constraint matrix of a linear program has special structure it may be possible to speed computation. Techniques have been developed to take advantage of such special structures as generalized networks, generalized upper bounding, and decomposition. For these matrix structures, it is shown in this paper how to extend the techniques to Zangwill's mathematical programming algorithm, the convex simplex method.
Type 1 interferon-induced IL-7 maintains CD8+ T-cell responses and homeostasis by suppressing PD-1 expression in viral hepatitis.

Type 1 interferon (IFN-I) promotes antigen-presenting cell maturation and was recently shown to induce hepatic IL-7 production during infection. Herein, we further explored the underlying mechanisms used by IFN-I to orchestrate antiviral immune responses in the liver. Acute viral hepatitis was induced by i.v. injection of adenovirus (Ad) in IFN-α receptor knockout (IFNAR−/−) and control mice. To disrupt signaling, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against IL-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Rα) or PD-L1 were i.p. injected. We found that CD8+ T cells in IFNAR−/− mice were less effective than those in control mice. The reduced T-cell function was accompanied by increased levels of PD-1 expression, apoptosis and decreased IFN-γ production. The lack of IFN-I signaling also impaired the expression of accessory molecules in both intrahepatic dendritic cell (DCs) and hepatocytes. PD-L1 was comparably and highly expressed on hepatocytes in both IFNAR−/− and control mice. Injection of PD-L1-specific mAb in IFNAR−/− mice reversed the compromised immune responses in the liver. Further investigation showed that hepatic IL-7 elevation was less pronounced in IFNAR−/− mice compared to the controls. A treatment with recombinant IL-7 suppressed PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells in vitro. Accordingly, blocking IL-7R signaling in vivo resulted in increased PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells in Ad-infected mice. Collectively, the results suggest that IFN-I-induced hepatic IL-7 production maintains antiviral CD8+ T-cell responses and homeostasis by suppressing PD-1 expression in acute viral hepatitis.
Evidence for free radical formation during the oxidation of 2′-7′-dichlorofluorescin to the fluorescent dye 2′-7′-dichlorofluorescein by horseradish peroxidase:: Possible implications for oxidative stress measurements

The oxidation of 2′-7′-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) to the fluorescent 2′-7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was investigated by fluorescence, absorption, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). As has been previously reported, HRP/H2O2 oxidized DCFH to the highly fluorescent DCF. However, DCF fluorescence was still observed when H2O2 was omitted, although its intensity was reduced by 50%. Surprisingly, the fluorescence increase, in the absence of exogenous H2O2, was still strongly inhibited by catalase, demonstrating that H2O2 was present and necessary for DCF formation. H2O2was apparently formed during either chemical or enzymatic deacetylation of 2′-7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), probably by auto-oxidation. Spectrophotometric measurements clearly showed that DCFH could be oxidized either by HRP-compound I or HRP-compound II with the obligate generation of the DCF semiquinone free radical (DCF•−). Oxidation of DCF•− to DCF by oxygen would yield superoxide (O2•−). ESR spectroscopy in conjunction with the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) revealed the presence of both superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in the DCFH/H2O2/HRP system. Both radicals were also detected in the absence of added H2O2, although the intensities of the resultant adducts were decreased. This work demonstrates that DCF fluorescence cannot be used reliably to measure O2•− in cells because O2•− itself is formed during the conversion of DCFH to DCF by peroxidases. The disproportionation of superoxide forms H2O2 which, in the presence of peroxidase activity, will oxidize more DCFH to DCF with self-amplification of the fluorescence. Because the deacetylation of DCFH-DA, even by esterases, can produce H2O2, the use of this probe to measure H2O2 production in cells is problematic.
A note on the Dubins-Savage utility of a strategy

In their book,How To Gamble, If You Must, Lester E. Dubins and Leonard J. Savage defined the utility μ(σ) of a strategy σ with respect to a utility functionu by μ(σ)=lim sup t→∞μ(σ,t)=lim sup t→∞ E(σ,u t) where “lim sup” is taken over the directed set of all stop rules onH, u t is the real-valued function onH defined byu t(h)=u(ft(h)) ifh=(f 1,f2,…ft(h)…) andE(σ,u t) is the Eudoxus integral ofu t with respect to the strategy σ. In this note, we will show that μ(σ) is nothing but the σ-integral of the real-valued functionu * defined onH byu *(h)=lim sup n→∞ u(f n) ifh=(f 1,f2,…) inH. Finally, an application of this result is stated.
Activity of serotonin-containing neurons in nucleus centralis superior of freely moving cats

Abstract Serotonergic neurons were recorded in the nucleus centralis superior (NCS) in freely moving cats and were initially identified on-line by their slow and regular spontaneous activity (mean 2.55 ± 0.21 spikes/s). Discharge rates of NCS serotonergic neurons were highest during active waking (AW) (mean 2.94 ± 0.28 spikes/s), decreased during slow-wave sleep (middle of SWS: mean 1.38 ± 0.18 spikes/s), and were lowest during REM sleep (mean 0.46 ± 0.13 spikes/s). The activity of serotonergic NCS neurons did not significantly increase during transient elevations of the EMG during AW but did significantly decrease immediately preceding, and during the occurrence of, SWS spindles. These neurons were responsive to phasic auditory and visual stimuli, with most neurons showing excitatory responses. In response to a small dose of the serotoninspecific agonist 5-methoxy- N,N -dimethyltryptamine (50 μg/kg, i.m.), NCS serotonergic neurons responded with a mean decrease in unit activity of 43.9 ± 6.1%. Among the NCS serotonergic neurons a subpopulation differed from the remaining serotonergic neurons in that they showed a much smaller decrease in unit activity across the sleep-wake cycle and responded with an inhibition of activity to phasic auditory and visual stimuli. The results of this study are compared with those previously reported for serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus, nucleus raphe pallidus, and nucleus raphe magnus of freely moving cats.
Engineering a native homoethanol pathway in Escherichia coli B for ethanol production.

A native homoethanol pathway (pyruvate-to-acetyl-CoA-to-acetaldehyde-to-ethanol) was engineered in Escherichia coli B. The competing fermentation pathways were eliminated by chromosomal deletions of the genes encoding for fumarate reductase (frdABCD), lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA), acetate kinase (ackA), and pyruvate formate lyase (pflB). For redox balance and anaerobic cell growth, the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (aceEF-lpd, a typical aerobically-expressed operon) was highly expressed anaerobically using a native anaerobic inducible promoter. The resulting strain SZ420 (ΔfrdBC ΔldhA ΔackA ΔfocA-pflB ΔpdhR::pflBp6-pflBrbs-aceEF-lpd) contains no foreign genes and/or promoters and efficiently ferments glucose and xylose into ethanol with a yield of 90% under anaerobic conditions.
Net primary production of terrestrial ecosystems from 2000 to 2009

The CASA (Carnegie-Ames-Stanford) ecosystem model has been used to estimate monthly carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems from 2000 to 2009, with global data inputs from NASA’s Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation cover mapping. Net primary production (NPP) flux for atmospheric carbon dioxide has varied slightly from year-to-year, but was predicted to have increased over short multi-year periods in the regions of the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere, South Asia, Central Africa, and the western Amazon since the year 2000. These CASA results for global NPP were found to be in contrast to other recently published modeling trends for terrestrial NPP with high sensitivity to regional drying patterns. Nonetheless, periodic declines in regional NPP were predicted by CASA for the southern and western Untied States, the southern Amazon, and southern and eastern Africa. NPP in tropical forest zones was examined in greater detail to discover lower annual production values than previously reported in many global models across the tropical rainforest zones, likely due to the enhanced detection of lower production ecosystems replacing primary rainforest.
Goal-centric traceability for managing non-functional requirements

This paper describes a goal centric approach for effectively maintaining critical system qualities such as security, performance, and usability throughout the lifetime of a software system. In goal centric traceability (GCT) non-functional requirements and their interdependencies are modeled as softgoals in a softgoal interdependency graph (SIG). A probabilistic network model is then used to dynamically retrieve links between classes affected by a functional change and elements within the SIG. These links enable developers to identify potentially impacted goals; to analyze the level of impact on those goals; to make informed decisions concerning the implementation of the proposed change; and finally to develop appropriate risk mitigating strategies. This paper also reports experimental results for the link retrieval and illustrates the GCT process through an example of a change applied to a road management system.
Muscle abnormalities in juvenile dermatomyositis patients: P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies.

Objective To characterize metabolic abnormalities in the muscles of children with the juvenile variant of dermatomyositis (JDM) by the use of noninvasive P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Methods Thirteen patients with JDM (ages 4–16 years) were studied. Biochemical status was evaluated with P-31 MRS by determining the concentrations of the high-energy phosphate compounds, ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr), ratios of inorganic phosphate (Pi) to PCr (Pi:PCr ratio), levels of free cytosolic ADP, and phosphorylation potentials (PPs) during rest, exercise, and recovery. Results Significant metabolic abnormalities were observed in the thigh muscles of 10 severely affected patients during rest, 2 graded levels of exercise, and recovery. Mean ATP and PCr levels in the muscles of JDM patients were 35–40% below the normal control values (P < 0.003). These data, along with elevated Pi:PCr ratios, higher ADP levels, and abnormal values for PPs, indicated defective oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria of diseased JDM muscles. MRS findings were normal in 2 additional patients who had improved with prednisone treatment and in 1 patient who had no muscle weakness (amyopathic variant of JDM). Conclusion JDM patients can be monitored with noninvasive P-31 MRS without sedation. Biochemical defects in energy metabolism are concordant with the weakness and fatigue reported by JDM patients. Quantitative MRS data are useful for evaluating patients and optimizing drug treatment regimens.
Modulation of drug cytotoxicity in wild-type and multidrug-resistant tumor cells by stereoisomeric series of C-20′-vinblastine congeners that lack antimicrotubule activity

Seven binary vinca alkaloid congeners were newly synthesized as the C14' or C16'(20') or C14'16'(20') stereoisomers of C20'-modified VBL. These congeners lacked detectable antimicrotubule activity in assays of polymerization of purified microtubule protein and of mitotic arrest induction. The compounds modulated the cytotoxicity of VBL, VCR, and DOX in sarcoma and colon-tumor cell lines. In wild-type cell lines, each congener elicited a concentration-dependent enhancement of cytotoxicity that was drug- and cell-type-selective. For example, C20'-deoxy C14'16'20'-epi VBL sensitized sarcoma S180 cells 19-fold to DOX and 11-fold to VCR but had no effect on VBL cytotoxicity. In the rat colon-cancer cell lines there was preferential enhancement of VCR cytotoxicity by most congeners. In two MDR cell strains of S180, the modulation potency of each congener was independent of specific drug or of resistance level. As a result, the amount of modulator (concentration) required for reversal was proportional to the drug-resistance level. Such properties were not displayed by the monomeric vinca alkaloid modulator vindoline. The potency of drug modulation in both wild-type and MDR cells strains was dependent on the stereoisomeric form of the congener and its C20'-substituents.
L'évaluation du coût des complications peut-elle contribuer à la poursuite du développement de la radiothérapie ?

Resume Le developpement actuel de techniques complexes d'irradiation therapeutique visant toutes a une adequation maximale entre le volume tumoral et celui recevant la dose prescrite pose le probleme des elements objectifs de justification de ces demarches multiples. Au-dela de l'amelioration eventuelle de la performance antitumorale, il est logique de rechercher dans la reduction du risque de complications une des raisons de ces avancees techniques. Les donnees actuelles de la litterature ne permettent pas d'etayer immediatement cette hypothese, mais sont cependant suffisantes pour orienter la recherche clinique necessaire. Dans ce cadre, il est propose l'application de methodes d'aide a la decision fondees sur la simulation probabilistique des differents evenements medicaux suivant une prise en charge radiotherapique initiale. L'analyse de la valorisation de ces evenements, et en particulier des complications, permet de penser que des etudes de type cout/benefice sont susceptibles de repondre a la question posee, a la condition expresse de concentrer l'etude sur des maladies et des techniques soigneusement selectionnees. La necessite de realiser des etudes cliniques prospectives de ce type parait etre d'une evidente actualite.
A comparison of the patterns of migration and the destinations of homotopically transplanted neonatal subventricular zone cells and heterotopically transplanted telencephalic ventricular zone cells

Abstract The cells arising in the anterior part of the subventricular zone (SVZa) migrate along a well-demarcated pathway which lacks radial glial fibers to the olfactory bulb where they differentiate into interneurons of the granule cell layer or glomerular layer (Luskin, 1993,Neuron11, 173). To analyze the mechanisms underlying this highly directed migration, we have compared the migratory behavior of unmanipulated SVZa-derived cells to that of homotopically transplanted SVZa cells and of heterotopically transplanted telencephalic ventricular zone (VZ) cells that ordinarily migrate in association with radial glial fibers. To identify the phenotype of the SVZa progenitor cells prior to their transplantation, we characterized themin vitrousing cell type-specific markers. After 1 day in culture nearly all the SVZa cells were stained with TuJ1, a neuron-specific marker; only an occasional cell exhibited a glial phenotype as judged by the presence of GFAP-immunoreactivity. This indicates that SVZa cells express a neuronal phenotype. To reveal the spatiotemporal distribution of homotopically transplanted neonatal SVZa cells in a host brain, dissociated SVZa cells from Postnatal Day 0 (P0)–P2 animals were labeled with the lipophilic dye PKH26 or the cell proliferation marker BrdU and implanted into the SVZa of host animals of the same age. Within the first week after transplantation there were vast numbers of labeled cells throughout the pathway. Over the next 2 weeks the labeled cells migrated into the overlying cellular layer of the olfactory bulb and began to differentiate, and within 4 weeks the transplanted cells had reached their final positions in the granule cell and glomerular layers of the olfactory bulb in the same proportions as for unmanipulated SVZa-derived cells. While en route to the olfactory bulb the homotopically transplanted cells never strayed from the migratory pathway. In contrast, heterotopically transplanted VZ cells from the embryonic telencephalon did not undergo migration although they did differentiate. These results demonstrate that the homotopically transplanted SVZa-derived cells adopt a mode of migration indistinguishable from that ordinarily utilized by SVZa-derived neurons and that the VZ cells are unable to decipher the same set of guidance cues.
SU-E-I-85: Evaluation of a Solid-State Dosimeter Module for Measuring Nuclear Medicine Radionuclides.

Purpose: A recently introduced solid‐state dosimeter module (UDOS001, Teledyne Microelectronic Technologies, Los Angeles, CA) requires only external power (e.g., from two nine‐volt batteries in series) and a battery‐ powered data recorder to assemble a compact, portable dosimeter. This device was developed for radiation detection and monitoring of a wide range of radiation types. It has a nominal minimum energy of 100 keV. The present study sought to determine its suitability for measuring the dose from radionuclides used in nuclear medicine. Methods: Three radionuclides (initially 4.77 mCi of F‐18, 3.86 mCi of I‐131, and 12.4 mCi of Tc‐99m) were measured at a distance of one meter and at several different angles of incidence. The most sensitive analog output of the dosimeter was digitized by a battery‐powered data logging device (Track‐It 5VDC, Monarch Instrument, Amherst NH). These data were transferred from the data logger into a Windows 7 personal computer, formatted as an Excel 2010 spreadsheet and converted from voltage to dose using the manufacturer's nominal calibration factor of 14 urad/19.5 mV step. The dose rate was determined from the slope of a linear fit to the cumulated dose as a function of time. Results: The nominal calibration of the dosimeter gives dose rate measurements that are close to published gamma ray dose rate constants for these radionuclides (0.65 vs. 0.70, 0.25 vs. 0.28, and 0.071 vs. 0.078 mrad/mCi‐hr respectively). The angular dependence of the response is greater at 140 keV than at 511 keV, but an acceptance angle of at least 90 degrees has uniform response with all three radionuclides. Conclusions: A better calibration factor would be 0.154 urad/19.5 mV step at these gamma ray energies. This dosimeter can be used to measure the dose from common radionuclides used in nuclear medicine.
Measurement of lateral adhesion forces at the interface between a liquid drop and a substrate.

A novel instrument allows for the first time measurements of the lateral adhesion forces at a solid-liquid interface, ${f}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$, in a way that is decoupled from the normal forces, ${f}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. We use it to measure how ${f}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ between a drop and a surface is influenced by different ${f}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ and different histories of drop resting periods on the surface prior to sliding, ${t}_{\mathrm{rest}}$. The variation of ${f}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ with ${t}_{\mathrm{rest}}$ is similar for different ${f}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ and always plateaus as ${t}_{\mathrm{rest}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. We show that the ${f}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ plateau value is higher when ${f}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ is lower. This seemingly counterintuitive result is in agreement with recent theories.
Interactive tools for signal processing education: The signal processing instructional facility SPIF Lab at washington state university

The Signal Processing Instructional Facility SPIF Lab is an experiment in using in interactive multimedia for teaching concepts related to linear systems theory and signal processing. The goals of the SPIF lab are to augment, enhance, and interconnect sophomore, junior, and senior level courses with the common thread of linear systems and transforms by unifying the experimentation medium. In this fashion, physical phenomenon is returned to the forefront of engineering education. The laboratory features powerful Mathematica Notebooks a form of hypertext and interactive applications that use dedicated DSP microprocessors.
6-Hydroxydopamine and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine selectively reduce dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolites in cerebroventricular perfusates of rats.

Abstract The efflux into the lateral cerebral ventricles of metabolites of dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) was determined in unanesthetized rats bearing chronically implanted push-pull cannulae. Pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) reduced the basal efflux of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), but not of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA). The haloperidol-induced increase in the efflux of DOPAC and HVA was markedly attenuated in the 6-OHDA-pretreated rats. In rats treated with 5,7-hydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) the basal efflux of DOPAC and HVA was unaffected, while that of 5HIAA was markedly reduced; in these animals the ability of L-tryptophan to increase the perfusate content of 5HIAA was abolished. These results indicate that metabolites of DA and 5HT appearing in cerebroventricular perfusatesof rats originate from DA and 5HT neuronal terminals in the brain.
Structural analysis of xyloglucan oligosaccharides by 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry.

Abstract A method to determine rapidly the identities and proportions of the oligosaccharide repeating-units in plant cell-wall xyloglucans by 1D 1 H-n.m.r. spectroscopy was developed. Six of the most commonly found xyloglucan oligosaccharide subunits (including three subunits that had not been fully characterized previously) were prepared by endo-(1→4)-β- d -glucanase digestion of xyloglucans from various plant species. The oligosaccharides were reduced to the corresponding oligoglycosyl-alditols, purified, and characterized by glycosyl composition and linkage analysis, 1 H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and f.a.b.-mass spectrometry. Correlations between the 1 H-n.m.r. spectra and the structures of the oligoglycosyl-alditols can be used to identify oligoglycosyl-alditols derived from xyloglucans of unknown structure. The identities and relative amounts of the oligosaccharide subunits of xyloglucans isolated from tamarind seed and rapeseed hulls were determined on this basis.
Identification, characterization and pharmacological profile of three metabolites of (R)-(+)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-phenyl-1-[(3-phenylcyclohexen-1-yl)methyl]pyridine (CI-1007), a dopamine autoreceptor agonist and potential antipsychotic agent

Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) analysis of plasma taken from cynomolgus monkeys dosed orally with (R)-(+)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-phenyl-1-[(3-phenylcyclohexen-1- yl)methyl]pyridine (1), a dopamine (DA) autoreceptor agonist and potential antipsychotic agent, revealed several metabolites. The molecular masses of three major metabolites suggested that they were mono- and dihydroxylated derivatives of 1. We synthesized compounds 2 and 3, the two possible mono-p-hydroxyphenyl derivatives of 1, along with the bis-p-hydroxyphenyl derivative 4. These compounds coeluted by HPLC with the three hydroxylated metabolites of 1. Compounds 2-4 all had high affinities for DA D2 and D3 receptors and moderate affinities for D4 receptors. Like 1, compound 2 decreased DA synthesis and neuronal firing in rat brain, indicative of DA autoreceptor activation. Compound 2 inhibited exploratory locomotor activity in rodents and was active in the Sidman avoidance test in squirrel monkeys, predictive of antipsychotic activity in humans. Compounds 3 and 4 showed weak activity in all these tests. After squirrel monkeys were dosed with 1 orally at the ED100 dose of the Sidman avoidance test, the plasma concentration of 2 was below the limit of quantitation. Therefore, these metabolites are unlikely to contribute greatly to the potent activity seen with 1 in the Sidman avoidance test.