cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solubilization of SV40 Plasma‐Membrane‐Associated Large Tumor Antigen Using Single‐Phase Concentrations of 1‐Butanol

The nature of the interaction of the simian virus 40 (SV40) transforming protein, large tumor antigen (T-ag), with the plasma membrane of transformed cells is not well understood. We report here that SV40 plasma-membrane-associated large tumor antigen (pmT-ag) can be solubilized by using single-phase concentrations of 1-butanol. Purified plasma membranes from SV40-transformed mouse cells yielded T-ag when treated with 2.5% butanol; solubilization of T-ag from the purified membranes in butanol was temperature dependent, with approximately 10-fold more T-ag extracted at 37 degrees C than at 22 degrees C; and application of 2.5% butanol to mKSA cells after cellular surface proteins had been radiolabeled with 125I resulted in the release of iodinated T-ag. Butanol-extracted pmT-ag coprecipitated with p53 and several cellular proteins ranging in size from 35 to 60 kDa. One cellular component migrated at a mobility similar to that of tubulin (56 kDa), and a monoclonal antibody against the alpha subunit of tubulin coprecipitated T-ag. Immunoblotting of proteins immunoprecipitated with monoclonal antibodies against T-ag or p53 from butanol extracts with a monoclonal antibody against the beta subunit of tubulin revealed specific coprecipitation of tubulin with T-ag and p53. This suggests that complexes composed of tubulin, T-ag, and p53 exist in butanol extracts. Control experiments eliminated the possibility of an artifactual association of tubulin with T-ag and p53 induced by butanol. Two-dimensional gel analyses revealed that 2.5% butanol at 37 degrees C extracted a subset of membrane-associated proteins and some cytosolic proteins, as well as a number of proteins that were not soluble in either high salt or detergent. Thus, the butanol extraction conditions employed in this study recovered a species of pmT-ag that appears to complex with tubulin. As butanol reportedly is less deleterious to native protein structures than other agents, including high salts and detergents, this extraction procedure may be useful for studying the structure and function of other membrane-associated proteins.
Facial expression recognition based on diffeomorphic matching

This paper presents a new framework for facial expression recognition based on diffeomorphic matching. First landmarks are selected based on a manual or automatic method. All of the landmarks from different images are registered to a reference landmark set using a rigid registration algorithm. The pair-wise geodesic distance between all sets of landmarks are then computed using diffeomorphic matching. Finally, a K-Nearest Neighbor classifier (KNN) is used to classify a query image using the geodesic distances. Both the classification and classical MultiDimensional Scaling results show that geodesic distance is more effective than Euclidean distance on capturing the face shape variation.
Application of the Morse Potential Function to Cubic Metals

The Morse parameters were calculated using experimental values for the energy of vaporization, the lattice constant, and the compressibility. The equation of state and the elastic constants which were computed using the Morse parameters, agreed with experiment for both face-centered and body-centered cubic metals. All stability conditions were also satisfied for both the face-centered and the body-centered metals. This shows that the Morse function can be applied validly to problems involving any type of deformation of the cubic metals.
Mechanical Properties of Suprarenal and Infrarenal Abdominal Aorta: Implications for Mouse Models of Aneurysms

Multiple mouse models have been developed to increase our understanding of the natural history of abdominal aortic aneurysms. An advantage of such models is that one can quantify the time course of changes in geometry, histology, cell biology, and mechanics as a lesion develops. One of the most commonly used mouse models yields lesions in the suprarenal abdominal aorta whereas most other models target the infrarenal abdominal aorta, consistent with the clinical observation that nearly all abdominal aneurysms in humans occur in the infrarenal aorta. Understanding reasons for similarities and differences between diverse mouse models and human lesions may provide increased insight that would not be possible studying a single situation alone. Toward this end, however, we must first compare directly the native structure and properties of these two portions of the abdominal aorta in the mouse. In this paper, we present the first biaxial mechanical data and nonlinear constitutive descriptors for the suprarenal and infrarenal aorta in mice, which reveals only subtle mechanical differences despite marked morphological and histological differences. Such data promise to increase our ability to understand and model the natural history of these deadly lesions.
Time-periodic behavior of multiband superlattices in static electric fields

We use an analytic perturbation expansion for the two-band system of tight binding electrons to discuss Bloch oscillations and Zener tunneling within this model. We make comparison with recent numerical results and predict analytically the frequency of radiation expected from Zener tunneling, including its disappearance, as a function of the system parameters.
Characterization of native and adsorbed thin films on silicon detector surfaces : static and kinetic applications

Abstract The photoelectric response of a windowless reflective silicon photodetector for obliquely incident polarized monochromatic light is used to characterize the native passivation dielectric thin film at the detector surface. In the presence of adsorption, the generated photoelectric signal becomes a function of the thickness and refractive index of the adsorbed layer. Higher sensitivity is achieved with s-polarized light and at incidence angles > 60 °. Furthermore, the passivation layer can be optimized for a specific adsorption experiment. A sensor of this kind is used to study the adsorption kinetics of H 2 O at the detector surface and the results are interpreted by Bruggeman's effective medium theory. If a second detector is introduced to intercept the light reflected by the first detector, and the polarization of the incident light is modulated, analysis of output signals of this two-detector system determines the responsivity, absolute reflectances, and ellipsometric parameters of the first detector surface.
Geometric ambiguities in boundary representations

Boundary representations are usually separated into two components, a topological component and a geometric component. The conditions necessary to insure that the topological component is unambiguous are well understood. However, in algebriac modeling systems (as opposed to polyhedral modeling systems), an unambiguous topological structure can have noncongruent geometric interpretations with identical vertex coordinates, face equations and edge descriptions using the usual representation of edges as the intersection of faces along with tangent vectors at vertices. This means that the conversion of a CSG tree that unambiguously describes a solid can lead to an ambiguous boundary representations unless additional information is retained in the boundary representation. This paper examines the source of these ambiguities and presents one method for their elimination.
Acquiring Teaching Skills through Concept-Based Training.

To assess the effect of concept-based training on the acquisition of teaching skills, twenty practicing teachers were assigned to either a training group or a non training group using an assignment strategy that controlled for relevant trainee variables. Posttraining evidence was collected on concept acquisition scores, incidence of use of the skills taught, and the relationship between concept acquisition scores and skill scores. Concept-based training resulted in significantly higher mean concept acquisition scores and a significantly higher mean incidence of use of the teaching skills. A positive and significant correlation was found between concept acquisition scores and skill scores in the trained group.
Mutations in the chemotactic response regulator, CheY, that confer resistance to the phosphatase activity of CheZ

CheY, a small cytoplasmic response regulator, plays an essential role in the chemotaxis pathway. The concentration of phospho-CheY is thought to determine the swimming behaviour of the cell: high levels of phospho-CheY cause bacteria to rotate their flagella clockwise and tumble, whereas low levels of the phosphorylated form of the protein allow counter-clockwise rotation of the flagella and smooth swimming. The phosphorylation state of CheY in vivo is determined by the activity of the phosphoryl donor CheA, and by the antagonistic effect of dephosphorylation of phospho-CheY. The dephosphorylation rate is controlled by the intrinsic autohydrolytic activity of phospho-CheY and by the CheZ protein, which accelerates dephosphorylation. We have analysed the effect of CheZ on the dephosphorylation rates of several mutant CheY proteins. Two point mutations were identified which were 50-fold and 5-fold less sensitive to the activity of CheZ than was the wild-type protein. Nonetheless, the phosphorylation and autodephosphorylation rates of these mutants. CheY23ND and CheY26KE, were observed to be identical to those of wild-type CheY in the absence of CheZ. These are the first examples of cheY mutations that reduce sensitivity to the phosphatase activity of CheZ without being altered in terms of their intrinsic phosphorylation and autodephosphorylation rates. Interestingly, the residues Asn-23 and Lys-26 are located on a face of CheY far from the phosphorylation site (Asp-57), distinct from the previously described site of interaction with the histidine kinase CheA, and partially overlapping with a region implicated in interaction with the flagellar switch.
Pyrolysis-high resolution gas chromatography and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of kerogens and kerogen precursors

A series of kerogens and kerogen precursors isolated from DSDP samples, oil shales and recent algal mats have been examined by Curie point pyrolysis-high resolution gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This study has shown that the three main types of kerogens (marine, terrestrial and mixtures of both) can be characterized using these techniques. The marine (algal) kerogens yield principally aliphatic products and the terrestrial kerogens yield more aromatic and phenolic products with some n-alkanes and n-alkenes. The yields of n-alkanes and n-alkenes increase and phenols decrease with increasing geologic age, however, pyrolysis-GC cannot be used to characterize the influence of short term diagenesis on the kerogen structure.
Glucocorticoid stress responses of lions in relationship to group composition, human land use, and proximity to people

Large carnivore populations are in global decline, and conflicts between large carnivores and humans or their livestock con tribute to low tolerance of large carnivores outside of protected areas. African lions (Panthera leo) are a conflict-prone species, and their continental range has declined by 75% in the face of human pressures. Nonetheless, large carnivore populations persist (or even grow) in some areas that are occupied by humans. Lions attain locally high density in the Olkiramatian and Shompole Group Ranches of Kenya’s South Rift region, despite residence by pastoralist Maasai people and their sheep, goats, and cattle. We have previously found that these lions respond to seasonal movements of people by moving away from occupied settlements, shifting into denser habitats when people are nearby, and moving into a protected conservation area when people move into the adjacent buffer zone. Here, we examined lion stress responses to anthropogenic activities, using enzyme-linked immunoassay to measure the concentration of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in 136 samples collected from five lion groups over 2 y ears. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations were significantly lower for lions in the conservation area than for lions in the human-settled buffer zone, and decreased significantly with increasing distance to the nearest occupied human settlement. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations were not detectably related to finescaled variation in prey or livestock density, and surprisingly, faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations were higher in the wet season, when regional prey abundance was high. Lions coexist with people and livestock on this landscape by adjusting their movements, but they nonetheless mount an appreciable stress response when conditions do not allow them to maintain adequate separation. Thus, physiological data confirm inferences from prior data on lion movements and habitat use, showing that access to undisturbed and protected areas facilitates human–lion coexistence in a broader landscape that is used by people and livestock.
A Constrained EM Algorithm for Independent Component Analysis

We introduce a novel way of performing independent component analysis using a constrained version of the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm. The source distributions are modeled as D one-dimensional mixtures of gaussians. The observed data are modeled as linear mixtures of the sources with additive, isotropic noise. This generative model is fit to the data using constrained EM. The simpler "soft-switching" approach is introduced, which uses only one parameter to decide on the sub- or supergaussian nature of the sources. We explain how our approach relates to independent factor analysis.
The magnitude and dynamics of interocular suppression affected by monocular boundary contour and conflicting local features.

A monocular boundary contour (MBC) rivalry stimulus has two half-images, a homogeneous grating and the same homogeneous grating with an additional disc region. The outline/frame of the MBC disc is created by relative phase-shift, or orientation-difference. We found the increment contrast threshold and reaction time to detect a monocular Gabor probe elevated on the homogeneous half-image pedestal. The interocular suppression begins as early as 80 ms upon stimulus onset. Moreover, the suppression magnitude is larger when the MBC disc is defined by orientation-difference rather than phase-shift, revealing the suppression caused by competing local features in addition to MBC.
Application and experience of a two-dosimeter algorithm for better estimation of effective dose during maintenance periods at Korea nuclear power plants

The application of a two-dosimeter and its algorithm and a test of its use in an inhomogeneous high radiation field are described. The goal was to develop an improved method for estimating the effective dose during maintenance periods at Korean nuclear power plants (NPPs). The application and experience to KNPPs was evaluated using data for each algorithm from two-dosimeter results for an inhomogeneous high radiation field during maintenance periods at Korean NPPs.
WHORF: A HYPERTEXT TOOL FOR SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE

Software maintenance programmers face the daunting task of understanding and modifying complex, unfamiliar programs that contain delocalized plans (conceptually related code that is not located contiguously in a program). Our research shows that programmers use an as-needed strategy when searching for the delocalized components which they need to understand. We have developed a maintenance tool, Whorf, that provides explicit support for visualizing and understanding delocalized plans using an as-needed strategy. Whorf supports this strategy through multiple, concurrent views of the software with instant, easy access to additional views. It supports the understanding of delocalized plans by providing hypertext links between views to highlight interactions between physically disparate components. A study comparing the usage of Whorf and paper documentation shows that the dynamic views and structure supported by Whorf provide information more quickly and easily than the static structure of paper documentation.
N-15 NMR spectra of naturally abundant nitrogen in soil and aquatic natural organic matter samples of the International Humic Substances Society

Abstract The naturally abundant nitrogen in soil and aquatic NOM samples from the International Humic Substances Society has been characterized by solid state CP/MAS 15 N NMR. Soil samples include humic and fulvic acids from the Elliot soil, Minnesota Waskish peat and Florida Pahokee peat, as well as the Summit Hill soil humic acid and the Leonardite humic acid. Aquatic samples include Suwannee River humic, fulvic and reverse osmosis isolates, Nordic humic and fulvic acids and Pony Lake fulvic acid. Additionally, Nordic and Suwannee River XAD-4 acids and Suwannee River hydrophobic neutral fractions were analyzed. Similar to literature reports, amide/aminoquinone nitrogens comprised the major peaks in the solid state spectra of the soil humic and fulvic acids, along with heterocyclic and amino sugar/terminal amino acid nitrogens. Spectra of aquatic samples, including the XAD-4 acids, contain resolved heterocyclic nitrogen peaks in addition to the amide nitrogens. The spectrum of the nitrogen enriched, microbially derived Pony Lake, Antarctica fulvic acid, appeared to contain resonances in the region of pyrazine, imine and/or pyridine nitrogens, which have not been observed previously in soil or aquatic humic substances by 15 N NMR. Liquid state 15 N NMR experiments were also recorded on the Elliot soil humic acid and Pony Lake fulvic acid, both to examine the feasibility of the techniques, and to determine whether improvements in resolution over the solid state could be realized. For both samples, polarization transfer (DEPT) and indirect detection ( 1 H– 15 N gHSQC) spectra revealed greater resolution among nitrogens directly bonded to protons. The amide/aminoquinone nitrogens could also be observed by direct detection experiments.
Pachecoa prismatica (Fabaceae): Taxonomy and phylogeny

Pachecoa Standley & Steyerm., a monotypic legume genus of Mexico, Guatemala, and Venezuela, is described and illustrated with accompanying notes on its habitat, distribution, reproductive biology, phylogeny, cytology, and relationship (with key) to allied genera.
Generation of Tetrahedral Meshes with Multiple Elements through Thin Sections

Finite element simulations in domains with strong gradients across thin sections typically require meshes with multiple elements through these sections to accurately capture the solution. Most of the published techniques for isotropic mesh generation are not suited for the creation of such meshes in general, arbitrarily complex, non-manifold domains. In this paper, an automatic method is described for identification of thin sections of a domain and anisotropic refinement of an initial mesh to introduce a user-requested number of elements through the thin sections. The method uses local mesh modification operations to effect the refinement and subsequent realignment of edges along the thickness direction and perpendicular to it. Results are presented for a number of general models to illustrate the capability of the mesh generator.
End-Stage Cardiac Disease as an Initial Presentation of Systemic Myopathies: Case Series and Literature Review:

Life-threatening cardiomyopathy is associated with certain systemic myopathies and usually presents as an end-stage progression of the disease. However, cardiac symptoms can sometimes precede muscle weakness. The authors reviewed medical records from 2003 to 2008 on patients attending their neuromuscular clinic and identified patients who initially presented with an end-stage cardiomyopathy and were later diagnosed with a specific muscle disease through muscle biopsy. They report 5 cases of children who initially presented with cardiomyopathies without neuromuscular symptoms. The cardiac symptoms were so severe that 4 of them required cardiac transplantation and 1 died prior to transplantation. Review of muscle pathology confirmed the diagnoses of Becker muscular dystrophy, myofibrillar myopathy, mitochondrial myopathy with cytochrome oxidase deficiency, Danon disease, and glycogen storage disease. The authors conclude that cardiomyopathy can be the initial presentation of a wide spectrum of systemic myopathies. Careful evaluation of neuromuscular systems should be carried out in patients presenting with end-stage cardiomyopathies.
Large cell lymphoma of the mediastinum with marked tropism for germinal centers.

The cases are presented of three patients with large cell malignant lymphoma of the mediastinum with a distinctive growth pattern characterized by marked tropism of tumor cells for germinal centers. The patients' ages ranged from 35 to 70 years; one was a woman, and two were men. Histologically, the lesions were characterized by a proliferation of large atypical cells arranged in clusters that encroached on mantle zones and invaded germinal centers. Immunohistochemical studies showed positive staining of the tumor cells for leukocyte common antigen, L-26 (pan-B-cell antigen), and lambda light chain restriction and negative staining with Leu-M1, UCHL-1 (pan-T-cell antigen), Ber-H2 (Ki-1 antigen), S-100 protein, HMB-45, low-molecular weight keratins, epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, and placental alkaline phosphatase. Electron microscopy done on one specimen showed cells with abundant cytoplasm, some of them containing surface microvilli, scant organelles, and scattered polyribosomes consistent with lymphoid cells. Because of their unusual growth pattern and morphology, these tumors can be mistaken for primary or metastatic carcinomas, germ cell tumors (particularly seminomas), and metastatic malignant melanomas. It is proposed that the „germinotropic” features observed in these lesions are the result of active colonization of germinal centers by the tumor cells. The possible pathogen-netic implications of this phenomenon are discussed.
Algae Polar Lipids Characterized by Online Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Hybrid Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap/Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

We report the first application of online LC-MS (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry) characterization of algae polar lipids by nanoscale high-performance liquid chromatography followed by electrospray ionization and mass analysis with a linear ion trap (LTQ) coupled with 14.5 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). Ultrahigh FT-ICR mass resolution provides highly accurate mass measurement and resolves monoisotopic peaks from interfering components for unique determination of lipid elemental compositions. We establish the polar lipid profile of fatty acids, glycolipids, phospholipids, and betaine lipids for a green algae, Nannochloropsis oculata, which is highly prized for its oils suitable for biodiesel production. Lipid headgroup and fatty acid identification is based on accurate mass measured by the FT-ICR MS and collision-induced dissociation (CID) MS/MS in the LTQ. Unequivocal lipid composition is further confirmed from isotopic fine structure at baseline resolu...
A semi-Lagrangian high-order method for Navier-Stokes equations

We present a semi-Lagrangian method for advection–diffusion and incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The focus is on constructing stable schemes of second-order temporal accuracy, as this is a crucial element for the successful application of semi-Lagrangian methods to turbulence simulations. We implement the method in the context of unstructured spectral/hp element discretization, which allows for efficient search-interpolation procedures as well as for illumination of the nonmonotonic behavior of the temporal (advection) error of the form: O(Δtk+Δxp+1Δt). We present numerical results that validate this error estimate for the advection–diffusion equation, and we document that such estimate is also valid for the Navier–Stokes equations at moderate or high Reynolds number. Two- and three-dimensional laminar and transitional flow simulations suggest that semi-Lagrangian schemes are more efficient than their Eulerian counterparts for high-order discretizations on nonuniform grids.
Prostaglandin E2-dependent IL-23 production in aged murine dendritic cells.

CD4+ T cells of the Th17 subtype are over-represented in the aged immune system. Dendritic cells (DC) play a critical role in naive CD4+ T cell differentiation. However, expression of cytokines by aged DC that promote differentiation or survival of Th17 cells has not been extensively investigated. Using bone marrow-derived DC from C57BL/6 mice of different ages we compared cytokine production after DC activation by Toll-like receptor agonists for TLR4 and/or TLR7/8. DC-derived TNF-α and IL-12p70 production and expression of DC co-stimulatory molecules did not vary significantly by age indicating that TLR expression, function and signal transduction were intact in aged DC. There were relatively minor age-related changes in TGF-β and IL-6 which promote Th17 differentiation, but IL-23, a Th17-suvival cytokine, increased more than 40-fold across the lifespan. DC-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) also increased with age and the up-regulation of IL-23 expression by aged DC was blocked by indomethacin that prevents PGE2 production, and by antagonists of PGE2 receptors. Exogenous PGE2 added to DC cultures further enhanced IL-23 production from aged but not young DCs. These data indicate that age-related changes in DC PGE2 production are necessary, but not sufficient to induce DC IL-23 production. Such changes may play a role in the expansion of Th17 cells in the aged immune system.
Cumulene photochemistry: phenyl and hydrogen migration in phenylallene photoreactions

Abstract Photoreactions of tetra- and triphenylallene and 1,3,3-triphenylcyclopropene in hydrocarbon solvents are reported. Intermediacy of vinylcarbenes is supported by independent generation experiments.
Optimal Design of Electrode Structure and Microfluidics Channel for Effective Particle Separations

This paper presents the optimal design of electrode structure and microfluidics channel for effective particle separations. The purpose of the microfluidics chip is to generate the DEP (dielectrophoresis) force within the micro channel to separate both negative DEP (nDEP) and positive DEP (pDEP) particles of same sizes. The particles will experience DEP force when passing through the electric field created by electrode arrays located in different positions within the channel. The channel contains several electrode arrays where the pDEP particles are moved away from the electrodes and the nDEP particles are attracted towards them. In some existing microfluidics chips, because of the high intensity of the electric field around the electrodes, which results in a very high DEP force near the electrodes, most of the positive DEP particles are captured in the space between electrodes without being guided to the target outlet. Moreover, the effective area of DEP force is limited to a small region near the corner of the electrodes, therefore only those particles very close to the electrodes will experience sufficient attractive forces to be guided towards the target locations. This will decrease the efficiency of the particle separation. In this study, we developed an optimization methodology for design of electrode configurations using numerical modeling. The optimized electrode structure can provide much more evenly distributed DEP field. The design of the channel, the number and position of the electrode arrays were optimized in order to improve the efficiency of the particle separation. Finally, the optimized electrode structure and microfluidics channel were modeled and tested using multiphysics simulation software and the results show that this optimized design of microfluidics channel can provide high throughput and more effectiveness for particle separation compared to many existing microfluidics devices.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Dynamic photorheological analysis of photopolymerizable urethane dimethacrylate resins with varying diluent content and light fluence

The in situ measurement of dynamic changes in viscosity induced by illumination has been performed on a range of photosensitive urethane dimethacrylates (UDMA) evaluating the response at three different illuminations intensities (1, 2, and 5 W cm−2) and at three different diluent concentrations (15, 30, and 50%), using 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate (HDDMA). The initial viscosity value ranged between 1 and 10 Pa s for the mixtures with final viscosities approaching 1 × 107 Pa s after illumination. The initial rise in viscosity was analyzed using an exponential model with an exponent ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 with time under exposure. Higher conversion rates were observed with both higher intensity and lower HDDMA content. The analytical approach taken here could aid in developing more sophisticated models that consider simultaneous flow and cure advancement in other thermosets. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
The Role of Pollution and External Refugia in Structuring the Onondaga Lake Fish Community

ABSTRACT Historical accounts of Onondaga Lake dating to the 1600's indicate that the lake once supported a coldwater fishery. By the late 1800's, severe degradation of the lake and adjacent tributary environments was accompanied by declines in the American eel (Anguilla rostrata), and extirpation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and whitefish (Coregonus sp.). Nine faunal surveys were conducted from 1927 to 1994. We used rarefaction analyses to standardize survey results by computing expected species richness values (E(Sm)) relative to the 1946 gill net catch (7 species, m=164 individuals). Linear regression applied to the expected richness values (E (S164)) over time showed a significant increase in richness from 1946 (YEAR=0) to 1994 (YEAR=47) for fish caught in gill nets [E(S164) = 0.153*YEAR + 6.785, r2=0.79, P<0.005] and trap nets [E(S164) = 0.226*YEAR + 3.723, r2=0.89, P<0.01]. Although species richness has increased, almost half of the species captured since 1989 show no evidence of juvenile recruit...
The relationship between depressive symptoms and error monitoring during response switching.

Heightened sensitivity to failure and negative information is thought to be an important maintenance mechanism for symptoms of depression. However, the specific neural and behavioral correlates of the abnormal reactions to errors associated with depression are not yet well understood. The present study was designed to shed new light on this issue by examining how depressive symptoms relate to error monitoring in the context of different task demands. We used a modified flanker task in which the stimulus–response (S–R) mappings were reversed between blocks, differentiating relatively easy nonreversal blocks from the more-demanding S–R reversal blocks. Undergraduates performed this task and then completed a self-report measure of anhedonic depression. The results revealed that depressive symptoms were related to poorer posterror accuracy in the more-difficult S–R reversal blocks, but not in the easier nonreversal blocks. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) within a subsample of these participants further indicated that depressive symptoms were associated with reduced error positivity (Pe) amplitudes in both block types, suggesting that depressive symptoms were related to reduced attention allocation to errors across the easy and hard blocks. Finally, brain–behavior correlations indicated that highly depressed individuals failed to display a relationship between Pe amplitude and posterror accuracy in the S–R reversal blocks, a relationship that was intact in the low-depression group. Together, these results suggest that task demands play a critical role in the emergence of error-monitoring abnormalities in depression.
Unusual phased array architecture

A comparative study of various conceptual phased array designs is being conducted to identify and quantify the complex dependence of the main array performance parameters and various aspects of practicality on the selected array architecture and feed network topology. The study is focused on planar and conformal phased array designs suited to high-speed, wide-angle electronic beam steering in two mutually orthogonal planes, such as required for search and track applications. Preliminary results show that if practicality considerations are used in addition to performance data as an equally relevant basis for the comparative evaluation of competing array designs then rather unusual and unconventional array configurations emerge, instead, as engineering solutions that combine advanced performance and practicality, while greatly reducing complexity. An example of such an unusual phased array architecture is shown. >
Diffraction tomography for ultra-wideband noise radar and imaging quality measure of a cylindrical perfectly conducting object

The tomographic image of a single cylindrical PEC object is obtained using diffraction tomography theorem after multiple transmissions of independent and identically distributed (iid) UWB random noise waveforms. The final tomographic image of the cylinder is successfully achieved by averaging all obtained images from multiple transmissions. For each transmission, iid band-limited white Gaussian noise waveform over a frequency range from 8-10 GHz is transmitted. Several numerical simulations in spatial frequency domain are performed, and the tomographic images are generated based on the backward scattering data of each transmitted iid UWB noise waveform. Mean square error is calculated to measure the image quality of the reconstructed tomographic image as well.
Practical approach to subject-specific estimation of knee joint contact force

Compressive forces experienced at the knee can significantly contribute to cartilage degeneration. Musculoskeletal models enable predictions of the internal forces experienced at the knee, but validation is often not possible, as experimental data detailing loading at the knee joint is limited. Recently available data reporting compressive knee force through direct measurement using instrumented total knee replacements offer a unique opportunity to evaluate the accuracy of models. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of subject-specificity in increasing the accuracy of model predictions; however, these techniques may be unrealistic outside of a research setting. Therefore, the goal of our work was to identify a practical approach for accurate prediction of tibiofemoral knee contact force (KCF). Four methods for prediction of knee contact force were compared: (1) standard static optimization, (2) uniform muscle coordination weighting, (3) subject-specific muscle coordination weighting and (4) subject-specific strength adjustments. Walking trials for three subjects with instrumented knee replacements were used to evaluate the accuracy of model predictions. Predictions utilizing subject-specific muscle coordination weighting yielded the best agreement with experimental data; however this method required in vivo data for weighting factor calibration. Including subject-specific strength adjustments improved models' predictions compared to standard static optimization, with errors in peak KCF less than 0.5 body weight for all subjects. Overall, combining clinical assessments of muscle strength with standard tools available in the OpenSim software package, such as inverse kinematics and static optimization, appears to be a practical method for predicting joint contact force that can be implemented for many applications.
The search for HDF-EOS

Researchers were frustrated by the wide variety of data formats since it tended to create the need for customized data handling techniques for each data set. In the planning stages of the Earth Observing System (EOS) NASA responded to this issue by selecting a standard format for EOS generated, archived, or distributed data. NASA chose the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) developed by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). The format was expanded to better serve the EOS project as these extensions were designated HDF-EOS. This created the need to convert data into HDF-EOS for interaction within the EOS data system. This paper will describe the data conversion process and the difficulties encountered.
Mentoring among Teachers: A Review of the Literature:

The mentoring literature is beginning to expand because of increased interest in teacher induction programs. In this arti cle, Galvez-Hjornevik reviews some of the most significant studies of the past decade, and she identifies the salient characteristics of successful mentor-pro tege relationships. Based on data drawn from the aeraidable literature, the author suggests that the mentoring relation ship be voluntary and that age and gen der factors be considered before men tor-protege pairs are established. Further, she argues that educators, and particularly teacher educators, make use of knowledge derived from other disci plines and fields in their efforts to design induction programs for new teachers.
Experimental validation of the Adams‐Welty model for heat transfer in large‐particle fluidized beds

Experimental results for instantaneous and time-averaged local heat transfer coefficients, as well as local voidage and pressure are used to validate the Adams-Welty analytical model of heat transfer to a horizontal cylinder in large-particle fluidized beds. Results support the main assumptions of the model and show that the range of applicability is wider than originally expected.
Hepatoprotective effects of select water-soluble PARP inhibitors in a carbon tetrachloride model

Background: Inhibitors of the nuclear enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) have been demonstrated to attenuate pathophysiologic conditions associated with oxidative stress, specifically with carbon tetrachloride (CT)-induced hepatotoxicity. Settings and Design: In this investigation, we evaluated 3 previously untested water-soluble PARP-1 inhibitors, namely, 3-aminobenzamide (ABA), 5-aminoisoquinolinone (AIQ), and N-(6-oxo-5,6-dihydro-phenanthridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethylacetamide HCl (PJ-34) to determine their efficacy in blocking or attenuating CT-induced hepatotoxicity in male imprinting control region (ICR) mice. Statistical Analysis: Indicators of hepatotoxicity were compared with F-tests among groups to determine statistically significant effects. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the correlation between PARP inhibition and the attenuation of hepatotoxicity. Results and Conclusions: CT treatment resulted in hepatic cytotoxicity, increased serum transaminase (ALT), lipid peroxidation (MDA), intracellular glutathione (GSH) depletion, increased carbonyl content, and substantially increased PARP-1 activity. CT treatment also produced profound observable hemorrhagic necrosis in the hepatic centrilobular region of ICR mice. Pretreatment with PJ-34, ABA, and AIQ before CT treatment significantly decreased PARP-1 activity in hepatocytes after CT treatment by 3.4, 2.0, and 1.9 times, respectively. Corresponding to this reduction in PARP-1 activity, a significant reduction in the ALT levels and MDA and a reduction in the GSH depletion were observed. Also, there were no visible tissue defects in the liver samples from animals pretreated with individual PARP-1 inhibitors before CT administration. These results demonstrate the efficacy of the 3 previously untested water-soluble PARP-1 inhibitors in attenuating CT-induced hepatocellular toxicity and further characterize the role of PARP-1 activation and oxidative stress among the cascade of events in hepatocellular necrosis induced by CT treatment.
Play Behaviors of Parents and Their Young Children With Disabilities

Learning to explore, communicate, and interact with others and the environment through play can be problematic for young children with disabilities, but with parental support, children can learn an...
Female Fertility and Mating Type Effects on Effective Population Size and Evolution in Filamentous Fungi

The idealized individual in many fungal species is a haploid self-sterile hermaphrodite that may be propagated by asexually produced spores or that may reproduce sexually. In field populations, polymorphism occurs for female-sterile/hermaphrodite status, and female-sterile mutants, which function only as males during sexual reproduction, may comprise > 50% of the population. The effective population number may be based on the number of strains of different mating type or the relative frequency of hermaphrodites. The female-sterile mutants are at a selective disadvantage every time sexual reproduction occurs, and must have an advantage during vegetative propagation to persist at a significant frequency. When a high frequency of female-sterile strains is observed in field populations, it indicates that vegetative propagation is a significant component of the fungus' natural history. Depending on the mutation rate to female sterility and the selective advantage of the female-sterile strains during vegetative propagation, the ratio of sexual:asexual generations can range from 1:15 to 1:2300 for species in the Gibberella fujikuroi complex. The relative rarity of sexual reproduction may permit female-sterile strains to accumulate to a level such that local populations could completely lose sexuality and appear as asexual (imperfect) species.
3D Tomographic Segmentation of Adult Cardiac Ventricle reveals a Complex Tubular and Vesicular Network surrounding the Gap Junction Plaque. Ultrastructure of the Connexome

Background The cardiac intercalated disc (ID) has been extensively studied by conventional transmission electron microscopy (EM). Yet, novel methods for tissue preservation (high-pressure freezing), image (3D tomographic EM) and analysis (image segmentation) that greatly improve image quality/resolution, have not been applied to the ID. Recent studies show that, at the ID, the gap junction protein Connexin43 is part of an interactome (a "connexome"). Here, we provide a structural characterization of the connexome. Methods Adult mouse ventricular tissue was prepared by high-pressure freezing and freeze substitution and embedded in resin. 200 nm thick sections were imaged with a 200kV electron microscope (FEI TF20). Images were collected at a set magnification of 9.6k on a 4kx4k CCD camera set to 2x binning, giving an effective pixel size of 1.76 nm. Dual-axis tilt series (1o steps, ±70o per axis) were acquired using SerialEM. Protomo software was used for aligning projection images and reconstructing tomograms. Visualization/segmentation of objects of interest was performed in Amira. Results In addition to classic ID structures, we observed (a) close proximity between gap junctions and mitochondria of opposing cells; (b) a complex network of tubular structures running perpendicular to the long cell axis; these structures showed a hollow interior, with an estimated inner diameter of ~40 nm and were often adjacent to gap junctions or desmosomes; (c) triads formed by lateral edges of gap junctions and desmosomes, with a rough budding vesicle separating the two structures; (d) budding vesicles of approximately 50 nm interrupting the continuity of one side of the gap junction plaque; (e) vesicular bodies of approx. 65 nm in diameter in the intercellular space, and in proximity to gap junction-containing regions. Conclusions We describe the nanometric landscape that surrounds gap junctions. We speculate that the connexome includes a physical association with molecules of the mitochondria, desmosome and microtubular network, and propose that microsomes may pass from one cell to another at the ID. Functional characterization of these structures may lead to novel clues as to the mechanisms of inherited or acquired arrhythmias that involve disruption of the ID.
Generic tasks as building blocks for knowledge-based systems: the diagnosis and routine design examples

The level of abstraction of much of the work in knowledge-based systems (the rule, frame, logic level) is too low to provide a rich enough vocabulary for knowledge and control. I provide an overview of a framework called the Generic Task approach that proposes that knowledge systems should be built out of building blocks, each of which is appropriate for a basic type of problem solving. Each generic task uses forms of knowledge and control strategies that are characteristic to it, and are in general conceptually closer to domain knowledge. This facilitates knowledge acquisition and can produce a more perspicuous explanation of problem solving. The relationship of the constructs at the generic task level to the rule-frame level is analogous to that between high-level programming languages and assembly languages in computer science. I describe a set of generic tasks that have been found particularly useful in constructing diagnostic, design and planning systems. In particular, I describe two tools, CSRL and DSPL, that are useful for building classification-based diagnostic systems and skeletal planning systems respectively, and a high level toolbox that is under construction called the Generic Task toolbox.
Milk production and composition, rumen fermentation parameters, and grazing behavior of dairy cows supplemented with different forms and amounts of corn grain.

Abstract The objectives were to compare milk production and composition, change in body weight and body condition score, rumen fermentation parameters and grazing patterns by cows when supplemented with different forms and amounts of corn grain. In experiment 1, 36 Holstein cows were supplemented with either 6, 6, 6, or 4 kg/d of dry matter of high moisture corn, coarsely ground corn, finely ground corn, or high moisture corn in two equal daily feedings, respectively. Milk yield (30.3 kg/d), milk protein (2.97%), and milk urea N (14.7 mg/dl) were not different among treatments. Body weight change and body condition score change were similar (23.1 kg and –0.24) for the 10-wk study. During experiment 2, four rumen cannulated cows in midlactation were supplemented with 6 kg/d of dry matter from either coarsely ground corn or high moisture corn in two equal feedings after milking. After the p.m. milking, ruminal pH was measured and rumen fluid samples were collected from cows to determine ammonia N and volatile fatty acids at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, … 8 h post-corn feeding during grazing. Ruminal pH values were similar for corn supplements, and, with one exception, were 6.0 or below between 5 and 8 h. Ruminal ammonia-N concentrations reached a maximum at 7 h also. In experiment 3, 40 cows were observed for grazing behavior every 30 min for two consecutive days. Cows grazed an average of 6.4 h/d, 4.1 h in the afternoon and 2.3 h in the morning. Milk yield, milk composition, change in body weight, and body condition were similar regardless of the type or amount of corn supplemented.
Numerical Investigation With Rub-Related Vibration in Rotating Machinery

Nonlinear behavior of rub-related vibration in rotating machinery is studied with a large number of numerical simulations. A simplified model is used to capture the dynamic response of the rotor when it rubs its housing. It is shown that the model displays rich dynamics, many of which are rather complicated and cannot be captured with linear models. The effects of rotating speed, clearance, damping coefficient, friction coefficient, and boundary stiffness are investigated. The data generated are displayed graphically and explained with the aid of the theory of modem nonlinear dynamics. It is demonstrated that the system goes through an extraordinary route to chaos and that the stretching, contraction, and folding of initial volumes may indicate the existence of a horseshoe map, which plays an important role in creating chaotic phenomena. These results help engineers to optimize the design of rotating machinery, as well as to develop sensitive monitoring/diagnosis systems assessing machinery conditions.
Regulation of epithelial Na+ channels by adrenal steroids: mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid effects.

Epithelial Na+ channels (ENaC) can be regulated by both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid hormones. In the mammalian kidney, effects of mineralocorticoids have been extensively studied, but thos...