cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Addressing Microaggressions in Academic Health: A Workshop for Inclusive Excellence

Introduction Health profession schools have acknowledged the need for a diverse workforce by increasing diversity in recruitment, but little has been done to build inclusive excellence in learning ...
Breastfeeding in the Workplace: Attitudes Toward Multiple Roles, Perceptions of Support, and Workplace Outcomes

Objective: American women are consistently tasked with breastfeeding, while returning to work, but little research examines how women perceive support in the workplace and their own working outcome...
Nifty 50 Option Time Spreads

The objective of this study was to identify and test preliminary rules for trading call option time spreads and then to assess opportunities for further research to improve on those rules. To do so the theoretical and empirical properties of near-the-money time spreads were used to develop four rules for profitably trading in India’s Nifty 50 (NSE 50) call options. Day-end pricing for 2015 – 2019 included periods of rising, falling and stable volatility. The resulting four rule algorithm produces positive results on out-of-sample data and was found to outperform a buy and hold strategy. Because the general procedure followed for rule development was not country specific, it was separately applied to options on China’s SSE 50 index where the algorithm was also found to outperform a hold-to-expiry strategy in every year tested. These related studies of NSE 50 and SSE 50 option time spreads provide a helpful addition to the growing knowledge about the developing derivatives markets in India and China. New directions for further research are described.
Effective connectivity during episodic memory retrieval in schizophrenia participants before and after antipsychotic medication.

Background: Impairment in episodic memory is one of the most robust findings in schizophrenia. Disruptions of fronto-temporal functional connectivity that could explain some aspects of these deficits have been reported. Recent work has identified abnormal hippocampal function in unmedicated patients with schizophrenia (SZ), such as increased metabolism and glutamate content that are not always seen in medicated SZ. For these reasons, we hypothesized that altered fronto-temporal connectivity might originate from the hippocampus and might be partially restored by antipsychotic medication. Methods: Granger causality methods were used to evaluate the effective connectivity between frontal and temporal regions in 21 unmedicated SZ and 20 matched healthy controls (HC) during performance of an episodic memory retrieval task. In 16 SZ, effective connectivity between these regions was evaluated before and after 1-week of antipsychotic treatment. Results: In HC, significant effective connectivity originating from the right hippocampus to frontal regions was identified. Compared to HC, unmedicated SZ showed significant altered fronto-temporal effective connectivity, including reduced right hippocampal to right medial frontal connectivity. After 1-week of antipsychotic treatment, connectivity more closely resembled the patterns observed in HC, including increased effective connectivity from the right hippocampus to frontal regions. Conclusions: These results support the notion that memory disruption in schizophrenia might originate from hippocampal dysfunction and that medication restores some aspects of fronto-temporal dysconnectivity. Patterns of fronto-temporal connectivity could provide valuable biomarkers to identify new treatments for the symptoms of schizophrenia, including memory deficits. Hum Brain Mapp 36:1442–1457, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Review of “Montesquieu and the Logic of Liberty”: Rahe, Paul. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press 369 pp., $45 cloth ISBN: 978-0-300-14125-2 Publication Date: 2009

Paul Rahe has written an extremely learned and challenging work. Montesquieu and the Logic of Liberty (MLL) is by turns illuminating and puzzling for the student of Montesquieu. It contains a uniqu...
Real-time image analysis of living cellular-biology measurements of intelligent chemistry

This paper reports on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) DOE Initiative in Image Science and Technology (ISAT) research, which is developing algorithms and software tool sets for remote sensing and biological applications. In particular, the PNNL ISAT work is applying these research results to the automated analysis of real-time cellular biology imagery to assist the biologist in determining the correct data collection region for the current state of a conglomerate of living cells in three-dimensional motion. The real-time computation of the typical 120 MB/sec multi-spectral data sets is executed in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology, which has very high processing rates due to large-scale parallelism. The outcome of this artificial vision work will allow the biologist to work with imagery as a creditable set of dye-tagged chemistry measurements in formats for individual cell tracking through regional feature extraction, and animation visualization through individual object isolation/characterization of the microscopy imagery.
Factoring: The DNA Solution

We consider molecular models for computing and derive a DNA-based mechanism for solving intractable problems through massive parallelism. In principle, such methods might reduce the effort needed to solve otherwise difficult tasks, such as factoring large numbers. We investigate the application of such techniques to cryptography.
Matrix Pre-coated Targets for High Throughput MALDI Imaging of Proteins

We have developed matrix pre-coated targets for imaging proteins in thin tissue sections by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Gold covered microscope slides were coated with sinapinic acid (SA) in batches in advance and were shown to be stable for over 6 months when kept in the dark. The sample preparation protocol using these SA pre-coated targets involves treatment with diisopropylethylamine (DIEA)-H2O vapor, transforming the matrix layer to a viscous ionic liquid. This SA-DIEA ionic liquid layer extracts proteins and other analytes from tissue sections that are thaw mounted to this target. DIEA is removed by the immersion of the target into diluted acetic acid, allowing SA to co-crystallize with extracted analytes directly on the target. Ion images (3–70 kDa) of sections of mouse brain and rat kidney at spatial resolution down to 10 µm were obtained. Use of pre-coated slides greatly reduces sample preparation time for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging while providing high throughput, low cost and high spatial resolution images. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ethics in Research: Current Issues for Dental Researchers and Their Professional Society

Values associated with scientific investigations affect the conduct, evaluation, and reporting of research and lead to ethical issues for scientists engaged in dental research. This essay examines the relationship between scientists and the larger society in which they work, and how that relationship defines the boundaries of scientific freedom and autonomy, on the one hand, and scientific responsibility and accountability, on the other. Values underlie disputes over data sharing, perceptions of conflict of interest, and scientists' commitment to research integrity. Professional societies, such as the IADR, can be a major influence in shaping the moral tone and ethical climate for research through the adoption of standards, the development of educational programs designed to reinforce those standards, and the public recognition of responsible conduct on the part of scientists.
The impact of vibrotactile biofeedback on the excessive walking sway and the postural control in elderly

Gait and postural control are important aspects of human movement and balance. Normal movement control in human is subject to change with aging when the nervous system, comprising somatosensory, visual senses, spatial orientation senses, and neuromuscular control starts to degrade. As a result, the body movement control such as the lateral sway while walking is affected which has been shown to be a significant cause of falling among the elderly. Biofeedback has been investigated to assist elderly improve their body movement and postural ability, by supplementing the feedback to the nervous system. In this paper, we propose a wearable low-power sensor system capable of characterizing lateral sway and gait parameters. Then, it can provide corrective feedback to reduce excessive sway in real-time via vibratory feedback modules. Real-time and low-power characteristics along with wearability of our proposed system allow long-term continuous subjects' sway monitoring while giving direct feedback to enhance walking sway and prevent falling. It can also be used in the clinics as a tool for evaluating the risks of falls, and training users to better maintain their balance. The effectiveness of the biofeedback system was evaluated on 12 older adults as they performed gait and stance tasks with and without biofeedback. Significant improvement (p-value
3D printed tricalcium phosphate bone tissue engineering scaffolds: effect of SrO and MgO doping on in vivo osteogenesis in a rat distal femoral defect model

The presence of interconnected macro pores is important in tissue engineering scaffolds for guided tissue regeneration. This study reports in vivo biological performance of interconnected macro porous tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds due to the addition of SrO and MgO as dopants in TCP. We have used direct three dimensional printing (3DP) technology for scaffold fabrication followed by microwave sintering. Mechanical strength was evaluated for scaffolds with 500 μm, 750 μm, and 1000 μm interconnected designed pore sizes. Maximum compressive strength of 12.01 ± 1.56 MPa was achieved for Sr–Mg doped scaffold with 500 μm interconnected designed pore size. In vivo biological performance of the microwave sintered pure TCP and Sr–Mg doped TCP scaffolds was assessed by implanting 350 μm designed interconnected macro porous scaffolds in rat distal femoral defect. Sintered pore size of these 3D printed scaffolds were 311 ± 5.9 μm and 245 ± 7.5 μm for pure and SrO–MgO doped TCP scaffolds, respectively. These 3D printed scaffolds possessed multiscale porosity, i.e., 3D interconnected designed macro pores along with intrinsic micro pores. Histomorphology and histomorphometric analysis revealed a significant increase in osteoid like new bone formation, and accelerated mineralization inside SrO and MgO doped 3D printed TCP scaffolds as compared to pure TCP scaffolds. An increase in osteocalcin and type I collagen level was also observed in rat blood serum with SrO and MgO doped TCP scaffolds compared to pure TCP scaffolds. Our results show that these 3D printed SrO and MgO doped TCP scaffolds with multiscale porosity contributed to early healing through accelerated osteogenesis.
Stability of frames subjected to a vertical sinusoidal base excitation

Abstract The dynamic stability of elastic frames subjected to a vertical sinusoidal base excitation is considered. A simple matrix decomposition technique is used for developing sufficient stability conditions for the equilibrium state. Several examples concerning the stability of single and multi-degree-of-freedom structures are studied. The results are compared with those obtained by a digital simulation technique.
Theory of polymer crystallization without chain folding

A theoretical treatment of nucleation‐controlled polymer crystal growth is developed. A distinction is made between the end‐surface energy of the crystal lamella and that of the nucleus for growth. The growth rate is related to the nucleation frequency using a thick‐crystal treatment, and the lamellar thickness is viewed as limited by diffusion of the crystallizing chain in the liquid. Exponential growth kinetics are predicted by the model, and when compared with available experimental data on polyethylene, a reasonable value for the end‐surface energy of the nucleus is obtained. The lamellae formed at a given under‐cooling are expected to be distributed over a range of thicknesses, with a most probable value of about twice the minimum thickness stable at the undercooling.
ADJUDICATING JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES IN CHICAGO AND TORONTO: LEGAL FORMALISM AND URBAN STRUCTURE

It is argued in this paper that structural theories of local powers are inadequate as determinate explanations of urban form. This argument is developed through an interpretation of two jurisdictional disputes, one in Chicago, the other in Toronto. The legal bases of local powers are considered as are the languages and decision logic used by the courts in these two situations. At one level, the issue is one of the virtue or otherwise of the underlying political philosophy; especially liberalism. But, at another level, the issue is one of agency; the courts' capacities to fashion determinate interpretations of the proper scope of local power.
Efficient randomized pattern-matching algorithms

We present randomized algorithms to solve the following string-matching problem and some of its generalizations: Given a string X of length n (the pattern) and a string Y (the text), find the first occurrence of X as a consecutive block within Y. The algorithms represent strings of length n by much shorter strings called fingerprints, and achieve their efficiency by manipulating fingerprints instead of longer strings. The algorithms require a constant number of storage locations, and essentially run in real time. They are conceptually simple and easy to implement. The method readily generalizes to higher-dimensional patternmatching problems.
"Indirect Regulation" of Environmental Hazards Through the Provision of Information to The Public: The Case of SARA, Title III

Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 seeks to reduce the risks of chemical accidents through a strategy of indirect regulation that relies on providing the public with information about chemical hazards. For this strategy to be effective, citizens must aggressively utilize the information provided to monitor industrial practices and press for risk reduction. Since prior research suggests it is very difficult to evoke the degree of citizen action that would be required to make a strategy of indirect regulation successful, and since the federal legislation provided no funds for implementation, there is a question of whether the structures set up by Title III are sufficient to achieve its objectives. This article reports the results of anational study that examined selected aspects of the implementation of Title III in an effort to assess the likely outcome of its attempt at indirect regulation. Our focus is on the degree to which the Title III-mandated Local Emergency Planning Committees are pursuing policies that are likely to get the necessary information to citizens and foster community debate on hazardous materials issues.
Mutual interactions of thorium, lanthanides, and bismuth in Th-Ln-Bi solutions: Evidence for the formation of ThLnBiy compounds

Abstract The mutual solubilities of thorium and lanthanum, neodymium, or europium in bismuth solution have been determined over the temperature range 350–700 °C. Thorium and each lanthanide (Ln), dissolved in liquid bismuth, were found to interact to produce a solid compound with the apparent composition ThLnBi y . The variation of the mole fraction solubility products with temperature can be expressed as log K sp = log( N Th N Ln ) = 2.410–6480/ T (K) for ThLaBi y and log K sp = 3.233–7285/ T (K) for ThNdBi y . The standard free energies of formation for ThLaBi y and ThNdBi y were estimated to be about (−114.8 + 0.0208 T ) and (−99.8 + 0.0207 T ) kcal/mole, respectively. The solubility of europium in bismuth was determined over the temperature range 350–550 °C. The data can be represented by the expression : log S Eu ( wt .%) = 4.4823-2973/ T (K).
Unbinding transition of semiflexible membranes in (1+1) dimensions

The universality classes and critical exponents of the unbinding transition in a model of semiflexible membranes (or polymers) in (1+1) dimensions are determined for wall potentials that fall off with distance z as ${z}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}p}$. For pg(2/3 the unbinding transition is first order, and for attractive potentials with p(2/3 the membrane is always bound. The marginal case p=(2/3 is quite similar to the intermediate-fluctuation regime in (1+1)-dimensional wetting.
Evaluation of the BOD POD for estimating percentage body fat in a heterogeneous group of adult humans

The primary purpose of this investigation was to compare estimations of percentage body fat (%fat) using air displacement plethysmography (ADP) and hydrostatic weighing (HW) in a heterogeneous (age and %fat) sample of the population. Of secondary importance was to determine whether there were differences between the two methods among lean (n = 32), average (n = 34) and overweight (n = 29) subsets of this sample. A total of 95 adults (men 27, women 68) ranging in age from 18-52 years volunteered for this study. Test-retest reliability for %fat ADP (n = 16) was 0.99 with a technical error of 0.75%fat and a coefficient of variation of 3.4%fat. Mean body density using ADP [1.048 (SD 0.016) g.ml-1] was not significantly different when compared to HW [1.049 (SD 0.017) g.ml-1], which corresponded to a non-significant difference in %fat [22.5 (SD 7.3)% ADP compared to 22.0 (SD 7.6)% HW]. Regression analysis provided the equation: %fat HW = 0.9121%fat ADP + 1.5123; r = 0.88, SEE = 3.6, which did not differ significantly from the line of identity. Data for the subsets revealed a significant overestimation of %fat ADP [16.4 (SD 4.8)%] compared to HW [14.1 (SD 3.2)%] (P = 0.001) for lean individuals while no difference was found in the average [21.9 (SD 4.4)%fat ADP compared to 22.0 (SD 3.4)%fat HW] or overweight [29.9 (SD 5.5)%fat ADP compared to 30.8 (SD 4.1)%fat HW] subsets. Measuring %fat by ADP is a highly reliable method and valid when compared to HW for a heterogeneous sample of adults. The ADP method requires little expertise to operate, is quick to perform, and may be more accommodating for certain individuals compared to HW. However, in this study ADP was less valid for lean individuals. Further investigation is warranted to determine the bias of this method for subsets of the population which may be outside the average range of %fat (men 15.4%-22.0%, women 18.4%-28.5%).
Nutritional Studies with Blattella germanica (L.) reared under aseptic Conditions. II. A chemically defined Diet.

In nutritional studies the proper evaluation of the results depends upon the manifestations of deficiencies. It is essential, therefore, to control all the factors which enter into the nutritional functions of the organism under study. In order to do this, the intervention of symbiotic organisms should be avoided if possible and diets of known chemical entities should be formulated with the ingredients combined in known quantities. Using the cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), the first condition can be approached, inasmuch as cockroaches can be made aseptic by freeing them from the fauna and flora of their intestinal tract and of their environment following the method described by House and Patton (1949). In the present study the second difficulty has been overcome by using diets formulated especially for this species, among the most important of which is a chemically defined food consisting of known quantities of amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, sterols and minerals.
A New High Accuracy Current Transformer

This paper is presented for the purpose of describing a new method of compensation, by the use of which the ratio and phase-angle errors of current transformers are materially reduced. There are several methods by which the ratio and phase-angle errors of current transformers may be reduced. The following are those which are most commonly used: 1. By changing the number of secondary turns, which reduces ratio errors only. This method is universally used and operates satisfactorily under various conditions of burden, frequency, etc. 2. By the use of a larger number of ampere-turns, a large cross-section of core, or both. An increase in either one of these factors improves the accuracy characteristics of the transformer under the different conditions of burden, frequency, or secondary current. 3. By the use of a high-permeability low-loss steel, which improves the transformer characteristics for moderate values of secondary burdens. The errors increase rapidly under overload conditions. 4. By the use of the two-stage type transformer, which operates satisfactorily under the various conditions of burden and frequency. Slightly special equipment is required, however, for power or energy measurements. 5. By the use of compensating shunts across the primary or secondary windings of the transformer. This method operates satisfactorily only under fixed conditions of burden, frequency, etc. 6. By a new method, in which the secondary turns enclose a section of the magnetic circuit and a short-circuited band encircles the same section.
Evidence suggesting a partial, internal duplication in the ancestral gene for heme-containing globins

If suitable allowances for deletions in the current sequences for myoglobin and α - and β -hemoglobin are made, the resulting proteins show a crossed homology, i.e. show homologous relationships between certain early and late sequences. If we assume this resulted from a partial, internal gene duplication involving a single cross-over (tandem duplication), the results suggest that an 88 codon gene for a primitive globin may have extended its length 66 codons. The region of the 19th codon (from the amino terminus) is the most probable origin of the duplication which could have been facilitated by a glycine-coding, GGC trinucleotide present in codons 19 and 85 at that time.
Representation of a growth fault in a two-dimensional quantitative model

Abstract A growth fault in a north Indonesian basin has been modelled using the two-dimensional fluid flow/compaction model GEOPETII. The location of the fault and permeability for fluid drive are of primary importance in the fluid pressure distribution in the basin. Using multiple vertical faults, simulations of the fault have been carried out, showing the importance of the growth history of the fault in influencing the excess pressure distribution. The simulations, which yield fluid pressure in agreement with the present-day observations, suggest that the fault has been dominantly closed to fluid flow since the time of its creation. The modelling also led to the conclusion that the fault is not hydrodynamically connected to the surface at the present day, but must have been at some time in the past to remove the overpressures developed through undercompaction, which are due to the high sedimentation rate (of the order of 1000 m/Ma) characterizing the basin. Models using a single vertical fault suggest that the fault was open to fluid flow in a time interval ranging from 3.5 to 0.5 Ma.
Spatially dependent multiphoton multiple ionization

We have measured spatially dependent multiple ionization of xenon in an intense ultrashort pulse laser field. The ion yields for various charge states are dramatically different due to selecting specific locations within a Gaussian laser focus. The data show a clear enhancement of higher charge states and the double ion exceeds the single ion yield at certain locations. A model based on space-dependent volume scaling for different charge states is presented.
A possible link between the seawater osmium isotope record and weathering of ancient sedimentary organic matter

The Os isotopic composition of leachable Os from a North Pacific pelagic clay sequence (Pegram et al., 1992 ) and bulk sediment samples of metalliferous carbonates deposited near the East Pacific Rise (Ravizza, 1993) display similar patterns of temporal variation (Fig. 1 ). This similarity indicates that the composite record of t87Os/186Os ratio variations reflects changes in the Os isotopic composition of seawater. Temporal changes in the Sr isotopic composition of seawater record changes in the relative rates of continental weathering and oceanic crustal alteration. The Os isotopic composition of seawater should be influenced by similar processes. In both the Rb-Sr and Re-Os systems, the continental crust is characterized by large time-integrated parent/ daughter ratios, compared to the deep Earth, imparting relatively radiogenic Sr and Os signatures to continental material. However, the seawater Sr and Os records are decoupled from one another over the past 27 Ma. From 27 to 15 Ma 87Sr/86Sr increased rapidly while the 18VOs/186Os ratio of seawater remained nearly constant. At 15 Ma the ~87Os/tS6Os ratio of seawater began to increase rapidly but the rate
Implementation in Operational Research: a Review of the Operational Research Quarterly

This paper focuses on the changing nature of the subject matter of articles reported in the Operational Research Quarterly from 1965 to 1974. Subject matter classifications are developed and then investigated over time. In addition, tabulations describing both implementations and use of actual data are illustrated. Significantly, it is shown that the percent of implementations described in the Journal have averaged less than 30% during the period 1965-1974. In addition it is shown that of the remaining articles published during this period only 17% use actual data.
Does Investor Identity Matter? An Empirical Examination on Investments by Venture Capital Funds and Hedge Funds in Pipes

I examine the emerging phenomenon of PIPEs (private investments in public equity) invested by venture capital funds (VCs) and hedge funds (HFs) and analyze whether and how these investors add value to firms by comparing a sample of 113 VC-invested PIPEs to a sample of 397 PIPEs with HFs. I find that VCs gain substantial ownership, request board seats, and often keep their stake after the PIPEs. In contrast, HFs rarely join the board of directors and typically cash out their positions shortly after the PIPE. The stock performance of VC-invested firms is significantly better than HF-invested firms both in the short run and in the long run. The positive valuation effect of having VCs as PIPE investors appears to be a certification effect rather than a monitoring effect. A key implication from these findings is that investor identity matters.
In-process R&D: To capitalize or expense?

Abstract The FASB recently proposed the capitalization of acquired in-process R&D costs to replace the current practice of expensing this item. This proposal will likely be strongly opposed by corporate executives. We examine whether in-process R&D is an asset worthy of capitalization or an expense, and, if it is an asset, how reliable is its estimate. We find a significant association between the values of in-process R&D and acquiring firms’ cash flows during the 3 years subsequent to acquisition, thereby supporting the FASB's proposal to recognize in-process R&D as an asset. Preliminary tests are positive for the reliability/objectivity of in-process R&D estimates.
Groundwater response to precipitation

Rapid responses of shallow groundwater tables, located between the soil surface and depths of about 10 m, to heavy storms of at least 30 mm/d are quite frequently observed. Heath [1983], for instance, reported rapid response to occur about twice per month in 1978 in an observation well near Washington, D.C. The rise and fall of the water table was more pronounced when it was closer to the soil surface; when the water table was deeper than approximately 1.8 m, the rises were spread over a longer time interval and were less pronounced in height. Figure 1 shows another example from an observation well near Charlottesville, Va., where a response of the water table at a depth of 7.0 m was observed within 2 days following a 2-day storm that yielded 130 mm.
THE IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A CALCIFIED LAYER OF CORONAL CEMENTUM IN ERUPTED BOVINE TEETH.

Chemical analyses of the outer one-third of the enamel from erupted bovine teeth showed a very much higher content of hydroxyproline than samples obtained from the middle third of the enamel. The source of this hydroxyproline was found to be a layer of calcified collagen, external to and covering the enamel, and continuous with the cementum covering the roots. A review of the literature revealed that early histologists had described an external layer of coronal cementum not only in Ungulata, but in human teeth as well. The coronal cementum may account for the high hydroxyproline content of enamel prepared from erupted human teeth.
Improved Survival After Coronary Bypass Surgery In Patients With Poor Left Ventricular Function: Role of Intraaortic Balloon Counterpulsation

The operative mortality rate of aortocoronary bypass surgery in 23 patients with poor left ventricular function (ejection fraction 0.30 or less) operated on in 1973–74 was 34.7 percent. The incidence rate of operative myocardial infarction was 30.4 percent. In an attempt to improve survival, intraaortic balloon counterpulsation was used thereafter in 25 similar patients. Counterpulsation was instituted preoperatively and continued intra- and postoperatively for 2 to 5 days. Preoperative studies revealed an “unloading” effect of the left ventricle, with significant reductions of systolic arterial blood pressure, end-diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure and end-diastolic left ventricular volume and pressure. Metabolic improvement was demonstrated by the lesser production of myocardial lactate after pacing-induced tachycardia when the ventricle was balloon-assisted. Intraoperatively, blood flow through the vein graft was found to increase with counterpulsation. The rate of operative myocardial infarction was reduced to 4 percent and the mortality rate to 8 percent. In patients who have sustained a significant loss of functioning myocardium, the beneficial hemodynamic and metabolic effects of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation appear to prevent further, possibly critical, myocardial damage in the perioperative period.
Calcium Signaling: Deciphering the Calcium–NFAT Pathway

Rapid cellular calcium oscillations activate gene expression hours later. How this temporal response amplification is achieved has until now been largely a mystery. An elegant combination of experimental strategies and a model that encompasses non-linear inputs and outputs now sheds new light on this long-standing problem.
An assessment of total ammonia nitrogen concentration in Alabama (USA) ictalurid catfish ponds and the possible risk of ammonia toxicity

Abstract An assessment of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration was conducted for 31 ictalurid catfish ponds on six farms, in the Blackland Prairie region of Alabama (USA). Five farms that provided production data had average annual feed inputs and harvest weights of 15,579–21,739 kg ha − 1 and 8104–12,344 kg ha − 1 , respectively. Concentrations of TAN were measured 26 times (weekly June through September and less frequently other months) between May 2013 and May 2014. The farm average, annual TAN concentrations were 1.05–1.78 mg L − 1 at five farms and 4.17 mg L − 1 at the other. Correlations were not found (P > 0.05) when pond average TAN concentration was regressed individually against feed input, weight fish harvested, and aeration rate. Nearly half of the TAN concentrations were − 1 , the majority were − 1 , but some ranged from 5 to 15 mg L − 1 . Analysis of the literature on ammonia toxicity to channel catfish suggested that the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) is around 1.0 mg L − 1 NH 3 -N in ponds with pH of 7.5 and above where NH 3 -N concentration fluctuates greatly because of daily change in temperature and especially pH. Based on the daily pH fluctuation of 7.5 to 9.5 observed in ponds, and typical monthly average water temperatures, the NOEL for NH 3 -N was often exceeded. At pH 8.5–8.9, depending upon the month, up to 14.5% of ponds exceeded the NOEL for NH 3 -N. The NOEL was exceeded by up to 31.5% of pond at pH ≥ 9.0. The findings reveal that TAN concentrations in Alabama ponds often are at chronically toxic levels for ictalurid catfish. There is usually no practical emergency treatment for reducing NH 3 -N (or TAN) concentration in ponds exceeding the NOEL. Thus, good management practices for avoiding excessively high TAN concentrations in ponds — efficient feed management, adequate aeration to promote nitrification, and treatments for maintaining buffering capacity in pond water should be applied.
Using transgenic modulation of protein synthesis and accumulation to probe protein signaling networks in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Deployment of new model species in the plant biology community requires the development and /or improvement of numerous genetic tools. Sequencing of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome opened up a new challenge of assigning biological function to each gene. As many genes exhibit spatiotemporal or other conditional regulation of biological processes, probing for gene function necessitates applications that can be geared toward temporal, spatial, and quantitative functional analysis in vivo. The continuing quest to establish new platforms to examine plant gene function has resulted in the availability of numerous of genomic and proteomic tools. Classical and more recent genome-wide experimental approaches include conventional mutagenesis, tagged DNA insertional mutagenesis, ectopic expression of transgenes, activation tagging, RNA interference and two-component transactivation systems. The utilization of these molecular tools has resulted in conclusive evidence for the existence of many genes, and expanded kno...
Understanding retiming through maximum average-weight cycles

A synchronous circuit built of functional elements and registers is a simple implementation of the semisystolic model of computation that can be used to design parallel algorithms. Retiming is a well-known technique that transforms a given circuit into a faster circuit by relocating its registers. We give tight bounds on the minimum clock period that can be achieved by retiming a synchronous circuit. These bounds are expressed in terms of the maximum delay-to-register ratio of the cycles in the circuit graph and the maximum propagation delaydmax of the circuit components. Our bounds do not depend on the size of the circuit, and they are of theoretical as well as practical interest. They characterize exactly the minimum clock period that can be achieved by retiming a unit-delay circuit, and they lead to more efficient algorithms for several important problems related to retiming. Specifically, we give anO(V1/2E IgV) algorithm for minimum clock-period retiming of unit-delay circuitry. For non-unit-delay circuitry, we describe anO(VE Igdmax) algorithm for minimum clock-period retiming. We also describe anO(V1/2E lg2(Vdmax) algorithm for retiming with clock period that does not exceed the minimum by more thandmax — 1. Finally, we give anO(E Igdmax) algorithm for minimum clock-period pipelining of combinational circuitry.
The Intermediate Filament Protein Peripherin Is the Specific Interaction Partner of Mouse BPAG1-n (Dystonin) in Neurons

The dystonia musculorum (dt) mouse suffers from severe degeneration of primary sensory neurons. The mutated gene product is named dystonin and is identical to the neuronal isoform of bullous pemphigoid antigen 1 (BPAG1-n). BPAG1-n contains an actin-binding domain at its NH2 terminus and a putative intermediate filament-binding domain at its COOH terminus. Because the degenerating sensory neurons of dt mice display abnormal accumulations of intermediate filaments in the axons, BPAG1-n has been postulated to organize the neuronal cytoskeleton by interacting with both the neurofilament triplet proteins (NFTPs) and microfilaments. In this paper we show by a variety of methods that the COOH-terminal tail domain of mouse BPAG1 interacts specifically with peripherin, but in contrast to a previous study (Yang, Y., J. Dowling, Q.C. Yu, P. Kouklis, D.W. Cleveland, and E. Fuchs. 1996. Cell. 86:655–665), mouse BPAG1 fails to associate with full-length NFTPs. The tail domains interfered with the association of the NFTPs with BPAG1. In dt mice, peripherin is present in axonal swellings of degenerating sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia and is downregulated even in other neural regions, which have no obvious signs of pathology. Since peripherin and BPAG1-n also display similar expression patterns in the nervous system, we suggest that peripherin is the specific interaction partner of BPAG1-n in vivo.
Bacterial plug versus pseudocyst of the tonsils

This article presents several cases of two types of yellow lesions of the tonsils. The bacterial plug is a small, sometimes symptomatic lesion composed of mats of bacteria that fill a tonsillar crypt and is treated by dislodging the plug. The pseudocyst is a small, mostly asymptomatic smooth, epithelium-covered lesion that can regress spontaneously and need not be surgically removed for diagnosis. Both lesions are compared and contrasted to delineate diagnostic features and to suggest management. Terms are differentiated, and the relationship to the lymphoepithelial cyst is discussed.
Biomarker and more: can translocator protein 18 kDa predict recovery from brain injury and myocarditis?

“Translocator protein 18 kDa may be more than a simple detector of inflammation in the brain but may be intimately linked with severity and disease pathogenesis. Therefore, our understanding of translocator protein 18 kDa as a biomarker has circled back around to the brain.”
Geochemistry, strontium isotope data, and potassium-argon ages of the andesite-rhyolite association in the Padang area, West Sumatra

Abstract Quaternary volcanoes in the Padang area on the west coast of Sumatra have produced two-pyroxene, calc-alkaline andesite and volumetrically subordinate rhyolitic and andesitic ash-flow tuffs. A sequence of andesite (pre-caldera), rhyolitic tuff and andesitic tuff, in decreasing order of age, is related to Maninjau caldera. Andesite compositions range from 55.0 to 61.2% SiO 2 and from 1.13 to 2.05% K 2 O. Six K-Ar whole-rock age determinations on andesites show a range of 0.27 ± 0.12 to 0.83 ± 0.42 m.y.; a single determination on the rhyolitic ashflow tuff gave 0.28 ± 0.12 m.y. Eight 57 Sr/ 26 Sr ratios on andesites and rhyolite tuff west of the Semangko fault zone are in the range 0.7056 – 0.7066. These ratios are higher than those elsewhere in the Sunda arc but are comparable to the Taupo volcanic zone of New Zealand and calc-alkaline volcanics of continental margins. An 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of 0.7048 on G. Sirabungan east of the Semangko fault is similar to an earlier determination on nearby G. Marapi (0.7047), and agrees with 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in the rest of the Sunda arc. The reason for this distribution of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios is unknown. The high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios are tentatively regarded to reflect a crustal source for the andesites, while moderately fractionated REE patterns with pronounced negative Eu anomalies suggest a residue enriched in plagioclase with hornblende and/or pyroxenes. Generation of associated andesite and rhyolite could have been caused by hydrous fractional melting of andesite or volcanogenic sediments under adiabatic decompression.
The syndrome of generalized resistance to thyroid hormone (GRTH)

(1989). The Syndrome of Generalized Resistance to Thyroid Hormone (Grth) Endocrine Research: Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 717-743.
Plasma fluorination of diamond-like carbon surfaces: Mechanism and application to nanoimprint lithography

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films, used as molds for nanoimprint lithography, were treated with a fluorocarbon-based plasma in order to enhance their anti-adhesion properties. While ellipsometry and atomic force microscope measurements showed negligible changes in thickness and surface roughness after plasma processing, contact angle measurement found fluorine plasma-treated DLC surfaces to be highly hydrophobic, with surface energy values reduced from ~45 mJ m−2 for untreated films to ~20–30 mJ m−2 after fluorination. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a thin (from ~0.5 to ~3 nm) fluorocarbon layer on the DLC surface. Proposed mechanisms for the formation of this layer include two competing processes: etching of DLC and deposition of fluorocarbon material, with one or the other mechanism dominant, depending on the plasma conditions. Fluorocarbon plasma-treated DLC molds for nanoimprint lithography were used to pattern sub-20 nm size features with a high degree of repeatability, demonstrating an extended lifetime of the anti-adhesion coating.
Growth of Volume in Fatou-Bieberbach Regions

Here J0 is the complex Jacobian of 0 [7; p. 11], hence J0 is holomorphic, |/0 1 is subharmonic and of course positive, and its integral over C is therefore infinite. Let B be the open unit ball of C. Thus rB is the ball of radius r, centered at 0. The preceding paragraph shows that vol (Qr\rB} must tend to oo as r— >oo, whenever Q is F.B. Theorem 1 of the present paper shows that this can happen arbitrarily slowly. We became interested in vol (Qr\rB) because we wanted to know (we still don't) whether there is an F. B. region in C that does not intersect the set {zw=Q} , a union of two intersecting complex lines. (This is a special case of a more general question : Which analytic varieties V can be avoided by F. B. regions? When F is a complex line in C then it can be done; see [3] or Example 9.7 in [6]. In this direction, Bedford and Smillie [1] proved an interesting result concerning algebraic varieties.) If there were such a region, it would be the range of a biholomorphic 0 of the form
Vesicular site of action of lithium ion in choline-calcium stimulated adrenergic nerve endings of rat heart.

Abstract Reports from this laboratory have suggested that the secretion of norepinephrine (NE) in slices of ventricle from the rat heart, incubated in a medium of choline and Ca2+ (Ch+-Ca2+) deprived of Na+, is mediated by the outward transport of NE (blocked by cocaine) from synaptic vesicles fused or attached to the axolemma. Lithium (and reserpine), block the Mg2+-ATP-stimulated uptake of NE by isolated synaptic vesicles (Slotkin, Seidler, Whitmore, Salvaggio, and Lau, 1978). Hence, a hypothesis to be tested was that lithium ions would increase secretion of NE stimulated by Ch+-Ca2+. By contrast, amines mobilized by lithium ions (or reserpine) in control nerves would be deaminated. Experiments showed that lithium-Krebs increased the excretion of [3H]deaminated metabolites of [3H]NE. A much smaller quantity of [3H]NE was released by a process that was independent of Ca2+ and weakly inhibited by cocaine. When combined with Ch+Ca2+, lithium ions, in concentrations that were known to block uptake in isolated vesicles, induced a Ca2+-dependent secretion of [3H]amines. A small quantity of [3H]deaminated metabolites was excreted. Both processes were strongly inhibited by both cocaine and desipramine. Both reserpine (Bogdanski, 1982) and lithium ions blocked the inhibitory effect of exogenous ATP (2 mM) on secretion induced by Ch+−Ca2+. This effect indicated a proximity of vesicles to the axolemma. The effects of lithium ions could be explained by the hypothesis if lithium prevented storage of [3H]NE in vesicles by blocking the Mg2+ + ATP-dependent amine pump in vesicle membranes.
Distinct Genetic Alterations in Colorectal Cancer

Background Colon cancer (CRC) development often includes chromosomal instability (CIN) leading to amplifications and deletions of large DNA segments. Epidemiological, clinical, and cytogenetic studies showed that there are considerable differences between CRC tumors from African Americans (AAs) and Caucasian patients. In this study, we determined genomic copy number aberrations in sporadic CRC tumors from AAs, in order to investigate possible explanations for the observed disparities. Methodology/Principal Findings We applied genome-wide array comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) using a 105k chip to identify copy number aberrations in samples from 15 AAs. In addition, we did a population comparative analysis with aCGH data in Caucasians as well as with a widely publicized list of colon cancer genes (CAN genes). There was an average of 20 aberrations per patient with more amplifications than deletions. Analysis of DNA copy number of frequently altered chromosomes revealed that deletions occurred primarily in chromosomes 4, 8 and 18. Chromosomal duplications occurred in more than 50% of cases on chromosomes 7, 8, 13, 20 and X. The CIN profile showed some differences when compared to Caucasian alterations. Conclusions/Significance Chromosome X amplification in male patients and chromosomes 4, 8 and 18 deletions were prominent aberrations in AAs. Some CAN genes were altered at high frequencies in AAs with EXOC4, EPHB6, GNAS, MLL3 and TBX22 as the most frequently deleted genes and HAPLN1, ADAM29, SMAD2 and SMAD4 as the most frequently amplified genes. The observed CIN may play a distinctive role in CRC in AAs.
Thermal Management Considerations for Geographically Distributed Computing Infrastructures

This paper discusses an approach for optimizing the infrastructure thermal performance related to a geographically distributed computing service. Beginning by modeling the total energy costs associated with cooling a distributed environment, the cooling efficiency of a service is evaluated by superposing the piecewise IT workloads that may be delivered from various locations. We find that the total service-level thermal performance can be distinct from the facility- or infrastructure-level thermal performance, which requires a different global thermal management strategy relative to that of single-site environments. The approach is illustrated for a hypothetical example wherein a service is delivered from three different data centers in geographically diverse locations. Depending on the workload characteristics, the optimal distribution of resources across the data centers varies; but through dynamic resource allocation, it becomes possible to support the same service at increased energy efficiencies.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Spectrophotometric assay of peptidase activity.

Abstract A simple spectrophotometric assay of peptidase activity of partially purified preparations has been applied to the assay of leucinamidase activity of various preparations from swine kidney. The method is based upon the decrease of absorption at or near 235 mμ as peptide bonds are hydrolyzed.
Changing Mass Attitudes and Democratic Deepening

A large literature evaluates the correlates of mass attitudes toward democracy because such attitudes are regarded as critical for the stability and depth of democratic regimes. This article uses cross-national public opinion surveys to conduct the first comprehensive test of this conventional wisdom. The authors examine whether aggregate levels of democratic legitimacy are related to the level, stability, and deepening of democracy and find no empirical support for these theoretical expectations. Rather, the authors find evidence that legitimacy attitudes are significantly shaped by the prior institutionalization of democracy, suggesting that the existing literature may have reversed the direction of the causal arrow.
Thermal expansion of vanadium and vanadium hydride at low temperature

Interferometric dilatometry has been used to determine the thermal coefficients of expansion for α-vanadium and β-vanadium hydride (31 at.% H) between −160° and 70°C. At the lower temperatures, the coefficients both approximate 6 × 10−6 per °C. At 70°C, the coefficient is 9 × 10−6 per °C for the metal, but is nearly double that value for the hydride. The expansions of both materials have been expressed as fourth order polynomials by use of a computer program that minimizes the root-mean-square error. The stress state in the vicinity of a hydride platelet embedded in a vanadium matrix cannot be predicted from the information presently available.
The Effects of Head-Up Display Clutter and In-Vehicle Display Separation on Concurrent Driving Performance:

The introduction of new in-vehicle technologies (IVTs) in automobiles may have important implications for driver safety, especially to the extent that these devices interfere with the primary drivi...