cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human sirtuins are differentially sensitive to inhibition by nitrosating agents and other cysteine oxidants.

Sirtuins (e.g. human Sirt1–7) catalyze the removal of acyl groups from lysine residues in proteins in an NAD+-dependent manner, and loss of sirtuin deacylase activity correlates with the development of aging-related diseases. Although multiple reports suggest that sirtuin activity is regulated by oxidative post-translational modifications of cysteines during inflammation and aging, no systematic comparative study of potential direct sirtuin cysteine oxidative modifications has been performed. Here, using IC50 and kinact/KI analyses, we quantified the ability of nitrosothiols (S-nitrosoglutathione and S-nitroso-N-acetyl- d , l -penicillamine), nitric oxide, oxidized GSH, and hydrogen peroxide to post-translationally modify and inhibit the deacylase activity of Sirt1, Sirt2, Sirt3, Sirt5, and Sirt6. The inhibition was correlated with cysteine modification and assessed with chemical-probe and blot-based assays for cysteine S-nitrosation, sulfenylation, and glutathionylation. We show that the primarily nuclear sirtuins Sirt1 and Sirt6, as well as the primarily cytosolic sirtuin Sirt2, are modified and inhibited by cysteine S-nitrosation in response to exposure to both free nitric oxide and nitrosothiols (kinact/KI ≥ 5 m −1 s−1), which is the first report of Sirt2 and Sirt6 inhibition by S-nitrosation. Surprisingly, the mitochondrial sirtuins Sirt3 and Sirt5 were resistant to inhibition by cysteine oxidants. Collectively, these results suggest that nitric oxide–derived oxidants may causatively link nuclear and cytosolic sirtuin inhibition to aging-related inflammatory disease development.
Parameter Self-Adaptation for Industrial Wireless Sensor-Actuator Networks

Wireless sensor-actuator network (WSAN) technology is gaining rapid adoption by industrial Internet of Things applications in recent years. A WSAN typically connects sensors, actuators, and controllers in industrial facilities, such as steel mills, oil refineries, chemical plants, and infrastructures implementing complex monitoring and control processes. IEEE 802.15.4–based WSANs operate at low power and can be manufactured inexpensively, which makes them ideal where battery lifetime and costs are important. Recent studies have shown that the selection of network parameters has a significant effect on network performance. However, the current practice of parameter selection is largely based on experience and rules of thumb involving a coarse-grained analysis of expected network load and dynamics or measurements during a few field trials, resulting in non-optimal decisions in many cases. In this work, we develop P-SAFE (Parameter Selection and Adaptation FramEwork), which optimally selects the network parameters based on the application quality-of-service demands and adapts the parameter configuration at runtime to consistently satisfy the dynamic requirements. We implement P-SAFE and evaluate it on three physical testbeds. Experimental results show that our solution can significantly better meet the application quality-of-service demand compared to the state of the art.
Alternative pneumocystis prophylaxis in solid organ transplant recipients at two large transplant centers.

Background Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the drug of choice for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis and has activity against other opportunistic infections (OIs) after solid organ transplant (SOT). We aimed to describe the incidence, reasons for and outcomes of use of alternative prophylactic agents (APAs) across SOT programs in our high volume centers. Methods Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) at our centers from 1/2015-12/2016 were identified. Pharmacy records identified APA (pentamidine, atovaquone, or dapsone) use within 1 year. Records were reviewed for allergies, laboratory values at APA initiation, diagnostic tests for TMP-SMX-preventable OIs, and APA side effects. Results An APA was initiated in 105/1173 (8.9%) SOTRs. Of these, 51 (48.6%) were because of sulfonamide allergy recorded pre-SOT, mostly rash/hives (58.8%). The remaining 54 (51.4%) had TMP-SMX discontinued post-SOT, mostly for neutropenia (48%) and renal effects (34%). Differences occurred across programs, with kidney transplant never stopping TMP-SMX for renal issues. Of those changed to APAs post-transplant, 19 (35%) were later successfully re-challenged with TMP-SMX. With thresholds in mind, 67 (64%) received an APA unnecessarily, accounting for up to $100 000/y excess cost. Potential TMP-SMX-preventable OIs occurred in 7 (5 Nocardia; 2 PJP). APA side effects occurred in 14/105 (13.3%). Conclusions Use of APAs for PJP prophylaxis after SOT is less than previously reported but often unwarranted. Such decisions require scrutiny to avoid TMP-SMX-preventable OIs, cost and important APA side effects. Use of reasonable thresholds for cessation of TMP-SMX and data-driven approaches to re-challenge would substantially reduce APA use.
Grain size effects on the wettability of as-grown graphene and dropwise condensation

Abstract Understanding the wettability of graphene is both fundamentally important and crucial for development of graphene based electronic/optical devices. However, graphene wettability characterized by the static contact angle (CA) has been inconsistent and even contradictory in literature. After systematically characterizing the wettability of chemical vapor deposited polycrystalline graphene, we learn that the wettability of polycrystalline graphene on copper (Cu-Gr) varies significantly with the average graphene grain areas. With the average graphene grain areas increasing from 0.47 μm 2 to 22.16 μm 2, the static CA on polycrystalline graphene surfaces increases from 47.9° to 68.8°, while the hysteresis CA decreases from 45.9° to 32.7°. Pinning contact lines of nucleated micro-scale droplets along the graphene grain boundary (GB) were identified, indicating inhomogeneous wetting. To further verify the impact of graphene GB on the graphene wettability and manipulating droplet dynamics, we conducted water vapor condensation experiments on the Cu-Gr surfaces. We found that a larger graphene grain size (less graphene GBs per unit area) would lead to a higher droplet departure frequency, resulting in an additional 45% enhancement of dropwise condensation (DWC) heat transfer rates. This study successfully quantifies the role of graphene grain size in determing CAs and reveals that the graphene surface wettability and DWC performance can be effectively engineered by varying graphene grain size.
Mutational analysis of Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase selectivity to improve glucose yield

84 Introduction 85 Materials and methods 89 Materials 89 Mutation construction 90 Irreversible thermoinactivation 90 Results 91 Specific activities 91 Irreversible thermoinactivation 91 Maltodextrin hydrolysis 91 Glucose condensation reactions 97 Selectivity for a-l,6-linked products synthesis versus a-l,4-linked substrate hydrolysis 105 Discussion 105 Acknowledgements 120 References 121 MUTATIONS TO ALTER ASPERGILLUS AWAMORI GLUCOAMYLASE SELECTIVITY. V. COMBINATIONS OF ASN20-^CYS/ALA27^CYS, SER30->PRO, GLY137->ALA, 311-314 LOOP and SER411-).ALA 125 Abstract 125 Introduction 126 Materials and methods 130 Materials 130
Logic Diagnosis with Hybrid Fail Data

Yield improvement requires information about the defects present in faulty units. This information is derived by applying a logic diagnosis procedure to the fail data collected by a tester from faulty units. It is typical in the early stages of yield learning to find faulty units that produce excessive volumes of fail data. The current practice is to terminate the fail data collection and possibly discard the fail data already collected for the unit. An earlier study shows that a faulty unit may produce excessive volumes of fail data for some tests but not for others. Based on this observation, a possible solution is to collect full fail data only for tests where this is feasible and pass/fail information for other tests. For this approach to be practical, it is necessary to be able to perform logic diagnosis with hybrid fail data that consists of full fail data for some tests and only pass/fail information for other tests. The main challenge in designing such a procedure is to balance the use of the two types of data to produce accurate logic diagnosis results. This article describes a logic diagnosis procedure, from the class of procedures used by commercial tools, that addresses this challenge. Experimental results for benchmark circuits demonstrate the importance of pass/fail information in this scenario.
WE-AB-204-09: Respiratory Motion Correction in 4D-PET by Simultaneous Motion Estimation and Image Reconstruction (SMEIR)

Purpose: In conventional 4D-PET, images from different frames are reconstructed individually and aligned by registration methods. Two issues with these approaches are: 1) Reconstruction algorithms do not make full use of all projections statistics; and 2) Image registration between noisy images can Result in poor alignment. In this study we investigated the use of simultaneous motion estimation and image reconstruction (SMEIR) method for cone beam CT for motion estimation/correction in 4D-PET. Methods: Modified ordered-subset expectation maximization algorithm coupled with total variation minimization (OSEM- TV) is used to obtain a primary motion-compensated PET (pmc-PET) from all projection data using Demons derived deformation vector fields (DVFs) as initial. Motion model update is done to obtain an optimal set of DVFs between the pmc-PET and other phases by matching the forward projection of the deformed pmc-PET and measured projections of other phases. Using updated DVFs, OSEM- TV image reconstruction is repeated and new DVFs are estimated based on updated images. 4D XCAT phantom with typical FDG biodistribution and a 10mm diameter tumor was used to evaluate the performance of the SMEIR algorithm. Results: Image quality of 4D-PET is greatly improved by the SMEIR algorithm. When all projections are used to reconstruct a 3D-PET, motion blurring artifacts are present, leading to a more than 5 times overestimation of the tumor size and 54% tumor to lung contrast ratio underestimation. This error reduced to 37% and 20% for post reconstruction registration methods and SMEIR respectively. Conclusion: SMEIR method can be used for motion estimation/correction in 4D-PET. The statistics is greatly improved since all projection data are combined together to update the image. The performance of the SMEIR algorithm for 4D-PET is sensitive to smoothness control parameters in the DVF estimation step.
End System Service Examples

This technical report investigates services suitable for end systems. We look into ITU Q.1211 services, AT&T 5ESS switch services, services defined in CSTA Phase III, and new services integrating other Internet services, such as presence information. We also explore how to use the Language for End System Services (LESS) to program the services.
Community factors supporting child mental Health

Interest in the intrinsic value of civic engagement and community life is enjoying a renaissance in American life. At the same time, new knowledge is being generated in the science of human ecology. The confluence of these two events marks a favorable time to rekindle interest in studying community influences on child mental health. The work reviewed in this article provides examples of both basic research that attempts to improve understanding of how community factors operate and applied research that aims to promote healthier environments for children.
Reversible Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring Changes Associated with Surgical Retraction (P3.010)

OBJECTIVE: The critical role of multimodality intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM), and specifically, transcranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEPs) in helping to prevent retraction-related injuries is highlighted. BACKGROUND: Inadvertent retraction-related injuries are a known risk of intracranial surgical procedures, with an incidence estimated to be 5-10%. Retraction in the vicinity of critical neural tissue and vascular structures may result in compression, stretch, or steno-occlusive ischemic injuries that are unexpected, and may not be recognized until the postoperative period. DESIGN/METHODS: We present a series of ten intracranial surgical cases where IONM changes occurred in association with retractor placement and positioning, procedures that include resection of tumor (4) and vascular malformations (2), and aneurysm clipping (4). Multimodality IONM monitoring was employed in all cases, including transcranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), and electroencephalography (EEG). RESULTS: In the four aneurysm cases, critical IONM changes occurred following retractor placement, but prior to any planned intervention. In all remaining cases changes occurred during the interventional period that also coincided with the placement or positioning of retractors. Most commonly transcranial motor evoked potentials were primarily affected. In all cases prompt identification of these IONM changes led to rapid surgical assessment and eventual removal or repositioning of retractors, which resolved neurophysiologic changes and correlated with no new sustained postoperative deficits. CONCLUSIONS: This case series highlights the importance of IONM in the early identification of potentially reversible changes that may correlate with impending retraction-related injuries. In particular, the pattern of IONM changes represented in the majority of these cases emphasizes the critical and distinct role of tcMEPs in identifying early signs of evolving cerebral injury. This further illustrates the utility and necessity of multimodality intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring in a diversity of intracranial surgical cases for the entire duration of the procedure, including presumably non-interventional periods. Disclosure: Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cho has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nguyen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Steinberg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dodd has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ryu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lopez has received research support from Earlogic/Good Ear Company.
The Effect of Computer Workstation Design on Student Posture

AbstractAlthough the use of computers in the classroom is increasing, little attention has been paid by educators, furniture manufacturers, or researchers to the ergonomic design issues of educational furniture for computer use. Children in the sixth and eighth grades performed keyboarding and mousing tasks at two different computer workstations; one a traditional desktop arrangement, and the second a station that consisted of an adjustable keyboard. Overall student posture scores improved, as measured by the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, at the adjustable workstation.
On the use of area-wide models in the Euro-zone

This paper investigates the legitimacy of using area-wide models in predicting aggregate variables in the Euro-area. We aim to compare the performance of area-wide versus national specific models for modeling money demand when using different aggregation schemes. A generalized Grunfeld and Griliches criterion and the Vuong test are used to discriminate between competitive models. Results show that the use of different aggregation methods is not irrelevant. In fact, due to the volatility of the exchange rates, the aggregate models fit better than the disaggregate whenever we employ ECU exchange rates. However, for fixed exchange rates expressed in Euro, the disaggregate models outperform the aggregate ones.
An Interactive Tire-Fluid Model for Dynamic Hydroplaning

An interactive tire-fluid model has been developed to serve as an aid in understanding dynamic hydroplaning of pneumatic tires. Dynamic hydroplaning occurs when the amount of fluid encountered by the tire exceeds the drainage capacity of the footprint region. The tire is completely separated from the pavement by a fluid film. Important advances in the present model are the automatic generation both of tire surface deformation in the contact region and of vertical axle displacement, both being due principally to fluid inertial forces. Present forms of the two major analysis modules comprising this model--tire deformation and fluid flow--are described in detail. Required experimental inputs including velocity, water film depth, and tire cross-sectional geometry are indicated. A description is then given of how these modules and the inputs they require are combined to form an interactive model. Examples are provided demonstrating the accuracy of the model's predictive capability. The effects of both speed and load on tire deformation in the footprint region and on axle height as predicted by the model are seen to be in agreement in trend with experimentally determined results.
DNA base-excision repair enzyme apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox factor-1 is increased and competent in the brain and spinal cord of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Motor neurons degenerate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The mechanisms for this neuronal cell death are not known, although apoptosis has been implicated. Oxidative damage to DNA and activation of p53 has been identified directly in motor neurons in cases of ALS. We evaluated whether motor neuron degeneration in ALS is associated with changes in the levels and function of the multifunctional protein apurinic/apyrimidinic enodnuclease (APE/Ref-1). APE/Ref-1 functions as an enzyme in the DNA base-excision repair pathway and as a redox-regulation protein for transcription factors. The protein level and localization of APE/Ref-1 are changed in ALS. Immunoblotting showed that APE/Ref-1 protein levels are increased in selectively vulnerable central nervous system (CNS) regions in individuals with ALS compared to age-matched controls. Plasmid DNA repair assay demonstrated that APE from individuals with ALS is competent in repairing apurinic (AP) sites. DNA repair function in nuclear fractions is increased significantly in ALS motor cortex and spinal cord. Immunocytochemistry and single-cell densitometry revealed that APE/Ref-1 is expressed at lower levels in control motor neurons than in ALS motor neurons, which are decreased in number by 42% in motor cortex. APE/Ref-1 is increased in the nucleus of remaining upper motor neurons in ALS, which show a 38% loss of nuclear area. APE-Ref-1 is also upregulated in astrocytes in spinal cord white matter pathways in familial ALS. We conclude that mechanisms for DNA repair are activated in ALS, supporting the possibility that DNA damage is an upstream mechanism for motor neuron degeneration in this disease.
A Qualitative Assessment of a Foreign Language Whole Language Class.

: This study had two goals: (1) to provide insights on how to assess a Whole-Language Foreign Language Class (WLFLC), and (2) to field test qualitative research methods for a WLFLC. The setting was a Hebrew-language class based on eight established principles of WLFLCs. The class was assessed through the analysis of formal semistructured interviews with four students; students' reflective midterm papers and final class evaluations (from their portfolios); and the teacher/researcher's reflective journal, which included field notes and anecdotal records. Three themes emerged: (1) tensions between teacher-and student-centered instruction; (2) tensions between negotiated and predetermined curricula; and (3) becoming part of a multicultural/multilingual community. When the class started in August it was a new experiment for you as well for us, and there were a lot of expectations and misunderstandings in your class and with you. Sometimes people didn't understand what your objectives were, and along with that, they did not have the maturity to just take “the ball in their court,” to take the responsibility to themselves. In the beginning of the second semester there were a lot of changes, good changes, because there was a little more of a structure. I think that it was probably a good adjustment and most clearly defined for people what was going on in the class. Although that took time to evolve. I feel like [we] have come together in a good way. —Assessment made by William, a student in a whole language Hebrew class
Increasing Diversity in Geoscience Through Research Internships

Over the past 9 years, UNAVCO—a university-governed consortium fostering geoscience research and education focused on geodesy—supported 44 interns through the Research Experiences in Solid Earth Science for Students (RESESS) program. The primary goal of the program is to increase the number of historically underrepresented students entering the geosciences.
Anesthetic complications including two cases of postoperative respiratory depression in living liver donor surgery.

Background: Living liver donation is becoming a more common means to treat patients with liver failure because of a shortage of cadaveric organs and tissues. There is a potential for morbidity and mortality, however, in patients who donate a portion of their liver. The purpose of this study is to identify anesthetic complications and morbidity resulting from living liver donor surgery. Patients and Methods: The anesthetic records of all patients who donated a segment of their liver between January 1997 and January 2006 at University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview were retrospectively reviewed. The surgical and anesthesia time, blood loss, hospitalization length, complications, morbidity, and mortality were recorded. Data were reported as absolute values, mean ± SD, or percentage. Significance (P Results: Seventy-four patients (34 male, 40 female, mean age = 35.5 ± 9.8 years) donated a portion of their liver and were reviewed in the study. Fifty-seven patients (77%) donated the right hepatic lobe, while 17 (23%) donated a left hepatic segment. The average surgical time for all patients was 7.8 ± 1.5 hours, the anesthesia time was 9.0 ± 1.3 hours, and the blood loss was 423 ± 253 ml. Forty-six patients (62.2%) received autologous blood either from a cell saver or at the end of surgery following acute, normovolemic hemodilution, but none required an allogenic transfusion. Two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit due to respiratory depression. Both patients donated their right hepatic lobe. One required reintubation in the recovery room and remained intubated overnight. The other was extubated but required observation in the intensive care unit for a low respiratory rate. Twelve patients (16.2%) had complaints of nausea, and two reported nausea with vomiting during their hospital stay. There were four patients who developed complications related to positioning during the surgery: Two patients complained of numbness and tingling in the hands which resolved within two days, one patient reported a blister on the hand, and one patient complained of right elbow pain that resolved quickly. Postoperative hospitalization averaged 7.4 ± 1.5 days. There was no patient mortality. Discussion: Living liver donation can be performed with low morbidity. However, postoperative respiratory depression is a concern and is perhaps due to altered metabolism of administered narcotics and anesthetic agents.
Neutrophils are not necessary for ischemia-reperfusion lung injury.

Abstract The role of neutrophils (PMNs) in ischemia-reperfusion injury after lung transplantation is unclear. If PMNs are involved in ischemia-reperfusion injury in the intact rat, then PMNs should sequester in the injured lung and PMN-depleted rats should develop less injury. Group A rats were treated with a rabbit anti-rat PMN antibody causing profound neutropenia ( 2,000 PMNs/μL). Rats were anesthetized and left lung ischemia was sustained for 90 or 180 minutes by clamping the bronchus and the pulmonary artery and vein. Lung injury was quantified by the accumulation of radiolabeled ( 125 I) albumin in ischemic left and nonischemic right lungs (cpm per gram of lung/cpm per gram of blood). Ischemia caused significant lung injury ( p
Adjustment scales for preschool intervention: Extending validity and relevance across multiple perspectives

A series of studies extended psychometric research on the Adjustment Scales for Preschool Intervention (ASPI). The ASPI is a multidimensional measure of preschool emotional and behavioral adjustment for use within formal early childhood educational programs. These studies used a multiple method, multisource approach to provide additional evidence for the reliability and validity of the ASPI. Findings documented inter-rater reliability of the ASPI across key informants within early childhood educational programs—teachers and teacher assistants. Findings supported concurrent validity of the ASPI with direct observations of preschool classroom adjustment problems and the developmentally salient constructs of temperament and emotion regulation. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 725–736, 2004.
Interannual variability of deep convection over the tropical warm pool

Satellite data show that the total amount of deep convection was nearly constant from year to year over the “warm pool” region of the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans, but the spatial distribution varied. In the 1986–1987 warm El Nino/Southern Oscillation event, the maximum of deep convective activity was over the high sea surface temperature (SST) of the west central Pacific, with a local minimum over the eastern Indian Ocean. In the 1988–1989 cold ENSO event the maximum convective activity switched to the eastern Indian Ocean, with a minimum over the west central Pacific. The SST changed very little over the eastern Indian Ocean from year to year, and the centers of convective activity were always collocated with the four-month mean low-level westerlies in each year. The latitude of the cloudy region of the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) varied interannually. The interannual differences in deep convective activity over the warm pool were accounted for almost exclusively by the occurrence or nonoccurrence of extremely large, long-lasting, deep mesoscale cloud systems (cloud tops <208 K with horizontal dimensions ∼300–700 km). Such cloud systems occurred more frequently than normal over the western Pacific during the warm ENSO event and over the eastern Indian Ocean during the cold event. They occurred more frequently over the tropical eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans than over the maritime continent, thus accounting for the seesaw pattern of the observed cold cloudiness between the two oceanic regions on both interannual and intraseasonal timescales.
The changing landscape of police education and training

Police education and training are in transition around the world. Here are just a few examples of recent developments: • The Scottish Institute of Police Research (SIPR), in cooperation with the Sc...
Adaptive layout for dynamically aggregated documents

We present a system for designing and displaying grid-based document designs that adapt to many different viewing conditions and content selections. Our system can display traditional, static documents, or it can assemble dynamic documents "on the fly" from many disparate sources via the Internet. Our adaptive layouts for aggregated documents are inspired by traditional newspaper design. Furthermore, our system allows documents to be interactive so that readers can customize documents as they read them. Our system builds on previous work on adaptive documents, using constraint-based templates to specify content-independent page designs. The new templates we describe are much more flexible in their ability to adapt to different types of content and viewing situations. This flexibility comes from allowing the individual components, or "elements," of the templates to be mixed and matched, according to the content being displayed. We demonstrate our system with two example applications: an interactive news reader for the New York Times, and an Internet news aggregator based on MSN Newsbot.
Dynamic eccentricity of structures subjected to S‐H waves

The behaviour of coupled lateral-torsional systems subjected to seismic waves is investigated analytically. This paper present numerical results of a few case studies which show the contributions of each of the selected parameters to the rotational response of the structural systems. Dynamic eccentricity is used as an index to represent the level of the rotational response. Accidental eccentricities due to S-H waves are evaluated. Design implications based on this study are also given.
Investment incentives in bilateral trading

Abstract We characterize the surplus-maximizing trading mechanism under two-sided incomplete information and interim individual rationality, when one party can make a value-enhancing specific investment. This mechanism exhibits a trade-off between providing investment incentives and inducing voluntary participation. We analyze how the trading area of the optimal mechanism is further distorted in order to provide investment incentives. Applications of our main results and the underlying geometric analysis to institutional design issues are also provided.
The political economy of R&D taxonomies

Abstract This paper evaluates the merits of five different taxonomies for RD (2) effective budgeting; (3) policy formulation; and (4) political persuasion. Informational criteria refer to the quality, quantity, and costs of information acquisition and access. Effective budgeting criteria concern the ability of a taxonomy to facilitate getting as much R&D output as possible for given levels of budget and to help choose good trajectories of research over time. Policy formulation criteria refer to promotion of serious public policy debate about S&T issues, neutrality when used by adversaries and advocates in policy debate, and deterrence of reflexive arguments about the value of the taxonomy being used. Political persuasion criteria concern such things as the ability to hold old constituencies and create new ones, the ability to avoid too much blame for hard allocation decisions, the ability to convince research sponsors to allow agency requested levels and distributions. The evaluation reveals no clear dominance among taxonomies and suggests R&D agencies need new taxonomies less than they need a rapid response capability to array budgets, obligations, and outlays in terms meaningful to different sponsors and audiences.
A conjecture on the unstable Adams spectral sequences for SO and U

We give a systematic account of a conjecture suggested by Mark Ma- howald on the unstable Adams spectral sequences for the groups SO and U. The conjec- ture is related to a conjecture of Bouseld on a splitting of theE2-term and to an algebraic spectral sequence constructed by Bouseld and Davis. We construct and realize topolog- ically a chain complex which is conjectured to contain in its dieren tial the structure of the unstable Adams spectral sequence for SO. A ltration of this chain complex gives rise to a spectral sequence that is conjectured to be the unstable Adams spectral sequence for SO. If the conjecture is correct, then it means that the entire unstable Adams spectral sequence for SO is available from a primary level calculation. We predict the unstable Adams ltration of the homotopy elements of SO based on the conjecture, and we give an example of how the chain complex predicts the dieren tials of the unstable Adams spectral sequence. Our results are also applicable to the analogous situation for the group U. 1. Introduction. In this paper, we consider the unstable Adams spec- tral sequence (UASS) of the group SO at the prime 2. In particular, we give a systematic account of a conjecture suggested by Mark Mahowald concern- ing the calculation of the dieren tials in this spectral sequence. We give a geometric realization of the conjecture in the form of a tower with the 2-completion of SO as inverse limit. Our tower comes equipped with a map from the destabilization of the stable Adams tower for the innite delooping of SO. We use this map and theorems of Bouseld on h0-towers in unstable Ext to predict the Adams ltrations of the unstable homotopy of SO. Our results are equally valid for the group U, and thus dieren tials and unstable ltrations can be predicted for this group as well. Of course, the homotopy of SO and U is well known by Bott periodicity, and what is of interest is the workings of the UASS, not the end result. Before we describe our results and conjectures, we establish some nota- tion. We work entirely at the prime 2, all cohomology will be taken with mod 2 coecien ts, and all spaces will be taken to be completed at 2 as
The neural shell: A neural network simulation tool

Abstract This paper presents a neural network simulator, the Neural Shell, which was developed in order to simplify the design and use of neural networks. The Neural Shell is a prototyping and simulation environment which runs on Unix workstations. Additionally, the Neural Shell supports the execution of large neural-network simulations on Cray Supercomputers.
Comprehension of complex sentences in children at three levels of cognitive development

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between level of cognitive development and the comprehension of complex sentences in children. Twenty males and 20 females at the preoperational and concrete operational levels of cognitive development who were attending regular first-, fourth-, and seventh-grade classes served as subjects. Four examples each of parallel and nonparallel function forms of center-embedded and right-branching sentences served as stimuli within an object-manipulation task. The sentences were also described in terms of those containing a reversed word order clause, a clause with a role change (nonparallel function), neither, or both. Preoperational children could interpret sentences containing neither reversed word order nor role change as well as concrete operational children. Concrete operational children providing identity and reversibility arguments during conservation tasks had a significantly higher accuracy rate on sentences containing either role change or reversed word order than preoperational children. Concrete operational children providing reversibility, identity, and compensation arguments had a significantly higher accuracy rate on sentences containing role change and both role change and reversed word order than any other group of children. Preoperational children were noted to rely heavily on the use of word-order strategy to decode the sentences. Reliance on this strategy decreased as cognitive level advanced.
Conceptions and misconceptions about human health impact analysis

There is a widespread belief that the key to assessing an environmental health impact is a good exposure analysis. For most analysts, exposure assessment is the accuracy limiting step and all else is of lesser importance. At the same time there is also a prevalent (and perhaps complementary) attitude that the health data used in human health impact assessments (HHIAs) are so "soft" that they do not warrant much attention or care. This article is about that "soft" health data. I discuss some common misconceptions about the health data that go into a human health impact assessment. Some of these misconceptions involve large overarching issues, whereas others are quite specific misunderstandings of special topics. All of them interfere directly and importantly with a proper interpretation of HHIAs.
Multidimensional scaling vs. factor analysis of Wechsler's intelligence scales

The relations between principal component and principal factor analysis, on the one hand, and metric and nonmetric multidimensional scaling, on the other, were explored by applying all four methods to the standardization data for the WAIS-R, the WISC-R, and the WPPSI. For each of the instruments, the first component/factor was a general one that had no counterpart in the two scaling dimensions. The second component/factor and the first scaling dimension differentiated the Verbal from the Performance subtests, whereas the third component/factor and the second scaling dimension appeared to represent what has been called Freedom from Distractibility. The tendency of multidimensional scaling to remove the first general component/factor may be an undesirable feature of that method for investigating structure in the area of human abilities.
Nanoparticle-based evaluation of blood?brain barrier leakage during the foreign body response

Objective. The brain foreign body response (FBR) is an important process that limits the functionality of electrodes that comprise the brain-machine interface. Associated events in this process include leakage of the blood?brain barrier (BBB), reactive astrogliosis, recruitment and activation of microglia, and neuronal degeneration. Proper BBB function is also integral to maintaining neuronal health and function. Previous attempts to characterize BBB integrity have shown homogeneous leakage of macromolecules up to 10?nm in size. In this study, we describe a new method of measuring BBB permeability during the foreign body response in a mouse model. Approach. Fluorescent nanoparticles were delivered via the tail vein into implant-bearing mice. Tissue sections were then analyzed using fluorescence microscopy to observe nanoparticles in the tissue. Gold nanoparticles were also used in conjunction with TEM to confirm the presence of nanoparticles in the brain parenchyma. Main results. By using polymer nanoparticle tracers, which are significantly larger than conventional macromolecular tracers, we show near-implant BBB gaps of up to 500?nm in size that persist for at least 4 weeks after implantation. Further characterization of the BBB illustrates that leakage during the brain FBR is heterogeneous with gaps between at least 10 and 500?nm. Moreover, electron microscopy was used to confirm that the nanoparticle tracers enter into the brain parenchyma near chronic brain implants. Significance. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the FBR-induced BBB leakage is characterized by larger gaps and is of longer duration than previously thought. This technique can be applied to examine the BBB in other disease states as well as during induced, transient, BBB opening.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging-guided resection of low-grade gliomas

Abstract Background We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to guide the resection of low-grade gliomas (LGG). Methods From September 1997 to February 2003, fMRI was performed in 16 patients (age, 15-43 years) before an attempted surgical resection of LGG. Functional imaging was used to identify and coregister eloquent cortices pertinent to motor (10), speech (3), motor and speech (2), and short-term memory and speech (1) activation with respect to the tumor using a 1.5-T interventional MRI system. Intraoperatively acquired T2-weighted and turbo-fluid attenuated inversion recovery images were used to assess the completeness of surgical resection. Results Tumors included 10 oligodendrogliomas, 4 astrocytomas, 1 dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, and 1 pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. In every case, the preoperative brain activation study accurately determined the location of neurologic function. After surgery, one patient had a transient hemiparesis and another had a temporary apraxia. Ten patients had radiographically complete resections and 5 with oligodendrogliomas had incomplete resections because of the proximity of their tumors to functional areas. Only one patient with an astrocytoma in the motor strip received postoperative radiation therapy. To date, radiographic tumor progression has not been seen in any patient with either a partial or a complete resection with a median follow-up of 25 months (range, 12-87 months). Conclusions Functional MRI was accurate for identifying areas of neurologic function before surgical resection of LGG. Patients with complete radiographic resections or with incompletely resected oligodendrogliomas can be safely followed radiographically after surgery. Radiation therapy was reserved for infiltrating astrocytomas that were not completely resectable.
EWI-2 regulates α3β1 integrin–dependent cell functions on laminin-5

EWI-2, a cell surface immunoglobulin SF protein of unknown function, associates with tetraspanins CD9 and CD81 with high stoichiometry. Overexpression of EWI-2 in A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells did not alter cell adhesion or spreading on laminin-5, and had no effect on reaggregation of cells plated on collagen I (α2β1 integrin ligand). However, on laminin-5 (α3β1 integrin ligand), A431 cell reaggregation and motility functions were markedly impaired. Immunodepletion and reexpression experiments revealed that tetraspanins CD9 and CD81 physically link EWI-2 to α3β1 integrin, but not to other integrins. CD81 also controlled EWI-2 maturation and cell surface localization. EWI-2 overexpression not only suppressed cell migration, but also redirected CD81 to cell filopodia and enhanced α3β1–CD81 complex formation. In contrast, an EWI-2 chimeric mutant failed to suppress cell migration, redirect CD81 to filopodia, or enhance α3β1–CD81 complex formation. These results show how laterally associated EWI-2 might regulate α3β1 function in disease and development, and demonstrate how tetraspanin proteins can assemble multiple nontetraspanin proteins into functional complexes.
On the apparent position of a source at a large Doppler factor.

In cases exhibiting superluminal separation, the observed transverse expansion of the moving components should indicate that the ejection takes place with a significant angular extent. At a large Doppler factor, such an ejection would result in a shift of its apparent source position toward the line of sight. In the case of a bent beam, the overall apparent motion would be an expansion rather than a separation. thus very small viewing angle is an unlikely source of superluminal motion.
A note on the uniqueness of the propagating solution for acoustic waves in a finite depth ocean

There is an error in the proof of the uniqueness of the propagating solution for acoustic waves in a finite depth ocean [I]. A correct version of the uniqueness theorem was given in the author's Ph.D. dissertation (University of Delaware, 1990). This note is from the section 2.2 of the dissertation.
Biophysical Characterization of FGF Signaling Complex

Fibroblast growth factors are important heparin binding proteins involved in the regulation of key cellular processes such as angiogenesis, wound healing and differentiation. Heparin is believed to play a major role in the interaction of FGFs to their receptors, FGFRs. Most of the FGF binding sites are localized on the extracellular D2 domain of the receptor. In the present study, we characterize the structure of the minimalistic FGF-D2 domain interface using a variety of biophysical techniques, including multidimensional NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Using sucrose octasulfate, a structural analogue of heparin, we examine the role of heparin in the formation of the FGF-receptor complex. Results of the isothermal titration calorimetry experiments indicate that the human acidic FGF-1 binds to the D2 domain with high affinity both in the presence (Kd(appa) ∼ 10−7 M) and absence of SOS (Kd(appa) ∼ 10−8 M). Far-UV CD and pulse proteolysis experiments, thermal denaturation experiments monitored by far-UV CD reveal that both FGF-1 and the D2 domain undergo subtle conformational changes upon binding and also reveal that SOS stabilizes a preformed 1:1 FGF-D2 domain binary complex. The X-ray structure of a minimalistic fibroblast factor signaling complex, consisting of D2 domain and FGF-1 and sucrose octasulfate (SOS) forms a 2:2:2 symmetrical ternary assemblage. Using 1H-15N chemical shift perturbation data, the SOS and the FGF binding sites on the D2 domain have been successfully mapped. NMR spectroscopy data is more consistent with the minimalistic ternary complex than the other crystallographic models of the FGF signaling complexes. Results of this study clearly suggest that the primary role of heparin in the FGF signaling process is merely limited to conferring stability to the FGF-receptor complex. Results obtained herein appear to challenge the existing view of the structural events leading to FGF-induced cell proliferation.
Adapting liquid spawn Lentinus edodes to oak wood

Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing. is a commercially important edible mushroom cultivated on oak (Quercus spp.) logs or wood particles. Inoculum (spawn) of this white-rot saprophyte, made by homogenizing cultures grown on a chemically defined liquid medium, dies when transferred to oak wood. This study shows that an aqueous extract of the oak wood is inhibitory to growth. Inoculum produced by homogenizing stationary-grown cultures was particularly sensitive to the extract. Three different methods decreased the sensitivity of inoculum: (1) use of intact (nonhomogenized) cultures as inoculum, (2) use of homogenized cultures produced from shaken rather than stationary cultures as inoculum, or (3) use of cultures grown in the presence of wood extract as inoculum. With the use of shaken cultures adapted to oak wood extract, homogenized-culture inoculum successfully colonized an oak wood medium. Adaptation of the fungus to extracts made from an intended substrate may be an inexpensive way of producing liquid spawn specifically suited for the inoculation of the substrate.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency as a Cause of Delirium in a Patient With Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Harrington AL, Dixon TM, Ho CH. Vitamin B 12 deficiency as a cause of delirium in a patient with spinal cord injury. A man with spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple medical comorbidities had new-onset delirium during his 14th month of hospitalization. Diagnostic workup did not elicit an obvious etiology for mental status changes. Delirium persisted despite psychiatry intervention, and he was unable to be weaned from the ventilator because of prolonged agitation. Routine anemia workup revealed a possible untreated vitamin B 12 deficiency, although laboratory values were inconclusive. Empiric treatment with cyanocobalamin injections was initiated, and his delirium remarkably resolved after 3 weeks of treatment. We provide a concise review of the etiologies and varied clinical presentations of vitamin B 12 deficiency. As illustrated in this case, classic laboratory findings may not appear, and neurologic impairments from SCI can obscure the physical signs of deficiency, making diagnosis difficult. Empiric treatment may be indicated in cases of neuropsychiatric abnormalities not explained by other causes.
Leakage Detection Techniques Using Nearfield Acoustic Holography

This paper attempts to explore the possibilities of using various methods of nearfield acoustic holography (NAH) to detect the air/sound leakages from a container by locating the noise sources. The detection capabilities of three different NAH methods are compared. An acoustic source is placed inside the container and the hologram measurement is performed near the surface of the container. The NAH methods are applied on the hologram data to detect and quantify the leakage locations. Reconstructed acoustic pressure and particle velocity results are presented. NAH algorithms are found to work better for the higher input frequency cases. Tikhonov regularization is used to alleviate the singularity in the transformation matrices. However, generalized cross validation over-predicts the Tikhonov parameter for the present geometry. The resolution limitations of the NAH methods with respect to the hologram distance are addressed.Copyright © 2014 by ASME