cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Practice Necessary to Speed the Selection of Web Browser Controls that Have Impenetrable Borders

Previous research demonstrated that interface elements could be selected faster when placed against the edge of the screen. Doing so creates an impenetrable border between the element and the edge of the screen that the mouse cursor cannot penetrate. This changes how users move the mouse, so that selection quickens. This study investigated the effect of practice on the acquisition of targets with and without impenetrable borders. Ten participants selected targets that varied in Target Type (with or without impenetrable borders), and Distance (.5, 3.5, 6.5, 9.5, and 12.5 cm) across five Practice Sessions. The results confirmed that targets with impenetrable borders were selected faster than targets without impenetrable borders and that participants demonstrated consistent reductions in selection time over sessions, regardless of the target type. In addition, excessive practice was not necessary to demonstrate target type differences; thus the advantage of having impenetrable borders seems to be relatively ...
Nonequilibrium Ionization and First Ionization Potential Effect Diagnostics

We examine the accuracy of a common first ionization potential effect diagnostic, the ratio of Ne VI to Mg VI lines in the solar transition region. Since the two ions have quite similar contribution functions near their maxima in equilibrium, the ratio of these two ions is often taken to be the abundance ratio of Ne and Mg. First we compute nonequilibrium ionization effects on the ratio f(Ne+5)/f(Mg+5) of ion fractions for a variety of simple flows through the transition region. Calculating the spectral line ratios for a few examples, we then show that nonequilibrium effects as well as temperature and density dependence must be evaluated for each line ratio used in the diagnostics.
Verifying sequential consistency using vector clocks

We present an algorithm for dynamically verifying that the execution of a multithreaded program is sequentially consistent. The algorithm uses a vector-timestamp logical time mechanism to construct and verify the acyclic nature of an execution's constraint graph.
Actin assembly factors regulate the gelation kinetics and architecture of F-actin networks.

Dynamic regulation of the actin cytoskeleton is required for diverse cellular processes. Proteins regulating the assembly kinetics of the cytoskeletal biopolymer F-actin are known to impact the architecture of actin cytoskeletal networks in vivo, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that changes to actin assembly kinetics with physiologically relevant proteins profilin and formin (mDia1 and Cdc12) have dramatic consequences on the architecture and gelation kinetics of otherwise biochemically identical cross-linked F-actin networks. Reduced F-actin nucleation rates promote the formation of a sparse network of thick bundles, whereas increased nucleation rates result in a denser network of thinner bundles. Changes to F-actin elongation rates also have marked consequences. At low elongation rates, gelation ceases and a solution of rigid bundles is formed. By contrast, rapid filament elongation accelerates dynamic arrest and promotes gelation with minimal F-actin density. These results are consistent with a recently developed model of how kinetic constraints regulate network architecture and underscore how molecular control of polymer assembly is exploited to modulate cytoskeletal architecture and material properties.
Experimental support for a right‐handed vertical double helix

The experimentally observed geometry of a miniature double helix of high anti (χCN fixed ≃ 120°) nucleic acid structure indicates substantial interstrand base stacking with little intrastrand base stacking. This geometry is consistent with the right-handed vertical double helix in which the base planes are parallel to helical axis proposed by Olson [(1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA74, 1775] from theoretical calculations. The experimental data do not agree with the left-handed model in which the base planes are perpendicular to helical axis that has been proposed by Yathindra and Sundaralingam [(1976) Nucl. Acids Res.3, 729]. The theoretically computed chemical shift changes for the various double-helical configurations show that for the system examined, only the vertical model can explain the experimentally observed shift trends. The melting curve for the helix–coil transition for high anti dinucleoside monophosphate has been observed for the first time. Even though the experimental data support vertical double helices when χCN is fixed at 120°, data on naturally occurring nucleic acid structures indicate that they have no proclivity to enter into vertically stabilized double-helical arrays.
Nuclear factor-κB-like activity increases in murine cerebral cortex after sleep deprivation

Several well-defined sleep regulatory substances, e.g., interleukin-1β, activate the heterodimeric transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Several substances that inhibit sleep, e.g., inter...
Afghanistan and Central Asia: Nervous Neighbors and Mutual Liabilities?

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, Afghanistan has received a great deal of international attention, while its Central Asian neighbors have been generally ignored. However, the former-Soviet republics are plagued by security threats of their own, which leaders are quick to blame on the volatile circumstances in Afghanistan. This paper examines the relationship between the two regions, focusing especially on cross-border drug trade, and radical Islamist groups, and claims that Central Asian leaders have over-exaggerated Afghanistan’s negative impact on their states. The piece also evaluates Central Asia's effects on Afghanistan. It concludes by offering suggestions for improving the turbulent region.
Synovial Sarcoma: A Review and Update, with Emphasis on the Ultrastructural Characterization of the Nonglandular Component

Classic triphasic synovial sarcoma is usually not a problem in identification, whereas the monophasic spindle cell form continues to be a challenge in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell neoplasms. Most synovial sarcomas do not arise from a joint or tendon sheath, and by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry they differ in several ways from nonneoplastic synovium. The cell of origin of synovial sarcoma is unknown, but certain features are rather consistently observed in the biphasic tumors and are useful in identifying monophasic samples. These features are apparent by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, both of which indicate early epithelial differentiation in the nonglandular component of the neoplasm. With immunohistochemistry, some of these cells stain for keratin. By electron microscopy, a gradient of differentiation from unclassifiable spindle cells to fully differentiated epithelial lining cells is demonstrable. A review and illustration of the ultrastructural characteristi...
Combining Visual and Acoustic Speech Signals with a Neural Network Improves Intelligibility

Acoustic speech recognition degrades in the presence of noise. Compensatory information is available from the visual speech signals around the speaker's mouth. Previous attempts at using these visual speech signals to improve automatic speech recognition systems have combined the acoustic and visual speech information at a symbolic level using heuristic rules. In this paper, we demonstrate an alternative approach to fusing the visual and acoustic speech information by training feedforward neural networks to map the visual signal onto the corresponding short-term spectral amplitude envelope (STSAE) of the acoustic signal. This information can be directly combined with the degraded acoustic STSAE. Significant improvements are demonstrated in vowel recognition from noise-degraded acoustic signals. These results are compared to the performance of humans, as well as other pattern matching and estimation algorithms.
A Guide for Transforming Digital Collections Metadata into Linked Data Using Open Source Technologies

Linked Open Data (LOD) has been a focus of great interest in the library and information science literature in recent years. Much of the literature in this area has been in explaining concepts and discussing its applicability to library data. Implementation of LOD is based on concepts that differ from those of more traditional databases and records. This adds a certain level of complexity to an understanding of its application in practice. As a relatively new topic, the library literature lacks best practices for implementing LOD. The goal of this paper is to share with the readers the challenges faced by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) LOD project team in implementing the transformation of digital-collection metadata into LOD and the solutions that were adopted. The author briefly introduces basic concepts of LOD and explains, step-by-step, how to transform digital-collections metadata into LOD, thereby indicating the open source technologies and data model that might be considered as tools fo...
Wave-like equations obeyed by information measures

Familiar information measures such as due to Shannon, Kullback, etc., may be related to one basic information measure called the characteristic information I. The latter is the trace of the Fisher information matrix. The relation is a Poisson equation with I as the driving force. Thus, for small-uncertainty cases, given I all these other information measures can be generated as solutions to a Poisson equation. If one of the parameters of the system is time- like, the Poisson equation becomes a wave equation, and the information may be said to `flow.'© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A performance study of general-purpose applications on graphics processors using CUDA

Graphics processors (GPUs) provide a vast number of simple, data-parallel, deeply multithreaded cores and high memory bandwidths. GPU architectures are becoming increasingly programmable, offering the potential for dramatic speedups for a variety of general-purpose applications compared to contemporary general-purpose processors (CPUs). This paper uses NVIDIA's C-like CUDA language and an engineering sample of their recently introduced GTX 260 GPU to explore the effectiveness of GPUs for a variety of application types, and describes some specific coding idioms that improve their performance on the GPU. GPU performance is compared to both single-core and multicore CPU performance, with multicore CPU implementations written using OpenMP. The paper also discusses advantages and inefficiencies of the CUDA programming model and some desirable features that might allow for greater ease of use and also more readily support a larger body of applications.
Conceptual design study of horn power supply

A 250 pulsed power supply is required for the focusing horn of the proposed Brookhaven AGS super neutrino beam facility for long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. It is expected to pulse at 2.5 Hz repetition rate. A preliminary study is being conducted to explore the key issues associated with the power supply system design. Advanced technologies used in similar systems as well as new ideas are being examined, simulated and evaluated. This power supply will be a very high stored energy, high average power, and high peak power system.
Sensor Localization Error Decomposition: Theory and Applications

In this paper we consider performance characterizations of self-localization algorithms for sensor networks. The location parameters have a natural decomposition into relative configuration and centroid transformation components based on the influence of measurements and prior information in the problem. A linear representation of the transformation parameter space, which includes rotations and translations, is used for decomposition of general localization error covariance matrices. The proposed decomposition may be applied to any estimator, the posterior Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) in a Bayesian setting, or a traditional CRB. Along with the CRB itself, the relative-transformation decomposition provides insight into how external inputs effect absolute localization performance. This partitioning of error is also useful to higher level applications in a sensor network that utilize results of the localization service and must account for its uncertainty. Examples are presented and an application demonstrates the utility of relative error decomposition to the problem of angle-of-arrival estimation with sensor location uncertainty.
24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 promotes the osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Although 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] is considered the most biologically active vitamin D3 metabolite, the vitamin D3 prohormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3], is metabolized into other forms, including 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24R,25(OH)2D3]. Herein we show that 24R,25(OH)2D3 is fundamental for osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Our approach involved analyses of cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and pro-osteogenic genes (collagen 1A1, osteocalcin, vitamin D receptor [VDR], vitamin D3-hydroxylating enzymes [cytochrome P450 hydroxylases: CYP2R1, CYP27A1, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1]) and assessment of Ca2+ mineralization of extracellular matrix. 24R,25(OH)2D3 inhibited hMSC proliferation, decreased 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B) expression, thereby reducing the ability of hMSCs to convert 25(OH)D3 to 1α,25(OH)2D3, and promoted osteoblastic differentiation through increased alkaline phosphatase activity and Ca2+ mineralization. 24R,25(OH)2D3 decreased ...
STIGMA OF A DIRAC PARTICLE IN AN EVEN ENVIRONMENT.

Solutions of the Dirac equation for a particle in reflection-invariant electromagnetic fields have a definite stigma. It coincides with the relativistic parity quantum number.
Parallel Discourses and “Appropriate” Bodies: Media Constructions of Anorexia and Obesity in the Cases of Tracey Gold and Carnie Wilson

Mass media images of gender, beauty, and women have been at the heart of many feminist arguments about the need for change in our understanding of gender and the role it plays in our day-to-day existence. The role of a body, much like the role of a woman, is also negotiated between the pages and airwaves of a popular culture that precariously favors particular excessive behaviors and norms. A textual analysis of the popular press discourse surrounding two bodies, prominently defined in popular culture, demonstrates specific rhetorical strategies at work in the construction of the “appropriate” cultural body. This article explores how these two bodies are positioned at the border of cultural intelligibility and how these bodies, acting as discourse themselves, speak to culture and reify their positions on the margins.
Fitting and Compilation of Multiagent Models through Piecewise Linear Functions

Decision-theoretic models have become increasingly popular as a basis for solving agent and multiagent problems, due to their ability to quantify the complex uncertainty and preferences that pervade most nontrivial domains. However, this quantitative nature also complicates the problem of constructing models that accurately represent an existing agent or multiagent system, leading to the common question, "Where do the numbers come from?" In this work, we present a method for exploiting knowledge about the qualitative structure of a problem domain to automatically derive the correct quantitative values that would generate an observed pattern of agent behavior. In particular, we propose the use of piecewise linear functions to represent probability distributions and utility functions with a structure that we can then exploit to more efficiently compute value functions. More importantly, we have designed algorithms that can (for example) take a sequence of actions and automatically generate a reward function that would generate that behavior within our agent model. This algorithm allows us to efficiently fit an agent or multiagent model to observed behavior. We illustrate the application of this framework with examples in multiagent modeling and social simulation, using decision-theoretic models drawn from the alphabet soup of existing research (e.g., MDPs, POMDPs, Dec-POMDPs, Com-MTDPs).
The time-dependent solubility of cyanogen bromide- and chymotrypsin-treated collagen gels in vitro.

Abstract 1. 1. Acid-soluble rat-skin collagen was treated with cyanogen bromide and chymotrypsin under conditions which released a large proportion of the N-terminal peptides containing the intramolecular crosslinkages but did not disrupt the helical conformation of the macromolecule. 2. 2. Collagen gels were prepared from solutions of control and treated collagen at 37° and at neutral pH and the time-dependent solubility of the collagen gels examined in a number of different solvents. 3. 3. No significant changes were observed in the solubility properties of the collagen gels formed from the modified collagens as compared with their control samples. 4. 4. It is concluded that the progressive insolubility of collagen gels incubated at 37° is dependent on the development of intermolecular crosslinkages which are independent of the N-terminal telopeptides containing the intramolecular cross linkages.
Role of macrophages in the immunotherapy of Lewis lung peritoneal carcinomatosis

The underlying cellular mechanisms for the antitumor effects of biological response modifiers (BRMs) have not been clearly resolved. We have investigated this issue in the Lewis lung (3LL) peritoneal carcinomatosis model in which treatment with the BRM MVE-2 slows tumor growth and enhances survival. MVE-2 is a potent inducer of cytotoxic macrophages (m phi s); however, in the vivo tumoricidal properties of these m phi s remain to be firmly established. To directly establish that m phi s were at least in part responsible for the in vivo efficacy of MVE-2, a novel method of obtaining highly enriched m phi suspensions was developed which gave high purity, satisfactory yield, and excellent viability without affecting antitumor activity. Using the 3LL peritoneal carcinomatosis model and adoptive transfer techniques, we directly demonstrate that the majority of antitumor activity was associated with the adherent cell fraction enriched for m phi s. Histological observations supported this conclusion, indicating that MVE-2 treatment initially activated cells associated with nonspecific immunity, retarding tumor growth in the ascites long enough for a multifaceted immune response to develop.
Neutral pion photoproduction in a Regge model

The reaction $\ensuremath{\gamma}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}p$ is investigated in the energy range above the resonance region. The amplitudes include the leading Regge singularities in the cross channel and correctly describe the differential cross section for beam energies above 4 GeV and for the $s$-channel scattering angle $\mathrm{cos}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{s}\ensuremath{\ge}0.6$. The energy dependence of the beam asymmetry and the reaction $\ensuremath{\gamma}n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}n$ seen is quantitatively consistent with the Regge-pole dominance.
Emotional Distress Intolerance, Experiential Avoidance, and Anxiety Sensitivity: The Buffering Effect of Attentional Control on Associations with Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

A number of individual difference factors, including emotional distress intolerance (EDI), experiential avoidance (EA), and anxiety sensitivity (ASI), have been implicated in the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptomatology. Attentional control (AC) has been shown to serve as a protective factor against the development of maladaptive psychological outcomes across a number of studies, even among those with outcome-specific vulnerabilities. The purpose of the present study was to examine AC as a moderator of the relations between three constructs pertaining to the way that people relate to their internal experiences (i.e., EDI, EA, AS) and PTS symptoms among a trauma exposed community sample (N = 903). As predicted, AC moderated the relations between each individual difference factor and PTS symptoms, such that as attentional control decreased, the strength of the association between each individual difference factor and PTS symptoms increased. Study results suggest that AC abilities may be one factor that differentiates those who recover from trauma from those who do not, even among those who may be vulnerable for developing PTS symptomatology. Clinical implications and results of a PTS cluster level analysis will be discussed.
Performance Evaluation and Estimation Model Using Regression Method for Hadoop WordCount

Given the rapid growth in cloud computing, it is important to analyze the performance of different Hadoop MapReduce applications and to understand the performance bottleneck in a cloud cluster that contributes to higher or lower performance. It is also important to analyze the underlying hardware in cloud cluster servers to enable the optimization of software and hardware to achieve the maximum performance possible. Hadoop is based on MapReduce, which is one of the most popular programming models for big data analysis in a parallel computing environment. In this paper, we present a detailed performance analysis, characterization, and evaluation of Hadoop MapReduce WordCount application. We also propose an estimation model based on Amdahl’s law regression method to estimate performance and total processing time versus different input sizes for a given processor architecture. The estimation regression model is verified to estimate performance and run time with an error margin of <5%.
Binding of Crumbs to the Par-6 CRIB-PDZ Module Is Regulated by Cdc42.

Par-6 is a scaffold protein that organizes other proteins into a complex required to initiate and maintain cell polarity. Cdc42-GTP binds the CRIB module of Par-6 and alters the binding affinity of the adjoining PDZ domain. Allosteric regulation of the Par-6 PDZ domain was first demonstrated using a peptide identified in a screen of typical carboxyl-terminal ligands. Crumbs, a membrane protein that localizes a conserved polarity complex, was subsequently identified as a functional partner for Par-6 that likely interacts with the PDZ domain. Here we show by nuclear magnetic resonance that Par-6 binds a Crumbs carboxyl-terminal peptide and report the crystal structure of the PDZ–peptide complex. The Crumbs peptide binds Par-6 more tightly than the previously studied carboxyl peptide ligand and interacts with the CRIB-PDZ module in a Cdc42-dependent manner. The Crumbs:Par-6 crystal structure reveals specific PDZ–peptide contacts that contribute to its higher affinity and Cdc42-enhanced binding. Comparisons w...
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Prophylactic Medications for Chronic Post-Traumatic Headaches in U.S. Army Soldiers (P03.226)

Objective: To evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of amitriptyline, propranolol, and topiramate for chronic post-traumatic headaches (PTH) in military personnel. Background Chronic headaches are a common symptom after concussion but medical management is limited by a lack of clinical trials. Design/Methods: A single-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with U.S. Army soldiers fulfilling ICHD-2 criteria for chronic PTH. Subjects were randomized to placebo, propranolol 80 mg, amitriptyline 50 mg, or topiramate 100 mg for 3 months. The primary outcome measure was the number of days per month with moderate or severe headache. Secondary outcomes included the MIDAS and PTSD symptom checklist. Results: 305 soldiers were screened for eligibility, 64 were enrolled, 39 completed drug titration, and 34 completed treatment. Study discontinuation rates ranged from 39% for topiramate to 53% for amitriptyline but were not significantly different between arms. Monthly headache days decreased from 12.2 at baseline to 7.9 during the final month in all subjects (-36%, p=0.0001), 16.7 to 8.7 in the placebo arm (-48%, p=0.012), 11.7 to 6.1 in the amitriptyline arm (-41%, p=0.0005), 14.0 to 8.3 in the propranolol arm (-41%, p=0.10), and 9.3 to 8.8 in the topiramate arm (-5%, p=0.80). Responder rates were 49% (19/39) for all subjects, 50% (3/6) for placebo, 67% (8/12) for amitriptyline, 44% (4/9) for propranolol, and 33% (4/12) for topiramate. Mean MIDAS scores significantly declined in the placebo, topiramate, and propranolol arms. PTSD symptoms significantly improved in the topiramate arm only. Conclusions: This pilot trial is limited by small sample size and high responsivity in the placebo arm. Amitriptyline, propranolol, and topiramate were similarly tolerated and associated with significant improvements in headache frequency and/or headache-related disability but no treatment was superior to placebo. Topiramate was the only treatment that improved PTSD symptoms. These findings will be useful for designing large multi-center clinical trials. Supported by: DOD TBI Research Program grant number PT074428 and Comprehensive National Neuroscience Program. Disclosure: Dr. Erickson has received research support from Merck & Co., Inc.
Population genetic structure of Picea engelmannii, P. glauca and their previously unrecognized hybrids in the central Rocky Mountains

Areas of geographic overlap between potentially hybridizing species provide the opportunity to study interspecific gene flow and reproductive barriers. Here we identified hybrids between Picea engelmannii and P. glauca by their genetic composition at 17 microsatellite markers, and determined the broad-scale geographic distribution of hybrids in the central Rocky Mountains of North America, a geographic region where hybrids and isolation between species had not previously been studied. Parameter estimates from admixture models revealed considerable variation in ancestry within and among collection sites, suggesting that within this area of geographic overlap, the interaction of the two species varies extensively. The results document a previously unrecognized patchy distribution of hybrids between P. engelmannii and P. glauca, including locations where hybrids were not known or expected to exist. Further, the ancestry of many hybrids was consistent with multiple generations of hybridization, with probable directional backcrossing to P. engelmannii, suggesting a relatively porous species boundary. The identification and characterization of hybridization between these spruce in this region raises the question of what factors maintain barriers to gene flow in these long-lived forest trees. The current research lays the groundwork for future study of the ecological and evolutionary contexts of their hybridization, as well as of differential introgression and permeability of species boundaries.
Insect Pests in Potato

Publisher Summary This chapter details the insect pests in potato with their management. There are various insect pests of potato capable of causing tuber yield or quality reductions of 30%–70% if not routinely controlled. Losses of this magnitude can occur in potatoes unprotected from Colorado potato beetle, aphid-transmitted viruses, e.g., potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato virus Y (PVY), potato tuber moths (potato tuberworm), Guatemalan moth and tomato leafminer, pea leafminer, Andean potato weevils and potato leafhopper. Considerable progress has been made in understanding pest biology and ecology and applying this knowledge to the management of the crop. Examples include establishment of economic thresholds for key pests, development of strategies for managing insecticide resistance, increased understanding and quantification of multiple pest interactions and elucidation of vector–virus relationships. Integrated pest management (IPM) has been defined variously, but the common theme is that reliance on pesticides should be reduced by use of alternative control measures substituting a coordinated, systems approach. For potato, IPM measures may include the use of resistant or tolerant varieties, introduction or enhancement of natural enemies, cultural manipulations of the crop and pest environment and careful selection and timing of chemical applications. The argument is often advanced that in developing countries there usually is not enough information available on the various components to formulate IPM programs. A counterpoint to that argument is that IPM implementation efforts often reveal knowledge gaps that in turn serve to focus on research resources where they are most needed.
Effective fluid and grain bulk moduli for heterogeneous thinly layered poroelastic media

ABSTRACTConsider a package of parallel porous layers in which the porosity, the bulk modulus of the pore fluid, and the bulk modulus of the mineral phase are constant within each layer but may vary along the package. We wished to apply Gassmann’s fluid substitution to the entire package now treated as an effective medium (long-wavelength case). The question is: What are the effective properties, namely, the mineral’s and fluid’s bulk moduli, to be used in this operation? The answer depends on the degree of hydraulic communication between the layers. We have examined two limiting cases: (1) all layers in the package are in perfect communication and (2) all layers are hydraulically isolated from each other. The two mathematical methods relevant to these cases are (1) the poroelastic Backus average for the former and (2) the elastic Backus average, respectively. By conducting a sufficient number of numerical experiments, we have found that, in both cases, the effective mineral bulk modulus for the package is...
Ammonia inhibition in oleaginous microalgae

Abstract Waste-streams containing nitrogen (commonly as NH3/NH4+) have been promoted as a means to lower the energy burden and improve the overall sustainability of microalgae-based fuel and chemical production. However, beyond a concentration threshold, ammonia (NH3) is toxic to many microalgae. This study investigated the ammonia tolerances of oleaginous microalgae. Four microalgae that are often considered in biofuel production studies (Neochloris oleoabundans, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Chlorella sorokiniana and Nannochloropsis oculata) were grown in batch reactors maintained at 10 different NH4Cl concentrations at a constant pH = 8. Growth rates and lipid profiles were monitored. Ammonia acted as an inhibiting substrate for N. oleoabundans and D. tertiolecta at 2.3 and 3.3 mg L− 1 NH3, respectively. Growth rates for C. sorokiniana and N. oculata were largely unaffected by ammonia concentrations. D. tertiolecta demonstrated significant neutral lipid alterations during ammonia inhibition.
Single phase precharge control method for active front end rectifier

Active front end rectifiers (AFE) are widely used in various industrial area applications. In these types of systems, AC pre-charge circuit, output LCL filter and power module switches are the three most critical power segments. AC pre-charge circuit design is often related to an overall high component volume and cost. Many manufacturers adopt mechanical contactors or breakers between the utility connection point and the rectifier in order to ensure a smooth pre-charge of the DC bus capacitors. Since these mechanical components are typically associated with lower reliability and increased size, the power density and lifetime of the whole system gets affected significantly. This paper proposes a simple solid state pre-charge circuit for AFE rectifiers. Solid state pre-charge circuit offers a fairly simple control while reducing the inrush current for both LCL filter and DC bus capacitors. This method also demonstrates the following advantages: 1) increased lifetime, 2) smaller foot print 3) lower cost. Basic operating theory and circuit analysis along with simulation and experimental results are presented in the paper to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Structure and Regulation of the Nodulation Genes of Rhizobium Leguminosarum

This paper describes our current understanding of the organization of the nodulation genes in a strain of R. leguminosarum, the species that nodulates peas, Vicia, Lens and Lanthyrus. In many of the fast-growing species of Rhizobium it is well established that the genes for nodulation and nitrogen fixation are clustered on large “symbiotic” plasmids one of which is the R. leguminosarum plasmid pRL 1JI whose transfer to other species of Rhizobium allows the transconjugants to nodulate peas (Johnston et al., 1978). Further, a region, no more than 10kb in size, was sufficient to confer the ability to nodulate peas when transferred to a strain of R. phaseoli cured of its resident symbiotic plasmid (Downie et al., 1983). The fact that the nodulation and host-range genes of pRL1JI are clustered within such a small region means that they can be analysed in considerable detail using both genetical and physical techniques.
Interaction between a moving mirror and radiation pressure: A Hamiltonian formulation.

We present a nonrelativistic Hamiltonian of the interaction between a moving mirror and radiation pressure. This Hamiltonian is derived directly from the equation of motion of a moving mirror, and the wave equation with time-varying boundary conditions. We discuss the canonical quantization of both the field and the motion of the mirror.
Bacterial gall of Loropetalum chinense caused by Pseudomonas amygdali pv. loropetali pv. nov.

In 2012, stem gall samples on Loropetalum chinense were sent to Florida diagnostic labs from Alabama and Florida nurseries. A fluorescent pseudomonad was consistently isolated from the galls. The organism was originally identified in Alabama based on 16S rRNA sequencing as Pseudomonas savastanoi, which causes a production-limiting disease of olive. The loropetalum strains and reference strains were compared using LOPAT, Biolog, fatty acid analysis, multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), and pathogenicity tests. The LOPAT tests placed the loropetalum strains within Pseudomonas syringae. Biolog and fatty acid analysis placed the strains in various pathovars of P. syringae and P. savastanoi, respectively. MLSA of a set of housekeeping genes separated the loropetalum strains from the olive knot-inducing strains. Our work indicates there is a need to use more tests than 16S rRNA to accurately diagnose new bacterial diseases. In pathogenicity tests, the loropetalum strains produced galls only on loropetalum, but not on olive, mandevilla, or almond, indicating this strain is not a threat to the olive industry. Based on the pathogenicity assays and molecular tests, loropetalum strains represent a distinct and new pathovar, P. amygdali pv. loropetali pv. nov., for which the strain PDC13-208 (= DSMZ 105780PT) has been designated as the pathotype strain.
The Sacred and the Myth: Havel’s Greengrocer, Twenty Years Later:

This essay juxtaposes two thinkers: the French literary critic and philosopher Rene Girard (1923–2015) and the Czech playwright, essayist, and dissident Vaclav Havel (1936–2011). In particular, the...
The war-related illness and injury study centers: a resource for deployment-related health concerns.

ABSTRACT Combat veterans often return from deployment having experienced a wide range of exposures, symptoms, and medical conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs established war-related illness and injury study centers to serve combat veterans with unexplained illnesses. We report the exposures, clinical status, and utilization of 53 combat veterans who participated in the National Referral Program (NRP) from January 2002 until March 2004. Participants were primarily male (81%) and served in the Persian Gulf War (79%). Common diagnoses were chronic fatigue syndrome (n = 23, 43%), neurotic depression (n = 21, 40%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 20, 38%). Self-reported exposures related to weaponry, disease prophylaxis, environmental hazards, stress, and poor hygiene. A small increase in mean SF-36V mental component scores (2.8 points, p = 0.009) and use of rehabilitation therapies (1.6 additional visits, p = 0.018) followed the NRP referral. The small gain in mental function suggests that ...
Clinical Characteristics of Surgically Treated Adult Strabismus

Background: Strabismus is present in approximately 4% of the population with most forms becoming clinically evident in infancy and childhood. Adult strabismus, including that resulting from recurrent childhood deviations, varies in etiology, presentation, symptomatology, and response to treatment. This report is intended to prospectively characterize adults who required surgical correction of their strabismic deviation. Methods: Beginning in 1991, a prospective computerized database was collected that contained all clinical, laboratory, and surgical information on the adult ocular motility service at the Scheie Eye Institute and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa). Analysis of those patients who underwent surgical correction of their strabismus is included in this report. Demography, clinical characteristics, and surgical procedures including results were analyzed separately in adults with their strabismus beginning before visual maturation (BVM) (9 years of age) and after visual maturation (AVM). Results: A minimum of 6 months and average of 1.8 years follow up is reported on 262 procedures in 255 patients with an average age of 37 between January 1991 and January 1996. Sixty-two percent of patients had their strabismus onset BVM. Fifty-one percent of BVM patients and 80% of AVM patients had incomitant deviations. Adjustable suture surgery was performed on 97% of all patients, with 28% of BVM and 57% of AVM patients having multiplanar surgery. Successful motor alignment was achieved in 85% of all patients after one surgical procedure. Sensory success was achieved in 81% of all AVM patients and 25% of all BVM patients. Subjective success was 94% in both groups of patients. Conclusions: Numerous differences exist between childhood and adult strabismus characteristics and response to surgery. Although strabismus surgery is effective, differences in results reflect the varied physiology regarding etiology, pathophysiology, and symptomology. Classification into AVM and BVM groups will provide continued clarity for future studies.
Biorepository Operations and Infrastructure

The goal of any biorepository operation is to provide the highest-quality patient biospecimens to meet the needs of the research community. Biospecimens must be collected, handled, and processed in a uniform manner and directly linked with clinical information and outcome in order to ensure specimen integrity and optimal utility for translational research. Establishment of a functional biorepository operation in support of translational research requires careful planning and comprehensive informatics and database support. Adherence to proper best-practices procedures and regulations is crucial for the success of the biorepository.
Metal-Containing Polymers Via ADMET Chemistry

The diversity in structure and properties found in metal-containing polymers has constantly aided the search for materials that respond to external stimuli. Metal-containing polymers can be found in countless applications performing as polyelectrolytes, photomasks and pre-ceramic materials, among others. As a consequence, active research in this field has constantly prompted for polymerization schemes that lead to well-defined structures, in order to understand the details associated with the structure-function relationships [1,2].
A Conversational Neural Language Model for Speech Recognition in Digital Assistants

Speech recognition in digital assistants such as Google Assistant can potentially benefit from the use of conversational context consisting of user queries and responses from the agent. We explore the use of recurrent, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), neural language models (LMs) to model the conversations in a digital assistant. Our proposed methods effectively capture the context of previous utterances in a conversation without modifying the underlying LSTM architecture. We demonstrate a 4% relative improvement in recognition performance on Google Assistant queries when using the LSTM LMs to rescore recognition lattices.
Exclusivity offers a sound yet practical species criterion for bacteria despite abundant gene flow

The question of whether bacterial species objectively exist has long divided microbiologists. A major source of contention stems from the fact that bacteria regularly engage in horizontal gene transfer (HGT), making it difficult to ascertain relatedness and draw boundaries between taxa. A natural way to define taxa is based on exclusivity of relatedness, which applies when members of a taxon are more closely related to each other than they are to any outsider. It is largely unknown whether exclusive bacterial taxa exist when averaging over the genome or are rare due to rampant hybridization. Here, we analyze a collection of 701 genomes representing a wide variety of environmental isolates from the family Streptomycetaceae, whose members are competent at HGT. We find that the presence/absence of auxiliary genes in the pan-genome displays a hierarchical (tree-like) structure that correlates significantly with the genealogy of the core-genome. Moreover, we identified the existence of many exclusive taxa, although individual genes often contradict these taxa. These conclusions were supported by repeating the analysis on 1,586 genomes belonging to the genus Bacillus. However, despite confirming the existence of exclusive groups (taxa), we were unable to identify an objective threshold at which to assign the rank of species. The existence of bacterial taxa is justified by considering average relatedness across the entire genome, as captured by exclusivity, but is rejected if one requires unanimous agreement of all parts of the genome. We propose using exclusivity to delimit taxa and conventional genome similarity thresholds to assign bacterial taxa to the species rank. This approach recognizes species that are phylogenetically meaningful, while also establishing some degree of comparability across species-ranked taxa in different bacterial clades.
Structural, magnetic and transport properties of SmBaxSr1-xCo2O5+δ (0.1≤ x ≤0.5)

The structural, transport, and magnetic properties of bulk SmBaxSr1-xCo2O5+δ samples were investigated as a function of Ba content. At room temperature the magnetization was observed to increase as a function of decreasing Ba composition. As the samples were cooled below room temperature, a ferromagnetic transition was observed for 0.1≤ x ≤0.5 with the Curie temperatures showing a linear dependence on the Ba-composition. Transport measurements showed that resistivity values increased with decreasing temperature indicating a semiconducting-like behavior.
Role of adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of non-granulosa cell ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors.

Objective To investigate the role of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) in the management of ovarian non-granulosa cell (GC) sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs). Methods The National Cancer Database was accessed and patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 with a malignant non-GC SCST were selected. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared with the log-rank test. Multivariate survival analysis was performed with Cox regression. Factors associated with the administration of CT were evaluated with the chi-square test and binary logistic regression. Results A total of 391 patients were identified. The majority had a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (SLCT) (73.2%) and early stage disease (84.8%). A total of 203 (51.9%) patients received CT. Advanced disease stage, younger age, high-grade histology, White race, large tumor size and SLCT histology were associated with administration of CT. For patients with early stage disease, there was no difference in OS between those who did (n=134) and did not receive CT (n=157), p=0.40; 5-year OS rates were 81.7% and 84.6%, respectively. No mortality benefit was observed (hazard ratio=0.73; 95% confidence interval=0.38-1.4) after controlling for tumor histology. Median OS of women with advanced stage disease who received CT (n=41) was 34.96 months compared to 15.51 months for those who did not (n=11), p=0.013. Conclusion Adjuvant CT was associated with improved survival for patients with advanced stage non-GC SCSTs. No clear benefit was found for those with early stage disease.
Operational safety of chemical processes via Safeness-Index based MPC: Two large-scale case studies

Abstract This work presents two applications of Safeness Index-based model predictive control to improve process operational safety in safety critical chemical processes. In the first case study, a high-pressure flash drum separator together with pressure relief valve as safety system is used to analyze the benefits of integrating Safeness Index-based considerations in model predictive control (MPC). In the second case study, four units in an ammonia process are simulated to demonstrate the application of Safeness Index-based MPC to handle significant disturbances.
A Tribute to Ibrahim Baba Farajajé: An Intersectional Perspective on Sexual Violence, Decolonization, and Standing Rock

Ibrahim Baba Farajaje embodied intersectionality and the sacred inseparability of the political and the spiritual. This piece uses intersectional perspectives of decolonizing sexuality, indigenous ...
Perioperative renal transplantation management in small children using adult-sized living or deceased donor kidneys: A single-center experience

Kidney transplantation remains the treatment of choice for children with ESRD. Optimal perioperative management is critical in small recipients of ASK to assure adequate graft perfusion. We present a single-center experience outlining management for patients weighing <20 kg who underwent primary renal transplantation with ASKs between 2007 and 2016. Sixty-three patients met study criteria and underwent 34 living-related, six living-unrelated, and 23 deceased donor kidney transplants. Median age and weight at transplant were 25 months (IQR 18-37 months; range 11 months-6 years) and 11.0 kg (IQR 9.2-14.5 kg; range 7.1-19.5 kg). Eighty-nine percent of patients required vasoactive agents intra-operatively, with twenty patients requiring prolonged vasoactive agents post-operatively. Intra-operatively, patients received 51.9 mL/kg of crystalloid, 27.3 mL/kg of 5% albumin, and 13.6 mL/kg of packed red blood cells. Most (93.7%) patients were extubated on POD#0. Weights peaked on post-operative days three through five. Over a median follow-up of 49 months (IQR 31-86 months; range 0-130 months), four grafts were lost, two due to thrombosis and two secondary to chronic rejection. There was one patient death six months post-transplant due to causes unrelated to transplantation. Graft survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 98.4%, 96.6%, and 84.2%, respectively. Of surviving allografts, the median 1, 5, and 10 years post-transplant eGFR was 122.9, 90.0, and 59.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 as determined by the 2009 Schwartz formula. Renal transplantation in small children using ASKs requires meticulous perioperative management including adequate fluid resuscitation and judicious use of pressors to assure adequate graft perfusion. The use of ASKs from living or deceased donors results in satisfactory short and long-term outcomes.