cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prenatal development of the cerebellar system in the rat. I. Cytogenesis and histogenesis of the deep nuclei and the cortex of the cerebellum

Prenatal cerebellar development was investigated with three approaches. In normal embryos sectioned in three planes morphological and cytological changes were determined at daily intervals beginning on embryonic day 13 (E13). A similar series of X-irradiated embryos was used to study changes in neuroepithelial organization and in the location of primitive (radiosensitive) or differentiated cells. Finally, to quantify the time of origin of different classes of cerebellar neurons with the progressively delayed labelling procedure, we used autoradiograms from adult rats whose mothers were injected with two successive daily doses of 3H-thymidine on overlapping days from day E13 on. The cerebellar anlage was delineated in the dorsal metencephalon by the collapse of its ventricular lining after X-irradiation. This “collapsing neuroepithelium” was located laterally on day E13, then it spread medially and reached the midline on day E16. Deep nuclear neurons began to differentiate on day E13, with two-thirds forming on day E14; Purkinje cell formation peaked on day E15, with a few cells still forming on day E16. It was postulated that the deep nuclear neurons settled first in the superficial “nuclear zone,” and that the Purkinje cells gathered temporarily in the underlying “transitory zone,” adjacent to the collapsing neuroepithelium. In the next period of cerebellar development four major events were recognized. (1) Beginning on day E17 the cells of the nuclear and transitory zones became intermingled. It was postulated that the Purkinje cells were migrating radially through the ranks of the stationary deep nuclear neurons and assembled under the spreading canopy of a fibrous plexus and the external germinal layer. (2) It was also on day E17 that the external germinal layer began to form as one of the prongs of the “germinal trigone” in the posteroventral aspect of the cerebellum. On the succeeding days the external germinal layer spread over the surface of the cerebellum; in the vermis in a rostral direction. (3) Two cell types destined to settle in the future granular layer, the pale cells and the Golgi cells, began to form at a relatively slow rate on day E19. Chronological considerations suggested that they were generated in the regressing, noncollapsing neuroepithelium of the cerebellar ventricle. (4) From the beginning (day E17) of its genesis posteroventrally, the primitive cerebellar cortex bridged the midline. As the fused cortex spread rostrally, the vertical ventricular cleft separating the underlying portions of the cerebellum became shallower and then disappeared; the process was completed in the anterior cerebellum by day E22. By the time of birth the maturation of the neurons of the deep nuclei appeared advanced but the maturation of the prenatally produced neurons of the cortex does not start until after birth when a new class of neurons is generated in the external germinal layer.
Validation of oppressed group behaviors in nursing.

The possibility that nurses exhibit oppressed group behaviors was first broached by Roberts [Roberts, S. J. (1983). Oppressed group behavior: Implications for nursing. Advances in Nursing Science, 21–30] when Freire's model [Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed . New York: Herder and Herder] was applied to nursing. Since then, scholarly discussion has focused on aspects of oppression in nursing, but little research toward validation of Freire's model has occurred. An extensive literature search in CINAHL was completed seeking exploration and validation of the oppressed group behavior model and its dimensions. The Educational Testing Services, PsychInfo, Health and Psychosocial Instruments, and Sociological Abstracts databases were searched for measurement tools created within the last 10 years. This literature review identified that a model of oppressed group behavior has not been developed and validated, and that oppressed group behaviors have been studied independent of each other; however, oppressed group behaviors may have implications for the current nursing shortage.
Evaluation of spatial variability on hydrology and nutrient source loads at watershed scale using a modeling approach

Understanding the effects of spatial variability on hydrologic parameters and nutrient source load distribution is essential to develop water quality improvement programs. The objective of this research was to evaluate spatially distributed hydrologic variability, nutrient sources, and their loadings at the watershed scale using a modeling approach. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to assess spatial variability of annual average water, sediment, total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) yields from the Upper Pearl River Watershed (UPRW) in Mississippi, USA. The SWAT model was successfully calibrated, validated, and verified with good model efficiency ( R 2 = 0.70 and E = 0.59) using monthly measured stream flow, daily observed flow, sediment, TP, and TN yields. The SWAT model results determined that spatial variability of annual average pollutant loads of water yield ranged from 877 to 206 mm, sediment yield ranged from 1.71 to 0.17 t ha−1, TP ranged from 1.39 to 0.02 kg ha−1, and TN ranged from 10.22 to 0.69 kg ha−1 in the watershed sub-basins. Understanding of the spatial variability of hydrologic and nutrient source loads distribution helps watershed managers focus their management efforts to the most needy watershed sub-basins.
Diagnosis of power fade mechanisms in high-power lithium-ion cells☆

Abstract Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) need long-lived high-power batteries as energy storage devices. Batteries based on lithium-ion technology can meet the high-power goals but have been unable to meet HEV calendar-life requirements. As part of the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Development (ATD) Program, diagnostic studies are being conducted on 18650-type lithium-ion cells that were subjected to accelerated aging tests at temperatures ranging from 40 to 70 °C. This article summarizes data obtained by gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques, and identifies cell components that are responsible for the observed impedance rise and power fade.
Altering of the Metal Specificity of Escherichia coliAlkaline Phosphatase

Analysis of sequence alignments of alkaline phosphatases revealed a correlation between metal specificity and certain amino acid side chains in the active site that are metal-binding ligands. The Zn2+-requiringEscherichia coli alkaline phosphatase has an Asp at position 153 and a Lys at position 328. Co2+-requiring alkaline phosphatases from Thermotoga maritima andBacillus subtilis have a His and a Trp at these positions, respectively. The mutations D153H, K328W, and D153H/K328W were induced in E. coli alkaline phosphatase to determine whether these residues dictate the metal dependence of the enzyme. The wild-type and D153H enzymes showed very little activity in the presence of Co2+, but the K328W and especially the D153H/K328W enzymes effectively use Co2+ for catalysis. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments showed that in all cases except for the D153H/K328W enzyme, a possible conformation change occurs upon binding Co2+. These data together indicate that the active site of the D153H/K328W enzyme has been altered significantly enough to allow the enzyme to utilize Co2+ for catalysis. These studies suggest that the active site residues His and Trp at the E. coli enzyme positions 153 and 328, respectively, at least partially dictate the metal specificity of alkaline phosphatase.
Seasonal effects of light, temperature, nutrient concentration and salinity on the physiology and growth of Caulerpa paspaloides (Chlorophyceae)

Caulerpa paspaloides (Bory) Greville were collected during the winter and summer (1978 to 1979) from the Florida Keys, USA. Thalli collected during the winter photosynthesized more efficiently at low light intensities (Ic<1, Ik=38 μExm-2xs-1) than did thalli collected in the summer (Ic=13, Ik=111 μExm-2xs-1). Summer thalli exhibited higher Pmax values (2.20 mgO2xg-1 dry wtxh-1) than winter thalli (1.70 mg O2xg-1 dry wtxh-1). Rates of rhizome elongation and frond initiation were strongly inhibited by winter temperatures. The maximum lethal temperature for summer thalli was 37° to 38°C as measured by both growth and photosynthesis. No evidence of nitrogen or phosphorus limitation was found. Relatively minor reductions in salinity (3‰S) resulted in significant increases in rhizome apex motality. Results indicate that low winter temperatures are responsible for reduced winter growth rates previously reported for the Key Largo population. Increased photosynthetic efficiency at low light intensities and preferential maintenance of rhizome elongation over frond initiation appear to allow this tropical macroalga to optimize growth and survival during the winter.
NLOS mitigation in TOA-based localization using semidefinite programming

In this work, time-of-arrival (TOA)-based wireless sensor localization in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments is investigated. In such environments, the accuracy of localization techniques is significantly degraded. While previous work often assumes some knowledge of the NLOS environment, we assume that the estimator knows neither which connections are NLOS nor the distribution of the NLOS errors. It is shown that the maximum likelihood estimator using only LOS connections provides a lower bound on the estimation accuracy. Furthermore, a novel NLOS mitigation technique based on semidefinite programming (SDP) is proposed. The proposed SDP technique estimates the source location jointly with the NLOS biases. The performance of the proposed estimator is compared with the aforementioned lower bound and with previous algorithms through computer simulations. Simulation results show that the proposed SDP estimator outperforms the other algorithms substantially, especially in severe NLOS environments.
Evaluations of Unionized College and University Faculty: A Review of the Laws

This article identifies key issues and provides administrative and faculty guidance on legal matters pertaining to unionized professors’ evaluations. To do so, the authors trail the fact patterns of a series of cases on evaluations of unionized faculty that have emerged over the last 30 years—with an emphasis on the cases from the last decade.
Central and renal hemodynamic effects and hormonal response to diltiazem in severe congestive heart failure.

Abstract The central and renal hemodynamic effects and the hormonal response to single doses of 60 mg and 90 mg of diltiazem were evaluated in 10 patients with severe chronic left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 0.22 ± 0.08). Diltiazem administration resulted in only mild and mostly statistically insignificant changes. After 60 mg, only heart rate (from 86 ± 10 beats/min at baseline to 79 ± 14 beats/min at 4 hours) and pulmonary vascular resistance (from 231 ± 108 to 165 ± 74 dynes s cm−5 at 4 hours) changed significantly. Administration of 90 mg of diltiazem resulted in no significant change in any of the measured or calculated central hemodynamic variables. Individual data, however, revealed an increase stroke volume index in 3 patients but a decrease in 1 patient and a persistent increase in mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure in another patient. These hemodynamic changes were not associated with symptomatic deterioration in any of the patients. Both renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were impaired at baseline on both days and did not show a significant change 1, 2 and 4 hours after diltiazem administration. Similarly, no significant change was noted after either diltiazem dose in plasma catecholamine levels and renin concentration. In conclusion, administration of 60 to 90 mg of diltiazem in patients with severe chronic LV systolic dysfunction results in only mild and mostly insignificant acute effects on central and renal hemodynamics, plasma hormonal levels and patient clinical status.
The Effect of Pedagogy on Students' Perceptions of the Importance of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Business Firms

Ethics is increasingly viewed to be an important component of business education. However, assessment of the ethics component of business education has not received the same degree of examination as has assessment of the functional areas. Instead, ethics education is often simply assumed to be effective. Is it? The objective of this study is to begin to explore this question by examining the effects of the integration of ethics into a functional area of business education, specifically a management principles course. The results raise questions about the effectiveness of integrating ethics across the business curriculum.
Wave-front curvature as a cause of slow conduction and block in isolated cardiac muscle.

We have investigated the role of wave-front curvature on propagation by following the wave front that was diffracted through a narrow isthmus created in a two-dimensional ionic model (Luo-Rudy) of ventricular muscle and in a thin (0.5-mm) sheet of sheep ventricular epicardial muscle. The electrical activity in the experimental preparations was imaged by using a high-resolution video camera that monitored the changes in fluorescence of the potentiometric dye di-4-ANEPPS on the surface of the tissue. Isthmuses were created both parallel and perpendicular to the fiber orientation. In both numerical and biological experiments, when a planar wave front reached the isthmus, it was diffracted to an elliptical wave front whose pronounced curvature was very similar to that of a wave front initiated by point stimulation. In addition, the velocity of propagation was reduced in relation to that of the original planar wave. Furthermore, as shown by the numerical results, wave-front curvature changed as a function of the distance from the isthmus. Such changes in local curvature were accompanied by corresponding changes in velocity of propagation. In the model, the critical isthmus width was 200 microns for longitudinal propagation and 600 microns for transverse propagation of a single planar wave initiated proximal to the isthmus. In the experiments, propagation depended on the width of the isthmus for a fixed stimulation frequency. Propagation through an isthmus of fixed width was rate dependent both along and across fibers. Thus, the critical isthmus width for propagation was estimated in both directions for different frequencies of stimulation. In the longitudinal direction, for cycle lengths between 200 and 500 milliseconds, the critical width was 2.5 mm. In the transverse direction, critical width was between 1.78 and 2.32 mm for a basic cycle length of 200 milliseconds. It increased to values between 2.46 and 3.53 mm for a basic cycle length of 150 milliseconds. The overall results demonstrate that the curvature of the wave front plays an important role in propagation in two-dimensional cardiac muscle and that changes in curvature may cause slow conduction or block.
An investigation of the high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide)-zinc bromide complexes

Structural characterization studies using Raman and i.r. spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) on the (PEO)n[(ZnBr2)1−x(LiBr)x] system (n = 20, 40; x = 0−0.8) are reported. Raman spectroscopy reveals that the ionic species present in the complex depend on the Zn:Li ratio and the ether oxygen to metal ion ratio. With increasing x values, the species vary from ZnBr2 to ZnBr−3 to ZnBr42−. EXAFS measurements confirm that the ZnBr coordination number is higher for the (PEO)n[(ZnBr2)1−x(LiBr)x] system than the (PEO)nZnBr2 system. In the (PEO)20 [(ZnBr2)0.2 (LiBr)0.8] composition, no oxygen neighbours of zinc are apparent while a significant ZnO contribution is present in the (PEO)40[(ZnBr2)0.6(LiBr)0.4] and (PEO)40ZnBr2 complexes. Temperature dependent EXAFS measurements of (PEO)20 [(ZnBr2)0.2(LiBr)0.8] show that ionic association is not altered with lowering of temperature. The effect of addition of tetraethylene glycol (TEG) and its dimethyl ether (TEGDME) to the complex is also reported.
No PUMA, no death: Implications for p53-dependent apoptosis

More than a decade ago, it was found that one of the two essential physiological functions of p53 is to selectively destroy stressed cells through apoptosis. Despite the large number of studies describing p53-dependent apoptosis since then, how p53 turns on the apoptotic switch has remained enigmatic. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Jeffers et al. report that knockout of PUMA, a recently identified BH3-only Bcl-2 family protein, recapitulates virtually all apoptotic deficiency in p53 knockout mice. Their results indicate that PUMA is an essential mediator of p53-dependent and -independent apoptosis in vivo.
τ-->ω3πν Decays

Theoretical study of τ→ωπππν is presented. Theoretical value of the branching ratio of τ-→ ωπ-π0π0 ν agrees well with data. The branching ratio of τ-→ωπ+π-π-ντ is predicted. The vertices of a1ρπ and ωρπ play dominant role in these two decay modes. CVC is satisfied and there is no adjustable parameter.
Beta-sheet Detection and Representation from Medium Resolution Cryo-EM Density Maps

Secondary structure element (SSE) identification from volumetric protein density maps is critical for de-novo backbone structure derivation in electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM). Although multiple methods have been developed to detect SSE from the density maps, accurate detection either need use intervention or carefully adjusting various parameters. It is still challenging to detect the SSE automatically and accurately from cryoEM density maps at medium resolutions (~5-10A). A detected β-sheet can be represented by either the voxels of the β-sheet density or by many piecewise polygons to compose a rough surface. However, none of these is effective in capturing the global surface feature of the β-sheet. We present an effective single-parameter approach, SSEtracer, to automatically identify helices and β-sheets from the cryoEM three-dimensional (3D) maps at medium resolutions. More importantly, we present a simple mathematical model to represent the β-sheet density. It was tested using eleven cryoEM β-sheets detected by SSEtracer. The RMSE between the density and the model is 1.88A. The mathematical model can be used for the β-strands detection from medium resolution density maps.
Mechanical circulatory assistance in the treatment of cardiac failure.

Abstract Five techniques of mechanical circulatory assistance have been evaluated as therapeutic adjuncts in the treatment of cardiac failure. Cardiac support by direct mechanical ventricular assistance may be useful when defibrillation in open chest resuscitation cannot be accomplished in order that defibrillation be later attempted under more corrected conditions. This technique has the advantage of exposing blood only to natural endothelium but has the disadvantages of requiring thoracotomy and possibly causing myocardial damage from direct trauma. Complete diversion of the cardiac output from the left ventricle by left ventricular bypass should be beneficial in the treatment of left ventricular failure. However, any degree of partial left ventricular bypass is probably detrimental. Venoarterial bypass is best applied in the treatment of acute right heart failure in the presence of a normal left ventricle. Its use in right heart failure following acute pulmonary embolism is strongly recommended. Synchronous arterioarterial pumping should be beneficial in the treatment of cardiogenic shock secondary to left ventricular failure in the absence of aortic insufficiency. The intraaortic balloon and extramural pressure techniques hold promise as simple and reliable methods. Venoarterial phased pulsatile partial bypass seems indicated for catastrophic conditions when total circulatory collopse is unresponsive to resuscitative measures.
Distributed computation of node and edge betweenness on tree graphs

Knowing how important a node or an edge is, within a network, can be very valuable. In the area of complex networks, a variety of centrality measures, which assign to each node or edge a number representing its importance, have been proposed. In this paper, we consider two such measures, namely, node and edge betweenness that characterize how often a node or edge lies on the shortest paths between all pairs of nodes. For each measure, we use a dynamical systems approach to develop continuous- and discrete-time distributed algorithms, which enable every node in an undirected and unweighted tree graph to compute its own measure with only local interaction and without any centralized coordination. We show that the algorithms are simple and scalable, with the continuous-time version being unconditionally exponentially convergent, and the discrete-time version unconditionally exhibiting a deadbeat response. Moreover, we show that they require minimal node memories to execute, bypass entirely the need to construct shortest paths, and can handle time-varying topologies.
The Politics of Industrial Relations: Labor Unions in Spain

Kerstin Hamann, New York and Oxford: Routledge, 2011, ISBN 978-0-415-88465-5, £80.00 (hb), Pp. xvi +286 The extraordinary public significance of labour mobilisation in Spain has attracted the inter...
Model-based 3D segmentation of the bones of the ankle and subtalar joints in MR images

Our ongoing project on the kinematic analysis of the joints of the foot and ankle via magnetic resonance (MR) imaging requires segmentation of bones in images acquired at different positions of the joint. This segmentation requires an extensive amount of operator time, especially for the current study involving 300 scenes and 4 bones to be segmented in each scene. A 3D model-based segmentation approach is developed wherein the model is generated from the segmentation of a specific bone from one scene and is used for segmenting the same bone in all other scenes. This method works in two sequential steps. In the first step, the patient- and bone-specific model is generated by segmenting the target bone from one scene using the live wire method. In the second step, the segmentation of the same bone for the same patient in a scene corresponding to another ankle position is obtained by finding an optimum rigid body transformation to minimize its fitting energy. The fitting energy utilized captures both boundary- and region-based information in a unified manner. This method has produced satisfactory results for the 30 pairs of images used for evaluation. The model-based segmentation method will significantly reduce the operator time required by our ongoing study.
Characteristics of the hepatic mixed-function oxidase of the pigeon, Columba livia

Abstract 1. The microsomal mixed-function oxidase (MFO) of the pigeon liver seems to be most active around pH 6·8 (0·1 M phosphate buffer) and 45°C to epoxidize aldrin and epoxidize and hydroxylate chlordene. 2. This level of activity is higher than that reported for other avian species but lower than that for mammalian MFO. 3. The MFO system shows lower levels of cytochrome b 5 and cytochrome P-450 as reported for rats and mice; but much higher levels of NADPH-cytochrome c -reductase activity than that reported for mammals. 4. Cytochrome P-450 binds aliphatic polychlorinated cyclodienes as type I and the aromatic pyridine as type II substrates.
Calibration of Option-Based Probability Assessments in Agricultural Commodity Markets

A method for evaluating the reliability of option-based price probability assessments is developed based on the calibration concept. Empirical tests using goodness-of-fit criteria are applied to four agricultural commodities. Results suggest that assessments in the corn and live cattle markets are reliable, but such assessments overstate the volatility of soybean prices and understate the location of hog prices.
Making White: Constructing Race in a South African High School

AbstractAs a social and cultural phenomenon, race is continually remade within changing circumstances and is constructed and located, in part, in institutions’ pedagogical practices and discourses. In this article I examine how the administration of a multiracial, working-class high school in Durban, South Africa produces “white” in an era of political and social transition.As the population of Fernwood High School (a pseudonym) shifts from majority white working class to black working class, the school administration strives to reposition the school as “white,” despite its predominantly black student population. This whiteness is not only a carryover from the apartheid era, but is actively produced within a new set of circumstances. Using the discourses and practices of sports and standards, the school administration attempts to create a whiteness that separates the school from the newly democratic nation-state of South Africa. Despite students’ and some staff’s general complacency and outright resistanc...
Some simple statistics to test against ordered alternatives in complete block designs

Consider testing the hypothesis of no treatment effects against a postulated ranking of the m treatments, given data from n Complete Blocks. A suitable test statistic is the weighted average rank correlation w = σbQiCi where Ci is the correlation between the postulated ranking and the ranking observed within the ith block, Qi is the rank of the ith block with respect to credibility, and the bi's are weights such that 0 ≦ b1 ≦ … ≦ bn. In this paper we introduce some simple statistics: the first extends the signed-rank statistic to m ≦ 3, the second uses a simple measure of correlation based on the antirank, and the third a statistic based on Spearman's footrule. Tables for critical values are provided and the normal approximation is investigated.
Low complexity error-control-coding for variable duty-cycle pulse-position-modulation

Efficient use of a deep-space optical communications channel requires changes to the duty cycle of the modulation as the signal and noise powers change. This can be facilitated by modulating the signal with pulse-positionmodulation (PPM), supporting multiple PPM orders. To implement iterative demodulation, which is required by certain error-correction-codes to obtain near-capacity performance, would nominally require a distinct hardware implementation for each PPM order. In this paper we describe a method to utilize a single hardware implementation of an iterative demodulator for any PPM order. The method may be applied to any coded modulation that utilizes iterative demodulation and maps to multiple modulation orders.
On Ianov's Program Schemata

Ianov has defined a formal abstraction of the notion of program which represents the sequential and control properties of a program but suppresses the details of the operations. For these schemata he defines a notion corresponding to computation and defines equivalence of schemata in terms of it. He then gives a decision procedure for equivalence of schemata, and a deductive formalism for generating schemata equivalent to a given one. The present paper is intended, first as an exposition of Ianov's results and simplification of his method, and second to point out certain generalizations and extensions of it. We define a somewhat generalized version of the notion of schema, in a language similar to that used in finite automata theory, and present a simple algorithm for the equivalence problem solved by Ianov. We also point out that the same problem for an extended notion of schema, considered rather briefly by Ianov, is just the equivalence problem for finite automata, which has been solved, although the decision procedure is rather long for practical use. A simple procedure for generating all schemata equivalent to a given schema is also indicated.
In vivo temperature-dependent development of Beauveria bassiana (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) mycosis of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract The in vivo incubation period of Beauveria bassiana mycosis of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis , was found to vary in response to temperature of incubation, level of initial exposure (dose), and the age of the host larvae. Incubation temperature was found to be the dominant factor affecting disease development within each of the host instars examined, while dose produced significant effects only in the early instars. A nonlinear regression model was used to construct three-dimensional stimulus-response surfaces for each host instar. This model has provided reasonable predictions of the disease incubation period when used within the temperature regimes found throughout New York State.
Hybrid Fertility, Introgression, and Backcrossing in Fish

ABSTRACT The literature was reviewed to determine the number of fertile, interspecific fish hybrids produced naturally and artificially. A total of 130 interspecific, natural crosses resulted in fertile F1 hybrids, and 150 artificially produced interspecific crosses produced fertile F1 hybrids. The validity of species concepts with reproductive isolation in their definition is questioned. The presence of fertile hybrids in 45 intergeneric crosses makes their current classification questionable.
Mg2+-Free Bacillus stearothermophilus Tryptophanyl-tRNA Synthetase Retains a Major Fraction of the Overall Rate Enhancement for Tryptophan Activation

Few experimental data are available for rates of enzymatic phosphoryl-transfer reactions in the absence of the divalent metal ions associated with such reactions. Such data are of interest for amino acid activation by class Ic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, for which there is substantial evidence that binding energy of ATP may account for a major fraction of the overall rate enhancement, and it is crucial to know if these effects themselves depend on the divalent metal ion. We describe a nested, nonlinear model for the sum of metal-free and metal-catalyzed activities and its use in determining metal-free enzyme activity jointly with transition-state metal binding affinity, by fitting observed values obtained from Mg2+-depleted assays with increasing [EDTA] at known [Mg2+]total. Tryptophan activation by Bacillus stearothermophilus tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase falls asymptotically to a plateau value 5 orders of magnitude below that observed for the Mg2+-supplemented enzyme at EDTA concentrations that reduce th...
Monastic Scribes and Microcomputers: Bridging the Gap Between Medieval Scientists and Modern Scholars

TH E R E has long been a basic need in the area of medieval studies for solid, scholarly, critical editions of many unpublished works that were written, copied and read during the Middle Ages. The importance of these materials in the understanding of medieval thought and activities hardly needs elaboration. Medieval scholars themselves, such as Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon and Robert Grosseteste, recognized the importance of preserving their works and those of their predecessors and frequently exchanged copies of earlier and current works through an extensive network of communication by travel, correspondence, and widespread circulation of their writings. The editions of letters and treatises of the medieval scholars are as basic to our understanding of their period as proper editions of Aristotle were to their understanding of the Greek world. (Scholars such as Thomas Aquinas went to great lengths to get reliable editions of Aristotle.) Yet the preparation of such editions today is a long, tedious and frequently expensive task. The scholar must first locate the often scarce catalogues of various European manuscript collections, comb these for citations of the desired work, attempt to verify their accuracy, and finally either order the treatise on microfilm or go to the location and use the original document there. Considerable time, travel and expense must be invested in the bibliographical search alone—even before one sees the source document. Furthermore, the references from catalogues are often incorrect, and researchers frequently find that they have invested heavily in a "dead end" search.
Wear progressions and tool life enhancement with AlCrN coated inserts in high-speed dry and wet steel lathing

Abstract In this paper, the tool life enhancement with a PVD-applied aluminum chromium nitride (AlCrN) coating (named Alcrona) for cemented carbide inserts is investigated. Microstructure wear progressions such as the abrasive wear mechanisms of AlCrN coated cemented carbide tool inserts under dry and wet machining at very high cutting speeds are fully analyzed based on experimental testings. The maximum cutting speed attained in the testing for the turning operations is 410 m/min. Various progressive stages of abrasive wear are observed through the experimental results. These wear results done on AlCrN coated carbide tool inserts are compared with other tool life data reported in the literature. It is found that at 260 m/min, Alcrona performs near 95% better in tool wear than TiAlN coated carbide tool under the same machining conditions. Comparing the performance of Alcrona coated tool inserts with that of TiN coated ones, the former can achieve approximately 33% more depth of cut and can attain higher cutting speed due to better thermal resistance of the coated inserts. This finding verifies the speculation that Alcrona coating enhances tool capability for metal cutting and improves tool life even under harsh cutting conditions. Types of microstructure wear phenomena captured during the course of the experimental study are micro-abrasion, micro-tensile fracture, micro-fatigue, micro-thermal cracks, micro-adhesion, built up edge and micro-attrition. The experimental cutting observations with the underlying tool inserts demonstrate that wear progresses with time and goes through various stages, namely, running into wear, steady state wear, and tool failure wear. It is also evidenced that the use of coolant emulsion increases the tool life proportionally with respect to the cutting speeds and reduces the wear progress considerably. SEM and optical microscope images of the tool wear in progress have been taken at various stages to delve into the morphology of the tool inserts. These are interpreted with reasoning in the paper.
A Brief History of Epigenetics

The term "epigenetics" was originally used to denote the poorly understood processes by which a fertilized zygote developed into a mature, complex organism. With the understanding that all cells of an organism carry the same DNA, and with increased knowledge of mechanisms of gene expression, the definition was changed to focus on ways in which heritable traits can be associated not with changes in nucleotide sequence, but with chemical modifications of DNA, or of the structural and regulatory proteins bound to it. Recent discoveries about the role of these mechanisms in early development may make it desirable to return to the original definition of epigenetics.
Non‐muffin‐tin charge density corrections to multiple‐scattering‐Xα‐method

Previous calculations of the statistical (Xα) total energies using multiple-scattering molecular orbitals have assumed that the charge density has a muffin-tin form. In this paper, expressions are derived to estimate the error involved in this approximation. Preliminary calculations show that the error in the total energy is large with respect to the binding energy for the C2 and Ne2 molecules and small for the CH4 molecule.
Information and bargaining in the hold‐up problem

This article incorporates an information structure with partial information into the canonical hold-up problem. The optimal information structure balances the tradeoff between ex ante efficiency (the “information rent” effect) and ex post efficiency (the “bargaining disagreement” effect). With one-shot bargaining, it occurs at an intermediate level of information asymmetry; when there is repeated bargaining, it is attained with perfect asymmetry. Asymmetric information, the parameter that is frequently ignored in the literature, turns out to be an important welfare instrument for the hold-up problem. Our results therefore provide a basis for institutional design regarding the optimal control of information flow.
Diet alters both the structure and taxonomy of the ovine gut microbial ecosystem.

Wesurveyedtheruminalmetagenomesof16sheepunder twodifferentdietsusingIlluminapair-endDNA sequencingofrawmicrobialDNAextractedfromrumensamples.Theresultingsequencedatawerebioinformaticallymappedtoknownprokaryotic16SrDNA sequencestoidentifythetaxapresentinthesamples and then analysed for the presence of potentially new taxa. Strikingly, the majority of the microbial individuals found did not map to known taxa from 16S sequence databases. We used a novel statistical modelling approach to compare the taxonomic distributions between animals fed a forage-based diet and those fed concentrated grains. With this model, we found significant differences between the two groups both in the dominant taxa present in the rumen and in the overall shape of the taxa abundance curves. In general, forage-fed animals have a more diverse microbial ecosystem, whereas the concentrate-fed animals have ruminal systems more heavily dominated by a few taxa. As expected, organisms from methanogenic groups are more prevalent in forage-fed animals. Finally, all of these differences appear to be grounded in an underlyingcommoninputofnewmicrobialindividualsintotherumenenvironment,withcommonorganismsfrom one feed group being present in the other, but at much lower abundance.
Special purpose array processor implementation of neural networks

A universal digital VLSI design for implementing artificial neural networks is proposed. The design is based on a unified iterative neural network model. An implementation based on a combination of custom-built and commercially available chips is presented. In addition, a software environment for the array processor is discussed. >
On suppression of a sinusoidal signal in broad-band noise

In an estimator-subtractor configuration of the generalized adaptive line enhancer (ALE), a sinusoidal signal (in broad-band noise) is estimated by the two-sided and one-sided Wiener and linear prediction filters. For a fixed number of input samples, the estimation error in Wiener and prediction filters is shown to be minimum, when both future and past samples, not necessarily equal in numbers, are utilized in the present estimate of the signal. The error in the estimate of the signal by the two-sided Wiener filter is also shown to be equal to that by the optimized form of the well-known ALE.
Strain Relief in SrF2 Epitaxial Films on Si(111) Substrates

Molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth condition of SrF 2 directly on Si(111) substrates has been optimized in terms of both X min and the surface morphology. Lattice distortion measurements were carried out with ion channeling along off-normal channeling directions in the strained layers grown at the optimal condition. The relationship of residual strain vs. film thickness for SrF 2 on Si(111) was provided by the first time. The experimental data demonstrated a special thickness in this relation, at which the derivative of strain vs. film thickness changes its sign. This unique behavior was understood as the result of competition between the large lattice mismatch and the large thermal mismatch between SrF 2 and Si.
Three-dimensional, W-band circuits using Si micromachining

This paper presents results from the development effort of Si micromachined three-dimensional high density circuits for W-band operation. Measurements of the performance of a power distribution network in a multilayer environment show that on-wafer packaging improves performance and allows for high density integration, small size, and considerably reduced cost.
ESD effects on GaAs MESFET lifetime

A study conducted to examine the effects of noncatastrophic ESD damage on GaAs MESFET lifetimes is discussed. More than 200 MESFETs were subjected to various levels of ESD, using the MIL-STD-883, Method 3015, human-body model (HBM) to determine susceptibility, damage indications, and whether repetitive exposure is cumulative. Ninety-nine samples from these tests were subjected to an accelerated lifetest and compared to controls from the same wafers. The tests show that damage results in increased gate leakage current, measureable damage occurs at significantly lower levels for forward-bias polarity, damage from repeated exposure to an ESD level is not cumulative, and noncatastrophic damage does not degrade lifetime. >
Profiling and metaanalysis of epidermal keratinocytes responses to epidermal growth factor

One challenge of systems biology is the integration of new data into the preexisting, and then re-interpretation of the integrated data. Here we use readily available metaanalysis computational methods to integrate new data on the transcriptomic effects of EGF in primary human epidermal keratinocytes with preexisting transcriptomics data in keratinocytes and in EGF-treated non-epidermal cell types. We find that EGF promotes keratinocyte proliferation, attachment and motility and, surprisingly, induces DUSPs that attenuate the EGF signal. Our metaanalysis identified overlapping effects of EGF with those of IL-1 and IFNγ, activators of keratinocyte in inflammation and wound healing. We also identified the genes and pathways suppressed by EGF but induced by agents promoting epidermal differentiation. Metaanalysis comparison with the EGF effects in other cell types identified extensive similarities between responses in keratinocytes and in other epithelial cell types, but specific differences with the EGF effects in endothelial cells, and in transformed, oncogenic epithelial cell lines. This work defines the specific transcriptional effects of EGF on human epidermal keratinocytes. Our approach can serve as a suitable paradigm for integration of new omics data into preexisting databases and re-analysis of the integrated data sets.
A simplified method for differential staining of aborted and non-aborted pollen grains

The ability to use chemical staining to discriminate aborted from non-aborted pollen grains has well-known practical applications in agriculture. A commonly used technique for assessing pollen vitality, Alexander’s stain, uses chloral hydrate, phenol and mercuric chloride, all of which are highly toxic. We describe here an improved pollen staining technique that avoids the use of a regulated chemical chloral hydrate and two extremely toxic chemicals mercuric chloride and phenol, and requires a much shorter time period for sample preparation and staining. This simplified method is very useful for field studies without high-end equipments such as fluorescence microscopes. Samples can be collected and fixed in the fields and examined in a simple laboratory that has light microscopes.
Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Chronic Lung Disease

Right ventricular dysfunction arises in chronic lung disease when chronic hypoxemia and disruption of pulmonary vascular beds contribute to increase ventricular afterload, and is generally defined by hypertrophy with preserved myocardial contractility and cardiac output. Although the exact prevalence is unknown, right ventricular hypertrophy appears to be a common complication of chronic lung disease, and more frequently complicates advanced lung disease. Right ventricular failure is rare, except during acute exacerbations of chronic lung disease or when multiple co-morbidities are present. Treatment is targeted at correcting hypoxia and improving pulmonary gas exchange and mechanics. There are presently no convincing data to support the use of pulmonary hypertension-specific therapies in patients with right ventricular dysfunction secondary to chronic lung disease.
The Tympanic Membrane as a Part of the Middle Ear Transformer

Time-averaged holography, an optical interference method, allowed us to obtain, for the first time, complete displacement patterns of the tympanic membrane of cat and man in response to sound. The findings are compatible with the concept of the “mechanism of curved membranes” originally proposed by Helmholtz (1868), which implies that an important part of the transformer mechanism of the middle ear resides in the tympanic membrane itself.
Simple vs. Complex Learning Revisited: Israeli Prime Ministers and the Question of a Palestinian State

When does a decision-maker's shift on a major policy issue represent a genuine reassessment in his or her beliefs as opposed to tactical maneuvering? This article provides a framework to improve our confidence that a policy shift represents “complex learning,” which entails the adoption of new goals, rather than “simple learning,” which refers to a change in means but not goals. Challenging the conventional wisdom on learning, it argues that decision makers who alter their foreign policies incrementally are more likely to have had a fundamental rethinking of their underlying assumptions on a core issue than those who exhibit sudden shifts in their foreign policy decisions absent a traumatic event. The public declarations of Israel's three most recent premiers—Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and Benjamin Netanyahu—in support of the establishment of a Palestinian state are used to illustrate the utility of this framework. Whereas Sharon and Olmert underwent complex learning, Netanyahu's swift change appears to represent merely a tactical response to pressure from the United States.
Alembic: an efficient algorithm for CNF preprocessing

Satisfiability (SAT) solvers often benefit from a preprocessing of the formula to be decided. For formulae in conjunctive normal form (CNF), subsumed clauses may be removed or partial resolution may be applied. Preprocessing aims at simplifying the formula and at increasing the deductive power of the solver. These two objectives are sometimes competing. We present a new algorithm that combines simplification and increase of deductive power and we show its effectiveness in speeding up SAT solvers.
A New Ultra-Low Power Wireless Sensor Network with Integrated Energy Harvesting, Data Sensing, and Wireless Communication

A new ultra-low power (ULP) wireless sensor network (WSN) structure is proposed to monitor the vibration properties of civil structures, such as buildings and bridges. The new scheme integrates energy harvesting, data sensing, and wireless communication into a unified process, and it is fundamentally different from all the existing WSNs. In the new WSN, piezoelectric sensors are employed to harvest vibration energy and measure vibration intensity simultaneously, by utilizing the fact that the harvested energy accumulated through time is proportional to the vibration amplitude and frequency. Once the harvested energy reaches a threshold, it is released as an impulse with a wireless transmitter. An estimate of the structure vibration intensity can then be obtained by measuring the intervals between the binary impulses. Such an approach does not require complicated analog-to-digital conversion or signal processing, and it can achieve an ULP performance unrivaled by existing technologies. Optimum and sub-optimum impulse density estimation algorithms are proposed for the FC to take advantage of the spatial correlation among the sensors. Exact analytical expressions of the optimum estimation mean square error (MSE) are derived. Simulation and analytical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme can achieve a MSE of $5\times 10^{-5}$ at a signal-to-noise-ratio of -8 dB for a 10-node WSN.
Approximate theory of the viscoelasticity of chain‐molecule solutions not infinitely dilute

The theories of viscoelasticity of chain-molecule solutions, based on the bead-spring model, have been modified to take into account approximately the effect of interactions among chain molecules. The motion of a given chain molecule has been analyzed in detail while all other chain molecules have been treated as a background of uniformly distributed beads in which the given chain molecule is suspended. The inclusion of intermolecular interactions leads to a hydrodynamic interaction tensor, which after averaging, differs from that of Kirkwood by a concentration-dependent correction term. The modified theory correctly predicts the transition from the non-draining to the free-draining behavior which has been observed in chain-molecule solutions as their concentrations are increased.