cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Message Passing Networks for Molecules with Tetrahedral Chirality

Molecules with identical graph connectivity can exhibit different physical and biological properties if they exhibit stereochemistry-a spatial structural characteristic. However, modern neural architectures designed for learning structure-property relationships from molecular structures treat molecules as graph-structured data and therefore are invariant to stereochemistry. Here, we develop two custom aggregation functions for message passing neural networks to learn properties of molecules with tetrahedral chirality, one common form of stereochemistry. We evaluate performance on synthetic data as well as a newly-proposed protein-ligand docking dataset with relevance to drug discovery. Results show modest improvements over a baseline sum aggregator, highlighting opportunities for further architecture development.
First Report of Gymnosporangium clavipes Causing Stem Galls on Crataegus marshallii in Florida, U.S.A.

The parsley hawthorn Crataegus marshallii Eggleston (Rosaceae, Maloideae) is a small tree native to the southeastern United States and is a less common but prized ornamental, known for its bright fruit and flaking bark. In March of 2020, a stem gall with visible aecia on the lower surface was observed on an ornamental parsley hawthorn in Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, U.S.A. The affected stem was collected and brought to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Division of Plant Industry headquarters in Gainesville for identification (FDACS-DPI, 2020-104160). Aecia tubular, whitish, occurred on twigs (caulicolous), producing terminal swellings, mostly short and up to 1.5 mm high with white peridium containing bright orange spores in masses. Aeciospores were semigloboid to globoid, with bright orange contents, 26 to 34 µm in diameter (n = 20)—color and size are considered diagnostic features (EPPO 2006)—wall was densely verrucose, hyaline, and 2 to 4 µm thick. The morphological characteristics are consistent with those of Gymnosporangium clavipes Cooke & Peck (Pucciniaceae, Pucciniomycotina) described by Kern (1973). A voucher was deposited in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services DPI Herbarium (PIHG, specimen number 14893). The morphological identification was confirmed by molecular identification. Following DNA extraction, we performed PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) (primer pairs ITS1/LR5, MW148514) of the rRNA genes (Aime 2006); phylogenetic analysis carried out in RAxMLv8.0.0 (Stamatakis 2014). Because of the inclination among Crataegus species to hybridize and the ornamental nature of the specimen, host identification was confirmed both morphologically and molecularly (ITS, primer pairs ITS1A/ITS4, MW148513, Lo et al. 2009) with 98 to 99% identity to C. marshallii sequences available in GenBank (MN215977, EF127037, EU683925), and it was placed within the other C. marshallii specimens in a broader phylogenetic estimate including sequence data from other available species of Crataegus (not shown). In agreement with the phylogenetic analysis, NCBI megaBLAST searches (Chen et al. 2015) of the resulting fungal sequences revealed 99% identity (ITS and LSU) to G. clavipes CUP-18207 (GenBank accession nos. MN605770, MN605692) and 99.65% identity (ITS and LSU, respectively; GenBank accession no. KT821552) against the strain of G. clavipes PUR N11552, first report of this rust occurring on another Rosaceae species, Pyrus calleryana Decaisne, in the United States (Creswell et al. 2016). Given the heteroecious and nonculturable nature of this pathogen, Koch’s postulates were not performed. This finding represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first record of G. clavipes in parsley hawthorn, and it adds to its broad range of known rosaceous hosts, having already been reported in 18 other species of Crataegus (Farr and Rossman 2020).
Energy-efficient pathway for selectively exciting solute molecules to high vibrational states via solvent vibration-polariton pumping

Selectively exciting target molecules to high vibrational states is inefficient in the liquid phase, which restricts the use of IR pumping to catalyze ground-state chemical reactions. Here, we demonstrate that this inefficiency can be largely solved by confining the liquid in an optical cavity under vibrational strong coupling conditions. For a liquid solution of $^{13}$CO$_2$ solute in a $^{12}$CO$_2$ solvent, cavity molecular dynamics simulations show that exciting a polariton (hybrid light-matter state) of the solvent with an intense laser pulse, under suitable resonant conditions, may lead to a very strong (> 3 quanta) and ultrafast (< 1 ps) excitation of the solute, all while the solvent is barely excited. By contrast, outside a cavity the same input pulse fluence can excite the solute by only half a vibrational quantum and the selectivity of excitation is low. Our finding is robust under different cavity volumes, which may lead to observable cavity enhancement on IR photochemical reactions in Fabry-Perot cavities.
Short-Term Periodized Programming May Improve Strength, Power, Jump Kinetics, and Sprint Efficiency in Soccer

The purpose of this study was to examine if short-term periodized programming may improve strength, power, jump kinetics, and sprint efficiency in soccer. Seventeen players (19.6 ± 1.6 yrs; 73.8 ± 8.2 kg; 1.77 ± 0.6 m) were divided into two groups based on mean isometric midthigh pull peak force (IPF) (stronger and weaker) and squat jump (SJ) peak power (PP) (higher power and lower power). Eight weaker players were included in the lower power group, while six stronger players were included in the higher power group. Block periodization was adopted to design strength training consisting of 3-week strength endurance and 4-week maximum strength blocks. Performance data included SJ with polyvinyl chloride pipe (SJ0), 20 kgs bar (SJ20), and 40 kgs (SJ40) bar and 20 m sprint across three time points (baseline: TB; post-block 1: T1; post-block 2: T2). Stronger group showed significant increases from TB to T2 in SJ20 peak power (PP), net impulse, and allometrically-scaled PP (p = 0.005 to 0.01, ES = 0.32 to 0.49). Weaker group demonstrated moderate to large increases from TB to T2 in SJ20, allometrically-scaled peak force (PF), PP, and allometrically-scaled PP (p = <0.001 to 0.04, ES = 1.41 to 1.74). Lower power group showed significant increases from TB to T2 in SJ20 allometrically-scaled PF, net impulse, PP, and allometrically-scaled PP (p = <0.001 to 0.026, ES = 1.06 to 2.01). Weaker and less powerful soccer players can benefit from strength-focused training to improve loaded SJ kinetics associating with force production.
The Exact Synonym for “Missionary” is “Negro Teacher”: Black Feminism in the Sunday School

African American Sunday school teachers in the early twentieth century were motivated by an ethic of care that was spiritual, historical, and political. This essay reconstructs the image of mission...
Polyelectrolyte Gels: A Unique Class of Soft Materials

The objective of this article is to introduce the readers to the field of polyelectrolyte gels. These materials are common in living systems and have great importance in many biomedical and industrial applications. In the first part of this paper, we briefly review some characteristic properties of polymer gels with an emphasis on the unique features of this type of soft material. Unsolved problems and possible future research directions are highlighted. In the second part, we focus on the typical behavior of polyelectrolyte gels. Many biological materials (e.g., tissues) are charged (mainly anionic) polyelectrolyte gels. Examples are shown to illustrate the effect of counter-ions on the osmotic swelling behavior and the kinetics of the swelling of model polyelectrolyte gels. These systems exhibit a volume transition as the concentration of higher valence counter-ions is gradually increased in the equilibrium bath. A hierarchy is established in the interaction strength between the cations and charged polymer molecules according to the chemical group to which the ions belong. The swelling kinetics of sodium polyacrylate hydrogels is investigated in NaCl solutions and in solutions containing both NaCl and CaCl2. In the presence of higher valence counter-ions, the swelling/shrinking behavior of these gels is governed by the diffusion of free ions in the swollen network, the ion exchange process and the coexistence of swollen and collapsed states.
Intraparenchymal hematoma and intraventricular catheter placement using robotic stereotactic assistance (ROSA): A single center preliminary experience

Abstract Background Large supratentorial intraparenchymal hemorrhages are managed emergently with image-guided catheters that aim to minimize injury to surrounding parenchyma. Robotic assistance may offer advantages for stereotactic guidance and placement of such catheters. We describe our center’s experience with minimally invasive ROSA-assisted intraventricular and intraparenchymal hemorrhage catheter placement and delineate its safety and outcomes. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed including all patients with intraparenchymal hematoma that underwent ROSA-assisted intraparenchymal and intraventricular catheter placement at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between 2017 and 2019. All patients received tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) through the intraparenchymal catheter. We performed a manual chart review of these patients. Pertinent clinical and radiological characteristics and patient outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Catheter trajectory was independently quantified and analyzed by two independent reviewers. Error between the planned trajectory and final position was calculated and analyzed. Results Four patients (2 males and 2 females, mean age of 64 years) with deep brain large volume intraparenchymal hemorrhages were treated with catheter evacuation with robotic assistance. For 2 of the 4 patients, thin-cut CT imaging allowed for the real trajectory of the catheter to be compared to the targeted trajectory to calculate error. The mean error of catheter placement was 3.48 mm. ROSA-assisted catheter placement achieved up to 95% reduction of intraparenchymal hematoma volume with a statistically significant decrease following catheter drainage (pre- 51.8 ± 19.1 cc vs. post- 13.0 ± 14.4; p Conclusion Robotic stereotactic assistance offers a safe and sufficiently accurate technique for intraparenchymal hematoma and intraventricular catheter placement.
Racism Awareness in Mission: Touchstone or Cultural Blind Spot?:

In his history of the Edinburgh 1910 World Missionary Conference, Brian Stanley suggests that contemporary use of “culture” in mission may be vulnerable to the same critique as was the use of “race...
A Balanced Way of Teaching Art and Design Using E-Learning

One of the challenges of teaching graphic design courses is that the instructors must teach both soft design skills and hard design or technical skills. Soft design skills-such as aesthetics, intuition, balance, recognizing harmony in page design, and stirring emotions through design-are ephemeral parts of design. These skills are best taught face-to-face in a classroom setting where students can interact, observe, create and analyze. Hard design skills or technical skills are best learned by observing and then creating, or simultaneously observing and creating. E-learning lends itself well to teaching technical skills in a way that facilitates simultaneous observation and creation. Employers want to hire designers who equally possess soft and hard design skills. Given the limited amount of contact hours during the semester, it is difficult to spend time teaching both soft and hard design skills in a balanced way. The paper presents innovative and interactive E-learning components that facilitate engaging and balanced teaching.
Examination of sequence homology between human chromosome 20 and the mouse genome: intense conservation of many genomic elements

The conservation of genomic organization of mammalian species has been of interest for its usefulness in characterizing the genetics of traits and diseases and as one tool for examining evolution. The recent rough draft sequencing of the mouse and human genomes provides the opportunity for more detailed analyses. The current study examines the extent of homology between human chromosome 20 and the mouse genome by comparing putative coding and non-coding sequence to provide insight into organizational and sequence similarities between the species. The relative position of each of 460 putative coding orthologues was the same in both species, except for a single genomic segment rearrangement. The similarity extended to exon/intron structure, the size of introns, as well as strong evidence for the conservation of position of ancient LINE-1, LINE-2 and LTR repetitive sequence and the subtelomeric region of the long arm of human chromosome 20 and that of mouse chromosome 2. There was also evidence for conservation of a limited amount of non-coding single-copy sequence. Together these data provide additional insight into the extent of conservation of mammalian genomic organization and sequence.
Epidemiology of hypospadias.

Birth defects affect about 3% of babies and some are born with major structural chromosomal abnormalities. Birth defects are a major cause of infant mortality. As other causes of infant mortality have been controlled, birth defects have risen in importance. It is surprising how very little we know about the cause of birth defects and how to prevent them. What is known is that prescription medications cause birth defects. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) efforts in the prevention of birth defects and the efforts of epidemiologists worldwide started as a result of the realization that exposure to environmental agents is deleterious. Specifically, thalidomide, the drug that caused an epidemic of limb reduction deformities in Europe in the late 1950s and early 1960s, spurred on the idea that synthetic compounds may be teratogenic (Hamilton and Poswillo, 1972).
Catalase activity in Escherichia coli.

Witkin (1946) reported a mutant, designated Escherichia coli, strain B/r, which was more resistant to direct ultraviolet radiations than the parent strain B of E. coli. The same mutant also was found to be more resistant to X-rays, penicillin, sodium sulfathiazole (Witkin, 1947), and nitrogen mustard (Bryson, 1948). Morse and Carter (1949) found E. coli, strain B/r, to contain 3 to 4 times more desoxyribose nucleic acid than E. coli, strain B. Bryson (1949) also found the B/r strain to be more resistant to the lethal actions of substrates which had been irradiated with ultraviolet light or treated with hydrogen peroxide. However, he found no difference between the B/r and B strains in their resistance to bactericidal concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. In view of the effect catalase has on such treated substrates (Wyss et al., 1948) it was decided to compare the catalase activity of the two strains of E. coli to determine if any of the differences between the strains could be attributed to increased catalase activity.
Low Excited States of F19. III. Coulomb Excitation by α Particles

We have investigated the yield of gamma rays resulting from the bombardment of F19 by α particles [1]. Up to an α-particle energy 2.8 Mev we observed only the 1.28 Mev γ ray of the reaction F19(α,p)Ne22*, and the 114-kev and 200-kev radiations from the first and second excited states of F19 produced by inelastic scattering of the α particles. The γ rays were detected with a 1 1/2 in. X 1 1/2 in. sodium iodide scintillation spectrometer. The pulse spectrum was recorded with a 10-channel analyzer.
Chapter 1 Functional roles of lipids in membranes

Publisher Summary A primary role of lipids in cellular function is in the formation of the permeability barrier of cells and subcellular organelles in the form of a lipid bilayer. This chapter outlines the diversity in structure, chemical properties, and physical properties of lipids, presents various genetic approaches available for studying lipid function in vivo , and describes how the physical and chemical properties of lipids relate to their multiple functions in living systems. The roles lipids play in cellular processes is as diverse as the chemical structures of lipids found throughout nature. Although a single phospholipid can form a sealed bilayer vesicle in solution, a diversity of lipid structure and physical properties is necessary for filling the broad range of roles that lipids play in cells. The diverse functions of lipids are made possible by a family of low molecular weight molecules that are physically fluid and deformable to enable interaction in a flexible and specific manner with macromolecules. The interest in understanding the biodiversity of lipids through a detailed characterization of a vast number of microorganisms will yield additional novel lipids that must be characterized structurally and functionally.
Further improvements and validation for the Navy Atmospheric Vertical Surface Layer Model (NAVSLaM)

The Navy Atmospheric Vertical Surface Layer Model (NAVSLaM) is the official U.S. Navy model for characterizing near-surface radio-frequency refractivity over the ocean, which is usually dominated by the presence of an evaporation duct. NAVSLaM employs Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) to describe the air-sea fluxes and the near-surface profiles of temperature and humidity, which in turn are used to compute modified refractivity profiles for input to propagation models. The employment of MOST theory for this purpose is dependent upon the use of empirically determined dimensionless profile functions for temperature and humidity, and also wind speed. The forms of these empirical profile functions have a dramatic impact on the behavior of surface-layer models, such as NAVSLaM, in describing the evaporation duct. Over the last 50 years and more, researchers have presented a multitude of different formulations for these profile functions, based primarily on field experiments conducted over land or ice.
Microstructure-property relations in tungsten bronze lead barium niobate, Pb1−xBaxNb2O6

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to explore details of the structural phase transitions and corresponding microstructural features in the solid solution of Pb1−xBaxNb2O6 (PBN) tungsten bronze ferroelectrics at compositions embracing the morphotropic phase boundary between orthorhombic and tetragonal ferroelectric phases. In addition to the ferroelectric domain structures that were consistent with the expected symmetries, incommensurate ferroelastic phases were observed. The “onset” and “lock-in” transition temperatures are a function of the Pb/Ba ratio, and for lead-rich compositions it appears that the incommensurate distortion may occur above the ferroelectric Curie temperature in the paraelectric phase.
Heat capacity and the Lewis number of a reacting gas.

Heat capacity expression due to chemical reaction, relating composition variations and binary diffusion coefficient with Lewis number, presenting integral equation for system enthalpy
How do bedform patterns arise? New views on the role of bedform interactions within a set of boundary conditions

One explanation for bedform patterns is self-organization in which the pattern emerges because of interactions among the bedforms themselves. Models, remote images, field studies and lab experiments have identified bedform interactions that involve whole bedforms, only bedform defects, or that are remote interactions between bedforms. It is proposed that bedform interactions form a spectrum from constructive to regenerative in pattern development. Constructive interactions, including merging, lateral linking, cannibalization, and remote transfer of sediment, push the system toward fewer, larger, more widely spaced bedforms. Regenerative interactions, including bedform splitting, defect creation and calving, push the system back toward a more initial state. Other interactions, including off-center collision, defect migration, and bedform and defect repulsion, cause pattern change, but may not be strongly constructive or regenerative. Although bedform interactions are ubiquitous to any field of bedforms, their dynamics, flow-field modification, and impact upon measurable pattern parameters are yet poorly understood. Most bedform interactions span bedform types and fluids, supporting the hypothesis that pattern emerges from dynamics at the bedform level in a hierarchy that includes lower levels of bedform-flow and grain–fluid interactions. Bedform interactions alone, however, cannot account for the rich diversity of bedform patterns in nature. It is proposed that field diversity arises because of boundary conditions, which are the environmental variables within which a field evolves. Conceptually, boundary conditions modify the shape of the attractor toward which a field evolves, possibly by altering the type and frequency of bedform interactions. Boundary conditions are broadly similar within system types, but are unique for each bedform field so that no two are ever exactly alike. Although aeolian and fluvial systems share some types of boundary conditions, flow depth is a unique boundary condition in shallow fluvial systems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adrenal fasciculata cells express T-type and rapidly and slowly activating L-type Ca2+ channels that regulate cortisol secretion.

In whole cell patch-clamp recordings, we characterized the L-type Ca2+ currents in bovine adrenal zona fasciculata (AZF) cells and explored their role, along with the role of T-type channels, in AC...
Simulation to Static Recrystallization of Nb Micro Alloyed Steel by Cellular Automaton

The model of cellular automaton (CA) for simulating the static recrystallization of Nb micro alloyed steel after hot deformation was established. The static precipitation of micro alloyed elements on the impact of static recrystallization was considered in the mode. The microstructure evolution of austenite static recrystallization of Nb micro alloyed steel was simulated dynamically, such as the the volume fraction, kinetics curve of static recrystallization, dislocation density and grain shape, were quantitatively, accurately and visually described. According to the simulation results by cellular automaton, the effects of the deformation temperature, strain rate, and other processing parameters on the microstructure of the austenite static recrystallization of Nb micro alloyed steel were analyzed. The simulation results could provide a theoretical reference for the control of the microstructure and property of Nb micro alloyed steel.
SEM/STEM observations of magnetite in carbonates of eastern North America: Evidence for chemical remagnettzation during the Alleghenian Orogeny

Early to middle Paleozoic carbonates of eastern North America have been pervasively remagnetized. In order to determine the process of remagnetization, scanning and scanning transmission electron microscopy have been used to characterize magnetite in thin sections and in concentrated separates. Samples included Ordovician Knox carbonates from east Tennessee, Ordovician Trenton limestone and Devonian Onondaga and Helderberg limestones from New York, and Ordovician Trenton carbonates from Michigan. Inclusions of authigenic minerals within magnetite grains, lack of cations other than iron, and a variety of textural relations all imply that the magnetite is authigenic. These data are consistent with estimates that paleotemperatures never exceeded values that would reset magnetic directions. The remagnetization is thus a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) rather than viscous remanent magnetization (VRM). As the timing of remagnetization corresponds to the Alleghenian orogeny, the observed relations imply stress-induced crystallization of magnetite that was mediated by fluids, consistent with but not requiring fluid flow on a regional basis.
Learning enhancement with neuropeptides

Objective Previous work has demonstrated that two synthetic peptides can prevent prenatal alcohol-induced damage as assessed by prevention of learning abnormalities in adult offspring as well as improve outcome from traumatic brain damage. The current studies were undertaken to evaluate whether these peptides could enhance performance in a learning and memory paradigm when administered either prenatally or to aged mice. Study design For prenatal treatment, C57Bl6/J mice were treated on gestational day 8 with 1 oral administration of D-NAP or D-SAL alone or D-NAP+D-SAL or a double dose of D-SAL. Control groups were same-regimen treated with vehicle alone. Learning was assessed in adult male offspring (35-50 days) by using the Morris water maze. To evaluate aged animals, 12-month-old mice were treated with D-NAP and D-SAL or vehicle alone daily and tested on the Morris water maze. Results Offspring exposed prenatally to D-NAP+D-SAL learned significantly faster than controls, with an earlier onset of learning and an overall decreased latency to find the hidden platform (P Conclusion Combined D-NAP+D-SAL enhanced learning in healthy young mice and aged mice. These findings suggest potential therapeutic interventions not only during a critical developmental period, but also in aged animals.
Acetyl-CoA Induces Cell Growth and Proliferation by Promoting the Acetylation of Histones at Growth Genes

The decision by a cell to enter a round of growth and division must be intimately coordinated with nutrient availability and its metabolic state. These metabolic and nutritional requirements, and the mechanisms by which they induce cell growth and proliferation, remain poorly understood. Herein, we report that acetyl-CoA is the downstream metabolite of carbon sources that represents a critical metabolic signal for growth and proliferation. Upon entry into growth, intracellular acetyl-CoA levels increase substantially and consequently induce the Gcn5p/SAGA-catalyzed acetylation of histones at genes important for growth, thereby enabling their rapid transcription and commitment to growth. Thus, acetyl-CoA functions as a carbon-source rheostat that signals the initiation of the cellular growth program by promoting the acetylation of histones specifically at growth genes.
Time-bandwidth problem in room temperature slow light.

For many applications of slow or stopped light, the delay-time-bandwidth product is a fundamental issue. So far, however, slow-light demonstrations do not show a large delay-time-bandwidth product, especially in room temperature solids. Here we demonstrate that the use of artificial inhomogeneous broadening has the potential to solve this problem. A proof-of-principle experiment is done using slow light produced by two-beam coupling in a photorefractive crystal $\mathrm{Ce}\ensuremath{\mathbin:}{\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$ where Bragg selection is used to provide the artificial inhomogeneity. Examples of how to generalize this concept for use with other room temperature slow-light solids are also given.
Aqueous Amino Acid Levels in Fuchs' Corneal Dystrophy

Eight patients with Fuchs' corneal dystrophy and 11 matched senile cataract patients were examined at the time of surgery for aqueous humor amino acid levels. The cataract patients had amino acid levels that did not differ significantly from control values. The anterior chamber concentrations of threonine, glutamine, and arginine were found to be significantly increased in the patients with Fuchs' corneal dystrophy. Asparagine, phosphoserine, and phosphoethanolamine were found to be significantly decreased in patients with Fuchs' dystrophy.
Antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation: ximelagatran, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor.

The oral direct thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran (Exanta™, AstraZeneca) is rapidly absorbed, is efficiently bioconverted to the active form, melagatran (AstraZeneca) and has shown efficacy and relative safety as an anticoagulant for prophylaxis and therapy of thromboembolism. Two Phase III trials, Stroke Prevention using an ORal Thrombin Inhibitor in atrial Fibrillation (SPORTIF V), have tested the hypothesis that oral ximelagatran, administered 36 mg twice daily without coagulation monitoring or dose adjustment, prevents stroke and systemic embolism at least as effectively as adjusted-dose warfarin (international normalized ratio, 2.0–3.0) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Both were randomized, multicenter trials (n > 3000 per trial) with blinded end-point assessment. The open-label SPORTIF III trial confirmed the noninferiority of ximelagatran versus warfarin. Publication of the full results from SPORTIF V is pending.
Halothane impairs the hemodynamic influence of endothelium-derived nitric oxide.

BackgroundThe endogenous vasodilator endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) contributes to the regulation of vascular tone and organ perfusion. It has been suggested that some volatile anesthetics may diminish the influence of EDNO and thereby decrease regional blood flow.MethodsRadioactive microsp
High-Level Optimization Model for the Retrofit Planning of Process Networks†

The retrofit design of a network of processes over several time periods is addressed in this paper. A strategy is proposed that consists of a high level to analyze the entire network and a low level to analyze a specific process flowsheet in detail. A methodology is presented for the high level to model process flowsheets and retrofit modifications using a multiperiod generalized disjunctive programming (GDP) model. This problem is reformulated as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP) using the convex hull formulation. Two examples that illustrate the proposed model are presented. The results show that the proposed GDP model provides a significant benefit over the existing network without retrofit and provides a clear advantage over intuitively choosing modifications based on heuristics. To illustrate the performance benefits of using the convex hull formulation, the problem is also modeled as an MILP with big-M constraints.
Accessible voting: one machine, one vote for everyone

The video for Accessible Voting shows a novel technology that allows private and secure voting to people with disabilities who have previously not had the same access to voting equipment as the common voter. Since the inception of elections and election technologies, all segments of the voting population have never been granted equal access, privacy and security when voting. Voting technology today has not addressed the issues that disabled voters are confronted with at the polls. Because approximately 17% of the voting population is disabled, their issues should be handled with a solution geared towards their needs. Disabled voters need to be able to cast their vote without the assistance of others. The Prime III multimodal voting system addresses these issues. The video illustrates the use of the Prime III system and how it allows disabled voters to use the same system as those without disabilities.
Milnor fiber complexes for Shephard groups

Abstract The symmetry group of a regular polytope p is a finite Coxeter group W. The intersection of the unit sphere with the reflecting hyperplanes of W induces a simplicial triangulation of the sphere, called the Coxeter complex ΓW. In case p is convex, radial projection maps the barycentric subdivision of p homeomorphically onto ΓW. The symmetry group of a regular complex polytope p is a Shephard group G. In this paper we construct a simplicial complex ΓG in the Milnor fiber of a G-invariant polynomial of minimal positive degree, which shares many of the properties of the Coxeter complex. In case p is non-starry, we construct a linear complex B( p ) ⊂ p which is homeomorphic to ΓG. Thus the relation of B( p ) to ΓG is the same as the relation of the barycentric subdivision of a convex polytope to the Coxeter complex.
Existence and uniqueness of solutions of nonlocal problems for hyperbolic equation uxt=F(x,t,u,ux)

The aim of the paper is to give two theorems about existence and uniqueness of continuous solutions for hyperbolic nonlinear differential problems with nonlocal conditions in bounded and unbounded domains. The results obtained in this paper can be applied in the theory of elasticity with better effect than analogous known results with classical initial conditions.
Personalized pocket directories for mobile devices

In spite of the increase in the availability of mobile devices in the last few years, Web information is not yet as accessible from PDAs or WAP phones as it is from the desktop. In this paper, we propose a solution for supporting one of the most popular information discovery mechanisms, namely Web directory navigation, from mobile devices. Our proposed solution consists of caching enough information on the device itself in order to conduct most of the navigation actions locally (with subsecond response time) while intermittently communicating with the server to receive updates and additional data requested by the user. The cached information is captured in a "directory capsule". The directory capsule represents only the portion of the directory that is of interest to the user in a given context and is sufficiently rich and consistent to support the information needs of the user in disconnected mode. We define a novel subscription model specifically geared for Web directories and for the special needs of PDAs. This subscription model enables users to specify the parts of the directory that are of interest to them as well as the preferred granularity. We describe a mechanism for keeping the directory capsule in sync over time with the Web directory and user subscription requests. Finally, we present the Pocket Directory Browser for Palm powered computers that we have developed. The pocket directory can be used to define, view and manipulate the capsules that are stored on the Palm. We provide several usage examples of our system on the Open Directory Project, one of the largest and most popular Web directories.
Raising the graduation bar for the schools: expectations vs outcomes.

Educational reform is an ongoing concern of parents, educators, policy makers, and the public at large. The past 50 years have ushered in a new era of reform, whose major objective was to improve students' performance based on the use of statewide standardized testing and changes in graduation requirements. This study examined one such reform movement, initially developed during the late 1970s, which developed minimum competency testing standards as well as increased course de mands to specify graduation requirements for public high school students. The out comes for this reform model, both in terms of students' achievement and failure, did not meet expectations.
Nitric Oxide-Releasing Silica Nanoparticle Inhibition of Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth

Although the potent antitumor activity of nitric oxide (NO) supports its promise as an antineoplastic agent, effective and selective delivery and action on tumor and not normal cells remains a limiting factor. Nanoparticle-based delivery of NO has been considered as one approach to overcome these limitations. Therefore, we determined the utility of NO delivery using silica nanoparticles and evaluated their antitumor efficacy against human ovarian tumor and nontumor cells. The NO-releasing nanoparticles exhibited enhanced growth inhibition of ovarian tumor cells when compared to both control nanoparticles and a previously reported small molecule NO donor, PYRRO/NO. In addition, the NO-releasing nanoparticles showed greater inhibition of the anchorage-independent growth of tumor-derived and Ras-transformed ovarian cells. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that fluorescently labeled NO-releasing nanoparticles entered the cytosol of the cell and localized to late endosomes and lysosomes. Furthermore, we observed a nanoparticle size dependency on efficacy against normal versus transformed ovarian cells. Our study provides the first application of nanoparticle-derived NO as an antitumor therapy and merits future studies examining nanoparticle formulation for in vivo applications.
Opposing regulation of tau protein levels by ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors in human NT2 neurons

Human NT2-N neurons derived from retinoic acid treatment of the NTera 2 cell line were used to determine the consequences of ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) hyperstimulation and possible modulatory role(s) exerted by metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation. We found that NT2-N neurons express the NR1 subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) iGluRs and mRNA encoding the 1a isoform of mGluRs. A 15 min pulse with 100 microM NMDA induced an increase in the levels of tau proteins in NT2-N cells. This effect was prevented by incubating NT2-N neurons in the presence of the mGluR agonist (1 S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD). This phenomenon was related, in terms of doses and time, with the observed 1S,3R-ACPD-mediated protection against NMDA-induced NT2-N cell death. Our findings suggest that iGluRs and mGluRs might participate in the control of human neuron viability by differentially affecting the expression of tau proteins.
Chroococcoid cyanobacteria in the sea: A ubiquitous and diverse phototrophic biomass1

In the photic zone of the open sea, procaryotic cells with an ultrastructure typical of chroococcoid cyanobacteria and similar sized populations of autofluorescent bacteria (0.5–1.0 × 1.0 µm) were observed at concentrations usually between 103–104 cells per ml. The ubiquitous ultrastructural type was an orange-autofluorescing, phycoerythrin-containing cyanobacterium amenable to culture. Two other morphological types which have not been cultured occur sporadically in larger concentrations, one apparently favoring deeper water. These phototrophs can account for about 20% of the total bacterioplankton biomass and from 6 to 15% of the total microbial plankton. These cells may play a significant role in oceanic primary productivity.
Intrapulmonary cystic teratoma mimicking malignant pulmonary neoplasm

Benign cystic teratoma of lung is an extremely rare tumour, which was first described in literature by Mohr in 1839. Intrapulmonary teratoma is thought to be a derivative of the third endo-dermal pharyngeal pouch, which is an anlage of the thymus. The authors present a rare case of mature cystic teratoma in a young male involving the right upper lobe of the lung. Diagnosis is often missed and patients are treated for various infectious conditions. Treatment is complete resection for both benign and malignant teratomas and carries excellent prognosis. Benign cystic teratoma, if not excised may cause grave complications like life-threatening haemoptysis or malignant transformation with metastatic disease.
On the boundary behavior of solutions of the Beltrami equations

We show that any homeomorphic solution of the Beltrami equation v from the Sobolev class W loc 1,1 is a so-called lower Q-homeomorphism with Q(z) = K μ(z), where K μ(z) is the dilatation ratio of this equation. On this basis, we develop the theory of boundary behavior and removing of singularities of these solutions.
Investigation of intrinsic defect structure in 0.91Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.09PbTiO3 single crystal through AC conductivity

Complex impedance spectroscopy study was done on 0.91Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.09PbTiO3 (PZN–PT) single crystals in the wide range of temperatures (25–525°C) and frequencies (1 kHz–1 MHz). The ac conductivity was computed from the impedance data and the activation energy for conduction at different frequencies was determined. Frequency explicit plots of imaginary components of impedance exhibit Debye-like peak shapes. Cole–Cole diagrams were observed in the high temperature regime. Temperature dependent conductivity measurement and Cole–Cole plots fairly establish the existence of quenched random defects in the PZN–PT system.
Negotiating Pragmatic Competence in Computer Mediated Communication: The Case of Korean Address Terms

This paper examines how L2 learners of Korean manifest pragmatic competence in their use of address terms in computer mediated communication (CMC) and how they use these terms to negotiate their identities. Four UK-based learners of Korean with competence levels ranging from Novice High through Intermediate High participated in the study, contributing transcripts of CMC interactions and participating in retrospective interviews over a three-month period. Qualitative analysis of the data shows that CMC provided a fertile context for these learners to manifest pragmatic competence in the use of address terms and to progress beyond classroom learning. Address terms also worked as powerful tools for these learners to establish intimate relationships with Korean acquaintances and negotiate identities as legitimate speakers of the language. However, this process of identity negotiation was complicated by gaps in their pragmatic competence, their preexisting identities and differing expectations on the part of Korean interlocutors. Ultimately, the analysis shows that the question of what constitutes “appropriate” use of address terms in CMC interactions involving L2 learners of Korean is unstable and open to negotiation. The implications of this finding for future research and for KSL (Korean as a Second Language) teaching methodologies are addressed in the conclusion.
Poly[bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] superhydrophobic nanofibers.

Nanofibers of poly[bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] were produced by electrospinning from solutions in tetrahydrofuran, methylethyl ketone, and acetone. The fiber diameter varied from 80 nm to 1.4 μm by changes in the concentration of the polymer solution. The electrospun nonwoven mats showed enhanced surface hydrophobicity compared to spun cast films with up to a 55° increase in water contact angle. The hydrophobicity varied with fiber diameter and surface morphology, with contact angles to water being in the range of 135°−159°. A low value of hysteresis (<4°) was recorded for the superhydrophobic surfaces. The extremely high hydrophobicity of these mats is a combined result of a fluorinated surface and the inherent surface roughness of an electrospun mat.
ArF laser photodissociation of highly vibrationally excited SF6 molecules

The IR + UV photodissociation of SF6 has been performed using CO2 and ArF lasers. The two-color photolysis significantly enhances the photodissociation process over ArF irradiation alone and is found to preserve the initial isotopic specificity of the IR excitation process.
Red blood cell arginase suppresses Jurkat (T cell) proliferation by depleting arginine

Background Transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBC) suppresses immunity, but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. PRBCs contain arginase, an enzyme which converts arginine to ornithine and depletes arginine in vitro. Arginine depletion suppresses proliferation of Jurkat T cells in other models. We hypothesize that PRBC arginase-mediated arginine depletion will suppress proliferation of T cells. Methods A transfusion model was designed adding PRBC to culture RPMI media with or without an irreversible arginase blocker (nor-NOHA), incubating for 6–48 hours and then removing the PRBCs. Amino acid concentrations in the media were measured using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. T cells were then added to the pre-conditioned media, cultured for 24 hours, and proliferation was measured. Results PRBC depleted arginine significantly and increased ornithine in media compared to baseline PRBC treated wells and significantly decreased T cell proliferation. These effects were enhanced with volume of PRBC exposure. Nor-NOHA inhibition of arginase restored T cell proliferation in PRBC treated cultures. Conclusions Jurkat T cell proliferation was impaired by PRBC in clinically relevant volumes. The mechanism influencing T cell impairment appears to result from arginine depletion by arginase. Arginine depletion by PRBC arginase may be a novel mechanism for immunosuppression after transfusion.
Mechanism of DNA interstrand cross-link processing by repair nuclease FAN1

DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) are highly toxic lesions associated with cancer and degenerative diseases. ICLs can be repaired by the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway and through FA-independent processes involving the FAN1 nuclease. In this work, FAN1-DNA crystal structures and biochemical data reveal that human FAN1 cleaves DNA successively at every third nucleotide. In vitro, this exonuclease mechanism allows FAN1 to excise an ICL from one strand through flanking incisions. DNA access requires a 5′-terminal phosphate anchor at a nick or a 1- or 2-nucleotide flap and is augmented by a 3′ flap, suggesting that FAN1 action is coupled to DNA synthesis or recombination. FAN1’s mechanism of ICL excision is well suited for processing other localized DNA adducts as well.
Daily rhythms of serotonin metabolism in the medial hypothalamus of the chicken: Effects of pinealectomy and exogenous melatonin

Indoleamine levels in punches of the medial hypothalamus containing the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of 4-week-old cockerels were determined by HPLC-EC. Melatonin levels in punches were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Daily rhythms of serotonin (5-HT) and of its metabolite 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were observed; levels were higher at midnight than at mid-day. A daily rhythm with the same phase in punch melatonin content was also observed. Pinealectomy at 1 week after hatching abolished the 5-HIAA and melatonin rhythm in 4-week-old birds but did not abolish the 5-HT rhythm. Injections of melatonin (0.5 mg/kg) increased 5-HT, 5-HIAA and melatonin levels in the hypothalamic punches. These results indicate that circulating melatonin of pineal origin may act to increase 5-HT turnover and/or release in the SCN. They suggest a link between the circadian secretion of pineal melatonin and the regulation of 5-HT projections to the hypothalamus from the raphe nuclei in the brainstem of the chicken. We have previously shown that the rhythmic secretion of melatonin by the pineal is influenced by oscillators in the brain via the superior cervical ganglia8. The results reported here indicate that melatonin in turn may regulate brain oscillators, suggesting a neuroendocrine loop within the avian circadian system.
Double Helix Jeopardy

DNA database help solve crimes but aid and abet racial discrimination. An arrest-only database would have the look and feel of a universal DNA database for black males. Although the DNA-database debate will probably occupy judges, legal scholars, and legislators for some time, the most likely outcome is the least equitable-including only arrestees. Indeed, if policy-makers were purposefully trying to find the most discriminatory system possible, an arrestee database would be the ideal choice.
RAF-1 IS ACTIVATED DURING MITOSIS

Abstract The Raf-1 serine/threonine kinase transmits proliferative and developmental signals to downstream effectors in the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. Studies to date have concentrated on its role in growth factor-mediated activation of the cell cycle. We show here that Raf-1 kinase activity is also highly stimulated during mitosis, with an attendant distinctive electrophoretic mobility shift due to hyperphosphorylation. These results suggest that Raf-1 may play a role in traversal of at least two distinct phases of the cell cycle.
Changes in Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity Associated With Biofeedback‐Assisted Relaxation Treatment of Migraine Headaches are Specific for the Middle Cerebral Artery

Twenty-five patients with diagnosed migraine headaches were randomly assigned to a biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy group or to a group who relaxed on their own. This study confirmed that the biofeedback trained group significantly decreased pain and medication more than the self-re-lax group. The best responders were those with the more elevated initial cerebral blood flow values and the changes in cerebral blood flow were specific for the middle cerebral artery.