cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy of nanodisc-embedded human CYP3A4.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 contributes to the metabolism of approximately 50% of commercial drugs by oxidizing a large number of structurally diverse substrates. Like other endoplasmic reticulum-localized P450s, CYP3A4 contains a membrane-anchoring N-terminal helix and a significant number of hydrophobic domains, important for the interaction between CYP3A4 and the membrane. Although the membrane affects specificity of CYP3A4 ligand binding, the structural details of the interaction have not been revealed so far because X-ray crystallography studies are available only for the soluble domain of CYP3A4. Here we report sample preparation and initial magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR (SSNMR) of CYP3A4 (Δ3−12) embedded in a nanoscale membrane bilayer, or Nanodisc. The growth protocol yields ∼2.5 mg of the enzymatically active, uniformly 13C,15N-enriched CYP3A4 from 1 L of growth medium. Polyethylene glycol 3350-precipitated CYP3A4 in Nanodiscs yields spectra of high resolution and sensitivity, consiste...
Change in platelet count predicts eventual maternal outcome with syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count.

Objective : To profile the rates of change for platelets and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients with the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP) to reflect and possibly predict disease severity. Methods : Serial determinations of the platelet count and serum LDH were analyzed retrospectively for 545 patients with HELLP syndrome and 94 severely pre-eclamptic patients. A repeated measures (mixed model) analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to estimate the rates of change for LDH and platelets in each group. Results : Patients who developed class 1 or 2 HELLP syndrome exhibited a rapid deterioration in platelet count of 45-50 000/ &#119 l per day compared to 30 000/ &#119 l per day for class 3 and non-HELLP severe pre-eclampsia. For LDH, values increased at a rate of approximately 1400 IU/l per day, 600 IU/l per day, 300 IU/l per day and 200 IU/l per day for patients with classes 1, 2 and 3 and for non-HELLP severe pre-eclampsia, respectively. Conclusion : The ra...
On Simplified Global Nonlinear Function for Fitness Landscape: A Case Study of Inverse Protein Folding

The construction of fitness landscape has broad implication in understanding molecular evolution, cellular epigenetic state, and protein structures. We studied the problem of constructing fitness landscape of inverse protein folding or protein design, with the aim to generate amino acid sequences that would fold into an a priori determined structural fold which would enable engineering novel or enhanced biochemistry. For this task, an effective fitness function should allow identification of correct sequences that would fold into the desired structure. In this study, we showed that nonlinear fitness function for protein design can be constructed using a rectangular kernel with a basis set of proteins and decoys chosen a priori. The full landscape for a large number of protein folds can be captured using only 480 native proteins and 3,200 non-protein decoys via a finite Newton method. A blind test of a simplified version of fitness function for sequence design was carried out to discriminate simultaneously 428 native sequences not homologous to any training proteins from 11 million challenging protein-like decoys. This simplified function correctly classified 408 native sequences (20 misclassifications, 95% correct rate), which outperforms several other statistical linear scoring function and optimized linear function. Our results further suggested that for the task of global sequence design of 428 selected proteins, the search space of protein shape and sequence can be effectively parametrized with just about 3,680 carefully chosen basis set of proteins and decoys, and we showed in addition that the overall landscape is not overly sensitive to the specific choice of this set. Our results can be generalized to construct other types of fitness landscape.
The development of the Perceived School Experiences Scale.

Objectives: This article describes two studies related to the development of the Perceived School Experiences Scale (PSES). The PSES may be used by social workers to assess youths’ perceptions of t...
Revelry, Rivalry, and Longing for the Goddesses of Bengal: The Fortunes of Hindu Festivals, by Rachel Fell McDermott, New York: Columbia University Press, 2011, xviii + 372 pp. ISBN 978-0-231-12918-3, US$90.00 (cloth); ISBN 978-0-231-12919-0, US$29.50 (paperback)

Anyone who has passed a pūjā season in Bengal has not only been confronted with, but necessarily immersed in, an exuberant expression of devotion and love towards the Goddess, largely in her manife...
Oncogene activation and surface markers in mouse lymphomas induced by radiation and nitrosomethylurea

Abstract Thymic lymphomas have been induced by γ-radiation and treatment with the chemical nitrosomethylurea in different mice strains. As indicated by the NIH 3T3 focus forming assay, a significant percentage of the tumors contain activated oncogenes of the ras family (K or N). Cloning and sequencing has enabled us to identify single base mutations as the only significant alteration present in the activated oncogenes. These alterations result in the substitution of amino-acid 12 or 61 of the p21 product of the ras genes. With the use of synthetic oligonucleotides it has been found that the tumors do not all contain the same mutation and in one case so far the normal allele is absent.
Flexible function-level acceleration of embedded vision applications using the Pipelined Vision Processor

The emerging massive embedded vision market is driving demanding and ever-increasing computationally complex high-performance and low-power MPSoC requirements. To satisfy these requirements innovative solutions are required to deliver high performance pixel processing combined with low energy per pixel execution. These solutions must combine the power efficiency of ASIC style IP while incorporating elements of Instruction-Level Processors flexibility and software ecosystem. This paper introduces Analog Devices BF609's Pipelined Vision Processor (PVP) as a state-of-the-art industrial solution achieving both efficiency and flexibility. The PVP incorporates over 10 function level blocks enabling dozens of programmable functions that can be allocated to implement many algorithms and applications. Additionally, the pipelined style connectivity is programmable enabling many temporal function permutations. Overall, the PVP offers greater than 25 billion operations per second (GOPs) and very low memory bandwidth. These capabilities enable the PVP to execute multiple concurrent ADAS, Industrial, or general vision applications. This paper focuses on the key architecture concepts of the PVP from individual function-block construction to the allocation and chaining of functional blocks to build function based application implementations. The paper also addresses the benefits and challenges of architecting and programming at the function-level granularity and abstractions.
Pozzolanic reactivity of recycled glass powder at elevated temperatures: Reaction stoichiometry, reaction products and effect of alkali activation

Abstract Use of glass powder as concrete SCM or in development of lime–pozzolan binders could provide environmental and economical benefits. In exposure to an alkaline pore solution, glass powder (GP) dissolves and reacts pozzolanically with calcium hydroxide (CH). In this paper, the stoichiometry and products of this reaction are studied using a CH–GP binder system cured at 60 °C. TGA, selective acid dissolution, SEM/EDS, and QXRD methods are used to quantify the stoichiometry, and characterize the reaction products as a function of age. It is determined that approximately equal masses of CH and GP react with each other and with water to produce C–S–H. Both crystalline and amorphous C–S–H are formed, but the crystalline C–S–H is favored at later ages and higher alkalinities. NaOH-activation accelerates the reactions. However when high alkalinity is maintained, GP continues to dissolve after complete consumption of CH, and forms alkali–silicate gels, which could be expansive and deleterious.
Identification of a Nonlysozymal Bactericidal Factor (Beta Lysin) in Human Tears and Aqueous Humor

An antibacterial factor, identical with or closely related to beta lysin, was measured in human tears, in human aqueous humor, and in fractions of each fluid after an absorption step involving cellulose-asbestos filters. Antibeta lysin was used to help distinguish whether bactericidal activity was due to lysozyme or beta lysin. Beta lysin activity was found in both human tears and aqueous humor in higher amounts than were present in serum; appreciable amounts of lysozyme were found in human tears but not in aqueous humor. Beta lysin is a normal constituent of human tears and aqueous humor and its role in these fluids is that of an antibacterial agent that may also act in concert with lysozyme to destroy bacteria in tears.
The very-high-density lipoprotein fraction of rabbit plasma is rich in tissue-derived cholesterol.

When plasma from rabbits, which several weeks earlier had been infused with [ 3 H]cholesterol, was subjected to equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation, the specific radioactivity of cholesterol in the very-high-density lipoprotein (VHDL) fraction ( d 1.22–1.32 g/ml) was three to 8-fold greater (mean, 5.5-fold; P d 1.06–1.21 g/ml). On size exclusion chromatography of plasma, no increase in specific radioactivity was seen in particles smaller than HDL. These findings suggest that those apolipoprotein-lipid complexes that dissociate from HDL during ultracentrifugation to form the VHDL fraction contain proportionately more tissue-derived cholesterol than do those that are more tightly bound to HDL.
On the Variations of the Thermospheric Structure

The paper discusses the properties of the different effects which have been found to occur in the thermosphere and some conclusions which can be drawn with regard to the physics of the thermosphere. In the discussion of the diurnal variation the emphasis is on the behaviour of the diurnal amplitude in density during the solar cycle. At the height range between 200 and 300 km the amplitude has remarkably increased with decreasing solar activity. The relation between atmospheric density and temperature and the solar e.u.v. flux and the solar 10.7 cm flux—the latter serving as a convenient parameter—is discussed. The observational results for a phaseshift between the variations in the e.u.v. flux (or 10.7 cm flux) and the correlated variations in atmospheric temperature (or density) lie in the range between 0.5 and 2.3 days. During the solar minimum the atmospheric variations which parallel the 10.7 cm flux are far less pronounced than the variations correlated with geomagnetic activity. The phase shift derived from 45 geomagnetic storms and correlated density changes has been found to be 6 ± 3 (m.e.) h.
Co-expression of the borage Δ6 desaturase and the Arabidopsis Δ15 desaturase results in high accumulation of stearidonic acid in the seeds of transgenic soybean

Two relatively rare fatty acids, γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (STA), have attracted much interest due to their nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential. STA, in particular, has been considered a valuable alternative source for omega-3 fatty acids due to its enhanced conversion efficiency in animals to eicosapentaenoic acid when compared with the more widely consumed omega-3 fatty acid, α-linolenic acid (ALA), present in most vegetable oils. Exploiting the wealth of information currently available on in planta oil biosynthesis and coupling this information with the tool of genetic engineering it is now feasible to deliberately perturb fatty acid pools to generate unique oils in commodity crops. In an attempt to maximize the STA content of soybean oil, a borage Δ6 desaturase and an Arabidopsis Δ15 desaturase were pyramided by either sexual crossing of transgenic events, re-transformation of a Δ6 desaturase event with the Δ15 desaturase or co-transformation of both desaturases. Expression of both desaturases in this study was under the control of the seed-specific soybean β-conglycinin promoter. Soybean events that carried only the Δ15 desaturase possessed a significant elevation of ALA content, while events with both desaturases displayed a relative STA abundance greater than 29%, creating a soybean with omega-3 fatty acids representing over 60% of the fatty acid profile. Analyses of the membrane lipids in a subset of the transgenic events suggest that soybean seeds compensate for enhanced production of polyunsaturated fatty acids by increasing the relative content of palmitic acid in phosphatidylcholine and other phospholipids.
Advanced Display Concepts for Uav Sensor Operations: Landmark Cues and Picture-in-Picture

UAV video imagery quality can be compromised by narrow field-of-view, environmental conditions, bandwidth limitations, or a highly cluttered scene. Advanced display concepts (e.g., synthetic vision) can potentially ameliorate video characteristics and enhance UAV operations. This study evaluated three display concepts for improving UAV sensor operator situation awareness: virtual flags overlaid on landmarks, a synthetically-generated imagery border (picture-in-picture), and a display-fixed spatial orientation symbol. Sixteen participants searched for ground landmarks using a UAV-mounted gimbaled camera simulation. Results indicated that the display concepts show promise for improving UAV operations. In particular, virtual flags reduced landmark search times by 40-58%. Although the picture-in-picture concept did not improve performance, comments suggest an alternative instantiation of the concept will improve utility. Language: en
Transforming Common-Sense Beliefs into Newtonian Thinking through Just-in-Time Teaching

To determine whether teaching an introductory physics course with a traditional lecture style or with Just-in-Time teaching (a student-centered, interactive-engagement style) will help students to better understand Newtonian concepts, such as Newton's Third Law, 222 students in introductory physics courses taught by traditional lecture styles and Just-in-Time teaching at North Georgia College State University over the span of five semesters were examined using the Force Concept Inventory as a pretest and a post-test. Overall, the gains favor the Just-in-Time teaching method with a $37.6\mathrm{%}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.0\mathrm{%}$ gain compared to the $17.9\mathrm{%}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.5\mathrm{%}$ seen in traditional lecture classes. When analyzing only those gains pertaining to the Newton's Third Law questions, the results again favor the Just-in-Time teaching method with a gain of $50.8\mathrm{%}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4.1\mathrm{%}$ while the traditional lecture classes only saw a gain of $6.6\mathrm{%}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5.2\mathrm{%}$. We also employed a new method of analysis which was a BIT Coding method created to quickly identify students' understanding of Newton's Third Law questions. This study shows that students in courses that are taught using the Just-in-Time teaching strategy better understand Newton's Third Law after instruction than do students in traditional lecture courses.
Approaches to Sudden Death from Coronary Heart Disease

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) continues unabated. Coronary care units, while effective in lowering hospital mortality, cannot significantly reduce SCD which occurs primarily outside the hospital and accounts for the majority of deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD). In view of the frequent precipitous nature of SCD, only a program which identifies and protects the victim prior to the event can hope to be successful in preventing the majority of SCD. Since it is likely that SCD is due to an arrhythmia, drug prophylaxis might prove effective. In view of the toxicity of currently available agents, it is mandatory to preselect a population at highest risk before embarking on a drug trial. Ventricular premature beats (VPB) may identify subjects susceptible to SCD. Epidemiologic and physiologic information on VPB is reviewed, and proposals are made for studies designed to establish the usefulness of VPB as a risk factor for SCD.
Crash and burn? Vehicle, collision, and driver factors that influence motor vehicle collision fires

A retrospective population-based case-control study was performed to determine the association between vehicle fires, and vehicle, collision, and driver factors on highways with a posted speed limit of at least 55mph. Data were obtained from the Kentucky Collision Report Analysis for Safer Highways (CRASH) electronic files for 2000-2009 from the Kentucky State Police Records Sections. The results from the final multiple logistic regression show that large trucks were at a higher risk for a collision involving a fire than passenger vehicles and pickup trucks. When controlling for all other variables in the model, vehicles 6 years old and older, driving straight down the highway, and single vehicle collisions were also identified as factors that increase the risk of motor vehicle collision fires on roadways with a posted speed limit of ≥55mph. Of the 2096 vehicles that caught fire, there were 632 (30%) non-fatally injured drivers and 224 (11%) fatally injured drivers. The results of this study have the potential to inform public health messages directed to the transportation industry, particularly semi truck drivers, in regard to fire risk.
Analysis of voltage control systems exhibiting Hopf bifurcation

Stability at critical load levels is analyzed using Hopf bifurcation theory. The authors consider the detailed two-axis model and show that a pair of complex eigenvalues associated with the excitation system undergo Hopf bifurcation near the critical load level. A center manifold is constructed, and the stability of the periodic solution so obtained is examined. >
Graphene-Based Interconnects on Hexagonal Boron Nitride Substrate

We demonstrated graphene interconnects on layered insulator-hexagonal boron nitride ( h-BN). Performance metrics are compared among three material systems: CVD graphene on h-BN, CVD graphene on SiO2, and exfoliated graphene on SiO2. CVD graphene on h-BN shows approximately 19 times and 8 times improved conductivity as compared with CVD graphene on SiO2 and exfoliated graphene on SiO2, respectively. For graphene on h-BN, an ultrahigh carrier mobility (~ 15 000 cm2/V·s at a carrier density of 1 × 1012 cm-2) is observed. The breakdown power density is much increased, attributed to the higher thermal conductivity of h-BN (than that of SiO2) that facilitates heat dissipation. Electrical annealing reduces graphene sheet resistance. Unlike the case for SiO2 substrate, the absence of positive shift of Dirac point could be due to the interface-state-free nature of h-BN substrate. The research suggests that h-BN could be used as an alternative substrate material for graphene-based interconnects, overcoming performance limit and reliability issues caused by the SiO2 substrate.
An Approach to Integrating Query Refinement in SQL

With the emergence of applications that require content-based similarity retrieval, techniques to support such a retrieval paradigm over database systems have emerged as a critical area of research. User subjectivity is an important aspect of such queries, i.e., which objects are relevant to the user and which are not depends on the perception of the user. Query refinement is used to handle user subjectivity in similarity search systems. This paper explores how to enhance database systems with query refinement for content-based (similarity) searches in object-relational databases. Query refinement is achieved through relevance feedback where the user judges individual result tuples and the system adapts and restructures the query to better reflect the users information need. We present a query refinement framework and an array of strategies for refinement that address different aspects of the problem. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the query refinement techniques proposed in this paper.
Invisible Mothers: Parenting by Homeless Women Separated from Their Children

Though surveys repeatedly demonstrate that most women who are homeless alone have minor children living apart from them, there is little information on the circumstances of their separations or whether and how they remain involved with their children. Analysis of data from in-depth interviews with mothers, relatives caring for their children, and shelter and child welfare staff highlights a tension between perspectives and aspirations of mothers and the agendas and social processes through which institutional systems manage the family life of women marginalized by homelessness and disability. Though women’s agency is evident in their efforts to maintain parenting roles, without facilitating resources and supportive structures, agency is often reduced to unpalatable choices among constraining alternatives. We consider how service systems might mitigate barriers to mothering as well as broader changes needed to genuinely support women’s aspirations for themselves and their families.
RF focusing effects and multi-bunch beam breakup in superconducting linear colliders

A high gradient standing wave linear accelerator provides axisymmetric transverse focusing due to the presence of strong alternating gradient transverse electromagnetic fields arising from the backward RF wave. This effect is second order in both the field amplitude and in /spl gammasup -1/, so it is of importance only for high gradient, relatively low energy beams, The purpose of the present analysis is to examine the effect of this focusing on multi-bunch beam breakup in a superconducting linear collider, which has both a high accelerating gradient and long bunch train. As an interesting test case, we discuss the beam-breakup problem in the TESLA test bed at DESY. >
MANAGEMENT OF PELVIC PAIN FROM DYSMENORRHEA OR ENDOMETRIOSIS

Many women suffer from pelvic pain, and a great many visit their family doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Two common causes are primary dysmenorrhea and endometriosis. Primary dysmenorrhea is best treated by prostaglandin inhibition from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2)-specific inhibitors. Oral contraceptives can be added to improve pain control. Endometriosis can be treated with NSAIDs and COX-2-specific inhibitors as well but can also be treated with hormonal manipulation or surgery. Empiric treatment for endometriosis in selected patients is now accepted, making the disorder easier for family physicians to manage.
Global vegetation phenology from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS): Evaluation of global patterns and comparison with in situ measurements

[1] In the last two decades the availability of global remote sensing data sets has provided a new means of studying global patterns and dynamics in vegetation. The vast majority of previous work in this domain has used data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer, which until recently was the primary source of global land remote sensing data. In recent years, however, a number of new remote sensing data sources have become available that have significantly improved the capability of remote sensing to monitor global ecosystem dynamics. In this paper, we describe recent results using data from NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer to study global vegetation phenology. Using a novel new method based on fitting piecewise logistic models to time series data from MODIS, key transition dates in the annual cycle(s) of vegetation growth can be estimated in an ecologically realistic fashion. Using this method we have produced global maps of seven phenological metrics at 1-km spatial resolution for all ecosystems exhibiting identifiable annual phenologies. These metrics include the date of year for (1) the onset of greenness increase (greenup), (2) the onset of greenness maximum (maturity), (3) the onset of greenness decrease (senescence), and (4) the onset of greenness minimum (dormancy). The three remaining metrics are the growing season minimum, maximum, and summation of the enhanced vegetation index derived from MODIS. Comparison of vegetation phenology retrieved from MODIS with in situ measurements shows that these metrics provide realistic estimates of the four transition dates identified above. More generally, the spatial distribution of phenological metrics estimated from MODIS data is qualitatively realistic, and exhibits strong correspondence with temperature patterns in mid- and high-latitude climates, with rainfall seasonality in seasonally dry climates, and with cropping patterns in agricultural areas.
Caregiving, Metabolic Syndrome Indicators, and 1-year Decline in Walking Speed: Results of Caregiver-SOF

Background. Chronic stress may lead to health decline through metabolic syndrome. Thus, persons in stressful caregiving situations who also have more indicators of metabolic syndrome may experience more decline than other caregivers or noncaregivers.
High throughput DNA methylation analysis on a droplet-in-oil polymerase chain reaction array

We performed on-chip DNA methylation analysis using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) within a high throughput microfluidic droplet array. The device uses of the oil phase as a companion fluid for both sample actuation and compartmentalization. These technical advantages allow for infusion of minute amounts of sample for arrayed MSP analysis, without the added complexities inherent in microfluidic droplet-based studies. Ease of use of this micro device is exemplified by analysis of two tumor suppressor promoters, p15 and TMS1 using an on-chip methylation assay. These results were consistent with standard MSP protocols, yet the simplicity of the droplet-in-oil microfluidic PCR platform provides an easy and efficient tool for DNA methylation analysis in a large-scale arrayed manner.
Reinforcement and intraspecific aggressive behavior.

There is a substantial body of data suggesting that the opportunity to behave aggressively is itself a positive reinforcer for many animals. It seems that the reinforcement value of aggression is accentuated when the animal is hurt, frustrated, or exposed to a preliminary fight. These conclusions are somewhat surprising, for there are many reasons an animal would do well not to find aggressive behavior selfreinforcing. Some researchers have recognized this dilemma, though the several attempts to resolve the problem have not met with considerable success. This paper examines the various paradigms that have been used to investigate these issues. The conclusion is that few attempts have been made in the studies to control the possibility that nonhostile affiliation responses are a confounding source of reinforcement during a social interaction. Interacting animals may engage in agonistic behaviors, but also social-investigatory or amicable responses. Borrowing from research on sexual behavior, several experimental designs are suggested to examine the possibility that social experiences other than aggressive behaviors may be the reinforcing event.
Late-Holocene climate evolution at the WAIS Divide site, West Antarctica: bubble number-density estimates

A surface cooling of � 1.78C occurred over thetwo millennia prior to �� 1700 CE at the West Antarctic ice sheet (WAIS) Divide site, based on trends in observed bubble number-density of samples from the WDC06A ice core, and on an independently constructed accumulation-rate history using annual-layer dating corrected for density variations and thinning from ice flow. Density increase and grain growth in polar firn are both controlled by temperature and accumulation rate, and the integrated effects are recorded in the number-density of bubbles as the firn changes to ice. Number- density is conserved in bubbly ice following pore close-off, allowing reconstruction of either paleotemperature or paleo-accumulation rate if the other is known. A quantitative late-Holocene paleoclimate reconstruction is presented for West Antarctica using data obtained from the WAIS Divide WDC06A ice core and a steady-state bubble number-density model. The resultant temperature history agrees closely with independent reconstructions based on stable-isotopic ratios of ice. The � 1.78C cooling trend observed is consistent with a decrease in Antarctic summer duration from changing orbital obliquity, although it remains possible that elevation change at the site contributed part of the signal. Accumulation rate and temperature dropped together, broadly consistent with control by saturation vapor pressure.
Histological Studies on the Georeaction shown in the Xylem of the Main Axis of Ricinus communis L.

When the axis of castor-bean which has been fixed in a horizontal position for some time is rotated around its longitudinal axis and is then fixed in a new hori zontal position, the zone of mucilaginous layers which was being formed (in a symmetrical crescent shape with its thickest portion situated at the topmost part of the xylem on the upper side), ceases further formation, and a new, less sym metrical, zone begins to form in the area which extends from the new upper side to the new lower one in the direction opposite to that of rotation. The greater the angle of rotation, the further the area where the new zone of mucilaginous layers is laid down extends ; in the case where the horizontal axis is turned upside down, the new zone of mucilaginous layers is formed symmetrically in the xylem on the new upper side. Moreover, if the axis once horizontally fixed is turned to a vertical position, the formation of mucilaginous layers stops on the old upper side and starts on the old lower one. However, formation on the lower side is soon discontinued.
A comparison of electromagnetic and isoscalar transition rates in nuclei

Abstract Electromagnetic and isoscalar transition rates are compared for the lowest 2+ and 3− states of N > Z even-even nuclei. It is found that the relative contributions of neutrons and protons to the excitation matrix elements are approximately in the ratio N Z , seemingly independent of shell structure. This result is natural for collective, but not for microscopic models.
Metal current collector-free freestanding silicon–carbon 1D nanocomposites for ultralight anodes in lithium ion batteries

Abstract Although current collectors take up more weight than active materials in most lithium ion battery cells, so far research has been focused mainly on improving gravimetric capacities of active materials. To address this issue of improving gravimetric capacities based on overall cell components, we develop freestanding nanocomposites made of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and silicon nanowires (SiNWs) as metal current collector-free anode platforms. Intrinsically large capacities of SiNWs as active materials in conjunction with the light nature of freestanding CNF films allow the nanocomposites to achieve 3–5 times improved gravimetric capacities compared to what have been reported in the literature. Moreover, three-dimensional porous structures in the CNF films facilitate increased mass loadings of SiNWs when compared to flat substrates and result in good cycle lives over 40 cycles. This type of nanocomposite cell suggests that 3D porous platforms consisting of light nanomaterials can provide for higher gravimetric and areal capacities when compared to conventional battery cells based on flat, heavy metal substrates.
Occupancy-based zone-climate control for energy-efficient buildings: Complexity vs. performance

We propose several control algorithms and compare their performance and complexity through simulations; the control algorithms regulate the indoor climate of commercial buildings. The goal of these control algorithms is to use occupancy information to reduce energy use—over conventional control algorithms—while maintaining thermal comfort and indoor air quality. Three novel control algorithms are proposed, one that uses feedback from occupancy and temperature sensors, while the other two compute optimal control actions based on predictions of a dynamic model to reduce energy use. Both the optimal control based schemes use a model predictive control (MPC) methodology; the difference between the two is that one is allowed occupancy measurements while the other is allowed occupancy predictions. Simulation results show that each of the proposed controllers lead to significant amount of energy savings over a baseline conventional controller without sacrificing occupant health and comfort. Another key finding is that the feedback controller performs almost as well as the more complex MPC-based controllers. In light of the complexity of the MPC algorithms compared to the feedback control algorithm, we conclude that feedback control is the more suitable one for occupancy based zone-climate control. A related conclusion is that the difficulty of obtaining occupancy predictions does not commensurate with the resulting benefits; though these benefits are a strong function of ventilation standards.
Liver Metastases from Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in Europe and the United States (Malvezzi et al Ann Oncol 24(3):792–800, 2013). At the time of diagnosis, approximately half of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma will have synchronous metastasis. Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer generally have a median survival of 6 months and a 5-year survival of about 2–5 %. The liver is a frequent site of metastasis as pancreatic adenocarcinoma can metastasize to the liver through portal venous or intra-abdominal lymphatic drainage. For example, in a study from Johns Hopkins Hospital, among 838 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who underwent a pancreatectomy, 46 % subsequently developed metachronous liver metastasis. Of note, among those patients with pancreatic cancer metastatic to the liver, 60 % had isolated liver metastasis without extrahepatic recurrence at the time of last follow-up.
Defining Forage Species to Prevent a Management Dilemma

Forage species are often defined in scientific and popular literature using terms such as “small,” “schooling,” “short-lived,” pelagic fish found at intermediate trophic levels of marine food chain...
A Novel Pathway for Triacylglycerol Biosynthesis Is Responsible for the Accumulation of Massive Quantities of Glycerolipids in the Surface Wax of Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) Fruit

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) fruits synthesize an extremely thick and unusual layer of crystalline surface wax that accumulates to 32% of fruit dry weight, the highest reported surface lipid accumulation in plants. The composition is also striking, consisting of completely saturated triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, and monoacylglycerol with palmitate and myristate acyl chains. To gain insight into the unique properties of Bayberry wax synthesis, we examined the chemical and morphological development of the wax layer, monitored wax biosynthesis through [14C]-radiolabeling, and sequenced the transcriptome. Radiolabeling identified sn-2 monoacylglycerol as an initial glycerolipid intermediate. The kinetics of [14C]-DAG and [14C]-TAG accumulation and the regiospecificity of their [14C]-acyl chains indicated distinct pools of acyl donors and that final TAG assembly occurs outside of cells. The most highly expressed lipid-related genes were associated with production of cutin, whereas transcripts for conventional TAG synthesis were >50-fold less abundant. The biochemical and expression data together indicate that Bayberry surface glycerolipids are synthesized by a pathway for TAG synthesis that is related to cutin biosynthesis. The combination of a unique surface wax and massive accumulation may aid understanding of how plants produce and secrete non-membrane glycerolipids and also how to engineer alternative pathways for lipid production in non-seeds.
The Story of Kirby Lumber: The Many Faces of Discharge of Indebtedness Income

This paper presents the story of United States v. Kirby Lumber Co., 284 U.S. 1 (1931), one of the shortest Supreme Court opinions ever to pack such a wallop. Drawing upon the parties' briefs, judicial opinions in COD cases, and scholarly commentary, it describes what was really involved in the case, the government's and the taxpayer's litigation strategies, the decision-making processes of the courts, and the case's impact on the development of the tax law, including, sixty years later, the fascinating case of Zarin v. Commissioner, 916 F.2d 110 (3d Cir. 1990). The paper will be published as a chapter in a book to be entitled Tax Stories: An In-Depth Look at Ten Leading Federal Income Tax Cases (Foundation Press, forthcoming 2002). Additional financial support for the project has been provided by the American Tax Policy Institute. The paper will be published as a chapter in a book to be entitled Tax Stories: An In-Depth Look at Ten Leading Federal Income Tax Cases (Foundation Press). Additional financial support for the project has been provided by the American Tax Policy Institute.
Linear No-Threshold model and standards for protection against radiation.

Abstract In response to the three petitions by Carol S. Marcus, Mark L. Miller, and Mohan Doss, dated February 9, February 13, and February 24, 2015, respectively, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) has announced that it is considering assessing its choice of dose–response model, the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model, for exposure to ionizing radiation. This comment is designed to assist the Commission in evaluating the merits of a review of the default dose–response model it uses as the basis for the Standards for Protection against Radiation regulations. It extends the petitioners' argument in favor of reexamining the default hypothesis (LNT) and taking consideration of low-dose hormesis for two main reasons: 1) Failure to review the LNT hypothesis may jeopardize the NRC's mission to protect public health and safety; and 2) The National Research Council's guidelines for choosing adequate defaults indicate that the choice of low-dose default model is due for a reevaluation.
Neural cell adhesion molecule-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a rare variant with a propensity for unusual sites of involvement.

A distinct subset of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is described which reacts with Leu-19 (CD56), an antibody that has been shown to identify the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). These NCAM- positive PTCL patients (11 of a series of 46 PTCL; 24%) exhibited a striking predilection for unusual anatomic sites of involvement: central nervous system (36%), muscle (18%), gastrointestinal tract, and nasopharynx (27% each). Additional extranodal sites of involvement included the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, and pancreas. The NCAM-positive subset also exhibited a characteristic phenotypic profile, with significantly lower expression of CD3 and CD5 compared with the NCAM-negative group. RNA transcripts consistent with the NCAM gene were detected in tissue samples from five Leu-19-positive cases using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay, supporting the idea that Leu-19 recognizes NCAM in these patient samples. This suggests that the expression of the NCAM plays a role in the behavior and localization of lymphomas. Because of the unique clinical and phenotypic characteristics of this group it may be designated as “NCAM-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma.”
Corrections and Additions to the Polypores of Temperate North America

(1920). Corrections and Additions to the Polypores of Temperate North America. Mycologia: Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 6-24.
Gambling, disordered gambling and their association with major depression and substance use: a web-based cohort and twin-sibling study.

Background Relatively little is known about the environmental and genetic contributions to gambling frequency and disordered gambling (DG), the full continuum of gambling-related problems that includes pathological gambling (PG). Method A web-based sample (n=43,799 including both members of 609 twin and 303 sibling pairs) completed assessments of number of lifetime gambling episodes, DSM-IV criteria for PG, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine intake, and nicotine dependence (ND) and DSM-III-R criteria for lifetime major depression (MD). Twin modeling was performed using Mx. Results In the entire cohort, symptoms of DG indexed a single dimension of liability. Symptoms of DG were weakly related to caffeine intake and moderately related to MD, consumption of cigarettes and alcohol, and ND. In twin and sibling pairs, familial resemblance for number of times gambled resulted from both familial-environmental (c²=42%) and genetic factors (a²=32%). For symptoms of DG, resemblance resulted solely from genetic factors (a²=83%). Bivariate analyses indicated a low genetic correlation between symptoms of DG and MD (r(a)=+0.14) whereas genetic correlations with DG symptoms were substantially higher with use of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, and ND (ranging from +0.29 to +0.80). The results were invariant across genders. Conclusions Whereas gambling participation is determined by shared environmental and genetic factors, DG constitutes a single latent dimension that is largely genetically determined and more closely related to externalizing than internalizing behaviors. Because these findings are invariant across genders, they suggest that the etiological factors of DG are likely to be similar in men and women.
Psephenus (Coleoptera: Psephenidae) Parasitized by a New Chalcidoid (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). I. Description of the Parasite

A new genus and new species of chalcidoid Eulophidae, tribe Entedontini, is described as Psephenivorus mexicanus. This is a parasite of the prepupae of waterpennies, Psephenus texanus Brown & Arrington, found in a small stream in northern Mexico. No other members of the Entedontini are at present known to attack hosts living in an aquatic environment.
Function Minimization by Using K-map XOR Patterns and Reed—Muller Transformation Forms

This chapter shows how simple “pencil-and-paper” methods can be used to extract gate-minimum multilevel logic designs that are not yet possible by any conventional method, including the use of CAD techniques. The methods described in the chapter make possible multilevel integrated circuit (IC) designs that occupy much less real estate than would be possible for an equivalent two-level design, and often with little or no sacrifice in speed—an advantage for VLSI design. It defines a variety of approaches to logic function minimization, which can be divided into two main categories: two-level and multilevel approaches. The concept of minimization, as used in this chapter, is presented in terms of three degrees. A minimum result is one that yields the lowest gate/input tally for a particular method used, for example, a two-level minimum result, but may not be the lowest possible. An exact minimization designates a result that has the fewest p -terms possible in an expression or the fewest s -terms possible in an expression.
Barotropic and Baroclinic Eddy Feedbacks in the Midlatitude Jet Variability and Responses to Climate Change–Like Thermal Forcings

AbstractStudies have suggested that the persistence in the meridional vacillation of the midlatitude jet (i.e., annular mode time scale) in comprehensive climate models is related to the model biases in climatological jet latitude, with important implications for projections of future climates and midlatitude weather events. Through the use of the recently developed finite-amplitude wave activity formalism and feedback quantifying techniques, this paper has quantified the role of barotropic and baroclinic eddy feedbacks in annular mode time scales using an idealized dry atmospheric model.The eddy–mean flow interaction that characterizes the persistent anomalous state of the midlatitude jet depends on processes associated with the lower-tropospheric source of vertically propagating Rossby waves, baroclinic mechanisms, and processes associated with upper-tropospheric wave propagation and breaking, barotropic mechanisms. A variety of climate change–like thermal forcings are used to generate a range of meridi...
A singular value filter for rejection of stationary artifact in medical ultrasound

A singular value filter (SVF) is proposed for rejection of stationary clutter artifact in medical ultrasound. The SVF approach operates by projecting the original data, consisting of ensembles of complex echo data, onto a new set of bases determined from principal component analysis (PCA) using singular value decomposition (SVD). The efficacy of SVF is based on the principle that a stationary clutter signal, with perfect correlation through ensemble length, can be characterized by only the first PCA basis function, whereas significant energy contribution in the secondary PCA basis functions is necessary to describe motion and decorrelation attributed to underlying tissue structures. In contrast to many other PCA-based filtering approaches, SVF determines filter coefficients adaptively from the singular value spectrum of the original data. It is demonstrated that complex echo data is critical to the efficacy of SVF as it provides singular values that exhibit a monotonic relationship with motion complexity, and thus, provide a good means of identifying local regions of clutter. SVF is compared to a separate PCA-based technique, referred to as the blind source separation (BSS) method, as well as a frequency-based finite impulse response (FIR) clutter filter. Performance is quantified in simulated lesion images and SVF is applied to experimental mouse heart imaging data acquired from a Vevo2100 scanner (VisualSonics, Toronto, Canada) at approximately 30MHz center frequency. In simulation with levels of echo correlation expected in mouse heart imaging (0.70 correlation coefficient), SVF provided superior performance (CNR = 4.5dB) over the standard B-mode image (CNR = 2.3dB), BSS-filtered image (CNR = 3.9dB), and FIR-filtered image (CNR = 3.1dB). When SVF was applied to echo data from mouse heart images, stationary artifacts were reduced or eliminated, which enabled myocardium displacement estimates of the underlying tissue structures.
Estimation of the binding potential BP ND without a reference region or blood samples for brain PET studies

Binding potential (BPND) is a commonly used PET outcome measure because it can be estimated without blood sampling if a brain reference region (RR) devoid of the target of interest exists. For many radioligands, however, no RR exists, and the total distribution volume (VT), whose estimation requires arterial blood sampling, is normally considered as the outcome measure. Here, we present a method that allows calculation of BPND without requiring either blood samples or a RR. The method extends our previous algorithm for estimating non-displaceable distribution volumes (VND) without using a RR. Here we show that if a template input function, with arbitrary amplitude but a shape similar to the actual arterial input function, is used in the algorithm, estimation of VT and VND are both proportionally biased, and thus this bias cancels out in the estimation of BPND. The method is evaluated using simulated data, human data acquired with the serotonin 1A receptor radioligand [11C]WAY-100635, and blocking data acquired in baboons using the serotonin 1A receptor radioligand [11C]CUMI-101. We evaluated two versions of template input functions: an arbitrarily downscaled version of the actual arterial input function, and an unscaled population-based input function. In addition, we evaluated how shape modifications of the template input function impact the estimates of BPND. With the downscaled input function, BPND values close to the gold standard were obtained. When the unscaled population-based based input function was used, greater variability was observed but no discernable bias was introduced. When the input function shape was modified, a systematic but small bias in BPND was introduced. We conclude that, provided the shape of the arterial input function is adequately described, determination of its amplitude is not necessary for estimation of BPND.