cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Casson invariant of cyclic coverings via eta-invariant and Dedekind sums

Abstract Let Σ be a 3-dimensional oriented manifold and let K⊂Σ be a knot. We assume that Σ is an integer homology sphere and (Σ,K) has a plumbing representation. We denote the cyclic n -fold covering of Σ branched along K by Σ(K,n) , and we assume that this manifold is integer homology sphere as well. If λ denotes the Casson invariant, then we show that λ(Σ(K,n))−n·λ(Σ) can be computed from homological information only. More precisely, we compute in terms of an eta-type-invariant associated with the isometric structure of the knot.
Extreme water quality degradation following a catastrophic forest fire

SUMMARY 1. Global change is impacting the forests of the western United States through rising temperatures, earlier snowmelt, more rain and less snow, greater vapour pressure deficits in spring and autumn, forest dieback and increasing forest fire frequency and severity. 2. A catastrophic forest fire (Las Conchas fire) occurred in central NM, USA, in 2011 burning c. 634 km 2 with c. 46% of the fire being of severe or moderate intensity. 3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) next-generation radar data (NEXRAD) were used to link precipitation events occurring in the burn scar to extreme water quality excursions observed in the Rio Grande. At four sites, in situ sensors captured the response of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, turbidity and dissolved oxygen to flood events following the fire. 4. Runoff from burn scars caused turbidity peaks (to 2500 NTU), dissolved oxygen sags (to 0.0 mg L -1 ), pH sags (up to 0.75 units) and conductivity changes (both increases and decreases). These water quality excursions extended at least 50 km downstream, with significant implications for the ecosystem health of this crucial river that supplies water to cities and agriculture. 5. Sudden, dramatic changes to forested catchments from severe forest fires and forest dieback are very likely to be among the strongest impacts of global change on stream and river ecosystems throughout the western United States.
Control exerted by ligaments

Abstract The function of the ligaments as local controllers, independent of the central nervous system, in maintaining the integrity of the joint is demonstrated by modelling the human knee in the sagittal plane, and studying its anterior-posterior motion. In addition to the ligaments, the model includes the characteristic geometry of the joint surface and some muscle groups. The connecting reaction forces at the point of contact between the tibia and the femur are considered to be constraint forces due to three different surface motions—gliding, rolling and combined gliding and rolling. It is demonstrated that the ligamentous structure maintains these holonomic and nonholonomic constraints that describe the joint motion, and that stability of the knee joint is provided mainly by ligaments. Muscular structures further stabilize and contribute to joint movement. Computer simulation of rolling movement of the knee is presented to illustrate the importance of the ligaments for joint integrity and stability.
Pharmacotherapy of social phobia.

Objective: To review placebo-controlled medication trials in social phobia (SP). Method: Published and/or presented placebo-controlled trials of medication were reviewed and summarized. Results: Phenelzine is effective in60-70% of patients with SP and always superior to placebo. Although reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase type A (RIMAs) are safer, their benefits are unpredictable. SSRIs, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline are superior to placebo in generalized SP. Gabergic drugs are useful, e.g. clonazepam, gabapentin and pregabalin. Promising effects have been found with venlafaxine, a serotonin- norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, and the results of larger studies should be forthcoming in the next 2 years. Drugs such as buspirone, tricyclics and beta-blockers are either ineffective or have limited use. SP is a chronic disorder, and early termination of successful pharmacotherapy is associated with a greater likelihood of relapse. Studies with paroxetine, clonazepam, sertraline and brofaromine show that continued treatment is associated with better maintenance of response. Special populations that require further study include children, those with comorbid Axis I disorders and the population with discrete (non-generalized) SP. Conclusion: MAOI and SSRI are most uniformly effective in treating SP. Clonazepam and gabapentin may also be useful. Other drugs are of more limited value. Long-term treatment is recommended to reduce rates of relapse.
Normal Plasma Gonadotropin Response to Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone after Diethylstilbestrol Priming in Transsexual Women

Plasma LH and FSH responses to GnRH (100 μg, iv) were measured in four female transsexuals with normal ovulatory menstrual cycles before and after the administration of 2.0 mg diethylstilbestrol (DES) daily for 7 days. One normal ovulatory woman was also studied in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. No difference was found in the augmented response of the four female transsexuals to GnRH after DES priming from that of the normal adult female. The augmented response to GnRH found in the female transsexuals after DES treatment provides evidence that hypothalamic-pituitary feedback control is normal in the female transsexuals studied.
Ridge reorientation mechanisms: Macquarie Ridge Complex, Australia-Pacific plate boundary

The Macquarie Ridge Complex portion of the Australia-Pacific plate boundary south of New Zealand provides a unique, complete record of a 60°–90° change in spreading direction since 40 Ma that resulted in the transition from a spreading center to a transform plate boundary. Marine geophysical data show that during reorientation, most ridge segments completely disappeared and all shortened. Additionally, modification of newly created crust caused differences in widths of correlative spreading segment corridors on the two plates. We propose two models for ridge reorientation that explain the observed spreading fabric and arcuate fracture zone relationships. Nonrigid plate deformation was accommodated by failing and propagating spreading ridge segments (rifts) and transfer of crust between plates during the gradual reorientation of the spreading axes.
A gradient theory of single-crystal viscoplasticity that accounts for geometrically necessary dislocations

Abstract This study develops a gradient theory of single-crystal plasticity that accounts for geometrically necessary dislocations. The theory is based on classical crystalline kinematics; classical macroforces; microforces for each slip system consistent with a microforce balance; a mechanical version of the second law that includes, via the microforces, work performed during slip; a rate-independent constitutive theory that includes dependences on a tensorial measure of geometrically necessary dislocations. The microforce balances are shown to be equivalent to nonlocal yield conditions for the individual slip systems. The field equations consist of the yield conditions coupled to the standard macroscopic force balance; these are supplemented by classical macroscopic boundary conditions in conjunction with nonstandard boundary conditions associated with slip. As an aid to solution, a weak (virtual power) formulation of the nonlocal yield conditions is derived. To make contact with classical dislocation theory, the microstresses are shown to represent counterparts of the Peach–Koehler force on a single dislocation.
Threadfin Shad Overwinter in a West Virginia Reservoir

Mount Storm Reservoir, Grant County, West Virginia, is used as a cooling lake for the effluent water from the condenser of a coal-fired electric generating plant. This reservoir, at a latitude of 39/sup 0/11', is apparently the most northern location at which threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) have been reported to overwinter. About 800 ripe adult shad from Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, were stocked in Mount Storm Reservoir on 29 May 1975. Later sampling with vertical gill nets yielded seven young-of-the-year shad 94 to 117 mm (3.7 to 4.6 in.) long in October 1975 and five 142 to 157 mm (5.6 to 6.2 in.) long in April 1976. The lowest surface water temperature recorded during the winter of 1975 to 76 in monthly samples at midlake was 8.3/sup 0/C in January. Accounts in the literature indicate that mass mortality of threadfin shad occurs at water temperatures below 7.2/sup 0/C (Parsons and Kimsey, 1954), although they have survived in ponds where winter temperatures dropped to 1.1/sup 0/C (Burns, 1966). The reservoir water has low total alkalinity (1975 to 76 range at midlake, 5 to 15 mg/l) and low pH (5.1 to 6.7). Because more than 1,894 kl/min (500,000 gal/min) of cooling water aremore » returned to the lake, most of the lake is continually recirculated and water temperatures are nearly homogeneous. The collections in April 1976 indicate that threadfin shad can reproduce and live in infertile waters of low pH and that they can survive near-critical winter water temperatures in a reservoir receiving heated effluent.« less
Genome-wide Chromatin Mapping Defines AP2α in the Etiology of Craniofacial Disorders.

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify direct AP2α target genes implicated in craniofacial morphogenesis. Design: AP2α, a product of the TFAP2A gene, is a master regulator of neural crest differentiation and development. AP2α is expressed in ectoderm and in migrating cranial neural crest (NC) cells that provide patterning information during orofacial development and generate most of the skull bones and the cranial ganglia. Mutations in TFAP2A cause branchio-oculo-facial syndrome characterized by dysmorphic facial features including cleft or pseudocleft lip/palate. We hypothesize that AP2α primes a distinctive group of genes associated with NC development. Human promoter ChIP-chip arrays were used to define chromatin regions bound by AP2α in neural crest progenitors differentiated from human embryonic stem cells. Results: High-confidence AP2α-binding peaks were detected in the regulatory regions of many target genes involved in the development of facial tissues including MSX1, IRF6, TBX22, and MAF...
Extension of the Exmouth Plateau, offshore northwestern Australia: Deep seismic reflection/refraction evidence for simple and pure shear mechanisms

The response to extensional stresses that deformed and finally ruptured the northwest Australian passive margin was achieved by an interplay of simple and pure shear mechanisms. The results of a two-ship seismic reflection and refraction experiment show that the outer Exmouth Plateau is dominated by large rotated blocks bounded by deeply penetrating normal faults, some of which are heavily intruded. Magmatic underplating attended this extension but is absent in the central region where a set of prominent, subhorizontal, mid-crustal arrivals are interpreted to be detachment surfaces. Extensive exploration seismic coverage, drilling, and sampling suggest that deformation on the outer plateau postdates that in the central plateau. We propose that initial deformation of the region was dominated by a simple shear detachment system along low-angle fault planes. This passed laterally and temporally into a region of pure shear deformation characterized by high-angle normal faults and magmatism, and this became the locus of final rupture.
The relationship of creep, recovery and fatigue in polycarbonate

The quantitative relationship between creep and recovery which had been previously developed by Mindel and Brown [1] has been applied to interrupted creep tests. Single and multiple interruptions (fatigue) were investigated. In general it was observed that interruptions decreased the time to failure. The experiments were conducted in compression in the range of high stresses. Failure was caused by excessive deformation or accelerated creep which is produced by a softening mechanism that is common to all linear polymers. The temperature changes associated with the creep and recovery parts of the cyclic loading were measured. The temperature rise during loading exceeds the decrease during unloading so that there is a net rise in temperature if the creep and recovery intervals are equal. However, the temperature change is not the primary cause for the decrease in time-to-failure for cyclic loading as compared to the failure time during steady stress creep. It has been concluded that fatigue failure under compressive deformation is related fundamentally to the constant stress creep curve.
Algorithmic self-assembly of DNA Sierpinski triangles.

Algorithms and information, fundamental to technological and biological organization, are also an essential aspect of many elementary physical phenomena, such as molecular self-assembly. Here we report the molecular realization, using two-dimensional self-assembly of DNA tiles, of a cellular automaton whose update rule computes the binary function XOR and thus fabricates a fractal pattern—a Sierpinski triangle—as it grows. To achieve this, abstract tiles were translated into DNA tiles based on double-crossover motifs. Serving as input for the computation, long single-stranded DNA molecules were used to nucleate growth of tiles into algorithmic crystals. For both of two independent molecular realizations, atomic force microscopy revealed recognizable Sierpinski triangles containing 100–200 correct tiles. Error rates during assembly appear to range from 1% to 10%. Although imperfect, the growth of Sierpinski triangles demonstrates all the necessary mechanisms for the molecular implementation of arbitrary cellular automata. This shows that engineered DNA self-assembly can be treated as a Turing-universal biomolecular system, capable of implementing any desired algorithm for computation or construction tasks.
Implementation of a demand-pull system in a job shop environment

Abstract This paper describes an implementation of JIT concepts in a medium-sized make-to-order manufacturing company. We develop a hybrid production control system for the company based on separating jobs with high production volumes following a standard routeing from relatively low-volume jobs with more complex routeings. The machines processing the high-volume standard-routeing jobs are treated as a virtual flow shop and controlled by a hybrid push/pull system, while the remainder of the floor is managed as a job shop. Initial tests have shown that this system can significantly improve throughput and simplify the production scheduling task. We believe that the system can be applied to a wide range of industries with similar characteristics. We also describe the testing of the system and the circumstances under which its implementation was discontinued, which indicate some of the difficulties faced by small manufacturers in implementing such systems.
Optimum design of reinforced fiber concrete subjected to bending and geometrical constraints

Abstract Optimization is a decisive factor in structural engineering designs. With the increasing use of reinforced fiber concrete in structural applications, the problem of minimizing its cost should be addressed. This paper presents a computer algorithm that provides the optimum design for reinforced fiber concrete rectangular beams subjected to bending. Four design variables are considered, namely; the beam width, the beam depth, the steel fiber content, and the area of reinforcing rebars. A systematic direct automated search is conducted to obtain the optimum solutions. Comparative cost objective functions are presented to prove the validity of the algorithm.
Synthesis of RNA by Normal Mouse Spleen Cells after Stimulation with Antigen in vitro

TREATMENT of animals or tissue cultures with antimetabolites1 or irradiation2 during the first few hours after antigenic stimulation profoundly affects the immune response. Dutton and Mishell3,4 reported that “hot” pulses of tritiated thymidine were lethal to proliferating antibody-forming cells when added to dissociated spleen cell cultures stimulated with sheep erythrocytes in vitro. Pulses given 24–32 h after antigen were lethal, whereas those given before were not. This suggested that little or no DNA synthesis occurred before 32 h in cells stimulated by antigen. We used the same approach to investigate the effects of “hot” pulses of tritiated uridine (3H-UR) to determine when antibody-forming cells and their precursors were actively synthesizing RNA. (Exogenous uridine is incorporated into the RNA of mouse tissues in vitro5.) We found that active RNA synthesis occurs during the first 24 h after antigenic stimulation as well as after 24 h, when active DNA synthesis occurs.
Metabolism of linoleate versus linoelaidate in the laying hen.

The metabolic fate in the laying hen of linoelaidic acid, thetrans,trans-geometric isomer of linoleic acid, was compared to that of the naturally occurringcis,cis linoleate. In two experiments, mixtures of radioisotope-labeled linoleate and linoelaidate were orally administered to a set of three laying hens. A third mixture consisting of linoleate-3H and linoleate-14C was fed to three hens to measure biological isotope effects. Isotopic ratios (3H/14C) of the neutral lipid and phospholipid fractions isolated from egg yolks and of the octadecadienoic acids from these fractions were compared to those of the administered mixtures. The3H/14C ratiosindicate that linoelaidic acid and linoleic acid are equally incorporated into egg yolk neutral lipids and phospholipids. Arachidonic acid was found exclusively in the phospholipid fraction and was radiolabeled with the isotope from thecis,cis octadecadienoate isomer only. Further detailed analysis of individual neutral lipid components indicated: (a) discrimination against thetrans,trans isomer in cholesteryl esters and (b) no discrimination against either isomer in triacylglycerols.
P05.03. Integrative Primary Care Approach to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Focus Area: Integrative Approaches to Care Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is thought to affect 5% to 10% of the population and is likely a constellation of disorders resulting in abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or constipation. This presentation will review the scientific evidence for common integrative treatments. A comprehensive integrative history often elucidates underlying factors contributing to symptoms. Assessment of the foundations of health, as with most conditions, is important for IBS. In addition to nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and mental/spiritual health will be reviewed. There will be a specific mention of mind-body pain syndrome and its manifestations of abdominal pain. A review of available testing will discuss utility in pursuing laboratory confirmation of food allergy/intolerances. Dietary interventions address food intolerances and poor dietary choices. Elimination diets, including specific approaches such as the FODMAP diet, can result in dramatic symptom relief. Soluble fiber has been shown to be helpful; in contrast, adding insoluble fiber can exacerbate symptoms in some individuals. Probiotics have been studied widely and are recommended to help re-establish favorable gut flora. Strains, dosing, and duration will be addressed. Peppermint oil can address bloating. Other common supplements and botanicals for IBS will be reviewed. Treatments of stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, and hypnosis have been evaluated for this condition and will be discussed.
An Escherichia coli Mutant Lacking the Cold Shock-induced Palmitoleoyltransferase of Lipid A Biosynthesis ABSENCE OF UNSATURATED ACYL CHAINS AND ANTIBIOTIC HYPERSENSITIVITY AT 12 °C

An acyltransferase induced by cold shock inEscherichia coli, designated LpxP, incorporates a palmitoleoyl moiety into nascent lipid A in place of the secondary laurate chain normally added by LpxL(HtrB) (Carty, S. M., Sreekumar, K. R., and Raetz, C. R. H. (1999)J. Biol. Chem. 274, 9677–9685). To determine whether the palmitoleoyl residue alters the properties of the outer membrane and imparts physiological benefits at low growth temperatures, we constructed a chromosomal insertion mutation in lpxP, the structural gene for the transferase. Membranes from thelpxP mutant MKV11 grown at 12 °C lacked the cold-induced palmitoleoyltransferase present in membranes of cold-shocked wild type cells but retained normal levels of the constitutive lauroyltransferase encoded by lpxL. When examined by mass spectrometry, about two-thirds of the lipid A molecules isolated from wild type E. coli grown at 12 °C contained palmitoleate in place of laurate, whereas the lipid A of cold-adapted MKV11 contained only laurate in amounts comparable with those seen in wild type cells grown at 30 °C or above. To probe the integrity of the outer membrane, MKV11 and an isogenic wild type strain were grown at 30 or 12 °C and then tested for their susceptibility to antibiotics. MKV11 exhibited a 10-fold increase in sensitivity to rifampicin and vancomycin at 12 °C compared with wild type cells but showed identical resistance when grown at 30 °C. We suggest that the palmitoleoyltransferase may confer a selective advantage upon E. coli cells growing at lower temperatures by making the outer membrane a more effective barrier to harmful chemicals.
Genetic polymorphisms of heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1) may impact on acute kidney injury, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and mortality in premature infants.

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) catalyzes heme degradation, and offers protection for several organs, including the kidney. Genetic polymorphisms of HO-1 are associated with poor clinical outcomes in several populations. Population: We prospectively enrolled 117 premature infants (birth weight ≤1,200 g or postgestational age ≤31 wk) and evaluated two DNA genetic variants proximal to the promoter region of HO-1 (GT(n) repeats, and −413T>A SNP). We evaluated how these polymorphisms affect two clinical outcomes: (i) Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)—rise in serum creatinine (SCr) ≥ 0.3 mg/dl or ≥ 150–200% from lowest previous value, (ii) the composite of mortality and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) defined as receipt of oxygen at 36 wk postmenstrual age. AKI occurred in 34/117 (29%) of neonates; 12/117 (10%) died; 29/105 (28%) survivors had BPD. Neonates with TT genotype at 413T>A before the HO-1 promoter had higher rates of AKI (P A genetic alteration had lower incidence of AKI. Further studies using larger cohorts are needed to better understand these relationships.
Interface studies of ZnO nanowire transistors using low-frequency noise and temperature-dependent I-V measurements

Single ZnO nanowire (NW) transistors fabricated with self-assembled nanodielectric (SAND) and SiO2 gate insulators were characterized by low-frequency noise and variable temperature current-voltage (I-V) measurements. According to the gate dependence of the noise amplitude, the extracted Hooge’s constants (αH) are ∼3.3×10−2 for SAND-based devices and ∼3.5×10−1 for SiO2-based devices. Temperature-dependent I-V studies show that the hysteresis of the transfer curves and the threshold voltage shifts of SAND-based devices are significantly smaller than those of SiO2-based devices. These results demonstrate the improved SAND/ZnO NW interface quality (lower interface-trap states and defects) in comparison to those fabricated with SiO2.
Conversion of a human immunodeficiency virus cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope into a high affinity HLA-Cw3 ligand

Abstract To elucidate the residues important for the binding of peptides to HLA-Cw3, a substitutional analysis of two HLA-Cw∗0304-binding peptides was performed. The optimal registry and length for a Cw3-restricted epitope from HIV-1 p24 gag was determined to be a nonamer, p24 gag 144–152. Substituted analogs of this nonamer peptide revealed that substitutions at position 3 (P3) and the carboxyl-terminal P9 were inhibitory to binding, while certain substitutions at the amino-terminal P1 or P2 increased binding significantly. Substituted analogs of another Cw3-restricted peptide, the Cw3 consensus peptide, which binds to HLA-Cw∗0304 with a 1,000-fold higher affinity and with a greater stability than the HIV p24 gag nonamer revealed that the P1, P2, P6, and P9 residues play important roles in the ligand’s binding to Cw∗0304. The incorporation of the amino-terminal P1 and P2 residues from the Cw3 consensus peptide into the HIV p24 gag 144–152 peptide created a hybrid peptide with profoundly enhanced affinity for and stability with Cw∗0304. Collectively, these findings provide a clear insight into how peptides interact with HLA-Cw3 and how high affinity Cw3 ligands can be constructed.
RECENT STUDIES ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF RETINYL PHOSPHATE AS A CARRIER OF MANNOSE IN BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES

Rat liver microsomes synthesized [14C]mannosylretinylphosphate and dolichyl [14C]mannosylphosphate from guanosinedisphosphate [14C]mannose, retinylphosphate and dolichylphosphate. Two distinct enzyme activities were shown to be responsible for the biosynthesis of the two mannolipids. A higher affinity mannosyl transferase (EA I), responsible for dolichylmannosylphosphate synthesis, displayed a Km for GDP-mannose of 1.7 microM; while a lower affinity enzyme (EA II), responsible for mannosylretinylphosphate synthesis, displayed a Km for GDP-mannose of 12.5 microM. These Km values were unaffected by the addition of either dolichylphosphate for EA II, or retinylphosphate for EA I. The same Km values were found before and after solubilization of the enzyme activity with 1% Triton X-100. Differential solubilization of EA I and EA II was demonstrated, utilizing different concentrations of Triton X-100. Triple-labeled mannosylretinylphosphate was prepared from [3H]retinylphosphate, retinyl[32P]phosphate and GDP-[14C]mannose from incubations containing rat liver microsomes. This compound was shown to donate [14C]mannose to endogenous acceptors of rat liver microsomes.
Zeeman splitting of interacting two-dimensional electrons with two effective masses

We have realized an AlAs two-dimensional electron system in which electrons occupy conduction-band valleys with different Fermi contours and effective masses. In the quantum Hall regime, we observe both resistivity spikes and persistent gaps at crossings between the Landau levels originating from these two valleys. From the positions of the spikes in tilted magnetic fields and measurements of the energy gaps away from the crossings, we find that, after occupation of the minority valley, the spin susceptibility drops rapidly, and the electrons possess a single interaction-enhanced g-factor, despite the dissimilarity of the two occupied valleys.
Fear of Victimization: A Look at the Proximate Causes

Research on fear of victimization continues to overlook the proximate causes offear, relying instead on tacit and untested assumptions about those causes. For example, it is widely accepted that Americans are most afraid of violent or personal crimes, as if the perceived seriousness of offenses were the only determinant of fear. Were that true, fear would almost certainly be immutable (how does one reduce the perceived seriousness of crimes?). Data from a 1981 mail survey of Seattle residents indicate that, among types of offenses, fear of victimization is a multiplicative function of perceived risk and perceived seriousness, these two factors carry virtually identical weight (i.e., they may precisely offset each other), and fear is not necessarily highest for violent crimes.
The influence of source and drain junction depth on the short-channel effect in MOSFETs

This brief investigates the influence of source and drain junction depth on the short-channel effect (SCE) in highly scaled MOSFETs. The established scale length model represents SCE in terms of an exponential function of gate insulator thickness and gate depletion-layer width, but this model fails to account for any influence of source and drain junction depth on SCE. It is shown using two-dimensional finite-element device simulation that the influence of source and drain junction depth on SCE can be represented by an addition of a pre-exponential term to the established scale-length model. For source and drain junction depths that are deeper than the MOSFET's gate depletion-layer width, SCE is shown with this pre-exponential term to be insensitive to junction depth. Conversely, for source and drain junction depths that are shallower than the MOSFET's gate depletion-layer width, SCE is shown to improve linearly with decreasing junction depth.
Inhibitor profile of bis(n)-tacrines and N-methylcarbamates on acetylcholinesterase from Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Phlebotomus papatasi

The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Bm), and the sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi (Pp), are disease vectors to cattle and humans, respectively. The purpose of this study was to characterize the inhibitor profile of acetylcholinesterases from Bm (BmAChE1) and Pp (PpAChE) compared to human and bovine AChE, in order to identify divergent pharmacology that might lead to selective inhibitors. Results indicate that BmAChE has low sensitivity (IC50 = 200 μM) toward tacrine, a monovalent catalytic site inhibitor with sub micromolar blocking potency in all previous species tested. Similarly, a series of bis(n)-tacrine dimer series, bivalent inhibitors and peripheral site AChE inhibitors possess poor potency toward BmAChE. Molecular homology models suggest the rBmAChE enzyme possesses a W384F orthologous substitution near the catalytic site, where the larger tryptophan side chain obstructs the access of larger ligands to the active site, but functional analysis of this mutation suggests it only partially explains the low sensitivity to tacrine. In addition, BmAChE1 and PpAChE have low nanomolar sensitivity to some experimental carbamate anticholinesterases originally designed for control of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. One experimental compound, 2-((2-ethylbutyl)thio)phenyl methylcarbamate, possesses >300-fold selectivity for BmAChE1 and PpAChE over human AChE, and a mouse oral LD50 of >1500 mg/kg, thus providing an excellent new lead for vector control.
Prevention of spinal cord complications in aortic surgery

Paraplegia or paraparesis after operations on the thoracic and abdominal aorta is a devastating event, both for the patient and the surgeon. While its incidence varies from under 1% with operations at the top and bottom of the aorta, its occurrence in the midportion of the aorta, just above the diaphragm, even in the best of hands exceeds 10%. Over a decade ago, Crawford et al (J Vasc Surg. 1986;3:389-404) introduced the use of inclusion and sequential clamping techniques for thoracoabdominal aneurysmectomy, lowering both morbidity and neurologic sequelae. Although these techniques have been widely adopted, newer ancillary adjuncts have been recommended by a number of investigators. This paper summarizes the possible causes of paraplegia secondary to the various operations on the aorta and analyzes the status and value of the various ancillary techniques in its prevention.
Sharing Features among Dynamical Systems with Beta Processes

We propose a Bayesian nonparametric approach to the problem of modeling related time series. Using a beta process prior, our approach is based on the discovery of a set of latent dynamical behaviors that are shared among multiple time series. The size of the set and the sharing pattern are both inferred from data. We develop an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo inference method that is based on the Indian buffet process representation of the predictive distribution of the beta process. In particular, our approach uses the sum-product algorithm to efficiently compute Metropolis-Hastings acceptance probabilities, and explores new dynamical behaviors via birth/death proposals. We validate our sampling algorithm using several synthetic datasets, and also demonstrate promising results on unsupervised segmentation of visual motion capture data.
Generating alternative watershed-scale BMP designs with evolutionary algorithms

The first part of a two-step decision-making framework for watershed-scale stormwater runoff control (Kaini et al., 2008, this meeting) involves identification of the most cost-effective combination of structural BMPs that meet target peak flow and sediment reduction criteria. This paper presents the second half of that framework: simultaneous generation of near-optimal alternative design strategies using a Euclidean distance metric. Structural BMPs included in this model include detention ponds, infiltration ponds, field borders, grade stabilization structures, and grassed waterways. Alternative designs are identified by coupling Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and a Species Conserving Genetic Algorithm (SCGA). In addition, we demonstrate SCGA’s flexibility and efficiency at generating alternative designs as well as varying numbers of alternatives. The model is demonstrated on Silver Creek watershed, a sub-watershed of the larger Lower Kaskaskia watershed in southern Illinois.
"Good and bad, I defined these terms, quite clear no doubt somehow": Neuroimaging and competency to be executed after Panetti.

There has been little consideration, in either the caselaw or the scholarly literature, of the potential impact of neuroimaging on cases assessing whether a seriously mentally disabled death row defendant is competent to be executed. The Supreme Court's 2007 decision in Panetti v. Quarterman significantly expanded its jurisprudence by ruling that such a defendant had a constitutional right to make a showing that his mental illness “obstruct[ed] a rational understanding of the State's reason for his execution.” This article considers the impact of neuroimaging testimony on post-Panetti competency determination hearings, and looks at multiple questions of admissibility of evidence, adequacy of counsel, availability of expert assistance, juror attitudes, trial tactics, and application of the Daubert doctrine, and also considers the implications of the lesser-known Panetti holding (that enhances the role of expert witnesses in all competency-to-be-executed inquiries). It warns that the power of the testimony in question has the capacity to inappropriately affect fact-finders in ways that may lead “to outcomes that are both factually and legally inaccurate and constitutionally flawed.” Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Partisan Brain How Dissonant Science Messages Lead Conservatives and Liberals to (Dis)Trust Science

There has been deepening concern about political polarization in public attitudes toward the scientific community. The “intrinsic thesis” attributes this polarization to psychological deficiencies among conservatives as compared to liberals. The “contextual thesis” makes no such claims about inherent psychological differences between conservatives and liberals, but rather points to interacting institutional and psychological factors as the forces driving polarization. We evaluate the evidence for both theses in the context of developing and testing a theoretical model of audience response to dissonant science communication. Conducting a national online experiment (N = 1,500), we examined audience reactions to both conservative-dissonant and liberal-dissonant science messages and consequences for trust in the scientific community. Our results suggest liberals and conservatives alike react negatively to dissonant science communication, resulting in diminished trust of the scientific community. We discuss ho...
Grandchildren at high and low risk for depression differ in EEG measures of regional brain asymmetry.

Background Electrophysiologic studies have found abnormalities of alpha asymmetry in depressed adults and offspring of depressed parents, which have been hypothesized to be vulnerability markers of depression. Resting electroencephalogram (EEG) was measured in grandchildren participating in a multigenerational high-risk study. Methods Electroencephalogram from 12 electrodes at six homologous sites over each hemisphere (digitally linked-ears reference) was compared in right-handed grandchildren in three groups: 1) both parent and grandparent having major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 19); 2) either parent or grandparent having MDD ( n = 14); and 3) neither having MDD ( n = 16). Results Grandchildren with both depressed parent and grandparent showed greater alpha asymmetry, with relatively less right than left hemisphere activity, when compared with those with neither depressed parent nor grandparent. This difference was present over the parietal region in the eyes-closed condition. Grandchildren having either depressed parent or grandparent also tended to show heightened alpha asymmetry at parietal sites, but they did not differ significantly from those with neither depressed parent nor grandparent. Low-risk grandchildren with neither depressed parent nor grandparent showed no significant alpha asymmetry. Conclusions High-risk grandchildren displayed a parietal alpha asymmetry similar to that seen in adolescents or adults having a MDD and in second-generation offspring of parents concordant for MDD. Its presence in high-risk offspring and grandchildren without a lifetime history of MDD supports the hypothesis that an alpha asymmetry indicative of relatively less right than left parietal activity is an endophenotypic marker of vulnerability to a familial form of major depression.
The Beauty of the Redemption of the World:* The Theological Aesthetics of Maximus the Confessor and Jonathan Edwards

Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, in his Herrlichkeit, laments the eclipse of the aesthetic in modern theology, noting that the being of a Christian is itself a thing of beauty inscribed by the grace of God; that is, it is a form of existence “opened up to us by the God-Man's act of redemption. . . . God's incarnation perfects the whole ontology and aesthetics of created being.” Von Balthasar traces the loss of the aesthetic dimension from Protestant theology to the Reformation principle of sola scriptura, which seeks to abstract “data” of scriptural revelation into objective formulae. This approach leads to the historicism of Hegel, Schelling, Schleiermacher, and Barth, effectively removing the meditative gaze from theological contemplation. Von Balthasar's ultimate argument is that it is necessary for Protestant theology to revive the Alexandrian tradition in order to recover the “transcendent principle of beauty as derived from and most proper to God,” which is to be “for us the very apex and archetype of beauty in the world.”
Architecture of the Component Collective Messaging Interface

Different programming paradigms utilize a variety of collective communication operations, often with different semantics. We present the component collective messaging interface (CCMI) that can support asynchronous non-blocking collectives and is extensible to different programming paradigms and architectures. CCMI is designed with components written in the C++ programming language, allowing it to be reusable and extendible. Collective algorithms are embodied in topological schedules and executors that execute them. Portability across architectures is enabled by the multisend data movement component. CCMI includes a programming language adaptor used to implement different APIs with different semantics for different paradigms. We study the effectiveness of CCMI on 16K nodes of Blue Gene/P machine and evaluate its performance for the barrier, broadcast, and allreduce collective operations and several application benchmarks. We also present the performance of the barrier collective on the Abe Infiniband cluster.
Existence of planar flame fronts in convective-diffusive periodic media

We prove the existence of planar travelling wave solutions in a reaction-diffusion-convection equation with combustion nonlinearity and self-adjoint linear part in Rn, n≧1. The linear part involves diffusion-convection terms and periodic coefficients. These travelling waves have wrinkled flame fronts propagating with constant effective speeds in periodic inhomogeneous media. We use the method of continuation, spectral theory, and the maximum principle. Uniqueness and monotonicity properties of solutions follow from a previous paper. These properties are essential to overcoming the lack of compactness and the degeneracy in the problem.
Kirsch et al.'s (2008) calculations are correct: reconsidering Fountoulakis & Möller's re-analysis of the Kirsch data.

Our meta-analysis examining the efficacy of antidepressant medication (Kirsch et al. 2008), based on trials submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for antidepressant drug approval, concluded that clinically significant improvement in depression attributable to antidepressants as opposed to placebo appeared only for samples with exceptionally severe depression. Our criterion for clinical significance was that used by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which establishes treatment guidelines for the National Health Service in the UK. Published critiques of our statistical approach (e.g. Horder et al . 2010; Huf et al. 2011) as well as the clinical implications of our findings (e.g. Moller & Broich, 2010) were all items raised in online commentaries when our article was published and we responded to these criticisms (Huedo-Medina et al. 2008; Johnson et al. 2008). Although disagreement has generally centred on interpretations of the data, Fountoulakis & Moller (2010) re-analysed the data and claimed that they had discovered ‘important flaws in our calculations’, although they found the same overall, standardized mean difference effect size ( d ) that we had, which was substantially below the NICE criterion for clinical significance. Their methods obtained weighted mean improvement scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) that were different from ours. Given the attention that our original analysis has received, we believe it is important that readers know which results are accurate. We first present in greater detail the methods we had used in obtaining those aspects of the results that are in dispute, along with the justification for using those methods. Next, we examine the methods used by Fountoulakis & Moller in their attempted replication. We followed conventional meta-analytical procedures to summarize the FDA data we used. Of particular note are the weighting of change scores on the HAMD within …
Performance-driven simultaneous place and route for island-style FPGAs

Abstract: Sequential place and route tools for FPGAs are inherently weak at addressing both wirability and timing optimizations. This is primarily due to the difficulty of accurately predicting wirability and delay during placement. A new performance-driven simultaneous placement/routing technique has been developed for island-style FPGA designs. On a set of industrial designs for Xilinx 4000-series FPGAs, our scheme produces 100% routed designs with 8%-15% improvement in delay when compared to the Xilinx XACT5.0 place and route system.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tilmicosin in sheep and cattle

Abstract Tilmicosin is a long-acting macrolide antibiotic currently approved for treatment of bovine respiratory disease in the USA. Serum pharmacokinetics of tilmicosin were compared between cattle (major species) and sheep (minor species) after subcutaneous injection in order to evaluate a new potential application of the drug in currently nonapproved species. There were no significant differences in the elimination rates, maximum serum concentrations, half-lives (t1/2), areas under the curve (AUC), areas under the first-moment curve (AUMC), and mean residence times. Volume of distribution (Vd(area)) and clearance (Cl), when normalized by body weight, were also similar. The only significantly different parameter was time at which maximum drug concentration was reached (tmax), with sheep having the tmax of 3.9 h, compared to 0.5 h in cattle. Although macrolides are considered to be one of the safest anti-infective drugs, adverse cardiovascular effects of several macrolides have been reported. The cardiopulmonary effects of tilmicosin were monitored in healthy adult sheep after receiving a single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of tilmicosin at the dose of 10 mg/kg, and no significant changes were found. The study indicates that tilmicosin can be used safely and effectively in sheep at the given dose, with no adverse cardiopulmonary effects.
Teaching and learning geometric optics in middle school through the Turning Eyes to the Big Sky project

The Turning Eyes to the Big Sky project offered schools in southwestern Montana a unique opportunity to strengthen science instruc- tion. The project implemented, in a formal setting, a nationally established informal science curriculum on light and optics, the Hands-on Optics Terrific Telescopes curriculum. Terrific Telescopes was implemented in eight middle-school classrooms and reached 166 students during the 2010 to 2011 school year. As part of the project, we conducted a teacher workshop and assessed student learning outcomes and teachers' expe- riences with the curriculum. The goals of our assessments were to improve our understanding of how students learn key optics-related principles, pro- vide evidence of the learning outcomes of Terrific Telescopes, and find out how teachers adapt the curriculum for use in formal settings. Our research established that students in every classroom learned optics concepts, uncovered student ideas about telescope optics, and identified ways to support and supplement the curriculum for use in classrooms. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI. (DOI: 10.1117/1.OE.52.6.069001)
Blood-Based Tumor Markers for Prostate Cancer

Although the wide availability of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has revolutionized prostate cancer (PCa) screening, resulting in a decrease in PCa metastasis and death, the ubiquitous use of PSA screening has also led to overdetection and overtreatment (Schroder et al. N Engl J Med 360(13): 1320–8, 2009). Since all prostate epithelial cells synthesize PSA, an elevated PSA can reflect the presence of cancer but can also be caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), infection, and/or chronic inflammation. Therefore, there has been a concerted effort to discover and validate novel PCa biomarkers. This chapter discusses (1) the challenges of PCa biomarker research, the types of PCa biomarkers, and the statistical considerations for biomarker discovery and validation; (2) the isoforms of PSA and their clinical applications; (3) several promising blood-based biomarkers for PCa diagnosis and/or prognostication (i.e., human kallikrein-related peptidase 2, urokinase plasminogen activator, transforming growth factor-beta 1, interleukin-6, endoglin, and prostate cancer specific autoantibodies and alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase); and (4) the benefit of and need for combining biomarkers into different panels for each disease state.