cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hierarchy evolution for improved classification

Hierarchical classification has been shown to have superior performance than flat classification. It is typically performed on hierarchies created by and for humans rather than for classification performance. As a result, classification based on such hierarchies often yields suboptimal results. In this paper, we propose a novel genetic algorithm-based method on hierarchy adaptation for improved classification. Our approach customizes the typical GA to optimize classification hierarchies. In several text classification tasks, our approach produced hierarchies that significantly improved upon the accuracy of the original hierarchy as well as hierarchies generated by state-of-the-art methods.
Vitamin D Suppresses Leptin Stimulation of Cancer Growth through MicroRNA

Obesity is a pandemic and major risk factor for cancers. The reduction of obesity would have been an effective strategy for cancer prevention, but the reality is that worldwide obesity has kept increasing for decades, remaining a major avoidable cancer risk secondary only to smoke. The present studies suggest that vitamin D may be an effective agent to reduce obesity-associated cancer risks in women. Molecular analyses showed that leptin increased human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression and cell growth through estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) activation in ovarian cancer (OCa) cells, which was suppressed by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. The suppression was compromised when miR-498 induction by the hormone was depleted with miRNA sponges. In mice, high-fat diet (HFD) stimulation of ovarian tumor growth was remarkably suppressed by 1,25(OH)2D3 analogue EB1089, which was also compromised by miR-498 sponges. EB1089 did not alter HFD-induced increase in serum leptin levels but increased miR-498 and decreased the diet-induced hTERT expression in tumors. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses revealed an inverse correlation between hTERT mRNA and miR-498 in response to 1,25(OH)2D3 in estrogen-sensitive ovarian, endometrial and breast cancers. The studies suggest that miR-498-mediated hTERT down regulation is a key event mediating the anti-leptin activity of 1,25(OH)2D3 in estrogen-sensitive tumors in women.
Emptying of intracellular Ca2+ stores releases a novel small messenger that stimulates Ca2+ influx

Intracellular Ca2+ signals that last more than a few minutes after the onset of stimulation depend critically on influx of extracellular Ca2+. Such Ca2+ influx can be triggered in many cell types by depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores without detectable elevations of known messengers. The mechanism by which store depletion can control plasma membrane Ca2+ permeability remains controversial. Here we present evidence for a novel soluble mediator. Calcium depletion of a lymphocyte cell line caused the messenger to be released from intracellular organelles into the cytoplasm and to a much lesser extent into the extracellular medium. The messenger caused Ca2+ influx when applied to macrophages, astrocytoma cells, and fibroblasts and was therefore named CIF (for Ca(2+)-influx factor). CIF appears to have hydroxyls (or hydroxyl and amino groups) on adjacent carbons, a phosphate, and a M(r) under 500.
Plasma deposition of amorphous hydrogenated carbon films on III-V semiconductors

Amorphous hydrogenated carbon films were grown on GaAs, InP and fused silica substrates using plasmas generated from hydrocarbon gases. Methane and n-butane sources were utilized. The effects of flow rate and power density on film growth were investigated. Carbon was the major constituent in the films. The degree of asymmetry at the carbon-semiconductor interface was approximately independent of the power density. Different H-C bonding configurations were detected by the technique of secondary-ion mass spectrometry. Band gaps up to 3 eV were obtained from optical absorption studies. Breakdown strengths as high as 600 MV/m were measured.
Optimum Allocation of Research/Engineering Manpower within a Multi-Project Organizational Structure

An analytic technique has been formulated which permits the management of an organization engaged in a number of research and engineering projects to allocate available technical manpower among and within projects. The technique has value as a device to determine in detail where men with specific skills may be best utilized and as a tool to gage the impact of proposed additional workload on available manpower resources and projects in progress. The technique makes use of the basic network analog to designate the sequence and interaction of the detailed activities making up each project. Judgments must be made by engineering management of the minimum essential manning and maximum productive manning required for each network activity to obtain the time-manpower function and its range of feasible values. The scheduled time for completion of each project must be stated as well as the total available manpower by skill, by time period. An integer solution is attained which is compatible with the available manpower constraint and which represents a practical economic optimum. The technique used is an iterative method suitable for computer computation.
Resolution of two fractions of androgen receptor from mouse kidney

Abstract Putative androgen receptors from mouse kidney were separated and re-chromatographed on DNA-cellulose columns. With either [ 3 H]-dihydrotestosterone or [ 3 H]-testosterone as ligands, two major fractions of androgen receptors were obtained in both elutions from DNA-cellulose columns; these eluted, respectively, at 140–150 mM NaCl (lower-salt) and 180–190 mM NaCl (higher-salt). Therefore, the two major peaks detectable with extracts of mouse kidney result from differences that are intrinsic to the receptor complexes rather than heterogeneity of the DNA-cellulose matrix. These findings are discussed in relation to two forms of androgen receptors that exist in a different proportion in extracts of brain and in relation to other steroid receptors.
Folding Requirements Are Different between Sterol 14α-Demethylase (CYP51) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Human or Fungal Orthologs *

Upon sequence alignment of CYP51 sterol 14α-demethylase from animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria, arginine corresponding to Arg-448 of CYP51 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) is conserved near the C terminus of all family members. In MTCYP51 Arg-448 forms a salt bridge with Asp-287, connecting β-strand 3–2 with helix J. Deletion of the three C-terminal residues of MTCYP51 has little effect on expression of P450 in Escherichia coli. However, truncation of the fourth amino acid (Arg-448) completely abolishes P450 expression. We have investigated whether Arg-448 has other structural or functional roles in addition to folding and whether its conservation reflects conservation of a common folding pathway in the CYP51 family. Characterization of wild type protein and three mutants, R448K, R448I, and R448A, including examination of catalytic activity, secondary and tertiary structure analysis by circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence, and studies of both equilibrium and temporal MTCYP51 unfolding behavior, shows that Arg-448 does not play any role in P450 function or maintenance of the native structure. C-terminal truncation of Candida albicans and human CYP51 orthologs reveals that, despite conservation in sequence, the requirement for arginine at the homologous C-terminal position in folding in E. coli is not conserved. Thus, despite similar spatial folds, functionally related but evolutionarily distinct P450s can follow different folding pathways.
Aerodynamic design of a conventional windmill using numerical optimization

Numerical optimization techniques are identified as an effective tool for automated synthesis of windmill design. Several simple design examples are presented to show the efficiency and generality of these methods. The extension to more sophisticated design problems is discussed, and the advantages and limitations of these techniques are identified.
Estimation of β-3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine and related compounds in urine extracts by radioimmunoassay

Abstract Antibodies to β-3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine (DMPEA) were produced by immunizing rabbits with conjugates of N -succinyl-DMPEA coupled to poly l -lysine. N -(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenethyl)-4-hydroxyphenylacetamide was synthesized, iodinated to high specific activity, and used to develop a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) capable of measuring 100 pg DMPEA. While most of the binding energy of the antisera is directed toward the 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl nucleus, structural changes in the ethylamine side chain are also recognized. High pressure liquid chromatography was used in conjunction with RIA to identify the immunologically active material. In the chloroform extracts of six urine samples, all of this material cochromatographed with [ 3 H]DMPEA. In four other samples, the immunologically active component(s) did not correspond to DMPEA or to the metabolites that were tested. It is evident that normal individuals excrete different amounts of DMPEA.
Interferon alpha and alcohol augment nuclear regulatory factor-kappaB activation in HepG2 cells, and interferon alpha increases pro-inflammatory cytokine production

BACKGROUND The mechanisms for decreased therapeutic response to IFNalpha in chronic hepatitis C patients with alcohol are unknown. We investigated the hypothesis that IFNalpha and alcohol regulate cells both in the liver parenchyma and the immune system. METHODS We used the hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) to determine if IFNalpha (500-10,000 U/ml) or ethanol (25-100 mM) modulates NF-kB activation alone or in combination with TNFalpha (0.1-20 microg/ml) as determined in electromobility gel shift assays. IkB levels were evaluated in the cytoplasmic extracts by western blot. Monocytes from normal donors were activated with LPS (1 microg/ml) in combination with IFNalpha or ethanol overnight and TNFalpha, IL-6, and IL-12 were measured in the supernatants. RESULTS In HepG2 cells, both IFNalpha and acute alcohol treatment induced NF-kappaB activation and augmented TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB binding. Pretreatment of HepG2 cells with IFNalpha resulted in the highest levels of NF-kappaB activation in response to TNFalpha or TNFalpha plus ethanol stimulation. Supershift experiments confirmed that the NF-kappaB dimer induced by TNFalpha and its combination with IFNalpha or ethanol contains RelA (p65) and involves rapid degradation of IkappaBalpha. Experiments using the proteasome inhibitor, MG132, revealed that augmentation of NF-kappaB by ethanol and IFNalpha is mediated via the proteasome pathway. We show that in normal monocytes, IFNalpha augments LPS-induced production of the inflammatory cytokines TNFalpha, IL-6, and IL-12 (p < 0.06) without further modulation by acute alcohol treatment. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that IFNalpha can increase HepG2 cell sensitivity to TNFalpha and ethanol-mediated activation. Augmentation of monocyte inflammatory cytokines, particularly of IL-12 production, by IFNalpha could be a key element of the antiviral response in chronic HCV. These results support the hypothesis that the therapeutic benefits of IFNalpha likely involve activation of both immune and parenchymal cells in the liver.
Metabolism of dl-norvaline-3-C14☆

Abstract 1. 1. Column and paper Chromatographic procedures are described for the isolation and identification of the carboxylic acid products of amino acid metabolism. 2. 2. Studies of the metabolism of norvaline both in the intact animal and in liver homogenates support the catabolism scheme: norvaline→α-ketovaleric acid→butyric acid→→→acetic acid→→CO 2 .
Cross-sectional echocardiography III. Analysis of mathematic models for quantifying volume of symmetric and asymmetric left ventricles☆

Abstract Cross-sectional echocardiography was utilized for quantification of volume in 19 formalin-fixed left ventricles in the presence or absence of ventricular symmetry, defined by the ratio of septal-lateral to anterior-posterior diameter. In 10 symmetric ventricles this ratio was 1.23 ± 0.06 (mean ± SEM), whereas in nine asymmetric ventricles the ratio was 1.80 ± 0.07. Area, diameter, and length measurements were obtained from short- and long-axis cross-sectional images of the left ventricle and volume was calculated by five mathematical models previously described. To evaluate the reliability of each model, echocardiographic left ventricular volume was compared by linear regression and percent error analyses to directly measured fluid volume. In symmetric ventricles, excellent correlations (r = 0.996 to 0.967) and reasonable mean percent errors (6% to 31%) were observed for all models. In asymmetric ventricles, models utilizing short-axis area or two short-axis diameters retained high correlation coefficients (r = 0.985 to 0.956) and similar mean percent errors, but standard formulas previously used with M-mode echo and angiography showed lower correlations (r = 0.886 to 0.873) and higher mean percent errors (52% to 54%). Thus, in the presence of ventricular asymmetry, analysis of short-axis areas or diameters with cross-sectional echocardiography is well suited for quantification of left ventricular volumes.
Expansion of the gravitational potential with computerized Poisson series

The paper describes a recursive formulation for the expansion of the gravitational potential valid for both the tesseral and zonal harmonics. The expansion is primarily in rectangular coordinates, but the classical orbit elements or equinoctial orbit elements can be easily substituted. The equations of motion for the zonal harmonics in both classical and equinoctial orbital elements are described in a form which will result in closed-form expressions for the first-order perturbations. In order to achieve this result, the true longitude or true anomaly have to be used as independent variables.
Determination of the crystalline structure of nonlinear molecules in a combined quantum chemical and classic lattice potential description

The general problem of the prediction of the crystal parameters and molecular structure of nonlinear molecules is taken up in a treatment that couples the molecular electronic structure determination to the surrounding crystalline lattice field. The molecular electronic structure method used may be at any level of sophistication, but we used the Hartree–Fock approximation in this application. A partial charge analysis of the molecular electronic structure is performed to establish the values of atom-centered partial charges that interact via Coulomb's law, along with a Lennard–Jones potential between all atoms to establish a crystalline lattice field. The Lennard–Jones parameters are taken from the widely used AMBER force field. The lattice field terms are included in the molecular Hamiltonian and exert forces on the nuclei, leading to a somewhat different equilibrium structure than is obtained for the isolated molecule. The positions, orientations, and unit cell parameters are optimized for the lattice field, leading to a full determination of the crystal structure, including the space group. Results for sulfur dioxide, ammonia, and water are reported. In each case an equilibrium crystalline geometry faithfully reproducing the experimentally determined space group is obtained. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003
Estimation of variance components with dominance and inbreeding in dairy cattle.

Summary The five variance components in the genetic (co)variance among inbred relatives for a quantitative trait with additive and dominance genetic variation were estimated by equating variances among and within different types of families of inbred cows to their expectations. The data used were milk and fat yields of 85,433 U.S. Holstein cows with inbreeding coefficients of 6.25% or higher. When all five parameters were estimated, unrealistic results were obtained. If all quantitative trait loci are biallelic, genetic (co)variance depends on only four parameters. More realistic estimates were obtained under this assumption. There was a substantial negative covariance among breeding values and dominance effects under inbreeding, and the dominance variance in inbred cows was larger than the dominance variance in the noninbred base population. Zusammenfassung Varianzkomponenteneinschatzung bei Dominanz und Inzucht von Milchvieh Die funf Varianzkomponenten in der genetischen (Ko)Varianz zwischen ingezuchteten Verwandten in einem quantitativen Merkmal wurden geschatzt durch Gleichsetzen von Varianzen zwischen und innerhalb verschiedener Familien von ingezuchteter Kuhen zu ihren Erwartungswerten. Das Datenmaterial bestand aus den Milch- und Fettmengen von 85,433 U.S. Holstein Kuhen mit Inzuchtkoeffizienten von 6.25% oder hoher. Die gleichzeitige Schatzung aller funf Parameter fuhrte zu unrealistischen Ergebnissen. Wenn an allen Genorten des quantitativen Merkmals nur zwei Allele vorkommen, gehen nur vier Parameter in die genetische (Ko)Varianz ein. Die Schatzwerte, die unter dieser Annahme berechnet wurden, waren plausibler. Eine betrachtliche negative Kovarianz zwischen den Zuchtwerten und den Dominanzwerten bei Inzucht wurde gefunden, und die Dominanzvarianz war unter Inzucht groser als in der Basispopulation.
EFFECT OF RAPAMYCIN ON PROLACTIN-STIMULATED S6 KINASE ACTIVITY AND MILK PRODUCT FORMATION IN MOUSE MAMMARY EXPLANTS

Abstract The in vitro effects of rapamycin on prolactin (PRL)-stimulated S6 kinase activity and milk product synthesis were investigated in cultured mouse mammary tissues. Mouse mammary gland explants were initially incubated for 24 h in M199 media containing 1 μg/ml insulin and 10−7 M cortisol. A subsequent treatment of the tissues with 1 μg/ml PRL for 12 h caused a 98% increase in S6 kinase activity in the cytosolic fraction; effects were not observed at earlier times. PRL at or above 500 ng/ml was needed to elicit a maximum stimulation of S6 kinase activity, and this response was specific for lactogenic hormones (PRL, hPL, hGH). Rapamycin, an inhibitor of 70 K S6 kinase, was employed to assess the possible physiological role of S6 kinase in the PRL stimulation of milk product formation. Rapamycin (25–100 ng/ml) impeded, in a dose-dependent fashion, the PRL stimulation of casein, lipid and lactose synthesis in concert with its inhibition of cytoplasmic S6 kinase activity. These results suggest a possible role for the activation of 70 K kinase in the signalling pathway for the PRL regulation of milk product synthesis in the mammary gland.
Effect of incubation temperature and androgens on dopaminergic activity in the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius.

Male leopard geckos that hatch from eggs incubated at a female-biased temperature (Tf) behave differently when compared with males hatching at a temperature which produces a male-biased sex ratio (Tm). We investigated the effect of incubation temperature and androgen implantation on aspects of the dopaminergic system of Tf and Tm males. Our data suggest that more dopamine (DA) is stored in the nucleus accumbens of naive Tf males compared with naive Tm males when they encounter a receptive female conspecific across a barrier. No difference was measured in the preoptic area and the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This difference in intracellular DA levels in a motivation-related brain nucleus might be correlated with differences in sociosexual behavior observed between the two morphs. There were no differences in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expressing cell numbers in the VTA of cholesterol (CH)-implanted naive castrated Tf and Tm males. Only Tf males implanted with testosterone had significantly higher TH immunopositive cell numbers in the VTA compared with CH- and dihydrotestosterone-implanted Tf males. These data indicate that both the embryonic environment as well as the circulating hormonal milieu can modulate neurochemistry, which might in turn be a basis for individual variation in behavior. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007
Microleakage of posterior composite restorations

Abstract Several composite restorative resins have recently been introduced for use in posterior teeth. A number of dentin bonding agents are commercially available for use in conjunction with composite restorative resins. The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the microleakage of Class II MOD preparations in extracted human mandibular molar teeth restored with a chemically-activated posterior composite resin (P 10) and a visible light-cured composite resin (P 30) used in conjunction with a low viscosity bonding resin (Enamel Bond) and a dentin bonding resin (Scotchbond), respectively. The restored teeth were subjected to 100 complete temperature cycles in an aqueous 45CaCl2 solution between 5°C and 55°C and the microleakage evaluated from autoradiographs. Microleakage was observed at the cervical aspects of all the restorations. The results of this in vitro study suggest that microleakage may occur at these sites of posterior composite restorations.
Adolescent sport participants: segmentation by motivation patterns.

Abstract The decline of youth sport participation as a leisure outlet and the associated poor fitness levels of adolescents in the United States are problematic trends. The pervasiveness of passive leisure is fast creating a culture of inactivity, with physical, social and psychological repercussions. The purpose of this study was to extend what is known about youth sport participation motivation by determining how patterns of six reoccurring sport participation motives form definable groups of adolescent sport participants. Samples of adolescent sport participants were drawn from three sport tournaments that took place in the summer of 2001 in North Carolina and South Carolina, USA. Cluster analysis was performed on the responses to 574 valid questionnaires. The patterns of sport participation motives suggested four clusters, which through interpretation were named “Groupies,” “Climbers,” “Inspired” and “Unenthused.” Further research is needed to support or refine the sport participation motivation patte...
Low temperature heat capacity of electrotransported scandium

The heat capacity of two scandium samples containing 1.6 and <5 ppm atomic Fe was measured from 1 to 20 K. The weighted values for γ and θD are: 10.340 ± 0.018 mJ/g-at. K2 and 346.1 ± 0.9 K, respectively. This is the first time anyone has obtained the same heat capacity results on two different scandium samples. The iron impurity concentration appears to be critical.
Group Learning Through Group Discussion: A Group Discussion Implementation Analysis

(1956). Group Learning Through Group Discussion: A Group Discussion Implementation Analysis. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 3-9.
Apple cuticle: the perfect interface

ABSTRACT The domestic apple might well be called an extreme fruit. In the arid Northwest United States, the fruit often tolerates surface temperatures ranging from -2 oC in the early spring to 50 oC in the heat of summer, and again to -2 oC during controlled postharvest storage for up to 12 months. During its 18-month existence, the apple maintains a cuticle that is dynamic and environmentally responsive to protect against 1) cellular water loss during desiccation stress and 2) excessive uptake of standing surface moisture. Physiological disorders of the peel such as russeting, cracking, splitting, flecking and lenticel marking, develop as epidermal cells respond to rapid changes in ambient conditions at specific developmental stages during the growing season. Resultant market losses underlie research investigating the nature of apple cuticle growth and development. Ultrastructural analysis of the pro-cuticle using scanning electron microscopy indicates an overlapping network of lipid-based distally-elongating microtubules--produced by and connected to epidermal cells--which co-polymerize to form an organic solvent-insoluble semi-permeable cutin matrix. Microtubule elongation, aggregation, and polymerization function together as long as the fruit continues to enlarge. The nature of lipid transport from the epidermal cells through the cell wall to become part of the cuticular matrix was explored using an FEI Helios NanoLab DualBeam focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope on chemically- and cryo-fixed peel tissue from mature or freshly harvested apples. Based on microtubule dimensions, regular projections found at the cell/cuticle interface suggest an array of microtubule- like structures associated with the epidermal cell. Keywords: Physiological disorders, environmental stress, microcracking, microtubule, water stress
Hot-pressed ceramic Cr 2+ :ZnSe gain-switched laser

The technology of hot-pressed Cr2+:ZnSe ceramic preparation is reported. Comparative gain-switched lasing of hot-pressed ceramic and CVD grown Cr2+:ZnSe samples with slope efficiencies up to 10% and output energies up to 2 mJ were demonstrated. This is a milestone in the development of future large scale mid-IR laser systems based on ceramic TM2+:II–VI materials. This evolving technology has excellent potential as media for practical low cost, high power mid-IR laser applications.
Actin filaments in honeybee-flight muscle move collectively

To investigate the pattern of actin-filament translation in the intact myofibrillar matrix, we carried out electron micrographic experiments on the "rigor-stretch" model of insect-flight muscle. In this model, thin filaments are mechanically severed from their connections to the Z-line and may then slide freely over the myosin filaments when activated. The model is similar to the in vitro motility assay in that untethered actin filaments slide over myosin, but here the natural filament lattice is retained: sliding takes place through the lattice of thick filaments. We find, in this model, that while the extent of thin filament translation is variable from sarcomere to sarcomere, filaments never translate far enough to enter the opposite I-band. Unlike the in vitro motility assay, where the actin filament translates over the entire thick filament even with "incorrectly" polarized cross-bridges as the sole driver, in this intact filament-lattice model, cross-bridges are apparently unable to move filaments in both directions. We also find that the pattern of filament translation is collective. Although the extent of translation may vary among sarcomeres, in any given half-sarcomere all actin filaments translate by the same degree. Further, the extent of translation is the same in both halves of a given sarcomere. In rare instances where the extent of translation exhibited a transverse gradient across the myofibrillar half-sarcomere, the gradient was similar on both sides of the sarcomere. Filament translation within the sarcomere is thus collective. Some mechanism ensures that nearby but distinctly separated actin filaments move together and that cooperative-like behavior therefore extends to the supramolecular level.
Time to Junk Junk Latin

Excerpt To the editor: The correction needed for a recent article in your journal (1) in which the dose of amphotericin, intended to be printed as 40 mg every other day, was transformed into 40 mg ...
A multiscale modeling approach for biomolecular systems

This paper presents a new multiscale molecular dynamic model for investigating the effects of external interactions, such as contact and impact, during stepping and docking of motor proteins and other biomolecular systems. The model retains the mass properties ensuring that the result satisfies Newton’s second law. This idea is presented using a simple particle model to facilitate discussion of the rigid body model; however, the particle model does provide insights into particle dynamics at the nanoscale. The resulting three-dimensional model predicts a significant decrease in the effect of the random forces associated with Brownian motion. This conclusion runs contrary to the widely accepted notion that the motor protein’s movements are primarily the result of thermal effects. This work focuses on the mechanical aspects of protein locomotion; the effect ATP hydrolysis is estimated as internal forces acting on the mechanical model. In addition, the proposed model can be numerically integrated in a reasonable amount of time. Herein, the differences between the motion predicted by the old and new modeling approaches are compared using a simplified model of myosin V.
Application-informed platform evaluation for commercial-off-the-shelf dynamic voltage scaling

As form-factor and lifetime constraints placed on mobile electronic devices grow more restrictive, techniques such as dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) and duty cycling can provide critical energy reductions. This work presents a model-based analysis of worst-case DVS break-even time, and introduces an application-agnostic metric for rapid side-by-side comparison of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products being considered for DVS applications. This metric is intended to reduce time spent profiling multiple devices by enabling more informed processing platform selection earlier in the design cycle. To validate this modeling effort, a COTS platform is selected, prototyped, and evaluated for actual versus predicted break-even time.
Maturation characteristics and life-history strategies of the Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus

Lampreys (Petromyzontiformes) have persisted over millennia and now suffer a recent decline in abundance. Complex life histories may have factored in their persistence; anthropogenic perturbations ...
1-hexene isomerization on a Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst: The dramatic effects of feed peroxides on catalyst activity

During 1-hexene (Pc = 31.7 bar; Tc = 231 °C) isomerization on a Pt/gg-Al2O3 reforming catalyst, the formation of hexene oligomers in the bulk fluid causes catalyst deactivation with time. Organic peroxides present in the 1-hexene feed stock are responsible for the formation of these oligomers. With 130 ppm peroxides in the feed, the catalyst undergoes total deactivation in about 10 hours at subcritical conditions (281°C, 1 bar and 135 g hexene/h/g cat.). The deactivation rate is reduced at supercritical operating conditions due to the ability of supercritical reaction media to solubilize and extract these oligomers from the catalyst surface. When the feed peroxides are virtually eliminated prior to introduction into the reactor (by pretreatment with activated alumina and by simultaneous deoxygenation of the feed), nearly constant isomerization activity is observed with about 45% hexene conversion to isomers at subcritical conditions, and about 65% conversion at supercritical conditions (281°C, 70 bar). During an extended 42 hour run at supercritical conditions, catalyst activity was nearly constant with neither measurable coke laydown nor surface area/pore volume losses in the spent catalyst.
Transient thermal-hydraulic analysis for reactor cores

Abstract A new computational method is presented for a transient, thermal-hydraulic, multichannel analysis. The method is developed based on the concept of artificial compressibility to preserve the elliptic character of the reactor core flow in order to satisfy the realistic pressure boundary conditions, and to account for the discontinuities of the emprical correlations simulating the flow resistances. The computer code (RETSAC) developed by implementing the method presented in this paper can be categorized as a fourth generation multichannel computer code. This new computer code has been compared with the widely used marching techniques, such as COBRA IIIC (the third generation). The numerical results clearly indicate the situations in which the marching technique may or may not be appropriate. Furthermore, the RETSAC computer code can calculate various normal or off-normal reactor core flows which the third generation codes could not handle without a substantial increase of computer time.
Both helical propensity and side-chain hydrophobicity at a partially exposed site in α-helix contribute to the thermodynamic stability of ubiquitin

Improving helical propensity of residues was proposed as one of the approaches to increase protein stability. Here the contribution of the helix propensity and hydrophobicity of residues at partially buried positions of alpha-helix to the stability of a model protein-ubiquitin- is explored. Thermodynamic stabilities of 13 ubiquitin variants with substitutions at a partially buried helical residue were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that the dynamic range of stabilities for different amino acid residues at this partially buried position is 3 times larger than that expected based on helical propensity alone. Correlation analysis shows that both helical propensity and hydrophobicity are important in defining the relative stabilities of the studied ubiquitin variants. These results provide experimental evidence that partially buried positions are potentially useful sites for engineering proteins with enhanced thermostability.
NMOS source-drain extension ion implantation into heated substrates

The emergence of three-dimensional structures (Tri-gate, FinFET, etc.) in modern CMOS manufacturing have required new technologies to mitigate ion implant damage effects. Traditional beamline ion implant provides a well understood and well controlled approach to fin doping given that the pitches between source/drain fins and/or the polysilicon gates allow it without shadowing of active device structures. However, traditional beamline ion implant also causes silicon damage that can prove particularly problematic at the dimensions associated with modern 3-dimensional transistors. In this work we perform traditional beamline ion implants into silicon wafer substrates that are heated to elevated temperatures in an effort to mitigate ion implant damage effects. The net impact of damage mitigation using this technology is shown on flat wafers, topographical wafers, and finally on 22 nm NMOS trigate devices.
Mentalizing the Unmentalizable: Parenting Children on the Spectrum

This paper is aimed at exploring the idea that parents of children on the autistic spectrum must, throughout their child's development, contend with a particular and painful paradox unique to the n...
Voices from "the front": how student violence is changing the experience of school leaders

The nature of student violence in America's schools has changed over the past two decades. Research suggests that there are two distinct kinds or "subtypes" of aggression in youth-reactive aggression and proactive aggression. Reactive aggression is characterized as a "hot-blooded," automatic, defensive response to immediate and often misperceived threat. Proactive aggression, on the other hand, is described as highly organized, "cold-blooded," and premeditated rather than automatic. According to responses from a national survey of school administrators, the frequency of proactive aggression has doubled among middle and high school students and nearly tripled at the elementary school level in the past 20 years. The purpose of this article is twofold: (a) to report findings of an inquiry into the impact of increasing proactive aggression in schools as experienced by principals and assistant principals nationwide, and (b) to present the views of "front line" school leaders with regard to the impact, causes and potential solutions to the problem.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF DISTYLOUS PARTRIDGEBERRY, MITCHELLA REPENS

Long-styled (pin) and short-styled (thrum) plants in populations of Mitchella repens from North Carolina and New York displayed strongly clumped spatial dispersion. This distribution pattern results from the tendency of these prostrate perennials to spread by production of trailing stems with adventitious roots. Both morphs, in both populations, exhibited natural fruit set exceeding 86%. This percentage was not increased by hand-pollination. Although the number of ovules per pair of ovaries was fixed at eight in each morph, numbers of seeds per fruit in naturally pollinated flowers differed significantly between pins (4.3) and thrums (6.4) in the North Carolina population. In the New York population, no significant differences were found (pins had 5.0 seeds per fruit; thrums, 4.4). Artificial pollinations in both populations showed low seed set in intramorph cross-pollinations as compared with intermorph crosses. The flowers of M. repens were visited by native species of Bombas, which visited many flowers in each patch of plants. These insects moved frequently from patch to patch, effecting intermorph crosspollination and maintaining high levels of seed set. Movement among patches may be promoted by the dispersion of nectar rewards, with flowers about to open or just opened providing maximum amounts of nectar. Calculations of functional gender suggested that in the North Carolina population, thrums contributed more than 75% of the genes transmitted by ovule production. This contrasts strongly with previous studies of unequal sexual contributions in distylous taxa, which have demonstrated greater female contributions by pins. In the New York population, however, nearly equal contributions by pins and thrums through pollen and ovule production occurred, a situation similar to that found in most distylous species. This appears to be the first demonstration of variation in functional gender between populations of a single specles.
Mucosal immunity in HIV controllers: the right place at the right time

Purpose of review—The phenomenon of long-term non-progression in HIV infection has been recognized for some time, and the ability of rare individuals, designated “elite controllers”, to control HIV in the absence of therapy is the focus of numerous ongoing studies. This review focuses on studies of HIV-specific immune responses in mucosal tissues as a potential correlate of immune control, with an emphasis on recently published work. Recent findings—Genetic studies have implicated a role for elements localized to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 in the immune control of HIV infection. In parallel, functional studies have strongly implicated MHC class I-restricted, CD8+ T-cell responses as a major contributor to elite control. In addition, the localization of HIV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells with respect to the major sites of virus replication in the body may be critical in determining clinical outcome. Summary—Recent findings suggest that MHC class I-restricted, CD8+ T-cells are a major component of immune control in “elite controllers”. In addition, the presence of these effector cells at or near critical viral reservoirs, such as mucosal tissues, may be critical in determining their effectiveness at limiting viral replication and dissemination.
Nutritional Effects of Nucleic Acids and Nucleic Acid Components on Cultures of the Suctorian Podophrya collini

SYNOPSIS. Podophrya collini was fed homozygous killer Paramecium aurelia (containing kappa particles DNA). The rate of giant formation in the suctorian population was then determined; controls were fed homozygous sensitive P. aurelia. No difference in the rate of giant formation was observed; the DNA contribution by the kappa particles was not enough to induce a higher rate of giant formation. Cultures of P. collini containing only animals of known uniform age were then fed controlled numbers of Tetrahymena pyriformis or sensitive P. aurelia after these ciliates had been pretreated with guanylic acid, 8-azaguanine, commercial DNA or DNA isolated from Tetrahymena. Giant formation was increased after guanylic acid pretreatment, reduced after the 8-azaguanine pretreatment, and unaffected after DNA pretreatment over a 5-day test period. The changes in rate of giant formation are clearly caused by pretreatment agents. These agents reach the suctorian's metabolism via the food ciliates' food vacuoles before they are altered in the food vacuole.
Quantitative analysis of metabolic processes III. A model-system for enzyme synthesis by sequential induction and mathematical formulation of the process

A postulated scheme for sequential enzyme synthesis coupled with linear chain reaction is proposed. Mathematical calculations are carried out for the transient-state formation of enzyme coupled with enzyme-substrate reactions. Examples are presented to demonstrate the relations between various operational parameters during enzyme synthesis as a function of time. Significance of the phenomenon of sequential synthesis is discussed in relation to abnormal growth and cellular injury.
Interrelationship of Dietary Vitamin D3 with Potassium, Sodium and Magnesium in Young Turkeys,

Abstract Six experiments were conducted with Large White and Bronze turkeys to four weeks of age. The interrelationship of dietary vitamin D3 with either potassium, sodium or magnesium was studied in two experiments each. One group of 8–9 male and one group of 8–9 female poults were randomly assigned to each treatment within an experiment. The design of all experiments involved a factorial arrangement of two variables: vitamin D3 and a mineral element. For example, all possible combinations of four dietary potassium levels, 0.24, 0.34, 0.44, 0.54%; and four vitamin D3 levels 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 I.C. units/kg. were fed in the second potassium experiment. Significant (P
Gaze controls with interactions and decays

Multibehavior control is explored in a simulation of gaze control using saccadic, vergence, pursuit, vestibulo-ocular reflex, and head control. In gaze control, several simple reflexes (or behaviors) cooperate to achieve effects such as gaze shifts, object tracking, and gaze stabilization. In the simulation, the behaviors acted like a multirate, multiinput, multioutput, time-delayed, saturated control system. Explicit coordination between behaviors was needed to let them cooperate effectively (stably, accurately) in the presence of time delays and control interactions. The coordination in this case is through a shared data structure that predicts the future state of the active agent. A behavior is assumed to know the maximum time delay of any behavior with which it shares an output. The resulting control is a form of the Smith predictor and seems to offer one general solution for this type of problem. >
Enrollment Prediction through Data Mining

In this paper, we describe our study on enrollment prediction using support vector machines and rule-based predictive models. The goal is to predict the total enrollment headcount that is composed of new (freshman and transfer), continued and returned students. The proposed approach builds predictive models for new, continued and returned students, respectively first, and then aggregates their predictive results from which the model for the total headcount is generated. The types of data utilized during the mining process include population, employment, tuition and fees, household income, high school graduates, and historical enrollment data. Support vector machines produce the initial predictive results, which are then used by a tool called Cubist to generate easy-to-understand rule-based predictive models. Finally we present some empirical results on enrollment prediction for computer science students at California State University, Sacramento.
Joint Modeling of Mobility and Communication in a V2V Network for Congestion Amelioration

Vehicular networks are emerging as an exciting new area of pervasive networking. Roadway congestion amelioration is one of the attractive applications of such a network. The mobility of vehicles on the roadway has been modeled in literature, but the effect of the communication network on the mobility patterns has not been addressed so far. We present such a model of the mobility that integrates the effects of the network. Our model is based on an earlier model using a Enskog dense gas modeling of the traffic flow. Our solutions show that the model is realistic and numerical simulations also verify the results. We also note that this application can cause oscillation waves in the traffic flow, which have so far not been recognized in literature.
Analysis of an algorithm for irregular LDPC code construction

This work presents a rigorous analysis of an algorithm proposed by Tian et al. (2003) for the construction of irregular LDPC codes with reduced stopping sets and low error floors. Computation of the expected number of stopping sets of a given size proves that the algorithm significantly outperforms a random construction. We show that the algorithm provably reduces the expected number of stopping sets up to a certain size (based on the input parameters). The expected number of cycles of a given size is computed for both constructions.
Examination of Count-starved Gamma Spectra Using the Method of Spectral Comparison Ratios

We discuss the determination of energy bin boundaries and decision metrics for gamma-ray spectra, acquired using a mid-resolution detector, that are useful in the detection of illicit sources at low total counts. The bins are designed to produce the lowest minimum detectable counts (MDC) using a spectral comparison ratio technique at a given false positive rate, for a specified population of benign-source spectra. Spectra from the benign source population consist of observations taken by a detector on a moving vehicle, as would be obtained during a search for a missing or hidden source. Raw counts in bins are transformed into a vector of background-corrected count differences. Bin boundaries are determined to yield large values of a standardized length of this vector for benign-plus-benchmark sources by the application of an optimization technique. The objective function includes penalties for overlap with the spectral features of naturally occurring radioactive materials. We compare estimated MDC values for such bins applied to depleted uranium and barium-133 sources with those based on gross counting, and we examine the effect of nuisance potassium-, radium- and thorium-dominated sources. We demonstrate that, using this methodology, energy bins may be designed for sensitivity to special nuclear materials, improving the likelihood of detection in low-count or masked-source searches.
Are There Any New Pharmacologic Therapies on the Horizon to Better Treat Hypertension? A State-of-the-Art Paper

Hypertension is the most important cardiovascular risk factor. We have witnessed a significant improvement in hypertension treatment and control and an impressive growth in the pharmacologic options available to clinicians and hypertension specialists. With up to a third of patients with hypertension not at the recommended goal blood pressures, it is critically important to develop novel therapeutic approaches to better treat hypertension. This review will explore the ever-expanding horizon of antihypertensive treatment and will focus on 2 major areas of drug development. First, we will review novel targets for pharmacologic treatment and novel molecules and classes of drugs in various phases of development and recognize the limitations we face in their transition from research and development to clinical practice. Then, we will discuss an expanding array of combination strategies to better treat hypertension with the goal of minimizing the burden of cardiovascular and renal complications of hypertension.
Axis-aligned filtering for interactive sampled soft shadows

We develop a simple and efficient method for soft shadows from planar area light sources, based on explicit occlusion calculation by raytracing, followed by adaptive image-space filtering. Since the method is based on Monte Carlo sampling, it is accurate. Since the filtering is in image-space, it adds minimal overhead and can be performed at real-time frame rates. We obtain interactive speeds, using the Optix GPU raytracing framework. Our technical approach derives from recent work on frequency analysis and sheared pixel-light filtering for offline soft shadows. While sample counts can be reduced dramatically, the sheared filtering step is slow, adding minutes of overhead. We develop the theoretical analysis to instead consider axis-aligned filtering, deriving the sampling rates and filter sizes. We also show how the filter size can be reduced as the number of samples increases, ensuring a consistent result that converges to ground truth as in standard Monte Carlo rendering.