cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of environmental context in mapping invasive plants with hyperspectral image data

Lepidium latifolium (perennial pepperweed) is a noxious Eurasian weed invading riparian and wetland areas of the western US. Effective management of Lepidium requires detailed, accurate maps of its distribution, as may be provided by remote sensing, to contain existing infestations and eradicate incipient populations. We mapped Lepidium with 3 m spatial resolution, 128-band HyMap image data in three sites of California's San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Rush Ranch in Suisun Marsh and the Greater Jepson Prairie Ecosystem and the Cosumnes River Preserve in the Delta). These sites are markedly different in terms of hydrology, salinity, species composition, and structural and landscape diversity. Aggregated classification and regression tree models (CART), incorporating the results of mixture tuned matched filter (MTMF) analyses and spectral physiological indexes, were used to map Lepidium at the three sites. This approach was sufficiently flexible and robust to detect Lepidium with similar accuracies (~ 90%) at both Rush Ranch and Jepson Prairie, but was unsuccessful at Cosumnes River Preserve. Comparisons of the behavior of the MTMFs and the CARTs between sites reveal the importance of environmental context in species mapping. Rush Ranch presents the simplest conditions for mapping Lepidium: it is the wettest and least diverse site and Lepidium is spectrally distinct from co-occurring species. At Jepson Prairie, several co-occurring species closely resemble Lepidium spectrally. Nevertheless, hyperspectral data provide sufficient spectral detail to resolve Lepidium even at this challenging site, which is facilitated by phenological separation from the matrix of annual grasses. At Cosumnes River Preserve, however, Lepidium is neither spectrally nor phenologically distinct, and consequently could not be mapped successfully. Evidence suggests that the success of a remote sensing analysis declines as site complexity increases (species, structural, and landscape diversity; spectral variability; etc.), although this relationship is complex, indirect, and may be phenology-dependent.
Optical Manipulation with Plasmonic Beam Shaping Antenna Structures

Near-field optical trapping of objects using plasmonic antenna structures has recently attracted great attention. However, metal nanostructures also provide a compact platform for general wavefront engineering of intermediate and far-field beams. Here, we analyze optical forces generated by plasmonic beam shaping antenna structures and show that they can be used for general optical manipulation such as guiding of a dielectric particle along a linear or curved trajectory. This removes the need for bulky diffractive optical components and facilitates the integration of optical force manipulation into a highly functional, compact system.
Optimization of conductivity and transparency in amorphous In-ZN-O transparent conductors

Amorphous mixed metal oxide TCOs are of increasing interest due to the excellent opto-electronic properties and smoothness (R RMS ≪ 0.5 nm) obtained for sputtered films deposited at less than 100 °C. In particular, for amorphous In-Zn-O (a-IZO) films grown from a ceramic target with 10 wt. % ZnO in In 2 O 3 , the current industry standard, conductivities σ ≥ 2500 S/cm are common. Here, we have investigated the combined materials phase space of oxygen stoichiometry and metals composition (In:Zn ratio) and made two key discoveries. First, that high conductivity a-IZO thin films can be made with substantially less indium provided that a corresponding change is also made in the oxygen content. And second, that for all compositions of a-IZO, the electron mobility (μ) and carrier concentration (N) fall on a single common curve when plotted as μ vs N.
Privacy-aware shared UI toolkit for nomadic environments

As computing becomes more nomadic, privacy becomes a greater concern. People use portable devices to annex displays in their environments so that they can share information with other people. However, private information such as usernames, e-mail addresses, and folder names are shown on foreign displays. In addition, foreign keyboards can be used to enter in passwords generating a significant privacy and security risk. Because nomadic users' sensitive data is constantly at risk for exploitation via the UI toolkit, a solution for protecting user privacy must include that toolkit. This paper introduces the XICE framework—a windowing toolkit that provides easy display annexing and includes a robust privacy framework to help protect users and their data. This paper discusses the exploits that annexing external devices introduces and how XICE mitigates or eliminates those threats safely and naturally for both users and developers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 3D analysis of yeast ER structure reveals how ER domains are organized by membrane curvature

We analyzed the structure of yeast endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during six sequential stages of budding by electron tomography to reveal a three-dimensional portrait of ER organization during inheritance at a nanometer resolution. We have determined the distribution, dimensions, and ribosome densities of structurally distinct but continuous ER domains during multiple stages of budding with and without the tubule-shaping proteins, reticulons (Rtns) and Yop1. In wild-type cells, the peripheral ER contains cytoplasmic cisternae, many tubules, and a large plasma membrane (PM)–associated ER domain that consists of both tubules and fenestrated cisternae. In the absence of Rtn/Yop1, all three domains lose membrane curvature, ER ribosome density changes, and the amount of PM-associated ER increases dramatically. Deletion of Rtns/Yop1 does not, however, prevent bloated ER tubules from being pulled from the mother cisterna into the bud and strongly suggests that Rtns/Yop1 stabilize/maintain rather than generate membrane curvature at all peripheral ER domains in yeast.
Towards a responsive, yet power-efficient, operating system: a holistic approach

Although computing hardware has become increasingly more powerful, computer responsiveness is still an important issue due to multi-tasking and software bloat. We propose a holistic approach for improving computer responsiveness through user focus-aware resource management for CPU, memory, disk I/O, and graphics processing. Previous approaches only address one or two of these problems simultaneously. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first to address disk I/O scheduling for better responsiveness. It also offers better solutions for the other problems. We also exploit the user-perceived latency to perform dynamic voltage scaling of the CPU to reduce power consumption at run-time without sacrificing responsiveness. We implemented our approach in the Linux/X Window system (henceforth referred to as Linux/X) on an IBM Thinkpad R32 laptop with mobile Pentium 4-M processor, which has two performance levels with different frequency/supply voltage settings: high (30.0W at 1.8GHz/1.3V) and low (20.8W at 1.2GHz/1.2V). Experimental results show that user focus-aware resource management achieves a significant improvement in computer responsiveness and some in energy efficiency. For example, for TuxRacer, a video racing game, with GpsDrive, a navigation system, running in the background, it provides a reduction of 42.0% in user-perceived latency and 7.5% in energy consumption with respect to the Linux/X system.
The inotropic effect of cardioactive glycosides in ventricular myocytes requires Na+-Ca2+ exchanger function

Glycoside-induced cardiac inotropy has traditionally been attributed to direct Na+–K+-ATPase inhibition, causing increased intracellular [Na+] and consequent Ca2+ gain via the Na+–Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). However, recent studies suggested alternative mechanisms of glycoside-induced inotropy: (1) direct activation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channels (ryanodine receptors; RyRs); (2) increased Ca2+ selectivity of Na+ channels (slip-mode conductance); and (3) other signal transduction pathways. None of these proposed mechanisms requires NCX or an altered [Na+] gradient. Here we tested the ability of ouabain (OUA, 3 μm), digoxin (DIG, 20 μm) or acetylstrophanthidin (ACS, 4 μm) to alter Ca2+ transients in completely Na+-free conditions in intact ferret and cat ventricular myocytes. We also tested whether OUA directly activates RyRs in permeabilized cat myocytes (measuring Ca2+ sparks by confocal microscopy). In intact ferret myocytes (stimulated at 0.2 Hz), DIG and ACS enhanced Ca2+ transients and cell shortening during twitches, as expected. However, prior depletion of [Na+]i (in Na+-free, Ca2+-free solution) and in Na+-free solution (replaced by Li+) the inotropic effects of DIG and ACS were completely prevented. In voltage-clamped cat myocytes, OUA increased Ca2+ transients by 48 ± 4% but OUA had no effect in Na+-depleted cells (replaced by N-methyl-d-glucamine). In permeabilized cat myocytes, OUA did not change Ca2+ spark frequency, amplitude or spatial spread (although spark duration was slightly prolonged). We conclude that the acute inotropic effects of DIG, ACS and OUA (and the effects on RyRs) depend on the presence of Na+ and a functional NCX in ferret and cat myocytes (rather than alternate Na+-independent mechanisms).
Transition Metal Complexes with Bulky Allyl Ligands

The allyl anion (C3H5−) is often found in combination with other ligands in organometallic complexes. Its compact size, however, means that compounds in which it is the only or principal type of ligand are frequently coordinatively unsaturated and prone to decomposition. Sterically bulky substituents (e.g. – SiMe3) placed on the allyl group will increase its effective size, dramatically enhancing the thermal, and in some cases oxidative, stability of the associated metal complexes. Solubility in nonpolar solvents such as aromatic hydrocarbons and alkanes is also improved. Electron-deficient monomeric first row transition metal allyl complexes (e.g. [π-(SiMe3)2C3H3]2M; M = Cr, Fe, Co) have been synthesized that have no (C3H5)2M counterparts. New varieties of early transition metal and f-element complexes have been made with bulky allyl ligands, some of which are active polymerization catalysts. Research in this area has markedly expanded the range of metals, structural types, and associated reactions that can be incorporated into metal allyl chemistry. Keywords: allyl complex; steric bulk
Probabilistic single-individual haplotyping.

Motivation: Accurate haplotyping—determining from which parent particular portions of the genome are inherited—is still mostly an unresolved problem in genomics. This problem has only recently started to become tractable, thanks to the development of new long read sequencing technologies. Here, we introduce ProbHap, a haplotyping algorithm targeted at such technologies. The main algorithmic idea of ProbHap is a new dynamic programming algorithm that exactly optimizes a likelihood function specified by a probabilistic graphical model and which generalizes a popular objective called the minimum error correction. In addition to being accurate, ProbHap also provides confidence scores at phased positions. Results: On a standard benchmark dataset, ProbHap makes 11% fewer errors than current state-of-the-art methods. This accuracy can be further increased by excluding low-confidence positions, at the cost of a small drop in haplotype completeness. Availability: Our source code is freely available at: https://github.com/kuleshov/ProbHap. Contact: ude.drofnats@vohseluk
Network-based analysis of genotype-phenotype correlations between different inheritance modes.

Motivation Recent studies on human disease have revealed that aberrant interaction between proteins probably underlies a substantial number of human genetic diseases. This suggests a need to investigate disease inheritance mode using interaction, and based on which to refresh our conceptual understanding of a series of properties regarding inheritance mode of human disease. Results We observed a strong correlation between the number of protein interactions and the likelihood of a gene causing any dominant diseases or multiple dominant diseases, whereas no correlation was observed between protein interaction and the likelihood of a gene causing recessive diseases. We found that dominant diseases are more likely to be associated with disruption of important interactions. These suggest inheritance mode should be understood using protein interaction. We therefore reviewed the previous studies and refined an interaction model of inheritance mode, and then confirmed that this model is largely reasonable using new evidences. With these findings, we found that the inheritance mode of human genetic diseases can be predicted using protein interaction. By integrating the systems biology perspectives with the classical disease genetics paradigm, our study provides some new insights into genotype-phenotype correlations. Contact haodapeng@ems.hrbmu.edu.cn or biofomeng@hotmail.com Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Management of Elderly Patients with Plasma Cell Myeloma.

Plasma cell myeloma (PCM) is a hematologic malignancy that primarily affects the elderly. Approximately two-thirds of patients are aged 65 years or older at diagnosis. Major advances in testing, treatment, and supportive care have resulted in substantial improvement in overall survival in younger, standard-risk, PCM patients over the past 3 decades. However, this positive impact progressively diminishes with advancing age, with some studies showing no improvement in survival outcomes in the elderly. Slow improvement in survival for elderly PCM patients is likely multifactorial, influenced by factors such as age-related physiologic changes, increased comorbidities, decreased treatment tolerance, socioeconomic barriers, and possible differences in disease biology. The standard approach of basing treatment decisions on age and performance status does not account for this complexity, and can be insufficient to determine the risks and benefits of treatment. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) produces a more thorough iteration of the factors influencing an individual’s treatment risk, and can potentially identify targets for intervention to lower risk. Ongoing studies are looking at developing and refining the tools available for risk screening and assessment. Treating elderly PCM patients with novel agent-based regimens with or without autologous stem cell transplantation has improved response rates and survival in some studies, but elderly PCM patients have benefitted less than their younger counterparts from recent advances in PCM treatment. Personalizing treatment decisions, based on predictions of risk, determined by geriatric assessment, and response, determined by precision medicine (our understanding of the genetic, molecular, and cellular pathways that drive an individual’s cancer) will help maximize the benefit and minimize the risk of PCM treatment for each patient. Continued evaluation of new strategies and treatments for PCM in clinical trials specifically designed for elderly patients is needed to continue to improve outcomes for elderly PCM patients in the future.
Random Spectrum Fatigue Crack Life Predictions With or Without Considering Load Interactions

The validity of using constant amplitude crack growth rate data for the prediction of fatigue crack growth behavior and lives of center-cracked tension (CCT) specimens under random spectrum loadings was assessed. Analytical predictions obtained from the EFFGRO computer program were the results from two different approaches. One approach did not account for the load interaction effects to the fatigue crack growth, while the other approach considered both the tensile overload retardation and the compressive load acceleration effects as well as the reduction of overload retardation effect caused by the compressive load immediately following the tensile overload. This paper describes the fatigue crack growth rate equation, the load interaction model, the numerical procedure, and the cycle counting technique used in the EFFGRO program. Results from other studies, including the sensitivity of the overload shut-off ratio, the crack growth rate constants determination procedure, and the range-pair counting effects to the prediction accuracies, are also presented.
Characterization of an APC Promoter 1B deletion in a Patient Diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis via Whole Genome Shotgun Sequencing

Recently, deletions have been identified and published as causal for Familial Adenomatous Polyposis in the 1B promoter region of the APC gene. Those deletions were measured using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Here, we present and characterize an ~11kb deletion identified by whole genome shotgun sequencing. The deletion occurred in a patient diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, and was located on chr5, between bases 112,034,824 and 112,045,845, fully encompassing the 1B promoter region of the APC gene. Results are presented here that include the sequence evidence supporting the presence of the deletion as well as base level characterization of the deletion site. These results demonstrate the capacity of whole genome sequencing for the detection of large structural variants in single individuals.
Computing Along Routes via Gossiping

In this paper, we study a class of distributed computing problems where a group of nodes (destinations) is interested in a function of data which are stored by another group of nodes (sources). We assume that the function of interest is separable, i.e., it can be decomposed as a sum of functions of local variables, a case that subsumes several interesting types of queries. One approach to solve this problem is to route raw information from the sources to the interested destinations by either unicasting or multicasting. The second approach is to compute the function of interest along some routes while propagating the information from the sources to the destinations. Considering the second scenario, the goal of this paper is to examine how information should be forwarded to the intended recipients, computing along the routes by gossiping with selected neighbors. Unlike efficient unicasting/multicasting problems, nodes are interested in a specific function of the data, rather than the raw data themselves. Moreover, unlike standard gossiping problems, in our case, the information needs to flow in a specific direction. Given the underlying network connectivity and the source-destination sets, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions on the update weights (referred to as codes) so that the destination nodes converge to the desired function of the source values. We show that the evolution of the source states does not affect the feasibility of the problem, and we provide a detailed analysis on the spectral properties of the feasible codes. We also study the problem feasibility under some specific topologies and provide guidelines to determine infeasibility. We also formulate different strategies to design codes, and compare the performance of our solution with existing alternatives.
808: The impact of maternal body mass index on cesarean delivery operative times

multiparous, to have a preterm delivery, prior CD, higher BMI, diabetes or hypertension compared to women with subcuticular suture (p 0.05). These women more frequently had a vertical skin incision, subcutaneous closure, and subcutaneous drain placement (p 0.05). Overall, 15.6% (170/1085) of women had a wound complication. Incisions closed with staples had a higher proportion of wound complications compared to sutures (22.4% vs. 9.8%) in the unadjusted (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9-3.8) and adjusted (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.3) analysis. Regardless of skin incision closure, wound complication rates did not differ with subcutaneous closure (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.7-1.7) or drain placement (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.6-3.8). CONCLUSION: Skin incision closure at CD with staples is associated with higher rates of wound complications in obese women compared to subcuticular suture. Skin closure with subcuticular suture is therefore recommended over staples in obese women undergoing a CD.
santa and valentine pattern concentric growth of cardiac myocardium in the zebrafish

During embryogenesis, the myocardial layer of the primitive heart tube grows outward from the endocardial-lined lumen, with new cells added to generate concentric thickness to the wall. This is a key evolutionary step, demarcating vertebrates from more primitive chordates, and is essential for normal cardiac function. Zebrafish embryos with the recessive lethal mutations santa (san) and valentine (vtn) do not thicken, but do add the proper number of cells to the myocardium. Consequently, the heart chambers are huge, constituted of a monolayered myocardium lined by endocardium. This phenotype is similar to that of the heart of glass (heg) mutation, which we described previously as a novel endocardial expressed gene. By positional cloning, we here identify san as the zebrafish homolog of human CCM1, and vtn as the homolog of human CCM2. Dominant mutations of either in humans cause vascular anomalies in the brain, known as cerebral cavernous malformations. The synergistic effects of morpholino pairs indicate that san, vtn and heg are in a genetic pathway, and san and vtn contain protein motifs, NPxY and PTB domain, respectively, known to interact. This suggests that concentric growth of the myocardium, crucial for blood pressure generation, is dictated by a heg-san-vtn signaling pathway.
Altered gamma oscillations during pregnancy through loss of δ subunit-containing GABAA receptors on parvalbumin interneurons

Gamma (γ) oscillations (30-120 Hz), an emergent property of neuronal networks, correlate with memory, cognition and encoding. In the hippocampal CA3 region, locally generated γ oscillations emerge through feedback between inhibitory parvalbumin-positive basket cells (PV+BCs) and the principal (pyramidal) cells. PV+BCs express δ-subunit-containing GABAARs (-GABAARs) and NMDA receptors (NMDA-Rs) that balance the frequency of γ oscillations. Neuroactive steroids (NS), such as the progesterone-derived (3α,5α)-3-hydroxy-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone; ALLO), modulate the expression of δ-GABAARs and the tonic conductance they mediate. Pregnancy produces large increases in ALLO and brain-region-specific homeostatic changes in δ-GABAARs expression. Here we show that in CA3, where most PV+ interneurons (INs) express δ-GABAARs, expression of δ-GABAARs on INs diminishes during pregnancy, but reverts to control levels within 48 hours postpartum. These anatomical findings were corroborated by a pregnancy-related increase in the frequency of kainate-induced CA3 γ oscillations in vitro that could be countered by the NMDA-R antagonists D-AP5 and PPDA. Mimicking the typical hormonal conditions during pregnancy by supplementing 100 nM ALLO lowered the γ frequencies to levels found in virgin or postpartum mice. Our findings show that states of altered NS levels (e.g., pregnancy) may provoke perturbations in γ oscillatory activity through direct effects on the GABAergic system, and underscore the importance of δ-GABAARs homeostatic plasticity in maintaining constant network output despite large hormonal changes. Inaccurate coupling of NS levels to δ-GABAAR expression may facilitate abnormal neurological and psychiatric conditions such as epilepsy, post-partum depression, and post-partum psychosis, thus providing insights into potential new treatments.
Benzyladenine Promotes Flowering in Doritaenopsis and Phalaenopsis Orchids

Two experiments were performed to determine how application of the cytokinin benzyladenine (BA) influenced flowering in Doritaenopsis and Phalaenopsis orchid clones. In the first experiment, two vegetative orchid clones growing in 15-cm pots were transferred from a 28°C greenhouse that inhibited flowering to a 23°C greenhouse for flower induction (day 0). A foliar spray (0.2 L m−2) containing BA at 100, 200, or 400 mg L−1 or 25, 50, or 100 mg L−1 each of BA and gibberellins A4 + A7 (BA+GA) was applied on days 0, 7, and 14. Plants treated with BA alone at 200 or 400 mg L−1 had a visible inflorescence 3–9 days earlier and had a mean of 0.7–3.5 more inflorescences and 3–8 more flowers per plant than nontreated plants. The application of BA+GA had no effect on inflorescence number and total flower number at the rates tested. In the second experiment, three orchid clones received a single foliar spray of BA at 200 mg L−1 at six time points relative to time of transfer from 29°C to 23°C (−1, 0, +1, +2, +4, or +6 weeks). A separate group of plants received a BA application at week 0 but was maintained at 29°C. Inflorescence number was greatest in all three orchid clones when plants were treated with BA 1 week after the temperature transfer. Plants that were sprayed with BA and maintained at 29°C did not initiate inflorescences. The promotion of flowering by the application of BA suggests that cytokinins at least partially regulate inflorescence initiation of Doritaenopsis and Phalaenopsis, but its promotion is conditional and BA application cannot completely substitute for an inductive low temperature.
Present wind activity on Mars: Relation to large latitudinally zoned sediment deposits

The relation of present Martian winds to large latitudinally zoned sediment deposits has been investigated using global wind streak data and mapping of large sand and dust deposits. Dune sand deposits occur primarily in three latitude belts: north polar (74-85 degrees North), low latitude (5 degrees North-20 degrees South), and south polar (40-80 degrees South). Comparison with wind streak data shows the high-latitude dunes to be in areas of seasonally reversing winds. The present winds can form latitudinal dune belts from a variety of initial dune distributions, including uniform distribution and a polar source. The presence of dune sand within the polar layered deposits, the erosional state of the deposits, and the present surface wind flow away from the poles indicate that both polar dune concentrations have been derived from erosion of the layered deposits. The low-latitude dunes are topographically confined in canyons and craters; they are probably subject to long-term reversal of orientations with climate cycles.
ExoT of Cytotoxic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Prevents Uptake by Corneal Epithelial Cells

The presence of invasion-inhibitory activity that is regulated by the transcriptional activator ExsA of cytotoxic Pseudomonas aeruginosa has previously been proposed. The results of this study show that both ExoT and ExoS, known type III secreted effector proteins of P. aeruginosa that are regulated by ExsA, possess this activity. Invasion was reduced 94.4% by ExoT and 96.0% by ExoS. Invasion-inhibitory activity is not linked to ADP-ribosylation activity, at least for ExoS, since a noncatalytic mutant also inhibits uptake by an epithelial cell line (invasion was reduced 96.0% by ExoSE381A).
Immature Development of Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae), an Endoparasitoid of the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract Many approaches are being tested to control the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Biological control through the use of parasitoids and parasites is promising. Among the parasitoids of these ants, Pseudacteon spp. (phorid flies) are receiving special attention. One of these species, Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier, has been released in target areas for field assessments. However, there is not enough information about their biology or interactions with their hosts. Here we describe the parasitization and development of P. tricuspis in two sizes of ants. We also evaluated the behavioral response of these ants to the attack of this fly. We found no difference in the development of P. tricuspis when attacking small or large ants. The immatures showed similar developmental time and morphology in both groups of ants. The egg is laid in the thorax, and there are three instars before pupariation. The first instar develops in the thorax, and it remains inside its serosa after hatching. It m...
Ultra-acute CT perfusion imaging A stroke in the scanner

A stroke patient with a mild right hemiparesis (NIH Stroke Scale score 4) underwent dual-slab CT perfusion (CTP). In the midst of acquiring the lower CTP slab, she became aphasic and developed a dense right hemiparesis (NIH Stroke Scale score 17). Reconstruction of the CTP into a dynamic CT angiogram demonstrates fragmentation of an internal carotid artery thrombus at the time of clinical worsening (figure 1; video on the Neurology ® Web site at [Neurology.org][1]). The upper CTP slab, acquired 2 minutes later, provides the earliest known view of the hemodynamics of ischemic stroke in humans. It demonstrates total absence of flow to the middle cerebral artery territory during the ultra-acute phase (figure 2). Follow-up imaging demonstrates infarction of this territory. [1]: http://neurology.org/lookup/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000002109
Neuronal Intermediate Filaments

Neuronal intermediate filaments, or neurofilaments, are among the major fibrous organelles of neurons. Elaborated within the perikaryon, assembled, and extruded to the axon, neurofilaments, together with microtubules, are essential to the neuronal cytoskeletal architecture. Neurofilaments were first recognized by early 19th century light microscopists who used the term neurofibrils to describe the parallel arrays of these elongated structures. Initial investigations in the field of neurofibrillary research have been elegantly discussed by Parker.1 The pioneering electron microscopic observations of Schmitt and his associates2–6 in the middle of this century led to the first descriptions of neurofilament fine structure, which studies have served as a basis for a host of later investigations. Although these ubiquitous neuronal organelles have been recognized and measured for over a century, it was not until recently that biochemical and physicochemical methods were applied. Progress was slow in these areas because of obstacles to obtaining undegraded neurofilament protein sufficiently free of other cellular constituents to make studies at the molecular level meaningful. The major portion of the present chapter focuses on this experimentation, with particular attention given to mammalian neurofilaments. Certain aspects of neurofilament research have been evaluated in other recent reviews.7,8
Edge-terminated molybdenum disulfide with a 9.4-Å interlayer spacing for electrochemical hydrogen production

Layered molybdenum disulfide has demonstrated great promise as a low-cost alternative to platinum-based catalysts for electrochemical hydrogen production from water. Research effort on this material has focused mainly on synthesizing highly nanostructured molybdenum disulfide that allows the exposure of a large fraction of active edge sites. Here we report a promising microwave-assisted strategy for the synthesis of narrow molybdenum disulfide nanosheets with edge-terminated structure and a significantly expanded interlayer spacing, which exhibit striking kinetic metrics with onset potential of -103 mV, Tafel slope of 49 mV per decade and exchange current density of 9.62 × 10(-3) mA cm(-2), performing among the best of current molybdenum disulfide catalysts. Besides benefits from the edge-terminated structure, the expanded interlayer distance with modified electronic structure is also responsible for the observed catalytic improvement, which suggests a potential way to design newly advanced molybdenum disulfide catalysts through modulating the interlayer distance.
Normal Modes and Dielectric Spectra of Diblock Copolymers in Lamellar Phases

We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the normal mode dynamics and frequency dependent dielectric relaxation spectra of diblock copolymers in lamellar phases. In contrast to previous works which have relied on the applicability of Rouse modes, we effect an explicit normal-mode analysis of the chain dynamics in the ordered phases in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the lamellar plane. We considered two models to isolate the specific effects arising from the morphological ordering and mobility disparities between the blocks. For systems with no mobility disparity between the blocks, our analysis demonstrates that both the normal modes and their relaxation dynamics in the planes parallel and perpendicular to the lamella exhibit deviations from the Rouse modes. For systems in which the mobility of one of the blocks was frozen in the lamellar phase, the normal modes closely resembled the Rouse modes for tethered polymers. However, the relaxation dynamics of such modes exhibited deviations ...
Atomic-scale imaging of cation ordering in inverse spinel Zn2SnO4 nanowires.

By using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) coupled with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate the atomic-level imaging of cation ordering in inverse spinel Zn2SnO4 nanowires. This cation ordering was identified as 1:1 ordering of Zn(2+) and Sn(4+) at the octahedral sites of the inverse spinel crystal with microscopic symmetry transition from original cubic Fd3m to orthorhombic Imma group. This ordering generated a 67.8% increase in the elastic modulus and 1-2 order of magnitude lower in the electric conductivity and electron mobility compared to their bulk counterpart.
Laser Interferometric Temperature Measurement of Heated Substrates Used for High Tc Superconductor Deposition

Substrate temperature during film growth is an important processing parameter for vapor deposited films of the high Tc superconductors. In this paper we describe a novel, non-contact optical thermometry technique in which the temperature of a transparent substrate or “temperature sensor” is determined from its thermal expansion and refractive index change measured by laser interferometry. The technique is easy to implement and extremely accurate. Temperatures measured with this technique are reported for MgO substrates in varying degrees of thermal contact with a heated backing plate and compared to those measured conventionally by optical pyrometry or thermocouples in close proximity to the sample. The effect of the deposited film on the temperature of radiatively heated substrates will also be discussed.
Relationship Between Gossypol Gland Density on Cotton Squares and Resistance to Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae

Young tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), larvae prefer to feed along the margin area of the calyx crown of cotton ( Gossypium hirsute L.) squares. This area is devoid of gossypol glands. On resistant cotton lines, which contain glands in the calyx crown, the larvae feed sporadically on the tissue and avoid the gossypol glands. The numbers of gossypol glands on bracts of small squares, calyx crown, bract mid-rib, and the entire calyx differed significantly between a susceptible and three resistant cotton lines. When young larvae were placed on squares for 12 d, the lines with >80 glands per small square bract or 30 glands per calyx crown produced larvae significantly smaller than did lines with fewer glands.
Predicting the Migration Rate of Dialkyl Organotins from PVC Pipe into Water

Organotins (OTs) are additives widely used as thermal and light stabilizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. OTs can leach into water flowing through PVC pipes. This work examines the leaching rates of two potentially neurotoxic OTs, dimethyl tin (DMT) and dibutyl tin (DBT), from PVC pipe. Water was circulated in a closed loop laboratory PVC pipe system. Using a gas chromatograph-pulsed flame photometric detector (GC-PFPD), the change in concentrations of DMT and DBT in the water in the system was monitored over time and allowed to reach equilibrium. OT concentration as a function of time was analyzed using a mechanistic leaching rate model. The diffusion coefficient for OT in the PVC pipe material, the only unknown model parameter, was found to be 9 × 10(-18) m(2)/s. This value falls within with the range of values estimated from the literature (2 × 10(-18) to 2 × 10(-17) m(2)/s) thus increasing confidence in the leaching rate model.
Relationship between seropositive rate of HBsAg and hepatitis B vaccination in general population of Jiangsu province

Objective:To analyze the relationship of seropositive rate of HBsAg with hepatitis B vaccination in a randomly selected general population in three counties of Jiangsu province,and improve the comprehensive control against hepatitis B.Methods:With cluster random sampling in different regions,questionnaire survey was conducted and blood samples were collected to detect HBsAg by ELISA.Results:The standardized seropositive rates of HBsAg were 4.61%,6.88% and 10.06% in Zhangjiagang,Danyang and Taixing respectively,and the seropositive rate of HBsAg among people over 18 years old who were born before programmed immunization started was significantly higher than that among people under 18 years old.The hepatatis B vaccine inoculation rates were 39.56%,19.66% and 41.04% in Zhangjiagang,Danyang and Taixing respectively.In the population over 18 years,the seropositive rate of HBsAg among people who were inoculated with hepatitis B vaccine was lower than that among people who hadn't been inoculated.Conclusion:The programmed hepatitis B immunization of newborns has got great achievement and hepatitis B vaccine inoculation among adults also obtained notable results.The immunization for the adults with hepatitis B vaccine should be improved to better control the infection of HBV.
Ultrafast Soft X-ray Probing of Gas Phase Molecular Dynamics

The molecular ability to selectively and efficiently convert sunlight into other forms of energy like heat, bond change, or charge separation is truly remarkable. The decisive steps in these transformations often happen on a femtosecond timescale and require transitions among different electronic states that violate the Born-Oppenheimer approximation (BOA) [1]. Non-BOA transitions pose challenges to both theory and experiment. From a theoretical point of view, excited state dynamics and nonadiabatic transitions both are difficult problems [2, 3] (see Figure 1(a)). However, the theory on non-BOA dynamics has advanced significantly over the last two decades. Full dynamical simulations for molecules of the size of nucleobases have been possible for a couple of years [4, 5] and allow predictions of experimental observables like photoelectron energy [6] or ion yield [7–9]. The availability of these calculations for isolated molecules has spurred new experimental efforts to develop methods that are sufficiently...
Maximizing the Value of Student Ratings Through Data Mining

Student ratings of instruction are an important means of assessment within universities and have been the focus of much study over the last 50 years. Until very recently it has been difficult to perform meaningful analysis of student narrative comments given that most universities collected them as hand-written notes. This work uses statistical and text mining techniques to analyze a data set consisting of over 1 million student comments that were collected using an online process. The methodology makes use of positive and negative “category vectors” representing instructor characteristics and a domain-specific lexicon. Sentiment analysis is used to detect and gauge attitudes embedded in comments about each category. The methodology is validated using three approaches, two quantitative and one qualitative. While useful to individual instructors and administrators, it is only through data mining that student perceptions of teaching can be analyzed en masse to inform and influence the educational process.
Mapping an American College Town: Integrating Archival Resources and Research in an Introductory GIS Course

Scholars who use primary resources in teaching and research have documented the rewards of integrating archival collections into undergraduate- and graduate-level courses. There is a gap in the literature, however, regarding how these invaluable resources can effectively be integrated into geographic information systems (GIS) courses as a means for increasing students' information and data literacy skills. This study seeks to address this gap by expanding empirical research on how librarians and instructors can collaborate on course projects to better embed information and data literacy techniques. In particular, this article will focus on a final course project designed by a special collections librarian and a GIS librarian, who was the instructor of record, for an undergraduate- and graduate-level introductory GIS course. We emphasize librarian collaboration in the project design process and highlight the skillsets students learned by completing this assignment, including but not limited to: primary sou...
Institution of Veno-arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Does Not Lead to Increased Wall Stress in Patients with Impaired Myocardial Function

The effect of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) on wall stress in patients with cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, or other cardiac conditions is unknown. We set out to determine the circumferential and meridional wall stress (WS) in patients with systemic left ventricles before and during VA ECMO. We established a cohort of patients with impaired myocardial function who underwent VA ECMO therapy from January 2000 to November 2013. Demographic and clinical data were collected and inotropic score calculated. Measurements were taken on echocardiograms prior to the initiation of VA ECMO and while on full-flow VA ECMO, in order to derive wall stress (circumferential and meridional), VCFc, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. A post hoc sub-analysis was conducted, separating those with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and those with impaired systemic output. Thirty-three patients met inclusion criteria. The patients’ median age was 0.06 years (range 0–18.7). Eleven (33%) patients constituted the organ failure group (Gr2), while the remaining 22 (66%) patients survived to discharge (Gr1). WS and all other echocardiographic measures were not different when comparing patients before and during VA ECMO. Ejection and shortening fraction, WS, and VCFc were not statistically different comparing the survival and organ failure groups. The patients’ position on the VCFc–WS curve did not change after the initiation of VA ECMO. Those with PH had decreased WS as well as increased EF after ECMO initiation, while those with impaired systemic output showed no difference in those parameters with initiation of ECMO. The external workload on the myocardium as indicated by WS is unchanged by the institution of VA ECMO support. Furthermore, echocardiographic measures of cardiac function do not reflect the changes in ventricular performance inherent to VA ECMO support. These findings are informative for the interpretation of echocardiograms in the setting of VA ECMO. ECMO may improve ventricular mechanics in those with PH as the primary diagnosis.
Independent active and thermodynamic processes govern the nucleolus assembly in vivo

Membraneless organelles play a central role in the organization of protoplasm by concentrating macromolecules, which allows efficient cellular processes. Recent studies have shown that, in vitro, certain components in such organelles can assemble through phase separation. Inside the cell, however, such organelles are multicomponent, with numerous intermolecular interactions that can potentially affect the demixing properties of individual components. In addition, the organelles themselves are inherently active, and it is not clear how the active, energy-consuming processes that occur constantly within such organelles affect the phase separation behavior of the constituent macromolecules. Here, we examine the phase separation model for the formation of membraneless organelles in vivo by assessing the two features that collectively distinguish it from active assembly, namely temperature dependence and reversibility. We use a microfluidic device that allows accurate and rapid manipulation of temperature and examine the quantitative dynamics by which six different nucleolar proteins assemble into the nucleoli of Drosophila melanogaster embryos. Our results indicate that, although phase separation is the main mode of recruitment for four of the studied proteins, the assembly of the other two is irreversible and enhanced at higher temperatures, behaviors indicative of active recruitment to the nucleolus. These two subsets of components differ in their requirements for ribosomal DNA; the two actively assembling components fail to assemble in the absence of ribosomal DNA, whereas the thermodynamically driven components assemble but lose temporal and spatial precision.
Correlates of adaptive behavior profiles in a large cohort of children with autism: The autism speaks Autism Treatment Network registry data:

Children with autism spectrum disorder have deficits in adaptive functioning. This study examines the adaptive behavior, its association with cognitive ability, gender, age, and symptom severity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Using data from Autism Treatment Network registry, the adaptive behavior profiles were examined in 2538 school-aged children (between 5 and 17 years, mean: 8.8 years, standard deviation: 3.0) who had an overall intelligence quotient and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale scores available. The children were grouped according to their intelligence quotient (low intelligence quotient 85), age (5-10 and 11-17 years), and gender for the analyses. Significantly lower Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale scores were found in borderline and average intelligence quotient groups when compared to mean intelligence quotient, while an opposite pattern was seen in the low intelligence quotient group, with better adaptive behavior scores than mean intelligence quotient. Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale standard scores were positively correlated with intelligence quotient and poorly associated with autism spectrum disorder severity. Younger children had significantly higher Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale scores. Adjusted comparisons by gender were not significant. Adaptive behavior profiles in the intelligence quotient categories are discussed. This study confirms a positive relationship between adaptive behavior and intellectual function in autism and indicates that children with higher intelligence quotient and older age are specifically impaired, with lower adaptive behavior, highlighting the need for assessment and targeted intervention in these groups. Future directions for research are discussed.
“God’s Time Is the Best:” The Fascination with Unknown Time in Urban Transport in Lagos

Turning the table on Lefebvre’s thesis that the structure of everyday life is closely associated with the non-accumulative routing of cyclical (immanent) time whereas it lags behind the forward-moving linear (transcendent) time, Agbiboa argues that cyclical and linear time are in fact intertwined in social imagination and lived reality. Using the ubiquitous commercial minibus-taxis (danfos) in Nigeria’s city of Lagos as mobile bodies of meaning, the chapter contends that the interaction of these seemingly conflicting representations of time affects and ultimately shapes the grounds of our meaning(lessness), (in)security, and our sense of being-in-the-city. At these interfaces and interstices of conflicting notions of time, and in the interchange between (un)familiar termini, a powerful sense of unknown (future) time can emerge.