cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortical and striatal variations in drug competition studies with putative 5-hydroxytryptamine1D binding sites.

Abstract The ability of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-car☐ytryptamine (5-CT) and sumatriptan to compete for [3H]5-HT binding sites in various brain tissues was analyzed in bovine, guinea pig, pig and human cortex and caudate. Radioligand binding conditions were designed to allow for the selective labeling of putative 5-HT1D binding sites. 5-HT competed monophasically with putative 5-HT1D binding sites in each of the 8 tissues studied. By contrast, both 5-CT and sumatriptan,competed with markedly shallow displacement curves in each of the 8 tissues. In the case of sumatriptan, complete displacement of [3H]5-HT could not be achieved even at concentrations as high as 2000 times its IC50 value. These data indicate that 10−5 M 5-HT should not be used to define specific binding to 5-HT1D receptors in radioligand binding assays. Instead, 5-HT1D receptor binding sites should be redefined as [3H]5-HT-labeled binding sites displaced by 10−5 M sumatriptan.
Twistor theory and the Einstein vacuum

Twistor theory provides a scheme with the potential for uniting general relativity with quantum mechanics in a more even-handed way than conventional approaches. Some recent work is described whereby general asymptotically flat (neither necessarily self-dual nor anti-self-dual) vacuum 4-spaces can be described within a new twistor-geometric formalism. A number of aspects of this construction remain conjectural, as of now, however.
Lateral earth pressure behind an integral abutment

Integral abutment bridges have gained increasing attention in the past few decades. They provide a cost-effective solution to the high maintenance expenses associated with the joints and bearings found in conventional bridges. This paper describes the observed behaviour of granular soil backfill retained behind an integral abutment subjected to cyclic loading. Significant pressure build-up was observed in the soil behind the abutment in most locations. The pressure build-up is attributed to several mechanisms such as sand particle flow and densification due to cyclic loading, and the shearing of dense sand during bridge expansion. Therefore, the applicability of using a linear soil pressure distribution assumed by the classical theories in designing the integral abutment system is discussed. Furthermore, the vertical and lateral distribution of the soil pressure behind the abutment has also been analysed. Results from the data measured show that bridge skew resulted in bigger soil pressures at the obtuse ...
Evaluation of a bromocresol purple method for the determination of albumin adapted to the DuPont aca discrete clinical analyzer

We evaluated a new method for the determination of albumin on the DuPont aca discrete clinical analyzer that utilized an albumin selective dye, bromocresol purple (BCP). This dye minimizes globulin interference that occurs with bromocresol green (BCG) methods that have long (greater than 30 s) incubation times. Good correlation was observed between the new BCP method and two methods which do not show significant globulin interference: an immunological method and a rapid BCG method. Comparisons with alternate BCG methods (SMA 12/60, SMAC, and the aca) were generally not as good. The albumin results by the BCP method on specimens with elevated globulins were similar to results from the immunological and rapid BCG methods. The reference interval was 34-50 g/L. The between-day coefficient of variation ranged from 0.9 to 3.5% at three evaluation sites on 2 levels of 8 different control materials. The method was linear between 6-70 g/L. No interference was observed from hemoglobin at levels less than or equal to 5.00 g/L or from bilirubin at levels less than 342 mumol/L. Also, no interference was observed from nine common drugs that are known to bind to albumin. These studies show that accuracy, reproducibility and linearity of the BCP albumin method on the aca are acceptable for clinical use.
Low-Skilled Immigrants and the US Labor Market

Over the last several decades, two of the most significant developments in the U.S. labor market have been: (1) rising inequality, and (2) growth in both the size and the diversity of immigration flows. Because a large share of new immigrants arrive with very low levels of schooling, English proficiency, and other skills that have become increasingly important determinants of success in the U.S. labor market, an obvious concern is that such immigrants are a poor fit for the restructured American economy. In this chapter, we evaluate this concern by discussing evidence for the United States on three relevant topics: the labor market integration of immigrants, the socioeconomic attainment of the U.S.-born descendants of immigrants, and the impact of immigration on the wages and employment opportunities of native workers. We show that low-skilled immigrants have little trouble finding paid employment and that the wages they earn are commensurate with their skills. Overall, the U.S.-born second generation has achieved economic parity with mainstream society; for some Hispanic groups, however, this is not the case. Finally, we survey the pertinent academic literature and conclude that, on the whole, immigration to the United States has not had large adverse consequences for the labor market opportunities of native workers.
Maintenance of luteal function in rats by rat prolactin.

SummaryAdministration of prolactin to hypophysectomized rats maintains luteal function. When rat and sheep prolactins were given at the same dose (IU) rat prolactin was found to maintain luteal function for a greater number of days. This duration exceeded the length of pregnancy in the rat.
Coevolution in Spatial Habitats

Empirical and theoretical studies have implicated habitat coarseness and coevolution as factors in driving the degree of specialization of mutualists and pathogens. We review recent advances in the development of a framework for host-symbiont interactions that considers both local and stochastic interactions in a spatially explicit habitat. These kinds of interactions result in models with large numbers of parameters due to the large number of potential interactions, making complete analysis difficult. Rigorous analysis of special cases is possible. We also point to the importance of combining experimental and theoretical studies to identify relevant parameter combinations.
Remote sensing of ice crystal asymmetry parameter using multi-directional polarization measurements - Part 2: Application to the Research Scanning Polarimeter

Abstract. A new method to retrieve ice cloud asymmetry parameters from multi-directional polarized reflectance measurements is applied to measurements of the airborne Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) obtained during the CRYSTAL-FACE campaign in 2002. The method assumes individual hexagonal ice columns and plates serve as proxies for more complex shapes and aggregates. The closest fit is searched in a look-up table of simulated polarized reflectances computed for cloud layers that contain individual, randomly oriented hexagonal columns and plates with a virtually continuous selection of aspect ratios and distortion. The asymmetry parameter, aspect ratio and distortion of the hexagonal particle that leads to the best fit with the measurements are considered the retrieved values. Two cases of thick convective clouds and two cases of thinner anvil cloud layers are analyzed. Median asymmetry parameters retrieved by the RSP range from 0.76 to 0.78, and are generally smaller than those currently assumed in most climate models and satellite retrievals. In all cases the measurements indicate roughened or distorted ice crystals, which is consistent with previous findings. Retrieved aspect ratios in three of the cases range from 0.9 to 1.6, indicating compact particles dominate the cloud-top shortwave radiation. Retrievals for the remaining case indicate plate-like ice crystals with aspect ratios around 0.3. The RSP retrievals are qualitatively consistent with the CPI images obtained in the same cloud layers. Retrieved asymmetry parameters are compared to those determined in situ by the Cloud Integrating Nephelometer (CIN). For two cases, the median values of asymmetry parameter retrieved by CIN and RSP agree within 0.01, while for the two other cases RSP asymmetry parameters are about 0.03–0.05 greater than those obtained by the CIN. Part of this bias might be explained by vertical variation of the asymmetry parameter or ice shattering on the CIN probe, or both.
The Effect of Water Temperature on Growth and Survival of Largemouth Bass during Feed Training

Abstract Water temperature could be an important factor during the feed training phase of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides production, as it could affect appetite and starvation time. We evaluated three water temperatures during largemouth bass feed training. Pond-reared largemouth bass fingerlings (weight = 2.1 ± 0.6 g [mean ± SE]) were randomly stocked into twelve 0.5-m3 polyethylene cages to achieve a stocking density of 350 fish per cage. The cages were suspended in six 3,800-L polyethylene tanks with a common water source housed in a greenhouse with four replicate cages per water temperature treatment (20, 24, and 28°C). Each tank contained two cages, and there were two tanks per treatment temperature. In each cage, fingerlings were initially fed freeze-dried krill, then gradually weaned onto a commercial pellet (floating trout feed; 1.5 mm) over a 24-d period according to an established training protocol. At harvest, the average weight and the percentage of fish successfully trained to commerci...
Development of an Enhanced Metaproteomic Approach for Deepening the Microbiome Characterization of the Human Infant Gut

The establishment of early life microbiota in the human infant gut is highly variable and plays a crucial role in host nutrient availability/uptake and maturation of immunity. Although high-performance mass spectrometry (MS)-based metaproteomics is a powerful method for the functional characterization of complex microbial communities, the acquisition of comprehensive metaproteomic information in human fecal samples is inhibited by the presence of abundant human proteins. To alleviate this restriction, we have designed a novel metaproteomic strategy based on double filtering (DF) the raw samples, a method that fractionates microbial from human cells to enhance microbial protein identification and characterization in complex fecal samples from healthy premature infants. This method dramatically improved the overall depth of infant gut proteome measurement, with an increase in the number of identified low-abundance proteins and a greater than 2-fold improvement in microbial protein identification and quantification. This enhancement of proteome measurement depth enabled a more extensive microbiome comparison between infants by not only increasing the confidence of identified microbial functional categories but also revealing previously undetected categories.
Naked Science: Anthropological Inquiries into Boundaries, Power, and Knowledge

Naked Science: Anthropological Inquiries into Boundaries, Power, and Knowledge. LAURA NADER. ed. New York: Routledge, 1996. xvi. 318 pp., index, references, contributors, bibJiography, tables, figures.
Enhanced video display and navigation for networked streaming video and networked video playlists

In this paper we present an automatic enhanced video display and navigation capability for networked streaming video and networked video playlists. Our proposed method uses Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) as presentation language and Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) as network remote control protocol to automatically generate a "enhanced video strip" display for easy navigation. We propose and describe two approaches - a smart client approach and a smart server approach. We also describe a prototype system implementation of our proposed approach.
Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies against caldesmon and their effects on the binding of caldesmon to Ca++/calmodulin and to actin or actin-tropomyosin filaments.

The effects of monoclonal anti-caldesmon antibodies, C2, C9, C18, C21, and C23, on the binding of caldesmon to F-actin/F-actin-tropomyosin filaments and to Ca++/calmodulin were examined in an in vitro reconstitution system. In addition, the antibody epitopes were mapped by Western blot analysis of NTCB (2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid) and CNBr (cyanogen bromide) fragments of caldesmon. Both C9 and C18 recognize an amino terminal fragment composed of amino acid residues 19 to 153. The C23 epitope lies within a fragment ranging from residues 230 to 386. Included in this region is a 13-residue repeat sequence. Interestingly this repetitive sequence shares sequence similarity with a sequence found in nuclear lamin A, a protein which is also recognized by C23 antibody. Therefore, it is likely that the C23 epitope corresponds to this 13-residue repeat sequence. A carboxyl-terminal 10K fragment contains the epitopes for antibodies C2 and C21. Among these antibodies, only C21 drastically inhibits the binding of caldesmon to F-actin/F-actin-tropomyosin filaments and tc Ca++/calmodulin. When the molar ratio of monoclonal antibody C21 to caldesmon reached 1.0, a maximal inhibition (90%) on the binding of caldesmon to F-actin filaments was observed. However, it required double amounts of C21 antibody to exhibit a maximal inhibition of 70% on the binding of caldesmon to F-actin-tropomyosin filaments. These results suggest that the presence of tropomyosin in F-actin enhances caldesmon's binding. Furthermore, C21 antibody also effectively inhibits the caldesmon binding to Ca++/calmodolin. The kinetics of C21 inhibition on caldesmon's binding to Ca++/calmodulin is very similar to the inhibition obtained by preincubation of caldesmon with free Ca++/calmodulin. This result suggests that there is only one Ca++/calmodulin binding domain on caldesmon and this domain appears to be very close to the C21 epitope. Apparently, the Ca++/calmodulin-binding domain and the actin-binding domain are very close to each other and may interfere with each other. In an accompanying paper, we have further demonstrated that microinjection of C21 antibody into living chicken embryo fibroblasts inhibit intracellular granule movement, suggesting an in vivo interference with the functional domains [Hegmann et al., 1991: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 20:109–120].
The Role of Temperament in Conceptualizations of Mental Disorder

This chapter describes how understanding individual differences in temperament and the role of temperamental traits and variation in human development can shed valuable light on the origins, assessment, and treatment of dysfunction. It begins by defining temperament as enduring, constitutionally based individual differences in reactivity and self-regulation—that is, in how an individual responds to the challenges and opportunities offered by both stressful and promotive environments—and traces the development of these traits during a child’s maturation. Aspects of temperament including effortful control, affect modulation, soothability, and stimulation tolerance are thus affected by environment, experience, and parental behavior, as well as by genetic disposition. In addition, the chapter reviews current research on ways of measuring and assessing temperament, including both observational and longitudinal studies, and explores the relationship between temperament and dysfunction. Vulnerability to dysfunction is thus seen as strongly affected by the “goodness of fit” between an individual and his or her environment, rather than as something residing in the individual.
Functional analysis of neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) missense mutations

Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is a tumor predisposition syndrome in which affected individuals develop nervous system tumors at an increased frequency. The most common tumor in individuals with NF2 is the schwannoma, which is composed of neoplastic Schwann cells lacking NF2 gene expression. Moreover, inactivation of the NF2 gene is observed in nearly all sporadic schwannomas, suggesting that the NF2 gene is a critical growth regulator for Schwann cells. In an effort to gain insights into the function of the NF2 gene product, merlin or schwannomin, we performed a detailed functional analysis of eight naturally occurring non-conservative missense mutations in the NF2 gene. Using a regulatable expression system in rat schwannoma cells, we analyzed proliferation, actin cytoskeleton-mediated events and merlin folding. In this report, we demonstrate that mutations clustered in the predicted alpha-helical region did not impair the function of merlin whereas those in either the N- or C-terminus of the protein rendered merlin inactive as a negative growth regulator. These results suggest that the key functional domains of merlin lie within the highly conserved FERM domain and the unique C-terminus of the protein.
Influence of age and prostate-specific antigen on the chance of curable prostate cancer among men with nonpalpable disease

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the relation between age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and the probability of detecting curable prostate cancer. Methods. A consecutive surgical series of radical prostatectomies was performed in 492 men with nonpalpable (Stage T1c) disease, who formed the study cohort (mean age 58 years). The cohort was systematically classified into three age groups ([1] 40 to 50 years [n = 69]; [2] 51 to 60 years [n = 227]; [3] 61 to 73 years [n = 196]) and five pretreatment PSA groups ([1] 2.5 to 4.0 ng/mL [n = 36]; [2] 4.1 to 6.0 ng/mL [n = 100]; [3] 6.1 to 8.0 ng/mL [n = 122]; [4] 8.1 to 10.0 ng/mL [n = 76]; [5] greater than 10.0 ng/mL [n = 135]). The percent probability of curable cancer was determined by logistic regression analysis. Curable cancer was defined as organ-confined tumor or a tumor with capsular penetration of low grade (Gleason score less than 7), with negative margins and no involvement of seminal vesicles or lymph nodes. Results. A comparison within age groups and within PSA groups revealed that the probability of curable cancer was more closely associated with age than PSA level. Although the probability of curable cancer was closely related to PSA level across a wide range of PSA values (0.4 to 52 ng/mL), there was only minimal difference (2% to 4%) in the probability of curable cancer within the range of PSA values from 2.5 to 6.0 ng/mL for all ages. Conclusions. Age is a strong predictor of the probability of curable cancer. Thus, early detection efforts in younger men are more likely to lead to a decrease in prostate cancer mortality. These data suggest that the use of PSA thresholds below 4.0 ng/mL as an indicator of prostate cancer is unlikely to improve the probability of detecting curable cancer.
Postglacial uplift in the Great Lakes region

New data concerning the uplift in northern North America and in Fennoscandia are combined with earlier findings. The main quantities involved in the hypothesis of postglacial uplift are of the same order of magnitude for Fennoscandia and for the Great Lakes-Hudson Bay regions. Whereas the hypothesis of postglacial uplift is readily accepted for Fennoscandia, it has been rejected in several publications for the present uplift in North America, partly as a consequence of misinterpretation of data. Actually, it offers the best explanation by far for the uplift in both areas.
A Comparison of Multichannel, Sequential and Multiplex GPS Receivers for Air Navigation

As the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) begins moving beyond the initial development stage, potential air navigation users are going to have a considerable range of choices for set designs. This paper describes three of the main receiver architecture approaches: multichannel, sequential, and multiplex (MUX). These major options are compared according to functional capabilities, effects of dynamics on navigation accuracy, and relative cost. Oscillator g-loading effects are addressed. The most appropriate choice for a given military or civil air navigation application likely involves a judicious combination of the various basic set architectures. A general familiarity with NAVSTAR/GPS is assumed.
Group Cohesiveness, Group-Derived Collective Self-Esteem, Group-Derived Hope, and the Well-Being of Group Therapy Members

I. D. Yalom’s (1995) hypothesis that group therapy cohesiveness is the precursor to the development of group-derived collective self-esteem (CSE), hope for the self (HS), and psychological well-being (personal self-esteem and depression) was tested. Participants were 102 university counseling center group therapy clients from process (n 54) and theme (n 48) groups. Path analyses supported Yalom’s theory that cohesiveness is the primary group factor and that it directly related to curative group factors such as CSE and HS. Additional path analyses showed that the relationship between group therapy CSE and personal self-esteem was moderated by HS, such that a significant relationship between CSE and personal self-esteem was no longer found once HS was entered into the model. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed. In his theory, Yalom (1995) described cohesiveness as the primary curative group factor in group therapy, arguing that it facilitated greater collective self-esteem (CSE), hope for the self, and well-being. He described cohesiveness as the “necessary precondition for effective therapy” (Yalom, 1995, p. 50), and he argued that the experience of being in a cohesive group enabled group members to engage in the necessary self-disclosure and the personal exploration that is the hallmark of effective therapy. Yalom (1995) specifically stated that cohesiveness was an agent of change in members’ lives through “the interrelation of group self esteem and self esteem” (Yalom, 1995, p. 107). He described the importance of group self-esteem, as do many group dynamic researchers, and he argued that cohesiveness alters personal self-esteem through acceptance and empathy from the group. Although Yalom did not directly define group self-esteem or cite the CSE literature, he described the importance of the development of group self-esteem, derived from cohesiveness and distinct from personal selfesteem. Yalom also theoretically linked the relationship between group therapy cohesiveness, group-derived self-esteem, and group-derived hope; however, there is little empirical support for the notion that cohesiveness is the primary group factor that facilitates the development of group self-esteem or hope. In addition, social psychologists have recognized the distinction between cohesiveness and group self-esteem, yet group therapy researchers have failed to empirically examine cohesiveness in relation to group self-esteem or group-derived hope.
Effect of Feed Texture on Growth Performance and Litter Moisture When Fed to Growing-Finishing Commercial Toms

Large White male turkeys were fed diets with similar nutrient content using either a corn-soybean meal-wheat middlings based diet fed as pellets or mash or a corn-soybean meal based mash diet. The pelleted diets were processed either with or without a commercial pellet binder. Each treatment was assigned to four pens of 25 toms from 6 to 18 wk of age. Body weight and feed consumption were determined at 21 d intervals during the trial. Turkeys fed pelleted diets were heavier at 9 and 12 wk of age only. However, this effect was due to reduced growth performance of birds fed the corn-soybean meal mash diet which had less energy from added fat compared to the other diets. Cumulative feed conversion (feed:gain) was improved when pelleted diets were fed throughout the trial. Pellet quality was fair up to 12 wk of age and poor during the latter part of the study when high added fat was included in the diets. Litter moisture was increased at the end of the trial when pelleted diets were fed. However, leg problems were not evident in this study.
Acute aortic occlusion from aspergillosis in a healthy patient with survival

Valvular endocarditis caused by Aspergillus is a lethal disease. Only two survivors, both with infections of prosthetic valves, have been reported in the world literature. This report describes a patient with an Aspergillus valvular endocarditis on a native valve with embolization to the right axillary, left iliac, and left popliteal arteries and the distal aorta. Diagnosis was made from a thromboembolectomy specimen. Treatment consisted of removal of the peripheral arterial emboli, mitral valve replacement, and prolonged intravenous infusion of high-dose amphotericin B. The patient presently has the longest survival period of any patient with an Aspergillus infection on a native heart valve. The importance of early diagnosis and aggressive operative management by the vascular surgeon needed to properly treat these patients is emphasized.
Delay time in coplanar strip transmission lines on Si/SiO/sub 2//Si multilayer substrates

Summary for only given. We have studied the phase velocities of coplanar strip (CPS) transmission lines on Si/SiO/sub 2//Si multilayer substrates. Because the top Si layer of the substrate is very thin, the phase velocity measured in our experiments should be close to that in ICs.
Spatio-temporal wavelet transforms for digital signal analysis

The goal of this paper is to investigate spatio-temporal continuous wavelet transforms. A new wavelet family, called the Galilean wavelet, has been designed to tune to four main parameters, namely, scale, spatio-temporal position, spatial orientation, and velocity. The paper starts with the theory of motion-compensated wavelet filtering in the discrete realm of image processing. As a major difference from multi-dimensional homogeneous spaces, spatio-temporal signal involves motion that warps the signal along the trajectories. Modeling motion with 2-D affine transformations leads to spatio-temporal generalizations. Decomposition into elementary operators leads to developing transformation groups and exploiting the related representation theory. The construction of continuous spatio-temporal wavelets in Rn × R spaces is then handled with classical techniques of calculation. Close connections may then be established among all the spatio-temporal wavelet transforms through different sets of transformations. This approach generates a general framework for the study of future tools. Frames of wavelets are thereafter investigated to revisit discrete wavelet transforms in a more general way. Eventually, illustrations demonstrate the ability of Galilean wavelet transforms to analyze spatio-temporal signals.
‘Economists Who Think like Ecologists’: Reframing Systems Thinking in Games for Learning

Over the past several years, educators have been exploring the potential of immersive interactive simulations, or video games for education, finding that games can support the development of discip...
Eight electronic states and potential energy surfaces of Ge3

Abstract Complete active space multiconfiguration self-consistent field followed by multireference singles+doubles configuration interaction calculations are made on eight electronic states of Ge3. We compute the entire bending potential energy surfaces of these states. We find two nearly degenerate states (1A1, 3B2) as candidates for the ground state of Ge3. Six excited electronic states within ≈ 1 eV of the ground state are also found.
Reducing semiconductor process tool resource usage – pilot project results

Applied Materials is working with customers to assess new ways to identify opportunities to reduce resources usage (energy, process chemicals/gasses) by existing semiconductor process tools. Through six customer pilot projects we have identified potential average savings of $22.5K per year, for the CMP and CVD process tool examined, by using a consultative service approach to business and financial analysis that pinpoints opportunities for process resource reduction without diverting critical engineering personnel from their core responsibilities.
ADVANCES IN CLINICAL TRIALS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

▪ Abstract This article considers the rise of the randomized clinical trial during the twentieth century. Before such development could begin, probability and statistics needed to merge. Sir RA Fisher introduced randomization in the 1920s and, beginning in the 1930s and 1940s, randomized clinical trials in humans were being performed by using the statistical-hypothesis-testing paradigm. Randomization gave unbiased comparisons and a way to perform hypothesis testing without model assumptions. To preserve the benefits of randomization, a type of analysis called intent-to-treat analysis is appropriate. Needed development has occurred and is occurring in refining ethical standards, monitoring trials of serious irreversible endpoints while preserving type-I error, and instituting independent data- and safety-monitoring boards. Recent methodology has also been concerned with the appropriateness of using surrogate endpoints. A current area of debate is the appropriateness of using Bayesian statistical methods in...
Sex differences (and similarities) in jealousy: The moderating influence of infidelity experience and sexual orientation of the infidelity

Past demonstrations of sex differences in jealousy have generally employed Buss et al.’s [Psychol. Sci. 3 (1992) 251] forced-choice methodology, a limitation criticized by DeSteno and Salovey [Psychol. Sci. 7 (1996) 367]. The present studies address this criticism by demonstrating the sex difference using both forced-choice and continuous measures of jealousy. In addition, the results distinguish two important moderators of the sex difference: infidelity experience, in which male victims and female perpetrators of infidelity reported greater distress in response to a sexual infidelity, and sexual orientation of the infidelity, in which the sex difference disappears completely when an infidelity carries no risk of conception because an opposite-sex partner has become involved with a same-sex lover. D 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Wastewater polishing by a channelized macrophyte-dominated wetland and anaerobic digestion of the harvested phytomass.

Constructed wetlands (CW) offer a mechanism to meet increasingly stringent regulatory standards for wastewater treatment while minimizing energy inputs. Additionally, harvested wetland phytomass subjected to anaerobic digestion can serve as a source of biogas methane. To investigate CW wastewater polishing activities and potential energy yield we constructed a pair of secondary wastewater-fed channelized CW modules designed to retain easily harvestable floating aquatic vegetation and maximize exposure of water to roots and sediment. Modules that were regularly harvested averaged a nitrate removal rate of 1.1 g N m−2 d−1; harvesting, sedimentation and gasification were responsible for 30.5%, 8.0% and 61.5% of the N losses, respectively. Selective harvesting of a module to maintain dominance of filamentous algae had no effect on nitrate removal rate but lowered productivity by one-half. The average monthly productivity for unselectively harvested modules was 9.3 ± 1.7 g dry wt. m−2 d−1 (±SE). Cessation of h...
Gene expression analysis of embryonic stem cells expressing VE-cadherin (CD144) during endothelial differentiation

Endothelial differentiation occurs during normal vascular development in the developing embryo. This process is recapitulated in the adult when endothelial progenitor cells are generated in the bone marrow and can contribute to vascular repair or angiogenesis at sites of vascular injury or ischemia. The molecular mechanisms of endothelial differentiation remain incompletely understood. Novel approaches are needed to identify the factors that regulate endothelial differentiation. Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells were used to further define the molecular mechanisms of endothelial differentiation. By flow cytometry a population of VEGF-R2 positive cells was identified as early as 2.5 days after differentiation of ES cells, and a subset of VEGF-R2+ cells, that were CD41 positive at 3.5 days. A separate population of VEGF-R2+ stem cells expressing the endothelial-specific marker CD144 (VE-cadherin) was also identified at this same time point. Channels lined by VE-cadherin positive cells developed within the embryoid bodies (EBs) formed by differentiating ES cells. VE-cadherin and CD41 expressing cells differentiate in close proximity to each other within the EBs, supporting the concept of a common origin for cells of hematopoietic and endothelial lineages. Microarray analysis of >45,000 transcripts was performed on RNA obtained from cells expressing VEGF-R2+, CD41+, and CD144+ and VEGF-R2-, CD41-, and CD144-. All microarray experiments were performed in duplicate using RNA obtained from independent experiments, for each subset of cells. Expression profiling confirmed the role of several genes involved in hematopoiesis, and identified several putative genes involved in endothelial differentiation. The isolation of CD144+ cells during ES cell differentiation from embryoid bodies provides an excellent model system and method for identifying genes that are expressed during endothelial differentiation and that are distinct from hematopoiesis.
Open distal anastomosis in aortic root replacement using axillary cannulation and moderate hypothermia.

Objective Recent advance in surgical technique facilitates more aggressive approaches for thoracic aortic diseases. We sought to address the outcomes of our strategy of open distal anastomosis with aortic root replacement using axillary cannulation and moderate hypothermia. Methods A retrospective review of 228 patients who underwent aortic root replacement between July 2004 and December 2007 was performed. Results Axillary artery cannulation was successful in 98% of the attempted cases and resulted in no adverse events in 97%. The axillary artery was the site of arterial cannulation in 89% of the cases, among which 136 patients (60% of the cases) underwent an open distal anastomosis, consisting of the cohort of interest. Median age of the patients was 60 years (ranging from 16 to 89 years) with 79% being male. The principal diagnosis for the operation included aneurysmal disease without aortic dissection (78%), type A aortic dissection with or without aneurysm (12%), and endocarditis (5.9%). Performed operations were modified Bentall operation (53% of the cohort), valve-sparing aortic root replacement (26%), and replacement with a homograft (20%). Hemiarch replacement was added in 43%. Mean ± standard deviation of the lowest temperature was 27°C ±2.6°C. There were 5 deaths (mortality 3.7%). A total of 16 patients (12%) had major complications. Conclusions Open distal anastomosis at the time of aortic root replacement can safely be performed with axillary artery cannulation and moderate hypothermia. Axillary cannulation provides a reliable route of antegrade cerebral perfusion and enables the complex procedure to be performed without deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.
Remodeling the cellular profile of collecting ducts by chronic carbonic anhydrase inhibition.

Factors regulating the differentiated phenotype of principal cells (PC) and A- and B-intercalated cells (IC) in kidney collecting ducts are poorly understood. However, we have shown previously that...
GABA-Induced Cl- current in cultured embryonic human dorsal root ganglion neurons.

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated channels in embryonic (5–8 wk old) human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in dissociated culture were characterized by whole cell and single-channel technique...
Factored MCTS for large scale stochastic planning

This paper investigates stochastic planning problems with large factored state and action spaces. We show that even with moderate increase in the size of existing challenge problems, the performance of state of the art algorithms deteriorates rapidly, making them ineffective. To address this problem we propose a family of simple but scalable online planning algorithms that combine sampling, as in Monte Carlo tree search, with "aggregation", where the aggregation approximates a distribution over random variables by the product of their marginals. The algorithms are correct under some rather strong technical conditions and can serve as an unsound but effective heuristic when the conditions do not hold. An extensive experimental evaluation demonstrates that the new algorithms provide significant improvement over the state of the art when solving large problems in a number of challenge benchmark domains.
The emerging role of microRNAs in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Purpose The aim of this review is to discuss hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the role of microRNAs (miRNAs).
Experimental research on damaged characteristics of geopolymeric concrete after elevated temperature

The slag-fly ash-based geopolymer concrete(SFGC) was made of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide alkali-activated slag and fly ash.The weight loss,mechanical properties and acoustic properties of SFGC under various elevated temperatures by different cooling methods were studied through ultrasonic testing and compressive strength testing.The results indicate that generally the elevated temperature results in the decrease of weight,compressive strength and longitudinal wave velocity,the increase of the peak strain and the attenuation of the high frequency composition of the frequency spectrum.The influence caused by the cooling methods on the damage evolution of SFGC after elevated temperature is obvious,and the specimens cooled by spraying water have a greater deterioration compared with those cooled naturally.The critical temperature of SFGC is 600 ℃.The properties of SFGC deteriorate sharply after 600 ℃.
Discussing Territorial Character of Variety Culture Music Education in High Normal Schools

In recent years,variety culture education in high schools is carried out in the world.Following the times' position,our country starts to know the importance of variety culture in high schools' education.Music teachers should exert territorial character in the variety culture education in high schools,which is the demand of the epoch and the demand' exact embodiment.
Investigation of Clustering Influenza B Cases in School

Objective To understand the epidemiological characters of clustering influenza cases in school for prevention and control the disease. Methods Students with fever,cough and other symptoms were investigated. 3 nasopharyngeal swabs from typical cases were collected for detection of pathogens. Results There were a total of 18 students had influenza like symptoms.They concentrated in the two classes of grade one and their classrooms both on the ground floor of the teaching building.Two of the three nasopharyngeal swabs were positive for influenza B virus. Conclusions The clustering epidemic occurred in school were caused by influenza B virus.The disease spreaded because of the first case still in class and in close contact to the surrounding students after the onset of symptoms.
AIDS and the brain.

AIDS dementia complex is a major source of disability for many AIDS patients. Less commonly, the spinal cord or peripheral nerves are affected by HIV infection. Physicians working with AIDS patients must differentiate these manifestations from those caused by the infectious, neoplastic and vascular complications.
Supply scheduling and usage-based pricing for shared storage in adaptive dynamic islanding

Customers are affected by power outages due to supply shortage, maintenance and other unexpected events. Utilities are evaluated by the authorities on metrics such as SAIDI and SAIFI that are based on the outages' duration and frequency. During outages, islanding is often used to supply backup power to a subset of the load by using local energy sources such as batteries or micro-generation. Due to the limited capacity of secondary supply, Adaptive Dynamic Islanding is used to dynamically allocate the energy among the customers during outages. Battery characteristics such as lifetime and available capacity depend on the usage patterns. Therefore, when battery is used as the secondary source for islanding, it is important to schedule the supply to satisfy the customer demand and improve reliability metrics while taking into account battery capacity and energy costs. Towards this, we propose a method for optimally scheduling supply from a shared battery among a set of customers during Adaptive Dynamic Islanding. Additionally, we also present a pricing mechanism to bill the customers for their consumption during islanding based on their usage patterns. This helps in avoiding penalizing customers for the usage behaviour of others in the community using the same shared battery. We show experimental results based on real consumption data and battery specifications.
Domestic Conditions for Reform

Ideas and moral commitments matter. Reforms sometimes occur simply because a charismatic and committed leader pushes them through. Strong leaders can inspire people to accept major reforms that lesser personalities could never achieve. But strong leadership is generally a necessary, not a sufficient, cause of political change. Past practice creates inertia. It is often easiest to go on as before – especially because the beneficiaries of the status quo will struggle against change. Choices made at one point in time foreclose other choices in the future. However, although history imposes constraints, it seldom forces one particular outcome. The challenge is to identify structural factors, apart from charismatic leadership, that create favorable conditions for reform. We now have sufficient experience with reform efforts throughout the world to permit some well-grounded structural observations. The argument in this chapter assumes that developing countries and those in transition can learn from the historical experience of developed countries as well as from more recent experience worldwide. Of course, the lessons will have to be filtered through the particular situation of each state, but some of the underlying political and economic incentives seem quite universal. There are two basic models of the reform process – one based on the exercise of political power and the other based on a contractual model of consensus. Those who expect to lose from reform can be outvoted and out-maneuvered, or they can be co-opted or compensated to accept change (Grindle and Thomas 1991: 134). For example, in the 1980s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's government carried out administrative reforms through a conflictual strategy; in Australia Prime Minister Robert Hawke sought consensus (Zifcak 1994: 158). A key strategic decision for reformers is whom to include in their coalition and whom to force to accept the costs of reform. Should one buy off corrupt officials and private persons and firms, or should one shut them out of the reformed system? How much will reform goals be undermined by the process of generating a coalition to support change? We begin, in Section I, with the links between the institutions of government and incentives for reform. Powerful politicians must believe that reform is in their interest. This often occurs in response to pressures by influential private groups who decide that reform will benefit them.
Spiraling computational theory into control with CS1

This paper presents an approach for an introductory computing course that integrates topics from discrete mathematics, computer architecture and computational theory into an introduction to programming and problem solving. Some background and motivation for this approach are discussed and the organization of the course is presented. This is followed by an overview of example problems that help to integrate these concepts into the course. Finally, we discuss our experience in the first offerings of the course with these examples.
An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Tutorial Learning Aids in MyMathLab: Part 2

The intent of the study was to continue an examination of the learning aids that are available for students to use when completing homework online in MyMathLab and try to determine if these aids improved mathematics learning and achievement in a redesigned elementary algebra course. A quasi-experimental pre/posttest design was employed to investigate data for 225 students enrolled in eleven sections of the course. Comparisons were made among four groups – a control group having access to both learning aids and three experimental groups having access to only one or none of the aids. Based on the findings of the data analysis, the two learning aids “Help Me Solve This” and “View an Example” appeared to have no effect on mathematics learning and student outcomes in the course. However, it did appear that for certain mathematics content, the type of learning aid students had access to made a difference in homework grades.
A Comparison of Multiobjective Algorithms in Evolving Quadrupedal Gaits

Robotic systems, whether physical or virtual, must balance multiple objectives to operate effectively. Beyond performance metrics such as speed and turning radius, efficiency of movement, stability, and other objectives contribute to the overall functionality of a system. Optimizing multiple objectives requires algorithms that explore and balance improvements in each. In this paper, we evaluate and compare two multiobjective algorithms, NSGA-II and the recently proposed Lexicase selection, investigating distance traveled, efficiency, and vertical torso movement for evolving gaits in quadrupedal animats. We explore several variations of Lexicase selection, including different parameter configurations and weighting strategies. A control treatment evolving solely on distance traveled is also presented as a baseline. All three algorithms (NSGA-II, Lexicase, and Control) produce effective locomotion in the quadrupedal animat, but differences arise in performance and efficiency of movement. The NSGA-II algorithm significantly outperforms Lexicase selection in all three objectives, while Lexicase selection significantly outperforms the control in two of the three objectives.
Area and International Studies: Development in South Asia

As a collection of institutional activities to employ public and private assets for public benefit, development articulates the ideas and powers of its effective participants. Modern development in South Asia began in the 1840s when the state began investing in infrastructure to increase capital accumulation in the British Empire. After 1880, nationalists organized public pressure to turn development to the service of the nation, and in 1947, national governments attained a supremacy in development that lasted for about 30 years. After 1980, national autonomy and leadership declined as participants multiplied, open market policies gained adherents, and global investors expanded their role. Development today has no one guiding vision or dominant logic, although globalization is a powerful force. Disparate institutions pursue disparate goals including free market globalization, economic growth, ending poverty, and empowering the poor majority of citizens in South Asia who have never had their own voice in development.