cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical Branched-DNA Assay for Polymerase Chain Reaction-Free Detection and Quantification of Oncogenes in Messenger RNA

We describe a novel electrochemical branched-DNA (bDNA) assay for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-free detection and quantification of p185 BCR-ABL leukemia fusion transcripts in the population of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) extracted from cell lines. The bDNA amplifier carrying high loading of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) tracers was used to amplify the target signal. The targets were captured on microplate well surfaces through cooperative sandwich hybridization prior to the labeling of bDNA. The activity of captured ALP was monitored by square-wave voltammetric (SWV) analysis of the electroactive enzymatic product in the presence of 1-napthyl phosphate. The voltammetric characteristics of substrate and enzymatic product as well as the parameters of SWV analysis were systematically optimized. A detection limit of 1 fM (1 × 10−19 mol of target transcripts in 100 μL) and a 3-order-wide dynamic range of target concentration were achieved by the electrochemical bDNA assay. Such limit corresponded to ∼17...
Testing of Double-Stranded Allografts Used in ACL Reconstruction

We used bovine tibiae and two-stranded human anterior tibialis tendon grafts to compare biomechanical properties of two tibial fixation devices, the Milagro Interference Screw (Milagro) and the Bio-Intrafix Soft Tissue Tibial Fixation System (Bio-Intrafix). A total of 24 constructs (12 with each type of fixation) underwent biomechanical testing with 12 matched constructs undergoing uniaxial loading to failure (rate of 1 mm/sec) and the other 12 matched constructs undergoing cyclic loading (10,000 cycles at 1 Hz with a loading range of 125 to 375 N). All constructs failed by slippage of one or both ends of the anterior tibialis graft past the fixation device. One of the six Bio-Intrafix specimens failed before 10,000 cycles; four of the six Milagro specimens failed before 10,000 cycles. Bio-Intrafix, which is designed for a four-stranded graft, provided superior fixation to a traditional bioabsorbable interference screw in a two-stranded soft tissue graft at one of the weakest links in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.
American Architectural History

(2005). American Architectural History. Journal of Architectural Education: Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 63-64.
Prediction of eddy current probe signal trajectories

Development of computer based defect characterization schemes in quantitative eddy current nondestructive testing (NDT) requires an adequate mathematical model capable of describing the complicated interactions between the impressed and induced currents, primary and secondary fields and the flaws in materials. This paper describes a finite element model which predicts the apparent changes in the normalized complex impedance of a differential eddy current probe in axisymmetric NDT configurations. Using this 'numerical model' differential eddy current probe, signal trajectories (as obtained on an eddy-scope screen in actual testing) are predicted for three axisymmetric geometries associated with nuclear power plant steam generators - circumferential I.D. and O.D. slots in an INCONEL tube, and a carbon steel support plate encircling a defect-free tube. Comparison is made between the theoretical and experimental results at a probe excitation frequency of 100kHz. Finite element analysis techniques appear to be well suited to the modeling of eddy current NDT phenomena and for predicting the eddy current probe signal trajectories.
Plenary talk: Connecting real world Internet

Currently the IT systems capture and use the knowledge at application level. The real world knowledge and events capturing is still at its infancy which use mechanisms including sensor networks, connected devices, and the emerging all encompassing Internet-of-Things. Integrating real world to the internet is part of the future internet vision. One of the major challenges at the bottom is in capturing the events at its nearest point to the source efficiently and non-obtrusively. Innovative sensing mechanisms with limited energy sources are being increasingly explored. The framework of compressed sensing is a recent entry in related arena. New paradigms such as crowd sourcing and connected devices are emerging. Next challenge is in connecting these diverse data sources (and sinks) to a shared medium for users and applications. Internet is the next level of abstraction that can be considered along with the web and cloud based service infrastructure. Also there is a middleware conceptualized to provide a standardized interface to applications for network management and data exchange for ease of development. There are numerous applications that can potentially benefit from the Internet of Things. However there are many challenges to be addressed to make them viable and acceptable as part of the current ICT systems. A perspective on the current and future trends on this aspect will be discussed.
A study of the Sherwood–Rayleigh relation for water undergoing natural convection-driven evaporation

Abstract An experimental study is presented of evaporative free-surface natural convection. A power law relationship is developed between the Sherwood number for evaporation ( Sh ) and the Rayleigh number for air-side natural convection ( Ra ) . Evaporation of water was investigated in sixteen different tanks having four depths and four widths. Evaporation rates and the relevant temperatures and relative humidity were measured, from which the air-side Sherwood and Rayleigh numbers were obtained. The resulting power law is Sh ∼ Ra 0.321 . This power law is compared to those obtained by other researchers. A brief discussion of the possible effect of water-side natural convection on evaporation is also presented.
Infiltration effects on residential pollutant concentrations for continuous and intermittent mechanical ventilation approaches

The prevailing residential ventilation standard in North America, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.2, specifies volumetric airflow requirements as a function of the overall size of the home and the number of bedrooms; assumes a fixed, minimal amount of infiltration; and requires mechanical ventilation to achieve the remainder. The standard allows for infiltration credits and intermittent ventilation patterns that can be shown to provide comparable performance. Whole-house ventilation methods have a substantial effect on time-varying indoor pollutant concentrations. If alternatives specified by Standard 62.2, such as intermittent ventilation, are used, short-term pollutant concentrations could exceed acute health standards, even if chronic health standards are met. A methodology is presented for comparing ASHRAE- and non-ASHRAE-specified ventilation scenarios on relative indoor pollutant concentrations. Numerical modeling is used to compare ...
Organic materials for spectral hole burning and non-hole burning optical filters

A brief overview of spectral properties and applications of organic materials for narrowband persistent spectral hole burning (SHB) and non-hole burning optical spectral filters is presented. The main focus is on the properties important for the filter applications in ultrasound-modulated optical tomography (UOT). Due to the large inhomogeneous broadening, the organic SHB filters may be used after the more narrowband primary SHB filters made of RE ion doped inorganic crystals to reduce red-shifted fluorescence from RE ions and improve the image quality. In addition non-hole burning organic materials, as secondary absorption optical filters to reduce phonon-mediated fluorescence from inorganic SHB crystals in UOT applications, are considered.
Crystallization of the 10-23 DNA enzyme using a combinatorial screen of paired oligonucleotides.

One of the most difficult steps in the X-ray crystallography of nucleic acids is obtaining crystals that diffract to high resolution. The choice of the nucleotide sequence has proven to be more important in producing high-quality crystals than the composition of the crystallization solution. This manuscript describes a systematic procedure for identifying the optimal sizes of a multi-stranded nucleic acid complex which provide high-quality crystals. This approach was used to crystallize the in vitro evolved 10-23 DNA enzyme complexed with its RNA substrate. In less than two months, 81 different enzyme–substrate complexes were generated by combinatorial mixing and annealing of complementary oligonucleotides which differed in length, resulting in duplexes of varying length, with or without nucleotide overhangs. Each of these complexes was screened against a standard set of 48 crystallization conditions and evaluated for crystal formation. The screen resulted in over 40 crystal forms, the best of which diffracted to 2.8 A resolution when exposed to a synchrotron X-ray source.
Replacing Dietary Methionine and Cystine in Chick Diets with Sulfate or Other Sulfur Compounds

Abstract A purified diet deficient in the sulfur amino acids and sulfate was fed to chicks in tests designed to compare the effectiveness of several sulfur compounds in sparing the sulfur amino acids. The addition of a mixture of methionine and cystine to this diet increased growth rate and feed efficiency more than any of the other additions. Sulfate improved performance as much as any inorganic sulfur source tested. Taurine, sulfite, thiosulfate, and sulfur also had value. When graded levels of sulfate were added to diets with sulfur amino acid levels about 0.2 and 0.3% below the level required for optimum performance, the weight gain and feed efficiency response curves were curvilinear. Most of the response to sulfate was produced with a level of 200 p.p.m., but 500 to 660 p.p.m. was needed to produce the maximum sparing effect. The sulfur amino acid requirement was found to be about 0.075% less with 0.1% sulfate in the diet than without it when growth rate was the criterion. When feed efficiency was the criterion, the requirement was reduced about 0.05% by sulfate.
Stability of double-stranded RNA components ofEndothia parasitica through transfer and subculture

Abstract Strains ofEndothia parasitica with cytoplasmic hypovirulence contain double-stranded (ds) RNA. Virulent (V) strains can be converted to hypovirulent (H) strains by hyphal anastomosis and dsRNA transfer. The dsRNA components of a French and an Italian H strain were transferred into separate cultures of the same V strain. The resulting two new H strains were used to convert six V strains in three vegetative compatibility (v-c) groups. The major dsRNA components were faithfully transferred in all conversions and maintained during subsequent subculturing. Morphological variation was noted and representative pathogenicities were determined. The similarity of the two dsRNA populations in their effects on the fungus suggests that either can be used therapeutically for control of chestnut blight.
Evidence for facial nerve-independent mechanisms of blinking in the rat.

The rat facial nerve (CN VII) controls the orbicularis oculi (OO) muscle, which is responsible for rapid eye closure during blinking. Division of the nerve results in an initial loss of complete eye closure during blinking, both spontaneously and in response to corneal stimulation.1 We recently observed that rats regain their ability to close their eyes nearly completely within the first week of CN VII lesion,1 well before regenerated axons would be expected to arrive to repopulate the neuromuscular junctions of the OO.2 This observation, coupled with our prior findings that rats are able to maintain their corneal health throughout periods of facial paralysis,3 indicates that corneal protection can be achieved in the absence of CN VII function. Although retractor bulbi (RB) muscles have been described in the rat,4,5 their role in eyelid closure has not yet been described. Based on rat ocular anatomy and the time course of compensatory eyelid closure after facial nerve lesion, we hypothesized that rat eyelid closure may be under dual OO and RB control, as has been shown in some other small mammals.6–8 In the present study, we report our observations of corneal health and elicited ocular closures after OO paralysis, RB myotomy, or both, and demonstrate multiple eye closure mechanisms in the rat. Such dual input to ocular closure behavior must be carefully considered by investigators who employ rodent models of facial nerve injury and recovery.9–12
Improving SCIPUFF Dispersion Forecasts with NWP Ensembles

Abstract The relationships between atmospheric transport and dispersion (AT&D) plume uncertainty and uncertainties in the transporting wind fields are investigated using the Second-Order Closure, Integrated Puff (SCIPUFF) AT&D model driven by numerical weather prediction (NWP) meteorological fields. Modeled contaminant concentrations for episode 1 of the 1983 Cross-Appalachian Tracer Experiment (CAPTEX-83) are compared with recorded ground-level concentrations of the inert tracer gas C7F14. This study evaluates a Taylor-diffusion-based parameterization of dispersion uncertainty for SCIPUFF that uses Eulerian meteorological ensemble velocity statistics and a Lagrangian integral time scale as input. These values are diagnosed from NWP ensemble data. Individual simulations of the tracer release fail to reproduce some of the monitored surface concentrations of the tracer. The plumes that are predicted using the uncertainty model in SCIPUFF are broader, improving the overlap between the predicted and observed ...
Challenges in transformation of existing real-time embedded systems to cyber-physical systems

Most research directions in the context of cyber-physical systems have focused on developing computing foundations for designing, analyzing, and reasoning about systems being constructed from scratch. However, an equally important issue is to develop sound methods for transforming existing real-time embedded systems to ones that conform with standards of modern cyber-physical systems. This essay proposes several research directions for achieving such transformation techniques.
Some acoustic features of perforated test section walls with splitter plates

Transonic wind tunnels with perforated test section walls are generally known to have high noise levels. Calibration results of two large transonic wind tunnels [the Institute for Aeronautical Research (IAR) 1.5-m and T-38 1.5-m transonic wind tunnels] with walls that have slanted perforations with integral splitter plates have confirmed the effectiveness of splitter plates in suppressing edge-tone noise. However, as discovered in the T-38 wind tunnel, there are other wind tunnel components that generate flow disturbances. An experimental program, with the objective of identifying the sources of flow unsteadiness, has been performed in the T-38 wind tunnel. A comparison of the sources of flow unsteadiness between the IAR and the T-38 wind tunnels has been attempted.
Inhibition of postprandial colonic motility after ingestion of an amino acid mixture.

Previous studies suggested that the ingestion of a mixture of amino acids inhibited the fatstimulated increase in colonic motility. This study determined the effect of the ingestion of an amino acid mixture on the postprandial distal colonic spike potential (SP) response to a standard 1000-calorie meal in normal subjects and in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome. The distal colonic response was measured following a standard meal with and without the preadministration of a protein hydrolysate solution. After the meal, normal subjects had their maximum response within the first 30-min postprandial period (41.0±6.3 SP/30 min). Spike activity returned to fasting activity by 60 min. Most patients with irritable bowel syndrome did not have a significant early postprandial distal colonic spike response (P>0.05), but all patients had a large late increase in spike activity occurring 60–90 min postprandially (50.0±5.0 SP/30 min) (P<0.001). Ingestion of the protein hydrolysate solution prior to the meal resulted in suppression of the early colonic spike response in normal subjects (P<0.01) and the late colonic spike response in the irritable bowel patients (P<0.01). This study suggests that amino acids can modulate postprandial colonic motility and that dietary alteration may be beneficial in the irritable bowel syndrome.
Older Adults’ Mental Health Function and Patient-Centered Care: Does the Presence of a Family Companion Help or Hinder Communication?

BACKGROUND Late-life mental health disorders are prevalent, costly, and commonly under-diagnosed and under-treated.
Pinealectomy Abolishes 6-Hydroxymelatonin Excretion by Male Rats

The principal urinary metabolite of the pineal gland hormone melatonin was measured in pinealectomized and sham-operated male rats and shown to be a valid index of pineal gland activity. Pinealectomy decreased its excretion by 97–99%. Extrapineal synthesis of melatonin does not contribute significantly to circulating melatonin, as determined by this integrative measure of its major conjugated metabolite.
Heteronuclear chemical-shift correlation utilizing homonuclear decoupling and distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer

Abstract 1H-13C chemical-shift-correlation NMR spectroscopy, selective flips of distant protons and distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer are combined into a new two-dimensional technique. Correlation maps are simplified by suppressing most homonuclear couplings, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Applications include accurate measurements and assignments of 1H chemical shifts as well as couplings with additional nuclear spins (19F, 31P, etc.) in the molecule.
The cone electroretinogram in retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose To test the hypothesis that retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affects the cone photoreceptors less than the rod photoreceptors. Methods Electroretinogram (ERG) responses to a 1.8-log-unit range of red flashes on a white, rod-saturating background were recorded in 42 subjects with a history of preterm birth and ROP (28 untreated; 6 treated) or no ROP (n = 8). The sensitivity (S(CONE)) and saturated amplitude (R(CONE)) of the cone photoresponse were calculated by fit of a model of the activation of cone phototransduction to the a-waves. The cone-driven b-wave amplitude was evaluated as a function of stimulus intensity. S(CONE) and R(CONE) were compared to the rod response parameters (S(ROD), R(ROD)) recorded from the same preterm subjects. Responses in the former preterm subjects were compared to those in control subjects. Results The values of S(CONE) and R(CONE) in the preterm subjects overlapped broadly with those in the control subjects. The shapes of the b-wave stimulus-response functions did not differ between preterm and control subjects. The relative value of S(CONE) was significantly greater than that of S(ROD). Conclusions ROP has less effect on the cone than on the rod photoresponses, suggesting that cones are more resistant to the ROP disease process. The similar shape of the b-wave stimulus-response function in preterms and control subjects is evidence that ROP does not alter the balance of ON and OFF signals in the cone pathway.
Selectivity in Micellar Liquid Chromatography: Surfactant Bonded Phase Interactions. II. C-8 and Cyanopropyl

Abstract Micellar liquid chromatography and solid state 13C NMR spectroscopy have been used to study the interactions of three ionic surfactants with C8 and cyanopropyl bonded phase columns. The three surfactants, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and dodecyltrimethylammoniurn bromide (DTAB), are commonly used in micellar RPLC. Surfactant adsorption is found to produce distinct changes in the selectivity of the stationary phase. Specifically, the differing nature of the surfactant-bonded phase association is largely responsible for the observed differences in selectivity between SDS, CTAB, and DTAB micellar RPLC. For SDS, the association leads to the formation of an anionic hydrophilic surface layer on C8 (as well as on C18) which would explain the superior resolution achieved by SDS for hydrophilic compounds. For CTAB. small surfactant aggregates form within the C8 stationary phase, which would explain the differences in the observed selectivity of CTAB mediated separat...
Hadron Momentum Distribution in Deeply Inelastic ep Collisions

Extending previous speculations originating from the idea that a hadron is a spatially extended object with many internal degrees of freedom, we argue that in $\mathrm{ep}$ collisions in the deeply inelastic region, the proton partially fragments and partially pulverizes. The usefulness of studying experimentally the single-hadron spectrum for fixed and large ${q}^{2}$ and $\ensuremath{\nu}$ is discussed.
MR imaging of the breast : current status and future potential

Current and potential roles for MR imaging in the management of breast disorders are reviewed along with the specific technical requirements for each application. Major topics include (1) evaluating breasts before biopsy to reduce the number of surgical biopsies for benign lesions, (2) staging of breast carcinoma in breast conservation candidates, (3) evaluating breasts with inconclusive conventional imaging, (4) coordination of minimally invasive surgery, and (5) evaluating silicone implant integrity.
Spontaneous tumors in aging female mice are more prevalent in the lateral pituitary zones

The localization of gross and microscopic spontaneous pituitary tumors was examined in aging female C57BL/6J mice. These tumors were lactotroph adenomas, by morphological and immunocytochemical criteria. Each lobe of the pars distalis was divided into three zones of approximately equal size and the number of tumors in each zone was counted. Twelve out of 30 tumors were located entirely within the most lateral zone. An additional 14 tumors occurred in both the most lateral and the interjacent zones. Thus, almost 90% of the observed tumors were localized in more lateral zones of the pars distalis (Chi-squared test, p<0.01). These findings support a hypothesis [16] that lower portal blood dopamine levels reaching lateral portions of the pars distalis are a factor in the higher incidence of lactotroph adenomas in these zones.
A Relative Comparison of Leading Supply Chain Management Software Packages

Supply Chain Management (SCM) has proven to be an effective tool that aids companies in the development of competitive advantages. SCM Systems are relied on to manage warehouses, transportation, trade logistics and various other issues concerning the coordinated movement of products and services from suppliers to customers. Although in todayâ€™s fast paced business environment, numerous supply chain solution tools are readily available to companies, choosing the right SCM software is not an easy task. The complexity of SCM systems creates a multifaceted issue when selecting the right software, particularly in light of the speed at which technology evolves. In this paper, we use the approach of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine which SCM software best meets the needs of a company. The AHP approach outlined in this paper can be easily transferred to the comparison of other SCM software packages.
Concomitant direction and distance aftereffects of sustained convergence: A muscle potentiation explanation for eye-specific adaptation

Fixating a target for 6 min was shown to produce distance aftereffects that varied in direction and magnitude as a linear function of the convergence angle. Eye-specific direction aftereffects also were obtained in a nasal direction under conditions that produce increased perceived dtstance and in a temporal direction under conditions that produce decreased perceived distance. These aftereffects were shown to be sensitive to the range of horizontal versional eye movements that accompany the near or far convergence positions maintained during exposure. The results provide a logical alter­ native to perceptual learning accounts of eye-specific adaptation. Maintaining the eyes in a fixed or restricted range of convergence positions may induce a muscle potentiation aftereffect in the subset of extraocular muscles innervated to achieve and sustain those postures. Muscle potentiation refers to an involun­ tary component of continued innervation in the direction of previous muscular stimulation. Since the increase in muscle tension is involuntary, registra­ tion of eye-position information based on the monitoring of voluntary motor signals should be in error to the degree that the potentiation effect must be overcome. Assuming that the potentiation effect itself is not registered via an inflow from proprio­ ceptive units in the extraocular muscles, it follows that any perceived spatial dimension that requires compensation for or registration of ocular rotation should undergo changes consistent with the felt position of the eyes. Accordingly, changes in per­ ceived distance should occur whenever the eyes have been maintained predominantly in near or far con­ vergence positions. For example, if the medial recti of each eye are potentiated by maintaining the eyes in a near convergence position, then it would be as if each eye was being involuntarily pulled nasally. Therefore, in order to fixate a visual target, the observer would have to overcome the additional innervation due to potentiation by the same amount of voluntary innervation in the opposite direction, i.e., in a temporal direction that would normally result in a smaller convergence angle. This change in
Measuring the Mean Power of Varying-Amplitude Complex Audio Waves

A new instrument which is capable of determining and recording, over successive short time intervals, the mean-power level of complex audio waves of rapidly varying amplitude is presented. While designed primarily for research work with speech sounds, where variations of as much as 35 db in level within 1/ 100 of a second are not uncommon, the unit could be applied to the powerlevel analysis of any voltage wave varying with components fully within the audio range. The apparatus provides a representation of power level in decibels for the brief phonetic elements of speech or for other similar elements of widely varying amplitude, without confusion of data or ambiguity of interpretation.
Inhibition of histone deacetylase overcomes rapamycin-mediated resistance in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by inhibiting Akt signaling through mTORC2

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has emerged as an important therapeutic target for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), as recent studies have demonstrated that 30% of relapsed patients respond to mTOR inhibitors. Why some lymphomas are resistant is incompletely understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that rapamycin inhibits mTORC1 in DLBCL lines and primary tumors but is minimally cytotoxic. Subsequent investigations revealed that rapamycin also activated eIF4E and the mTORC2 target Akt, suggesting a potential mechanism of rapamycin resistance. Furthermore, knockdown of the mTORC2 component rictor, but not the mTORC1 component raptor, inhibited rapamycin-induced Akt phosphorylation in lymphoma cells. Addition of the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDI) LBH589 (LBH) overcame rapamycin resistance by blocking mTOR, thus preventing Akt activation. Further studies support the involvement of the protein phosphatase PP1 in LBH-mediated Akt dephosphorylation, which could be mimicked by knockdown of HDAC3. This is the first demonstration that a HDI such as LBH can overcome rapamycin resistance through a phosphatase that antagonizes mTORC2 activation. These results provide a mechanistic rationale for a clinical trial of a combination of HDI and mTOR inhibitors for DLBCL.
Organic matter sources and rehabilitation of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (California, USA)

1. The Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, a complex mosaic of tidal freshwater habitats in California, is the focus of a major ecosystem rehabilitation effort because of significant long-term changes in critical ecosystem functions. One of these functions is the production, transport and transformation of organic matter that constitutes the primary food supply, which may be sub-optimal at trophic levels supporting fish recruitment. A long historical data set is used to define the most important organic matter sources, the factors underlying their variability, and the implications of ecosystem rehabilitation actions for these sources. 2. Tributary-borne loading is the largest organic carbon source on an average annual Delta-wide basis; phytoplankton production and agricultural drainage are secondary; wastewater treatment plant discharge, tidal marsh drainage and possibly aquatic macrophyte production are tertiary; and benthic microalgal production, urban run-off and other sources are negligible. 3. Allochthonous dissolved organic carbon must be converted to particulate form—with losses due to hydraulic flushing and to heterotroph growth inefficiency—before it becomes available to the metazoan food web. When these losses are accounted for, phytoplankton production plays a much larger role than is evident from a simple accounting of bulk organic carbon sources, especially in seasons critical for larval development and recruitment success. Phytoplankton-derived organic matter is also an important component of particulate loading to the Delta. 4. The Delta is a net producer of organic matter in critically dry years but, because of water diversion from the Delta, transport of organic matter from the Delta to important, downstream nursery areas in San Francisco Bay is always less than transport into the Delta from upstream sources. 5. Of proposed rehabilitation measures, increased use of floodplains probably offers the biggest increase in organic matter sources. 6. An isolated diversion facility—channelling water from the Sacramento River around the Delta to the water projects—would result in substantial loading increases during winter and autumn, but little change in spring and summer when food availability probably matters most to developing organisms. 7. Flow and fish barriers in the channel could have significant effects, especially on phytoplankton sources and in dry years, by eliminating ‘short-circuits’ in the transport of organic matter to diversion points. 8. Finally, productivity of intentionally flooded islands probably would exceed that of adjacent channels because of lower turbidity and shallower mean depth, although vascular plants rather than phytoplankton could dominate if depths were too shallow. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High degree of multiple paternity in the viviparous Shiner Perch, Cymatogaster aggregata, a fish with long-term female sperm storage.

The Shiner Perch (Cymatogaster aggregata Gibbons) exhibits a viviparous reproductive mode and long-term female sperm storage, two biological features that may predispose this fish species for both intense sperm competition and frequent multiple paternity within broods. To test these hypotheses, we used polymorphic microsatellite markers to identify sires and quantify paternal contributions to the progeny arrays of 27 pregnant females from a natural population of C. aggregata. The number of sires per brood ranged from one to eight (mean 4.6), typically with skewed distributions of fertilization success by the fathers but no correlation between sire number and brood size. The extraordinarily high incidences of multiple paternity in this species probably are due in part to high rates of mate encounter, but selection pressures related to the avoidance of maternal–fetal incompatibility may further have promoted the evolution of polyandrous mating behaviors in this female-pregnant species. Our genetic data are consistent with the hypothesis that viviparity, long-term sperm storage, and extreme polyandry are interrelated reproductive phenomena that should promote the evolution of post-copulatory sperm competition and/or cryptic female choice in these fishes.
Principle theories, constructive theories, and explanation in modern physics

Abstract Clifton, Bub, and Halvorson’s paper, “Characterizing Quantum Theory in terms of Information-Theoretic Constraints” (2003) invokes the theoretical significance of principle theories in contrast with constructive theories. However, a more thorough discussion of the merits of principle theories and constructive theories is required to justify this approach towards quantum mechanics. Looking at Einstein’s original use of the distinction to characterize special relativity, this paper argues that it is best understood in terms of explanatory preferences. The distinction depends fundamentally on the kinds of scientific explanation the respective types of theories provide. This conceptual clarification can shed light on principle theory approaches to quantum mechanics by delineating both the specific strengths of principle theories and pinpointing the explanatory motivation guiding this strategy. The aim of this paper is to establish the broad philosophical justification for a principle theory approach to interpreting quantum mechanics.
Art gallery theorems for guarded guards

We prove two art gallery theorems in which the guards must guard one another in addition to the gallery. A set G of points (the guards) in a simple closed polygon (the art gallery) is a guarded guard set provided (i) every point in the polygon is visible to some point in G; and (ii) every point in G is visible to some other point in G. We prove that a polygon with n sides always has a guarded guard set of cardinality ⌊(3n - 1)/7⌋ and that this bound is sharp (n ≥ 5); our result corrects an erroneous formula in the literature. We also use a coloring argument to give an entirely new proof that the corresponding sharp function for orthogonal polygons is ⌊n/3⌋ for n ≥ 6; this result was originally established by induction by Hernandez-Penalver.
Expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid and gonadotropin-releasing hormone during neuronal migration through the olfactory system.

Neurons containing the decapeptide GnRH originate in the olfactory placodes and migrate into the central nervous system during fetal development. The neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been proposed as a trophic factor and may also influence neuronal migration. Immunocytochemical analyses were conducted in fetal rats, mice, and humans to identify potential developmental relationships between cells containing GABA, and GnRH neurons. Cells containing GABA were found along the nasal portion of the GnRH migration pathway in rats, mice, and humans during development. A peak number of cells containing immunoreactive GABA was observed in the nasal compartment of rats at embryonic day 15. At this time (E15), a majority of GnRH neurons were clustered in the region of the cribriform plate. By postnatal day 1, all GnRH neurons had migrated into the CNS and GABA cells were virtually absent from the nasal compartment. Double-label and confocal analyses of GABA and GnRH in mice and rats demonstrated th...
Maternal Education, Birth Weight, and Infant Mortality in the United States

This research determines whether the observed decline in infant mortality with socioeconomic level, operationalized as maternal education (dichotomized as college or more, versus high school or less), is due to its “indirect” effect (operating through birth weight) and/or to its “direct” effect (independent of birth weight). The data used are the 2001 U.S. national African American, Mexican American, and European American birth cohorts by sex. The analysis explores the birth outcomes of infants undergoing normal and compromised fetal development separately by using covariate density defined mixture of logistic regressions (CDDmlr). Among normal births, mean birth weight increases significantly (by 27–108 g) with higher maternal education. Mortality declines significantly (by a factor of 0.40–0.96) through the direct effect of education. The indirect effect of education among normal births is small but significant in three cohorts. Furthermore, the indirect effect of maternal education tends to increase mortality despite improved birth weight. Among compromised births, education has small and inconsistent effects on birth weight and infant mortality. Overall, our results are consistent with the view that the decrease in infant death by socioeconomic level is not mediated by improved birth weight. Interventions targeting birth weight may not result in lower infant mortality.
Corporate mergers and security returns

Abstract An examination of rates of return and dollar value returns for various classes of merging firms' securities indicates that acquired companies' common stockholders, convertible and non-convertible preferred stockholders, and convertible bondholders gain in merger, as do acquiring companies' convertible preferred stockholders. Acquired companies' non-convertible bondholders and acquiring companies' convertible and non-convertible bondholders and non-convertible preferred stockholders neither gain nor lose. There is no evidence that acquiring companies' common stockholders lose and there is statistically reliable evidence that they gain. Additionally, the dollar value of both acquired and acquiring firms increase, as does the dollar value of the combined acquired and acquiring companies.
A Motion Control Algorithm for a Continuous Mining Machine Based on a Hierarchical Real-Time Control System Design Methodology

The drive toward increased safety for coal miners has led to the development of computer-assisted methods of underground coal mining. The development of control architectures for the control of the movement of continuous mining machines (tramming control) is an important part of this overall effort. The tramming control algorithm design described is in concert with hierarchical architecture design principles developed at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), referred to as the Real-time Control Systems (RCS) methodology. The algorithm design allows for the control of both cutting and free-space movement by a continuous mining machine and allows for a high degree of human operator interaction.
Switching-valve--filter technique for the direct injection and analysis of drugs in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography.

An automated technique involving switching valves and a filter assembly has been developed and evaluated for the on-line precipitation of proteins and peptides from plasma samples. In the set-up, the proteins were precipitated on-line by injecting the plasma sample into a stream of organic precipitating agent. The precipitates so formed are filtered on-line by a set of filter assemblies consisting of ordinary in-line HPLC solvent filters. Evaluation of the technique was performed using ibuprofen and a mixture of three estrogens, estradiol, equilin and estrone, spiked in dog plasma. The coefficients of variation (C.V.) for system suitability parameters were below 10%. Absolute recovery of ibuprofen in plasma ranged from 80% for 100 micrograms/ml to 114% for 5 micrograms/ml spiked concentrations, respectively. Resolution for equilin and estrone, two closely eluting peaks, was 1.79 (C.V. = 5.8%, n = 7). The switching-valve--filter assembly had no significant effect on the efficiency of the HPLC system.
Suppressed Blinking and Auger Recombination in Near-Infrared Type-II InP/CdS Nanocrystal Quantum Dots

Nonblinking excitonic emission from near-infrared and type-II nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) is reported for the first time. To realize this unusual degree of stability at the single-dot level, novel InP/CdS core/shell NQDs were synthesized for a range of shell thicknesses (∼1–11 monolayers of CdS). Ensemble spectroscopy measurements (photoluminescence peak position and radiative lifetimes) and electronic structure calculations established the transition from type-I to type-II band alignment in these heterostructured NQDs. More significantly, single-NQD studies revealed clear evidence for blinking suppression that was not strongly shell-thickness dependent, while photobleaching and biexciton lifetimes trended explicitly with extent of shelling. Specifically, very long biexciton lifetimes—up to >7 ns—were obtained for the thickest-shell structures, indicating dramatic suppression of nonradiative Auger recombination. This new system demonstrates that electronic structure and shell thickness can be employed...
Cognitive bias and emotion in neuropsychological models of depression

Neuropsychological models of depression were tested by examining encoding and recognition biases elicited by emotional stimuli manifested in regional brain wave activity. Participants were pre-exposed to emotional stimuli. These stimuli were presented again embedded in new stimuli, and event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants judged whether they had viewed each stimulus previously. Controls showed an enhanced P300 during encoding and reduced P300 during recognition of positive stimuli, indicating a response bias for positive information. In contrast, participants diagnosed with major depression showed no valence difference during encoding of new stimuli or recognition of old stimuli. These results suggest positive cognitive biases in controls and a lack of such a biases in depressed individuals. Additionally, regression analyses demonstrated that a substantial proportion of P300 variance was related to clinical scale
'We have to discuss it': cancer patients' advance care planning impressions following educational information about cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Objective Most cancer patients desire information about care options at the end of life, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Communicating such care options can be challenging and is part of advance care planning (ACP). Our prior studies with video educational media produced data on patients' categoric preferences (yes/no/unsure) for CPR; however, the thematic underpinnings of these educated preferences in patients treated for advanced cancer aren't well known. Methods Qualitative thematic content analysis of participants' responses in a randomized trial of an educational video (V) or narrative (N) about CPR in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers. Responses were independently coded and categorized for thematic content by two reviewers. Results Of 54 study participants, 26 total (41% of V arm, 56% of N arm) articulated questions, comments, or both. Reviewer analyses demonstrated thematic consensus and resulted in seven distinct themes listed in decreasing order of prevalence: (a) ACP should be started early; (b) educational information about CPR affirmed participants' existing beliefs/knowledge/values about advanced illness; (c) participants were apprehensive about ACP but wanted to discuss it; (d) gaps in knowledge about ACP emerged; (e) CPR information was helpful/acceptable; (f) physicians should be involved in ACP; and (g) medical questions about critical illness arose. Conclusions Findings identified that while sometimes difficult to discuss, advance care planning is desired, deemed helpful, and ideally begun early by clinicians, and that video education is an appropriate and affirming initiator of discussions. These themes are incorporated into our ongoing research on cancer patient-specific values and education about care options. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanisms of limb collapse following a slip among young and older adults

Recovery from a large perturbation, such as a slip, can be successful when stability of movement can be reestablished with protective stepping. Nevertheless, one dilemma for executing a protective step is that its liftoff can weaken support against limb collapse. This study investigated whether failures in limb support leading to falls after a protective step result from insufficient joint moment generation, and whether such insufficiency is greater among older fallers. A novel, unexpected slip was induced immediately following seat-off during a sit-to-stand. Joint work and mechanical energy were calculated for 43 young (9 falls, 34 recoveries) and 22 older (13 falls, 9 recoveries) adults who responded with a protective step. Comparisons of the work produced at three joints of the bilateral lower limbs revealed that insufficient concentric knee and hip extensor work prior to step liftoff was a primary differentiating factor between falling and recovery, regardless of age. Also, during stepping, fallers regardless of age failed to limit the eccentric knee extensor work at their stance limb sufficiently to retard rapid knee flexion and the consequent potential energy loss. We concluded that young and older fallers had comparable weak limb support. The greater fall incidence among the older adults likely resulted from a greater proportion of subjects who responded to the slip with insufficient knee extensor support, possibly attributable to age-differences in chair-rising. One strategy to address this dilemma may rely on task-specific training to enhance feedforward control that improves movement stability, and thus lessens the reliance on protective stepping.
Prediction of Diabetic Adherence Using the BASIS-A Inventory

Medical and mental health professionals continue to strive for more effective ways of encouraging patients to adhere to suggested treatment plans. The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between personality and adherence dynamics within a diabetic population. Specifically, we examined the relationship between Adlerian life style personality factors with 14 adherence behaviors in 38 patients with type I diabetes. Several statistically significant correlations showed that specific personality variables are associated with particular elements of the adherence regimen. The results indicate that strategies to increase adherence among patients should be individualized, and recommendations for how to increase adherence in patients with diabetes are given.
Numerical Simulations of the FIRE-II Convective and Radiative Heating Rates

equations. The code has the capability to handle any mix of hexahedra, tetrahedra, prisms and pyramids in 3D or triangles and quadrilaterals in 2D. Numerical fluxes between the cells are discretized using a modified Steger-Warming Flux Vector Splitting which has low dissipation and is appropriate to calculate boundary layers. A point or line implicit method is used to perform the time integration. The computed convective heating rates are in good agreement to other numerical results and are consistent with total heat transfer flight measurements. The radiative heating rates, computed using NASA’s NEQAIR code, are also in good agreement with results obtained previously.
Continuum robot appendages for traversal of uneven terrain in in situ exploration

In this paper, we analyze and discuss the potential for continuous form “continuum” appendages to transform the nature of robotic traversal of uneven terrain. 12Continuum robots are in many senses “dual” to traditional robot structures, with their inherent capabilities featuring strengths in areas that are key weaknesses for conventional robots. These capabilities match well to current challenges in mobility for in-situ exploration scenarios, particularly in environments featuring uneven terrain.
Effect of Total Ionizing Dose on a Bulk 130 nm Ring Oscillator Operating at Ultra-Low Power

Total ionizing dose experiments showed an increase in operating frequency (and therefore, power consumption) in bulk CMOS ring oscillators when operated at ultra-low power supply voltages. Combined-environment experiments showed the single-event susceptibility of ULP circuits increases with total dose exposure. To operate ULP circuits in a total dose environment and ensure there is little change in their circuit characteristics, the supply voltage should be greater than 400 mV.