cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of cloned gene expression by promoter inversion in vivo: construction of the heat-pulseactivated att-nutL-p-att-N module

Abstract We have constructed a prototype of gene-expression plasmids with three novel properties: (i) its “OFF phase” is absolute in all common hosts because the expression promoter is facing away from the studied gene and is blocked by a strong terminator; (ii) the “ON phase” is attained by the rapid and efficient inversion of the promoter; (iii) only a short heat pulse or exposure to other inducing agents is required to initiate this two-stage process. In the first stage, synthesis of the phage λ Int protein is induced by the transient derepression of the properly engineered λxis−cIts857 prophage. In the immediately following second stage, Int causes inversion of a promoter cloned between the inverted P′OP phage att site and the normally oriented ΔPOΔP′ pseudo-bacterial att site. The inverted promoter can now control the expression of the studied gene and also of the λ N gene cloned in tandem. The N product, in conjunction with the nutL site placed downstream of the promoter, permits efficient antitermination of any terminators present in the att sites, in the plasmid or in the cloned DNA, making this system efficient and of practical value. Employing the promoter-inverting plasmid, it was possible to obtain rapid onset and a high level of galactokinase synthesis from the cloned galK gene. Only a transient, 10-min induction at 42°C was employed, permitting protein synthesis at 30° C, which might be of importance for thermosensitive products. Furthermore, the entire promoter-inversion module can be transferred to any plasmid as a 1.3-kb AvaI-Cla I fragment (see Fig. 1). The promoter-inverting plasmid provides also a simple method for measuring the Int function by assaying the galactokinase activity.
Managing the Difficult Airway in Patients With Burns of the Head and Neck

A five-phase defined protocol for airway security was developed and administered to a consecutive, selected series of surgical patients with burns to the head and neck that limited their mouth opening or neck mobility. The protocol uses fiberoptic light and scope systems to allow the anesthesia team
Boomerang sign on MRI.

Introduction Altered mental status and more subtle cognitive and personality changes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are pervasive problems in patients who survive initial injury. MRI is not necessarily part of the diagnostic evaluation of these patients.
93 MORPHOLOGIC RESPONSES OF THE FETAL MYOCARDIUM TO PULMONARY ARTERY BANDING IN UTERO

After banding the main pulmonary trunk at ±0.45 gestation, nine fetal lambs were studied subsequently at ±0.85 gestation (133±1.4 d). Eleven fetal lambs acted as controls (130±2.5 d). Right ventricular (RV) systolic hypertension (110±11 mmHg) was produced (systemic arterial systolic pressure 72±7 mmHg). After vital staining with horseradish peroxidase, radioautography with tritiated thymidine and fixation by coronary perfusion, RV and left ventricular (LV) free walls and interventricular septum (S) were weighed and subjected to stereologic point counting analysis with light microscopy. RV mass was greater than in the control group (10.4±.7 vs. 5.1±.4 g, p<0.001). This was due to hyperplasia as evidenced by smaller or unchanged myocyte diameter (6.2±.2 vs. 6.7±.13 μm NS). LV mass was also greater than control (7.6±.7 vs. 5.5±.5 g, p <0.05). This was less than the RV mass increase and was due to hypertrophy (myocyte diameter 6.0±.07 vs. 5.7±.01 μm, p<0.001). Increased myocyte mitosis was demonstrated by increased nuclear uptake of tritiated thymidine. S showed similar changes to LV. RV and LV capillaries were larger in diameter than control (RV 5.0±.01 vs. 4.1±.01 μm, p <0.001; LV 5.3±.08 vs. 4.3±.01 μm, p < .001) and fewer in number/unit area (RV 44±2.7 vs. 78±4.0; LV 51±3.9 vs. 74±4.6, p < .001). It is suggested that the different myocardial response of the ventricles is related to differences in stress of pressure loading on the right and volume loading on the left ventricle.
Teaching Service-Oriented Programming to CS and SE undergraduate students

Service-Oriented Programming (SOP) is a relatively new programming paradigm that supports the development of new software applications using existing services as building blocks. SOP has gained significant popularity in industry as it increases software reuse and productivity. As the SOP paradigm can improve modern software development, the presenters have created a course-module based approach for incorporating SOP into Computer Science (CS) and Software Engineering (SE) curricula; a course module is a distinct curricular unit such as a lab or teaching component that an instructor may incorporate into an existing course typically without requiring formal curricular approval. SOP course modules have been developed for inclusion in standard courses in many CS and SE programs; for example, an introductory SOP course module in a CS2 course while advanced modules for courses such as Programming Language Concepts, Software Engineering, or Web Services. This workshop will present basic concepts and techniques of SOP and describe how the course-module approach toward SOP can be adapted for the participants' own teaching. The typical participant would be a faculty member with some background in programming, and is interested in learning more about SOP but does need not to have prior web service programming experience.
Analysis of fast boundary-integral approximations for modeling electrostatic contributions of molecular binding

We analyze and suggest improvements to a recently developed approximate continuum-electrostatic model for proteins. The model, called BIBEE/I (boundary-integral based electrostatics estimation with interpolation), was able to estimate electrostatic solvation free energies to within a mean unsigned error of 4% on a test set of more than 600 proteins-a significant improvement over previous BIBEE models. In this work, we tested the BIBEE/I model for its capability to predict residue-by-residue interactions in protein-protein binding, using the widely studied model system of trypsin and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). Finding that the BIBEE/I model performs surprisingly less well in this task than simpler BIBEE models, we seek to explain this behavior in terms of the models' differing spectral approximations of the exact boundary-integral operator. Calculations of analytically solvable systems (spheres and tri-axial ellipsoids) suggest two possibilities for improvement. The first is a modified BIBEE/I approach that captures the asymptotic eigenvalue limit correctly, and the second involves the dipole and quadrupole modes for ellipsoidal approximations of protein geometries. Our analysis suggests that fast, rigorous approximate models derived from reduced-basis approximation of boundary-integral equations might reach unprecedented accuracy, if the dipole and quadrupole modes can be captured quickly for general shapes.
Water Resources Sustainability Indicator: Application of the Watershed Characteristics Approach

The quantification of the renewable flux (i.e. sustainable limit) of the hydrologic system is the prerequisite for transitioning from unsustainable to sustainable water resources management. The application of the Watershed Characteristics Approach to estimate the renewable flux of the hydrologic system was demonstrated using Minnesota’s (USA) Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA). The methodology quantified the relationships between landscape properties and water balance characteristics, resulting in the development of functioning hierarchical hydrogeological units with corresponding recharge rates. This renewable flux is a key quantitative characteristic for the assessment of a sustainability indicator. The key indicator of sustainable water use is the ratio of the renewable capacity of the hydrologic system to the water use by humans and the environment. By incorporating water use estimates for the TCMA relative to the calculated recharge rates, sustainability indicators for groundwater and total flux were calculated for the metropolitan area. As far back as the 1890s, declines in TCMA groundwater levels have been observed, which correspond to the unsustainable groundwater extraction estimates identified in the results of this study. The non-stationary characteristics of urban watersheds influenced by ongoing land use/land cover changes as illustrated in this paper, emphasizes the need for conservative hydrologic planning to achieve sustainable water management. This approach can also be applied to other metropolitan areas as a hydrologic tool for decision-makers to design sustainable water policy and prevent the over-extraction of the water flowing through the hydrologic system.
TITAN: on-demand topology management in ad hoc networks

An ad hoc network is a multi-hop wireless network that is established by a group of mobile nodes without depending on any infrastructure. Due to the disconnected nature of such mobile nodes, a fundamental problem in ad hoc networks is energy-efficient operation to extend the lifetime of the nodes and the network. A promising strategy is to reduce the power consumption of the wireless interface since it is a significant contributer to the overall energy consumption. Essentially, while traffic load defines energy consumption by the wireless interface during active communication [1, 2], idle-time energy dissipation dominates total system energy consumption in the presence of low to moderate traffic [3, 4]. To this end, current approaches allow nodes to switch to a power-save mode where they spend most of their time in a low-power sleep state. However, allowing all nodes to operate in power-save mode imposes additional delay on all communication and can severely limit the capacity of the network as load increases [4]. To compensate for these limitations, some nodes can stay in active mode and serve as stable relays in the network to support low delay and high throughput [3, 4, 5]. Since the choice of nodes that remain active determines both energy consumption and communication quality, the main challenge to any idle-time energy conservation protocol is selecting the set of active nodes through which all traffic flows.
Auditory response properties and directional sensitivity of cerebellar neurons of the echolocating bat, Eptesicus fuscus.

Abstract Auditory response properties and directional sensitivity of cerebellar neurons of Eptesicus fuscus were studied under free-field stimulation conditions. The best frequency (BF) and minimum threshold (MT) of a recorded neuron were first determined with a sound delivered in front of the bat. Discharge pattern and MT were studied with both BF stimuli and one-octave downward and upward sweep FM (frequency-modulated) stimuli. The directional sensitivity of cerebellar neurons was then studied by determining the variation of MT and response latency with BF and FM stimuli broadcast from each of 15 loudspeakers attached to a semicircular wooden track in front of the bat. All 85 cerebellar neurons recorded discharged phasically to acoustic stimuli. Only 20 were spontaneously active. Cerebellar neurons were generally more sensitive to FM stimuli than to pure tone pulses. Thus, they discharged more vigorously and had a lower MT to the former than the latter stimulus. Directional sensitivity of 47 neurons (BF=23.4–81.1kHz) was studied. All neurons varied their MTs with sound direction. Most neurons (n=37, 79%) showed a lowest MT to a frontal sound. Directional sensitivity of cerebellar neurons appears to be sharper when determined with BF tone pulses than with FM stimuli. Thus the directional slope and the difference in MT between the best and worst angles of these neurons were larger when determined with the BF stimulus. Directional sensitivity of cerebellar neurons is not dependent upon stimulus frequency, unlike that of the inferior and cortical neurons of the same bat. Cerebellar neurons also varied their response latency with sound direction. Such a variation may provide the bat with another neural code for sound localization.
Influx, efflux, and accumulation of LDL in normal arterial areas and atherosclerotic lesions of white Carneau pigeons with naturally occurring and cholesterol-aggravated aortic atherosclerosis.

This study investigated the hypothesis that increased influx of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) accounts for the natural development of atherosclerosis in a characteristic (susceptible) site in the distal thoracic aorta of White Carneau (WC) pigeons and the exacerbation of atherosclerosis by cholesterol feeding. The influence of dietary cholesterol-induced changes in LDL composition on LDL influx into the artery was also investigated. As a measure of the influx of LDL into the artery, we determined the arterial accumulation of radiolabeled LDL after 1 hour. Nine 50-month-old WC pigeons with naturally occurring atherosclerosis and seven 14-month-old WC pigeons with atherosclerosis accelerated by 10 months of cholesterol feeding were studied. In the absence of atherosclerotic lesions, we found no evidence for increased accumulation of LDL at the susceptible site. In fact, more LDL accumulated in less susceptible normal arterial areas near the heart (approximately 90 nl/h per square centimeter) than in the susceptible distal thoracic aorta (approximately 35 nl/h per square centimeter). In the absence of atherosclerotic lesions, LDL accumulation (nanoliters per hour per square centimeter) was not influenced by hypercholesterolemia, although mass transport of LDL cholesterol into the artery was increased. Naturally occurring atherosclerotic lesions accumulated five times as much LDL as the adjacent normal arterial area (P < .001), whereas cholesterol-aggravated atherosclerotic lesions in different arterial sites accumulated four to 26 times as much LDL as the adjacent normal artery (P < .05). Cholesterol-aggravated atherosclerotic lesions at the most susceptible site accumulated five times as much LDL as naturally occurring atherosclerotic lesions in the corresponding arterial site (823 +/- 241 vs 175 +/- 45 nl/h per square centimeter, mean +/- SEM; P < .005). Arterial accumulation of LDL was influenced very little by changes in LDL composition induced by cholesterol feeding. In another study with young WC pigeons free of atherosclerosis and other WC pigeons with cholesterol-aggravated atherosclerosis, we injected differently labeled LDL 0.5 and 1 hour before sacrifice to investigate whether efflux of LDL from the artery was significant during a 1-hour period of LDL uptake. Although efflux of LDL from all arterial sites occurred during 1 hour, differential efflux could not account for regional differences in 1-hour arterial LDL accumulation. This study suggests that the characteristic susceptibility of the distal thoracic aorta of WC pigeons to atherosclerosis and the exacerbation of atherosclerosis by cholesterol feeding cannot be explained by differences in influx or efflux of LDL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
An approximative algorithm for the fixed‐charges transportation problem

A computationally simple method for approximating the optimal solution to transportation problems is described. Also, a method to deal with fixed charges is proposed. The computational algorithms have been designed primarily to handle very large numbers of transportation problems each involving a small number of origins and destinations as is frequently the situation in the Navy supply system. The results of empirical tests of the effectiveness of the methods are summarized. INTMDUCTION In July of 1959 our research group was authorized to proceed on a research project for the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts of the United States Navy. The project was given the title "Modified Linear Programming." Specifications for the project, as prepared by the Bureau, read in part as follows: "This project task is directed toward development of more efficient rules for the distribution and redistribution of material in the Navy supply system, through modification of the techniques of solution of the transportation problem to represent adequately and minimize the total costs of alternative allocation and redistribution decision patterns for Navy material. In particular, the project seeks to discover feasible and workable approximating rules for distribution decisions where a fixed cost of shipment is postulated for each 'channel' in addition to the customary variable cost, linear with respect to quantity with fixed costs for a shipment approximately the same for all activities, with linear or piecewise linear variable costs based on distance and transportation rate data.. . ."
Ultrafast all-optical switching not limited by the carrier lifetime in an integrated multiple-quantum-well Mach–Zehnder interferometer

We report the realization of ultrafast all-optical switching in an integrated strip-loaded waveguide Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The device was fabricated from a GaAs/AlGaAs multi-quantum-well structure grown by molecular-beam epitaxy upon a GaAs substrate. Although the slow-recovery carrier-induced nonlinearity is utilized to cause the switching, on–off switching within a time window of ∼10 ps has been realized in our experiment. Two control pulses, each with an energy of ∼11 pJ, were used to modulate the nonlinear refractive index. The first pulse switches the state at the output of the interferometer by creating a local population of free carriers asymmetrically across the device. The second control pulse balances the effect of the first one by creating an equal density of carriers as produced by the first one with a mirror image spatial distribution. In this configuration the finite lifetime of the carriers does not limit the speed of the device. However, the device can be used only in systems in which repetitive bursts of fast switching are followed by long enough latent periods to allow for the relaxation of the carriers.
An Informational Approach to Sustainability: “Intelligence” in Conservation and Natural Resource Management Policy

Information about environmental problems and their contexts is necessary to all sustainability efforts. Most people recognize this fact and begin their work by calling for a review of the information available about the environmental problems at hand. Information is gathered, processed, and disseminated through an intelligence function—an activity in conservation and management policy. The intelligence function is one of seven inter-related functions in a complete decision (management or policy) process. The way the intelligence activity and related activities (e.g., promotion, implementation, appraisal) are carried out determines whether sustainability efforts are successful. Features of a high quality intelligence function are described in detail and the standards of dependability, comprehensiveness, relevance, timing, creativity, openness, and economy examined. The goals of the intelligence activity are discussed in an interdisciplinary manner. Five means to improve the intelligence function are descri...
Chronic traumatic aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta: mid-term results of endovascular repair using first and second-generation stent-grafts.

Objective: Endovascular stent-graft repair holds promise for treating traumatic injuries of the descending thoracic aorta. The durability of this approach, however, remains unknown. The objective is to evaluate the mid-term results of stent-graft repair of chronic traumatic aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta. Methods: Between 1993 and 2000, endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta with first (custom-fabricated) and second-generation (commercial) stent-grafts was performed in 15 patients (mean age 54 ± 13 years) at an average of 18 ± 14 years after the injury. Because of comorbidities, 4 patients (27%) were judged not to be reasonable surgical candidates for conventional open surgical approach. Follow-up was 100% complete and averaged 55 ± 29 months. Results: Stent-graft deployment was successful in all without need for surgical conversion. One patient died early postoperatively. No neurologic complications occurred. Two patients had a primary endoleak, one of them was successfully treated before discharge. Actuarial survival estimates at 1 and 6 years were 93 ± 6% and 85 ± 10%. Actuarial freedom from reintervention on the descending thoracic aorta was 93 ± 6% and 70 ± 15% at 1 and 6 years, respectively. Actuarial freedom from treatment failure (a conservative, all-encompassing performance indicator including endoleak, device mechanical fault, reintervention, late aortic-related death, or sudden, unexplained late death) at 1 and 6 years was 87 ± 8% and 51 ± 15%. Conclusions: Stent-grafting is safe in selected patients with chronic traumatic aneurysms and associated with satisfactory-but not optimal-mid-term durability. Serial follow-up surveillance imaging is mandatory to detect late stent-graft complications. Younger, good risk patients should be offered conventional open operation, reserving stent-grafting for those who are at prohibitive operative risk or who have limited life expectancy.
Localization of myosin on sperm-cell-associated membranes of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Actomyosin interactions are reportedly the principal mechanism for the transport of nonmotile sperm cells of flowering plants inside the pollen tube and inside the embryo sac. Myosin has been demonstrated on the generative cell (the predecessor of sperm cells), although it is unclear from previous studies whether myosin is located directly on the plasma membrane of the male germ cells or on the external plasma membrane of the pollen cell that surrounds them. Immunogold scanning electron microscopy was used to localize myosin on isolated tobacco sperm cells, with and without associated membranes. When present, the pollen tube plasma membrane surrounding the sperm cells was labeled by an antimyosin antibody, as were pollen tube cytoplasmic organelles. Negligible labeling was observed directly on the plasma membrane of the sperm cells.
Environmental Justice and the Allocation Of Risk: The Case of Lead and Public Health

This paper examines conceptual and methodological issues in the analysis of environmental justice through use of the case of lead-exposure health risks. Researchers face important obstacles in measuring variable risks among population subgroups. The case of lead exposure, however, illustrates the dramatic potential where adequate data exist for identifying and correcting significant inequities in risk exposure. Despite sharp reductions in the general population's exposure to lead since the 1970s, substantial numbers of minority and low-income children continue to exhibit unacceptably high blood-lead levels due primarily to exposure to lead-based paint. Resolving environmental inequities in this and similar instances requires solid documentation of the risk and better integration of equity issues with other policy demands such as the call for cost-effective environmental policy.
The effect of heat treatment on Young's modulus, damping, and microhardness of SiC/Ti-15-3

Mechanical and physical properties of a laminated, continuous SiC-fibre-reinforced Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn (Ti-15-3) composite were analysed. The dynamic elastic modulus and damping of specimens with both unidirectional and cross-ply laminates were measured with the PUCOT (piezoelectric ultrasonic composite oscillator technique). The values of density, elastic modulus, and damping were evaluated with respect to heat treatment of the specimens. Metallographic examination was also done on the specimens to assess any changes in the microstructure in terms of changes in the mechanical or physical properties.
The Effect of β-Blockers on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Heart Failure

Beta-blockers reduce the risk of death in patients with heart failure and are recommended in those with stable class II or III disease despite optimal standard therapy. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an increasingly important end point in clinical trials. We reviewed all studies that determined the effect of beta-blockers on HRQOL in patients with heart failure. In these trials, HRQOL was assessed by the Quality of Life Questionnaire in Severe Heart Failure and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Three of the 10 studies that used either of these instruments reported significant improvements in scores. When HRQOL was determined by a single-question global assessment, substantial improvements were observed by patients and physicians in five of the seven studies that used the instrument. Possible reasons for the lack of consistent effect on HRQOL include lack of responsiveness of currently available instruments, incomplete data collection, and true lack of effect of beta-blockers on HRQOL in these patients.
Optical resonant ultrasound spectroscopy for fluid properties measurement [fuel capsules]

The properties of fluids are studied using unusually small containment spherical resonators. Proper identification of resonant fluid signatures allows determination of pressure and density of the internal gas with great accuracy using an appropriate equation of state (EOS). Low noise and high sensitivity detection of vibration are critical parameters to characterizing the contained gas when its pressure approaches 1 atm. or less. The benefits of using spherical resonators to determine fluid properties are discussed, and some example calculations of sound speed are presented. In addition to measuring fluids, a comparative experimental approach is taken to explore and, eventually, to optimize vibration detection. In the experiments, two detection methods, a contact piezoelectric transducer (PZT) device and a non-contact optical device, are compared simultaneously and quantitatively. This is done in a unique manner without change in vibration coupling to the sample between tests. A commercially available resonant ultrasound spectroscopy system is used as the contact system, while another commercial device (used as the non-contact vibration detector) combined with the same excitation source (used in the contact system) comprises the other system. The non-contact detector is an optical interferometric receiver that provides adaptation to optically rough surfaces and high sensitivity to acoustic displacements through optical interference in photorefractive GaAs. Both vibration detection systems are compared with particular emphasis on displacement sensitivity, frequency response, and noise level. Furthermore, the results from comparing detection modalities are presented, and their effects on fluid properties measurement are discussed.
Relatively Simple Method for Measuring Teatcup Liner Opening and Closing Pressures and Liner Ratio

Abstract This paper fills the need for a simple method for estimating the liner ratio during a pulsation cycle. The method can be used with any liner or shell combination. Ordinary 22-gauge wire was sutured into the inner opposing walls of a teatcup liner. These ``electrodes``were connected to a bridge amplifier, and contact closure was recorded by ultraviolet oscillograph. When the liner walls touched or parted, the resulting signal had the form of a square wave, which allowed precise estimates of liner opening and closing to within 10ms. Additionally, the pulsation chamber pressure was measured and the recording superimposed on the liner opening and closing, thus providing an estimate of the pressures at which the liner walls parted and touched. Liner ratio has been measured by others both by determining the pressure at which the liner walls touched and parted in the absence of pulsations (static) and in the presence of pulsations (dynamic). In an example of the method's usefulness, liner ratio was set by the static method; and three pulsation rates, two ratios, and two liner wall movement speeds were compared for their effects on liner ratio determined by the proposed method (dynamic). At slow liner movement dynamic liner ratio was affected; liner opening pressure was affected more; liner walls remained parted longer. The greatest increase, 9%, occurred at 65 pulsation/min at a static ratio of 70:30. Additional considerations of the method include limitations.
Imaging Single Spin Probes Embedded in a Conductive Diamagnetic Layer

The detection of spin noise by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has recently been substantially improved by the work presented by Komeda and Manassen (Komeda, T.; Manassen, Y. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2008, 92, 212506). The application of this technique to molecular paramagnets requires the positioning and anchoring of paramagnetic molecules at surfaces. It also requires the possibility of tunneling high current densities into the STM-molecule-substrate tunneling junction. In this letter, we exploit the self-assembly of 1,10-phenantroline on the Au(111) surface to form a diamagnetic matrix that hosts individual molecules and dimers of diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH). STM measurements are used to characterize the molecular layer. Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements elucidate the role of thermal annealing in the preservation of the paramagnetic nature of the DPPH molecules.
The effect of bilio-pancreatic diversion on type 2 diabetes in patients with BMI <35 kg/m2

Aims/hypothesis To aim of the study was to investigate the effect of bilio-pancreatic diversion (BPD) on type 2 diabetes in patients with BMI <35 kg/m2.
On flat phonons in β-brass

Abstract A crucial experiment is proposed to test for the possible existence of flat phonons in β-brass at the order disorder transition. The technique suggested involves the use of inelastic incoherent scattering of slow neutrons.
The role of vegetation in regulating stormwater runoff from green roofs in a winter rainfall climate

Abstract Extensive green roofs composed of a thin layer of growing medium topped with vegetation can significantly reduce both the timing and magnitude of stormwater runoff relative to a typical impervious roof. However, regional climatic conditions such as seasonality in rainfall and potential evapotranspiration could strongly alter the stormwater performance of green roofs. In this study we evaluate the stormwater performance of green roofs in the predominately winter rainfall climate of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. We also test whether the amount of irrigation used to maintain green roof vegetation in a seasonally dry climate such as the Pacific Northwest influences stormwater performance. We monitored stormwater performance over one year for sets of experimental roofs constructed using three designs: a conventional impervious design, a medium-only design, and a typical extensive green roof design that included vegetation. During the winter rainy season vegetation had no significant influence on stormwater retention; medium-only and vegetated roofs reduced stormwater runoff nearly identically relative to the impervious roofs. In contrast, during summer vegetated roofs retained significantly more rainfall than medium-only roofs, although this effect depended strongly on the size of the rain event. In addition, total relative retention for both roof types was significantly higher during summer than during winter. Irrigation significantly reduced summer retention capacity of both medium-only and planted roofs, but only during the largest dry season rain event. These results suggest that cool wet season climates such as the Pacific Northwest are challenging ones for green roof stormwater performance. In order to optimize stormwater benefits of green roofs, designers should create explicitly regional designs that include plant selections better matched to the specific environmental and management constraints.
Reconstitutive refolding of diacylglycerol kinase, an integral membrane protein.

While the formation of kinetically trapped misfolded structural states by membrane proteins is related to a number of diseases, relatively few studies of misfolded membrane proteins in their purifi...
An information theoretic approach to digital image watermarking

With the rapid development of wireless communication systems, transmission of digital multimedia has become widely spread. This brings with itself the issue of copyright protection for digital work. Digital watermarking is the process of embedding data inside a host image such that it does not degrade the perceptual quality of the image. In recent years, there have been many approaches to introduce different watermarking algorithms for the purposes of copyright protection, broadcast monitoring and covert communication. In this paper, a new transform based watermarking algorithm for digital images is introduced. This method uses the Singular Value Decomposition to obtain the eigenimages of a given image which are known to be the best orthogonal basis that can express that image in a least squares sense. The watermark is embedded by changing the strength of the singular values. The strength of the watermark is determined based on the entropy of the eigenimages to ensure robustness and imperceptibility at the simultaneously. A corresponding watermark detection and extraction algorithm is proposed. The performance of the algorithm under different types of attacks that a digital image can go through during transmission is illustrated through an example.
A Note on Foreign Language Training and International Business Education in U.S. Colleges and Universities

A number of recent studies have concluded that the foreign language fluency of the general population of the United States is very low. The purpose of the present study is to identify language requirements for business students in U.S. colleges and universities that offer a major, minor, or co-major in international business and a functional area at the graduate and/or undergraduate levels, and to determine approximate levels of fluency in foreign languages of these students.
Reaction of dicarboethoxycarbene with 1,3-cyclooctadiene. Entry to the trans-bicyclo[6.1.0]non-cis-2-ene system

Abstract The benzophenone-photosensitized decomposition of ethyl diazomalonate in 1,3-cyclooctadiene led to trans -bicyclo[6.1.0]non- cis -2-ene, a new strained ring system. The function of the photosensitizer is to convert Z,Z -1,3-cyclooctadiene into the E,Z -isomer.
Intensive Weight Loss Intervention in Older Individuals: Results from the Action for Health in Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Trial

Objectives: To compare the effects of 4 years of intensive lifestyle intervention on weight, fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in older and younger individuals. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: Sixteen U.S. clinical sites. Participants: Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: 1,053 aged 65 to 76 and 4,092 aged 45 to 64. Interventions: An intensive behavioral intervention designed to promote and maintain weight loss through caloric restriction and increased physical activity was compared with diabetes mellitus support and education. Measurements: Standardized assessments of weight, fitness (based on graded exercise testing), and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Results: Over 4 years, older individuals had greater intervention-related mean weight losses (6.2%) than younger participants (5.1%; interaction P = .006) and comparable relative mean increases in fitness (0.56 vs 0.53 metabolic equivalents; interaction P = .72). These benefits were seen consistently across subgroups of older adults formed according to many demographic and health factors. Of a panel of age-related health conditions, only self-reported worsening vision was associated with poorer intervention-related weight loss in older individuals. The intensive lifestyle intervention produced mean increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.03 mg/dL; P < .001) and decreases in glycated hemoglobin (0.21%; P < .001) and waist circumference (3.52 cm; P < .001) over 4 years that were at least as large in older as in younger individuals. Conclusion: Intensive lifestyle intervention targeting weight loss and increased physical activity is effective in overweight and obese older individuals to produce sustained weight loss and improvements in fitness and cardiovascular risk factors.
Educating New Management Specialists From an Evidence- Based Perspective: A Proposal

Rousseau and McCarthy (2007) performed a significant service to management education by outlining the history of and current circumstance for the use of evidence-based management (EBM) by U.S.-educated and trained managers: “EBM means managerial decisions and organizational practices informed by the best available scientific evidence” (84). Although these authors contrast practices in medicine and education with those in management, they also might have contrasted management with some of the so-called functional areas of business in the same college or school, namely, finance (economics), and operations (industrial engineering), or even industrial organizational psychology (applied psychology), and electrical engineering (physics and chemistry) that are all guided by sets of principles derived from a body of empirical evidence. Compared to these professions, management does a poor job of educating students in the scientific method or training them to employ evidence generated by this method to inform their decisions. Why is this the case? What do specialists have that generalists lack in professional education?
Rapid screening of protein profiles of human breast cancer cell lines using non-porous reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography separation with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectral analysis.

Non-porous reversed-phase (NP-RP) HPLC has been used to rapidly generate protein profiles of whole cell lysates of human breast cancer cell lines. The non-porous packing material used was silica coated with C18, which provided rapid separation with high collection efficiency of proteins from cell lysates. This method was used to study the differences in protein profiles among normal cells and fully malignant cells that share a common genetic background. The highly expressed proteins in each cell type were separated and collected in the liquid state where they were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) to obtain the molecular weight of the proteins. The protein fractions were then subjected to tryptic digestion and analyzed by pulsed delay extraction (PDE)-MALDI-TOFMS to obtain the peptide maps. The expressed proteins were identified based upon the molecular weight and peptide map using database-searching procedures. It is shown that key cancer-related proteins can be detected and identified which may be potentially used as biomarkers for cancer detection. Copyright # 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The transformation of cells into malignant cancer depends on genetic mutations. These mutations lead to the activation of cellular oncogenes that take over the processes in the cell transforming it into an entity that continues to survive and proliferate. In turn this transformed cell may undergo further mutations and develop into a fully malignant tumor cell. Although these changes in the cell occur at the DNA level, they must ultimately be expressed in terms of the protein content of the cell. Small mutations in the DNA may manifest themselves as large changes in the resulting protein cascades that control various functions in the cell. Many of the mutations that occur in the DNA result in posttranslational changes in the proteins that cannot be predicted from the DNA information. Thus, changes in the cell that result from malignant transformation are often best followed by monitoring changes in the protein expression that results. The traditional method of studying changes in cellular protein expression has been two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). 1‐5 More recently, several liquid phase based techniques have been developed
Thermalization of sputtered particles as the source of diffuse radiation from high altitude meteors

Abstract High altitude meteors become luminous at altitudes above ∼130 km, where the standard ablation theory of meteor light production is not applicable. The physical mechanism responsible for their glow has not been known. We present a model that explains their existence, morphology and lightcurves. The model is based on particles ejected from the meteoroid surface through the sputtering process. The kinetic energy of such a sputtered particle is typically more than 1000 times larger than the energy of particles in the surrounding atmosphere. Thus, the sputtered particle creates a cascade of collisions in the atmosphere during thermalization. We show analytically that this process is capable of producing enough light for detection. We also explain the observed relationship between the beginning height of high altitude meteors and their maximum brightness. In addition, meteors are modeled with a Monte Carlo code developed specifically for this phenomenon. Theoretical images reproduce the observed shapes and sizes of high altitude meteors. Their exact shape depends on the relative angle between the meteor path and observer’s line of sight.
A carbon nanotube implementation of temporal and spatial dendritic computations

A neural dendritic computational circuit design is presented here. The circuit models the result of action potentials applied to biological synapses on a portion of a dendritic tree. The resultant excitatory post synaptic potentials (EPSPs) are combined in a dendritic tree that demonstrates linear, superlinear and sublinear summation of both spatially and temporally separated EPSPs. The synapse circuit models include neurotransmitter action, reuptake and membrane potentials. The output of the circuit is a combined Excitatory Post Synaptic Potential (EPSP). The circuit is simulated using carbon nanotube SPICE models. Variations of this design can be implemented to create a variety of dendritic computational subunits.
Production Ecology of Copaíba (Copaifera spp.) Oleoresin in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon

Oleoresin extracted from copaiba (Copaifera spp.: Leguminosae) trees is a popular traditional medicine in Amazonia. I studied production ecology from three copaiba types in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. Mean oleoresin yield from the first harvest was 0.07 liters per tree for all trees drilled and 0.23 liters per tree for ones yielding some oleoresin. Yields were comparable toC. multijuga results in central Amazonia but lower than anecdotal reports of 2 liters or more per tree. Yield differences were minor between tree types and seasons. Yield peaked in mid-size trees (45-65 cm DBH) while small (45 cm DBH), very large (>65 cm DBH), and hollow trees (due to senescence or fire) yielded negligible amounts. Oleoresin was harvested almost exclusively from inner heartwood, indicating that factors stimulating its synthesis in cambium are probably distinct from factors that promote its storage in heartwood and loss of yield many years later.
Scale‐recursive estimation for multisensor Quantitative Precipitation Forecast verification: A preliminary assessment

Received [1] Precipitation is a highly heterogeneous process with considerable natural variability at scales ranging from a few meters to several hundreds of kilometers. This process is monitored with a variety of sensors (e.g., rain gauges, radars, and satellites) which provide direct or indirect measurements of precipitation at different scales. At the same time, physically based models at the storm, regional, continental, and global scales are used to predict precipitation and rely on the observed data for model verification, model initialization, and data assimilation. Because of the tremendous scale-dependent variability of precipitation fields, merging or comparing observations at different scales, or comparing model outputs at one scale with observations at one or more different scales, is not straightforward. This study explores the use of a recently developed scale-recursive estimation (SRE) framework for the problem of Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) verification using observations from multiple sensors. SRE can explicitly account for the multiscale variability of precipitation and the scale-dependent uncertainty associated with the model output and the multisensor observations. Special emphasis is placed on the specification of the multiscale structure of precipitation under sparse or noisy data. The results demonstrate the potential of SRE as a powerful tool for assessment of OPFs and also for multisensor data fusion and network design studies.
CONSUMER ONLINE SHOPPING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR: AN ASSESSMENT OF RESEARCH

The current status of studies of online shopping attitudes and behavior is investigated through an analysis of 35 empirical articles found in nine primary Information Systems (IS) journals and three major IS conference proceedings. A taxonomy is developed based on our analysis. A conceptual model of online shopping is presented and discussed in light of existing empirical studies. Areas for further research are discussed.
Design of MOFs and intellectual content in reticular chemistry: a personal view

This article gives a personal perspective on the ideas leading to the development of reticular chemistry. The feasibility of achieving targeted materials with predetermined metrics and functionality by designed synthesis is defended.
Cost-driven 3D integration with interconnect layers

The ever increasing die area of Chip Multiprocessors (CMPs) affects manufacturing yield, resulting in higher manufacture cost. Meanwhile, network-on-chip (NoC) has emerged as a promising and scalable solution for interconnecting the cores in CMPs, however it consumes significant portion of the total die area. In this paper, we propose to decouple the interconnect fabric from computing and storage layers, forming a separate layer called Interconnect Service Layer (ISL), in the context of three-dimensional (3D) chip integration. Such decoupling helps reduce the die area for each layer in 3D stacking. ISL itself can integrate multiple super-imposed interconnect topologies. More importantly, ISL can be designed, manufactured, and tested as a separate Intellectual Property (IP) component, which supports multiple designs in the computing and storage layers. The resulting methodology also helps support different manufacturing volume in each die of 3D to reduce the overall manufacturing cost. We demonstrate the proposed methodology with an ISL design example and compare to its 2D and 3D counterparts without ISL support. The results show that 3D design with ISL not only provides significant cost reduction, but also achieves power-performance improvement thanks to the efficient usage of ISL.
Simultaneous quantification of alternatively spliced transcripts in a single droplet digital PCR reaction.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is an essential component required for telomerase activity and telomere maintenance. Several alternatively spliced forms of hTERT mRNA have been reported in human primary and tumor cells. Currently, however, there is no sensitive and accurate method for the simultaneous quantification of multiple alternatively spliced RNA transcripts, such as in the case of hTERT. Here we show droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) provides sensitive, simultaneous digital quantification in a single reaction of two alternatively spliced single deletion hTERT transcripts (α-/β+ and α+/β-) as well as the opportunity to manually quantify non-deletion (α+/β+) and double deletion (α- /β-) transcripts. Our ddPCR method enables direct comparison among four alternatively spliced mRNAs without the need for internal standards or multiple primer pairs specific for each variant as real-time PCR (qPCR) requires, thus eliminating potential variation due to differences in PCR amplification efficiency.