cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pigment Production from Tryptophan by an Achromobacter Species

Duerre, John A. (University of North Dakota, Grand Forks), and Patrick J. Buckley. Pigment production from tryptophan by an Achromobacter species. J. Bacteriol. 90:1686-1691. 1965.-A microorganism was isolated from the soil near the University of North Dakota. Biochemical and morphological characteristics indicated that this organism would best be classified as a member of the family Achromobacteraceae, genus Achromobacter, species unknown. The organism produced a red pigment when grown in a medium containing yeast extract and tryptophan. The pH optimum for pigment production was about 8.0 and the optimal temperature was 25 C. During a study of the nutritional requirements for growth and pigment production, it was found that the organism would grow and produce pigment in a medium containing tryptophan and nucleosides, but the rate of both growth and pigment formation in this medium was slower than that observed with tryptophan and yeast extract. The organism grew well in the presence of acid-hydrolyzed casein and nucleosides without producing pigment, indicating that the pigment is not necessary for growth. Resting-cell experiments definitely established tryptophan as the sole exogenous requirement for pigment production. The pigment was extracted from yeast extract-tryptophan medium with chloroform. Thin layer chromatographic analysis of the crude pigment extracted from this medium revealed the presence of two other pigments in addition to the major red pigment. One of these was a highly fluorescent orange pigment and the other a pink pigment. Only the red pigment was produced by resting cells in the presence of tryptophan alone. This pigment served as an electron acceptor when coupled with formic dehydrogenase, indicating its possible function as an oxidation-reduction pigment. The oxidized pigment had absorption peaks at 506 and 304 mmu. The peak at 506 mmu disappeared upon reduction with sodium sulfite. Shaking the reduced pigment in air proved to be an unsatisfactory method for returning the reduced pigment to the oxidized, colored state.
Design, synthesis, characterization, and fluorescent studies of the first zinc-quinolate polymer

We report the design, synthesis, and characterization of the first Znq2-copolymers, which demonstrate excellent photoluminescence properties, with emission wavelengths ranging from the blue to the yellow, while retaining full solution processability.
Parent-child math anxiety and math-gender stereotypes predict adolescents' math education outcomes

Two studies examined social determinants of adolescents' math anxiety including parents' own math anxiety and children's endorsement of math-gender stereotypes. In Study 1, parent-child dyads were surveyed and the interaction between parent and child math anxiety was examined, with an eye to same- and other-gender dyads. Results indicate that parent's math anxiety interacts with daughters' and sons' anxiety to predict math self-efficacy, GPA, behavioral intentions, math attitudes, and math devaluing. Parents with lower math anxiety showed a positive relationship to children's math outcomes when children also had lower anxiety. The strongest relationships were found with same-gender dyads, particularly Mother-Daughter dyads. Study 2 showed that endorsement of math-gender stereotypes predicts math anxiety (and not vice versa) for performance beliefs and outcomes (self-efficacy and GPA). Further, math anxiety fully mediated the relationship between gender stereotypes and math self-efficacy for girls and boys, and for boys with GPA. These findings address gaps in the literature on the role of parents' math anxiety in the effects of children's math anxiety and math anxiety as a mechanism affecting performance. Results have implications for interventions on parents' math anxiety and dispelling gender stereotypes in math classrooms.
Effects of difluoromethylornithine and dicyclohexylammonium sulfate on the transformed state of AKR-MCA cells.

Abstract The effect of two inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis, difluoromethylornithine and dicyclohexylammonium sulfate, on the transformed fibroblastic cell line AKR-MCA and its parental counter part AKR-2B was investigated. Treatment of monolayer AKR-MCA cells with either agent results in morphological changes akin to AKR-2B; the cells appear to be flattened with a polygonal shape. The ability of the inhibitors to alter the phenotype is lost when the cells are cocultured with polyamines. More specifically, putrescine and spermidine abrogate the effects of difluoromethylornithine while only spermidine is effective in reversing the dicyclohexylammonium sulfate induced phenomenon. Further evidence that these enzyme inhibitors are reversing the transformed state of AKR-MCA is obtained from soft agarose experiments. AKR-MCA cells will generate colonies only in the absence of either difluoromethylornithine or dicyclohexylammonium sulfate. Polyamine levels were determined in parental AKR-2B and AKR-MCA cells. The levels of putrescine and spermine were similar in both cell types. In contrast, significantly more ( P ≤ 0.01) spermidine was expressed by the malignant line [7.3 ± 0.8 (SD) nmol/10 6 cells] when compared with the untransformed AKR-2B (5.4 ± 0.8 nmol/10 6 ) cells. Intracellular putrescine and spermidine were sensitive to difluoromethylornithine, dicyclohexylammonium sulfate, and dimethylformamide, a planar, polar solvent which has been reported to “normalize” the transformed phenotype. AKR-MCA treated with difluoromethylornithine or dimethylformamide manifested time dependent reductions in both polyamines which preceded morphological changes. Dicyclohexylammonium sulfate similarly caused a 70% reduction in spermidine, but in contrast to the other agents there was a marked accumulation of putrescine. These data concur with the established molecular actions of the two enzyme inhibitors as blockers of ornithine decarboxylase (difluoromethylornithine) and spermidine synthase (dicyclohexylammonium sulfate). The normalizing capacity of dimethylformamide was not compromised by cotreatment with putrescine or spermidine. Both difluoromethylornithine and dicyclohexylammonium sulfate inhibited the growth of monolayer AKR-2B and AKR-MCA. In view of the well documented cytostatic effects of polyamine inhibitors, it is suggested that a decrease in growth by these agents triggers a more normal phenotype in AKR-MCA cells.
RELATIVE ACTIVITIES OF ERYTHROCYTE NUCLEOTIDASE ISOZYMES AS SENSITIVE BIOMARKERS OF MINIMAL LEAD OVERBURDEN. † 766

Erythrocyte pyrimidine 5′-nucleotidase (P5′N) is known to be highly sensitive in vitro and in vivo to inhibition by lead, whereas its companion isozyme, deoxyribonucleotidase (dRN), is strongly resistant to heavy metal inhibition. Review of data from ten children with moderate to severe lead overburden, (initial blood lead = 55-92 μg/dL), followed as long as 54 months during and after chelation therapy (to blood lead levels = 9-25 μg/dL), indicated that P5′N activities remained significantly below normal means (compared to the population at large), whereas dRN activities were normal or elevated commensurate with reticulocytosis. In another group of 16 children, routine screening assays revealed blood lead concentrations of 5-18 μg/dL, and 14 exhibited P5′N activities slightly to moderately below control means, coupled with normal dRN activities. This study group has now been expanded to 85 children with blood lead = 1-35 μg/dL, and nucleotidase activities have been measured with 6-12 substrates at two pH optima.
Scheduling reconstruction operations with modes of execution

Since the decline of the Cold War, the risk of major conflict between powerful, industrialized nations has decreased. Insecurities in the 21st century are more apt to arise from the debris of imploding states. Such situations may require intervention—military or otherwise—by concerned states. To meet this new operational challenge, nations must adapt their planning procedures to account for Security, Stabilization, Transition, and Reconstruction Operations (SSTRO). This paper develops a project scheduling framework for post-conflict reconstruction that schedules reconstruction activities to maximize the positive impact to the local economy during the initial phase of SSTRO. Specifically, this paper builds on the Multimode Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem with Generalized Precedence Relations (MM-RCPSP-GPR) using goal programming to maximize the reconstruction operations’ positive impact to local population's economic welfare. This MM-RCPSP-GPR variant is applied to a notional example to illustrate its potential use in post-conflict SSTRO. The basic framework can be extended to other settings.
Prehospital delay in patients with acute coronary heart disease: concordance between patient interviews and medical records

Patient-associated delay in seeking medical care in the setting of acute coronary disease is assuming increasing importance as the benefits of reperfusion therapies become more time dependent. Given the importance of accurate information concerning prehospital delay, we examined the extent of concordance between information reported by patients in structured interviews by hospital staff nurses compared with information about time of acute symptom onset as recorded in the medical record. Data were obtained from 1137 patients with a discharge diagnosis of coronary heart disease who were admitted to six coronary care units in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The average and median durations of prehospital delay were similar as reported in the structured personal interviews and through the review of medical records for the respective disease groups. The extent of individual level of agreement of delay time was considerably poorer, however. The Pearson correlation coefficients on the logarithmically transformed data were 0.48, 0.50, and 0.59 for persons with acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and chronic coronary disease, respectively, in comparing data noted in the medical record with that obtained in the personal interviews concerning prehospital delay time. These results suggest good agreement between personal interviews and medical record accounts in characterizing the average length of prehospital delay at the aggregate level but considerably less agreement at the individual patient level.
Towards spatial fault resilience in array processors

Computing with large die-size graphical processors (that need huge arrays of identical structures) in the late CMOS era is abounding with challenges due to spatial non-idealities arising from chip-to-chip and within-chip variation of MOSFET threshold voltage. In this paper, we propose a machine learning based software-framework for in-situ prediction and correction of computation corrupted due to threshold voltage variation of transistors. Based on semi-supervised training imparted to a fully connected cascade feed-forward neural network (FCCFF-NN), the NN makes an accurate prediction of the underlying hardware, creating a spatial map of faulty processing elements (PE). The faulty elements identified by the NN are avoided in future computing. Further, any transient faults occurring over and above these spatial faults are tracked, and corrected if the number of PEs involved in a particle strike is above a preset threshold. For the purposes of experimental validation, we consider a 256 × 256 array of PE. Each PE is comprised of a multiply-accumulate (MAC) block with three 8 bit registers (two for inputs and one for storing the computed result). One thousand instances of this processor array are created and PEs in each instance are randomly perturbed with threshold voltage variation. Common image processing operations such as low pass filtering and edge enhancement are performed on each of these 1000 instances. A fraction of these images (about 10%) is used to train the NN for spatial non-idealities. Based on this training, the NN is able to accurately predict the spatial extremities in 95% of all the remaining 90% of the cases. The proposed NN based error tolerance results in superior quality images whose degradation is no longer visually perceptible.
Aerodynamic performance of a fan stage utilizing variable inlet guide vanes (VIGV's) for thrust modulation

An experimental research program was conducted in the Lewis Research Center's 9x15-foot (2.74x4.57 m) low speed wind tunnel to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of an inlet and fan system with variable inlet guide vanes (VIGVs) for use on a subsonic V/STOL aircraft. At high VIGV blade angles (lower weight flow and thrust levels), the fan stage was stalled over a major portion of its radius. In spite of the stall, fan blade stresses only exceeded the limits at the most extreme flow conditions. It was found that inlet flow separation does not necessarily lead to poor inlet performance or adverse fan operating conditions. Generally speaking, separated inlet flow did not adversely affect the fan blade stress levels. There were some cases, however, at high VIGV angles and high inlet angles-of-attack where excessive blade stress levels were encountered. An evaluation term made up of the product of the distortion parameter, K alpha, the weight flow and the fan pressure ratio minus one, was found to correlate quite well with the observed blade stress results.
A homologue of the mammalian multidrug resistance gene (mdr) is functionally expressed in the intestine of Xenopus laevis.

Abstract P-glycoprotein is an integral membrane protein that functions in multidrug resistance (MDR) cells as a drug efflux pump to maintain intracellular concentrations of antitumor drugs below cytotoxic levels. A homologue of the mammalian mdr gene has been isolated and characterized from Xenopus laevis (Xe-mdr) . The cDNA was isolated from a tadpole cDNA library using the full length mouse mdr1b cDNA as a probe. The Xe-mdr encodes a protein that is 66% identical to the mouse mdr1b and 68% identical to the human mdr1 . The predicted structure of the Xe-mdr gene product identifies twelve membrane spanning domains and two ATP binding sites both of which are the hallmark of the ABC (ATP binding cassette) transporters. Xe-mdr mRNA is expressed as a single message of 4.5 kb and is found predominantly in the intestine. Xe-mdr message is increased 3- to 4-fold in the ileum compared to the rest of the small intestine. In situ hybridization of sequential sections from the small intestine localized the expression of the Xe-mdr to the cells lining the lumenal epithelium. Brush border membrane vesicles prepared from the small intestine of Xenopus laevis effluxed vinblastine in an ATP-dependent manner. Efflux was decreased by verapamil, a known inhibitor of P-glycoprotein function. These studies indicate that the structure of Xe-mdr has been conserved and suggest that the protein has a role in maintaining the function of the normal intestine in Xenopus .
Tracking in Space by DOPLOC

A satellite and space vehicle tracking system of the Doppler type, known as DOPLOC, is described. The characteristics of the heart of the system, a phase-locked tracking filter, are discussed from the viewpoints of bandwidth, signal-to-noise ratio, and accuracy of Doppler frequency measurement. System sensitivity to low energy signals is shown to be 2 × 10-29 watts at a bandwidth of 1 cps. Tracking ranges vs frequency are given for constant gain and constant aperture antennas. The advantages of DOPLOC in satellite tracking programs are briefly discussed.
What are raters rating? predicting medical student, pediatric resident, and faculty ratings of clinical teachers

Medical school evaluation literature reveals concerns about attitudes toward teaching, including cynicism toward the value of teaching in academics and alienation of students from the “work”; of learning. One might reasonably conclude, then, that these attitudes are reflected in higher evaluation scores for those professors who are kinder and gentler to students. Our study indicates otherwise. The important predictors of medical student, resident, and faculty ratings of teaching excellence were clinical competence, demonstrated sensitivity toward patients and their families, and recognition of the limits of one's abilities. Trainees and faculty generated ratings both reliable (αresidents = .93, αfaculty = .97) and rigorous (i.e., discriminating more from less effective teachers). Implications for designing and implementing clinical teaching evaluation systems include the need to identify criteria that the department members consider as underpinning responsible evaluation. In formulating these criteria, te...
Reversible optosensing in packed flow-through detectors: flow injection or chromatography?

Abstract It is proposed to integrate the sensing and reacting media in a flow system by placing the solid reactive surfaces in the observation field of a detector, and to prolong its lifetime by either protecting it from the sample matrix by a suitable (gas-made) barrier or by automatically and reproducibly renewing it for each measuring cycle. A novel packed thin-layer detector for reversible flow-injection optosensing is discussed and tested for the determination of ammonia by gas diffusion and of phosphate by the molybdenum blue method.
Ionic forces and membrane phenomena

When a membrane containing diffusible ions is perturbed by an electric field, osmotic and electric relaxation forces are developed. These are calculated for an infinitesimal impulse perturbation. The force characteristics are dependent on the shape of the fixedcharge distribution. The electric force is proportional to the concentration difference, while the osmotic force is proportional to the second derivative of the chemical potential. The residual electric field gives rise to membrane reactance. With two diffusible cations having different concentrations and mobilities, two decaying potential terms are obtained. Under certain conditions these may be represented as due to a real RLC electric circuit. If the mobility of a diffusible cation varies in the membrane, it is possible for the osmotic force to cancel the electric. The case is examined for mobility inversely proportional to the negative fixed charge density, and the requisite charge distribution calculated. It appears that this effect may be of importance in explaining the activity of the axonal membrane. Boundary forces are examined in detail in the Appendices, including the effect of lack of equilibrium. Force relationships are calculated for the uniform fixed-charge membrane.
Parathyroid hormone is a heparin/polyanion binding protein: binding energetics and structure modification.

The interaction of four representative polyanions with parathyroid hormone (PTH) residues 1–84 has been investigated utilizing a variety of spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques. Each of the polyanions employed demonstrate enthalpically driven binding to PTH (1–84) with significant affinity. The polyanions heparin, dextran sulfate, phytic acid, and sucrose octasulfate induce α-helical structure in PTH to varying extents depending on the ratio of polyanion to protein employed. Intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy suggests significant protein tertiary structure alteration upon polyanion binding. Although structural modification occurred upon polyanion binding, PTH colloidal stability was increased depending on the ratio of polyanion to protein used. Nevertheless, the bioactivity of PTH in the presence of various ratios of heparin was not altered. The potential biological significance of PTH/polyanion interactions is discussed.
A meta-analysis of factors impacting detection of antidepressant efficacy in clinical trials: the importance of academic sites.

Variability in placebo response greatly complicates the design, conduct, and interpretation of clinical trials of antidepressant medications. To identify factors that impact detection of antidepressant–placebo differences, we conducted a meta-analysis of all relevant phase II–IV clinical trials for major depressive disorder conducted by the manufacturer of venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine completed by March 2011. We examined 15 factors potentially relevant to trial outcomes, using the standardized mean difference on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) score as the primary outcome. Thirty trials comprising 8933 patients were included. In univariate analyses, antidepressant efficacy (ie, drug vs placebo difference) was predicted most strongly (β=3.74, p=0.0002) by the proportion of patients in the trial enrolled from academic sites. Other factors predicting larger drug–placebo differences included lower participant completion rate, fewer post-baseline study visits, earlier year of study, and study drug (venlafaxine>desvenlafaxine). In multivariate meta-regression modeling, only the proportion of patients from academic sites maintained statistical significance as a predictor of drug–placebo separation for both HAM-D17 continuous score change (β=2.24, p=0.034) and response rate (β=2.26, p=0.035). Including a higher proportion of academic sites may increase the ability to detect differences between active drug and placebo in clinical trials of major depressive disorder.
Factors related to Chinese older adults’ suicidal thoughts and attempts

Objectives: Guided by the biopsychosocial framework and empirical evidence, this study examined protective and risk factors of older adults’ suicidal thoughts and attempts during the previous month, 12 months, and 5 years.Method: The data used in this study were extracted from the Sample Survey on Aged Population in Urban/Rural China conducted in 2006, which included 15,957 older adults from mainland China. Multiple penalized logistic regressions were used to conduct the analyses.Results: During the previous month, 12 months, and 5 years, 5.1‰, 10.0‰, and 17.7‰ of older adults indicated that they thought about suicide, whereas 2.2‰, 3.5‰, and 6.3‰ reported suicidal attempts, respectively. Older adults’ age, financial strain, functional limitations, depression, children's filial piety, social network, loneliness, and urban residence were significantly related to suicidal thoughts during the different time periods. In addition, older adults’ religious affiliation, depression, loneliness, and urban residence...
The synthesis and degradation of benzyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-ethyl-2-C-hydroxymethyl-α-d-glucopyranoside and -mannopyranoside

Abstract The use of carbohydrates for establishing, by synthesis, the absolute configuration of branched aliphatic alcohols is demonstrated by the synthesis and degradation of carbohydrate derivatives that contain two branch points. Benzyl 4,6- O -benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3- C -ethyl-2- C -hydroxymethyl-α- d -glucopyranoside ( 23 ) and -mannopyranoside ( 24 ) were formed from benzyl 2,3-anhydro-4,6- O -benzylidene-α- d -mannopyranoside ( 17 ) by a reaction sequence that involved ring-opening with ethylmagnesium chloride, oxidation, epimerisation, methylenation, and hydroboronation. The gluco isomer 23 was converted into (+)-( R )-2,3-bisacetoxymethylpentyl acetate ( 1 ) by sequential hydrogenolysis, borohydride reduction, periodate oxidation, borohydride reduction, and acetylation. The synthesis of 1 provides confirmatory evidence for the absolute configuration of the alkaloid pilocarpine ( 2 ). Unidentified products, and not the expected free-sugars, were obtained by acidic hydrolysis of methyl 4,6- O -benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3- C -ethyl-2- C -hydroxymethyl-α- d -glucopyranoside ( 8 ) and -mannopyranoside ( 9 ). Convenient syntheses of benzyl α- d -glucopyranoside derivatives are described.
Effects of food seasonings on the cell cycle and chromosome morphology of mammalian cells in vitro with special reference to turmeric.

Abstract Direct application of some common food seasonings, and of solubilized filtered extracts of these seasonings, has toxic effects on cells in culture. Asynchronous populations of several mammalian cell strains were grown in media containing one of the three food seasonings, cayenne pepper, curry and paprika. The cells exhibited decondensed and banded metaphase chromosomes. The spice turmeric arrested mitosis, altered chromosome morphology and interfered with nucleic acid synthesis. The metaphase chromosomes showed a progression of changes including uncoiling, chromatid separation, fragmentation and disintegration. This progression was dose- and time-dependent. Monitoring of the cell cycle using autoradiographic techniques suggested that turmeric interfered with cell-cycle progression. The rate of incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine and [ 3 H]uridine was reduced to less than 25% of control values within 30 min when turmeric (10 μ g/ml) was added to asynchronous Chinese-hamster cells.
Phylogenetic placement of the European sand gobies in Gobionellidae and characterization of gobionellid lineages (Gobiiformes: Gobioidei).

The Mediterranean, northeastern Atlantic, and inland freshwaters of Europe and the Ponto-Caspian region host a distinct fauna of gobiiform fishes, including the sand gobies ( Pomatoschistus Gill and related genera), all of which have been clas-sified in the most diverse goby group, the family Gobiidae. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses have suggested that the sand gobies are not gobiids, and are instead part of their sister clade Gobionellidae (Thacker and Roje 2011). Phylo-genetic analysis of Pomatoschistus in the context of both gobiid and gobionellid taxa indicates that Pomatoschistus is part of Gobionellidae, specifically the Mugilogobius lineage. Gobionellidae includes 93 genera, which are arrayed into four lineages ( Stenogobius , Mugilogobius , Periophthalmus and Northern Pacific). These lineages exhibit variation in charac-ters of the jaw and suspensorium, including the shapes and relative positions of the palatine, quadrate, and ectopterygoid. The observations of the palatopterygoid complex in Gobionellidae of Harrison (1989) and Larson (2001) are supported and augmented. Gobionellidae generally exhibit suspensoria that are overall more elongated and gracile than those of go-biids: the palatine/ectopterygoid pair features a very short ( Periophthalmus lineage) or elongate, pointed palatine ( Mugi-logobius , Northern Pacific, and Stenogobius lineages), with a relatively slender ectopterygoid and a short quadrate articulation. In Gobiidae, the palatine extends about halfway along the length of the ectopterygoid, and the ectopterygoid generally features a large, flat articulation with the quadrate. Suspensoria of Pomatoschistus and relatives are similar to those of other taxa in the Mugilogobius lineage. Placement of Pomatoschistus and relatives in Gobionellidae rather than Gobiidae is significant in that it indicates that sand gobies are not closely related to other European gobies, and has impli-cations for any comparative evolutionary or biogeographic studies.
Disturbance modeling for offset-free linear model predictive control

Abstract An offset-free controller is one that drives controlled outputs to their desired targets at steady state. In the linear model predictive control (MPC) framework, offset-free control is usually achieved by adding step disturbances to the process model. The most widely-used industrial MPC implementations assume a constant output disturbance that can lead to sluggish rejection of disturbances that enter the process elsewhere. This paper presents a general disturbance model that accommodates unmeasured disturbances entering through the process input, state, or output. Conditions that guarantee detectability of the augmented system model are provided, and a steady-state target calculation is constructed to remove the effects of estimated disturbances. Conditions for which offset-free control is possible are stated for the combined estimator, steady-state target calculation, and dynamic controller. Simulation examples are provided to illustrate trade-offs in disturbance model design.
The ABC Scale and Fall Risk: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the ability of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale to predict the fall risk in older community-living adults. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted from February 1, 2010, to October 8, 2010, through Pubmed, CINAHL and MEDLINE. Appraisal of full-text English articles, which were published from January 1996 to October 2010, provided the framework for this analysis. Results: On the basis of our inclusion/exclusion criteria, three studies qualified for inclusion in this review. Two of the three selected studies indicated a significant association between ABC scores and falls. The third study concluded that the ABC scale was unable to distinguish fallers from nonfallers. Conclusion: Despite the abundance of studies, which include the ABC scale, there is insufficient research that specifically examines the relationship between balance confidence scores with actual falls in community-dwelling older adults. In th...
Identification of the state equation in complex non-linear systems

Abstract Building on the basic idea behind the Restoring Force Method for the non-parametric identification of non-linear systems, a general procedure is presented for the direct identification of the state equation of complex non-linear systems. No information about the system mass is required, and only the applied excitation(s) and resulting acceleration are needed to implement the procedure. Arbitrary non-linear phenomena spanning the range from polynomial non-linearities to the noisy Duffing–van der Pol oscillator (involving product-type non-linearities and multiple excitations) or hysteretic behavior such as the Bouc–Wen model can be handled without difficulty. In the case of polynomial-type non-linearities, the approach yields virtually exact results for sufficiently rich excitations. For other types of non-linearities, the approach yields the optimum (in least-squares sense) representation in non-parametric form of the dominant interaction forces induced by the motion of the system. Several examples involving synthetic data corresponding to a variety of highly non-linear phenomena are presented to demonstrate the utility as well as the range of validity of the proposed approach.
Preventing complications: Principles of flap reconstruction

The head and neck surgeon must be prepared to reconstruct surgical defects to provide adequate postoperative form and function. The extent of tumor resection should not be compromised by lack of familiarity with the various methods of reconstruction. The simplest means of wound closure (ie, primary closure, secondary intention healing, grafts) should be considered before using more complex flaps, with a thorough knowledge of their advantages and disadvantages. Successful flap reconstruction relies on attention to flap anatomy, avoiding wound tension, and meticulous detail to hemostasis and flap manipulation. The patients' postoperative rehabilitation is influenced by thoughtful reconstructive efforts of the surgeon.
Study on the Thermal Stability of Polyphenylene Sulfide Filter Media by Non-Isothermal Thermogravimetry

In order to study the thermal stability of PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) filter media, by means of non- isothermal thermogravimetry, thermal degradation kinetics behavior of two kinds of PPS filter media were analyzed. The kinetic parameters of PPS filter media were obtained according to Friedman method. Thermal stability of PPS filter media was discussed. It was found that the initial decomposition temperature and activation energy of N3 sample are all higher than B1 sample, the thermal stability of N3 sample is better than B1 sample, and kinetic analysis can be used as an important method to evaluate the thermal stability of filter media.
Reliability of oxides at low temperatures

The increased interest in cryogenic semiconductors and new cryogenic processes that operate at 40 K has prompted the development of a tester to analyze low temperature reliability physics. This tester is particularly suited to study hot electron (hot e-) effects at LN2 temperatures but also capable of performing time dependent dielectric breakdown studies. The objective of this work was to study hot electron effects at low temperatures and its activation energy over a large temperature range for conventional thermal oxides in the 150 to 200 angstroms range. It has been shown over the last several years that low temperature operation can significantly enhance the hot electron degradation of a transistor.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Functional Analysis of UK Debates in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

In 2010, the UK held its first ever televised debates for Prime Minister, featuring Gordon Brown, David Cameron, and Nick Clegg. At the same time debates were held in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. These “regional” UK debates were a mixed bag. The debate in Northern Ireland included candidates for members of the Northern Ireland parliament; the debate in Scotland featured candidates running for the UK parliament, and the Wales debate included both kinds of candidates. The debates featured a mixture of issues, touching on “regional” and UK questions and candidates. Previous research has studied the three UK debates (Benoit & Benoit-Bryan, 2013); this study applies Functional Theory to three debates, one from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Overall in these three debates acclaims were more common than attacks and defenses were the least common function. Incumbent party candidates acclaimed and defended more, and attacked less, than challengers. This relationship was particularly strong when t...
Seismic reflection profiling with a deep-towed vertical hydrophone array

A seismic reflection profiling system consisting of a 264 m long, deep-towed, 15-element, end-fire, vertical array and a 40 cubic inch airgun was successfully used to profile a sediment pond in the trough of the inactive segment of the Kane Fracture Zone close to it's intersection with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 24° N. The increased signal to noise ratio achieved with the array demonstrates that it is a useful tool for detailed seismic profiling in areas of rough topography in the deep ocean.
Vydūnas' dramas: A ritual of national salvation

Vydunas (Vilius Storasta, 1868-1953), writer, philosopher, and cultural leader of the Lithuanian community in East Prussia, was one of the key figures of the first Lithuanian national renaissance at the turn of the century.1 His major dramas "Shadows of the Ancestors" (Probotiu seseliai, 1900-1908), "Eternal Fire" ( Amžina ugnis , 1902-1913), "Chimes of the Sea" (Jūru varpai , 19141920), and "World on Fire" (Pasaulio gaisras , 1922-1928) belong to the classics of Lithuanian literature.2 Written during the first quarter of the twentieth century, contemporaneous with symbolism and expressionism, Vydunas' dramas share with these modernist movements some stylistic, formal, and thematic elements. However, Vydunas' world view, as depicted in the dramas, appears different from that which we understand as modernistic or avant garde. In twentieth-century literature we are accustomed to finding a fragmented, seemingly absurd world, one in which human beings feel alienated, where human nature itself appears as a battleground of unconscious instincts and barbaric impulses. By contrast, Vydunas' dramas invite us into a world which is whole, harmonious, and meaningful. Here even suffering, death and heroic self-sacrifice are purposeful and ennobling. Not chance, but a Divine Will rules the world. The individual who seeks the purpose of life discovers it, though the path to enlightenment may lead through a shedding of false illusions. The term "holy theater"3 describes this type of drama, which aspires to transcendence and spirituality. It is fervently anti-materialist and religious in outlook, although not bound by conventional Christian dogma. Vydunas considered drama to be the most effective form of art, because drama can express most powerfully the struggle of the human spirit to rise above subhuman forces, above those physical and material constraints which shackle and enslave life.4 The location of the action is usually some sort of hallowed ground: the pagan Lithuanian shrine Romuva, a sacred forest or oak grove, an ancient burial ground, an ancestral home, or a mythical seashore. The time is either the mythical past or a dimension in which past, present and future co-mingle from the vantage point of eternity. The complex external structures of the dramas,
Entanglement entropy in the two-dimensional random transverse field Ising model

The scaling behavior of the entanglement entropy in the two-dimensional random transverse field Ising model is studied numerically through the strong disordered renormalization group method. We find that the leading term of the entanglement entropy always scales linearly with the block size. However, besides this \emph{area law} contribution, we find a subleading logarithmic correction at the quantum critical point. This correction is discussed from the point of view of an underlying percolation transition, both at finite and at zero temperature.
Capturing and profiling adult hair follicle stem cells

The hair follicle bulge possesses putative epithelial stem cells. Characterization of these cells has been hampered by the inability to target bulge cells genetically. Here, we use a Keratin1-15 (Krt1-15, also known as K15) promoter to target mouse bulge cells with an inducible Cre recombinase construct or with the gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), which allow for lineage analysis and for isolation of the cells. We show that bulge cells in adult mice generate all epithelial cell types within the intact follicle and hair during normal hair follicle cycling. After isolation, adult Krt1-15-EGFP-positive cells reconstituted all components of the cutaneous epithelium and had a higher proliferative potential than Krt1-15-EGFP-negative cells. Genetic profiling of hair follicle stem cells revealed several known and unknown receptors and signaling pathways important for maintaining the stem cell phenotype. Ultimately, these findings provide potential targets for the treatment of hair loss and other disorders of skin and hair.
Measuring the effects of aging and sex on regional brain stiffness with MR elastography in healthy older adults.

Changes in tissue composition and cellular architecture have been associated with neurological disease, and these in turn can affect biomechanical properties. Natural biological factors such as aging and an individual's sex also affect underlying tissue biomechanics in different brain regions. Understanding the normal changes is necessary before determining the efficacy of stiffness imaging for neurological disease diagnosis and therapy monitoring. The objective of this study was to evaluate global and regional changes in brain stiffness as a function of age and sex, using improved MRE acquisition and processing that have been shown to provide median stiffness values that are typically reproducible to within 1% in global measurements and within 2% for regional measurements. Furthermore, this is the first study to report the effects of age and sex over the entire cerebrum volume and over the full frontal, occipital, parietal, temporal, deep gray matter/white matter (insula, deep gray nuclei and white matter tracts), and cerebellum volumes. In 45 volunteers, we observed a significant linear correlation between age and brain stiffness in the cerebrum (P .20 for all other regions). The model predicted female occipital and temporal lobes to be 0.23 kPa and 0.09 kPa stiffer than males of the same age, respectively. This study confirms that as the brain ages, there is softening; however, the changes are dependent on region. In addition, stiffness effects due to sex exist in the occipital and temporal lobes.
Kinetic and Computational Analysis of the Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Trichloroacetimidate Rearrangement: Development of a Model for Enantioselectivity

The asymmetric rearrangement of allylic trichloroacetimidates catalyzed by palladium(II) complexes of the COP family is a powerful method for the preparation of enantioenriched chiral allylic amines from prochiral allylic alcohols. A detailed kinetic analysis of this reaction was performed to elucidate the rate- and enantiodetermining step of this important reaction. The results of these studies support a cyclization-induced rearrangement mechanism and prompted DFT studies (B3LYP/LACVP**+) of C−N bond formation, believed to be the enantiodetermining step of this catalytic cycle. On the basis of these calculations, a model for enantioinduction was developed, in which the planar chirality of the catalyst controls the enantioselectivity. These studies should allow the rational design of more enantioselective catalysts.
Reaction of Phosphines and Pyridine with a Heterometal Metallaborane. Ligand Substitution on Boron vs Metal Sites, Borane Displacement, and Orthometalation of a Boron-Coordinated Pyridine

The reactions of the mixed-metal metallaborane {Cp*Ru}{Cp*Ru(CO)}{Co(CO)2}(μ-CO)B3H6, 1, Cp* = η5-C5Me5, with PPh3 and PMe2Ph as representative phosphine bases and pyridine as a representative nitrogen base have been studied. Phosphines lead to substitution of CO on Co and the formation of {Cp*Ru}2{Co(CO)L}(μ-CO)2B3H4, L = PPh3 (2) and PMe2Ph (3). The latter has been structurally characterized in the solid state and exhibits the fac isomeric form of an octahedral M3B3 cluster. NMR data demonstrate that 3 is fluxional in solution and exists in two isomeric forms: in the major one the phosphine is adjacent to the B3 face, and in the minor one it is adjacent to the M3 face. Reaction with pyridine leads to three products, two of which have been characterized by X-ray structure determinations. Formation of 4, demonstrates borane fragment displacement plus pyridine addition and subsequent orthometalation. Formation of {Cp*Ru}2}{Co(CO)2}(μ-CO)2B2H2B(NC5H5), 5, establishes a parallel pathway involving H substitu...
The pea seed storage protein legumin was synthesized, processed, and accumulated stably in transgenic rice endosperm

Abstract To improve the amino acid composition of rice grain, the pea seed storage protein legumin was expressed in the endosperm of transgenic rice plants. Genomic or cDNA coding sequence of the pea legumin gene (LegA, including the 3′-downstream region) was placed under transcriptional control of either a 1.8 or 5.1 kb promoter of the rice seed storage protein glutelin gene (Gt1). The 5.1 kb promoter conferred a higher level of legumin accumulation in mature seeds than the 1.8 kb promoter, while the choice of genomic or cDNA coding sequence did not affect expression level significantly. Segregation analysis of RO seeds suggests a monogenic Mendelian inheritance, indicating a single locus or closely linked loci of gene insertion. Western blot analysis indicated that the legumin precursor is cleaved endoproteolytically into the acidic and basic subunits in the rice endosperm as is in its native pea cotyledon. We expect a significant improvement in the nutritional quality of rice seed generated by a high level expression of legumin.
Laboratory host range of Austromusotima camptozonale (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a potential biological control agent of Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum (Lygodiaceae)

Abstract Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, is one of the most serious invasive weeds impacting south Florida and development of biological control is crucial for sustainable management. Larvae of a small moth, Austromusotima camptozonale, were discovered defoliating L. microphyllum in Australia. Preliminary testing suggested this moth was a Lygodium specialist. Laboratory host range testing was conducted on 65 species of test plants, from 31 families, comprising seven Lygodium species, four close relatives, 45 other species of ferns and fern allies, eight agricultural crops and one gymnosperm species plus the primary host L. microphyllum. Significant oviposition occurred only on other species of Lygodium. No eggs were laid on the agricultural crops, or about half the species of non-Lygodium ferns and fern allies tested. Oviposition on the other non-Lygodium ferns was very low, except on Anemia adiantifolia and Blechnum serrulatum, which received modest egg loads, but did not support developm...
Within-Die Delay Variation Measurement and Power Transient Analysis Using REBEL

Variations in path delays are increasing with scaling, and are increasingly affected by neighborhood interactions. To fully characterize within-die variations, delays must be measured in the context of actual core-logic macros using embedded test structures (ETSs). In this brief, we propose an ETS called regional delay behavior (REBEL) that is designed to measure path delays in a minimally invasive fashion. REBEL provides capabilities similar to an off-chip logic analyzer. We implemented REBEL in a 90-nm test chip and present results on within-die path delay variations in a floating point unit. We also analyze the impact on delay when the chips are subjected to industrial-level temperature and voltage variations.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)/AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT) heterodimer interacts with naturally occurring estrogen response elements.

To determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the "cross talk" between the activity of 2,3,7,8-tetra-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), which binds to arylhydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and estradiol (E2)-liganded estrogen receptor (ER), we first examined the initial step of estrogen action, ligand binding to ER. None of the AHR ligands tested, i.e. TCDD, benzo[a]pyrene, 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl, beta-naphthoflavone, or alpha-naphthoflavone, bound to ER alpha. We report the first examination of TCDD interaction with ER beta: TCDD did not displace E2 from ER beta. We then examined a second possible mechanism, i.e. direct inhibition of ER alpha binding to estrogen response elements (EREs) by the AHR/AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT) complex. The AHR/ARNT heterodimer did not bind either a full or half-site ERE. However, AHR/ARNT bound specifically to oligomers containing naturally occurring EREs derived from the human c-fos, pS2, and progesterone receptor (PR) gene promoters that include xenobiotic response element (XRE)-like sequences. In contrast, neither purified E2-liganded-ER from calf uterus or recombinant human ER alpha bound a consensus XRE. TCDD inhibited E2-activated reporter gene activity from a consensus ERE and from EREs in the pS2, PR, and Fos genes in transiently transfected MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. However, this inhibition was not reciprocal since E2 did not inhibit TCDD-stimulated luciferase activity from the CYP1A1 promoter in transiently transfected MCF-7 or human endometrial carcinoma HEC-1A cells. We propose that at least part of the mechanism by which the AHR/ARNT complex inhibits estrogen action is by competitively inhibiting ER alpha binding to imperfect ERE sites, adjacent to or overlapping XREs.
Calcium-calmodulin and calcium-phospholipid dependent phosphorylation of membranous fraction proteins related to the tropic regulation by estradiol in the corpus luteum

Estradiol assumes a major role in the regulation of growth, vascularization, and progesterone synthesis in the midpregnant rat corpus luteum. To explore whether molecular events triggered by estradiol could be mediated, at least in part, by protein phosphorylation, we investigated whether estradiol treatment in vivo affects endogenous luteal protein phosphorylation systems detectable in vitro. Luteal nuclear, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions were obtained by differential centrifugation from rats hypophysectomized and hysterectomized on day 12 of pregnancy and treated with or without estradiol for 72 h. Using [γ-32P]ATP as phosphate donor, proteins were phosphorylated in the presence or absence of either calcium (Ca), Ca plus calmodulin, or Ca plus phospholipid. Phosphoproteins were separated by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by autoradiography. The Coomassie blue stained proteins and phosphoprotein profiles were markedly different in the var...