cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHARACTERIZATION OF DIATOM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) NITRATE REDUCTASE GENES AND THEIR DETECTION IN MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES

The complete assimilatory nitrate reductase (NR) gene from the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum triconutum Bohlin was sequenced from cDNA and compared with NR sequences from fungi, green algae, vascular plants, and the recently sequenced genome of the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle and Heimdal CCMP1335. In all the major eukaryotic nitrate reductase (Euk-NR) functional domains, diatom NR gene sequences are generally 50%-60% identical to plant and alga sequences at the amino acid level. In the less conserved N-terminal, hinge 1, and hinge 2 regions, homology to other NR sequences is weak, generally < 30%. Two PCR primer sets capable of amplifying Euk-NR from plants, algae, and diatoms were designed. One primer set was used to amplify a 750-base pair (bp) NR fragment from the cDNA of five additional diatom strains. The PCR amplicon spans part of the well-conserved dimer interface region, the more variable hinge 1 region, and part of the conserved cytochrome b heme binding region. The second primer set, targeted to the dimer region, was used to amplify an approximately 400-bp fragment of the NR gene from DNA samples collected in Monterey Bay, California and in central New Jersey inner continental shelf (LEO-15 site) waters. Only diatom-like NR sequences were recovered from Monterey Bay samples, whereas LEO-15 samples yielded NR sequences from a range of photosynthetic eukaryotes. The prospect of using DNA- and RNA-based methods to target the NR genes of diatoms specifically is a promising approach for future physiological and ecological experiments.
Synergistic growth stimulation of corneal fibroblasts by components of mesodermal growth factor from murine submaxillary glands

Recycled mesodermal growth factor (R-MGF) is a pool of proteins of 26,000 molecular weight obtained by recycling gel chromatography of male murine submaxillary gland extracts. R-MGF strikingly accelerates corneal stromal wound healing in vivo, fibroblast growth and migration in cultured corneal buttons and is showing here to stimulate stromal fibroblast growth and division in tissue culture. Chromatographic fractionation of R-MGF has yielded several components, none of which has a greater biological potency than the parent R-MGF. In contrast, two components, MGF-I and -II, when recombined synergistically stimulate fibroblast response in tissue culture and organ culture in excess of those obtained with the parent R-MGF. Three MGF components (I, III, and IV) have been purified and are inactive at 10-15 micrograms/ml in organ culture but potently stimulate fibroblast responses when combined in pairs containing 7.5 micrograms of each component. The striking synergism in organ culture suggests that the stimulation of wound healing by R-MGF in vivo may also reflect synergistic action of more than one R-MGF component. Procedures for isolating gram quantities of R-MGF and for the purification of different R-MGF components by ion exchange chromatography are detailed.
Initial Development of the Employee Perception of Participatory Ergonomics Questionnaire

In an organizational context, Participatory ergonomics (PE) programs set out to involve employees in ergonomic design and analysis efforts in order to promote a safer, more user-friendly, and productive workplace. While the purpose of a PE program is to involve employees, currently there is no quantitative method to evaluate the effectiveness of PE programs from the employee's perspective. The current study set out to address this void. Based on a review of the recent published literature, five key constructs were identified as critical evaluative components: Employee Knowledge Base, Employee Involvement, Employee Support, Perceptions of Managerial Support, and Employee Stress due to Ergonomic Changes. With the help of an organizational management-labor committee, a content validity approach was used to generate items. The proposed five-dimension measure was administered to 63 participants working in large manufacturing plant with an established PE program. Initial empirical support for the proposed dimen...
Predictors of survival for esophageal cancer patients with and without celiac axis lymphadenopathy: impact of staging endosonography.

Abstract Background . Esophageal cancer patients with M1a disease are reported to have poor survival. We hypothesized that patients with celiac lymph node metastases (CLN) identified by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) would predict a cohort with significantly worse survival postoperatively. Accurate preoperative identification of this group will facilitate future adjuvant studies. Methods . During the study period, 211 patients with esophageal cancer underwent EUS staging. Patients with evaluable celiac axis (n = 182) were included in this study. Survival of patients with and without CLNs was compared and the factors affecting overall survival were assessed. A subgroup analysis based on CLN status was performed in the subgroup of patients who underwent surgical procedures. Results . Follow-up data was available in 91.2% (166 of 182) of the patients. As staged by EUS, T1, T2, T3, and T4 tumors accounted for 9.3%, 11.5%, 56%, and 21% of the cases, respectively. At least one CLN was imaged by EUS in 40% (72 of 182). The 5-year survival in patients with CLNs detected by EUS was 13% (95% confidence interval, 5% to 21%) compared with 30% (95% confidence interval, 21% to 40%) in patients with no CLNs detected by EUS ( p = 0.007). In the subgroup of patients who underwent surgical procedures (n = 68), patients with CLN involvement had worse survival compared with those who did not have malignant involvement of CLNs at the time of their operation (median survival 39.8 versus 13.8 months, p = 0.0008). In a Cox proportional model, adjusting for race and the type of therapy, patients with CLN involvement or advanced EUS American Joint Committee on Cancer stage were more likely to have worse survival ( p Conclusions . EUS base line findings correlate with long term survival in patients with esophageal cancer. Patients with M1a disease as identified by EUS had a significantly worse postoperative survival when compared with non-M1a patients. This cohort of patients will be ideal for the study of induction therapy since the effect of down staging can be assessed before operation.
Choosing to be a designated organ donor on their first driver's license: actions, opinions, intentions, and barriers of Asian American and Pacific Islander adolescents in Hawaii.

Context—The factors associated with Asian American and Pacific Islander adolescents' decision to be a designated organ donor on their first driver's license are largely unknown.Objective—To assess knowledge and attitudes about organ donation and socio-cultural factors associated with designated organ donor status in Asian American and Pacific Islander youth in Hawaii.Design and Setting—Written surveys and focus groups were conducted at high schools and churches.Participants—Two hundred eight Asian American and Pacific Islander teens, mean age 16 (SD, 2) years, 52.6% females, and 53.4% Catholic.Main Outcome Measures—Donor status on driver's license, awareness, attitudes, intentions, and barriers to becoming a designated organ donor.Results—Eighteen percent of teens with a driver's license are designated organ donors. Twenty-one percent have talked to their parents about becoming a designated donor on their license. Of those without a license, 27.7% intended to become a designated donor. Sex, grade level, a...
Genetic and Morphological Divergence in Three Strains of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis Commonly Stocked in Lake Superior

Fitness related traits often show spatial variation across populations of widely distributed species. Comparisons of genetic variation among populations in putatively neutral DNA markers and in phenotypic traits susceptible to selection (QST FST analysis) can be used to determine to what degree differentiation among populations can be attributed to selection or genetic drift. Traditionally, QST FST analyses require a large number of populations to achieve sufficient statistical power; however, new methods have been developed that allow QST FST comparisons to be conducted on as few as two populations if their pedigrees are informative. This study compared genetic and morphological divergence in three strains of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis that were historically or currently used for stocking in the Lake Superior Basin. Herein we examined if morphological divergence among populations showed temporal variation, and if divergence could be attributed to selection or was indistinguishable from genetic drift. Multivariate QST FST analysis showed evidence for divergent selection between populations. Univariate analyses suggests that the pattern observed in the multivariate analyses was largely driven by divergent selection for length and weight, and moreover by divergence between the Assinica strain and each of the Iron River and Siskiwit strains rather than divergent selection between each population pair. While it could not be determined if divergence was due to natural selection or inadvertent artificial selection in hatcheries, selected differences were consistent with patterns of domestication commonly found in salmonids.
Circadian Variation in Ictus of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background Temporal patterns in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) may provide insight into modulation, and therefore, prevention of hemorrhage. We investigated the time of hemorrhage and its relationship to traditional risk factors among patients admitted with aSAH. Methods Admitted patients with aSAH were prospectively followed through outcomes and baseline demographics were abstracted through chart review. The group temporal distribution by hour of onset was summarized with cosinor nonlinear least squares. aSAH onset was gathered into night (2300-0500), morning (0500-1100), afternoon (1100-1700), and evening (0500-2300) daily phases. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI was calculated for having an aSAH during the morning, afternoon, and evening hours using night as a reference. Multinomial logit models were fitted using aSAH cases across time blocks to determine their associations with different risk factors. Results 202 patients had the hour of hemorrhage available, and 49 had phase identifiable [total 251: 38 (15%) night, 98 (39%) morning, 58 (23%) afternoon, 57 (23%) evening]. The peak hours of aSAH were between 0700 and 0800 representing 13% of the sample, with a significant cosinor-fitted phase of 7.33(95% CI 5.30, 9.36). For all aSAH cases, morning onset was significantly more common than night onset (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.77-3.75). Nonsmokers were more likely to have aSAH in the morning than smokers (P = 0.043, OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.33-7.23). Conclusions aSAH occur in a diurnal, morning prevalent pattern regardless of traditional aSAH risk factors. The association of these risk factors with existing onset patterns should be investigated in future studies.
Using Difference Infrared Spectroscopy to Investigate the Effects of pH on PGK-Substrate Complexes

Yeast phosphoglycerate kinase catalyzes the reversible phosphate transfer in the reaction: ADP +1,3-bis-phosphoglycerate ↔ ATP + 3-phosphoglycerate. Prior research indicates a hinge-bending mechanism occurs during catalysis to bring the substrates into closer proximity. Domain closure is only initiated in ternary complexes, in which both substrates are simultaneously bound to the enzyme. The activity and conformation of PGK is directly influenced by substrate and salt concentrations as well as pH.
Primary tissue and the structure of the podetium in Cladonia

The podetium is an erect, tubular, lichen- ized structure that constitutes the secondary thallus (thallus verticalis) in the lichen genus Cladonia. The primary tissue, an assemblage of meristematic cells, is present from the inception of the podetium through maturity. Assuming that it is homologous throughout, primary tissue can be compared among species of Cla? donia to clarify taxonomic relationships. The current infrageneric classification within the genus is in part artificial because the characters upon which the taxa are based are formed in various ways. Some examples are: 1) Species in the informal Furcatae group are placed within sections Perviae or Cladonia, but they differ from the species in either section on the basis of the configuration and ontogeny of their primary tissue. 2) Certain scyphus-forming species in sections Cladonia and Cocciferae produce proliferations that re- semble species in section Perviae. 3) Some scyphus- forming species in section Cladonia produce prolif? erations that resemble species in the Furcatae group.
Stereoelectronic Interactions in Cyclohexane, 1,3-Dioxane, 1,3-Oxathiane, and 1,3-Dithiane: W-Effect, σC-X ↔ σ*C-H Interactions, Anomeric EffectWhat Is Really Important?

Stereoelectronic effects proposed for C−H bonds in cyclohexane, 1,3-dioxane, 1,3-oxathiane, and 1,3-dithiane were studied computationally. The balance of three effects, namely, σC-X → σ*C-Heq, σC-Heq → σ*C-X, and np(X) → σ*C-Heq interactions, was necessary to explain the relative elongation of equatorial C(5)−H bonds. The role of homoanomeric np → σ*C(5)-Heq interaction is especially important in dioxane. In dithiane, distortion of the ring by long C−S bonds dramatically increases overlap of σC(5)-Heq and σ*C-S orbitals and energy of the corresponding hyperconjugative interaction. Anomeric np(X) → σ*C-Hax interactions with participation of axial C−H bonds dominate at C(2), C(4), and C(6). The balance of hyperconjugative interactions involving C−Hax and C−Heq bonds agrees well with the relative bond lengths for all C−Hax/C−Heq pairs in all studied compounds. At the same time, the order of one-bond spin−spin coupling constants does not correlate with the balance of stereoelectronic effects in dithiane and o...
Haptic Guidance Benefits Musical Motor Learning

This paper presents the results of a pilot experiment looking at the effect of haptic guidance on musical training. A percussion performance task was used where subjects learned to play short rhythmic sequences on a device capable of recording drumstick movements with a high degree of spatiotemporal accuracy. Subjects learned to perform the sequences under three primary training paradigms: listening to the rhythm (audio), being guided through the motions involved in the rhythm's performance (haptic), and being guided through the required motions while listening to the resulting sound (audio+haptic). Performance was assessed in terms of both timing and loudness (velocity) accuracy using several different metrics. Results indicate that haptic guidance can significantly benefit recall of both note timing and velocity. When subject performance was compared in terms of note velocity recall, the addition of haptic guidance to audio-based training produced a 17% reduction in final error when compared to audio training alone. When performance was evaluated in terms of liming recall, the combination of audio and haptic guidance led to an 18% reduction in early-stage error.
Beam Dynamics in MABE

MABE is a multistage linear electron accelerator which accelerates up to nine beams in parallel. Nominal parameters per beam are 25 kA, final energy 7 MeV, and guide field 20 kG. We report recent progress via theory and simulation in understanding the beam dynamics in such a system. In particular, we emphasize our results on the radial oscillations and emittance growth for a beam passing through a series of accelerating gaps.
Rocket and spacecraft studies of ultraviolet emissions from astrophysical targets

Rocket and spacecraft far-UV spectral measurements of several astrophysical targets are reviewed. These include observations of Ly-alpha emissions from Arcturus, Apollo-17 far-UV spectrometry of eta UMa and five other stars, Apollo-17 observations of the lunar atmosphere and the diffuse UV background, and far-UV spectral studies of Venus, Jupiter, and Comet Kohoutek. The Arcturus observations indicated a chromosphere with neutral atomic-hydrogen and atomic-oxygen emissions as well as a very weak atomic-carbon line. The planetary studies revealed O I and C I emissions in the Venusian spectrum as well as large Ly-alpha emissions and possible molecular-hydrogen emissions in that of Jupiter. The lunar observations demonstrated that solar protons do not produce an atomic-hydrogen atmosphere on the moon.
CULTIVATION OF MOSQUITO CELL LINES IN SERUM-FREE MEDIA AND THEIR EFFECTS ON DENGUE VIRUS REPLICATION

Seven mosquito cell lines from five species (Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. pseudoscutellaris, Culex tarsalis, andToxorhynchites amboinensis) were adapted to three kinds of serum-free media (SEM), which were composed of equal volumes of tryptose phosphate broth and of either Leibovitz (L15) medium, Eagle’s minimum essential medium, or Medium 199 with Hanks’ salts. Population growth rates of the cells cultivated in the SMFs were generally slower than those of original cell cultures maintained in conventional media containing bovine sera. A karyological study showed a significant shift to heteroploidy in two of the four cell lines examined. Four SMF-adapted sublines were compared with parental cultures for replication of dengue viruses.Ae. aegypti RML-12,Ae. albopictus C6/36,Ae. pseudoscutellaris AP-61, andTx. amboinensis TRA-171 demonstrated different levels of alteration in virus replication ranging from lower titers (as inAe. albopictus C6/36) to comparable or higher titers (as inAe. aegypti RML-12) when they were simultaneously inoculated with four dengue serotypes.
Distributed computing column 53: Dagstuhl seminar review: consistency in distributed systems

This issue’s column is devoted to a detailed review of a fascinating Dagstuhl seminar on consistency in distributed systems, held in February 2013, which I was fortunate enough to attend. This seminar brought together researchers and practitioners in distributed systems, programming languages, databases and concurrent programming to make progress in understanding the trade-offs between data consistency, availability and fault-tolerance. In addition to the tutorials, technical presentations, and breakout sessions reported on below, attendees got the opportunity to participate in a chilly but rewarding trip to the city of Trier, containing the Porta Nigra (the Black Gate, the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps) and the Trier Cathedral (home to the Holy Tunic).
Control of Lipidic Pore Dynamics by Aqueous Viscosity

It is experimentally known that the viscosities of aqueous solutions are the dominant source of friction in the dynamics of lipidic pores in large vesicles. Building on an existing model of others in which membrane viscosity is assumed to limit pore dynamics, a new theory is developed that also accounts for aqueous viscosity. The equations that describe pore dynamics leads to a three-stage pattern, as in the prior theory, but the parameters of the new theory agree with experiments. The dissipation of energy resulting from friction between a membrane sliding against the aqueous solution, during changes in pore radius, is derived from fundamental principles of fluid mechanics, and the derived curve fits experimental data without the need to introduce fitting parameters. The new theory is dependent on one constant of integration which is obtained from the fluid mechanical equations for membrane sliding. The theory also provides a new formula to calculate pore edge tension from experimentally obtained data of rapid pore closure. Extending the theory to smaller liposomes reveals the conditions under which membrane viscosity affects pore dynamics.
Transplacental lung carcinogenesis: molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis

Abstract A wide variety of studies in both animal models and human populations have demonstrated age-related differences in the susceptibility of the developing organism to environmentally prevalent toxicants. While this differential susceptibility has been clearly established, the mechanistic basis for these age-related differences is still poorly understood. The developing fetus utilizes many of the same metabolic and signaling pathways as adult organisms in responding to environmental agents. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that the fetus is not a “little adult” and exhibits unique biochemical responses and gene expression profiles to chemical and physical agents. Because of the rapid growth and developmental changes that occur during gestation, the fetus represents a particularly challenging research subject as a result of the dynamic alterations that occur in gene expression pathways as gene systems are activated or repressed during specific stages of development. Thus, an understanding of the mechanism(s) that render the developing organism more or less susceptible to specific carcinogenic agents is crucial for both regulatory decisions regarding the determination of safe levels of toxic chemicals released into the environment and also for determining the effects of therapeutic compounds in younger age groups and pregnant women. Concentrating on studies from the author's laboratory, this review will highlight recent research on the molecular pathogenesis of transplacentally induced tumors. While focusing on the lung, other animal models and recent human epidemiological studies will also be discussed to contrast similarities and differences in the developing and adult organisms in terms of responses to toxic chemicals, including metabolism of environmentally prevalent toxicants and alterations in gene systems at the molecular level.
Adhesion of crystalline polyphenyletheretherketone (PEEK) in metal-to-metal joints

The characteristics of melt-crystallized polyphenyletheretherketone (peek) as an adhesive for steel-to-steel joints have been investigated. Interfacial chemistry, which plays an important role in determining whether adhesion will be poor or good at peek steel interfaces, involved the following reactions. Oxygen-catalysed deformation of peek in air led to a low rate of crystallinity, which gave poor adhesion to the steel surfaces. The enrichment of Fe2O3 by extensive oxidation of the interfaces also created an undesirable boundary region, thereby indicating that failure occurs cohesively through this weak Fe2O3 layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (xps) data suggest that there is no chemical interaction of well-crystallized peek with Fe2O3 at the top surface of steels. In contrast, in nitrogen, interfacial Fe- and CrOC complexes, formed by a charge transfer between elemental Fe or Cr in steel and oxygen in the ketone groups (CO) of crystallized peek, contributed significantly to strengthening the peek-to-steel bonds.
Construction and characterization of a small-bore electrospray ionization source

Abstract A simple, economical, and efficient electrospray ionization (ESI) source has been constructed in the configuration of a probe that makes use of a standard 13 mm vacuum lock. The principal components have been placed inside a glass tube making use of the electrical insulating properties of the glass while allowing for visual adjustments to be readily made. The ESI source, a variation of an atmospheric pressure ionization interface, is a modified version of designs published by Chait et al. ( Rapid Comm. Mass Spectrom. 1990 , 4 , 81–87) and Knapp et al. ( Anal. Chem. 1991 , 63 , 1658–1660) wherein a heated metal capillary is used for desolvation. The ESI probe has been tested on three different Extrel quadrupole mass spectrometers, with removable ion volumes, using polypeptides and small proteins. No modifications to the standard electron ionization/chemical ionization lens assembly were required to obtain excellent results other than removal of the ion volume. The spectra acquired were in excellent agreement with those previously published.
Prevalence and predictors of receipt of prenatal information about genetic screening.

Objective To examine the proportion of women who received information on genetic screening among those who had prenatal care and to determine whether the proportion varied by maternal characteristics. Methods We used self-reported data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a population-based survey of recent mothers, for birth years 2000–2002. Logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of receiving information and to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios. Results Among women who began prenatal care in the first trimester, 86% received information on genetic screening. The strongest predictors of receiving this information were completing the questionnaire in English and having military health insurance. Conclusion Most women receive information on prenatal genetic screening, but insurance status and language preference may impact women's access to this information. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The dopaminergic mediation of a sweet reward in normal and VMH hyperphagic rats.

Abstract The role of dopamine in mediating the rewarding quality of a sweet saccharin-glucose (SG) solution was investigated by comparing the effects of the dopamine receptor blocker pimozide, the bitter adulterant quinine, and solution dilution on the consummatory response to the solution in normal and VMH rats. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that pimozide and quinine caused a dose/concentration dependent reduction in the intake of and the licking response to a SG solution. Pimozide treatment caused an equivalent suppression in the intake of the normal and VMH rats, in both the dynamic and static phases, whereas quinine adulteration caused a greater suppression in the intake of the VMH rats. The effects of pimozide and quinine on initial lick rate were also different. Experiment 3 demonstrated that dilution of a SG solution produced a concentration related decrease in intake and licking response. Dilution of the SG solution, like pimozide treatment, affected the intake of the normal and VMH rats in an equivalent manner. The effects of solution dilution and pimozide treatment on the licking response were also similar. The results suggest that the mechanisms by which pimozide and quinine reduce the hedonic quality of natural rewards are functionally dissimilar. The similarity between pimozide treatment and solution dilution suggests that pimozide reduces the positive affective quality of natural reinforcers. The results are discussed in terms of the dopamine theory of reward, the role of dopamine in hypothalamic hyperphagia, and VMH finickiness.
Reducing cycle times in pediatric emergency medicine.

Objective Reducing cycle times in pediatric emergency medicine is an ongoing challenge to practitioners and institutions who strive to provide outstanding medical care in a caring and efficient manner amid the chaotic environment of a busy emergency department. For institutions that wish to undertake such a task, there is scant pediatric literature on these topics. The objectives of this study were to reduce emergency department cycle times and to set a benchmark in these areas for pediatric emergency medicine. Methods After the implementation of interventions to promote efficiency, goals were chosen in 2 areas: operational and clinical cycle time reductions. The goals were set for 1 year and then followed longitudinally for an additional 4 years to evaluate sustainability of results. For the first year, the operational goal for the emergency center (EC) was to reduce the time in department (TID) from 3 hours 6 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes, representing a 9% decrease. The corresponding goal in quick kid (QK) was to reduce the TID from 1 hour 35 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, representing a 21% decrease. The clinical goal for both the EC and QK was to reduce the time to initial administration of pain medications for suspected extremity fractures from 1 hour 42 minutes to 30 minutes, representing a 71% decrease. Results During the initial year of the study, the mean time in the EC decreased by 9%, whereas in QK, the mean TID decreased by 16%. The time to administration of pain medications for patients with suspected fracture decreased by 58%. Longitudinal analysis revealed sustainability of in all areas studied. Conclusions At 1 year, we were able to reduce cycle times in the main EC and QK and time of pain medication administration for patients with suspected fractures. These results were sustainable over time and in the face of increasing patient volume. We anticipate this work will set benchmarks in pediatric emergency medicine for process improvement and support the development of similar programs to reduce cycle times and improve operational efficiency.
A dynamic analysis of migration: an assessment of the effects of age family and career variables

This paper examines the utility of viewing migration in the context of work careers and family life cycles. We do this by studying migration as a discrete state, continuous time process. We find that the inverse relationship between age and migration is due almost completely to the effects of family life cycle and work career variables. Further, we find that job- or locationspecific resources, prestige and wage deter migration.
The unexpected origin of human values

Biologists and psychologists are increasingly suggesting that human values are an evolved adaptation--one which functions, in part to maximize the likelihood that their bearers will pass genes on to the next generation. That would explain why virtually everyone in the world has a sense of right and wrong. Here, Morris discusses the three broad systems of values
ASTRA: Application of sequential training to rate adaptation

The application of machine learning algorithms in wireless communications has attracted increasing attention due to the promising performance gains recently achieved. Static classification algorithms have been successfully applied to training protocols that adapt transmission parameters according to context information. However, in reality, there are many time-varying reasons for fading channel quality including mobility of sender, receiver, and/or obstacles within the environment. Moreover, time-varying noise further exacerbates the dynamics of the channel. These problems pose new challenges for the application of static classification algorithms in context-aware algorithms and suggest that sequential classifiers which leverage the temporal dynamics and correlation of context information might be more appropriate. In this paper, we apply sequential training to rate adaptation (ASTRA), leveraging the temporal correlation of context information. In particular, linear and non-linear sequential coding schemes are used in the training process for selecting the modulation/coding rate that achieves the highest throughput for the given context. Experimental results on measurements from emulated and in-field channels demonstrate that ASTRA can significantly increase the accuracy of selecting these target rates by up to 175% and increase the resulting throughput by up to 66% over rate adaptation training which uses static classifier-based methods.
MBE-codeposited iridium silicide films on Si(100) and Si(111)

We used molecular beam epitaxy to codeposit IrSi3 films on p-type Si(111) and Si(100) substrates at elevated temperatures. Seemann-Bohlin x-ray diffraction reveals the formation of IrSi3 at temperatures as low as 450 degree(s)C. We find that the growth of 100 angstroms IrSi3 films on Si(111) and Si(100) substrates is similar to that of 450 angstroms IrSi3 samples. Using low-energy electron diffraction, Bragg-Brentano x-ray, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) diffraction we identify a previously unreported c-axis oriented growth mode for IrSi3 films deposited around 700 degree(s)C on Si(111) substrates. Indexing of TEM diffraction patterns suggests that the lattice constants for IrSi3 in these thin films are the same as values derived for bulk IrSi3 by other researchers. Atomic force microscopy and TEM images show the formation of continuous 100 angstroms IrSi3 films at temperatures as high as 630 degree(s)C on Si(100) substrates and the formation of epitaxial IrSi3 islands for temperatures above 670 degree(s)C on Si(111).© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A predictive penetrative fracture mapping method from regional potential field and geologic datasets, southwest Colorado Plateau, U.S.A.

Some aquifers of the southwest Colorado Plateau, U.S.A., are deeply buried and overlain by several impermeable units, and thus recharge to the aquifer is probably mainly by seepage down penetrative fracture systems. This purpose of this study was to develop a method to map the location of candidate deep penetrative fractures over a 120,000 km2 area using gravity and aeromagnetic anomaly data together with surficial fracture data. The resulting database constitutes a spatially registered estimate of recharge location. Candidate deep fractures were obtained by spatial correlation of horizontal gradient and analytic signal maxima of gravity and magnetic anomalies vertically with major surficial lineaments obtained from geologic, topographic, side-looking airborne radar, and satellite imagery. The maps define a sub-set of possible penetrative fractures because of limitations of data coverage and the analysis technique. The data and techniques employed do not yield any indication as to whether fractures are open or closed. Correlations were carried out using image processing software in such a way that every pixel on the resulting grids was coded to uniquely identify which datasets correlated. The technique correctly identified known deep fracture systems and many new ones. Maps of the correlations also define in detail the tectonic fabrics of the southwestern Colorado Plateau.
The Storage of Turkey Spermatozoa in Sodium Citrate and Carbon Dioxide Extenders

Abstract In general, isotonic extenders have been used in storage experiments with chicken and turkey semen. However, recent work at this laboratory with chicken semen showed that hypertonic sodium citrate and carbon dioxide (CO2) extenders were necessary for optimum preservation of fertility (Hobbs and Harris, 1962a, b). Highest fertility was obtained with chicken semen stored in sodium citrate and CO2 extenders with freezing point depressions (Δ) of −0.79°C. and −1.06°C., respectively. The motility of chicken spermatozoa was partially inhibited by both extenders at these Δ’s. However, the inhibition was easily reversed with the CO2 extended semen when the samples were exposed to air. In addition, washing was not required for adequate fertility after storage. The present experiment was conducted to determine the effect of storage in hypertonic sodium citrate and CO2 extenders on the fertility and motility of turkey spermatozoa. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Stock solutions of sodium citrate (0.1 g./ml.), sodium bicarbonate (0.05…
QUANTIFICATION OF DOPAMINE D1 AND D2 RECEPTOR mRNA LEVELS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SENSITIZATION IN AMPHETAMINE TREATED RATS

Abstract We hypothesized that changes in expression of dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptor genes in caudate/putamen (CP) would correlate with the development of behavioral changes in amphetamine treated rats. In order to test this hypothesis, we measured DA D1 and D2 receptor mRNA in CP, as well as locomotor behavior, in individual rats following amphetamine treatment. D1 and D2 mRNA levels were similar in caudate/putamen of rats treated with acute amphetamine, chronic amphetamine or saline injection. We found no correlation between D1 or D2 mRNA levels in caudate/putamen and the behavioral response to either acute or chronic amphetamine. These results suggest that behavioral sensitization to amphetamine is not mediated through transcriptional regulation of D1 or D2 mRNA levels in caudate/putamen. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd
Identification and Validation of a Gene Expression Signature That Predicts Outcome in Adult Men With Germ Cell Tumors

Purpose Germ cell tumor (GCT) is the most common malignancy in young adult men. Currently, patients are risk-stratified on the basis of clinical presentation and serum tumor markers. The introduction of molecular markers could improve outcome prediction. Patients and Methods Expression profiling was performed on 74 nonseminomatous GCTs (NSGCTs) from cisplatin-treated patients (ie, training set) and on 34 similarly treated patients with NSGCTs (ie, validation set). A gene classifier was developed by using prediction analysis for microarrays (PAM) for the binary end point of 5-year overall survival (OS). A predictive score was developed for OS by using the univariate Cox model. Results In the training set, PAM identified 140 genes that predicted 5-year OS (cross-validated classification rate, 60%). The PAM model correctly classified 90% of patients in the validation set. Patients predicted to have good outcome had significantly longer survival than those with poor predicted outcome (P < .001). For the OS en...
Use of a Phosphonate Methyltransferase in the Identification of the Fosfazinomycin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster

Natural product discovery has been boosted by genome mining approaches, but compound purification is often still challenging. We report an enzymatic strategy for "stable isotope labeling of phosphonates in extract" (SILPE) that facilitates their purification. We used the phosphonate methyltransferase DhpI involved in dehydrophos biosynthesis to methylate a variety of phosphonate natural products in crude spent medium with a mixture of labeled and unlabeled S-adenosyl methionine. Mass-guided fractionation then allowed straightforward purification. We illustrate its utility by purifying a phosphonate that led to the identification of the fosfazinomycin biosynthetic gene cluster. This unusual natural product contains a hydrazide linker between a carboxylic acid and a phosphonic acid. Bioinformatic analysis of the gene cluster provides insights into how such a structure might be assembled.
Naturalness problems for rho = 1 and other large one loop effects for a standard model Higgs sector containing triplet fields

Extensions of the Higgs sector of the standard model (SM) that employ only doublet and singlet Higgs-field representations are not the only ones that guarantee \ensuremath{\rho}=1 at the tree level. Higgs sectors containing triplet (and higher) representations can be constructed in such a way that there is a tree-level custodial SU(2) symmetry yielding \ensuremath{\rho}=1. However, this custodial SU(2) is inevitably violated at the one-loop level. We explore the implications of this violation in the context of a Higgs sector containing triplet fields. In particular, we show that it leads to one-loop corrections to \ensuremath{\rho} and to certain mixings among the Higgs bosons and gauge bosons of the model that are quadratically divergent, thereby creating a new naturalness problem for \ensuremath{\rho} and for certain Higgs-boson couplings. This new class of naturalness problems first arises for a Higgs sector with triplet representations, making such a sector an interesting case study. A priori, deviations from \ensuremath{\rho}=1 induced at one loop are of arbitrary magnitude and sign. We demonstrate that the fine-tuning required to keep one-loop corrections to \ensuremath{\rho} and the Higgs-boson couplings small is similar in nature to that required in the SM to keep the SM Higgs-boson mass in the perturbative regime.
On model identification for distortion correction of OTH radar signals

When HF skywave radars are employed for missions where high Doppler resolution is required, such as ship detection or remote sensing of the sea surface, nonstationarity of the ionospheric propagation channel within the coherent integration period often occurs to the extent that the Doppler spectrum is corrupted and the mission is unsuccessful. To overcome this problem, various signal processing techniques have been developed to maximise the detection probability and estimation accuracy. In the best-known methods, the nonstationarity is modelled as a smooth but nonlinear variation of the phase path, which is then estimated from one or more peaks in the power spectrum and removed by conjugate demodulation. We outline some extensions to the process of phase modulation distortion correction, based on a more elaborate model of the distortion process, to overcome some of the limitations of the previous approach. >
MIRA: A Multi-layered On-Chip Interconnect Router Architecture

Recently, Network-on-Chip (NoC) architectures have gained popularity to address the interconnect delay problem for designing CMP / multi-core / SoC systems in deep sub-micron technology. However, almost all prior studies have focused on 2D NoC designs. Since three dimensional (3D) integration has emerged to mitigate the interconnect delay problem, exploring the NoC design space in 3D can provide ample opportunities to design high performance and energy-efficient NoC architectures. In this paper, we propose a 3D stacked NoC router architecture, called MIRA, which unlike the 3D routers in previous works, is stacked into multiple layers and optimized to reduce the overall area requirements and power consumption. We discuss the design details of a four-layer 3D NoC and its enhanced version with additional express channels, and compare them against a (6×6) 2D design and a baseline 3D design. All the designs are evaluated using a cycle-accurate 3D NoC simulator, and integrated with the Orion power model for performance and power analysis. The simulation results with synthetic and application traces demonstrate that the proposed multi-layered NoC routers can outperform the 2D and naive 3D designs in terms of performance and power. It can achieve up to 42% reduction in power consumption and up to 51% improvement in average latency with synthetic workloads. With real workloads, these benefits are around 67% and 38%, respectively.
Estate Tax Deductions And Credits -- The Effect of Events Occurring Subsequent to Death

Much attention has been given to items includible in a decedent's gross estate for federal estate tax purposes. Equally important, however, are deductions and credits -- items that reduce the gross amount taxable. The amount or even the availability of a deduction may depend upon events occurring subsequent to the decedent's death. Some deductions, such as the administrative expenses discussed in the first section of this article, by their very nature are dependent upon such events. Other deductions, however, are not so dependent and are also explored in this article.
Effect of Feeding a Low Protein Diet during Neonatal Life on Subsequent Cholesterol and Bile Acid Metabolism in Adult Guinea Pigs

The effect of feeding a low-protein (LP) diet during neonatal life of guinea pigs on subsequent cholesterol and bile acid metabolism when the animals were being fed a) stock diet and b) 0.25% cholesterol-containing diet, was investigated. Feeding a 10% protein diet caused a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids without any change in plasma cholesterol. The LP-fed guinea pigs continued to excrete significantly (P < 0.05) greater amounts of neutral sterols and bile acids even after they had been switched to stock diet for several weeks. The pool sizes of lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acids were lower in the LP group during the stock diet period. Upon challenge with 0.25% cholesterol diet, no significant differences between the two groups, regarding the above-mentioned parameters, were noted. The data suggest that neonatal exposure to a low-protein diet can affect sterol and bile acid metabolism such that the effect persists even when the animals have been switched to stock diet for several weeks. J. Nutr. Ill: 2024-2029, 1981.
Equational reasoning about programs with general recursion and call-by-value semantics

Dependently typed programming languages provide a mechanism for integrating verification and programming by encoding invariants as types. Traditionally, dependently typed languages have been based on constructive type theories, where the connection between proofs and programs is based on the Curry-Howard correspondence. This connection comes at a price, however, as it is necessary for the languages to be normalizing to preserve logical soundness. Trellys is a call-by-value dependently typed programming language currently in development that is designed to integrate a type theory with unsound programming features, such as general recursion, Type:Type, and others. In this paper we outline one core language design for Trellys, and demonstrate the use of the key language constructs to facilitate sound reasoning about potentially unsound programs.
Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein mediates the endocytosis of anionic liposomes in neurons.

We have recently demonstrated that anionic liposomes efficiently introduce foreign DNA into postmitotic neurons and other cell types (Lakkaraju, A., Dubinsky, J. M., Low, W. C., and Rahman, Y.-E. (2001) J. Biol. Chem.276, 32000–32007). To investigate the mechanism of liposome uptake, we followed the internalization of anionic liposome-encapsulated Cy3-labeled oligonucleotides (AL-Cy3ONs) by hippocampal neurons using confocal microscopy. Uptake of AL-Cy3ONs was widespread and time- and temperature-dependent, indicative of receptor-mediated endocytosis. The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) was crucial for anionic liposome endocytosis because the receptor-associated protein or an anti-LRP antibody inhibited internalization, and fibroblasts lacking LRP did not internalize AL-Cy3ONs. Using selective endocytosis inhibitors, we found that liposome endocytosis and intracellular transport required clathrin, dynamin, an intact cytoskeletal network, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. Cy3ONs did not significantly colocalize with recycling endosomal/lysosomal markers and entered neuronal nuclei within 1–3 h of incubation. Approximately 50% of the internalized liposomal phospholipids were recycled back to the cell surface, in keeping with the fluidity of their acyl chains. Liposome endocytosis did not require heparan sulfate proteoglycans or cause calcium influx into neurons. Thus, constitutive endocytosis of anionic liposomes by LRP utilizes only one component, in contrast to the more involved heparan sulfate proteoglycan-LRP pathway implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Marek's Disease Virus Late Protein Expression in Feather Follicle Epithelial Cells as Early as 8 Days Postinfection

SUMMARY. Marek's disease virus (MDV) or Gallid herpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2) is a lymphotropic alphaherpesvirus and causes Marek's disease. Former studies have demonstrated that MDV is spread from chicken to chicken about 2 wk postexposure as infectious dander shed from infected chickens. More recent reports, using highly sensitive quantitative PCR analyses of dander from infected chickens, suggested that MDV replicates and is shed from the chicken much earlier (5–7 days). However, detection of viral DNA in chicken dander does not indicate whether fully infectious virus is present. To determine if viral replication is present in the skin of infected chickens at these early times, expression of a late viral protein indicative of fully productive virus replication was evaluated using fluorescent microscopy. To do this, highly virulent and attenuated recombinant (r)MDV was generated that abundantly expresses the monomeric red fluorescent protein fused to the late UL47 (VP13/14) protein in feather follicle epithelia...