cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA Microarrays in Drug Discovery and Development

Ever since the completion of the human genome project, there has been great interest in the research community toward addressing the role played by multiple genes to orchestrate complex cellular functions. This requires techniques that allow high-throughput analysis of such target genes. Low manufacturing and application costs, flexibility, and speed of analyses in a high-throughput fashion make DNA microarrays one of the most invaluable tools in this endeavor. DNA microarrays have revolutionized genomic and pharmacologic investigations by allowing simultaneous monitoring of all the genes in different genomes, thus linking the entire genome expression with the function of the whole organism. Microarrays are widely used to address a plethora of scientific questions in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in drug discovery and development. The technique has immense potential and promises to play a key role in furthering research in a number of fields, as discussed in this chapter.
Hospitality, healthcare, and design

More than a quarter century ago, Bitner (1992) put forth the classic servicescapes framework, which illustrates how stimuli present in a service organization’s physical, built environment influence...
Perceived Organizational Support in Health Care: The Importance of Teamwork and Training for Employee Well-Being and Patient Satisfaction:

This study uses organizational support theory to examine how health care employees’ perceptions of teamwork influence patient satisfaction through a serial mediation involving employee well-being and intention to remain. The study also examines the extent to which the training that employees receive might enhance these relationships. Hypothesized assumptions are tested by multilevel analysis using data from 66,930 employees nested within 162 organizations from the British National Health Service (NHS). Our findings indicate that teamwork has a positive indirect association with patient satisfaction through employee well-being (i.e., job satisfaction and work engagement) and intention to remain, in sequence. The strength of this indirect relationship is also enhanced by training provided to employees by the organization.
Biology of landbird migrants: a stopover perspective

ABSTRACT This perspective on the stopover biology of migratory landbirds is organized around the response of migrants to challenges that can arise during stopover and how events during stopover are interconnected with other phases of the annual cycle. Landbird migrants seldom move nonstop from origin to destination, rather they stopover periodically, sometimes for a few hours, sometimes days. How well migrants meet challenges that arise during passage in a timely manner influences the success of their migration; a successful migration is measured in terms of survival and reproductive performance over the annual cycle. What transpires during migration is not isolated from other phases of the migrant's annual cycle. Events taking place in one phase carry over to affect an individual's biology in other phases, including linkage between breeding and wintering phases and the intervening migratory phase.
Hands-Free Interaction for Augmented Reality in Vascular Interventions

Vascular interventions are minimally invasive surgical procedures in which a physician navigates a catheter through a patient's vasculature to a desired destination in the patient's body. Since perception of relevant patient anatomy is limited in procedures of this sort, virtual reality and augmented reality systems have been developed to assist in 3D navigation. These systems often require user interaction, yet both of the physician's hands may already be busy performing the procedure. To address this need, we demonstrate hands-free interaction techniques that use voice and head tracking to allow the physician to interact with 3D virtual content on a head-worn display while making both hands available intraoperatively. Our approach supports rotation and scaling of 3D anatomical models that appear to reside in the surrounding environment through small head rotations using first-order control, and rigid body transformation of those models using zero-order control. This allows the physician to easily manipulate a model while it stays close to the center of their field of view.
The effect of temperature and stress level on the rutting performance of modified stone matrix asphalt

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of temperature and stress level on the rutting performance of modified stone matrix asphalt (SMA). flow number (FN) test at three stress levels...
Acoustic power transfer for biomedical implants using piezoelectric receivers: effects of misalignment and misorientation

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) can be powered wirelessly using acoustics with no need for a battery. In an acoustic power transfer system, which consists of a transmitter, medium, and a receiver, the power that the receiver generates is a function of its position (depth, orientation, and alignment relative to the transmitter). The power delivered to the implant should remain stable and reliable even with possible uncertainties in the location of the implant. In this paper, we compare two common designs for piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers that can be used for acoustically powering IMDs, and study their generated power sensitivity to any change in their location. Although commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) transducers are widely being used in the literature, they may not be the best candidate for powering small implants since they may not be able to provide sufficient power in the presence of location uncertainties. Piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) are diaphragm structures and are also suitable for wirelessly powering implants. We present a pMUT receiver and study the sensitivity of the generated power of the pMUT to changes in its position. We then perform a comparative study between power generation capability of our pMUT and a COTS transducer with the same lateral dimensions as the pMUT. We observed that the generated power from a pMUT structure is less sensitive to misorientation and misalignment of the device. The average percentage improvement in the generated power from pMUT compared to COTS are 86%, 917%, and 111% for depth, alignment, and orientation, respectively.
The use of computed tomography imaging for abdominal seatbelt sign: A single-center, prospective evaluation

Abstract Introduction Guidelines surrounding abdominal seat belt sign (SBS) were made prior to the use of modern computed tomography (CT) imaging. We sought to prospectively determine whether a negative CT scan is associated with the absence of hollow viscus injury (HVI), and we hypothesized that trauma patients with an abdominal SBS without CT imaging findings would not have a hollow viscus injury (HVI). Methods A prospective cohort of patients with SBS was compiled over one year. Subjects were divided into those with and without HVI. Covariate distributions were summarized by group. Bivariate tests and logistic regression were used to investigate associations between covariates and HVI. Results Of 220 patients with SBS, the incidence of HVI was 7% (n = 15). Radiographic findings were strongly associated with HVI and no patients with a negative CT scan had HVI. Free fluid was seen in 80% (12) of patients with HVI, whereas it was found in only 11% (23) without injury. A composite variable for negative CT scan was found to be associated with the absence of HVI: (Fisher's exact 1-tailed p, doubled = 0.014). Conclusion In this study, the incidence of HVI with SBS is lower than previously reported, and no patients with negative CT imaging required an operation for HVI—suggesting there is a population of patients with SBS who could be discharged from the emergency room. A prospective multicenter study is needed to confirm these findings.
Biological applications of microchip electrophoresis with amperometric detection: in vivo monitoring and cell analysis

Microchip electrophoresis with amperometric detection (ME-EC) is a useful tool for the determination of redox active compounds in complex biological samples. In this review, a brief background on the principles of ME-EC is provided, including substrate types, electrode materials, and electrode configurations. Several different detection approaches are described, including dual-channel systems for dual-electrode detection and electrochemistry coupled with fluorescence and chemiluminescence. The application of ME-EC to the determination of catecholamines, adenosine and its metabolites, and reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in microdialysis samples and cell lysates is also detailed. Lastly, approaches for coupling of ME-EC with microdialysis sampling to create separation-based sensors that can be used for near real-time monitoring of drug metabolism and neurotransmitters in freely roaming animals are provided. Graphical abstract.
Abstract P041: Proximal Tubule-specific Deletion Of Angiotensin Ii Type 1a Receptors In The Kidney Lowers Basal Blood Pressure And Attenuates Angiotensin Ii-induced Hypertension By Increasing Glomerular Filtration And The Pressure-natriuresis Response

The present study tested the hypothesis that intratubular angiotensin II (Ang II) and AT1a receptors in the proximal tubules of the kidney plays an important role in basal blood pressure control an...
Simulation of the thermo-hydraulic response of energy piles in unsaturated soils

This paper focuses on the simulation of the coupled heat transfer and water flow in unsaturated soil layers surrounding a solitary energy pile undergoing heating and cooling cycles typical of a field-scale energy pile. The results indicate that heating leads to drying of the soil surrounding the energy pile, which has been shown in previous studies to result in an increase in axial capacity. During cooling, the degree of saturation was observed to recover to the value present before the start of heating initially, however, it will not recover in the following years. Which will lead to a cumulative effect after several cycles of heating and cooling. Heating and cooling cycles lead to an overall reduction in the thermal conductivity of the subsurface, reducing the heat transfer from the energy pile but also leading to greater storage of heat in the subsurface surrounding the pile.
Co-expression of human prolactin drastically reduces breast cancer incidence in HER2/neu transgenic mice

695 It is well documented that mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-HER2/neu transgenic (TG) mice have high mammary tumor incidence (t50=205 days). Overexpression of rat PRL within the mammary epithelium in TG mice has also been reported to induce mammary tumors and potentiate the actions of other mammary oncogenes. In our previous studies, we have shown that the hPRL antagonist, G129R, is effective as an anti-breast cancer agent both in vitro and in vivo. To investigate the role of hPRL and G129R in HER2/neu mammary tumorigenesis, we generated four lines of bi-transgenic (BiTG) mice that co-express MMTV-HER2/neu and hPRL or G129R under transcriptional control of either the metallothionein (MT, a systemic expression model) or MMTV promoter (a mammary specific expression model). Our unexpected results demonstrated that co-expression of low levels of hPRL in HER2/neu TG mice drastically reduced breast tumor incidence in both hPRL BiTG lines. The total tumor incidence in the MT-hPRLxHER2/neu BiTG line was 25/56 (t50=438 days); in the MMTV-hPRLxHER2/neu BiTG line, it was 2/36 (at the current age of 300 days). In contrast, co-expression of G129R in HER2/neu TG mice had no effect on overall tumor incidence [MT-G129RxHER2/neu, 50/53; MMTV-G129RxHER2/neu, 33/36]. One hypothesis that may help to explain the reduction in tumor incidence in the hPRL BiTG mice is that early exposure of the mammary gland to hPRL induces alterations that afford lifetime protection against the development of HER2/neu breast cancer. Our results further show that the mammary glands of female hPRL BiTG mice (1): undergo early completion of differentiation as indicated by ductal branching and terminal end bud change based on mammary gland whole mount comparisons; and (2): have both increased total ductal area (H&E staining) and decreased proliferative activity (Ki-67 IHC detection). Further, there was a significant difference in the tumor biomarkers between hPRL BiTG and HER/neu tumors. Phosphorylated HER2 was absent whereas higher levels of phosphorylated STAT-5 were seen in the hPRL BiTG tumors examined by western blot analyses, which suggests a less aggressive tumor type. In summary, expression of physiological concentrations of hPRL in HER2/neu TG mice induces early differentiation in the mammary gland, which leads to a drastic reduction in HER2/neu breast tumor incidence. This finding may open a new avenue for using hPRL as a chemopreventive agent specifically in HER2/neu initiated breast cancer.
Anesthesia-Related Considerations in Malpractice Litigation

The surgeon must work closely with the anesthesiologist to prevent malpractice litigation and, more importantly, to ensure the best patient outcome. As the otolaryngologist and the anesthesiologist concurrently take care of patients, it is important to consider malpractice liability of both specialties. Overlapping areas of litigation include airway injury, complications related to obstructive sleep apnea, and respiratory complications. Teams can work together on pre-operative optimization and risk screening, management of the difficult airway, postoperative monitoring, and safe analgesic and opioid prescribing practices.
Oocyte Meiotic Competence in the Domestic Cat Model: Novel Roles for Nuclear Proteins BRD2 and NPM1

To participate in fertilization and embryo development, oocytes stored within the mammalian female ovary must resume meiosis as they are arrested in meiotic prophase I. This ability to resume meiosis, known as meiotic competence, requires the tight regulation of cellular metabolism and chromatin configuration. Previously, we identified nuclear proteins associated with the transition from the pre-antral to the antral follicular stage, the time at which oocytes gain meiotic competence. In this study, the objective was to specifically investigate three candidate nuclear factors: bromodomain containing protein 2 (BRD2), nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1), and asparaginase-like 1 (ASRGL1). Although these three factors have been implicated with folliculogenesis or reproductive pathologies, their requirement during oocyte maturation is unproven in any system. Experiments were conducted using different stages of oocytes isolated from adult cat ovaries. The presence of candidate factors in developing oocytes was confirmed by immunostaining. While BRD2 and ASRGL1 protein increased between pre-antral and the antral stages, changes in NPM1 protein levels between stages were not observed. Using protein inhibition experiments, we found that most BRD2 or NPM1-inhibited oocytes were incapable of participating in fertilization or embryo development. Further exploration revealed that inhibition of BRD2 and NPM-1 in cumulus-oocyte-complexes prevented oocytes from maturing to the metaphase II stage. Rather, they remained at the germinal vesicle stage or arrested shortly after meiotic resumption. We therefore have identified novel factors playing critical roles in domestic cat oocyte meiotic competence. The identification of these factors will contribute to improvement of domestic cat assisted reproduction and could serve as biomarkers of meiotically competent oocytes in other species.
4 Types of Cultural Data

What does it mean to represent a cultural object, process, or experience as data that can be then analyzed computationally? What elements of these objects, processes, and experiences can be captured, and what remains outside? How can we represent people interactions with computational cultural artifacts and systems that can react to human behaviors, communicate with them (e.g., as AI interfaces can), and act in seemingly intelligent ways? These are all fundamental questions for cultural analytics.
Selective harmonic elimination for extended cascaded multicell multilevel power converters

This paper provides general solutions for nonlinear transcendental equations to determine the feasible switching angles for a fundamental frequency-switching-scheme modulated cascaded multicell multilevel power converter with a higher number of modules (H-bridges) and output voltage levels in order to eliminate the dominant low-order line-to-line voltage harmonics. Afterwards, for each cascaded multilevel converter, a feasible range of modulation index that culminates in a viable switching angles for a low switching-frequency selective harmonic elimination strategy is derived. The provided solutions as well as results expedite the burdensome and arduous computations required in solving the transcendental equations of selective harmonic elimination scheme for cascaded multicell converters with higher number of modules. The transcendental equations are solved by Newton iterative method and the solutions are provided for 11-level to 23-level cascaded multicell converters.
Ultrastructure of the rectal wall in Hunter's syndrome.

The rectal wall was studied ultrastructurally in a patient with Hunter's syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis, type II). This patient had chronic diarrhea, as do most patients with the disease. Membranous cytoplasmic bodies were found in the ganglion and satellite cells of the intramural plexi. The connective tissue cells showed an abundance of cytoplasmatic vacuoles. This biphasic pattern, similar to the one described in the brain, can be of diagnostic significance in a mucopolysaccharidosis when found in a rectal biopsy. The involvement of the ganglion cells may result in a disturbance of the autonomic innervation of the bowel and be the cause of the diarrhea in these patients.
Noise and hypoxemia in the intensive care nursery.

Noise levels in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have received intermittent attention in the pediatric literature.1-4 While risk criteria for the prevention of induced sensorineural hearing loss in adults are well established, little is known about the response of the newborn to environmental noise. The AAP Committee on Environmental Hazards3 has recommended that physicians and hospital personnel be alert to and eliminate unnecessary noise in nurseries. So far, attention has been directed primarily at incubator noise1,5 and that associated with life-support equipment.6 To our knowledge, little has been done to identify other sources of "noise pollution." We wish to report the results of measures taken in one NICU to quantitate and lower the ambient noise levels.
Evaluation of an Infrared Tympanic Membrane Thermometer in Pediatric Patients

Body temperature measurement provides important information for evaluation of pediatric patients. Because of the role that central nervous system thermoreceptors play in temperature homeostasis, accurate measurement at core body sites has long been sought.1 Rectal temperature, often considered the "gold standard" for clinical use, does not correlate well with deep measurements.2,3 Pulmonary artery catheters and deep rectal probes measure core temperature accurately4 but are not practical for clinical use. The tympanic membrane shares the same vascular supply that perfuses the hypothalamus and is an excellent, readily accessible site for core temperature measurement.1 Although indwelling contact-type tympanic membrane temperature probes provide accurate data, patient discomfort and complications such as perforation have restricted their use.4,5
Interactions between DNA-bound trimers of the yeast heat shock factor

The heat shock transcription factor (HSF) is a trimer that binds to DNA containing inverted repeats of the sequence nGAAn. HSF can bind DNA with the sequence nGAAnnTTCn or with the sequence nTTCnnGAAn, with little preference for either sequence over the other. However, (nGAAnnTTCn)2 is considerably less active as a heat shock response element (HSE) than is (nTTCnnGAAn)2. The electrophoretic mobilities of DNA-protein complexes and chemical cross-linking between protein monomers indicate that the sequence (nGAAnnTTCn)2 is capable of binding a single HSF trimer. In contrast, the sequence with higher biological activity, (nTTCnnGAAn)2, is capable of binding two trimers. Thus, the ability of four-nGAAn-element HSEs to bind one or two trimers depends on the permutation with which the elements are presented. A survey of naturally occurring HSEs shows the sequence (nTTCnnGAAn)2 to be the more prevalent. We suggest that the greater ability of one permutation over the other to bind two HSF trimers accounts for the initial identification of the naturally occurring heat shock consensus sequence as a region of dyad symmetry.
Will I like it the first time

. The initial speeches of MPs entering the British House of Commons from 1966 to 1970 were analyzed to ascertain the extent to which they complied with the prevailing myth of behaviour appropriate for maiden speeches. Rituals of style - hesitancy, brevity, and humility -were challenged more sharply than were those of substance - references to one's predecessor and one's constituency and being non-contentious. Despite widespread violation of the various norms, few new MPs defied the folkways across the board. Although a new breed of MP - young, well-educated, and professionally oriented - was entering the Commons at this time, such MPs did not prove to be the principal source of challenges to the folkways. Iconoclastic MPs tended to have less durable careers than did those MPs more acceptant of tradition. But neither Labour nor Conservatives penalized deviants by denying them positions in the Government. In the absence of sanctions, new Members complied with the myth only when the code of acceptable behaviour appeared to help the Commons function effectively and when new Members were not being singled out for discriminatory treatment.
Resolving the scale incompatibility dilemma in river basin management

[1] This study illustrates how integrated river basin management can conflict with our increased emphasis on decentralizing water resources decision making. For over a decade, water and environmental decision making in many countries has been shifting from national levels to state/province and local levels. At the same time we have increasingly found that it is critical to consider how individual water resource decisions impact the river basin. We provide detailed examples of this incompatibility dilemma from the United States and Turkey as well as smaller examples from Japan and Macedonia. We argue that new institutional models are required for effective river basin management and that implementation of such models can be evaluated through the use of transaction costs. This study concludes with examples of institutional arrangements that can help bridge the incompatibility gap.
Evaluation of the production methods and the properties of corundum suspensions

A comparative evaluation of the methods of obtaining corundum suspensions with a glass phase was conducted. Three methods were studied: dry milling in a metallic vibrational mill followed by a HCl wash to remove the iron contaminant and subsequent suspension; suspension of a powder dry-milled in a vibrational mill having a corundum lining; and additional wet milling in an acidic medium using a corundum-lined ball mill.
Equation of state calculations using the LCGTO-FF method: Equilibrium properties of hcp beryllium †

The all-electron, full-potential LCGTO-FF method, which has been used extensively to calculate the properties of ultrathin films and molecules, is extended to systems with 3-D periodicity in a new computer program called GTOFF. In this investigation, GTOFF is used to calculate the equilibrium properties of hcp beryllium. The structural parameters, binding energy, bulk modulus, and Poisson's ratio obtained with GTOFF are in good agreement with an earlier all-electron, full-potential calculation using the FLAPW method, confirming the high-precision of the present calculations. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An SVM based voting algorithm with application to parse reranking

This paper introduces a novel Support Vector Machines (SVMs) based voting algorithm for reranking, which provides a way to solve the sequential models indirectly. We have presented a risk formulation under the PAC framework for this voting algorithm. We have applied this algorithm to the parse reranking problem, and achieved labeled recall and precision of 89.4%/89.8% on WSJ section 23 of Penn Treebank.
A circumpolar modeling study of habitat control of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) reproductive success

Abstract A one-dimensional, temperature-dependent model is implemented to simulate the descent–ascent cycle of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) embryos and larvae. Inputs to the model are monthly mean climatologies of ambient temperature and density fields obtained from the World Ocean Atlas Database for Southern Ocean waters. Simulations are done with a 1° resolution at a circumpolar scale, south of 60°S, and the results are interpolated to a 5′ grid to match the resolution of the bottom bathymetry data. Simulations of the descent–ascent cycle using environmental conditions corresponding to the Antarctic krill spawning season (December–March) resulted in unconstrained success in completion of the cycle in water deeper than 1000 m . Continental shelf regions favorable to successful hatching of Antarctic krill embryos are limited to areas along the west Antarctic Peninsula, large areas in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas, offshore of Wilkes Land, and to the east and west of Prydz Bay. These are regions where the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front is along the shelf slope, the Antarctic Slope Front is absent, and Circumpolar Deep Water is present. The effect of seasonal variability in temperature on the descent–ascent cycle tends to enhance the probability of success in regions offshore of Wilkes Land, Queen Maud Land, and the eastern shelf of the Antarctic Peninsula later in the spawning season. The simulations show that success of the descent–ascent cycle is sensitive to initial embryo diameter and larval ascent rate. Initial embryo diameter may provide an additional constraint on success of the descent–ascent cycle, especially in continental shelf waters, where small embryos tend to encounter the bottom before hatching. The circumpolar distributions of simulated embryo hatching depth and larval success show that all regions of the Antarctic are not equal in the ability to support successful completion of the Antarctic krill descent–ascent cycle, which has implications for the overall circum-Antarctic krill distribution and for the development of nutrient and material budgets, especially for Antarctic continental shelf areas.
Angular dependence of the cyclotron effective mass in organic superconductors.

We report measurements of the de Haas--van Alphen (dHvA) effect in the organic superconductors \ensuremath{\alpha}-(BEDT-TTF${)}_{2}$(${\mathrm{NH}}_{4}$)Hg(SCN${)}_{4}$ (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}1 K) and \ensuremath{\kappa}-(BEDT-TTF${)}_{2}$Cu(NCS${)}_{2}$ (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}10 K) in fields up to 15 T and temperatures down to 0.45 K. For the first time, we determine the angular dependence of the cyclotron effective mass ${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{c}}$, and the orientation of up to four spin-splitting zeros of the dHvA signal. The angular dependence of the amplitude of the dHvA oscillations is quantitatively explained, and the mass enhancement due to electron-phonon coupling is estimated.
Asymptotic normality of semiparametric and nonparametric posterior distributions

In this article it is shown that the marginal semiparametric and nonparametric posterior distributions for a parameter of interest behave like an ordinary parametric posterior distribution. This in practice provides support of the utility of marginal semiparametric and nonparametric posterior distributions. In particular, the marginal semiparametric and nonparametric posterior distributions are asymptotically normal and centered at the corresponding maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) or posterior means, with covariance matrix the inverse of the Fisher information. Additionally, the semiparametric and nonparametric MLEs for the parameter of interest and the marginal posterior means are asymptotically normal and centered at the true parameter, with the same covariance matrix. The results are a semiparametric version and a nonparametric version of the parametric Bayesian central limit theorem that establish a connection between the semiparametric and the nonparametric Bayesian inference and their frequentis...
Excessive Activation of mTOR in Postnatally Generated Granule Cells Is Sufficient to Cause Epilepsy

The dentate gyrus is hypothesized to function as a "gate," limiting the flow of excitation through the hippocampus. During epileptogenesis, adult-generated granule cells (DGCs) form aberrant neuronal connections with neighboring DGCs, disrupting the dentate gate. Hyperactivation of the mTOR signaling pathway is implicated in driving this aberrant circuit formation. While the presence of abnormal DGCs in epilepsy has been known for decades, direct evidence linking abnormal DGCs to seizures has been lacking. Here, we isolate the effects of abnormal DGCs using a transgenic mouse model to selectively delete PTEN from postnatally generated DGCs. PTEN deletion led to hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway, producing abnormal DGCs morphologically similar to those in epilepsy. Strikingly, animals in which PTEN was deleted from ≥ 9% of the DGC population developed spontaneous seizures in about 4 weeks, confirming that abnormal DGCs, which are present in both animals and humans with epilepsy, are capable of causing the disease.
Verified functions for generating signed-binary arithmetic hardware

Formally verified metafunctions which synthesize array multipliers and inner product hardware of arbitrary size and structure are presented. The metafunctions operate on signed-binary inputs in general and two's-complement in particular, and are higher order. They are shown to be equivalence-preserving transformations and correctly produce multipliers and inner product hardware of arbitrary size and structure. All the metafunctions, their associated correctness theorems, and their correctness proofs are machine executable within the higher order logic (HOL) theorem prover. The function expressions produced by the metafunctions can be used as hardware synthesis descriptions or as comparison functions for Boolean-comparison-based systems. In addition to the definitions written in higher-order logic, the major definitions are written in a more informal functional programming language-like notation which should facilitate translation of the synthesis functions to other hardware description languages. >
Production of Fischer–Tropsch liquid fuels from high temperature solid oxide co-electrolysis units

Abstract A model for high temperature co-electrolysis (HTCE) of carbon dioxide and water using solid oxide electrolytic cells (SOEC) for syngas production and subsequent conversion to liquid fuels by a Fischer–Tropsch (F–T) process is presented. The SOEC model is guided by experimental data from the literature, and the model is employed to explore the effect of temperature, pressure, and feedstock composition on syngas composition exiting the SOEC. The syngas is converted in a slurry bubble column F–T synthesis reactor in which the model approach of a once-through conversion of carbon monoxide is chosen, and the distribution of hydrocarbon products is determined by the Anderson–Schulz–Flory model. The overall system efficiency for liquid hydrocarbon fuels produced from electrical energy is found to be 54.8% HHV (51.0%-LHV). It is determined that operating the SOEC at low pressure (1.6 bar) versus higher pressure (5 bar) results in an efficiency gain of 2.6%. The economics of the production plant are evaluated for variations in electricity feedstock costs and operating capacity factors. The liquid fuels production costs range from 4.4 $/GGE to 15.0 $/GGE for electricity prices of 0.02 $/kWh to 0.14 $/kWh and a plant capacity factor of 90% to 40%, respectively.
The hierarchical nature of the spin alignment of dark matter haloes in filaments

Author(s): Aragon-Calvo, MA; Yang, LF | Abstract: Dark matter haloes in cosmological filaments and walls have (in average) their spin vector aligned with their host structure. While haloes in walls are aligned with the plane of the wall independently of their mass, haloes in filaments present a mass-dependent two-regime orientation. Here, we show that the transition mass determining the change in the alignment regime (from parallel to perpendicular) depends on the hierarchical level in which the halo is located, reflecting the hierarchical nature of the Cosmic Web. By explicitly exposing the hierarchical structure of the CosmicWeb, we are able to identify the contributions of different components of the filament network to the alignment signal. We propose a unifying picture of angular momentum acquisition that is based on the results presented here and previous results found by other authors. In order to do a hierarchical characterization of the Cosmic Web, we introduce a new implementation of the multiscale morphology filter, the MMF-2, that significantly improves the identification of structures and explicitly describes their hierarchy. © 2014 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Machine vision method for small feature measurements

Small features such as bevels and edge profiles are a common and often critical feature on many manufactured parts. In the past, the only ways to measure such features was to make a wax mold of the feature and slice it for measurement on an optical comparator, or to do a slow mechanical tracing with a stylus or CMM type measurement system. This paper describes the application of machine vision tools, using controlled lighting to highlight shape information such as curvature, combined with 2D vision processing to extract the 3D shape based upon surface modeling.
Selective fluorogenic derivatization of a peptide nucleic acid trimer with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde

Abstract The reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of a Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) trimer has been studied after its preseparation fluorogenic derivatization with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde in the presence of cyanide (NDA/CN). Trace levels of the PNA trimer were determined in cell homogenate samples containing the PNA trimer at prederivatization concentrations as low as 48.9 ng ml −1 . The sample pretreatment operations included a deproteination step, achieved by ultra-filtration, followed by fluorogenic derivatization (NDA/CN). Subsequently, to achieve adequate selectivity, the fluorescently labeled PNA was subjected to high performance anion exchange chromatography prior to quantitation via fluorescence detection. The various problems encountered during sample pretreatment and separation of derivatized PNA trimer in biological samples are presented and discussed.
Linking Public Agencies With Community-Based Watershed Organizations: Lessons From California

Watershed organizations routinely seek to influence public agencies and sometimes also depend on them for fmial and technical assistance. For some agencies this relationship is strained and problematic. Watershed organizations tend to develop closer working relationships with decentralized and locally responsive agencies, like the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Centralized and unresponsive agencies, like the Forest Service, tend to be unreliable partners. Ironically, the same characteristics that once led to accusations that the BLM was captured by local stakeholders such as ranchers have allowed BLM officials to reorient themselves in the 1990s to become responsive to watershed organizations, which currently are favored by grass-roots environmentalists. This paper examines these relationships through a case study from California, where state and federal agencies designed and partially implemented a publiclprivate strategy to preserve biodiversity. The strategy was a curious hybrid of top-down planning and bottom-up implementation. Although orchestrated primarily by the BLM. the strategy was implemented initially in a region of the state where the Forest Service predominated. The case study, therefore, highlights some of the fundamental tensions underlying the relationship between watershed orgMizations and public agencies.
Correlation of morphine-induced locomotor activity with changes in core temperature of the rat.

Abstract A marked temporal correlation was discovered between the pattern of changes in core temperature (CT) and that of locomotor activity induced by the i.p. injection of morphine in both the Sprague-Dawley and Wistar male rat. Although CT and locomotor activity increased following the intracerebral microinjection of morphine, the time course of the changes in each measure were not as closely related as after the i.p. injections. Since restraining the rat attenuates morphine-induced hyperthermia, the data suggest that the prevention of locomotor activity by restraint may contribute to the diminution in the morphine-induced rise in CT. Further work will be required to determine whether the most sensitive intracerebral sites for morphine-induced increases in CT and locomotor activity are distinct.
developmental Appropriateness of Kindergarten Programs and Academic Outcomes in First Grade

Abstract This study explored the relationship between the developmental appropriateness of kindergarten classroom instruction and first-grade report card grade overall averages and averages in reading, language, spelling, math, science, and social studies. The interactive roles that gender, SES, and kindergarten classroom type play in children's later achievement were also examined. The sample consisted of 166 first-grade children who had attended kindergarten classrooms with teaching practices identified as predominately developmentally appropriate or developmentally inappropriate. Findings indicated that first-graders from more appropriate kindergarten classrooms had higher reading averages than children from less appropriate kindergarten classrooms. Females had higher overall and subject area averages than males. Significant interaction effects indicated that high SES children from less appropriate kindergarten classrooms had higher overall averages and higher averages in all subjects except reading, w...
Spatiotemporal Landscape Pattern Change in Response to Future Urbanisation in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA

AbstractUrban growth combined with increasing population modifies landscape structure and functions at various scales. Identifying the accumulated effects of urbanisation on landscape composition and configuration over time is crucial to anticipate the functional change of altered landscape and to gauge landscape sustainability. Focusing on critical ecosystems, this study aims to understand how landscape patterns will evolve in response to the proposed development plans in Maricopa County, Arizona. Two primary GIS data layers were developed including the urban ecosystem layer with different natural land cover types (e.g. desert shrub, grassland, green space, and agriculture) and the urbanisation layer with residential, commercial, and recreational land use. To examine the spatiotemporal pattern change, urbanisation scenarios were designed with a basis on development status and implementation certainty, along with landscape metrics calculation. The findings demonstrated how the landscape metrics behave dif...
Vein size in intact and hysterectomized mice during the estrous cycle and pregnancy.

Diameter measurements were taken in an investigation to determine the role of endogenous female sex hormones in effecting changes in the diameter of the ovarian uterine and femoral veins and inferior vena cava during various stages of the estrous cycle in intact and hysterectomized mice and at intervals during pregnancy in mice with embryos in both uterine horns or in only the left horn. At metestrus 1 vein sizes were the least and were not significantly different in intact and hysterectomized mice. At other stages ovarian and uterine veins showed the same or increased diameters. Progressive venous enlargement during pregnancy occurred in intact mice. When compared to gravid horns non-gravid uterine horns showed little size increase. Results of the study suggest that a correlation exists between localized activity of reproductive hormones and regulation of blood vessel size. The incidence of transuterine migration of embryos occurred in 21 of the 53 pregnant mice with unilateral tubal ligations or ovariectomies. In those 12 mice without embryos in the right uterine horn following right ovariectomy either failure of migration to occur or lack of sufficient local hormone permitted proper embryonic implantation and maintenance.
Distinct causes for two principal U.S. droughts of the 20th century

[1] Diagnosis of observational and climate model data reveals that the two major U.S. droughts of the 20th Century had distinct causes. Drought severity over the Southern Plains during 1946–1956 is very likely attributable to remote influences of global sea surface temperatures (SSTs). The Southern Plains and adjacent Southwest are regions particularly sensitive to SST variability, and strong La Nina events that occurred during 1946–1956 exposed that region's drought vulnerability. Drought severity over the Northern Plains during 1932–1939 was likely triggered instead by random atmospheric variability. The Northern Plains lies within a region of comparatively low sensitivity to SST variability, and that region's drought exhibited little sensitivity to SST conditions during the Dust Bowl period. Our results indicate that the southern portions of the Great Plains lie within an epicenter of potentially skillful drought predictions for which an ocean observing system is also a vital drought early warning system.
The use of preclinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data to predict clinical doses: current and future perspectives

Abstract The obtainment of appropriate pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is critical to achieving an efficacious and safe clinical dose range. Therefore, the combination of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations at the preclinical discovery stage should lead to drugs with optimum performance characteristics in the clinic. Indeed, the pharmacokinetic phase, incorporating the absorption, distribution and clearance of the compound can have a profound impact on the in vivo potency, duration and selectivity of the compound being tested. Human pharmacokinetic parameters can be predicted from preclinical pharmacokinetic and metabolism data, and thus, human oral exposure of pharmacologically active free drug can be estimated. The potential variability in human oral exposure, due to factors such as variable absorption and polymorphic enzymes, can also be predicted. The potency of a compound against the target receptor can be determined from values such as K i , p A 2 , EC 50 , etc. However, in order to turn such a value into an appropriate target efficacy concentration, it is necessary to know the degree of receptor occupancy required to exert an effect. It is known that the required receptor occupancy can vary considerably from as little as 20% for agonists to close to 100% for enzyme inhibitors. If these issues can be resolved dose projections for efficacy can be made, from anticipated oral exposure and knowledge of the occupation of the target receptor, to guide dose selection for initial clinical dose escalation studies. In a similar manner, safety and toleration can be predicted from the potency of the compound against other receptors demonstrated in broad ligand binding studies.
Factors affecting the lipid and apolipoprotein levels of cord sera.

Summary: In studying the human lipid transport system as it changes from the fetal to the adult form, data were collected on cord sera levels of lipids and apolipoproteins (A-I, A-II, ApoB, C-I, C-II, C-III, ApoD, and ApoE) from infants whose lipid metabolism might have been modified by a variety of factors present before, at, or after delivery. The results clearly indicated that many factors affect the levels of both lipids and apolipoproteins at birth. Method of delivery had little effect except in relation to either fetal immaturity (increased total cholesterol) or fetal stress (increased triglycerides). Birth weight was related to changes in free cholesterol, C-I, C-III, and ApoE levels. Gestational age had greater impact upon both serum lipids and apolipoproteins. With increasing fetal maturity, total cholesterol, free cholesterol, A-II, C-II, and ApoE progressively fell whereas triglyceride and ApoD rose. A variety of clinical disorders were also associated with changes in serum lipid and apolipoproteins. Anencephaly produced marked increases in both free and total cholesterol as well as most apolipoproteins. Significant reductions in triglyceride and ApoD levels were found in infants who subsequently became ill in the postnatal period with problems relating to carbohydrate metabolism (e.g., infants of diabetic mothers). Infants with respiratory distress were found to have decreased levels of total cholesterol and ApoB, both of which are increased in prematurity, a condition with which respiratory distress (RD) is usually associated. The changes in cord sera lipid and apolipoprotein levels found in a variety of clinical situations may provide new diagnostic approaches to postnatal problems arising in the newborn.
Purification of rat liver monoamine oxidase by octyl glucoside extraction and reconstitution

Abstract Catalytically active isoenzymes of rat liver monoamine oxidase have been copurified from the outer mitochondrial membrane by a novel method involving repetitive solubilization with octyl-β- d -glucopyranoside followed by reconstitution into lipid vesicles. As analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, the purified enzyme migrates as a single band of protein of molecular weight 60,000. The preparation is capable of metabolizing 576 nmol serotonin and 777 nmol β-phenylethylamine/min/mg protein. Apparent Km values and sensitivity to the inhibitor clorgyline are very similar for the purified and outer mitochondrial membrane-bound enzyme when determined with the substrates β-phenylethylamine, serotonin, and tyramine.
Emotional facial expressions differentially influence predictions and performance for face recognition

This study examined how participants' predictions of future memory performance are influenced by emotional facial expressions. Participants made judgements of learning (JOLs) predicting the likelihood that they would correctly identify a face displaying a happy, angry, or neutral emotional expression in a future two-alternative forced-choice recognition test of identity (i.e., recognition that a person's face was seen before). JOLs were higher for studied faces with happy and angry emotional expressions than for neutral faces. However, neutral test faces with studied neutral expressions had significantly higher identity recognition rates than neutral test faces studied with happy or angry expressions. Thus, these data are the first to demonstrate that people believe happy and angry emotional expressions will lead to better identity recognition in the future relative to neutral expressions. This occurred despite the fact that neutral expressions elicited better identity recognition than happy and angry exp...