cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
L-malate dehydrogenase in the development of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

Abstract l -Malate dehydrogenase ( l -malate:NAD oxidoreductase EC 1.1.1.37) of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus occurs in two forms. One form is shown to be localized in mitochondria of this species. The other form occurs exclusively in the cytoplasm and appears as a supernatant enzyme. These two enzymes of the sea urchin were separated and partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Of the two, the supernatant enzyme is eluted first from the chromatographic column and migrates more slowly toward the anode in disc electrophoresis. Catalytic activities of both enzymes were determined with varying concentration of substrates. Substrate inhibition occurred with the supernatant enzyme at high concentration of malate and with the mitochondrial enzyme at high concentration of oxaloacetate. These substrate-activity relationships are similar to those of corresponding enzymes of many other animals. During development, the total enzyme activity in the homogenate increases three fold at a young pluteus stage from the level of the activity in the unfertilized eggs, most of the increase occurring after hatching. Only two isozymes were found in the eggs and embryos, and the increase in the activity occurs equally in both supernatant and mitochondrial enzymes. The increase does not appear to be due to a release from inhibition by a soluble inhibitor in the unfertilized eggs. Electrophoretic mobilities of isozymes of the strongylocentrotids, S. purpuratus and S. droebachiensis and of Dendraster excentricus are sufficiently different to be of diagnostic value in differentiating species origins of the enzymes. Hybrid embryos were produced by crossing the gametes between the two species. Only the enzymes of the maternal species were found in the blocked hybrid embryos.
Reactions of transition metal carbonyls with nucleophilic reagents: reactivity and bonding☆

Abstract Initial investigations into the reactions of organomagnesium halide reagents with metal carbonyls indicate this reaction to be adaptable to relative rate studies of nucleophilic attack on the carbonyl carbon. New carbene type complexes as well as preliminary rate studies are presented. Force constants and integrated infrared intensities of the CO stretching vibrations in M(CO)5L compounds suggest the carbene ligand to be bound to the metal in a manner similar to phosphines and phosphites and significantly different from purely sigma donating amine ligands. Dipole moment derivative calculations and band shape analyses of the CO vibrations in metal carbonyl carbene complexes are described.
A Fluorescence‐Based Assay for p38α Recruitment Site Binders: Identification of Rooperol as a Novel p38α Kinase Inhibitor

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are important components of signaling cascades that regulate many normal cellular events, such as embryogenesis, cell differentiation, cell proliferation and cell death. MAPK pathways can also play an important role in cancer cell survival.[1–3] The vast majority of MAPK inhibitors reported to date have targeted the highly conserved ATP binding sites. A few inhibitors have been found to bind to the “DFG-out” site.[4,5] Although these compounds show good inhibition of their target kinases, many also inhibit other protein kinases with similar or greater potency.[6]
Economical Impact of Using Wind/PV Hybrid Systems on Energy Sector in Jordan

Despite being in the oil-rich region, Jordan is completely dependent on the imported oil from neighboring countries. This significantly affects the country’s economy and people’s lives. Therefore, the search for alternative sources of energy was one of the serious responsibilities of the decision makers in Jordan. One of the feasible solutions was to adopt the renewable energy approach. These sources have become a competitive alternative to conventional sources in many countries. Economically, the price of energy generated by renewable decreases day after day compared with a continuous increase in crude oil prices. In the present work, the focus will be on the economical impact of wind/PV (photovoltaic) hybrid system in rural areas. Unlike the previous projects, which were either in pilot or experimental form, the present study considers a commercial type project. An actual site of the applied study will be assessed in terms of electricity consumption, wind and solar energy availability, equipment cost and energy saving. This implies an accurate evaluation of the complete and partial replacement of the existing electricity sources used for water pumping and electrification in the examined site. Different scenarios will be investigated to illustrate various economical options of the capital cost and payback periods. Finally, the impact of this project on spreading this idea to many sites of similar conditions will be discussed.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Significance of the static fluorescence quenching limit in the finite sink approximation

Abstract In the finite sink approximation the time-independent quenching rate constant kQ(c) increases with quencher concentration c according to the equation where (2πNc)− 1 3 ) = r0, the most probable nearest-neighbor separation or sink radius. The predicted existence of a “static” quenching limit c = cϱ, at which r0 is equal to the encounter diameter ϱ and kQ ( = k0) becomes independent of diffusion coefficient D or solvent viscosity, is confirmed by relative fluorescence quantum yield measurements reported here and elsewhere. The significance of this static limit is discussed with reference to both photostationary intensity measurements and the time-dependent fluorescence response function.
Pathogenesis of benign metastasizing leiomyoma: a review.

Uterine leiomyomas are benign tumors of smooth muscle origin with protean symptomatology, and are the most common gynecological tumor in women of reproductive age. Very rarely, benign uterine leiomyomas display bizarre growth patterns with associated extrauterine benign-appearing smooth muscle tumor
Protein nanoparticles formation by supercritical antisolvent with enhanced mass transfer

In recent years, the supercritical antisolvent (SAS) precipitation technique has emerged as a promising method for the formation of fine particles. Despite its numerous advantages, this technique still cannot be used to produce particles in the sub-micron range (<300 nm) for many “soft” materials. A significantly improved SAS process can produce particles of controllable size, up to an order of magnitude smaller than those of the conventional SAS process, with a narrower size distribution. Like the conventional SAS technique, this new supercritical antisolvent with enhanced mass transfer technique utilizes supercritical carbon dioxide as the antisolvent, but the solution jet is deflected by a surface vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency atomizing the jet into much smaller droplets. Furthermore, the ultrasound field generated by the vibrating surface enhances mass transfer and prevents agglomeration through increased mixing. The particle size is controlled by varying the vibration intensity of the deflecting surface, which then can be adjusted by changing the power supplied to the attached ultrasound transducer. It is demonstrated by the formation of lysozyme nanoparticles and microparticles. The biological activity of the protein is retained during the processing.
What is a black hole

Until recently, the concept of black hole has been rigorously defmed only in asymptotically tlat space-times: a black hole has been defined to be the set of events not in J-(~+). However, Penrose has proposed a different definition of a black hole: a black hole is the set of events that are not past endpoints of timelike curves of infinite length. Although the Penrose definition does not depend on asymptotic flatness, it assumes that every observer falling into a black hole always hits a singularity and that every observer not falling into a black hole never hits a singularity. Thus the Penrose definition cannot be used in closed universes. I propose a definition of black hole that I believe will work in any stably causal space-time. Definition. A black hole is the closure of the smallest future set that has the following properties.
Three‐dimensional structure and evolution of stratospheric HNO3 based on UARS Microwave Limb Sounder measurements

[1] The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) measured the global distribution of stratospheric HNO3 through more than seven complete annual cycles in both hemispheres. Here we present an overview of the seasonal, interhemispheric, and interannual variations in the distribution of HNO3 throughout the lower and middle stratosphere from 420 to 960 K potential temperature based on the UARS MLS version 6 HNO3 measurements. The version 6 MLS data have much better precision and a larger vertical range than previous MLS HNO3 data sets and have also been corrected to account for an oversight in the retrieval algorithms that led earlier versions to overestimate HNO3 abundances by as much as 35% at some levels in the stratosphere. HNO3 exhibits little vertical, seasonal, or interannual variability in the tropics. For the first ∼1.5 years of the mission, however, a persistent enhancement is seen at low and middle latitudes that we attribute to perturbations in reactive nitrogen chemistry under conditions of high aerosol loading from the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The signature of Pinatubo-induced HNO3 enhancement is considerably weaker at 420 and 465 K than it is at higher altitudes, and it is also considerably weaker at northern middle and high latitudes than it is in the Southern Hemisphere. HNO3 abundances increase toward the pole in both hemispheres at all levels and in all seasons, with the exception of the severely denitrified region inside the Antarctic vortex. A pronounced seasonal cycle is present at middle and high latitudes up to at least 960 K (∼34 km), with a winter maximum and a summer minimum. Large interannual variability in the timing, magnitude, and duration of enhanced wintertime HNO3 abundances is seen in both hemispheres. Even in the coldest Arctic winters, HNO3 depletion is modest and limited in both horizontal and vertical extent. In contrast, virtually complete removal of gas-phase HNO3 occurs at the highest southern latitudes by July in every year throughout the lower stratosphere. Indications of denitrification are present up to at least 740 K, well above the highest altitude at which dehydration is observed, providing further evidence that denitrification can proceed in the absence of dehydration.
A genetic variant of FcγRIIIa is strongly associatedwith humoral immunity to cyclin B1 in African American patients with prostate cancer

There are significant inter-individual differences in naturally occurring antibody responses to the tumor-associated antigen cyclin B1 in healthy subjects with no history of cancer as well as in patients with multiple types of cancer, but the host genetic factors that might contribute to these differences have not been identified. The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether the variation in endogenous antibody levels to cyclin B1 in patients with prostate cancer was associated with immunoglobulin GM and KM alleles, expressed on the constant regions of γ and κ chains, respectively. We also aimed to determine whether particular Fcgamma receptor (FcγR) genotypes, which have been implicated in the immunobiology of several cancers, contribute to the magnitude of humoral immunity to cyclin B1. DNA samples from 129 Caucasian American (CA) and 76 African American (AA) patients with prostate cancer were genotyped for several GM, KM, and FcγR alleles. Plasma samples from these subjects were also characterized for IgG antibodies to cyclin B1. No significant associations were found between any genetic markers and the level of anticyclin B1 antibodies in CA patients. In AA patients, however, homozygosity for the valine allele at the FcγRIIIa locus was strongly associated with low antibody responsiveness to cyclin B1 (p = 0.0007). Since immunity to cyclin B1 has been shown to play a protective role, these results may, at least in part, explain the disproportionately higher rate of mortality in AA patients with prostate cancer.
Equivalence of Eshelby inclusion theory and Wechsler–Lieberman–Read, Bowles–Mackenzie martensite-crystallography theories

Abstract We consider the relationship of the Eshelby inclusion theory to the Wechsler–Lieberman–Read, Bowles–Mackenzie (WLR–BM) theories of martensite crystallography. The WLR–BM theories proceed by solving for an invariant plane strain and by assuming a lattice invariant deformation, often (110) twinning or its equivalent. Eshelby’s theory estimates the strain, stress, and minimum strain energy of an ellipsoidal inclusion (or inhomogeneity) transforming in a constraining matrix. We use a Lagrangean finite-strain definition for the eigenstrain. We pay special attention to the crystallographic twinning plane and to twin coherency, specifically how they affect the eigenstrain. Focusing on many crystallographic features, including the habit plane and shape change, we find identical (within numerical accuracy) predictions of the crystallographic and energy-minimization theories for the Fe–31Ni f.c.c.–b.c.c. steel transformation, which shows enormous principal strains (0.13, 0.13, 0.20). The identity surprises us because we substitute finite strains into the infinitesimal strain inclusion theory. The inclusion-model contains all crystallographic features and, thus, is complete. This approach to martensite crystallography offers enormous new research possibilities. We enumerate twelve.
Radiation force imaging of viscoelastic properties with reduced artifacts

It is well-known that changes in the mechanical properties of tissues are correlated with the presence of disease. In the eye, for example, the vitreous body undergoes dramatic changes in mechanical properties during age-related degradation. These changes may play a significant role in the formation of retinal detachment or other vitreoretinal diseases. We previously presented a noninvasive method called kinetic acoustic vitreoretinal examination (KAVE), which may be used to detect these mechanical changes. KAVE uses acoustic radiation force as a means to produce small, localized displacements within the tissues. Returning echoes are processed using ultrasonic motion tracking so that the response of the tissue to the induced force can be evaluated. By repeating this process at a number of locations, images depicting viscoelastic properties of tissues can be formed. Through the combination of appropriate mechanical modeling and signal processing, we are able to generate images of parameters such as relative mass, relative elasticity, and relative viscosity. These parameters are called relative because they depend on the force applied, which is typically unknown. In this paper, we present new force-free images depicting the time constant /spl tau/, the damping ratio /spl xi/, and the natural frequency /spl omega/ of the phantom material. These images are significant in that they lack the artifacts common in the relative property images.
Finite Analytic Solution of Convective Heat Transfer for Tube Arrays in Crossflow: Part II—Heat Transfer Analysis

The convective heat transfer and pressure drop in flow past two types of tube array are solved numerically by the Finite Analytic Method in this investigation. The tube arrays considered are an in-line tube array and a staggared tube array with longitudinal and transverse pitch of two. The flow field solution is obtained and analyzed in Part 1 of the study. In the present Part 2, the temperature field, heat transfer characteristics, and pressure drop are investigated. The fluid and tubes are considered to be at the same temperature, except for the array tube, which is heated or cooled. The solution domain covers three pitches of tube arrays in order to simulate accurately the non-periodic behavior of the temperature field downsream of the heated tube. In general, the heat transfer in a staggered array of tubes is found to be higher than that in an in-lined array of tubes. However, the pressure drop in a staggered array arrangement is also higher. Local heat transfer varies between in-line and staggered tube arrays and depends on Reynolds number and Prandtl number. At high Reynolds number, the local heat transfer tends to peak at the upstream surface of the heated tube but awaymore » from the stagnation point and becomes minimum at the separation point. Heat transfer in recirculation zones are, in general, small.« less
Localized states at GaN surfaces, Schottky barriers, and quantum well interfaces

Abstract We have used low energy electron-excited nanoluminescence (LEEN) spectroscopy to probe the localized electronic states at GaN free surfaces, metal–GaN contacts, and GaN/InGaN quantum well interfaces. These depth-resolved measurements reveal the presence of deep electronic states near GaN interfaces whose energies and relative densities depend sensitively on the local chemical structure and growth conditions. The physical properties of these states correlate with mobility variations in thin GaN films grown by molecular beam epitaxy, Fermi level positions at Mg and Al/GaN Schottky barriers, and the appearance of new phases localized near GaN/InGaN/GaN quantum well interfaces. The growth and processing dependence of deep GaN levels highlights new methods to understand and control the fundamental electronic structure of GaN heterointerfaces.
POSTNATAL RENAL MATURATION IN LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

The postnatal contraction of extracellular fluid in low birth weight (LBW) infants is associated with increased solute excretion. Patterns of postnatal renal maturation were assessed with the assumption that changes in body composition are mediated in part by the developing kidney. Twenty-two appropriate for gestational age, LBW infants, (birth weight m = 1380 gms, gestational ages m=31 wks) ware studied between 12 noun and 61 days to evaluate simultaneously glomerular and tubular functional maturation. Since most LBW infants have respiratory morbidities (respiratory distress followed by chronic lung disease) the infants were grouped into: Group I, (13 infants) transient or absent respiratory morbidities and Group II, (9 infants) persistent and severe respiratory morbidities. Creatinine clearance correlated directly with postnatal age in both groups, (Group I r=0.868 p<0.001 and Group II r=0.646 p<0.01) Sodium intake did not vary significantly with age in either group. Percent fractional sodium excretion was inversely related to postnatal age, (Group I r=-0.613 p<0.01 and Group II r=-0.646 p<0.01) and no significant difference was observed between the two regression lines. Increased % fractional sodium excretion in the first 10 days of life may reflect extracellular solute losses and persistent respiratory morbidities did not alter this homeostatic regulation.
Context sensitivity of conditioned suppression following preexposure to the conditioned stimulus

Conditioned suppression in rats is often unaffected when the context (or set of background stimuli) is changed following conditioning. This suggests that responding to the conditioned stimulus (CS) can be relatively insensitive to the context in which the CS is presented. In two experiments, we examined whether sensitivity to contextual stimuli is affected by preexposure to the CS. In Experiment 1, when the CS was novel at the outset of conditioning, conditioned suppression was not affected when the context was changed following conditioning. However, when the CS had been preexposed, responding was weaker when extinction occurred outside of the conditioning context. In Experiment 2, responding was again sensitive to the test context, regardless of whether preexposure occurred in the conditioning context or in an alternate context. These results suggest that the extent to which responding is sensitive to context can depend on the conditioning history of the CS.
# P-completeness via man-one reductions

Valiant defined #P-completeness using Turing reductions. We propose a more restrictive definition, a variant of many-one reductions, and prove that the (0, 1)-permanent remains #P-complete under this definition.
Subsonic flutter suppression using self-straining actuators

Abstract Analytical (rather than purely computational) study, using full continuum models of bending-torsion wing flutter in inviscid subsonic aerodynamics. Performance evaluation of self-straining actuators for flutter suppression. Time domain analysis — unsteady aerodynamics — using the theory of semigroups of operators. Root locus of aeroelastic modes and precise operational definition of flutter speed. Analytical relationship of flutter speed to structure parameters too complex. Numerical results for the Goland wing model with torsion mode flutter. Finding: while effective in increasing structure damping prior to flutter, self-straining controllers have little or no effect on the flutter speed.
Impact of Tennessee's Remedial/Developmental Studies Program on the Academic Progress of Minority Students.

This paper examines the impact of a state‐wide mandatory testing and placement program operating in Tennessee's community college system as it relates to retention and academic progress of minority students. Utilizing the Board of Regents' data base, the records of 5,139 first‐time 1986 freshmen enrollees at Tennessee's ten public community colleges were examined and tracked through three successive academic quarters. Analysis suggests that of this group, only 22% were actually enrolled in college level programs, as the balance (78%) were in the developmental studies program. The constriction of college placement for minorities is especially severe, since developmental program requirements must be satisfied before they can proceed to earn college level credits. Of the 5,139 first time freshmen, only 56 black students were enrolled in college level courses, and of these, only 26 remained enrolled in Regents' institutions after three quarters. Analysis of attrition by ACT cohort suggests that attrition is h...
Pitch-Range Based Feature Extraction for Audio Surveillance Systems

Most security systems detect abnormal events using visual clues. However in some cases, we can obtain more accurate and efficient data from audio information. This study analyzes the acoustical properties of audio signals for audio surveillance systems and presents a novel feature extraction method. The purpose is to detect unusual and unsafe sounds such as gunshot, dog barking, and breaking glass using pitch range based feature parameters. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) are used as a recognition algorithm to evaluate the performance of the proposed feature parameters. Recognition rates are found in the range of 79 to 92%.
Social and Racial Differences in Selection of Breast Cancer Adjuvant Chemotherapy Regimens

Purpose Breast cancer outcomes are worse among black women and women of lower socioeconomic status. The purpose of this study was to investigate racial and social differences in selection of breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy regimens. Methods Detailed information on patient, disease, and treatment factors was collected prospectively on 957 patients who were receiving breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy in 101 oncology practices throughout the United States. Adjuvant chemotherapy regimens included in any of several published guidelines were considered standard. Receipt of nonstandard regimens was examined according to clinical and nonclinical factors. Differences between groups were assessed using χ2 tests. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with use of nonstandard regimens. Results Black race (P = .008), lower educational attainment (P = .003), age ≥ 70 years (P = .001), higher stage (P < .0001), insurance type (P = .048), employment status (P = .045), employment ty...
Type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor modulates bile salt export pump activity in rat hepatocytes.

Bile salt secretion is mediated primarily by the bile salt export pump (Bsep), a transporter on the canalicular membrane of the hepatocyte. However, little is known about the short-term regulation of Bsep activity. Ca2+ regulates targeting and insertion of transporters in many cell systems, and Ca2+ release near the canalicular membrane is mediated by the type II inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R2), so we investigated the possible role of InsP3R2 in modulating Bsep activity. The kinetics of Bsep activity were monitored by following secretion of the fluorescent Bsep substrate cholylglycylamido-fluorescein (CGamF) in rat hepatocytes in collagen sandwich culture, an isolated cell system in which structural and functional polarity is preserved. CGamF secretion was nearly eliminated in cells treated with Bsep small interfering RNA (siRNA), demonstrating specificity of this substrate for Bsep. Secretion was also reduced after chelating intracellular calcium, inducing redistribution of InsP3R2 by depleting the cell membrane of cholesterol, or reducing InsP3R function by either knocking down InsP3R2 expression using siRNA or pharmacologic inhibition using xestospongin C. Confocal immunofluorescence showed that InsP3R2 and Bsep are in close proximity in the canalicular region, both in rat liver and in hepatocytes in sandwich culture. However, after knocking down InsP3R2 or inducing its dysfunction with cholesterol depletion, Bsep redistributed intracellularly. Finally, InsP3R2 was lost from the pericanalicular region in animal models of estrogen- and endotoxin-induced cholestasis. Conclusion: These data provide evidence that pericanalicular calcium signaling mediated by InsP3R2 plays an important role in maintaining bile salt secretion through posttranslational regulation of Bsep, and suggest that loss or redistribution of InsP3R2 may contribute to the pathophysiology of intrahepatic cholestasis. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;)
A comprehensive analysis of the impact of occupancy parameters in energy simulation of office buildings

Abstract The commercial building sector has become the focus of many governmental energy reduction initiatives to achieve more sustainable development. Reducing building energy use starts by improving the design of buildings. To this end, energy modeling and simulation tools are used during the design phase to predict energy use and help designers choose and size the different building systems. Large discrepancies are however being observed between predicted and actual building energy performances. In order to determine the sources of errors and improve these predictions, the sensitivity of energy models to different input parameters needs to be evaluated. Studies in literature have extensively evaluated the sensitivity of models to the buildings’ technical design parameters. However, none considered the parameters related to the energy consumption behavior of occupants, leaving their impact on energy modeling unknown. This paper presents a comprehensive sensitivity analysis study performed on the occupancy behavioral parameters of typical office buildings of different size and in different weather zones. Significant sensitivity levels were observed, varying according to both building size and weather conditions. The highest sensitivity was obtained when varying the ‘heating temperature set point’ parameter in small-size buildings located in US weather zone 2 Dry.
The effect of radiation on poly‐α‐methylstyrene

Degradation studies on poly-α-methylstyrene at 25°C. under vacuum and in hydrogen and oxygen were carried out with the use of a Co60 gamma source. The degradation results are explained as a random breaking of skeletal chain bonds accompanied by a depropagation of the resulting fragments. The termination step for depropagation is considered as a chain transfer of the degrading radical to the produced monomer cloud, the monomer radical thus formed repolymerizing to some extent prior to termination. The necessary relationships are derived which permit the evaluation of the G-value for bond scission, the kinetic chain length for depropagation from the resulting Mn and Mw values, and the unsaturation produced. The determined G-values for chain scission are 0.25 in vacuum and hydrogen, 0.16 in air, and 0.08 in oxygen, the gases being at a pressure of one atmosphere. The number of monomer units split off per break was found to be 100 in vacuum, 50 in hydrogen, and essentially zero in the presence of oxygen. It is believed that hydrogen and oxygen terminate the depropagating radical, reducing the kinetic chain length. The reduction in the G-value for chain scission in the presence of oxygen may be due to either recombination of the terminal peroxide groups formed or deactivation of the chain prior to cleavage. The G-values for volatile products at room temperature are listed, the important ones being G(H2) = 0.035 and G(CH4) = 0.003.
Distribution of Oceanic Versus Transitional Crust in Deep Gulf of Mexico Basin--Implications for Early History: ABSTRACT

Regional studies of seismic reflection and refraction data in the deep Gulf of Mexico basin outline in considerable detail the distribution of oceanic vs. transitional crust. Oceanic crust forms a narrow east-west belt up to 300 km wide across the deep Gulf. Most current models for early Gulf evolution suggest the belt was emplaced in the Late Jurassic following widespread deposition of salt on rifted and attenuated continental crust (transitional crust). The southern boundary is defined by a zone of prominent salt structures along the northern margin of the Sigsbee salt basin. The northern boundary is obscured below the Texas-Louisiana slope, but is inferred from the distribution of large vertical salt structures. The eastern boundary is clearly marked by onlap and pinch out of thick Jurassic sedimentary sequences. This distribution is corroborated by regional magnetic and gravity data and total tectonic subsidence analysis, and provides constraints for early Gulf basin reconstructions. An appropriate reconstruction must account for plate motion accommodated by ocean crust formation and extension of continental crust. The data seem most consistent with a model in which the Yucatan block moved generally south and rotated somewhat counterclockwise. This reconstruction implies very little lateral displacement along transform faults between Yucatan and Florida during early basin history. This is supported by seismic stratigraphic studies and DSDP drilling in the southeastern Gulf. End_of_Article - Last_Page 241------------
Effects of Hydroperiod Duration on Survival, Developmental Rate, and Size at Metamorphosis in Boreal Chorus Frog Tadpoles (Pseudacris maculata)

Understanding the relationship between climate-driven habitat conditions and survival is key to preserving biodiversity in the face of rapid climate change. Hydroperiod—the length of time water is in a wetland—is a critical limiting habitat variable for amphibians as larvae must metamorphose before ponds dry. Changes in precipitation and temperature patterns are affecting hydroperiod globally, but the impact of these changes on amphibian persistence is poorly understood. We studied the responses of Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata) tadpoles to simulated hydroperiods (i.e., water level reductions) in the laboratory using individuals collected from ponds spanning a range of natural hydroperiods (Colorado Front Range, USA). To assess the effects of experimental hydroperiod reduction, we measured mortality, time to metamorphosis, and size at metamorphosis. We found that tadpoles grew at rates reflecting the hydroperiods of their native ponds, regardless of experimental treatment. Tadpoles from permanent ponds metamorphosed faster than those from ephemeral ponds across all experimental treatments, a pattern which may represent a predation selection gradient or countergradient variation in developmental rates. Size at metamorphosis did not vary across experimental treatments. Mortality was low overall but varied with pond of origin. Our results suggest that adaptation to local hydroperiod and/or predation and temperature conditions is important in P. maculata. Moreover, the lack of a plastic response to reduced hydroperiods suggests that P. maculata may not be able to metamorphose quickly enough to escape drying ponds. These results have important implications for amphibian persistence in ponds predicted to dry more quickly due to rapid climate change.
Quantum Phase Estimation Using Multivalued Logic

Quantum phase estimation (QPE) is one of the most important quantum algorithms which is used as a subroutine for other important quantum algorithms like Shor's factoring algorithm, simulation of quantum systems, quantum counting and QFT on arbitrary Zp. In this paper we develop the theoretical framework for the multivalued quantum logic version of the QPE algorithm using d valued qudits and show a quantum circuit to implement QPE with a complexity of O(nlogn) single qudit operations. The multivalued QPE algorithm, when compared to the binary quantum logic version, turns out to be more robust and leads to a significant decrease in the number of qudits required along with drastic improvement in the precision and success probability. We derive the requirements to amplify the probability of success to a value very close to 1 (for a given precision), thereby generalizing the previously obtained result in the binary case. Also, we note that the failure probability of QPE algorithm decreases exponentially as d increases.
Ovarian Follicular Dynamics in Heifers during Early Pregnancy

Daily ultrasonic monitoring of individual follicles was used to compare follicular wave characteristics of nonbred (n = 6) and pregnant heifers (n = 6). The dominant follicle of the first wave (Wave 1) did not differ significantly between reproductive statuses for any endpoint. The dominant follicle of Wave 2 was the ovulatory follicle in all nonbred heifers. The maximum diameter of the dominant follicle of Wave 2 was greater (p less than 0.05) for the nonbred heifers (14.8 mm) than for the pregnant heifers (13.0 mm). The dominant follicle of Wave 3 was detected later (p less than 0.003; Day 19.7 vs. Day 17.3) and reached a greater diameter (p less than 0.05; 16.6 mm vs. 12.0 mm) in the nonbred than in the pregnant heifers. On the mean day of onset of luteolysis (Day 15.2) in the nonbred heifers, the dominant follicle was similar in diameter for the two groups. Within a few days, the follicle began to regress in the pregnant heifers but maintained or increased in diameter in the nonbred heifers so that a greater maximum diameter was attained. During Days 0 70 of pregnancy, the interval from emergence of a wave to the emergence of the next wave was constant (not significantly different; mean intervals, 8.5 9.8 days). The mean maximum diameter attained by the dominant follicles differed significantly among the first 6 follicular waves; diameter was greatest for Wave 1 (15.7 mm), smallest for Waves 2 (13.1 mm) and 3 (12.6 mm), and intermediate for Waves 4 (14.0 mm), 5 (13.7 mm), and 6 (14.5 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Theoretical Investigations on Thermal Light Emission From Metallic Carbon Nanotubes

Electrically driven thermal light emission (TLE) from individual metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (mCNTs) is theoretically investigated by detailed simulations and compared to a recent experiment (Mann et al., Nature Nanotech.., vol. 2, p. 33, 2007). The electrical and thermal properties are determined by carrier transport in the metallic subband, which has a zero dipole matrix element and does not experience radiative carrier recombination. The light emission, however, is contributed by the semiconducting subbands, which are populated by a thermal process. The simulation results indicate that due to diameter-dependent thermal effects, the maximum current of suspended mCNTs has a much stronger dependence on the CNT diameter than in non suspended CNTs. The size and shape of the light spot are sensitive to the measured photon energy range. Although the temperature profile along the CNT is approximately parabolic, the light emission profile has a much sharper peak at the middle of the CNT, which is in good agreement with the experiment and confirms the thermal nature of the light emission. The light emission spectrum at high energies is affected by the subband and energy dependences of the radiative recombination lifetime.
Proliferation and copy number variation of BEL-like long terminal repeat retrotransposons within the Diabrotica virgifera virgifera genome.

Abstract The proliferation of retrotransposons within a genome can contribute to increased size and affect the function of eukaryotic genes. BEL/Pao-like long-terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons were annotated from the highly adaptable insect species Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, the Western corn rootworm, using survey sequences from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) inserts and contigs derived from a low coverage next-generation genome sequence assembly. Eleven unique D. v. virgifera BEL elements were identified that contained full-length gag–pol coding sequences, whereas 88 different partial coding regions were characterized from partially assembled elements. Estimated genome copy number for full and partial BEL-like elements ranged from ~ 8 to 1582 among individual contigs using a normalized depth of coverage (DOC) among Illumina HiSeq reads (total genome copy number ~ 8821). BEL element copy number was correlated among different D. v. virgifera populations (R2 = 0.9846), but individual element numbers varied ≤ 1.68-fold and the total number varied by ~ 527 copies. These data indicate that BEL element proliferation likely contributed to a large genome size, and suggest that differences in copy number are a source of genetic variability among D. v. virgifera.
Location-based activity recognition using relational Markov networks

In this paper we define a general framework for activity recognition by building upon and extending Relational Markov Networks. Using the example of activity recognition from location data, we show that our model can represent a variety of features including temporal information such as time of day, spatial information extracted from geographic databases, and global constraints such as the number of homes or workplaces of a person. We develop an efficient inference and learning technique based on MCMC. Using GPS location data collected by multiple people we show that the technique can accurately label a person's activity locations. Furthermore, we show that it is possible to learn good models from less data by using priors extracted from other people's data.
A discussion on the limitations of b. prasad's unbiased estimator in finite population sampling

With respect to random sampling in finite population sampling, B. Prasad (1986) proposed an unbiased estimator of the population mean. Prasad claimed that his estimator may be modified so that it is more precise than the simple mean or the ratio estimator, regardless of the value of the population correlation coefficient between the variates X and Y. To further understand the properties of Prasad's unbiased estimator (PUE), however, we systematically discuss the limitations of the PUE by considering a composite estimator, that includes the PUE as a special case. We also show that the strategy suggested by Prasad to assure that the PUE is preferable to the simple mean estimator may, conversely, cause the PUE to lose efficiency in some situations. The discussion presented here will be useful for researchers who apply the PUE to estimate the population mean.
Radial Qμ structure of the lower mantle from teleseismic body-wave spectra

Abstract We have measured 150,000 P and 130,000 S wave spectral ratios up to 0.8 Hz using recordings of 250 deep (focal depth > 200 km) earthquakes from 890 global and regional network stations. We have inverted these data to estimate the attenuation parameters tP⁎ and tS⁎ for P and S waves and a radial profile of the quality factor Qμ for the lower mantle. On average, tP⁎ increases by about 0.2 s and tS⁎ increases by about 0.7 s between epicentral distances of 30° and 97°. The relatively strong increase of tS⁎ (ts ≈ 4tP⁎) suggests that intrinsic shear attenuation is the cause of the overall trend in our data. The increase of tP⁎ and tS⁎ with distance is smaller than predicted by models PREM [12], QL6 [11], and QLM9 [16]. Assuming PREM values for Qμ in the upper mantle, where the data lack resolving power, the P and S wave spectra are explained best if Qμ increases from about 360 at PREM's 670-km discontinuity to 670 in the lowermost mantle. The high values for Qμ can be reconciled with previously determined values by invoking a frequency-dependence of Qμ(ω) that is proportional to ω0.1. Data that are separated in ‘Pacific’ and ‘circum-Pacific’ subsets have slightly different trends. Estimates of tP⁎ and tS⁎ for the Pacific data, which sample the large low shear-velocity province of the Pacific, are higher than the circum-Pacific estimates. Thus, it appears that the Pacific large low shear velocity province has accompanying low Qμ. The difference in Qμ in the lowermost 1000 km of the mantle beneath the Pacific and beneath the circum-Pacific is at most 17%. Lateral variations of this magnitude are marginally resolvable given the uncertainties of our measurements.
Icthyocrinotoxins and Their Potential Use as Shark Repellents

AbstractNumerous species of fish secrete from their skin a class of toxins called icthyocrinotoxins, which protect them from being eaten by larger fish including sharks. The lethality of these toxins has been studied in small fish, and their effect on sharks has been documented by tonic immobility tests and by the ability to induce food refusal. The icthyocrinotoxins which have been adequately studied represent a variety of chemical structures, which have the common characteristic of being surfactants. They exhibit various properties characteristic of surfactants, including the ability to disrupt biological membranes, hemolysis and icthyotoxicity to small fish. The largest group of icthyocrinotoxins are polypeptide surfactants. The best studied are the paradaxins from the moses sole (Pardachirus marmoratus), which are polypeptides (M.W. -13, 000) with some structural similarity to melittin, the well-studied bee venom peptide. The next largest group are steroid glycosides, including the pavoninins and mose...
Clarifying Existential Psychotherapy: Introduction to the Special Issue

This article serves as an introduction to the special issue on existential psychotherapy. The special issue clarifies the nature of existential psychotherapy for those who may not be familiar with the merits of these approaches. There is value in them, but they are often misunderstood. Contributions to this special issue represent a range of international perspectives, with submissions from the United States, the United Kingdom, Colombia, the Russian Federation, and Portugal. These works explain an array of existential psychotherapy schools of thought considering different contexts.
Simultaneous mate-sampling by female barking treefrogs (Hyla gratiosa)

Mate-sampling behavior describes how individuals gather information about potential mates and incorporate that information into mating decisions. Conclusively identifying the mate-sampling tactic employed by choosing individuals has proved difficult for many species. To determine the sampling tactic used by female barking treefrogs (Hyla gratiosa), I conducted 8-speaker playback experiments in which the speakers were arrayed along an arc that mimicked the natural spatial distribution of males confronting choosing females. One speaker broadcast an attractive call, whereas the other 7 broadcast an unattractive call; the speaker broadcasting the attractive call was never the closest to the female’s release point. Females bypassed the closest speakers to choose the more distant, more attractive call when they had to travel an additional 1.4 or 2.8 m to reach the speaker broadcasting the attractive call; they did not prefer the more attractive call if they had to travel an additional 5.8 m. To determine the number of males sampled by females, I held constant the additional distance required to reach the speaker broadcasting the more attractive call while at the same time varying the total number of speakers located within that distance of the release point. The results of these experiments showed that all females sampled at least 4 speakers and that some sampled as many as 8. These results establish experimentally that female H. gratiosa sample males simultaneously from a distance and that they trade off call characteristics and distance to potential mates when choosing mates. Key words: anuran amphibians, mate-choice, matesampling, playback experiment, simultaneous sampling. [Behav Ecol]
The Defibrillation Efficacy of High Frequency Alternating Current Sinusoidal Waveforms in Guinea Pigs

There have been few basic studies of alternating current (AC) defibrillation, despite growing interest in the ability of AC to terminate or alter ongoing fibrillation. Based on fibrillation threshold testing, it has been suggested that cardiac tissue is most sensitive to long duration, low strength AC stimulation at around 50 Hz. This has not been directly tested for defibrillation. Two subcutaneous electrodes were placed 40 mm apart on opposing aspects of the guinea pig thorax. Seven seconds were allowed to elapse between fibrillation initiation and defibrillation. The tested waveforms were at 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 Hz with 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32-cycles. The efficacy of every waveform was measured using a single stimulus in a large population of animals. Forty-one guinea pigs were used in the fixed energy group. Thirty-three guinea pigs were used in the fixed amplitude group with additional 1-cycle waveforms tested. The 200-Hz and the 2-cycle waveforms were significantly more efficacious than those at other frequencies (P < 0.02) and other durations (P < 0.001). The 50-Hz waveforms were the least successful. Amplitude, not duration or energy, was the determinate of efficacy for 2-cycle (the most efficacious) waveforms. Unlike low strength stimulation, defibrillation strength stimuli are most effective with high frequency (200 Hz) pulses (2 cycles).
Recent developments in single-molecule DNA mechanics

Over the past two decades, measurements on individual stretched and twisted DNA molecules have helped define the basic elastic properties of the double helix and enabled real-time functional assays of DNA-associated molecular machines. Recently, new magnetic tweezers approaches for simultaneously measuring freely fluctuating twist and extension have begun to shed light on the structural dynamics of large nucleoprotein complexes. Related technical advances have facilitated direct measurements of DNA torque, contributing to a better understanding of abrupt structural transitions in mechanically stressed DNA. The new measurements have also been exploited in studies that hint at a developing synergistic relationship between single-molecule manipulation and structural DNA nanotechnology.