cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of the Responses of Mitochondrial and Cytosol Histidine-Pyruvate Aminotransferases to Nutritional and Hormonal Treatments

The effects of various dietary and hormonal treatments on mitochondrial and cytosol histidine-pyruvate aminotransferases have been compared. In rats injected for 3 days with glucagon or dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), mitochondrial histidine-pyruvate aminotransferase activity increased 70-fold and 48-fold, respectively, compared with 16- and 9-fold increases in the cytosol activity. Both mitochondrial and cytosol activities increased slightly in response to epinephrine, or alloxan, but neither enzyme was influenced significantly by the feeding of a high protein diet. The administration of insulin resulted in a slight decrease in both activities. In rats injected with cortisol, the activity of the cytosol enzyme doubled; a synergistic response was observed when cortisol was administered with glucagon. Cortisol had no effect at all on the mitochondrial activity. Adrenalectomy decreased the cytosol activity, but did not influence the mitochondrial one. Adrenalectomized or diabetic rats were still responsive to glucagon or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Although they have not been purified, the differential response of the two activities to hormones, along with reports that the enzymes exhibit different pH activity profiles and different Km values for both substrates, suggest that the mitochondrial and cytosol histidine-pyruvate aminotransferases are different proteins.
Space and language in Williams syndrome: insights from typical development

One of the holy grails of cognitive science is to understand the causal chain that links genes and cognition. Genetic syndromes accompanied by cognitive effects offer natural experiments that can uniquely inform our understanding of this chain. In this article, we discuss the case of Williams syndrome (WS), which is characterized by a set of missing genes on chromosome 7q11.23, and presents with a unique cognitive profile that includes severe spatial impairment along with strikingly fluent and well-structured language. An early inference from this profile was the idea that a small group of genes could directly target one cognitive system while leaving others unaffected. Recent evidence shows that this inference fails. First, the profile within the spatial domain is varied, with relative strength in some aspects of spatial representation but severe impairment in others. Second, some aspects of language may fail to develop fully, raising the question of how to compare the resilience and fragility of the two key cognitive domains in this syndrome. Third, much research on the profile fails to place findings in the context of typical developmental trajectories. We explore these points and propose a new hypothesis that explains the unusual WS cognitive profile by considering normal mechanisms of cognitive development that undergo change on an extremely prolonged timetable. This hypothesis places the elements of the WS cognitive profile in a new light, refocuses the discussion of the gene–cognition causal chain for WS and other disorders, and more generally, underlines the importance of understanding cognitive structure in both typical and atypical development. WIREs Cogn Sci 2013, 4:693–703. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1258 Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Finite-thickness conductor models for full-wave analysis of interconnects with the adaptive integral method

Modeling methodologies are proposed for lossy conductors of finite thickness. The proposed models are such that neither the ease of implementation nor the computational efficiency of a fast adaptive integral equation method-based electromagnetic field solver is penalized.
Strategies for Teaching Food-Preparation Skills to Special-Needs Students: Vocational, Non-Vocational and Hospitality Industry Implications

(1991). Strategies for Teaching Food-Preparation Skills to Special-Needs Students: Vocational, Non-Vocational and Hospitality Industry Implications. Hospitality & Tourism Educator: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 20-27.
Professional Intervention in Divorce: A Summary of the Views of Lawyers, Psychotherapists, and Clergy.

This report summarizes and compares the views of expert groups of lawyers, psychotherapists, and clergy on the divorcing process and the role of the professional in assisting the divorcing. There was considerably greater difference of opinion on these issues among the lawyers than among either the therapists or clergy. Six distinctive lawyer orientations toward the lawyer-client relationship and the lawyer's role in divorce were identified. The existence of such a wide range of lawyer attitudes is attributed to the considerable role strain involved in matrimonial practice. The sources of this strain are delineated. There was high agreement between the therapists and clergy on the psychology of the divorcing experience and the criteria of a constructive divorce. The psychological stress in divorce was attributed to three principal factors: (a) the major social and economic changes resulting from the divorce; (b) the fact that in many divorces only one of the spouses actively desires the divorce; and (c) di...
The Capacity of the National Wildlife Refuge System to Conserve Threatened and Endangered Animal Species in the United States

: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the 38-million-ha National Wildlife Refuge System, which is devoted primarily to wildlife conservation. I examined the capacity of the refuge system to conserve federally listed threatened and endangered animal species. Population viability data for a random sample of these species were analyzed and extrapolated. Three levels of population viability were distinguished: outbreeding, demographic, and evolutionary. One hundred eighty-six of the 514 federally listed animal species reside in whole or in part on the refuge system. Of these 186 species, approximately 81, 101, and 107 are supported by the system at evolutionary, demographic, and outbreeding viability levels, respectively. These figures correspond to 16%, 19%, and 21% of the 514 federally listed animal species, respectively. Various federal policies and programs facilitate the expansion of the refuge system, but other federal policies and programs facilitate economic growth, which tends to require the conversion of habitats faster than it provides for habitat conservation. Therefore the long-run effectiveness, extent, and endurance of the refuge system will depend largely on macroeconomic policy context. Resumen: El Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de E.U.A. administra las 3.8 millones de ha del Sistema Nacional de Refugios de Vida Silvestre. Examine la capacidad del sistema de refugios para conservar especies de animales enlistadas federalmente como amenazadas y en peligro. Analice y extrapole datos de viabilidad poblacional para una muestra aleatoria de estas especies. Se distinguieron tres niveles de viabilidad poblacional: exogamico, demografico y evolutivo. De las 514 especies federalmente enlistadas, 186 residen total o parcialmente en el sistema de refugios. De estas 186 especies, aproximadamente 81, 101 y 107 se mantienen en nivel de viabilidad evolutivo, demografico y exogamico, respectivamente. Estas cifras corresponden a 16%, 19% y 21% de las 514 especies de animales enlistadas federalmente, respectivamente. Diversas politicas y programas federales favorecen la expansion del sistema de refugios, pero otras politicas y programas favorecen al crecimiento economico, que tiende a requerir la conversion de habitats antes que su conservacion. Por lo tanto, la efectividad a largo plazo, la extension y resistencia del sistema de refugios dependeran principalmente del contexto de la politica macroeconomica.
Distributional Properties and Deviations of Transaction Sizes in U.S. Equities

In order to get a comprehensive understanding of the market dynamics, we need to investigate the relationship between price and volume. However, it is a well known fact that it takes volume to move prices. We analyze the transaction data of S&P 500 stocks and found that the transaction size displays a power-law decay and can be characterized by an exponent within the stable Levy domain. Further more, most interestingly there are significant positive deviations at transaction sizes of 100, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, …, 10000, for the S&P 500 companies. In other words, there are more trades at above trade sizes than anticipated by the Pareto distribution.
Receive signal processing for OFDM-based radar imaging

We propose a segment averaging matched-filter solution for recovering radar phase history data from orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) signals. The impact of digital communication features-guard bands, preambles, pilots, sync symbols, and cyclic prefixes-is discussed, and the derived matched-filter solution is modified accordingly. Experimental images using generic OFDM and IEEE 802.16 WiMAX signals demonstrate the success of the proposed signal processing approach for passive bistatic radar imaging.
Induction and Monitoring of Adoptive Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity in Rats

Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) is an inflammatory reaction mediated by CCR7- effector memory T lymphocytes that infiltrate the site of injection of an antigen against which the immune system has been primed. The inflammatory reaction is characterized by redness and swelling of the site of antigenic challenge. It is a convenient model to determine the in vivo efficacy of immunosuppressants. Cutaneous DTH can be induced either by adoptive transfer of antigen-specific T lymphocytes or by active immunization with an antigen, and subsequent intradermal challenge with the antigen to induce the inflammatory reaction in a given skin area. DTH responses can be induced to various antigens, for example ovalbumin, tuberculin, tetanus toxoid, or keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Such reactions can also be induced against autoantigen, for example to myelin basic protein (MBP) in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced with MBP, an animal model for multiple sclerosis (1). Here we demonstrate how to induce an adoptive DTH reaction in Lewis rats. We will first stimulate ovalbumin-specific T cells in vitro and inject these activated cells intraperitoneally to naive rats. After allowing the cells to equilibrate in vivo for 2 days, we will challenge the rats with ovalbumin in the pinna of one ear, while the other ear wil receive saline. The inflammatory reaction will be visible 3-72 hours later and ear thickness will be measured as an indication of DTH severity.
Stability of Flow Between Arbitrarily Spaced Concentric Cylindrical Surfaces Including the Effect of a Radial Temperature Gradient

Abstract : The stability of Couette flow and flow due to an azimuthal pressure gradient between arbitrarily spaced concentric cylindrical surfaces was investigated. The stability problems are solved by using the Galerkin method in conjunction with a simple set of polynomial expansion functions. Results are given for a wide range of spacings. For Couette flow, in the case that the cylinders rotate in the same direction, a simple formula for predicting the critical speed is derived. The effect of a radial temperature gradient on the stability of Couette flow is also considered. It is found that positive and negative temperature gradients are destabilizing and stabilizing respectively.
ANALYTIC APPROXIMATION OF CARBON CONDENSATION ISSUES IN TYPE II SUPERNOVAE

I present analytic approximations for some issues related to condensation of graphite, TiC, and silicon carbide in oxygen-rich cores of supernovae of Type II. Increased understanding, which mathematical analysis can support, renders researchers more receptive to condensation in O-rich supernova gases. Taking SN 1987A as typical, my first analysis shows why the abundance of CO molecules reaches an early maximum in which free carbon remains more abundant than CO. This analysis clarifies why O-rich gas cannot oxidize C if 56 Co radioactivity is as strong as in SN 1987A. My next analysis shows that the CO abundance could be regarded as being in chemical equilibrium if the CO molecule is given an effective binding energy rather than its laboratory dissociation energy. The effective binding energy makes the thermal dissociation rate of CO equal to its radioactive dissociation rate. This preserves possible relevance for the concept of chemical equilibrium. My next analysis shows that the observed abundances of CO and SiO molecules in SN 1987A rule out frequent suggestions that equilibrium condensation of SUNOCONs has occurred following atomic mixing of the He-burning shell with more central zones in such a way as to reproduce roughly the observed spectrum of isotopes in SUNOCONs while preserving C/O > 1. He atoms admixed along with the excess carbon would destroy CO and SiO molecules, leaving their observed abundances unexplained. The final analysis argues that a chemical quasiequilibrium among grains (but not gas) may exist approximately during condensation, so that its computational use is partially justified as a guide to which mineral phases would be stable against reactions with gas. I illustrate this point with quasiequilibrium calculations by Ebel & Grossman that have shown that graphite is stable even when O/C >1 if prominent molecules are justifiably excluded from the calculation of chemical equilibrium.
Partitions and McKay numbers for S n

If Λ is a partition of an integer n, then let II (Λ) be the "hook product" of Λ. If l is prime and a ≥ 0 is an integer, then define the partition function pl(a;n) by pl(a;n) := #{Λ ⊢ n : ordl(II(Λ)) = a}. These functions occur as McKay numbers in the representation theory of the symmetric group. Using work of Nakamura, we determine several of their congruence properties. For example, we show that some of Ramanujan's celebrated congruences for the ordinary partition function p(n) descend to these functions.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutation in a verrucous epidermal naevus associated with mild facial dysmorphism

We report an activating fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutation (R248C) occurring in a verrucous epidermal naevus, and not found in other tissues, in a girl with mild facial dysmorphism. We demonstrate the presence of the mutation in keratinocytes cultured from the naevus and we speculate that a low level of the mutation in other tissues may account for her facial dysmorphism. The possibility that the mutation is present in other tissues implies a possible risk to her future offspring.
Hydrophilic Cyclodextrin Derivatives Enable Effective Oral Administration of Steroidal Hormones

Condensation products of β-cyclodextrin with propylene oxide or epichlorohydrin, which are amorphous and thus very soluble in water, were used to form complexes with testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol. Sublingual/buccal administration of tablets of these complexes led to effective absorption and entry of the hormones into the systemic circulation, followed by gradual elimination; rapid first-pass loss was avoided. β-Cyclodextrin itself, its 2,6-dimethyl derivative, and a nonionic detergent did not enable effective buccal absorption. Absorption from the Gl tract of hormones complexed with hydrophilic cyclodextrins was also less effective. Effective absorption of drugs from the oral cavity requires (a) that the drug and solubilizer form a complex of the inclusion type which dissolves completely and rapidly and (b) that the solubilizer neither enters nor damages oral tissue.
Why Game Studies Now? Video Games: A New Art Form

Video games are a new art form, and this, the author argues, is one good reason why now is the right time for game studies. As a new art form, one largely immune to traditional tools developed for the analysis of literature and film, video games will challenge researchers to develop new analytical tools and will become a new type of “equipment for living,” to use Kenneth Burke's phrase for the role of literature. This article discusses several of the features that make video games a unique art form, features that will, the author believes, come to play a role in analyses of games in the emerging field of game studies.
Learning of apple fruit biotypes by apple maggot flies

Previously, we showed that after a female apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella,arrives on a host hawthorn or apple fruit, its propensity to accept (bore into) or reject that fruit prior to egg deposition can be modified by previous ovipositional experience with one or the other species and, hence, involves learning. Here, we present both field and laboratory evidence indicating that females also are able to learn characteristics of three different apple biotypes or cultivars: “Early Macintosh,” “Red Delicious,” and “Golden Delicious.” We suspect that females learn to discriminate among these three cultivars on the basis of differences in chemical stimuli among cultivars. The effect of fruit cultivar learning was not as strong as the effect of fruit species learning.
The Binghamton state office building transformer incident after one decade

Abstract This paper presents a selective ten year review of the Binghamton State Office Building (BSOB) transformer incident. Contamination of the building with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated benzenes, and pyrolytic conversion products including polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs and PCDFs) occurred during a 30 minute fire. This became the first incident of its type to be recognized and to demonstrate a “real world” conversion of PCBs and chlorinated benzenes to dibenzofurans and dioxins. Cleanup and rehabilitation funds of $40 million have been appropriated and cleanup is still ongoing over ten years after the fire for the building which cost $17 million to construct. The reentry criteria established have still not been met in all parts of the building. Persistence of elevated chemical levels in certain localized areas prevents reoccupancy at this time.
Fluorescent in situ hybridization to soybean metaphase chromosomes.

Repetitive DNA sequences were detected directly on somatic metaphase chromosome spreads from soybean root tips using fluorescentin situ hybridization. Methods to spread the forty small metaphase chromosomes substantially free of cellular material were developed using protoplasts. The specific DNA probe was a 1.05 kb internal fragment of a soybean gene encoding the 18S ribosomal RNA subunit. Two methods of incorporating biotin residues into the probe were compared and detection was accomplished with fluorescein-labeled avidin. The rDNA probe exhibits distinct yellow fluorescent signals on only two of the forty metaphase chromosomes that have been counterstained with propidium iodide. This result agrees with our previous analyses of soybean pachytene chromosome [27] showing that only chromosome 13 is closely associated with the nucleolus organizer region. Fluorescentin situ hybridization with the rDNA probe was detected on three of the forty-one metaphase chromosomes in plants that are trisomic for chromosome 13.
Planetary science: Music of the stratospheres

Fifteen-year oscillations in Saturn's equatorial stratosphere bear a striking resemblance to the shorter-term oscillations seen on Earth and Jupiter — akin to notes played on a cello, a violin and a viola. Both Earth and Jupiter have equatorial oscillations in their atmospheres, with two-year and four-year periodicity respectively. Two groups working independently now report a related phenomenon on Saturn. Orton et al. analysed wo decades of ground-based observations of Saturn's stratospheric emissions to reveal an oscillation with a period of 14.8±1.2 terrestrial years. This is roughly half of Saturn's year, suggesting seasonal forcing, as is the case with the Earth's semiannual oscillation. Fouchet et al. used infrared spectrometry data from the Cassini probe to detect a similar equatorial oscillation.
Optofluidic Trapping and Transport Using Optically Resonant and Non Resonant Structures

Recently, we have demonstrated the ability to perform optically driven trapping and transport of dielectric nanoparticles using the electromagnetic energy in the evanescent field of an optically excited microphotonic waveguide. The advantage of such structures is that they allow us to condense the optical energy down to extremely small cross sectional areas (on the order of 1μm2 ) while simultaneously applying the impulse over indefinitely long distances (as much as several centimeters). Ultimately however both the trapping stability and transport velocity of such systems are limited by the amount of optical energy coupled into the system. In this work we review of past work and present our new work demonstrating on the use of optically resonant structures to trap and transport particles. As will be shown optically resonant structures can locally amplify the amount of electromagnetic energy, thereby enabling faster transport and greater trapping stability.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The effect of pH, chloride ion and background electrolyte concentration on the SERS of acidified pyridine solutions

Abstract Surface enhanced Raman spectra of pyridine are reported as a function of pH, halide concentration and background electrolyte concentration. The assignments of pyridinium bands are given in the range 100–4000 cm −1 , and the low frequency band around 235 cm −1 is discussed. It is found that to obtain a pyridinium spectrum, the presence of halide is necessary. Background electrolyte concentration does not affect the intensity of the pyridine spectrum but greatly affects that of pyridinium. On the basis of the dependence of the intensity of pyridinium on chloride and background electrolyte concentrations, pyridinium is considered not be directly adsorbed on the electrode surface but rather located in the diffuse double layer and associated with specifically adsorbed chloride to form an ion pair. The in-situ measurement of pH and the SERS of pyridine and pyridinium during a pH titration reveal a linear relation between surface pH and bulk pH. Specifically adsorbed chloride causes a decrease in the surface pH. This decrease is explained by a shift of the electrostatic potential at the outer Helmholtz plane caused by specific adsorption of chloride.
Betatron Tune Measurement at the Argonne Rapid Cycling Synchrotron

In the past, betatron tune measurements at the Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) were made using a spectrum analyzer for betatron frequency analysis and one of the extraction kicker magnets to induce the coherent betatron motion. This method had several severe limitations: poor signal-to-noise ratio, inability to extract the beam after the measurement and dependence on the horizontal kick coupling into the vertical plane for vertical tune measurements. A new system is presently being constructed which will eliminate these problems. The beam will be kicked by independent horizontal and vertical ferrite pinger magnets. The beam positron data will be digitized and then analyzed by an array-processing computer using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The control system will allow for additional improvements.
INDIVIDUAL VARIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STOCHASTICITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR MATRIX MODEL PREDICTIONS

Populations are characterized by variability among individuals, a result of both intrinsic differences among individuals and environmental effects on individual per- formance. Despite the ubiquity of individual variation, its implications for population model choice are not fully understood. Population models that use state variables representing individual features such as age or size assume that these state variables can predict the population trajectory. However, state variables are often chosen based on convenience or necessity; only rarely are they tested for importance and accuracy when individuals vary. We examined whether matrix projection models, a common choice in population modeling, provide accurate predictions when individuals vary in a population. With both density- dependent and density-independent formulations, we tested whether matrix projection mod- els that used size as a state variable captured the dynamics of populations projected with an individual-based simulation (or i-state configuration model). We varied the initial size distribution of individuals, the degree to which individual growth was size dependent, the tendency for positive correlations in growth through time, and the amount of stochasticity in growth, and we asked what conditions affect the accuracy of matrix models. Stochasticity alone did not compromise the predictions of matrix models; rather, only populations with individual variation generated by strong size-dependent growth and growth correlations were poorly described by matrix models. Otherwise, matrix models captured the trajectories of populations with a fair degree of accuracy. Overall, our results provide guidance as to when and how individual variation must be included in population projections, and when a simple matrix model framework is inadequate.
Copahue volcano: A modern terrestrial analog for the opportunity landing site?

The Opportunity Rover on Mars landed in an environment that contained grey hematite (specularite) and jarosite,with structures indicative of flowing water. Less firm evidence suggests the presence of gypsum as well, and the environment is overall rich in S, Cl, and Br (NASA news releases, 2004). Such a suite of minerals may form from an iron- and sulfate-rich brine, either through evaporation, cooling, or changes in redox conditions (see Hynek et al. [2002] and Christensen et al. [2001], for a discussion of the extent and possible origins of the Mars hematite deposits). On Earth, such an association of minerals is not very common, but is found in alteration zones with fumarolic activity in some volcanic craters. The condensation or dissolution in meteoric waters of S-rich volcanic gases creates acid fluids in the surficial environment that leach rock-forming elements (RFEs) from the surrounding rocks, forming large, bleached areas of mineralizations of hematite, cristobalite, and gypsum, occasionally with zones rich in alunite or jarosite.
Influence of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on aortic and platelet fatty acid composition in the rat

Abstract The effects of 18-carbon chain w-9, w-6 and w-3 fatty acid enriched diets on aortic and platelet fatty acid composi-tion were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Purified diets containing 11 wt % of either sesame oil (SES) rich in 18:1w9, borage oil(BOR) rich in 18:3w6 or a blend of linseed and saf-flower oils (LSO/SFO) rich in 18:3w3 were administered for 7 weeks. All diets provided comparable amounts of the essential fatty acid 18:2w6. Total lipids from aortic tissue and plate-lets were extracted, methylated and analyzed by gas chromatography. In general, the tissue fatty acid composition reflected the type of dietary fat. The SES diet resulted in increased levels of 18:1w9 whereas the BOR diet increased 18:3w6 and the LSO/SFO diet increased 18:3w3 in aortic and platelet lipids. However, the BOR diet also resulted in an increase in the longer chain metabolites 20:3w6 and 20:4w6. The LSO/SFO-based diet elevated the levels of 20:5w3 and 22:6w3. These results suggest that the profile of 20-carbon chain polyunsaturated fatty acids can be modified in vascular tissue and platelets by diets enriched with 18-carbon w-6 and w-3 fatty acids.
Abstract 2301: Cross validation of NGS methylated targets using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA DNA methylation is one of the most studied epigenetic modifications. DNA methylation plays an important role in a number of physiological processes as well as common diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. In mammals, DNA methylation occurs at the C-5 position of cytosine in CpG dinucle¬otide sequences, which are mainly concentrated in regions known as CpG islands. Methylation in CpG islands within gene promoters usually leads to gene silencing. Recent data have shown the correlation of methylation and disease status. However, there are significant limitations in both biology and technology. Biologically, methylation status is highly heterogeneous in nature. In normal controls there is never a complete lack of methylation marks, and conversely, never a completely saturated methylation signature. In addition methylation sites of interest are often located in CpG islands, regions where multiple methylation sites occur side by side, making assay design and discrimination challenging. Technological hurdles add significant variability as well. The typical method for determining methylation is bisulfite conversion, which uses harsh chemicals to convert cytosines to uracil. When a cytosine is methylated, it is largely, though not completely, protected from the conversion process. However, bisulfite conversion also causes a great deal of DNA damage, causing the strands to separate and fragment. In most cases of research, the DNAs that researchers want to examine are from FFPE or cfDNA samples, samples which are already both limited and damaged. Because of these challenges, there is an unmet need for a sensitive yet robust method to analyze DNA methylation in clinical samples in a rapid, inexpensive, and high throughput manner. Herein we showcase the use of ddPCR for detection of DNA methylation in bisulfite converted gDNA samples. First we demonstrate the superior sensitivity, linearity and robustness of ddPCR methylation detection in the SNRPN promoter, a model system for an imprinted gene involved in neurological disorders. Secondly we show the detection of DNA methylation in the vimentin promoter, which is known to be methylated in cancer (Li et al. Nat. Biotech. 2009). We will demonstrate reproducible detection in replicate bisulfite converted samples and sensitivity. Citation Format: Dawne N. Shelton, Claudia Litterst, John F. Regan, Helen R. Moinova, Sanford D. Markowitz. Cross validation of NGS methylated targets using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2301. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2301
Band mixing effect in semiconductor superlattices

Abstract The band mixing effect on the electronic and optical properties of semiconductor superlattices is studied within the framework of the empirical tight-binding model. It is found that the superlattice periodic potentials mix the bulk heavy hole, light hole and spin-orbit-split bands in the valence band states. As a consequence, the optical matrix elements associated with various valence-to-conduction subband transitions are very sensitive to the variation of the wavevector in directions parallel to the interface ( k t). We find that band mixing in conjunction with the exciton effect can account for the Δn≠0 forbidden transitions observed in several recent experiments.
Thermodynamics of iron-aluminum alloys at 1573 K

The activities of iron and aluminum were measured in Fe-Al alloys at 1573 K, using the ion-current-ratio technique in a high-temperature Knudsen cell mass spectrometer. The Fe-Al solutions exhibited negative deviations from ideality over the entire composition range. The activity coefficients gamma(Fe), and gamma(Al) are given by six following equations as a function of mole fraction, X(Fe), X(Al). The results show good agreement with those obtained from previous investigations at other temperatures by extrapolation of the activity data to 1573 K.
Weighted maximal functions and derivatives of invariant Poisson integrals of potentials.

In this paper we prove LP estimates for weighted maximal functions of invariant Poisson integrals of potentials. From this it follows that the exceptional sets of the Poisson integrals of potentials are sets of zero Hausdorff capacity. Let S denote the boundary of Bn , the unit ball in Cn , and let dσ be the unusual rotation invariant measure defined on S. If £ is a function belonging to the usual Lebesgue space Lx(dσ) of functions defined on the sphere then by P[g] we will mean the invariant Poisson integral of g defined by the equation where z e Bn. In this paper we will continue the work of Ahern and Cascante [ACa] and study invariant Poisson integrals of potentials of distributions in the atomic Hardy spaces H%t where 0 1 = sup |/(^)|, wera(ζ)
Undulating fins produce off-axis thrust and flow structures

While wake structures of many forms of swimming and flying are well characterized, the wake generated by a freely swimming undulating fin has not yet been analyzed. These elongated fins allow fish to achieve enhanced agility exemplified by the forward, backward and vertical swimming capabilities of knifefish, and also have potential applications in the design of more maneuverable underwater vehicles. We present the flow structure of an undulating robotic fin model using particle image velocimetry to measure fluid velocity fields in the wake. We supplement the experimental robotic work with high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics, simulating the hydrodynamics of both a virtual fish, whose fin kinematics and fin plus body morphology are measured from a freely swimming knifefish, and a virtual rendering of our robot. Our results indicate that a series of linked vortex tubes is shed off the long edge of the fin as the undulatory wave travels lengthwise along the fin. A jet at an oblique angle to the fin is associated with the successive vortex tubes, propelling the fish forward. The vortex structure bears similarity to the linked vortex ring structure trailing the oscillating caudal fin of a carangiform swimmer, though the vortex rings are distorted because of the undulatory kinematics of the elongated fin.
Transformation and removal pathways of four common PPCP/EDCs in soil.

Abstract Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) enter the soil environment via irrigation with treated wastewater, groundwater recharge, and land application of biosolids. The transformation and fate of PPCP/EDCs in soil affects their potential for plant uptake and groundwater pollution. This study examined four PPCP/EDCs (bisphenol A, diclofenac, naproxen, and 4-nonylphenol) in soil by using 14 C-labeling and analyzing mineralization, extractable residue, bound residue, and formation of transformation products. At the end of 112 d of incubation, the majority of 14 C-naproxen and 14 C-diclofenac was mineralized to 14 CO 2 , while a majority of 14 C-bisphenol A and 14 Cnonylphenol was converted to bound residue. After 112 d, the estimated half-lives of the parent compounds were only 1.4–5.4 d. However a variety of transformation products were found and several for bisphenol A and diclofenac were identified, suggesting the need to consider degradation intermediates in soils impacted by PPCP/EDCs.
The asymptotic shapley value for a simple market game

We consider the game in which b buyers each seek to purchase 1 unit of an indivisible good from s sellers, each of whom has k units to sell. The good is worth 0 to each seller and 1 to each buyer. Using the central limit theorem, and implicitly convergence to tied down Brownian motion, we find a closed form solution for the limiting Shapley value as s and b increase without bound. This asymptotic value depends upon the seller size k, the limiting ratio b/ks of buyers to items for sale, and the limiting ratio \({[ks-b]/\sqrt{b+s}}\) of the excess supply relative to the square root of the number of market participants.
Quantifying the effects of stream channels on storm water quality in a semi-arid urban environment

Summary Stormwater drainage systems can have a large effect on urban runoff quality, but it is unclear how ephemeral urban streams alter runoff hydrochemistry. This problem is particularly relevant in semi-arid regions, where urban storm runoff is considered a renewable water resource. Here we address the question: how do stream channels alter urban runoff hydrochemistry? We collected synoptic stormwater samples during three rainfall–runoff events from nine ephemeral streams reaches (three concrete or metal, three grass, three gravel) in Tucson, Arizona. We identified patterns of temporal and spatial (longitudinal) variability in concentrations of conservative (chloride and isotopes of water) and reactive solutes (inorganic-N, soluble reactive phosphorous, sulfate-S, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen, and fecal indicator bacteria). Water isotopes and chloride (Cl) concentrations indicate that solute flushing and evapoconcentration alter temporal patterns in runoff hydrochemistry, but not spatial hydrochemical responses. Solute concentrations and stream channel solute sourcing and retention during runoff were significantly more variable at the grass reaches (CV = 2.3 − 144%) than at the concrete or metal (CV = 1.6 − 107%) or gravel reaches (CV = 1.9 − 60%), which functioned like flow-through systems. Stream channel soil Cl and DOC decreased following a runoff event (Cl: 12.1–7.3 μg g −1 soil; DOC: 87.7–30.1 μg g −1 soil), while soil fecal indicator bacteria counts increased (55–215 CFU g −1 soil). Finding from this study suggest that the characteristics of the ephemeral stream channel substrate control biogeochemical reactions between runoff events, which alter stream channel soil solute stores and the hydrochemistry of subsequent runoff events.
Radical Recombination in Anthracene Single Crystals

Abstract A study of the relationship between radical recombination kinetics, as determined by electron paramagnetic resonance annealing studies, and molecular motion in anthracene single crystals is presented. Although the initial stages of annealing are complicated by a number of effects, the latter stages clearly proceed by a diffusion controlled mechanism which is identical to bulk self-diffusion. From such kinetics, one can estimate self-diffusion coefficients at much lower temperatures than can be done by sectioning techniques.
Self-Aggregation of DNA Oligomers with XGG Trinucleotide Repeats: Kinetic and Atomic Force Microscopy Measurements

Abstract Turbidity measurements via absorbance monitoring at 320nm were employed to obtain autocatalytic-like kinetic profiles of K + -induced aggregate formation of d(XGG) 4 and some related oligomers, where X=A, C, G, and T. At least 1M KCl is needed to observe the turbidity-measurable aggregation at pH 8, and the relative propensity for aggregate formation is shown to follow the order d(GGG) 4 >d(AGG) 4 ≈ d(TGG) 4 ≫ d(CGG) 4 . The presence of Mg 2+ greatly facilitates and dramatically reduces the amount of K + required to initiate aggregation and significantly enhances the thermal stabilities of the aggregates. Replacement of K + by Na + fails to induce a similar phenomenon. The Ψ-type CD characteristics of aggregates are strongly dependent on the sequence and ionic conditions. Despite their ease of aggregate formation, oligomers with AGG trinucleotide repeats fail to exhibit Ψ-CD formation. The propensity for aggregation is greatly affected by the chain length, with oligomers of four repeats being most facile. Appending X base at the 3′ end of d(GGXGGXGGXGG) appears to provide a greater hindrance to aggregation than at the 5′ end. Atomic force microscopic images support some of these findings and reveal the morphologies of these aggregates. The presence of MgCl 2 in solutions appears to considerably elongate the K + -induced aggregates.
Descartes' rule of signs is exact!

Abstract We show that for any f ∈ R [ x ] there exists g ∈ R [ x ] with non-negative coefficients such that the number of positive real roots of f is exactly the number of changes of signs in the vector of coefficients of fg. We also show that g can also be chosen as a power of x + 1 .
Variable time-step integrator for intense field dynamics

A modification of the well-known Lanczos algorithm is described that adapts the method to explicitly time-dependent solutions of the Schrodinger equation. This technique possesses the desirable feature of variable time-step integration, thus eliminating the difficulties associated with fixed time-step integration schemes. Results are presented for a one-dimensional system: the so-called soft Coulomb potential in the presence of a harmonic electromagnetic field. It is demonstrated that the Lanczos propagation scheme can be efficiently and accurately used from the perturbative limit to the strong-field limit.
A Highly Efficient Photocatalyst—Hydrogenated Black TiO2 for the Photocatalytic Splitting of Water

In black and white: The hydrogenation of TiO(2) can extend its optical absorption into the visible and infrared region and change its color from white to black. Furthermore, the hydrogenated black TiO(2) exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for the splitting of water to yield H(2).
Diffusion and emissions of 1,3‐dichloropropene in Florida sandy soil in microplots affected by soil moisture, organic matter, and plastic film

The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of soil moisture, organic matter amendment and plastic cover (a virtually impermeable film, VIF) on diffusion and emissions of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) in microplots of Florida sandy soil (Arredondo fine sand). Upward diffusion of the two isomers in the Arredondo soil without a plastic cover was greatly influenced by soil-water content and (Z)-1,3-D diffused faster than (E)-1,3-D. In less than 5 h after 1,3-D injection to 30 cm depth, (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D in air dry soil had diffused to a 10 cm depth, whereas diffusion for the two isomers was negligible in near-water-saturated soil, even 101 h after injection. The diffusion rate of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D in near-field-capacity soil was between the rates in the two water regimes. Yard waste compost (YWC) amendment greatly reduced diffusion of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D, even in air-dry soil. Although upward diffusion of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D in soil with VIF cover was slightly less than in the corresponding bare soil; the cover promoted retention of vapors of the two isomers in soil pore air in the shallow subsurface. More (Z)-1,3-D vapor was found initially in soil pore air than (E)-1,3-D although the difference declined thereafter. As a result of rapid upward movement in air-dry bare soil, (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D were rapidly volatilized into the atmosphere, but emissions from the near-water-saturated soil were minimal. Virtually impermeable film and YWC amendment retarded emissions. This study indicated that adequate soil water in this sandy soil is needed to prevent rapid emissions, but excess soil water slows diffusion of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D. Thus, management for optimum water in soil is critical for pesticidal efficacy and the environment. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
ROC Comparison of Analog Film to 512, 1024 and 2048 Line Digital Displays

A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) experiment designed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 512, 1024 and 2048 monitors as compared to conventional analog films viewed on a lightbox was conducted. Fifty radiographs, 25 with and 25 without a simulated solitary nodule placed on the lung fields of an anthropomorphic chest phantom were used. These images were interpreted by six radiologists under the following six conditions: 512 and 1024 line resolution both with and without interactive contrast enhancement, and 2048 line resolution with contrast enhancement, and analog film on a conventional lightbox. As determined by the area under the ROC curve, which was the measure of diagnostic accuracy the 512 and 1024 line monitors performed below the analog film, the 2048 line monitor proved to be a viable alternative to the analog film.
Physicochemical properties of potato virus M

Abstract Potato virus M (PVM), a member of the carlavirus group was found to have a sedimentation coefficient ( S 20,w ) of 157 S, a buoyant density in CsCl of 1.322 g·cm −3 , an extinction coefficient, at 260 nm, of 2.88 cm 2 ·mg −1 , and a nucleic acid content of 6.0%. The PVM genome is a polyadenylate-containing single-stranded RNA with a molecular weight (MW) of 2.5 × 10 6 . Virus-specific, double-stranded RNA is consistently associated with PVM infection. PVM possesses a single capsid polypeptide with a MW of 35.7 × 10 3 .
System identification for 3D force control of a human arm neuroprosthesis using functional electrical stimulation

We present a method for controlling a neuroprosthesis for a paralyzed human arm using functional electrical stimulation (FES). The subject has surgically implanted electrodes for stimulating muscles in her shoulder and arm. Using input/output data, a model is identified that describes the mapping from muscle stimulations to the endpoint force measured at the subject's hand. To compute the muscle stimulations given a target endpoint force the model is inverted. Because the system is redundant, we compute the inverse by minimizing muscle activations and use this inverse for feedforward control. This is the first published demonstration with a human subject with a high spinal cord injury of an FES controller that treats the arm with shoulder and elbow as a multiple-input multiple-output system and can achieve arbitrary goals.
Suppression of insulin-stimulated glucose transport in L6 myocytes by calcitonin gene-related peptide.

Abstract The binding of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to L6 myocytes, the coupling of this receptor to adenylyl cyclase and the resultant effects on insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake were examined. L6 cells express specific binding sites for CGRP. Binding of human [ 125 I]CGRP was inhibited by rat CGRP with an IC 50 of approximately 10 −9 M. Synthetic human calcitonin at concentrations up to 10 −6 M had no effect on the binding of CGRP, suggesting that L6 cells express CGRP receptors, rather than calcitonin recetors which are also capable of binding CGRP. The CGRP receptor appeared to be coupled to adenylyl cyclase. Concentrations of CGRP greater than 3×10 −9 M increased the cellular content of cAMP. At 3×10 −8 M, CGRP increased cAMP 500-fold. CGRP at 10 −10 M and above suppressed the stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake by insulin. Acute incubation of L6 cells with insulin stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake 1.6-fold, which was inhibited up to 70% by CGRP. Our results demonstrate that the specific binding of CGRP to L6 cells causes large increases in the cellular content of cAMP and inhibition of insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake, but the differences in the dose-response curves suggest that the suppression of insulin action by CGRP cannot be solely explained by the increase in cAMP.
Raj Chetty: 2013 Clark Medal Recipient

Raj Chetty is eminently deserving of being awarded the John Bates Clark Medal at the age of 33. His research has transformed the field of public economics. His work is motivated by important public policy issues in the fields of taxation, social insurance, and public spending for education. He approaches his subjects with a creative redefinition of the problems that he studies, and his empirical methods often draw on experimental evidence or unprecedentedly large sets of integrated data. While his work is founded on basic microeconomics, he modifies this framework to take into account behavioral and institutional considerations. Chetty is a prolific scholar. It is difficult to summarize all of Chetty's research or even to capture the details of his most significant papers. I have therefore chosen a selection of Chetty's important papers dealing with taxation, social insurance, and education that contributed to his selection as the winner of the John Bates Clark Medal.
Shell games, information, and counterfactuals

Cohen and Meskin 2006 have recently proposed a novel counterfactual account of information. I argue that it is a step down from its intended target, namely Dretske's 1981 theory of information. Thinking of the information carried by signals in terms of counterfactuals leads to falsely diagnosing bona fide instances of information transmission as not being instances of information transmission at all, with major loss of explanatory power.