cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coherent Motions in Confluent Cell Monolayer Sheets

Cell migration plays a pivotal role in many physiologically important processes such as embryogenesis, wound-healing, immune defense, and cancer metastasis. Although much effort has been directed toward motility of individual cells, the mechanisms underpinning collective cell migration remain poorly understood. Here we develop a collective motility model that incorporates cell mechanics and persistent random motions of individual cells to study coherent migratory motions in epithelial-like monolayers. This model, in absence of any external chemical signals, is able to explain coordinate rotational motion seen in systems ranging from two adherent cells to multicellular assemblies. We show that the competition between the active persistent force and random polarization fluctuation is responsible for the robust rotation. Passive mechanical coupling between cells is necessary but active chemical signaling between cells is not. The predicted angular motions also depend on the geometrical shape of the underlying substrate: cells exhibit collective rotation on circular substrates, but display linear back-and-forth motion on long and narrow substrates.
Quantitative Genetics of Inbreeding in a Synthetic Maize Population

The average effects of inbreeding depression have been measured extensively in maize (Zea mays L.), but the influence of inbreeding on genetic variance has not been well studied. Two hundred random S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , and S 4 lines were developed from the BS13(S)C0 population by single-seed descent and a set of 200 related half-sib families were developed from the S 1 lines. The lines and half-sib families were evaluated in replicated yield trials for six agronomic characters. Under a purely additive model, the expected variance among inbred individuals is exactly twice the variance of noninbred individuals. The observed variance of inbred individuals in our study was 1.18 times the variance of noninbred individuals or less for five of six traits studied. By contrast, variance of dominance deviations of inbred individuals ranged from 1.6 to 3.3 times the variance of dominance deviations of noninbred individuals for five of six traits studied. A negative covariance between dominance deviations and breeding values in inbred individuals was found for all six traits. An estimator of the degree of dominance for arbitrary allele frequencies was developed. The estimated average degree of dominance in BS13(S)C0 ranged from 1.28 to 2.76, corresponding to overdominance or pseudo-overdominance. Our results suggested that some regions of linked genes have large effects on inbreeding depression in this population.
EFFECT OF CYP3A5 POLYMORPHISM ON TACROLIMUS METABOLIC CLEARANCE IN VITRO

Previous investigations of solid organ transplant patients treated with tacrolimus showed that individuals carrying a CYP3A5*1 allele have lower dose-adjusted trough blood concentrations compared with homozygous CYP3A5*3 individuals. The objective of this investigation was to quantify the contribution of CYP3A5 to the hepatic and renal metabolic clearance of tacrolimus. Four primary tacrolimus metabolites, 13- O -desmethyl tacrolimus (13-DMT) (major), 15- O -desmethyl tacrolimus, 31- O -desmethyl tacrolimus (31-DMT), and 12-hydroxy tacrolimus (12-HT), were generated by human liver microsomes and heterologously expressed CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. The unbound tacrolimus concentration was low (4–15%) under all incubation conditions. For CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, V max was 8.0 and 17.0 nmol/min/nmol enzyme and K m,u was 0.21 and 0.21 μM, respectively. The intrinsic clearance of CYP3A5 was twice that of CYP3A4. The formation rates of 13-DMT, 31-DMT, and 12-HT were ≥1.7-fold higher, on average, in human liver microsomes with a CYP3A5\*1/\*3 genotype compared with those with a homozygous CYP3A5\*3/\*3 genotype. Tacrolimus disappearance clearances were 15.9 ± 9.8 ml/min/mg protein and 6.1 ± 3.6 ml/min/mg protein, respectively, for the two genotypes. In vitro to in vivo scaling using both liver microsomes and recombinant enzymes yielded higher predicted in vivo tacrolimus clearances for patients with a CYP3A5\*1/\*3 genotype compared with those with a CYP3A5\*3/\*3 genotype. In addition, formation of 13-DMT was 13.5-fold higher in human kidney microsomes with a CYP3A5\*1/\*3 genotype compared with those with a CYP3A5\*3/\*3 genotype. These data suggest that CYP3A5 contributes significantly to the metabolic clearance of tacrolimus in the liver and kidney.
The Hebbian paradigm reintegrated: Local reverberations as internal representations

Recurrent excitation is experimentally well documented in cortical populations. It provides for intracortical excitatory biases that linearize negative feedback interactions and induce macroscopic state transitions during perception. The concept of the local neighborhood should be expanded to spatial patterns as the basis for perception, in which large areas of cortex are bound into cooperative behavior with near-silent columns as important as active columns revealed by unit recording.
The effects of context on data quality in biomedical data reuse

Introduction The collection of huge stores of electronically-formatted information and advances in information processing technologies has led to dramatic changes in the conduct of biomedical science. In biology, a paradigm shift is underway due to an unprecedented flood of data, the emergence of shared research repositories, and advances in the application of data mining algorithms. As a result, the traditional model of scientific discovery of “formulate hypothesis, conduct experiment, evaluate results” is being replaced with “collect and store data, mine for new hypotheses, confirm with data or supplemental experiment” (Han et al. 2002). In clinical medicine, similar developments have made possible a variety of secondary applications of extant clinical data, including physician decision support, outcomes assessment, document retrieval, and clinician performance evaluation. The quality, or usefulness, of existing data for secondary uses has thus far been approached with a focus on issues of technical access and the mathematical format of data. Largely ignored in these efforts are the effects on quality introduced when data captured for one purpose is reused for another. This panel brings together four researchers with on going studies in the biomedical domain focused on the effects of context on the quality of data for secondary uses. Drawing from empirical evidence the topics to be addressed include; 1) the effects of context on data reuse, 2) anticipating, identifying and accounting for these effects, and 3) the future implications of large-scale data reuse for information professionals in the biomedical domain.
Clastic sediment flux to tropical Andean lakes: records of glaciation and soil erosion

We developed records of clastic sediment flux to 13 alpine lakes in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, and compared these with independently dated records of regional glaciation. Our objectives are to determine whether a strong relationship exists between the extent of ice cover in the region and the rate of clastic sediment delivery to alpine lakes, and thus whether clastic sediment records serve as reliable proxies for glaciation during the late Pleistocene. We isolated the clastic component in lake sediment cores by removing the majority of the biogenic and authigenic components from the bulk sediment record, and we dated cores by a combination of radiocarbon and tephrochronology. In order to partially account for intra-basin differences in sediment focusing, bedrock erosivity, and sediment availability, we normalized each record to the weighted mean value of clastic sediment flux for each respective core. This enabled the stacking of all 13 lake records to produce a composite record that is generally representative of the tropical Andes. There is a striking similarity between the composite record of clastic sediment flux and the distribution of � 100 cosmogenic radionuclide (CRN) exposure ages for erratics on moraine crests in the central Peruvian and northern Bolivian Andes. The extent of ice cover thus appears to be the primary variable controlling the delivery of clastic sediment to alpine lakes in the region, which bolsters the increasing use of clastic sediment flux as a proxy for the extent of ice cover in the region. The CRN moraine record and the stacked lake core composite record together indicate that the expansion of ice cover and concomitant increase in clastic sediment flux began at least 40 ka, and the local last glacial maximum (LLGM) culminated between 30 and 20 ka. A decline in clastic sediment flux that began � 20 ka appears to mark the onset of deglaciation from the LLGM, at least one millennium prior to significant warming in high latitude regions. The interval between 20 and 18 ka was marked by near-Holocene levels of clastic sediment flux, and appears to have been an interval of much reduced ice extent. An abrupt increase in clastic sediment flux 18 ka heralded the onset of an interval of expanded ice cover that lasted until � 14 ka. Clastic sediment flux declined thereafter to reach the lowest levels of the entire length of record during the early–middle Holocene. A middle Holocene climatic transition is apparent in nearly all records and likely reflects the onset of Neoglaciation and/or enhanced soil erosion in the tropical Andes.
Formation And Stability Of Nanocrystalline Nb-Cu Alloys

Nanocrystalline Nb 100−x Cu x (0 ≤ x ≤ 30) alloys of 8 – 25 nm grain size are synthesized with the mechanical alloying technique. Differential scanning calorimetry reveals two separate stages of grain growth. In the first stage, the grain growth is associated with migration of solute Cu atoms to grain boundaries. Grain growth stops as the grain boundaries are saturated with Cu. The second reaction takes place either when the threshold for the nucleation of an Fcc Cu phase in the grain boundary is overcome by thermal activation, or when segregating Cu atoms in the grain boundary are driven by diffusion to the growing Cu grains, and the Cu concentration in the grain boundary drops. This increases the grain boundary energy, and initiates a second stage of rapid grain growth.
Spin Hall effect of light via weak measurements: Sharp and smooth index variations

Using ldquoquantum weak-measurementsrdquo as a coherent enhancement technique for small signals, we have measured the recently proposed ldquospin Hall effectrdquo of light at an air-glass interface, and are working on the smoothly varying refractive-index case.
Faster finite-difference calculations of molecular properties

A very simple yet effective device for reducing the number of self-consistent-field (SCF) cycles in central finite-difference calculations of molecular properties is presented. The efficiency of this is demonstrated by MINDO/2 calculations of the force constants of a variety of molecules. The device consists of using information about the wavefunction at two values of a perturbation parameter to provide an estimate of the wavefunction at a third. This estimate is then used as an initial guess in an SCF procedure. The underlying theory is discussed and applications to other problems are suggested.
Effects of exercise on depression in adults with arthritis: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Previous randomized controlled trials have led to conflicting findings regarding the effects of exercise on depressive symptoms in adults with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC). The purpose of this study was to use the meta-analytic approach to resolve these discrepancies. The inclusion criteria were: (1) randomized controlled trials, (2) exercise (aerobic, strength training, or both) ≥4 weeks, (3) comparative control group, (4) adults with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia or systemic lupus erythematosus, (5) published studies in any language since January 1, 1981 and (6) depressive symptoms assessed. Studies were located by searching 10 electronic databases, cross-referencing, hand searching and expert review. Dual-selection of studies and data abstraction was performed. Hedge’s standardized mean difference effect size (g) was calculated for each result and pooled using random-effects models, an approach that accounts for heterogeneity. Non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals (CI) were considered statistically significant. Heterogeneity based on fixed-effect models was estimated using Q and I 2 with alpha values ≤0.10 for Q considered statistically significant. Of the 500 citations reviewed, 2,449 participants (1,470 exercise, 979 control) nested within 29 studies were included. Length of training, reported as mean ± standard deviation (±SD) was 19 ± 16 weeks, frequency 4 ± 2 times per week and duration 34 ± 17 minutes per session. Overall, statistically significant exercise minus control group reductions were found for depressive symptoms (g = −0.42, 95% CI, −0.58, −0.26, Q = 126.9, P <0.0001, I 2 = 73.2%). The number needed-to-treat was 7 (95% CI, 6 to 11) with an estimated 3.1 million (95% CI, 2.0 to 3.7) United States adults not currently meeting physical activity guidelines improving their depressive symptoms if they began and maintained a regular exercise program. Using Cohen’s U3 Index, the percentile reduction was 16.4% (95% CI, 10.4% to 21.9%). All studies were considered to be at high risk of bias with respect to blinding of participants and personnel to group assignment. Exercise is associated with reductions in depressive symptoms among selected adults with AORC. A need exists for additional, well-designed and reported studies on this topic.
Operation of CEBAF with heavy beam loading

CEBAF is a 4 GeV, 200 /spl mu/A five-pass recirculating superconducting electron accelerator that has been operating for nuclear physics research at full energy since November 95. The beam current has been increased to over 180 /spl mu/A at 4 GeV with the maximum current in the linac over 900 /spl mu/A. The superconducting cavities operate in a regime where the beam-induced voltage is comparable to the accelerating gradient. The operational limits and the issues required to maintain stable operation of the 1497 MHz superconducting cavities will be discussed, together with the implications for the other accelerator systems. There are three experimental Halls which can run simultaneously with three interleaved 499 MHz bunch trains and RF separators. Operation with simultaneous beams to two Halls is now routine, and simultaneous three beam operation has been demonstrated. The maximum design current per bunch train (120 /spl mu/A) has been achieved. Hall B eventually requires beam currents as low as 1 nA (200 pA has been delivered) simultaneous with delivery of up to 200 /spl mu/A to the other Halls. The required beam current ratio of 10,000 has been achieved; development of 1 nA beam position monitors continues.
Numerical Solutions of the Eight-Wave Structure Ideal MHD Equations by Modified Runge-Kutta Scheme with TVD

The one-dimensional eight-wave ideal MHD equations are used to investigate the accuracy of the proposed Runge-Kutta scheme with added TVD acting as a dissipation mechanism. This investigation is performed to establish the procedure for extension to multidimensio nal problems in MHD. A set of eigenvalues and a set of new associated eigenvectors have been developed. Three well known TVD models and several limiters for each model are investigated for their accuracy and robustness. Solutions are obtained for diffferent cases, each under the influence of a different magnetic field in order to identify the formation of wave patterns in the flow field. The numerical solutions are compared to each other and analytical solutions when available.
The effects of growth hormone administration to adult rats with lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus

Adult rats with lesions of the VMH were given daily injections of saline, 0.2 mg of growth hormone (GH) per rat, or 1.0 mg GH per rat. One lesioned group and one unoperated control group were not injected. GH was no more effective than saline in reducing weight gain, reactivity to a pencil thrust, or quinine suppression. Rats receiving the higher GH dose had increased linear growth and decreased body fat compared to the other lesioned animals, but they still differed from the normal animals on these measures. It was concluded that changes in GH levels are not a primary factor in producing the physiological and behavioral effects associated with VMH lesions.
Strategies for spatial organization in adults and children

People have a tendency to organize space by extracting meaningful shapes from the configuration of elements. However, research on spatial correspondence in children suggests that when configural processing is difficult, individuation of elements may be critical. To begin to address the distinction between the use of configurations and individuation, and changes associated with age, we relied upon perceptual grouping and manipulated the colour of the displays—promoting either extraction of configural information (monochromatic) or individuation of elements (multicoloured). In a layout reproduction task (Experiments 1 and 2), children showed a robust advantage for multicoloured arrays, whereas adults showed an attenuated advantage for monochromatic displays. Visual discrimination in adults (Experiment 3) revealed that the influence of the display type occurs at the level of perception. Taken together, these results suggest that there are (at least) two routes to establishing spatial correspondence in arrays...
Field suppression of the peachtree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa, using Steinernema carpocapsae: Effects of irrigation, a sprayable gel and application method

The peachtree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa, is a major pest of stone fruit trees in North America. In prior studies, the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae, caused substantial reductions in S. exitiosa damage when applied by watering can to peach trees that were irrigated regularly. Here we report two additional studies that assessed S. carpocapsae efficacy in suppressing S. exitiosa damage in peach orchards; one study focused on irrigation requirements and the other on application method. In the first experiment we compared S. carpocapsae applied with and without irrigation, and application of a sprayable gel, Barricade , as a potential replacement for irrigation. In the second experiment, we compared application methods that growers might use including a boom sprayer, handgun, trunk sprayer and watering can (used as a positive control). In both experiments chlorpyrifos was also included as a positive control, and in the application methods experiment an untreated (negative) control was also included. All treatments were applied in the fall of 2012 and 2013 and S. exitiosa infestation was assessed following the spring of 2013 and 2014, respectively. In the first experiment, nematodes applied without irrigation did not prevent high levels of infestation levels (75% of trees were infested) whereas nematodes applied with the sprayable gel suppressed damage at the same level as chlorpyrifos (<20% infestation). Thus, our results indicate that the sprayable gel applied to soil around the tree base can enhance entomopathogenic nematode efficacy, and the gel may be used as a substitute for irrigation when applying S. carpocapsae for S. exitiosa control; this finding may be applicable to similar pests in various cropping systems. This is the first report of direct application of the sprayable gel to soil (previous reports concerned aboveground applications). Also in the first experiment, intermediate levels of damage (31–38% infestation) were observed in plots that received nematodes with irrigation. We suspect that a higher rate of
Assessing biodiversity conservation conflict on military installations

Conflict over endangered species conservation on military lands is becoming increasingly important as militaries attempt to balance an increased operational tempo with endangered species conservation. Suc- cessfully managing this conflict has major implications for biodiversity conservation given the US mili- tary alone manages over 12 million ha of land providing habitat to hundreds of at risk species, 24 of which are endemic to military installations. This paper provides the first assessment of this issue with a qualitative study of military trainers and civilian natural resource professionals who are employed by the Department of Defense (DoD) at the interface of endangered species conservation and troop train- ing on installations throughout the Southeastern US. Emerging conflicts over endangered species conser- vation on DoD lands differed from non-military contexts because military structure forced interactions into strict protocols allowing avoidance, but not direct contention. Although all informants officially sta- ted nothing impacted training, training area supervisors described endangered species conservation the greatest threat to training they faced. Despite pointed efforts to avoid engagement and official denial that conflict existed, interactions between the groups were characterized by deindividualization and commu- nication breakdown, residues typically associated with highly escalated conflicts. These findings suggest suppressing conflict may create the same negative outcomes typically associated with prolonged direct conflict, by denying parties the ability to resolve differences. These negative outcomes can be addressed by both acknowledging biodiversity conservation conflict exists and allowing dissent during decision- making. Improved cooperation between TASU and NRECM can help reduce impacts of warfare on wildlife conservation, while ensuring sustainability of military training on lands critical to biodiversity conservation.
Modulation of bold response in motion-sensitive lateral temporal cortex by real and fictive motion sentences

Can linguistic semantics affect neural processing in feature-specific visual regions? Specifically, when we hear a sentence describing a situation that includes motion, do we engage neural processes that are part of the visual perception of motion? How about if a motion verb was used figuratively, not literally? We used fMRI to investigate whether semantic content can "penetrate" and modulate neural populations that are selective to specific visual properties during natural language comprehension. Participants were presented audiovisually with three kinds of sentences: motion sentences ("The wild horse crossed the barren field."), static sentences, ("The black horse stood in the barren field."), and fictive motion sentences ("The hiking trail crossed the barren field."). Motion-sensitive visual areas (MT+) were localized individually in each participant as well as face-selective visual regions (fusiform face area; FFA). MT+ was activated significantly more for motion sentences than the other sentence types. Fictive motion sentences also activated MT+ more than the static sentences. Importantly, no modulation of neural responses was found in FFA. Our findings suggest that the neural substrates of linguistic semantics include early visual areas specifically related to the represented semantics and that figurative uses of motion verbs also engage these neural systems, but to a lesser extent. These data are consistent with a view of language comprehension as an embodied process, with neural substrates as far reaching as early sensory brain areas that are specifically related to the represented semantics.
Aperture Illuminations for Radar Angle-of-Arrival Measurements

For the analysis of radars of the search type, the antenna parameters of overall power gain and beamwidth are usually adequate to describe the antenna portion of the radar. If the radar is used for highly accurate angle-of-arrival measurements, it is desirable to introduce another antenna parameter for a system analysis. This additional parameter should relate the antenna error voltage to the angle-of-arrival or error angle. However, this slope parameter should be a property of the antenna and independent of the impedance and power level. A method of evaluating this parameter for a variety of antenna aperture illuminations will be described.
Family processes that shape the impact of interparental conflict on adolescents

This study draws on the family systems concepts of triangulation and wholism to investigate how interparental conflict may affect adolescents' psychological adjustment. An ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample (N = 388) of 14- to 18-year-olds completed measures of interparental conflict, family relationships, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems. We found that triangulation into parental disagreements mediated the association between parental conflict and both internalizing and externalizing problems. Adolescents exposed to more frequent, intense, and poorly resolved conflict were more likely to feel triangulated, but this association was moderated by the nature of the alliances they had with their parents. Specifically, at low levels of interparental conflict, adolescents who had substantially stronger alliances with one parent than the other reported greater triangulation than those with more balanced alliances. At high levels of conflict, these groups reported similar degrees of triangulation. We also found that supportive parent-child relationships reduced adolescents' appraisals of threat and self-blame for interparental conflict, while more empathic relationships with siblings increased these appraisals. Finally, close relationships with fathers acted as a protective factor that reduced symptoms of maladjustment.
C282Y and H63D Polymorphisms in Hemochromatosis Gene and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease A Meta-Analysis

Objective:A meta-analysis was performed to better clarify the association between hemochromatosis (HFE) gene and the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD).Methods:Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confide...
Basketball Size as Related to Children's Preference, Rated Skill, and Scoring

This study was done to ascertain ball preferences of ten-year-old children and to assess whether their preferences were related to their skill in shooting, score attained, or some other factor. 77 children recruited from a rural community and also from the National Youth Sports Program volunteered to participate. Subjects were videotaped as they shot five free throws using in random order a men's, a women's, and a junior standard basketball. A shooting score and a technique score were recorded. Children preferred a ball smaller than the one they normally used; prior experience with a basketball did not seem to influence point scoring. Most subjects were unable to use technically correct mechanics to shoot free throws. There may be considerable improvement in children's shooting technique if instruction is given and a junior size basketball used.
Using Syntax to Improve Word Alignment Precision for Syntax-Based Machine Translation

Word alignments that violate syntactic correspondences interfere with the extraction of string-to-tree transducer rules for syntax-based machine translation. We present an algorithm for identifying and deleting incorrect word alignment links, using features of the extracted rules. We obtain gains in both alignment quality and translation quality in Chinese-English and Arabic-English translation experiments relative to a GIZA++ union baseline.
Domestic reform as a rationale for gradualism in international cooperation

Gradualism is common in international cooperation, as states begin with limited cooperation and choose more ambitious targets slowly over time. However, most models of international cooperation are...
A new state-space approach for direction finding

Direction-of-arrival estimation using state-space models in sensor array processing with a uniform Linear array can be reduced to finding a solution to the equation U/spl tilde//sub 1/F/spl ap/U/spl tilde//sub 2/ for F, where noises in both sides of the equation are highly correlated. Least squares or even total least squares solutions are not optimal, and the complicated covariance structure in U/spl tilde//sub 1/ and U/spl tilde//sub 2/ does not allow a weighted total least squares procedure to be carried out. The approach presented in this correspondence is to first solve a least squares problem to get an estimate of the underlying subspace represented by the noisy basis vectors in U/spl tilde//sub 1/ and U/spl tilde//sub 2/. An approximate error covariance matrix for the least squares problem is obtained using a first-order perturbation expansion. This covariance matrix is used to solve for the underlying subspace in a weighted least squares sense. Parameters are then extracted from the estimated subspace. Numerical examples show that the performance of the proposed method is very close to the Cramer-Rao bound. >
Attenuation Estimation With Continuous Wavelet Transforms.

SUMMARY Seismic attenuation measurements from surface seismic data using spectral ratios are particularly sensitive to inaccurate spectral estimation. Spectral ratios of Fourier spectral estimates are subject to inaccuracies due to windowing effects, noise, and spectral nulls caused by interfering reflectors. We have found that spectral ratios obtained using continuous wavelet transforms as compared to Fourier ratios are more accurate, less subject to windowing problems, and more robust in the presence of noise.
The Northern Hemisphere Sea-Level Pressure Data Set: Trends, Errors and Discontinuities

Abstract A detailed examination of the Northern Hemisphere monthly mean sea-level grid-point pressures shows a disappointingly large number of problems. The data set extends from 1899–1977 but has originated from eight different sources and discontinuities have been identified with every change in source. We have documented corrections for many of these and have also catalogued 3263 serious errors. These have been corrected or set to missing. Most of the errors are over Asia and are predominant before 1922 or during World War II. Analyses of several different aspects of the data that reveal both the problems and real changes in the atmospheric circulation are presented, along with a comparison of the monthly mean operational U.S. Navy versus U.S. National Meteorological Center analyses. A plea is made for a greater effort in archiving quality controlled climatological data.
Induction of Neural Lineages from Mesoderm and Endoderm by Defined Transcription Factors

A major interest in developmental biology is the lineage plasticity of specialized cells. We recently generated induced neuronal (iN) cells from fibroblasts and hepatocytes by expression of defined pan-neuronal transcription factors. Moreover, we were able to generate induced neural precursor (iNP) cells following a similar transcription factor-based strategy, suggesting that cell fate plasticity is much wider than previously anticipated. Further studies showed that addition of subtype-specific regulators was sufficient to induce characteristic neuronal subtypes such as dopamine and motor neurons. Here, we review the most recent developments of our own research efforts as well as the relevant findings in the field as they pertain to direct induction of neural lineages. The derivation of neuronal cells from patient fibroblasts holds great promise to uncover human neurological disease mechanisms and to provide a donor source for autologous therapeutic transplantation. Similar to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, much has yet to be learned about iN cells before clinical translation can be realized.
Spatio–temporal characterization of pulses obtained from a high-energy sub-nanosecond laser system

Spatio–temporal profiles of laser pulses, obtained from each stage of a high-energy sub-nanosecond laser system, are investigated. The laser system is composed of a Q-switched Nd:YAG unstable oscillator, a chain of Nd:YAG amplifiers, a second-harmonic generator, and a high-energy pulse compressor based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). A curved energy front, i.e., the pulses emerging away from the beam center being gradually delayed from the center pulse, is shown to originate from the unstable oscillator. Our comparative study shows that injection seeding will enlarge the energy front curvature, via reduction of the effective gain. After the laser amplifiers, the energy front curvature is more than doubled due to the gain saturation effect. The latter also modifies the spatial pulse width distribution. While there is a negligible pulse duration spread across the oscillator beam, the amplified pulses are found to have gradually reduced pulse duration away from the beam center. More interestingly, after the SBS pulse compression, not only the pulse width but also the delay is compressed down. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study of the spatio–temporal profile of the SBS compressed pulse. To compare with the experiments, two numerical models are developed to simulate the evolution of spatio–temporal profiles within the Nd:YAG laser system and during the SBS pulse compression, respectively. The first model is demonstrated to reproduce the experimental results very well, while the second model predicts part of the features of the SBS compressed pulse. The limitation on the latter is discussed.
Studies of 4-Methylcyclohexanol: an Aedes Triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Oviposition Attractant

Laboratory bioassays indicate that both cis and trans 4-methylcyclohexanol are active as Aedes triseriatus oviposition attractants. Electrophysiological experiments demonstrate that p-cresol is perceived by short, blunt A2 sensilla, while 4-methylcyclohexanol is perceived by short, pointed A2 sensilla. Each compound has been found to elicit responses from similar sensilla of Aedes aegypti and Culex tarsalis . Similar experiments suggest that p -cresol is detected by both types of sensilla on Anopheles stephensi .
Immediate Alanine Aminotransferase Testing for Donor Screening: Use of the Reflotron on Blood Drives

Screening blood donors for elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is required to help reduce the incidence of transfusion-transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. A study of the cost-effectiveness and usability of the Reflotron (Boehringer-Mannheim Diagnostics, Indianapolis, Ind), an on-site instrument for measuring ALT, is reported. On four blood drives, 118 donors were tested, with a rejection rate of 4.2%. The Reflotron was found to be cost-saving in terms of the College of American Pathologists workload units at a rejection rate of 0.85% or greater. Advantages regarding utility include portability, easy oper ability, and savings on donor time. The disadvantages (single-specimen analysis and lack of sample identification) are relatively minor and can be overcome. We conclude that the Reflotron is a convenient and cost-effective instrument for use in donor screening.
Cauchy's equation on Δ+

Recently R. C. Powers characterized the order automorphisms of the space of nondecreasing functions from one compact real interval to another [6, 7]. In this paper we show how his results, as well as the lattice-theoretic techniques which he employed, can be used to obtain solutions of Cauchy's equation for certain classes of semigroups (triangle functions) on the space Δ+ of probability distribution functions of nonnegative random variables.
Marking Pink Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) with Cesium

Pink bollworm, (PBW) Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), adults reared on artificial diet containing 1 × 10−2 M and 1 × 10−3 M CsCl were marked with Cs which could be detected by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The cesium mark was sufficient to last the expected lifetime of the insects. PBW reared on diet containing 5 × 10−2 M CsCl had significant mortality. Unmarked females mated to males reared on artificial diet containing 1 × 10−2 M and 1 × 10−3 M CsCl did not contain sufficient Cs to be marked for life. PBW reared on cotton plants sprayed with solutions of 5,000 and 10,000 μg of Cs/ml were marked. PBW adults exposed for 72 h to cotton plants sprayed with solutions of 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 μg of Cs/ml were marked. PBW adults reared from field cotton plants sprayed with CsCl solutions at rates of 1.24, 2.47, and 4.94 kg of CsCl/ha were marked. Only the dosage of 4.94 kg of CsCl/ha produced a mark which was expected to last the life span of the adult PBW. CsCl-sprayed cotton plants were analyzed for Cs content, and absorption and translocation of Cs within the plant were verified.
Intersample Error in Discrete Time Learning and Repetitive Control

*† Repetitive control is a field that creates controllers to eliminate the effects of periodic disturbances on a feedback control system. The methods have applications in spacecraft problems, to isolate fine pointing equipment from periodic vibration disturbances such as slight imbalances in momentum wheels or cryogenic pumps. A closely related field of control design is iterative learning control (ILC) which aims to eliminate tracking error in a task that repeats, each time starting from the same initial condition. The authors have previously developed methods of predicting final error level using a frequency domain approach and enhanced a method that uses the time domain approach. These were based on given white Gaussian plant and measurement noise levels. Additional development by the authors extended the frequency domain approach to the case of final error level due to quantization. All of these methods predict final error levels at the sample times. But discrete time systems can have significant error between samples times, and this is examined here. It is shown that canceling the effects of a disturbance to obtain zero error at the sample times, can in fact double the amplitude of the error between samples. For third order or higher systems, it is shown that the intersample error diverges. Here we create designs that reduce the intersample error.
The Effect of Cecropin A-Magainin2 Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptide P18 on the MDA-MB-435s Cell Line

Objective To study the effect of cecropin A-magainin2 hybrid antimicrobial peptide P18 on the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435s.Methods Cultured MDA-MB-435s cells were treated by P18 and cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay;the state of the cells was observed with a Live/Dead Viability/Cytotoxicity kit by fluorescence microscopy;the change of cell membrane potential was monitored with the existence of DiBAC4(3) by spectrofluorometer;and the ultrastructure of MDA-MB-435s cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy after 24 hour P18 treatment.Results MTT test shows that P18 can inhabit the proliferation of MDA-MB-435s cells in a dose dependent manner;dead cells with broken cell membranes can be seen under fluorescence microscopy;the depolarization process can be detected by spectrofluorometer;cell necrosis was observed by transmission electron microscopy.Conclusion P18 can enhance the membrane permeability of MDA-MB-435s cells and trigger cell necrosis.
On the Distant and Second Imperfect in Lorrain

This study investigates the distribution of the distant imperfect and the second imperfect, an unusual occurrence unknown to other French and Romance dialects, which appears in Lorrain.
Improving Web Performance in Home Broadband Access Networks

Web caching is a significantly important strategy for improving Web performance. In this paper, we design SmartCache, a router-based system of Web page load time reduction in home broadband access networks, which is composed of cache, SVM trainer and classifier, and browser extension. More specifically, the browser interacts with users to collect their experience satisfaction and prepare training dataset for SVM trainer. With the desired features extracted from training dataset, the SVM classifier predicts the classes of the Web objects. Then, integrated with LFU, the cache makes a cache replacement based on SVM-LFU policy. Finally, by implementing SmartCache on a Netgear router and Chrome browsers, we evaluate our SVM-LFU algorithm in terms of Web page load time, SVM accuracy, and cache performance, and the experimental results illustrate that SmartCache can greatly improve Web performance in Web page load time.
Characterizing mandibular growth using three-dimensional imaging techniques and anatomic landmarks.

Abstract Objective To provide quantitative data on the multi-planar growth of the mandible, this study derived accurate linear and angular mandible measurements using landmarks on three dimensional (3D) mandible models. This novel method was used to quantify 3D mandibular growth and characterize the emergence of sexual dimorphism. Design Cross-sectional and longitudinal imaging data were obtained from a retrospective computed tomography (CT) database for 51 typically developing individuals between the ages of one and nineteen years. The software Analyze was used to generate 104 3DCT mandible models. Eleven landmarks placed on the models defined six linear measurements (lateral condyle, gonion, and endomolare width, ramus and mental depth, and mandible length) and three angular measurements (gonion, gnathion, and lingual). A fourth degree polynomial fit quantified growth trends, its derivative quantified growth rates, and a composite growth model determined growth types (neural/cranial and somatic/skeletal). Sex differences were assessed in four age cohorts, each spanning five years, to determine the ontogenetic pattern producing sexual dimorphism of the adult mandible. Results Mandibular growth trends and growth rates were non-uniform. In general, structures in the horizontal plane displayed predominantly neural/cranial growth types, whereas structures in the vertical plane had somatic/skeletal growth types. Significant prepubertal sex differences in the inferior aspect of the mandible dissipated when growth in males began to outpace that of females at eight to ten years of age, but sexual dimorphism re-emerged during and after puberty. Conclusions This 3D analysis of mandibular growth provides preliminary normative developmental data for clinical assessment and craniofacial growth studies.
A Preschool Teacher’s Action Research Using a Combination of Hands-On Manipulatives and Computer Software to Help Preschoolers Understand Number Concepts

This is a case study involving a preschool teacher who produced and tested a design called “Combined Activity,” which uses a combination of hands-on mathematics manipulatives and computer software to help preschoolers understand number concepts. The purpose of the action research was to describe how the children experienced the Combined Activity in learning number concepts by using a combination of hands-on manipulatives and computer software. The participants were a preschool teacher and 20 threeto five-year-old preschoolers who spent three weeks using the Combined Activity at a preschool in an urban area in Florida, U. S. A. Results of this study show that the participants in the Combined Activity were able to interact with the teacher and peers using diverse communication skills in much more varied mathematical learning environments than by lecture alone. The findings imply that a teacher needs to design the physical setting taking into consideration the culturally and developmentally appropriate learning environment (Copple & Bredkamp, 2009; Gestwicki, 2009; Tobin, 2011) through on-going observation. The teacher also needs developmentally appropriate materials, reflective activity plans, and clear guidelines as well as attention to the children’s linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Ovarian transposition: a surgical option for fertility preservation

Objective To describe and demonstrate a novel surgical method for laparoscopic ovarian transposition. In this video, we present a unique minimally invasive technique for transposing the ovaries, whereby the ovary is tunneled through the peritoneum. Design Video presentation of clinical article. The video uses animations and a surgical case to demonstrate the detailed surgical technique for laparoscopic ovarian transposition with a unique feature. Institutional review board approval was not required for this video presentation. Institutional review board approval is not required at the Cleveland Clinic for a case report of a single patient. Setting Teaching University. Patient(s) A 29-year-old female patient diagnosed with rectal cancer. Intervention(s) The patient underwent laparoscopic ovarian transposition followed by ovarian decortication for ovarian tissue freezing of the contralateral ovary, both performed in one laparoscopic surgery, before further chemotherapy and radiation. Main Outcome Measure(s) Value and feasibility of laparoscopic ovarian transposition using the unique feature of ovarian tunneling in maintaining the retroperitoneal location of the ovarian vessels and potentially preserving ovarian blood supply. Result(s) Creating a retroperitoneal tunnel for passing the ovary through is a feasible and effective technique, while performing laparoscopic ovarian transposition that can be performed in order to prevent the ovarian vessels from taking a sharp turn into the pelvic cavity and thereby preventing alteration of ovarian blood flow. Conclusion(s) Ovarian transposition is a great surgical option for fertility preservation in reproductive-aged women before they undergo gonadotoxic pelvic or craniospinal radiation. This surgical procedure is not a beneficial option for those patients receiving concomitant gonadotoxic chemotherapy. Ovarian transposition can be performed using different surgical techniques, including laparotomy and laparoscopy. Laparoscopic ovarian transposition is the preferred surgical technique described in the literature, because it is associated with more rapid recovery and less postoperative pain. This technique has been reported to have a success rate of 88.6% for preservation of ovarian function, as documented by measuring the gonadotropin levels after cancer treatment. Ovarian transposition is considered to be a safe and effective surgical option to prevent from premature ovarian failure and to optimize preservation of fertility.
Scholarly productivity and professional advancement of junior researchers receiving KL2, K23, or K08 awards at a large public research institution.

Background How the productivity and careers of KL2 scholars compare with scholars receiving individual K-awards is unknown. Methods The productivity of KL2 scholars (n=21) at our institution was compared with that of K08 (n=34) and K23 (n=26) scholars. Results KL2 and K23 scholars had greater productivity than K08 scholars (p=0.01). Professional advancement was similar among groups. Conclusion At our institution, scholarly productivity and professional advancement did not differ by type of K-award.