cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geodynamic and geochemical aspects of sedimentary basin classification

Abstract A new criterion, geodynamic principles and processes, is incorporated with continental margin type, basin position on a plate, and crustal type to classify sedimentary basins. Within plate interiors, cratonic basins are formed by mechanical extension followed by thermal subsidence with a later flexural overprint. In passive margins, rift basins form by extension followed by thermal subsidence, and are oriented nearly parallel to margin edges. Aulacogens form similarly, but are oriented nearly at right angles to plate boundaries. Flexure basins are formed by load flexure along the plate edge. Sedimentary basins of active continental margins are part of a spectrum of compressive-collisional margins to compressive-extensional margins. Trench slope basins (on the trench wall) involve both a compressional and extensional history, whereas trench basins and forearc basins are compressional only. Intra-arc basins form by extension followed by thermal subsidence within magmatic arcs, and occur on continental crust, whereas backarc basins form by extension and rapid thermal subsidence involving oceanic crust. Thus the basins of a transect across a B-subduction zone and arc show a progressive change from compression to extension inboard from the trench floor. In transform margins, pull-apart basins and transpressional basins from by extension, thermal subsidence and translation. The distinction between the two basins is controlled by basin position on a transform margin associated with releasing bends (pull-apart basins) and restraining bends (transpressional basins). Collisional margins develop foreland basins inboard from the collision zones. A distinction is made between peripheral foreland basins caused by endloading and flexure along a plate edge, and retroarc foreland basins which are located inboard on the plate. Superposed (collage) basins form by compression on collisional plate boundary suture zones. Most basins, particularly older ones, show a history of multiple basin evolution and are named polyhistory basins. Successor basins are characterized by temporal succession of changing prototype basins. Resurgent basins show a temporal succession of repeated, identical prototype basins. To improve prediction of occurrence of commercial hydrocarbon and sedimentary-hosted ore deposits, it is recommended that the proposed geodynamic basin classification be combined with either organic (petroleum) or inorganic (metals) geochemical classification systems. Organic geochemical basin classification discriminates basin types using three criteria of organic maturation: charge factor, migration drainage factor and impedance factor. A similar maturation approach is developed for mineral deposits, and an inorganic geochemical classification is proposed herein recognizing three criteria of inorganic maturation: metal solubility factor, migration drainage factor, and environmental potential for mineral precipitation. Combining the geodynamic and geochemical maturation approach to basin classification should enhance commercial exploration and exploitation.
Crystal and molecular structure of a 6-methyluracil photodimer.

IRRADIATION of a frozen aqueous solution of thymine with 254 nm light resulted in the formation of a cyclobutyl dimer of thymine (T=T)1–3. An analogous uracil dimer (U=U) is formed when uracil is irradiated under similar conditions1,4. These results are of great importance in understanding the photochemistry and photobiology of nucleic acids (reviews, refs. 2,5,6). Thus much work has been carried out on the mechanistic study of the photodimerization of pyrimidines7. The photodimerization of α,β-unsaturated ketones may be examined similarly. As part of these studies the four dimers of 6-methyl-uracil (6 MU), for example, cis-syn, cis-anti, trans-syn and trans-anti, have been isolated in a pure state from 6 MU under a variety of conditions. The stereoconfigurations of these dimers of 6 MU=6 MU have been assigned (unpublished work) using techniques such as NMR, IR and chemical reactivities; however, the complete three-dimensional structure can only be determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal and molecular structure of a cis-syn type of 6 MU=6 MU has recently been reported8. In this communication we report the X-ray diffraction study of the cis-anti isomer.
Perinatal Exposure to Bisphenol-A and the Development of Metabolic Syndrome in CD-1 Mice

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical used in the production of plastic food and beverage containers, leading to ubiquitous low-dose human exposure. It has been suggested that exposure to even low doses of BPA during development may be associated with increased susceptibility to obesity and diabetes later in life. Despite growing public concern, the existing empirical data are equivocal, prompting The Endocrine Society, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and others to call for further research. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that perinatal exposure to an ecologically relevant dose of BPA (1 part per billion via the diet) results in increased susceptibility to high-fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance in adult CD-1 mice. The data did not support this hypothesis. In agreement with previous reports, we find that weanling mice exposed to BPA during gestation and lactation are heavier compared with control mice. We also find that BPA mice are longer than controls at 4 wk of age, but these differences are no longer apparent when the mice reach adulthood, even when tested on a high-fat diet. We conclude that this larger size-for-age represents a faster rate of growth early in development rather than an obese, diabetic phenotype in adulthood.
Sorites without vagueness II: Comparative sorites

We develop a mathematical theory for comparative sorites, considered in terms of a system mapping pairs of stimuli into a binary response characteristic whose values supervene on stimulus pairs and are interpretable as the complementary relations ‘are the same’ and ‘are not the same’ (overall or in some respect). Comparative sorites is about hypothetical sequences of stimuli in which every two successive elements are mapped into the relation ‘are the same’, while the pair comprised of the first and the last elements of the sequence is mapped into ‘are not the same’. Although soritical sequences of this kind are logically possible, we argue that their existence is grounded in no empirical evidence and show that it is excluded by a certain psychophysical principle proposed for human comparative judgements in a context unrelated to soritical issues. We generalize this principle to encompass all conceivable situations for which comparative sorites can be formulated.
Extending the capability of energy detector for sensing of heterogeneous wideband spectrum

Reliable spectrum sensing is the very task upon which the entire operation of the cognitive radio rests. Energy detection is one of the solutions that have been proposed for enabling opportunistic spectrum access but its capability has limited sensitivity, no resolution and requires high sampling rate when employed in the detection of wideband heterogeneous spectrum. This article proposes a solution that can extend the capability of traditional energy detector to wideband sensing with improved performance. The solution involves the use of parallel detection circuitry with each tuned to different frequencies. The decision of each detection circuit can then be used to create a spectral map of the entire spectrum. This introduces some resolution component and improved sensitivity based on the number of parallel circuits and bandwidth of each detection circuit. Since the bandwidth of the incumbent signal is generally not known a priori, there is possibility that it spans across multiple detectors. The detection of such wideband signal can be achieved by either data or decision fusion of the results of each narrowband detector. We show that the use of parallel multi-channel detection can greatly enhance the detection of wideband signal compared to averaging while improving the resolution and sensitivity of energy detection of wideband spectrum. Numerical results have been shown for representative cases and careful review of previous works reveals that these have never been considered in literature.
Enhanced discriminability at the phonetic boundaries for the voicing feature in macaques.

Discrimination of speech sounds from three computer-generated continua that ranged from voiced to voiceless syllables (/ba-pa/, /da-ta/, and ga-ha/ was tested with three macaques. The stimuli on each continuum varied in voice-onset time (VOT). Paris of stimuli that were equally different in VOT were chosen such that they were either within-category pairs (syllables given the same phonetic label by human listeners) or between-category paks (syllables given different phonetic labels by human listeners). Results demonstrated that discrimination performance was always best for between-category pairs of stimuli, thus replicating the “phoneme boundary effect” seen in adult listeners and in human infants as young as I month of age. The findings are discussed in terms of their specific impact on accounts of voicing perception in human listeners and in terms of their impact on discussions of the evolution of language.
Feeding management and characteristics of rations for high-producing dairy cows in freestall herds

The objectives of this cross-sectional observational study were to 1) describe the feeding management and characteristics of rations for high-producing Holstein cows housed in freestall barns in Minnesota, 2) evaluate ration change over time, and 3) investigate herd-level risk factors for ration change. Each of 50 randomly selected freestall dairy herds was visited once during the study. Samples of TMR were collected from the high-production group feed bunk to represent the initial ration as delivered to the cows, 3 additional samples were collected every 2 to 3 h after feed delivery, and the accumulated orts were cleaned out of the feed bunk. Feeding management practices and TMR formulation were also collected at the time of visit. Seventy percent of herds fed once daily, 22% fed twice daily, and 8% fed 3 times daily. Frequency of feed push-up was 5.4 ± 2.3 times daily. Linear feed bunk space per cow was 0.45 ± 0.11 m. Sixty-two percent of the farms had 3-row pens and 38% had 2-row pens. Linear feed bunk space per cow was greater in 2-row pens (0.56 m/cow) than in 3-row pens (0.39 m/cow). Post and rail was the most common type of feed barrier; it was used by 60% of the herds. Headlocks were used by 28% of the herds, combination of post and rail with headlocks was used by 8%, and diagonal bars were used by 4%. Water trough linear space was 4.6 ± 2.1 cm/cow. Estimated dry matter intake was 24.3 kg/cow per day. The forage content of the formulated ration was 52% of the ration DM, and corn silage was the most commonly used forage. The NDF content of the analyzed ration was greater than the NDF content of the formulated ration (30.6 and 29.8%, respectively). In contrast, the CP content was lower (17.5 and 17.9%, respectively). Some feeding management practices (e.g., feeding frequency) were associated with ration NDF content change over time. This association may be minimized by implementing ration and management changes.
Estrogen Receptor Subtypes Mediate Distinct Microvascular Dilation and Reduction in [Ca2+]i in Mesenteric Microvessels of Female Rat

Estrogen interacts with estrogen receptors (ERs) to induce vasodilation, but the ER subtype and post-ER relaxation pathways are unclear. We tested if ER subtypes mediate distinct vasodilator and intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) responses via specific relaxation pathways in the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle (VSM). Pressurized mesenteric microvessels from female Sprague-Dawley rats were loaded with fura-2, and the changes in diameter and [Ca2+]i in response to 17β-estradiol (E2) (all ERs), PPT (4,4′,4′′-[4-propyl-(1H)-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl]-tris-phenol) (ERα), diarylpropionitrile (DPN) (ERβ), and G1 [(±)-1-[(3aR*,4S*,9bS*)-4-(6-bromo-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydro:3H-cyclopenta(c)quinolin-8-yl]-ethanon] (GPR30) were measured. In microvessels preconstricted with phenylephrine, ER agonists caused relaxation and decrease in [Ca2+]i that were with E2 = PPT > DPN > G1, suggesting that E2-induced vasodilation involves ERα > ERβ > GPR30. Acetylcholine caused vasodilation and decreased [Ca2+]i, which were abolished by endothelium removal or treatment with the nitric oxide synthase blocker Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and the K+ channel blockers tetraethylammonium (nonspecific) or apamin (small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel) plus TRAM-34 (1-[(2-chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole) (intermediate conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel), suggesting endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor–dependent activation of KCa channels. E2-, PPT-, DPN-, and G1-induced vasodilation and decreased [Ca2+]i were not blocked by L-NAME, TEA, apamin plus TRAM-34, iberiotoxin (large conductance Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ channel), 4-aminopyridine (voltage-dependent K+ channel), glibenclamide (ATP-sensitive K+ channel), or endothelium removal, suggesting an endothelium- and K+ channel–independent mechanism. In endothelium-denuded vessels preconstricted with phenylephrine, high KCl, or the Ca2+ channel activator Bay K 8644 (1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid methyl ester), ER agonist–induced relaxation and decreased [Ca2+]i were with E2 = PPT > DPN > G1 and not inhibited by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ [1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one], and showed a similar relationship between decreased [Ca2+]i and vasorelaxation, supporting direct effects on Ca2+ entry in VSM. Immunohistochemistry revealed ERα, ERβ, and GPR30 mainly in the vessel media and VSM. Thus, in mesenteric microvessels, ER subtypes mediate distinct vasodilation and decreased [Ca2+]i (ERα > ERβ > GPR30) through endothelium- and K+ channel–independent inhibition of Ca2+ entry mechanisms of VSM contraction.
Seeing is not believing

Altering digital imagery is now ubiquitous. People have come to expect it in the fashion and entertainment world, where airbrushing blemishes and wrinkles away is routine. And anyone surfing the Web is routinely subjected to crude photographic mashups like the Palin hoax, whose creators clearly aren't interested in realism but in whatever titillation or outrage they can generate. Even as experts continue to develop techniques for exposing photographic frauds, new techniques for creating better and harder-to-detect fakes are also evolving. As in the battle against spam and computer viruses, it seems inevitable that the arms race between the forger and the forensic analyst will continue to escalate, with no clear victor. Improved image forensics will never be able to eradicate or prevent digital tampering, but these techniques can make it more time-consuming and difficult for forgers to ply their trade. Tomorrow's technology will almost certainly enable digital manipulations that today seem unimaginable, and the science of digital forensics will have to work hard to keep pace. It is my hope that these new techniques, along with a greater awareness of the technological possibilities and sensible updates in policy and law, will help the media, the courts, and the public contend with the exciting but often baffling events of our digital age.
Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement Spectroscopy Cross-Relaxation Rates and Ethanol Distribution across Membranes

Measurement of nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy cross-relaxation rates between ethanol and palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers was combined with atomic-level molecular dynamics simulations. The molecular dynamics trajectories yielded autocorrelation functions of proton dipole-dipole interactions, and, consequently, relaxation times and cross-relaxation rates. These analyses allow the measured cross-relaxation rates to be interpreted in terms of relative interaction strengths with the various segments of the lipid molecule. We determined that cross-relaxation between ethanol and specific lipid resonances is primarily determined by the sites of interaction with some modulation due to lipid disorder and to local differences in intramolecular lipid dynamics. The rates scale linearly with the lifetime of temporary ethanol-lipid associations. Ethanol interacts with palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers primarily via hydrophilic interactions, in particular the formation of hydrogen bonds to the lipid phosphate group. There is a weak contribution to binding from hydrophobic interaction with lipid chain segments near the glycerol. However, the strength of hydrophobic interactions is insufficient to compensate for the energetic loss of locating ethanol in an exclusively hydrophobic environment, resulting in a probability of locating ethanol in the bilayer center that is three orders of magnitude lower than locating ethanol at the lipid/water interface. The low cross-relaxation rates between terminal methyl protons of hydrocarbon chains and ethanol are as much the result of infrequent chain upturns as of brief excursions of ethanol into the region of lipid hydrocarbon chains near the glycerol. The combination of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements and molecular dynamics simulations offers a general pathway to study the interaction of small molecules with the lipid matrix at atomic resolution.
Hardiness: The courage to grow from stresses

The recent emphasis on positive psychology is welcome, and has spurred much relevant research. But, there are still many unresolved conceptual and research issues, as more variables are being proposed as relevant. As part of this process, the present paper proposes hardiness as an addition to positive psychology. Hardiness is a combination of attitudes that provides the courage and motivation to do the hard, strategic work of turning stressful circumstances from potential disasters into growth opportunities. In this regard, the inherently stressful nature of living is discussed. Also clarified are the particular aspects of excellence in performance and health to which hardiness is relevant. The paper concludes with a call for issue-resolving research through which orientations and actions proposed as part of positive psychology can be compared in their contributions to performance and health. Two studies along these lines have found hardiness more powerful than optimism and religiousness in coping with st...
A computer simulation study of cell population in a fuzzy interaction model for mutating HIV

Abstract A fuzzy set of 10 interactions for macrophages, helper cells, cytotoxic cells, and virion is introduced to study their population dynamics in an immune response relevant to HIV. Viral mutation is considered and cellular automata are used for local interactions. In absence of mutation, after an initial incubation period ( t i ) in which the number of helper cells ( N H ) becomes comparable to viral population ( N V ), the immune system recovers as N H grows larger than N V in the long time, t > t i . Increasing the mutation rate ( p mut ) enhances the viral growth and supresses the growth of host cells. Above a certain value of p mut , the helper cells population depletes leading to AIDS as N V ⪢ N H .
Sex ratios in congenital malformations of the central nervous system.

Malformations of the central nervous system (CNS) are evaluated and treated by pediatric neurosurgeons. There is a spectrum of morphological variations within each type of malformation and with associated features that may determine whether the defect is isolated or part of a syndrome. Alterations in the normal sex ratio have been found in many malformations of the CNS but the reasons for them are usually unclear. It can be reasoned that some CNS malformations would have unusual sex ratios by chance alone. However there are recurrent patterns. When there is a dominance of one sex for a particular malformation, this information can help predict the likelihood of the malformation in a patient and influence diagnostic approaches. The present report provides information on selected CNS malformations that have altered sex ratios.
BLADDER CANCER : NATURAL HISTORY, TUMOR MARKERS, AND EARLY DETECTION STRATEGIES

Transitional cell bladder carcinoma is characterized by a dichotomous, multichronotopic natural history. Low and moderate grade Ta lesions frequently recur, yet rarely invade, and carry an excellent prognosis with currently available treatments. High grade Ta lesions, tumors with lamina propria invasion (T1), and carcinoma in situ often progress to invasive disease, at which time overall prognosis is significantly decreased, despite various treatment alternatives. Although early detection of bladder tumors, prior to muscle invasion, should vastly improve our ability to save both bladders and lives, current methods of detection are neither sufficiently sensitive nor specific. Tumor marker analysis is an exciting new frontier in bladder cancer evaluation, and may have important applications to early detection strategies, in combination with simple hematuria testing and other selected noninvasive screening methods. Semin. Surg. Oncol. 13:299-306, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Scholarship on Fatherhood in the 1990s and Beyond

Throughout the 1990s, scholars interested in fatherhood have generated a voluminous, rich, and diverse body of work. We selectively review this literature with an eye toward prominent theoretical, methodological, and substantive issues. This burgeoning literature, complemented by social policy makers' heightened interest in fathers and families, focuses on fatherhood in at least 4 key ways. First, theorists have studied fatherhood as a cultural representation that is expressed through different sociocultural processes and embedded in a larger ecological context. Second, researchers have conceptualized and examined the diverse forms of fatherhood and father involvement. Third, attempts have been made to identify the linkages between dimensions of the father-child relationship and developmental outcomes among children and fathers. Fourth, scholars have explored the father identity as part of a reciprocal process negotiated by men, children, mothers, and other interested parties. Our review highlights research that examines the relationships between dimensions of the father-child relationship and children's well-being and development. We conclude by discussing promising avenues of scholarship for the next generation of research on fatherhood.
Combinatorial Synthesis and Evaluation on Thermoelectric Films

Combinatorial technology is a powerful tool for new material exploration. Some new combinatorial technologies, such as combinatorial laser molecular beam epitaxy (CLMBE) and combinatorial pulsed laser deposition (CPLD), were introduced in the paper. La1-xCexVO3 (0≤x≤1) composition-spread films were fabricated successfully by CPLD, while their thermoelectric properties and structures were evaluated by the multi-channel thermoelectric measurement system and concurrent X-ray analysis respectively. Combinatorial technologies are proving to be an efficient, low-cost tool in synthesis and characterization of thermoelectric composition-spread films.
Differentiating America's Colleges and Universities: A Case Study in Institutional Innovation in Arizona

Colleges and universities negotiating their recovery from the most severe recession in nearly a century are currently implementing a welter of hastily devised measures aimed at reducing operating c...
Vapor pressures, liquid molar volumes, vapor non-ideality, and critical properties of some partially fluorinated ethers (CF3OCF2CF2H, CF3OCF2H, and CF3OCH3), some perfluoroethers (CF3OCF2OCF3, c-CF2OCF2OCF2, and c-CF2CF2CF2O), and of CHF2Br and CF3CFHCF3

Recent measurements of the thermophysical properties of some fluorinated ethers (CF 3 OCF 2 CF 2 H, CF 3 OCF 2 H, CF 3 OCH 3 , CF 3 OCF 2 OCF 3 , and c -CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O), from around room temperature to the critical region ( J. Chem. Thermodynamics 1991 , 23, 699) have been exteaded to T = 235 K. New measurements for c -CF 2 OCF 2 OCF 2 , CHF 2 Br, and CF 3 CFHCF 3 are reported from the temperature 235 K to the critical temperature, and for c -CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O at temperatures from 235 K to 273 K. Improvements are reported in the earlier method for determining vapor-phase virial coefficients. Vapor pressures, liquid- and vapor-phase molar volumes, compressibilities, expansivities, virial coefficients, critical temperatures and pressures, and approximate melting temperatures are reported.
Seed Yield and Loss of Dry Bean Cultivars under Conventional and Direct Harvest

North Dakota is the leading producer of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the United States. In order to remain competitive, growers need to find ways to optimize yields and minimize input costs. Direct harvest may decrease equipment investment, harvest time, and operational costs when compared with conventional methods. However, direct harvest is often associated with reduced seed yield and quality. Experiments were conducted at four environments in North Dakota to evaluate the harvest efficiency of nine dry bean cultivars representing three market classes. Seed yield, seed loss, and other agronomic/morphological traits were measured using a split plot design. Harvest method and cultivar were consistently the most important factors contributing to seed yield and seed loss. Seed yield was significantly greater (830 kg ha -1 ) with the conventional method and seed loss was significantly greater (23.2%) under direct harvest. For conventional harvest, there was no difference in seed yield among cultivars within a market class. However, under direct harvest, one pinto (Lariat) and two black bean (T-39 and Eclipse) cultivars showed the highest yield. There were no differences among the navy cultivars for seed yield. Lariat was the most efficient cultivar across and within both harvest methods, with the best combination of highest yield (2232 kg ha -1 ) and lowest seed loss (11.1%). None of the morphological traits measured had a strong association with seed yield or seed loss. Results indicate that for optimal yields, growers need to select a cultivar with the best harvest efficiency possible, in addition to other factors.
A Data-Mining Approach to Monitoring Wind Turbines

The rapid expansion of wind farms has generated interest in operations and maintenance. An operating wind turbine undergoes various state changes, including transformation from a normal to a fault mode. Condition-based maintenance tools are needed to identify potential faults in the system. The prediction of turbine fault modes is of particular interest. In this research, data-mining algorithms are employed to construct prediction models for wind turbine faults. A three-stage prediction process is followed: 1) prediction of a fault of any kind; 2) prediction of specific faults of the system; and 3) identification on unseen faults. A comparative analysis of various data-mining algorithms is reported based on the data collected at a large wind farm. Random forest algorithm models provided the best accuracy among all algorithms tested. The robustness of the predictive model is validated for faults that have occurred at turbines with previously unseen data. The research results discussed in this paper have been derived from data collected at 17 wind turbines.
PHOTONS CANNOT ALWAYS BE REPLICATED

Experiments are in progress elsewhere on the amplification of a light beam under conditions that on average only a single photon passes through the grain tube. This paper argues that it is not possible to replicate with certainty a single photon of unknown polarization. (DLC)
Strain induced modulation of the correlated transport in epitaxial Sm 0.5 Nd 0.5 NiO 3 thin films

We report a study of the effect of epitaxial strain on the correlated transport properties of 2–40 nm Sm0.5Nd0.5NiO3 (SNNO) films grown on different substrates. The metal–insulator transition (MIT) temperature TMI of the SNNO films increases with increasing tensile strain. While films on (0 0 1) LaAlO3 and (1 1 0) NdGaO3 substrates exhibit a sharp MIT and thermal hysteresis in the cooling–heating cycle, signaling a first-order transition, films on (0 0 1) SrTiO3 show a broad, second-order MIT. Hall effect measurements reveal hole-type charge carriers and thermally activated temperature dependence of the carrier density below TMI. The corresponding activation energy is ~80 meV for films on LaAlO3 and NdGaO3, and is suppressed to 25 meV for films on SrTiO3. The carrier mobility in the metallic state and variable range hopping (VRH) transport at a low temperature point significantly enhanced electron localization in SNNO on STO, which we believe is not simply driven by extrinsic effects such as oxygen vacancies, but rather is an intrinsic characteristic for films subject to tensile strain due to the elongated Ni–O bond and hence enhanced dynamic Jahn–Teller distortion. In ultrathin films above the electrical dead layer thickness (2–3 nm), we observe a more than 100 K increase of TMI for films on LaAlO3, which has been correlated with a crossover from 3D to 2D transport as revealed from VRH. We attribute the distinct transport characteristics to strain induced modulation of various energy scales associated with the Ni–O–Ni bond angle and Ni–O bond length, which collectively determine the delocalization bandwidth of the system.
Expression of calpastatin, minopontin, NIPSNAP1, rabaptin-5 and neuronatin in the phenylketonuria (PKU) mouse brain: Possible role on cognitive defect seen in PKU

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of amino acid metabolism. Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency results in accumulation of phenylalanine (Phe) in the brain and leads to pathophysiological abnormalities including cognitive defect, if Phe diet is not restricted. Neuronatin and 4-nitrophenylphosphatase domain and non-neuronal SNAP25-like protein homolog 1 (NIPSNAP1) reportedly have role in memory. Therefore, gene expression was examined in the brain of mouse model for PKU. Microarray expression analysis revealed reduced expression of calpastatin, NIPSNAP 1, rabaptin-5 and minopontin genes and overexpression of neuronatin gene in the PKU mouse brain. Altered expression of these genes was further confirmed by one-step real time RT-PCR analysis. Western blot analysis of the mouse brain showed reduced levels of calpastatin and rabaptin-5 and higher amount of neuronatin in PKU compared to the wild type. These observations in the PKU mouse brain suggest that altered expression of these genes resulting in abnormal proteome. These changes in the PKU mouse brain are likely to contribute cognitive impairment seen in the PKU mouse, if documented also in patients with PKU.
Searching in the dark: A framework for authenticating unknown users in online social networks

Authenticating users in online social networks (OSNs) is different from traditional authentication, because the participants in the authentication may not share any prior secret information. In this paper, we propose a decentralized authentication framework to help users authenticate unknown users in an OSN. In our framework, a user requests certificates from other trusted users to prove his identity in authentication. However, collecting certificates is constrained by the fact that trust is usually attritted with the length of a trust chain. Considering this constraint, our framework utilizes a decentralized online learning approach to help users collect more certificates. We further prove that the number of the collected certificates by each user using our protocols is close to optimum.
Error-statistical elimination of alternative hypotheses

I consider the error-statistical account as both a theory of evidence and as a theory of inference. I seek to show how inferences regarding the truth of hypotheses can be upheld by avoiding a certain kind of alternative hypothesis problem. In addition to the testing of assumptions behind the experimental model, I discuss the role of judgments of implausibility. A benefit of my analysis is that it reveals a continuity in the application of error-statistical assessment to low-level empirical hypotheses and highly general theoretical principles. This last point is illustrated with a brief sketch of the issues involved in the parametric framework analysis of tests of physical theories such as General Relativity and of fundamental physical principles such as the Einstein Equivalence Principle.
Thyroid hormone receptor α isoforms generated by alternative splicing differentially activate myosin HC gene transcription

Thyroid hormones are thought to modulate gene expression positively or negatively through interactions with chromatin-associated receptors1. Recently, the c-erbA proto–oncogene products have been shown to be nuclear thyroid hormone (T3) receptors (TR)2–5 by sequence similarity with other steroid receptors and by their ability to bind thyroid hormone. But it has not been shown that these receptors directly activate transcription of the responsive genes in vivo. In addition, the rat TRα gene encodes several messenger RNA (mRNA) species, generated by differential processing of its transcripts (ref. 22). For these reasons we investigated the ability of two major isoforms of the rat TRa gene products to activate transcription of a sarcomeric myosin heavy chain (mHC) gene, because expression of all members of this gene family is responsive to T63. We show here that the rTRα1 receptor is a thyroid hormone-dependent transcriptional factor, which upon binding the T3 responsive element of the α-mHC gene, activates expression of this gene in vivo. The rTRα2 isoform, which is identical to rTRα1 except for its carboxyl terminal portion, is generated by alternative splicing of the rTRα gene transcript. This peptide, when produced in vitro and in vivo failed to bind T3 or other hormones or to trans-activate α-mHC gene expression. Thus, alternative splicing can produce marked differences in the functional properties of a transcriptional factor.
Hypercalcemia in children and adolescents.

Purpose of reviewIn this review, we define hypercalcemia levels, common causes for hypercalcemia in children, and treatment in order to aid the practicing pediatrician.Recent findingsOne rare cause of hypercalcemia in the child is familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (also termed familial benign hyp
Inference about Multivariate Means for a Nonstationary Autoregressive Model

Abstract Inference about multivariate means is investigated for the case in which the covariance matrix is assumed to follow an antedependence model, which is a general first-order autoregressive model. We present two test statistics that offer alternatives to Hotelling's T 2 test for testing whether a vector mean is equal to some specified value. These antedependence statistics have simple representations in terms of Hotelling's T 2 statistics computed for certain bivariate and univariate variables. Extensions to the multivariate linear model provide easy-to-compute antedependence analogs to the usual Wilk's lambda, Lawley-Hotelling trace, and Pillai's trace statistics.
Some psychometric properties of the Test of Basic Auditory Capabilities (TBAC).

This study examined some psychometric properties of the Test of Basic Auditory Capabilities (TBAC). Two experiments are described that evaluate the psychometric functions and the test‐retest reliab...
On the Carathéodory-John Multiplier Rule

Suppose Φ maps an open subset U of Rn into Rk, a ϵ U, S is a subset of U, and int Φ(S) denotes the interior of the image Φ(S). Call any result with conclusion Φ(a) ϵ int Φ(S) an interior mapping theorem. The best known example is an easy corollary of the classical Implicit Mapping Theorem: if Φ is strongly differentiable at a ϵ U and if L = Φ′(a), then Φ(a) ϵ int Φ(U) whenever L(a) ϵ int L(U), that is, whenever the linear transformation L maps Rn onto Rk. A more subtle interior mapping theorem is proved in this paper: if a ϵ U ∩ C, where C is a convex subset of U, if Φ is strongly differentiable at a ϵ U, and if L = Φ′(a), then Φ(a) ϵ int Φ(C) whenever L(a) ϵ int L(C). This Convex Interior Mapping Theorem is then applied to yield a short proof of the Caratheodory-John Multiplier Rule for minimizing a strongly differentiable function φ0 subject to strongly differentiable inequality constraints φ1 ⩽ 0,…, φp ⩽ 0 strongly differentiable equality constraints φp + 1 = 0,…, φp + q= 0. (A corollary of this fundamental multiplier rule is the well-known Karush-Kuhn-Tucker theorem.) The demonstration proceeds by examining interiority properties of the mapping Φ = (φ0, φ1,…, φp + q) from U into Rp + q +1.
Towards a practical mould growth risk indicator

The most dominant moisture-related problem in buildings is mould growth. Although recent research has established the causal, physical biological relationships between moisture content, temperature...
Nanocomposite Co/SiO/sub 2/ soft magnetic materials

Nanocomposite Co/sub x//(SiO/sub 2/)/sub 1-x/ soft magnetic materials with Co volume fractions, x, from 0.4 to 0.9 were synthesized by a wet chemical approach, followed by consolidation into toroidal samples. The powder samples consisted of single-domain Co nanoparticles with the fcc structure, coated by thin amorphous SiO/sub 2/ shells. The measured saturation magnetization was consistent with the expected value from the Co volume fraction, indicating the completion of the chemical reaction. The initial complex permeability value obtained from a toroidal sample showed an essentially flat frequency response from 10 Hz to 240 MHz, with a quality factor greater than 30. The results show that the Co/SiO/sub 2/ nanocomposite system is very promising as a high frequency soft magnetic material.
Morning-evening variation in human brain metabolism and memory circuits

It has been posited that a critical function of sleep is synaptic renormalization following a net increase in synaptic strength during wake. We hypothesized that wake would alter the resting-state functional organization of the brain and increase its metabolic cost. To test these hypotheses, two experiments were performed. In one, we obtained morning and evening resting-state functional MRI scans to assess changes in functional brain organization. In the second experiment, we obtained quantitative positron emission tomography measures of glucose and oxygen consumption to assess the cost of wake. We found selective changes in brain organization. Most prominently, bilateral medial temporal regions were locally connected in the morning but in the evening exhibited strong correlations with frontal and parietal brain regions involved in memory retrieval. We speculate that these changes may reflect aspects of memory consolidation recurring on a daily basis. Surprisingly, these changes in brain organization occurred without increases in brain metabolism.
Enhanced repair of pyrimidine dimers in coding and non-coding genomic sequences in CHO cells expressing a prokaryotic DNA repair gene.

We have previously demonstrated that the active dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene is efficiently repaired in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells which remove only a small fraction of u.v.-induced pyrimidine dimers from the overall genome. Preferential DNA repair of essential genes may explain why the u.v. resistance of normal CHO cells is as high as that of fully repair-proficient normal human cells. In this report, we have studied the removal of pyrimidine dimers in a CHO cell line expressing the cloned denV gene from bacteriophage T4 which codes for the pyrimidine dimer specific enzyme T4 endonuclease V (T4 endo V). This cell line was derived from a u.v.-sensitive excision deficient mutant of a CHO wild type line by transformation with the denV gene, and partial restoration of u.v. resistance was achieved. We have examined an important aspect of the u.v. excision repair in these denV+ cells by studying the repair efficiencies in the active DHFR gene and in a non-coding sequence located downstream from it. In the u.v.-sensitive CHO mutant cell line from which the denV+ was derived, we detected no pyrimidine dimer removal from the gene or from the downstream sequence after irradiation of the cells with 20 J/m2 u.v. (254 nm) light. In the wild type CHO cells, approximately 50% of the pyrimidine dimers were removed from a sequence in the DHFR gene within 8 h, whereas none were removed from the downstream sequence in that period. This represents the normal pattern of preferential DNA repair of active genes, which we have described in previous communications. In the denV+ cells, approximately 70% of the pyrimidine dimers were removed from both the DHFR gene and from the downstream sequence; these cells thus repair both coding and non-coding regions of the genome and show no pattern of preferential repair. The endogenous activity that initiates excision repair in normal CHO cells is evidently much more restricted in its accessibility to DNA lesions in chromatin than is the activity in cells containing substantial amounts of the small T4 endo V enzyme.
The in vivo role of nuclear receptor corepressors in thyroid hormone action

Abstract Background The thyroid hormone receptor (TR) isoforms interact with a variety of coregulators depending upon the availability of T3 to mediate their transcriptional effect. Classically, in the absence of ligand, the TRs recruit the nuclear corepressors, NCoR and SMRT, to mediate transcriptional repression on positively regulated TR target genes. However, new insight into the roles of NCoR and SMRT using in vivo models have better defined the role of nuclear corepressors both in the absence and presence of T3. Scope of review This review will place the variety of in vivo nuclear corepressor mouse models developed to date in context of thyroid hormone action. Based on these models, we will also discuss how corepressor availability together with the levels of endogenous nuclear receptor ligands including T3 controls multiple signaling pathways. Major conclusions Nuclear corepressors mediate repression of positive TR targets in the absence of T3 in vivo. Even more importantly they attenuate activation of these targets at the normal physiological levels of ligands by TR and other nuclear receptors. While the role of corepressors in the regulation of negative TR targets and HPT axis remains poorly understood, lack of corepressor recruitment to TR in the animals leads to a compensatory change in the set point of HPT axis that allows to balance the increased sensitivity to T3 action in other tissues. General significance Available data indicate that targeting specific interactions between corepressors and TR or other nuclear receptors presents a new therapeutic strategy for endocrine and metabolic disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Thyroid hormone signalling.
An Equilibrium-Point Interpretation of Stable Sets and a Proposed Alternative Definition

The paper argues that the von Neumann-Morgenstern definition of stable sets is unsatisfactory because it neglects the destabilizing effect of indirect dominance relations. This argument is supported both by heuristic considerations and by construction of a bargaining game B(G), formalizing the bargaining process by which the players agree on their payoffs from an n-person cooperative game G. (G itself is assumed to be given in characteristic-function form allowing side payments.) The strategies ρi, the players use in this bargaining game will determine which payoff vectors x will be stationary, i.e., will have the property that, should such a payoff vector x be proposed to the players, all further bargaining will stop and x will be accepted as the outcome of the game. It will be suggested that a stable set should be defined as the set V of all stationary payoff vectors x, on the assumption that the players' bargaining strategies p, will form a canonical equilibrium point ρ in the bargaining game B(G). In ...
Preference and Expectation for Treatment Assignment in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Once- vs Twice-weekly Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain.

Background:In studies involving nonpharmacological complementary and alternative medicine interventions, participant blinding is very difficult. Participant expectations may affect perceived benefi...
Quantitative analysis of gene expression by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography.

We have analyzed the utility of ion-pair reversed-phase HPLC for gene quantification by competitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Competitive RT-PCR reactions employed various RNA competitors which shared high sequence similarity to the native transcripts for which they served as references. Competitive reactions resulted in the detection of two reaction products when reactions were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, but three products when analyzed by HPLC. The third product was demonstrated to be a heteroduplex formed between mixed strands of native and competitor amplicons. Mathematical analysis of these competitive reactions indicated that identification and quantification of the heteroduplexes were essential to produce accurate gene quantification. PCR amplification efficiency was shown to be identical for native and competitor transcripts. However, RT efficiency differences were observed which may be sequence dependent. These differences were highly consistent across reactions for the same native and competitor inputs. Increasing the sequence similarity resulted in a competitor which had the same RT efficiency as the native transcript. Titration of various levels of competitor against native RNA resulted in the expected linear relationships which had slopes of unity. Quantitation could be performed with similar precision in single tube comparisons in which the initial abundance of the native transcript was calculated by knowledge of the final reaction product ratio and the initial competitor input level. The assay system is highly accurate, i.e. the measured level of gene expression reflected the actual copy number of the gene present in the sample. This was demonstrated by performing reactions in which known amounts of native transcript were quantified and the amount estimated by the assay was shown to be the same as the known amount added to the reaction. A similar approach has been devised for examining the relative levels of alternatively spliced isoforms. In this system, primers were selected to produce reaction products which served as their own internal competitors (by spanning the alternative splice site). Hormonal dependence of the ratio of abundance of two isoforms of the rabbit RUSH-1 gene was demonstrated.
The Importance of Context in Explaining Human Capital Formation and Labor Force Participation of American Indians in Rosebud County, Montana

In response to recent recommendations to incorporate social, political, and cultural contexts into employment and poverty analyses for minority populations, this paper draws on several sources and types of data to examine the human capital and labor force participation patterns of Northern Cheyenne Indians and non-Indians in Rosebud County, Montana. Discussions utilizing human capital and economic organization data contribute to clarifying differences in poverty levels of the two populations. However, the "embeddedness" approach utilizes ethnographic data and recent analyses of schooling to illuminate the social and cultural relations affecting Northern Cheyenne employment patterns as well as the methods by which individuals, families, and communities adapt to the recent declines in economic opportunity and wages on the reservation. Such discussions suggest the need to reconsider policies designed to address American Indian human capital formation and economic development needs.