cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spreading kinetics of liquid drops on solids

Abstract During spreading of a liquid drop on a solid surface, there is an initial stage where several factors can be important, then a stage where gravity and fluid viscosity are the chief factors promoting and resisting spreading, and finally a stage where intermolecular forces at the drop's periphery replace gravity as the main factor causing spreading. Approximate analyses for the last two stages are developed. The results are in excellent agreement with available experimental data on spreading rates. The use of intermolecular forces acting throughout a finite region near the drop's edge is superior to the use of a line force acting at the edge itself in predicting experimental spreading rates for the last stage.
Use of synthetic signal sequences to explore the protein export machinery

The information for correct localization of newly synthesized proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes resides in self-contained, often transportable targeting sequences. Of these, signal sequences specify that a protein should be secreted from a cell or incorporated into the cytoplasmic membrane. A central puzzle is presented by the lack of primary structural homology among signal sequences, although they share common features in their sequences. Synthetic signal peptides have enabled a wide range of studies of how these "zipcodes" for protein secretion are decoded and used to target proteins to the protein machinery that facilitates their translocation across and integration into membranes. We review research on how the information in signal sequences enables their passenger proteins to be correctly and efficiently localized. Synthetic signal peptides have made possible binding and crosslinking studies to explore how selectivity is achieved in recognition by the signal sequence-binding receptors, signal recognition particle, or SRP, which functions in all organisms, and SecA, which functions in prokaryotes and some organelles of prokaryotic origins. While progress has been made, the absence of atomic resolution structures for complexes of signal peptides and their receptors has definitely left many questions to be answered in the future.
Design of a randomized trial of diabetes genetic risk testing to motivate behavior change: The Genetic Counseling/Lifestyle Change (GC/LC) Study for Diabetes Prevention:

Background The efficacy of diabetes genetic risk testing to motivate behavior change for diabetes prevention is currently unknown. Purpose This paper presents key issues in the design and implementation of one of the first randomized trials (The Genetic Counseling/Lifestyle Change (GC/LC) Study for Diabetes Prevention) to test whether knowledge of diabetes genetic risk can motivate patients to adopt healthier behaviors. Methods Because individuals may react differently to receiving ‘higher’ vs ‘lower’ genetic risk results, we designed a 3-arm parallel group study to separately test the hypotheses that: (1) patients receiving ‘higher’ diabetes genetic risk results will increase healthy behaviors compared to untested controls, and (2) patients receiving ‘lower’ diabetes genetic risk results will decrease healthy behaviors compared to untested controls. In this paper we describe several challenges to implementing this study, including: (1) the application of a novel diabetes risk score derived from genetic epidemiology studies to a clinical population, (2) the use of the principle of Mendelian randomization to efficiently exclude ‘average’ diabetes genetic risk patients from the intervention, and (3) the development of a diabetes genetic risk counseling intervention that maintained the ethical need to motivate behavior change in both ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ diabetes genetic risk result recipients. Results Diabetes genetic risk scores were developed by aggregating the results of 36 diabetes-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms. Relative risk for type 2 diabetes was calculated using Framingham Offspring Study outcomes, grouped by quartiles into ‘higher’, ‘average’ (middle two quartiles) and ‘lower’ genetic risk. From these relative risks, revised absolute risks were estimated using the overall absolute risk for the study group. For study efficiency, we excluded all patients receiving ’average’ diabetes risk results from the subsequent intervention. This postrandomization allocation strategy was justified because genotype represents a random allocation of parental alleles (‘Mendelian randomization’). Finally, because it would be unethical to discourage participants to participate in diabetes prevention behaviors, we designed our two diabetes genetic risk counseling interventions (for ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ result recipients) so that both groups would be motivated despite receiving opposing results.
Biosynthesis, Processing, and Subcellular Localization of Rat Spermβ-d-Galactosidase

Abstract During spermatogenesis, spermatids synthesize constituent proteins present in mature spermatozoa; however, little information exists on the molecular processes involved. In previous studies, this laboratory reported the characterization of rat sperm β-d-galactosidase. In this paper, we report the localization of this enzyme along with its biosynthesis and processing. An antibody against rat luminal fluid β-d-galactosidase was used to immunolocalize the enzyme in the testis and in epididymal spermatozoa. We found that β-d-galactosidase is localized within the acrosomal cap of spermatids and in the acrosome and cytoplasmic droplet of epididymal spermatozoa. A combination of germ cell radiolabeling, immunoprecipitation, SDS-PAGE, and autoradiography revealed that spermatids produce two forms of β-d-galactosidase, 90 and 88 kDa. During pulse-chase analysis, a 56-kDa form appeared. Treatment of β-d-galactosidase immunoprecipitates from testicular spermatozoa with N-glycanase or Endo H revealed that bo...
Horsehair Worms (Gordius robustus) in Nests of the Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana): Evidence for Anti-Predator Avoidance?

Hairworms (Nematomorpha: Gordiida) are internal parasites that alter the behavior of their terrestrial insect host, forcing it to enter the water to reach its reproductive habitat. After reproduction of the free-living adults, the larvae encyst in aquatic insects and are retained upon metamorphosis of the insect into an adult fly. This paratenic host links the aquatic and terrestrial environments after its consumption by omnivorous or predatory insects. Therefore, hairworms are usually only associated with invertebrates, and few reports discuss hairworm interactions with vertebrate species. Here, we report on the finding of horsehair worms in nests of a cavity-nesting bird species in Los Alamos County, New Mexico. From 2004 to 2008, 7 nests within nest boxes occupied by the western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) contained 8 hairworms that were identified as Gordius robustus. All of the nest boxes with worms were less than 100 m from stagnant or low-flowing streams. The most likely explanation for the presence of the worms in the nests is that worms engaged in anti-predator avoidance after their insect hosts were collected and before digestion by nestling birds.
DC electrical breakdown of water in a sub-micron planar gap

Water breakdown subjected to uniform DC electric field in 300 nm planar gaps is experimentally studied. Test devices with microstrip line configurations are fabricated through nanofabrication technology and the results show that water breakdown occurs at ∼ 100 kV/cm electric field under current system setup. The initiation process of water breakdown in a small gap is discussed. It is most likely being initialized by pre-existed bubbles or bubbles generated from electrolysis of water. Electrode surface roughness is examined and its effect on observed water breakdown is investigated. Therefore, the process for electrode fabrication needs to be carefully chosen and the fabrication procedures need to be optimized to provide smooth surfaces without sharp tips or micro protrusions in future water breakdown investigations.
After Enron Integrating Ethics into the Professional Communication Curriculum

Recent scandals in the business community have alerted professional writing teachers to the importance of highlighting ethics in the curriculum. From former experiences in teaching courses emphasiz...
The study of public administration in India, the Philippines, Canada and Australia: the universal struggle against epistemic colonization, and toward critical assimilation

The study of public administration has been characterized as a strong international focus, as both governments and scholars have sought to learn from the experience of other societies. While in a perfect world, one would expect a sort of pragmatic universalism, instead, many scholars tend to bring lessons from one country, or from a single cultural reality. This modest contribution lies in showing a series of national experiences rarely brought to the discourse about public administration in Brazil: Canada, Australia, India and the Philippines. Special emphasis will be given to the following: the origins and the development of public administration; the influence of ideology; and the complex tension between global theory and local practices.
A generic revision of the Acanthocerini (Hemiptera: Coreidae: Coreinae)

Abstract The genera of the neotropical coreid tribe Acanthocerini are redescribed, and their phylogeny analyzed cladistically. Schaeferocoris ecuadorensis gen. nov. et sp. nov. is described from Ecuador. Included genera are Acanthocerus, Athaumastus, Camptischium. Crinocerus, Dersagrena, Ela‐chisme, Euthochtha, Golema, Machlima, Sagotylus, Schaeferocoris, Thlastocoris, and Zoreva. A key to these genera is presented.
Social Streams Blog Crawler

Weblogs, and other forms of social media, differ from traditional web content in many ways. One of the most important differences is the highly temporal nature of the content. Applications that leverage social media content must, to be effective, have access to this data with minimal publication/acquisition latency. An effective weblog crawler should satisfy the following requirements: low latency, highly scalable, high data quality and appropriate network politeness. In this paper, we outline the weblog crawler implemented in the social streams project and summarize the challenges faced during development.
Localized Lipid Packing of Transmembrane Domains Impedes Integrin Clustering

Integrin clustering plays a pivotal role in a host of cell functions. Hetero-dimeric integrin adhesion receptors regulate cell migration, survival, and differentiation by communicating signals bidirectionally across the plasma membrane. Thus far, crystallographic structures of integrin components are solved only separately, and for some integrin types. Also, the sequence of interactions that leads to signal transduction remains ambiguous. Particularly, it remains controversial whether the homo-dimerization of integrin transmembrane domains occurs following the integrin activation (i.e. when integrin ectodomain is stretched out) or if it regulates integrin clustering. This study employs molecular dynamics modeling approaches to address these questions in molecular details and sheds light on the crucial effect of the plasma membrane. Conducting a normal mode analysis of the intact αllbβ3 integrin, it is demonstrated that the ectodomain and transmembrane-cytoplasmic domains are connected via a membrane-proximal hinge region, thus merely transmembrane-cytoplasmic domains are modeled. By measuring the free energy change and force required to form integrin homo-oligomers, this study suggests that the β-subunit homo-oligomerization potentially regulates integrin clustering, as opposed to α-subunit, which appears to be a poor regulator for the clustering process. If α-subunits are to regulate the clustering they should overcome a high-energy barrier formed by a stable lipid pack around them. Finally, an outside-in activation-clustering scenario is speculated, explaining how further loading the already-active integrin affects its homo-oligomerization so that focal adhesions grow in size.
Combining cluster sampling with single pass methods for efficient sampling regimen design

Microarchitectural simulation is orders of magnitude slower than native execution. As more elements are accurately modeled, problems associated with slow simulation are further exacerbated. Given these issues, many researchers have devised sampling techniques to reduce simulation time. When cluster sampling techniques are used, care must be taken to remove sampling and non-sampling biases. Researchers have devised clever methods for effectively reducing non-sampling bias, but little work has been proposed for efficient reduction of sampling bias (sampling regimen design). Traditionally, sampling regimen design has been an iterative process that required a full workload simulation for error comparison. In this study, a single-pass simulation technique for sampling regimen design is proposed. Using this method, thousands of sampling regimen candidates can be simultaneously evaluated. With this technique, simulation speed was increased by an average factor of 17 with a maximum increase of 73 times relative to the total workload simulation. Additionally, this technique allows the user to effectively estimate the sample error without running the entire workload.
NMR Spin lattice relaxation study of Cs1−x(NH4)XH2PO4

Abstract Spin-lattice relaxation time T1 for 31P was measured as a function of temperature at 28.2 MHz in a powder sample of Cs1-x (NH4) x H2PO4 (CADP) crystallized from a solution with a molar ratio x = 0.2. This crystal has the same structure as CsH2PO4 (CDP), which exhibits a low-temperature pseudo-one-dimensional ferroelectric phase transition at 159 K and a superionic transition at 504 K on heating. The measured temperature dependence is explained in terms of hydrogen bond dynamics.
De Patria Mea: The Passion for Place as the Thread Leading Out of the Labyrinth of Life

How intriguing it sounds, when we think of it: “inhabiting” the earth, “dwelling” upon the earth — as if the living being, the human being too, and earth were two separate spheres, the one of individual life, the other of an indifferent “entity,” a planet. It is as if the living being could also inhabit or dwell elsewhere, on some other planet, in an unknown neutral sphere. We ask ourselves, indeed, whether there are other planets favorable to the existence of life, and other intelligent beings there. Does this mean that the human being needs to “occupy space” for his/her existence? Does the human being need to “have a place” in which to establish him/herself? Would then “space” and “place” be a middle term between the earth and the living being? Or, rather, would “spacing” and “placing” as such constitute one of the primogenital modalities of life?
Once-Daily Amoxicillin for Pharyngitis

A once-daily antibiotic regimen for group A β-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis (GABHS) could improve compliance and be effective in the prevention of rheumatic fever, a dangerous complication of untreated or poorly treated GABHS. Amoxicillin is ideal for once-daily dosing due to its low cost. Azithromycin, cefadroxil, ceftibuten, cefixime and extended release amoxicillin are also FDA approved to treat GABHS once daily; however, even when taken for short courses, these antibiotics are more expensive compared with a oncedaily dosing of conventional amoxicillin for 10 days. The American Heart Association recently recommended once-daily amoxicillin dosing when treating GABHS, and amoxicillin has been proven to be effective when dosed once daily, with no obvious disadvantage compared with twice-daily dosing or with conventional penicillin treatment 3 to 4 times daily.
The association between AIDS‐related stigma and aggression toward gay men and lesbians

This study examined whether self-identified race and prior contact with a gay man or lesbian moderate the association between AIDS-related stigma and aggression toward gay men and lesbians when controlling for sexual prejudice. A regional, community-recruited sample of 194 heterosexual men (50% Black, 50% White) completed measures of AIDS-related stigma, sexual prejudice, and prior contact with gay men and lesbians. Regression analyses showed that AIDS-related stigma was positively associated with aggression toward gay men and lesbians among White men who reported no prior contact, but not among White men who endorsed prior contact and Black men regardless of prior contact. FINDINGS suggest that intergroup contact may be a key component to reducing the effects of AIDS-related stigma towards stigmatized groups. Implications for aggression theory and intervention are discussed. Aggr. Behav. 9999:XX-XX, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Language: en
Intraspecific variation in collective behaviors drives interspecific contests in acorn ants

Intraspecific variation in behavior has largely been neglected by community ecologists to date. Recently, however, a number of studies demonstrated that intraspecific variation can have profound consequences for species interactions and thereby alter community dynamics in solitary organisms. Here, we study how intraspecific variation in collective behaviors (also called "collective personalities") affects the outcome of resource contests between 2 co-occurring species of ants, Temnothorax longispinosus and T. curvispinosus. Our results revealed that intraspecific variation in colonies’ exploration behavior and aggressiveness predicts the outcome of interspecific contests for food and nest sites. How exploratory behavior affected the outcome of the foraging and nest site contests depended on the species: exploratory behavior seemed to enhance performance in foraging contests in T. curvispinosus but diminish it in T. longispinosus. More interestingly, whether a species was successful in nest site contests depended not only on its collective personality but also on the personality of its opponent colony. Temnothorax longispinosus experienced greater success if its opponent colony had similar exploratory tendencies to its own. In contrast, T. curvispinosus performed best when its opponent colony exhibited a contrasting exploratory tendency to its own. Our data demonstrate that intraspecific variation in colony behavior can have consequences for contest outcomes and ensure that no one species or behavioral strategy consistently experiences superior success. This, in turn, might help to maintain variation in collective behavior in multiple interacting populations and prevent competitive exclusion of one of the species.
Chemostratigraphy of Sediments in Benin West -1, Benin Flank: Paleoenvironmental Implications

Chemostratigraphical study was carried out on sediments of Benin west -1 well in order to understand their paleoenvironmental setting and geochemical zonations. Six chemozones (CHM 1, CHM 2, CHM 3, CHM 4, CHM 5 and CHM 6) were recognized in the stratigraphic column. Sedimentological attributes and maxima peaks and / or fluctuating trends of Zn, SiO 2 , K 2 O, Sr adjudged CHM 3 zone as a potential lowstand systems tract. Synergy of sedimentological and chemostratigraphical fingerprints suggests a marine to distributary channel environment of deposition.
Ultrasonographic findings of pregnancy losses after treatment for recurrent pregnancy loss: intravenous immunoglobulin versus placebo

Objective To describe the ultrasonographic findings of pregnancies that terminated in repeat abortion in women participating in an ongoing randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of intravenous (IV) immunoglobulin (Ig) in the treatment of recurrent spontaneous abortion (SA). Design A prospective descriptive study of ultrasonographic findings of pregnancies from 27 women experiencing repeated recurrent SAs after entry into a clinical trial. Setting Clinical practice at the Genetics & IVF Institute in Fairfax, Virginia. Patients Women experiencing two or more consecutive recurrent SAs received either 500mg/kg per mo IV Ig or placebo (albumin). To date 90 women have been enrolled in the clinical trial and 52 have achieved pregnancy. The outcome of the 52 pregnancies include 16 deliveries, 9 ongoing pregnancies, and 27 losses. Interventions Ultrasonographic examinations performed in 27 women experiencing pregnancy loss are the subject of this study. Main Outcome Measures The frequency of ultrasonographic findings of empty gestational sac (blighted ovum) and intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) is compared between patients receiving IV Ig and placebo. Results Ultrasonographic findings of the 27 pregnancies losses included 11 blighted ova and 16 IUFDs. Of 11 blighted ova, 8 (73%) were in women receiving IV Ig and 3 (27%) were receiving placebo. Sixteen IUFDs were observed: 3 (19%) in women receiving IV Ig and 13 (81%) in women receiving placebo. Of 11 pregnancy losses occurring in women receiving IV Ig, 8 (73%) were blighted ova, 3 (27%) were IUFDs. Sixteen pregnancy losses occurred in women receiving placebo: 3 (19%) were blighted ova and 13 (81%) were IUFDs. The differences in frequency of blighted ova between IV Ig- and placebo-treated women was significant. Conclusion IV Ig is not effective in preventing blighted ova and may be effective in preventing IUFDs.
Debt callability and investment incentives

Abstract Contrary to existing theory, even in perfect markets (with symmetric information, no taxes, and competitive, transaction costless capital markets) callable debt can induce investment incentives that are inferior (as well as superior) to those induced by non-callable debt, the outcome depending on cash flow and interest rate distributions. We derive necessary conditions for callable debt to induce inferior investment decisions, and define the “Call-Default Condition” as the cash flow distortion where calling prevents default that would have occurred with non-callable debt. These results complicate the argument that investment incentives explain the presence of the call provision in debt contracts.
Effectiveness of anxiety management training in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: a preliminary report

This preliminary study investigated the effectiveness of anxiety management training (AMT), a coping skills treatment similar to systematic desensitization, in comparison to implosive therapy (IT), an exposure-based treatment, for treating six Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Clinician Administered PTSD Interview Scale (CAPS; Blake et al. (1988), The Behaviour Therapist, 18, 187-188) and a self-monitoring measure (Weathers et al., 1991) were used as dependent measures. A single-subject, multiple-baseline, crossover design (ABC/ACB) was employed. A new statistic for such designs (Mueser et al. (1991), Behaviour Modification, 15, 134-155), based on classical test theory, was used to assess treatment effects on intrusive war memories and avoidance of stimuli reminiscent of war. Within-subject results indicated that AMT and IT were similarly effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of intrusions and avoidance. This preliminary report therefore suggests that it may be productive to investigate multidimensional approaches (combining coping skills, exposure-based, and other approaches) to the treatment of combat-related PTSD as Foa et al. (1991), Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 715-723 and Nishith et al. (1995), Behaviour Therapy, 26, 319-335 have for rape-related PTSD.
Business–level process R&D: patterns and returns under different generic strategic orientations

The relationship of the intensity of business–level process research and development (R&D) and the return on investment (ROI) under different strategic orientations of 'differentiation' and 'cost leadership' was examined using a longitudinal covariance structure modelling method. It was found that there is a high level of stability associated with process R&D allocations. While this degree of stability creates some difficulty in significance testing, it was found that increases in business–level process R&D intensity have rather quick and ephemeral positive direct effects on ROI after the current year in all three strategic samples. However, by the fourth lagged year the direct effects become negative. While enhancements to process R&D are revealed to be dubious in terms of favourable ROI outcome in the aggregate, their influence is the most favourable in the sample pursuing a cost–leadership strategy.
Treatment of Cirrhosis-Associated Hyponatremia with Midodrine and Octreotide.

Background Hyponatremia in the setting of cirrhosis is a common electrolyte disorder with few therapeutic options. The free water retention is due to non-osmotic vasopressin secretion resulting from the cirrhosis-associated splanchnic vasodilatation. Therefore, vasoconstrictive therapy may correct this electrolyte abnormality. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of midodrine and octreotide as a therapeutic approach to increasing urinary electrolyte free water clearance (EFWC) in the correction of cirrhosis-associated hyponatremia. Methods This observational study consisted of 10 patients with cirrhosis-associated hyponatremia. Hypovolemia was ruled out as the cause of the hyponatremia with a 48-hour albumin challenge (25 gm IV q6 hrs). Patients whose hyponatremia failed to improve with albumin challenge were started on midodrine and octreotide at 10 mg po tid and 100 mcg sq tid respectively, with rapid up-titration as tolerated to respective maximal doses of 15 mg tid and 200 mcg tid within the first 24 hours. We assessed urinary electrolyte-free water clearance (EFWC) and serum sodium concentration before and 72 hours after treatment. Results Pre-treatment serum sodium levels ranged from 119 mmol/L to 133 mmol/L. The mean pre-treatment serum sodium concentration ± SEM was 124 mmol/L ± 1.6 vs. 130 mmol/L ± 1.5 post treatment (p = 0.00001). The mean pre-treatment urinary EFWC ± SEM was 0.33 L ± 0.07 vs 0.82 L ± 0.11 post treatment (p = 0.0003). Conclusion Our data shows a statistically significant increase in serum sodium concentration and urinary EFWC with the use of midodrine and octreotide in the treatment of cirrhosis-associated hyponatremia.
Motivations for Botanical Use by Socioeconomically Diverse, Urban Adults: Does Evidence Support Motivation?

Abstract Objective: The study objectives were to characterize botanical dietary supplement (BDS) use and to compare the motivations for botanical supplement (BS) use to the efficacy of the botanical in a socioeconomically and racially diverse urban adult population. Methods: Subjects were from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study, a 20-year prospective health disparities study with African American and white adults from Baltimore, Maryland. All study participants completed two dietary recalls and a dietary supplement (DS) questionnaire in Wave 3 (n = 2140). Diet quality was evaluated by the Healthy Eating Index-2010 and the Mean Adequacy Ratio for 17 micronutrients. A comparison of reported motivations to efficacy reported in the literature of single BS was conducted. Results: Approximately 50% (1062/2140) of participants took DS. Of these, 8% (n = 178) reported taking either BS or BDS. It was found that BDS users had better diet quality than DS users as well...
Phosphorylation Modulates Aspartyl-(Asparaginyl)-β Hydroxylase Protein Expression, Catalytic Activity and Migration in Human Immature Neuronal Cerebellar Cells.

Background: Abundant aspartyl-asparaginyl-β-hydroxylase (ASPH) expression supports robust neuronal migration during development, and reduced ASPH expression and function, as occur in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, impair cerebellar neuron migration. ASPH mediates its effects on cell migration via hydroxylation-dependent activation of Notch signaling networks. Insulin and Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) stimulate ASPH mRNA transcription and enhance ASPH protein expression by inhibiting Glycogen Synthase Kinase--3β (GSK-3β). This study examines the role of direct GSK-3β phosphorylation as a modulator of ASPH protein expression and function in human cerebellar-derived PNET2 cells.Methods: Predicted phosphorylation sites encoded by human ASPH were ablated by S/T→A site-directed mutagenesis of an N-Myc-tagged wildtype (WT) cDNA regulated by a CMV promoter. Phenotypic and functional features were assessed in transiently transfected PNET2 cells.Results: Cells transfected with WT ASPH had increased ASPH protein expression, directional motility, Notch-1 and Jagged-1 expression, and catalytic activity relative to control. Although most single- and multi-point ASPH mutants also had increased ASPH protein expression, their effects on Notch and Jagged expression, directional motility and adhesion, and catalytic activity varied such that only a few of the cDNA constructs conferred functional advantages over WT. Immunofluorescence studies showed that ASPH phosphorylation site deletions can alter the subcellular distribution of ASPH and therefore its potential interactions with Notch/Jagged at the cell surface.Conclusions: Inhibition of ASPH phosphorylation enhances ASPH protein expression, but attendant alterations in intra-cellular trafficking may govern the functional consequences in relation to neuronal migration, adhesion and Notch activated signaling.
Exploiting Alkylquinone Tautomerization for the Total Synthesis of Calothrixin A and B

The pentacyclic alkaloid calothrixin B (1) has been synthesized in 5 steps from murrayaquinone A (9). The key step involved the union of boryl aniline 31 with brominated murrayaquinone A (26). In this transformation, alkylquinone 26 undergoes tautomerization to a quinone methide, which is intercepted by boryl aniline 31 to forge a new C–N bond. An intramolecular Suzuki coupling, followed by dehydrogenative aromatization, completed the synthesis of calothrixin B. Subsequent N-oxidation of calothrixin B delivered calothrixin A. The successful synthesis of these alkaloids and the challenges that led to the development of the final synthesis plan are reported herein.
Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance and Detection

Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance and Detection (CSMA/CAD) is introduced and analyzed. The new protocol operates in a single channel and consists of taking advantage of self-interference cancellation to enable collision detection (CD) in the context of collision-avoidance (CA) handshakes in multi-hop wireless networks. It is shown that CSMA/CAD eliminates the collisions of data packets in the presence of hidden terminals. The throughput of CSMA/CAD is analyzed and compared with the throughput of CSMA, CSMA/CA, and dual busy-tone multiple access (DBTMA). The analysis results show that CSMA/CAD provides better performance than the other channel-access schemes aimed at combating hidden terminals, and that the throughput degradation due to hidden terminals in CSMA/CAD is limited compared to CSMA.
Temporal efficacy of neonicotinoid seed treatments against Frankliniella fusca on cotton

BACKGROUND Reports of neonicotinoid seed treatment (NST) failure against Frankliniella fusca in the mid-south and southeastern USA led to the discovery of widespread resistance in these insect populations. Previous studies of NSTs in other crops have shown the concentration of the insecticide to change over time, which could reduce its efficacy. To understand this temporal effect in cotton with F. fusca, our study examined how plant age alters the effects of NSTs (imidacloprid, imidacloprid + thiodicarb and thiamethoxam) by examining larval establishment at multiple seedling ages during the period of cotton seedling susceptibility to this insect. Additionally, we used F. fusca populations with differing neonicotinoid sensitivity levels to understand how resistance impacts this changing efficacy. RESULTS Greenhouse studies showed that larval numbers were significantly greater on older NST-grown cotton seedlings. The population with elevated neonicotinoid resistance had a more rapid increase in larval number on thiamethoxam-treated plants over time. CONCLUSION NSTs reduce the number of F. fusca larvae on younger seedlings, but this effect declines as seedlings age. The duration of efficacy is shorter against neonicotinoid-resistant populations. Neonicotinoid resistance in cotton-infesting F. fusca populations may be accelerated by this time-dependent decrease in efficacy, which likely encourages low-dose exposure to these insecticides. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Robust model predictive control of a catalytic autothermal methane reformer for fuel cell applications

Abstract Model uncertainty is an inseparable part of a methane reforming process since many of its main parameters describe microscale behavior. A robust control approach for a catalytic fuel reformer is presented to guarantee performance constraints are met even in the presence of model uncertainty. The control strategy is based on a recently developed sampling-based robust model predictive control (RMPC) with a new approach to capturing the uncertainty. Particular features of the control strategy is the use of a metric for coking susceptibility as a constraint on the inlet gas composition, a cost based metric for evaluating decisions on controller commands, and the ability to meet constraints on reactor temperature, outlet gas energy content, and hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio. Simulation results carried out in MATLAB on random plants show the constraints are met regardless the model uncertainty and measurement noise.
Proceedings of the 2nd ACM international conference on Wireless sensor networks and applications

Welcome to the Second International Workshop on Wireless Sensor Networks and Applications (WSNA 2003), in San Diego, on September 19, 2003. WSNA 2003, sponsored by ACM SIGMOBILE, is held in conjunction with ACM MobiCom 2003 conference. This workshop is a forum for researchers and technologists to present new and innovative research results in wireless sensors, communication protocols, and applications of wireless sensor networks.The workshop is motivated by recent technological advances which have made it possible to design and build large-scale sensor networks containing hundreds to thousands of sensor nodes. Applications envisioned for such networks span several domains including military, environmental, medical, industrial, and smart in-building networks. Some of the key challenges deal with scaling protocols to large number of nodes, and designing energy-conserving protocols and sub-systems as well as appropriate programming and querying languages and information extraction techniques, and developing of exciting new applications that exploit the potential of wireless sensor networks. There are many ongoing research programs to address these challenges at Universities and research laboratories in United States, Europe, and Asia. Most of the funding agencies already have substantial programs and initiatives in this area.We were very pleased with the interest and enthusiasm shown by the research community in this workshop. We received over 60 submissions from across the world. Each paper was reviewed by at least three program committee members, with some assistance from external reviewers. Due to time and space constraints, the workshop could accept only eighteen papers - regrettably, we could not accept several good quality papers. The technical program is organized into five single-track sessions. We take this opportunity to thank the members of the Technical Program Committee and reviewers for their outstanding efforts.The success of this workshop depends on the contributions of many individuals. We would like to thank the workshop General Chairs Cauligi Raghavendra and Krishna Sivalingam for their support in the organizational matters. We also thank David B. Johnson, ACM MobiCom 2003 General Chair, and the ACM SIGMOBILE office members for their encouragement and their timely help. We are greatly indebted to Bhaskar Krishnamachari for doing a superb job with the workshop website and for his efforts in widely publicizing the workshop through various on-line mailing lists and other means. We thank the ACM staff members for their timely help in putting together the proceedings. Finally, on behalf of the Program Committee, we would like to extend our gratitude to the authors, session chairpersons, and the reviewers who contributed to this Workshop.
Anatomy of Gene Regulation: A Three-Dimensional Structural Analysis

No longer simple line drawings on a page, molecular structures can now be viewed in full-figured glory, often in color and even with interactive possibilities. Anatomy of Gene Regulation is the first book to present the parts and processes of gene regulation at the three-dimensional level. Vivid structures of nucleic acids and their companion proteins are revealed in full-color, three-dimensional form. Beginning with a general introduction to three-dimensional structures, the book looks at the organization of the genome, the structure of DNA, DNA replication and transcription, splicing, protein synthesis, and ultimate protein death. Throughout, the text employs a discussion of genetics and structural mechanics. The concise and unique synthesis of information will offer insight into gene regulation, and into the development of methods to interfere with regulation at diseased states. This textbook and its accompanying web site are appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate students in genetics, molecular biology, structural biology, and biochemistry courses.
Experimental Tests of the Alternative Theories

Since the postulation of the Na+ pump theory in the 1940s, the number of publications implicitly and explicitly based on this view has been enormous. The most important evidence in support of the membrane pump theory was collected largely in the 1950s and early 1960s and is reviewed here.
Logic for Situated Action

Recognition of the radial structure of concepts, and the role that prototype conceptual structures play in human reasoning, has been a vital innovation within cognitive science during the last half of the twentieth century (Lakoff 1987; Rosch and Lloyd 1978). However, the larger implications of this insight have yet to be fully realized. The concept of a cognitive prototype was generated largely from empirical research, so one way of describing the undeveloped potential, is that the utilization of prototype concepts within active, dynamic reasoning processes has yet to be adequately explored. Such an oversight is understandable, since research strategies that would identify reasoning processes in depth are more difficult to design than studies that document prototypes as a prevalent form of psychological (primarily recall) data.
History and Philosophy of Science: Necessary Partners or Merely Roommates?

Since the middle 1960’s philosophers and historians of science have been concerned with possible relations between philosophy and history of science, 1 and more particularly with answers to three questions: (i) How exactly should history of science be incorporated into the work of the philosopher of science, if at all? 2 (ii) What weight should be given to historical matters? (iii) To what extent ought history of science be regarded as normative? As these questions were raised and answers formulated, it became apparent that deeper questions needed to be discussed. What are the central tasks of philosophy of science? What is the ontological nature of science? What is the primary concern of a philosopher qua philosopher? 3 Many began to argue that philosophy of science, as it had been conceived was not a neutral meta-discipline pursuing pure interests, but rather involved a set of assumptions about the nature of knowledge and the analysis of its structure—assumptions, indeed, which many felt were wrong and should be abandoned. 4
Visual Outcome and Millimeter Incremental Risk of Metastasis in 1780 Patients With Small Choroidal Melanoma Managed by Plaque Radiotherapy.

Importance Early detection of choroidal melanoma at a small tumor size is emphasized in the literature. However, there is little published information on the specific risks of plaque-irradiated small choroidal melanoma on visual acuity and metastasis. Objective To analyze outcomes of plaque radiotherapy for small choroidal melanoma 3 mm in thickness or less. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective noncomparative series at a tertiary referral center included 1780 consecutive patients who had received plaque radiotherapy treatment for small choroidal melanoma. Main Outcomes and Measures Visual acuity outcomes and melanoma-associated metastasis, assessed by Kaplan-Meier analyses. Results The mean (SD) patient age at melanoma diagnosis was 58 (14) years. Of 1780 patients, 908 were female (51.0%), and 1752 were white (98.4%). Visual acuity was 20/40OU or better in 1276 of the patients (71.7%), and the mean (SD) visual acuity was 20/40 (20/50)OU (median, 20/30; range, 20/20 to counting fingers). The mean (SD) tumor basal dimension was 8.8 (2.9) mm (median, 8.0 mm; range, 2.0-20.0 mm) and mean (SD) tumor thickness was 2.6 (0.5) mm (median, 2.7; range, 0.2-3.4 mm). Mean (SD) distance to the foveola was 3.4 (3.9) mm and to the optic disc was 3.7 (3.7) mm. The Kaplan-Meier rate of visual acuity loss (≥3 Snellen lines) was 9.5% (95% CI, 8.2%-11.0%) at 1 year, 39.2% (95% CI, 36.5%-42.0%) at 5 years, and 48.9% (95% CI, 45.6%-52.3%) at 10 years, whereas poor visual acuity (≤20/200) was 7.1% (95% CI, 5.9%-8.4%) at 1 year, 38.2% (95% CI, 35.5%-41.1%) at 5 years, and 53.5% (95% CI, 50.1%-57.1%) at 10 years. Regarding melanoma-associated metastasis, the rate was 0.2% (95% CI, 0.09%-0.6%) at 1 year, 4.5% (95% CI, 3.4%-5.9%) at 5 years, and 8.8% (95% CI, 6.9%-11.1%) at 10 years. Using 1.0-mm thickness increments, the 10-year risk for metastasis was 25.0% (95% CI, 3.9%-87.2%) at 0-mm to 1.0-mm thickness, 5.9% (95% CI, 2.5%-13.5%) at 1.1-mm to 2.0-mm thickness, 8.1% (95% CI, 5.9%-11.0%) at 2.1-mm to 3.0-mm thickness, and 13.4% (95% CI, 8.7%-20.4%) at thicknesses greater than 3.0 mm. The greater relative risk (RR) for metastasis in thinnest tumors was 1.83 (95% CI, 1.09-3.07), which likely represented more aggressive diffuse (flat) melanoma. By multivariable analysis, clinical features predictive of melanoma-associated metastasis included increasing patient age (RR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.07-1.63] per decade;P = .01), tumor diameter (RR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.06-1.24] per mm;P Conclusions and Relevance This retrospective study suggests that small choroidal melanoma treated with plaque radiotherapy has a 10-year risk for visual acuity loss of 48.9% (95% CI, 45.6%-52.3%) and a 10-risk of systemic metastasis of 8.8% (95% CI, 6.9%-11.1%). In this analysis, each millimeter of increasing thickness and diameter contributed risk for metastatic disease.
Anthrax Exposure, Belief in Exposure, and Postanthrax Symptoms Among Survivors of a Bioterrorist Attack on Capitol Hill.

BackgroundFollowing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear disasters, medically unexplained symptoms have been observed among unexposed persons.ObjectivesThis study examined belief in exposure in relation to postdisaster symptoms in a volunteer sample of 137 congressional workers after the 2001 anthrax attacks on Capitol Hill.MethodsPostdisaster symptoms, belief in exposure, and actual exposure status were obtained through structured diagnostic interviews and self-reported presence in offices officially designated as exposed through environmental sampling. Multivariate models were tested for associations of number of postdisaster symptoms with exposure and belief in exposure, controlling for sex and use of antibiotics.ResultsThe sample was divided into 3 main subgroups: exposed, 41%; unexposed but believed they were exposed, 17%; and unexposed and did not believe that they were exposed, 42%. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the volunteers reported experiencing symptoms after the anthrax attacks. Belief in anthrax exposure was significantly associated with the number of ear/nose/throat, musculoskeletal, and all physical symptoms. No significant associations were found between anthrax exposure and the number of postdisaster symptoms.ConclusionsGiven the high incidence of these symptoms, these data suggest that even in the absence of physical injury or illness, there may be surges in health care utilization. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:555-560)
Measurement of charge exchange between Na and Ca + in a hybrid trap

We present measurements of the charge-exchange reaction rate between neutral sodium (Na) and ionized calcium (${\mathrm{Ca}}^{+}$) in a hybrid atom-ion trap, which is comprised of a Na magneto-optical trap concentric with a linear Paul trap. Once the Na and ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{+}$ are co-trapped, the reaction rate is measured by continuously quenching the reaction product ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ from the ion trap, and then destructively measuring the decay of the remaining ion population. The reactants' electronic state and temperature are experimentally controlled, allowing us to determine the four individual reaction rates between $\text{Na}[S\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}\text{or}\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}P]$ and ${\text{Ca}}^{+}[S\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}\text{or}\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}D]$ at different collision energies. With the exception of the largest reaction-rate channel ($\text{Na}[P]+{\text{Ca}}^{+}[D]$), our rates are consistent with the classical Langevin rate limit. We have also found evidence of reactant collision-energy thresholds associated with two of the four entrance channels.
A Broadband Technique for Couplant-Corrected Pulse-Echo Measurements in a Large Volume Pressure Cell

Ultrasound Pulse-Echo measurements are widely used to determine highly accurate sound speeds and elastic moduli. The most accurate of these measurements accounts for the effect of the acoustic couplant used between a buffer rod and a sample to promote energy transfer through the interface. However, the data acquisition traditionally required for this correction can be time consuming, lasting tens of minutes. This time consumption limits the usability of this approach for measurements on dynamic systems or where time resolved measurements are desired. This work reports on the development and demonstration of a broadband ultrasound pulse-echo technique which enables the frequency dependent couplant correction to be made with data acquisition times that are 20–30 times faster than the traditional approach. The technique is demonstrated on measurements of samples inside a large volume pressure cell. Such measurements enable the determination of the pressure dependence of sound speeds and thus a material's Third Order Elastic Constants, needed for the design of acoustic wave devices intended for high acceleration environments.
Comparisons of Geochemical Signatures of Biotransformation of Fuel Hydrocarbons in Groundwater

Biotransformation processes play an active role in reducing the environmental impact of fuel hydrocarbon releases to groundwater. Because monitoring data at release locations are typically sparse, spatial variations in geochemical indicator parameters are often called upon as indirect evidence of biotransformation. These parameters include concentrations of electron acceptors (O2, NO3 -, SO> 4 2- , reduced redox reaction by-products (Fe2+, Mn2+, CH4), as well as bicarbonate alkalinity, pH and Eh. However, background variability in a number of these parameters complicates the task of data interpretation, particularly in the case of small data sets. In this study, correlation analyses are applied to geochemical indicator data at six hydrocarbon groundwater contamination sites in California to identify which parameters are the most reliable indicators. The results of the analyses suggest that the most direct indicators of the local redox environment – Fe2+, Mn2+, CH4, Eh – yield the most consistent evidence of hydrocarbon biotransformation. Indicators which rely largely on mass balance – O2, NO 3 - , SO 4 2- , alkalinity – appear to be less reliable. These findings may provide guidance in both the collection and interpretation of groundwater monitoring data at hydrocarbon contamination sites.