cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MRI Gadolinium Volume in Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy: A Novel Biomarker to Quantify Cerebral Inflammation and Predict Transplant Response.

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is caused by mutations within the X-linked ABCD1 gene resulting in the inability to transport acylated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) into the peroxisome for degradation. VLCFA subsequently accumulate in tissues, including the central nervous system. Up to 40% of boys develop a severe, progressive demyelinating form of ALD, cerebral ALD (cALD), resulting in regions of demyelination observed on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that are associated with a "garland ring" of gadolinium contrast enhancement. Gadolinium enhancement indicates blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption and an active inflammatory disease process. Only hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is accepted as therapy sufficient to halt neurologic progression and resolve the observed gadolinium enhancement, although the mechanism of disease arrest is unknown. We have previously shown that rapid donor neutrophil recovery after HCT facilitates MRI gadolinium resolution. We now show early (28 days post HCT) gadolinium resolution correlates well with improved neurologic outcomes measured 1-year post HCT. We recently developed a method to quantify gadolinium on imaging and calculate a gadolinium (Gad) volume given in cubic centimeters (cc). We evaluated Gad volume and other previously described imaging and transplant related biomarkers in 66 boys who underwent HCT. In univariate analysis we found day 28 gadolinium resolution was associated with the following pre-transplant parameters: less Gad volume (7.3 cc versus 2.7 cc, p=0.01), less Gad intensity (p=0.04) and less extensive demyelination as determined by the Loes MRI scoring system (p=0.03). In addition, resolution of Gad enhancement by day 28 was associated with lower pre-HCT plasma and cerebral spinal fluid chitotriosidase activity (p=0.04 for both), and faster neutrophil recovery post HCT (less than 16 days versus greater than 16 days, p=0.03). Multivariate analysis revealed that only less Gad volume was predictive of rapid gadolinium resolution at 28 days post HCT (p = 0.02). This is the first data to quantify the extent of cerebral inflammation in cALD as defined by Gad positivity and its resolution after HCT. Future studies should consider use of Gad volume prior to HCT as a useful biomarker for time to resolution.
Initial dynamic thermal dissipation modes enhance heat dissipation in gold nanoparticle–polydimethylsiloxane thin films

Plasmonic nanocomposite materials have exhibited value for applications ranging from biological hyperthermia to optical sensing and waveguiding. Energy absorbed from incident irradiation can be re-emitted as light or decay into phonons that propagate through the surrounding material and increase its temperature. Previous works have examined steady-state thermal dissipation resulting from irradiated plasmonic nanocomposites. This work shows heat dissipation in the first few seconds can significantly exceed that during subsequent steady state, depending on film geometry, nanoparticle diameter and concentration, laser irradiation power, and position within and adjacent to the irradiated spot. Films of lower thickness containing 16 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) irradiated at 13.5 mW laser power showed highest enhancement and tunability of the dynamic thermal mode within and adjacent to the irradiated spot. Measured initial nanocomposite film temperature in or near the irradiated spot exceeded that resulting from constant bulk film thermal dissipation. These results improve understanding of cooling dynamics of resonantly irradiated nanocomposite materials and guide development of devices with enhanced thermal dissipation dynamics.
Solid Papillary Breast Carcinoma Arising in the Male Axilla: A Case Report

Abstract Solid papillary carcinoma is a rare type of breast cancer, with an estimated incidence of 1% of all breast cancer cases. In this case report, a 64 year old male presented with a painless axillary mass. Wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy revealed solid papillary carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a solid papillary male breast cancer diagnosed from an axillary mass in the United States. We discuss solid papillary carcinoma of the breast and relevant literature.
Microbiota-antibody interactions that regulate gut homeostasis

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most abundant antibody at mucosal surfaces and has been the subject of many investigations involving microbiota research in the last decade. Although the classic functions of IgA include neutralization of harmful toxins, more recent investigations have highlighted an important role for IgA in regulating the composition and function of the commensal microbiota. Multiple reviews have comprehensively covered the literature that describes recent, novel mechanisms of action of IgA and development of the IgA response within the intestine. Here we focus on how the interaction between IgA and the microbiota promotes homeostasis with the host to prevent disease.
Número Completo Nº11

La Investigacion artistica en particular mantiene el norte, navegando con ojo humanista y reflexivo a traves de la inmensidad de nuestra existencia, desbordando los limites que la academia y lo cotidiano nos fijan, e indagando cual explorador que, mientras circunda lo que aparece, encuentra lo inesperado. Mientras muchos siguen buscando la separacion entre tecnica y teoria, la investigacion artistica se encarga de desfragmentar la realidad, con el fin de que los dialogos acerquen (o no desvinculen por defecto) la reflexion y la practica.
A Novel Systematic Representation of Reed-Muller Codes with an Application to Linear Block Feedback Encoding

Reed-Muller (RM) codes are an important and powerful class of codes with several applications in electrical engineering and computer science. In this work, we prove a useful property for RM codes namely that they admit a special systematic generator matrix where the parity component has embedded in it a surprisingly large triangle of zeros. Asymptotically, the size in sub-diagonals of this all-zero triangle is shown to approach the largest possible value ∆⋆ = min(K,N −K) where K and N are the code dimension and code length respectively. To demonstrate an application of this result, we introduce the concept of linear block feedback codes where an open loop codeword is combined linearly with the feedback signal during encoding at the transmitter. This is shown to allow strengthening of a weak code to be as good as any desired code. We then show that, by virtue of the above property of RM codes, they can be emulated from an uncoded system using linear feedback encoding against remarkably large feedback delays.
Grid impacts of highway electric vehicle charging and role for mitigation via energy storage

Abstract Highway fast-charging (HFC) stations for electric vehicles (EVs) are necessary to address range anxiety concerns and thus to support economy-wide decarbonization goals. The characteristics of HFC electricity demand – its relative inflexibility, high power requirements, and spatial concentration – have the potential to adversely impact grid operations as HFC infrastructure expands. Here, we investigate the impacts of scaled-up HFC infrastructure using an operations model of the 2033 Texas power grid with uniquely high spatial and temporal resolution. In the reference EV penetration case corresponding to 3 million passenger EVs on the road, we find that grid-HFC interactions increase system annual operational costs by 8%, or nearly $2 per MWh of load served. Greater impacts are observed for higher EV penetration cases. The high spatial resolution of the analysis reveals that the majority of increased costs can be attributed to transmission congestion on feeder lines serving a minority of HFC stations. Four-hour battery energy storage is shown to be more effective than demand flexibility as mitigation, due to the long duration of peak charging demand anticipated at HFC stations. Transmission network upgrades can also effectively mitigate grid-HFC interactions. Choosing the most effective mitigation strategy for each station requires a tailored approach.
Characterization of the Presence and Function of Platelet Opioid Receptors

Opioids are typically used for the treatment of pain related to disease or surgery. In the body, they enter the bloodstream and interact with a variety of immune and neurological cells that express...
Characterization and Transformation of reg Cluster Genes in Volvox powersii Enable Investigation of Convergent Evolution of Cellular Differentiation in Volvox

Abstract The evolution of germ-soma cellular differentiation represents a key step in the evolution of multicellular individuality. Volvox carteri and its relatives, the volvocine green algae, provide a model system for studying the evolution of cellular differentiation. In V. carteri, the regA gene controls somatic cell differentiation and is found in a group of paralogs called the reg cluster, along with rlsA, rlsB, and rlsC. However, the developmental program of V. carteri is derived compared to other volvocine algae. Here we examine Volvox powersii which possesses an ancestral developmental program and independent evolution of the Volvox body plan. We sequenced the reg cluster from V. powersii wild-type and a mutant with fewer cells and altered germ-soma ratio. We found that the mutant strain’s rlsB gene has a deletion predicted to cause a truncated protein product. We developed a genetic transformation procedure to insert wild-type rlsB into the mutant strain. Transformation did not result in phenotypic rescue, suggesting the rlsB mutation is insufficient for generating the mutant phenotype. The transformation techniques and sequences described here provide essential tools to study V. powersii, a species well suited for studying the evolution of cellular differentiation and convergent evolution of Volvox morphology.
Microprocessor Architecture: From Simple Pipelines to Chip Multiprocessors

This book gives a comprehensive description of the architecture of microprocessors from simple in-order short pipeline designs to out-of-order superscalars. It discusses topics such as - the policies and mechanisms needed for out-of-order processing such as register renaming, reservation stations, and reorder buffers - optimizations for high performance such as branch predictors, instruction scheduling, and load-store speculations - design choices and enhancements to tolerate latency in the cache hierarchy of single and multiple processors - state-of-the-art multithreading and multiprocessing emphasizing single chip implementations Topics are presented as conceptual ideas, with metrics to assess the performance impact, if appropriate, and examples of realization. The emphasis is on how things work at a black box and algorithmic level. The author also provides sufficient detail at the register transfer level so that readers can appreciate how design features enhance performance as well as complexity.
Effect of Exercise on Plasma Cholesterol and Phospholipids in College Swimmers

Abstract Young, healthy varsity swimmers were studied over a period of 14 months with regard to the effect of a typical training and competitive collegiate swimming program on plasma cholesterol and phospholipids. Chemical analyses on blood cholesterol and phospholipids were made and compared for competitive and noncompetitive seasons. A dietary analysis was also made during the competitive season. In both the original and subsequent study involving the current (1960–61) varsity swimmers analyses were made of the acute effect of physical exertion on plasma cholesterol and phospholipids. The exercise, used for conditioning varsity swimming athletes did not significantly lower blood cholesterol and phospholipids. However, this result is not necessarily at variance with the view of some investigators that exercise does exert a hypocholesterilizing effect. Several factors are discussed which are thought to have influenced ultimate results.
Eley-Rideal and hot atom reactions between H atoms on metal and graphite surfaces

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the Eley–Rideal (ER) and hot atom reactions between hydrogen (H) atoms on metal and graphite surfaces. It focuses on the theoretical analysis of experimental data. It considers the potential energy surface for H–metal and H + H/metal interactions and presents the results of recent electronic structure calculations. It examines the dynamics of the direct ER collision, using a simple flat-surface model, which contains the essential physics and allows for an exact quantum solution. The chapter explores the potential energy surfaces (PES) and summarizes the results from quantum and classical scattering studies. On metals, the H–substrate binding is of the order of 2 eV or more and trapping of the incident H onto the surface competes very effectively with direct ER reaction. Thus, cross sections for direct ER reaction on metals are typically small, less that 1 A 2 . As a result, when H-covered metal surfaces are exposed to beams of H atoms, much of the product H 2 formed can arise from hot atom processes.
Separation of xylose oligomers from autohydrolyzed Miscanthus × giganteus using centrifugal partition chromatography.

Abstract Autohydrolysis of cellulosic materials for saccharification generates xylose-oligosaccharides (XOS), due to the partial hydrolysis of xylan. Developing an efficient method for the separation and recovery of XOS from the prehydrolyzates would provide an excellent opportunity for the better utilization of the cellulosic material and for value-added co-product production. In this study, we investigated the use of centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) for the fractionation of XOS from Miscanthus × giganteus (M × G). During autohydrolysis of miscanthus biomass at 180 °C for 20 min, 63% of xylan was converted into XOS and xylose. The ensuing XOS concentrate contained up to 30% of XOS, which were distributed as 15.9% xylobiose (DP2), 5.9% xylotriose, (DP3), 5.6% xylotetraose (DP4), 0.8% xylopentaose (DP5) and 0.6% xylohexaose (DP6). The XOS concentrate was further fractionated by CPC with a solvent system composed of 4:1:4 (v/v/v) butanol:methanol:water. Using CPC techniques, 230 mg (80%) of DP2 to DP6 oligomers were fractionated from 1 g of XOS concentrate. The recoveries of individual XOS were 90.2% DP2, 64.5% DP3, 71.2% DP4, 61.9% DP5 and 68.9% DP6. The purities of DP2 to DP6 fractions were 61.9%, 63.2%, 44.5%, 31.5% and 51.3%, respectively. Presence of DP2 and DP3 in the CPC purified fractions was further validated by mass spectrometry analysis. The study provided information on fast recovery of individual XOS from crude biomass prehydrolyzate.
Large-Scale Group Collaboration Systems

This article focuses on current and emerging distributed platforms that support large-scale collaboration. These platforms include centralized web-based systems as well as distributed peer-to-peer applications. We describe different technologies used to build large-scale systems, the trade-offs each technology makes, and some existing systems. The rest of this article is organized as follows: The section “Types of Architectures” describes different types of distributed systems and how each can be used to build large scale collaborative environments. “Overview of Existing Systems” describes several existing systems with collaborative features. Finally, the conclusion summarizes the article and presents a look at possible future of collaborative systems. Keywords: collaboration; Facebook; MySpace; text messages; publish-subscribe systems; peer-to-peer systems; instant messaging; file sharing
A novel approach to nonleptonic weak hyperon decays

A phenomenological theory of nonleptonic hyperon decays is proposed which does not rely on octet dominance and onR orRP invariance. PostulatingSU3 symmetry and a certain space-time behavior, a minimalHwis uniquely obtained. AllS- andP-wave amplitudes are computed and expressed in terms of five parameters. Experimentally correct relations are deduced.
Kinetics of nitrogen and phosphorus release in varying food supplies by Daphnia magna

Rates of nitrogen and phosphorus release from individualDaphnia magna were determined by measuring ammonia and soluble reactive phosphorus in successive 10-min incubations in small (0.05 ml) vessels after the animals were removed from their food. Release rates of both nutrients were generally highest initially and decreased with time after removal. The ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus released increased with time after animals were removed from an artificial detritus/bacterial food; ratios were lower and changed with time less for animals fed algae. These data suggest errors may be introduced by assumptions of constant stoichiometry for nutrient release in varying environments.
Equal Respect and the Enforcement of Morality

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the question of when, if ever, the state may use coercion to enforce majority views about what types of conduct are right or wrong, noble or base, decent or indecent. Such interest has been generated by both political and philosophibal pressures. In recent political history, controversies over such issues as abortion, homosexuality, pornography, textbooks in schools, new reproductive technologies such as surrogate parenting and in vitro fertilization, and faith healing have focused attention on the role of the state in supporting or opposing various moral views. In political philosophy, often a theoretical reflection of the political debates of the time, we have seen renewed attempts to provide a satisfactory foundation for traditional liberal (in the sense of Millian) views of the legitimate scope of state power. In particular, there has been an emphasis on the neutrality of the liberal state and the right of individuals to be treated as equals by the state.
The End of Liberalism in the Administration of Social Casework

Problems of administering human service organizations derive from institutional as well as technical aspects of their environments. In contrast to the recent emphasis on the technical problems of "implementation " and "street-level bureaucracy, " this case study of special education and foster care policy emphasizes instead the institutional problems of interest group liberalism. Besides applying the "end of liberalism "thesis to new policy areas, it attempts to extend that thesis by describing behavioral implications for public bureaucrats. P.L. 93-647, the Title XX Amendment to the Social Security Act, and P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Act, mandate perhaps the most significant expansions of rights and entitlements of the 1970s. Yet these laws are vague in their definitions, contradictory in their related provisions, and inadequate in their funding. They base eligibility for service on categorical rather than universal criteria of need, reflecting the play of organized special interests....
Regulation of Hippocampal Synaptic Strength by Glial xCT

Most extracellular glutamate in the brain is released by xCT, a glial antiporter that exports glutamate and imports cystine. The function of xCT, and extracellular glutamate in general, remains unclear. Several lines of evidence suggest that glutamate from xCT could act in a paracrine fashion to suppress glutamatergic synapse strength by triggering removal of postsynaptic glutamate receptors. To test this idea, we used whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry to quantify receptor number and synapse function in xCT knock-out mouse hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses. Consistent with the hypothesis that xCT suppresses glutamate receptor number and synapse strength, xCT knock-out synapses showed increased AMPA receptor abundance with concomitant large enhancements of spontaneous and evoked synaptic transmission. We saw no evidence for changes in GABA receptor abundance or the overall number of glutamatergic synapses. The xCT knock-out phenotype was replicated by incubating slices in the xCT inhibitor (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine, and consistent with the idea that xCT works by regulating extracellular glutamate, the xCT knock-out phenotype could be reproduced in controls by incubating the slices in glutamate-free aCSF. We conclude that glutamate secreted via xCT suppresses glutamatergic synapse strength by triggering removal of postsynaptic AMPA receptors.
On the estimation of failure probability having prescribed statistical moments of first passage time

Abstract A method of estimating the probability density function and cumulative distribution function when only the ordinary or central moments of the distribution are known is examined. The technique is used in conjunction with previous work which yields the ordinary moments of time to first passage failure to obtain accurate estimates of the failure probability for two representative oscillators. The results are then compared to those obtained by a nearly exact numerical scheme.
Preparation of biologically active plague murine toxins labelled with 75Se-methionine.

ALTHOUGH the physiology and mechanism of action of the plague toxins have been investigated quite extensively, the target organ(s) is still unknown1. Pasteurella pestis toxin does not remain in a free soluble form either after injection or after infection with a virulent strain. It cannot be detected in the plasma of moribund animals, although whole blood is toxic to mice 48 h after infection. Thus, the toxin may be bound to erythrocytes or other particulate matter (cell debris), which is phagocytosed by macrophages and removed from circulation. This could provide an efficient way of concentrating the toxin in specific organs such as the spleen or the liver, after breakdown of erythrocytes2. If the spleen and liver are not the primary targets, the toxin could reach other organs through the circulation and exert its effect.
Interstitial Sn 2+ in synthetic and natural cassiterite crystals

Evidence for the presence of Sn2+ in an octahedral interstitial site in synthetic and natural cassiterite (SnO2) is presented. The absorption and relative absorption spectral peaks measured are similar to ones found in Sn2+-doped KI by absorption spectrophotometry and Sn2+-doped soda-silica glass by reflection spectroscopy. The estimated quantity of interstitial Sn2+ present is found by calculating that needed to balance the uncompensated M3+ impurity in substitutional Sn4+ sites where M3+ is mainly Al3+ and Fe3+. Estimates of the oscillator strengths of three Sn2+ bands detected by absorption spectrophotometry in the synthetic crystal are given. The interstitial Sn2+ content in synthetic and natural cassiterite is not affected by heating,60Co gamma irradiation, or UV light treatment with a high pressure xenon-mercury lamp.
The measurement conundrum in exercise adherence research.

This paper has two purposes. It first prefaces a symposium titled “Exercise adherence and behavior change: prospects, problems, and future directions.” The symposium describes the progress made during the past 5 years toward understanding the adoption and maintenance of physical activity and exercis
Understanding Great Plains Urbanization through the Lens of South Dakota Townscapes.

Abstract Most towns were crucial to the initial colonization and economic development of the Great Plains. Many were, directly or indirectly, creatures of railroad corporate planning, owing their location as well as their physical layout to the townsite companies controlled by railroad officials. This article examines how these facts shaped the fundamental long-term look of urban South Dakota, and by extension that of the Great Plains, and how later, even with the railroads' regression and the shift to the modern highway, that history remains embedded in contemporary townscapes. But the image is not a single one—there are at least six different urban South Dakotas set within the state's varied geography, each of which will be briefly characterized.
Human Teratogens: Current Controversies

It is estimated that approximately 10% of congenital structural anomalies are the result of the adverse effect of environmental factors on prenatal development [1]. This means that approximately 1 in 250 newborn infants have structural defects caused by an environmental exposure and, presumably, a larger number of children have growth retardation or functional abnormalities resulting from nongenetic causes, in other words, from the effects of teratogens. A teratogen is defined as any environmental factor that can produce a permanent abnormality in structure or function, restriction of growth, or death of the embryo or fetus. These factors comprise medications, drugs, chemicals, and maternal conditions or diseases, including infections (Table 1). The term is used more commonly, however, to refer only to medications, drugs, and chemicals and, less frequently to maternal conditions or diseases that may be associated with birth defects in the offspring. This review uses the term in its widest connotation. Some investigators consider that there are no teratogens as such but that teratogenicity is a function of the exposure [2,3]. The concept that virtually any substance is capable of adversely affecting the conceptus if given at a high enough dose is known in teratology as Karnofsky’s law [4]. Brent [1] noted that it is inappropriate to label an agent as teratogenic without characterizing the dose, route of exposure, and stage of pregnancy when the exposure occurred. This is because, as has long been recognized, the effects of an environmental agent on the embryo or fetus depend on the chemical or physical nature of the agent and several other factors, such as dose, route, and length of exposure; the developmental stage at which the exposure occurs; the genetic susceptibility of the mother and embryo or fetus; and the presence and nature
Motif: Supporting Novice Creativity through Expert Patterns

Creating personal narratives helps people build meaning around their experiences. However, novices lack the knowledge and experience to create stories with strong narrative structure. Current storytelling tools often structure novice work through templates, enforcing a linear creative process that asks novices for materials they may not have. In this paper, we propose scaffolding creative work using storytelling patterns extracted from stories created by experts. Patterns are modular sets of related camera shots that expert videographers commonly use to achieve a specific narrative function. After identifying a set of patterns from high-quality storytelling videos, we created Motif, a mobile video storytelling application that allows users to construct video stories by combining these patterns. By making existing solutions used by experts available to novices, we encourage capturing shots with story structure and narrative goals in mind. In a controlled study where we asked participants to create travel video stories, videos created with patterns conveyed stronger narrative structure and were considered higher quality by expert evaluators than videos created without patterns.
DYRK1A and DYRK3 Promote Cell Survival through Phosphorylation and Activation of SIRT1

DYRK1A (the dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A) plays an important role in body growth and brain physiology. Overexpression of this kinase has been associated with the development of Down syndrome in both human and animal models, whereas single copy loss-of-function of DYRK1A leads to increased apoptosis and decreased brain size. Although more than a dozen of DYRK1A targets have been identified, the molecular basis of its involvement in neuronal development remains unclear. Here we show that DYRK1A and another pro-survival member of the DYRK family, DYRK3, promote cell survival through phosphorylation and activation of SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase that is essential in a variety of physiological processes including stress response and energy metabolism. DYRK1A and DYRK3 directly phosphorylate SIRT1 at Thr522, promoting deacetylation of p53. A SIRT1 phosphorylation mimetic (SIRT1 T522D) displays elevated deacetylase activity, thus inhibiting cell apoptosis. Conversely, a SIRT1 dephosphorylation mimetic (SIRT1 T522V) fails to mediate DYRK-induced deacetylation of p53 and cell survival. We show that knockdown of endogenous DYRK1A and DYRK3 leads to hypophosphorylation of SIRT1, sensitizing cells to DNA damage-induced cell death. We also provide evidence that phosphorylation of Thr522 activates SIRT1 by promoting product release, thereby increasing its enzymatic turnover. Taken together, our findings provide a novel mechanism by which two anti-apoptotic DYRK members promote cell survival through direct modification of SIRT1. These findings may have important implications in understanding the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis, Down syndrome, and aging.
Adaptive boosted non-uniform mce for keyword spotting on spontaneous speech

In this work, we present a complete framework of discriminative training using non-uniform criteria for keyword spotting, adaptive boosted non-uniform minimum classification error (MCE) for keyword spotting on spontaneous speech. To further boost the spotting performance and tackle the potential issue of over-training in the non-uniform MCE proposed in our prior work, we make two improvements to the fundamental MCE optimization procedure. Furthermore, motivated by AdaBoost, we introduce an adaptive scheme to embed error cost functions together with model combinations during the decoding stage. The proposed framework is comprehensively validated on two challenging large-scale spontaneous conversational telephone speech (CTS) tasks in different languages (English and Mandarin) and the experimental results show it can achieve significant and consistent figure of merit (FOM) gains over both ML and discriminatively trained systems.
Ion and solvent density distributions around canonical B-DNA from integral equations

We calculate the water and ion spatial distributions around charged oligonucleotides using a renormalized three-dimensional reference interaction site theory coupled with the HNC closure. Our goal is to understand the balance between inter-DNA strand forces and solvation forces as a function of oligonucleotide length in the short strand limit. The DNA is considered in aqueous electrolyte solutions of 1 M KCl, 0.1 M KCl, or 0.1 M NaCl. The current theoretical results are compared to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experiments. It is found that the integral equation (IE) theory replicates the MD and the experimental results for the base-specific hydration patterns in both the major and the minor grooves. We are also able to discern characteristic structural pattern differences between Na(+) and K(+) ions. When compared to Poisson-Boltzmann methods, the IE theory, like simulation, predicts a richly structured ion environment, which is better described as multilayer rather than double layer.
Photogonadal responses in vitamin a deficient cockerels

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine if the progonadal effect of a moderate hypovitaminosis A state in cockerels was due to alterations in photoreception either via the eyes or extraretinal photoreceptors. In experiment one, day-old Single Comb White Leghorn cockerels were fed either a vitamin A adequate or marginally deficient ration and subjected to one of three lighting regimes (10:14, 14:10 or 24:00 hr of light:dark). Mildly A-deficient chicks exhibited lighter body weights than controls. In contrast, comb and testes weights (expressed as percentages of body weights) became greater for deficient birds compared to controls as they aged. This trend was noted in all lighting regimes. Lighting durations of 24 and 14 hours (averaged over diet) produced greater percent comb and percent testes weights than 10 hours. These data indicate that a mild vitamin A deficiency produces a progonadal effect despite nonstimulatory lighting. In experiment two, blinded cockerels were fed either the control or marginally deficient diet and subjected to one of four light intensities (.24, 6.00, 12.08 or 37.53 lux). Body weights were again less in mildly A-deficient birds as compared to controls. Within A-deficient treatments, percent comb weights of the 6.00 lux chicks were greater than those in 37.53 lux. No differences were noted among the remaining treatments in percent comb weight. A significant interaction between the dietary vitamin A level and light intensity on percent testes weight was found. Marginally A-deficient cockerels had greater percent testes weights than corresponding controls at 6.00 and 12.08 lux. These data indicate that a mild vitamin A deficiency alters photogonadal response via extraretinal photoreceptors.
Cloning, expression, and purification of fumarase from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum

Abstract The cDNA encoding fumarase, an enzyme catalyzing reversible hydration of fumarate to l -malate, from the parasitic roundworm Ascaris suum, has been cloned, sequenced, over-expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified. The single open reading frame translates into a protein of 50,502 Da containing 467 amino acids. It shows 82, 77, and 58% identity with Caenorhabditis elegans, human, and E. coli fumC fumarases, respectively. The A. suum fumarase shows the signature sequence motif (GSSIMPGKVNPTQCE), which defines not only the class II fumarase family but also a much broader superfamily of proteins containing GSSxMPxKxNPxxxE motif. The coding region was cloned into pET101D-directional TOPO expression vector and transformed into E. coli BL21 Star (DE3). The protein after induction was expressed at high levels, almost 10% of the soluble protein, purified to near homogeneity, and appears identical to the enzyme purified from Ascaris suum.
Mathematical modeling of physiological systems: An essential tool for discovery

Mathematical models are invaluable tools for understanding the relationships between components of a complex system. In the biological context, mathematical models help us understand the complex web of interrelations between various components (DNA, proteins, enzymes, signaling molecules etc.) in a biological system, gain better understanding of the system as a whole, and in turn predict its behavior in an altered state (e.g. disease). Mathematical modeling has enhanced our understanding of multiple complex biological processes like enzyme kinetics, metabolic networks, signal transduction pathways, gene regulatory networks, and electrophysiology. With recent advances in high throughput data generation methods, computational techniques and mathematical modeling have become even more central to the study of biological systems. In this review, we provide a brief history and highlight some of the important applications of modeling in biological systems with an emphasis on the study of excitable cells. We conclude with a discussion about opportunities and challenges for mathematical modeling going forward. In a larger sense, the review is designed to help answer a simple but important question that theoreticians frequently face from interested but skeptical colleagues on the experimental side: "What is the value of a model?"
Kinetics of the reactions of O3 and OH radicals with furan and thiophene at 298 ± 2 K

Rate constants for the reactions of O3 and OH radicals with furan and thiophene have been determined at 298 ± 2 K. The rate constants obtained for the O3 reactions were (2.42 ± 0.28) × 10−18 cm3/molec·s for furan and <6 ×10−20 cm3/molec·s for thiophene. The rate constants for the OH radical reactions, relative to a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with n-hexane of (5.70 ± 0.09) × 10−12 cm3/molec·s, were determined to be (4.01 ± 0.30) × 10−11 cm3/molec·s for furan and (9.58 ± 0.38) × 10−12 cm3/molec·s for thiophene. There are to date no reported rate constant data for the reactions of OH radicals with furan and thiophene or for the reaction of O3 with furan. The data are compared and discussed with respect to those for other alkenes, dialkenes, and heteroatom containing organics.
Superior temporal sulcus---it's my area: Or is it?

The superior temporal sulcus (STS) is the chameleon of the human brain. Several research areas claim the STS as the host brain region for their particular behavior of interest. Some see it as one of the core structures for theory of mind. For others, it is the main region for audiovisual integration. It plays an important role in biological motion perception, but is also claimed to be essential for speech processing and processing of faces. We review the foci of activations in the STS from multiple functional magnetic resonance imaging studies, focusing on theory of mind, audiovisual integration, motion processing, speech processing, and face processing. The results indicate a differentiation of the STS region in an anterior portion, mainly involved in speech processing, and a posterior portion recruited by cognitive demands of all these different research areas. The latter finding argues against a strict functional subdivision of the STS. In line with anatomical evidence from tracer studies, we propose that the function of the STS varies depending on the nature of network coactivations with different regions in the frontal cortex and medial-temporal lobe. This view is more in keeping with the notion that the same brain region can support different cognitive operations depending on task-dependent network connections, emphasizing the role of network connectivity analysis in neuroimaging.
Time-optimal controls of the equation of evolution in a separable and reflexive Banach space

Let a variable, closed, bounded, and convex subset ofX, a separable and reflexive Banach space, be denoted byG(t). Suppose thatG(t) varies upper-semicontinuously with respect to inclusion ast varies in [0,T]. We say that the strongly measurable mapu from [0,T] toX is an admissible control if, for almost everyt in [0,T],u(t) is an element ofU, a closed, bounded, and convex subset ofX, and ∥u∥ p ⩽M1p, where p>1 andM>0.
Asymptotic Distribution of the Sample Size for a Sequential Probability Ratio Test

Abstract The derivation is presented of the asymptotic distribution of the number N of observations required to terminate the classical sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) with bounds a, b (a > 0 > b) of a simple parametric hypothesis H: θ = θ1 against a simple parametric alternative K:θ=θ1+Δ(Δ>0) when Δ tends to zero. It is shown that if the common probability density function (p.d.f.) of the basic random variables belongs to the Darmois-Koopman exponential class and if the true value of θ0 of θ is different from θ1 then as Δ→0, NΔ tends in probability to a constant A > 0 which is a specified multiple of a if θ0 > θ1 and of - b if θ0 0 which is finite and depends on a if θ0 < θ1 and on − b if θ0 < θ1 such that tends to N(0, 1) as Δ→0. Finally, a few numerical examples are worked to illustrate the magnitudes of A and B.
COATING CARBON FIBERS WITH A THERMOPLASTIC POLYIMIDE USING AQUEOUS FOAM

Many techniques have been developed to coat carbon fibers with thermoplastic resins to form a prepreg. These techniques include melt impregnation and solution/slurry coating. The applicability of these techniques, however, may be restricted by high melt viscosities or significant drying times. Recent emphasis has been towards a dry powder coating technique using a fluidized bed. This technique may be limited by difficulties in fluidization of the polymer powders. To overcome these difficulties, a technique has been developed to continuously coat carbon fibers with thermoplastic resins using aqueous foam as a carrier medium. The polymer is slurried in a surfactant solution, into which air is dispersed using a foam-generating device. A predetermined amount of this foam is then applied to a moving carbon fiber tow using a foam application unit. The tow is then pulled through ovens where the foam is collapsed and the power fused to the fibers. Other aspects that are addressed include the stability of foams in the presence of powders, the mechanical properties of the composites formed using foam prepregging, and the effect of surfactant on composite properties.
DYNAMICS IN THE STRUCTURAL FORM OF PROPERTY TAXES

Because the property tax is structurally tied to market values of dwellings through the assessment function, rapidly increasing market values may beget rapid increases in property taxes. Public awareness of this process was instrumental in California's 1978 passage of the Jarvis-Gann Amendment. Millage rates should be indexed to counterbalance changes in market values.
Colloidal Crystals of Thermosensitive, Core/Shell Hybrid Microgels

We present the assembly of colloidal crystals composed of various thermoresponsive core/shell microgels and their hybrid microgel counterparts that contain localized Au nanoparticles. To obtain nanostructured microgels, we conducted a three-stage polymerization. First, core microgels composed of cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) were synthesized by precipitation polymerization. Using these microgels as cores or “seeds”, a copolymer shell of pNIPAm was added to these core particles using a functional comonomer. Finally, a second shell consisting solely of cross-linked pNIPAm was added onto the preformed core/shell microgels by using this seeded polymerization technique. With use of these core/shell/shell microgels as templates, Au nanoparticles were synthesized in situ, using the cationic sites in the inner shell to nucleate particle growth. To control the optical properties of the Au nanoparticles, electroless Au plating was carried out with use of the preformed Au nanoparticles in the mic...
Growth of irregular eutectics and the AlSi system

Abstract The directional solidification of the lamellar Al Si eutectic alloy is studied experimentally. It is shown that the average undercoolings and spacings lie on the theoretical ΔT−λ−V curve, but not at the extremum point. The operating factor, φ, describing this departure from the extremum conditions is experimentally shown to be independent of the growth velocity. The minimum spacings observed in the irregular microstructure formed are shown to be higher than the extremum value. The results are compared with those previously obtained in the Fe C and Fe Fe 3 C alloys, the latter being shown to be an irregular eutectic despite the regularity of the microstructure formed. The theory of irregular eutectic growth is reexamined, based on the new model previously developed. A solution is obtained in the case of a non-isothermal s/l interface, which is identical to the isothermal solution if a weighted average undercooling is used. The effect of a kinetic undercooling term is studied, although it can usually be neglected even for irregular eutectics. It is shown that irregular eutectics grow with a nearly isothermal s/l interface, the different spacings observed in the microstructure being characterized by different growth rates. These rates oscillate locally around an average value, and significant departures from the steady-state conditions occur. The operating range is described by its average value (φ) and its extent (η). It is shown experimentally that the latter is always very close to the value of the average spacing, independent of the φ-value.
DNA content in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

DNA analysis by flow cytometry was performed on tissue blocks from 41 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The histologic slides were reviewed by a pathologist and blindly classified according to the World Health Organization classification. The paraffin-embedded blocks were processed to obtain individual nuclei, which were then stained with propidium iodide. The nuclei were analyzed on a flow cytometer. Excluding 10 uninterpretable histograms, the remainder were interpreted blindly and classified as diploid or aneuploid. The Cox proportional hazards survival model was used to analyze stage, histology, radiation dose, and ploidy. We observed more diploids (23 of 31; 74%) than aneuploids (eight of 31;26%). The 2-year survival rate of diploids was 55%, compared with 25% of aneuploids (P < .05). We conclude that ploidy status is an independent prognostic factor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Easily-programmable corobots for student use

As mobile robots become more prevalent in our society, there are numerous potential applications for them. However, current educational opportunities tend to focus on the robotics aspects rather than higher-level applications. In this project, we are developing a system that takes care of the robotics aspects and provides a fully-capable yet fully programmable platform to allow students with interests in areas outside robotics can learn the traditional computing concepts within the robot context. These interactive robots, or “corobots”, will operate within the department alongside people while performing tasks as programmed by the students. Here we present the overall system architecture, in which we solve fairly traditional problems but in a robust way that will allow for general use, and a student API which can control the robots at a high level while integrated with arbitrary other code.
THE USE OF HUMAN BLOOD CELLS IN THE STUDY OF LIPID METABOLISM.

Certain aspects of the use of human blood cells in the study of lipid metabolism are reviewed. A discussion of the different cells and their varied functions illustrates the complex nature of the formed elements of the blood, and that studies of these cells must take into account this heterogeneity in planning experiments and in interpreting results. Investigation of blood cell lipids requires either the use of anticoagulants or defibrination for the separation of the cells from the fluid part of the blood. Some of the problems resulting from these procedures are reviewed. Available methods for separating the heterogeneous cell mixture of normal blood into homogeneous cell populations are presented. It is stressed that the large number of methods attests to their limitations and that none is completely satisfactory. The preparation of the separated cells for lipid analysis is discussed, but methods of lipid analysis are not presented. A brief presentation of the lipid synthesis and content of human blood cells in normal and abnormal conditions is given with occasional supplementary data from the study of other species.
Facilitation and depression at single central synapses

Using whole-cell recording from CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons and minimal stimulation of Schaffer collaterals, we have studied what seem to be single synapses. Although the transmission at a putative single synapses is quite unreliable, the synapse can be made to release transmitter reliably in response to the second stimulus in a pair of stimuli that re presented in rapid succession (e.g., 50 ms separation). Statistical analysis of transsmision failures seen with such paired pulse stimulation reveals that the majority of stimulus-evoked synaptic currents (> 90%) are produced by a single synapse under the conditions of minimal stimulation, even if multiple synapses are actually present. Individual synapses appear to release either zero or one quantum; that is, a single synapse seems to have only one functional release sit at any time. After the release site has been used, approximately 20 ms is required to refill the site so that it can be used again.