cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance of the IRI-2007 model for equatorial topside ion density in the African sector for low and extremely low solar activity

The recent availability of new data sets during the recent extreme solar minimum provides an opportunity for testing the performance of the International Reference Ionosphere in historically under-sampled regions. This study will present averages and variability of topside ionospheric densities over Africa as a function of season, local time, altitude, and magnetic dip latitude as measured by the Coupled Ion-Neutral Dynamics Investigation (CINDI) Mission of Opportunity on the C/NOFS satellite. The results will be compared to the three topside model options available in IRI-2007. Overall, the NeQuick model is found to have the best performance, though during the deepest part of the solar minimum all three options significantly overestimate density.
DESIGNING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR USER ABILITIES AND TASKS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

With the many choices that can be built into information systems, it is possible to customize such systems for users. This customization may be based on the tasks that users are accomplishing, or on the personal characteristics of users, or a combination of these factors. An experiment is reported in which detailed logging of use of experimental information systems was used to determine the optimal configuration of the systems for each user. Tasks were varied, and the cognitive abilities of users were tested to assess one important personal characteristic. The results showed that it was possible to create an optimal configuration to match the cognitive abilities of users, but that it was more difficult to assess which configuration was the best match for specific tasks. The person‐in‐task interaction proved to be the least powerful indicator of design configurations. These results suggest that usable information systems can be created for users by careful analysis of the interaction of design features with personal characteristics such as cognitive abilities.
Freeze-out Conditions from Lattice QCD

Abstract We describe a procedure for determination of freeze-out parameters of heavy–ion collisions through direct comparisons between experimentally measured higher order cumulants of charge fluctuations and first principle (lattice) QCD calculations.
Surface Sensitivity in Cluster-Ion-Induced Sputtering

The ion beam-induced removal of thin water ice films condensed onto Ag and bombarded by energetic Au, Au2, Au3, and C60 projectiles is examined both experimentally and with molecular dynamics computer simulations. For water overlayers of thicknesses greater than 10 A, the yields of sputtered Ag+ secondary ions decay exponentially with increasing ice thickness, revealing characteristic decay lengths of 24, 20, 18, and 7.0 A, respectively. It is shown that these values manifest the characteristic depths of projectile energy loss, rather than escape depths of the sputtered Ag atoms through the water ice overlayer. Computer simulations show that the mechanism of ejection involves the sweeping away of overlayer water molecules, allowing for an unimpeded escape of ejected Ag atoms. The relevance of these data with respect to surface sensitivity in secondary ion mass spectrometry is discussed.
Electron loss in the forward direction

Abstract Electrons ejected at or near θ = 0° in H− -He collisions have been measured with better resolution than in previous experiments. These new measurements have revealed some new features of the spectra not previously seen. It appears that near 0° and an ion energy of 0.5 MeV the electron energy spectra have two components. One is a very sharp peak centered at υe = υi and the other is a smooth structure with two maxima. The energies where these maxima occur are below and above the energy for υe = υi. At very low ion velocities, appropriate to 100 keV amu , our data show no double-peaked structure at 0° in agreement with data taken at another laboratory.
Síndromes hereditarios del transporte de glucosa

Several heritable disorders of glucose transport across cellular membranes have been recently characterized both genetically and pathophysiologically. Diseases such as glucose-galactose malabsorption, Fanconi-Bickel syndrome and GLUT1 deficiency syndrome are caused by mutation of transporters located in bowel, liver and brain, respectively. For example, the glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome, a prototypical neurometabolic disease, combines manifestations such as epilepsy and hypoglycorrhachia, and is caused by heritable mutation of the SLC2A1 gene. All known glucose transporter mutations induce loss of membrane function at important cellular interfaces, limiting glucose uptake by energy-consuming cells. The fundamental role served by glucose transport allows these pleomorphic conditions to cross the boundaries of traditional clinical disciplines.
Variance of sex-role preference among boys and girls.

This study tested the prediction that young girls would show greater group variance than young boys would in a measure of sex-role preference. The prediction was inconsistent with some previous res...
Arthropod Evolution: Brine shrimp add salt to the stew

Abstract The expression patterns of homeotic genes in a crustacean — the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana — provide a new perspective on the evolution of arthropod body plans.
E2/E3-mediated assembly of lysine 29-linked polyubiquitin chains.

Abstract Polyubiquitin (Ub) chains linked through Lys-48–Gly-76 isopeptide bonds represent the principal signal by which substrates of the Ub-dependent protein degradation pathway are targeted to the 26 S proteasome, but the mechanism(s) whereby these chains are assembled on substrate proteins is poorly understood. Nor have assembly mechanisms or definitive functions been assigned to polyubiquitin chains linked through several other lysine residues of ubiquitin. We show that rabbit reticulocyte lysate harbors enzymatic components that catalyze the assembly of unanchored Lys-29-linked polyubiquitin chains. This reaction can be reconstituted using the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) known as UbcH5A, a 120-kDa protein(s) that behaves as a ubiquitin-protein ligase (E3), and ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1). The same partially purified E3 preparation also catalyzes the assembly of unanchored chains linked through Lys-48. Kinetic studies revealed a K m of ∼9 μm for the acceptor ubiquitin in the synthesis of diubiquitin; this value is similar to the concentration of free ubiquitin in most cells. Similar kinetic behavior was observed for conjugation to Lys-48 versus Lys-29 and for conjugation to tetraubiquitin versus monoubiquitin. The properties of these enzymes suggest that there may be distinct pathways for ubiquitin-ubiquitin ligation versus substrate-ubiquitin ligation in vivo.
Application Centric Lifecycle Framework in Cloud

Cloud computing is expected to provide powerful and easy-to-use model for application design, development, operation and maintenance. There are mainly two models of cloud: IaaS and PaaS model. In IaaS model, application developer and operator have the biggest flexibility for they can control owned virtual machines and most resources totally, but this model needs high technical skills in application development and operation phase. PaaS model claims easy to development, deployment and maintenance, but all these advantage are based on the specific programming model and application architecture. Migration to PaaS cloud for existing applications usually brings big effort and cost increasing. In this paper, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the two models from enterprise class application developer angle. Then present an application lifecycle model in which developers could design, develop and deploy their application or legacy systems without programming limitation and migration effort. The application lifecycle model takes application as the centric concept and supported by a set of cloud platform tools. We discuss the application lifecycle framework defined in this model, and then we discussed the possible supporting cloud architecture.
The solid polymeric state: Thermodynamic and relaxational aspects

The statistical thermodynamics of the melt and the crystal are discussed by a unified approach which distinguishes between the two phases only in terms of a structure function minimizing the configurational free energy. The ensuing equations of state at atmospheric and elevated pressures are compared with typical experimental data for polymer and oligomer melts, and crystalline as well as semicrystalline systems, with satisfactory results. As to the glassy state, expansivity data clearly reflect nmot only the glass transition, but also sub-glass relaxation processes. In the spirit of the preceding discussion of the equilibrium melt, quasi-thermodynamic conditions are considered. Here the non-equilibrium character is reflected in the dependence of the extensive thermodynamic functions on thermal history in addition to the ambient variables of state. This state is discussed in terms of modifications of the liquid state model.
The potential for cross-taxa simple-sequence repeat (SSR) amplification between Arabidopsis thaliana L. and crop brassicas

Simple-sequence repeats (SSRs) may prove to be valuable descriptors of plant genetic variation, but developing markers for each of many taxa is costly. The applicability of SSR markers may be increased if they can be amplified across taxa. In this study, we examined whether 30 primer pairs designed to amplify single-locus SSRs in Arabidopsis thaliana could be used to amplify marker loci in six Brassica crop species. Most of the pairs amplified multiple fragments in Brassica. In initial assays, 17 pairs generated products that were identified as likely to contain SSRs. Most of these products were similar in size to A. thaliana SSRs; many were variable for product length, and many of the variants were species- or genome-specific. In subsequent hybridization assays, however, not all of the identified Brassica products hybridized to SSR probes. A Brassica product’s length variation and its size similarity to A. thaliana SSRs were not good predictors of whether the product contained repeats. In addition, some products of two-primer reactions hybridized to SSR probes but were the same size as single-primer reaction products, so they may have been amplified by only one primer. In summary, Brassica products amplified by A. thaliana SSR primer pairs may be useful as markers, but additional tests (hybridization, DNA sequencing, and single-primer assays) are necessary in order to determine whether the products contain SSRs and whether they are amplified by one or two primers. The results of this study are consistent with conservation, duplication, and rearrangement between Arabidopsis and Brassica genomes.
Role of collagen-binding heat shock protein 47 and transforming growth factor-beta1 in conjunctival scarring in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

PURPOSE. Submucosal fibrosis due to excessive accumulation of collagens is an important histologic feature in the pathogenesis of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP). Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), a collagen-binding protein, plays an important role in the biosynthesis of procollagens. In the present study, we examined the role of HSP47 in conjunctival scarring in patients with OCP. METHODS. Biopsy specimens of the conjunctiva of 15 patients with OCP and 5 normal subjects were studied for the expression of HSP47, transforming growth factor (TGF)-1, type I collagen, and type III collagen. The role of TGF- 1o n the induction of HSP47 and type I collagen by conjunctival fibroblasts was studied by immunostaining, Western blot analysis, and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS. Compared with the control, increased accumulations of type I and type III collagens were detected by immunohistochemistry in fibrotic conjunctiva of patients with OCP. Weak and sparse expression of HSP47 was detected in the epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts in control conjunctival tissues. In contrast to the control, the expression of HSP47 was markedly increased in the stromal fibroblasts in conjunctival tissues obtained from patients with OCP, as detected by immunohistochemistry. By quantitative real-time PCR, compared with control conjunctival tissues, a 3.4-fold increase in the expression of HSP47 was noted in the conjunctival tissues obtained from patients with OCP. Similar to conjunctival tissues, fibroblasts isolated from conjunctiva of patients with OCP exhibited 4.8fold increase in the expression of HSP47, compared with control fibroblasts. When conjunctival fibroblasts were treated with various concentration of TGF-1, upregulation in the expression of HSP47 and type I collagen was detected. CONCLUSIONS. This study demonstrated increased expression of HSP47 and TGF-1 by conjunctival fibroblasts in biopsy specimens obtained from patients with OCP. TGF-1 induced the expression of HSP47 and type I collagen by conjunctival fibroblasts. Increased levels of TGF-1 and HSP47 may regulate increased synthesis, assembly, and production of collagens and thereby could significantly contribute to the process of conjunctival scarring in patients with OCP. (Invest Ophthalmol
Anomalous surface lattice dynamics in the low-temperature phase of Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2

In complex materials, how correlation between charge, spin, and lattice affects the emergent phenomena remains unclear. The newly discovered iron-based high-temperature superconductors and related compounds present to the community a prototype family of materials, where interplay between charge, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom can be explored. With the occurrence of structural, magnetic, and superconducting transitions in the bulk of these materials, creating a surface will change the delicate balance between these phases, resulting in new behavior. A surface lattice dynamics study on (001) Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2, through electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements, reveals unusual temperature dependence of both the phonon frequency and line width in the low-temperature orthorhombic phase. The rate of change of phonon frequency with temperature is gigantic, two orders of magnitude larger than in the bulk. This behavior cannot be explained using conventional models of anharmonicity or electron–phonon coupling; instead, it requires that a large surface-spin-charge-lattice coupling be included. Furthermore, the higher surface-phase-transition temperature driven by surface stabilization of the low-temperature orthorhombic phase seems to turn the first-order transition (bulk) into the second-order type, equivalent to what is observed in the bulk by applying a uniaxial pressure. Such equivalence indicates that the surface mirrors the bulk under extreme conditions.
The Cambridge Modern History: Genesis of a reference publishing tradition

Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford: the names of these universities instantly conjure up images of the highest attainments of higher education. Of course, great universities also operate great university presses. So any reference book with the name of Oxford, Cambridge, or Harvard in the title possesses immediate credibility and saleability. But it was not always so. Prior to the latter half of the nineteenth century the Oxford and the Cambridge University Presses were known to the public primarily as publishers of the Bible. Oxford broke into reference publishing, and along with it widespread public recognition, by means of its famous dictionaries, of which the pinnacle was the massive Oxford English Dictionary. The Cambridge University Press [hereafter referred to as CUP] took a different approach to publishing scholarly reference works by producing authoritative and encyclopedic histories. According to S.C. Roberts, a long‐time secretary to the Syndics of the CUP, “apart from the Bible, the first book that made the Press well known to the general public was the Cambridge Modern History.”
HIV-1 transgenic rats develop T cell abnormalities.

HIV-1 infection leads to impaired antigen-specific T cell proliferation, increased susceptibility of T cells to apoptosis, progressive impairment of T-helper 1 (Th1) responses, and altered maturation of HIV-1-specific memory cells. We have identified similar impairments in HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rats. Tg rats developed an absolute reduction in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells able to produce IFN-gamma following activation and an increased susceptibility of T cells to activation-induced apoptosis. CD4+ and CD8+ effector/memory (CD45RC- CD62L-) pools were significantly smaller in Tg rats compared to non-Tg controls, although the converse was true for the naive (CD45RC+ CD62L+) T cell pool. Our interpretation is that the HIV transgene causes defects in the development of T cell effector function and generation of specific effector/memory T cell subsets, and that activation-induced apoptosis may be an essential factor in this process.
A new chemical synthesis of 2-amino-(N-d-ribofuranosyl)acetamide 5′-phosphate

Abstract 2-amino-( N - d -ribosyl)acetamide 5′-phosphate (GAR, 10 ) has been prepared in a readily scaled-up synthesis from 2,3- O -isopropylidene- d -ribofuranosylamine p -toluenesulfonate ( 3 ) by condensation with the mixed anhydride of N -(benzyloxy-carbonyl)glycine, followed by phosphorylation with 2-cyanoethyl phosphate and removal of the protecting groups. By varying the conditions, the α- 4 and the β- 5 anomers could be obtained and separated from each other. Anomerization occurs upon removing the O -isopropylidene group from either 7 or 8 , so that the final compound ( 10 ) is an equimolar mixture of both anomers, of which only one is active toward GAR-transformylase.
Ultrasonic study of short-range hydrogen ordering in Pd-hydride

Abstract We used resonant ultrasound spectroscopy to measure the three independent elastic constants of PdH0.71 and PdH0.65 in the temperature range 1.4 K < T < 296 K. Measurements were performed as the crystals were rapidly cooled (∼10 K min− 1) and then slowly heated (∼0.1 K min− 1). During slow heating, the temperature dependence of the shear modulus C′ = (C11 – C12)/2 shows a small peak at ∼55 K, but this peak is absent during fast cooling. We associate the peak with the so-called “50 K anomaly” in palladium hydride. In contrast, the other shear modulus, C44, shows no peak during slow heating. We propose that the 50 K anomaly observed in the elastic constants, and in other thermodynamic and transport properties of Pd-hydride, is a kinetic effect arising from changes in the hydrogen atom short-range order as the alloy is heated.
Avian-like tibiotarsi of pterodactyloids (Reptilia: Pterosauria) from the Upper Jurassic of East Africa

Tibiotarsi ofDsungaripterus?brancai (Reck) (Upper Jurassic, East Africa),D. weii Young (Lower Cretaceous, China) andPuntanipterus globosus Bonaparte & Sanchez (Lower Cretaceous, South America) have a bird-like distal end with attachment areas for a transverse ligament anteriorly, lateral and medial ligamentous prominences, and an anteroposteriorly, expanded pulley-like articular surface. The M. extensor digitorum longus flexed the ankle and probably also extended the digits as in living birds and mammals. A separate tendinous slip for digit I probably passed from the M. flexor digitorum longus in a groove posteroventral to the medial ligamentous prominence.
Performance of Deterministic Dynamical Decoupling Schemes: Concatenated and Periodic Pulse Sequences

Dynamical decoupling can be used to preserve arbitrary quantum states despite undesired interactions with the environment, using control Hamiltonians affecting the system only. We present a system-independent analysis of dynamical decoupling based on leading order decoupling error estimates, valid for bounded-strength environments. Using as a key tool a renormalization transformation of the effective system-bath coupling Hamiltonian, we delineate the reliability domain of dynamical decoupling used for quantum state preservation, in a general setting for a single qubit. We specifically analyze and compare two deterministic dynamical decoupling schemes\char22{}periodic and concatenated\char22{}and distinguish between two limiting cases of fast versus slow environments. We prove that concatenated decoupling outperforms periodic decoupling over a wide range of parameters. These results are obtained for both ``ideal'' (zero-width) and realistic (finite-width) pulses This work extends and generalizes our earlier work [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 180501 (2005)].
Prediction and measurement of a non-equilibrium turbulent diffusion flame

Superequilibrium radical concentrations in a turbulent CO/H2/N2 jet diffusion flame are computed using a two-scalar pdf model and directly measured using single pulse laser saturated OH fluorescence. The model is based on the averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the k∈l turbulence model. Non-equilibrium chemistry is accounted for by including CO in the partially equilibrated oxyhydrogen radical pool. Two scalars (mixture fraction and eaction progress suffice to describe the thermochemical system. Laser saturated fluorescence is used to directly measure the mean and fluctuating components of OH concentrations and thus the radical pool. Measurements and model both find mean OH concentrations which are four to six times larger than equilibrium with rms values of OH concentration also reasonably predicted. Superequilibrium effects are predicted to lower the mean temperature by as much as 250 K in agreement with experiments. Evidence of the breakdown of partial equilibrium was found in cool fuel-rich zones where predictions of temperature and OH concentration were too high. Extensions of the model to predict thermal NO formation and CO burnout are discussed.
Profitable loop fusion and tiling using model-driven empirical search

Loop fusion and tiling are both recognized as effective transformations for improving memory performance of scientific applications. However, because of their sensitivity to the underlying cache architecture and their interaction with each other it is difficult to determine a good heuristic for applying these transformations profitably across architectures. In this paper, we present a model-guided empirical tuning strategy for profitable application of loop fusion and tiling. Our strategy consists of a detailed cost model that characterizes the interaction between the two transformations at different levels of the memory hierarchy. The novelty of our approach is in exposing key architectural parameters within the model for automatic tuning through empirical search. Preliminary experiments with a set of applications on four different platforms show that our strategy achieves significant performance improvement over fully optimized code generated by state-of-the-art commercial compilers. The time spent in searching for the best parameters is considerably less than with other search strategies.
Modified bovine serum albumin. VI. Immunochemical and physicochemical properties of bovine serum albumin denatured by various agents

Abstract Some physicochemical and immunochemical properties of bovine serum albumin denatured by heat, urea, guanidine, ultraviolet light, alkali, and acid have been presented. The use of quantitative immunochemical techniques has shown that the properties of the denatured preparations depend on the denaturing agent employed and also that there are varying degrees of denaturation.
CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSES IN VITRO : I. SUPPRESSION OF THE GENERATION OF CYTOTOXIC LYMPHOCYTES BY CONCANAVALIN A AND CONCANAVALIN A-ACTIVATED SPLEEN CELLS

The effects of soluble concanavalin A (Con A) or Con A-activated spleen cells on the generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CL) in mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC) were examined. Mitogenic concentrations of soluble Con A or small numbers of Con A-activated spleen cells substantially inhibited CL responses. The suppression was partial rather than absolute and was critically dependent upon the concentration and time of addition of soluble Con A or Con A-activated spleen cells to the MLC. Suppressive effects of Con-A activated spleen cells were mediated by T cells since suppressor cell activity was abrogated by treatment of spleen cells with anti-theta serum and complement before or after Con A activation. X irradiation of spleen cells before Con A treatment also abrogated generation of suppressor cell activity. After activation by Con A, however, the function of suppressor cells was radioresistant. Although the precise mechanism(s) of suppression is, as yet, unknown, the precursors of CL must be exposed to Con A-activated cells during the early phases of the immune response for suppression to occur. Kinetic studies revealed that suppression of CL responses was not due to a failure to initiate an immune response, but represented a response which developed initially, but subsequently aborted. The relevance of these observations to the concepts of T-cell-T-cell interaction and regulatory control of immune responses by T cells is discussed.
Ribosome profiling reveals resemblance between long non-coding RNAs and 5′ leaders of coding RNAs

Large-scale genomics and computational approaches have identified thousands of putative long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). It has been controversial, however, as to what fraction of these RNAs is truly non-coding. Here, we combine ribosome profiling with a machine-learning approach to validate lncRNAs during zebrafish development in a high throughput manner. We find that dozens of proposed lncRNAs are protein-coding contaminants and that many lncRNAs have ribosome profiles that resemble the 5' leaders of coding RNAs. Analysis of ribosome profiling data from embryonic stem cells reveals similar properties for mammalian lncRNAs. These results clarify the annotation of developmental lncRNAs and suggest a potential role for translation in lncRNA regulation. In addition, our computational pipeline and ribosome profiling data provide a powerful resource for the identification of translated open reading frames during zebrafish development.
An enriched-population, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of tacrine and lecithin in Alzheimer's disease. The Tacrine 970-6 Study Group.

We studied the effects of 40 and 80 mg/day of tacrine on patients with probable Alzheimer''s disease (AD) in an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with an enriched-po
Developmental Iron Deficiency Impairs Rat Watermaze Performance.

Top of pageAbstract Background: Iron deficiency (ID), a common nutritional disorder during development, has been associated with cognitive and behavioral impairments. Previous studies suggest developmental ID in rats affects hippocampal dendritic morphology and alters performance in the Morris Water Maze (MWM). Objective: To explore the nature of MWM deficits in rats that had ID during development. Design/Methods: 8-week old dams were randomized to iron sufficient (IS) or iron deficient (ID) groups. IS or ID diets were given during gestation and lactation. All pups received the IS diet after postnatal day (P)20. At P35, 8 to 9 IS and ID group males began one of two MWM assessments. 1st: Place learning (standard MWM) and memory (platform removed at 24 hours – probe) were assessed. Rats continued with trials to enhance learning to search the target quadrant then had a second probe trial. 2nd: IS and ID rats had thigmotaxis training before standard MWM assessment and probe. Data (days to criteria, latency, quadrant preference and thigmotaxis) were analyzed using one-way and repeated measures ANOVA (RPM). Results: 1st: ID group rats had longer latencies on place learning (RPM p<0.001). Two ID rats reached criteria (ID+) but six did not (ID-). ID- rats had significantly more thigmotaxis in place learning trials than IS rats (RPM p<0.002) but ID+ and IS rats did not differ. In the probe, IS rats had greater quadrant preference (30.94 ± 9.03) than ID- rats (-19.62 ± 8.84) and less thigmotaxis. After additional trials, latency was similar for IS and all ID rats. However, IS vs ID- remained different on probe quadrant preference (25.49 ± 5.83 vs -20.46 ± 10.32, p<0.05). 2nd: After thigmotaxis training, IS rats still had shorter latencies than ID rats in the standard MWM (RPM, p<0.001) and greater quadrant preference than ID- rats on the probe (10.29 ± 11.31 vs -33.30 ± 0.01). Conclusions: Previously ID rats demonstrate poorer MWM performance that appears related to persistent thigmotaxis behavior. Although learning improved for ID rats with additional training, memory for platform location did not. Thigmotaxis training did not impair learning measures for IS rats. The results suggest that developmental ID is associated with poorer ability to leave thigmotaxis and switch-strategies in spatial learning and memory tasks.
Re-Energizing the IPO Market

I address why IPO volume, and especially small company IPO volume, has been so depressed for more than a decade. The conventional wisdom is that the main culprits are a combination of heavy-handed regulation, especially the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, a decline in analyst coverage of small firms, and lower stock prices since the 2000 technology bubble burst. I present an alternative explanation, the economies of scope hypothesis, that has very different policy implications. I also discuss the effect of tick sizes on the IPO market, as this is the current focus of policy recommendations from the S.E.C.’s Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies. I then discuss the number of jobs created by companies going public, and the effect of alternative venues for cashing out and raising capital, SecondMarket and SharesPost. Lastly, I offer some thoughts on what can and should be done to reenergize the market.
Facile synthesis of gelatin-protected silver nanoparticles for SERS applications

Gelatin-protected silver nanoparticles have been synthesized by a one-pot, green method for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications using gelatin as the reducing and stabilizing agent. The gelatin protection on silver nanoparticle surface helps improve its stability greatly and water dispersibility, while retaining high SERS activity of silver nanoparticles. The gelatin-protected silver nanoparticles showed SERS signals as low as 100 nM of the typical Raman reporter molecules, RuBPY and R6G and 10 μM of other molecules of interest, melamine and folic acid. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CRM Implementation: Effectiveness Issues and Insights

Conceptually, customer relationship management (CRM) has been widely embraced by businesses. In practice, however, examples of success contrast with anecdotes where the diffusion of CRM into organizations continues to be a slow process and/or where CRM implementation outcomes have fallen short of expectations. Successful implementation depends on a number of factors such as fit between a firm's CRM strategy and programs and its broader marketing strategy, and intraorganizational and interorganizational cooperation and coordination among entities involved in implementation. Building on the results of a survey of the CRM-implementation-related experiences of 101 U.S.-based firms, in this article the authors identify factors associated with successful CRM implementation and advance directions for future research.
The subgradient-simplex based cutting plane method to solve Linear matrix inequalities

Many problems in system and control areas are in the form of Linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Methods such as interior point methods have been applied to solve these problems. However, for problems with large numbers of LMIs, these algorithms involving high dimensional matrixes can be inefficient. In this paper, the subgradient-simplex based cutting plane method is used to solve the LMI feasibility problem. The method obtains a feasible solution by iteratively cutting off the non-feasible part of a given polyhedron. At the query points, deep cuts are constructed by sequentially checking the LMIs, rather than handle all the LMIs simultaneously, until the infeasibility for an LMI is detected. The calculation of query points is a key step for cutting plane methods. The subgradient-simplex based cutting plane method efficiently finds query points in a three-level process. A point on the half way along the subgradient is easily obtained as the query point. A sphere inscribed in a corner or the Chebyshev center is calculated based on simplex tableaus to ensure the query points are deep inside. Redundant constraints can also be pruned based on simplex tableaus.
The impact of personalized prenotification on response rates to an electronic survey

The purpose of this post-hoc investigation was to determine the difference in response rates between respondents who received personalized prenotification prior to receiving an electronic survey and those who did not. An electronic survey was e-mailed to 236 program directors or other designated individuals from nurse practitioner (NP) programs around the United States. Seventy six percent of the NP program directors were personally contacted about the survey in advance, and 97.5% agreed to participate. The remaining 24% were sent e-mails with a link to the survey without prenotification. Response rates for those in the prenotification group who had agreed to participate versus those who did not receive prenotification were 49% and 45%, respectively. Personalized prenotification did not affect the electronic survey response rates. Electronic research methodology offers a unique opportunity to potentially survey an entire population (e.g., nursing faculty), thus further investigation regarding factors associated with electronic survey response rates and ways to improve these rates is warranted.
PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SOME IMPROVED BREAD WHEAT ( TRITICUM AESTIVUM ) VARIETIES IN THE JIJIGA PLAINS OF EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Through years of research, the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization has recommended a number of improved bread-wheat varieties for production in the different climatic zones, along with accompanying technology packages. In areas such as the Jijiga plains, however, adoption of these varieties by the farmers has been very limited. The principal objective of the study was, therefore, to investigate the reasons why farmers are reluctant to adopt high-yielding improved wheat varieties, and to identify farmers' preferences. An assessment study followed by participatory evaluation of the performance of five improved bread-wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties and a local control was carried out under farmers' management practices. The trial was conducted at 10 locations (across three districts) on the Jijiga plains for two consecutive years (the 1999 and 2000 cropping seasons) and involved 30 farmers. Farmers' preferred varieties were identified using preference ranking. The results showed that farmers refrained from the adoption of some 'improved' varieties of bread wheat that were provided through the extension services because the varieties performed poorly under farmers' conditions. The study also showed that farmers do have multiple criteria for evaluating the varieties apart from yield, though the latter was the major parameter for recommending and releasing varieties for multi-locations, farmers identified carliness, yield, and quality as the main criteria for adoption of wheat varieties. Accordingly, variety HAR-710 stood first in terms of yield (2.56 t ha -1 ) and other parameters, followed by PAVON -76 (2.49 t ha -1 ). Though its grain yield was relatively lower than the improved ones, the local control was preferred to some improved varieties used in this study for other quality parameters. The study highlighted the need for re-orienting agricultural research towards involving farmers at the appropriate stages of technology identification.
A jolt from the blue? [Microwave Surfing]

Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are routinely implanted in U.S. patients, saving and prolonging many lives by helping regulate cardiac function. When one of these devices (newer models) is surgically placed below the patient's skin, it has the capability of communicating with a nearby external programming unit both for telemetering data from the patient (physiological data as well as identification information) and for receiving instructions that modify the operational parameters of the device, frequently over an unencrypted channel. There's the rub.
Gauge Theory, Mirror Symmetry, and the Geometric Langlands Program

I provide an introduction to the recent work on the Montonen–Olive duality of cN=4 super-Yang–Mills theory and the Geometric Langlands Program.
Comparative Physiological Studies on Four Species of Hemoflagellates in Culture. I. Endogenous Respiration and Respiration in the Presence of Glucose

SYNOPSIS. Endogenous respiration and respiration in the presence of glucose of the culture forms of Endotrypanum schaudinni, Leishmania enriettu, Schizotrypanum vespertilionis, and S. cruzi, have been compared in terms of cell number and nitrogen content. Growth curves for the 4 species at 26° C. showed that E. schaudinni and L. enriettu grow faster than the Schizotrypanum in a reproducible modification of Senekjie's diphasic medium. Respiration was studied manometrically using organisms harvested in the exponential phase of growth. Res-piratory patterns at 30° C. and pH 7.2 are presented for each species. Low endogenous rates are characteristic of E. schaudinni and L. enriettii; they are relatively high in both Schizotrypanum spp. The respiration of E. schaudinni is stimulated from 5.3 to 36.1 times by glucose; that of L. enriettii from 5.2 to 9.7 times and that of the Schizotrypanum from 1.9 to 5.7 times. Carbohydrate is of great importance for the survival and motility of E. schaudinni and L. enriettii, but plays a relatively minor role in Schizotrypanum.
Chromatin accessibility: a window into the genome

Transcriptional activation throughout the eukaryotic lineage has been tightly linked with disruption of nucleosome organization at promoters, enhancers, silencers, insulators and locus control regions due to transcription factor binding. Regulatory DNA thus coincides with open or accessible genomic sites of remodeled chromatin. Current chromatin accessibility assays are used to separate the genome by enzymatic or chemical means and isolate either the accessible or protected locations. The isolated DNA is then quantified using a next-generation sequencing platform. Wide application of these assays has recently focused on the identification of the instrumental epigenetic changes responsible for differential gene expression, cell proliferation, functional diversification and disease development. Here we discuss the limitations and advantages of current genome-wide chromatin accessibility assays with especial attention on experimental precautions and sequence data analysis. We conclude with our perspective on future improvements necessary for moving the field of chromatin profiling forward.
CEO/semiempirical calculations of UV–visible spectra in conjugated molecules

Abstract The collective electronic oscillators (CEO) approach based on the TDHF approximation is combined with INDO/S, MNDO, AM1, and PM3 semiempirical Hamiltonians. This technique is applied to compute and analyze the electronic structure of acceptor-substituted oligomers and conjugated polymers. Calculated excited-state energies and oscillator strengths agree well with the experimental data and with each other. In particular, the results using the Hamiltonians parameterized for ground-state calculations such as AM1 and PM3 agree well with the INDO/S results. In addition, a two-dimensional analysis of the corresponding transition density matrices provides an efficient way for tracing the origin of various optical transitions by identifying the underlying changes in charge densities and bond-orders.
Epitope-specific regulation of memory B-cell expression.

SUMMARY IgG antibody responses to individual epitopes on complex antigens can fail despite the presence of fully competent populations of memory B-cells, ample carrier-specific help and the normal production of IgG antibody responses to other epitopes on the same antigen. These response failures reveal the existence of an “epitope-specific” regulatory system that selectively controls the expression of memory B-cells in antibody responses to hapten-carrier conjugates and other complex antigens. Our earlier B-cell studies describe successive stages in memory B-cell development and consider the potential role(s) that IgD receptors on “early” memory B-cells play in determining in situ primary and anamnestic response characteristics.1-5 Our more recent work, however, shows that an Igh-restricted regulatory system also plays a major role in defining such response characteristics.6-12 This previously unrecognized system, which controls memory B-cell expression (rather than development), selectively regulates IgG antibody production to each of the individual epitopes on T-dependent antigens such as DNP-KLH and DNP-CGG (the DNP hapten on keyhole limpet hemocyanin and chicken gamma globulin, respectively) We have shown that this system can be induced to specifically suppress IgG2a anti-DNP responses to DNP-KLH without interfering with primary or secondary antibody responses to the KLH epitopes on the same molecule. Furthermore, it can be induced to specifically suppress IgH-1b allotype responses to all DNPKLH epitopes without interfering either with other allotype and isotype responses to DNP-KLH or with Igh-1b responses to other antigens in the same animal. Thus, under conditions where memory development is optimal, this highly versatile regulatory mechanism is key to determining the amount, specificity, affinity and Igh isotype/allotype representation of IgG antibody responses. Since we have recently published a full description of this Igh-restricted “epitope-specific” system, we have chosen to briefly outline its properties here using a somewhat extended version of the “summary slides” prepared for the meeting. Many of the findings summarized in this outline are illustrated by evidence and presented at the meeting (and included here); however, this evidence was presented to underscore the importance of epitope-specific regulation for studies of in situ and adoptive memory responses and consequently does not fully document the findings discussed. [For such documentation, we refer the reader to our published work.6-12
The synthesis of trideuterated diethylstilbestrol ([1,1,1-D3] E-3,4-di-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-hex-3-ene)†

[1,1,1-D3] E-3,4-Di-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-hex-3-ene has been synthesized from 1,2-di-(4-methoxyphenyl)-butan-1-one. Reaction of this ketone with [2,2,2-D3] ethyl magnesium iodide yields [1,1,1-D3]3,4-di-(4-methoxyphenyl)-hexan-3-ol, which on dehydration with potassium hydrogen sulfate and demethylation with methyl magnesium iodide yields isotopically pure trideuterated diethyl-stilbestrol. Isotopically pure [2,2-D2] 3,4-di-(4-dydroxyphenyl)-hex-3-ene cannot be prepared by this route from [1,1-D2] ethyl magnesium iodide.
Submission to the DTA2012 Special Issue: Convergence of Time Discretization Schemes for Continuous-Time Dynamic Network Loading Models

Dynamic Network Loading (DNL) is an essential component of Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) and Dynamic User Equilibrium (DUE). Most DNL models are formulated in continuous time but solved in discrete time to obtain numerical solutions. This paper discusses the importance of choosing proper discretization schemes to numerically solve continuous-time DNL models and further to obtain convergence and other desirable properties of the discretization schemes. We use the recently developed α point-queue model as an example. We first develop theoretical results to prove the consistency, stability and convergence of the implicit and explicit discretization schemes for solving the α point-queue model. We then conduct numerical experiments to show such results accordingly. We also discuss the implications of the implicit and explicit discretization schemes to the developments of DNL and DTA/DUE solution algorithms.
Differential effects of phe19 and phe20 on fibril formation by amyloidogenic peptide Aβ16–22 (Ac‐KLVFFAE‐NH2)

The sequence KLVFFAE (A beta 16-22) in Alzheimer's beta-amyloid is thought to be a core beta-structure that could act as a template for folding other parts of the polypeptide or molecules into fibrillar assemblies rich in beta-sheet. To elucidate the mechanism of the initial folding process, we undertook combined X-ray fiber/powder diffraction and infrared (IR) spectroscopy to analyze lyophilized A beta 16-22 and solubilized/dried peptide containing nitrile probes at F19 and/or F20. Solubilized/dried wild-type (WT) A beta 16-22 and the peptide containing cyanophenylalanine at F19 (19CN) or at F20 (20CN) gave fiber patterns consistent with slab-like beta-crystallites that were cylindrically averaged around the axis parallel to the polypeptide chain direction. The WT and 19CN assemblies showed 30-A period arrays arising from the stacking of the slabs along the peptide chain direction, whereas the 20CN assemblies lacked any such stacking. The electron density projection along the peptide chain direction indicated similar side-chain dispositions for WT and 20CN, but not for 19CN. These X-ray results and modeling imply that in the assembly of WT A beta 16-22 the F19 side chain is localized within the intersheet space and is involved in hydrophobic contact with amino acids across the intersheet space, whereas the F20 side chain localized near the slab surface is less important for the intersheet interaction, but involved in slab stacking. IR observations for the same peptides in dilute solution showed a greater degree of hydrogen bonding for the nitrile groups in 20CN than in 19CN, supporting this interpretation.
Analysis of linear arrays using the adaptive basis functions/diagonal moment matrix technique

An efficient algorithm is proposed for the analysis of large finite arrays using the adaptive basis functions/diagonal moment matrix technique. Adaptive basis functions constructed using clusters spanning over an array element are used to generate a highly diagonally dominant moment matrix. The physical interpretation of the constructed set of adaptive basis functions is discussed. The new matrix equation is solved iteratively in a way that only the significant mutual impedances are considered. The proposed algorithm is applied to a linear array of bow-tie antennas, and results are compared to those obtained using the direct moment method solution and exhibit very good agreement. The relative computational time improves as the array size increases compared to the conventional moment method solution. A speedup factor of more than 100 is achieved for an array of 32 elements.
Learning control for underwater robotic vehicles

Underwater robotic vehicles have become an important tool for various underwater tasks because they have greater speed, endurance, and depth capability, as well as a higher factor of safety, than human divers. However, most vehicle control system designs have been based on a simplified vehicle model, which has often resulted in poor performance because the nonlinear and time-varying vehicle dynamics have parameter uncertainty. It was also observed by experiment that the thruster system had nonlinear behavior and its effect on vehicle motion was significant. It is desirable to have an advanced control system with the capability of learning and adapting to changes in the vehicle dynamics and parameters. This article describes a learning control system using neural networks for underwater robotic vehicles. Its effectiveness is investigated by simulation. >