cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seed (Sperma) and Kuêma in Aristotle's Generation of Animals.

There are two different notions of seed (sperma) at work in the Generation of Animals: seed as the spermatic residue (perittoma), which concerns only the male and the female generative contributions, and seed as the kuema and first mixture of the two generative contributions. The latter is a notion of seed common to plants and animals. The passage in GA I.18, 724b12–22 where Aristotle distinguishes between these two notions of seed has been mistakenly discredited as inauthentic or simply as irrelevant for understanding the seeds of animals. On the other hand, recent studies have rather focused on the seed as spermatic residue (in particular, the female contribution as seed), paying little attention to the notion of seed as kuema. In this paper I defend the authenticity and relevance of this passage and show how understanding the notion of seed as kuema is essential to have a complete picture of Aristotle’s account of seed. This common notion of seed makes sense of Aristotle’s otherwise puzzling use of the word “sperma” to designate the seeds of plants, the kuema, the fertilized eggs, and the first mixture of the two generative contributions. It also proves helpful in determining what the word ‘sperma’ stands for in key passages, such as Metaph. IX.7.
Cryoamputation as a Lifesaving Intervention: A Case Report, Description of Technique, and Review of the Literature.

Emergency amputation of ischemic or infected limbs in critically ill patients is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Cryoamputation involves a physiologic amputation, effectively isolating the offending limb without actual amputation, as a lifesaving, temporizing measure in the subset of patients who cannot undergo a surgical amputation1,2. A physiologic amputation should be considered in disaster scenarios or with those patients who are experiencing systemic toxicity from the offending limb but whose current condition or extraneous circumstances do not permit a surgical amputation. Cryoamputation involves the application of an occlusive tourniquet to isolate the affected extremity, with subsequent cooling with use of dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide), common ice, or special cooling systems. This allows for patients to be medically optimized prior to undergoing a formal amputation. This approach may be valuable even in situations when long-term survival is not anticipated. The benefit of this technique is that it allows a high-risk emergency amputation to be performed in an elective fashion after medical optimization. We present a case of cryoamputation and review the literature on this subject. We are not aware of any prior report of this technique in the orthopaedic literature. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent. The Orthopaedic Surgery Service was emergently consulted by the Vascular Surgery Service to assist with bilateral transfemoral amputation. A fifty-six-year-old man with a history of multiple bypass procedures presented with acute-on-chronic worsening of severe peripheral vascular disease in the setting of a hypercoagulable state. At the time of our initial consultation, the patient had bilateral lower limbs that were cool to the touch and insensate to the level of the proximal part of the thigh. The case was complicated by prior bilateral total hip arthroplasty with prosthesis …
Trends in Healthcare Expenditures Among US Adults With Hypertension: National Estimates, 2003-2014.

BackgroundOne in 3 US adults has high blood pressure, or hypertension. As prior projections suggest hypertension is the costliest of all cardiovascular diseases, it is important to define the curre...
Induction of GLUT1 mRNA in response to azide and inhibition of protein synthesis

Incubation of Clone 9 cells, a nontransformed rat liver cell line, in the presence of 5 mM azide results in an induction of GLUT1 mRNA which becomes detectable after approximately 3 h of continuous exposure to the agent. In examining the role of on-going protein synthesis in this response, we found that: (i) the induction of GLUT1 mRNA by azide was not inhibited by anisomycin, (ii) exposure to anisomycin alone also resulted in increased GLUT1 mRNA content, and (iii) the increments in GLUT1 mRNA content in the presence of both azide and anisomycin were additive. Following exposure to 30 microM anisomycin, the increase in GLUT1 mRNA content became evident at 1 h, reached a maximum level of approximately 7-fold at 3 h, then slowly decreased but remained elevated at approximately 2-fold control levels at 12 h. Transcription of the GLUT1 gene, estimated by nuclear run-on assay, was stimulated 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 1.6 +/- 0.2-fold in cells exposed to anisomycin for 1 and 2 h, respectively (p < 0.05 for both). Upon inhibition of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D, GLUT1 mRNA content decreased with a half-life of 1.9 +/- 0.4 h in control cells, while in contrast, GLUT1 mRNA half-life was 4.6 +/- 0.8 h in cells exposed to anisomycin. The induction of GLUT1 mRNA by anisomycin was half-maximal at approximately 3 microM, whereas inhibition of leucine incorporation and stimulation of Stress Activated Protein Kinase (SAPK), measured as c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity, were half-maximal at approximately 0.3 and approximately 0.05 microM anisomycin, respectively. GLUT1 mRNA content was also increased by the protein synthesis inhibitor emetine, and the effect was associated with no stimulation of SAPK activity. Finally, SAPK activity was minimally stimulated in cells exposed to azide. It is concluded that: (1) on-going protein synthesis is not necessary for the induction of GLUT1 mRNA content in response to azide, (2) the induction of GLUT1 mRNA by anisomycin is related to its activity to inhibit protein synthesis, and (3) under basal conditions, a rapidly turning-over putative protein exerts a negative regulatory effect on GLUT1 mRNA expression.
The effects of charge diffusion on soft x-ray response for future high-resolution imagers

Future solid state imagers for high-spatial-resolution X-ray missions will require an unprecedented combination of small pixel size and large detector thickness. This presents challenges for the accurate detection of soft X-rays, since the cloud of charge produced by these photons near the entrance window will laterally diffuse to multiple pixels by the time it is collected by the rear surface electrodes, complicating photon energy reconstruction. Using realistic models for the electric field distribution in a silicon-based detector, we have performed simulations of soft X-ray detection over a range of depletion depth, pixel size, and back bias voltage. These simulations start at the generation of photoelectrons by the incoming X-ray, and include diffusion to surrounding pixels as the charge cloud is quickly gathered by the electrode gate structure. We then perform standard X-ray event identification in the presence of a range of simulated pixel-based noise, and compare the spectral response to predicted requirements for future missions at energies down to 0.2 keV. The results show that while increasing the backside bias voltage can decrease the charge collection time and thus also the lateral diffusion, charge splitting among pixels is still significant. The soft X-ray response of future high-resolution missions will greatly benefit from few-electron readout noise or better.
Experiences in Computer Science Wonderland: a success story with Alice

Computer Science Wonderland, a non-residential camp involving 36 students and 12 teachers from area high schools, was held on the campus of our institution during the summer of 2010. The focus of the camp was to engage teachers and students in the development of graphical animations using the Alice programming environment, with the objective of introducing teachers and students to programming and logical problem solving. A secondary objective was to generate interest in the computing profession by presenting and completing activities in the areas of computing history, computing ethics, computing careers, Boolean logic, binary number representation, and cryptography. Throughout the camp, emphasis was placed on a few recurring themes: teamwork, creativity, and interdisciplinary relationships between computing and the arts/humanities. This paper offers a model for and evaluation of a computer science camp for middle/secondary school students and teachers.
Thiol-Redox Regulation in Lung Development and Vascular Remodeling

Significance: Redox homeostasis is finely tuned and governed by distinct intracellular mechanisms. The dysregulation of this either by external or internal events is a fundamental pathophysiologic base for many pulmonary diseases. Recent Advances: Based on recent discoveries, it is increasingly clear that cellular redox state and oxidation of signaling molecules are critical modulators of lung disease and represent a final common pathway that leads to poor respiratory outcomes. Critical Issues: Based on the wide variety of stimuli that alter specific redox signaling pathways, improved understanding of the disease and patient-specific alterations are needed for the development of therapeutic targets. Further Directions: For the full comprehension of redox signaling in pulmonary disease, it is essential to recognize the role of reactive oxygen intermediates in modulating biological responses. This review summarizes current knowledge of redox signaling in pulmonary development and pulmonary vascular disease.
Exploring the Impact of a Positive Psychology and Creative Journal Arts Intervention with Latina/o Adolescents

A creative journal arts and positive psychology intervention was utilized to explore resilience, personal recovery attitudes, and symptoms of depression in Latina/o adolescents. The impact of a sev...
Copper and Zinc Substitutions in Clathrates of Tin: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Physical Properties of A8Cu2.67Sn43.33 and A8Zn4Sn42 (A = K, Rb, Cs) with the Type-I Structure

Reported are two series of tin-based clathrates—A8Cu2.67Sn43.33 and A8Zn4Sn42 (A = K, Rb, Cs)—crystallizing in the cubic type-I structure. The six new compounds have been obtained in quantitative yields and have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Copper and zinc randomly substitute tin on only one of the three framework sites, 6c, while the remaining two sites 16i and 24k are exclusively occupied by tin. The alkali metals reside in the two types of cages in the structure—the 20-atom dodecahedra and the 24-atom tetrakaidecahedra. According to the structure refinements, both cages are completely filled; in the bigger tetrakaidecahedron, the smaller K and Rb atoms are displaced off its center, whereas the larger Cs atoms are located at the center. These findings are presented and discussed; preliminary results from measurements of the Seebeck coefficients (300–500 K) and the electrical resistivity (100–400 K) are presented as well.
TGA: An Oracle-less and Topology-Guided Attack on Logic Locking

Due to the outsourcing of semiconductor design and manufacturing, a number of threats have emerged in recent years, and they are overproduction of integrated circuits (ICs), illegal sale of defective ICs, and piracy of intellectual properties (IPs). Logic locking is one method to enable trust in this complex IC design and manufacturing processes, where a design is obfuscated by inserting a lock to modify the underlying functionality so that an adversary cannot make a chip to function properly. A locked chip will only work properly once it is activated by programming with a secret key into its tamper-proof memory. Over the years, researchers have proposed different locking mechanisms primarily to prevent Boolean satisfiability (SAT)-based attacks, and successfully preserve the security of a locked design. However, an untrusted foundry, the adversary, can use many other effective means to find out the secret key. In this paper, we present a novel oracle-less and topology-guided attack denoted as TGA. The attack relies on identifying repeated functions for determining the value of a key bit. The proposed attack does not require any data from an unlocked chip, and eliminates the need for an oracle. The attack is based on self-referencing, i.e., it compares the internal netlist to find the key. The proposed graph search algorithm efficiently finds a duplicate function of the locked part of the circuit. Our proposed attack correctly estimate a key bit very efficiently, and it only takes few seconds to determine the key bit. We also present a solution to thwart TGA and make logic locking secure.
CHAPTER III – Euclidean Geometry

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on Euclidean geometry. Two triangles are congruent if there is a rigid motion of the plane which carries one triangle exactly onto the other. Corresponding angles of congruent triangles are equal, corresponding sides have the same length, the areas enclosed are equal, and so on. Any geometric property of a given triangle is automatically shared by every congruent triangle. Conversely, there are a number of simple ways in which one can decide if two given triangles are congruent—for example, if for each triangle the same three numbers occur as lengths of sides. An isometry, or rigid motion, of Euclidean space is a special type of mapping that preserves the Euclidean distance between points. Various theorems are proven in the chapter. Intuitively, it is the orientation that distinguishes between a right-handed glove and a left-handed glove in ordinary space. To handle this concept mathematically, gloves have been replaced by frames, and all the frames on Euclidean 3-space E3 are separated into two classes.
Identifying and characterizing blinking pixels in photodiode arrays with hidden Markov models

Random telegraph signal (RTS) noise is ubiquitous in electronic and electro-optical devices, having been observed in MOSFETs and photodiode arrays. For imaging arrays, in particular, RTS noise (blinking pixels or "blinkers") deteriorates system performance through poor nonuniformity correction (NUC) stability and degrades image quality with blinking pixel behavior that can distract human operators and confuse computer vision algorithms. To date, there exists no universally accepted identification method or description of RTS noise in photodetectors, nor a conventional analysis approach to determine its origin. Current approaches typically focus on spectral properties (RTS noise is characterized by a Lorentzian power spectrum), which can be expensive to compute through Fourier methods, and analysis is usually performed on only a small sample of pixels. Here, we propose a method to identify and characterize blinkers by training a hidden Markov model (HMM) to extract the principal parameters governing blinking behavior, including the underlying state space, the state transition probabilities, and the distribution of state output levels. We find evidence to support classifying blinking behavior with HMM parameters; the variation of the model parameters with extrinsic variables, such as the temperature and applied bias, give some indication of the underlying physical mechanisms. Specifically, we find the timescale of the blink current is longer than typical electron{phonon, electron{electron, and electron{photon interactions, which leads to the suggestion that the blinking mechanism may be related to trap occupation dynamics.
Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA): A potential adverse reaction post Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) (5483)

Objective: To report a case of TMA in a 6 month-old patient with SMA type 1 after Zolgensma administration. Background: Zolgensma, an SMA therapy recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is recommended to be administered as a one time 1.1 × 1014 vector genomes (vg) per kg intravenous dose. The most concerning reported side effects of gene therapy are acute liver injury, increased troponin I and transient thrombocytopenia. TMA has not been previously reported as a side effect. Design/Methods: Case report Results: A 6 month-old SMA type 1 patient received the recommended dose of Zolgensma. At the time of injection, she had been intubated and mechanically ventilated for respiratory failure for approximately 2 weeks and her vitals were within normal limits. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 7 mg/dl; Creatinine (Cr) 0.1 mg/dl; platelets (Plt) 503/ul; hemoglobin (Hb) 10.3 mg/dl. Five days post injection, the patient developed hypertension (140s–150s/80s–90s mmHg), hematuria, proteinuria, acute kidney injury (BUN 52, Cr 0.6), hemolytic anemia (schistocytes on peripheral smear, elevated reticulocyte count of 7.5%, Hb 6.5 and elevated LDH 4208) and thrombocytopenia (Plt Conclusions: Physicians and families should be aware of Zolgensma potentially causing TMA. Disclosure: Dr. Prabhu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saylam has nothing to disclose. Dr. Louis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moss has nothing to disclose. Dr. Millner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Douglass has nothing to disclose. Dr. Veerapandiyan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Agarwal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stefans has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arya has nothing to disclose.
Iterative Super-Twisting Sliding Mode Control of Autonomous Mobile Robot

Autonomous mobile robot (AMR) has been appealed for intelligent manufacturing and automation applications due to their commendable performance. However, in the situation where accurate and fast trajectory tracking is required, the unknown dynamics (including the modelling uncertainty or parametric perturbations) may reduce the control precision. To address this challenge, an iterative super-twisting sliding mode control (ISSMC) scheme is presented for the concerned autonomous mobile robots. Specifically, a two-degree-of-freedom control scheme is established by combining super-twisting sliding and iterative learning mechanism. The second-order reaching mechanism of the super-twisting sliding law mitigates the chattering occurring in traditional solutions. Moreover, the iterative learning law can compensate for the dynamic tracking error. The achieved trajectory tracks the expected reference without knowing exact parameters. Lyapunov- like functions are constructed for guaranteeing the convergence and closed-loop system stability. Comparison experiments are offered to validate the availability of the presented ISSMC scheme.
Chapter 14 Defects and Density of Localized States

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the origin, nature, and density of states of the defects that characterize the films of hydrogenated amorphous silicon. The principal features of hydrogenated amorphous silicon are (1) the absence of low-energy defects, leading to only small concentrations of thermodynamically induced defects and (2) the overconstrained nature of the network, resulting in the presence of significant concentrations of strain-related defects. Both of these features arise because of the tetrahedral bonding in the films. The fact that the defects are induced by strains rather than from thermodynamic requirements precludes a simple analysis of their nature and leads to many potential complications, including a diversity of physical properties depending on the details of the preparation conditions and film history. The biggest need at present is rigorous theoretical calculations. These have lagged because of the intrinsic difficulties in simplifying the problem of nonperiodic networks in general taken together with the enormous complexities arising from the importance of electronic correlations and electron–phonon interactions.
Some Philosophical Aspects of Combinatory Logic

This is a discussion of some philosophical criticisms of combinatory logic, preceded by a brief survey to give background.
Hematology, immunology and infectious disease

1. Stem Cell Facts for Neonatologist, Mervin Yoder 2. Current Issues in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment of Neonatal Thrombocytopenia, Martha Sola- Visner, Matthew Saxonhouse 3. The role of recombinant leukocyte colony-stimulating factors in the neonatal intensive care unit, Robert Christensen 4. Why, When and How should we provide red blood cell transfusions to neonates? Robin Ohls 5. Controversies in Neonatal Thrombotic Disorders, Marilyn Manco-Johnson 6. Practical approaches to the neutropenic neonate, Akhil Maheshwari 7. What evidence supports dietary intervention to prevent infant allergy and food allergy development? David Osborne, John Sinn 8. Toll Like Receptor Responses in Neonatal Dendritic Cells, Fabienne Willems, Stanlis Goriely, Ezra Aksoy 9. Maternally-mediated Neonatal Autoimmunity, Anne Stevens, Neelufar Mozaffarian 10. What insights into human cord blood lymphocyte function can be gleaned from studying newborn mice? Cheri Landers, Subbarao Bondada 11. Influence of Passive Antibodies on the Immune Response of Young Infants, WP Glezen 12. Neonatal T-Cell Immunity and its Regulation by Innate Immunity an Dendritic Cells? David Lewis 13. Breast milk infection, Marianne Forsgren, Lars Naver, Bjorn Fischler 14. Control of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Philip Toltzis 15. Neonatal Fungal Infections, Charles Sims, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner 16. Has intrapartum prophylaxis for GBBS sepsis changed the spectrum of organisms causing neonatal sepsis? Gary Overturf
Requirement of Protein Synthesis for Bacteriophage φX174 Superinfection Exclusion

Within 5 to 10 min at 37 C, bacteria infected by bacteriophage {varphi}X174 acquire the ability to exclude superinfecting {varphi}X particles from reproducing themselves. The superinfecting phage are blocked at a stage prior to synthesis of the parental replicative form molecule; the superinfecting deoxyribonucleic acid remains as intact (infective) single strands. Establishment of superinfection exclusion and its maintenance require protein synthesis.
Minimum Resource Characterization of Biochemical Analyses for Digital Microfluidic Biochip Design

Digital microfluidic systems (DMFS) are a class of lab-on-a-chip systems that manipulate individual droplets of chemicals on an array of electrodes. The biochemical analyses are performed by repeatedly moving, mixing, and splitting droplets on the electrodes. In this paper, we characterize the tree structure of biochemical analyses and identify their minimum resource requirements, towards the design of cost and space-efficient biochips. Mixers and storage units are two primary functional resources on a DMFS biochip; mixers mix and split droplets while storage units store droplets on the chip for subsequent processing. Additional DMFS resources include input and output units and transportation paths. We present an algorithm to compute, for a given number of mixers M, the minimum number of storage units f(M) for an input analysis using its tree structure, and design a corresponding scheduling algorithm to perform the analysis. We characterize the variation of the M-depth of a tree (i.e., its minimum number of storage units f(M)) with M, and use it to calculate the minimum total size (the number of electrodes) of mixers and storage units. We prove that the smallest chip for an arbitrary analysis uses one mixer and f(1) storage units. Finally, we demonstrate our results on two example biochemical analyses and design the smallest chip for a biochemical analysis with a complete tree structure of depth 4. These are the first results on the least resource requirements of DMFS for biochemical analyses, and can be used for the design and selection of chips for arbitrary biochemical analyses.
Constructing an Assistive Technology Toolkit for Young Children: Views from the Field.

Assistive technology is guaranteed by law to be included when appropriate on individualized education plans (IEP) for young children with disabilities. Yet, the full potential of technology remains...
The evolving role of self-report surveys of criminal victimization in a system of statistics on crime and the administration of justice

Routinely collected statistics on crime and the administration of justice are essential for developing laws and policies that are responsive to the crime problem and for holding criminal justice agencies accountable in the execution of those policies. Any statistical system on crime and the administration of justice should include the opportunity for the direct participation of citizens in providing information on the crime problem. This direct participation enhances our ability to check on administrative record data and bolsters the legitimacy of these statistics more generally. Victimization surveys allow citizens to have this direct participation. The specific role of victimization surveys in a statistical system will depend upon the credibility and technical proficiencies of the police, court and correctional agencies. This paper describes the preferred role of victimization surveys and the technological challenges in playing that role under different conditions of legitimacy and technical capabilities.
A Multiple Model Cost-Sensitive Approach for Intrusion Detection

Intrusion detection systems (IDSs) need to maximize security while minimizing costs. In this paper, we study the problem of building cost-sensitive intrusion detection models to be used for real-time detection. We briefly discuss the major cost factors in IDS, including consequential and operational costs. We propose a multiple model cost-sensitive machine learning technique to produce models that are optimized for user-defined cost metrics. Empirical experiments in off-line analysis show a reduction of approximately 97% in operational cost over a single model approach, and a reduction of approximately 30% in consequential cost over a pure accuracy-based approach.
Cooperation between Complexes that Regulate Chromatin Structure and Transcription

Chromatin structure creates barriers for each step in eukaryotic transcription. Here we discuss how the activities of two major classes of chromatin-modifying complexes, ATP-dependent remodeling complexes and HAT or HDAC complexes, might be coordinated to create a DNA template that is accessible to the general transcription apparatus.
Spectroscopic studies of the Salmonella enterica adenosyltransferase enzyme SeCobA: molecular-level insight into the mechanism of substrate Cob(II)alamin activation.

CobA from Salmonella enterica (SeCobA) is a member of the family of ATP:Co(I)rrinoid adenosyltransferase (ACAT) enzymes that participate in the biosynthesis of adenosylcobalamin by catalyzing the transfer of the adenosyl group from an ATP molecule to a reactive Co(I)rrinoid species transiently generated in the enzyme active site. This reaction is thermodynamically challenging, as the reduction potential of the Co(II)rrinoid precursor in solution is far more negative than that of available reducing agents in the cell (e.g., flavodoxin), precluding nonenzymic reduction to the Co(I) oxidation state. However, in the active sites of ACATs, the Co(II)/Co(I) redox potential is increased by >250 mV via the formation of a unique four-coordinate (4c) Co(II)rrinoid species. In the case of the SeCobA ACAT, crystallographic and kinetic studies have revealed that the phenylalanine 91 (F91) and tryptophan 93 (W93) residues are critical for in vivo activity, presumably by blocking access to the lower axial ligand site of...
Management of invasive frontoethmoidal sinus mucoceles.

• Invasive frontoethmoidal sinus mucoceles extending into the anterior cranial fossa or orbits are difficult to manage and can lead to lethal complications. In the past four years, nine cases of frontoethmoidal mucoceles were treated at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Five cases were complicated by anterior cranial fossa invasion, orbital invasion, or both. The choice of surgical procedures used to manage these cases depended on mucocele extent and location, which were best determined by computed tomography. Two cases required craniotomy, one of which required an inferior-based pericranial flap for reconstruction of the floor of the anterior cranial fossa. Two cases were managed by osteoplastic flap and fat obliteration procedures. Intranasal drainage was the procedure used in one case that had extensive orbital involvement. Surgical complications included an intracranial abscess in one patient and a cerebrospinal fluid leak in a second patient. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1986;112:1060-1063)
Diel phasing of the cell cycle in the Florida red tide dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium breve

The diel cycle is a key regulator of the cell-cycle in many dinoflagellates, but the mechanisms by which the diel cycle entrains the cell-cycle remain poorly understood. In this study, we describe diel phasing of the cell-cycle in the Florida red tide dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve Davis, determine the diel cue which serves to entrain the cell-cycle, and provide evidence for the presence of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), a cell-cycle regulator which may be responsive to this cue. Four laboratory isolates from the West Coast of Florida were compared. When grown on a 16:8 h LD cycle, all isolates displayed phased cell division, with the S-phase beginning 6–8 h into the light phase, and mitosis following 12–14 h later, as determined by flow cytometry. A naturally occurring bloom of G. breve, studied over one diel cycle, displayed diel cell-cycle phasing similar to that in the laboratory cultures, with the S-phase beginning during daylight and the peak of mitosis occurring approximately 4 h after sunset. In the laboratory cultures, the dark/light “dawn” transition was found to provide the diel cue which serves to entrain the G. breve cell-cycle, whereas the light/ dark “dusk” transition did not appear to be involved. Evidence for the presence of CDK in G. breve was obtained using two approaches: (1) identification of a 34-kDa protein, immunoreactive to an antibody against a conserved amino acid sequence (α-PSTAIR) unique to the CDK protein family and (2) inhibition of the cell-cycle by olomoucine, a selective CDK inhibitor. Together, these results provide the basis from which one can begin addressing mechanisms by which the diel cycle regulates the cell-cycle in G. breve.
Conclusion to the Featured Series on Satellites and Transboundary Water: Emerging Ideas1

Hossain, Faisal, 2010. Conclusion to the Featured Series on Satellites and Transboundary Water: Emerging Ideas. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(4): 663-664. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00449.x
An analysis on effecting factors of ultra-violet imaging appliance in corona discharge

In this paper, the operating principle of daylight UV imagers was introduced first, emphasizing the SBUV(solar blind UV) technology, which utilizes the fact that ultra violet between 240nm~280nm is being absorbed by the ozone so that signals detected on earth in this spectral range originate on earth. And then several influencing factors were explained, including observation distance, observing angle, imager gain settings and environmental conditions. Experimental data measured in the UHV(ultra high-voltage) DC converter station in Changzhi, Shanxi, China were analyzed using SRA(single regression analysis) method, and mathematical equations with acceptable deviation were calculated, with simulating curves plotted. The results show that environmental conditions including humidity and temperature, observation distance and imager gain settings all contribute to the measuring result, exhibiting as exponential function and convex function respectively. Concluded from the above analysis and calculation, observing conditions of a clear observing angle at the same observation distance with mediate gain settings on days of low humidity were recommended. This conclusion may guide further ultra-violet imaging appliance in high-voltage electrical devices corona discharge sensing.
Mass Extinctions in the Marine Fossil Record

A new compilation of fossil data on invertebrate and vertebrate families indicates that four mass extinctions in the marine realm are statistically distinct from background extinction levels. These four occurred late in the Ordovician, Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods. A fifth extinction event in the Devonian stands out from the background but is not statistically significant in these data. Background extinction rates appear to have declined since Cambrian time, which is consistent with the prediction that optimization of fitness should increase through evolutionary time.
Intermittent Light and Growth Performance of Male Turkeys From 2 to 22 Weeks of Age

Abstract Growth performance of tom turkeys under intermittent lighting was examined. Light treatments were given from 2 to 22 weeks of age and consisted of a control group maintained on 23L:1D and three intermittent lighting regimens: 1L:3D repeated 6 times daily, .25L:.75D repeated 24 times daily, and 3L:11D:3L:7D repeated daily. Body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion, mortality, and leg abnormalities were recorded. Body weights of control toms at 18 and 22 weeks of age were significantly smaller than those of each of the intermittent light treatment groups. Weight differences ranged from .7 to 1.3 kg. Body weights among the three intermittent light treatments were similar. Although feed conversions at all five measurement periods were numerically better in all of the intermittent light treatment groups than the control group, differences were not significantly different at and beyond 14 weeks of age. Likewise, no significant differences in mortality or leg disorders occurred among the light treatment groups during the study. The results of this study indicate that torn market turkeys can have a better growth performance, along with a savings in electricity used for lighting, when raised under intermittent lighting rather than under a single, continuous photoperiod of 23 hr/day.
Sanitary procedures for the production of extended semen.

Contents Semen is collected and processed from a variety of animal species for use in artificial insemination breeding programmes. Because of the inherent nature of the semen collection process, bacterial contamination of the ejaculate is a common occurrence. Additionally, manipulation of the ejaculate during processing in the laboratory can expose the sample to possible introduction of bacterial contamination. If preventative measures at the stud fail to adequately control these risks, decreases in semen quality, dose longevity and fertility may occur. Multiple mammalian and non-mammalian sources have been identified as origins of contamination in the stud. Knowledge of these sources has aided the industries in developing strategies that help in controlling the introduction of contaminant bacteria in extended semen. A primary step in minimizing contamination is in the practice of good hygiene by stud personnel. Prudent general sanitation protocols should also be followed in the laboratory, animal housing and semen collection areas. Cleanliness and attention to the actual semen collection process can also aid in reducing bacterial load originating from the stud semen donor. Attentiveness to all of these steps significantly contributes to an overall reduction in the type and amount of bacterial contamination. However, their complete elimination stills remains unavoidable. To address residual bacteria load in the sample, antimicrobials are commonly used in semen extenders intended to promote in vitro sperm longevity beyond that of a few hours. Current research by the animal industries continues in the selection and prudent use of antimicrobials that will lead to the success and sustainability of this modality in controlling bacterial contamination.
EFFECTS OF POSTDISPERSAL SEED PREDATION ON SPATIAL INEQUALITY AND SIZE VARIABILITY IN AN ANNUAL PLANT, ERODIUM CICUTARIUM (GERANIACEAE)

By decreasing seed density, ants introduced into flats of uniformly sown seeds of Erodium cicutarium (Geraniaceae) created differences in the neighbor-free area available to individual plants. The changes in spatial patterns brought about by the ants were greater when a higher proportion of seeds was removed but were independent of initial seed density. These spatial changes and differences in seed density were examined for their effects on plant size and reproduction. Gini values were calculated to determine inequalities. As the inequality in space among individual plants increased, the variation in final biomass increased. The number of individuals reproducing was constant among treatments, and yet seed production per plant was significantly greater for populations in which the spatial pattern was influenced by seed predation. The decrease in density and changed spatial pattern, due to previous seed predation, resulted in a few individuals having much more space than others and consequently producing many more seeds. The increase in reproductive effort per flat was much greater than could be explained by the changing density alone. Our experiment demonstrates that spatial inequality, such as that generated by seed predators, can be more important than density in generating size inequalities in plant populations. This result can profoundly alter the competitive interactions between plants and determine which plants produce seed for the next generation. Studies of the effects of seed predation on plant populations have been limited to examining the alteration of plant density (Inouye, Byers, and Brown, 1980; Andersen, 1987) or the change in the plant species composition of
On the number of unstable equilibria of a class of nonlinear systems

New Results on the stability region of a class of nonlinear system and the number of equilibrium points on its boundary are presented in this paper. New concepts such as general position of and regularity of stability regions, are developed. Based on these two conditions. together with the general topological arguments, the power bound and upper bound on the number of unstable equilibrium points are obtained. These bounds can be used to estimate the computational load required to construct the stability boundary.
Graphene–Ni–α-MnO2 and –Cu–α-MnO2 nanowire blends as highly active non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Graphene–like carbon–Ni–α-MnO2 and –Cu–α-MnO2 blends can serve as effective catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction with activities comparable to Pt/C.
Prevalence and clinical characteristics of postictal psychiatric symptoms in partial epilepsy

Objectives: To identify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of postictal psychiatric (PPS) and cognitive (PCS) symptoms in patients with refractory partial epilepsy and to investigate whether interictal psychiatric and cognitive symptoms worsened in severity during the postictal period. Methods: Using a 42-item questionnaire, the authors determined the prevalence and clinical characteristics of PPS and PCS that occurred after >50% of seizures in 100 of 114 consecutive patients with refractory partial epilepsy during a 3-month period. The postictal period was defined as the 72 hours that followed a seizure. The prevalence of all interictal psychiatric and cognitive symptoms was identified and the frequency with which they worsened postictally determined. Results: A mean of 2.8 ± 1.8 PCS (median = 3) and 5.9 ± 5.3 PPS (median = 5) was identified, which included postictal symptoms of depression (PSD) in 43 patients, anxiety (PSA) in 45, postictal psychotic symptoms (PIP) in 7, hypomanic symptoms in 22, neurovegetative symptoms in 52, and fatigue in 37. Most patients experienced more than one type of PPS. Independently of the occurrence of PPS, 38 patients reported a worsening of interictal psychiatric and cognitive symptoms postictally. A history of depression and anxiety significantly increased the number of PSD, PSA, and PIP. Conclusions: Postictal psychiatric symptoms are common among patients with refractory partial epilepsy, and the severity of interictal psychiatric and cognitive symptoms commonly worsens during the postictal period.
Stage-specific immune dysregulation in multiple sclerosis.

A large body of data indicates that multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease which is initiated by CD4+ T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells that are reactive against proteins in the myelin sheath. MS typically begins with a relapsing-remitting course, punctuated by clinical exacerbations associated with the development of focal inflammatory lesions in central nervous system white matter, followed by a secondary progressive (SP) phase, characterized by a gradual accumulation of neurological disability associated with widespread microglial activation and axonal loss. The molecular and cellular basis for this transition is unclear, and the role of inflammation during the SP stage is a subject of active debate. As of now, no immunological biomarkers have been identified in MS that are predictive of the clinical course or therapeutic responsiveness to disease-modifying agents, or that correlate with new lesion development, cumulative lesion load, or degree of disability. The discovery of such biomarkers would greatly facilitate clinical management and provide power for smaller and shorter clinical trials. In this article, we discuss the literature on immunological biomarkers in MS with a focus on stage-specific differences and similarities.
Versatile Zirconium Reductants and Carbon–Carbon Coupling Agents Selectively Accessible from the 2:1 Molar Aggregate of n‐Butyllithium and Zirconium(IV) Salts

In previous studies of transition metal alkyls the 2:1 molar aggregate of n-butyllithium and zirconium(IV) salts has been found to react both with benzylic hydrocarbons and aromatic carbonyl derivatives in diverse and useful ways. In the present study the reactions of the aggregates, 2nBuLi·ZrE 4 (E = Cl, OEt), with benzaldehyde have involved carbometallation, hydrometallation and reductive dimerization (paths 1-3) in THF and were selectively achievable by temperature control alone. First, at ―78 °C benzaldehyde underwent carbolithiation to give upon hydrolysis 1-phenyl-1-pentanol. However, short-term reaction times and prompt D 2 O quenching revealed that with Zr(OEt) 4 both benzaldehyde and 1-phenyl-1-pentanol were deuteriated, consistent with the presence of a phenyl(lithioxy)carbene intermediate. The observed dimerization of benzaldehyde to benzyl benzoate by lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide is also consistent with such a phenyl(lithioxy)carbene intermediate. Second, at 25 °C the 2nBuLi·ZrE 4 aggregate reduced benzaldehyde exclusively to benzyl alcohol, which observation is consistent with the formation of the hydrozirconating agent, H 2 ZrE 2 . Third, heating the aggregate at reflux and subsequent reaction with benzaldehyde produced solely the reduced dimer, 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediol with high stereoselectivity: E = Cl, rac/meso of 93:7 and E = OEt, rac/meso of 100:0. The proposed mechanism involves the formation of ZrE 2 , the epizirconation of benzaldehyde and the insertion of the second benzaldehyde into the zirconaoxacyclopropane under steric control. Finally, the high selectivity in hydrozirconation and reductive dimerization shown by 2nBuLi·ZrE 4 appears at this time to be superior to that attainable with analogous titanium or hafnium aggregates.
The context principle and Wittgenstein's criticism of Russell's theory of types

In this paper, I try to uncover the role played by Wittgenstein's context principle in his criticism of Russell's theory of types. There is evidence in Wittgenstein's writings that a syntactical version of the context principle in connection with the theory of symbolism functions as a good reason for his dispensing with the theory of types.
Hepatic peroxisome proliferation and hypolipidemic effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in neonatal and adult rats.

Abstract To determine the relative sensitivity of suckling rats as compared to adults to the effects of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), five daily oral doses of 0, 10, 100, 1000, or 2000 mg DEHP/kg body weight were given to male Sprague-Dawley rats beginning at 6, 14, 16, 21, 42, and 86 days of age. Twenty-four hours after the last dose, rats were sacrificed and plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels and the activities of the hepatic peroxisomal enzymes, palmitoyl CoA oxidase and carnitine acetyltransferase, were determined. Suckling rats (1–3 weeks of age) suffered severe growth retardation at doses of 1000 mg/kg and death at 2000 mg/kg while older rats only showed decreased weight gain at 2000 mg/kg. Of particular interest was the lethality at doses of 1000 mg/kg at 14 days of age but not at 16 days or at other ages. Increases in relative liver weight and hepatic peroxisomal enzyme activities were similar in all age groups except the 14-day old group in which the increases were greater. Relative kidney weight was increased in 21-, 42-, and 86-day-old rats at the highest doses but not in younger rats. Hypolipidemia was observed only in 21-, 42-, and 86-day-old rats at doses of 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, while elevated plasma cholesterol levels were observed in 6- and 14-day-old rats at the 1000 mg/kg dose, possibly due to the dietary differences between suckling and weaned rats. The results suggest that neonatal and suckling rats are more sensitive to the lethal and growth retardation effects of DEHP than are adult rats, but the hepatic peroxisome proliferation is similar at all ages with the exception of a greater increase at 14 days of age.
ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS OF THE HELICAL FLOW OF NONNEWTONIAN FLUID IN ECCENTRIC ANNULAR SPACE

Many problems in petroleum and chemical industry can be reduced to the solutions of the helical flow of Non-newtonian fluid in eccentric annular space. This paper studies the flow law of the laminar helical flow of the power law fluid and Bingham fluid in eccentric annular space and the determination of the flow state. In theory, by the principle of the fluid mechanics, with methematical methods, based on our theory of the helical flow in concentric annular space and through the infinite subdivision method for the flow field of eccentric annular space helical flow, the apparent viscosity distribution, the velocity distribution, the flow rate and the pressure drop equation of the field can be given, and then the stability parameter, characterizing the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, is established.
Motion tracking in infrared imaging for quantitative medical diagnostic applications.

In medical applications, infrared (IR) thermography is used to detect and examine the thermal signature of skin abnormalities by quantitatively analyzing skin temperature in steady state conditions or its evolution over time, captured in an image sequence. However, during the image acquisition period, the involuntary movements of the patient are unavoidable, and such movements will undermine the accuracy of temperature measurement for any particular location on the skin. In this study, a tracking approach using a template-based algorithm is proposed, to follow the involuntary motion of the subject in the IR image sequence. The motion tacking will allow to associate a temperature evolution to each spatial location on the body while the body moves relative to the image frame. The affine transformation model is adopted to estimate the motion parameters of the template image. The Lucas–Kanade algorithm is applied to search for the optimized parameters of the affine transformation. A weighting mask is incorporated into the algorithm to ensure its tracking robustness. To evaluate the feasibility of the tracking approach, two sets of IR image sequences with random in-plane motion were tested in our experiments. A steady-state (no heating or cooling) IR image sequence in which the skin temperature is in equilibrium with the environment was considered first. The thermal recovery IR image sequence, acquired when the skin is recovering from 60-s cooling, was the second case analyzed. By proper selection of the template image along with template update, satisfactory tracking results were obtained for both IR image sequences. The achieved tracking accuracies are promising in terms of satisfying the demands imposed by clinical applications of IR thermography.