cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of cylindrical diffusing fibers as detectors for interstitial tissue spectroscopy

Interstitial photodynamic therapy (iPDT) describes the use of implanted optical fibers for delivery of treatment light to activate photosensitizer in regions that can be located deep within the body. Since sensitive healthy structures are often located nearby, this requires careful treatment planning that is dependent on tissue optical properties. Determination of these values usually involves the insertion of additional fibers into the volume, or the use of flat-cleaved optical fibers as both treatment sources and detectors. The insertion of additional fibers is undesirable, and cylindrical diffusers have been shown to offer superior treatment characteristics compared to flat-cleaved fibers. Using cylindrical diffusers as detectors for spectroscopic measurement is therefore attractive. We describe the determination of the detection profile for a particular cylindrical diffuser design and derive the scatterer concentration gradient within the diffuser core. This detection profile is compared to previously characterized diffusers, and is shown to be dependent on the diffuser design. For diffusers with a constant scatterer concentration and distal mirror, the detection profile is localized to the proximal end of the diffusing region. For diffusers with variable scattering concentration along their length and no distal mirror, the detection profile is shown to be more uniform along the diffusing region. We also present preliminary results showing the recovery of optical properties using arrays of cylindrical diffusing fibers as sources and detectors, with a mean error of 4.4% in the determination of μ eff . The accuracy of these results is comparable to those obtained with other methods of optical property recovery.
Effects of swine lagoon effluent application on chemical properties of a loamy sand

Abstract In order to determine the effects of lagoon effluent application on soil chemical properties, swine lagoon effluent was applied to land with a 10% slope by an overland flow irrigation system on hybrid bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) and annual ryegrass ( Lolium multiform Lan). Treatments included a control with no nutrient additions, ammonium nitrate at 560 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , and swine lagoon effluent at 560, 1120, and 2240 kg N ha −1 yr −1 . Soil on the research site is a Marvyn loamy sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic, Typic Kanphapludults). At the termination of the experiment, soil core samples were taken to 120 cm, and depth-incremental samples were analyzed for total C, NH 4 -N, NO 3 -N, Mehlich-I extractable P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Mn, soil pH and electrical conductivity. Treatment had no significant effects on soil NH 4 -N and extractable soil Cu, Zn, and Mn concentrations. Lagoon effluent application did not increase soil total C. Lagoon effluent and ammonium nitrate applications supplying the N loading resulted in a buildup of NO 3 -N, especially for the high N loading rate. Soil NO 3 -N in the lower depths throughout soil profiles reached approximately 30 mg kg −1 . Application of lagoon effluent resulted in significant P buildup to a depth of 40 cm. Mehlich-I extractable P accumulated to as high as 115 mg kg −1 on the upper portion and 40 mg kg −1 on the lower portion of the sloping land in the surface 0–20 cm soil layer. Extractable soil K concentration increased with increasing rates of lagoon effluent application. The application of swine lagoon effluent resulted in a decrease in soil pH and an increase in soluble salt accumulation.
Failure pressure of bilayer lipid membranes

The motion and growth of plants is the inspiration for a new biomimetic actuator that uses fluid transport across a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) to create internal pressure and cause displacement in the actuator. In order for the actuator to be viable the BLM must be able to withstand this internal pressure without failing. In this study BLMs are formed over a porous polycarbonate substrate and a hydrostatic pressure is applied to the BLM and gradually increased until it fails. This test is performed over different pore sizes to measure the failure pressure of the BLM as a function of pore radius. A similar test is used for polymer films to compare the failure pressure trends of a BLM to conventional engineering materials. The polymer films and BLMs are modeled as a simply supported circular plate under uniform load, first with the assumption of small deflections and then with the assumption of large deflections. It was found that the large deflection model better represents the trend of failure pressure versus pore radius than the small deflection model.
AtMYB2 regulates whole plant senescence by inhibiting cytokinin-mediated branching at late stages of development in Arabidopsis

Whole plant senescence of monocarpic plants consists of three major processes: arrest of shoot apical meristem, organ senescence, and permanent suppression of axillary buds. At early stages of development, axillary buds are inhibited by shoot apex-produced auxin, a mechanism known as apical dominance. How the buds are suppressed as an essential part of whole plant senescence, especially when the shoot apexes are senescent, is not clear. Here, we report an AtMYB2-regulated post apical dominance mechanism by which Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) inhibits the outgrowth of axillary buds as part of the whole plant senescence program. AtMYB2 is expressed in the compressed basal internode region of Arabidopsis at late stages of development to suppress the production of cytokinins, the group of hormones that are required for axillary bud outgrowth. atmyb2 T-DNA insertion lines have enhanced expression of cytokinin-synthesizing isopentenyltransferases genes, contain higher levels of cytokinins, and display a bushy phenotype at late stages of development. As a result of the continuous generation of new shoots, atmyb2 plants have a prolonged life span. The AtMYB2 promoter-directed cytokinin oxidase 1 gene in the T-DNA insertion lines reduces the endogenous cytokinin levels and restores the bushy phenotype to the wild type.
Transmission-Line and System Problems in Supplying Large Electric-Arc Furnaces During Wartime

ELECTRIC-ARC furnaces are contributing materially to the war effort, and a great number of them, small, medium, and large, have been installed recently, and more are being installed all over the country. These furnaces inherently produce a violently fluctuating load with widely different values in the several phases during the early part of the heat, referred to in the trade as “the meltdown period,” and the electric lines and systems to handle such loads must be carefully designed and installed so as to prevent such swinging loads from affecting adversely the system and other critical loads, particularly the lighting, and at the same time to provide sufficient capacity and voltage for satisfactory furnace operation. Also, such lines must be so arranged and connected into the system that the minimum of copper will be utilized — most important now.
Decision tree design from a communication theory standpoint

A communication theory approach to decision tree design based on a top-town mutual information algorithm is presented. It is shown that this algorithm is equivalent to a form of Shannon-Fano prefix coding, and several fundamental bounds relating decision-tree parameters are derived. The bounds are used in conjunction with a rate-distortion interpretation of tree design to explain several phenomena previously observed in practical decision-tree design. A termination rule for the algorithm called the delta-entropy rule is proposed that improves its robustness in the presence of noise. Simulation results are presented, showing that the tree classifiers derived by the algorithm compare favourably to the single nearest neighbour classifier. >
HIV-1 superinfection

During the past year, a number of reports have described HIV-1 superinfection in human subjects, defined as the reinfection of an individual with a second heterologous strain of HIV-1. These reports have challenged the assumption that HIV-1-specific immune responses generated during primary infection are protective against subsequent infection and have raised concern, not only with respect to HIV-1-positive individuals engaging in unsafe sex but also from the standpoint of developing effective vaccines. Herein we review the published reports of HIV-1 superinfection and highlight studies providing additional insight into the potential for HIV-1 superinfections to affect the global epidemic.
Role of filler and functional group conversion in the evolution of properties in polymeric dental restoratives.

Abstract Objectives To examine effects of shrinkage and modulus on the dynamic development of shrinkage stress as a function of methacrylate conversion and filler loading in a model photocurable dimethacrylate-based resin with a silanized barium glass filler. Methods BisGMA/TEGDMA samples with filler loading levels of 0–70 wt% were evaluated. Irradiation times and intensities were varied to achieve a wide range of conversion. Shrinkage stress measurements were accompanied with real-time conversion monitoring, while shrinkage and modulus measurements were made at different static conversion points. Results Shrinkage increased nearly linearly with respect to conversion, while for a given value of conversion, it decreased proportionally with increasing filler content. Modulus advanced in an exponential fashion with conversion and also increased incrementally with filler content; however, modulus values rose disproportionately rapidly for the highest filler loading. At either high or low filler loading levels, stress at limiting conversion, which was inversely proportional to the filler load, was high while at an intermediate filler content, a minimum in stress was observed due to the combined effects of filler based shrinkage reduction, restricted limiting conversion and only moderately enhanced modulus. The level of polymerization stress predicted from the conversion-indexed shrinkage and modulus measurements over-estimated the experimental stress states as modulus evolved due to system compliance that to some degree mimics the clinical situation presented by photocuring bonded composite restorations. Significance Measurement of monomer conversion provides a common basis by which different material properties can be rationally compared.
Treatment for Removal of Inhaled Radioactive Ceria (144CeO2) from the Lungs of Rats

INHALATION is one of the most probable routes for entry of radioactive elements into the body. Relatively insoluble, radioactive particles deposited in the lung are normally retained for long periods of time resulting in high, local radiation dosages which may lead to pulmonary damage, for example, fibrosis and carcinoma1. Therefore, it is important that methods are available for increasing the rate of clearance of radioactive particles from the lung and from the body. This communication reports preliminary results of tests to remove inhaled ceria (144CeO2) (in equilibrium with its daughter product, praseodymium-144). Cerium-144 is a fission product occurring mainly in insoluble form and accounts for much of the radioactivity remaining 1–4 years after nuclear fission2. Cerium-144, with a 290-day half-life, decays by β–γ emission to praseodymium-144, which has a 17-min. half-life.
Crystallographic studies of azide, thiocyanate and perchlorate complexes of methemerythrin☆

Abstract Difference Fourier maps of azide, thiocyanate and perchlorate complexes of methemerythrin from Themiste dyscritum have been calculated at 4 A, 3.5 A and 3.5 A resolution, respectively, with phases from a refined model. N−3 and SCN− bind to the Fe complex in each subunit, indicating the mode of oxygen binding and suggesting a possible route followed by the anions in reaching the complex. ClO−4 binds in two different locations on the non-crystallographic 2-fold axes near cysteine 9 and cysteine 50, apparently being held to the protein by peptide amides and lysine side-chains. Binding of ClO−4 at these locations away from the Fe complex is observed to have some effect on the active site structure.
Maintenance of meiotic arrest by increasing [cAMP]i may have physiological relevance in bovine oocytes

Invasive adenylate cyclase (iAC) reversibly inhibits spontaneous maturation of cumulus-enclosed bovine oocytes by increasing the intracellular concentration of cAMP, [cAMP]i. In this study, physiological aspects of maintaining meiotic arrest in bovine oocytes by iAC were investigated. The maintenance of germinal vesicle arrest by iAC in both cumulus-enclosed and denuded bovine oocytes was concentration dependent (r2 = 0.857). Denuded bovine oocytes were more sensitive to maintenance of meiotic arrest by iAC then were cumulus-enclosed oocytes. At the highest concentration, 70% of the cumulus-enclosed and 90% of the denuded bovine oocytes were maintained in meiotic arrest. The iAC increased [cAMP]i in both intact cumulus-oocyte complexes and enclosed oocytes in a concentration-dependent manner (r2 = 0.795). Cumulus-enclosed oocytes maintained in meiotic arrest by iAC retained developmental competence when subsequently cultured in iAC-free medium and then fertilized. The [cAMP]i in bovine complexes decreased precipitously upon release from follicles and remained low for the next 125 min. However, the [cAMP]i of the enclosed oocytes did not change. Bovine oocytes commit to undergo meiosis in a progressive manner. Approximately 10% of the oocytes were already committed when aspirated. This proportion increased to 40% at 2 h and 70% at 5 h. Use of two inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A provided further evidence that cAMP functions in mediating meiotic arrest in bovine oocytes. Bovine oocytes, therefore, are sensitive to different cAMP concentrations, and are developmentally competent after iAC-induced arrest, and complexes containing oocytes exhibit a decrease in [cAMP]i before spontaneous maturation. These results suggest that maintenance of meiotic arrest by iAC is accomplished through modulation of cellular machinery, and regulation of oocyte maturation by [cAMP]i may be physiologically relevant.
Extending a traditional debugger to debug massively parallel applications

Beowulf systems, and other proprietary approaches, are placing systems with four or more CPUs in the hands of many researchers and commercial users. In the near future, systems with hundreds of CPUs will become commonly available, with some programmers dealing with tens of thousands of CPUs. The debugging methods used on these systems are a combination of the traditional methods used for debugging single processes and ad-hoc methods to help the user cope with the multitudes of processes. Programmers are usually familiar with a single-process debugger and would like to use it (with minimal user-visible extensions) to debug their distributed program.We present a set of modifications to a traditional debugger that makes it capable of debugging applications running on thousands of processes. Our parallel debugger is composed of individual fully functional debuggers connected with an n-nary aggregating network. This permits us to present to users the results from each debugger at the same time in an aggregated fashion. Users get a global view of the application and can easily see if a given parameter has a different value from either what they expect it to be or from the other processes. Users can then focus on the process sets of interest and investigate the problem.One challenge when debugging thousands of processes is to deal with the amount of output coming from all the debuggers. We present methods to aggregate the overwhelming amount of output from the debuggers into a more manageable subset, which is presented to the user without losing information.Experiments show that the debugger is scalable to thousands of processors. The startup mechanism, as well as users' command response time scale well. The conclusions preseated regarding the architecture and the new parallel debugger's scalability are not specific to the serial debugger we are using in our example implementation.
Essential oils—a brief survey of their chemistry and production in the united states

Essential oils can be produced in this country, but extensive investigations and careful planning are of prime importance.
An Improved Smart Ankle Foot Othosis Design Using Dual Fluid Power Cylinders

To design a smart ankle-foot orthosis (SAFO) that improves upon current ankle-foot orthoses used to treat steppage gait. Current ankle-foot orthoses are subjected to significant stresses on the ankle region of the structure, causing discomfort and the possible failure of the AFO. Although these AFOs have a constant stiffness, they do not reduce the occurrence of slap foot, where the foot slaps on the ground rather than gradually lowering it. The SAFO is an active ankle-foot orthosis that allows the user’s foot to follow a normal gait cycle. It is designed to reduce stress at the ankle by allowing for movement of the foot beyond a 90 deg angle for plantarflexion. The hinged ankle-foot orthosis is incorporated with a novel dual hydraulic-cylinder system, two tension springs, and force sensitive resistors. The force sensors are placed at the hallux, first metatarsal head, fifth metatarsal base, and heel. The foot movement actuation follows the force applied to the plantar surface of the foot during gait. The sensor outputs are fed to a signal processor and control interface to coordinate the motor actuation with the forces exerted by the user. The motor turns the screw attached to the hydraulic cylinders, which, thereby, control the orifice size by moving a plate in the cylinder, thus, changing the resistance. The cylinder filled with air will be pressurized during the lean phase, as the orifices will be closed and will provide power just as a spring would during the heel-off phase. After the heel strike, the resistance of the fluid-filled cylinder is decreased to slowly lower the foot. Once the foot is flat, the resistance of the fluid-filled cylinder is increased to keep the foot in a position to allow for toe clearance. During the heel-off event, the air-filled cylinder will assist the user with the power to push off. When toe-off occurs, the fluid-filled cylinder will decrease the resistance to allow the tension springs to bring the foot back to neutral position. To power the motor and sensors, a rechargeable battery pack is placed in a waist bag. The SAFO’s flexible design uses a novel combination of hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders to prevent foot drop, and restore the user’s sense of normalcy by providing late stance plantarflexion and a return to neutral position in early swing phase.
THE COLLISION EFFICIENCY OF CLOUD DROPS OF EQUAL SIZE

Abstract An investigation by modeling techniques has been made of the collision between cloud drops of equal size in the diameter range from 11 to 22 microns. It was found that such drops will collide with an initial vertical separation as large as 20 drop radii and an initial horizontal separation of approximately 0.3 drop radii. The approach velocity of the two drops, averaged over a vertical separation of 20 radii, is nearly constant at 0.1 of the terminal velocity of the drops. An analysis was made of the collision rate between drops of equal size under the assumption that the drops are located randomly in space. It is shown that the collision rate is proportional to the square of the ratio of cloud liquid-water content to drop size.
Linking a Motivational Interviewing Curriculum to the Chronic Care Model

BACKGROUND Unhealthy lifestyle choices frequently cause or worsen chronic diseases. Many internal medicine residents are inadequately trained to provide effective health behavior counseling, in part, due to prioritization of acute care in the traditional model of medical education and to other systemic barriers to teaching psychosocial aspects of patient care.
A class of lifted path and flow-based formulations for the asymmetric traveling salesman problem with and without precedence constraints

In this paper, we present a new class of polynomial length formulations for the asymmetric traveling salesman problem (ATSP) by lifting an ordered path-based model using logical restrictions in concert with the Reformulation-Linearization Technique (RLT). We show that a relaxed version of this formulation is equivalent to a flow-based ATSP model, which in turn is tighter than the formulation based on the exponential number of Dantzig-Fulkerson-Johnson (DFJ) subtour elimination constraints. The proposed lifting idea is applied to derive a variety of new formulations for the ATSP, and we explore several dominance relationships among these. We also extend these formulations to include precedence constraints in order to enforce a partial order on the sequence of cities to be visited in a tour. Computational results are presented to exhibit the relative tightness of our formulations and the efficacy of the proposed lifting process.
Emplacement, modification, and preservation of event strata on a flood-dominated continental shelf: Eel shelf, Northern California

Floods on the Eel River in Northern California during the winter of 1995 deposited a sediment layer 5–10 cm thick on the adjacent shelf, north of the river mouth and seaward of the 50-m isobath. Additional thinner oceanic flood layers were deposited over the same region in 1996 and 1997. Physical and biological modification of the 1995 event layer has been studied over a 2.5-year period and examined by means of sedimentary-fabric, radiotracer, and macrofaunal analyses of box cores collected across the shelf from 50- to 70-m water depth. Depositional sedimentary fabric of the 1995 flood deposit (as determined here and by Drake, 1999; Sommerfield and Nittrouer, 1999; Wheatcroft and Borgeld, 2000) indicates that it was deposited by three separate events over a period <3 months, each of which deposited a basal layer of silty sediment (containing crossbeds in some locations) and an overlying layer of clay-rich sediment that displays no obvious grading. Following each depositional event, biological mixing of the upper few centimeters resumed within a matter of weeks. This mixing produced millimeter-scale burrow mottling that replaced depositional sedimentary fabric in the upper 3–5 cm over a period of <6 months. Physical modification of the upper few cm includes reworking and deposition of coarse silt and fine sand on top of the uppermost clay-rich bed, which, along with shallow biodiffusive mixing, has produced coarse-grained bioturbated sedimentary fabric similar to that of the pre-flood seabed. Below ∼5 cm, the event layer has been modified by deep burrowing activity (including incipient Teichichnus traces), which can mix the upper ∼20 cm of the seabed over time scales of 6–350 years. Tiered ichnofabrics are produced by a vertically zoned macrofaunal community, which includes significant numbers of both surface- and deep-deposit feeders. Analysis of preservation potential for event layers indicates that basal portions of layers significantly thicker than 5 cm (such as the 1995 deposit) are likely to be preserved, especially when buried rapidly by subsequent depositional events, as occurred in 1997. Piston-core study shows that such partially preserved event layers compose ∼10% of the upper 3 m of the seabed, and have mean recurrence intervals of ∼100 years over the past ∼500 years.
Motivational processes in children's physical activity and health-related quality of life

Background: School physical education (PE) not only offers and promotes health-related physical activity (PA), but also encompasses the promotion and development of health-related well-being such as health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Furthermore, assessing PA and HRQOL have become major issues in pediatric public health and also serve as a major goal of Healthy people 2020. Grounded in the expectancy-value and achievement goal frameworks, the primary purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among the perceptions of motivational climate in PE, expectancy-value beliefs, HRQOL, and PA among elementary children. A secondary purpose was to test whether expectancy-value beliefs mediate the relationship between motivational climate and HRQOL as well as between motivational climate and PA (self-reported PA and pedometer-based PA, respectively).Methods: Participants were 336 elementary children recruited from three public schools in the southeastern USA (Mage = 9.87; 179 girls, 157 boys). The ma...
Activator Protein 1 Activity Is Involved in the Regulation of the Cell Type-specific Expression from the Proximal Promoter of the Human Profilaggrin Gene

The human profilaggrin gene is expressed in the granular layer during the late stages of terminal differentiation of the epidermis. In in vitro transcription experiments we show that the abundance of the mRNA and the specificity of the expression are regulated primarily at the level of transcription. We found that the 5'-flanking sequences control the transcription in a keratinocyte-specific mode and that as little as 116 base pairs preceding the mRNA initiation site is sufficient to restrict the transcription to epidermal cells in vitro. This specificity depends critically on the presence of an activator protein 1 (AP1) motif at position -77. Binding of c-jun/c-fos heterodimers to this sequence confers high levels of expression to the reporter constructs in cultured epidermal keratinocytes, while having little effect in HeLa cells. The transactivating properties of c-jun are essential in this process. On the other hand, junB and junD, which are involved in transactivating the transcription of earlier epidermal differentiation markers, control profilaggrin expression through a pathway which does not depend on a direct binding at the AP1 site and is not cell-type specific. These data indicate that AP1 factors are involved in a complex, multipathway regulation of the profilaggrin gene expression.
The academic initiative (3)

First let me thank you very much for inviting us to attend the conference. Digital Equipment Corporation formally opened its operation in Poland two weeks ago after having been absent here in the country for the last 10 years. Still I believe I am able to say that we are very popular as a computer systems and networks manufacturer, not only in industry but in the academic and research community.
Isolated fetal omphalocele, Beckwith‐Wiedemann syndrome, and assisted reproductive technologies

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) among fetuses with an ultrasound diagnosis of isolated omphalocele and to examine relevant clinical variables, in particular route of conception. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ultrasound and consultation database (1988–2007) was searched and cases were included that met the following criteria: omphalocele, no additional major structural anomaly or autosomal aneuploidy, and either newborn examination or molecular diagnostic studies for BWS. Medical records were reviewed and a nested case-control analysis matching day of birth assessed the route of conception, given the changing prevalence of assisted reproduction during the study period. RESULTS: Thirty cases of isolated omphalocele were identified. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome was diagnosed in six cases (6/30 [20.0%]); four by newborn examination (4/6) and two on prenatal molecular studies (2/6). Of note, one case of BWS had a karyotype of 47,XXX, the remainder was euploid. Compared with isolated omphaloceles, fetuses with BWS more often were twins (3/6 vs. 1/24; p < 0.001), had polyhydramnios (4/6 vs. 2/24; p < 0.001), were macrosomic at birth (3/6 vs. 4/24 p < 0.001), and had been conceived by assisted reproduction (3/6 vs. 2/22; p = 0.04). When compared with normal controls matched by date of birth, conception by assisted reproductive technique among BWS births was highly significant, (p < 0001). CONCLUSIONS: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is present in a noteworthy portion of fetuses with isolated omphalocele on ultrasound, and prenatal molecular studies are warranted. Even among this small cohort, a recurring theme of conception by assisted reproduction exists. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
MONOMERIC AND DIMERIC DISINTEGRINS: PLATELET ACTIVE AGENTS FROM VIPER VENOM

When the term “disintegrin” was first coined in 1990, it described a family of naturally occurring proteins with low molecular weights and highly conserved sequences, both in their cysteine arrangements and adhesive Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motifs. Another common characteristic was the inhibitory potential these proteins demonstrated in interacting with cell-surface integrin receptors. Measurement of the effect by disintegrins on the interaction between the platelet receptor α IIbβ 3 and its ligand, fibrinogen, has become a hallmark assay for comparing the activities of members of this increasingly diverse family discovered in the past two decades. This review focuses on the inhibitory profiles, based on platelet function, of the monomeric and heterodimeric disintegrins described to date, as well as the informative contributions of disintegrin mutations in our understanding of the structure–function relationships between ligand and α IIbβ 3. The challenge of naming future examples of these proteins is also addre...
Maternal presence, childrearing practices, and children's response to an injection

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of maternal presence or absence and childrearing practices on young children's response to an injection. One hundred thirty-eight mothers and their children, who were attending a health screening clinic, were assigned to one of four groups in which mothers were either present or absent during an interview and an immunization. Mothers were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their childrearing practices. Child behavior was observed during both the interview and the immunization. Results indicated that while maternal presence was associated with the children behaving more distressed during the interview, maternal presence had no effect on child behavior during the immunization. Children whose mothers reported high levels of both control and warmth in their relationship (authoritative parents) were found to be significantly less distressed during the immunization than children of either the low-control, high-warmth (permissive), high-control, low-warmth (authoritarian) or low-control, low-warmth (nonresponsive) parent groups.
A C3I Parallel Benchmark Based on Genetic Algorithms-Implementation and Performance Analysis

As part of the ongoing effort in creating a parallel benchmark suite for C3I (command, control, communication, and intelligence) applications, we implemented an important C3I application, the decision support systems (DSS), using a genetic algorithmic approach. In this paper, we present the structure and characteristics of the DSS application and its suitability for solving under an evolutionary computing framework. We discuss many parallel formulations of the DSS and an efficient and scalable implementation on various parallel platforms. In addition to the timing analysis, we also study the scalability of various architectures for this C3I application. It should be noted that certain choices made in the formulation and implementation of this problem are dictated by the requirements of the benchmark.
Viable objectives for smallholder programs: Variation by social strata☆

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to relate social strata membership and viable objectives for smallholder programs. The first section of the paper introduces the farming systems approach. The next section explains subsistence and commodity producing enterprises. This distinction is essential to the conceptual framework from which policy implications can be derived. Three principal strata of smallholders are identified—petty commodity producers, peasants, and semiproletarians—and a comparison of the main features of their enterprises is facilitated by a set of flow diagrams. These distinctions permit the identification of viable policy objectives, so that farming systems programs can implement strata-specific mechanisms to achieve national objectives and to benefit producers.
The Structure of an Aldehyde Decarbonylase from Prochlorococcus Marinus Implicated in Biofuel Synthesis Indicates an Octadecanoic Acid Ligand Coordinated to a Di-Iron Catalytic Center∗

Prochlorococcus marinus, a prevalent marine cyanobacterium, can use sunlight and atmospheric CO2 to convert fatty-acid like precursors into alkane biofuels. Schirmer et al. (Science, 2010) showed that alkane production in cyanobacteria entails a two-enzyme process in which the acyl-CoA moiety is reduced to an aldehyde followed by decarbonylation to an alkane. The structure of the aldehyde decarbonylase has been determined by the Joint Center for Structural Genomics (PDB ID 2oc5). Here, we have identified the bound metals at the catalytic site as Fe and, based on the results of crystallographic refinement, have assigned a previously unidentified ligand as an octadecanoic acid. The metal identity was determined from X-ray fluorescence and anomalous difference Fourier maps. The oxygen atoms of the octadecanoic acid are within coordination distance of the Fe atoms and the hydrocarbon tail extends into the interior of the protein. Previous studies showed the enzyme can use octadecanal as a substrate, but the structure raises the question if it can directly catalyze alkane formation from octadecanoic acid ∗Supported by NIGMS PSI grants U54 GM094586 and GM074898View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Trapping of deuterium in oxygen-implanted aluminum

Abstract Temperature-ramp experiments employing nuclear-reaction analysis have shown that deuterium (D) is strongly trapped by Al 2 O 3 precipitates in O-implanted Al. Binding enthalpies of approximately 0.7 and 1.2 eV relative to the solution site were obtained for the oxide-associated traps, as compared to 0.5 eV for defect traps within the metal matrix. The 0.7 eV trapping is hypothesized to result from the formation of D 2 molecules at the oxide boundaries and possibly within the oxides, whereas the 1.2 eV interaction is tentatively attributed to O-D bonding. Strong trapping of hydrogen isotopes by oxides within Al and possibly other metals has significant implications for plasma-materials interaction in fusion reactors.
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of meiobenthos and their food resources

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were used to measure the in situ assimilation of Spartina alterniflora and benthic micro-algae by harpacticoid copepods and nematodes. These meiofauna are important food resources for higher trophic levels in estuarine food webs, but little has been known about their natural diets. Meiofauna, detrital Spartina, benthic micro-algae and sediment exhibited no differences between mean seasonal carbon isotope ratios. The δ13C of populations of harpacticoids and nematodes are similar and indicate the use of similar foods throughout the year. The δ15N of detrital Spartina and micro-algae were not distinct and did not allow the identification of the source of nitrogen assimilated by the meiofauna. Populations of meiofauna assimilate a mixture of food resources, however, detrital Spartina may be the predominant source of carbon with micro-algae contributing some portion of the assimilated carbon and nitrogen.
Effects of superoxide dismutase and U74389G on acute trimethyltin-induced cochlear dysfunction.

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation has been implicated in the ototoxicity induced by several pharmaceutical agents. The present study examined the efficacy of the ROS scavenger polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase (PEG·SOD), and a 21-aminosteroid (U74389G), in ameliorating the acute cochlear dysfunction induced by the environmental ototoxicant trimethyltin chloride (TMT). Thirty pigmented guinea pigs were divided into six experimental conditions, as defined by preexposure and exposure administrations: saline–saline, PEG·SOD–saline, U74389G–saline, saline–TMT, PEG·SOD–TMT, and U74389G –TMT. Electrophysiological potentials (compound action potential (CAP) and cochlear microphonic (CM)) were recorded for 10 acoustic frequencies, and then a preexposure agent (U74389G, 4.5 mg/kg; PEG·SOD, 10,000 U/kg; or 0.9% saline) was administered iv. Thirty minutes later, potentials were retested, and an exposure agent (0.9% saline or TMT, 0.5 mg/kg) was administered ip. CM and CAP were retested at 30, 60, and 90 min postexposure time points, in order to assess changes in auditory responsiveness. Mean changes in 1.0-μV root mean square CM isopotential values did not differ significantly in any group from those of saline–saline controls. In the saline–TMT group, CAP thresholds increased significantly at all test frequencies relative to those of the saline–saline control group. While mean CAP threshold shifts in the U74389G–TMT group were as great as those in the saline–TMT group, such values in the PEG·SOD–TMT group were significantly lower. These results suggest that ROS formation may be involved in acute TMT-induced CAP disruption, for which PEG· SOD, but not U74389G, provides partial protection.
Characterization of the interaction of β-amyloid with transthyretin monomers and tetramers

β-Amyloid (Aβ) is the main protein component of the amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. Transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetramer that circulates in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Wild-type (wt) TTR amyloid deposits are linked to senile systemic amyloidosis, a common disease of aging, while several TTR mutants are linked to familial amyloid polyneuropathy. Several recent studies provide support for the hypothesis that these two amyloidogenic proteins interact, and that this interaction is biologically relevant. For example, upregulation of TTR expression in Tg2576 mice was linked to protection from the toxic effects of Aβ deposition [Stein, T. D., and Johnson, J. A. (2002) J. Neurosci. 22, 7380-7388]. We examined the interaction of Aβ with wt TTR as well as two mutants: F87M/L110M, engineered to be a stable monomer, and T119M, a naturally occurring mutant with a tetrameric stability higher than that of the wild type. On the basis of enzyme-linked immunoassays as well as cross-linking experiments, we conclude that Aβ monomers bind more to TTR monomers than to TTR tetramers. The data further suggest that TTR tetramers interact preferably with Aβ aggregates rather than Aβ monomers. Through tandem mass spectrometry analysis of cross-linked TTR-Aβ fragments, we identified the A strand, in the inner β-sheet of TTR, as well as the EF helix, as regions of TTR that are involved with Aβ association. Light scattering and electron microscopy studies demonstrate that the outcome of the TTR-Aβ interaction strongly depends on TTR quaternary structure. While TTR tetramers may modestly enhance aggregation, TTR monomers decidedly arrest Aβ aggregate growth. These data provide important new insights into the nature of TTR-Aβ interactions. Such interactions may regulate TTR-mediated protection against Aβ toxicity.
New microscopic approach to the statistical mechanics of chemical association

We consider a new approach to the statistical mechanics of chemical association, A+B⇌AB. In principle it is exact, and its thermodynamic basis goes back to Gibbs, but its statistical mechanical implementation in terms of molecular models does not appear to have been given before. For practical computations the success of the method hinges on our ability to calculate the free energy for a mixture of A, B, and AB species, where the species concentrations are regarded as independent. We illustrate the method by analysis of some simple limiting cases.
Hormone replacement therapy for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Abstract Estrogen therapy is clearly effective in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Several estrogens and routes of administration are available. A progestin is required to protect the endometrium of the patient has a uterus. The duration of treatment required is unknown but probably is ≥10 years for prevention and may be life-long, which is the requirement for patients with established disease. A regimen of patient monitoring can be easily established and must become routine for all patients on long-term treatment.
Power of Association and Linkage Tests When the Disease Alleles Are Unobserved

Genomewide association studies have been advocated as a promising alternative to genomewide linkage scans for detection of small-effect genes in complex diseases. Comparisons of power and sample size between the two strategies have shown considerable advantages for the association studies. These comparisons assume that the set of markers includes the exact disease-related polymorphism. A concern, however, is that the power of an association study decreases when this is not the case, because of discrepant allele frequencies and less-than-maximum disequilibrium between the disease-related polymorphism and its nearest marker. Here, we quantify this concern by comparing the sample sizes needed by the two strategies when the markers exclude the disease-related polymorphism. For affected sib pairs and their parents, we found that incomplete disequilibrium and differing allele frequencies can have substantial negative impact on the power of association studies, resulting, in some circumstances, in little gain and even in loss of power, compared with linkage analysis. We provide some guidelines for choosing between strategies, for the detection of genes for complex diseases.
An easily assembled continuous electrophoresis apparatus.

DESIGNS for apparatus for continuous electrophoresis employing an electrical field perpendicular to gravity flow have included anticonvective media supported between plates1, and filter paper as an anticonvective medium supported between plates2 and hung like a curtain3. Construction of such equipment has tended to discourage the use of this method of isolation, particularly when exploratory experiments are necessary to assay the applicability of continuous electrophoresis to a particular problem.
A more direct proof of a result of Shelah

Abstract We give a simplified proof of the main lemma in “Ramsey filters and the reaping number—Con( r u )” by Goldstern and Shelah.
Analog VLSI Model of Intersegmental Coordination with Nearest-Neighbor Coupling

We have a developed an analog VLSI system that models the coordination of neurobiological segmental oscillators. We have implemented and tested a system that consists of a chain of eleven pattern generating circuits that are synaptically coupled to their nearest neighbors. Each pattern generating circuit is implemented with two silicon Morris-Lecar neurons that are connected in a reciprocally inhibitory network. We discuss the mechanisms of oscillations in the two-cell network and explore system behavior based on isotropic and anisotropic coupling, and frequency gradients along the chain of oscillators.
Computer Models in Dynamic Economics

Introduction, 112. — Theory construction (model building), 113. — General characteristics of computer models, 115. — Comparison of computer models with operations research simulations and econometric models, 117. — Methodological problems of computer models, 119. — Review of the literature, 121. — Future of computer models, 126.
The SSABLE system: automated archive, catalog, browse and distribution of satellite data in near-real time

SSABLE is a new interactive tool for the archive, browse, order, and distribution of satellite data based on X Window, high-bandwidth networks, and digital image rendering techniques. SSABLE provides for automatically constructing relational database queries to archived image datasets based on time, data, geographical location, and other selection criteria. SSABLE also provides a visual representation of the selected archived data for viewing on the user's X terminal. SSABLE is a near-real-time system-for example, data are added to SSABLE's database within 10 min after capture. SSABLE is network and machine independent, running identically on any machine that has a bit-mapped display (monochrome or greater), is running the X Window system, and is on a network directly reachable by the SSABLE system. SSABLE has been evaluated at over 100 international sites. Network response time in the United States and Canada varies between 4 and 7 s for browse image updates; reported transmission times to Europe and Australia typically are 20-25 s. >
Adaptive noise cancelling in the spectrum domain

LMS adaptive filtering in the spectrum domain is addressed and applied to noise cancelling. The spectrum domain noise cancellor minimizes the noise power at each spectral bin of the primary input. It requires, however, the power spectra of the input data to be estimated prior to cancelling. The paper discusses the function of the proposed cancellor and describes its general structure.
Changing the Paradigm of Response to Coastal Storms

Federal, state, and local agencies mounted a massive preparation and response to post–tropical storm Sandy, which made landfall along the northern New Jersey coast on 29 October 2012. The data collected and knowledge gained in response to Sandy are unprecedented and provide critical information to agencies, local emergency responders, and coastal managers and planners.
Identification, Analysis, and Utilization of Conserved Ortholog Set Markers for Comparative Genomics in Higher Plants

We have screened a large tomato EST database against the Arabidopsis genomic sequence and report here the identification of a set of 1025 genes (referred to as a conserved ortholog set, or COS markers) that are single or low copy in both genomes (as determined by computational screens and DNA gel blot hybridization) and that have remained relatively stable in sequence since the early radiation of dicotyledonous plants. These genes were annotated, and a large portion could be assigned to putative functional categories associated with basic metabolic processes, such as energy-generating processes and the biosynthesis and degradation of cellular building blocks. We further demonstrate, through computational screens (e.g., against a Medicago truncatula database) and direct hybridization on genomic DNA of diverse plant species, that these COS markers also are conserved in the genomes of other plant families. Finally, we show that this gene set can be used for comparative mapping studies between highly divergent genomes such as those of tomato and Arabidopsis. This set of COS markers, identified computationally and experimentally, may further studies on comparative genomes and phylogenetics and elucidate the nature of genes conserved throughout plant evolution.
Quantitative functional MRI of the visual cortex as a function of luminance contrast at 1.5 T

Examined the BOLD signal changes in primary visual cortex as a function of luminous contrast at 1.5 T in 4 normals and 2 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) disease. Echo planar T2* weighted BOLD imaging experiments were performed using a 1.5 T Imager. Ten axial slices through the calcarine fissure were obtained. The imaging series consisted of alternations between a 20-second epoch of dark screen (rest) and a 20-second epoch of a flickering checkerboard (activation) repeated 6 times. Each imaging series utilized a stepwise, graded increase of eight different luminance contrast levels. A paired t-test was used to compare the control condition with each activation condition. The data shows a linear trend in the number of fMRI activated voxels within the visual cortex with increasing luminous contrast in normals and MS patients. This study demonstrates quantifiable changes in BOLD signal and a linear increase in activated voxels within the primary visual cortex with increasing luminous contrast.