cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Cambrian Explosion and the Origins of Embodied Cognition

Around 540 million years ago there was a sudden, dramatic adaptive radiation known as the Cambrian Explosion. This event marked the origin of almost all of the phyla (major lineages characterized by fundamental body plans) of animals that would ever live on Earth, as well as the appearance of many notable features such as rigid skeletons and other hard parts, complex jointed appendages, eyes, and brains. This radical evolutionary event has been a major puzzle for evolutionary biologists since Darwin, and while our understanding of it has recently improved with new fossil finds, richer molecular phylogenies, and better grasp of ecological, evolutionary, and developmental processes generally, unanswered questions remain. In this article I argue that a basic cognitive toolkit for embodied, object-oriented, spatial cognition—what I call Basic Cognitive Embodiment—is a practical necessity for control of a large, mobile, complexly articulated body in space. This hypothesis allows us to relate the complexification of animal bodies to the complexification of perception, cognition, and behavior in a way that can help to fill in gaps in our emerging picture of the Cambrian Explosion, as well as shed light on the deep evolutionary origins of the mind.
The comparison of non-enzymic and enzymic reaction velocities

Abstract A method of comparing enzymic and non-enzymic velocities is obtained by assuming that the only function of a hypothetical enzyme is to bring the substrates and catalysts into a close and properly oriented proximity. Equations are derived which can be applied to measured values in specific cases. Using rather common reaction conditions, it is seen that a small acceleration and perhaps even a deceleration would occur if the only function of an enzyme were an oriented juxtaposition of two substrate molecules. On the other hand, factors as large as 1017 can be calculated for the ratio of enzymic to non-enzymic velocity if the enzyme causes the oriented juxtaposition of two substrates plus three catalysts.
A simple method of the preparation of 2′-O-Methyladenosine Methylation of adenosine with methyl iodide in anhydrous alkaline medium

A simple and effective method of the methylation on the 2'-O position of adenosine is described. Adenosine is treated with CH3I in an anhydrous alkaline medium at 0 degrees C for 4 h. The major products of this reaction are monomethylated adenosine at either the 2'-O or 3'-O position (total of 64%) and the side products are dimethylated adenosine ((2', 3'-O-dimethyladenosine, 21%, and N6-2'-O-dimethyladenosine, 11%). The ratio of 2'-O- and 3'-O-methyladenosine has been found to be 8 to 1. Therefore, this reaction preferentially favors the synthesis of 2'-O-methyladenosine. The monomethylated adenosine is isolated from reaction mixture by a silica gel column chromatography. Then the pure 2'-O-methyladenosine can be separated by crystallization in ethanol from the mixture of 2'=O and 3'-O-methylated isomers. The overall yield of 2'-O-methyladenosine is 42%.
Glycerol extends lifespan of Brachionus manjavacas (Rotifera) and protects against stressors

Abstract Diet has profound effects on animal longevity and manipulation of nutrient sensing pathways is one of the primary interventions capable of lifespan extension. This often is done through caloric restriction (CR) and a variety of CR mimics have been identified that produce life extending effects without adhering to the rigorous CR dietary regimen. Glycerol is a dietary supplement capable mimicking CR by shifting metabolism away from glycolysis and towards oxidative phosphorylation. Glycerol supplementation has a number of beneficial effects, including lifespan extension, improved stress resistance, and enhanced locomotory and mitochondria activity in older age classes. Using rotifers as a model, we show that supplements of 150–300 mM glycerol produced 40–50% extension of mean lifespan. This effect was produced by raising glycerol concentration only three times higher than its baseline concentration in rotifer tissues. Glycerol supplementation decreased rotifer reliance on glycolysis and reduced the pro-aging effects of glucose. Glycerol also acted as a chemical chaperone, mitigating damage by protein aggregation. Glycerol treatment improved rotifer swimming performance in older age classes and maintained more mitochondrial activity. Glycerol treatment provided increased resistance to starvation, heat, oxidation, and osmotic stress, but not UV stress. When glycerol was co-administered with the hexokinase inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose, the lifespan extending effect of glycerol was enhanced. Co-administration of glycerol with inhibitors like 2-deoxyglucose can lower their efficacious doses, thereby reducing their toxic side effects.
Prolonged survival of transected nerve fibres in C57BL/Ola mice is an intrinsic characteristic of the axon.

Transected axons in C57BL/Ola mice survive for extraordinary lengths of time as compared to those of normal rodents. The biological difference in the substrain that confers the phenotype of prolonged axonal survival is unknown. Previous studies suggest the ‘defect’ to be a property of the nervous system itself, rather than one of haematogenous cells. Neuronal or non-neuronal elements could be responsible for this phenotype. This study was undertaken to determine whether Schwann cells, the most numerous of the non-neuronal cells intrinsic to the peripheral nerve, are responsible for delayed degeneration of transected axons. We created sciatic nerve chimeras by transplanting nerve segments between standard C57BL/6 and C57BL/Ola mice, allowing regeneration of host axons through the grafts containing donor Schwann cells. These nerves were then transected and the time course of axonal degeneration was observed. The results show that fast or slow degeneration is a property conferred by the host, and therefore cannot be ascribed to the Schwann cells. Similarly, transected C57BL/Ola axons in explanted dorsal root ganglia cultures survived longer than transected axons from standard mice. Taken together these results indicate that the responsible abnormality is intrinsic to the C57BL/Ola axon.
UCODE, a computer code for universal inverse modeling

Abstract This article presents the US Geological Survey computer program UCODE, which was developed in collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station and the International Ground Water Modeling Center of the Colorado School of Mines. UCODE performs inverse modeling, posed as a parameter-estimation problem, using nonlinear regression. Any application model or set of models can be used; the only requirement is that they have numerical (ASCII or text only) input and output files and that the numbers in these files have sufficient significant digits. Application models can include preprocessors and postprocessors as well as models related to the processes of interest (physical, chemical and so on), making UCODE extremely powerful for model calibration. Estimated parameters can be defined flexibly with user-specified functions. Observations to be matched in the regression can be any quantity for which a simulated equivalent value can be produced, thus simulated equivalent values are calculated using values that appear in the application model output files and can be manipulated with additive and multiplicative functions, if necessary. Prior, or direct, information on estimated parameters also can be included in the regression. The nonlinear regression problem is solved by minimizing a weighted least-squares objective function with respect to the parameter values using a modified Gauss–Newton method. Sensitivities needed for the method are calculated approximately by forward or central differences and problems and solutions related to this approximation are discussed. Statistics are calculated and printed for use in (1) diagnosing inadequate data or identifying parameters that probably cannot be estimated with the available data, (2) evaluating estimated parameter values, (3) evaluating the model representation of the actual processes and (4) quantifying the uncertainty of model simulated values. UCODE is intended for use on any computer operating system: it consists of algorithms programmed in perl, a freeware language designed for text manipulation and Fortran90, which efficiently performs numerical calculations.
Atelocauda angustiphylloda n. sp., a microcyclic rust on Acacia koa in Hawaii.

(1991). Atelocauda Angustiphylloda N. Sp., A Microcyclic Rust on Acacia Koa in Hawaii. Mycologia: Vol. 83, No. 5, pp. 650-653.
Theatre at Telford Community Arts 1974–90

The term ‘community arts theatre’ is used here to describe theatre created and performed by groups of adults in Telford, Shropshire, a new town in the West Midlands of England. The author, who was the co-founder and a theatre worker at Telford Community Arts (TCA), argues that their work is best understood as grassroots artistic reflections of and on the changes and conflicts occurring in the participants’ neighbourhood between 1974 and 1990. As well as describing the plays’ form and content, the article examines their social roots, the creative processes involved in collective author-ship and group control, the performance contexts and the personal, social and political impact of the work. The emphasis on the working class rather than on the socially excluded and the understanding of community as opposition to rather than a microcosm of the state gives TCA's work a contemporary relevance at a time when tens of thousands are on the streets demonstrating against imperialist wars and capitalist globalisation.
Using generic wind turbine models to compare inertial response of wind turbine technologies

This paper describes the use of generic wind turbine models to study the comparative inertial response of wind turbine technologies, that is, their response to a frequency event on the grid such as loss of generation. The dynamic models are manufacturer-independent and portable to any dynamic modeling software. Four dominant types of wind turbine technology are modeled; the basic fixed-speed model is used as a platform to develop dynamic rotor resistance, DFIG and full-converter models. All the models share the same aerodynamic and mechanical characteristics as well as the same induction generator unit. These models are particularly suited for studying inertial response since they employ detailed representations of the wind turbine aerodynamics, drive-train, electrical machine, power converters (when present), and controls. The results showed that converter-based turbines provide poorer inertial response than turbines which do not employ converters.
Radial Inflow Turbine Assessment for Small-Scale Concentrated Solar Rankine Combined Heat and Power Technology

Recent studies suggest that small scale (5–10kW) distributed solar Rankine combined heat and power could be a viable renewable energy strategy for displacing fossil fuel use in residential buildings, small commercial buildings, or developing rural communities. One of the primary obstacles of scaling down solar Rankine technology to this level is finding an appropriate expander design. This paper considers the radial-inflow turbine for such an application. Although well-tested methodologies exist for design analysis of radial inflow turbines, existing analysis tools are generally focused on machines using a combustion gases in a Brayton cycle. Use of Rankine cycle working fluids under conditions optimal for small scale Rankine solar systems result in turbine operating conditions that can be dramatically different from those in combustion-based Brayton cycle power systems. This investigation explored how analysis tools developed by NASA and others for conventional Brayton cycle power systems can be adapted to analyze and design radial inflow expanders for small scale Rankine solar combined heat and power systems. Using a 1D model derived from analysis methodologies used by NASA for conventional aerospace gas turbine power applications, the effect of reduced power output on performance is explored. Since the model contains several non-dimensional variables, a variety of geometries are surveyed, and performance sensitivity to various geometric parameters is observed. The interplay between radial inflow turbine performance and cycle efficiency for the system is examined in detail. Several fluids are compared to access how critical temperature and the shape of the saturation dome affect thermodynamic performance of the cycle and efficiency of the turbine. Conclusions regarding optimal fluids and geometric parameters for the radial-inflow turbine are discussed.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Noise-enhanced dynamic single leg balance in subjects with functional ankle instability

Abstract Background Stochastic resonance stimulation (SRS) transmits subsensory electrical Gaussian white noise into the body to enhance sensorimotor function. This therapy has improved static single leg balance in subjects with functional ankle instability. However, the effect of this stimulation on dynamic single leg balance is not known. Improvements in dynamic single leg balance with SRS may have implications for enhancing functional rehabilitation for ankle instability. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of SRS on dynamic single leg balance in subjects with functional ankle instability. Methods This study was an experimental research design and data were collected in a sports medicine research laboratory. Twelve subjects with functional ankle instability (69 ± 15 kg; 173 ± 10 cm; 21 ± 2 years) reported a history of ankle sprains and instability at the ankle with physical activity. A single leg jump-landing test was used to assess dynamic balance. Subjects were required to jump between 50% and 55% of the maximal vertical jump height, land on a single leg atop a force plate, and stabilize as quickly as possible. Jump-landing tests were performed with and without SRS. Three trials were performed for each treatment condition (SRS and control). A randomized block design was used to determine test order. Anterior/posterior and medial/lateral time-to-stabilization were computed to assess dynamic balance. Lesser time indicated better stability. One-tailed paired samples t tests were used for analysis ( α ≤ 0.05). Results SRS improved anterior/posterior time-to-stabilization (stochastic resonance = 1.32 ± 0.31 s, control = 1.74 ± 0.80 s, p = 0.03), but did not enhance medial/lateral time-to-stabilization (stochastic resonance = 1.95 ± 0.40 s, control = 1.92 ± 0.48 s, p = 0.07). Conclusion Clinicians might use SRS to facilitate balance improvements with sagittal plane dynamic single leg balance exercises that patients may not be able to perform otherwise.
Emotional stress and heart rate variability measures associated with cardiovascular risk in relocated Katrina survivors.

Objective To explore the effects of hurricane exposure and forced relocation on the mind and body, we compared psychiatric diagnoses and symptoms with heart rate variability (HRV) for 34 relocated Katrina survivors and 34 demographically matched controls. Methods All participants were healthy and free of psychiatric and cardiovascular medications. We measured symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale 1) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory), Axis I psychiatric diagnoses (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV), psychosocial disability (Sheehan Disability Scale), and power spectral analysis HRV reactivity to trauma reminders. Results Katrina-related PTSD occurred in 38% of survivors and 12% of controls. Survivors reported higher levels of PTSD and depression symptoms, within diagnostic ranges, and greater psychosocial disability than controls. Survivors had higher resting heart rate (80.82 [standard deviation = 13.60] versus 74.85 [10.67], p = .05), lower parasympathetic (high-frequency [HF] normalized unit) baseline HRV activity (40.14 [23.81] versus 50.67 [19.93], p = .04) and less reactivity with trauma cues (-2.63 [20.70] versus -11.96 [15.84], p = .04), and higher baseline sympathovagal activity (low frequency/HF ratio) (2.84 [3.08] versus 1.35 [1.08], p = .04) than controls. Survivors with depression (n = 12) and with depression and PTSD combined (n = 7), but not those with PTSD (n = 13), had flattened parasympathetic responsiveness to trauma cues. HRV indices correlated with depressive (low frequency/HF, p = .01; HF normalized unit, p = .046) but not PTSD symptoms (p values > .05). Conclusions Results showed this multilayer trauma's impact on emotional health and HRV-based measures of autonomic nervous system dysregulation. Specifically, dysregulation of depressed survivors' HRV in response to trauma reminders supports more autonomic involvement in traumatic loss/depression than in PTSD. Diagnostic criteria for PTSD include physiologic reactivity, and the present findings suggest that, in this setting, altered physiologic reactivity observed when PTSD coexists with depression.
Caffeine inhibits the checkpoint kinase ATM

The basis of many anti-cancer therapies is the use of genotoxic agents that damage DNA and thus kill dividing cells. Agents that cause cells to override the DNA-damage checkpoint are predicted to sensitize cells to killing by genotoxic agents. They have therefore been sought as adjuncts in radiation therapy and chemotherapy. One such compound, caffeine, uncouples cell-cycle progression from the replication and repair of DNA [1] [2]. Caffeine therefore servers as a model compound in establishing the principle that agents that override DNA-damage checkpoints can be used to sensitize cells to the killing effects of genotoxic drugs [3]. But despite more than 20 years of use, the molecular mechanisms by which caffeine affects the cell cycle and checkpoint responses have not been identified. We investigated the effects of caffeine on the G2/M DNA-damage checkpoint in human cells. We report that the radiation-induced activation of the kinase Cds1 [4] (also known as Chk2 [5]) is inhibited by caffeine in vivo and that ATM kinase activity is directly inhibited by caffeine in vitro. Inhibition of ATM provides a molecular explanation of the attenuation of DNA-damage checkpoint responses and for the increased radiosensitivity of caffeine-treated cells [6] [7] [8].
Emergency Response Planning Exercises For Oil Spills Caused By Natural Hazards

ABSTRACT Emergency response exercises are designed to evaluate the operational readiness of responders to act consistently with plans, policies, and procedures. The design and execution of an exercise includes scenario development, exercise control and simulation, documentation, critiques, and after-action reports. Representatives of government agencies and private parties participate in exercises intended to ensure the successful implementation of oil spill response plans and contingency plans. Exercise scenarios for oil spills associated with a natural hazard highlight unique problems, because natural hazards can cause spills in a number of different ways. For example, earthquakes, landslides, lightning strikes, tornados, hurricanes and other storms can affect vessels, pipelines, drilling platforms, and storage tanks. In addition, the cause of many large spills from vessels is often reported as “grounding” or “collision,” but frequently a contributing cause of these accidents is severe weather. This pap...
Durch Rhodium(I)‐Olefinkomplexe katalysierte Isomerisierung von Aldehyden

Ein Gemisch isomerer Aldehyde wird bei einer von [C5Me5Rh(olefin)2]-Komplexen katalysierten Isomerisierung von Alkylaldehyden gebildet. Dies ist eine indirekte Methode zur Beeinflussung des n:iso-Verhaltnisses von Aldehyden, die bei Hydroformylierungsreaktionen gebildet werden. Die Reaktion von n-Butanal mit [C5Me5Rh(CH2=CHMe)2] 1 fuhrt z. B. zur Bildung eines Bisalkylcarbonylrhodiumkomplexes 2, der bei der Isomerisierung von n-Butanal zu einem Gemisch von n- und Isobutanal (siehe Schema) die nachweisbare Form des Katalysators („resting state”) ist. In Gegenwart anderer Olefine findet eine Transferformylierung statt.
Nanoparticle formation and zeolite growth in TEOS/Organocation/water solutions.

This work investigates nanoparticle formation and zeolite growth in several tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)/organocation/water solutions heated at 368 K using small-angle X-ray scattering. The effect of several synthesis parameters including organocation identity, hydroxide content, alkali content, synthesis temperature, ethanol content, and seeding are investigated. In all cases the TEOS/organocation/water solutions lead to colloidal silica nanoparticles both after aging at room temperature and after hydrothermal treatment. In addition, the size, number density, and shape of the colloidal particles depend on the organocation identity. However, in contrast to TEOS/TPAOH/water mixtures that rapidly form silicalite-1 at 368 K, none of the investigated solutions can direct the formation of a zeolite phase at 368 K. The key point that emerges from this investigation is that it is not straightforward to synthesize siliceous zeolites from clear solutions at 368 K with the investigated organocations under the co...
Historical Perspectives: Perinatal Profiles: Alexandre Minkowski: Founder of “Biology of the Neonate”

Almost every country boasts pioneers in the field of neonatology. Most neonatologists in the United States are familiar with the role that the French obstetricians Stephane Tarnier and Pierre Budin played in promulgating the use of incubators for preterm infants. In addition, Budin wrote about umbilical cord clamping and outlined many important principles of the care of newborn infants in his book “Le Nourisson” (The Nursling), which was published in French in 1900 and in English in 1907. However, the person in France who arguably exerted the greatest influence on neonatology in the 20th century is the pediatrician Alexandre Minkowski. Minkowski was born in Paris in 1915 to two Jewish psychiatrists, Eugeǹe and Francoise Minkowski, who originally were from Poland. His secondary education was at L'Ecole Alsacienne, and he attended medical school at the University of Paris. During the Second World War he joined the resistance movement in Paris in 1941 and subsequently was awarded the Medaille de la Resistance as well as the Croix de Guerre 39–45 (1939 to 1945 War Cross). Immediately after the war, he was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Bursary to study with Clement Smith at Harvard from 1946 through 1947. He was one of many international pediatricians who spent time with Clem Smith in Boston learning about fetal and neonatal physiology. He remained in the United States for some time after this, assimilating knowledge about clinical neonatology from pediatricians interested in the field such as Julius Hess in Chicago and Sam Levine in New York. He returned …
Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the Active Site Glutamate in Human Matrilysin: Investigation of Its Role in Catalysis†

Glu-198 of human matrilysin is a conserved residue in the matrix metalloproteinases and is considered to play an important role in catalysis by acting as a general base catalyst toward the zinc-bou...
Effects of microscope objectives on magnetic field exposures.

Distortions in magnetic field intensity generated by commonly used microscope objectives (1x to 100x) were characterized within a Helmholtz coil-based exposure system. Objectives from a variety of manufacturers distorted applied field intensities by up to 23% in the image plane. Components that contribute to distortions include (1) nickel-chrome plating of objective housings, (2) the presence of steel springs in objectives with compression collars, and (3) steel screws or studs used to hold together separately manufactured parts. Steel springs and screws produce radially asymmetric profiles, whereas distortions generated by nickel-chrome plating are typically radially symmetric. All components can produce spatial gradients in field intensity if objectives are not perfectly aligned with exposure systems or if placed in the earth's magnetic field. Alterations in the magnitude of magnetic field intensities as well as the production of spatial gradients might have an effect on biological responses. By maintaining optical glass components and replacing metallic components, functional objectives can be reconstructed that produce no measurable effects on magnetic flux densities.
Lithium–Sulfur Battery Cathode Enabled by Lithium–Nitrile Interaction

Lithium sulfide is a promising cathode material for high-energy lithium ion batteries because, unlike elemental sulfur, it obviates the need for metallic lithium anodes. Like elemental sulfur, however, a successful lithium sulfide cathode requires an inherent mechanism for preventing lithium polysulfide dissolution and shuttling during electrochemical cycling. A new scheme is proposed to create composites based on lithium sulfide uniformly dispersed in a carbon host, which serve to sequester polysulfides. The synthesis methodology makes use of interactions between lithium ions in solution and nitrile groups uniformly distributed along the chain backbone of a polymer precursor (e.g., polyacrylonitrile), to control the distribution of lithium sulfide in the host material. The Li2S–carbon composites obtained by carbonizing the precursor are evaluated as cathode materials in a half-cell lithium battery, and are shown to yield high galvanic charge/discharge capacities and excellent Coulombic efficiency, demons...
Alexander Johnston: An Appreciation

AC E N T U R Y ago few American historians enjoyed a larger reputation than Alexander Johnston of the Rutgers College class of 1870. As the Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Economy at the College of New Jersey (Princeton University) and as the author of several highly praised books and innumerable articles, he had, within the span of a decade, achieved more than most scholars could expect to accomplish over a full lifetime. In 1889, at the age of forty, he was dead. Although his writings continued to go through successive reprintings long after his untimely death, he is now an all but forgotten figure. But his brief career was so remarkable that it merits recounting here. Little information is available on Johnston's early years.1 He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 29, 1849, the son of Samuel G. Johnson and his wife, Matilda McAlan. His father served in the army during the Civil War and later moved to Illinois, leaving young Alexander and his mother in the care of an uncle, John McAloney, in Brooklyn. Johnston attended the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, where he was an outstanding student, and entered Rutgers College in 1866.2 He arrived as the College was embarking on a period marked
How to interpret PubMed queries and why it matters

A significant fraction of queries in PubMed™ are multiterm queries without parsing instructions. Generally, search engines interpret such queries as collections of terms, and handle them as a Boolean conjunction of these terms. However, analysis of queries in PubMed™ indicates that many such queries are meaningful phrases, rather than simple collections of terms. In this study, we examine whether or not it makes a difference, in terms of retrieval quality, if such queries are interpreted as a phrase or as a conjunction of query terms. And, if it does, what is the optimal way of searching with such queries. To address the question, we developed an automated retrieval evaluation method, based on machine learning techniques, that enables us to evaluate and compare various retrieval outcomes. We show that the class of records that contain all the search terms, but not the phrase, qualitatively differs from the class of records containing the phrase. We also show that the difference is systematic, depending on the proximity of query terms to each other within the record. Based on these results, one can establish the best retrieval order for the records. Our findings are consistent with studies in proximity searching. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diagnostic tests for models based on individual data: A survey

This paper surveys the growing literature on diagnostic testing of models based on unit record data. We argue that while many of these tests are produced in a Lagrange multiplier framework they are often more readily derived, and more easily applied, if approached from the conditional moment testing view of Newey (1985) and Tauchen (1985). In addition we propose some new tests based on comparisons of parametric estimators with nonparametric estimators which are consistent under certain forms of misspecification. To illustrate the utility of the tests we employ them in the examination of some existing published studies.
Spared awareness for the left side of internal visual images in patients with left‐sided extrapersonal neglect

Two patients with neglect for extrapersonal space following right-hemisphere stroke both demonstrated retained ability to attend to the left side of internally generated visual images. The attentional system for extrapersonal space may not be identical to the attentional system for intrapersonal space.
Uinta Basin wurtzilite: a product of natural vulcanization?

Abstract the macromolecular structure of the pyrobitumen wurtzilite has been examined by a variety of chemical and analytical techniques, including desulfurization with lithium in ethylamine. The results of these analyses provide strong evidence for the presence of intermolecular sulfur linkages in the wurtzilite geopolymer matrix, which are thought to have formed via a process of low temperature “natural vulcanization”. The polymerized hydrocarbon components appear to be a complex mixture of n -alkanes, isoprenoids, and heterocompounds, offering further insight toward a bulk structural model for wurtzilite.
GPS Collar Sampling Frequency: Effects on Measures of Resource Use

A challenge in animal behavior studies using Global Positioning System (GPS) collars is selecting a sampling frequency to accomplish desired goals. High data resolution (i.e., frequent sampling) is appealing, because it maximizes behavioral information garnered. Extended sampling might be needed, however, to describe long term behaviors or seasonal dynamics. Because tradeoffs exist between high data resolution and sampling duration, we evaluated the effects of variable GPS sampling intervals on proportions of pastures used by cattle and distance traveled per day. This was accomplished with GPS collars configured to record cattle positions every 5 min for 15 d in three 829–864-ha pastures. Data were iteratively reduced to simulate increasingly longer GPS recording intervals from once every 10 min up to once daily. Two techniques were used to measure the percentage of pastures accessed by cattle. The first counted only pixels containing GPS coordinates. The second counted pixels containing coordinates and/or traversed by lines between vertices. Expansion of GPS recording intervals decreased (P , 0.01) estimates of the proportion of pastures visited by cattle with rates of decline best fit by exponential decay functions for both line and point techniques (R 2 5 0.93 and 0.97, respectively). Spatial errors accompanying less frequent sampling intervals, however, were extremely large with the line technique and misrepresented areas visited by cattle. Expansion of GPS sampling intervals decreased (P , 0.001) distance traveled per day by cattle about 10% with each iteration. If travel corridors or accurate assessments of resources accessed are of critical concern, then longer GPS integration intervals should be avoided because they propagate flawed spatial interpretations. Similarly, if accurate measures of travel distances are critical, we suggest using a relatively frequent GPS recording interval.
Serologic studies of monozygotic twins with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: The goal of these studies was to assess the role of genetic factors and disease expression in the pattern and titer of autoantibodies to several RNA protein antigens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by studying identical twins concordant and discordant for disease expression. METHODS: Autoantibodies to Ro/SS-A, La/SS-B, U1 RNP, and Sm were measured by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using affinity-purified antigens. RESULTS: Detailed serologic studies were performed in 7 pairs of identical twins, 3 of whom were concordant and 4 of whom were discordant for disease expression. Autoantibody titers were higher in affected than in unaffected twins from discordant pairs, but in 3 of 4 pairs, the profile of anti-RNA proteins (e.g., Ro/SS-A, La/SS-B, U1 RNP, and Sm) was virtually identical. In the SLE pairs concordant for disease expression, the autoantibody titers were very similar, as were the anti-RNA protein profiles. When the identical twins were matched by sex, race, and age to pairs of nontwin SLE patients, the 6 white twins shared an average of 2.5 (+/- 1.05 SD) anti-RNA proteins, while the control SLE pairs shared only 0.33 (+/- 0.82), P less than 0.01 (t = 4.0, P less than 0.01). In addition, in the white SLE twins, all had elevated levels of anti-U1 RNP while in white nontwin SLE patients, the frequency of anti-U1 RNP was 30%. CONCLUSION: These data point to a dominant role for genetic factors in the determination of specific autoantibody profiles.
Non-specific activation of antiviral immunity and induction of RNA interference may engage the same pathway in the Pacific white leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Many questions remain unanswered regarding RNAi-based mechanisms and dsRNA-induced antiviral immune responses in penaeid shrimp. In this study, we report the characterization in the white leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei of RNAi pathway associated proteins Lv-Ago 1 and Lv-Ago 2, two members of the Argonaute family of proteins, as well as Lv-sid 1, the first shrimp homologue of Sid-1, a membrane channel-forming protein implicated in the cellular import of dsRNA. To decipher their functional implication in RNAi-related phenomena, we monitored their relative expression following stimulation by specific and non-specific RNA duplexes of diverse length. The findings show that the length of small RNA duplexes plays a critical role in the activation of both RNAi-related and innate antiviral responses. They also suggest that these two mechanisms of antiviral response may activate the same pathway, requiring Lv-Sid 1 and Lv-Ago 2 induction.
Effects of Panax Ginseng on Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE:To assess the time-dependent effects of Panax ginseng on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by use of a general health status questionnaire.METHODS:Subjects were randomized in a double-blind manner to P. ginseng 200 mg/d (n = 15) or placebo (n = 15) for 8 weeks. The Short Form-36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2), a validated general health status questionnaire, was used to assess HRQOL at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks. HRQOL between the groups was compared by use of repeated-measures analysis of covariance. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS:There were no significant differences in baseline demographics and SF-36v2 scores between the groups. After 4 weeks of therapy, higher scores in social functioning (P. ginseng 54.9 ± 4.6 vs. placebo 49.2 ± 6.5; p = 0.014), mental health (P. ginseng 52.2 ± 7.7 vs. placebo 47.2 ± 7.3; p = 0.075), and the mental component summary (P. ginseng 51.3 ± 7.4 vs. placebo 44.3 ± 8.3; p = 0.019) scales were observed in patients randomi...
Neural fold and neural crest movement in the mexican salamander Ambystoma mexicanum

In studies of amphibian neurulation, the terms "neural ridge," "neural fold," and "neural crest" are sometimes used as synonyms. This has occasionally led to the misconception that grafting of the neural crest is equivalent to grafting of the neural fold. The neural fold, however, is composed of three parts: the neural crest, prospective neural tube tissue, and epidermis. In order to investigate how these neural fold components move during neurulation, time-lapse photography, electron microscopy, and grafting were performed. Ambystoma mexicanum embryos were photographed during neurulation at regular intervals. The photographs were analyzed to find the position of those cells at beginning of neurulation that end up on the line of fusion as the neural folds close. Posteriorly, these cells are already on the emerging neural fold. In the anterior neural folds, however, these cells are located in the lateral epidermis. Electron microscopy of the neural folds confirms the presence of epidermis. To follow the movement of the cells differentiating into melanophores (neural crest), neural fold parts were grafted into albino hosts. The crest cells differentiating into melanophores following ectopic grafting are located in the flank of the neural fold that is in contact with the neural plate. In grafts from the outside (distal) flank, no melanophores developed. Semithin sections show that the third part of the neural fold consists of apically constricted cells known to differentiate into neural tissue. Because the neural folds consist of epidermis, neural tissue, and neural crest, neural fold and neural crest cannot be used as synonyms.
Memory allocation for long-running server applications

Prior work on dynamic memory allocation has largely neglected long-running server applications, for example, web servers and mail servers. Their requirements differ from those of one-shot applications like compilers or text editors. We investigated how to build an allocator that is not only fast and memory efficient but also scales well on SMP machines. We found that it is not sufficient to focus on reducing lock contention - higher speedups require a reduction in cache misses and bus traffic. We then designed and prototyped a new allocator, called LKmalloc, targeted for both traditional applications and server applications. LKmalloc uses several subheaps, each one with a separate set of free lists and memory arena. A thread always allocates from the same subheap but can free a block belonging to any subheap. A thread is assigned to a subheap by hashing on its thread ID. WC compared its performance with several other allocators on a server-like, simulated workload and found that it indeed scales well and is quite fast hut memory more efficiently.
Measuring abnormal pricing – an alternative approach

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the degree of trade mispricing in the US fresh banana trade with Latin American and Caribbean countries using a new alternative measure in estimating arm’s length price. Design/methodology/approach – A key feature of the research design is that we use the actual free market price of commodity (e.g. fresh banana price) as a benchmark for arm’s length price rather than relying on interquartile range, which is known to be problematic. Findings – The paper finds that when the degree of mispricing is measured by two widely used methods, interquartile price filter and partner-country methods, we find little evidence of undervaluation or overvaluation of US banana import. However, when we use the free-market price of fresh banana as a benchmark for arm’s length price, first adopted in this study, the average undervalued amount of trade compared to the total banana import declared value by the US importers is on average 54 per cent during the period between 2000 a...
Thermal Faults Modeling Using a RC Model with an Application to Web Farms

Today's CPUs consume a significant amount of power and generate a high amount of heat, requiring an active cooling system to support reliable operations. In case of cooling system failures, these CPUs can reduce clock speed to prevent damage due to overheating. Unfortunately, when these CPUs are used in a real-time system, a clock control based on frequency-throttling can cause missed deadlines. In this paper, we first develop and validate a system-wide thermal model that can account for various thermal fault types such as failure of a CPU fan, faults in the case fan and air-conditioning malfunctions. Then we validate the thermal model through experimentation and measurements in AMD Linux boxes. Our soft real-time power-aware load-distribution algorithm for data centers incorporates a thermal model to minimize the number of missed deadlines that can be caused by thermal faults. We implemented the algorithm in a webserver farm simulator to test the efficacy of thermal-aware load-balancing. Our results show that the new algorithm helps keep CPU temperatures within the desired thermal envelope, even in the presence of thermal faults. When thermal faults occur, our algorithm improves the QoS, at the expense of higher energy consumption.
Physical Therapist–Established Intensive Care Unit Early Mobilization Program: Quality Improvement Project for Critical Care at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center

Background Long-term weakness and disability are common after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Usual care in the ICU prevents most patients from receiving preventative early mobilization. Objective The study objective was to describe a quality improvement project established by a physical therapist at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center from 2009 to 2011. The goal of the program was to reduce patients' ICU length of stay by increasing the number of patients in the ICU receiving physical therapy and decreasing the time from ICU admission to physical therapy initiation. Design This study was a 9-month retrospective analysis of a quality improvement project. Methods An interprofessional ICU Early Mobilization Group established and promoted guidelines for mobilizing patients in the ICU. A physical therapist was dedicated to a 16-bed medical-surgical ICU to provide physical therapy to selected patients within 48 hours of ICU admission. Patients receiving early physical therapy intervention in the ICU in 2010 were compared with patients receiving physical therapy under usual care practice in the same ICU in 2009. Results From 2009 to 2010, the number of patients receiving physical therapy in the ICU increased from 179 to 294. The median times (interquartile ranges) from ICU admission to physical therapy evaluation were 3 days (9 days) in 2009 and 1 day (2 days) in 2010. The ICU length of stay decreased by 2 days, on average, and the percentage of ambulatory patients discharged to home increased from 55% to 77%. Limitations This study relied upon the retrospective analysis of data from 6 collectors, and the intervention lacked physical therapy coverage for 7 days per week. Conclusions The improvements in outcomes demonstrated the value and feasibility of a physical therapist–led early mobilization program.
Marital Status, Marital Quality, and Heart Rate Variability in the MIDUS Cohort

Previous research has shown marital status and marital quality are consistent predictors of health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and mortality. To better understand the relationship among marital status, marital quality, and cardiovascular health, we examined how marital status and marital quality were associated with an early indicator of deteriorating cardiovascular health, high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV). This study uses data from the National Survey of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Biomarker Substudy (N = 907) to examine differences in HF-HRV by traditional marital status categories (married, divorced, widowed, and never married) as well as further differentiating between the continuously married and remarried. In addition, links were also examined between HF-HRV and changes in marital quality (marital satisfaction, support, strain) among individuals in long-term marriages. No significant differences in HF-HRV were observed between married persons and those widowed, divorced, and never married. However, continuously married individuals had higher HF-HRV than remarried adults. Increases in marital satisfaction and support over 10 years were associated with higher HF-HRV, whereas increased marital strain over 10 years was associated with lower HF-HRV. Higher HF-HRV among the continuously married compared with the remarried suggests that previous marital disruptions may have lasting effects on cardiovascular health or that there may be other differences between the remarried versus those who remain married to the same person. Associations between marital quality and HF-HRV suggest that variations in the quality of one's marriage may affect cardiovascular health.
Eosinophil granule cationic proteins: major basic protein is distinct from the smaller subunit of eosinophil peroxidase.

Major basic protein and eosinophil peroxidase are predominant cationic proteins in the cytoplasmic granules of human eosinophlllc leukocytes. Each of these proteins has been purified, and major basic protein and the lower molecular weight subunit of eosinophil peroxidase have been found to comigrate on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate with similar apparent molecular weights of about 14,700. Because previous molecular weight estimates for these proteins have not recognized the similar molecular weights of these two catlonic eoslnophil granule constituents, we have evaluated the possible relatedness of these proteins. Upon protein sequence analyses, it was found that the N-terminal 20 amino acid residues of each of these two purified polypeptides differed. These findings established that major basic protein and the smaller subunit of eosinophil peroxidase, although of comparable molecular weights, are two distinct proteins within the cytopiasmic granules of human eoslnophils.
New noninvasive computerized method for the area measurement of the dicrotic notch

Measurement of the area of the dicrotic notch is an important noninvasive diagnostic procedure in cardiocirculatory evaluation. The methodology for measuring the magnitude of the dicrotic notch has varied considerably, ranging from visual inspection to the use of microcomputer technology. The current computerized method provides a quantitative exactitude when compared to polar planimetry. Coefficients of correlation (r) were 0.89 and highly significant (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the current method circumvents densitometric placement variation between repeated measurements.
Slowly reversible sorption of aliphatic halocarbons in soils. I. Formation of residual fractions

This study describes the formation of slowly reversible sorbed fractions of various halogenated alkanes and alkenes in two surface soils. After the initial sorption equilibration period, the compounds were desorbed by one of two methods. The first used repetitive batch extraction with water. After 16 extractions of 24 to 72 h each, concentrations in the aqueous phase reached low values and a slow desorbing, residual fraction remained in the soil. The residual fraction in the soil was determined independently after extraction with hot acetone, whose efficacy was demonstrated. During desorption, apparent soil-water distribution coefficients increased progressively to as much as 200 times greater than equilibrium sorption coefficients, Kd, obtained separately from sorption isotherms. With increasing sorption equilibration time, the residual became greater in magnitude and less mobile. The second desorption method simulated desorption to infinite dilution over a 96 h period by using Tenax GC polymeric adsorbent beads included in the suspension as a sink for desorbed chemical. Control experiments proved the usefulness of Tenax and showed that desorption from the soil was rate limiting. All compounds studied formed slowly reversible fractions in the soils. This fraction amounted to several percent of the total sorbed from solution. The results indicate that formation of slowly reversible fractions is probably typical of nonpolar organic compounds, including those with weak sorbing tendencies.
Thin-film, accumulation-mode p-channel SOI MOSFETs

Electrical characteristics of thin-film (100nm), accumulation-mode SOI p-channel MOSFETs are reported and compared to simulation. In the OFF regime, the p-type channel is fully depleted. As a result, very low values of leakage current are obtained. Very good threshold voltage control is also obtained.