cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The integrative nature of biochemistry: challenges of biochemical education in the USA*

The intricate interplay of Biochemistry with well-established disciplines often blurs the identity of the subject. The issues are many. What is biochemical education? Who should be educated? What should be taught? What should the requirements be for Biochemistry major? What is a career in Biochemistry? The curriculum, course syllabus and application of Biochemistry are ever-evolving concerns. The challenges are particularly keen in the USA due to the diversity in its teaching modes, and in the composition of the student body. The constant changes in technologies also shift the needs of skill and knowledge of the graduates. This presentation is to examine the Biochemistry degree programs in the USA, particularly the curricula of private and public research universities, contrasting them with those of the liberal arts colleges. The goal is to sense the trends of changes, probing how the challenges are met, and to solicit and formulate recommendations as we approach a new millennium.
Predictors of relapse and treatment resistance in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated small-vessel vasculitis

The authors aimed to identify predictors of relapse and resistance to treatment in 350 patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis. Patients had Wegener granuloma...
Long-term memory modules

One particular kind of structure offers possible explanations for long-term memory, efficient consolidation of stored information from the environment, clustering of data strings and multimodal functioning. It is a possible model for pieces of neural structure and its use offers a uniform method for both studying and constructing an extensive class of mechanisms.
Comparisons of the Mechanical Behaviors of Poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and ITO on Flexible Substrates

Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) has been widely used as a Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) layer in the photovoltaic solar technology because of its excellent electrical and optical properties. However, ITO is brittle, and its conductivity decreases significantly as the ITO films are exposed to stretching or bending strains especially in flexible/foldable solar cell applications. The cracks in ITO appear at very low strains which might cause failure in the conductive layer because of the combination of a very thin film of brittle ceramic material applied to a polymer substrate. Poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene), abbreviated PEDOT, is of increasing interest as a competitive candidate to ITO. PEDOT has found its way in many applications such as transparent electrode materials and transparent conductive layers in photovoltaic solar cells. In this work, the mechanical behavior of PEDOT was studied under high cycle bending fatigue in which the effects of bending diameter and bending frequency were considered and compared to ITO. High magnification optical images were used to study cracking in the PEDOT as well as the ITO layers. In flexible solar cells, the web will be exposed to folding/bending many times during manufacturing and installation. Therefore, the thin film substrate structure will be exposed to cyclic loading cyclic tensile and compressive strains. Therefore, this work was designed to mechanically fatigue the structure and study its behavior. It was found that bending diameters as well as material (PEDOT or ITO) have a great influence on the electrical conductivity of the thin films.
Separation phenomena at the interface of a finitely deformed composite sphere

Abstract The problem of the finite deformation of a composite sphere subjected to a spherically symmetric dead load traction is revisited focusing on the formation of a cavity at the interface between a hyperelastic, incompressible matrix shell and a rigid inhomogeneity. Separation phenomena are assumed to be governed by a vanishingly thin interfacial cohesive zone characterized by uniform normal and tangential interface force–separation constitutive relations. Spherically symmetric cavity shapes (spheres) are shown to be solutions of an interfacial integral equation depending on the strain energy density of the matrix, the interface force constitutive relation, the dead loading and the volume concentration of inhomogeneity. Spherically symmetric and non-symmetric bifurcations initiating from spherically symmetric equilibrium states are analyzed within the framework of infinitesimal strain superimposed on a given finite deformation. A simple formula for the dead load required to initiate the non-symmetrical rigid body mode is obtained and a detailed examination of a few special cases is provided. Explicit results are presented for the Mooney–Rivlin strain energy density and for an interface force–separation relation which allows for complete decohesion in normal separation.
Splitting least squares and collocation procedures for two-point boundary value problems

Let L, T, S , and R be closed densely defined linear operators from a Hubert space X into X where L can be factored as L = TS + R . The equation Lu = f is equivalent to the linear system Tv + Ru = f and Su = v . If Lu = f is a two-point boundary value problem, numerical solution of the split system admits cruder approximations than the unsplit equations. This paper develops the theory of such splittings together with the theory of the Methods of Least Squares and of Collocation for the split system. Error estimates in both L 2 and L ∞ norms are obtained for both methods.
Expansion of Dreissena into Offshore Waters of Lake Michigan and Potential Impacts on Fish Populations

Lake Michigan was invaded by zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in the late 1980s and then followed by quagga mussels (D. bugensis) around 1997. Through 2000, both species (herein Dreissena) were largely restricted to depths less than 50 m. Herein, we provide results of an annual lake-wide bottom trawl survey in Lake Michigan that reveal the relative biomass and depth distribution of Dreissena between 1999 and 2007 (although biomass estimates from a bottom trawl are biased low). Lake-wide mean biomass density (g/m2) and mean depth of collection revealed no trend between 1999 and 2003 (mean = 0.7 g/m2 and 37 m, respectively). Between 2004 and 2007, however, mean lake-wide biomass density increased from 0.8 g/m2 to 7.0 g/m2, because of increased density at depths between 30 and 110 m, and mean depth of collection increased from 42 to 77 m. This pattern was confirmed by a generalized additive model. Coincident with the Dreissena expansion that occurred beginning in 2004, fish biomass density (generally planktivores) declined 71% between 2003 and 2007. Current understanding of fish population dynamics, however, indicates that Dreissena expansion is not the primary explanation for the decline of fish, and we provide a species-specific account for more likely underlying factors. Nonetheless, future sampling and research may reveal a better understanding of the potential negative interactions between Dreissena and fish in Lake Michigan and elsewhere.
Fractionation of immune RNA capable of transferring tumor-specific cellular cytotoxicity.

Abstract Xenogeneic immune RNA (I-RNA) extracted from the spleens and lymph nodes of guinea pigs previously immunized with a murine fibrosarcoma was able to convert normal mouse lymphocytes to effector cells specifically cytolytic to the same murine tumor in vitro . This effect of I-RNA was dose-dependent, and destroyed by treatment with RNase, but not with DNase or pronase. I-RNA was fractionated by ultracentrifugation on a 5–20% sucrose density gradient and the fraction capable of transferring cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) was shown to have a sedimentation coefficient of 8–16 S. I-RNA was also fractionated by oligo(dT)-cellulose affinity chromatography and the active fraction was found to possess polyadenylic acid (poly(A)) sequences thus resembling messenger RNA. The immunological activity of the poly (A)-containing RNA fraction was tumor-specific and RNase-sensitive. In further experiments, I-RNA fractionated by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation was subsequently chromatographed. on an oligo(dT)-cellulose column. CMC was transferred only by the fraction which sedimented at 8–16 S and also contained poly (A).
Decreasing retinal photocoagulation damage: principles and techniques.

Conventional suprathreshold retinal photocoagulation is a destructive procedure, but chorioretinal damage can be decreased by changing laser parameters and clinical endpoints. Laser effects can be localized by decreasing laser wavelength, spot size, and exposure duration, as well as by adopting threshold or subthreshold treatment protocols. Problems with short-pulse treatment regimens can be circumvented by the use of repetitively pulsed laser photocoagula-tors. Preliminary clinical results with reduced-damage photocoagulation methods are promising and await confirmation in larger, controlled clinical trials.
Nutritional status of patients with cystic fibrosis with meconium ileus: a comparison with patients without meconium ileus and diagnosed early through neonatal screening.

Objective. This study was pursued as an extension of a randomized clinical investigation of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF). The objective was to determine if CF patients with meconium ileus (MI) were more likely to be malnourished compared with those without MI who were diagnosed during early infancy through neonatal screening. Methodology. Nutritional status was evaluated from early infancy to 13 years of age based on anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary assessments. Results. MI patients (n = 32) were smaller at birth (3117 g compared with 3413 g) and were shorter (22nd percentile compared with 48th percentile) and thinner (24th percentile compared with 49th percentile) compared with non-MI early diagnosed patients (n = 50) up to 13 years of age. Poor growth was particularly evident in 26 MI patients who required surgery for MI (height and weight at the 20th percentile), whereas those treated without surgery (n = 6) showed better height (45th percentile) and weight (37th percentile). Abnormal essential fatty acid profiles were significantly more prevalent in MI compared with non-MI early-diagnosed patients before 3 years of age. Daily intakes of calorie (130% compared with 111% recommended dietary allowances) and protein (339% compared with 279% recommended dietary allowances) were higher but the percentage of fat (37% compared with 38%) and linoleic acid (4.5% compared with 4.7%) in the diet were similar between the two groups. Conclusions. These results demonstrated a clear association of MI with malnutrition in CF. The observed poor growth among our MI patients was not because of poor dietary intakes, but was related to surgical treatment for MI and poor essential fatty acid status. These findings present new challenges regarding the optimal medical treatment and nutritional intervention for CF patients with MI.
Aging and the saturation of colors. 1. Colorimetric purity discrimination

Colorimetric purity (Pc) discrimination functions were measured for 21 color-normal observers (11 younger and 10 older observers with mean ages of 30 and 74 years, respectively). On each two-alternative-forced-choice trial, observers saw two flashes of light, a broadband white light [CIE(x, y) = (0.33, 0.35)] and a mixture of broadband and monochromatic light (420-680 nm). The observer's task was to choose the flash that had a chromatic component. Foveally viewed, circular, 1.2 degrees-diameter stimuli were presented as 1.5-s flashes with 3-s interstimulus intervals in Maxwellian view. Stimuli [250 trolands (td) and 10 td] were equated on the basis of individual heterochromatic flicker photometry functions. Measured Pc discrimination sensitivity was lower in the older group than in the younger group at both light levels, and the performance difference between the age groups was approximately constant across the spectrum. The difference between discrimination at 10 and 250 td was relatively small for the younger group but larger for the older group, indicating a selective performance decrement for older observers at low light levels. The data were modeled as a sum of differential responses from S-cone and L/M-cone chromatic channels. The model and the data indicate similar age-related losses of sensitivity in the two channels, perhaps secondary to receptorial sensitivity losses.
155. Effects of lesion size, age and strain on behavioral responsiveness to hippocampal damage in mice

dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, and cholinergic receptor expression in limbic and motor circuits. These studies demonstrate that typical and atypical antipsychotics induce unique, region-specific patterns of receptor expression that may be the substrate of their beneficial clinical effects, as well as their side effects. Despite numerous studies to date, this literature is plagued with inconsistency, and it is difficult to reconcile all of the available data. Due to difficulties in making comparisons among the myriad experimental methodologies, and the pitfalls of attempting to generalize rodent data to human postmortem studies of schizophrenia, future studies on the effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics on receptor expression will need to: (1) simultaneously examine multiple neurotransmitter systems in the same sets of animals treated with typical and atypical antipsychotics; (2) examine multiple receptor subtypes of the same neurotransmitter system; (3) measure receptor expression in multiple, interconnected regions that comprise limbic and motor circuits; (4) measure receptor expression at multiple levels of gene organization.
EXTENSION OPPORTUNITIES IN MARKETING1

Summary In summary I would like to make the following points: 1. There are numerous opportunities for educational programs in agricultural marketing that would be of value to farmers, to the management of marketing firms, and to consumers. 2. In Colleges and Departments of Agriculture our first responsibility is still to farm people, even though they are actually performing fewer marketing services today. 3. Marketing information of most general use to farmers is that which helps them understand the economic situation and outlook, and important economic principles related to marketing. 4. Developing educational programs with marketing firms requires a change in direction from primary concern with farm problems to concern with the problems of the private marketing firm. While this may be difficult to accept, there is really no direct conflict of interest between programs for farmers and those for marketing firm personnel and the methods and kinds of information available can often be used in both areas. 5. Programs with marketing firms are as varied as the needs of the firms themselves. The extension specialist well versed in a particular phase of business management, or equipped with a particular set of analytical tools, or familiar with recent research findings, can make considerable improvement in the efficiency of operation of most marketing firms. 6. A major policy question at present is how far we should go in working with marketing firms. There is considerable agreement that some work is desirable from the point of view of providing greater knowledge of marketing, and that it can be done with little additional help and few special studies. 7. Arguments presented in favor of considerable expansion in marketing work are that legislators are willing to provide public support, the need is great in view of rising marketing costs and obvious inefficiencies, and benefits to agriculture are as great as for some of the farm production work. 8. Those who caution against moving too rapidly in this area are reluctant to divert resources away from agricultural programs, and argue that once work with marketing firms is initiated there is no logical place to draw the line on extension programs. 9. The case for marketing information for consumer programs is largely based on the complexity of modern food marketing. The growth of new products and more processing would indicate that educational programs in buying foods for homes or institutions will expand in the future. 10. Extension programs in marketing can be successful if the educational feature is stressed, and the programs are based on sound research, conducted by competent personnel using appropriate methods, and given the freedom and administrative support necessary for the job.
Soybean Receptor-like Protein Kinase Genes: Paralogous Divergence of a Gene Family

Receptor-like protein kinases (RLKs) in plants play major roles in cellular processes and stress responses. Three soybean (Glycine max) orthologs of Arabidopsis thaliana RLK were isolated and designated GmRLK1, GmRLK2, and GmRLK3. GmRLK1, GmRLK2, and GmRLK3 are similar in sequence, with GmRLK2 and GmRLK3 being nearly identical. The deduced amino acid sequences of GmRLK1, GmRLK2, and GmRLK3 possess characteristics of a transmembrane leucine-rich repeat RLK, AtCLV1. DNA fingerprinting and PCR analyses of a bacterial artificial chromosome library identified five GmRLK contigs (I-V): three for GmRLK1 (I, II, and V), one for GmRLK2 (III), and one for both GmRLK2 and GmRLK3 (IV). Phylogenetic analysis of the soybean RLKs together with other plant RLKs indicates that soybean and A. thaliana CLV1s generate a CLV1 branch, while soybean, A. thaliana, and rice RLKs generate an RLK branch. Thus, the AtCLV1 orthologs may have evolved later than the other pathogen-, environmental stress-, plant hormone-, and development-associated RLKs. A common ancestral GmRLK gene may have duplicated to give rise to GmRLK1, GmRLK2, and GmRLK3, or GmRLK2 and GmRLK3 may have resulted from a recent duplication event(s). Several amino acid replacements in the kinase domain of GmRLK1 compared with those of GmRLK2 and GmRLK3 may reflect evolutionary divergence of individual family members.
Predicting hospital-acquired acute kidney injury--a case-controlled study.

Acute kidney injury is a major complication of hospitalization, occurring in 5-7 percent of hospitalized patients. The patient characteristics and prognostic variables that help predict acute kidney injury have not been studied in the general hospitalized population. The objectives of this study are to derive and validate a predictive score for hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (HAKI). We conducted a case-controlled study of HAKI involving 180 cases and 360 controls. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed in two-thirds of the subjects and validated in the other third. Upon admission, cases in the developmental sample were older (67 vs. 63 yrs, p = .008) and more likely to have diabetes (51% vs. 35%; p = .003), hypertension (77% vs. 60%, p = .001), heart failure (34% vs. 20%, p = .004), blood urea nitrogen >or=25 mg/dL (38% vs. 20%, p = or=1.1 mg/dL (65% vs. 39%; p 30 mEq/L (42% vs. 29%; p = .05) compared to controls. The final risk score included pulse, bicarbonate, creatinine, and specific medications (NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and/or diuretics). The c-statistic for the risk score in the developmental sample was 0.69. In the validation sample, an increasing number of risk factors was associated with increased risk of HAKI (16% and 62% in the low and high-risk groups, respectively). In conclusion, a simple model based on readily available data stratifies patients according to their risk of developing HAKI and may guide clinical decision making and provide a basis for further research into HAKI.
A METHOD OF CORRECTING SPACE POSITION DATA FOR THE ELLIPSOIDAL CURVATURE OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE

The advent of modern long-range guided missiles, whose course to destination must be calculated prior to launching, calls for navigational accuracies considerably in excess of those needed by piloted craft. For normal sea and air navigation, it is not necessary to precompute the ellipsoidal curvature of the earth’s surface, since the distances traveled between successive fixes are relatively small and are usually restricted to geodetic charts representing a small portion of the earth’s surface. Although this paper does not concern itself with this subject, a knowledge of the construction of these charts and the associated geodesy will be helpful in the understanding of the problem discussed.
Grief Casualties on Skid Row.

Case study research in a southwestern shelter for homeless men revealed a small, but notable, minority suffering from unresolved grief. The grief of these men was due to the death of a spouse, a child, a parent, or other member of their immediate family, or to a particularly painful divorce, earlier in their lives. Their relationship loss and the consequent grief that they were unable to complete appeared to have robbed them of the will to maintain their social standing in society. The result was drastic downward mobility to a life on the street. Their failure to cope with grief would appear to be due to a dearth of primary relationships in their former and present lives.
GLP-2α accelerates recovery of mucosal absorptive function after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion

Abstract Background/Purpose: The authors' previous laboratory results have shown that rats treated for 3 days with intravenous GLP-2α, a synthetic protease-resistant form of glucagonlike peptide-2, showed increased mucosal mass and absorptive function when compared with saline-treated controls after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). This study was designed to explore the temporal relationship between injury that occurs secondary to intestinal I/R and recovery of mucosal absorptive function with and without GLP-2α treatment. Methods: Each of 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats (300 to 333 g) was subjected to superior mesenteric artery occlusion for 30 minutes, during which time a jugular venous catheter was placed and connected to a subcutaneous infusion pump. Rats were divided into 4 groups based on the type and duration of infusion as follows: group 1, systemic saline at 1 μL/h for 24 hours (n = 5); group 2, systemic GLP-2α at 100 μg/kg/d for 24 hours (n = 5); group 3, systemic saline at 1 μL/h for 72 hours (n = 4); and group 4, systemic GLP-2α at 100 μg/kg/d for 72 hours (n = 4). Immediately after the infusions, 14 C-galactose and 14 C-glycine absorption was measured using an in vivo, closed-recirculation technique and expressed as micromoles per square centimeter intestine ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance. Results: Twenty-four hours after intestinal I/R injury, there was a decrease in substrate absorption but no significant difference between the saline and GLP-2α—treated groups (galactose absorption, 1.13 ± 0.09 in group 1 v 1.35 ± 0.11 in group 2, P =.15; glycine absorption, 1.18 ± 0.13 in group 1 v 1.34 ± 0.15 in group 2, P =.36). However, after the 72-hour infusion, absorption of galactose and glycine was significantly increased in the rats receiving GLP-2α as compared with the saline-infused control group (galactose absorption, 1.24 ± 0.13 in group 3 v 1.88 ± 0.10 in group 4, P v 2.05 ± 0.08 in group 4, P 2 for galactose and 1.85 ± 0.17 μmol/cm 2 for glycine), after I/R a 72-hour infusion of GLP-2α increased galactose absorption 26% ( P P =.29) beyond baseline. Conclusions: When initiated at the time of intestinal I/R, a continuous infusion of GLP-2α accelerated recovery of mucosal absorptive function in rats. Remarkably, carbohydrate absorption at 72 hours was increased to a level significantly greater than that in normal, uninjured rat intestine. J Pediatr Surg 36:570-572. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Selecting the right MBA schools - An application of self-organizing map networks

The self-organizing map (SOM) network, an unsupervised neural computing network, is a categorization network developed by Kohonen. The SOM network was designed for solving problems that involve tasks such as clustering, visualization, and abstraction. In this study, we apply the clustering and visualization capabilities of SOM to group and plot the top 79 MBA schools as ranked by US News and World Report (USN&WR) into a two-dimensional map with four segments. The map should assist prospective students in searching for the MBA programs that best meet their personal requirements. Comparative analysis with the outputs from two popular clustering techniques K-means analysis and a two-step Factor analysis/K-means procedure are also included.
ArtifactWebs: Navigable product structures

Students working on team-based design courses often have difficulty tracking the evolution of their design. Student teams seldom have complete meeting notes and frequently backtrack on previous decisions, wasting substantial time and resources. As documents are generated by different team members at different times during a project, not everyone is aware of what is in all the documents. Locating the right information among evolving documents such as different versions of the same document (e.g., a final report), or static documents that are referred to frequently (e.g. a key reference or manual) can be time consuming and often futile. Even for teams with well-structured document management systems, finding the correct paragraph or document fragment for a given topic can be difficult. In addition, as the design progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep track of the progress made by other team members as well as the options already explored by them. These problems exist for both industry and student teams, but are usually more severe for students who are novices in the design process. Another problem for student design teams is that of requirements deviation, in which the interpretation of decisions by different team members may be not only different, but often conflicting. Detecting such problems as they occur would be advantageous for the team and increase the probability of the project's success. Students lack both the tools and the perspective to structure and manage the documents that they generate and use. Our goal is make it easier for student teams to manage their design process by being able to: (1) see the current state of the project they are working on and check if they are missing a crucial part, and (2) focus their efforts on a particular artifact of interest in completed projects, regardless of where it occurs in the documents. To accomplish this, we propose to create navigable ArtifactWebs that will help design team members to visualize the current state of the project based on the artifacts described in the project documents and technical discussions. In this paper, we present a preliminary version of the ArtifactWeb, based on three years of data from a multidisciplinary team-based design course, which is offered every spring at Carnegie Mellon University.
Transient based relay testing: a new scope and methodology

This paper provides an overview of the scope and methodology for transient relay testing. The scope of transient relay testing is divided into: a) conformance test for examining the functionality and generic performance characteristics of relays, and b) application test for analyzing the specific performance issues and trouble-shooting relay misoperations. For conformance test, the methodology including system modeling, automated generation of test scenarios, relay modeling, and implementation of automated relay testing is discussed in detail. For application test, the key issue is the selection of typical scenarios for analyzing the relay behavior in vulnerable system conditions. A view about benefits and approaches of transient based relay testing is explained in this paper.
Foreign Aid and Voting Behavior in an International Organization: The Case of Japan and the International Whaling Commission

Strand, Jonathan R. and John P. Tuman. (2012) Foreign Aid and Voting Behavior in an International Organization: The Case of Japan and the International Whaling Commission. Foreign Policy Analysis, doi: 10.1111/j.1743-8594.2011.00173.x This study examines the relationship between Japanese foreign aid disbursement and recipient state membership and voting in the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Focusing on 104 countries for the period 1994–2005, we investigate whether Japan gives more aid to IWC members that vote with Japan. The effects of the independent variables are estimated with a linear mixed regression model. Controlling for other possible influences on official development assistance (ODA) disbursements, and employing different measures of dyadic voting similarity, the study finds Japanese aid concentrates in members of the IWC that are microstates. The findings of the paper also indicate that microstate members of the IWC who align their votes with Japan are more likely to receive Japanese ODA. By demonstrating that Japan’s strategy is focused on microstates, the study provides a more refined understanding of the mechanisms Japan employs to end the IWC’s moratorium on commercial whaling.
A data-driven model for maximization of methane production in a wastewater treatment plant

A data-driven approach for maximization of methane production in a wastewater treatment plant is presented. Industrial data collected on a daily basis was used to build the model. Temperature, total solids, volatile solids, detention time and pH value were selected as parameters for the model construction. First, a prediction model of methane production was built by a multi-layer perceptron neural network. Then a particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to maximize methane production based on the model developed in this research. The model resulted in a 5.5% increase in methane production.
Comparison of PWM zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) DC-DC converters with output isolation

Zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) isolated boost power converters are analyzed and investigated in this paper. Zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) and proper core reset can be achieved through the resonance that exists between the magnetizing inductance and the parasitic capacitance. A steady-state analysis is given to illustrate the principle of operation. The presented power converters were simulated and implemented to show that the experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical analyses. Comparisons in terms of the voltage and current stresses, soft switching range, complexity and efficiency are provided to show that a ZVS power converter using a small network in parallel with a transformer secondary winding has best performance.
Accessibility of Hospitality and Tourism Websites A Challenge for Visually Impaired Persons

An analysis of twenty websites operated by hospitality and tourism companies found numerous issues that would interfere with the use of those websites by persons with visual impairments. While the U.S. courts have been mixed on the question of whether the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to websites, the wise course is for hotel and tourism companies to ensure that those with visual impairments are easily able to use their sites. One source of design guidelines is the Web Content Accessibility Priority 1 Guidelines, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium.
Blood Cells and Blood Cell Development in the Animal Kingdom

Recent findings strongly suggest that the molecular pathways involved in the development and function of blood cells are highly conserved among vertebrates and various invertebrate phyla. This has led to a renewed interest regarding homologies between blood cell types and their developmental origin among different animals. One way to address these areas of inquiry is to shed more light on the biology of blood cells in extant invertebrate taxa that have branched off the bilaterian tree in between insects and vertebrates. This review attempts, in a broadly comparative manner, to update the existing literature that deals with early blood cell development. I begin by providing a brief survey of the different types of blood cell lineages among metazoa. There is now good reason to believe that, in vertebrates and invertebrates alike, blood cell lineages diverge from a common type of progenitor cell, the hemocytoblast. I give a synopsis of the origin and determination of the hematocytoblast, beginning with a look at the hematopoietic organs that house hemocytoblasts in adult animals, followed by a more detailed overview of the embryonic development of the hematopoietic organ. Finally, I compare the process of blood lineage diversification in vertebrates and Drosophila.
X inactivation-specific methylation of LINE-1 elements by DNMT3B: implications for the Lyon repeat hypothesis

Lyon has proposed that long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1 or L1) repeats may be mediators for the spread of X chromosome inactivation. Cells from ICF patients who are deficient in one of the DNA methyltransferases, DNMT3B, provide an opportunity to explore and refine this hypothesis. Southern blot and bisulfite methylation analyses indicate that, in normal somatic cells, X-linked L1s are hypermethylated on both the active and inactive X chromosomes. In contrast, ICF syndrome cells with DNMT3B mutations have L1s that are hypomethylated on the inactive X, but not on the active X or autosomes. The DNMT3B methyltransferase, therefore, is required for methylation of L1 CpG islands on the inactive X, whereas methylation of the corresponding L1 loci on the active X, as well as most autosomal L1s, is accomplished by another DNA methyltransferase. This unique phenomenon of identical allelic modifications by different enzymes has not been previously observed. Apart from CpG island methylation, the ICF inactive X is basically normal in that it forms a Barr body, is associated with XIST RNA, mostly replicates late, and its X-inactivated genes are mostly silent. Because the unmethylated state of the ICF inactive X L1s probably reflects their methylation status at the time of X inactivation, these data suggest that unmethylated L1 elements, but not methylated L1s, may have a role in the spreading of X chromosome inactivation.
Detection of a cryptic translocation in a family with mental retardation using FISH and telomere region-specific probes.

Cryptic rearrangements involving the telomeres are thought to account for a substantial number of patients with unexplained mental retardation and multiple congenital anomalies, although the exact incidence of these rearrangements is still unclear. With the advent of chromosome-specific telomeric probes and the use of FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization), it is now possible to identify submicroscopic rearrangements of the distal ends of chromosomes that may otherwise go undetected using conventional cytogenetic studies. We report on a 4½ year-old girl with severe mental retardation and minor anomalies who inherited the unbalanced product of a cryptic translocation involving chromosomes 2 and 17 from her father. The family history was significant for early pregnancy losses, stillbirths, and mental retardation in many other family members, suggesting segregation of a familial translocation. This translocation was detected using chromosome-specific telomere FISH probes, and not visible using conventional cytogenetic methods. Collectively, this case and those previously reported clearly demonstrate the value of a systematic search for cryptic chromosome rearrangements in patients with unexplained mental retardation with previously reported normal chromosome studies; and in particular those with a family history of mental retardation, birth defects, or early pregnancy losses. Am. J. Med. Genet. 92:250–255, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ab Initio Quantum Chemistry for Protein Structures

Structural properties of over 55 small proteins have been determined using both density-based and wave-function-based electronic structure methods in order to assess the ability of ab initio “force fields” to retain the properties described by experimental structures measured with crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance. The efficiency of the GPU-based quantum chemistry algorithms implemented in our TeraChem program enables us to carry out systematic optimization of ab initio protein structures, which we compare against experimental and molecular mechanics force field references. We show that the quality of the ab initio optimized structures, as judged by conventional protein health metrics, increases with increasing basis set size. On the other hand, there is little evidence for a significant improvement of predicted structures using density functional theory as compared to Hartree–Fock methods. Although occasional pathologies of minimal basis sets are observed, these are easily alleviated with eve...
Mars Soil Mechanical Properties and Suitability of Mars Soil Simulants

Determination of Mars soil mechanical properties will improve future lander mission success and provide narrower constraints for geomorphological modeling. A soil mechanics investigation was conducted wherein soil mechanical properties were determined by computer reconstruction of mass wasting features observed in photographs of Mars Exploration Rover landing sites and analysis of natural slope stability. Mars soil mechanical properties were compared with thermal inertia measurements and a correlation is presented. Tests with rovers and equipment for Mars surface exploration and various past laboratory experiments have incorporated a number of different Mars soil simulants. Standard laboratory measurements were conducted to characterize the shear strength, grain size distribution, and densities of various Mars soil simulants. From these measurements, the ability of a given simulant to appropriately represent the mechanical properties of in situ Mars soils was judged. Specific simulants are recommended for certain regions of Mars.
Expression of angiogenic regulators and skeletal muscle capillarity in selectively bred high aerobic capacity mice

Selective breeding for high voluntary wheel running in untrained mice has resulted in a 'mini muscle' (MM) phenotype, which has increased skeletal muscle capillarity compared with muscles from non-selected control lines. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) are essential mediators of skeletal muscle angiogenesis; thus, we hypothesized that untrained MM mice with elevated muscle capillarity would have higher basal VEGF expression and lower basal TSP-1 expression, and potentially an exaggerated VEGF response to acute exercise. We examined skeletal muscle morphology and skeletal muscle protein expression of VEGF and TSP-1 in male mice from two (untrained) mouse lines selectively bred for high exercise capacity (MM and Non-MM), as well as one non-selected control mouse line (normal aerobic capacity). In the MM mice, gastrocnemius (GA) and plantaris (PLT) muscle capillarity (i.e. capillary-to-fibre ratio and capillary density) were greater compared with control mice (P < 0.05). In Non-MM mice, only muscle capillarity in PLT was greater than in control mice (P < 0.001). The soleus (SOL) showed no statistical differences in muscle capillarity among groups. In the GA, MM mice had 58% greater basal VEGF (P < 0.05), with no statistical difference in basal TSP-1 when compared with control mice. In the PLT, MM mice had a 79% increase in basal VEGF (P < 0.05) and a 39% lower basal TSP-1 (P < 0.05) compared with the control animals. Non-MM mice showed no difference in basal VEGF in either the GA or the PLT compared with control mice. In contrast, basal TSP-1 was elevated in the PLT, but not in the GA, of Non-MM mice compared with control mice. Neither VEGF nor TSP-1 was significantly different in SOL muscle among the three mouse lines. In response to acute exercise, MM mice displayed a 41 and 28% increase (P < 0.05) in VEGF in the GA and PLT, respectively, whereas neither control nor Non-MM mice showed a significant VEGF response to acute exercise. In contrast, TSP-1 levels were decreased by 90% in GA (P < 0.05) but increased by 50% in PLT (P < 0.05) in response to acute exercise in MM mice. The SOL showed no response to exercise for either VEGF or TSP-1 for any of the mouse lines. These data, with the exception of the Non-MM plantaris muscle, suggest that elevated capillarity is associated with altered balance between positive and negative angiogenic regulators (i.e. VEGF versus TSP-1, respectively). Based on the greater capillarity and significant VEGF response to exercise in MM mice, these data suggest that VEGF expression may, at least in part, be genetically determined.
Understanding Short Texts

Many applications handle short texts, and enableing machines to understand short texts is a big challenge. For example, in Ads selection, it is is difficult to evaluate the semantic similarity between a search query and an ad. Clearly, edit distance based string similarity does not work. Moreover, statistical methods that find latent topic models from text also fall short because ads and search queries are insufficient to provide enough statistical signals.
The variability, structure and energy conversion of the northern hemisphere traveling waves simulated in a Mars general circulation model

Abstract Investigations of the variability, structure and energetics of the m = 1−3 traveling waves in the northern hemisphere of Mars are conducted with the MarsWRF general circulation model. Using a simple, annually repeatable dust scenario, the model reproduces many general characteristics of the observed traveling waves. The simulated m = 1 and m = 3 traveling waves show large differences in terms of their structures and energetics. For each representative wave mode, the geopotential signature maximizes at a higher altitude than the temperature signature, and the wave energetics suggests a mixed baroclinic-barotropic nature. There is a large contrast in wave energetics between the near-surface and higher altitudes, as well as between the lower latitudes and higher latitudes at high altitudes. Both barotropic and baroclinic conversions can act as either sources or sinks of eddy kinetic energy. Band-pass filtered transient eddies exhibit strong zonal variations in eddy kinetic energy and various energy transfer terms. Transient eddies are mainly interacting with the time mean flow. However, there appear to be non-negligible wave-wave interactions associated with wave mode transitions. These interactions include those between traveling waves and thermal tides and those among traveling waves.
Antecedents and Consequences of Mastery Goals: Amalgamating Different Theoretical Orientations

Aims: Situating within the 2  2 model of achievement goals, we explored the antecedents (emotional and physiological states, academic buoyancy, task values) and consequences (academic engagement, intrinsic motivation) of both mastery-approach and masteryavoidance goals. Our hypothesized a priori model for testing entails direct and indirect effects, emphasizing in particular the central mechanism of both mastery goal types. Methodology: Secondary school students (N = 288) participated in the present study, and data were collected across four occasions. Results: Structural equation modeling yielded some notable findings, such as the negative effects of emotional and physiological states on mastery-approach and mastery-avoidance goals and the negative effect of mastery-avoidance goals on academic engagement. Task values and emotional and physiological states also influenced intrinsic motivation. Evidence from our investigation, overall, provided additional clarity into the characteristics of the two mastery goal types.
An ICF Reactor Concept Using 3He-AFLINT Targets

Alternate fuel configurations which enable tritium to be bred within the target itself could provide a significant advantage for ICF reactors. The present work considers a D-fueled target (termed the ''AFLINT'' concept) for this purpose. A target design is proposed that provides recycle of tritium for manufacture of subsequent targets in a ''closed cycle'' fashion. /sup 3/He is also recycled to obtain optimum burn conditions. For reactor studies, a Hg/sup +1/ heavy ion beam driver and a dual liquid-fall reactor chamber are considered. The chamber concept employs a thin inner liquid-fall to absorb the x-rays and target debris while a second outer fall serves to recondense the vaporized liquid, protect the first structural wall against neutron damage, and absorb the radial momentum transfer from the disintegrating inner fall. This design allows a compact geometry (i.e. high power density) while avoiding excessive pumping power requirements for the liquid metal falls.
Investigation of Human Intestinal Helminthic Diseases Situation in Fuyang Prefecture and Evaluation of the Diseases Control

Objective To study the prevalent status of the human intestinal parasitic disease in the rural population of Fuyang city and analyze the prevalent trend of the human intestinal helminthic disease in Fuyang prefecture.Results The prevalence of the human intestinal parasitic disease was serious during the period from 1985 to 1990 in Fuyang prefecture and the infection rate was 69.02%.In 2003 the infection rate was19.08% in the same region.The rate decreased by 72.36%.Conclusions to take integrative measure and increase the control strength was the very important method to control the prevalent of the human intestinal helminthic disease.
Coexpression of gamma and beta globin mRNA in cells containing a single human beta globin locus: results from studies using single-cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [published erratum appears in Blood 1994 Aug 15;84(4):1357]

We developed a method detecting globin gene expression in single cells using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. epsilon and gamma globin cDNAs are coamplified by an epsilon gamma primer set whereas gamma and beta globin cDNAs are coamplified by a gamma beta primer set and the individual globin cDNAs are distinguished by restriction enzyme digestion. Analysis of RNA preparations from human fetal liver, neonatal red blood cells (RBCs), or adult RBCs showed the expected mRNA species for each stage of human development. Analysis of single cells from a human erythroleukemia line coexpressing gamma and beta globin chains showed heterogeneity in gamma and beta mRNA contents. The method was subsequently used to test whether only one or more than one globin genes are expressed in cells that contain a single human beta globin locus. We found that about 50% of single cells from MEL x fetal erythroid cell hybrids containing a single human beta globin locus coexpressed gamma and beta globin mRNA. This finding is best explained by assuming that both gamma and beta genes are simultaneously transcribed from the same beta globin locus implying that the LCR can simultaneously interact with more than one globin gene promoter.
Remembering Partition: The evidence of the historian

Genocidal violence leaves but a broken historical trace. The surviving records of Partition are marked by their fragmentariness. They move, in fits and starts, through jerks and breaks and silences – incoherent, stuttering, even incomprehensible – between the poles of testimony and rumour. Testimony, Langer notes, is ‘a form of remembering’. Rumour, by contrast, is a form of doing – of making happen – by telling. The record of Partition clearly bears the mark of both. The importance of first-person testimony (for the judge, as for the historian) requires no underlining. ‘I was there …’; ‘I saw …’; ‘I can name …’; ‘I recognise …’; and (more than occasionally for the historian and the journalist, though perhaps less commonly for the judge) ‘I learnt from the most reliable witnesses …’ Testimony's method is that of particularising and individualising, specifying sites and bodies that carry the marks of particular events, making real in everyday, physical, nameable terms. Its difficulty in the limit case is that it needs to articulate an unparalleled, unthinkable history struggling to find a voice. How does the witness share ‘the particularity, the unshareability, and the incommunicability of pain in torture’? How can we speak for the dead, who are no longer present? How can we testify on behalf of the dead, if we are not dead? How can anyone who is not a Muselmann know what it is to be a Muselmann , as historians of the Holocaust have repeatedly said?