cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Connectivity in inhomogeneous random key graphs

We consider a new random key predistribution scheme for securing heterogeneous wireless sensor networks. Each of the n sensors in the network is classified into r classes according to a probability distribution μ = {μ 1 ,…μ r } Before deployment, a class-i sensor is assigned K i cryptographic keys that are selected uniformly at random from a pool of P keys. Once deployed, a pair of sensors can communicate securely if and only if they have a key in common. The communication topology of this network is modeled by an inhomogeneous random key graph. We establish scaling conditions on the parameters P and |K 1 ,…,K r } so that this graph is connected with high probability. The result is given in the form of a zero-one law with the number of sensors n growing unboundedly large. Our result is shown to complement and improve those given by Godehardt et al. and Zhao et al. for the same model, therein referred to as the general random intersection graph.
Toxoplasma growth in vitro is dependent on exogenous tyrosine and is independent of AAH2 even in tyrosine-limiting conditions.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite capable of infecting virtually all nucleated cell types in almost all warm-blooded animals. Interestingly, Toxoplasma has a relatively full repertoire of amino acid biosynthetic machinery, perhaps reflecting its broad host range and, consequently, its need to adapt to a wide array of amino acid resources. Although Toxoplasma has been shown to be auxotrophic for tryptophan and arginine, it has not previously been determined if Toxoplasma is also auxotrophic for tyrosine. Toxoplasma tachyzoites and bradyzoites were recently found to express an amino acid hydroxylase (AAH2) that is capable of synthesizing tyrosine and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) from phenylalanine; however, the role of AAH2 in tachyzoite and bradyzoite infection has not yet been identified. To determine if Toxoplasma requires exogenous tyrosine for growth, we performed growth assays on tachyzoites and bradyzoites in nutrient-rich media titrated with varying amounts of tyrosine. We found that Toxoplasma tachyzoites form significantly smaller plaques in tyrosine-limiting media in a dose-dependent manner and that this phenotype is not affected by deletion of TgAAH2. To determine if bradyzoites require exogenous tyrosine for growth, we induced differentiation from tachyzoites in vitro in tyrosine-limiting media and found that replication and vacuole number are all decreased in tyrosine-deficient media. Importantly, culture of confluent human fibroblasts in tyrosine-deficient media does not affect their viability, indicating that, at least in vitro, the need for tyrosine is at the level of Toxoplasma, not the host cell supporting its growth.
Innate lymphoid cells in atherosclerosis

The family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) consisting of NK cells, lymphoid tissue inducer cells and the 'helper'-like ILC subsets ILC1, ILC2 and ILC3 have been shown to have important roles in protection against microbes, regulation of inflammatory diseases and involved in allergic reactions. ILC1s produce IFN-γ upon stimulation with IL-12 and IL-18, ILC2s produce IL-5 and IL-13 responding to IL-33 and IL-25 while ILC3s produce IL-17 and IL-22 after stimulation with IL-23 or IL-1. Although few studies have directly investigated the role for ILCs in atherosclerosis, several studies have investigated transcription factors and cytokines shared by ILCs and T helper cells. In this review we summarize our current understanding of the role of ILC in atherosclerosis and discuss future directions.
A computational sandbox with human automata for exploring perceived egress safety in urban damage scenarios

ABSTRACTIn earthquakes and building collapse situations, volumes of people may need to move, suddenly, through spaces that have been destroyed and seem unfamiliar in configuration and appearance. Perception is significant in these cases, determining individual movement, collective egress, and phenomena in between. Alas, exploring how perception shapes critical egress is tricky because perception is both physical and cerebral in genesis and because critical scenarios are often hazardous. In this paper, we describe a computational sandbox for studying urban damage scenarios. The model is built as automata, specialized as human automata and rigid body automata, with interactivity provided by slipstreaming. Our sandbox supports parameterization of synthetic built settings and synthetic humans in fine detail for large interactive collections, allowing flexible analyses of damage scenarios and their determining processes, from micro-perspectives through to the macrocosm of the phenomena that might result. While...
Abstract 393: MCL-1 Promotes Survival and Influences Mitochondrial Dynamics in Cardiac Myocytes

The BCL-2 family proteins are important regulators of mitochondrial structure and integrity. MCL-1 is an anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein that is highly expressed in the myocardium compared to the othe...
An architecture, system engineering, and acquisition approach for space system software resiliency

Abstract Context Software-intensive space systems can harbor defects and vulnerabilities that may enable external adversaries or malicious insiders to disrupt or disable system functions, risking mission compromise or loss. Mitigating this risk demands a sustained focus on the security and resiliency of the system architecture including software, hardware, and other components. Objective In this paper we offer methodical approaches for improving space system resiliency through software architecture design, system engineering, and increased software security, thereby reducing the risk of latent software defects and vulnerabilities. Method We conducted a systematic review of existing architectural practices, standards, security and coding practices, various threats, defects, and vulnerabilities that impact space systems from hundreds of relevant publications and interviews of subject matter experts. We expanded on the system-level body of knowledge for resiliency and identified a new software architecture framework and acquisition methodology to improve the resiliency of space systems from a software perspective with an emphasis on the early phases of the systems engineering life cycle. This methodology involves seven steps: 1) Define technical resiliency requirements, 1a) Identify standards/policy for software resiliency, 2) Develop a request for proposal (RFP)/statement of work (SOW) for resilient space systems software, 3) Define software resiliency goals for space systems, 4) Establish software resiliency quality attributes, 5) Perform architectural tradeoffs and identify risks, 6) Conduct architecture assessments as part of the procurement process, and 7) Ascertain space system software architecture resiliency metrics. Results Data illustrates that software vulnerabilities can lead to opportunities for malicious cyber activities, which could degrade the space mission capability for its user community. Reducing the number of vulnerabilities by improving architecture and software system engineering practices can contribute to making space systems more resilient. Conclusion Since cyber-attacks [1] are enabled by shortfalls in software, robust software engineering practices and an architectural design are foundational to resiliency, which is a quality that allows the system to take a hit to a critical component and recover in a known, bounded, and generally acceptable period of time. To achieve software resiliency for space systems, acquirers and suppliers must identify relevant factors and systems engineering practices to apply across the life cycle, in software requirements analysis, architecture development, design, implementation, verification and validation, and maintenance phases.
An algorithm for partial functional differential equations modeling tumor growth

Abstract We introduce a parallel algorithm for the numerical simulation of the growth of human tumor cells in time-varying environments and their response to therapy. The behavior of the cell populations is described by a system of delay partial differential equations with time-dependent coefficients. We construct the new algorithm by developing a time-splitting technique in which the entire problem is split into independent tasks assigned to arbitrary numbers of processors chosen in light of available resources. We present the results of a series of numerical experiments, which confirm the efficiency of the algorithm and exhibit a substantial decrease in computational time thus providing an effective means for fast clinical, case-by-case applications of tumor invasion simulations and possible treatment.
Is Big Truly Bad? Aortic Dilation in Former National Football League Players.

Dilation of the thoracic aorta is the primary risk factor for aortic dissection,1 a highly morbid and mortal condition with in-hospital mortality over 25%.2 Causal and often synergistic mediators of aortic dilation include sex, age, body size, hypertension, and inherited/congenital conditions such as Marfan syndrome and bicuspid aortic valve. However, these risk factors fail to explain the full extent of aortic size variation, and patients often present with significant aortic dilation in the absence of a clear risk factor or cause. In this context, the question arises of whether aortic dilation might represent yet another example of cardiovascular remodeling in response to the hemodynamic forces associated with exercise and sport. The heart’s ability to adapt to exercise has long been a subject of clinical and scientific interest dating back to early reports of cardiomegaly among athletes in the late 19th century,3,4 followed by a broad contemporary literature documenting remodeling of the left ventricle (LV),5 right ventricle,6 and atria7 in response to sport-specific hemodynamic loads. Given these well-described changes, it has been hypothesized that the underlying exercise-induced hemodynamic factors, including increased stroke volume,8 high cardiac outputs,9 and elevated central aortic pressures,10 may also stimulate remodeling and dilation of the aorta. However, multiple large cross-sectional studies in active youthful athletes, including those at the extremes of body size such as professional basketball players, have failed to corroborate this by demonstrating that frank aortic dilation (typically beyond a cut point of 40 mm) is rare.11,12 Data comparing athletes to nonathletic controls are more limited, with the best estimates coming from a meta-analysis that reported an average difference of 3.2 mm.13 At present, clinical consensus is that athletic participation has minimal impact on aortic size and that the identification …
Immunotherapy of Myelodysplastic Syndrome: You Can Run, but You Can't Hide

The hypomethylating agent decitabine induces expression of the cancer/testis antigen NY-ESO-1 in the myeloid cells of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Patients with MDS treated with decitabine and an NY-ESO-1 vaccine developed NY-ESO-1-specific T-cell responses directed against their abnormal myeloid cells, raising hopes for combinatorial immunotherapy of this disease. Clin Cancer Res; 24(5); 991-3. ©2017 AACRSee related article by Griffiths et al., p. 1019.
Crash safety concerns for out-of-position occupant postures: A look toward safety in highly automated vehicles.

Objective: Highly automated vehicle occupants will all be passengers and may be free to ride while in postures for which existing occupant safety systems such as seat belts and airbags were not ori...
Environmental Performance and Vulnerability to Climate Change: A Case Study of India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan

Relatively little scholarly work has focused on a comparative evaluation of South Asian countries’ environmental performance (EP) in addressing issues of vulnerability to climate change. It is an accepted fact that climate change induced problems in South Asia have been increasing over many years, but their effects have largely been blamed on extreme poverty and uncontrolled population growth. Scholarly works and government reports indicate that the countries are both individually and collectively aware of the severity of climate change and have taken some initiative aimed at adaptation and mitigation. However, it is still unknown how effective those initiatives are and how they are being implemented. This research broadly examines these countries’ EP by modelling a comparative matrix in the global as well as in the regional context. The author is interested in how India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan actually engage in addressing environmental severity caused by climate change. This research utilises (plot) various years’ data from the public domain, e.g. Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI); Environmental Performance Index (EPI). EP is presented in the framework of comparative scores on (1) environmental burden of disease; (2) water resources for human health; (3) air quality for human health; (4) air quality for ecosystems; (5) water resources for ecosystems; (6) biodiversity and habitat; (7) forestry; (8) fisheries; (9) agriculture; and (10) climate change respectively. The specific findings of this research will reflect on the efforts of the respective countries and also provide an opportunity to evaluate the cause of success or failure.
Finite Conductor Rings with Zero Divisors

The finite conductor property of a domain R— that is the finite generation of the conductor ideals (I: J) for principal ideals I and J of R, came into prominence with the publication of McAdam’s work [35]. The definition of a finite conductor domain appears in an early unpublished version of McAdam’s manuscript, but it appears in print for the first time in [11]. The notion embodies, in its various aspects, both factoriality properties and finiteness conditions. Indeed, the class of domains where (I: J) is always principal for any two principal ideals I and J, is precisely that of Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) domains, while the requirement that each such (I: J) be finitely generated is a necessary condition for the coherence of a domain. For that reason the finite conductor property makes frequent, explicit or implicit, appearance in the literature in two kinds of, occasionally intermingling, investigations: those involving factoriality and those concerned with finiteness, coherent-like conditions, of domains. Regarding investigations involving factoriality: GCD domains were investigated in their own right for a variety of structural properties, as an aspect of properties of various ring constructions, and as a source of generalizations to other classes of rings. Articles [2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 31, 32, 44, 50] provide just a partial list of references on the subject.
A production system for learning plans from an expert

This paper describes a method for constructing expert systems in which control information is automatically built from the actions of an expert trainer. This control information consists of sequencing and ooa1 information which is extracted from the trainer by a 'planning expert', and generalized by a 'generalization expert'. A set of extensions to the 0PS5 system is described which facilitates the implementation of this approach with in 0PS5. These extensions permit the use of meta productions to effect the conflict resolution procedure; the control information is expressed as a set of such meta productions. Preliminary experiments with the system are described.
Dose dependent actions of LCL521 on acid ceramidase and key sphingolipid metabolites.

Abstract The function of acid ceramidase (ACDase), whose congenital deficiency leads to Farber disease, has been recognized to be vital to tumor cell biology, and inhibition of its activity may be beneficial in cancer therapy. Therefore, manipulation of the activity of this enzyme may have significant effect, especially on cancer cells. LCL521, Di-DMG-B13, is a lysosomotropic inhibitor of ACDase. Here we define complexities in the actions of LCL521 on ACDase. Systematic studies in MCF7 cells showed dose and time divergent action of LCL521 on ACDase protein expression and sphingolipid levels. Low dose of LCL521 (1 µM) effectively inhibited ACDase in cells, but the effects were transient. A higher dose of LCL521 (10 µM) caused a profound decrease of sphingosine and increase of ceramide, but additionally affected the processing and regeneration of the ACDase protein, with biphasic and reversible effects on the expression of ACDase, which paralleled the long term changes of cellular sphingosine and ceramide. Finally, the higher concentrations of LCL521 also inhibited Dihydroceramide desaturase (DES-1). In summary, LCL521 exhibits significant effects on ACDase in a dose and time dependent manner, but dose range and treatment time need to be paid attention to specify its future exploration on ACDase targeted cancer treatment.
State-Space Modeling and Control of the Modular Multilevel Clamped Capacitor Converter

The Modular Multilevel Clamped Capacitor Converter (MMC3) is an attractive switched-capacitor converter topology with desired features including high voltage conversion ratio, high power density and modularity. However, its application is hindered because of the lack of output voltage regulation. This paper proposes a closed-loop voltage control strategy for the MMC3. The proposed strategy relies on the impact of Pulse Dropping Technique (PDT) on the MMC3 conversion ratio to regulate the output voltage. State-space small signal models and transfer functions are derived for both the open-loop MMC3 and the MMC3 with the proposed control strategy. The developed model and proposed control strategy are validated by simulation and experimental studies.
Fixed bed column evaluation of phosphate adsorption and recovery from aqueous solutions using recycled steel byproducts.

Abstract Excessive phosphorus loading from anthropogenic sources is a major cause of eutrophication of natural waters. Phosphorus is also a non-renewable natural resource that cannot be substituted with other sources. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using recycled steel byproducts to remove and recover phosphate from aqueous solutions. Laboratory fixed bed column experiments were conducted with recycled steel chips of different sizes to evaluate phosphate adsorption characteristics and phosphate recovery efficiencies using alkaline solutions. The results showed that phosphate adsorption onto steel chip filters was characterized by an initial fast breakthrough followed by a stable removal phase. The cumulative phosphate adsorption capacities of the steel chips were 8.43–10.4 mg P/g following 4800 empty bed volumes with a 3 min contact time and an initial concentration of 10 mg P/L. The phosphate adsorption onto steel chips was favored at low flow rates, low pH values, and low organic carbon concentrations. Sodium hydroxide solutions effectively desorbed phosphate from the steel chips. The total phosphate desorption percentages were 58.9%, 64.2%, and 83.4% after 120 empty bed volumes using 0.05 M, 0.10 M, and 0.20 M NaOH solutions, respectively. Steel chips also exhibited high phosphate adsorption and desorption capacities when treating agricultural subsurface drainage water, municipal wastewater, and stormwater runoff. Overall, the results of this study suggest that recycled steel byproducts are efficient and promising low-cost phosphate capturing materials for sustainable phosphorus management.
Assessment of Problem-Solving Skills, 2

Techniques of assessing simultaneously all components of the problem-solving process are described and illustrated. The relative merits of each are examined. Methods of summarizing, scoring, and reporting performance on such exercises are considered and specific examples are given.
Hepatitis C Screening in an Underserved U.S. Cohort of Reproductive Age Women.

The opioid epidemic has recently increased the rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among young women. We therefore aimed to characterize the cascade of HCV care in a cohort of underserved women of reproductive age. Medical records of 19,121 women between the ages of 15 and 44 years, receiving primary care in the San Francisco safety-net health care system, were reviewed. Cohort characteristics were as follows: median age 33 years (interquartile range 26-38), 18% white (12% black, 46% Latina, 22% Asian, 2% other race), 1.3% hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, and 0.9% human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection. HCV antibody (HCVAb) testing occurred in 38.7% (n = 7,406), of whom 2.8% (n = 206) were HCVAb-positive and 2.4% (n = 177) had a detectable HCV viral load. Of the 5% (n = 1,017) with a history of pregnancy, 61% (n = 615) had HCVAb testing (2.6% were positive). On multivariable analysis, HBsAg testing (odds ratio [OR] 8.25 [95% confidence interval (CI)] 6.80-10.01]; P 60%) underserved women of reproductive age were not tested for HCV. Moreover, women of Latina and Asian race were less likely to receive HCV screening. Given the known high HCV risk in the underserved population, targeted interventions, especially for racial minority women of reproductive age, are needed to enhance HCV screening in those at risk.
Research Computing Desktops: Demystifying research computing for non-Linux users

Many members of the current generation of students and researchers are accustomed to intuitive computing devices and never had to learn how to use command-line based systems, which comprise the majority of high-performance computing environments in use. In the 2013-14 time frame, both Indiana University and Purdue university separately launched virtual desktop front-ends for their high performance computing clusters with the aim of offering an easier on-ramp to new users. In the last five years we iterated on and refined these approaches, and we now have over two thousand annual active users combined. Over 75% of those users say that the desktop services are either moderately or extremely important for their ability to use HPC resources. In this paper, we share our experience bootstrapping this new service framework, bringing in the end-users, dealing with runaway success, and making this service a sustainable offering. This paper offers a comprehensive picture of the driving motivations for desktops at each institution, reasons users like desktops, and ways of getting started.
Ocular features of Townes-Brocks syndrome

Townes-Brocks syndrome (TBS) is a rare genetic syndrome associated with heterozygous mutations in SALL1 and characterized by abnormalities of the anus, ear, and thumb. Ophthalmic findings have been rarely reported and include congenital cataract, microphthalmia, optic nerve atrophy, coloboma, epibulbar dermoid, and dysinnervation patterns, such as Duane syndrome and gustatory lacrimation. We report a case of genetically confirmed TBS showing a spectrum of ocular anomalous innervations, including bilateral type 1 Duane syndrome and Mobius sequence, left-sided Marcus Gunn jaw winking, left eye gustatory lacrimation, and lack of emotional tearing bilaterally. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain and orbit showed absence of the abducens nerve bilaterally and of the left facial nerve.
Understanding Naloxone Uptake from an Emergency Department Distribution Program Using a Low-Energy Bluetooth Real-time Location System.

Emergency department (ED)–based naloxone distribution programs are a widespread harm reduction strategy. However, data describing the community penetrance of naloxone distributed from these programs are lacking. This study gauges acceptance of naloxone use and monitoring technology among people who use drugs (PWUD), and explores the use of real-time location systems (RTLS) in monitoring naloxone movements. A prospective observational study was conducted on a convenience sample of individuals (N = 30) presenting to a tertiary-care academic medical center ED for an opioid-related complaint. A naloxone kit equipped with a low-energy Bluetooth (BLE) tracking system was employed to detect movement of naloxone off the hospital campus as a proxy for community penetrance, followed by a qualitative interview to gauge participant acceptance of naloxone use and monitoring technology. Detection of BLE signals verified transit of 24 distributed naloxone kits off our hospital campus. Three participants whose BLE signals were not captured reported taking their kits with them following discharge, suggesting technological errors occurred; another three participants were lost to follow-up. Qualitative interviews demonstrated that participants accepted ED-based naloxone distribution programs and passive tracking technologies, but revealed concerns regarding hypothetical continuous monitoring systems and problematic interactions with first responders and law enforcement personnel. Based on acquired BLE signals, 80% of dispensed naloxone kits left the hospital campus. Use of RTLS to passively geolocate naloxone rescue kits is feasible, but detection can be adversely affected by technological errors. PWUD are amenable to transient monitoring technologies but identified barriers to implementation.
Resistance to state transitions in responsiveness is differentially modulated by different volatile anaesthetics in male mice

Abstract Background Recent studies point to a fundamental distinction between population-based and individual-based anaesthetic pharmacology. At the population level, anaesthetic potency is defined as the relationship between drug concentration and the likelihood of response to a stimulus. At the individual level, even when the anaesthetic concentration is held constant, fluctuations between the responsive and unresponsive states are observed. Notably, these spontaneous fluctuations exhibit resistance to state transitions Rst. Therefore, the response probability in each individual depends not just upon the drug concentration, but also upon responses to previous stimuli. Here, we hypothesise that Rst is distinct from drug potency and is differentially modulated by different anaesthetics. Methods Adult (14–24 weeks old) C57BL/6J male mice (n=60) were subjected to repeated righting reflex (RR) assays at equipotent steady-state concentrations of isoflurane (0.6 vol%), sevoflurane (1.0 vol%), and halothane (0.4 vol%). Results Fluctuations in RR were observed for all tested anaesthetics. Analysis of these fluctuations revealed that Rst was differentially modulated by different anaesthetics (F[2, 56.01]=49.59; P Conclusions Whilst equipotent doses of distinct anaesthetics produce comparable population response probabilities, they engage dramatically different dynamics in each individual animal. This manifests as a differential aggregate propensity to exhibit state transitions. Thus, resistance to state transitions is a fundamentally distinct, novel measure of individualised anaesthetic pharmacology.
Memory applications from 2D materials

As existing silicon-based memory technologies are reaching their fundamental limit, emerging memory alternatives, such as resistive random‐access memories (RRAMs), magnetic random‐access memories, and ferroelectric random‐access memories, are intensively investigated with the aim of improving capacity, write/read speed, efficiency, and implementing unconventional computing for data-centric applications. Recent studies have exploited the nature of 2-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) to integrate highly disparate materials with unique physical and chemical properties without the constraint of lattice matching and have demonstrated novel memory devices (such as resistive and magnetic) with unprecedented characteristics or unique functionalities desired in emerging memory technologies. This article primarily provides an overview of the progress made, advantages, and challenges toward practical application of 2DLM-based memory units. In this regard, novel electronic properties of these 2DLMs allow designing not only the memory unit but also selectors and CMOS components essential for RRAM technology. Here, we also experimentally demonstrate a proof-of-concept heterostructure consisting of 2DLMs that fulfill the function of a memory unit (using MoTe2) and selector (using WSe2) with desired characteristics for RRAM integration. This demonstration underscores the potential of 2DLMs and their heterostructure toward the realization of future memory technologies.
Evaluation of the passivity limits in austenitic stainless steel exposed to H2S-containing brines using point defect model analysis

This study evaluates the effects of temperature, H2S, and Cl− concentration on the onset of localized corrosion, in UNS S31603 stainless steel by evaluating the changes in the behavior of the passi...
Dynamics of the Bingham Canyon Mine landslides from seismic signal analysis

Joint interpretation of long- and short-period seismic signals generated by landslides sheds light on the dynamics of slope failure, providing constraints on landslide initiation and termination and on the main phases of acceleration and deceleration. We carry out a combined analysis of the seismic signals generated by two massive landslides that struck the Bingham Canyon Mine pit on 10 April 2013. Inversion of the long-period waveforms yields time series for the bulk landslide forces and momenta, from which we deduce runout trajectories consistent with the deposit morphology. Comparing these time series with the short-period seismic data, we are able to infer when and where major changes take place in landslide momentum along the runout path. This combined analysis points to a progressive fracturing of the masses during acceleration indicates that deceleration starts the moment they reach the pit floor and suggests that the bulk movement is stopped by a topographic barrier.
Seasonal, sexual, and quality related variation in retinal carotenoid accumulation in the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

Summary 1. Studies of visual ecology generally focus on the tuning of the eye to the spectral environment. However, the environment may also shape vision if the availability of nutrients or other extrinsic stressors impact eye structure or function. 2. Carotenoids are diet-derived pigments that accumulate in the retinas of birds, where they provide photoprotection and tune colour vision. In domesticated species, carotenoid accumulation in retina is dependent on dietary intake, but little is known about the variability in or control of these pigments in the eyes of wild animals. 3. Carotenoids are also deposited in the integument of many animals, where they generate colourful sexually selected displays that communicate information about individual health and nutrition. We hypothesize that retinal carotenoid accumulation is subject to the same health and nutritional constraints as the use of carotenoids in colour signals. 4. As a first test of this hypothesis, we examined retinal carotenoid accumulation in relation to season, sex, body condition, circulating plasma carotenoid concentrations, and plumage colouration in a free ranging population of house finches ( Carpodacus mexicanus ) ‐ a model species for studies of carotenoid ecology. 5. Retinal carotenoid accumulation varied considerably among individuals and differed significantly among seasons, with the highest levels observed in late fall and winter. Body condition and plasma zeaxanthin levels were significantly positively correlated with retinal carotenoid accumulation, but retinal carotenoid concentrations did not differ between the sexes. Plumage redness covaried positively with retinal carotenoid concentration as well, though this relationship was no longer significant when accounting for seasonal variation. 6. Our results, although correlational, do suggest that retinal carotenoid accumulation is a variable trait that may be influenced by environmental and physiological conditions, raising the intriguing possibility that plumage colouration and colour vision could be linked through a common biochemical mechanism.
Working in the post-genomic C. elegans world.

A C. elegans researcher initiating a study today has a choice of forward and reverse genetic approaches. These approaches synergize superbly, and genome sequence makes both much easier As more microarray data emerges, global clustering of genes based upon their coregulation will be more informative. We will increasingly rely on databases to organize information about each organism, and among organisms. We will soon be able to search in databases, for example, for genes that have some desired property and that are coregulated with a gene encoding a second type of protein. Combining the data from a multitude of large and small scale projects, we will be able to view networks from the vantage of a gene, seeing its connections based on genetic interactions, coregulation and physical interaction of gene products, and the cells in which it expressed. Robust methods of determining the mRNAs expressed in specific single cells will likely come into practice, and there will be an immense data set of gene expression at the level of single cells. Proteomic approaches will likewise increase. Although such approaches are now hindered by the difficulty of obtaining pure tissue samples from C. elegans, such problems might be helped by genetic tricks, e.g., strains lacking a particular cell type can be engineered. Proteomic approaches require good gene structures, and these will improve with continued experiment, such as investigations of alternative splicing, RNA editing, and cDNA and genomic sequences from other worms. Analysis of noncoding regions such as those involved in sex determination, chromosome dynamics, and transcriptional regulation depend on having the genome sequence in hands, and studies of these regions will accelerate. The combination of all these approaches will continue to exploit the strengths of C. elegans: the ability to tie its development, physiology, behavior, and evolution to individual, identified cells in a reproducible manner, the powerful genetics, etc.. Having a full genome sequence profoundly affects the way we think about and perform our experiments, but it does not happen overnight. A richness of material stimulates human creativity as much as does scarcity; the existence of genomic sequence and associated information of gene function, expression, regulation and interaction will undoubtedly inspire new ways of using this material to understand biological systems.Blaxter 1998xBlaxter, M. Science. 1998; 282: 2041–2046Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (212)See all References, The elegans Sequencing Consortium 1998xThe, C and elegans Sequencing Consortium. Science. 1998; 282: 2012–2018Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (2621)See all References
Pion form factor

We give the normalized leading asymptotic Q2 dependence of the pion form factor in quantum chromodynamics: Fπ(Q2)→Q2→±∞-2fπ2/bQ2ln|Q2|, where fπ is the pion decay constant and b=(11-2/3Nf)/16π2. Up to non-leading-logarithmic corrections, this is equivalent to Fπ(Q2)→Q2→±∞8παs(Q2)fπ2/(-Q2). These results are obtained by solving the light-cone pion Bethe-Salpeter equation in quantum chromodynamics to leading-logarithmic accuracy.
A spectrographic method for the determination of phosphorus in steels

Abstract A photographic procedure has been developed for the determination of phosphorus within the range 0.003 to 0.061 per cent in steels. The 2149.11 A phosphorus line is recorded on Ilford Q-2 plates requiring no special processing. The emulsion is calibrated by means of iron lines between 2100 A and 2175 A. Precision of the method is sufficient to be useful for routine analysis.
Use of Quantitative Real-Time PCR To Study the Kinetics of Extracellular DNA Released from Candida albicans, with Implications for Diagnosis of Invasive Candidiasis

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is considered one of the most sensitive methods to detect low levels of DNA from pathogens in clinical samples. To improve the design of qPCR for the detection of deeply invasive candidiasis, we sought to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the kinetics of DNA released from Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo. We developed a C. albicans-specific assay targeting the rRNA gene complex and studied the kinetics of DNA released from C. albicans alone, in the presence of human blood monocytes (H-MNCs), and in the bloodstream of rabbits with experimental disseminated candidiasis. The analytical qPCR assay was highly specific and sensitive (10 fg). Cells of C. albicans incubated in Hanks balanced salt solution (±10% bovine serum albumin [BSA]) or RPMI (±10% BSA) showed a significant release of DNA at T equal to 24 h compared to T equal to 0 h (P ≤ 0.01). C. albicans incubated with H-MNCs exhibited a greater release of DNA than C. albicans cells alone over 24 h (P = 0.0001). Rabbits with disseminated candidiasis showed a steady increase of detectable DNA levels in plasma as disease progressed. Plasma cultures showed minimal growth of C. albicans, demonstrating that DNA extracted from plasma reflected fungal cell-free DNA. In summary, these studies of the kinetics of DNA release by C. albicans collectively demonstrate that cell-free fungal DNA is released into the bloodstream of hosts with disseminated candidiasis, that phagocytic cells may play an active role in increasing this release over time, and that plasma is a suitable blood fraction for the detection of C. albicans DNA.
Development of Reactions of 6- and 5-Substituted 1,3-Dimethyluracils with Dimethylsulfoxonium Methylide

6-Chloro-1,3-dimethyluracil (1) reacts with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide (3, 2 equiv) to give sulfoxonium ylide 8 (51%). The structure of 8 is established spectroscopically and by its reactions with various electrophiles and electron-deficient olefins. Thus, 8 is converted by HCl to sulfoxonium chloride 7, which then yields the 6-(chloromethyl)uracil 17 by heating in acetonitrile. Ylide 8 undergoes deuterium exchange at the 5-position, at its methine carbon, and into its methyl groups attached to sulfur. Reaction of 8 with benzoyl chloride gives the highly substituted ylide 19 or the nucleophilic substitution products 17 and 18 depending on reaction conditions. Treatment of 8 with electron-deficient olefins yields 6-cyclopropyluracils 20−31. Many of the cyclopropyluracils have been converted to trans-1-(1,3-dimethyluracilyl)-2-vinylcyclopropanes and cycloheptenyluracils. Reactions of 5-substituted uracils 2 (Z = SOPh and SeOPh) with ylide 3 have been developed. 5-(Phenylsulfinyl)uracil 48 yields cyclothy...
Semiparametric regression models and sensitivity analysis of longitudinal data with non-random dropouts

We propose a family of regression models to adjust for nonrandom dropouts in the analysis of longitudinal outcomes with fully observed covariates. The approach conceptually focuses on generalized linear models with random effects. A novel formulation of a shared random effects model is presented and shown to provide a dropout selection parameter with a meaningful interpretation. The proposed semiparametric and parametric models are made part of a sensitivity analysis to delineate the range of inferences consistent with observed data. Concerns about model identifiability are addressed by fixing some model parameters to construct functional estimators that are used as the basis of a global sensitivity test for parameter contrasts. Our simulation studies demonstrate a large reduction of bias for the semiparametric model relatively to the parametric model at times where the dropout rate is high or the dropout model is misspecified. The methodology's practical utility is illustrated in a data analysis.
Realization of discrete-time internally bilinear systems

From the external descriptions algorithms are obtained for the construction of discrete-time, internally bilinear state-space models with unknown initial states. Both the homogeneous and the inhomogeneous bilinear systems are treated. In both cases explicit existence criteria for minimal realization as well as the state space isomorphism theorems are given. One unusual result is that for a given input/output map there exist minimal realizations which are not equivalent under basis transformations. In the special case of zero initial state the algorithm can be reduced to the one previously obtained by Isidori, and if the input-output map is linear, the algorithm reduces to that given by Ho and Kalman for linear systems. Finally, the abstract realization theory is given. We use the affine tensor product as a basic tool to describe both homogeneous and inhomogeneous bilinear systems. The state space is constructed via Nerode equivalence. This forms a theoretical basis for the realization algorithms obtained in this paper.
Prevention of collagen crosslinking increases form-deprivation myopia in tree shrew

To examine whether collagen crosslinking is important for the regulation of refractive development, tree shrews were treated with agents that block collagen crosslinking [beta-aminoproprionitrile (beta-APN), or D-penicillamine (DPA)] and underwent monocular deprivation (MD) of form vision by eyelid closure to induce myopia. MD began on the first day of visual exposure and continued for 75 days. After 15-20 days of visual exposure, daily intraperitoneal injections of beta-APN (beta-APN MD animals, n = 5) or DPA (DPA MD animals, n = 5) were administered for 17-21 days. beta-APN open animals (n = 5) received the same injection schedule, but both eyes remained open. Saline MD animals (n = 5) received i.p. saline and MD. At 75 days of visual exposure, the MD eyes of beta-APN treated tree shrews were highly myopic (-23.6 +/- 3.3 D) in comparison to their open control eyes. This was markedly greater than the difference in saline MD animals (-11.0 +/- 0.8 D). DPA MD animals showed a relative myopia of -14.3 +/- 2.2 D. The structural correlate of the myopia, elongation of the vitreous chamber in the deprived eyes relative to the control eyes, was significantly greater in the beta-APN MD animals 0.53 +/- 0.03 mm, which was not significantly different from the saline MD group. Thinning of the posterior sclera, but not the cornea, was observed in the deprived eyes of beta-APN treated tree shrews, along with a tessellated appearance to the fundus. The eyes of the beta-APN open animals showed no significant differences from normal. Beta-APN MD and DPA MD treated chickens did not develop greater myopia or vitreous chamber elongation than standard MD chickens. The selective effect of the lathyritic agents on the deprived eyes in tree shrew suggests that collagen crosslinking interacts, in the mammalian sclera, with a retinally-derived signal to regulate the elongation of the eye in myopia.
Development and validation of a resistance and virulence gene microarray targeting Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica

A microarray was developed to simultaneously screen Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica for multiple genetic traits. The final array included 203 60-mer oligonucleotide probes, including 117 for resistance genes, 16 for virulence genes, 25 for replicon markers, and 45 other markers. Validity of the array was tested by assessing inter-laboratory agreement among four collaborating groups using a blinded study design. Internal validation indicated that the assay was reliable (area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve=0.97). Inter-laboratory agreement, however, was poor when estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient, which ranged from 0.27 (95% confidence interval 0.24, 0.29) to 0.29 (0.23, 0.34). These findings suggest that extensive testing and procedure standardization will be needed before bacterial genotyping arrays can be readily shared between laboratories.
Sickle Cell Disease and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a common condition among African Americans. It is associated with severe complications including severe pain in the chest, back, abdomen, or extremities. Individuals with SCD also have a reduced life span. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition increasingly being recognized. In this article we discuss, to our knowledge, the first case of a patient with comorbid sickle cell disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Influence of triglyceride composition on crystallization kinetics of model emulsions

Abstract Melt crystallization of trimyristin was investigated in colloidal systems, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Alterations in crystallization behavior were produced by adding various percentages of trilaurin to the emulsion. Crystallization rates were studied as a function of time in fat/water emulsions (40:60, v/v) containing 0·5% Tween 80 and 0·2% xanthan gum to prevent creaming. Using MRI, oil weighted images followed crystallization in the trimyristin emulsions containing 0, 10 and 20% (volume per oil phase volume) of trilaurin, respectively. Localized spectroscopy, using a stimulated echo sequence, was used to determine the crystallization at different locations in (40:60) trimyristin emulsion samples. The addition of trilaurin to the trimyristin emulsion changed the crystallization pattern. Spectra recorded from the top, center and bottom showed a relatively abrupt crystallization pattern in the (40:60) trimyristin emulsion, whereas the trilaurin containing emulsions exhibited a longer time frame for crystallization. Phase behavior was also assessed using DSC. Nucleation and subsequent crystallization in bulk or within the droplets in the emulsions were detected by isothermal heat evolution. The isothermal DSC results paralleled results obtained with MRI. The results suggested that the crystallization pattern was altered as a function of the triglyceride composition of the oil phase.
Making Ethnic Ways: Communities and Their Transformations in Taita, Kenya, 1800-1950

Making Ethnic Ways: Communities and Their Transformations in Taita, Kenya, 1800-1950. Bill Bravman. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1998. xiv. 283 pp., illustrations, appendixes, bibliography, index.
Packed Powder Electrodes for Characterizing the Reactivity of Granular Iron in Borate Solutions

Electrochemical aspects of the corrosion of iron metal have been studied using polished disk, wire, and iron coupon electrodes, but these model systems do not represent many characteristics of the granular iron used in environmental remediation applications. To address this issue, we have modified a rotating disk electrode with a cavity that accommodates a wide range of iron powders. By comparison with conventional Fe 0 and Pt° disk electrodes, we found that our powder disk electrodes (PDEs) packed with unpretreated, <147 μm granular iron give anodic polarization curves that are unaffected by the underlying disk material and are consistent with a large electroactive surface area of iron that is initially coated with an air-formed passive film. Thus, we believe this electrode design will allow us to begin electrochemical studies of the reduction of aqueous environmental contaminants by relevant iron powders. In preparation for this, we report here on some of the experimental factors that effect response of an iron PDE in pH 8.4 borate buffer. Cavity size and rotation rate have synergistic effects that suggest that most of the iron powder is electroactive, hydrogen evolution in the active region is kinetically limited, and iron dissolution in the active region is affected by mass transport of solutes out of the cavity pore space and by the formation of a passivating film.