cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Elegance Proof? Structuralism and African History

Despite its very visible career in anthropology and folklore, structuralism has been little used by historians of precolonial Africa. Only Ronald Atkinson has applied the method of Levi-Strauss in the Edmund Leach variant, although a number of historians have attempted to elucidate symbolic meanings by other means. Rather surprisingly as well, given the two decades or so that have elapsed since Levi-Strauss developed its axioms and analysis, no historian of Africa has ventured to discuss the validity of structuralism for coping with the interpretation of myths of origin or other oral traditions, except in passing. The topic has surfaced only here and there in the never-ending debate about traditions as expressions of the present, or of the past, or of both. Given the influence of structuralism elsewhere, though, it is due time that the approach be discussed for its own sake.The reticence to do so became especially incongruous when a senior structuralist, Luc de Heusch, began to cover ground that historians had recently trod. In his Le roi ivre he discussed at length myths in the kingdoms of southeastern Zaire and adjacent areas. This did prompt publication of two articles about his Luba and Lunda interpretations, but no general assessment of this work in toto. Jeffrey Hoover faulted de Heusch's Lunda material but still praised his “provocative ideas” and the method, “which bore some good fruit,” while Thomas Reefe prefaced his critique of Luba material by calling the book “stimulating” and sidestepped the issue by noting that “no matter what the final assessment of this book will be by historians…” Others were equally bland in their references to this work, while still refuting de Heusch on specifics. Everyone felt, it seems, that a general assessment was beyond or outside their competence. Yet a general critique would have been of use for de Heusch is one of the oldest and most experienced structuralists in anthropology, perhaps the first disciple of Levi-Strauss. Trained in Paris, he imbibed the approaches of the Griaule school, the protostructuralism of Georges Dumezil, and the early teaching of the master himself. Of all structuralists he remains the most faithful to the method of Levi-Strauss.
Fibrin A-knob caught in the act

Comment on Litvinov et al, page [2944][1] The long-known key bond between 2 fibrin molecules that is critical to formation of a physiologic clot was captured in the act and quantified by Litvinov and colleagues in this issue of Blood. It is long known that release of fibrinopeptide A (FpA) is
The receptor-hypothesis of induction of gene-controlled adaptive enzymes☆

Abstract The receptor-hypothesis of the induction of gene-controlled adaptive enzymes proposes that the locus of a gene comprises a protein receptor and a DNA structural component. The structural component carries a segment of RNA which functions as messenger RNA. When certain inducers make contact with the receptor, they initiate an excitation which releases the messenger RNA from the structural component. The protein-component of the gene is hereditary, in the sense that the conformation, or coiling, of the protein is determined by the coiling of the receptor already at the locus, and on this hypothesis, mutations may occur either in the structural component or in the receptor. A critique of the operon-hypothesis is presented together with experimental results supporting the receptor-hypothesis.
IL-4 inhibits vasoactive intestinal peptide production by macrophages

In schistosomiasis, eggs induce granulomas that have a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoregulatory circuit. This study explored the regulation of VIP production at sites of inflammation. S...
Precision interferometer calibration technique for wavelength measurements: iodine wavelengths at 633 nm and Hα

We describe a precision interferometer calibration technique useful for the measurement of the wavelength of atomic and molecular transitions with megahertz accuracy. Using this technique, the wavenumber of the ith hyperfine component of the 127I2 B-X R(73) 5-5 transition, which falls within the Doppler width of the hydrogen Balmer-α line, has been determined to be 15233.367390(42) cm−1.
Quality-controlled view interpolation for multiview video

Multiview video coding systems are characterized by their high encoding complexity. In this paper, we propose to reduce the encoding complexity by omitting frames at the encoder in a pattern that keeps the ability to reconstruct an interpolated version of each omitted frame, by motion-compensated and inter-view interpolation. Since our goal is maintaining good visual quality, we propose a method to estimate the quality of the interpolated frames at the decoder by transmitting a small amount of error control information in lieu of an omitted frame. This information is obtained from a projection of the frame on a suitable low-dimensional basis. The projection coefficients can be compressed by conventional techniques or, more efficiently, by Slepian-Wolf coding. Based on the quality estimate, the decoder can adaptively detect the interpolation technique that results in better visual quality. Moreover, it can suppress occasional frames for which interpolation yields noticeable artifacts. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach eliminates most interpolation artifacts and achieves much better visual quality at a very small increase in bit-rate.
Extrapolating H-atom transfer rate constants via thermochemical kinetics: The effect of tunneling

One of the important applications of chemical kinetics is the attempt to understand complex processes through kinetic modeling. This process frequently requires that rate constants be obtained by extrapolation of data either to higher or lower temperatures than the experimental, or by estimation or correlation with such data. Thermochemical kinetics combined with conventional transition state theory forms a framework from which this may be done. However, rate data for H transfer reactions may have a significant contribution from tunneling. In this work, a one dimensional approach to tunneling, consistent with conventional transition state theory, is taken to show how tunneling affects the extrapolation and correlation of rate constants in thermochemical kinetics. It is concluded that extrapolation and correlation are both quite good even when tunneling comprises 80% of the reaction. However, this is not without limitations, which are discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Management of primary operable breast cancer. I. Evaluation of the primary lesion.

As treatments other than radical mastectomy become available and are refined knowledge of the particular cancer becomes increasingly important in selecting the most rational form of therapy. In the future 2 important indications may be identification of the patients virus type and evaluation of the patients immunologic reactivity.
Contrast and resolution from biological objects examined in the electron microscope with particular reference to negatively stained specimens

SUMMARY For the practical biologist applying electron microscopy to the study of biological macromolecules, there are serious problems in obtaining high resolution images showing detail below 2.5–3.0 nm. The limitation in resolution from biological specimens can be attributed to support film thickness and granularity, specimen preparation, irradiation damage, focusing effects and possible contamination in the electron beam. Specimens possessing repeating features can be analysed and averaged by optical diffraction and image reconstruction methods which offer some improvement to the signal to noise ratio. The above problems, with particular reference to irradiation damage, still impose the basic limitation for high resolution applications. When considered together they offer formidable difficulties in practical terms in attempting to make full use of the potential resolving power of modern electron microscopes.
Phthalocyanine‐crosslinked polyvinylphthalic acid

Copper phthalocyanine-crosslinked poly-4-vinylphthalic acid was prepared with the expectation that some increased thermal stability could be achieved with these thermally stable linkages. Thermal decomposition in air occurs at about 310°C. The crosslinked polymer proved to be less stable than the starting material, poly(4-vinylphthalic acid). Analysis shows that an average of one copper phthalocyanine crosslink is formed for every twelve 4-vinylphthalic acid segmers in the poly(4-vinylphthalic acid) chain. A new compound, 4-vinylphthalic anhydride, was produced in this investigation.
Heterotrimeric G Protein Cycle

This teaching resource provides two types of insight into the heterotrimeric G protein cycle. The interactive animation shows the basic heterotrimeric G protein cycle and allows the user to then add three different regulators of the cycle, an RGS (regulator of G protein signaling) protein, a GDI (guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor) protein, or a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). G proteins are comprised of two subunits, α and an obligate dimer βγ. The structure movie shows an computer-generated interpretation of the conformational changes in the α subunit that are associated with GTP binding and hydrolysis. The basic G protein cycle consists of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activating the G protein by promoting the exchange of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) for guanosine diphosphate (GDP), which allows the α and βγ subunits to separate and activate downstream targets. The signal is terminated when the α subunit hydrolyzes GTP and the α and βγ subunits reassociate. The animation allows the user to choose to play the cycle with or without additional regulators and see the effect on the signaling duration. RGS stimulates the GTPase activity of the α subunit and terminates signaling faster. GDI prevents the dissociation of GDP from the α subunit and blocks reassociation of the βγ subunit, thus extending βγ signaling. GEF enhances the rate of GTP loading in the presence of an activated receptor thus accelerating the speed of the response.
An Ultrafast Laser Scanner Microscope for Digital Image Analysis

The design of an ultrafast laser scanner microscope has been completed and an experimental model has been constructed. The instrument is described and the considerations that led to our choice of scanning method and optical and electronic system design are discussed. The scanner incorporates numerous new technologic features, and promises to make high-resolution cell analysis practical at data rates comparable to those obtained now only in flow cytometry.
Does patient age affect the stone-free rate in patients with urinary calculi treated with extracorporeal SWL?

Does patient age affect the stone-free rate in patients with urinary calculi treated with extracorporeal SWL?
Hydrological Atlas of Austria

At a time when we routinely search for dynamically updated maps on the Internet, the publication of a large-format, coffee-table-style atlas may seem anachronistic. Yet, Austria's Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry Environment and Water Management has attempted to reconcile past and present publishing practices in its Hydrological Atlas of Austria, with an eye toward meeting the needs of both hard-copy traditionalists and soft-copy devotees. In the process, they have provided a reference document that contains a lot more than just maps. The Hydrological Atlas of Austria depicts the hydrology of Austria in a series of nationalscale thematic maps and related text organized around the components of the hydrological cycle, with sections on mass balance and themes such as water management and water and the environment. The atlas is published as a two-in-one product: a conventional printed, loose-leaf-style atlas that facilitates easy update and expansion, and a digital, GIS-based version on CD-ROM. Both forms are derived from GIS datasets.
Universal measurability and summable families in tvs

Abstract The main result of this paper, in a somewhat specialized form, is as follows. Let α, β be two Hausdorff linear topologies on X such that (X, β) is complete, α ⊂ β and the identity j:(X, α) → (X, β) is universally measurable. Then the subseries convergent series are the same for α and β.
Microscope on a Chip – A Complete On-chip High-resolution Optofluidic Microscope

We report the first complete on-chip high-resolution (~0.9μm) optofluidic microscope. It’s smaller than a U.S. quarter and yet can achieve resolution comparable to a conventional microscope with 20× objective.
Combustion synthesis of lead oxide nanopowders for the preparation of PMN–PT transparent ceramics

Abstract We describe the preparation of lead oxide nanopowders by a combustion synthesis process in which nitric acid and glycine are used as oxidant and fuel reagents respectively. We observe that the fuel-to-oxidant ratio affects the phase formation, valence, yield, particle shape and size of lead oxide powders. 60 nm-diameter lead oxide particles, with a yield of 86%, were obtained for a 1.7 glycine-to-nitrate molar ratio. This process produces powders with greater uniformity and smaller particle size than commercially available and we illustrate the improvement that these nanopowders offer in the synthesis of (1− x )Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 – x PbTiO 3 (called PMN–PT) transparent ceramics by solid-state reaction.
Lack of effects of indomethacin on estradiol feedback control of luteinizing hormone in ovariectomized ewes.

We tested the hypothesis that indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, would modify estradiol's effects on tonic and surge concentrations of LH in chronically ovariectomized ewes during the anestrous season. Ewes (n=21) were assigned randomly to one of four treatments: Vehicle+Blank (n=5); Indomethacin+Blank (n=6); Vehicle+Estradiol (n=5); or Indomethacin+Estradiol (n=5). On d=0 (hr=0), ewes began to receive i.m. injections of either indomethacin (4 mg/kg body weight) or corn oil every 8 hr for 9 d. Blood samples were collected every 12 min for 6 hr beginning at −6 hr, +18 hr, and on day 8 (relative to initial injections of indomethacin or vehicle) to assess tonic patterns of secretion of LH. At +24 hr, ewes received blank- or estradiol-containing Silastic implants and were bled hourly for 48 hr. On day 9, ewes received 50 μg of GnRH i.v. and were bled hourly for 8 hr. Serum samples were assayed for LH. Indomethacin had no effect on the following parameters of LH secretion: 1) mean concentrations (ng/ml; 8.4 ± .7 vs 8.9 ± .8; P>.1), 2) pulse frequency/6 hr (4.5 ± .4 vs 4.1 ± .4; P>.1) or 3) pulse amplitude (ng/ml; 15.3 ± 1.1 vs 14.9 ± 1.2; P>.1). Estradiol elicited a surge of LH which began 18.9 ± 1.7 hr after implant insertion, reached a mean peak concentration of 95.3 ± 20.1 ng/ml, and did not differ with respect to indomethacin treatment (P>.1). After the initial estradiol-induced surge of LH, mean concentrations of LH decreased (Vehicle+Blank vs Vehicle+Estradiol: 8.4 ± .7 vs 1.7 ± .7 ng/ml; P .1). Estradiol-treated ewes responded to GnRH with a two-fold greater increase in LH than untreated ewes (463.5 ± 58.3vs 226.3 ± 61.1 ng/ml; P<.03). In conclusion, indomethacin did not modify the negative or positive feedback effects of estradiol on the secretion of LH in ovariectomized ewes. These data do not support an involvement of prostaglandins in controlling secretion of LH in sheep.
Structure and action of heteronemertine polypeptide toxins: inactivation of Cerebratulus lacteus toxin B-IV concomitant with tryptophan alkylation.

Abstract Reaction of Cerebratulus lacteus toxin B-IV with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide at pH 4.5 results in modification of toxin tryptophan residues and loss of biological activity. With relatively small reagent excesses, one tryptophan per molecule is modified without major effect on toxicity. Further reaction results in modification of a second residue of tryptophan and loss of at least 95% of the toxic activity. Modification of one or both tryptophan residues is without significant effect on the secondary structure of the protein. The specificity of each phase of the reaction has been assessed by fingerprint analysis of peptides derived from toxin modified to differing extents with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide. It is thus possible to show that tryptophan-5 reacts first and tryptophan-30 only under more rigorous conditions. It thus appears that tryptophan-30 is essential for full neurotoxic activity.
FILTERING RESPONSES OF SELECTED DISTANCE-DEPENDENT WEIGHT FUNCTIONS1

Abstract The filtering response of the Cressman weight functions and a truncated low-pass filter are presented as functions of influence radius.
Fluorous metal-organic frameworks for high-density gas adsorption.

A fluorous metal−organic framework, FMOF-1, is obtained by reaction of Ag(I) with 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-triazolate, giving rise to a neutral, hydrogen-free, extended 3D nanotubular porous framework consisting of tetranuclear clusters [Ag4Tz6] connected by three-coordinate Ag(I) centers. The fluoro-lined channels and cavities of the framework show hysteretic adsorption of H2 with a volumetric capacity of 41 kg/m3 at 77 K and 64 bar. The framework also exhibits very high adsorptions for O2 and N2 with volumetric uptake of ∼550 and 400 kg/m3 at 77 K even at very low pressures (<10-2 bar).
Dynamics of the N-terminal alpha-helix unfolding in the photoreversion reaction of phytochrome A.

Time-resolved circular dichroism spectroscopy in the far-UV spectral region was used to examine the intermediates of the phytochrome photoreversion reaction (Pfr --> Pr). Three intermediates, lumi-F (tau = 320 ns), meta-Fa (tau = 265 micros) and meta-Fb (tau = 5.5 ms), have been identified in a simple sequential kinetic photoreversion mechanism by absorption spectroscopy [Linschitz, H., Kasche, V., Butler, W. L., & Siegelman, H. W. (1966) J. Biol. Chem. 241, 3395-3403; Pratt, L. H., & Butler, W. L. (1968) Photochem. Photobiol. 8, 477-485; Burke, M., Pratt, D. C., & Moscowitz, A. (1972) Biochemistry 11, 4025-4031; Spruit, C. J. P., Kendrick, R. E., & Cooke, R. J. (1975) Planta (Berlin) 127, 121-132; Eilfeld, P., & Rudiger, W. (1985) Z. Naturforsch. 40c, 109-114; Chen, E., Lapko, V. N., Lewis, J. W., Song, P.-S., & Kliger, D. S. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 843-850]. In order to correlate the unfolding of the N-terminal alpha-helical segment with one or more of the intermediate species, time-resolved methods were coupled with the structurally sensitive probe of CD in the far-UV spectral region. Analysis of the TRCD data associates the decrease in alpha-helical content that occurs upon formation of Pr with decay of the meta-Fa intermediate. This unfolding process occurs with a time constant of 310 +/- 125 micros, which is consistent with the 265-micros lifetime for meta-Fa.
Pulmonary Angiography with Use of the 5-F Omniflush Catheter: A Safe and Efficient Procedure with a Common Catheter

JVIR 2000; 11:1005–1008 BY many, pulmonary angiography is still considered the gold standard in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Traditionally, pulmonary angiography had been performed with use of 6–8-F pigtail, or modified pigtail, catheters and cut-film technique. More recently, digital subtraction angiography has been used to study the pulmonary arteries, and has been shown to have a diagnostic accuracy at least as good as cut-film angiography (1,2). With more frequent use of digital subtraction angiography and its better contrast resolution, pulmonary angiography can usually be performed with smaller amounts of contrast material and lower injection rates. Improvements in catheter design now allow for higher flow rates with smaller catheter sizes. Despite these advances, pulmonary angiography is still usually performed with larger catheter sizes. In this study, we report our experience with use of the 5-F Omniflush (SoftVu; Angiodynamics, Queensbury, NY) catheter for pulmonary angiography.
System Management for Grid-Enabling a Vibroacoustic Analysis Application

System management aspects are described for the process of grid-enabling a vibroacoustic analysis application using the Globus Toolkit 3.2.1. This is the first step in a project intended to grid-enable a suite of tools being developed as a service-oriented enterprise architecture for spacecraft telemetry analysis. Many of the applications in the suite are compute intensive and would benefit from significantly improved performance. In this paper we show the advantage of using Globus to grid-enable a single tool in a vibroacoustic analysis flow, with the result that using as few as eleven nodes, that tool's runtime improved by a factor of eight. While communication overhead does affect performance, these results also indicate that coordinated communication and execution scheduling as part of workflow management would be able to significantly improve overall efficiency. In the larger context, our experience also shows that the service-oriented architecture approach, using grid computing tools, can provide a more flexible system design, in addition to improved performance and increased utilization of resources. We also provide some lessons learned in using the Globus Toolkit.
Geophysical applications of very-long-baseline interferometry

Very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) is a novel observing technique for measuring the relative positions of widely separated points on the surface of the Earth with centimeter-level accuracy. Such accuracy is two or three orders of magnitude better than was available with classical techniques only a few decades ago. This enormous improvement in accuracy has opened up for study a broad new spectrum of geophysical phenomena. The new measurements allow direct observation of the tectonic motions and deformations of the Earth's crustal plates, observations of unprecedented detail of the variations in the rotation of the Earth, and direct measurement of the elastic deformations of the Earth in response to tidal forces. These new measurements have placed significant constraints on models of the interior structure of the Earth; for example, measurements of the variations in the Earth's nutation have been shown to be particulary sensitive to the shape of the core-mantle boundary. The VLBI measurements, coupled with other space-based geodetic observing techniques such as the Global Positioning System, allow construction of a global reference frame accurate at the centimeter level. Such a frame will be essential to studying long-term global changes, especially those changes related to sea-level variations as recorded by tide gauge measurements.
A new approach for modeling and solving set packing problems

In recent years the unconstrained quadratic binary program has emerged as a unified modeling and solution framework for a variety of combinatorial optimization problems. Experience reported in the literature with several problem classes has demonstrated that this unified approach works surprisingly well in terms of solution quality and computational times, often rivaling and sometimes surpassing special purpose methods. In this paper we report on the application of this unified framework to set packing problems with a variety of coefficient distributions. Computational experience is reported illustrating the attractiveness of the approach. In particular, our results highlight both the effectiveness and robustness of our approach across a wide array of test problems.
Forefoot Running Improves Pain and Disability Associated With Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome

Background: Anterior compartment pressures of the leg as well as kinematic and kinetic measures are significantly influenced by running technique. It is unknown whether adopting a forefoot strike technique will decrease the pain and disability associated with chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) in hindfoot strike runners.Hypothesis: For people who have CECS, adopting a forefoot strike running technique will lead to decreased pain and disability associated with this condition.Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods: Ten patients with CECS indicated for surgical release were prospectively enrolled. Resting and postrunning compartment pressures, kinematic and kinetic measurements, and self-report questionnaires were taken for all patients at baseline and after 6 weeks of a forefoot strike running intervention. Run distance and reported pain levels were recorded. A 15-point global rating of change (GROC) scale was used to measure perceived change after the intervention.Results: Afte...
The effects of skinfold thicknesses and innervation zone on the mechanomyographic signal during cycle ergometry.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of skinfold (SF) thicknesses at four locations on the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle and the placement of accelerometers relative to the innervation zone (IZ) on the mechanomyographic (MMG) amplitude and mean power frequency (MPF) responses during incremental cycle ergometry. Twenty adults (age±SD=23.8±3.0years) participated in the investigation. The MMG signals were detected during incremental cycle ergometry using four accelerometers placed on the right VL. Prior to the cycle ergometer test, SF thicknesses were measured. Simple linear regression analyses and one-way repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were performed. The present study found that only 10% of the regression analyses and mean comparisons were significant ( p
Analysis of 24Mg(d, p)25Mg(72+, 1.611 MeV) transitions in terms of the non-adiabatic coupled-channel born approximation

Abstract It is shown that the non-adiabatic coupled-channel Born approximation explains well the observed 24Mg(d, p)25Mg( 7 2 +, 1.611 MeV) cross section.
When a Patient Refuses Life-Saving Care: Issues Raised When Treating a Jehovah's Witness

Patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses frequently cross the path of nephrologists when they are acutely ill in the intensive care unit and stable in the long-term setting. It is important that we as a group have a rudimentary understanding of their philosophy about blood transfusion so that we can be proactive in their management. We use a case as a launching point to discuss the origins of the faith and the decision to refuse blood, as well as potential therapeutic strategies that can be used to improve the care of these patients. Improvement in our understanding as physicians will facilitate a more productive conversation with our patients about a complex and emotional issue.
VICTORIAN COSMOPOLITANISM, INTERRUPTED

Readers of Middlemarch (1871–1872) will remember the moment when Brooke's bid to win a seat in Parliament abruptly ends, in the middle of the Reform Bill campaign and in the middle of a speech. He tells the crowd how happy he is to be there. He tells the crowd he is a “close neighbor” of theirs. Then he says the following: “I've always gone a good deal into public questions – machinery, now, and machine-breaking – you're many of you concerned with machinery, and I've been going into that lately. It won't do, you know, breaking machines: everything must go on – trade, manufactures, commerce, interchange of staples – that kind of thing – since Adam Smith that must go on. We must look all over the globe: – ‘Observation with extensive view,’ must look everywhere, ‘from China to Peru,’ as somebody says – Johnson, I think, ‘The Rambler,’ you know. That's what I have done up to a certain point – not as far as Peru; but I've not always stayed at home – I saw it wouldn't do. I've been in the Levant, where some of your Middlemarch goods go – and then, again, in the Baltic. The Baltic, now.” (Eliot, Middlemarch 349; Book 5, ch. 51) It's when he passes from the Levant to the Baltic that Brooke is interrupted by a laugh-creating echo from the crowd, an echo which, “by the time it said, ‘The Baltic, now'” (350; Book 5, ch. 51), has become fatal.
Evaluation of blood and muscle tissues for molecular detection and characterization of hematozoa infections in northern pintails (Anas acuta) wintering in California.

Information on the molecular detection of hematozoa from different tissue types and multiple years would be useful to inform sample collection efforts and interpret results of meta-analyses or investigations spanning multiple seasons. In this study, we tested blood and muscle tissue collected from northern pintails (Anas acuta) during autumn and winter of different years to evaluate prevalence and genetic diversity of Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, and Plasmodium infections in this abundant waterfowl species of the Central Valley of California. We first compared results for paired blood and wing muscle samples to assess the utility of different tissue types for molecular investigations of haemosporidian parasites. Second, we explored inter-annual variability of hematozoa infection in Central Valley northern pintails and investigated possible effects of age, sex, and sub-region of sample collection on estimated parasite detection probability and prevalence. We found limited evidence for differences between tissue types in detection probability and prevalence of Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, and Plasmodium parasites, which supports the utility of both sample types for obtaining information on hematozoan infections. However, we detected 11 haemosporidian mtDNA cyt b haplotypes in blood samples vs. six in wing muscle tissue collected during the same sample year suggesting an advantage to using blood samples for investigations of genetic diversity. Estimated prevalence of Leucocytozoon parasites was greater during 2006–2007 as compared to 2011–2012 and four unique haemosporidian mtDNA cyt b haplotypes were detected in the former sample year but not in the latter. Seven of 15 mtDNA cyt b haplotypes detected in northern pintails had 100% identity with previously reported hematozoa lineages detected in waterfowl (Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) or other avian taxa (Plasmodium) providing support for lack of host specificity for some parasite lineages.
Regulatory gene interactions controlling discoidin lectin expression in Dictyostelium discoideum

Genetic studies have revealed a network of three unlinked regulatory genes that control the developmental expression of the family of endogenous lectins in Dictyostelium discoideum. Mutations in the disA and disB loci have a null phenotype and do not express the discoidin I or II lectins. The third mutation, drsA, is a second-site suppressor of the disB mutation, which restores expression of all lectin species. Cells carrying this mutation express the discoidin lectins during growth, which is in contrast to wild-type cells in which lectin synthesis is developmentally regulated. In addition to this basic level of genetic control, the conditions of growth dramatically influence the patterns of discoidin expression. Growth-phase wild-type cells do not express lectin if the cells are grown on plates in association with bacteria. However, wild-type cells growing in bacterial suspensions express high levels of lectin during growth. Synthesis of the discoidin lectins in growing cells is sensitive to the levels of extracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and folic acid. These results suggest that the drsA mutation renders cells insensitive to cAMP and/or folate and thus allows expression of lectin during growth.
E4orf3 Is Necessary for Enhanced S-Phase Replication of Cell Cycle-Restricted Subgroup C Adenoviruses

E1B-55K-mutant or E4orf6-mutant adenoviruses replicate more effectively after infecting cells in S phase than after infecting cells in G 1 . Enhanced S-phase replication of the E4orf6-mutant viruses requires the E4orf3 gene. This report demonstrates that the E4orf3 gene is also required for enhanced S-phase replication of the E1B-55K-mutant virus.
Somatostatin Inhibition of Glucose-, Tolbutamide-, Theophylline-, Cytochalasin B-, and Calcium-Stimulated Insulin Release in Monolayer Cultures of Rat Endocrine Pancreas

Somatostatin inhibited insulin secretion stimulated by glucose, tolbutamide, glucosetheophylline, glucose-cytochalasin B, and calcium in monolayer cell cultures of neonatal rat endocrine pancreas. Both 2-deoxyglucose-inhibited glucoseinduced insulin release and basal insulin secretion occurring at glucose 1.7 mM were further reduced by somatostatin. In the presence of somatostatin, 1.0 μg⁄ml, insulin secretion due to glucose, tolbutamide, or glucose-cytochalasin B were inhibited to levels below the basal secretion seen with glucose 1.7 mM. However, insulin secretion stimulated by calcium, and especially by glucose plus theophylline, remained considerably above basal insulin levels, even with somatostatin 1.0 μg⁄ml. For all stimuli except calcium, at lower concentrations of somatostatin (0.001–0.10 μg⁄ml) but not at somatostatin 1.0 μg⁄ml, increased stimulus concentration partially reversed inhibition by somatostatin. For calcium, even at somatostatin 1.0 μg⁄ml, insulin release was greater when the calcium...
Exercise builds brain health: key roles of growth factor cascades and inflammation

Human and other animal studies demonstrate that exercise targets many aspects of brain function and has broad effects on overall brain health. The benefits of exercise have been best defined for learning and memory, protection from neurodegeneration and alleviation of depression, particularly in elderly populations. Exercise increases synaptic plasticity by directly affecting synaptic structure and potentiating synaptic strength, and by strengthening the underlying systems that support plasticity including neurogenesis, metabolism and vascular function. Such exercise-induced structural and functional change has been documented in various brain regions but has been best-studied in the hippocampus - the focus of this review. A key mechanism mediating these broad benefits of exercise on the brain is induction of central and peripheral growth factors and growth factor cascades, which instruct downstream structural and functional change. In addition, exercise reduces peripheral risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which converge to cause brain dysfunction and neurodegeneration. A common mechanism underlying the central and peripheral effects of exercise might be related to inflammation, which can impair growth factor signaling both systemically and in the brain. Thus, through regulation of growth factors and reduction of peripheral and central risk factors, exercise ensures successful brain function.
Relationships of Fire and Precipitation Regimes in Temperate Forests of the Eastern United States

AbstractFire affects virtually all terrestrial ecosystems but occurs more commonly in some than in others. This paper investigates how climate, specifically the moisture regime, influences the flammability of different landscapes in the eastern United States. A previous study of spatial differences in fire regimes across the central Appalachian Mountains suggested that intra-annual precipitation variability influences fire occurrence more strongly than does total annual precipitation. The results presented here support that conclusion. The relationship of fire occurrence to moisture regime is also considered for the entire eastern United States. To do so, mean annual wildfire density and mean annual area burned were calculated for 34 national forests and parks representing the major vegetation and climatic conditions throughout the eastern forests. The relationship between fire activity and two climate variables was analyzed: mean annual moisture balance [precipitation P − potential evapotranspiration (PE...
Validation of an inexpensive and accurate mathematical method to measure long-term changes in free-living energy intake

Background: Accurate measurement of free-living energy intake (EI) over long periods is imperative for understanding obesity and its treatment. Unfortunately, traditional methods rely on self-report and are notoriously inaccurate. Although EI can be indirectly estimated by the intake-balance method, this technique is prohibitively labor-intensive and expensive, requiring repeated measures of energy expenditure via doubly labeled water (DLW) along with multiple dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to measure changes in body energy stores. Objective: Our objective was to validate a mathematical method to measure long-term changes in free-living energy intake. Design: We measured body weight and EI changes (ΔEI) over 4 time intervals by using the intake-balance method in 140 individuals who underwent 2 y of caloric restriction as part of the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy study. We compared the ΔEI values calculated by using DLW/DXA with those obtained by using a mathematical model of human metabolism whose only inputs were the initial demographic information and repeated body weight data. Results: The mean ΔEI values calculated by the model were within 40 kcal/d of the DLW/DXA method throughout the 2-y study. For individual subjects, the overall root mean square deviation between the model and DLW/DXA method was 215 kcal/d, and most of the model-calculated ΔEI values were within 132 kcal/d of the DLW/DXA method. Conclusions: Accurate and inexpensive estimates of ΔEI that are comparable to the DLW/DXA method can be obtained by using a mathematical model and repeated body weight measurements. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00427193","term_id":"NCT00427193"}}NCT00427193.
When a Random Sample is Not Random. Bounds on the E↵ect of Migration on Household Members Left Behind ⇤

A key problem in the literature on the economics of migration is how emigration of an individual a↵ects households left behind. Answers to this question must confront a problem I refer to as invisible sample selection: when entire households migrate, no information about them remains in their source country. Since estimation is typically based on source country data, invisible sample selection yields biased estimates if all-move households di↵er from households that send only a subset of their members abroad. I address this identification problem and derive nonparametric bounds within a principal stratification framework. Instrumental variables estimates are biased, even if all-move households do not di↵er in their potential outcomes. For this case, I show identification of the local average treatment e↵ect. I illustrate the approach using individual and household data from widely cited, recent studies. Potential bias from invisible sample selection can be large, but transparent assumptions regarding behaviors of household members and selectivity of migrants allow identification of informative bounds.
Coupled placement in modern data centers

We introduce the coupled placement problem for modern data centers spanning placement of application computation and data among available server and storage resources. While the two have traditionally been addressed independently in data centers, two modern trends make it beneficial to consider them together in a coupled manner: (a) rise in virtualization technologies, which enable applications packaged as VMs to be run on any server in the data center with spare compute resources, and (b) rise in multi-purpose hardware devices in the data center which provide compute resources of varying capabilities at different proximities from the storage nodes.
Negative Elongation Factor Controls Energy Homeostasis in Cardiomyocytes

Summary Negative elongation factor (NELF) is known to enforce promoter-proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), a pervasive phenomenon observed across multicellular genomes. However, the physiological impact of NELF on tissue homeostasis remains unclear. Here, we show that whole-body conditional deletion of the B subunit of NELF ( NELF-B ) in adult mice results in cardiomyopathy and impaired response to cardiac stress. Tissue-specific knockout of NELF-B confirms its cell-autonomous function in cardiomyocytes. NELF directly supports transcription of those genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. NELF also shares extensively transcriptional target genes with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), a master regulator of energy metabolism in the myocardium. Mechanistically, NELF helps stabilize the transcription initiation complex at the metabolism-related genes. Our findings strongly indicate that NELF is part of the PPARα-mediated transcription regulatory network that maintains metabolic homeostasis in cardiomyocytes.
Electrophosphorescence from a Polymer Guest–Host System with an Iridium Complex as Guest: Förster Energy Transfer and Charge Trapping†

We report high-efficiency green electrophosphorescent light-emitting diodes obtained by using tris[9,9-dihexyl-2-(phenyl-4′-(-pyridin-2″-yl))fluorene]iridium(III) (Ir(DPPF)3) as the guest, and a blend of poly(vinylcarbazole) (PVK) with 2-tert-butylphenyl-5-biphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol (PBD) as the host. The electrophosphorescent emission is characteristic of Ir(DPPF)3, with its maximum at 550 nm. An external quantum efficiency of 8 % photons per electron and luminous efficiency of 29 cd A–1, with maximum brightness of 3500 cd m–2, were achieved at 1 wt.-% concentration of Ir(DPPF)3. The devices exhibited no emission from PVK or PBD, even at the lowest concentration of Ir(DPPF)3 (0.1 wt.-%). The results indicate that Forster energy transfer plays a minor role in achieving high efficiencies in these devices. Direct charge trapping appears to be the main operating mechanism.
Belief, Salience, Media Exposure, and Summation Theory

This is a report of two studies which reexamine Fishbein's Summation Theory of attitude change with particular focus on the correlation between belief salience and belief strength. To test the possibility that earlier studies may have been concept bound, a partial replication of the Kaplan-Fishbein [3] study was conducted with the concept, “American Indian.” No statistically significant correlations were obtained. Examination of individual responses led to the second study which tested that possibility that weak beliefs may be salient and strong ones not salient depending upon the media sources of information about the concept. When subjects were asked to recall the media sources of their information, it was found that weakly held salient beliefs were attributed to old fashioned “western adventure” entertainment sources with significantly more frequency than strongly held salient beliefs. Implications for Summation Theory and for attitude change theories are discussed. New lines of research are suggested.
Quantification of Mass Loss Dependence on Sample Orientation in 5xxx Series Aluminum Alloys

ASTM G67 is the standard test method for determining the susceptibility to intergranular corrosion (IGC) of 5xxx series aluminum alloys and requires measuring mass loss after exposure to nitric acid (the nitric acid mass loss test, NAMLT). This mass loss, and thus the IGC susceptibility, is dependent on orientation of the wrought product, but the quantitative degree of this dependence has not been well studied or documented. The orientation dependence of IGC susceptibility for AA5083 (UNS A95083) in H131 and H116 tempers is quantitatively presented herein. The underlying mechanism behind this dependence is also explored.
Ubiquitin phosphorylation in Parkinson’s disease: Implications for pathogenesis and treatment

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, characterized primarily by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. The pathogenic mechanisms of PD remain unclear, and no effective therapy currently exists to stop neurodegeneration in this debilitating disease. The identification of mutations in mitochondrial serine/threonine kinase PINK1 or E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase parkin as the cause of autosomal recessive PD opens up new avenues for uncovering neuroprotective pathways and PD pathogenic mechanisms. Recent studies reveal that PINK1 translocates to the outer mitochondrial membrane in response to mitochondrial depolarization and phosphorylates ubiquitin at the residue Ser65. The phosphorylated ubiquitin serves as a signal for activating parkin and recruiting autophagy receptors to promote clearance of damaged mitochondria via mitophagy. Emerging evidence has begun to indicate a link between impaired ubiquitin phosphorylation-dependent mitophagy and PD pathogenesis and supports the potential of Ser65-phosphorylated ubiquitin as a biomarker for PD. The new mechanistic insights and phenotypic screens have identified multiple potential therapeutic targets for PD drug discovery. This review highlights recent advances in understanding ubiquitin phosphorylation in mitochondrial quality control and PD pathogenesis and discusses how these findings can be translated into novel approaches for PD diagnostic and therapeutic development.
Optical coherence tomography of the optic nerve head detects acute changes in intracranial pressure.

Abstract We aimed to determine if there are measurable objective changes in the optic nerve head (ONH) immediately after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage in a prospective case-series of five patients undergoing a clinically indicated lumbar puncture (LP) for diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. A Cirrus high-definition optical coherence tomography machine (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) was used to acquire images in the lateral decubitus position. Optic disc cube and high-definition line raster scans centered on the ONH were obtained immediately before and after draining CSF, while the patient maintained the lateral decubitus position. Measured parameters included retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, peripapillary retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch’s membrane (RPE/BM) angulation, transverse neural canal diameter (NCD) and the highest vertical point of the internal limiting membrane from the transverse diameter (papillary height). The mean (±standard deviation) opening and closing CSF pressures were 34.3 ± 11.8 and 11.6 ± 3.3 cmH2O, respectively. Mean RNFL thickness (pre LP: 196 ± 105 μm; post LP: 164 ± 77 μm, p = 0.1) and transverse NCD (pre LP: 1985 ± 559 μm; post LP: 1590 ± 228 μm, p = 2.0) decreased in all subjects, but with non-significant trends. The RPE/BM angle (mean change: 5.8 ± 2.0 degrees, p = 0.003) decreased in all subjects. A decrease in papillary height was seen in three of five subjects (mean: pre LP: 976 ± 275 μm; post LP: 938 ± 300 μm, p = 0.9). Our results show a measurable, objective change in the ONH after acute lowering of the lumbar CSF pressure, suggesting a direct link between the lumbar subarachnoid space and ONH regions, and its potential as a non-invasive method for monitoring intracranial pressures.
Effects of Cage Density on Fear-Related Behavioral Response and Activity of Layers

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of cage density on fear-related behavioral response and activity of White Leghorn layers. In Experiment 1, 20-wk old pullets were placed into 30.5 x 50.8 cm cages at the rate of one, two, three, and four birds per cage for Treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. In Experiment 2, birds were placed into cages (30.5 x 50.8 cm) at the rate of one, two, three, four, three, two, and three birds per cage for Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively, at 20 wk of age. At 28 wk of age, one bird was removed from each cage in Treatment 5, and one bird was added to each cage in Treatments 6 and 7. Fear-related behavioral response of the birds, as determined by the duration of induced tonic immobility (TI), and bird activity, as determined by the head movement (HM) count, were measured at 52 wk of age in Experiment 1, and at 29, 36, and 52 wk of age in Experiment 2. Increasing cage density had no effect on fear-related response of the birds in both experiments. Cage density effect on bird activity was not consistent. In Experiment 1, HM count was not affected by cage density, whereas in Experiment 2, pullets in the multiple-bird cage had a lower (P < or = .05) HM count (three-period average) than the birds housed individually. There was no correlation between the duration of induced TI and HM count in both experiments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)