cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Gene Duplication and Phaseolotoxin Resistance in Pseudomonas Syringae Pv. Phaseolicola

Several years ago, we raised the question of self-protection against toxins as an important aspect of toxigene-sis by bacterial phytopathogens (Staskawicz et al., 1980; Ponopoulos and Staskawicz, 1982). Since then two bacterial pathogens, Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (see below) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci (Knight et al., 1986; 1987) that produce non host-specific toxins and possess potentially sensitive target enzymes have been examined in this respect. Our studies concern P. syringae pv. phaseolicola, a pathogen on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) causing the halo blight disease. Infection on either leaves or pods leads to the formation of watersoaked lesions as a primary symptom of the disease and chlorotic halos, systemic chlorosis and dwarfism as secondary symptoms. A low molecular weight toxin, phaseol otoxin, produced by the bacterium at low growth temperatures (18–20°C) in vitro and in planta is responsible for the secondary symptoms.
A microfluidic device for continuous cancer cell culture and passage with hydrodynamic forces

We demonstrate a novel and robust microfluidic chip with combined functions of continuous culture and output of PC-3 prostate cancer cells. With digital controls, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flexible diaphragms are able to apply hydrodynamic shear forces on cultures, detaching a fraction of attached cancer cells from the surface for output while leaving others for reuse in subsequent cultures. The fractions of detached cells and remaining cells can be precisely controlled. The system has not only the advantages of small size, high cell culture efficiency, and digital control, but also of simple fabrication at low cost, easy operation and robust performance. The chip performs 9 passages during 30 days of continuous culture and shows promise as a durable design suitable for long-term cell output.
Genomic imprinting: male mice with uniparentally derived sex chromosomes.

Although it has been known that there is an X-chromosome imprinting effect during early embryogenesis in female mammals, it remains unknown if parental origin of the X chromosome has an effect in males. Furthermore, it has not been possible to produce animals with normal sex chromosomes of uniparental origin to further evaluate such imprinting effects. We have devised a breeding scheme to produce male mice, designated XPYP males, in which both the X and Y chromosomes are paternally inherited. To our knowledge, these are the first mammals produced that have a normal sex chromosome constitution but with both sex chromosomes derived from one parent. Development and reproduction in these XPYP males and the sex ratio and chromosome constitution of their offspring appeared normal; thus there is no apparent effect in males of having both sex chromosomes derive from one parent of of having the X chromosome derived from an inappropriate parent. Although we have detected no X-chromosome imprinting effect in these males, evidence from other sources suggests that the X chromosome is parentally imprinted. Thus detection and definition of an imprint can depend on the assay used.
Demethylating agents in myeloid malignancies.

Purpose of Review Two demethylating agents are approved in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): 5-azacitidine and 5-aza-2′-deoxycitidine (decitabine). These drugs are structurally related and induce DNA hypomethylation. Aberrant DNA methylation is associated with gene silencing. It is proposed that hypomethylating agents work by inducing re-expression of epigenetically silenced genes. Here, we provide an up-to-date summary of the clinical experience with these drugs.
Molecular cloning of seprase: a serine integral membrane protease from human melanoma

Seprase is a homodimeric 170 kDa integral membrane gelatinase whose expression correlates with the invasiveness of the human melanoma cell line LOX. Here, we report the molecular cloning of a cDNA that encodes the 97 kDa subunit of seprase. Its deduced amino acid sequence predicts a type II integral membrane protein with a cytoplasmic tail of 6 amino acids, followed by a transmembrane domain of 20 amino acids and an extracellular domain of 734 amino acids. The carboxyl terminus contains a putative catalytic region (approximately 200 amino acids) which is homologous (68% identity) to that of the nonclassical serine protease dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV). The conserved serine protease motif G-X-S-X-G is present as G-W-S-Y-G. However, sequence analysis of seprase cDNA from LOX and other cell lines strongly suggests that seprase and human fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP alpha) are products of the same gene. We propose that seprase/FAP alpha and DPPIV represent a new subfamily of serine integral membrane proteases (SIMP).
Countering Inequality: Brazil's Movimento Sem‐Terra

Data from a national survey of formerly landless peasants residing in federal land‐reform settlements in Brazil (Pesquisa Nacional de Educacao na Reforma Agraria—) confirm that the Landless Rural W...
Directional anisotropies reveal a functional segregation of visual motion processing for perception and action.

Humans exhibit an anisotropy in direction perception: discrimination is superior when motion is around horizontal or vertical rather than diagonal axes. In contrast to the consistent directional anisotropy in perception, we found only small idiosyncratic anisotropies in smooth pursuit eye movements, a motor action requiring accurate discrimination of visual motion direction. Both pursuit and perceptual direction discrimination rely on signals from the middle temporal visual area (MT), yet analysis of multiple measures of MT neuronal responses in the macaque failed to provide evidence of a directional anisotropy. We conclude that MT represents different motion directions uniformly, and subsequent processing creates a directional anisotropy in pathways unique to perception. Our data support the hypothesis that, at least for visual motion, perception and action are guided by inputs from separate sensory streams. The directional anisotropy of perception appears to originate after the two streams have segregated and downstream from area MT.
The Relationship between Product Quality and Revenue Per Available Room at Holiday Inn

Three years of quality and operational performance data from 1,135 franchised Holiday Inn hotels were analyzed to determine the relationship between product quality and operational performance. Hotels with at least one quality defect in the exterior, the guest room, and the guest bath had a revenue per available room per day (RevPAR) of approximately $2.80 less than hotels that did not have defects in each of the areas. This implies that to be successful, a hotel must concentrate on maintaining high quality standards in areas that have the greatest impact on financial return.
Implicit Memory in Amnesic Patients: Evidence for Spared Auditory Priming

Previous observations of spared priming in amnesic patients have been based almost entirely on data from visual implicit memory tests Our research examined perceptual priming in amnesic patients and control subjects on an auditory identification task in which previously spoken words and new words were presented in white noise We manipulated type of encoding task (semantic vs nonsemantic) and speaker's voice at study and test (same vs different) Priming was little affected by either manipulation, and amnesic patients exhibited normal priming in all experimental conditions On an explicit test of recognition memory, by contrast, amnesic patients exhibited severely impaired performance following the semantic study task, all subjects showed poor explicit memory following the nonsemantic study task Results are consistent with the idea that auditory priming depends largely on a presemantic auditory perceptual representation system
Humanin is expressed in human vascular walls and has a cytoprotective effect against oxidized LDL-induced oxidative stress

Humanin (HN) is a 24-amino acid peptide that has been shown to have an anti-apoptotic function against neuronal cell death caused by Alzheimer's disease. Increased oxidative stress, one of the major factors contributing to this cell death, also plays an important role in the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that HN is expressed in the human vascular wall and may protect against oxidative stress. Methods HN expression in the vascular wall was detected by immunostaining in the endothelial cell layer of human internal mammary arteries (n ¼ 5), atherosclerotic coronary arteries (n ¼ 17), and sections of the greater saphenous vein (n ¼ 3). HN mRNA was expressed in the human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Cytoprotective effects of HN against oxidative stress were tested in vitro in HAECs. Pre-treatment with 0.1 mM HN reduced oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL)-induced (i) formation of reactive oxygen species by 50%, (ii) apoptosis by � 50% as determined by TUNEL staining, and (iii) formation of ceramide, a lipid second messenger involved in the apoptosis signalling cascade, by � 20%. Conclusion The current study demonstrates for the first time the expression of HN in the endothelial cell layer of human blood vessels. Exogenous addition of HN to endothelial cell cultures was shown to be effective against Ox-LDL-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that HN may play a role and may have a protective effect in early atherosclerosis in humans.
A linear-processor polylog-time algorithm for shortest paths in planar graphs

We give an algorithm requiring polylog time and a linear number of processors to solve single-source shortest paths in directed planar graphs, bounded-genus graphs, and 2-dimensional overlap graphs. More generally, the algorithm works for any graph provided with a decomposition tree constructed using size-O(/spl radic/n polylog n) separators. >
Neutron lifetimes and void coefficients for research reactors

Prompt neutron lifetimes and viod coefficients were calculated for research reactors using M.T.R.-type fuel elements, moderators of light and heavy water, and reflectors of light water, heavy water, graphite, and beryllium. Heavy-water-reflected and -moderated research reactors may have neutron lifetimes of the order of 0.001 sec. as compared with about 0.00006 sec. for a light-water-reflected and -moderated research reactor. Lifetime of the light-water core can be improved considerably by use of better reflectors, but at a substantial reduction and even reversal in sign of the void coefficient.
Medial Residues of Piecewise Linear Manifolds

Skeleton structures of objects are used in a wide variety of applications such as shape analysis and path planning. One of the most widely used skeletons is the medial axis, which is a thin structure centered within and homotopy equivalent to the object. However, on piecewise linear surfaces, which are one of the most common outputs from surface reconstruction algorithms, natural generalizations of typical medial axis deflnitions may fail to have these desirable properties. In this paper, we propose a new extension of the medial axis, called the medial residue, and prove that it is a flnite curve network homotopy equivalent to the original surface when the input is a piecewise linear surface with boundary. We also develop an e‐cient algorithm to compute the medial residue on a triangulated mesh, building on previously known work to compute geodesic distances.
CHANGING SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WILLAMETTE VALLEY FARMS

In the post-World War II era the need to achieve satisfactory economies of scale has led to fever but larger farms in the Willamette Valley. Vigorous demand for farm land by the nonfarm sector has served to inflate land values. As a result, farmers have turned to leasing and renting as alternatives to land purchase. Difficulty in finding suitable land with which to enlarge farm operations has led to the use of noncontiguous fields.
Observations on Concealed Conduction in Atrial Fibrillation

The mechanism of the ventricular dysrhythmia associated with atrial fibrillation in isolated rabbit heart was studied by recording electrograms from right atrium and ventricle simultaneously with transmembrane action potentials recorded from single fibers within the A-V node and right bundle branch. In most experiments, the variation in ventricular cycle length during experimentally initiated atrial fibrillation resulted from concealed conduction within the A-V node. The most frequently recorded ventricular interval during atrial fibrillation was found when a single response was concealed within the A-V node. In several experiments, as many as seven to nine consecutively concealed responses were recorded from the A-V node. When repetitive A-V nodal concealment occurred, the resulting ventricular cycle lengths were prolonged accordingly. In only a few experiments were conduction delay and block observed within the ventricular specialized conduction system (VSCS) during atrial fibrillation. Subsidiary pacemakers were never observed within the A-V node but were noted occasionally within the VSCS following epinephrine administration. Multiple A-V nodal concealments were usually associated with rapid atrial rates.
AN EXPLORATION OF WHY PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS ‘INGEST’ INNOVATIONS

Organizational change sometimes occurs as organizations ‘ingest’ innovations from without. This process represents a vital form of organizational learning and adaptation to the external environment. This study seeks to understand the factors that predict the adoption of Foreign Professional Specialty Occupation Visas, or H-1B visas, by Texas public school districts. The use of H-1B visas to hire foreign skilled workers is a staffing innovation that is growing in use among public and private organizations. Three sets of factors frequently used in studies of organizational innovation are considered: organizational size and slack; attitudes and dispositions of organizational leaders; and environmental influences. The findings contribute to our understanding of ingested innovations, indicating that slack resources, influences from the task and institutional environments, and the organizational leader's disposition and behaviour relating to change influence the probability of adopting this staffing innovation.
Optimal technology selection for minimizing energy and variability in low voltage applications

Ultra Low voltage operation has recently drawn significant attention due to its large potential energy savings. However, typical design practices used for super-threshold operation are not necessarily compatible with the low voltage regime. Here, radically different guidelines may be needed since existing process technologies have been optimized for super-threshold operation. We therefore study the selection of the optimal technology in ultra low voltage designs to achieve minimum energy and minimum variability which are among foremost concerns. We investigate five industrial technologies, from 250 nm to 65 nm. We demonstrate that mature technologies are often the best choice in very low voltage applications, saving as much as ~1800X in total energy consumption compared to a poorly selected technology. In parallel, the effect of technology choice on variability is investigated, when operating at the energy optimal design point. The results show up to a 4X improvement in delay variation due to global process shift and mismatch when using the most advanced technologies despite their large variability at nominal Vdd.
Inductance of a coil on a thick ferromagnetic metal plate

We study the frequency-dependent inductance of a small air-cored coil of wire placed flat upon various ferromagnetic metal plates. The change in the complex inductance of the coil, measured with an HP 4193A impedance analyzer, is reported for frequencies between 1 kHz and 1 MHz. The metal plates consisted of commercially pure (99.7% and 99.9%) Ni, commercially pure (99.9%) Fe, and a suite of medium carbon steels. For the steel plates, inductance changes were consistent with a simple half-space model that treats the metal as a continuum defined by a conductivity /spl sigma/ and a relative initial-permeability /spl mu/ where these material parameters are isotropic, local, and uniform throughout the plate. The inductance changes for Ni and Fe could not be fit to the half-space model for any values of /spl sigma/ and /spl mu/, but were consistent with a model that assumes a thin (/spl sim/10 /spl mu/m) surface layer with a significantly reduced permeability-a dead layer. We tested the existence of the hypothetical dead layer in several ways. We found that the inductance increased when the surface was chemically etched (presumably eroding the dead layer) and decreased when the surface was mechanically polished (presumably increasing the dead layer). We also found that the inductance of the Fe and Ni samples decreased substantially over the course of days and months when exposed to air.
Effect of tumour necrosis factor α antagonists on serum transaminases and viraemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic hepatitis C infection

Background: Tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) antagonists are effective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but concerns remain about the safety of these agents in the presence of chronic infections, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Objective: To examine the influence of treatment with TNFα antagonists on levels of HCV viraemia and serum transaminases in patients with RA and HCV. Methods: In a retrospective survey the course of 16 HCV infected patients with RA who had received the TNFα antagonists etanercept or infliximab was analysed. Eight additional patients with RA and HCV were also enrolled into a three month prospective trial of etanercept. Serum concentrations of albumin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and HCV were followed. Results: Viraemia was measured in 22 patients receiving a TNFα antagonist at the start of treatment and after 1–34 months (median 9 months follow up). Twenty four patients had serial tests of liver related enzymes and albumin. None of the differences between liver related tests at baseline and at follow up achieved significance (p>0.05). Similarly, the mean HCV measurement at 1–3, 4–6, 7–12, and 13–34 months did not differ significantly from baseline (p>0.05). Conclusion: In this study, liver related blood tests and HCV viral load measurements did not change substantially. These findings suggest that TNFα antagonists merit further study for the treatment of RA in HCV infected patients. Larger and longer term studies are still needed.
Iterative weighting of phylogenetic profiles increases classification accuracy

Phylogenetic profiles of proteins - strings of ones and zeros encoding the presence and absence of proteins in a group of genomes - have been utilized to predict functionally linked proteins. In this work, we developed a method that incorporates into profile similarity the evolutionary relations that are represented in the phylogenetic tree of the genomes. The method extends the profile to encode the phylogenetic tree as extra bits, with scores reflecting the chances of interior nodes - hypothetical ancestral genomes of developing divergence in the descendants. The scoring scheme is refined with weighting factors that are collected from the training data and are iteratively updated from the predicted results. We tested the method on the proteome of Saccharomyces cerevisias - the budding yeast and used the MIPS classification as the benchmark. With such weighted phylogenetic profiles, the accuracy of our classifier - a support vector machine - was greatly increased.
The Mouse that Roared: Taiwan's Management of Trade Relations with the United States

This analysis seeks to contribute to the growing literature on the subject of “the weak in the world of the strong.” It examines Taiwan's attempts to cope with U.S. commerical pressure in view of its mounting bilateral trade surplus in the recent years ($10.6 billion in 1985, and $6.2 billion in the first half of 1986). Taiwan's past ability to achieve relatively favorable outcomes in its commerical dealings with the United States is explained at two levels. At the more micro level of bargaining tactics used by the weak in managing the strong, attention is directed to Taiwan's resort to: (1) problem redefinition, (2) damage limitation, (3) exploring loopholes, (4) linkage politics, and (5) transnational coalitions. These measures are complemented by more long-term and basic economic adaptation termed positive adjustment. At the more macro level, two prerequisites suggested by Yoffie (1983) for successful adaptation in a protectionist and competitive economic environment are discussed: (1) Taiwan's policy ...
Students as Teachers and Teachers as Facilitators

Teaching students computer technologies sometimes requires untraditional teaching methods in schools, as it is not uncommon that students possess more advanced computer skills than teachers in todays classrooms. In this paper, we present our study of a course website design project in a public high school to investigate new teaching strategies in technology education. We observed how students and teachers shifted roles during the project, i.e., students became technology consultants and trainers while teachers, although still acting as facilitators of the process, also became learners. This role-shifting resulted in augmented learning outcomes for the student. For the teacher, the challenge of adopting the unconventional role of teacher-as-student required a new teaching paradigm, bringing to light the inherent tensions brought about by such role changes and skill differentials. Lessons we learned from this study are discussed as well as suggestions for teachers and schools that are interested in adopting this approach.
Acinetobacter baumannii is dependent on the type II secretion system and its substrate LipA for lipid utilization and in vivo fitness

Gram-negative bacteria express a number of sophisticated secretion systems to transport virulence factors across the cell envelope, including the type II secretion (T2S) system. Genes for the T2S components GspC through GspN and PilD are conserved among isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, an increasingly common nosocomial pathogen that is developing multidrug resistance at an alarming rate. In contrast to most species, however, the T2S genes are dispersed throughout the genome rather than linked into one or two operons. Despite this unique genetic organization, we show here that the A. baumannii T2S system is functional. Deletion of gspD or gspE in A. baumannii ATCC 17978 results in loss of secretion of LipA, a lipase that breaks down long-chain fatty acids. Due to a lack of extracellular lipase, the gspD mutant, the gspE mutant, and a lipA deletion strain are incapable of growth on long-chain fatty acids as a sole source of carbon, while their growth characteristics are indistinguishable from those of the wild-type strain in nutrient-rich broth. Genetic inactivation of the T2S system and its substrate, LipA, also has a negative impact on in vivo fitness in a neutropenic murine model for bacteremia. Both the gspD and lipA mutants are outcompeted by the wild-type strain as judged by their reduced numbers in spleen and liver following intravenous coinoculation. Collectively, our findings suggest that the T2S system plays a hitherto-unrecognized role in in vivo survival of A. baumannii by transporting a lipase that may contribute to fatty acid metabolism. IMPORTANCE Infections by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii are a growing health concern worldwide, underscoring the need for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which this pathogen causes disease. In this study, we demonstrated that A. baumannii expresses a functional type II secretion (T2S) system that is responsible for secretion of LipA, an extracellular lipase required for utilization of exogenously added lipids. The T2S system and the secreted lipase support in vivo colonization and thus contribute to the pathogenic potential of A. baumannii.
The Penn Central Test and Tensions in Liberal Property Theory

This Article contributes a conference on takings law sponsored by the Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Institute and held at Harvard Law School October 2005. The Article uses background theories of property and government to provide a partial explanation of the U.S. Supreme Court's precedent on regulatory takings. The Article advances two explanatory theses. First, the Penn Central test is not as ad hoc and case-specific as is often assumed. Although the three factors in this test can vary sharply in application, the different factors are regularly construed together to advance one of two theories of government: a classical theory, reflecting the commitments of classical liberalism, and a modern theory, reflecting commitments associated with a centralized regulatory state. Second, the Court's most moderate Justices have used one or the other of these two theories depending on factors including: whether the right allegedly taken is essential to the species of property to which it is attached; whether legal precedent has historically treated that right as essential to the species of property in question; and how compelling are the reasons to regulate potential abuses of that right. While these insights by no means explain regulatory takings doctrine completely, they are two significant contributing factors in any more comprehensive explanation. They also offer a normative suggestion: Perhaps the Supreme Court's takings jurisprudence is less muddled as a whole than it seems from reading either extreme set of cases in isolation.
Analysis of Fama-French Factors Across Business Cycles

This paper uses the information in time-series behavior of conditional correlation between Fama-French factor portfolios and state variables that define the investment opportunity set, vis-a-vis the contemporaneous phase of the business cycle and/or the expectations about the near term business conditions, to clarify the risk based explanations provided for the empirical pricing power of Fama-French factors SMB and HML. I confirm the previously established relationship between SMB and default spread, and HML and term spread and I support evidence for the relationship between SMB returns and asset distress risk using the evidence from predictable changes in return sensitivities to these portfolios. Specifically, I document that sensitivity to asset distress risk is higher during recessionary periods, among small-growth stocks. I also show that investor sentiment takes part in inflating the relation between SMB and innovations to default spread, and HML and innovations to term spread. I discover statistical evidence that term spread has a significant role in predicting SMB returns, if the upcoming period is a recession. Finally, I document time-variation in sensitivities to SMB and HML returns(betas), but also show that this variation in betas does not affect the time variation of the price of unit sensitivities to these factors.
Equity-Indexed Life Insurance: Pricing and Reserving Using the Principle of Equivalent Utility

Abstract The author applies the principle of equivalent utility to price and reserve equity-indexed life insurance. Young and Zariphopoulou (2002a, b) extended this principle to price insurance products in a dynamic framework. However, in those papers, the insurance risks were independent of the risky asset in the financial market. By contrast, the death benefit for equity-indexed life insurance is a function of a risky asset; therefore, this paper further extends the principle of equivalent utility. In a second extension, the author applies the principle of equivalent utility to calculate reserves, as introduced by Gerber (1976). In a related paper, Moore and Young (2002) price equity-indexed pure endowments, the building blocks of equity-indexed life annuities.
Combined vegetation volume and “greenness” affect urban air temperature

Abstract Cities are often substantially warmer than their surrounding rural areas. This ‘urban heat island effect’ can negatively affect the health of urban residents, increase energy usage, and alter ecological processes. While the effect of land use and land cover on urban heat islands has been extensively studied, little is known about the role of vegetation volume or built-area volume about this phenomenon. We ask whether the 3-dimensional structure of urban landscapes influences variations in temperature across a city. Using heights-above-ground information derived from LiDAR data and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) calculated from multispectral (4 band: Blue, Green, Red, and Near Infrared) aerial images, we estimated vegetation volume and built-area volume (non-vegetated) in Chicago, Illinois (USA). Daily minimum temperature data were obtained from 36 weather stations for summer 2011. The differences in urban air temperature across the study area were as large as 3 °C. Maximum likelihood models indicated that a combination of NDVI and vegetation volume best predicted nighttime temperature in Chicago, and that vegetation growing within 250–500 m of the weather station was most influential. Our results indicate that vegetation in “the matrix”, i.e. the area outside parks and preserves, is important in temperature mitigation since the majority of the vegetation volume in the study area occurs within residential, commercial/industrial, and institutional land uses. However, open space, which covers only 15% of the study area, has nearly as much total vegetation volume as residential land, which covers 61% of the study area. Clearly, both large wooded parks within a city and large trees scattered across residential areas are needed to best mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Enrolled trilobites from the Alden pyrite bed, Ledyard Shale (Middle Devonian) of western New York

Although enrollment has long been recognized as an important, perhaps advantageous, life posture in certain trilobites, some aspects of this phenomenon are poorly understood. Taphonomic evidence indicates that the preservation of enrolled trilobites is a two-stage process involving: 1) factors that evoked enrollment; and 2) depositional and geochemical factors that resulted in preservation of the trilobites in an enrolled condition. The Alden Pyrite Bed, Ledyard Shale Member, Ludlowville Formation (Middle Devonian, Givetian) of western New York, a well-known stratigraphic marker bed, is formally described herein. This bed yields an extraordinary number of enrolled phacopine trilobites. This study suggests that trilobites, like certain modern arthropods, enrolled in response to inhospitable conditions, including environmental toxicity and/or rapid sediment influx. Frequency of occurrence data from the Alden Pyrite Bed and underlying and overlying beds of the Ledyard Shale indicate that the trilobites Greenops boothi (Green) and Phacops rana (Green) both enrolled in response to adverse conditions at the sediment-water interface. Prolonged adversity compelled the trilobites to remain, and eventually die, in an enrolled state. Rapid and deep burial within a fine-grained sediment precluded scavenger dismemberment and favored geochemical conditions which culminated in pyritization and preservation.
Sloughing prevention and lubrication properties of polyol JLX

Sloughing prevention and lubrication properties of polyol JLX and its relation with cloud point are studied in lab. Results show that the cloud point behavior of JLX has influence on lubrication effect, and at temperature higher than could point, swelling prevention effect is better than that of below could point. Polyol drilling fluid separates when temperature is higher than cloud point, and an oil-like film is formed. Thus lubrication property is improved and at the same time, microfractrue is plugged. This effect reduces the amount of fluid flowing from wellbore into the formation, and then the wellbore is stabilized.
Perturbed Trajectory Prediction Based on PMU Measurement in Power Plants

A method to predict the perturbed trajectories of multi-machine power system based on measurement results of PMU (phasor measurement unit) equipped at generator terminals is proposed. Combined with state estimation or power flow data, the power system is order-reduced and simplified to such a system consisting of the generator nodes equipped with PMU; after the power system is perturbed, utilizing the measured data of PMU the relations between voltages and currents of the order-reduced nodes is modified and substituted into corresponding generator models to realize the perturbed trajectory prediction of the power system. In the proposed method the data from state estimation or power flows during larger time interval is used to calculate nodal voltages and the initial value of current transitive-relationship matrix; the variation of diagonal elements of this matrix reflects the variations of the detailed models of system components, network topology and parameters after the perturbation, then by use of the PMU measured data in millisecond level the primary diagonal element can be modified. Finally, the simulation of a 6-machine 25-bus power system validates the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Transcranial Laser Stimulation as Neuroenhancement for Attention Bias Modification in Adults with Elevated Depression Symptoms

Abstract Background Low-level light therapy (LLLT) with transcranial laser is a non-invasive form of neuroenhancement shown to regulate neuronal metabolism and cognition. Attention bias modification (ABM) is a cognitive intervention designed to improve depression by decreasing negative attentional bias, but to date its efficacy has been inconclusive. Adjunctive neuroenhancement to augment clinical effectiveness has shown promise, particularly for individuals who respond positively to the primary intervention. Objective/hypothesis This randomized, sham-controlled proof-of-principle study is the first to test the hypothesis that augmentative LLLT will improve the effects of ABM among adults with elevated symptoms of depression. Methods Fifty-one adult participants with elevated symptoms of depression received ABM before and after laser stimulation and were randomized to one of three conditions: right forehead, left forehead, or sham. Participants repeated LLLT two days later and were assessed for depression symptoms one and two weeks later. Results A significant three-way interaction between LLLT condition, ABM response, and time indicated that right LLLT led to greater symptom improvement among participants whose attention was responsive to ABM (i.e., attention was directed away from negative stimuli). Minimal change in depression was observed in the left and sham LLLT. Conclusions The beneficial effects of ABM on depression symptoms may be enhanced when paired with adjunctive interventions such as right prefrontal LLLT; however, cognitive response to ABM likely moderates the impact of neuroenhancement. The results suggest that larger clinical trials examining the efficacy of using photoneuromodulation to augment cognitive training are warranted.
Lipomatous Hemangiopericytoma of the Sellar Region: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Lipomatous hemangiopericytoma is a rare variant of hemangiopericytoma. Only a few cases of LHPC have been reported to date, with only two cases of this entity having been reported in the head and neck area, and none intracranially. We present the clinical, radiological, and histological features of the first reported case of a sellar lipomatous hemangiopericytoma, and review the literature. Material and Methods. We report a case of a 51-year-old man who presented with visual field compromise and was thought to have a pituitary adenoma based on clinical, radiographic and endocrinologic workup; a sellar mass with suprasel- lar extension was found. Results. Histological and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated evidence of a lipomatous hemangiopericytoma of the sellar region. Conclusion. A handful of sellar hemangioperi- cytomas mimicking pituitary adenomas have been previously described. Although one case of lipomatous hemangiopericytoma has been reported in the soft tissues of the occipital region, and one in the skull base and jugular foramen, to our knowledge this is the first reported case of an intracranial (sellar) lipomatous hemangiopericytoma. This tumor represents a distinctive pathologic entity that can only be diagnosed on histological examination.
A source-synchronous filter for uncorrelated receiver traces from a swept-frequency seismic source

ABSTRACTWe have developed a novel algorithm to reduce noise in signals obtained from swept-frequency sources by removing out-of-band external noise sources and distortion caused from unwanted harmonics. The algorithm is designed to condition nonstationary signals for which traditional frequency-domain methods for removing noise have been less effective. The source synchronous filter (SSF) is a time-varying narrow band filter, which is synchronized with the frequency of the source signal at all times. Because the bandwidth of the filter needs to account for the source-to-receiver propagation delay and the sweep rate, SSF works best with slow sweep rates and moveout-adjusted waveforms to compensate for source-receiver delays. The SSF algorithm was applied to data collected during a field test at the University of California Santa Barbara’s Garner Valley downhole array site in Southern California. At the site, a 45 kN shaker was mounted on top of a one-story structure and swept from 0 to 10 Hz and back over ...
Apparitions: Two Theories

An apparition may be roughly defined as a visible but non-physical phenomenon closely resembling a particular human being. The human being in question is not necessarily dead. (The assumption that all apparitions are apparitions of the dead is one of the popular misconceptions engendered by the word ‘ghost’.) Certainly there are what one may call ‘post mortem apparitions’ however we explain them. But there are also apparitions of the living. That is, cases when the human being whom the apparition resembles is not dead. In some cases an apparition of a living person occurs when he is near the point of death, or is in some other ‘critical’ situation; for instance, he is undergoing some accident at the time (not necessarily a fatal one) or is dangerously ill. But such crisis apparitions, as they are called, are not the only apparitions of the living. There are apparitions of living persons who are in perfectly good health at the time or are in no sort of critical situation at all. Occasionally the person to whom or in whose immediate neighborhood the apparition appears is himself in a critical situation (very ill, or dying, or is threatened by some danger or other, known to him or not) but this is not necessary either. If I may say so, the circumstances in which an apparition occurs need not be in any way lurid or soul-stirring, either on the side of the person appearing or on the side of the percipient, though sometimes they are.
Depressive Symptoms: Mediator of Event-Free Survival in Patients With Heart Failure.

Depressive symptoms and poor health perceptions are predictors of higher hospitalization and mortality rates (heart failure [HF]). However, the association between depressive symptoms and health pe...
PaveSim: Simulation of Pavement damage Due to Heavy Vehicles

PaveSim, a dynamic simulation environment, has been created to help develop performance-based operations policy. Integrated into PaveSim is another simulation program called TruckSim, which was developed at the University of Michigan to model heavy vehicles. Using the dynamic wheel loads from TruckSim, PaveSim simulates the performance of jointed concrete pavements. RigidPav, a finite element program, performs the detailed calculation of deflections and stresses in the pavement. Within the PaveSim environment it is possible to quickly vary vehicle parameters such as number of axles and axle spacing, suspension type and characteristics, and payload and distribution. We can also estimate the effects on pavement life of pavement characteristics such as thickness, subgrade support, and joint types. This report presents an overview of the PaveSim environment and its user interface. Most of the report is written as a PaveSim tutorial to be used by pavement designers and policymakers in state and federal departments of transportation.
Performance improvement through quality evaluations of sterile cactus moths, Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), mass-reared at two insectaries

A bi-national program was established by Mexico and the United States to mitigate the threat of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)—an invasive herbivore from South America—to native Opuntia spp. (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae) biodiversity and Opuntia-based industries. Mass-rearing, sterilization, and transport and release technologies assisted with the development of several control tactics including the sterile insect technique. Following the successful eradication of C. cactorum from Mexico and the elimination of C. cactorum from Alabama barrier islands, the bi-national program established an additional mass-rearing insectary for the production of sterile moths. Laboratory and field bioassays were conducted on sterile moths from both insectaries. Bioassays and assessments included moth mass, moth longevity, percentage of female moths mated at time of collection from the insectary, percentage of female moths mated 24 h after collection, flight ability, percentage recaptured after release in the field, and mean distance dispersed from release site. Data from the quality assessments and comparisons between the 2 insectaries were used as feedback mechanisms to make protocol changes in both rearing and handling that improved sterile moth quality and performance. ResumenUn programa bi-nacional fue establecido por Mexico y los Estados Unidos para mitigar la amenaza de Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)—un herbivoro invasivo de America del Sur—a la biodiversidad de las especies de Opuntia (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae) nativas y las industrias basadas en el Opuntia. La cria masiva, la esterilizacion y la tecnologia del transporte y liberacion ayudaron con el desarrollo de varias tacticas de control, incluyendo la tecnica del insecto esteril. Tras el exito en la erradicacion de C. cactorum de Mexico y la eliminacion de C. cactorum de islas barreras del estado de Alabama, el programa bi-nacional establecio un insectario adicional de cria en masa para la produccion de polillas esteriles. Se realizaron bioensayos de laboratorio y de campo en las polillas esteriles de ambos insectarios. Los bioensayos y evaluaciones incluyeron la masa y la longevidad de las polillas, el porcentaje de las polillas hembra apareadas en el momento de su recoleccion en el insectario, el porcentaje de las polillas hembra apareadas 24 horas despues de la recoleccion, la capacidad de vuelo, el porcentaje recapturadas despues de la liberacion en el campo, y el promedio de la distancia del sitio de la liberacion de las polillas capturadas. Los datos de las evaluaciones de la calidad y ls comparacion entre los 2 insectarios fueron utilizados como una mecanismo de retroalimentacion para hacer cambios en el protocolo, tanto en la cria como en el manejo que mejoran la calidad de la polilla esteril y el rendimiento. View this article in BioOne
Marsh canopy structure changes and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Abstract Marsh canopy structure was mapped yearly from 2009 to 2012 in the Barataria Bay, Louisiana coastal region that was impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Based on the previously demonstrated capability of NASA's UAVSAR polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) image data to map Spartina alterniflora marsh canopy structure, structure maps combining the leaf area index (LAI) and leaf angle distribution (LAD, orientation) were constructed for yearly intervals that were directly relatable to the 2010 LAI-LAD classification. The yearly LAI-LAD and LAI difference maps were used to investigate causes for the previously revealed dramatic change in marsh structure from prespill (2009) to postspill (2010, spill cessation), and the occurrence of structure features that exhibited abnormal spatial and temporal patterns. Water level and salinity records showed that freshwater releases used to keep the oil offshore did not cause the rapid growth from 2009 to 2010 in marsh surrounding the inner Bay. Photointerpretation of optical image data determined that interior marsh patches exhibiting rapid change were caused by burns and burn recovery, and that the pattern of 2010 to 2011 LAI decreases in backshore marsh and extending along some tidal channels into the interior marsh were not associated with burns. Instead, the majority of 2010 to 2011 shoreline features aligned with vectors displaying the severity of 2010 shoreline oiling from the DWH spill. Although the association is not conclusive of a causal oil impact, the coexistent pattern is a significant discovery. PolSAR marsh structure mapping provided a unique perspective of marsh biophysical status that enhanced detection of change and monitoring of trends important to management effectiveness.
New Year of 1975 Can Give Ordinary Citizen Remarkable Sights and Experiences in Science

(1975). New Year of 1975 Can Give Ordinary Citizen Remarkable Sights and Experiences in Science. Rocks & Minerals: Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 85-87.
(Up)rooted identities: Caribbean environmental and cultural interplay in Glissant's Mahagony

ABSTRACTThree years before the publication of Poetique de la Relation (1990), Mahagony introduces a shift in Glissant's approach to the environment. This novel not only uses the landscape to present the historical and political contexts that were at the forefront of Glissant's earlier work, but it also begins to articulate the tenets of creolisation promoting the rhizomatic and dialectic nature of the environment through the figure of the mahogany tree. Thus, the tree becomes a central figure in the text that allows the reader to navigate the fragmented narrative and interrelated histories of the island and its people. Weaving past, present, and future, Glissant gestures to the environment's didactic capacity by interlocking key concepts of creolisation with the landscape of the novel and the Caribbean island. My reading of the novel explores the ecocritical implications of the novel by establishing the links among the tree, marronnage, and Caribbean culture.
CDDO and Its Role in Chronic Diseases

There has been a continued interest in translational research focused on both natural products and manipulation of functional groups on these compounds to create novel derivatives with higher desired activities. Oleanolic acid, a component of traditional Chinese medicine used in hepatitis therapy, was modified by chemical processes to form 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO). This modification increased anti-inflammatory activity significantly and additional functional groups on the CDDO backbone have shown promise in treating conditions ranging from kidney disease to obesity to diabetes. CDDO’s therapeutic effect is due to its upregulation of the master antioxidant transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) through conformational change of Nrf2-repressing, Kelch-like erythroid cell-derived protein with CNC homology-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and multiple animal and human studies have verified subsequent activation of Nrf2-controlled antioxidant genes via upstream Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) regions. At the present time, positive results have been obtained in the laboratory and clinical trials with CDDO derivatives treating conditions such as lung injury, inflammation and chronic kidney disease. However, clinical trials for cancer and cardiovascular disease have not shown equally positive results and further exploration of CDDO and its derivatives is needed to put these shortcomings into context for the purpose of future therapeutic modalities.