cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Control of Sensitive Nonlinear Motions of an Ocean Mooring System

Complex sensitive motions have been observed in ocean mooring systems consisting of nonlinear mooring geometries. These physical systems can be modeled as a system of first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations, taking into account geometric nonlinearities in the restoring force, quadratic viscous drag, and harmonic excitation. This study examines the controllability of these systems utilizing an embedded approach to noise filtering and online controllers. The system is controlled using small perturbations about a selected unstable cycle and control is instigated for periodic cycles of varying periodicities. The controller, when applied to the system with additive random noise in the excitation, has marginal success. However, the addition of an iterated Kalman filter applied to the system increases the regime under which the controller behaves under the influence of noise. Because the Kalman filter is applied about locally linear trajectories, the feedback of the nonlinearities through the filter has little effect on the overall filtering system.
Restricted expression of a new paired-class homeobox gene in normal and regenerating adult goldfish retina.

We describe the cloning and expression pattern of a new paired-class homeobox gene, Vsx-1, in the continuously growing retina of the goldfish. Vsx-1 belongs to a subset of paired-class homeobox genes that lack a second DNA binding domain, the paired-domain, and is closely related to the C. elegans ceh-10 gene. In the adult goldfish, Vsx-1 expression is restricted to the neural retina. In the central, mature retina, Vsx-1 mRNA is synthesized in a subset of differentiated cells in the inner nuclear layer in a pattern suggestive of bipolar cells. In immature retina, adjacent to the retinal margin, Vsx-1 is expressed in a relatively broader subset of newly postmitotic cells but is downregulated in some of these cells to form the mature expression pattern. Following retinal injury, during the early phase of regeneration, Vsx-1 mRNA synthesis appears tp be upregulated in cells in the inner nuclear layer and is expressed de novo in cells outside this layer. By virtue of its identity as a transcriptional regulatory gene and its patterns of expression, we speculate that Vsx-1 may stabilize the differentiated state of a subset of cells in the inner nuclear layer and may be involved in cellular differentiation during retinal development and regeneration. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A model for the electroluminescence of spark-processed Si

Abstract We have fabricated electroluminescent (EL) devices from spark-processed Si (sp-Si) using n and p-type silicon. Visible light emission with peaks at around 650 and 730 nm was obtained from devices fabricated using Ag, Au and Al as semitransparent contacts through which the light is emitted. EL is observed under the condition of electron injection into the sp-Si layer for both n and p-type silicon. These devices displayed quasi-rectifying current–voltage ( I – V ) characteristics. Devices fabricated using indium–tin-oxide (ITO) as the semitransparent contact displayed ohmic device characteristics and no light emission was observed. A study of the dependence of the threshold voltage for EL (and EL intensity) on wafer resistivity for n-type Si did not reveal a behavior consistent with carrier inversion, necessary if an injection mechanism were responsible for the luminescence. Absorption peaks were measured in the same spectral range as the emission peaks, and the changes in EL intensity with pre-metallization annealing temperature correlated with the changes of defect concentrations with annealing temperature in sp-Si. It is proposed that electrons generated by impact ionization relax to the ground state via luminescing centers present in sp-silicon resulting in the observed light emission. The dependence of the reverse bias current on temperature for sp-Si EL devices was found to be consistent with impact ionization.
A Nonlinear Transformation for Digital Picture Processing

A nonlinear picture-to-picture transformation is introduced and compared with a straightforward linear transformation. The criterion for comparison is based on the desire to smooth noisy or textured regions while retaining edge definition. Selected examples from a large number of simulations are presented. The transformation presented is believed to be superior to many techniques presently being employed.
Detection of circumoval precipitins by the fluorescent antibody technic.

Summary1. Whole sera and globulins from the blood of individuals infected with Schistosoma mansoni were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Eggs of S. mansoni were incubated in these labeled globulins with subsequent formation of circumoval precipitate. Examination of this precipitate by the direct and indirect FA technics revealed a bright greenish-yellow fluorescence. 2. The fluorescent circumoval precipitin technic demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance. Positive reactions were obtained in 30 sera from individuals with known infections. Negative reactions were obtained in 20 sera from individuals not infected with S. mansoni and in the sera of 25 children, heavily parasitized with intestinal helminths, but not with S. mansoni. 3. The sensitivity and specificity of the circumoval reaction, in addition to the advantages introduced by the fluorescent antibody technic, might make the fluorescent circumoval precipitin technic highly reliable for serological diagnosis of schistosomiasis.
FrameNet-based semantic parsing using maximum entropy models

As part of its description of lexico-semantic predicate frames or conceptual structures, the FrameNet project defines a set of semantic roles specific to the core predicate of a sentence. Recently, researchers have tried to automatically produce semantic interpretations of sentences using this information. Building on prior work, we describe a new method to perform such interpretations. We define sentence segmentation first and show how Maximum Entropy re-ranking helps achieve a level of 76.2% F-score (answer among topfive candidates) or 61.5% (correct answer).
ACCELERATION OF DESSICATION AND POPULATION TRAUMA IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

: Drought has been a hazard in parts of Africa throughout historic times, and in all likelihood prior to that time as well. In recent years the hazard of drought has been increasing in frequency and areal extent. A drought that occured from 1968 to 1974 in Sub-Saharan Africa directly affected millions of people, and directly or indirectly cost the lives of tens of thousands of people. The mechanism involved in the widespread problem is the manner of adjustment of the human population to climatic cycles of short duration, in the face of rapidly growing human and animal numbers. A rapid collapse of the grasslands and an expansion of the Sahara Desert southward into more humid areas has resulted from the increasing pressure on the land from largely subsistance farming and herding. Present social, economic, and political conditions indicate that the process is going to continue to accelerate, affecting ever-increasing numbers of people in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
Persistent infection of C3H/HeJ mice by Ehrlichia chaffeensis

Abstract Description of the pathobiology of the recently described zoonotic agent of human ehrlichiosis ( Ehrlichia chaffeensis ) would be greatly facilitated by the availability of a convenient experimental animal model of infection. We determined whether C3H/HeJ mice could sustain persistent infection by this predominantly monocyte-inhabiting rickettsia. Such mice rapidly produced an intense specific IgG response upon inoculation of ehrlichiae, and high titers were demonstrable for more than 6 months thereafter. Ehrlichiae were reisolated from the peripheral blood and spleen of 1 mouse at day 11 after inoculation. DNA of E. chaffeensis was more frequently detected within these tissues by polymerase chain reaction. Other candidate rodent models appeared to be poor hosts for this pathogen. About half of intact and virtually all splenectomized white-footed mice that were inoculated seroconverted. Sera from inoculated voles and hamsters did not react to antigens of E. chaffeensis . The C3H/HeJ mouse becomes persistently infected by this rickettsia, and may serve as a useful model for studies of the immune response to the agent of human ehrlichiosis.
THE EQUALIZING EFFECTS OF FEDERAL GRANTS

the grants for transportation and communication (mostly for highway construction), and for employment security (administration of unemployment compensation and the unemployment service), grew less rapidly than the total.1 Distribution of grants among the states altered in the decade, and the alteration was markedly in favor of the poorer states. Of the nineteen states which received an above-average increase in per capita federal grants 1941-52, all but two (Rhode Island and Missouri) were below average in per capita income 1949-51. The shift occurred because the greatest expansion was in welfare grants which naturally go to the poorer states and because the distribution formulas were altered so as to favor the poorer states. For example, grants for oldage assistance in 1941 could not exceed half a maximum payment of $40 monthly per recipient, whereas in 1951 the federal government
EFFECTS OF AVOCADO FRUIT PUREE AND OATRIM AS FAT REPLACERS ON THE PHYSICAL, TEXTURAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF OATMEAL COOKIES

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of partial replacement (50% level) of butter fat by two different fat replacers (avocado puree and Oatrim) on the physical, textural and sensory properties of oatmeal cookies. Compared with the control cookie, both fat-reduced cookies had greater heights, reduced spreads, increased % moisture loss and higher water activities (P < 0.05). Textural measurements made using the TA.XT Plus Texture Analyzer showed the fat-reduced cookies to be tougher and less brittle (P < 0.05). Appearance was the only sensory category in which a significant difference was seen (P < 0.05). Both avocado and Oatrim cookies were found to be overall acceptable, and at the 50% level of fat replacement, the total fat content for the avocado and Oatrim cookies decreased by 35 and 39%, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS When incorporated into an overall healthy diet, reduced-fat foods made with fat replacers can play an important role in helping consumers reach and maintain their goal of reducing consumption of dietary fat. Results from this study indicate that cookies with acceptable physical, textural and sensory properties could be produced when 50% of the fat is replaced by Oatrim and avocado fat replacers. Dietitians should be aware of such fat replacers. Improved nutritional content, acceptability, ease of preparation and low cost make avocado puree a viable fat replacement option for use in home-baked products. This data can also serve as a resource to further explore the utilization of Oatrim in developing commercially prepared low-fat cookies and other baked products.
Paleosols and the Cretaceous/Tertiary transition in the Big Bend region of Texas

A marked change in paleosols coincides with the Cretaceous/Tertiary transition in fluvial sediments of the Big Bend region in Texas. Early Paleocene paleosols exhibit thick, black epipedons and a greater depth to the argillic and petrocalcic horizons compared to Late Cretaceous paleosols. These features and comparison with modern soils suggest that early Paleocene soils developed under conditions of higher rainfall and cooler temperatures than did Late Cretaceous soils. The change in paleosols occurs abruptly at the highest occurrence of dinosaur bones in the section.
Explosive route to chaos through a fractal torus in a generalized lotka-volterra model

The behavior of a model that generalizes the Lotka-Volterra problem into three dimensions is presented. The results show the analytic derivation of stability diagrams that describe the system's qualitative features. In particular, we show that for a certain value of the bifurcation parameter the system instantly jumps out of a steady state solution into a chaotic solution that portrays a fractal torus in the three-dimensional phase space. This scenario, is referred to as the explosive route to chaos and is attributed to the non-transversal saddle connection type bifurcation. The stability diagrams also present a region in which the Hopf type bifurcation leads to periodic and chaotic solutions. In addition, the bifurcation diagrams reveal a qualitative similarity to the data obtained in the Texas and Bordeaux experiments on the Belousov-Zhabotinskii chemical reaction. The paper is concluded by showing that the model can be useful for representing dynamics associated with biological and chemical phenomena.
The short-run effects of domestic demand pressure on export delivery delays for machinery

Wells (1964) among others has argued that many export products are not similar to products sold in the home market and that in the short run production resources cannot be shifted easily between the production lines for foreign and domestic markets. On the other hand, a growing number of empirical studies on this subject has shown that, in fact, at least in the United Kingdom, exports were favorably affected by a cut in domestic demand pressure. l The present paper contributes to this debate by focusing on one particular industry, the machinery industry, 2 in three countries, Germany, the IJnited Kingdom, and the United States. Exports of machinery play a major part in deterk.lining the overall export performance of the principal industrial countries; they accounted for over 25 per cent of the exports of dermany, the United Kingdom, and the United States in 1970. Surprisingly, there have been onI:’ a few empirical studies on the short-run export behavior of this indt‘try in relation to domestic demand. Steuer et al. (1966) have shown that the flow of foreign orders received by the U.K. machine-tool industry was not significantly influenced by relative prices but was unfavorably
Linear polarization sensitivity of SeGA detectors

Abstract Parity is a key observable in nuclear spectroscopy. Linear polarization measurements of γ -rays are a probe to access the parities of energy levels. Utilizing the segmentation of detectors in the Segmented Germanium Array (SeGA) at the NSCL and analyzing the positions of interaction therein allows the detectors to be used as Compton polarimeters. Unlike other segmented detectors, SeGA detectors are irradiated from the side to utilize the transversal segmentation for better Doppler corrections. Sensitivity in such an orientation has previously been untested. A linear polarization sensitivity Q ≈ 0.14 has been measured in the 350-keV energy range for SeGA detectors using α – γ correlations from a Cf 249 source.
Receptor-mediated cell attachment and detachment kinetics. I. Probabilistic model and analysis.

The kinetics of receptor-mediated cell adhesion to a ligand-coated surface play a key role in many physiological and biotechnology-related processes. We present a probabilistic model of receptor-ligand bond formation between a cell and surface to describe the probability of adhesion in a fluid shear field. Our model extends the deterministic model of Hammer and Lauffenburger (Hammer, D.A., and D.A. Lauffenburger. 1987. Biophys. J. 52:475–487) to a probabilistic framework, in which we calculate the probability that a certain number of bonds between a cell and surface exists at any given time. The probabilistic framework is used to account for deviations from ideal, deterministic behavior, inherent in chemical reactions involving relatively small numbers of reacting molecules. Two situations are investigated: first, cell attachment in the absence of fluid stress; and, second, cell detachment in the presence of fluid stress. In the attachment case, we examine the expected variance in bond formation as a function of attachment time; this also provides an initial condition for the detachment case. Focusing then on detachment, we predict transient behavior as a function of key system parameters, such as the distractive fluid force, the receptor-ligand bond affinity and rate constants, and the receptor and ligand densities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
From Inferred Personalities Toward Personality in Action

Within the diversity of approaches in personality research, paradigms have shifted away from some generalized concept of personality as out there in the “real world” toward personality as perceived and inferred from behavior in various contexts, and even further toward personality as sequences of actions discernible in the moment-to-moment flow of behavior Some current approaches minimize such perennial problems in personality research as the fuzziness of broad concepts and the variance associated with contexts and with particular perceivers/observers for whom the words used in common measurement procedures have individualistic meanings An assortment of research programs are discussed to illustrate the trend Particular attention is paid to the small behavioral units in most of these programs Although these investigators circumscribe the domains of behavior they study, their findings and conclusions appear to possess substantial external validity Personality research will progress as this slow shift in paradigms continues
Mapping protein-ligand interactions using whole genome phage display libraries.

Abstract The function of many genes cannot be deduced from sequence similarity, and biochemical methods are usually required. Whole genome sequences can be thought of as not only a set of genes but also collections of functional domains. These domains can be studied by affinity methods whereby identification of the ligand can provide information on biochemical function. To take advantage of this method, one must express all functional domains in a form suitable for affinity studies. Phage display technology provides a means for accomplishing this. The pJuFo phage display system, based on the interaction between the leucine zippers Jun and Fos, has been modified and used to create a genomic phage display library from Escherichia coli MG1655. The system has been tested by using the library to map the dominant binding epitopes for an anti-RecA protein polyclonal antibody sera. This methodology provides a general biochemical approach to functional analysis of protein–ligand interactions on a genome-wide basis.
Effect of job demands and social support on worker stress: a study of VDT users

Abstract This study examined the effect of job demands (quantitative workload and computer-related problems) and social support (supervisor and co-worker support) on stress of VDT users. A survey questionnaire was administered to employees of three public service organizations. Two-hundred and sixty-two office workers participated in this study. Results showed that job demands (quantitative workload and computer-related problems) had a direct effect on psychological complaints of VDT users. On the other hand, co-worker support did not affect worker stress. Supervisor support was a buffer against worker stress both in the low and high job demands conditions. However, supervisor support did not have any interactive buffering effect on the relationship between job demands and worker stress.
Determination of the optimal thickness for a multi-layer transformer winding

High frequency transformers (HFT) are needed along with power electronic converters to replace line frequency transformers in high power systems to increase power density. For the design of HFT, it is important to accurately estimate copper losses due to a duty-cycle modulated current waveform. The design also requires determination of the optimal thickness of winding layers, leading to a minimum AC power loss. This paper shows that the Fourier-series method for the loss computation requires the consideration of a large number of harmonics, leading to considerable computational time in the determination of the optimal thickness. A closed form approximate expression for the power loss is presented in this paper that obviates any need for a large series summation, resulting in a relatively simple computation of optimal thickness. Results are validated through numerical computations.
The crystallite size-disorder relationship based on the spiral paracrystal.

A simple physical model of the relationship between crystallite size and disorder for paracrystalline materials is presented, based on the spiral paracrystal and distortion of the lattice cells. Simulations show that the model leads to relationships similar to the \alpha^{*} rule. Average crystallite sizes predicted by the model are in agreement with experimental data and also allow crystallite-size distributions to be proposed. The model provides a more satisfactory and complete explanation of this relationship than do current descriptions.
An Exchange on Jacques Louis David's Paris and Helen

(1988). An Exchange on Jacques Louis David's Paris and Helen. The Art Bulletin: Vol. 70, No. 3, pp. 504-520.
Nonfatal bulbospinal paralysis due to ECHO 4 virus.

The capacity of nonpolio enteroviruses to cause paralytic central nervous system disease has become increasingly apparent. With the suppression of poliovirus infection by mass immunization, the nonpolioviruses account for an increasing proportion of significant paralytic disease. An ECHO 4 virus was isolated from the spinal fluid of a 28-month-old child with severe bulbospinal paralysis. Clinical findings, indistinguishable from those of acute bulbospinal poliomyelitis, are described. The status of ECHO virus infection as a cause of significant paralytic disease is reviewed.
State Variation In Medicaid Spending: Hard To Justify

There is great variation among states in Medicaid spending per low-income person. This variation has many determinants, including state discretion and differences in prices and amounts of services used. Incentives in Medicaid to have low-income states spend more have generally not worked. The decentralized approach to Medicaid and the variations in spending created thereby have consequences in access and health outcomes that seem to belie a presumed national interest in equity. The current trend toward state-based solutions to health care coverage would likely exacerbate existing variations. A federal solution, though not likely, would be necessary to eliminate state variations.
Effects of a nicotinamide-sensitive teratogen 6-aminonicotinamide on chick limb cells in culture☆

Abstract 6-Aminonicotinamide (6AN) produces gross bone malformation when injected into developing chick embryos at 96 h of incubation. Co-treatment with nicotinamide completely relieves these teratogenic effects. Chick limb mesodermal cells in culture exhibit areas of cartilage production reminiscent of in vivo chondrogenic activity. Exposure of these cultures to 6AN produces a specific and unusual degeneration of cells near or in the areas of most intense chondrogenic activity. Co-treatment with nicotinamide also completely prevents these degenerative effects. The effects of 6AN are compared to those of 3-acetylpyridine (3AP) which causes muscle malformations in the developing chick as well as disrupting muscle formation in chick limb mesoderm cultures. Observations are reported which show that exposure of limb bud mesodermal cells to 6AN, whether in ovo or in vitro, can be detected by post-treatment with 3AP in vitro. All of these observations are discussed in light of the teratogenic capacities of 3AP and 6AN and in light of nicotinamide's proposed role in controlling normal limb mesodermal phenotypic expression.
Use of emergency services by unaccompanied minors

Study objective: The objective of the study was to describe the use of emergency services by minors who are unaccompanied by their parents or guardians and how they are managed in emergency departments. Design: Self-administered survey. Type of participants: The ED directors of 71 emergency medicine training programs, 82 Michigan community EDs, and 56 pediatric EDs. Measurements and main results: One hundred eighteen (58%) surveys were returned. A median of five unaccompanied minors (range, 0.2 to 150) were seen weekly by responding EDs. Pediatric EDs saw the most unaccompanied minors weekly (ten) compared with training programs (five) and community EDs (three) ( P P Conclusion: Protocols should be developed for unaccompanied minors to ensure that delays in obtaining consent do not jeopardize the child and that the rights of minors for confidentiality and consent are recognized.
4DCBCT-based motion modeling and 3D fluoroscopic image generation for lung cancer radiotherapy

A method is developed to build patient-specific motion models based on 4DCBCT images taken at treatment time and use them to generate 3D time-varying images (referred to as 3D fluoroscopic images). Motion models are built by applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the displacement vector fields (DVFs) estimated by performing deformable image registration on each phase of 4DCBCT relative to a reference phase. The resulting PCA coefficients are optimized iteratively by comparing 2D projections captured at treatment time with projections estimated using the motion model. The optimized coefficients are used to generate 3D fluoroscopic images. The method is evaluated using anthropomorphic physical and digital phantoms reproducing real patient trajectories. For physical phantom datasets, the average tumor localization error (TLE) and (95th percentile) in two datasets were 0.95 (2.2) mm. For digital phantoms assuming superior image quality of 4DCT and no anatomic or positioning disparities between 4DCT and treatment time, the average TLE and the image intensity error (IIE) in six datasets were smaller using 4DCT-based motion models. When simulating positioning disparities and tumor baseline shifts at treatment time compared to planning 4DCT, the average TLE (95th percentile) and IIE were 4.2 (5.4) mm and 0.15 using 4DCT-based models, while they were 1.2 (2.2) mm and 0.10 using 4DCBCT-based ones, respectively. 4DCBCT-based models were shown to perform better when there are positioning and tumor baseline shift uncertainties at treatment time. Thus, generating 3D fluoroscopic images based on 4DCBCT-based motion models can capture both inter- and intra- fraction anatomical changes during treatment.
Coordinated Studies of Ultraviolet Radiation and Amphibians in Lentic Wetland Habitats

The recent depletion of stratospheric ozone hasresulted in increased terrestrial ultraviolet-B radi-ation (UV-B, 280–320-nm wavelengths) and isamong the most dramatic examples of humanactivities affecting global ecosystems. Because thenegative effects of UV-B on biological systems arewell-known, increased exposure represents a clearthreat to human health and ecosystems worldwide(Helbling and Zagarese 2003). In 1987, respondingto this threat, representatives from 24 nationssigned the Montreal Protocol, the ﬁrst in a series oflandmark global agreements designed to preservestratospheric ozone by reducing industrial produc-tion of ozone-depleting compounds (Morrisette1989). These actions have slowed the rate of ozonereduction; however, stratospheric ozone concen-trations are presently at their lowest levels everand, even assuming complete global compliancewith the Montreal Protocol, are not expected toapproach pre-CFC-release levels for 15–45 years(Weatherhead and others 2000).Through the 1970s and 1980s, as UV-B levelsreaching the surface of the earth increased,amphibian species disappeared from many loca-tions worldwide (Middleton and others 2001). Astrong link between amphibian declines and UV-Bhas not yet been demonstrated, but researchershave begun to evaluate patterns of habitat occu-pancy and declines for evidence of UV-Bs inﬂu-ence in nature (Adams and others 2001; Davidsonand others 2001, 2002; Middleton and others 2001)and to assess the risk that UV-B currently poses forwild amphibians (Palen and others 2002). Al-though the causes of speciﬁc amphibian declinesand disappearances are usually unclear, a numberof ﬁeld experiments have shown that UV-B presentin natural sunlight can increase mortality andmalformation rates in embryos of some amphibians(reviewed in Corn 2000; Blaustein and others2003; Licht 2003). In January 1999, biologists fromthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Geological Sur-vey (USGS), and academia convened in Duluth,Minnesota, USA, to discuss how to evaluate therisk that UV-B poses to natural amphibian popu-lations and to design a research project using theParks Research and Intensive Monitoring of Eco-systems Network (PRIMENet).PRIMENet is a joint EPA–NPS program estab-lished to assess the effects of environmentalstressors on ecological systems nationwide (http://www.forestry.umt.edu/research/MFCES/pro-grams/primenet/). PRIMENet encompasses 14national park sites at which UV-B levels aremonitored continuously by Brewer spectropho-
The deletion of Math5 disrupts retinal blood vessel and glial development in mice

Retinal vascular development is a complex process that is not yet fully understood. The majority of research in this area has focused on astrocytes and the template they form in the inner retina, which precedes endothelial cells in the mouse retina. In humans and dogs, however, astrocyte migration follows behind development of blood vessels, suggesting that other cell types may guide this process. One such cell type is the ganglion cell, which differentiates before blood vessel formation and lies adjacent to the primary retinal vascular plexus. The present study investigated the potential role played by ganglion cells in vascular development using Math5−/− mice. It has previously been reported that Math5 regulates the differentiation of ganglion cells and Math5−/− mice have a 95% reduction in these cells. The development of blood vessels and glia was investigated using Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4 labeling and GFAP immunohistochemistry, respectively. JB-4 analysis demonstrated that the hyaloid vessels arose from choriovitreal vessels adjacent to the optic nerve area. As previously reported, Math5−/− mice had a rudimentary optic nerve. The primary retinal vessels did not develop post-natally in the Math5−/− mice, however, branches of the hyaloid vasculature eventually dove into the retina and formed the inner retinal capillary networks. An astrocyte template only formed in some areas of the Math5−/− retina. In addition, GFAP+ Muller cells were seen throughout the retina that had long processes wrapped around the hyaloid vessels. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed Muller cell abnormalities and revealed disruptions in the inner limiting membrane. The present data demonstrates that the loss of ganglion cells in the Math5−/− mice is associated with a lack of retinal vascular development.
Project Northland: comprehensive alcohol use prevention for young adolescents, their parents, schools, peers and communities.

Objective: Project Northland is an ongoing prevention trial with the objective of reducing underage drinking and related problems. Phase I focused on early adolescence and this study describes the multiple interventions, highlighting its parent components. Methods: A cohort design was used with sixth graders from 24 school districts (N = 2,35 1: 97% of the eligible population: 51.3% boys), randomly assigned to intervention or reference condition. Phase I ended in eighth grade (N = 1,901: 81% retention rate). Both demand and supply reduction guided the interventions. This study examined Project Northland's impact using MMPI-A scales assessing clinical problems related to adolescents' alcohol and other drug use (Alcohol/Drug Problems Proneness scale; Alcohol/Drug Problems Acknowledgement scale), as well as MMPI-A scales related to school functioning (Adolescent-School Problems Content scale: Adolescent-Low Aspirations Content scale) and family functioning (Adolescent-Family Problems Content scale). Results:...
The response of the microsomal Δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerase from several steroidogenic tissues to nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotides☆

Abstract The Δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerases (3-ketosteroidΔ4-Δ5-isomerase, EC5.3.1.1) from the microsomal fraction of several mammalian steroidogenic tissues respond to NAD+ and NADH. In three cases, mouse and guinea-pig adrenals and rat testes, these pyridine nucleotides stimulate the isomerase activity in a manner similar to that first noted in the rat-adrenal gland2. The enzymes from beef-adrenal cortex and bovine corpus luteum exhibit only a small stimulation by NAD+ and NADH, but this can be greatly increased under certain conditions. Thus, in an acetone-powder preparation, at elevated temperatures, or in the presence of p- chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (PCMS), the activation of the beef-adrenal enzyme is enhanced several fold. The pyridine nucleotides inhibit the rabbit-adrenal isomerase, but a stimulation can be observed at acid pH values. NADP+ and NADPH are less effective by a factor of io 3. Possible mechanisms to account for these observations are discussed.
High-precision high-coverage functional inference from integrated data sources

Information obtained from diverse data sources can be combined in a principled manner using various machine learning methods to increase the reliability and range of knowledge about protein function. The result is a weighted functional linkage network (FLN) in which linked neighbors share at least one function with high probability. Precision is, however, low. Aiming to provide precise functional annotation for as many proteins as possible, we explore and propose a two-step framework for functional annotation (1) construction of a high-coverage and reliable FLN via machine learning techniques (2) development of a decision rule for the constructed FLN to optimize functional annotation. We first apply this framework to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the first step, we demonstrate that four commonly used machine learning methods, Linear SVM, Linear Discriminant Analysis, Naive Bayes, and Neural Network, all combine heterogeneous data to produce reliable and high-coverage FLNs, in which the linkage weight more accurately estimates functional coupling of linked proteins than use individual data sources alone. In the second step, empirical tuning of an adjustable decision rule on the constructed FLN reveals that basing annotation on maximum edge weight results in the most precise annotation at high coverages. In particular at low coverage all rules evaluated perform comparably. At coverage above approximately 50%, however, they diverge rapidly. At full coverage, the maximum weight decision rule still has a precision of approximately 70%, whereas for other methods, precision ranges from a high of slightly more than 30%, down to 3%. In addition, a scoring scheme to estimate the precisions of individual predictions is also provided. Finally, tests of the robustness of the framework indicate that our framework can be successfully applied to less studied organisms. We provide a general two-step function-annotation framework, and show that high coverage, high precision annotations can be achieved by constructing a high-coverage and reliable FLN via data integration followed by applying a maximum weight decision rule.
A plasticity model for cellular materials with open-celled structure

Abstract Based on a rigid-plastic material model that obeys the von Mises yield criterion, the plastic behavior of foams with an open-celled structure is studied in this paper using a single unit cell. An approximate continuum plasticity model is developed within the framework of the upper bound theorem of plasticity to describe the yield behavior of foams. The microscopic velocity fields are derived for the unit cell, which satisfy the incompressibility and the kinematic boundary conditions, and expressed in macroscopic rate of deformation. From the microscopic velocity fields, a macroscopic yield function is developed for foams under multi-axial stresses and includes the effects of the hydrostatic stress due to the void presence and growth. The dependency of the derived yield surfaces of foams on their relative densities is studied. The plastic behavior of foams is also studied numerically using the finite element method. The newly developed plasticity model is compared with the finite element analysis results and other available foam models and then correlated with the finite element results.
Use of Acute Hyperphenylalaninemia in Rhesus Monkeys to Examine Sensitivity and Stability of the l-[1-11C]Leucine Method for Measurement of Regional Rates of Cerebral Protein Synthesis with Pet

We have previously shown by direct comparison with autoradiographic and biochemical measurements that the L-[1-(11)C]leucine positron emission tomography method provides accurate determinations of regional rates of cerebral protein synthesis (rCPS) and the fraction (lambda) of unlabeled leucine in the precursor pool for protein synthesis derived from arterial plasma. In this study, we examine sensitivity of the method to detect changes in lambda and stability of the method to measure rCPS in the face of these changes. We studied four isoflurane-anesthetized monkeys dynamically scanned with the high resolution research tomograph under control and mild hyperphenylalaninemic conditions. Hyperphenylalaninemia was produced by an infusion of phenylalanine that increased plasma phenylalanine concentrations three- to five-fold. In phenylalanine-infused monkeys, plasma leucine concentrations remained relatively constant, but values of lambda were statistically significantly decreased by 11% to 15%; rCPS was unaffected. Effects on lambda are consistent with competitive inhibition of leucine transport by increased plasma phenylalanine. The effect on lambda shows that competition for the transporter results in a reduction in the fraction of leucine in the precursor pool for protein synthesis coming from plasma. Even under these hyperphenylalaninemic conditions, rCPS remains unchanged due to the compensating increased contribution of leucine from protein degradation to the precursor pool.
Symmetric and asymmetric filters of two-dimensional NMR spectra

The signals in a variety of two-dimensional NMR spectra are related to certain other signals by symmetry. Several years ago Baumann et al. proposed that the symmetry of the signals could be exploited as a means to improve the signal-to-noise of the spectra (I, 2). They reasoned that since the spectra from homonuclear chemicalshift-correlation experiments, whether based on scalar couplings or the nuclear Overhauser effect, have signals which are symmetric about the diagonal whereas those of spurious signals were not that symmetric, filters could be constructed to retain the symmetrically disposed signals and suppress the others. One of the two approaches suggested was referred to as symmetrization (1). In this procedure the signal at a given position, Z(m, n), is given by the smaller of the two intensities in the untreated data which are symmetric about the diagonal being Z”(m, n) and Z’(n, m). This procedure effectively reduces tl noise and other spurious signals and leads to a minimum estimate for the signal intensities. The other approach suggested is known as triangular multiplication (2). This procedure gives a two-dimensional spectrum whose intensities Z(m, n) are given by the smaller of the two intensities P(m, n) and the square root of p(m, n)*Z’(n, m). While the triangular multiplication method requires somewhat more calculation it has apparently gained more favor than the symmetrization approach. One or both of these approaches is incorporated into the commercial software of currently available spectrometers and these techniques are widely used. The motivations for using such filters to improve signal-to-noise include not only to aid the normal analysis of two-dimensional spectra but to obtain data which are suitable for computer analysis. High noise levels make computer analysis of two-dimensional spectra quite difficult. Procedures to pretreat the data to reduce the noise will be a considerable aid to computer analysis of two-dimensional spectra. Other methods used previously include the maximum entropy method (3) and spatial filters (4). The symmetry based filters of Baumann et al. are very effective but suffer from a few basic limitations. One is that the filters are not readily adaptable to filtering out the symmetric part of the data. For example, in homonuclear double-quantum spectra the signals which are symmetric with respect to the diagonal tend to be artifacts and not true signals and removal of such would improve the quality of the spectra. Another
Research Note: Effect of Prefeeding on Physiological Parameters Associated with Turkey Poult Mortality

A commercially available antibiotic and nutrient solution was prefed by gavage into the crops of newly hatched poults, which were then brooded under standard conditions of continuous lighting, 35-C temperatures, and ad libitum feed. Treated poults exhibited higher feed consumption, hematocrits, and total red blood cells during the week following the prefeeding regime. Prefeeding partially ameliorated the typically low hematological parameters that have been associated previously with early poult mortality. The results of this study suggest that prefeeding an antibiotic and nutrient solution significantly improves the welfare of poults during the 1st week after hatching.
An anisotropic mesh adaptation method for the finite element solution of heterogeneous anisotropic diffusion problems

Heterogeneous anisotropic diffusion problems arise in the various areas of science and engineering including plasma physics, petroleum engineering, and image processing. Standard numerical methods can produce spurious oscillations when they are used to solve those problems. A common approach to avoid this difficulty is to design a proper numerical scheme and/or a proper mesh so that the numerical solution validates the discrete counterpart (DMP) of the maximum principle satisfied by the continuous solution. A well known mesh condition for the DMP satisfaction by the linear finite element solution of isotropic diffusion problems is the non-obtuse angle condition that requires the dihedral angles of mesh elements to be non-obtuse. In this paper, a generalization of the condition, the so-called anisotropic non-obtuse angle condition, is developed for the finite element solution of heterogeneous anisotropic diffusion problems. The new condition is essentially the same as the existing one except that the dihedral angles are now measured in a metric depending on the diffusion matrix of the underlying problem. Several variants of the new condition are obtained. Based on one of them, two metric tensors for use in anisotropic mesh generation are developed to account for DMP satisfaction and the combination of DMP satisfaction and mesh adaptivity. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the features of the linear finite element method for anisotropic meshes generated with the metric tensors.
Ca2+ dependent ATPase activity of bovine receptor cell outer segment.

THE bleaching of as little as one molecule of rhodopsin can trigger hyperpolarisation of the vertebrate visual receptor cell1. A light modulated Ca2+ flux may function in the receptor cell outer segments (OS) as an intracellular messenger amplifying and transducing the photochemical signal from its disk location to the external plasma membrane2,3. In support of this hypothesis, Ca2+ has been shown to be concentrated in dark adapted disks4 and to be released on bleaching5–7. This suggests the presence of a Ca2+-dependent ATPase, an enzyme often associated with cellular Ca2+ pumps. The report that either the bleaching of a few per cent of the rhodopsin molecules within a frog rod suspension or the intra-OS elevation of Ca2+ to 10−7 M or greater, by means of ionophore A23187, can induce a rapid and very large decrease in ATP content8 provides indirect evidence for the presence of a Ca2+-activated ATPase. Interpretation of this finding is difficult, however, due to other known light-activated, ATP-dependent OS functions9. We present here direct evidence that purified bovine OS exhibit significant Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity, which seems to be independent of contributions from subcellular contamination.
Measuring democratic accountability: an initial report on an emerging data set

En este trabajo reportamos sobre una nueva base de datos de encuestas a expertos, cursadas en mas de 90 paises de todo el mundo. Esta base de datos ayuda a superar la ausencia de informacion comparable entre paises en torno a los mecanismos democraticos de relacion entre ciudadanos y politicos; los modos como estos proveen bienes especificos coyunturales a cambio de apoyos electorales. Ademas, evita una limitacion que caracteriza a la mayoria de los estudios anteriores sobre rendicion de cuentas en un contexto democratico: su reducido enfoque geografico y el hecho de ser estudios de casos particulares. El reporte arroja luz sobre los desafios metodologicos enfrentados en el proceso de implantacion de la encuesta e interpretacion de sus resultados. Asimismo destaca los pasos tomados para determinar la calidad de la informacion. Este analisis preliminar de los resultados de la encuesta permite afirmar que los indicadores desarrollados son fiables y validos para medir las practicas organizacionales de los partidos politicos, sus mecanismos de relacion con el electorado y sus orientaciones programaticas.
The science commons in health research: structure, function, and value.

The “science commons,” knowledge that is widely accessible at low or no cost, is a uniquely important input to scientific advance and cumulative technological innovation. It is primarily, although not exclusively, funded by government and nonprofit sources. Much of it is produced at academic research centers, although some academic science is proprietary and some privately funded R&D enters the science commons. Science in general aspires to Mertonian norms of openness, universality, objectivity, and critical inquiry. The science commons diverges from proprietary science primarily in being open and being very broadly available. These features make the science commons particularly valuable for advancing knowledge, for training innovators who will ultimately work in both public and private sectors, and in providing a common stock of knowledge upon which all players—both public and private—can draw readily. Open science plays two important roles that proprietary R&D cannot: it enables practical benefits even in the absence of profitable markets for goods and services, and its lays a shared foundation for subsequent private R&D. The history of genomics in the period 1992–2004, covering two periods when genomic startup firms attracted significant private R&D investment, illustrates these features of how a science commons contributes value. Commercial interest in genomics was intense during this period. Fierce competition between private sector and public sector genomics programs was highly visible. Seemingly anomalous behavior, such as private firms funding “open science,” can be explained by unusual business dynamics between established firms wanting to preserve a robust science commons to prevent startup firms from limiting established firms’ freedom to operate. Deliberate policies to create and protect a large science commons were pursued by nonprofit and government funders of genomics research, such as the Wellcome Trust and National Institutes of Health. These policies were crucial to keeping genomic data and research tools widely available at low cost.
Add-drop filter incorporating a mode-conversion cavity

We demonstrate a new add-drop filter architecture combining an asymmetric Y-branch mode conversion waveguide and a high index contrast shifted grating mode-conversion cavity. Measurements show add-drop functionality in a linear Fabry-Perot filter.