cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eruptive squamous cell carcinomata following psoralen‐UVA phototoxicity

Summary Psoralen and UVA (PUVA) therapy is an effective treatment for severe psoriasis, but may be associated with an increased incidence of skin cancers. We report one patient on long-term PUVA therapy who developed several eruptive squamous cell carcinomata I month following a PUVA treatment that had resulted in a phototoxic reaction. PUVA is discussed as the possible aetiology of these lesions.
Small-angle X-ray scattering studies of the intact eye lens: Effect of crystallin composition and concentration on microstructure

Abstract Background The cortex and nucleus of eye lenses are differentiated by both crystallin protein concentration and relative distribution of three major crystallins (α, β, and γ). Here, we explore the effects of composition and concentration of crystallins on the microstructure of the intact bovine lens (37 °C) along with several lenses from Antarctic fish (− 2 °C) and subtropical bigeye tuna (18 °C). Methods Our studies are based on small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) investigations of the intact lens slices where we study the effect of crystallin composition and concentration on microstructure. Results We are able to distinguish the nuclear and cortical regions by the development of a characteristic peak in the intensity of scattered X-rays. For both the bovine and fish lenses, the peak corresponds to that expected for dense suspensions of α-crystallins. Conclusions The absence of the scattering peak in the nucleus indicates that there is no characteristic wavelength for density fluctuations in the nucleus although there is liquid-like order in the packing of the different crystallins. The loss in peak is due to increased polydispersity in the sizes of the crystallins and due to the packing of the smaller γ-crystallins in the void space of α-crystallins. General significance Our results provide an understanding for the low turbidity of the eye lens that is a mixture of different proteins. This will inform design of optically transparent suspensions that can be used in a number of applications (e.g., artificial liquid lenses) or to better understand human diseases pathologies such as cataract.
Isolation and properties of mutants of Escherichia coli with increased phosphorylation of thiomethyl-β-galactoside☆

Abstract Mutants of Escherichia coli were isolated which accumulated abnormally large amounts of radioactivity when cells were incubated in the presence of [ 14 C]thiomethyl-β-galactoside ([ 14 C]TMG). In addition to the normal amounts of free TMG, the mutant cells contained large quantities of phosphorylated TMG. Time-course studies showed that accumulation of free TMG precedes phosphorylation. The greater capacity of the intact mutant cells to phosphorylate TMG was confirmed with sonicated preparations. Evidence was obtained that the phosphorylation was catalyzed by a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. β-Galactoside transport negative (y − ) mutants isolated from the hyper-phosphorylating mutants retained their increased capacity to phosphorylate TMG. While the natural substrate for this phosphorylation system is not yet clear, the system does not seem to be essential for the membrane transport of TMG.
Future directions in focal-plane signal processing for spaceborne scientific imagers

The potential of focal-plane signal processing for space-borne scientific imagers is discussed. Significant improvement in image quality and consequent scientific return may be enabled through the utilization of focal-plane signal processing techniques. The possible application of focal-plane signal processing to readout noise reduction, cosmic ray circumvention, non-uniformity correction, and throughput enhancement is described. On-focal-plane analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion and micromotion stabilization are also discussed. It is the intention of this paper to stimulate further thought and efforts in this field.
Hygroscopic weight gain of pollen grains from Juniperus species.

Juniperus pollen is highly allergenic and is produced in large quantities across Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. The pollen negatively affects human populations adjacent to the trees, and since it can be transported hundreds of kilometers by the wind, it also affects people who are far from the source. Predicting and tracking long-distance transport of pollen is difficult and complex. One parameter that has been understudied is the hygroscopic weight gain of pollen. It is believed that juniper pollen gains weight as humidity increases which could affect settling rate of pollen and thus affect pollen transport. This study was undertaken to examine how changes in relative humidity affect pollen weight, diameter, and settling rate. Juniperus ashei, Juniperus monosperma, and Juniperus pinchotii pollen were applied to greased microscope slides and placed in incubation chambers under a range of temperature and humidity levels. Pollen on slides were weighed using an analytical balance at 2- and 6-h intervals. The size of the pollen was also measured in order to calculate settling rate using Stokes’ Law. All pollen types gained weight as humidity increased. The greatest settling rate increase was exhibited by J. pinchotii which increased by 24 %.
The distribution of neocortical projection neurons in the locus coeruleus.

The present study was conducted to examine the spatial organization of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons that project to rat cerebral cortex. Long-Evans hooded rats received unilateral pressure injections of horseradish peroxi-dase (HRP) in either frontal (n = 6) or sensorimotor (n = 11) or occipital (n = 7) cortex to determine the intranuclear location of LC neurons which project to specific neocortical regions. Coronal and sagittal sections (40–100 μm) through the LC were examined by light microscopy after carrying out the tetramethyl benzidine reaction and staining with neutral red. The locations of retrogradely labeled cells were recorded on a three-dimensional biological coordinate system maintained by a computer linked to the light microscope. LC neurons labeled from cerebrocortical injections of HRP were primarily located in the ipsilateral and to a lesser extent (fewer than 5% of total labeled cells) in the contralateral nucleus. Coeruleocortical projection neurons were concentrated in the caudal three-fifths of the dorsal division of the ipsilateral LC. Within this portion of the nucleus, HRP-filled neurons were distributed so that individual groups of cells projecting to occipital or sensorimotor or frontal cortex were coarsely aligned in a dorsal to ventral array, respectively. Moreover, in the sagittal plane of the nucleus the pattern of labeling was spatially graded so that the subset of neurons projecting to the occipital cortex was displaced more caudally in the LC than the groups of cells sending axons to sensorimotor or frontal cortex. Only the frontal area of the cortex received a projection from both dorsal and ventral divisions of the ipsilateral LC. Computer-assisted analysis of the data further suggested that neocortical projection neurons in the dorsal LC are loosely organized into two groups which run rostrocaudally through the core of the caudal nucleus. The zone of labeling resulting from injections confined to the neocortical gray matter overlapped with but was not coextensive with that observed following injections into the caudate, hippocampus, and cerebellum. These results suggest that partially overlapping subsets of LC cells might independently influence separate populations of neurons within noradrenergic terminal fields of the neocortex.
Regulation of αB-crystallin gene expression by the transcription factor Ets1 in breast cancer

Recent studies indicate that the small heat shock protein αB-crystallin is expressed in poor prognosis basal-like breast tumors and likely contributes to their aggressive phenotype. However, the mechanisms underlying the deregulated expression of αB-crystallin in basal-like tumors are poorly understood. Using a bioinformatics approach, we identified a putative DNA binding motif in the human αB-crystallin promoter for the proto-oncogene Ets1, a member of the ETS transcription factor family that bind to DNA at palindromic ETS-binding sites (EBS). Here we demonstrate that ectopic expression of Ets1 activates the αB-crystallin promoter by an EBS-dependent mechanism and increases αB-crystallin protein levels, while silencing Ets1 reduces αB-crystallin promoter activity and protein levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses showed that endogenous Ets1 binds to the αB-crystallin promoter in basal-like breast cancer cells in vivo. Interrogation of publically available gene expression data revealed that Ets1 is expressed in human basal-like breast tumors and is associated with poor survival. Collectively, our results point to a previously unrecognized link between the oncogenic transcription factor Ets1 and αB-crystallin in basal-like breast cancer.
Smart Money? The Effect of Education on Financial Outcomes

Household financial decisions are important for household welfare, economic growth, and financial stability. Yet our understanding of the determinants of financial decision making is limited. Exploiting exogenous variation in state compulsory schooling laws in both standard and two-sample instrumental variable strategies, we show that education increases financial market participation, measured by investment income and equities ownership, while dramatically reducing the probability that an individual declares bankruptcy, experiences a foreclosure, or is delinquent on a loan. Further results and a simple calibration suggest that the result is driven by changes in savings or investment behavior, rather than simply increased labor earnings.
Esophagopharyngeal distribution of refluxed gastric acid in patients with reflux laryngitis

Abstract Background & Aims A variety of otolaryngological abnormalities have been attributed to the contact of gastroesophageal refluxate with respective structures of the aerodigestive tract. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the pharyngoesophageal distribution of gastric acid refluxate between patients with proven laryngitis attributed clinically to gastroesophageal reflux and three control groups. Methods An ambulatory 24-hour simultaneous three-site pharyngoesophageal pH monitoring technique was used to measure reflux parameters in the pharynx, proximal esophagus, and distal esophagus. Results Between-group comparison showed no significant difference in the reflux parameters in the distal esophagus between the studied groups. A significantly higher percentage of distal reflux episodes reached the proximal esophagus in the laryngitis group than in the control groups ( P P
MULTIPLE DEVICE COLLABORATIVE AND REAL TIME ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Complexity in civil engineering projects has increased over the years, which has led to an increase in the number of organizations involved in those projects. In todays environment, these organizat...
Separation and Characterization of Four Hexose Kinases from Developing Maize Kernels

Four forms of hexose kinase activity from developing maize (Zea mays L.) kernels have been separated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration chromatography, blue-agarose chromatography, and ion exchange chromatography. Two of these hexose kinases utilized d-glucose most effectively and are classified as glucokinases (EC 2.7.1.2). The other two hexose kinases utilized only d-fructose and are classified as fructokinases (EC 2.7.1.4). All hexose kinases analyzed had broad pH optima between 7.5 and 9.5 with optimal activity at pH 8.5. The two glucokinases differed in substrate affinities. One form had low Km values [Km(glucose) = 117 micromolar, Km(ATP) = 66 micromolar] whereas the other form had much higher Km values [Km(glucose) = 750 micromolar, Km(ATP) = 182 micromolar]. Both fructokinases had similar substrate saturation responses. The Km(fructose) was about 130 micromolar and the Km(ATP) was about 700 micromolar. Both exhibited uncompetitive substrate inhibition by fructose [Ki(fructose) = 1.40 to 2.00 millimolar]. ADP inhibited all four hexose kinase activities, whereas sugar phosphates had little effect on their activities. The data suggest that substrate concentrations are an important factor controlling hexose kinase activity in situ.
The solar neutrino day/night effect in Super-Kamiokande

The time variation of the elastic scattering rate of solar neutrinos with electrons in Super-Kamiokande-I was fit to the day/night variations expected from active two-neutrino oscillations in the Large Mixing Angle region. Combining Super-Kamiokande measurements with other solar and reactor neutrino data, the mixing angle is determined as sin 2 θ = 0.276 −0.026 +0.033 and the mass squared difference between the two neutrino mass eigenstates as Δ m 2 = 7.1 −0.5 +0.6 × 10 −5 eV 2 . For the best fit parameters, a day/night asymmetry of − 1.7 ± 1.6 ( stat ) −1.2 +1.3 ( syst ) % determined from the Super-Kamiokande data, which has improved statistical precision over previous measurements and is in excellent agreement with the expected value of −1.6%.
Developing limited proteolysis and mass spectrometry for the characterization of ribosome topography

An approach that combines limited proteolysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been developed to probe protease-accessible sites of ribosomal proteins from intact ribosomes. Escherichia coli and Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosomes were subjected to limited proteolysis using different proteases under strictly controlled conditions. Intact ribosomal proteins and large proteolytic peptides were recovered and directly analyzed by MALDI-MS, which allows for the determination of proteins that are resistant to proteolytic digestion by accurate measurement of molecular weights. Larger proteolytic peptides can be directly identified by the combination of measured mass, enzyme specificity, and protein database searching. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation revealed that the majority of the 70S ribosome dissociates into intact 30S and 50S subunits after 120 min of limited proteolysis. Thus, examination of ribosome populations within the first 30 to 60 min of incubation provides insight into 70S structural features. Results from E. coli and T. thermophilus revealed that a significantly larger fraction of 50S ribosomal proteins have similar limited proteolysis behavior than the 30S ribosomal proteins of these two organisms. The data obtained by this approach correlate with information available from the high-resolution crystal structures of both organisms. This new approach will be applicable to investigations of other large ribonucleoprotein complexes, is readily extendable to ribosomes from other organisms, and can facilitate additional structural studies on ribosome assembly intermediates.
Impact of process design on the multiplicity behavior of a jacketed exothermic CSTR

Research on exothermic reactor operation has been based mostly on the classic two-state continuous stirred tank reactor model, implicitly assuming that the cooling jacket temperature dynamics are negligible. In this case, the cooling jacket temperature is the manipulated input instead of the cooling jacket flow rate for feedback control of reactor temperature. Adding a cooling jacket energy balance results in much more complex behavior than a simple lag effect. A stabilizing inner-loop cascade controller is assumed in the two-state CSTR model, because the three-state model incorporating cooling jacket temperature dynamics may be open-loop unstable when the two-state model is open-loop stable. The influence of design parameters on the multiplicity behavior of a three-state model is considered. Elementary catastrophe theory is used to study the effect of process parameters such as the cooling jacket flow rate, heat-transfer coefficient, heat of reaction, and cooling jacket feed temperature on the steady-state multiplicity of the three-state model. This multiplicity analysis is particularly relevant for control because the primary bifurcation parameter is the cooling jacket flow rate, the manipulated input for feedback control in the three-state model. This multiplicity analysis guides improvements in process design and/or operation to eliminate difficult operating regions associated with steady-state multiplicities; the presence of multiple steady states results in safety and operation problems due to ignition/extinction phenomena. Reactor scale-up affects the presence of these infeasible reactor operating regions. Certain design parameter changes that remove multiplicities in the two-state model cannot remove multiplicities in the three-state model.
On the Correlation of Gravity with Tidal ANOMALIES

Tidal deformations of the solid earth show remarkable regional fluctuations. Mean gravity anomalies reveal strong positive correlation with the regional variations in the vertical tide component, if the effect of topography on the gravity field is reduced by isostatic proceedings. The correlation of these “tidal anomalies” with the lower harmonics of the gravity field is weaker. Heterogenities of the upper mantle may be a source of these differences in the deformations.
Heat transfer enhancement of PAO in microchannel heat exchanger using nano-encapsulated phase change indium particles

Abstract This paper describes a new method to enhance the heat transfer capability of a single phase liquid by adding phase change nanoparticles (nano-PCMs), which absorb thermal energy during solid–liquid phase changes. Two types of slurries having bare and silica encapsulated indium nano-PCMs have been made using colloid method and suspended into poly-α-olefin (PAO) for potential high temperature (150 ∼ 180 °C) applications. The silica shells were devised in an effort to prevent agglomeration of molten phase change materials. In addition, the silica shells were evaluated for their effect on thermal performance. Experiments with the microchannel heat exchanger (MC) indicated that the heat transfer coefficient of slurry with 30% bare indium nanoparticle can reach 47,000 W/m2 K at flow rate of 3.5 ml/s (velocity of 0.28 m/s). The magnitude of heat transfer coefficient represents 2 times improvement over that of single phase PAO, and is also higher than that of single phase water which is at ∼45,000 W/m2 K. A thermal cycling test involving 5000 cycles showed a consistent performance of both types of slurries, thus negating the need for the encapsulation of In nano-PCMs in PAO.
The DAEδALUS Experiment

Abstract DAEδALUS is an experiment to measure the CP -violation angle in the neutrino sector by producing multiple, intense beams of neutrinos from pion- and muon-decays-at-rest near an ultra-large water Cerenkov detector. In this talk, a design for the proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory in the U.S. was presented. DAEδALUS will be statistics-limited and have different systematic errors than long baseline CP -violation searches. When the data from both searches are combined, the sensitivity exceeds proton-driver designs. In this proceeding, we briefly describe one of several alternative cyclotron designs under consideration for DAEδALUS, as an example.
The effects of environmental change on individuals and groups: Some neglected issues in stress research.

Abstract Homeostatic models of the effects of environmental change often entail certain assumptions that may not be warranted. It is widely assumed that the effects of negative environmental change or stress are necessarily adverse and have relatively short-term effects. It is further assumed that these effects are linear, that is, the greater the stress, the more negative the outcome. In contrast, from an ecological and developmental perspective, environmental change is seen as having possible paradoxical (i.e., positive) outcomes as well, depending upon the type and timing of the outcome assessed, and situational and individual factors. Non-linear models are reviewed for their applicability to a broader conceptualization of environmental change. This approach includes both multiple determinants and outcomes of stress, and is sensitive to ecological and developmental concerns, such as the timing and context of the stressor and possible long-term outcomes.
Does it matter whether we do wrong

This paper examines the relationship between monadic and bipolar forms of normativity. As the distinction is usually drawn, monadic normativity concerns whether a given action is right or wrong while bipolar normativity concerns who, if anyone, is wronged in any putative instance of wrongdoing. My central thesis is that in the moral realm, we do well to discard the notion of monadic normativity altogether and focus instead on the contours and limits of bipolar normativity. For by placing greater weight on the significance of wronging particular others, as opposed to simply doing something wrong, we get a more compelling picture of the distinctive importance of morality and its relationship to other norms that govern our lives.
Symmetry and quantization of the two-skyrmion system: The case of the deuteron

Abstract In the Skyrme model for strong interactions we study two skyrmions at a fixed distance in the field configuration of minimum classical energy. The exact field configurations in three spatial dimensions are obtained by a numerical relaxation procedure. The hamiltonian is quantized semiclassically by introducing collective coordinates for the relative and rotational motion. It is found that the exact fields have more symmetry than those obtained from the “product ansatz” of minimum energy. This imposes restrictive selection rules on the quantum states. We obtain a nondegenerate ground state with the quantum numbers of the deuteron and a binding energy close to zero.
Separation of Powers in Practice

Separation of Powers in Practice. By Tom Campbell. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2004. 248p. 21.95 paper.In his book, Tom Campbell, a former five-term member of Congress, argues that we ought to focus on the “comparative advantage” of each branch because by doing so, we improve the operation of American government. “The thesis of this text is that each branch has inherent advantages: for each branch not to use its advantage and, worse, to allow another branch to encroach upon it dulls the mechanisms of governmental action” (p. 58). After highlighting his case studies in his introduction, in Part One Campbell discusses the advantages of each branch, the rules of the legislative process, the process of statutory construction by courts, and the judicial practice of following precedent. In Part Two he presents 10 case studies, which exemplify his thesis.
Cervical Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosed by Point-of-Care Emergency Department Ultrasound

Abstract Background Although rare, cervical ectopic pregnancy (EP) represents a potentially lethal variation of a common first-trimester disease entity. Case Report We report a case of low abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding diagnosed as a cervical EP by point-of-care ultrasound. Conclusion Familiarity with cervical EP and its sonographic appearance is essential for emergency physicians because it can be easily mistaken for an intrauterine pregnancy or other obstetric/gynecologic pathology, such as an incomplete abortion or nabothian cyst. The management of each of these differs substantially, making accurate diagnosis crucial.
Firm relocation and site selection in suburban municipalities

Abstract This paper develops a model of the site choice decision of relocating firms in seven single-digit SIC industries. Hypotheses are tested using data on firms which have moved from Milwaukee City to its suburbs between 1964 and 1974. The industries considered are: construction; manufacturing; transportation, communications, and public utilities; wholesale trade; retail trade; finance, insurance and real estate; and services. While this problem has been examined for manufacturing with limited success, the results here are encouraging. The results show that agglomeration economies and an available labor force are important influences in the site choice among suburban locations for firms in all industries. Fiscal variables are at best only of secondary significance in the choice among suburban municipalities.
A note on interval estimation of the relative difference in data with matched pairs.

For controlled comparative trials with matched pairs, in an attempt to improve the asymptotic interval estimator of the relative difference proposed elsewhere, I develop two asymptotic closed-form interval estimators with use of the logarithmic transformation and an idea used for deriving Fieller's theorem, respectively. I use Monte Carlo simulation to compare the performance of these three interval estimators. Findings reveal that when the number of pairs is as small as 20, the asymptotic interval estimator with use of the logarithmic transformation can actually perform quite well and is generally preferable to the other two asymptotic interval estimators with respect to both the coverage probability and the average length of the resulting confidence intervals. When the number of pairs is large (n⩾100), results show that the three interval estimators considered here are all appropriate for use; they are essentially equivalent in a variety of situations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Energy-efficient dynamic provisioning for spectrum elastic optical networks

Spectrum elastic optical networks support flexible central frequency and spectrum assignment for lightpaths. In this paper, we investigate energy-efficient dynamic provisioning for such networks. When provisioning a connection, the routing problems in both electrical layer (routing over multiple lightpaths) and optical layer (routing over multiple fibers) have to be addressed. Also, the control plane has to determine the optical-layer spectrum assignment considering the spectrum-continuity constraint as well as the bandwidth variability of transponders. We adopt a novel auxiliary graph based on which a new dynamic provisioning policy called Time-Aware Provisioning with Bandwidth Reservation (TAP-BR) is proposed. TAP-BR incorporates two important factors to facilitate energy-efficient provisioning: time awareness and bandwidth reservation. We compare TAP-BR with previously-proposed dynamic provisioning policies and show that TAP-BR can save significant amount of energy and make efficient use of spectrum resources.
Keeping Extension Programs Current in Order to Meet the Needs of a Dynamic Dairy Industry

Extension is one of three missions of land-grant colleges. Funding and support include local, state, and federal dollars plus industry support, competitive grants, and user fees. To evaluate changes and emphasis, a survey of 13 selected dairy states was conducted to evaluate changes in dairy full-time equivalents (FTE) in the last 10 yr (1989 compared with 1999) at county or unit, regional, and state levels. A reduction of 5 to 34% in FTE occurred at all three levels. Surveys of dairy support state specialists in other related departments were also collected from the 13 states based on 1999 data. Wide ranges in state specialist support in other departments were reported. Changes and future program needs were collected from a 13-state survey. Two futuristic dairy information delivery programs are illustrated. The Illinois extramural CD-ROM-based instructional program used existing technologies to reach broad clientele bases, allowed students to receive instruction when time was available and earn college credit. The National Dairy Database (NDD) is an Internet-based delivered program with 23 domain areas that contained peer reviewed material. Users can access the new NDD by subscribing to an Internet address (which will be updated as new material is received) or by purchasing a CD-ROM.
Vaccination against Marek's disease and infectious bursal disease. I. Development of a bivalent live vaccine by co-cultivating turkey herpesvirus and infectious bursal disease vaccine viruses in chicken embryo fibroblast monolayers.

Vaccine viruses of Marek's disease (MD), the FC-126 strain of the herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT), and infectious bursal disease (IBD), the Bursa-Vac-M strain of IBD virus (IBDV), were propagated in the same chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) monolayers by superinfection. Co-infection of the two viruses in the same CEF culture or in a single cell can be demonstrated by staining with acridine orange and by electron microscopy.l This study was conducted with a superinfected live bivalent vaccine (HVT/IBDV) in one-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) and conventional White Leghorn (CWL) chicks. Chickens vaccinated with HVT/IBDV produced persistent HVT viremia for at least 6 weeks postvaccination; significantly higher IBD virus neutralizing antibody levels were observed for the entire 8-week experimental period when compared to unvaccinated controls. Differences between virus neutralizing antibody titers stimulated by HVT/IBDV and IBDV alone were not statistically significant in SPF chickens; however, due to maternal antibody there were some significant differences in CWL chickens. Both the HVT/IBDV bivalent vaccine and the monovalent IBDV vaccine protected the chickens against challenge with virulent IBDV. Based on microscopic lesions and bursa: body weight indexes, challenge of vaccinated chickens with virulent IBDV caused no atrophy in the bursa of Fabricius, but severe tissue destruction was observed in unvaccinated challenged controls. Chickens vaccinated with HVT/IBDV vaccine or with HVT alone were effectively protected against MD when compared to the controls.
Predation-induced morphological and behavioral defenses in a hard coral: implications for foraging behavior of coral-feeding butterflyfishes

In clonal organisms, such as corals, one consequence of partial predation may be an elaboration of defenses in remaining portions of the clone, thereby reducing the probability or sever- ity of future predation events. Inducible defenses have been found in terrestrial and marine plants and in several taxa of marine invertebrates. Predators can detect differences in various aspects of prey quality that translate into preferences for certain prey items. Differences in quantity or types of defenses may determine which species, individuals or parts of a prey item are consumed. Coral- feeding butterflyfishes show distinct preferences for certain coral species, and may prefer particular individuals of a species over others. This study examines the potential for inducible defenses in a hard coral in response to grazing by a natural coral predator, the butterflyfish Chaetodon multicinctus. Pairs of genetically identical fragments of the Hawaiian coral Porites compressa were exposed to grazed and ungrazed treatments. These colonies were then offered to naive fish in preference tests at various intervals following the treatment period. Grazing by butterflyfishes induced changes in polyp behavior (prolonged withdrawal of coral polyps) in the short term, and increases in nematocyst density over the longer term, and these changes were associated with reductions in palatability and subsequent predation rates on the damaged corals. These inducible responses may play a role in regulating the intensity of grazing, and ultimately territory size and the density of corallivorous reef fishes.
Observations on phenology and overwintering of spiders associated with apple and pear orchards in south-central Washington

Beating tray and sweep net samples from apple and pear orchards in south-central Washington State were used to obtain information on life history and phenology of orchard-associated spiders. Cardboard shelters placed in the orchards in the fall and collected during the winter yielded information on spider overwintering. Data were obtained for 43 species in 28 genera and 12 families. The eight most abundant species were Pelegrina aeneola (Curtis 1892), Meioneta fillmorana (Chamberlin 1919), Oxyopes scalaris Hentz 1845, Theridion neomexicanum Banks 1901, Misumenops lepidus (Thorell 1877), Xysticus cunctator Thorell 1877, Philodromus cespitum (Walckenaer 1802), and Sassacus papenhoei Peckham & Peckham 1895. Each was represented by more than 690 specimens. Salticidae, Philodromidae, and Linyphiidae were represented by the largest number of species. Most species appear to have univoltine life cycles in the study area. Species matured at different times during the season between spring and fall. Twenty-seven species utilized cardboard shelters for overwintering, but some common spiders failed to do so and apparently use alternative locations. Some species overwintered in a broad range of developmental stages, whereas other species overwintered in only one or two instars.
High frequency active compensation of integrators using CCII and their stability analysis

A novel scheme for a noninverting integrator is presented. A complete analysis of the circuits is provided for both their performance and their stability. The stability analysis shows that the basic circuits are unstable. Modifications to stabilize these circuits are suggested. >
Rate of convergence for the Legendre pseudospectral optimal control of feedback linearizable systems

Pseudospectral (PS) computational methods for nonlinear constrained optimal control have been applied to many industrial-strength problems, notably, the recent zero-propellant-maneuvering of the international space station performed by NASA. In this paper, we prove a theorem on the rate of convergence for the optimal cost computed using a Legendre PS method. In addition to the high-order convergence rate, two theorems are proved for the existence and convergence of the approximate solutions. Relative to existing work on PS optimal control as well as some other direct computational methods, the proofs do not use necessary conditions of optimal control. Furthermore, we do not make coercivity type of assumptions. As a result, the theory does not require the local uniqueness of optimal solutions. In addition, a restrictive assumption on the cluster points of discrete solutions made in existing convergence theorems is removed.
Evolution of Two-Component Signal Transduction Systems

To exist in a wide range of environmental niches, bacteria must sense and respond to a variety of external signals. A primary means by which this occurs is through two-component signal transduction pathways, typically composed of a sensor histidine kinase that receives the input stimuli and then phosphorylates a response regulator that effects an appropriate change in cellular physiology. Histidine kinases and response regulators have an intrinsic modularity that separates signal input, phosphotransfer, and output response; this modularity has allowed bacteria to dramatically expand and diversify their signaling capabilities. Recent work has begun to reveal the molecular basis by which two-component proteins evolve. How and why do orthologous signaling proteins diverge? How do cells gain new pathways and recognize new signals? What changes are needed to insulate a new pathway from existing pathways? What constraints are there on gene duplication and lateral gene transfer? Here, we review progress made in answering these questions, highlighting how the integration of genome sequence data with experimental studies is providing major new insights.
Flavors of protein disorder.

Intrinsically disordered proteins are characterized by long regions lacking 3-D structure in their native states, yet they have been so far associated with 28 distinguishable functions. Previous studies showed that protein predictors trained on disorder from one type of protein often achieve poor accuracy on disorder of proteins of a different type, thus indicating significant differences in sequence properties among disordered proteins. Important biological problems are identifying different types, or flavors, of disorder and examining their relationships with protein function. Innovative use of computational methods is needed in addressing these problems due to relative scarcity of experimental data and background knowledge related to protein disorder. We developed an algorithm that partitions protein disorder into flavors based on competition among increasing numbers of predictors, with prediction accuracy determining both the number of distinct predictors and the partitioning of the individual proteins. Using 145 variously characterized proteins with long (>30 amino acids) disordered regions, 3 flavors, called V, C, and S, were identified by this approach, with the V subset containing 52 segments and 7743 residues, C containing 39 segments and 3402 residues, and S containing 54 segments and 5752 residues. The V, C, and S flavors were distinguishable by amino acid compositions, sequence locations, and biological function. For the sequences in SwissProt and 28 genomes, their protein functions exhibit correlations with the commonness and usage of different disorder flavors, suggesting different flavor-function sets across these protein groups. Overall, the results herein support the flavor-function approach as a useful complement to structural genomics as a means for automatically assigning possible functions to sequences.
Subcellular localization of the receptor for gonadotropin-releasing hormone in pituitary and ovarian tissue.

The subcellular localization of GnRH receptors in weanling rat anterior pituitary and ovarian tissue was determined by radioligand binding in biochemically defined fractions prepared by differential and density centrifugation. Morphological identification of membrane organelles or fragments, visualized by electron microscopy, confirmed the biochemical characterization. The greatest amount of specific ligand binding in both tissues was measured in the crude membrane fraction, while small amounts were detected in other fractions. The distribution of pituitary binding sites in sucrose gradient subfractionation of crude membranes correlated with the distribution of plasma membrane (assessed by 5′-nucleotidase activity and electron microscopy), but not that of secretory granules (identified by immunoreactive LH) or lysosomes (acid phosphatase activity). These data suggest that the GnRH-binding sites detected by radioligand binding assay in pituitaries of rats not previously exposed to GnRH are localized almost...
A technique to improve the drive current of high-voltage I/O transistors in digital CMOS technologies

By combining a 0.12-/spl mu/m-long 1.2-V thin-oxide transistor with a 0.22-/spl mu/m-long 3.3-V thick-oxide transistor in a 0.13-/spl mu/m CMOS process, a composite MOS transistor structure with a drawn gate length of 0.34 /spl mu/m is realized. Measurements show that at V/sub GS/=1.2 V and V/sub DS/=3.3 V, the composite transistor has more than two times the drain current of the minimum channel length (0.34 /spl mu/m) 3.3-V thick-oxide transistor, while having the same breakdown voltage (V/sub BK/) as the thick-oxide transistor. Exploiting these, it should be possible to implement 3.3-V I/O transistors with better combination of drive current, threshold voltage (V/sub T/) and breakdown voltage in conventional CMOS technologies without adding any process modifications.
Detection of Mycobacterial DNA in Andean Mummies

The identification of genetic material from pathogenic organisms in ancient tissues provides a powerful tool for the study of certain infectious diseases in historic populations. We have obtained tissue samples from the genital areas of 12 mummies in the American Museum of Natural History collection in New York, N.Y. The mummies were excavated in the Andes Mountain region of South America, and radiocarbon dating estimates that the mummies date from A.D. 140 to 1200. DNAs were successfully extracted from all tissues and were suitable for PCR analysis. PCRs were carried out to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis (MOTB). M. tuberculosis complex was detected in 2 out of 12 samples, and MOTB were detected in 7 samples. This study confirmed the adequate preservation of genetic material in mummified tissues and the existence of mycobacteria, including M. tuberculosis, in historic populations in South America.
Relation of Murine Thoracic Aortic Structural and Cellular Changes With Aging to Passive and Active Mechanical Properties

Background Maintenance of the structure and mechanical properties of the thoracic aorta contributes to aortic function and is dependent on the composition of the extracellular matrix and the cellular content within the aortic wall. Age‐related alterations in the aorta include changes in cellular content and composition of the extracellular matrix; however, the precise roles of these age‐related changes in altering aortic mechanical function are not well understood. Methods and Results Thoracic aortic rings from the descending segment were harvested from C57BL/6 mice aged 6 and 21 months. Thoracic aortic diameter and wall thickness were higher in the old mice. Cellular density was reduced in the medial layer of aortas from the old mice; concomitantly, collagen content was higher in old mice, but elastin content was similar between young and old mice. Stress relaxation, an index of compliance, was reduced in aortas from old mice and correlated with collagen fraction. Contractility of the aortic rings following potassium stimulation was reduced in old versus young mice. Furthermore, collagen gel contraction by aortic smooth muscle cells was reduced with age. Conclusions These results demonstrate that numerous age‐related structural changes occurred in the thoracic aorta and were related to alterations in mechanical properties. Aortic contractility decreased with age, likely because of a reduction in medial cell number in addition to a smooth muscle contractile deficit. Together, these unique findings provide evidence that the age‐related changes in structure and mechanical function coalesce to provide an aortic substrate that may be predisposed to aortopathies.
The composition and origin of the lunar crust: Constraints from central peaks and crustal thickness modeling

Spectral-reflectance data of lunar central peaks haverevealedthattheMoon'scrustvariesbothlaterallyand vertically in composition. We correlate the depths of origin of materials that make up central peaks with a geophysi- cally derived dual-layered crustal thickness model and nd that the peak compositions are consistent with this strati- edmodel. Specically,peakscomposedexclusivelyofrocks containing more than 85% plagioclase (by volume) come from this model's upper crust, whereas peaks that contain some norite or gabbro-norite come from the model's lower crust. Extrapolating these data we nd that the Moon's upper crust is composed of 884% plagioclase, correspond- ingto29to32wt.%Al 2O3 .T hemost-maclowerportion of the crust is composed of 658% plagioclase, having an Al2O3 content that lies between 18 and 25 wt.%. We show that the lower portion of the crust is consistent with having formed by cumulateflotation in a lunar magma ocean.
Wall mitigation using discrete prolate spheroidal sequences for sparse indoor image reconstruction

Detection and localization of stationary targets behind walls is primarily challenged by the presence of the overwhelming EM signature of the front wall in the radar returns. In this paper, we address suppression of front wall clutter prior to image reconstruction for a stepped-frequency radar imaging system, when different sets of few frequency observations are available at different antennas in physical or synthetic aperture arrays. We use a dictionary based on discrete prolate spheroidal sequences to represent the wall return and employ a block sparse model to capture and subsequently remove the wall clutter at each available antenna. The proposed scheme enables sparsity-based image reconstruction techniques to effectively detect and localize behind-the-wall targets from reduced data measurements.
RETROFIT: Reliable Exchanges through Resilient Overlays for Internet Teleoperation

Emergence of successful teleoperation applications requires the convergence of diverse domains like robotics, machine learning, sensing, actuation, control and communication. We envision these systems to be comprised of mobile robots with sensors and actuators, being continuously controlled over a communications network. Local intelligence at the robot would accomplish the sequence of short-term goals dynamically set forth by the remote controller. We believe that the Internet will serve as a highly useful communication infrastructure for such teleoperation, due to its ubiquitous nature and ease of access. In this paper, we propose techniques to achieve reliable low-latency communication through redundancy, over the existing Internet infrastructure. We present various techniques like multi-path forwarding, pro-active retransmissions, implicit data-fragmentation and proxy forwarding. These techniques help us characterize the design space of Internet communications along the dimensions of reliability and redundancy. We also present our preliminary experiences with these techniques through a case-study of remote vacuum cleaning using the iRobot Roomba.
Photoacoustic microscopy using four-wave mixing in a multimode fiber

Many applications in photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) use contrast agents that preferentially absorb light at wavelengths other than 532 nm. This usually requires the use of expensive dye or optical parametric oscillator (OPO) lasers. We have previously demonstrated a cost-effective alternative using an inexpensive 532 nm laser and a photonic crystal fiber, where multiple wavelengths are produced by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). In this paper, we demonstrate a new source using four-wave mixing (FWM) in SMF-28e, an industry standard telecommunications fiber. Our system is based on a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser producing 2 ns duration pulses at 532 nm with 15 uJ of energy at a 20 kHz repetition rate. The laser pulses are coupled into 100 meters of SMF-28e, a step-index fiber that is designed to be single-mode at 1310 and 1550 nm but supports a few optical modes at 532 nm. The fiber output spectrum contains both discrete lines below 625 nm and a broad continuum from 625 to 900 nm. This continuum is most likely due to phase matched FWM between multiple fiber modes, particularly the LP01, LP11, and LP02 modes. The fiber output goes through a dielectric filter, where the selected spectral window is sent to a PAM system employing optical focusing and laser scanning. PAM imaging of a USAF target produced an image resolution of 7 µm using 800 nm light. Imaging experiments are performed on a dye phantom, where one tube is filled with diluted red ink and the other with 200 µM of IR-820 dye. Dielectric filters were used to select either a 750–900 nm (1.3 uJ pulse energy) or 532–700 nm (1.0 uJ pulse energy) spectral window. The resulting images easily differentiate between the two absorbers. The advantages of this multi-wavelength optical source are the very simple apparatus, the flexibility in choosing the desired spectral range, and the use of a very inexpensive optical fiber.