cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conservation and dispersion of sequence and function in fungal TRK potassium transporters: focus on Candida albicans.

TRK proteins - essential potassium (K + ) transporters in fungi and bacteria, as well as in plants - are generally absent from animal cells, which makes them potential targets for selective drug action. Indeed, in the human pathogen Candida albicans, the single TRK isoform (CaTrk1p) has recently been demonstrated to be required for activity of histidine-rich salivary antimicrobial peptides (histatins). Background for a detailed molecular investigation of TRK-protein design and function is provided here in sequence analysis and quantitative functional comparison of CaTrk1p with its better-known homologues from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Among C. albicans strains (ATCC 10261, SC5314, WO-1), the DNA sequence is essentially devoid of single nucleotide polymorphisms in regions coding for evolutionarily conserved segments of the protein, meaning the four intramembranal [membrane -pore-membrane (MPM)] segments thought to be involved directly with the conduction of K + ions. Among 48 fungal (ascomycete) TRK homologues now described by complete sequences, clades (but not the detailed order within clades) appear conserved for all four MPM segments, independently assessed. The primary function of TRK proteins, 'active' transport of K + ions, is quantitatively conserved between C. albicans and S. cerevisiae. However, the secondary function, chloride efflux channeling, is present but poorly conserved between the two species, being highly variant with respect to activation velocity, amplitude, flickering (channel-like) behavior, pH dependence, and inhibitor sensitivity.
Selective occlusion of blood supply to the anterior perforated substance of the dog: a highly reproducible stroke model.

Abstract We created a highly reproducible stroke model in dogs by the selective occlusion of middle and anterior cerebral artery branches that penetrate the anterior perforated substance and supply much of the basal forebrain. We also analyzed the anatomic organization of the arterial supply to this region in this animal. Perforators came from anterior communicating artery branches similar to the recurrent artery of Heubner in humans and from the middle cerebral artery at several sites distal to the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery. Although some animals had a single source of the perforating arteries, most had two or more. In 50% of our specimens, the anterior communicating artery was the dominant source of arterial supply, in 21% the middle cerebral artery was dominant, and in 24% neither source dominated. Occlusion of all microscopically visible perforators to the anterior perforated substance reliably resulted in infarction of the internal capsule (100%), caudate nucleus (91%–100%), putamen or globus pallidus (82%–91%), and anterior commissure (73%). Structures involved less frequently in infarctions include the external capsule, claustrum, anterior commissure, and septal nuclei. We believe this anatomic information is useful for understanding why previous focal ischemia lesions in the distribution of the middle cerebral artery in the dog have been highly variable as well as for planning and interpreting future studies in this species. The proposed model of focal ischemia may be of use for the study of stroke.
Unstable angina : a classification

The establishment of a prognosis and the approach to the treatment of many diseases is aided greatly by a logical classification. For example, classification of a wide variety of neoplasms by anatomic extent, microscopic appearance, and the presence of special markers now forms the basis for selecting appropriate therapy. In cardiology, the classification of patients with acute myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure has been of enormous value in following the progress and in selecting therapy of individual patients and in comparing the outcome of similar patients treated at different locations and at different times. The purpose of this article is to provide a classification of unstable angina. This classification is designed to facilitate communication about these patients, to aid in the decision regarding diagnostic measures and therapy of individual patients, and to provide a more precise basis for including patients in and for evaluating the outcome of clinical trials.
Characterization of highly purified dopamine β-hydroxylase

Abstract A modified purification procedure has been developed for dopamine β-hydroxylase isolated from bovine adrenal medulla. Catalase is included in the homogenization step starting with a suspension of either chromaffin granules or adrenal medulla tissue. With this precaution, the enzyme remains stable in the supernatant solution in preparation for the subsequent purification step involving concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography. The homogeneous enzyme has a specific activity in the range of 60–70 μmol O2 consumed/min/mg. Using radiolabeled metal ion chelators, it was determined that several of the chelators remained tightly bound to the enzyme after removal of the copper leading to difficulties in establishing stoichiometry of enzyme-bound metal ions.
Values and Psychotherapy: A Review of the Literature:

This paper reviews theoretical literature and empirical investigations concerning the role of values in psychotherapy. Contrary to traditional psychoanalytic conceptualization, the psychotherapeuti...
X-RAY COLLIMATOR DESIGN USING MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS

The purpose of this study was to apply Monte Carlo (MC) based simulations to design a new collimation system to achieve a larger beam size (2 ± 0.1 cm) and tight penumbra (< 1 mm) with a kV X-ray small animal irradiator. The BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc MC-based programs were adapted to simulate the system. First the aperture of the primary collimator was expanded until the desired size of the beam was obtained. Subsequently, the beam was trimmed by reducing the aperture size of the secondary collimator in order to eliminate low energy scattered photons and sharpen the penumbra. Finally, the new collimator was constructed and the resultant dose distributions were evaluated with EBT2 film measurements. From the MC computed dose profiles, a 2.1 cm FWHM (1.9 cm width at 95% of the dose) and a sharp penumbra (< 1.0 mm) at 1.0 cm depth in water were obtained. Dose distribution comparisons between the EBT2 film measurements and the MC calculations showed acceptable agreement. MC-based calculation is an effective tool to expedite the creation of new collimator designs and avoid costly machining.
Reducing the number of specified values per test vector by increasing the test set size

Test sets consisting of incompletely specified test vectors for full-scan circuits have applications in input test data compression and power reduction. Earlier procedures for reducing the percentage of specified values in a given test set maintained the test set size. A procedure is described that starts from a given (compact) test set and reduces the percentage of specified values by replacing a selected test vector with a subset of test vectors that have fewer specified values per test vector and together detect the same subset of faults. By applying this replacement process iteratively, the procedure provides a series of solutions with increasing test set sizes and decreasing numbers of specified values per test vector. The importance of considering a series of solutions is demonstrated in the application of input test data compression.
Cryo-electron tomography reveals ciliary defects underlying human RSPH1 primary ciliary dyskinesia

Cilia play essential roles in normal human development and health; cilia dysfunction results in diseases such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Despite their importance, the native structure of human cilia is unknown, and structural defects in the cilia of patients are often undetectable or remain elusive because of heterogeneity. Here we develop an approach that enables visualization of human (patient) cilia at high-resolution using cryo-electron tomography of samples obtained noninvasively by nasal scrape biopsy. We present the native 3D structures of normal and PCD-causing RSPH1-mutant human respiratory cilia in unprecedented detail; this allows comparisons of cilia structure across evolutionarily distant species and reveals the previously unknown primary defect and the heterogeneous secondary defects in RSPH1-mutant cilia. Our data provide evidence for structural and functional heterogeneity in radial spokes, suggest a mechanism for the milder RSPH1 PCD phenotype and demonstrate that cryo-electron tomography can be applied to human disease by directly imaging patient samples.
Vibration in offshore structures: an analysis for the general nonlinear stochastic case - part 1

Abstract The response of offshore structures to random wave excitation is studied for general nonstationary stochastic excitation, constant, time-dependent, or stochastic coefficients, and nonlinear forces without linearization, or averaging methods and closure approximations, or numerical methods. The method used yields physically realistic analytic solutions.
Genetic analysis of two OsLpa1-like genes in Arabidopsis reveals that only one is required for wild-type seed phytic acid levels

Phytic acid (inositol-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate or InsP(6)) is the primary storage form of phosphorus in plant seeds. The rice OsLpa1 encodes a novel protein required for wild-type levels of seed InsP(6) and was identified from a low phytic acid (lpa) mutant exhibiting a 45-50% reduction in seed InsP(6). OsLpa1 is highly conserved in plants and Arabidopsis contains two OsLpa1-like genes, At3g45090 and At5g60760. Analysis of homozygous T-DNA insertion mutants of At5g60760 revealed significantly reduced levels of seed InsP(6) while no changes were observed in seeds of At3g45090 mutants. A double knockout mutant of At5g60760 and At3g45090 was created and its seed InsP(6) content was similar to that of the At5g60760 mutant indicating that At3g45090 does not provide functional redundancy. OsLpa1 was confirmed to be the ortholog of At5g60760 by complementation of a knockout mutant with a cDNA clone corresponding to the largest of three alternative transcripts of OsLpa1. The spatial and temporal expression of At5g60760 during seed development is consistent with its involvement in seed InsP(6) biosynthesis.
Analysis of Order Formation in Block Copolymer Thin Films Using Resonant Soft X-Ray Scattering

The lateral order of poly(styrene-block-isoprene) copolymer(PS-b-PI) thin films is characterized by the emerging technique ofresonant soft X-ray scattering (RSOXS) at the carbon K edge and comparedto ordering in bulk samples of the same materials measured usingconventional small-angle X-ray scattering. We show resonance using theoryand experiment that the loss of scattering intensity expected with adecrease in sample volume in the case of thin films can be overcome bytuning X-rays to the pi* resonance of PS or PI. Using RSOXS, we study themicrophase ordering of cylinder- and phere-forming PS-b-PI thin films andcompare these results to position space data obtained by atomic forcemicroscopy. Our ability to examine large sample areas (~;9000 mu m2) byRSOXS enables unambiguous identification of the lateral lattice structurein the thin films. In the case of the sphere-forming copolymer thin film,where the spheres are hexagonally arranged, the average sphere-to-spherespacing is between the bulk (body-centered cubic) nearest neighbor andbulk unit cell spacings. In the case of the cylinder-forming copolymerthin film, the cylinder-to-cylinder spacing is within experimental errorof that obtained in the bulk.
Computation of the steady viscous flow over a tri-element 'augmentor wing' airfoil

The augmentor wing consists of a main airfoil with a slotted trailing edge for blowing, and two smaller aft airfoils which shroud the jet. This configuration has been modeled for numerical simulation by a novel discretization procedure which generates four separate grids: three surface-oriented airfoil grids and one outer free-stream grid. Grid lines and slopes are continuous across boundaries, so grid overlap at common boundaries provides boundary information without interpolation. A two-dimensional unsteady thin-layer Navier-Stokes code is used to calculate the flow for the no-blowing case at freestream Mach number = 0.7, Re = 12,600.000, and angles-of-incidence = 1.05 deg. Qualitative agreement with experimental data indicates the utility of this procedure in the analysis of multi-element configurations.
Adenine nucleotide levels in preserved and ischemically injured canine kidneys.

This study explored the relationship between adenine nucleotide levels in canine renal cortex and renal function following: (a) graded periods of warm ischemia; (b) 48 hours' flush cooling with electrolyte solutions and ice storage; and (c) continuous hypothermic perfusion. Exposure to normothermic ischemia resulted in a rapid (within 15 minutes) degradation of ATP to ADP and AMP as well as a slow decline in total adenine nucleotide (TAN) to levels which were proportional to the duration of the ischemic injury. No functional impairment was evident after 15 minutes' ischemia, but with longer times, both the extent of decline in TAN and the degree of recovery following restoration of blood flow could be used to predict the quality of renal function.
The effect of the isotopic composition of oxygen on the non-mass-dependent isotopic fractionation in the formation of ozone by discharge of O2

The oxygen gases in a fused silica container cooled to 77K at pressures of 0.5 to 15 cm Hg were energized by an RF generator of 60 kHz to produce ozone which condensed on the cold wall. The isotopomeric compositions of the initial O_2, the O_2 remaining after the discharge, and the O_2 which was completely converted from the O_3 were measured. Oxygen gases of three different isotopic compositions were used. In addition, oxygen pressure, degree of ozone formation, and geometry of the discharge were varied. The isotopomeric data of O_2 gases after the discharge reactions showed very unusual patterns. These patterns depend mainly on the isotopic composition of the oxygen used for the reaction. We compared the data with a model based on the effect of the anharmonicity and the symmetry of the excited ozone molecules on their predissociation. The anharmonicity and symmetry effects depend on the isotopic composition of the O_2 which in turn control the isotope fractionation associated with the formation of ozone. Our data are not compatible with several models such as self-shielding and the structural symmetry of the initial oxygen gas.
Condensations of dehydroacetic acid at the 6-methyl position

Abstract Dehydroacetic acid in the presence of two equivalents of sodium amide in liquid ammonia underwent methylation at the acetyl methyl position. In contrast, treatment of dehydroacetic acid with three equivalents of sodium amide converted it to a trianion which underwent condensations with electrophiles predominantly at the 6-Me position. The condensations included alkylation with alkyl halides, carbonyl addition with benzophenone, conjugate addition with chalcone, and acylation with aromatic esters. The benzoylation product was converted by acid treatment into 3,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzophenone. Methylation of both the 6-methyl and the acetyl methyl positions was accomplished by treatment of dehydroacetic acid trianion with excess methyl iodide.
Frame Aggregation and Concatenation Schemes for IEEE EDCF 802.11e: A First Order MAC and PHY Cross-Layer Model to Estimate the Throughput

We develop a first order analytical medium access control (MAC) and physical (PHY) cross-layer model to estimate the saturation net throughput of IEEE 802.11e wireless local area networks (WLANs) with MAC enhancements schemes. The MAC improvements analyzed consist of minor modifications of the IEEE 802.11e enhanced distributed coordination function (EDCF) MAC protocol in order to support frame aggregation and concatenation.
Globally Optimal Grouping for Symmetric Closed Boundaries by Combining Boundary and Region Information

Many natural and man-made structures have a boundary that shows a certain level of bilateral symmetry, a property that plays an important role in both human and computer vision. In this paper, we present a new grouping method for detecting closed boundaries with symmetry. We first construct a new type of grouping token in the form of symmetric trapezoids by pairing line segments detected from the image. A closed boundary can then be achieved by connecting some trapezoids with a sequence of gap-filling quadrilaterals. For such a closed boundary, we define a unified grouping cost function in a ratio form: the numerator reflects the boundary information of proximity and symmetry, and the denominator reflects the region information of the enclosed area. The introduction of the region-area information in the denominator is able to avoid a bias toward shorter boundaries. We then develop a new graph model to represent the grouping tokens. In this new graph model, the grouping cost function can be encoded by carefully designed edge weights, and the desired optimal boundary corresponds to a special cycle with a minimum ratio-form cost. We finally show that such a cycle can be found in polynomial time using a previous graph algorithm. We implement this symmetry-grouping method and test it on a set of synthetic data and real images. The performance is compared to two previous grouping methods that do not consider symmetry in their grouping cost functions.
Shaky drawing: what is the rate of decline during prospective follow-up of essential tremor?

Objective Few studies have attempted to estimate the rate of decline over time in essential tremor (ET). The study objectives were to: (1) measure change, deriving a single summary measure for the entire group, and relate it to a commonly used clinical rating scale (ie, yearly change in points on that scale); (2) to assess change as a function of baseline clinical characteristics and (3) to answer the basic clinical question—is change perceptible/obvious during the follow-up of ET cases? Setting Prospective collection of longitudinal data on ET cases enrolled in a study of the environmental epidemiology of ET at Columbia University Medical Center (2000–2008). Participants 116 unselected ET cases. Interventions Each case underwent the same evaluation at baseline and during one follow-up visit (mean follow-up interval (range)=5.8 (1.4–12.4) years). Primary and secondary outcome measures We assessed tremor during a commonly affected daily activity—drawing (ie, spirography), quantifying tremor using a simple, standardised 10-point rating scale developed by Bain and Findley. Results The Bain and Findley spiral score increased at an average rate of 0.12±0.23 points per year (maximum=1 point/year). In cases who had been followed for ≥5 years, the change was obvious—a blinded neurologist was able to correctly order their spirals (baseline vs follow-up) in three-fourth of cases. The rate of change was higher in cases with versus without familial ET (p=0.01). Conclusions Tremor in ET is slowly progressive; yet in the majority of cases, a clear difference in handwritten spirals was visible with a follow-up interval of five or more years. There may be differences between familial and non-familial ET in the rate of progression. These clinical data are intended to aid in the prognostic discussions that treating physicians have with their patients with ET.
The hypothalamus and the regulation of food intake.

Abstract There is a long history of interest in the brain, especially the hypothalamus, as the site controlling food intake in animals. The first research reports date from the late 1840's. Since that time hypothalamic mechanism(s) for the control of food intake have been extensively studied, but there are still considerable differences of opinion among researchers regarding the role of the hypothalamus and the exact nature of the control mechanism(s). Not until the late 1930's was it conclusively demonstrated that destruction of the ventromedial region of the hypothalamus of rats resulted in the development of obesity and an increased food intake (Hetherington and Ranson, 1940). Subsequently, Anand and Brobeck (1951) lesioned an area lateral to the ventromedial area and produced an aphagic condition in rats. This led to a hypothesis linking the ventromedial area being designated the “satiety center” and the lateral hypothalamic area the “feeding center”. The twenty year interval . . .
Law, Slavery, and Justice: A Special Issue

The special issue transports our broad readership into the unsettling history and shifting historiography of the laws of slavery on land and at sea in the turbulent Atlantic World. Special thanks to Rebecca J. Scott for proposing this venture and enticing others to join, including Walter Johnson, whose incisive commentary concludes this issue. The journey begins with Scott's crisp introduction that first previews the four articles before providing an overview and explication of our authors' methods. Bon voyage!
The Earp-Holliday Trial: An Account

The Old West's most famous gunbattle lasted all of about thirty seconds, but it left three men dead, three other men shot, and enough questions to occupy historians for more than a century. The gunfight also led to criminal charges being filed against the three Earp brothers (Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan) and Doc Holliday who, near the O. K. Corral on October 26, 1881, decided to enforce the law against four notorious cowboys. The hearing that followed the shoot-out considered the question of whether the Earps and Hollidays killed out of a justifiable fear for their own lives or simply to rid themselves of troublemakers and personal enemies. After listening to weeks of testimony, Judge Spicer gave his answer - but whether his answer was the right one remained a subject of considerable debate long after the silver mines that gave birth to Tombstone, Arizona had vanished.
Boxfishes (Teleostei: Ostraciidae) as a model system for fishes swimming with many fins: kinematics.

Swimming movements in boxfishes were much more complex and varied than classical descriptions indicated. At low to moderate rectilinear swimming speeds (<5 TL s^(-1), where TL is total body length), they were entirely median- and paired-fin swimmers, apparently using their caudal fins for steering. The pectoral and median paired fins generate both the thrust needed for forward motion and the continuously varied, interacting forces required for the maintenance of rectilinearity. It was only at higher swimming speeds (above 5 TL s^(-1)), when burst-and-coast swimming was used, that they became primarily body and caudal-fin swimmers. Despite their unwieldy appearance and often asynchronous fin beats, boxfish swam in a stable manner. Swimming boxfish used three gaits. Fin-beat asymmetry and a relatively nonlinear swimming trajectory characterized the first gait (0–1 TL s^(-1)). The beginning of the second gait (1–3 TL s^(-1)) was characterized by varying fin-beat frequencies and amplitudes as well as synchrony in pectoral fin motions. The remainder of the second gait (3–5 TL s^(-1)) was characterized by constant fin-beat amplitudes, varying finbeat frequencies and increasing pectoral fin-beat asynchrony. The third gait (>5 TL s^(-1)) was characterized by the use of a caudal burst-and-coast variant. Adduction was always faster than abduction in the pectoral fins. There were no measurable refractory periods between successive phases of the fin movement cycles. Dorsal and anal fin movements were synchronized at speeds greater than 2.5 TL s^(-1), but were often out of phase with pectoral fin movements.
Measuring Religiousness and Spirituality: Issues, Existing Measures, and the Implications for Education and Wellbeing

This chapter consists of three major parts. The first part discusses general issues related to measurement in the psychology of religion. The second part reviews major measures of religiousness and spirituality by general religious and spiritual domain, concentrating on those areas and measures that have been (or might be) associated with educational processes and outcomes as well as general wellbeing. Only those measures judged to meet adequately acceptable standards for research purposes on the following criteria are discussed: theoretical basis, representative sampling and generalization, reliability, andvalidity. The final section talks about new developments in the measurement of religion and spirituality and alternatives to self-report or paper-and-pencil measures and offers guidance in choosing a measure for research in education and wellbeing.
Phosphorylation of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in BeWo choriocarcinoma cells

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to test whether 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase might exist in a phosphorylated form. Study Design: Phosphorylation of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was evaluated in BeWo choriocarcinoma cells. The phosphorylation of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione transferase fusion protein was also studied. Results: Human BeWo choriocarcinoma cells were metabolically labeled with phosphorus 32 orthophosphate. Immunoprecipitates were prepared with rabbit anti-17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase antiserum from the labeled cells and separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A phosphorylated protein with a molecular size of 35 kd was obtained from anti-17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase immunoprecipitates, which suggested that 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was phosphorylated in BeWo cells. The predominant phosphoamino acid was phosphoserine. 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expressed in E. coli as a glutathione transferase fusion protein was a substrate of protein kinase A in vitro. Protein kinase A phosphorylated the recombinant 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase exclusively on serine. Incubation of BeWo celllysates with bacterial alkaline phosphatase led to a decrease in the oxidative activity of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Incubation of the alkaline phosphatase inhibitor levamisole with BeWo cell Iysates resulted in a higher estradiol-to-estrone conversion rate, compared with celllysates without any treatment. Conclusion : Our data suggest that 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase may exist in phosphorylated forms and that phosphorylation may regulate the activity of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in vivo.
Galectin-3 secretion and tyrosine phosphorylation is dependent on the calpain small subunit, Calpain 4

Cell adhesion and migration are important events that occur during embryonic development, immune surveillance, wound healing and in tumor metastasis. It is a multi-step process that involves both mechanical and biochemical signaling that results in cell protrusion, adhesion, contraction and retraction. Each of these events generates mechanical forces into the environment measured as traction forces. We have previously found that the calpain small subunit, Calpain 4, is required for normal traction forces, and that this mechanism is independent of the catalytic activities of the holoenzymes that are formed between Calpain 4 and each of the proteolytic heavy chains of Calpain 1 and 2. To define a potential mechanism for the Calpain 4 regulation of traction force, we have evaluated the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation, a hallmark of force dependent signaling within focal adhesions. Using 2D gel electrophoresis we compared tyrosine phosphorylation profiles of Calpain 4 deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to the levels in wildtype MEFs and MEF’s deficient in the large catalytic subunits, Capn1 and Capn2. Of particular interest, was the identification of Galectin-3, a galactose binding protein known to interact with integrins. Galectin-3 has previously been shown to regulate cell adhesion and migration in both normal and tumor cells; however its full mechanism remains elusive. We have found that Calpain 4 is essential for the tyrosine phosphorylation of galectin-3, and its ultimate secretion from the cell, and speculate that its secretion interferes with the production of traction forces.
Effect of temperature and phytoplankton concentration of Partitioned Aquaculture System water on freshwater mussel filtration

AbstractThe freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata wasprovided green algal-dominated water from a Parti-tioned Aquaculture System (PAS) over a range ofwater temperatures (6.1^32.41C) and suspendedparticulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations(o1^32.2mgCL 1 ) to determine ¢ltration rates asmgPOCkg 1 wet tissue weighth . The lowest ¢l-tration rates were observed at lowest temperaturesand POC concentrations while thehighest rates wereat intermediate temperatures and the highest POClevels. The predicted ¢ltration rate (PFR) in responseto water temperature and POC concentrations wasas follows: lnPFR51.4352 10.1192 POC 10.1399T 0.0001 T 3 . Within the experimental conditions,PFRs at any POC concentration increased withincreased water temperature to a peak at 221Candthen decreased. The maximum PFR occurredat 22 1Cand32mgCL 1 and the minimum PFRat 7 1Cand1mgCL 1 . A model to describe themussel ¢ltration rate responses to PAS waterconditions involves both water temperature and POCconcentration.Keywords: ¢ltration rate, freshwater mussel, PAS,culturesystemIntroductionA Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS) separates aculture pond into four distinct components (paddle-wheels, algal basin, ¢lter-feeder area and culturespeciesarea)linkedbyahomogeneouswatervelocity¢eld (Brune, Schwartz, Eversole, Collier & Schwedler2004). Paddlewheels provide watercurrent, nutrientmixing,uniformsunlightexposuretophytoplanktonandcontinuous£owoverthealgalbasin,¢lterfeederand cultured species areas. Phytoplankton inthe al-galbasin(95%ofthePASarea)useinorganic¢shme-tabolic wastes (nutrients) to sustain high primaryproductivity levels. Feeding rates and ¢sh carryingcapacityof thePASisaboutthreeto ¢vetimesthatofconventional cat¢sh culture ponds because of sus-tained high phytoplanktonproductivity (Brune etal.2004).Filter-feedingorganisms,byharvestingphyto-plankton, reduce cell age and stabilize a standingcrop of faster-growing phytoplankton cells at re-duced respiration rates and increased oxygen pro-ductionper watervolume(Bruneetal.2004).Someofthetermsusedinliteraturetoexpress¢ltra-tion activity of suspension feeders include clearancerate, pumping rate, ¢ltration rate, ingestion rate, up-take rate, and retention rate (see, e.g. Foster-Smith1975; Walz 1978, Winter 1978; Riisgrd 2001a). Theterm ¢ltration rate inthis studyand inthis paper re-fers strictly to the amount of suspended phytoplank-ton(seston)removedfromthewatercolumnperunittimeandincludesboththose¢lteredparticlesconso-lidated in pseudofaeces and those consumed, and isidentical to the terms uptake rate and retention rateof Foster-Smith (1975) andWalz (1978).The role of a¢lterfeederinstabilizingalgalstandingcropbiomassin PAS water is more appropriately estimated usingthis de¢nition of ¢ltration rate than measures esti-matingtheamountofwater¢lteredoringestionrate.
Self‐assessments of need, relevance and motivation to learn as indicators of participation in continuing medical education

Summary This study examined the validity of using physicians’ self-assessed needs, relevance and motivation to learn about clinical topics as a means for setting objectives and priorities for continuing medical education (CME) programmes. In an initial survey family doctors were asked to rate their need, relevance and motivation to learn about 120 different clinical topics. Eight months later, the same population was sent a second mail survey asking respondents to indicate if they had learned about a set of sixteen topics taken from the initial survey and, if so, in what kind of learning activities. Eight of the sixteen topics were highly rated and eight were low rated in the initial survey. In terms of actual participation of family doctors, self-assessed motivation to learn exhibited a strong positive relationship with actual participation. Both self-assessed need and relevance were negative to only moderately positive in their association with actual participation. This evidence contributed to the value of using self-assessed motivation as an indicator of future participation of family doctors in CME and questioned the value of using self-assessed need and relevance as indicators of future patterns of participation.
Unintentional, non-fatal drowning of children: US trends and racial/ethnic disparities.

Objective The current study aimed to better understand trends and risk factors associated with non-fatal drowning of infants and children in the USA using two large, national databases. Methods A secondary data analysis was conducted using the National Inpatient Sample and the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample databases. The analytic sample (n=19 403) included children 2 and analysis of variance techniques were applied, and incidence rates were calculated per 100 000 population. Results Non-fatal drowning incidence has remained relatively stable from 2006 to 2011. In general, the highest rates of non-fatal drowning occurred in swimming pools and in children from racial/ethnic minorities. However, when compared with non-Hispanic Caucasian children, children from racial/ethnic minorities were more likely to drown in natural waterways than in swimming pools. Despite the overall lower rate of non-fatal drowning among non-Hispanic Caucasian children, the highest rate of all non-fatal drowning was for non-Hispanic Caucasian children aged 0–4 years in swimming pools. Children who were admitted to inpatient facilities were younger, male and came from families with lower incomes. Conclusions Data from two large US national databases show lack of progress in preventing and reducing non-fatal drowning admissions from 2006 to 2011. Discrepancies are seen in the location of drowning events and demographic characteristics. New policies and interventions are needed, and tailoring approaches by age and race/ethnicity may improve their effectiveness.
Uncertainty based operating strategy selection in combined heat and power systems

Abstract Combined heat and power (CHP) research has focused on optimizing the operation of CHP systems based on various criteria, such as cost savings, energy usage, or emissions. In literature, different operating strategies, such as base loading (BL), following electric load (FEL), and following thermal load (FTL), of a CHP system are typically compared and the best operation strategy selected based on the desired optimized parameter. To date, a literature survey indicates that the uncertainties associated with these calculations have not been considered in the operating strategy selection process. Therefore, this study considers the uncertainties in the cost savings associated with operating the CHP system under BL, FEL, and FTL operating strategies. Modular uncertainty analysis techniques are used to compare the uncertainties associated with the cost savings of the different operating modes. Results indicate that, due to overlapping uncertainty bands, the choice between different CHP operating strategies cannot always be clearly determined for power generation units with nominal sizes less than approximately 60% of the building's maximum electric load. In such cases, the choice between CHP operating strategies may be decided based on ease of implementation and operation.
HIV, Violence Against Women, and Criminal Law Interventions

In this invited response to the 20th anniversary of VAWA, the author examines new tensions between criminal law regimes purportedly addressing violence against women and HIV interventions. The consequences of defining all transactional sex work as violence against women include increased arrests, especially for women of color, and disincentives to use condoms for fear of providing evidence to prosecutors. The author concludes that while well-meaning, the blunt tools of the criminal law system supported by abolitionist feminists offer little to remedy the complex realities that accompany the precarious existence of many in the sex industry.
An optimal bounded-state controller for flexible structures

To prevent structural damages, it is safer to bound the vibration amplitude rather than to minimize the vibration energy. This is due to the fact that even if the sum of the square of the vibration amplitude over a period of time is minimal, at some instants the vibration is still possible over the tolerable limit of the structure. Therefore in this paper we address bounded-state control analysis and design using linear stateloutput feedback and numerical optimization. The worst-case maximum vibration magnitude of the structure response is calculated for infinity-norm bounded excitation and control with an uncertiin initial condition. Based on this calculated worstcase maximum vibration amplitude, a nonlinear optimization procedure is then developed for the design of an optimal bounded-state controller. The nonlinear optimization can also be extended to design a dynamic controller. That the matching condition is both necessary and sufficient to control the state arbitrarily close to zero in the presence of unknown but bounded disturbance is also shown. The developed bounded-state controller can be applied to any structures for damage protection. Here the controller is applied to a generic spring-mass system.
Impulse strengths in rapid granular shear flows

This paper describes measurements of the impulses that particles experience while undergoing rapid shear. These were performed with an eye towards understanding the processes that lead to particle attrition and fracture. The measurements were taken from a discrete particle computer simulation of a simple shear flow of spheres. Special attention is paid to the strongest impulses as these will do the most damage. The results indicate that the largest impulses arise, not from the mean shear flow, but from the random particle velocities that are characterized by the so-called “granular temperature”. Measurements of the largest impulses are presented as functions of particle properties and solid concentration. Histograms of the impulse strengths illustrate the effect of concentration and particle surface friction. Finally, geometric distributions are presented that illustrate the shear induced anisotropy in the impulse strengths.
Detection of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus in 4 Kinds of Raw Meat in Longgang District of Shenzhen City in 2008

[Objective]To investigate the contamination status of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in raw meat sold in Longgang District of Shenzhen City,to improve the attention degree of V.parahaemolyticus and provide a scientific basis for surveillance of foodbome diseases.[Methods] Chromogenic media was adopted.V.parahaemolyticus was isolated and identified by biochemical and serological methods according to national standard methods.[Results]A total of 79 samples from 4 kinds of specimens were detected and 24 strains of target bacteria were positive.The total detection rate was 30.38%.Among which 17 were from fresh water fish and the detection rate was 41.94%,4 were from seafood and the detection rate was 21.53%,5 were from raw poultry meat and the detection rate was 29.41%,2 were from raw pork meat and the detection rate was 16.67%.[Conclusion]Animal raw meat sold in this district is high contaminated by V.parahaemolyticus.It is suggested that government should intensively supervise the animal slaughter business and food distribution channels and decrease the cross contamination of foodbome pathogens and the incidence of foodborne diseases.
Human monocyte chemotaxis to complement-derived chemotaxins is enhanced by Gc-globulin

Gc-globulin has been found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and has been shown to enhance neutrophil chemotaxis to C5-derived peptides in vitro. We proposed that Gc-globulin may enhance the inflammatory response in lungs by influencing monocyte chemotaxis to C5-derived peptides as it does with neutrophils. Monocyte chemotaxis was measured in blind well chambers by a leading-front technique. Purified human Gc-globulin had no intrinsic chemotactic activity for monocytes at concentrations ranging from 1 fM to 1 microM. However, Gc-globulin, at concentrations as low as 10 pM, increased monocyte chemotaxis over 10-fold in a concentration-dependent fashion when added to non-chemotactic doses of C5a (0.1 nM) and C5a des Arg (0.5 nM). The chemotaxis-enhancing effect of Gc-globulin was specific for C5-derived peptides, as Gc-globulin did not enhance monocyte chemotaxis to other chemoattractants such as leukotriene B4 or formyl-Met-Leu-Phe. The enhancement of monocyte chemotaxis to C5-derived peptides by Gc-globulin was not a nonspecific effect of anionic proteins, as other serum proteins of similar size and charge did not enhance monocyte chemotaxis to C5a des Arg. These results indicate that Gc-globulin enhances the monocyte response to C5-derived peptides and, together with previous work, indicates that its presence in the airways of patients with COPD and ARDS may up-regulate the monocyte inflammatory response in the lungs.
DNA REPAIR IN DROSOPHILA

ABSTRACT Five genes which influence DNA repair have been identified by analysis of mutagen sensitive strains of Drosophila melanogaster . The mei-9 mutants are deficient in the excision of pyrimidine dimers. Reduced postreplication repair has been associated with four other complementation groups.
Proximate time-optimal reference tracking of an undamped harmonic oscillator

Motivated by a desire to use compressed sensing in Atomic Force Microscopy, we revisit the Proximate Time-Optimal Servomechanism(PTOSω) regulator we developed previously [15] for the harmonic oscillator, giving a more detailed description of its construction. Then, we extend that previous work to include set-point tracking. We show that, in contrast to regulator control, the time-optimal switching curve becomes asymmetric, and in fact the problem can be recast as a regulator with asymmetric actuator limits. We then develop a PTOSω approximation and present simulation and experimental results.
Draft Genome Sequence of an Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus Species, A. bombycis

Aspergillus bombycis was first isolated from silkworm frass in Japan. It has been reportedly misidentified as A. nomius due to their macro-morphological and chemotype similarities. We sequenced the genome of the A. bombycis Type strain and found it to be comparable in size (37 Mb), as well as in numbers of predicted genes (12,266), to other sequenced Aspergilli. The aflatoxin gene cluster in this strain is similar in size and the genes are oriented the same as other B- + G-aflatoxin producing species, and this strain contains a complete but nonfunctional gene cluster for the production of cyclopiazonic acid. Our findings also showed that the A. bombycis Type strain contains a single MAT1-2 gene indicating that this species is likely heterothallic (self-infertile). This draft genome will contribute to our understanding of the genes and pathways necessary for aflatoxin synthesis as well as the evolutionary relationships of aflatoxigenic fungi.
An Experimental Approach to Measuring Ideological Positions in Political Text

Though powerful as general tools, automated measures of position-taking in text often perform poorly when models of speech are difficult to develop or theoretically contested. Rather than model text, I develop an experimental approach to measure perceptions of partisanship in speech, with an application to 2008 Congressional advertisements. I randomly assign ads to subjects recruited in a large-N survey, and ask them to ‘guess’ the party of featured candidates, with ads scored as their average party inference. These party perception scores are empirically synonymous with a liberal-conservative dimension, and highly reliable across samples and experimental conditions. Party identity has little impact on guesses, indicating the inferential task significantly mutes partisan bias. For validation, I assess which words influence guessing, and whether ad-scores correspond to expectations about how candidates target voters. Importantly, this experimental approach can augment or validate automated text analysis, and generalize to study speech across many other contexts.
Optical Coherence Angiographic Demonstration of Retinal Changes From Chronic Optic Neuropathies

Glaucoma causes a decrease in peripapillary perfused capillary density on optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography. However, other chronic optic neuropathies have not been explored with OCT angiography to see if these changes were specific to glaucoma. The authors evaluated OCT angiography in 10 patients who suffered various kinds of chronic optic neuropathies, including optic neuritis and ischaemic optic neuropathy, and found that all optic neuropathies showed a decrease in peripapillary vessel density on OCT angiography, regardless of the aetiology of the optic neuropathy. The peripapillary vessel loss on OCT angiography correlated well with the areas of retinal nerve fibre layer thinning seen on OCT.
Ottoman and French Mandate Land Registers for the Region of Damascus

In late October 1999 I visited the third annual Syrian National Documentation Festival in the Damascus fairgrounds. Syrian ministry employees and Ba'th Party officials have organized the ten-day long annual Documentation Festival since the mid-1990s. Its stated purpose is to preserve and celebrate the heritage of the nation. In 1999 the exhibition was separated into four large halls devoted to different documents and art. The most prominent hall was devoted to heroic paintings, photos, and videotaped speeches of then Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad. Other halls were devoted to popular art, family, local, and municipal histories and documents, and selections from the archives of various departments and ministries. The final hall contained the ministry of education, ministry of antiquities, including the national archives, the ministry of the interior including the departments of awqâf (sing, waqf ), Damascus municipal police, and the ministry of agriculture.
Validation Study of Maternal Recall on Breastfeeding Duration 6 Years After Childbirth

Background:Breastfeeding duration is an important indicator commonly measured in maternal and child health and nutrition research. Maternal short-term recall for both initiation and duration of breastfeeding has been shown to be valid; however, validity of long-term recall is not well understood.Research aim:This study aims to assess the validity of maternal recall of breastfeeding duration 6 years after childbirth and its association with sociodemographic factors.Methods:Among 635 mother–child pairs, breastfeeding duration data collected monthly throughout the 1st year after childbirth in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (IFPS II) were compared to recall data obtained 6 years later during the Year 6 Follow-Up. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland–Altman plots were examined to study the agreement between the two data sets. Sociodemographic factors associated with accurate recall to within 1 month of the IFPS II breastfeeding duration were assessed using multivariable logistic regres...