cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
α-Synuclein oligomerization: a role for lipids?

α-Synuclein is a core component of the proteinaceous aggregates observed in several neurodegenerative diseases. A central role of α-synuclein in neurodegeneration was demonstrated by the discovery of missense α-synuclein mutations in familial Parkinson's disease. However, the specific mechanism by which α-synuclein contributes to these diseases remains unclear. A recent study by Sharon et al. linked the presence of specific fatty acids to the appearance of α-synuclein oligomers in vivo. α-Synuclein oligomers might be a first step in the formation of α-synuclein aggregates present in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, although their cytotoxicity remains to be directly demonstrated.
A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF THE CROSS REACTION OF TYPES III AND VIII PNEUMOCOCCI IN HORSE AND RABBIT ANTISERA

1. A preparation of the specific polysaccharide of Type VIII pneumococcus is described in which the use of heat, strong acid, and alkali were avoided. 2. Quantitative estimations are given of the homologous and cross reacting precipitin and agglutinin in Types III and VIII antisera produced in the rabbit and in the horse. Quantitative data are also given on the mechanism of the Type VIII precipitin reaction and the cross reaction between the Type III polysaccharide and Type VIII antipneumococcus horse serum. 3. The significance of the data is discussed.
Effects of Conceptual Grouping of Adjacent Items on Serial Learning

10 Ss were randomly assigned to each of the 6 experimental conditions representing placement of one of two 5-item concept clusters, empirically shown to differ in degree of conceptual relatedness, in either the beginning, middle, or end portion of a 15-item serial list. Ss learning lists containing a highly conceptually related cluster exhibited a greater tendency to learn the concept items early in serial learning, regardless of their position in the list, than did Ss learning lists containing a less conceptually related cluster. As a result of a superiority of performance in the cluster portions of the high-concept lists and an opposite superiority of performance in the non-cluster portions of the low-concept lists, the serial position curves for the 6 lists were significantly different. The failure to find over-all differences in learning among lists yielding different serial position curves supports theories of serial learning which propose that total serial learning time is independent of the order i...
Clonal analysis of the avian neural crest: migration and maturation of mixed neural crest clones injected into host chicken embryos.

Quail neural crest cells were grown in vitro at clonal density for 7 or 10 days. Mixed neural crest colonies and clones (containing both pigmented and unpigmented cells) were implanted into the trunk region of 2 1/2-day-old host chicken embryos by a previously described injection technique (Bronner and Cohen, '79). Here we describe the migratory behavior and subsequent phenotypic expression of the injected cells. Unpigmented cells and pigmented cells both migrated along the ventral neural crest pathway; there were, however, some differences in migratory behavior between the two cell types. After 3 days in vivo, unpigmented quail neural crest cells contributed to the sympathetic ganglion, adrenal medulla, and/or aortic plexus in the host. Many of the unpigmented cells became catecholamine-containing neuroblasts. Unpigmented cells were never observed in the gonads or the gut, but localized only in regions normally populated by trunk neural crest precursors to neurons and supportive cells. Melanocytes derived from the same precursor, however, were often found in the gonads or gut, in addition to normal neural crest locations in the trunk. These results demonstrate that quail neural crest cells grown in tissue culture for 7 days or more retain the ability to migrate and contribute to normal neural crest structures when placed in the embryonic environment. Under the conditions described, a single neural crest cell gave rise to daughter cells expressing the melanotic phenotype (detected in tissue culture) and adrenergic phenotypes (detected after injection in vivo). This demonstrates that at least some single cells of the premigratory crest in the trunk region are pluripotent.
Growth responses of fish to changing environmental conditions in a South Carolina cooling reservoir

Significant changes in growth of bluegills,Lepomis macrochirus, largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides, and black crappies,Pomoxis nigromaculatus, were observed in Keowee Reservoir, South Carolina, during the 10 years (1968–1977) following impoundment. During this period the reservoir filled, water temperatures were increased by heated effluent from a nuclear power plant, and threadfin shad,Dorosoma petenense, were stocked. Growth was apparently regulated by abundance and size of prey eaten by fish; elevated water temperatures had no measurable effect.
Factors affecting the accumulation and removal of mercury from tissues of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica

Adult oysters, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) were held in seawater containing 10 or 100 ppb mercury in the form of mercuric acetate for 45 days. Mercury concentration in tissues was determined by analysis of individually homogenized oyster meats using wet digestion and flameless absorption spectrophotometry. After 45 days, average mercury tissue concentration was 91,600 and 12,100 ppb in the 100 and 10 ppb mercury groups, respectively. A slight decline in mercury residues in the 100 ppb group during the accumulation period was attributed to spawning. Clearance of mercury from tissues was studied in a constant temperature regime (25°C±2Co) for 25 days and in a declining temperature regime (25° to 5°C) for 80 days by exposing treated adults to estuarine water with no mercury added. The biological half-life of mercuric acetate was 16.8 and 9.3 days in the 25°C temperature regime, and 35.4 and 19.9 days in the declining temperature regime, for the 10 and 100 ppb groups, respectively. Smaller oysters (0 to 7 g) consistently accumulated more mercury per gram wet weight than larger oysters (7 to 20 g) in populations exposed to 10 and 100 ppb mercury.
Rethinking Postgraduate Education in Geography: International Perspectives on Improving Practice

This symposium brings together multi-national assessments of the current state of and challenges facing postgraduate education in geography. Contributors from Europe, Australia, South Africa and the USA identify ways in which restructuring of educational systems and wider political contexts affect programmes within the field. While highlighting the implications of initiatives such as restructuring of degrees in European universities, merging of Geography into interdisciplinary units in Australia, efforts to strengthen professional development programmes in the USA and to widen racial participation in South Africa, they also demonstrate the many challenges that remain to innovation, particularly as these are affected by economic conditions and policies.
Light-regulated, tissue-specific immunophilins in a higher plant

In addition to their application in organ transplantation, immunosuppressive drugs are valuable tools for studying signal transduction in eukaryotic cells. Using affinity chromatography, we have purified immunosuppressive drug receptors (immunophilins) from fava bean. Proteins belonging to both major classes of the immunophilin family identified from animal sources [FK506- and rapamycin-binding proteins (FKBPs) and cyclophilins] were present in this higher plant. FKBP13, the most abundant FKBP family member in leaf tissues, was not detected in root tissues, whereas other FKBPs were present in both tissues. While the abundance of cyclophilin A in leaves was similar to that in roots, cyclophilin B/C was expressed at a much higher level in leaf tissues than in root tissues. Subcellular localization of immunophilins in mesophyll cells showed that chloroplasts contained FKBP13 and cyclophilin B/C but not other members, which explains the preferential expression of these two proteins in leaves over roots. The abundance of chloroplast-localized immunophilins, FKBP13 and cyclophilin B/C, was regulated by light. Although etiolated leaves produced detectable levels of cyclophilin B/C, they did not express FKBP13. Illumination of etiolated plants dramatically increased the expression of both FKBP13 and cyclophilin B/C. The light-induced expression of FKBP13 is closely correlated with the accumulation of chlorophyll in the leaf tissue. Our findings suggest that FKBP13 and cyclophilin B/C may play a specific role in chloroplasts.
Free Resolutions of Simplicial Posets

Abstract A simplicial poset, a poset with a minimal element and whose every interval is a Boolean algebra, is a generalization of a simplicial complex. Stanley defined a ring A P associated with a simplicial poset P that generalizes the face-ring of a simplicial complex. If V is the set of vertices of P , then A P is a k [ V ]-module; we find the Betti polynomials of a free resolution of A P , and the local cohomology modules of A P , generalizing Hochster's corresponding results for simplicial complexes. The proofs involve splitting certain chain or cochain complexes more finely than in the simplicial complex case. Corollaries are that the depth of A P is a topological invariant, and that the depth may be computed in terms of the Cohen-Macaulayness of skeleta of P , generalizing results of Munkres and Hibi.
Consumer choice of retail shopping aids

Abstract This research investigates how consumer and product category attributes affect consumer interest in using various shopping aids. Research hypotheses were proposed based on a contingency framework of the relationship between consumer characteristics (i.e., purchase need, product knowledge, and brand preference heterogeneity) and shopping aid solutions (expanded selection, additional product information, personalization, and evaluative information). The findings demonstrated the importance of considering consumer characteristics when retailers design and provide shopping aids for consumers to facilitate purchase completion.
Longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) diversity in a fragmented temperate forest landscape.

Longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are an important component of temperate forest ecosystems. We trapped longhorned beetles in forests in northwest Ohio during 2008 to test the hypothesis that larger forests have greater species diversity than smaller forests. Large forests had a significantly greater cerambycid species richness than small forests (t = 3.16. P = 0.02), and there was a significant relationship between forest size and cerambycid species richness.
Elementary Axioms for Canonical Points of Toposes

Two elementary extensions of the topos axioms are given, each implying the topos has a local geometric morphism to a category of sets. The stronger one realizes sets as precisely the decidables of the topos, so there is a simple internal description of the range of validity of the law of excluded middle in the topos. It also has a natural geometric meaning. Models of the extensions in Grothendieck toposes are described.
Potent inhibition of dendritic cell differentiation and maturation by vitamin D analogs.

We show that the immunosuppressive effects of 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)) are due, in part, to inhibition of the T cell stimulatory functions of dendritic cells (DCs). Addition of 10(-12) and 10(-8) M 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) to murine DC cultures resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in levels of class II MHC and the co-stimulatory ligands B7-1, B7-2, and CD40 without affecting the number of DCs generated. Higher concentrations of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) reduced DC yield. The capacity of DCs to induce proliferation of purified allogeneic T cells was reduced by 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3). The vitamin D(3) analog, 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-16-ene-23-yne-26,27-hexafluoro-19-nor -D(3), exerted identical effects at 100-fold lower concentrations. Inhibition of DC maturation and stimulatory function was absent in cultures from mice genetically lacking vitamin D receptors (VDR). Vitamin D analogs effectively reduce DC function via VDR-dependent pathways.
Addressing Substance Use Disorders in VA Nursing Homes

Residents of Veterans Affairs nursing homes have high rates of substance use problems. To evaluate relevant treatment resources and practices available to them, we surveyed 48 nursing home units with high substance use disorder prevalence. We summarize survey findings and describe areas of strength and weakness in addressing the needs of residents with substance use disorders. Social workers can make important contributions in key areas identified in the survey, including fostering improved communication and coordination with medical center programs, educating care staff regarding substance use in older persons, and providing discharge planning that takes into account residents' substance use history.
Somatic translocation and differential expression of Ig μ transgene copies implicate a role for the Igh locus in memory B cell development

Memory B cells of mice with Ig mu transgenes often carry transgene copies that have moved into the Igh locus via somatic translocation. This phenomenon has been attributed to a selection pressure for somatic hypermutations, which generally are observed at much higher frequencies in translocated copies than in ectopic copies. We tested this idea by immunizing Ig-mu transgenic mice in a manner designed to select B cells that required only one V(H) mutation for a switch in antigenic specificity and recruitment into the memory pool. Despite the minimal mutation requirement, hybridomas carrying somatic translocations to the Igh locus were obtained. Importantly, this occurred despite the fact that translocated and untranslocated mu-transgenes were mutated comparably. Evidently, a strong selection advantage was conferred upon B cells by the somatic translocations. Among the hybridomas, translocated mu-transgenes were active, while ectopic mu-transgenes were uniformly silent. The translocated copy that had conferred an affinity-based selection advantage was expressed at the highest level. Moreover, translocated copies were differentially expressed among hybridoma members, which belonged to a common post-mutational lineage. This suggests that adjustments in transgene expression levels had occurred during memory cell development. These results indicate that, apart from their potential influences on somatic hypermutagenesis and class switch recombination, elements in the Igh locus promote the selection of memory B cells in another way, possibly by regulating the level of Ig expression at various stages of antigen-driven differentiation.
Simulation of the detailed regulation of glycolytic oscillation in a heart supernatant preparation.

Abstract Regulation of glycolysis during sustained oscillations has been studies by simulating in detail the experimentally observed behavior of a supernatant fraction from beef heart. This preparation exhibits cyclic oscillations in concentrations of all observed glycolytic intermediates and coenzymes. A model consisting of 57 simultaneous differential equations representing 101 chemical reactions was used to simulate the experimental results. Most of the enzyme sub-models composing this are quite similar to those used for a nonoscillating glycolytic simulation. The differential equations were solved numerically by digital computers. An alternative calculation method, which speeds the process of computation by a factor of 100, was used in the later stages of model construction. Phosphofructokinase, primarily under adenine nucleotide control resulting in pulsed-type variations of active concentrations, causes oscillation in this system, although some other enzymes exert a secondary control. The discrepancies found between experimental and computed behavior suggest presently unknown control mechanisms and areas for further experimentation.
NOX storage and reduction on a Pt/BaO/alumina monolithic storage catalyst

Abstract The performance of a Pt/BaO/Al2O3 washcoated monolith reactor is investigated using propylene as a reductant. The dependence of the time-averaged NOX conversion is reported for several operating parameters, including feed composition, temperature, flow rate, propylene pulse duration and overall cycle time. NOX storage data, which reveal both kinetic and thermodynamic limitations, provide guidance on selecting the feed protocol giving high NOX conversion. Complex nonisothermal transient features spanning the NOX storage and reduction regimes are revealed. Time-averaged NOX conversions exceeding 80% are achieved over a wide range of feed temperatures when short pulses are fed that have a sufficiently high propylene concentration to create fuel-rich conditions. The periodic feed of propylene gives time-averaged NOX conversion significantly exceeding the steady-state conversion for an equivalent propylene feed rate. The results indicate that the rich–lean feed protocol must be tuned in order to achieve a maximum NOX conversion with minimal breakthrough of incompletely oxidized components. The time-averaged conversion achieves a maximum at an intermediate cycle time and reductant pulse duty, with values dependent on the feed temperature and flow rate. The results are compared to previous literature data and interpreted with a phenomenological storage and reduction cycle.
Laser interferometric study of the diffusion layer at a vertical cathode during non-steady-state conditions☆

The parameters, thickness, δ, and concentration change, Δc, of the diffusion layer were studied as a function of time t using a Mach-Zehnder laser interferometer during and after electrodeposition of copper on vertical electrodes. δ and Δc were found to increase linearly with t12 up to the start of the transition to steady state in CuSO4 and CuSO4-H2SO4 solutions. These are in agreement with the known theoretical predictions. Most of the diffusion coefficients calculated from the obtained results agree well with the published values. After removal of the cathodic current, log Δc was found to decrease linearly with t12.
THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD CONTROVERSY PHYSICIANS HIT WITH CLAIMS OF LIBEL AND INSIDER TRADING BY THEIR EMPLOYERS

(2000). THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD CONTROVERSY PHYSICIANS HIT WITH CLAIMS OF LIBEL AND INSIDER TRADING BY THEIR EMPLOYERS. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 223-239.
Morphological instability, evolution, and scaling in strained epitaxial films: An amplitude-equation analysis of the phase-field-crystal model

Morphological properties of strained epitaxial films are examined through a mesoscopic approach developed to incorporate both the film crystalline structure and standard continuum theory. Film surface profiles and properties, such as surface energy, liquid-solid miscibility gap, and interface thickness are determined as a function of misfit strains and film elastic modulus. We analyze the stress-driven instability of film surface morphology that leads to the formation of strained islands. We find a universal scaling relationship between the island size and misfit strain which shows a crossover from the well-known continuum elasticity result at the weak strain to a behavior governed by a ``perfect'' lattice relaxation condition. The strain at which the crossover occurs is shown to be a function of liquid-solid interfacial thickness, and an asymmetry between tensile and compressive strains is observed. The film instability is found to be accompanied by mode coupling of the complex amplitudes of the surface morphological profile, a factor associated with the crystalline nature of the strained film but absent in conventional continuum theory.
Prenatal imaging of distal limb abnormalities using OCT in mice

Congenital abnormalities of the limbs are common birth defects. These include missing or extra fingers or toes, abnormal limb length, and abnormalities in patterning of bones, cartilage or muscles. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a 3-D imaging modality, which can produce high-resolution (~8 μm) images of developing embryos with an imaging depth of a few millimeters. Here we demonstrate the capability of OCT to perform 3D imaging of limb development in normal embryos and a mouse model with congenital abnormalities. Our results suggest that OCT is a promising tool to analyze embryonic limb development in mammalian models of congenital defects.
A historical review of wear mechanisms and the structure of vitrified micro grinding wheels

This paper presents a historical review of the wear and the structure of vitrified grinding wheels. This review describes the tribological issues surrounding use of vitrified grinding wheels and is discussed in three ways. The first explains the relationship between grinding wheel wear and wheel performance and discusses the interactions between abrasive grain and workpiece material and how it relates to grinding wheel performance; the second investigates the issues surrounding the composition of the vitrified bonding system and how it affects wheel wear, whilst the third explores the effect of reactions in vitrified bonds during thermal treatment of the grinding wheel that affect the performance of vitrified grinding wheels during subsequent processing of common engineering materials. The paper provides a timely review of the microstructural aspects of vitrified grinding wheels.
Reflecting on Portfolio Development: How Does the Portfolio Facilitate a Preservice Teacher’s Growth?

This study adopted portfolio assessment as a means of deepening pre-service teachers’ understanding of teaching and learning. The ultimate goal of using the portfolio was to bring the program in line with the mission of the institute, the criteria of the NCATE and INTASC, and the standards of the Ohio State License. This study discusses the challenge of implementing a year-long portfolio assessment procedure, as well as investigating how the exit portfolio assessment plays a role in facilitating pre-service teachers’ professional growth in terms of knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Results indicate that preservice teachers considered the capstone portfolio as a tool for reflection, which helped them improve critical thinking skills, self-assessment, and advancement. Also, the portfolio process helped teacher candidates develop a professional identity and promote teaching. Overall, there was growth and improvement in knowledge, skills, and dispositions toward teaching, the role of a teacher and learner, and using the web-based portfolio process.
Rapid, Transcript-Specific Changes in Splicing in Response to Environmental Stress

While the core splicing machinery is highly conserved between budding yeast and mammals, the absence of alternative splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae raises the fundamental question of why introns have been retained in approximately 5% of the 6000 genes. Because ribosomal protein-encoding genes (RPGs) are highly overrepresented in the set of intron-containing genes, we tested the hypothesis that splicing of these transcripts would be regulated under conditions in which translation is impaired. Using a microarray-based strategy, we find that, within minutes after the induction of amino acid starvation, the splicing of the majority of RPGs is specifically inhibited. In response to an unrelated stress, exposure to toxic levels of ethanol, splicing of a different group of transcripts is inhibited, while the splicing of a third set is actually improved. We propose that regulation of splicing, like transcription, can afford rapid and specific changes in gene expression in response to the environment.
mCVEs: using cross-scale collaboration to support user interaction with multiscale structures

In this paper, a new type of interaction environment, the multiscale collaborative virtual environment (mCVE), is proposed to support multiple users working together at different scale levels. This paper introduces the concept of multiscale collaboration in the context of 3D virtual environments and describes the benefits of multiscale collaboration for understanding and managing large structures that present important features at different scale levels. After a discussion on the design and implementation of multiscale tools to support the visualization of structures, cross-scale information sharing, and cross-scale action, the paper presents an experimental study showing that cross-scale collaboration can improve user performance.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology: Gaining A Competitive Value Through Cloud Computing

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses radio waves to track the movement of goods through the Supply Chain system. The identity of an object is captured with a unique serial number that is transmitted wirelessly to a computer system. Small businesses are facing RFID implementation barriers. The barriers range from the perspective of the consumer-goods manufacturers and retail organizations. We propose implementing RFID technology using cloud computing framework to alleviate or reduce the implementation cost which is the most prevalent barrier.
A Parallel VLSI Architecture for Layered Decoding for Array LDPC Codes

The VLSI implementation complexity of a low density parity check (LDPC) decoder is largely influenced by interconnect and the storage requirements. Here, the proposed layout-aware layered decoder architecture utilizes the data-reuse properties of min-sum, layered decoding and structured properties of array LDPC codes. This results in a significant reduction of logic and interconnects requirements of the decoder when compared to the state-of-the-art LDPC decoders. The ASIC implementation of the proposed fully parallel architecture achieves throughput of 4.6 Gbps (for a maximum of 15 iterations). The chip size is 2.3 mm times 2.3 mm in 0.13 micron technology
Detection of the Host Immune Response to Burkholderia mallei Heat-Shock Proteins GroEL and DnaK in a Glanders Patient and Infected Mice

We examined, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis, the host immune response to 2 heat-shock proteins (hsps) in a patient and mice previously infected with Burkholderia mallei. The patient was the first reported human glanders case in 50 years in the United States. The expression of the groEL and dnaK operons appeared to be dependent upon a σ 32 RNA polymerase as suggested by conserved heat-shock promoter sequences, and the groESL operon may be negatively regulated by a controlling invert repeat of chaperone expression (CIRCE) site. In the antisera, the GroEL protein was found to be more immunoreactive than the DnaK protein in both a human patient and mice previously infected with B. mallei. Examination of the supernatant of a growing culture of B. mallei showed that more GroEL protein than DnaK protein was released from the cell. This may occur similarly within an infected host causing an elevated host immune response to the B. mallei hsps. Published by Elsevier Inc.
State Aware Data Dissemination over Structured Overlays

We describe the problem of data dissemination in stream-oriented applications where the required filter is a function of the current state. We call such functions dynamic filters. A state aware data dissemination network (SA-DDN) is proposed to support dynamic filters. Two approaches single-level filtering (SF) and multilevel filter decomposition (MFD) are proposed to facilitate the data dissemination. We show how MFD improves performance over SF. We then describe a realization of SA-DDN on top of an improved bi-directional Chord overlay with a built-in multicast mechanism. An application of stock price monitoring is implemented based on SA-DDN and real life stock quotes are collected to demonstrate the feasibility of our system. Extensive simulations are performed to compare the performance of both approaches and provide insight into the advantages of MFD
Introduction to the Series on Computational Approaches to Cardiac Arrhythmias Translation Into Diagnostics and Therapy

Of all the cardiac arrhythmias seen in clinical practice, atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. AF is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, dementia, and death.1–3 In developed nations overall prevalence of AF is 0.9% and the number of people affected is projected to more than double over the next 2 decades.3,4 VT/VF is the most important immediate cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Incidence of SCD is estimated to be 4 to 5 million cases per year worldwide.5,6 Thus arrhythmias and SCD are among the most significant manifestations of cardiovascular diseases worldwide, but their underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Arrhythmogenic substrates may be established by ischemia, infarction, heart failure and genetic mutations, all of which may cause inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, interstitial fibrosis, fatty infiltration, and changes in the 3-dimensional cellular architecture of the working myocardium.7,8 Over the last 17 years, the study of the molecular genetic basis of monogenic cardiac rhythm disorders, together with characterization of functional expression and biophysical properties of mutant channels from patients with inheritable ion channel diseases, has significantly advanced our understanding of the molecular basis of cardiac arrhythmias.9 Yet, this clearly has not been sufficient. Despite such advances, predictable prevention of AF or VF is currently not possible and the development of effective antiarrhythmic pharmacological agents has been extremely difficult. Not all questions related to arrhythmia mechanisms are directly answerable by reductionist experiments such as DNA sequencing or patch clamping. There is a hierarchy of questions whose levels are determined by the generality of the answers sought. Thus the question of what a mutation in an ion …
Fault tolerance tradeoffs in moving from decentralized to centralized embedded systems

Some safety-critical distributed embedded systems may need to use centralized components to achieve certain dependability properties. The difficulty in combining centralized and distributed architectures is achieving the potential benefits of centralization without giving up properties that motivated the use of a distributed approach in the first place. This paper examines the impact on fault tolerance of adding selected centralized components to distributed embedded systems, and possible approaches to choosing an appropriate configuration. We consider the proposed use of a star topology with centralized bus guardians in the time-triggered architecture. We model systems with different levels of centralized control in their star couplers, and compare fault tolerance properties in the presence of star-coupler faults. We demonstrate that buffering entire frames in the star coupler could lead to failures in startup and integration. We also show that constraining buffer size imposes restrictions on frame size and clock rates.
Proline and Polyamine Involvement in Chilling Tolerance of Maize Suspension Cultures

We have initiated suspension cultures for use in studying further induced chilling tolerance of maize tissue cultures. Our objective was to assess the roles of proline and polyamines and their inhibitors in chilling tolerance of maize
Human trophoblast survival at low oxygen concentrations requires metalloproteinase-mediated shedding of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF), which is expressed in the placenta during normal pregnancy, is down regulated in pre-eclampsia, a human pregnancy disorder associated with poor trophoblast differentiation and survival. This growth factor protects against apoptosis during stress, suggesting a role in trophoblast survival in the relatively low O(2) ( approximately 2%) environment of the first trimester conceptus. Using a well-characterized human first trimester cytotrophoblast cell line, we found that a 4-hour exposure to 2% O(2) upregulates HBEGF synthesis and secretion independently of an increase in its mRNA. Five other expressed members of the EGF family are largely unaffected. At 2% O(2), signaling via HER1 or HER4, known HBEGF receptors, is required for both HBEGF upregulation and protection against apoptosis. This positive-feedback loop is dependent on metalloproteinase-mediated cleavage and shedding of the HBEGF ectodomain. The restoration of trophoblast survival by the addition of soluble HBEGF in cultures exposed to low O(2) and metalloproteinase inhibitor suggests that the effects of HBEGF are mediated by autocrine/paracrine, rather than juxtacrine, signaling. Our results provide evidence that a post-transcriptional mechanism induced in trophoblasts by low O(2) rapidly amplifies HBEGF signaling to inhibit apoptosis. These findings have a high clinical significance, as the downregulation of HBEGF in pre-eclampsia is likely to be a contributing factor leading to the demise of trophoblasts.
Echocardiographic evidence of left atrial mechanical dysfunction after conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in 5 horses

Background: Atrial contractile dysfunction occurs in some species after conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) but has not been reported in horses with naturally occurring AF. Hypothesis: Transthoracic echocardiography allows detection of left atrial (LA) mechanical dysfunction in horses after conversion of AF to NSR. Animals: Five Standardbreds with AF and 6 healthy Standardbreds of similar age, weight, and athletic condition were included in this study. Methods: Four horses were treated pharmacologically (quinidine), and 1 horse was treated by means of transvenous electrical cardioversion. Echocardiographic examinations were performed in normal horses (once) and in AF horses (24 hours and 72 hours after conversion to NSR) by means of 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), transmitral flow Doppler, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) techniques. Echocardiographic indices of LA mechanical function were compared between normal horses and AF horses. Results: Two-dimensional echocardiography and TDI indices of LA mechanical function revealed significant decreases in LA contractile function and LA reservoir function 24 hours after cardioversion. This decrease was no longer statistically significant 72 hours after cardioversion, but changes in echocardiographic variables between 24 and 72 hours varied among horses. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: LA contractile dysfunction can be evaluated in horses by use of 2DE, transmitral Doppler flow velocity profiles, and analyses of LA wall motion by TDI. The results of this study are consistent with AF-induced atrial remodeling, although residual treatment effects or influence of underlying primary myopathy cannot be excluded.
Long Josephson junction in a resonant cavity

We present a model to describe an underdamped long Josephson junction coupled to a single-mode electromagnetic cavity, and carry out numerical calculations using this model in various regimes. The coupling may occur through either the electric or the magnetic field of the cavity mode. When a current is injected into the junction, we find that the time-averaged voltage exhibits self-induced resonant steps (SIRSs) due to coupling between the current in the junction and the electric field of the cavity mode. These steps are similar to those observed and calculated in small Josephson junctions. When a soliton is present in the junction (corresponding to a quantum of magnetic flux parallel to the junction plates), the SIRSs disappear if the electric field in the cavity is spatially uniform. If the cavity mode has a spatially varying electric field, there is a strong coupling between the soliton and the cavity mode. This coupling causes the soliton to become phase locked to the cavity mode, and produces steplike anomalies on the soliton branch of the $I\text{\ensuremath{-}}V$ characteristics. If the coupling is strong enough, the frequency of the cavity mode is greatly redshifted from its uncoupled value. We present simple geometrical arguments which account for this behavior.
DAPR: a protocol for wireless sensor networks utilizing an application-based routing cost

As wireless sensor networks continue to attract more attention, new ideas for applications are continually being developed, many of which involve consistent coverage of a given surveillance area. Recently, several protocols and architectures have been proposed to maintain network connectivity and adequate coverage quality while minimizing the drain on the scarce energy resources of the sensor nodes. In this paper, we propose DAPR, an integrated protocol for routing and coverage preservation that is distinctly different from the previously proposed solutions. Guided by the intuition that certain sensors are more important to the sensing application than others because of limited neighborhood redundancy, we introduce a new routing metric-an "application cost"-that aims to avoid the use of sensors in areas of critically sparse sensor deployment as routers. We have implemented DAPR in the ns-2 simulator and present simulation results showing the effectiveness of the protocol in extending network lifetime.
Coupled Drying and Devolatilization of Low Rank Coals in Fluidized Beds: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

A model is proposed for the coupled drying and devolatilization of large particles of low rank coals in fluidized beds. The model is based on the individual models developed and tested experimentally for drying and for devolatilization (using predried coal) and reported earlier. The temperature profile in the dry shell generated by the movement of a receding drying front (constituting a moving boundary problem) is assumed to characterize the rate of devolatilization during the first stage of the coupled phenomena when drying and devolatilization occur simultaneously. The temperature profile at the end of drying is used as an initial condition for solving analytically the transient heat conduction equation (with a convective boundary condition) for characterizing the remaining possible devolatilization after the drying is completed.
Issues in Critical Teacher Education: Insights from the Field

As we began organizing our ideas for this book, we looked for an opportunity to include some contextual information about the current state of affairs in critical teacher education. We were in the process of identifying individuals we knew were doing critical pedagogical work in their teacher education programs and inviting them to submit abstracts for possible chapters in our book. But we realized that, to our knowledge, no one had undertaken a systematic effort to try and capture a sense of what issues confront teacher educators trying to utilize critical approaches in their work, or what those critical educators are doing in response to those issues. We decided to create and distribute an open-ended questionnaire designed to collect some information about their efforts from critical teacher educators. This chapter summarizes our findings from an analysis of responses to that questionnaire.
First North American occurrence of the toothed pteranodontoid pterosaur Cimoliopterus

ABSTRACTA new pterosaur species, Cimoliopterus dunni, sp. nov., is described based on a partial rostrum from the upper Cenomanian Britton Formation in the Eagle Ford Group of north-central Texas. The holotype preserves alveoli for a minimum of 26 upper teeth and bears a thin premaxillary crest that begins above the fourth pair of alveoli. The rostrum, characterized by a slight lateral flare, lacks the pronounced lateral expansion found in ornithocheirids and anhanguerids. The tip of the snout is small and blunt, and the anterior face of the rostrum is oriented posteroventrally, forming an approximately 45° angle with the anterior portion of the palate. The anteroventrally oriented first pair of alveoli is directed more ventrally than anteriorly. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Cimoliopterus dunni and Cimoliopterus cuvieri, from the Cenomanian Grey Chalk Subgroup in Kent, England, are basal pteranodontoids that are closely related to Aetodactylus halli from the middle Cenomanian Tarrant Formation of no...
Contact Normalization or Escape from the Matrix

Cancer is a complex process that involves interactions between numerous cell types. In many cases, tumor cell expansion is prevented by other cells in the microenvironment. The growth and morphology of genetically transformed cells can be normalized by junctional communication with surrounding nontransformed cells. Tumor cells need to overcome this process, called “contact normalization”, before they can realize their malignant and metastatic potential. Here, we describe some fundamental aspects that underlie contact normalization, and how this information can be used to develop innovative ways to detect and treat many forms of cancer.
HIPMap: A High-Throughput Imaging Method for Mapping Spatial Gene Positions

The three-dimensional organization of genes inside the cell nucleus affects their functions including DNA transcription, replication, and repair. A major goal in the field of nuclear architecture is to determine what cellular factors establish and maintain the position of individual genes. Here, we describe HIPMap, a high-throughput imaging and analysis pipeline for the mapping of endogenous gene loci within the 3D space of the nucleus. HIPMap can be used for a variety of applications including screening, mapping translocations, validating chromosome conformation capture data, probing DNA-protein interactions, and interrogation of the relationship of gene expression with localization.
Cervical Spine Management in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Review of the Literature

Rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine is a well-recognized source of neck pain. Discussion of the potential effects of various treatment interventions on the tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine, however, has been scarce in the physical therapy literature. Physical therapists should understand the implications of this type of inflammatory arthritis when treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The end-stage results of the inflammatory process and the mechanical forces on the cervical spine can cause atlantoaxial subluxation, atlantoaxial impaction, and subaxial subluxation. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on several aspects of rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine: 1) pathological anatomy, 2) clinical findings, 3) surgical management, 4) management with cervical orthoses, and 5) physical therapy management.
Integrating the human element into the systems engineering process and MBSE methodology.

In response to the challenges related to the increasing size and complexity of systems, organizations have recognized the need to integrate human considerations in the beginning stages of systems development. Human Systems Integration (HSI) seeks to accomplish this objective by incorporating human factors within systems engineering (SE) processes and methodologies, which is the focus of this paper. A representative set of HSI methods from multiple sources are organized, analyzed, and mapped to the systems engineering Vee-model. These methods are then consolidated and evaluated against the SE process and Models-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodology to determine where and how they could integrate within systems development activities in the form of specific enhancements. Overall conclusions based on these evaluations are presented and future research areas are proposed.
Indicators to Evaluate the Social Dimensions of the Recreational Fishery in the Great Lakes

AbstractNatural resource management agencies increasingly engage in monitoring and evaluation activities to become more explicit and transparent about their activities and to demonstrate management achievements. As fishery management focuses on fish resources and the people using these resources, evaluating management performance requires assessing both environmental and human-centered outcomes of a fishery. Our paper addresses the current lack of indicators to evaluate the social dimensions of the recreational fishery in the Great Lakes. We identified management outcomes and evaluation indicators for the social dimensions of the fishery through semistructured interviews with fishery managers. Our study finds that fishery managers identified desired management outcomes and indicators at three distinct levels: individual anglers, local communities, and Great Lakes states and provinces. Managers’ input on outcomes and indicators was key to clarifying generic management goals such as “happy anglers.” Desired...
The effect of supply-chain disruption, quality and knowledge transfer on firm strategy

Abstract We investigate the effect of supply-chain disruption on a firm's decisions to invest in quality, and on ordering decisions, when there is a variable rate of knowledge transfer and a choice between two suppliers. The current supplier produces components with acceptable quality, but deliveries are subject to random disruptions. The new supplier is not subject to disruption, but has a lower initial level of quality. Our analysis shows that supply chain disruption can be costly, but its effect can be mitigated by policies that sensibly allocate demand between two suppliers. When an alternative source of supply is desirable, a firm must consider the quality level of the supplier when choosing supplier development policies. We also find that the effectiveness of knowledge transfer between a firm and a supplier has a significant impact on profit and should be considered before implementing supplier development activities. This is the first paper to consider joint decision-making about order allocation and quality improvement investments, in the face of supply-chain disruption, when the effectiveness of investment is influenced by a variable rate of knowledge transfer.
Health of U.S. children in the late 1990s.

A summary is presented of the finding from the 1997 National Health Interview Survey on the health of children. Despite major improvements in general health levels, many millions of children continue to have significant unmet general health and oral health needs.