cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydroxyproline contents and prolyl hydroxylase activities in lungs of rats exposed to low levels of ozone.

Abstract Exposure of adult rats to 0.8 ppm ozone enhanced collagen synthesis in the lungs. Collagen synthesis was studied by estimating hydroxyproline (Hyp) content and by following the activity of prolyl hydroxylase (PH), a crucial enzyme in the pathway of collagen biosynthesis. In the early phases (1–2 day) of ozone-induced injury, PH activity was increased twofold over control values and the amount of collagen synthesized (as estimated by Hyp formation) was double the amount of non-collagenous protein synthesized. This resulted, by the third day, in a significant increase (29%) in total lung collagen. In the later stages of the injury (3–7 day), however, increases in PH activity were more gradual, approaching 2.7 times control levels at the end of the 7-day exposure period. The synthesis of non-collagenous protein during this period increased steadily and by the 7th day the ratio of the amounts of collagen to non-collagenous protein synthesized was comparable to that of controls. When the exposed (0.8 ppm O 3 /7 days) animals were placed in filtered ambient air, PH activity returned to normal in 13 days whereas Hyp content remained elevated for up to 28 days. These results suggest that environmental ozone exposure could be a contributing factor in pulmonary disorders involving lung collagen synthesis.
IDANOTHEKION GEN. N., A SYNANGIATE POLLEN ORGAN WITH SACCATE POLLEN FROM THE MIDDLE PENNSYLVANIAN OF ILLINOIS

Idanothekion glandulosum gen. et sp. n. is a synangiate pollen organ represented by approximately 30 specimens contained in coal balls from the middle Pennsylvanian of Illinois. Each synangium is composed of seven to nine elongate sporangia that are fused laterally for approximately four-fifths of their length, and are radially arranged about, and fused to, a short central column; the central column is restricted to the proximal one-third of the synangium. Distal to the column the sporangia surround a hollow central area. Dehiscence occurred by means of a longitudinal slit along the mid-line of the inner face of each sporangium. The outer walls of the sporangia have a complex histology involving an external epidermis, a middle presumably glandular layer containing scattered enlarged cells, and an inner layer made up of thin-walled parenchyma. Vascular tissue is present in the central column and outer walls of the sporangia. Each sporangium has a prominent, attenuate, multicellular tip. Large numbers of saccate pollen grains similar to those found in numerous fossil and extant coniferophytes as well as some Mesozoic pteridosperms were produced in each sporangium. Idanothekion resembles some synangia assignable to Paleozoic members of the Marattiales; however, the new genus compares most closely with pollen organs believed to have been produced by members of the Pteridospermales. It seems most likely that Idanothekion represents the pollen organ of some member of the Lyginopteridaceae that produced pollen of a type which up to now has not been known from Paleozoic seed ferns.
Image processing in the biomedical sciences

Abstract A survey of current research and development activities in the automated analysis of biomedical images discusses the application of computer techniques to the extraction of information from photographs, x -ray films, and images on microscope slides. Accomplishments in the primary areas of endeavor include the analysis of chromosomes, the differentiation of white blood cells, the interpretation of radiographic images, and other areas of investigation. The limitations and problems encountered in the biomedical application of pattern recognition techniques are also discussed. Existing and potential value of utilizing automated image processing in biomedical investigations and medical practice are considered in terms of increasing analytic capability as well as simply quantifying biomedical data which occurs in visual form.
What can population genetics tell us about dispersal and biogeographic history of coral‐reef fishes?

Coral-reef fishes, like many other marine organisms, generally possess a benthic adult stage and pelagic larval stage. What can population genetics studies tell us about the demographic, evolutionary and biogeographic consequences of this life cycle? Ten studies of geographical patterns of intraspecific genetic differentiation in reef fishes have been published. These studies have included 2t > species/species complexes (14 in the family Pomacentridae, the remaining 12 in 9 different families) and have been about equally divided between the tropical Pacific and the tropical western Atlantic. A survey of these studies shows the following: (i) the existence of the pelagic larval stage appears to have led to high levels of gene flow even among populations separated by thousands of kilometres of open ocean; (ii) an apparent pattern of increased gene flow among populations connected by intermediate 'stepping stones’; (iii) very tentative evidence for a relationship between length of pelagic larval life and gene flow; (iv) no clear relationship between egg type (pelagic rs non-pelagic) and gene flow; and (v) suggestive evidence that damselfishes (family Pomacentridae) may have more restricted dispersal (less gene flow) than other reef fishes. The application of current and future molecular tools has the strong potential to clarify some of these relationships, particularly by using relatively neutral genetic markers. Additionally, discoveries of DNA markers having very high rates of mutation may allow tracking of demographically relevant levels of larval dispersal. Molecular tools are becoming especially valuable in uncovering the biogeographic and phylogenetic history of reef fishes. The one molecular study to date has suggested that at least some speciation events may have occurred during the climate changes and sea-level regressions associated with Pleistocene glacial episodes. Molecular tools need to be used to further explore the means by which high species diversity can be generated in the face of the apparently high gene flow observed in most coral-reef fishes.
Semantic web technologies to automate searching for geospatial data

This paper presents Semantic Web technology for the oftentimes difficult task of searching for government-produced geospatial data. We present a conceptual model that takes a task-based approach, and we formalize relationships between types of tasks, including emergencies, and types of data sources needed for those tasks. We explore the abilities and limitations of Semantic Web languages, tools, and rule engines.
Women on top in the pamphlet literature of the English revolution

(1994). Women on top in the pamphlet literature of the English revolution. Women's Studies: Vol. 24, Gender, Literature and the English Revolution, pp. 131-163.
Comparing Virtual and Physical Robotics Environments for Supporting Complex Systems and Computational Thinking

Both complex systems methods (such as agent-based modeling) and computational methods (such as programming) provide powerful ways for students to understand new phenomena. To understand how to effectively teach complex systems and computational content to younger students, we conducted a study in four urban middle school classrooms comparing 2-week-long curricular units—one using a physical robotics participatory simulation and one using a virtual robotics participatory simulation. We compare the two units for their effectiveness in supporting students’ complex systems thinking and computational thinking skills. We find that while both units improved student outcomes to roughly the same extent, they engendered different perspectives on the content. That is, students using the physical system were more likely to interpret situations from a bottom-up (“agent”) perspective, and students using the virtual system were more likely to employ a top-down (“aggregate”) perspective. Our outcomes suggest that the medium of students’ interactions with systems leads to differences in their learning from and about those systems. We explore the reasons for and effects of these differences, challenges in teaching this content, and student learning gains. The paper contributes operationalizable definitions of complex systems perspectives and computational perspectives and provides both a theoretical framework for and empirical evidence of a relationship between those two perspectives.
Structure and Functional Evaluation of Tendon–Skeletal Muscle Constructs Engineered in Vitro

During muscle contraction, the integrity of the myotendinous junction (MTJ) is important for the transmission of force from muscle to tendon. We evaluated the contractile and structural characteristics of 3-dimensional (3-D) skeletal muscle constructs co-cultured with engineered self-organized tendon constructs (n = 4), or segments of adult (n = 4) or fetal (n = 5) rat-tail tendon. We hypothesized that the co-culture of tendon and muscle would produce constructs with viable muscle-tendon interfaces that remain intact during generation of force. Construct diameter (lm) and maximum isometric force (microN) were measured, and specific force (kPa) was determined. After measure of force, constructs were loaded at a constant strain rate until failure and surface strains were recorded optically across the tendon, the muscle and the interface and used to determine the tangent modulus (passive stiffness) of the construct. Frozen samples were used for Trichrome Masson staining and immunofluorescent analysis of the MTJ-specific protein paxillin. No differences were observed between the groups with respect to diameter, maximum force, or specific force. The MTJ was robust and withstood tensile loading beyond the physiological strain range. The majority of the constructs failed in the muscle region. At the MTJ, there is an increase in the expression and localization of paxillin. In conclusion, using 3 sources of tendon tissue, we successfully engineered 3-D muscle-tendon constructs with functionally viable MTJ, characterized by structural features and protein expression patterns resembling neonatal MTJs in vivo.
Ethnicity and cultural models of recovery from breast cancer

Objective. Recovery narratives describe the culturally shared understandings about the ideal or desirable way to recover from an illness experience. This paper examines ethnic differences in recovery narratives among women participating in breast cancer support groups in Central Florida, USA. It compares groups serving African-American, Latina, and European American women, with the objective of better understanding the appeal of ethnic-specific illness support groups for culturally diverse populations. Design. A mixed-method study design combined qualitative and quantitative measures, including in-depth interviews, participant observation at support group meetings, collection of printed documents, and a structured survey. Results. Core elements of the recovery narrative drew from the dominant societal cancer discourse of optimism and personal transformation through adversity; however, important ethnic differences were evident in the meaning assigned to these themes. Groups gave distinctive salience to the...
Synchrotron infrared spectroscopy at megabar pressures - Vibrational dynamics of hydrogen to 180 GPa

New techniques for measuring infrared spectra at megabar pressures using synchrotron radiation have been developed and applied to study the Q1(1), Qi(1) + Si(0), and QR(J) vibrational transitions of solid hydrogen to 180 GPa. The frequency difference between the Q1(1) infrared and Raman vibrons increases from 3/cm (zero pressure) to 510/cm (180 GPa), indicating a dramatic increase in intermolecular coupling with pressure. A negative frequency shift is observed for the infrared vibron above 140 GPa. A significant increase in frequency and LO-TO splitting of the lattice phonon is also documented.
Phase locking of nordeste precipitation with sea surface temperatures

Interannual variations of precipitation in several regions around the globe are known to be influenced by sea surface temperatures. We describe a procedure that elicits the same frequencies of variations in the sea surface temperatures as in precipitation. The modes of variation in the two fields are phase locked, allowing us to identify regions in the oceans that vary in unison with changes in precipitation on different time scales. The method is illustrated by application to the northeast section of Brazil, the Nordeste, where flood and drought occur frequently.
Concentration of solar radiation by white painted transparent plates

A simple flat-plate solar concentrator is described in this paper. The device is composed of a white painted transparent plate with a photovoltaic cell fixed to an unpainted area on the bottom of the plate. Light scattering off the white material is either lost or directed to the solar cell. Experimental concentrations of up to 1.9 times the incident solar flux have been achieved using white clays. These values are close to those predicted by theory for the experimental parameters investigated. A theory of the device operation is developed. Using this theory suggestions are made for optimizing the concentrator system. For reasonable choices of cell and plate size and reflectivities of 80% concentrations of over 2× are possible. The concentrator has the advantage over other systems in that the concentration is independent of incidence angle and the concentrator is easy to produce. The device needs no tracking system and will concentrate on a cloudy day.
Probability, information theory, and prime number theory

Abstract For any probability distribution D = {α(n)} on Z+, we define β(m) = ∑ j=1 ∞ α(jm) , the probability in D that a ‘random’ integer is a multiple of m; and γ(k) = ∑ d|k μ(d)β(d) , the probability in D that a ‘random’ integer is relatively prime to k. We specialize this general situation to three important families of distributions: Ds = {αs(n)} = {n−s|ζ(s)} for s > 1 (the Dirichlet family); Lz = {αz(n)} = {(1 − z)zn−1} for 0 U N = {α N (n)} = { 1 N , 1⩽n⩽N; 0, n > N} for N ∈ Z+ (the finite uniform family). Several basic results and concepts from analytic prime number theory are revisited from the perspective of these families of probability distributions, and the Shannon entropy foreach of these families is determined.
Association of IgE with reaginic activity in sera from grass pollen- and horse dander-sensitive individuals.

Abstract Immunoglobulin E is associated with reagin-rich chromatographic fractions in sera of patients sensitive to rye grass pollen and to horse dander. Thus, in a patient (W. G.) who is sensitive to both allergens, the peak reaginic activity to both allergens was associated with IgE antibody. Absorption of reagin-rich fractions with anti-IgE serum removed reagins to several allergens upon passive transfer (P-K) testing. The inactivation of reagins and probably IgE upon treatment with thiols or heat was confirmed.
Transformative Learning: Immigrant Learners Who Participated in Recognition of Acquired Competencies RAC

Recognition of Acquired Competencies RAC as it is known in Quebec, Canada or Prior Learning Assessment PLA, requires a learner to engage in retrospective thought about their learning path, their learning style and their experiential knowledge. This process of critical self-reflection and rigorous analysis by the learner of their prior learning is often the first exposure to the examination of their own knowledge. This article provides case studies of immigrant learners from the Montreal, Quebec area in a Recognition of Acquired Competencies process in vocational education. Through the analysis of interviews with learners, the authors suggest transformative learning is a by-product of the Recognition of Acquired Competencies process.
Structure of TRPV1 channel revealed by electron cryomicroscopy

The transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels participate in many signaling pathways. TRPV1 functions as a molecular integrator of noxious stimuli, including heat, low pH, and chemical ligands. Here, we report the 3D structure of full-length rat TRPV1 channel expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. We demonstrate that the recombinant purified TRPV1 channel retains its structural and functional integrity and is suitable for structural analysis. The 19-A structure of TRPV1 determined by using single-particle electron cryomicroscopy exhibits fourfold symmetry and comprises two distinct regions: a large open basket-like domain, likely corresponding to the cytoplasmic N- and C-terminal portions, and a more compact domain, corresponding to the transmembrane portion. The assignment of transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions was supported by fitting crystal structures of the structurally homologous Kv1.2 channel and isolated TRPV1 ankyrin repeats into the TRPV1 structure.
Direct evidence against a strong electron-to phonon interaction in InSb

Abstract The donor impurity cyclotron-phonon resonance has been studied in InSb at magnetic fields between 10 and 80 koe using an H 2 O laser. Careful data analysis shows that the LO and not the TO phonon participates in this transition; hence in InSb the electron-TO phonon interaction must be much weaker than the electron-LO phonon interaction.
The Metamathematics of Ergodic Theory

The metamathematical tradition, tracing back to Hilbert, employs syntactic modeling to study the methods of contemporary mathematics. A central goal has been, in particular, to explore the extent to which infinitary methods can be understood in computational or otherwise explicit terms. Ergodic theory provides rich opportunities for such analysis. Although the field has its origins in seventeenth century dynamics and nineteenth century statistical mechanics, it employs infinitary, nonconstructive, and structural methods that are characteristically modern. At the same time, computational concerns and recent applications to combinatorics and number theory force us to reconsider the constructive character of the theory and its methods. This paper surveys some recent contributions to the metamathematical study of ergodic theory, focusing on the mean and pointwise ergodic theorems and the Furstenberg structure theorem for measure preserving systems. In particular, I characterize the extent to which these theorems are nonconstructive, and explain how proof-theoretic methods can be used to locate their “constructive content.”
Contradictions and Challenges in Managing Design

It is argued that architects are relatively powerless in the overall building design and construction process because they have ignored not only social but also technological and economic concerns that are critical to the effective practice of architecture. This article calls for more collaborative research going beyond the traditional limits of design and construction to investigate the organizational and management processes that link owner, designer, contractor, and supplier.
Properties and reactivities of solid residue from coal electrolysis

Abstract Although electrolysis of Illinois No. 6 bituminous coal at 1.4 V vs. SCE for 4 hours in an acidic electrolyte did not substantially change the total volatile matter content of the solid, its evolution was shifted to much lower temperatures. An increase of about 400% devolatilization yield for an electrolyzed coal residue over the parent coal below 400°C was observed. Similar but less profound effects were caused by electrolysis in alkaline aqueous electrolyte in which a significant portion of the smaller oxidized fragments could dissolve. Conversion of the acidic electrolysis residue in tetralin at 375°C and about 1500 psi H2 pressure to filterable liquid was about 13% greater than for the parent coal.
Diode-laser-based sensor for ultraviolet absorption measurements of atomic mercury

A new sensor has been developed for measuring atomic mercury using absorption spectroscopy with 254-nm radiation generated from two sum-frequency-mixed diode lasers. Beams from a 375-nm external-cavity diode laser and a 784-nm distributed feedback diode laser are mixed in a beta-barium-borate crystal to generate approximately 4 nW of ultraviolet radiation. The development of the sensor is described along with extensive characterization experiments in a mercury vapor cell in the laboratory. An accuracy of ±6% in the absolute concentration of atomic mercury has been demonstrated by comparison with equilibrium vapor pressure calculations. The detection limit is approximately 0.1 parts per billion of atomic mercury in a meter path length for 300-K gas and a 10-s integration time. The insensitivity of the sensor to broadband attenuation is demonstrated. Measurements of collision-broadening coefficients for air, N2, Ar, and CO2 are reported, and implementation of wavelength-modulation spectroscopy with the sensor is demonstrated. Finally, results are presented from measurements with the sensor in situ in the exhaust stream of an actual coal-fired combustor.
Boys Doing Art: The Construction of Outlaw Masculinity in a Portland, Oregon, Graffiti Crew

Though academic discourse on graffiti often laments the fact that it is treated as a crime, such arguments neglect how the outlaw status of graffiti has been integrally related to its allure and how it is understood and experienced by “writers” (the preferred term of graffiti artists). Participant observation and formal and informal interviews of members of a midstatus Portland, Oregon graffiti crew reveal how graffiti reflects a particular version of masculinity and at the same time serves as a resource for constructing masculine identity and achieving status and respect among male peers. Partly because of its outlaw status, graffiti is a domain of visual art that reinforces, rather than undercuts, a version of masculinity that values daring, risk, rebelliousness, ingenuity, commitment, and sacrifice, as well as a flamboyant and edgy set of aesthetics.
HLA Disease Associations: Models for the Study of Complex Human Genetic Disorders

The genes of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of humans, control a variety of functions involved in immune response and influence susceptibility to over 40 diseases. Theoretical studies in the development of models to determine the modes of inheritance of the HLA-associated diseases have led to a better understanding of the inheritance patterns in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, ankylosing spondylitis, hemochromatosis, celiac disease, and others. It is now clear that many of the HLA-associated diseases involve heterogeneity in their HLA components, as well as non-HLA genetic factors. This review is presented using HLA-associated diseases, and in particular IDDM, as the example of interest, but the observations and techniques presented have direct relevance to the study of all human diseases with a complex genetic component. Three methods for localizing disease-predisposing genes are presented: (1) association studies, including population, family, and relative predispositional effects, (2) affected sib pair and other affected-relative methods, and (3) lod score analysis. A variety of complementary methods for studying the mode(s) of inheritance of the alleles at the disease-predisposing locus and for identifying the alleles and amino acids directly involved in the disease process also are presented.
Modification of the Effects of Hypertension on Lysosomes and Connective Tissue in the Rat Aorta

The relationship of Iysosomes to the vascular effects of hypertension and the possible modification of these effects by anti-inflammatory agents (methylprednisolone and aspirin), vitamin E, and estrogen were studied. Each of these agents was given to a group of hypertensive rats; untreated hypertensive rats and normotensive rats served as controls. Vessel wall morphology and dimensions of aortas from hypertensive rats were unaffected by treatment. Usual connective tissue accumulations seen in hypertensive vessels were suppressed to normotensive levels in the methylprednisolone- and estrogen-treated hypertensive groups. Two lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAGA), increased over normal levels in hypertensive vessels from 1.03 ± 0.08 (SE) to 2.04 ± 0.19 µmoles/aortic pair hour-1 and from 1.10 ± 0.24 to 4.57 ± 0.38 µmoles/aortic pair hour-1 for the respective enzymes. Normal enzyme levels in estrogen-treated hypertensive rats (1.14 ± 0.15 µmoles/aortic pair hour-1 for acid...
On the theory of discrete-time signals of the discrete/continuous type

In this paper, a new type of discrete-time signal and related signal-processing technique, called discrete/continuous (D/C), is introduced and a variety of potential application-areas are described. A D/C signal can be viewed as a natural generalization of the traditional zoh-type signal format with the (new) feature that continuous, intersample time-variations of the D/C signal are allowed. In some applications the use of D/C signals can lead to improved performance, compared to zoh signals. In other applications the novel features of D/C signals provide essential technical capabilities not available in traditional signal-formats.
Vision surveillance in the United States: has the time come?

the major eye diseases—surgery for cataract, correction for refractive error, surgical and medical treatment for diabetic retinopathy, injections for choroidal neovascularization, and medications/surgery for glaucoma. Second, a priori there should be no differential vision loss by race, ethnicity, sex, or socioeconomic status from these diseases. Whereas rates of underlying diseases DO vary by these factors, the presence of effective treatments without evidence of differential benefit by race, ethnicity, or sex strongly suggests that the proportion of visual loss among those with eye diseases should not vary, provided that timely treatment is provided to those in need. Third, the evidence is clear that visual loss is associated with significant decrements in quality of life, functioning, employ­ ment, and life satisfaction. Disparities in vision loss indicate inequalities in health outcomes and inequitable use of health
Advanced PICOP algorithm with adaptive meshless field solver

Summary form only given. We discuss development of an advanced particle in cell (PIC) algorithm, which uses a cloud of points (meshless structure) as a reference basis to compute electromagnetic fields. The cloud of points is dynamically adapted (number of points and their locations are varied) to the field structure. The adaptation is relatively easy even for a complicated geometry, because there is no a priori given or fixed grid structure. That allows resolving boundary and current layers, sheaths, etc. simultaneously with solution to an initial problem. We apply the algorithm to model the extraction of ions from an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). The code calculates the steady state trajectories of the extracted ions and the electrostatic potential from Poisson's equation self- consistently, assuming thai the space charge of the electrons from the KCRIS plasma follows a Bolt/.mann distribution. The process leads to the formation of a very thin plasma sheath, which could be just a few microns inside a device only a few centimeters in size, at the boundary between the ECRIS plasma and the ion optics. We resolve the potential drop in the sheath by adaptation of the cloud of points. Numerical simulation of ion beam extraction will be presented.
β -Maltose Is the Metabolically Active Anomer of Maltose during Transitory Starch Degradation

Maltose is the major form of carbon exported from the chloroplast at night as a result of transitory starch breakdown. Maltose exists as an alpha- or beta-anomer. We developed an enzymatic technique for distinguishing between the two anomers of maltose and tested the accuracy and specificity of this technique using beta-maltose liberated from maltoheptose by beta-amylase. This technique was used to investigate which form of maltose is present during transitory starch degradation in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), wild-type Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), two starch deficient Arabidopsis lines, and one starch-excess mutant of Arabidopsis. In Phaseolus and wild-type Arabidopsis, beta-maltose levels were low during the day but were much higher at night. In Arabidopsis plants unable to metabolize maltose due to a T-DNA insertion in the gene for the cytosolic amylomaltase, (Y. Lu, T.D. Sharkey [2004] Planta 218: 466-473) levels of alpha- and beta-maltose were high during both the day and night. In starchless mutants of Arabidopsis, total maltose levels were low and almost completely in the alpha-form. We also found that the subcellular concentration of beta-maltose at night was greater in the chloroplast than in the cytosol by 278 microm. We conclude that beta-maltose is the metabolically active anomer of maltose and that a sufficient gradient of beta-maltose exists between the chloroplast and cytosol to allow for passive transport of maltose out of chloroplasts at night.
Feature space Gaussianization

We propose a non-linear feature space transformation for speaker/environment adaptation which forces the individual dimensions of the acoustic data for every speaker to be Gaussian distributed. The transformation is given by the preimage under the Gaussian cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the empirical CDF on a per dimension basis. We show that, for a given dimension, this transformation achieves minimum divergence between the density function of the transformed adaptation data and the normal density with zero mean and unit variance. Experimental results on both small and large vocabulary tasks show consistent improvements over the application of linear adaptation transforms only.
Actomyosin components of the asymmetric claw closer muscles of californian snapping shrimp

The dimorphic claws of the Californian snapping shrimp, Alpheus californiensis, contain an opener and a closer muscle. The closer muscle in the smaller pincer claw is composed of fibers with short and intermediate sarcomere lengths, whereas the closer muscle in the larger snapper claw is composed of fibers with long sarcomeres. Electrophoretic analysis of actomyosin extracts from the closer muscle in each claw revealed some common components. However, the snapper contains two additional components with molecular weights of 25 and 100 daltons.
Lipidomic methodologies applicable to the study of endocannabinoids and related compounds: Endocannabinoidomics

The identification of the endogenous ligands of the cannabinoid CB 1 and CB 2 receptors (endocannabinoids) as lipids nominally derived from arachidonic acid was a further demonstration that lipid molecules can be endowed with important signaling functions. This discovery was paralleled by the development of ever more sophisticated technologies for the profiling of small molecules, and the subsequent birth and exponential growth of the discipline of "metabolomics" and, in the case of analytical techniques for lipids, of its subdiscipline known as "lipidomics". The application of lipidomics to the analysis of endocannabinoids, and of endocannabinoid-like molecules with activities also at non-cannabinoid receptors, is now culminating in the identification of more families of fatty acid derivatives, thus revealing what has been defined as the "endocannabinoid metabolome", and in the development of specific techniques for the lipidomic profiling of these molecules. These new analytical advances are discussed in this article.
Use of LP Surface Waves for Source Characterization

summary The complex cepstrum technique is found to provide an effective means for removing undesirable modulations of surface wave spectra caused by interference of either multiple sources or multipath propagation. This technique has greatly enhanced the utility of surface wave spectra for characterization of seismic sources. An empirical analysis of surface wave spectra on a regional basis is made on seismic events in the Arctic Ocean and the Eurasian Continent. The results indicate that: (1) the spectral shapes of Rayleigh waves often are similar among events in the same epicentral area but vary substantially from one epicentral area to another, (2) a great majority of earthquakes can be differentiated from underground nuclear explosions based on spectral shapes of Rayleigh waves, and (3) spectral shapes of Love waves do not vary as much as Rayleigh waves from one epicentral area to another. Finally, a method for systematically finding the source mechanism and focal depth of an earthquake using the observed and theoretical surface wave spectra are devised and tested. The results from tests of the method on several earthquakes are consistent with other independent evidence.
Fish health: some concepts, constraints, and comparisons

This has been an overview of fish health, a comparison of some aspects of fish husbandry with other animal husbandry, and comments concerning fish health research--especially where it is going. The 1972 disease survey identified current problems; it ranked the problems according to priority. More important, research effort has been redirected. Problems of highest priority are receiving the greatest attention; those of lesser priority are receiving the appropriately lesser attention. Just as veterinary and human medical research have become more mission-oriented, fish health research has also become much more of a problem-solving activity. There are fewer dollars; they must be used wisely and they must produce. Research in fish health is expected to yield usable information that will be of significant help in producing better fishes. If destined for the table, such fishes should convert feeds rapidly and efficiently, and they should not suffer losses from diseases. If intended for stocking, such fishes should be capable of thriving in the environment and of surviving to fulfill their destiny.
Ecstasy and Possession: The Attraction of Women to the Cult of Dionysus

Among the cults of classical antiquity, the worship of the Greek god Dionysus is one of the most intriguing, ranging in form from rural agricultural festivals in Greece and Asia Minor to complex mystery rites established throughout the Roman Empire. While various aspects of Dionysiac religion have received detailed scholarly treatment, existing studies have paid surprisingly little attention to the extent to which women appear to predominate in the cult as it may be reconstructed from the available sources. The frequent references to the involvement of women in the mythographers and historiographers have usually been explained away in modern scholarship by unsubstantiated appeals to the “emotional” needs of women, and by the association with fertility themes and fertility magic which are considered more appropriate to women than to men.
Gaze and informativeness during category learning: Evidence for an inverse relation

In what follows, we explore the general relationship between eye gaze during a category learning task and the information conveyed by each member of the learned category. To understand the nature of this relationship empirically, we used eye tracking during a novel object classification paradigm. Results suggest that the average fixation time per object during learning is inversely proportional to the amount of information that object conveys about its category. This inverse relationship may seem counterintuitive; however, objects that have a high-information value are inherently more representative of their category. Therefore, their generality captures the essence of the category structure relative to less representative objects. As such, it takes relatively less time to process these objects than their less informative companions. We use a general information measure referred to as representational information theory (Vigo, 2011a, 2013a) to articulate and interpret the results from our experiment and c...
The Effects of Data and Graph Type on Concepts and Visualizations of Variability

Recognizing and interpreting variability in data lies at the heart of statistical reasoning. Since graphical displays should facilitate communication about data, statistical literacy should include...
Using Monochromatic Design Views to Avoid a Premature Fixation on Design Solutions

Objective: This study investigates whether the availability of a monochromatic design view can prevent an early fixation on details during the preliminary stages of a design task. Background: Design students are trained to tentatively sketch the overall form of a design concept before attending to its details. Literature suggests that using multiple colors for sketching a concept causes a gestalt-like grouping phenomenon and influences designers to adopt a contrasting strategy of adding details before sketching the overall form. An empirical study was conducted to assess the validity of these findings. Method: In the study, 20 participants, randomly assigned to two groups, were allowed to use multiple colors to sketch a design concept within a digital sketching environment. However, only the single-color group had the ability to view a sketch, as it would appear in monochrome. Results: Both groups parsed the design concepts into their basic components and used colors as a means of distinguishing one compo...
Small Business Survival Index Traction And Movement In Rankings Of States (2000-2013)

Given the economic climate faced domestically in the United States since 2008, there is a desire by politicians to increase state economic and business growth. As small businesses are the main driver of business growth in state economies, focus should be placed upon the policy environment of a state to encourage state level growth in entrepreneurial activities aimed at small business creation and survival. The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) - a 501c(4) advocacy, research, training and networking organization dedicated to protecting small business and promoting entrepreneurship - has annually prepared a “Small Business Survival Index” that ranks states according to some of the major government-imposed or government-related costs affecting investment, entrepreneurship, and business. This study presents the results from an analysis of the rankings of states on the Small Business Survival Index from 2000 to 2013 which focused on three categories of states - overall ranking gainer states, those that are stable in ranking, and overall ranking decliner states, the percentage in each category, and conclusions. The paper also includes a rank correlation analysis of various periods of time to measure the extent of traction and mobility in the SBSI state rankings from 2000 to 2013. As states vary by governor length of years in their governor term and also by term limits or not on governor terms allowed, there is an analysis of impact of governor years of term on changes in SBSI ranking and an analysis of impact of governor term limits on changes in SBSI ranking.
Internal Regulation of Nutrient Uptake by Relative Growth Rate and Nutrient-Use Efficiency

Plants are observed to regulate their uptake of nutrients in elaborate patterns according to their environment of growth and their stage of development. Among the common patterns is that plants reduce their nutrient uptake capacities (per mass of root, n, or of the whole plant, nplant) as nutrient concentrations increase (Clements et al. 1979; Godwin and Blair 1991; Youssefi et al. 1999; see Chap. 6, this Vol.). Similarly, changes in the shoot’s environment, such as in CO2 partial pressure, also induce changes in nutrient uptake rates (n). A number of questions arise – for one, why should a ‘good’ such as nutrient acquisition ever be curtailed, or not expressed at a maximal rate? One must infer that downregulating the acquisition of a beneficial resource confers a net benefit in Darwinian fitness, for which most plants or their immediate ancestors have been heavily selected. Admittedly, long-domesticated plants may diverge from the fitness functions of wild plants (Gutschick 1987, 1997, 1999; Jackson and Koch 1997). In some cases, the explanation lies at the immediate physiological level, in that some nutrients in excess are toxic, such as boron (Nable et al. 1990) and even phosphate (e.g., Romera et al. 1992). Nonetheless, such downregulation occurs even for nutrients that show no apparent toxicity in luxury consumption, such as nitrogen. Plant performance does not follow the guidelines espoused by the actress Mae West, “Too much of a good thing is wonderful”. Some experimental evidence shows that overexpression of nontoxic nutrient acquisition is deleterious to plant growth and fitness – witness the stunting of supernodulating legumes (Carroll et al. 1985), which can perhaps be attributed to excess diversion of photosynthate to N2 fixation. Nonetheless, downregulation occurs even at modest, physiological nutrient content, most markedly in woody plants (Gessler et al. 1998). Prediction of uptake capacity in changing environments, whether for crops or wild plants, is highly desirable for studies of global change. We, as a
PBL in the United States Defense Sector: Progress and Prospects

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the current state of affairs regarding PBL policy, practice, and theory in the U.S. defense sector. It highlights important aspects of PBL’s development, present status, and future directions. It identifies key policies, highlights selected PBL cases, comments on PBL’s theoretical development, and assesses the principal challenges currently facing effective implementation. As a conclusion, there is great potential for further progress by adopting a contingency approach to PBL implementation. Since most defense systems differ in significant ways (e.g., aircraft, ships, tanks, command and control systems), it follows that the acquisition strategy for each should be tailored; so, too, should the support strategy. It is possible that the DoD has placed too much policy emphasis on PBL as a “one size fits all” support approach, which has led to less than thoughtful implementation and the problems noted above. Like most other acquisition techniques, PBL correctly should be seen as one of several tools in the program manager’s kit, a tool to be used only when the circumstances are right, and then with intelligence, skill, and wisdom.
Relationship of water column stability to the growth, condition, and survival of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the northern coastal Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound

Water column stability has been hypothesized to affect growth and ultimately survival of juvenile fish. We estimated the relationships between stability and the growth, condition, and marine survival of several stocks of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) within Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, USA, and the northern coastal Gulf of Alaska (GOA) shelf. There was a stronger correlation among the biological parameters of the fish than between the biological parameters and physical conditions. While stability and fish condition during early marine residence in PWS were important to year-class survival, stability of the water column that juveniles experienced as they migrated to the open waters of the GOA did not play a key role in determining survival to adulthood. Below-average stability just prior to capture within PWS combined with positive fish condition was related to increased year-class survival. Our results are similar to previous studies that concluded that slower and weaker development of strat...
Performance Health Monitoring of Large-Scale Systems

As largest-scale computing systems currently progress to multi-petaflop systems and beyond, achieving their full potential requires increasing attention to the performance health of the systems overall, wherein degraded performance of a single subsystem such as a node, NIC, memory module, kernel process, etc. can effectively degrade the performance of an entire system running a large application. The current state of the art in identifying and remediating sources of performance loss is as much an art as a science, typically requiring laborand expertise-intensive human resources operating in an ad-hoc and experience-based fashion. In this work we motivate the need for a new type of performance analysis tool, a Performance Health Monitor (PHM), that will efficiently pinpoint sources of lost performance on the largest systems and enable applications to experience a consistent performance environment from run to run. PHM is aimed at providing a global view of system performance in contrast to an aggregation of local views as well as to explain system performance issues and suggest corrective actions or pinpoint likely causes. A spectrum of usage modes will be supported ranging from quick, partial-system, userinitiated checks to comprehensive, full-system evaluations. Such evaluations may be archived as performance snapshots for comparing distinct systems, system subsets, or the same system preand post-upgrade.
A review of transfer factors for assessing the dose from radionuclides in agricultural products

The dose to man from radionuclides released to the environment is generally assessed with mathematical models that require transfer factors as input parameters to predict the concentration of radionuclides in foodstuffs. This article summarizes recent attempts to review the worldwide literature and derive updated transfer factors to predict concentrations of radionuclides in terrestrial foods using equilibrium models. Updated transfer coefficients to predict the concentration of a radionuclide in cow's milk and other animal products from that in feed are presented as well as concentration factors to predict the concentration of a nuclide in a food or feed crop from that in soil. Comparing the updated transfer coefficients with those in existing tables leads to suggested changes in the transfer coefficients for milk and beef. Soil-to-plant concentration factors are extremely variable, which limits the usefulness of a single concentration factor to predict the uptake of a radionuclide into crops from soil. The potentially large uncertainty associated with predicting the uptake of radionuclides by plants from soil at a particular location may be reduced by considering the dominant crops and soil types in the area and how various soil properties affect the concentration factor. The updated transfer factors may be useful inmore » assessing transport through terrestrial food chains when site-specific information is not available. In addition, they provide a basis for systematically updating existing tables of transfer factors for generic assessments.« less