cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transport phases of transition metals in the Amazon and Yukon Rivers

Samples representing yearly averages of material transported by the Amazon and Yukon Rivers were analyzed to separate the transition metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) into the following transport phases: (1) crystalline particles, (2) metal hydroxide coatings, (3) solid organic material, (4) sorbed material, and (5) those in solution. The major transport phases are crystalline particles and metal hydroxide coatings, which, combined, carry 65% to 92% of the transition metals transported. Solid organic material, the next most important phase, transports between 5% and 19% of the total transported. Material carried in solution transports 0.6% to 17% of the total transported. Sorbed transition metals account for between 0.02% and 8% of the total transported. Metal hydroxide coatings represent the major transporting mechanism potentially available to organisms, since, for the Amazon and Yukon Rivers, respectively, 87% and 78% of the Fe, 69% and 73% of the Mn, and 71% and 69% of the Ni are transported in this form. Comparing the concentrations of transition metals carried to the oceans with the concentrations on the continents, a high Cu ratio (5 to 7) indicates continental depletion or river output enrichment; a moderate ratio (1.1 to 1.7) for Ni, Co, and Cr indicates intermediate depletion or enrichment, and a near-unity ratio for Fe and Mn indicates little depletion or enrichment. The sediments transport >97% of the total mass of transition metals to the world9s oceans.
Transfer of Trimethoprim Resistance from Fecal Escherichia coli Isolated During a Prophylaxis Study in Mexico

Forty-one of 100 trimethoprim-resistant fecal isolates of Escherichia coli isolated during a diarrhea prophylaxis study transferred trimethoprim resistance to an E. coli K12 derivative at frequencies ranging from 1 x 10(-7) to 2 x 10(-2). Analysis of these transconjugants, after attempting to select those that had received only one plasmid, revealed that 34 (83%) were resistant to trimethoprim plus only one or two of seven other antimicrobial agents tested, most often ampicillin and/or streptomycin. In contrast, 91% of the donor strains were resistant to four or more antimicrobial agents. Plasmid analysis demonstrated that a 35-megadalton plasmid was present in 35 transconjugants and was usually associated with resistance to trimethoprim, streptomycin, and ampicillin; 19 transconjugants had only a 35-megadalton plasmid and were resistant to only these three antimicrobial agents, raising the possibility that a common plasmid was present in many strains. Although resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents could be transferred to the K12 recipient, resistance to more than three agents was seldom mediated by a single plasmid. The high degree of transferability of trimethoprim resistance from these fecal isolates of E. coli emphasizes the potential for the dissemination of genes carrying trimethoprim resistance.
Two- and three-dimensional simulation of chemical vapor deposition SiC epitaxial growth processes

Three-dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools were applied to enhance capabilities of the two-dimensional (2-D) simulation in predicting such important characteristics of the SiC Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) epitaxial growth process as growth rate, growth rate nonhomogeneity in longitudinal and transverse directions, and growth morphology. Depletion of the precursors in the gas phase along the growth direction was shown to be one of the most important sources for the growth rate nonhomogeneity. The rate of precursor depletion along the growth direction in the center of the susceptor is different from that closer to the sides of the susceptor due to the nonhomogeneous temperature profile in the transverse direction. This difference causes a significant increase in the growth rate away from the center of the susceptor toward the reactor walls. Simulated precursor supersaturation above the growth surface was the highest at the leading edge of the susceptor and near the reactor walls, which correlates with the morphology degradation in those regions.
Effects of electron prebunching on the radiation growth rate of a collective (Raman) free-electron laser amplifier

Experiments are reported on the effects of electron prebunching in a mildly relativistic, low-current (200-KV, 1-A) free-electron laser amplifier operating in the collective (Raman) regime at a frequency of approximately 10 GHz. Prebunching is established by injecting an electromagnetic wave into a bifilar helical wiggler and then transporting the bunched beam into a second magnetic wiggler region. The wave growth rate is deduced from measurements of the radiation intensity as a function of interaction length. Observations show that prebunching can increase the radiation growth rate manyfold as compared with a system without prebunching. Studies are presented both in the small-signal (linear) regime, and in the nonlinear (saturated) regime. >
Theoretical prediction of physical properties of network glasses versus extent of cure

A theoretical model was developed for describing the behavior of isothermal properties vs. the extent of cure for thermosetting glasses. The consideration follows the two-state Gibbs-DiMarzio (GD) theory of the glass transition. Network formation is considered on the basis of only interconnected trifunctional crosslinked sites using the Flory's mean-field theory of gelation. Theoretically, the proposed model predicts that the fraction of hole volume (v 0 ) in the glassy state and the difference of expansion coefficient (Δα) between glass and liquid pass through a minimum with increasing extent of cure for thermosetting materials. These results suggest that the isothermal density and modulus will pass through a maximum with increasing extent of cure. Experimental data support the theoretical results. A discussion of the mechanism is included.
Associations Between Size and Fitness of Adult Females in the Model Odonate: Enallagma civile (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Abstract During June 2009–June 2010, we collected 561 actively mating female familiar bluets Enallagma civile. Although only ca. 25% of these subsequently laid eggs in the laboratory, size of clutch averaged 250 eggs (range, 1–1,047). Overall, there was a high average rate of hatching success (75.8%). Size of females, in terms of width of head capsule, a non-labile trait in adults, was not significantly associated with metrics of fitness. Hatching success was associated positively with length of eggs (indicating that size of eggs may be an indicator of quality of eggs) and negatively related to duration of hatching.
Review of data on eolian fluxes of industrial and natural lead to the lands and seas in remote regions on a global scale

During preindustrial times about half the lead in the troposphere came from soil dusts while the remainder came from volcanic gases. Today the proportion of this natural lead in the atmosphere is overwhelmed by industrial lead emitted from smelters and automobile exhausts. In the Antarctic tropospheric cell, atmospheric concentrations of industrial lead are five-fold greater than natural lead concentrations, while in urban atmospheres the proportions of industrial lead are more than 10 000-fold greater than those of natural lead. About 90% of industrial lead emissions to the global atmosphere are introduced into the Northern hemisphere westerlies from North America, Europe and Japan, with most of the remainder being introduced into the Southern hemisphere westerlies from Brazil, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. This creates a north-south gradient in global atmospheric lead concentrations across meridional tropospheric circulation cells because their convergence barriers restrict latitudinal mixing. Atmospheric lead concentrations in a pole-to-pole strip across the central Pacific show a decline in lead within meridional cells on either side of the Northern westerlies. This hemispheric set contains higher lead concentrations on the whole than does the corresponding set of meridional cells in the Southern hemisphere, because of the isolating effect of the equatorial mixing barrier. In the Southern hemisphere the westerlies cell again contains higher lead concentrations than do adjacent meridional cells, with the Antarctic cell being the least lead polluted portion of the Earth's atmosphere. Tabulations of eolian input fluxes of lead from these atmospheric reservoirs to the Earth's surface for remote regions are given in this review, as well as methods for estimating the proportions of natural and industrial lead in soil dust, sea salt, volcanic sulfate and anthropogenic particles in air and rain.
Void fractions for condensing refrigerant flow in small channels. Part II: Void fraction measurement and modeling

In this paper, (Part II of a two-part study), an investigation of void fractions for condensing flows of refrigerant R-134a in minichannels is presented. Custom digital image processing techniques were used to quantitatively analyze these flows in transparent minchannel geometries (square, rectangular and circular) with 2 < Dh < 4.91 mm. A total of 140 void fraction values in the intermittent flow regime (slug and plug flow), the wavy flow regime, and an intermittent-wavy overlap region were measured. A new model was developed based on these measured values and predicts void fraction better than correlations from the literature.
The multifaceted role of Notch in cancer.

The diverse roles that Notch signals play during the development and maintenance of normal tissues are recapitulated in different forms of cancer. Depending on the tumor type, Notch can variously promote or limit tumor growth through either cell autonomous or cell non-autonomous effects on differentiation, cellular metabolism, cell cycle progression, angiogenesis, and possibly self-renewal and immune function. Of particular interest, recent findings indicate that a high fraction of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias and lymphomas have activating mutations in the Notch1 receptor, and that Notch signaling might have a role in the maintenance of normal and malignant stem cells.
An analysis of spatial summation in the receptive fields of goldfish retinal ganglion cells.

Abstract We have derived an analytical method for determining the processing hierarchy of a system in which more than one input influences the output; we have applied the technique to the summation of spatially separated areas within either the centers or surrounds of the receptive fields of goldfish retinal ganglion cells. Our method consists of obtaining intensity-response data for each of the two inputs alone and for both inputs applied simultaneously. From these data we construct two graphs: the response-summation plot is a plot of the physiological sum vs the algebraic sum: the sensitivity-summation plot is a plot of the summed individual sensitivities vs the sensitivity when both areas are stimulated. The responsesummation plot reveals non-linearities at or after the first interaction of the two areas: the sensitivity-summation plot reveals non-linearities at or before the final summation of the two areas. Using this method, we find that the processing in either the center or surround of a receptive field of a ganglion cell in the goldfish may be described by a square root function at the receptors, linear summation of the influences from the separate areas (with a threshold on each), and a compressive function following the summation. It is not necessary to postulate additional lateral interactions among sub-areas either in the center or in the surround.
Asialo GM1 as an accessory molecule determining the function and reactivity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Abstract The expression and function of asialo-GM1 (AsGM1) in alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was studied. We have shown previously that the cytotoxic reactions mediated by AsGM1 + -cloned CTL were blocked by anti-AsGM1 or by purified AsGM1. To further determine the role of AsGM1 in CTL-mediated cytotoxicity, we examined the correlation between this blocking effect and the expression of AsGM1 on effector and target cells. Now we found that the blocking by anti-AsGM1 was largely dependent on the expression of AsGM1 on the effector cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The expression of AsGM1 on target cells had only little effect on the blocking of cytotoxic reactions by anti-AsGM1 or AsGM1. A threefold difference was seen in the blocking of AsGM1 + and AsGM1 − targets. The observation was in sharp contrast to the effectors as no blocking was ever seen with AsGM1 − CTL. Similar to CTL effectors, we found that the expression of AsGM1 and L3T4 were mutually excluded on mitogen-activated T cells, despite the fact that they could coexpress in resting T cells. The expression of AsGM1 on CTL effectors was associated with the antigen-nonspecific natural killer (NK)-like or lymphokine-activated killer (LAK)-like activity exerted by the alloreactive CTL. All AsGM1 + CTL possessed LAK activity against antigen-unrelated tumor targets, and the AsGM1 − CTL only displayed antigen-specific alloreactivity. The LAK activity was associated with the expression of AsGM1 on effectors, and was not related to the AsGM1 expression on target cells. These findings indicate that the AsGM1 expressed on alloreactive CTL may function as an accessory molecule for T-cell receptors in the antigen-specific alloreactive cytotoxicity mediated by AsGM1 + CTL. The expression of AsGM1 may also be related to the activation of an NK-like apparatus in these CTL. Therefore, AsGM1 not only may be involved in cytotoxic reactions mediated by AsGM1 + CTL, it may also modulate the specificity of the CTL cytotoxicity.
Studies on the Respiratory Physiology of Euglena gracilis Cultured on Acetate or Glucose

SYNOPSIS. The glyoxylate cycle operates at a high level in Euglena gracilis when acetate is the only carbon source, and at a low level when glucose is the only carbon source, as indicated by activities of malate synthase. Altho glucose causes a moderate repression of some of the enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle, it neither represses nor inhibits malate synthase. The specific activity of the malic enzyme was about 5-fold greater in acetate-grown Euglena than in glucose-grown cells, but the absolute rate of CO2 fixation was about twice as great in cells grown on glucose. The respiratory quotient was unity regardless of substrate.
Alternative logics for approximate reasoning in expert systems: a comparative study

Abstract In this paper we report the results of an empirical study to compare eleven alternative logics for approximate reasoning in expert systems. The several “compositional inference” axiom systems (described below) were used in an expert knowledge-based system. The quality of the system outputs—fuzzy linguistic phrases—were compared in terms of correctness and precision (non-vagueness). In the first section of the paper we discuss fuzzy expert systems. The second section provides a brief review of logic systems and their relation to approximate reasoning. Section three contains the experimental design, and section four supplies the results of the experiment. Finally, a summary is given.
TGF-α and IGF-I effects on calcium ion transients in human breast cancer cells

Abstract In order to evaluate the potential role of calcium as an intracellular messenger for IGF-I and TGF-α action on breast cancer cell proliferation, we determined whether these growth factors induce any change in [Ca 2+ ] i using fura-2 loaded cells. The hormone independent BT-20 and MDA-MB-231 cells were refractory to the mitogenic actions of exogenously added IGF-I and TGF-α. TGF-α administration, however, stimulated [Ca 2+ ] i transients in the BT-20 cells. IGF-I and TGF-α stimulated DNA synthesis in the MCF-7 and T47D cells. These growth factors did not, however, stimulate any changes in [Ca 2+ ] i in these cells. These data support the idea that receptor-mediated phospholipid hydrolysis does not serve a major signalling function for driving human breast cancer cells into DNA synthesis
Effect Sizes and Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis in Higher Education

Quantitative meta-analysis is a very useful, yet underutilized, technique for synthesizing research findings in higher education. Meta-analytic inquiry can be more challenging in higher education than in other fields of study as a result of (a) concerns about the use of regression coefficients as a metric for comparing the magnitude of effects across studies, and (b) the non-independence of observations that occurs when a single study contains multiple effect sizes. This methodological note discusses these two important issues and provides concrete suggestions for addressing them. First, meta-analysis scholars have concluded that standardized regression coefficients, which are often provided in higher education manuscripts, constitute an appropriate metric of effect size. Second, hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses provide an effective method for conducting meta-analytic research while accounting for the non-independence of observations, and HLM is generally superior to other proposed methods that attempt to remedy this same problem. A discussion of how to implement these techniques appropriately is provided.
The Role of an Apparent Mesoscale Frontogenetic Circulation in Squall Line Initiation

The present investigation is concerned with the nature and apparent origin of a mesoscale clear zone and associated frontal line convection (a line of cumulus congestus clouds along an intensifying cold front) which appeared just prior to the explosive development of a line of severe thunderstorms at the cold front. It is pointed out that the clear zone formed immediately behind the cold front in southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma during the afternoon of April 16, 1982. Sequential displays of GOES-East satellite imagery are considered. The mechanism which seems to explain best the observations is a thermally direct frontogenetic circulation resulting from the combined effects of the synoptic-scale wind deformation field and mesoscale differential sensible heating.
Error Analysis and Performance Evaluation of a Future-Trajectory-Based Cooperative Collision Warning System

This paper focuses on the robustness and reliability of a future-trajectory-based cooperative collision warning system (CCWS), which estimates and communicates vehicle positions and predicts and processes future trajectories for collision decision making. The feasibility of the system design has been demonstrated in previous work, and this paper analyzes the error propagation and its impact on detection performance. The reliability of the CCWS heavily depends on the reliability of the differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)-based positioning system and the reliability of intervehicle communication. This paper uses the Kalman filter technique to statistically characterize the errors in position estimation and trajectory prediction, incorporates communication errors as part of the prediction error, and accordingly determines the probability of conflicts and the quality of the detection performance. Results with experimental data are presented to illustrate the error propagation and to demonstrate the reliability of the system.
Social Capital: Its Origins and Applications in Modern Sociology

This paper reviews the origins and definitions of social capital in the writings of Bourdieu, Loury, and Coleman, among other authors. It distinguishes four sources of social capital and examines their dynamics. Applications of the concept in the sociological literature emphasize its role in social control, in family support, and in benefits mediated by extrafamilial networks. I provide examples of each of these positive functions. Negative consequences of the same processes also deserve attention for a balanced picture of the forces at play. I review four such consequences and illustrate them with relevant examples. Recent writings on social capital have extended the concept from an individual asset to a feature of communities and even nations. The final sections describe this conceptual stretch and examine its limitations. I argue that, as shorthand for the positive consequences of sociability, social capital has a definite place in sociological theory. However, excessive extensions of the concept may j...
Role Perception-Outcome Relationships: Moderating Effects of Situational Variables

Supervisory interaction, peer-group interaction, and organizational work facilitation were examined as moderators of relationships among facets of role ambiguity and role conflict and the outcomes, job performance, job satisfaction, and propensity to leave for 193 respondents at 5 levels in the nursing service of a large medical center. Supervisory interaction was found to moderate the relationships between (i) intersender-role conflict and job performance, (ii) person-role conflict and job satisfaction, and (iii) ambiguity concerning behavioral outcomes and propensity to leave. Moderator effects for peer-group interaction involved the relationships of (i) intersender-role conflict with job performance and (ii) ambiguity regarding behavioral consequences with propensity to leave. Finally, organizational work facilitation was found to moderate the relationships among intersender-role conflict and the outcome variables, job performance, and propensity to leave, as well as the relationships between person-ro...
Improving soft real-time performance through better slack reclaiming

Modern operating systems frequently support applications with a variety of timing constraints including hard real-time, soft real-time, and best-effort. To guarantee performance, critical applications typically over-reserve resources based on worst-case resource usage estimates, while others may reserve based on average-case or other estimates. When resources are fully subscribed, the performance of soft- and non-real-time applications depends upon the effective distribution of dynamic slack - reserved, but unused resources - from other tasks. Motivated by several representative examples, we derive four general principles for the effective management of slack. We have implemented these principles in four progressively better slack schedulers that demonstrate their effectiveness. BACKSLASH, which employs all four principles, misses fewer soft realtime deadlines than all of the other slack schedulers we examined
Ectopic expression of Arabidopsis glutaredoxin AtGRXS17 enhances thermotolerance in tomato

While various signalling networks regulate plant responses to heat stress, the mechanisms regulating and unifying these diverse biological processes are largely unknown. Our previous studies indicate that the Arabidopsis monothiol glutaredoxin, AtGRXS17, is crucial for temperature-dependent postembryonic growth in Arabidopsis. In the present study, we further demonstrate that AtGRXS17 has conserved functions in anti-oxidative stress and thermotolerance in both yeast and plants. In yeast, AtGRXS17 co-localized with yeast ScGrx3 in the nucleus and suppressed the sensitivity of yeast grx3grx4 double-mutant cells to oxidative stress and heat shock. In plants, GFP-AtGRXS17 fusion proteins initially localized in the cytoplasm and the nuclear envelope but migrated to the nucleus during heat stress. Ectopic expression of AtGRXS17 in tomato plants minimized photo-oxidation of chlorophyll and reduced oxidative damage of cell membrane systems under heat stress. This enhanced thermotolerance correlated with increased catalase (CAT) enzyme activity and reduced H₂O₂ accumulation in AtGRXS17-expressing tomatoes. Furthermore, during heat stress, expression of the heat shock transcription factor (HSF) and heat shock protein (HSP) genes was up-regulated in AtGRXS17-expressing transgenic plants compared with wild-type controls. Thus, these findings suggest a specific protective role of a redox protein against temperature stress and provide a genetic engineering strategy to improve crop thermotolerance.
The Familiarity Threat and Auditor Independence

Although legally auditors are answerable to shareholders, considerable doubt has been cast on their independence from the directors of the company which is audited. Recently, increasing competition amongst auditors and the growing importance to fee income of non-audit work has been identified as factors which may further erode this assumed independence. Another factor which has been implicit in many studies of auditor independence is the close nature of the relationship between the auditor and the directors of the company. This has been termed the ‘Familiarity Threat’. This article, based on a questionnaire survey of UK finance directors, investigates three aspects of the auditor/director relationship where the ‘Familiarity Threat’ may be present. First is the appointment method and the characteristics which directors consider to be preferable in selecting an auditing firm. Secondly is the duration of the auditors’ appointment and the frequency of contact between the lead partner and the finance director. Finally, is the finance directors’ perception of the nature of the relationship they enjoy with the auditors. For each of these aspects the responses from finance directors from independent public limited companies are compared to those of private companies to ascertain whether the ‘Familiarity Threat’ is more prevalent where certain public responsibilities are not imposed. Where appropriate, the responses are also analysed by the finance directors’ opinions on the probity of non-audit work to ascertain whether this is an important variable as claimed in the literature. The analysis demonstrates that, although present directors are influential in the appointment process and the personal chemistry between the directors and auditors is the most important desirable characteristic, the finance directors of independent public limited companies would appear to be more aware of their responsibilities to shareholders. However, many relationships are long established with over 40% of both private and independent public limited companies in the survey retaining their auditors for over 10 years. As far as frequency of contact is concerned, public limited companies were visited more frequently by their auditors and this was unaffected by finance directors’ opinions on the probity of non-audit work. Finally, approximately 75% of finance directors claimed to enjoy a professional and amicable relationship with their auditors and these responses are unaffected by the type of company or opinions on non-audit work. The article concludes that there is the potential for the ‘Familiarity Threat’ to be present in both private and independent public limited companies, but its influence may be exaggerated particularly in respect of non-audit work. It recommends that if controls are to be introduced to ensure the threat is kept to a minimum it would be best to concentrate on the selection and appointment process and the duration of auditors’ term of office.
Perforin-2 Restricts Growth of Chlamydia trachomatis in Macrophages

Chlamydia trachomatis is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that preferentially infects epithelial cells. Professional phagocytes provide C. trachomatis only a limited ability to survive and are proficient killers of chlamydiae. We present evidence herein that identifies a novel host defense protein, perforin-2, that plays a significant role in the eradication of C. trachomatis during the infection of macrophages. Knockdown of perforin-2 in macrophages did not alter the invasion of host cells but did result in chlamydial growth that closely mirrored that detected in HeLa cells. C trachomatis L2, serovar B, and serovar D and C. muridarum were all equally susceptible to perforin-2-mediated killing. Interestingly, induction of perforin-2 expression in epithelial cells is blocked during productive chlamydial growth, thereby protecting chlamydiae from bactericidal attack. Ectopic expression of perforin-2 in HeLa cells, however, does result in killing. Overall, our data implicate a new innate resistance protein in the control of chlamydial infection and may help explain why the macrophage environment is hostile to chlamydial growth.
Deficits in default mode network activity preceding error in cocaine dependent individuals

Background Cocaine dependence is associated with cognitive deficits and altered task-related cerebral activation in cognitive performance (see Li and Sinha, 2008, for a review). Relatively little is known whether these individuals are also impaired in regional brain activation of the default mode network (DMN). We demonstrated previously that greater activation of the default brain regions precedes errors in a stop signal task performed by healthy controls (SST, Li et al., 2007). We seek to determine whether individuals with cocaine dependence are impaired in DMN activity, specifically activity preceding error, as compared to the healthy people. We also examine the relation to years of cocaine use.
Dynamics of solitons in filtered dispersion-managed systems

We present measurements of the temporal evolution of soliton propagation in a dispersion managed fiber transmission line containing one optical bandpass filter in each map period. The pulses expand and compress in time due to the local dispersion with two minima per map cycle, one in the middle of the anomalous and the other in the middle of the normal section of the fiber map. The pulses are nearly transform limited at the minima with Gaussian-like spectra. A new type of soliton behavior is indicated by the fact that the dynamics, measured bit-error rate (BER), excess gain, and pulse stability do not vary with path-averaged dispersion from 0.02 to 0.08 ps/nm/km.
Application of High-performance Visual Analysis Methods to Laser Wakefield Particle Acceleration Data

Our work combines and extends techniques from high-performance scientific data management and visualization to enable scientific researchers to gain insight from extremely large, complex, time-varying laser wakefield particle accelerator simulation data. We extend histogram-based parallel coordinates for use in visual information display as well as an interface for guiding and performing data mining operations, which are based upon multi-dimensional and temporal thresholding and data subsetting operations. To achieve very high performance on parallel computing platforms, we leverage FastBit, a state-of-the-art index/query technology, to accelerate data mining and multi-dimensional histogram computation. We show how these techniques are used in practice by scientific researchers to identify, visualize and analyze a particle beam in a large, time-varying dataset.
Imprecise and uncertain information in databases: an evidential approach

A novel approach for representing imprecise and uncertain data and evaluating queries in the framework of an extended relational database model based on the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence is proposed. Because of the ability to combine evidences from different sources, the semantics of the update operation of imprecise or uncertain data is reconsidered. By including an undefined value in a domain, three different cases of a null value are presented: unknown, inapplicable, and unknown or inapplicable. In this model, two levels of uncertainty in the database are supported: one is for the attribute value level and the other is for the tuple level. >
Use of a Modified Tryptophanase Promoter to Direct High-Level Expression of Foreign Proteins in E. coli

We have modified the tryptophanase promoter (PtnaA) for use as a temperature-independent promoter for the production of recombinant proteins. Although any protein will have a temperature range in which its expression is optimal, we find the tryptophanase promoter functions at all physiologically relevant temperatures (20 degrees C to 42 degrees C). Induction at temperatures below 37 degrees C avoids eliciting the heat-shock response and may favor the production of protein in the soluble state. A short segment of the E. coli tnaA promoter containing the catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) binding site but no tryptophan-responsive elements was used to direct synthesis of various proteins. Conditions for high cell density fermentation and induction control were developed. Expression was induced by depletion of glucose and was maximal when an alternative nonrepressing carbon source was supplied. Expression of certain proteins was tightly controlled; however, pre-induction expression was observed with other reporter genes. The tnaC leader portion of the tnaA promoter was found to reduce pre-induction expression in the presence of glucose, although maximal expression was observed only in the absence of this region. The effect of temperature on expression of several recombinant proteins was investigated. Although some proteins were produced only in inclusion bodies as insoluble material, the production of one protein in soluble form was clearly temperature dependent.
Lateral inhibition and concentration-invariant odor perception

Sensory identity usually remains constant across a large intensity range. Vertebrates use lateral inhibition to match the sensitivity of retinal ganglion cells to the intensity of light. A new study published in Journal of Biology suggests that lateral inhibition in the Drosophila antennal lobe is similarly required for concentration-invariant perception of odors.
Enhancing Synaptic Plasticity and Memory: A Role for Small-Conductance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels

Calcium-activated potassium (K+) channels are distributed throughout the central nervous system as well as many other peripheral tissues and comprise three distinct classes of K+ channels: small conductance (SK), intermediate conductance, and large conductance. This update focuses on SK channels. Increases in cytosolic calcium in response to depolarization activate SK channels. Activation of these channels decreases neuronal excitability. In this review, the authors discuss the role of SK channels in the induction of synaptic plasticity and their influence on learning and memory. A testable model that synthesizes the current literature is offered, suggesting that SK channels represent an important regulator of synaptic plasticity and memory.
Regulation of tensin-promoted cell migration by its focal adhesion binding and Src homology domain 2.

Tensin1 is an actin- and phosphotyrosine-binding protein that localizes to focal adhesions. Recently, we have shown that both tensin1 and a new family member, tensin2, promote cell migration [Chen, Duncan, Bozorgchami and Lo (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99, 733-738]. Since localization of proteins to particular intracellular compartments often regulates their functions, and Src homology domain 2 may mediate signals related to cell migration, we hypothesize that tensin-mediated cell migration is regulated by the focal adhesion localization and the Src homology domain 2 of tensin. To test this hypothesis, we have analysed the effects of a series of tensin1 mutants on cell migration. Our results have shown that (1) tensin1 contains two focal adhesion-binding sites, (2) the wild-type tensin1 significantly promotes cell migration, (3) mutants with one focal adhesion-binding site do not promote cell migration, (4) the non-focal adhesion localized mutant suppresses cell migration and (5) the mutant that is not able to bind to phosphotyrosine-containing proteins has no effect on cell migration. These results have indicated that focal adhesion localization of tensin1 and the phosphotyrosine-binding activity are two critical factors in regulating tensin-mediated cell migration.
Responses of Mn2+ speciation in Deinococcus radiodurans and Escherichia coli to γ-radiation by advanced paramagnetic resonance methods

The remarkable ability of bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans to survive extreme doses of γ-rays (12,000 Gy), 20 times greater than Escherichia coli, is undiminished by loss of Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase (SodA). D. radiodurans radiation resistance is attributed to the accumulation of low-molecular-weight (LMW) “antioxidant” Mn2+–metabolite complexes that protect essential enzymes from oxidative damage. However, in vivo information about such complexes within D. radiodurans cells is lacking, and the idea that they can supplant reactive-oxygen-species (ROS)–scavenging enzymes remains controversial. In this report, measurements by advanced paramagnetic resonance techniques [electron-spin-echo (ESE)-EPR/electron nuclear double resonance/ESE envelope modulation (ESEEM)] reveal differential details of the in vivo Mn2+ speciation in D. radiodurans and E. coli cells and their responses to 10 kGy γ-irradiation. The Mn2+ of D. radiodurans exists predominantly as LMW complexes with nitrogenous metabolites and orthophosphate, with negligible EPR signal from Mn2+ of SodA. Thus, the extreme radiation resistance of D. radiodurans cells cannot be attributed to SodA. Correspondingly, 10 kGy irradiation causes no change in D. radiodurans Mn2+ speciation, despite the paucity of holo-SodA. In contrast, the EPR signal of E. coli is dominated by signals from low-symmetry enzyme sites such as that of SodA, with a minority pool of LMW Mn2+ complexes that show negligible coordination by nitrogenous metabolites. Nonetheless, irradiation of E. coli majorly changes LMW Mn2+ speciation, with extensive binding of nitrogenous ligands created by irradiation. We infer that E. coli is highly susceptible to radiation-induced ROS because it lacks an adequate supply of LMW Mn antioxidants.
Navy Chaplains at the Crossroads: Navigating the Intersection of Free Speech, Free Exercise, Establishment, and Equal Protection

Several legal actions brought in federal court by chaplains (and potential chaplains) against the Navy allege violations of the Free Exercise, Establishment, and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment, and of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment. In ruling on several motions in two cases already combined for pretrial motions, Judge Ricardo Urbina observed that "the issue of what restrictions the Navy may place on the content of its chaplains' speech is a fascinating one, standing at the intersection of four major jurisprudential roads--free speech, free exercise, establishment, and equal protection." Successful navigation of such an intersection presents several challenges. Some argue Navy chaplains may have to accept some restriction on the content of their speech so that the free exercise rights of all service members can be protected fully. At the same time, one court has suggested the Navy must recognize that some restrictions on speech are impermissible, and that whatever permissible restrictions it seeks to apply must be applied evenly to all or to none. Part II of this article examines the evolving role of chaplains in American military history, highlighting a shift in official responsibility from providing primarily direct ministry to a priority of protecting free exercise. Part III examines modern recognition of the "Protestant Problem" and the challenges it presents. Part IV seeks to offer some traffic signals or lane markers that fully protect a chaplain's rights to free speech in worship while also protecting other service members' rights to free exercise, avoid further establishment problems, and treat all chaplains equally.
Silversides of the genus Labidesthes (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae)

The two species of Labidesthes, L. sicculus and L. vanhyningi, are herein redescribed. Labidesthes sicculus is separated from L. vanhyningi by the presence of an anterolateral process of the post temporal that is longer than it is wide (versus wider than long), a ratio of thoracic length to abdominal length greater than two (versus less than two), and a midlateral stripe that is narrows in front of first dorsal fin (versus expanding in front of first dorsal fin). Labidesthes sicculus is found in Gulf of Mexico drainages from the Brazos River East to the Pascagoula River, Mississippi River (absent in middle and upper Missouri River), and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River (absent in Lake Superior). Labidesthes vanhyningi is found in Gulf Mexico drainages from the Neches River East around peninsular Florida North on the Atlantic Coast to the Pee Dee River, in the Mississippi River it is confined to lowland areas of the Lower Mississippi River.
The Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI) trial: implications for clinical practice.

Both PTCA and CABG have their own inherent advantages and disadvantages, which must be weighed in the treatment decision for each patient.
Conditions Affecting Growth and Indigotin Production by Strain 130 of Schizophyllum Commune

cultures of the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune Fries was first observed by Papazian (4) in association with a mutant character termed streak. Although pigment production in the fungi is a fairly common occurrence and such phenomena are frequently of taxonomic importance, the production of a blue pigment is relatively rare. In S. commune the mutation from the normal, nonpigmented condition to forms producing
Heat Transfer From Protuberances and Simulated Ice Accretion Roughness Elements

The heat transfer phenomena occurring during the initial phases of in-flight ice formation and accumulation on aircraft surfaces are not completely understood. The aim of this investigation was to quantify the local apparent heat transfer enhancement on surface roughness elements intended to mimic the early stages of ice accretion. In order to achieve this objective, a new technique for mounting gold-deposition Mylar film in a gold-side down orientation was developed and tested. Gold deposited Mylar film is commonly used to establish a constant heat flux convective boundary condition for wind-tunnel test surfaces. However, the accepted mounting technique causes problems if the films are used to explore convective heat transfer from surfaces with high thermal conductivity protuberances and surface roughness. To overcome the problems with roughness-element attachment, a new technique for mounting gold-deposition Mylar film in a gold-side down orientation was developed and tested. After validating the new mounting procedure, a large test plate was created following the same technique and was mounted in a wind tunnel. Using infrared thermometry to acquire temperature profiles of a gold Mylar heated flat plat prepared with three hemi-spherical roughness elements of varying thermal conductivity, the apparent enhancement of the elements was evaluated for varying tunnel velocities. Flow characteristics at and behind the roughness elements were also examined using the infrared images. This study presents the results of the new Mylar film mounting procedure and the apparent enhancement and flow results.© 2009 ASME
Economics and Environmental Impact of a Sustainable Integrated Pest Management Program in Celery

Studies were conducted on celery plantings in 1992 and 1993 (experimental plantings) and 1995 (commercial field) that compared the benefit of current chemical standard pesticide practices with an integrated pest management (IPM) program based on B. thuringiensis . In experimental plantings at a field station, the chemical standard treatment consisted of 9 applications of methomyl and permethrin. The IPM program used 3 or 4 applications of B. thuringiensis , the need for which was determined by sampling insect populations for established thresholds. Each control program was evaluated for yield, crop value, and cost of the control strategies. A partial budget was constructed that determined net profits for all treatments. Both the chemical standard and IPM treatments reduced pest populations and damage, resulting in better yield and net profits as compared with the control treatment. The reduced input costs of the IPM program resulted in better economic returns in both years. In 1992, net profits were higher by $1,485/ha. In 1993, when celery prices were lower, net profits with the IPM program were higher by $614/ha. The program was validated in 1995 on a commercial celery operation in Ventura County, California. The IPM program generated a net profit more than $410/ha higher than that of the grower’s chemical program. Because reduced potential for insecticide resistance in the IPM program was not accounted for in the economic analysis, and the validation trials were conducted on a progressive operation using ≈40% fewer pesticides than most celery producers, the results of the economic analyses are conservative.
Normalized Gabor Entropy Analysis of iEEG for Prediction of Epileptic Seizures

A novel measure for analysis of multivariate signals in the time-frequency-space domain, the normalized Gabor entropy (NGE), is introduced and applied to multichannel intracranial EEG (iEEG) recordings hours prior to seizures onset in two patients with focal epilepsy. NGE profiles showed a statistically significant progressive decrease of NGE values at epileptogenic focus-related channels as time for seizures occurrence approached. This result implies the progressive appearance of dominant Gabor atoms in the EEG tens of minutes prior to seizures, the detection and monitoring of which could further assist with improvement of the performance of seizure prediction algorithms.
Major Newspaper with High quality is Foundation and Guarantee of Cultural Development and Prosperity

It's a major event of cultural development to improve the propagation level of traditional media and the quality of public cultural products.Cultural prosperity needs strengthen the infrastructure,enrich the carrier,and ensure the quality of major newspaper.Newspaper with good quality is the basis of cultural development.The most realistic tasks of newspaper are to ensure the quality and to maintain its influence.Major newspaper carries readers' cultural needs and disseminates the modern excellent cultures.The quality is a main factor for the development of major newspaper.
Mechanical assistance of the pulmonary circulation after right ventricular exclusion

The Fontan procedure is often associated with elevated right-sided pressures and low cardiac output during the early postoperative period. A dog model was established to test the effect of pulmonary artery counterpulsation after atriopulmonary anastomosis. After exclusion of the right ventricle by a purse-string suture at the right AV orifice, placed during inflow occlusion, a valved conduit was inserted between the right atrial appendage and the pulmonary artery. This created a circulatory pattern comparable to a Fontan procedure. Counterpulsation was achieved by inserting a cannula into the conduit distal to the valve in eight dogs; alternatively, in four, counterpulsation could be achieved through a 10 mm side-arm graft connected to the conduit distal to the valve. Twenty-four observations were made. Without counterpulsation the circulatory status of the dog deteriorated rapidly. Counterpulsation resulted in a mean increase in cardiac output of 48% (p
Evaluation of polymer modification in asphalt mixtures through digital image correlation and performance space diagrams

Abstract Asphalt polymer modification typically yields improved mixture performance. Little research has been conducted to determine how SBS polymer affects mixture performance in interaction plots. Furthermore, research to date has not used digital image correlation to measure the fracture process zone (FPZ) size and its compression with crack propagation. Mixtures containing five distinct asphalt binders were tested at high and low temperatures. Findings demonstrated that the PG 70-28 mixture shifted optimally in terms of high and low temperature properties. It was also found that polymer addition led to increased FPZ size and a lesser degree of FPZ compression with crack propagation.