cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo incorporation of selenalysine in Escherichia coli proteins and its effects on cell growth

The presence of selenalysine in the culture medium at concentration ranging from 0.05 to 0.3 mM inhibits Escherichia coli growth rate and cell viability. The inhibition of cell growth rate can be imputed to the inhibition of protein synthesis and can be only partially reverted by lysine. Selenalysine is incorporated into cellular proteins in substitution of and in competition with lysine, reaching the value of about 1% as molar fraction with respect to the total amino acids, and substituting up to 14% of protein lysine. The effect of selenalysine on cell viability can be correlated to the extent of its incorporation into proteins, and can be completely reverted by lysine. However, substitution up to 5% of protein lysine by selenalysine does not affect the viability, thus indicating that some degree of substitution can be well tolerated by the cell.
A new simplified formulation of the pseudopotential method

Abstract A new formulation of the pseudopotential method is given for the calculation of electronic wave functions in solids.
Long-term global sea surface temperature fluctuations and their possible influence on atmospheric CO2 concentrations

Changes of atmospheric CO2 concentration since 1958 are shown to be related to sea surface temperature changes. The largest contribution to changes arises from the Pacific equatorial upwelling region, with the Indian Ocean and Atlantic contributing only small fractions to the variance. It is hypothesized that the observed relationship is related to the nutrients that are brought up by upwelling cold water, with photosynthesis contributing to a lowering of the partial pressure of CO2 in the sea and thus to a greater tendency for a flux from the air to the sea.
Perception of temporal order of vowels and consonant-vowel syllables.

Recent findings indicate that the presence of formant transitions aids the perception of the order of stimuli in repeating sequences of vowels or consonant-vowel (CV) syllables. In this study, 12 l...
HIV/AIDS in migrant and seasonal farm workers.

Throughout the world there is a history of human migration to follow food supplies. In the United States today, migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFW) follow three major agricultural streams. The East Coast stream consists mostly of native African Americans, Latinos, and Caribbean Islanders. The central stream is made up primarily of Mexicans and nativeborn Spanish Americans. The West Coast stream also consists of mainly Mexicans. Overall, the group composition consists of mostly Latino (about 70%) and African Americans and Caribbean Islanders (about 27% combined) (Go & Baker, 1995; Organistra & Organistra, 1997). The majority of MSFW are Mexican migrants. The states that employ the largest numbers of MSFW are California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Washington (Go & Baker, 1995). The exact number of MSFW is difficult to determine because of their transient nature, migration in and out of the country, undercounting of workers who do not meet the def'mition of a migrant, and the desire of some workers to avoid contact with governmental agencies (Rust, 1990). Even governmental agencies have different numbers in the population because of different def'mitions of migrants. The Office of Migrant Health's estimate is 4.1 million and includes the farm workers and their dependents (Organistra & Organistra, 1997). Rust (1990) pointed out that the lack of accuracy regarding the actual number of MSFW affects the calculation of morbidity and mortality data for the population. A review of the literature on MSFW and AIDS in the United States (Organistra & Organistra, 1997) found that typically the pay is low for MSFW, which
Clearance of albumin from mouse subarachnoid space: a measure of CSF bulk flow.

Abstract A method is described for percutaneous lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cannulation and intrathecal infusion in the laboratory mouse. The clearance from CSF of infused [125I]albumin was measured in a group of awake 2-month-old normal female mice as a measure of CSF bulk flow. Between 30 and 60 min following infusion, 125I activity in CSF declined linearly at a rate of 0.888 ± 0.185 percent/min corresponding to a CSF bulk flow rate of 325.27 ± 67.76 nl/min. This rate of CSF bulk flow correlates well with CSF bulk flow rates measured in larger species by the ventriculocisternal perfusion method. This method for intrathecal infusion and subsequent CSF sampling should be useful for measuring various aspects of CSF physiology in the laboratory mouse under normal and pathologic conditions.
Five Perspectives on the Leadership–Management Relationship: A Competency-Based Evaluation and Integration

How management and leadership are best conceptualized with respect to each other has been a frequent topic of debate. Five distinct perspectives are identified in the literature, including bipolar, unidimensional, bidimensional, hierarchical—management within leadership, and hierarchical—leadership within management. We assessed the viability of these perspectives by having Academy of Management and Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology experts (N = 43) map a comprehensive set of 63 managerial and leadership competencies, as a “common language,” onto defined and undefined management and leadership dimensions. Results reveal interpretable patterns of uniqueness and overlap, suggesting a hybrid co-dimensional/bidimensional configuration. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in light of the precedence of “what” over “how” in developing leadership and management theory.
Human resources in concurrent engineering: the case of Fiat Auto

The research reported in this article, co-ordinated by the WZB Institute of Berlin, examines organisational, technological and human resource practices that enhance quality in product development by improving communication and cooperation between the actors. In this context it was found that, although the importance of HR policies was recognised, implementation remained low.
Lyndon Johnson And Me: My Years as a Congressional Fellow

In August 1963, I drove from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to Washington, To begin the year-long Congressional Fellowship Program. In the orientations that followed, the fellows met with journalists, House and Senate members, lobbyists, and bureaucrats, among other Washington notables. But the most memorable person who talked to us was Theodore Sorenson, counselor to President Kennedy, and reputedly his most influential staff advisor.
Model for how retrograde actin flow regulates adhesion traction stresses

Cells from animals adhere to and exert mechanical forces on their surroundings. Cells must control these forces for many biological processes, and dysfunction can lead to pathologies. How the actions of molecules within a cell are coordinated to regulate the adhesive interaction with the extracellular matrix remains poorly understood. It has been observed that cytoplasmic proteins that link integrin cell-surface receptors with the actin cytoskeleton flow with varying rates from the leading edge toward the center of a cell. Here, we explore theoretically how measurable subcellular traction stresses depend on the local speed of retrograde actin flow. In the model, forces result from the stretching of molecular complexes in response to the drag from the flow; because these complexes break with extension-dependent kinetics, the flow results in a decrease in their number when sufficiently large. Competition between these two effects naturally gives rise to a clutch-like behavior and a nonmonotonic trend in the measured stresses, consistent with recent data for epithelial cells. We use this basic framework to evaluate slip and catch bond mechanisms for integrins; better fits of experimental data are obtained with a catch bond representation. Extension of the model to one comprising multiple molecular interfaces shifts the peak stress to higher speeds. Connections to other models and cell movement are discussed.
Analysis of Casein Biopolymers Adsorption to Lignocellulosic Biomass as a Potential Cellulase Stabilizer

Although lignocellulosic materials have a good potential to substitute current feedstocks used for ethanol production, conversion of these materials to fermentable sugars is still not economical through enzymatic hydrolysis. High cost of cellulase has prompted research to explore techniques that can prevent from enzyme deactivation. Colloidal proteins of casein can form monolayers on hydrophobic surfaces that alleviate the de-activation of protein of interest. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and Kjeldahl and BSA protein assays were used to investigate the unknown mechanism of action of induced cellulase activity during hydrolysis of casein-treated biomass. Adsorption of casein to biomass was observed with all of the analytical techniques used and varied depending on the pretreatment techniques of biomass. FT-IR analysis of amides I and II suggested that the substructure of protein from casein or skim milk were deformed at the time of contact with biomass. With no additive, the majority of one of the cellulase mono-component, 97.1 ± 1.1, was adsorbed to CS within 24 h, this adsorption was irreversible and increased by 2% after 72 h. However, biomass treatment with skim-milk and casein reduced the adsorption to 32.9% ± 6.0 and 82.8% ± 6.0, respectively.
The effect of plastic deformation on crack initiation in fatigue

Abstract Qualitative considerations are given in the present paper concerning the effects of localized plastic deformation on the fatigue crack initiation life and stress intensity factor of a microcrack. The localized plastic zone is modelled as an elliptical inhomogeneity with eigenstrains. With the consideration of this localized plastic deformation, the calculated crack initiation cycle number is greater and the stress intensity factor of a micro-crack lower than those obtained without considering the plastic deformation effect.
Molecularly imprinted polymer-based catalytic micromotors for selective protein transport.

We demonstrate an attractive nanomachine “capture and transport” target isolation strategy based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). MIP-based catalytic microtubular engines are prepared by electropolymerization of the outer polymeric layer in the presence of the target analyte (template). Tailor-made selective artificial recognition sites are thus introduced into the tubular microtransporters through complementary nanocavities in the outer polymeric layer. The new microtransporter concept is illustrated using bilayer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/Pt–Ni microengines and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled avidin (Av-FITC) as the template. The avidin-imprinted polymeric layer selectively concentrates the fluorescent-tagged protein target onto the moving microengine without the need for additional external functionalization, allowing “on-the-fly” extraction and isolation of Av-FITC from raw serum and saliva samples along with real-time visualization of the protein loading and transpor...
Analysis of Distribution Strategies in the Industrial Paper and Plastics Industry

The costs, benefits and strategic role of intermediate echelons in distribution networks are not well understood in many industries. This paper describes a study of such multilevel systems in the industrial paper and plastics industry. We quantify the impact of redistributors, who buy products from manufacturers and sell them exclusively to other distributors. The methodology was applied to an industry-wide study. We derived statistics based on optimal distributor policies for channel choice and stock control. Based on our analysis, we found that effective use of redistribution, in conjunction with these policies, has the potential to generate savings of $446 million for the industry.
A 400-MT/s 6.4-GB/s multiprocessor bus interface

This paper describes the design of a system bus interface for the 130-nm Itanium/sup /spl reg//2 processor that operates at 400MT/s (1 megatransfer = 1 Mb/s/pin) with a peak bandwidth of 6.4 GB/s. The high-speed operation is achieved by employing source-synchronous transfer with differential strobes. Short flight time is accomplished by double-sided placement of the processors. Preboost and postboost edge-rate control enables fast clock-to-output timing with tight edge-rate range. The built-in input/output (I/O) loopback test feature enables I/O parameters to be tested on die, using a delay-locked loop and interpolator with 21-ps phase-skew error and 15-ps rms jitter. Power modeling methodology facilitates accurate prediction of system performance.
Gradient plasticity modeling of geomaterials in a meshfree environment. Part I: Theory and variational formulation

Abstract Deformation and strength behavior of geomaterials in the pre- and post-failure regimes are of significant interest in various geomechanics applications. To address the need for development of a realistic constitutive framework, which allows for an accurate simulation of pre-failure response as well as an objective and meaningful post-failure response, a strain gradient plasticity model is formulated by incorporating the spatial gradients of elastic strain in the evolution of stress and gradients of plastic strain in the evolution of the internal variables. In turn, gradients of only kinematic variables are included in the constitutive equations. The resulting constitutive equations along with the balance of linear momentum for the continuum are cast as a coupled system of equations, with displacements and plastic multiplier appearing as the primary unknowns in the final governing integral equations. To avoid singular stress fields along element boundaries, a finite element discretization of the governing equations would require C2 continuous displacements and C1 continuous plastic multiplier, which is undesirable from a numerical implementation point of view. This issue is naturally resolved when a meshfree discretization is used. Hence the developed model is formulated within the framework of a meshfree environment. The new constitutive model allows an analysis of grain size effects on strength and dilatancy of rocks. The role and effectiveness of the new gradient terms on regularizing the underlying boundary value problems of geomechanics beyond the initiation of strain localization will be assessed in a future paper.
Ethanol Impairs Insulin-stimulated Neuronal Survival in the Developing Brain ROLE OF PTEN PHOSPHATASE

Gestational exposure to ethanol causes fetal alcohol syndrome, which is associated with cerebellar hypoplasia. Previous in vitro studies demonstrated ethanol-impaired neuronal survival with reduced signaling through the insulin receptor (IRβ). We examined insulin signaling in an experimental rat model of chronic gestational exposure to ethanol in which the pups exhibited striking cerebellar hypoplasia with increased apoptosis. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analyses detected reduced levels of tyrosyl-phosphorylated IRβ, tyrosyl-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and p85-associated IRS-1 but no alterations in IRβ, IRS-1, or p85 protein expression in cerebellar tissue from ethanol-exposed pups. In addition, ethanol exposure significantly reduced the levels of total phosphoinositol 3-kinase, Akt kinase, phospho-BAD (inactive), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and increased the levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3 activity, activated BAD, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10 (PTEN) protein, and PTEN phosphatase activity in cerebellar tissue. Cerebellar neurons isolated from ethanol-exposed pups had reduced levels of insulin-stimulated phosphoinositol 3-kinase and Akt kinase activities and reduced insulin inhibition of PTEN and glycogen synthase kinase-3 activity. The results demonstrate that cerebellar hypoplasia produced by chronic gestational exposure to ethanol is associated with impaired survival signaling through insulin-regulated pathways, including failure to suppress PTEN function.
The Anaesthetists' Travel Club: an example of professionalism

John Silas Lundy created the Anaesthetists' Travel Club in 1929 in an effort to disseminate the most current information in the medical specialty of anesthesiology, but also to insure that this information was incorporated quickly to improve anesthesia care. Lundy's work stands as an example of commitment to professional competence.
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) is a low-grade, B-cell neoplasm composed of small lymphocytes, plasmacytoid lymphocytes, and plasma cells that typically involve the bone marrow, and it is associated with an immunoglobulin M (IgM) gammopathy. The definition of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) and its relationship to LPL has been confusing in the past. In addition, the diagnosis of LPL itself can be challenging because LPL lacks disease-specific morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic features to differentiate it from other mature B-cell neoplasms. Accurate diagnosis of LPL/WM rests on recognition of the differential diagnostic features between LPL and other diagnostic possibilities and the use of the recently refined definition of WM and its relationship with LPL: The presence of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy of any level in the setting of bone marrow involvement by LPL. This review summarizes the clinical, laboratory, and histologic features of LPL/WM, with particular emphasis on unique aspects of LPL/WM that may aid in accurate diagnosis.
Transperineal Repair of Persistent Rectovaginal Fistulas Using an Acellular Cadaveric Dermal Graft (AlloDerm

A number of surgical techniques have been described to treat rectovaginal fistulas. Recurrent or persistent fistulas after previous repair can be particularly difficult to treat. We report a novel technique used to successfully repair rectovaginal fistulas after failed mucosal advancement flap procedures using a transperineal-layered closure with an interposed graft of acellular cadaveric dermis (Alloderm®).
Up-regulation of Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis by Interleukin-1β in Human Orbital Fibroblasts Involves Coordinate Induction of Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide H Synthase-2 and Glutathione-dependent Prostaglandin E2 Synthase Expression

Abstract Prostaglandin E2(PGE2) production involves the activity of a multistep biosynthetic pathway. The terminal components of this cascade, two PGE2 synthases (PGES), have very recently been identified as glutathione-dependent proteins. cPGES is cytoplasmic, apparently identical to the hsp90 chaperone, p23, and associates functionally with prostaglandin-endoperoxide H synthase-1 (PGHS-1), the constitutive cyclooxygenase. A second synthase, designated mPGES, is microsomal and can be regulated. Here we demonstrate that mPGES and PGHS-2 are expressed at very low levels in untreated human orbital fibroblasts. Interleukin (IL)-1β treatment elicits high levels of PGHS-2 and mPGES expression. The induction of both enzymes occurs at the pretranslational level, is the consequence of enhanced gene promoter activities, and can be blocked by dexamethasone (10 nm). SC58125, a PGHS-2-selective inhibitor, could attenuate the induction of mPGES, suggesting a dependence of this enzyme on PGHS-2 activity. IL-1β treatment activates p38 and ERK mitogen-activated protein kinases. Induction of both mPGES and PGHS-2 was susceptible to either chemical inhibition or molecular interruption of these pathways with dominant negative constructs. These results indicate that the induction of PGHS-2 and mPGES by IL-1β underlies robust PGE2 production in orbital fibroblasts.
A conceptual framework for knowledge elicitation

This paper includes a statement of the knowledge-elicitation problem and argues that the problem is two-fold: to outline a conceptual framework and to develop and validate a knowledge extraction methodology. Required and desirable attributes of a knowledge elicitation methodology are discussed. A conceptual framework that may be used to derive a knowledge elicitation methodology is outlined. This conceptual framework is established by extending Newell’s and Simon's (1972) problem space concept and integrating it with Kelly's (1955) theory of personal constructs. This framework provides guidelines regarding the kind of knowledge to be elicited, and the sequence and format in which this should be done. It also elicits knowledge that is used subconsciously and in unique ways by the expert.
Condemnation of Water and Water Rights in Kansas

Legislation in Kansas declares water rights to be property rights. The water resources in most parts of Kansas are fully appropriated – i.e., new water rights for water are generally unavailable from the state. To obtain water supplies in the future, entities will have to purchase existing water rights, or, in the case of entities having the statutory power of eminent domain, such as cities and other governments and some industries, they may have to resort to condemnation of existing water rights. This articles explores this subject in Kansas. First addressed is the general law of condemnation–various constitutional and statutory sections that grant condemnation power and the kinds of interests, including waters and water rights, that may be the subject of a condemnation lawsuit. Numerous entities have condemnation powers, but issues exist as to what types of property can be condemned. The article then discusses valuation of property taken. The third part of the article summarizes the law of condemnation of water rights in other states. Lastly, the article proposes a new Kansas statute on water rights condemnation, drafted by the author in an attempt to answer existing problems and to remove some ambiguities in Kansas law.
Thin active packaging films applied directly to fruits and vegetables using atmospheric pressure cold plasma

Active thin film packaging is a technology with the potential to provide American consumers with new fruit and vegetable products - if the film can be applied without deactivating the bioactive agents. Active thin film packaging can have a major impact on food safety and food quality. Unfortunately, existing thin film deposition techniques transfer a significant amount of thermal energy to the film as an essential part of the application process. The heat required by current spray/dry technologies alters the form and function of the bioactive molecules in the thin film. A deposition technique not dependent on thermal energy is needed to enable the application of active packaging films to fruits and vegetables. Atmospheric pressure cold plasma (APCP) processing can apply thin film active packaging without using thermal energy. APCP can be used to activate a monomer with concomitant deposition of an organic plasma polymerized film which can incorporate onto the target surface (via adsorption or via chemical bonding) the active packaging's bioactive molecules. APCP thin film processing can take place at or below room temperature. APCP can overcome the “heat barrier” because the APCP process does not use heat to mix the active ingredient into a liquid carrier. There are three specific aims associated with this work: 1) determine if the APCP process preserves or enhances the functionality of the bioactive molecule that is at the heart of the active packaging; 2) determine if the plasma-polymerized matrix material is either toxic to humans or if it is an allergen; and 3) optimize the design of the APCP reactor for this application. The plasma zone in the reactor will be obtained by increasing the voltage on an electrode structure until the electric field in the feed material (Argon + monomer) is sufficiently high to yield electron avalanches. The “corona onset criterion” is used to design the cold plasma reactor. The produce will be placed in a treatment chamber downstream from the activation zone. Results will be described for work that has used Red Delicious apples as the substrate and vanillin as the monomer.
Percutaneous Breast Biopsy: Effect on Short-term Quality of Life

The study findings—that younger women undergoing breast biopsy have lower short-term quality-of-life scores—suggest that tailored prebiopsy counseling may lead to an improved breast biopsy experience.
Mentoring Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Students via a Team Effort.

We describe how a team approach that we developed as a mentoring strategy can be used to recruit, advance, and guide students to be more interested in the interdisciplinary field of mathematical biology, and lead to success in undergraduate research in this field. Students are introduced to research in their first semester via lab rotations. Their participation in the research of four faculty members—two from biology and two from mathematics—gives them a first-hand overview of research in quantitative biology and also some initial experience in research itself. However, one of the primary goals of the lab rotation experience is that of developing teams of students and faculty that combine mathematics and statistics with biology and the life sciences, teams that subsequently mentor undergraduate research in genuine interdisciplinary environments. Thus, the team concept serves not only as a means of establishing interdisciplinary research, but also as a means of incorporating new students into existing research efforts that will then track those students into meaningful research of their own. We report how the team concept is used to support undergraduate research in mathematical biology and what types of team-building strategies have worked for us.
Stresses at the Cell-to-Substrate Interface during Locomotion of Fibroblasts

Recent technological improvements in the elastic substrate method make it possible to produce spatially resolved measurements of the tractions exerted by single motile cells. In this study we have applied these developments to produce maps of the tractions exerted by 3T3 fibroblasts during steady locomotion. The resulting images have a spatial resolution of approximately 5 micrometers and a maximum intensity of approximately 10(2) kdyn/cm2 (10(4) pN/micrometers2). We find that the propulsive thrust for fibroblast locomotion, approximately 0.2 dyn, is imparted to the substratum within 15 micrometers of the leading edge. These observations demonstrate that the lamellipodium of the fibroblast is able to generate intense traction stress. The cell body and posterior seem to be mechanically passive structures pulled forward entirely by this action.
A Perspective on Mineral Standards

History has shown that the consumption of a balanced diet in adequate amounts is consistent with survival of mankind. This fact demonstrates that for each essential nutrient there is not one, but a range of safe and adequate intakes. In the past, the determination of the two endpoints of that range, one bordering on deficiency, the other on toxicity, has been sought independently by nutritionists and toxicologists. Refinement of the criteria of adequacy and safety during the past few decades has tended to raise estimates of requirements and to reduce those of toxicity, narrowing and in some cases, eliminating the range of safe and adequate intakes. The Herndon Conference in 1992 suggested some common principles, potentially useful to establish both endpoints of the ranges of safe and adequate intakes for essential trace elements. Some perspectives of implementing these are discussed.
Overview of issues relating to low frequency electric and magnetic fields

There are serious concerns among the public and utility companies over the possible health effects of electric and magnetic fields. Electric and magnetic fields produced by electric power systems have been added to the list of environmental factors that are a potential threat to humans. This paper is an overview of various issues related to the exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields presented in the literature. The biological effects of these fields, mitigation procedures and techniques for shielding the magnetic fields are presented.
The breast cancer continuum in hormone-receptor–positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women: evolving management options focusing on aromatase inhibitors

There are now a number of highly effective options for the treatment of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Although tamoxifen was the standard hormonal treatment for many years, we now have another option for postmenopausal women: the third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs) anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole. A number of trials have investigated the use of third-generation AIs compared with tamoxifen throughout the continuum of treatment settings for postmenopausal women with breast cancer. In the neoadjuvant setting, letrozole, given for 4 months, resulted in better overall clinical response and breast-conserving surgery rates than tamoxifen. The Immediate Preoperative Anastrozole Tamoxifen or Combined with Tamoxifen trial gave anastrozole for 3 months with no difference in clinical response but significantly improved breast-conserving surgery rates. Compared with tamoxifen, anastrozole and letrozole significantly improved disease-free survival as early adjuvant treatment for hormone-receptor-positive disease. Switching to anastrozole or exemestane after 2 to 3 years of adjuvant tamoxifen for a total of 5 years of therapy was also more effective than continued tamoxifen. All three agents are approved in the early adjuvant or switching setting in the USA. Letrozole following 5 years of tamoxifen as extended adjuvant treatment improved disease-free survival and, in the node-positive subgroup, overall survival when compared with placebo. Anastrozole and letrozole are both approved for the first-line treatment of hormone-sensitive advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women; letrozole showed an improved response rate compared with tamoxifen. Anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane are all indicated for the second-line treatment of advanced breast cancer. In summary, third-generation AIs have been shown to have superior efficacy over tamoxifen in the metastatic, neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings and to improve outcome as extended adjuvant therapy following 5 years of tamoxifen. Ongoing studies will further define the role of sequential adjuvant treatment. Appropriate duration of treatment is another important area of investigation. This review will cover hormonal therapy for postmenopausal women with breast cancer and will not address the treatment of premenopausal women.
Macroalgae at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia

Abstract Macroalgal assemblages were described from Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS), GA and compared to records from 25 years ago. For quantitative comparisons in species richness and biomass, divers collected algae from Searle's four northern sites and another four southern sites (n = six 400-cm2 quadrats per site). To compare species richness among sites, algae were also collected across limestone reefs at each site, and any new species were added to those recorded from the quadrat samples. Of the 55 species identified, 8 were new GRNMS records, 4 were new records to Georgia, and 36 had been recorded previously. Nine species were present at all of the 8 sites. Although species richness per site was significantly greater in southern GRNMS, biomass and species richness per 400 cm2 were similar between northern and southern sites. Sediment movement likely contributed to variability in species composition across the reefs.
CT dose reduction and dose management tools: overview of available options.

In the past decade, the tremendous advances in computed tomography (CT) technology and applications have increased the clinical utilization of CT, creating concerns about individual and population doses of ionizing radiation. Scanner manufacturers have subsequently implemented several options to appropriately manage or reduce the radiation dose from CT. Modulation of the x-ray tube current during scanning is one effective method of managing the dose. However, the distinctions between the various tube current modulation products are not clear from the product names or descriptions. Depending on the scanner model, the tube current may be modulated according to patient attenuation or a sinusoidal-type function. The modulation may be fully preprogrammed, implemented in near-real time by using a feedback mechanism, or achieved with both preprogramming and a feedback loop. The dose modulation may occur angularly around the patient, along the long axis of the patient, or both. Finally, the system may allow use o...
Optimizing data intensive window-based image processing on reconfigurable hardware boards

Most image processing applications are not only computationally intensive, but also data intensive. Reconfigurable hardware boards provide a convenient and flexible solution to speed up these algorithms. To get a high performance design without going through the time-consuming hardware design process for each different algorithm, we present a simple design flow for window-based image processing applications. By finding the three upper bounds according to area constraints, memory bandwidth constraints and on-chip memory constraints, the block structure of the design which can fully utilized the available resources on the board is determined. A new buffering method is also discussed in this paper to build an efficient memory hierarchy for this type of application.
TOV: Sequential Test Generation by Ordering of Test Vectors

We describe a new approach to test generation for stuck-at faults in synchronous sequential circuits. Under this approach, the input vectors comprising the test sequence are fixed in advance. The process of generating the test sequence consists of ordering the precomputed input vectors such that the resulting test sequence has as high a fault coverage as possible. The advantage of this approach is that its computational complexity is limited by limiting the search space to a given set of input vectors and a given test sequence length. We describe a specific implementation of this approach. Experimental results demonstrate that restricting the search space to a fixed number of precomputed input vectors is sufficient for achieving the highest known fault coverage, or a fault coverage close to it, for benchmark circuits.
Purification of Mycobacterial Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Impurities believed to be polysaccharides have been found in mycobacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) preparations. Agar-gel diffusion of the DNA preparations against concanavalin A indicated the presence of three polysaccharides and was used to follow the purification procedures. The polysaccharides appeared to be the same for all strains studied. Precipitation of DNA with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was used to separate impurities from some DNA preparations. The presence of the contaminants was found to affect markedly the determination of the guanine plus cytosine content according to a method dependent on the ratio of absorbancies at 260 and 280 nm; the impurities did not affect the determination by the method of thermal denaturation. The presence of a DNA-polysaccharide complex is suggested.
Enhanced hole mobilities in surface-channel strained-Si p-MOSFETs

The strain dependence of the hole mobility in surface-channel p-MOSFETs employing pseudomorphic, strained-Si layers is reported for the first time. The hole mobility enhancement is observed to increase roughly linearly with the strain as the Ge content in the relaxed Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ buffer layer increases. When compared to the device with x=0.1, the devices with x=0.22 and 0.29 exhibit hole mobility enhancement factors of 1.4 and 1.8, respectively. In spite of the high fixed charge in our gate oxides, the device with Ge content x=0.29 still exhibits a mobility 1.3 times that of bulk Si MOSFETs with state-of-the-art oxides. The first measurements of the transconductance enhancements in submicron strained-Si p-MOSFETs are also reported.
Correlation, visualization, and usability analysis of routing policy configurations

Network configurations implement a set of policies that control a network's behavior. Therefore, correct understanding of the configurations is vital to ensure that the network operates according to the intended policies. However, the current practice of manually reading a large number of configuration commands, which are written in low-level languages and distributed in multiple devices, is inefficient and significantly increases management costs and operator errors. We propose a system that helps decode network configurations by interpreting low-level fragmented configurations and then presenting their high-level intended policies. In particular, the proposed system is applicable to inter-domain routing policies, one of the most complex aspects of network configurations. We implement our system and evaluate its effectiveness through a set of user studies involving 44 participants. These studies examine the participants? comprehension of routing policies presented with our system as compared to those presented with existing configuration languages. The studies show that our system improves both accuracy, from 70% to nearly 100%, as well as time-to-task-completion, from 30 minutes to 10 minutes. We believe that our system provides a basis for a clean separation of policy intent from its implementation so that policies can be better designed and understood. We also discuss the weaknesses in usability of current network configurations and argue that all aspects of future management systems need to be designed to address these usability issues.
A Combined Nonfertile and UO2 PWR Fuel Assembly for Actinide Waste Minimization

A new COmbined NonFertile and Uranium (CONFU) fuel assembly is proposed to limit the actinides that need long-term high-level waste storage from the pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel cycle. In t...
Running Like a Man, Sitting Like a Girl: Visual Enthymeme and the Case of Caster Semenya

Much attention has been given to the controversy surrounding Caster Semenya, an 18-year-old South African athlete subjected to “sex testing” during the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, but far less attention has been given to Semenya's rhetorical response to the media's scrutiny of her body. This essay explores how Semenya's portrait on the cover of You, a prominent South African magazine, employs a visual rhetoric that functions as an enthymeme. I argue that while Semenya hailed audiences to view her as an authentic, feminine self, her visual enthymeme was constrained by medical conceptions of gender. By investigating the Semenya case, I analyze how female athletic bodies are displayed, disciplined, and reinscribed into sexist and racist discourses about gendered athleticism.
Outcome analysis of 71 clinical intestinal transplantations

Objective The aim of the study was to determine risk factors associated with graft failure and mortality after transplantation of the intestine alone or as part of an organ complex. Background Data Even with modern immunosuppressive therapies, clinical intestinal transplantation remains a difficult and unreliable procedure. Causes for this and solutions are needed. Methods Between May 1990 and February 1995, 71 intestinal transplantations were performed in 66 patients using tacrolimus and low-dose steroids. The first 63 patients, all but one treated 1 to 5 years ago, received either isolated grafts (n = 22), liver and intestinal grafts (n = 30), or multivisceral grafts (n = 11). Three more recipients of allografts who recently underwent surgery and one undergoing retransplantation were given unaltered donor bone marrow cells perioperatively as a biologic adjuvant. Results Of the first 63 recipients, 32 are alive : 28 have functioning primary grafts and 4 have resumed total parenteral nutrition after graft enterectomy. Thirty-five primary grafts were lost to technical and management errors (n = 10), rejection (n = 6), and infection (n = 19). Regression analysis revealed that duration of surgery, positive donor cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology, inclusion of graft colon, OKT3 use, steroid recycle, and high tacrolimus blood levels contributed to graft loss. All four intestine and bone marrow recipients are alive for 2-3 months without evidence of graft-versus-host disease. Conclusion To improve outcome after intestinal transplantation with previous management protocols, it will be necessary to avoid predictably difficult patients, CMV seropositive donors, and inclusion of the graft colon. Bone marrow transplantation may further improve outcome by ameliorating the biologic barriers of rejection and infection and allowing less restrictive selection criteria.
A task-level hierarchical memory model for system synthesis of multiprocessors

This paper introduces the first high-level (task-level)model of hierarchical memories and describes a scheduling andallocation algorithm for system-level synthesis of heterogeneousmultiprocessors. Caches are essential for modern RISC embeddedcores to obtain sustained high performance. However, caches havereceived limited use in priority-driven preemptive real-time systemsdue to the unpredictability of caches-average-case improvementsare of no use in systems with hard deadlines. Program-levelcache models do not take into account preemptions between multipletasks running at multiple rates on embedded cores. Our task-levelmodel of performance in the presence of memory hierarchiesprovides an efficient means to bound the guaranteed memory performanceof tasks running in a multi-rate, multi-tasking environment.Our system synthesis algorithm uses software-based cachepartitioning and reservation techniques to guarantee cache hitsfor some tasks and therefore improve task schedulability. Experimentalresults show that our model significantly improves schedulabilityof real-time tasks and can be evaluated efficiently duringsystem-level synthesis.
A modified bridge earthing device

A method is described for eliminating the effects of stray impedance in an a.c. Wheatstone bridge. Whereas the Wagner earthing device uses two auxiliary branches, the modified device uses an auxiliary source of supply. The elimination of the auxiliary impedances is of advantage in a high-voltage bridge. Brief practical details of the device are given for a 50 c/s Schering bridge. The device is used to study the influence of stray capacities when such a bridge is applied to a transformer manufacture process.
Teaching search patterns to medical trainees in an educational laboratory to improve perception of pulmonary nodules

The goal of this research is to demonstrate that teaching healthcare trainees a formal search or scan pattern for evaluation of the lungs improves their ability to identify pulmonary nodules on chest radiographs (CXRs). A group of physician assistant trainees were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. Each group was shown two sets of CXRs, each set with a nodule prevalence of approximately 50%. The experimental group received search pattern training between case sets, whereas the control group did not. Both groups were asked to mark nodules when present and indicate their diagnostic confidence. Subject performance at nodule detection was quantified using changes in area under the localization receiver operating characteristic curve ([Formula: see text]). There was no significant improvement in performance between case sets for the control group. There was a significant improvement in subject performance after training for the experimental group, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. These results demonstrate that teaching a search pattern to trainees improves their ability to identify nodules and decreases the number of perceptual errors in nodule identification, and suggest that our knowledge of medical image perception may be used to develop rational tools for the education of healthcare trainees.
The enceladus and oh tori at saturn

The remarkable observation that Enceladus, a small icy satellite of Saturn, is actively venting has led to the suggestion that ejected water molecules are the source of the toroidal atmosphere observed at Saturn for over a decade using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Here we show that the venting leads directly to a new feature, a narrow Enceladus neutral torus. The larger torus, observed using HST, is populated by charge exchange, the process that limits the lifetime of the neutrals in the Enceladus torus.
Two rare indium-based porous metal–metalloporphyrin frameworks exhibiting interesting CO2 uptake

Two rare indium-based porous metal–metalloporphyrin frameworks (MMPFs), MMPF-7 and MMPF-8, were constructed by self-assembly of In(III) and two custom-designed porphyrin–tetracarboxylate ligands. MMPF-7 and MMPF-8 possess the pts topology and exhibit interesting CO2 adsorption properties.
Macrophage-Dependent Regulation of Syndecan Gene Expression

Heparan sulfates in the extracellular matrix are required for a variety of biological processes, including cellular response to heparin-binding growth factors. However, little is known regarding the regulation of their expression and composition under pathophysiological conditions. In the present study, we have investigated the regulation of expression of two key heparan sulfate chain-carrying core proteins, syndecan-1 and syndecan-4, in a mouse/rat infarct model of tissue injury and repair. Induction of myocardial infarction was associated with a prompt increase in expression of both syndecan genes. Although infiltrating macrophages accounted for a substantial increase in syndecan expression, increased expression was noted in the levels of syndecan-1 mRNA in endothelial cells and syndecan-4 mRNA in cardiac myocytes. This increase in expression was limited to the immediate peri-infarct region and was absent from remote areas of the left or right ventricles. The influx of blood-derived macrophages in the heart correlated with the appearance of PR-39 peptide, which has previously been shown to increase syndecan expression in vitro. Studies in the op/op mice strain (which demonstrates sharply reduced levels of circulating monocytes) showed that myocardial infarction was associated with markedly reduced levels of macrophage influx and corresponding reduction in the expression of PR-39 and both syndecan genes. Pretreatment of op/op mice with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor restored myocardial macrophage content with corresponding restoration of PR-39/syndecan expression. In summary, myocardial infarction is associated with a distinct spatial and temporal pattern of syndecan-1 and -4 gene expression, which is induced by an influx of blood-derived macrophages.