cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioural synchrony in two species of communally housed captive penguins

Animals in aggregations such as herds, schools, flocks, or colonies tend to synchronize their behaviour with each other for food acquisition and predator detection. Different species of captive penguins, when housed communally, intermingle more than in their natural habitat. Wild penguins typically divide themselves into separate colonies by species. We predicted that penguins would synchronize their behaviour more with conspecifics rather than interspecifically in a mixed-species zoo exhibit. The subjects were 65 penguins of two different species, chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) in the Central Park Zoo, New York, NY, USA. Using instantaneous scan sampling, 359 video scans were taken over 10 days. Scans were analysed for nine different categories of behaviour for both species. Intra-species synchrony scores were calculated using the Kappa coefficient of agreement, and inter-species synchrony was measured by computing cross-correlations. As predicted, overall synchrony was significantly greater within both species of penguins than for randomly aggregated data representing mixed groups. There was also significantly less synchrony between species than between randomly mixed data for six of the nine behaviour categories. The pattern of results indicates that the penguins had organized by behaviour into separate species-specific colonies within the enclosure. They maintained species separation through behavioural synchrony despite the restrictions imposed by captivity.
Distribution of original surface features during comminution

Abstract When a brittle solid particle is comminuted, its surface features such as the original surface area, edge length and corners are distributed among the daughter fragments. From a set of simple assumptions, a model was made of the distribution of these particle surface features. The mass vs. size distribution is very steep for fragments that contain original surface features. However, the cumulative distribution of the original corners, edge length, and surface area, versus fragments size all have a slope of m, similar to the size distribution curve of comminuted material. In addition, it has been shown that the total surface area of those fragments that contain some of the original surface area is constant, regardless of how finely these fragments may be ground.
The “Year” of Women in Sports: Why Stop at One?

The successes of 2012 in women's sports are worth celebrating—but professionals should not forget the important issues that still need to be addressed.
Hydrostatic and dynamic models of solar coronal holes

A description is presented of a sequence of one-dimensional fluid flow models of the transition zone and the inner corona. A hydrostatic model atmosphere in reasonable agreement with observations of closed, large-scale coronal structures found in the quiet sun is considered and various physical effects are introduced, one at a time, observing the response of the model. As a result of the investigations, a model is developed of the plasma flow in a coronal hole. It is shown that the data severely circumscribe the allowable range of possible models.
Microcavity-based cascaded Raman microlaser in air and in buffer

Due to the non-linear effects in whispering gallery mode microresonators, low threshold microlaser development is possible. The lasing threshold is significantly lowered as high circulating optical intensities build up within the resonator, resulting from long photon lifetimes attributed to the ultra-high quality factor. With such characteristics in place, microresonators can operate as lasers even in complex media. We show cascaded Raman microlaser behavior in an undoped silica microsphere in air and HEPES buffer environments. The first emission peak is at around 800nm with a pump source of around 771nm. The lowest obtained threshold of the first emission line is 105μW in air and a higher threshold power of 760μW is required in buffer. Cascaded behavior of up to ten lasing peaks has been observed in air and up to two peaks were seen in buffer.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator activity during pubertal transition in girls: pulsatile and diurnal patterns of circulating gonadotropins.

To delineate the activity of the GnRH pulse generator during pubertal transition, 40 healthy girls 7-18 yr of age were studied. Ten were prepubertal (PP), 7 were in early puberty (EP), and 23 were in late puberty (LP, all postmenarcheal). Serum concentrations of LH and FSH were measured with immunofluorometric assays, which have a sensitivity about 100-fold that of RIA, in samples taken at 10-min intervals for 24 h during basal conditions, during Nal-Glu antagonist suppression, and in response to GnRH stimulation (10 micrograms). Serum levels of androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol were measured with RIA. A pulsatile pattern of LH and FSH secretion was found in girls of all ages. PP girls had irregular LH pulses with low amplitudes during the daytime, but increased amplitude LH and FSH pulses were evident within 1 h after sleep-onset. Older PP girls had more regular and higher amplitude pulses throughout sleep than younger PP girls. The sleep-related LH and FSH pulses in PP girls were abolished with Nal-Glu GnRH antagonist treatment, reflecting endogenous GnRH pulse activities. The PP group had the most pronounced amplification of LH secretion with sleep yielding a sleep-wake ratio of 4, which decreased to 2 in the EP group and to 1 in the LP group. The emergence of regular daytime LH pulses along with a further amplification of pulsatile activity during sleep was closely related to the onset of breast development. By the age of 16 yr, an LH secretory pattern characteristic of adult women in the early follicular phase, i.e. a decrease in LH concentration during sleep, was established. Mean 24-h LH concentrations increased 40-fold from PP to LP consequent to a 9-fold increase in pulse amplitude and a 4-fold increase in pulse number (both P < 0.0001). Mean FSH concentrations (24 h), which were 20-fold higher than corresponding LH concentrations in the PP group, increased only 3-fold from the PP to the LP group. FSH pulse secretion appears to be predominantly GnRH dependent in PP girls in contrast to girls after ovarian activation, as indicated by the increased FSH responses to both GnRH antagonist suppression and GnRH stimulation in the PP as compared to the EP and LP groups. We conclude that the GnRH pulse generator is functionally active in prepubertal girls with selective expression of LH and FSH pulses after the onset of sleep. The onset of puberty is associated with a greater increase in LH pulse amplitude than frequency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
To teach the unteachable class: an experimental course in web-based application design

In the current Web-dominated computing environment, it is increasingly important that students learn the principles of Web-based application design. But this topic is so broad and includes so many different technologies that it is virtually impossible to design an effective class around the traditional lecture-based model. This paper describes a successful approach to teaching the subject that uses a seminar format and features faithful simulation of real world development processes, meaningful case studies and flexibility in terms of coverage as its central themes.
Tetrahydrobiopterin and dietary restriction in mild phenylketonuria.

Inherited disorders of intermediary metabolism are the prototypes for the treatment of genetic disorders. In each condition, accumulation of a metabolite results from a genetically determined abnormality in a metabolic pathway in which there is deficient biosynthesis either of an enzyme or of a cofactor necessary for the function of an enzyme, leading to abnormal activity of the enzyme. The outcome in patients identified by newborn-screening programs in the United States and around the world attests to the success of treatments based on an understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders. Therapy spares children the ravages of severe illness, mental . . .
Is There a Role for NFAT Inhibitors in the Prevention of Bone Destruction

Pathologic conditions resulting from excessive bone destruction include osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, metastases, periprosthetic osteolysis, cherubism, and others. A scarcity of molecular targets in bone has thwarted the development of drugs to combat these conditions. Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) is a master regulator of osteoclastogenesis and is induced by RANKL. The immunosuppressive drugs, Cyclosporin A and Tacrolimus, inhibit osteoclast formation by targeting the NFAT/calcineurin pathway. These NFAT inhibitors should be considered in the treatment of osteoclastic hyper-resorptive syndromes.
Examining the influence of transculturation on work ethic in the United States

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of cultural assimilation – termed “transculturation” – on work ethic perceptions, thus this study examines trends in work ethic across ethnic and generational groups within the USA. Design/methodology/approach – Following a literature review on work ethic, ethnicity, and transculturation, an analysis of variance based on 873 survey responses is presented. The sample includes undergraduate and graduate students at several public universities within the USA. Findings – An empirical analysis supports the hypothesis that the variation of work ethic perceptions within the Millennial generation is significantly less than the variation among older generations. The authors find no significant difference in general work ethic perceptions among Millennial ethnic groups. Research limitations/implications – While the study is conducted using a convenience sample, the demographics are closely representative of the USA labor force. The results suggest that...
Re-establishment of Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication (GJIC) between Human Endometrial Carcinomas by Prostaglandin E2

Reduced intercellular communication via gap junctions is correlated with carcinogenesis. Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), between normal human endometrial epithelial cells is enhanced when endometrial stromal cells were present in culture. This enhancement of GJIC between normal epithelial cells also occurs when they are cultured in medium conditioned by stromal cells. This observation indicated that a soluble compound (or compounds) produced and secreted by stromal cells mediates GJIC in epithelial cells. Previous studies have shown that endometrial stromal cells release prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and prostaglandin F(2α) (PGF(2α)) under physiological conditions. When we evaluated the response of normal endometrial epithelial cells to various concentrations of PGE(2,) we found enhanced GJIC with 1nM PGE(2). This is a smaller increase in GJIC than that induced by medium conditioned by stromal cells. When the extracellular concentration of PGE(2) was measured after incubation with stromal cells, it was found to be similar to the concentrations showing maximal GJIC between the normal epithelial cells. When indomethacin was used to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis by stromal cells, GJIC was reduced but not eliminated between normal endometrial epithelial cells. These observations suggest that although PGE(2) secreted by stromal cells is an important mediator of GJIC between the epithelial cells, it is not the sole mediator. Transformed endometrial epithelial cells did not demonstrate GJIC even in the presence of stromal cells. However, we were able to re-establish GJIC in transformed epithelial cells when we added PGE(2) to the cells. Our findings show that PGE(2) may serve as an intercellular mediator between stromal and epithelial cells that regulates GJIC in normal and malignant epithelial cells. This suggests that maintenance of GJIC by preserving or replacing PGE(2) secretion by endometrial stromal cells may have the potential to suppress carcinogenesis in endometrial epithelial cells.
Organic and inorganic bicontinuous phases

Bicontinuous mesophases are mesoporous structures that divide space into several interpenetrating, continuously connected volumes. The length scales of the pores are typically in the tens of nanometer range, which offers opportunities for the use of these materials in nanoscale fabrication of structural composites or surface-active mesoporous structures. Use of these materials has been limited in the past because they were typically liquid crystals made of surfactant and water. This situation is rapidly changing due to recent successes in making bicontinuous mesophases out of more durable materials, such as polymers or silica, and in fabricating structures with a variety of morphologies. An overview is presented of the structural morphology, energetic considerations, and five different routes of fabrication for bicontinuous mesophases, for example, mesophases made of surfactants and water, block copolymers, polymerizable surfactants, polymerizable fluids in surfactant liquid crystals, and silica.
Carbon-14 tracer studies of the secondary reactions in the cracking of hexadecane over zeolite catalysts

Abstract Results from cracking runs over zeolites using propylene tracer showed that incorporation of radioactivity into other products was not as large as when amorphous silica-alumina was used. ( Bordley, J. L., Jr., Doctoral Thesis, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1972 ). The values for α, the ratio of the radioactivity of the products per unit volume to the radioactivity of the tracer per unit volume, were only about one-tenth of those for the corresponding products obtained when a standard amorphous silica-alumina (Davison #980) catalyst was used. Results from the runs using toluene tracer showed that almost all the radioactivity remained in the toluene on both types of catalysts. Values of α for toluene were as large or larger on the zeolite catalyst than on the standard silica-alumina catalyst.
The discrimination of two racial samples.

Nineteen different anthropometric measures were obtained on all members of each of two racial groups. A procedure was developed and applied to the data to give maximum differentiation between the groups. The method is applicable wherever we have a large number of independent variables and a dependent variable. In such cases, the conventional methods for determining multiple regression constants are very laborious. An iteration method is presented which is more rapid than any with which the writers are familiar. The method selects in sequence those variables which together yield the largest multiple correlation with the criterion. At each step in the procedure, rapid estimates of the regression weights and the multiple correlation at that point are available.
Purification of human interleukin 1

Interleukin I (IL-1) is a lymphocyte stimulant released by human monocytes cultured for 18-24 hours in tissue culture medium containing 5% serum and the non-specific immunostimulant lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Human IL-1 is found in the conditioned medium in a low molecular weight (approximately 13,000) and a high molecular weight (approximately 85,000) form. The high MW activity may result from the formation of a complex between IL-1 and serum constituents. During the course of purification, the low MW IL-1 activity is often recovered in a high MW form. Hollow fiber diafiltration and membrane ultrafiltration has been found to rapidly separate low MW IL-1 from all measurable protein with a yield of 4% of the original activity. The IL-1 which converts to the high MW form during the purification is recoverable, 21% of the original activity, but contains small amounts of serum proteins. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of the low MW IL-1 resulted in a very highly purified sample which was analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Utilizing a new staining procedure which detects less than 1 ng of protein per band, the IEF-purified IL-1 revealed trace quantities (less than 1 ng) of a slowly migrating protein similar to immunoglobulin and no other bands. There were no bands which corresponded with the known electrophoretic mobility of IL-1. Since the samples applied to the gel contained significant biological activity, this result implies that human IL-1 is biologically active in picogram quantities.
Maximum savings in the Steiner problem in phylogeny

The problem of constructing a phylogeny (evolutionary tree) from a given set of protein sequences is discussed. It is shown to be a special case of the Steiner problem in graphs, called the Steiner problem in phylogeny. A question which arises naturally is what is the maximum fraction ρ say, by which the length of any minimal spanning tree solution can be reduced by the introduction of Steiner points? In this note we show that asymptotically, ρ = 1/2. We furnish a numerical example which shows that this bound is sharp.
Aquatic Nuisance Species in the New York State Canal and Hudson River Systems and the Great Lakes Basin: An Economic and Environmental Assessment

A total of 154 aquatic alien species have invaded the New York State Canal and Hudson River systems and a total of 162 aquatic species have invaded the Great Lakes Basin. Some of these invasive species are causing significant damage and control costs in both aquatic ecosystems. In the New York State Canal and Hudson River systems, the nonindigenous species are causing an estimated $500 million in economic losses each year. The economic and environmental situation in the Great Lakes Basin is far more serious from nonindigenous species, with losses estimated to be about $5.7 billion dollars per year. Commercial and sport fishing suffer the most from the biological invasions, with about $400 million in losses reported for the New York State Canal and Hudson River systems and $4.5 billion in losses reported for the Great Lakes Basin.
On alias-free formulations of discrete-time Cohen's class of distributions

The transition of the Cohen's (1989) class of distributions from the continuous-time case to the discrete-time case is not straightforward because of aliasing problems. We classify the aliasing problems, which occur for joint time-frequency representations (TFRs), into two categories: type-I and type-II aliasings. Type-I aliasing can be avoided by properly defined discrete-time versions of some members of Cohen's class (in particular, properly defined kernels), whereas type-II aliasing can be reduced and/or eliminated by increasing the sampling rate. A type-I alias-free formulation of the discrete-time Cohen's class (AF-DTCC), which is equivalent to the AF-GDTFT of Joeng and Williams (see ibid., vol.40, no.2, p.1084, 1992) is then introduced based on the fact that the Cohen's class can be expressed as the 2-D Fourier transform of the generalized ambiguity function (AF). Based on this definition, two discretization schemes for kernel functions are presented in both the AF domain and the time-lag domain, and are shown to be equivalent under certain conditions. We also do the following: (1) we show that a discrete-time Wigner-Ville distribution (DWVD) and discrete-time spectrogram (DSPG) are type-I alias-free and members of AF-DTCC; (2) we use all the available correlation information from a given data sequence by using the Woodward AF instead of the Sussman AF; (3) we give kernel constraints in the AF domain for various distribution properties; and (4) we provide a type-I and type-II alias-free formulation for those distributions whose kernel functions satisfy the finite frequency-support constraint.
Implications of recent sea level rise science for low-elevation areas in coastal cities of the conterminous U.S.A.

Recently published work estimates that global sea level rise (SLR) approaching or exceeding 1 m by 2100 is plausible, thus significantly updating projections by the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Furthermore, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the 21st century will not only influence SLR in the next ∼90 years, but will also commit Earth to several meters of additional SLR over subsequent centuries. In this context of worsening prospects for substantial SLR, we apply a new geospatial dataset to calculate low-elevation areas in coastal cities of the conterminous U.S.A. potentially impacted by SLR in this and following centuries. In total, 20 municipalities with populations greater than 300,000 and 160 municipalities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000 have land area with elevations at or below 6 m and connectivity to the sea, as based on the 1 arc-second National Elevation Dataset. On average, approximately 9% of the area in these coastal municipalities lies at or below 1 m. This figure rises to 36% when considering area at or below 6 m. Areal percentages of municipalities with elevations at or below 1–6 m are greater than the national average along the Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts. In contrast to the national and international dimensions of and associated efforts to curb GHG emissions, our comparison of low-elevation areas in coastal cities of the conterminous U.S.A. clearly shows that SLR will potentially have very local, and disproportionate, impacts.
The capacity of spread-spectrum Rayleigh fading channels in the presence of channel uncertainty

Spread-spectrum Rayleigh fading channels with imperfect channel state information (CSI) is studied. We assume a multidimensional signal subspace, and study the effects of both the subspace dimension and the probability distribution of the transmitted symbols on the mutual information between the channel input and output in the presence of uncertainty regarding the true state of the channel.
Free Fluid in Morison's Pouch on Bedside Ultrasound Predicts Need for Operative Intervention in Suspected Ectopic Pregnancy

Background: Ectopic pregnancies are frequently present in women who present to the emergency department with pregnancy and abdominal pain or bleeding, a subset of whom may require operative intervention. Objectives: To prospectively determine if emergency physician (EP)-performed transabdominal pelvic ultrasonography (US) with determination of free abdominal fluid in the hepatorenal space predicted the need for operative intervention. Methods: Patients who were suspected to have an ectopic pregnancy were prospectively enrolled over a ten-month period. An EP-performed bedside transabdominal pelvic US that included a view of the hepatorenal space (Morison’s pouch) for free fluid. The EP US was classified as intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) or no definitive IUP, with Morison’s pouch classified as positive or negative. The majority of patients had a subsequent transvaginal pelvic US performed by the Department of Radiology. Patients were followed up for radiology results, need for operative intervention, and ultimate outcome of the pregnancy. Results: There were 242 patients enrolled, with an average time to complete the EP US of 4 minutes and 27 seconds. There were 28 ectopic pregnancies diagnosed (11.6%), of which 18 patients underwent operative intervention. Free fluid in Morison’s pouch was identified in ten patients, nine of whom underwent operative intervention, yielding a positive likelihood ratio of 112 (95% confidence interval = 15 to 831) for patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy who required operative intervention. Conclusions: Free intraperitoneal fluid found in Morison’s pouch in patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy may be rapidly identified at the bedside by EP-performed US and predicts the need for operative intervention. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2007; 14:755‐758 a 2007 by the Society for Academic Emergency
Estimation of bubble diameter in gaseous fluidized beds

Bubble size is one of the most important parameters in the design and simulation of a fluidized-bed reactor. A correlation of the bubble size and growth in fluidized beds of various diameters is developed. A maximum bubble diameter determined from the bubble coalescence is incorporated in the correlation to relate the effect of the bed diameter on the bubble size. Experimental data of bubble size reported are used to develop and test the validity of the correlation. The bubble diameters calculated using this correlation show good agreement with the observed bubble diameters.
Hypothesis testing with incomplete relevance judgments

Information retrieval experimentation generally proceeds in a cycle of development, evaluation, and hypothesis testing. Ideally, the evaluation and testing phases should be short and easy, so as to maximize the amount of time spent in development. There has been recent work on reducing the amount of assessor effort needed to evaluate retrieval systems, but it has not, for the most part, investigated the effects of these methods on tests of significance. In this work, we explore in detail the effects of reduced sets of judgments on the sign test. We demonstrate both analytically and empirically the relationship between the power of the test, the number of topics evaluated, and the number of judgments available. Using these relationships, we can determine the number of topics and judgments needed for the least-cost but highest-confidence significance evaluation. Specifically, testing pairwise significance over 192 topics with fewer than 5 judgments for each is as good as testing significance over 25 topics with an average of 166 judgments for each - 85% less effort producing no additional errors.
Polycystic ovary syndrome as a form of functional ovarian hyperandrogenism due to dysregulation of androgen secretion

I. History and Terminology: From Stein-Leventhal toFunctional Ovarian Hyperandrogenism (FOH) IN 1935, Stein and Leventhal (1) reported the association of polycystic ovaries in women with amenorrhea, hirsutism, and obesity. Morphological and histological studies of the ovaries from these patients revealed a thickened tunica albuginea, hyperplasia of the theca interna and cortical stroma, and multiple subcapsular follicles that were in various stages of atresia (1). Subsequently, the heterogeneity of both the ovarian histology and clinical findings in women with polycystic ovaries was recognized and led to the establishment of the term polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (2, 3). Indeed, patients with the severest cases may have hyperthecosis, a form in which there are no cysts (2,4,5), and those with milder ovarian dysfunction tend to have normal ovarian morphology (6). Later, increased concentrations of serum LH or an increase in the ratio of LH to FSH were shown to be characteristic (7) and became common dia...
Dimensional changes in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite due to electron-irradiation

One of the main problems found in the nuclear applications of graphite is its dimensional instability under irradiation, involving both swelling and shape changes. In order to understand better the mechanisms that give rise to these changes, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite was irradiated with 300 keV electrons at temperatures between 25 and 657 °C in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Microscopic dimensional changes and structural disordering were studied in directions parallel and perpendicular to the graphite basal plane. Changes in the specimen length were investigated by measuring the distance between two markers on the specimen surface in TEM images. Changes in the lattice parameter and the crystalline structure were studied by a TEM diffraction technique. In agreement with reported results, large increases in the specimen length and the lattice parameter were observed along the c-axis direction, whereas a relatively small decrease was observed along the a-axis. In irradiation studies conducted at room temperature, it was found that the dimensional change saturates at high dose, at an elongation along the c-axis direction of about 300%. High resolution microscopy revealed that the microstructure had become nanocrystalline. Electron energy loss spectroscopy results showed that the volume change was recovered at this stage. These observations are discussed in terms of point defect evolution and its effects on the microstructure of irradiated graphite.
USE OF CORTICOSTEROIDS IN COMBINATION WITH ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS IN THE TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS CORNEAL DISEASE

Abstract The use of corticosteroids in the management of infectious eye disease is controversial. In this study, the authors attempt to analyze the goals and risks of the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of various forms of infectious keratitis with reference to generally recognized principles for the treatment of infectious diseases. Existing clinical and research data are reviewed in this context to make appropriate recommendations for the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of bacterial, fungal, and acanthamebic keratitis. The authors conclude that corticosteroids are definitely contraindicated in the treatment of fungal keratitis, and relatively contraindicated in the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Topical corticosteroid therapy may have a role in the treatment of bacterial keratitis if appropriate guidelines are followed.
General translational repression by activators of mRNA decapping.

Translation and mRNA degradation are affected by a key transition where eukaryotic mRNAs exit translation and assemble an mRNP state that accumulates into processing bodies (P bodies), cytoplasmic sites of mRNA degradation containing nontranslating mRNAs, and mRNA degradation machinery. We identify the decapping activators Dhh1p and Pat1p as functioning as translational repressors and facilitators of P body formation. Strains lacking both Dhh1p and Pat1p show strong defects in mRNA decapping and P body formation and are blocked in translational repression. Contrastingly, overexpression of Dhh1p or Pat1p causes translational repression, P body formation, and arrests cell growth. Dhh1p, and its human homolog, RCK/p54, repress translation in vitro, and Dhh1p function is bypassed in vivo by inhibition of translational initiation. These results identify a broadly acting mechanism of translational repression that targets mRNAs for decapping and functions in translational control. We propose this mechanism is competitively balanced with translation, and shifting this balance is an important basis of translational control.
Christian Heroism and the Reconstruction of America

This is a critical phenomenology of the latest iteration of the Christian Right: Dominionism. A brief history of the movement first situates Dominionism in the American religious landscape. The art...
Mutation of SAC1, an Arabidopsis SAC Domain Phosphoinositide Phosphatase, Causes Alterations in Cell Morphogenesis, Cell Wall Synthesis, and Actin Organization

SAC (for suppressor of actin) domain proteins in yeast and animals have been shown to modulate the levels of phosphoinositides, thereby regulating several cellular activities such as signal transduction, actin cytoskeleton organization, and vesicle trafficking. Nine genes encoding SAC domain–containing proteins are present in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome, but their roles in plant cellular functions and plant growth and development have not been characterized. In this report, we demonstrate the essential roles of one of the Arabidopsis SAC domain proteins, AtSAC1, in plant cellular functions. Mutation of the AtSAC1 gene in the fragile fiber7 (fra7) mutant caused a dramatic decrease in the wall thickness of fiber cells and vessel elements, thus resulting in a weak stem phenotype. The fra7 mutation also led to reduced length and aberrant shapes in fiber cells, pith cells, and trichomes and to an alteration in overall plant architecture. The AtSAC1 gene was found to be expressed in all tissues in elongating organs; however, it showed predominant expression in vascular tissues and fibers in nonelongating parts of stems. In vitro activity assay demonstrated that AtSAC1 exhibited phosphatase activity toward phosphatidylinositol 3,5-biphosphate. Subcellular localization studies showed that AtSAC1 was colocalized with a Golgi marker. Truncation of the C terminus by the fra7 mutation resulted in its localization in the cytoplasm but had no effect on phosphatase activity. Furthermore, examination of the cytoskeleton organization revealed that the fra7 mutation caused the formation of aberrant actin cables in elongating cells but had no effect on the organization of cortical microtubules. Together, these results provide genetic evidence that AtSAC1, a SAC domain phosphoinositide phosphatase, is required for normal cell morphogenesis, cell wall synthesis, and actin organization.
CloudSat Studies of Stratiform Precipitation Systems Observed in the Vicinity of the Southern Great Plains Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Site

Abstract The spaceborne W-band (94 GHz) radar on board the CloudSat polar-orbiting satellite offers new opportunities for retrieving parameters of precipitating cloud systems. CloudSat measurements can resolve the vertical cross sections of such systems. The radar brightband features, which are commonly present when observing stratiform precipitating systems, allow the vertical separation of the ice, mixed, and liquid precipitating hydrometeor layers. In this study, the CloudSat data are used to simultaneously retrieve ice water path (IWP) values for ice layers of precipitating systems using absolute radar reflectivity measurements and mean rainfall rates Rm in the liquid hydrometeor layers using the attenuation-based reflectivity gradient method. The retrievals were performed for precipitating events observed in the vicinity of the Southern Great Plains (SGP) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) Climate Research Facility. The retrieval results indicated that IWP values in stratiform precipitat...
Distribution Line Carrier Communications - An Historical Perspective

In this paper, the design migration since 1972 of the General Electric distribution line carrier systems is described, including such areas as coupling modes, frequency, harmonic noise, receiver filter design, standing waves, burst noise, error detection and correction. The research efforts of Rockwell International, beginning in 1977, are described, showing similarities and differences of that distribution line carrier system as compared to the General Electric systems. Communications success rates are described for the several system designs.
Low Salt Intake Down-regulates the Guanylin Signaling Pathway in Rat Distal Colon

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Guanylin, an endogenous gastrointestinal peptide, causes the translocation of NaCl from interstitial fluid to the intestinal lumen. The aim of this study was to examine whether changes in dietary salt intake lead to compensatory changes in expression of the guanylin signaling pathway. METHODS: Rats received low-, normal-, or high-sodium diets for 1 week. Colonic guanylin expression was evaluated by Western and Northern blotting, rates of guanylin secretion by measuring biologically active guanylin released into the medium from colon explants, and expression of the guanylin receptor (C-type guanylate cyclase) by Northern blotting and bioassay. RESULTS: By every criterion, the low-salt diet reduced expression of guanylin to 30%-40% of the level found in control animals. Guanylin receptor expression was also decreased, although less dramatically and with a lower statistical significance. For both guanylin and guanylin receptor, the high-salt diet had no significant effect on expression. CONCLUSIONS: The data support the hypothesis that the guanylin pathway is down-regulated as an adaptive response to salt restriction. (Gastroenterology 1996 Dec;111(6):1714-21)
Magnetic resonance imaging after surgical transposition defines the anteroposterior location of the rectus muscle pulleys

Abstract Introduction: Connective tissue pulleys serve as the functional origins of the rectus extraocular muscles (EOMs) and constrain the sideslip of the posterior EOM bellies after transposition surgery. Anterior to the pulleys, EOM paths appreciably displace to reach their transposed insertions. The inflection points in the EOM paths from minimal posterior displacement to maximal anterior displacement should define the anteroposterior location of the EOM pulleys after transposition. Methods: Contiguous cross-sectional magnetic resonance images were obtained in planes perpendicular to the long axis of the orbit over its entire anteroposterior extent before and after operation in 6 patients who underwent rectus muscle transposition surgery. Four patients underwent full tendon width transposition of the vertical rectus muscles laterally for lateral rectus palsy. Two of these patients had augmentation of the transposition with sutures that fixated the temporal margins of the transposed muscles posteriorly to the sclera adjacent to the borders of the lateral rectus muscle. One patient underwent full tendon width transposition of the horizontal rectus muscles superiorly for superior rectus palsy. One patient underwent full tendon width transposition of both lateral rectus muscles inferiorly for "A" pattern esotropia. Paths of EOMs were defined relative to the area centroid of the orbit. Pulley locations were inferred from EOM paths. The postoperative change in EOM pulley location was obtained by subtracting the preoperative pulley location from the postoperative pulley location for each image plane. Results: For all patients, the postoperative change in EOM belly location was relatively small posterior to the globe-optic nerve junction. The 2 patients with abducens palsy who underwent placement of posterior augmentation sutures, however, demonstrated a significantly larger displacement of the posterior vertical rectus paths compared with similar patients who did not receive augmentation sutures. For all horizontally transposed vertical rectus muscles and inferiorly transposed lateral rectus muscles, the inflection of the EOM path began 3 mm anterior to the globe-optic nerve junction. For the superiorly transposed medial rectus muscle and lateral rectus muscle, the inflection began 6 mm anterior to the globe-optic nerve junction. Conclusions: The anteroposterior locations of the EOM pulleys can be defined by analysis of EOM displacement after transposition surgery. Augmentation of transpositions by posterior suturing displaces the EOM pulleys substantially more than nonaugmented transpositions. (J AAPOS 1999;3:9-14)
Accuracy of computed tomography for predicting pathologic nodal extracapsular extension in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing initial surgical resection.

Purpose Nodal extracapsular extension (ECE) in patients with head-and-neck cancer increases the loco-regional failure risk and is an indication for adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT). To reduce the risk of requiring trimodality therapy, patients with head-and-neck cancer who are surgical candidates are often treated with definitive CRT when preoperative computed tomographic imaging suggests radiographic ECE. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of preoperative CT imaging for predicting pathologic nodal ECE (pECE). Methods and Materials The study population consisted of 432 consecutive patients with oral cavity or locally advanced/nonfunctional laryngeal cancer who underwent preoperative CT imaging before initial surgical resection and neck dissection. Specimens with pECE had the extent of ECE graded on a scale from 1 to 4. Results Radiographic ECE was documented in 46 patients (10.6%), and pECE was observed in 87 (20.1%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 43.7%, 97.7%, 82.6%, and 87.3%, respectively. The sensitivity of radiographic ECE increased from 18.8% for grade 1 to 2 ECE, to 52.9% for grade 3, and 72.2% for grade 4. Radiographic ECE criteria of adjacent structure invasion was a better predictor than irregular borders/fat stranding for pECE. Conclusions Radiographic ECE has poor sensitivity, but excellent specificity for pECE in patients who undergo initial surgical resection. PPV and NPV are reasonable for clinical decision making. The performance of preoperative CT imaging increased as pECE grade increased. Patients with resectable head-and-neck cancer with radiographic ECE based on adjacent structure invasion are at high risk for high-grade pECE requiring adjuvant CRT when treated with initial surgery; definitive CRT as an alternative should be considered where appropriate.
Conservation and Management of Wetlands and Aquatic Landscapes: The Vital Role of Connectivity

The aquatic landscapes of the Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR) provide important ecosystem services, including ecological functions and societal values, such as floodwater storage, public water supplies, recreational greenbelts, and habitats for a diversity of flora and fauna. The connectivity of aquatic habitats is critically important for protecting regional biodiversity. Impacts may be localized in nature, but as the aquatic and terrestrial portions of a watershed are altered, the viability of these connections, through riparian corridors and proximal patches of natural vegetation, can be negatively affected. Although natural processes can retard succession (e.g., severe floods, fire, disease and insect epidemics), in the northeastern USA natural disturbances typically create a quilt-like mosaic of recovering habitat patches comprised primarily of natural vegetation. In contrast, human-­induced land use changes are more likely to result in larger and more permanent alterations over time, with a resultant loss of habitat. Maintaining connectivity among wetland, riparian, and stream habitats by protecting or restoring corridors among these habitats has proven to be a viable approach to conservation. The connectivity requirements for a range of taxa are reviewed, as are planning tools and programs for conserving and restoring connectivity among aquatic habitats.
GENETIC DIVERSITY IN THE mtDNA CONTROL REGION AND POPULATION STRUCTURE IN THE PINK SHRIMP FARFANTEPENAEUS DUORARUM

Abstract The pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum) is an ecologically and economically important penaeid species in the southeastern United States. The biological and economic importance of this species prompted us to conduct a molecular genetic assessment of pink shrimp genetic diversity and population genetic structure. We sequenced a 558-base portion of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region from pink shrimp collected at five locations ranging from North Carolina to south Texas. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity values in pink shrimp are among the highest yet reported for decapods. In our samples, all haplotypes were unique, and the average nucleotide diversity was approximately 2%. Nucleotide divergence between haplotypes ranged 0.2–3.9%. A mismatch analysis produced a unimodal distribution of pairwise differences between haplotypes that is consistent with a historic rapid population expansion. A population expansion, high mutation rate in the control region, and large population size all prob...
Redefining the Role of Limbic Areas in Cortical Processing

There is increasing evidence that the brain actively constructs action and perception using past experience. In this paper, we propose that the direction of information flow along gradients of laminar differentiation provides important insight on the role of limbic cortices in cortical processing. Cortical limbic areas, with a simple laminar structure (e.g., no or rudimentary layer IV), send 'feedback' projections to lower level better laminated areas. We propose that this 'feedback' functions as predictions that drive processing throughout the cerebral cortex. This hypothesis has the potential to provide a unifying framework for an increasing number of proposals that use predictive coding to explain a myriad of neural processes and disorders, and has important implications for hypotheses about consciousness.
A phase I dose-escalation and pharmacokinetic study of sunitinib in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors

B261 Background Sunitinib malate (SU) is an oral, multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved multinationally for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and imatinib-resistant or -intolerant gastrointestinal stromal tumor. In a mouse xenograft model of breast cancer, SU enhanced the antitumor activity of docetaxel (D). The objective of this multicenter, open-label, phase I study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), overall safety, pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and preliminary efficacy of SU in combination with D in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors. Materials and methods Successive cohorts of pts were to receive oral SU on a 6-week (wk) cycle (4 wks on followed by 2 wks off treatment; 4/2 schedule) or 3-wk cycle (2 wks on followed by 1 wk off treatment; 2/1 schedule) in combination with intravenous D given every 21 days (q21d). Doses of SU were 25, 37.5, or 50 mg daily and D doses were 60 or 75 mg/m2.The MTD was the highest dose at which 0 of 3 or 1 of 6 pts encountered dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during cycle 1. Safety/tolerability was evaluated using adverse event (AE) reports and clinical laboratory analyses. In patients with measurable disease, objective response was determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). On Schedule 2/1, serial PK collection was performed at the MTD for Cmax and AUC determination. Results 10 pts received SU on the 4/2 schedule and the MTD for the combination was determined to be SU 25 mg + D 60 mg/m2. This schedule was not further studied, and only data for Schedule 2/1 are presented. As of May 2007, 38 pts, including 10 with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), were enrolled on the 2/1 schedule and treated in 5 dose escalation cohorts. The most frequently observed grade [G] 3/4 AEs (%) included: fatigue/asthenia (21/0%), leukopenia (13/11%), neutropenia (11/58%), stomatitis/oral discomfort and related oral syndromes (8/0%), hyperglycemia (8/0%), and hypokalemia (8/0%). 5 pts (13%) experienced febrile neutropenia. Manageable/reversible neutropenia (with or without fever; maximum G4) was the most commonly observed DLT (n=5) and occurred at the following dose levels: SU 25 mg + D 60 mg/m2 (n=2/9), SU 50 mg + D 75 mg/m2 (n=2/2) and SU 37.5 mg + D 75 mg/m2 (n=1/21). Other DLTs included G3 gastrointestinal hemorrhage (n=1; SU 37.5 mg + D 75 mg/m2). The MTD was established as SU 37.5 mg + D 75 mg/m2. PK data from 8 pts reveal no clinically significant drug-drug interaction with co-administration. To date 2 pts (NSCLC; breast cancer) treated with SU 37.5 mg + D 75 mg/m2 had documented partial responses and 10 pts (27%) had stable disease. Conclusions The combination of oral SU 37.5 mg/day + D 75 mg/m2 IV q21d on the 2/1 schedule has a manageable safety profile and shows preliminary evidence of efficacy. The regimen is undergoing further study in selected pt populations.
Variation of organic matter density with thermal maturity

An estimate or measurement of organic matter density is required for converting between the weight percent of total organic carbon (TOC) and the volume percent of organic matter for wireline log calibration; it is therefore important to recognize when significant changes in organic matter density occur. A method is presented for calculating organic matter density from measurements of crushed-rock dry grain density and Soxhlet-extracted TOC. I have investigated the thermal evolution of organic matter by tracking changes in the intrinsic density of organic matter as a function of thermal maturity. Organic matter density shows two step increases that correspond to the generation of liquid hydrocarbons in the oil window (up to ∼1.2% vitrinite reflectance [Ro]) and the conversion of organic matter to graphitelike carbon (more correctly, “turbostratic carbon”) at high thermal maturity (>4% Ro). Profound structural changes of organic matter may, in part, determine the maturity limits of source-rock tight liquids and shale-gas plays, particularly at high thermal maturity, where gas is hosted within the organic matter–hosted pore system.