cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing and contrasting different broadband MTF definitions and the relationship to range performance predictions

The monochromatic modulation transfer function (MTF) is a spectral average across wavelength weighted by the sensor’s spectral sensitivity and scaled by the spectral behavior of the source. For reflective band sensors, where there are significant variations in spectral shape of the reflected light, this spectral averaging can result in very different MTFs and, therefore, the resulting performance. In this paper, we explore the influence of this spectral averaging on performance utilizing NV-IPM v1.1 (Night Vision Integrated Performance Model). We report the errors in range performance when a system is characterized with one illumination and the performance is quoted for another. Our results summarize the accuracy of different assumptions to how a monochromatic MTF can be approximated, and how the measurement conditions under which a system was characterized should be considered when modeling performance.
The role of zooplankton fecal pellets in the sedimentation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Dabob Bay, Washington

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compositions were determined in plankton, sediment-trap-collected particulate material and sediment cores from Dabob Bay using a high performance liquid Chromatographie (HPLC)/fluorescence technique. The annual flux of individual PAH measured in a series of sediment traps was compared with the flux of corresponding compounds determined from 210 Pb dated bottom sediments. Systematic seasonal variations in the fluxes and concentrations of PAH, Al and organic carbon in the trap-collected particulates and seasonally collected plankton were also investigated to determine whether or not PAH are associated with either terrestrial or marine-derived materials. Concentrations of all PAH studied increased tenfold within the last 80–100 yr of sediment deposition, except for perylene which displayed a reasonably constant concentration profile. This suggests at least two sources contribute to the observed sedimentary PAH compositions in Dabob Bay, i.e., anthropogenic combustion and a natural source. Plankton and sediment trap-collected particulates contained PAH mixtures qualitatively similar to underlying surface sediments. Microscopic examination indicated fecal pellets were the major form of particulate material in the sediment traps. The fecal pellets collected in the sediment trap time series quantitatively account for essentially 100% of the PAH fluxes measured in the 210 Pb dated sediments, implying Zooplankton fecal pellets control the removal of PAH to Dabob Bay sediments. These measurements provide clear evidence that the PAH studied are not produced after sediment deposition. The observed seasonal covariations of PAH and Al in both sediment trap and plankton samples further indicate that PAH originate from terrestrially-based sources, are introduced into the marine environment by runoff and erosion or atmospheric deposition and are not produced by marine plankton.
Comparison of atrial and ventricular drive on sinus nodal function in the dog

Abstract A comparative analysis of the post-drive recovery patterns of the sinus node following equal numbers of sinus captures from right atrial and right ventricular drive was investigated in 15 dogs. Despite similar numbers of sinus captures, the post-drive recovery pattern was significantly different for atrial and ventricular drive. Sinus acceleration after ventricular drive contrasted with suppression after atrial drive and increased to a maximum by the third to fifth beat after drive. Differences in recovery patterns were less evident after extrinsic cardiac denervation. Arterial and atrial pressure changes resulting from differences in the atrioventricular contraction sequence during atrial and ventricular drive suggest a possible basis for these findings.
Simultaneous Blind Separation and Recognition of Speech Mixtures Using Two Microphones to Control a Robot Cleaner

This paper proposes a method for the simultaneous separation and recognition of speech mixtures in noisy environments using two-channel based independent vector analysis (IVA) on a home-robot cleaner. The issues to be considered in our target application are speech recognition at a distance and noise removal to cope with a variety of noises, including TV sounds, air conditioners, babble, and so on, that can occur in a house, where people can utter a voice command to control a robot cleaner at any time and at any location, even while a robot cleaner is moving. Thus, the system should always be in a recognition-ready state to promptly recognize a spoken word at any time, and the false acceptance rate should be lower. To cope with these issues, the keyword spotting technique is applied. In addition, a microphone alignment method and a model-based real-time IVA approach are proposed to effectively and simultaneously process the speech and noise sources, as well as to cover 360-degree directions irrespective o...
The regulatory effects of Bifidobacterium infantis on the secretomotor activity of the enteric nervous system

Background: Bifidobacterium infantis (BI) and other probiotics are non-pathogenic living organisms that have gained increased attention for their possible therapeutic implications on the health of the digestive tract. The mechanisms by which probiotics exert their effects are largely unknown.Aims: This study explored the protective and regulatory effect of oral BI on the enteric nervous system in the 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis rats. Materials and Methods: Electrical field stimulation and chemical stimulation by 5 hydroxytryptamine or serotonin were used to elicit changes in short-circuit current response of the colonic rat tissue. Results: BI-fed colitis rats expressed trends of higher secretomotor activity and revealed signs of decreased macroscopic inflammatory damage when compared to sham-fed colitis rats, suggesting a protective and preventative role of oral BI. Conclusion: These findings may provide additional insights for understanding the prophylactic and therapeutic value of specific probiotics in intestinal inflammatory disorders, offering the possibility of a non-invasive alternative to toxic and immune-compromising drugs.
The genetic basis of ankylosing spondylitis.

Purpose of reviewGenetic factors provide over 90% of the overall susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis, with about half of the genetic contribution attributed to HLA-B27 and other major histocompatibility complex genes. Recent studies have focused on non-major histocompatibility complex genes. Th
A 1.8-V 67mW 10-bit 100MSPS pipelined ADC using time-shifted CDS technique

A time-shifted correlated double sampling (CDS) technique is proposed in the design of a 10-bit 100 MSPS pipelined ADC. This technique significantly reduces the finite opamp gain error without compromising the conversion speed, allowing the active opamp block to be replaced by a simple cascoded CMOS inverter. Both high speed and low power operation is demonstrated without compromising the accuracy requirement. An efficient common-mode voltage control is used in the pseudo-differential architecture to further reduced power consumption. Fabricated in a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS process, the prototype 10-bit pipeline ADC achieves 65 dB SFDR and 54 dB SNDR at 100 MSPS. The total power consumption is 67 mW at 1.8-V supply.
Rheological properties of crystallizing polylactide: Detection of induction time and modeling the evolving structure and properties

Linear viscoelastic properties of polymer melts are highly sensitive to any structural changes, including molecular weight changes and the formation and growth of crystallites. Here, we make use of this sensitivity to study the homogeneous crystallization of polylactide. As this polymer is rather quickly susceptible to thermal degradation even at moderate temperatures, it is essentially impossible to study homogeneous crystallization in the absence of degradation. Thus, the evolution of complex viscosity of a polylactide due to thermal degradation in the absence of crystallization was studied. A simple empirical model is used to characterize the variation of complex viscosity due to thermal degradation and to determine the induction time of homogeneous crystallization at wide range of degrees of supercooling. Next, the evolution of complex viscosity due to crystallization was measured at several temperatures. Based on the results, a phenomenological model describing the viscosity evolution during homogeneous crystallization is proposed and validated. Finally, the linear viscoselastic data in the early stages of crystallization are shown to be consistent with gelation due to the formation of a network of tie molecules between spherulites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 812–822, 2010
Architecture and design of connectionless data service for a public ATM network

The backward compatibility dilemma introduced by the deployment of a high-speed, wide-area asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network is examined. The problem is that emerging ATM network must be capable of transporting traffic sources such as digital voice and video, but many of the design choices that optimize ATM for these sources make the transport of traditional connectionless data traffic difficult. The overlay of a virtual datagram network of connectionless servers onto a public ATM network to provide connectionless service is proposed to solve the problem. This method provides low transfer delay and efficiently utilizes network resources. Architectural issues are described, and an implementation of a connectionless server is presented. >
The epidemiology of drug treatment failure in rheumatoid arthritis

The length of time that patients remain on anti-rheumatic therapy is an important measure of the effectiveness of that therapy since length of time on therapy is a composite measure that accounts for sustained, positive therapeutic benefit as well as negative therapeutic benefit (e.g. adverse reactions, unacceptable costs and loss of efficacy), and accounts for noise (non-compliance, psychological factors, misunderstanding, etc.). Effectiveness is a measure of how well a drug does work, while efficacy, the measure used in randomized controlled trials, means that a drug can work; however, efficacy may or may not translate to usefulness in the clinic. To understand drug effectiveness we reviewed studies of 5809 patients receiving various SMARDs. The average median time on drug ranged from 1.10 to 2.27 years, excluding methotrexate, with shortest survival times falling to sulfasalazine (1.10) and auranofin (1.16), intermediate times to hydroxychloroquine (1.59), penicillamine (1.42), IM gold (1.40), and the longest time to azathioprine (2.27). Overall, excluding methotrexate, the average median survival time was 1.41 for 3998 patients. Median time on drug was 3.3 times greater for all other drugs combined, averaging 4.61 years. Expressed in terms of '5-year survival,' an average of 55.7% of patients remained on methotrexate 5 years after it was started. Better results noted here for methotrexate stand in contradistinction to short-term randomized controlled trials which find most SMARDs to be equal in efficacy. Other factors that may influence drug survival time include age, age, education level, psychological status, presence of fibromyalgia, rank order of SMARD administration, disease severity or corticosteroid administration. Studies can provide more information if they also measure clinical variables as well as time on drug, providing area-under-the-curve measurements.
Red light inhibition of spore germination in Ophioglossum crotalophoroides

Spores of Ophioglossum crotalophoroides Walt., which give rise to subterranean, nonphotosynthetic, mycorrhizal gametophytes, germinate in the dark and not in the light. Red light, like white light, prevents the germination of these spores. Germination occurs after exposure to far-red. The effects of far-red light can be reversed by red light and those of red light can be partly reversed by far-red light, confirming the involvement of phytochrome. With the spores of O. crotalophoroides, the active form of phytochrome, Pfr, prohibits germination. The photoinhibition of germination by white or red light insures that these spores germinate underground in nature. Hypogean germination improves the chances for adequate soil moisture and for the young gametophytes to be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi.
Receiving characteristics of an infinite circular patch antenna array

The authors present a theoretical analysis of the receiving characteristics of a microstrip patch array of infinite extent consisting of circular patches with offset feedpins. Galerkin's method solutions to the integral equation of both the scattering and transmitting cases have been implemented on a Cray X-MP/48 supercomputer. The scattering case is solved for the electric field polarization both parallel and perpendicular to the plane of incidence. The current and the patch current K/sub 1/ are obtained for both of these cases. The transmission case is then solved and the input impedance and K/sub 2/ are obtained. Numerical results are obtained for input impedance, feed pin current, and power received over the frequency range 3 to 10 GHz, for both cases of electric field polarization. >
Correlation between Mortality and the Levels of Inter-Alpha Inhibitors in the Plasma of Patients with Severe Sepsis

Inter-alpha inhibitor protein (IalphaIp) is an endogenous serine protease inhibitor in human plasma. Circulating IalphaIp levels were lower in 51 patients with severe sepsis than in healthy volunteers. Mean levels were 688+/-295 mg/L in patients with severe sepsis who survived (n=32), 486+/-193 mg/L in patients with sepsis who died (n=19), and 872+/-234 mg/L in control subjects (n=25). IalphaIp levels were lower in patients with shock versus those without (540+/-246 [n=33] vs. 746+/-290 [n=18] mg/L; P=.0102). IalphaIp levels were inversely correlated with 28-day mortality rates and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores and directly correlated with antithrombin III, protein C, and protein S levels. The administration of IalphaIp (30 mg/kg body weight intravenously) increased the 50% lethal dose in mice by 100-fold after an intravenous challenge of Escherichia coli. Thus, human IalphaIp may be a useful predictive marker and potential therapeutic agent in sepsis.
An Unusual Cause of ST Segment Elevation

Diagnosis: Brugada syndrome. Given the characteristic electrocardiogram findings (figures 1 and 2), family history, and witnessed syncopal episode, the patient received a diagnosis of Brugada syndrome, an arrythmogenic, inherited condition with a high risk of sudden cardiac death that is characterized by particular electrocardiogram findings (notably, ST elevations in precordial leads V1, V2, and V3). Brugada syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder with variable penetrance that occurs with a prevalence ranging from 0.4% in a US series [1] to 1% in Japanese cohorts [2]. The most common mutations occur in the SCN5A gene encoding cardiac sodium channels and cause altered ion conductance or complete loss of channel function [3]. Manifestations are further affected by physiologic factors, such as
Sonographically Guided Therapeutic Injections in the Meniscoid Lesion in Patients With Anteromedial Ankle Impingement Syndrome

We describe a sonographically guided technique to perform therapeutic injections for anteromedial ankle impingement syndrome. Scans are carried out using a high-frequency small footprint linear array transducer, positioned along the anteromedial aspect of the tibiotalar joint. A 25 gauge needle is advanced under direct sonographic guidance into the "meniscoid lesion" (area of scarring), and a standardized therapeutic mixture is injected extra- articularly. Image-guided injections have a positive influence on clinical decision making by improving patient management, increasing the accuracy of diagnosis, and decreasing patient pain. Sonography allows confirmation of correct injection placement, resulting in increased accuracy and more successful patient outcomes.
Power System State Estimation

A computer program that calculates the steady-state voltages, phase angles, and shaft phases from measured power flows has been written. The weighted difference between measured power flows and computed power flows was a scalar error that was minimized using a modified Newton's method and a second-order method. The admittance matrix was revised following a system change, and the changes in shaft phases were calculated for control purposes. In the event that the power flows were not balanced or the system was unstable, optimum spinning reserve allocation and load shedding was calculated. New algorithms for fast ac load flows were developed.
Multiparametric MRI correlates of sensorimotor function in the spinal cord in multiple sclerosis.

Background:Spinal cord (SC) pathology is a major contributor to clinical disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically SC-MRI lesion load measures that include lesion count and volume, demonstrate only a modest relationship with the clinical status of MS patients. Although SC cross-sectional area (CSA) correlates better with clinical dysfunction than MRI lesion count, SC atrophy likely signifies irreversible tissue loss. Using quantitative MRI indices sensitive to early and late microstructural changes in the spinal cord, we searched for the presence of better correlations between MRI measures and clinical status in MS.Objectives:We investigated whether diffusion-tensor imaging indices and the magnetization-transfer ratio (MTR) were better associated with the clinical status of MS patients than conventional SC-MRI measures.Methods:A total of 129 MS patients underwent 3-tesla cervical SC-MRI and quantitative sensorimotor function testing, using the Vibra...
Deletion of the Hsp70 chaperone gene SSB causes hypersensitivity to guanidine toxicity and curing of the [ PSI + ] prion by increasing guanidine uptake in yeast

Yeast Ssb proteins (Ssbp) are ribosome-associated Hsp70 chaperones that function in translation. Elevated levels of Ssbp enhance the ability of over-expressed Hsp104 chaperone to eliminate the yeast [PSI+] prion, while depletion of Ssbp reduces this effect. Millimolar concentrations of guanidine in the growth medium cure yeast cells of prions by inactivating Hsp104. Guanidine is also toxic to yeast, irrespective of the status of Hsp104 and [PSI+]. Strains that lack Ssbp are hypersensitive to guanidine toxicity. Here we show that ssb- cells have normal numbers of [PSI+] "seeds", but can be cured of [PSI+] using one-sixth of the guanidine concentration required to eliminate [PSI+] from SSB cells. Correspondingly, the level of intracellular guanidine was eight-fold higher in ssb- cells than in wild-type cells, which explains all effects of Ssbp depletion on susceptibility to guanidine. The sensitivity of wild-type cells to the effects of guanidine also correlated with guanidine uptake, which was enhanced at low temperature. Guanidine sensitivity of strains mutated in any of 16 ABC membrane transporters, which are implicated in multidrug resistance, was normal. We found that an erg6 mutant that has an altered membrane lipid composition was hypersensitive to guanidine toxicity, but the lipid composition of ssb- cells was identical to that of wild-type cells. Our results suggest that Ssbp depletion does not affect prion seed regeneration, and that elevated guanidine uptake by ssb- cells may be due to increased retention rather than to an alteration in active or passive transport of the compound.
Disease consequences of pathogen adaptation

Experimental evolution studies demonstrate that pathogens evolve rapidly, have a large capacity for increased virulence and cause disease in many different ways. A large proportion of genetic diversity for host susceptibility to infectious, autoimmune and 'genetic' diseases, and to cancer, is probably caused by pathogens and/or host counteradaptations. Recent advances in diverse fields support this claim and suggest many underused approaches for identifying and experimentally dissecting the complicated host-pathogen interactions that often lead to disease.
Energy dissipation in suspended micromechanical resonators at low temperatures

We have measured mechanical dissipation in micron-sized single-crystal gallium arsenide torsional resonators. The temperature dependence of the quality factor Q and the shift in resonance frequency can be explained by the presence of two-level systems. The dependence of Q on magnetic "eld is compatible with the existence of localized electronic states around material defects. ( 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Non-linear constitutive modeling of ferroelectrics

Due to the large coupling between their electrical and mechanical properties, ferroelectric ceramics are increasingly being implemented in novel devices. This review reports on recent advances in the development of predictive constitutive models for the coupled and non-linear electromechanical behavior of ferroelectrics. Such constitutive models are required to analyze the performance of ferroelectric devices and to model the failure processes in these devices and materials. The topics covered in this review include micro-electromechanical constitutive models, macroscopic phenomenological modeling for polycrystals, and the implementation of these non-linear constitutive models.
System-Level Buffer Allocation for Application-Specific Networks-on-Chip Router Design

In this paper, a novel system-level buffer planning algorithm that can be used to customize the router design in networks-on-chip (NoCs) is presented. More precisely, given the traffic characteristics of the target application and the total budget of the available buffering space, the proposed algorithm automatically assigns the buffer depth for each input channel, in different routers across the chip, such that the overall performance is maximized. This is in deep contrast with the uniform assignment of buffering resources (currently used in NoC design), which can significantly degrade the overall system performance. Indeed, the experimental results show that while the proposed algorithm is very fast, significant performance improvements can be achieved compared to the uniform buffer allocation. For instance, for a complex audio/video application, about 80% savings in buffering resources, can be achieved by smart buffer allocation using the proposed algorithm
Efficient harmonic generation with a broad-band laser

Harmonic generation using a broadband input beam is studied theoretically and experimentally. Angular spectral dispersion is imposed on the input beam to improve the phase matching and thereby increase the conversion efficiency. The coupled amplitude equations are derived for a grating-dispersed input beam, and it is shown that, in the parameter range of interest, a simple theoretical model based on the intuitive concept of instantaneous frequency suffices to describe the nonlinear interaction. A laser having a frequency-chirped output with a 25-AA bandwidth is used to demonstrate the technique for third-harmonic generation in the small-signal regime. >
Data Model as an Architectural View

Abstract : A data model is commonly created to describe the structure of the data handled in information systems and persisted in database management systems. That structure is often represented in entity-relationship diagrams or UML class diagrams. These diagrams basically show data entities and their relationships. The data model for a given system can be seen as an architectural view. Code units (e.g., classes, packages) and runtime components (e.g., processes, threads) are most commonly regarded as software architecture elements. However, a software architecture document may contain architectural views that show other types of elements beyond these first class software elements-a deployment view showing hardware nodes and deployment files is an example. The data model showing the structure of the database in terms of data entities and their relationships is another example. Among other practical purposes, the data model serves as the blueprint for the physical database, helps implementation of the data access layer of the system, and has strong impact on performance and modifiability. This technical note describes the elements, relations, constraints, and notations for the data model.
Marketing, Sales, and Logistics Planning

The distribution marketplace is comprised of three interdependent dimensions: the customer, products and services, and considerations of geography and logistics. How these dimensions are managed on the strategic level is the result of the planning and execution activities of the enterprise’s marketing, sales, and logistics functions. As has been pointed out in Chapter 3, the purpose of the business planning process is to define the marketplace objectives and operational strategies the firm must pursue if it is to achieve enterprise goals. The business plan determines how the company will be structured to leverage critical resources and what are its competitive values. Once these enterprise plans have been formulated, it is the responsibility of the firm’s marketing, sales, and logistics functions to develop supporting plans detailing customer, product, price, distribution channel, and service objectives. The marketing, sales and logistics planning processes attempt to answer such questions as: “Into what markets does the firm plan to sell its products?” “What products and services does it expect to sell?”; “What resources are required to meet sales and inventory objectives?”
Innovative Programming to Support College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The percentage of students who have autism spectrum diagnoses who are attending college has dramatically increased in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 1:88 people are on the autistic spectrum, and that this number will likely continue to increase (CDC, MMWR Surveill Summ 58 (ss-10), 2012). When the authors first began presenting to providers of disability services in 2001, Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were not well-known diagnoses. Over the years, it has become clear that all colleges and universities now have seen a rise in the numbers of these students. One recent article estimated the prevalence of ASD in college students to be between 0.7 and 1.9 % (Autism, 15, 683–701, 2011), which roughly parallels the incidence referenced above. Because of the increasing numbers of students diagnosed with ASD attending college, campuses are often unsure how to best serve this population (Students with Asperger syndrome: A guide for college personnel. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger).
A Comparative Study of the Photoablation of Polyimide-Doped Poly(Tetrafluoroethylene) at 308 NM and 248 NM

Experimental data on the 248 nm and 308 nm wavelength excimer laser ablation of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) doped with polyimide (PI) are reported for a range of fluences and dopant concentrations. Threshold fluences were determined and correlated with the dopant concentrations. The threshold fluences and the limiting etch rates measured at high fluences decreased with increasing dopant concentration and there is a minimum absorption coefficient below which there is no ablation at both the wavelengths. The etch rates have been modeled using a two parameter Arrhenius thermal model to describe the etching process.
Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (Biotype 4) as a Neonatal, Maternal, and Genital Pathogen

Between 1976 and 1981 Haemophilus influenzae was identified in 16 women with postpartum bacteremia and 36 neonates with bacteremia or meningitis. H. influenzae was also recovered from neonatal or genital cultures of 50 additional patients. By counterimmunoelectrophoresis 17% of neonatal isolates from blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were type b. All remaining strains (94% overall) were nontypable (NT). Of the NT blood or CSF isolates, 38%o belonged to biotype 4. Of all the NT biotype 4 isolates referred to the Centers for Disease Control during the study, 82%o were of genital, neonatal, or maternal origin, a finding that suggests that this isolate is a genital biotype. Clinical disease was similar to that observed in patients infected with group B Streptococcus except for the infrequent (11%) occurrence of meningitis. Maternal bacteremia resulted in mild febrile illness, while neonatal bacteremia was associated with a high incidence of shock, respiratory distress (50%o), and death (30%o). H. influenzae bacteremia in these two patient groups was rare in Houston before 1976, but since then it has been responsible for 2.5%o of cases of significant bacteremia. NT H. influenzae should be recognized as a definite neonatal, maternal, and genital pathogen.
Coverage Location Models: Alternatives, Approximation, and Uncertainty

Achieving maximal coverage of service facilities has been of great interest to urban and regional planners. Examples include placing cellular towers, siting emergency response stations, and locating weather radars, among others. In some planning contexts, facilities could be sited almost anywhere in a region due to their small geographic footprints and demand is continuously distributed. This location problem has been represented as the continuous space maximal coverage problem (CSMCP). The CSMCP is widely acknowledged to be challenging to solve exactly. A broadly used solution approach for the CSMCP is to transform the problem into discrete maximal coverage models through continuous space discretization. A variety of discrete simplifications of CSMCP have been developed, attempting to address spatial representation issues that arise in the application of discrete models used as a continuous space approximation. However, the performance of applying these discrete coverage models to approximately solving t...
Simulation of Supersonic Flow over a Cavity

ow oscillations. The simulations are performed for the ow at a free stream Mach number of 1.5. The compressible time-dependent Reynolds-Averaged NavierStokes equations in three dimensions are solved using the GASPex software employing the k ! turbulence model and Roe scheme for the numerical uxes. The results of the computations are compared with the experimental results in terms of overall acoustic sound pressure levels within the cavity. The unsteady and three-dimensional nature of the ow is emphasized in the study. Computational results are presented for the unsteady shock and vortex structures utilizing pressure contours, numerical schlieren images, vorticity and streamlines for ow visualization.
Comparison of the activation peptide regions of protease-activated receptors (PAR) in members of the Family Felidae.

Background There is limited information regarding the nucleotides encoding or the predicted amino acid composition of protease-activated receptors (PAR) in cats. Objectives The purpose of the study was to determine the nucleotide sequence and predicted amino acid composition of the activation peptide regions of protease-activated receptors PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4 in Felidae family members. Methods Genomic DNA isolated from whole blood samples collected from 10 domestic cats and 45 big cats representing 11 species was subjected to PCR using primers flanking the coding regions for the activation peptides of PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4. PCR products were isolated from agarose gels and submitted for sequencing. Nucleotide sequence data was used to predict the amino acid composition of the activation peptide and flanking regions of the 3 receptors. Predicted amino acid sequences were compared between Felidae members and to human beings. Results Variations in the predicted amino acid composition of the activation peptides and flanking regions of the various PAR were observed when comparing Felidae family members to each other and to human beings. Conclusions While the activation peptide regions of the various PAR tend to be conserved, there are differences that may impact the ability of some agonists to mediate biased signaling events documented to occur in human platelets.
Narrative Strategies: The Teller in the Dubliners Tale

Those two sentences, neatly tucked away in the newspaper chapter of Ulysses, have only a tangential existence in that novel, a momentary construction in the mind of Stephen Dedalus during the “False lull” (Ae 761) in which J. J. O’Molloy lights his cigarette in preparation for his recitation. Disembodied as this fragment is — without prior or subsequent existence and no existing frame of reference — it represents a piece of literary narrative that makes itself significant through what it forecasts more than what it presents. The first sentence is hardly momentous: there are many such purposefully innocuous sentences in Ulysses, unobtrusive devices for a momentary thrusting forth of the narrative line. The second sentence, however, stuns with its implication that someone directly in juxtaposition with ourselves knows in advance the extended consequences of an action now in process, regardless of our realization that “Messenger” has no real existence in the text. There are no sentences in Dubliners like that nineteenth-century monstrosity, either in terms of its intrusiveness or omniscience.
Vitamin A, retinoids and immune responses

The development of effective immunity depends on highly coordinated and complex interactions amongst organs, circulating and tissue-fixed cells, and molecular factors that are elicited in very specific patterns that differ with the species, and even type, of pathogen or immune stimuli that the host encounters. Early investigators of vitamin A (VA) recognized this nutrient as essential for the prevention of infectious disease; indeed, Green and Mellanby referred to VA as the “anti-infective agent” [1]. Research that has been reviewed previously showed requirements for VA for lymphoid organ and cell integrity, antigen-specific antibody responses, cell-mediated immunity, and innate immunity. Experimental studies conducted in a variety of in vivo and cell models demonstrated that retinoid depletion results in dysregulation of T lymphocyte functions, impaired antibody responses to T cell-regulated antigens, and reduced non-specific immune responses. Other studies demonstrated that retinoids can, in some circumstances, enhance immune responses. With previous reviews [2-7] as a point of departure, this chapter provides an update focused on recently gained knowledge of the roles of retinoids in lymphocyte activation, antibody production, and the production of cytokines, cytokine receptors and intracellular signalling molecules that are involved in immune and inflammatory responses.
Physiological Genetics of Crop Yield

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the spectacular gains in economic yield of certain crop varieties that have been achieved, by exploiting major genes, whose presence could be identified, by morphology or disease reaction. Yield has long been classified as a character controlled, by quantitative genetics— that is, one influenced, by many genes, with the effects of individual genes normally unidentified. This chapter describes that yield is a complex character; its expression depends on the functioning and interaction of many physiological component processes, especially the limiting components that vary with variety. Varieties differ extensively in the physiological processes, determining crop yield. Physiological components are complex characters; they result from the interaction of many component processes and environmental influence on the individual processes or the genes controlling them. Identification of these physiological components of yield and their genetic controls should make it possible to plan crosses to maximize the segregation of genotypes possessing the physiological complementation and balance required for high yield, thereby leading to more rapid and predictable yield improvement.
Membrane Cholesterol and Ethanol: Domains, Kinetics, and Protein Function

Approximately 15 years ago, Chin and Goldstein (1977) published a study that was the stimulus for a major effort towards understanding the mechanisms involved in cellular tolerance to ethanol. They had shown that membranes of ethanol-tolerant mice were resistant to the fluidizing effects of ethanol in vitro. This finding has been replicated in several different laboratories using different techniques and different types of membranes (Crews et al., 1983; Harris et al., 1984; Waring et al., 1982; Rottenberg et al., 1981; Ponnappa et al., 1982; Kelly-Murphy et al., 1983; Taraschi et al., 1986; Taraschi et al., 1990; Wood et al., 1989b). Resistance to ethanol-induced fluidization has also been reported in erythrocyte membranes of alcoholics patients (Beauge et al., 1985; Wood et al., 1987).
THE COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF HEXOSES WITH CARBAZOLE

The optimum conditions for the calorimetric estimation of hexoses by reaction with carbazole in hot sulfuric acid solution have been determined and a convenient procedure, giving results with a precision of 2 to 5 per cent in the range of 50 to 150 γ of glucose, is described. The colors obtained with glucose, galactose, fructose, and mannose are not sufficiently distinctive to allow their ready differentiation and identification by spectral measurements. The significance of the ultraviolet spectra of heated and unheated sulfuric acid solutions of hexoses to the problem of estimation and identification of hexoses is discussed.
Think global, act Argentine! tango émigrés and the search for artistic authenticity

ABSTRACTThe renewed popularity of the Argentine tango has been spearheaded by Argentines’ reterritorialization efforts through which they claim their symbolic ownership of the genre. Two related ph...
Deploying Advanced Metering Infrastructure on the Natural Gas System: Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities

Recent increases in domestic natural gas use have been widely heralded as a vital step in the fight against climate change. Proponents often characterize natural gas as a “clean” fossil fuel, emphasizing that its combustion produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal and oil, per unit of energy produced. These savings at the point of combustion may, however, be offset by emissions during natural gas production and transportation. Recognizing this, a number of analysts have expressed concern that continued use of natural gas will hamper efforts to address climate change, and called for reductions in gas use. This paper explores opportunities to promote more efficient natural gas use in the residential and commercial sectors, through deployment of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), consisting of state-of-the-art gas meters connected to a wireless network that supports two-way communication. Such systems enable hourly or daily natural gas usage figures to be collected and transmitted to customers in real-time, thereby encouraging greater conservation and leading a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Additional emissions reductions may also occur due to improved management of the natural gas pipeline system. Despite these benefits, to date, AMI has not been widely deployed on the natural gas distribution system in the U.S. The reasons for this are poorly understood; previous research has focused exclusively on market barriers to deploying AMI and failed to consider other possible explanations for the slow rate of deployment. This is intended to fill that gap. The paper draws on recent experience with deployment in California, Maryland, and New York to assess how regulation affects incentives to invest in AMI.
Nitrogen diffusion in silicate minerals, with implications for nitrogen transport and cycling in the lithosphere

Abstract Diffusion laws for nitrogen in orthoclase, quartz, olivine and clinopyroxene were determined using a combination of experimental strategies that included: in-diffusion from C-H-O-N vapor; in-diffusion from molten NH4Cl; and ion implantation followed by heating to mobilize N. Most experiments were conducted at pressures near 1 bar, but seven experiments were also run in a piston-cylinder device at Ptotal = 1 GPa. The C-H-O-N-source experiments were “wet” (H2O present); those on ion-implanted samples were dry. All N sources were highly enriched in 15N to avoid spurious 14N signals resulting from surface contamination. Use of 15N also enabled depth profiling by nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) using the 15N(p,αγ)12C reaction, which has a detection limit of ~10 ppm. Nitrogen profiles in three samples were characterized by both NRA and SIMS, with similar results. A total of 17 to 28 diffusion coefficient measurements were made on each of the four minerals (83 in all), yielding results that conform for each mineral to an Arrhenius relation of the form D = D0exp(−Ea/RT). The following values for the pre-exponential constant (D0) and activation energy (Ea) were obtained: Mineral log(D0, m2/s) Ea (kJ/mol) T range (°C) Orthoclase −13.9 ± 0.4 95.4 ± 6.6 500–900 Quartz −12.4 ± 0.3 147.3 ± 5.7 550–1150 Olivine −14.2 ± 0.3 135.2 ± 6.6 650–1400 Clinopyroxene −14.1 ± 0.3 135.6 ± 7.4 750–1300 The various experimental strategies yield generally indistinguishable results at a given temperature, and no significant effects of total pressure or H2O are discernible in the overall diffusion data set. Experiments that involved in-diffusion from external N sources provide qualitative insight into the compatibility of N in the structures of the four minerals. Nitrogen concentrations attain the highest levels in orthoclase (~100–8000 ppm atomic), with quartz, olivine and clinopyroxene falling in the tens to hundreds of ppm range. The new diffusion laws enable us to model the diffusive release of N acquired at depth in the crust during fluid-absent exhumation and cooling. In general, orthoclase is the least retentive of the minerals investigated, and will lose most of its N during cooling from 600 °C at tectonically typical rates. Olivine and clinopyroxene are the most retentive of N. Quartz is intermediate in retentivity between the mafic minerals and feldspar, but in all cases the extent of N exchange with the surroundings depends critically on the specific t-T path of the mineral of interest. In subduction settings where N-bearing fluid is released to the mantle wedge, diffusion is sufficiently fast to homogenize individual mafic mineral grains with respect to N over geologically plausible time scales, but equilibration on the outcrop or regional scale via volume diffusion is precluded by our data.
The network organization of rat intrathalamic macroconnections and a comparison with other forebrain divisions

The thalamus is 1 of 4 major divisions of the forebrain and is usually subdivided into epithalamus, dorsal thalamus, and ventral thalamus. The 39 gray matter regions comprising the large dorsal thalamus project topographically to the cerebral cortex, whereas the much smaller epithalamus (2 regions) and ventral thalamus (5 regions) characteristically project subcortically. Before analyzing extrinsic inputs and outputs of the thalamus, here, the intrinsic connections among all 46 gray matter regions of the rat thalamus on each side of the brain were expertly collated and subjected to network analysis. Experimental axonal pathway-tracing evidence was found in the neuroanatomical literature for the presence or absence of 99% of 2,070 possible ipsilateral connections and 97% of 2,116 possible contralateral connections; the connection density of ipsilateral connections was 17%, and that of contralateral connections 5%. One hub, the reticular thalamic nucleus (of the ventral thalamus), was found in this network, whereas no high-degree rich club or clear small-world features were detected. The reticular thalamic nucleus was found to be primarily responsible for conferring the property of complete connectedness to the intrathalamic network in the sense that there is, at least, one path of finite length between any 2 regions or nodes in the network. Direct comparison with previous investigations using the same methodology shows that each division of the forebrain (cerebral cortex, cerebral nuclei, thalamus, hypothalamus) has distinct intrinsic network topological organization. A future goal is to analyze the network organization of connections within and among these 4 divisions of the forebrain.
Today and tomorrow in the education of the deaf

The need to base programmes for young deaf children on an understanding of the composite of their capacities is stressed. A number of these capacities, among many, are cited in regard to sensory input and language acquisition and pertinent questions associated with them are raised.
The Realignment of Regional Politics and the Future of the Gulf Cooperation Council

This chapter analyses how and why the GCC developed as a regional organisation and security community in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. It explores the factors that favoured closer cooperation amongst the six ruling families in the Gulf and examines the nature of the cooperative mechanisms that gradually evolved after 1981. Progress was far from seamless or linear as tensions complicated, undermined, and in some cases held back cooperation. The chapter argues that the shock of the Arab Spring in 2011 and the differing regional responses to the upheaval not only widened these fissures in Gulf politics, but also altered the common threat perception that had at least constituted a consensual baseline in regional considerations of security, and with the recasting of the dynamics of Gulf security after the blockade of Qatar that heralded the rise of a multipolarity of participants in regional security structures that for decades had been the preserve of first the British and then the US as external guarantors of stability.
Abstract LB-329: Pancancer proteomic investigation identifies overexpressed kinases as novel cancer dependent targets

Dysregulated oncogenic signaling is a key hallmark of cancer. Protein kinase alterations, including genomic mutations and copy-number amplifications, are known druggable targets in multiple cancer types. Thus, kinase inhibitor drugs act on protein and direct observation of protein/phospho-level overexpression may reveal new treatment opportunities. Herein, we developed and applied a new algorithm, OPPTI, to provide a catalog of overexpressed kinases across 10 cancer types using curated global mass spectrometry proteomic data of 1,071 cases. Aside from overexpressed proteins through genomic mutations, amplifications, or fusions, including ERBB2, AKT2, and EGFR, kinase overexpression also occurred in cancers without genomic-level alterations, such as CDK6 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), FGFR1/2 in ovarian cancer, and PDGFRA in both gastric cancer and lung adenocarcinoma. Integrating cancer-cell dependency data, we further identified 38 new cancer vulnerability targets overexpressed in >10% of the patient cohorts, including TK1 in breast and gastric cancers, NRBP2 in liver and lung cancers, and CKB in ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancers. A fraction of overexpressed kinases was validated by immunostainings and correlated with phosphosignaling pathway activities. Finally, we demonstrated that a subset of HCC mouse models that overexpressed PDGFRB -as detected in parallel in human HCC cohorts- could be specifically treated by a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Overall, our results suggest that proteomic-level alterations not readily observed by genomics represent cancer vulnerabilities that need to be carefully considered as potential targets for personalized treatments. Citation Format: Abdulkadir Elmas, Pedro Molina-Sanchez, Serena Tharakan, Suraj Jaladanki, Tao Liu, Amaia Lujambio, Kuan-lin Huang. Pancancer proteomic investigation identifies overexpressed kinases as novel cancer dependent targets [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-329.
Wave functions for pentadiagonal matrices in the weak coupling limit

We consider a pentadiagonal matrix which will be described in this paper. We demonstrate practical methods for obtaining weak coupling expressions for the lowest eigenvector in terms of the paramet...