cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incrimination of Phlebotomus kandelakii and Phlebotomus balcanicus as Vectors of Leishmania infantum in Tbilisi, Georgia

A survey of potential vector sand flies was conducted in the neighboring suburban communities of Vake and Mtatsminda districts in an active focus of visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in Tbilisi, Georgia. Using light and sticky-paper traps, 1,266 male and 1,179 female sand flies were collected during 2006-2008. Five Phlebotomus species of three subgenera were collected: Phlebotomus balcanicus Theodor and Phlebotomus halepensis Theodor of the subgenus Adlerius; Phlebotomus kandelakii Shchurenkova and Phlebotomus wenyoni Adler and Theodor of the subgenus Larroussius; Phlebotomus sergenti Perfil'ev of the subgenus Paraphlebotomus. Phlebotomus sergenti (35.1%) predominated in Vake, followed by P. kandelakii (33.5%), P. balcanicus (18.9%), P. halepensis (12.2%), and P. wenyoni (0.3%). In Mtatsminda, P. kandelakii (76.8%) comprised over three fourths of collected sand flies, followed by P. sergenti (12.6%), P. balcanicus (5.8%), P. halepensis (3.7%), and P. wenyoni (1.1%). The sand fly season in Georgia is exceptionally short beginning in early June, peaking in July and August, then declining to zero in early September. Of 659 female sand flies examined for Leishmania, 12 (1.8%) specimens without traces of blood were infected including 10 of 535 P. kandelakii (1.9%) and two of 40 P. balcanicus (5.0%). Six isolates were successfully cultured and characterized as Leishmania by PCR. Three isolates from P. kandelakii (2) and P. balcanicus (1) were further identified as L. infantum using sequence alignment of the 70 kDa heat-shock protein gene. Importantly, the sand fly isolates showed a high percent identity (99.8%-99.9%) to human and dog isolates from the same focus, incriminating the two sand fly species as vectors. Blood meal analysis showed that P. kandelakii preferentially feeds on dogs (76%) but also feeds on humans. The abundance, infection rate and feeding behavior of P. kandelakii and the infection rate in P. balcanicus establish these species as vectors in the Tbilisi VL focus.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy and its potential proarrhythmic effect

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become an established adjunctive treatment to optimal pharmacologic therapy in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF), diminished left ventricular (LV) function and intraventricular conduction delay. Although CRT has been shown to improve ventricular hemodynamics, quality of life and exercise capacity, there is some evidence that it may rarely potentiate ventricular arrhythmias. As CRT is considered for an expanded population of CHF patients, and left-sided pacing is considered as an option for pacemaker-indicated patients (potentially without defibrillator backup), the effect of these pacing modalities on the incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia must be systematically studied and mechanistically understood. Strategies to prospectively predict the proarrhythmic potential of LV epicardial pacing need to be developed, and therapy accordingly individualized. This review attempts to summarize the current information on proarrhythmia in resynchronization therapy.
Ectobiotic and Endobiotic Bacteria Associated with Eutreptiella sp. Isolated from Long Island Sound

Diversity and functional association of bacteria with Eutreptiella sp. was investigated. 16S rDNA analysis of ectobiotic bacteria revealed various lineages of Alphaproteobacteria and abundant Gammaproteobacteria, specifically Marinobacter. Antibiotic treatment yielded axenic cultures, and experiments based on them indicated that ectobiotic bacteria likely provide vitamin B(12) and other growth-enhancing factors for the alga. Further, DAPI staining and transmission electron microscopy revealed endobiotic bacteria in the cytoplasm of algal cells. 16S rDNA analysis showed that the bacteria belonged to one species that was most closely related to Rickettsiales endosymbionts of other organisms and phylogenetically affiliated with a new group of aquatic Rickettsiales. Observations from a diel experiment indicated that the endobiotic bacteria reproduced asynchronously with Eutreptiella sp. and had no adverse effects on lipid production (bioenergetics) or growth of the host alga. Our study reveals a diverse microbiome associated with this euglenoid alga, offering a system for studying the roles of algae-bacteria associations.
Effects of Making Blood Donor Motives Salient Upon Donor Retention: A Field Experiment

The salience of each of two important reasons for giving blood (altruism and personal benefits) was manipulated by exposing volunteer donors to one of four communications immediately preceding their donation. The results of a post-donation questionnaire revealed an increased likelihood of future donation when altruism was made salient. However, the personal benefits manipulation had no effect upon subjects' reported willingness to donate in the future. Veteran donors were more responsive to the altruism manipulation, reported a stronger motivation for having given blood, expressed a greater like lihood of donating again, and perceived the actual donation as less aversive when compared to rookie donors.
Combining high availability and disaster recovery solutions for critical IT environments

This paper discusses high availability and disaster recovery solutions and their differences and presents the concepts and technical details of various solutions that combine them for highly critical environments. It discusses the business and regulatory issues that are driving the requirements for these solutions and presents various data center topologies that customers are choosing when implementing 3-site solutions.
Compositions of elementary recorder students created under various conditions of task structure

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various levels of researcher-imposed task structure on the compositional products of elementary school recorder students. Twelve recorder...
Differentiation and migration of endoderm in the rat and mouse at implantation

The initial differentiation of endoderm at the time of onset of implantation, and the subsequent rapid differentiation of visceral and parietal endoderm were studied in the rat and mouse. Transmission electron microscopy illustrates the reorientation and loosening of embryonic cell mass cells during implantation, as well as cytological evidence that endoderm cells have differentiated. Using scanning electron microscopy, parietal endoderm consists of individual stellate cells with numerous peripheral branching filopodia. As these cells migrate abembryonically, the rest of the embryonic cell mass becomes recom-pacted. The visceral endoderm proliferates and forms a columnar epithelium which has the cytological characteristic of an absorptive epithelium and is able to ingest exogenous proteins. Thus, by 24 hours after implantation, the two endo-dermal derivatives have assumed widely diverse shapes and different types of associations and rates of replication, and are probably performing different functions.
The ZEB1 Transcription Factor Is a Novel Repressor of Adiposity in Female Mice

Background Four genome-wide association studies mapped an “obesity” gene to human chromosome 10p11–12. As the zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) transcription factor is encoded by the TCF8 gene located in that region, and as it influences the differentiation of various mesodermal lineages, we hypothesized that ZEB1 might also modulate adiposity. The goal of these studies was to test that hypothesis in mice. Methodology/Principal Findings To ascertain whether fat accumulation affects ZEB1 expression, female C57BL/6 mice were fed a regular chow diet (RCD) ad libitum or a 25% calorie-restricted diet from 2.5 to 18.3 months of age. ZEB1 mRNA levels in parametrial fat were six to ten times higher in the obese mice. To determine directly whether ZEB1 affects adiposity, wild type (WT) mice and mice heterozygous for TCF8 (TCF8+/−) were fed an RCD or a high-fat diet (HFD) (60% calories from fat). By two months of age on an HFD and three months on an RCD, TCF8+/− mice were heavier than WT controls, which was attributed by Echo MRI to increased fat mass (at three months on an HFD: 0.517±0.081 total fat/lean mass versus 0.313±0.036; at three months on an RCD: 0.175±0.013 versus 0.124±0.012). No differences were observed in food uptake or physical activity, suggesting that the genotypes differ in some aspect of their metabolic activity. ZEB1 expression also increases during adipogenesis in cell culture. Conclusion/Significance These results show for the first time that the ZEB1 transcription factor regulates the accumulation of adipose tissue. Furthermore, they corroborate the genome-wide association studies that mapped an “obesity” gene at chromosome 10p11–12.
On the Comparison between Presumed and Full PDF Methods for Turbulent Precipitation

Turbulent precipitation is an important topic in chemical reaction engineering because of its numerous industrial applications. Several modeling approaches have been used in the past, but in recent years, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with micromixing models has been successfully applied to predict the influence of mixing on the crystal size distribution (CSD). The micromixing model is generally based on the presumed probability density function (PDF) approach, such as finite-mode PDF or beta PDF, and the aim of this work is to compare presumed PDF predictions and full PDF predictions with experimental data. The experimental data were obtained from a tubular reactor in which turbulent precipitation of barium sulfate is carried out from aqueous solutions of barium chloride and sodium sulfate. The implementation of the presumed PDF model was done using FLUENT user-defined subroutines, whereas the full PDF calculations were carried out with an in-house code based on Monte Carlo methods using the flow field prediction from FLUENT.
Activation of GABAA receptors in the amygdala blocks the acquisition and expression of conditioned defeat in Syrian hamsters

Social defeat is a powerful experience that often leads to drastic physiological and behavioral changes in many animal species. An example of such a change is conditioned defeat in Syrian hamsters. The neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie such changes are not yet fully understood, however, there is evidence that the amygdala plays an essential role in behavioral and emotional responses to a variety of stressors. The goal of the present study was to determine whether GABAergic neurotransmission in the amygdala is a critical component of conditioned defeat in male Syrian hamsters. Experiment 1 examined whether infusion of the GABA(A) receptor agonist, muscimol (0.0, 4.4, 8.8 nmol), into the amygdala would block the acquisition of conditioned defeat. Experiment 2 examined whether infusion of muscimol into the amygdala prior to testing would block expression of conditioned defeat. Submissive behavior during testing was significantly reduced in animals receiving infusions of muscimol immediately prior to initial defeat training. Animals that received infusions of muscimol immediately prior to being tested with a non-aggressive intruder also displayed significantly less submissive behavior than did animals receiving vehicle control. These data indicate that infusion of muscimol into the amygdala can block the acquisition and expression of conditioned defeat, a finding that indicates that GABAergic neurotransmission within the amygdala is involved in the acquisition and expression of fear or stress-induced behavioral changes. This is the first evidence indicating that the neural circuits involved in Pavlovian fear conditioning are also involved in more ethologically-relevant models examining stress-related behavioral plasticity.
Quasiclassical Methods in Spin Dynamics

We present an extension of the concept of the Wigner distribution to include spin. The results are then used to indicate a method by which classical approximations to spin dynamics emerge naturally from the exact quantum theory, and estimates of the accuracy of these classical approximations can be computed.
Preparation of stable erythrocyte target cells suitable for detection of the antibody response to the haptens azobenezenearsonate, azophenyltrimethylammonium and azophenylphosphorylcholine by plaque-forming cell assay

The preparation of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) which have been sensitized with the haptens azobenzenearsonate, phosphorylcholine and azophenyltrimethylammonium, and are suitable for use in a plaque-forming cell assay, is described. Each hapten is first coupled to a phenolic imidoester (methyl-p-hydroxybenzimidate) and the substituted imidoesters are employed to prepare target SRBC. Details are presented concerning synthesis and purification of the imidoesters, as well as conditions for coupling to SRBC. The hapten-SRBC prepared by this method are very stable and offer significant advantages over other procedures for coupling these haptens to red blood cells.
Introduction to political science

Abstract This introduction to the JET symposium on political science briefly reviews the main results of the papers in this issue and tries to put them in the context of the current research in political theory. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D70, D71, D72, D78.
Making the Future Inevitable: Legitimizing, Naturalizing and Stabilizing. The Transition in Estonia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan

In discussions of post-communist transitional politics, it is common-place to find arguments that attribute regime stability to a government's capacity to legitimize its policies. And the most robu...
Photosynthetic components associated with differential senescence of maize hybrids following ear removal

Abstract The effect of ear removal on carbon exchange rate (CER), leaf resistance, transpiration and internal CO 2 concentration of leaves for two field-grown maize ( Zea mays L.) hybrids was determined using a portable photosynthesis system. Ears were removed 15 days after anthesis and measurements were made at intervals during grain development on the first leaf above the ear. Leaf CER and transpiration of earless cv. B73 × Mo17 plants were lower than controls by 4 days after ear removal (DAER) and were not detectable by 18 DAER. In contrast, ear removal from cv. FS854 plants did not affect leaf CER or transpiration relative to eared controls until 9 DAER, and leaves retained 20% of maximum CER and transpiration by 29 DAER. The decline in CER in both hybrids did not appear to be due to stomatal closure, as initial internal CO 2 concentrations were sufficient to support adequate CER. The levels of CER, transpiration, and leaf resistance were consistent with visual estimates of leaf senescence. Grain harvested from the eared plants used for CER measurements showed that FS854 plants had more (23%) and heavier (4%) kernels than B73 × Mo17 plants. For FS854, the larger kernel number of comparable weight was attributed to the maintenance of a relatively higher level of leaf photosynthesis during the later stages of grain fill. The differences in CER and visual ratings indicate that the rate of leaf senescence following ear removal may be useful in identifying hybrids with late-season photosynthetic capabilities and high production potential.
Permselectivity of cellulose acetate membranes; separation of H2/CO mixtures and the effect of added transition metals

Cellulose acetate membranes permit permeation of H2 and CO2 but are relatively impervious to CO and N2. Permselectivity was demonstrated by effective separation of H2 from its mixtures with CO. The presence of RuCl3 in the membrane does not result in any appreciable change in permselectivity. The exposure of RuCl3- and RhCl3-modified membranes to H2/CO mixtures results in the formation of RuCl2(CO)x and [RhCl(CO)2]2, respectively. However, these complexes are not covalently anchored to the cellulose acetate matrix and apparently function only as additives that block access to the press and channels in the cellulose acetate membrane.
Explorations in the realm of organization theory. IV. The simulation of social organization.

The study of various aspects of organization theory has been undertaken by this author in previous articles in Behavioral Science. In the January, 1958 issue, Models for Man and The Organization of Space were discussed, while in the July, 1959 issue, problems relating to Decision Making, Planning, and The Steady State were explored. Here the author emphasizes synthesis of organization, as opposed to the earlier descriptive analytical studies, with a review of recent literature on simulation studies of social organizations. Simulations thus far have tended to concentrate on such things as management games and war games—a narrow range considering the ultimate possibilities of their use in understanding behavior. What educational and training purposes can simulations be used for? How can we further expand this new method of studying social organizations?
A qualitative look at child care selection among rural welfare-to-work participants

The welfare reforms of 1996 changed the administration of public assistance to children and families. One of the key provisions, requiring parents to join the workforce, resulted in an expanded need for child care. Prior research demonstrates that welfare recipients, particularly in rural areas, utilize informal child care arrangements. Further, recipients in rural communities face greater challenges due to a lack of transportation, geographic spread, and less access to services. This qualitative study examined the child care selection experiences of 33 welfare recipients in six rural Northern California counties. More families selected home-based than center-based child care. During their search processes, welfare recipients utilized both formal and informal routes to locate child care providers. Parents took advantage of their connections with the social service system, but also accessed their social networks for recommendations. Rural families also reported that their choices were constrained by the av...
Surface-active agents as ointment bases*

Abstract A study of nine water‐miscible or water‐dispersible ointment bases is reported. Selected surface‐active agents were compounded to produce pharmaceutically acceptable ointment bases, and their irritant effects on intact human skin were determined. The bases were composed predominantly of surface‐active material and contained no water. Antiseptic action from these bases was shown to be superior by cup plate test to that obtained when oily bases were used. A correlation between the ionic character of a surface‐active agent and cutaneous irritation is suggested by the data.
Telluric water vapor contamination of the Mount Wilson solar Doppler measurements

It has been shown that the solar line λ5250.2 (Fei) is weakly blended with a telluric line in the water vapor spectrum, and that magnetograms taken using this line are therefore inaccurate. We investigate the effects of this contamination on the Mount Wilson synoptic magnetograph data, which is based on λ5250.2. Using spectrum scans taken at Kitt Peak, we model the contamination and develop a procedure that would correct for it, whenever the slant water vapor along the line of sight to the Sun is known. As this information is not available for the data collected thus far at Mount Wilson, we use the variation of determined quantities with airmass to obtain an average, or first-order, correction. Concentrating on the fitted coefficients for the solar rotation, the correction is found to be very slight, ∼ 0.5%, raising the value for the A coefficient, averaged over the period 3 December, 1985 to 22 July, 1990, from 2.8289 to 2.8422 μrad s-1, The correction also removes a slight annual variation that has become discernible in the data collected since 1986.
Human cord blood cells as targets for gene transfer: potential use in genetic therapies of severe combined immunodeficiency disease.

Human cord blood (CB) contains large numbers of both committed and primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells and has been shown to have the capacity to reconstitute the lympho-hematopoietic system in transplant protocols. To investigate the potential usefulness of CB stem and progenitor cell populations to deliver new genetic material into the blood and immune systems, we have transduced these cells using retroviral technology and compared the efficiency of gene transfer into CB cells with normal adult human bone marrow cells using a variety of infection protocols. Using two retroviral vectors which differ significantly in both recombinant viral titers and vector design, low density CB or adult bone marrow (ABM) cells were infected, and committed progenitor and more primitive hematopoietic cells were analyzed for gene expression by G418 drug resistance (G418r) of neophosphotransferase and protein analysis for murine adenosine deaminase (mADA). Standard methylcellulose progenitor assays were used to quantitate transduction efficiency of committed progenitor cells, and the long term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) assay was used to quantitate transduction efficiency of more primitive cells. Our results indicate that CB cells were more efficiently transduced via retroviral- mediated gene transfer as compared with ABM-derived cells. In addition, stable expression of the introduced gene sequences, including the ADA cDNA, was demonstrated in the progeny of infected LTC-ICs after 5 wk in long-term marrow cultures. Expression of the introduced ADA cDNA was higher than the endogenous human ADA gene in the LTC-IC-derived colonies examined. These studies demonstrate that CB progenitor and stem cells can be efficiently infected using retroviral vectors and suggest that CB cells may provide a suitable target population in gene transfer protocols for some genetic diseases.
Reaction field spectral shifts with semiempirical molecular orbital theory

A macroscopic solution polarization free-energy functional is combined with semiempirical molecular orbital theory to study shifts of electronic absorption energies for several molecules in solution. The present method requires calculation of the induced electrostatic potential on the van der Waals surface and this calculation is implemented in a new way. The combined method is tested by calculating absorption energy shifts for several molecules of standard interest. We find the physically reasonable result that there is a correlation between the absorption energy shift and the magnitude of the dipole moments of the initial and final states involved in the absorption transition. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 64: 143–155, 1997
Black and Catholic In Savannah, Georgia

Black and Catholic In Savannah, Georgia. GARY WRAY McDONOGH. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1994. xiv + 386 pp., figures, maps, notes, bibliography, index.
Norms that distinguish between marketing and manufacturing

Abstract We report an exploratory study on the norms that distinguish marketing departments from manufacturing departments across organizations. A questionnaire was sent to the marketing managers and manufacturing managers of 125 companies located in Virginia (250 managers total). After two mailing waves, 77% and 68% of marketing managers and manufacturing managers had responded, respectively. The findings of logistic regression analyses indicate certain norms where the two departments have common differences. Most notably, perceptions of dependencies between marketing and manufacturing appear as a significant set of distinguishing norms. We believe that these norm differences should be recognized because they may act as an impediment to the successful implementation of a market orientation. J. BUNS RES 1994. 30.111–118
Gringolandia: The Construction of a New Tourist Space in Mexico

Abstract With Cancun, the site of the 2003 World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, being presented as a metaphor for the inequities purported to emerge from globalization, this is an opportune time to examine the resort and its surrounding region as a product of transnational forces. Locals refer to Cancun as “Gringolandia,” a term that reflects the circus-like spectacle of the overbuilt resort, embedded in a region deeply divided by uneven development and the ensuing inequitable power relations. The principal objective of this article is to understand how transnational forces have reshaped local realities and power structures in the Yucatan to construct and reproduce Gringolandia as a new tourist space. We commence with an historical overview of the planning, inception, and subsequent evolution of the physical and socioeconomic spatial divisions manifest in the resort today. We then analyze the two forces that have played perhaps the greatest role in constructing Gringolandia: the transnational econ...
The ternary subsystem Sn4As3-SnAs-SnTe

Abstract The system Sn4As3-SnAs-SnTe has been investigated by thermal analysis, metallographic, and X-ray procedures. SnTe is the primary phase of crystallization over about 80% of the compositional fields. SnTe-rich and SnAs-rich phases co-precipitate to form a binary eutectic valley which runs from the SnAs-SnTe eutectic (13.5 wt.% SnTe, 580 °C) to the Sn4As3-SnTe eutectic (12.5 wt.% SnTe, 576.5 °C). Solidification of all alloys is completed at a ternary eutectic point which practically coincides with the Sn4As3-SnTe binary eutectic.
Ventricular tachycardia in children without heart disease

To assess the natural history of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in children without heart disease, the clinical course of 26 children, aged 1 day to 15 years at initial detection, was reviewed. Symptoms related to the rhythm were present in 8 children at some time during their course of follow-up. Evaluation included echocardiogram (19 patients), Holter monitoring (22 patients), graded treadmill exercise testing (16 patients) and invasive electrophysiology (4 patients). Exercise induced or exacerbated VT in 9 patients, but suppressed rhythm in 7. Ten patients were never treated. Of the remaining 16 treated patients, therapy was discontinued in 10 on the basis of the electrocardiographic or Holter monitor recordings. Six continued to receive therapy without complications. There were no known deaths over a period of 1 month to 34 years (mean 59 months, median 42 months). Although 2 patients have been lost to follow-up, based on our findings and a review of the reported cases of VT in children to date, after undergoing complete noninvasive cardiac evaluation symptomatic patients should be treated and studied with invasive electrophysiology if antiarrhythmic control is inadequate. The rate of VT or age at onset are not predictive of outcome in asymptomatic patients. As a group, these patients do not appear to benefit from therapy, but warrant follow-up since deaths have been reported in untreated asymptomatic patients.
Self-monitoring and turnover: The impact of personality on intent to leave

Employee turnover is a topic of considerable interest within most organizations. Despite years of research, the antecedents of turnover remain elusive. Traditionally, studies have focused on job satisfaction and organizational commitment as the primary precursors of voluntary (as distinguished from involuntary) turnover. Increasingly, however, researchers have suggested investigating possible personality variables that may help explain even more variance in turnover. The social psychological construct of self-monitoring was found to be such a variable. After the traditional predictors of satisfaction and commitment had been entered, self-monitoring accounted for previously unexplained variance in turnover intentions. Furthermore, the pattern of relationships among the variables of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions differed for high and low self-monitors. Specifically, commitment was a better indicator of intent to leave among low self-monitors but job satisfaction showed a stronger relationship among high self-monitors. Implications for the organization and suggestions for further research are discussed.
Quantitation of drug effects upon conditioned avoidance behavior in the rat.

Abstract The effect of pentobarbital, chlorpromazine, propiomazine, and reserpine upon conditioned avoidance behavior in the rat has been studied quantitatively. The depression of this response was found to be due both to a drug-induced indifference to the test situation (specific effect) and to sedation, muscular weakness, and ataxia (nonspecific effect). In terms of equipotent doses, all the ataractics were found to possess the same degree of specific effect, while pentobarbital showed much less specificity in its action. An approach to the biological estimation of the relative potency of phenothiazines is presented, based on depression of conditioned escape behavior. The influence of acutely administered reserpine was compared to that of reserpine administered chronically upon conditioned avoidance response. No qualitative differences were seen, since, in both cases, ptosis, meiosis, lethargy, and depression of conditioned behavior were observed.
Gravity Influences the Visual Representation of Object Tilt in Parietal Cortex

Sensory systems encode the environment in egocentric (e.g., eye, head, or body) reference frames, creating inherently unstable representations that shift and rotate as we move. However, it is widely speculated that the brain transforms these signals into an allocentric, gravity-centered representation of the world that is stable and independent of the observer's spatial pose. Where and how this representation may be achieved is currently unknown. Here we demonstrate that a subpopulation of neurons in the macaque caudal intraparietal area (CIP) visually encodes object tilt in nonegocentric coordinates defined relative to the gravitational vector. Neuronal responses to the tilt of a visually presented planar surface were measured with the monkey in different spatial orientations (upright and rolled left/right ear down) and then compared. This revealed a continuum of representations in which planar tilt was encoded in a gravity-centered reference frame in approximately one-tenth of the comparisons, intermediate reference frames ranging between gravity-centered and egocentric in approximately two-tenths of the comparisons, and in an egocentric reference frame in less than half of the comparisons. Altogether, almost half of the comparisons revealed a shift in the preferred tilt and/or a gain change consistent with encoding object orientation in nonegocentric coordinates. Through neural network modeling, we further show that a purely gravity-centered representation of object tilt can be achieved directly from the population activity of CIP-like units. These results suggest that area CIP may play a key role in creating a stable, allocentric representation of the environment defined relative to an “earth-vertical” direction.
A kinetic model of nitric oxide formation during pulverized coal combustion

A mathematical model of NO formation during pulverised coal combustion was developed from a proposed kinetic mechanism involving 12 overall chemical reactions. Most significantly, the model describes the complex conversion of coal bound nitrogen compounds to NO during combustion. The predictions of the model compare favourably with literature data and are in qualitative agreement with trends observed in practical coal combustion.
Cytoplasmic localization of Hug1p, a negative regulator of the MEC1 pathway, coincides with the compartmentalization of Rnr2p–Rnr4p

Abstract The evolutionarily conserved MEC1 checkpoint pathway mediates cell cycle arrest and induction of genes including the RNR ( R ibo n ucleotide r eductase) genes and HUG1 ( H ydroxyurea, u ltraviolet, and g amma radiation) in response to DNA damage and replication arrest. Rnr complex activity is in part controlled by cytoplasmic localization of the Rnr2p–Rnr4p subunits and inactivation of negative regulators Sml1p and Dif1p upon DNA damage and hydroxyurea (HU) treatment. We previously showed that a deletion of HUG1 rescues lethality of mec1Δ and suppresses dun1Δ strains. In this study, multiple approaches demonstrate the regulatory response of Hug1p to DNA damage and HU treatment and support its role as a negative effector of the MEC1 pathway. Consistent with our hypothesis, wild-type cells are sensitive to DNA damage and HU when HUG1 is overexpressed. A Hug1 polyclonal antiserum reveals that HUG1 encodes a protein in budding yeast and its MEC1-dependent expression is delayed compared to the rapid induction of Rnr3p in response to HU treatment. Cell biology and subcellular fractionation experiments show localization of Hug1p-GFP to the cytoplasm upon HU treatment. The cytoplasmic localization of Hug1p-GFP is dependent on MEC1 pathway genes and coincides with the cytoplasmic localization of Rnr2p–Rnr4p. Taken together, the genetic interactions, gene expression, and localization studies support a novel role for Hug1p as a negative regulator of the MEC1 checkpoint response through its compartmentalization with Rnr2p–Rnr4p.
Real-space pairing theories of superconductivity: Influence of hole doping

Abstract The influence of a finite hole density on recently proposed “real-space” pairing theories for the high-T c cuprates is briefly reviewed.
Iron toxicity in wetland rice and the role of other nutrients

Iron (Fe) toxicity is a widespread nutrient disorder of wetland rice grown on acid sulfate soils, Ultisols, and sandy soils with a low cation exchange capacity, moderate to high acidity, and active Fe (easily reducible Fe) and low to moderately high in organic matter. Iron toxicity reduces rice yields by 12-100%, depending on the Fe tolerance of the genotype, intensity of Fe toxicity stress, and soil fertility status. Iron toxicity can be reduced by using Fe-tolerant rice genotypes and through soil, water, and nutrient management practices. This article critically assesses the recent literature on Fe toxicity, with emphasis on the role of other plant nutrients, in the occurrence of and tolerance to Fe toxicity in lowland rice and puts this information in perspective for future research needs. The article emphasizes the need for research to provide knowledge that would be used for increasing rice production on Fe-toxic wetlands on a sustainable basis by integration of genetic tolerance to Fe toxicity with soil, water, and nutrient management.
Exploiting prolific types for memory management and optimizations

In this paper, we introduce the notion of prolific and non-prolific types, based on the number of instantiated objects of those types. We demonstrate that distinguishing between these types enables a new class of techniques for memory management and data locality, and facilitates the deployment of known techniques. Specifically, we first present a new type-based approach to garbage collection that has similar attributes but lower cost than generational collection. Then we describe the short type pointer technique for reducing memory requirements of objects (data) used by the program. We also discuss techniques to facilitate the recycling of prolific objects and to simplify object co-allocation decisions.We evaluate the first two techniques on a standard set of Java benchmarks (SPECjvm98 and SPECjbb2000). An implementation of the type-based collector in the Jalapeno VM shows improved pause times, elimination of unnecessary write barriers, and reduction in garbage collection time (compared to the analogous generational collector) by up to 15%. A study to evaluate the benefits of the short-type pointer technique shows a potential reduction in the heap space requirements of programs by up to 16%.
Can molecular markers predict local, regional and distant metastasis in head and neck cancer?

Can molecular markers predict local, regional and distant metastasis in head and neck cancer?
Functional motifs in the IgH enhancer of the channel catfish.

bstract The transcriptional enhancer (Eμ3′) within the Ig heavy chain (IgH) locus of the channel catfish differs from those found in mammalian IgH loci in both its location and structure. However, upon transfection into fish or mouse lymphocytes, it activates transcription to an extent equivalent to that of the mouse IgH intronic enhancer (Eμ). Potential transcription factor binding motifs in Eμ3′ are more numerous than in mammalian IgH enhancers, and are dispersed over 1.6 kilobases. We transfected catfish and mouse lymphoid cells with reporters under the control of artificial promoters containing motifs from the catfish enhancer. We demonstrate that 9 of 11 octamer motifs identified in the catfish enhancer, representing five variations of the consensus octamer (ATGCAAAT), are functional in both a catfish B-cell line (1B10) and the mouse plasmacytoma J558L. Only those octamer variants in which one of the first four bases is altered are active. Clear species differences in the strengths of the variant octamer motifs were evident, and in catfish B cells the ATGtAAAT motif was over threefold more active than the consensus octamer. The one μA and two μB motifs in Eμ3′ do not contribute to transcriptional activation. These results suggest that the relative functional contributions of IgH enhancer motifs has changed significantly during vertebrate evolution.
Effects of small angle discrepancies on interpretations of subtraction images

The present study examines interpretations of subtraction images of pairs of radiographs taken at 0 degrees, 1 degree, or 2 degrees of angle discrepancy. The radiographs were taken at each of 48 alveolar crestal sites on 15 dried human skulls. Computer-simulated lesions were induced at the sites on three fourths of the radiographs. Ten instructed dentists were asked to interpret the subtraction images as to the presence or absence of crestal change. A 2-degree angle discrepancy between radiographs resulted in a significant difference in sensitivity from that of radiographic pairs with a 0-degree discrepancy. However, we found no significant difference in sensitivity between 1-degree and 0-degree pairs of radiographs. In conclusion, a 1-degree geometric difference between pairs of radiographs does not significantly contribute to errors in interpretation of subsequent subtraction images.
Differential long-term neurotoxicity of HIV-1 proteins in the rat hippocampal formation: A design-based stereological study

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proteins, gp120 and Tat, are believed to play a role in mediating central nervous system (CNS) pathology in HIV-1 infected patients. Using design-based stereology, we examined the role of neonatal intrahippocampal injections of gp120 and Tat on the adult hippocampus (~7½ month). Postnatal day (P)1-treated Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally injected with vehicle (VEH, 0.5 μl sterile buffer), gp120 (100 ng), Tat (25 μg) or combined gp120 + Tat (100 ng + 25 μg). Using Nissl-stained tissue sections, we quantified total neurons in five subregions of the rat hippocampus [granual layer (GL), hilus of the dentate gyrus (DGH), cornu ammonis fields (CA)2/3, CA1, and subiculum (SUB)], and total glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) in two subregions (DGH and SUB). Estimates of cell area and cell volume were taken in the DGH. There was a significant reduction of neuron number in the CA2/3 subfield by Tat and gp120, and a significant reduction in the DGH by Tat only. For glial cells, numbers of astrocytes in the DGH and SUB were increased by the Tat protein, whereas no effects were noted for gp120. Finally, for oligodendrocytes Tat increased cell number in the DGH but not in any other region; gp120 had no detectable effect in any brain region. Estimates of cell area and cell volume of the three different cell types revealed no significant differences between treatments. Collectively, these results suggest differential effects of gp120 and Tat on the estimated total number of neurons, as well as on the number of glial cells.
Normal patterning of the coronary capillary plexus is dependent on the correct transmural gradient of FGF expression in the myocardium

The formation of the coronary vessel system is vital for heart development, an essential step of which is the establishment of a capillary plexus that displays a density gradient across the myocardial wall, being higher on the epicardial than the endocardial side. This gradient in capillary plexus formation develops concurrently with transmural gradients of myocardium-derived growth factors, including FGFs. To test the role of the FGF expression gradient in patterning the nascent capillary plexus, an ectopic FGF-over-expressing site was created in the ventricular myocardial wall in the quail embryo via retroviral infection from E2–2.5, thus abolishing the transmural gradient of FGFs. In FGF virus-infected regions of the ventricular myocardium, the capillary density across the transmural axis shifted away from that in control hearts at E7. This FGF-induced change in vessel patterning was more profound at E12, with the middle zone becoming the most vascularized. An up-regulation of FGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in epicardial and subepicardial cells adjacent to FGF virus-infected myocardium was also detected, indicating a paracrine effect on induction of vascular signaling components in coronary precursors. These results suggest that correct transmural patterning of coronary vessels requires the correct transmural expression of FGF and, therefore, FGF may act as a template for coronary vessel patterning.
Blowing smoke: how cigarette manufacturers argued that nicotine is not addictive

“We show that the FDA is wrong on key factual and scientific points. Our comments review the many flaws in and evidence contradicting the FDA’s allegations regarding such matters as tobacco growing, cigarette manufacturing and addiction.” Steven Parrish, senior vice president, Philip Morris. 2 January 1996.1 Despite the release of secret documents showing that many tobacco industry scientists and officials have long considered nicotine to be addictive,2 some industry executives still insist that smoking is just a habit that should not be classified with other forms of drug dependency.3 In April 1999, cigarette manufacturer Brown & Williamson unveiled a web site that contests the modern definition of addiction and argues that “the issue should be whether consumers are aware that smoking may be difficult to quit (which they are) and whether there is anything in cigarette smoke that impairs smokers from reaching and implementing a decision to quit (which we believe there is not).” Such claims may confuse the general public and delay the enactment of effective tobacco control measures—especially those that take direct aim at nicotine addiction by regulating nicotine levels in tobacco products.4 Given the high level of public attention to nicotine, it is useful to review the scientific credibility of the industry’s contention that nicotine is not addictive. In January 1996, as volume III of their objections to proposed regulation by the United States Food and Drug Administration, cigarette manufacturers produced a 213-page brief primarily aimed “to address FDA’s contention that nicotine has a significant effect on the structure or function of the body, including so-called nicotine addiction”5 (page 2). With scientific prose and 644 footnotes, the industry argued that nicotine is nothing more than a harmless ingredient present in tobacco products for flavour. Although the FDA responded point …
Resonant Fiber Optic Gyroscope Using an Air-Core Fiber

Air-core photonic bandgap fibers (PBFs) have great potential for the resonant fiber-optic gyroscope (RFOG), because they reduce both the Kerr-induced drift and the thermal polarization instability. We experimentally studied an open-loop RFOG in which a 20-m resonant loop of 7-cell air-core fiber is closed by connecting the air-core fiber to a conventional single-mode fiber directional coupler. We measured a random walk of 0.055 °/s1/2 and a long-term drift with a standard deviation of 0.5° /s and a peak-to-peak variation of 2.5 °/s over 1 hour. We discuss the sources of error in this RFOG and identify areas for future improvement. We project that with straightforward improvements, tactical-grade performance should be possible.
Tutorial: basic concepts in quantum circuits

Summary form only given. Over the last decade a new way to compute has been defined which, unlike conventional methods, is based on quantum mechanics rather than classical physics. This fundamental change in paradigm can, in principle, solve some important and hitherto intractable problems such as prime factorization of large numbers. This tutorial presentation reviews the basics of quantum computation and the design of circuits to implement quantum algorithms. The starting point is the notion of a quantum bit or qubit. Because of the superposition property of quantum states, n qubits can store 2/sup n/ numbers simultaneously, implying a type of massive parallelism. Furthermore, quantum states allow powerful forms of interaction such as entanglement that have no classical counterparts. Qubits are fragile, however, and are altered by measurement; hence quantum circuits must follow very different rules from classical ones. The differences between quantum and classical logic circuits is discussed and illustrated. Finally, the physical implementation of quantum devices is considered, along with the prospects for practical quantum computers.
Single channel, 200 Gb/s, chromatic dispersion precompensated 100 km transmission using an optical arbitrary waveform generation based optical transmitter

This paper presents single channel, 200 Gb/s, 20-bit DPSK packets generated by an optical arbitrary waveform generation based optical transmitter with chromatic dispersion precompensation, and their transmission through 100 km of single-mode-fiber and recovery.
RIG-I like receptors and their signaling crosstalk in the regulation of antiviral immunity

During virus infection, multiple immune signaling pathways are triggered, both within the host cell and bystander cells of an infected tissue. These pathways act in concert to mediate innate antiviral immunity and to initiate the inflammatory response against infection. The RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is a group of cytosolic RNA helicase proteins that can identify viral RNA as nonself via binding to pathogen associated molecular patter (PAMP) motifs within RNA ligands that accumulate during virus infection. This interaction then leads to triggering of an innate antiviral response within the infected cells through RLR induction of downstream effector molecules such as type I interferon (IFN) and other pro-inflammatory cytokines that serve to induce antiviral and inflammatory gene expression within the local tissue. Cellular regulation of RLR signaling is a critical process that can direct the outcome of infection and is essential for governance of the overall immune response and avoidance of immune toxicity. Mechanisms of positive and negative regulation of RLR signaling have been identified that include signaling crosstalk between RLR pathways and Nuclear Oligomerization Domain (NOD)-Like Receptor (NLR) pathways and Caspase networks. Furthermore, many viruses have evolved mechanisms to target these pathways to promote enhanced replication and spread within the host. These virus-host interactions therefore carry important consequences for host immunity and viral pathogenesis. Understanding the pivotal role of RLRs in immune regulation and signaling crosstalk in antiviral immunity may provide new insights into therapeutic strategies for the control of virus infection and immunity.