cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Clinton plan: what happened to the tough choices?

Abstract: This paper points out four difficult choices embedded in the Clinton plan. First, universal coverage is achieved, but with regressive head-tax financing on many workers—since the cost of the employer mandate ultimately will fall on workers' wages. Perhaps such an approach can be made politically acceptable. Second, cost containment is entrusted to global spending limits, which will limit the rate of improvement in quality. Third, the offering of choice among a variety of health plans of different costs and quality, although desirable in itself, may lead to inequity. Finally, the plan's financing will make it difficult for voters to tell what trade-offs they are making, because employer mandates and budget cuts disguise choices.
Application of turbidite sedimentology to determination of thrust fault displacements in the Carolina Slate Belt

Abstract Discontinuities in the lateral variations of grain size, bed thickness and internal sedimentary structures of ‘classic turbidites’ are used to calibrate thrust fault displacements in the Carolina Slate Belt. The Ugly Creek Thrust, just east of Albemarle, North Carolina, has been determined to have a displacement of 11.7–19.6 km, while the Uwharrie Thrust in the same area has a displacement of 19.6–29.5 km. The method relies on the predictability of lateral change in a down-paleocurrent direction of sedimentological parameters. Values of the various parameters from opposite sides of the thrust fault are cross-plotted against their lateral down-current distance from a common reference point or base line. Data from one side of the fault are shifted relative to that of the other along the lateral distance axis so as to construct by eye a curve that mimics a predetermined curve form for lateral change of the parameter. The amount of shifting necessary to achieve this is equal to the apparent thrust displacement in the down-current direction. This is then trigonometrically related to the actual thrust displacement.
Atypical antipsychotics and the neural regulation of food intake and peripheral metabolism

The atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) are associated with weight gain and an increased incidence of metabolic disease including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Epidemiological, cross-sectional and prospective studies suggest that two of the AAPs, olanzapine and clozapine, cause the most dramatic weight gain and metabolic impairments including increased fasting glucose, insulin and triglycerides. Relative to the other AAPs, both olanzapine and clozapine exhibit a particularly high antagonistic affinity for histamine and muscarinic receptors which have been hypothesized as mediators of the reported increase in weight and glucose abnormalities. In this article, we review the current evidence for the AAP associated weight gain and abnormal glucose metabolism. We postulate that the effects of the AAPs on food intake and peripheral metabolism are initially independently regulated but with increasing body adiposity, the early AAP-induced impairments in peripheral metabolism will be exacerbated, thereby establishing a vicious cycle such that the effects of the AAP are magnified by the known pathophysiological consequences of obesity. Furthermore, we examine how inhibition of the histaminergic pathway may mediate increases in food intake and the potential role of the vagus nerve in the reported peripheral metabolic effects.
Amiodarone in the New AHA Guidelines for Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias

OBJECTIVE:To delineate amiodarone's role in the new American Heart Association guidelines for ventricular tachyarrhythmias, review the literature that supports the use of amiodarone in ventricular tachyarrhythmias, describe the pharmaceutical properties of amiodarone and elucidate their clinical implications, and discuss the dosing, preparation, and administration of amiodarone.DATA SOURCES:A search of MEDLINE (1966–October 2000) database and EMBASE Drugs and Pharmacology database (1980–October 2000) was performed. References from published articles and tertiary references were used to gather additional data.DATA EXTRACTION:All articles were screened, and pertinent studies were identified and evaluated.DATA SYNTHESIS:Recent trials have demonstrated amiodarone's usefulness in the setting of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Based on these investigations and contrary to past guidelines, amiodarone is included in the 2000 advanced cardiovascular life support guidelines as a possible agent for hemodynamically sta...
Physical Assay of Competence for Specific Mating-Pair Formation in Escherichia coli

Abstract The fractions of Escherichia coli female and male bacteria that are competent to form specific mating pairs at any time during normal exponential growth have been measured by a physical assay. The competencies of a Hayes- and a Cavali-type donor were 35 and 50%, respectively, in agreement with piliation assays reported by others. The competencies of two recipient strains, PA309 and P678, were found to be 33 and 29%, respectively.
Analysis of synthetic peptides by capillary zone electrophoresis in organic/aqueous buffers

Whereas synthetic peptides have been routinely analyzed for purity by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RPHPLC) for a number of years, it is only in the last decade that the use of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in aqueous buffers has been taken advantage of as an orthogonal method for the detection of impurities. However, we have found that hydrophobic amino acids and peptides often migrate as very broad, tailing absorbances or even precipitate in the aqueous buffers during CZE analysis. As a result, alternative buffer systems containing organic modifiers were sought. Varying concentrations of acetonitrile, methanol and isopropanol in sodium phosphate and triethylammonium phosphate buffers were used to study their effects on the electrophoretic migration of several synthetic peptides [gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and analogs] and an enantiomeric synthetic amino acid. The organic/aqueous buffers used to obtain the best conditions for separation of porcine gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and chicken II GnRH were then used to optimize a separation of nine native forms of GnRH decapeptides. Interestingly, several of these GnRHs have identical formal charges and yet could be separated. This suggests a mixed mechanism of separation that discriminates not only on the basis of peptide charge and structure but also of adsorptive properties (Van der Waals forces, dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding) of the capillaries.
HIV-1 Protease-Substrate Coevolution in Nelfinavir Resistance

ABSTRACT Resistance to various human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitors (PIs) challenges the effectiveness of therapies in treating HIV-1-infected individuals and AIDS patients. The virus accumulates mutations within the protease (PR) that render the PIs less potent. Occasionally, Gag sequences also coevolve with mutations at PR cleavage sites contributing to drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the structural basis of coevolution of the p1-p6 cleavage site with the nelfinavir (NFV) resistance D30N/N88D protease mutations by determining crystal structures of wild-type and NFV-resistant HIV-1 protease in complex with p1-p6 substrate peptide variants with L449F and/or S451N. Alterations of residue 309s interaction with the substrate are compensated by the coevolving L449F and S451N cleavage site mutations. This interdependency in the PR–p1-p6 interactions enhances intermolecular contacts and reinforces the overall fit of the substrate within the substrate envelope, likely enabling coevolution to sustain substrate recognition and cleavage in the presence of PR resistance mutations. IMPORTANCE Resistance to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitors challenges the effectiveness of therapies in treating HIV-1-infected individuals and AIDS patients. Mutations in HIV-1 protease selected under the pressure of protease inhibitors render the inhibitors less potent. Occasionally, Gag sequences also mutate and coevolve with protease, contributing to maintenance of viral fitness and to drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the structural basis of coevolution at the Gag p1-p6 cleavage site with the nelfinavir (NFV) resistance D30N/N88D protease mutations. Our structural analysis reveals the interdependency of protease-substrate interactions and how coevolution may restore substrate recognition and cleavage in the presence of protease drug resistance mutations.
Generation of Alfven‐ion cyclotron waves on auroral field lines in the presence of heavy ions

Observation of electromagnetic waves in the low-altitude auroral zone at frequencies between the proton and helium gyrofrequencies suggests that Alfven-ion cyclotron waves modified by the presence of helium ions are being excited. Estimates of the growth rates for this mode indicate that the auroral electron beam can provide the free energy for the instability. The effect of the heavy ions is to decrease the group velocity of the waves, leading to larger convective growth. Theoretical wave spectra are computed in the local approximation, which assumes that the gradient scale lengths in density and magnetic field are constant over the ray paths. Narrow banded spectral peaks similar to observations may be produced when the thickness of the electron beam is small (200 m at 3000 km altitude). Narrow beams also limit growth of whistler mode waves, which compete for the free energy of the electron beam.
Preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of Tritrichomonas foetus inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase.

Inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) from the protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus has been expressed in E. coli and crystallized. Crystals were grown to 0.1 mm in each dimension in 18 to 72 h using ammonium sulfate and low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycols. The crystals belong to the cubic space group P432 with unit cell edge = 157.25 A. The enzyme is a homotetramer with each monomer having a molecular weight of 55,534 Da. There is one monomer per asymmetric unit, based on a volume/mass ratio of 2.7 A3/Da and self-rotation analysis. The crystals are adequately stable to allow a complete data set to be collected from a single crystal. Complete native data sets have been collected to 2.3 A resolution at 4°C using synchrotron radiation. High-quality complete data extending to 3.0 A resolution have been collected from crystals of four putative derivatives, and the data appear to be isomorphous with that of the native crystals in each case. Efforts to solve the derivatives for use in MIR phasing are underway. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nitrogen Retention, Removal, and Saturation in Lotic Ecosystems

Increased nitrogen (N) loading to lotic ecosystems may cause fundamental changes in the ability of streams and rivers to retain or remove N due to the potential for N saturation. Lotic ecosystems will saturate with sustained increases in the N load, but it is unclear at what point saturation will occur. Rates of N transformation in lotic ecosystems will vary depending on the total N load and whether it is an acute or chronic N load. Nitrogen saturation may not occur with only pulsed or short-term increases in N. Overall, saturation of microbial uptake will occur prior to saturation of denitrification of N and denitrification will become saturated prior to nitrification, exacerbating increases in nitrate concentrations and in N export downstream. The rate of N export to downstream ecosystems will increase proportionally to the N load once saturation occurs. Long term data sets showed that smaller lotic ecosystems have a greater capacity to remove instream N loads, relative to larger systems. Thus, denitrification is likely to become less important as a N loss mechanism as the stream size increases. There is a great need for long-term studies of N additions in lotic ecosystems and clear distinctions need to be made between ecosystem responses to short-term or periodic increases in N loading and alterations in ecosystem functions due to chronic N loading.
Septamer element-binding proteins in neuronal and glial differentiation.

Differentiation of progenitors into neurons and glia is regulated by interactions between regulatory DNA elements of neuron- and glia-specific genes and transcription factors that are differentially expressed by progenitors at progressive stages of neural development. We have identified a novel DNA regulatory element (TTTGCAT = septamer) present on the enkephalin (ENK), neuronal cell adhesion molecule, neurofilament of 68 kDa (NF68), growth-associated protein of 43 kDa, glial high-affinity glutamine transporter, tyrosine hydroxylase, etc., genes. When septamer function was blocked by introducing septamer competitor DNA into primary differentiating neural cultures, mRNA levels of ENK, NF68, and glial fibrillary acidic protein decreased by 50–80%, whereas no effect was seen using a control DNA. Septamer elements serve as binding sites for lineage-specific multimeric complexes assembled from three distinct nuclear proteins. Progenitors express a 16 kDa protein ( p-sept ) which binds to DNA as a homodimer (detected as the 32 kDa P-band). Cells that entered the neuronal lineage express an additional 29 kDa protein ( n-sept ) that binds to the homodimerized p-sept , and together they form a 62 kDa multimer (detected as N-band). Cells that entered the glial lineage express a distinct 23 kDa protein ( g-sept ), which along with the homodimerized p-sept form a 56 kDa multimer (observed as G-band). The binding of the distinct protein complexes (P, G, and N) to the septamer site causes a lineage-specific DNA bending (P = 53°; G = 72°; and N = 90°), which may contribute to the regulatory effect of the septamer interaction. In summary, septamer and its binding proteins represent novel protein–DNA interactions that may contribute to the regulation of neuroglial differentiation in the developing mammalian CNS.
Volume-sensitive purinergic signaling in human hepatocytes.

Abstract Background/Aims: Purinergic signaling potentially contributes to many liver functions. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to characterize adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) release from human hepatocytes, and to determine the role of extracellular ATP in the autocrine regulation of Cl − permeability and cell volume homeostasis. Methods: Release of ATP (luciferase-luciferin assay), Cl − currents (whole-cell patch clamp), and cell volume (Coulter Multisizer) were measured in human hepatocytes within 12 h of isolation. Results: Hepatocyte swelling increased bioluminescence from basal values of 11.21±0.45 to 178.29±44.49 and 492.15±89.41 arbitrary light units following 20 and 40% buffer dilutions, respectively ( p 300 nM. Whole-cell Cl − currents activated during exposure to hypotonic buffer (15% less mosmol, 126.34±36.49 pA/pF) and ATP (10 μM, 71.92±15.48 pA/pF) exhibited outward rectification, time-dependent inactivation at depolarizing potentials, and sensitivity to the anion channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB). Removal of extracellular ATP (apyrase) prevented volume-sensitive current activation. Exposure to hypotonic buffer (30% less mosmol) increased mean relative volume to 1.092±0.004 by 2.5 min, and volume recovery (1.019±0.002 by 30 min) was abolished by NPPB, apyrase, and the P2 receptor antagonist suramin. Conclusions: These findings indicate that human hepatocytes exhibit constitutive and volume-dependent ATP release, which is a critical determinant of membrane Cl − permeability and cell volume regulation. ATP release may represent an extracellular signaling pathway that couples the cellular hydration state to important hepatic functions.
Bronchiolitis: recent evidence on diagnosis and management.

bronchiolitis is a leading cause of acute illness and hospitaliza- tion of young children. Research into the variation in treatment and outcomes for bronchiolitis across different settings has led to evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Ongoing investigation con- tinues to expand this body of evidence. Authors of recent surveillance studies have defined the presence of coinfections with multiple viruses in some cases of bronchiolitis. Underlying comorbidities and young age remain the most important predictors for severe bronchiolitis. Pulse oximetry plays an important role in driving use of health care resources. Evidence-based reviews have suggested a limited role for diagnostic laboratory or radiographic tests in typical cases of bronchi- olitis. Several large, recent trials have revealed a lack of efficacy for routine use of either bronchodilators or corticosteroids for treatment of bronchiolitis. Preliminary evidence suggests a potential future role for a combination of these therapies and other novel treatments such as nebulized hypertonic saline. Pediatrics 2010;125:342-349
Separation Assurance in High-Density Airspace

Separation assurance is the service provided by air traffic control that keeps aircraft apart from one another, from obstacles on the ground, and from airspace where they must not fly. High-density airspace, where the number of aircraft is high enough that active effort is required to maintain safe separations, provides the greatest challenge to those responsible for separation assurance. This chapter describes the problem of maintaining air traffic safety, shows the role of separation assurance within it, and enumerates the possible dimensions of separation. The utility of the various kinds of separation, the limitations on the use of each, and the implications of each on system efficiency are described. The chapter concludes with a description of how upcoming changes to the technology of air traffic control are likely to affect the job of separation assurance. Keywords: air traffic control; separation assurance; aviation safety; airspace; collision avoidance; traffic-flow management; trajectory-based operations; Single European Sky; NextGen
Violent Death Rates: The US Compared with Other High-income OECD Countries, 2010.

Abstract Background Violent death is a serious problem in the United States. Previous research showing US rates of violent death compared with other high-income countries used data that are more than a decade old. Methods We examined 2010 mortality data obtained from the World Health Organization for populous, high-income countries (n = 23). Death rates per 100,000 population were calculated for each country and for the aggregation of all non-US countries overall and by age and sex. Tests of significance were performed using Poisson and negative binomial regressions. Results US homicide rates were 7.0 times higher than in other high-income countries, driven by a gun homicide rate that was 25.2 times higher. For 15- to 24-year-olds, the gun homicide rate in the United States was 49.0 times higher. Firearm-related suicide rates were 8.0 times higher in the United States, but the overall suicide rates were average. Unintentional firearm deaths were 6.2 times higher in the United States. The overall firearm death rate in the United States from all causes was 10.0 times higher. Ninety percent of women, 91% of children aged 0 to 14 years, 92% of youth aged 15 to 24 years, and 82% of all people killed by firearms were from the United States. Conclusions The United States has an enormous firearm problem compared with other high-income countries, with higher rates of homicide and firearm-related suicide. Compared with 2003 estimates, the US firearm death rate remains unchanged while firearm death rates in other countries decreased. Thus, the already high relative rates of firearm homicide, firearm suicide, and unintentional firearm death in the United States compared with other high-income countries increased between 2003 and 2010.
The instability and breaking of long internal waves

Laboratory experiments are carried out to determine the nature of internal wave breaking and the limiting wave steepness for progressive, periodic, lowest-mode internal waves in a two-layer, miscible density stratification. Shoaling effects are not considered. The waves investigated here are long relative to the thickness of the density interface separating the two fluid layers. Planar laser-induced fluoresence (PLIF) flow visualization shows that wave breaking most closely resembles a Kelvin–Helmholtz shear instability originating in the high-shear wave crest and trough regions. However, this instability is strongly temporally and spatially modified by the oscillations of the driving wave shear. Unlike a steady stratified shear layer, the wave instability discussed here is not governed by the canonical stability limit. Instead, the wave time scale (the time scale of the destabilizing shear) imposes an additional constraint on instability, lowering the critical Richardson number below 1/4. Experiments were carried out to quantify this instability threshold, and show that, for the range of wavenumbers considered in this study, the critical wave steepness at which the wave breaking occurs is wavenumber-dependent (unlike surface waves). The corresponding critical wave Richardson numbers at incipient wave breaking are well below 1/4, in consonance with a modified instability analysis based on results from stratified shear flow instability theory.
Models of the serine protease domain of the human antithrombotic plasma factor activated protein C and its zymogen

Three-dimensional structural analysis of physiologically important serine proteases is useful in identifying functional features relevant to the expression of their activities and specificities. The human serine protease anticoagulant protein C is currently the object of many genetic site-directed mutagenesis studies. Analyzing relationships between its structure and function and between naturally occurring mutations and their corresponding clinical phenotypes would be greatly assisted by a 3-dimensional structure of the enzyme. To this end, molecular models of the protease domain of protein C have been produced using computational techniques based on known crystal structures of homologous enzymes and on protein C functional information. The resultant models corresponding to different stages along the processing pathway of protein C were analyzed for structural and electrostatic differences arising during the process of protein C maturation and activation. The most satisfactory models included a calcium ion bound to residues homologous to those that ligate calcium in the trypsin structure. Inspection of the surface features of the models allowed identification of residues putatively involved in specific functional interactions. In particular, analysis of the electrostatic potential surface of the model delineated a positively charged region likely to represent a novel substrate recognition exosite. To assist with future mutational studies, binding of an octapeptide representing a protein C cleavage site of its substrate factor Va to the enzyme's active site region was modeled and analyzed.
Distribution and derivation of white‐winged dove harvests in Texas

Band recoveries provide requisite data for evaluating the spatial distribution of harvest relative to the distribution of breeding stocks for a wide variety of migratory species. We used direct and indirect band-recovery data to evaluate the distribution and derivation of harvest of white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) banded before hunting season in 3 distinct strata in Texas, USA, during 2007-2010. We banded 60,742 white-winged doves during 2007-2010, and based on 2,458 harvest recoveries, the majority (>95%) of white-winged dove harvest occurred during the first 2 months of the hunting season (Sep-Oct). Juvenile white-winged doves represented a greater percentage of the direct recoveries than adults across all strata (north ¼ 80%, central ¼ 69%, south ¼ 82%) and the majority of direct band recoveries (north ¼ 75%, central ¼ 90%, south ¼ 78%) occurred within the original banding strata. Age-specific weighting factors and harvest derivation indicated that both juvenile and adult harvest were highest within the strata of original banding. Harvest distribution data corrected for band-reporting rates indicated high fidelity of white-winged doves to specific geographic strata, with little interplay between strata. Our results suggest that population vital-rate estimates for survival and harvest for use in future Adaptive Harvest Management should focus on stock-specific levels. 2012 The Wildlife Society.
High-throughput minor histocompatibility antigen prediction

Motivation: Minor histocompatibility antigens (mHags) are a diverse collection of MHC-bound peptides that have immunological implications in the context of allogeneic transplantation because of their differential presence in donor and host, and thus play a critical role in the induction of the detrimental graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) or in the development of the beneficial graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. Therefore, the search for mHags has implications not only for preventing GvHD, but also for therapeutic applications involving leukemia-specific T cells. We have created a web-based system, named PeptideCheck, which aims to augment the experimental discovery of mHags using bioinformatic means. Analyzing peptide elution data to search for mHags and predicting mHags from polymorphism and protein databases are the core features. Results: Comparison with known mHag data reveals that some but not all of the previously known mHags can be reproduced. By applying a system of filtering and ranking, we were able to produce an ordered list of potential mHag candidates in which HA-1, HA-3 and HA-8 occur in the best 0.25%. By combining single nucleotide polymorphism, protein, tissue expression and genotypic frequency data, together with antigen presentation prediction algorithms, we propose a list of the best peptide candidates which could potentially induce the GvL effect without causing GvFD. Availability: http://www.peptidecheck.org Contact: blasczyk.rainer@mh-hannover.de
Lamin A/C expression is a marker of mouse and human embryonic stem cell differentiation

Nuclear lamins comprise the nuclear lamina, a scaffold-like structure that lines the inner nuclear membrane. B-type lamins are present in almost all cell types, but A-type lamins are expressed predominantly in differentiated cells, suggesting a role in maintenance of the differentiated state. Previous studies have shown that lamin A/C is not expressed during mouse development before day 9, nor in undifferentiated mouse embryonic carcinoma cells. To further investigate the role of lamins in cell phenotype maintenance and differentiation, we examined lamin expression in undifferentiated mouse and human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Wide-field and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that undifferentiated mouse and human ES cells express lamins B1 and B2 but not lamin A/C. Mouse ES cells display high levels of lamins B1 and B2 localized both at the nuclear periphery and throughout the nucleoplasm, but in human ES cells, B1 and B2 expression is dimmer and localized primarily at the nuclear periphery. Lamin A/C expression is activated during human ES cell differentiation before downregulation of the pluripotency marker Oct-3/4 but not before the downregulation of the pluripotency markers Tra-1-60, Tra-1-81, and SSEA-4. Our results identify the absence of A-type lamin expression as a novel marker for undifferentiated ES cells and further support a role for nuclear lamins in cell maintenance and differentiation.
Unexpectedly Complex Editing Patterns at Dinucleotide Insertion Sites in Physarum Mitochondria

Many of the RNAs transcribed from the mitochondrial genome of Physarum polycephalum are edited by the insertion of nonencoded nucleotides, which are added either singly or as dinucleotides. In addition, at least one mRNA is also subject to substitutional editing in which encoded C residues are changed to U residues posttranscriptionally. We have shown previously that the predominant type of editing in these organelles, the insertion of nonencoded single C residues, occurs cotranscriptionally at the growing end of the RNA chain. However, less is known about the timing of dinucleotide addition, and it has been suggested that these insertions occur at a later stage in RNA maturation. Here we examine the addition of both single nucleotides and dinucleotides into nascent RNAs synthesized in vitro and in vivo. The distribution of added nucleotides within individual cloned cDNAs supports the hypothesis that all insertion sites are processed at the same time relative to transcription. In addition, the patterns of partial editing and misediting observed within these nascent RNAs suggest that separate factors may be required at a subset of dinucleotide insertion sites and raise the possibility that in vivo, nucleotides may be added to RNA and then changed posttranscriptionally.
A comparative study of model and measurement based voltage stability approaches

With the increasing complexity and advancements in the power system, several algorithms and tools have been developed to assess the voltage stability using synchrophasor measurements or system model or both. Several new algorithms have been proposed by researchers and some of them have been converted into commercial tools. Most of these algorithms have several advantages, but at the same time also have some limitations. Local synchrophasor measurement based algorithms are generally based on window based approach to estimate system parameters to compute proximity to voltage stability margin. Model based approach is suitable for offline and planning studies but may not be suitable for online real-time implementation. There are limited number of hybrid algorithms using measurements and model both, but more work need to be done to meet the accuracy and time-line requirements. This paper discusses about limitations of the existing online voltage stability algorithms in detail and the reasons for a need of fast and robust online voltage stability algorithm. A number of operating conditions have been modeled and simulated for standard IEEE test systems.
Redescription of Capitella capitata (Fabricius) from West Greenland and designation of a neotype (Polychaeta, Capitellidae)

Capitella capitata (Fabricius, 1780), the type species of the genus, was originally described from the SW coast of Greenland; however, current definitions of the species are largely based on Eisig (1887), who described specimens from Naples on the Mediterranean coast. Eisig’s excellent account of the morphology of a sexually dimorphic species has subsequently been applied to specimens collected from worldwide locations. C. capitata was considered cosmopolitan in its distribution until J.P. Grassle and others identified numerous sibling species in laboratory culture. A large collection of Capitella from locations along the W, SW, and SE coasts of Greenland was provided by the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen (ZMUC). The collections included about 680 specimens with distinctive prostomial, thoracic, and setal morphology that differs from the typical depiction of the species in most faunal accounts. A neotype was selected from an excellent collection of approximately 250 specimens from Mârmorilik on the Affarlikassâ Fjord on the inner Uummannaq Fjord system, north of Disko Bay. All available collections from the ZMUC are believed to belong to the same species, which is here considered to be Arctic and subarctic in distribution. Additional material from the Alaskan Arctic supports this hypothesis. The Greenland species has a short, cup-shaped, wider-than-long prostomium joined to a narrow peristomial ring that is retracted slightly into setiger 1. In most specimens, the first four thoracic setigers gradually increase in size, with setiger 4 being the largest thoracic segment, and then decrease over the next five setigers, with setiger 9 being smaller than subsequent anterior abdominal segments. The thoracic region is thus markedly distinct visually from the abdominal region. Setigers 8–9 typically lack fascicles of notosetae, but 80% of the specimens examined have genital spines and most have copulatory organs that are secretory in nature: they contain numerous small secretion granules but no sperm. Many of these specimens have eggs and larvae within their tubes, suggesting functional hermaphroditism. The present redescription of C. capitata serves to establish a baseline against which the many known but undescribed species can be compared. Previous accounts of C. capitata based on the Eisig concept and largely from boreal and temperate localities should be reevaluated.
The Impact of National Culture on Working Style of Slovak Managers

Abstract The aim was to measure the impact of national culture - presented in the following dimensions: 1. “Power Distance”, 2. “Individualisms and Collectivism”, 3. “Masculinity and Feminity” 4. “Certainty and Uncertainty” and 5. “Time orientation’- the way of working of the sampled Slovak managers. For assuring the highest validity of the Students results was used paired t-test. Based on these results it can be stated that the various dimensions of the work of managers of all levels (first-line, middle, top) dominate the following attributes: 1.Style with little power distance; 2.Individualistic style of work; 3.The feminine style of work; 4.Requiring certainty of work; 5. Long - time work orientation.
Overcoming Challenges of International Migration Research: A Case Study Approach in Southern Mexico

An ethnographic case study approach to understanding women’s actions and reactions to husbands’ emigration—or potential emigration—offers a distinct set of challenges to a U.S.-based researcher. International migration research in a foreign context likely offers challenges in language, culture, lifestyle, as well as potential gender norm impediments. A mixed methods approach contributed to successfully overcoming barriers through an array of research methods, strategies, and tactics, as well as practicing flexibility in data gathering methods. Even this researcher’s influence on the research was minimized and alleviated, to a degree, through ascertaining common ground with many of the women. Research with the women of San Juan Guelavia, Oaxaca, Mexico offered numerous and constant challenges, each overcome with ensuing rewards.
Interception Drainage Wells in Artesian Aquifer

A formula for channel seepage to a leaky artesian aquifer and for the resulting piezometric surface is presented. A potential function accounting for excess irrigation and leaching water applied to agricultural lands is proposed. Using this function in combination with conventional well potential theory, a method for designing intercepting drainage wells for such an aquifer underlying irrigated lands is described.
Feature-based light field morphing

We present a feature-based technique for morphing 3D objects represented by light fields. Our technique enables morphing of image-based objects whose geometry and surface properties are too difficult to model with traditional vision and graphics techniques. Light field morphing is not based on 3D reconstruction; instead it relies on ray correspondence, i.e., the correspondence between rays of the source and target light fields. We address two main issues in light field morphing: feature specification and visibility changes. For feature specification, we develop an intuitive and easy-to-use user interface (UI). The key to this UI is feature polygons, which are intuitively specified as 3D polygons and are used as a control mechanism for ray correspondence in the abstract 4D ray space. For handling visibility changes due to object shape changes, we introduce ray-space warping. Ray-space warping can fill arbitrarily large holes caused by object shape changes; these holes are usually too large to be properly handled by traditional image warping. Our method can deal with non-Lambertian surfaces, including specular surfaces (with dense light fields). We demonstrate that light field morphing is an effective and easy-to-use technqiue that can generate convincing 3D morphing effects.
Accurate Location and Manipulation of Nanoscaled Objects Buried under Spin-Coated Films

Detection and precise localization of nanoscale structures buried beneath spin-coated films are highly valuable additions to nanofabrication technology. In principle, the topography of the final film contains information about the location of the buried features. However, it is generally believed that the relation is masked by flow effects, which lead to an upstream shift of the dry film’s topography and render precise localization impossible. Here we demonstrate, theoretically and experimentally, that the flow-shift paradigm does not apply at the submicrometer scale. Specifically, we show that the resist topography is accurately obtained from a convolution operation with a symmetric Gaussian kernel whose parameters solely depend on the resist characteristics. We exploit this finding for a 3 nm precise overlay fabrication of metal contacts to an InAs nanowire with a diameter of 27 nm using thermal scanning probe lithography.
Developing an Educational and Research Human Robot Interaction Environment for a Mechanical Finger/Hand

Human robot interaction (HRI) has become a growing area of study due to the increasing application of robots in work environments and daily life and interact and work in tandem with human operators. This synergy between humans and robots have expanded human endeavors and motivated neoteric and prospective areas of robotics research.The objective of this research is to develop an environment where both researchers and students can experience and experiment with different interaction modes with a robotic finger and hand. The acquisition and the post processing of environmental data from the hardware allow the user to envisage decision making algorithms.The present HRI environments have both closed and open loop controlled interaction modes for research and demonstration purposes. The interaction modes include direct open loop manipulation, force threshold interaction, voice commands, and variable force close. This additionally demonstrates the ease in functionality and augmentation in the testbed. As a result of speech recognition test, the testbed has a 79% success rate and has a 90% success rate in the force threshold test. The manuscript will also describe how certain actions are performed based on Prime States. An overview of the state algorithms are described as well as decision making diagrams.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Hepatic vascular response following colloid injection.

SummaryThe phagocytic clearance of both an inert and metabolizable foreign colloid results in a decrease in hepatic sinusoidal blood flow in both the isolated perfused rat liver and intact animal. While the vascular response was not colloid specific, it was dependent on both the dose injected and the precolloid injection level of stable blood flow. In this regard, the response was directly related to the dose injected and only apparent when the stable flow was within the physiologic range. The temporal relationship between the vascular response and the rate of colloid clearance indicates that the response is a postphagocytic event and dependent on the prior Kupffer cell uptake of the particles. It is suggested that the colloid–induced depression in hepatic blood flow may be a factor mediating the decreased resistance to shock induced by intravenous colloid administration.The authors acknowledge the fine technical assistance of Mrs. Virginia Stiffel.
How to respond when lightning strikes.

Learn what to do in the field and in the ED to help a victim of this potentially fatal weather hazard.
A Human Resource Planning and Valuation Model

The article presents a study which developed a model that can be applied in the areas of manpower planning and human resource valuation. Background information on the human resource valuation model...
Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Success in warfare is driven by the ability to collect information about the area of operation and the enemy present in the area. For times when full-scale aerial assets are not available for a platoon-sized unit, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of providing aerial reconnaissance and visual signaling is necessary. The solution proposed in response to this challenge was to create a man-packable UAV able to conduct aerial surveillance and also deploy smoke markers. This paper documents three semesters of work during which such an aircraft has been successfully designed, built and flown manually, while on a parallel track the control and guidance systems have been tested in a separate aircraft. The final step of the project will be to integrate the guidance and control systems into the aircraft and fly an autonomous simulated mission .
Plasma Angiotensin II Concentration Regulates Vascular but Not Adrenal Responsiveness to Restriction of Sodium Intake in Normal Man

1. Sodium restriction increases adrenal and decreases vascular sensitivity to angiotensin II (ANG II). These responses may be mediated either by the circulating level of ANG II or other mechanisms also modified by a change in sodium balance. To assess the importance of the ANG II level, captopril, an oral converting enzyme inhibitor, was used to lower the plasma ANG II level to the sodium-loaded range while maintaining subjects in low sodium balance. 2. Normal volunteer subjects received an infusion of ANG II in increasing doses in three states: high sodium intake, low sodium intake and low sodium intake after pretreatment with captopril. 3. Basal levels of ANG II on high-sodium diet and low-sodium diet plus captopril were similar. In the ANG II infusion studies the slope of the aldosterone—ANG II regression line on low sodium intake was significantly steeper than that on high sodium intake. After the addition of captopril the slope was not decreased, indicating that the endogenous ANG II concentration is not necessary to maintain adrenal sensitivity during sodium restriction. 4. In the ANG II infusion studies the slope of the mean blood pressure—ANG II regression line on high sodium intake was significantly steeper than that on low sodium intake. The addition of captopril to sodium-restricted subjects caused the slope of the regression relationship to increase significantly, consistent with an enhanced vascular responsiveness when endogenous ANG II levels were lowered. However, the slope on low sodium plus captopril did not increase to the level of subjects on a high-sodium diet, suggesting that factors in addition to the circulating ANG II level are also important in regulating the vascular responsiveness to ANG II.
Surveillance analysis of rats in Longgang district of Shenzhen city

Objective To investigate the current status of rats in Longgang district in order to provide data for the effective prevention and control of rodent-borne diseases in the area.Methods The night trapping method combined with the cage trapping method was used to investigate the rodent populations, distribution and density.Results A total of 35 rats were captured in this study, withRattus norvegicubeing the dominant species, accounting for 54.29%. The annual average population density of rodents was 3.95% . There was a statistically significant difference with regard to population density of rodents among 10 residential districts(χ2=20.00,P0.05), however, there was no significant difference in the density between residential area sand special industries(χ2=2.22,P0.05).Conclusion The population density of rats in Longgang district is much higher than that specified in the national standards. Therefore, deratization measures againstMus musculusshould be strengthened.
Segmentation of Optic Cup and Disk in Optic Nerve Head Based on PCLSM M-S Model

The binary Mumford-Shah(M-S) model and its corresponding C-V model can not work if there are more than one objects(or multi-phase) in the image.M-S model based on Piecewise Constant Level Set Method(PCLSM) can solve the minimal image partition problem.The PCLSM based Mumford-Shah model is applied to the segmentation of optic cup and disk in optic nerve head images.On this basis,the image of optic cup and disk is reconstructed.The tests demonstrate that this technique can segment simultaneously the optic cup and disk in the optic nerve head images from the different glaucoma patients,which is different from hierarchical M-S model.
A Survey on the Efficacy of Rabies Vaccines in Guangzhou City

Objective To study the factors affecting the efficacy of rabies immunization.Method Face-to-face interview was conducted by trained nurses,and information was collected with the consent from the interviewes.Blood sample was collected from the volunteers receiving a complete course of immunization.Result A total of 288 subjects(137 male,151 female,mean age 33.83±18.07)were studied.Sero-conversion rate was 68.75%.The age,history of vaccination,and the types of vaccine used in immunization are the factors affecting antibody production.Conclusion Sero-conversion is easily achieved in subjects with a younger age and a history of previous vaccination with rabies vaccine,especially nationally produced vaccines.
The Anabolic Effects of Progesterone on Fetal Rat Calvaria in Tissue Culture

OBJECTIVE We examined the effects of progesterone and cortisol on [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA, total DNA content, and [3H] proline incorporation into collagen using a bone organ culture system. METHODS The study consisted of nine experiments conducted at the University of Connecticut after approval by the animal care committee. Fetal rat half calvaria were cultured in the presence of progesterone (10(-5) to 10(-15) mol/L) and/or cortisol (10(-7) mol/L). Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance. RESULTS There was a biphasic increase in [3H] thymidine incorporation and DNA content of the tissue sample with progesterone treatment, with peaks at both high and low concentrations. Significant increases in [3H] proline incorporation were noted at concentrations of 10(-6) to 10(-10) mol/L of progesterone. Similar responses were observed in the presence of cortisol. CONCLUSIONS Progesterone increased [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA, total DNA content, and [3H] proline incorporation into collagen proteins in cultured fetal rat calvaria over a wide range of progesterone concentrations in the presence and absence of cortisol.
Insulin as an effector of human ovarian and adrenal steroid metabolism.

Insulin may be a potent effector of human steroid hormone metabolism. This article reviews in vivo studies showing that physiologic elevations in serum insulin levels can alter circulating levels of ovarian and adrenal androgens and sex hormonebinding globulin. An integrated hypothesis is proposed showing how the complex actions of insulin might play a role in the genesis of the polycystic ovary syndrome, a hyperandrogenic disease state often characterized by hyperinsulinemic insulin resistance.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Grain Farms

ABSTRACTFarm-level environmental impact assessments for U.S. agriculture exist, but results are often not comparable because of different methodologies used. The objective of this research was to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) levels for multicrop farms in the United States. A partial life cycle assessment (LCA) for 47 representative grain farms was performed, showing heterogeneous emissions across farm size, crops, and regions. Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) were estimated and transformed into CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per hectare and kilogram of production. The GHG emission intensity was affected by three characteristics: location, farm size, and cropping system. When crops were grown in different regions, they had different GHG intensities because of differences in soil quality, yields, and production efficiency. Emissions tended to be less per hectare and ton of the crop on larger farms. Crops grown outside their principal production regions were of...