cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceptual load modulates attentional capture by abrupt onsets.

The abrupt appearance of a new object captures attention, even when the object is task irrelevant. These findings suggest that abrupt onsets capture attention in a stimulus-driven manner and are not susceptible to top-down influences on attentional control. However, previous studies examining the ability of abrupt onsets to capture attention have used search displays that lacked significant complexity. Because attention is a limited capacity mechanism, it is possible that increasing the complexity, or perceptual load, of the search arrays may modulate capture by abrupt onsets. We used a flanker task to examine the effect of perceptual load on attentional capture by abruptly appearing objects. Subjects searched for a target letter through low-load (set size=1) and high-load (set size=6) displays. On each trial, irrelevant flankers also appeared, one as an onset and the other as an offset. Onset flankers affected search in low-load but not high-load displays. This modulation of attentional capture was not caused by generalized slowing when subjects searched through high-load displays; search for a single perceptually degraded target slowed response times but did not affect attentional capture. These findings demonstrate that attentional capture by an abrupt onset is attenuated when people search through high-load scenes.
EVIDENCE FOR THE PRESENCE OF LIGNIN IN MOSS GAMETOPHYTES

Lignin presence in New Zealand moss gametophytes observed for characteristic color reaction and UV spectra, noting contrast with north temperate species
The association of genetic variability in patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) with histological severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease†

Genome-wide association studies identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with increased hepatic fat or elevated liver enzymes, presumably reflecting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To investigate whether these SNPs are associated with histological severity of NAFLD, 1117 (894 adults/223 children) individuals enrolled in the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Clinical Research Network and National Institutes of Health Clinical Center studies with histologically confirmed NAFLD were genotyped for six SNPs that are associated with hepatic fat or liver enzymes in genome-wide association studies. In adults, three SNPs on chromosome 22 showed associations with histological parameters of NASH. After adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, and alcohol consumption, the minor allele of rs738409 C/G, a nonsynonymous coding SNP in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) (adiponutrin) gene encoding an Ile148Met change, was associated with steatosis (P = 0.03), portal inflammation (P = 2.5 × 10−4), lobular inflammation (P = 0.005), Mallory-Denk bodies (P = 0.015), NAFLD activity score (NAS, P = 0.004), and fibrosis (P = 7.7 × 10−6). Two other SNPs in the same region demonstrated similar associations. Three SNPs on chromosome 10 near the CHUK (conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase) gene were independently associated with fibrosis (P = 0.010). In children, no SNP was associated with histological severity. However, the rs738409 G allele was associated with younger age at the time of biopsy in multivariate analysis (P = 0.045). Conclusion: In this large cohort of histologically proven NAFLD, we confirm the association of the rs738409 G allele with steatosis and describe its association with histological severity. In pediatric patients, the high-risk rs738409 G allele is associated with an earlier presentation of disease. We also describe a hitherto unknown association between SNPs at a chromosome 10 locus and the severity of NASH fibrosis. (Hepatology 2010)
Pure mathematics and physical reality (continuity and computability)

Drawing upon the intuitive distinction between real and imaginary mathematical objects (i.e., those that have an actual or potential physical interpretation and those that do not), we propose a mathematical definition of these concepts. Our definition of the class of real objects is based on a certain universal continuous function. We also discuss the class of computable reals, functions, functionals, operators, etc., and we argue that it is too narrow to encompass the class of real objects.
Metastatic pulmonary calcification in sarcoidosis.

A patient with sarcoidosis with elevated 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D levels, hypercalcemia, nephrolithiasis, and moderate azotemia is presented because of development of metastatic pulmonary calcificatio
Graphene-hemin hybrid material as effective catalyst for selective oxidation of primary C-H bond in toluene

An effective hemin catalyst on graphene support for selective oxidation of primary C-H bond in toluene is reported with an over 50% conversion rate achieved at mild conditions. Significantly this hybrid material shows catalytic efficiency in toluene oxidation with selectivity towards benzoic acid. The role of graphene support is discussed here as providing large contact area between the catalyst and the substrate, maintaining hemin in catalytically active monomer form, attracting electron to promote site isolation, as well as protecting hemin from oxidative degradation during the reaction. Moreover, graphene is suggested to largely alter the final product selectivity, due to the different π-π interaction strength between the graphene support and the substrate/oxidized products. With longer reaction time, overall conversion rate tends to maintain relatively unchanged while toluene undergoes a series of oxidation to convert mostly to benzoic acid.
The Development of Shell‐Like Distributions from Newborn Cometary Ions

One-dimensional hybrid computer simulations that are spatially homogeneous are used to investigate the evolution of newborn cometary ions that interact self-consistently with the solar wind. Cometary ions injected at a constant rate are scattered by the growing electromagnetic fluctuations resulting from the associated free energy, and the scattering at relatively low fluctuating field amplitudes leads to shell-like velocity distributions which subtend about 4 pi in solid angle but which have small spread in speed. Shell-like distributions are found to occur when the ion injection rate is relatively slow, when the injected ion mass is relatively light, and when the energy density of the fluctuating magnetic fields exhibits linear growth.
WHEN IS A RECURRENT IFS ATTRACTOR A STANDARD IFS ATTRACTOR

Imposing restrictions on the allowed sequences of transformations of a standard IFS can give rise to attractors that are attractors of standard IFS consisting of a (larger) finite set of transformations, or a countably infinite set of transformations, or are not the attractor of any standard IFS. Whichever the case it can be read off from the transition graph of the restrictions.
Strain control magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Ta/FeCo/MgO heterostructures

Using ab initio electronic structure calculations, we have investigated the effect of epitaxial strain on magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) of Ta/FeCo/MgO heterostructure. At small expansive strains on the FeCo layer, the system exhibits perpendicular MCA (PMA). Strain not only has a profound effect on the value of MCA but also induces a switching of magnetic easy axis. Analysis of the energy- and k-resolved distribution of orbital characters of the minority-spin band reveals that a significant contribution to PMA at zero strain arises from the spin-orbit coupling between occupied dx2−y2 and unoccupied dxy states, derived from Fe at the FeCo/MgO interface. The strain effect is attributed to strain-induced shifts of spin-orbit coupled d-states. Our work demonstrates that strain engineering can open a viable pathway towards tailoring magnetic properties for spintronic applications.
Borderline personality and victims of incest.

This article explored the apparent relationship between the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and the victims' experience of incest. While a review of the related literature is discussed to identify the apparent correlation, results of a preliminary study are consistent with the association. Recognizing the limitations inherent in the study, some tentative conclusions are offered.
Differential Effects of Inhibitors on the γ-Secretase Complex MECHANISTIC IMPLICATIONS

γ-Secretase is a protease complex of four integral membrane proteins, with presenilin (PS) as the apparent catalytic component, and this enzyme processes the transmembrane domains of a variety of substrates, including the amyloid औ-protein precursor and the Notch receptor. Here we explore the mechanisms of structurally diverse γ-secretase inhibitors by examining their ability to displace an active site-directed photoprobe from PS heterodimers. Most γ-secretase inhibitors, including a potent inhibitor of the PS-like signal peptide peptidase, blocked the photoprobe from binding to PS1, indicating that these compounds either bind directly to the active site or alter it through an allosteric interaction. Conversely, some reported inhibitors failed to displace this interaction, demonstrating that these compounds do not interfere with the protease by affecting its active site. Differential effects of the inhibitors with respect to photoprobe displacement and in cell-based and cell-free assays suggest that these compounds are important mechanistic tools for deciphering the workings of this intramembrane-cleaving protease complex and its similarity to other polytopic aspartyl proteases.
Discrete high molecular weight RNA transcribed from the long interspersed repetitive element LIMd

The repetitive element LINE (L1) previously has been shown to contain two long open reading frames which are overlapping and out-of-frame similar to those found in retroviruses (1). In rodents and in human cells, these repeats appear to be transcribed into a heterogeneous population of RNAs in most cell types (2,3,4). No discrete transcript has been reported which is likely to be a mRNA for the open reading frames in rodent cells. In this paper, a discrete RNA species of approximately 8 kb has been identified in most murine lymphoid cells examined. This RNA is cytoplasmic and binds to oligo (dT) cellulose columns. Hybridization with labeled probes indicates that the transcript is of the same strandedness as the open reading frames. These results are consistent with proposals that L1Md is a retroposon with protein-encoding function.
Isolation of Pheromone Precursor Genes of Magnaporthe grisea

In heterothallic ascomycetes one mating partner serves as the source of female tissue and is fertilized with spermatia from a partner of the opposite mating type. The role of pheromone signaling in mating is thought to involve recognition of cells of the opposite mating type. We have isolated two putative pheromone precursor genes of Magnaporthe grisea. The genes are present in both mating types of the fungus but they are expressed in a mating type-specific manner. The MF1-1 gene, expressed in Mat1-1 strains, is predicted to encode a 26-amino-acid polypeptide that is processed to produce a lipopeptide pheromone. The MF2-1 gene, expressed in Mat1-2 strains, is predicted to encode a precursor polypeptide that is processed by a Kex2-like protease to yield a pheromone with striking similarity to the predicted pheromone sequence of a close relative, Cryphonectria parasitica. Expression of the M. grisea putative pheromone precursor genes was observed under defined nutritional conditions and in field isolates. This suggests that the requirement for complex media for mating and the poor fertility of field isolates may not be due to limitation of pheromone precursor gene expression. Detection of putative pheromone precursor gene mRNA in conidia suggests that pheromones may be important for the fertility of conidia acting as spermatia.
Mechanical and tribological properties of self-lubricating metal matrix nanocomposites reinforced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene – A review

Abstract Rapid innovation in nanotechnology in recent years enabled development of advanced metal matrix nanocomposites for structural engineering and functional devices. Carbonous materials, such as graphite, carbon nanotubes (CNT's), and graphene possess unique electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Owe to their lubricious nature, these carbonous materials have attracted researchers to synthesize lightweight self-lubricating metal matrix nanocomposites with superior mechanical and tribological properties for several applications in automotive and aerospace industries. This review focuses on the recent development in mechanical and tribological behavior of self-lubricating metallic nanocomposites reinforced by carbonous nanomaterials such as CNT and graphene. The review includes development of self-lubricating nanocomposites, related issues in their processing, their characterization, and investigation of their tribological behavior. The results reveal that adding CNT and graphene to metals decreases both coefficient of friction and wear rate as well as increases the tensile strength. The mechanisms involved for the improved mechanical and tribological behavior is discussed.
Hand impairment and activity limitations in four chronic diseases.

Abstract Study design Retrospective cohort. Introduction Hand involvement in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are well known to occupational and physical therapists; however, it is not known whether the impairments and activity limitations with diabetes (DMII) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) are as severe as those observed with OA and RA. Purpose To compare the hand impairments and activity limitations in the 4 diseases. Methods A convenience sample of 156 participants received evaluations of hand impairments: strength, joint motion, and dexterity and completed a hand activity limitations questionnaire. Results The SSc and RA participants had weaker pinch, decreased joint motion and more activity limitations than the DMII and OA groups. There were no significant differences between the groups for right hand grip strength and pegboard dexterity, and applied dexterity. Conclusions OA and DMII groups had significantly less impairments and activity limitations than the SSc and RA groups. Level of evidence 2C.
Spontaneous histocompatibility mutations detected by dermal grafts: Significant changes in rat over a 10-year period in the mouse H-system

Abstract The H-system (histocompatibility) of the mouse comprises a large group of H-loci on which the acceptance and rejection of dermal grafts depend. Mutations at the H-loci can be characterized as gains (G), losses (L), and gains and losses (GL), by patterns of graft reaction shown in the H-test. In the present experiments, the screened animals were the F 1 hybrids of the cross ( BALB c × C 57 BL 6 ) and its reciprocal. Bailey 1 had reported a combined G plus GL mutation rate of 10.8 ± 2.8 per 1000 tested animals for 1963–1965. Using foundtion stocks obtained from Bailey (carried by full-sib matings), and employing the H-test under conditions that we considered to be equivalent to his, we found a G plus GL mutation rate of 2.56 ± 0.85 per 1000 F 1 's for 1966–1972. The variation in mutation rate of the H-system may be contrasted with the constancy of the rate for the 7-locus system, determined at Oak Ridge, U.S.A., and at Harwell, U.K. It is suggested that the difference in results obtained with the two systems is a reflection of some fundamental difference in their genetic natures, and that studies with both “types” of systems will be necessary to obtain a view of the problem of mutagenesis in mammals.
Rate-based active queue management for TCP flows over wired and wireless networks

Current active queue management (AQM) and TCP protocol are designed and tuned to work well on wired networks where packet loss is mainly due to network congestion. In wireless networks, however, communication links suffer from significant transmission bit errors and handoff failures. As a result, the performance of TCP flows is significantly degraded. To mitigate this problem, we analyze existing AQM schemes and propose a rate-based exponential AQM (REAQM) scheme. The proposed REAQM scheme uses the input rate as a primary metric and queue length as the secondary metric. The objectives of REAQM are to stabilize networks with low packet loss, low packet delay, and high link utilization regardless the dynamic of network conditions. We prove the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium based on Lyapunov theory. Simulation results suggest that REAQM is capable of performing well for TCP flows over both wired and wireless networks, and has comparable implementation complexity as other AQM schemes.
So Close to Paradise (1999) and The Missing Gun (2002): Hollywood Models and the Production of Film Noir in Chinese Cinema at the Turn of the Twenty-first Century

Film noir is new to the cinema of the People’s Republic of China. It was not easy for noir’s dark themes and nihilistic tone to get past the state’s strict censorship; however, at the turn of the twenty-first century, a few noir films were produced. Chinese noir has a strong affinity with American film noir in its representation of social and spatial transformation and exploration of critical issues under strict censorship. This essay presents a close analysis of So Close to Paradise (Wang Xiaoshuai, 1999) and The Missing Gun (Lu Chuan, 2002) and argues that Chinese noir is a creative and localized adaptation of a Hollywood genre. Innovative in their application of noir form and style, these films criticize corruption and class conflict in contemporary China and reflect ordinary people’s feelings of alienation and frustration provoked by the transformation of urban space. This essay also studies the strategies the two films employ, such as ambiguity and genre hybridity, to get past official censors while still maintaining their critical depth and subversive messages.
Genetic analysis of receptor-mediated endocytosis

Abstract Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a complex pathway which animal cells use to internalize macromolecules such as nutrient transporters and polypeptide hormones. The isolation and characterization of mutants with defects in endocytic pathways are providing new insights into the structure and function of cell surface receptors.
Sequences homologous to episomal mitochondrial DNAs in the maize nuclear genome

The endosymbiont hypothesis for the origin of eukaryotic cells implies that an exchange of genetic information between nuclei, mitochondria and, in the case of plants, chloroplasts is plausible. Indeed, a 12-kilobase (kb) DNA sequence common to chloroplasts and mitochondria of maize has been identified1 and we now report the presence of common DNA sequences in the maize nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Homologous nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences have also recently been found in other organisms2–6, but this report extends the phenomenon to a higher eukaryote. Moreover, it encompasses sequences common to the mitochondrial genome, the nuclear genome and episomal, virus-like DNAs that have the physical characteristics of transposable elements. These episomal DNAs may provide the mechanism whereby sequences are transported from the mitochondrion to the nucleus.
Early Evolution of Salt Structures in North Louisiana Salt Basin: ABSTRACT

Several salt diapirs and pillows in southern and central areas of north Louisiana have been studied using approximately 355 mi (570 km) of seismic reflection data and information from 57 deep well holes. Seismic profiles, with deep well-hole data, are the most advantageous method to document regional salt tectonism through time. Three stages--pillow, diapir, and postdiapir--are required to explain salt-stock growth through time in the North Louisiana salt basin. The pillow stage and its associated primary peripheral sinks exhibit 11-34% thinning over pillow crests and 12-50% overthickening in the primary peripheral sinks in the basin. Thinning values as great as 87% and overthickening values as high as 400% are inferred for prediapiric (juvenile) salt pillows. The diapir stage and its associated secondary peripheral sinks exhibit 50-250% overthickening. This stage is characterized by piercement diapirism and the withdrawal of large volumes of salt from the flanks of the pillow. The postdiapir stage and its associated peripheral sinks exhibit less than 45% overthickening. Moreover, in some instances dome growt is in a steady state with sedimentation. Growth stages are generally confined to the following stratigraphic units: Smackover to Terryville (pillow stage), Calvin (diapir stage), and Winn and younger sediments (postdiapir stage). These considerations lead to the following observations and conclusions on diapirism in the North Louisiana salt basin: (1) timing of the diapiric event commenced early (Late Jurassic) in the southern and central portion of the basin, and later (Early Cretaceous) in the northern portion; (2) the initial diapiric event is much more rapid and intense in the southern and central diapirs compared to the later diapiric event in the northern diapirs; and (3) regional depocenter shifting, relative sea level fall, local erosion with salt extrusion, and rapid depositional loading of sediments are the major controls on diapirism in the basin. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1426------------
Fuzzy Aggregation with Artificial Color filters

Artificial Color filters are designed to attenuate some pixels and pass others. The pass/attenuate decision is made on the basis of the learned association of spectral components with user-defined concepts. In earlier work, it has been shown that there are various ways to design Artificial Color filters using multiple user-designated classes and those filters are subjected to useful manipulations such as image processing and Boolean Aggregation. The Artificial Color filtering has always been binary. Therefore, the Boolean logic was the only choice for aggregating filters. This paper shows how to fuzzify Artificial Color filters. Fuzzy logic subsumes Boolean logic and can do so in many ways. Several different fuzzy T-norms are applied to Artificial Color filters to illustrate the richness in aggregation. Margin Setting, a supervised statistical pattern recognition method to train the filters, is very conservative in what is definitely assigned to a class (@m=1) while allowing a useful gradation of membership (@m=<1) for other cases. A parametric exploration of these effects for an image is presented.
An overview of genetic factors influencing plasma lipid levels and coronary artery disease risk

Abstract Background.—Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in most Western countries and its origin involves a significant genetic component. Methods.—Genetic and epidemiologic studies have been performed to identify factors that influence the CAD risk in the population. Results.—The primary loci that have been demonstrated to be associated with increased CAD risk owing to genetic mutations include the low-density lipoprotein receptor, apolipoprotein B-100, and lipoprotein(a). Additional implicated loci include lipoprotein lipase, apolipoprotein CII, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, apolipoprotein AI, and lecithin–cholesterol acyl transferase. Conclusions.—Numerous mutations in known genes exert a major effect on CAD risk in some patients. However, in most patients with CAD, the genetic component is believed to be attributable to the aggregate effect of loci that, individually, exert only a minor influence on lipoprotein levels.
Evidence of lateral electric fields in c -plane III-V nitrides via terahertz emission

We observe terahertz (THz) emission from c -plane InN and In0.15Ga0.85N films on GaN templates due to surface-normal transport with a strong anomalous in-plane transport component. Analysis of the rotational dependence of the THz emission associated with this in-plane transport indicates that an electric field exists along the [1-100] m-axis correlated with the underlying template miscut. Calculations show that the field is correlated with strain-induced polarization fields at the heterointerface related to step-like charges at interfaces of the epilayers and the miscut templates. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Two novel schemes for opportunistic multi-access

We study opportunistic multiuser communications, and propose two novel schemes to address scheduling in asymmetric channels and admission control in such systems, respectively. We first device a relay-aided multiuser diversity (RAMD) scheme, in which a user can choose to communicate with the base station either directly or using relay transmission. We show that the RAMD scheme performs significantly better than Qualcomm's HDR scheme. Next, we propose a traffic-aided "smooth" admission control (SAC) scheme that guarantees the quality-of-service (QoS) provisioning. Specifically, building on the weighted proportional fair (WPF) scheduling, we devise a QoS driven weight adaptation algorithm. The weights assigned to new users are increased in a guarded manner. An admission decision is made based on the measured throughput within a time-out window. Our results show that the SAC scheme works well in opportunistic communication systems.
Double-Edge Detection of Radiographic Lumbar Vertebrae Images Using Pressurized Open DGVF Snakes

The detection of double edges in X-ray images of lumbar vertebrae is of prime importance in the assessment of vertebral injury or collapse that may be caused by osteoporosis and other spine pathology. In addition, if the above double-edge detection process is conducted within an automatic framework, it would not only facilitate inexpensive and fast means of obtaining objective morphometric measurements on the spine, but also remove the human subjectivity involved in the morphometric analysis. This paper proposes a novel force-formulation scheme, termed as pressurized open directional gradient vector flow snakes, to discriminate and detect the superior and inferior double edges present in the radiographic images of the lumbar vertebrae. As part of the validation process, this algorithm is applied to a set of 100 lumbar images and the detection results are quantified using analyst-generated ground truth. The promising nature of the detection results bears testimony to the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Haploidy and aberrant spermatogenesis in a coleopteran, Micromalthus debilis LeConte†

The coleopteran Micromalthus debilis LeConte has two additional female reproductive forms besides the male and female adults. One of these is a paedogenetic viviparous female which produces female offspring by diploid parthenogenesis; the other is a paedogenetic ovoviviparous female which produces males by haploid parthenogenesis; The male has been shown to be somatically haploid in both early and late stages of development, while all three female types are diploid. The first spermatocyte division is completely abortive as regards division of chromosomes and cell. However, a very characteristic unipolar spindle is regularly formed. The chromosomes of the first spermatocyte anaphase move away from the single pole with their attachment regions hindermost. The spindle consists of ten fibers, each one connecting a chromosome with a single pole. They elongate during the anaphase. The second spermatocyte division is apparently normal in all respects and it ultimately results in two normal sperm. It has been shown that the theories of Belar, Bleier and Schaede concerning the problem of chromosome movement are deficient in view of the peculiarities of this monocentric mitosis.
Revision of Kalopolynema, with notes on Platypolynema (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

Abstract The New World fairyfly genus Kalopolynema is divided into two subgenera, Kalopolynema s. str., the nominal subgenus with the type species K. (Kalopolynema) discrepans Ogloblin, and Floripolynema S. Triapitsyn and Berezovskiy, subgen. nov. with the type species K. (Floripolynema) mizelli S. Triapitsyn and Berezovskiy, sp. nov., described from Florida, USA. The four known species of Kalopolynema are keyed and illustrated, including the North American K. (Kalopolynema) ema (Schauff and Grissell), comb. nov. from Polynema, and K. (Kalopolynema) poema S. Triapitsyn and Berezovskiy, sp. nov. from Argentina. Both Kalopolynema and its relative Platypolynema, a monotypic genus from Argentina also treated in this review, are characterized by the presence of subantennal grooves on the face.
Subsampling digital IF receiver implementations

This paper introduces the concept of direct digital down-conversion via subsampling and digital quadrature tuning. In theory, a bandpass filtered intermediate frequency (IF) signal can be sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with a sampling rate consistent with the pass band width and center frequency of the signal of interest. During the sampling process, the bandpass signal is constructively aliased to baseband. The practical limits of such an implementation are that the bandwidth and timing accuracy of the ADC's track and hold circuitry must be consistent with the IF location of the signal of interest. The subsampling ADC can be immediately followed by a quadrature digital tuner to provide fine tuning and produce a baseband quadrature signal ready for baseband processing. The combination of the subsampling ADC and digital quadrature tuner forms a complete digital IF processing chain.
Phase I study of gemcitabine and carboplatin in advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma

Abstract Background: This phase I study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of carboplatin with a fixed dose of gemcitabine without growth factor or hematopoietic precursor support. Methods: Nineteen patients with previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated at three dose levels. Initially, the gemcitabine dose was 1000 mg/m2 given on days 1 and 8. Of the first five patients treated with carboplatin AUC 4, three experienced dose limiting toxicity (DLT). The study was, therefore, amended to decrease the dose of gemcitabine to 800 mg/m2 given on days 1 and 8 in a 21-day cycle. Results: Dose limiting toxicity (neutropenia and thrombocytopenia) were seen at dose level 2A (carboplatin AUC=5). Thus, no further dose escalation was performed. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were seen as follows: leukopenia in five of 18 (28%); neutropenia, four of 18 (22%); and thrombocytopenia, four of 18 (22%) evaluable patients. Grade 3 or 4 anemia occurred in one of 18 (6%) patients and no neutropenic fever or treatment related mortality was observed. Partial responses were seen in six patients and one patient with evaluable disease had an objective response. The overall response rate was 37% (seven of 19). Six other patients had stable disease. A total of 89 courses were administered with a median of five courses per patient (range: two to six courses). The median time to progression for all patients was 3.7 months. The median overall survival was 7.4 months with four patients still alive (median follow up 13.5 months). The survival at 6 months and 1 year is 64 and 23%, respectively. Conclusion: The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in this group of patients was defined as carboplatin AUC 4 when administered with gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day schedule.
The histidine triad superfamily of nucleotide-binding proteins.

Histidine triad (HIT) proteins were until recently a superfamily of proteins that shared only sequence motifs. Crystal structures of nucleotide-bound forms of histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein (Hint) demonstrated that the conserved residues in HIT proteins are responsible for their distinctive, dimeric, 10-stranded half-barrel structures that form two identical purine nucleotide-binding sites. Hint-related proteins, found in all forms of life, and fragile histidine triad (Fhit)-related proteins, found in animals and fungi, represent the two main branches of the HIT superfamily. Hint homologs are intracellular receptors for purine mononucleotides whose cellular function remains elusive. Fhit homologs bind and cleave diadenosine polyphosphates (Ap(n)A) such as ApppA and AppppA. Fhit-Ap(n)A complexes appear to function in a proapoptotic tumor suppression pathway in epithelial tissues. In invertebrates, Fhit homologs are encoded as fusion proteins with proteins related to plant and bacterial nitrilases that are candidate signaling partners in tumor suppression.
Sensitive Separation Procedure for Escherichia coli Ribosomal Proteins and the Resolution of High‐Molecular‐Weight Components

Application of the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic procedure recently described by Mets and Bogorad [4] to the resolution of Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins is described. This procedure is fast (running time of 8–10 h) and highly sensitive (1–2 μg protein per spot) and it gave good resolution for the majority of the 55 proteins in E. coli ribosomes. Moreover, the method has permitted the resolution of a large number of high-molecular-weight proteins associated with ribosomes not exposed to high-salt washing. Using purified proteins, the positions in the electrophrogram of the individual proteins of the 30–S subunit have been determined.
Concept-based failure clustering

When attempting to determine the number and set of execution failures that are caused by particular faults, developers must perform an arduous task of investigating and diagnosing each individual failure. Researchers proposed failure-clustering techniques to automatically categorize failures, with the intention of isolating each culpable fault. The current techniques utilize dynamic control flow to characterize each failure to then cluster them. These existing techniques, however, are blind to the intent or purpose of each execution, other than what can be inferred by the control-flow profile. We hypothesize that semantically rich execution information can aid clustering effectiveness by categorizing failures according to which functionality they exhibit in the software. This paper presents a novel clustering method that utilizes latent-semantic-analysis techniques to categorize each failure by the semantic concepts that are expressed in the executed source code. We present an experiment comparing this new technique to traditional control-flow-based clustering. The results of the experiment showed that the semantic-concept clustering was more precise in the number of clusters produced than the traditional approach, without sacrificing cluster accuracy.
Deficiency of a Sinorhizobium meliloti bacA Mutant in Alfalfa Symbiosis Correlates with Alteration of the Cell Envelope

The BacA protein is essential for the long-term survival of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Brucella abortus within acidic compartments in plant and animal cells, respectively. Since both the S. meliloti and B. abortus bacA mutants have an increased resistance to bleomycin, it was hypothesized that BacA was a transporter of bleomycin and bleomycin-like compounds into the bacterial cell. However, our finding that the S. meliloti bacA mutant also has an increased sensitivity to detergents, a hydrophobic dye, ethanol, and acid pH supported a model in which BacA function affects the bacterial cell envelope. In addition, an S. meliloti lpsB mutant that is defective at a stage in infection of the host similar to that found for a bacA mutant is also sensitive to the same agents, and the carbohydrate content of its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is altered. However, analysis of crude preparations of the bacA mutant LPS suggested that, unlike that for LpsB, BacA function did not affect the carbohydrate composition of the LPS. Rather, we found that at least one function of BacA is to affect the distribution of LPS fatty acids, including a very-long-chain fatty acid thought to be unique to the α-proteobacteria, including B. abortus.
A Multi‐Component intervention designed to reduce disruptive classroom behavior

The intent of this article was to present an on-going line of research that has focused on the design of an effective, easily implemented, economical, and parsimonious treatment for disruptive classroom behavior in both general and special education students. This multi- component treatment has evolved to include mystery motivators, token economy with response cost, and antecedent strategies (i.e., public posting of classroom rules, and teacher movement) delivered within a group contingency format. Based on report data, the treatment in this research was well received by the teachers and students. Further, due to the substantial treatment effect, ease of implementation, and relatively low investment of teacher time, the multi-component intervention became a consistent choice by the teachers for classroom management. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A TRIFfic perspective on acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a leading cause of death in people infected with H5N1 avian influenza virus or the SARS-coronavirus. Imai et al. (2008) now report that ALI is triggered by the signaling of oxidized phospholipids through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the adaptor protein TRIF. These findings provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of ALI, a condition for which treatment options are currently very limited.
A Methodology for Intelligent Path Planning

In this work we present a methodology for intelligent path planning in an uncertain environment. Examples would include a mobile robot exploring an unknown terrain or a UAV navigating enemy territory while avoiding radar detection. We show that the problem of path planning in an uncertain environment, under certain assumptions, can be posed as the adaptive optimal control of an uncertain Markov decision process. The strategy for path planning then reduces to computing the control policy based on the current estimate of the environment, also known as the "certainty equivalence" principle in the adaptive control literature. Further we show that the path planning problem, as formulated in this paper, possesses special structure which can be used to significantly reduce the dimensionality of the problem. Finally we apply this methodology to the problem of path planning of a mobile rover in an unknown, unstructured terrain
Ion-Irradiation Study of the “Exotic” Mineral Neptunite: LiNa2K(Fe,Mg,Mn)2Ti2Si8O24

Single crystals of the silicate neptunite were irradiated with 600 keV Ar 2+ and 1.5 MeV Kr + and analysed by transmission electron microscopy. Amorphization was observed in a surface layer several hundred angstroms thick following Ar 2+ irradiations up to 5.0×l0 13 Ar/cm 2 , yet the Ar 2+ ions travelled an average of 1/2 μm in depth. The microstructure of the amorphous surface layer depends on the ion fluence, but the amorphous layer thickness remained constant. At the highest fluence, a narrow region below the amorphous layer shows a brittle-to-ductile strain transition, due to tensional volume-expansion of the adjacent ductile amorphous layer. With 1.5 MeV Kr1 + , amorphization of the electron transparent region was completed after a fluence of 1.7×l0 14 Kr + /cm 2 , and no further damage was observed up to 5.1×10 15 Kr + /cm 2 . However, following a low fluence of 2.0×10 11 Kr + /cm 2 , a single crystal of neptunite became a polycrystalline aggregate (grain size 10 nm) within 7 days of room temperature aging.
ELEPHANTS AS AGENTS OF HABITAT CREATION FOR SMALL VERTEBRATES AT THE PATCH SCALE

Ecologists increasingly recognize the ability of certain species to influence ecological processes by engineering the physical environment, but efforts to develop a predictive understanding of this phenomenon are in their early stages. While many believe that the landscape-scale effects of ecosystem engineers will be to increase habitat diversity and therefore the abundance and richness of other species, few generalities exist about the effects of engineering at the scale of the engineered patch. According to one hypothesis, activities that increase structural habitat complexity within engineered patches will have positive effects on the abundance or diversity of other organisms. Here I show that, by damaging trees and increasing their structural complexity, browsing elephants create refuges used by a common arboreal lizard. Observational surveys and a lizard transplant experiment revealed that lizards preferentially occupy trees with real or simulated elephant damage. A second experiment showed that lizards vacate trees when elephant-engineered refuges are removed. Furthermore, local lizard densities increased with (and may be constrained by) local densities of elephant-damaged trees. This facilitative effect of elephants upon lizards via patch-scale habitat modification runs contrary to previously documented negative effects of the entire ungulate guild on lizards at the landscape scale, suggesting that net indirect effects of large herbivores comprise opposing trophic and engineering interactions operating at different spatial scales. Such powerful megaherbivore-initiated interactions suggest that anthropogenic changes in large-mammal densities will have important cascading consequences for ecological communities.
Segmentation and compression of video for delay-flow multimedia networks

Digital video coding has traditionally used frame-by-frame synchronous reconstruction. The transport must then be delay-jitter-free, forcing the modern integrated service packet network such as the Internet to operate in an inefficient "circuit emulation" mode. This mode results in a jitter-free delay representative of the worst-case network delay, which is problematic for delay-sensitive interactive applications. In response, we have proposed and demonstrated a "delay cognizant" model of video coding (DCVC) that operates in an asynchronous reconstruction mode. DCVC minimizes the perceptual delay observed by the user, and still achieves good quality and high compression. Furthermore, the feasibility of asynchronous reconstruction is evidenced by vision science studies of spatiotemporal masking in human visual systems at the temporal edges of video.
Our Lives before the Law: Constructing a Feminist Jurisprudence. By Judith A. Baer. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999. 276p. $55.00 cloth, $18.95 paper.

It is a daunting assignment to review a book after it has garnered a major award bestowed by the organization that publishes this journal. Judith Baer's Our Lives before the Law not only is a very worthy recipient of the 2000 Victoria Schuck Award for the best book on women in politics but also is an erudite and wide-ranging critique of feminist thought with the goal of "forc[ing] feminists to confront mainstream discourse and mainstream discourse to confront feminism" (p. 175). This goal is in the service of Baer's desire to construct a new jurisprudence of sexual equality, one that avoids the pitfalls Baer perceives as inherent in the efforts of others to date.
Investigating Students’ Use of Lecture Videos in Online Courses: A Case Study for Understanding Learning Behaviors via Data Mining

This study investigated students’ learning behaviors in a fully online psychology course which offered 76 streaming lecture videos and supplementary resources, as well as individual and group activities. This paper focuses on students’ use of lecture videos. Data collection included students’ real usage of data on Blackboard Learn 9.1, a course survey, and students’ final grades. The analysis applied data mining techniques, including sequential patterns, decision trees, and clustering analysis, as well as inferential statistics using ANOVA and correlations. Based on students’ use of lecture videos, their learning behaviors were defined into three groups—adaptive viewer, self-regulating viewer, and infrequent viewer. Statistically significant differences within groups were found in their learning satisfaction, final grades, etc. This case study has shown that students’ learning behaviors were varied in the online environment and that their use of course videos affected their learning outcomes.
The Interpretation of Alcohol Consumption Rates with Special Reference to Statistics of Wartime Consumption

In the World War of 1914 to 1918 it was said of most of the warring nations, but particularly of the United Kingdom, that excessive drinking was spreading, in part because of increased anxieties and in part because of increased earnings. These contentions led in all warring countries, sooner or later, to mild or stringent regulation of the sale of alcoholic beverages.In the years following the war, statistics of the consumption of alcoholic beverages became available and numerous writings,† based on these statistics, endeavored to show that even before any control measures were taken the per capita consumption of beverage alcohol had decreased because of scarcity of supply or rising prices. Furthermore, the statistics were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of liquor control, and generally the decrease in consumption was correlated with the decrease of various factors usually attributed to alcoholism. The broad generalization of these writings is that “alcoholism decreased in the course of the first Wo...
Maximizing Wind Farm Energy Capture via Nested-Loop Extremum Seeking Control

This paper proposes a novel control approach for optimizing wind farm energy capture with a nested-loop scheme of extremum seeking control (ESC). Similar to Bellman’s Principle of Optimality, it has been shown in earlier work that the axial induction factors of individual wind turbines can be optimized from downstream to upstream units in a sequential manner, i.e. the turbine operation can be optimized based on the power of the immediate turbine and its downstream units. In this study, this scheme is illustrated for wind turbine array with variable-speed turbines for which torque gain is controlled to vary axial induction factors. The proposed nested-loop ESC is demonstrated with a 3-turbine wind farm using the SimWindFarm simulation platform. Simulation under smooth and turbulent winds show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. Analysis shows that the optimal torque gain of each turbine in a cascade of turbines is invariant with wind speed if the wind direction does not change, which is supported by simulation results for smooth wind inputs. As changes of upstream turbine operation affects the downstream turbines with significant delays due to wind propagation, a cross-covariance based delay estimate is proposed as adaptive phase compensation between the dither and demodulation signals.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The 96 kDa protein kinase activated by oncogenic Ras in Xenopus egg extracts is also activated by constitutively active Mek: activation requires serine/threonine phosphorylation

The 96 kDa protein kinase activated by oncogenic Ras in Xenopus egg extracts is also activated by constitutively active Mek: activation requires serine/threonine phosphorylation
Relation between BMI and diabetes mellitus and its complications among US older adults.

Objective This study determines effects of elevated body mass index (BMI) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) onset and its complications among U.S. elderly.
Logistics distribution system on GIS under three-tier architecture

Logistics is important for e-commerce and is a bottleneck problem for the development of e-commerce.In this paper,logistics distribution system on GIS under three-tier architecture has been designed based on analysis of GIS features and merits to the logistics distribution and three-tier architecture C/S features,and functions are introduced.This system focuses on support of the decision problem,such as location problem of distribution centers,and routing problem.It also furnishes with general management information,such as inventory,enterprises information and users information.