cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infrared scans of Jupiter

Spatial scans at eight wavelengths between 7.8 and 24 microns along Jupiter's meridian and along the Equatorial Zone, the North Equatorial Belt, and the South Tropical Zone are considered. Some features of these scans are differences in brightness temperatures between the Great Red Spot and the surrounding South Tropical Zone, a higher temperature at high northern latitudes than high southern latitudes, equal or possibly higher temperatures of zones than belts at 7.8 microns in contrast to higher temperatures of belts at other observed wavelengths, very strong limb darkening at 8.9 microns possibly due to a large scale height or a nonuniform distribution of solid NH3 particles, and inhomogeneities within belts and zones.
Identification and Characterization of Novel Helicobacter pylori apo-Fur-Regulated Target Genes

In Helicobacter pylori, the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) has evolved additional regulatory functions not seen in other bacteria; it can repress and activate different groups of genes in both its iron-bound and apo forms. Because little is understood about the process of apo-Fur repression and because only two apo-Fur-repressed genes (pfr and sodB) have previously been identified, we sought to expand our understanding of this type of regulation. Utilizing published genomic studies, we selected three potential new apo-Fur-regulated gene targets: serB, hydA, and the cytochrome c553 gene. Transcriptional analyses confirmed Fur-dependent repression of these genes in the absence of iron, as well as derepression in the absence of Fur. Binding studies showed that apo-Fur directly interacted with the suspected hydA and cytochrome c553 promoters but not that of serB, which was subsequently shown to be cotranscribed with pfr; apo-Fur-dependent regulation occurred at the pfr promoter. Alignments of apo-regulated promoter regions revealed a conserved, 6-bp consensus sequence (AAATGA). DNase I footprinting showed that this sequence lies within the protected regions of the pfr and hydA promoters. Moreover, mutation of the sequence in the pfr promoter abrogated Fur binding and DNase protection. Likewise, fluorescence anisotropy studies and binding studies with mutated consensus sequences showed that the sequence was important for apo-Fur binding to the pfr promoter. Together these studies expand the known apo-Fur regulon in H. pylori and characterize the first reported apo-Fur box sequence.
Demand effects and speculation in oil markets: Theory and evidence

Abstract We present evidence showing the existence of stable cointegrating vectors connecting four important variables in the U.S. and global oil markets: oil production, stocks of crude oil, the real price of oil, and broad measures of income. Our data are monthly, and go back to the 1930s, split into sub-samples which correspond to periods before and after the 1973 crisis. We further show that the cointegrating vectors found in the data accord well with an extended commodity storage model which allows for demand growth dynamics and for supply regimes. Specifically, inventories and price move in opposite directions when supply is flexible, but the relationship reverses so that they comove when supply is inflexible.
The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Obesity

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis normally maintains the concentration of Cortisol within a narrow range with a diurnal variation characterized by higher Cortisol concentrations in the morning and reduced levels in the evening. Excessive or deficient secretion of Cortisol is associated with pathologic changes. Obesity has been linked with age, sex and racial alterations in the functioning of the HP A axis which are reviewed. The possible relationship of altered HPA axis activity with the long-term complications of obesity are considered.
Numerical study of premixed HCCI engine combustion and its sensitivity to computational mesh and model uncertainties

This study used a numerical model to investigate the combustion process in a premixed iso-octane homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine. The engine was a supercharged Cummins C engine operated under HCCI conditions. The CHEMKIN code was implemented into an updated KIVA-3V code so that the combustion could be modelled using detailed chemistry in the context of engine CFD simulations. The model was able to accurately simulate the ignition timing and combustion phasing for various engine conditions. The unburned hydrocarbon emissions were also well predicted while the carbon monoxide emissions were under predicted. Model results showed that the majority of unburned hydrocarbon is located in the piston-ring crevice region and the carbon monoxide resides in the vicinity of the cylinder walls. A sensitivity study of the computational grid resolution indicated that the combustion predictions were relatively insensitive to the grid density. However, the piston-ring crevice region needed to be simul...
Effects of shock-induced defects on flux pinning in YBa2Cu3O7−δ

Abstract A composite specimen of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ and silver was fabricated by shock-compacting to 167 kbar a mixture of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ and silver powders. The magnetic flux pinning energy of this specimen was then measured as a function of temperature using flux relaxation data obtained with a SQUID magnetometer. Our results show a that the pinning energy of the shock-compacted sample is significantly higher than the pinning energy of the YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ before compaction. The increase in flux pinning energy is presumably due to the introduction of shock-induced defects into the YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ . This results is significant because higher pinning energies imply higher intragranular critical currents.
“A Bastion of Sanity in a Crazy World”: A Local Feminist Movement and the Reconstitution of Scale, Space, and Place in an Eastern German City

This article examines the development of the local women's movement in one city in eastern Germany since German unification in 1990. Utilizing a framework that attends to issues of scale, space, and place reveals how this women's movement has both participated in and benefited from the downward scaling of women's mobilizations in the immediate postunification period. Feminist activists and organizations contributed to the constitution of the city as a place defined by its emphasis on egalitarian values and high degrees of state intervention in gender inequality and to the emergence of the city as part of a transnational space tied as much to Sweden as to Germany. Through this reimagination of the scale, space, and place of the city, the women's movement was able to position itself as a legitimate and important part of the life of the city and to successfully collaborate with local state offices and institutions to secure funding for women's organizations and pass legislation to protect women from discrimination and abuse. [End Page 551]
The Distribution of Multiplicities of Neutrons Produced by Cosmic-Ray μ -Mesons Captured in Lead

The nature of the $\ensuremath{\mu}$-meson capture process in lead has been investigated by studying the number of neutrons emitted by the excited nucleus. Working under 2000 g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ of clay and limestone and a 144 g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ lead filter, events were studied in which a single charged particle penetrated a triple coincidence telescope and stopped in an 86 g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ lead absorber, with one or more delayed coincident neutron counts from an array of ten ${\mathrm{B}}^{10}$${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ counters in a paraffin moderator placed below the absorber. Events in which more than one G-M tube in any coincidence tray was discharged were rejected. A large paraffin barrier was interposed between the absorber and filter to reduce the sensitivity to neutrons originating above the absorber. The neutron detecting geometry is thought to have had an efficiency sensibly independent of neutron energy up to about 10 Mev. On the basis of 327 delayed neutron coincidences, the mean multiplicity of disintegration neutrons per stopped negative $\ensuremath{\mu}$-meson was found to be 2.16\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15, with \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10 percent additional error due to the uncertainty in the strength of the standard neutron source used to determine neutron detecting efficiency. The mean squared multiplicity was found to be 5.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.9 on the basis of 3 double-neutron coincidences. On the evaporation model the expected mean multiplicity for 100-Mev excitation energy is about 6, while a calculation based on the ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}N+\ensuremath{\nu}$ hypothesis, using the distribution of excitation energy calculated on the free-particle model, and Weisskopf's statistical theory of the nucleon evaporation process, leads to an expected mean multiplicity of 0.95.
"From Indifferent, to Mutual Forbear and Fierce: Technology and Market Similarity on Competition"

To what extent is a firm’s decision to adopt a risky technology driven by its competitors? By looking at a dyad of action-initiator and competitor through the competitive dynamics lens, this study ...
Chemical characteristics of the volcanic gases from Nyiragongo lava lake and the generation of CH4-rich fluid inclusions in alkaline rocks

Abstract Methods used previously to remove compositional modifications from volcanic gas analyses for Mount Etna and Erta'Ale lava lake have bean employed to estimate the gas phase composition at Nyiragongo lava lake, based on samples obtained in 1959. H 2 O data were not reported in 11 of the 13 original analyses. The restoration methods have been used to estimate the H 2 O contents of the samples and to correct the analyses for atmospheric contamination, loss of sulfur and for pre- and pest-collection oxidation of H 2 S, S 2 , and H 2 . The estimated gas compositions are relatively CO 2 -rich, low in total sulfur and reduced. They contain approximately 35–50% CO 2 45–55% H 2 O, 1–2% SO 2 , 1–2% H 2 ., 2–3% CO, 1.5–2.5% H 2 S, 0.5% S 2 and 0.1% COS over,he collection temperature range 102° to 960° C. The oxygen fugacities of the gases are consistently about half an order of magnitude below quartz-magnetite-fayalite. The low total sulfur content and resulting low atomic S/C of the Nyiragongo gases appear to be related to the relatively low f O 2 of the crystallizing lava. At temperatures above 800°C and pressures of 1–1.5 k bar, the Nyiragongo gas compositions resemble those observed in primary fluid inclusions believed to have formed at similar temperatures and pressures in nephelines of intrusive alkaline rocks. Cooling to 300°C, with f O 2 buffered by the rock, results in gas compositions very rich in CH 4 (50–70%) and resembling secondary fluid inclusions formed at 200–500°C in alkaline rocks. Below 600°C the gases become supersaturated in carbon as graphite. These inferences are corroborated by several reports of hydrocarbons in plutonic alkaline rocks, and by the presence of CH 4 -rich waters in Lake Kivu — a lake on the flanks of Nyiragongo volcano.
Preoperative risk stratification predicts likelihood of concurrent PSA-free survival, continence, and potency (the trifecta analysis) after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES To assess the likelihood of biochemical disease-free survival, urinary continence, and sexual potency after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) as an aggregate outcome, the "trifecta" analysis. METHODS From the Columbia University Urologic Oncology Database of 2522 patients from 1988 to 2005, 503 had undergone RRP by a single surgeon. Of these, 87 patients were excluded: 31 with inadequate follow-up, 47 who had undergone additional confounding therapy, and 9 with insufficient data for the trifecta analysis. The final sample of 416 patients was stratified according to preoperative prostate-specific antigen level, Gleason sum, and clinical stage. Biochemical disease-free survival, continence, and potency were defined, respectively, as a prostate-specific antigen level of less than 0.2 ng/mL, not requiring daily pads, and having an erection sufficient for intercourse with or without oral pharmacotherapy. Patients achieving all three positive outcomes, the trifecta, were analyzed using analysis of variance. RESULTS Risk stratification identified 225 low-risk, 144 intermediate-risk and 47 high-risk patients whose biochemical disease-free survival rate was 96.4%, 90.3%, and 78.7% at a median follow-up period of 4.4, 4.8, and 7.1 years, respectively. The corresponding continence rates were 93.8%, 94.4%, and 93.3% and the potency rates were 81.3%, 67.7%, and 69.6% with at least 1 year of follow-up. Of the 314 analyzable patients, 130 (72.6%) of 179 low-risk, 61 (58.1%) of 105 intermediate-risk, and 12 (40.0%) of 30 high-risk patients achieved the trifecta. The trifecta rates were significantly different between the low and intermediate-risk (P = 0.04) and low and high-risk (P = 0.001) groups. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative (RRP) low-risk patients are more likely to remain disease-free, continent, and potent after surgery than are patients of higher risk. Physicians should consider aggregate outcomes when counseling patients regarding the clinical outcomes after RRP.
Differential transfer of control of avoidance responses as a function of UCS duration

Dogs received avoidance training to a visual signal in a shuttlebox followed by Pavlovian fear conditioning with two tones. One tone was paired with a 0.5-sec. shock, the other with a 50.0-sec. shock. Later, during avoidance extinction testing with all three stimuli, the Ss hurdled the barrier more quickly in response to the tone previously paired with the long shock. Comparisons with control Ss indicated that the differential responding was due to UCS duration.
Malignant B-cell lymphoma in renal cyst wall

Renal cysts are frequently found in adults older than 50 years of age. Bosniak type III and IV cysts are commonly associated with malignancy, but most Bosniak I and II lesions are benign, and the optimal management has not been clearly defined. Although computed tomography and ultrasound examinations have improved diagnostic accuracy, some masses will remain indeterminate and require more invasive evaluation. We report a patient with a Bosniak type II renal cyst associated with malignant B-cell lymphoma in the cyst wall diagnosed after laparoscopic renal exploration.
Reduction of tetrazolium salts by malarial parasites

Abstract Free and intraerythrocytic forms of Plasmodium berghei and P. knowlesi reduced tetrazolium salts to their colored formazans when these cells were incubated with TZ under anaerobic conditions. Mepacrine hydrochloride incubated with P. berghei in vitro inhibited tetrazolium reduction. Plasmodia from mepacrine-treated hamsters had an impaired capacity to reduce TZ salts.
Philosophy of Design

Success of an industrial research and development organization depends not only upon the ability and intelligence of its members and on the effectiveness of their organization. Equally important is a proper working philosophy as the guide to action for each individual and for the group as a whole. The development engineer must deal with nature in a most imperfect state where theory is frequently hidden from sight by the complexity of interactions involved. Problems with which he wrestles are usually too complex for exact analysis. Experience teaches the development man things which his intellect would never have told him. He learns the proper balance between daring and caution, idealism and realism, theory and practice. His way of thinking must be pragmatic in character, based upon an evaluation of risks and the probabilities of a given situation.
Isotopic equivalence by Bézier curve subdivision for application to high performance computing

For an arbitrary degree Bezier curve B , we first establish sufficient conditions for its control polygon to become homeomorphic to B via subdivision. This is extended to show a subdivided control polygon that is ambient isotopic to B . We provide closed-form formulas to compute the corresponding number of iterations for equivalence under homeomorphism and ambient isotopy. The development of these a priori values was motivated by application to high performance computing (HPC), where providing estimates of total run time is important for scheduling. We establish ambiently isotopic control polygons for Bezier curves via subdivision.We provide closed-form formulas for the required number of subdivision iterations.The results are being applied in computer animation.
Differential impact of race and risk factors on incidence of atrial fibrillation

Despite some common risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) being more prevalent among blacks, African Americans are increasingly being reported with lower prevalence and incidence of AF compared with whites. Contemporary studies have not provided a complete explanation for this apparent AF paradox in African Americans. Although many traditional and novel risk factors for AF have been identified, the role of ethnic-specific risk factors has not been examined. Whereas hypertension has been the most common risk factor associated with AF, coronary artery disease also plays an important role in AF pathophysiology in whites. Thereby, elucidating the role of ethnic-specific risk factors for AF may provide important insight into why African Americans are protected from AF or why whites are more prone to develop the arrhythmia. The link between AF susceptibility and genetic processes has only been recently uncovered. Polymorphisms in renin-angiotensin system genes have been characterized as predisposing to AF under certain environmental conditions. Several ion channel genes, signaling molecules, and several genetic loci have been linked with AF. Thereby, studies investigating genetic variants contributing to the differential AF risk in individuals of African American versus European ancestry may also provide important insight into the etiology of the AF paradox in blacks.
Ethylene Oxide Exposures in Hospitals

Abstract Ethylene oxide (EtO) is used in hospitals as a sterilant of heat-and/or moisture-sensitive hospital supplies and surgical instruments. Comprehensive industrial hygiene surveys were conducted at 12 hospitals to characterize EtO exposure levels for workers in the sterilization areas. Hospitals included in the study were selected to represent a wide range of exposure situations as a result of various engineering controls, administrative controls, and work practices. Sampling results indicated that 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) personal EtO exposure levels ranged from less than the limit of detection (LOD) of the method to 6.7 ppm, and short-term personal EtO exposures ranged from less than the LOD to 103 ppm. Based upon information regarding the degree of engineering controls and work practices employed, the hospitals were placed in one of four categories. The exposure results for each group of hospitals were compared with the criteria on engineering controls and work practices for that categor...
Convergence of bound-electron-positron pair production calculations for relativistic heavy-ion collisions.

Large-basis coupled-channel Dirac-equation calculations of bound-electron\char21{}positron pair production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions are presented. The relative importance of the enhancement of the coupled-channel calculations over corresponding calculations performed in perturbation theory is shown to decrease with increasing basis size, indicating a systematic reduction of this effect of nonperturbative enhancement with improving convergence of the calculations. The total nonperturbative enhancement of the cross section is shown to be about 7 b for ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{82+}$ on ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{82+}$ at the Brookhaven Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider, only some 6% over perturbation theory.
Crosstalk variation of multi-core fibre due to fibre bend

It was experimentally and theoretically confirmed for the first time that inter-core crosstalk can be varied more than 20dB depending on bending radius. Simulation results based on coupled-mode equation with equivalent index model are in good agreement with measurement results.
Modified residue calculus technique for microstrip step discontinuities

The modified residue calculus technique (MRCT) is applied to the analysis of the microstrip discontinuity problem based on the waveguide model. The method is numerically efficient and the accuracy checked against published data.
Conference report: community health centers and vulnerable workers.

A one-day conference in Washington brought together leaders of community health centers and worker advocates to discuss collaboration. They agreed that health centers could help protect vulnerable ...
Analysis of the Genetic Basis of Disease in the Context of Worldwide Human Relationships and Migration

Genetic diversity across different human populations can enhance understanding of the genetic basis of disease. We calculated the genetic risk of 102 diseases in 1,043 unrelated individuals across 51 populations of the Human Genome Diversity Panel. We found that genetic risk for type 2 diabetes and pancreatic cancer decreased as humans migrated toward East Asia. In addition, biliary liver cirrhosis, alopecia areata, bladder cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, membranous nephropathy, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and vitiligo have undergone genetic risk differentiation. This analysis represents a large-scale attempt to characterize genetic risk differentiation in the context of migration. We anticipate that our findings will enable detailed analysis pertaining to the driving forces behind genetic risk differentiation.
Popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries: feasibility of two-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography and phase velocity mapping

To assess the feasibility of using magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and velocity-encoded cine MR imaging to evaluate morphology and function in the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries, the profiles of blood flow velocity measured with velocity-encoded cine MR were compared with those measured with color-coded sonography. Two-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography was performed in the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries of 10 healthy subjects; velocity-encoded cine MR and color-coded sonography were performed above and below the trifurcation. The velocity waveforms acquired with velocity-encoded cine MR and color-coded sonography correlated well and showed a typical triphasic pattern. At peak systole in the popliteal artery, spatial maximum and spatial mean velocities measured with velocity-encoded cine MR were 42.29 cm/sec +/- 9.55 (standard deviation) and 27.7 cm/sec +/- 5.8, respectively; the peak velocity measured with color-coded sonography was 44.2 cm/sec +/- 12.3. It is concluded that use of both MR angiography and velocity-encoded cine MR should be considered for identification of arterial stenoses and assessment of the hemodynamic importance of peripheral vascular stenoses.
NATURAL HISTORY IN UTOPIA: THE WORKS OF THOMAS SAY AND FRANCOIS- ANDRE MICHAUX PRINTED AT NEW HARMONY, INDIANA

On a winter's day at the end of January 1826, a shallow-bottomed keelboat (one of those indispensable workhorses of the Mississippi and its tributaries) drew up to the landing-stage at New Harmony, Indiana, on the Wabash after a long journey down the Ohio from Pittsburgh. Some of the passengers had already disembarked several days before at the Mount Vernon landing on the Ohio with the bulk of the luggage and travelled in heavy waggons overland to New Harmony but most were still on board. That long voyage down the Ohio may not rank with the voyages of the Pinta or the Mayflower but it has its own secure place in the history of science in North America. On board were some of the most illustrious figures in the intellectual life of Philadelphia. The name of the keelboat was the Philanthropist but someone called it " the Boatload of Knowledge" and that is the label that has come down to posterity.
Poster: Public health applications of metagenomic data using publicly available computing framework

Recent advances in next generation sequencing technology and publicly available computing programs and servers have increased the accessibility and applications of microbial metagenomic analysis beyond traditional genomics and bioinformatic analysis. We propose that the advent of next generation sequencing technology and publicly available computing frameworks make environmental metagenomic monitoring a potential tool for environmental and public health research and decision-making. As technology advances, the future of public health monitoring will be steered towards metagenomic analysis. Fig. 1 shows how environmental sampling processed by next generation sequencing technology and analyzed by publicly available computing frameworks can be utilized in the areas of public health surveillance, risk assessment, risk communication, policy development and research.
Differential Regulation of ABCA1 and Macrophage Cholesterol Efflux by Elaidic and Oleic Acids

Trans fatty acid consumption is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. This increased risk has been attributed to decreased levels of HDL cholesterol and increased levels of LDL cholesterol. However, the mechanism by which trans fatty acid modulates cholesterol transit remains poorly defined. ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-mediated macrophage cholesterol efflux is the rate-limiting step initiating apolipoprotein A-I lipidation. In this study, elaidic acid, the most abundant trans fatty acid in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, was shown to stabilize macrophage ABCA1 protein levels in comparison to that of its cis fatty acid isomer, oleic acid. The mechanism responsible for the disparate effects of oleic and elaidic acid on ABCA1 levels was through accelerated ABCA1 protein degradation in cells treated with oleic acid. In contrast, no apparent differences were observed in ABCA1 mRNA levels, and only minor changes were observed in Liver X receptor/Retinoic X receptor promoter activity in cells treated with elaidic and oleic acid. Efflux of both tracers and cholesterol mass revealed that elaidic acid slightly increased ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux, while oleic acid led to decreased ABCA1-mediated efflux. In conclusion, these studies show that cis and trans structural differences in 18 carbon n-9 monoenoic fatty acids variably impact cholesterol efflux through disparate effects on ABCA1 protein degradation.
Splenocytes from NZB mice exhibit spontaneously high rates of fusion compared to control strains.

Abstract A previous report (G. E. Woloschak and D. Senitzer, submitted for publication) has demonstrated that mitogen-stimulated splenocytes fuse at a much higher frequency than untreated splenocytes as measured by the fusion index (a calculation of the number of nuclei in fused cells vs the total number of nuclei). A measurement of the fusion indices of NZB spleen cells provides results markedly different from those observed with splenocytes from control strains of mice—NZB spleen cells exhibit a spontaneously high fusion index. In this assay, they spontaneously display the same fusing capacity as that observed in cultures of mitogen-treated spleen cells from control strains of mice. This elevated fusion index is not affected by treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 and complement, but is abrogated by treatment with anti-immunoglobulin serum and complement. This suggests that a B cell is responsible for the high fusion index of NZB splenocytes. This high fusion index is present when using splenocytes from both male and female mice in the fusion assay, and can be observed using spleen cells from NZB mice as young as 12 days. This appears to be the result of a spontaneous polyclonal B-cell activation in NZB mice.
Acidic Di-leucine Motif Essential for AP-3–dependent Sorting and Restriction of the Functional Specificity of the Vam3p Vacuolar t-SNARE

The transport of newly synthesized proteins through the vacuolar protein sorting pathway in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires two distinct target SNAP receptor (t-SNARE) proteins, Pep12p and Vam3p. Pep12p is localized to the pre-vacuolar endosome and its activity is required for transport of proteins from the Golgi to the vacuole through a well defined route, the carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) pathway. Vam3p is localized to the vacuole where it mediates delivery of cargoes from both the CPY and the recently described alkaline phosphatase (ALP) pathways. Surprisingly, despite their organelle-specific functions in sorting of vacuolar proteins, overexpression of VAM3 can suppress the protein sorting defects of pep12Δ cells. Based on this observation, we developed a genetic screen to identify domains in Vam3p (e.g., localization and/or specific protein–protein interaction domains) that allow it to efficiently substitute for Pep12p. Using this screen, we identified mutations in a 7–amino acid sequence in Vam3p that lead to missorting of Vam3p from the ALP pathway into the CPY pathway where it can substitute for Pep12p at the pre-vacuolar endosome. This region contains an acidic di-leucine sequence that is closely related to sorting signals required for AP-3 adaptor–dependent transport in both yeast and mammalian systems. Furthermore, disruption of AP-3 function also results in the ability of wild-type Vam3p to compensate for pep12 mutants, suggesting that AP-3 mediates the sorting of Vam3p via the di-leucine signal. Together, these data provide the first identification of an adaptor protein–specific sorting signal in a t-SNARE protein, and suggest that AP-3–dependent sorting of Vam3p acts to restrict its interaction with compartment-specific accessory proteins, thereby regulating its function. Regulated transport of cargoes such as Vam3p through the AP-3–dependent pathway may play an important role in maintaining the unique composition, function, and morphology of the vacuole.
Particle size from the optical properties of flocculating carbon dispersions

Abstract The reasons for the inapplicability of Mie theory to systems where the dispersed particles are aggregates of smaller primary particles are discussed. It is shown what conditions must be satisfied before two similar suspensions with the same specific optical density at a given wavelength may be asserted to have the same average floc size, and that it is not possible even to make unambiguous comparisons of relative size from such data alone. A method is developed for obtaining the relative size of the flocs in two suspensions from the specific optical densities, the exponent of the dependence of optical density on wavelength, and single independent estimate of the average size of the dispersed particles in one of the suspensions, obtained by electron microscopy. It is shown that this leads to reasonable values of the average floc radius in suspensions of colloidal carbon in nonaqueous solvents, and for the relative change of floc radius with time due to flocculation of the suspension.
Pulse metrology: Part 1

This tutorial is the first part of a two-part series on pulse metrology. Part one provides a brief introduction to the field of metrology in general and to pulse metrology. Metrology involves the important concepts of traceability to fundamental units, measurement uncertainty, and reproducibility and repeatability of measurement. These aspects are not automatically included in measurements.
The effect of once-daily minoxidil on blood pressure and plasma lipids.

Once-daily minoxidil administration was added to the treatment regimen of 11 patients with hypertension that was inadequately controlled by nadolol 160 mg and chlorthalidone 50 mg given once daily. Additional diuretic therapy was needed by five patients. During treatment without minoxidil and at three and six months of maintenance minoxidil therapy, respectively, 24-hour postdose supine blood pressure fell significantly (P less than .01) from 142 +/- 19/96 +/- 6 mm Hg to 132 +/- 16/87 +/- 4 and 131 +/- 12/87 +/- 4 mm Hg, and home recordings showed that minoxidil induced a mean increase of about 5 beats/min in heart rate. Resting plasma renin activity was not significantly altered. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased from 31.6 +/- 9.9 to 35.2 +/- 10.9 mg/dL (P less than .05) and to 34.4 +/- 11.3 mg/dL (NS), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased from 146 +/- 36 to 136 +/- 32 mg/dL (P less than .05) and to 126 +/- 35 mg/dL (P less than .01) over the same periods. At six months, approximately 20% changes in ratios of HDL cholesterol to either LDL or total cholesterol were seen. These changes occurred despite a three-pound mean increase in body weight (P less than .05); these alterations are potentially beneficial in terms of reducing the estimated risk of coronary artery disease.
Vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism of (1 → 6)-β-d-glucan

Abstract V.u.c.d. spectra recorded for freshly prepared aqueous solutions of (1 → 6)-β)- D -glucan(pustulan) contained a single positive band near 177 nm. This band was similar in position and magnitude to the single positive band observed in the spectrum of (1 → 6)-α- D -glucan (dextran). Pustulan solutions (20 mg/ml) were observed to gel with time at 10 C. Concurrently, a negative band at 190 nm developed in the pustulan v.u.c.d. spectrum followed by a blue shift of both bands with continued aging. Crystalline films of pustulan yield spectra which resembled the blue shifted spectra of aged gels. The time dependent development of the negative band was attributed to pustulan attaining a helical conformation in solution, and the blue shift to aggregation of helices, Na+ and Ca2+ were found to accelerate gelation presumably by decreasing the activity of the aqueous solvent.
Ultrasonic Characterization of Ceramics

This paper discusses ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods that are useful for ceramic characterization. These methods are: ultrasonic velocity measurements, velocity and defect C-scans and attenuation measurements. The way in which the ultrasonic measurements are influenced by the ceramic’s structure and properties is examined. The ultrasonic techniques discussed in this paper are routinely used as part of an inspection/quality control procedure of ceramics for armor and heat engine applications. Sintered beta silicon carbide (β-SiC), sintered alpha silicon carbide (α-SiC) and hot pressed titanium diboride (TiB2) have been well characterized by these techniques. Elastic modulus values as determined from velocity measurements agree very well with values measured from flexural tests. Correlations between the velocity C-scans, elastic properties and densities have also been determined. The limitations and potential of each of the ultrasonic techniques are discussed.Copyright © 1987 by ASME
Diabetes Mellitus in the Sand Rat Induced by Standard Laboratory Diets

During an attempt to establish a laboratory colony of the sand rat (Psammomys obesus) we found that this animal invariably became obese and developed severe diabetes mellitus when fed on commercial laboratory rat feed, but remained normal when fed on fresh vegetables only. The signs of diabetes included elevated blood glucose, excessive glucose and ketone bodies in the urine, and cataracts. The diabetic animals showed degeneration of the pancreatic insulin producing tissue (beta-cells).
Exact calculation of heavy lepton production from WW fusion

Abstract The cross section for the production of heavy leptons from W-boson intermediate states in pp → L L + X is calculated exactly.
Cyclic undrained behavior of silty sand

Abstract Laboratory cyclic triaxial tests were performed to investigate the effect of fine content on the pore pressure generation in sand. Strain-controlled, consolidated undrained tests have been performed with a cyclic shear strain range of 0·015-1·5%. These tests were carried to 1000 cycles or to initial liquefaction, which ever occurred first. Triaxial tests were performed on pure sand silt specimens and specimens with silt additions of 10, 20, 30, and 60% by weight. Two types of silt, a non-plastic silt and a low plasticity silt (PI ≃ 10) were used as control materials. The main parameters varied in this study were the amount of silt, the plasticity index of silt, and the void ratio where the observed parameter was the pore pressure generation. For all silt contents, silt plasticity and the number of loading cycles have no significant effect at strain levels below 0·01%. Therefore, threshold strain for silty sands have approximately the same value as sands. For both non-plastic and low plasticity silts, there is a significant increase in the generated pore pressure at high strain levels.
Integration of Personal/Professional Self (IPPS) Through Reflective/Experiential Learning

This mixed-method in vivo exploratory study examines the learning strategies that prepare students for social work practice and shows that these strategies can make a measurable difference. Though many authors have called for self-awareness to promote cultural sensitivity, the concept of the integrated personal/professional self has not previously been defined, operationalized, or formally validated with any instrument. From 1999 to 2004, a total of 24 Title IV-E stipend students explored personal life issues through an individualized “SELF” course. Thematic analyses and t-tests of alumni data showed significant improvement in cognitive and ethical development, burnout reduction, and competency enhancement by participation in SELF.
Spin and parity assignments for 17O levels from the 13C(α, n)16Og.s. reaction

Abstract The excitation function at 0° from Eα = 4.5 MeV to 10.5 MeV (lab) and fourteen angular distributions from 0° to 170° over the energy range Eα = 4.995 to 8.657 MeV (lab) have been measured for the 13C(α, n0)16O reaction proceeding by way of intermediate 17O states with excitation energies from 9.8 to 14.4 MeV. After normalization to an absolute cross-section scale, the angular distributions were analyzed, using two-level compound-nucleus theory with provision for the coherent mixing of any two 17O states having spin values up to 9 2 , of either parity, and therefrom fourteen sets of spin-parity assignments were adduced for levels in 17O at high excitation (10 to 13 MeV) corresponding to resonances in the excitation function, in conformity with previous tentative, approximate, assignments.
Microbial community analysis of swine wastewater anaerobic lagoons by next-generation DNA sequencing.

Anaerobic lagoons are a standard practice for the treatment of swine wastewater. This practice relies heavily on microbiological processes to reduce concentrated organic material and nutrients. Despite this reliance on microbiological processes, research has only recently begun to identify and enumerate the myriad and complex interactions that occur in this microbial ecosystem. To further this line of study, we utilized a next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to gain a deeper insight into the microbial communities along the water column of four anaerobic swine wastewater lagoons. Analysis of roughly one million 16S rDNA sequences revealed a predominance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) clas- sified as belonging to the phyla Firmicutes (54.1%) and Proteobacteria (15.8%). At the family level, 33 bacterial families were found in all 12 lagoon sites and accounted for between 30% and 50% of each lagoon's OTUs. Analysis by nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) revealed that TKN, COD, ORP, TSS, and DO were the major environmental variables in affecting microbial community structure. Overall, 839 individual genera were classified, with 223 found in all four lagoons. An additional 321 genera were identified in sole lagoons. The top 25 genera accounted for approximately 20% of the OTUs identified in the study, and the low abundances of most of the genera suggests that most OTUs are present at low levels. Overall, these results demonstrate that anaerobic lagoons have distinct microbial communities which are strongly controlled by the environmental conditions present in each individual lagoon. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Getting it across.

Scientists need a carefully crafted strategy to catch the attention of policy-makers. David Goldston explains.
Affinity labeling of the active site of aspergillopeptidase B

Aspergillopeptidase B exhibits a strong preference for both the phenyl group and the carbobenzoxy moiety of carbobenzoxyphenylalanine methylester. The chloromethylketones of N6-tosyllysine and tosylphenylalanine do not inactivate the enzyme due to low binding affinities. Aspergillopeptidase B is slowly inactivated by the bromomethylketone of carbobenzoxyphenylalanine with an apparent second-order rate constant of 0.16 m−1 sec−1 at pH 7.0. A direct correspondence exists between the loss of activity, incorporation of tritiated carbobenzoxyphenylalanine, the disappearance of a histidine residue, and the appearance of a residue of Nr-carboxymethylhistidine. The rate of alkylation by carbobenzoxyphenylalanine is retarded by the competitive inhibitor N2-benzoylarginine.
Mitochondrial fusion-fission dynamics during hypoxia/reoxygenation

Structural, biochemical, and functional abnormalities of mitochondria during hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) are widely believed to be important pathogenic factors that underlie cell injury. However, mitochondrial fusion-fission dynamics responses to H/R are unclear. We investigated the effect of H/R and chemical hypoxia evoked by KCN on cellular ATP, ΔΨm, and on mitochondrial morphology and fusion. Sixty min H caused cellular ATP decrease to 71±3%. ΔΨm showed progressive decrease during H, gradually improved in the first 30 minutes R and decreased again during longer R. Mitochondrial fusion activity decreased to 65% during H and to 58% during R. In addition, anomalous fusion (autofusion and fusion at multiple sites among 2-3 mitochondria) produced donut-shaped mitochondria during R. Cyclosporine A (CSA), an inhibitor of the permeability transition pore (PTP) relieved the fusion inhibition (70%) and prevented donut formation during R. Five mM and 10 mM KCN could induce cellular ATP decrease to 49±6% and 23±2%, and ΔΨm decrease to 41±5% and 7±2%, respectively. Depolarized mitochondria were associated with donut-formation in 5 mM KCN, and with massive swelling in 10 mM KCN. Fusion activity decreased to 31% in 5 mM KCN and 13% in 10 mM KCN, respectively. Neither H nor KCN evoked cleavage of Opa1, the mitochondrial inner membrane fusion protein. Thus, both physical and chemical H induced respiratory inhibition to gradually lower ΔΨm and cellular ATP level, and caused fusion inhibition that was not dependent on Opa1 cleavage. This is sharp contrast of the uncoupler-induced fusion inhibition that has been attributed to the rapid ΔΨm dissipation-induced Opa1 cleavage. A consequence of PTP opening, the matrix swelling seems to be a key to donut formation since this could be evoked by both mastoparan, a potent PTP activator and by valinomycin, a potassium ionophore.
Continuous vapor-gas separation with a porous membrane permeation system

Abstract In contrast to adsorption processes in which the absorbent must be regenerated periodically, a thin porous membrane can be used to separate gaseous mixtures in an efficient and continuous manner. A Continuous Porous Membrane Permeator (CPMP) was constructed that allowed the condensible vapor in the feed stream to permeate preferentially through the membrane under the driving force of a pressure difference across the membrane. A mathematical model has been developed to describe and predict the CPMP performance under various design and operating conditions. The validity of the model simulation was verified by comparing the model prediction with the experimental results. A porous Vycor glass membrane was used to recover acetone and ethanol vapors from their mixtures with nitrogen gas. The separation performance, in terms of the apparent solvent permeability, separation factor, and solvent recovery, was evaluated systematically in a parametric study. A large solvent permeability and a high separation factor were obtained simultaneously when the feed solvent vapor pressure approached the capillary condensation vapor pressure. A semipermeable membrane system is also realized when the entire length of the membrane column is saturated with the solvent condensate. The results indicate that the CPMP is a potentially high performance membrane system for industrial application of solvent recovery from waste air emission and volatile organic compound pollution control.
Inheritance of resistance to potyviruses in Phaseolus vulgaris L. IV. Inheritance, linkage relations, and environmental effects on systemic resistance to four potyviruses.

We have examined the genetics of systemic resistance in Phaseolus vulgaris to azuki bean mosaic virus (AzMV) and cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) and the relationship of this resistance to a phenotypically similar resistance to watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and soybean mosaic virus (SMV). In P. vulgaris cv ‘Great Northern 1140’ (GN1140), resistance to SMV and WMV has been attributed to the genes Smv and Wmv, respectively, which have been shown to segregate as a unit. Systemic resistance to AzMV is conferred by two incompletely dominant alleles, Azm1 and Azm2, at unlinked loci. At least three resistance alleles must be present at these two loci for systemic resistance to be expressed in the plant. Systemic resistance to CABMV in GN 1140 is conditioned by a dominant allele that has been designated Cam2. Under some environmental conditions, a recessive allele at an unlinked locus, cam3, also controls a resistant response to CABMV. Resistance to AzMV and CABMV does not assort independently from Wmv/Smv, but also does not consistently cosegregate, suggesting that perhaps in each case one of the factors involved in resistance is associated with Smv/Wmv.
Enhancing and optimizing a data protection solution

Analyzing and managing large amounts of unstructured information is a high priority task for many companies. For implementing content management solutions, companies need a comprehensive view of their unstructured data. In order to provide a new level of intelligence and control over data resident within the enterprise, one needs to build a chain of tools and automated processes that enable the evaluation, analysis, and visibility into information assets and their dynamics during the information life-cycle. We propose a novel framework to utilize the existing backup infrastructure by integrating additional content analysis routines and extracting already available filesystem metadata over time. This is used to perform data analysis and trending to add performance optimization and self-management capabilities to backup and information management tasks. Backup management faces serious challenges on its own: processing ever increasing amount of data while meeting the timing constraints of backup windows could require adaptive changes in backup scheduling routines. We revisit a traditional backup job scheduling and demonstrate that random job scheduling may lead to inefficient backup processing and an increased backup time. In this work, we use a historic information about the object backup processing time and suggest an additional job scheduling, and automated parameter tuning which may significantly optimize the overall backup time. Under this scheduling, called LBF, the longest backups (the objects with longest backup time) are scheduled first. We evaluate the performance benefits of the introduced scheduling using a realistic workload collected from the seven backup servers at HP Labs. Significant reduction of the backup time (up to 30%) and improved quality of service can be achieved under the proposed job assignment policy.