cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Aerial Photography to Detect Diseases in Peanut Fields I. Sclerotinia Blight1

Abstract Aerial surveys were conducted over portions of Southampton County, Virginia, during the 1974 growing season. The flights were conducted to determine the spectral, spatial, and temporal characteristics of Sclerotinia blight in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) fields caused by the soil-borne fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Natural color and false color infrared imagery were used in the aerial surveys. Disease detection was best using false color infrared imagery. Sclerotinia blight, characterized by a unique spectral signature, can be detected on false color infrared imagery taken at 19,803 m above mean sea level. High altitude flights (19,803 m) were better for large area disease surveys. However, low altitude flights (3,504 m) gave better resolution for detailed study of individual fields. Aerial photography detected disease patterns which were difficult to observe from the ground. Early detection of the disease via aerial surveys could aid in minimizing disease severity. Imagery will also provide h...
Harnessing synthetic cilia to regulate motion of microparticles

Functional synthetic cilia lining solid surfaces could potentially yield a unique approach for regulating transport processes at interfaces. We use computer simulations to probe how non-motile and actuated cilia can be harnessed to control the motion of microscopic particles suspended in a Newtonian fluid. We show that biomimetic cilia can be arranged to create hydrodynamic currents that can either direct particles towards the ciliated surface or expel them away, thereby modifying the effective interactions between solid surfaces and particulates. In addition to revealing new approaches for regulating the microscale particle transport, our findings point to a new strategy for creating functional materials that employ active and responsive synthetic cilia.
Cosmopolitian-local: A multidimensional construct

Cosmopolitian-local, an attitudinal construct, has been used to predict and explain the variation in the manifest professional behavior of professionals in complex organizations. Recent research on university faculty members' attitudes has demonstrated the validity of a five-dimensional model of the construct. Factor analytic studies indicate that the five-dimensional model can serve as a standardized measure of professional orientation more plausibly than either the unidimensional or the two-dimensional models. The five dimensions of the more complex model are: professional commitment, commitment to organizational goals, organizational immobility, concern for advancement, and reference group orientation. These dimensions are significantly correlated to selected biographical, behavioral, and organizational variables.
Reciprocal variations in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and pancreatic insulin secretion in women with normal glucose tolerance.

OBJECTIVE Maintenance of normal glucose tolerance is achieved in subjects with a wide range of insulin sensitivity. It follows, therefore, that the body must possess a sensor mechanism that assesses the body's sensitivity to insulin and appropriately adjusts the secretion of insulin to maintain normal glucose homeostasis. We evaluated the relation between insulin action and insulin secretion. METHODS Euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (1 mU/kg.minute) and hyperglycemic clamp (+125 mg/dL) studies were performed in 32 non-obese women with normal oral glucose tolerance tests. The subjects were stratified into quartiles based upon their insulin-mediated rate of glucose uptake during the euglycemic insulin clamp. RESULTS Total body glucose disposal varied threefold, ranging from 4.00 to 11.18 mg/kg.minute. A significant inverse relation (r = -0.50, P < .01) was noted between the rate of total body insulin-mediated glucose disposal (insulin clamp) and the total plasma insulin response during the hyperglycemic clamp. Women in the lowest quartile of insulin sensitivity (mean glucose uptake 5.07 +/- 0.20 mg/kg.minute) had the highest plasma insulin response during the hyperglycemic clamp (109 +/- 20 microU/mL). In contrast, women in the highest quartile of insulin sensitivity (glucose uptake 9.90 +/- 0.38 mg/kg.minute) had the lowest plasma insulin response during the hyperglycemic clamp (55 +/- 16 microU/mL; P < .001 versus the lowest quartile). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that among subjects with normal glucose tolerance, there exists a large variation in both insulin-mediated glucose uptake and pancreatic insulin secretion. Nonetheless, normal glucose tolerance is maintained because of a finely regulated balance, which couples the demand for insulin secretion by the pancreatic beta cells to the level of whole-body insulin sensitivity.
Isolation of an HTLV-1-like retrovirus from patients with tropical spastic paraparesis

Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) is a slowly progressive myelopathy associated with increased serum and cerebrospinal fluid antibodies to the human T-lymphotropic retrovirus type I (HTLV-I) (ref. 1), and has been observed in many regions of the world2–4. A similar condition known as HTLV-I-associated myelopathy5 occurs in the Kagoshima prefecture of Japan. Recent6,7 but controversial8–10 reports suggest involvement of virus related to HTLV-I in multiple sclerosis. Magnetic resonance imag-ing and electrophysiological studies indicate that TSP lesions are like multiple sclerosis11 in that they are disseminated throughout the nervous system. Complete virus from patients with TSP has proved difficult to isolate12,13 using techniques successful in adult T-cell leukaemia cases associated with HTLV-I. Here we report the isolation of an HTLV-I-like virus from T-cell lines derived from the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of TSP patients. The monoclonal antibody OKT3 was used to generate non-trans-formed T-cell lines that express HTLV-I antigens. Infectious virus was demonstrated by co-cultivation and complete, replicating virions were visualized ultrastructurally.
Pulmonary Cell Populations in the Immunosuppressed Patient: Bronchoalveolar Lavage Findings During Episodes of Pneumonitis

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell populations were determined in 47 immunosuppressed patients during episodes of pulmonary disease. Thirty six patients had AIDS and 11 had conventional causes of immunosuppression. Pulmonary disease was due to a variety of infectious and noninfectious causes and was similar in both groups. In the AIDS patients, the mean BAL cell proportions were 64.2±3.7 percent alveolar macrophages (MACS), 28.7±3.4 percent lymphocytes, 3.5±1.8 percent polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and 1.6±0.6 percent eosinophils (EOS). The non-AIDS group had similar findings in the BAL, with 59.3±8.3 percent MACS, 34.8±7.2 percent lymphocytes, 5.5±1.7 percent PMN and 0.4±0.2 percent EOS. The most striking finding in each group was a significant increase in both the proportion and absolute number of lymphocytes compared to controls. This was in marked contrast to the peripheral blood findings of lymphopenia. There was no characteristic cell profile diagnostic of any specific pulmonary disease. There was also no direct relationship of the cells present to respiratory symptoms, roentgenographic abnormalities or survival from pulmonary disease. This study demonstrates that although there was wide individual variation in lavage findings, a local pulmonary inflammatory reaction consisting predominantly of lymphocytes occurs in the immunosuppressed host during episodes of lulng disease. The significance of this lymphocyte alveolitis and the complex host pathogen interaction responsible for determining the cell populations present in the lungs of these patients requires further study.
Swe1p responds to cytoskeletal perturbation, not bud size, in S. cerevisiae.

Summary Background S. cerevisiae cells must grow to a critical size in G1 in order to pass start and enter the cell cycle. A recent study proposed that in addition to the mother size control in G1, the bud must grow to a critical bud size in G2 in order to enter mitosis. Insufficient bud size would cause G2 arrest enforced by the mitotic inhibitor Swe1p, explaining previous findings that some perturbations that block bud growth also trigger Swe1p-dependent cell-cycle arrest. Results We tested the critical-bud-size hypothesis. We found that halting bud growth by inactivation of the myosin Myo2p did not trigger Swe1p-dependent arrest in budded cells, even when the buds were very small. Moreover, Swe1p did not affect cell-cycle progression in unstressed cells, even when bud size was decreased by overriding G1 size control. Actin depolymerization did cause Swe1p-dependent arrest in small-budded but not large-budded cells, as previously reported. However, we found that the key determinant of cell-cycle arrest in those circumstances was not bud size, but rather the relative abundance of the Swe1p mitotic inhibitor and the mitosis-promoting cyclins. Conclusions Swe1p does not respond to insufficient bud size. Instead, actin stress empowers Swe1p to promote arrest. The effectiveness of Swe1p in promoting that arrest declines as cells progress through the cell cycle.
Cholesterol and non-cholesterol sterol transporters: ABCG5, ABCG8 and NPC1L1: a review

1. Whole-body sterol (cholesterol and xenosterol) balance is delicately regulated by the gastrointestinal tract and liver, which control sterol absorption and excretion, respectively, in addition to the contribution to the cholesterol pool by whole-body cholesterol synthesis. In the past ten years enormous strides have been made not only in establishing that specific transporters mediate the entry and exit of sterols and how these may regulate selective sterol access to the body pools, but also in how these pathways operate to integrate these physiological pathways. 2. The entry of sterols from the gastrointestinal and biliary canalicular lumen into the body is mediated by NPC1L1, which was discovered by a novel method, via a genomics-bioinformatics approach. 3. Identification of the genetic basis responsible for causing sitosterolaemia, characterized by plant sterol accumulation, led to the identification of two half-transporters (ABCG5 and ABCG8) that normally efflux plant sterols (and cholesterol) into the intestinal and biliary lumen for faecal excretion. 4. The objective of this review is to provide up-to-date knowledge on genomics, proteomics and function of these two transporter systems.
Pathophysiology and management of one-lung ventilation.

Thoracic surgical volume is continually expanding with increased potential to care for patients with advanced surgical and respiratory disease. To care for these patients optimally, the clinician must understand the pathophysiology of the maneuvers necessary for thoracic surgery, including lateral positioning, onelung ventilation (OLV), and the intraoperative variables that affect outcome. It is crucial to recognize and manage the consequences of OLV during surgery.
The decision to quit smoking: Theory and evidence

Abstract Cigarette smoking has been acknowledged as the most preventable cause of death and disability in the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, smoking causes approximately 400,000 premature deaths annually. These include an estimated 170,000 cases of fatal heart disease, about ninety percent of all lung cancer deaths, and the leading cause of death from larynx, bladder, and esophagus cancer. In terms of disability, it is estimated that about ten million Americans suffer from chronic bronchitis and emphysema which are directly attributable to cigarette smoking (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1991).
Genes for tesin, villin and desmin are linked on mouse Chromosome 1

map this gene, restriction length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were sought between C57BL/6J and M. spretus. An RFLP detected upon SacI digestion (Fig. la) was used to screen a mapping panel of genomic DNA from The Jackson Laboratory backcross panel, BSS (backcrossed to M. spretus; Rowe et at. 1994). The resulting blots were hybridized at 55~ to the eDNA clone. Analysis of the data established the location of the mouse tensin gene (Tns) on Chromosome (Chr) 1 between D1Birl3 and DIBir14, distal to Crygb but proximal to DlMitS. The distances between genes in this region on the BSS panel are therefore as follows: Crygb-(3.19
Accuracy of an optical active-marker system to track the relative motion of rigid bodies

The measurement of relative motion between two moving bones is commonly accomplished for in vitro studies by attaching to each bone a series of either passive or active markers in a fixed orientation to create a rigid body (RB). This work determined the accuracy of motion between two RBs using an Optotrak optical motion capture system with active infrared LEDs. The stationary noise in the system was quantified by recording the apparent change in position with the RBs stationary and found to be 0.04° and 0.03 mm. Incremental 10° rotations and 10-mm translations were made using a more precise tool than the Optotrak. Increasing camera distance decreased the precision or increased the range of values observed for a set motion and increased the error in rotation or bias between the measured and actual rotation. The relative positions of the RBs with respect to the camera-viewing plane had a minimal effect on the kinematics and, therefore, for a given distance in the volume less than or close to the precalibrated camera distance, any motion was similarly reliable. For a typical operating set-up, a 10° rotation showed a bias of 0.05° and a 95% repeatability limit of 0.67°. A 10-mm translation showed a bias of 0.03 mm and a 95% repeatability limit of 0.29 mm. To achieve a high level of accuracy it is important to keep the distance between the cameras and the markers near the distance the cameras are focused to during calibration.
Irreversibility in the two-body hard-disk lorentz gas

Abstract Time-reversible modifications of Newton's equations of motion have been used to simulate irreversible isothermal shear flows. The modified equations have stable solutions for periodic systems with as few as two or three particles. These small-system solutions exhibit thermodynamic irreversibility, entropy production and realistic nonlinear constitutive behavior.
Teaching strategies used by internal medicine residents on the wards.

Background: Residents serve as teachers to interns and students in most internal medicine residency programs. Aim: The purpose of our study is to explore what internal medicine residents perceive as effective teaching strategies in the inpatient setting and to formulate a guideline for preparing residents to lead their ward teams. Methods: Housestaff identified as excellent teaching residents were recruited from a large internal medicine residency program. Focus groups were formed and interviews were conducted using open-ended questions. Transcripts of the interviews were reviewed, analyzed, and compared for accuracy by two investigators. The transcripts were then coded to categorize data into similar subjects from which recurrent themes in resident teaching were identified. Results: Twenty-two residents participated in four focus group interviews held in 2008. We identified five principal themes for effective teaching by residents: (T)aking advantage of teaching opportunities, (E)mpowering learners, (A)ssuming the role of leader, (C)reating a learning environment, and (H)abituating the practice of teaching. Conclusion: Strategies for effective teaching by residents exist. The TEACH mnemonic is a resident-identified method of instruction. Use of this tool could enable residency programs to create instructional curricula to prepare their residents and interns to take on the roles of team leaders and teachers.
Regularity for Fully Nonlinear Elliptic Equations with Neumann Boundary Data

We obtain local C α, C 1,α, and C 2,α regularity results up to the boundary for viscosity solutions of fully nonlinear uniformly elliptic second order equations with Neumann boundary conditions.
Infections in Chronic Lung Diseases

Chronic lung diseases are prevalent worldwide and cause significant mortality and suffering. This article discusses infections that occur in three chronic lung diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis. Rather than discussing the role of infections as etiology of these diseases, this article focuses on infections that occur in the background of established chronic lung disease.
Quantum criticality at the large‐dimensional limit: Three‐body Coulomb systems

We present quantum phase transitions and critical phenomena at the large-dimension (D) limit for three-body ABA Coulomb systems with charges (Q,q,Q) and masses (M,m,M). The Hamiltonian depends linearly on two parameters λ=∣Q/q∣ and κ=[1+(m/M)]−1. The system exhibits critical points with mean field critical exponents (α=0, β=½, δ=3, γ=1). We calculate the critical curve λc(κ) through which all systems undergo a continuous-phase transition from the symmetrical configuration, the two like particles have the same distance from the reference particle, to the unsymmetrical phase. The critical curve at D∞ limit is a convex function of κ and very similar to the one obtained at D=3 with variational calculations. We also calculated the line of zero angular correlation in the mass polarization term, which separates the symmetrical phase to an atom-like region and a molecule-like region. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001
The Flanking Region Sequences of the 15-kDa Lipoprotein Gene Differentiate Pathogenic Treponemes

The species Treponema pallidum includes three subspecies (pallidum, pertenue, and endemicum) that cause syphilis, yaws, and bejel, respectively. A closely related species, Treponema paraluiscuniculi, is the etiologic agent of venereal syphilis in rabbits but does not infect humans. Although these treponemes cause distinct diseases, no laboratory method for differentiation has been reported. Genetic signatures were defined in the 5' and 3' flanking regions of the 15-kDa lipoprotein gene (tpp15) that distinguish the human pathogens and T. paraluiscuniculi, as well as distinguishing T. pallidum subsp. pallidum from the causes of human nonvenereal treponematoses. A single Eco47III restriction site in the 5' flanking region differentiates T. pallidum subsp. pallidum from the other subspecies and species, and an XcmI site in the 3' flanking region differentiates T. paraluiscuniculi from the human pathogens. Polymerase chain reaction methods and restriction polymorphism were used to analyze 27 strains of pathogenic Treponema species.
Elevated dihydrofolate reductase messenger RNA levels in methotrexate-resistant BHK cells.

Abstract Polysomal RNA from cultured sublines of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells directed protein synthesis in an in vitro system derived from wheat germ extract. One product of the in vitro synthesis was dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), as confirmed by methotrexate-substituted Sepharose affinity chromatography followed by SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of the proteins labeled with 35 S-methionine. The DHFR synthesized in vitro comigrates in the gel with authentic BHK DHFR, indicating that the molecular weights and structures of the in vivo and in vitro enzymes are probably the same. Polysomal RNA obtained from the methotrexate-resistant BHK subline (A5), which possesses some 140 times higher DHFR levels than the methotrexate-sensitive parents subline (B1), directed the synthesis of approximately 70 times more DHFR per unit of total in vitro synthesized protein than did B1 polysomal RNA. Assuming then that the rates of translation of A5 and B1 DHFR mRNAs in the wheat germ cell-free system are the same, our results show that a major part of the high DHFR levels observed in A5 cells is due to the presence of elevated quantities of DHFR mRNA.
POLSKY AND SOCHALSKI RESPOND

We appreciate the letter from Betlehem et al. and the information on the growth of educational opportunities for Hungarian nurses and the consequences of those efforts. The experience in Hungary confirms our analysis of nurses working in the United States: the skill level among nurses educated abroad is comparable to that of nurses educated in the United States. As the demand for university-trained nurses grows globally, countries like Hungary that undertake these educational reforms may see a greater percentage of their nursing work-force emigrate. If this migration encourages other countries to raise their standards for nursing education, we can only hope that this will spell better care for all patients of nurses.
Calcification of bovine pericardium: Glutaraldehyde versus no-react biomodification

Background. Calcific degeneration is the most frequent cause of clinical dysfunction of glutaraldehyde (GA)-pretreated bioprosthetic heart valves. The No-React (NR) process has been shown to be a promising anticalcification treatment. In this comparative study, our objective was to delineate the advantages of the NR treatment over GA. Methods. Bovine pericardial strips pretreated with GA and NR were individually incubated in calcium phosphate solution for 21 days at 37°C. The pretreated bovine pericardium then was implanted subcutaneously in rats and retrieved at 14, 21, and 35 days after-implantation. Mineral and morphologic analyses were performed on each specimen. Results. The NR-treated pericardium revealed significantly reduced in vitro calcification compared with the GA-treated tissue (mean tissue calcium content 1.3 ± 0.2 versus 5.9 ± 0.7 μ g/mg; p μ g/mg after 2 weeks to 134.3 ± 9.1 μ g/mg at 5 weeks after-implantation). The NR-treated implants had calcified significantly less ( p Conclusions. The NR biochemical process appears not only to attenuate pericardial calcification, but also to abort the host's destructive inflammatory response to the xenograft.
SnapShot: Optical Control and Imaging of Brain Activity

Optical methods have assumed a leading role in the study of intact nervous system function. In comparison with traditional electrical recordings, optical imaging enables the measurement of activity in many structures at once, including subcellular domains. For observing function at the cellular level, multiphoton fluorescence microscopy allows tracking to be done with spatiotemporal resolution in the micron and millisecond range. Light can also be used to activate brain tissue by using “caged” neurotransmitters and second messengers, and, more recently, by using light-sensitive ion channels, pumps, and receptors to allow optogenetic activation.
Path2Go: Context-aware services for mobile real-time multimodal traveler information

Mobile platforms are now becoming a more and more important medium for providing information to travelers on the move. To improve the accuracy and relevance of the mobile traveler information, context awareness has become a active research topic. In this paper, we describe algorithms and services provided by Path2Go, a multimodal traveler information system developed by California PATH, UC Berkeley. The Path2Go activity detection algorithm, the core of the context-aware design, has made the following contributions: (1) it uses a rule-based multi-hypothesis Bayesian method for mode detection, to address the limitations of using mobile phone GPS for activity detection and increase the speed of convergence; (2) it fuses GPS data from transit vehicles and the GPS of the user's mobile phone for better activity detection; and (3) it enables several experimental services, including variable-frequency client-server communication and need-based GPS use. Field testing of the Path2Go activity detection algorithms showed reasonably good results. The Path2Go application has also been made available to the public through iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile platforms, with some of the features discussed in this paper included.
The preparation and properties of AgUF6 and AgUOF5

Abstract AgUF6 and AgUOF5 are formed by precipitation from liquid hydrogen fluoride. Chemical and physical properties are described.
Boundary conditions for direct computation of aerodynamic sound generation

A numerical scheme suitable for the computation of both the near field acoustic sources and the far field sound produced by turbulent free shear flows utilizing the Navier-Stokes equations is presented. To produce stable numerical schemes in the presence of shear, damping terms must be added to the boundary conditions. The numerical technique and boundary conditions are found to give stable results for computations of spatially evolving mixing layers.
The lipid language of plant–fungal interactions

Lipid mediated cross-kingdom communication between hosts and pathogens is a rapidly emerging field in molecular plant-fungal interactions. Amidst our growing understanding of fungal and plant chemical cross-talk lies the distinct, yet little studied, role for a group of oxygenated lipids derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids, termed oxylipins. Endogenous fungal oxylipins are known for their roles in carrying out pathogenic strategies to successfully colonize their host, reproduce, and synthesize toxins. While plant oxylipins also have functions in reproduction and development, they are largely recognized as agents that facilitate resistance to pathogen attack. Here we review the composition and endogenous functions of oxylipins produced by both plants and fungi and introduce evidence which suggests that fungal pathogens exploit host oxylipins to facilitate their own virulence and pathogenic development. Specifically, we describe how fungi induce plant lipid metabolism to utilize plant oxylipins in order to promote G-protein-mediated regulation of sporulation and mycotoxin production in the fungus. The use of host-ligand mimicry (i.e. coronatine) to manipulate plant defense responses that benefit the fungus are also implicated.
Effect of antimetabolites and actinomycin D on the replication of HADEN, a bovine parvovirus

A hemadsorbing enteric virus (HADEN), isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of cattle and previously classified as a bovine enterovirus, was found to induce Feulgen-positive intranuclear inclusions and to be inhibited in its replication by FUDR, BUDR and actinomycin D, indicating DNA as genetic material. Because of this fact and the other known properties of HADEN virus it should be considered a bovine parvovirus.
A unified theory of thin material wires (EM scattering)

The author presents an integral equation and method of moments (MM) solution to the problem of scattering by a thin material wire of circular cross section. In general the material wire has permittivity and permeability different from those of free space. The wire of radius a must be sufficiently thin so that k/sub 0/a >
Effects of tension wood on kraft paper from a short-rotation hardwood (Populus “Tristis No. 1”)

The physical properties and morphology of kraft paper handsheets obtained from tension wood of intensively managed, 5-year-old trees of Populus “Tristis No. 1” were compared to those produced from isolated normal wood of the same stems. Pulp yields of tension wood (TW) and normal wood (NW) were 60 and 53% respectively. Over a beating range of 0–45 minutes, strength properties of TW paper were in all cases noticeably inferior to those obtained from NW. During paper formation, the TW or gelatinous fibers resisted collapse, even upon extended refining, and produced thick, porous sheets of poorly bonded elements. It was concluded that the differential behavior of NW and TW pulps was in several respects analogous to those displayed by earlywood and latewood pulps, respectively, of softwood species as well as thin-vs. thick-walled hardwood fibers. Consequently, it appears that the inferior strength of TW paper is primarily a function of fiber morphology, and the difference in hemicellulose content between NW and TW (viz., lower pentosan content of TW) often cited in the literature as a potential major factor here probably contributes little if any significant effect on ultimate interfiber bonding and paper quality.
Chain rule and invariance principle on measure chains

In this note, we prove a chain rule for mappings on abstract measure chains and apply our result to deduce an invariance principle for non-autonomous dynamic equations.
The tidal loss of satellite-orbiting objects and its implications for the lunar surface

The solar system is composed of numerous bodies orbiting the sun, and numerous satellites orbiting planets. However, no objects greater than a kilometer in diameter are known to orbit satellites. Theoretical arguments are used to show that most objects orbiting satellites ultimately would be destroyed by tidal interactions. This may explain why such objects have not been observed. These arguments are applied to objects orbiting the moon. The ages and sizes of most of the circular mare basins are compatible with the lifetimes and crater sizes expected for impacts by objects caught in decaying lunar orbits. The morphology of a few circular mare basins (Crisium, Serenitatis, and possibly Imbrium) indicates that they could have been formed by such impacts. Thus, the lunar surface may provide a record of impacts due to objects caught in tidally decaying lunar orbits.
Automatic contention detection and amelioration for data-intensive operations

To take full advantage of the parallelism offered by a multi-core machine, one must write parallel code. Writing parallel code is difficult. Even when one writes correct code, there are numerous performance pitfalls. For example, an unrecognized data hotspot could mean that all threads effectively serialize their access to the hotspot, and throughput is dramatically reduced. Previous work has demonstrated that database operations suffer from such hotspots when naively implemented to run in parallel on a multi-core processor. In this paper, we aim to provide a generic framework for performing certain kinds of concurrent database operations in parallel. The formalism is similar to user-defined aggregates and Google's MapReduce in that users specify certain functions for parts of the computation that need to be performed over large volumes of data. We provide infrastructure that allows multiple threads on a multi-core machine to concurrently perform read and write operations on shared data structures, automatically mitigating hotspots and other performance hazards. Our goal is not to squeeze the last drop of performance out of a particular platform. Rather, we aim to provide a framework within which a programmer can, without detailed knowledge of concurrent and parallel programming, develop code that efficiently utilizes a multi-core machine.
Public health, safety and educational risks associated with bullying behaviors in American adolescents.

Based on a national representative sample of United States (US) middle and high school students, we studied the association between different health, safety, and educational risk factors and involvement in a variety of bullying behaviors. DESIGN: Based on an analysis of US data of the 1996 World Health Organization Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey, with cross-sectional survey information on 9,938 students in grades 6 through 10. RESULTS: Thirty-nine per cent of the students were involved in bullying others and/or were victims of bullies at least three times in the preceding 12 months. Bullies, victims, and those who are both, are at a significantly higher risk of suffering from self-inflicted, accidental, and perpetrated injuries, abusing-over-the counter medications, hurting animals and people on purpose, using a weapon that could seriously hurt someone, and being frequently absent from school, as compared with their peers who are not involved in bullying or rarely participated in it. Those students who are both bullies and victims experience a wide array of associated risk behaviors with odd ratios stretching from 1.54 to 14.17. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed that participation in bullying behaviors, as a bully or as a victim, is associated with multiple health, safety, and educational hazards. Students who are bullies and/or victims are at a high risk of dying from self-inflicted, accidental, or perpetrated injuries. Language: en
Fundamentalist colonialism: the geopolitics of Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Abstract In July 2000, it looked as if Israeli-Palestinian peace was just around the corner. Although the Camp David Summit did not lead to a permanent agreement, talks continued. By the fall of 2002, the peace process had all but collapsed. The two sides clash violently and almost daily. The premise of this paper is that Israeli-Palestinian peace is possible. Given this premise, the paper addresses two questions. First, why did the Oslo peace process fail to resolve the conflict? Second, assuming a Palestinian state were to be formed, what would be the best geopolitical arrangement to secure a stable Israeli-Palestinian peace? This paper argues that at its core, the contemporary Israeli-Palestinian conflict is driven by Israeli colonialism: since 1967, Israel has built numerous settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and has, in practice, annexed the land. At the forefront of this colonialist movement are settlers who are members of Israeli fundamentalist groups that believe in the vision of biblical Israel. Historically, colonialism has remained intact as long as the native population accepted its presence. When this passivity was replaced by a quest for independence, colonialism collapsed. Some colonial rulers left peacefully. Others put up a fight. Colonial conflicts ended only when the colonial rulers gave up the colonies. To the extent that history can serve as a model, there can be no resolution of the conflict until Israel withdraws from all the territories and evacuates all its settlements, and a Palestinian state forms in all the West Bank and Gaza Strip. If the Palestinian state takes the form of numerous discontinuous enclaves surrounded by Israeli land, the conflict likely will continue.
The non‐intermediacy of benzo[1,2‐d:2,3‐d']bistriazole during the diazotization of a 4‐aminobenzotriazole

Labeling studies with 15N demonstrate that a diazonium ion prepared from a 4-aminobenzotriazole does not cyclize to a tricyclic intermediate.
Quality of life after a diagnosis of prostate cancer among men of lower socioeconomic status: results from the Veterans Affairs Cancer of the Prostate Outcomes Study.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate prospectively the health-related and disease-specific quality of life (QOL) at diagnosis and during the first year thereafter for patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer who received care at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Methods Interviewers administered the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-QOL Questionnaire, a valid and reliable measure of health status, to 140 patients with prostate cancer at baseline (at diagnosis, before the initiation of treatment) and at 3 and 12 months thereafter at five Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. The mean changes from baseline values were analyzed statistically for patients with localized disease stratified by treatment group and separately for patients with metastatic disease. Results Among the 98 men with localized prostate cancer, significant disease-specific QOL changes noted at 3 and 12 months included worsening of urinary and sexual function among men treated with radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy and worsening of urinary function among those who opted for watchful waiting (each P Conclusions At 12 months, disease-specific QOL decrements persisted for patients with localized disease, but for patients with metastatic disease, disease-specific QOL appeared to return to near baseline (at diagnosis, before treatment initiation) function. Our study, among the first to assess the QOL at baseline before treatment, provides meaningful information on general treatment effects, which are directly relevant to clinicians when discussing treatment options with patients.
LU decomposition of matrices with augmented dense constraints

Sparse matrices composed of a central band and augmented dense rows and columns are becoming prevalent in the numerical solution of a large class of boundary and initial-value problems. A Fortran Subroutine ARROW is presented for the LU decomposition and solution of linear equation systems with such a structure. The computational speed of the program is compared in MFLOPS (millions of floating point operations per second) to the LINPACK benchmark for the solution of a dense linear system and is found to be of comparable speed on both supercomputers and minicomputers. Use of the Basic Linear Algebra Subroutines (BLAS) available on most machines significantly enhances the speed of ARROW.
Seeds of discontent: expert opinion, mass media messages, and the public image of agricultural biotechnology.

Survey data are presented on opinions about agricultural biotechnology and its applications held by agricultural science faculty at highly ranked programs in the United States with and without personal involvement in biotechnology-oriented research. Respondents believed biotech holds much promise, but policy positions vary. These results underscore the relationship between opinion and stakeholder interests in this research, even among scientific experts. Media accounts are often seen as causes, rather than artifacts, of the existence of public controversy; European and now U.S. opposition to food biotechnology is often explained away in terms of such a relationship. The authors argue that where even experts are divided, public opposition cannot reasonably be attributed to poor public understanding or sensationalistic media accounts. Ethical implications for communicating science are explored.
Nerve regeneration across an extended gap: A neurobiological view of nerve repair and the possible involvement of neuronotrophic factors

We have compared the anatomic and functional regeneration of a transected sciatic nerve following regrowth from its proximal stump through either preformed empty mesothelial chambers or autologous nerve grafts bridging a 10 mm gap. Within the mesothelial chambers an organized multifascicular nerve trunk forms between the proximal and distal stumps. After 3 months, distal segment cross sections from the mesothelial chamber and nerve graft groups did not differ with respect to axonal density or distribution of axonal diameters. Mean conduction velocities across the gaps were also similar, although the nerve graft group had a wider distribution of velocities. Little or no regeneration was evident when the gap between the nerve stumps was left empty. These results suggest that if the regrowing proximal stump is in an appropriate environment, it can form a well organized and oriented nerve trunk. In the mesothelial chambers, the regenerating nerve is surrounded by a loose cellular stroma and a small amount of interstitial fluid, which was found to contain trophic activity for cultured rodent sensory neurons. Such factors may also support nerve regeneration in vivo.
Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach with extensive somatostatin immunoreactivity.

Upper gastrointestinal tract neuroendocrine tumors producing predominantly somatostatin have thus far been described only in the duodenum; their characteristic features include the frequent presence of psammoma bodies (psammomatous somatostinomas), and the association with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. Gastric neuroendocrine tumors, on the other hand, tend to display immunoreactivity to serotonin but may include small subpopulations producing gastrin, motilin, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin. In this report we describe a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach with rapidly fatal outcome, displaying neurosecretory granules by electron microscopy and immunoreactivity to pan-neuroendocrine markers, ie, chromogranin and neuron-specific enolase. The only neuroendocrine regulatory peptide detected in the tumor was somatostatin, identified by immunohistochemistry in the majority of neoplastic cells. In contrast with duodenal somatostinomas, there were no psammoma bodies and no demonstrable ass...
Steroids in the blood and urine of female mice bearing an ACTH-producing pituitary tumor.

It has been reported that female LAFi mice bearing an ACTH-producing tumor exhibit symptoms somewhat resembling those of Cushing's disease in humans (1). The blood serum and urine of these mice have now been analyzed secretion. Cortisol and its metabolites retaining the phenylhydrazine reacting side chain were present only in traces or absent in both serum and urine, despite the prolonged action of endogenous ACTH. Corticosterone appeared to be the major corticoid of serum, while in urine the most abundant C21 steroid could have been a metabolite of corticosterone. The concentration of C19 steroids in serum was roughly equal to that of corticosterone, whereas in urine it was forty times the corticoid total. The predominating urinary steroids were C19O2 compounds. Two constituents of this type which were isolated were most probably llβ-hydroxy-Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione and its saturated analogue llβ-hydrox)Δ4-androstane (or etiocholane)-3, 17-dione. Unknown C19O2 steroids were also present in urine, but nei...
Facies Character and Stratal Responses to Accommodation in Pennsylvanian Bioherms, Western Orogrande Basin, New Mexico

ABSTRACT Upper Paleozoic shallow-water (algal) bioherms were sensitive to changes in accommodation, and thus preserve potentially high-resolution records of the (glacio)eustatic and tectonic perturbations that prevailed during late Paleozoic time. Detailed field and petrographic study of a high-relief (> 100 m), well-exposed mound complex of the western Orogrande basin (New Mexico) indicates that it consists of a series of stacked high-frequency sequences bounded by surfaces of paleo-subaerial exposure. Facies within and proximal to this complex include (1) boundstones (cement-, algal-, peloidal-, and foraminiferal-rich variants) within mound-core regions, (2) packstones (skeletal-, foraminiferal-, algal-, and peloidal-rich debris) within mound-flank regions, and (3) auxiliary facies (oncoidal wackestone, algal bindstone, carbonate mudstone) formed in low-relief off-mound regions. Sequence stacking in this system was the result of high-frequency, high-amplitude glacioeustasy that prevailed during late Paleozoic time. Paleorelief on subaerial exposure surfaces records glacioeustatic amplitudes in excess of 80-100 m; preserved paleoslopes locally exceeding 40° (compactionally corrected) indicate that the mounds were cemented geologically instantaneously and not easily eroded, even at lowstands. Timing of stratal accretion within a given sequence varied significantly as a function of both spatial and temporal position within the biohermal complex. Stratal accretion in mound-nucleation stages produced late-falling-stage ("catch-down") sequences both on- and off-mound. During the "acme" phase of mound growth in this complex, accretion occurred during sea-level rise and maximum inundation phases, nearly pacing production of short-term (glacioeustatic) accommodation and producing an anomalously thick, near keep-up sequence in the mound-core region. Subsequent sequences of the mound core nucleated atop significant paleobathymetric relief, accreted during maximum inundation to incipient fall, and therefore display thicknesses that likely reflect long-term accommodation potential. In a shallow-water biohermal system capable of accretion rates commensurate with production of short-term accommodation space, very thick near keep-up sequences are laterally offset from one another in progradational, retrogradational, or random shifting patterns owing to the limits of short-term accommodation production in any given locality. Sequence thicknesses in shallow-water biohermal systems vary substantially laterally as a result of variable sedimentation (accretion) rates as well as other environmental factors. Accordingly, sequence thicknesses should never be used as faithful and consistent proxies for calculations of accommodation space or eustatic magnitudes.
Mitochondrial DNMT3A and DNA methylation in skeletal muscle and CNS of transgenic mouse models of ALS

Cytosine methylation is an epigenetic modification of DNA catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases. Cytosine methylation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is believed to have relative underrepresentation; however, possible tissue and cell differences in mtDNA methylation and relationships to neurodegenerative disease have not been examined. We show by immunoblotting that DNA methyltransferase 3A (Dnmt3a) isoform is present in pure mitochondria of adult mouse CNS, skeletal muscle, and testes, and adult human cerebral cortex. Dnmt1 was not detected in adult mouse CNS or skeletal muscle mitochondria but appeared bound to the outer mitochondrial membrane. Immunofluorescence confirmed the mitochondrial localization of Dnmt3a and showed 5-methylcytosine (5mC) immunoreactivity in mitochondria of neurons and skeletal muscle myofibers. DNA pyrosequencing of two loci (D-loop and 16S rRNA gene) and twelve CpG sites in mtDNA directly showed a tissue differential presence of 5mC. Because mitochondria have been implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the disease mechanisms are uncertain, we evaluated mitochondrial Dnmt3a and 5-methylcytosine levels in human superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) transgenic mouse models of ALS. Mitochondrial Dnmt3a protein levels were reduced significantly in skeletal muscle and spinal cord at presymptomatic or early disease. Immunofluorescence showed that 5mC immunoreactivity was present in mitochondria of neurons and skeletal myofibers, and 5mC immunoreactivity became aggregated in motor neurons of ALS mice. DNA pyrosequencing revealed significant abnormalities in 16S rRNA gene methylation in ALS mice. Immunofluorescence showed that 5mC immunoreactivity can be sequestered into autophagosomes and that mitophagy was increased and mitochondrial content was decreased in skeletal muscle in ALS mice. This study reveals a tissue-preferential mitochondrial localization of Dnmt3a and presence of cytosine methylation in mtDNA of nervous ti
How unprecedented a solar minimum

[1] The end of the current solar minimum is at least 2 years late, and indicators of solar and geomagnetic activity are approaching or are at their historical lows. We examine current indicators to determine how unprecedented this solar cycle might be, comment on possible earlier analogs to the current situation, and discuss attempts to predict future sunspot maxima on the basis of geomagnetic and solar magnetic data. Accompanying the change in the solar magnetic field has been a significant, albeit small, change in the total solar irradiance. Thus, the coming solar cycle(s) may provide an opportunity to separate the climatic effects of solar and anthropogenic sources.
Entry Regulation and the Formalization of Microenterprises in Developing Countries

The majority of microenterprises in most developing countries remain informal despite more than a decade of reforms aimed at making it easier and cheaper for them to formalize. This paper summarizes the evidence on the effects of entry reforms and related policy actions to promote firm formalization. Most of these policies result only in a modest increase in the number of formal firms, if at all. Less is known about the impact of other forms of business regulations on the performance of low-scale enterprises. Most informal firms appear not to benefit on net from formalizing, so ease of formalization alone will not lead to most of them formalizing. Increased enforcement of rules can increase formality. Although there is a fiscal benefit of doing this with larger informal firms, it is unclear whether there is a public rationale for trying to formalize subsistence enterprises.