cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous independent measurement of endocytosis and exocytosis

STUDIES of membrane traffic between the cytoplasm and surface of a cell suggest that membrane internalization is tightly coupled to secretion. Studies using the capacitance technique show that endocytosis can follow evoked exocytosis within a second or less1–3. The capacitance technique, however, measures only the net change in cell surface area, and thus separating exocytosis from endocytosis requires that the two events do not overlap in time. This condition is probably met with small, brief stimuli1–5, but during prolonged stimulation it is more likely that exocytosis and endocytosis occur simultaneously6. We used FM1-43 fluorescence, which provides a cumulative measure of exocytosis, independent of endocytosis, in combination with capacitance monitoring to track unidirectional movements of membrane simultaneously and in real time in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. We confirm that, with relatively small stimuli, exocytosis ceases before endocytosis begins (no overlap). In contrast, during prolonged stimulation, the onset of endocytosis is delayed by 2–3 min, but then the rate of endocytosis quickly grows to equal that of exocytosis. The delayed onset of endocytosis may be an emergency defence against catastrophic cell swelling.
POWER, INFLUENCE, AND HIERARCHY: DEFENSE INDUSTRIES IN A UNIPOLAR WORLD

The global defense‐industrial sector reflects the hierarchy of power in the post‐Cold War world. As in the larger international system, the United States plays the dominant role in the defense sect...
Regeneration of Fertile Plants from Cell‐suspension‐derived Small‐cell Colonies of Lolium perenne (L.)

A defined method for the rapid establishment of cell suspensions releasing small-cell colonies and their regeneration to fertile plants is described. Cell suspensions were obtained from 10 mature, lengthwise-divided embryos. Five of the 10 suspensions regenerated green plants. Filtration of suspensions through a 150 μm mesh followed by regeneration was carried out 28 days after initiation of the suspensions, to demonstrate a rapid release of regenerable small cell colonies from cell suspensions using the protocol described. Two of the 10 filtered suspensions regenerated green plants from small cell colonies.
Cefaclor advanced formulation 750 mg twice daily versus clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily in the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis

Abstract This multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel-treatment, outpatient study compared the therapeutic equivalence and safety of cefaclor advanced formulation (AT) with those of clarithromycin in the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to receive cefaclor AT 750 mg twice daily for 10 days (n = 64) or clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily for 10 days (n = 65). A medical history was recorded, a physical examination was performed, and sinusitis diagnostic criteria (maxillofacial pain or tenderness, purulent rhinorrhea, headache, and fever) were assessed ≤24 hours before administration of the first dose of study medication (pretherapy). Assessments of symptomatic response, clinical response, and adverse events were performed 3 to 5 days after the end of therapy or at the time of early discontinuation (post therapy) and 10 to 14 days after the end of therapy (follow-up). Symptomatic responses of maxillofacial pain or tenderness, purulent rhinorrhea, and headache were scored on a 4-point scale (0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe); clinical response was defined as cure, improvement, relapse, failure, or indeterminate. Treatment with cefaclor AF or clarithromycin almost eliminated maxillofacial pain and tenderness, purulent rhinorrhea, and headache. Mean symptom scores post therapy and at follow-up ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 in the cefaclor AF group and from 0.0 to 0.2 in the clarithromycin group. The incidence of treatment success was identical in the 2 treatment groups: 58 patients (91%) in the cefaclor AF group and 59 patients (91%) in the clarithromycin group were cured or improved post therapy. Twenty patients (31%) in the cefaclor AF group and 19 patients (29%) in the clarithromycin group experienced adverse events, none of which were serious. Discontinuations because of adverse events occurred in 4 patients in the clarithromycin group (gastrointestinal, 3; rash, 1) and 1 patient in the cefaclor AF group (rash); these differences were not statistically significant. In terms of clinical response and symptom score, cefaclor AF and clarithromycin were equally effective in the treatment of this group of patients with acute maxillary sinusitis.
A rapid whole-mount staining procedure for nuclei of mammalian embryos

Abstract A rapid staining procedure for examining nuclei of mammalian embryos is described. Embryos are placed on a glass slide, counterstained with trypan blue, stained with Hoechst 33342, and embedded between the slide and coverslip in Permount. The nuclei of the embryos fluoresce brightly when examined by fluorescence microscopy immediately after staining or after extended storage. The technique has proved to be an effective tool for studying the development of cow, hamster, mouse, pig, rabbit, and sheep embryos.
Chorlody: a music learning game

In this document, the authors present the design and educational potentials of Chorlody, a rhythm action game intended to help music learners develop abilities in recognizing chord progression.
Random correspondences and nonlinear equations

Abstract The question of existence of random solutions of nonlinear equations involving random correspondences is studied by direct use of the results from the deterministic case without resorting to iterative techniques. Applications to stochastic control and nonlinear random operator equations are given.
An Assessment of Five Modeling Approaches for Thermo-Mechanical Stress Analysis of Laminated Composite Panels

A study is made of the effects of variation in the lamination and geometric parameters, and boundary conditions of multi-layered composite panels on the accuracy of the detailed response characteristics obtained by five different modeling approaches. The modeling approaches considered include four two-dimensional models, each with five parameters to characterize the deformation in the thickness direction, and a predictor-corrector approach with twelve displacement parameters. The two-dimensional models are first-order shear deformation theory, third-order theory; a theory based on trigonometric variation of the transverse shear stresses through the thickness, and a discrete layer theory. The combination of the following four key elements distinguishes the present study from previous studies reported in the literature: (1) the standard of comparison is taken to be the solutions obtained by using three-dimensional continuum models for each of the individual layers; (2) both mechanical and thermal loadings are considered; (3) boundary conditions other than simply supported edges are considered; and (4) quantities compared include detailed through-the-thickness distributions of transverse shear and transverse normal stresses. Based on the numerical studies conducted, the predictor-corrector approach appears to be the most effective technique for obtaining accurate transverse stresses, and for thermal loading, none of the two-dimensional models is adequate for calculating transverse normal stresses, even when used in conjunction with three-dimensional equilibrium equations.
Inner-Shell Excitation Spectroscopy of Polymer and Monomer Isomers of Dimethyl Phthalate

The C 1s X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of poly(diallyl phthalate), poly(diallyl isophthalate), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) have been recorded using transmission detection. The phthalate segments of these polymers are isomers with different patterns of substitution (ortho, meta, para) of the methyl carboxylate groups on the phenyl ring. The C 1s and O 1s electron energy loss spectra (EELS) of the corresponding isomeric monomers, dimethyl phthalate, dimethyl isophthalate, and dimethyl terephthalate, have also been recorded in the gas phase using inelastic electron scattering under conditions dominated by electric dipole transitions. Good agreement is found in overall shape and in the energies of the spectral features of the same isomer in monomeric (EELS) versus polymeric (XAS) form. Ab initio calculations are used to provide a detailed interpretation of the spectra, in particular the origin of the isomeric variations. The analytical potential for using inner shell excitation spectroscopy to ide...
Sharpen your science communication skills at a Fall Meeting workshop

Are you eager to share your research and want to help reporters get it right? Do you yearn to enter the climate science debate but are wary of saying the wrong thing? AGU is offering two separate communications skill-building events on Sunday, 2 December 2012, for Fall Meeting attendees wishing to sharpen their communications skills. For scientists interested in talking about climate science, AGU and the Union of Concerned Scientists, an organization that combines scientific research with citizen action to create practical solutions for a healthy environment and a safer world, will offer the Communicating Climate Science Workshop on Sunday morning. A panel of experienced communicators will share their success stories and offer advice on how to avoid common missteps. Then, in an interactive workshop setting, attendees will practice identifying and effectively responding to misinformation about climate science in front of a variety of audiences.
A versatile high-voltage D-C insulation tester

The high-voltage insulation-resistance meter described in this article provides a rugged, portable, accurate, and convenient means for making d-c overpotential tests or measurements of insulation resistance, polarization index, or leakage current versus voltage.
Weakly periodic-like rings and commutativity

A ring R is called periodic if, for every x in R, there exist distinct positive integers m and n such that xm=xn. An element x is called potent if xk=x for some integer k≯1. A ring R is called weakly periodic if every x in R can bewritten in the form x=a+b for some nilpotent element a and some potent element b. A ring R is called weakly periodic-like if every x in R which is not in the center of R can be written in the form x=a+b, where a is nilpotent and b is potent. Our objective is to study the structure of weakly periodic-like rings, with particular emphasis on conditions which yield such rings commutative, or conditions which render the nilpotents N as an ideal of R and R/N as commutative.
Organic contaminants and characteristics of sediments from Oso Bay, south Texas, USA

The Oso Bay, Texas, sediments from nine sites were analyzed by GC-MS for organics to measure contamination in the bay. In most of the sites sediments contained tetrachloroethene (87–1433 μg/kg), bis (2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (40–193 μg/kg), and aliphatic hydrocarbons, C8-C13 (720–2491 μg/kg). Sources of these contaminants include a landfill, military facilities, and municipal and industrial discharges. Size analysis of the sediments indicates they contain a high percentage of muddy sand (50–75 percent), which suggests that Oso Bay consists of common bay margin sediments.
Organization revealed by recall orders and confirmed by pauses.

The technique introduced here induces the organization of information in memory from systematic inspection of regularities in free recall. The form of the representation of this organization is an “ordered tree.” The technique has the advantage of being based on a theory of the way in which the data were generated and can be shown to produce a unique structure that captures all the kinds of regularities the theory of recall prescribes. Also presented is a collateral technique for measuring the amount of organization evidenced in a struture, as well as a procedure for identifying errors. The experimental work shows the technique’s ability to recover the details of an organization presented to subjects and provides converging evidence for the particular structures induced from the pattern of recall pauses. In addition, the application of the technique to structures unknown a priori produced organizations that were easy to interpret and a second set of pauses that further confirmed the details of the induced structures. A number of contemporary topics in cognitive psychology involve investigation of complexly organized knowledge bases and the mental processes that operate on them. For example, researchers in human factors engineering are concerned with building man-machine interfaces that are compatible with the knowledge the user brings to the situation. Researchers in problem solving examine the changes in knowledge structures and mental operations that occur as one moves from the novice to the expert level. And, educators attempt to devise instructional programs that build complexly organized knowledge bases in the student. Essential to all of these investigations is a description of the form and the details of the psychological representation of the knowledge base. This paper introduces a technique that provides such a concrete representation of some aspects of the mental organization of complex categories, based on inferences from multitrial free recall. There are a number of other techniques that infer details of a subject’s mental organization. Selecting those that are appropriate for a particular investigation depends on a number of issues: the kind of behavior under investigation (e.g., similarity judgments, confusions, the order in which
Early Miocene Depositional Environments Interpreted from Exposures in Cane River Diversion Channel, Louisiana: ABSTRACT

A Miocene deltaic sequence, 75 ft thick, is exposed continuously for 4 mi in the Cane River Diversion Channel 25 mi northwest of Alexandria, Louisiana. This outcrop permits a detailed study of the abrupt lateral and vertical variations of lithologic character, sedimentary structures, bed geometry, and diagenetic alterations in a prograding deltaic sequence. From this study, the sedimentary features of channels, point bars, levees, swamps, and distributary mouth bars have been characterized and compared with those of modern deltaic environments. Deltaic paleoenvironments commonly are found in the subsurface, e.g., the oil producing Wilcox of central Mississippi and Louisiana. This study provides a model to aid in understanding the seemingly random occurrences of lithologie and their related correlation problems of the subsurface. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1694------------
PZT-Based Piezoelectric MEMS Technology

This review article presents recent advancements in the design and fabrication of thin-film (<3 μm) lead zirconate titanate (PZT) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices. The article covers techniques for optimizing highly (001)/(100) oriented chemical solution deposited PZT films to achieve improved piezoelectric coefficients. These PZT films combined with surface and bulk micromachining techniques are fabricated into actuators and transducers for radio frequency (RF) switches, nanomechanical logic, resonators, and power transformers for use in communication systems and phased-array radar. In addition, the large relative displacements generated by PZT thin films have been used to demonstrate mechanical mobility in MEMS devices, including insect-inspired flight actuators and ultrasonic traveling wave motors. In conjunction with actuation, PZT films are being developed for feedback sensors for the integrated control of insect-inspired robots.
Cortical sources of the respiratory-related evoked potential

Abstract The respiratory-related evoked potential (RREP) is increasingly used to study the neural processing of respiratory signals. However, little is known about the cortical origins of early (Nf, P1, N1) and later RREP components (P2, P3). By using high-density EEG, we studied cortical sources of RREP components elicited by short inspiratory occlusions in 18 healthy volunteers (6 female, mean age 20.0 ± 1.8 years). Topographical maps for Nf and P1 showed bilateral maximum EEG voltages over the frontal and centro-parietal cortex, respectively. Cortical source analyses (minimum-norm estimates) in addition to topographical maps demonstrated bilateral sensorimotor cortex origins for N1 and P2 which were paralleled by an additional frontal cortex source (p's
The H6D variant of NAG-1/GDF15 inhibits prostate xenograft growth in vivo.

BACKGROUND Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene (NAG-1), a divergent member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, has been implicated in many cellular processes, including inflammation, early bone formation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. Recent clinical studies suggests that a C to G single nucleotide polymorphism at position 6 (histidine to aspartic acid substitution, or H6D) of the NAG-1 protein is associated with lower human prostate cancer incidence. The objective of the current study is to investigate the activity of NAG-1 H6D variant in prostate cancer tumorigenesis in vivo. METHODS Human prostate cancer DU145 cells expressing the H6D NAG-1 or wild-type (WT) NAG-1 were injected subcutaneously into nude mice and tumor growth was monitored. Serum and tumor samples were collected for subsequent analysis. RESULTS The H6D variant was more potent than the WT NAG-1 and inhibited tumor growth significantly compared to control mice. Mice with tumors expressing the WT NAG-1 have greater reduced both body weight and abdominal fat than mice with H6D variant tumors suggesting different activities of the WT NAG-1 and the H6D NAG-1. A significant reduction in adiponectin, leptin, and IGF-1 serum levels was observed in the tumor-bearing mice with a more profound reduction observed with expression of H6D variant. Cyclin D1 expression was suppressed in the tumors with a dramatic reduction observed in the tumor expressing the H6D variant. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that the H6D variant of NAG-1 inhibits prostate tumorigenesis by suppressing IGF-1 and cyclin D1 expression but likely additional mechanisms are operative. Prostate 72:677–689, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Broad spectrum of cytokine abnormalities in panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Background: Proinflammatory cytokines have been reported to be elevated in individuals experiencing chronic stress as well as in those with major depressive disorder. Much less is known about cytokines in anxiety disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder (PD). We hypothesized that PD and PTSD would be associated with a generalized proinflammatory cytokine signature. Method: We utilized Luminex technology to examine 20 cytokines and chemokines in serum from 48 well-characterized individuals with a primary DSM-IV PD or PTSD diagnosis, and 48 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We conservatively employed a Bonferroni correction for multiple testing (α=.05/20=.0025). Results: Individuals with primary PTSD or PD had significantly elevated median peripheral cytokine levels for 18 of 20 different cytokines compared to age- and gender-matched healthy controls (all P<.0025). To assess for the presence of a generalized proinflammatory state, we also examined the proportion of subjects with detectable levels of at least six of nine common proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1α, Eotaxin, GM-CSF, and IFN-α). For men and women, 87% of anxiety patients had six or more detectable levels of these proinflammatory cytokines, compared with only 25% of controls (Fisher's Exact Test (FET) P=.000). Confirmatory analysis of the subset of individuals without current psychiatric medication use or comorbid depression was of comparable significance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a generalized inflammatory state may be present in individuals with PD or PTSD. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Theoretic refractive changes after lens implantation in childhood.

Abstract Objective: Children with aphakia tend to have decreasing hyperopia as they grow older. No large study of the long-term refractive changes in children with pseudophakia has been published, although myopic shifts of greater than 10 diopters (D) have been reported. The authors used the refractions of children with aphakia and long follow-up to calculate the theoretic long-term refractive effects of pseudophakia. Design: The study design was a chart review of eyes that underwent cataract surgery before age 10 with documented refractions for more than 7 years. Participants: Ninety-three eyes were studied. Intervention: The initial aphakic refractions of the study eyes were used to calculate the intraocular lens (IOL) powers that would have been required to give emmetropia at cataract removal. The aphakic refractions at last follow-up were used to calculate the final pseudophakic refractions, and these were compared with the predictions of a logarithmic model of myopic shift. Results: The mean follow-up time was 11 years. The median calculated pseudophakic refraction at last follow-up was −6.6 D with a range of −36.3 to +2.9 D. Children who underwent surgery in the first 2 years of life had a substantially greater myopic shift than older children ( P P Conclusions: Pseudophakia in children is predicted to result in a large quantity of myopic shift, particularly in very young children. An IOL power chosen to leave a child initially hyperopic should lessen both the quantity of myopic shift and the extreme myopia that can result with growth. The surgeon who implants IOLs in young children must be prepared for a wide variation in long-term myopic shift.
Substancehood and Subjecthood in Aristotle's Categories

I attempt to answer the question of what Aristotle's criteria for 'being a substance' are in the Categories. On the basis of close textual analysis, I argue that subjecthood, conceived in a certain way, is the criterion that explains why both concrete objects and substance universals must be regarded as substances. It also explains the substantial primacy of concrete objects. But subjecthood can only function as such a criterion if both the subjecthood of concrete objects and the subjecthood of substance universals can be understood as philosophically significant phenomena. By drawing on Aristotle's essentialism, I argue that such an understanding is possible: the subjecthood of substance universals cannot simply be reduced to that of primary substances. Primary and secondary substances mutually depend on each other for exercising their capacities to function as subjects. Thus, subjecthood can be regarded as a philosophically informative criterion for substancehood in the Categories.
Visual guidance to force plates does not influence ground reaction force variability

Gait analysis methods commonly require the subject to avoid visual guidance, that is, targeting, the force plate upon which a foot-strike is necessary. The putative rationale underlying the preference for not using targeting is the unsubstantiated contention that gait is altered. This study evaluated the influence of force plate targeting on the variability of ground reaction forces (GRF) in 15 normal subjects. Secondary factors of single vs multiple steps to the force plate and whether or not subjects were informed of the study's primary purpose were also examined. ANOVA main effects revealed that targeting did not significantly affect GRF variability (p > 0.05). A significant main effect of the number of steps required to reach the force plate on AP force variability was found (p = 0.002). Prior knowledge of the purpose of the study did not significantly affect GRF variability (p > 0.05). It was concluded that the variability of ground reaction forces is not significantly affected by targeting the force plate. Thus, targeting would not be expected to influence the variability of calculated kinetic variables that are subservient to GRF.
The optimal projection equations for model reduction and the relationships among the methods of Wilson, Skelton, and Moore

First-order necessary conditions for quadratically optimal reduced-order modeling of linear time-invariant systems are derived in the form of a pair of modified Lyapunov equations coupled by an oblique projection which determines the optimal reduced-order model. This form of the necessary conditions considerably simplifies previous results of Wilson [1] and clearly demonstrates the quadratic extremality and nonoptimality of the balancing method of Moore [2]. The possible existence of multiple solutions of the optimal projection equations is demonstrated and a relaxation-type algorithm is proposed for computing these local extrema. A component-cost analysis of the model-error criterion similar to the approach of Skelton [3] is utilized at each iteration to direct the algorithm to the global minimum.
Interaction of lactate dehydrogenase with its coenzyme, nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide

Abstract The binding of a series of lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors has been investigated kinetically and crystallographically. The competition of certain adenine containing fragments with the coenzyme, as well as their binding energies, has been correlated with their ability to produce structural alterations in the crystalline form. While nicotinamide mononucleotide alone does not bind to lactate dehydrogenase, it can complex with the enzyme in the presence of adenosine monophosphate. Hence the binding of the AMP portion of the coenzyme must generate a site for the nicotinamide moiety prior to reaction with substrate.
Some observations on the localization of hyaluronic acid in adult, newborn and embryonal rat brain

Hyaluronic acid was localized in acetone-fixed cryostat sections of brain and spinal cord obtained from adult, newborn and embryonal rat. The sections were incubated with glial hyaluronate-binding protein (GHAP) of human origin and the protein was visualized by indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies raised to human GHAP and not staining rat brain by immunofluorescence. GHAP is a brain extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein, approximately 60,000 molecular weight, which is structurally related to the HA-binding region of cartilage ECM proteins. The distribution of hyaluronate in adult brain white matter and cerebellar cortex was similar to that previously reported for GHAP. In both cases, the reaction product formed a mesh surrounding myelinated axons and granule cells. Hyaluronate was also found in parts of the brain that did not contain GHAP. A finely reticulated mesh was observed in the neuropil between cell bodies in cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. Scattered cortical neurons were surrounded by a rim of reactive material. Perineural staining was the rule rather than the exception in spinal cord anterior horn motoneurons, inferior olivary nucleus, large bulbar reticular neurons and dentate nucleus of cerebellum. The only part of the brain which appeared relatively free of hyaluronate was the molecular layer of the cerebellum. In newborn and embryonal rat, the densely packed cell bodies in cerebral gray matter, periventricular germinal layer and external granular layer of cerebellum were surrounded by hyaluronate. Small droplets of hyaluronate were observed in between the cylindrical epithelial cells lining the neural tube in 11 day embryos. Non-myelinated fiber tracts and the molecular layer of the developing cerebellum were relatively unstained. No hyaluronate was detected in the ependyma lining the cerebral ventricles and the central canal of the spinal cord.
Theoretical expression of water vapor spectral emissivity with allowance for line structure

Abstract Theoretical relations of Penner and Varanasi and Gray for overlapped lines are extended to account for line structure. Spectral emissivity expressions for the 2·7 and 6·3 μ regions of the water vapor spectrum are derived and compared with experimental measurements. Account is taken of the temperature-dependencies of line intensity and line width in the many superposed vibration-rotation bands active in each region of the spectrum.
Chromatographic study of human serum by gel filtration

Summary Gel filtration, using polymerized dextran granules in a chromatographic system, has been used to separate two classes of human serum proteins, both of which are unable to enter the gel matrix. The euglobulin proteins are restricted in their flow to a front containing the solvent used to load the serum on the column, while serum pseudo-globulins separate due to their solubility in the low ionic strength equilibrating buffer. The concentration of one class of serologically measurable serum euglobulin (rheumatoid factor) has been demonstrated.
FTO Genotype and the Weight Loss Benefits of Moderate Intensity Exercise

The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene was genotyped for the participants in the Dose-Response to Exercise in postmenopausal Women (DREW) trial and analyses were performed to determine whether an FTO variant was associated with adiposity and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) before and after 6 months of moderate intensity exercise in white women (n = 234). The A/A homozygotes for rs8050136 had a higher BMI (kg/m(2)) compared to C/C homozygotes at baseline (32.8 (0.6) vs. 31.0 (0.4), respectively; P < 0.05) and at follow-up (31.9 (0.6) vs. 30.4 (0.5), respectively; P < 0.05). Weight loss occurred after exercise, but there was no significant genotype by exercise interaction over time. Exploratory analyses among women exposed to moderate intensity exercise meeting, or exceeding, the physical activity recommendation found that those homozygous A/A lost significantly more weight than the C allele carriers (-3.3 (0.7) kg vs. -1.4 (0.4) kg and -1.5 (0.5) kg, respectively; P < 0.05). CRF, defined as VO(2peak) (oxygen consumption), increased after exercise and the magnitude of the increase was similar for each genotype. In conclusion, women genetically predisposed to being obese experienced weight loss and CRF benefits with moderate intensity exercise, with additional weight loss observed when the women met or exceeded the physical activity recommendations.
Expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence genes requires cell-to-cell communication

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes a variety of infections in immunocompromised hosts and individuals with cystic fibrosis. Expression of elastase, one of the virulence factors produced by this organism, requires the transcriptional activator LasR. Experiments with gene fusions show that gene lasl is essential for high expression of elastase. The lasl gene is involved in the synthesis of a diffusible molecule termed Pseudomonas autoinducer (PAI). PAI provides P. aeruginosa with a means of cell-to-cell communication that is required for the expression of virulence genes and may provide a target for therapeutic approaches.
Near-Field Across-Fault Seismic Ground Motions

Abstract There are many engineering applications that require an understanding of the nature of strong ground motions adjacent to and spanning across faults. Unfortunately, such near-field observations at distances less than 100 m of fault rupture are few and incomplete. In this study a 3D finite-difference method is used to simulate strong ground motions for a hypothetical M w 6.5 earthquake at sites within a few tens of meters of the fault to document the nature of strong ground motion at pairs of sites across the fault as a first step toward providing ground-motion input for engineering design applications. We employ several distributed slip kinematic models to examine ground-motion variability. We also examine the ground motions for fault scenarios ranging from vertical strike-slip to low-angle thrust faulting. The results show that the motions have two primary components: (1) far-field waves that undergo focusing and amplification due to finite-source rupture directivity and (2) near-field waves that are sensitive to the tectonic rebound, or fling, of the closest section of the fault to the recording stations. Both the far-field and near-field controlled motions result in nonstationary pulse-like velocity waveforms that have many implications for the design of engineered structures located close to or spanning faults.
A conceptual framework for interpreting neuroimaging studies of brain neuroplasticity and cognitive recovery

Functional neuroimaging technologies are increasingly being used to predict cognitive/behavioral outcomes after the initiation of clinical interventions such as resective surgery or cognitive rehabilitation. We provide a conceptual model and a case example to explain how the results from various neuroimaging techniques can be integrated to answer important questions about clinical recovery such as whether neural reorganization has occurred and, if so, the type of adaptive cognitive mechanism driving this reorganization. This proposed framework and its use in interpreting neuroimaging outcomes studies should help uncover the principles that govern neural reorganization, and be of use to any patient for whom the risk, or potential benefit, of brain-based interventions is unknown.
EFFECT OF SODA, POTASH, AND LITHIA ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF A TITANIA COVER ENAMEL

The effect of the substitution of small amounts of lithia and variations in the amount and ratio of alkalis on the properties of a titania cover enamel was investigated. The flow characteristics, acid resistance, reflectance, gloss, and color of the enamels were determined. In addition, the recrystallization characteristics of several of the titanis cover enamels were studied. When Li2O was substituted for K2O, reflectance increased, fluidity decreased, and the color shifted toward the yellow-white with no noticeable effect on gloss or acid resistance. When Li2O was substituted for Na2O, no appreciable improvements were noted in the properties of the enamels. Replacement of 1 part K2O by Li2O resulted in more complete recrystallization.
Layer extraction from multiple images containing reflections and transparency

Many natural images contain reflections and transparency, i.e., they contain mixtures of reflected and transmitted light. When viewed from a moving camera, these appear as the superposition of component layer images moving relative to each other. The problem of multiple motion recovery has been previously studied by a number of researchers. However no one has yet demonstrated how to accurately recover the component images themselves. In this paper we develop an optimal approach to recovering layer images and their associated motions from an arbitrary number of composite images. We develop two different techniques for estimating the component layer images given known motion estimates. The first approach uses constrained least squares to recover the layer images. The second approach iteratively refines lower and upper bounds on the layer images using two novel compositing operations, namely minimum- and maximum-composites of aligned images. We combine these layer extraction techniques with a dominant motion estimator and a subsequent motion refinement stage. This results in a completely automated system that recovers transparent images and motions from a collection of input images.
Correct Timing of dnaA Transcription and Initiation of DNA Replication Requires trans Translation

The trans translation pathway for protein tagging and ribosome release has been found in all bacteria and is required for proliferation and differentiation in many systems. Caulobacter crescentus mutants that lack the trans translation pathway have a defect in the cell cycle and do not initiate DNA replication at the correct time. To determine the molecular basis for this phenotype, effects on events known to be important for initiation of DNA replication were investigated. In the absence of trans translation, transcription from the dnaA promoter and an origin-proximal promoter involved in replication initiation is delayed. Characterization of the dnaA promoter revealed two cis-acting elements that have dramatic effects on dnaA gene expression. A 5′ leader sequence in dnaA mRNA represses gene expression by >15-fold but does not affect the timing of dnaA expression. The second cis-acting element, a sequence upstream of the −35 region, affects both the amount of dnaA transcription and the timing of transcription in response to trans translation. Mutations in this promoter element eliminate the transcription delay and partially suppress the DNA replication phenotype in mutants lacking trans translation activity. These results suggest that the trans translation capacity of the cell is sensed through the dnaA promoter to control the timing of DNA replication initiation.
A diagonal-mass-matrix triangular-spectral-element method based on cubature points

The cornerstone of nodal spectral-element methods is the co-location of the interpolation and integration points, yielding a diagonal mass matrix that is efficient for time-integration. On quadrilateral elements, Legendre–Gauss–Lobatto points are both good interpolation and integration points; on triangles, analogous points have not yet been found. In this paper, a promising set of points for the triangle that were only available for polynomial degree N ≤ 5 are used. However, the derivation of these points is generalized to obtain degree N ≤ 7 points, which are referred to as cubature points because their selection is based on their integration accuracy. The diagonal-mass-matrix (DMM) triangular-spectral-element (TSE) method based on these points can be used for any set of equations and any type of domain. Because these cubature points integrate up to order 2N along the element boundaries and yield a diagonal mass matrix, they allow the triangular spectral elements to compete with quadrilateral spectral elements in terms of both accuracy and efficiency, while offering more geometric flexibility in the choice of grids. It is shown how to implement this DMM TSE for a variety of applications involving elliptic and hyperbolic equations on different domains. The DMM TSE method yields comparable accuracy to the exact integration (non-DMM) TSE method, while being far more efficient for time-dependent problems.
Values, Norms, and the Integration of Complex Social Systems*

(1966). Values, Norms, and the Integration of Complex Social Systems. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 119-136.
Samuel Hartlib's influence on Robert Boyle's scientific development

(1965). Samuel Hartlib's influence on Robert Boyle's scientific development. Annals of Science: Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 257-276.
On Spinning Propagation of Cellular Flames

Abstract The appearance of time-dependent cellular structures in premixed flame propagation is known to occur in a parameter regime usually associated with the onset of steady cellular flame formation. We consider this phenomenon in the context of a model for downward flame propagation in vertical channels. In this model, the nonlinear evolution problem for the flame front describes flame propagation near the cellular instability threshold and predicts spinning solutions that arise from a certain class of steady, nonaxisymmetric mode interactions. However, unlike many combustion instabilities which can be anticipated from a linear stability analysis, a nonlinear stability analysis is required to predict these time-dependent solutions, which appear as either a secondary or tertiary infinite-period bifurcation from a bimodal cellular flame. In addition, it is shown that each admissible mode interaction is associated with a family of nonsteady flames and that each member of the family of spinning flames asso...
Comparative fatty acid selectivity of lipases in esterification reactions with glycerol and diol analogues in organic media

Reaction selectivity of Pseudomonas cepacia, Rhizomucor miehei, and Candida antarctica B lipases was assessed in multicompetitive esterification reaction mixtures containing an homologous series of n-chain even carbon number fatty acid (FA; C4-C18) substrates and a single alcohol cosubstrate (glycerol, 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD), or 1, 3-propanediol (1,3-PD)) in tert-butyl methyl ether at water activity of 0.69 or 0.90 and a reaction temperature of 35 degrees C. For P. cepacia lipase, the ordinal patterns of FA selectivities observed were, with glycerol, C8 > C10, C6, C16 > other FA; with 1,2-PD and 1, 3-PD, C16 > C8 > C14 > other FA. For R. miehei lipase, the ordinal patterns of FA selectivities observed were, with glycerol, C8 > C12 > C10, C14 > other FA; with 1,2-PD and 1,3-PD, C8 > C12 > other FA. For C. antarctica B lipase, the ordinal patterns of FA selectivities observed were, with glycerol, C8 > C10, C6, C12 > other FA; with 1, 2-PD, C8 > C10, C6 > other FA; and with 1,3-PD, C8 > C10 > C6 > other FA. The differences in selectivity among FA ranged up to 16-fold, depending upon the lipase and alcohol cosubstrate used. These findings represent intrinsic and substrate-modulated features of FA selectivities that are of particular relevance to the use of lipases for acylglycerol synthesis reactions.
Hot-Water Treatments for Control of Planococcus ficus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) on Dormant Grape Cuttings

Hot-water immersions were tested for control of mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret), on dormant grape cuttings used for nursery stock. A range of hot-water temperatures (47-58 degrees C) were evaluated at immersion periods of 2, 5, 10, or 20 min, by using a total of 353,720 mealybugs across all treatments. A 5-min immersion at 51 degrees C is effective in killing > 99% of P. ficus. At or above this immersion period and temperature, there was no difference in mealybug stage mortality. We evaluated a commercial operation, which used a 5-min immersion in each of three water tanks: preheating (30.0 +/- 3 degrees C), hot-water (52.8 +/- 0.3 degrees C), and cooling (23 +/- 3 degrees C). The commercial procedure provided 99.8-100% mealybug control in each of three separate trials.
Surface enhanced Raman study of the interaction of PEDOT:PSS with silver and gold nanoparticles

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is used to characterize the interaction of PEDOT:PSS, a polymer blend widely used as a hole-transporting electrode coating in organic polymer photovoltaic cells, with plasmonically active metal nanoparticles.
My Memory of Walter Fitch (1929–2011) and Starting Molecular Biology and Evolution

More than 3 years have passed after Walter Fitch died on March 10, 2011. However, my memory of Walter is still fresh and vivid. From the time when he and I started this journal Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE) in 1983, we had a close contact for about 15 years. He and I also started the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE) in 1992. We had a common interest in the theoretical study of molecular evolution and phylogenetics, and we often met in scientific meetings. In this article, I would like to discuss his contributions to the development of MBE and SMBE as well as a few of his research accomplishments concerning molecular evolution. A more general story of his life and science is written by Atchley (2011), Ayala (2011), Hall (2011), and McClure (2011).
Two-dimensional semi-LASER correlation spectroscopy with well-maintained cross peaks

A sLASER-first-COSY sequence is disclosed. After a delay time, Δ1, from application of a first 90° radio frequency (RF) pulse, a first pair of adiabatic full-passage (AFP) pulses are applied to an object in a MRI scanner. The first 90° RF pulse is a non-adiabatic slice-selective 90° RF pulse and the first pair of AFP pulses is separated by an inter-pulse time interval, Δ2. A second pair of AFP pulses, separated by the time Δ2, is then applied, followed by a second 90° RF pulse. The second 90° RF pulse is a non-adiabatic non-slice-selective 90° RF pulse. MR signal is acquired after an echo time (TE) from application of the excitation RF pulse. The present method may achieve intended full magnetization transfer between a coupled spin pair of a metabolite and maintain metabolite cross peak intensity of a coupled spin pair of a metabolite in the object.
Meta-analyses of the effect of false-positive mammograms on generic and specific psychosocial outcomes

Objectives: While a previous meta-analysis found that false-positive mammography results affect women’s likelihood of returning for screening, effects on well being have yet to be metaanalyzed. We investigated whether the effects of false-positive mammograms on women’s wellbeing are limited to outcomes specific to breast cancer. Methods: We searched MEDLINE for studies of the psychosocial effects of false-positive results of routine screening mammography. We pooled effect sizes using random effects metaanalysis. Results: Across 17 studies (n 5 20 781), receiving a false-positive mammogram the result was associated with differences in all eight breast-cancer-specific outcomes that we examined. These included greater anxiety and distress about breast cancer as well as more frequent breast self-exams and higher perceived effectiveness of screening mammography. False positives were associated with only one of six generic outcomes (i.e. generalized anxiety), and this effect size was small. Conclusions: False-positive mammograms influenced women’s well-being, but the effects were limited to breast-cancer-specific outcomes. Researchers should include disease-specific measures in future studies of the consequences of false-positive mammograms. Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stationary background generation in mpeg compressed video sequences

The development of the new video coding standard, MPEG- 4, has triggered many video segmentation algorithms that address the generation of the video object planes (VOPs). The background of a video scene is one kind of VOPs where all other video objects are layered on. In this paper, we propose a method for the generation of the stationary background in a MPEG compressed video sequence. If the objects move frequently and all the components of the background are visible in the video sequence, the background macroblocks can be constructed by using Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) DC coefficients of the blocks. After the generation of the stationary background, the moving objects can be extracted by taking the difference between the frames and the background.
The right place at the right time

Language functions that are disrupted by focal lesions in the left hemisphere often recover substantially over time. It has long been hypothesized that the right hemisphere gradually assumes language functions that have been impaired by left hemisphere lesions. This hypothesis has received support from a variety of sources. Individuals who recover from aphasia after stroke often become aphasic again after right hemisphere lesions (Nielson, 1946; Levine and Mohr, 1979) or after sodium amytal injection in the right carotid artery (Kinsbourne, 1971), consistent with the hypothesis that language had ‘crossed’ to the right hemisphere. Likewise, functional neuroimaging studies have often revealed more activation in the right hemisphere during language tasks in recovered aphasic patients compared to healthy controls (Weiller et al ., 1995; Ohyama et al ., 1996; Cappa et al ., 1997; Musso et al ., 1999; Thulborn et al ., 1999; Thompson et al ., 2000; Leff et al ., 2002; Crinon and Price, 2005). However, other functional imaging studies have revealed increased perilesional activation in the left hemisphere during language tasks compared to normal controls (Karbe et al ., 1995; Heiss et al ., 1999; Warburton et al ., 1999; Thiel et al ., 2001). Furthermore, several PET and fMRI studies have demonstrated that the degree of activation in right hemisphere areas (or perilesional left hemisphere areas) does not correlate with the degree of recovery (Heiss et al ., 1999; Cardebat et al ., 2003). A brief review of the literature on functional imaging studies of recovery of any function after stroke reveals that some studies show increased activation with improved function (e.g. Kessler et al ., 2000; Thompson et …