cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sexual behavior of male northern elephant seals. III : the mounting of weaned pups

1. Up to 50% of weaned northern elephant seal pups, Mirounga angustirostris, present on the Ano Nuevo mainland rookery at the end of the breeding season showed evidence (tooth marks and injuries on the neck) of having been mounted by males. 2. Male-inflicted injuries on weanlings ranged from superficial tooth marks to deep gashes and punctures that bled and exposed the blubber. Most marks were superficial. 3. Approximately 0.5 % of all weaned pups died on the rookery from 1969-1990; about 35 % of the dead weanlings showed physical evidence that they were killed by males and males were suspected of having killed most of the rest. 4. Males mounting weanlings displayed many behaviors that are characteristic of male sexual behavior toward adult females and most weanlings responded like non-estrous females. Weanling mounts lasted an average of 2.8 min (N = 81) and were usually terminated when the male did not pursue an escaping weanling. There was no bias in the sex or the size of mounted weanlings. 5. Males also mounted conspecific juveniles (one and two years old), although these interactions were relatively infrequent because most juveniles were at sea during the breeding season. The behavior of males and juveniles during mounting attempts was qualitatively similar to weanling mounts; rarely, yearlings were killed by males. 6. Most mounters (91 %) were subadult males and were observed to mount weanlings only once in a breeding season. Occasionally, a male persisted in mounting weanlings repeatedly, within a season and across years. Weanling mounters did not differ from other males in their proximity to harems or in their copulatory success. 7. The proximate factors leading to weanling mounts appear to be male sexual inexperience, high libido, limited access to adult females, and stimulus generalization. Functionally, male sexual behavior toward weanlings appears to be a low-cost by-product of high male sexual motivation that may enhance a male's reproductive success. Weanlings exhibit behaviors, such as grouping into pods, seeking microhabitat refuges, and resisting mounts, that may reduce the chance of being mounted by a male or of being injured during a mounting attempt.
Molecular biology of viroid-host interactions and disease control strategies.

Viroids are single-stranded, covalently closed, circular, highly structured noncoding RNAs that cause disease in several economically important crop plants. They replicate autonomously and move systemically in host plants with the aid of the host machinery. In addition to symptomatic infections, viroids also cause latent infections where there is no visual evidence of infection in the host; however, transfer to a susceptible host can result in devastating disease. While there are non-hosts for viroids, no naturally occurring durable resistance has been observed in most host species. Current effective control methods for viroid diseases include detection and eradication, and cultural controls. In addition, heat or cold therapy combined with meristem tip culture has been shown to be effective for elimination of viroids for some viroid–host combinations. An understanding of viroid–host interactions, host susceptibility, and non-host resistance could provide guidance for the design of viroid-resistant plants. Efforts to engineer viroid resistance into host species have been underway for several years, and include the use of antisense RNA, antisense RNA plus ribozymes, a dsRNase, and siRNAs, among others. The results of those efforts and the challenges associated with creating viroid resistant plants are summarized in this review.
Properties of the trihydroxytoluene oxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia R34: an extradiol dioxygenase from the 2,4-dinitrotoluene pathway

Burkholderia cepacia R34 mineralizes 2,4-dinitrotoluene via an oxidative pathway. The initial steps in the degradative pathway lead to formation of 2,4,5-trihydroxytoluene, which serves as the substrate for the ring cleavage dioxygenase. The trihydroxylated substrate differs from the usual substituted catechols found in pathways for aromatic compound degradation. To determine whether the characteristics of the trihydroxytoluene oxygenase reflect the unusual ring cleavage substrate of the 2,4-dinitrotoluene pathway, the gene encoding trihydroxytoluene oxygenase (dntD) was cloned and sequenced, and ring cleavage activity determined from recombinant bacteria carrying the cloned gene. The findings were compared to the trihydroxytoluene oxygenase from Burkholderia sp. strain DNT and to other previously described ring cleavage dioxygenases. The comparison revealed that only 60% identity was shared by the two trihydroxytoluene oxygenases, but the amino acid residues involved in cofactor binding, catalysis, and protein folding were conserved in the DntD sequence. The enzyme catalyzed meta-fission of trihydroxytoluene as well as the substrate analogues 1,2,4-benzenetriol, catechol, 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol, 3-chlorocatechol, 4-chlorocatechol and 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl. However, results from enzyme assays indicated a strong preference for trihydroxytoluene, implying that it was the native substrate for the enzyme. The apparent enzyme specificity, its similarity to the trihydroxytoluene oxygenase from Burkholderia sp. strain DNT, and the distant genetic relationship to other ring cleavage enzymes suggest that dntD evolved expressly to carry out trihydroxytoluene transformation.
Vocal recognition of individuals and kin in free-ranging rhesus monkeys

The social behaviour of many species of non-human primates suggests a capacity for both individual and kin recognition. In these species, the ability to signal and perceive identity at a distance may be an important adaptation facilitating intra-group social communication. Variation in vocalizations is hypothesized to provide a basis for this ability. Playback experiments were conducted to test for vocal recognition of contact calls between adult female rhesus macaques,Macaca mulatta. Single-trial playbacks of the contact call of either a matrilineal relative or a familiar, non-relative group member were used to test for discrimination of kin from non-kin. Females responded significantly faster and longer to the contact calls of matrilineal relatives. A habituation–discrimination paradigm was then used to test for individual recognition. Females habituated to successive presentations of different exemplars of the contact calls of one matrilineal relative, then showed a significant rebound in response to the subsequent presentation of a contact call from a second matrilineal relative. These results indicate an ability for vocal recognition of both individuals and kin. Females' responses to playbacks suggested the additional possibility for categorical recognition of matrilineal kinship, or its correlates.
Cervicofacial actinomycoses following sagittal split ramus osteotomy: a case report.

19. St. Haxholdt 0, Krintel JJ, Johannson G: Pre-operative alcohol infusion. Anaesthesia 39:240, 1984 20. Fox AW, Guzmen NJ, Friedman PA: The clinical pharmacology of alcohol, in Barnes HN, Grossman MD, Delbanco (eds): Alcoholism: A Guide for the Primary Care Physician. New York, NY, Springer-Verlag, 1987, pp 29-43 2 1. Hoffman PL, Tatakoff B: Ethanol’s action on brain biochemistry, in Tarter RE, Van Thiel DH: Alcohol and the Brain: Chronic Effects. New York, NY, Plenum, 1985, pp 19-68 22. Corah NL: Assessment of a dental anxiety scale. J Dent Res 48: 496, 1969 23. Kleinknecht RA, McGlynn FD, Thomdike RM, et al: Factor analysis of the Dental Fear Survey with cross validation. J Am Dent Assoc 108:59, 1984 24. Crowne DP, Marlowe D: A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology. J Consult Psycho1 24:349, 1960 25. Pallasch TJ: Principles of pharmacotherapy: V. Toxicology and adverse drug reactions. Anesth Prog 36:4 1, 1989 26. Roy-Byrne P. Nutt DJ: Benzodiazepines: Biological mechanisms, in Roy-Byrne P. Cowley DS (eds): Benzodiazepines In Clinical Practice: Risks and Benefits. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Press, 199 1 27. Hobson JA, Steriade M: Neuronal basis of behavioral state control, in Bloom FE (ed): Handbook of Physiology Section 1: The Nervous System, vol 4. Intrinsic Regulatory Systems of the Brain. Bethesda, MD, American Physiological Society, 1986, pp 710-7’67 28. Ticky MK, Burch TP, Davis WC: The interaction of ethanol and the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor ionophore complex. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 18:15, 1983 29. Chan AWK, Lamgun M, Leong FW, et al: Does chronic ethanol confer full cross-tolerance to chlordiazepoxide? Pharmacol Biochem Behav 30:385, 1988 30. Royce JE: Alcohol Problems and Alcoholism: A Comprehensive Survey. New York, NY, The Free Press, 1989, p 21 3 1. Petersen JK, Milgrom P: Pain Relief In the Orofacial Regions. Copenhagen, Munksgaard, 1989 32. American Dental Association: Treating the active or recovering chemically dependent dental patient. Chicago. IL. American Dental Association, 1989
Image processing on a memory array architecture

In this paper we examine the usefulness of a simple memory array architecture to several image processing tasks. This architecture, called theAccess Constrained Memory Array Architecture (ACMAA) has a linear array of processors which concurrently access distinct rows or columns of an array of memory modules. We have developed several parallel image processing algorithms for this architecture. All the algorithms presented in this paper achieve a linear speed-up over the corresponding fast sequential algorithms. This was made possible by exploiting the efficient local as well as global communication capabilities of the ACMAA.
Translating response during therapy into ultimate treatment outcome: a personalized 4-dimensional MRI tumor volumetric regression approach in cervical cancer.

Purpose To assess individual volumetric tumor regression pattern in cervical cancer during therapy using serial four-dimensional MRI and to define the regression parameters' prognostic value validated with local control and survival correlation. Methods and Materials One hundred and fifteen patients with Stage IB 2 –IVA cervical cancer treated with radiation therapy (RT) underwent serial MRI before (MRI 1) and during RT, at 2–2.5 weeks (MRI 2, at 20–25 Gy), and at 4–5 weeks (MRI 3, at 40–50 Gy). Eighty patients had a fourth MRI 1–2 months post-RT. Mean follow-up was 5.3 years. Tumor volume was measured by MRI-based three-dimensional volumetry, and plotted as dose(time)/volume regression curves. Volume regression parameters were correlated with local control, disease-specific, and overall survival. Results Residual tumor volume, slope, and area under the regression curve correlated significantly with local control and survival. Residual volumes ≥20% at 40–50 Gy were independently associated with inferior 5-year local control (53% vs. 97%, p p = 0.009) than smaller volumes. Patients with post-RT residual volumes ≥10% had 0% local control and 17% disease-specific survival, compared with 91% and 72% for p Conclusion Using more accurate four-dimensional volumetric regression analysis, tumor response can now be directly translated into individual patients' outcome for clinical application. Our results define two temporal thresholds critically influencing local control and survival. In patients with ≥20% residual volume at 40–50 Gy and ≥10% post-RT, the risk for local failure and death are so high that aggressive intervention may be warranted.
An exploratory osteological study of the muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) (Aves: Anatidae) with implications for neotropical archaeology

Abstract The muscovy duck ( Cairina moschata ) (Aves: Anatidae) is the most enigmatic of the native New World animal domesticates. Although large and conspicuous, this duck is nonetheless rarely recovered in archaeological context. When identified, its domesticated status remains uncertain for lack of distinguishing criteria used to separate male from female and domestic from wild specimens. This study offers provisional criteria for osteological discrimination based upon an analysis of 34 museum skeletons. It applies these data to archaeological specimens recovered from the western lowlands of Ecuador, where muscovy duck, along with other domesticated animals may appear in contexts associated with prehispanic trade.
Direct analysis of complex mixtures by mass spectrometry

Abstract Mixture analysis can provide information on individual components if the sample is first subjected to chromatographic separation. Two critical capabilities, soft ionization and the ability to mass-select and then dissociate ions of a particular m/z, coalesced in 1975, allowing direct analysis of complex mixtures by mass spectrometry. Chemical ionization was used as the soft ionization method and mass-analysis used the ion kinetic energy spectrometer (MIKES). Soft molecular ionization produces a set of ions that are structural surrogates of the neutral molecules; they can be mass-selected and allowed to spontaneously dissociate (i.e. as metastable ions) or fragmented upon energy transfer e.g. in the course of collision-induced dissociation (CID). The second stage of mass analysis provides information about the atomic connectivity in the precursor ion and by implication in the original molecule. This review focuses on the development of complex mixture analysis by mass spectrometry and allied topics. Discussion of the activation techniques associated with (collision-induced dissociation, surface-induced dissociation and metastable ion dissociation) emphasizes the importance of energy transfer phenomena and the internal energies distributions of ions to explain the observed mass spectra. The translational to internal energy transfer in collisions is readily accessed in the MIKES where the second stage mass analyzer is a kinetic energy/charge analyzer. Collisions in the keV range can also be used to change ion the charge state via the processes of charge exchange, electron stripping, or charge inversion. New ionization sources for analysis of non-volatile compounds that were introduced during the time period (1975–1990) of this review included secondary ion mass spectrometry, plasma desorption and field ionization and they are briefly discussed. Several types of scans were developed to rapidly access information of the individual components, including chemically specific scans (e.g. neutral loss scans of mass 30 for nitro compounds).
Social behaviour of squirrel monkeys and the reaction to strangers

Abstract Two groups of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciurea) containing a male and four females each were studied before, during and after the temporary introduction of strange females. Social relations were generally characterized by minimal individual distance, an almost complete lack of social grooming and selective tail placements during huddling. Contrary to most experience with old-world species, introduction of the stranger produced no destructive aggressive encounters; social exploration, genital display and brief manual attacks directed at the stranger were relatively high initially but rapidly dissipated. Characteristic behaviours of group members including their resting postures and their frequency of huddling was disrupted immediately after introduction but rapidly returned to normal by the third day. Strangers then huddled as often as the original group members.
Prediction of folding mechanism for circular-permuted proteins.

Recent theoretical and experimental studies have suggested that real proteins have sequences with sufficiently small energetic frustration that topological effects are central in determining the folding mechanism. A particularly interesting and challenging framework for exploring and testing the viability of these energetically unfrustrated models is the study of circular-permuted proteins. Here we present the results of the application of a topology-based model to the study of circular permuted SH3 and CI2, in comparison with the available experimental results. The folding mechanism of the permuted proteins emerging from our simulations is in very good agreement with the experimental observations. The differences between the folding mechanisms of the permuted and wild-type proteins seem then to be strongly related to the change in the native state topology.
Coordination of T Cell Activation and Migration through Formation of the Immunological Synapse

T cell activation is based on interactions of T cell antigen receptors with MHC-peptide complexes in a specialized cell-cell junction between the T cell and antigen-presenting cell-the immunological synapse. The immunological synapse coordinates naive T cell activation and migration by stopping T cell migration with antigen-presenting cells bearing appropriate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) peptide complexes. At the same time, the immunological synapse allows full T cell activation through sustained signaling over a period of several hours. The immunological synapse supports activation in the absence of continued T cell migration, which is required for T cell activation through serial encounters. Src and Syk family kinases are activated early in immunological synapse formation, but this signaling process returns to the basal level after 30 min; at the same time, the interactions between T cell receptors (TCRs) and MHC peptides are stabilized within the immunological synapse. The molecular pattern of the mature synapse in helper T cells is a self-stabilized structure that is correlated with cytokine production and proliferation. I propose that this molecular pattern and its specific biochemical constituents are necessary to amplify signals from the partially desensitized TCR.
OceanStore: an architecture for global-scale persistent storage

OceanStore is a utility infrastructure designed to span the globe and provide continuous access to persistent information. Since this infrastructure is comprised of untrusted servers, data is protected through redundancy and cryptographic techniques. To improve performance, data is allowed to be cached anywhere, anytime. Additionally, monitoring of usage patterns allows adaptation to regional outages and denial of service attacks; monitoring also enhances performance through pro-active movement of data. A prototype implementation is currently under development.
Diagnostic NH and OH vibrations for oxazolone and diketopiperazine structures: b2 from protonated triglycine.

We present infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectra in the hydrogen stretching region of the simplest b fragment, b2 from protonated triglycine, contrasted to that of protonated cyclo(Gly-Gly). Both spectra confirm the presence of intense, diagnostic vibrations linked to the site of proton attachment. Protonated cyclo(Gly-Gly) serves as a reference spectrum for the diketopiperazine structure, showing a diagnostic O-H+ stretch of the protonated carbonyl group at 3585 cm–1. Conversely, b2 from protonated triglycine exhibits a strong band at 3345 cm–1, associated with the N-H stretching mode of the protonated oxazolone ring structure. Other weaker N-H stretches can also be discerned, such as the amino NH2 and amide NH bands. These results demonstrate the usefulness of the hydrogen stretching region, and hence benchtop optical parametric oscillator/amplifier (OPO/A) set-ups, in making structural assignments of product ions in collision-induced dissociation (CID) of peptides.
Obtaining reliable information from minute amounts of RNA using cDNA microarrays.

High density cDNA microarray technology provides a powerful tool to survey the activity of thousands of genes in normal and diseased cells, which helps us both to understand the molecular basis of the disease and to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention. The promise of this technology has been hampered by the large amount of biological material required for the experiments (more than 50 μg of total RNA per array). We have modified an amplification procedure that requires only 1 μg of total RNA. Analyses of the results showed that most genes that were detected as expressed or differentially expressed using the regular protocol were also detected using the amplification protocol. In addition, many genes that were undetected or weakly detected using the regular protocol were clearly detected using the amplification protocol. We have carried out a series of confirmation studies by northern blotting, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry assays. Our results showed that most of the new information revealed by the amplification protocol represents real gene activity in the cells. We have confirmed a powerful and consistent cDNA microarray procedure that can be used to study minute amounts of biological tissue.
Fundamental Ethics in Information Systems

Information systems often present virtual spaces that are sufficient to enable important human interaction. By enabling such interaction, systems designers are inherently creating certain ethical structures. When one creates an information system, one also creates the ethics for a new world of interaction and such ethics needs specific attention. I outline the basic elements of ethical structures: a framework for interpersonal interaction, personal identity, and structural conditions for customs and rules. I then examine philosophical methods for examining such structures and give a framework for thinking about them in IT systems. Finally, I propose a method to apply ethical design within traditional system development lifecycle models. Applying an ethical framework to IT systems provides more complete conceptual models of systems. Instead of arguing for specific prescriptive rules, I wish to help systems designers understand how they create ethical structures and can do so more with more deliberation.
Air quality concerns of unconventional oil and natural gas production

Increased use of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in unconventional oil and natural gas (O & NG) development from coal, sandstone, and shale deposits in the United States (US) has created environmental concerns over water and air quality impacts. In this perspective we focus on how the production of unconventional O & NG affects air quality. We pay particular attention to shale gas as this type of development has transformed natural gas production in the US and is set to become important in the rest of the world. A variety of potential emission sources can be spread over tens of thousands of acres of a production area and this complicates assessment of local and regional air quality impacts. We outline upstream activities including drilling, completion and production. After contrasting the context for development activities in the US and Europe we explore the use of inventories for determining air emissions. Location and scale of analysis is important, as O & NG production emissions in some US basins account for nearly 100% of the pollution burden, whereas in other basins these activities make up less than 10% of total air emissions. While emission inventories are beneficial to quantifying air emissions from a particular source category, they do have limitations when determining air quality impacts from a large area. Air monitoring is essential, not only to validate inventories, but also to measure impacts. We describe the use of measurements, including ground-based mobile monitoring, network stations, airborne, and satellite platforms for measuring air quality impacts. We identify nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOC), ozone, hazardous air pollutants (HAP), and methane as pollutants of concern related to O & NG activities. These pollutants can contribute to air quality concerns and they may be regulated in ambient air, due to human health or climate forcing concerns. Close to well pads, emissions are concentrated and exposure to a wide range of pollutants is possible. Public health protection is improved when emissions are controlled and facilities are located away from where people live. Based on lessons learned in the US we outline an approach for future unconventional O & NG development that includes regulation, assessment and monitoring.
The Swedish patient compensation system. Lessons for the United States.

(1994). The Swedish patient compensation system. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 199-247.
A distributed stable backbone maintenance protocol for ad hoc wireless networks

We have introduced a hierarchical structure for ad hoc wireless networks that classifies nodes into backbone capable nodes (BCNs) and regular nodes (RNs). Under our TBONE protocol, a backbone network (Bnet) is formed by dynamically electing backbone nodes (BNs) among BCNs. However the current TBONE protocol requires global topological information to elect and de-elect BNs, which can induce high control message overhead and slow down the Bnet layout adaptation process. In this paper, we resolve this problem by proposing a modified MBN protocol (MBNP) for electing and de-electing BNs, which requires each candidate node to employ only local connectivity information (within two hops). While such schemes tend many times to be unstable, we prove and demonstrate that our process involving BN-BCN conversions is oscillation free. We show that the synthesized network configuration demonstrates desirable robustness and connectivity features, while demanding low control message overhead. Key performance characteristics of the modified protocol are exhibited by conducting simulation-based evaluations.
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF RADISH AND ALFALFA SEEDS

Thermal conductivity, specific heat, and density were measured in a temperature range of 30C to 80C, and moisture content of 4.6% to 6.5% for radish seeds, 5.0% to 7.3% for alfalfa seeds typically encountered in the radio frequency dielectric heating for seeds. Thermal conductivity and specific heat were determined using a linear heat source probe and a modified calorimeter method, respectively. Thermal conductivity of radish and alfalfa seeds ranged from 0.050 to 0.091 W/mC (SD: 0.011) and 0.075 to 0.120 W/mC (SD: 0. 012), respectively. Specific heat was in the range of 0.290 to 0.479 kJ/kgC (SD: 0.051) for radish seeds and 0.333 to 0.593 kJ/kgC (SD: 0.076) for alfalfa seeds. Density of radish and alfalfa seeds ranged from 684 to 675 kg/m 3 (SD: 5.592) and 819 to 804 kg/m 3 (SD: 8. 921), respectively. Thermal diffusivity of the seeds was also determined, and the values varied from 25.13 x 10 -8 to 34.47 x 10 -8 m 2 /s for radish seeds and 27.14 x 10 -8 to 29.73 x 10 -8 m 2 /s for alfalfa seeds. Regression models were fitted to the experimental data for each thermal property, and showed second order polynomial relationships with temperature and moisture content. La conductivite thermique, la chaleur massique et la densite des graines de radis et de luzerne sont mesurees entre 30 et 80°. Quand la temperature et l'humidite augmentent, la conductivite et la chaleur massique augmentent mais la densite diminue. Il y a une correlation lineaire entre les proprietes thermales et la teneur en eau des graines.
Direct, High-Throughput Measurement of Quantitative RNA Affinity Landscapes

Evolutionary fitness landscapes are rooted in the biophysical properties of macromolecules under selective pressure. However, the global, comprehensive, and quantitative relationship between sequence permutations and biophysical parameters, such as binding affinity, for simple RNA-protein macromolecular interactions have not been described. Using novel high-throughput methods for generating RNA structures and quantitating protein binding, we measured binding energies for two MS2 viral coat protein variants across millions of target RNA sequences, generating a comprehensive and quantitative corpus of protein-RNA interaction data, including binding energies and off-rates, across RNA variants. These measurements provide extensive information regarding interaction energies with RNA sequence and structure that can be related to salient aspects of crystal structure of the wild-type RNA complexed with the MS2 coat protein. The comprehensive affinity landscape, including all single, double, and triple mutants of the consensus stem loop RNA structure, allowed us to explore RNA hairpin evolvability by examining the effective binding propensities of all quadruple-mutant steps for tens of thousands of evolutionary trajectories. We discover that RNA hairpin evolution is highly constrained, consistent with the wide-spread intramolecular epistasis. Furthermore, we discover that traversable trajectories towards higher affinity are primarily channeled through specific types of mutational changes, providing insight into unique constraints on the evolution of RNA-protein interactions. We anticipate this platform for quantitative RNA biochemistry will provide a powerful tool to the field, providing high-throughput means to probe the relationship between RNA sequence, structure, and function, and thereby matching the combinatorial complexity inherent in RNA sequence variability with equally rich data sets.
A vector space model for variance reduction in single machine scheduling

Reducing the variance of part completion times about promised due dates is an important element of Just-In-Time production because it reduces the work-in-process inventory and tardiness simultaneously. Scheduling models and algorithms are developed to minimize the Mean Squared Deviation (MSD) of completion times about due dates on a single machine. A generic model is developed in real vector space for understanding the structural relationship between the optimal schedule and the location of the due dates. Geometric insights gained from this vector space model are used to relate the shortest and longest processing time sequences to the level of difficulty of the MSD optimization problem. The vector space model is used to develop dominance conditions for a branch and bound algorithm and to analytically synthesize parameters for a continuous variable feedback control algorithm for distributed scheduling. The control algorithm lends itself to massively parallel / distributed computation and is found to produce near optimal solutions efficiently, which makes it more scalable and practical compared to the branch and bound algorithm. Computational experiments with both approaches are presented.
Geomicrobial characterization of gas hydrate‐bearing sediments along the mid‐Chilean margin

Bacterial diversity in eight sediment cores from the mid-Chilean margin was studied using length heterogeneity (LH)-PCR, and described in relation to in situ geochemical conditions. DNA from the sulfate-methane transition (SMT) of three cores [one containing methane gas; two proximal to a gas hydrate mound (GHM)] was cloned and sequenced. Clones related to uncultured relatives of Desulfosarcina variabilis were found in all clone libraries and dominated one. Desulfosarcina variabilis related clones were similar to phylotypes observed at the SMT in association with anaerobic methane oxidation in the Eel River basin, Cascadia margin and the Gulf of Mexico. The LH-PCR amplicon associated with D. variabilis clones matched the amplicon that dominated most SMT samples, indicating environmental selection for D. variabilis relatives. Clones related to the Verrucomicrobia dominated the library for the methane gas-containing core. Uncultured Treponema relatives dominated the library for the core obtained on the edge of a GHM. Statistical analysis using geochemical data to describe variance in LH-PCR data revealed that stable carbon isotope ratios of dissolved inorganic carbon are the principal structuring factor on SMT communities. These data suggest that D. variabilis relatives are involved in anaerobic oxidation of methane at the SMT in Chilean margin sediments.
DSP-based stable control loops design for a single stage inverter

The design of stable DSP-based controller for a new single stage inverter architecture with solar energy input is discussed in this paper. The proposed architecture uses two dependent control loops to track the maximum available power of a solar array source, and to supply a sinusoidal current to the utility grid. If not well designed, the control loops in this inverter configuration suffer from instability when operating at different regions of the solar array power curve, namely the Right Hand Side region (RHS) and the Left Hand Side region (LHS). This paper presents a mathematical analysis to the source of instability, and proposes a robust controller for stable system design. Experimental results are presented to verify the validity of the designed controller.
A Model-Based Approach for Testing GUI Using Hierarchical Predicate Transition Nets

Testing graphical user interface (GUI) has shown to be costly and difficult. Existing approaches for testing GUI are event-driven. In this paper, we propose a model based testing method to test the structural representation of GUIs specified in high class of Petri nets known as hierarchical predicate transitions nets (HPrTNs). In order to detect early design faults and fully benefit from HPrTNmodels, we have extended the original coverage criteria proposed for HPrTNs by event-based criteria defined for GUI testing
Development of a BK virus real-time quantitative assay using the bioMérieux analyte-specific reagents in plasma specimens.

Objectives Viral load testing for BK virus (BKV) has become the standard of care for diagnosing BKV infection and monitoring therapy in kidney transplant patients. However, there are currently no US Food and Drug Administration–approved assays and no standardization among available tests. Methods This study evaluated the performance of the analyte-specific reagent (ASR) BKV primers r-gene and probe r-gene reagents (bioMerieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France) soon to become available on the US market for accuracy, linearity, precision, analytical sensitivity, specificity, and correlation with the Qiagen (Germantown, MD) BKV ASR test using commercial material and patient plasma samples. Results The assay was linear from 204 to 3.92 million (2.31–6.6 log10) DNA copies/mL (coefficient of determination: R 2 =0.999). A dilution series demonstrated limits of detection and quantitation of 2.14 log10 and 2.30 log10 copies/mL (95% hit rate detection), respectively. Interrun precision was highly reproducible, with coefficients of variance ranging from 2.2% to 6.0%. A comparison of 34 matched samples showed a good agreement ( R 2 = 0.87) between the bioMerieux BKV laboratory test and the Qiagen BKV ASR assay results, with an average negative bias (−0.28 log10 copies/mL). Conclusions The laboratory-developed test with bioMerieux BKV reagents is a reliable and sensitive assay for BKV DNA quantitation compared with the Qiagen ASR test.
Baroclinic Instability of a Rotating Hadley Cell

The stability of a thin fluid layer between two rotating plates which are subjected to a horizontal temperature gradient is investigated. The solution for the stationary basic state is obtained in a closed form. It is pointed out that this solution identifies Ekman and thermal layers adjacent to the plates and interior temperature and velocity fields which are almost linear functions of height. The stability of that basic state with respect to infinitesimal zonal waves is then analyzed via the solution of the complete viscous linear equations for the perturbations. The character of the growth rates is found to be similar to those of the classical baroclinic waves. It is also found that the region of stability depends on the Prandtl number, the vertical stratification parameter, and both the meridional and zonal wavenumbers. The flow is generally unstable for small enough Ekman numbers and for Rossby numbers less than 10.
Commercial CFD in the Service of Industry: The First 25 Years

This paper traces the development of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), from its beginnings in the second half of the 20th Century to the present time with special emphasis on the evolution of the market for commercial codes. A discussion is provided on the reasons behind the current ‘success’ of commercial CFD packages and the present issues concerning the everyday use of CFD in Industry are examined. An attempt is made at providing some perspectives for its future deployment.
Foot burns and diabetes: a retrospective study

Diabetes in conjunction with a foot burn can compound the challenges in wound healing; however, the impact of diabetes on outcomes of patients with foot burns has not been examined. A retrospective notes audit was conducted at the Concord Hospital Burns Unit for patients with foot burns who were admitted from 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2013. Data were collected for 15 subjects with foot burns and diabetes and 18 subjects with foot burns and no diabetes as a control group. Subjects were matched for percentage total body surface area of burns. The mean inpatient and total lengths of stay for the diabetic group were 21.27 days and 64.80 days, which were significantly longer (P = 0.090 and P = 0.054) than the 9.61 days and 30.56 days in the control, based on a significance level of 0.10. The diabetic group was significantly older (P = 0.001), at 56.60 years versus 39.44 years in the control. Significantly (P = 0.033) more patients with diabetes were not working (n = 12/15 or 80.00 % versus n = 7/18 or 38.89 %) compared to the control. The diabetic group had higher rates of regrafting (n = 3/15 or 20.00 % versus n = 1/18 or 5.55 %) than the control and significantly (P = 0.013) more amputations (n = 5/15 or 33.33 % versus n = 0 or 0.00 %) compared to the control. Fewer patients with diabetes were prescribed pressure garments (n = 2/15 or 13.33 % versus n = 9/18 or 50.00 %), which was significant (P = 0.034). The increased age of patients in the diabetic group correlates with results from other studies. Healing time may be reflected by total length of stay, which was more than double for patients with diabetes, increasing demand and cost of inpatient and outpatient services. This study highlights the importance of recognizing the potential for poorer outcomes for patients with diabetes and indicates the need for more burn prevention education and promotion in this ‘at risk’ patient group.
Psychologist and Parent: Advice from Professionals in Different Career Tracks

Drs. DiLillo, Hussong, Kamholz, and Lloyd-Richardson are each highly successful as psychologists and as mothers. They each are leaders within their respective fields, award-winners at their institutions and facilities, and admired role models to students. Collectively, they have experience with a wide array of appointments in departments of psychology, psychiatry, in university settings, hospitals, liberal arts settings, and clinical research settings. Over the years, each has navigated transitions through various professional and personal roles. I am very grateful that each agreed to participate in this chapter by sharing their personal reflections on their simultaneous roles as psychologists and parents.
Flexible polyelectrolyte chain in a strong electrolyte solution: Insight into equilibrium properties and force-extension behavior from mesoscale simulation

Macromolecules with ionizable groups are ubiquitous in biological and synthetic systems. Due to the complex interaction between chain and electrostatic decorrelation lengths, both equilibrium properties and micro-mechanical response of dilute solutions of polyelectrolytes (PEs) are more complex than their neutral counterparts. In this work, the bead-rod micromechanical description of a chain is used to perform hi-fidelity Brownian dynamics simulation of dilute PE solutions to ascertain the self-similar equilibrium behavior of PE chains with various linear charge densities, scaling of the Kuhn step length (lE) with salt concentration cs and the force-extension behavior of the PE chain. In accord with earlier theoretical predictions, our results indicate that for a chain with n Kuhn segments, lE ∼ cs (-0.5) as linear charge density approaches 1/n. Moreover, the constant force ensemble simulation results accurately predict the initial non-linear force-extension region of PE chain recently measured via single chain experiments. Finally, inspired by Cohen's extraction of Warner's force law from the inverse Langevin force law, a novel numerical scheme is developed to extract a new elastic force law for real chains from our discrete set of force-extension data similar to Pade expansion, which accurately depicts the initial non-linear region where the total Kuhn length is less than the thermal screening length.
SCREENING MIŁOSZ'S PHILOSOPHY: THE MULTILAYERED CONSTRUCTION OF TADEUSZ KONWICKI'S ADAPTATION OF THE ISSA YALLEY

Tadeusz Konwicki's adaptation of Czeslaw Milosz's novel The Issa Valley is an adaptation of the latter's philosophy. Through a series of deliberately structured cinematic techniąues, Konwicki creates a film that is a platform where two outstanding individuals meet, rather than a battlefield where each tries to surpass the other. By drawing on the paradigmatic structure approach created by Herbert Eagle, I demonstrate that The Issa Valley's meaning is created not on the level of the storyline but rather through the repeated cinematic segments that build a second "narrative" line within the film. Milosz employs a similar strategy in his novel, which brings together both artistic styles, that of Milosz and that of Konwicki. Furthermore, the similarities between the artists' biographies (childhood in Lithuania, life as refugees, a shared Romantic tradition) brings an additional layer to the adaptation. As a result, The Issa Yalley film is a multilayered work that manifests not only Konwicki's artistic independence but also Milosz's artistic philosophy and even the afterlife of his art.
Process Neural Network and its Application in Web Document Automatic Classification

Aiming to web document classification in data mining, a classification method is presented in this paper. The method is based on vector space model and process neural network. The network includes input layer, hidden layer and output layer. Input layer performs import of samples, hidden layer extracts model characters of samples and output layer presents classification results. The availability of model and algorithms is proved by classification of some web documents in Internet.
Using Animals to Teach Children Biology: Exploring the Use of Biological Explanations in Children’s Anthropomorphic Storybooks

ABSTRACTResearch Findings: Anthropomorphism—the attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman entities—has long been a staple of children’s media. However, children’s experiences with anthropomorphic media may interfere with biological reasoning instead encouraging an anthropocentric view of the natural world. To date, little research has addressed the typical content of children’s storybooks about animals: Do these storybooks present factual information that may support early developing biological reasoning, or do they instead focus on human-centered, psychological information that may encourage anthropocentrism? We analyzed the types of causal explanatory information that commercial storybooks about animals provide to children about 2 biological concepts that have been extensively studied in the experimental literature: biological inheritance and the transmission of illness. Using coding schemes similar to those used in prior experimental literature to assess preschool-age children’s biological reaso...
Planning a perinatal center. From vision to reality.

The author describes a five-stage plan for remodeling or building a new perinatal center, stressing the importance of careful attention and input by the hospital planning committee not only in drawing up blue-prints but throughout the various phases of planning, designing, purchasing, and building the center.
Age-dependent increase of neurotensin expression in the ileum

The proliferative activity of gut mucosa is increased with aging. Neurotensin (NT), a tridecapeptide localized to the distal small bowel, stimulates growth of gut mucosa; the effects of aging on gut NT are not known. Young (4-mo-old), adult (1-yr-old), and aged (2-yr-old) male Fischer 344 rats were killed; the ileal mucosa was scraped, weighed, and extracted for measurement of NT mRNA by slot-blot and Northern hybridization; and the relative NT transcription rate was determined by a nuclear run-on assay. In addition, NT tissue content and plasma levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, and full-thickness sections of ileum were examined for age-dependent alterations of NT endocrine cell (N-cell) number using immunohistochemical staining. Slot-blot and Northern-blot analyses showed that the steady-state levels of NT mRNA were increased threefold in the adult group and eightfold in the aged rats. In addition, NT peptide content and plasma levels were significantly increased in the aged group. The dramatic increases in the abundance of NT mRNA were not associated with increases in either NT transcription or N-cell number. In summary, we have demonstrated an age-dependent increase in the constitutive levels of ileal NT mRNA that appears not to be due to concomitant increases in transcription, suggesting that NT mRNA is increased by mechanisms involving mainly a posttranscriptional process. In addition, we have shown corresponding increases in the levels of both tissue and plasma NT with aging, indicating that expression of NT does not remain the same throughout life but actually increases with aging in the rat.
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease: a rare disease with an unusual presentation

IgG4-RD can also present in the skeletal muscle, mimicking several other diseases. It is unusual for this relatively new classification of diseases to present in the muscles and can be mistakenly diagnosed as other autoimmune diseases rendering a delay in the appropriate management and progression of the disease.
Textbook of Clinical Neuropsychiatry, Second Edition

Textbook of Clinical Neuropsychiatry provides a comprehensive, encyclopedic and up to date coverage of the complete range of neuropsychiatric disorders. The text is clearly written and well organized, utilizing a consistent and easy to read format throughout. Part I describes the diagnostic assessment of patients and details the interview, mental s
Science, politics, and science in politics

The climate-change debate, like all policy debates, is ultimately an argument over action. How shall we respond to the risks posed by climate change? Does the climate-change issue call for action, and if so, what type of action, and how much effort – and money – shall we expend? Listen to the debate over climate change and you will hear people making many different kinds of arguments – about whether and how the climate is changing, whether human activities are affecting the climate, how the climate might change in the future, what the effects of the changes will be and whether they matter, and the feasibility, advantages, and disadvantages of various responses. Although these arguments are distinct, when advanced in policy debate they all serve to build a case for what we should or should not do. Their goal is to convince others to support a particular course of action. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding these arguments. Section 2.1 lays out the differences between the two kinds of claims advanced in policy debates, positive and normative claims. Sections 2.2 and 2.3 then discuss how science examines and tests positive claims, and how participants in policy debates use both positive and normative claims to build arguments for – and against – proposed courses of action. Section 2.4 examines what happens when these two kinds of debates overlap, as they do whenever positive claims that scientists have examined are relevant to public action – as is clearly the case in the climate-change debate.