cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of haem biosynthetic and degradative enzymes in erythroid colony development: the effect of haemin

Summary. In vitro culture of murine bone marrow has proved to be a useful system for defining the haem biosynthetic and degradative enzymatic pathways during erythroid colony (CFU-E) growth and development. Previous attempts to elucidate these pathways during erythropoiesis have been limited by the amount of biological material available as well as the sensitivity of specific enzyme assays. These conditions were overcome in the present study. In order to obtain an enrichment of CFU-E, nonadherent mouse bone-marrow cells were cultured in special culture plates using a modified methyl-cellulose medium with erythropoietin. CFU-E yields were increased approximately threefold. Utilizing the sensitive radiochemical assay, direct measurement of ALAS activity was determined in very early developing CFU-E cultures as well as mature cultures. ALAS activity was found to reach a peak after 60 h of culture growth and then started to decline in activity. Cellular synthesis of haem was determined (with 14C ALA) and minor modifications of standard assays were also made in order to determine spectrophotometrically δ-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and haem oxygenase activity in developing CFU-E cultures. These assays were reproducible with as few as four or five culture plates. It was found that ALAD activity rose progressively after 36 h of culture growth and reached a plateau at about 60 h of growth. A continuous increase in 14C ALA incorporation into haem was seen at later hours of culture growth, suggesting that the induction of other haem enzymes beyond ALAS is still rate limiting in haem synthesis. Conversely, haem oxygenase activity declined up to 60 h of growth and was elevated at later culture periods without a subsequent increase in ALASA and ALAD. The observed increase in haem enzymes brought about by haemin was completely suppressed by addition of cycloheximide to the cultures. These results suggest that
Cut search methods in integer programming

Cut search is a new approach for solving integer programs based on extending edges of a cone to probe the solution space for sets of hyperplanes that are “proxies” for solution points in the space. Once all proxy hyperplanes associated with a given point have been intersected by at least one of the extended edges, this point is included in a set of points to be examined for feasibility (algorithmically or by inspection). Thereupon, all edges of the cone are extended an additional distance to create a cut by passing a hyperplane through the endpoints of these extended edges. The flexibility of the cut search procedure permits a variety of strategies for exploring and cutting into the solution space. One useful version arises by taking the proxy hyperplanes to be members of a “positive” or “semipositive” coordinate system. Relative to such a system the procedure can be organized to reduce the set of vectors to be examined for feasibility and also to generate deeper cuts at the end of the edge probe.
Distribution of Faceseal Leak Sites on a Half-Mask Respirator and Their Association with Facial Dimensions

Faceseal leaks on one brand of half-mask respirator worn by 73 human subjects were identified by deposition of a fluorescent tracer aerosol during a standard quantitative fit test. The identified leaks were categorized according to their location and shape. It was found that about 89% of all observed leaks occurred at the nose or chin or were multiple leaks which included these sites. Fit factors for these types of leaks were significantly lower than for other types of leaks. About 73% of all leaks approximated the shape of a slit rather than a round orifice, and the prevalence of these leaks was affected by gender. Significant association of facial dimensions and leak sites were found. Most of these were attributed to differences in gender, and only a very small percentage were for the facial dimensions used to define the Los Alamos respirator test panel. Significant correlation of facial dimensions and fit factor were found for only three facial dimensions; none of which are used to define the test pane...
Dual-phase lag behavior of a gas-saturated porous-medium heated by a short-pulsed laser

A dual-phase lag (DPL) model is used to investigate the heat conduction in a gas-saturated porous medium subjected to a short-pulsed laser heating. The energy equations for the powder and gas phase are combined together to obtain a DPL heat conduction equation with temperature of the powder layer as the sole unknown. A perfect correlation obtained from Laplace transformation is applied to analytically solve the DPL problem with internal heat source. The Riemann sum approximation is applied to find the inverse Laplace transform of the powder layer temperature distribution. Variations of powder temperature at heating and adiabatic surface and powder temperature distribution are studied. The results show that the analytical solutions are in a good agreement with the numerical solutions. The effects of phase lags times, pulse width, laser fluence, porosity on the DPL behavior of the gas-saturated powder layer are also investigated.
Regioselective Chemical Modification of Fullerene by Destructive Electrophilic Reaction in Polyphosphoric Acid/Phosphorus Pentoxide

An adduct of electrophilic reaction between C60 and 4-(2,4,6-trimethylphenoxy)benzamide was afforded in a polyphosphoric acid (PPA)/phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) medium at 130 °C. The matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrum of the adduct showed that multiple destructive acylation reactions of 4-(2,4,6-trimethylphenoxy)benzamide on C60 had occurred to give hexakis(4-(2,4,6-trimethylphenoxy)benzoyl)-substituted C54. On the basis of the combined results of optical studies, it could be presumably concluded that the regioselective destruction and addition pathway on the C60 framework might have predominantly occurred to six-membered rings.
Crystal structure ofcis-[Ru(bpy)2(PPh3)Cl+][ClO 4 − ]·(toluene)·∼0.5(CH2Cl2), a species with two different disordered solvent molecules of crystallization

The complexcis-[Ru(bpy)2(PPh3)Cl+][ClO 4 − ] (where bpy=2,2′-bipyridyl) crystallizes from a solution in toluene/dichloromethane as the toluene-hemi(dichloromethane) solvate in the centrosymmetric space group $$P\bar 1$$ witha=10.343(2)A,b=11.823(3)A,c=18.469(4)A, α=98.90(2)o, β=93.32(2)o, γ=101.46(2)o,V=2177.8(8)A3 andZ=2. The structure was refined toR(F)=4.6% for those 4248 reflections above 6σ(F o ). The octahedral Ru(II) cation is associated with the bond lengths Ru−Cl=2.424(2)A, Ru−PPh3=2.328(1) A and Ru−N=2.045(5)–2.109(4)A. Both the cation and the perchlorate anion are ordered. However, the unit cell also contains two disordered toluene molecules (centered about inversion centers at 1, 1/2, 0 and 1/2, 0, 1/2), and a disordered dichloromethane molecule of a partial occupancy (centered about 1/2, 0, 1).
Child abuse reporting: teachers' perceived deterrents

Abstract Objective: There are three general objectives: First, to determine the number of reports of abuse made by teachers, their knowledge of child abuse laws and reporting procedures, and their perceived deterrents in reporting abuse; second, to determine if there were gender or ethnic differences in reporting; and third, to evaluate teachers responses to case vignettes. Method: A survey of 197 teachers was conducted. They were given a questionnaire that included demographic information, knowledge of child abuse laws and procedures, and two scenarios of legally reportable child abuse. Results: Seventy-three percent of this sample reported that they had never made a report of child abuse, while those who had made reports made an average of one report. Only 11% of teachers reported that there were instances in which they believed abuse may have occurred, but failed to report. Additionally, these teachers felt that their pre- and post-service training did not adequately prepare them for abuse reporting. The most common reasons cited for not reporting abuse were fear of making an inaccurate report, feeling as though child protective services do not help families, and no apparent physical signs of abuse. There were no gender differences in reporting. The teachers’ responses to the case vignettes were not consistent with their previous reports. Conclusions: In general, most teachers reported having never made a child abuse report. Although only a small percentage of teachers reported failing to report abuse, when presented with legally reportable case vignettes, many failed to report. The majority of teachers report receiving inadequate training in child abuse signs, symptoms, and reporting procedure. There is an obvious need for more education for teachers that addresses their perceived deterrents and aids them in feeling more confident in making reports of child abuse.
The relation between structure and pigments during the first stages of proplastid greening.

Abstract The influence of proplastid structure on the absorption bands of protochlorophyll and newly formed chlorophyll was examined in dark-grown bean and barley leaves. In general, structural disruption caused by freezing the leaves to −196° and thawing, or by grinding the leaves with sand and buffer, produced the same spectral changes. Freezing and thawing the leaves immediately after irradiation caused the absorption maximum of the newly formed chlorophyll to shift from 685 mμ to 673 mμ. Freezing and thawing before irradiation caused the protochlorophyll absorption maximum to shift from 650 mμ to 635 mμ. The 635-mμ-absorbing form of protochlorophyll was converted by irradiation to a 673-mμ-absorbing form of chlorophyll. It is inferred that the normal dark conversion of newly formed chlorophyll from a 685- to a 673-mμ-absorbing form involves a pigment change similar to that produced by structural disruption. The proplastids of dark-grown Euglena, which do not contain the organized structures (e.g., prolamellar bodies) that are observed in the proplastids of dark-grown leaves, did not exhibit the long-wavelength-absorbing forms of either protochlorophyll or the newly formed chlorophyll. It is suggested that the aggregation of pigment molecules in the structures of the proplastids of leaves shifts the absorption maxima to longer wavelength and that the spectral shifts to shorter wavelength are due to disaggregation which follows the disruption of proplastid structures.
Infrastructure for sharing standardized clinical brain scans across hospitals

Progress in our understanding of brain disorders increasingly relies on costly collection of large standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data sets. Moreover, clinical interpretations of brain scans benefit from compare and contrast analyses of scans from patients with similar, and sometimes rare, demographic, diagnostic, and treatment status. A solution to both needs is to acquire standardized, research-ready clinical brain scans and to build the information technology infrastructure to share such scans, along with other pertinent information, across hospitals. The resulting research-ready brain imaging resource would provide a wealth of accessible standardized brain imaging data relevant to patient care and research. This paper describes a pilot project that develops such a brain resource, including the rationale, the short imaging protocol, the access to patient data, and the system architecture. This pilot project is a joined effort by researchers from the Clinical Translational Science Institutes (CTSIs) at the University of California Irvine (UCI) and University of Southern California (USC) with strong support from the Biomedical Informatics Research Network (BIRN). The pilot system developed enables capture and sharing of standardized, de-identified clinical brain images across institutions via a federated database system.
An explicit relationship to predict spherical particle terminal velocity

Mise en place de correlation pour decrire le mouvement d'une particule spherique tombant dans un liquide (cas de la sedimentation par exemple). La correlation donne la vitesse limite adimensionnelle en fonction du diametre adimensionnel de la particule
Impact of gender on patient preferences for technology-based behavioral interventions

Introduction: Technology-based interventions offer an opportunity to address high-risk behaviors inthe emergency department (ED). Prior studies suggest behavioral health strategies are more effectivewhen gender differences are considered. However, the role of gender in ED patient preferences fortechnology-based interventions has not been examined. The objective was to assess whether patientpreferences for technology-based interventions varies by gender. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from a systematic survey of adult (18 years of age),English-speaking patients in a large urban academic ED. Subjects were randomly selected during apurposive sample of shifts. The iPad survey included questions on access to technology, preferencesfor receiving health information, and demographics. We defined ‘‘technology-based’’ as web, textmessage, e-mail, social networking, or DVD; ‘‘non-technology-based’’ was defined as in-person,written materials, or landline. We calculated descriptive statistics and used univariate tests to comparemen and women. Gender-stratified multivariable logistic regression models were used to examineassociations between other demographic factors (age, race, ethnicity, income) and technology-basedpreferences for information on specific risky behaviors. Results: Of 417 participants, 45.1% were male. There were no significant demographic differencesbetween men and women. Women were more likely to use computers (90.8% versus 81.9%; p¼0.03),Internet (66.8% versus 59.0%; p¼0.03), and social networks (53.3% versus 42.6%; p¼0.01). 89% ofmen and 90% of women preferred technology-based formats for at least type of health information;interest in technology-based for individual health topics did not vary by gender. Concern aboutconfidentiality was the most common barrier to technology-based use for both genders. Multivariateanalysis showed that for smoking, depression, drug/alcohol use, and injury prevention, gendermodified the relationship between other demographic factors and preference for technology-basedhealth information; e.g., older age decreases interest in technology-based information for smokingcessation in women but not in men (aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99 versus aOR 1.00, 95% CI 0.97-1.03). Conclusion: Our findings suggest ED patients’ gender may affect technology preferences. Receptivityto technology-based interventions may be a complex interaction between gender and otherdemographic factors. Considering gender may help target ED patient populations most likely to bereceptive to technology-based interventions. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(5):593–599.]
Modeling of Porosity during Spray Forming: Part I. Effects of Processing Parameters

In this article, a porosity model is developed based on particle packing theory, fluid mechanics, and particle thermal and dynamic behavior during spray forming. According to this model, the amount of porosity in as-deposited materials can be estimated on the basis of the average fraction of solid in the incident spray and the solid particle packing density. A porosity coefficient Φ is introduced. By using this model, the effects of deposition distance, atomization gas pressure, melt flow rate, and melt superheat on porosity are investigated. The amount of porosity demonstrates distinct V-shaped variations with the processing parameters. Finally, the optimal processing parameters for achieving low porosity are discussed on the basis of the calculated results.
Epidemiology in risk assessment for regulatory policy.

THE TWENTIETH century has seen the rapid evolution of many new fields concerned with protecting public health. Epidemiology and risk assessment have several of the features common to these new fields, and important differences. Both are needed to make the difficult decisions required in setting standards for levels of toxic agents in the workplace and environment. They differ in their aims, orientation, and time scale. According to Lilienfeld and Lilienfeld [2], epidemiology is “the study of the distribution of a disease or a physiological condition in human populations and of the factors that influence this distribution” (italics added). By contrast, health risk assessment denotes research and evaluation to characterize the probability of physical harm to humans attributable to a particular agent or group of agents. While the distribution of disease provides the focus for epidemiologic research, concern for adverse effects of specific toxicants drives risk assessment. Moreover, while epidemiologic studies proceed at the glacier-like pace needed to mobilize large staffs of support personnel and to monitor large populations over long periods of time, risk assessment activities acquire the urgency felt by regulators, who must make decisions (including decisions to postpone decisions) today. Most important, while epidemiology is a scientific field that draws upon medicine, demography, and statistics, risk assessment is a hybrid of science and policy that draws not only upon fields such as epidemiology, toxicology, chemistry and engineering, but also upon psychology, politics, economics, law and social justice. These inherent differences in emphasis, timing, and nature complicate the role played by epidemiology in risk assessment for regulatory policy. In 1985, this role is still largely one of epidemiology’s uncharted galaxies. In the sections below, I review the role’s history, and the reasons why it will continue to play an essential part in regulatory decisionmaking. The role has placed epidemiologic findings and epidemiologists at the center of political controversies, and I discuss the positive and negative side effects of this new visibility. Finally, I explore ways to prevent the negative side effects and ways to increase the utility of epidemiologic data for regulatory risk assessment.
Developing Cyberspace Data Understanding: Using CRISP-DM for Host-Based IDS Feature Mining

Current intrusion detection systems (IDS) generate a large number of specific alerts, but typically do not provide actionable information. Compounding this problem is the fact that many alerts are false positive alerts. This paper applies the Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) to develop an understanding of a host environment under attack. Data is generated by launching scans and exploits at a machine outfitted with a set of host-based forensic data collectors. Through knowledge discovery, features are selected to project human understanding of the attack process into the IDS model. By discovering relationships between the data collected and controlled events, false positive alerts were reduced by over 91% when compared to a leading open source IDS. This method of searching for hidden forensic evidence relationships enhances understanding of novel attacks and vulnerabilities, bolstering ones ability to defend the cyberspace domain. The methodology presented can be used to further host-based intrusion detection research.
Assays optimized for detection and quantification of antibacterial activity in shark cell lysates under high salt conditions

To assess non-cellular innate immune mechanisms that play a role in the antimicrobial defense of an organism several assay systems have been devised to screen for such factors. Most assays, however, have been developed to measure activity against clinical isolates of medical importance. There is scant information on methods optimal for assaying material from sharks and other marine fish for antimicrobial activity particularly against salt tolerant organisms that are likely to be encountered in the marine environment. We have modified and optimized agar diffusion and broth dilution assays for detection and quantification of antibacterial activity of shark leukocyte lysates. By replacing marine agar, typically used for marine organisms, with artificial sea water complete medium (SCM) enriched with tryptone and yeast extract has resulted in an improved inhibition zone assay that uses Planococcus citreus, a salt-tolerant organism as the target organism. Antibacterial activity is correlated to the size of zone of no bacterial growth around wells containing bioactive test sample. An alternative broth based microdilution growth assay uses the 96 well format and the antibacterial effect of the sample on growth of P. citreus, the target organism, is measured spectrophotometrically as percent inhibition of bacterial growth when compared to the growth of P. citreus grown in medium alone that represents 100% growth. The assay can also be used to titrate antibacterial activity and express the level of growth inhibition as a titer.
Hypersusceptibility to Substrate Analogs Conferred by Mutations in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) contains four structural motifs (A, B, C, and D) that are conserved in polymerases from diverse organisms. Motif B interacts with the incoming nucleotide, the template strand, and key active-site residues from other motifs, suggesting that motif B is an important determinant of substrate specificity. To examine the functional role of this region, we performed "random scanning mutagenesis" of 11 motif B residues and screened replication-competent mutants for altered substrate analog sensitivity in culture. Single amino acid replacements throughout the targeted region conferred resistance to lamivudine and/or hypersusceptibility to zidovudine (AZT). Substitutions at residue Q151 increased the sensitivity of HIV-1 to multiple nucleoside analogs, and a subset of these Q151 variants was also hypersusceptible to the pyrophosphate analog phosphonoformic acid (PFA). Other AZT-hypersusceptible mutants were resistant to PFA and are therefore phenotypically similar to PFA-resistant variants selected in vitro and in infected patients. Collectively, these data show that specific amino acid replacements in motif B confer broad-spectrum hypersusceptibility to substrate analog inhibitors. Our results suggest that motif B influences RT-deoxynucleoside triphosphate interactions at multiple steps in the catalytic cycle of polymerization.
A thin-layer protocol for utilizing multiple paths

Utilizing multiple paths between network hosts (such as robots or sensors) will improve network performance, path availability and connection reliability. This paper presents a cross layer multiple path approach named Proxy Server based Multipath Connection. Multiple paths are set up via a set of intermediate proxy servers using IP tunneling. Packet distribution and reassembly are achieved by inserting a thin layer between the network layer and the transport layer. On the sender side, packets are distributed across multiple paths based on predefined striping schemes. On the receiver side, a double buffer approach is proposed to solve the TCP sequence number persistent reordering problem. A prototype was implemented on the Linux and Windows systems. Experimental results show that the proposed approach can improve network throughput and is robust to network congestion and link breakage.
Bird Song: The Interface of Evolution and Mechanism

▪ Abstract Bird song provides an unusually impressive illustration of vertebrate behavioral diversification. Research on bird song evolution traditionally focuses on factors that enhance song diversity, such as cultural transmission and sexual selection. Recent advances in the study of proximate mechanisms of vocal behavior, however, provide opportunities for studying mechanistic constraints on song evolution. The main goal of this review is to examine, from both conceptual and empirical perspectives, how proximate mechanisms might temper patterns of song evolution. We provide an overview of the two “substrates” of song evolution, memes and vocal mechanisms. We argue that properties of vocal mechanisms (control, production, and ontogeny) constrain vocal potential and may thus limit pathways of meme evolution. We then consider how vocal mechanisms may constrain song evolution under five scenarios of drift and selection and examine four specific song traits for which mechanistic constraints appear to counte...
The Politics of Adjustment and Coordination at the Regional Level: The Basque Country

Is globalization forcing non-“Coordinated Market Economies” such as Spain to converge on an Anglo-American model? This paper seeks to build on the hypotheses generated by the literature on “Varieties of Capitalism” to analyze the challenges of developing and sustaining coordination while adjusting for economic change. In particular it seeks to explore ways in which subnational factors promote the ability of socioeconomic actors to develop public-private institutions. By focusing on a particular autonomous region of Spain, the Basque Country, this paper will explore the role of institutional arrangements at the regional level in determining national adjustment. In the Basque Country the relative power and the particular interests of the regional state have been central factors in promoting distinctive patterns of coordination. At the same time, actors’ preferences and policy outcomes have been constrained by the differences in the quality and configuration of institutional frameworks, political deals, and the existing economic structure.
Posttranslational regulation of the NKG2D ligand Mult1 in response to cell stress.

NKG2D is a major stimulatory receptor expressed by natural killer (NK) cells and some T cells. The receptor recognizes major histocompatability complex class I–like cell surface ligands that are poorly expressed by normal tissues but are often induced in transformed and infected cells. The existence of several NKG2D ligands in each individual, some with strikingly divergent protein sequences, raises the possibility that different ligands are regulated by distinct disease-associated stresses. The transcripts for some ligands, including murine UL16-binding proteinlike transcript 1 (Mult1), are abundant in certain normal tissues where cell surface expression is absent, suggesting the existence of translational or posttranslational regulation. We report here that under normal conditions, Mult1 protein undergoes ubiquitination dependent on lysines in its cytoplasmic tail and lysosomal degradation. Mult1 degradation and ubiquitination is reduced in response to stress imparted by heat shock or ultraviolet irradiation, but not by other forms of genotoxicity, providing a novel mechanism for stress-mediated cellular control of NKG2D ligand expression.
Effects of parasitization by Varroa destructor on survivorship and physiological traits of Apis mellifera in correlation with viral incidence and microbial challenge

Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) are serious ectoparasites of honey bees (Apis mellifera). This research addresses the impact of varroa mites on survivorship, viral incidence, and physiological traits of newly-emerged worker bees. RT-PCR confirmed our previous finding that varroa parasitization was linked to high levels of deformed wing virus (DWV). In non-treatment bees, varroa parasitization combined with increased viral levels altered survivorship curves from long-survival to shorter-survival types. After challenge with live Escherichia coli, the survivorship of mite-parasitized bees was significantly lower than mite-free bees. Deformed-wing, mite-parasitized bees died on average within 1 day, even without E. coli challenge. This was correlated with the absence of an important enzyme activity in insect immunity, phenol oxidase, lacking even in those bees challenged with immuno-elicitors. The lack of inducible phenol oxidase activity indicated that the bee immune system is not fully competent upon adult emergence. Varroa parasitism also significantly reduced body weight of the parasitized bees, but body weight was not significantly correlated with the survivorship of mite-parasitized bees. Our research indicates that the combination of mite parasitization, the interaction of DWV and microbes, and a developmental immune incompetency attribute to decreased worker survivorship and have a negative impact on colony fitness.
Sea urchin (Lytechinus pictus) late-stage histone H3 and H4 genes: Characterization and mapping of a clustered but nontandemly linked multigene family

We have cloned and characterized members of a small multigene family that encodes late-stage histone H3 and H4 mRNAs from the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus. Unlike their highly repetitive histone gene counterparts, which are expressed at an earlier developmental stage, late H3 and H4 histone genes are not present in tandem repeats. In addition, the late stage H3 and H4 genes are not always tightly clustered together with the H1, H2A and H2B genes as they are in early histone genes. The spacer DNA that separates adjoining H3 and H4 coding regions is not conserved between nonallelic members of the late histone gene family. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a continuous 2100 bp segment of DNA including both H3 and H4 coding sequences, the entire spacer DNA separating the genes and surrounding nonhistone DNA. The late histone H3 and H4 genes encode proteins identical to their early gene counterparts; however, the 5' leader sequence is shorter in late genes and the codon usage is different.
Characterization and separation of an inhibitor of viral hemagglutination present in urine.

SummaryNormal human urine contains a highly active inhibitor of viral hemagglutination, effective against PR8, Lee, FM1, swine, mumps, NDV, and GDVII viruses but inactive against PVM. The inhibitor concentration may approach 2 mg%. Considerable amounts of purified material, active at 0.0001 μg/cc, can be obtained readily. The activity of the inhibitor as it occurs in urine is inversely related to the salt concentration; it should be emphasized that in NaCl solutions of moderate strength it precipitates.
Arabidopsis sfd Mutants Affect Plastidic Lipid Composition and Suppress Dwarfing, Cell Death, and the Enhanced Disease Resistance Phenotypes Resulting from the Deficiency of a Fatty Acid Desaturase

A loss-of-function mutation in the Arabidopsis SSI2/FAB2 gene, which encodes a plastidic stearoyl–acyl-carrier protein desaturase, has pleiotropic effects. The ssi2 mutant plant is dwarf, spontaneously develops lesions containing dead cells, accumulates increased salicylic acid (SA) levels, and constitutively expresses SA-mediated, NPR1-dependent and -independent defense responses. In parallel, jasmonic acid–regulated signaling is compromised in the ssi2 mutant. In an effort to discern the involvement of lipids in the ssi2-conferred developmental and defense phenotypes, we identified suppressors of fatty acid (stearoyl) desaturase deficiency (sfd) mutants. The sfd1, sfd2, and sfd4 mutant alleles suppress the ssi2-conferred dwarfing and lesion development, the NPR1-independent expression of the PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1 (PR1) gene, and resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv maculicola. The sfd1 and sfd4 mutant alleles also depress ssi2-conferred PR1 expression in NPR1-containing sfd1 ssi2 and sfd4 ssi2 plants. By contrast, the sfd2 ssi2 plant retains the ssi2-conferred high-level expression of PR1. In parallel with the loss of ssi2-conferred constitutive SA signaling, the ability of jasmonic acid to activate PDF1.2 expression is reinstated in the sfd1 ssi2 npr1 plant. sfd4 is a mutation in the FAD6 gene that encodes a plastidic ω6-desaturase that is involved in the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acid–containing lipids. Because the levels of plastid complex lipid species containing hexadecatrienoic acid are depressed in all of the sfd ssi2 npr1 plants, we propose that these lipids are involved in the manifestation of the ssi2-conferred phenotypes.
Observation of space-charge effects in the Los Alamos Proton Storage Ring

In recent operation of the Los Alamos Proton Storage Ring (PSR), the vertical and horizontal tunes have been moved closer to the integers ( nu /sub y/=2.12, nu /sub x/=3.17) to enlarge the low-loss working region. In this region, the beam can be significantly affected by space charge. The first observed effects are a nondestructive distortion of the beam profile and vertical growth of beam size sufficient to keep the shifted tunes from crossing the integer, but without large beam loss. At higher intensities, or with tunes closer to the integer, beam blow-up, accompanied by beam losses, can occur. A report is presented on recent observations of this intensity-dependent effect and implications for future PSR operation are discussed. >
Evaluation of Variability in Response to the NPDES Phase II Stormwater Program in Virginia

AbstractAuthorities of municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) in small urbanized areas (population less than 100,000) are required to implement stormwater control measures (SCMs) to mitigate and reduce the impacts of urbanization on stormwater runoff under Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System’s (NPDES) stormwater program. This 16–year-old policy has been challenged in its effectiveness in maintaining or improving water quality, but reviews are scarce because of the policy’s subjective requirements, and because it governs MS4s across a wide variety of characteristics, objectives, and institutional capacity. This research models SCM selection as a function of these differences, thereby systematically evaluating the policy’s outcome in its constituents. The results show that certain characteristics of an MS4 community significantly affect the selection of SCMs, suggesting that regulations may need to be refined to address distinct groups of MS4s. The results also reveal inef...
Tonic Premarin dose-dependently enhances memory, affects neurotrophin protein levels and alters gene expression in middle-aged rats.

Abstract Premarin™ is the most commonly prescribed estrogenic component of hormone therapy, given since 1942. The current study is the first examining cognitive effects of tonic Premarin treatment in an animal model. Middle-aged ovariectomized (Ovx) rats received vehicle or one of three doses of Premarin (12, 24 or 36 μg daily). Rats were tested on a spatial working and reference memory maze battery. Both medium- and high-dose Premarin enhanced memory retention, while low-dose Premarin impaired learning and memory retention. Correlations with serum hormone levels showed that as the ratio of estrone:17β-estradiol increased, animals tended to show better working memory performance. Taken together with the dissociation of dose-specific estrogenic profiles, results suggest that higher levels of estrone, in the presence of 17β-estradiol concentrations higher than that of Ovx levels, may be beneficial for memory. Moreover, Premarin exerted dose and brain-region specific effects on BDNF and NGF protein levels, with most marked changes in cingulate and perirhinal cortices. Hippocampal gene expression profiling demonstrated significant Premarin-induced transcriptional changes in genes linked to plasticity and cognition. These findings indicate that Premarin can impact memory and the brain, and that dosing should be recognized as a clinically relevant factor possibly affecting the direction and efficacy of cognitive outcome.
A Physics-Based Engineering Methodology for Calculating Soft Error Rates of Bulk CMOS and SiGe Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor Integrated Circuits

This paper describes a new methodology for characterizing the electrical behavior and soft error rate (SER) of CMOS and SiGe HBT integrated circuits that are struck by ions. A typical engineering design problem is to calculate the SER of a critical path that commonly includes several circuits such as an input buffer, several logic gates, logic storage, clock tree circuitry, and an output buffer. Using multiple 3D TCAD simulations to solve this problem is too costly and time-consuming for general engineering use. The new and simple methodology handles the problem with ease by simple SPICE simulations. The methodology accurately predicts the measured threshold linear energy transfer (LET) of a bulk CMOS SRAM. It solves for circuit currents and voltage spikes that are close to those predicted by expensive 3D TCAD simulations. It accurately predicts the measured event cross-section vs. LET curve of an experimental SiGe HBT flip-flop. The experimental cross section vs. frequency behavior and other subtle effects are also accurately predicted.
An evaluation of the genetic structure of mapleleaf mussels (Quadrula quadrula) in the Lake Erie watershed

Physical barriers, habitat fragmentation, invasive species and geographic distance have isolated remnant populations of unionids in Great Lakes coastal refuges. Dreissenid species (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) may be the greatest threat to the survival of unionids in the Great Lakes since their introduction in the late 1980s and early 1990s; however, native unionids remain in coastal habitats of western Lake Erie. One of the most abundant unionid species in Lake Erie, Quadrula quadrula, was collected along coastal areas within the lake and from three tributaries, the Maumee River, Huron River (Ohio), and Grand River (Ontario, Canada) and genotyped at six polymorphic microsatellite loci to determine population structure. There was evidence of genetic differentiation by geographic distance, and genotypes clustered into three geographic regions: Lake Erie, the Maumee River, and the Grand River. Lack of fine-scale genetic differentiation, admixture among these regions, and significant isolation by distance, indicate connectivity and are consistent with a stepping-stone model of divergence across the lake and its tributaries. A diverse gene pool remains should Q. quadrula be able to repopulate more of their historic distribution across the region, but studies of other unionid species are needed to determine whether low levels of differentiation among lake populations or divergence from tributary populations is a common pattern.
SELECTION FOR SEXUAL ISOLATION BETWEEN GEOGRAPHIC FORMS OF DROSOPHILA MOJAVENSIS. I. INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE SELECTED FORMS.

Drosophila mojavensis comprises three geographic forms occurring in the United States, the Baja California peninsula, and mainland Mexico. Peninsular and mainland forms were selected for increased sexual isolation from each other, while controls were maintained with maximum outbreeding. Response to selection was highly asymmetrical in that isolation was very high between selected peninsular males and mainland females, but nonexistent between selected mainland males and peninsular females. The heightened isolation is primarily due to some change in the peninsular males.
Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Gamma-Irradiation in Nitrogen and Packaging for Sterile-Insect Release Program in Los Angeles

Ca. 600 million Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), were irradiated in a nitrogen atmosphere, packaged, and shipped to Los Angeles during a sterile-insect release program in 1975–76. Laboratory evaluations of the new procedure showed that ca. 99.95% of the processed males were sterile, that treated males were 40% as competitive as untreated males, and that treated males inseminated ca. 9 females/male.
eDOTS 2.0: A Pervasive Indoor Tracking System.

Designing tracking systems that cover large indoor areas and encompass different sensor modalities pose many significant challenges such as multi-sensor data fusion, coordinate system handoff and associated transformations. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a prototypical system that effectively tackles these challenges. The proposed system is empirically validated in a laboratory setup and results of these experiments are also presented in this paper. Keywords-pervasive tracking, indoor tracking systems, multisensor data fusion, heterogenous tracking, sensor subset selection
Ultrafine Gold Particles Immobilized by Coprecipitation with Metal Oxides

Gold particles smaller than 10nm in diameter, immobilized with α-Fe2O3, Co3O4, or NiO, were prepared by calcining in air at 400°C. The coprecipitates were obtained from an aqueous solution of HAuCl4 and the nitrate of Fe, Co, or Ni. The ultrafine gold particles were hemispherical in shape and were strongly held by the host oxides. In most cases, hemispherical gold crystallites were deposited directing their flat (111) plane toward α-Fe2O3 (110), Co3O4 (111), and NiO (111). The gold particles with a mean diameter of 4.1nm immobilized on α-Fe2O3 were more electron deficient than evaporated gold particles of the same size, and much more than the bulk metal. The ultrafine gold particles thus immobilized with 3d transition metal oxides were extremely active for the oxidation of CO at temperatures below 0°C and appreciably selective for CO sensing.
Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Visual Media Production

Welcome to the 9th European Conference on Visual Media Production, CVMP 2012, which brings together the worlds of academic research and media production to discuss new advancements and innovative applications in visual media production. This year we had 23 full paper submissions. Our programme committee reviewed all submissions and ultimately selected 12 excellent papers to be presented at CVMP, six of which for oral presentations and six for poster presentations.
Two-Dimensional Correlated Spectroscopy In Vivo

The information available from one dimensional NMR spectra in vivo is often limited by the problem of severe peak overlap. Two dimensional correlated spectroscopy (COSY) NMR is an important approach for improving spectral resolution. It is shown that the COSY data set can act as a road map for the identification of several metabolites simultaneously in a crowded spectrum in vivo, even if these metabolites have resonances in the 1D NMR spectra which are not resolved. In addition, this technique may be useful for elucidating coupling partners which might then be amenable for study by 1D spectral editing techniques. Methodological improvements of the basic COSY experiment have recently been suggested, such as the HOHAHA, SUPERCOSY, and DQF COSY experiments, and their respective advantages and disadvantages for application in vivo are discussed.
The Role of Information Visibility in Network Gatekeeping: Information Aggregation on Reddit during Crisis Events

As social media platforms witness more and more contributions from participants during developing crisis events, some platforms provide affordances that support visibility for specific pieces of information. However, the design of information visibility, especially in the context of controlling information flows (through gatekeeping), may shape how participants collect and share up-to-date information in these systems. This paper looks at the field site of reddit.com through trace ethnography methods to understand how the design of reddit's platform (from algorithms to user roles) impacts the visibility of information and subsequently how participants aggregate information in response to ongoing events. Through trace ethnographic analysis, we illustrate three themes related to tensions around visibility - behavioral, structural, and relational - and show how visibility shapes the work of producing information about crises in social news sites.
Free-radicals and advanced chemistries involved in cell membrane organization influence oxygen diffusion and pathology treatment

A breakthrough has been discovered in pathology chemistry related to increasing molecular structure that can interfere with oxygen diffusion through cell membranes. Free radicals can crosslink unsaturated low-viscosity fatty acid oils by chain-growth polymerization into more viscous liquids and even solids. Free radicals are released by mitochondria in response to intermittent hypoxia that can increase membrane molecular organization to reduce fluidity and oxygen diffusion in a possible continuing vicious cycle toward pathological disease. Alternate computational chemistry demonstrates molecular bond dynamics in free energy for cell membrane physiologic movements. Paired electrons in oxygen and nitrogen atoms require that oxygen bonds rotate and nitrogen bonds invert to seek polar nano-environments and hide from nonpolar nano-environments thus creating fluctuating instability at a nonpolar membrane and polar biologic fluid interface. Subsequent mechanomolecular movements provide free energy to increase diffusion by membrane transport of molecules and oxygen into the cell, cell-membrane signaling/recognition/defense in addition to protein movements for enzyme mixing. In other chemistry calcium bonds to membrane phosphates primarily on the outer plasma cell membrane surface to influence the membrane firing threshold for excitability and better seal out water permeation. Because calcium is an excellent metal conductor and membrane phosphate headgroups form a semiconductor at the biologic fluid interface, excess electrons released by mitochondria may have more broad dissipation potential by safe conduction through calcium atomic-sized circuits on the outer membrane surface. Regarding medical conditions, free radicals are known to produce pathology especially in age-related disease in addition to aging. Because cancer cell membranes develop extreme polymorphism that has been extensively followed in research, accentuated easily-visualized free-radical models are developed. In terms of treatment, use of vitamin nutrient supplements purported to be antioxidants that remove free radicals has not proved worthwhile in clinical trials presumably due to errors with early antioxidant measurements based on inaccurate colorimetry tests. However, newer covalent-bond shrinkage tests now provide accurate measurements for free-radical inhibitor hydroquinone and other molecules toward drug therapy.
Legal and Technical Measurement Requirements for Time and Frequency

This paper discusses various technologies and applications that rely on precise time and frequency, and explores their legal and technical requirements for measurement uncertainty. The technologies...
Respect for Patient Through Clinical Ethics and Standard of Best Interest

While it is more common to receive requests from parents to continue treatment, parental request to stop treatment is just as important for ethics consultation. The health care team must recognize ...
A Community Grows around the Geysering World of Enceladus

The discovery by NASA's Cassini mission at Saturn in 2005 of a large plume of material erupting from the south polar terrain of Enceladus, sourced within a subsurface ocean of salty liquid water laced with organic compounds, has brought together scientists from a diverse range of disciplines over the last decade to evaluate this small moon's potential for extraterrestrial life. The collection of papers published today in Astrobiology, as the mission draws to a close, is the outcome of our most recent meeting at UC Berkeley in June 2016. Key Words: Enceladus-Enceladus Focus Group-Ocean world-Search for biosignatures. Astrobiology 17, 815-819.
Creating Economy Active Learning Classrooms for IT Students

Active learning and active learning classrooms can enhance students' classroom performance and experience and the technology and collaborative nature of active learning classrooms are similar to what IT students can expect to encounter during their careers. One difficulty in providing more students with access to active learning classrooms is the cost associated with creating new spaces or retrofitting existing spaces. State-of-the-art active learning classroom designs, such as those showcased elsewhere in the literature, can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to construct. In this work we describe the modification of an existing IT lab to create an economical active learning classroom. Our experience is that even with limited resources it is possible to create a productive space that students find helpful and that mimics state-of-the-art active learning classrooms. Also provided is an overview of the theoretical foundations of active learning classrooms and active learning and some preliminary results from the use of such a classroom for an introductory programming course.