cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photo-elastic waves

Abstract The basic equations of the dynamical theory of a hyperelastic dielectric are presented in spatial form and include Gibbs equation and the conservative form of energy equation here for the first time. The study of weak waves and shock waves, based on singular surface theory, is used to bring out the structure of linear and nonlinear theories of photo-elastic waves. An equation governing the lowest order nonlinear wave is derived for a mode and its solution exhibited to bring out amplitude dependence of frequency; further, though it can be considered isentropic, it is necessarily accompanied with elastic strain.
Multi-satellite observations of plasmoids - IMP 8 and ISEE 3

An examination of IMP 8 and ISEE 3 magnetotail data during the 1983 Geotail Mission yielded one plasmoid event which was observed by both satellites and two other possible cases. These are the first multisatellite observations of plasoids. These observations provide a unique opportunity to examine how plasmoid characteristics change as plasmoids propagate downtail and they show that plasmoids are very stable structures.
Alicyclobacillus spp. in the Fruit Juice Industry: History, Characteristics, and Current Isolation/Detection Procedures

The first Alicyclobacillus spp. was isolated in 1982, and was originally thought to be strictly limited to thermophilic and acidic environments. Two years later, another Alicyclobacillus sp., A. acidoterrestris, was identified as the causative agent in spoilage of commercially pasteurized apple juice. Subsequent studies soon found that Alicyclobacillus spp. are soilborne bacteria, and do not strictly require thermophilic and acidic environments. Alicyclobacillus spp. posess several distinct characteristics; the major one is their ability to survive commercial pasteurization processes and produce off-flavors in fruit juices. The fruit juice industry has acknowledged Alicyclobacillus spp. as a major quality control target microorganism. Guaiacol and halophenols were identified as the offensive smelling agent in many Alicyclobacillus spp. related spoilage. Though the exact formation pathway of these off-flavors by Alicyclobacillus spp. are not yet identified, studies report that the presence of Alicyclobacillus spp. in the medium may be a major contributor to the formation of these off-flavors. Many identification methods and isolation media were developed in the last two decades. However, most of these methods were developed specifically for A. acidoterrestris, which was the first identified off-flavor producing Alicyclobacillus. However, recent studies indicate that other species of Alicyclobacillus may also produce guaiacol or the halophenols. In this respect, all Alicyclobacillus spp. should be monitored as potential spoilage bacteria in fruit juices. This article includes an overall review of the history of Alicyclobacillus spp., characteristics, suggested off-flavor production pathways, and commonly used identification methods for the currently identified Alicyclobacillus spp.
Issues related to pavement rehabilitation design options in the new mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide

Since the DARWin-ME is expected to be implemented by State DOTs for rehabilitation and new pavements analysis and design in the near future, it is important to highlight the practical issues related to the execution of these options. Several issues were encountered while executing the DARWin-ME rehabilitation options. These concerns are related to structural and material characterization of the existing pavement conditions. More specifically, the issues are related to: (a) characterizing the existing Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement structure for unbonded overlays, (b) modeling of the HMA interlayer for unbonded overlays, (c) using backcalculated subgrade modulus of resilience (MR), and (d) utilizing Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing. Typical PCC elastic moduli for existing PCC layers range between 3 and 6 million psi. For unbonded overlays, the elastic modulus is used to characterize the existing PCC condition. However, a limiting value of 3 million psi is suggested by the developers of the DARWin-ME. Counter-intuitive results were observed when higher values of elastic modulus were used to represent field conditions. It was also found that the asphalt interlayer structural and material properties have insignificant effect on the equivalent PCC slab thickness. Furthermore, the current performance models in the DARWin-ME are calibrated using backcalculated subgrade MR values. Generally, the values are much greater than ones used for AASHTO 93 designs. In addition, DOT's cannot use the AASHTO 93 MR values in the DARWin-ME directly because the values are internally reduced by the software. Finally, because of critical impact of existing pavement conditions on the rehabilitation design, use of FWD to characterize the existing pavement structure has become more important. This paper documents the above mentioned issues and their impacts on pavement performance. Moreover, remedies are discussed to ensure reliable and accurate results by using the DARWin-ME overlay options.
Event building for the booster neutrino experiment

Summary form only given. A short baseline search for neutrino oscillations named BooNE has been approved for the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The beam from the booster synchrotron will provide a pion source of muon type neutrinos, which will have an energy spectrum from 100 MeV to a few GeV. The neutrinos will be detected and their type identified in a mineral oil Cherenkov detector constructed from a 6 m diameter sphere located 500 m downstream from the source. The Cherenkov light will be detected by /spl sim/1,200 large photomultiplier tubes mounted on the inside surface of the spherical tank. Custom electronics built in VME format digitize the data from the phototubes and 13 single board computers (SBCs) process and organize the data for efficient event collection. Events are built via dedicated ethernets connected between the SBCs and the experiment's analysis computer. A mixture of hardware and software techniques configured on this system provide solutions to the event data flow problem and allow collection of events at the maximum booster cycle rate of 15 Hz. This talk focusses on the software component of the event data packaging and communications.
Slip into something more functional: Selection maintains ancient frameshifts in homopolymeric sequences

Mutational hotspots offer significant sources of genetic variability upon which selection can act. However, with a few notable exceptions, we know little about the dynamics and fitness consequences of mutations in these regions. Here, we explore evolutionary forces shaping homopolymeric tracts that are especially vulnerable to slippage errors during replication and transcription. Such tracts are typically eliminated by selection from most bacterial sequences, yet persist in genomes of endosymbionts with small effective population sizes (N(e)) and biased base compositions. Focusing on Blochmannia, a bacterial endosymbiont of ants, we track the divergence of genes that contain frameshift mutations within long (9-11 bp) polyA or polyT tracts. Earlier experimental work documented that transcriptional slippage restores the reading frame in a fraction of messenger RNA molecules and thereby rescues the function of frameshifted genes. In this study, we demonstrate a surprising persistence of these frameshifts and associated tracts for millions of years. Across the genome of this ant mutualist, rates of indel mutation within homopolymeric tracts far exceed the synonymous mutation rate, indicating that long-term conservation of frameshifts within these tracts is inconsistent with neutrality. In addition, the homopolymeric tracts themselves are more conserved than expected by chance, given extensive neutral substitutions that occur elsewhere in the genes sampled. These data suggest an unexpected role for slippage-prone DNA tracts and highlight a new mechanism for their persistence. That is, when such tracts contain a frameshift, transcriptional slippage plays a critical role in rescuing gene function. In such cases, selection will purge nucleotide changes interrupting the slippery tract so that otherwise volatile sequences become frozen in evolutionary time. Although the advantage of the frameshift itself is less clear, it may offer a mechanism to lower effective gene expression by reducing but not eliminating transcripts that encode full-length proteins.
The ganglion-connective junction in the central nervous system of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis.

Classical studies of the nervous system of the leech revealed that there were specific types of very large glial cells associated with various parts of the neuron. Recent microelectrode studies demonstrated that there was a low resistance to the flow charge from any one of these large glial cells to another. The present study describes a previously unreported type of glial cell, the glial cell of the fascicles. These cells, which resemble the glial cells of the connectives but are smaller, are found in the fascicles of axons that unite the connectives to the neuropil. Thus, these cells are located between the glial cells of the connectives on the one hand and the glial cells of the neuropil and packets on the other and must be taken into account in considerations of the low resistance to the transfer of charge from one glial cell to another.
In silico analysis of the fucosylation-associated genome of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni: cloning and characterization of the enzymes involved in GDP-L-fucose synthesis and Golgi import

Carbohydrate structures of surface-expressed and secreted/excreted glycoconjugates of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni are key determinants that mediate host-parasite interactions in both snail and mammalian hosts. Fucose is a major constituent of these immunologically important glycans, and recent studies have sought to characterize fucosylation-associated enzymes, including the Golgi-localized fucosyltransferases that catalyze the transfer of L-fucose from a GDP-L-fucose donor to an oligosaccharide acceptor. Importantly, GDP-L-fucose is the only nucleotide-sugar donor used by fucosyltransferases and its availability represents a bottleneck in fucosyl-glycotope expression. A homology-based genome-wide bioinformatics approach was used to identify and molecularly characterize the enzymes that contribute to GDP-L-fucose synthesis and Golgi import in S. mansoni. Putative functions were further investigated through molecular phylogenetic and immunocytochemical analyses. We identified homologs of GDP-D-mannose-4,6-dehydratase (GMD) and GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-mannose-3,5-epimerase-4-reductase (GMER), which constitute a de novo pathway for GDP-L-fucose synthesis, in addition to a GDP-L-fucose transporter (GFT) that putatively imports cytosolic GDP-L-fucose into the Golgi. In silico primary sequence analyses identified characteristic Rossman loop and short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase motifs in GMD and GMER as well as 10 transmembrane domains in GFT. All genes are alternatively spliced, generating variants of unknown function. Observed quantitative differences in steady-state transcript levels between miracidia and primary sporocysts may contribute to differential glycotope expression in early larval development. Additionally, analyses of protein expression suggest the occurrence of cytosolic GMD and GMER in the ciliated epidermal plates and tegument of miracidia and primary sporocysts, respectively, which is consistent with previous localization of highly fucosylated glycotopes. This study is the first to identify and characterize three key genes that are putatively involved in the synthesis and Golgi import of GDP-L-fucose in S. mansoni and provides fundamental information regarding their genomic organization, genetic variation, molecular phylogenetics, and developmental expression in intramolluscan larval stages.
Influence of experimentally elevated testosterone on nest defence in dark-eyed juncos

Testosterone affects the allocation of reproductive effort in male birds. Elevated testosterone causes male dark-eyed juncos, Junco hyemalis, to decrease care of dependant offspring, but this generalization is based largely on reduced provisioning rates by males treated with testosterone. Therefore, we used a predator model to explore the relationship between testosterone and nest defence, a more immediate measure of male parental effort. Control males (C-males) were more likely to respond within 10 min to a mount of an eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus, placed at the nest than were testosterone-treated males (T-males). However, among males that did respond within 10 min, T-males initiated nest defence as fast as C-males and defended the nest with equal intensity. Females initiated nest defence more rapidly and struck the mount more often than their mates, regardless of the male’s treatment. Overall, the decreased likelihood of T-males being present for nest defence (perhaps mediated by their large home ranges) may increase predation rates at their nests and represent an important cost of elevated testosterone levels. © 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Characterization of metabolic syndrome among diverse Hispanics/Latinos living in the United States: Latent class analysis from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Abstract Background/objectives Empirical investigation of the adequacy of metabolic syndrome (MetS) diagnostic criteria, and whether meaningful subtypes of MetS exist, is needed among Hispanics/Latinos. Methods In 15,825 US Hispanics/Latinos from HCHS/SOL, latent class analysis of MetS components (waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and antihypertensive, lipid- and glucose-lowering medication use) was used to investigate (1) whether distinct subtypes of MetS could be identified, and how component levels differed between them, and (2) how identified subtypes related to covariates and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence. Results Two latent clusters emerged in both men (n=6317) and women (n=9508): one characterized by relatively healthy mean levels (Non-MetS cluster, 77.1% of men and 67.1% of women) and the other by clinically elevated mean levels (MetS cluster, 22.9% of men and 32.9% of women) across most MetS components. These clusters showed expected associations with covariates and CVD prevalence. Notable results suggest that (1) HDL cholesterol may poorly differentiate between US Hispanics/Latinos with and without MetS (mean=45.4 vs. 44.6mg/dL for men and 51.3 vs. 52.0mg/dL for women in the MetS vs. Non-MetS clusters, respectively) and (2) the NCEP-ATP III 88cm waist circumference cutoff for US females may not optimize diagnosis among Hispanic/Latino women (MetS cluster mean waist circumference=102.5cm). Conclusions Beyond classification into having MetS or not, additional subtypes of MetS do not clearly emerge in US Hispanics/Latinos. Current diagnostic cutoffs for some components may not optimize MetS identification among this population.
Inpacts of Information Technologies on Urban Economic and Politics

Economic globalization and telecommunications have contributed to produce a spatiality for the urban which pivots on de-territorialized cross-border networks and territorial locations with massive concentrations of resources. This is not a completely new feature. Over the centuries cities have been at the intersection of processes with supra-urban and even intercontinental scalings. What is different today is the intensity, complexity and global span of these networks, and the extent to which significant portions of economies are now dematerialized and digitalized and hence can travel at great speeds through these networks. Also new is the growing use of digital networks by often poor neighborhood organizations to pursue a variety of both intra-urban and interurban political initiatives. All of this has raised the number of cities that are part of cross-border networks operating at often vast geographic scales. Under these conditions, much of what we experience and represent as the local turns out to be a micro-environment with global span. The new urban spatiality thus produced is partial in a double sense: it accounts for only part of what happens in cities and what cities are about, and it inhabits only part of what we might think of as the space of the city, whether this be understood in terms as diverse as those of a city’s administrative boundaries or in the sense of the multiple public imaginaries that may be present in different sectors of a city’s people. 1 Below I unpack some of the elements that condition this complex pivoting on crossborder networks and territorial localizations, focusing particularly on the urban economy and on the new types of place-centered politics of the global that we see emerging.
Function and evolution of C2H2 zinc finger arrays

Kruppel-type or C2H2 zinc fingers represent a dominant DNA-binding motif in eukaryotic transcription factor (TF) proteins. In Kruppel-type (KZNF) TFs, KZNF motifs are arranged in arrays of three to as many as 40 tandem units, which cooperate to define the unique DNA recognition properties of the protein. Each finger contains four amino acids located at specific positions, which are brought into direct contact with adjacent nucleotides in the DNA sequence as the KZNF array winds around the major groove of the alpha helix. This arrangement creates an intimate and potentially predictable relationship between the amino acid sequence of KZNF arrays and the nucleotide sequence of target binding sites. The large number of possible combinations and arrangements of modular KZNF motifs, and the increasing lengths of KZNF arrays in vertebrate species, has created huge repertoires of functionally unique TF proteins. The properties of this versatile DNA-binding motif have been exploited independently many times over the course of evolution, through attachment to effector motifs that confer activating, repressing or other activities to the proteins. Once created, some of these novel inventions have expanded in specific evolutionary clades, creating large families of TFs that are lineage- or species-unique. This chapter reviews the properties and their remarkable evolutionary history of eukaryotic KZNF TF proteins, with special focus on large families that dominate the TF landscapes in different metazoan species.
Physiological doses of atrial peptide inhibit angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone secretion

The current study was designed to investigate the potential of atrial peptide to serve as a physiological regulator of aldosterone secretion. Conscious chronically instrumented dogs were given a constant intravenous infusion of either atrial peptide [ANP-(1-28); 5, 25, or 100 ng.kg-1.min-1] or vehicle (saline). Once steady-state conditions were achieved, angiotensin II was infused in a ramp design to stimulate aldosterone secretion (2.5-40 ng.kg-1.min-1). In the absence of atrial peptide, angiotensin II induced dose-dependent increases in plasma aldosterone concentration. In the presence of a 5-ng.kg-1.min-1 infusion of atrial peptide, the aldosterone response was reduced an average of 65 +/- 11%. When atrial peptide was infused at 25 and 100 ng.kg-1.min-1, the response was totally abolished. These results show that atrial peptide is a potent inhibitor of angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone secretion. The results suggest that normal variations in plasma atrial peptide concentration can play an important role in the regulation of aldosterone secretion and fluid and electrolyte balance.
The development of intracellular membranes concomitant with the appearance of HCl secretion in oxyntic cells of the metamorphosing bullfrog tadpole.

Bullfrog tadpole stomachs of various metamorphic stages were examined to determine the fine-structural development of oxyntic cells and to correlate observed morphological development with the capacity to secrete HCl. It was found that in vitro tadpole stomachs can consistently be stimulated to secrete acid by stage XXIV of metamorphosis, when tail reabsorption is nearly complete. Concomitant with the appearance of HCl secretion, identifiable oxyntic cells were found in the gastric glands. Prior to stage XXIV (stages XXI and XXII) the majority of cells present in the developing gastric glands exhibit features of cytological organization characteristic of undifferentiated cells: large nuclei, relatively scantry cytoplasm, and numerous ribosomal particles within the cytoplasmic matrix. The newly differentiated oxyntic cells of stage XXIV tadpole stomachs are recognizable by the accumulation of tubular members of the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in the apical portion of the cells. These membranous structures appear to be formed by the Golgi complex which is extremely elaborate at this stage of development. As the animals complete metamorphosis (stage XXV) further development of the oxyntic cells occurs, especially the elaboration of the tubular components of the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. The abundance of these membranous tubules within the apical cell regions and the pattern of their packing is similar to that observed in oxyntic cells of adult frogs. Also consistent with studies on adult frogs, structural alterations associated with HCl secretion were seen in the later stages of metamorphosis. In stages XXIV and XXV tadpole stomachs, which had been stimulated to secrete acid by addition of histamine, the apical surfaces of oxyntic cells were invested with long filamentous microvilli which projected into the glandular lumen. These observations support the hypothesis that membrane transformations play an integral role in the mechanism of HCl secretion and they implicate the morphogenesis of the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum as a basic prerequisite in the development of gastric secretory function.
Recognizing Opportunistic Bias Crimes

The federal approach to punishing bias-motivated crimes is more limited than the state approach. Though the federal and state methods overlap in some respects, two features of the federal approach restrict its range of application. First, federal law prohibits a narrower range of conduct than do most state bias crimes laws. In order to be punishable under federal law, bias-motivated conduct must either constitute a federal crime or interfere with a federally protected right or activity-requirements that exclude racially motivated assault, property damage and many other common violent or destructive bias offenses. In most states, however, hate crimes encompass a wider range of criminal conduct. In some states, any crime may be punished as a hate crime if bias motivated the criminal conduct. Second, federal law, particularly civil rights law, protects against fewer types of discrimination than do many state laws. Most federal civil rights laws do not cover crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, or disability, while many state laws do.Proposals to expand the scope of federal hate crimes law aim towards making federal law more closely resemble state bias crimes laws. While these expansions may be needed in order to fill the gaps in current federal law, the most common state law approach itself suffers from incomplete coverage. The prevailing approach tends to focus on only one set of cases and fails to recognize and address the full range of cases that merit attention. Accordingly, I argue that the prevailing state law model could in turn expand appropriately by considering an approach from federal sentencing law. The federal vulnerable victim sentence adjustment offers a basis for understanding why the state law model should be expanded, as well as a starting point for outlining the careful expansion of that model.
Mate-guarding in the genus Creutzeria (Astigmata: Histiostomatidae), an aquatic mite genus inhabiting the fluid-filled pitchers of Nepenthes plants (Nepentheaceae)

Abstract A number of genera of Histiostomatidae inhabit phytotelmata, being found fully submerged and filtering organic matter from the fluid. One such phytotelm habitat is the fluid-filled pitchers of species of Nepenthes, a carnivorous plant genus widely distributed in the Old World tropics. As in most histiostomatid species, males of Nepenthes-inhabiting mites seek out tritonymphal females and guard them from other males, a behavior termed “precopulatory mate-guarding”. Upon ecdysis of the tritonymph to adult, mating takes place. Successful mate-guarding prevents other males from gaining access to a virgin female and helps ensure the guarding male's paternity of any resultant offspring. While most Nepenthes-inhabiting genera are ambulatory, walking about on decomposing arthropods in the pitchers, species of the genus Creutzeria are natatory and propel themselves through the fluid using legs greatly modified for this purpose. Males of purely ambulatory species typically climb onto the dorsum of a triton...
Eden Mccallum (Teaching Note)

Teaching note for the Eden McCallum: A Network Based Consulting Firm case: Eden McCallum pioneered the network-based ("virtual") consulting firm model in the UK. Contracting freelance consultants on a per-project basis keeps overheads lean so that Eden McCallum's fees are a fraction of the big firms' rates. Their flexible, low-cost model has attracted top-notch corporate clients, resulting in steady double-digit annual growth in its first nine years. In January 2009, however, the global economic crisis has dramatically reshaped the competitive landscape and the founders must decide between pursuing their high-growth strategy versus retrenching – including cutting costs and pulling out of their first international expansion that they had launched the prior year. This case explores how the elements of a firm's innovative model reinforce each other and what happens when the environment changes.
Spores of myrmecophytic ferns

The structure and diversity of fern spores, based on SEM studies, are assessed in relation to general evolutionary trends and systematics. A review of spores of myrmecophytic ferns includes SEM figures of eight species and the ant Iridomyrmex cordataus . The diversity, especially in Lecanopteris spores, is correlated with other characters indicating systematic differences of the species. Convergence is shown in the echinate spores of the neotropical Solanopteris and those of the paleotropical Drynaria and Selliguea . Evidence for adaptation of spore structure to transport by ants is especially clear in the development of filamentous elements, unique among pteridophytes, in Lecanopteris mirabilis . These demonstrate an unusual labile nature of the wall, and provide insight into the functional role of intricate surface formation of spores.
Transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation after baerveldt glaucoma implant surgery.

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) in patients requiring intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction despite prior Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI) surgery. Participants and methods Twenty eyes of 20 patients who had previously undergone BGI placement and subsequently underwent TSCPC with the red (810 nm) diode laser between April 2005 and January 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Results All patients underwent BGI placement an average of 34.7±24.2 months before TSCPC. The mean follow-up period after TSCPC was 25.6±17.4 months (range, 2.3 to 56.5 mo). IOPs were reduced from a mean of 21.8±4.6 to 10.8±3.2 mm Hg at the most recent follow-up, which represents a 50.2% reduction in mean IOP. Successful postoperative IOP control was achieved in 16 (80%) of 20 patients. The number of glaucoma medications decreased from 4.2±0.6 to 2.2±1.2. The life-table success rate was 78.6% at 12, 24, and 36 months. Postoperative complications included persistent corneal edema in 1 patient and both persistent corneal edema and cystoid macular edema in another patient. Both patients sustained a >2 line reduction in Snellen visual acuity. Conclusions TSCPC is safe and effective in the management of patients requiring IOP reduction after BGI surgery. Although our sample size was limited, the safety profile of TSCPC after BGI seems promising.
Health Perceptions of Cancer Survivors Harvesting at an Urban Garden

decades; yet the effects of cancer treatment, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle behaviors put cancer survivors at much greater risk for multiple comorbidities. Modifiable lifestyle behaviors have been shown to improve cancer outcomes, physical functioning, and quality of life for survivors. The American Institute for Cancer Research/World Cancer Research Fund (AICR/WCRF) provides evidence-based guidelines for cancer prevention that include adopting a plant-based diet, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, and other key lifestyle behavior recommendations. More than one third of all cancers could be prevented by adhering to these guidelines. Though evidence on garden initiatives in adult cancer survivors remains limited, the literature reports that gardening interventions have been correlated with improvements in mental health, produce intake, socialization, physical functioning, and perception of healthrelated well-being. The Garden of Hope provides a novel setting for assessing perceptions of health and adherence to cancer survivorship guidelines. Health Perceptions of Cancer Survivors Harvesting at an Urban Garden
Selective detection and inhibition of active caspase-3 in cells with optimized peptides.

Caspases are a family of cysteine-aspartyl proteases that are well recognized for their essential roles in apoptosis and inflammation. Recently, caspases have also been linked to the promotion of other biologically important phenomena, such as cellular differentiation and proliferation. Dysregulation of the multifaceted and indispensable activities of caspases has been globally linked to several diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders; however, the specific caspase members responsible for these diseases have yet to be assigned. Activity-based probes (ABPs) and peptide-based inhibitors are instrumental in the detection and control of protease activity and serve as alternative methods to genetic approaches. Such molecules aid in the interrogation of specific proteases within cellular and animal models as well as help elucidate aberrant proteolytic function correlated to disease phenotypes. No ABPs or inhibitors have been discovered that specifically target one of the eleven human caspases...
Paradigm Shifts or Paradigm Drifts

In the December 2009 issue of Microbe (p. 538–539), Professor Schaechter suggests that advances in microbiology can be classified as “paradigm shifts” or “paradigm drifts.” The former occur rapidly and are revolutionary. The latter are the “stuff of regular science” and take time to develop. This taxonomy of change can be extended to include “paradigm lifts” and “paradigm rifts.” The former would result from recognition that one concept is deserving of precedent over another, and the latter would result from recognition that a paradigm shift or drift consists of two or more concepts that are better understood and managed when considered separately. Thus, we have a syntax for describing “peaceful intellectual interludes punctuated by intellectually violent revolutions” in which one conceptual view of the microbial world is replaced or supplemented by another. I will leave it to the readers of Microbe to identify examples of conceptual change in the history of microbiology that are best described as paradigm drifts, lifts, shifts or rifts.
Conflict Behaviour as Communication

The major theme of this chapter will be how conflict behaviour can be used to influence the decisions of leaders of rival parties. Even the most violently destructive strategy will succeed in its objective only if it: (i) totally destroys the opposing party, or (ii) so affects the other party through its leaders that they comply with the wishes of the influencing party by taking a decision to abandon or modify goals. For this reason, our discussion treats even violent coercive strategies as a form of communication, the success of which depends partly upon the clarity with which alternative options are transmitted by one party, and received or interpreted by the other.
Boundary Element Methods for some 3D Screen Problems

Here we present theoretical and experimental results for the capacitance C of a thin electrified plate, Γ, being a circular (r = 1) or elliptic disc (a = 2, b =1). Solving an integral equation of the first kind by both the Galerkin and Collocation methods we compute piecewise linear approximations ψn to the charge density ψ on Γ and then integrate ψn over Γ to obtain an approximate capacitance. Our numerical results underline the presented error analysis for the Galerkin solution.
Evidence for Bicarbonate Active Transport in Elodea Nuttallii

In aquatic wastewater treatment systems, submerged aquatic macrophytes can be exposed to high oxygen and low CT (see abbreviations below) concentrations which are detrimentally conducive to photorespiration. Many macrophytes adapt to such conditions by entering a low photorespiratory state which involves a decrease in the CO2 compensation point (Γ) and consequently an increase In the affinity (Km) for CO2. Two seChapaute Inducible enzyme mechanisms are utilized (1,2). Both utilize HCO2 -, which can be the only available inorganic carbon species, and both promote carbcxylatlon over oxygenation at RUBISCO. Hydrilla synthesizes PEPcase which fixes HCO3 - into C4 acids which can then be decarboxylated as a CO2 source for RUBISCO (2). Conversely, Myriophyllum synthesizes CA which is thought to be involved in a HCO3 - active transport system (1). We have grown Elodea nuttallii in aquatic treatment systems; the macrophyte exhibits low photorespiratory and HCO33- utilization characteristics (3)Γ=44 μL L-1, Km [C2]=98μ M, RUBISCO/PEPcase=6.6, CA=14 EU mg Chl-1, acid and alkaline banding, and 1:1 HCO3 - utilization: OH- production stolchlometries. The purpose of this study was to determine if E. nuttallii employs a HCO3 - active transport system as part of its adaptive response to photorespiratory conditions. The data suggests the E. nuttallii possesses a HOO3 - proton symport to accumulate CT.
Clinical Study on Effect of Infantile Cough which Accumulation of Phlegm Dampness in Lung Treated by Patching Therapy During Sanjiu Solar Terms

Objective:To investigate the effect on therapeutic effectiveness by patching therapy during Sanjiu solar terms in treating accumulation of phlegm dampness in lung.Method:120 children have cough which accumulation of phlegm dampness in lung were assigned equally to three groups(patching group,procaterol hydrochloride oral solution group,patching with procaterol hydrochloride oral solution group)the clinical effectiveness and pulmonary ventilation function were observed.Result:After treatment,the cure effective of patching with procaterol hydrochloride oral solution rate was 100%.Patching with procaterol hydrochloride oral solution group is more significant than the patching and procaterol hydrochloride oral solution group(P0.01,P0.05).There was more significant between the patching and procaterol hydrochloride oral solution group(P0.05).The patching with procaterol hydrochloride oral solution group has no significant improvement than procaterol hydrochloride oral solution group(P0.05),but more significant than patching group in pulmonary ventilation function.Conclusion:Patching continuously with procaterol hydrochloride oral solution can improve symptoms and improve pulmonary ventilation function in treating infantile cough which accumulation of phlegm dampness in lung.The treatment was shorten with intern and external therapy,so it is worthy of clinical treatment.
Total Parenteral Nutrition in Infants and Children: Central and Peripheral Approaches

Insufficient caloric intake for a prolonged period contributes appreciably to mortality in infants and children with lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. An alternative approach to hyperalimentation involves the infusion of fat solutions along with glucose and amino acids into peripheral veins.
Review: Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry Centre Pompidou, Paris 8 October 2014–26 January 2015 Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles 13 September 2015–31 March 2016 Given that the Frank Gehry exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) made its way from the Centre Pompidou, where it opened in 2014, one might have been tempted to see this as a homecoming. Certainly the drive from the I-10 freeway through the neighborhood called Little Ethiopia seemed a fitting gateway. The incongruity of small houses, modest-size apartment buildings, and unpretentious shops occupying space between large fitness centers and strip malls prepared one for the marvelous cacophony of form we have come to expect from the office of Gehry Partners, an architecture firm based in Los Angeles for several decades. Indeed, this ability to create unexpected form inspired one of the clearest (yet least expected) messages expressed in the exhibition: that Gehry's architecture responds to local context. Another message of the show, perhaps even louder, seemed contradictory to the first, eschewing even the sentimentality of a homecoming. Gehry was represented not so much as a Los Angeles architect, but as a unique force. Inside the exhibition, for example, visitors found this quote by Gehry prominently displayed on a central partition: “My intention is to be part of each place…. I don't consciously take Los Angeles with me…. I take me with me, whatever that is.” Organized by curators Aurelien Lemonier and Frederic Migayrou of the Centre Pompidou but designed and installed by Gehry Partners in collaboration with LACMA's Stephanie Barron, the exhibition championed Frank Gehry as …
Risk factors for the development of heterotopic ossification in seriously burned adults: A National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research burn model system database analysis

BACKGROUND Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a debilitating complication of burn injury; however, incidence and risk factors are poorly understood. In this study, we use a multicenter database of adults with burn injuries to identify and analyze clinical factors that predict HO formation. METHODS Data from six high-volume burn centers, in the Burn Injury Model System Database, were analyzed. Univariate logistic regression models were used for model selection. Cluster-adjusted multivariate logistic regression was then used to evaluate the relationship between clinical and demographic data and the development of HO. RESULTS Of 2,979 patients in the database with information on HO that addressed risk factors for development of HO, 98 (3.5%) developed HO. Of these 98 patients, 97 had arm burns, and 96 had arm grafts. When controlling for age and sex in a multivariate model, patients with greater than 30% total body surface area burn had 11.5 times higher odds of developing HO (p < 0.001), and those with arm burns that required skin grafting had 96.4 times higher odds of developing HO (p = 0.04). For each additional time a patient went to the operating room, odds of HO increased by 30% (odds ratio, 1.32; p < 0.001), and each additional ventilator day increased odds by 3.5% (odds ratio, 1.035; p < 0.001). Joint contracture, inhalation injury, and bone exposure did not significantly increase odds of HO. CONCLUSION Risk factors for HO development include greater than 30% total body surface area burn, arm burns, arm grafts, ventilator days, and number of trips to the operating room. Future studies can use these results to identify highest-risk patients to guide deployment of prophylactic and experimental treatments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III.
Orientation-sensitive amacrine and ganglion cells in the rabbit retina.

1. Intracellular recordings were obtained from amacrine and ganglion cells in the isolated, superfused retina-eyecup preparation of the rabbit to test the orientation sensitivity of their responses. Cell identification was based on morphological criteria following injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or N-(2-aminoethyl)-biotinamide hydrochloride (Neurobiotin) to visualize soma-dendritic architectures. 2. In terms of the physiological mechanisms generating their sensitivity, two types of orientation-sensitive amacrine cell and a single type of orientation-sensitive ganglion cell were found. These cell types were termed orientation selective and orientation biased. Cells were subtypes further into on- or off-center receptive-field categories. 3. The receptive fields of orientation-selective amacrine and ganglion cells were composed of two inhibitory fields that flanked the excitatory center receptive field along the preferred orientation. These inhibitory flanks produced a center receptive-field anisotropy with its major axis corresponding to the preferred orientation: either parallel or orthogonal to the visual streak. When a stimulus was oriented orthogonal to the preferred orientation (i.e., at the null orientation), the inhibitory fields were stimulated, resulting in a null inhibition that blocked the center-mediated excitation. Stimulation of these inhibitory flanks was absolutely essential to evoke the orientation selectivity of these cells. The null response reflected inhibition associated with a conductance increase and not disfacilitation. 4. Orientation-biased amacrine cells displayed a center receptive-field anisotropy with its major axis oriented either parallel or orthogonal to the visual streak. These cells preferred light stimuli oriented along the major axis of the center receptive field. However, whereas the excitatory response of these cells was reduced when a stimulus was rotated from the preferred orientation, there was no corresponding hyperpolarization. No null inhibition was detected even after modulation of the membrane potential with extrinsic current. 5. Although orientation-biased amacrine cells were morphologically heterogeneous, they all displayed dendritic arbors that were markedly elongated along an axis corresponding to their physiological preferred orientation. Thus it appears that the elongated dendritic fields of these cells may provide for the anisotropy of their center receptive fields and, in turn, their orientation sensitivity. 6. Orientation-selective amacrine cells formed a rather homogeneous morphological group of cells. These neurons displayed large, radially symmetric dendritic arbors with diameters averaging 1,100 microns. There were no asymmetries in their dendritic fields and thus no clear structural basis for their orientation selectivity. 7. In contrast, orientation-selective ganglion cells displayed diverse soma-dendritic architecture and thus could not be placed into a single morphological class.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Biobanking and Regulations

Biobanking represents an essential activity for biomarker discovery. The appropriate storage of tissues, fluids, and biomolecules requires careful planning, resources, and active involvement of neuropathology. Samples stored for neoplastic neuropathology in particular include snap-frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, as well as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, and saliva for biomarker discovery and nonneoplastic DNA controls. Although biobanking is not as tightly regulated as clinical pathology laboratories, there are increasing efforts to implement accepted guidelines and standardize sample collection for quality control processes. In addition, biobanking activities must be undertaken following ethical guidelines, as well as institutional review board approval.
Achieving Safety for Power Shifting in Overprovisioned High Performance Computing Systems

Future large-scale parallel computer systems, including exascale systems, will operate under an overall power bound. This bound will be enforced by having nodes adhere to local power caps, the sum of which cannot exceed the global power bound. To make efficient use of the available power, protocols have been developed to shift power between nodes, for example to compensate for load imbalance or system noise. The distributed power shifting protocol needs to provide a guarantee of safety that the global power bound will never be exceeded and it needs to have acceptably low overhead under normal operating conditions. We present a variant of the Paxos protocol that guarantees safety. We give an upper bound for the communication overhead of this protocol, along with suggestions for how the overhead can be lowered.
The Universal Genetic Code and Non-Canonical Variants

Abstract Genetic code refers to the assignment of the codons to the amino acids, thus being the cornerstone template underling the translation process. Genetic code is largely invariant throughout all extant organisms; hence, it is often referred to as the “universal” or “canonical” genetic code. However, a number of extant deviations exist, in both nuclear and organelle (notably, mitochondrial) genomes. These are known as “deviant” or “non-canonical” codes. The emergence of the non-canonical codes posits a number of intriguing questions in regard to the origins and evolution of the universal genetic code and, importantly, has practical implications as certain human mitochondrial diseases have been shown to be linked to the mitochondrial code deviations and translational errors. On a fundamental level, universality (and presumed optimality) of the genetic code is a principal notion underlying its origins, evolution and functionality.
Intravitreal Injection Technique.

Abstract Introduction Intravitreal injection of therapeutic medications has become one of the most commonly performed procedures in ophthalmology. Over the past decade, a number of guidelines have ...
One-Dimensional Glass Micro-Fillers in Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Li-O2 Battery Applications

Abstract Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are composed of liquid electrolytes in polymer matrices and have been widely used in lithium batteries. The incorporation of fillers in electrolytes has been shown to improve Li+ transport properties due to the interaction of filler materials with the polymer, solvent, or salt. In this work, we report on the preparation of composite GPEs (cGPEs) that contain one-dimensional glass micro-fillers of approximately 1 micron in diameter and with an aspect ratio exceeding 100. The cGPEs were electrochemically characterized for Li+ transport properties and were shown to have as high as 37% improvement in ionic conductivity and 25% increase in transference number compared to GPEs, using cGPE with 1% micro-fillers. Li-oxygen batteries containing these cGPEs have also demonstrated superior charge/discharge cycling performance with as a high as 86% more cycles of 500 mAh·g−1 for cGPE-1% batteries compared to GPE batteries. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, this improvement was traced to the stabilization of the interfacial resistances in the batteries owing to the improved Li+ transport properties.
A Combined Density Functional Theory and Spectrophotometry Study of the Bonding Interactions of [NpO2·M]4+ Cation–Cation Complexes

The equilibrium constants for [NpO2·M]4+ (M = Al3+, In3+, Sc3+, Fe3+) in μ = 10 M nitric acid and [NpO2·Ga]4+ in μ = 10 M hydrochloric acid media have been determined. The trend in the interaction strength follows: Fe3+ > Sc3+ ≥ In3+ > Ga3+ ≫ Al3+. These equilibrium constants are compared to those of previously reported values for NpO2+ complexes with Cr3+ and Rh3+ within the literature. Thermodynamic parameters and bonding modes are discussed, with density functional theory and natural bond orbital analysis indicating that the NpO2+ dioxocation acts as a π-donor with transition-metal cations and a σ-donor with group 13 cations. The small changes in electron-donating ability is modulated by the overlap with the coordinating metal ion’s valence atomic orbitals.