cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A physiological role for cyanate-induced carbonic anhydrase in Escherichia coli.

Abstract Cyanate induces expression of the cyn operon in Escherichia coli. The cyn operon includes the gene cynS, encoding cyanase, which catalyzes the reaction of cyanate with bicarbonate to give ammonia and carbon dioxide. A carbonic anhydrase activity was recently found to be encoded by the cynT gene, the first gene of the cyn operon; it was proposed that carbonic anhydrase prevents depletion of bicarbonate during cyanate decomposition due to loss of CO2 by diffusion out of the cell (M. B. Guilloton, J. J. Korte, A. F. Lamblin, J. A. Fuchs, and P. M. Anderson, J. Biol. Chem. 267:3731-3734, 1992). The function of the product of the third gene of this operon, cynX, is unknown. In the study reported here, the physiological roles of cynT and cynX were investigated by construction of chromosomal mutants in which each of the three genes was rendered inactive. The delta cynT chromosomal mutant expressed an active cyanase but no active carbonic anhydrase. In contrast to the wild-type strain, the growth of the delta cynT strain was inhibited by cyanate, and the mutant strain was unable to degrade cyanate and therefore could not use cyanate as the sole nitrogen source when grown at a partial CO2 pressures (pCO2) of 0.03% (air). At a high pCO2 (3%), however, the delta cynT strain behaved like the wild-type strain; it was significantly less sensitive to the toxic effects of cyanate and could degrade cyanate and use cyanate as the sole nitrogen source for growth. These results are consistent with the proposed function for carbonic anhydrase. The chromosomal mutant carrying cynS::kan expressed induced carbonic anhydrase activity but no active cyanase. The cynS::kan mutant was found to be much less sensitive to cyanate than the delta cynT mutant at a low pCO2, indicating that bicarbonate depletion due to the reaction of bicarbonate with cyanate catalyzed by cyanase is more deleterious to growth than direct inhibition by cyanate. Mutants carrying a nonfunctional cynX gene (cynX::kan and delta cynT cynX::kan) did not differ from the parental strains with respect to cyanate sensitivity, presence of carbonic anhydrase and cyanase, or degradation of cyanate by whole cells; the physiological role of the cynX product remains unknown.
Small variation in the photosynthetically active fraction of solar radiation on clear days

Simulations explain the empirical finding that the fraction of solar radiation reaching the ground in the photosynthetically active region is remarkably constant. The effects of scattering, concentrated in the shorter wavelengths, and absorption, concentrated in the longer, tend to balance over a wide variety of conditions.
Synthesis of On-Chip Interconnection Structures: From Point-To-Point Links to Networks-on-Chip

Packet-switched networks-on-chip (NOC) have been advocated as the solution to the challenge of organizing efficient and reliable communication structures among the components of a system-on-chip (SOC). A critical issue in designing a NOC is to determine its topology given the set of point-to-point communication requirements among these components. We present a novel approach to on-chip communication synthesis that is based on the iterative combination of two efficient computational steps: (1) an application of the k-Median algorithm to coarsely determine the global communication structure (which may turned out not be a network after all), and a (2) a variation of the shortest-path algorithm in order to finely tune the data flows on the communication channels. The application of our method to case studies taken from the literature shows that we can automatically synthesize optimal NOC topologies for multi-core on-chip processors and it offers new insights on why NOC are not necessarily a value proposition for some classes of application-specific SOCs.
Clinical, histopathological, and immunological responses of ponies to Ehrlichia sennetsu and subsequent Ehrlichia risticii challenge.

Ehrlichia risticii has a close antigenic relationship to E. sennetsu. Sera of ponies experimentally infected with E. risticii, the etiologic agent of Potomac horse fever, consistently reacted with E. sennetsu, a human pathogen, in indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) testing, while human E. sennetsu convalescent serum reacted with E. risticii by IFA testing and immunoferritin labeling of cells infected in vitro. Two ponies injected intravenously with live E. sennetsu did no develop clinical illness. Subsequent injection with live E. sennetsu did not develop clinical illness. Subsequent injection with live E. risticii also did not induce any disease, in contrast to two control ponies given E. risticii without prior exposure to E. sennetsu. Both controls developed fever, anorexia, depression, dehydration, and diarrhea, which are typical clinical signs of Potomac horse fever, and had characteristic lesions of enteritis and lymph node histiocytosis at postmortem examination. E. sennetsu-exposed ponies had normal gastrointestinal morphologies and lymph node hyperplasia. Ponies primed with E. sennetsu before E. risticii challenge developed high titers of immunoglobulin G antibody which reacted against both E. sennetsu and E. risticii antigens by IFA testing. The most prominent antigenic polypeptide in Western (immuno-) blot analysis of sera collected from ponies primed with E. sennetsu before subsequent challenge with E. risticii was present in lysates of both Ehrlichia species and had an apparent molecular mass of 44 kilodaltons. This band was not prominent in Western blots performed with sera of ponies injected with E. risticii alone. Thus, injection of E. sennetsu protects ponies from clinical and pathological manifestations of the disease induced by injection with E. risticii. Immunologic cross-reactivity of the two organisms with IFA testing and strong immunologic recognition by ponies of the 44-kilodalton antigen common to the two organisms may be related to the development of protective immunity against E. risticii. Images
Aerospace Plane Guidance using Geometric Control Theory

A reduced-order method employing decomposition, based on time scale separation, of the 4-D state space in a 2-D slow manifold and a family of 2-D fast manifolds is shown to provide an excellent approximation to the full-order minimum-fuel ascent trajectory. Near-optimal guidance is obtained by tracking the reduced-order trajectory. The tracking problem is solved as regulation problems on the family of fast manifolds, using the exact linearization methodology from nonlinear geometric control theory. The validity of the overall guidance approach is indicated by simulation.
Implementing a Paradigm Shift: Incorporating Pain Management Competencies into Pre‐Licensure Curricula

Objective The purpose of this article is 1) to present the historical context and rationale for competency-based pain management education; and 2) to suggest learning tools that faculty might apply into their teachings and their institutions' pre-licensure curricula for promoting conceptual learning based on competency-based pain management education. Design Based on the well-documented need to improve the competency of health care professionals in pain assessment and management, an interprofessional group of health care providers collaborated and then convened in August 2012 to develop core competencies for pain management for the pre-licensure programs of study across health care disciplines. This interprofessional group of pain educators achieved consensus on a common set of pain-related competencies intended to be implemented across a variety of pre-licensure professional programs. Setting A group of the interprofessional faculty, who participated in the development of the core competencies for pain management, provides a follow-up of how to implement learning tools within teaching and curricula, based on competency education in pre-licensure health care. Results Broad questions about how to incorporate competencies into pre-licensure curricula, for all health provider pre-licensure programs, including how to assess competency across individuals and how to teach in ways that emphasize the demonstration of conceptual learning, remain unanswered. This article reviews how the use of competencies creates historical context for a shift from teaching to learning and concludes with suggestions and exemplars in applying core competencies for pain management in pre-licensure programs.
Improving the performance of query-based routing protocols through "diversity injection"

In this paper, we investigate the diversity properties of routes acquired through traditional route query floods. The on-demand nature of query-based (reactive) routing is appropriate for networks with dynamic network topologies (such as ad-hoc networks). An intrinsic feature of route query protocols is the support for multiple route replies. While it is widely assumed that the set of discovered routes is fairly diverse, an examination of the query propagation behavior reveals that these routes typically have many nodes/links in common. Without sufficient diversity, the routing protocol is limited in its ability to promptly recover from (or even prevent) interrupted service caused by route failures. Based on our understanding of query propagation behavior, we propose a novel mechanism that uses information from terminated query threads to "inject" diversity into the collection of route replies. We study the impact of our diversity injection scheme on the demanding ad-hoc networking environment. Our results demonstrate how diversity injection can leverage a small investment of temporary cache to reduce both the rate of route failures and the bandwidth consumed by overhead query traffic.
Total mercury concentrations in lakes and fish of western Maryland, USA.

The purpose of this study was to quantify total mercury concentrations in three species of fish in three lakes of western Maryland: Piney Creek reservoir, Deep Creek Lake, and Lake Habeeb. We measured total mercury concentrations in water from each lake and muscle tissue from 119 fish collected in fall 2000: 15 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), 15 yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and 15 bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) from the Piney Creek reservoir; 15 largemouth bass, 15 yellow perch, and 14 bluegill from Deep Creek Lake; and 15 largemouth bass and 15 bluegill from Lake Habeeb. Average total mercury concentrations (± SD) in surface waters were 0.96 ± 0.03 ng L−1 for the Piney Creek reservoir, 0.56 ± 0.07 ng L−1 for Deep Creek Lake, and 0.40 ± 0.05 ng L−1 for Lake Habeeb. These water quality differences were sometimes reflected in the total mercury concentration in fish muscle tissue. Total mercury concentrations in bluegill (0.05 ± 0.02 μg g−1) and largemouth bass (0.10 ± 0.03 μg g−1) from Lake Habeeb were significantly (p < 0.001) lower than the total mercury concentrations in bluegill and largemouth bass from the Piney Creek reservoir (bluegill: 0.13 ± 0.04 μg g−1 and largemouth bass: 0.37 ± 0.18 μg g−1) and Deep Creek Lake (bluegill: 0.11 ± 0.04 μg g−1 and largemouth bass: 0.30 ± 0.09 μg g−1). Yellow perch from the Piney Creek reservoir had significantly higher total mercury concentrations than yellow perch from Deep Creek Lake (0.20 ± 0.08 μg g−1 versus 0.13 ± 0.04 μg g−1). In contrast, total mercury concentrations in largemouth bass from the Piney Creek reservoir and Deep Creek Lake were not significantly different. With the exception of largemouth bass from Lake Habeeb and yellow perch from Deep Creek Lake, there were relatively strong (r 2 > 0.39–0.79) log-log relationships between the size (weight and length) of the fish and total mercury concentrations in muscle tissue. The largest largemouth bass (> 800 g and > 38 cm) from both Deep Creek Lake and the Piney Creek reservoir had total mercury concentrations that exceeded the consumption advisory of 0.5 μg g−1 that is used by many states and Canada. In contrast, total mercury concentrations in largemouth bass from Lake Habeeb did not exceed this consumption advisory. Our results suggest that fish consumption advisories are needed for largemouth bass in the Piney Creek reservoir and Deep Creek Lake.
Efficacy of irrigation with rotary instrumentation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a handpiece-mounted irrigation device and compare it to irrigation with a syringe and needle in the apical 5 mm of the root canal system. Twenty matched pairs of extracted teeth were used. The only variable within each matched pair was the method of irrigation. A syringe and needle were used in group A and the handpiece-mounted system in group B. Sections 1, 3, and 5 mm from the working length were examined microscopically, and images of the slides were digitized. The percentage of canal space occupied by pulpal and dentinal debris was calculated to be 6% ± 12.7% in group A, versus 3.8% ± 7% in group B (p = 0.264). The percentages at each level were as follows: 1 mm from the working length, 14.1% ± 19% for group A and 5% ± 7.5% for group B; 3 mm from working length, 1.8% ± 5.4% for group A and 3.9% ± 6.9% for group B; and 5 mm from working length, 3.1% ± 7.7% for group A and 2.6% ± 7.3% for group B. In group A, there was significantly more debris in the 1-mm section than in the 3- or 5-mm sections. In group B, the differences between levels were not significant. There was no significant difference in the amount of debris remaining in the apical 5 mm of canals when comparing the handpiece-mounted irrigation device to irrigation with a syringe and needle. The average times for instrumentation in group A (needle irrigation) and group B (Quantec-E irrigation system) were 8.7 ± 2.7 min and 6.5 ± 1.9 min, respectively. Group B was associated with statistically significant shorter instrumentation time (p
Understanding the storytelling of older adults for AAC system design

The author examined the storytelling patterns of older adults in order to understand the complexities of this type of communication. Through in-depth analysis of 28 audiotaped language samples, field notes, and interviews with family members and other related professionals, specific configurations of storytelling surfaced and a grounded theory of this style of communication within everyday conversation emerged. Study outcomes include identification of three different ways of telling stories (individual monologue, contributed group stories, and evolving theme repeated stories), some consistent structures (introductory and summation phrases), and a predominant reference to both past and present within the stories. The stories were also found to serve the purpose of transmitting cultural values within three subcategories: usefulness, connections, and philosophy. The data reveal important insights into the sophisticated manner by which information is transmitted through the stories of older adults. These insi...
Controversy and Ideological Hegemony in Sociological Theory

Sociological theory has been characterized by the recurrence of several controversies since its inception. The relationship between the individual and society represents one of these. Cooley's notion of the individual and society being twin-born has been labeled one of the major breakthroughs in this controversy. According to Tiryakian, Cooley's work signaled the end of that controversy, but still it reappears. Drawing heavily from Mannheim, Berger and Pullberg, and Therborn, we examine the recurrence of the individual versus society controversy. Sociology, we contend, occupies an alienated position within capitalist society where positivist epistemology serves as an ideological veil, concealing the existence of ontological presuppositions, distorting social reality, and preventing any meaningful attempt to understand the development of sociology, or the recurrence of the individual-society controversy. As an ideological veil, positivism contributes to the recurring bifurcation of social reality. The dominance of positivism within sociology, moreover, gives it a hegemonic status, further negating any recognition that the individual and society are interdependent.
Effect of supernatants from nephrotic peripheral blood mononuclear cells on 35sulfate incorporation in rat glomerular basement membrane.

ABSTRACT: In previous research, we showed that when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with idiopathic minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome (IMLNS) in relapse were cocultured with rat glomeruli, there was an increased glomerular basement membrane (GBM) uptake of 35sulfate. This study was done to determine whether the increased uptake was due to substances secreted into the nephrotic PBMC culture supernatants. 35sulfate uptake in rat GBM was significantly higher when glomeruli were cocultured with PBMC from 12 IMLNS patients in relapse (geometric mean [GM] = 513 cpm/mg) than when simultaneous assays were done using either PBMC from eight control subjects (GM = 158) (p < 0.05) or glomeruli incubated without PBMC (GM = 275 cpm/mg) (p < 0.01). 35sulfate uptake did not increase when glomeruli were cocultured with PBMCs from 11 MLNS patients in remission. Rat GBM 35sulfate uptake was significantly higher when glomeruli were incubated in the supernatants of the PBMC cultures from 16 IMLNS patients in relapse (GM = 234 cpm/mg) than it was when glomeruli were cultured in the supernatants from normal control PBMC (GM = 126 cpm/mg; p < 0.002) or from glomeruli cultured alone (GM = 141 cpm/mg) (p < 0.04). Supernatants from PBMC cultures of 11 IMLNS patients in remission did not increase rat GBM 35sulfate uptake. These data suggest that PBMC from IMLNS patients in relapse secrete a factor(s) released into supernatants that increases the 35sulfate rat GBM uptake. Since sulfated compounds in the GBM play a role in glomerular permeability, this finding may have pathogenic significance.
Self-disclosure and new communication technologies The implications of receiving superficial self-disclosures from friends

The reported study examined the implications of receiving superficial self-disclosures from a friend. A total of 199 adults reported on communication episodes initiated by a friend during the previous 7 days via five communication technologies and completed measures of liking, relationship satisfaction, and willingness to provide social support to their friend. The results revealed significant interactions between the total volume of self-disclosures received and proportion of superficial disclosures for liking and relationship satisfaction. Among respondents who received a relatively greater volume of self-disclosures, the proportion of superficial disclosures received was inversely associated with relationship satisfaction and liking. Perceived costs mediated the preceding relationships.
Abstract 2060: microRNA-dependent modulation of histone acetylation in Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

Introduction. Epigenetic regulation of gene-expression, including histone acetylation, is commonly deregulated in many malignancies leading to aberrant transcription, but microRNA (miRNA)-dependent modulation of histone acetylation in Waldenstrom9s Macroglobulinemia (WM) has not been evaluated yet. Methods. miRNA and gene-expression profiling have been performed on bone-marrow-derived CD19+ WM cells, compared to their normal cellular counterparts. Purified cRNA was hybridized to HG-U133Plus2.0 GeneChip (Affimetrix). A liquid phase Luminex microbead miRNA profiling (Luminex, Austin, TX) has been used for miRNA studies. To further define those miRNAs differentially expressed between groups (patients vs normal), the data were filtered on significance of differences using ANOVA test, (P Results. WM cells present with a specific miRNA signature characterized by increased expression of miRNA-206 and decreased expression of miRNA-9* (ANOVA;P Conclusion. These findings confirm that histone-modifying genes and HDAC activity are de-regulated in WM cells; this may be partially driven by the aberrant expression of miRNA-206 and −9* in the tumor clone; and provide the basis for the development of miRNA-based targeted therapies in WM. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2060.
Urinary Pharmacodynamics of Low-Dose Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin

The incidence of resistant uropathogens to the fluoroquinolones is increasing, but their effectiveness in the urine against these strains is unknown. In this investigation, we studied the urinary pharmacodynamics of ciprofloxacin (100 mg) and ofloxacin (200 mg) against urinary isolates that were moderately resistant to ciprofloxacin (Escherichia coli, MIC = 4; Klebsiella pneumoniae, MIC = 4; Staphylococcus saprophyticus, MIC = 8) and ofloxacin. Seven healthy female volunteers received three doses (one dose every 12 h) of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin in a randomized, crossover design with a 1-week washout period between regimens. Urine bactericidal activity was determined after the first and third dose of each drug. Both ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin exhibited prolonged (≥6 h) urine bactericidal activity against the E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates after the first dose. No bactericidal activity was demonstrated for ciprofloxacin against the S. saprophyticus strain. In contrast, ofloxacin exhibited urine bactericidal activity for 8 h against this isolate. Similar findings were observed after the third dose, with the exception that ciprofloxacin exhibited a short period (4 h) of bactericidal activity against the S. saprophyticus strain. In summary, low-dose regimens of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin exhibited prolonged bactericidal activity against moderately resistant strains of common bacterial uropathogens. Only ofloxacin demonstrated bactericidal activity in the urine during the first dosing interval against a moderately resistant isolate of S. saprophyticus.
Antinociceptive effects of opioids following acute and chronic administration of butorphanol: influence of stimulus intensity and relative efficacy at the mu receptor

Rationale: A common treatment strategy for the management of severe pain involves the co-administration of multiple opioid analgesics. Due to the increasing popularity of this practice, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the interactions between clinically employed opioids under a wide range of conditions. Objective: The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of opioid combinations following acute and chronic administration of the low-efficacy mu-opioid butorphanol, and to determine if the effects of these combinations are modulated by the intensity of the nociceptive stimulus. Methods: In a warm-water, tail-withdrawal procedure, rats were restrained and the latencies to remove their tails from 50°C (low temperature) and 55°C (high temperature) water were measured following both acute and chronic administration of butorphanol. Opioids possessing both high (etorphine, levorphanol, morphine) and low [dezocine, (–)-pentazocine, nalbuphine] relative efficacy at the mu receptor were examined. Results: Under acute conditions, etorphine, levorphanol, morphine and dezocine increased tail-withdrawal latencies at both low and high temperatures, whereas (–)-pentazocine, nalbuphine and butorphanol increased latencies only at the low temperature. A dose of 30 mg/kg butorphanol increased the effects produced by these opioids at the low temperature, but antagonized the effects of etorphine, levorphanol, morphine and dezocine at the high temperature. During chronic treatment with 30 mg/kg per day butorphanol, tolerance was conferred to the antinociceptive effects of all the opioids examined, with greater degrees of tolerance conferred to those opioids possessing low efficacy at the mu receptor. During butorphanol treatment, etorphine, levorphanol and morphine increased tail-withdrawal latencies at both water temperatures, dezocine increased latencies at only the low temperature, and (–)-pentazocine, nalbuphine and butorphanol failed to increase latencies at either temperature. A dose of 30 mg/kg butorphanol antagonized the antinociceptive effects of etorphine, levorphanol, morphine and dezocine during chronic treatment, and these effects were observed at both water temperatures. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the interactions between butorphanol and other mu opioids vary quantitatively between low and high stimulus intensities, and between acute and chronic conditions. In most instances, however, these interactions can be predicted from the effects of the drugs when administered alone.
New analyses of MIC90 data to aid antibacterial drug discovery

In this work we present a number of statistical and visualization methods derived from MIC90 data designed to aid decision-making in antibacterial drug discovery research. A statistical method known as bootstrapping was applied to MIC90 raw data to uncover data trends and a metric termed Net Percent Superior (NPS) was developed to capture a strain-by-strain analysis of analogs to enable rank-ordering of similar compounds. We also present novel methods of reporting the data using a variety of visualization techniques. Furthermore, the work was cross-validated using experimental results generated with siderophore-conjugated monocarbam analogs to demonstrate the effectiveness of the various parameters and visualization techniques. The methods reported herein have been incorporated in a Scitegic Pipeline Pilot protocol to enable facile, automated generation of MIC90 analyses from experimental raw data to aid prospective medicinal chemistry design as well as retrospective analyses.
AGU scientists urge Congress to invest in research and science education

With the “fiscal cliff” of sequestration drawing closer and threatening to hit basic science research funding with an 8.2% cut, according to an estimate by the Office of Management and Budget, congressional compromise on a budget plan is more urgent than ever. To discuss the value of scientific research and education with their senators and representatives, 55 Earth and space scientists from 17 states came to Washington, D. C., on 11–12 September to participate in the fifth annual Geosciences Congressional Visits Day sponsored by AGU and six other geoscience organizations. Although their specialties varied from space weather to soil science, the scientists engaged members of Congress and their staff in a total of 116 meetings to discuss a common goal: securing continued, steady investment in the basic scientific research that allows scientists to monitor natural hazards, manage water and energy resources, and develop technologies that spur economic growth and job creation. To make the most of these visits on 12 September, participants attended a training session the previous day, during which they learned about the details of the policy- making process and current legislative developments and practiced conducting a congressional meeting. Congressional Science Fellows, including past AGU fellow Rebecca French, described their experiences as scientists working on Capitol Hill, and White House policy analyst Bess Evans discussed the president's stance on sequestration and funding scientific research.
The evaluation of the critical electrochemical potentials influencing environmentally assisted cracking of Al-Li-Cu alloys in selected environments

Abstract The electrochemical behavior of aluminium has been determined as a function of copper content using potentiodynamic polarization and scratching electrode techniques. This information has been correlated to trends in environmental cracking of Al-Li-Cu alloys in inhibited sodium chloride environments. Scratching electrode-constant extension tests of stressed tensile samples have revealed a change from no failures to rapid failures due to a 10 mV change in applied potential. The potentials (ECRIT-EAC) where these transitions occur appear to be linked to the electrochemistry of a copper depleted region along microstructural boundaries. Similar values for ECRIT-EAC were observed for both Li-containing and Li-devoid Al-Cu-X alloys, and for a given alloy the values were a function of temper. These observations are used to support the theory of Cu-depletion controlling crack-tip electrochemistry as opposed to an active precipitate phase as the dominant feature.
NONINVASIVE URODYNAMICS : A STUDY OF MALE VOIDING DYSFUNCTION

A group of 26 patients was tested for isovolumetric pressure and optimal flow rate by means of the cuff-uroflow (CUF) technique. The same patients were also examined in the clinic, and a diagnosis was recorded. The two processes were performed independently in a statistically double-blind manner. Standard statistical comparisons were made, and it was shown that there exists substantial correlation between the results of clinical examination and the cuff-uroflow procedure. It was also shown that the CUF technique converged more rapidly to a correct diagnosis than standard clinical procedures. Surgical treatment and watchful waiting were examined and it was shown, as expected, that surgical treatment resulted in substantial improvement in most cases, but that watchful waiting generated no statistically significant change.
Special issue on vehicle routing and scheduling: recent trends and advances

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) has evolved into one of the most studied optimization problems in the transportation and operations research literature, with numerous applications encountered across a wide array of practical contexts. In broad terms, the VRP deals with the optimal assignment of a set of customer orders to a fleet of vehicles and the determination of the corresponding service sequences over a period of time. The problem comes in many variants, which differ based on the type of operation, the time frame for decision making, the objective, the types of constraints that must be adhered to, and in certain cases, the dynamic and/or stochastic features present. As a result of their combinatorial nature and intrinsic complexity, vehicle routing and scheduling problems have led to major developments in both the realms of exact and metaheuristic algorithms. For a complete discussion of the field, interested readers are referred to a number of books [4,9,10,15,19] and recent survey papers [1–3,5–8,11–14,16–18,20,21]. Despite the progress and contributions made in recent years, many questions remain unanswered, and new ones are constantly emerging. The aim of this special issue was to compile original high-quality papers that address recent trends and advances in the theory, development, and application of optimization methods for Vehicle Routing and Scheduling problems. Overall, the issue received an overwhelming response from the community and, after a rigorous review process, a number of papers were
Significance of lipoidal estradiol in human mammary tumors

Incubations of p-nitrophenyl fatty acyl esters and estradiol-17 beta fatty acyl 17-esters with porcine esterase, human mammary tumor cytosol and rat uterine cytosol leads to ester hydrolysis of compounds with short chain fatty acids. Esters with long chain fatty acids show no hydrolysis except in the presence of Tween 80. Short chain fatty acid esters have a higher binding potency to the estrogen receptor than long chain fatty acid esters. Extraction of the nuclear receptor peak sedimenting at 4.6S and identification of the steroid showed that about 90% of the radioactivity was associated with estradiol and only 10% with estradiol esters. These studies show that estradiol fatty acyl esters act as a storage form from which estradiol is released by enzymatic hydrolysis.
Truncation of MalF Results in Lactose Transport via the Maltose Transport System of Escherichia coli

The active accumulation of maltose and maltodextrins by Escherichia coli is dependent on the maltose transport system. Several lines of evidence suggest that the substrate specificity of the system is not only determined by the periplasmic maltose-binding protein but that a further level of substrate specificity is contributed by the inner membrane integral membrane components of the system, MalF and MalG. We have isolated and characterized an altered substrate specificity mutant that transports lactose. The mutation responsible for the altered substrate specificity results in an amber stop codon at position 99 of MalF. The mutant requires functional MalK-ATPase activity and hydrolyzes ATP constitutively. It also requires MalG. The data suggest that in this mutant the MalG protein is capable of forming a low affinity transport path for substrate.
Automated shape recognition in noisy environments based on morphological algorithms

Automatic shape recognition using morphological operators has proved to be an effective approach to the problem of shape recognition. We present the problem of shape recognition in noisy environments as that of the problem of recognizing imperfect shapes. The method we present in this paper does not require the use of all possible variations of a shape. Instead, this method employs a priori known shape information as a basis for structuring elements, transforms objects into structuring elements, then uses the structuring elements in a hit-or-miss operation to find the location of the shape being recognized. The choice of structuring elements is critical. The resulting image after the hit or-miss operation contains a set of points which indicate the locations of the target shape. Each occurrence of this target shape is represented by one point, or a small cluster of points within a known disk. A number of examples illustrating the process of recognizing imperfect shapes show that, even though the noise environment changes the appearance of the shapes to be recognized in images, our method provides a fast and accurate solution.
0.8-13 MICRON SPECTROSCOPY OF V838 MONOCEROTIS AND A MODEL FOR ITS EMISSION

Abstract : We report on the results of a number of infrared spectra (0.8-2.5, 2.1-4.6, and 3-14 microns) of V838 Monocerotis, taken from a short time after discovery in 2002 January to about 14 months later, in early 2003. The spectrum evolved dramatically, changing from a quasi-photospheric stellar spectrum with weak atomic emission lines (some with P Cygni profiles) to one showing a wide range of deep absorption features indicative of a cool, extended atmosphere with a circumstellar dust shell. The early spectra showed lines of s-process elements, such as Sr II and Ba I. The later spectra showed absorption by gaseous H2O, CO, AlO, TiO, SiO, SO2, OH, VO, and SH, as well as a complex of emission near 10 microns reminiscent of silicate emission, with a central absorbing feature at 10:3 microns. Thus, V838 Mon appears to be oxygen-rich. A simple, spherically symmetric model of the system involving a central star with a two-component expanding circumstellar shell is presented that is able to explain the major molecular features and spectral energy distribution in the object's late stages. The derived shell mass and distance are 0.04 M(circle dot solar) and 9.2 kpc, respectively.
Eye preference in hemicerebrectomized monkeys

Following the surgical removal of either a left or a right cerebral hemisphere, eight monkeys were tested for eye preference. Although both eyes project fibers to the remaining hemisphere, each S showed a preference for use of the eye homolateral to the ablation.
Peroxy radical probe studies of radical motion in polytetrafluoroethylene with different crystallinities

Abstract Electron spin resonance of peroxy radicals in γ-irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene with 43 and 87% crystallinity were measured over a temperature range of 100–270 K. The g -anisotropy averaging was best fit by a motional mechanism of chain-axis rotation with 90° jumps. This mechanism is independent of crystallinity. The radical yield, however, is related to the degree of crystallinity and suggests that radical formation occurs mainly, if not exclusively, in the crystalline regions of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Differential gene expression between functionally specialized polyps of the colonial hydrozoan Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus (Phylum Cnidaria)

A colony of the hydrozoan Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus comprises genetically identical yet morphologically distinct and functionally specialized polyp types. The main labor divisions are between feeding, reproduction and defense. In H. symbiolongicarpus, the feeding polyp (called a gastrozooid) has elongated tentacles and a mouth, which are absent in the reproductive polyp (gonozooid) and defensive polyp (dactylozooid). Instead, the dactylozooid has an extended body column with an abundance of stinging cells (nematocysts) and the gonozooid bears gonophores on its body column. Morphological differences between polyp types can be attributed to simple changes in their axial patterning during development, and it has long been hypothesized that these specialized polyps arose through evolutionary alterations in oral-aboral patterning of the ancestral gastrozooid. An assembly of 66,508 transcripts (>200 bp) were generated using short-read Illumina RNA-Seq libraries constructed from feeding, reproductive, and defensive polyps of H. symbiolongicarpus. Using several different annotation methods, approximately 54% of the transcripts were annotated. Differential expression analyses were conducted between these three polyp types to isolate genes that may be involved in functional, histological, and pattering differences between polyp types. Nearly 7 K transcripts were differentially expressed in a polyp-specific manner, including members of the homeodomain, myosin, toxin and BMP gene families. We report the spatial expression of a subset of these polyp-specific transcripts to validate our differential expression analyses. While potentially originating through simple changes in patterning, polymorphic polyps in Hydractinia are the result of differentially expressed functional, structural, and patterning genes. The differentially expressed genes identified in our study provide a starting point for future investigations of the developmental patterning and functional differences that are displayed in the different polyp types that confer a division of labor within a colony of H. symbiolongicarpus.
Continuous vs slug loading of downflow stationary fixed film reactors digesting piggery waste

Downflow stationary fixed film reactors successfully digested piggery waste at retention times down to 2.6 days either loaded continuously or once-a-day. Daily methane production rates of up to 2.6 m3/m3 were recorded for both loading methods. The rate for the slug loaded reactor peaked within 2–6 hours after being loaded.
Quantum chromodynamics: Lifestyles of the small and simple

Ultracold atoms in optical lattices are already used to simulate complex solid-state phenomena. But could the same platform also give us a better grasp of how quarks group together?
A Public Choice Explanation for the Decline in Real income Transfers

A public choice model is used to explain the decline in the sum of AFDC and food stamp transfers that occurred about the time the food stamp program was introduced. The theoretical results suggest that the decline may be due to an increase in the marginal cost of income redistribution that results from the negative income tax feature of the food stamp program and the increase in federal tax that is required to finance the program.
Sensing behavior of ferromagnetic shape memory Ni-Mn-Ga

Due to their large magnetic field induced strains and fast response potential, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys have mainly been studied from the perspective of actuator applications. This paper presents characterization measurements on a commercial Ni-Mn-Ga alloy with a goal to investigate its feasibility as a deformation sensor. Experimental determination of flux density as a function of quasistatic strain loading and unloading at various fixed magnetic fields gives the bias field needed for maximum recoverable flux density change. This bias field is shown to mark the transition from irreversible (quasiplastic) to reversible (pseudoelastic) stress-strain behavior. A reversible flux density change of 145 mT is observed over a range of 5.8 % strain and 4.4 MPa stress at a bias field of 368 kA/m. The alloy investigated therefore shows potential as a high-compliance, high-displacement deformation sensor.
Chapter 6: Assessing Applicability of Medical Test Studies in Systematic Reviews

Use of medical tests should be guided by research evidence about the accuracy and utility of those tests in clinical care settings. Systematic reviews of the literature about medical tests must address applicability to real-world decision-making. Challenges for reviews include: (1) lack of clarity in key questions about the intended applicability of the review, (2) numerous studies in many populations and settings, (3) publications that provide too little information to assess applicability, (4) secular trends in prevalence and the spectrum of the condition for which the test is done, and (5) changes in the technology of the test itself. We describe principles for crafting reviews that meet these challenges and capture the key elements from the literature necessary to understand applicability.
A new class of single-phase multilevel inverters

Multilevel power converters make it possible to use mature but voltage-limited power semiconductors in high voltage, high power industry and utility applications. Different from high frequency approach, the concept of direct output synthesizing provides efficient power conversion with the advantages of better harmonic cancellation and compact ac filtering. Conventional multilevel inverters, including diode-clamped, flying capacitor, and cascaded H-bridge, are well defined but become clumsy for higher levels. This paper proposes a new single-phase full-bridge multilevel topology, which requires less split-rail dc sources and significantly reduced semiconductor switch devices. An n-capacitor switching problem is proposed and analyzed, which leads to the new class of generalized multilevel structure featured with asymmetrical dc sources and maximized output levels. Cascading basic five-level cells provides another structure to build higher-level inverters with separate dc sources. The proposed multilevel inverters can be potential for solar photovoltaics and energy storage applications.
Ethics and Intervention

The moral complexity surrounding intervention is influenced by a broad spectrum of both ethical and practical assumptions and considerations. “All these issues,” Smith writes, “affect one's ultimate position on intervention, and different assumptions lead, obviously, to different conclusions.” The bulk of this article is a useful survey of some of the key ethical issues of disagreement among contemporary authors who represent a variety of approaches to the subject: traditional and prudential realists, statists, cosmopolitans, ideologists. Smith's own view, clearly articulated in his concluding section, is what he labels “tempered nonintervention”: “a reaffirmation of the principle of nonintervention, tempered by the possibility of humanitarian intervention when undertaken with specific safeguards.”
A study of exercise modality and physical self-esteem in breast cancer survivors.

MUSANTI, R. A Study of Exercise Modality and Physical Self-esteem in Breast Cancer Survivors. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. ,V ol. 44, No. 2, pp. 352–361, 2012. Purpose: This study, theoretically based on the Exercise Self-Esteem Model, EXSEM, examined effects of exercise modality on physical and global self-esteem (PSE, GSE) in breast cancer survivors. The EXSEM posits GSE at the apex with PSE feeding into GSE. PSE has three subdomains: physical condition (PC), attractive body (AB), and physical strength (PS). The goals were to compare the effect of combination modality versus single-modality exercise on PSE and GSE and to explore the relationship between exercise modality and the subdomains of PSE. Methods: Survivors were randomly allocated to flexibility (F), aerobic (A), resistance (R), or aerobic plus resistance (AR), 12-wk, individualized, home-based exercise program. Pre/posttesting included submaximal treadmill test, six-repetition maximum chest press and leg press, YMCA bench press, shoulder/hip flexibility, and bioelectric impedance analysis body composition. Esteem measures were the Physical Self-Perception Profile and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: Forty-two women completed the study (F = 12, A = 10, R = 9, and AR = 11). Fitness improvements congruent with exercise modality were seen in all groups. PSE and GSE outcomes did not reveal a greater effect from the combination modality program, AR, compared with the single-modality programs A and R. The relationships between the single-modality groups and the subdomains of PC, PS, and AB were supported in the R group (PS and AB increased) and were partially supported in the A group (PC, not AB, increased).Conclusions: A single-modality R program significantly improved all domains of PSE, and participation in the A program improved the PC subdomain. The combination exercise program did not enhance PSE greater than the
Target model generation from multiple SAR images

An important problem driving much research in the SAR and model-based ATR communities is the generation and modification of target models for ATR system databases. We propose a method for generating or updating 3-D reflector primitive target models. We utilize an existing 2-D extraction algorithm to extract feature locations and classifications (such as scattering primitive type) from each image in a set of SAR data. We formulate the 3-D model generation in terms of a data association problem. We present an iterative algorithm, based on the expectation-maximization (EM) method, to solve the data association problem and yield a maximum likelihood estimate of target feature locations and types from the set of 2-D extracted features. Finally, we present examples and results for sets of simulated SAR imagery.
Marine barite as a monitor of seawater strontium isotope composition

THE strontium isotope ratio in sea water is influenced by climate, tectonics, weathering and hydrothermal activity at ocean ridges1–4. Its evolution through time, determined primarily by measuring the strontium isotope composition of marine carbonates, holds information about variations in these processes, and is also useful for stratigraphic correlation and dating5–7. Carbonates are absent from some marine sediments such as siliceous oozes and red clays, and can be significantly diagenetically altered in others, especially in Eocene and older sediments. Here we show that marine barite is an effective alternative monitor of seawater 87Sr/86Sr. We find that microcrystals of marine barite separated from Holocene Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean sediments all record the modern seawater 87Sr/86Sr value. Moreover, the 87Sr/86Sr of barite from 25 sediment samples spanning the past 35 Myr falls within the range of published data for carbonates over this time period. We conclude that marine barite reliably records both present and past variations in seawater strontium isotope composition.