cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Synaptic and Morphological Basis of Orientation Selectivity in a Polyaxonal Amacrine Cell of the Rabbit Retina

Much of the computational power of the retina derives from the activity of amacrine cells, a large and diverse group of GABAergic and glycinergic inhibitory interneurons. Here, we identify an ON-type orientation-selective, wide-field, polyaxonal amacrine cell (PAC) in the rabbit retina and demonstrate how its orientation selectivity arises from the structure of the dendritic arbor and the pattern of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. Excitation from ON bipolar cells and inhibition arising from the OFF pathway converge to generate a quasi-linear integration of visual signals in the receptive field center. This serves to suppress responses to high spatial frequencies, thereby improving sensitivity to larger objects and enhancing orientation selectivity. Inhibition also regulates the magnitude and time course of excitatory inputs to this PAC through serial inhibitory connections onto the presynaptic terminals of ON bipolar cells. This presynaptic inhibition is driven by graded potentials within local microcircuits, similar in extent to the size of single bipolar cell receptive fields. Additional presynaptic inhibition is generated by spiking amacrine cells on a larger spatial scale covering several hundred microns. The orientation selectivity of this PAC may be a substrate for the inhibition that mediates orientation selectivity in some types of ganglion cells. Significance statement: The retina comprises numerous excitatory and inhibitory circuits that encode specific features in the visual scene, such as orientation, contrast, or motion. Here, we identify a wide-field inhibitory neuron that responds to visual stimuli of a particular orientation, a feature selectivity that is primarily due to the elongated shape of the dendritic arbor. Integration of convergent excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the ON and OFF visual pathways suppress responses to small objects and fine textures, thus enhancing selectivity for larger objects. Feedback inhibition regulates the strength and speed of excitation on both local and wide-field spatial scales. This study demonstrates how different synaptic inputs are regulated to tune a neuron to respond to specific features in the visual scene.
Empirical Examination Of Effects Of Web Assurance Seals On Perceived Level Of Assurance And Price Tolerance With A Focus Being Placed On CPA-Associated Seals

Since the emergence of electronic commerce (e-commerce), the trustworthiness of commercial web sites has been one of the most important, persistent, and interesting issues both in industry and academia. Not surprisingly, web assurance seals have attracted considerable attention among e-commerce vendors due to its potential role as a key factor in the formation of initial trust. However, recent evidence indicates that web assurance seals fail to enhance online purchasing behavior in spite of rosy promises from seal providers. This research examines the mechanism of perceived assurance level formulation through the use of web assurance seal, seeking possible answers to whether Certified Public Accountant (CPA)-associated seals have more effect on the perceived assurance levels than non-CPA-associated seals. As such, the success of web assurance seal is contingent on multiple factors including the attributes of the assurance seal providers, the perceived value of the seal, and the familiarity of the web assurance seal. Overall, this article contributes to both practice and research by shedding light on the largely ignored phenomenon, namely, of web assurance seal failure and by exploring fundamental factors affecting web assurance seal initiative’s success.
Memory neural network algorithm for missile control

Memory neural networks exhibit promising results for use as adaptive controllers for systems involving nonlinear time-delayed dynamics. By associating a memory neuron to each network neuron, we alleviate the requirement for storing and recurrently feeding a nonlinear plant's past histories in order to adaptively control the system. Past attempts at designing a missile controller with a memory neural network produced encouraging results for the estimation facet of system modeling. This paper presents the design and simulation of a model reference adaptive controller for a missile system using memory neural networks.
Age distribution of patients with medically-attended illnesses caused by sequential variants of influenza A/H1N1 : comparison to age-specific infection rates, 1978-1989

Since influenza A/H1N1 viruses reappeared during the 1977-1978 season, this subtype has contributed 27% of 6,609 documented influenza infections of persons with acute respiratory disease presenting to clinics serving as surveillance sites of the Influenza Research Center in Houston for the 12-year period ending June 1989. Wide differences in the distribution of H1N1 viruses occurred by age group: more than 50% of H1N1 infections were detected among persons aged 10-34 years, compared with 28% for influenza A/H3N2 and 35% for influenza B. Over age 35 years, the contribution of H1N1 viruses dropped to only 4%, compared with 20% and 16% for influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B, respectively. When birth dates of persons with positive cultures were examined, it was found that most of the H1N1-positive persons were born after 1950. Concurrently, longitudinal studies of families and other adults under intensive surveillance for infection, including cultures of all respiratory illnesses and tests for serum antibody rise over the respiratory disease season, revealed appreciable infection rates for adults born before 1950. Furthermore, the annual peak of hospitalization of older persons with pneumonia and other acute respiratory illnesses was significantly correlated with the peak of H1N1 virus activity in 1978-1979, a year when H1N1 viruses were the only influenza viruses prevalent. These observations indicate that many persons infected with influenza A/H1N1 viruses that circulated from 1946 through 1953 have immunity which has persisted for more than 25 years but this immunity is not complete. Reinfection that may result in serious illness in older vulnerable adults does occur but with lower frequency than with influenza A/H3N2 infection. Currently prevalent H1N1 variants are antigenically different from those that circulated in the 1950s; however, older adults readily acquire immunity to these new variants--perhaps as a result of immunologic priming that occurred in childhood.
Quantitative analysis of x-ray photoemission spectra applied to Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 high-temperature superconductors.

A model for quantitative analysis of core-level x-ray photoemission spectra based on relative core-level intensities for different elements is proposed. The model, which is generally applicable to single crystalline materials, allows an indirect comparison between electronic and structural properties of a solid material. In particular, for the highly anisotropic high-temperature superconductors, much information can be extracted using the proposed scheme. The model is exemplified for the ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ system, the experimental data from which show an excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions, thus validating the outlined approach. The results confirm that cleaved crystals of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ are terminated by the Bi-O layer.
Hip dGEMRIC in asymptomatic volunteers and patients with early osteoarthritis: the influence of timing after contrast injection.

Eight asymptomatic volunteers and 10 patients with early hip osteoarthritis (OA) were investigated with hip delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) at 30, 65, 100, and 135 min after IV injection with Gd-DTPA2–. In asymptomatic volunteers there was a decrease in the dGEMRIC index (T1(Gd)) between 30 and 100 min. In patients the wash-in of Gd-DTPA2– was faster, with a low T1(Gd) at 30 min that did not change significantly over time. Therefore, earlier time points showed a larger separation in T1(Gd) between asymptomatic and OA hips, with more convenient timing logistics. However, T1(Gd) at 30 min had a larger standard deviation (SD) in the OA group, possibly due to variability of the steep slope of wash-in. This sensitivity to the imaging window may be less desirable for longitudinal studies in which reproducibility is a concern. At all time points, T1(Gd) was 20–30% lower in patients than in asymptomatic volunteers (P < 0.003), which demonstrates the sensitivity of dGEMRIC to early hip OA. Magn Reson Med 57:803–805, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A scanning calorimetric study of the thermally induced unfolding of various forms of tropomyosin.

The reversible thermally induced unfolding of various forms of tropomyosin, a two-chain alpha-helical coiled coil, has been studied by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Included in the study are the reduced and oxidized (disulfide cross-linked) forms of alpha alpha- and beta beta-tropomyosin, and the forms of alpha alpha-tropomyosin in which all sulfhydryl groups have been blocked by carboxymethylation or carboxyamidomethylation. Oxidation or blocking of the sulfhydryl groups of tropomyosin strongly affect the thermotropic behavior of the protein in unpredictable ways. The empirical results presented here are in qualitative agreement with those from an earlier DSC study of the oxidized and carboxymethylated forms of alpha alpha-tropomyosin [S.A. Potekhin and P.L. Privalov (1982) Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol. 159, pp. 519-535], but we find that a different decomposition into subtransitions is possible. Comparison of the alpha alpha and beta beta species indicates, in agreement with extant CD studies, that the noncross-linked beta beta species is somewhat less stable than its alpha alpha counterpart, but that cross-linking enhances the stability of the beta beta doubly cross-linked species by a greater amount and does not lead to the small low-temperature transition ("pretransition") seen in the singly cross-linked alpha alpha species.
Regulation of larval cuticle protein gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster.

Genes that encode 3rd instar larval cuticle proteins (LCP's) of Drosophila melanogaster are located in at least two chromosomal sites. The genes encoding four of the five predominant LCP's are located in a cluster at the chromosomal region 44D. They are organized in pairs that are transcribed divergently, and expressed with different timing during the third larval instar. Towards understanding the basis of gene regulation within the 44D cluster, we have analyzed genetic variants, including the 2-3 variant, which has an insertion of a copia-like transposable element, H.M.S. Beagle, within the 44D cluster. The Beagle element appears to inactivate the LCP-3 gene by inserting into its TATA box, but also may cause the precocious expression of two other LCP genes, LCP-1 and LCP-f2, in the cluster. The long terminal repeat (LTR) of the Beagle element apparently contains a sequence, perhaps an enhancer-like element, which causes altered expression of these genes. We have also investigated the cis-regulatory elements involved in expression of the LCP-2 gene in wild-type larvae. We have identified two upstream regions that may contain separate cis-regulatory elements. The region between -252 bp and -515 bp may be essential for any expression of LCP-2. Additionally, the region between -515 bp and -795 bp appears to be required for the normal level of expression of the LCP-2 gene.
Sharp regularity estimates for solutions of the wave equation and their traces with prescribed Neumann data

In this paper the regularity properties of second-order hyperbolic equations defined over a rectangular domain Θ with boundary Γ under the action of a Neumann boundary forcing term inL 2 (0,T;H 1/4 (Γ)) are investigated. With this given boundary input, we prove by a cosine operator/functional analytical approach that not only is the solution of the wave equation and its derivatives continuous in time, with their pointwise values in a basic energy space (in the interior of Ω), but also that a trace regularity thereof can be assigned for the solution’s time derivative in an appropriate (negative) Sobolev space. This new-found information on the solution and its traces is crucial in handling a mathematical model derived for a particular fluid/structure interaction system.
Current status of incidental surgery.

PURPOSE: Incidental surgery is a common occurrence in abdominal operations. This article is a review of recent publications on the safety and efficacy of such secondary procedures. METHODS: A recent review of the literature as well as incorporation of some original data were conducted. RESULTS: Incidental surgery is safe, but the indication should be clear in the surgeon's mind, including epidemiologic risk of disease in such organs as the gallbladder and appendix. CONCLUSION: Factors that must be included into a decision to perform incidental surgery should be the age and general health of the patient, prognosis, setting of the original operation (emergencyvs.nonemergency), and epidemiologic risk of disease when incidental surgery is performed prophylactically.
From headwaters to coast: influence of human activities on water quality of the Potomac River Estuary

The natural aging process of Chesapeake Bay and its tributary estuaries has been accelerated by human activities around the shoreline and within the watershed, increasing sediment and nutrient loads delivered to the bay. Riverine nutrients cause algal growth in the bay leading to reductions in light penetration with consequent declines in sea grass growth, smothering of bottom-dwelling organisms, and decreases in bottom-water dissolved oxygen as algal blooms decay. Historically, bay waters were filtered by oysters, but declines in oyster populations from overfishing and disease have led to higher concentrations of fine-sediment particles and phytoplankton in the water column. Assessments of water and biological resource quality in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, such as the Potomac River, show a continual degraded state. In this paper, we pay tribute to Owen Bricker’s comprehensive, holistic scientific perspective using an approach that examines the connection between watershed and estuary. We evaluated nitrogen inputs from Potomac River headwaters, nutrient-related conditions within the estuary, and considered the use of shellfish aquaculture as an in-the-water nutrient management measure. Data from headwaters, nontidal, and estuarine portions of the Potomac River watershed and estuary were analyzed to examine the contribution from different parts of the watershed to total nitrogen loads to the estuary. An eutrophication model was applied to these data to evaluate eutrophication status and changes since the early 1990s and for comparison to regional and national conditions. A farm-scale aquaculture model was applied and results scaled to the estuary to determine the potential for shellfish (oyster) aquaculture to mediate eutrophication impacts. Results showed that (1) the contribution to nitrogen loads from headwater streams is small (about 2 %) of total inputs to the Potomac River Estuary; (2) eutrophic conditions in the Potomac River Estuary have improved in the upper estuary since the early 1990s, but have worsened in the lower estuary. The overall system-wide eutrophication impact is high, despite a decrease in nitrogen loads from the upper basin and declining surface water nitrate nitrogen concentrations over that period; (3) eutrophic conditions in the Potomac River Estuary are representative of Chesapeake Bay region and other US estuaries; moderate to high levels of nutrient-related degradation occur in about 65 % of US estuaries, particularly river-dominated low-flow systems such as the Potomac River Estuary; and (4) shellfish (oyster) aquaculture could remove eutrophication impacts directly from the estuary through harvest but should be considered a complement—not a substitute—for land-based measures. The total nitrogen load could be removed if 40 % of the Potomac River Estuary bottom was in shellfish cultivation; a combination of aquaculture and restoration of oyster reefs may provide larger benefits.
A comparison of prediction equations for the estimation of body fat percentage in non-obese and obese older Caucasian adults in the United States.

Objectives: The predictive capabilities of skinfold regression equations are limited across populations and current equations may not be well suited for the prediction of body fat in older adults or obese Americans. The goal of this study was to compare percent body fat (%BF) predicted by several skinfold regression equations to %BF determined by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in obese and non-obese Caucasian men and women in the United States over the age of 65 years. Design: A block design was used with two blocks: obesity (non-obese/obese) and gender (male/female). All subjects underwent the same testing procedures in one visit. Setting: University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translation Research Center. Participants: Seventy-eight older healthy adults were recruited for participation. Measurements: Actual percent body fat was determined from a whole body DXA scan. Estimated percent body fat (%BF) was calculated using skinfold measurements and established regression equations. The predictive accuracy of the regression equations was evaluated by comparing the estimated %BF to the actual %BF measured with DXA using a within subject ANOVA (α=0.05). This was done within subgroups: obese males, obese females, non-obese males and nonobese females. Results: Durnin and Womersly and Jackson and Pollock had reasonably good agreement with DXA in older Caucasian American females and males, respectively. The remaining equations significantly overestimated %BF in older Caucasian American males. Mixed results were found in females with Gause-Nilsson and Jackson and Pollock significantly underestimating %BF, while Visser and Kwok overestimated %BF. Conclusion: Numerous factors of a population including age, race, ethnicity, gender and obesity should be considered when selecting a skinfold regression equation to estimate %BF. While Durnin and Womersly and Jackson and Pollock are recommended for predicting %BF in older Caucasian American females and males, respectively, there exists a need to develop accurate regression models that consider obesity, gender, race or ethnicity when predicting %BF in a diverse geriatric American population.
Experimental infections with Hyostrongylus rubidus and the effects on performance of growing pigs.

Pigs infected with Hyostrongylus rubidus at the rate of 550 larvae kg−1 body weight followed 15 days later with 220 larvae kg−1 body weight gained less weight (P 0.10) in control than in infected pigs. Peak H. rubidus eggs per gram counts (EPG) occurred 22 days after each infection of pigs. H. rubidus EPG at necropsy were correlated with total number of adults recovered and with female/male ratio. High EPG were associated with H. rubidus populations composed of approximately equal numbers of males and females. Digestion trials consisted of pigs infected with 335 larvae kg−1 body weight compared to uninfected controls. Control pigs had higher (P<0.05) crude protein digestion coefficients, excreted less (P<0.05) N in feces and had a higher (P<0.05) N balance than infected pigs.
Optimization of T4 assay: A model study

Abstract Factors involved in the optimization of competitive binding radioassays have been analyzed using a thyroxine (T 4 ) radioassay as a model system. The effects of kinetic errors are minimized by the use of the lowest possible incubation temperature for the separation step and by the use of labeled T 4 of high purity (which is not consistently available from commercial sources). The use of labeled T 4 containing significant quantities of labeled triiodothyronine (T 3 ) can lead to a marked increase in bias and a decrease in precision with relatively small errors in the separation step due to the relatively short half-life of the T 3 -binder complex. The determination of the dissociation rate constant (not to be confused with the affinity constant) allows one to make useful estimates of the tolerances that can be allowed in the separation step in order to achieve a desired level of accuracy and precision.
The degradation signal in a short-lived protein

Our previous work has shown that the amino-terminal residue of a short-lived protein is a distinct component of the protein's degradation signal. To define the complete signal, otherwise identical dihydrofolate reductase test proteins bearing different extensions and either a "stabilizing" or a "destabilizing" amino-terminal residue were expressed in the yeast S. cerevisiae and their in vivo half-lives compared. The amino-terminal degradation signal is shown to comprise two distinct determinants. One, discovered previously, is the protein's amino-terminal residue. The second determinant, identified in the present work, is a specific lysine residue whose function in the degradation signal is not dependent on the unique amino acid sequences in the vicinity of the residue. The mechanistic significance of the second determinant is illuminated by the finding that in a targeted, short-lived protein, a chain of branched ubiquitin-ubiquitin conjugates is confined to a lysine residue that has been identified in the present work as the second determinant of the degradation signal.
Arachidonic acid-dependent activation of a p22phox-based NAD(P)H oxidase mediates angiotensin II-induced mesangial cell protein synthesis and fibronectin expression via Akt/PKB

Angiotensin II (Ang II) induces protein synthesis and hypertrophy through arachidonic acid (AA)- and redoxdependent activation of the serine-threonine kinase Akt/PKB in mesangial cells (MCs). The role of NAD(P)H oxidase component p22 phox was explored in this signaling pathway and in Ang II-induced expression of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. Ang II causes activation of Akt/PKB and induces fibronectin protein expression, effects abrogated by phospholipase A2 inhibition and mimicked by AA. Ang II and AAalso elicited an increase in fibronectin expression that was reduced with a dominant negative mutant of Akt/PKB. Exposure of the cells to hydrogen peroxide stimulates Akt/PKB activity and fibronectin synthesis. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine abolished Ang II- and AA-induced Akt/PKB activation and fibronectin expression. Western blot analysis revealed high levels of p22 phox in MCs. Antisense (AS) but not sense oligonucleotides for p22 phox prevented ROS generation in response to Ang II and A...
The Deterrence Effect of Law Enforcement: An Evaluation of Recent Findings and Some New Evidence

. Six attempts to measure the deterrence effect of law enforcement on certain criminal activities, as well as one by the author, have produced no clear, unequivocal evidence to support the belief that increased public expenditures on law enforcement have a deterrent effect on such activity. Yet the effect may exist. Further research into the measurement of the variables crime and enforcement and upon the nature of the relationship between them must be carried on before definite conclusions can be reached about the existence of the deterrence effect.
Computation by measurements: A unifying picture

The ability to perform a universal set of quantum operations based solely on static resources and measurements presents us with a striking viewpoint for thinking about quantum computation and its powers. We consider the two major models for doing quantum computation by measurements that have hitherto appeared in the literature and show that they are conceptually closely related by demonstrating a systematic local mapping between them. This way we effectively unify the two models, showing that they make use of interchangeable primitives. With the tools developed for this mapping, we then construct more resource-effective methods for performing computation within both models and propose schemes for the construction of arbitrary graph states employing two-qubit measurements alone.
Downregulated gene expression of TGF-βs in diabetic oral wound healing

Abstract Background Healing of tooth extraction sockets in poorly controlled diabetic patients is often delayed and accompanied by severe infection. The exact cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of this complication are still not fully understood. Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate molecular changes associated with delayed oral wound healing in diabetes. Materials and methods Six to eight weeks old male type 2 diabetes and age matched control inbred mice were used and maxillary molar tooth extractions were performed. At 4 and 7 days after tooth extraction, the edentulous mucosa of the mice were harvested, and analyzed for histology and gene expression of key wound healing factors. Results In the diabetic model, histological analysis showed that epithelial tissue migration for wound closure was delayed after tooth extraction compared to the control. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that expression of the TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, TGFβRII and TGFβRIII genes was significantly downregulated in the diabetic model at 4 and 7 days after tooth extraction. Conclusion These results suggest that delayed wound healing of oral mucosa in diabetes may be associated with decreased expression levels of these regulatory genes which play important roles in controlling epithelial wound closure.
Preparation of Fresh Frozen Sections of Free-Living and Plant Parasitic Nematodes With a Cold Microtome

A technique is described for the preparation of fresh frozen sections for histochemical studies. This technique fulfills most requirements for histochemical work, and the quality of the sections is satisfactory.
Cardiovascular morbidity in obstructive sleep apnea

The repetitive respiratory events that characterize obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are each followed by abrupt increases in heart rate and in pulmonary and systemic artery pressure and by sudden decreases in right and left ventricular stroke volume. The changes in systemic pressure may be profound, with patients who are normotensive while awake having systolic pressures approaching 300 mm Hg after apnea termination. Because of these dramatic hemodynamic oscillations during sleep, many clinicians and investigators have postulated a connection between sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular morbidity and even mortality. This review critically examines the evidence for such a causal relationship. We begin, however, by reviewing the normal hemodynamic changes that occur during sleep. We then describe the acute hemodynamic events associated with OSA. Finally, we summarize the evidence for and against a causal connection between sleep apnea and cardiovascular morbidity.
Monitoring heartbeat nonlinear dynamics during general anesthesia by using the instantaneous dominant Lyapunov exponent

We present a novel methodology for instantaneous estimation of quantitative correlates of depth of Anesthesia from noninvasive electrocardiographic recordings. The analysis is based on a point process model of heartbeat dynamics that allows for continuous tracking of linear and nonlinear HRV indices, including a novel instantaneous assessment of the Lyapunov Spectrum by using a cubic autoregressive formulation. The effective estimation of the model parameters is ensured by the Laguerre expansion of the Wiener-Volterra kernels along with the maximum local log-likelihood procedure. We apply the proposed assessment to experimental recordings from healthy subjects during propofol anesthesia. The new assessment reveals novel time-varying complex heartbeat dynamics that underlie the quasi-periodic heartbeat fluctuations elicited by the sympatho-vagal balance. Results suggest that such quantification provides important information which is independent from the standard autonomic assessment and significantly correlated with loss of consciousness. Further investigation will focus on evolving our mathematical approach towards a promising monitoring tool for an accurate, noninvasive assessment of general anesthesia.
Effect of increased academic momentum on transfer rates: An application of the generalized propensity score

Abstract Several studies have reported a positive impact of increased academic momentum on transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions. This result may be due to selection bias. Using data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students dataset, I test whether taking more credits in the first year has an impact on transfer rates among bachelor's degree seeking students who begin at at community colleges. To test previous results, I estimate a dose–response function after balancing on the generalized propensity score, a relatively novel approach for estimating the effect of continuous treatments. I find that after balancing the sample on a rich set of covariates, the estimated dose–response function shows a linear relationship between credits taken and eventual transfer to a four-year college.
Speedy Speciation in a Bacterial Microcosm: New Species Can Arise as Frequently as Adaptations within a Species

Microbiologists are challenged to explain the origins of enormous numbers of bacterial species worldwide. Contributing to this extreme diversity may be a simpler process of speciation in bacteria than in animals and plants, requiring neither sexual nor geographical isolation between nascent species. Here, we propose and test a novel hypothesis for the extreme diversity of bacterial species-that splitting of one population into multiple ecologically distinct populations (cladogenesis) may be as frequent as adaptive improvements within a single population's lineage (anagenesis). We employed a set of experimental microcosms to address the relative rates of adaptive cladogenesis and anagenesis among the descendants of a Bacillus subtilis clone, in the absence of competing species. Analysis of the evolutionary trajectories of genetic markers indicated that in at least 7 of 10 replicate microcosm communities, the original population founded one or more new, ecologically distinct populations (ecotypes) before a single anagenetic event occurred within the original population. We were able to support this inference by identifying putative ecotypes formed in these communities through differences in genetic marker association, colony morphology and microhabitat association; we then confirmed the ecological distinctness of these putative ecotypes in competition experiments. Adaptive mutations leading to new ecotypes appeared to be about as common as those improving fitness within an existing ecotype. These results suggest near parity of anagenesis and cladogenesis rates in natural populations that are depauperate of bacterial diversity.
Managing design trade-offs for a program understanding and transformation tool

Abstract Software maintenance is costly. Part of the problem is that the repeated modification of a software system degrades its structure, thus making it difficult to understand and modify. Semantically rich techniques can help a software engineer understand or restore the structure of a system, but they typically use concurrency analysis or dependence analysis on pointers, which are difficult, at best, to implement efficiently. We believe that less expensive techniques can be used if the design and domain knowledge of the software engineer can be used in the analysis. Exploiting this knowledge may entail iteratively refining a query to find the right information, which requires a fast, flexible tool. We describe the design and use of a fast, programmable tool that can perform syntactically oriented text-processing tasks for use in program understanding and transformation. We take a “traditional” compiler approach to the problem to provide a tool with the flexibility and speed of UNIX tools such as AWK, but make structural adjustments to the tool's design to accommodate interactive analysis of an entire system. Our performance measurements suggest that this approach can produce results substantially faster than previous approaches.
Event-related potentials and eyeblink responses in automatic and controlled processing: effects of age☆☆☆

Abstract Seventeen young (mean age = 20.2 years old) and 16 elderly (mean age = 72.6 years old) women were tested with event-related potential (ERP) paradigms designed to elicit responses in reaction time tasks and to a starting noise burst. EEG was analyzed from 17 standard 10–20 electrode sites. Reaction time and performance data suggested that the elderly did not perform worse than the young. Nevertheless, the physiological responses of the elderly differed significantly from those of the young. While the task-dependent P3s at Pz were smaller in the elderly than in the young, the automatic P3 was smaller yet. The distribution of both types of P3 across the scalp was more uniform in the elderly than in the young. Single-trial analyses revealed that the P3 amplitude differences at Pz were not due to latency dispersal of single trials. Single-trial startle eye blink responses to intense noise bursts during the automatic paradigm were considerably less frequent in the elderly, although their individual startle blinks were actually larger. The data demonstrate that the electrophysiological responses of the elderly are different from the young both in tasks eliciting automatic responses and in tasks requiring controlled processing.
Coronary Vasospasm Mimicking ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in a Patient With ATRA-Induced Differentiation Syndrome: A case Report and Review of Literature

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has revolutionized the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Differentiation syndrome is a frequent side effect of ATRA seen in patients with APL. We describe a case of chest pain with inferior ST elevations in a patient with ATRA induced differentiation syndrome. Patient was rushed for cardiac catheterization but his pain and EKG changes resolved after nitroglycerine administration in the catheterization lab. His coronary angiogram did not show any significant lesions raising concern for coronary vasospasm as the underlying cause for pain and EKG changes. Only one case of ATRA related MI has been described in literature before. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jh58w
In Vivo Orientation of Single Myosins in a Zebrafish Embryo

Cardiac and skeletal myosin is highly organized in the muscle lattice where it powers contraction by transducing ATP free energy into the mechanical work of moving actin in a mechanism known as transduction/mechanical coupling. While muscle myosin can move actin in vitro, its in vivo environment is crowded and constrained by the fiber lattice. In vivo, myosin side chains are modified during- and post-translation by mutation, phosphorylation, deamidation, and oxidation under normal, diseased, or aging conditions and all potentially impacting transduction/mechanical coupling. Single myosin detection provides highly prized "bottom-up" quantitative characterization of myosin that tests hypotheses without the ambiguities inherent in ensemble derived observations. The marriage of in vivo and single myosin detection to study human cardiac or skeletal muscle contraction in zebrafish embryo models is a multi-scaled technology for basic and translational research. It allows one-to-one registration of a selected myosin molecular alteration with muscle filament-sarcomere-cell-fiber-tissue-organ- and organism levels of phenotype with confidence that all interactions and modifications are appropriately contributing their impact to myosin conformation. In vivo single myosin lever-arm orientation was observed at super-resolution using a photoactivatable GFP (PAGFP) tagged myosin light chain expressed in zebrafish skeletal muscle. Imaging was aided by an innovative microfluidic design for embryo confinement. Tag specificity was demonstrated by the simultaneous observation of 2-photon fluorescence emission and second harmonic generation (SHG) from myosin. Single molecule detection used highly inclined and laminated optical sheet (HILO) illumination and was verified by quantized photoactivation or photobleaching. Single molecule emission patterns from relaxed muscle indicated a highly orientationally confined lever-arm orientation. Results demonstrate detection of single myosin orientation in vivo. The zebrafish muscle system serves as an in vivo model for human disease and aging effects on myosin. Research supported by NIH R01AR049277 and R01HL095572.
Surface-associated antigens of Brugia malayi L2 and L3 parasites during vector-stage development.

Surface and metabolic labeling procedures were used to characterize the composition and the time of expression of Brugia malayi L2 and L3 surface-associated molecules as the larvae develop within the mosquito vector. Larvae were harvested from mosquito tissues at 5 (early L2), 8(late L2) and 11 (l3) days post-infection and labeled with 125I-Iodo-Gen. The results of one-dimensional analysis showed that there is a progressive increase in the complexity of peptides associated with the surface of developing larvae, culminating in the expression of 7 major labeled components on L3s. Both L2 and L3 parasites have surface-associated components of 42,35,33,19 and 17 kDa. Between days 8 and 11 of development in the insect vector, Brugia malayi undergoes the L2 to L3 molt and acquires additional major immunogenic peptides of 40 and 22 kDa. Two-dimensional analyses of extracts from 125I-labeled L2s and L3s revealed that the major 35-,33-,19- and 17-kDa molecules are part of a peptide complex that forms a ‘ladder’ between 17 and 150kDa. To gain information on the times during which the major surface-associated molecules are produced by the parasite, larvae were labeled with [35]methionine either in situ as they developed within the mosquito or during culture after exiting the vector For in situ labeling. [35S]methionine was introduced into the hemolymph of infected mosquitoes by micro-injection at days 2, 5 and 8 post-infection and larvae were allowed to develop for an additional 3 days. The results of 1- and 2-dimensional analyses of [35S]methionine-labeled extracts from vector-stage or post-vector-stage larvae indicate that the molecules associated with the surface of B. malayi L3s are synthesized between day 5 and day 11 of development in the insect host. Immediately after the larvae exit the vector, the synthesis of the 40 and 22-kDa peptides is drastically reduced or terminated.
The Impact of Different Government Units in the Regulation of the Workplace Environment

This study examines the issue of whether or not state and federal job safety agencies provide the same levels of public output. Tests are conducted on the hypothesis that state takeover of regulation from the federal program serves to reduce the costs of firms. These costs are comprised of two components: the penalties for noncompliance and the uncertainty costs of regulation. The public policy implication that is drawn from these tests is that it matters to firms which government unit regulates them.
Compressibility effects on the passive scalar flux within homogeneous turbulence

Compressibility effects on turbulent transport of a passive scalar are studied within homogeneous turbulence using a kinematic decomposition of the velocity field into solenoidal and dilatational parts. It is found that the dilatational velocity does not produce a passive scalar flux, and that all of the passive scalar flux is due to the solenoidal velocity.
Synthesis of Near-IR Fluorescent Oxazine Dyes with Esterase-Labile Sulfonate Esters

Near-IR oxazine dyes are reported that contain sulfonate esters which are rapidly cleaved by esterase activity to unmask highly polar anionic sulfonates. Strategies for the synthesis of these dyes included the development of milder dye condensation conditions with improved functional compatibility and the use of an alkyl halide that allows for the introduction of esterase-labile sulfonates without the need for sulfonation of the target molecule.
Child Pornography and the Law: A Clinician's Guide

Child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse images, is a growing problem. Clients who engage in viewing, possessing, or the pandering of child pornographic images may come to clinical attention through legal avenues, referrals by family members, or even self-referral. While it is important that anyone who encounters legal problems related to child pornography obtain experienced legal counsel, it is also important that clinicians working with these clients understand both legal statutes and case law so that they can provide supportive care and avoid offering information that could be contradictory or inaccurate. The following article reviews current child pornography statutes and case law that is relevant to clinicians who treat individual for sexual addiction, sexual compulsivity, and/or hypersexual disorder. Given that this is an evolving field, it is the duty of clinicians to remain up to date in this area so that they do not provide information that could harm their clients and to better unders...
The psychological reality of underlying forms and rules for stress

The stress contours of most English words can be generated from underlying forms which are closely related to their traditional orthographic representations. If such underlying forms are psychologically real, then native speakers should generally agree in assigning stress to unknown written words. Since some of the stress rules for English are based in part on learned Latinate vocabulary, the test words were of Latin, Greek, and Germanic origin to test for differences in performance relative to the source of the word. The results show a high degree of consistency in stress assignment but no significant differences in performance on words of different origin.
Monocarbonyl analogs of curcumin inhibit growth of antibiotic sensitive and resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern worldwide with over 2 billion people currently infected. The rise of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) that are resistant to some or all first and second line antibiotics, including multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug resistant (XDR) and totally drug resistant (TDR) strains, is of particular concern and new anti-TB drugs are urgently needed. Curcumin, a natural product used in traditional medicine in India, exhibits anti-microbial activity that includes Mtb, however it is relatively unstable and suffers from poor bioavailability. To improve activity and bioavailability, mono-carbonyl analogs of curcumin were synthesized and screened for their capacity to inhibit the growth of Mtb and the related Mycobacterium marinum (Mm). Using disk diffusion and liquid culture assays, we found several analogs that inhibit in vitro growth of Mm and Mtb, including rifampicin-resistant strains. Structure activity analysis of the analogs indicated that Michael acceptor properties are critical for inhibitory activity. However, no synergistic effects were evident between the monocarbonyl analogs and rifampicin on inhibiting growth. Together, these data provide a structural basis for the development of analogs of curcumin with pronounced anti-mycobacterial activity and provide a roadmap to develop additional structural analogs that exhibit more favorable interactions with other anti-TB drugs.
Feature and decision level sensor fusion of electromagnetic induction and ground penetrating radar sensors for landmine detection with hand-held units

Abstract Strategies for fusion of electromagnetic induction (metal detector (MD)) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensors for landmine detection are investigated. Feature and decision level algorithms are devised and compared. Features are extracted from the MD signals by correlating with weighted density distribution functions. A multi-frequency band linear prediction method generates features for the GPR. Feature level fusion combines MD and GPR features in a single neural network. Decision level fusion is performed by using the MD features as inputs to one neural network and the GPR features as inputs to the geometric mean and combining the output values. Experimental results are reported on a very large real data set containing 2315 mine encounters of different size, shape, content and metal composition that are measured under different soil conditions at three distinct geographical locations.
Artificial heart for humanoid robot

A soft robotic device inspired by the pumping action of a biological heart is presented in this study. Developing artificial heart to a humanoid robot enables us to make a better biomedical device for ultimate use in humans. As technology continues to become more advanced, the methods in which we implement high performance and biomimetic artificial organs is getting nearer each day. In this paper, we present the design and development of a soft artificial heart that can be used in a humanoid robot and simulate the functions of a human heart using shape memory alloy technology. The robotic heart is designed to pump a blood-like fluid to parts of the robot such as the face to simulate someone blushing or when someone is angry by the use of elastomeric substrates and certain features for the transport of fluids.
Group performance as a function of task difficulty and organizational interdependence

Abstract The effects of different organizational strategies on group performance were studied. Two performance criteria were proposed: (1) “effectiveness”—maximum group performance; and (2) “efficiency”—performance per unit of time. One hundred and forty-four Ss worked individually or in dyads using a divided labor, shared labor or free choice strategy. Tasks were a difficult and easy crossword puzzle. The free choice and shared labor strategies were more effective than divided labor. Free choice and divided labor were more efficient than shared labor. The same patterns of results occurred on both the easy and difficult tasks. The various strategies and task difficulty produced differences in task satisfaction, interpersonal relations and amount of interaction between Ss, with shared labor having the highest ratings and divided labor the lowest ratings on these variables. The effects of amount of interaction and task difficulty were discussed with respect to group performance and member satisfaction.
Review : Axons, Schwann Cells, and Neurotrophic Factors

As most elegantly confirmed by the recent success in deriving mice with null mutations in the genes for specific neurotrophic factors or their respective receptors, it is clear that neurotrophic factors alone or in combination are essential for the development of many classes of neurons. Specific neurotrophic factors have now been characterized that have actions on primary sensory afferents, sympathetic and parasym pathetic neurons, and motor neurons—the major contributors to the axon bundles that comprise the periph eral nervous system. The peripheral tissues or "end organs" that these neurons innervate have traditionally been thought of as the key source of neurotrophic factor support, but it is now evident that this "target- derived neurotrophic factor hypothesis" has restricted validity. Rather, the totality of neurotrophic support required to promote the survival, maturation, and maintenance of a neuron appears to be derived not only from targets, but also from support cells and possibly even neurons...