cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Roles of Toc34 and Toc75 in Targeting the Toc159 Preprotein Receptor to Chloroplasts

The Toc complex at the outer envelope of chloroplasts initiates the import of nuclear-encoded preproteins from the cytosol into the organelle. The core of the Toc complex is composed of two receptor GTPases, Toc159 and Toc34, as well as Toc75, a β-barrel membrane channel. Toc159 is equally distributed between a soluble cytoplasmic form and a membrane-inserted form, suggesting that assembly of the Toc complex is dynamic. In the present study, we used the Arabidopsis thaliana orthologs of Toc159 and Toc34, atToc159 and atToc33, respectively, to investigate the requirements for assembly of the trimeric Toc complex. In addition to its intrinsic GTPase activity, we demonstrate that integration of atToc159 into the Toc complex requires atToc33 GTPase activity. Additionally, we show that the interaction of the two GTPase domains stimulates association of the membrane anchor of atToc159 with the translocon. Finally, we employ reconstituted proteoliposomes to demonstrate that proper insertion of the receptor requires both Toc75 and Toc34. Collectively these data suggest that Toc34 and Toc75 act sequentially to mediate docking and insertion of Toc159 resulting in assembly of the functional translocon.
Bounding the effect of partition camping in GPU kernels

Current GPU tools and performance models provide some common architectural insights that guide the programmers to write optimal code. We challenge and complement these performance models and tools, by modeling and analyzing a lesser known, but very severe performance pitfall, called Partition Camping, in NVIDIA GPUs. Partition Camping is caused by memory accesses that are skewed towards a subset of the available memory partitions, which may degrade the performance of GPU kernels by up to seven-fold. There is no existing tool that can detect the partition camping effect in GPU kernels.Unlike the traditional performance modeling approaches, we predict a performance range that bounds the partition camping effect in the GPU kernel. Our idea of predicting a performance range, instead of the exact performance, is more realistic due to the large performance variations induced by partition camping. We design and develop the prediction model by first characterizing the effects of partition camping with an indigenous suite of micro-benchmarks. We then apply rigorous statistical regression techniques over the micro-benchmark data to predict the performance bounds of real GPU kernels, with and without the partition camping effect. We test the accuracy of our performance model by analyzing three real applications with known memory access patterns and partition camping effects. Our results show that the geometric mean of errors in our performance range prediction model is within 12% of the actual execution times.We also develop and present a very easy-to-use spreadsheet based tool called CampProf, which is a visual front-end to our performance range prediction model and can be used to gain insights into the degree of partition camping in GPU kernels. Lastly, we demonstrate how CampProf can be used to visually monitor the performance improvements in the kernels, as the partition camping effect is being removed.
Platform support for developing testing and analysis plug-ins

Plug-ins have become an important part of today's integrated development environments (IDEs). They are useful for extending the functionality of these environments and customizing them for different types of projects. In this paper, we discuss some features that should be provided by IDEs to support the development of a specific kind of plug-ins - plug-ins that support program analysis and software testing techniques. To guide the discussion, we leverage our experience in building a plug-in for two different platforms and generalize from that experience.
AS160 modulates aldosterone-stimulated epithelial sodium channel forward trafficking.

Aldosterone-induced increases in apical membrane epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) density and Na transport involve the induction of 14-3-3 protein expression and their association with Nedd4-2, a substrate of serum- and glucocorticoidinduced kinase (SGK1)-mediated phosphorylation. A search for other 14-3-3 binding proteins in aldosterone-treated cortical collecting duct (CCD) cells identified the Rab-GAP, AS160, an Akt/PKB substrate whose phosphorylation contributes to the recruitment of GLUT4 transporters to adipocyte plasma membranes in response to insulin. In CCD epithelia, aldosterone (10 nM, 24 h) increased AS160 protein expression threefold, with a time-course similar to increases in SGK1 expression. In the absence of aldosterone, AS160 overexpression increased total ENaC expression 2.5-fold but did not increase apical membrane ENaC or amiloride-sensitive Na current (Isc). In AS160 overexpressing epithelia, however, aldosterone increased apical ENaC and Isc 2.5-fold relative to aldosterone alone, thus recruiting the accumulated ENaC to the apical membrane. Conversely, AS160 knockdown increased apical membrane ENaC and Isc under basal conditions to 80% of aldosterone-stimulated values, attenuating further steroid effects. Aldosterone induced AS160 phosphorylation at five sites, predominantly at the SGK1 sites T568 and S751, and evoked AS160 binding to the steroid-induced 14-3-3 isoforms, and . AS160 mutations at SGK1 phospho-sites blocked its selective interaction with 14-3-3 and and suppressed the ability of expressed AS160 to augment aldosterone action. These findings indicate that the Rab protein regulator, AS160, stabilizes ENaC in a regulated intracellular compartment under basal conditions, and that aldosterone/ SGK1-dependent AS160 phosphorylation permits ENaC forward trafficking to the apical membrane to augment Na absorption.
Cytologic diagnosis of columnar-cell lesions of the breast.

This study describes the cytologic features of breast columnar-cell lesions (CCLs) and determines whether these lesions can be diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration. We present ten cases of biopsy-proven CCL with prior fine-needle aspiration material and discuss the spectrum of changes, as well as features important in the cytologic distinction of CCL from diagnostic mimics. CCLs were characterized by flat sheets of cells with enlarged nuclei, distinct cell borders, and finely granular cytoplasm. Cytologic atypia ranged from minimal to severe, and many cases (8/10) exhibited a paucity of myoepithelial cells. CCL showed significant cytologic overlap with papillary neoplasms and well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. The prospective diagnosis of CCL cannot reliably be made by fine-needle aspiration. However, it is important to recognize the range of cytologic atypia that can be seen with CCL to avoid an overdiagnosis of malignancy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:73–79. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A numerical verification for an unconditionally stable FEM for elastodynamics

Numerical results for a time-discontinuous Galerkin space–time finite element formulation for second-order hyperbolic partial differential equations are presented. Discontinuities are allowed at finite, but not fixed, time increments. A method for h-adaptive refinement of the space–time mesh is proposed and demonstrated. Numerical results are presented for linear elastic problems in one space dimension. Numerical verification of unconditional stability, as proven in [7], is rendered. Comparison is made with analytic solutions when available. It is shown that the accuracy of the numerical solution can be increased without a major penalty on computational cost by using an adaptively refined mesh. Results are presented for a type of solid–solid dynamic phase transition problem where the trajectory of a moving surface of discontinuity is tracked.
Familial Transmission of Continuous Performance Test Behavior: Attentional and Impulsive Response Characteristics

Abstract Continuous Performance Tests (CPTs) provide information on attentional processing and impulsive behavior. The results of previous research that used self-report measures have provided evidence for familial transmission (through genetic and/or environmental influences) of impulsive characteristics. The authors of the present study examined whether the impulsive behavioral parameters that are measured by the CPT also share familial relationships. The researchers asked 26 healthy parent-adolescent pairs to complete the Immediate and Delayed Memory Tasks (IMT/DMT; D. M. Dougherty, 1999; D. M. Dougherty, D. M. Marsh, & C. W. Mathias, 2002), a modified CPT (B. A. Cornblatt, N. J. Risch, G. Faris, D. Friedman, & L. Erlenmeyer-Kimling, 1988; H. E. Rosvold, A. Mirsky, I. Sarason, E. D. Breansome, Jr., & L. H. Beck, 1956), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS; J. H. Patton, M. S. Stanford, & E. S. Barratt, 1995), a self-report measure. The main findings can be summarized as follows: (a) commission erro...
Chronic Kidney Disease and Alcohol Consumption Are Asians at Particular Risk for Hemorrhagic Stroke

See related article, pages 2531–2537. Stroke represents one of the major challenges of the 21st century. More than 15 million people suffer from stroke each year worldwide. Enormous efforts in public awareness and prevention of the disease have led in industrialized countries to a slightly declining incidence. Mortality and morbidity (measured in disability-adjusted life years) are, however, expected to rise substantially during the next 2 decades; stroke will climb from 8th rank in 2010 to the 5th rank in 2030 worldwide; compared with 1990, the disability-adjusted life years attributed to stroke will nearly double over these 40 years.1 One important comorbidity that dramatically influences stroke and its outcome is chronic kidney disease (CKD), a clearly underestimated cardiocerebrovascular risk factor. CKD is defined as the combination of kidney damage (with albuminuria) and reduced glomerular filtration rate, as estimated from serum creatinine levels.2 The prevalence of CKD is substantially and/or continuously increasing, from 10% to 13.1% during the last decade (US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).2 Currently, more than 20 million Americans are affected by this disease, many of them not even aware of it. Preventing and treating CKD was therefore declared a global challenge.3 In addition to the fact that such a substantial number of people are affected and may finally require renal replacement therapy or transplantation, even more important is that CKD dramatically drives cardiocerebrovascular morbidity and mortality.2–4 CKD is …
Natriuretic peptides and echocardiography in acute dyspnoea: Implication of elevated levels with normal systolic function

Aims Previous evaluations of natriuretic peptide (NP) levels in patients with acute dyspnoea presenting to the emergency department (ED) have selected only a minority of patients for echocardiography. We aimed to evaluate the association between NPs and more subtle echocardiographic findings and to assess the potential for NPs to provide additional prognostic information beyond that provided by echocardiography in ‘all-comers’ with acute dyspnoea. Methods and results Prospective echocardiograms were performed on 338/412 patients presenting to the ED with acute dyspnoea. B-type natriuretic peptide and NT-proBNP were measured on presentation. Patients were followed-up for 1 year. Decompensated heart failure was diagnosed in 37% of patients and 13% died. The diagnostic accuracy (c-statistic) of BNP and NT-proBNP for identifying LVEF ≤ 40% was 0.88 (P < 0.001) and 0.86 (P < 0.001), respectively. The c-statistics for BNP and NT-proBNP for identifying diastolic dysfunction were 0.67 (P < 0.001) and 0.67 (P < 0.001); but only 0.57 (P = 0.09) and 0.60 (P = 0.02) in patients with LVEF ≥ 50%. Natriuretic peptides, but not LV mass or diastolic parameters, independently predicted mortality at 1 year in all patients and in those with an LVEF ≥ 50%. Conclusion In an acute dyspnoea population with ‘all-comers’ undergoing echocardiography, NPs correlate strongly with structural abnormalities and identify those with preserved LVEF at highest risk for death. Careful interpretation of elevated NP values is needed in the presence of preserved systolic function.
The effect of CeO2 coatings on the oxidation behaviour of Fe-20Cr alloys in O2 at 1173 K

Abstract The influence of 4 nm thick CeO 2 coatings on the oxidation resistance of Fe-20Cr at 1173 K in 1 torr O 2 for periods up to 19 h was examined using 18 O/SIMS, TEM and SEM/EDX. Finely dispersed CeO 2 became incorporated into the oxide scale and promoted the formation and retention of an adherent layer, which grew at a rate ∼10 times lower than that of the base alloy. Sequential oxidation experiments in 16 O 2 and 18 O 2 confirmed a change in growth mechanism for the coated alloy from predominantly cation to predominantly anion diffusion. Ceria likely present at oxide grain boundaries blocks cation diffusion outwards allowing inward oxygen transport to predominate.
Fragmented Ties: Salvadoran Immigrant Networks in America

In one of the most comprehensive treatments of Salvadoran immigration to date, Cecilia Menjivar gives a vivid and detailed account of the inner workings of the networks by which immigrants leave their homes in Central America to start new lives in the Mission District of San Francisco. Menjivar traces crucial aspects of the immigrant experience, from reasons for leaving El Salvador, to the long and perilous journey through Mexico, to the difficulty of finding work, housing, and daily necessities in San Francisco. Fragmented Ties argues that hostile immigration policies, shrinking economic opportunities, and a resource-poor community make assistance conditional and uneven, deflating expectations both on the part of the new immigrants and the relatives who preceded them. In contrast to most studies of immigrant life that identify networks as viable sources of assistance, this one focuses on a case in which poverty makes it difficult for immigrants to accumulate enough resources to help each other. Menjivar also examines how class, gender, and age affect immigrants' access to social networks and scarce community resources. The immigrants' voices are stirring and distinctive: they describe the dangers they face both during the journey and once they arrive, and bring to life the disappointments and joys that they experience in their daily struggle to survive in their adopted community.
Changes in differential haemocyte count and in vitro behaviour of plasmatocytes from host Heliothis virescens caused by Campoletis sonorensis polydnavirus

Abstract Campoletis sonorensis is a habitual parasitoid of 3rd-instar larvae of Heliothis virescens. C. sonorensis eggs and small glass rods were encapsulated in 5th-instar host larvae implanted in the absence of wasp calyx fluid; prior injection of calyx fluid into larvae suppressed the encapsulation response. Within 8 h of calyx fluid injection there was a removal of approx. 75% of the circulating capsule-forming haemocytes (plasmatocytes). The remaining subpopulation of plasmatocytes, in addition to being incapable of encapsulating targets in vivo , spread at a significantly reduced rate in vitro . Identical changes in plasmatocyte count and behaviour were observed after injection of virus purified from calyx fluid. Additionally, the activity of calyx fluid was abolished after ultraviolet irradiation. The onset of haemocytic abnormalities occurred more rapidly after natural parasitism of 3rd-instar host larvae. The cell-free haemolymph of calyx fluid-injected 5th-instar larvae also retarded the spreading of plasmatocytes from non-injected control larvae in vitro . We conclude that the abnormalities induced in H. virescens plasmatocytes by C. sonorensis virus contribute to the suppression of encapsulation.
Oxygen at 2 atmospheres absolute pressure does not increase the radiation sensitivity of normal brain in rats

Cranial radiation was administered to CD Fisher rats at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 atmospheres absolute oxygen pressure. Life span following radiation was recorded. Surviving animals were killed at 28 weeks and the brains were examined independently by two neuropathologists. Survival time was significantly less in animals receiving higher doses of radiation but showed no relationship to the oxygen pressure in the environment of the animal at the time radiation was administered. Microscopic examination of the brain did not reveal any differences in animals radiated in a normobaric or hyperbaric oxygen environment. It is concluded that hyperbaric oxygen does not sensitize the normal brain to the effects of ionizing radiation.
A Prospective Randomized Study of Membrane versus Bubble Oxygenators in Children

Abstract We studied 60 children, 2 weeks to 10 years old, prospectively by randomly assigning them to a SciMed membrane oxygenator or Harvey bubble oxygenator. Variables of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were closely controlled: prime, circuit configuration, flow rate, and blood gases. Blood variables measured at eight intervals before, during, and after operation were as follows: seven plasma proteins, free hemoglobin, formed elements, and clotting functions. Preoperatively and postoperatively, we evaluated brain function (psychological testing), renal function (creatinine clearance), and pulmonary function (compliance changes and postoperative shunt fraction). Postoperative blood loss, fever, and length of hospitalization were also evaluated. We compared 302 variables by computer program. No difference ( p > 0.05) between the two groups was found in any variable related to CPB or organ function (pulmonary, renal, or cerebral) or in hematological variables except free hemoglobin. After 5 and 60 minutes of CPB and the next day, it was significantly lower ( p
UTILITY OF CHROMOGRANIN A (CgA) TO SCREEN FOR FAMILIAL PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

CgA is a 49 kilodalton peptide produced by a variety of endocrine and neuroendocrine tissues and secreted with tissue-specific hormones. We present a family with apparent isolated familial pheochromocytoma in which CgA has served as a useful marker for the identification of affected asymptomatic family members. There was a family history of sudden death in a maternal uncle with subsequent identification of a pheochromocytoma on autopsy. The index case presented with a history of hypertension during a surgical procedure, Elevated urinary catecholamines in this child were associated with bilateral periadrenal masses on MRI. A left periadrenal pheochromocytoma was removed at the time of surgery. Postoperatively, CgA was 30.8 ng/mL (NL 50 ng/mL) in 5 (63%). Subsequent evaluation in selected family members revealed the presence of a retinal hemangioblastoma in the mother of the index case; elevation of CgA (130 ng/mL) in the maternal grandmother who is hypertensive with elevated urinary catecholamines; elevation of CgA (184 ng/mL) and urinary catecholamines in a maternal cousin; elevation of CgA (487 ng/mL) and urinary catecholamines associated with hypertension and bilateral extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas in another maternal cousin. All subjects were asymptomatic prior to their identification by the screening methods employed here. Other than the retinal hemangioblastoma no other associated solid or vascular tumors have been identified during screening. This family demonstrates the benefit of CgA as a screening tool in identifying family members who are at risk for pheochromocytoma.
An XML-based interchange format for genotype-phenotype data.

Recent advances in high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping have accelerated the creation of pharmacogenomic data. Consequently, the community requires standard formats to exchange large amounts of diverse information. To facilitate the transfer of pharmacogenomics data between databases and analysis packages, we have created a standard XML (eXtensible Markup Language) schema that describes both genotype and phenotype data as well as associated metadata. The schema accommodates information regarding genes, drugs, diseases, experimental methods, genomic/RNA/protein sequences, subjects, subject groups, and literature. The Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base (PharmGKB; www.pharmgkb.org) has used this XML schema for more than 5 years to accept and process submissions containing more than 1,814,139 SNPs on 20,797 subjects using 8,975 assays. Although developed in the context of pharmacogenomics, the schema is of general utility for exchange of genotype and phenotype data. We have written syntactic and semantic validators to check documents using this format. The schema and code for validation is available to the community at http://www.pharmgkb.org/schema/index.html (last accessed: 8 October 2007). Hum Mutat 29(2), 212–219, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Methylketene Bis(trimethylsilyl) Acetal

[31469-22-4] C9H22O2Si2 (MW 218.44) InChI = 1S/C9H22O2Si2/c1-8-9(10-12(2,3)4)11-13(5,6)7/h8H,1-7H3 InChIKey = IUFWLBQYLXTUFY-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reactive nucleophile in Mukaiyama-type aldol reactions;1, 2 additions to imines7 and enones;8 alkylations with α-halo sulfides;9 α-hydroxylations10) Alternate Name: 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)propene. Physical Data: bp 63–68 °C/12 mmHg. Solubility: highly sol organic solvents. Preparative Methods: ketene bis(trialkylsilyl) acetals are prepared by silylation of lithium trialkylsilyl carboxylates or treatment of the dianions of carboxylic acids with Chlorotrimethylsilane at −78 °C (eq 1).3 Alternatively, silyl carboxylates are silylated by trialkylsilyl triflates in the presence of Triethylamine.4 (1) Handling, Storage, and Precautions: easily hydrolyzed and oxidized by exposure to air. Storage possible in sealed tubes at rt.
Analysis of the Enantiomers of VX Using Normal-Phase Chiral Liquid Chromatography with Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

The chemical warfare nerve agent O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate (VX) is a mixture of two enantiomers resulting from the chiral center at the phosphorus atom. Significant differences exist in the reported toxicity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition rates of the two enantiomers. This makes the ability to distinguish between them desirable for either toxicological studies or the development of antidotal therapies. Using a Chiralcel OD-H column with normal-phase liquid chromatography, the enantiomers were baseline resolved in less than 7 min. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization was utilized as the interface between a liquid chromatograph and mass spectrometer. The mass spectra of the two enantiomers were virtually identical. The protonated molecule was readily observed at m/z 268. VX was incubated with human plasma for 13 min, followed by hexane extraction. The areas of the first and second eluting VX enantiomers decreased by approximately 40% and 6%, respectively, when compared with VX-spiked plasma samples that were not allowed an incubation phase. Currently, research by others has been directed towards the identification, isolation, and possible modification of enzymes capable of hydrolyzing VX. The method presented here provides an analytical tool capable of monitoring the stereospecificity of enzymes that react with VX.
A robust digital delay line architecture in a 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS technology node for reduced design and process sensitivities

The combination of high operating frequencies and low-power requirements for DSP cores targeted towards mobile applications makes clock synthesis and phase synchronization for these devices very challenging. These constraints make all-digital solutions (digital PLLs and DLLs) an attractive option (Dunning et al, 1995; Fried, 1996; Minami et al, 2000). This paper describes a digital delay-line architecture that can be used for these applications in a 0.11 /spl mu/m (silicon gate length) CMOS technology. Process variability and sensitivities increase at these geometries and it is difficult to meet target specifications across the entire spread of variations in process, voltages and temperatures (PVT corners). The design methodology presented in this paper minimizes these sensitivities.
Informed consent for enrolling minors in genetic susceptibility research: a qualitative study of at-risk children's and parents' views about children's role in decision-making

Abstract Purpose To better understand the process by which families at increased risk of disease would decide in order to enroll their children in genetic susceptibility research to develop recommendations regarding the informed consent process by which at-risk children are enrolled in such research in the future. Methods Parents and children (ages 10–17 years) from families at increased risk for heart disease ( n = 21 dyads) or breast cancer ( n = 16 dyads) participated in two face-to-face, audio-taped, semi-structured interviews: Initial interviews were conducted with parents and children separately, and follow-up family interviews were conducted 1 year later. Interview transcripts were coded based on common themes. Results Families vary in the stage at which, and degree to which, children would be involved in decision-making about research participation. In general, the older/more mature the child, the less risky the research and the more open the communication style, the greater the likelihood that decisions would be made jointly. Most children wanted some parental input, but still thought the final decision should be theirs. Most parents would want to make the initial decision about whether it would be reasonable to consider enrolling their child in the research being proposed, but none opposed the child having some time alone with the researcher. All parents and children in our study placed extreme importance on not forcing children to participate in nontherapeutic research if they do not want to. Conclusions Decision-making about enrolling children in genetic susceptibility research should be based on an informed consent process that (a) gives parents and children sufficient opportunity to ask questions of the researcher(s) and to communicate with one another, and (b) gives children the opportunity to exercise their right to refuse participation without parental influence. This process should be tailored to the child’s maturity level and style of communication in the family.
Mechanisms of androgen deficiency in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women with the wasting syndrome.

Although prior studies suggest reduced androgen levels in women with acquired immune deficiency syndrome wasting, little is known regarding the regulation of adrenal and ovarian androgen secretion in such patients. We investigated ovarian and adrenal function in 13 human immunodeficiency virus-infected women with acquired immune deficiency syndrome wasting and 21 age- and body mass index-matched healthy control subjects studied in the early follicular phase. Subjects received hCG (5000 U, im) on d 1 and Cosyntropin (0.25 mg, iv) on d 3 after dexamethasone (1 mg, orally, at 2400 h) pretreatment on d 2. At baseline, human immunodeficiency virus-infected subjects demonstrated significantly reduced T [18 ± 2 vs. 25 ± 2 ng/dl (0.6 ± 0.1 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1 nmol/liter); P = 0.02], free T [1.5 ± 0.1 vs. 2.4 ± 0.2 pg/ml (5.3 ± 0.5 vs. 8.3 ± 0.6 pmol/liter); P = 0.001], androstenedione [119 ± 6 vs. 162 ± 14 ng/dl (4.16 ± 0.20 vs. 5.66 ± 0.48 nmol/liter); P = 0.02], and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [0.96 ± 0.17 vs. 1.5...
The Epidemiology of Slips, Trips, and Falls in a Helicopter Manufacturing Plant

Objective: The purpose of this evaluation was to evaluate the causes and costs of slips, trips, and falls (STFs) in a helicopter manufacturing plant.Background: STFs are a significant portion of the total industry injury burden.Method: For this study, 4,070 helicopter plant workers who were employed from January 1, 2004, through February 28, 2008, were enrolled. Company records on workers’ compensation claims, occupational health first report of injury, and payroll records on hours worked were collected. Cause and source of all injuries, including STFs, were coded for analysis.Results: During the 4-year study period, there were 2,378 injuries and 226 STFs (46 falls [20%] to a lower level, 117 [52%] falls on the same level, 41 [18%] from loss of balance without a fall, and 22 [10%] from other events). Of the 226 STFs, 123 falls to the same level were caused by slippery substances (52), objects on floor (43), and surface hazards (28), and they cost $1,543,946. Falls to lower levels primarily involved access...
Apical dominance control in Ipomoea nil: the influence of the shoot apex, leaves and stem.

The outgrowth of lateral buds is known to be controlled by the upper shoot tissues, which include the apex, the young leaves and the upper stem. An analysis of the influence of these plant parts on axillary bud elongation in Ipomoea nil was carried out by various treatments on these specific tissues. A restriction of elongation in the main shoot due to either decapitation or shoot inversion resulted in the release of apical dominance A non-linear type of compensating growth relationship was observed between the 13 cm apical growing region of the stem and the lateral buds. It was determined by decapitation, defoliation and AgNO3 treatments that both the 13 cm stem-growth region and the young leaves (1–5 cm in length) had a much greater inhibitory influence on the outgrowth of specified lateral buds than did the stem apex (consisting of the terminal 0.5 cm of the shoot). The specified lateral buds which were analyzed for outgrowth were located a number of nodes below the shoot apex. The intervening nodes were debudded. Although the importance of young leaves in the control of apical dominance has been previously recognized, the most significant result from the present study with Ipomoea was the strong influence of the 13 cm apical growth region of the stem on the out growth of the lateral buds.
Vision-Only Automatic Flight Control for Small UAVs

In this paper, a vision-based flight control system that uses a skyline-detection algorithm is developed for application to small unmanned aerial vehicles. The skyline-detection algorithm can detect straight or uneven skylines. The system integrates a remote controller, a remotely controlled airplane, a camera, a wireless transmitter/receiver, a ground control computer, and the proposed skyline-detection algorithm to achieve automatic control of flight stability. Static and dynamic tests are conducted to validate the system. In the static tests, the average accuracy rate for skyline detection is 98.62% based on five test videos. In the dynamic tests, straight and circular flights are used to verify lateral and longitudinal stability for the proposed flight control system. The experimental results demonstrate the performance and robustness of the algorithm and the feasibility and potential of a low-cost vision-only flight control system.
Optimal nonlinear pattern restoration from noisy binary figures

A mathematical framework for the solution of statistical inference problems on a class of random sets is proposed. It is based on a new definition of expected pattern. The least-mean-difference estimator (restoration filter) is proved, under certain conditions, to be equivalent to the minimization of the measure of size (area) of the set-difference between the original pattern and the expected pattern of the estimated (restored) pattern. Consequently, it is proved that, under certain conditions, if the estimator (restoration filter) is unbiased, then it is the least mean difference estimator (restoration filter). >
Stability of a certain class of miscible displacement processes in porous media

Etude de la stabilite des processus avec des profils de viscosite soit a decroissance algebrique vers l'amont soit a caracteristiques du type percolation vers l'aval
Zionism, 1862-1897: Foundations of a Movement

This research focuses on the emergence of Zionism in the nineteenth century. It tracks the development of Zionism from a radical fringe movement to a mainstream nationalist undertaking. By focusing on its origins in Europe and Palestine, this research hopes to discover its motivations. The research looks at the emergence and beliefs of people who shaped Zionism as well as the political events that effected their convictions. It reveals the diverse opinions within early Zionism as well as the development of important attitudes towards Palestine. Ultimately, this research helps historians better comprehend Zionism in the past and present by focusing on its origins. In order to achieve these goals, the research relies on a combination of primary and secondary sources from a range of opinions. The primary source material derives from three places: the essays, memoirs, and letters of pre-Zionist and Zionist thinkers, critiques of Zionism from Arab intellectuals, Turkish officials, and anti-Zionist Jews, and statistical data on Palestine gathered by British officials. These sources constitute the backbone of the research, providing information critical to understanding early Zionism and its interaction with Palestine. This allows historians to spot patterns of thought and behavior that persisted through the twentieth century. The secondary sources have been carefully selected from a spectrum of historiographical opinions that mirrors the diversity of the primary sources. It complements them, providing background that further explains and contextualizes the primary source material. The research explains how Zionism emerged when the revival of anti-Semitism legitimized the ideas of pre-Zionist theorists and shattered the hopes European Jews had for emancipation. Jewish intellectuals and radicals began to develop the core tenants of Zionism while Zionist societies established the first colonies in Palestine. Central to these early actions was the conviction that if the Jews wanted to survive they would have to save themselves by establishing a Jewish political entity. The characteristic Zionist prejudice against the Palestinian people developed in tandem with this belief. All these events culminated in 1897 with the first Zionist Congress and the official emergence of a practical Zionist plan for the establishment of a Jewish nation in Palestine. In order to understand Zionism, it is necessary to understand its origins. This research explains distinctive Zionist beliefs, how they developed, and why Zionists are attached to them. It allows people to understand why Zionists have acted in the past and how they will approach problems facing them in the future. With Zionism and its legacy continuing to hold an important place in the Middle East, this research remains useful and relevant.
Anatomical Correlates of Functional Plasticity in Mouse Visual Cortex

Much of what is known about activity-dependent plasticity comes from studies of the primary visual cortex and its inputs in higher mammals, but the molecular bases remain largely unknown. Similar functional plasticity takes place during a critical period in the visual cortex of the mouse, an animal in which genetic experiments can readily be performed to investigate the underlying molecular and cellular events. The experiments of this paper were directed toward understanding whether anatomical changes accompany functional plasticity in the developing visual cortex of the mouse, as they do in higher mammals. In normal mice, transneuronal label after an eye injection clearly delineated the monocular and binocular zones of area 17. Intrinsic signal optical imaging also showed monocular and binocular zones of area 17 but revealed no finer organization of ocular dominance or orientation selectivity. In normal animals, single geniculocortical afferents serving the contralateral eye showed great heterogeneity and no clustering consistent with the presence of ocular dominance patches. Growth and elaboration of terminal arbor continues beyond postnatal day 40 (P40), after the peak of the critical period. After prolonged monocular deprivation (MD) from P20 to P60, transneuronal labeling showed that the projection serving the ipsilateral eye was severely affected, whereas the effect on the contralateral eye’s pathway was inconsistent. Optical imaging also showed profound effects of deprivation, particularly in the ipsilateral pathway, and microelectrode studies confirmed continued functional plasticity past P40. Reconstruction of single afferents showed that MD from P20 to P40 promoted the growth of the open eye’s geniculocortical connections without causing the closed eye’s contralateral projection to shrink, whereas MD from P20 to P60 caused an arrest of growth of deprived arbors. Our findings reveal numerous similarities between mouse and higher mammals in development and plasticity, along with some differences. We discuss the factors that may be responsible for these differences.
Age Change in Time Perception in Native Americans, Mexican Americans, and Anglo-Americans

Native Americans, Mexican Americans, and Anglo-Americans estimated equal intervals of idle time and time spent working at meaningful tasks. Younger Anglo-Americans and all older groups perceived idle time as longer. Younger minority culture groups perceived no difference in the two times. These findings suggest a perception of idle time as wasted and thus appearing long as contrasted with the perception of time spent achieving. It is proposed that cultural differences in the strength of the tendency to view achievement as occurring in sequences of time. The temporal problems of minority cultures in majority cultures schools are related to this aspect of time.
All of the Things: Engaging Complex Assemblages in Communication Design

In this paper, we compare sociocultural theories of communication and user experience design to scholarship from associative and new materialist approaches. We argue for a more expansive and symmetrical perspective on communication design---one that broadens the scope of potential actors that affect user experiences, and that more strongly considers their effects on communicative activities. We posit three ways in which this perspective may be operationalized: (a) accounting for the missing masses, (b) designing for flat ontologies and radical symmetry, and (c) designing for interagentivity. Finally, we offer an initial heuristic for deploying such approaches and discuss scenarios in which they may prove fruitful.
Decomposition Theorems for α ‐‐ Symmetric Positive Definite Functions

We show that every measurable, α-symmetric positive definite function on IRn (n ≥ 2) is continuous, except possibly at the origin.
Straw Men, Iron Men, and Argumentative Virtue

The straw man fallacy consists in inappropriately constructing or selecting weak (or comparatively weaker) versions of the opposition’s arguments. We will survey the three forms of straw men recognized in the literature, the straw, weak, and hollow man. We will then make the case that there are examples of inappropriately reconstructing stronger versions of the opposition’s arguments. Such cases we will call iron man fallacies. The difference between appropriate and inappropriate iron manning clarifies the limits of the virtue of open-mindedness.
Are climate change impacts already affecting tropical forest biomass

Abstract Tropical forests contain large stocks of carbon and any change in the balance of inflows and outflows of carbon to the biomass of standing forest has potentially important consequences for the global carbon cycle and related greenhouse warming, as well as for tropical biodiversity. Despite unresolved controversies over observed changes in biomass and gas fluxes, current observations indicate the likelihood that additional climate change would have substantial impacts on tropical forests and would reinforce their contributions to global climate change. Climate change impacts are already affecting tropical forest biomass.
Genetic algorithm based input selection for a neural network function approximator with applications to SSME health monitoring

A genetic algorithm is used to select the inputs to a neural network function approximator. In the application considered, modeling critical parameters of the Space Shuttle main engine, the functional relationships among measured parameters if unknown and complex and the number of possible input parameters is quite large. Due to the optimization and space searching capabilities of genetic algorithms, they are employed to systematize the input selection process. The results suggest that the genetic algorithm can generate parameter lists of high quality without the explicit use of problem domain knowledge. Suggestions for improving the performance of the input selection process are provided. >
Adverse Effect of Dietary Vanadium, Contributed by Dicalcium Phosphate, on Albumen Quality

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary vanadium (V) on egg albumen quality. In Experiment 1, White Leghorn hens fed 9.9 ppm V supplied from a commercial dicalcium phosphate (Dical B at 1.5% of the diet) or a diet containing 29.9 ppm V (28.5 ppm from ammonium vanadate and 1.4 ppm from Dical A) produced eggs with significantly poorer albumen quality (61.7 and 61.6 Haugh units, respectively) than those of hens fed 1.4 ppm V from Dical A (76.9 Haugh units). The decline in albumen quality occurred within 1 week of treatment and persisted through 4 weeks of V feeding. Inclusion of 28.5 ppm V as ammonium vanadate also reduced egg production and feed consumption but had no significant effect on egg weight or change in body weight during the 4-week test period. At the end of 4 weeks, all hens were fed the 1.4-ppm V diet. Improvement in albumen quality was observed within 1 week, and after 4 weeks of the recovery period, no significant differences among treatment groups were observed. Part 1 of Experiment 2 showed that albumen quality was significantly reduced by 6.0 and 7.9 ppm V, supplied from Dical B, but 2.0 or 4.0 ppm V did not signficantly change albumen quality during a 4-week trial. In Part 2 of Experiment 2, the inclusion of 9.9 ppm V from Dical B again significantly reduced albumen quality within 1 week. The magnitudes of adverse effects of 6.0, 7.9, and 9.9 ppm V on albumen quality plateaued approximately 4 weeks after treatment began and remained relatively constant through 6 weeks of feeding 9.9 ppm V and through 10 weeks of feeding 6.0 or 7.9 ppm V. The results demonstrate that certain commercial dicalcium phosphates may contribute excessive V to the diet of hens, and, when present at levels of 6.0 ppm or more, V will adversely affect albumen quality.
Toxic Releases and Risk Disparity: A Spatiotemporal Model of Industrial Ecology and Social Empowerment

Information-based regulations (IBRs) are founded on the theoretical premise that public participation in accomplishing policy goals is empowered by open access to information. Since its inception in 1988, the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) has provided the framework and regulatory impetus for the compilation and distribution of data on toxic releases associated with industrial development, following the tenets of IBR. As TRI emissions are reputed to disproportionately affect low-income communities, we investigated how demographic characteristics are related to change in TRI emissions and toxicity risks between 1989 and 2002, and we sought to identify factors that predict these changes. We used local indicators of spatial association (LISA) maps and spatial regression techniques to study risk disparity in the Los Angeles urban area. We also surveyed 203 individuals in eight communities in the same region to measure the levels of awareness of TRI, attitudes towards air pollution, and general environmental risk. We discovered, through spatial lag models, that changes in gross and toxic emissions are related to community ethnic composition, poverty level, home ownership, and base 1989 emissions (R-square = 0.034–0.083). We generated a structural equation model to explain the determinants of social empowerment to act on the basis of environmental information. Hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis (HCFA) supports the theoretical model that individual empowerment is predicted by risk perception, worry, and awareness (Chi-square = 63.315, p = 0.022, df = 42). This study provides strong evidence that spatiotemporal changes in regional-scale environmental risks are influenced by individual-scale empowerment mediated by IBRs.
Metal-Dependent Self-Assembly of a Microbial Surfactant

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to study the metal-dependent phase behavior of microbially produced surfactants-marinobactins B, D, and E (MB, MD, and ME). Marinobactins A-E are siderophores that facilitate Fe(III) acquisition by the source bacterium through the coordination of Fe(III) by the peptidic headgroup. All of the marinobactins have the same six amino acid headgroup but differ in the length and saturation of the monoalkyl fatty acid tail. Fe(III) coordinated to ME (Fe(III)-ME) was found to form micelles with a diameter of approximately 3.5 nm that underwent a supramolecular transformation to produce a monodisperse population of vesicles with an average diameter ranging from approximately 90 to 190 nm upon addition of Cd(II), Zn(II), or La(III). SANS profiles of the transition-metal-induced phase exhibit a Bragg peak at QB approximately 0.11-0.12 A-1 and were fit to a SANS model for multilamellar vesicles that have an interbilayer repeat distance of 2pi/QB approximately 5.6-5.0 nm. Cryo-TEM images of the Zn(II)-induced phase reveals the presence of approximately 100 nm diameter approximately spherical aggregates of uniform electron density. The temperature dependence of the Zn(II)-induced transformation was also investigated as a function of the length and degree of unsaturation of the Fe(III)-marinobactin fatty acid tail. The Cd(II)-, Zn(II)-, and La(III)-induced phase changes have features that are similar to those of the previously reported Fe(III)-induced micelle-to-vesicle transition, and this observation has opened questions regarding the role that Cd(II) and Zn(II) may play in bacterial iron uptake.
Should we continue to study consciousness

Block has attempted to reduce the confusion and controversy concerning the term “consciousness” by suggesting that there are two forms or types of consciousness, each of which has several characteristics or properties. This suggestion appears to further becloud the topic, however. Perhaps consciousness cannot be defined adequately and should not be considered as a topic that can be studied scientifically.
Voices in the text: The uses of reported speech in a psychotherapist's Notes and Initial Assessments

A psychotherapist's initial written assessment document (based on notes taken during an initial interview as well as material in the client's record) recontextualizes information provided by that client into an institutionally viable account. This assessment, designed to provide readers with a clinical picture of the client's problems, justifies the therapist's particular diagnosis of mental disorder which, in turn, supports the therapist's treatment choice. An analysis of reported speech in a therapist's notes written during a therapy session and the written assessment that followed reveal some devices used by the therapist for reporting client's speech in ways that would: (a) depict the client's experiential meanings, as represented in the therapist's notes, and (b) construct a clinical case to support her diagnosis, as can be seen in the assessment. We suggest that the devices function to recontextualize the client's lifeworld perspective, thereby subsuming this perspective (and implicit structure of meanings) into the therapist's psychiatric perspective