cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heritability and type B genetic correlation estimates for coastal douglas-fir in the US Pacific Northwest: trends and insights from 906 first-generation and second-cycle tests

Genetic parameters are reported for coastal Douglas-fir, from measurements on 24,000 first-generation open-pollinated families (786 test sites) and 2,400 second-cycle crosses (120 test sites) over ...
Is Private Learning Possible with Instance Encoding

A private machine learning algorithm hides as much as possible about its training data while still preserving accuracy. In this work, we study whether a non-private learning algorithm can be made private by relying on an instance-encoding mechanism that modifies the training inputs before feeding them to a normal learner. We formalize both the notion of instance encoding and its privacy by providing two attack models. We first prove impossibility results for achieving a (stronger) model. Next, we demonstrate practical attacks in the second (weaker) attack model on InstaHide, a recent proposal by Huang, Song, Li and Arora [ICML’20] that aims to use instance encoding for privacy.
Anion channel blockade: effects upon erythrocyte membrane calcium response.

The influx of small amounts of calcium into normal human red cells adversely affects cellular metabolism, shape, ion and water content, and deformability. Because restriction of cation (potassium) efflux moderates these deleterious effects of Ca++ influx, we investigated the possibility that inhibition of anion permeability might be similarly beneficial. Human red cells were treated with 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbene disulfonate (DIDS), which reacts preferentially with external sites on the transmembrane protein, band 3, and specifically inhibits inorganic anion transport. DIDS-treated and control cells were then exposed to the ionophore A23187 and Ca++. We find that DIDS treatment blocks Ca++-induced K+ and water loss and diminishes changes in osmotic fragility and cellular elasticity. Furthermore, DIDS reduces the “trapping” of hemoglobin by red cell membranes and increases the apparent affinity of the cell membrane for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Structural passive synthesis of three-dimensional recursive cone filters

A simple analytical design method for structurally passive three-dimensional recursive cone filters is presented. The cone filter is realized by cascading two structurally passive two-dimensional recursive fan filters having different passband orientations. The orientation of the passband of the cone filter is easily obtained by simply choosing the proper orientations of the two two-dimensional fan filters. This design scheme is accomplished analytically without resorting to costly numerical optimization as previously reported. A design example is included. >
A survey on jamming avoidance in ad-hoc sensory networks

Ad-Hoc Sensory Networks present a cheap and efficient way to collect data through wireless transmissions between sensors. These transmissions create new problems that need to be overcome in order to insure that the data being collected is reliable. This paper surveys the latest research in Jamming Avoidance in Ad-Hoc Sensory Networks.
Crumbs, thieves, and relics: translation and alien humanism

Terence's famous humanistic motto, "homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto," was transmitted from antiquity to modernity as an isolated fragment of a surviving play, and was subjected to various forms of translation and interpretation. In this essay, Joseph McAlhany argues that fragments and translation, by their nature, resist completion and wholeness, and it is this quality that makes them paradigmatically humanistic. After a history of the uses and abuses of this line, in particular the unsuccessful scholarly attempts to provide it with an authoritative meaning and a definitive translation, a close reading of the line reveals the humanistic ironies already present in the line itself. The translations of this fragment demonstrate not only the resistance to completion and the recognition of loss that are essential to humanism, but also how, and why, this crumb of classical antiquity continues to nourish the discourse of humanism. Language: en
[14] Solution structure of DNA polymerases and DNA polymerase-substrate complexes

Publisher Summary For the solution characterization of structure in DNA polymerases multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), nuclear overhauser effect (NOE) studies, water proton relaxation rate (PRR) measurements, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) are used. Studies included structure determination of a domain of DNA polymerase β (Pol β), determination of the conformations of substrates bound to DNA polymerase I, and the determination of the location and affinity of divalent metal binding sites on DNA polymerase I. NMR and EPR methods provided the first structural insight into the mechanism of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase 1. Studies of the cloned Klenow fragment provided information on substrate binding sites, the interaction between substrate and metal binding sites, and substrate conformation. Methods of 2D and 3D heteronuclear NMR are applicable to the determination of solution structures of domains of DNA polymerases with molecular weights of less than 30,000. High-resolution structural analysis is presently being directed toward the single-stranded template-binding domain of the enzyme and the study of the interaction of this domain with single-stranded DNA. The chapter discusses most recent NMR methods that are being used to study Pol β, together with of an overview of previous methods used in the study of DNA polymerase I.
Odd waveguide mode quasi-phase-matching using angled gratings

Summary from only given. An approach for quasi-phase-matching (QPM) is to use odd and even waveguide modes for the interacting waves; these modes can be filtered or separated with integrated optical components. Although QPM usually involves the fundamental modes of the interacting wavelengths in waveguide nonlinear optics, the technique can also be applied to mixing involving higher-order modes, as demonstrated here.
Pliocene transpressional modification of depositional basins by convergent thrusting adjacent to the “Big Bend” of the San Andreas fault: An example from Lockwood Valley, southern California

[1] The “Big Bend” of the San Andreas fault in the western Transverse Ranges of southern California is a left stepping flexure in the dextral fault system and has long been recognized as a zone of relatively high transpression compared to adjacent regions. The Lockwood Valley region, just south of the Big Bend, underwent a profound change in early Pliocene time (∼5 Ma) from basin deposition to contraction, accompanied by widespread folding and thrusting. This change followed the recently determined initiation of opening of the northern Gulf of California and movement along the southern San Andreas fault at about 6.1 Ma, with the concomitant formation of the Big Bend. Lockwood Valley occupies a 6-km-wide, fault-bounded structural basin in which converging blocks of Paleoproterozoic and Cretaceous crystalline basement and upper Oligocene and lower Miocene sedimentary rocks (Plush Ranch Formation) were thrust over Miocene and Pliocene basin-fill sedimentary rocks (in ascending order, Caliente Formation, Lockwood Clay, and Quatal Formation). All the pre-Quatal sedimentary rocks and most of the Pliocene Quatal Formation were deposited during a mid-Tertiary period of regional transtension in a crustal block that underwent little clockwise vertical-axis rotation as compared to crustal blocks to the south. Ensuing Pliocene and Quaternary transpression in the Big Bend region began during deposition of the poorly dated Quatal Formation and was marked by four converging thrust systems, which decreased the areal extent of the sedimentary basin and formed the present Lockwood Valley structural basin. None of the thrusts appears presently active. Estimated shortening across the center of the basin was about 30 percent. The formerly defined eastern Big Pine fault, now interpreted to be two separate, oppositely directed, contractional reverse or thrust faults, marks the northwestern structural boundary of Lockwood Valley. The complex geometry of the Lockwood Valley basin is similar to other Tertiary structural basins in southern California, such those that underlie Cuyama Valley, the Ridge basin, and the east Ventura basin.
Overview of reduced parts converter topologies for AC motor drives

In this paper, various reduced parts converter topologies and control strategies for power factor correction and motor control are reviewed and systematic design methodology is developed. From this investigation, the converter topologies could be mainly categorized into cascade type and unified type. The detailed operational principles are examined and the performance comparison Is derived to illustrate merits and limitations of the converters. Simulation results are provided to help the better understanding of the theoretical description and several experimental results are presented on prototype induction motor and brushless DC (BLDC) motor drives, along with cascade and unified type converters.
Improving overall fabricator performance using the continuous improvement methodology

One of the most prevalent challenges in the semiconductor industry is improving productivity without increasing capital spending. This focus has resulted in the development of multiple equipment efficiency and cycle-time reduction programs. In 1996, the IBM Microelectronics Division manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, Vermont, developed a continuous improvement process (CIP) to address these issues and, more specifically, to understand and improve the continuous improvement factor (CIF) of its range management system. Range management is a line operating methodology that divides the process flow of a fabricator into 24-hour segments. Daily, the objective of the system is to move work in progress (WIP) through operations where raw process time (RPT) at a given x-factor equals 24 hours. A team of eight range analysts (assembled from manufacturing and technical areas) use CIP to measure the success of this activity and, through data analysis, seek to determine and rectify root cause detractors. Measurements for improvement include both CIF (number of successful range moves in a 24-day period) and cycle time. This paper discusses development of CIP from theory to implementation and results. Specifically, it focuses on the techniques utilized by the range analyst team in the C.I. model. Included in this model are analyses for the TAKT (German for "beat") chart, cycle time, equipment, process, staffing, root cause, as well as the various methods of measurements.
International monetary arrangements in the Asia‐Pacific region

Abstract This paper first examines the literature on speculative attacks on fixed and managed exchange rate regimes, and discusses these models in the context of the recent turmoil in Asia‐Pacific currencies. Since these speculative attacks are more likely to be successful when financial markets are well integrated, it then assesses the degree of financial market integration in the region. Then the behavior of the exchange rate is examined. A model for a productivity‐based explanation for real exchange rate behavior is described. Using sectoral output and employment data, relative prices and relative productivity levels are calculated for China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. When examining real exchange rates and relative productivity ratios, one identifies the posited relationship for Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and, when augmenting the regressions with real oil prices, Indonesia and Korea. Then the roles of monetary and real factors are compared...
The syndrome of congenital adrenocortical unresponsiveness to ACTH. Report of six cases.

Extract: Six patients with the syndrome of congenital adrenocortical unresponsiveness to ACTH are reported. This syndrome is characterized by feeding problems early in life, hypoglycemic episodes and hyper-pigmentation of the skin (table I). Blood pressure and levels of electrolytes in serum were normal (table II). PPD and histoplasmin skin tests were negative, while antibodies to adrenal, thyroid, and gastric tissues were undetectable. Urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids and cortisol production rates were low and did not respond to administration of ACTH (table III). While receiving a low sodium diet, the patients were able to conserve sodium (figs. 2, 3 and 4) and to increase the rate of aldosterone secretion (tables IV and V). In one case, adrenal pathology showed a normal zona glomerulosa with atrophy of the zonae fasciculata and reticularis. This isolated deficiency in cortisol secretion is not due to a defect in pituitary function or a deficiency of one of the enzymes directly involved in steroid biosynthesis. The most probable pathogenesis is an abnormality at the site (or one of the sites) of ACTH action on cortisol biosynthesis. Speculation: It is probable that some young infants in whom a diagnosis of Addison's disease is made do, in fact, have the syndrome of congenital adrenocortical unresponsiveness to ACTH. Studies of cortisol secretion rates prior to and during ACTH administration and a determination of aldosterone secretion rates while receiving normal and low salt diets will permit differentiation of the two disorders.
Late Gestational Intrauterine Myelomeningocele Repair Does Not Improve Lower Extremity Function

Objective: To determine whether intrauterine myelomeningocele repair performed at between 20 and 28 weeks gestation improves lower extremity function (LEF). Methods:</i&
Anodic dissolution of metals at high rates

Electrochemical metal shaping and finishing processes involve anodic dissolution of metals at high rates. This paper presents a review of some fundamental aspects related to the understanding of such processes. Included are discussions of the phenomena of passive film breakdown that lead to the transpassive dissolution of metals, some of the available information on anodic reaction stoichiometry, and the role of convective mass transport and salt precipitation layers on metal removal rate and surface finish. The use of pulsating current permits the altering of anodic mass transport rates and transpassive dissolution behavior, thereby making it possible to obtain high dissolution efficiencies even at low average current densities.
MA to ARMA modeling of wind

Abstract An efficient method to determine expeditiously autoregressive moving average (ARMA) algorithms for simulating realizations of multivariate random processes with a specified (target) spectral matrix is presented from a perspective of wind engineering applicability. The computation of the parameters of the ARMA model is accomplished by relying on the minimization of frequency domain errors. The usefulness of the new method is demonstrated by considering a trivariate wind velocity spectrum.
A mixed-integer programming model for a class of assortment problems

Abstract We consider the problem of placing a set of rectangles of different sizes, in a non-overlapping fashion, within a large rectangle of minimum area. This general problem has several practical applications in location of departments in a minimum area and in two dimensional stock-cutting with the objective of keeping trim-loss at a minimum. We formulate the problem as a mixed-integer non-linear programming problem. We present computational results for two special cases of the general problem that reduce to linear integer programs.
An alternative structure for next generation regulatory controllers. Part II: Stability analysis, tuning rules and experimental validation

Abstract We recently developed, as an alternative to the PID controller, a novel 4-mode control scheme that takes full advantage of modern electronic hardware components, and whose tuning parameters are directly related to controller performance attributes (robustness, set-point tracking, and disturbance rejection); its achievable performance is better than that of the PID controller, and it can be designed and implemented much more directly and transparently. In this companion paper we present robust stability results for the proposed controller, for any given plant/model mismatch; these results are then used to generate simple tuning rules for the controller. The effect of noise on controller performance is explicitly considered and modified tuning rules are proposed for excessively noisy processes. The controller tuning results and procedure are then illustrated via experimental testing and validation. First, water level control in a simple laboratory scale process is used to illustrate the design, tuning, and implementation of the RTDA controller. We use this process primarily to evaluate the controller performance and illustrate how the tuning parameters influence, directly and independently, the controller performance attributes. The controller is then implemented on a pilot-scale physical vapor deposition process to demonstrate its performance on a more complicated process that is prototypical of 21st century manufacturing. We demonstrate that the proposed controller achieves improved performance with minimal tuning effort.
Changing the Preference for Fat in Foods

One of the best ways to ensure compliance with a low-fat diet is to reduce the preference for fat in foods. A recent study suggested that the hedonic response to fat in selected foods declined during 12 weeks on a low-fat diet when sensory exposure to fats was absent. No change in fat preference was seen when fat mimetics were part of the low-fat diet, suggesting the preference for fat may depend on continued exposure to the properties of fat. However, despite the persistence of the downward shift in preference for fat in foods reported by the low-fat diet group with no discretionary fat, this intake did not lead to a reduction in fat intake during a 3-month follow-up period.
Birds/bats movement tracking with IR camera for wind farm applications

Nocturnally migratory birds and bats are at higher risk of colliding with wind turbines. It is important to gather scientific data in an area which have potential of wind farm development. An IR camera recording and its analysis can provide necessary information to wildlife biologists involve with interaction of birds/bats with wind turbines. An efficient IR video processing algorithm has been developed. The proposed algorithm consists of background and consecutive frame subtraction, frame selection, 3-D region labeling and breakpoint recovery. It is then used to process spring 2011 bird migration data that has been collected in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Ohio. Results from this study will be useful for wildlife biologists to make intelligent decision for siting of wind turbines. It will also help policy makers to develop an appropriate public policy for wind farm development in an area with extensive avian activity.
The Mouse Atherosclerosis Locus at Chromosome 10 ( Ath11 ) Acts Early in Lesion Formation With Subcongenic Strains Delineating 2 Narrowed Regions

Objective— Ath11, an atherosclerosis susceptibility locus on proximal chromosome 10 (0 to 21 cM) revealed in a cross between apolipoprotein E deficient C57BL/6 (B6) and FVB mice, was recently confirmed in congenic mice. The objectives of this study were to assess how Ath11 affects lesion development and morphology, to determine aortic gene expression in congenics, and to narrow the congenic interval. Methods and Results— Assessing lesion area over time in congenic mice showed that homozygosity for the FVB allele increased lesion area at 6 weeks persisting through to 24 weeks of age. Staining of aortic root sections at 16 weeks did not reveal obvious differences between congenics. Aortic expression-array analysis at 6 weeks revealed 97 genes that were >2-fold regulated, including 1 gene in the quantitative trait locus interval, Aldh8a1, and 2 gene clusters regulated by Hnf4α and Esr1. Analysis of lesion area in 11 subcongenic strains revealed 2 narrowed regions, 10a (21 genes), acting in females, and 10b (...
Price shocks and the components of urban inflation

In a previous study of US city inflation, I emphasized the temporal regularities of urban price inflation. But, despite these identified regularities, it is apparent that the process of inflation is rarely so regular and so systematic. Unanticipated shocks in three components, energy food, and housing, dominate the post-1950 record of US inflation. Analysis of specific events and the patterns of local inflation in these three components reveals that food shocks and, to a lesser extent, energy price shocks have had relatively even spatial repercussions. However, it is also apparent that housing price inflation has varied considerably over space and time. Even so, it is still plausible that national price inflation is a fair approximation for local inflation.
Some approximation formula for stochastic eigenvalues

We consider some random eigenvalue problems of the form $L(\cdot ) = \lambda M(.)$, where $L(\cdot )$ and $M(\cdot )$ may be ordinary or partial differential operators which depend on a (perhaps mufti-dimensional) random variable $\omega $. We generalize some formulas due to Boyce [Probabilistic Methods in Applied Mathematics, Academic Press, New York, 1968, pp. 1–73] which give estimates for the eigenvalues of the form $\lambda (\omega ) = \lambda ^* + K(\omega ) + O(\| \omega \|^2 )$. Here $\lambda (\omega )$ is an eigenvalue corresponding to the random variable $\omega $ while$\lambda ^* $ is an eigenvalue corresponding to some approximating deterministic problem. The term $K(\omega )$ will be $O(\| \omega \|)$, although it may not be linear in $\omega $. These formulas may be used with very general boundary conditions, including those which contain random coefficients and those which may be nonlinear and nonhomogeneous. The boundary conditions also may contain the eigenvalue parameter $\lambda $ and t...
Selective inhibition of neuronal protein synthesis by retrogradely transported ricin

Abstract The ability of the lectin, ricinus communis agglutinin I (ricin 120 ), to undergo retrograde axonal transport and cause degeneration of neuronal cell bodies has been frequently exploited to establish the origin of peripheral axons. Since this cytotoxic action of ricin results from its inactivation of ribosomes, the retrogradely transported lectin was employed in the present study to inhibit protein synthesis in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons whose axons project into the lumbar nerve trunk of bullfrog tadpoles. The procedure was developed to examine, during tadpole metamorphosis, the ratio of fast-transported radiolabeled protein accumulating at the proximal side of a nerve trunk ligature to the total newly synthesized protein in the cell bodies of origin. The relatively small diameter and fragility of the developing lumbar nerve trunks necessitated introduction of ricin by bath application to the cut nerve end rather than by intraneural injection. Consistent uptake of ricin was achieved by pretreatment with the phospholipase A 2 inhibitor, mepacrine, that blocks resealing of severed nerve fibers. Optimal time and dosage of ricin were established by determining the maximal achievable inhibition of [ 35 S]methionine into DRG protein. In stage XVI tadpoles, maximal inhibition of ≈ 65% was observed after 16 h incubation in 2.5 mg/ml ricin. As evidence that neuronal protein synthesis was effectively suppressed, there was no detectable anterograde axonal transport of [ 35 S]protein subsequent to ricin treatment. That protein synthesis inhibition was restricted to neuronal cells within the DRG was demonstrated by a combined immunocytochemical and autoradiographic approach. Under conditions where retrogradely transported ricin markedly reduced the density of silver grains decorating neurofilament-positive cells (neurons), there was no significant difference in grain density in Nissl-counterstained, neurofilament-negative regions that contained Schwann cells and other satellite cells.
Evolution of the human shoulder: some possible pathways.

Osteometric data, apparently reflecting functional parameters of the shoulder in the Anthropoidea, have been examined by a combination of multivariate techniques in an attempt to define minimum pathways possibly followed in the evolution of the human shoulder. Principal components analysis has been used to gauge size-related shape effects. The combination of D2 and canonical analysis has suggested that the shoulder in man is unlikely to have evolved (a) from one similar to that of any extant monkey whether arboreal or terrestrial, (b) from one similar to that of any terrestrial ape (like present-day Pan and Gorilla), or (c) from one similar to that of a highly specialised ricochetal armswinging ape (such as present day Hylobates and Symphalangus). The analyses suggest positively that the minimum evolutionary pathway may well have been from the shoulder of a totally arboreal ape, presumably genetically related to Pan and Gorilla, but functionally similar to that evolved in parallel in the highly arboreal orang-utan, Pongo. Information from fragmentary fossils (the scapula from Sterkfontein and the clavicle from Olduvai) supports these conclusions.
Polarised complementation at the pyrimidine-3 locus of Neurospora.

A re-evaluation of complementation at the pyrimidine-3 locus ofNeurospora suggests the existence of polarity. This apparent polarity is supported by polar complementation of the majority of a number of mutants induced with the acridine ICR-170, and confirmed by the behavior of an allele which is shown by reversion studies to be a frameshift mutant.
Localization of cardiac parasympathetic preganglionic neurons in the medulla oblongata of pigeon, Columba livia: a study using fragment C of tetanus toxin

Abstract The binding fragment of tetanus toxin, fragment C, was injected into several different regions of the pigeon heart. Retrogradely and/or transneuronally labeled cardiomotor parasympathetic preganglionic neurons were found in two separate nuclei within the medulla oblongata. The majority of fragment C-immunolabeled cells was confined to the caudal division of the nucleus ambiguus. This nuclear region is likely to be homologous to the ventrolateral nucleus of the external formation of the nucleus ambiguus in mammals. A smaller fraction (10–30%) of fragment C-positive cardiomotor preganglionic neurons were localized within a restricted portion of the ventrolateral subnucleus of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. This dual cardiac representation in an avian is very similar to the organization established in several mammalian species, and suggests that the brainstem organisation of cardiac parasympathetic efferents is evolutionarily stable across avians and mammals.
DETERMINATION OF E AND G OBSERVABLES IN η PHOTOPRODUCTION ON THE CLAS FROZEN SPIN TARGET (FROST)

Polarization observables are vital for disentangling overlapping resonances in the baryon spectrum. Extensive data have been collected at Jefferson Lab in Hall B with circularly and linearly polarized tagged photon beam incident on longitudinally polarized protons provided by the Frozen Spin Target (FROST). The focus of the described work is on η photoproduction, which acts as an "isospin filter", isolating the N*(I = 1/2) resonances. Preliminary results for the double-polarization observables E and G are presented. There are currently no data on these in the world database for η photoproduction.
Educators’ and non-educators’ perceptions of black males: A survey

People’s stereotypical beliefs, feelings, expectations, and fantasies about black males were investigated. A sample of 3, 130 subjects included 1,627 educators and 1,503 noneducators. Subject data were collected related to sex, race, age group, and where adolescent years were spent. Subjects responded to an unobtrusive open-ended survey instrument that asked, “PLEASE LIST BELOW ALL THE STEREOTYPICAL BELIEFS, FEELINGS, EXPECTATIONS, AND FANTASIES THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON HAS ABOUT BLACK MEN.” The results established that there are stereotypical beliefs held about black males.
The Goose Pond Wetland Restoration Project: Balancing Private Interests with the Goals of Local, State and Federal Governmental Programs

The restoration of over 2,406 hectares (5,945 acres) of privately owned land to a naturally functioning wetland after 100 years of farming is providing the Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with many challenges. The overall goal of the Wetlands Reserve Program is restoration and enhancement of wetlands in order to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, including optimizing wildlife habitat. Achieving these goals and satisfying the needs and priorities of the landowner, various private organizations and local, state and federal agencies has been demanding. To illustrate the complexity, the following is a partial list of issues being addressed during the planning phase of this restoration project: Elevation of a state highway that divides the site; fiber optic and high powered utility crossings; state floodplain regulations; limiting flooding surcharges on adjacent landowners; diverting discharges from two streams into the wetland while satisfying the policy requirements of the local drainage board; closure of county roads as a result of permanently flooded areas; meeting NRCS design standards for dikes and dams in the creation of wetlands; and the potential transfer of private land into a state wildlife refuge. This paper describes the roles of various private interest groups and local, state and federal agencies; and describes how meeting the jurisdictional guidelines and timelines of each is being balanced, touching on what has and has not worked for Indiana NRCS thus far in carrying out this project. Project Setting The Goose Pond wetland restoration project is located south of the town of Linton in western Greene County in southwestern Indiana. The entire project covers an area of 2,889 hectares (7,138 acres) at two separate locations; the Beehunter Marsh site and
Atf3 negatively regulates Ptgs2/Cox2 expression during acute inflammation

By generating prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2/Ptgs2) plays a critical role in regulating inflammatory responses. While several inflammatory stimuli have been shown to increase Ptgs2 expression, less is known about how the transcription of this gene is terminated. Here we show that stimulation of macrophages with yeast zymosan, a TLR2/6 and dectin-1 agonist, causes a transient increase in the expression of Ptgs2 accompanied by a simultaneous increase in the expression of the transcriptional repressor, activating transcription factor-3 (Atf3). The expression of Ptgs2 was significantly higher in resident peritoneal macrophages isolated from Atf3(-/-) mice than that from Atf3(+/+) mice and was associated with higher prostaglandin production upon stimulation with zymosan. In activated macrophages, Atf3 accumulated in the nucleus and chromatin-immunoprecipitation analysis showed that Atf3 is recruited to the Ptgs2 promoter region. In acute peritonitis and in cutaneous wounds, there was increased leukocyte accumulation and higher levels of prostaglandins (PGE2/PGD2) in inflammatory exudates of Atf3(-/-) mice compared with WT mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate that during acute inflammation Atf3 negatively regulates Ptgs2 and therefore dysregulation of this axis could potentially contribute to aberrant Ptgs2 expression in chronic inflammatory diseases. Moreover, this axis could be a new therapeutic target for suppressing Ptgs2 expression and the resultant inflammatory responses.
A Counterexample to the Uniqueness Thesis

In this essay, I present a straightforward counterexample to the Uniqueness Thesis, which holds, roughly speaking, that there is a unique rational response to any particular body of evidence.
Comparative Topographies of Neoliberalism in Mexico

The author presents a comparative study of neoliberalism in two Mexican localities, Monterrey and Oaxaca, using the analytical lens of a ‘topography’. Although in theory a common set of ideas underpins neoliberal ideology and policy, in practice the way in which neoliberal projects are materialized in specific locations is differentiated, segmented, and highly uneven. Reflecting this, neoliberalism appears to have exacerbated regional differences in Mexico. An emphasis on topography draws attention to the political–economic processes that produce such difference. This destabilizes commonsensical representations of regional difference in Mexico, which pit a modern, industrialized, and increasingly democratic North against an impoverished, traditional, and authoritarian South. Furthermore, drawing analytical linkages across place allows the production of situated political responses to neoliberalism to be brought into coalition.
A comparison of exogenous and endogenous parathyroid hormone effects on bone collagen synthesis.

The uptake of H3-proline, in vivo and in vitro, was used to assess the rate and amount of collagen synthesis in femoral bone of rats and guinea pigs. Microradioautographic analysis was employed to measure in vivo cellular uptake of radioproline. Although ascorbic acid deficiency and large doses of parathyroid extract caused marked inhibition of cellular incorporation of the isotope, variations in endogenous parathyroid secretion did not significantly influence this incorporation. Similarly, the in vitro synthesis of rat femoral collagen was clearly inhibited by parathyroid extract, while parathyroidectomy produced no detectable alteration in collagen formation. However, varying media calcium concentrations did significantly influence the in vitro synthesis of collagen. It is suggested that pharmacological doses of extract may not be accurately regarded as an exaggeration of physiological parathyroid hormone actions, and that the parathyroid control of calcium homeostasis is not appreciably mediated by any immediate effect on bone-forming (osteoblastic) processes. Differences observed between the two areas of femoral bone studied (metaphyseal and diaphyseal areas) are also noted.
Three-body model of deuteron breakup and stripping☆

Abstract For a three-body model Hamiltonian, the scattering eigenfunction that corresponds to an incident deuteron is expanded in terms of eigenfunctions of the neutron-proton relative Hamiltonian, as suggested by Johnson and Soper. In this expansion, breakup is represented by an integral over the continuum of neutron-proton scattering states. Only states of zero relative angular momentum are included; the validity and advantages of this approximation are discussed. The continuum is divided into five discrete channels, whose coupling to each other and to the deuteron channel is treated by solving coupled differential equations with appropriate boundary conditions. It is found necessary to use a simple WKB method to take account of the long-range coupling among breakup channels; this method introduces potential matrices W and S that describe local and derivative coupling of the channels. The reaction of breakup on the elastic channel is neglected. The properties of W and S and the breakup wavefunction are examined for the case of 22.9 MeV deuterons incident on a target of mass number A ≈ 40. The Coulomb interaction is ignored, and a local Gaussian shape is used for both the real and imaginary parts of the nucleon-nucleus optical potential. It is found that a rather broad spectrum of n-p continuum states is excited, especially for low center-of-mass angular momentum. This result weakens the justification for the Johnson-Soper adiabatic theory, which emphasizes breakup into states of low relative energy. The breakup part of the wavefunction at zero n-p separation is comparable with the elastic part, but is important only over a surprisingly short range in the center-of-mass coordinate, with the result that breakup cross sections are quite small. Nevertheless, breakup produces major modifications of (d, p) cross sections. These modifications can to some extent be simulated by the Johnson-Soper method. The breakup wavefunctions show several interesting effects in their dependence on angular momentum and radius.
A GENERALIZED CONGESTION FUNCTION FOR HIGHWAY TRAVEL

Abstract Urban planners designing the optimal scale and pricing of highway services must pay close attention to the choice of the functional form used to describe the relationship between highway speed and the volume of roadway traffic. This congestion relationship is a crucial empirical fact for planning. While past work have posited a variety of speed-volume models, no successful efforts have been made to statistically compare the different specifications. This paper presents a generalized congestion function (GCF) which allows us to select the preferred (by a maximum likelihood criterion) speed-volume specification. The most prominent previous speed-volume models are all shown to be special cases of GCF. Failure to use the GCF approach may be very costly. For example, in the design of highway tolls the switch from the optimal GCF specification to a statistically “second-best” model may lead to a consumer surplus loss of $1 million annually for a typical urban area.
Maximum entropy principle with imprecise side-conditions

In this paper we consider the maximum entropy principle with imprecise side-conditions, where the imprecise side-conditions are modeled as fuzzy sets. Our solution produces fuzzy discrete probability distributions and fuzzy probability density functions.
CCD sensors in synchrotron X-ray detectors

Abstract The intense photon flux from advanced synchrotron light sources, such as the 7-GeV synchrotron being designed at Argonne, require integrating-type detectors. Charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are well suited as synchrotron X-ray detectors. When irradiated indirectly via a phosphor followed by reducing optics, diffraction patterns of 100 cm2 can be imaged on a 2 cm2 CCD. With a conversion efficiency of ∼ 1 CCD electron/X-ray photon, a peak saturation capacity of > 106 X-rays can be obtained. A programmable CCD controller operating at a clock frequency of 20 MHz has been developed. The readout rate is 5 × 106 pixels/s and the shift rate in the parallel registers is 106 lines/s. The test detector was evaluated in two experiments. In protein crystallography diffraction patterns have been obtained from a lysozyme crystal using a conventional rotating anode X-ray generator. Based on these results we expect to obtain at a synchrotron diffraction images at a rate of ∼ 1 frame/s or a complete 3-dimensional data set from a single crystal in ∼ 2 min. In electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), the CCD was used in a parallel detection mode which is similar to the mode array detectors are used in dispersive EXAFS. With a beam current corresponding to 3 × 109 electron/s on the detector, a series of 64 spectra were recorded on the CCD in a continuous sequence without interruption due to readout. The frame-to-frame pixel signal fluctuations had σ = 0.4% from which DQE = 0.4 was obtained, where the detector conversion efficiency was 2.6 CCD electrons/X-ray photon. These multiple frame series also showed the time-resolved modulation of the electron microscope optics by stray magnetic fields.
Genomic selection for durable stem rust resistance in wheat

Inheritance of stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) resistance in wheat can be either qualitative or quantitative. While quantitative disease resistance is believed to be more durable, it is more difficult to evaluate if it is expressed only in mature plants, i.e. adult plant resistance (APR). Marker-assisted selection (MAS) methods for APR would be useful; however, the multigenic nature of APR impedes the use of MAS efforts that aim to pyramid only a few target genes. A promising alternative is genomic selection (GS), which utilizes genome-wide marker coverage to predict genotypic values for quantitative traits. In turn, GS can reduce the selection cycle length of a breeding program for traits like APR that could take several seasons to generate reliable phenotypes. In this paper, we describe the GS process for use in crop improvement, both specifically for APR and in general. We also propose a GS–based wheat breeding scheme for quantitative resistance to stem rust that, when compared to current breeding schemes, can reduce cycle time by up to twofold and facilitates pyramiding of major genes with APR genes. Thus, GS could be an important tool for achieving the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative’s (BGRI) goal of developing durable stem rust resistance in wheat.
Phosphorylation and sulfation of arylsulfatase A accompanies biosynthesis of the enzyme in normal and carcinoma cell lines.

Abstract Arylsulfatase A (arylsulfate sulfohydrolase, EC 3.1.6.1), a mammalian lysosomal enzyme, is initially synthesized as a 69, 67 and 64 kDa precursor polypeptide in a prostate carcinoma cell line PC-3SF12, in HeLa cells and in a normal human embryonic lung cell line WI-38, respectively. These precursor polypeptides are secreted into the medium or processed to mature enzymes of apparent molecular mass 66, 64 or 62 kDa in PC-3SF12, HeLa or WI-38 cells, respectively. The precursor and mature polypeptides in WI-38 cells are phosphorylated, and the phosphate is lost upon treatment with endo-β-hexosaminidase H. Arylsulfatase A is also shown to be sulfated in WI-38 cells. The presence of castanospermine, an inhibitor of sulfation of the second N-acetylglucosamine residue of the chitobiose core, does not reduce the extent of sulfation of arylsulfatase A, suggesting that either terminal sugars or the protein is sulfated. Sulfation may have a protective function similar to that of terminal sialic acid residues in glycoproteins. Although the subcellular location of arylsulfatase A is identical in PC-3SF12 and in WI-38 cells, pulse-chase experiments indicate that arylsulfatase A protein has a slower turnover in the prostate carcinoma cell line than it does in the normal human lung cell line. The differences in the apparent molecular weights of arylsulfatase A in the normal and carcinoma cell lines are shown to be due to variations in the carbohydrate content of the enzyme. The apparent molecular mass of the polypeptide chain obtained after endo-β-hexosaminidase H treatment is 59 kDa, a value which is identical for all three cell lines studied here. These results suggest the possibility of an enhanced activity of terminal glucosyltransferase enzymes in carcinoma cell lines and in tumor tissues. Arylsulfatase A may be a useful marker for studying transformation-related processes in human cell lines.
Structural basis for catalysis by onconase.

Abstract Onconase® (ONC) is a homolog of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A) from the frog Rana pipiens . ONC displays antitumoral activity and is in advanced clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Here, we report the first atomic structures of ONC–nucleic acid complexes: a T89N/E91A ONC–5′-AMP complex at 1.65 A resolution and a wild-type ONC–d(AUGA) complex at 1.90 A resolution. The latter structure and site-directed mutagenesis were used to reveal the atomic basis for substrate recognition and turnover by ONC. The residues in ONC that are proximal to the scissile phosphodiester bond (His10, Lys31, and His97) and uracil nucleobase (Thr35, Asp67, and Phe98) are conserved from RNase A and serve to generate a similar bell-shaped pH versus k cat / K M profile for RNA cleavage. Glu91 of ONC forms two hydrogen bonds with the guanine nucleobase in d(AUGA), and Thr89 is in close proximity to that nucleobase. Installing a neutral or cationic residue at position 91 or an asparagine residue at position 89 virtually eliminated the 10 2 -fold guanine:adenine preference of ONC. A variant that combined such substitutions, T89N/E91A ONC, actually preferred adenine over guanine. In contrast, installing an arginine residue at position 91 increased the guanine preference and afforded an ONC variant with the highest known k cat / K M value. These data indicate that ONC discriminates between guanine and adenine by using Coulombic interactions and a network of hydrogen bonds. The structure of the ONC–d(AUGA) complex was also used to probe other aspects of catalysis. For example, the T5R substitution, designed to create a favorable Coulombic interaction between ONC and a phosphoryl group in RNA, increased ribonucleolytic activity by twofold. No variant, however, was more toxic to human cancer cells than wild-type ONC. Together, these findings provide a cynosure for understanding catalysis of RNA cleavage in a system of high medicinal relevance.
Noise sensitivity analysis of depth-from-defocus by a spatial-domain approach

Depth-from-Defocus using the Spatial-Domain Convolution/Deconvolution Transform Method (STM) is a useful technique for 3D vision. STM involves simple local operations in the spatial domain on only two images recorded with different camera parameters (e.g. by changing lens position or changing aperture diameter). In this paper we provide a theoretical treatment of the noise sensitivity analysis of STM and verify the theoretical results with experiments. This fills an important gap in the current research literature wherein the noise sensitivity analysis of STM is limited to experimental observations. Given the image and noise characteristics, here we derive an expression for the Root Mean Square (RMS) error in lens position for focusing an object. This RMS error is useful in estimating the uncertainty in depth obtained by STM. We present the results of computer simulation experiments for different noise levels. The experiments validate the theoretical results.
Protective Heterologous Antiviral Immunity and Enhanced Immunopathogenesis Mediated by Memory T Cell Populations

A basic principle of immunology is that prior immunity results in complete protection against a homologous agent. In this study, we show that memory T cells specific to unrelated viruses may alter the host's primary immune response to a second virus. Studies with a panel of heterologous viruses, including lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Pichinde (PV), vaccinia (VV), and murine cytomegalo (MCMV) viruses showed that prior immunity with one of these viruses in many cases enhanced clearance of a second unrelated virus early in infection. Such protective immunity was common, but it depended on the virus sequence and was not necessarily reciprocal. Cell transfer studies showed that both CD4 and CD8 T cell populations from LCMV-immune mice were required to transfer protective immunity to naive hosts challenged with PV or VV. In the case of LCMV-immune versus naive mice challenged with VV, there was an enhanced early recruitment of memory phenotype interferon (IFN) γ–secreting CD4+ and CD8+ cells into the peritoneal cavity and increased IFN-γ levels in this initial site of virus replication. Studies with IFN-γ receptor knockout mice confirmed a role for IFN-γ in mediating the protective effect by LCMV-immune T cell populations when mice were challenged with VV but not PV. In some virus sequences memory cell populations, although clearing the challenge virus more rapidly, elicited enhanced IFN-γ–dependent immunopathogenesis in the form of acute fatty necrosis. These results indicate that how a host responds to an infectious agent is a function of its history of previous infections and their influence on the memory T cell pool.