cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The cream dilution gene, responsible for the palomino and buckskin coat colours, maps to horse chromosome 21.

Summary The colour locus historically referred to as C in the horse is linked to microsatellitesmarkers on horse chromosome 21. Preliminary results demonstrated linkage of C cr ,thought to be the cream dilution variant of the C locus, to HTG10. An analysis of horsechromosome 21 using additional families conﬁrmed and established a group ofmarkers linked to C cr . This work also improved the resolution of previously reportedlinkage maps for this chromosome. Linkage analysis unambiguously produced the maporder: SGCV16-(19.1 cM)-HTG10-(3.8 cM)-LEX60/COR73-(1.3 cM)-COR68-(4.5 cM)-C cr -(11.9 cM)-LEX31. Comparative and synteny data suggested that the horse C locusis not tyrosinase (TYR).Keywords buckskin, coat colour, cream, dilution, horse genetics, microsatellite,palomino. Introduction The C cr allele of the horse colour locus (C) is thought tocontrol the cream coat colour dilution seen in the goldenbody colour of palominos and buckskins and the ivory bodyof cremellos and perlinos. In a study of the inheritance of thepalomino colour in Icelandic horses, Adalsteinsson (1974)demonstrated that a single copy of this allele is responsiblefor diluting pheomelanin (red pigment) to yellow and pro-ducing the palomino and buckskin phenotypes. The C
ECOLOGICAL HISTORIES FROM ALASKAN TREE LINES PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO FUTURE CHANGE

Ecosystem responses to past climate change can provide insight into plausible scenarios of response to future change and can elucidate factors that may influence the overall predictability of such responses. I explore the utility of paleoecological studies for addressing questions about the predictability of ecosystem responses to climate change using Alaskan tree line ecosystems as a case study. Published studies were used to develop a regional analysis of patterns of recent tree line advance, and to estimate lags between recruitment onset and forest development beyond tree line. Tree line advance is ubiquitous, but asynchronous in time, occurring significantly earlier in the White Mountains in interior Alaska than in western Alaska or the Alaska Range. The mean lag between initiation of recruitment and forest development was estimated at approximately 200 years, similar to what modeling studies have found. Although continued advance of white spruce forests is the most likely scenario of future change, variability in the rate of forest response to warming may be likely due to limitation of spruce establishment in highly permafrost-affected sites, changes in seed dispersal and early establishment, and recent changes in the growth responses of individual trees to temperature. All of these factors may cause spruce populations to exhibit nonlinear responses to future warming, and uncritical extrapolation from recent trends is thus unwarranted.
Increased angiogenesis and angiogenic gene expression in carotid artery plaques from symptomatic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid plaque rupture is one of the main causes of stroke by creating cerebral emboli. The biochemical, molecular, and structural factors that promote carotid plaque rupture are not yet understood in detail. We hypothesize that increased microvascular blood flow within a carotid plaque might fissure the plaque, elevate local pressure, and promote plaque rupture. The aim of this study is to determine the role of angiogenesis and angiogenesis-related gene expression in symptomatic carotid plaque. METHODS: The present study evaluated the new vessel formation (using hematoxylineosin staining and CD34 immunohistochemistry) and angiogenic gene expression (using microarray and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis) in carotid plaque specimens obtained during endarterectomy from 13 symptomatic stroke patients in comparison with eight asymptomatic patients. RESULTS: Symptomatic plaques showed significantly higher new vessel density in the fibrous cap (by 347%, P < 0.05) as well as in the plaque proper (by 196%, P < 0.05) compared with the asymptomatic plaques. The fibrous caps of the plaques were threefold thinner in the symptomatic patients when compared with the asymptomatic patients. In symptomatic plaque, gene expression analysis showed increased abundance of 31 transcripts known to promote angiogenesis and cell division compared with plaques of asymptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that angiogenic gene expression and the ensuing angiogenesis in the plaques might contribute to their destabilization and resulting symptoms.
Production of L X rays in energetic Cl → Cl collisions

Abstract The L X-ray spectrum from Cl 7+ → Cl 2 collisions at 40 MeV is presented. The large number of lines observed are generally found to be consistent with calculations of X-ray transition energies from the “unit flourescence yield configuration”, 1s 2 2s 2 2p n 3s 1 . The calculations indicate large X-ray energy splittings for transitions from different multiplet states. The assumption of statistical population of the multiplets is found to be consistent with the intensities of the observed lines.
Numerical computation of the complex dielectric permittivity using Hilbert transform and FFT techniques

Abstract A procedure is described to efficiently obtain the complex dielectric permittivity of semiconductor materials with numerical routines available in current software applications. This procedure calculates the real component of the dielectric permittivity from its imaginary component by making use of the Hilbert transform properties of the Kramers–Kronig relations. We show the reliability of this approach by reconstructing the real component from the experimentally known dispersion relations of GaAs and InAs. In addition, we use this procedure for the case when the imaginary component is obtained from analytical expressions as is the case for the Franz–Keldysh effect in the absorption of photons in GaAs. We show how the spectral photoreflection of structures where this effect is present can be easily modeled and simulated by this method.
Evaluation and Comparison of Pulsed and Continuous Wave Radiofrequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Techniques for in Vivo Detection and Imaging of Free Radicals

The performance of two electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometers/imagers, one configured in pulsed mode and the other in continuous wave (CW) mode, at an operating frequency of 300 MHz is compared. Using the same resonator (except for altered Q-factors), identical samples and filling factors in the two techniques have been evaluated for their potentials and limitations for in vivo spectroscopic and imaging applications. The assessment is based on metrics such as sensitivity, spatial and temporal resolution, field of view, image artifacts, viable spin probes, and subjects of study. The spectrometer dead time limits the pulsed technique to samples with long phase memories (>275 ns). Nevertheless, for viable narrow-line spin probes, the pulsed technique offers better sensitivity and temporal resolution. The CW technique, on the other hand, does not restrict the choice at spin probes. In addition, the phase-sensitive narrow-band detection of the CW technique gives artifact-free images even for large objects. Selected examples illustrating the performance of the CW and pulsed techniques are presented to put the capabilities of the two techniques in perspective.
Towards a Definition and Metric for the Survivability of Ocean Wave Energy Converters

Survivability is a term that is widely used in the ocean wave energy industry, but the term has never been defined in that context. The word itself seems to have an intrinsic meaning that people understand; this fact often leads to the term’s misuse and its confusion with “reliability”. In order to design systems that are capable of long term survival in the ocean environment, it must be clear what “survivability” means and how it affects the design process and ultimately the device being deployed. Ocean energy is relatively predictable over the span of months, days, and even hours, which makes it very promising as a form of renewable energy. However, the variation of the energy content of ocean waves in a given location is likely high due to the effect of storms and the seasons. Wave energy converters must be built to be reliable while operating and survivable during severe conditions. Therefore, probabilistic design practices must be used to insure reliability and survivability in conditions that are constantly changing. Reliability is used to numerically express the failures of a device that occur while the system is operational, and it is usually expressed in terms of the mean time between failure (MTBF). However, in the context of ocean wave energy converters, the devices are likely to be continuously deployed in conditions that push them beyond their operating limits. During these times it is likely that wave energy converters will be placed in some sort of “survival mode” where the device sheds excess power, reducing system loading. Survivability is focused specifically on failures that occur during these times, when the device is experiencing conditions that surpass its operational limits. Developing a highly survivable wave energy converter is an outstanding goal, but without a standard definition of the term survivability, progress towards that goal cannot be measured. The purpose of this paper is to provide an initial definition for survivability, and to introduce a simple metric that provides an objective comparison of the survivability of varying wave energy converter technologies.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Cluster analysis of Southeastern U.S. climate stations

A two-step cluster analysis of 449 Southeastern climate stations is used to objectively determine general climate clusters (groups of climate stations) for eight southeastern states. The purpose is objectively to define regions of climatic homogeneity that should perform more robustly in subsequent climatic impact models. This type of analysis has been successfully used in many related climate research problems including the determination of corn/climate districts in Iowa (Ortiz-Valdez, 1985) and the classification of synoptic climate types (Davis, 1988). These general climate clusters may be more appropriate for climate research than the standard climate divisions (CD) groupings of climate stations, which are modifications of the agro-economic United States Department of Agriculture crop reporting districts. Unlike the CD's, these objectively determined climate clusters are not restricted by state borders and thus have reduced multicollinearity which makes them more appropriate for the study of the impact of climate and climatic change.
Control Modes of Step Motors

The problem of maximizing the output torque of a step motor while satisfying power dissipation constraints is considered. Also, the optimal current which maximizes the output torque is derived. Several suboptimal controls are compared to the optimal one and their relative efficiency is evaluated. It is shown that the most common control mode is the least efficient from this viewpoint.
Certifying smoothness of discrete functions and measuring legitimacy of images

Abstract Several problems that deal with smoothness of discrete functions and that are motivated by the task of deciding whether an N × N array of distances is a feasible laser radar (LADAR) image are investigated. The main observation is that there is a simple and explicit graph that is tightly related to the smoothness problem. The graph is used to show that a function can be verified to be Lipschitz on a random finite subset of R2 by testing the Lipschitz condition at only O(n) pairs of points.
Impulsivity and the generation of negative life events: The role of negative urgency

According to the stress generation hypothesis, individuals vulnerable to depression are prone to experience stressors that are in some measure dependent on their behaviors and characteristics (i.e., dependent stressors). Although this phenomenon has also been suggested to be relevant to other forms of psychopathology, the research to date has been equivocal. As a preliminary step towards clarifying the potential role of stress generation in other disorders, one promising approach may be to examine maladaptive behavioral processes relevant to different forms of psychopathology. The current study assessed impulsivity in general, and negative urgency specifically, in relation to stress generation. Participants (N = 201) completed baseline self-report measures of depression symptoms and five dimensions of impulsivity (i.e., negative urgency, sensation seeking, lack of premeditation, and lack of perseverance). At four-week follow-up, they completed a measure of life events that had occurred since baseline. Negative urgency, but none of the other impulsivity dimensions, predicted higher occurrences of negative dependent events during follow-up, after covarying gender and baseline depression. Negative urgency did not predict events that were independent of individuals’ behaviors. Negative urgency may contribute to the stress generation effect, and future study of this association in the context of impulsivity-related psychopathology is warranted.
Explorations of agent-based simulation for architectural design

With most forms of computational or Information -- based architectural design the 2D scale drawing is often treated as an automated output of a complex system to translate information to builders or fabricators in an understandable format. We present a case study for a new typology of scale drawing which serves as the input and design control to rule-based component systems. This type of drawing serves as a construction document between the designer and the digital construction logic setup within the system and draws on the history and robustness of the scale drawing as a means of encoding information to develop a stronger design interface with complex component systems. The cases presented examine the potential of fuzzy logic as a method of control for component systems, and specifically how the logic graphs can become an "active scaled drawing" for designing system rules.
Response of collared lemmings to melatonin: II. Infusions and photoperiod.

Gower BA, Hadjipanayis C, Nagy TR, Stetson MH. Response of collared lemmings to melatonin: II. Infusions and photoperiod. J. Pineal Res. 1994:17:185–194. Abstract Collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus) show much phenotypic plasticity when exposed to photoperiods of varying length. In addition to “long day” and “short day” morphologies, apparent when animals are exposed to 22L:2D and 8L:16D, respectively, animals with intermediate features appear when collared lemmings are placed on day lengths ranging from 18L:6D to 14L:10D. Body mass, body composition, pelage color and length, the presence and size of a bifid claw, and reproductive condition are all influenced by ambient day length. We tested the hypothesis that variations in the melatonin signal mediate the physiological and morphological responses observed in collared lemmings housed in various photoperiods. One group of collared lemmings was fitted with a subcutaneous cannula at weaning and infused for 8 weeks with 2, 6, or 14 hr melatonin or 14 hr vehicle daily while housed in constant light (LL). Additional groups were transferred to LL, 20L:4D, 16L:8D, or 8L:16D (all uninfused). The response of the animals to both melatonin infusion and photoperiod was graded; the degree to which the “winter” morphology developed was proportional to the length of both the melatonin infusion and the scotophase. Both the 14 hr infusion and the 8L:16D photoperiod promoted development of the characteristic “winter” traits: large body size, white pelage, bifid claw, small uterus, and low serum prolactin (PRL). Conversely, treatment with the 2 hr infusion or exposure to the long photoperiods (LL, 20L:4D) resulted in a “summer-like” morphology. Infusion of 6 hr melatonin per day or exposure to 16L:8D produced animals with an intermediate physiology. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that variations of the endogenous melatonin rhythm mediate the effect of photoperiod length on seasonal physiological and morphological changes in collared lemmings.
Astroglial regulation of sleep homeostasis

Mammalian sleep is regulated by two distinct mechanisms. A circadian oscillator provides timing signals that organize sleep and wake across the 24 hour day. A homeostatic mechanism increases sleep drive and sleep amounts (or intensity) as a function of prior time awake. The cellular mechanisms of sleep homeostasis are poorly defined, but are thought to be primarily neuronal. According to one view, sleep homeostasis arises from interactions between subcortical neurons that register sleep pressure and other neurons that promote either sleep or wakefulness. Alternatively, sleep drive may arise independently among neurons throughout the brain in a use-dependent fashion. Implicit in both views is the idea that sleep homeostasis is solely the product of neurons. In this article, I discuss an emerging view that glial astrocytes may play an essential role in sleep homeostasis.
Providing a Chemical Basis toward Understanding the Histidine Base-On Motif of Methylcobalamin-Dependent Methionine Synthase: An Improved Purification of Methylcobinamide, plus Thermodynamic Studies of Methylcobinamide Binding Exogenous Imidazole and Pyridine Bases

Reported herein are the synthesis and improved purification of MeCbi+·BF4- leading to 95% pure product. The availability of this higher purity MeCbi+·BF4- has, in turn, allowed a study of the Kassoc, ΔH, and ΔS for exogenous imidazole and pyridine bases binding to MeCbi+ in ethylene glycol and buffered aqueous solution. The results show that (1) the bases studied have larger Kassoc values (where measurable) when binding to MeCbi+ than when binding to AdoCbi+ under analogous conditions; (2) comparison of the thermodynamic binding parameters for py and N-MeIm show that these bases bind similarly, within experimental error to MeCbi+, contrary to what was seen earlier with AdoCbi+; (3) the bases follow the expected trend, with the base with the highest pKa of those studied, 4-Me2Npy, exhibiting the highest Kassoc value (Kassoc(25 °C) = 18.0 ± 0.3 M-1) and the base of lowest pKa, py, exhibiting the lowest detectable Kassoc value (Kassoc (25 °C) = 6.2 ± 0.4 M-1); (4) there is no detectable binding (Kassoc = 0.0...
Physical mapping of the 18S.26S rRNA multigene family in common wheat: Identification of a new locus

In situ hybridization in conjunction with deletion mapping was used to map physically the 18S.26S multigene rRNA family in Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chinese Spring. Using in situ hybridization, we report a new locus in the 7DL arm of Chinese Spring and Aegilops squarrosa, and also confirm the nucleolus organizing region (Nor) locus in the short arm of chromosome 1A at the telomeric end in Chinese Spring. Based on in situ hybridization labeling patterns, we show that rDNA exists as condensed rDNA (heterochromatic) at each end and diffused rDNA within the secondary constriction region of the Nor-B1 (1B), Nor-B2 (6B) and Nor-D3 (5D) loci. In Nor-B1, 80% of the condensed rDNA domain lies in the proximal end and 20% in the distal end joined by diffuse rDNA threads. In Nor-B2, condensed rDNA is distributed evenly at each end joined by diffuse rDNA in the middle. In Nor-D3, the base of the satellite contains a greater concentration of condensed rDNA than the tip of the short arm. On the basis of these observations, we support the model that the usual state of rDNA is inactive (facultatively heterochromatic; Hilliker and Appels 1989). A small fraction of rDNA at a specific location (usually in the middle in wheat) exists as a diffuse region (active) in condensed chromosomes.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae THI4p is a suicide thiamine thiazole synthase

Vitamin B1 (thiamin) was the first vitamin to be discovered more than a century ago, but some of the details of its biosynthesis remain unclear because of the complexity and novelty of this process. In yeast, the protein THI4p catalyses the assembly of the thiazole moiety of vitamin B1 in a complex reaction involving the conversion of NAD, glycine and sulphide to an adenylated carboxythiazole phosphate. The source of the sulphide and the mechanism by which it is incorporated into the thiazole is not known. Chatterjee et al. now report the first full reconstitution of THI4p-catalysed thiamin thiazole biosynthesis. They show that a conserved cysteine residue of THI4p acts as the source of sulphur, meaning that this protein is in fact a co-substrate of the biosynthetic pathway. THI4p can do this only once, so that it is a cofactor or 'suicide enzyme' rather that a true multi-turnover enzyme. Thiamine pyrophosphate 1 is an essential cofactor in all living systems1. Its biosynthesis involves the separate syntheses of the pyrimidine 2 and thiazole 3 precursors, which are then coupled2. Two biosynthetic routes to the thiamine thiazole have been identified. In prokaryotes, five enzymes act on three substrates to produce the thiazole via a complex oxidative condensation reaction, the mechanistic details of which are now well established2,3,4,5,6. In contrast, only one gene product is involved in thiazole biosynthesis in eukaryotes (THI4p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae)7. Here we report the preparation of fully active recombinant wild-type THI4p, the identification of an iron-dependent sulphide transfer reaction from a conserved cysteine residue of the protein to a reaction intermediate and the demonstration that THI4p is a suicide enzyme undergoing only a single turnover.
Mechanobiology of Ciliogenesis

Cilia are force-generating and -sensing organelles that serve as mechanical interfaces between the cell and the extracellular environment. Cilia are present in tissues that adaptively respond to mechanical loading and fluid flow, and defects in ciliary function can lead to diseases affecting these tissues. As might be expected for a mechanical interface, the formation of cilia is, itself, regulated by mechanical forces, and these links between mechanics and ciliary formation are providing new entry points for dissecting the regulatory pathways of ciliogenesis.
Cell recognition and entry by rhino- and enteroviruses

Unlike plant viruses, most mammalian, insect, and bacterial viruses attach to specific cellular receptors that, in part, determine host range and tissue tropism. Viruses have evolved to utilize a wide variety of cellsurface molecules as their receptors, which include proteins, carbohydrates, and glycolipids. Some viruses recognize very specific molecules, such as the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54), the receptor recognized by a large group of rhinoviruses, whereas other viruses recognize widely distributed chemical groups, such as sialic acid moieties by influenza viruses. The tissue distribution of the receptor, in part, determines virus tropism and, hence, the symptoms of the infection. Similarly, species differences between receptor molecules can limit host range. For instance, only humans and apes are susceptible to rhinovirus infections, a property correlated with the inability of human rhinoviruses (HRVs) to bind to the receptor ICAM-1 molecule in other species. Despite extensive similarities in sequence, structure, and physical properties among picornaviruses, suggesting evolution from a common ancestor (Rossmann et al., 1985; Palmenberg, 1989; Rueckert, 1990), they nevertheless recognize a variety of receptors. Possibly a primordial virus was able to bind weakly to a large number of different molecules. Subsequently, different viruses evolved that were progressively more efficient at recognizing particular molecules as a means to infect specific cells. Indeed, the grouping of picornaviruses might sug-
On mass behavior.

In imitative behavior, as studied previously by N. Rashevsky (Mathematical Biology of Sociol Behavior, Chapter XIII, The University of Chicago Press, 1950), the reason for the majority of a society to accept a particular behavior is based on purely voluntary action (band-wagon effect). In the present paper effects of coercion of the majority by a small minority group which poses the means for coercion, are studied. More general types of equations are thus obtained and threshold effects found, which bear a resemblance to some such effects studied previously.
Functional analysis of the novel C-terminal domains of S pombe transcription factor IIIA.

Abstract Transcription factor IIIA from S. pombe exhibits a novel structural organization compared to its homologues in other species. TFIIIA from S. cerevisiae or vertebrates contains a total of nine C2H2 zinc-finger domains and a non-zinc finger region at its C terminus. In addition, the S. cerevisiae protein possesses an 81-amino acid spacer between zinc fingers eight and nine. In contrast, the S. pombe TFIIIA sequence includes ten potential zinc finger motifs, with a 53-amino acid spacer between fingers nine and ten. Zinc finger nine of the S. pombe protein deviates from the consensus for a C2H2 zinc finger, however, in that it does not include an appropriately positioned second Zn2+-coordinating histidine. We demonstrate here, through analysis of mutated forms of the protein, that the non-canonical ninth zinc finger is functional in both DNA binding and transcription. In addition, we have shown that the spacer preceding finger ten and finger ten itself are essential for the transcriptional function of S. pombe TFIIIA, but neither is required for wild-type 5 S rRNA gene-binding activity.
The protein kinase Tor1 regulates adhesin gene expression in Candida albicans.

Eukaryotic cell growth is coordinated in response to nutrient availability, growth factors, and environmental stimuli, enabling cell–cell interactions that promote survival. The rapamycin-sensitive Tor1 protein kinase, which is conserved from yeasts to humans, participates in a signaling pathway central to cellular nutrient responses. To gain insight into Tor-mediated processes in human fungal pathogens, we have characterized Tor signaling in Candida albicans. Global transcriptional profiling revealed evolutionarily conserved roles for Tor1 in regulating the expression of genes involved in nitrogen starvation responses and ribosome biogenesis. Interestingly, we found that in C. albicans Tor1 plays a novel role in regulating the expression of several cell wall and hyphal specific genes, including adhesins and their transcriptional repressors Nrg1 and Tup1. In accord with this transcriptional profile, rapamycin induced extensive cellular aggregation in an adhesin-dependent fashion. Moreover, adhesin gene induction and cellular aggregation of rapamycin-treated cells were strongly dependent on the transactivators Bcr1 and Efg1. These findings support models in which Tor1 negatively controls cellular adhesion by governing the activities of Bcr1 and Efg1. Taken together, these results provide evidence that Tor1-mediated cellular adhesion might be broadly conserved among eukaryotic organisms.
Preparation of Micrometer- to Sub-micrometer-Sized Nanostructured Silica Particles Using High-Energy Ball Milling

Nanostructured porous silica particles with sizes in the micrometer to sub-micrometer range are of great interest due to their potential applications as catalyst supports and nanocomposite materials. However, if these particles are to be used in industry, a process must be developed to affordably produce them on a large scale. This paper reports on a high-energy ball-milling process that has been used to create micrometerto sub-micrometer-sized mesoporous silica particles starting from a silica xerogel prepared by a surfactant self-assembly sol– gel process. We have studied various milling conditions such as milling media (zirconia, stainless steel, or steelcentered nylon balls), milling time, and the presence of surfactants during milling and the resulting effect on particle size and pore structure. Results from transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, light scattering, and nitrogen adsorption demonstrate the feasibility of producing large quantities of nanostructured particles by this simple milling process.
Geometric theory of the ellipsoidal grating

A third-order geometric aberration theory of the ellipsoidal grating has been developed by analytically following an exact ray-tracing formalism with the aid of power series expansions. The theory takes into account all the possible aberrations up to third order and provides analytic formulas for the spot diagram of a spectral image formed by a modified or a nonmodified ellipsoidal grating with any of the groove patterns producible by means of mechanical ruling or conventional holographic recording. The present analytic formulas and other analytic ray-deviation formulas used in designing grating instruments have been evaluated in comparison with exact ray tracing. The results show the validity of the present theory and the limitation of the ray-deviation formulas based on the light path function and wave-front-aberration theory.
Contested Moralities: Animals And Moral Value in the Dear/Symanski Debate

AbstractGeography is experiencing a ‘moral turn’ in its research interests and practices. There is also a flourishing interest in animal geographies that intersects this turn, and is concurrent with wider scholarly efforts to reincorporate animals and nature into our ethical and social theories. This article intervenes in a dispute between Michael Dear and Richard Symanski. The dispute is over the culling of wild horses in Australia, and I intervene to explore how geography deepens our moral understanding of the animal/human dialectic. I begin by situating the inquiry into ethics and animals in geography. Next, I provide a synopsis of Dear and Symanski's comments on ‘animal rights’, followed in turn by discussions of moral value and value paradigms. I then introduce a value paradigm termed geocentrism as a geographical account of our moral relations to animals. Finally, I discuss the wider significance of this debate for geographical ethics, moral philosophy and social theory.
Mammary development fate and breast cancer risk

A full-term pregnancy or a 3-week treatment with estrogen and progestins induces a protective state against chemical carcinogen-induced mammary tumorigenesis in rats and mice. These experimental models are a paradigm for the well-established fact that an early full-term pregnancy in humans induces a life-long decreased risk for breast cancer. Up to now, this hypothesis has not been successfully tested in non-carcinogen-treated rodents. We tested the hypothesis in p53 null mouse mammary epithelium. A 2-week exposure to estrogen and progesterone reduced significantly (P < 0.05) the incidence of spontaneous breast cancer in p53 null epithelial cells. The hormone-treated cells had a unique gene expression profile at 40 weeks post hormone removal compared with untreated p53 null epithelial cells. Current experiments are examining the developmental stage specificity of the response to estrogen and progesterone. Additionally, genes specific to the hormone-treated p53 null cells are being further evaluated. These results indicate that short periods of hormone treatment can markedly delay mammary tumorigenesis in models where the initiating oncogene is relevant to human breast cancer.
The FLU-FOBT Program in community clinics: durable benefits of a randomized controlled trial

The objective of the study was to determine the extent to which the FLU-FOBT Program, a colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) intervention linking the provision of fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) to the time of annual influenza vaccination, resulted in practice changes in six primary care clinics 1 year after it was introduced in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). We assessed CRCS rate changes for influenza vaccine recipients, administered brief serial clinic staff surveys and interviewed clinic leaders 1 year after the RCT. CRCS rates for influenza vaccination recipients between the ages of 50 and 75 years were 42.5% before the RCT, 54.5% immediately after the RCT and 55.8% 1 year after the RCT (P < 0.001 for difference between baseline and 1 year after RCT). Many FLU-FOBT Program components were maintained in most clinics at 1-year follow-up. Only 63% of clinic staff survey respondents (26 of 41) continued offering FOBT with influenza vaccines, but 85% (35 of 41) continued to provide mailing kits with FOBT. Many patient education materials were maintained and staff satisfaction with the intervention remained high. Clinic leaders acknowledged barriers to maintenance but also observed several beneficial practice changes. Many components of the FLU-FOBT Program were maintained, with beneficial outcomes for participating practices.
Multifractal structure of the interplanetary magnetic field: Voyager 2 observations near 25 AU, 1987‐1988

Voyager-2 measurements indicate that, for the period day 190, 1987 to day 345, 1988, the large-scale fluctuations of the IMF between 23.3 AU and 27.8 AU have the symmetry properties of a multifractal over scales from 16 hours to 21 days. This suggests the existence of scaling symmetries for the higher moments of the fluctuations of the magnetic field strength.
Solvation stokes-shift dynamics studied by chirped femtosecond laser pulses

The early optical dynamic response, resulting population, and electronic coherence are investigated experimentally and modeled theoretically for IR144 in solution. The fluorescence and stimulated emission response are studied systematically as a function of chirp. The magnitude of the chirp effect on fluorescence and stimulated emission is found to depend quadratically on pulse energy, even where excitation probabilities range from 0.02 to 5%, in the so-called "linear excitation regime". Interestingly, the shape of the chirp dependence on fluorescence and stimulated emission is found to be independent of pulse energy. The chirp dependence reveals dynamics related to solvent rearrangement following excitation and also depends on electronic relaxation of the chromophore. The experimental results are successfully simulated using a four-level model in the presence of inhomogeneous broadening of the electronic transitions. SECTION: Spectroscopy, Photochemistry, and Excited States
High‐throughput computation and the applicability of Monte Carlo integration in fatigue load estimation of floating offshore wind turbines

Long-term fatigue loads for floating offshore wind turbines are hard to estimate because they require the evaluation of the integral of a highly nonlinear function over a wide variety of wind and wave conditions. Current design standards involve scanning over a uniform rectangular grid of metocean inputs (e.g., wind speed and direction and wave height and period), which becomes intractable in high dimensions as the number of required evaluations grows exponentially with dimension. Monte Carlo integration offers a potentially efficient alternative because it has theoretical convergence proportional to the inverse of the square root of the number of samples, which is independent of dimension. In this paper, we first report on the integration of the aeroelastic code FAST into NREL's systems engineering tool, WISDEM, and the development of a high-throughput pipeline capable of sampling from arbitrary distributions, running FAST on a large scale, and postprocessing the results into estimates of fatigue loads. Second, we use this tool to run a variety of studies aimed at comparing grid-based and Monte Carlo-based approaches with calculating long-term fatigue loads. We observe that for more than a few dimensions, the Monte Carlo approach can represent a large improvement in computational efficiency, but that as nonlinearity increases, the effectiveness of Monte Carlo is correspondingly reduced. The present work sets the stage for future research focusing on using advanced statistical methods for analysis of wind turbine fatigue as well as extreme loads. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real-time, three-dimensional echocardiography: feasibility of dynamic right ventricular volume measurement with saline contrast.

Abstract Background The asymmetry and complex shape of the right ventricle have made it difficult to determine right ventricular (RV) volume with 2-dimensional echocardiography. Three-dimensional cardiac imaging improves visualization of cardiac anatomy but is also complex and time consuming. A newly developed volumetric scanning system holds promise of obviating past limitations. Methods Real-time, transthoracic 3-dimensional echocardiographic images of the right ventricle were obtained with a high-speed volumetric ultrasound system that uses a 16:1 parallel processing schema from a 2.5 MHz matrix phased-array scanner to interrogate an entire pyramidal volume in real time. The instrumentation was used to measure RV volume in 8 excised canine hearts; dynamic real-time 3-dimensional images were also obtained from 14 normal subjects. Results Three-dimensional images were obtained in vitro and in vivo during intravenous hand-agitated saline injection to determine RV volumes. The RV volumes by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography are well correlated with those of drained in vitro (y = 1.26x - 9.92, r = 0.97, P Conclusions These data indicate that RV volume measurements of excised heart by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography are accurate and that beat-to-beat RV quantitative measurement applying this imaging method is possible. The new application of real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography presents the opportunity to develop new descriptors of cardiac performance. (Am Heart J 1999;137:958-67.)
Photometric Classification of Blue Horizontal-Branch Stars

The Stromgren four-color system has been used to classify blue horizontal-branch stars in globular clusters and in the general field. A relation between δ logg (log g main sequence −log g star) and δc 1(c 1 observed−c 1 main sequence) has been determined which gives log g to within ±0.2 for stars with log g’s between 4.4 and 2.0. Newell (1970) has determined a relation between (B—V)0 and Ѳ e. Thus the gravities and effective temperatures of blue horizontal-branch stars can be determined from photometric measures alone. Five globular clusters have been studied at the present time. The BHB stars in the globular cluster M3 and M13 have lower surface gravities than BHB stars in the other clusters studied. Iben and Rood (1970) have recently suggested that the BHB stars of M3 may have lost more mass than BHB stars in more metal poor clusters.
Human birth seasonality: latitudinal gradient and interplay with childhood disease dynamics

More than a century of ecological studies have demonstrated the importance of demography in shaping spatial and temporal variation in population dynamics. Surprisingly, the impact of seasonal recruitment on infectious disease systems has received much less attention. Here, we present data encompassing 78 years of monthly natality in the USA, and reveal pronounced seasonality in birth rates, with geographical and temporal variation in both the peak birth timing and amplitude. The timing of annual birth pulses followed a latitudinal gradient, with northern states exhibiting spring/summer peaks and southern states exhibiting autumn peaks, a pattern we also observed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Additionally, the amplitude of United States birth seasonality was more than twofold greater in southern states versus those in the north. Next, we examined the dynamical impact of birth seasonality on childhood disease incidence, using a mechanistic model of measles. Birth seasonality was found to have the potential to alter the magnitude and periodicity of epidemics, with the effect dependent on both birth peak timing and amplitude. In a simulation study, we fitted an susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered model to simulated data, and demonstrated that ignoring birth seasonality can bias the estimation of critical epidemiological parameters. Finally, we carried out statistical inference using historical measles incidence data from New York City. Our analyses did not identify the predicted systematic biases in parameter estimates. This may be owing to the well-known frequency-locking between measles epidemics and seasonal transmission rates, or may arise from substantial uncertainty in multiple model parameters and estimation stochasticity.
Extraction and purification of human pituitary gonadotropin.

The development of methods for the extraction of gonadotropin from the urine of men and postmenopausal women by the kaolin-acetone procedure is detailed. Further purification of the crude gonadotropic material was accomplished by alcohol-salt fractionation, which results in a yield of 4 mg. of solids per liter of original urine. The slope of the biologic assay of human pituitary gonadotropin remains unchanged throughout the purification procedures and is the same regardless of the source of urine or the procedures used for purification.
Field measurements of CO2 enhancement and climate change in natural vegetation

It is generally assumed that healthy, natural ecosystems have the potential to sequester carbon under favorable environmental conditions. There is also evidence that CO2 acts as a plant fertilizer. It is of interest to know if these assumptions are valid and how natural systems might respond under future scenarios of CO2 increase and possible climate changes. Few measurements of the effects of CO2 and global climate change have been made on “natural” ecosystems under realistic field conditions. Most measurements have been conducted in the synthetic environments of totally controlled greenhouses and growth chambers. Several lines of evidence indicate that controlled environment studies using plants growing in pots induce experimental artifacts that reduce confidence in the use of results for prediction of future global responses. Open top chambers are being used in several autecological field studies in an attempt to obtain more realistic field environments. A few field microcosm studies have been completed and a system for the free air release of CO2 has been applied in cotton fields. Unfortunately, the requirement of large amounts of CO2 and financial restrictions have precluded the initiation of larger scale field studies in natural vegetation. This paper lists and summarizes the best field studies available but draws heavily on studies from artificial environments and conditions in an attempt to summarize knowledge of global environmental change on forests and other non-agricultural ecosystems. Finally the paper concludes that there is a need for the development and application of equipment for field measurements in several representative natural ecosystems and makes specific recommendation of the creation of a tropical research center.
Chemical Methods for the Separation of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles From Colloidal Suspension in Dodecane

Several chemical methods for the separation of nanoparticles from a colloidal mixture in a phase change material (PCM) have been developed and systematically investigated. The phase changing property of the colloidal mixture is used in energy storage applications and the mixture is labeled as the nanostructure enhanced phase change materials (NEPCM). The objective is to investigate viable methods for the separation and reclamation of the nanoparticles from the NEPCM before its disposal after its useful life. The goal is to find, design, test, and evaluate separation methods which are simple, safe, effective, and economical. The specific NEPCM considered in this study is a colloidal mixture of dodecane (C12H26) and CuO nanoparticles of 1–5% mass fraction and 5–15 nm size distribution. The nanoparticles are coated with a surfactant to maintain colloidal stability. Various methods for separating the nanoparticles from the NEPCM are explored. The identified methods are: (i) chemical destabilization of nanoparticle surfactants to facilitate gravitational precipitation, (ii) silica column chromatography, and (iii) adsorption on silica particle surface. These different methods have been pursued, tested, and analyzed; and the results are presented in this article. These methods are found to be highly efficient, simple, safe, and economical.
Promotion of Thyroid Tumors in Rats by Pregnenolone-16α-Carbonitrile (PCN) and Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)

Pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) and Aroclor 1254 (PCB) both reduce serum thyroid hormone levels in rats, but only PCN consistently produces an increase in serum thyrotropin (TSH). PCN-mediated increases in TSH result in increased thyroid follicular cell proliferation and hyperplasia, which may represent early events on a morphological continuum leading to neoplasia. The purpose of this study was to assess whether PCN, a compound that increases serum TSH, and PCB, which does not increase TSH, promote thyroid tumors in a two-stage carcinogenesis model. Male SD rats were administered the thyroid tumor initiator diisopropanolnitrosamine (2.5 g/kg, sc), and after seven days were fed control diet, diet containing 1000 ppm PCN, or diet containing 100 ppm PCB for 19 weeks. Body weights were unaffected by PCN treatment, but were reduced 21% after 19 weeks of PCB treatment compared to control. PCN treatment significantly reduced serum T4 through week 3 before returning to control concentrations, whereas T4 levels following PCB treatment fell below detection limits by week 3 and remained drastically reduced through week 19. TSH concentrations in PCN-treated rats increased three-fold at week 2, then declined to near control values at week 19. After one week of PCB treatment, TSH concentrations reached nearly twice that of controls, and were sustained until week 6. The incidence of thyroid follicular cell proliferative lesions, including cystic and follicular hyperplasia, cystic and follicular adenoma, and follicular carcinoma, was significantly increased following PCN treatment, but not following PCB treatment. PCB treatment caused an increase in thyroid carcinomas (4 of 22 rats) not associated with the proliferative-type lesions produced by PCN, despite an increase in TSH serum concentrations. In conclusion, PCN appears to promote thyroid tumors in a manner consistent with known effects of excessive TSH stimulation. However, thyroid carcinomas stemming from PCB treatment indicate that separate mechanisms exist for the production of thyroid cancer in rodents by chemicals classically considered microsomal enzyme inducers.
Building Trust in Online Rating Systems Through Signal Modeling

Online feedback-based rating systems are gaining popularity. Dealing with unfair ratings in such systems has been recognized as an important but difficult problem. This problem is challenging especially when the number of regular ratings is relatively small and the unfair ratings contribute to a significant portion of the overall ratings. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm to detect the unfair ratings that cannot be effectively prevented by existing state-of-the-art techniques. Our algorithm is particularly effective to detect malicious raters that collaboratively manipulate ratings of one or several products. The main idea of our algorithm is to use an autoregressive signal modeling technique combined with trust-enhanced rating aggregation. We are able to detect and filter out unfair ratings very accurately. Extensive experiments through simulations and real-world data have been performed to validate the proposed algorithm. The experimental results show significant improvements on detecting collaborative unfair raters over existing techniques.