cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytosolic phospholipase A2 in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) releases arachidonic acid (AA) from phospholipids in cell membranes. To assess the role of cPLA2 in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), we measured the increase in left lung pulmonary vascular resistance (LPVR) before and during hypoxia produced by left main stem bronchus occlusion (LMBO) in mice with and without a targeted deletion of the PLA2g4a gene that encodes cPLA2α. LMBO increased LPVR in cPLA2α+/+ mice but not in cPLA2α–/– mice. cPLA2α+/+ mice were better able to maintain systemic oxygenation during LMBO than were cPLA2α–/– mice. Administration of a cPLA2 inhibitor, arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, blocked the LMBO-induced increase in LPVR in wild-type mice, while exogenous AA restored HPV in cPLA2α–/– mice. Intravenous angiotensin II infusion increased PVR similarly in cPLA2α+/+ and cPLA2α–/– mice. Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase or nitric oxide synthase restored HPV in cPLA2α–/– mice. Breathing 10% oxygen for 3 weeks produced less right ventricular hypertrophy in cPLA2α–/– than in cPLA2α+/+ mice, but restored HPV in cPLA2α–/– mice despite the continued absence of cPLA2 activity. These results indicate that cPLA2 contributes to the murine pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to hypoxia. Augmenting pulmonary vascular tone restores HPV in the absence of cPLA2 activity.
Nanotechnology: Wires on water

A centuries-old technique for transporting timber is the inspiration for a new method of assembling nanowires into large-scale, ordered patterns that could form the basis of a new generation of electronic devices.
THE SCRAMBLE FOR THE ARCTIC

This essay situtates the intensifying scramble for the Arctic in a larger historical and disciplinary framework, in order to make a case for the Arctic's underestimated significance in current social and cultural models of the global and the “planetary.” Focusing on circumpolarity as configured in early modern exploration, Enlightement science, and twentieth-century indigenous and governmental institutions, the essay suggests that the circumpolar Arctic's unique reorientation of a planetary vision, combined with its pressing humanitarian and environmental difficulties, should be incorporated in current postcolonial cultural and social theory debates on the global.
McArdle's disease: Metabolic studies in a patient and review of the syndrome

A twenty-two year old man with recurrent stiffness following exercise was found to have chemical and histologic changes consistent with partial deficiency of myopnosphorylase. Muscle biopsy showed increased glycogen and a decrease in glycogen phosphorylase. Ischemic muscle exercise yielded a subnormal increase in venous lactate which was returned toward normal by prior administration of oral fructose or parenteral glucagon but not by oral glucose. Oral alcohol also increased blood lactate but did not enhance potassium uptake. A review of twenty-four reported cases of McArdle's disease revealed previously unrecognized major characteristics of this abnormality, including the predominance of exercise intolerance as an early symptom, the occurrence of muscle cramps before age eighteen in the majority of patients and the occurrence of myoglobinuria in approximately half the patients before the age of eighteen. These observations indicate that McArdle's disease is probably more common than suspected and exists in mild and unrecognized forms. Confirmation of the diagnosis is achieved by analyzing blood lactate levels after ischemic exercise and determining myophosphorylase content in muscle biopsy specimens.
AUTOMATION OF THEMATIC MAPS WITH ELECTRO-OPTICAL COLORMATION METHODS

Electro-optical colormation methods have been widely employed in the TV industry and remote-sensing field for visual display of image data ; however, its use in the production of color maps is relatively new, and developing rapidly. This paper examines one such system installed at Rome Air Development Center, Rome, N.Y. regarding its applicability for producing thematic maps. Using digitized image data, two analytical models were developed for producing thematic maps: Model 1 takes the z-value as scalar for producing single-subject maps, and Model 2 takes the z-values as a vector for multi-subject maps. Preliminary experiments conducted using landuse categories have produced color transparencies rated as excellent in quality. The electro-optical colormation technologies are currently available commercially, and will be cost-effective in the near future. Des methodes de coloration par electro-optique son', tres utilises par l'industrie de la television et dans le domaine de la teledetection pour la represe...
Management of a patient with HIV infection‐induced anemia and thrombocytopenia who presented with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

A 32-year-old male presented with fever, mental status changes, renal dysfunction, cytopenias and hemolysis. His platelet count was 14,000/microL, hemoglobin 5.7 g/dL and LDH 2,636 U/L. He was diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and also found to be HIV positive on admission. TTP was confirmed by a low von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease level, the gold standard test for TTP, which was 10-15%. No protease-specific antibody was detected. Treatment of this patient consisted of 23 plasmapheresis procedures and trials of vincristine and dextran-70. Despite therapy, the patient remained anemic and thrombocytopenic, though his mental status and renal abnormalities improved. Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) consisting of efavirenz, 3TC, and d4T was started. Only after plasma exchanges were discontinued and HAART was instituted did the cytopenias resolve. He continued to improve following discharge, and platelet count was 206,000/microL and hemoglobin, 12.5 g/dL one month after the initiation of HAART.
Interactions of Folch-Lees proteolipid apoprotein with planar lipid bilayers.

Water-soluble Folch-Lees proteolipid apoprotein from bovine CNS white matter induces a voltage-dependent conductance in black lipid membranes. Na+ is required for the induced conductance change but the established conductance has very low ionic selectivity. The induced conductance fluctuates with a minimum amplitude of 10−11–10−10 mho. The magnitude of the conductivity change is dependent on protein concentration and on the composition of lipid bilayers. At a fixed voltage the induced conductance of a phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol membrane is proportional to the sixth power of the protein concentration and the first power of Na+ concentration. The interactions between the apoprotein and the lipids are both electrostatic and hydrophobic, but the interaction leading to the conductance increase appears to be mainly hydrophobic. Both the increase in conductance and the current fluctuations remain after extensive washing of the chambers to remove the protein. Furthermore, pronase or glutaraldehyde added to either the cis or trans side of the membrane does not affect the apoprotein-established conductance. However, if the bilayer is formed in the presence of both the apoprotein and pronase or if the apoprotein is treated with pronase prior to its addition to the chamber, no conductance change is observed. The association of the apoprotein with the membrane thus appears to render the protein inaccessible to proteolytic digestion, suggesting that the apoprotein is at least partially imbedded in the membrane interior.
Miniaturized closed reflux, colorimetric method for the determination of chemical oxygen demand

The standard technique for the closed reflux, colorimetric analysis of chemical oxygen demand (COD) utilizes several hazardous compounds, including mercury, silver, chromium, and sulfuric acid. A miniaturized version of this analytical technique was developed, thereby reducing the use and disposal of these hazardous compounds by 84%. The miniaturized method demonstrated a similar level of accuracy as the conventional technique for both synthetic and actual wastewater samples. This method for closed reflux, colorimetric analysis of COD therefore represents an excellent opportunity for hazardous waste minimization in environmental water quality laboratories without compromising analytical accuracy.
Novel Mechanisms of Progesterone Antagonists and Progesterone Receptor

The progesterone receptor (PR), as a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors, activates gene transcription through binding to specific palindromic progesterone response elements (PRE) in the promoter region of progestin-responsive genes. The progesterone antagonists ZK98299 (Onapristone) and RU 486 (Mifepristone) inhibit the transcriptional activity of PR by complex mechanisms at concentrations much lower than the progestins. Altered conformation is central to antagonist inhibition of the transcriptional activity of PR. Antagonists also promote inappropriate association of PR with corepressors. We speculate that the different PR conformations induced by agonist and antagonists results in an asymmetric agonist/antagonist heterodimer that binds inefficiently to palindromic PREs. PR, under the same cellular conditions but with different promotor contexts, can repress (beta-casein) or enhance (3 beta-HSD) signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat5)-mediated gene activation. The beta-casein promoter appears to contain a composite DNA-binding element for PR and Stat5 and that occupancy by PR in response to progestins or antagonists suppresses Stat5 transactivation function.
Coping with Feuding: The Missionary, the Fur Trader, and the Ethnographer.

A frequent condition of fieldwork which often produces practical problems for an anthropologist is the presence of other "nonnative" persons in the community of study. Among the most frequently encountered persons are representatives of government, religious, and commercial institutions. These individuals are often found to be engaged in conflicts into which the researcher eventually is drawn. This paper analyzes a situation of this type in a small community of Athabascan-speaking Indians in the Canadian Arctic.
THE TENDRIL OF PARTHENOCISSUS INSERTA: DETERMINATION AND DEVELOPMENT

A B S TR A C T Tendrils on long shoots of Parthenocissus inserta occur in a regular pattern opposite the alternate distichous leaves at two successive nodes of each three nodes. Ontogenetic study shows that the tendril is initiated at the flank of the shoot apex during the second plastochron in an essentially axillary position. It is carried upward with growth of the internode above the axillant leaf and ultimately is situated opposite the next younger leaf. In a rhythmic pattern a different group of appendages is produced by the shoot apex at each node in the sequence of three. In acropetal order these are: at the tendrilless node the leaf subtends an axillary bud complex which in turn subtends a tendril; the leaf at the lower tendril-bearing node directly subtends a tendril, and the leaf at the upper tendril-bearing node subtends an axillary bud. Tendril primordia were not induced to develop as foliaceous shoots when cultured in vitro or in decapitation experiments, indicating that the meristem which becomes a tendril is determined early in its inception. Al
Scaling mass relations to two loops: An application to toponium☆

We present a general analysis of mass scaling using two-loop renormalization group equations including threshold effects. We apply this to calculate the toponium mass to be 33 ± 3 GeV using the mass relation mtmc = mτmμ0.
PR in the ER: Managing internal organization–public relationships in a hospital emergency department

Abstract Focusing on a university-affiliated emergency department, this case study investigates the antecedents and outcomes of internal organization–public relationships as well as the cultivation strategies used to manage internal organization–public relationships (OPRs). The case study includes interviews with members of the emergency department's (ED) dominant coalition and focus groups with ED staff, as well as field observations in the ED itself. Findings illustrate that structural and policy antecedents acted as barriers to relationship maintenance, that a reliance on asymmetrical cultivation strategies culminated in poor internal OPRs, and that these poor relationships fostered negative attitudes, non-compliant behavior, and an arguably toxic organizational culture. Also, there was some evidence of symmetrical cultivation strategies (e.g., positivity and networking) fostering positive OPR perceptions among some employees. This case study can be used to guide best practices in internal public relations and answers the call for more research on public relations and health communication. Moreover, the current study suggests avenues for extending the relationship management perspective by considering organizational culture as a possible outcome of internal relationships.
Falling jet flash evaporators for open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion

Evaporation from falling superheated water jets for application to open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion is considered. Analyses are performed to show that the interfacial resistance is of no importance to evaporator design and that evaporation is liquid side controlled. The heat exchanger performance is presented in terms of its effectiveness and change of bulk temperature. Unbroken planar and round jets and broken jets which are assumed to be composed of spherical droplets are considered. The analysis is shown to provide a rational basis for correlating experimental data for broken and unbroken jets. Corresponding desorption rates of dissolved noncondensable gas from water jets are then predicted.
Relative Intelligibility of Speech Recorded Simultaneously at the Ear and Mouth

Monosyllabic words recorded at the lips and left ears of six speakers were fed to the headsets of 24 trained listeners at −12, −15, and −18 S/N ratios. Although the trend for intelligibility scores throughout the test is in the same direction for signals of both origins, decreasing S/N ratio is more destructive to the speech picked up at the lips.
Active enzyme sedimentation of pig heart fumarase.

Abstract Active band sedimentation studies of pig heart fumarase indicate that the enzyme is predominantly tetrameric at enzyme concentrations between 0.0125 and 0.25 mg/ml and at a fumarate concentration of 2.5 mM. At enzyme concentrations of 0.25–1.0 mg/ml and fumarate concentrations known to activate and inhibit the enzyme, the sedimentation band of fumarase becomes disperse and indicates the presence of polymers greater than tetramers.
using Business Intelligence in college Admissions: A Strategic Approach

Higher education often lags behind industry in the adoption of new or emerging technologies. As competition increases among colleges and universities for a diminishing supply of prospective students, the need to adopt the principles of business intelligence becomes increasingly more important. Data from first-year enrolling students for the 2006-2008 fall terms at a private, master’s-level institution in the northeastern United States was analyzed for the purpose of developing predictive models. A decision tree analysis, a neural network analysis, and a multiple regression analysis were conducted to predict each student’s grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first year of academic study. Numerous geodemographic variables were analyzed to develop the models to predict the target variable. The overall performance of the models developed in the analysis was evaluated by using the average square error (ASE). The three models had similar ASE values, which indicated that any of the models could be used for the intended purpose. Suggestions for future analysis include expansion of the scope of the study to include more student-centric variables and to evaluate GPA at other student levels.
Biodegradable Orthopedic Implants

Over the past 30 years, there have been significant advances in the development of biodegradable materials [79]. In particular, these materials have received attention for use as implants to aid regeneration of orthopedic defects [49, 91]. Every year more than 3.1 million orthopedic surgeries are performed in the United States alone [1]. However, although current treatments using nondegradable fixation materials have proven efficacious, tissue-engineering approaches with biodegradable implants are being considered as promising future alternatives [8, 49]. One possible advantage of these systems is that biodegradable implants can be engineered to provide temporary support for bone fractures, and because they can degrade at a rate matching new tissue formation, their use can eliminate the need for a second surgery [49].
A space-time finite element method for structural acoustics in infinite domains part 1: Formulation, stability and convergence

Abstract A space-time finite element method for solution of the exterior structural acoustics problem involving the interaction of vibrating elastic structures submerged in an infinite acoustic fluid is formulated. In particular, time-discontinuous Galerkin and Galerkin Least-Squares (GLS) variational formulations for coupled structural acoustics in unbounded domains are developed and analyzed for stability and convergence. The formulation employs a finite computational fluid domain surrounding the structure and incorporates time-dependent non-reflecting boundary conditions on the fluid truncation boundary. Energy estimates are obtained which allow us to prove the unconditional stability of the method for the coupled fluid-structure problem with absorbing boundaries The methods developed are especially useful for the application of adaptive solution strategies for transient acoustics in which unstructured space-time meshes are used to track waves propagating along space-time characteristics. An important feature of the space-time formulation is the incorporation of temporal jump operators which allow for finite element interpolations that are discontinaous in time. For additional stability, least-squares operators based on local residuals of the structural acoustics equations including the non-reflecting boundary conditions are incorporated. The energy decay estimates and high-order accuracy predicted by our a priori error estimates are demonstrated numerically in a simple canonical example.
THE EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCED ROBOTICS, ICAR'97

This note briefly summarizes the successful ICAR'97 Conference at Hyatt Regency in Monterey, CA on July 7–9 1997.
Security and Privacy Aspects of Low-Cost Radio Frequency Identification Systems

Like many technologies, low-cost Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems will become pervasive in our daily lives when affixed to every- day consumer items as "smart labels". While yielding great productivity gains, RFID systems may create new threats to the security and privacy of individuals or organizations. This paper presents a brief description of RFID systems and their operation. We describe privacy and security risks and how they apply to the unique setting of low-cost RFID devices. We propose several security mech- anisms and suggest areas for future research.
THE EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN CYTOCHROME OXIDASE AND CARBON MONOXIDE

An evolution argument which attempted to trace the development of hemoglobins from such respiratory pigments as cytochrome oxidase presupposed that the latter possesses, in addition to its high affinity for oxygen, an approximately hyperbolic equilibrium function, and little if any Bohr effect (decline in affinity for oxygen with rise in acidity). Since cytochrome oxidase, unlike hemoglobin, is irreversibly oxidized by oxygen, the present experiments examine its combination with carbon monoxide, with which, like hemoglobin, it yields a true equilibrium. In all known hemoglobins the form of the equilibrium function and the vigor of the Bohr effect are similar with carbon monoxide and with oxygen, so that observations involving the former gas are relevant to the relations of the latter. The equilibrium function of cytochrome oxidase with carbon monoxide-percentage saturation vs. partial pressure of CO-is slightly inflected (in the Hill equation n = 1.26; for a hyperbola, n = 1). No Bohr effect is present in the range of pH 7-8. The pressure of carbon monoxide at which half-saturation occurs (p(50)) is about 0.17 mm. at 10-13 degrees C. The affinity for carbon monoxide is therefore higher than commonly supposed. These properties are consistent with the evolution argument. They are important also for the physiological functioning of cytochrome oxidase, the nearly hyperbolic equilibrium function facilitating a high degree of saturation, and the lack of Bohr effect making this enzyme impervious to hyperacidity. The slight inflection of the equilibrium function shows that the Fe-porphyrin units of cytochrome oxidase interact to a degree, hence that the enzyme must contain more than one such unit per molecule. It is suggested that in cytochrome oxidase two Fe-porphyrin groups may unite with one oxygen in the manner Fe(++)-O(2)-Fe(++); and that the evolution of hemoglobins proceeded over a first stage in which the hemes were separated so that each combines with only one molecule of oxygen, so tending to remain reduced; to a further stage in which the separated hemes interact through the protein to facilitate one another in combining with oxygen.
The pseudospectral time-domain (PSTD) algorithm for acoustic waves in absorptive media

A technique based on the combination of Fourier pseudospectral method and the perfectly matched layer (PML) is developed to simulate transient acoustic wave propagation in multidimensional, inhomogeneous, absorptive media. Instead of the finite difference approximation in the conventional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, this technique uses trigonometric functions, through an FFT (fast Fourier transform) algorithm, to represent the spatial derivatives in partial differential equations. Traditionally the Fourier pseudospectral method is used only for spatially periodic problems because the use of FFT implies periodicity. In order to overcome this limitation, the perfectly matched layer is used to attenuate the waves from other periods, thus allowing the method to be applicable to unbounded media. This new algorithm, referred to as the pseudospectral time-domain (PSTD) algorithm, is developed to solve large-scale problems for acoustic waves. It has an infinite order of accuracy in the spatial derivatives, and thus requires much fewer unknowns than the conventional FDTD method. Numerical results confirms the efficacy of the PSTD method.
Modeling of defects in integrated circuit photolithographic patterns

In a previous paper by the same author the foundation was laid for the theory of photolithographic defects in integrated circuits. This paper expands on the earlier one and shows how to calculate the critical areas and probability of failure for dense arrays of wiring. The results are used to determine the nature of the defect size distribution with electronic defect monitors. Several statistical techniques for doing this are described and examples are given.
Phenotypic analysis of GalR2 knockout mice in anxiety and depression-related behavioral tests

Neuropeptide galanin modulates a variety of central nervous system functions by signaling through three G-protein-coupled receptor subtypes, GalR1 through GalR3. Galanin and its receptors are expressed at high levels in the limbic structures of the rodent brain. Intracerebroventricular injection of galanin has been shown to modulate depression and anxiety-like behaviors in the rat. We have previously shown that chronic antidepressant treatments increase the binding of a GalR2-preferring ligand, galanin (2-11), to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of the rat, which, along with the finding that intra-DRN infusion of galanin (2-11) increases the release of serotonin in the hippocampus, suggests that GalR2 signaling might exert antidepressant-like actions by modulating ascending serotonergic outflow. Recently, two research groups reported their phenotypic analysis of a GalR2 knockout (GalR2KO) mouse line, produced by gene-trapping method and maintained on a 129S1/SvImJ genetic background. The only positive finding in that GalR2KO mouse line was an anxiogenic-like phenotype specific to the elevated plus-maze. Because it is known that genetic background can affect the outcome of behavioral tests, in the present study, we analyzed a separate GalR2KO line, which was produced by targeted deletion and maintained on a C57BL/6 background, using a different set of depression- and anxiety-related tests. GalR2KO mice exhibited a more persistent depressive-like phenotype in the learned helplessness paradigm as well as increased immobility in the tail suspension test when results from the present studies were combined by fixed effect meta-analysis with that reported by Gottsch and colleagues. GalR2KO mutants showed anxiety-like behavior comparable to wild-type littermates in the elevated plus-maze, open-field, and light-dark transfer tests. The present findings are consistent with a predicted antidepressant-like effect of GalR2 signaling, suggesting that GalR2 might be a valid drug target for depressive disorders.
Increasing the immunity to electromagnetic interferences in a bandgap voltage reference

In this paper a bandgap reference cell with low susceptibility to electromagnetic interferences is presented. The circuit, based on a classical architecture, is modified by using a symmetrical topology amplifier in the output stage leading to a robust electromagnetic immunity, still preserving good performances in the overall bandgap circuit. Results of the simulations, carried out on the circuit extracted from the layout, are reported and compared to a classical bandgap topology. The reference circuit exhibits a 1200 mV shift for interfering signals in the frequency range of 1 MHz-4 GHz, while the shift in the modified version of the same architecture is only 6 mV in the same frequency range.
Reverse Brunn–Minkowski and reverse entropy power inequalities for convex measures

We develop a reverse entropy power inequality for convex measures, which may be seen as an anegeometric inverse of the entropy power inequality of Shannon and Stam. The specialization of this inequality to log-concave measures may be seen as a version of Milman’s reverse Brunn-Minkowski inequality. The proof relies on a demonstration of new relationships between the entropy of high dimensional random vectors and the volume of convex bodies, and on a study of eective supports of convex measures, both of which are of independent interest, as well as on Milman’s deep technology of M-ellipsoids and on certain information-theoretic inequalities. As a by-product, we also give a
Caregiver Asthma Knowledge, Aptitude, and Practice in High Healthcare Utilizing Children: Effect of an Educational Intervention

Factors underlying high healthcare utilization among Hispanic and African American (AA) children with asthma are not well known. We hypothesized that low parental knowledge and suboptimal practices are associated with high healthcare utlization and sought to elucidate these factors and identify ethnicity-specific differences. We also hypothesized that a targeted educational intervention will decrease emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. A 57-item questionnaire investigating asthma knowledge, aptitude, and practice was administered during a hospitalization to 268 caregivers (158 Hispanic and 110 AA) of high healthcare utilizer children. Responses were compared between ethnicities. Participants were randomized into an education group and a control group to investigate the impact of an in-hospital educational intervention on future ED visits and hospitalizations. More than 80% of caregivers knew that asthma is associated with muscle constriction and mucus production. Overall, 66.7%–86.9% of caregivers found preventive steps including allergen avoidance, regular primary care physician (PCP) follow–up, and medication adherence helpful, but only 45.2% reported adherence to controller medications. Similarly, caregivers found management steps, including albuterol use, avoidance of ineffective medications, and need to contact PCP helpful but 33% Hispanic caregivers contacted their child's PCP at the time of the exacerbation leading the current hospitalization, compared with 17% AA caregivers (P=0.006). Moreover, 40% and 30% Hispanic and 27% and 18% AA caregivers felt stressed and helpless, respectively, about their child's asthma. Despite high baseline levels of knowledge, there were fewer ED visits in the education group (1.56±1.94) compared with the control group (2.05±2.32) (P=0.02) 2 years after the intervention. Although Hispanic and AA caregivers of children with high healthcare utilization were knowledgeable of asthma pathophysiology, and preventive and management steps, they reported being stressed and helpless and were unable to implement the steps at the time of an exacerbation, seeking care at the ED rather than contacting their PCP. The high health utilizers who underwent a targeted educational intervention had fewer ED visits 2 years following the intervention.
Mechanochemical synthesis of ReB2 powder

ReB2 was recently reported to exhibit high hardness and low compressibility, which both are strong functions of its stoichiometry, namely Re to B ratio. Most of the techniques used for ReB2 synthesis reported 1:2.5 Re to B ratio because of the loss of the B during high temperature synthesis. However, as a result of B excess, the amorphous boron, located along the grain boundaries of polycrystalline ReB2, would degrade the ReB2 properties. Therefore, techniques which could allow synthesizing the stoichiometric ReB2 preferably at room temperature are in high demand. Here, we report synthesis of ReB2 powders using mechanochemical route by milling elemental crystalline Re and amorphous B powders in the SPEX 8000 high-energy ball mill for 80 h. The formation of boron and perrhenic acids are also reported after ReB2 powder was exposed to the moist air environment for a 12-month period of time.
First North American Records of Kathlania leptura and Tonaudia tonaudia (Nematoda: Kathlanidae), Parasites of Marine Turtles

Abstract The nematodes Kathlania leptura (Rudolphi, 1819) Travassos, 1918 and Tonaudia tonaudia (Lane, 1914) are infrequently reported intestinal parasites of marine turtles. A single loggerhead sea turtle collected from Ossabaw Island, Georgia, U.S.A., was infected with both species representing the first North American report of these species and expanding the range of these nematodes from the Indian Ocean, eastern North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and western South Atlantic coasts to the western North Atlantic coast.
Neutropenia in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: Data From the Women's Interagency HIV Study

Background: Neutropenia is well described in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and occurs in approximately 10% to 50% of cases. Neither the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on neutrophil counts nor the significance of neutropenia in terms of survival has previously been evaluated. Methods: The prevalence of neutropenia among 1729 HIV-infected women, followed up as part of the Women's Interagency HIV Study, was evaluated. The CD4 lymphocyte counts, HIV-1 RNA levels, and complete blood cell counts, including absolute neutrophil counts, were obtained at 6-month intervals. Results: Neutropenia was common among HIV-infected women; at baseline, 44% had neutrophil counts less than 2000/μL, whereas 7% had counts less than 1000/μL. During 7.5 years of follow-up, neutrophil counts less than 2000/μL occurred on at least 1 occasion in 79%, whereas absolute neutrophil counts less than 1000/μL were documented in 31%. Worsening HIV disease parameters, such as lower CD4 cell counts ( P P P P =.007). We found that HAART, without zidovudine, was associated with protection against development of neutropenia. On multivariate analysis, neutropenia was not found to be associated with decreased survival among HIV-infected women. Conclusions: Worsening HIV disease parameters are associated with neutropenia in HIV-infected women. Treatment with HAART, without zidovudine in the regimen, protects against development of neutropenia, whereas HAART use and higher CD4 cell counts are associated with resolution of neutropenia. Neutropenia is not associated with decreased survival in HIV-infected women.
Incomplete Information and Ideological Explanations of Platform Divergence

One of the paradoxes of formal spatial voting models is the robustness of the theoretical result that candidates will converge toward centrists positions and the empirical observation of persistent policy divergence of candidates. A solution is that candidates are ideological (have policy preferences). When candidates have policy preferences and incomplete information about voter preferences, then platform divergence is theoretically predicted. Experimental tests of the ideological model are presented. It is shown that platform divergence is significant when candidates are ideological and have incomplete information about voter preferences. However, candidate positions are more convergent, on average, than the theory predicts, suggesting that subjects value winning independently of the expected payment.
DoS Detection is Easier Now

In this study, we test anomaly based Denial of Service (DoS) detection approaches on networks with different utilization profiles. In the experiments, we use operational background traffic and performed Distributed DoS attackswithout disturbing the operational network. Experiment results indicate that the detection approach's detection performance is inversely proportional to network utilization and optimal detection parameters depend on network utilization.
The Plant Pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum Needs Aerotaxis for Normal Biofilm Formation and Interactions with Its Tomato Host

Ralstonia solanacearum is a soilborne pathogen that causes bacterial wilt of diverse plant species. To locate and infect host plant roots R. solanacearum needs taxis, the ability to move toward more favorable conditions. However, the specific signals that attract this pathogen were unknown. One candidate is aerotaxis, or energy taxis, which guides bacteria toward optimal intracellular energy levels. The R. solanacearum genome encodes two putative aerotaxis transducers. Cloned R. solanacearum aer1 and aer2 genes restored aerotaxis to an Escherichia coli aer mutant, demonstrating that both genes encode heterologously functional aerotaxis transducers. Site-directed mutants lacking aer1, aer2, or both aer1 and aer2 were significantly less able to move up an oxygen gradient than the wild-type parent strain; in fact, the aerotaxis of the aer mutants was indistinguishable from that of a completely nonmotile strain. Tomato plants inoculated with either the aer2 or the aer1/aer2 mutant had slightly delayed wilt disease development. Furthermore, the aer1/aer2 double mutant was significantly impaired in the ability to rapidly localize on tomato roots compared to its wild-type parent. Unexpectedly, all nonaerotactic mutants formed thicker biofilms on abiotic surfaces than the wild type. These results indicate that energy taxis contributes significantly to the ability of R. solanacearum to locate and effectively interact with its host plants.
A platelet aggregating factor in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: initial activity, fluctuations, and removal by plasma exchange

A factor capable of aggregating normal platelets was found in the plasma of six consecutive patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). The activity of the aggregating factor in whole plasma, the cold protein fraction from plasma and the residual supernatant was monitored during each patient's course of therapeutic plasma exchange. Although two patients demonstrated the highest level of aggregating activity at the time of diagnosis, the level fluctuated in five of six patients. Increasing levels of activity were usually accompanied by signs of clinical deteroration. Activity repeatedly within the normal range was not seen until remission of the syndrome. Neutralization of the aggregating activity in vivo through removal of patient plasma and replacement with fresh frozen plasma (plasma exchange) was accomplished less readily and less predictably than by mixing patient plasma and normal plasma in vitro. Use of the aggregating factor level in evaluating the need of plasma exchange is discussed.
In situ production of ash in pyroclastic flows

[1] Abrasion and comminution of pumice clasts during the propagation of pyroclastic flows have long been recognized as a potential source for the enhanced production of volcanic ash, however, their relative importance has eluded quantification. The amount of ash produced in situ can potentially affect runout distance, deposit sorting, the volume of ash introduced in the upper atmosphere, and internal pore pressure. We conduct a series of laboratory experiments on the collisional and frictional production of ash that may occur during different regimes of pyroclastic flow transport. Ash produced in these experiments is predominately 10–100 microns in size and has similar morphology to tephra fall ash from Plinian events. We find that collisional ash production rates are proportional to the square of impact velocity. Frictional ash production rates are a linear function of the velocity of the basal, particle-enriched bed load region of these flows. Using these laboratory experiments we develop a subgrid model for ash production that can be included in analytical and multiphase numerical procedures to estimate the total volume of ash produced during transport. We find that for most flow conditions, 10–20% of the initial clasts comminute into ash with the percentage increasing as a function of initial flow energy. Most of the ash is produced in the high-energy regions near the flow inlet, although flow acceleration on steep slopes can produce ash far from the vent. On level terrain, collisionally and frictionally produced ash generates gravity currents that detach from the main flow and can more than double the effective runout distance of these flows. Ash produced at the frictional base of the flow and in the collisional upper regions of the flow can be redistributed through the entirety of the flow, although frictionally produced ash accumulates preferentially near its source in the bed load. Flows that descend steep slopes produce the majority of their ash in the collisonally dominant flow head and flow snouts likely develop subangular to rounded pumice during this process.
Eigenvalues and Quasirandom Hypergraphs

Let p(k) denote the partition function of k. For each k 2, we describe a list of p(k) 1 quasirandom properties that a k-uniform hypergraph can have. Our work connects previous notions on hypergraph quasirandomness, beginning with the early work of Chung and Graham and Frankl-Rodl related to strong hypergraph regularity, the spectral approach of Friedman-Wigderson, and more recent results of Kohayakawa- Rodl-Skokan and Conlon-H an-Person-Schacht on weak hypergraph regularity and its relation to counting linear hypergraphs. For each of the quasirandom properties that are described, we dene a hypergraph eigenvalue analogous to the graph case and a hypergraph extension of a graph cycle of even length whose count determines if a hypergraph satises the property. This answers a question of Conlon et al. Our work can be viewed as an extension to hypergraphs of the seminal results of Chung-Graham-Wilson for graphs.
Basal temperature studies in the aged female: influence of estrogen, progesterone, and androgen.

AN ANALYSIS of basal temperature curves has become almost routine L in the diagnosis and treatment of many gynecologic disorders. The practical significance of the progestational temperature rise in the normal menstrual cycle has long been appreciated and recently the work of Palmer (1), Buxton and Atkinson (2), and Davis and Fugo (3) has shed considerable light on the mechanism by which this phenomenon occurs. It is with the hope of further contributing to the general knowledge of the subject that the following observations made on patients receiving known amounts of various hormone preparations are presented.1 These studies suggest that the regulation of the temperature curves of menstruation and gestation may depend not so much upon the individual levels of estrogen or progesterone but rather upon the estrogen-progesterone ratio at critical points during the cycles. In addition, some information concerning the influence of cyclic testosterone on the basal temperature curve is presented for consideration.
Fast algorithms for weighted myriad computation by fixed-point search

This paper develops fast algorithms to compute the output of the weighted myriad filter. Myriad filters form a large and important class of nonlinear filters for robust non-Gaussian signal processing and communications in impulsive noise environments. Just as the weighted mean and the weighted median are optimized for the Gaussian and Laplacian distributions, respectively, the weighted myriad is based on the class of /spl alpha/-stable distributions, which can accurately model impulsive processes. The weighted myriad is an M-estimator that is defined in an implicit manner; no closed-form expression exists for it, and its direct computation is a nontrivial and prohibitively expensive task. In this paper, the weighted myriad is formulated as one of the fixed points of a certain mapping. An iterative algorithm is proposed to compute these fixed points, and its convergence is proved rigorously. Using these fixed point iterations, fast algorithms are developed for the weighted myriad. Numerical simulations demonstrate that these algorithms compute the weighted myriad with a high degree of accuracy at a relatively low computational cost.
Keynote talk I: Ending the Tyranny of Amdahl's Law

If the computing industry wants to continue to make scalability the primary source of value in tomorrow's computing systems, we will have to quickly find new and productive ways to scale the serial portions of important applications. In this talk, I will highlight my work and the work of others to do just this through the application of heterogeneous parallel designs. Of course, we will want to address the scalability of sequential codes, but future scalability success will ultimately hinge on addressing how we address the scalability of future applications' through more affordable design and manufacturing techniques.
Cognitive, emotion control, and motor performance of adolescents in the NCANDA study: Contributions from alcohol consumption, age, sex, ethnicity, and family history of addiction.

Author(s): Sullivan, Edith V; Brumback, Ty; Tapert, Susan F; Fama, Rosemary; Prouty, Devin; Brown, Sandra A; Cummins, Kevin; Thompson, Wesley K; Colrain, Ian M; Baker, Fiona C; De Bellis, Michael D; Hooper, Stephen R; Clark, Duncan B; Chung, Tammy; Nagel, Bonnie J; Nichols, B Nolan; Rohlfing, Torsten; Chu, Weiwei; Pohl, Kilian M; Pfefferbaum, Adolf | Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate development of cognitive and motor functions in healthy adolescents and to explore whether hazardous drinking affects the normal developmental course of those functions.MethodParticipants were 831 adolescents recruited across 5 United States sites of the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence 692 met criteria for no/low alcohol exposure, and 139 exceeded drinking thresholds. Cross-sectional, baseline data were collected with computerized and traditional neuropsychological tests assessing 8 functional domains expressed as composite scores. General additive modeling evaluated factors potentially modulating performance (age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and pubertal developmental stage).ResultsOlder no/low-drinking participants achieved better scores than younger ones on 5 accuracy composites (general ability, abstraction, attention, emotion, and balance). Speeded responses for attention, motor speed, and general ability were sensitive to age and pubertal development. The exceeds-threshold group (accounting for age, sex, and other demographic factors) performed significantly below the no/low-drinking group on balance accuracy and on general ability, attention, episodic memory, emotion, and motor speed scores and showed evidence for faster speed at the expense of accuracy. Delay Discounting performance was consistent with poor impulse control in the younger no/low drinkers and in exceeds-threshold drinkers regardless of age.ConclusionsHigher achievement with older age and pubertal stage in general ability, abstraction, attention, emotion, and balance suggests continued functional development through adolescence, possibly supported by concurrently maturing frontal, limbic, and cerebellar brain systems. Determination of whether low scores by the exceeds-threshold group resulted from drinking or from other preexisting factors requires longitudinal study. (PsycINFO Database Record
Identification of Isomers Differing from 9,α, in the Early Labelled Bilirubin of the Bile.

Conclusions1. 14C-bilirubin; isolated from bile of a dog within the first few hours after administration of 14C-ALA, on oxidation with KMnO4 yields a significant amount of α,α-dicarboxylic pyrrolic acid I as well as II, thus revealing that this early labelled bili-rubin contains a fraction of an isomer other than 9,α, the principal bilirubin of the bile. 2. Similar oxidation of large samples of commercial bilirubin (>200 mg) also produces acid I, although in very small proportion with II, thus indicating presence of an isomer other than 9,α, in a correspondingly small proportion of the total bilirubin of the bile.
Multifunctional Phased Array Antenna Design for Satellite Tracking Using an Extended Version of the Schelkunoff Polynomial Method

The purpose of this paper is to develop a design procedure for a phased array antenna. Phased array antennas are becoming very popular because of their capability for electronic beam forming. In this paper two phased array antennas will be presented, one for a geostationary satellite and other for a polar orbit satellite. A computer program specially written for this purpose (PAAD, Phased Array Antenna Design) will also be demonstrated. This design method has the particularity of being able to create nulls of field in any direction of space, and that can be use for beam changing in real time applications. This was achieved by implementing an extended version of the Schelkunoff polynomial method applicable to planar arrays. In this paper, a description of two possible tracking systems (for both geostationary and polar orbit) will be also shown. These systems have many applications for industry and space technology and some of them will be presented as well. And finally, these phased array antennas will be designed considering microstrip patches as element sources.
A Novel Design Toward Understanding and Characterizing Transport Behavior of Composite Mesoporous Silica Thin Films

In this paper, we for the first time apply a so-called “bottom-up” approach in fabricating synthetic ion-channel by exploiting evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) to form highly ordered porous thin film silica structures with precisely defined pore size, connectivity and surface chemistry as well as mechanical/thermal robustness. Here we demonstrate a novel design to integrate the above porous and composite nanostructures into an electrochemical device in which transmembrane ion fluxes can be measured to characterize the transport behaviors of ions/molecules through our mesoporous silica thin film. The demonstration of DNA translocation indicates a possible application of the mesoporous thin film structure in low cost DNA sequencing.