cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HomologMiner: looking for homologous genomic groups in whole genomes

Motivation Complex genomes contain numerous repeated sequences, and genomic duplication is believed to be a main evolutionary mechanism to obtain new functions. Several tools are available for de novo repeat sequence identification, and many approaches exist for clustering homologous protein sequences. We present an efficient new approach to identify and cluster homologous DNA sequences with high accuracy at the level of whole genomes, excluding low-complexity repeats, tandem repeats and annotated interspersed repeats. We also determine the boundaries of each group member so that it closely represents a biological unit, e.g. a complete gene, or a partial gene coding a protein domain. Results We developed a program called HomologMiner to identify homologous groups applicable to genome sequences that have been properly marked for low-complexity repeats and annotated interspersed repeats. We applied it to the whole genomes of human (hg17), macaque (rheMac2) and mouse (mm8). Groups obtained include gene families (e.g. olfactory receptor gene family, zinc finger families), unannotated interspersed repeats and additional homologous groups that resulted from recent segmental duplications. Our program incorporates several new methods: a new abstract definition of consistent duplicate units, a new criterion to remove moderately frequent tandem repeats, and new algorithmic techniques. We also provide preliminary analysis of the output on the three genomes mentioned above, and show several applications including identifying boundaries of tandem gene clusters and novel interspersed repeat families. Availability All programs and datasets are downloadable from www.bx.psu.edu/miller_lab.
Wyner-Ziv coding of light fields for random access

Image-based rendering data sets, such as light fields, require efficient compression due to their large data size, but also easy random access when rendering from the data set. Efficient compression usually depends upon prediction between images, which creates dependencies between them, conflicting with the requirement of having easy random access. In this paper we propose to eliminate prediction at the encoder by using Wyner-Ziv coding for compressing the light field images. The images are independently encoded by a Wyner-Ziv encoder. At the receiver, previously reconstructed images are used by the Wyner-Ziv decoder as side information to exploit similarities among images. Simulation results show significant compression performance gains compared to conventional independent image coding while maintaining random access capabilities.
Ultra-wideband analog-to-digital conversion via signal expansion

We consider analog to digital (A/D) conversion, based on the quantization of coefficients obtained via the projection of a continuous time signal over a set of basis functions. The framework presented here for A/D conversion is motivated by the sampling of an input signal in domains which may lead to significantly less demanding A/D conversion characteristics, i.e., lower sampling rates and lower bit resolution requirements. We show that the proposed system efficiently parallelizes the analog to digital converter (ADC), which lowers the sampling rate requirements by increasing the number of basis functions on which the continuous time signal is projected, leading to a tradeoff between sampling rate reduction and system complexity. Additionally, the A/D conversion resolution requirements can be reduced by optimally assigning the available number of bits according to the variance distribution of the coefficients obtained from the signal projection over the new A/D conversion domain. In particular, we study A/D conversion in the frequency domain, where samples of the continuous signal spectrum are taken such that no time aliasing occurs in the discrete time version of the signal. We show that the frequency domain ADC overcomes some of the difficulties encountered in conventional time-domain methods for A/D conversion of signals with very large bandwidths, such as ultra-wideband (UWB) signals. The proposed A/D conversion method is compared with conventional ADCs based on pulse code modulation (PCM). Fundamental figures of merit in A/D conversion and system tradeoffs are discussed for the proposed ADC. The signal-to-noise and distortion ratios of the frequency domain ADC are presented, which quantify the impact of the most critical impairments of the proposed ADC technique. We also consider application to communications receivers, and provide a design example of a multi-carrier UWB receiver.
In-hospital costs of self-expanding nitinol stent implantation versus balloon angioplasty in the femoropopliteal artery (the VascuCoil Trial).

PURPOSE Although several prospective studies have examined the safety and efficacy of stent placement for femoropopliteal arterial disease, the current cost of these procedures is unknown. To estimate and compare hospital costs associated with conventional balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA]) and stent placement for patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, the authors performed a prospective economic evaluation in conjunction with the Intracoil Femoropopliteal Stent Trial (VascuCoil). MATERIALS AND METHODS Between May 1997 and December 1999, 266 patients with stenotic or occluded superficial femoral or popliteal arteries were prospectively randomized to treatment with the IntraCoil stent or PTA. Detailed resource use and cost data for each patient's initial revascularization procedure and ensuing hospitalization were collected and analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS Compared with conventional balloon angioplasty, stent placement did not improve clinical outcomes but increased procedure duration, equipment costs, and physician services. As a result, initial hospital costs were approximately $3,500 higher for patients randomized to the IntraCoil stent, compared with PTA ($8,435 vs $4,980; P CONCLUSION As performed in the VascuCoil trial, primary stent placement for femoropopliteal disease did not improve clinical outcomes but increased initial treatment costs by more than $3,000. Because there were no substantial differences in subsequent clinical outcomes between the two treatments, it is unlikely that these increased initial costs would be offset by savings in follow-up costs. These findings suggest that a strategy of routine stent implantation for patients undergoing femoropopliteal PTA is not optimal on economic grounds and that PTA with provisional stent implantation is preferred.
Extensor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi ulnaris tenodesis of the unstable distal ulna

A procedure for stabilizing the distal ulna using the extensor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi ulnaris is described. Seven patients who had sustained posttraumatic distal ulnar dorsal instability and articular degeneration and one patient with instability caused by rheumatoid arthritis were operated on. All eight obtained stable ulnae with mean motion of 62 degrees of supination and 86 degrees of pronation (mean increase of 32 degrees of supination and 43 degrees of pronation). Follow-up averaged 28 months (range, 18 to 63 months). The tenodesis, using a weave of a distally-based slip of flexor carpi ulnaris and a proximally-based slip of extensor carpi ulnaris combined with a Darrach procedure, is a reliable, reproducible salvage procedure for stabilizing the degenerated distal radioulnar joint and for salvaging the symptomatic unstable ulna after excessive distal ulna resection.
Does estrogen enhance the antidepressant effects of fluoxetine

Abstract Background: While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has not been shown to be an effective treatment for major depression, preliminary studies suggest that estrogen may potentiate the effect of selective serontonin reuptake inhibitors. Method: In an ongoing study, perimenopausal women diagnosed with major depression were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: (1) fluoxetine 10–20 mg alone, (2) estradiol patch 0.1–0.2 mg alone or (3) the combination of fluoxetine 10–20 mg and estradiol patch 0.1–0.2 mg. Results: In the five cases presented here, the combination of fluoxetine and estradiol was most effective, followed by fluoxetine alone and then estradiol alone. Limitations: These are selected cases from an ongoing study and do not represent statistically significant data. Conclusions: These preliminary cases suggest that estrogen can enhance the efficacy of antidepressant medication in menopausal women and this adjunctive treatment strategy may be superior to antidepressant or estrogen alone. Further research is needed in elucidating the mechanisms by which estrogen may enhance antidepressant action in perimenopausal women.
Localization of lipid peroxidation-derived protein epitopes in the porcine corpus luteum.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated within the corpus luteum (CL) are believed to play an integral role in luteolysis. Unsaturated lipids are susceptible to peroxidation by ROS, leading to the formation of toxic aldehydes such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxy-nonenal (4-HNE) that can attack cellular and extracellular proteins. Aldehyde conjugation of proteins can have diverse effects on cell function, including cross-linking of cell surface receptors, alteration of enzyme activities, and modification of lipoproteins. The objectives of the present study were to 1) determine by immunological techniques whether lipid peroxidation-derived protein epitopes (i.e., MDA- and 4-HNE-lysine) could be detected in situ during the natural life span of the CL, and 2) determine the temporal and spatial localization of these epitopes. Fresh luteal tissue was collected from young gilts at distinct phases of the estrous cycle: early (Days 4-7), mid (Days 8-12), and late (Days 14-18). Immunocytochemistry was performed on tissue sections using monoclonal antibodies against MDA-lysine and 4-HNE-lysine. Positive immunostaining was evident in porcine CL at all stages of the estrous cycle. Immunoactivity was associated primarily with the steroidogenic cells, most consistently with the large luteal cells, and was most intense in regressing tissue (i.e., late). No staining was observed in sections incubated with nonimmune mouse serum or when anti-4-HNE-lysine was preadsorbed with 4-HNE-protein preparations. Immunoblotting of protein extracts from luteal tissue revealed three major reactive bands. At least two of these bands were closely associated with extracted oxidized human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and with 4-HNE-conjugated human apoprotein B. These results demonstrate the presence of lipid peroxidation-derived protein epitopes within the porcine CL and show that one or more of these may be an oxidized-LDL moiety. This represents the first direct in situ evidence that protein modification by lipid peroxidation products occurs during the natural luteal life span. The physiological consequences remain to be determined.
Comparison of atrial-His intervals during tachycardia and atrial pacing in patients with long RP tachycardia.

Long RP Tachycardia, introduction: The purpose of this study is to describe a simple and reliuhle diagnostic maneuver that allows for the rapid differentiation of atypical AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) from other causes of long KP tachycardia. Lonf^ KP tachycardias may he caused by atypical AVNRT, orthodrnmic reciprocating tachycardia (ORT) involving a .slowly conducting retrograde accessory pathway, or atrial tachycardia. The dilTerentiation of atypical AVNRT from ORT or atrial tachycardia may be difficult, especially when the differential diagnosis includes a posteroseptal accessory pathway or an atrial tachycardia arising in the posteroseptal right atrium. Methods and Results: Twelve patients with atypical AVNRT, 21 with ORT, and 12 with an atrial tachycardia diagnosed using conventiitnal criteria were enrolled In this study. The atrialHis (AH) interval was measured at the His-hundle position during the tachycardia and during atrial pacing from the high right atrium at the tachycardia cycle length in the setting of sinus rhythm. In patients with atypical AVNRT, the mean AH interval was 69 msec ± 50 msec (± SD) longer during high right atrial pacing than during the tachycardia (P < 0.001). In 10 of 12 patients with atypical AVNRT, the AH interval during atrial pacing was more than 40 msec longer than the .\H interval measured during the tachycardia. In contra.st. In patients with ORT or atrial tachycardia, the difYerences in .AH interval hetween atrial pacing and tachycardia were never more than 20 and 10 msec, respectively. Conclusion: The difference in the AH interval between atrial pacing and the tachycardia allows a simple and rapid means of difierentiating atypical AVNRT from other types of long RP tachycardias. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 6, pp. 700-710. September 1995)
Role of transcription factors in the transdifferentiation of pancreatic islet cells

The α and β cells act in concert to maintain blood glucose. The α cells release glucagon in response to low levels of glucose to stimulate glycogenolysis in the liver. In contrast, β cells release insulin in response to elevated levels of glucose to stimulate peripheral glucose disposal. Despite these opposing roles in glucose homeostasis, α and β cells are derived from a common progenitor and share many proteins important for glucose sensing and hormone secretion. Results from recent work have underlined these similarities between the two cell types by revealing that β-to-α as well as α-to-β transdifferentiation can take place under certain experimental circumstances. These exciting findings highlight unexpected plasticity of adult islets and offer hope of novel therapeutic paths to replenish β cells in diabetes. In this review, we focus on the transcription factor networks that establish and maintain pancreatic endocrine cell identity and how they may be perturbed to facilitate transdifferentiation.
Anthocyanin Analysis as a Measure of Glycosidase Activity in Enzymes for Juice Processing

A screening procedure combining HPLC and spectrophotometric analyses was developed to measure glycosidase activity of enzyme preparations used for juice processing. Enzyme preparations (27) were evaluated ; several contained β-galactosidase activity which can decompose cranberry juice pigments. β-galactosidase and α-arabinosidase activities were also determined using standard procedures (nitrophenol glycosides as substrates). Comparative results showed inconsistencies between the two procedures. Cranberry juice processing demonstrated that some enzyme preparations could decompose anthocyanin pigments under processing conditions. Pigment loss was much higher when enzymes were used with juice than with crushed fruit.
Bilateral donors and aid conditionality in post-conflict peacebuilding: the case of Mozambique

This article examines the role of bilateral donors and conditional aid in Mozambique’s successful post-war peace process. The literature on peacebuilding has tended to privilege the role of UN missions in explaining the outcomes of post-civil war peace processes. The important role that bilateral donors may play in determining these outcomes has not been thoroughly studied. In Mozambique, donors with country experience, knowledge of domestic political actors and constraints, and a shared commitment to a successful outcome, were indispensable to the success of the peace process. The article details this engagement, arguing that it was not UNOMOZ alone, but UNOMOZ as supported by the flexible responses of these donors, that provided an effective third-party guarantee of the peace agreement in Mozambique. It briefly discusses the broader implications of this finding for understanding international peacebuilding efforts.
The anti-Sm immune response in autoimmunity and cell biology.

Abstract Anti-Sm antibodies are found in greater than 30% of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are diagnostic of SLE. The Sm autoantigens are the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) common core proteins. The seven core proteins, B, D1, D2, D3, E, F and G, shared by a majority of the snRNP particles, form a heptamer ring approximately 20 nm in diameter, with the snRNA passing through the center. The Sm epitopes are distributed on the outside surface of the ring. A repeated proline rich motif with homology to an Epstein bar nuclear antigen in the B protein and a gly–arg–gly motif including a symmetrical dimethylarginine post translational modification in the B, D1 and D3 proteins are major Sm epitopes. The anti-Sm response has features typical of an antigen driven immune response. SnRNP proteins share several characteristics with other autoantigens including their assembly into ribonucleoprotein particles, homologies to known viral proteins, presence of post translational modifications, a high abundance and great stability and the presence of repeated motifs. Current work on the snRNP particles is attempting to identify the features that predispose the common core proteins to become autoantigens in vulnerable individuals.
Cloning of a Candida albicans peptide transport gene

SUMMARY A Candida albicans peptide transport gene, CaPTR2, was cloned from a C. albicans genomic library by functional complementation of a peptide transport deficient mutant (strain ptr2-2) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CaPTR2 restored peptide transport to transformants as determined by uptake of radiolabelled dileucine, growth on dipeptides as sources of required amino acids, and restoration of growth inhibition by toxic peptides. Plasmid curing experiments demonstrated that the peptide transport phenotype was plasmid borne. CaPTR2 was localized to chromosome R of C. albicans by contour-clamped homologous electric field gel chromosome blots. Deletion subclones and frameshift mutagenesis were used to narrow the peptide transport complementing region to a 5:1 kb DNA fragment. DNA sequencing of the complementing region identified an ORF of 1869 bp containing an 84 nucleotide intron. The deduced amino acid sequence predicts a protein of 70 kDa consisting of 623 amino acids with 12 hydrophobic segments. A high level of identity was found between the predicted protein and peptide transport proteins of S. cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana. This study represents the first steps in the genetic characterization of peptide transport in C. albicans and initiates a molecular approach for the study of drug delivery against this pathogen.
Matching logic: a new program verification approach (NIER track)

Matching logic is a new program verification logic, which builds upon operational semantics. Matching logic specifications are constrained symbolic program configurations, called patterns, which can be matched by concrete configurations. By building upon an operational semantics of the language and allowing specifications to directly refer to the structure of the configuration, matching logic has at least three benefits: (1) One's familiarity with the formalism reduces to one's familiarity with the operational semantics of the language, that is, with the language itself; (2) The verification process proceeds the same way as the program execution, making debugging failed proof attempts manageable because one can always see the "current configuration" and "what went wrong', same like in a debugger; and (3) Nothing is lost in translation, that is, there is no gap between the language itself and its verifier. Moreover, direct access to the structure of the configuration facilitates defining subpatterns that one may reason about, such as disjoint lists or trees in the heap, as well as supporting framing in various components of the configuration at no additional costs.
Establishing a pragmatic framework for sustainability through pollution prevention

In the years leading up to the twenty-first century, we, as a civilization, have made tremendous technological advances and entered the globalization era. Globalization has brought us to unforeseen levels of productivity, with the United States achieving superpower status. At the same time, we have witnessed environmental consequences such as global warming, Superfund cleanups, and an increased environmental burden on our air, water, and land resources. In response, the United States has been regulating environmental activities for approximately three decades with a focus on creating methods to remediate and restore environmental conditions and preventing current and future environmental degradation. These methods have been a combination of enforcement through compliance and pollution prevention (P2) through incentives. Scientists and policymakers continue to struggle with how best to protect the environment while encouraging economic growth. On our trek to reduce our environmental footprint we have passed through several phases (e.g., enforcement, best available technology) and, as a nation, seem to be leaning toward sustainability. Sustainability is one of those concepts that is difficult to define because it is based on global outcomes and values. As a result, sustainability practitioners have been trying to further define sustainability and develop tools for practicing sustainability. There has been a plethora of confusing terms (sometimes referred to as “eco-babble”) as various companies and government agencies tackle the challenge of defining and implementing sustainability. Many definitions are built on the principles of sustainability, which are often seen as idealistic and impractical. I believe a pragmatic approach to implementing technological solutions that includes P2 must be used to achieve any level of sustainability, and must be placed in the context of current political and economic conditions. The P2 approach will enable us to eliminate the dangerous chemicals and processes that comprise our environmental burden, and launch us on the pathway to reducing, and hopefully eliminating, our environmental footprint. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The many heels of Achilles: An analysis of self-reported limitations in leadership research

The aim of this study was to assess the research published in The Leadership Quarterly from its inception in 1990 to 2007. As the foundation for our study, we used self-reported limitations sections of empirical articles as an alternative, novel, and context-sensitive index of state-of-science. Limitations reported in the one-hundred and seventy-four empirical articles published in The Leadership Quarterly to date were coded according to traditional threats to validity. Our results indicate that LQ articles mostly report limitations related to external validity issues. Also, a growing concern with internal validity was noted. These findings offer a unique perspective on leadership research, one that paints a considerably different picture than that offered from previous empirical reviews. We discuss the role of self-reported limitations in scientific communication and offer some prescriptions for increasing their value.
Influence of the linewidth enhancement factor on the critical feedback level in a quantum dash laser

Contributions of both the ground and excited states in the degradation of the coherence collapse threshold in a quantum dash laser are analyzed. The excited states are found to strongly alter the device's feedback sensitivity.
HOW FAR IS AN ELEMENT FROM BEING PRIME

Let D be an integral domain. We investigate two invariants ω(D, x) and ω(D) which measure how far an x ∈ D is from being prime and how far an atomic integral domain D is from being a UFD, respectively. We give a new characterization of number fields with class number two. We also study asymptotic versions of these two invariants.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of diphenhydramine 25 mg in young and elderly volunteers

Thirty-seven young and elderly male and female volunteers 21 to 76 years of age received a single 25-mg oral dose of diphenhydramine or matching placebo in a double-blind, randomized, two-way crossover study. Plasma diphenhydramine concentrations, self-ratings of sedation, mood, and autonomic effects, performance on the digit-symbol substitution test (DSST), and heart rate were determined for 24 hours after administration. Information acquisition and recall were tested at 2.5 and 24 hours after administration. Age and gender did not significantly influence diphenhydramine peak plasma concentration, time of peak concentration, elimination half-life, area under the plasma concentration curve, or apparent oral clearance. Effects on psychomotor performance, sedation, mood, and memory did not differ between diphenhydramine and placebo in either group. Thus, the pharmacokinetics of single 25-mg oral doses of diphenhydramine are not influenced by age or gender. This dose of diphenhydramine produces essentially undetectable pharmacodynamic effects in both the young and elderly.
Effects of toothless stator design on dynamic model parameters of permanent magnet generators

The effects of toothless stator design on the dynamic model parameters of permanent magnet (PM) generators are presented. These parameters, which include inductances and induced back EMFs, are determined for a 75 kVA, 208 V, 400 Hz, two-pole, permanent magnet generator. Two particular stator designs, a toothless stator, and a conventional type stator (with iron teeth), are considered. The method which is used to determine these parameters is general in nature and is based on the use of a series of magnetic field solutions. A validation of the computed EMF and inductance values based on experimentally obtained data is given. The results of using these parameters in a state space model in the abc frame of reference to study the effects of a toothless stator design on the PM generator synchronous inductances are presented. Based on that, it is demonstrated that the effects of rotor saliency and armature loading on the machine parameters are minimized in the case of the toothless design. >
Carboxypeptidase E is a sorting receptor for prohormones: binding and kinetic studies.

Abstract The binding of pro-opiomelanocortin,(POMC), pro-insulin, pro-enkephalin and chromogranin A (CGA) to the regulated secretory pathway sorting receptor, carboxypeptidase E (CPE), in bovine pituitary secretory granule (SG) membranes was investigated. N-POMC 1–26 , which contains the POMC sorting signal, bound to CPE in the SG membranes with low affinity and the binding was ion independent. Pro-insulin bound CPE with similar kinetics. Pro-enkephalin, but not CGA bound to CPE with similar IC 50 as pro-insulin and N-POMC 1–26 . Crosslinking studies showed that pro-insulin and pro-enkephalin bound specifically to SG membrane CPE, similar to N-POMC 1–26 reported previously. CPE was extracted from the SG membranes with NaHCO 3 or KSCN, but not Triton X-100/1 M NaCl. The results show that CPE is tightly associated with SG membranes and binds several prohormones, but not CGA, with similar kinetics, providing further evidence that membrane CPE has the characteristics to function as a common sorting receptor for targeting prohormones to the regulated secretory pathway.
Anatomic Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Tibialis Anterior Allograft

Single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is the current gold standard for the treatment of ACL deficiency. Despite success rates that approach 80% to 90% good-to-excellent results, a significant subset of patients continue to report residual symptoms of instability. Anatomical studies have consistently documented the presence of 2 bundles of the ACL (anteromedial and posterolateral), and recent biomechanical data have supported the theory that an anatomic reconstruction of the ACL may provide a more predictable restoration of normal knee kinematics. A surgical technique for double-bundle ACL reconstruction as well as a postoperative rehabilitation protocol are outlined in this article. The senior author’s 2-year results are also given, demonstrating excellent clinical outcomes in nearly all patients.
A Fluorescent Tracer Method for Evaluating Spray Transport and Fate of Field and Laboratory Spray Applications

Field and laboratory testing spray nozzles and application systems use spray collectors to assess where the spray deposits once it leaves the spray system. Tracer materials, such as oil and water soluble fluorescent dyes, can be mixed into spray solutions in small amounts with minimal impact on the solution physical properties and atomization characteristics of the nozzle or spray system. Depending on the dye and recovery methods used, detection levels may range from g/ha down to the parts per trillion making them practical for use in studies where these ranges may occur, such as drift studies that measure in-swath and downwind deposition. Exposed samples can be quickly processed, typically using non-toxic solvents such as purified water or ethyl alcohol. This quick, inexpensive processing allows users the flexibility to plan studies requiring large numbers of samples. Spray formulations using these dyes at specific rates are used as the basis for establishing a set of standard concentrations which are used to relate fluorescence to dye concentration. Laboratory evaluations of tracer deposition compare the fluores- cence of processed samples with the fluorescence from a set of reference samples with known dye con- centrations allowing users to calculate the actual amount of dye in the sample and thus concentration on the sample being processed. This work will present the step by step process of converting dye concentra- tions from known and unknown samples to deposition measurements. A downloadable Microsoft Excel ® spreadsheet will be made available to allow users to replicate these techniques. This technique effectively allows these tracer materials to provide a direct measure of the amount of active ingredient and/or spray mixture that deposits on sampling surfaces of interest.
Abiotic factors shape microbial diversity in Sonoran Desert soils

High-throughput, culture-independent surveys of bacterial and archaeal communities in soil have illuminated the importance of both edaphic and biotic influences on microbial diversity, yet few studies compare the relative importance of these factors. Here, we employ multiplexed pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to examine soil- and cactus-associated rhizosphere microbial communities of the Sonoran Desert and the artificial desert biome of the Biosphere2 research facility. The results of our replicate sampling approach show that microbial communities are shaped primarily by soil characteristics associated with geographic locations, while rhizosphere associations are secondary factors. We found little difference between rhizosphere communities of the ecologically similar saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) and cardon (Pachycereus pringlei) cacti. Both rhizosphere and soil communities were dominated by the disproportionately abundant Crenarchaeota class Thermoprotei, which comprised 18.7% of 183,320 total pyrosequencing reads from a comparatively small number (1,337 or 3.7%) of the 36,162 total operational taxonomic units (OTUs). OTUs common to both soil and rhizosphere samples comprised the bulk of raw sequence reads, suggesting that the shared community of soil and rhizosphere microbes constitute common and abundant taxa, particularly in the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria. The vast majority of OTUs, however, were rare and unique to either soil or rhizosphere communities and differed among locations dozens of kilometers apart. Several soil properties, particularly soil pH and carbon content, were significantly correlated with community diversity measurements. Our results highlight the importance of culture-independent approaches in surveying microbial communities of extreme environments.
Pilgrimage and Home in the Wilderness of Marginality: Symbols and Context in Asian American Theology

(1996). Pilgrimage and Home in the Wilderness of Marginality: Symbols and Context in Asian American Theology. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 149-160.
“A Most Powerful Instrument for a Despot”: The Telegraph as a Trans-national Instrument of Imperial Control and Political Mobilization in the Middle East

This chapter examines the Middle Eastern telegraph system in terms of globalisation processes related to imperialism, anticolonial resistance, and the establishment of new nation states. The history of technology is thus integrated into a social, cultural, political, and diplomatic history, in ways that emphasise the interactions between humans and wires, transmitters, relays, and codes. The telegraph served as an instrument and symbol of globalisation, yet the history of the telegraph at regional and local levels must always be understood in terms of the contours and contradictions of historical and immediate conditions. Most importantly, this chapter examines the telegraph as a web, connecting points into a broader network. These connections were determined by their location relative to major imperial powers by natural environmental conditions, such as proximity to a coastline or lower elevation passages, and local or regional political and cultural considerations. Topography and technology thus shaped adaptations to the environment, even as transnational flows of knowledge emerged as a form of imperial power. The telegraph also played a crucial role in the establishment of postcolonial relations across this region, as contesting the telegraph as a form of colonial power was transformed into controlling this means of political mobilisation.
Assimilation and Trade: Explaining the Migration-Trade Relationship with Middle Eastern Migration to Europe and North America

Why are immigration and trade flows positively related? While many studies have documented this complementary relationship, we cannot definitively say what factors drive this relationship. On one hand, migration leads to the formation of social networks across borders, driving down trade costs. On the other hand, immigrants may retain a preference for their native country's products, creating a local market for exports. This study examines these two competing theories by estimating the immigration-trade linkage separately for migrants moving from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to both Europe and North America. While these two groups originate in the same location and have similar preferences, they are quite different in terms of both income and education, with MENA migrants to North America tending to be less numerous but more educated. While the greater degree of economic assimilation for North American migrants should strengthen migrant network effects, the fact that these migrants are more culturally assimilated should weaken both network and preference effects. I find that the migration-trade link is stronger for migrants to Europe, with the strongest effect for imports. The migration-trade link is stronger for differentiated goods than for homogeneous goods, and strongest for differentiated goods imports into Europe. These results suggest that while network effects matter, immigrant preferences for native country goods are the key factor driving the migration-trade link. The results in this study also provide quantitative evidence of weaker assimilation among MENA migrants to Europe, a widely accepted result that has had little empirical support in the existing literature.
High-strength zirconium alloy: Zr-4 wt pct Sn-1.6 wt pct Mo

A heat-treatable, ternary alloy of zirconium is described. This alloy is readily rolled at 800°C and has more than four times the creep strength of pure zirconium at 500°C. The tensile strength of the alloy in the annealed condition is about 90,000 psi, and it may be heat-treated to a strength of more than 140,000 psi. In the annealed condition, the alloy can be cold reduced more than 20 pct. The alloy is harder in the air-quenched condition than as water quenched. This behavior was found to be associated with a reaction similar to age hardening.
8. Thrombomodulin Demonstrates Critical Beneficial Direct Effects On Smooth Muscle Cell Physiology

Introduction and Objectives: Following vascular injury, critical endothelial cell (EC) function is lost. Thrombomodulin (TM), an endothelial anticoagulant, is one lost regulator. TM has known effects through inhibition of thrombin, but here we sought to examine direct, independent effects of TM on SMC physiology. We hypothesized that exogenous TM would induce a favorable SMC phenotype and would inhibit SMC migration. Methods: Primary human saphenous vein SMC were explanted and used in early passage (1-4). SMCmigration was measured using: (1) a 4-hour Boyden-chamber chemotaxis assay, and (2) a 24-hour ElectricCell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) wound assay.Migration experiments were conducted with serum-starved SMC exposed to increasing doses of soluble human TM and results quantified by cell counts. Thrombin served as positive control and serum-free media as negative control. Dose-dose comparisons were performed using a t-test (a< .05). Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy was used to assess the effect of exogenous TM on SMC phenotype. Results: SMC demonstrated low, baseline migration in serum-free conditions. Thrombin significantly stimulated SMCmigration as expected. TM, independent of thrombin, significantly inhibited SMC migration in a dose-dependent fashion (Figure 1). 70% reduction was observed at 5mg/mL (56±1.7 vs. 18±3.5 cells/5hpf, P1⁄4 .0005). SMC exposed to TM demonstrated a spindle-shapedmorphology with organized stress fibers consistent with a differentiated, contractile phenotype, whereas, control thrombin stimulation lead to a dedifferentiated, synthetic phenotype (Figure 2). Conclusions: Thrombomodulin demonstrated direct effects on SMC physiology, independent from thrombin, includingmaintenance of a differentiated, contractile phenotype and inhibition of migration. These findings provide new knowledge in understanding the biology of vascular injury, and supports a strategy focusedon restoring key endothelial function to prevent intimal hyperplasia.
Who's Bigger?: Where Historical Figures Really Rank

Is Hitler bigger than Napoleon? Washington bigger than Lincoln? Picasso bigger than Einstein? Quantitative analysts are rapidly finding homes in social and cultural domains, from finance to politics. What about history? In this fascinating book, Steve Skiena and Charles Ward bring quantitative analysis to bear on ranking and comparing historical reputations. They evaluate each person by aggregating the traces of millions of opinions, just as Google ranks webpages. The book includes a technical discussion for readers interested in the details of the methods, but no mathematical or computational background is necessary to understand the rankings or conclusions. Did you know: - Got a spare billion dollars, and want to be remembered forever? Your best investment is to get a university named after you. - Women remain significantly underrepresented in the historical record compared to men and have long required substantially greater achievement levels to get equally noted for posterity. - The long-term prominence of Elvis Presley rivals that of the most famous classical composers. Roll over Beethoven, and tell Tchaikovsky the news! Along the way, the authors present the rankings of more than one thousand of history's most significant people in science, politics, entertainment, and all areas of human endeavor. Anyone interested in history or biography can see where their favorite figures place in the grand scheme of things. While revisiting old historical friends and making new ones, you will come to understand the forces that shape historical recognition in a whole new light.
An Experimental Investigation of Comparative Advertising: Impact of Message Appeal, Information Load, and Utility of Product Class:

A three (message appeal: supportive, brand X, and comparative) by two (product class utility: social and functional) by three (information load: low, medium, and high) factorial experimental design...
A Model of Exploitation in a Malthusian Serf or Slave Economy

This paper presents a dynamic model of peasant exploitation by landlords in a serf or slave economy subject to Malthusian dynamics. In the baseline model the only constraint on the landlords is the fact that the peasants’ labor supply is endogenous in the long run through the effect of demographic pressures. Infinitely patient landlords who maximize only their steady state income do not exploit their peasants at all, voluntarily paying them their marginal product, just as if the economy had competitive labor markets. Impatient landlords exploit their peasants both in steady state and along the transition path. A calibration of a baseline model where there are no institutional constraints on landlord power suggests a fairly high rate of exploitation and a very low level of steady state unfree worker population. This highlights the necessity of including costs of oppression in formal considerations of slave/serf economies. The paper does just that, and additionally revisits the Domar Hypothesis on the economic and demographic determinants of whether a particular pre-industrial economy ends up with serfdom or free labor markets.
Situational Restriction: Using Your Physical Exam to Differentiate Pulley Abnormalities from Other Vertical Deviations Secondary to Restrictive Conditions

The description of the orbital pulley system has changed the way we understand eye movements and ocular motility disorders. The presence of abnormalities in the orbital pulley system can complicate the assessment of vertical restrictive conditions. The standard tests for restriction are reviewed. These include version and duction testing, assessing saccades, differential intraocular pressure measurements, forced duction testing, and forced generation testing. We introduce the concept of situational restriction and how to look for it during your physical exam. Situational restriction is a limitation of ocular rotation that is dependent on the path that is taken to try to arrive at a tertiary position of ocular rotation. Specifically, it shows noncommutative movement that breaks Listing's Law. The presence of situational restriction denotes that a pulley abnormality is present.
The Application of Scenario Planning for the Assessment of Electric Vehicle Technology

By adding the scenario planning method on the change of traditional model of dynamic assessment of emerging technologies,the improved model could better deal with emerging technological uncertainty and complexity.The model can evaluate electric vehicle technology through a comprehensive analysis to identify KDFs,the key driving forces,etc.,in order to construct electric vehicle technology in the future development of possible scenarios.In accordance with the situation of change,it puts forward the corresponding countermeasures and a detailed description of the advantages and practicality of the model.
Factors Predictive of Improved Survival in Patients With Brain Metastases From Gynecologic Cancer: A Single Institution Retrospective Study of 47 Cases and Review of the Literature

Objective The reported incidence of brain metastasis from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), endometrial cancer (EC), and cervical cancer (CC) is exceedingly rare. As the long-term survival for patients with gynecologic cancer increases, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of diagnosed intracranial metastases. We seek to report our experience with managing brain metastatic disease (BMD) in patients with gynecologic cancer. Methods A retrospective review of all patients with EOC, EC, and CC at our institution revealed 47 patients with concurrent BMD between 2000 and 2013. Demographic data, risk factors, treatment modalities, progression-free data, and overall survival data were collected. Results Median survival time in patients with brain metastasis from EOC, EC, and CC was 9.0, 4.5, and 3.0 months, respectively. Two-year overall survival rates were 31.6%, 13.6%, and 0%, respectively. Patients received surgery, radiation therapy alone, palliative care, or radiation plus surgery. Radiation combined with surgical resection resulted in a significant hazards ratio of 0.36 (95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.86), compared with radiation alone. Conclusions Our report provides a large single-institution experience of brain metastases from gynecologic cancer. Patients with BMD have poor prognoses; however, treatment with multimodal therapy including surgical resection and radiation may prolong overall survival.
Sex-related differences in pain behaviors following three early life stress paradigms

Early life stress (ELS) serves as a risk factor for the development of functional pain disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults. Although rodent models have been developed to mimic different forms of ELS experience, the use of predominantly male animals across various rodent strains has led to a paucity of information regarding sex-related differences in the persistent effects of ELS on pain behaviors in adulthood. We hypothesized that the context or nature of ELS experience may interact with sex differences to influence the development of chronic pain. We employed three rodent models mimicking different facets of early life adversity to investigate the effects of ELS on pain perception in adulthood. To eliminate strain differences, all experiments were carried out using Long Evans rats. As neonates, male and female rat pups were exposed to maternal separation (MS), limited nesting (LN), or odor attachment learning (OAL). In adulthood, visceral sensitivity and somatic sensitivity were assessed at ~postnatal day 90 via quantification of visceromotor responses to colorectal distension and von Frey probing, respectively. Following exposure to MS or LN, male rats developed visceral and somatic hypersensitivity compared to controls, whereas females subjected to the same paradigms were normosensitive. In the OAL model, females exposed to unpredictable ELS exhibited visceral but not somatic hypersensitivity. There were no observed differences in visceral or somatic sensitivity in male animals following OAL exposure. In summary, our data confirms that early adverse experiences in the form of MS, LN, and OAL contribute to the long-term development of heightened pain responsiveness in adulthood. Furthermore, this study indicates that sex-related vulnerability or resilience for the development of heightened pain perception is directly associated with the context or nature of the ELS experienced.