cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitation of cytosine deaminase mRNA by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction: a sensitive method for assessing 5-fluorocytosine toxicity in vitro.

Cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine (CD/5-FC) is a promising strategy for local cancer gene therapy. We hypothesized that CD expression within tumor cells would be directly related to efficacy and that quantitation of markers of CD expression such as mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity would therefore facilitate prediction of 5-FC toxicity. These three markers were thus quantitated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR), semiquantitative immunocytochemistry (ICC), and 5-[3H]FC enzyme assay, respectively. Results with human colon (LS174T) cancer cells infected with a replication-incompetent adenovirus encoding CD (AdCMVCD) demonstrated a significant correlation between CD mRNA and enzyme activity up to 24 h postinfection. A direct correlation was found between CD dose (AdCMVCD PFU/cell) and CD mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.002) in both LS174T and BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells, but the relationship with enzyme activity was less strong in LS174T cells (P = 0.09). A remarkable concordance existed among Q-RT-PCR, ICC and enzyme assays with both cell lines. Importantly, CD dose and mRNA and protein expression inversely correlated with 5-FC IC50 (P < 0.02). Quantitation of CD markers also facilitated identification of factors governing differential susceptibility to CD/5-FC. These results suggest that Q-RT-PCR will be useful for monitoring transgene expression in future studies using improved CD-based expression vectors and may also be useful in predicting the response to CD/5-FC therapy, which is likely to be heterogeneous in the patient population.
Nymphal survival and habitat distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on Fire Island, New York, USA

The distribution and survival of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum were studied in deciduous and coniferous wooded habitats and in open habitats on Fire Island, New York, USA. The survival of nymphal I. scapularis in field enclosures was greater in forests than in open habitats, suggesting that greater survival contributes to the higher tick population in the woods. The nymphs of each species were more common in deciduous thickets (predominantly Aronia arbutifolia and Vaccinium corynbosum) than in coniferous woods (mostly Pinus rigida) in most but not all years. Larval I. scapularis were more common in coniferous sites in 1994, while the same ticks, as nymphs, were more common in deciduous sites in 1995. The survival of the nymphs was not consistently greater in either the deciduous or coniferous woods. Therefore, factors other than nymphal survival (e.g. larval overwintering survival and tick movement on hosts) probably influenced the relative nymph abundance in different forest types. Overall, the survival of A. americanum was far higher than that of I. scapularis.
Modeling predator habitat to enhance reintroduction planning

Context The success of species reintroduction often depends on predation risk and spatial estimates of predator habitat. The fisher (Pekania pennanti )i s a species of conservation concern and populations in the western United States have declined substantially in the last century. Reintroduction plans are underway, but the ability of the species to establish a selfsustaining population is affected by predation from its primary predator, the bobcat (Lynx rufus). Objectives To develop a habitat model that incorporates both habitat of the focal species and the spatial patterning of predator habitat. To locate areas of densely aggregated habitat that would be suitable for reintroduction. Methods Using camera survey data, we modeled the association between bobcat presence and environmental features using a classification tree. We applied this model to a spatial analysis of fisher habitat and identified reintroduction areas in the southern Washington Cascade Range. Results The classification tree predicted bobcat detection based on elevation and mean tree diameter. The final model identified fisher reintroduction locations primarily in or near existing wilderness areas. Fisher habitat areas identified considering both habitat and predation risk differed from those identified without considering predation. Conclusion Our spatial approach is unique among fisher reintroduction plans by accounting for both resource requirements and risk of predation. It can be used as a template for future reintroduction efforts in other regions and for other species. Using similar models to refine population management and reintroduction should improve the probability of successful population establishment and stability.
Sytatic position and rated meaning

Does the position which a word occupies in a sentence affect the meaning of that word? Nonsense syllables were used in the subject and object positions of simple active and passive sentences. The referential meaning of these sentences was controlled. Semantic Differential ratings of the nonsense syllables showed that active subjects are more active and potent (animate) than active objects. Passive subjects were rated more animate than passive objects, but ratings for the passive positions were more neutral than those for active positions. The variability of the ratings showed consistent differences, according to the position rated. It was concluded that these differences in ratings represent structural meanings. The results are interpreted as reflecting the distributional properties of English.
Acute inflammation increases arterial stiffness, central systolic blood pressure, and endothelial dysfunction in healthy subjects

Background: Acute systemic inflammation or infection transiently increases risk of cardiovascular events, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Although observational studies suggest that inflammation is positively associated with arterial stiffness and blood pressure, the causal relationship of this is not clear. Because increased inflammation could be related to vascular dysfunction, we tested the hypothesis that an acute inflammation causes an increase in arterial stiffness and blood pressure. Methods: Using a randomized double blind sham placebo-controlled cross over design, 19 healthy subjects (male 10, female 9; age 24 4 yrs) were injected with an influenza vaccine (0.5 m/L) as a model to generate systemic inflammation, and a sham vaccine (normal saline). C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) were measured as a markers of inflammation. Brachial arteryflow mediated vasodilatation (FMD) was measured using B-mode ultrasound. Aortic augmentation index (AIx), carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV), and central blood pressure were measured using applanation tonometry. These variables measured at baseline before each vaccination, 24 hours and 48 hours after each vaccination. Results: Compared with sham placebo, the influenza vaccination caused a significant increase in CRP (1.42 0.6 at baseline, 2.81 1.0 after 24 hours, 5.0 1.3 mg/L after 48 hours, p<0.05) and IL-6 (1.12 0.3, 2.56 0.4, 2.26 0.6 pg/mL, p<0.05). Central systolic blood pressure (98.0 7.4, 104.5 10.8, 100.7 8.4 mmHg, p<0.05) and PWV (7.8 0.9, 8.6 1.5, 8.7 1.3 m/s, p<0.05) were significantly increased after an influenza vaccination but not sham vaccination. FMD was significantly decreased after acute inflammation (6.91 2.5, 3.22 2.8, 3.30 2.5%, p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings show that acute inflammation caused a temporary increase in arterial stiffness and central blood pressure, and acutely reduced endothelial function. This offers insight into the noted increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with acute inflammation.
Studies of the low-lying energy levels of Zn64 and Zn66 from measurements of (p, p′γ) radiations

Abstract An experimental investigation of the (p, p′γ) radiations from semi-thick targets of Zn 64 (2.4 mg/cm 2 ) and Zn 66 (2.7 mg/cm 2 ) has been carried out. Angular distributions of the (p, p′γ) radiations and the excitation cross-sections have been measured for proton energies ranging from 4.42 MeV to 5.02 MeV. These results have been compared with theoretical predictions using statistical reaction theory and optical model penetrabilities. Good agreement has been obtained for the angular distribution measurements, and level spins have been assigned on this basis. The measured cross sections, however, show some disagreement with theoretical values, which are particularly pronounced for the first 2 + states in both Zn 64 and Zn 66 . The studies of the stronger γ-rays suggest the following levels and the spins and parities: Zn 64 ; 0.993(2 + ), 1.804(2 + ), 1.904(0 + ), 2.321(4 + ) and 2.618(0 + ); Zn 66 ; 1.037(2 + ), 1.865(2 + ), 2.383(0 + ) and 2.462(4 + ?) MeV. Some additional weaker γ-rays have also been obseerved in both the isotopes. The collective nature of the first 2 + states in Zn 64 and Zn 66 being known, the (2, 0, 4) triplets that are seen in both these isotopes (at an energy roughly twice that of the first 2 + states) suggest that some kind of vibrational motion could account for these low-lying excited states. The present measurements indicate that (p, p′γ) reaction studies provide a promising method for searching for such triplets in medium-weight even nuclei.
Spatial distribution of radiation damage to crystalline proteins at 25–300 K

The spatial distribution of radiation damage (assayed by increases in atomic B factors) to thaumatin and urease crystals at temperatures ranging from 25 to 300 K is reported. The nature of the damage changes dramatically at approximately 180 K. Above this temperature the role of solvent diffusion is apparent in thaumatin crystals, as solvent-exposed turns and loops are especially sensitive. In urease, a flap covering the active site is the most sensitive part of the molecule and nearby loops show enhanced sensitivity. Below 180 K sensitivity is correlated with poor local packing, especially in thaumatin. At all temperatures, the component of the damage that is spatially uniform within the unit cell accounts for more than half of the total increase in the atomic B factors and correlates with changes in mosaicity. This component may arise from lattice-level, rather than local, disorder. The effects of primary structure on radiation sensitivity are small compared with those of tertiary structure, local packing, solvent accessibility and crystal contacts.
Aerodynamic shape optimization of wing and wing-body configurations using control theory

This paper describes the implementation of optimization techniques based on control theory for wing and wing-body design. In previous studies it was shown that control theory could be used to devise an effective optimization procedure for airfoils and wings in which the shape and the surrounding body-fitted mesh are both generated analytically, and the control is the mapping function. Recently, the method has been implemented for both potential flows and flows governed by the Euler equations using an alternative formulation which employs numerically generated grids, so that it can more easily be extended to treat general configurations. Here results are presented both for the optimization of a swept wing using an analytic mapping, and for the optimization of wing and wing-body configurations using a general mesh.
Objective evaluation of ampullary stenosis with ultrasonography and pancreatic stimulation.

Ultrasonography can detect changes in pancreatic and bile duct sizes after pancreatic stimulation by secretin or morphine and prostigmine. The effects of the two pharmacologic regimens on pancreatic duct dilatation were comparable and correlated with papillary stenosis determined at surgery, but the morphine and prostigmine combination produced more false-positive responses than did secretin. After administration of intravenous secretin (1 unit/kg), the pancreatic duct dilated in 83 percent of 12 symptomatic patients found at surgery to have a stenotic sphincter of Oddi and in 72 percent of 17 symptomatic patients found to have a stenotic accessory papilla associated with the pancreas divisum anomaly. Comparable dilatation occurred in 14 percent of 14 control subjects without suspected ampullary disease and in none of 10 patients with surgically disproved stenosis (p less than 0.001). The morphine and prostigmine combination produced more false-positive results in both the pancreatic duct and bile duct. Concomitant elevation of the serum amylase level and reproduction of pain were found to be of no discriminatory value. In patients whose pancreatic duct dilated preoperatively during secretin stimulation, dilatation did not occur after surgical sphincteroplasty. A positive test result was associated with a 90 percent success rate in preventing recurrent pancreatitis and ameliorating pain. A negative test result was associated with a 29 percent success rate. Ultrasonography of the pancreatic duct with secretin stimulation may provide objective criteria to supplement clinical judgment in selecting patients for sphincteroplasty to treat stenosis of either the sphincter of Oddi or the accessory papilla in pancreas divisum.
Attractiveness and feeding stimulatory activity of water in the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae).

Abstract To explore the occurrence of ticks on vegetation they climb to locate hosts, behavioral responses to various grasses and leaves by the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, were examined. Fresh material, not dry or lipid extracts, was highly attractive to ticks, indicating that the active ingredient could be water. In contrast to droplets, moist filter paper mimicked the rapid attraction response and prompted ticks to spread their palps and absorb water vapor. Appendage-removal studies imply that water detection involves legs I and the mouthparts. Thus, ticks may seek vegetation in search of water that they absorb via plant transpiration. Their attraction to water also has implications for questing behavior and as a host cue. Palp-splaying coupled with pharyngeal pumping and evidence of hygroreceptors on the mouthparts suggests that water functions dually as an attachment-feeding stimulant. Taken together, these attractive properties reflect the particular moisture-rich sites on the host whe...
Primary herpes simplex infection of fingers of medical personnel.

In 1956 we observed the first of a series of several physicians and nurses with primary herpes simplex infection of the fingers. The portals of entry were sites of trivial trauma. Our purpose is to review this unusual type of primary herpes simplex infection and to emphasize its importance as an occupational hazard in persons caring for patients. A similar, much larger experience has been reported from St. George's Hospital, London, and offers points of comparison and contrast.1 Patients Patient 1, a 28-year-old surgical resident, accidentally cut his index finger with a clean surgical instrument on Aug. 2, 1956. Tetracycline was administered and healing slowly occurred. On the seventh day he noticed throbbing pain and localized swelling, accompanied by a tender axillary lymph node, at the site. On the 10th day because of general malaise with fever he was admitted to the hospital. Past history was negative for herpes
Remote Sensing and Geomorphometry for Studying Relief Production in High Mountains

Mountain topography is the result of highly scale-dependent interactions involving climatic, tectonic, and surface processes. No complete understanding of the geodynamics of mountain building and topographic evolution yet exists, although numerous conceptual and physical models indicate that surficial erosion plays a significant role. Mapping and assessing landforms and erosion in mountain environments is essential in order to understand landscape denudation and complex feedback mechanisms. This requires the development and evaluation of new approaches in remote sensing and geomorphometry. The research herein evaluates the problem of topographic normalization of satellite imagery and demonstrates the use of terrain analysis using a digital elevation model (DEM) to evaluate the relief structure of the landscape in the western Himalaya. We specifically evaluated the Cosine-correction and Minnaert-correction methods to reduce spectral variation in imagery caused by the topography. Semivariogram analyses of the topography were used to examine the relationships between relief and surface processes. Remote-sensing results indicate that the Minnaert-correction method can be used to reduce the “topographic effect” in satellite imagery for mapping, although extreme radiance values are the result of not accounting for the diffuse-skylight and adjacent-terrain irradiance. Geomorphometry results indicate that river incision and glaciation can generate extreme relief, although the greatest mesoscale relief is produced by glaciation at high altitudes. At intermediate altitudes, warm-based glaciation was found to decrease relief. Our results indicate that glaciation can have a differential influence on the relief structure of the landscape. Collectively, our results indicate that scale-dependent analysis of the topography is required to address radiation transfer issues and the polygenetic nature of landscape denudation and relief production.
DANGEROUS GEOGRAPHY: SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF LIVESTOCK RAIDING IN NORTHWESTERN KENYA

In a previous study, Ember and associates (2012) found that livestock-related violence involving the Turkana was higher in dry months, drier years, and when months were drier than expected between the years of 1998–2009. This article has data on livestock-related violence from media reports, together with localized and georeferenced spatial and rainfall maps, to explore the question of whether and how strongly landscape variations (e.g., in topography, rainfall variability, and hydrology) predict the place and intensity of livestock raids. Our findings broadly replicate a longstanding land-use dilemma well documented in ethnographic accounts. During the wet season, Turkana herders camp in relatively safe areas at the center of the district. With the onset of the dry season, they must move away to access pasture in blocks along the boundaries with hostile ethnic groups. Much of the raiding by the Turkana on others occurs along the borders where the rainfall pattern is relatively reliable. By contrast, most of the raiding against the Turkana occurs while the herds are on transitional moves, splitting from, and coalescing at, the margins of expansive plains, en route to patches of dry-season ranges. While most of the results are consistent with ethnographic reports, we do find some spatial patterns that were not previously apparent, particularly regarding water. We suggest that policy interventions at mitigating livestock raids need to take account of links between spatial conditions and the onset of localized raiding incidents.
Capitate taxa of the soft coral genus Eleutherobia (Octocorallia: Alcyoniidae) from Palau and South Africa; a new species and a new combination

Two additional species are here added to the Indo-West Pacific soft coral genus Eleutherobia. This makes a total of nineteen species considered as valid. Included here is the description of a recently discovered new species from Palau, and a new combination of a common South African species previously referred to as Alcyonium variabile (Thomson, 1921) in the recent literature. A table comparing the worldwide species of the genus is also included.
Using Reciprocity to Adapt to Others

Interacting and adapting to other agents is an essential part of the behavior of intelligent agents. In most practical multiagent systems, it is likely that a single agent will interact with a number of agents representing different preferences and interests. Whereas it is recognized that if all agents were cooperating, peak system performance can be realized, it is impractical to assume benevolence from an arbitrary group of agents. More realistically, in an open system, agents should be self-interested. Can we then design environments where the best selfinterested actions lead to cooperation between agents? In this paper, we investigate environments where reciprocative actions allow self-interested agents to maximize local as well as global utility. We argue that the traditional choice of deterministic reciprocity is insufficient, and propose a probabilistic reciprocity scheme to decide on whether or not to help another agent. We present experimental results to show that agents using this probabilistic reciprocity scheme can both approach optimal global behavior and resist exploitation by selfish agents. Thus the reciprocation scheme is found to be both efficient and stable and allows agents to adapt to others using past experience.
Hidden Markov model approach to skill learning and its application in telerobotics

In this paper, we discuss the problem of how human skill can be represented as a parametric model using a hidden Markov model (HMM), and how an HMM-based skill model can be used to learn human skill. HMM is feasible to characterize a doubly stochastic process-measurable action and immeasurable mental states-that is involved in the skill learning. We formulated the learning problem as a multidimensional HMM and developed a testbed for a variety of skill learning applications. Based on "the most likely performance" criterion, the best action sequence can be selected from all previously measured action data by modeling the skill as an HMM. The proposed method has been implemented in the teleoperation control of a space station robot system, and some important implementation issues have been discussed. The method allows a robot to learn human skill in certain tasks and to improve motion performance. >
Rapamycin enriches for CD4+ CD25+ CD27+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in ex vivo-expanded CD25-enriched products from healthy donors and patients with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundCD4+ CD25bright+ regulatory T cells (Treg) can be expanded to clinical doses using CD3/CD28 Ab-coated beads plus IL-2. However, this method requires high purity of the starting population...
Overconfidence: A Concept Analysis

Overconfidence has an effect on clinical practice and patient outcomes. The author utilizes Walker and Avant's procedure for conceptual analysis to give a systematic definition to overconfidence as it relates to decision-making in nursing. The characteristics that demonstrate the presence of overconfidence are: (a) failure to consider alternative perspectives, (b) failure to distinguish inferences from assertions, (c) favoring positive over negative information, (d) unwarranted certainty in the prediction of accuracy, and (e) control. An increased awareness of the existence of overconfidence can increase the reliability of nursing judgment.
Generalized LM-inverse of a matrix augmented by a column vector

This paper presents a direct proof of the recursive formulae for the generalized LM- inverse of a matrix augmented by a column vector. The recursive relations are proved by direct verification of the four conditions of the generalized LM-inverse. Several auxiliary results pertaining to generalized inverses are also provided.
On the Fundamental Importance of Ethical Management: Why Management is the Most Important of all Human Activities

Management is the most fundamental of all human activities. This article argues for a new conception of management known as ethical management (EM). EM leads to a different conception of truth, one that is rooted fundamentally in ethical actions. Because most problems of any importance contain significant barriers to the implementation of actions designed to remove the problems, EM is concerned with the discovery, invention, and adaptation of systems of management that attempt to overcome the barriers to ethical actions. One such system is the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Spirituality not only plays a highly important role in AA but more generally in EM. Spirituality may in fact be the most important component of all management systems.
Stanford Linear Collider history data facility

In order to effectively maintain the operation of the Stanford Linear Collider, the variation over time of control system device parameters and feedback loops must be known. Device status must reflect unwanted variations as well as current states. The software facility which provides the collection and display of history data, and the determination of a behavioral status are discussed. The facility's operation, internal design, and user interface are described. >
Bucky gel actuator displacement: experiment and model

Bucky gel actuator (BGA) is a dry electroactive nanocomposite which is driven with a few volts. BGA’s remarkable features make this tri-layered actuator a potential candidate for morphing applications. However, most of these applications would require a better understanding of the effective parameters that influence the BGA displacement. In this study, various sets of experiments were designed to investigate the effect of several parameters on the maximum lateral displacement of BGA. Two input parameters, voltage and frequency, and three material/design parameters, carbon nanotube type, thickness, and weight fraction of constituents were selected. A new thickness ratio term was also introduced to study the role of individual layers on BGA displacement. A model was established to predict BGA maximum displacement based on the effect of these parameters. This model showed good agreement with reported results from the literature. In addition, an important factor in the design of BGA-based devices, lifetime, was investigated.
Derivation of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation from a path integral for minisuperspace models

We explore the relationship between path-integral and Dirac quantization for a simple class of reparametrization-invariant theories. The main object is to study minisuperspace models in quantum cosmology---models for quantum gravity in which one restricts attention to a finite number of degrees of freedom. Our starting point for the construction of the (Lorentzian) path integral is the very general and powerful method introduced by Batalin, Fradkin, and Vilkovisky. Particular attention is paid to the measure in the large, i.e., to the range of integration of the Lagrange multiplier. We show how to derive the Wheeler-DeWitt equation from our path-integral expression. The relationship between the choice of measure in the path integral and the operator ordering in the Wheeler-DeWitt equation is thus determined. The operator-ordering ambiguity in the Wheeler-DeWitt equation is completely fixed by demanding invariance under field redefinitions of both the three-metric and the lapse function. Our results are applied to two simple examples: the nonrelativistic point particle in parametrized form and the relativistic point particle. We also consider a simple minisuperspace example and discuss a difficulty that arises: namely, the problem of incorporating the fact that det${h}_{\mathrm{ij}}$g0 into the quantization procedure.
Teaching students to evaluate source reliability during internet research tasks

Despite the overwhelming use of the Internet as an educational/informational resource, research has found that learners are woefully in need of guidance on how to use this resource effectively, and subsequently identify reliable sources of information from unreliable. This study seeks to address this issue through the SEEK training program, which encourages learners to evaluate the source and quality of the information, and also how well it resonates with their existing prior knowledge. Learners were either trained or not trained using the SEEK program when they completed an initial Internet research task. Learners were then asked to complete a second Internet research task in another domain without any additional guidance several days later. Results indicate that learners who had received the SEEK training not only were better able to identify relevant from irrelevant sources, but also showed both higher overall levels of learning, and also greater learning gains.
Risk and Protective Factors for Psychological Adjustment and Grades Among Adolescents

This article examines the ways in which two risk factors—negative peer behavior and time spent without an adult—and two protective factors—adolescent resources and parental behavior—influence psychological adjustment and grades among 745 adolescents ages 10 to 17. It is an analysis of data from the National Commission on Children (1991) 1990 Survey of Parents and Children. The results indicate that negative peer behavior is inversely related to adolescent well-being. Two adolescent resources buffer the effects of negative peer behavior on grades. Adolescent resources and parental behavior also have limited independent compensatory effects on psychological adjustment and grades.
IDA Capacity Curves: The Need for Alternative Intensity Factors

Incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) has recently emerged as an alternative approach to investigate inelastic limit states in performance-based seismic engineering. IDA requires a series of nonlinear -time history analyses at increasing intensity levels of the same ground motion. The intensity of the earthquake load is typically expressed in terms of the first mode sp ectral acceleration. In this study the validity of such an intensity measure is investigated. IDA is applied to an existing six-story steel moment-frame building. Two sets of ground motions representing far-fault and nearfault records are considered separately to study the influence of different seismic source characteristics on the outcomes of the IDA . The study reveals that first mode spectral acceleration, S a(T1,5%), is an inadequate and incomplete measure of seismic intensity in the context of gener ating IDA capacity curves. It is concluded that alternative intensity measures are needed to make IDA more meaningful in seismic assessment. A preliminary investigation utilizing spectral magnitudes from constantductility inelastic spectra as a measure of seismic intensity is reported in this paper.
Hidden Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Mother of a Boy with Traumatic Limb Amputation

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is usually diagnosed in the primary victim of a psychologically distressing event who demonstrates the criteria symptomatology. Presented here is a case study of PTSD symptoms in a mother whose 4-year-old boy underwent bilateral arm amputation. Discussed is how the mother became the primary PTSD victim and why the particular injury (electrical shock) can be explained as readily giving rise to her problems. Consultants to pediatric and trauma services are reminded that the primary patient's medical care may suffer if disorders such as PTSD are not recognized in those responsible for making treatment decisions for the young victim. Language: en
Neural Analog Diffusion-Enhancement Layer and Spatio-Temporal Grouping in Early Vision

A new class of neural network aimed at early visual processing is described; we call it a Neural Analog Diffusion-Enhancement Layer or "NADEL." The network consists of two levels which are coupled through feedfoward and shunted feedback connections. The lower level is a two-dimensional diffusion map which accepts visual features as input, and spreads activity over larger scales as a function of time. The upper layer is periodically fed the activity from the diffusion layer and locates local maxima in it (an extreme form of contrast enhancement) using a network of local comparators. These local maxima are fed back to the diffusion layer using an on-center/off-surround shunting anatomy. The maxima are also available as output of the network. The network dynamics serves to cluster features on multiple scales as a function of time, and can be used in a variety of early visual processing tasks such as: extraction of corners and high curvature points along edge contours, line end detection, gap filling in contours, generation of fixation points, perceptual grouping on multiple scales, correspondence and path impletion in long-range apparent motion, and building 2-D shape representations that are invariant to location, orientation, scale, and small deformation on the visual field.
The Gene Ontology’s Reference Genome Project: A Unified Framework for Functional Annotation across Species

Complete functional annotation of genomes is a powerful tool for researchers; however, such annotation is a time-consuming task limited by the availability of experimental data. The function of genes for which there is no experimental data can often be predicted via comparison to related, annotated sequences of known function. We describe here the Reference Genome project, an effort from the Gene Ontology (GO) Consortium to fully annotate twelve genomes to rigorous standards: human, plus eleven organisms that are important models in biomedical research, including mouse, fly, zebrafish, yeast and E. coli. To achieve this, we examine existing experimentally based annotations in a phylogenetic context in order to infer the function(s) of ancestral proteins and propagate these annotations to their descendants. This endeavor faces many difficult challenges, such as: the determination and provision of reference protein sets for each genome; the identification of gene families for curation; the application of consistent best practices for annotation; the development of methodologies for evaluating progress towards our goal; and the development of software tools to support this effort. Annotated genomes are greatly valuable to the research community and will provide the basis for using sequence similarity to annotate further genomes. An overview of the project as well as links to all resources described below can be found at "http://geneontology.org/GO.refgenome.shtml":http://geneontology.org/GO.refgenome.shtmlThis work is supported by NHGRI grant HG002273 (Gene Ontology Consortium) and NIGMS GM081084-01A1 (Phylogenetic tree building and annotation software development). Pascale Gaudet for the Reference Genome Group of the Gene Ontology Consortium. The Reference Genome project is overseen by Pascale Gaudet (dictyBase), Rex Chisholm (dictyBase) and includes these representatives from the curatorial staff: Tanya Berardini (TAIR), Emily Dimmer (GOA), Stacia R. Engel (SGD), Petra Fey (dictyBase), David P. Hill (MGI), Doug Howe (ZFIN), Jim Hu (EcoliWiki), Rachael Huntley (GOA), Varsha K. Khodiyar (UCL), Ranjana Kishore (WormBase), Donghui Li (TAIR), Ruth C. Lovering (UCL), Fiona McCarthy (AgBase), Li Ni (MGI), Victoria Petri (RGD), Deborah A. Siegel (EcoliWiki), Susan Tweedie (FlyBase), Kimberly Van Auken (WormBase), and Valerie Wood (GeneDB)—as well as the following computational staff representatives: Siddhartha Basu (dictyBase), Seth Carbon (BBOP), Mary Dolan (MGI), and Christopher J. Mungall (BBOP)—those establishing the protein families to be annotated: Kara Dolinski (PPOD), Michael S. Livstone (PPOD), and Paul Thomas (PANTHER)—and, the four PIs of the GO Consortium: Michael Ashburner (FlyBase), Judith A. Blake (MGI), J. Michael Cherry (SGD), and Suzanna E. Lewis (BBOP).
Solar radiation absorption by leafless hardwood forests

Abstract Variations in the solar radiation regime of a deciduous forest in winter have never been analyzed. When snow is on the ground, roughly 65% of the incident radiation is absorbed by stems and branches and 20% is reflected; the remaining 15% is absorbed by the snow. However, these proportions vary greatly according to the solar zenith angle, θ, the ratio of direct to diffuse radiation, the ground or snow albedo, and canopy characteristics. A canopy model has been developed based on a uniformly absorbing crown space and a stem space of randomly arranged vertical cylinders. The direct or beam radiation transmission of the stand, t, is then: t= exp (−P c sec θ−P s tan θ) The crown-space parameter, Pc includes a crown absorption coefficient and must be found empirically, but the stem-space parameter, Ps, is fully specified by the basal area, mean diameter, and mean tree height. With the beam radiation fraction and snow albedo as further independent variables, the model gives the fractions absorbed by the canopy and by the snow and gives the albedo of the stand. Field tests using silicon photocells in three forests demonstrated the validity of the model.
p53-Deficient Cells Rely on ATM- and ATR-Mediated Checkpoint Signaling through the p38MAPK/MK2 Pathway for Survival after DNA Damage

In response to DNA damage, eukaryotic cells activate ATM-Chk2 and/or ATR-Chk1 to arrest the cell cycle and initiate DNA repair. We show that, in the absence of p53, cells depend on a third cell-cycle checkpoint pathway involving p38MAPK/MK2 for cell-cycle arrest and survival after DNA damage. MK2 depletion in p53-deficient cells, but not in p53 wild-type cells, caused abrogation of the Cdc25A-mediated S phase checkpoint after cisplatin exposure and loss of the Cdc25B-mediated G2/M checkpoint following doxorubicin treatment, resulting in mitotic catastrophe and pronounced regression of murine tumors in vivo. We show that the Chk1 inhibitor UCN-01 also potently inhibits MK2, suggesting that its clinical efficacy results from the simultaneous disruption of two critical checkpoint pathways in p53-defective cells.
The Future of NCES’s Longitudinal Student Surveys: Balancing Bold Vision and Realism

The National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) longitudinal student surveys have long been exceptionally useful for many purpose. Despite their many virtues, however, these surveys cannot be used to monitor trends at short time intervals, they do not allow for flexible changes to survey content, they cannot generally be used to infer policy effects, they are not useful for international comparisons, and they are of limited value to local stakeholders. NCES should consider doing to its longitudinal students surveys what the Census Bureau did to the decennial census long form and what NORC has long done for the General Social Survey: Move to annual rotating panels and allow outside investigators to field (and fund) supplemental topical modules. NCES should also continue to work with the research community to explore new survey content areas and modes of observation, improve the quality of spatial measures, and pursue record linkage to administrative data.
Linking Workplace Diversity To Organizational Performance: A Conceptual Framework

This article investigates the previous research of the influence of workplace diversity on organizational performance. It provides a conceptual framework of the influence of diversity on performance, integrating the literature on the potential performance benefits of diversity and potential problems of diversity. The goal of the article is to provide practitioners and scholars alike with a framework that will allow them to design diversity initiatives based on a needs assessment and empirical research
Repertoire Remix: Integrating Musical Preferences from Remote Audience in a Live Networked Improvisation

Repertoire Remix enables remote audience members to dynamically suggest their musical preferences for live web-streaming musical improvisation sessions. The semantic web interface encourages remote participants to collaboratively use “stirring” mouse gestures to influence the size of graphical bubbles that contain composers’ names. The accumulated weight is then interpreted by musicians to improvise. This paper documents the first pilot run of the Repertoire Remix system, explores challenges in designing a real-time shared music-style arranging system for networked live improvisation, and interprets the resulting performance by assessing the participants’ mouse gestures collected during the pilot run.
Reproducibility: A tragedy of errors

Mistakes in peer-reviewed papers are easy to find but hard to fix, report David B. Allison and colleagues.
Enhancement of SARS-CoV Infection by Proteases

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a newly emergent coronavirus (SARS-CoV). 2 This virus grows in a variety of tissues that express its receptor, but the mechanism of the severe respiratory illness is not well understood. SARS-CoV is supposed to enter cells via endosome, and its spike (S) protein, which is responsible for cell entry of this virus, is activated by a certain protease active only in acidic conditions in the endosome. To see whether this is correct or not, we began to study the SARS-CoV entry mechanism. In the course of this study, we found that various proteases facilitated SARS-CoV entry from cell surface. This indicated that SARS-CoV has a potential to enter cells via two different pathways, endosomal and cell-surface pathways, depending upon the presence of proteases. Moreover, SARS-CoV entry from the cell surface mediated by proteases was a 100-fold more efficient infection than entry through endosomes. These results suggest that severe illness in the lung and intestine can be attributed to the proteases produced in these organs in inflammatory responses or physiological conditions.
Selecting the right drug treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes.

We need to turn uninformed choice into random allocation Clinicians prescribe one or more antihyperglycaemic drugs to prevent and treat symptomatic hyperglycaemia and to lower haemoglobin A1c levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The available agents differ in their efficacy and safety and in how they burden patients in terms of dosing, side effects, and cost. Comparative estimates across these outcomes are generally lacking, limiting the ability of patients and clinicians to make informed decisions. Reasonably, these estimates may be obtained from data generated in the process of caring for patients. Two observational studies in this issue are based on data acquired during the routine care of people with type 2 diabetes in the United Kingdom. One of the studies, by Hippisley-Cox and Coupland (doi:10.1136/bmj.i1450), compares antihyperglycaemic drugs, particularly gliptins and glitazones, in their ability to control hyperglycaemia, induce hypoglycaemia, and prevent blindness, amputations, and renal failure.1 The other study, by Tuccori and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.i1541), focuses on the association between pioglitazone and bladder cancer.2 These authors took advantage of practice based databases that include most people with type 2 …
Pathogenetic and predictive value of biomarkers in patients with ALI and lower severity of illness: results from two clinical trials.

Plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) biomarkers related to the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) have previously been associated with poorer clinical outcomes and increased disease severit...
Mixing and Combustion in Scramjet Combustor with Raised and Relieved Ramp

A numerical study of wall-mounted parallel injector ramp has been conducted to investigate the mixing process of scramjet engine using unstructured grids. Two different ramp configurations have been studied, raised and relieved ramps. A three dimensional models for the two different rampconfigurations have been used with two different side sweep angles, 0 (unswept) and 5 degrees. Numerical results are obtained using an existing CFD code "FLUENT" with unstructured grids with a size approximately 300,000 nodes. Results are presented for both non-reacting and reacting flows. Results show that the unswept relieved ramp gives better mixing results than the unsewept raised ramp. Furthermore numerical results show that the swept ramps give better results than the two unswept configurations. introduction Considerable fundamental research has been conducted in response to the increased interests in the development of scramjet propulsion systems. A critical element in the design of the scramjet engine is detailed understanding of the complex flowfield present in different regions of the system over a range of operating conditions. Significant amount of numerical and experimental research have been directed towards injectors design that must produce rapid mixing and combustion of the fuel and air due to the short combustor residence time. In the past years various mixing enhancement schemes including perpendicular and parallel injections have been proposed. One of these schemes is the ramp injection. Critical issues regarding fuel injection and mixing in a scramjet combustor are discussed in detail in Refs. [1-16]. Stouffer et al. [17,18] investigated experimentally both the raised and relieved ramps. The methods that have been 1 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Student Member AIAA, ASME. 2 Eminent Professor/Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Associate Fellow AIAA. 3 Professor and Chair,Mechanical Engineering Department. 4 Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology Dept, Member ASME, AIAA Copyright © 2000 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights are reserved. (c)2000 American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics or Published with Permission of Author(s) and/or Author(s)' Sponsoring Organization. used to enhance the mixing process for the scramjet combustor are reviewed and summarized by Seiner et al. [19]. The main objective of this research is to study numerically the mixing process in scramjet combustor using unstructured grids. Two different configurations of wall-mounted ramps injectors, raised and relieved ramp injectors, have been investigated.
Misunderstanding Exists in Science

Dear Editor: Bob Crosslin's heartfelt letter (Opposing View Offered, March '99) demonstrates the breadth and depth of misunderstanding that exists in the minds of religious fundamentalists about science. His point that authors unfairly demonize creationists is well taken. In my many years of teaching about evolution and creationism I always recognized the sincere concern of fundamentalist students. For all my fairness I have been condemned to both a Christian and Hindu hell, placed in league with a devil, condemned as a blasphemer, and received countless articles, notes, and posters attempting to save my soul, so I find considerable irony in Crosslin's complaint about prejudice and intolerance. However, Crosslin illustrates the greatest misunderstanding of science of all. He thinks scientists are religiously devoted to evolution, but nothing could be further from the actual situation. Evolution is accepted as part of science because its concepts are useful. Creationism is a pseudoscience, not because of any particular evidence for or against it, but because it is useless. Evolutionary theory generates testable predictions about the biology of organisms, but the ideas embodied in creationism have failed to generate any such predictions, or where it does generate predictions, they have been found false. Scientists are a very pragmatic lot; science consists of those concepts that have proven useful in doing science, and no instructor is being unfair to ignore useless concepts when teaching science. The lesson for the readers of this journal is simple: you cannot teach science without doing science, and people who have not done science should not be teaching it.
Evaluation and Validation of Measuring Results Uncertainty in the Standard Electrical Energy Measurement Equipment

In this paper,the method and process of evaluation and validation in measure uncertainty are proposed as an example on measuring results of the three-phase standard electrical energy measuring equipment.The reliability is confirmed by the results of evaluation.It is accounted for all-around the capability of the measure in the equipment.Measure uncertainty is an important factor in verifying the general capability standard electric energy equipment.