cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On 3-D motion estimation from 2-D sonar image flow

Visual odometry for autonomous terrestrial, aerial and marine robots involves 3-D motion/trajectory computation by tracking features in video sequences. Where optical systems are ineffective due to restricted visibility and high turbidity levels, high-frequency 2-D forward-scan sonar can provide images with target details, and attractive trade-off in range, resolution, and data rate. Automated processing of sonar video images enables numerous key capabilities, including target tracking, 3-D estimation of camera and object motions, and scene analysis and classification in terms of target types and their structures, etc. We investigate the computation of 3-D sonar motion by tracking the 2-D images of scene features. The cases of pure rotation, pure translation, and general motion are analyzed separately to gain deeper insight into the inherent characteristics of the underlying ambiguities and complexities. We analyze performance based on results of experiments with both synthetic and real data.
Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome: Report of five cases

The internal mammary artery (IMA) is the conduit of choice for cardiac revascularization. The phenomenon of retrograde flow in this graft secondary to proximal subclavian artery stenosis is an infrequent but increasingly recognized clinical entity and has been termed the “coronarysubclavian steal syndrome.” We report on five patients with this syndrome. All were men. The average age was 65 years (range 56 to 68 years). The mean interval from coronary bypass to presentation was 7.8 years (range 1 month to 18 years). Three patients presented with unstable angina and one with congestive heart failure. One patient was asymptomatic from a cardiac standpoint. The mean arm systolic blood pressure differential was 45 mm Hg (range 30 to 60 mm Hg). Each patient underwent cardiac catheterization, and retrograde IMA flow was demonstrated in 100%. Arteriography confirmed the presence of a proximal high-grade (>75%) subclavian stenosis in all patients. Stress thallium scanning was performed in two patients and demonstrated anterolateral ischemia in both. Operative intervention in four patients consisted of a left carotid-subclavian bypass using an 8 mm synthetic graft. There was no perioperative morbidity or mortality. Postoperative thallium scanning revealed resolution of the ischemic process. The average length of follow-up was 20 months (range 12 to 25 months) with all patients remaining asymptomatic. The one patient who refused surgery died at 12 months. When IMA grafting is contemplated, proximal subclavian stenosis should be suspected if there is >20 mm Hg systolic pressure differential between the arms. Arch arteriography should then be performed. Likewise, coronary-subclavian steal syndrome should be suspected in any patient with an IMA graft who develops new cardiac symptoms and in whom a brachial pressure differential is detected. In most cases a carotid-subclavian bypass graft provides a safe and durable solution.
PCR-Induced Sequence Artifacts and Bias: Insights from Comparison of Two 16S rRNA Clone Libraries Constructed from the Same Sample

The contribution of PCR artifacts to 16S rRNA gene sequence diversity from a complex bacterioplankton sample was estimated. Taq DNA polymerase errors were found to be the dominant sequence artifact but could be constrained by clustering the sequences into 99% sequence similarity groups. Other artifacts (chimeras and heteroduplex molecules) were significantly reduced by employing modified amplification protocols. Surprisingly, no skew in sequence types was detected in the two libraries constructed from PCR products amplified for different numbers of cycles. Recommendations for modification of amplification protocols and for reporting diversity estimates at 99% sequence similarity as a standard are given.
DETERMINATION OF FOIL THICKNESS AND VOID SIZE FROM ELECTRON MICROGRAPHS OF IRRADIATED AUSTENITIC ALLOYS.

Abstract Since irradiation-induced swelling of austenitic alloys has been traced to void formation, quantitative determinations of void size, size distribution, and volume fraction have become important. Such measurements are made on electron micrographs of thin foils whose thicknesses must be known to make quantitative calculations possible. By adapting a recent method of determining the foil thickness of alloys containing precipitates to the present problem of alloys containing voids, reasonable values within the expected range were obtained for the thickness of the specimen foils investigated. Furthermore, void volume fractions determined with these foil thicknesses showed good correlation with the bulk density changes observed in Types 304 and 347 stainless steel and Incoloy-800.
Correct Spectral Conversion between Surface‐Enhanced Raman and Plasmon Resonance Scattering from Nanoparticle Dimers for Single‐Molecule Detection

Simultaneous measurement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in nanoparticle dimers presents outstanding opportunities in molecular identification and in the elucidation of physical properties, such as the size, distance, and deformation of target species. SERS–LSPR instrumentation exists and has been used under limited conditions, but the extraction of SERS and LSPR readouts from a single measurement is still a challenge. Herein, the extraction of LSPR spectra from SERS signals is reported and a tool for measuring the interparticle distance from Raman enhancement data by the standardization of the SERS signal is proposed. The SERS nanoruler mechanism incorporates two important aspects (the LSPR scattering peak shift and the Raman shift for measuring interparticle distance), and signifies their exact one-to-one correspondence after spectral correction. The developed methodology is applied to calculate the interparticle distance between nanoparticle dimers from SERS signals, to detect and quantify DNA at the single-molecule level in a base-pair-specific manner. It is also shown that the SERS nanoruler concept can be used in structural analysis for the specific detection of the interaction of immunoglobulin G (IgG) with its target from bianalyte Raman signals with identical shaping at single-molecule resolution. The SERS profile shaping approach not only offers a new detection mechanism for single molecules, but also has excellent potential for studying protein interactions and the intracellular detection of mRNA.
Promote Domestic Consensus to Enable Policy Continuity

T here are three elements of U.S. policy in East Asia that will command the attention of the new president: the Korea issue, the Taiwan issue, and the U.S. forward strategic presence in East Asia. In each case the new administration is inheriting policies that promote U.S. interests and longterm stability. The challenge is to sustain a domestic consensus that enables policy continuity. In the first term of the George W. Bush administration, the United States wielded economic and military coercion to try to roll-back North Korea’s nuclear program. But North Korea’s nuclear capability only expanded. The administration then turned to the six-party talks and reached agreement for North Korea to disable its nuclear facilities. But it is highly unlikely that the United States will be able to persuade North Korea to give up the nuclear capability Pyongyang already possesses. In these circumstances, U.S. policy has amounted to an “exit strategy” from Washington’s commitment to North Korean nuclear nonproliferation. The United States has abandoned coercive diplomacy and has increasingly ceded to China the burden of dealing with a nuclear North Korea. Rather than expend U.S. prestige and diplomatic capital on what is likely an unobtainable objective, the new president should maintain his predecessor’s low-profile negotiating strategy and prepare for a stalemate in the negotiations. The ongoing leadership succession in North Korea will make a stalemate even more likely. The challenge for the new administration will be to deflect domestic criticism of the very same policy pursued by its predecessor. A policy that disengages the United States from a responsibility for nonproliferation in North Korea could well be a lightening rod for criticism from Republican hawks. Having constituted a major obstacle to policy reform in the Bush administration, this group will strive in opposition to mobilize congressional and public opinion against the new administration. Policy continuity will
Is breast feeding a likely cause of dental caries in young children

i^ ^ d v isn rv boards o f organizations that advocate unrestricted, at-w ill breast feeding and notably La Leche League International have received calls from their members regarding recent reports o f “ nursing caries” in young children. It seem s that dentists w ho recognize the pattern have suggested that the mothers discontinue nursing as a means of prevent­ ing further decay. The mothers, o f course, want to take their dentist’s advice and yet it is against all that they believe to be best for their children. The syndrom e characterized by a rampant caries pattern beginning with the maxillary anterior teeth and eventually affecting the posterior teeth in a healthy, bottle-fed infant or toddler has been de­ scribed as “ nursing bottle m outh” by Fass1 and by others.2 T w o recent reports3,4 attribute a similar caries pattern in eight children to total breast feed­ ing. Is breast feeding also an etiologic agent in this caries pattern? In unrestricted breast feeding, a child, sleeping in the same bed or at least in the same room w ith the mother, nurses at w ill during the night; he suckles w hen necessary and sleeps betw een feedings. The m other’s breast is both the nourisher and the pac­ ifier. A t-w ill, unrestricted breast feeding allow s the mother and baby to obtain necessary rest, yet to m aintain bodily closeness and sufficient suck­ ling to ensure an adequate m ilk su pply and con­ tinued suppression of ovluation. If the mother is counting on breast feeding to delay her return to fertility, she has no alternative but to practice unrestricted breast feeding, includ­ ing at-w ill feedings throughout the night.5 It has been sh ow n 5 7 that suppression of ovulation as­ sociated with nursing cannot be achieved if suckl­ ing is discontinued for long periods (such as during the night) or is interrupted by supplem ental feed­ ings. The reports linking early caries patterns and atw ill nighttim e nursing propose that m ilk stagnates on and around the teeth w hen the child falls asleep. This, in turn, enhances plaque formation, becom ing a causative factor in the evolving caries pattern. From a physiologic view point, how ever, the scenario just described probably does not happen in the nursing infant. A dditionally , behavioral and epidem iologic studies suggest that nighttim e, unre­ stricted nursing is a desirable and natural part of total breast feeding. A t this tim e, evidence supports hum an breast feeding as the m ost sound practice, physiologically and psychologically, for infants and it w ould seem ill-advised to recom m end its discon­
Temporal characteristics of gustatory responses in rat parabrachial neurons vary by stimulus and chemosensitive neuron type.

It has been demonstrated that temporal features of spike trains can increase the amount of information available for gustatory processing. However, the nature of these temporal characteristics and their relationship to different taste qualities and neuron types are not well-defined. The present study analyzed the time course of taste responses from parabrachial (PBN) neurons elicited by multiple applications of “sweet” (sucrose), “salty” (NaCl), “sour” (citric acid), and “bitter” (quinine and cycloheximide) stimuli in an acute preparation. Time course varied significantly by taste stimulus and best-stimulus classification. Across neurons, the ensemble code for the three electrolytes was similar initially but quinine diverged from NaCl and acid during the second 500ms of stimulation and all four qualities became distinct just after 1s. This temporal evolution was reflected in significantly broader tuning during the initial response. Metric space analyses of quality discrimination by individual neurons showed that increases in information (H) afforded by temporal factors was usually explained by differences in rate envelope, which had a greater impact during the initial 2s (22.5% increase in H) compared to the later response (9.5%). Moreover, timing had a differential impact according to cell type, with between-quality discrimination in neurons activated maximally by NaCl or citric acid most affected. Timing was also found to dramatically improve within-quality discrimination (80% increase in H) in neurons that responded optimally to bitter stimuli (B-best). Spikes from B-best neurons were also more likely to occur in bursts. These findings suggest that among PBN taste neurons, time-dependent increases in mutual information can arise from stimulus- and neuron-specific differences in response envelope during the initial dynamic period. A stable rate code predominates in later epochs.
Fano resonances due to coupled magnetoexciton and continuum states in bulk semiconductors

We have observed Fano resonances in linear absorption experiments on GaAs under a magnetic field. In a bulk semiconductor in a magnetic field, Fano interference is the result of the coupling of higher-order magnetoexcitons and energetically degenerate one-dimensional continuum states. We show that these experimental findings can be described by the model of a two-band semiconductor in the effective-mass approximation. Numerical calculations of the linear magnetoabsorption are presented that demonstrate that the coupling between magnetoexcitons and continuum states is due to Coulomb interaction.
Lessons from the Salpêtrière

“There were things that he stretched, but mainly he told the truth”Mark Twain (1835–1918)The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn “I am very disappointed in you,” Professor Henry Miller said sadly. I had worked as his First Assistant (Lecturer) for several months at the University of Durham, still separate from Newcastle University. “While it's true that you have not killed too many of my patients, you have failed to alienate some of my more boring consultant colleagues. This is unforgivable. Your punishment is to go away and learn some neurology—better late than never. Where do you want to go?” Not knowing whether he was serious, I mumbled, “What about Paris in the spring?” Henry arranged a bursary for me to attend the Salpetriere and we were off. Charcot's great influence on the development and evolution of European neurology was well-known (figure 1). In the 19th century, almost all young European neurologists went to Paris (including of course Sigmund Freud). They and their successors were less influenced by the British neurologists, Jackson and Gowers. …
Worldviews of Women: Comparisons between White American Clients, White American Counselors, and Chinese International Students.

Worldviews of White American women clients, White American women counselors, and Chinese international women students were surveyed. Multivariate planned comparisons showed significant differences between (a) White American clients and White American counselors and (b) Chinese international students and White American counselors. Income was a significant predictor of worldviews for White American clients. Age and marital status contributed strongly to the worldviews of White American counselors. Among the Chinese students, the Taiwanese and the Mainland Chinese held significantly different worldviews. Worldviews of women are discussed from feminist as well as cross-cultural perspectives. Future directions for practice, research. and theory are suggested regarding the multicultural counseling process with clients of different worldview orientations.
Long-Term Selection for Body Weight in Japanese Quail Under Different Environments

Long-term selection was conducted for high 4-wk BW in Japanese quail under different selection environments to investigate selection limits and to determine whether genetic parameters for growth are similar to those in chickens. Quail lines were selected under an adequate 28% CP diet (P line) and under a low 20% CP diet (T line). Mean realized heritabilities ranged from 0.32 (T line) to 0.49 (P line) during the first 10 generations. Although genetic variation remained following 97 generations of selection, realized heritabilities obtained agreed with theoretical predictions of loss of additive genetic variability with continuous selection. Similarity of heritability estimates indicates that Japanese quail are an excellent model for genetic studies of growth in meat-type chickens. Positive relationships accompanying selection for high 4-wk BW were increases in adult BW, age at first egg, and egg weight. Negative relationships were decreases in percentage fertility and hatchability, and egg production. Increased growth rate in selected lines was accompanied by an increase in feed and water intake, and by improvement in feed efficiency. Feed efficiency differences appeared to be important only immediately following hatch, whereas feed intake differences were present from 0 to 4 wk. Evidence of major physiological changes accompanying selection for growth were not observed. However, changes were observed in increased "resource allocations" to supply organs, during late embryonic stages and the 1st wk posthatch. Carcass composition was similar between unselected and selected lines except for higher fat and lower moisture levels in selected lines.
HIV in predominantly rural areas of the United States.

Background The burden of HIV/AIDS has not been described for certain rural areas of the United States (Appalachia, the Southeast Region, the Mississippi Delta, and the US-Mexico Border), where barriers to receiving HIV services include rural residence, poverty, unemployment, and lack of education. Methods We used data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HIV/AIDS Reporting System to determine the rates of HIV (data from 29 states) and AIDS diagnoses (data from 50 states and the District of Columbia) in 2000 for the 4 regions by demographic and residential (rural and economic indicators of county of residence) characteristics. Results The rate of HIV diagnoses in 2000 was lower in rural areas (7.3 per 100,000) than in suburban (8.6 per 100,000) or urban areas (22.7 per 100,000). The highest race-adjusted rate was observed for the US-Mexico Border (21.1 per 100,000), followed by the Mississippi Delta (17.3 per 100,000), Southeast Region (14.7 per 100,000), and Appalachia (10.4 per 100,000). Heterosexually acquired HIV was more common in the Southeast Region and the Mississippi Delta than elsewhere. The Mississippi Delta had the highest proportion of HIV diagnoses among young people aged 13-24 years (18.4%). More than three quarters of people diagnosed with HIV in the Mississippi Delta and the Southeast Region were black, and diagnosis rates were higher among blacks and Hispanics than whites in all regions. The distribution of demographic and residential characteristics among people with AIDS was similar to that of all people with a diagnosis of HIV. Conclusion Strategies are needed to reach the populations of these areas to reduce transmission of HIV.
Accuracy and Cost-Effectiveness of [18F]-2-Fluoro-Deoxy-D-Glucose-Positron Emission Tomography Scan in Potentially Resectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Study objectives This retrospective study of patients who were referred for surgical resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) assessed the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of positron emission tomography (PET) with radiolabeled [18F]-2-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in staging mediastinal lymph nodes (MLNs). Design From January 2001 to September 2002, 90 patients with suspected or proven NSCLC who had been referred for curative resection were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were without evidence of metastatic disease. Sixty-nine of the 90 patients had undergone thoracic FDG-PET imaging as part of their evaluation and are the focus of this study. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for metastasis to the MLN were calculated for CT scanning vs FDG-PET scanning. Four algorithms for staging MLN with mediastinoscopy and/or FDG-PET scan were compared. Measurements and results Sixty-nine patients underwent preoperative CT and FDG-PET scans, and 32 of 69 patients underwent mediastinoscopy. Fifty-seven patients underwent thoracotomy with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for CT scans and FDG-PET scans were 46%, 86%, 78%, 43%, and 87%, and 62%, 98%, 91%, 89% and 92%, respectively. Mediastinoscopy was accurate in 32 of 32 patients (100%). Routine mediastinoscopy remains the most economically reasonable strategy with excellent sensitivity. Selective FDG-PET imaging improved the sensitivity of noninvasive staging for patients with normal MLNs on CT scans. Conclusions Selective use of FDG-PET imaging improves staging accuracy compared to CT scanning alone and makes it a cost-effective adjunct to the preoperative staging of NSCLC. However, in patients with adenocarcinoma and MLNs of
Increased estradiol and improved sleep, but not hot flashes, predict enhanced mood during the menopausal transition.

Background: The antidepressant effect of estrogen in women undergoing the menopause transition is hypothesized to be mediated by central nervous system effects of increasing estradiol on mood or through a pathway involving suppression of hot flashes and associated sleep disturbance. Estrogen therapy (ET) and the hypnotic agent zolpidem were selected as interventions in a three-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to distinguish the effects of estradiol, sleep, and hot flashes on depression. Methods: Women with depressive disorders, hot flashes, and sleep disturbance were randomly assigned to transdermal 17β-estradiol 0.05 mg/d, zolpidem 10 mg/d, or placebo for 8 wk. Changes in serum estradiol, perceived sleep quality, objectively measured sleep, and hot flashes were examined as predictors of depression improvement [Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)] using multivariate linear regression. Results: Seventy-two peri/postmenopausal women with depression disorders were randomized to 17β-e...
Quantification of periodontal attachment at single-rooted teeth

The measurement process of attachment loss has been criticized in recent years. Problems with clinical interpretation, precision of the measurement, and statistical manipulation of the obtained data, are some of the problems associated with the present methodology. The purpose of the present study was to propose an alternative measurement process which addresses some of the existing problems by estimating the lost attachment surface area (LAS) and the remaining attachment surface area (RAS) from a combination of clinical measurements. The results show that a linear combination of several sources of clinical information can be used to predict RAS and LAS. A diagnostic model for LAS (R2 = 81.5%) predicts the square root of LAS with information obtained from bucco-lingual attachment level measurements, the radiographic lost attachment area, the gingivitis index and the radiographic tooth length. This model increases the precision of the estimate of LAS by a factor of 1.86 when compared to the estimate of LAS using only attachment level measurements. A diagnostic model for RAS (R2 = 75.5%) predicts the square root of RAS with the information obtained from the remaining radiographic attachment area, the gingivitis index and the mobility index. Both linear inference models are constructed with measurements of anatomical landmarks to avoid the discrepancy between anatomical and clinical measurements in the produced estimates. It is concluded that modeling of periodontal data provides a simple, inexpensive, and precise diagnostic tool for predicting the lost and the remaining periodontal attachment of single-rooted teeth. Measurement processes of this type could provide a convincing basis for the evaluation of clinical decisions and research questions.
An asymptotically constant, linearly bounded methodology for the statistical simulation of analog circuits including component mismatch effects

This paper presents a new statistical methodology to simulate the effect of both inter-die and intra-die variation on the electrical performance of analog integrated circuits. The main feature of this methodology is that it accounts for device mismatch by using a number of variables that is asymptotically constant in the limit of perfectly matching devices, and is typically close to the number of independent process factors normally used to account for inter-die process variations only. A unified model of process variation allows the effects of each source of variation and their joint impact to be estimated, thus providing designers more accurate analysis and variance optimization capability. State-of-the-art application examples demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of this approach.
Diverse effects of mutations in the signal sequence on the secretion of β-lactamase in Salmonella typhimurium

Mutations in the beta-lactamase structural gene that alter the signal peptide were used to study secretion into the periplasm of Salmonella typhimurium. Processing and cellular location of mutant gene products were followed by pulse-chase and cell-fractionation experiments and by trypsin accessibility in intact and lysed spheroplasts. The precursor proteins examined never appear as a free species in the periplasm. Two of the signal-sequence mutants accumulate a precursor form that is trypsin-accessible in intact spheroplasts; the precursors synthesized by the remaining mutants resemble wild-type in that they remain trypsin-inaccessible. One of the latter mutants does produce mature protein, but at a very reduced rate. It thus appears that signal-sequence mutations can affect more than one step in the secretion process, and that processing of the signal peptide is not required for the protein to be translocated (at least partially) across the inner membrane.
Sex determination and polyploid gigantism in the dwarf surfclam (Mulinia lateralis say)

Mulinia lateralis, the dwarf surfclam, is a suitable model for bivalve genetics because it is hardy and has a short generation time. In this study, gynogenetic and triploid. M. lateralis were successfully induced. For gynogenesis, eggs were fertilized with sperm irradiated with ultraviolet light and subsequently treated with cytochalasin B to block the release of the second polar body (PB2). Triploidy was induced by blocking PB2 in normally fertilized eggs. The survival of gynogenetic diploids was very low, only 0.7% to 8 days post-fertilization (PF), compared with 15.2% in the triploid groups and 27.5% in the normal diploid control. Larvae in all groups metamorphosed at 8-10 days PF, and there was no significant post-larval mortality. At sexual maturation (2-3 months PF), all gynogenetic diploids were female, and there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in sex ratio between diploids and triploids. These results suggested that the dwarf surfclam may have an XX-female, XY-male sex determination with Y-domination. Compared with diploids, triploids had a relative fecundity of 59% for females and 80% for males. Eggs produced by triploid females were 53% larger (P 0.33) different from normal diploid females, suggesting that inbreeding depression was minimal in meiosis II gynogens. Triploid clams were significantly larger (P < 0.001) than normal diploids. We hypothesize that the increased body-size in triploids was caused by a polyploid gigantism due to the increased cell volume and a lack of cell-number compensation.
Natural Disasters and Mass-Casualty Events Affecting Children and Families: A Description of Emergency Preparedness and the Role of the Primary Care Physician:

Objectives. To determine the compliance of a select number of families with national recommendations for disaster preparedness. Patients and Methods. A questionnaire focusing on knowledge of community evacuation plans and the presence of a family emergency response plan was distributed simultaneously in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and Bronx County, New York. Results. A total of 1024 questionnaires were analyzed, and it was found that 35% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 32-38) of families were familiar with community evacuation plans, and 43% (95% CI = 40-46) had a family emergency response plan. Also, 17% (95% CI = 15-19) of respondents had discussed preparedness with their primary care physician; this subset of respondents was more likely to be familiar with community evacuation plans and was more likely to have a family emergency response plan. Conclusions. These data show that families are, for the most part, not in compliance with national recommendations for preparedness. Families who discussed pre...
The implications of exoenzyme activity on microbial carbon and nitrogen limitation in soil: a theoretical model

Traditional models of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition are all based on first order kinetics in which the decomposition rate of a particular C pool is proportional to the size of the pool and a simple decomposition constant (dC/dt=kC). In fact, SOM decomposition is catalyzed by extracellular enzymes that are produced by microorganisms. We built a simple theoretical model to explore the behavior of the decomposition–microbial growth system when the fundamental kinetic assumption is changed from first order kinetics to exoenzymes catalyzed decomposition (dC/dt=KC×Enzymes). An analysis of the enzyme kinetics showed that there must be some mechanism to produce a non-linear response of decomposition rates to enzyme concentration—the most likely is competition for enzyme binding on solid substrates as predicted by Langmuir adsorption isotherm theory. This non-linearity also induces C limitation, regardless of the potential supply of C. The linked C and N version of the model showed that actual polymer breakdown and microbial use of the released monomers can be disconnected, and that it requires relatively little N to maintain the maximal rate of decomposition, regardless of the microbial biomass’ ability to use the breakdown products. In this model, adding a pulse of C to an N limited system increases respiration, while adding N actually decreases respiration (as C is redirected from waste respiration to microbial growth). For many years, researchers have argued that the lack of a respiratory response by soil microbes to added N indicates that they are not N limited. This model suggests that conclusion may be wrong. While total C flow may be limited by the functioning of the exoenzyme system, actual microbial growth may be N limited.
Performance of CHROMagar Staph aureus and CHROMagar MRSA for detection of Staphylococcus aureus in seawater and beach sand--comparison of culture, agglutination, and molecular analyses.

Beach seawater and sand were analyzed for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) for samples collected from Avalon, and Doheny Beach, CA. Membrane filtration followed by incubation on CHROMagar™ Staph aureus (SCA) and CHROMagar™ MRSA (C-MRSA) was used to enumerate S. aureus and MRSA, respectively. Media performance was evaluated by comparing identification via colony morphology and latex agglutination tests to PCR (clfA, 16S, and mecA genes). Due to background color and crowding, picking colonies from membrane filters and streaking for isolation were sometimes necessary. The specificity of SCA and C-MRSA was improved if colony isolates were identified by the presence of a matte halo in addition to mauve color; however routine agglutination testing of isolates did not appear warranted. Using the appearance of a colony on the membrane filter in conjunction with isolate appearance, the positive % agreement, the negative % agreement, and the % positive predictive accuracy for SCA was 84%, 95%, and 99% respectively, and for C-MRSA it was 85%, 98%, and 92%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of SCA and C-MRSA with membrane-filtered beach samples were optimized through identification experience, control of filter volume and incubation time, and isolation of colonies needing further identification. With optimization, SCA and C-MRSA could be used for enumeration of S. aureus and MRSA from samples of beach water and sand. For the sites studied here, the frequency of detection of S. aureus ranged from 60 to 76% and 53 to 79% for samples of beach seawater and sand, respectively. The frequency of detection of MRSA ranged from 2 to 9% and 0 to 12% for samples of seawater and sand, respectively.
Identification of Discrete Domains within Gonococcal Transferrin-Binding Protein A That Are Necessary for Ligand Binding and Iron Uptake Functions

The availability of free iron in vivo is strictly limited, in part by the iron-binding protein transferrin. The pathogenic Neisseria spp. can sequester iron from this protein, dependent upon two iron-repressible, transferrin-binding proteins (TbpA and TbpB). TbpA is a TonB-dependent, integral, outer membrane protein that may form a β-barrel exposing multiple surface loops, some of which are likely to contain ligand-binding motifs. In this study we propose a topological model of gonococcal TbpA and then test some of the hypotheses set forth by the model by individually deleting three putative loops (designated loops 4, 5, and 8). Each mutant TbpA could be expressed without toxicity and was surface exposed as assessed by immunoblotting, transferrin binding, and protease accessibility. Deletion of loop 4 or loop 5 abolished transferrin binding to whole cells in solid- and liquid-phase assays, while deletion of loop 8 decreased the affinity of the receptor for transferrin without affecting the copy number. Strains expressing any of the three mutated TbpAs were incapable of growth on transferrin as a sole iron source. These data implicate putative loops 4 and 5 as critical determinants for receptor function and transferrin-iron uptake by gonococcal TbpA. The phenotype of the ΔL8TbpA mutant suggests that high-affinity ligand interaction is required for transferrin-iron internalization.
Bayesian inference of conformational state populations from computational models and sparse experimental observables

We present a Bayesian inference approach to estimating conformational state populations from a combination of molecular modeling and sparse experimental data. Unlike alternative approaches, our method is designed for use with small molecules and emphasizes high-resolution structural models, using inferential structure determination with reference potentials, and Markov Chain Monte Carlo to sample the posterior distribution of conformational states. As an application of the method, we determine solution-state conformational populations of the 14-membered macrocycle cineromycin B, using a combination of previously published sparse Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) observables and replica-exchange molecular dynamic/Quantum Mechanical (QM)-refined conformational ensembles. Our results agree better with experimental data compared to previous modeling efforts. Bayes factors are calculated to quantify the consistency of computational modeling with experiment, and the relative importance of reference potentials and other model parameters. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using Volunteers in Policing: A Force Field Analysis of American Supervisors

This study used a Force Field Analysis to assess the attitudes of American police supervisors regarding the use of volunteers in policing. Organisations exist in a state of quasi-stable equilibrium, and any planned change should work to identify the driving and restraining forces that function to maintain that equilibrium. For example, economic conditions may force police agencies to utilise volunteers to handle many policing tasks, but this may threaten the equilibrium of police organisations and traditional police culture. For this study a national sample of police supervisors completed a survey with attitude measures related to the use of volunteers in police work. Driving and restraining forces are identified and their strengths and weaknesses are discussed. Findings indicate that, with respect to the driving forces, the items associated with organising the community and community policing may be limited in their strength as driving forces. The power of the restraining forces indicates that the use of...
What’s changed? Does beer advertising affect consumption in the United States?

This paper provides an analysis of the relationship between annual advertising expenditures and consumption, using a generalised least-squares regression procedure, for beer sold in the United States from 1970 to 2003. Information from these three decades provides the most comprehensive analysis that has been published to date of the relationships of various variables with aggregate beer consumption. The major finding in this study is that advertising has had little impact on aggregate consumption levels for beer in the United States from 1970 to 2003. These findings support the general agreement among researchers that aggregate beer advertising expenditures in the United States have little or no effect on aggregate consumption. This is the first study to confirm this relationship over such an extended period of time, namely 33 years.
Chronic Diaphragmatic Hernia in 34 Dogs and 16 Cats

Medical records of 34 dogs and 16 cats undergoing surgical repair of diaphragmatic hernia of >2 weeks' duration were reviewed, and long-term follow-up information was obtained. The most common clinical signs were dyspnea and vomiting; however, many of the animals were presented for nonspecific signs such as anorexia, lethargy, and weight loss. Thoracic radiographs revealed evidence of diaphragmatic hernia in only 66% of the animals, and additional imaging tests were often needed to confirm the diagnosis. Thirty-six hernias were repaired through a midline laparotomy; 14 required a median sternotomy combined with a laparotomy. In 14 animals, division of mature adhesions of the lungs or diaphragm to the herniated organs was necessary to permit reduction of the hernia. Fourteen animals required resection of portions of the lungs, liver, or intestine. All hernias were sutured primarily without the use of tissue flaps or mesh implants. Twenty-one of the animals developed transient complications in the postoperative period; the most common of these was pneumothorax. The mortality rate was 14%. Thirty-four (79%) of the animals that were discharged from the hospital had complete resolution of clinical signs, and none developed evidence of recurrent diaphragmatic hernia during the follow-up period. Nine were lost to follow-up.
Caspase Allostery and Conformational Selection.

The role of caspase proteases in regulated processes such as apoptosis and inflammation has been studied for more than two decades, and the activation cascades are known in detail. Apoptotic caspases also are utilized in critical developmental processes, although it is not known how cells maintain the exquisite control over caspase activity in order to retain subthreshold levels required for a particular adaptive response while preventing entry into apoptosis. In addition to active site-directed inhibitors, caspase activity is modulated by post-translational modifications or metal binding to allosteric sites on the enzyme, which stabilize inactive states in the conformational ensemble. This review provides a comprehensive global view of the complex conformational landscape of caspases and mechanisms used to select states in the ensemble. The caspase structural database provides considerable detail on the active and inactive conformations in the ensemble, which provide the cell multiple opportunities to fi...
How Do You Lead the Pack? A Resource to Develop Personal Strengths for Students and Practitioners:

Educators and managers that focus on individuals’ strengths can see up to 40× more engagement from those individuals than those that do not. StrengthsFinder 2.0 builds a framework to understand and improve those strengths. This resource review will explain the history of the tool, including its origins in positive and strengths psychology. It will break out the assessment as a tool to be used in the classroom, as well as describe activities to educate on topics such as career development, leadership development, employee engagement, and academic excellence. A comparison to other assessments is presented and an evaluation of the tool’s versatility and ability to self-assess is given. Finally, further information and a list of free resources are provided in use with StrengthsFinder 2.0.
Novel Metal Silicide Thin Films by Design via Controlled Solid-State Diffusion

In the quest to accelerate the discovery and deployment of new materials with ideal and tailored properties, synthesis via solid-state diffusion holds particular promise, as it allows the crystal structure and stoichiometry of thin films to be controlled independently of the deposition method. However, the kinetics and the quality of the resulting materials remain relatively unexplored. Here we demonstrate both source-limited and kinetically limited solid-state diffusion as routes to tune the stoichiometry of platinum silicide (PtxSi) thin films, representative of metal silicides that have attractive mechanical and electronic properties. Using in situ heating inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM) while performing electron diffraction, we show that both routes lead to stoichiometrically controlled formation of PtxSi (x = 1, 2, 3) thin films with high phase selectivity, revealing the crystal structure and formation sequence for each phase. The PtxSi formation process from sequentially deposited la...
Synthesis and validation of two potent F-18 labeled VAChT PET probes

402 Objectives Dementia is associated with degradation of the cholinergic system, and its severity is correlated with loss of cholinergic neurons. VAChT is a reliable biomarker for these neurons. The two new enantiomeric compounds (-)-TZ3-148 (Ki=0.37 nM for VAChT, 7.23 nM for σ1 & 5837 nM for σ2, log P= 3.19) and (-)-TZ5-3 (Ki=17.1 nM for VAChT, 7364 nM for σ1 & 4972 nM for σ2, log P=2.87) showed high binding potency and selectivity towards VAChT in vitro. We report the radiosynthesis and in vivo evaluation of two PET probes to image VAChT. Methods (-)-[18F]TZ3-148 (1) and (-)-[18F]TZ5-3 (2) were synthesized by alkylating the corresponding precursors with [18F]FCH2CH2OTs, obtained from ethyleneditosylate and [18F]KF. Final radioactive products were purified on HPLC. Biodistribution study was performed in male SD rats with both compounds. Rats were injected with ~50 µCi/150 µL of the radioactive compound and euthanized at 5, 30, 60 & 120 min post-i.v. injection; the uptake (%ID/g) was calculated. Results Radiosynthesis of 1 was accomplished with 34% yield and >1000 Ci/mmol SA (at EOB) and that of 2 was accomplished with 35% yield and >1350 Ci/mmol SA (at EOB). Biodistribution studies revealed that 1 readily crosses the BBB; whereas 2 has low brain uptake. At 60 min, the uptake in striatum, cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus was 0.59, 0.29, 0.34 & 0.32 %ID/g for 1 and 0.02 in all brain regions for 2 respectively, suggesting that 1 has high specific binding in the VAChT enriched area; the ratio of striatum vs cerebellum was >2 at 120 min p.i. for 1. Conclusions PET tracer 1 is superior to 2 to image VAChT. In vivo microPET imaging study of 1 in monkeys is in progress. Research Support 1R21NS061025-01A2 & 1R01NS075527-01
Oxidant injury alters barrier function of ferret tracheal epithelium

To understand the influence of oxidant stress on the barrier function of airway epithelium, we conducted studies to determine the effects of chemically generated reactive oxygen species on permeability, permselectivity, and active ion transport of ferret trachea. We examined the consequences of oxidant injury using ferret trachea mounted in Ussing-type chambers and bathed with a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution containing mannitol and xanthine. We added xanthine oxidase to the luminal bathing solution, which reacted with the xanthine to generate reactive oxygen species. Tissue electrical conductance and short-circuit current were significantly increased after the addition of xanthine oxidase. Simultaneous measurement of mannitol flux (as a marker of paracellular conductance) and the backflux of chloride (lumen to submucosa) demonstrated a significant oxidant-induced increase in mannitol flux and backflux of chloride. Mannitol flux and the backflux of sodium (submucosa to lumen) also increased after oxidant stress. Comparison of the diffusion of sodium relative to the diffusion of chloride in relation to predicted diffusion in free solution indicated that the paracellular pathway was cation selective after oxidant stress. Active ion transport, as reflected by the short-circuit current, was significantly increased transiently after oxidant stress. Studies with furosemide, amiloride, and diphenylamine-2-carboxylate are suggestive that oxidant stress transiently stimulates the Na-K-ATPase. These studies demonstrated that exposure to reactive oxygen species significantly altered the permeability of the tracheal epithelium as well as active ion transport.
On Scientific Cognitive Methodology of Zhou Yi

It is extremely one sided to take Zhou Yi , an ancient book of divination, for sorcery. Zhou Yi is science as well as sorcery not only with scientific theories but also with systematic scientific cognitive methods, while the former is the result and proof of the latter. It is a historical outcome when China develops from ancient primitive civilization to rational civilization.
Arterial Thrombosis for the Clinician: Pathobiology and Emerging Concept

The prevention and treatment of coronary atherosclerosis and thrombosis are linked closely by common pathobiologic features. Patient care will undoubtedly benefit from an increased knowledge of disease mechanisms and clinical expression.
CAF: Perennial Struggle in Crises of Identity

Today, the centrality of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to football in Africa is immense. CAF organizes and administers African football and it is through its activities, visibly and invisibly, that the rest of the world understands African football. The founding of CAF, of course, does not precede football on the continent. Instead, founded in 1957, CAF appeared on the scene long after football transversed Africa through colonialism and evangelism. However, formal continent-wide organization of football and competition only arrived after CAF was established.