cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive blood pool segmentation in three-dimensions: Application to MR cardiac evaluation

MRI is an established method of imaging the cardiac blood pool in four dimensions and evaluating global cardiac function. However, segmentation of the cardiac blood pool from the myocardial wall continues to be a time-consuming task and is operator dependent. This has hampered the widespread use of cardiac MRI in evaluating global cardiac function. We propose the use of an adaptive threshold-based, three-dimensional region-growing technique to segment the cardiac blood pool from the myocardium and to compute left ventricular blood volumes. It uses a unique double segmentation approach incorporating information from the myocardium to help better detect the edges of the blood pool. The adaptive threshold segmentation technique was evaluated on four human subjects by comparing with manual segmentation. The automated segmentation technique is fast and agreed well with manual segmentation. Further, it requires minimal operator input and is robust and user friendly. The conclusion is that adaptive thresholds and a multidimensional region-growing approach is an appropriate method to segment the left ventricular blood pool.
Living and dying with glaciers: people’s historical vulnerability to avalanches and outburst floods in Peru

Original abstract: Human populations worldwide are vulnerable to natural disasters. Certain conditions—such as geographical location or people’s income level—can affect the degree to which natural disasters impact people’s homes and livelihoods. This paper suggests that vulnerability to natural disasters increases when local people, scientists, and policymakers do not communicate and trust each other. Additionally, a breakdown in interaction and confidence among these groups can disrupt the implementation of sound science or well-intentioned policies. This case study analyzes how local people, scientists, and government officials responded to glacier hazards in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca mountain range. Cordillera Blanca glacier retreat since the late-19th century has triggered some of the world’s most deadly avalanches and glacial lake outburst floods. Although a Peruvian glaciology and lakes security office has bcontrolledQ 35 Cordillera Blanca glacial lakes, 30 glacier disasters have killed nearly 30,000 people in this region since 1941. A lack of local faith in government officials and scientists as well as the State’s failure to follow scientists’ warnings about potential disasters have endangered or led to the death of thousands of local residents, many of which remain living in hazard zones today.
Gene amplification in cancer: A molecular cytogenetic approach

Many human tumors have been shown to exhibit cytologic evidence of gene amplification. In several instances the amplified genes have proven to be cellular oncogenes. We present an approach for combining cytogenetic and molecular biological techniques to systematically investigate this phenomenon.
Structure and properties of transition metal complexes of naphthoquinonedithiolate

Naphthoquinonedithiolate (nqdt) is a “noninnocent” ligand forming dithiolene transition metal complexes. Most [M(nqdt)2]−1 and [M(nqdt)2]−2 complex ions are planar with each forming an isomorphous series with the (n-butyl)4N+ (tba) counter ion. The cobalt complex is isolated as a step dimer (tba)2[Co(nqdt)2]2 where two square-planar monomer units are bonded via Co−S intermolecular interactions.Ab initio andsemi-empirical calculations are used to investigate the complex ions. The complexes form tba single crystals only with difficulty, and an extensive study with ions of various shapes and charges failed to identify a more satisfactory counter ion. The magnetic susceptibilities of four complexes are discussed. The (tba)[Ni(nqdt)2] complex undergoes a weak ferromagnetic transition at 4.43 K while a mixed oxidation state Mn(II) complex exhibits a weak ferromagnetic transition at 40K. The crystal structures of (tba) [Cu(nqdt)2], (tba)[Ni(nqdt)2], (tba)2[Ni(nqdt)2], (tba)2[Pd(nqdt)2], {(tba)[Co(nqdt)2]}2 and four side reaction products 5,7,12,14-tetrahydrodibenzo-[b,i]thianthrene-5,7,12,14-tetraone (2), benzocyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione-1,3-thiole-2-thione (3), a thiomethyl derivative (4), and an unusual oxidatively coupled product (5) are reported.
Type of Tobacco Product Used: Are There Differences between University and Community College Students?

This article describes and compares smoking prevalence, types of tobacco products used, and motivation to quit among college students at universities and community colleges. Data were collected using the Florida Annual College Tobacco Survey (FACTS). Nine universities and eight community colleges participated in the study (n = 4973). Most students (69%) experimented with tobacco. Cigarettes were used more often (57.4%), followed by Black 'N Mild (31.8%), cigars (30.1%), kreteks/bidis (24.1%), smokeless tobacco (13.9%), and pipe (8.9%). University students were more likely than community college students to have tried kreteks/bidis and cigars (p < .05). University students experimented at a significantly earlier age with cigarettes and pipes while community college experimented at a significantly earlier age with cigars and kreteks/bidis (p < .05). The majority of cigarette smokers (62%) were not interested in quitting. The implications for college tobacco education programs are discussed.
Comparison of a standard behavioral weight loss treatment and a binge eating weight loss treatment

Women with no, moderate, or severe binge eating were treated with either a standard behavioral weight loss treatment or a weight loss treatment modified to better address binge eating problems. Results indicated significant interactions between type of treatment and binge severity for weight loss. At posttreatment, there was a trend for women with severe binge eating to lose more weight in the binge eating treatment. This difference was significant at follow-up, as women with severe binge eating in the binge eating treatment continued to lose weight. Women with moderate binge eating problems lost more weight in the standard treatment. Weight loss for women who did not binge eat did not differ between the treatments. Binge eating, dietary restraint, and depression were significantly reduced, but were not reduced more by the binge eating treatment. Results provide preliminary data on an effective weight loss treatment for women with severe binge eating problems.
Immunodominance in CD4 T-cell responses: implications for immune responses to influenza virus and for vaccine design.

CD4 T cells play a primary role in regulating immune responses to pathogenic organisms and to vaccines. Antigen-specific CD4 T cells provide cognate help to B cells, a requisite event for immunoglobulin switch and affinity maturation of B cells that produce neutralizing antibodies and also provide help to cytotoxic CD8 T cells, critical for their expansion and persistence as memory cells. Finally, CD4 T cells may participate directly in pathogen clearance via cell-mediated cytotoxicity or through production of cytokines. Understanding the role of CD4 T-cell immunity to viruses and other pathogens, as well as evaluation of the efficacy of vaccines, requires insight into the specificity of CD4 T cells. This review focuses on the events within antigen-presenting cells that focus CD4 T cells toward a limited number of peptide antigens within the pathogen or vaccine. The molecular events are discussed in light of the special challenges that the influenza virus poses, owing to the high degree of genetic variabi...
Gas-phase acidity of urea

The kinetic method was applied to the estimation of the gas-phase acidity of urea by generating proton-bound dimeric anions comprised of urea and various reference compounds using negative ion desorption chemical ionization and examining their dissociation upon collision in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The individual mass-selected dimers fragment to yield the two deprotonated anions as the only product ions. From the relative product ion abundances, ΔH acid is determined to be 1513.8 ± 12 kJ mol -1 , ΔS acid is 85.8 ± 8 J mol -1 K -1 and ΔG acid is estimated to be 1488.2 ± 14 kJ mol -1 at 298 K by using ΔG acid = ΔH acid - TΔS acid , where the ΔH acid and ΔS acid values are determined directly from the kinetic method plots. The experimental ΔH acid value is in good agreement with a value of 1520.5 kJ mol -1 obtained from G2 molecular orbital calculations.
Genetic manipulation of hematopoietic stem cells

Over the past two decades, the ability to transfer genes into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has provided new insights into the behavior of individual stem cells and offered a novel approach for the treatment of various inherited or acquired disorders. At present, gene transfer into HSCs has been achieved mainly using modified retroviruses. While retrovirus-based vectors could efficiently transduce murine HSCs, extrapolation of these methods to large mammals and human clinical trials resulted in very low numbers of gene-marked engrafted cells. In addition, in vitro progenitor assays used to optimize gene transfer procedures were found to poorly predict the outcome of stem cell gene transfer. The focus rapidly turned to the development of superior and more relevant preclinical assays in human stem cell gene transfer research. Xenogeneic transplant models and large animal transplantation system have been invaluable. The development of better assays for evaluating human gene therapy protocols and a better understanding of stem cell and vector biology has culminated over the past decade in multiple strategies to improve gene transfer efficiency into HSCs. Improved gene transfer vectors, optimization of cytokine combination, and incorporation of a recombinant fragment of fibronectin during transduction are examples of novel successful additions to the early gene transfer protocols that have contributed to the first unequivocal clinical benefits resulting from genetic manipulation of HSC.
The armadillo repeats of the Ufd4 ubiquitin ligase recognize ubiquitin-fusion proteins

Armadillo (ARM) repeats have been identified in proteins regulating cell junction assembly, nuclear transport and transcription activation. Recent studies showed that a large number of ubiquitin (Ub) ligases (or E3s) also contain ARM repeats. The function of the ARM repeats in these E3s, however, remains unknown. Here we report that the ARM repeats of Ufd4, the E3 component of the UFD (Ub fusion degradation) pathway, recognize the Ub degradation signal of the UFD substrates. Disruption of the ARM repeats abolishes the ubiquitylating activity of Ufd4. This study uncovers a new role of the ARM repeats in protein ubiquitylation.
Looking into the Black Box: New Directions in Neuroimaging

Collectively, the results reviewed here suggest that fMRI can measure differential levels of activity in relatively small patches of cortex. As a result, investigators can pursue at least two kinds of neuroimaging studies in addition to traditional studies of functional anatomy.First, fMRI can be used to measure average receptive field properties in small patches of cortex. Examples include parameteric studies of responses to stimulus color, contrast, motion, and spatial pattern measured within identified visual areas. Parameteric studies probe the input/output characteristics of cortical areas more completely than the two condition designs used for functional anatomy. They provide more complete descriptions of how information is represented and processed. Such experiments are typical of electrophysiological research in nonhuman primates, and the results of human studies can be compared to those from other species, providing important tests of model systems (Tootell et al. 1996xTootell, R.B.H., Dale, A.M., Sereno, M.I., and Malach, R. Trends Neurosci., in press. 1996; See all ReferencesTootell et al. 1996). Human data will also be uniquely valuable for comparison with behavioral measurements.Second, fMRI can measure how receptive fields are organized within cortical areas. For example, fMRI should also be able to measure details of cortical maps in the auditory, somatosensory, and motor systems. It should also be able to reveal large scale computational organization within cortical areas. Examples include regional normalization or suppression of activity, reorganization or plasticity of receptive fields (Karni et al. 1995xKarni, A., Meyer, G., Jezzard, P., Adams, M.M., Turner, R., and Ungerleider, L.G. Nature. 1995; 377: 155–158Crossref | PubMedSee all ReferencesKarni et al. 1995), and attentional affects.
Computer Assisted Achievement Testing in Instruction

This paper reviews four areas in which the computer has influenced the theory and practice of achievement testing: a) test scoring and item analysis, b) item sampling, c) item generation, and d) the sequencing of items resulting in various types of adaptive testing. Also, reference is made to the impact of computer-assisted achievement testing upon the development, integration, and evaluation of instruction.
CAESAR—A high-efficiency CsI(Na) scintillator array for in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with fast rare-isotope beams

Abstract We report on the construction and commissioning of the high-efficiency CAESium-iodide scintillator ARray CAESAR, a device designed for in-beam γ ‐ray spectroscopy experiments utilizing fast beams of rare isotopes at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University (MSU). CAESAR consists of 192 CsI(Na) crystals, totaling 290 kg of active scintillator material. For 1 MeV γ rays, a full-energy-peak efficiency of 35% is achieved at an in-beam energy resolution of better than 10% FWHM after event-by-event Doppler reconstruction of the γ rays emitted by nuclei moving with velocities of v / c ∼ 0.3 – 0.4 . The spectral quality of the array allows for the identification of γ ‐ray transitions with intensities of several 10 counts in the full-energy peak and thus opens new avenues for the study of the most exotic nuclei available at the NSCL for in-beam spectroscopy.
pH Dependent C6 and C8 13C chemical shift assignment in N-acetyl neuraminic acid

Abstract Heteronuclear correlation NMR spectroscopy was employed in the unambigous carbon chemical shift assignment of N-acetyl neuraminic acid at pH 1.0 and 7.0. Our results show that at pH 1.0 the C6 resonance is slightly downfield from that of C8 and at pH 7.0 the C6 and C8 chemical shifts are transposed. These experiments firmly establish carbon chemical shift assignments in N-acetyl neuraminic acid for the first time.
The level and tempo of children's physical activities: an observational study.

We develop an observation system that quantifies the duration, intensity, and frequency of children's physical activities. We use this system to assess the level and tempo of energy expenditure under free-ranging, natural conditions experienced by 15 children aged 6-10 yr in southern California. Observations were recorded every 3 s during 4-h time blocks from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Agreement among observers using the coding system was 91%. Using indirect calorimetry, calibration studies in the laboratory determined VO2 (ml.min-1.min-1) during each coded activity, and activities were categorized by intensity (low, medium, or high). Subjects were found to engage in activities of low intensity 77.1% of time and activities of high intensity 3.1% of time. The median duration of low and medium intensity activities was 6 s, of high intensity activities only 3 s with 95% lasting less than 15 s. Children engaged in very short bursts of intense physical activity interspersed with varying intervals of low and moderate intensity. These findings may be important for discovering how children's activity patterns under natural conditions influence physiological processes leading to growth and development. This study demonstrates the advantages of using an observational system that captures more than the intensity and frequency of children's activities to include duration and the length of intervals between activities of varying intensity.
Outcome of older adults with cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML) and FLT3 mutations.

AML patients under the age of 60 whose blasts harbor a FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation have a higher relapse rate and inferior survival compared to those without this mutation. To determine if FLT3ITD also carries a negative prognostic impact in older adults receiving therapies commonly used in this age group, we retrospectively analyzed outcomes of patients ≥60 years with CN-AML according to FLT3 mutation status. We identified 91 newly diagnosed CN-AML patients, 55 with wild-type FLT3 and 36 with FLT3ITD. Of the 91 patients, 36 received supportive care and/or experimental therapies while the remaining 55 received induction chemotherapy, followed by allogeneic SCT in 17 of these patients. Based on univariate analysis, advanced age at diagnosis was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (OS) (p < .0001) while intensive therapies were associated with improved OS (p < .0001). In a multivariate analysis that accounted for type of treatment, patient age, gender, and WBC count, FLT3ITD was significantly associated with shorter OS compared to wtFLT3 [p = .001; hazard ratio (HR) = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.35–3.70]. Our data support the negative prognostic impact of FLT3ITD in older adults with CN-AML.
Pulmonary vein thrombosis

Pulmonary vein thrombosis is difficult to diagnose clinically and requires a combination of conventional diagnostic modalities. Transesophageal echocardiography was used in the present case to readily diagnose this entity and follow thrombus regression on anticoagulant therapy. This limited experience suggests that transesophageal echocardiography may be the initial diagnostic study of choice for pulmonary vein thrombosis.
Computing and updating the first-passage time distribution for randomly evolving degradation signals

This article considers systems that degrade gradually and whose degradation can be monitored using sensor technology. Different degradation modeling techniques, such as the Brownian motion process, gamma process, and random coefficients models, have been used to model the evolution of sensor-based degradation signals with the goal of estimating lifetime distributions of various engineering systems. A parametric stochastic degradation modeling approach to estimate the Residual Life Distributions (RLDs) of systems/components that are operating in the field is presented. The proposed methodology rests on the idea of utilizing in situ degradations signals, communicated from fielded components, to update their respective RLDs in real time. Given the observed partial degradation signals, RLDs are evaluated based on a first-passage time approach. Expressions for the first-passage time for a base case linear degradation model, in which the degradation signal evolves as a Brownian motion, are derived. The model is...
Memory facilitation by methylene blue: Dose-dependent effect on behavior and brain oxygen consumption

Methylene blue administered post-training improves memory retention in avoidance and appetitive tasks, and restores spatial memory impaired by an inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase. Methylene blue may improve memory retention by increasing brain oxygen utilization. We investigated which doses improve memory without nonspecific behavioral effects, and whether methylene blue enhances brain oxygen consumption. Different doses were evaluated 24 h after administration in wheel running, feeding, open field habituation and object recognition tests. The 1-10 mg/kg methylene blue-treated rats were not different from saline-treated rats in locomotion or feeding behavior. The 50-100 mg/kg doses decreased running wheel behavior. The 4 mg/kg dose improved behavioral habituation and object memory recognition. Dose-dependent effects of methylene blue on brain oxygen consumption revealed that low concentrations increased brain oxygen consumption in vitro and 24 h after in vivo administration. Therefore, methylene blue doses that increase brain oxygen consumption also facilitate memory retention.
Asymptomatic fusiform aneurysm of the petrous carotid artery in a patient with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis

Fusiform aneurysmal dilatation of the petrous portion of the right carotid artery was found in a young patient with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. The patient presented with sudden left-sided hearing loss, and, during the evaluation of the hearing deficit, an asymptomatic right-sided vascular abnormality was identified. This vascular abnormality is unusual because those abnormalities commonly associated with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis include occlusion of the cerebral arteries, arteriovenous malformations, and intracranial aneurysms. The pathophysiology and natural history of vascular abnormalities accompanying von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis are discussed.
Investigations in the Field of the Ultra-short Electromagnetic Waves. IV. On the Dependence of the Ultra-short Electromagnetic Waves upon the Heating Current and upon the Amplitude of the Oscillations

An investigation has been made of the dependence of the length of the ultrashort electromagnetic waves generated by vacuum tubes on the magnitude of the heating current. It is shown that the normal waves (i.e., waves the frequency of which corresponds to the frequency of the oscillations of the electrons about the grid of the tube) differ from the dwarf waves (i.e., waves with frequency ceeding several times the frequency of electronic oscillations) in their dependence on the heating current. The length of the normal waves increases, while the length of the dwarf waves of all orders decreases as the heating current is decreased. Therefore, as the heating current is decreased, there is a better agreement between the observed and computed values of wave-lengths of the normal and of the dwarf waves. At low heating currents the product ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}{E}_{g}$ for dwarf waves of different orders is very close to the theoretical values ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}{E}_{g}=\frac{{\mathrm{const}.}_{0}}{{n}^{2}} n=2, 3, 4, \ensuremath{\cdots}$ where ${\mathrm{const}.}_{\mathrm{o}}$ corresponds to the value of the product ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}{E}_{g}$ for normal waves. The results of the experiments are in agreement with the theory of P. S. Epstein, which explains the discrepancy between the calculated and the observed length of the normal and the dwarf waves being due to the influence of the alternating potentials appearing on the electrodes of the tube during oscillations. In the limit, at infinitely low amplitudes of these potentials, the ratio of the values of the products ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}{E}_{g}$ for normal and for dwarf waves approaches the theoretical value within the limits of the experimental error. Neglecting these alternating potentials introduces the largest error in the results of the existing theories of the generation of ultra-short waves. At sufficiently intensive oscillations, this error exceeds all the others taken together, including the error introduced through the simplifying assumption of plane electrodes. The limiting value of ${\mathrm{const}.}_{0}$ corresponding to infinitely low amplitudes of the alternating potentials, approaches very closely the value of the product ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}{E}_{g}$ calculated from the formulas of H. Barkhausen and A. Scheibe. This shows that normal waves really do correspond to a complete period of oscillations of the electrons about the grid, i.e., to the time the electrons take to pass from the filament to the grid and back to the filament.
Moving GIS Research Indoors: Spatiotemporal Analysis of Agricultural Animals

A proof of concept applying wildlife ecology techniques to animal welfare science in intensive agricultural environments was conducted using non-cage laying hens. Studies of wildlife ecology regularly use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess wild animal movement and behavior within environments with relatively unlimited space and finite resources. However, rather than depicting landscapes, a GIS could be developed in animal production environments to provide insight into animal behavior as an indicator of animal welfare. We developed a GIS-based approach for studying agricultural animal behavior in an environment with finite space and unlimited resources. Concurrent data from wireless body-worn location tracking sensor and video-recording systems, which depicted spatially-explicit behavior of hens (135 hens/room) in two identical indoor enclosures, were collected. The spatial configuration of specific hen behaviors, variation in home range patterns, and variation in home range overlap show that individual hens respond to the same environment differently. Such information could catalyze management practice adjustments (e.g., modifying feeder design and/or location). Genetically-similar hens exhibited diverse behavioral and spatial patterns via a proof of concept approach enabling detailed examinations of individual non-cage laying hen behavior and welfare.
Study on the Interactions Between Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Acetaminophen Crystals: Partial Dissolution Pattern Change

The objective of the study was to investigate the interactions between polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and acetaminophen crystal especially on crystal surface. The effects of PVP on the etching pattern change of the acetaminophen (010) face, solubility enhancement as well as the intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) of acetaminophen crystals have been studied. The etching patterns of the acetaminophen (010) face in the presence of PVP have stable ledges in the direction of a-axis, but deviate from c-axis, which shows that the dissolution on the (010) face has been affected by the adsorbed PVP especially in the direction of c-axis through van der Waals interactions rather than hydrogen bonding interactions. Even though PVP(K30) can enhance the solubility of acetaminophen in concentration higher than 1 mg/mL, the IDR of acetaminophen in diluted PVP solutions was lower than in water. Because the viscosity of those diluted PVP(K30) solutions were the same as water viscosity, the lowered IDR of acetaminophen cannot be explained simply by the viscosity effects of PVP solutions. Overall, the study suggests that the PVP molecules adsorbed on the surface of acetaminophen crystals play an important role in etching pattern change as well as the intrinsic dissolution rate change.
Constituents of the cotton bud: XII. The carotenoids in buds, seeds and other tissue

Eleven carotenoid pigments were found in the bud, leaf, flower petal, seedling and seed of the cotton plant; nine were identified and quantitated. The most abundant carotenoids in the green tissue of the cotton plant were β-carotene and lutein. Carotene hydrocarbons comprised 12% of the total carotenoids in the seed, 15% in the 1-day-old flower petal, 51% in the bud and 57% in green leaves. Only 5,8-epoxy carotenoids were found in the flower petals and only 5,6-epoxides in the other tissue but both were present in the seed. The colorless phytoene precursors to the carotenoids comprised from 20% to 38% of the total carotenoid pigment in the growing tissue of the plant.
Transposon regulation in Drosophila : piRNA-producing P elements facilitate repression of hybrid dysgenesis by a P element that encodes a repressor polypeptide

The transposons of Drosophila melanogaster are regulated by small RNAs that interact with the Piwi family of proteins. These piRNAs are generated from transposons inserted in special loci such as the telomere-associated sequences at the left end of the X chromosome. Drosophila’s P transposons can also be regulated by a polypeptide encoded by the KP element, a 1.15-kb-long member of the P family. Using piRNA-generating telomeric P elements (TPs) and repressor-producing transgenic KP elements, we demonstrate a functional connection between these two modes of regulation. By themselves, the TPs partially repress gonadal dysgenesis, a trait caused by rampant P-element activity in the germ line. This repression is manifested as a strictly maternal effect arising from the cytoplasmic transmission of P-specific piRNAs from mother to offspring. The repression is enhanced by genetic interactions between the TPs and other, non-telomeric P elements—a phenomenon attributable to ping-pong amplification of maternal piRNAs. KP elements, like other kinds of non-telomeric P elements, enhance regulation anchored in the TPs. However, with some TPs, the enhanced regulation is manifested as a strictly zygotic effect of the KP element. This effect is seen when the TP has few sequences in common with the KP element, a condition not conducive to ping-pong amplification of piRNAs; it can be attributed to the action of the KP repressor polypeptide. Because the effect is seen only when a TP was present in the mother’s genotype, maternally generated P-element piRNAs could facilitate regulation by the KP repressor polypeptide.
Minimally invasive surgery for urologic disease in children

Laparoscopy is important in the treatment of children undergoing renal surgery and for the management of nonpalpable testes. Despite this, laparoscopy is still underutilized in the treatment of urologic disorders in children, compared to adult patients. This Review discusses the most common urologic indications for laparoscopy in pediatric patients and highlights problems that are specific to this patient group.
Characterization of long-chain fatty acid uptake in Caulobacter crescentus

Studies evaluating the uptake of long-chain fatty acids in Caulobacter crescentus are consistent with a protein-mediated process. Using oleic acid (C18:1) as a substrate, fatty acid uptake was linear for up to 15 min. This process was saturable giving apparent Vmax and Km values of 374 pmol oleate transported/min/mg total protein and 61 μM oleate, respectively, consistent with the notion that one or more proteins are likely involved. The rates of fatty acid uptake in C. crescentus were comparable to those defined in Escherichia coli. Uncoupling the electron transport chain inhibited oleic acid uptake, indicating that like the long-chain fatty acid uptake systems defined in other gram-negative bacteria, this process is energy-dependent in C. crescentus. Long-chain acyl CoA synthetase activities were also evaluated to address whether vectorial acylation represented a likely mechanism driving fatty acid uptake in C. crescentus. These gram-negative bacteria have considerable long-chain acyl CoA synthetase activity (940 pmol oleoyl CoA formed/min/mg total protein), consistent with the notion that the formation of acyl CoA is coincident with uptake. These results suggest that long-chain fatty acid uptake in C. crescentus proceeds through a mechanism that is likely to involve one or more proteins.
A tissue culture model for mercury-selenium interactions.

Abstract In five- and six-day growth studies, Chang's liver cells and 3T3 cells were protected against selenite toxicity by mercuric chloride and by monomethyl mercury. They were also protected against mercuric chloride toxicity by selenite. The following results were obtained with Chang's liver cells only: Methyl mercury inhibits selenite uptake, and the optimal molar ratio of Ch 3 HgCl to Na 2 SeO 3 in the medium is on the order of one-tenth. These two observations suggest that methyl mercury interferes with sites for selenite transport into the cell. The optimal HgCl 2 Na 2 SeO 3 molar ratio in the growth medium varies from 1.2 to 2.0. At protective levels, selenite increases uptake of mercuric chloride on a per-cell basis. The molar ratio of uptake of the two substances varies with their ratio in the medium, but not in a linear fashion. These results suggest a minimum of two different protective interactions between mercuric chloride and sodium selenite.
Time Resolved Torque of Three-Dimensional Rotating Bluff Bodies in a Cylindrical Tank

Torque measurements have been made on rotating three-dimensional bluff bodies in a cylindrical container from start-up to mean flow steady state. The flow is observed to pass through three distinct temporal regimes in the transient process. These regimes include a build-up period where the torque remains approximately constant, a decay period where the torque decreases,- and a mean steady state where the mean torque remains at a constant level. Effects of body geometry, rotation rate, acceleration rate, and fluid height in the tank are quantified. The torque coefficient during the build-up and mean steady-state regimes is shown to be a function of Reynolds number and body geometry. A time scale marking the beginning of the decay period is presented in terms of the problem parameters. Over the range of parameters studied, the build-up, decay, and mean steady-state regimes are completely specified by the Reynolds number, geometric parameters, and decay time scale
Managing the risks of the new macro-prudential policy regime

Abstract The pursuit of a new “macro-prudential” policy agenda has become a call to arms for many central banks and multilateral institutions seeking to lean against financial factors that promote macroeconomic volatility. Cyclical use of prudential policy, such as variation in capital requirements, is fraught with risks. It should only be employed during extreme circumstances. In general, policy makers should focus on strengthening traditional monetary policy rules and micro-prudential policies.
Carbon monoxide-induced arterial wall hypoxia and atherosclerosis☆

The elevated carbon monoxide level found in tobacco smokers has been suggested as one etiologic factor linking it with atherosclerosis. Unquestionably carbon monoxide does induce some arterial wall hypoxia, which has been established as an atherogenic factor, but without knowing the extent and location of this hypoxia the importance of this mechanism could not previously be assessed. Carbon monoxide acts both by inducing hypoxemia and shifting the oxyhemoglobin equilibrium curve, with these effects acting on the oxygen transport system from both the luminal blood and the vasa vasorum. We have studied this system using a computer simulation of the human arterial wall and found significant, mid-medial hypoxia with blood carbon monoxide levels routinely found in smokers. Because these levels fluctuate, the hypoxia they induce would be expected to be uncompensated by increased vascularization and therefore potentially represent a much more significant factor in atherogenesis than chronic hypoxia alone.
Structural and Functional Studies of the Intracellular Tyrosine Kinase MATK Gene and Its Translated Product

We recently cloned the cDNA which encodes a novel megakaryocyte-associated tyrosine kinase termed MATK. In this study, we have cloned and characterized the human MATK gene as well as the murine homolog of human MATK cDNA and performed functional studies of its translated product. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of human and murine MATK cDNAs revealed 85% homology, indicating that MATK is highly conserved in mouse and human. The human gene consists of 13 exons interrupted by 12 introns. The genetic units which encode the SH3 and SH2 domains are located on separate exons. The putative ATP binding site (GXGXXG) is localized on exon 7, and the entire catalytic domain is subdivided into seven exons (7-13). Somatic cell hybrid analysis indicated that human MATK gene is located on chromosome 19 while the murine Matk gene is located on chromosome 10. The immediate 5'-flanking region was highly rich in GC sequences, and potential cis-acting elements were identified including several SP1, GATA-1, APRE, and APRE1. Antisense oligonucleotides directed against MATK mRNA sequences significantly inhibited megakaryocyte progenitor proliferation. Functional studies indicated that MATK can phosphorylate the carboxyl-terminal conserved tyrosine of the Src protein. These results support the notion that MATK acts as a regulator of p60c-src in megakaryocytic cells and participates in the pathways regulating growth of cells of this lineage.
Far-infrared lasers for power cable manufacturing

A far-infrared laser suitable for performing online and real-time inspection of high-voltage cable insulation at production rates is described. A fully automated laser instrument has been developed and installed at a cable factory for field evaluation. The system can detect defects as small as 50 μm in cable insulation at extrusion speeds up to 80 ft/min with a coverage greater than 95%.
Tongue adiposity and strength in healthy older adults.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To identify treatable risk factors for aspiration in older adults, particularly those associated with sarcopenia, we examined tongue composition. We hypothesized that isometric and swallowing posterior tongue strength would positively correlate with posterior tongue adiposity, and healthy older adults who aspirate would have greater tongue adiposity than healthy older adults who did not aspirate. Study Design: Prospective. Methods: Participants were 40 healthy adults, comprised of 20 aspirators (mean age, 78 years) and 20 nonaspirators (mean age, 81 years), as identified via flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. Measures of maximal isometric posterior tongue strength and posterior swallowing tongue strength were acquired via tongue manometry. An index of posterior tongue adiposity was acquired via computed tomography for a 1-cm region of interest. Results: Posterior tongue adiposity was correlated with posterior tongue isometric (r = 0.32, P = .05) but not swallowing pressures (P > .05) as examined with separate partial correlation analyses. Tongue adiposity did not significantly differ as a function of age, gender, or aspiration status (P > .05). Conclusions: Lower posterior isometric tongue strength was associated with greater posterior tongue adiposity. However, aspiration in healthy older adults was not affected by posterior tongue adiposity. This finding offers insight into the roles of tongue composition and strength in healthy older adults.
Approximation by superpositions of a sigmoidal function

In this paper we demonstrate that finite linear combinations of compositions of a fixed, univariate function and a set of affine functionals can uniformly approximate any continuous function ofn real variables with support in the unit hypercube; only mild conditions are imposed on the univariate function. Our results settle an open question about representability in the class of single hidden layer neural networks. In particular, we show that arbitrary decision regions can be arbitrarily well approximated by continuous feedforward neural networks with only a single internal, hidden layer and any continuous sigmoidal nonlinearity. The paper discusses approximation properties of other possible types of nonlinearities that might be implemented by artificial neural networks.
Milton's Arianism Reconsidered*

When in 1825 Bishop Charles Sumner published the text and his translation of Milton's long-lost theological study, the Christian Doctrine, the results were in a way disastrous for the reputation of the poet. Instead of being the great composer of the orthodox epic of Protestantism, Milton became in the eyes of the nineteenth century and even of our own day the heretic who advocated the belief in an unequal Trinity—a heresy originally associated with the fourth century church leader Arius. In the light especially of the fifth chapter of the Christian Doctrine, critics reread Paradise Lost and discovered that this same doctrine was implied in passages of the poem which had been accepted for a century and a half as entirely orthodox. The shock to critical and religious sensibilities was considerable; Milton's fame underwent an eclipse from which it perhaps has never really recovered. Although our own century may be less susceptible to disturbance from the presentation of heterodox views, much the same conception of Milton continues; all critics echo Masson's stern judgment that Milton's views of the nature of Christ “are expressly and emphatically those of high Arianism.”
Determination of Activity Coefficients of di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphoric Acid Dimer in Select Organic Solvents Using Vapor Phase Osmometry

Effective models for solvent extraction require accurate characterization of the nonideality effects for each component, including the extractants. In this study, the nonideal behavior of the industrial extractant di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid has been investigated using vapor pressure osmometry (VPO). From the osmometry data, activity coefficients for the HDEHP dimer were obtained based on a formulation of the regular solution theory of Scatchard and Hildebrand, and the Margules two- and three-suffix equations. The results show similarity with a slope-analysis based relation from previous literature, although important differences are highlighted. The work points towards VPO as a useful technique for this type of study, but care must be taken with the choice of standard and method of analysis.
Revealing the ISO/IEC 9126-1 Clique Tree for COTS Software Evaluation

Previous research has shown that acyclic dependency models, if they exist, can be extracted from software quality standards and that these models can be used to assess software safety and product quality. In the case of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software, the extracted dependency model can be used in a probabilistic Bayesian network context for COTS software evaluation. Furthermore, while experts typically employ Bayesian networks to encode domain knowledge, secondary structures (clique trees) from Bayesian network graphs can be used to determine the probabilistic distribution of any software variable (attribute) using any clique that contains that variable. Secondary structures, therefore, provide insight into the fundamental nature of graphical networks. This paper will apply secondary structure calculations to reveal the clique tree of the acyclic dependency model extracted from the ISO/IEC 9126-1 software quality standard. Suggestions will be provided to describe how the clique tree may be exploited to aid efficient transformation of an evaluation model.
Improving accessibility of the web with a computer game

Images on the Web present a major accessibility issue for the visually impaired, mainly because the majority of them do not have proper captions. This paper addresses the problem of attaching proper explanatory text descriptions to arbitrary images on the Web. To this end, we introduce Phetch, an enjoyable computer game that collects explanatory descriptions of images. People play the game because it is fun, and as a side effect of game play we collect valuable information. Given any image from the World Wide Web, Phetch can output a correct annotation for it. The collected data can be applied towards significantly improving Web accessibility. In addition to improving accessibility, Phetch is an example of a new class of games that provide entertainment in exchange for human processing power. In essence, we solve a typical computer vision problem with HCI tools alone.
A new phase unwrapping algorithm

A new phase unwrapping algorithm is proposed that combines the information contained in both the phase derivative and the principal value of the phase into an adaptive numerical integration scheme. This new algorithm has proven itself to be very reliable and it can be easily incorporated in standard homomorphic signal processors.
Hierarchical simultaneous localization and mapping

This paper presents a novel method of combining topological and feature-based mapping strategies to create a hierarchical approach to simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). More than simply running both processes in parallel, we use the topological mapping procedure to organize local feature-based methods. The result is an autonomous exploration and mapping strategy that scales well to large environments and higher dimensions while confronting the issue of obstacle avoidance. We have obtained successful results of our approach in an area spanning 5000 square meters.
Pest management benefits of compost mulch in apple orchards

The effect of compost application on weed, fungal, and insect pest management in apple orchards was investigated from 1999 to 2001. Composted poultry manure was applied in June 1999 to half of two small research orchards which had previously received little or no management. The compost provided weed control for 1 year after application. There was no effect of compost on apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) infection. In a laboratory experiment, growth of the brown rot fungus (Monilinia fructicola) was significantly slower on a compost substrate than a sterilized compost substrate. The compost significantly affected arthropod abundance during two years after application, with more predators and fewer herbivores in the compost treated plots. Populations of spotted tentiform leafminer ( Phyllonorycter blancardella) and migrating woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) nymphs were reduced in the compost plots. This study showed that the use of compost in an orchard ecosystem is beneficial to management of weed, fungal, and insect pests. The use of compost as a mulch in orchard ecosystems should be encouraged as a sustainable management practice because of a potential to reduce pesticide use. Published by Elsevier B.V.
In vitro propagation and life cycle of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus etunicatum

Progress in understanding the biology of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is hampered by the limited number of species that can be successfully propagated and studied in vitro . We report the establishment of monoxenic cultures of Glomus etunicatum in association with excised Ri T-DNA transformed carrot roots. The fungus can be propagated in vitro using monoxenically formed resting spores and/or colonized root fragments. Modified White's medium buffered with 10 mM MES (pH 6) or MOPSO (pH 6.5) was most optimal for the host root growth as well as for G. etunicatum spore germination and mycorrhiza formation. The number of resting spores formed in vitro correlated positively with the length of roots occupied by arbuscular mycorrhizal structures, including arbuscules and vesicles. Spores first appeared in dual cultures within two weeks of root inoculation. Sporulation was asynchronous and continued until root senescence. Under applied culture conditions, spores achieved mature appearance within 5–7 d after their initiation. Approximately 6% of monoxenic spores were aborted at different stages of their development. Although G. etunicatum spores formed in vitro exhibited general morphological and anatomical similarity to soil-borne inoculum, they were significantly smaller and had thicker spore walls than their soil-borne counterparts. Caution should, therefore, be exercised in utilizing the in vitro system as a model of growth and development of glomalean fungi in soil.
Treatment of Radiation-Induced Proctitis with Sucralfate Enemas

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of radiation-induced proctitis treated with sucralfate enemas.CASE SUMMARY:A 77-year-old white woman was transferred from an acute care institution to our inpatient rehabilitation unit with impaired mobility and reduced activities of daily living. Her condition was secondary to myopathy and peripheral neuropathy associated with postradiation chemotherapy and metastatic ovarian carcinoma. During her stay, she developed hematochezia and pain secondary to a diagnosis of radiation-induced proctitis. Her hemoglobin had reached a nadir of 7.3 g/dL. The patient received blood transfusions and was started on 10% w/v sucralfate retention enemas 2 g/20 mL daily for 12 consecutive days. She was symptom-free at discharge, with a stable hemoglobin of approximately 10 g/dL.DISCUSSION:Proctitis is a common adverse effect of radiotherapy to the lower abdomen and pelvic area. Sucralfate is an aluminum complex that acts as a local cytoprotective agent against ulceration of the gastrointestinal mu...