cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A hybrid learning network for shift-invariant recognition

A neural network and the associated learning algorithm are presented as a generic approach for invariant recognition of visual patterns independent of their geometric attributes, such as spatial location, orientation and scale. The network is a multi-layer hierarchy with each layer composed of a set of groups of nodes. The groups of the input layer represent local areas spatially arranged in the visual field according to the geometric variations. Each node in the subsequent higher layers receives input laterally from other groups of the same layer as well as vertically from the layer below. The learning that takes place in the vertical feed forward paths between layers is based on an unsupervised hybrid algorithm combining both competitive learning and Hebbian learning. As the result of the architecture and the hybrid learning, the desired invariant recognition emerges at the output layer of the network. The network can serve as a simple and biologically plausible computational model to account for the invariant object recognition in the biological visual system. Also, as the algorithm is generic and robust, it can be applied to solve various practical recognition problems.
Ab Initio Analysis of Electron Transport in Oligoglycines

We study the electrical characteristics of a group of glycine oligopeptides (1-, 3-, 6-, and 9-mers) molecules attached to gold nanoelectrodes using a combined density functional theorysGreen’s function approach. Our procedure considers the applied voltage through the molecule and contacts, recalculates self-consistently the molecular orbitals, Hamiltonian and overlap matrices at each applied voltage, and uses these results to estimate the current-voltage characteristics such that the chemistry of the molecule is fully considered when including the effect of the nanoelectrodes. Our results show that oligoglycines can be used to tailor specific properties for the fabrication of molecular devices and the characteristics may be strongly affected by the few contact atoms addressing the molecule. Oligoglycines show transport behaviors that go from ohmic conductance to Schottky barriers as the length of the oligomers and conformation of the electrode atoms vary.
Multigrid calculation of transonic flow past wing-tail-fuselage combinations

A computer program for calculating transonic potential flowfields about three-dimensional wing-tailfuselage combinations has been developed. The transonic potential equation is approximated and solved numerically using a finite volume method on a boundary-conforming coordinate system. The multigrid technique is utilized to accelerate convergence of the relaxation scheme and, thus, allow computations about multiple-component airplanes with reasonable expenditure of computer resources. The wing-tail flow interaction is investigated and results indicate that the tail exerts a noticeable effect on the wing loading when the tail is located near the wing trailing edge.
Comparison Of A Corner-Cube Reflector And A Plane Mirror In Folded-Path And Direct Transmission Through Atmospheric Turbulence

ABSTRACTPower spectra, histograms and cumulants of irradiance fluctuations of collimated laserbeams (He -Ne 6328 A) were measured for folded transmissions by a corner -cube reflector anda plane mirror and the direct transmission. Measurements were performed by using an at-mospheric turbulence chamber (one way path length 2.54 m) and also in the outside field(one way path length 274 meter.)INTRODUCTIONThe objective of the experiment was to clarify the different characteristics of foldedtransmission by a corner -cube reflector and a plane mirror through the atmospheric turbu- lence, and also to establish theoretical models for characterizing the irradiance fluc-tuations measured for these cases. Due to the unpredictable conditions of the real atmos-phere, we have emphasized on the experiments performed by using an atmospheric turbulencechamber, which can generate a locally isotropic and homogeneous turbulence in the labora- tory. The results of the field experiments will also be discussed.Experimental Set -up For The Laboratory ExperimentsThe experimental set -up is shown in Fig. 1. A collimated laser beam with the diameterof cross section 2.54 cm from a single -mode He -Ne gas laser (Spectra Physics 119, 6328 A)was used for the laboratory experiments using an atmospheric turbulence chamber. A cor-ner -cube reflector with the diameter 2.22 cm and a front surface aluminized plane mirrorof the size 4.45 cm x 2.54 cm with X/4 flatness were used for these experiments.
Effects of Traditional and Nontraditional Forms of Parental Involvement on School-Level Achievement Outcome: An HLM Study Using SASS 2007–2008

ABSTRACTThe authors examined parental involvement's (PI) impact on school performance. The hierarchical linear modeling method was applied to national Schools and Staffing Survey 2007–2008 data. They found that PI variables explained significant variance for the outcomes of (a) meeting adequate yearly progress (AYP) and (b) being free from sanctions. The authors also found that PI in (a) open houses, (b) parent–teacher conferences, and (c) special events were statistically significant positive predictors for meeting AYP, and that PI (a) on hiring teachers, (b) in open houses, and (c) in special events were statistically significant positive predictors for being free from sanctions. PI on hiring teachers seemed to be an important strategy in turning around schools. The similarity and difference in the sets of statistically significant predictors for both outcomes indicate that some PI strategies were effective for all schools while others were effective for particular situations. Implications and limitatio...
The susceptibility of superoxide dismutase in Lemna minor to systemic copper concentrated from wastewater

Lemna minor (duckweed) was grown for 7 days in secondary-treated domestic wastewater containing additions of total Cu from 0.024–0.220 mg/l. Starch gel electrophoresis of plant extracts followed by enzyme staining showed that activity of one of four isozymes, probably Mn-SOD, was inhibited in Lemna containing 408 μg Cu/g (dry wt) but not in plants containing 215 μg Cu/g (dry wt) or less. Measurement of SOD activity in a reaction mixture showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in activity in extracts made from plants containing 408 μg Cu/g (dry wt) but no reduction in activity when plants contained 215 μg Cu/g (dry wt) or less. The four isozymes found in Lemna were tentatively identified by CN-sensitivity as two each of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. The activity of SOD in Lemna grown in defined medium was measured at 12 U/mg total protein.
Oxyphilic granular cell adenoma of the parotid gland.

Abstract A case of oxyphilic granular cell adenoma of the parotid is reported. The histological and clinical characteristics as well as the frequency of occurrence have been reviewed. The oxyphilic granular cell adenoma of the parotid gland is a rare tumor which although considered benign may show malignant characteristics.
Differential Effects of TipE and a TipE-Homologous Protein on Modulation of Gating Properties of Sodium Channels from Drosophila melanogaster

β subunits of mammalian sodium channels play important roles in modulating the expression and gating of mammalian sodium channels. However, there are no orthologs of β subunits in insects. Instead, an unrelated protein, TipE in Drosophila melanogaster and its orthologs in other insects, is thought to be a sodium channel auxiliary subunit. In addition, there are four TipE-homologous genes (TEH1-4) in D. melanogaster and three to four orthologs in other insect species. TipE and TEH1-3 have been shown to enhance the peak current of various insect sodium channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. However, limited information is available on how these proteins modulate the gating of sodium channels, particularly sodium channel variants generated by alternative splicing and RNA editing. In this study, we compared the effects of TEH1 and TipE on the function of three Drosophila sodium channel splice variants, DmNav9-1, DmNav22, and DmNav26, in Xenopus oocytes. Both TipE and TEH1 enhanced the amplitude of sodium current and accelerated current decay of all three sodium channels tested. Strikingly, TEH1 caused hyperpolarizing shifts in the voltage-dependence of activation, fast inactivation and slow inactivation of all three variants. In contrast, TipE did not alter these gating properties except for a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of fast inactivation of DmNav26. Further analysis of the gating kinetics of DmNav9-1 revealed that TEH1 accelerated the entry of sodium channels into the fast inactivated state and slowed the recovery from both fast- and slow-inactivated states, thereby, enhancing both fast and slow inactivation. These results highlight the differential effects of TipE and TEH1 on the gating of insect sodium channels and suggest that TEH1 may play a broader role than TipE in regulating sodium channel function and neuronal excitability in vivo.
Differential effects of intrathecal thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on perineal reflexes in male rats

The effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the sexual and defecatory reflexes regulated by pudendal motoneurons were investigated. Intrathecal TRH (10 μl volume; 0.0, 0.01, 1.0, or 100 μM concentration) at lumbosacral spinal segments (L4-S1) in acute preparations produced a dose-dependent increase in external anal sphincter (EAS), but not bulbospongiosus (BS), electromyographic (EMG) activity. Intraspinal (L6) injection of 100 μM TRH (1 μl/micropipette), significantly increased EAS EMG activity in acute preparations. Electromyographic activity of the BS muscle was unchanged. All doses of intrathecal TRH (10 μl volume; 0, 10, 50, 100, or 500 μM concentration) in awake animals significantly reduced the proportion of responders to a penile reflex test. Subsequently, all measures of penile reflexes were significantly reduced. Glans tumescence and defecation bouts before or during penile reflex testing were unaffected by intrathecal TRH as were indices of behavioral and motor hyper-reactivity analogous to that produced by serotonin. These data indicate that pudendal motoneurons, in the dorsomedial nucleus, are differentially regulated by neuropeptides present in the lumbosacral spinal cord.
On the dependence structure of order statistics and concomitants of order statistics

Abstract Let (Xi,Yi),i=1,…,n, be n independent identically distributed pairs of rv's. If the Xi are ordered, one obtains both the order statistics X1:n≤⋯≤Xn:n and their concomitants Y[1:n],…,Y[n:n], where Y[r:n],r=1,…,n, are the Yi paired with Xr:n. Some results of Tukey (1958) on the dependence structure of the Xi:n are reviewed and extended. Conditions are given for the Y[i:n] to be associated or to be multivariate totally positive of order 2 (MTP2). It is also shown that the covariance of two order statistics can be negative if the Xi are sufficiently negatively dependent.
EFFECT OF CYCLOHEXIMIDE ON THE CELL CYCLE OF THE CRYPTS OF THE SMALL INTESTINE OF THE RAT

A single injection of 1.5 mg/kg of cycloheximide induces a complete disappearance of mitotic activity in rat intestinal crypts within 1.5-2 hr. No significant necrosis of crypt cells is observed even though this phenomenon is accompanied by a marked decrease in uptake of labeled precursors into protein and DNA. Mitoses reappear 6 hr after injection and recovery then follows a cyclic pattern over a period equivalent to one cell cycle, thereby reflecting at least a partial synchronization of cell division. Concurrent use of colchicine, an agent known to induce metaphase arrest, has demonstrated that cycloheximide, while having no apparent effect on cells already in division, prevents the entrance of new cells into visible mitosis. Analysis of the cell cycle suggests that one block initiated by cycloheximide occurs in G(2), presumably as the result of an interference with the formation of protein(s) required for the normal progression of cells from this phase of the cycle into mitosis.
Even-odd electron number effects in small superconducting islands

Abstract We present experiments in which the even-odd electron number dependence of a superconducting island is investigated by way of electron tunneling. The experiments are performed in a single-electron transistor configuration in which a superconducting Al island is in tunneling contact with either superconducting Al or normal Au bias electrodes. A gate electrode is used to modify the island charge. A salient 2 e periodic behavior appears in the tunneling current versus gate charge characteristic as a result of an even-odd free energy difference F o . The experimental 2 e to e periodicity crossover line T * (H) is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. With normal leads the current is attributed to an Andreev-like tunneling process which depends on the parity of the number of electrons on the island.
Expectations and social decision-making: biasing effects of prior knowledge on Ultimatum responses

Psychological studies have long demonstrated effects of expectations on judgment, whereby the provision of information, either implicitly or explicitly, prior to an experience or decision can exert a substantial influence on the observed behavior. This study extended these expectation effects to the domain of interactive economic decision-making. Prior to playing a commonly-used bargaining task, the Ultimatum Game, participants were primed to expect offers that would be either relatively fair (a roughly equal split of an endowed amount) or unfair (an unequal split, to the participant’s disadvantage). A third group played the Game without receiving any prior information about expected offers. As predicted, these expectations had a large effect on decisions made by participants in the Ultimatum Game, with those with expectations of fairness rejecting significantly more unfair offers than those participants who expected low offers. Implications for models of fairness and equity are discussed.
Biology of reproduction in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus): II. The ovary

Gross and microscopic observations on the squirrel monkey ovary is described. The luteal tissues are present in two broadly distinct stages of activity. The degree of follicular development appears to be affected by the level of luteal activity. Circumstantial evidences have been presented to indicate that squirrel monkey females may be an induced ovulator.
Photochemical behaviour of the Nd(III) and Ho(III) complexes of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

The photochemical decomposition of Nd3+/EDTA and Ho3+/EDTA has been carried out at 300 nm, and followed by changes within the hypersensitive absorption transitions of these ions. It was found that a single decarboxylation of the EDTA ligand occurred, and CO2 gas was evolved. The reaction terminates after approx. 1 mol of CO2 per mole of EDTA is produced, since the photoproduct absorbs strongly at 300 nm. Initial quantum yields were found to vary with pH, but averaged between 0.1 and 0.5 mol/Einstein.
The safety of topical erythromycin.

The prevention of allergic complications depends on the use of topical medications which have proved to be rare sensitizers. This is particularly true for stasis ulcers and eczemas which are notoriously readily sensitized. Topical erythromycin has proved in be such a non-sensitizing topical antibiotic. In a series of 60 patients with stasis ulcers, erythromycin in the form of llotycin ointment (erythromycin in petrolatum) was applied. Not a single instance of allergic sensitization occurred. No instances of sensitization with positive patch tests to topical erythromycin have been reported. Maximization tests with topical erythromycin did not produce sensitization. Topical erythromycin. an effective antibiotic, should be substituted for neomycin which is a common sensitizer.
The malleability of spatial skills: a meta-analysis of training studies.

spatial skills. After eliminating outliers, the average effect size (Hedges’s g) for training relative to control was 0.47 (SE 0.04). Training effects were stable and were not affected by delays between training and posttesting. Training also transferred to other spatial tasks that were not directly trained. We analyzed the effects of several moderators, including the presence and type of control groups, sex, age, and type of training. Additionally, we included a theoretically motivated typology of spatial skills that emphasizes 2 dimensions: intrinsic versus extrinsic and static versus dynamic (Newcombe & Shipley, in press). Finally, we consider the potential educational and policy implications of directly training spatial skills. Considered together, the results suggest that spatially enriched education could pay substantial dividends in increasing participation in mathematics, science, and engineering.
Thermal and mechanical properties of linear segmented polyurethanes with butadiene soft segments

A series of segmented polyurethanes based on a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene soft segment (HTPBD) have been prepared with varying hard segment content between 20 and 60 weight percent. These materials are linear and amorphous and have no potential for hydrogen bonding between the “hard” and “soft” segments. The existence of two-phase morphology was deduced from dynamic mechanical behavior and thermal analysis. Both techniques showed a soft segment glass transition temperature, Tgs, at −56°C and hard segment transitions between 20 and 100°C, depending on the urethane content. The low value of Tg, only 8° higher than the Tg of free HTPBD and independent of hard segment concentration indicated nearly complete phase segregation. Depending on the nature of the continuous and dispersed phases, the urethanes behaved as elastomers below 40 weight percent hard segment or as glasslike materials at higher hard segment contents. The effect of thermal history on transitions of the HTPBDurethanes was also investigated and the results suggest that the absence of hydrogen bonding to the soft segment must account for the extraordinary insensitivity to thermal history in dynamic mechanical, thermal and stress-strain behavior. Comparisons are made to the more common polyurethanes containing polyether and polyester soft segments.
A simplified method for assessing PHA induced stimulation of rat peripheral blood lymphocytes

Abstract A simple micro-method is described for assaying lymphocyte stimulation in the rat. This method utilizes Percoll as the density gradient, fetal calf serum as the medium supplement and [ 125 I]UdR/FUdR as the label. The technique provides a simple and rapid assay of lymphocyte stimulation of rat peripheral blood lymphocytes.
Role of inflammation in mouse lung tumorigenesis: a review.

Peritumoral and intratumoral macrophages are associated with human and mouse lung cancer. The mouse model allows manipulation of the macrophage population to experimentally evaluate its contribution to tumor growth. Genetic and pharmacologic strategies also permit testing the involvement of specific inflammatory mediators in tumor progression. Among those endogenous mediators thus identified are interleukin (IL)-10, glucocorticoids, prostacyclin, nitric oxide, and surfactant apoprotein D (SP-D); serum SP-D levels are a useful biomarker to monitor tumor growth rate. The importance of understanding the mutually antagonistic roles of individual prostaglandins downstream from cycloxygenase (COX) and how this affects the efficacy of COX-inhibitory drugs is discussed. Promising drug candidates include synthetic glucocorticoids such as budesonide and the sulfone derivative of sulindac, apotosyn.
Coupling scheduler for MapReduce/Hadoop

Current schedulers of MapReduce/Hadoop are quite successful in providing good performance. However improving spaces still exist: map and reduce tasks are not jointly optimized for scheduling, albeit there is a strong dependence between them. This can cause job starvation and bad data locality. We design a resource-aware scheduler for Hadoop, which couples the progresses of mappers and reducers, and jointly optimize the placements for both of them. This mitigates the starvation problem and improves the overall data locality. Our experiments demonstrate improvements to job response times by up to an order of magnitude.
Effects of fixed ratio size and dose on phencyclidine self-administration by rats.

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer phencyclidine (PCP; 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg/injection) on a fixed ratio (FR) schedule of reinforcement under limited access conditions (3 h). Initial training began with cocaine, which was later replaced with ketamine and then one of the three unit doses of PCP. Baseline rates of injection were determined at RF 10. The size of the ratio was then incremented geometrically every fifth daily session. Increasing the ratio resulted in a decrease in the number of injections per session. Furthermore, this decrease was greater for the 0.25 mg/kg dose than for the 0.5 mg/kg unit dose. The self-administration of the 0.125 mg/kg dose was variable and rapidly extinguished upon the increase in fixed ratio. The results indicate that PCP is self-administered by rats under the conditions imposed in this study. Furthermore, the relative reinforcing efficacy of the different unit doses of PCP could be discriminated using this type of response cost procedure.
Sources and sinks of methane in Lake Kivu

Africa's Lake Kivu, which borders Rwanda and the Republic of the Congo, contains huge amounts of methane (an estimated 60 cubic kilometers) and carbon dioxide (an estimated 300 cubic kilometers). Although the methane could provide a source of energy if it could be tapped, the high concentrations of gases pose a risk of dangerous gas eruptions, threatening the local population. Furthermore, it has been reported that concentrations of methane have risen by as much as 15% in the past 30 years. Scientists need to learn more about the sources and sinks of methane in Lake Kivu to better assess the risk of catastrophic outgassing and sustainability of methane harvesting.
The effect of chlormethiazole on serum gonadotrophins and testosterone in chronic alcoholics

SummarySerum gonadotrophins (LH and FSH) and testosterone concentrations were estimated by radioimmunoassay in 7 male chronic alcoholics on admission and following treatment with chlormethiazole for 6 days. Individual and mean values of serum LH and FSH were within normal limits both before and after treatment, but serum testosterone concentrations were found to be slightly higher than normal on both occasions. Chlormethiazole does not seem to have any effect on serum gonadotrophins or testosterone. It is further suggested that chlormethiazole does not interfere with the hypothalamic releasing factors for pituitary gonadotrophins and that it has no direct effect on testicular endocrine functions.
Neurotrophins and target interactions in the development and regulation of sympathetic neuron electrical and synaptic properties

The electrical and synaptic properties of neurons are essential for determining the function of the nervous system. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that control the appropriate developmental acquisition and maintenance of these properties is a critical problem in neuroscience. A great deal of our understanding of these developmental mechanisms comes from studies of soluble growth factor signaling between cells in the peripheral nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system has provided a model for studying the role of these factors both in early development and in the establishment of mature properties. In particular, neurotrophins produced by the targets of sympathetic innervation regulate the synaptic and electrophysiological properties of postnatal sympathetic neurons. In this review we examine the role of neurotrophin signaling in the regulation of synaptic strength, neurotransmitter phenotype, voltage-gated currents and repetitive firing properties of sympathetic neurons. Together, these properties determine the level of sympathetic drive to target organs such as the heart. Changes in this sympathetic drive, which may be linked to dysfunctions in neurotrophin signaling, are associated with devastating diseases such as high blood pressure, arrhythmias and heart attack. Neurotrophins appear to play similar roles in modulating the synaptic and electrical properties of other peripheral and central neuronal systems, suggesting that information provided from studies in the sympathetic nervous system will be widely applicable for understanding the neurotrophic regulation of neuronal function in other systems.
Advancing the scientific study of war

Although much research has been done, the scientific study of war has not progressed as rapidly as it could have due to a lack of integrative cumulation. To rectify this situation the war puzzle mu...
A new Sphaerellocystis (Palmellopsidaceae, Tetrasporales) from Prairie soils

Summary The unicellular green alga Sphaerellocystis has been studied in bacterized as well as axenic cultures. An isolate from enriched prairie soil samples has been compared to all validly described species within the genus. The authors have found no coincident groups of characteristics which would allow assigning this isolate to a previously described taxon. Therefore, we have described the organism as Sphaerellocystis aplanospora sp. nov. Additionally we have studied certain physiological, biochemical and ultrastructural attributes of the isolate. These should be useful as supplementary characteristics for the genus and its species as other species are isolated and cultured for meaningful comparative evaluation of the entire genus and apparently related genera.
Intestinal effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine and morphine in guinea pigs, dogs, cats and monkeys.

Abstract Intestinal introluminal pressure was measured in vivo in anesthetized guinea pigs, dogs, cats ad monkeys. In guinea pigs, but not in the other species, the intestinal stimulatory effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine was antagonized by morphine. The 5-HT-blocking action of morphine in intestine seems to be unique to the guinea pig.
Seeking safe passage: Argentine women's perceptions of routine prenatal care.

When we were studying in Argentina, we became aware that many of the women did not participate in routine prenatal care. We completed descriptive qualitative interviews with 17 hospitalized women about their perceptions regarding prenatal care. Several themes arose related to the women's use of prenatal care: prenatal care utilization and outcomes, getting there, getting by, waiting, turning red, and knowing. Future research should concentrate on identifying components of prenatal care to build a best practice model of prenatal care that is culturally sensitive and personally relevant to provide safe passage for the women of Tucuman.
Thermoelasticity and the formation of black smokers

Darcy's Law flow in a permeable medium, consisting of uniform parallel evenly spaced fractures, is used to elucidate how thermoelastic effects may modify the permeability and flow in fracture-controlled hydrothermal systems. Some simple permeability models are then used to investigate whether black smoker venting can result from focussing of low velocity porous flow into fractures at shallow depths (≃ 100 m.). The models indicate that: (a) thermoelastic processes may be important in controlling the temporal evolution of hydrothermal upflow zones; (b) permeability structure, not just the bulk value of the permeability, may be critical for the formation of black smokers; (c) a small zone extending to a depth of ≃ 100 m containing a few fractures a factor of 2 or more wider than average may be sufficient to focus upflow into discrete vents provided thermoelastic and chemical effects seal parts of the upper crust.
The Mitochondrial Benzodiazepine Receptor as a Potential Target Protein for Drug Development: Demonstration of Functional Significance with Cell Lines Exhibiting Differential Expression of Bcl-2

The article highlighted in this issue is "Reversal of Bcl-2 Mediated Resistance of the EW36 Human B-Cell Lymphoma Cell Line to Arsenite and Pesticide-Induced Apoptosis by PK11195, a Ligand of the Mitochondrial Benzodiazepine Receptor" by Donna E. Muscarella, Kerry A. O'Brien, Ann T. Lemley, and Stephen E Bloom from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY (pp. 66-73). The following brief review summarizes their findings, highlights the novel biological model and experimental approach used, and explores potential mechanistic and therapeutic implications of these findings.
Influence of lipid class and fatty acid deficiency on survival, growth, and fatty acid composition in rainbow trout juveniles

Abstract Triplicate groups of rainbow trout (182 ± 51 mg) were fed four experimental casein–gelatin based diets containing different fatty acid levels for 8 weeks. Diet 1, containing only the oleic acid methyl ester (18:1 n − 9), was used as an essential fatty acids deficient diet. Diet 2, supplemented with olive and linseed oils was designed to provide moderate amount of linoleic (18:2 n − 6) and linolenic (18:3 n − 3) acids in the form of triglycerides. Diet 3 contained cod liver oil and provided highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) as well as their precursors. Diet 4, supplemented with soy-refined lecithin, contained high levels of 18:2 n − 6 in the form of phospholipids. At the end of the experiment, the growth of fish fed the lecithin supplemented diet was significantly higher (17 fold increase) than that of the other groups (6–14 fold increase). Survival was significantly lower in fish fed the diet 1 in comparison to fish fed the other experimental diets (57.8% vs. 84.4–86.7%). Fish fed diets 1 and 4 contained significantly less total and neutral lipids in the whole body than fish fed diets 2 and 3. Whole body fatty acid profiles from both neutral and phospholipid fractions closely reflected dietary fatty acid composition. Fish fed linoleate containing phospholipids preferentially deposited this fatty acid in neutral lipids (33.0 ± 1.6%) in comparison to body phospholipids deposition (21.2 ± 1.0%). An increase of dietary linoleate also resulted in a significantly higher percentage of arachidonate (20:4 n − 6) in fish body phospholipids. In conclusion, selective accumulation of 18, 20, and 22 polyunsaturated fatty acids in body of juvenile rainbow trout is the function of fatty acid origin, e.g., lipid class, which has been very little studied in this species.
Low-rank separated representation surrogates of high-dimensional stochastic functions: Application in Bayesian inference

This study introduces a non-intrusive approach in the context of low-rank separated representation to construct a surrogate of high-dimensional stochastic functions, e.g., PDEs/ODEs, in order to decrease the computational cost of Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations in Bayesian inference. The surrogate model is constructed via a regularized alternative least-square regression with Tikhonov regularization using a roughening matrix computing the gradient of the solution, in conjunction with a perturbation-based error indicator to detect optimal model complexities. The model approximates a vector of a continuous solution at discrete values of a physical variable. The required number of random realizations to achieve a successful approximation linearly depends on the function dimensionality. The computational cost of the model construction is quadratic in the number of random inputs, which potentially tackles the curse of dimensionality in high-dimensional stochastic functions. Furthermore, this vector-valued separated representation-based model, in comparison to the available scalar-valued case, leads to a significant reduction in the cost of approximation by an order of magnitude equal to the vector size. The performance of the method is studied through its application to three numerical examples including a 41-dimensional elliptic PDE and a 21-dimensional cavity flow.
Flea-associated zoonotic diseases of cats in the USA: bartonellosis, flea-borne rickettsioses, and plague

Cat-scratch disease, flea-borne typhus, and plague are three flea-associated zoonoses of cats of concern in the USA. Although flea concentrations may be heaviest in coastal and temperate climates, fleas and flea-borne disease agents can occur almost anywhere in the USA. Understanding flea-borne pathogens, and the associated risks for owners and veterinarians, is important to reduce the likelihood of zoonotic infection.
Kinetics of water loss from cells at subzero centigrade temperatures.

Abstract A mathematical model is developed for the calculation of the kinetics of water loss from cells at subzero centigrade temperatures. In this model it is assumed that the cell surface membrane is permeable to water only, the protoplasm is a nonideal solution, the cells are spherical, and during the cooling process the cell temperature is not uniform inside the cell. It is also assumed that because of water loss due to cooling process the cell volume and the cell surface area reduce and the reductions in surface area and volume of the cell are functions of the amount of water loss from the cell. Based on this model, and for different conditions, the fractions of supercooled intracellular water remaining in the cells at various temperatures are calculated. It is shown that for cooling cells at subzero centigrade temperatures. (1) the consideration of Clausius-Clapeyron equation for vapor pressures of water and ice, instead of the exact vapor pressure relations, may produce errors in the prediction of the amount of water loss from the cells at high cooling rates only, (2) the assumption of intact cells will produce considerable deviation in the prediction of water loss from the cells as compared to the more realistic assumption of shrinkable cells, (3) the nonideality of protoplasm solution is very effective on the prediction of the amount of water loss from the cells, and (4) the assumption of uniform-temperature cells during the cooling process may be erroneous only for cells with small fractions of water in their protoplasms.
Using fragile bit coincidence to improve iris recognition

The most common iris biometric algorithm represents the texture of an iris using a binary iris code. Not all bits in an iris code are of equal value. A bit is deemed fragile if it varies in value across iris codes created from different images of the same iris. Previous research has shown that iris recognition performance can be improved by masking these fragile bits. Rather than ignoring fragile bits completely, we consider what beneficial information can be obtained from the fragile bits. We find that the locations of fragile bits tend to be consistent across different iris codes of the same eye. We present a metric, called the fragile bit distance, which quantitatively measures the coincidence of the fragile bit patterns in two iris codes. We find that score-fusion of fragile bit distance and Hamming distance works better for recognition than Hamming distance alone. This is the first and only work that we are aware of to use the coincidence of fragile bit locations to improve the accuracy of matches.
A multilevel data integration resource for breast cancer study

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types. Due to the complexity of this disease, it is important to face its study with an integrated and multilevel approach, from genes, transcripts and proteins to molecular networks, cell populations and tissues. According to the systems biology perspective, the biological functions arise from complex networks: in this context, concepts like molecular pathways, protein-protein interactions (PPIs), mathematical models and ontologies play an important role for dissecting such complexity. In this work we present the Genes-to-Systems Breast Cancer (G2SBC) Database, a resource which integrates data about genes, transcripts and proteins reported in literature as altered in breast cancer cells. Beside the data integration, we provide an ontology based query system and analysis tools related to intracellular pathways, PPIs, protein structure and systems modelling, in order to facilitate the study of breast cancer using a multilevel perspective. The resource is available at the URL http://www.itb.cnr.it/breastcancer . The G2SBC Database represents a systems biology oriented data integration approach devoted to breast cancer. By means of the analysis capabilities provided by the web interface, it is possible to overcome the limits of reductionist resources, enabling predictions that can lead to new experiments.
Expression of histocompatibility antigens, transferrin receptors, intermediate filaments, and alkaline phosphatase by in vitro cultured rat placental cells and rat placental cells in situ

Abstract Rat placental cells (RPCs) derived from the chorioallantoic placenta of day-12 Holtzman rats were tested for the expression of class I and class II RTI histocompatibility antigens, transferrin receptors, intermediate filaments, and alkaline phosphatase. The binding of mouse monoclonal antibodies to those antigens by RPCs was compared with the binding of the same reagents to rat placental cells in situ. RPCs expressed low levels of class I antigens and failed to express detectable levels of class II antigens. RPCs resisted up-regulation of expression of class I antigens by interferon-gamma, and did not express class II antigens following exposure to medium containing interferon. Transferrin receptors; cytokeratin intermediate filaments, and alkaline phosphatase were universally expressed by RPCs. Taken together with the patterns of expression of the same antigens by rat placental cells in situ, the results suggest that RPCs comprise labyrinthine trophoblast cells. Those cells may provide a valuable new approach for studying the structures and functions of trophoblast cells in vitro.
Effect of Acidulants and Milk-Clotting Enzymes on Yield, Sensory Quality, and Proteolysis of Pizza Cheese Made by Direct Acidification,

Abstract Various acidulants (hydrochloric, phosphoric, and lactic acids) and milk-clotting enzymes (pepsin, veal rennet, and a commercial fungal rennet) were used to make Pizza cheese by the direct acidification-continuous agitation procedure without added lactic starter cultures. Recovery of solids-not-fat was the highest in the finished cheese when phosphoric acid was used. The type of acid had no effect on recovery of fat. Fat and solids-not-fat recovery in cheese was not affected by the type of enzyme. Proteolysis, as measured by levels of nitrogen soluble at pH 4.4 and formol nitrogen, in cheese during storage at 4 C was greatest in lots made with fungal rennet and least in those made with pepsin. Levels of nitrogen soluble in 12% trichloracetic acid were lowest in cheese made with veal rennet. Flavor grades after one week and one and two months of storage at 4 C were highest in cheese made with pepsin and lowest in cheese made with veal rennet. Cheese made with veal rennet was criticized for excessive bitterness after one month.
Reduction of stuttering frequency using analog electromyographic feedback.

Three stutterers were taught to reduce resting muscle activity by using analog electromyographic feedback from four sites over different muscle groups. They were then trained to reduce muscle activity prior to uttering selected sentences. A functional analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the decrease in stuttering frequency on initial phonemes and the reduction of electrical activity at each muscle site. Subjects demonstrated different responses to training. One subject’s greatest decrease in stuttering frequency was associated with muscle activity training at a lip site. A second subject’s greatest decrease in stuttering was associated with training at a laryngeal site. A third subject’s greatest decreases in stuttering were with both lip and laryngeal site training. Following these demonstrations that stuttering could be controlled with electromyographic feedback, a practical management program was designed for a fourth stutterer. Feedback training to reduce electromyographic act...
Spectroscopic imaging for detection of ischemic injury in rat kidneys by use of changes in intrinsic optical properties

It is currently impossible to consistently predict kidney graft viability and function before and after transplantation. We explored optical spectroscopy to assess the degree of ischemic damage in kidney tissue. Tunable UV laser excitation was used to record autofluorescence images, at different spectral ranges, of injured and contralateral control rat kidneys to reveal the excitation conditions that offered optimal contrast. Autofluorescence and near-infrared cross-polarized light-scattering imaging were both used to monitor changes in intensity and spectral characteristics, as a function of exposure time to ischemic injury. These two modalities provided different temporal behaviors, arguably arising from two different mechanisms providing direct correlation of intrinsic optical signatures to ischemic injury time.
Deduced sequences show multiple repeats in two D proteins from the tubular accessory glands of Tenebrio molitor

Abstract The D group proteins are major secretory products of the tubular accessory glands of male mealworm beetles ( Tenebrio molitor ). They vary in apparent molecular mass between 22 and 30 kDa. In this paper we present the deduced amino acid sequence of two similar acidic D proteins, termed D1 and D2. These proteins have a structure based on peculiarly repeated sequences. Both molecules consist of three domains. Proceeding from the amino terminus, the acidic A and A′ domains are predicted to contain long alpha helical segments. The carboxy-terminal region or B domain is basic and is composed of shorter alpha helical stretches interrupted by turns. D1 and D2 differ in the number of repeats within the A′ and B domains.
Differential APP gene expression in rat cerebral cortex, meninges, and primary astroglial, microglial and neuronal cultures

Abstract Differential amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene expression was investigated in primary cultures of astrocytes, neurons and microglia from neonatal rat cerebral cortex as well as in meninges, and young and adult cerebral cortex tissues in order to define the possible contribution of individual CNS cell types in βAP deposition. Meninges and neurons contained higher levels of total APP mRNA than glial cells and APP 695 mRNA was abundant in neurons while glial cells and meninges contained higher levels of KPI-containing mRNAs. These results demonstrate cell-specific transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of APP gene expression in CNS cell types. In addition, the steady-state level of APPs in each cell type did not reflect mRNA levels indicating translational or post-translational regulation.
Rat-1 fibroblasts engineered with GAD65 and GAD67 cDNAs in retroviral vectors produce and release GABA.

: We have used a retroviral cDNA expression system to drive the expression of the different forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65, GAD67, or both). Individual clones of engineered Rat-1 cells make the appropriate GAD mRNAs and GAD polypeptides, show GAD enzymatic activity, and make GABA. Clones expressing GAD65 had higher enzymatic activity than those expressing GAD67. As is the case for brain GADs and for GADs produced in engineered bacteria, the enzymatic activity of GAD66 is more responsive to added pyridoxal phosphate than that of GAD67. Immunostaining for both GADs is scattered throughout the cytoplasm. GAD65 immunostaining is less homogeneous than that of GAD67 and also appears to be associated with the surfaces of large vesicle-like structures. Cells expressing GAD65 and GAD67 showed similar immunostaining patterns with anti-GABA antibodies and contained substantial amounts of GABA (ranging from 7 to 18 pmol of GABA/106 cells), which was roughly proportional to their levels of GAD activity. GABA is released from the engineered cells into the surrounding medium under resting conditions, suggesting that cells programmed with GAD cDNAs might serve as effective sources of GABA in cell transplantation experiments.
Burstiness and scaling in the structure of low-power wireless links

We observe that low-power wireless links have non-trivial time-scaling characteristics at both the physical- and link-layers. Packet reception rate (PRR) analysis shows that links are bursty rather than constant, i.e., their reception quality varies greatly from the overall packet reception rate at different times. Furthermore, this variation is seen at many timescales. We provide a possible explanation for burstiness using wavelet analysis of RSSI traces from a variety of wireless links. We show that these traces can be considered as consistent with statistical self-similarity but not with long range dependence. Using the variance in RSSI, we suggest a way to easily characterize when scaling occurs. Finally, while current simulators do not capture scaling, we propose and validate a possible modeling technique for network links that conforms to scaling phenomena.
The predetermination of the A-C. behavior of dielectrics

CHARGE and discharge currents of any type of dielectric under continuous potential make it possible to predict accurately the loss, power factor, and capacity at 60 cycles. This is done by an empirical determination of the equation for the relaxation function of the dielectric at a given temperature, followed by the application of von Schweidler's method. The method developed is available at any frequency, provided the continuous potential charge and discharge currents may be measured over initial time intervals comparable with the alternating period.
Soft gamma background radiation at the earth's surface and at aircraft altitudes

The soft γ radiation which produces rather high background rates in unshielded scintillation counters has been studied at the earth’s surface and at aircraft altitudes. It is concluded that near the surface of the earth the radiation is primarily from the earth and building materials. At high aircraft altitudes it is primarily due to degraded cosmic radiation and at lower altitudes it is due to air radioactivity and cosmic radiation. Energy spectra at the earth’s surface and at aircraft altitudes are presented. Most of the radiation below 500 keV is included in the region from 40 keV to 200 keV with a prominent peak between 50 keV and 85 keV. Since most of the photons emitted from the various sources undergo several Compton interactions before detection, the location of the peak is nearly independent of the energy of the source. The peak location depends primarily on the photoelectric and Compton cross-sections of the medium (air, earth, or building materials) surrounding the detector. Theoretical calculations of the shape of the spectrum are given and are in good agreement with the experimental data. A calculation of expected underground intensity near the earth’s surface based on known average concentrations of radioactive materials in the earth’s crust is consistent with experimental results.
Gaining Competitive Advantage in the New Normal

ABSTRACT The financial crisis that started in mid-2008 has led to a subsequent economic recession. Although officially declared over, global financial degradation may result in a “double-dip” recession with no substantive relief in the near future. Consequently, fundamental shifts within global forestry and the forest industry sectors have taken place with disruptions, dislocations, and uncertainties felt through the entire chain from the forest to markets. This is the worst downturn for forest products markets since the first oil crisis in the 1970s. Manifestations have included decreased demand, fluctuating prices and changed exchange rates, increased competition, overcapacity, low profitability, wood supply problems, and competition for raw materials exacerbated by the emerging bio-based energy sector. Although the ability of the forest sector as a whole to experience strong growth during the recession and when recovery begins is doubtful, there are many actions that individual companies can take to cr...