cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application and histology-driven refinement of active contour models to functional region and nerve delineation: towards a digital brainstem atlas

This paper presents a methodology for the digital formatting of a printed atlas of the brainstem and the delineation of cranial nerves from this digital atlas. It also describes on-going work on the 3D resampling and refinement of the 2D functional regions and nerve contours. In MRI-based anatomical modeling for neurosurgery planning and simulation, the complexity of the functional anatomy entails a digital atlas approach, rather than less descriptive voxel or surface-based approaches. However, there is an insufficiency of descriptive digital atlases, in particular of the brainstem. Our approach proceeds from a series of numbered, contour-based sketches coinciding with slices of the brainstem featuring both closed and open contours. The closed contours coincide with functionally relevant regions, whereby our objective is to fill in each corresponding label, which is analogous to painting numbered regions in a paint-by-numbers kit. Any open contour typically coincides with a cranial nerve. This 2D phase is needed in order to produce densely labeled regions that can be stacked to produce 3D regions, as well as identifying the embedded paths and outer attachment points of cranial nerves. Cranial nerves are modeled using an explicit contour based technique called 1-Simplex. The relevance of cranial nerves modeling of this project is two-fold: i) this atlas will fill a void left by the brain segmentation communities, as no suitable digital atlas of the brainstem exists, and ii) this atlas is necessary to make explicit the attachment points of major nerves (except I and II) having a cranial origin. Keywords: digital atlas, contour models, surface models
Employees' Expressions of Upward Dissent as a Function of Current and Past Work Experiences

This study considered the degree to which employees' current and past work experiences related to employees' expressions of upward dissent. A sample of full-time working adults completed a survey questionnaire that assessed workplace freedom of speech, current job tenure, employment history, and upward dissent. Findings indicated that perceptions of workplace freedom of speech and current job tenure related to upward dissent about other-focused issues, that employment history related to upward dissent about functional issues, and that perceptions of workplace freedom of speech and employment history related to upward dissent about protective issues.
Sources of downward bias in estimating the demand income elasticity for urban housing

Abstract Housing demand studies, whether relying upon individual or grouped data, have limited their observations to similar housing units and/or similar housing consumers to help control for product heterogeneity. Yet similar housing units tend to locate in clusters; tenants tend to segregate by race and income. The unintended results may be: (1) for grouped data, selection of a product subgroup with a supply price elasticity small enough to matter; (2) for individual data, selection of a consumer subgroup possessing a lower income elasticity than all housing consumers. Evidence is given that the supply price elasticity is sometimes small enough to matter when grouped data are used.
Modeling ventilated double skin façade—A zonal approach

This article presents the application of the zonal approach for modeling airflow and temperature in a ventilated double skin facades (DSF). The zonal airflow equation, power-law, was employed to calculate the airflow through the shading device and cavities. The zonal energy equation was used to evaluate the temperature distribution in the DSF system. The predicted temperature distributions were verified using measured values and parametric studies were conducted to identify the influence of height, flow rate and presence of venetian blinds on the inlet–outlet temperature difference. The influence of changing the values of each parameter was found to be more apparent during the day than during the night. The inlet–outlet temperature difference increased as height of the DSF increased and when venetian blinds were installed but it was found to decrease as the airflow rate increased. The results had revealed that the zonal approach can be employed to provide information on the performance of DSF faster and at very low computational resource.
Transformation shear instability and the seismogenic zone for deep earthquakes

We use a numerical model for olivine-spinel transformation to study deep earthquake nucleation and to delineate the seismogenic region within a subducting slab. The model includes laboratory-derived flow laws, latent heat release, and phase transformation kinetics. We calculate deformation, transformation state, grain growth, and rheology for several paths within a subducting slab. Strain rate perturbations are imposed to define the necessary conditions for instability. Strain rate perturbations decay for ξ < a critical value ξc, and thus the coldest, interior portion of the metastable wedge deforms stably. For ξ≥ξc, strain rate perturbations grow, shear strength decreases with strain, and the system is potentially unstable. The instability condition is mapped to delineate the seismogenic zone within a subducting slab. The model seismogenic zone is bounded by ξc, and, at larger percent transformations, by coarsening of spinel grains and saturation of the transformation weakening effect. The model predicts a narrow seismogenic region along the outer edges of the metastable wedge and thus a “double seismic” zone, consistent with some seismic observations. Several simplifying assumptions are required due to lack of thermo-kinetic data and incomplete knowledge of constituent mineralogy and rheology. However, the model provides a quantitative definition of the instability condition and a framework for testing the hypothesis of transformation-induced instability.
The Influence of Information Costs on Donor Decision Making

This article explores whether an individual's information costs influence the information-gathering strategies that he or she turns to prior to donating to a nonprofit. The data for the study come from a telephone survey of residents in a large county in southern California (n = 1,002). The sample was selected using random-digit-dialing technology and a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system. A series of binomial logit models revealed that information costs significantly influenced the information-gathering strategies individuals turned to in order to learn about nonprofit performance prior to making a donation. Results also revealed that greater confidence in nonprofits did not lead individuals to forgo efforts to obtain information on nonprofit performance altogether. The findings from this study suggest that it is important for nonprofit administrators to recognize, and then take into account, that not all individuals will rely on the same information sources when seeking to learn about nonprofit performance.
Critical period for estrogen-dependent motoneuron dendrite growth is coincident with ERα expression in target musculature.

The spinal cord of rats contains the sexually dimorphic, steroid-sensitive motoneurons of the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB). In males, SNB dendrite growth is dependent on gonadal steroids: dendrite growth is inhibited after castration, but supported in androgen- or estrogen-treated castrated males. Furthermore, estrogenic support of SNB dendrite growth is mediated by estrogen action at the target musculature, inhibited by estrogen receptor (ER) blockade at the muscle and supported by local estradiol treatment. However, this estrogenic support is restricted to the early postnatal period, after which the morphology of SNB dendrites is insensitive to estrogens. To test if the developmentally restricted effects of estrogens on SNB dendrite growth coincide with the transient expression of ER in the target musculature, ERα expression was assessed during development and in adulthood. ERα expression in extra-Muscle fiber cells was greatest from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P14 and declined after P21. Because this pattern of ERα expression coincided with the period of estrogen-dependent dendrite growth, we tested if limiting hormone exposure to the period of maximal ERα expression in extra-muscle fiber cells could fully support estrogen-dependent SNB dendrite growth. We restricted estradiol treatment in castrated males from P7 to P21 and assessed SNB dendritic morphology at P28. Treating castrates with estradiol implants at the muscle from P7 to P21 supported dendrite growth to normal levels through P28. These data suggest that the transient ERα expression in target muscle could potentially define the critical period for estrogen-dependent dendrite growth in SNB motoneurons. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2013
A generalized Talmi-Moshinsky transformation for few-body and direct interaction matrix elements

Abstract A set of basis states for use in evaluating matrix elements of few-body system operators is suggested. These basis states are products of harmonic oscillator wave functions having as arguments a set of Jacobi coordinates for the system. We show that these harmonic oscillator functions can be chosen in a manner that allows such a product to be expanded as a finite sum of the corresponding products for any other set of Jacobi coordinates. This result is a generalization of the Talmi-Moshinsky transformation for two equal-mass particles to a system of any number of particles of arbitrary masses. With the help of our method the multidimensional integral which must be performed to evaluate a few-body matrix element can be transformed into a sum of products of three dimensional integrals. The coefficients in such an expansion are generalized Talmi-Moshinsky coefficients. The method is tested by calculation of a matrix element for knockout scattering for a simple three-body system. The results indicate that the method is a viable calculational tool.
A novel approach for efficient plant regeneration from long-term suspension culture of wheat.

Hexaploid wheat plants were easily regenerated from young embryo-derived callus for twelve genotypes tested. After a 2.5 years culture period, however, most of the callus cells lost their ability to regenerate into shoots, but not into roots.A novel approach was used to regenerate shoots from the long-term suspension cultured cells. In general, instead of selecting embryogenic callus as source material, this approach requires the inoculation of unselected callus into liquid medium followed by removing the free floating cell portion, selecting out non-root forming cell clumps from the root forming primary suspension culture, and growing the putative shoot-competent clumps in liquid medium with reduced auxin concentrations. We have successfully established shoot-competent wheat suspension cultures for cv. 'Mustang'. High (>80%) frequencies of plant regeneration were observed from plating of 2.5 year suspension cultures. The suspension cultures established by this approach have been utilized to select for heat tolerant variants and will be an ideal source material for protoplast culture and transformation studies. This approach can also be applied to other cereal crops which form roots easily but are unstable in maintaining long term regenerable cultures and which are not easily adaptable to suspension culture.
SIMULTANEOUS FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHIRLING IN A JEFFCOTT ROTOR SUPPORTED ON DISSIMILAR HYDRODYNAMIC BEARINGS

The equations of motion of the disk are derived using the influence coefficient method and the force balance at the journal is used to formulate the remaining governing equation. Euler Bernoulli beam theory is used to obtain the necessary influence coefficients associated with the displacement and rotation components at the disk location. Gyroscopic couples are also considered in the analysis. The solution for imbalance response is determined by solving the resulting system of linear equations numerically
DiI Analysis of Cell Migration during Mullerian Duct Regression

Abstract In most male vertebrates, the Mullerian ducts, which are the embryonic oviducts, regress completely during embryogenesis or shortly thereafter. Mullerian duct regression is caused by the testicular hormone Mullerian inhibiting substance. While the exact mechanism of Mullerian duct regression is not well understood, it is theorized to involve active migration of at least some of the ductal epithelial cells following breakdown of the basement membrane, possibly through an interaction between the epithelial cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix. The purpose of the present study was (1) to confirm that Mullerian duct regression is characterized by epithelial cell migration and (2) to determine the destination of these cells. The ductal epithelium of male alligator embryos was labeled with the fluorescent cell marker DiI and then allowed to undergo regression in vitro. DiI-labeled Mullerian ducts from female embryos served as controls. An in vivo experiment also was performed in which the Mullerian ducts of female hatchlings were injected with DiI prior to each female receiving a testicular implant from a male hatchling. Control females received a kidney implant instead. In both the in vitro and the in vivo experiments, DiI-labeled epithelial cells were observed migrating out from the duct during regression. In the in vitro experiment in which regression proceeded more rapidly, epithelial cells entered the mesonephric kidneys and were incorporated into the nephric tubule epithelium. No regression or cell migration was observed in the control Mullerian ducts.
The Rate of Fading in Propagation through a Turbulent Atmosphere

Fading rate is defined to be the number of times per minute that the envelope of the received field crosses its median level with a positive slope. This definition of fading rate is equally useful for ionospheric or tropospheric propagation studies. Furthermore, it may be used with equal facility on short transmission paths where the ground wave component of the received field predominates and on the longer transmission paths where the scattered component of the received field predominates. It is shown that this definition of fading rate provides a quantity which is numerically related to the parameters of the propagation medium under certain conditions which are normally satisfied in either ionospheric or tropospheric propagation studies. The pertinent parameters of the propagation medium in beyond-the-horizon transmission are the location and shape of the scattering volume and the turbulent and drift velocities of the scatterers. An extensive discussion is given of the shape of the tropospheric scattering volume for beyond-the-horizon transmission. An analysis is then given of some fading rate data obtained in the National Bureau of Standards tropospheric propagation program in the 92 to 1046 mc range of frequencies on transmission paths 70, 97, 226, and 394 miles in length. Finally an analysis is given for within-the-horizon propagation. In this case it is advantageous to define fading rate as the number of times per minute that the phase of the received field crosses its median level with a positive slope.
LKB1 Regulated Pathways in Lung Cancer Invasion and Metastasis

Metastasis is characterized by the ability of cancer cells to invade into adjacent tissue, intravasate into blood or lymphatic vessels, and extravasate into a distant tissue. Metastatic disease is primarily responsible for the low 5-year survival rate of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and therefore, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate NSCLC metastasis is clearly warranted. The serine/threonine kinase and tumor suppressor LKB1 is mutated in 30% of NSCLC tumors, and recent evidence points to a prominent role in NSCLC metastasis. This review summarizes LKB1-dependent invasion pathways where compromised LKB1 function could promote NSCLC metastasis.
Using modern battery systems in light duty mining vehicles

Sodium metal halide (NaMx) batteries are an emerging technology, with performance and longevity comparable to that of lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, yet, require less capital. NaMx technology has been considered for mass transit and industrial applications to date. Mining vehicles are most commonly powered by diesel engines, despite their reputation for air pollution and inefficiency. These diesel powerhouses can be replaced by efficient, clean batteries while maintaining economic viability. In underground mining, locomotives and load-haul-dump are the most common light duty (<500HP) equipment used in room and pillar, and longwall mining methods to advance and prepare the mining site. PbA batteries are commonly used in battery-powered mining equipment and will serve as the control. Replacing these batteries with more energy dense NaMx or Li-ion batteries will increase operating time, therefore increasing, mine productivity.
On-line microwave sample pretreatment for the determination of mercury in water and urine by flow-injection cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract A system for on-line treatment of liquid samples in a microwave oven and determination of mercury by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry was designed and evaluated. The system consisted of an atomic absorption spectrometer, equipped with a mercury-hydride system and amalgamation accessory, a flow-injection system, an autosampler and a mircowave digestor. Urine and environmental water samples were stabilized with potassium dichromate-nitric acid and were mixed with a bromination reagent. The recoveries of eight mercury compounds from aqueous solutions and five compounds from dilute urine were studied. At an applied microwave power of 75 W, the recoveries of mercury(II) nitrate, methylmercury chloride, amidomercury chloride, phenylmercury chloride and diphenylmercury were between 92 and 102% for 1 + 2-diluted urine without amalgamation and between 94 and 111% for 1 + 5-diluted urine with amalgamation, respectively. The sample throughput was 30–40 h −1 without amalgamation and 24 h −1 in the amalgamation mode. Good agreement with certificate values was obtained for urine samples. A limit of detection (3σ) of 10 ng l −1 was obtained using 10-ml sample volumes of environmental waters (river, lake, rain) and the amalgamation technique. The results compared well with those from an external laboratory with correlation coefficients of 0.9302 and 0.9028 ( n = 22) for integrated absorbance and peak-height absorbance, respectively.
PCB congeners and dechlorination in sediments of Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, determined from cores collected in 1987 and 1998.

Four sediment cores were collected from Lake Hartwell, SC, in 1987 and 1998 and analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners. Total PCBs ranged from ∼0 to 58 μg/g. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to the data sets to determine PCB source profiles. Two factors were determined for each data set. One factor resembled the original estimated PCB mixture of 80% Aroclor 1016 and 20% Aroclor 1254 and the other factor was a dechlorinated version of the mixture. Evidence of a dechlorination plateau is apparent from the PMF loading solutions because the dechlorinated congener profiles do not change from 1987 to 1998, but the contribution to the profile from the dechlorinated factor increases from 73% (1987) to 87% (1998). PMF source contributions and plots of PCB concentration versus congener for individual samples provide evidence of enhanced dechlorination at high concentrations. After source apportionment an anaerobic dechlorination model was applied to the dechlorinated source profiles to...
ATTENUATION AND VELOCITY OF P-WAVES IN THE MANTLE BENEATH THE EAST-AFRICAN RIFT, KENYA

Abstract We present the results of mantle P velocity and attenuation tomography from the combined KRISP 1985 and KRISP 1990 teleseismic data sets. We incorporate the results from the KRISP 1990 refraction survey to remove crustal effects from the teleseismic data and thereby better image the lithospheric and asthenospheric structure in the mantle beneath the rift. We find a broad 6% low-velocity anomaly that extends beyond the limits of the rift, as defined by its bounding faults, and superimposed on this a narrower 6% low-velocity zone that is confined to the rift zone. The latter anomaly has a total contrast of 12% compared to nearby unrifted cratonic lithosphere The broad structure persists at all depths to 165 km, and is aligned with the rift, while the narrower structure varies with depth and does not extend along the entire length of the rift covered by our array. The attenuation signal is noisier than the travel time signal, but shows the greatest attenuation beneath the rift and at the southern and northern ends of our array.
Circadian programming in cyanobacteria.

Prokaryotic cyanobacteria express robust circadian (daily) rhythms under the control of a timing mechanism that is independent of the cell division cycle. This biological clock orchestrates global regulation of gene expression. Competition experiments demonstrate that fitness is enhanced when the circadian period is consonant with the period of the environmental cycle. Mutational analyses have identified three clock genes in the organism, one of which is related to DNA recombinases and helicases. We propose a new model for the core 'clockwork' that implicates rhythmic changes in the status of the chromosome that underly the rhythms of gene expression.
Critical aggregation concentrations of gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS)

Bacterial endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides (LPS), cell wall components of gram negative bacteria, are involved in septic shock. While the carbohydrate structure of LPS have been studied in the past, little is known about the macromolecular structure and formation of LPS fragments in blood. It is believed that amphiphilic molecules such as LPS occur as monomers and aggregate into macromolecular structures above a critical micelle or critical aggregate concentration, CAC. The CAC of Lipid A, a LPS precursor, and several LPS serotypes of varying molecular weight and different polysaccharide chain lengths were established by static light scattering and by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy by incorporation of the fluorescent probe, NPN, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine. The CAC for short polysaccharide chain mutant LPS S.minnesota Re 595 (MW 2,500) and Lipid A from S.minnesota Re 595 (MW 2000) were 4 microM and 5 microM respectively. The CAC of LPS from heterogeneous long O-antigen polysaccharide chain bacterial serotypes: S.minnesota wildtype were 11 micrograms LPS/ml, S.typhimurium 14 micrograms LPS/ml and E.coli 0111:B4 22 micrograms LPS/ml, respectively. The results obtained suggests that critical aggregate concentration and solubility of LPS is a function of polysaccharide chain length.
Three-color fluorescence measurements on single cells excited at three laser wavelengths

A three-laser flow cytometer for quantitative analysis and sorting of cells and microscopic particles has been developed and evaluated using argon- and krypton-ion lasers as excitation sources. Cells stained with three fluorescent dyes having different excitation spectra enter a flow chamber where they first pass through an electronic volume sensor and then intersect three spatially separated laser beams for fluorescence excitation of bound dyes and light scatter measurements. Separate pairs of beam-shaping optics independently position and focus each beam onto the cell stream thus permitting cells to be sequentially illuminated. Fluorescence is measured by a detector that employs a single collecting lens for single or multilaser excitation experiments. Fluorescence signals are processed and displayed as frequency distribution histograms using an LSI-11 computer. This instrument is described in detail with illustrative examples using cells stained for DNA content, protein, and cell surface antigens and cells that have phagocytized fluorescent microspheres.
Identification Design for a Flexible Beam Laboratory Experiment

Recent experience with system identification design for a flexible beam laboratory experiment controller design is discussed. Among the limitations faced were the presence of unmodeled high frequency modes and the use of an accelerometer as the primary motion sensor. These limitations motivated the development of a novel robust identification approach which is applicable to a large class of flexible structures.
INTEGRATING ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS INNOVATIONS IN AN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM

Introduction The Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) and Computer Science (CS) educates future national defence leaders in the theory and practice of its two disciplines and supports the overall USMA purpose of “providing the nation with leaders of character who serve the common defense”. Electromagnetic field theory and applications are fundamental to electrical engineering and play an important role in the Department's curriculum. In 1986, the Department began a modernization programme to upgrade its engineering curriculum, facilities, and equipment. This article describes the electromagnetics instructional thread in the curriculum and the laboratory facilities supporting that instruction.
Foreign exchange regimes and industrial growth in Bangladesh

Abstract Foreign exchange regimes have been found to play an important role in implementing trade and industrial development strategies in many developing countries. The economic incentives provided to export-oriented and import-substituting industries can be measured by the real effective exchange rate (REER) for imports and exports. Such measures are developed for Bangladesh. The REER for exports and imports increased by around 72 and 82%, respectively, over the period 1973–1974 to 1976–1977. From 1976–1977 to 1984–1985, the REER for imports fell by nearly 10% while the REER for exports declined by 6%, although the exchange rate for non-traditional exports fared somewhat better. The REER for both imports and exports appears to have recovered somewhat since 1984–1985, but the paper concludes that while trade and industry policies in Bangladesh have become less “inward-looking,” the exchange regime is still biased in favor of import-substituting industrialization. Substantially stronger export incentives than exist at present would be necessary to remove this bias.
Ultrafast carrier dynamics in single-walled carbon nanotubes probed by feintosecond spectroscopy

We present studies of the ultrafast carrier dynamics in single-walled carbon nanotubes using femtosecond fluorescence and transient absorption techniques. We find that the dynamics are dependent on excitation intensity and the electronic transitions initially excited
Mental Health of Early Adolescents from High-risk Neighborhoods: The Role of Maternal HIV and Other Contextual, Self-Regulation, and Family Factors

Objectives To examine the effect of maternal HIV infection, as well as other individual, family, and contextual factors on the mental health of inner-city, ethnic minority early adolescents. Methods Participants included 220 HIV-negative early adolescents (10–14 years) and their mothers, half of whom were HIV-infected. Individual interviews were conducted regarding youth depression, anxiety, externalizing and internalizing behaviour problems, as well as a range of correlates of youth mental health guided by a modified version of Social Action Theory, a theoretical model of behavioral health. Results Although the HIV status of mothers alone did not predict youth mental health, youth knowledge of mother’s HIV infection and mother’s overall health were associated with worse youth mental health outcomes, as were contextual, self-regulation, and family interaction factors from our theoretical model. Conclusions There is a need for family-based mental health interventions for this population, particularly focusing on parent–child relationships, disclosure, and youth self-esteem.
An exercise in the formal derivation of parallel programs: maximum flows in graphs

We apply a new method for the development of parallel programs to the problem of finding maximum flows in graphs. The method facilitates concurrent program design by separating the concerns of correctness from those of hardware and implementation. It uses predicate transformer semantics to define a set of basic operators for the specification and verification of programs. From an initial specification program development proceeds by a series of refinement steps, each of which constitutes a strengthening of the specification of the previous refinement. The method is completely formal in the sense that all reasoning steps are performed within predicate calculus. A program is viewed as a mathematical object enjoying certain properties, rather than in terms of its possible executions. We demonstrate the usefulness of the approach by deriving an efficient algorithm for the Maximum Flow Problem in a top-down manner.
The General Survey: A Short Measure of Five Personality Dimensions

Summary This paper describes a short personality measure which requires about 10 minutes to complete and taps five separate personality dimensions. While the number of items on each scale is very small, the scales have adequate split-half reliabilities and adequate test-retest reliabilities.
High resolution threshold photodetachment spectroscopy of negative ions

Abstract We have designed and constructed a negative ion threshold photodetachment spectrometer with 3 cm −1 (0.37 meV) resolution. Threshold photodetachment spectra of I − and SH − have been obtained. For SH − , individual rotational transitions between the ion and neutral appear as clearly resolved peaks.
Implementing public health analytical services: Grid enabling of MetaMap

Public health data could be used to assist with public health surveillance and decision support. However, in most cases data has to be transformed into a coded format to make it computable and amiable to quasi real time analytical processing. Natural language processing (NLP) systems, which aim to accurately extract and encode biomedical information in a standard format, have a great potential in surveillance. NLP methods are complex, difficult, and expensive to implement. Its implementation, in most cases, is well beyond the technical expertise and resources available in Public Health organizations. Making NLP systems available as a service can greatly improve access to this methodology by public health officials and potentially enhance disease surveillance. MetaMap is a comprehensive biomedical NLP system, and has been shown to perform well for numerous applications. We describe how we have implemented MetaMap as a grid service to make it available to the public health community.
Use and misuse of landscape indices

Landscape ecology has generated much excitement in the past two decades. One reason was that it brought spatial analysis and modeling to the forefront of ecological research. However, high expectations for landscape analysis to improve our understanding and prediction of ecological processes have largely been unfulfilled. We identified three kinds of critical issues: conceptual flaws in landscape pattern analysis, inherent limitations of landscape indices, and improper use of pattern indices. For example, many landscape analyses treat quantitative description of spatial pattern as an end itself and fail to explore relationships between pattern and process. Landscape indices and map data are sometimes used without testing their ecological relevance, which may not only confound interpretation of results, but also lead to meaningless results. In addition, correlation analysis with indices is impeded by the lack of data because of difficulties in large-scale experimentation and by complicated behavior of indices because of their varying responses to changes in scale and spatial pattern. These problems represent significant challenges to landscape pattern analysis, especially in terms of relating pattern to process. In this perspective paper, we examine the underlying problems of these challenges and offer some solutions.
Nonlinear vibration and stability of rotating, pretwisted, preconed blades including Coriolis effects

The coupled bending-bending-torsional equations of dynamic motion of rotating, linearly pretwisted blades are derived including large precone, second degree geometric nonlinearities and Coriolis effects. The equations are solved by the Galerkin method and a linear perturbation technique. Accuracy of the present method is verified by conparisons of predicted frequencies and steady state deflections with those from MSC/NASTRAN and from experiments. Parametric results are generated to establish where inclusion of only the second degree geometric nonlinearities is adequate. The nonlinear terms causing torsional divergence in thin blades are identified. The effects of Coriolis terms and several other structurally nonlinear terms are studied, and their relative importance is examined.
Periphyton as a UV-B filter on seagrass leaves: a result of different transmittance in the UV-B and PAR ranges

Abstract Periphyton is considered detrimental to seagrasses as it reduces the amount of light, i.e. photosynthetically available radiation (PAR), that reaches the plant surface. This study evaluated the possibility that periphyton can also be beneficial to seagrasses by reducing ultraviolet (UV)-B radiation that reaches seagrass leaves. Periphyton on UV-B transparent artificial leaves transmitted a significantly lower amount of radiation in the UV-B than in the PAR range. Therefore, periphyton is an effective UV-B filter on seagrass leaves.
Optimality of Linear Codes for Broadcast-Mode Multicast Networks

It is known that linear codes are sufficient to solve the multicast network coding problem when each out-edge of a network node carries its own specific function of the in-edges of the node, i.e. operating in "point-to-point-mode." Alternatively, in "broadcast-mode," a network has the property that for each node, every out-edge of the node carries the same function of the in-edges of the node. Only one transmission is required in order to send the same function on all of the out-edges of a node. The edge functions in broadcast-mode can vary from node to node and each edge can carry an arbitrary number of transmissions, with at most one per time unit. We prove that linear codes are sufficient, in terms of total number of transmissions, for multicast networks in broadcast-mode. That is, we show that for any broadcast-mode solution to a multicast network, there exists a linear broadcast-mode solution over some finite field which does not increase the total number of network transmissions
Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein is a determinant of pathogenesis in swine, a natural host

There are two major serotypes of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), Indiana (VSIV) and New Jersey (VSNJV). We recovered recombinant VSIVs from engineered cDNAs that contained either (i) one copy of the VSIV G gene (VSIV-GI); (ii) two copies of the G gene, one from each serotype (VSIV-GNJGI); or (iii) a single copy of the GNJ gene instead of the GI gene (VSIV-GNJ). The recombinant viruses expressed the appropriate glycoproteins, incorporated them into virions, and were neutralized by antibodies specific for VSIV (VSIV-GI), VSNJV (VSIV-GNJ), or both (VSIV-GNJGI), according to the glycoprotein(s) they expressed. All recombinant viruses grew to similar titers in cell culture. In mice, VSIV-GNJ and VSIV-GNJGI were attenuated. However, in swine, a natural host for VSV, the GNJ glycoprotein-containing viruses caused more severe lesions and replicated to higher titers than the parental virus, VSIV-GI. These observations implicate the glycoprotein as a determinant of VSV virulence in a natural host and emphasize the differences in VSV pathogenesis between mice and swine.
Hydrogen ultrathin phase-encoded spectroscopy (HUPSPEC).

This paper describes a new clinical spectroscopy pulse program, hydrogen ultrathin phase-encoded spectroscopy. This sequence combines high spatial resolution with magnitude hydrogen spectroscopy. A linear volume is spatially frequency encoded with a conventional readout gradient and phase encoded spectrally by incrementing the timing of acquisition. The pulse sequence is implemented on a whole-body MRI scanner and supports several standard scanner options, including autoprescanning, offset of the center of field of view in the frequency-encoding direction, and oblique imaging. Some preliminary experimental experience is reported, demonstrating the possibility of observing the spectral line widths of fat and water in marrow, and of observing the spectral line widths of fat and water in marrow, and of observing multiline spectra. Combination of the technique with water suppression methods in a sequence called WASHUP is also discussed © 1990 Academic Press, Inc.
Mechanism Design Based Secure Data Object Replication

Data replication is an important technique for improving the accessibility, availability, and reliability of distributed data storage systems. Secret sharing or erasure coding based data fragmentation techniques can be integrated into these systems to improve the system security and survivability. In this paper, a two-tier distributed system is modeled to provide secure data object replication using the integration of data replication and fragmentation approaches. We study the secure replica placement problem in the system with the presence of rational but selfish data owners. Multiple agents place replicas of data objects in the system in order to maximize their own profits while satisfying their security requirements. Algorithmic mechanism design theory is applied to design a direct revelation mechanism to motivate the truth telling of data owners and to approximate the local optimal replica placement. Comparative experiments have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the mechanism.
Identification of an ion channel-forming motif in the primary structure of tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins

Synthetic peptides with amino acid sequences corresponding to predicted transmembrane segments of tetanus toxin were used as probes to identify a channel-forming motif. A peptide denoted TeTx II, with sequence GVVLLLEYIPEITLPVIAALSIA, forms cation-selective channels when reconstituted in planar lipid bilayers. The single channel conductance in 0.5 M NaCl or KCl is 28 ± 3 and 24 ± 2 pS, respectively. In contrast, a peptide with sequence NFIGALETTGVVLLLEYIPEIT, denoted as TeTx I. or a peptide with the same amino acid composition as TeTx II but with a randomized sequence, do not form channels. Conformational energy calculations show that a bundle of four amphipathic α-helices is a plausible structural motif underlying observable pore properties. The identified functional module may account for the channel-forming activity of both tetanus toxin and the homologous botulinum toxin A.
Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: An Incubating Entity

Estimates for 2012 reveal thyroid cancer as the fifth most expected malignancy in American women. Although thyroid cancer is not infrequently diagnosed, it rarely bests its host. We understand a great deal about well-differentiated thyroid cancers, including carcinomas of the thyrocyte and parafollicular c-cells. We have identified a number of mutations and gene rearrangements responsible for familial and sporadic tumors. We have postulated about mechanisms of spread and are able to predict biological behaviors of particular cancer types. However, gray zones remain, and as physicians and scientists, we are never comfortable with these gray zones, as they potentially contain magical epitopes for disease eradication and serve as pesky reminders that medicine is not an exact science. In thyroid cancer, poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas (PDTC) represent the bridge between more well differentiated malignancies of thyrocytes and the undifferentiated (anaplastic) thyroid carcinomas. Six years ago in Turin, a group of expert surgical pathologists set the stage for refining the diagnosis of PDTC, as introduced by the WHO in 2004, rather than it serving as a diagnosis for those entities which had “high grade features” but did not fit neatly into one of the other defined categories. The conundrum that now exists is the incubation period between the birth of this now well-defined category of thyroid malignancy and the application of the diagnostic criteria, outcomes going forward, and how this diagnosis becomes translated into action by clinicians treating the entity.
Effects of four cooking methods on the proximate, mineral and fatty acid composition of fish fillets

The effects of baking, broiling, deep frying and cooking in a microwave oven on the proximate, mineral and fatty acid composition of grouper (Epinephelus morio), red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) and Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) were determined. The lipid content of low fat species was not significantly changed by cooking, but lipid was lost from fatty fillets during cooking. The fatty acid composition of all fillets was not significantly changed by baking, broiling or microwave cooking. Deep fried fillets absorbed the major fatty acids in the cooking medium, and as the fillet lipid content increased the extent of absorption of fatty acids from the cooking medium decreased. Sodium, potassium and magnesium levels were decreased when low fat species were cooked, but these minerals were not lost when raw fillets containing higher lipid levels were cooked. Cooking did not significantly affect the concentration of the microelements, zinc, copper, iron and manganese.
Diagnosis of Myeloid Leukosis Induced by a Recombinant Avian Leukosis Virus in Commercial White Leghorn Egg Laying Flocks

SUMMARY. Commercial white leghorn egg layer flocks being used to produce fertile eggs for human vaccine production exhibited dramatically low peaks in egg production, two to four times higher than normal weekly mortality, and high numbers of cull, nonlaying birds after the onset of sexual maturity. These lower production characteristics could not be associated with management-related problems. Gross lesions of cull and fresh dead birds necropsied showed approximately 60% lacked ovarian activity and had lesions of a bacterial bursitis or synovitis, whereas the other 40% had tumors of the viscera but not of the bursa of Fabricius. Histologic examination of tumor-containing tissues showed lesions typical of myelocytomatosis. The diagnosis of myeloid leukosis was confirmed by the isolation of a recombinant avian leukosis virus (ALV) containing the LTR of subgroup J and the envelope of subgroup B ALV. A positive polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for the 3′ untranslated region LTR confirmed the pr...
maelstrom is required for an early step in the establishment of Drosophila oocyte polarity: posterior localization of grk mRNA.

We describe a mutant, maelstrom, that disrupts a previously unobserved step in mRNA localization within the early oocyte, distinct from nurse-cell-to-oocyte RNA transport. Mutations in maelstrom disturb the localization of mRNAs for Gurken (a ligand for the Drosophila Egf receptor), Oskar and Bicoid at the posterior of the developing (stage 3-6) oocyte. maelstrom mutants display phenotypes detected in gurken loss-of-function mutants: posterior follicle cells with anterior cell fates, bicoid mRNA localization at both poles of the stage 8 oocyte and ventralization of the eggshell. These data are consistent with the suggestion that early posterior localization of gurken mRNA is essential for activation of the Egf receptor pathway in posterior follicle cells. Posterior localization of mRNA in stage 3-6 oocytes could therefore be one of the earliest known steps in the establishment of oocyte polarity. The maelstrom gene encodes a novel protein that has a punctate distribution in the cytoplasm of the nurse cells and the oocyte until the protein disappears in stage 7 of oogenesis. SUMMARY
Arterial Elasticity/Stiffness

The major pathophysiologic process initiating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the deficiency of arterial endothelial function. The rate of progression of cardiovascular disease is highly variable. Changes in small arterial elasticity/stiffness are the first signs of cardiovascular disease in asymptomatic subjects as an expression of endothelial dysfunction. Measurement of arterial stiffness with different noninvasive techniques provides information about the functional and structural vascular changes at the level of the aorta, the muscular conduit arteries, the peripheral branches, and the microvascular components. Arterial stiffness has been related to the coronary heart disease risk scores. Now, there is evidence that arterial stiffness is a predictor for cardiovascular events in the general population, in patients with hypertension, end-stage renal disease, and impaired glucose intolerance. Future studies are warranted to demonstrate the value of follow-up of arterial elasticity/stiffness as a marker of improvement in arterial wall health during antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and lipid-lowering therapy. Promising study results show that measurement of arterial stiffness can become an important part of the routine assessment of patients in daily practice.
Soil quality of semi-arid conservation reserve program lands in Eastern New Mexico

ABSTRACTA study was conducted to evaluate selected soil quality indicators in lands that have been in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which is a federal program in the United States offering annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to farmers who establish long-term vegetation covers on their erosion prone lands. The study site has semi-arid climate, and soils with grass vegetation covers for 15 years were compared with adjacent cultivated croplands that have never been in the CRP. Field measurements were performed and surface soil samples (0–0.15 m) were collected from multiple sites having either coarse textured or fine textured soils. Soil measurements assessed included bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR), wet aggregate stability (WAS), dry aggregate size distribution (DASD), soil organic matter (SOM), permanganate oxidizable carbon, nitrate nitrogen, extractable potassium and phosphorus, electrical conductivity, pH, sodium adsorption ratio, and soil micronutrients (copper, iron,...