cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HARVESTING IN A STAGE-STRUCTURED POPULATION WITH APPLICATIONS TO THE RED SNAPPER IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

We propose deterministic discrete-time, discrete stage-structured population models with harvesting to investigate population persistence and extinction. The mathematical analysis is centered around the inherent net reproductive number of the population. We apply data of the red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico to simulate the models. We use the models to test for a hypothesis proposed by marine biologists by adding a stochastic component to the deterministic systems that simulating pulses of early juveniles from other populations. We conclude that although pulses of early juveniles from other populations can contribute to the stock size of the early juveniles in the Gulf of Mexico, this contribution is insignificant for the adult population. Therefore, the population may still be in danger of extinction since the ocean environment is unpredictable. Other control strategies are needed in order for the population to be harvested annually.
Application of pushdown-store machines

Scientific knowledge has always been advanced through the combined efforts of those who experiment and those who theorize. This is as true of the field in which the effective processing of languages by computers is considered as any other.
Use of “excess” human embryos for stem cell research: protecting women’s rights and health

Proposed National Institutes of Health guidelines for stem cell research are too narrowly drawn and do not adequately protect the freedom of choice and health of women who donate embryos. They need to be expanded to cover not only the point of embryo donation, but also that of embryo creation. Guidelines are provided to ensure that donors undergoing hyperstimulation and egg retrieval gave voluntary informed consent to the production of embryos that might later prove in excess. A standard for determining when embryos have been overproduced is presented to address the possibility that additional embryos will be created for stem cell research in violation of the guidelines and at risk to women's health.
The influence of molecular structure and aerosol phase on the heterogeneous oxidation of normal and branched alkanes by OH.

Insights into the influence of molecular structure and thermodynamic phase on the chemical mechanisms of hydroxyl radical-initiated heterogeneous oxidation are obtained by identifying reaction products of submicrometer particles composed of either n-octacosane (C28H58, a linear alkane) or squalane (C30H62, a highly branched alkane) and OH. A common pattern is observed in the positional isomers of octacosanone and octacosanol, with functionalization enhanced toward the end of the molecule. This suggests that relatively large linear alkanes are structured in submicrometer particles such that their ends are oriented toward the surface. For squalane, positional isomers of first-generation ketones and alcohols also form in distinct patterns. Ketones are favored on carbons adjacent to tertiary carbons, while hydroxyl groups are primarily found on tertiary carbons but also tend to form toward the end of the molecule. Some first-generation products, viz., hydroxycarbonyls and diols, contain two oxygen atoms. Thes...
Validating a measure of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome symptomatology.

Background: The diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is complex and largely based on self-reported symptom profiles. The field lacks consensus for a singular case definition and heterogeneous samples make comparability across studies difficult. Purpose: The present study sought to validate a comprehensive self-report measure of ME/CFS symptomatology to aid in clinical and research assessment. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to establish the underlying factor structure of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) using a well-characterized sample of individuals (92.6% met the Fukuda et al. criteria and/or the Clinical Canadian Criteria) and this structure was then tested on a less stringently recruited sample of individuals utilizing a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent and discriminant validity of the DSQ were also examined utilizing alternative measures of symptomatology and functioning. Results: A three-factor solution was found using EFA ...
Studies of interactions of 3,4-benzpyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, chlordane, and methyltestosterone as stimulators of hepatic microsomal enzyme systems in the rat

Abstract 3,4-Benzpyrene (BP), 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), and chlordane all stimulate the hepatic microsornal enzymes, benzpyrene hydroxylase, zoxazolamine hydroxylase, NADPH oxidase, and the amount of CO-binding pigment in adult male Long-Evans rats. Chlordane stimulates nitro reductase, NADPH oxidase, and CO-binding pigment to a greater extent than does BP or MC; nitro reductase is unaffected by MC or BP. BP and MC stimulate benzpyrene hydroxylase threefold; stimulation by chlordane is slight. Zoxazolamine hydroxylase is stimulated by all three compounds to about the same extent. The stimulatory effects of BP or MC, and chlordane upon zoxazolamine hydroxylase and CO-binding pigment are additive when chlordane is given with either MC or BP to the same animal, indicating that chlordane may stimulate the activity of these enzymes by mechanisms different from BP or MC. Such additive effects are not seen with benzpyrene hydroxylase or NADPH oxidase activity, indicating that stimulation of these enzymes by the three compounds may be by similar mechanisms. Chlordane and methyltestosterone stimulate hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity of adult female Long-Evans rats. Additive stimulatory effects upon aminopyrine N-demethylase are not seen when chlordane and methyltestosterone are given together to the same animal, indicating that these two compounds may stimulate this drug-metabolizing pathway by similar mechanisms.
Bayesian super-resolution of text in videowith a text-specific bimodal prior

To increase the range of sizes of video scene text recognizable by optical character recognition (OCR), we developed a Bayesian super-resolution algorithm that uses a text-specific bimodal prior. We evaluated the effectiveness of the bimodal prior, compared and in conjunction with a piecewise smoothness prior, visually and by measuring the accuracy of the OCR results on the variously super-resolved images. The bimodal prior improved the readability of 4- to 7-pixel-high scene text significantly better than bicubic interpolation and increased the accuracy of OCR results better than the piecewise smoothness prior.
Bayesian posterior predictive checks for complex models

In sociological research, it is often difficult to compare nonnested models and to evaluate the fit of models in which outcome variables are not normally distributed. In this article, the authors d...
Long-Term Experimental Nitrogen Deposition Alters the Composition of the Active Fungal Community in the Forest Floor

Global increases in the rate of atmospheric N deposition have the potential to alter the composition and function of soil microbial communities. Here, we tested the hypothesis that experimental N deposition has altered the composition of active communities of Dikarya fungi. Such a change may underlie previously observed reductions in decomposition and increases in soil organic matter in a long-term field experiment. The actively metabolizing forest floor fungal community was characterized from cDNA clone libraries constructed from 28S fungal rRNA extracted from the forest floor of two northern hardwood stands in the lower peninsula of Michigan. We demonstrate that long-term experimental N deposition altered the composition of the active communities of Dikarya fungi in the forest floor in each of these forest stands. Because forest floor fungi are important decomposers, the alteration of forest floor fungal communities by increasing N deposition may have implications for the cycling and storage of C in forest ecosystems.
Numerical solution of a Fredholm integro-differential equation modelling θ˙-neural networks

We propose several approaches to the numerical solution of a new Fredholm integro-differential equations modelling neural networks. A solution strategy based on expansions onto standard cardinal basis functions and collocation is presented. Comparative numerical experiments illustrate specific advantages and drawbacks of the different approaches and are used to motivate alternate strategies.
Techniques for on-orbit cryogenic servicing

Abstract NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has a renewed interest in on-orbit cryogen storage and transfer to support its mission to explore near-earth objects such as asteroids and comets. The Cryogenic Propellant Storage and Transfer Technology Demonstration Mission (CPST-TDM), managed by the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and scheduled for launch in 2018, will demonstrate numerous key technologies applicable to a cryopropellant fuel depot. As an adjunct to the CPST-TDM work, experiments at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) will support the development of techniques to manage and transfer cryogens on-orbit and expand these techniques as they may be applicable to servicing science missions using solid cryogens such as the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The results of several ground experiments are described, including autogenous pressurization used for transfer of liquid nitrogen and argon, characterization of the transfer and solidification of argon, and development of robotic tools for cryogen transfer.
Follow-up functional radiographic studies are not mandatory for all patients after ureteroscopy

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the usefulness of follow-up radiographic studies after ureteroscopy by retrospective chart review. Methods. We reviewed the charts of 118 patients who underwent 134 ureteroscopic procedures from January 1998 to November 1999. Results. Follow-up was obtained at our institution for 87 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 34 weeks (mean 7, SE ± 0.75). Of 10 patients who underwent ureteroscopy for diagnostic purposes, none had postoperative pain or obstruction on follow-up radiographic studies. Of 77 patients who underwent ureteroscopy for calculi, 12 (16%) had postoperative obstruction. One third of patients with residual obstruction (4 of 12) complained of persistent pain versus 6% of patients without evidence of obstruction (4 of 65) (P = 0.02). Twelve patients had residual stone fragments on their follow-up radiographic studies; 5 (42%) of these patients complained of pain versus 3 (5%) of 65 patients who were stone free after surgery (P = 0.002). The use of pain to predict either obstruction or residual fragments had a negative and positive predictive value of 83% and 75%, respectively. Preoperative obstruction and postoperative pain were combined as one indicator for the presence of residual fragments and postoperative obstruction. Patients who had preoperative obstruction and presented with postoperative pain had a 67% chance of having residual fragments and a 50% chance of residual obstruction, and 96% of patients without preoperative obstruction and no postoperative pain had no persistent obstruction or residual fragments (P = 0.001). Conclusions. For patients who present for ureteroscopy with no obstruction and report no pain at follow-up, a plain radiograph may be sufficient. For patients who present with obstruction and report pain during follow-up, functional imaging studies are recommended.
Distribution of the electrical potential in hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells

Abstract We report on a direct measurement of the spatial distribution of electrical potential on cross sections of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) n – i – p solar cells using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. We found that most voltage has dropped near the p / i interface up to ∼500 nm into the i -layer, but that the voltage flattens out near the n / i region for a device with i -layer thickness of ∼800 nm. However, the potential distributes approximate-linearly on the entire i -layer for a device with i -layer of ∼250 nm. The potential measurements suggest that the i -layer is slightly n -type (6–13×10 15 /cm 3 ), and the depletion width is ∼350–500 nm at the i / p interface. This depletion width provides a direct experimental evidence for the device design criteria that a-Si:H solar cells should be thinner than ∼500 nm, in the point view of electrical potential.
OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT GLASS WITH VERTICALLY ALIGNED SURFACE Al2O3 NANOWIRES HAVING SUPERHYDROPHOBIC CHARACTERISTICS

We have shown in this paper that the self-ordered pore structure of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) can be utilized as a basis to conveniently form large-area Al2O3 nanowire arrays on a glass surface. An aluminum oxide nanowire array has been produced by aluminum film deposition on glass followed by anodization, then simple chemical etching. The glass surface as prepared is highly superhydrophobic, with a contact angle as high as 169°. The thinness (~ 340 nm) and vertical alignment of the aluminum oxide nanowires with empty spaces in-between essentially contribute to maintaining the optical transparency of the glass substrate. Interestingly, substantially suppressed UV transmission in the ~ 300–400 nm spectrum region was observed with the presence of the Al2O3 nanowires on the glass substrate. Such a durable surface ceramic nanowire structure can be useful for producing superhydrophobic, self-cleaning glasses with a variety of potential applications such as UV protecting glass windows for high rise buildings with reduced consumption of water and cleaning chemicals for positive environmental effects.
Estimates of pressure gradients in PEMFC gas channels due to blockage by static liquid drops

Numerical analyses are presented to explain the effect of drop size and contact angle on local pressures inside small channels. These pressures and channel characteristics are of interest when water condenses in the gas channels of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and hence the study uses Reynolds numbers consistent with as typical utilization of reacting gases in 200 cm 2 flow fields (i.e., 200 < Re < 1500 and stoichiometries of 1.2‐2.0 at 1.0 A/cm 2 ). The analyses were performed using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic techniques and the results show that pressure drops are minimal until the blockage was greater than 50%. As blockage increased further, due to larger drops or increased hydrophobicity, pressure drop increased. The results of a stagnant drop are supported by visualization experiments, which show minimal distortion of the drop for these low flow rates, small ratios, and hydrophobic contact angles. Proper scaling parameters and design criteria for microchannels validation experiments are presented. a 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
On continuum mixture theories for shear wave propagation in trilaminated wave guides

Abstract Recently developed continuum mixture theories are extended to study the propagation of horizontally polarized shear waves in a trilaminated wave guide. A specific composite model is considered which resembles the case in which one of the materials acts as a bonding agent for the other two materials. Dispersion relations are derived and compared with exact predictions. Good correlation is shown for significant frequency ranges, especially for the lowest two modes.
Major Damaging Convective Storms in the United States

An assessment of the geographical and temporal distributions of costly convective storms across the U.S. during 1949-2008 found that losses were caused by various types of convective storms, including thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes, heavy rains, and high winds. Most of the 812 total convective storms (resulting in insured property losses of $1 million or more) and their losses occurred in the Midwest and Southern U.S., accounting for 75% of all storms and 79% of all losses in the U.S. during the 60 years sampled. The most frequent catastrophes occurred in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, and Missouri. Catastrophe sizes showed 50% of the 812 total events occurred in only one state and 78% in three or fewer states. The number of catastrophes occurring in only one state and in one climate region during 1949-2008 were least during 1999-2008, revealing that recent catastrophes were of greater size than those occurring during 1949-1998. The national distribution of catastrophes during 1949-2008 showed wide fl...
Tasso’s critique and incorporation of chivalric romance: His transformation of achilles in theGerusalemme Liberata

The conflicted attitude that Torquato Tasso shows toward chivalric romance in his epic theory also marks his epic practice, as this article illustrates by comparing Rinaldo inGerusalemme liberata to Homer’s Achilles. While there are broad parallels between the two heroes—in particular their angry withdrawal from the fighting, which so hampers their side that no progress to victory can be achieved without their return—the circumstances that follow their defection and that, eventually, prompt their return are quite different. In Tasso’s poem these differences are mostly ascribable to the poet’s incorporation of conventional romance ingredients: the hero’s solitary quest for chivalric adventures, his amorous dalliance and truancy in the realm of an enchantress who falls in love with him, his liberation from her spell thanks to the intervention of a magus, his eventual overcoming of hostile magical forces that impede the progress of his fellow warriors. It also becomes apparent that a salient difference between Rinaldo and Achilles is that the conflict faced by Tasso’s hero is much more internal. Once again it is the matter of romance that allows Tasso to dramatize the personal susceptibility and the regeneration of his protagonist. Despite the negative valence he assigns to the motifs and themes of romance, Tasso depends on romance ingredients to depict the inner transformation that Rinaldo must undergo to make him into a fitter Christian warrior, and there by a hero ethically superior to both his Homeric and chivalric precursors.
Invited Commentary: The Art of Making Questionnaires Better

A paper by Schilling et al. (Am J Epidemiol 2006;164:1141-4) addresses a crucial issue for epidemiologists: limited peer access to questionnaires. This limited access hampers the ability to evaluate and improve the questions used by investigators and, in turn, the quality of some of the self-reported data. The authors of this commentary analyzed recent publications in core epidemiology journals, finding that self-reported data were used in 64% of articles, but key questions were seldom printed in the article (9%), and open access to complete questionnaires (16%) was rarely provided. Only 47% of articles even discussed validation; of these, only 67% actually validated questions used in the study. The authors join Schilling et al. in making recommendations to improve questionnaire access and collaboration. A first step, proposed before, involves investigators posting their questionnaires on a website concurrently with publication of their article. Journal editors should require online access to full questionnaires for published articles and inclusion of key questions within the article when possible. Funding agencies should take the lead in increasing access and collaboration by developing a searchable database.
Traps and Snares in Eigenvalue Calculations with Application to Pseudospectral Computations of Ocean Tides in a Basin Bounded by Meridians

We make several observations about eigenvalue problems using, as examples, Laplace's tidal equations and the differential equation satisfied by the associated Legendre functions. Whatever the discretization, only some of the eigenvalues of theN-dimensional matrix eigenvalue problem will be good approximations to those of the differential equation?usuallytheN/2 eigenvalues of smallest magnitude. For the tidal problem, however, the “good” eigenvalues are scattered, so our first point is: It is important to plot the “drift” of eigenvalues with changes in resolution. We suggest plotting the difference between a low resolution eigenvalue and the nearest high resolution eigenvalue, divided by the magnitude of the eigenvalue or the intermodal separation, whichever is smaller. Second, as a final safeguard, it is important to look at the Chebyshev coefficients of the mode: We show a numerically computed “anti-Kelvin” wave which has little eigenvalue drift, but is completely spurious as is obvious from its spectral series. Third, inverting the roles of parameters can drastically modify the spectrum; Legendre's equation may have either an infinite number of discrete modes or only a handful, depending on which parameter is the eigenvalue. Fourth, when the modes are singular but decay to zero at the endpoints (as is true of tides), a tanh-mapping can retrieve the usual exponential accuracy of spectral methods. Fifth, the pseudospectral method is more reliable than deriving a banded Galerkin matrix by means of recurrence relations; the pseudospectral code is simple to check, whereas it is easy to make an untestable mistake with the intricate algebra required for the Galerkin method. Sixth, we offer a brief cautionary tale about overlooked modes. All these cautions are applicable toallforms of spatial discretization including finite difference and finite element methods. However, we limit our illustrations to spectral schemes, where these difficulties are most easily resolved. With a bit of care, the pseudospectral method is a very robust and efficient method for solving differential eigenproblems, even with singular eigenmodes.
PHOTORESPIRATION IN THE PROTONEMATA OF FUNARIA HYGROMETRICA HEDW.

SUMMARY The protonemata of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. were shown to photorespire, first by demonstrating that immediately after a period of illumination oxygen was consumed at a rate greater than that characteristic of long-term dark respiration, and secondly by observing a greater release of 14CO2 from 1 – 14C glycolate in light than in darkness. The glycolate-oxidizing enzyme had the ability to decompose L(–) lactate but not D(–) lactate, and must therefore be considered to be a glycolate oxidase and not a glycolate dehydrogenase such as operative in some algae. Some implications of these findings are discussed.
Introduction to object localization in imagery obtained by stereoscopic viewing through a corrugated refractive interface

The recognition of objects that are imaged by viewing through a refractive interface has long been considered a difficult goal, due to spatial distortions that result from interfacial refraction. Although not insoluble via approximation, trans-interfacial stereophotogrammetry has not been addressed in the open literature. However, our previously-reported research has presented feasible, computationally efficient methods for restoring imagery obtained by monocular trans-interfacial viewing. The restoration results exhibit visually acceptable degradation due to information loss inherent in the restoration algorithm and (by design) a partial knowledge of the interfacial optical parameters. In particular, we have shown that our methods can facilitate low-distortion viewing of objects that are submerged at shallow optical depths (less than one caustic surface) in moderately clear water. In practice, our techniques require a partial knowledge of the sea topography, which we propose to obtain through time- domain reflectometry, or via stereophotogrammetry of the air-water interface. In this paper, we extend our previous work in monocular trans-interfacial imaging to address the problem of determining the range-to-target in trans-interfacial stereoscopic imagery. Note that our previous scenarios for interfacial viewing, which assumed bistatic sensing of interfacial topography, required at least three high-resolution cameras. Unfortunately, such techniques present infeasible bandwidth requirements for operationally-available transmission channels. Additionally, sensor design is complex, and performance can degrade significantly in the presence of slight optical misalignment. Thus, we restrict our discussion to the problem of stereo vision through the interface using only two cameras that exhibit moderate resolution. Analyses emphasize determination of the constraints upon sensor configuration and sea state under which such methods are applicable, as well as the prediction of spatial localization errors in the presence of typical sensor parameter errors and limiting cases.
Factor Xa Dimerization and Prothrombinase Complex Formation Are Competitive Process On a Membrane Surface.

Table of ContentsExposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) molecules on activated platelet membranes is a crucial event in blood coagulation. Binding of PS to a specific site on factor Xa (fXa) and factorVa (fVa) promotes their assembly into a complex that dramatically enhances proteolytic activity of fXa. Recent studies demonstrate that by both soluble PS and PS-containing membranespromote formation of inactive fXa dimer at 5mM Ca+2. The fluorescence anisotropy of active site labeled fXa, FEGR (Fluorescein-GLU-GLY-ARG-chloromethylketone)-Xa, is decreased in the presence of PS membrane on which it forms dimer. We report now the addition of fVa to membrane-bound FEGR-Xa produced fVa- FEGR-Xa complex formation with a Kd, surface approximately 60-fold lower than that characterizing FEGR-Xa surface dimerization, clearly indicating fVa strongly competed with fXa dimer formation in order to form active Xa-Va complex on the membrane surface. Analysis of FEGR-Xa fluorescence anisotropy yielded roughly constant Kd's for Xa-Va interaction with increasing Ca2+ concentration from 2 to 5 mM Ca2+ despite the fact that fXa dimer formation varied dramatically over this Ca2+ range. Experiments performed at varying membrane and fVa concentrations for both 23 nm and 120 nm confirmed that protein distribution between vesicles was sufficiently rapid as to overcome any possible effects of membrane discreteness. We conclude that PS-induced fXa dimerization on membrane strongly competes with fXa-fVa complex formation at high Ca2+ concentrations. Supported by USPHS grant HL072827 to BRL.
Rhodopsin and light-sensitive kinase activity of retinal outer segments

Abstract When suspensions of cattle retinal outer segments are incubated with Mg2+ and [γ-32P]ATP, the rhodopsin band, identified on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, is labeled when the samples are incubated in bright white light, but not in darkness. Calf thymus histone added to the reaction mixture is labeled equally in darkness and in light. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) has no effect on the phosphorylation of either substrate. After washing in potassium alum, outer segment suspensions lose their ability to phosphorylate either rhodopsin or histone, even though alum treatment does not destroy the spectral properties of rhodopsin. Addition of a soluble kinase from beef skeletal muscle restores the ability to phosphorylate histone but not rhodopsin. These results suggest that the stimulation of rhodopsin phosphorylation by light is due to structural changes in the visual pigment protein rather than to direct light activation of the protein kinase. In addition, the results imply that rhodopsin phosphorylation may require a specific kinase located in retinal outer segments.
Profiling Support for Runtime Managed Code: Next Generation Performance Monitoring Units

Given the increase of runtime managed code environments in desktop, server, and mobile segments, agile, flexible, and accurate performance monitoring capabilities are required in order to perform wise code transformations and optimizations. Common profiling strategies, mainly based on instrumentation and current performance monitoring units (PMUs), are not adequate and new innovative designs are necessary. In this paper, we present the desired characteristics of what we call next generation PMUs and advocate for hardware/software collaborative approaches where hardware implements the profiling hooks and mechanisms and software implements the complex heuristics. We then propose a first design in which the hardware uses a small, yet flexible table to profile specific code regions and the software decides what/when/how to profile. This first design meets all required features and we aim it as the seed for future PMUs extensions to enable novel dynamic code transformations and optimizations.
A selective and sensitive “turn-on” fluorescent chemodosimeter for Hg2+ in aqueous media viaHg2+ promoted facile desulfurization–lactonization reaction

A novel highly selective and sensitive “turn-on” fluorescent chemodosimeter for Hg2+ in pure aqueous media has been developed.
Physical techniques of membrane studies -- Study of membrane active peptides in bilayers

Abstract Biological functions of cell membranes are mediated by specific proteins. These proteins assume their active forms only in the membrane environment. We review two methods of direct studies of the conformations of molecules embedded in bilayer membranes. We prepared membranes containing proteins into aligned multilayers. Such multilayers possess one-dimensional structural order and preserve the orientational order of proteins relative to the plane of membrane. Membrane proteins often contain helical sections. The orientation of these helical sections can be determined by the method of oriented circular dichroism. The one-dimensional structures can be determined by X-ray diffraction off aligned multilayers. In particular, the perpendicular postions of the label atoms in membrane proteins can be determined to within a few tenths of angstrom. These methods are illustrated with the applications to the structural problems of two membrane active peptides: alamethicin and gramicidin. Oriented circular dichroism showed that alamethicin switchs between the perpendicular orientation and the parallel orientation to the plane of membrane as we vary the chemical potential of water and the peptide-lipid ratio. The locations of the ion binding sites in the gramicidin channel were determined by two different X-ray diffraction methods. In one, the diffraction patterns of membranes containing gramicidin and ions (Tl + , K + , Ba ++ , Mg ++ or without ions) were measured and the ion binding sites were revealed by the difference electron density profiles. In another, the ion binding sites were found by anomalous multiple-wavelength diffraction.
A quantitative synthesis of the medicinal ethnobotany of the Malinké of Mali and the Asháninka of Peru, with a new theoretical framework

Background Although ethnomedically and taxonomically guided searches for new medicinal plants can improve the percentage of plants found containing active compounds when compared to random sampling, ethnobotany has fulfilled little of its promise in the last few decades to deliver a bounty of new, laboratory-proven medicinal plants and compounds. It is quite difficult to test, isolate, and elucidate the structure and mechanism of compounds from the plethora of new medicinal plant uses described each year with limited laboratory time and resources and the high cost of clinical trials of new drug candidates.
Chemokine Oligomerization and Interactions with Receptors and Glycosaminoglycans: The Role of Structural Dynamics in Function

The first chemokine structure, that of IL-8/CXCL8, was determined in 1990. Since then, many chemokine structures have emerged. To the initial disappointment of structural biologists, the tertiary structures of these small proteins were found to be highly conserved. However, they have since proven to be much more interesting and diverse than originally expected. Somewhat like lego blocks, many chemokines oligomerize and there is significant diversity in their oligomeric forms and propensity to oligomerize. Chemokines not only interact with receptors where different oligomeric forms can induce different signaling responses, they also interact with glycosaminoglycans which can stabilize oligomers and other structures that would not otherwise form in solution. Although chemokine monomers and dimers yielded quickly to structure determination, structural information about larger chemokine oligomers, chemokines receptors, and complexes of chemokines with glycosaminoglycans and receptors has been more difficult to obtain, but recent breakthroughs suggest that this information will be forthcoming, especially with receptor structures. Equally important and challenging, will be efforts to correlate the structural information with function.
Signaling Pathways in Human Skeletal Dysplasias

Human skeletal dysplasias are disorders that result from errors in bone, cartilage, and joint development. A complex series of signaling pathways, including the FGF, TGFbeta, BMP, WNT, Notch, and Hedgehog pathways, are essential for proper skeletogenesis, and human skeletal dysplasias are often a consequence of primary or secondary dysregulation of these pathways. Although these pathways interact to regulate bone, cartilage, and joint formation, human genetic phenotypes point to the predominant action of specific components of these pathways. Mutations in the genes with a role in metabolic processing within the cell, the extracellular matrix, and transcriptional regulation can lead to dysregulation of cell-cell and cell-matrix signaling that alters tissue patterning, cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. We propose a morphogen rheostat model to conceptualize how mutations in different metabolic processes can lead to the integration of differential signaling inputs within a temporal and spatial context to generate apparently divergent skeletal phenotypes.
Shoulder labral pathomechanics with rotator cuff tears

Rotator cuff tears (RCTs), the most common injury of the shoulder, are often accompanied by tears in the superior glenoid labrum. We evaluated whether superior humeral head (HH) motion secondary to RCTs and loading of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) are implicated in the development of this associated superior labral pathology. Additionally, we determined the efficacy of a finite element model (FEM) for predicting the mechanics of the labrum. The HH was oriented at 30° of glenohumeral abduction and neutral rotation with 50N compressive force. Loads of 0N or 22N were applied to the LHBT. The HH was translated superiorly by 5mm to simulate superior instability caused by RCTs. Superior displacement of the labrum was affected by translation of the HH (P<0.0001), position along the labrum (P<0.0001), and interaction between the location on the labrum and LHBT tension (P<0.05). The displacements predicted by the FEM were compared with mechanical tests from 6 cadaveric specimens and all were within 1 SD of the mean. A hyperelastic constitutive law for the labrum was a better predictor of labral behavior than the elastic law and insensitive to ±1 SD variations in material properties. Peak strains were observed at the glenoid-labrum interface below the LHBT attachment consistent with the common location of labral pathology. These results suggest that pathomechanics of the shoulder secondary to RCTs (e.g., superior HH translation) and LHBT loading play significant roles in the pathologic changes seen in the superior labrum.
Infection With Cryptosporidium hominis Provides Incomplete Protection of the Host Against Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum, which infect humans equally, are genetically/antigenically almost identical. It remains unclear, however, whether infection with C. hominis protects against C. parvum. Gnotobiotic piglets were used to investigate cross-protection. After ≥3 days of recovery from C. hominis infection, the piglets were completely protected against subsequent challenge with C. hominis but only partially against challenge with C. parvum, as compared with age-matched control animals challenged with either species. In conclusion, C. hominis-specific immunity was sufficient to completely protect against challenge with the same species but insufficient to provide the same level of protection against C. parvum.
Emergency department evaluation of acute stress disorder symptoms in violently injured youths.

Abstract Study Objective: We assess the feasibility of evaluating acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms in the emergency department and provide an initial estimate of the prevalence, severity, and variability of these symptoms in violently injured urban children and young adults. Methods: The Immediate Stress Response Checklist (ISRC) was administered to violently injured patients between the ages of 8 and 24 years who presented to 2 urban, academic medical center EDs during a 10-week period. The ISRC is designed to assess ASD symptoms in children and youths immediately after a traumatic event. Responses are described using summed symptom severity scores and counts of symptoms. Results: Out of 109 identified youths, 81 participated. Fear, helplessness, or horror during the injury event was reported by 59 (73%) of study participants. Each of the following categories of ASD symptoms was reported by a significant number of youths: peritrauma dissociation, 63 (78%); posttrauma dissociation, 33 (41%); re-experiencing intrusive thoughts or images, 66 (82%); avoidance, 53 (65%); and hyperarousal, 32 (39%). The ISRC demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach α=.88) in this cohort. Conclusion: The ISRC can be used to assess acute stress reactions in violently injured youths in the immediate period after injury. Although these reactions appear to be common, there is substantial variability among distinct symptom categories. These results support the need for further investigation of the relationship between immediate stress responses and longer-term emotional impact of violent injury. Clinicians should consider assessing the emotional responses of children and adolescents who are injured by interpersonal violence, even when these injuries seem minor. [Fein JA, Kassam-Adams N, Vu T, Datner EM. Emergency department evaluation of acute stress disorder symptoms in violently injured youths. Ann Emerg Med. October 2001;38:391-396.]
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges in Hepatic Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a very rare, low-grade vascular tumor known to arise in soft tissues and visceral organs. Clinical diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma remains a challenge, and although it is frequently managed with a liver transplant due to its multifocal nature, recurrence is a common complication. We review recent advances in the diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, including major genetic breakthroughs, and discuss efforts to reduce post-liver transplant recurrence of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.
The dispersal process of asexual propagules and the contribution to population persistence in Marchantia (Marchantiaceae)

 Premise of the study: The dispersal process involves emigration from a focal source, dispersal through the landscape, and immigration into a new population or habitat. Despite the fact that dispersal is vital for the long-term persistence of a species, key stages of the process are unknown or understudied for many species, including the importance and contribution of asexual reproduction. Focusing only on a single stage in the dispersal process may give an incomplete and potentially fl awed picture of the effects of asexual reproduction on metapopulation dynamics in plant species.  Methods: Using a multifaceted approach that combines laboratory experiments, fi eld studies, and mathematical models, we quantify the production, dispersal, and survival of immigrants of water-dispersed asexual offspring (gemmae) of the clonal liverwort Marchantia infl exa .  Key results: Compared to female plants, male plants of Marchantia infl exa produce gemmae more quickly and in higher numbers, but due to desiccation have lower gemmae survival rates. Gemmae move up to 20 cm per minute in light rain, suggesting they can leave the source population. Long distance dispersal of gemmae is supported by the mathematical analysis of unisexual metapopulations. Upon reaching the new habitat, gemmae survival is high if they stay moist.  Conclusions: By integrating multiple experiments to quantify the effects of gemmae on metapopulation dynamics, we found that different stages of dispersal can lead to different conclusions on which sex has an advantage. Gemmae are critical for the maintenance of both sexes, the persistence of single-sex metapopulations and species, and the invasibility of clonal organisms.
A high performance 0.35-/spl mu/m 3.3-V BiCMOS technology optimized for product porting from a 0.6-/spl mu/m 3.3-V BiCMOS technology

A 0.35-/spl mu/m logic technology has been developed with high performance transistors and four layers of planarized metal interconnect. A 2.5-V version offers lower power and higher performance. A 3.3-V BiCMOS version has been optimized for compatibility with previous designs implemented in a 0.6-/spl mu/m 3.3-V BiCMOS process. A two-step design process for converting an existing production worthy 0.6-/spl mu/m 3.3-V BiCMOS design to a 0.35-/spl mu/m design is described. The silicon results are described.
A fuzzy programming approach for data reduction and privacy in distance-based mining

With the explosive growth of data and its distributed sources, there are increasing needs for secure cooperative data analysis. The issue of data reduction to decrease communication overheads and the issue of preservation of privacy of the shared data are becoming important. However, existing privacy preserving techniques do not work well for distance-based mining because they do not preserve distances. Besides, most of them either do not reduce data or are tied to very specific mining algorithms. Using the unitarity and energy compaction property of Fourier transforms, this paper proposes a novel framework to preserve privacy and reduce data size, yet preserve Euclidian distances. A fuzzy programming approach for selection of Fourier coefficients is proposed to optimise the objective of preserving Euclidean distances and obtaining privacy and data reduction through coefficient suppression. Experiments demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach over the existing ones.
Issues in runtime algorithm selection for grid environments

The heterogeneity and unpredictability of gridcomputing environments is a severe challenge toalgorithm selection for large-scale scientific codes. Thispaper discusses a set of requirements for an algorithmselection web service, which supports runtime, context-awarealgorithm recommendations in a multi-language,multi-platform environment. An architecture andprototype implementation of such a system is described,along with a perspective of how such a system will behelpful to other grid middleware such as meta-schedulingsystems.
Adjustment Computations: Spatial Data Analysis 4th ed. by Charles D. Ghilani and Paul R. Wolf

Measurements are inexact and always contain errors. Before any data, spatial or nonspatial, can be utilized for sensible analysis, the existence of errors in data must be assessed and adjusted. The...
Single-molecule optofluidics using liquid-core ARROW waveguides

We review recent development of liquid-core ARROW waveguides for combining planar integrated optics and microfluidics on a chip. Optical design, microfabrication, and optical characterization are presented, including demonstration of single molecule fluorescence sensitivity.
The Influence of Mesoscale Eddies on Coarsely Resolved Density: An Examination of Subgrid-Scale Parameterization

Coarse-resolution numerical models of ocean circulation rely on parameterizations of unresolved mesoscale eddy effects. In order to investigate the role of eddy-flux divergences in the density equation, the GFDL Modular Ocean Model (MOM) has been configured as a simple flat-bottomed channel model with sufficient resolution to represent mesoscale eddies. Eady-type baroclinic instability and a wind-forced channel have been considered. As an analog to the large-scale components addressed by low-resolution models, the influence of eddy fluxes on the zonal-mean density field was evaluated. Results show that eddy-flux divergences are larger than meanflux divergences. The effect of mesoscale eddies on the mean density field is often hypothesized to take an advective form that conserves mean density so that eddy effects are adiabatic in the zonal mean. However, in both of the examples studied a significant component of the mesoscale eddy effect on the zonal mean is diabatic and makes mean density nonconservative. The associated diapycnal fluxes result from zonally averaging terms representing processes that are locally adiabatic. Subgrid-scale parameterizations (such as eddy diffusion) represent the unresolved eddy-flux divergence as a function of the resolved density field. The authors computed optimal coefficients for a variety of parameterizations and evaluated their skill. When the model output is time-averaged, quasi-adiabatic parameterizations, such as the one proposed by Gent and McWilliams, are able to explain as much as 43% of the mean-squared eddy-flux divergence. However, for shorter averaging periods or instantaneous snapshots, even for the spatially averaged model fields, parameterization skill drops.
High-Resolution DCE-MRI of the Pituitary Gland Using Radial k-Space Acquisition with Compressed Sensing Reconstruction

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The pituitary gland is located outside of the blood-brain barrier. Dynamic T1 weighted contrast enhanced sequence is considered to be the gold standard to evaluate this region. However, it does not allow assessment of intrinsic permeability properties of the gland. Our aim was to demonstrate the utility of radial volumetric interpolated brain examination with the golden-angle radial sparse parallel technique to evaluate permeability characteristics of the individual components (anterior and posterior gland and the median eminence) of the pituitary gland and areas of differential enhancement and to optimize the study acquisition time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 52 patients (group 1, 25 patients with normal pituitary glands; and group 2, 27 patients with a known diagnosis of microadenoma). Radial volumetric interpolated brain examination sequences with golden-angle radial sparse parallel technique were evaluated with an ROI-based method to obtain signal-time curves and permeability measures of individual normal structures within the pituitary gland and areas of differential enhancement. Statistical analyses were performed to assess differences in the permeability parameters of these individual regions and optimize the study acquisition time. RESULTS: Signal-time curves from the posterior pituitary gland and median eminence demonstrated a faster wash-in and time of maximum enhancement with a lower peak of enhancement compared with the anterior pituitary gland ( P < .005). Time-optimization analysis demonstrated that 120 seconds is ideal for dynamic pituitary gland evaluation. In the absence of a clinical history, differences in the signal-time curves allow easy distinction between a simple cyst and a microadenoma. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study confirms the ability of the golden-angle radial sparse parallel technique to evaluate the permeability characteristics of the pituitary gland and establishes 120 seconds as the ideal acquisition time for dynamic pituitary gland imaging. GRASP : golden-angle radial sparse parallel STC : signal-time curve VIBE : volumetric interpolated brain examination