cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thy1 (+) and (-) lung fibrosis subpopulations in LEW and F344 rats

Appreciation of the potential of fibroblasts as effector cells in inflammation has led to the recognition of fibroblast subpopulations, the most stable of which are the Thy1 (+) and Thy1 (-) subpopulations in mouse lung fibroblasts. We investigated the presence of Thy1 (+) and (-) fibroblasts in rats, comparing the percentage in primary cultures from rats with different susceptibility to fibrosis, and whether the characteristics were similar in mice and rats, and between normal and fibrotic rats lungs. Using primary cultures of rat fibroblasts obtained both from normal and fibrotic lungs, we analysed the percentage of Thy1 (+) and (-) fibroblasts by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. We sorted the fibroblasts to evaluate immune region associated antigen (Ia) expression, which tends to be raised in tissues involved in inflammation, and other characteristics. We found that Thy1 (+) and (-) fibroblasts: 1) are distinct subpopulations in rat lungs; 2) are found in different proportions in rat strains with different propensity towards lung fibrosis; and 3) have similar but not identical characteristics in mice and rats. We also found that bleomycin-induced fibrosis increases the percentage of Ia expression in Thy1 (-), but not Thy1 (+) fibroblasts. The presence of these stable fibroblast supopulations in multiple species, and the fact that these fibroblasts differ in their response to a fibrosing agent, suggests the importance of considering fibroblast subpopulations in development and disease.
Evidence that a minor groove-binding peptide and a major groove-binding protein can simultaneously occupy a common site on DNA.

Affinity cleaving proteins have been synthesized based on the DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 with the DNA cleaving moiety Fe·EDTA attached at the NH_2 terminus [Oakley, M. G., & Dervan, P. B. (1990) Science 248, 847]. Cleavage patterns generated by Fe·EDTA-GCN4(226-281) bound to the DNA sites 5'-CTGACTAAT-3' and 5'-ATGACTCTT-3' reveal that the NH_2 termini of the GCN4 DNA-binding domain are located in the major groove of DNA, 9-10 base pairs apart, consistent with a Y-shaped dimeric structure. 1-Methylimidazole-2-carboxamide netropsin (2-ImN) is a designed synthetic peptide which binds in the minor groove of DNA at 5'-TGACT-3' sites as an anti parallel, side-by-side dimer [Mrksich, M., Wade, W. S., Dwyer, T. J ., Geierstanger, B. H., Wemmer, D. E., & Dervan, P. B. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 7586]. Through the use of Fe·EDTAGCN4( 226-281) as a sequence-specific footprinting agent, it is shown that the dimeric protein GCN4-(226-281) and the dimeric peptide 2-ImN can simultaneously occupy their common binding site in the major and minor grooves of DNA, respectively. The association constants for 2-ImN in the presence and in the absence of Fe·EDTA-GCN4(226-281) are found to be similar, suggesting that the binding of the two dimers is not cooperative.
Metallothionein-1 and -2 expression in cadmium- or arsenic-derived human malignant urothelial cells and tumor heterotransplants and as a prognostic indicator in human bladder cancer

The goal of this study was to determine if the expression of the metallothionein (MT)-1/2 proteins might serve as a biomarker for the development of bladder cancer. A retrospective analysis of MT-1/2 staining was performed on 343 tissue sections from patients referred for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The specimens were subdivided into six categories: benign, dysplastic, low-grade cancer, high-grade cancer with no evidence of invasion, high-grade cancer with evidence of invasion, and carcinoma in situ. There was no expression of MT-1/2 in benign lesions and low-grade cancers, a low incidence of expression in dysplastic lesions and high-grade cancers with no evidence of muscle invasion, and a significantly increased incidence of MT-1/2 in high-grade cancers that had invaded the underlying matrix. The expression of MT-1/2 varied in intensity from sample to sample and was focal in its expression. It was concluded from these findings that MT-1/2 may be a prognostic marker for cancers that are progressing to invade the underlying stroma of the bladder wall. The expression of MT-1/2 was also determined in a cell culture model of human urothelium that had been malignantly transformed by Cd 2+ and As 3+ and shown to be capable of tumor formation in nude mice. It was demonstrated that the expression of MT-1/2 in the tumor heterotransplants was similar to the pattern found in archival specimens of high-grade bladder cancers. The MT-1/2 staining in the heterotransplants was focal in pattern, varied in intensity, and highest in the less differentiated cells of the tumor. These findings indicate that the cell culture model may serve to help define the role of MT-1/2 expression in bladder cancer invasion.
Replication of Coxsackievirus B3 in Primary Cell Cultures Generates Novel Viral Genome Deletions

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) generates 5'-terminally deleted genomes (TDs) during replication in murine hearts. We show here that CVB3 populations with TDs can also be generated within two to three passages of CVB3 in primary, but not immortalized, cell cultures. Deletions of less than 49 nucleotides increase in size during passage, while 5' TDs of 49 nucleotides appear to be the maximum deletion size. The cellular environment of contact-inhibited primary cell cultures or the myocardium in vivo is sufficient for the selection of 5' TDs over undeleted genomes.
The estimate of total nucleotide substitutions from pairwise differences is biased.

A nomographic method is presented that estimates the number of nucleotide substitutions since the common ancestor of two nucleotide sequences with no assumption about the proportion of transition and transversion substitutions except that it is constant over time. Of two previous methods of estimating this number, that of M. Kimura ( Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 78, 454-458 (1981)) obtains the same result, and is thus confirmed by this work, while that of W. M. Brown, E. M. Prager, A. Wang & A. C. Wilson ( J. molec. Evol. 18, 225-239 (1982)) does not get the same result. The method presented here also obtains the fraction of all substitutions that are transitions. If one has three or more homologous sequences to compare, one can test the validity of the model by examining the constancy of the estimated proportion of substitutions that are transitions across the various pairs of sequences in a simple visual way. The method is general for any pair of mutually exclusive nucleotide substitutional categories, not just transitions and transversions. Mitochondrial data provide evidence that, for this and probably other current models correcting for superimposed substitutions, one or more of the underlying assumptions is incorrect. This is because there is some unknown systematic bias affecting this evolutionary process. It is suggested that at least part of the bias arises from incorrectly assuming that all sites are variable. In the absence of evidence that this bias is not present in other data, all estimates of the number of substitutions based upon pairs of sequences and current methods of estimating superimposed substitutions at a single site should be viewed as uncertain.
Correlates of objectively measured sedentary behavior in US preschool children.

OBJECTIVE: To identify correlates of objectively measured sedentary behavior in a diverse sample of preschool children. METHODS: A total of 331 children (51% male, 51% black) from a wide range of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds in greater Columbia, South Carolina, were recruited for this study. Sedentary behavior (minutes/hour) was measured by using ActiGraph accelerometers (<37.5 counts per 15 seconds) over a 2-week period. All potential correlates except for anthropometric data of children were measured by a parent survey. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between 29 potential correlates across multiple domains (demographic, biological, psychosocial, behavioral, and physical environmental) and sedentary behavior measured by accelerometry in preschool children. RESULTS: Girls spent more time in sedentary behavior than boys (33.2 vs 32.4 minutes/hour; P = .05). Six and 8 potential correlates were found to be significant in univariate analyses for boys and girls, respectively. In the gender-specific final model, for boys, a child's weekday TV/video games and physical activity equipment in the home were significant correlates of sedentary behavior ( R 2 = 0.091). For girls, BMI z score and child's athletic coordination were significantly associated with sedentary behavior ( R 2 = 0.069). CONCLUSION: Several factors were identified as correlates of objectively measured sedentary behavior in American preschool children. However, there were no common correlates that influenced sedentary behavior for both boys and girls. Future interventions for reducing sedentary behavior could target correlates identified in this study.
The probability of exclusion or likelihood of guilt of an accused: paternity.

Abstract The relative efficiency of genetic blood group systems to exclude individuals is discussed. The potential for exclusion based on the combination of genetic systems is calculated showing the utility of genetically controlled polymorphic enzyme/protein and immunologic systems. The key to assessing the guilt or innocence in a paternity dispute using genetic evidence is the estimation of the probability of not being excluded by chance alone. This probability is computed under two sets of conditions: a random male supplied the genes in question, or a male with a phenotype identical to the accused supplied the genes in question. Contrasting these two probabilities leads to an estimate of the likelihood of guilt or innocence associated with the evidence from blood group genetic systems. The presentation gives two tables for the calculation of these non-exclusion probabilities in paternity disputes for currently used biochemical and immunological systems. The role of Bayes’ theorem is discussed in conjunction with these non-exclusion probabilities.
Localization of RHO-4 Indicates Differential Regulation of Conidial versus Vegetative Septation in the Filamentous Fungus Neurospora crassa†

rho-4 mutants of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa lack septa and asexual spores (conidia) and grow slowly. In this report, localization of green fluorescent protein-tagged RHO-4 is used to elucidate the differences in factors controlling RHO-4 localization during vegetative growth versus asexual development. RHO-4 forms a ring at incipient vegetative septation sites that constricts with the formation of the septum toward the septal pore; RHO-4 persists around the septal pore after septum completion. During the formation of conidia, RHO-4 localizes to the primary septum but subsequently is relocalized to the cytoplasm after the placement of the secondary septum. Cytoplasmic localization and inactivation of RHO-4 are mediated by a direct physical interaction with RDI-1, a RHO guanosine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor. Inappropriate activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A pathway during vegetative growth causes mislocalization of RHO-4 away from septa to the cytoplasm, a process which was dependent upon RDI-1. An adenylate cyclase cr-1 mutant partially suppresses the aconidial defect of rho-4 mutants but only rarely suppresses the vegetative septation defect, indicating that conidial septation is negatively regulated by CR-1. These data highlight the differences in the regulation of septation during conidiation versus vegetative septation in filamentous fungi.
Money, Politics, and Democracy: A Review Essay*

*Financing the 1968 Election. By Herbert E. Alexander. (Lexington, Mass.: Heath Lexington, 1971. Pp. 355. $12.50.) Financing the 1972 Election. By Herbert E. Alexander. (Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath and Co., 1976. Pp. 771. $21.95.) Money In Politics. By Herbert E. Alexander. (Washington: Public Affairs Press, 1972. Pp. 353. $10.00.) 1972 Congressional Campaign Finances. 10 vols. By Common Cause Campaign Finance Monitoring Project. (Washington: Common Cause, 1974. Pp. 1809. $60.00.) 1972 Federal Campaign Finances: Interest Groups and Political Parties. 3 vols. By Common Cause Campaign Finance Monitoring Project. (Washington: Common Cause, 1974. Pp. 866. $24.00.) 1974 Congressional Campaign Finances. 5 vols. By Common Cause Campaign Finance Monitoring Project. (Washington: Common Cause, 1976. Pp. 2068. $60.00.) Financing Presidential Campaigns. By Delmer Dunn. (Washington: The Brookings Institution, 1972. Pp. 168. Cloth, $5.95, paper, $2.95.) Elections For Sale. By Max McCarthy. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1972. Pp. 205. $5.95.) Financing Elections: The Politics of An American Ruling Class. By David Nichols. (New York: New Viewpoints, 1974. Pp. 191. $3.95.) Trends in Campaign Spending in California, 1958-1970: Tests of Factors Influencing Costs. By John R. Owens. (Princeton: Citizens' Research Foundation, 1973. Pp. 84. $1.00.) To Enact A Law: Congress and Campaign Financing. By Robert L. Peabody, Jeffrey M. Berry, William G. Frasure, and Jerry Goldman. (New York: Praeger, 1972. Pp. 225. Cloth, $7.00, paper, $3.75.) Campaign Finances: Two Views of the Political and Constitutional Implications. By Howard R. Penniman and Ralph K. Winter, Jr. (Washgton: American Enterprise Institute, 1971. Pp. 83. $3.00.) Who Shakes the Money Tree? By George Thayer. (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973. Pp. 320. $8.95.) Campaign Financing and Political Freedom. By Ralph K. Winter, Jr., in association with John R. Bolton. (Washington: American Enterprise Institute, 1973. Pp. 27. $2.00.)
Neighborhood Quality, Environmental Hazards, Personality Traits, and Resident Actions

A survey of 798 New Jersey residents examined relationships among residents' neighborhood activities, perceptions of neighborhood quality, trust of experts, support for rebuilding cities and equal rights, and degree of optimism. Neighborhood activities increased with lack of trust and optimism. These personality characteristic measures were folded into multidimensional constructs that included local environmental hazards, respondents' ratings of their previous neighborhoods, and some demographic variables. Pessimism and values that support equal rights and rebuilding cities were weakly associated with poor quality neighborhood ratings.
Political Stability of Two-Party and Multiparty Systems: Probabilistic Bases for the Comparison of Party Systems

The stability of the American two-party system is examined from 1866 until 1980. Following the approach of Stokes and Iversen (1962), restoring forces are posited for presidential elections, but restraining forces also are suggested for congressional elections, leading to an equilibrium between the two in elections to the House. Points of maximum restoration in presidential elections are derived using autocorrelations, and these points suggest a pattern of second-term Republican victories every 28 years beginning in 1872.Equilibrium properties of the American two-party system lead to the twin criteria of representation and restraint in multiparty cabinet coalitions in order to achieve cabinet durabilities on the order of those found in two-party systems. Minimum entropy-minimum winning coalitions satisfy these criteria. Cabinet durabilities on the order of two-party systems can be achieved by means of a 44-55 percentage of the legislative seats won by the first party in a multiparty system.
Iterative methods for neural network design

Summary form only given, as follows. Three iterative algorithms for designing Hopfield neural networks were investigated: the relaxation method, the Cimino method, and the primal-dual method. All three algorithms arise from iterative methods for solving systems of linear inequalities. Convergence results were obtained for all three algorithms. In addition, this approach to neural network design is seen to be both natural and flexible: besides guaranteeing storage of memories whenever possible they can incorporate, into the design stage, a minimum radius of attraction, restricted connectivity, and regular network topologies. Statistical results were obtained to demonstrate these claims as well as to illustrate the near-optimal capacities of these algorithms. >
Dental Residents’ Perceptions of Practice and Patient Management Training During Postgraduate Education

The purpose of this study was to determine what aspects of practice and patient management matter most to dental residents and how they rate their level of training in these areas. In 2005, residents in twelve postdoctoral training programs at the School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, were surveyed about the importance of thirteen topics regarding dental practice and patient management. Residents also rated the level of training they received in these areas during their residency and dental school education. Results from the 2005 survey were compared with those from an identical survey administered to residents in 1997. Residents in 2005 rated time management, multidisciplinary coordination, and total quality management as the most important topics. Comparisons between the 1997 and 2005 groups found that time management and total quality management were significantly less emphasized in 2005 than in 1997. Residents from all specialties also rated dealing with health care payers as important to their future practices, but rated it the least emphasized topic in their programs. Results from this survey illustrate which practice and patient management skills are important to residents in comparison to how well they perceive they are being trained in these skills and suggest where programs could enhance their training to help residents run successful practices.
Social Changes and Science

What are the social changes necessary for the growth of science–in our countries in the Far East? I am sure that our honored visitors who have been working for the promotion of science education in many Asian lands are far better quali fi ed than I to speak on this big and important subject and to open up fruitful discussions at the conference.
The spectrum of Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve

The structure of the tricuspid valve in 14 cases of Ebstein's malformation is described and compared with that in the normal heart. The anomalous hearts showed a spectrum of malformation, varying from minimal displacement of the adjacent parts of the septal and inferior leaflets of the tricuspid valve to presence of an imperforate membrane or muscle shelf between the inlet and trabecular zones of the right ventricle. In "typical" Ebstein's anomaly the anterosuperior leaflet was abnormally attached so as to partially obstruct the route from right atrium to distal right ventricle, the communication between these chambers being between the abnormally attached leaflet and its malformed neighbors. In two hearts, a muscular shelf produced stenosis between inlet and trabecular portions, but a competent valve was produced at this site, the atrialized part of the right ventricle being of normal thickness. The significance of these findings is considered with regard to possible methods of repair. Description of the anomaly is facilitated by considering the right ventricle as possessing inlet, trabecular, and outlet portions. The essence of the anomaly is displacement of the tricuspid orifice to the junction of the inlet and trabecular ventricular zones.
MINIMIZING INFECTION RISK: THE FACTORS INFLUENCING

Minimizing the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is of interest to all surgeons performing hip and knee arthroplasty. Among the most critical factors to reducing the risk of infection include the use of pre-incisional antibiotics, appropriate skin preparation with clippers (as opposed to a razor for hair removal) and the use of an alcohol-based skin preparation. Host factors are also likewise critically important including obesity, diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, renal insufficiency, skin disorders and patients who are otherwise immune-compromised. If modifiable risk factors are identified, it would seem reasonable to delay elective surgery until these can be optimised. One other factor to consider is the nutritional status of the patient. In a study of 501 consecutive revisions, we found that serological markers suggestive of malnutrition (albumin, transferrin or total lymphocyte count) were extremely common in the revision population. Specifically, among patients who presented for treatment of a chronic infection, 53% (67 of 126) had at least one marker for malnutrition. The prevalence of serological markers of malnutrition was lower (33%) in the group of patients undergoing revision for an aseptic reason suggesting that malnutrition was a risk factor for septic failure (p At our center, we also have studied the use of dilute betadine at the end of the case, prior to wound closure, in an attempt to decrease the load of bacteria in the wound. In a retrospective review the prevalence of acute post-operative infection was reduced from just under 1% (18/1862) to 0.15% (1 of 688; p = 0.04). It is critical that the betadine utilised be STERILE and the dilution we use is 0.35% made by diluting 17.5 cc of 10% povidone-iodine paint in 500 cc of normal saline. Although this is a retrospective review, it does suggest a benefit and we have not seen any problems associated with its use.
Analysis of the sulfuric acid hydrolysis of wood pulp for cellulose nanocrystal production: A central composite design study

Abstract Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are most commonly prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis of a purified cellulose starting material but the effects of hydrolysis conditions on CNC yield and properties are incompletely understood. In this study, we use a rotatable central composite experimental design to elucidate parameter interactions between three design factors, acid concentration (x1), hydrolysis temperature (x2), and hydrolysis time (x3), over a broad range of process conditions and determine their effect on yield and sulfate group density. Parameter ranges are 55–65 wt.% for x1, 45–65 °C for x2, and 30–180 min for x3. Regression models of the experimental yield data reveal significant two-factor interactions of x1 with each x2 and x3, whereas x2 has no significant two-factor interaction with x3. The models predict maximum yields of 66–69% at optimum process conditions of 57–58 wt.% (x1), 64–67 °C (x2), and 134–156 min (x3). At these conditions, the sulfate group density is predicted to be between 241 and 265 mmol/kg. The sulfate group density is linearly dependent on acid concentration and hydrolysis temperature and not dependent on hydrolysis time. Maximum sulfate group density can only be achieved at the expense of yield. The results presented here provide a foundation for subsequent, sequential optimization using narrower parameter ranges, allowing further optimization of the hydrolysis conditions and potentially enabling higher yield.
What's in the Bag: A Distributed Approach to 3D Shape Duplication with Modular Robots

Our goal is to develop an automated digital fabrication process that can make any object out of smart materials. In this paper, we present an algorithm for creating shapes by the process of duplication, using modules we have termed smart sand. The object to be duplicated is dipped into a bag of smart sand; the particles exchange messages to sense the object’s shape; and then the particles selectively form mechanical bonds with their neighbors to form a duplicate of the original. Our algorithm is capable of duplicating convex and concave 3D objects in a completely distributed manner. It uses O(1) storage space and O(n) inter-module messages per module. We perform close to 500 experiments using a realistic simulator with over 1400 modules. These experiments confirm the functionality and messaging demands of our distributed duplication algorithm while demonstrating that the algorithm can be used to form interesting and useful shapes.
Internet Addictions: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment, by Kimberly S. Young and Cristiano Nabuco de Abreu (Eds.)

Internet addiction, also called problematic Internet use or impulsive-compulsive Internet usage disorder, has emerged as an important social problem in recent years, particularly among young people...
What Happened to the American 'Middle Class'? Class and Consumption in America

The plight of the “middle class” has been a constant theme in political discourse and business press during the turn of the 20th century. Some argue that the “middle class” has been shrinking, while others contend that it is sinking or losing its ability to maintain its lifestyle. Those in the first camp see the “middle class” as a malleable cohort that can expand/contract in size over time, while those in the second group seem to define the “middle class” as a constant cohort whose income, wealth and consumption patterns vary over time. This lack of a consistent, objective and implementable definition of the “middle class” adds ambiguity to the controversy around this important segment of our society. In this study, we propose a metric for socioeconomic stratification, based on the theoretical concept of Permanent Income, which we use to classify households into the upper, middle and lower socioeconomic classes, using data from the Survey of Consumer Expenditures (CEX), gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics between 1982 and 2010. Our analysis of the three major socioeconomic strata in America over the past three decades produces interesting and valuable insights into how the different strata in our society fared in the last three decades. First, we find that, despite the current debate on the plight of the “middle class” in America, households in the two middle quartiles of our society have seen some improvement in income, wealth and consumption, albeit not in the same extent as the upper quartile. Our empirical results show that the one stratum clearly left behind in the past three decades is the lower quartile, which did not see any significant improvements in income or wealth, and in fact saw a decline in their consumption budgets.We find that the most visible shifts in the past three decades were observed on consumption, particularly on the consumption of positional (conspicuously consumed non-essential) goods and services, where the gap between the upper, middle and lower quartiles of Permanent Income have grown more dramatically. We see these discrepancies as a major source of discontent by the “middle class,” for two main reasons. First discrepancies in consumption are more visible than discrepancies in income or wealth. Second, discrepancies in the consumption of positional goods are exacerbated by their signaling value, which results into welfare gaps not only on the direct utility of consumption but also in terms of positional losses.
Control of Antifungal-resistant Strains of Aspergillus niger Mold Contaminants in Insect Rearing Media

Thirty-seven antimicrobials were tested in vitro against antifungal-resistant Aspergillus niger van Tieghew cultures and 7 of the most effective were tested in vivo with the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.). Dowco 263® (pyridinedicarbonitrile: 3,4,5-Trichloro), folcid, and folpet were the most effective of these chemicals as tested. Comparatively less effective in vivo were benomyl, Bravo 6F® (tetrachloroisophethaonitrile) and pimaricin. Dowco 263, folcid, and folpet also were tested with the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner). Folcid proved less effective than with tobacco budworms. Thimerosal was an effective mold inhibitor but was toxic to larvae. None of the other test chemicals were injurious to the insects.
Using Emittance Partitioning Instead of a Laser Heater to Suppress the Microbunch Instability

At the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray free-electron laser, a laser “heater” is used to generate an uncorrelated 20-keV energy spread on an electron beam to suppress the microbunching instability in downstream bunch compressors. Here we describe an alternative approach using emittance partitioning, where the increase in energy spread is generated by moving phase space volume from the transverse dimensions into the longitudinal dimension. For LCLS-relevant beam parameters, about a factor of six reduction in the product of both transverse emittances is feasible with the same amount of induced energy spread, with additional improvements possible with an optimized setup.
Uncovering a Gene Duplication of the Photoreceptive Protein, Opsin, in Scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae)

Synopsis Evolutionary biologists have long been interested in how expansions of the photosensory system might contribute to morphological differentiation of animals. Comparative studies in vertebrate and arthropod lineages have provided considerable insight into how the duplication of opsin, the first gene of the phototransduction pathway, have led to functional differentiation and new ecological opportunities; however, this relationship cannot be examined in many invertebrate groups as we have yet to characterize their opsin content. Scallops (Pectinidae) are a promising molluscan model to study the evolution of opsin and its potential role in speciation. Recently, we discovered a second Gq-coupled, or r-, opsin gene expressed in the eyes of two scallop species. To investigate the evolutionary origin of this opsin, we screened 12 bivalve species from 4 families, representing both mobile and sessile species, with and without eyes. Although only one ortholog was recovered from the genome of the eyeless, immobile oyster, we found both genes to have been retained in 3 families comprising the order Pectinoida. Within this clade, non-mobile species of scallops appear to have lost one gene. Phylogeny-based tests of selection indicate different degrees of purifying selection following duplication. These data, in conjunction with highly divergent gene sequences and ortholog-specific retention, suggest functional differences. Our results are congruent with a Gq-opsin gene duplication in an oyster-Pectinoida ancestor, approximately 470 Mya, and suggest the likelihood of retaining both genes is associated with either the presence of eyes and/or degree of mobility. The identification of two highly divergent Gq-opsin genes in scallops is valuable for future functional investigations and provides a foundation for further study of a morphologically and ecologically diverse clade of bivalves that has been understudied with respect to visual ecology and diversification of opsin.
Dual Genetic Encoding of Acetyl-lysine and Non-deacetylatable Thioacetyl-lysine Mediated by Flexizyme.

Acetylation of lysine residues is an important post-translational protein modification. Lysine acetylation in histones and its crosstalk with other post-translational modifications in histone and non-histone proteins are crucial to DNA replication, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. We incorporated acetyl-lysine (AcK) and the non-hydrolyzable thioacetyl-lysine (ThioAcK) into full-length proteins in vitro, mediated by flexizyme. ThioAcK and AcK were site-specifically incorporated at different lysine positions into human histone H3, either individually or in pairs. We demonstrate that the thioacetyl group in histone H3 could not be removed by the histone deacetylase sirtuin type 1. This method provides a powerful tool to study protein acetylation and its role in crosstalk between post-translational modifications.
A Multi-Pinhole Faraday Cup Device for Measurement of Discrete Charge Distribution of Heavy and Light Ions

A new multi-pinhole Faraday cup (MPFC) device was designed, fabricated and tested to measure ion beam uniformity over a range of centimeters. There are 32 collectors within the device, and each of those is used as an individual Faraday cup to measure a fraction of the beam current. Experimental data show that the device is capable of measuring a charged particles distribution - either in the form of a raster scanned focused beam or a defocused beam.
CloudFog: Leveraging Fog to Extend Cloud Gaming for Thin-Client MMOG with High Quality of Service

With the increasing popularity of Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) and fast growth of mobile gaming, cloud gaming exhibits great promises over the conventional MMOG gaming model as it frees players from the requirement of hardware and game installation on their local computers. However, as the graphics rendering is offloaded to the cloud, the data transmission between the end-users and the cloud significantly increases the response latency and limits the user coverage, thus preventing cloud gaming to achieve high user Quality of Service (QoS). To solve this problem, previous research suggested deploying more datacenters, but it comes at a prohibitive cost. We propose a lightweight system called CloudFog , which incorporates “fog” consisting of supernodes that are responsible for rendering game videos and streaming them to their nearby players. Fog enables the cloud to be only responsible for the intensive game state computation and sending update information to supernodes, which significantly reduce the traffic hence the latency and bandwidth consumption. To further enhance QoS, we propose the reputation based supernode selection strategy to assign each player with a suitable supernode that can provide satisfactory game video streaming service, the receiver-driven encoding rate adaptation strategy to increase the playback continuity, the social network based server assignment strategy to avoid the communication interaction between servers in a datacenter to reduce latency, and the dynamic supernode provisioning strategy to deal with user churns. Experimental results from PeerSim and PlanetLab show the effectiveness and efficiency of CloudFog and our individual strategies in increasing user coverage, reducing response latency and bandwidth consumption.
Pulmonary imaging appearances and dynamic changes of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1)in children(a report of 3 cases and a review of the literature)

Objective:To study the pulmonary imaging appearances and dynamic changes of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1)in children.Methods:The pulmonary imaging appearances and dynamic changes in 2 confirmed patients and 1 borderline patient was retrospectively analyzed.Results:The major imaging features of the pulmonary lesions included diffuse consolidation,interstitial shadowing bilaterally,extensive fibrosis,lobar collapse.The lesions progress quickly and absorb slowly.In the early stage the lesions appeared infiltrates,succedently progress quickly and in the terminal stage diffuse consolidation bilaterally.The absorption of the lesions in the lower and anteroexteral parts is easier than that in the upper and posterointeral parts. The fibrosis of the pulmonary lesions absorb slowly and persistently.Conclusion:Chest radiography was an elementary imaging means of choice for detecting the disease and was able to distinctly demonstrate the dynamic changes of the density,shape,and range of pulmonary lesions.It is helpful for assessing the disease condition,planning the therapy and evaluating the prognosis.
Autonomic Computing Model Based on WBEM

Aiming at the problem that current autonomic computing system can not manage mixed resources,by analyzing the architecture of WBEM,this paper proposes an autonomic computing model based on WBEM,which can manage various heterogeneous network resources.As the model has the policies support,it owns the ability of self-decision and self-management,which can monitor the real-time fault and replace the fault resources flexibly,therefore achieves the functions of self-check,self-configuration and self-recovery.After describing the functions of this model,a method of autonomic management based on policy is provided to realize autonomic features and unite management of mixed resources.
Research on relaxed static stability of civil aircraft

Using active control technology in aircraft's design can improve the performance of the aircraft and generate great returns. Relaxed static stability is the most important functions of active control technology. Firstly, the concepts and principles about relaxed static stability are introduced. Then the reference standards for the choice of the relaxation degree and the influences resulted from relaxation are summarized. Lastly, the stability augmentation programs are studied. And carrying out simulation on stability augmentation of the A300 before and after relaxing static stability. The results of the simulations show that stability compensation can be achieved by stability augmentation. Through stability augmentation, the stability of the aircraft after relaxation can be achieved as good as the original aircraft's.
Analysis of the seasonal distribution of bacillary dysentery occurred in Henan Province between 2004 and 2011 using concentration ratio and circular distribution methods

OBJECTIVE The study was conducted to gain insight into the seasonal distribution and epidemic pattern of bacillary dysentery, so to provide scientific bases for the development of preventive strategies and measures against the disease.METHODS Seasonal distribution of bacillary dysentery occurred in Henan Province between 2004 and 2011 were analyzed using the concentration ratio and circular distribution methods. RESULTS M-value of the seasonal distribution of bacillary dysentery occurred in Henan Province between 2004 and 2011 was 0.413, with 0.425 for 2004-2007 and 0.393 for 2008-2011; and overall concentration trend r of the circular distribution was 0.426. Peak epidemic date, peak epidemic season,and timespan of the peak season for 2004-2007 were July 29th, May 18thto October 8th, and 144 days, respectively; and those for 2008-2011 were August 1st, May 8thto October 25th, and 171 days, respectively. CONCLUSION Bacillary dysentery in Henan exhibits certain seasonal charateristics and May to October is the epidemic period for the disease. However,seasonality of bacillary dysentery in Henan has become increasingly weak, thus the preventive strategies should be timely adjusted based on the changes in its epidemic characteristics.
Modeling and analysis of paste freezing in freeze-form extrusion fabrication of thin-wall parts via a lumped method

Abstract During the Freeze-form Extrusion Fabrication (FEF) process using aqueous-based pastes, the freezing environment solidifies the water content in the paste and thus aids the part in maintaining its shape. Because of the small temperature variation in the paste and the paste’s large latent heat introduced by the water contained in the paste, the paste typically freezes slowly during the FEF process. In this study, a lumped method was used to model the solidification process of thin-wall parts fabricated in a layer-by-layer manner. A non-dimensional analytical solution for the freezing time of parts with large numbers of layers was obtained using the lumped method, and its corresponding dimensional solution was compared with numerical simulation results. Based on the analytical solution, the effects of two non-dimensional factors (i.e., non-dimensional latent heat and effective Biot number) and six dimensional factors (i.e., convection coefficient, paste material, paste solids loading, ambient temperature, filament height, and filament width) on the freezing time were investigated. Experiments using different solids loadings pastes and extrusion parameters were conducted to validate the freezing time predictions generated by the lumped method. Possible error sources during the experiments were discussed and their effects were estimated. The results show that the lumped method can be used to accurately predict the freezing time of thin-wall parts within 17.9% differences from the measured results.
Care of a sexually active adolescent.

The American Medical Association's Principles of Medical Ethics clearly state that physicians “shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.” However, the laws in American jurisdictions vary with respect to a minor's ability to consent to medical treatment. Many adolescents forego medical services in sensitive situations out of fear of parental notification, which partially explains why more than 40 out of every 1,000 15- to 17-year-old American girls become pregnant each year.
Transcriptional analysis and adaptive evolution of Escherichia coli strains growing on acetate.

Eighteen strains of Escherichia coli were compared for maximum specific growth rate (μ MAX) on 85 mM acetate as the sole carbon source. The C strain ATCC8739 had the greatest growth rate (0.41 h−1) while SCS-1 had the slowest growth rate (0.15 h−1). Transcriptional analysis of three of the strains (ATCC8739, BL21, SMS-3-5) was conducted to elucidate why ATCC8739 had the greatest maximum growth rate. Seventy-one genes were upregulated 2-fold or greater in ATCC8739, while 128 genes were downregulated 2-fold or greater in ATCC8739 compared to BL21 and SMS-3-5. To generate a strain that could grow more quickly on acetate, ATCC8739 was cultured in a chemostat using a progressively increasing dilution rate. When the dilution rate reached 0.50 h−1, three isolated colonies each grew faster than ATCC8739 on 85 mM acetate, with MEC136 growing the fastest with a growth rate of 0.51 h−1, about 25 % greater than ATCC8739. Transcriptional analysis of MEC136 showed that eight genes were downregulated 2-fold or greater and one gene was upregulated 2-fold or greater compared to ATCC8739. Genomic sequencing revealed that MEC136 contained a single mutation, causing a serine to proline change in amino acid 266 of RpoA, the α subunit of the RNA polymerase core enzyme. The 260–270 amino acid region of RpoA has been shown to be a key region of the protein that affects the interaction of the α subunit of the RNA polymerase core enzyme with several global transcriptional activators, such as CRP and FNR.
Quantifying the impacts of sea-level rise on coastal biodiversity: A case study on lichens in the mid-Atlantic Coast of eastern North America

Abstract Preliminary, large-scale assessments of global sea-level rise (SLR) have predicted significant impacts to coastal and island biodiversity. Region-specific estimates of SLR impacts that incorporate accurate species distributions and local rates of SLR are now required for effective conservation planning. Here we use a dataset of > 13,000 occurrence records for lichens, obligate symbiotic fungi, in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain of eastern North America to model distributions of 193 species. The resulting models were used to quantify the amount of each species' distribution that is occupied by unsuitable land use types, along with the potential area that will be lost to SLR. We show that species have likely already lost an average of 32% of their distributional area to development and agriculture, and are predicted to lose an average of 12.4 and 33.7% of their distributional area with one foot (~ 0.3 m) and six feet (~ 1.8 m) of SLR, respectively. Functional and taxonomic groups were compared to identify specific effects of SLR. We show that species reproducing with symbiotic propagules have significantly larger distributions than species that reproduce sexually with fungal spores alone, and that the sexually reproducing species are predicted to lose greater distributional area to SLR. Cladonia species occupy significantly less area in the MACP than Parmotrema species and are predicted to lose more of their distributions to SLR. We further examined patterns of total species diversity and found that the area with the highest diversity is the Dare Peninsula in North Carolina, which is also predicted to lose the most land area to SLR. The workflow established here is flexible and applicable to estimating SLR impacts worldwide and can provide essential insights for local conservation planning.
Optimal Boundary Controls of Linear Elastostatics on Lipschitz Domains with Point Observations

In this paper, we study optimal boundary control problems of the linear elastostatic equations on Lipschitz domains with point observations on boundary. By using the elastostatic potentials, existence and uniqueness of solutions to the optimal control problems with or without constraints on controls are investigated, and explicit characterization formulas of optimal controls are derived. A regularity property of the single layer elastostatic potential on Lipschitz domains is also established.
Patient-perceived surgical indication influences patient expectations of surgery for degenerative spinal disease

Abstract Objective Patients frequently have misconceptions regarding diagnosis, surgical indication, and expected outcome following spinal surgery for degenerative spinal disease. In this study, we sought to understand the relationship between patient-perceived surgical indications and patient expectations. We hypothesized that patients reporting appendicular symptoms as a primary surgical indication would report a higher rate of having expectations met by surgery compared to those patients reporting axial symptoms as a primary indication. Methods Questionnaires were administered to patients who had undergone surgery for degenerative spinal disease at 2 tertiary care institutions. Questions assessed perception of the primary indication for undergoing surgery (radicular versus axial), whether the primary symptom improved after surgery, and whether patient expectations were met with surgery. Outcomes of interest included patient-reported symptomatic improvement following surgery and expectations met by surgery. Various factors were assessed for their relationship to these outcomes of interest. Results There were 151 unique survey respondents. Respondents were nearly split between having a patient-perceived indication for surgery as appendicular symptoms (55.6%) and axial symptoms (44.4%). Patient-perceived surgical indication being appendicular symptoms was the only factor predictive of patient-reported symptomatic improvement in our logistic regression model (OR 2.614; 95% CI 1.218–5.611). Patient-perceived surgical indication being appendicular symptoms (OR 3.300; 95% CI 1.575–6.944) and patient-reported symptomatic improvement (OR 33.297; 95% CI 12.186–90.979) were predictive of patients reporting their expectations met with surgery in both univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling. Conclusions We found that patient-reported appendicular symptoms as the primary indication for surgery were associated with a higher rate of both subjective improvement following surgery and having expectations met by surgery. Studies such as ours point to the fact that while performing technically superlative operations is paramount, it may be equally important to address other factors that help determine patient perception of the surgery experience.
Interferometric synthetic aperture ladar using code division multiple access apertures

This paper describes a multi-static interferometric synthetic aperture ladar (IFSAL) for high-resolution, high-precision 3D imaging. Code division multiple access apertures with periodic, pseudorandom noise waveforms are used to create aperture diversity and overcome the ambiguity associated with the aperture separation requirements for interferometric synthetic aperture ladar. The basic theory for mapping relative aperture phase to a high-precision elevation profile is derived for a multi-static IFSAL system and subsequent processing steps are presented. An analytic model and computer simulation are developed to demonstrate the 3D imaging capability of an IFSAL system.