cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Freshwater and Marine Growth Rates on Early Maturity in Male Coho and Chinook Salmon

Abstract In many populations of salmonid fishes, a fraction of the males mature at a younger age than the females; these males are termed jacks if they have migrated to sea and precocious parr if they matured in freshwater. We examined detailed data on the University of Washington hatchery populations of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch and Chinook salmon O. tshawytscha for more than 30 years to test whether rapid growth in freshwater or at sea increases the probability of early maturity in males. The average size of Chinook salmon smolts (2.6–20.9 g) increased over the years in question. The proportion of males maturing as jacks increased with smolt size but not with the potential for growth at sea. The size of the smolts (but not growth potential at sea) was positively correlated with the proportion of the jacks maturing after only one summer at sea (so-called minijacks) rather than two summers. In coho salmon, average smolt size (6.1–22.4 g) did not vary consistently with time. There was a slight tende...
The number of active sites for the disproportionation of ethylene on supported rhenium oxide catalysts

Abstract The adsorption and disproportionation of deuterated ethylene on an alumina-supported rhenium oxide catalyst has been studied. The average heat of adsorption of ethylene was found to be 6.02 kcal/mole and the adsorption entropy corresponded to that consistent with a mobile adsorbate. The activation energy for the surface reaction was found to be 9.45 kcal/mole, and, based on the available surface area, the preexponential factor was estimated to be 5 × 10−11 cm2/molec-sec. Based on these kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, models for a pairwise and nonpairwise chain reaction with both a mobile and an immobile transition state have been considered. Although the disproportionation of ethylene is not sufficiently intricate enough to distinguish between a four-centered pairwise exchange and a nonpairwise sequence with a carbene chain carrier, the results suggest that, for either case, the reaction proceeds through an immobile transition state with an active site concentration on the order of 7 × 1011 sites/cm2. For a mobile transition state, the calculated preexponential factor was at least six orders of magnitude greater than that observed experimentally.
Ca2+-dependent Interaction of Recoverin with Rhodopsin Kinase *

Abstract Recoverin (Rv) is a myristoylated Ca-binding protein present primarily in bovine photoreceptors. It represents a newly identified family of neuronal specific Ca-binding proteins that includes neurocalcin, hippocalcin, and guanylyl cyclase-activating protein. To investigate the function of Rv in photoreceptors, we identified proteins that bind immobilized Rv in a Ca-dependent manner. Rhodopsin kinase (RK), interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein, and tubulin interact with Rv in the presence of Ca. The importance of the Rv/RK interaction was further characterized. RK, purified using immobilized Rv as an affinity matrix, catalyzed the light-dependent and Ca-independent incorporation of phosphates into rhodopsin when reconstituted with urea-stripped rod outer segment membranes. When only a small fraction (0.04%) of rhodopsin was photolyzed, as many as 700 phosphates were incorporated per photolyzed rhodopsin, a phenomenon known as “high gain” phosphorylation. When recoverin was added, the activity of RK became sensitive to free Ca, with EC = 3 μM. The N-terminal myristoyl residue of Rv enhances the inhibitory effect of Rv and introduces cooperativity to the Ca-dependent inhibition of rhodopsin phosphorylation. Rv neither interacts with other members of the G-protein-coupled receptor kinase family such as β-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 nor inhibits β-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 activity. The specific and Ca-dependent Rv/RK interaction is necessary for the inhibitory effect of Rv on rhodopsin phosphorylation and may play an important role in photoreceptor light adaptation.
Haramiyids and Triassic mammalian evolution

Isolated teeth referred to the family Haramiyidae are among the earliest known fossil evidence of mammals. First discovered in European Late Triassic deposits a century and a half ago1, har-amiyids have been interpreted as related to multituberculates2–7, a diverse and widespread lineage that occupied a rodent-like niche from the Late Jurassic to the Early Tertiary. Nonetheless, haramiyid relationships have remained enigmatic8,9 because the orientation and position of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw could not be determined with certainty; even their mammalian status has been questioned10. The discovery of haramiyid dentaries, a maxilla and other skeletal remains in the Upper Triassic of East Greenland reveals haramiyids as highly specialized mammals with a novel pattern of puncture-crushing occlusion that differs dramatically from the grinding or shearing mechanisms of other Early Mesozoic mammals.
Routing table compaction in ternary CAM

Techniques are presented for reducing the size of routing tables stored in ternary content-addressable memory (CAM), which result in decreased cost, power consumption, and thermal dissipation. CAM allows simultaneous comparison between all indexes and the key (the destination IP address), and the entry corresponding to the matched index can be obtained directly. CAM's main advantage is that search time is bounded by a single memory access; thus, it can guarantee high lookup throughput. There are two types of CAM: binary, where each bit position, stores only 0 or 1, and ternary, where each bit position can store 0, 1, or don't care. Ternary CAM (TCAM) could solve the longest-prefix-matching problem more directly than binary CAM. In addition to the index, TCAM also stores a separate mask for each entry. The mask specifies which bits in the index are active, thereby specifying the variable-length prefix.
Optical clustering for unsupervised learning using coupled microring resonators

Learning in biological systems is thought to depend on the phenomena of clustering. For example, new experiences are most easily remembered by attaching them to a category of related prior knowledge, that is, by clustering. Clustering in the brain is thought by some to involve coupling of oscillator neurons. Therefore, we investigate clustering in frequency with an all-optical system. The system consists of a set of coupled microring lasers whose natural frequencies are set to the values to be clustered. We assume that closer values represent more similar information and that the values set the microring natural frequencies. A microring resonant frequency in such a system is influenced away from its natural frequency by interactions with its neighbors. As a result, the frequencies of the microrings will adjust themselves into a few groups or clusters. Equations are developed for a pair of microring resonators to show that the microring resonators will interact to perform clustering.
The Use of Enamel Matrix Derivative in Two-Stage Guided Bone Regeneration Procedures.

Introduction: Frequently, clinicians are confronted with situations that require the regeneration of a deficient alveolar ridge before implant placement. This is often the result of the extraction of hopelessly compromised teeth. Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) has been used successfully in the treatment of periodontal disease, including guided tissue regeneration, and the treatment of mucogingival defects. Although the exact mechanism of action is not clearly understood, there may in fact be more uses for this product. This case series reviews a proposed mechanism of action of EMD and depicts its effective use in guided bone regeneration (GBR).Case Series: Three cases requiring GBR were treated with a mixture of human freeze-dried bone and EMD. The teeth were extracted, sockets were thoroughly debrided, and the defects were filled with the EMD-saturated allograft. Dental implants were placed after 10 to 16 weeks of hard and soft tissue maturation.Conclusions: The use of a freeze-dried bone allograft satur...
Targeting microRNAs offers a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of diabetes-related cardiovascular disease

Background and Objectives: The World Health Organization states that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes indicate that cardiovascular disease will remain a major health concerns for decades to come. The Gulf States including Qatar, the Middle East and the North African (MENA) region as whole, but also elsewhere in the world, face a pandemic of obesity and diabetes. Hyperglycaemia is the common denominator of both type-1 and type-2 diabetes and results in "glucose toxicity" that is closely linked to the high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. A reduction in the generation of NO -an important contributor to the endothelium regulation of blood flow and coagulation- in response to hyperglycaemia, is an early indicator of the onset of vascular disease. NO bioavailability is determined through the balance of its generation by eNOS and its quenching by reactive oxygen species, ROS. In response to hyperglycaemia and a variety of metabolic perturbations, eNOS produces predominately superoxide anions rather than NO and there is therefore an increase in oxidative stress and reduced bioactivity of NO. MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit gene expression and have also been implicated in the regulation of endothelial cell biology. A number of miRs including 221 & 222 have been implicated in endothelial cell function. They are involved in post-transcriptional control of major regulatory pathways. Methods: Mouse microvascular endothelial cells (MMECs) were cultured in normal (11mM) or high glucose (HG, 40mM) media and the ratio of coupled (dimeric) to uncoupled (monomeric) eNOS determined by immunoblot. ROS, NO and the expression of miR-221/miR-222 were also measured. Results: HG enhanced ROS, reduced the eNOS dimer/monomer ratio and reduced the generation of NO. Our data indicate that HG-induced ROS generation can be reversed in the presence of inhibitors of miR-221/miR-222. Conclusion: Hyperglycemia is associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased NO bioavailability. miR-221 and miR-222 play an important role in high glucose-induced increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction.
Degradation of benzoic acid in the terrestrial crustacean, Oniscus asellus

Abstract The rate of respiration of radioactive CO 2 from fasting Oniscus asellus L. during 7.5 days was qualitatively similar for ring-labeled and carboxyl-labeled benzoic acid. The rate of respiration of ring-labeled benzoic acid during 7 days was quantitatively similar for isopods that were fed throughout, and had received 0.09 μg benzoic 1- 14 C acid with or without a “load” of 30 μg of unlabeled benzoic acid. The “loaded” animals displayed a qualitative difference in respiring greater quantities of CO 2 at night vs day. At 15°C in July, 24.4 per cent of the radioactivity from an injected dose of benzoic l- 14 C acid was respired over a 7 day period; 1.3 per cent was excreted; 1.9 per cent was present as carbonates; 5.4 per cent was ether-extractable, of which 48 per cent was chromatographically accountable as benzoic acid; and 56.7 per cent of the label was retained in the body. Ring-labeled carbon from benzoic acid was incorporated into the tissues of the isopod. An analysis of a hydrolyzate from the soluble cellular fraction showed at least six identifiable amino acids and four unidentifiable components.
Probability density based gradient projection method for inverse kinematics of a robotic human body model

This paper presents the probability density based gradient projection (GP) of the null space of the Jacobian for a 25 degree of freedom bilateral robotic human body model (RHBM). This method was used to predict the inverse kinematics of the RHBM and maximize the similarity between predicted inverse kinematic poses and recorded data of 10 subjects performing activities of daily living. The density function was created for discrete increments of the workspace. The number of increments in each direction (x, y, and z) was varied from 1 to 20. Performance of the method was evaluated by finding the root mean squared (RMS) of the difference between the predicted joint angles relative to the joint angles recorded from motion capture. The amount of data included in the creation of the probability density function was varied from 1 to 10 subjects, creating sets of for subjects included and excluded from the density function. The performance of the GP method for subjects included and excluded from the density function was evaluated to test the robustness of the method. Accuracy of the GP method varied with amount of incremental division of the workspace, increasing the number of increments decreased the RMS error of the method, with the error of average RMS error of included subjects ranging from 7.7° to 3.7°. However increasing the number of increments also decreased the robustness of the method.
Universal versus dedicated microprocessors

Although microprocessor CPUs are becoming increasingly powerful, it appears that raw speed and greater word length may not solve all of the microprocessor problems .... Particularly, the ominous software burden makes that direction increasingly less attractive .... One way of relieving that situation appears to be the development of a number of dedicated processors suited to a particular task or class of tasks .... However, that causes loss of universality ....The pros and cons of both approaches will be discussed.
“proper women” and city pleasures: gender, class, and contested meanings in La Paz

This article explores the manner in which changing class relationships sustain, alter, and recreate the social, cultural, and economic distinctions between women in La Paz. It examines female fashion as a cultural practice that is increasingly contested by women of various class and ethnic backgrounds as they struggle to impose, defend, and define class-based notions of femininity. The article relates their struggles to the selective manipulation of “tradition” by social actors in the context of their experiences in the present. It is argued that hegemonic notions of the ideal woman are not inclusive of all women and are constantly contested in the process of class, gender, and ethnic formation. Hegemony is a historically specific creative process that encompasses domination as well as incorporation and marginalization and that must be constantly defended against oppositional beliefs and practices. [gender, class, Bolivia, hegemony]
Rapidly maturing field of proteomics: A gateway to studying diseases

The proteomics work reported by Smith et al. represents a giant step forward in characterizing the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome in mouse models of human diseases. Whereas prior studies were limited to analysis of CSF pools, Smith et al. (Proteomics 2014, 14, 1102-1106) base their conclusions on data derived from individual mice, thereby capturing a fuller range of the biological diversity present. These results underscore how far proteomics has come in the past few years, developing into a modern tool with the capacity to remove bottlenecks in the study of neuropsychiatric diseases. Past efforts with mass spectrometry (MS) have been hampered by limitations in access to CSF samples, and small volumes when available. These barriers have been overcome with newer MS platforms and advances in sample preparation. We are far closer than before to producing the production of clinically useful proteomic data for biomarker discovery and for deriving insights into pathogenesis that can lead to more effective treatments for many diseases.
The effect of organotin compounds on chloride secretion by the in vitro perfused rectal gland of Squalus acanthias

Abstract The effects of various organotins on membrane function and electrolyte transport were studied in the marine elasmobranch, Squalus acanthias. The isolated perfused rectal gland was used as a model of electrolyte transport. This gland can be stimulated to secrete chloride by atrial natriuretic peptide, veratrine, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide although the mechanism of action of each secretagogue is different. By analysis of the inhibitory effect of an organotin in the presence of each secretagogue, the mechanism of inhibition can be inferred. Tributyltin (TBT) produced a reversible inhibition of epithelial transport at 10−8 to 10−7 m which resulted from inhibition of stimulus-secretion coupling in VIP-containing neurons within the gland. The transporting epithelial cells were unaffected at these concentrations. Trimethytin (TMT) produced inhibition at 10−7 m which was not reversible and which affected primarily the transporting epithelial cells. Triethyltin and triphenyltin were without effect. The inhibitory effect of TBT and TMT was not affected by simultaneous administration of dithiotreitol. TBT also produced inhibition of oxygen consumption, Na+,K-ATPase, and proton ATPase in dispersed rectal gland cells. These results indicate that organotins are toxic to cell membrane functions which are intimately involved in the movement of electrolytes. This is the first evidence of toxicity to membrane transport functions in a marine species which is at risk from environmental exposure.
Comparison of biosequences

Homology and distance measures have been routinely used to compare two biological sequences, such as proteins or nucleic acids. The homology measure of Needleman and Wunsch is shown, under general conditions, to be equivalent to the distance measure of Sellers. A new algorithm is given to find similar pairs of segments, one segment from each sequence. The new algorithm, based on homology measures, is compared to an earlier one due to Sellers.
SU-E-T-336: Geometric Optimizations of a Directional High Dose Rate Brachytherapy Source Using Monte Carlo

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to present results from geometric optimizations of a directional high dose rate brachytherapy (d‐HDR) source using MCNP5. Three brachytherapy source designs are presented here; 1)cylindrical d‐HDR (Cyl.1), 2) D‐shaped d‐HDR version 1 (D.1), and 3) D‐shaped d‐HDR version 2 (D.2). Methods: The sources were modeled using MCNP5 version 1.51. Tally volumes (1mm3) were placed around the seed at radii ranging from 0.25–100cm and fifty polar and azimuthal angles, in 7.2° increments ranging from 0°–352.8°. A cylindrical mesh superimposed over the simulated geometry was also employed. The d‐HDR active volumes consisted of a palladium‐103 (Pd‐103) pellet ranging from 0.105–0.150 cm in diameter, with a 0.003 cm thick osmium foil for shielding, within a.001 cm titanium encapsulated volume. Results: The dose rate constant, ?, for the Cyl.1, D.1, and D.2 was 0.686 cGy h‐1 U‐1, 0.671 cGy h‐1 U‐1, and 0.657 cGy h‐1 U‐1, respectively. The optimized D.2 design showed an improvement over the Cyl.1 and D.1, having a flatter dose profile for a 165° span, where the relative dose at the radial distance was max. The Cyl.1 design had a rounder dose profile showing only a 60° plateau section, resulting in a lower dose conformality. The D.1 design showed the presence of two significant horns at 120° and 225°. This was attributed to the self attenuation within the active volume, resulting in a lower relative dose along the widest dimension. Conclusion: Geometric optimizations of a new directional high dose rate source have been presented. The results show an improved geometry in the D‐shaped d‐HDR version 2 (D.2) compared to both Cyl.1 and D.1 seed designs. The D.2 seed has the potential to improve dose conformality and current patient outcomes, having flexibility for use in both intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy applications.
Electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions governing the interaction and binding of β-lactoglobulin to membranes

The role of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions in the binding and penetration of beta-lactoglobulin (betaLG) to preformed lipid membranes was studied using various phospholipid micelles and vesicles. Zwitterionic lysophospholipid micelles are able to induce the beta-sheet to alpha-helix transition, as judged by circular dichroism (CD), but the degree of transition is dramatically below and the amount of lipid required above that for anionic phospholipids with equivalent hydrocarbon chains. Anionic phospholipids with short hydrocarbon chains induce only low alpha-helical content in betaLG as compared to phospholipids with the same head group but longer hydrocarbon chains. These results suggest that both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are indispensable in betaLG-lipid interaction. Furthermore, air-water interface monolayer surface pressure and fluorescence anisotropy studies reveal that the membrane insertion of betaLG strongly depends on the nature of phospholipids, given the identical headgroup, particularly lipid packing. These results are supported by urea denaturation and acrylamide fluorescence quenching tests and by the FTIR-ATR polarization results for betaLG in multilayers on a surface. Under the same experimental conditions, the membrane binding and insertion of betaLG as well as the stability of the betaLG-lipid complexes can be enhanced by lowering the pH. Collectively, electrostatic interactions play a crucial role in all the processes involved in the betaLG-lipid interaction, while the presence of hydrophobic interaction remains necessary. Finally, betaLG biological function in the transport of fatty acids was tested by demonstrating the release of 2-AS from a 2-AS-betaLG complex on binding to lipids.
DIPLOMA: Consistent and coherent shared memory over mobile phones

Location-based services for mobile devices are pervasive, and frequently process data sensed from nearby devices as relevance is often dependent on proximity. Yet, today's services routinely use the client-server programming model which leads to sensed data being sent through the cellular network to a centralized server for processing. Harnessing the compute power of mobile devices to process data locally could ease bandwidth pressure on already overloaded cellular access networks and improve response times. Realizing this vision requires a way to easily program a collection of mobile devices connected over ad-hoc wireless. This paper presents DIstributed Programming Layer Over Mobile Agents (DIPLOMA), a programming layer and distributed shared memory system that provides coherent relaxed-consistency access to data residing on different mobile phones across a large geographic area. Our key insight is in translating the shared memory model from parallel computing to mobile computing, while addressing the unique challenges that mobility and unreliable wireless networking present in achieving consistency and coherence. We designed, prototyped and deployed DIPLOMA on 10 Android phones, evaluating it against another 10 phones running a conventional clientserver setup over both 3G(HSPA) and 4G(LTE) networks. On DIPLOMA, we implemented a Panoramio-like service as an example of a popular and representative location-based service, as well as a synthetic benchmark to measure response time, cellular bandwidth consumption, and power consumption. We also simulated large scale scenarios (up to 160 nodes) on the ns-2 network simulator. Compared to a client-server setup, our system shows response time improvements of 10× over 3G and 2× over 4G. We also observe cellular bandwidth reductions of 96%, comparable energy consumption, and a 95.3% request completion rate with coherent caching.
Clinical trials in cytotherapy

A cursory review of Cytotherapy immediately reveals that the majority of original papers address preclinical translational research with many cell types yet to be applied in treatment of human disease. As we all know, the shadow that falls is a composite of many potential roadblocks—those of making a functional and reproducible cell product, the regulatory controls that must be followed, and the necessity of “boutique manufacture”—the requirement of preparing cells from a unique patient or a matched donor. We therefore applaud the investigators who do persevere and successfully move on to the next stage of cell therapy development in the design and execution of phase I/II trials. In this issue of Cytotherapy, we present three novel cell therapy studies from around the world that are true testament to the real progress from idea to reality in cell therapy. From Italy, Bura et al. (1) report the first phase I trial to evaluate the feasibility and safety of intramuscular injections of autologous adipose derived stromal cells in patients with non-revascularizable critical limb ischemia. Seven patients with chronic leg ulcers, untreatable by standard techniques, received autologous adipose derived stromal cells (AST) generated from abdominal fat. The cell
CONSTRUCTING PARTIAL AND COMPLETE INTELLIGENT ANSWERS FOR RECURSIVE QUERIES

In this paper we study the issue of providing intelligent answers to recursive queries initially proposed in [Imie88]. In contrast to conventional query answers, which are sets of tuples, intelligent answers are rules describing the characteristics of the results. This way, an intelligent answer facilitates users to better capture the meaning of the query. To this aim, we first extend the notion of intelligent answers by allowing them to be partial (or incomplete). Complete and partial intelligent answers are both useful, in that they provide (possibly partial) characterizations of queries. We will show that complete intelligent answers also give a more efficient way to evaluate queries. For constructing intelligent answers, we propose a general approach that enables us to combine several cases studied in [Imie88]. Moreover, we will show that semantic constraints can be systematically utilized to provide complete intelligent answers to a wider range of queries. We consider two commonly used classes of semantic constraints called implication and referential constraints, and prove that the completeness of intelligent answers with respect to semantic constraints can be reduced to the semantics-based query containment problem. Finally, a necessary and sufficient condition is given to solve this containment problem.
Adaptive support vector regression analysis of closed-loop inspection accuracy

This study investigates how closed-loop measurement error in CNC milling relates to two different inspection techniques. The on-line inspection of machining accuracy using a spindle probe has an inherent shortcoming because the same machine that produced the parts is used for inspection. In order to use the spindle probe measurement as a means of correcting deviations in machining, the magnitude of measurement errors needs to be quantified. The empirical verification was made by conducting three sets of cutting experiments at the state-of-the-art Cincinnati Arrow Vertical Machining Center. Three different material types and parameter settings were selected to simulate a diverse cutting condition. During the cutting, the cutting force and spindle vibration sensor signals were collected and a tool wear was recorded using a computer vision system. The bore tolerance was gauged by a spindle probe as well as a coordinate measuring machine. The difference between the two measurements was defined as a closed-loop measurement error and adaptive support vector regression analysis was used to predict these bore difference at various values of the explanatory variables. The results show the potential of improving production efficiency and part quality.
Intersecting N loop solutions of the hamiltonian constraint of quantum gravity

Abstract Following the introduction by Ashtekar of a new set of canonical variables for the gravitational field and a new representation of quantum gravity based on them, Jacobson and Smolin presented a large class of solutions to the quantum hamiltonian constraint of general relativity based on the holonomy of the Ashtekar connection along simple loops and two intersecting loops. For all these solutions the metric is degenerate everywhere, including the point of intersection. This motivated Husain to extend the results to consider the case of three intersecting loops. However, the metric was degenerate as well on the three-loop solutions found since the loops were only allowed to have two independent tangent vectors at the point of intersection. We have developed a computer algebra code capable of generating solutions for an arbitrary number of loops. We explicitly present new four- and five-loop solutions. These are the first solutions known to have three independent tangent vectors at the intersection point. In spite of this they fail, however, to have a nondegenerate metric. We present a general argument that shows that the same situation arises for an arbitrary finite number of loops. Implications of this degeneracy for the interpretation of the connection and loop space representation of quantum gravity are also discussed.
Combining information from various sources: a prediction problem and other industrial applications

Industrial problems frequently require estimates from various sources of information. For example, one may need to predict the tensile strength of a future bar from a particular casting based on limited data on other bars from that casting and extensive data on bars from other castings. Or one may wish to estimate the true viscosity of a batch of material based on a single measurement for the current batch, subject to appreciable measurement error, and similar readings on a large number of other batches. Simple weighting functions that use all of the data provide point estimates for these two problems, and a Bayesian framework yields associated interval estimates. Other applications and possible generalizations are also suggested.
Super-resolution, degrees of freedom and synthetic aperture radar

Super-resolution concepts offer the potential of resolution beyond the classical limit. This great promise has not generally been realised. The potential application of super-resolution concepts to synthetic aperture radar is investigated. The analytical basis for super-resolution theory is discussed. The application of the concept to synthetic aperture radar is investigated as an operator inversion problem. Generally, the operator inversion problem is ill posed. However, it is shown that it is the particular form of the eigenvalue spectrum of the associated operator that precludes any significant resolution enhancement of synthetic aperture radar images. A criterion for judging super-resolution processing of an image is presented.
Herbivory by the myctophid fish Ceratoscopelus warmingii

During a study of midwater fish feeding in the oligotrophic North Pacific gyre in August 1978, nine specimens of a tropical-subtropical myctophid, Ceratoscopelus warmingii, were found to have been feeding on mats of diatoms, Rhizosolenia spp. Chemical analyses of the intestinal contents of several additional specimens showed significantly elevated levels of diatom degradation products. Therefore, C. warmingii, although known to feed on zooplankton, appears to be adapted for occasional herbivory. Such an adaptation is exceptional within a major ecological group of oceanic fishes that was previously thought to be exclusively carnivorous. Like omnivorous and herbivorous fishes in general, C. warmingii has a longer intestine than other myctophid species. As an adaptive response to competition from a diverse fish fauna in a low-productivity environment, occasional herbivory by C. warmingii runs counter to the theoretical expectation by expanding rather than narrowing the range of potential food types.
Insulin-like growth factor I in suckling rat gastric contents.

The small intestinal mucosa of the neonatal rat expresses primarily lactase activity until just prior to weaning when lactase falls to low levels and a full complement of adult digestive enzymes appears. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) is a normal component of maternal milk of humans and experimental animals. Experiments were performed to examine the concentrations of IGF-I in dam milk and the gastric content of suckling pups. Lactase activity in 1-day-old neonates was 0.66 µmol glucose formed/mg protein/hr (unit) and fell progressively until day 25, whereas sucrase activity at day 1 postpartum was 0.07 units and rose progressively to 0.21 units at day 25. The IGF-I content of dam milk was measured at 1, 5, 10, 15, 18, and 20 days postpartum by radioreceptor assay (RRA). Milk contained 1.02 pmol IGF-I/ml milk at one day postpartum, peaked at day 18 with 5.08 pmol IGF-I/ml, and fell to 2.31 pmol/ml at day 20. By day 25, dams were dry. The IGF-I content of the neonate gastric lumen was also measured by RRA. At day 1 the gastric lumen contained 2.63 pmol IGF-I/ml of luminal contents, fell to 1.06 pmol IGF-I/ml at day 5, and then rose again to peak at 3.37 pmol/ml at day 15 just prior to weaning. Two days after weaning, the level of luminal IGF-I had fallen to 1.15 pmol/ml. These data demonstrate the concentration of IGF-I in maternal milk is reflected in the concentration of the peptide in gastric contents of suckling pups and that the concentration in the gastric lumen may be high enough to affect epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation.
Albuminuria Is Common in Patients Undergoing Left Ventricular Assist Device and Predicts Subsequent Renal Recovery

s S83 follow-up was contrasted between pts who were crossed-over to a more durable MCS within 3 days (Early MCS), not crossed-over until 4 days or later (Late MCS), and those not crossed-over at all (Control). Results: 62 pts were included in the study. Mean age at ECMO implant was 50.4 ± 14.7 years and 33.9% of pts were female. Of 62 pts, 10 (16.1%) crossed-over ≤ 3 days to a more durable MCS (Early MCS), 18 (29.0%) crossed-over > 4 days (Late MCS), and 34 (54.8%) did not crossover (Control). There were no statistically significant differences across the groups in regards to mean age at ECMO implant, Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support profile, ischemic etiology, preimplant intra-aortic balloon pump, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (all p-values > 0.05). Survival was significantly different across the groups (LogRank, p= 0.008) with Early MCS demonstrating improved survival over both the Late MCS group (p= 0.004) and the Control group (p= 0.003) (Figure 1). The hazard ratio of death as a function of days to device crossover was 1.215 (95% CI: 1.034 1.429, Cox regression, p= 0.018) suggesting a 21.5% increased risk of death for each day a pt on ECMO is not crossed to a more durable MCS. Conclusion: In this retrospective analysis early crossover from ECMO to a more durable MCS is associated with improved survival. Late crossover is associated with poor outcomes comparable to pts who did not receive durable MCS.
Nonparametric estimation of bivariate failure time associations in the presence of a competing risk

Most research on the study of associations among paired failure times has either assumed time invariance or been based on complex measures or estimators. Little has accommodated competing risks. This paper targets the conditional cause-specific hazard ratio, henceforth called the cause-specific cross ratio, a recent modification of the conditional hazard ratio designed to accommodate competing risks data. Estimation is accomplished by an intuitive, non-parametric method that localizes Kendall’s tau. Time variance is accommodated through a partitioning of space into ‘bins’ between which the strength of association may differ. Inferential procedures are developed, small-sample performance is evaluated and the methods are applied to the investigation of familial association in dementia onset.
Emissions and demonstration of an emission control technology for small two-stroke utility engines

Abstract Small utility engines represent an important contribution to the emissions inventory and have been subjected to increasingly stringent regulations in recent years. For this project, a Tanaka two-stroke engine was tested in its original condition and with a modified fuel/oil injection system. The modified fuel/oil injection system applied to the Tanaka two-stroke engine resulted in significant emissions reductions of ∼52% for carbon monoxide (CO), 70% for total hydrocarbons (THC), 70% for particulate matter (PM), and 67% for the regulated THC + nitrogen oxides metric. This technology met the California Air Resources Board's 2000 model-year regulations for all pollutants, with the exception of slightly higher PM emissions. Two additional two-stroke engines were tested under a new condition and after at least 100 hr of use to examine the effects of deterioration on in-use, two-stroke engines. For one engine, CO and PM emissions more than tripled after 162 hr of operation in the field, with smaller i...
The importance and relevance of studies of the pial microcirculation.

Micropuncture data suggest that pial arterioles contribute only slightly less than parenchymal cerebral arterioles to total resting cerebrovascular resistance. Care must be taken in interpreting the micropuncture data, or the contribution of pial arterioles to cerebrovascular resistance may be erroneously underestimated. These considerations and the fact that pial arterioles have been shown to be highly reactive to a variety of physiological and abnormal stimuli suggest strongly that changes in pial arteriolar diameter should contribute importantly to control of flow to the underlying brain. In fact, parallels between changes in pial vascular diameter and regional blood flow have been observed. Moreover, since the responses of pial vessels to important vasoactive stimuli are qualitatively similar to those of the cerebral circulation as a whole when the latter are inferred from measurements of flow, the directly observable pial vessels may provide a model for the responses of the unseen parenchymal segments of the cerebrovascular bed. Such a model would be essential to our understanding of the control of cerebral blood flow, even if pial vessels themselves did not participate in the control of flow. Thus there are multiple reasons for continued study of the pial vessels, particularly with modern techniques developed for microcirculatory investigations.
Nitrogen dioxide exposure and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and desmosine

The relationship between average and peak personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and desmosine was investigated in a population of preschool children and their mothers. Weekly average personal nitrogen dioxide exposures for subjects who resided in homes with one or more potential nitrogen dioxide source (e.g., a kerosene space heater, gas stove, or tobacco smoke) ranged between 16.3 and 50.6 ppb (30.6 and 95.1 micrograms/m3) for children and between 16.9 and 44.1 ppb (12.8 and 82.9 micrograms/m3) for mothers. In these individuals, the hydroxyproline-to-creatinine and desmosine-to-creatinine ratios were unrelated to personal nitrogen dioxide exposure--even though continuous monitoring documented home nitrogen dioxide concentration peaks of 100-475 ppb lasting up to 100 h in duration. Significantly higher hydroxyproline-to-creatinine and desmosine-to-creatinine ratios were observed in children, compared with mothers (p < .001 and .003, respectively).
The human amygdala. II. Neurophysiological correlates of olfactory perception before and after amygdalotomy.

Abstract Nine patients had an amygdalotomy for attempted relief of intractable seizures and, as an aid for localization, recordings were made from the amygdala, especially in search of rhythmical responses to different odorants. Later, responses were analyzed by a computer mainly for the major frequency components. Patients were asked to give judgments of the odorant regarding its quality, intensity and hedonic tone. Odorants considered strong in intensity were associated with high amplitude frequency components. Odorants considered weak were associated with low amplitude peaks and those considered moderate had amplitudes between the two extremes. Odorants considered unpleasant in hedonic tone were also associated with higher amplitudes of frequency components than those judged pleasant. The phenomenon of adaptation is seen at the level of the human amygdala. The effect of an amygdalotomy is to eliminate both the fast activity in the background and the burst response to odorants but also to produce a temporary increase in mistakes in odor quality, indifferent and weak responses, likely from an edema around the electrolytic lesion. These effects contrasted with the effect of repeated clinical seizures, also producing more mistakes in odor quality, but with an increase in responses judged strong in intensity and unpleasant in hedonic tone. The relationship between these changes and excitability states is discussed.
Associations among types of impulsivity, substance use problems and neurexin-3 polymorphisms.

Background Some of the genetic vulnerability for addiction may be mediated by impulsivity. This study investigated relationships among impulsivity, substance use problems and six neurexin-3 (NRXN3) polymorphisms. Neurexins (NRXNs) are presynaptic transmembrane proteins that play a role in the development and function of synapses.
Cross-scale analysis of cluster correspondence using different operational neighborhoods

Cluster correspondence analysis examines the spatial autocorrelation of multi-location events at the local scale. This paper argues that patterns of cluster correspondence are highly sensitive to the definition of operational neighborhoods that form the spatial units of analysis. A subset of multi-location events is examined for cluster correspondence if they are associated with the same operational neighborhood. This paper discusses the construction of operational neighborhoods for cluster correspondence analysis based on the spatial properties of the underlying zoning system and the scales at which the zones are aggregated into neighborhoods. Impacts of this construction on the degree of cluster correspondence are also analyzed. Empirical analyses of cluster correspondence between paired vehicle theft and recovery locations are conducted on different zoning methods and across a series of geographic scales and the dynamics of cluster correspondence patterns are discussed.
The Relationship between Boundary Lines and Surfaces

A fractal surface can be understood by direct analogy to the fractal boundary lines or profiles already discussed. It is possible to construct a regular fractal surface using the same approach as the Koch island, as shown in Figure 1. In this case, the surface is initially a Euclidean plane. Adding and removing blocks in a regular pattern produces an increase in surface area without changing the enclosed volume. Repeating this operation with ever smaller blocks allows the surface area to increase without limit. The fractal dimension describes the rate at which the surface area increases. For the particular structuring element shown in Figure 1, this is 2.792.
Depth to bedrock using gravimetry in the Reno and Carson City, Nevada, area basins

Sedimentary basins can trap earthquake surface waves and amplify the magnitude and lengthen the duration of seismic shaking at the surface. Poor existing gravity and well‐data coverage of the basins below the rapidly growing Reno and Carson City urban areas of western Nevada prompted us to collect 200 new gravity measurements. By classifying all new and existing gravity locations as on seismic bedrock or in a basin, we separate the basins’ gravity signature from variable background bedrock gravity fields. We find an unexpected 1.2-km maximum depth trough below the western side of Reno; basin enhancement of the seismic shaking hazard would be greatest in this area. Depths throughout most of the rest of the Truckee Meadows basin below Reno are less than 0.5 km. The Eagle Valley basin below Carson City has a 0.53-km maximum depth. Basin depth estimates in Reno are consistent with depths to bedrock in the few available records of geothermal wells and in one wildcat oil well. Depths in Carson City are consiste...
Simulation of supply chain networks using complex adaptive system theory

Why do different supply chain structures emerge and exist? For example, why is the supply chain structure of the educational industry so different from those found in the manufacturing sector? Are there a simple set of rules that trigger the formation and growth of one type of structure over another? This paper is an initial attempt to answer these questions. Researchers have long modeled and analyzed supply chains using numerous approaches like system dynamics, continuous and discrete time differential equation modeling, and discrete event simulation modeling. These approaches, however, typically assume a predefined supply chain structure. Using the concepts of complex adaptive systems (CAS) we "grow" supply chains that are adaptive and evolving to their environments. Using this approach, we consider an environment, consisting of nodes representing suppliers, manufacturers and other entities in a supply chain. We simulate the behavior of supply chain nodes in four environments: munificent resource, scarce resource, information noisy, and clean information environments. By studying the dynamics arising from the interactions between nodes in each type of environment, questions on emergent supply chain networks can be answered. Each node is provided with a simple set of rules. The question for our research is what type of interaction gives rise to what kind of supply chain network structure?.
Consciousness, self-consciousness, and the modern self:

The concept of the self is embedded in a web of relationships of other concepts and phenomena such as consciousness, self-consciousness, personal identity and the mind–body problem. The article fol...