cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploitation of conserved intron scanning as a tool for molecular marker development in the Saccharum complex

This study investigated the potential of the conserved intron scanning approach to develop molecular markers for genes involved in lignin biosynthesis among members of the Saccharum complex and a distantly related Imperata species. Five intron-flanking primer sets targeting genes encoding five lignin biosynthetic enzymes—phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase (4-CL), caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT), cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) and peroxidase (POX)—were designed based on the sequence analysis between sugarcane expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and Sorghum bicolor orthologs. Nucleotide sequence analyses of the amplicons of PAL, 4-CL and CCoAOMT orthologs revealed the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions–deletions (INDELs) in the target introns as well as (CT)-simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in CCoAOMT orthologs. The SSR marker screening against fifty-nine accessions of the Saccharum complex and an Imperata species confirmed that the identified SSR markers were highly polymorphic among Saccharum and Erianthus species. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker screening of 4-CL and CCoAOMT orthologs developed genus-specific molecular markers that confirmed the intergeneric hybridization status of Saccharum Fiji hybrids. The current study showed that the conserved intron scanning strategy is applicable to multiple copy genes of polyploid monocots. The conserved intron scanning approach provides a novel way of investigating DNA polymorphisms among species within the Saccharum complex and has the potential to help in the development of marker-assisted selection in intergeneric hybrids.
Translating cell biology into therapeutic advances in Alzheimer's disease

Studies of the molecular basis of Alzheimer's disease exemplify the increasingly blurred distinction between basic and applied biomedical research.The four genes so far implicated in familial Alzheimer's disease have each been shown to elevate brain levels of the self-aggregating amyloid-β protein, leading gradually to profound neuronal and glial alteration, synaptic loss and dementia. Progress in understanding this cascade has helped to identify specific therapeutic targets and provides a model for elucidating other neurodegenerative disorders.
Recombinant human erythropoietin dosage in children undergoing hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

The efficacy of erythropoietin (EPO) in 11 children on hemodialysis (HD) and 8 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) (mean age 11.8 years) was compared. The initial EPO dose was 50 U/kg s.c. once a week; the time of observation was 24 weeks. In the CAPD group, the mean hemoglobin (Hb) level increased from 7.7 +/- 0.2 to 11.2 +/- 0.6 g/dl (P < 0.001) and hematocrit (Hct) from 22.3 +/- 1.0 to 32.6 +/- 1.4% (P < 0.001), while in the HD group the mean Hb rose from 7.7 +/- 0.6 to 9.3 +/- 0.8 g/dl (P < 0.001) and mean Hct from 22.7 +/- 2.3 to 27.6 +/- 2.8% (P < 0.001) after 12 weeks of observation. An increase in Hb to over 10 g/dl was obtained in 87.5% of children on CAPD but in only 10% on HD after 8 weeks of EPO treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, all children on CAPD had the target Hb level of more than 10 g/dl, while 7 children on HD required increased doses of EPO (100 U/kg per week). We conclude that the EPO dose of 50 u/kg given s.c. once a week is effective for children with anemia on CAPD but is insufficient for children on HD.
Electric and magnetic fields (EMF): What do we know about the health effects?

Because we use electric power throughout our homes and workplaces, we are all subject to electric and magnetic fields (EMF) that are created by the voltages and currents present in electrical conductors and electrical equipment. Interest in the health effects of electric-power EMF has been motivated by several epidemiologic studies showing weak associations between surrogate measures of low-level EMF exposure and both childhood cancers and adult cancers. Due to the ubiquitous presence of electric power, the public health implications of this association are potentially very significant; however, good evidence for a causal relationship between exposure to EMF and any health effect has not been found. Yet, uncertainty, plus the suggestive epidemiologic findings, have fueled public anxiety and media attention. To put this potential health threat into perspective, it is important to consider the strength of the epidemiology, the availability of supporting animal studies, and mechanistic or biophysical information about the interaction of EMF with matter. Any discussion of steps that might be taken to avoid potential EMF health-effects needs to incorporate a perspective on how hypothetical EMF risks relate to other hazards to life and health.
Face‐ism and primetime television

A preference for viewing men's faces and women's bodies in pictorial media has been termed “face‐ism.” The present study examined differences in the framing of men and women in a sample of prime time commercial network television programs and hypothesized that differences would be enhanced in single camera shows. Results confirmed the presence of face‐ism in prime time television, but did not find differences in single versus multiple camera productions.
Morality and altruism

It is generally believed that altruism is necessary to morality. This may mean that an action cannot be morally praiseworthy unless it is altruistic, or that altruism is a necessary component of any system of morality. I shall argue that the first interpretation is untenable. The second interpretation is plausible, but it leaves open the question of how important altruism is among the many necessary components of morality. My view is that it is less important than commonly supposed. I shall follow my opponents and use altruism to mean, as Nagel does, "'any behaviour motivated merely by the belief that someone else will benefit or avoid harm by it, ''1 or, according to Williams, "a general disposition to regard the interests of others, merely as sucla, as making some claim on one, and, in particular, as implying the possibility of limiting one's own projects. ''2 The sense Nagel and Williams give to altruism differs from the standard way of understanding the word. Altruism usually carries with it an emotive element connoting care and concern for the welfare of others and a desire to benefit them. The disadvantage of the ordinary sense is imprecision. For if~a person intends to and succeeds in acting for the benefit of others, but lacks the motivating force of the usual emotions, we should still describe his actions as altruistic. The usage adopted by Nagel and Williams allows for this, because it is neutral regarding the emotional component. I am adopting this minimal sense of altruism for the present purpose. The minimal sense permits the ordinary one, but it is more liberal than it. Understood in this way, altruism excludes actions performed to promote only one's own interest and actions that do not affect or actually injure other people's interest. Altruism, then, is a disposition, and altruistic actions exemplify it. The view i am opposing is that an action cannot have moral worthunless it is altruistic. This is accepted by very many contemporary philosophers
Depressed leukocyte migration inhibition in response to streptococcal antigens in poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Abstract Leukocyte migration inhibition was examined in 14 patients with persistent disease following acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), in 9 individuals with previously documented beta hemolytic streptococcus infections which were not followed by glomerulonephritis, and in 13 normal controls, using as antigens streptococcal protoplast membrane (SPM) from type 12 (nephritogenic strain) and type 6 (nonnephritogenic strain), and streptokinase-streptodornase (SKSD). PSGN patients showed significantly less inhibition than the other groups in response to nephritogenic type 12 SPM antigens. No consistent differences were observed among the three groups in response to SPM antigen from type 6 or to SKSD. The data demonstrate that decreased production of leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) in response to SPM antigen correlates with ongoing PSGN and is not merely a reflection of previous beta hemolytic streptococcus infection. The depressed cellular immune response to SPM in PSGN is not restricted to lymphocyte transformation as reported earlier and is probably specific for antigens derived from nephritogenic strains of streptococcus.
Amorphization of intermetallic compounds by ion bombardment

Abstract A theory of amorphization of ordered intermetallic alloys subject to electron and ion bombardment has been previously developed. It was proposed that a basic mechanism of amorphization is the build-up to a critical level of a complex defect consisting of a vacancy-interstitial associated pair. When that level is reached in a certain region, the crystalline lattice is destabilized and that region becomes amorphous. Complex clusters were proposed for modeling the more localized damage occuring under ion bombardment. The possibility of a mechanism of direct amorphization in the displacement cascade, in addition to that of complex accumulation, was also suggested. In the present paper, further numerical calculations of amorphization kinetics are conducted for the equiatomic compound TiNi. The results of using different cluster sizes, including the possibility of direct amorphization in the cascade, are compared. The dependences on irradiation temperature, dose rate, free-defect generation efficiency and existing point defect sink microstructure are analyzed. The important role of interstitial concentration evolution as a rate-controlling factor of the amorphization process is demonstrated, under the accompanying hypothesis of vacancy immobility in the temperature range under consideration. It is predicted that amorphization is inhibited above a cut-off temperature and below a cut-off dose rate.
Rotating field eddy current probe with bobbin pickup coil for steam generator tubes inspection

Abstract Eddy current probes are used extensively to evaluate the integrity of steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants and to detect cracks in tube walls. The probe design has evolved from simple bobbin probes to mechanically rotating multi-coil probes providing high resolution images of tube integrity. This paper presents a novel rotating field eddy current probe with bobbin pickup coil that generates a rotating magnetic field, thereby avoiding mechanical rotation of probe. Three balanced identical rectangular windings carrying excitation currents with 120° phase difference generate an electrically rotating magnetic field that is sensitive to defects of all orientations. A bobbin coil located in the center is used as a pick up sensor. The phase of induced voltage in the bobbin coil is interpreted in terms of the circumferential location of the defect. The properties of the probe are investigated using a three dimensional finite element model, and validated experimentally using measurements.
Security completeness: towards noninterference in composed languages

Ensuring that software protects its users' privacy has become an increasingly pressing challenge. Requiring software to be certified with a secure type system is one enforcement mechanism. Protecting privacy with type systems, however, has only been studied for programs written entirely in a single language, whereas software is frequently implemented using multiple languages specialized for different tasks.This paper presents an approach that facilitates reasoning over composed languages. It outlines sufficient requirements for the component languages to lift privacy guarantees of the component languages to well-typed composed programs, significantly lowering the burden necessary to certify that such composite programs safe. The approach relies on computability and security-level separability. This paper defines completeness with respect to secure computations and formally establishes conditions sufficient for a security-typed language to be complete. We demonstrate the applicability of the results with a case study of three seminal security-typed languages.
Decreased microsomal membrane fluidity in the development of cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in the rabbit

The hypothesis was examined that arterial microsomal membrane fluidity is decreased in atherosclerosis. To investigate this hypothesis, the fluorescence anisotropy (r) of 1,6-diphenylhexa-1,3,5-triene was measured in aortic microsomes isolated from normal and atherosclerotic rabbits. A decrease in membrane fluidity, as indicated by a significant increase in r, was observed in microsomes from atherosclerotic rabbits. Notably, the increase in r occurred prior to macroscopic lesion development. The data support the hypothesis that membrane fluidity is decreased in atherosclerosis and indicate that this decrease occurs early in the atherogenic process. The hypothesis that decreased microsomal membrane fluidity contributes to the increased activity of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) in atherosclerosis was also investigated. The hypothesis was rejected on the basis that enrichment of microsomes from normal rabbits with exogenous cholesterol to achieve r values equal to that of microsomes from atherosclerotic rabbits did not result in comparable ACAT activity.
Digital three-dimensional imaging in the infrared at the National Research Council of Canada

This paper presents work performed at the National Research Council of Canada in infrared range imaging, i.e., from 1.5 micrometers to 1.8 micrometers . This region of the spectrum is chosen for eye-safety reasons. Basic concepts explaining the triangulation principle used in NRC prototypes are presented. The requirements for laser source and optics are described in some detail. Laser spot position detection is reviewed in the context of infrared range imaging with actual design examples and detailed calculations of signal-to-noise ratios. These calculations are useful in the early stage of a design. Experimental results show range images taken with the first prototype built at the Institute for Information Technology. A discussion on current developments concentrates on another prototype range camera intended for space applications. The current version of that prototype operates at 0.82 micrometers and can perform tasks in tracking mode at a refresh rate of 130 Hz (60 targets per second) or in imaging mode at a data rate of 18,000 registered 3-D and intensity points per second. The useful range is about 0.5 m to 10 m. For distances greater than 10 m, a time-of-flight unit along with a pulsed-laser source operating at 1.54 micrometers are included. The change of operating wavelength provides a system that is eye-safe and increases the signal to background light rejection for space applications.
The Deep Impact Test Benches &#8211; Two Spacecraft, Twice the Fun

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Deep Impact (DI) Project was a smashing success with its successful Impact and Flyby Encounter on July 4, 2005 (UTC). Deep Impact launched the flight system, consisting of two spacecraft, on January 12, 2005 for an Encounter with comet Tempel 1 just 6 months later. The two spacecraft, known as the Flyby and the Impactor, were separated 24 hours prior to Encounter, whereby the Impactor targeted itself to a collision course with Tempel 1 and the Flyby captured the event as it flew by the comet. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation (BATC) located in Boulder, CO. was the system contractor for the Deep Impact spacecraft. BATC also developed the DI Test Benches. Test benches are developed by a flight project to provide an effective platform for developing flight software and mission sequences, to offload the flight system for prelaunch validation and verification efforts, and to reliably represent the flight system for development and anomaly resolution post-launch. The success of Deep Impact was heavily reliant on these valuable project resources. Developing and operating two spacecraft simultaneously required a unique test bench architecture that could support the various configurations of the DI mission. This paper presents an overview of the Deep Impact Test Bench architecture. The process and challenges of operating the test benches, specifically in testing Impactor sequences, are described. Lessons learned from the test bench experience on Deep Impact are shared.
Sex chromosomes of the chinchilla: allocycly and duplication sequence in somatic cells and behavior in meiosis.

The X-chromosome of the chinchilla is the largest member of the complement. Since its area equals approximately 9% of that of the haploid autosome set, it may represent a “duplicate-type X-chromosome”, in contrast to the “original-type” in which the ratio X:autosomes ranges from 5 to 6.5%. Unlike other known species with the “duplicate-type X-chromosome”, the chinchilla possesses a very small Y-chromosome.
Rapid metallization of lambda DNA and DNA origami using a Pd seeding method

This work focuses on metallization of lambda DNA and DNA origami on surfaces, as a step toward application in nanocircuit fabrication. We have succeeded in forming continuous Pd and Au nanowires using lambda DNA, and branched Au nanostructures using DNA origami. The approach we describe here is simple and efficient compared with prior work, enabling the rapid creation of small-size nanowires or nanostructures. The average diameter of Pd nanowires formed is ∼28 nm, while the length of branched Au nanostructures is between 200–250 nm, with ∼40 nm diameters. These results demonstrate improved procedures for using DNA molecules as templates to form metal nanostructures, with strong potential to be used in bottom-up nanoelectronic circuit fabrication.
CO Substitution in HOs3(CO)10(μ-SC6H4Me-4) by the Diphosphine 4,5-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopentadiene-1,3-dione (bpcd): Structural and DFT Evaluation of the Isomeric Clusters HOs3(CO)8(bpcd)(μ-SC6H4Me-4)

The reaction of the cluster HOs3(CO)10(μ-SC6H4Me-4) (1) with the diphosphine 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopentadiene-1,3-dione (bpcd) has been investigated. 1 reacts with bpcd at room temperature in the presence of Me3NO to give the isomeric clusters 1,2-HOs3(CO)8(bpcd)(μ-SC6H4Me-4) (2a) and 1,1-HOs3(CO)8(bpcd)(μ-SC6H4Me-4) (2b). Clusters 2a and 2b have been isolated, and the molecular structure of each compound has been established by X-ray crystallography. The X-ray structure of 2a confirms the coordination of one of the non-hydride-bridged Os–Os vectors by the bpcd ligand, while the structure of 2b exhibits a chelating bpcd ligand that is bound to one of the osmium centers ligated by the thiolate and hydrido ligands. 2a and 2b are stable in refluxing toluene and show no evidence for bridge-to-chelate isomerization of the ancillary bpcd ligand. DFT calculations on 2a and 2b indicate that the former cluster is the thermodynamically more stable isomer. Near-UV irradiation of 2b leads to CO loss and ortho metalation of the thiolate moiety, yielding the dihydride cluster H2Os3(CO)7(bpcd)(μ,σ-SC6H3Me-4) (3). The conversion of 2b to 3 and free CO is computed to be endothermic by 14.1 kcal/mol and the reaction is driven by the entropic release of CO. The photochemically promoted ortho-metalation reaction is isomer dependent since cluster 2a is inert under identical conditions.
Emergence of DNA polymerase ε antimutators that escape error-induced extinction in yeast.

DNA polymerases (Pols) e and δ perform the bulk of yeast leading- and lagging-strand DNA synthesis. Both Pols possess intrinsic proofreading exonucleases that edit errors during polymerization. Rare errors that elude proofreading are extended into duplex DNA and excised by the mismatch repair (MMR) system. Strains that lack Pol proofreading or MMR exhibit a 10- to 100-fold increase in spontaneous mutation rate (mutator phenotype), and inactivation of both Pol δ proofreading (pol3-01) and MMR is lethal due to replication error-induced extinction (EEX). It is unclear whether a similar synthetic lethal relationship exists between defects in Pol e proofreading (pol2-4) and MMR. Using a plasmid-shuffling strategy in haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we observed synthetic lethality of pol2-4 with alleles that completely abrogate MMR (msh2Δ, mlh1Δ, msh3Δ msh6Δ, or pms1Δ mlh3Δ) but not with partial MMR loss (msh3Δ, msh6Δ, pms1Δ, or mlh3Δ), indicating that high levels of unrepaired Pol e errors drive extinction. However, variants that escape this error-induced extinction (eex mutants) frequently emerged. Five percent of pol2-4 msh2Δ eex mutants encoded second-site changes in Pol e that reduced the pol2-4 mutator phenotype between 3- and 23-fold. The remaining eex alleles were extragenic to pol2-4. The locations of antimutator amino-acid changes in Pol e and their effects on mutation spectra suggest multiple mechanisms of mutator suppression. Our data indicate that unrepaired leading- and lagging-strand polymerase errors drive extinction within a few cell divisions and suggest that there are polymerase-specific pathways of mutator suppression. The prevalence of suppressors extragenic to the Pol e gene suggests that factors in addition to proofreading and MMR influence leading-strand DNA replication fidelity.
High n-type doped germanium for electrically pumped Ge laser

We demonstrate an active phosphorous concentration of 4x1019 cm-3 in Ge by delta doping. Dopant enhanced diffusion is observed and modeled. Photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) confirm the high doping level with stronger emission.
Characterization of Chaotic Motion of DNA in Linear Shear Flows

Motion of macromolecules in flows is important to several disciplines such as DNA hybridization studies, self assembly of nanostructures, and transport of suspensions. The present study simulates the motion of macromolecular structures in linear shear flows. A molecular chain is modeled as a coarse-grained series of beads and springs. For a wide range flow conditions, the flow appears chaotic, where quasi-stable limit cycles are observed for several smaller ranges of flow conditions.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Alcohol-related vehicular death rates for college students in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Objective: Determine rate of college student alcohol-related vehicular traffic fatalities in Virginia during 2007. Participants: Undergraduates at colleges and universities in Virginia. Methods: Institutions with membership in the American College Health Association were invited to participate in a survey. Data collected from institutional reports of student deaths due to vehicular accidents. Results: Twenty-four institutions were invited to participate. Sixteen responded (response rate = 67%), comprising total enrollment of 117,100 for 17- to 24-year-olds (56% of total college population in state). Five traffic deaths were reported, representing 4.3 deaths per 100,000 students. Based on statewide statistics that estimate alcohol contributes to 38.9% of traffic deaths, rate of alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths is 1.7 deaths per 100,000 college students in Virginia, which is 89% lower than leading national estimates. Conclusions: These findings suggest that past estimates of alcohol-related vehicular deaths among college students are overstated. Language: en
Transforming images into block stationary behavior

The statistical behavior of images is inherently nonstationary. Unfortunately, most image processing algorithms assume stationary image models. Spatially adaptive algorithms have been developed which take into account local image statistics. In this paper we derive radiometric and geometric transforms which generate nearly stationary (block stationary) images in the first and second moments. We show that true stationarity is impossible to realize. The aim of these transformations is to enhance the performance of nonadaptive processing techniques, in particular data compression.
Milk electrolyte content of Dahl hypertensive and normotensive rats

Milk samples were collected from lightly anesthetized lactating female rats of the Dahl hypertension-sensitive (SS/Jr) and Dahl hypertension-resistent (SR/Jr) inbred strains on postnatal days 8, 14 and 18. These milk samples were stored at 4 degrees C until analyzed for content of calcium (Ca++), magnesium (Mg++), chloride (Cl-), potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), and total protein. Our findings revealed that milk samples from females of the two strains were remarkably similar in content of electrolytes and total protein at each of the three sampling times. The only significant difference from among a total of 18 strain comparisons across the three sample times was that milk levels of Ca++ were significantly higher in SS/Jrs compared to SR/Jrs on postnatal day 14. These findings clearly indicate that these milk constituents do not differ between mothers of the two Dahl strains. Thus, milk concentrations of electrolytes and protein do not appear to serve as an environmental stimulus during the preweanling period for the dramatic age-related increases in arterial pressure characteristic of the SS/Jr strain.
Computer assessment of hemodynamic severity of coronary artery stenosis from angiograms.

Abstract A computer-assisted analysis of coronary obstructions from cineangiograms is presented, which includes both the geometric and hemodynamic evaluation of coronary stenosis severity. Single frame images are digitized into a 512×512×8 bit array after a cine-to-video conversion. Automatic edge tracking is performed using a combination of derivative and threshold methods. Vessel borders from two orthogonal views of the arterial segment are used to create a three-dimensional reconstruction of the stenosis, which serves as a basis for calculation of absolute and relative geometric dimensions, stenotic resistance and trans-stenotic pressure gradient for various given flow rates. A preliminary performance evaluation of this method was made by analysis of x-ray phantoms representing stenoses of known dimensions, which were filmed under quasi-clinical conditions. The results are discussed with respect to their accuracy and reproducibility.
Human alcohol dehydrogenase: dependence of secondary alcohol oxidation on the amino acids at positions 93 and 94.

The human liver αα and β1β1 isoenzymes are straight-chain alcohol dehydrogenases with different efficiencies toward secondary alcohols. Two of the 24 amino acid substitutions in αα (A for F93 and I for T94) were made by site-directed mutagenesis of β1β1 and the substrate specificity of β93A94I was examined. The VmaxKM values of β93A94I for secondary alcohols (especially R enantiomers) are similar to that of αα and as much as 4000-fold greater than β1β1, but the dependences of VmaxKM on primary alcohol chain length are similar to β1β1, but not αα. Thus, the substitutions of A for F93 and I for T94 in β1β1 account for the increased efficiency towards secondary alcohols and stereoselectivity for enantiomeric alcohols, but not for the effects of chain length on the VmaxKM for primary alcohols seen with αα.
Bubble evolution in acoustic droplet vaporization at physiological temperature via ultra-high speed imaging

Acoustic droplet vaporization in a rigid tube at body temperature was investigated experimentally using an ultra-high speed camera. This study was motivated by gas embolotherapy, a developmental cancer treatment in which gas microbubbles that are selectively formed by acoustically vaporizing liquid droplets in vivo are used to occlude tumor blood flow. The evolution of microbubbles formed by acoustic droplet vaporization was analyzed and a four-stage empirical curve was fit to the growth. Viscous resistance from the tube was shown to dampen oscillations of the microbubbles even though the bubble diameter was smaller than the tube diameter. The results suggest that, for some parameter values, vaporization may still be occurring when the bubble expansion starts and indicate the importance of this in modeling the growth of bubbles formed by acoustic droplet vaporization.
Boreal Forests and Global Change

Boreal forests form Earth's largest terrestrial biome. They are rich in ecosystem and landscape diversity, though characterized by relatively few plant species, as compared to other forested regions. The long term viability and sustainability of boreal forests is influenced by many factors. They are subject to interruptions at intervals by large-scale natural disturbances, and increasingly by human activities. Boreal ecosystem development is typically a slow process; hence rapid changes in the global environment may invoke complex responses. Many industrial nations border, or lie within, boreal regions, deriving much of their economic wealth and culture from the forests. The response of boreal forests to changes in the global environment - whether caused by direct human activity or by indirect changes such as the anticipated changes in climate - are therefore of considerable international interest, both for their policy implications and their scientific challenges. This book which contains almost 50 peer-reviewed papers from a world-wide group of experts assembled under the auspices of IBFRA, the International Boreal Forest Research Association, covers topics which will stimulate further research and the development of constructive policies for improved management and conservation of global boreal forest resources.
Data-driven sensitivity analysis to detect missing data mechanism with applications to structural equation modelling

Missing data are a common problem in almost all areas of empirical research. Ignoring the missing data mechanism, especially when data are missing not at random (MNAR), can result in biased and/or inefficient inference. Because MNAR mechanism is not verifiable based on the observed data, sensitivity analysis is often used to assess it. Current sensitivity analysis methods primarily assume a model for the response mechanism in conjunction with a measurement model and examine sensitivity to missing data mechanism via the parameters of the response model. Recently, Jamshidian and Mata (Post-modelling sensitivity analysis to detect the effect of missing data mechanism, Multivariate Behav. Res. 43 (2008), pp. 432–452) introduced a new method of sensitivity analysis that does not require the difficult task of modelling the missing data mechanism. In this method, a single measurement model is fitted to all of the data and to a sub-sample of the data. Discrepancy in the parameter estimates obtained from the the t...
Finding the light at the end of the tunnel: Age differences in the relation between internal states terms and coping with potential threats to self

Previous research has examined how adults respond to negative self-evaluations, but has not explored developmental differences in this process. This cross-sectional study investigated linkages between the inclusion of internal states language in narrative accounts of problems in important self-categories and reports of coping responses and troubling thoughts. There were a total of 160 participants at three age levels: late childhood (9–12 years old), early adolescence (12–15 years old) and emerging adulthood (18–28 years old). Age-related changes were found in the density of internal states language and its relation to coping strategies. Among the children, greater usage of positive emotion terms predicted less adaptive use of coping strategies. In contrast, among the adolescents, greater density of positive emotion terms and anxiety terms was associated with more assistance seeking, and greater use of anger terms was related to lower levels of intrusive and avoidant thoughts. Finally, among the emerging ...
Structural Aspects of Saltatory Particle Movement

A variety of cells possess particles which show movements statistically different from Brownian movements. They are characterized by discontinuous jumps of 2–30 µ at velocities of 0.5–5 µ/sec or more. A detailed analysis of these saltatory, jumplike movements makes it most likely that they are caused by transmission of force to the particles by a fiber system in the cell outside of the particle itself. Work with isolated droplets of cytoplasm from algae demonstrates a set of fibers involved in both cytoplasmic streaming and saltatory motion, suggesting that both phenomena are related to the same force-generating set of fibers. Analysis of a variety of systems in which streaming and/or saltatory movement occurs reveals two types of fiber systems spatially correlated with the movement, microtubules and 50 A microfilaments. The fibers in Nitella (alga) are of the microfilament type. In other systems (melanocyte processes, mitotic apparatus, nerve axons) microtubules occur. A suggestion is made, based on work on cilia, that a microtubule-microfilament complex may be present in those cases in which only microtubules appear to be present, with the microfilament closely associated with or buried in the microtubule wall. If so, then microfilaments, structurally similar to smooth muscle filaments, may be a force-generating element in a very wide variety of saltatory and streaming phenomena.
INTERMITTENT CATHETERIZATION LIMITS RABBIT BLADDER DYSFUNCTION IN RESPONSE TO PARTIAL OUTLET OBSTRUCTION

Introduction: The initial response of the urinary bladder to outflow partial obstruction consists of distension, followed by a rapid increase in mass and concomitant functional adaptations. Subsequently, an indeterminate period of stabilized function and little increase in mass occurs (compensation). Finally, bladder mass again progressively increases, accompanied by deleterious changes in bladder morphology, biochemistry and pharmacology, and progressive loss of function (decompensation). The reported study was designed to determine whether limiting the level of bladder distension, using intermittent catheterization (IntCath), could protect the bladder from decompensation. Materials and Methods: Sixteen male New Zealand White rabbits were separated into 4 groups of 4 rabbits each: control, control with IntCath, obstructed, and obstructed with IntCath. IntCath was performed with the animals under inhalation anesthesia. An 8 Fr. catheter was inserted through the urethra into the bladder every 8 hours and the urine drained. After 14 days of obstruction, bladders were removed from all rabbits; longitudinal strips were cut from the bladder body and suspended in individual organ baths. Contractile responses to field stimulation (FS), KCl, ATP, and carbachol were measured. Results: There were no significant differences between control rabbits and controls with IntCath in bladder weights, compliance, and contractile responses to all stimuli. Bladder weights of both obstructed groups increased significantly compared to those of both control groups. Bladder weights of obstructed rabbits increased to a significantly greater extent than did those of obstructed rabbits with IntCath. Bladder compliance in the obstructed group was significantly lower than compliance in both control groups and in obstructed rabbits with IntCath. Both obstructed groups exhibited significantly decreased contractile responses to FS, ATP and KCl, compared to control groups. The response of the obstructed group with IntCath to FS and carbachol was significantly greater than the responses of the obstructed group without IntCath. Conclusions: These findings show that limiting distension with IntCath reduces the magnitudes of the increased bladder mass, the loss of bladder wall elasticity (compliance), and the impaired contractile responses which occur secondary to outflow obstruction.
Abductive plan recognition by extending Bayesian logic programs

Plan recognition is the task of predicting an agent's top-level plans based on its observed actions. It is an abductive reasoning task that involves inferring cause from effect. Most existing approaches to plan recognition use either first-order logic or probabilistic graphical models. While the former cannot handle uncertainty, the latter cannot handle structured representations. In order to overcome these limitations, we develop an approach to plan recognition using Bayesian Logic Programs (BLPs), which combine first-order logic and Bayesian networks. Since BLPs employ logical deduction to construct the networks, they cannot be used effectively for plan recognition. Therefore, we extend BLPs to use logical abduction to construct Bayesian networks and call the resulting model Bayesian Abductive Logic Programs (BALPs). We learn the parameters in BALPs using the Expectation Maximization algorithm adapted for BLPs. Finally, we present an experimental evaluation of BALPs on three benchmark data sets and compare its performance with the state-of-the-art for plan recognition.
AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING TREE ADJOINING GRAMMARS FROM ABSTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

The paper describes a system that can automatically generate tree adjoining grammars from abstract specifications. Our system is based on the use of tree descriptions to specify a grammar by separately defining pieces of tree structure that encode independent syntactic principles. Various individual specifications are then combined to form the elementary trees of the grammar. The system enables efficient development and maintenance of a grammar, and also allows underlying linguistic constructions (such as wh-movement) to be expressed explicitly. We have carefully designed our system to be as language independent as possible and tested its performance by constructing both English and Chinese grammars, with significant reductions in grammar development time. Provably consistent abstract specifications for different languages also offer unique opportunities for investigating how languages relate to themselves and to each other. For instance, the impact of a linguistic structure such as wh-movement can be traced from its specification to the descriptions that it combines with, to its actual realization in trees. By focusing on syntactic properties at a higher level, our approach allowed a unique comparison of our English and Chinese grammars.
NKG2D Is Critical for NK Cell Activation in Host Defense against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Respiratory Infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of nosocomial respiratory infections. The eradication of P. aeruginosa from the lung involves the orchestrated actions of the pulmonary epithelium and both resident and recruited immune cells. The NKG2D receptor is constitutively expressed on the surface of circulating and tissue-resident NK cells (and other cytotoxic lymphocytes), and is capable of controlling NK cell activation and production of cytokines, such as IFN-γ via interactions with ligands expressed on the surface of stressed cells. Previously, we demonstrated that NKG2D mediates pulmonary clearance of P. aeruginosa . In the present study, we investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms of NKG2D-mediated clearance of P. aeruginosa using a novel transgenic mouse model of doxycycline-inducible conditional expression of NKG2D ligands (retinoic acid early transcript 1, α) in pulmonary epithelial cells. NKG2D ligand expression in this model increased pulmonary clearance, cellular phagocytosis, and survival following P. aeruginosa respiratory infection. Additionally, NK cell sensitivity to ex vivo LPS stimulation was greater in lung cells isolated from naive transgenic mice administered doxycycline. We also showed that NK cells are the primary source of lymphocyte-derived IFN-γ in response to P. aeruginosa respiratory infection. Significantly, we demonstrated that NKG2D is critical to the nonredundant IFN-γ production by pulmonary NK cells following acute P. aeruginosa infection. These results represent the principal report of NKG2D-mediated activation of lung NK cells following respiratory infection with an opportunistic pathogen and further establish the importance of NKG2D in the host response against P. aeruginosa respiratory infection.
Complex Genetic Changes in Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Derived by Selection in the Laboratory

Selection of model organisms in the laboratory has the potential to generate useful substrates for testing evolutionary theories. These studies generally employ relatively long-term selections with weak selective pressures to allow the accumulation of multiple adaptations. In contrast to this approach, we analyzed two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that were selected for resistance to multiple stress challenges by a rapid selection scheme to test whether the variation between rapidly selected strains might also be useful in evolutionary studies. We found that resistance to oxidative stress is a multigene trait in these strains. Both derived strains possess the same major-effect adaptations to oxidative stress, but have distinct modifiers of the phenotype. Similarly, both derived strains have altered their global transcriptional responses to oxidative stress in similar ways, but do have at least some distinct differences in transcriptional regulation. We conclude that short-term laboratory selections can generate complex genetic variation that may be a useful substrate for testing evolutionary theories.
Development ofArchytas marmoratus(Diptera: Tachinidae) Reared inGalleria mellonellaLarvae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Feeding on Selected Diets☆

Abstract Four diets commonly used to rear the greater wax moth,Galleria mellonella(L.), were evaluated for their effects on the development of a harbored tachinid parasitoid,Archytas marmoratusTownsend. A diet developed by E. G. Kinget al.(U.S. Department of Agriculture, Science and Education Administration, Advances in Agricultural Technology, Southern Series No. 3, 1979) was selected for further improvement. Incorporating up to 2 ml of a vitamin mix and up to 30 g of granular sucrose into the Kinget al.diet (≈165 g) had no significant influence on the weight ofG. mellonellalarvae or development ofA. marmoratus.However, as little as 5 g of torula yeast, honeycomb wax, or wheat germ added to the Kinget al.diet or to varying ratios of Gerber's Mixed and Hi-Protein cereals increased the weight of matureG. mellonellalarvae and subsequently male and femaleA. marmoratusreared fromG. mellonellahosts. The Kinget al.diet supplemented with torula yeast, honeycomb wax, and wheat germ may be used for mass propagation ofA. marmoratusuntil an artificial diet for itsin vitrorearing is developed.
Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: evaluation of long-term oncological outcome.

ABSTRACT Purpose: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) has emerged as a viable alternative to open surgery for renal tumors less than 4 cm. We present oncological followup of patients treated with laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery at our institution. Materials and Methods: Between September 1996 and December 2001, 48 patients who underwent LPN for clinically localized tumors were found to have pathologically proven renal cell carcinoma. Medical and operative records were reviewed for clinical characteristics, pathological findings and followup information. Results: Mean patient age was 59.7 years (range 32 to 81) and mean followup was 37.7 months (range 22 to 84). Mean tumor size was 2.4 cm (range 1.0 to 4.0). Final pathological stage was pT1 in 42 patients (87.5%) and pT3a in 6 (12.5%). Histology revealed clear cell in 32 patients (66.7%), papillary in 10 (20.8%), chromophobe in 3 (6.3%), collecting duct in 1 (2.1%) and unclassified in 2 (4.2%). Intraoperative frozen section biopsies revealed negative margins in all cases. Final surgical margins were positive in 1 patient (2.1%). Followup evaluation consisting of physical examination and yearly cross-sectional imaging, which revealed no recurrences in 46 of 48 patients (95.8%). One patient with von Hippel-Lindau disease was found to have local recurrence 18 months after LPN and observation was elected. The second patient had recurrence in the same kidney away from the original tumor site approximately 4 years later. Conclusions: LPN is an effective treatment modality for clinically localized renal cell carcinoma. Oncological outcomes at a mean followup of 3 years are promising, although the durability of oncological outcomes must be determined.
Susceptibilities of northern fowl mite,Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acarina: Macronyssidae), and chicken mite,Dermanyssus gallinae (Acarina: Dermanyssidae), to selected acaricides

The relative toxicities of ten acaricides to northern fowl mite,Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), and the chicken mite,Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer), were determined simultaneously by holding the mites inside disposable glass Pasteur pipettes previously immersed in acetone solutions of various concentrations (w/v) of technical grade acaricides. The LC90s (parts per million) of the acaricides after 24 h exposure for the northern fowl mite and the chicken mite, respectively, were: bendiocarb (13.1, 0.18), tetrachlorvinphos (14.5, 4.07), carbaryl (15.0, 0.83), pirimiphos methyl (18.3, 2.03), permethrin (23.1, 8.46), lambda cyhalothrin (80.7, 11.4), dichlorvos (252.8, 3.75), malathion (238.4, 6.59), amitraz (6741, 9430) and fenvalerate (>10000, 60.2). After 48 h exposure there were only slight increases in mortalities of both species except for increased mortalities for the northern fowl mite with lambda cyhalothrin, amitraz and fenvalerate, and for the chicken mite with amitraz.
Trends in the American Economy in the Nineteenth Century

The long-awaited appearance of the principal papers presented at the I957 joint meeting of the Economic History Association and the Conference on Research in Income and Wealth is an event of considerable importance.' Although some of the series presented here have been current since the publication of the new Historical Statistics, Volume Twenty-Four makes available for the first time a full description of their derivation as well as much additional statistical material and some analysis of the numerical results. The collective purpose of the eighteen papers is to provide a partial, statistical reconstruction of American economic history in terms of macroeconomic categories. Perhaps their most significant achievement lies in the development of data relating to the period before i86o, concerning which our quantitative knowledge has heretofore been of the most limited and unsatisfactory form. Considerable advance has been made in describing the post-Civil War economy too, and this accomplishment is relegated to second place only by virtue of the originality of the first.