cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detecting the spatial structure of natural textures based on shape analysis.

From a structural point of view texture is considered to be composed of subpatterns which occur repeatedly according to certain placement rules. To locate the subpatterns and analyze the spatial structure of the subpatterns is an essential step toward structural texture analysis. In this paper a method that first locates the subpatterns of a texture and then extracts its spatial structure is introduced. After preprocessing, a texture image is first thresholded into a binary image. Shape analysis and clustering techniques are then applied to the connected regions in the binary image to locate the subpatterns. The placement rule of the subpatterns is found by a 2-D neighbor distribution analysis. For regular textures the placement rule is represented by a set of parallelogram model parameters. A representing subpattern is extracted based on the placement rule for further analysis. A texture synthesis procedure is also proposed in order to examine the performance of this approach by the analysis-by-synthesis method.
Use of image feedback loops for real-time terrain feature extraction

By utilizing images calculated on-the-fly as a filter improvements in real-time performance of object measurement and feature extraction can be achieved for automated aerial photograph analysis. The process requires the rapid calculation of images from an existing terrain database. The calculated images are then compared to incoming sensor data. The difference between the calculated and sensor image is then utilized as a parallel error signal for updating the state of knowledge of the objects and features measured. The advantage of this image feedback technique is that the calculation of sensor realistic perspective views from parameterized object models is easier than the direct interpretation of complex images. The feedback technique effectively eliminates what is already known from the measurement signal and thereby reduces the amount of data which must be processed by pattern recognition techniques by orders of magnitude. The paper presents the mathematical description of the image feedback technique and estimates update frame rates which can be expected for real time applications. We then discuss the incremental software development approach and the system design we are using for implementing the technique. The state of the current system is presented along with a discussion of experiments and experiences gained in building large-scale high-resolution terrain databases. The paper concludes by defining future research areas that need to be addressed for improving performance and accuracy.
Infrared transmission spectrum of nitrate-intercalated graphite.

Infrared transmission spectra of graphite, and of both normal and ``lean'' (``residual'' or ``B'') graphite nitrate, are presented. These spectra allow determination of the intercalant species as ${\mathrm{HNO}}_{3}$. The nitrate plane is approximately perpendicular to the graphite planes in the normal compound and parallel in the lean compound. The out-of-plane infrared-active vibration of the graphite is observed to split by only 7 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ upon forming the nitrate.
FINDSITE(comb): a threading/structure-based, proteomic-scale virtual ligand screening approach.

Virtual ligand screening is an integral part of the modern drug discovery process. Traditional ligand-based, virtual screening approaches are fast but require a set of structurally diverse ligands known to bind to the target. Traditional structure-based approaches require high-resolution target protein structures and are computationally demanding. In contrast, the recently developed threading/structure-based FINDSITE-based approaches have the advantage that they are as fast as traditional ligand-based approaches and yet overcome the limitations of traditional ligand- or structure-based approaches. These new methods can use predicted low-resolution structures and infer the likelihood of a ligand binding to a target by utilizing ligand information excised from the target’s remote or close homologous proteins and/or libraries of ligand binding databases. Here, we develop an improved version of FINDSITE, FINDSITEfilt, that filters out false positive ligands in threading identified templates by a better bindin...
DNA damage-dependent recruitment of nucleotide excision repair and transcription proteins to Escherichia coli inner membranes

The entire process of nucleotide excision repair (NER) in Escherichia coli has been reconstituted in vitro from purified proteins and defined DNA substrates. However, how this system is organized in vivo in unclear. We report here the isolation and characterization of macromolecular assemblies containing NER and transcription proteins from E. coli. This ensemble consists of at least 17 proteins. They are recruited, as a consequence of DNA damage induced by UV irradiation, to the inner membrane. The UV-induced 6-4 photoproducts are also relocated to the inner membrane following UV-irradiation of the cells. This recruitment process is dependent on the uvrA, uvrC and recA gene products. These results suggest that at least part of the repair process may associate with the inner membrane and also provide insights into understanding the cellular organization of repair processes.
Feature-based wavelet shrinkage algorithm for image denoising

A selective wavelet shrinkage algorithm for digital image denoising is presented. The performance of this method is an improvement upon other methods proposed in the literature and is algorithmically simple for large computational savings. The improved performance and computational speed of the proposed wavelet shrinkage algorithm is presented and experimentally compared with established methods. The denoising method incorporated in the proposed algorithm involves a two-threshold validation process for real-time selection of wavelet coefficients. The two-threshold criteria selects wavelet coefficients based on their absolute value, spatial regularity, and regularity across multiresolution scales. The proposed algorithm takes image features into consideration in the selection process. Statistically, most images have regular features resulting in connected subband coefficients. Therefore, the resulting subbands of wavelet transformed images in large part do not contain isolated coefficients. In the proposed algorithm, coefficients are selected due to their magnitude, and only a subset of those selected coefficients which exhibit a spatially regular behavior remain for image reconstruction. Therefore, two thresholds are used in the coefficient selection process. The first threshold is used to distinguish coefficients of large magnitude and the second is used to distinguish coefficients of spatial regularity. The performance of the proposed wavelet denoising technique is an improvement upon several other established wavelet denoising techniques, as well as being computationally efficient to facilitate real-time image-processing applications.
Morphology and vascular anatomy of the gills of a primitive air-breathing fish, the bowfin (Amia calva)

The morphology of the gills of a primitive air breather (Amia calva) was examined by light microscopy of semithin sections of gill filaments, and gill perfusion pathways were identified by scanning-electron microscopic analysis of corrosion replicas prepared by intravascular injection of methyl methacrylate. The arrangement of gill filaments and respiratory lamellae is similar to that ot teleosts with the exception of an interfilamental support bar that is fused to the outer margins of lamellae on adjacent filaments. The prebranchial vasculature is also similar to that of teleosts, whereas the postbranchial circulation of arches III and IV is modified to permit selective perfusion of the air bladder. Gill filaments contain three distinct vascular systems: (1) the respiratory circulation which receives the entire cardiac output and perfuses the secondary lamellae; (2) a nutrient system that arises from the postlammelar circulation and perfuses filamental tissues; (3) a network of unknown function consisting of subepithelial sinusoids surrounding afferent and efferent margins of the filament and traversing the filament beneath the interlamellar epithelium. Prelamellar arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) are rare, postlammelar AVAs are common especially at the base of the filament where they form a dense network of small tortuous vessels before coalescing into a large filamental nutrient artery. Unlike in most teleosts, the outer vascular margins of the lamellae are embedded in the interfilamental support bar and become the sole vasculature of this tissue. Arterial-arterial lamellar bypass vessels were not observed. Previously observed decreases in oxygen transfer across the gills during air breathing can be explained only by redistribution of blood flow between or within the respiratory lamellae.
Nitrogen effects on yield and forage quality of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue

Negative animal effects of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) infected (EI) with endophytic fungus Acremonim coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Gams are reduced by substituting endophyte-free (EF) tall fescue or other forage species. A field experiment was conducted on Maury silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic, Typic Paleudults) soil from 1986 to 1988 to compare forage yields and quality of Kenhy'-EF, Kenhy-EI, and Johnstone' tall fescue with Ensilo' (diploid) and Reveille' (tetraploid) perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Bison' ryegrass (Lolium intermediate) (...)
Natural history of prostatism: risk factors for acute urinary retention.

AbstractPurpose: We determined the occurrence of and risk factors for acute urinary retention in the community setting.Materials and Methods: A cohort of 2,115 men 40 to 79 years old was randomly s...
Software Source Code Plagiarism and Direction Detection Based on PDG

Because of the complexity of the software development, some software developers may plagiarize source code that comes from other projects or open source software in order to shorten development cycle. Usually the copyist would modify and disguise the source code copied to escape plagiarism detection. So far, most algorithms cant completely detect the source disguised by the copyist, especially cant exactly distinguish between the source code and the plagiaristic code. In this paper, we summarize and analyze the effect of disguised source to the detection process, design the strategy to remove the effect of disguised source, and propose a PDG-based software source code plagiarism detection algorithm. The algorithm can detect the existence of disguised source, so as to find out source code plagiarism. And we propose a heuristic rule to make the detection algorithm have the ability to give the plagiarism direction. Any existing algorithm does not have this function. We prove the availability of the algorithm by experiment.
Tinkering with technological skill: An examination of the gendered uses of technologies

Abstract Recent feminist scholarship has foregrounded the problematic intersections of gender and technology. For instance, feminist scholars have identified men's monopoly of technology as an important source of male economic and political power. And, these scholars have recognized that because women may feel uncomfortable using technology in conventional ways, their ability to interrupt this monopoly is compromised. Strategies to unseat the monopoly have generally called for more women in technology, arguing that women are carriers of female skills, which technology currently needs. In this article, I argue that such proposals are unlikely to secure substantive changes. Instead, I suggest that those scholars interested in the gendered relations of technology examine women's use of technologies in their daily work lives and take this as our starting point for redefining technological skill and use. To suggest what such examinations might yield, I draw on a four-year study of how eight women, first as students and then as technical communicators, used one simple rhetorical technology in their work. I conclude by suggesting future research directions as well as implications for classroom practice.
Tactile roughness and the “paper effect”

It has previously been shown that the apparent roughness of a surface is enhanced when the surface is felt through a piece of paper that moves with the fingers. The present experiment reveals that the “paper effect” cannot be generalized to all types of surfaces and that the criterion for roughness plays a role in obtaining it. The specificity of the effect is discussed in terms of the stimulus properties that may underlie the sensation of roughness.
Issues in the coarse-graining of dislocation energetics and dynamics

Abstract We discuss the challenges and controversies involved in obtaining a coarse-grained description of dislocation energetics and dynamics. We start by outlining the structural and dynamical considerations, specific to dislocations, that are associated with homogenization. We then briefly review several existing strategies. Particular attention is paid to the role of dislocation substructure, critical in determining mechanical response, in a coarse-grained representation. Finally, promising future research directions are highlighted.
Latent image exposure monitor using scatterometry

We discuss the use of light scattered from a latent image to control photoresist exposure dose and focus conditions which results in improved control of the critical dimension (CD) of the developed photoresist. A laser at a nonexposing wavelength is used to illuminate a latent image grating. The light diffracted from the grating is directly related to the exposure dose and focus and thus to the resultant CD in the developed resist. Modeling has been done using rigorous coupled wave analysis to predict the diffraction from a latent image as a function of the substrate optical properties and the photoactive compound (PAC) concentration distribution inside the photoresist. It is possible to use the model to solve the inverse problem: given the diffraction, to predict the parameters of the latent image and hence the developed pattern. This latent image monitor can be implemented in a stepper to monitor exposure in situ, or prior to development to predict the developed CD of a wafer for early detection of bad devices. Experimentation has been conducted using various photoresists and substrates with excellent agreement between theoretical and experimental results. The technique has been used to characterize a test pattern with a focused spot as small as 36 micrometers in diameter. Using diffracted light from a simulated closed-loop control of exposure dose, CD control was improved by as much as four times for substrates with variations in underlying film thickness, compared to using fixed exposure time. The latent image monitor has also been applied to wafers with rough metal substrates and focus optimization.
Measurement and Prediction of Deep Drainage from Bare Sediments at a Semiarid Site

In desert environments, non-vegetated (bare) soils and sediments can act as recharge basins, allowing water infiltration but restricting evaporation. When such sediments are located over buried wastes, drainage can lead to groundwater contamination. Lysimeters were used to quantify drainage from bare sediments at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in Washington State, USA. Drainage varied widely from zero to more than half of the annual precipitation for sediments ranging from fine silts to coarse rock-fragments. Decade-long drainage records were used to develop two empirical models relating annual drainage and textural properties of bare sediments. A 23-year drainage record for bare, coarse sand was tested, and the calibration developed for the past 10 years (1994 to 2004) was found to reliably predict drainage from the previous 12 years. The texture models were also compared against Darcy's Law estimates (i.e., unsaturated hydraulic conductivity) for coarse sand and found to agree within 15% of the long-term drainage average. For cases where unsaturated hydraulic-property estimates were not available, the texture models reasonably predicted annual drainage rates for bare sediments containing significant fines (materials less than 50 microns). Clean rock and gravels with little or no fines yielded less drainage (more evaporation) than gravelsmore » with fines, and this was attributed to advective drying in the open work gravel and rock. Because of advective drying, no single empirical texture function could be found to predict drainage from all the coarse sediments tested. However, drainage rates from sediments ranging from silts to coarse sediments mixed with fines appear to be predictable with the models tested. To minimize drainage at desert waste sites, only modest quantities of fines need to be added to the coarse sediments to substantially reduce the potential for groundwater contamination.« less
Frequency and embolic potential of left ventricular thrombus in dilated cardiomyopathy: Assessment by 2-dimensional echocardiography

Left ventricular (LV) thrombus at autopsy and systemic emboli during life have been frequent findings in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Since anticoagulation has substantial risk, noninvasive identification of those patients likely to have emboli is important. Therefore, wide-angle 2-dimensional (2-D) echocardiograms in 123 patients (average age 56 +/- 6 years) with chronic dilated cardiomyopathy were analyzed for the presence of LV thrombus; these findings were compared with the clinical course in 96 patients. On 2-D echocardiography, thrombus was present in 44 patients (36%). Events compatible with systemic emboli occurred in 11 patients (11%), and were not more frequent in those patients with than in those without LV thrombus. In addition, neither the presence of thrombus nor the frequency of systemic emboli differed between patients with and those without associated coronary artery disease. Thus, although 2-D echocardiography shows a high frequency of LV thrombus in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy irrespective of the presence of coronary artery disease, clinical events compatible with systemic emboli are not more frequent in those with than those without LV thrombus.
The effect of glucose on the synthesis of prostaglandins by the renal papilla of the rat in vitro

Abstract o 1. Renal papillae from rats were incubated in vitro . The release of prostaglandin by this tissue was found to be inversely related to the glucose concentration of the buffer. 2. Estimates of prostaglandin release were determined by a rat stomach strip bioassay, and in some instances, gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry. 3. When incubated in the presence of C14-arachidonic acid, the specific activity of prostaglandins E2 and F2α released by the tissue was lower at the lower glucose concentration. 4. Provision of 625 μg/ml of exogenous arachidonic acid in the buffer obliterated the effect of glucose on prostaglandin release. 5. These data indicate that increasing amounts of glucose suppresses prostaglandin synthesis in the renal papilla of the rat, and that the mechanism of this phenomenon is related to the release of arachidonic acid from its storage pools in tissue lipids.
Incorporating experience curves in appliance standards analysis

The technical analyses in support of U.S. energy conservation standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment have typically assumed that manufacturing costs and retail prices remain constant during the projected 30-year analysis period. There is, however, considerable evidence that this assumption does not reflect real market prices. Costs and prices generally fall in relation to cumulative production, a phenomenon known as experience and modeled by a fairly robust empirical experience curve. Using price data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and shipment data obtained as part of the standards analysis process, we present U.S. experience curves for room air conditioners, clothes dryers, central air conditioners, furnaces, and refrigerators and freezers. These allow us to develop more representative appliance price projections than the assumption-based approach of constant prices. These experience curves were incorporated into recent energy conservation standards for these products. The impact on the national modeling can be significant, often increasing the net present value of potential standard levels in the analysis. In some cases a previously cost-negative potential standard level demonstrates a benefit when incorporating experience. These results imply that past energy conservation standards analyses may have undervalued the economic benefits of potential standard levels.
Vertebrate development: Wnt signals at the crest

Neural crest cells, a defining feature of vertebrate embryos, form at the neural plate border in response to inductive signals from the ectoderm. Recent studies have shown that Wnt signals are essential mediators of this induction.
The Nlrp3 inflammasome is critical for aluminium hydroxide‐mediated IL‐1β secretion but dispensable for adjuvant activity

Alum (aluminiun hydroxide) is the most widely used adjuvant in human vaccines, but the immune mechanisms that are activated by alum remain poorly understood. Alum has been recently shown to promote caspase-1 activation and IL-1β secretion but the cellular pathways involved remain elusive. Here we report that the release of IL-1β triggered by alum is abrogated in macrophages deficient in Nlrp3 and Asc but not Nlrc4. The requirement of the Nlrp3 inflammasome was specific for IL-1β in that secretion of TNF-α was independent of Nlrp3 or Asc. Consistently, processing of pro-caspase-1 induced by alum was abolished in macrophages lacking Nlrp3 or Asc. Unlike caspase-1 processing and IL-1β secretion triggered by LPS, alum-mediated activation of the inflammasome did not require exogenous ATP. Importantly, induction of IgG production against human serum albumin by alum was unimpaired in mice deficient in Nlrp3. These results indicate that alum induces IL-1β via the Nlrp3 inflammasome but this activity is dispensable for alum-mediated adjuvant activity.
Differences in morphology, carbon isotope ratios, and photosynthesis between scrub and fringe mangroves in Florida, USA

Abstract All three mangrove species in Florida (USA), Rhizophora mangle L., Laguncularia racemosa Gaert. and Avicennia germinans (L.) L., are found frequently in scrub mangrove forests, in which individuals rarely exceed 1.5 m in height. In the present study, the differences in morphological characteristics, leaf carbon isotope ratios and photosynthetic gas exchange between individuals in scrub and fringe mangrove forests in south Florida were investigated quantitatively. Plants in the scrub forests had much lower canopy height, more main stems per tree and smaller leaves, relative to those in the fringe forests. There was a significant correlation between tree height and leaf δ 13 C value, with higher δ 13 C values (1–4% more positive) for plants in the scrub mangrove forests. Correspondingly, scrub mangroves showed significantly lower intercellular carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration and higher intrinsic water use efficiency over long-term carbon assimilation, relative to fringe mangroves. Photosynthetic gas exchange measurements on R. mangle individuals showed a 15.5% lower CO 2 assimilation rate, 6.1% lower intercellular CO 2 concentration and 11.6% higher intrinsic water use efficiency in scrub mangroves, consistent with those estimated from leaf carbon isotope ratios. A higher slope for the linear correlation between CO 2 assimilation rate and stomatal conductance was observed for the individuals in the scrub mangrove forest, which is in agreement with other measurements indicating higher water use efficiency in scrub mangroves. Possible environmental factors responsible for these morphological and physiological differences between scrub and fringe mangroves are discussed.
Biomarker discovery in urogenital cancer

Novel approaches for the early detection of urogenital cancers are urgently needed. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has a poor prognosis and unpredictable course and to date there are no molecular markers that reliably protect RCC outcome. A novel kidney cancer marker, carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), was investigated as an independent prognostic factor for survival for patients with metastatic RCC. In patients with non-metastatic RCC low CAIX predicted a worse outcome similar to patients with metastatic disease and overall CAIX expression decreased with development of metastasis. CAIX reflects significant changes in tumour biology, which may be used to predict clinical outcome and identify high-risk patients for adjuvant-targeted therapies. With regard to prostate cancer there are a number of putative biomarkers, although there are limited studies providing clinical correlations in humans. Potential biomarkers include caveolin-1, p-Akt, p27, the met oncogene, Ki67 (MIB-1), 8q24 over-expression, polycomb protein EZH2, plasma TGF-B1 and IL-6 among others. The laboratory has concentrated on the Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA) which is increased in patients with more aggressive features, that is higher Gleason grade and higher stage. Highest expression is seen in metastatic lesions to bone and staining for PSCA may predict for disease progression or recurrence. Also promising is the finding reported by the group that expression of p27 in radical prostatectomy specimens correlates with biochemical recurrence. Loss of p27 (defined as absent expression in more than 70% of the specimen) is an independent predictor of recurrence among all patients and among the sub-set with organ confined and extra-capsular disease. The data also shows that p27 can predict outcome among patients with positive surgical resection margins. As with other biomarkers, major questions still to be addressed is the requirement for universal application with uniform scoring and the need for prospective studies in randomized clinical trials.
Methylation Reduces Electron Affinity of Uracil. Ab Initio Theoretical Study

Following the experimental characterization of the N,N-dimethylated uracil anion by Bowen and co-workers, we have undertaken an investigation of the influence of the methylation on the electron affinity of the uracil molecule. Both experiment and theory agree that, as it is in the case of the isolated uracil molecule, the methylated uracils can only attach excess electrons into diffuse dipole-bound states. The corresponding electron affinities are very small (several MeV). The bonding effect in the dipole-bound state depends on the magnitude of the molecular dipole and on the size of the molecule. Selective methylation of the uracil molecule can be used to reduce or increase the dipole value and to change the electron affinity of the molecule. The present calculated results are consistent with the experimental determination that N,N-dimethylation of uracil results in reduction of the electron affinity.
Synthesis and evaluation of B-, C-, and D-ring-substituted estradiol carboxylic acid esters as locally active estrogens.

We have synthesized derivatives of estradiol that are structurally modified to serve as “soft” estrogens and act within a geographically limited area of the body; estrogens without systemic action. We have previously shown with 16α-substituted analogues of estradiol that carboxylates proximal to the steroid ring neither bind to the estrogen receptor nor activate estrogen-responsive genes. However, when the carboxylic acid is masked as an ester, they bind to the receptor and stimulate estrogenic responses. Enzymatic hydrolysis through nonspecific esterases can inactivate these estrogens and thereby limit their area of action. Here, we describe our continued studies to design “soft” estrogens by synthesizing carboxylic acid esters of estradiol at the 7α-, 11β-, and 15α-positions in the steroid nucleus at which bulky substituents are accommodated by the estrogen receptor. These compounds were tested for estrogen receptor binding (estrogen receptors α and β), stimulation of an estrogen sensitive gene in Ishik...
Effect of microspore stage and media on anther culture of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

This study was designed to study the effects of stage of microspore development and culture medium on androgenic response in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Anthers of various developmental stages were cultured for 7 days, then fixed and observed cytologically. Three sets of media, involving different basal media, growth regulators, sucrose levels and glutamine concentrations, were tested. In all experiments, the stage of development of the microspores at the time of culture was highly significant. The early uninucleate microspores stage was identified as producing the highest anther response rating. The effect of media was nonsignificant in all experiments. However, the stepwise modification of the media through the course of the study resulted in an almost 8 x increase in anther response rating. Numerically, the best media tested was N6 basal medium with 1 mg 1-1 NAA, 0.1 mg 1-1 BA, 5.5% sucrose, and 3.5 g 1-1 glutamine. While no haploids were obtained, four-nucleate cells were observed, indicating the potential in peanuts for an androgenic reponse.
Long‐Term Results of Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Hodgkin's Disease

Fifty-four children and adolescents with Hodgkin's disease Stages I--IV were treated with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy from 1967 to 1972. Thirty-eight patients (70%) remain in continuous complete remission. Nine patients have died, four of progressive disease, three of pneumonitis, one with probable pneumococcal sepsis, and one of acute myelocytic leukemia. Significant retardation of height and crown-rump length occurred, particularly in boys who received at least mantle or abdominal radiotherapy when younger than age 16 years. Five women have amenorrhea and no patient has clinical evidence of hypothyroidism. The major long-term effects of therapy in this group of patients has been growth retardation. Future studies to minimize long-term effects of therapy are necessary but must be carefully designed so that present cure rates are not jeopardized.
Econometric feeding and management for first cycle phase two DeKalb Delta hens

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding method (constant vs variable) and method of formulation (lysine vs protein) on the performance and profits of first cycle, phase 2 DeKalb Delta hens from 40 to 52 wk of age as influenced by egg and feed prices. Treatments 1 to 5 were formulated based on lysine to contain 0.65 to 0.81% TSAA and fed continuously regardless of feed consumption (constant feeding). Treatments 6 to 10 and 11 to 15 were formulated based on lysine to supply 570 to 650 mg TSAA and protein to supply 580 to 660 mg TSAA per hen per d, respectively, and fed based on feed intake. Dietary TSAA level had no overall significant effect on feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, mortality, or body weight. Hens fed diets using the constant method of feeding had significantly higher egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, and body weight than hens fed diets formulated based on lysine or protein using the variable method of feeding. When the treatments in the two variable feeding methods were compared, feed consumption was significantly higher for hens fed diets formulated based on protein whereas egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, and body weight were not different. It was concluded that method of formulation (lysine vs protein) and TSAA levels required for maximum profits can vary from at least 570 to 821 mg per hen per d depending upon energy and protein cost.
Anemia and risk of dementia in older adults Findings from the Health ABC study

Objective: To determine whether anemia is associated with incident dementia in older adults. Methods: We studied 2,552 older adults (mean age 76.1 years; 38.9% black; 51.8% female) participating in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study and free of dementia at baseline. We defined anemia using WHO criteria (hemoglobin concentration Results: Of 2,552 participants, 392 (15.4%) older adults had anemia at baseline. Over 11 years of follow-up, 455 (17.8%) participants developed dementia. In the unadjusted model, those with baseline anemia had an increased risk of dementia (23% vs 17%, hazard ratio = 1.64; 95% confidence interval 1.30, 2.07) compared to those without anemia. The association remained significant after adjusting for demographics, APOE e4, baseline 3MS score, comorbidities, and renal function. Additional adjustment for other anemia measures (mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width), erythropoietin, and C-reactive protein did not appreciably change the results. There was no interaction by sex and race on risk of developing dementia. Conclusion: Among older adults, anemia is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. Findings suggest that further study of anemia as a risk factor for dementia and a target for intervention for cognitive health is warranted.
Occupation as a Vehicle to Surmount the Psychosocial Challenges of Cancer

Research indicates that cancer presents challenges to one's social relationships, identity, and ability to live each day to the fullest. Occupation can be a powerful vehicle that one can use to respond to and cope with these psychosocial challenges. However, literature also suggests that occupation can be a problematic vehicle because many persons with cancer report frustration with their ability to engage in daily occupations. This paper synthesizes the research describing these psychosocial challenges and explores the nature of occupational engagement for persons with the life-threatening illness of cancer. Interpreting the research from the standpoint of the Person-Environment-Occupation Model suggests that variations in the congruence between person, environment, and occupation is an intuitively plausible explanation for differing perceptions of the quality of occupational engagement for persons with cancer.
A construction of stable subharmonic orbits in monotone time-periodic dynamical systems

We consider a family of abstract semilinear elliptic-like equationsB(t,uo(t))=0 for an unknown functionu0(t) parametrized by the time-variablet≥0 and valued in a Banach spaceX. Suppose that bothB(.,u) andu0 areT-periodic in timet, and each Frechet derivative\( - A_B (t) \equiv \frac{{\partial B}}{{\partial u}}(t,u_0 (t)),t \geqslant 0\) generates an exponentially decaying, analyticC0-semigroup inX. We show that, for every small e>0, the abstract parabolic-like evolution equationedue/dt=B(t,ue(t)),t≥0, has a linearly stableT-periodic solutionue nearu0. Given any integern≥2, we construct examples ofB andu0 such that the minimum periods ofB(.,u) andu0, respectively, areτ=T/n andT. Thenue(t), t≥0, is alinearly stable subharmonic orbit of minimum periodT for our τ-periodic evolution equation. The corresponding dynamical systems are strongly monotone.
Natural Infections of Wild Creek Chubs and Cultured Fathead Minnow by Chinese Grass Carp Reovirus (Golden Shiner Virus)

Abstract Wild creek chubs Semotilus atromaculatus and farmed fathead minnow Pimephales promelas were cultured for viruses on epithelioma papulosum cyprini and fathead minnow cells. A syncytia-forming virus was isolated from creek chubs and both healthy and moribund fathead minnow with skin and visceral lesions. The isolates were positive by a reverse-transcriptase−polymerase chain reaction assay that amplifies segments 1 and 2 of Chinese grass carp reovirus (CGRV; also known as golden shiner virus and grass carp hemorrhagic virus). Sequencing of the amplicons showed that the isolates were 93–99% identical to each other and to North American CGRV isolates from grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas and 87–93% identical to grass carp isolates from China. Homologies to other fish reoviruses were only 3–42%.
Replication of a plasmid containing two origins of bacteriophage f1

Abstract A chimeric plasmid was constructed that contains a tandem duplication of the bacteriophage f1 origin of DNA replication. This plasmid replicates stably in the absence of phage. When cells carrying this plasmid are infected with f1, two new plasmid-derived DNA species are generated: a smaller, chimeric plasmid containing only one f1 origin of replication, and a miniphage, the genome of which consists of the f1 fragment that was located between the two f1 origins of the original plasmid. These data support the hypothesis (Horiuchi, 1980) that the nucleotide sequence recognized for initiation of plus strand synthesis in f1 DNA replication is also the signal for its termination.
Perspective: Retreat from the radical.

Failures in the development of schizophrenia treatments don't justify the dramatic overhaul now being proposed, says Stephen R. Marder.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Versus 3-dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal: Average Weekly Radiation Dose and Clinical Outcomes

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is an increasingly preferred treatment modality for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal given improved toxicity profiles and initial favorable treatment outcomes. Because clinical outcomes may depend on intensity of therapy, we examined frequency of treatment breaks and average weekly radiation dose (AWD) for correlation with treatment technique (IMRT vs. 3D-CRT) and clinical outcomes.
A Curve Fitting Method for Detecting Valve Stiction in Oscillating Control Loops

Many control loops in process plants perform poorly because of valve stiction as one of the most common equipment problems. Valve stiction may cause oscillation in control loops, which increases variability in product quality, accelerates equipment wear, or leads to control system instability and other issues that potentially disrupt the operation. In this work, data-driven valve stiction models are first reviewed and a simplified model is presented. Next, a stiction detection method is proposed based on curve fitting of the output signal of the first integrating component after the valve, i.e., the controller output for self-regulating processes or the process output for integrating processes. A metric that is called the stiction index (SI) is introduced, based on the proposed method to facilitate the automatic detection of valve stiction. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated using both simulated data sets based on the proposed valve stiction model and real industrial data sets.
Effects of thoracic spinal cord transection on colonic motor activity in rats

The resting colonic motor activity before and consecutively after spinal cord transection was recorded in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Recording probes were anchored surgically in the ascending and descending colon. Pressure changes were recorded on a dynograph using a low compliance perfusion system. A motility index took into account the amplitude, duration and frequency of contractions. Following a baseline recording animals were subjected either to spinal cord transection at T4 level or a sham operation. The recording sessions continued regularly on alternate days for the observation period of 3 weeks. Transection of the thoracic spinal cord markedly reduced the motility index of the distal colon on the first postoperative day. However, the motor activity gradually returned to pre-operative values after 7 days. Sham surgery did not influence the motor activity. These findings suggest that colonic motor activity is influenced by spinal shock and probably by different neural mechanisms mediating proximal and distal activities of the colon in rats.
CD1 recognition by mouse NK1+ T lymphocytes

Rare major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-like CD1-specific T cells have been isolated from human blood, but it has not been determined whether these clones are part of a defined subset of CD1-specific T cells selected during T cell development, or whether their recognition of CD1 is a fortuitous cross-reaction. In mice, an entire subset of alpha beta thymocytes with a unique phenotype was found to be CD1-specific. This particular subset, and its human counterpart, provide evidence that CD1 has a general role in selecting and interacting with specialized alpha beta T cells.
The C Terminus of Cardiac Troponin I Is Essential for Full Inhibitory Activity and Ca2+ Sensitivity of Rat Myofibrils *

Although the C terminus of troponin I is known to be important in myofilament Ca2+ regulation in skeletal muscle, the regulatory function of this region of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) has not been defined. To address this question, the following recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified: mouse wild-type cTnI (WT cTnI; 211 residues), cTnI-(1–199) (missing 12 residues), cTnI-(1–188) (missing 23 residues), and cTnI-(1–151) (missing 60 residues). The inhibitory activity of cTnI and the mutants was tested in myofibrils, from which cTnI·cTnC was extracted by exchanging endogenous cardiac troponin with exogenous cTnT causing the Ca2+ sensitivity of the myofibrils to be lost. Addition of increasing amounts of exogenous WT cTnI or cTnI-(1–199) to cTnT-treated myofibrils at pCa 8 caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the maximum ATPase activity. However, cTnI-(1–188) and cTnI-(1–151) inhibited this activity to about 757 and 507 of that of the WT cTnI, respectively. We also formed a complex of either WT cTnI or each of the mutants with cTnC, reconstituted the complex into the cTnT-treated myofibrils, and measured the Mg2+-ATPase activity as a function of pCa. We found that the cTnI-(1–188)·cTnC complex only partially restored Ca2+ sensitivity, whereas the cTnI-(1–151)·cTnC complex did not restore any Ca2+sensitivity. Each cTnI C-terminal deletion mutant was able to bind to cTnC, as shown by urea-polyacrylamide gel-shift analysis and size exclusion chromatography. Each mutant also co-sedimented with actin. Our results indicate that residues 152–199 (C-terminal to the inhibitory region) of cTnI are essential for full inhibitory activity and Ca2+ sensitivity of myofibrillar ATPase activity in the heart.
Comparative studies on native and elastase-inactivated α1-protease inhibitor (α1-antitrypsin)

Abstract Purified α1-protease inhibitor was reacted with a 1.3-fold molar excess of swine pancreatic elastase and incubated at 37°C for 30 min. Total inactivation of the inhibitor occurs under these conditions. Inactivated α1-protease inhibitor was isolated from the reaction mixture by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed the preparation to be homogeneous. The amino acid composition of native (Mr 54 000) and inactivated (Mr 49 000) α1-protease inhibitor were practically identical; sialic acid residues were unchanged at 6 per mol. Carbohydrate analyses showed a net loss of 8 N-acetylglucosamine and 10 hexose residues per mol of inactivated inhibitor when compared to the native protein. The weight loss which occurs in α1-protease inhibitor die to inactivation by elastase (54 000 vs. 49 000) is probably due primarily to the loss of carbohydrate residues. Electrophoresis of cyanogen bromide fragments in sodium dodecyl sulfate-ureapolyacrylamide gel produced nine distinct zones for the native inhibitor, eight of which were common to the inactivated protein. The missing zone in the elastase-inactivated inhibitor CNBr preparation was strongly periodic acid-Schiff positive, suggesting that the carbohydrate moiety of this glycopeptide is cleaved when the native protein is inactivated by elastase. Electrophoretic mobility determinations, at pH 8.6, gave −5.5 · 10−5 cm2 · V−1 · s−1 for the native protein and −5.6 · 10−5 cm2 · V−1 · s−1 for the inactivated inhibitor. The inactivated protein retained its ability to produce multiple zones upon isoelectric focusing with isoelectric points varying between 4.53 and 4.75 (av. 4.61). The average isoelectric point for the native inhibitor was 4.45 (4.38−4.51).
Revisiting the financing behavior of restaurant firms: The firm-size perspective

Abstract In International Journal of Hospitality Management, Jang and Ryu [Jang, S., Ryu, K., 2006. Cross-balance sheet interdependencies of restaurant firms: a canonical correlation analysis. International Journal of Hospitality Management 25 (1), 159–166] published a research article about the financing behavior of restaurant firms, using a canonical correlation analysis. Even though the study presents a general picture of financing in restaurant firms, the financing behaviors of firms of different sizes may differ because they often face different financing environments. Thus, this study re-examines restaurant firms and compares the results with Jang and Ryu [Jang, S., Ryu, K., 2006. Cross-balance sheet interdependencies of restaurant firms: a canonical correlation analysis. International Journal of Hospitality Management 25 (1), 159–166] to further enhance the understanding of the financing behaviors. The results show that, despite the differences in firm sizes, overall financing behaviors are similar to those reported by Jang and Ryu [Jang, S., Ryu, K., 2006. Cross-balance sheet interdependencies of restaurant firms: a canonical correlation analysis. International Journal of Hospitality Management 25 (1), 159–166], although they also suggest that restaurant firms of different sizes do indeed exhibit some different cross-balance sheet interdependencies including relatively more reliance on accounts payable among small and medium firms and more use of long-term debts among large firms. Moreover, long-term assets related to stockholder equity more among large firms but related to supplier credit more among small and medium firms.
F-center emission and the 3557-Å zero-phonon line in CaO☆

Abstract Fluorescence of the 3.7 eV F-center absorption band in colored CaO crystals is described. The emission is peaked at 3.37 eV at 4.2°K, and is roughly a mirror image of the absorption band with respect to the 3557-S zero-phonon line.
Factors predicting increased incidence of abnormal behavior in male pigtailed macaques

To identify factors predicting abnormal behavior in laboratory monkeys, we observed all available singly housed 4- to 11-year-old male pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina), the species/age/sex group most likely to be referred to the Washington National Primate Research Center's Psychological Well-Being Program for behavioral assessment. Of the 87 subjects, 29 had been referred to the program whereas 58 had not. Abnormal behavior was unrelated to the subject's housing location (biocontainment vs. other facility) or invasiveness of research. Nursery-reared subjects displayed more abnormal behavior than mother-reared subjects. Across and within rearing categories, the proportion of the first 48 months of life spent singly housed was positively related to the amount of abnormal behavior at maturity. This effect was stronger for subjects separated from the mother for clinical rather than experimental reasons, and least for mother-reared subjects. Locomotor stereotypy, by far the most frequent form of abnormal behavior, was positively related to time in single housing but was unrelated to rearing. These results reinforce the importance of tactile social contact during juvenility for the prevention of abnormal behavior in social primates. They also suggest that self-directed abnormal behaviors and locomotor stereotypies have different etiologies.