cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MultCSync: a software package for incorporating multiple criteria in conservation planning

MultCSync is a software package designed to aid incorporation of multiple criteria into conservation planning though it can be used in other similar contexts. During such planning, conservation area networks are selected primarily to represent biodiversity but must: (i) incorporate spatial design criteria such as size, dispersion, and connectivity of individual areas; and (ii) negotiate competing social claims on land use including recreation, resource extraction, and development. The social claims can also usually be modeled as (potentially incompatible) criteria to be simultaneously optimized along with the spatial design criteria. MultCSync enables the prioritization of alternative networks on the basis of such criteria after all biodiversity representation targets are satisfied. It begins by computing the set of non-dominated alternatives. If this set is sufficiently small, these alternatives can be presented to political decision makers. However, if this set is intractably large, further prioritization among the non-dominated alternatives is necessary. MultCSync accomplishes this prioritization using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as well as a modification of the AHP in accordance with multi-attribute value theory (MAVT). MultCSync is freely downloadable via the world wide web and can be used in conjunction with different place prioritization software packages.
Behavioral and biochemical effects of p-chlorophenylalanine, 3-chlorotyrosine and 3-chlorotyramine. A proposed mechanism for inhibition of self-stimulation.

Abstract Rats and dogs, with electrodes chronically implanted in the posterior hypothalamus, pressed a lever to receive electrical stimuli at various current intensities. p -Chlorophenylalanine, a drug that lowers brain serotonin by causing inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylation, inhibited self-stimulation. This inhibition of self-stimulation was not temporally correlated with lowering of brain serotonin. p -Chlorophenylalanine also inhibits phenylalanine hydroxylation, and plasma levels of phenylalanine were increased; there was little change in plasma tyrosine levels. Plasma levels of phenylalanine and of p -chlorophenylalanine did not correlate well with the inhibition of self-stimulation behavior in either species. 3-Chlorotyrosine, a known metabolite of p -chlorophenylalanine in vitro , inhibited self-stimulation in rats at doses lower than those of p -chlorophenylalanine but did not significantly lower brain serotonin. 3-Chlorotyramine, the decarboxylated product of 3-chlorotyrosine, also inhibited self-stimulation. The results suggest that the 3 compounds inhibited self-stimulation by a mechanism independent of brain serotonin. The greater potency of 3-chlorotyrosine raises the possibility that this behavioral effect of p -chlorophenylalanine occurs after it is converted to 3-chlorotyrosine. A possible metabolic pathway that could yield a false neurotransmitter is suggested.
40Ar intercept values and young apparent40K-40Ar ages of five Apollo 15 fines

Abstract Correlations between40Ar and36Ar from size fractions of three Apollo 15 fines (15071, 15421, 15501) have been obtained. The40Ar intercept values of these fines and of 15091 and 15601 are generally lower than what one would expect for fines resulting from the comminution of rocks having ages of about 3.3 × 109 yr, typical for basalts of the landing site. This is interpreted to be the result of contamination by ray material from the Copernican age (equal or less than ∼109 yr) craters, Autolycus and Aristillus, north of the landing site.
Measurements of gradients in ionospheric parameters with a new nine-position experiment at Millstone Hill

Abstract A new nine-position experiment is now routinely carried out with the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radars which allows estimation of spatial gradients in the measured ionospheric scalar parameters N e , T e , and T i , and in the components of the ion velocity vector v i . Use of this technique results in improved estimates of basic and derived parameters from incoherent scatter data at times of significant gradients. We detail the data analysis method and present the first results from this new experiment. The gradients in N e and in the components of vi are used to compute the motion term in the ionospheric F region continuity equation ▿ · ( N v), which is then combined with ∂N / ∂t to estimate the O + recombination rate β at night. Meridional neutral winds U mer are computed from the field-aligned ion velocity v ∥ and a calculation of the O + diffusion velocity v d , and it is found that horizontal gradients in the ion velocity field at times significantly affect the calculation of the neutral winds.
Worldwide Survey on Architectural Research at Schools of Architecture

This paper reports on a survey of research conducted within schools of architecture in the U.S. and abroad. The context of research in architectural education in the United States is assessed and background data on the evolution and status of research in the architectural profession are provided. Previous surveys on architectural research are highlighted. Findings from the worldwide survey of architecural research are based on the three major survey categories, i.e., research topic overview, institutional profile and research assessments, and individual research project descriptions. The data from the survey is such that it begins to offer a description of research activities and their parameters rather than supporting conclusive findings.
Aspiration biopsy cytology of ectopic thyroid tissue in the lateral chest wall: a case report.

Background Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare abnormality that mainly occurs in the midline of the neck but also in other unusual locations. Because fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a widely used procedure for evaluating head and neck and other palpable masses, sampling of these lesions may be encountered. Case A 66-year-old woman presented with left lateral chest wall mass during follow-up for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Initial evaluation by FNAB suggested ectopic thyroid tissue, which was confirmed later by tissue biopsy and immunostains. This is the first reported case of ectopic thyroid tissue in the lateral chest wall area. Conclusion Awareness of this abnormality and the possibility of ectopic thyroid tissue in erratic locations will help cytopathologists make the correct interpretation on FNAB sampling.
Observations on initial segments of axons in the prepyriform cortex of the rat

Layers II and III of the prepyriform cortex of rats were studied with the electron microscope and with a rapid Golgi method. Initial segments of axons were identified according to the criteria previously established. The fixative optimum for demonstrating microtubules and differentiating initial segments from dendrites must include glutaraldehyde. Initial segments were found to possess lateral projections, herein referred to as axonic spines and their fine structural features and synaptology are described. The synapses on initial segments and axonic spines predominately contain flattened vesicles and a spine apparatus-like organelle is often present. The problem of the origin of these synapses is discussed.
In Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic Study on LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 Cathode Material during Electrochemical Cycling

We have investigated the local electronic and atomic structure of the LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 electrode during the first charge and discharge process using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of the Mn and Ni K-edges. The Ni K-edge structure in the XANES spectrum shifts to higher energy during charge and shifts back reversibly during discharge in the higher voltage region of ∼4 V, whereas the Mn K-edge structure does not appear to exhibit a rigid edge shift. Further Li-ion intercalation during extended discharge in the 1-V plateau leads to the reduction of Mn4+ ions suggesting that the charge compensation in this region is achieved via the reduction of Mn4+ ions to Mn2+. Mn K-edge EXAFS results indicate that a small amount of Li is found in the Ni2+/Mn4+ layers. These Li ions in the transition metal layers are primarily present in the second coordination shell of Mn and not around Ni. Ni K-edge EXAFS fitting results suggest that the oxidation process upon Li deintercalation takes place in two steps: Ni2+ ...
Decision trees for evaluating skin and respiratory sensitizing potential of chemicals in accordance with European regulations

Guidance for determining the sensitizing potential of chemicals is available in EC Regulation No. 1272/2008 Classification, Labeling, and Packaging of Substances; REACH guidance from the European Chemicals Agency; and the United Nations Globally Harmonized System (GHS). We created decision trees for evaluating potential skin and respiratory sensitizers. Our approach (1) brings all the regulatory information into one brief document, providing a step-by-step method to evaluate evidence that individual chemicals or mixtures have sensitizing potential; (2) provides an efficient, uniform approach that promotes consistency when evaluations are done by different reviewers; (3) provides a standard way to convey the rationale and information used to classify chemicals. We applied this approach to more than 50 chemicals distributed among 11 evaluators with varying expertise. Evaluators found the decision trees easy to use and recipients (product stewards) of the analyses found that the resulting documentation was consistent across users and met their regulatory needs. Our approach allows for transparency, process management (e.g., documentation, change management, version control), as well as consistency in chemical hazard assessment for REACH, EC Regulation No. 1272/2008 Classification, Labeling, and Packaging of Substances and the GHS.
Measurement ofP-V-T relations and critical indices of3He

By measuring the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor filled with3He as a function of temperature and pressure, we have determined the dielectric constant of3He along 28 isotherms between 3.00 and 3.45 K at pressures up to 103 Torr, and along the coexistence curve between 3.20 K and the critical temperature for both saturated liquid and vapor. The density along these same trajectories can then be calculated assuming the Clausius-Mossotti relation holds. We have evaluated the critical temperatureT c , pressureP c , and density ρc, as well as the critical indices β, γ, γ′, and δ.
An Accelerator Instrumentation and Control System Using CAMAC

The 8 GeV Booster Synchrotron, presently under construction at the National Accelerator Laboratory, is controlled by a computer based system, which has been implemented using the CAMAC Standard for data handling systems. The design philosophy and the hardware for the control system are described.
Photonic integrated circuits for phase modulation formats

We will review the latest performance metrics for components enabling communication networks based on phase modulation formats. For spectral efficiency, reduced complexity, reliability, and power consumption; monolithic integration on InP is clearly the superior path.
Optimal Guaranteed Cost Control of Stochastic Discrete-Time Systems with States and Input Dependent Noise Under Markovian Switching

A problem of robust guaranteed cost control of stochastic discrete-time systems with parametric uncertainties under Markovian switching is considered. The control is simultaneously applied to both the random and the deterministic components of the system. The noise (the random) term depends on both the states and the control input. The jump Markovian switching is modeled by a discrete-time Markov chain and the noise or stochastic environmental disturbance is modeled by a sequence of identically independently normally distributed random variables. Using linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) approach, the robust quadratic stochastic stability is obtained. The proposed control law for this quadratic stochastic stabilization result depended on the mode of the system. This control law is developed such that the closed-loop system with a cost function has an upper bound under all admissible parameter uncertainties. The upper bound for the cost function is obtained as a minimization problem. Two numerical examples a...
TU‐D‐352‐07: Enhanced Energy Transfer From Mega‐Voltage Radiation to the Tumor Cell Killing Singlet Oxygen by Semiconductive Nanoparticles

Purpose: To investigate a novel energy transfer pathway from 6 MV therapeutic X‐rays to Quantum dots(QDs), which further activates Photofrin to produce reactive singlet oxygen species by a process known as Foster Resonance Energy Transfer, and subsequently enhances cell kill. Method and Materials: The photon emission efficiency of QDs upon excitation by 6 MV X‐rays was measured as a function of the dose rate from 100 cGy/min to 600 cGy/min. A conjugate was synthesized based on the conjugation of Photofrin and QDs. The quenching of the photon emission was measured with the conjugate. The energy transferred to the photofrin was calculated based on the principle of Foster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) that the energy transfer efficiency is proportional to the degree of quenching. The cell kill enhancement with the conjugates was studied using A549 human lungcarcinoma cells and an optical density based assay. The cellular distribution of the conjugates was imaged by a confocal microscope.Results:QDs were found to be excited by the 6 MV radiation and the number of visible photons generated from QD depended linearly on the radiationdose rate. The FRET efficiency increases as the number of Photofrin molecules conjugated to the quantum dots increases. The conjugate resulted in a statistical significant 34% increased cell kill at 24 pmol/ml conjugate concentration compared to radiation alone with minimal toxicity in non‐irradiated controls. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the conjugates were distributed within the cytoplasm. Conclusion: This conjugate shows distinct properties as a novel media for generating singlet oxygen and enhanced tumor cell killing, which is achieved synergistically with radiation through a physical and linear interaction between QDs and X‐ray; the conjugate itself shows minimal dark toxicity at nM concentration, thus can be readily targeted by conformal radiotherapy with high geometrical specificity.
Multiple effects of spermine on N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor responses of rat cultured hippocampal neurones

1. The modulation by polyamines of responses to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) was studied using a rapid perfusion system and whole-cell voltage-clamp recording from rat hippocampal neurons in dissociated culture. 2. Concentration jump responses to 100 microM NMDA in the presence of 10 microM glycine revealed potentiation by 3 mM spermine at a membrane potential of +60 mV, but depression at -120 mV; the degree of potentiation at +60 mV was variable from cell to cell while marked depression at -120 mV was observed in all cells. The depression of responses to NMDA by spermine was highly voltage dependent (z delta = 1.17) with an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant for block at 0 mV of 27 mM. 3. Analysis of spermine dose-potentiation curves for responses recorded at +60 mV in the presence of 10 microM glycine revealed a half-maximal effect at 125 microM. Under the same conditions, but at -60 mV, analysis of spermine-evoked depression was performed for cells with less than 5% potentiation at +60 mV, and revealed half-maximal inhibition at 344 microM. 4. Dose-response analysis for the glycine-sensitive activation of NMDA receptors at +60 mV revealed a 3.5-fold increase in apparent affinity for glycine in the presence of 1 mM spermine. This increase in affinity for glycine was accompanied by a 3.3-fold decrease in the rate of development of glycine-sensitive desensitization, and a 2.4-fold decrease in the rate of dissociation of glycine from NMDA receptors, while the rate constant for dissociation of NMDA was not reduced. 5. In the presence of non-saturating concentrations of glycine, spermine-induced potentiation at +60 mV developed with two exponential components: a slow glycine-sensitive component, the amplitude and time constant of which decreased with increasing glycine concentration (30 nM glycine, amplitude = 80.2 +/- 5.1%, tau = 780 +/- 79 ms; 3 microM glycine, amplitude = 22.6 +/- 7.1%, tau = 45 +/- 13 ms), and a faster component (tau < 20 ms at all concentrations of glycine), the amplitude of which varied from cell to cell, and which became larger with increase in concentration of glycine. When responses to the application of spermine were measured in the presence 10 microM L-alanine instead of 100 nM glycine, the slow component of potentiation was absent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Quantifying the reliability of image replication studies: The image intraclass correlation coefficient (I2C2)

This article proposes the image intraclass correlation (I2C2) coefficient as a global measure of reliability for imaging studies. The I2C2 generalizes the classic intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficient to the case when the data of interest are images, thereby providing a measure that is both intuitive and convenient. Drawing a connection with classical measurement error models for replication experiments, the I2C2 can be computed quickly, even in high-dimensional imaging studies. A nonparametric bootstrap procedure is introduced to quantify the variability of the I2C2 estimator. Furthermore, a Monte Carlo permutation is utilized to test reproducibility versus a zero I2C2, representing complete lack of reproducibility. Methodologies are applied to three replication studies arising from different brain imaging modalities and settings: regional analysis of volumes in normalized space imaging for characterizing brain morphology, seed-voxel brain activation maps based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and fractional anisotropy in an area surrounding the corpus callosum via diffusion tensor imaging. Notably, resting-state fMRI brain activation maps are found to have low reliability, ranging from .2 to .4. Software and data are available to provide easy access to the proposed methods.
Measuring Cohesion between Macromolecular Filaments One Pair at a Time: Depletion-Induced Microtubule Bundling

In the presence of nonadsorbing polymers, colloidal particles experience ubiquitous attractive interactions induced by depletion forces. Here, we measure the depletion interaction between a pair of microtubule filaments using a method that combines single filament imaging with optical trapping. By quantifying the dependence of filament cohesion on both polymer concentration and solution ionic strength, we demonstrate that the minimal model of depletion, based on the Asakura-Oosawa theory, fails to quantitatively describe the experimental data. By measuring the cohesion strength in two- and three- filament bundles, we verify pairwise additivity of depletion interactions for the specific experimental conditions. The described experimental technique can be used to measure pairwise interactions between various biological or synthetic filaments and complements information extracted from bulk osmotic stress experiments.
Learning progressions in action in a middle school: a case study

Learning progressions (LPs) have been touted widely for their promise in helping teachers to conduct formative assessment. A case study was conducted on a team of middle-school mathematics teachers as they studied and incorporated LPs into their planning, instruction and assessment. An existing framework on the beliefs, knowledge and practice needed to successfully implement formative assessment was used as a lens to interpret teachers’ experiences with the LPs. The findings reveal that while the teachers can use LPs to set goals, they need assistance and support to use LPs to find out what students know and to provide feedback.
Contemporary Issues in Protein Requirements and Consumption for Resistance Trained Athletes

In recent years an explosion of research papers concerning protein consumption has been published. The need to consolidate this information has become critical from both practical and future research standpoints. For this reason, the following paper presents an in depth analysis of contemporary issues in protein requirements and consumption for resistance trained athletes. Specifically, the paper covers: 1.) protein requirements for resistance trained athletes; 2.) the effect of the digestion rate of protein on muscular protein balance; 3.) the optimal timing of protein intake relative to exercise; 4.) the optimal pattern of protein ingestion, relative to how an individual should consume their protein throughout a 24 hour period, and what sources are utilized during this time frame; 5.) protein composition and its interaction with measures of protein balance and strength performance; 6.) the combination of protein and carbohydrates on plasma insulin levels and protein balance; 7.) the efficacy of protein supplements and whole food protein sources. Our goal is to provide the reader with practical information in optimizing protein intake as well as for provision of sound advice to their clients. Finally, special care was taken to provide future research implications.
siRNA-Mediated Silencing of doublesex during Female Development of the Dengue Vector Mosquito Aedes aegypti

The development of sex-specific traits, including the female-specific ability to bite humans and vector disease, is critical for vector mosquito reproduction and pathogen transmission. Doublesex (Dsx), a terminal transcription factor in the sex determination pathway, is known to regulate sex-specific gene expression during development of the dengue fever vector mosquito Aedes aegypti. Here, the effects of developmental siRNA-mediated dsx silencing were assessed in adult females. Targeting of dsx during A. aegypti development resulted in decreased female wing size, a correlate for body size, which is typically larger in females. siRNA-mediated targeting of dsx also resulted in decreased length of the adult female proboscis. Although dsx silencing did not impact female membrane blood feeding or mating behavior in the laboratory, decreased fecundity and fertility correlated with decreased ovary length, ovariole length, and ovariole number in dsx knockdown females. Dsx silencing also resulted in disruption of olfactory system development, as evidenced by reduced length of the female antenna and maxillary palp and the sensilla present on these structures, as well as disrupted odorant receptor expression. Female lifespan, a critical component of the ability of A. aegypti to transmit pathogens, was also significantly reduced in adult females following developmental targeting of dsx. The results of this investigation demonstrate that silencing of dsx during A. aegypti development disrupts multiple sex-specific morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits of adult females, a number of which are directly or indirectly linked to mosquito reproduction and pathogen transmission. Moreover, the olfactory phenotypes observed connect Dsx to development of the olfactory system, suggesting that A. aegypti will be an excellent system in which to further assess the developmental genetics of sex-specific chemosensation.
Ethnicity: The Skeleton of Religion in America'

“The story of the peopling of America has not yet been written. We do not understand ourselves,” complained Frederick Jackson Turner in 1891. Subsequent immigration history contributed to national self-understanding. Eighty years later historians have turned their attention to a second chapter in the halftold tale of the peopling of America. They have begun to concentrate on the story of the regrouping of citizens along racial, ethnic and religious lines, and of their relations to each other in movements of what have come to be called “peoplehood.”
Image interpolation based on optimal mass preserving mappings

Time domain image interpolation, or image morphing, refers to a class of techniques for generating a set of smoothly changing intermediate images between two given images. Numerous methods have been proposed for this problem. In this note, we present a novel approach based on the theory of optimal mass transport.
The Traits of “Good Teachers” as Identified by African-American and White Students with Emotional and/or Behavioral Disorders:

The responses of 209 youngsters in 11 programs for students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders (E/BD) were examined regarding their perceptions of four trait categories of so-called good te...
DOMON: an ancient extracellular domain in dopamine β-monooxygenase and other proteins

Abstract A previously uncharacterized 110–125 residue-long domain was identified both in the physiologically important enzyme dopamine β-monooxygenase and in several other secreted and transmembrane proteins such as SDR2 and CG-6. This domain was predicted to adopt an all-β fold with seven or eight strands and might function as a module mediating a range of extracellular adhesive interactions.
Syndromes of Corruption: From analysis to reform

Seeing corruption in new ways It is unlikely that this book will persuade the world that corruption occurs in exactly four syndromes precisely as discussed in the preceding seven chapters. My goal is both more modest and more subversive: I hope the arguments offered here will help change the ways we think about corruption, development, and reform. It is time to rethink the current emphasis on corruption-index scores; the notion implicit in that approach that the problem is essentially the same everywhere; the view of corruption as a primary cause of developing countries' difficulties; and the notion that reform means eliminating corrupt behavior by emulating affluent market democracies. It is not that such ideas are utterly wrong: they have helped put corruption back on the international policy agenda and have strengthened pressures upon leaders around the world to improve the ways they govern. But understanding contrasting syndromes of corruption can open up a new and productive debate over democratic and economic development, reform, and justice. Even if that debate eventually supersedes much of what I have argued here – as will likely be the case – this book will have been a success. This final chapter has two purposes. First I will briefly revisit some of the main points of the book in part to bring out analytical problems on which further work is needed. Then I will turn to reform.
Electrical Admittance Spectroscopy for Piezoelectric MEMS

A simple measurement architecture based on a transimpedance amplifier is demonstrated for the electrical admittance spectroscopy of small-scale transducers. The simplicity and low cost of the measurement system as compared to dedicated network analyzers may make spectroscopy measurements more widely accessible. The approach is adaptable to cover a broad frequency range and can be used for transducers with very small capacitance and high impedance. Measurements are demonstrated on piezoelectric micromachined transducers fabricated on silicon-on-insulator wafers and composed of 20-μm -thick epitaxial beams with 800-nm-thick lead zirconate titanate films along the surface. A complete system identification (ID) procedure based purely on measured phase spectra is also summarized. A unique perspective to the system ID procedure is provided based on poles and zeros of the admittance transfer function and geometry in the complex plane. A rigorous procedure for simultaneously extracting the transducer coupling ratio, undamped natural frequency, and damping ratio is summarized which is particularly useful for lightly coupled sensors, in which case fitting parameters by inspection is challenging and can lead to errors. This system identification approach is summarized on beams with coupling coefficients as small as 0.35%. The system ID procedure further consists of extracting effective e31 coefficients, which, for the sensors in this work, are in the range 8.7-9.3 C/m2.
Understanding Program Planning Theory and Practice in a Feminist Community-Based Organization:

The purpose of this article is to discuss feminist-program-planning issues, drawing from a critical ethnographic study of a Latin American feminist community-based organization. The research findings discuss the centrality of feminist identity to understanding and analyzing day-to-day program-planning process issues within a feminist community-based organization.
Enhanced metabolism of methyprylon, meprobamate, and chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride after chronic feeding of a low dietary level of DDT to male and female rats.

Abstract A daily intake of 0.04–0.10 mg of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT; 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis ( p -chlorophenyl)ethane), levels which are within the daily dietary intake of humans, by male and female rats significantly ( P n -propyl-1,3-propanediol dicarbamate), and chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride (Librium; 7-chloro-2-methylamino-5-phenyl-3 H -1,4-benzodiazepine 4-oxide hydrochloride). The hepatic enzyme systems from male rats appeared to metabolize these drugs at a faster rate than those from female rats. A significantly ( P
Treatment of Intrabony Periodontal Defects With Enamel Matrix Derivative: A Literature Review

The enamel matrix derivative (EMD) has been recently introduced in the periodontal field to overcome shortcomings associated with currently available regenerative techniques. Information accumulated over the past years with application of EMD guided regeneration (EGR) in intrabony periodontal defects allowed a thorough evidence-based retrospective analysis. Clinical data from EMD controlled studies were pooled for meta-analysis and weighted according to the number of treated defects. Clinical attachment gain amounted to 3.2 ± 0.9 mm (33% of the original attachment level) and probing reduction averaged 4.0 ± 0.9 mm (50% of the baseline probing depth) for a total of 317 lesions with a mean baseline depth of 5.4 ± 0.8 mm. Improvements in clinical parameters achieved with EMD were statistically significant in reference to preoperative measurements. However, despite the overall efficacy of EGR therapy, a significant variation in clinical outcomes was observed. Similar therapeutic results were reported in studi...
ANTIBODIES TO BORRELIA BURGDORFERI IN DEER AND RACCOONS

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, in deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor). Blood samples were collected from these mammals in Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Seropositivity for deer was highest in Connecticut (56% of 353 sera) and Maryland (51% of 35 sera). Raccoons in Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, and Florida also had antibodies to B. burgdorferi, but prevalence of positive sera was highest in Maryland (79% of 14 samples). Based on adsorption tests, the immunoglobulins detected in these mammals were probably specific to B. burgdorferi. The ELISA was more sensitive than an indirect fluorescent antibody staining method and was more suitable for analyzing large numbers of serum samples.
A practical approach to automate randomized design of experiments for ligand-binding assays

Background: Design of experiments (DOE) is utilized in optimizing ligand-binding assay by modeling factor effects. To reduce the analyst’s workload and error inherent with DOE, we propose the integration of automated liquid handlers to perform the randomized designs. Results: A randomized design created from statistical software was imported into custom macro converting the design into a liquid-handler worklist to automate reagent delivery. An optimized assay was transferred to a contract research organization resulting in a successful validation. Conclusion: We developed a practical solution for assay optimization by integrating DOE and automation to increase assay robustness and enable successful method transfer. The flexibility of this process allows it to be applied to a variety of assay designs.
Calpain activation in apoptosis

Programmed cell death is an active process wherein the cell initiates a sequence of events culminating in the fragmentation of its DNA, nuclear collapse, and disintegration of the cell into small, membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Examination of the death program in various models has shown common themes, including a rise in cytoplasmic calcium, cytoskeletal changes, and redistribution of membrane lipids. The calcium-dependent neutral protease calpain has putative roles in cytoskeletal and membrane changes in other cellular processes; this fact led us to test the role of calpain in a well-known model of apoptotic cell death, that of thymocytes after treatment with dexamethasone. Assays for calcium-dependent proteolysis in thymocyte extracts reveal a rise in activity with a peak at about 1 hr of incubation with dexamethasone, falling to background at approximately 2 hr. Western blots indicate autolytic cleavage of the proenzyme precursor to the calpain I isozyme, providing additional evidence for calpain activation. We have also found that apoptosis in thymocytes, whether induced by dexamethasone or by low-level irradiation, is blocked by specific inhibitors of calpain. Apoptosis of metamyelocytes incubated with cycloheximide is also blocked by calpain inhibitors. These studies suggest a required role for calpain in both “induction” and “release” models of apoptotic cell death. © 1994 wiley-Liss, Inc.
Biorthogonal wavelet system for high-resolution image reconstruction

High-resolution images are often desired but made impossible because of hardware limitations. For the high-resolution model proposed by Bose and Boo (see Int. J. Imaging Syst. Technol., vol.9, p.294-304, 1998), the iterative wavelet-based algorithm has been shown to perform better than the traditional least square method when the resolution ratio M is two and four. In this paper, we discuss the minimally supported biorthogonal wavelet system that comes from the mathematical model by Bose and Boo and propose a wavelet-based algorithm for arbitrary resolution ratio M/spl ges/2. The numerical results indicate that the algorithm based on our biorthogonal wavelet system performs better in high-resolution image reconstruction than the wavelet-based algorithm in the literature, as well as the common-used least square method.
An Implementation of the Conjugate Gradient Algorithm on FPGAs

The conjugate gradient is a prominent iterative method for solving systems of sparse linear equations. Large-scale scientific applications often utilize a conjugate gradient solver at their computational core. Since a single iteration of a conjugate gradient solver requires a sparse matrix-vector multiply operation it is imperative that this operation be computed efficiently. In this paper we present a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based implementation of a double precision, non-preconditioned, conjugate gradient solver for finite-element or finite-difference methods. We show that our FPGA implementation can outperform current generation processors while running at a ~30X slower clock rate. Our work utilizes the SRC Computers, Inc. MAPStation hardware platform along with the "Carte" software programming environment.
Surgical treatment for Parkinson's disease

Summary Since the early 1930s, physicians have developed and refined various surgical therapies for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In this review we examine some of the problems associated with early surgical therapies, the development of new techniques and targets, and the results of clinical trials examining the safety and efficacy of these techniques. Ablative techniques include pallidotomy, thalamotomy, and, more recently, subthalamotomy. Because of concern over the high incidence of side-effects associated with bilateral ablative procedures, alternative approaches were explored. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) was subsequently developed and successfully applied in the internal globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, and thalamus for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Recent approaches include biological neurorestorative techniques—surgical therapies with transplantation, gene therapy, and growth factors are all being studied. Although a great deal of work remains to be done, advances in surgical therapies for the treatment of Parkinson's disease are moving forward at an unprecedented pace.
Using a taxonomy to rationalize multimedia development

A multimedia taxonomy is proposed to provide a conceptual framework for multimedia based upon various media attributes. The taxonomy is expressed as a three-dimensional framework made up of fifteen different attributes related to the type, expression and context of using different media. The value of the taxonomy as a tool for the research, design and evaluation of multimedia systems is discussed. Examples of how the taxonomy has been used as a tool at various stages of multimedia development and evaluation are described.
Cryptopleurine Resistance: Genetic Locus for a 40S Ribosomal Component in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutants resistant to the phenanthrene alkaloids tylophorine, tylocrebrine, and cryptopleurine have been isolated from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A single recessive nuclear gene was responsible for resistance. This resistance locus, cry, was closely linked to the mating locus (2.2 centimorgans). The resistance was ribosomal and was due to an altered 40S ribosomal subunit. The mode of action of these drugs has been examined, and they appear to inhibit the translocation phase of protein synthesis.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Utilization of Microbubbles

Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is rapidly becoming a technique that can be utilized with intravenous microbubbles to detect myocardial perfusion abnormalities during stress echocardiography. Real-time techniques with low mechanical index pulse sequence schemes have been developed that allow for the simultaneous detection of wall motion and perfusion during pharmacologic stress echocardiography. MCE is also very helpful in determining the viability of the dysfunctional myocardium in the setting of acute myocardial infarction, and in the setting of chronic coronary artery disease. Microbubbles normally pass freely through the large and small vessels, but do adhere to the endothelium in the setting of endothelial dysfunction. This may be one method of concentrating the delivery of drugs or genes bound to microbubbles to selective areas of endothelial dysfunction. Ultrasound-mediated destruction of microbubbles may also be useful for targeted drug delivery and enhancing intravascular thrombolysis.
Quartet-Based Phylogeny Reconstruction from Gene Orders

Phylogenetic reconstruction from gene-rearrangement data is attracting increasing attention from biologists and computer scientists. Methods used in reconstruction include distance-based methods, parsimony methods using sequence encodings, and direct optimization. The latter, pioneered by Sankoff and extended by us with the software suite GRAPPA, is the most accurate approach; however, its exhaustive approach means that it can be applied only to small datasets of fewer than 15 taxa. While we have successfully scaled it up to 1,000 genomes by integrating it with a disk-covering method (DCM-GRAPPA), the recursive decomposition may need many levels of recursion to handle datasets with 1,000 or more genomes. We thus investigated quartet-based approaches, which directly decompose the datasets into subsets of four taxa each; such approaches have been well studied for sequence data, but not for gene-rearrangement data. We give an optimization algorithm for the NP-hard problem of computing optimal trees for each quartet, present a variation of the dyadic method (using heuristics to choose suitable short quartets), and use both in simulation studies. We find that our quartet-based method can handle more genomes than the base version of GRAPPA, thus enabling us to reduce the number of levels of recursion in DCM-GRAPPA, but is more sensitive to the rate of evolution, with error rates rapidly increasing when saturation is approached.
PRIMARY TESTICULAR SARCOMA

The majority of primary testicular tumors are of germ cell origin. Other rare testicular primary tumors include lymphoma, stromal cell tumors and sarcomas. We report a case of primary testicular sarcoma. CASE REPORT
Pancreatic polypeptide responses to a meal and to intraduodenal amino acids and sodium oleate.

Serum concentrations of immunoreactive pancreatic polypeptide (IR-PP) were measured in dogs in response to a meal and to intraduodenal infusions of amino acids, Na oleate, and HC1. In addition, the effects of somatostatin on meal-stimulated IR-PP concentrations were studied. In response to a meal, IR-PP rose from 151 ± 19 pg/ml to 296 ± 35 pg/ml (P < 0.01) at 15 min, reached a plateau of 367 ± 56 pg/ml at 45 min, and remained elevated for 4 h. In response to intraduodenal amino acids, IR-PP rose from 196 ± 22 pg/ml to 342 ± 19 pg/ml (P < 0.01), and serum alanine rose from 251 ± 18 mM to 361 ± 30 mM. Peak concentrations of IR-PP, however, were reached before alanine rose above baseline. During administration of intraduodenal Na oleate, IR-PP rose from 181 ± 21 pg/ml to 348 ± 17 pg/ml (P < 0.01). Intraduodenal HC1 had no effect on IR-PP. Intravenous somatostatin (100 μg/h) suppressed meal-stimulated IR-PP from 450 ± 68 pg/ml to 133 ± 23 pg/ml (P < 0.01). The data indicate 1) IRPP is increased after a meal a...
Protecting EFIE-based scattering computations from effects of interior resonances

A numerical method, based on the standard matrix formulation of the electric field integral equation (EFIE) for calculating the scattering from conducting bodies near resonant frequencies, is given for both stabilizing the numerical calculations and finding the form of the resonant fields. When this method is used along with a direct solution to the original matrix equation, it requires insignificant additional computation. An additional advantage of this approach is that it can easily be implemented in existing computer codes by using a single, standard but general, plug-in module. >
Plasticity as panacea? Nerves, hormones, and the currencies of trade-offs

Phenotypic plasticity is nearly universal among organisms, and evidence indicates that plasticity can exhibit additive genetic variation and respond to selection. These findings have important implications for our understanding of how plasticity may be constrained and how its mechanistic structure may affect its evolution. Many life history trade-offs may be conceptua- lized as plastic traits, with individuals varying in their position along trade-off axes due to genetic differences, developmental plasticity, or short-term plasticity occurring throughout an individual's lifetime. Behavioral plasticity is key to understanding when organisms are likely to encounter trade-offs, whether those trade-offs can be mitigated, and how the trade-offs affect the ecology and evolution of populations. In this review, we discuss hormonal and neural mechanisms that may influence how plastic behavioral traits are expressed and evolve. We also outline a classification of life history trade-offs and their mechanistic bases and discuss the currencies most likely to mediate each category of trade-off and how they are tied to the mechanisms by which animals express their behaviors (Current Zoology 61 (2): 251-264, 2015).
From Work to Consumption. Transatlantic Visions of Individuality in Modern Mass Society

This essay deals with the ambiguous and contradictory relationship between labour, consumption and individuality in modern mass culture. This relationship has been conceptualised rather differently in American and European visions of individuality. In recent years, the long-lasting tradition of European (and especially German) scepticism towards the consumer society, which was nourished by conservative, (neo)liberal and Marxist influences, has retreated in favour of a more general acceptance of modern consumerism. While labour has not been replaced as the most important means of economic and cultural participation, the social construction of personal individuality is seen to take place through an ever-increasing multitude of means of consumption. The article analyses this profound process of cultural change and at the same time reflects upon the opportunities and limits of the current scholarly paradigm concerning the consumer society.
A Model of the Editorial Process in Scientific Journals

We theoretically analyze the editorial process in scientific journals. In our model, a journal editor maximizes his journal’s expected payoff from publishing high quality papers, net of costs due to (mistakenly) publishing low quality papers. The editor, with a prior probability assessment regarding paper quality, may choose to obtain additional costly evaluations from (one or two) referees. Referees are either "generalists" (neutral to the paper) or "experts," with more precise signals than generalists, but with a bias (positive or negative) toward the paper. We develop several policy implications for the editorial process in scientific journals and research grant proposal reviews.
Media Portrayals of Religion and the Secular Sacred: Representation and Change by Kim Knott, Elizabeth Poole, and Teemu Taira, Ashgate: Farnham, Surrey, 2013, xvi + 233 pp., ISBN 978-1-4094-4805-1, US$134.96 (hardback); ISBN 978-1-4094-4806-8, US$44.96 (paperback); ISBN 978-1-4094-4807-5, US$49.95 (e-book PDF)

This collaborative book explores contemporary British media representations of religious and secular concerns, institutions, events, and people in mainstream newspapers and television. Co-authors K...
Metastable Cu(I)-Niobate Semiconductor with a Low-Temperature, Nanoparticle-Mediated Synthesis

A nanoparticle synthetic strategy for the preparation of a new metastable Cu(I)-niobate is described, and that involves multipored Li3NbO4 nanoparticles as a precursor. A hydrothermal reaction of HNbO3 and LiOH·H2O in PEG200 and water at ∼180 °C yields ∼15–40 nm Li3NbO4 particles. These particles are subsequently used in a solvothermal copper(I)-exchange reaction with excess CuCl at 150 °C. Heating these products within the used CuCl flux (mp = 430 °C) to 450 °C for 30 min yields ∼4–12 nm Cu2Nb8O21 crystalline nanoparticles, and for a heating time of 24 h yields μm-sized, rod-shaped crystals. The new structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to have a condensed network consisting of NbO7 polyhedra and chains of elongated CuO4 tetrahedra. The compound thermally decomposes starting at ∼250 °C and higher temperatures, depending on the particle sizes, owing to the loss of the weakly coordinated Cu(I) cations from the structure and a concurrent disproportionation reaction at its surfaces....