cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Interleukin-10 and Gamma Interferon mRNA Expression in Lungs of Cilium-Associated Respiratory Bacillus-Infected Mice

The cilium-associated respiratory (CAR) bacillus is a gram-negative, extracellular bacterium that causes persistent respiratory tract infections in rodents. We have previously demonstrated that BALB/c mice are more susceptible to CAR bacillus-induced disease than resistant C57BL/6 mice, with elevations in pulmonary gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-4. IL-10 is a type 2 cytokine that can increase host susceptibility to bacterial diseases through its anti-inflammatory effects, including suppression of macrophage function. The purpose of this study was to further describe the cytokine profiles associated with histologic lesions in CAR bacillus-infected mice and to assess the effects of cytokine depletion on the pathogenesis of disease. Six-week-old female BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice and mice with targeted mutations in IFN-γ and IL-4 were inoculated intratracheally with 105 CAR bacillus organisms, and samples were collected at 6 to 7 weeks postinoculation. Lung samples were collected for histopathologic examination and analysis of cytokine mRNA. IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-4 mRNA levels in the lungs of infected mice were semiquantitatively measured using a reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR assay and compared to those in uninfected control animals of each strain. BALB/c mice infected with CAR bacillus had a median lung lesion score of 6 and IL-10 and IL-4 mRNA levels were significantly elevated. The majority of C57BL/6 mice were resistant to disease characterized by lung lesions scores of 2 or less and a dominant IFN-γ mRNA cytokine profile. A few C57BL/6 mice with lesions scores of 5 or greater had elevations in all three cytokines and were susceptible to disease. C57BL/6 IFN-γ knockout mice had increased disease with elevations in IL-10 and IL-4 mRNA, while BALB/c IL-4 knockout mice infected with CAR bacillus had a mild decrease in lesion severity and an attenuated IL-10 mRNA expression compared to wild-type BALB/c mice. These data indicate that IL-10 and IL-4 predominate in CAR bacillus-induced histologic lesions in mice, while IFN-γ may play a role in resistance to disease.
GEOGRAPHICAL INQUIRY IN A HYPOTHETICAL WORLD

To accommodate a need shared by many of our readers, the editors of THE PROFESSIONAL GEOGRAPHER encourage the submission of manuscripts offering imaginative new approaches to teaching. An example is the following article, which describes a conceptually oriented introductory geography course desgined around the generation of a hypothetical world. In this course, students map patterns of the biophysical environment at a global scale and aspects of the social organization of space at a regional scale. Also discussed in the article are the conceptual bases of the course and students' understanding of the role of such concepts as determinism, time, and scale.
Common microenvironments of tyrosyl residues in several bence jones proteins

Abstract A comparison was made of the reactivities toward iodination of particular tyrosyl residues in κ Bence-Jones proteins of subgroups I, II and III. They are Roy (I), Cum (II), Ti (III) and Col (III). For each of these proteins the positions of all the tyrosines in the primary structure are known. In all the proteins Tyr 173 is highly reactive and Tyr 186 is less reactive. Another interesting feature is that in all the proteins, the rate constant for incorporation of the first iodine is greater than that for incorporation of the second iodine in the case of Tyr 173 while for Tyr 186 the opposite situation was found. Thus, all four of the Bence-Jones proteins have one common microenvironment around Tyr 173 and another common environment around Tyr 186, showing that the tertiary structure of each of the proteins is the same in the region of Tyr 173 and is also the same in the region of Tyr 186. Tyr 36 in Ti and Col is of low reactivity and thus appears to be partially buried. It appears that in all κ Bence-Jones proteins the microenvironment of Tyr 173 is hydrophilic and that of Tyr 186 is hydrophobic.
Extrapolation techniques for textural characterization of tissue in medical images

The low in-plane resolution of thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans may force texture analysis in regions of interest (ROIs) that are not completely filled by the tissue under analysis. The inclusion of extraneous tissue textures within the ROI may substantially contaminate these texture descriptor values. The goal of this study is to investigate the accuracy of different image extrapolation methods when calculating common texture descriptor values. Three extrapolation methods (mean fill, tiled fill, and CLEAN deconvolution) were applied to 480 lung parenchyma regions of interest (ROIs) extracted from transverse thoracic CT sections. The ROIs were artificially corrupted, and each extrapolation method was independently applied to create extrapolation-corrected ROIs. Texture descriptor values were calculated and compared for the original, corrupted, and extrapolation-corrected ROIs. For 51 of 53 texture descriptors, the values calculated from extrapolation-corrected ROIs were more accurate than values calculated from corrupted ROIs. Further, a "best" extrapolation method for all texture descriptors was not identified, which implies that the choice of extrapolation method depends on the texture descriptors applied in a given tissue classification scheme.
Soil nutrient availability and reproductive effort drive patterns in nutrient resorption in Pentaclethra macroloba

The removal of nutrients from senescing tissues, nutrient resorption, is a key strategy for conserving nutrients in plants. However, our understanding of what drives patterns of nutrient resorption in tropical trees is limited. We examined the effects of nutrient sources (stand-level and tree-level soil fertility) and sinks (reproductive effort) on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption. We evaluated resorption efficiency (percentage of original nutrients removed during senescence) and resorption proficiency (indicated by senesced-leaf nutrient concentrations) in a symbiotic N-fixing tree species, Pentaclethra macroloba, common to tropical forests in Costa Rica. Although tree-level soil P alone did not drive patterns in nutrient resorption, P efficiency and proficiency declined with increasing tree-level soil P when reproductive status was also considered. Nutrient resorption declined with increasing tree-level soil P in trees that were actively fruiting or that experienced high seedfall the year prio...
Effect of sub-chronic intermittent ethanol exposure on spatial learning and ethanol sensitivity in adolescent and adult rats.

It has become clear that adolescence is a period of distinct responsiveness to the acute effects of ethanol on learning and other cognitive functions. However, the effects of repeated intermittent ethanol exposure during adolescence on learning and cognition are less well studied, and other effects of repeated ethanol exposure such as withdrawal and chronic tolerance complicate such experiments. Moreover, few studies have compared the effects of repeated ethanol exposure during adolescence and adulthood, and they have yielded mixed outcomes that may be related to methodological differences and/or secondary effects of ethanol on behavioral performance. One emerging question is whether relatively brief intermittent ethanol exposure (i.e., sub-chronic exposure) during adolescence or adulthood might alter learning at a time after exposure when chronic tolerance would be expected, and whether tolerance to the cognitive effects of ethanol might influence the effect of ethanol on learning at that time. To address this, male adolescent and adult rats were pre-treated with sub-chronic daily ethanol (five doses [4.0 g/kg, i.p.] or saline at 24-h intervals, across 5 days). Two days after the last pre-exposure, spatial learning was assessed on 4 consecutive days using the Morris water maze. Half of the animals from each treatment cell received ethanol (2.0 g/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to each testing session and half of the animals received saline. Ethanol pre-exposure altered water maze performance in adult animals but not in adolescents, and acute ethanol exposure impaired learning in animals of both ages independent of pre-exposure condition. There was no evidence of cognitive tolerance in animals of either age group. These results indicate that a relatively short period of intermittent ethanol exposure during adulthood, but not adolescence, promotes thigmotaxis in the water maze shortly after pre-exposure but does not induce cognitive tolerance to the effects of ethanol in either age group.
Differential repair of O(6)-methylguanine in DNA of rat hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells.

Chronic administration of several chemical carcinogens to laboratory animals induces a variety of tumours which arise from specific cell populations within the liver. In the rat, diethylnitrosamine induces hepatocellular carcinomas1, dimethylnitrosamine induces both angiosarcomas2 and hepatocellular carcinomas3, vinyl chloride primarily induces angiosarcomas4, and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine induces malignant haemangioendotheliomas5,6. One of the principal mechanisms thought to be involved in initiating carcinogenesis is the alkylation of specific sites on DNA, such as the O6 position of guanine7. Previous investigations of alkylation and repair have, however, analysed DNA prepared from whole liver. This approach does not localize alkylation or repair capacity in the different cell types which give rise to neoplasia. Furthermore, although hepatocytes account for more than 90% of the liver's mass, they only comprise 60-70% of its cells8. The nonparenchymal cell (NPC) population, which consists almost entirely of endothelial and Kupffer cells, accounts for the remaining 30–40% and contains 10–20% of the DNA. Therefore, we decided to investigate the alkylation and repair of O6-and 7-methylguanine in the target and non-target cells following oral administration of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. We report here that although initial alkylation was slightly less in NPCs, removal of O6-methylguanine was significantly slower. This led to a preferential accumulation of O6-methylguanine in NPC 24 h after administering a second daily dose. In contrast, 7-methylguanine decreased at similar rates, resulting in a 28-fold greater O6-methylguanine/7-methylguanine ratio in the target cell population.
Strategien für einen verantwortlichen Umgang mit Metallen und deren Ressourcen

Ressourcen und ressourceneffiziente Masnahmen erfordern in einem Umfeld aus knappen Rohstoffen und volatilen Rohstoffpreisen eine erhohte Aufmerksamkeit. Jedoch gestaltet sich die Umsetzung von Masnahmen zur Steigerung der Ressourceneffizienz aufgrund der Dynamik von globalisierten Markten als auserst komplex. Um von den sich eroffnenden Chancen nachhaltig zu profitieren, wird daher ein ganzheitliches Verstandnis einer Rohstoff-Wertschopfungskette benotigt, welche durch soziale, wirtschaftliche, okologische und politische Faktoren beeinflusst wird. Resources and resource-efficient measures require an increased attention especially in an environment of scarce raw materials and volatile commodity prices. However, the practical implementation of measures to improve resource-efficiency reveals to be enormously complex, mainly due to the great dynamics of the globalised markets. In order to benefit from the upcoming chances in a sustainable manner, a thorough knowledge of the raw material value chains is necessary, which are influenced by social, economical, ecological and political factors.
The effect of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) on bleeding time and platelet aggregation in neonates. † 886

The effect of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) on bleeding time and platelet aggregation in neonates. † 886
Zoeal Stages of the Stone Crab, Menippe mercenaria Say

Larvae of the stone crab,Menippe mercenaria Say, were reared from egg to a true crab stage in 27 days on a diet ofArtemia nauplii. They were successfully cultured in swarms and placed in small compartments where their individual development was studied. Six zoeal stages were found and described, although only five are believed to occur normally in nature. One molt per zoeal stage was noted, and from 3 to 6 days were spent in each stage. Pre-zoeae were observed but these did not molt into a first stage. Such diagnostic characters as size and shape of antennae, and segment and seta numbers of endopodites, maxillules, maxillae and second maxillipeds, were constant in all zoeal stages. Telson appearance and chromatophore occurrence may also be helpful in identification. Comparisons were also made between known xanthid zoeae andMenippe zoeae. Experiments on salinity and temperature tolerance of the zoeae indicate that in a temperature range of 23 to 25°C, zoeae may not be able to survive in salinities of 27‰ or lower.
Minimally Competent Lewis Acid Catalysts: Indium(III) and Bismuth(III) Salts Produce Rhamnosides (=6‐Deoxymannosides) in High Yield and Purity

Glycosylation of decan-1-ol (2), (±)-decan-2-ol (3), and (±)-methyl 3-hydroxydecanoate (4) with L-rhamnose peracetate 5 to produce rhamnosides (=6-deoxymannosides) 6, 7, and 8 in the presence of Lewis acids BF3⋅Et2O, Sc(OTf)3, InBr3, and Bi(OTf)3 was studied (Table 1). While the strong Lewis acids BF3⋅Et2O and Sc(OTf)3 were effective as glycosylation promoters, they had to be used in excess; however, glycosylation required careful control of reaction times and temperatures, and these Lewis acids produced impurities in addition to the desired glycosides. Enantiomerically pure rhamnosides (R)-1 and (S)-1 (Fig.) were obtained from L-rhamnose peracetate 5 and (±)-benzyl 3-hydroxydecanoate (9) via the diastereoisomeric rhamnosides 10 (Table 2; Scheme 3). The much weaker Lewis acids InBr3 and Bi(OTfl)3 produced purer products in high yield under a wider range of conditions (higher temperatures), and were effective glycosylation promoters even when used catalytically (<10% catalyst; Table 2). We refer to these Lewis acids as ‘minimally competent Lewis acids’ (cf. Scheme 4).
Legislative Influences on Performance Management Reform

The management literature argues that legislative involvement is important to the implementation of performance management reform, but it does not specify how legislatures should be engaged or how different legislative organizational arrangements affect reform. This article blends theories of management and legislative professionalism to better understand the influence of legislatures on the implementation of management reform. Drawing on data from several surveys, it examines the influence of legislative organization on the managerial use of performance measures. The findings suggest that citizen legislatures are associated with better administrative practices than professional legislatures and that the quality of legislative involvement may be more important than its quantity.
Fractalkine mediates T cell-dependent proliferation of synovial fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), synovial fibroblasts proliferate excessively, eventually eroding bone and cartilage. The aim of this study was to examine the mechanisms through which CD4 T cells, the dominant lymphocyte population in patients with rheumatoid synovitis, regulate synoviocyte proliferation. Methods Fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) lines were established from rheumatoid synovium. CD4 T cells from patients with RA and age-matched control subjects were cultured on FLS monolayers. FLS proliferation was quantified by cytometry, using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester staining or microscopic enumeration of PKH26-stained FLS. Surface expression of the fractalkine (FKN) receptor CX3CR1 was monitored by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The induction of CX3CR1 and its ligand FKN in FLS was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results The proliferation of FLS was significantly increased in the presence of CD4 T cells from patients with RA compared with control T cells. CD4+,CD28– T cells were particularly effective in supporting FLS growth, inducing a 25-fold expansion compared with a 5-fold expansion induced by CD4+,CD28+ T cells. The growth-promoting activity of CD4+,CD28– T cells was mediated through CX3CR1, a chemokine receptor expressed on both T cells and FLS. Anti-CX3CR1 antibodies inhibited T cell production of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and suppressed FLS proliferation. TNFα amplified the expansion of FLS by enhancing their expression of CX3CR1 and FKN. Conclusion FKN–CX3CR1 receptor–ligand interactions regulate FLS growth and FLS-dependent T cell function. FLS stimulate autocrine growth by releasing FKN and triggering the activity of their own CX3CR1. This growth-promotion loop is amplified by TNFα produced by CX3CR1-expressing T cells upon stimulation by FKN-expressing FLS. These data assign a critical role to FKN and its receptor in fibroblast proliferation and pannus formation in RA.
Isolation and characterization of human TR3 receptor: a member of steroid receptor superfamily.

Abstract Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding a member of steroid receptor super-family, named TR3 receptor, were isolated from a human prostate λgt11 cDNA library on the basis of homology of oligonucleotide probes to the DNA-binding domain common to members of the steroid receptor super-family. Expression of TR3 receptor cDNA produced a 64kDa DNA-binding protein in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that TR3 receptor cDNA contains two regions of sequences which correspond to the DNA- and hormone-binding domains of members of the steroid receptor super-family. The amino acid sequences in the hormone-binding domain of the TR3 receptor shares about 20% homology with estrogen receptor and less than 15% homology with other known steroid receptors. The DNA-binding domain of the TR3 receptor has about 55% homology with all other known steroid receptors. TR3 receptor had 86% nucleotide and 91% amino acid sequence homology with mouse NUR/77, suggesting that TR3 receptor may be a human homologue of mouse NUR/77 gene product.
A novel emergency department based prevention intervention program for people living with HIV: evaluation of early experiences

HIV prevention is increasingly focused on people living with HIV (PLWH) and the role of healthcare settings in prevention. Emergency Departments (EDs) frequently care for PLWH, but do not typically endorse a prevention mission. We conducted a pilot exploratory evaluation of the first reported ED program to address the prevention needs of PLWH. This retrospective observational cohort evaluation reviewed program records to describe the first six months of participants and programmatic operation. Trained counselors provided a risk assessment and counseling intervention combined with three linkage interventions: i) linkage to health care, ii) linkage to case management, and iii) linkage to partner counseling and referral. Of 81 self-identified PLWH who were approached, 55 initially agreed to participate. Of those completing risk assessment, 17/53 (32%, 95 CI 20% to 46%) reported unprotected anal/vaginal intercourse or needle sharing in the past six months with a partner presumed to be HIV negative. Counseling was provided to 52/53 (98%). For those requesting services, 11/15 (73%) were linked to healthcare, 4/23 (17%) were coordinated with case management, and 1/4 (25%) completed partner counseling and referral. Given base resources of trained counselors, it was feasible to implement a program to address the prevention needs for persons living with HIV in an urban ED. ED patients with HIV often have unmet needs which might be addressed by improved linkage with existing community resources. Healthcare and prevention barriers for PLWH may be attenuated if EDs were to incorporate CDC recommended prevention measures for healthcare providers.
Indexing, retrieval, and browsing of wavelet compressed imagery data

The wavelet packet transform and the successive approximation quantization techniques, which have been adopted in modern wavelet coding, are exploited for content- based image retrieval in this research. By adopting this approach, images can be compressed and indexed simultaneously, and the complexity of database management can be significantly reduced. The proposed new feature for image indexing is the number of significant wavelet coefficients in each wavelet packet subband. This feature does not only serve as a good representation of image content but also allows a hierarchical retrieval and browsing of images and facilitates the progressive transmission of retrieved images. Extensive experimental results are provided to demonstrate the retrieval efficiency of the proposed new method.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Precipitation Partitioning, Tropical Clouds, and Intraseasonal Variability in GFDL AM2

AbstractA set of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) Atmospheric Model version 2 (AM2) sensitivity simulations by varying an entrainment threshold rate to control deep convection occurrence are used to investigate how cumulus parameterization impacts tropical cloud and precipitation characteristics. In the tropics, model convective precipitation (CP) is frequent and light, while large-scale precipitation (LSP) is intermittent and strong. With deep convection inhibited, CP decreases significantly over land and LSP increases prominently over ocean. This results in an overall redistribution of precipitation from land to ocean. A composite analysis reveals that cloud fraction (low and middle) and cloud condensate associated with LSP are substantially larger than those associated with CP. With about the same total precipitation and precipitation frequency distribution over the tropics, simulations having greater LSP fraction tend to have larger cloud condensate and low and middle cloud fraction.Simula...
Numerical Simulation of Conduction Delay in Blocked Purkinje Tissue

The model used for passive conduction in muscle fibers consisted of a region of nonpropagating fiber of variable length, bounded proximally and distally by normal active tissue. The voltage variation on this fiber was governed by the passive wave equation. This system was analyzed by Fourier series techniques on the digital computer, using a cardiac action potential as the input. With a fixed distal threshold, delays up to 45 msec were simulated by varying the length of nonconducting fiber. Delay time was very sensitive to the extent of the inactive region. Inactive tissue lengths of 1.6 mm and 2.0 mm caused delays of 6.1 msec and 11.7 msec, respectively, but lengths of 2.35 mm and 2.36 mm caused delays of 31.7 msec and 40.0 msec, respectively. Inactive areas longer than 2.37 mm caused complete block. With inactive regions 2.35 mm long, a 5% reduction in distal threshold reduced the delay time 35% and a 5% increase caused complete block. Delay time was also sensitive to variations in the membrane parameters. A 10% reduction in membrane capacitance produced approximately a 10% decrease in delay, but such a reduction in membrane resistance caused approximately a 10% increase in delay. Curves recorded in blocked regions of canine Purkinje fibers were simulated by superimposing nonpropagating potentials from proximal and distal sites. The familiar two-component wave forms and other contour variations were quite realistic in the simulation, demonstrating its effectiveness in predicting voltage variations in nonpropagating Purkinje tissue.
Piezoelectric micropump with microvalves

A silicon micropump, provided with piezoelectric valves, which can be manufactured by established integrated circuit techniques, is described. The micropump can be used to pump liquids or gases at a very low rate, which can be accurately prescribed. The body of the pump and the valves are made of silicon and glass, and contain piezoelectric material which allows opening and closing the valves electrically. Pumping speeds up to 3 mu l/min were shown to be feasible and a pressure of 60 cm of water could be achieved. >
Speech Production and Discrimination of Preschool Cleft Lip and Palate Children: Predictor Variables

Ten preschool cleft lip and palate children were given a speech sound production and a speech discrimination measure. Data was also collected on eight speech mechanism and three hearing mechanism variables to serve as predictors of the two speech measures. Regression analyses demonstrated that the speech and hearing mechanism variables serve as predictors for both speech production and discrimination.
On asynchronous data fusion

In a multisensor tracking system, sensors often operate asynchronously and provide data at different rates with different communication delays. In this case the sequential processing of the sensor data may be computationally intensive. In addition, due to the inherent delay associated with some sensors, such as a multi-tasking radar, it may not be possible to process the data real time. The present paper presents an approach to deal with asynchronous sensors' data without performing sequential processing, i.e., using a data fusion approach. The result of the paper applies to an arbitrary number of dissimilar sensors. >
Long-Run Performance Following Corporate Outsourcing Transactions

This paper primarily focuses on testing the long-run impact of outsourcing deals on the value of contract signatories. The long-run post-event changes in both stock and accounting related performance are examined. We find that in the long run client firms realize significantly positive buy-and-hold abnormal stock returns on average when compared with different groups of control firms. We also find evidence that client firms experience significant improvement in operating efficiency in three years after the contract effectiveness. Our findings suggest that outsourcing contracts are beneficial for client firms in the long run and this benefit is reflected by their ex post stock and accounting performance.
Effect of Anodization Bath Chemistry on Photochemical Water Splitting Using Titania Nanotubes

In this study highly-ordered titania nanotube arrays of variable wall-thickness and length are used to photocleave water under ultraviolet irradiation. We demonstrate that the wall thickness, and length, of the nanotubes can be controlled via anodization bath composition and temperature. The nanotube length and wall thickness are key parameters influencing the magnitude of the photoanodic response and the overall efficiency of the water-splitting reaction. For 22 nm inner-pore diameter nanotube-arrays 6 μm in length, with 9 nm wall thickness, upon 320–400 nm illumination at an intensity of 100 mW/cm2, hydrogen gas was generated at the power-time normalized rate of 51 mL/hr•W at an overall conversion efficiency of 12.5%. To the best of our knowledge, this hydrogen generation rate is the highest reported for a titania-based photoelectrochemical cell.
(5S)-(D-menthyloxy)-2(5H)-furanone

(5S)-(d-Menthyloxy)-2(5H)-furanone 5-Hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone Camphorsulfonic acid Furfural Rose Bengal Keywords: furanones; acid catalyzed epimerization; photoxygenation; furfural; chiral building blocks; enantiomeric purity; waste disposal; epimerization
Surface effects on metallic nanowires and the stability of material properties

Surface effects from contaminants and oxidation will be investigated for gold and copper metallic nanowires. The objectives are to investigate effects from adsorption and diffusion of C and/or O and their effects on resistance. Also, the possibility of using gold as a diffusion barrier will be investigated as part of this research.
Strain selection, biomass to biofuel conversion, and resource colocation have strong impacts on the economic performance of algae cultivation sites

Decisions involving strain selection, biomass to biofuel technology, and the location of cultivation facilities can strongly influence the economic viability of an algae-based biofuel enterprise. We summarize our past results in a new analysis to explore the relative economic impact of these design choices. Our growth model is used to predict average biomass production for two saline strains (Nannocloropsis salina, Arthrospira sp.), one fresh to brackish strain (Chlorella sp., DOE strain 1412), and one freshwater strain (order Sphaeropleales). Biomass to biofuel conversion is compared between lipid extraction (LE) and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technologies. National-scale models of water, CO2 (as flue gas), land acquisition, site leveling, construction of connecting roads, and transport of HTL oil to existing refineries are used in conjunction with estimates of fuel value (from HTL) to prioritize and select from 88,692 unit farms (UF, 405 ha in pond area), a number sufficient to produce 136E+9 L yr-1 of renewable diesel (36 billion gallons yr-1). Strain selection and choice of conversion technology have large economic impacts, with differences between combinations of strains and biomass to biofuel technologies being up to $10 million dollars yr-1 UF-1. Results based on the most productive strain, HTL-based fuel conversion, and resource costs show that the economic potential between geographic locations within the selection can differ by up to $4 million yr-1 UF-1, with 1.8 BGY of production possible from the most cost-effective sites. The local spatial variability in site rank is extreme, with very high and low sites within 10s of km of each other. Colocation with flue gas sources has a strong influence on rank, but the most costly resource component varies from site to site. The highest rank UFs are located predominantly in Florida and Texas, but most states south of 37°N latitude contain promising locations.
A small RNA makes a Bic difference

The first highly specific knockouts of a microRNA, miR155, in mice result in multiple defects in adaptive immunity, and also show the feasibility of investigating at least some microRNAs by gene knockout.
A 900 MHz dual conversion low-IF GSM receiver in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS

A low-power fully integrated GSM receiver is developed in 0.35-/spl mu/m CMOS. This receiver uses dual conversion with a low IF of 140 kHz. This arrangement lessens the impact of the flicker noise. The first IF of 190 MHz best tolerates blocking signals. The receiver includes all of the circuits for analog channel selection, image rejection, and more than 100-dB controllable gain. The receiver alone consumes 22 mA from a 2.5-V supply, to give a noise figure of 5 dB, and input IP3 of -16 dBm. A single frequency synthesizer generates both LO frequencies. The integrated VCO with on-chip resonator and buffers consume another 8 mA, and meets GSM phase-noise specifications.
Providing an accessible track changes feature for persons who are blind

Collaborative writing applications are widely utilized in the work place to co-author documents and to exchange ideas. Unfortunately, persons who are blind have difficulty in identifying the changes and their related context, which prevents them from actively participating in collaborative writing. In order to expand on the knowledge gained from previous research, additional usability studies were carried out with participants who are blind utilizing Microsoft Word with the focus on track change and comment features. Based on results from all the previous usability studies, a Microsoft Word Add-In was proposed to solve the issues identified. This paper briefly presents the results of the usability studies, the prototype design of the Microsoft Word Add-In and a pilot review of the Microsoft Word Add-In for making the track change and comment features accessible and usable.
Adaptive networks as a model for human speech development

Abstract Unrestricted English text can be converted to speech through the use of a look-up table, or through a parallel feed-forward network of deterministic processing units. Here, we reproduce the network structure used in NETtalk. Several experiments are carried out to determine which characteristics of the network are responsible for which learning behavior, and how closely that maps human speech development. The network is also trained with different levels of speech complexity and with a second language. The results are shown to be highly dependent on statistical characteristics of the input.
geiger v2.0: an expanded suite of methods for fitting macroevolutionary models to phylogenetic trees

Summary: Phylogenetic comparative methods are essential for addressing evolutionary hypotheses with interspecific data. The scale and scope of such data have increased dramatically in the past few years. Many existing approaches are either computationally infeasible or inappropriate for data of this size. To address both of these problems, we present geiger v2.0, a complete overhaul of the popular R package geiger. We have reimplemented existing methods with more efficient algorithms and have developed several new approaches for accomodating heterogeneous models and data types. Availability and implementation: This R package is available on the CRAN repository http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/geiger/. All source code is also available on github http://github.com/mwpennell/geiger-v2. geiger v2.0 depends on the ape package. Contact: mwpennell@gmail.com Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online
Plastid signals that affect photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana are dependent on GENOMES UNCOUPLED 1 and cryptochrome 1

Summary • When plastids experience dysfunction they emit signals that help coordinate nuclear gene expression with their functional state. One of these signals can remodel a light-signaling network that regulates the expression of nuclear genes that encode particular antenna proteins of photosystem II. These findings led us to test whether plastid signals might impact other light-regulated processes. • Photomorphogenesis was monitored in genomes uncoupled 1 (gun1), cryptochrome 1 (cry1), and long hypocotyl 5 (hy5), which have defects in light and plastid signaling, by growing Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings under various light conditions and either treating or not treating them with antibiotics that induce chloroplast dysfunction and trigger plastid signaling. • It was found that plastid signals that depend on GUN1 can affect cotyledon opening and expansion, anthocyanin biosynthesis, and hypocotyl elongation. We also found that plastid signals that depend on CRY1 can regulate cotyledon expansion and development. • Our findings suggest that plastid signals triggered by plastid dysfunction can broadly affect photomorphogenesis and that plastid and light signaling can promote or antagonize each other, depending on the responses studied. These data suggest that GUN1 and cry 1 help to integrate chloroplast function with photomorphogenesis.
Alloxan diabetes in the hamster: organ changes during the first day.

GAARENSTROOM and Siderius (10) in the symposium, “Experimental Diabetes,” discussed several points which bear directly on our investigation of alloxan diabetes in the hamster. First, they indicate that there is no direct evidence of the causation of the hypoglycemic phase by release of insulin from damaged islets. Second, they suggest that the hypo phase results from the exhaustion of liver glycogen during primary hyperglycemia. Next, concerning the theory that alloxan is primarily stimulatory, they state “A further indication that alloxan stimulates the pancreatic islets during the first hours would be the occurrence of histologically recognizable activity of islet cells.” Lastly, they emphasize that most investigators report only degenerative lesions from observations made several hours after treatment.
Thoracic Cavernous Lymphangioma Provoking Massive Chyloptysis: A Case Report

Chyloptysis is a relatively rare embodiment of disease that encompasses a lengthy differential and provides many diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Presented here is the case of a young woman with massive chyloptysis due to a thoracic cavernous lymphangioma arising in the peripartum period. The severity of her condition mandated the use of cardiopulmonary bypass to resect her lymphangioma. We believe that the extent of her symptoms, etiology of disease, and surgical management represent a unique scenario in the literature.
Expression of apoplastically secreted tobacco osmotin in cotton confers drought tolerance

Osmotin or osmotin-like proteins have been shown to be induced in several plant species in response to various types of biotic and abiotic challenges. The protein is generally believed to be involved in protecting the plant against these stresses. Although some understanding of the possible mechanism underlying the defense function of osmotin against biotic stresses is beginning to emerge, its role in abiotic stress response is far from clear. We have transformed cotton plants with a tobacco-osmotin gene, lacking the sequence encoding its 20 amino acid-long, C-terminal vacuolar-sorting motif, under the control of CaMV 35S promoter. Apoplastic secretion of the recombinant protein was confirmed and the plants were evaluated for their ability to tolerate drought conditions. Under polyethylene glycol-mediated water stress, the osmotin-expressing seedlings showed better growth performance. The transformants showed a slower rate of wilting during drought and faster recovery following the termination of dry conditions in a greenhouse setting. During drought, the leaves from transgenic plants had higher relative water content and proline levels, while showing reduced H2O2 levels, lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. Importantly, following a series of dry periods, the osmotin transformants performed better in terms of most growth and developmental parameters tested. Most relevant, the fiber yield of transgenic plants did not suffer as much as that of their non-transgenic counterparts under drought conditions. The results provide direct support for a protective role of osmotin in cotton plants experiencing water stress and suggest a possible way to achieve tolerance to drought conditions by means of genetic engineering.
The impact of If-conversion and branch prediction on program execution on the Intel/sup R/ Itanium/sup TM/ processor

The research community has studied if-conversion for many years. However, due to the lack of existing hardware, studies were conducted by simulating code generated by experimental compilers. This paper presents the first comprehensive study of the use of predication to implement if-conversion on production hardware with a near-production compiler. To better understand trends in the measurements, we generated binaries at three increasing levels of if-conversion aggressiveness. For each level, we gathered data regarding the global runtime effects of if-conversion on overall execution time, register pressure, code size, and branch behavior. Furthermore, we studied the inherent characteristics of program control-flow structure related to branching to help determine fundamental limits of if-conversion. Our results show that on the Itanium™ processor if-conversion could potentially remove 29% of the branch mispredictions in SPEC2OOOCINT but that this accounts for a substantially smaller overall program speedup than previously reported.
Evaluation of a method for bimanual testing coordination of hand grip and load forces under isometric conditions

The purpose of the study was to evaluate a method for testing bimanual prehension based on a novel experimental device. The device consists of two handles allowing for simultaneous measurement of bimanual hand grip forces (GF) and different patterns of load forces (LF) exerted during compression and tension along the longitudinal axis. In order to assess the reliability of the obtained measures, eight healthy subjects were tested over three consecutive test, while three moderately impaired neurological patients were tested once. In healthy subjects, high coordination was observed between GFs and LFs, as well as between two GFs and two LFs. The results also suggest a satisfactory task performance in regards to exerting the instructed LF profile, as well as a sufficient, but not excessive GF. The reliability of most of the assessed variables proved to be either moderate or high. When compared to healthy subjects, the data obtained from neurological patients mainly revealed irregular patterns of LFs, excessive GFs, as well as a relatively weak relationship between GFs and LFs. It was concluded that the evaluated methodological approach can be applied not only to explore uni- and bi-manual coordination of arm and hand grip forces in various prehensile activities, but also to serve as a basis for future development of specific clinical tests for neurological patients and other populations that demonstrate impaired hand function.
Early infections after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children and adolescents: the St. Jude experience.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a well established therapy for treatment of malignancies and immune disorders. Infections are an important cause of morbidity from the procedure. Changes in transplantation strategies and improvement in supportive care over the past 2 decades may have significantly altered the incidence and pattern of infections in these patients. Few studies have evaluated the impact of these strategies on infections in both children and adults undergoing autologous HSCT, focusing on a large population, over a long period of time. Several small retrospective studies in adults have shown that gram-positive (GP) bacterial infections outnumber gram-negative (GN) bacterial infections, bacteremia is detected in up to one-fifth of patients, invasive fungal infections (IFI) are uncommon, and mortality from autologous transplants ranges from 2% to 4% (1–3). Studies in children are limited, with relatively small numbers of patients, and have focused on autologous transplants prior to 2000 (4, 5). We hypothesized that the institution of routine antiviral and antifungal prophylaxis after 2000 may have significantly altered the incidence and pattern of infections in these patients.
Omnivore or Herbivore? Field Observations of Foraging by Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Abstract When important agricultural pests are omnivores instead of strict herbivores, their impact on the host plant may change as the omnivore shifts between consumption of plants and consumption of prey. Lygus hesperus, a key pest of cotton, is known from laboratory and field studies to be an omnivore, but no field studies have ever quantified the importance of predation as a source of food. Cotton growers have long considered the impact of L. hesperus on cotton to be enigmatic, because sometimes crop damage seems to be higher or lower than would be expected based upon the density of L. hesperus estimated through sweep net samples. Here, we conducted focal observations of L. hesperus foraging freely in the field to quantify the relative importance of predation versus herbivory as food resources and to determine whether omnivory was sufficiently common that it might underlie the “Lygus enigma.” In observations of 84 individuals over a total of 56.7 h, we did not observe any predation events. Observation...
A genetic factor associated with low final bone mineral density in children after a long-term glucocorticoids treatment

Treatment with glucocorticoids is associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD). We performed a genome-wide association study to analyze interactive effects between genotypes and cumulative dose of prednisone (PD) over 4.3 years of follow-up period on the final BMD Z-scores in 461 white children from the Childhood Asthma Management Program. No variants met the conventional criteria for genome-wide significance, and thus we looked for evidence of replication. The top 100-ranked single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were then carried forward replication in 59 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) exposed to large fixed doses of PD as part of their chemotherapeutic regimen. Among them, rs6461639 (interaction P=1.88 × 10-5 in the CAMP population) showed a significant association with the final BMD Z-scores in the ALL population (P=0.016). The association of the ALL population was only present after correction for the anti-metabolite treatment arm (high vs low dose). We have identified a novel SNP, rs6461639, showing a significant effect on the final BMD Z-scores in two independent pediatric populations after long-term high-dose PD treatment.
Privacy, efficiency & fault tolerance in aggregate computations on massive star networks

We consider the challenge of performing efficient, fault-tolerant, privacy-preserving aggregate computations in a star topology, i.e., a massive number of participants connected to a single untrusted aggregator. The privacy constraints are that the participants do not discover each other's data, and the aggregator obtains the final results while remaining oblivious to each participant's individual contribution to the aggregate. In achieving these goals, previous approaches have either assumed a trusted dealer that distributes keys to the participants and the aggregator, or introduced additional parties that withhold the decryption key from the aggregator, or applied secret sharing with either pairwise communication amongst the participants or O(N2) ciphertext overhead at the aggregator. In contrast, we describe a protocol based on Shamir secret sharing and homomorphic encryption without assuming any additional parties. We also eliminate all pairwise communication amongst the participants and still require only O(N1+e) overhead at the aggregator, where e ≪ 1 can be achieved for massively multiparty computation. Our protocol arranges the star-connected participants into a logical hierarchy that facilitates parallelization, while allowing for user churn, i.e., a specified number of participants can go offline after providing their data, and new participants can join at a later stage of the computation.