cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do β-Cells Generate Peroxynitrite in Response to Cytokine Treatment?

The purpose of this study was to determine the reactive species that is responsible for cytokine-mediated β-cell death. Inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase prevent this death, and addition of exogenous nitric oxide using donors induces β-cell death. The reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide results in the generation of peroxynitrite, and this powerful oxidant has been suggested to be the mediator of β-cell death in response to cytokine treatment. Recently, coumarin-7-boronate has been developed as a probe for the selective detection of peroxynitrite. Using this reagent, we show that addition of the NADPH oxidase activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to nitric oxide-producing macrophages results in peroxynitrite generation. Using a similar approach, we demonstrate that cytokines fail to stimulate peroxynitrite generation by rat islets and insulinoma cells, either with or without phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment. When forced to produce superoxide using redox cyclers, this generation is associated with protection from nitric oxide toxicity. These findings indicate that: (i) nitric oxide is the likely mediator of the toxic effects of cytokines, (ii) β-cells do not produce peroxynitrite in response to cytokines, and (iii) when forced to produce superoxide, the scavenging of nitric oxide by superoxide is associated with protection of β-cells from nitric oxide-mediated toxicity.
Counting world lines for many-fermion systems.

I explore a recursive enumeration of world-line diagrams as a numerical approach to simulating many-fermion lattice systems. Signs from fermion exchange are treated exactly. In addition, all values of the coupling constants are treated simultaneously. The method is computationally fast, although large-memory requirements restrict it to small spatial systems.
Quaternary Megafaunal Extinctions : Variations on a Theme by Paganini

Abstract Evidence from modern witnessed extinctions may help us separate contributions of human-related and climate-related factors to the much-debated late-Quaternary extinctions of megafauna. Some witnessed human-related extinctions are blitzkriegs of overhunting (a la Mosimann and Martin), but more are slow attritions or sitzkriegs involving mechanisms besides overhunting. Consideration of these mechanisms makes it unlikely that the first human colonists of Australia and New Guinea could have effected a blitzkrieg; instead, a sitzkrieg is more likely. Climate-related theories of lateQuaternary megafaunal extinctions need to explain their selectivity in space, time, taxa, victim size, and direction. That is, the key question becomes: why did extinction befall these species here now, but not those species there then?
Performance of the cylindrical drift chamber for the crystal box at LAMPF

Abstract A cylindrical drift chamber has been built and tested for use as an electron tracking device in the Crystal Box detector at LAMPF. It has 728 drift cells in eight planes with radii of 105 to 220 mm and with alternating stereo angles of 10° to 16°. Resolutions of σ = 130 μm and track reconstruction efficiencies of 97% were obtained for simple events from cosmic rays and from muon-decay electrons at instantaneous rates of 2 MHz. The resolution and complete event reconstruction efficiency were degraded to 180 μm and 75%, respectively, for events with at least three tracks at muon stopping rates of 8 MHz.
Metabolic diseases of childhood.

R ECENT advances in knowledge in biochemistry and in genetics have altered the concepts and stimulated a great interest in the “inborn errors of metabolism.” An exact delineation of the metabolic diseases of childhood is difficult because some of the less common and poorly understood disorders which have been historically classified as “metabolic” are now grouped in other categories. At the same time the use of “metabolic” in its broadest sense would add many diseases that, until recently, were grouped according to the organ or system most affected. Because the manifestation of these latter diseases is localized, they may still be best classified with other diseases of that system, even though the basic defect is an inability to synthesize a normal amount of a given substance. It is easier, for example, to think of sickle cell anemia as a disorder of the hematopoietic system and to group it with other anemias than to recognize its relationship to congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In the purest sense, however, perhaps all hereditary conditions could be called “metabolic,” and many other diseases included also which are not presently thought to be genetically determined.’ In the past, failure to recognize the familial incidence in some cases was due not only to a lack of understanding of the more complicated modes of inheritance but also to the environmental modifications in manifestations of a given disorder. Zollner,2 in a recent review in this JOURNAL, emphasized the role of the external factors superimposed on the genetic background. An individual with an inherent deficiency in a specific metabolic pathway which is never tested during his life would obviously not be recognized as having such a deficiency. The length of time of the “testing” is important also. A disorder which seems to appear later in life and is thought to be dominant in inheritance actually may be the result of the inability of a heterozygote to withstand metabolic stress for a long period of time. Infants and children, if not quantitatively “a different species” from the adult in bodily reactions, at least vary tremendously in body physiology and in chemical pathways of metabolism. These differences are seen usually in the most exaggerated form in the premature infant. This difference in function causes some
Molecular analysis of the two‐component genes, ompR and envZ, in the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophilus

In Escherichia coli the histidine kinase sensor protein, EnvZ, undergoes autophosphorylation and subsequently phosphorylates the regulatory protein, OmpR. Modulation of the levels of OmpR-phosphate controls the differential expression of ompF and ompC. While the phosphotransfer reaction between EnvZ and OmpR has been extensively studied, the domains involved in the sensing function of EnvZ are not well understood. We have used a comparative approach to study the sensing function of EnvZ. During our search of numerous bacteria we found that the symbiotic/pathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophilus contained the operon encoding both ompR and envZ. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that EnvZ of X. nematophilus (EnvZX.n.) is composed of 342 amino acid residues, which is 108 residues shorter than EnvZ of E. coli (EnvZE.c.). Amino acid sequence comparison showed that the cytoplasmic domains of the EnvZ molecules shared 57% sequence identity. In contrast, the large hydrophilic periplasmic domain of EnvZE.c. was absent in EnvZX.n., and was replaced by a shorter hydrophobic region. Although the periplasmic domains had diverged extensively, envZX.n. was able to complement a delta envZ strain of E. coli. OmpF and OmpC were differentially produced in response to changes in medium osmolarity in this strain. Further genetic analysis established that heterologous phosphorylation between EnvZX.n. and OmpR of E. coli (OmpRE.c.) accounted for the complementation of the delta envZ strain. In addition we show that the OmpR molecules of X. nematophilus and E. coli share 78% amino acid sequence identity. These results indicate that the EnvZ protein of X. nematophilus was able to sense these changes in the osmolarity of the growth environment and properly regulate the levels of OmpR-phosphate in E. coli.
Granular Epithelial Keratopathy as an Unusual Manifestation of Pseudomonas Keratitis Associated With Extended-Wear Soft Contact Lenses

We describe four patients who, using extended-wear soft contact lenses for myopia, abruptly developed ocular irritation and injection associated with elevated granular opacities initially confined to the central corneal epithelium. Cultures of the granular epithelial lesions were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in all patients. Cultures of the contact lenses and lens case solutions grew Pseudomonas species and other gram-negative organisms. All patients responded to discontinuation of lens wear and frequent topical antibiotics. All recovered baseline visual acuity, and three have successfully resumed contact lens wear. These cases document that Pseudomonas keratitis may be manifested as a granular epithelial keratopathy.
Melatonin Treatment of Pediatric Residents for Adaptation to Night Shift Work

Background.—Night float rotations are used in residency training programs to reduce residents' sleep deprivation. Night shift work, however, is accompanied by deleterious effects on sleep, mood, and attention. Objective.—To test whether melatonin reduces the deleterious effects of night shift work on sleep, mood, and attention in pediatric residents during night float rotation. Design/Methods.—Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover. Participants took melatonin (3 mg) or a placebo before bedtime in the morning after night shift; completed a sleep diary and an adverse-effects questionnaire daily; and completed the Profile of Mood States and the Conners Continuous Performance Test 3 times in each study week to test mood and attention, respectively. Setting.—A university-affiliated, tertiary-care pediatric hospital. Participants.—Healthy second-year pediatric residents working 2 night float rotations. Outcome Measures.—Standardized measures of sleep, mood, and attention. Results.—Twenty-eight residents completed both treatments; 17 completed 1 treatment (10 placebo, 7 melatonin). There was not a statistically significant difference in measures of sleep, mood, and 5 of 6 measures of attention during melatonin and placebo treatment. One measure of attention, the number of omission errors, was significantly lower on melatonin (3.0 ± 9.6) than on placebo (4.5 ± 17.5) (z = −2.12, P = .03). Conclusions.—The isolated finding of improvement of 1 single measure of attention in a test situation during melatonin treatment was not sufficiently robust to demonstrate a beneficial effect of melatonin in the dose used. Other strategies need to be considered to help residents in adaptation to night shift work.
Vibrational spectral assignment and enhanced resolution using magnetic vibrational circular dichroism

Abstract Using data for CH 3 OH and CH 3 SH, it is illustrated that magnetic vibrational circular dichroism can be used to enhance resolution of i.r. vibrational spectra and aid in its assignment.
Vibronic structure of benzaldehyde 3(n, π★) phosphorescence☆

Abstract The benzaldehyde 3 U(nπ ★ ) → S 0 emission is reported in a close packed rigid matrix, acetophenone at 4.2°K. Of the 11 possible out-of-plane (a n ) fundamentals, 9 are observed. The strongest ones are CHO torsion and out-of-plane hydrogen, and oxygen wags. Since these bands have comparable intensity to the (totally symmetric) C = O stretch progression the 3 U → S 0 transition obtains a large part of its probability vibronically through the above modes. Deuteration effects on the activities are large.
Guaianolides from Pericome caudata

Abstract The structures of pericomin and isopericomin, two new guaianolides isolated from the aerial parts of Pericome caudata , have been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopy. Also found in this species is a known sesquiterpenoid, eupatoriopicrin.
Atropine treatment modifies LPS-induced inflammatory response and increases survival.

To explore the effect that Atropine, a competitive antagonist for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), has on the response to LPS. Eight-week-old, male, B6 mice. Mice were treated with Atropine prior to, or after LPS challenge. Survival was monitored and analyzed via Kaplan-Meier analysis using the log-rank test. The effects of atropine on the inflammatory response (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10) were monitored at various time intervals following LPS injection in mice that were treated and not treated with atropine. Atropine administration prior to LPS induction of the inflammatory response resulted in reduced TNF-α and elevated IL-10 plasma levels without affecting the production of IL-6. This reduction in TNF-α levels was independent of the increase in IL-10 production. Atropine pretreatment improved the rate of survival from endotoxic shock in mice. The improved survival of mice after endotoxic shock could still be observed when atropine was administered several hours after LPS injection. The administration of atropine after injury may have a beneficial clinical effect.
An Olfactory Subsystem that Mediates High-Sensitivity Detection of Volatile Amines

Summary Olfactory stimuli are detected by over 1,000 odorant receptors in mice, with each receptor being mapped to specific glomeruli in the olfactory bulb. The trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) are a small family of evolutionarily conserved olfactory receptors whose contribution to olfaction remains enigmatic. Here, we show that a majority of the TAARs are mapped to a discrete subset of glomeruli in the dorsal olfactory bulb of the mouse. This TAAR projection is distinct from the previously described class I and class II domains, and is formed by a sensory neuron population that is restricted to express TAAR genes prior to choice. We also show that the dorsal TAAR glomeruli are selectively activated by amines at low concentrations. Our data uncover a hard-wired, parallel input stream in the main olfactory pathway that is specialized for the detection of volatile amines.
Performance of various computers using standard linear equations software

This report compares the performance of different computer systems in solving dense systems of linear equations. The comparison involves approximately a hundred computers, ranging from a CRAY Y-MP to scientific workstations such as the Apollo and Sun to IBM PCs.
Intracellular potentials of inexcitable cells in epileptogenic cortex undergoing fibrillary gliosis after a local injury.

Summary Intracellular recordings were obtained from 238 cells in the motor cortex of the cat 1–6 weeks after a cold injury was produced. Reactive astrocytes were the predominant cell in the gliotic upper layers of the cortex 2–3 weeks after injury when edema and inflammatory exudate had subsided. Chromatolysed and normal neurons were present in the deeper layers of the cortex. The electrocorticogram of cold-injured cortex exhibited surface negative paroxysmal discharges which developed 18–24 h after injury. The discharges occurred at intervals of 800–2200 msec in pentobarbital-anesthetized animals. Neurons were identified by means of spike and postsynaptic responses to intracellular, thalamic and cortical surface stimulation. Neurons in the lower portions of the lesion had membrane potentials as large as —70 mV. Areas of gliosis studied later than 2 weeks after injury contained electrically and synaptically inexcitable cells that had very stable resting membrane potentials as large as —92 mV. In most inexcitable cells surface stimulation of the cortex evoked slow depolarization, of up to 30 mV, rising to a maximum in 4–5 sec. Depolarization evoked by cortical stimulation was followed, in some inexcitable cells, by a slow hyperpolarizing potential with a maximum amplitude of 11 mV and with a duration of up to 85 sec. Some inexcitable cells with high membrane potentials exhibited rhythmic slow depolarizations which followed the paroxysmal discharges of the electrocorticogram. It is suggested that the inexcitable cells with high membrane potentials were reactive astrocytes. Mechanisms which might generate slow potential shifts in these cells are discussed.
Monitoring of carbohydrates with periodate in effluents from high-pressure liquid chromatography columns

Abstract Application of periodate to monitoring of carbohydrates in effluents from borate anion-exchange columns is described. The effect of temperature to speed the reaction in a postcolumn reactor was investigated at pH 5.0 and 8.6. The alkaline conditions increase sensitivity for some carbohydrates due to overoxidation. Temperatures up to 100°C may be employed to detect less reactive sugars such as cyclitols. Peaks are detected by an absorbance decrease at 260 nm with a high-pressure liquid chromatography detector. The reagent permits detection of a wide variety of carbohydrates, aldoses, ketoses, alditols, cyclitols, and oligosaccharides with sensitivities of less than 1 nmol.
Statistical control charts for shifted generalized Poisson distribution

The use of shifted (or zero-truncated) generalized Poisson distribution to describe the occurrence of events in production processes is considered. The methods of moments and maximum likelihood are proposed for estimating the parameters of shifted generalized Poisson distribution. Control charts for the total number of events and for the average number of events are developed. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the construction of control charts.
Soil‐plant element relationships in a tundra ecosystem

The objectives of this study were to (1) provide a baseline estimate of soil and plant element concentrations for an intensive research site at Imnavait Creek in northern Alaska, and (2) examine the relationships between soil and plant elements in an arctic ecosystem. Soil and plant element concentrations were highly variable along biotic, spatial, and temporal axes. Deciduous shrubs had higher leaf concentration of N, P. K and Mg, whereas an evergreen shrub had higher leaf concentrations of Ca, Mn, Al and Si. Based on high required solution phase turnover rates, the most likely elemental deficiencies are N > P > K > Ca = Mg. Based on low required solution phase turnover rates and high soil concentrations. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu deficiencies are unlikely. Manganese could be present in toxic concentrations. The nutrient bottleneck in tundra ecosystems appears to be the rate of nutrient movement to the solution phase.
Vibration and buckling of a simply supported rectangular plate subjected to a pair of in-plane concentrated forces

Abstract The first known results are presented for the free vibration frequencies of simply supported rectangular plates subjected to a pair of oppositely directed concentrated forces, each acting normal to an edge. The forces may be either tensile or compressive. Buckling results are obtained as special cases when the frequencies become zero. Initial, in-plane stresses arising within the plate are determined by two methods, one utilizing a standard finite element procedure, and another which takes the plane elasticity solution for a point-loaded circular disk as fundamental and eliminates the residuals along the rectangular boundaries by finite elements. Vibration and buckling problems are solved by the Ritz method, where the initial stresses obtained previously are introduced into the proper potential energy functional, and transverse displacements in the form of a double sine series are assumed. Buckling loads and vibration frequencies are determined for three plate aspect ratios ( a b = 0·5, 1, 2 ) and at least two different load location points in each case (middle or quarter points along opposite edges). Comparisons of buckling loads with previously published, less accurate results are made, where possible. Tensile force buckling loads are also obtained, for which no previously published results have been found.
Monotonicity properties of multiple endpoint testing procedures

Abstract Multiple endpoint testing procedures concerned with k means are viewed as decision rules for a 2k finite action problem. A loss function which is the sum of losses for each endpoint problem is assumed. Procedures including the single-step, step-down, and step-up are considered. Two types of monotonicity of procedures are defined. In addition, a compelling property, namely monotonicity of the risk function is also studied for each procedure. Some further results relating monotone procedures to a complete class, to Bayes procedures and likelihood procedures are presented.
Changes in Self-Identified Priorities, Competencies, and Values of Recently Homeless Adults with Psychiatric Disabilities

This study examined changes in self-reported priorities, competencies, and values in 73 previously homeless people with psychiatric disabilities who participated in a life skills intervention. Participants living in emergency or single-room occupancy housing enrolled in curriculum modules to increase residential stability (room and self-care, money management, nutrition management, or safe community participation) and completed the occupational self-assessment at baseline, postintervention, and 3 and 6 months later to examine change over time. Mean competency and value ratings and frequency of priorities were compared by time point, as well as between types of housing and primary diagnosis. Managing finances, a place to live, and self-care were consistently rated high in value and as top priorities. At baseline and post-intervention, participants rated themselves more competent on items related to meeting basic needs, however increased competency for more difficult items was observed over time. Individual...
A data structure for cognitive information retrieval

A new data structure developed in connection with a natural language question-answering system is described. The data structure is based upon a new high-order calculus. It allows a great degree of expressiveness and is suitable for extensive logical deduction. The inadequacies of low-order schemes for the representation of natural language information are given. A formal description of the new high-order structure which overcomes these inadequacies is then presented along with the properties that make it more suitable and attractive for machine processing of natural language information.
Optimization of interconnects between accelerators and shared memories in dark silicon

Application-specific accelerators provide orders-of-magnitude improvement in energy-efficiency over CPUs, and accelerator-rich computing platforms are showing promise in the dark silicon age. Memory sharing among accelerators leads to huge transistor savings, but needs novel designs of interconnects between accelerators and shared memories. Accelerators run 100x faster than CPUs and post a high demand on data. This leads to resource-consuming interconnects if we follow the same design rules as those for interconnects between CPUs and shared memories, and simply duplicate the interconnect hardware to meet the accelerator data demand. In this work we develop a novel design of interconnects between accelerators and shared memories and exploit three optimization opportunities that emerge in accelerator-rich computing platforms: 1) The multiple data ports of the same accelerators are powered on/off together, and the competition for shared resources among these ports can be eliminated to save interconnect transistor cost; 2) In dark silicon, the number of active accelerators in an accelerator-rich platform is usually limited, and the interconnects can be partially populated to just fit the data access demand limited by the power budget; 3) The heterogeneity of accelerators leads to execution patterns among accelerators and, based on the probability analysis to identify these patterns, interconnects can be optimized for the expected utilization. Experiments show that our interconnect design outperforms prior work that was optimized for CPU cores or signal routing.
Clinicians' Fidelity to a Manual-Based Family Treatment as a Predictor of the One-Year Course of Bipolar Disorder

This study assessed whether therapist adherence to the family focused treatment model for patients with bipolar disorder and their relatives was associated with patient outcomes at one year after treatment entry. A total of 78 videotaped sessions of FFT consisting of 26 families with a member with bipolar disorder (3 sessions/family) were rated on fidelity using the Therapist Competence/Adherence Scale (TCAS; see Endnote 1, p. 130). Patients' outcomes (relapse status) were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and selected items from the Schedule of Affective Disorders and the Schizophrenia-Change (SADS-C) scale (measured at 3-month intervals for 12 months). Contrary to expectations, therapist fidelity was not related to overall outcome as assessed by the BPRS and the SADS-C. Among patients who did relapse, higher levels of cooperation among therapists predicted a later date for relapse than did lower levels of cooperation. Surprisingly, and in opposition to the study's hypotheses, patients who were hospitalized because of relapses had therapists who were rated as more competent in their ability to conduct the problem-solving module of FFT. Study implications are discussed.
Collaborative opportunistic navigation [Student research highlight]

Motivated by the plenitude of ambient radio frequency signals in GNSS-challenged environments, a new paradigm to overcome the limitations of GNSS-based navigation is proposed. This paradigm, termed opportunistic navigation (OpNav), aims to extract positioning and timing information from ambient radio frequency signals of opportunity (SOPs). OpNav radio receivers continuously search for opportune signals from which to draw navigation and timing information, employing on-the-fly signal characterization as necessary. In collaborative opportunistic navigation (COpNav), multiple OpNav receivers share information to construct and continuously refine a global signal landscape.
A 50-ohm input impedance for helical beam antennas

A helical beam antenna with uniform conductor size has a nominal impedance of 140 ohms. This may not be convenient for some applications. The purpose of this note is to call attention to the fact that the impedance can be adjusted to 50 ohms by increasing the conductor size close to the feed point at the ground plane. This lowers the characteristic impedance of the conductor-ground plane combination (acting as a transmission line) and transforms the helix impedance to a lower value over a substantial bandwidth
Ferrite-lined hom absorber for the e-cool erl

An R&D Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) intended as step towards electron-cooling of RHIC-II is being constructed at this laboratory. The center piece of the project is the experimental 5-cell 703.75 MHz superconducting "ECX" cavity. Successful operation will depend on effective HOM suppression, and it is planned to achieve HOM damping exclusively with room temperature ferrite absorbers. A ferrite-lined pillbox test model with dimensions reflecting the operational unit was assembled and attached to the 5-cell copper cavity. The cavity resonances of the lowest dipole and monopole modes and their damping due to the ferrite were determined. The effective ferrite properties in a form portable to other structures were obtained from network analyzer measurements of the ferrite absorber models and their interpretation with the simulation code Microwave Studio.
Denitrification Dominates Sediment Nitrogen Removal and Is Enhanced by Bottom-Water Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Nutrient loads from the Mississippi River watershed are associated with seasonal development of bottom-water hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Microbial nitrogen (N) transformations at the sediment-water interface are important in determining system productivity and the development and maintenance of hypoxia. Intact sediment cores were incubated in a continuous-flow system with stable isotope tracers to identify and quantify important N sources (e.g., N fixation), sinks (e.g., denitrification and anammox), and links (e.g., dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, DNRA). Microbial N sinks on the Louisiana-Texas continental shelf remove up to 68 % of the total N load from the Mississippi River watershed, and up to 29 % of this N removal (mean = 11.8 ± 1.7 %) may be due to anammox. The highest N2 production rates and ammonium effluxes were observed at low bottom-water oxygen concentrations, and sediments were a significant source of ammonium to the water column at all times. DNRA and heterotrophic N fixation were not consistent pathways for total sediment N fluxes, but their potential importance to N balance and productivity in the system warrants further study and inclusion in ecosystem models. Physical disturbance from passage of two hurricanes in 2008 resulted in lower N cycling rates and sediment oxygen consumption, with sediment processes migrating into the water column. Denitrification is the dominant N sink in the northern Gulf of Mexico and provides a valuable ecosystem service by mitigating N loads from the Mississippi River watershed, particularly during seasonal bottom-water hypoxia events.
Aftershock patterns and main shock faulting

We have compared aftershock patterns following several moderate to large earthquakes with the corresponding distributions of coseismic slip obtained from previous analyses of the recorded strong ground motion and teleseismic waveforms. Well-located aftershock hypocenters are projected onto the main shock fault plane, and their positions are examined relative to the zones of coseismic displacement indicated by the estimated distributions of main shock slip. We also examine the aftershock focal mechanisms, when these data are available, in an attempt to identify possible patterns of secondary faulting within the aftershock zone. Our results are consistent with a hypothesis of aftershock occurrence that requires a secondary redistribution of stress following primary failure on the earthquake fault. Aftershocks following the earthquakes examined in this study occur mostly outside of or near the edges of the source areas indicated by the patterns of main shock slip. The spatial distribution of aftershocks reflects either a continuation of slip in the outer regions of the areas of maximum coseismic displacement or the activation of subsidiary faults within the volume surrounding the boundaries of main shock rupture.
Molecular Dissection of a Borrelia burgdorferi In Vivo Essential Purine Transport System

The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is dependent on purine salvage from the host environment for survival. The genes bbb22 and bbb23 encode purine permeases that are essential for B. burgdorferi mouse infectivity. We now demonstrate the unique contributions of each of these genes to purine transport and murine infection. The affinities of spirochetes carrying bbb22 alone for hypoxanthine and adenine were similar to those of spirochetes carrying both genes. Spirochetes carrying bbb22 alone were able to achieve wild-type levels of adenine saturation but not hypoxanthine saturation, suggesting that maximal hypoxanthine uptake requires the presence of bbb23. Moreover, the purine transport activity conferred by bbb22 was dependent on an additional distal transcriptional start site located within the bbb23 open reading frame. The initial rates of uptake of hypoxanthine and adenine by spirochetes carrying bbb23 alone were below the level of detection. However, these spirochetes demonstrated a measurable increase in hypoxanthine uptake over a 30-min time course. Our findings indicate that bbb22-dependent adenine transport is essential for B. burgdorferi survival in mice. The bbb23 gene was dispensable for B. burgdorferi mouse infectivity, yet its presence was required along with that of bbb22 for B. burgdorferi to achieve maximal spirochete loads in infected mouse tissues. These data demonstrate that both genes, bbb22 and bbb23, are critical for B. burgdorferi to achieve wild-type infection of mice and that the differences in the capabilities of the two transporters may reflect distinct purine salvage needs that the spirochete encounters throughout its natural infectious cycle.
HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of message frames and their social determinants.

SUMMARY In light of the great threat that HIV/AIDS poses in subSaharan Africa, the current study assesses HIV/AIDS posters from this region with specific reference to health message frames, including HIV sources, consequences, self-efficacy, preventive means, and barriers and benefits to employing such means of prevention. There is a twostep methodology. First, the content of HIV/AIDS posters from 15 sub-Saharan African countries was coded for the six health message frames. Second, relationships between the health message frames and four social determinants (HIV rate, HIV awareness, condom use and uncertainty avoidance (UAI)) were assessed with hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). Analysis indicates that self-efficacy is the most common frame, but that almost one-quarter of the posters has none of the six health message frames. HLM indicates some favorable findings, including that health message frames are used most often in countries with the most troubling levels of HIV awareness and condom use. Less favorably, health message frames are used least common in countries that have high levels of UAI and high HIV rates. Improvements for related media practices and policy are articulated.
Web-Scale Features for Full-Scale Parsing

Counts from large corpora (like the web) can be powerful syntactic cues. Past work has used web counts to help resolve isolated ambiguities, such as binary noun-verb PP attachments and noun compound bracketings. In this work, we first present a method for generating web count features that address the full range of syntactic attachments. These features encode both surface evidence of lexical affinities as well as paraphrase-based cues to syntactic structure. We then integrate our features into full-scale dependency and constituent parsers. We show relative error reductions of 7.0% over the second-order dependency parser of McDonald and Pereira (2006), 9.2% over the constituent parser of Petrov et al. (2006), and 3.4% over a non-local constituent reranker.
Building expert systems on neural architecture

A novel approach has been developed for building a rule-based system on the neural architecture. Under this approach, the knowledge base and the inference engine are mapped into an entity called conceptualization where a node represents a concept and a link represents a relation between two concepts. Inference in the conceptualization involves propagation and combination of activations as well as maximizing information transmission through layers. Learning is based upon a mechanism called back-propagation, which allows proper modification of connection strengths in order to be adapted to the environment. Finally, the validity of this approach has been demonstrated by experiments.
Analysis of Feature Space for Monitoring Persons with Parkinson's Disease With Application to a Wireless Wearable Sensor System

We present work to develop a wireless wearable sensor system for monitoring patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in their homes. For monitoring outside the laboratory, a wearable system must not only record data, but also efficiently process data on-board. This manuscript details the analysis of data collected using tethered wearable sensors. Optimal window length for feature extraction and feature ranking were calculated, based on their ability to capture motor fluctuations in persons with PD. Results from this study will be employed to develop a software platform for the wireless system, to efficiently process on-board data.
The Chemical Senses in Birds

The chemical senses generally fall into three categories: chemesthesis (irritation and pain), olfaction (smell), and gustation (taste). Traditionally, the emphasis in describing responsiveness to chemical stimuli has been placed on taste and smell. The reality is more complex. For example, the sensory afferents for chemesthetic perception are in close proximity with olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity and with gustatory receptors in the oral cavity. Because external chemical stimuli can be processed by multiple sensory systems, there has been a great deal of confusion in the literature on the importance of individual sensory modalities. Generally, the principal mediating sensory modality may be related to stimulus type, concentration, and presentation. However, when perception of external chemical stimuli occurs via the integrated perception across modalities, the combined perceptual quality is commonly referred to as flavor. This chapter reviews the mechanistic aspects of the chemical senses in birds and relates molecular and physiological processes to avian behavior and ecology.
Flattening without picking

We present an efficient full-volume automatic dense-picking method for flattening seismic data. First local dips (stepouts) are calculated over the entire seismic volume. The dips are then resolved into time shifts (or depth shifts) using a nonlinear Gauss-Newton iterative approach that exploits fast Fourier transforms to minimize computation time. To handle faults (discontinuous reflections), we apply a weighted inversion scheme. The weight identifies locations of faults, allowing dips to be summed around the faults to reduce the influence of erroneous dip estimates near the fault. If a fault model is not provided, we can estimate a suitable weight (essentially a fault indicator) within our inversion using an iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) method. The method is tested successfully on both synthetic and field data sets of varying degrees of complexity, including salt piercements, angular unconformities, and laterally limited faults.
THE HETDEX PILOT SURVEY. V. THE PHYSICAL ORIGIN OF Lyα EMITTERS PROBED BY NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

We present the results from a Very Large Telescope/SINFONI and Keck/NIRSPEC near-infrared spectroscopic survey of 16 Lyα emitters (LAEs) at z = 2.1-2.5 in the COSMOS and GOODS-N fields discovered from the Hobby Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment Pilot Survey. We detect rest-frame optical nebular lines (Hα and/or [O III] λ5007) for 10 of the LAEs and measure physical properties, including the star formation rate (SFR), gas-phase metallicity, gas mass fraction, and Lyα velocity offset. We find that LAEs may lie below the mass-metallicity relation for continuum-selected star-forming galaxies at the same redshift. The LAEs all show velocity shifts of Lyα relative to the systemic redshift ranging between +85 and +296 km s{sup –1} with a mean of +180 km s{sup –1}. This value is smaller than measured for continuum-selected star-forming galaxies at similar redshifts. The Lyα velocity offsets show a moderate correlation with the measured SFR (2.5σ), but no significant correlations are seen with the SFR surface density, specific SFR, stellar mass, or dynamical mass (≲1.5σ). Exploring the role of dust, kinematics of the interstellar medium (ISM), and geometry on the escape of Lyα photons, we find no signature of selective quenching of resonantly scattered Lyα photons. However, wemore » also find no evidence that a clumpy ISM is enhancing the Lyα equivalent width. Our results suggest that the low metallicity in LAEs may be responsible for yielding an environment with a low neutral hydrogen column density and less dust, easing the escape of Lyα photons over that in continuum-selected star-forming galaxies.« less
Multi-objective order planning model and algorithm for integrated steel production

A multi-objective order planning optimization model is formulated for the integrated steelmaking-continuous casting-hot rolling (SM-CC-HR) production process. The objectives include maximizing hot charge ratio, minimizing earliness/tardiness ratio and minimizing open order ratio. Production capacities, steel grade and slab dimension are synthetically taken into consideration in the model constraints. NSGA-II (fast elitist non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm) basing on fast-non-dominated-sort and crowding-distance is one of the better elitist multi-objective evolutionary algorithms. It doesnpsilat limit the elitist extent, which will result in prematurely converging to local Pareto-optimal front. An improved NSGA-II algorithm is proposed, adding new individuals on every generation. Simulation results on three examples in different size show that the proposed algorithm is able to find more solutions with better spread and higher coverage.
Expanding horizons: ciliary proteins reach beyond cilia

Once obscure, the cilium has come into the spotlight during the past decade. It is now clear that aside from generating locomotion by motile cilia, both motile and immotile cilia serve as signaling platforms for the cell. Through both motility and sensory functions, cilia play critical roles in development, homeostasis, and disease. To date, the cilium proteome contains more than 1,000 different proteins, and human genetics is identifying new ciliopathy genes at an increasing pace. Although assigning a function to immotile cilia was a challenge not so long ago, the myriad of signaling pathways, proteins, and biological processes associated with the cilium have now created a new obstacle: how to distill all these interactions into specific themes and mechanisms that may explain how the organelle serves to maintain organism homeostasis. Here, we review the basics of cilia biology, novel functions associated with cilia, and recent advances in cilia genetics, and on the basis of this framework, we further discuss the meaning and significance of ciliary connections.
Evaluation of four methods for estimating leaf area of isolated trees

The accurate modeling of the physiological and functional processes of urban forests requires information on the leaf area of urban tree species. Several non-destructive, indirect leaf area sampling methods have shown good performance for homogenous canopies. These methods have not been evaluated for use in urban settings where trees are typically isolated and measurement may be complicated by proximity to residential areas, buildings, signs, and other infrastructure elements. We evaluated the accuracy, precision, efficiency and other practical considerations associated with four methods of estimating the leaf area of open-grown deciduous trees in urban forests. The methods included color digital image processing (CD), the LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer, the CI-100 Digital Plant Canopy Imager, and a logarithmic regression equation. Regression coefficients, adjusted R2, and confidence intervals were used to determine the best method when using true leaf area of 25 Platanus x acerifolia Willd. and 25 Platanus racemosa Nutt. as an independent variable. Practical considerations included ease of data collection and processing and costs associated with each method. The CD method and LAI-2000 estimates showed good correlation with true leaf area (R2 ≫ 0.71); however, only the CD method produced estimates within 25 percent of mean true leaf area and met additional requirements for accuracy, precision, and efficient use in urban settings.
Oscillation limits for weighted residual methods applied to convective diffusion equations

Convection–diffusion equations are difficult to solve when the convection term dominates because most solution methods give solutions which oscillate in space. Previous criteria based on the one-dimensional convection–diffusion equation have shown that finite difference and Galerkin (linear or quadratic basis functions) will not give oscillatory solutions provided the Peclet number times the mesh size (Pe Δx) is below a critical value. These criteria are based on the solution at the nodes, and ensure that the nodal values are monotone. Similar criteria are developed here for other methods: quadratic Galerkin with upwind weighting, cubic Galerkin, orthogonal collocation on finite elements with quadratic, cubic or quartic polynomials using Lagrangian interpolation, cubic or quartic polynominals using Hermite interpolation, and the method of moments. The nodal values do not oscillate for collocation or moments methods with Hermite cubic polynomials regardless of the value of Pe Δx. A new criterion is developed for all methods based on the monotonicity of the solutions throughout the domain. This criterion is more restrictive than one based only on the nodal values. All methods that are second order (Δx2) or better in truncation error give oscillatory solutions (based on the entire domain) unless Pe Δx is below a critical value. This value ranges from 2 for finite difference methods to 4·6 for Hermite, quartic, collocation methods.
Use of shift variance of the wavelet transform for signal detection

Characterizes signals according to the degree with which a time shift affects their wavelet series coefficients and develops a measure called the "shift index" to quantify that effect. The authors argue that the shift index can be used to locate, separate and cluster and/or detect pulse like signals with random arrival times. Examples are given to verify the established theory. >
The Effect of a Localized Topographic Irregularity on the Flow of a Boundary Current along the Continental Margin

Abstract A model for the effect of a localized topographic irregularity on a barotropic sheared current flowing along a continental margin with shallow water to the left of the current is developed. The topographic irregularity is assumed to be small and smooth compared to the background water depth and the background bottom slope, respectively. It is shown that the amplitude of the disturbance depends on the volume of the irregularity and its location on the margin. For a certain class of velocity and topographic profiles a closed form solution is obtained. The results show that the current is deflected seaward down- stream of the disturbance with the maximum deflection occurring one-fourth of a wavelength downstream of the irregularity. Closed eddies are formed in shallow water and sometimes in deep water. If the ratio of relative shear to the speed of the approaching current is large at the continental margin, a simple analytical solution is applicable. The model is applied to the Gulf Stream flowing o...
CHITINASE IN INSECTIVOROUS BATS

Chitinase was found in the intestines of 9 species of 6 genera of bats of Indiana. Included were the northern myotis, Myotis septentrionalis; the little brown myotis, M. lucifugus; the Indiana myotis, Myotis sodalis, the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, the eastern pipistrelle, Pipistrellus subflavus, the evening bat, Nycticeius humeralis, the red bat, Lasiurus borealis, the hoary bat, L. cinereus, and the silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans. Chitinase was found in summer and in winter, but at significantly lower levels in winter. Chitinase in summer may help to separate parts of insects by breaking down softer connective tissue. In winter, it may break down remnants of chitin left over from summer foraging and could even serve as a supplemental source of energy and nutrients. Chitinase was produced in these bats by 6 previously known species of chitinase-producing bacteria, 2 of Serratia, 3 of Bacillus, and 1 of Enterobacter, and by 4 species previously unknown to produce chitinase, Hafnia alvei, Citrobacter amelonaticus, Enterobacter aerogenes, and E. cloacae.
Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Dryopidae, Limnichidae, Luctrochidae, Psphenidae, and Ptilodactylidae

Dryopidae Diversity in Peru: 3 genera, 3+ species. Recognition: All adult dryopids have short, pectinate antennae. Adult Dryops and Onopelmus are covered with erect setae that float them to the surface if submerged. Adult Elmoparnus have a shiny black exterior. Larvae are terrestrial and found in the sand banks of streams; very few are known. Dryops occurs world-wide with many species, including a host of undesecribed species. There is little external differentiation and the species are generally distinguished with genitalic dissections. Habitat: Some dryopids are aquatic and found in the stream substrates while others occur on emergent vegetation and sticks protruding from streams. Many are collected at lights at night; for these the habitat is unknown. A few dryopids are entirely terrestrial with the adults and larvae found in forest leaf litter. Notes: Since much of Peru has never been collected systematically, many more genera and species will be found to occur there. The following is a checklist of Peruvian Dryopidae, based on the publications of Spangler (1980) and Spangler and Perkins (1977), and on personal collections. * 5 endemic to Peru. Checklist: Dryops undetermined species Elmoparnus dasycheilus Spangler and Perkins, 1977 Onopelmus inca Spangler, 1980*