cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Treatment-Related Complications Superimposed on Chronic Disease

SELECTED CASE A 40-YEAR-OLD black woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been followed up in the arthritis clinic at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center throughout most of the 19 years of her illness. The initial manifestations of her illness developed in the postpartum period of a pregnancy that had been complicated by proteinuria believed to be caused by toxemia. Proteinuria (2.8 g/24 h) accompanied by hematuria and red blood cell casts prompted a renal biopsy that revealed diffuse, proliferative glomerulonephritis (activity index, 6; chronicity index, 0). Other manifestations of her disease included polyarthralgias; erythematous rashes of the face, arms, and legs; and alopecia. Laboratory studies disclosed the following values: serum creatinine, 70 μmol/L; creatinine clearance, 1.75 mL/s; antinuclear antibody, 1:1280 (rim pattern); antibodies to DNA, 98% (Farr assay); and C3, 0.77 g/L. A daily 60-mg dose of prednisone was started, and during the next 2 years the
The action of the heat operator on Jacobi forms

We investigate the action of the heat operator on Jacobi forms. In particular, we present two explicit characterizations of this action on Jacobi forms of index 1. Furthermore, we study congruences and filtrations of Jacobi forms. As an application, we determine when an analog of Atkin's U-operator applied to a Jacobi form is nonzero modulo a prime.
Vesicle array-templated large-area silica surface patterns.

Micropatterning has important applications in a wide range of areas, including microelectronics, optics, information displays, and biotechnology. Herein, we describe a vesicle-array templating approach for the generation of surface patterns of micrometer-sized silica features on the surfaces of silica monoliths. The approach makes use of tetraethyl orthosilicate as silica precursor, a poly(ethylene glycol)−block−poly(propylene glycol)−block−poly(ethylene glycol) triblock copolymer, EO2PO16EO2, as surfactants, and water, ethanol, and dimethylformamide as solvents. The morphological shapes of produced silica features are synthetically controlled through varying the sequence of silica precursor hydrolysis, vesicle formation, and silica condensation. Prehydrolysis of the silica precursor, before being mixed with the copolymer, gives hollow convex protrusions. Direct mixing of the silica precursor and the copolymer produces concave depressions. An increase in the amount of water in the mixture solution without...
PINK1 triggers autocatalytic activation of Parkin to specify cell fate decisions.

Summary Background The PINK1-Parkin pathway is known to play important roles in regulating mitochondria dynamics, motility, and quality control. Activation of this pathway can be triggered by a variety of cellular stress signals that cause mitochondrial damage. How this pathway senses different levels of mitochondrial damage and mediates cell fate decisions accordingly is incompletely understood. Results Here, we present evidence that PINK1-Parkin has both cytoprotective and proapoptotic functions. PINK1-Parkin operates as a molecular switch to dictate cell fate decisions in response to different cellular stressors. Cells exposed to severe and irreparable mitochondrial damage agents such as valinomycin can undergo PINK1-Parkin-dependent apoptosis. The proapoptotic response elicited by valinomycin is associated with the degradation of Mcl-1. PINK1 directly phosphorylates Parkin at Ser65 of its Ubl domain and triggers activation of its E3 ligase activity through an autocatalytic mechanism that amplifies its E3 ligase activity toward Mcl-1. Conclusions Autocatalytic activation of Parkin bolsters its accumulation on mitochondria and apoptotic response to valinomycin. Our results suggest that PINK1-Parkin constitutes a damage-gated molecular switch that governs cellular-context-specific cell fate decisions in response to variable stress stimuli.
The Effects of Family-Friendly Workplace Environments on Work-Family Stress of Employed Parents

Abstract This study utilized the spillover conceptual framework to examine the effects of structural (formal policies) and dynamic (informal supervisory support) aspects of the workplace on the financial stress, time-based problems, and role-strain of employed parents. Data was obtained by telephone interview from an availability sample of 374 employed parents in several different workplaces. Logistic regression analyses provided partial support for the hypotheses that each of four groups of different family-friendly policies would effect specific work-family outcomes. One structural component, leave time allowance policy, helped ease the time-based problems of employed parents. The other structural components such as child care assistance, alternative work arrangements or stress management programs did not effect the work-family stress variables. Several dynamic components of the work environment, particularly informal supervisory support, were associated with all three measures of work-family stress. Th...
The Internationalization Process and Spatial Form: Research Problems and Prospects:

The basic challenge to industrial geographers is to construct a general theory of the interrelationships between the behavior of industrial organizations and the dynamic spatial structures of industrial systems. Three conceptual problems associated with this research are examined in terms of the transformation of manufacturing firms from intranational companies to international enterprises. The major conclusions from the discussion are that the interrelationships between the internationalization process and the spatial form of industrial systems must be viewed as the result of the strategic choices made by management; that the initial dependent variable of the transformation process should be an index measure of the financial performance of the firm over time; and that rigorous testing of the hypotheses already formulated by industrial geographers must assume the highest priority. Following a discussion of the three issues, the conceptual design of an experimental research project now in progress is descr...
Laser-Enhanced NMR Spectroscopy: Theoretical Considerations

A technical comment concerning the detection of chirality using circularly-polarized laser light-enhanced NMR spectroscopy. Off-resonant radiation, in liquids, with lasers of 1-3 W produces band shifts that cannot be dismissed as simple thermal effects.
Spatial and temporal analysis of gene expression during growth and fusion of the mouse facial prominences.

Orofacial malformations resulting from genetic and/or environmental causes are frequent human birth defects yet their etiology is often unclear because of insufficient information concerning the molecular, cellular and morphogenetic processes responsible for normal facial development. We have, therefore, derived a comprehensive expression dataset for mouse orofacial development, interrogating three distinct regions – the mandibular, maxillary and frontonasal prominences. To capture the dynamic changes in the transcriptome during face formation, we sampled five time points between E10.5–E12.5, spanning the developmental period from establishment of the prominences to their fusion to form the mature facial platform. Seven independent biological replicates were used for each sample ensuring robustness and quality of the dataset. Here, we provide a general overview of the dataset, characterizing aspects of gene expression changes at both the spatial and temporal level. Considerable coordinate regulation occurs across the three prominences during this period of facial growth and morphogenesis, with a switch from expression of genes involved in cell proliferation to those associated with differentiation. An accompanying shift in the expression of polycomb and trithorax genes presumably maintains appropriate patterns of gene expression in precursor or differentiated cells, respectively. Superimposed on the many coordinated changes are prominence-specific differences in the expression of genes encoding transcription factors, extracellular matrix components, and signaling molecules. Thus, the elaboration of each prominence will be driven by particular combinations of transcription factors coupled with specific cell:cell and cell:matrix interactions. The dataset also reveals several prominence-specific genes not previously associated with orofacial development, a subset of which we externally validate. Several of these latter genes are components of bidirectional transcription units that likely share cis-acting sequences with well-characterized genes. Overall, our studies provide a valuable resource for probing orofacial development and a robust dataset for bioinformatic analysis of spatial and temporal gene expression changes during embryogenesis.
Rat and mouse membrane aminopeptidase P: structure analysis and tissue distribution.

Abstract Membrane-bound aminopeptidase P (mAPP) is a highly specific exopeptidase that removes the N-terminal amino acid only from a peptide (three amino acids or longer) that has a prolyl residue in the second position. mAPP can inactivate bradykinin, a potent vasodilating and cardioprotective peptide hormone, by hydrolyzing the Arg1–Pro2 bond. Studies on the rat have shown that the metabolism of bradykinin is an important physiological role of this enzyme. We report here the complete coding sequences for rat and mouse mAPP determined from mRNA isolated from lung tissue. Key structural features that determine post-translational processing and substrate recognition and catalysis were identified based on sequence homologies and the crystal structure of Escherichia coli aminopeptidase P complexed with Pro–Leu. The tissue-specific expression of mAPP was studied using the polymerase chain reaction. The mAPP gene is widely, but variably, expressed in adult tissues of the rat and mouse and in mouse embryos.
Varying Weights in Multi-Attribute Decision Making

Extreme cases that contain either extremely high or pretty low preference attribute(s) are investigated for multi-attribute decision making problems. Normal cases occur most of the time, and many existing methods have been developed to support the decision making in such scenarios. Extreme cases are possible in real applications, and they are usually present intriguing scenarios because of the potential fuzzy and varying decision criteria. To capture this phenomenon, varying weights are introduced to simulate the change pattern concerning relative importance of attributes, and a uniform framework has been developed to support the decision making mathematically for extreme cases. A real application from Industrial Assessment Center at Oregon State University is used to demonstrate the proposed method, and the result shows its capability of capturing a decision maker’s flexible decision altitudes, and indicates its advantage over existing constant weight methods.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Lasers for Fusion Systems

The principles of initiating fusion by lasers and high-energy laser system technology are reviewed. Nonlinear optical propagation at high intensities in laser amplifiers is described and is related to the system requirements for a laser used to produce fusion.
Hepatitis C coinfection increases the risk of fulminant hepatic failure in patients with HIV in the HAART era.

Background/Aims It is uncertain if patients coinfected with hepatitis C and HIV are more likely to suffer fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) when compared to patients with HIV-only. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using national administrative databases from the Department of Veterans Affairs in patients hospitalized for the first time with HIV and/or hepatitis C between 10/1991 and 9/2000. Fulminant hepatic failure was defined as occurring after the index hospitalization through 9/2001 in the absence of pre-existing liver disease. We calculated incidence rates, Kaplan Meier cumulative incidence curves, and Cox proportional hazards ratios while adjusting for demographics and other potential confounders. Results We identified 11,678 patients with HIV-only and 4761 patients with coinfection. There were 92 cases of fulminant hepatic failure yielding an incidence rate of 1.1/1000 person-years and 2.5/1000 person-years in the HIV-only and coinfected groups. The cumulative incidence of fulminant hepatic failure in the coinfected group was higher than in the HIV-only group ( P Conclusions HAART and hepatitis C coinfection appeared to act synergistically in HIV-infected patients to increase the risk of fulminant hepatic failure, a rare but often fatal disease.
Role of Crystalline Vitamin B12 for Hatchability

Abstract Animal protein supplements including liver meal, condensed fish solubles, fish meal, meat meals, and milk products have been shown to contain an unknown factor (or factors) required by chickens for reproduction and early growth. Rubin and Bird (1946) and Whitson, Titus and Bird (1946) found dried cow manure to contain similar factors. An animal protein factor supplement, available following the isolation of vitamin B12, was found by Lindstrom et al. (1949a) to contain factors essential for hatchability when hens received an all-plant ration. Lillie, Olsen and Bird (1949) have reported that crystalline vitamin B12 injected into eggs improved hatchability when the breeder hens were fed a diet deficient in this vitamin. Subsequent chick studies also showed improved livability and feathering following the B12 injections into the eggs. Their data is not completely in agreement or conclusive, primarily because of fairly high hatchability of eggs from the basal diet without vitamin . . .
Probing the association of fluorobenzene with dissolved organic matter using NMR spectroscopy

Abstract We dissolved and fractionated the commercially available Aldrich humic acid (AHA) into less than 1000 and less than 8000 atomic mass unit (amu) fractions and used 1 H NMR to analyze the chemical forms of dissolved organic matter (DOM) of these two AHA fractions in D 2 O. The range of linewidths of the signals observed in the 1 H NMR spectra of the different molecular mass fractions suggests that DOM in the AHA solutions are mixtures of organic molecules of different molecular sizes. The spectrum of the less than 8000 amu AHA solution exhibited boarder linewidths and more pronounced aromatic character than the less than 1000 amu AHA solution. The association of DOM in these two AHA fractions and fluorobenzene (C 6 H 5 F) in D 2 O solutions as indicated by the translational mobility (self-diffusion) of fluorobenzene was examined using 19 F pulsed field gradient spin echo NMR. One fraction of the C 6 H 5 F molecules was found to have a diffusion coefficient comparable to that of fluorobenzene dissolved in AHA-free D 2 O and was assigned to the unbound C 6 H 5 F. The remainder, fluorobenzene, has a self-diffusion coefficient considerably smaller than that in AHA-free D 2 O and was assigned to the DOM-bound fractions. The magnitude of the self-diffusion coefficients of AHA-bound C 6 H 5 F decreases with increase in amu of the AHA fractions, suggesting sorption as a mechanism of C 6 H 5 H-DOM association.
Interannual Invariability of Forest Evapotranspiration and Its Consequence to Water Flow Downstream

Although drought in temperate deciduous forests decreases transpiration rates of many species, stand-level transpiration and total evapotranspiration is often reported to exhibit only minor interannual variability with precipitation. This apparent contradiction was investigated using four years of transpiration estimates from sap flux, interception–evaporation estimates from precipitation and throughfall gauges, modeled soil evaporation and drainage estimates, and eddy covariance data in a mature oak-hickory forest in North Carolina, USA. The study period included one severe drought year and one year of well above-average precipitation. Normalized for atmospheric conditions, transpiration rates of some species were lower in drought than in wet periods whereas others did not respond to drought. However, atmospheric conditions during drought periods are unlike conditions during typical growing season periods. The rainy days that are required to maintain drought-free periods are characterized by low atmospheric vapor pressure deficit, leading to very low transpiration. In contrast, days with low air vapor pressure deficit were practically absent during drought and moderate levels of transpiration were maintained throughout despite the drying soil. Thus, integrated over the growing season, canopy transpiration was not reduced by drought. In addition, high vapor pressure deficit during drought periods sustained appreciable soil evaporation rates. As a result, despite the large interannual variation in precipitation (ranging from 934 to 1346 mm), annual evapotranspiration varied little (610–668 mm), increasing only slightly with precipitation, due to increased canopy rainfall interception. Because forest evapotranspiration shows only modest changes with annual precipitation, lower precipitation translates to decreased replenishment of groundwater and outflow, and thus the supply of water to downstream ecosystems and water bodies.
A spectroscopic examination of carbon fiber cross sections using XPS and ISS

Abstract Multiple transverse sections of type II, PAN-based carbon fibers (unsized and commercially treated) were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS). No previous XPS/ISS spectra of carbon fiber cross sections have been reported. The data are compared to angle-resolved XPS (ARXPS)/ISS spectra acquired from external (longitudinal) fiber surfaces in order to assess the experimental technique and aid spectral interpretation. The spectra are consistent with nitrogen and oxygen concentration profiles that decrease overall from the fiber surface inward to the fiber core. Oxygen is present primarily as COH within the fiber cores, with increasing amounts of CO and COOH groups near the fiber skin. The spectra also reveal the presence of zinc, sodium and calcium within the fiber cores.
On the Existence of Markov-Consistent Plans under Production Uncertainty

Strotz (1956) and Pollak (1968) were among the first to study the behaviour of an economic agent whose preferences change over time. They suggested that such an agent would choose a "consistent plan" which they described as "the best plan that he would actually follow". A Markov-consistent plan has a particularly simple structure: current decisions are independent of past decisions, except insofar as past decisions affect the current values of state variables. Unfortunately, Markov-consistent plans do not generally exist. In this paper, we demonstrate that the existence problem dissappears for finite horizon problems when one introduces even a small amount of smooth uncertainty into production.
Tetracycline-inducible CaM kinase II silences hypertrophy-sensitive gene expression in rat neonate cardiomyocytes.

Abstract Recent work from this laboratory both in rat primary cardiomyocytes and in ventricular tissue of transgenic mouse models of induced hypertrophy has identified two Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent nuclear signaling cascades. The first involves the phosphatase calcineurin (CaN). The second is the CaM kinase kinase cascade which involves CaM kinase I and CaM kinase IV. Each of these signaling cascades strongly up-regulate transcription of hypertrophy-sensitive genes in the rat ventricular cardiomyocyte. We have documented that over-expression of an active form of CaM kinase II silenced transcriptional induction of hypertrophy-sensitive genes. The purpose of this study was to generate an inducible CaM kinase II expression system and correlate its expression with the silencing of hypertrophic-sensitive reporters. A truncated form of CaM KII, CaM KII (1–290) was subcloned downstream and proximal to a promoter under transcriptional control (induction) of the tetracycline-regulated transcription factor, t et- T rans A ctivator (tTA). Hypertrophy-sensitive reporter activity in primary cardiomyocytes was silenced when tet-inducible CaM KII was co-expressed with plasmids harboring active forms of CaN, CaM KI or CaM KIV. For instance, induced CaM KII expression silenced CaN, CaM kinase I, or CaM kinase IV driven ANF reporter activity 4.9-, 2.9-, and 6.9-fold below their maximal values, respectively. Myocyte exposure to doxycycline (DOX) blocked tTA-driven CaM KII expression and restored CaN/CaM KI or CaN/CaM KIV driven reporter activation. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that active CaM KII silences Ca2+-sensitive nuclear signaling cascades for transcriptional up-regulation of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
Eigenvector sets for intervals of matrices

Abstract This paper gives a description, in terms of convex polytopes, of the set of eigenvectors belonging to various intervals of matrices.
Efficient Service Re-composition Using Semantic Augmentation for Fast Cloud Fault Recovery

Today, the success of a cloud system significantly relies on its availability and reliability. To achieve a better availability, fault recovery must be performed in an efficient way. When no backup is available, service re-composition becomes the only option. Although many semantic approaches for service re-composition have been proposed, they all seem to be time-consuming, and service granularity still remains as an open question. In this paper, we introduce an efficient service re-composition approach using semantic augmentation and a fast service granularity selection so that a faulty service can be replaced promptly. A semantic service matching mechanism is also proposed for discovering appropriate candidate services for re-composition. The experiment results from a cloud environment confirm the advantages of our approach.
Rsk2 allosterically activates estrogen receptor α by docking to the hormone-binding domain

We describe a novel mechanism for transcriptional regulation, in which docking of p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (Rsk2) to the hormone-binding domain (HBD) of estrogen receptor α (ERα) induces a conformational change that enhances the transcriptional activation function contained in the HBD. A constitutively active mutant of Rsk2 specifically enhances ERα-mediated transcription by phosphorylation of Ser167 in ERα and by physically associating with residues 326–394 of the ERα HBD. The anti-estrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen blocks Rsk2-mediated activation of ERα, by inducing a conformation of ERα in which the Rsk2 docking site is masked. Transcriptional activation and docking are specific for ERα and do not occur with the related isoform, ERβ. ERα phosphorylation, docking and transcriptional activation are regulated by the Rsk2 N-terminal kinase domain. The allosteric regulation of a target protein, independent of phosphorylation, may be paradigmatic of a general function for protein kinase docking sites.
Lifshitz tails and localization in the three-dimensional Anderson model

Consider the three-dimensional Anderson model with a zero mean and bounded independent, identically distributed random potential. Let λ be the coupling constant measuring the strength of the disorder, and let σ(E) be the self-energy of the model at energy E. For any e>0 and sufficiently small λ, we derive almost-sure localization in the band E≤−σ(0)−λ4−e. In this energy region, we show that the typical correlation length ξE behaves roughly as O((|E|−σ(E))−1/2), completing the argument outlined in the preprint of T. Spencer [18]
Extreme value theory in some statistical analysis of genomic sequences

Because similarities in biological sequences often suggest similarities in structures and functions, profile searches using multiple alignment of families of related biological sequences provide useful hints for starting points for experimental investigations in molecular biology. Strategies are formulated for determining statistical significance of scores obtained by searching multiple alignment profiles with databanks, while accommodating for gaps in the profile. The methodology is validated with derivation of asymptotic distribution of the maximum of profile scores, even under weakly dependence conditions. Simulation studies show the proposed method is adequate for moderate sample sizes. The methodology is illustrated with an immunoglobulin protein domain study example.
Degradation of Nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic Acid) and Related (Amino)Phosphonate Chelating Agents in the Presence of Manganese and Molecular Oxygen

Phosphonates are used in an increasing variety of industrial and household applications including cooling waters systems, oil production, textile industry, and detergents. Phosphonates are not biodegraded during wastewater treatment but instead are removed by adsorption onto sludge. This study investigates the degradation of phosphonates in the presence of MnII and molecular oxygen. The half-life for the reaction of nitrilotris(methylene)phosphonic acid (NTMP) in the presence of equimolar MnII and in equilibrium with 0.21 atm O2 is 10 min at pH 6.5, with the reaction occurring more slowly under more alkaline or acidic pH values. The presence of other cations such as CaII, ZnII, and CuII can considerably slow the reaction by competing with MnII for NTMP. Catalytic MnII is regenerated in cyclic fashion as the reaction takes place. Although generation of a MnIII-containing intermediate appears likely, electron transfer within the ternary complex O2−MnII−NTMP cannot be completely ruled out. Formate ion, ortho...
Different susceptibilities to the formation of cholesterol gallstones in mice

In the search for an animal model of genetic determinants of cholesterol cholelithiasis, we found strain, gender and individual differences in mice. Male black (C57BL6J) mice had a 50% incidence of cholesterol gallstones after they consumed lithogenic food similar to that used by Tepperman et al. for 2 weeks, whereas similarly treated male agouti (CBA/J) mice and females of both strains were free of gallstones. The male and female mice of both strains were fertile at 8 weeks of age, and the male black mice were first susceptible to induction of gallstones at 24 weeks of age. Male agouti mice of the same age did not form gallstones until they had consumed the lithogenic food for 8 weeks. The gallbladder biles of both strains were supersaturated with cholesterol during the lithogenic regimen. The male agouti mice had much higher fractional turnover rates of [24-14C]cholic acid than did the male black mice. In spite of their small total cholate pools, the agouti mice had higher rates of new cholate synthesis than did the black mice. The rate of disappearance of [1,2-3H]cholesterol from the blood was higher in the male agouti than in the black mice. The gallbladders of the agouti mice contained less bile and weighed less empty than gallbladders of the black mice. They also did not increase in volume in response to the lithogenic diet as much as gallbladders of the black mice. The difference in gallstone induction times between male and female black mice was as great as the difference between the two strains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Correlates of family-oriented physician communications

Methods. Sixty videotapes representing 38 second and third-year residents interviewing a range of multiethnic patients over a 2-year period at a community clinic were analysed for evidence of family-oriented communications, as well as other interaction behaviours such as information exchange and partnership building. Inter-rater agreement was 78%. Results. Asking for medical information, clarifying patient information, and giving medical information and explanations were the most common types of resident actions. Family orientation was much less common, but was more frequently observed than the eliciting of a patient-centered agenda or suggestion of a psychosocial intervention or referral. Family orientation was associated with longer interviews, non-interpreted interviews, more physician questions and clarifying behaviours, and greater tendency to elicit the patient’s agenda. Conclusions. Findings of this investigation suggest that family orientation in the medical interview is enhanced by having more time and a shared language, as well as a generally probing, clarifying, patient-centered style on the part of the physician.
PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 Compositions during Wintertime Episodes of Elevated PM Concentrations across the Midwestern USA

Northern cities in the Midwest experience frequent PM concentrations in excess of the Federal PM2.5 and PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) during winter, which increasingly outnumber the summertime excesses the further north the cities are located. In contrast, cities located south of the Great Lakes tended to experience a greater number of excesses during summer. In order to ascertain the key components of PM contributing to these winter exceedances, we examined a regional elevated PM concentration episode which occurred between January 31, 2005 and February 6, 2005. The episode was caused by meteorological stagnation which affected 9 states in the Midwestern US (MN, WI, MI, IA, IL, IN, OH, MO, and KY). The temporal and spatial characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10–2.5 mass and bulk chemistry (nitrate, sulfate, ammonium, organic matter) were measured during this and other wintertime elevated PM episodes at Milwaukee, WI, and compared to Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) data. The observed elevated PM episodes demonstrated that nitrate was the driving anthropogenic component of the wintertime exceedances. This led to the conclusion that winter NOx controls on mobile and stationary sources, in combination with sufficient SO2, VOC and NH3 controls, should be further examined for the mitigation of wintertime PM2.5 episodes in the Midwest. The north-south gradient in exceedances of the PM2.5 NAAQS indicated that strategies for avoidance of violations of the 24-hour standard, and to a lesser degree the annual standard, would benefit from an emphasis on different seasons, and therefore different PM components, depending how far north or south the city is located in the Midwest.
Smoking impairs bradykinin-stimulated t-PA release.

Bradykinin stimulates tissue plasminogen activator release from human endothelium through a flow-independent, B2 receptor–dependent mechanism. The present study tests the hypothesis that smoking im...
Protein side-chain placement through MAP estimation and problem-size reduction

We present an exact method for the global minimum energy conformation (GMEC) search of protein side-chains. Our method consists of a branch-and-bound (B&B) framework and a new subproblem-pruning scheme. The pruning scheme consists of upper/lower-bounding methods and problem-size reduction techniques. We explore a way of using the tree-reweighted max-product algorithm for computing lower-bounds of the GMEC energy. The problem-size reduction techniques are necessary when the size of the subproblem is too large to rely on more accurate yet expensive bounding methods. The experimental results show our pruning scheme is effective and our B&B method exactly solves protein sequence design cases that are very hard to solve with the dead-end elimination.
On the Exact Distributions of the Gcl Estimators in a Leading Three-Equation Case

Abstract Basmann [4] has recently obtained some results of the exact sampling distributions of the generalized classical linear (GCL) estimators of the parameters of a system of three simultaneous structural linear equations These results appear as generalizations of earlier results given by Basmann [5] for a system of two equations. Kabe [9] used the known properties of the noncentral Wishart distribution to give an alternative derivation of Basmann's results for the two-equation case. In view of the importance of the GCL estimators in econometric statistics, it seems useful to derive Basmann's three-equation case results [4], by using some properties of the non-central Wishart distribution. Some applications of the noncentral Wishart distribution theory to the problem of estimating stochastic structural linear relations have been pointed out earlier by Anderson [1, p. 410, second paragraph]. The results derived here appear as generalizations of the results in reference [9] and include some extensions of...
Results From Application of Time Series Concepts to Vehicle Gamma Count Profiles

Algorithms based on time-series analysis techniques were explored for maximizing the effectiveness of pass-through radiation portal monitors for detection of special nuclear material (SNM). Time-series properties of vehicle count profiles such as stationarity and autocorrelation within energy windows were characterized. Vehicle count profiles were nonstationary but were found to be made stationary by first-differencing. Autocorrelation functions showed consistent differences between NORM alarm and non-alarm vehicles. Injection studies were performed to assess the performance of time-domain detection algorithms based on stationarity tests and on the CUSUM change-point detection test. Results indicated possible roles for detection algorithms based on statistical process control and on time series concepts.
Determinants of diversity in a naturally fragmented landscape: humid montane forest avifaunas of Mesoamerica

We used a published data set summarizing avifaunas of 31 montane patches of humid forest in Mesoamerica to analyze avian distributions with respect to site characteristics. This forest type was originally widespread in the lowlands, and became restricted to mountains during Pleistocene climatic changes. Hierarchical partitioning, a recently developed regression procedure, was used to examine independent factor effects. Total species richness, richness of Mesoamerican endemic species, richness of narrowly endemic species, and richness of habitat specialists were considered separately, each analyzed at three spatial scales. For total richness and Mesoamerican endemics, regional-level variables, notably latitude, were most influential. Narrow endemics exhibited more complex patterns, driven by foci both in western Mexico and in Costa Rica and western Panama. Historical factors are suggested to have contributed to this latitudinal pattern, such that the isthmuses of Tehuantepec and Panama acted as barriers to range expansion and peninsular effects catalyzed speciation, elevating numbers of endemic species. In contrast to many anthropogenic fragmentation studies, area and other local-scale patch attributes had little influence on avifaunas. This discrepancy may be related to fundamental differences in spatial and temporal scaling, with patterns uncovered herein more indicative of long-term community processes.
Visualizing email content: portraying relationships from conversational histories

We present Themail, a visualization that portrays relationships using the interaction histories preserved in email archives. Using the content of exchanged messages, it shows the words that characterize one's correspondence with an individual and how they change over the period of the relationship.This paper describes the interface and content-parsing algorithms in Themail. It also presents the results from a user study where two main interaction modes with the visualization emerged: exploration of "big picture" trends and themes in email (haystack mode) and more detail-oriented exploration (needle mode). Finally, the paper discusses the limitations of the content parsing approach in Themail and the implications for further research on email content visualization.
Delimitation of Surface Weathering Zones in Eastern Baffin Island, Northern Labrador and Arctic Norway: A Discussion

The recognition by Boyer and Pheasant of three distinct weathering zones in the fiord region of southeastern Baffin Island has wide implications. Similar zones, some of which can be correlated with late Cenozoic glacial stades, have been noted in northeastern Baffin Island and northern Labrador; yet possible apparent counterparts in Arctic Norway cannot be chronologically correlated. The problem of whether or not the uppermost weathering zone indicates the persistence of ice-free areas throughout the late Cenozoic Glaciations is examined. While it is apparent that large areas remained ice-free throughout the past 100,000 years (Wisconsin equivalent), true glacial erratics, derived from a glacial episode in the much more distant past, probably exist on several high summits. Recognition of weathering zones over wide areas is a valuable tool for study of the glacial history of these regions.
Classification of depression by grade of membership: a confirmation study

One hundred and thirty out-patients with depression were studied by grade of membership multivariate (GOM) analysis. Five depressive types were generated. Pure Type I represented a mild form of melancholia in older, stable males, who showed a modest drug response. Pure Type II included obsessive-anxious symptoms in older patients who responded well to an MAOI drug, but poorly to placebo. Pure Type III was a mildly symptomatic form of depression which responded well to placebo. Pure Type IV included features of agitation, mood worsening later in the day, anorexia and depersonalization; it was commonly precipitated by external stress and MAOI treatment was more effective than placebo. In Pure Type V depression, patients were mostly younger females with high levels of symptomatology, atypical vegetative symptoms, unstable life-styles, disadvantaged backgrounds and a poor response to MAOI and placebo. These results resemble in many ways our earlier GOM study of depression, as well as other multivariate studies of depression in the literature.
SERS-active silver nanoparticles on electrospun nanofibers facilitated via oxygen plasma etching

Manipulating the interaction between inorganic building blocks and polymeric supporting materials is crucial in the fabrication and optimization of hybrid hierarchical nanostructures. Herein, oxygen plasma etching was used to modify electrospun nanofibers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) for facilitating the growth of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The PMMA nanofibers in the form of overlaid films, surface-decorated with Ag NPs, were explored as active substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Strong SERS enhancement was observed from the Ag NP–PMMA films, as well as individual nanofibers. Our work not only fabricated nanocomposite materials with controlled hierarchical structures and remarkable SERS performances, but also provided a versatile method in tuning interfacial interactions within nanostructured materials.
An Integrated Network/Planar Multiobjective Model for Routing and Siting for Hazardous Materials and Wastes

Dealing with hazardous materials and wastes has become a problem of major concern for countries throughout the world. This paper presents a model useful in making routing decision, for either material or waste shipments, and siting decisions for waste treatment facilities. Risk, cost, and risk equity are considered jointly in a multiobjective framework. Costs are treated as link attributes while risks, from both transport and treatment, are zonal attributes, pertaining to nonoverlapping geographic areas spread out over the plane. Risks accrue within these zones, due to shipments crossing nearby links or wastes being processed, stored or disposed of at nearby treatment facilities. Total risk is the sum of the zonal risks. Equity is measured as the maximum zonal risk per unit population. Shippers will find the model useful in optimizing their logistics plans. Government agencies will find it helpful in determining how regulations should be set to obtain publicly desirable routing and siting patterns. The mo...
Use of Surrogates to Predict the Stressor Response of Imperiled Species

Rare or narrowly distributed species may be threatened by stressors to which they have never been exposed or for which data are very limited. In such cases the species response cannot be predicted on the basis of directly measured data, but may be inferred from the response of one or more appropriate surrogate species. Here, I propose a practical way to use the stressor response of one or more surrogate species to develop a working hypothesis or model of the stressor response of the target species. The process has 4 steps: (1) identify one or more candidate surrogate species, (2) model the relationship between the stressor and the response variable of interest for the surrogate species, (3) adapt the stressor-response relationship from the surrogate species to a model for the target species, possibly using Bayesian methods, and (4) incorporate additional data as they become available and adjust the response model of the target species appropriately. I applied the approach to an endangered fish species, the amber darter (Percina antesella), which is potentially threatened by urbanization. I used a Bayesian approach to combine data from a surrogate species (the bronze darter (Percina palmaris)) with available data for the amber darter to produce a model of expected amber darter response. Although this approach requires difficult decisions on the part of the manager, especially in the selection of surrogate species, its value lies in the fact that all assumptions are clearly stated in the form of hypotheses, which may be scrutinized and tested. It therefore provides a rational basis for instituting management policy even in the face of considerable uncertainty.
Giant cell (temporal) arteritis: A treatable cause of multi‐infarct dementia

Dementia occurs infrequently in patients with giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA). Three elderly women with biopsy-proven GCA showed abrupt cognitive decline during periods of clinically active GCA, 1 to 6 months after diagnostic temporal artery biopsy, during periods of corticosteroid taper. One patient had additional clinical signs of cerebral infarction and other ischemic phenomena. Reinstitution of higher oral doses of corticosteroids successfully prevented further cognitive losses and permitted gradual but incomplete improvement of cognitive function in 1 patient. Neuropsychologic data from 2 patients 7 to 10 months after temporal artery biopsy suggested multifocal cognitive impairment, and the 3rd patient appeared clinically to be globally, severely demented. Neuroimaging studies revealed multiple areas of infarction, predominantly in the posterior circulation territory. One patient had bilateral vertebral artery occlusions (digital subtraction angiography) and bilaterally reduced carotid system perfusion pressures (oculoplethysmography). There were no associated cardiovascular risk factors or family history of dementia in these patients.
Working set-based access control for network file systems

Securing access to files is an important and growing concern in corporate environments. Employees are increasingly accessing files from untrusted devices, including personal home computers and mobile devices, such as smart phones, which are not under the control of the corporation, and may be infected with viruses, worms, and other malware. In such cases, it is crucial to protect the confidentiality and integrity of corporate data from malicious accesses.This paper proposes a novel scheme called Working Set-Based Access Control (WSBAC) to restrict network file system accesses from untrusted devices. The key idea is to continuously observe and extract working sets for users when they access files from trusted devices and use the working sets to restrict user file accesses from untrusted devices. This paper reports on the design and implementation of tools to automatically extract working sets, and transparently enforce WSBAC without requiring changes to the file system. Our experiments with realistic network file system traces lead us to conclude that WSBAC offers a flexible yet secure way to restrict access from untrusted devices, and that the runtime overheads of WSBAC enforcement are negligible.
Probabilistic modeling of microstructure evolution using finite element representation of statistical correlation functions

Abstract A probabilistic finite element scheme is presented for simulating evolution of polycrystalline microstructures during deformation. The microstructure is described using conditional orientation correlation function (COCF), defined as the probability density of occurrence of a crystal orientation g′ at a distance r from a given orientation g. The COCF is represented using three interconnected layers of finite element meshes in the g′, r and g spaces. As the microstructure evolves, the reoriented neighborhood and strain fields close to an orientation (g) are captured by updating probability fields in these finite element meshes. For this purpose, a novel total Lagrangian approach has been developed that allows evolution of probability densities while satisfying normalization constraints, probability interdependencies and symmetries. The improvement in prediction of texture and strains achieved by the COCF approach over ODF-based methods is quantified through deformation analysis of a planar polycrystalline microstructure.
AXIAL SKELETON ONTOGENY IN THE PARASUCHIA (ARCHOSAURIA: PSEUDOSUCHIA) AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR ONTOGENETIC DETERMINATION IN ARCHOSAURS

Abstract The sequence of neurocentral suture closure is one criterion for the determination of ontogenetic stage in extant crocodylians. This pattern is frequently used to assess ontogeny for a variety of fossil archosaurs that may or may not follow the same sequence and timing of suture closure. Phytosaurs are one of the few basal archosaur groups with a sample size large enough to help test whether the crocodylian pattern of suture closure is plesiomorphic for Pseudosuchia and Archosauria. Analysis of a large sample of North American phytosaur specimens confirms that phytosaurs share the crocodylian state of closure, and so this pattern is probably plesiomorphic for the Pseudosuchia. An additional independent ontogenetic trend observed in phytosaurs is that the lateral fossae on cervical vertebrae in phytosaurs deepen with ontogeny. A preliminary survey indicates that there is considerable variation of both the sequence and timing of neurocentral suture closure in other archosaur clades. Therefore, it i...
A meta-analysis of biodiversity responses to management of southeastern pine forests—opportunities for open pine conservation

Abstract Open canopy conditions in southeastern pine (Pinus spp.) forests were historically maintained by frequent fire and other disturbances, without which midstory hardwoods create closed canopy conditions limiting value of pine stands for many endemic, disturbance-adapted species. Intensively managed pine forests, which comprise 19% of forests in the southeastern U.S., can emulate historical open pine conditions, providing appropriate vegetation structure and composition for many endemic species. However, exact mechanisms for producing and maintaining open pine conditions and subsequent effects on biodiversity have not been examined across regions and stand ages. To better inform managers about options for providing open pine conditions in intensively managed pine stands, we used meta-analyses to examine biodiversity and open pine focal species responses to 5 stand establishment intensities and 4 mid-rotation practices (prescribed fire, selective herbicide, fire and herbicide combination, and thinning). We calculated 1742 biodiversity and 169 open pine focal species effect sizes from 42 publications of manipulative studies at 14 unique study sites in managed loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) forests in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the southeastern U.S. We quantified diversity and abundance responses by taxa and management practices for vegetation, birds, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and invertebrates. Diversity and abundance responses generally decreased as stand establishment intensity increased, but those reductions appeared to be short-term (