cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy subsidy as a criterion in food policy planning.

The assessment of the energy requirement to a production process is one way of assessing the long term viability of such a process. Food production, both agricultural and industrial, are assessed in energy terms for 131 food producing systems. By relating the data to land area utilised in the production process, a methodology is revealed which is useful in long range planning for food production, especially applicable to the less developed countries. It appears that for such countries the industrial methods currently being developed are not necessarily in the best interests of these countries but are more suited to highly developed countries with assured sources of energy.
Determining the preferred modality for real-time biofeedback during balance training

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy has been shown to improve balance and gait stability in individuals with vestibular deficits. However, patient compliance with prescribed home exercise programs is variable. Real-time feedback of exercise performance can potentially improve exercise execution, exercise motivation, and rehabilitation outcomes. The goal of this study is to directly compare the effects of visual and vibrotactile feedback on postural performance to inform the selection of a feedback modality for inclusion in a home-based balance rehabilitation device. Eight subjects (46.6±10.6years) with peripheral vestibular deficits and eight age-matched control subjects (45.3±11.1years) participated in the study. Subjects performed eyes-open tandem Romberg stance trials with (vibrotactile, discrete visual, continuous visual, and multimodal) and without (baseline) feedback. Main outcome measures included medial-lateral (M/L) and anterior-posterior mean and standard deviation of body tilt, percent time spent within a no-feedback zone, and mean score on a comparative ranking survey. Both groups improved performance for each feedback modality compared to baseline, with no significant differences in performance observed among vibrotactile, discrete visual, or multimodal feedback for either group. Subjects with vestibular deficits performed best with continuous visual feedback and ranked it highest. Although the control subjects performed best with continuous visual feedback in terms of mean M/L tilt, they ranked it lowest. Despite the observed improvements, continuous visual feedback involves tracking a moving target, which was noted to induce dizziness in some subjects with vestibular deficits and cannot be used during exercises in which head position is actively changed or during eyes-closed conditions.
Challenging delivery of VLHL NS plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 by osmotic pumps in diabetic mouse: A case report

ALZET(®) osmotic pumps are implantable devices used in animals for the continuous infusion of drugs or proteins at controlled rates from 1 day to 4 weeks. Pumps have been used successfully in a number of studies on the effects of controlled delivery of a wide range of experimental agents, independent of their properties. In the present study, use of these pumps was made in mice with diabetic nephropathy. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) mediates diabetic nephropathy, which is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the kidney. Disproportionate PAI-1 inactivates tissue plasminogen activator, which is one of the proteolytic enzymes in a cascade responsible for ECM remodeling in the kidney. The decrease of PAI-1 in the kidney has been shown to arrest the progression of nephropathy in experimental animals. This was achieved using inactive PAI-1R which increased the clearance of wild-type PAI-1 in order to protect net proteolytic activity and ECM clearance. However, this protein has a brief half-life in vivo, therefore, high and frequent doses are required. Thus, VLHL NS PAI-1 protein with a long half-life of over 700 h (Gln197Cys, Gly355Cys) inactivated by single point mutation (Arg369Ala) was used. Following the sacrifice of animals the tips of the flow moderators of the osmotic pumps in the treated animals were found to be clogged. In addition, from each pump from the treatment group, but not controls, we collected 50-150 μl of clear liquid containing VLHL NS PAI-1, cellular and serum proteins suggesting early pump sealing by cellular material. In conclusion, despite encouraging results obtained for the PAI-1R protein, the method of VLHL PAI-1 delivery should be ameliorated.
Evidence for central reorganization of ventilatory chemoreflex pathways in the cat during regeneration of visceral afferents in the carotid sinus nerve.

Abstract There are two sets of peripheral arterial chemoreceptors in the cat, the carotid bodies innervated by the carotid sinus nerve and the aortic bodies with afferents in the aortic depressor nerves. Reflex stimulation of ventilation in response to hypoxia is abolished acutely after interrupting the sensory pathway from the carotid body chemoreceptors in the cat even though the reflex pathway from the aortic body chemoreceptors is intact. However, in chronically maintained preparations, there is a restoration of the hypoxic response which is mediated by the aortic chemoreflex pathway. It was proposed that restoration was due to a ‘central reorganization’ of chemoreflex pathways which followed interruption of the sensory pathway from the carotid bodies and that the reorganization enhanced the efficacy of the aortic ventilation chemoreflex. This proposal was tested in the present experiments by measuring reflex ventilatory and cardiovascular responses to electrical stimulation of the sensory nerves containing aortic and carotid chemoreceptor afferents following bilateral interruption of carotid sinus nerves and carotid body resection. Responses measured acutely (1–6 h) after interruption were compared with those measured 60–80 and 110–140 days later. At 60–80 days, a chemoreflex response (increase in tidal volume of ventilation) to stimulation of the interrupted carotid sinus sensory pathway was markedly attenuated while the response to stimulation of the uninterrupted pathway in aortic depressor nerves was enhanced. At 110–140 days, the tidal volume response to carotid sinus nerve stimulation was greatly enhanced while the aortic depressor nerve response declined from the elevated level. There were significant but less pronounced changes in the response of other ventilatory and cardiovascular variables to aortic depressor nerve and carotid sinus nerve stimulation. The results support the idea that there is a ‘central reorganization’ of chemoreflex pathways which is reflected functionally by changes in the efficacy of reflexes evoked from aortic depressor nerve and carotid sinus nerve. The changes are analagous to those occurring in somatic reflexes during regeneration of sensory nerves. It is suggested that the changes in efficacy of carotid sinus nerve reflexes are due to a degenerative loss of synapses of the central projections of interrupted carotid sinus nerve sensory axons (degenerative atrophy) and subsequent regenerative like changes (regenerative proliferation) in the central projections. The changes in the efficacy of aortic depressor nerve reflexes may be attributed to formation of new synapses by converging central projections of this uninterrupted pathway (reactive synaptogenesis) and subsequent regression of the newly formed synapses.
Lymphedema: How Do We Diagnose and Reduce the Risk of This Dreaded Complication of Breast Cancer Treatment?

Lymphedema is an under-recognized, progressive, life-long condition estimated to impact 2-3 million people in the United States. The incidence of breast cancer related lymphedema varies greatly in the literature largely due to different measurement techniques, competing thresholds for defining lymphedema, and variation in length of follow-up. Multiple imaging techniques have become useful for diagnosis. Lymphoscintigraphy is one of the most commonly used, as it can identify pathways of lymphatic drainage, quantify extent of dermal backflow, and help determine functional and morphologic changes in the lymphatic system. Early detection and intervention hold the greatest promise of reducing the incidence of lymphedema. Health care providers involved with cancer patients need to become more educated about lymphedema, aware of current risk-reduction practices, and familiar with methods of diagnosis and assessment, so that patients with early swelling can be referred to lymphedema treatment specialists at a time when treatment is more effective.
Late 19th- and Early 20th-Century Discussions of Animal Magnetism

The mesmerists explained the phenomena of what was later called hypnosis as the effects of a force called animal magnetism. Both psychologists' and physicians' writings generally create the impression that the magnetic movement disappeared after the mid-19th century. While the concept of animal magnetism declined significantly by the end of the 19th century, it did not disappear completely. Some examples include the work of Hector Durville, Henri Durville, Emile Magnin, and Edmund Shaftesbury. Detailed accounts of the work of Edmund Gurney and Albert de Rochas are presented. Similar to its earlier counterpart, the late mesmeric movement was associated with what today is known as parapsychological phenomena. This association, and the belief that the demise of magnetic theory represents scientific progress, has led many to emphasize a history that is incomplete.
Data-parallel computing

Users always care about performance. Although often it's just a matter of making sure the software is doing only what it should, there are many cases where it is vital to get down to the metal and leverage the fundamental characteristics of the processor.Until recently, performance improvement was not difficult. Processors just kept getting faster. Waiting a year for the customer's hardware to be upgraded was a valid optimization strategy. Nowadays, however, individual processors don't get much faster; systems just get more of them.Much comment has been made on coding paradigms to target multiple-processor cores, but the data-parallel paradigm is a newer approach that may just turn out to be easier to code to, and easier for processor manufacturers to implement.This article provides a high-level description of data-parallel computing and some practical information on how and where to use it. It also covers data-parallel programming environments, paying particular attention to those based on programmable graphics processors.
Continuous Photopolymerization of n-Butyl Acrylate Using a Narrow Channel Reactor

This study highlights the potential of using ultraviolet (UV) radiation for initiating polymerization of n-butyl acrylate (BA) in a narrow channel reactor made of borosilicate. A continuous flow system using a 90 cm long glass reactor with a circular cross section (1.5 mm internal diameter) was used in conjunction with a UV flood lamp having peak intensity at 365 nm. A series of experiments were performed in order to study the influence of UV intensity, initiator concentration, and space time on conversion and molecular weight distribution. A mathematical model incorporating the reactor geometry has been developed for predicting the conversions, and the results were compared with the experimental findings. Experimental results from this work have been benchmarked against continuous thermal polymerization studies.
A Systematic and Transparent Approach for Assessing the Methodological Quality of Intervention Effectiveness Research: The Study Design and Implementation Assessment Device (Study DIAD).

Assessments of studies meant to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, programs, and policies can serve an important role in the interpretation of research results. However, evidence suggests that available quality assessment tools have poor measurement characteristics and can lead to opposing conclusions when applied to the same body of studies. These tools tend to (a) be insufficiently operational, (b) rely on arbitrary post-hoc decision rules, and (c) result in a single number to represent a multidimensional construct. In response to these limitations, a multilevel and hierarchical instrument was developed in consultation with a wide range of methodological and statistical experts. The instrument focuses on the operational details of studies and results in a profile of scores instead of a single score to represent study quality. A pilot test suggested that satisfactory between-judge agreement can be obtained using well-trained raters working in naturalistic conditions. Limitations of the instrument are discussed, but these are inherent in making decisions about study quality given incomplete reporting and in the absence of strong, contextually based information about the effects of design flaws on study outcomes.
Vitamin D: a new hope for chronic kidney disease ?

Vitamin D analogs may slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. Tan et al. report that paricalcitol has additive effects with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) in suppressing extracellular matrix expression, interstitial inflammation, and myofibroblast activation in obstructive nephropathy. Paricalcitol inhibited renin transcription, countering the compensatory ACEI-induced rise in renin, thus achieving a more complete blockade of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). Vitamin D analogs may enhance the renoprotective effects of RAS inhibitors.
Hopping conduction and optical properties of amorphous chalcogenide films

Abstract The frequency dependence of conductivity at room temperature has been measured for amorphous films of As2Te3, Te2AsSi, and a composition containing Te, As, Si, and Ge. Results were similar for the three compositions. The conductivity could be considered to consist of two components, a frequency independent component σ0 and a frequency dependent component σ1; the latter varied as ωs with s usually around 0.8 to 0.9. The component σ1 attained a magnitude comparable to σ0 at 105 to 106 Hz, except in the case of point contacts with light contact pressures, where capacitive coupling increased the magnitude of σ1 relative to σ0. The component σ1 is attributed to a hopping mechanism and σ0 is attributed to intrinsic band conduction. Optical data for the fundamental absorption edge is also included.
Abnormal sodium stimulation of carnitine transport in primary carnitine deficiency.

Abstract Primary carnitine deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder of fatty acid oxidation characterized by hypoketotic hypoglycemia and skeletal and cardiac myopathy. It is caused by mutations in the sodium-dependent carnitine cotransporter OCTN2. The majority of natural mutations identified in this and other Na+/solute symporters introduce premature termination codons or impair insertion of the mutant transporter on the plasma membrane. Here we report that a missense mutation (E452K) identified in one patient with primary carnitine deficiency did not affect membrane targeting, as assessed with confocal microscopy of transporters tagged with the green fluorescent protein, but reduced carnitine transport by impairing sodium stimulation of carnitine transport. The natural mutation increased the concentration of sodium required to half-maximally stimulate carnitine transport (K Na) from the physiological value of 11.6 to 187 mm. Substitution of Glu452 with glutamine (E452Q), aspartate (E452D), or alanine (E452A) caused intermediate increases in the K Na. Carnitine transport decreased exponentially with increased K Na. The E452K mutation is the first natural mutation in a mammalian cotransporter affecting sodium-coupled solute transfer and identifies a novel domain of the OCTN2 cotransporter involved in transmembrane sodium/solute transfer.
Collaboration Derailed: The Politics of “Community-Based” Resource Management in Nevada County

Collaborative natural resource management (CNRM) is often portrayed as a way to find “win–win” solutions that move “beyond ” bitter adversarial politics. Research on failures of CNRM emphasizes institutional and procedural barriers. In contrast, using a study of a failed CNRM program in Nevada County, California, we emphasize the role of intracommunity politics. We build on work by Few (2001) that examines political “containment” and “capture” of collaborative processes. In Nevada County, we identify another political tactic: the strategic use of “derailment” of CNRM by powerful interests to achieve goals outside the collaborative process. Expanding upon Amy (1987), we suggest that this example illustrates that collaboration is not separate from, or “beyond,” politics. CNRM can become an avenue of power that social groups use to achieve broader political ends. This calls into question the general optimism about CNRM and the current emphasis on making it “work” by refining institutions and procedures.
Disagreement in spousal reports of current contraceptive use in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Contraceptive prevalence is a key variable estimated from Demographic and Health Surveys. But the prevalence estimated from reports of husbands differs widely from that estimated for wives. In this research, using data from six Demographic and Health Surveys of sub-Saharan Africa, reports from spouses in monogamous couples with no other reported sex partners in the recent period are examined. Agreement ranged from 47% to 82%, but among couples in which one or both reported use, the 'both' category represented less than half in all nations except Zimbabwe. Husbands generally had higher reports of condoms, periodic abstinence and pills but fewer reports of the IUD, injections and female sterilization. Either discussion of family planning with the spouse and/or higher socioeconomic status was associated with agreement in most of the surveys. Ambiguities in the survey question regarding current use need to be reduced, perhaps with an added probe question for non-permanent methods.
HIV-1 persistence in CD4+ T cells with stem cell-like properties

Cellular HIV-1 reservoirs that persist despite antiretroviral treatment are incompletely defined. We show that during suppressive antiretroviral therapy, CD4 + T memory stem cells (TSCM) harbor high per-cell levels of HIV-1 DNA, and make increasing contributions to the total viral CD4 + T cell reservoir over time. Moreover, phylogenetic studies suggested long-term persistence of viral quasispecies in CD4 + TSCM cells. Thus, HIV-1 may exploit stem cell characteristics of cellular immune memory to promote long-term viral persistence.
Impaired epithelial Na+ channel activity contributes to cystogenesis and development of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease in PCK rats.

Impaired epithelial Na + channel activity contributes to cystogenesis and development of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease in PCK rats
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome in children

We report 3 children with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, review the literature, and discuss current concepts of diagnosis and management. In this disorder, pain, tenderness, swelling, vasomotor instability, and dystrophic skin changes frequently develop after minor injury. The clinical diagnosis is supported by osteopenia detected on radiographs and either increased or decreased radionuclide uptake on bone scan of the affected extremity. Treatment with a graduated program of physical therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is beneficial in almost all patients. In contrast to adults, the prognosis of childhood reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome is favorable; most children recover completely after one episode.
Spatial relationship of the Fis binding sites for Hin recombinational enhancer activity

Site-specific recombination reactions involve the joining or rearrangement of discrete DNA segments in a highly precise manner. A site-specific DNA inversion regulates the expression of flagellin genes in Salmonella by switching the orientation of a promoter1,2. Analysis of the reaction has shown that, in addition to DNA sequences at the two boundaries of the 1-kilobase invertible segment where strand exchange occurs, another cis acting sequence is required for efficient inversion3. This 60-base-pair enhancer-like sequence can function at many different locations and in either orientation in a plasmid substrate. It includes two binding sites for a host protein called Factor II or Fis (refs 4 and 5). Here we have investigated the importance of the spatial relationship between the two Fis binding sites for enhancer activity and have found that the correct helical positioning of the binding sites on the DNA is critical. However, this result could not be accounted for by effects on Fis binding. We propose a model for enhancer function in which the enhancer region acts to align the recombination sites into a specific conformation required for productive synapsis.
Theory of nuclear multifragmentation: (II). Post-transition dynamics

Abstract Recently, expressions were derived for the rate at which a highly excited nucleus breaks up into several interacting prefragments. The present work treats the dynamical evolution of the system subsequent to such a transition. The post-transition system is described as a number of distinct prefragments that experience both conservative and dissipative pairwise interactions, obtained by a suitable generalization of the dynamics governing damped nuclear reactions. The post-transition dynamics has a significant effect on the disassembly process. Most importantly, some prefragments may fuse in the course of the evolution, thus reducing the heavy-fragment multiplicity. The nuclear dissipation enhances this effect, while the survival probability of a specific mass partition is significantly increased when the source is endowed with an overall radial flow.
Downscaling temperature and precipitation: a comparison of regression‐based methods and artificial neural networks

A comparison of two statistical downscaling methods for daily maximum and minimum surface air temperature, total daily precipitation and total monthly precipitation at Indianapolis, IN, USA, is presented. The analysis is conducted for two seasons, the growing season and the non-growing season, defined based on variability of surface air temperature. The predictors used in the downscaling are indices of the synoptic scale circulation derived from rotated principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis of variables extracted from an 18-year record from seven rawinsonde stations in the Midwest region of the United States. PCA yielded seven significant components for the growing season and five significant components for the non-growing season. These PCs explained 86% and 83% of the original rawinsonde data for the growing and non-growing seasons, respectively. Cluster analysis of the PC scores using the average linkage method resulted in eight growing season synoptic types and twelve non-growing synoptic types. The downscaling of temperature and precipitation is conducted using PC scores and cluster frequencies in regression models and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Regression models and ANNs yielded similar results, but the data for each regression model violated at least one of the assumptions of regression analysis. As expected, the accuracy of the downscaling models for temperature was superior to that for precipitation. The accuracy of all temperature models was improved by adding an autoregressive term, which also changed the relative importance of the dominant anomaly patterns as manifest in the PC scores. Application of the transfer functions to model daily maximum and minimum temperature data from an independent time series resulted in correlation coefficients of 0.34–0.89. In accord with previous studies, the precipitation models exhibited lesser predictive capabilities. The correlation coefficient for predicted versus observed daily precipitation totals was less than 0.5 for both seasons, while that for monthly total precipitation was below 0.65. The downscaling techniques are discussed in terms of model performance, comparison of techniques and possible model improvements. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society.
A Korovkin Type Approximation Theorem and Its Applications

We present a Korovkin type approximation theorem for a sequence of positive linear operators defined on the space of all real valued continuous and periodic functions via A-statistical approximation, for the rate of the third order Ditzian-Totik modulus of smoothness. Finally, we obtain an interleave between Riesz's representation theory and Lebesgue-Stieltjes integral-i, for Riesz's functional supremum formula via statistical limit.
Bacterial agglutinin activity in the saliva of human identical and fraternal twins

The major factor in human saliva responsible for the specific aggregation of oral streptococci is a high molecular-weight glycoprotein (agglutinin). To determine if the level of this glycoprotein in whole and parotid saliva was genetically determined, agglutinin activity for Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mutans in saliva obtained from identical and fraternal twins was compared. Evidence for the heritability of agglutinin activity and also parotid flow rate and total protein was obtained. There was no evidence for a significant genetic contribution to salivary sodium concentration.
INFLUENCE OF HORMONES ON LYMPHOID TISSUE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION. THE ROLE OF THE PITUITARY ADRENOTROPHIC HORMONE IN THE REGULATION OF THE LYMPHOCYTES AND OTHER CELLULAR ELEMENTS OF THE BLOOD1

THE WIDE VARIATIONS in the numbers of the blood cells in health and disease have not encouraged investigators to postulate a common regulatory mechanism controlling these elements. Yet the existence of numerical limits between which the blood cells fluctuate in the normal subject is remarkable in view of the proliferative capacity of the blood-forming tissues. It seems likely that mechanisms exist which restrain the degree to which the cellular products of these tissues accumulate. An influence of various endocrine glands on hematopoietic tissues has been suggested by several investigators on the basis of clinical observations. This subject has been reviewed by Drinker and Yoffey (1941). It is the object of this paper to present experimental evidence that the pituitary adrenotrophic hormone is a factor in the regulation of the number of blood lymphocytes. This hormone may also be concerned with the regulation of certain bone marrow elements.
Evaluation Applications of Regression Analysis with Time-series Data

Time-series analysis can be a powerful evaluation tool whose use was suggested as early as 1963 by Campbell and Stanley. A number of authors have used time-series analysis for evaluation purposes. For example, Gillings, Makuc, and Siegel (1981) used time-series analysis to assess the effect of regionalized perinatal care. Veney and Luckey (1983) used time-series analysis to evaluate the effect of changes in highway speed limit laws on highway accident deaths. Deutsch and Alt (1977) and Zimring (1975) used time-series analysis to assess the effect of gun control. Guerin and MacKinnon (1985) used it to examine child seat belt legislation. Valuable methodological contributions to the evaluation uses of timeseries analysis have been made by Mandell (1987) and by Sawyer (1987). Despite this work, which spans a period of nearly twenty years, time series analysis still receives little attention in the evaluation practice literature. The purpose of this paper is to describe the application of time-series analysis, and particularly the use of regression analysis for analyzing time series in a way that may make it more readily accessible to an evaluation practice audience. In particular, this paper will provide practical guidelines for applying regression analysis to time-series data of a type that may be readily available to decision makers in government agencies, health and social service agencies, ministries of health or social welfare in developing countries, or to other organizations that wish to better understand and evaluate program actions. The specific example used in this paper is drawn from the health sector and is an example from Sri Lanka concerned with tetanus toxoid immunization levels for expectant mothers and neonatal tetanus deaths. However, the techniques examined are broadly applicable to a variety of time-series analysis situations.’ The analysis methods discussed include linear and non-linear analysis with time as the independent variable, linear analysis with the level of tetanus toxoid immunizations as the independent variable, and a piecewise regression example that examines the interaction between time and both the start-up of a government immunization program and immunization levels. The paper also deals with problems of serial correlation of errors in time series and concludes with a discussion of interpretation and appropriate use of regression analysis in time-series situations.
Serum Interleukin (IL)-15 as a Biomarker of Alzheimer's Disease

Interleukin (IL-15), a pro-inflammatory cytokine has been studied as a possible marker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however its exact role in neuro-inflammation or the pathogenesis AD is not well understood yet. A Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) approach was used to examine the relationship between serum IL-15 levels and AD in a well characterized AD cohort, the Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC). Instead of categorical diagnoses, we used two latent construct d (for dementia) and g’ (for cognitive impairments not contributing to functional impairments) in our analysis. The results showed that the serum IL-15 level has significant effects on cognition, exclusively mediated by latent construct d and g’. Contrasting directions of association lead us to speculate that IL-15’s effects in AD are mediated through functional networks as d scores have been previously found to be specifically related to default mode network (DMN). Our finding warrants the need for further research to determine the changes in structural and functional networks corresponding to serum based biomarkers levels.
Molecular Evolution of Multisubunit RNA Polymerases: Sequence Analysis

Transcription in all cellular organisms is performed by multisubunit, DNA-dependent RNA polymerases that synthesize RNA from DNA templates. Previous sequence and structural studies have elucidated the importance of shared regions common to all multisubunit RNA polymerases. In addition, RNA polymerases contain multiple lineage-specific domain insertions involved in protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. We have created comprehensive multiple sequence alignments using all available sequence data for the multisubunit RNA polymerase large subunits, including the bacterial beta and beta' subunits and their homologs from archaebacterial RNA polymerases, the eukaryotic RNA polymerases I, II, and III, the nuclear-cytoplasmic large double-stranded DNA virus RNA polymerases, and plant plastid RNA polymerases. To overcome technical difficulties inherent to the large-subunit sequences, including large sequence length, small and large lineage-specific insertions, split subunits, and fused proteins, we created an automated and customizable sequence retrieval and processing system. In addition, we used our alignments to create a more expansive set of shared sequence regions and bacterial lineage-specific domain insertions. We also analyzed the intergenic gap between the bacterial beta and beta' genes.
Shrinkage during drying of silica gel

Abstract A model is provided for predicting gel shrinkage during drying by combining the empirical observations that: (1) the bulk modulus of a gel increases with density, ρ, according to K p = K 0 ( ρ ρ y ) m (2.5 ≤ m ≤ 4) ; and (2) the variation in pore radius, r, is approximately proportional to pore volume (contrary to the dependence, r α ρ −1 3 , conventionally assumed). No allowance is made for viscoelastic relaxation, so the model applies only for drying from an inert solvent. The model may be used to guide processing efforts to yield either aerogel-like materials with high porosity or xerogels with high density and small pore size for adsorbents, membranes, etc. The extent of shrinkage is governed by two dimensionless parameters, P and m. The quantity P = As γ cos (θ)mρ y K 0 (where As is specific surface area, γ is surface tension, and θ is the contact angle) represents the relative magnitudes of capillary pressure and gel stiffness, and m describes the variation of stiffness with density. For P values less than 1, the shrinkage upon drying is less than 10%, and is reversible. For shrinkages greater than ⋍ 50%, the density increase is irreversible, and is proportional to P 1/(m - 1). Predicted shrinkage is compared with experimental results for silica gels dried from different surface tension pore fluids (2
Cross-cumulants measure for independence

Abstract We propose a measure for independence of group of random variables, given by a sum of cross-cumulants of a given order n. A similar measure was known for the case of fourth-order cross-cumulants from the JADE algorithm for ICA (independent component analysis). We derive a formula for its calculation using cumulant tensors. In the case n = 4 our formula allows efficient calculation of this measure, using cumulant matrices. Much attention is devoted to the case of six-order cross-cumulants, aiming to show that this measure can be calculated using again cumulant matrices.
Application of two-dimensional continuous wavelet transform for pose estimation

We introduce a pose estimation method for SAR imagery using the 2D continuous wavelet transform (CWT). The computational complexity of the new approach is comparable to other image- based approaches such as ones that incorporate principle component analysis (PCA). Using the public domain MSTAR database, we show that the CWT-based method provides a better pose estimate than the PCA method.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Fluvastatin inhibits regulated secretion of endothelial cell von Willebrand factor in response to diverse secretagogues

Regulated secretion of EC (endothelial cell) vWF (von Willebrand factor) is part of the haemostatic response. It occurs in response to secretagogues that raise intracellular calcium or cAMP. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. We studied the effect of fluvastatin on regulated secretion of vWF from HUVEC (human umbilical-vein ECs). Secretion in response to thrombin, a protease-activated receptor-1 agonist peptide, histamine, forskolin and adrenaline (epinephrine) was inhibited. This inhibition was reversed by mevalonate or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, and mimicked by a geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor, demonstrating that the inhibitory mechanism includes inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation. To investigate this mechanism further, calcium handling and NO (nitric oxide) regulation were studied in fluvastatin-treated HUVEC. Intracellular calcium mobilization did not correlate with vWF secretion. Fluvastatin increased eNOS [endothelial NOS (NO synthase)] expression, but NOS inhibitors failed to reverse the effect of fluvastatin on vWF secretion. Exogenous NO did not inhibit thrombin-induced vWF secretion. Many small GTPases are geranylgeranylated and some are activated by secretagogues. We overexpressed DN (dominant negative) Rho GTPases, RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 (cell division cycle 42), in HUVEC. DNCdc42 conferred inhibition of thrombin- and forskolin-induced vWF secretion. We conclude that, via inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation, fluvastatin is a broadspectrum inhibitor of regulated vWF secretion. Geranylgeranylated small GTPases with functional roles in regulated secretion, such as Cdc42, are potential targets for the inhibitory activity of fluvastatin.
Pattern Recognition of Zooplankton Images Using a Circular Sampling Technique

Attempts to automate zooplankton measurement dates back to [1]. More recently, image processing and feature extraction techniques have been used as part of a pattern recognition process implemented with multicomputer systems. This paper examines the potential of a circular sampling technique that may replace the pattern recognition process with one processing step and one comparison step. Circular sampling is approximated by rearranging pixels to form a one dimensional sequence and is used for comparison with base images. The properties of these sequences are examined, using images from six major zooplankton categories, and their classification accuracy is investigated.
Gaussian-state theory of two-photon imaging

Spontaneous parametric downconversion produces entangled signal and idler fields that are in a zero-mean jointly Gaussian state whose postselected, low-brightness, low-flux limit is a biphoton. This paper applies Gaussian-state analysis to two biphoton-state quantum imaging scenarios: far field diffraction-pattern imaging; and broadband thin-lens imaging. It is shown that the spatial resolution behavior in both cases is controlled by the nonzero phase-sensitive cross correlation between the signal and idler fields. Thus, the same resolution can be achieved in these two configurations with classical-state signal and idler fields possessing a nonzero phase-sensitive cross correlation. In other words, the image formation process in these two scenarios is intrinsically classical coherence propagation.
Structure–activity studies of FIV and HIV protease inhibitors containing allophenylnorstatine

The interaction of P1 and P3 side chains with the combining S1 and S3 hydrophobic subsites of HIV and FIV proteases has been explored using asymmetric competitive inhibitors. The inhibitors evaluated contained (2S,3S)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid (allophenylnorstatine) as the hydroxymethylcarbonyl isostere, (R)-5,5-dimethyl-1, 3-thiazolidine-4-carbonyl as P1′, Val as P2 and P2′ residues, and a variety of amino acids at the P3 and P3′ positions. All inhibitors showed competitive inhibition of both enzymes with higher potency against the HIV protease in vitro. Within this series, 31 (VLE776) is the most effective inhibitor against FIV protease, and it contains Phe at P3, but no P3′ residue. VLE776 also exhibited potent antiviral activities against the drug-resistant HIV mutants (G48V and V82F) and the TL3-resistant HIV mutants. Explanation of the inhibition activities was described. In addition, a new strategy was described for development of bifunctional inhibitors, which combine the protease inhibitor and another enzyme inhibitor in one molecule.
High resolution near-bed observations in winter near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Science Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, is leading an effort to understand the regional sediment dynamics along the coastline of North and South Carolina. As part of the Carolinas Coastal Change Processes Project, a geologic framework study in June of 2008 by the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center's Sea Floor Mapping Group focused on the seaward limit of Diamond Shoals and provided high resolution bathymetrie data, surficial sediment characteristics, and subsurface geologic stratigraphy. These data also provided unprecedented guidance to identify deployment locations for tripods and moorings to investigate the processes that control sediment transport at Diamond Shoals. Equipment was deployed at three sites from early January, 2009 through early May, 2009: north and south of the shoals at 15 m depth, and at the tip at 24 m depth. Many strong storm systems were recorded during that time period. Mounted on the tripods were instruments to measure surface waves, pressure, current velocity, bottom turbulence, suspended-sediment profiles, and sea-floor sand-ripple bedforms. Many instruments were designed and programmed to sample in high resolution in time and space, as fast as 8 Hz hourly bursts and as small as 6 cm bin sizes in near bottom profiles. A second tripod at the north site also held a visual camera system and sonar imaging system which document seafloor bedforms. The region is known for its dynamics, and one of the tripods tipped over towards the end of the experiment. A preliminary look at the data suggests the region is characterized by high energy. Raw data from a burst recorded at the south site on Mar. 26th show instantaneous flow speed at 150 cm/s at 0.5 m above the seabed. This paper reports preliminary highlights of the observations, based on raw data, and lessons learned from a deployment of large tripod systems in such a dynamic location.
Atomistic Modeling of Realistically Extended Semiconductor Devices with NEMO and OMEN

Researchers have continually developed the Nanoelectronic Modeling (NEMO) toolset over the past 15 years to provide insight into nanoscale semiconductor devices that are dominated by quantum mechanical effects. The ability to represent realistically large devices on an atomistic basis has been the key element in matching experimental data and guiding experiments. The resulting insights led to the creation of OMEN, a new simulation engine.
Cosmology and broken discrete symmetry

It is argued that under various circumstances spontaneously broken discrete symmetry, which is commonly thought to lead to grave cosmological problems, need not do so. A particularly interesting example is the two-doublet version of the standard model. This extended model avoids unacceptable flavor-changing neutral currents in a natural way only if an appropriate discrete symmetry is postulated. Here it is shown that this discrete symmetry is anomalous. As a result, when it is spontaneously broken it does not produce stable domain walls (which would be problematic for cosmology). Instead an interesting cosmological scenario results, which incorporates substantial deviations from thermal equilibrium at the QCD scale. If axions are used to address the strong CP problem, then the analysis is altered. Depending on the Peccei-Quinn charge assignments, domain walls may be either stable or nonexistent.
Spawning by lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Detroit River

Summary Overfishing and habitat destruction in the early 1900s devastated lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) populations in the Great Lakes. Although a comprehensive restoration strategy for this species was recently drafted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, a lack of current data on Great Lakes sturgeon stocks has hindered rehabilitation efforts. Historically, the Detroit River supported one of the largest lake sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes; however, little is known about the current population or its habitat use. The main objective of this study was to determine if lake sturgeon spawns in the Detroit River. As part of a larger study, baited setlines were used to capture lake sturgeon in the Detroit River in the spring and summer of 2000 and 2001. In each year of the study, ultrasonic transmitters were surgically implanted in 10 adult fish to track their movements, evaluate habitat use and identify possible spawning sites. Using telemetry and egg mats to verify spawning activity, one spawning site was located and verified in the Detroit River. Spawning was verified by recovering sturgeon eggs deposited on egg collection mats anchored at the site. Telemetry data suggested that several other possible spawning sites also may exist, however, spawning activity was not verified at these sites.
Fever of Unknown Origin: A Diagnostic Approach to This Vexing Problem

Fever is a common complaint leading families to seek medical attention. Its routine management is the bread and butter of pediatric practice. When fever is seen as prolonged beyond the expected time course (eg, 10 days for a presumed viral respiratory tract infection or 3 weeks for mononucleosis), concern for fever of unknown origin (FUO) may ensue. This diagnosis is among the most challenging for health care providers to approach and often involves referral to subspecialists. Generally, the pace of the evaluation should be guided by the severity of the disease, rather than the anxiety of the family or of the health care providers. It is useful to recognize that uncommon manifestations of common diseases are more likely than are rare diseases. Furthermore, clues to the diagnosis are frequently present in the history and physical examination but are not elicited or unappreciated (perhaps due to time constraints). Therefore, thoroughness and repetition are vitally important. Although the differential diagnosis of FUO is vast, a thoughtful, focused approach based on information gleaned from a thorough history and physical examination (together with any laboratory or other study results) is preferable to a "shotgun" or "running the list" one. Finally, FUO in special populations, including children in the hospital, those with HIV infection or other immunocompromise, and those in the developing world, require special consideration. Most children do well, compared to adults with FUO, but true FUO is not always a benign condition, necessitating the best care a health care provider can offer.
The Adjustment of Children with Divorced Parents: A Risk and Resiliency Perspective

This review addresses major questions about divorce, around which much contemporary research is oriented. These involve questions of the consequences of divorce for the adjustment of children and the vulnerability and resiliency of children in coping with divorce, whether children are better off in a conflictual intact family situation or a divorced family, and how mothers, fathers, and clinical or educational interventions can moderate the effects of divorce. Although research in the past decade has yielded considerable information about these questions, issues that need further investigation are also presented.
VISUALIZING THE ENTRAPMENT OF AIR POCKETS IN THE SHELL OF A HEMODIALYZER DURING WET-OUT

An experimental study of the wet-out of the shell-side of a commercial hollow fiber hemodialyzer is presented. Using X-ray Computed Tomography, we followed the movement of water into the shell of an initially dry unit. Local values of fiber packing fraction were also determined from the dry images. During wet-out, water moved preferentially through regions of lower fiber packing. Additionally, air pockets were observed in regions of higher fiber packing that were bordered by regions of lower fiber packing. Thus, hydraulic permeability differences, due to non-uniform fiber packing, provide one mechanism for air entrapment.
Using first differences to reduce inhomogeneity in radiosonde temperature datasets

Abstract The utility of a “first difference” method for producing temporally homogeneous large-scale mean time series is assessed. Starting with monthly averages, the method involves dropping data around the time of suspected discontinuities and then calculating differences in temperature from one year to the next, resulting in a time series of year-to-year differences for each month at each station. These first difference time series are then combined to form large-scale means, and mean temperature time series are constructed from the first difference series. When applied to radiosonde temperature data, the method introduces random errors that decrease with the number of station time series used to create the large-scale time series and increase with the number of temporal gaps in the station time series. Root-mean-square errors for annual means of datasets produced with this method using over 500 stations are estimated at no more than 0.03 K, with errors in trends less than 0.02 K decade−1 for 1960–97 a...
Modelos fundamentais de moeda

Este artigo oferece uma breve discussao dos chamados modelos fundamentais de moeda, onde a caracteristica principal e a presenca de friccoes no processo de troca e o tratamento da moeda como um fenomeno de equilibrio. Esta caracteristica separa estes modelos de abordagens onde a moeda tem valor porque existe uma restricao tecnologica estabelecendo que um subconjunto de trocas tem que ser mediado pelo uso de moeda, e modelos onde a moeda tem valor porque entra diretamente na funcao utilidade dos agentes.