cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Re-Newing New Orleans: A Look at Why New Urbanism is the Key to Rebuilding New Orleans

The widespread destruction of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina represents a unique opportunity to rebuild the public infrastructure and residential landscape of a major city on a different set of principles for urban planning and design. This exploratory article reviews the social and demographic condition of the city of New Orleans before and after the national disaster, presents new urbanism as a potential framework for urban renewal, and provides a case study of the Hill District in Pittsburgh as a model for local policymakers.
Archeologist-Ethnographer-Informant Relations: The Dynamics of Ethnoarcheology in the Field

An ethnoarcheological investigation in the Canadian subarctic is used to evaluate the role of native informant-field assistants (Chipewyan, Cree, Metis) in the research process. While many informants provide insightful reflections on the recent historical past, “on-site” informant-assistants offer the most meaningful contributions. The latter help locate archeological residues, accompany researchers to sites during survey and/of excavation, identify artifacts and, most significantly, present their own distinctive conceptions of what the material world represents. These differing conceptions are simultaneously vexing and revealing, giving rise to new dilemmas and questions. Is archeology (or ethnoarcheology) a positivist or interpretive social science? If it is a positivist enterprise, how do we identify this as separate from our personal interpretations of the past? Whose truth or perception of the truth do we embrace? These issues are explored as ethnoarcheologists and their informants struggle for a common understanding of artifacts, features, sites and expressions of ethnicity.
Few-mode fibers for mode division multiplexing transmission

A study is presented of the fiber properties needed to achieve 10-mode multiplexing transmission. A combination of MIMO processing with optical LP mode separation is proposed to prevent the need for massive MIMO computation. The impact of mode crosstalk, differential mode delay, and the mode dependent loss of the few-mode fibers on mode multiplexing are discussed.
Incidence of vocal fold paralysis in infants undergoing ligation of patent ductus arteriosus

Background. Left-sided, iatrogenic vocal fold paralysis (IVFP) secondary to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a potential complication of ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). This study investigates specific risk factors associated with IVFP. Methods. A retrospective chart review was performed for all infants 12 months of age or younger who underwent operative PDA closure at the University of Iowa from January 1, 1991, to January 1, 1994. Results. Six cases of IVFP were diagnosed in 68 infants who underwent PDA ligation using clips (52.9%), suture ligatures (41.2%), or both (5.9%). Compared with infants without postoperative IVFP, infants with IVFP were smaller at birth (0.9 versus 2.3 kg; p p p p p Conclusions. This study demonstrates that the single major risk factor for IVFP after ligation of PDA is birth weight less than 1 kg.
Supporting electrolytes containing tetrabutylammonium ions in Li/TiS cells intercalation of tetrabutylammonium ions in TiS

Abstract In context with the development of Li TiS 2 cells, the role of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) was investigated as Supporting Salt in LiSCN-1:3 dioxolane organic electrolytes. TBAB had little effect on the overall conductivity. A deterioration of cell performance was noted upon addition of TBAB to the electrolyte in spite of an improvement in the lithium half-cell. This behavior is attributed to the intercalation of TBA+ ions which have been shown in independent experiments to insert into TiS2 to form the new compound TBAx+ TiS2.
Laboratory measurements of the microwave opacity of gaseous Ammonia (NH3) under simulated conditions for the Jovian atmosphere

Microwave opacity measurements have been conducted for gaseous ammonia simulating Jovian atmosphere conditions at five frequencies from 18.5 to 1.38 cm, at temperatures from 178 to 300 K and 1-6 atm pressures. The atmospheric composition is 90-percent H/10-percent He. In the 1.38-18.5 cm wavelength range, ammonia absorption is well expressed by Berge and Gulkis' (1976) lineshape. The results obtained suggest that either an ammonia abundance 1.5-2.0 times greater than solar must be present at less than 1-2 bar, or some other microwave absorber is present.
Multimodality image display: desirable frame characteristics

The intent of this paper is to understand the characteristics of those frame buffers currently used to display images, versus more ideal frame buffers for medical image display purposes. This study is based on current needs and what characteristics might be desirable. Two case examples are presented: (1) a system developed for high quality computer graphics and (2) a system developed for nuclear medicine and radiation therapy treatment planning. Our study considers: (1) defining a pixel depth sufficient to hold data, (2) the desirability of multiple color look-up tables, (3) how cine loops are managed, and (4) display memory size.
A Note on the Use of Confidence Limits following Rejection of a Null Hypothesis

Abstract The equivalence of some tests of hypothesis and confidence limits is well known. When, however, the confidence limits are computed only after rejection of a null hypothesis, the usual unconditional confidence limits are no longer valid. This refers to a strict two-stage inference procedure: first test the hypothesis of interest and if the test results in a rejection decision, then proceed with estimating the relevant parameter. Under such a situation, confidence limits should be computed conditionally on the specified outcome of the test under which estimation proceeds. Conditional confidence sets will be longer than unconditional confidence sets and may even contain values of the parameter previously rejected by the test of hypothesis. Conditional confidence limits for the mean of a normal population with known variance are used to illustrate these results. In many applications, these results indicate that conditional estimation is probably not good practice.
QCD sum rule calculation of γγ* → π0 transition form factor

We discuss QCD sum rule analysis of the form factor Fγ * γ * π o ( q 2 , Q 2 ) in the region where virtuality of one of the spacelike photons is small q 2 ≪ 1 GeV 2 while another is large: Q 2 ≳ 1 GeV 2 . Our approach, in contrast to pQCD, does not require explicit assumptions about the shape of the pion distribution amplitude φ π ( X ). The absolute value of the 1/ Q 2 term obtained in this paper favours φ π ( X ) close to the asymptotic form φ π as ( X ) = 6 ƒ π x (1 − x).
Multiple Comparisons with the Best: Bayesian Precision Measures of Efficiency Rankings

A large literature measures the allocative and technical efficiency of a set of firms using econometric techniques to estimate stochastic production frontiers or distance functions. Typically, researchers compute only the precision of individual efficiency rankings. Recently, Horrace and Schmidt (Journal of Applied Economics 15, 1–26, 2000) have applied sampling theoretic statistical techniques known as multiple comparisons with a control (MCC) and multiple comparisons with the best (MCB) to make statistical comparisons of efficiency rankings. As an alternative, this paper offers a Bayesian multiple comparison procedure that we argue is simpler to implement, gives the researcher increased flexibility over the type of comparison, and provides greater, and more intuitive, information content. For these methods and a parametric bootstrap technique, we carry out multiple comparisons of technical efficiency rankings for a set of U.S. electric generating firms, estimated using a distance function framework. We find that the Bayesian method provides substantially more precise inferences than obtained using the MCB and MCC methods.
A Tree Projection Algorithm for Generation of Frequent Item Sets

In this paper we propose algorithms for generation of frequent item sets by successive construction of the nodes of a lexicographic tree of item sets. We discuss different strategies in generation and traversal of the lexicographic tree such as breadth-first search, depth-first search, or a combination of the two. These techniques provide different trade-offs in terms of the I/O, memory, and computational time requirements. We use the hierarchical structure of the lexicographic tree to successively project transactions at each node of the lexicographic tree and use matrix counting on this reduced set of transactions for finding frequent item sets. We tested our algorithm on both real and synthetic data. We provide an implementation of the tree projection method which is up to one order of magnitude faster than other recent techniques in the literature. The algorithm has a well-structured data access pattern which provides data locality and reuse of data for multiple levels of the cache. We also discuss methods for parallelization of the TreeProjection algorithm.
The CCSM4 Ocean Component

AbstractThe ocean component of the Community Climate System Model version 4 (CCSM4) is described, and its solutions from the twentieth-century (20C) simulations are documented in comparison with observations and those of CCSM3. The improvements to the ocean model physical processes include new parameterizations to represent previously missing physics and modifications of existing parameterizations to incorporate recent new developments. In comparison with CCSM3, the new solutions show some significant improvements that can be attributed to these model changes. These include a better equatorial current structure, a sharper thermocline, and elimination of the cold bias of the equatorial cold tongue all in the Pacific Ocean; reduced sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity biases along the North Atlantic Current path; and much smaller potential temperature and salinity biases in the near-surface Pacific Ocean. Other improvements include a global-mean SST that is more consistent with the present-day observa...
A Demand Model of the United States Broiler Industry

Abstract A quarterly demand model for US broilers was developed to focus on factors affecting wholesale price, export demand, retail to wholesale price margin, and domestic demand. The resulting equations were used to assess the effects of changes in retail price on domestic broiler consumption. The own price elasticity of demand from broilers was very inelastic, which implies large price swings are produced by small quantity changes. Brazilian poultry exports have a significant influence on US broiler exports, and retail beef price and per capita income have a strong positive influence on domestic consumption.
Conductive hearing loss in autistic, learning-disabled, and normal children

Katz (1978) has suggested that mild, fluctuating conductive hearing loss due to middle-ear anomalies may account for the language and attention problems of learning-disabled children. His position was extended here to include autism. Normal, learning-disabled, and autistic children received repeated impedance measures over 5 weeks. A repeated-measures ANOVA of central tendency and variability values led to the conclusions that (1) fluctuating, negative middle-ear pressure greater than normal characterizes both autistic and learning-disabled children, (2) the negative pressure is greater in autistic than in learning-disabled children, and (3) the condition is typically bilateral for autistic children.
Overview of Inverse Thermal Analysis of Drop-by-Drop Liquid-Metal Deposition Using Green’s Functions

An overview is presented of general aspects of a methodology for inverse thermal analysis of drop-by-drop liquid-metal deposition based on Green’s functions. This methodology is constructed according to the general physical characteristics of rapid prototyping processes employing drop-by-drop liquid-metal deposition. This methodology represents a specific extension of a methodology using basis functions that was introduced previously for inverse analysis of welding processes, and of energy deposition in general. The formal structure of the methodology follows from a specific definition of the inverse heat transfer problem, which is well posed for inverse analysis of heat deposition processes. This definition is based on the assumption of the availability of information concerning spatially distributed boundary and constraint values. This information would be obtained in principle from both experimental measurements obtained in the laboratory, as well as numerical simulations performed using models having been constructed using basic theory.
A preliminary study of temporal differences in serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids, among New York anglers, in the absence of known changes in manufacturing practices

Perfluorinated compounds have been manufactured in large quantities and used in myriad industrial processes and commercial applications. The aim of this preliminary study was to generate hypotheses with regard to differences in body burdens of perfluoroalkyl acids, among a sub-sample of participants from the New York State Angler Cohort Study, over a time interval during which no known substantial changes occurred in US manufacturing practices or commercial use. Paired serum specimens, collected from 15 subjects in 1993–1994 (time 1), and in 1995–1997 (time 2), with a minimum interval of 2.5 years, were assayed for PFDA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, PFOSA and PFUnDA using HPLC with ES-MS/MS. By subject, differences in concentrations between time 1 and time 2 were estimated, employing paired t-tests, correlations, and multivariable linear regression to accommodate heterogeneity in duration between specimens, and in time 1 concentrations. A statistically significant (P < 0.05) adjusted mean decrease of 0...
The Development and Validation of Scores on a Measure of Teachers’ Attitudes toward Teaching Physical Activity and Fitness

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to examine teachers’ attitudes toward teaching physical activity and fitness. The study was conducted in multiple phases, including a preliminary study, a content validity study, and a reliability and validity study. Participants for the content validity study were 28 experts in sport pedagogy. They were sent items from the attitude instrument and asked to organize them into the instruments’ four domain areas. Participants for the reliability and validity study were 253 teachers. Statistical results indicate that an instrument that produces reliable and valid scores was developed to measure teachers’attitudes toward teaching physical activity and fitness. Investigating teachers’ attitudes in this area will lead to a better understanding of the role that physical activity and fitness currently play in physical education and may help to define their role in the future.
Life History of the Cascade Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus saturatus)

The life history of the Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel, Spermophilus saturatus , was studied in a mixed habitat of forest and open meadow in Washington State from June 1980 to October 1982. Adult males and females emerged from hibernation in early May, yearling females in late May, and yearling males in early June. Time of emergence did not differ between habitats. Juveniles emerged from natal burrows from mid to late July in the meadow and from late July to early August in the forest. Adults and yearlings entered hibernation up to 45 days before juveniles. At least 51% of an individuals' time aboveground from May to September was spent sitting. Compared to ground squirrels in the forest, those in the meadow spent more of their foraging time eating (55% versus 42%), and had longer feeding bouts (53.2 versus 26.5 s) and shorter searching bouts (20.6 versus 33.6 s). Sixty-three percent of yearling females and 10% of yearling males were reproductively mature. Juveniles born in meadow habitat and that were recaptured 2 or more months after emergence moved farther than those in the forest (231.0 versus 54.8 m). Up to 60% of the residents in either habitat immigrated to the area from another location. Each age class weighed up to 15% more and adults and yearlings gained weight at a faster rate in the meadow than in the forest. These differences were not related to age structure, sex ratio, genotype, or time of emergence in the two habitats and most likely represented phenotypic response to food availability.
Catalytic reactions of formate. 3. Noble metal chlorides as catalyst precursors for formic acid reactions

Noble metal chlorides (‘RuCl3·xH2O’, ‘RhCl3·3H2O’, PdCl2 and ‘IrCl3·xH2O’) have been evaluated as catalyst precursors for the decomposition (HCO2H → H2 + CO2), dehydration (HCO2H → H2O + CO) and air oxidation (2HCO2H + O2 → 2H2O + 2CO2) of 88% HCO2H at 75–80 °C. RhCl3 under these conditions is an active oxidation catalyst but not an active decomposition catalyst. However, RuCl3 is an active decomposition catalyst but not an active oxidation catalyst. PdCl2 exhibits modest but detectable activity for all three formic acid reactions (decomposition, dehydration and oxidation). IrCl3 is a relatively active catalyst for all three HCO2H reactions. A comparison of the catalytic activities of the four noble metal chlorides for HCO2H decomposition under conditions where both the dehydration and air oxidation reactions are suppressed (4.4% aqueous HCO2H. Ar atmosphere) indicates the relative catalytic activity sequence: Ir ≫ Ru > Pd ≫ Rh (inactive).
Lithium–sulfur batteries with superior cycle stability by employing porous current collectors

Abstract Conventional lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries suffer from severe capacity fade and self-discharge attributed to sulfur dissolution and polysulfide diffusion. Here we present a porous cathode architecture which suppresses the loss of active material and self-discharge behavior in Li–S systems. 3D sulfur–nickel foam cathodes (SNF cathodes) have porous, electrically conductive Ni foam substrates as bifunctional current collectors. It was found that these cathodes have a stable cycle life with a high discharge capacity retention rate of 92% after 50 cycles. Moreover, the SNF cathodes reduce the self-discharge and retain 85% of their original capacities after resting for two months. The porous architecture of Ni foam accommodates the active material and traps polysulfides in the cathode region during cycling and battery storage, effectively reducing the loss of active material and capacity. In addition, it provides an excellent internal electron transport network by ensuring intimate contact between the active material and Ni foam, resulting in low internal impedance and improved capacities. The study demonstrates that the 3D Ni foam is an attractive bifunctional current collector for Li–S batteries.
Finite, primitive and euclidean spaces

Integer and digital spaces are playing a significant role in digital image processing, computer graphics, computer tomography, robot vision, and many other fields dealing with finitely or countable many objects. It is proven here that every finite T0-space is a quotient space of a subspace of some simplex, i.e. of some subspace of a Euclidean space. Thus finite and digital spaces can be considered as abstract simplicial structures of subspaces of Euclidean spaces. Primitive subspaces of finite, digital, and integer spaces are introduced. They prove to be useful in the investigation of connectedness structure, which can be represented as a poset, and also in consideration of the dimension of finite spaces. Essentially T0-spaces and finitely connected and primitively path connected spaces are discussed.
Power in Palo Alto

Creating the Cold War University. The Transformation of Stanford. REBECCA S. LOWEN. University of California Press, Berkeley, 1997. xii, 316 pp. $45 or £35. ISBN 0-520-20541-3.
Murine cardiac mtDNA: effects of transgenic manipulation of nucleoside phosphorylation.

Mitochondrial toxicity results from pyrimidine nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) for HIV/AIDS. In the heart, this can deplete mitochondrial (mt) DNA and cause cardiac dysfunction (eg, left ventricle hypertrophy, LVH). Four unique transgenic, cardiac-targeted overexpressors (TGs) were generated to determine their individual impact on native mitochondrial biogenesis and effects of NRTI administration on development of mitochondrial toxicity. TGs included cardiac-specific overexpression of native thymidine kinase 2 (TK2), two pathogenic TK2 mutants (H121N and I212N), and a mutant of mtDNA polymerase, pol-γ (Y955C). Each was treated with antiretrovirals (AZT-HAART, 3 or 10 weeks, zidovudine (AZT) + lamivudine (3TC) + indinavir, or vehicle control). Parameters included left ventricle (LV) performance (echocardiography), LV mtDNA abundance (real-time PCR), and mitochondrial fine structure (electron microscopy, EM) as a function of duration of treatment and presence of TG. mtDNA abundance significantly decreased in Y955C TG, increased in TK2 native and I212N TGs, and was unchanged in H121N TGs at 10 weeks regardless of treatment. Y955C and I212N TGs exhibited LVH during growth irrespective of treatment. Y955C TGs exhibited cardiomyopathy (CM) at 3 and 10 weeks irrespective of treatment, whereas H121N and I212N TGs exhibited CM only after 10 weeks AZT-HAART. EM features were consistent with cardiac dysfunction. mtDNA abundance and cardiac functional changes were related to TG expression of mitochondrially related genes, mutations thereof, and NRTIs.
Substrate specificity of maize β-glucosidase

Maize (Zea mays L.) β-glucosidase (β-glu) is a homodimer of 60-kDa monomers and localized in the plastid. Numerous glycosides were tested as substrates. When possible, Km and Vmax values were determined. The major natural substrate in methanol extracts of young maize seedlings was the glucoside of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA-glc) and this substance was hydrolyzed to glucose and DIMBOA by the enzyme. 4-Methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucoside was the best substrate (Km = 0.14 mM) for which kinetic data were obtained. Several aryl glycosides (Km = 0.39−6.32 mM) and n-octyl-β-d-glycopyranosides were also substrates. Various compounds were also tested as inhibitors. When inhibition was observed, Ki and/or Ki′ values were estimated. Monosaccharides were poor inhibitors. The best competitive inhibitors were d-gluconic acid lactone, dhurrin, and (DIMBOA) (Ki values < 1 mM). Other glucosides, aglycones, and aglycone analogues were found to inhibit the enzyme competitively. Tryptamine was a mixed inhibitor (Ki = 33.9 mM, Ki′ = 15.7 mM). The enzyme has a broad substrate specificity and can cleave many glycosides with hydrophobic aglycones; the best inhibitors and substrates are those that resemble the natural substrate DIMBOA-glucoside.
Differential effects of PPARγ agonists on the metabolic properties of gliomas and astrocytes

Recent studies show that thiazolinediones (TZDs), agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), induce apoptosis in glioma and glioblastoma cells. Here we compared the effects of troglitazone (Trog), a TZD with low affinity for binding to PPARgamma but with potent metabolic effects, on survival and metabolism in GL261 glioma cells versus primary astrocytes. Trog dose-dependently induced cell death in GL261 cells (with over 90% death at 30 microM) but did not cause any toxicity in astrocytes at the same doses. Measurements of glucose and lactate levels after incubation with Trog (30 microM) indicated an overall increase of glucose consumption and lactate production in both cell types. In astrocytes the ratio of lactate produced to glucose utilized was not significantly altered by Trog, while in glioma cells this ratio was decreased by about 40%. Trog dose-dependently reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) in both cell types; and the loss of DeltaPsi(m) was greater in the tumor cells (90% loss at 20 microM) than in astrocytes (70% loss at 20 microM). These results suggest that differences in metabolic responses could contribute to the selective resistance of astrocytes to cytotoxic effects of Trog. TZDs such as Trog should therefore be considered for testing in treatment of gliomas.
INTRA-HIPPOCAMPAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE VEGF RECEPTOR BLOCKER PTK787/ZK222584 IMPAIRS LONG-TERM MEMORY

A number of studies have established a role for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in angiogenesis. Recent reports have shown that VEGF overexpression in the hippocampus improves learning and memory and is associated with enhanced neurogenesis. PTK787/ZK222584 (PTK/ZK) is a reported inhibitor of VEGFR signaling that is currently being tested for its effects on lung and colon cancer. However, the influence of this drug on cognition has not been examined. In the present study, we questioned if post-training administration of PTK/ZK influences hippocampus-dependent memory. When administered to rats immediately following massed training in the Morris water maze, PTK/ZK impaired spatial memory retention tested 48 h later. This impairment was evidenced by increased latency to the hidden platform and fewer platform crossings. However, this impairment was not associated with a change in neurogenesis during this time frame. PTK/ZK infusion did not reduce VEGFR or AKT phosphorylation, but increased the phosphorylation of ERK. These studies suggest that VEGFR inhibitors such as PTK/ZK may negatively influence cognition.
A wideband PVDF-on-silicon ultrasonic transducer array with microspheres embedded low melting temperature alloy backing

A PVDF-based 8-element ultrasound transducer array (1 mm × 1 mm element size with an inter-element spacing of 1 mm) on a silicon carrier substrate is fabricated and characterized. To improve the performance of the transducer, new CMOS-compatible fabrication technologies are introduced. These include: (1) adhesive micro-contact printing on non-radiating areas, and (2) glass microspheres (7–20 μm in diameter) embedded low melting temperature alloy (LMA) for backside electrical connection. The first improvement removes the adverse effects of adhesive layer (e.g., lower sensitivity) between the PVDF and backside contact while the second one improves the pulse-echo signal quality by eliminating reflections at the backing/water interface. The fabricated array elements are tested in a water tank and their pulse-echo response are recorded. The central frequency of each element is 25 MHz with a 100% measured 6-dB bandwidth (60% 3-dB bandwidth).
Glucose preference in the guinea pig

Abstract The glucose preference profile for guinea pigs was determined by both single and two stimulus methods. A concentration of 0.2 molar was shown to be most highly preferred by both methods. These behavioral results agree with previous electrophysiological measures.
High-resolution and non-oscillatory solution of the St. Venant equations in non-rectangular and non-prismatic channels

A scheme to model open channel flow over wet and dry beds in non-rectangular and non-prismatic channels is presented. The scheme is second-order accurate, stable for Courant numbers up to unity, and monotonicity preserving. The scheme solves the St. Venant equations using a Godunov-type finite volume method. Mass and momentum fluxes are computed using a Roe-type Riemann solver, the MUSCL (Monotone Upwind Scheme for Conservation Laws) approach is applied for second-order spatial accuracy, and a treatment is introduced to model the hydrostatic pressure force exerted by the channel walls in the stream wise direction. The treatment permits momentum fluxes and the channel wall force to be balanced to numerical precision, preventing the artificial acceleration of the flow. Comparisons between model results, exact solutions, and experimental data show that the scheme is robust. Accurate and monotone results are obtained in the presence of discontinuities, supercritical flow, subcritical flow, transcritical flow,...
Phosphatidylcholine-Derived Bolaamphiphiles via Click Chemistry

The copper-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition is employed to modify phosphatidylcholine precursors with sn-2 acyl chains containing terminal alkyne or azide groups. Although the reactions are conducted as biphasic dispersions, the yields are essentially quantitative. Bolaamphiphiles are formed by simply clicking together two phosphatidylcholine alkyne precursors to a central bisazide scaffold. The chemistry introduces polar 1,4-triazole units into the lipophilic region of the bilayer membrane, and the bolaamphiphiles do not form stable vesicles.
Vertical mobility and community type as factors in the migration of college graduates.

Internal migration statistics are generally inadequate. One of the chief sources of this is the lack of direct data relating to migration. There appears also to be a lack of interest on the part of researchers in pursuing the study of the relationship between vertical mobility and migration. This study is designed to determine the relative importance of intergenerational vertical mobility and type of community or place of origin in contributing to the migration of college graduates by using direct mobility and migration data.
Moss growing on Living Papuan Moss-forest Weevils

LARGE leaf-feeding weevils1 of the genus Gymnopholus (subgenus Symbiopholus)2, and certain other weevils, particularly of the genus Pantorhytes3,4 (broad-nosed weevils), as well as certain cryptorhynchine weevils3 and other beetles3,5, all inhabiting fairly high moss forest ridges and summits, mostly in eastern New Guinea, have been reported to carry small gardens on their backs. The association seems to involve symbiosis, with the weevils providing a favourable environment for the plants, and the plants endowing the weevils with a protective resemblance to cryptogram-covered parts of plants, or with chemical protection.
The ontogeny and phylogeny of a medical specialty

One. of my earliest recollections from medical school days was the mysterious phrase that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny." When this phrase was explained, it was clear that development of the individual organism followed many of the same stages as the evolutionary history of that group. It suggested to me that the development seen in one organism might provide a model by which one could anticipate developmental landmarks in a related organism. I then wondered if the ontogeny of emergency medicine would recapitulate or follow some of the same stages of development as other medical specialties which had deVeloped earlier. The thesis is simple. The conception and early development of a specialty, like that of the ovum, is marked ,by monumental growth in terms of both absolute and relative change. That the birth process is painful can be personally attested to by many of the pioneers in emergency medicine. As with the proud parents of a newly born, there is parental hope and parental pride. Early in the development there is somewhat undifferentiated growth. Then, from these early beginnings, there may start to be some degree of specialization. In this case not organs, but the Alexandria plan, the Pontiac plan, and the various genetic origins that seem to favor survival. It would appear, for instance, that rotating specialists from any background in an emergency department was a genetic aberration that was doomed just as the woolly mastodon and sabre-toothed tiger were doomed. We often are tempted to say that any birth and development may be attended with abnormalities, birth defects, new strains, and genetic transformations. And again, if we take a strict analogy from nature, then most genetic changes will not favor survival. No matter whether you-say emergency medicine is one or many decades old, it still has its roots in older, more classical specialties, just as we, the human race, had our roots in the division of the treeand ground-dwelling apes a half o r one million years ago. 1 Our relationship to these early forms of our nearest animal relatives was argued mightily in previous years, the arguers feeling they had been placed on this earth for very special reasons. This attitude came from an extreme and central position of self in terms of image. This is not dissimilar from all specialties, in that once established they tend to have this central view of themselves, particularly in terms of self image and self importance.
Entry of Herpesviruses into Cells: More than One Way to Pull the Trigger

Interaction of viral protein gp42 with its receptor is the trigger for the entry of Epstein-Barr virus into B cells. The structure of gp42 reported by Kirschner et al. (2009) in this issue of Structure suggests a likely triggering mechanism substantially different from that of a related herpesvirus.
Male social bonds: strength and quality among co-resident white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus)

Social relationships among immigrant same-sex co-residents have received relatively little attention, particularly for species where males are the dispersing sex. White-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) are unusual in that immigrant males form cooperative alliances with co-resident males during intergroup encounters, and also have affiliative and tolerant intragroup relationships. We collected approx. 3341 h of focal animal data on 25 adult and subadult males in five groups of wild Cebus capucinus in the Santa Rosa Sector, Costa Rica, across three distinct field seasons. Using generalized linear mixed models, we examined the influence of number of co-resident males, group socionomic sex ratio, dominance status and age, and past parallel dispersal on social bond strength (i.e., proximity, contact rest, grooming, preferred grooming partners) and quality (i.e., grooming reciprocity) for 47 unique male–male dyads. Overall, dyads that included an alpha male had the weakest and least equitable bonds, while dyads composed of subordinate males had the strongest and most equitable bonds, with subordinate subadult peers being most likely to form preferred relationships. Several measures of bond strength and quality were highest among dyads in groups with few males and low socionomic sex (female-to-male) ratios. Dyad partners who had previously engaged in parallel dispersal had slightly better bonds than those that did not, suggesting that kinship and/or familiarity may be important. Our results indicate that within groups, male relationships are influenced by power asymmetry, partner availability, and dyad relationship history.
Punch shear based penetration model of ballistic impact of thick-section composites

Abstract Ballistic damage and penetration mechanics of thick-section composites are presented. In order to correlate the ballistic penetration damage mechanisms with quasi-static penetration, experiments are designed to maintain similar boundary conditions. It has been found that the ballistic damage mechanisms can be mimicked by conducting a series of quasi-static punch shear experiments at different support spans. A quasi-static punch shear test (QS-PST) methodology is developed to quantify and partition the penetration energy into elastic and absorbed energies as a function of penetration displacement and support span. Based on this QS-PST experimental methodology, a ‘Quasi-Static Penetration Model’ of ballistic penetration is developed to mimic different phases of ballistic penetration. QS-PST energy absorption due to material damage is shown to be 81% of the total energy absorption measured during ballistic experiments at the ballistic limit for the S-2 glass/SC15 composite studied.
Tolumonas osonensis sp. nov., isolated from anoxic freshwater sediment, and emended description of the genus Tolumonas

A polyphasic taxonomic study was performed on a strain of an unknown Gram-negative, non-motile, saccharolytic, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, strain OCF 7T, isolated from anoxic freshwater sediment. The strain grew optimally at 22 °C and pH 7.5, and was able to grow under strictly anaerobic conditions. Major fermentation products from glucose metabolism were formate, acetate, ethanol and lactate. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain OCF 7T was phylogenetically related to the type strain of Tolumonas auensis (97.2 % similarity) within the family Aeromonadaceae of the Gammaproteobacteria. However, OCF 7T did not produce toluene from phenylacetate, phenylalanine, phenoxyacetate, phenylsuccinate or phenylbutyrate in the presence of glucose. Phenol was not produced from tyrosine or phenoxyacetate in the presence of glucose. Dominant fatty acids of this micro-organism included C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 1ω7c (and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). Major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine, and the respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-8. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain OCF 7T was 52.1 mol%. Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, strain OCF 7T should be classified as a representative of a novel species of Tolumonas, for which the name Tolumonas osonensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is OCF 7T ( = DSM 22975T = ATCC BAA-1908T). An emended description of the genus Tolumonas is also given.
c-Myc target genes involved in cell growth, apoptosis, and metabolism

The c-myc gene was discovered as the cellular homolog of the retroviral v-myc oncogene 20 years ago (23, 25, 167). The c-myc proto-oncogene was subsequently found to be activated in various animal and human tumors (37, 39, 42). It belongs to the family of myc genes that includes B-myc, L-myc, N-myc, and s-myc; however, only c-myc, L-myc, and N-myc have neoplastic potential (54, 82, 102, 118, 178). Targeted homozygous deletion of the murine c-myc gene results in embryonic lethality, suggesting that it is critical for development (43). Homozygous inactivation of c-myc in rat fibroblasts caused a marked prolongation of cell doubling time, further suggesting a central role for c-myc in regulating cell proliferation (121). The frequency of genetic alterations of c-myc in human cancers (42) has allowed an estimation that approximately 70,000 U.S. cancer deaths per year are associated with changes in the c-myc gene or its expression. Given that c-myc may contribute to one-seventh of U.S. cancer deaths, recent efforts have been directed toward understanding the function of the c-Myc protein in cancer biology with the hope that therapeutic insights will emerge. Past efforts, which have contributed significantly to our current understanding of c-myc, are discussed in a number of excellent reviews (23, 29, 37, 40, 44, 52, 66, 82, 94, 102, 118, 125, 132, 145, 178, 182, 186).
Towards accelerating molecular modeling via multi-scale approximation on a GPU

Research efforts to analyze biomolecular properties contribute towards our understanding of biomolecular function. Calculating non-bonded forces (or in our case, electrostatic surface potential) is often a large portion of the computational complexity in analyzing biomolecular properties. Therefore, reducing the computational complexity of these force calculations, either by improving the computational algorithm or by improving the underlying hardware on which the computational algorithm runs, can help to accelerate the discovery process. Traditional approaches seek to parallelize the electrostatic calculations to run on large-scale supercomputers, which are expensive and highly contended resources. Leveraging our multi-scale approximation algorithm for calculating electrostatic surface potential, we present a novel mapping and optimization of this algorithm on the graphics processing unit (GPU) of a desktop personal computer (PC). Our mapping and optimization of the algorithm results in a speed-up as high as four orders of magnitude, when compared to running serially on the same desktop PC, without deteriorating the accuracy of our results.
Basal progenitor cells in the embryonic mouse thalamus - their molecular characterization and the role of neurogenins and Pax6

The size and cell number of each brain region are influenced by the organization and behavior of neural progenitor cells during embryonic development. Recent studies on developing neocortex have revealed the presence of neural progenitor cells that divide away from the ventricular surface and undergo symmetric divisions to generate either two neurons or two progenitor cells. These 'basal' progenitor cells form the subventricular zone and are responsible for generating the majority of neocortical neurons. However, not much has been studied on similar types of progenitor cells in other brain regions. We have identified and characterized basal progenitor cells in the embryonic mouse thalamus. The progenitor domain that generates all of the cortex-projecting thalamic nuclei contained a remarkably high proportion of basally dividing cells. Fewer basal progenitor cells were found in other progenitor domains that generate non-cortex projecting nuclei. By using intracellular domain of Notch1 (NICD) as a marker for radial glial cells, we found that basally dividing cells extended outside the lateral limit of radial glial cells, indicating that, similar to the neocortex and ventral telencephalon, the thalamus has a distinct subventricular zone. Neocortical and thalamic basal progenitor cells shared expression of some molecular markers, including Insm1, Neurog1, Neurog2 and NeuroD1. Additionally, basal progenitor cells in each region also expressed exclusive markers, such as Tbr2 in the neocortex and Olig2 and Olig3 in the thalamus. In Neurog1/Neurog2 double mutant mice, the number of basally dividing progenitor cells in the thalamus was significantly reduced, which demonstrates the roles of neurogenins in the generation and/or maintenance of basal progenitor cells. In Pax6 mutant mice, the part of the thalamus that showed reduced Neurog1/2 expression also had reduced basal mitosis. Our current study establishes the existence of a unique and significant population of basal progenitor cells in the thalamus and their dependence on neurogenins and Pax6. These progenitor cells may have important roles in enhancing the generation of neurons within the thalamus and may also be critical for generating neuronal diversity in this complex brain region.
Identification of objects in 9‐month‐old infants: integrating ‘what’ and ‘where’ information

Following Leslie, Xu, Tremoulet and Scholl (1998), we distinguish between individuation (the establishment of an object representation) and identification (the use of information stored in the object representation to decide which previously individuated object is being encountered). Although there has been much work on how infants individuate objects, there is relatively little on the question of when and how property information is used to identify objects. Experiment 1 shows that 9-month-old infants use shape, but apparently not color, information in identifying objects that are each moved behind spatially separated screens. Infants could not simply have associated a shape with a location or a screen without regard to objecthood, because on alternate trials the objects switched locations/screens. Infants therefore had to bind shape information to the object representation while tracking the objects’ changing location. In Experiment 2, we tested if infants represented both objects rather than ‘sampled’ only one of them. Using the same alternation procedure, infants again succeeded in using shape (but not color) information when only one of the screens was removed ‐ the screen that occluded the first-hidden object (requiring the longer time in memory). Finally, we relate our behavioral findings both to a cognitive model and to recent neuroscientific studies, concluding that ventral ‘what’ and dorsal ‘where’ pathways may be functionally integrated by 9 months.
The Wetlands of Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas: Past, Present and Future

One of the largest wetlands along the Gulf Coast of North America (ca. 150 000 ha) occurs around the shorelines of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas in southeastern Louisiana, just north and wes...
Bayesian inference of fine-scale recombination rates using population genomic data

Recently, several statistical methods for estimating fine-scale recombination rates using population samples have been developed. However, currently available methods that can be applied to large-scale data are limited to approximated likelihoods. Here, we developed a full-likelihood Markov chain Monte Carlo method for estimating recombination rate under a Bayesian framework. Genealogies underlying a sampling of chromosomes are effectively modelled by using marginal individual single nucleotide polymorphism genealogies related through an ancestral recombination graph. The method is compared with two existing composite-likelihood methods using simulated data. Simulation studies show that our method performs well for different simulation scenarios. The method is applied to two human population genetic variation datasets that have been studied by sperm typing. Our results are consistent with the estimates from sperm crossover analysis.
Exercise and injury increase chondroitin sulfate chain length and decrease hyaluronan chain length in synovial fluid.

Summary Objectives (1) To investigate the effects of exercise and osteochondral (OC) injury on synovial fluid (SF) chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronan (HA) concentration and chain length, (2) to compare SF and cartilage CS data from joints with OC fragmentation, and (3) to compare SF CS and HA profiles with those seen in serum from the same horses. Methods Serum and SF were obtained from (1) normal horses after 8 weeks rest, (2) the same horses after 9 months treadmill training, and (3) horses with OC injury from racing. Articular cartilage was also collected from group 3 horses. Concentrations and chain lengths of CS and HA were determined by gel chromatography and fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis. Results SF CS peak chain length in the OC injury group increased significantly (18.7kDa) when compared to rested horses (11.6kDa), with exercise producing an intermediate chain length (15.6kDa). Cartilage and serum from the OC injury group had the abnormally long CS chains seen in SF from these horses. Total SF HA was significantly lower in the OC injury group compared to the rested group. Both the OC injury group and the exercised group had significant decreases in SF HA chain length compared to the rested group. Conclusions Chain length of SF CS was increased by exercise and OC injury. Exercise resulted in a modest increase, whereas OC injury caused a marked increase. In contrast to CS, SF HA chain length was decreased by OC injury, and to a lesser extent by exercise. Chain length analysis of SF CS and HA may provide a useful tool for evaluation of joint health.
Drosophila IAP antagonists form multimeric complexes to promote cell death

Apoptosis is a specific form of cell death that is important for normal development and tissue homeostasis. Caspases are critical executioners of apoptosis, and living cells prevent their inappropriate activation through inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). In Drosophila, caspase activation depends on the IAP antagonists, Reaper (Rpr), Head involution defective (Hid), and Grim. These proteins share a common motif to bind Drosophila IAP1 (DIAP1) and have partially redundant functions. We now show that IAP antagonists physically interact with each other. Rpr is able to self-associate and also binds to Hid and Grim. We have defined the domain involved in self-association and demonstrate that it is critical for cell-killing activity in vivo. In addition, we show that Rpr requires Hid for recruitment to the mitochondrial membrane and for efficient induction of cell death in vivo. Both targeting of Rpr to mitochondria and forced dimerization strongly promotes apoptosis. Our results reveal the functional importance of a previously unrecognized multimeric IAP antagonist complex for the induction of apoptosis.