cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trait-environment relationships are predictive, but not general across species

Understanding the relationships between organisms and their environments is increasingly important given human impacts on global conditions. However, predicting how community diversity and composition will change in the future remains challenging (Mouquet et al 2015). One recent approach is to use traits to mechanistically inform how environmental conditions affect performance (i.e., trait-environment relationships), under the assumptions that these measures relate to each other in predictive and general ways. Unfortunately, results have been inconsistent, ignore phenotypic plasticity, and rely heavily on observational data (Shipley et al 2016). We evaluated the predictability and generality of trait-environment relationships in a controlled experimental microcosm system of four daphniid species. We cultured each species along a stressful gradient (conspecific density), measuring performance (fecundity) and traits related to performance (body length, 2nd antenna length, eye diameter, relative growth rate, and age at first reproduction). Using structural equation models, we evaluated the role of traits in mediating changes in individual fecundity in response to conspecific density. We built models for each species separately considering within-species trait variation, and for all species together by considering all trait variation across the four species. Results from this controlled system highlight that the relationship between individual traits and the environment (conspecific density) is strong and predictive of performance (fecundity), both within- and across-species. However, the specific trait-environment relationships which predicted fecundity differed for each species and differed from the relationships observed in the interspecific model, suggesting a lack of generality. These results will inform and improve the use of traits as a tool for predicting how changing environments will impact species abundances and distributions.
Laparoscopic Excision of Cesarean Scar Pregnancy with Scar Revision.

Abstract Objective To demonstrate our technique for robot-assisted laparoscopic ectopic pregnancy excision and concomitant scar revision. Design We present a stepwise narrated demonstration of our primary laparoscopic technique. Setting Although cesarean scar pregnancy is rare, it leads to life-threatening complications and often emergent hysterectomy [ 1 , 2 ]. Because of its rarity, there is a scarcity of centers with high-volume experience with its treatment, and no standardized diagnostic or management guidelines are yet available [ 3 , 4 ]. Recent evidence suggests that primary surgical management may be superior to medical or radiologic management as the latter methods carry a high reintervention rate [5] . An additional consideration in selecting a treatment method is a patient's plans for future fertility, as cesarean scar defects are associated with secondary infertility. Evidence shows that repair of cesarean scar defects decreases the likelihood of future recurrence and secondary infertility, thus it may be pertinent to select a management strategy that allows for the accomplishment of both ectopic pregnancy removal and defect revision. We present our primary laparoscopic approach to ectopic pregnancy excision and revision of the cesarean scar defect using techniques rooted in evidence and robust experience. Interventions Robot-assisted laparoscopic excision of a cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy with concomitant scar revision demonstrating key strategies to minimize blood loss and preserve future fertility. (1) A laparoscopic approach allows for concomitant ectopic pregnancy removal followed by cesarean scar revision. (2) Generous use of dilute vasopressin and purposeful application of electrosurgical energy provides hemostasis without the use of more invasive measures such as vascular clips or uterine artery balloons. (3) A multilayer closure is associated with a lower risk of wedge defect formation and uterine rupture. (4) Diagnostic hysteroscopy is a useful tool for identifying the location of the scar defect, assessing for an adequate repair, and identifying potential additional uterine pathology. Conclusion Primary laparoscopic management is not only the most effective method with the lowest complication rates but is an approach that allows for simultaneous repair and revision of the cesarean scar defect. We demonstrate easily adaptable techniques for maintaining hemostasis, minimizing injury to normal myometrium, and creating multilayer closures that lead to successful revisions with minimal impact to subsequent fertility.
Does Finance Benefit Society? A Language Embedding Approach

We measure popular sentiment toward finance using a computational linguistics approach applied to millions of books published in eight countries over hundreds of years. We document persistent differences in finance sentiment across countries despite ample time-series variation. Finance sentiment declines after epidemics and earthquakes, but rises following droughts, floods, and landslides. These heterogeneous effects of natural disasters suggest finance sentiment responds differently to the realization of insured versus uninsured risks. Using local projections, we find that positive shocks to finance sentiment have positive and persistent effects on economic growth. Our estimates predict a contraction in finance sentiment due to the COVID-19 pandemic that will exacerbate its long-term economic damage.
Development of hybrid ECC columns subjected to concentric and eccentric loading

Abstract In recent years, significant attention has been given in previous studies to improve the performance of structural members. It would be useful to further improve in this approach. This study was undertaken in order to investigate the structural behaviour of newly developed Engineering Cementitious Composites (ECC) columns subjected to concentric and eccentric loading. These columns were experimentally formulated using a hybridization of steel and polypropylene fibers. Two ratios were adopted for the steel fibres 0.5% and 1%, whilst the polypropylene fibre was kept constant at a ratio of 0.5% for all of the ECC columns. The eccentric loads were applied at two eccentricities: small (h/6) and large (5 h/12). The effect of slenderness ratio was taken into consideration at two values; 6 and 8. A comparison was also made with the behaviour of self-compacted concrete and traditional ECC columns containing either steel or polypropylene fibres. The vertical and lateral deformations as well as the maximum load at failure were noted. Amendments were performed on some of the related formulas suggested by the code of practice. The results obtained showed that the hybrid ECC columns exhibited higher load carrying capacities when compared with those of both self-compacted concrete and traditional ECC columns. The percentage increase reached 30%. The hybrid ECC column samples containing 1% steel fibre did not show a signification difference in the load-deformation behaviour when it compared with that containing 0.5% steel fibre. The values of eccentricity and slenderness ratio governed the global behaviour of the tested columns. The predicted load carrying capacities of the ECC columns using the existing code formulas need a magnification factor in case of concentric test, and to take into account the fibres ratio when calculating the area of steel reinforcement for eccentric loading.
Does minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy increase the chance of a textbook oncologic outcome

Abstract Background Textbook oncologic outcome has been described in an effort to improve upon traditional outcomes defining care after pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma. We sought to examine whether minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy increased the likelihood of an optimal textbook oncologic outcome. Methods Patients undergoing open pancreaticoduodenectomy or minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2010 and 2015 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Textbook oncologic outcome was defined as R0 resection with American Joint Committee on Cancer compliant lymphadenectomy, no prolonged duration of stay, no 30-day readmission/mortality, and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. Propensity score matching was employed to evaluate adjusted rates of textbook oncologic outcome, in addition to overall survival. Results Among 12,854 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, 48.3% were female, and the median patient age was 66 years; 87.5% underwent open pancreaticoduodenectomy, and 12.5% underwent whether minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy. After propensity score matching, there were no noted differences in the likelihood of R0 resection, adequate lymphadenectomy, nonprolonged duration of stay, no readmission, no 30-day mortality, adjuvant chemotherapy, or textbook oncologic outcome among open pancreaticoduodenectomy versus minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (P > .05). Textbook oncologic outcome was associated with an improved median overall survival (negative textbook oncologic outcome: 21.3 months vs positive textbook oncologic outcome: 27.6 months, P Conclusion Although textbook oncologic outcome was associated with a survival advantage, it was only achieved in 1 in 4 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma. Achievement of textbook oncologic outcome was equivalent among patients who underwent minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy compared with open pancreaticoduodenectomy after propensity score matching.
Long-Term Infectious Complications of Kidney Transplantation

Infections remain a common complication of solid-organ transplantation. Most infections in the first month after transplant are typically health care-associated infections, whereas late infections, beyond 6-12 months, are community-acquired infections. Opportunistic infections most frequently present in the first 12 months post-transplant and can be modulated on prior exposures and use of prophylaxis. In this review, we summarize the current epidemiology of postkidney transplant infections with a focus on key viral (BK polyomavirus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and norovirus), bacterial (urinary tract infections and Clostridioides difficile colitis), and fungal infections. Current guidelines for safe living post-transplant are also summarized. Literature supporting prophylaxis and vaccination is also provided.
Interactive imitation learning for spacecraft path-planning in binary asteroid systems

Abstract Exploration of small body systems poses the problem of designing path planning strategies for possibly uncharted environments. Traditional methods aimed at developing rigorous trajectory baselines may suffer inefficiencies, or turn infeasible when confronted with unknown dynamics. In strongly non-linear dynamics, mapping point design solutions from one dynamical regime to another may be hindered by underlying chaotic behavior. Rather than relying on baseline driven approaches, more generalized strategies may be found by observing human pilots controlling spacecraft motion within varying dynamical environments; the resultant data can then be utilized to initialize machine learning agents to provide more autonomous solutions. A previous numerical experiment resulted in a technical dataset comprising of human-based path planning strategies across a range of binary asteroid systems. This dataset is now used to train various imitation learning agents, and initiate the creation of a framework that integrates human–machine cooperation into the early training phases of artificial intelligent agents; the current application is for spacecraft guidance in binary asteroid systems, as a prototype of complex, potentially unknown, orbit dynamics. An interactive training architecture, based on the DAgger algorithm, is designed and employed to train both original and interactively coached agents, the latter stemming from both corrective and evaluative feedback by a real time human interactor. All agents were interactively trained for a predefined time period. The results from this investigation may provide the first, empirical observations of behavioral cloning within multi-body dynamics with largely randomized parameters, with some notable contributions including early characterization of training time, initial evidence of an autonomous agent learning meaningful policy features via imitation, and early identification of challenges in training fully autonomous agents for a multi-body dynamics path planning problem of this complexity and high dimensional state space.
Critique regarding commentary on Mitsch et al. (2015)

Abstract Recent work regarding the usefulness of mesocosms to examine rates of phosphorus retention has attracted commentary. While raising valid concerns about experimental design and the interpretation of results, the commentaries themselves are fraught with positions that cloud rather than clarify the underlying science. The authors in turn draw conclusions constrained by their own contributions to the discipline of Everglades restoration and fail to acknowledge the larger ecological and political context.
Covert channel resistant information leakage protection using a multi-agent architecture

Covert channel attacks utilise shared resources to indirectly transmit sensitive information to unauthorised parties. Current operating systems (e.g. SELinux) rely on tagging the filesystem with security labels and enforcing security policies at the time of access to a file or resource. However, such mechanisms do not provide strong protection against information laundering via covert channels. Colored Linux, an extension to SELinux, utilises watermarking algorithms to ‘colour’ the contents of each file with their respective security classification, or context, to enhance resistance to information laundering attacks. In this study, the authors propose a mobile agent-based approach to automate the process of detecting and colouring receptive hosts' filesystems and monitoring the coloured filesystem for instances of potential information leakage. Implementation details and execution results are included to illustrate the merits of the proposed approach. The authors have also evaluated the performance of their agent-based system over a single host as well as a local network of machines. Finally, using formal method techniques, the authors have proved correctness properties about the agent-based approach and identified and corrected a flaw in their initial implementation.
Growth Hormone‐Releasing Peptides

The sections in this article are: 1 Chemistry 1.1 Peptides 1.2 Peptides and Partial Peptides 1.3 Nonpeptides 2 Biological Actions 2.1 In Vitro 2.2 In Vivo 3 Mechanism of Action 3.1 Receptor 3.2 Postreceptor 4 Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics 5 Clinical Effects: 1989–1998 5.1 Synergism 5.2 Pulsatile Secretion, Desensitization, and Upregulation 6 Future Prospects
A Regional Examination of Foreclosures

Foreclosures, causes and remedies, are being discussed and fiercely debated across our nation. Although there has been some examination of the causes of foreclosures, the current research has devoted its attention to examining what factors change the probability that an individual will go into foreclosure. By examining Wisconsin counties over eight years this paper makes a major contribution to the literature by taking a regional approach to examining the causes of foreclosures. This regional approach has greater policy applications since policy is often based on regional not individual factors. Several empirical models are estimated and there are consistent results that greater unemployment, a lower median age, larger families in rental units, and a smaller percentage of Asian or Native Americans leads to more foreclosures in a county. There is also evidence that education seems to affect foreclosures in a non-monotonic way; higher percentage of the population with a high school degree vs. non high school graduates increases foreclosures, but there is a negative impact or no significant difference between bachelors degree and no high school degree.
The Use of Computers in Cultural Resource Management

This chapter discusses computer software applications in the Cultural Resource Management field. It outlines some of the major areas of the field where computer applications may be productive, and discusses the nature of software development in the historic preservation field. Specific applications are identified and discussed in four areas: building support, archaeology, collections management, and multiple resource management. Each application is reviewed for its purpose, developer, technical basis and status.
Urformeln, Bravheitsprinzipien, die Söldner der Ordnung

Relativ vieles, was uns im Leben selbstverstandlich erscheint oder richtig, was dasselbe fur uns ist, fust auf unrichtig gewordenen Voraussetzungen. Dieses Kapitel versucht, ein paar Argumente gegen das ausschlieslich Brave zu liefern. Es wendet sich also teilweise gegen normale Vernunft.
Isolation and Purification of an S-Adenosylmethionine: Δ24-Sterol Methyltransferase from Yeast

Abstract Preparation of a soluble, highly purified S-adenosylmethionine-dependent sterol methyltransferase from yeast subcellular particles is described. The solubilized enzyme has been purified over 600-fold by a number of procedures. Transmethylation yields stoichiometric amounts of zymosterol consumption and of 24-methylene-dihydrozymosterol (fecosterol) formation. Fecosterol has been identified by a variety of physical and chemical methods. Glutathione, Mg++, and a neutral pH are requirements for maximal activity of the methyltransferase. The value for Km for zymosterol is 6.2 x 10-5 m. The enzyme is stable during storage as an ammonium sulfate precipitate at -25°. Additional properties of the enzyme are described.
Does Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Reduce Job Mobility? How the Health Insurance System Influences the Likelihood of Changing Jobs and Becoming Self-Employed

This paper investigates the extent to which employer-sponsored health insurance influenced job mobility between 1995 and 2007. This time period is important given the recent increase in the cost of private health insurance and the enactment of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in 1996. In addition, changes in the tax treatment of health insurance for the self-employed occurred throughout the period. Using data from the 1996-2007 March Supplements of the Current Population Survey, I find that for married women with employer-sponsored insurance, having an alternative source of coverage increases their likelihood of becoming self-employed by 75 percent, while the number of children they have reduces their likelihood of switching jobs by 7 percent. Overall, I find that having an alternative source of insurance increases the likelihood of switching jobs by 9 percent. Finally, I do not find evidence to suggest that job-lock affects married men.
Use of Z lepton asymmetry to determine mixing between Z boson and Z' boson of E6 superstrings.

We compare recent measurements of lepton asymmetries in $Z$ decays at the CERN $p\overline{p}$ collider with expectations based on mixing of the $Z$ boson with the ${Z}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ boson in superstring-inspired ${\mathrm{E}}_{6}$ electroweak models. These measurements may favor $Z\ensuremath{-}{Z}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ mixing. We compare the results with what may be learned at ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ colliders.
Modeling of electrically controlled molecular diffusion in a nanofluidic channel

The objective of this work is to understand and quantitatively model the diffusive transport in electrically gated nanofluidic channels suitable for applications in drug delivery. Specifically, this work analyzed gated molecular diffusion through simulation in nanochannels between two chambers with asymmetric concentrations under a number of different control variables including surface charge, channel structure, drug molecule charge number, and background ionic concentration. When the dimension of the fluidic channel is comparable to the thickness of electrical double layer, the potential generated by gating inside of the channel becomes significant, which allows control of charged molecular diffusion inside of the nanochannel through electrostatic repulsion and attraction. In this work, the diffusion of molecules through a nanochannel is simulated in planar and cylindrical nanochannels when applying a gate voltage in two different surface charging scenarios. The gated nanochannel structures were modeled in the finite element software (COMSOL Multiphysics). The simulation results indicate that a small applied voltage can alter the diffusion rate by many orders of magnitude under certain conditions. The cylindrical nanochannel showed the best control of diffusion of charged molecules due to the exclusion-enrichment effect inside the nanochannel.
Nonlinear effects in the seasonal cycle of the tropical Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Nonlinearities have a large effect on the circulation of the tropical Atlantic Ocean within a few hundred kilometers of the equator, both in the surface layers and at depth. Qualitative features of a nonlinear model that are absent from a linear model include energetic unstable waves in the western equatorial Atlantic and a westward surface jet that penetrates to considerable depths between the equator and 3°N. The largest quantitative difference between the nonlinear and linear models is the intensity of the westward surface flow at the equator. In a linear model it can be twice as fast as in a nonlinear model. Motion below the equatorial thermocline, though sufficiently slow to be linear, is related to the surface forcing in a nonlinear manner because it is forced to a large extent by vertical movements of the thermocline. (Linear models assume that disturbances reach the deep ocean by propagating through a fixed thermocline.) In addition to the equatorial zone, nonlinearities affect the coastal zone of Africa south of the equator, where alongshore currents and zonal pressure gradients in linear and nonlinear models are different.
Is there another nursing shortage? What the data tell us

Abstract New York State has a very large nursing population. We examined several sources of wage, employment, and other data and determined the presence of a moderate nursing shortage in New York State. Nurs Outlook 2001;49:20-6.
Mediators of the childhood emotional abuse-hopelessness association in African American women

Although there is an association between experiencing childhood emotional abuse and feeling hopeless as an adult, it is critical to understand the factors that may be protective in this relationship. The goal of this study was to determine if two protective factors, namely spiritual well-being, including both religious and existential well-being, and positive self-esteem, served to mediate the association between childhood emotional abuse and adult hopelessness. The sample for this investigation was low-income African American women suicide attempters who were abused by a partner in the prior year (N=121). A path analysis revealed that in this sample, the childhood emotional abuse-hopelessness link was mediated by existential well-being and positive self-esteem, as well as by the two-mediator path of emotional abuse on existential well-being on self-esteem on hopelessness. Results suggested that existential well-being may be a more salient protective factor for hopelessness than religious well-being among abused, suicidal African American women who experienced childhood emotional abuse. Findings highlight the value of culturally relevant strategies for enhancing existential well-being and self-esteem in this at-risk population to reduce their vulnerability to feelings of hopelessness. Language: en
Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship of Terpenoid Aphid Antifeedants

A series of terpenoid compounds containing a six-member-ring were synthesized from α- and β-pinenes. Antifeedant activity of these terpenoid compounds were tested on the aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.), with promising results. Stepwise regression was applied to study the quantitative structure-activity relationship of these compounds. The statistically best model showed that the relative number of O atoms, molecular volume, HOMO-LUMO energy gap, and total charge on the positively charged fragments were the most statistically significant descriptors to predict the antifeedant activity. The possible mechanism of interaction between the antifeedant and aphid chemoreceptor was discussed.
Transition Groups for High School Students with Disabilities

Students with special needs and disabilities are often unprepared to handle the transition from school to work and/or school to post secondary training. They often lack direction and knowledge of the world of work or of the barriers they may face as they move beyond high school. School counselors can be instrumental in assisting with this experience. This paper proposes two models of psychoeducational groups that can be used by school counselors with students making transitions from high school. The counseling interventions outlined include career exploration, confronting barriers to employment, the job search process, selecting post secondary training, and other transition challenges.
Cobalt, Zinc, and Nickel Complexes of a Diatopic Heteroscorpionate Ligand: Building Blocks for Coordination Polymers

New binuclear complexes of Co(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) derived from a diatopic heteroscorpionate ligand, (4-carboxyphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane (L4c), have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, ESI-MS, IR, UV−vis spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility. These building blocks have been subsequently used for the construction of higher order metallosupramolecular architectures.
A cell-targeted photodynamic nanomedicine strategy for head and neck cancers.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds great promise for the treatment of head and neck (H&N) carcinomas where repeated loco-regional therapy often becomes necessary due to the highly aggressive and recurrent nature of the cancers. While interstitial light delivery technologies are being refined for PDT of H&N and other cancers, a parallel clinically relevant research area is the formulation of photosensitizers in nanovehicles that allow systemic administration yet preferential enhanced uptake in the tumor. This approach can render dual-selectivity of PDT, by harnessing both the drug and the light delivery within the tumor. To this end, we report on a cell-targeted nanomedicine approach for the photosensitizer silicon phthalocyanine-4 (Pc 4), by packaging it within polymeric micelles that are surface-decorated with GE11-peptides to promote enhanced cell-selective binding and receptor-mediated internalization in EGFR-overexpressing H&N cancer cells. Using fluorescence spectroscopy and confocal microscopy, we dem...
Spatially resolved reflectivities of Jupiter during the 1976 opposition

Spatially resolved absolute reflectivities of several regions of the Jovian disk in the wavelength region 3000 to 10760 A are presented. Spectra were obtained of the central meridian and limbs of the Equatorial Region, North Equatorial Belt, and North Tropical Zone. Equivalent widths of several CH4 and NH3 bands are measured. The spatial variations of continuum reflectivity and absorption band profiles are shown in various ratio spectra.
Estimation of the vegetation contribution to the 1·65/2·22 μm ratio in airborne thematic-mapper imagery of the Virginia Range, Nevada

Abstract Previous investigations have successfully used the 1·65/2·22μm ratio to map the concentration of hydroxyl-bearing minerals in imagery of sparsely vegetated terrain. However, difficulties arise in applying this ratio to semiarid regions where there is a wide variation in vegetation density. Besides mapping the mineralogic features of interest, the 1·65/2·22μm ratio also maps the density of vegetation by responding to leaf water content. A technique has been developed to estimate the vegetation contribution to this ratio based on the near-IR/red ratio. The technique has proved useful in mapping supergene alteration in the Virginia Range, Nevada
Action of ATP on the Neural Tissue-Limb Deplant of the Salamander

A study has been carried out on the effect of ATP, EDTA, and citrate on the excitatory properties of a spinal cord-limb deplant in the axolotl salamander. All the agents when administered into the region of the neural tissue greatly enhanced the activity of the limb as determined by electromyography and direct visualization. Calcium tended to reverse the excitatory action of the chelating agents, a finding which suggests that they acted by calcium-chelation. ATP, however, appeared to enhance activity in a manner distinct from any chelating action, insofar as it improved the spontaneous activity of the preparation and increased its responsiveness to various excitatory drugs. The findings support the concept that ATP plays a direct role in regulating the excitatory properties of the neuron.
Computational hemodynamic optimization predicts dominant aortic arch selection is driven by embryonic outflow tract orientation in the chick embryo

In the early embryo, a series of symmetric, paired vessels, the aortic arches, surround the foregut and distribute cardiac output to the growing embryo and fetus. During embryonic development, the arch vessels undergo large-scale asymmetric morphogenesis to form species-specific adult great vessel patterns. These transformations occur within a dynamic biomechanical environment, which can play an important role in the development of normal arch configurations or the aberrant arch morphologies associated with congenital cardiac defects. Arrested migration and rotation of the embryonic outflow tract during late stages of cardiac looping has been shown to produce both outflow tract and several arch abnormalities. Here, we investigate how changes in flow distribution due to a perturbation in the angular orientation of the embryonic outflow tract impact the morphogenesis and growth of the aortic arches. Using a combination of in vivo arch morphometry with fluorescent dye injection and hemodynamics-driven bioengineering optimization-based vascular growth modeling, we demonstrate that outflow tract orientation significantly changes during development and that the associated changes in hemodynamic load can dramatically influence downstream aortic arch patterning. Optimization reveals that balancing energy expenditure with diffusive capacity leads to multiple arch vessel patterns as seen in the embryo, while minimizing energy alone led to the single arch configuration seen in the mature arch of aorta. Our model further shows the critical importance of the orientation of the outflow tract in dictating morphogenesis to the adult single arch and accurately predicts arch IV as the dominant mature arch of aorta. These results support the hypothesis that abnormal positioning of the outflow tract during early cardiac morphogenesis may lead to congenital defects of the great vessels due to altered hemodynamic loading.
Orientation of membrane-bound cytochromes in chloroplasts, detected by low-temperature EPR spectroscopy

(HP), where LP and HP refer to low and high potential forms, respectively). Only within the last few years have the EPR characteristics of chloroplast cyto- chromes been determined [l-3]. Here, we report EPR spectroscopy of oriented chloroplasts to elucidate the orientation of the mag- netic axes of the cytochromes. In [4] we reported new EPR signals at g 2.3 and g 2.15 that were highly oriented in chloroplast thylakoid membranes. Here, we report that these signals are due to the low and high potential forms of cytochrome
Identification of CpG islands in DNA sequences using matched filters

CpG islands (CGIs), rich in CG dinucleotides, are usually located in the promoter regions of genes in DNA sequences and are used as gene markers. Identification of CGIs plays an important role in the analysis of DNA sequences. In this paper, we propose a new digital signal processing (DSP) based approach using matched filters for the identification of CGIs. We also formulate a new/reliable CGI identification characteristic replacing the several existing probability transition tables for CGIs and non-CGIs. The peaks in matched filter output, obtained by correlating the CGI characteristic with the DNA sequence to be analyzed, accurately and reliably identify CGIs. This approach is tested on a number of DNA sequences and is proved to be capable of identifying CpG islands efficiently and reliably.
TGF-β Promotion of Gli2-Induced Expression of Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein, an Important Osteolytic Factor in Bone Metastasis, Is Independent of Canonical Hedgehog Signaling

Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to bone, in which tumor cells receive signals from the bone marrow microenvironment. One relevant factor is TGF-β, which upregulates expression of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling molecule, Gli2, which in turn increases secretion of important osteolytic factors such as parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). PTHrP inhibition can prevent tumor-induced bone destruction, whereas Gli2 overexpression in tumor cells can promote osteolysis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Hh inhibition in bone metastatic breast cancer would decrease PTHrP expression and therefore osteolytic bone destruction. However, when mice engrafted with human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were treated with the Hh receptor antagonist cyclopamine, we observed no effect on tumor burden or bone destruction. In vitro analyses revealed that osteolytic tumor cells lack expression of the Hh receptor, Smoothened, suggesting an Hh-independent mechanism of Gli2 regulation. Blocking Gli signaling in metastatic breast cancer cells with a Gli2-repressor gene (Gli2-rep) reduced endogenous and TGF-β-stimulated PTHrP mRNA expression, but did not alter tumor cell proliferation. Furthermore, mice inoculated with Gli2-Rep-expressing cells exhibited a decrease in osteolysis, suggesting that Gli2 inhibition may block TGF-β propagation of a vicious osteolytic cycle in this MDA-MB-231 model of bone metastasis. Accordingly, in the absence of TGF-β signaling, Gli2 expression was downregulated in cells, whereas enforced overexpression of Gli2 restored PTHrP activity. Taken together, our findings suggest that Gli2 is required for TGF-β to stimulate PTHrP expression and that blocking Hh-independent Gli2 activity will inhibit tumor-induced bone destruction.
Augmented release of hepatic triglycerides with anabolic steroids in patients with fatty liver.

The previous reports, that anabolic steroids in man are effective in reverting hepatic fatty metamorphosis to normal, have thus far failed to establish a mechanism for this observation. The present study was designed to evaluate the role of hepatic lipoprotein release as one possible mode of action. After an overnight fast the rate of hepatic triglyceride release was established in patients with fatty liver. The administration of the anabolic steroid, norethandrolone, consistently resulted in a steady and profound increase in triglyceride release. When the triglyceride-fatty acids were analyzed and compared to those found in the liver, a greater percentage of the saturated fatty acids was observed in the hepatic venous blood resembling more closely those derived from endogenous synthesis. It is concluded that anabolic steroids do produce a rapid increase in hepatic triglyceride mobilization through accelerated lipoprotein release and/or synthesis.
Ca2+ influx and neurotransmitter release at ribbon synapses

Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels triggers the release of neurotransmitters at presynaptic terminals. Some sensory receptor cells in the peripheral auditory and visual systems have specialized synapses that express an electron-dense organelle called a synaptic ribbon. Like conventional synapses, ribbon synapses exhibit SNARE-mediated exocytosis, clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and short-term plasticity. However, unlike non-ribbon synapses, voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channel opening at ribbon synapses triggers a form of multiquantal release that can be highly synchronous. Furthermore, ribbon synapses appear to be specialized for fast and high throughput exocytosis controlled by graded membrane potential changes. Here we will discuss some of the basic aspects of synaptic transmission at different types of ribbon synapses, and we will emphasize recent evidence that auditory and retinal ribbon synapses have marked differences. This will lead us to suggest that ribbon synapses are specialized for particular operating ranges and frequencies of stimulation. We propose that different types of ribbon synapses transfer diverse rates of sensory information by expressing a particular repertoire of critical components, and by placing them at precise and strategic locations, so that a continuous supply of primed vesicles and Ca2+ influx leads to fast, accurate, and ongoing exocytosis.
Impact of engineered surface microtopography on biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus

The surface of an indwelling medical device can be colonized by human pathogens that can form biofilms and cause infections. In most cases, these biofilms are resistant to antimicrobial therapy and eventually necessitate removal or replacement of the device. An engineered surface microtopography based on the skin of sharks, Sharklet AFTM, has been designed on a poly(dimethyl siloxane) elastomer (PDMSe) to disrupt the formation of bacterial biofilms without the use of bactericidal agents. The Sharklet AFTM PDMSe was tested against smooth PDMSe for biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus over the course of 21 days. The smooth surface exhibited early-stage biofilm colonies at 7 days and mature biofilms at 14 days, while the topographical surface did not show evidence of early biofilm colonization until day 21. At 14 days, the mean value of percent area coverage of S. aureus on the smooth surface was 54% compared to 7% for the Sharklet AFTM surface (p<0.01). These results suggest that surface modification of indwelling medical devices and exposed sterile surfaces with the Sharklet AFTM engineered topography may be an effective solution in disrupting biofilm formation of S. aureus.
Parasite-monocyte interactions in human leishmaniasis: production of interleukin-1 in vitro

Leishmania are obligate intracellular protozoa that parasitize mononuclear phagocytes. Because mononuclear phagocytes are also the primary source of leukocytic pyrogen and of lymphocyte-activating factor, both considered properties of interleukin-1 (IL-1), we investigated in vitro production of leukocytic pyrogen and of lymphocyte-activating factor from human monocytes infected with Leishmania tropica. Despite parasitization of 95% of cells, 24- and 48-hr culture supernatants and cell lysates derived from L. tropica-infected monocytes did not contain IL-1. Leishmania that were killed by freezing or by glutaraldehyde treatment similarly did not induce monocyte production of IL-1. Of importance is the observation that human monocytes infected with L. tropica for 6 hr and then challenged with a potent IL-1 inducer (Staphylococcus epidermidis) produced significantly less IL-1 than did uninfected monocytes that were similarly challenged (P less than .001). This difference was not affected by the addition of indomethacin to the cultures. In contrast, soluble immune complexes prepared with an excess of L. tropica antigen and rabbit antibody to L. tropica induced high levels of IL-1 production from normal monocytes. Neither antigen nor antibody alone incubated with monocytes led to significant production of IL-1, however. Thus, these studies suggest that despite leishmanial adherence to, entrance into, and replication within human monocytes there is little or no stimulation of IL-1 production. This may represent a parasite evasion mechanism that retards the development of protective immune responses in leishmaniasis.
Disconjugacy, Differences, and Differentiation for Solutions of Nonlocal Boundary Value Problems for nth Order Difference Equations

With certain continuity and disconjugacy assumptions, solutions of the discrete boundary value problem, satisfying non-local boundary conditions are differenced with respect to the boundary points and differentiated with respect to the boundary values. The results are found to solve different but related linear difference equations.
Visualization blackboard-visualizing bioelectric fields

A toolkit developed to visualize cardiac electrophysiology is discussed. The geometric models that play a crucial role in the analysis, manipulation, and visualization of cardiac bioelectric data and the two separate data visualization systems developed for quick, flexible viewing of spatially distributed data and for displaying selected frames of data or preparing presentation-quality images are discussed. The first data visualization system, Map 3D, is based on Silicon Graphics' GL graphics library and designed to run on SGI and IBM workstations. The second set of programs is based on ray-traced rendering and distributed computing. >
Rank-Constrained Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Structured Covariance Matrices

This paper develops and analyzes the performance of a structured covariance matrix estimate for the important practical problem of radar space-time adaptive processing in the face of severely limited training data. Traditional maximum likelihood (ML) estimators are effective when training data are abundant, but they lead to poor estimates, degraded false alarm rates, and detection loss in the realistic regime of limited training. The problem is exacerbated by recent advances, which have led to high-dimensionalof the observations arising from increased antenna elements, as well as higher temporal resolution (time epochs and finally=). This work addresses the problem by incorporating constraints in the ML estimation problem obtained from the geometry and physics of the airborne phased array radar scenario. In particular, we exploit the structure of the disturbance covariance and, importantly, knowledge of the clutter rank to derive a new rank-constrained maximum likelihood (RCML) estimator of clutter and disturbance covariance. We demonstrate that despite the presence of the challenging rank constraint, the estimation can be transformed to a convex problem and derive closed-form expressions for the estimated covariance matrix. Performance analysis using the knowledge-aided sensor signal processing and expert reasoning data set (where ground truth covariance is made available) shows that the proposed estimator outperforms state-of-the-art alternatives in the sense of a higher normalized signal-to-interference and noise ratio. Crucially, the RCML estimator excels for low training, including the notoriously difficult regime of K≤N training samples.
Decolonization in the Former Soviet Borderlands: Politics in Search of Principles

As the public and private institutions of the post-Soviet world are reconfigured, the prominence of local politics in determining who decides what, when, and how may not necessarily be bad. Recent empirical analysis of Third World public and private interaction has offered strong arguments that local politics may determine the outlines of local government more efficiently than centrally driven campaigns (de Soto 1989). The failure of the collectivist experiment in Russia and its borderlands is a lesson of importance for theoreticians and practitioners alike. Any analyst who truly seeks to understand institutions, hierarchy, and collective forms of management cannot afford to ignore it.
Low Temperature Chemical Vapor Deposition of Aluminosilicate Thin Films on Carbon Fibers

We report the deposition of aluminum oxide and aluminosilicate thin films onto carbon fiber substrates, at temperatures of 200° and 250°C, respectively. For aluminosilicate films, the Al/Si ratio of the resultant film varied concomitantly with the composition of the liquid precursor mixture. The growth rate for the oxide films was 15–17 A/min, comparable with other methods carried out at higher temperatures. Cross-section SEM images indicate that the deposited films are conformal, following the complex topography of the carbon fiber substrate. Preliminary gas-phase IR analysis suggests that the coatings decompose the nerve agent simulant dimethyl methylphosphonate at temperatures as low as 35°C, suggesting the utility of the reported methodology for the design/fabrication of actively protective fabrics and clothing.
Rotational molding of plastics : Comparison of simulation and experimental results for an axisymmetric mold

We present a validation study comparing the mold wall temperature estimates from an axisymmetric thermal finite element simulation of the rotational molding process with temperature data obtained during experiments conducted on industrial-grade rotational molding equipment. The finite element model simulates the heat transfer processes involved in rotational molding through the end of powder deposition, and uses an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian technique to track the growing molten plastic layer. The experiments were conducted with nine different operating conditions on a single axisymmetric mold shape. The simulation results for mold wall temperature agreed well with the experimental data under all of the conditions tested.
Optical Imaging of the Adoptive Transfer of Human Endothelial Cells in Mice Using Anti-Human CD31 Monoclonal Antibody

The development of endothelium-specific imaging agents capable of specific binding to human cells under the conditions of flow for the needs of regenerative medicine and cancer research. The goal of the study was testing the feasibility of optical imaging of human endothelial cells implanted in mice. Mouse model of adoptive human endothelial cell transfer was obtained by implanting cells in Matrigel matrix in subcutaneous space (Kang, Torres, Wald, Weissleder, and Bogdanov, Jr., Targeted imaging of human endothelial-specific marker in a model of adoptive cell transfer. Lab. Invest. 86: 599-609, 2006). Several endothelium-specific proteins were labeled with near-infrared fluorochrome (Cy5.5) and tested in vitro. Fluorescence imaging using anti-human CD31 antibody was performed in vivo. The obtained results were corroborated by using fluorescence microscopy of tissue sections. We determined that monoclonal anti-human CD31 antibodies labeled with Cy5.5 were efficiently binding to human endothelial cells and were not subject to rapid endocytosis.We further demonstrated that specific near-infrared optical imaging signal was present only in Matrigel implants seeded with human endothelium cells and was absent from control Matrigel implants. Histology showed staining of cells lining vessels and revealed the formation of branched networks of CD31-positive cells. Anti-human CD31 antibodies tagged with near-infrared fluorochromes can be used for detection of perfused blood vessels harboring human endothelial cells in animal models of adoptive transfer.
A Theory of Program Size Formally Identical to Information Theory

A new definition of program-size complexity is made. H(A,B/C,D) is defined to be the size in bits of the shortest self-delimiting program for calculating strings A and B if one is given a minimal-size self-delimiting program for calculating strings C and D. This differs from previous definitions: (1) programs are required to be self-delimiting, i.e. no program is a prefix of another, and (2) instead of being given C and D directly, one is given a program for calculating them that is minimal in size. Unlike previous definitions, this one has precisely the formal properties of the entropy concept of information theory. For example, H(A,B) = H(A) + H(B/A) -~ 0(1). Also, if a program of length k is assigned measure 2 -k, then H(A) = -log2 (the probability that the standard universal computer will calculate A) -{- 0(1).