cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Virus adsorption to mineral surfaces is reduced by microbial overgrowth and organic coatings

In experiments with strains of poliovirus, reovirus, echovirus, and Coxsackievirus, overgrowth with exopolymer-forming bacteria reduced virus adsorption to mineral surfaces. Adsorption was improved when organic materials adsorbed to minerals were removed by low-temperature ashing. In a soil series, virus adsorption increased with soil depth. This paralleled a decrease in organic content, but differences in charge development of the soil particles may also be involved. Prolonged (40-year) irrigation with treated sewage effluents, leading to a buildup of organic coatings, also decreased adsorption. However, saturation of the virus-binding capacity of the soil as a result of continuous exposure to virus-containing effluents was not apparent.
The hippocampus and retrograde amnesia: localization of some positive and negative memory disruptive sites.

Electrical stimulation of the hippocampus was used to produce retrograde amnesia in mice. Both subthreshold stimulation and suprathreshold stimulation for the production of hippocampal afterdischarge activity resulted in amnesia for an inhibitory avoidance task. The magnitude of amnesia differed, however, with the two types of stimulation. Histological analysis of the electrode placements indicated that the effective amnesia-producing sites were located in the area dentata of the hippocampus. Electrode placements not bilaterally symmetrical in this area failed to produce amnesia. The role of bilateral symmetry in brain malfunction induced by various experimental treatments is discussed.
UNEP report outlines global responses to different development scenarios

A global environmental assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), released 22 May recognizes improvements over the past several decades in river and air quality in many developed nations, and efforts to repair the stratospheric ozone layer. However, the report also notes a steady decline in the environment—including fresh water, coastal, and marine resources—especially in many developing nations. The assessment by the UNEP comes 30 years after the first international environmental conference in Stockholm and three months prior to the August 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
Building a Knowledge Base on Archival Creators at the National Archives of France: Issues, Methods, and Prospects

The National Archives of France (NAF) aim to build a knowledge base, made of EAC-CPF files, on the entities (government ministries and agencies, public notaries, persons, families, and private corporate bodies) whose records they keep. This base, which already serves as a management tool and as an access point to finding aids in the NAF website, is very incomplete and must now be enriched. After analyzing the current situation, this article discusses the scientific issues of the project (the definition, scope, main objectives and data model of the base, its place in the NAF information system, the need to develop another base on functions), the methods to be used to carry it out as a collective operation, and some prospects concerning the interoperability of the base with other ones, its Resource Description Framework representation and its visualization.
Construction of a New Integration Vector for Use in Streptococcus mutans

A new integration vector, pBGK, was constructed for delivery of heterologous DNA into the chromosome of Streptococcus mutans. A kanamycin resistance element (OmegaKm), which is flanked by transcriptional and translational terminators and which is selectable in both Escherichia coli and streptococci, was inserted into a 2.4-kb EcoRI fragment carrying the S. mutans gtfA gene. A unique SmaI site flanking OmegaKm is available for cloning of promoter:reporter gene fusions or foreign genes, which can then be integrated into the S. mutans chromosome by allelic exchange with the gtfA gene. The vector was used to analyze the activity of an S. mutans promoter by fusing it to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. The reporter fusions could readily be cloned into the vector at a unique SmaI site and the vector and passenger DNA were stable in E. coli. DNAs flanked by gtfA sequees integrated efficiently into the chromosome of S. mutans and were stably maintained in the absence of selective pressure. Expression levels of the reporter gene were consistent regardless of orientation or repeated subculturing.
Regulation of insulin sensitivity by serine/threonine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate proteins IRS1 and IRS2

The insulin receptor substrate proteins IRS1 and IRS2 are key targets of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and are required for hormonal control of metabolism. Tissues from insulin-resistant and diabetic humans exhibit defects in IRS-dependent signalling, implicating their dysregulation in the initiation and progression of metabolic disease. However, IRS1 and IRS2 are regulated through a complex mechanism involving phosphorylation of >50 serine/threonine residues (S/T) within their long, unstructured tail regions. In cultured cells, insulin-stimulated kinases (including atypical PKC, AKT, SIK2, mTOR, S6K1, ERK1/2 and ROCK1) mediate feedback (autologous) S/T phosphorylation of IRS, with both positive and negative effects on insulin sensitivity. Additionally, insulin-independent (heterologous) kinases can phosphorylate IRS1/2 under basal conditions (AMPK, GSK3) or in response to sympathetic activation and lipid/inflammatory mediators, which are present at elevated levels in metabolic disease (GRK2, novel and conventional PKCs, JNK, IKKβ, mPLK). An emerging view is that the positive/negative regulation of IRS by autologous pathways is subverted/co-opted in disease by increased basal and other temporally inappropriate S/T phosphorylation. Compensatory hyperinsulinaemia may contribute strongly to this dysregulation. Here, we examine the links between altered patterns of IRS S/T phosphorylation and the emergence of insulin resistance and diabetes.
Anaerobicizing into Pluripotency

Reprogramming involves multiple layers of molecular regulation, yet it remains relatively unknown how the cell's metabolism is changing and/or contributing to this process. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Folmes et al. (2011) demonstrate that reprogramming induces a bioenergetic transition from an oxidative to a glycolytic state, and provide evidence to suggest that these changes may precede pluripotency.
Behavior of sample means of nearly nonstationary time series

Sample means are perhaps the most commonly used statistics in data analysis. When the data points are independent, behavior of sample means is governed by the Law of Large Numbers. When the data are serial correlated, theoretical results of stationary stochastic processes are often used to describe the behavior of sample means. How do the sample mean behave when data are nonstationary (or nearly so) is yet to be discussed. In this paper, I give the limiting distribution of sample means when the processes are either nonstationary or nearly nonstationary. I also discuss why the conventional formula fails to provide adequate inference for sample means when the processes are nearly nonstationary.
Etodolac selectively inhibits human prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PGHS-2) versus human PGHS-1

The isozymes of prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS) are shown to be differentially inhibited in vitro by currently marketed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) using microsomal rhPGHS-1 and rhPGHS-2. Comparison of selectivity ratios (IC50 rhPGHS-1/IC50 rhPGHS-2) demonstrated a 10-fold selectivity of etodolac (Lodine) for rhPGHS-2, whereas the other NSAIDs evaluated demonstrated no preference or a slight preference for inhibition of rhPGHS-1. In vitro enzyme results were supported by a human whole blood assay where etodolac also demonstrated a 10-fold selectivity for inhibition of PGHS-2 mediated TxB2 production. Taken together, these data may be key to explaining the clinically observed gastrointestinal safety of etodolac versus other marketed NSAIDs.
Surface chemistry: Self-assembling Sierpiński triangles

Defect-free Sierpinski triangles can be self-assembled on a silver surface through a combination of molecular design and thermal annealing. Three-fold halogen-bonding arrays and precise surface epitaxy preclude structural errors, thus enabling the high-level complexity of these supramolecular fractal patterns.
Antibody Is Required for Protection against Virulent but Not Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

Resolution of infection with attenuated Salmonella is an active process that requires CD4+ T cells. Here, we demonstrate that costimulation via the surface molecule CD28, but not antibody production by B cells, is required for clearance of attenuated aroA Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium. In contrast, specific antibody is critical for vaccine-induced protection against virulent bacteria. Therefore, CD28+ CD4+ T cells are sufficient for clearance of avirulent Salmonella in naive hosts, whereas CD4+ T cells and specific antibodies are required for protection from virulent Salmonella in immune hosts.
Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin induces apoptosis in endothelial cells

The internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells was recently shown to induce apoptosis. We examined the role of α-toxin, a major pore-forming toxin secreted by S. aureus, in causing apoptosis in vitro. Purified α-toxin, at sublytic concentrations, induced apoptosis in endothelial cell monolayers. Comparisons of two α-toxin (hla)-positive S. aureus strains and their isogenic hla-deficient mutants in the invasion assay of endothelial cells demonstrated that the capacity to produce α-toxin was associated with a greater propensity for apoptosis in endothelial cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that expression of α-toxin during endothelial cell invasion by S. aureus enhances apoptosis.
Development and validation of the appearance and performance enhancing drug use schedule

Abstract Appearance-and-performance enhancing drug (APED) use is a form of drug use that includes use of a wide range of substances such as anabolic–androgenic steroids (AASs) and associated behaviors including intense exercise and dietary control. To date, there are no reliable or valid measures of the core features of APED use. The present study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drug Use Schedule (APEDUS) which is a semi-structured interview designed to assess the spectrum of drug use and related features of APED use. Eighty-five current APED using men and women (having used an illicit APED in the past year and planning to use an illicit APED in the future) completed the APEDUS and measures of convergent and divergent validity. Inter-rater agreement, scale reliability, one-week test–retest reliability, convergent and divergent validity, and construct validity were evaluated for each of the APEDUS scales. The APEDUS is a modular interview with 10 sections designed to assess the core drug and non-drug phenomena associated with APED use. All scales and individual items demonstrated high inter-rater agreement and reliability. Individual scales significantly correlated with convergent measures (DSM-IV diagnoses, aggression, impulsivity, eating disorder pathology) and were uncorrelated with a measure of social desirability. APEDUS subscale scores were also accurate measures of AAS dependence. The APEDUS is a reliable and valid measure of APED phenomena and an accurate measure of the core pathology associated with APED use. Issues with assessing APED use are considered and future research is considered.
Effects of Atypical Antipsychotics on the Syndromal Profile in Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia

Background: There has been considerable support for the observation that atypical antipsychotics have a broader range of therapeutic effects than traditional antipsychotics. We are exploring whether this expanded clinical efficacy can also be seen in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Method: The subjects were 157 treatment-resistant inpatients diagnosed with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. They were randomly assigned to treatment with clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, or haloperidol in a 14-week double-blind trial and rated with a standard measure of clinical antipsychotic efficacy (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS]). Factor analysis at baseline and endpoint together with changes in 5 PANSS-derived factors were examined. Data were gathered from June 1996 to December 1999. Results: The underlying PANSS factor structure, as indicated by the factor loadings, was essentially identical at baseline and endpoint. At baseline, the excitement factor was followed by the positive, negative, cognitive, and depression/anxiety factors, explaining 49.4% of the total variance. At endpoint, the positive factor was followed by the negative, excitement, cognitive, and depression/anxiety factors, explaining 55.5% of the total variance. The endpoint data indicated statistically significant (p <.05) improvements over time on the positive factor for all 3 atypicals, but not for haloperidol. The negative factor showed significant improvement for clozapine and olanzapine, with significant worsening for haloperidol. Clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone were superior to haloperidol on the negative factor, while clozapine was also superior to risperidone. The cognitive factor showed significant improvement for all atypicals, as did the depression/anxiety factor. Only clozapine showed improvement on the excitement factor and was superior to both haloperidol and risperidone. Conclusions: Treatment with atypical antipsychotics did not substantially change the underlying PANSS 5-factor structure. However, antipsychotic treatment with all 3 atypical medications was associated with significant improvements on 3 of 5 syndromal domains (positive, cognitive, and depression/anxiety) of schizophrenia. Clozapine and olanzapine also showed improvement on the negative factor. Only clozapine was associated with improvement on the excitement domain. This finding confirms that atypicals are associated with improvement of an expanded spectrum of symptoms in treatment-resistant patients.
Transfusion Medicine in Chicago, Before and After the “Blood Bank”

Although history states correctly that Bernard Fantus coined the name "blood bank" in Chicago in 1937, his was only one of many contributions of Midwest America to the new therapy of blood transfusion. Chicago was at the center of the movement before and after then, anticipating the modern era with the first practical method for direct donor-to-recipient transfusion and staging a secret clinical trial of cadaver blood. That successful trial of cadaver blood may have presaged the first functional cadaver kidney transplant, performed at the same hospital several years later. Modern-day technologies for blood collection, transfusion, and safety testing also have many roots in Chicago.
Intelligent robot control using omnidirectional vision

Omnidirectional vision using a wide angle lens with a 2 pi steradian field has been studied for image visualization and navigation for mobile robots. The advantages that can be obtained with the large field of view include instantaneous viewing which permits dynamic control and improved visualization. The significant geometric distortion can be corrected using image processing for either image viewing or target recognition. The purpose of this paper is to present results from the use of omnidirectional vision as an integral component in an intelligent robot control system. Using the vision system for position updates provides a method for accurate position control. Simulation and experimental results are presented of a two level control system which uses encoders for dead reckoning position control and periodic vision position updates. The system appears promising for mobile robot navigation and can lead to a robust control system.
Probability model for estimating colorectal polyp progression rates

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Experts estimate that about 85% of CRCs begin as precancerous polyps, early detection and treatment of which can significantly reduce the risk of CRC. Hence, it is imperative to develop population-wide intervention strategies for early detection of polyps. Development of such strategies requires precise values of population-specific rates of incidence of polyp and its progression to cancerous stage. There has been a considerable amount of research in recent years on developing screening based CRC intervention strategies. However, these are not supported by population-specific mathematical estimates of progression rates. This paper addresses this need by developing a probability model that estimates polyp progression rates considering race and family history of CRC; note that, it is ethically infeasible to obtain polyp progression rates through clinical trials. We use the estimated rates to simulate the progression of polyps in the population of the State of Indiana, and also the population of a clinical trial conducted in the State of Minnesota, which was obtained from literature. The results from the simulations are used to validate the probability model.
Accurate finite-difference time-domain simulation of anisotropic media by subpixel smoothing

Finite-difference time-domain methods suffer from reduced accuracy when discretizing discontinuous materials. We previously showed that accuracy can be significantly improved by using subpixel smoothing of the isotropic dielectric function, but only if the smoothing scheme is properly designed. Using recent developments in perturbation theory that were applied to spectral methods, we extend this idea to anisotropic media and demonstrate that the generalized smoothing consistently reduces the errors and even attains second-order convergence with resolution.
Analysis of Wood Combustion Based on the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics

Wood is a highly flexible fuel which can be used in a variety of ways for energy generation. Direct combustion of wood is the oldest method of utilization of this renewable energy source. This paper presents an analysis of wood combustion based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, using a computer program developed for this study. Since the moisture content of the available wood fuels vary over a wide range, special attention is given to the effects of moisture content on the exergy and energy content of the wood. Because of the wide variation in particle size and moisture content of the wood fuels, different types of combustion systems have been designed and are utilized in industry. Each combustion system uses a certain amount of combustion air and is designed for a certain range of combustion air temperatures and wood fuel moisture contents. The effects of these variables on wood combustion and the efficiencies of the process have been studied and are presented in this paper. To point out the importance and differences between efficiencies that are commonly used, several efficiencies based on the first and the second laws of the thermodynamics are calculated and compared. Based on the results presented in this report, it is concluded that, over the range of variables studied, the most efficient conditions for wood combustion can be achieved by using the minimum amount of excess air at highest permissible temperature. It is also concluded that the lower moisture contents result in higher combustion efficiencies.
Difference-of-Gaussian annular pupil for extended depth of focus three-dimensional imaging

We propose a technique for 3-D microscopic imaging with extended depth-of-focus using a novel illumination scheme in a laser scanning optical microscope. The novel illumination scheme creates an effective annular pupil, called the difference-of- Gaussian annular pupil, without the critical drawback of stopping and wasting the light. Two laser beams of difference Gaussian pupils with different temporal frequencies are first generated. The laser beams are then combined spatially and used to scan the specimen. The scattered light from the object is picked up by a photodetector whose output consists of a DC and an AC current (due to the optical heterodyning of the two optical beams). The DC signal is no difference from the DC output of a conventional laser scanning microscope with the processing pupil as a Gaussian function, whereas the AC signal is derived from the mixing of the two Gaussian beams and would be given by effectively a Gaussian pupil with a different size than that generated by the DC signal. The AC and the DC signals are then subtracted by electronics and hence the effective pupil function would be given by the difference of the two Gaussian pupil functions. By properly choosing the size of the two Gaussian laser beams, we could realize the difference of the two Gaussian pupils which becomes a new type of annular pupil called the difference-of-Gaussian annular pupil.
Phacoemulsification cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation in patients with uveitis.

Abstract PURPOSE: This study reports outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation within the capsular bag in patients with uveitis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 32 patients (39 eyes) with uveitis who underwent phacoemulsification cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation by two surgeons at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation from January 1990 to June 1998. Patients with less than 3 months of follow-up were excluded. RESULTS: Diagnoses of uveitis included idiopathic (15 eyes), sarcoidosis (10 eyes), pars planitis (four eyes), CMV retinitis (two eyes), Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (two eyes), syphilis (two eyes), and one eye each of tuberculosis, Crohn's disease, HLA-B27 associated, and acute retinal necrosis. Average follow-up was 20 months (range, 3 to 63 months). Best-corrected visual acuity improved in 37 eyes (95%). Average improvement was 4 ± 3 Snellen acuity lines (range, 1 to 10 lines). Thirty-four eyes (87%) attained final visual acuity better than or equal to 20/40. Visual loss occurred in one eye (3%) with CMV retinitis. No improvement in visual acuity was seen in one eye (3%) that developed a retinal pigment epithelial detachment. Posterior capsule opacification occurred in 24 eyes (62%), 12 of which required Nd:YAG capsulotomy (31%). Other postoperative complications included recurrence of uveitis (41%), cystoid macular edema (33%), epiretinal membrane formation (15%), and posterior synechiae (8%). CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation is safe in patients with uveitis. The incidences of recurrence of uveitis, cystoid macular edema, epiretinal membrane, and posterior synechiae were lower than those reported previously for extracapsular cataract extraction.
Colloidal clusters: Building blocks for photonic materials

A method for fabricating colloidal clusters of tetrahedra, octahedra, and other clusters is described. Such clusters are used to form a new class of colloidal particles with directional interactions. These can be used to greatly expand the types of colloidal crystals that can be self-assembled for photonic band gap materials.
Anisotropic Beam Theories With Shear Deformation

We investigate the effect of constitutive coupling of stretching, bending, and transverse shearing deformation on the deflection of an anisotropic cantilever beam with narrow rectangular cross-section. To this end, we have developed a hierarchy of beam models by applying a variational principle for displacements and transverse stresses to the associated plane stress problem.
A Nodal Load Model of 3-D Finite Element Analysis for a Crankshaft of a Truck-Mounted Compressor

In order to analyze the stresses and deformations of a crankshaft of a truck-mounted compressor by means of finite element method, the most important and difficult thing is how to determine the external force model on a crankshaft. The objective of this paper is to present a new load model of 3-D finite element analysis for a crankshaft of a truck-mounted compressor used in an oil field, i.e., the contacting-distribution forces are transferred into equivalent nodal forces. Firstly, the contacting-distribution forces between the crankshaft and the links are analyzed; secondly, formulations of equivalent node forces for the working conditions of 0° and 75° are deduced; finally, the crankshaft of a gas-engine driven truck-mounted compressor is taken as an illustration.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
The epidemiology of herpes zoster and potential cost-effectiveness of vaccination in England and Wales

The epidemiology of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) was quantified from a variety of data sources and the potential cost-effectiveness of vaccination assessed. The annual incidence and severity of zoster increases sharply with age, as measured by physician consultation and hospitalisation rates, average length of stay, average proportion of cases developing PHN and the age-specific case-fatality ratio. Combining these data with information on health related quality of life results in an estimated loss of 20000 quality adjusted life years (QALYs) annually in England and Wales from herpes zoster (17400 due to PHN). The current cost of treating herpes zoster associated disease is estimated to be 47.6m pounds annually. Since both the health and economic burden are high, vaccination of the elderly is expected to be cost-effective under most scenarios, the attractiveness of immunisation increasing with age due to the increased burden of disease in the very elderly.
A New Statistical Model for Gate Array Routing

A new statistical model for routing of gate arrays is described. The model takes into consideration the effect of gate utilization of wiring area requirement. Model computed wiring area estimates suggest that it is better (in terms of area and wire length) to use higher utilization and a relatively large number of tracks than low utilization and smaller number of tracks. This is shown to be consistent with the results of two experiments.
Oxytocin pretreatment of pregnant rat uterus inhibits Ca2+ uptake in plasma membrane and sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Abstract Myometrium from rats in varying stages of pregnancy (from 17 to 22 days) was treated with oxytocin (0.1–10 μM) and plasma membranes and sarcoplasmic reticulum were isolated using a Percoll gradient. When the myometrium had been treated with oxytocin, Ca 2+ uptake was reduced by 29.4% in the plasma membrane and by 32.6% in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The inhibitory action of oxytocin was highly dependent upon the stage of gestation: Only membranes from rats close to term (21–22 days) exhibited reduced Ca 2+ transport activity after hormone treatment. This effect correlated highly with a significant decrease in the serum progesterone level of these animals. In plasma membrane vesicles, oxytocin reduced the maximal velocity of the Ca 2+ pump without significantly affecting the affinity for Ca 2+ . Oxytocin did not affect the passive permeability of the plasma membranes, nor their proportion of sealed inside-out vesicles nor the amount of Ca 2+ -pump protein in these membranes. In addition, oxytocin caused no change in the passive permeability of the membrane nor in the rate of inositol triphosphate-induced Ca 2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest that there is a specific action of oxytocin on the activity of the myometrial plasma membrane and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ pumps which may contribute to the maintenance of an elevated intracellular calcium level during parturition.
Recursion leads to automatic variable blocking for dense linear-algebra algorithms

We describe some modifications of the LAPACK dense linear-algebra algorithms using recursion. Recursion leads to automatic variable blocking. LAPACK's level-2 versions transform into level-3 codes by using recursion. The new recursive codes are written in FORTRAN 77, which does not support recursion as a language feature. Gaussian elimination with partial pivoting and Cholesky factorization are considered. Very clear algorithms emerge with the use of recursion. The recursive codes do exactly the same computation as the LAPACK codes, and a single recursive code replaces both the level-2 and level-3 versions of the corresponding LAPACK codes. We present an analysis of the recursive algorithm in terms of both FLOP count and storage usage. The matrix operands are more squarish using recursion. The total area of the submatrices used in the recursive algorithm is less than the total area used by the LAPACK level-3 right-/left-looking algorithms. We quantify the difference; we also quantify how the FLOPS are computed. Also, we show that the algorithms exhibit high performance on RISC-type processors. In fact, except for small matrices, the recursive version outperforms the level-3 LAPACK versions of DGETRF and DPOTRF on an RS/6000 workstation. For the level-2 versions, the performance gain approaches a factor of 3. We also demonstrate that a change to the LAPACK DLASWP routine can improve the performance of both the recursive version and DGETRF by more than 15 percent.
Scaling of Magnetic Reconnection in Relativistic Collisionless Pair Plasmas

Using fully kinetic simulations, we study the scaling of the inflow speed of collisionless magnetic reconnection in electron-positron plasmas from the nonrelativistic to ultrarelativistic limit. In the antiparallel configuration, the inflow speed increases with the upstream magnetization parameter σ and approaches the speed of light when σ>O(100), leading to an enhanced reconnection rate. In all regimes, the divergence of the pressure tensor is the dominant term responsible for breaking the frozen-in condition at the x line. The observed scaling agrees well with a simple model that accounts for the Lorentz contraction of the plasma passing through the diffusion region. The results demonstrate that the aspect ratio of the diffusion region, modified by the compression factor of proper density, remains ∼0.1 in both the nonrelativistic and relativistic limits.
Effective behavioral modeling and prediction even when few exemplars are available

While great progress has been made in the lowest levels of data fusion, practical advances in behavior modeling and prediction remain elusive. The most critical limitation of existing approaches is their inability to support the required knowledge modeling and continuing refinement under realistic constraints (e.g., few historic exemplars, the lack of knowledge engineering support, and the need for rapid system deployment). This paper reports on our ongoing efforts to develop Propheteer, a system which will address these shortcomings through two primary techniques. First, with Propheteer we abandon the typical consensus-driven modeling approaches that involve infrequent group decision making sessions in favor of an approach that solicits asynchronous knowledge contributions (in the form of alternative future scenarios and indicators) without burdening the user with endless certainty or probability estimates. Second, we enable knowledge contributions by personnel beyond the typical core decision making group, thereby casting light on blind spots, mitigating human biases, and helping maintain the currency of the developed behavior models. We conclude with a discussion of the many lessons learned in the development of our prototype Propheteer system.
On clusterings: Good, bad and spectral

We motivate and develop a natural bicriteria measure for assessing the quality of a clustering that avoids the drawbacks of existing measures. A simple recursive heuristic is shown to have poly-logarithmic worst-case guarantees under the new measure. The main result of the article is the analysis of a popular spectral algorithm. One variant of spectral clustering turns out to have effective worst-case guarantees; another finds a "good" clustering, if one exists.
Efficient synthesis of the siderophore petrobactin via antimony triethoxide mediated coupling

Abstract Chemical synthesis of petrobactin, a siderophore for Bacillus anthracis , has been achieved via Sb(OEt) 3 -mediated ester–amide exchange.
Local Integral Estimates and Removable Singularities for Quasilinear and Hessian Equations with Nonlinear Source Terms

We obtain sharp integral estimates, characterize removable singularities, and deduce Liouville-type theorems as well as local nonexistence results for a class of quasilinear and Hessian equations and inequalities whose coefficients and data are non-negative measurable functions, or measures, on a domain Ω ⊂ ℝ n . Solutions which may be singular are understood in the entropy, potential-theoretic, or viscosity sense.
Mine detection performance by fusing ground-penetrating radars and metal detector

This paper quantifies the mine detection performance by fusing ground penetrating radars and a metal detector. Specifically, the fusion scheme used in this paper is ANDing different sensors with high probability of detection regardless of the false alarm rate. As the false alarms are random, and each sensor processes detected objects differently to produce high probability of detection, fusion by ANDing eliminates the majority of false alarms, and hopefully maintains the high probability of detection based on the mutually exclusive property of the sensor being fused. This paper uses data collected with different GPR's of Vehicular Mounted Mine Detection ATD systems and a handheld metal detector at Aberdeen Testing Center, Maryland and Socorro, New Mexico test sites. The total number of mines encountered and area coverage are approximately 450 and 13000m2, respectively.
A social-ecological perspective on power and HIV/AIDS with a sample of men who have sex with men of colour

This paper applies a social-ecological theory of power to posit that individual HIV-related vulnerability stems from how power is leveraged across situations over time. The current study identified six power domains and explored how the interchangeability of power shapes HIV-related vulnerability among men who have sex with men of colour. Data were collected as part of a mixed-methods study on the social networks and experiences of racial/ethnic and sexual minority status. A total of 35 Asian/Pacific Islander, Black and Latino men who have sex with men were recruited and individual in-depth interviews were conducted. Results showed that men who have sex with men of colour actively traded upon various domains to alter their relative power within a given situation. Results suggest that power interchangeability, or the degree to which power from one domain can be leveraged to gain power in another, may shape HIV-related vulnerability. Findings offer a dynamic understanding of the nature of HIV risk as derive...
Leaf Characteristic Variation in Hybrid Lovegrass Populations

Apomictic plant breeding is being practiced in several turf and forage grasses. Variation released during apomictic breeding has been discussed, but few reports have quantified this variation. Our objectives were to characterize variation among lovegrass, Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees, hybrids and their parents, compare parents and hybrids, and determine interrelationships among the characteristics studied. Twenty-nine hybrids from each of two populations, A and B, resulting from the cross of two sexual plants [full-sibs with low levels of epicuticular wax (wax) and narrow leaves] with an apomictic plant (high levels of wax and wide leaves) were studied in separate experiments conducted in 1989 and 1990. Leaf width and wax, moisture content (weight) per leaf area, and specific leaf weight (dry weight per leaf area) were studied [...]
Characterization of semiconductor strained layers grown on (110)-type substrates by high-resolution X-ray diffractometry

Abstract We present an analytical approach to determine the strain and composition in simple epitaxial films, superlattices and multiple quantum wells grown on (110) substrates by means of the high-resolution X-ray rocking curve technique. Peak separations between the substrate and the epilayer are used from suitable reflections to calculate the lattice parameters in the epilayer using simple equations, followed by a calculation of the layer strain and composition based on the linear elasticity theory. Two independent reflections are sufficient to fully characterize SiGe layers grown on Si, if no tilts relative to the substrate are present, whereas most compound semiconductors may require additional rocking curves to account for the layer tilt. The effect of film thickness on the calculations is examined, and a procedure to correct for the deviation from Vegard's law in SiGe is formulated. The technique is demonstrated for an SiGe multiple quantum well grown on an Si(110) substrate.
Sex‐Role Attitudes of Missouri and Virginia Home Economics Teachers

Sex-role attitudes of 301 home economics teachers, all female, from Missouri and Virginia were explored using the Sex-Role Attitude Scale (SRAS) developed by Osmond and Martin. The SRAS analyzes attitudes toward the roles of both sexes on a traditional/nontraditional sex-role continuum. The instrument was designed to measure four com ponents of sex-role assumptions and behaviors: (1) familial roles; (2) extrafamilial roles; (3) male/female stereotypes; and (4) social change in sex roles. The responses to the survey were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance. Results indicated that both Missouri and Virginia respondents held nontraditional attitudes. Younger teachers were significantly less traditional than older teachers on two of the sex-role attitude components. There were not significant differences between urban and rural teachers or among interaction effects.
‘We Pray by His Mouth’: Karl Barth, Erving Goffman, and a Theology of Invocation

Rereading the opening question of the Westminster Catechism, “What is the chief end of man?”, I contend in this essay that the act of invocation — giving God thanks, praise, and petitions — is the act in and through which human being itself is founded, constituted and achieved. I take important cues from Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics and The Christian Life, and from sociologist Erving Goffman's work on the shifting “footings” involved in everyday interactions. I argue for an account of the human being as a being-with-God, human acting as acting-with-God, and human salvation as a restoration to the genuine human partner's work — indeed, the true leitourgia— of thanks, praise and petition to God.
Sex Ratio in Field Populations of Phytoseiid Mites (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

The sex ratio was determined for 15 species of phytoseiid mites collected from 24 locations throughout New Jersey during the summers of 1973 and 1974. Each species had a characteristic sex ratio which ranged from ca. 52% female to ca. 97% female, although a sex ratio between 75 and 90% female was most common. The sex ratio of each species varied, but except for 1 instance, did not show a significant trend in different populations or throughout the growing season. Sex ratio did not differ among different host vegetation species and was not related to species frequency or density. Regression analysis of 8 meteorological factors with sex ratio showed that variation in sex ratio is related to temperature, humidity, and wind speed.
Gigagon: a Monocentric Lens Design Imaging 40 Gigapixels

The Gigagon is a f/2.5 five element monocentric lens resolving under 2 arcsec over a 120 degree field of view intended to image onto megapixel sensors tiled over the focal surface.
Pulse techniques for the suppression of individual components in multiexponential relaxation curves.

NMR pulse sequences have been investigated which selectively suppress undesired signal components from multiple-exponential spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxation curves. Suppression is achieved by exploiting differences in the relaxation times of sample components. Special attention is devoted to discussion of practical details necessary for implementation of these methods, as well as their relative advantages and disadvantages. The techniques are illustrated using multiple-compartment aqueous phantoms and are then employed in measurements of proton T1 and T2 values for freshly isolated guinea pig lenses immersed in aqueous buffer solutions to prevent dehydration and maintain viability. These methods obviate many of the difficulties inherent in obtaining accurate relaxation times for minor components of multiple-exponential curves and should be useful in many applications of NMR to the study of intact tissue, both in vitro and in vitro. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.
Blood pressure among very low birth weight (<1.5 kg) young adults.

Our objective was to compare the blood pressure of 20-y-old very low birth weight (VLBW; <1.5 kg) individuals with that of normal birth weight (NBW) control individuals. The population included 195 VLBW (92 female and 103 male) and 208 NBW (107 female and 101 male) individuals who were born between 1977 and 1979. Independent effects of birth weight status (VLBW versus NBW) and within the VLBW cohort of intrauterine growth (birth weight z score) were examined via multiple regression analyses. VLBW individuals had a higher mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) than NBW control individuals (114 ± 11 versus 112 ± 13 mm Hg). SBP for VLBW female infants was 110 ± 9 versus NBW 107 ± 12 and for VLBW male individuals was 118 ± 11 versus NBW 117 ± 11 mm Hg. After adjustment for gender, race, and maternal education, the difference in SBP between VLBW and NBW individuals was 1.9 mm Hg but was 3.5 mm after also adjustment for later size (20-y weight and height z scores), which reflects catch-up growth. For female individuals, the difference in SBP between VLBW and NBW individuals was significant both unadjusted and adjusted for later size, whereas for male individuals, the difference was significant only after adjustment for later size. Intrauterine growth did not have a significant effect on SBP within the VLBW group, even after adjustment for later size. VLBW individuals, specifically female individuals, have a higher SBP than NBW control individuals. This is not explained by intrauterine growth failure.
Simultaneous determination of lamotrigine, zonisamide, and carbamazepine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatography assay with ultraviolet detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of the anti-epileptic drugs lamotrigine, carbamazepine and zonisamide in human plasma and serum. Lamotrigine, carbamazepine, zonisamide and the internal standard chloramphenicol were extracted from serum or plasma using liquid-liquid extraction under alkaline conditions into an organic solvent. The method was linear in the range 1-30 microg/mL for lamotrigine, 2-20 microg/mL for carbamazepine, and 1-40 microg/mL for zonisamide. Within- and between-run precision studies demonstrated coefficient of variation <10% at all tested concentrations. Other anti-epileptic medications tested did not interfere with the assay. The method is appropriate for determining lamotrigine, carbamazepine and zonisamide serum or plasma concentrations for therapeutic monitoring.
Association of the chicken MHC B haplotypes with resistance to avian coronavirus

Clinical respiratory illness was compared in five homozygous chicken lines, originating from homozygous B2, B8, B12 and B19, and heterozygous B2/B12 birds after infection with either of two strains of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). All chickens used in these studies originated from White Leghorn and Ancona linages. IBV Gray strain infection of MHC homozygous B12 and B19 haplotype chicks resulted in severe respiratory disease compared to chicks with B2/B2 and B5/B5 haplotypes. Demonstrating a dominant B2 phenotype, B2/B12 birds were also more resistant to IBV. Respiratory clinical illness in B8/B8 chicks was severe early after infection, while illness resolved similar to the B5 and B2 homozygous birds. Following M41 strain infection, birds with B2/B2 and B8/B8 haplotypes were again more resistant to clinical illness than B19/B19 birds. Real time RT-PCR indicated that infection was cleared more efficiently in trachea, lungs and kidneys of B2/B2 and B8/B8 birds compared with B19/B19 birds. Furthermore, M41 infected B2/B2 and B8/B8 chicks performed better in terms of body weight gain than B19/B19 chicks. These studies suggest that genetics of B defined haplotypes might be exploited to produce chicks resistant to respiratory pathogens or with more effective immune responses.
Development of a rapid microELISA assay for screening hybridoma supernatants for murine monoclonal antibodies

A micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) utilizing a filtration method has been developed which allows the rapid, simple, and sensitive detection of monoclonal antibodies that recognize either soluble or cell surface antigens. This assay involves the immobilization of target cells (or soluble antigen) onto glass fiber filter discs followed by an incubation with the test hybridoma supernatant and subsequent analysis by ELISA. A specially designed 96-well filtration device is employed which serves both as an incubation chamber and as a filtration manifold. This microELISA requires small volumes of antiserum, few target cells, and can be completed in less than 2 h. This assay is well suited for the rapid screening of murine hybridoma supernatants and can be adapted to detect monoclonal antibodies from other species.
Transfer RNA genes in pieces

The short genes encoding transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules are highly conserved in both sequence and structure, reflecting the central role of tRNA in protein biosynthesis. The frequent occurrence of fragmented intron-containing tRNAs that require processing to form contiguous molecules is therefore surprising. Recent discoveries of permuted and split tRNA genes have added to the apparent creativity of nature regarding the organization of these fragmented genes. Here, we provide an overview of the various types of fragmented tRNA genes and examine the hypothesis that the integration of mobile genetic elements—including viruses and plasmids—established such genes in pieces.
The absorption and translocation of diclofop-methyl and amitrole in wheat and oat roots

The absorption and translocation of diclofop-methyl (methyl 2-[4(2′,4′-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy]propanoate) was examined by using a specially designed treatment apparatus that separated excised roots or roots of seedlings into four zones. [14C]-Diclofop-methyl was absorbed along the entire root length of both wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.). In both species, absorption was greatest in the apical region of the root. Absorption by the apical region of wheat roots was more than three times greater than the basal portions, and more than twice as great as the apical region of oat roots. Less than 5% of the absorbed diclofop-methyl was translocated in both wheat and oat roots. Diclofop-methyl and diclofop(2-[4(2′,4′-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy]propanoic acid) were the predominant translocated forms. The absorption and translocation of amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) were also examined. Amitrole was absorbed along the entire length of wheat roots and translocated primatily in the basipetal direction. The usefulness of the specially designed apparatus for biochemical and physiological studies is discussed.