cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isoform-specific regulation and localization of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor in human airway epithelia.

Adenovirus is an important respiratory pathogen. Adenovirus fiber from most serotypes co-opts the Coxsackie-Adenovirus Receptor (CAR) to bind and enter cells. However, CAR is a cell adhesion molecule localized on the basolateral membrane of polarized epithelia. Separation from the lumen of the airways by tight junctions renders airway epithelia resistant to inhaled adenovirus infection. Although a role for CAR in viral spread and egress has been established, the mechanism of initial respiratory infection remains controversial. CAR exists in several protein isoforms including two transmembrane isoforms that differ only at the carboxy-terminus (CAREx7 and CAREx8). We found low-level expression of the CAREx8 isoform in well-differentiated human airway epithelia. Surprisingly, in contrast to CAREx7, CAREx8 localizes to the apical membrane of epithelia where it augments adenovirus infection. Interestingly, despite sharing a similar class of PDZ-binding domain with CAREx7, CAREx8 differentially interacts with PICK1, PSD-95, and MAGI-1b. MAGI-1b appears to stoichiometrically regulate the degradation of CAREx8 providing a potential mechanism for the apical localization of CAREx8 in airway epithelial. In summary, apical localization of CAREx8 may be responsible for initiation of respiratory adenoviral infections and this localization appears to be regulated by interactions with PDZ-domain containing proteins.
Premiums for High Quality Products as Returns to Reputations

This paper derives an equilibrium price-quality schedule for markets in which buyers cannot observe product quality prior to purchase. In such markets there is an incentive for sellers to reduce quality and take short-run gains before buyers catch on. In order to forestall such quality cutting, the price-quality schedule involves high quality items selling at a premium above their cost. This premium also serves the function of compensating sellers for their investment in reputation. The effects of improved consumer information and of a minimum quality standard on the equilibrium price-quality schedule are studied. In general, optimal quality standards exclude from the market items some consumers would like to buy.
First generation inhibitors of the adenovirus proteinase

As there are more than 50 adenovirus serotypes, the likelihood of developing an effective vaccine is low. Here we describe inhibitors of the adenovirus proteinase (AVP) with the ultimate objective of developing anti-adenovirus agents. Inhibitors were identified via structure-based drug design using as druggable sites the active site and a conserved cofactor pocket in the crystal structures of AVP. A lead compound was identified that had an IC50 of 18 μM. One of eight structural derivatives of the lead compound had an IC50 of 140 nM against AVP and an IC50 of 490 nM against the AVP with its cofactor bound.
Warming U.S.-Russia relations

The ups and downs in the political relationship between the United States and Russia are clearly deteriorating scientific cooperation between the two nations. However, it is scientists who can and should lead a reversal in this situation.
An examination of the longitudinal acoustic mode of polyethylene crystals

Abstract Chain lengths have been calculated from the peak positions of the longitudinal acoustic modes (LAM) of polyethylene single crystals grown at several different temperatures. The data are consistent with other experimental results when the crystalline elastic modulus is taken to be 3.6 × 1012 dyn/cm2. However, this is true only if the vibrations of the crystalline chain segments are unaffected by the presence of folds and cilia on the crystal surface. The LAMs of several crystal preparations were also deconvoluted with the first-order LAM of C94H190 in order to remove instrumental broadening. The band shapes of the deconvoluted spectra are consistent with the idea that the LAM of polyethylene crystals is composed of two contributions: One due to chain stems in 110 sectors and a second due to chains in 200 sectors.
Potential for Ethnic Conflict in China

This paper, part of a broader effort to construct an analytical approach that can be used to assess near-term ethnic conflict potential in different parts of the world, examines the possibility of such conflict in China. More specifically, the authors employ a theory of measurement based on subjective judgment and pairwise comparison to quantify the factors likely to produce interethnic strife, encompassing the notion that, in most cases, ethnic conflict is driven by competition over territory. Five potential ethnic fracture zones are identified, described, and mapped. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: I31, J15, Z00. 6 figures, 1 appendix (4 tables), 51 references.
Twentieth-century Changes in the Thickness and Extent of Arapaho Glacier, Front Range, Colorado

Abstract Changes in Arapaho Glacier, Front Range, Colorado, are determined using historical maps, aerial photography, and field surveys using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and Global Positioning System data. Arapaho Glacier lost 52% of its area during the 20th century, decreasing from 0.34 to 0.16 km2. Between 1900 and 1999 glacial area loss rates increased from an average of 1500 m2 yr−1 to 2400 m2 yr−1. Average glacial thinning between 1900 and 1960 was 0.76 m yr−1, but slowed to 0.10 m yr−1 between 1960 and 2005. Its maximum thickness is approximately 15 m. If recent trends in area loss continue, Arapaho Glacier may disappear in as few as 65 years. However, the decline in thinning rate suggests that the glacier is retreating into a corner of its upper cirque in which increased inputs of snow from direct precipitation and avalanching, and decreased insolation will greatly slow its rate of retreat. This may be generally true for many temperate-latitude cirque glaciers.
Polymers from 1,3‐dipole addition reactions: The sydnone dipole

An investigation of the suitability of certain 1,3 dipole addition reactions as polymerization reactions was carried out. Reaction of p-phenylene-3,3′-disydnone and N,N′-hexamethylenedisydnone with the dipolarophiles m- and p-diethynylbenzene, m-divinylbenzene, and p-benzoquinone gave moderate molecular weight polymers containing pyrazole or pyrazoline units along the polymer backbone. The polymers are crystalline and have inherent viscosities of 0.4–0.6. The thermogravimetric analyses of the finely powdered polyprazoles showed breaks near 420°C. in air and 500°C. in nitrogen atmospheres.
Comparing the contribution of the group to the initial idea in progressive idea generation

Successful Idea Generation (IG) is more likely to lead to original and innovative products. It is usually recommended that idea generation is done in groups. Specifically, progressive idea generation methods, such as 6-3-5/C-Sketch, have been developed to gain from the benefits of group based ideation while being less subject to the peer pressure of a typical brainstorming session, where people can call out ideas simultaneously. In this study, we investigate the contributions that the group makes to the initial ideas in such progressive idea generation.Participants developed concepts for one of two products, namely alarm clocks or litter grabbers. Statistical analysis was used to compare the results of the initial ideas to the entire group for both products. Samples were rated at feature level using three metrics: originality, number of innovation characteristics hit, and feasibility.Results indicate that, in general, the originality and innovativeness of the initial concepts is improved by the rest of the group members. Non-original initial ideas were improved in all four sample groups. Highly original initial ideas also were improved in most cases. Feasibility was generally lowered, but not with statistical significance. Results from the perspective of particular product feature and innovation characteristic categories were varied; some more popular than others.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Surface microtopography of aqueous solution grown crystals

Description generale des methodes de microscopie optique modernes pour l'examen des surfaces avec presentation d'observations ex-situ et in situ. Resume des resultats et discussion en terme de theorie de croissance cristalline
Adenosine transiently modulates stimulated dopamine release in the caudate–putamen via A1 receptors

Adenosine modulates dopamine in the brain via A1 and A2A receptors, but that modulation has only been characterized on a slow time scale. Recent studies have characterized a rapid signaling mode of adenosine that suggests a possible rapid modulatory role. Here, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the extent to which transient adenosine changes modulate stimulated dopamine release (5 pulses at 60 Hz) in rat caudate putamen brain slices. Exogenous adenosine was applied and dopamine concentration monitored. Adenosine only modulated dopamine when it was applied 2 or 5 s before stimulation. Longer time intervals and bath application of 5 µM adenosine did not decrease dopamine release. Mechanical stimulation of endogenous adenosine 2s before dopamine stimulation also decreased stimulated dopamine release by 41 ± 7 %, similar to the 54 ± 6 % decrease in dopamine after exogenous adenosine application. Dopamine inhibition by transient adenosine was recovered within 10 minutes. The A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) blocked the dopamine modulation, whereas dopamine modulation was unaffected by the A2A receptor antagonist SCH 442416. Thus, transient adenosine changes can transiently modulate phasic dopamine release via A1 receptors. These data demonstrate that adenosine has a rapid, but transient, modulatory role in the brain.
Amino-acid synthesis in carbonaceous meteorites by aqueous alteration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

IT has been suggested that amino acids and other organic compounds found in carbonaceous meteorites formed by aqueous alteration in the meteorite parent bodies1. Observations of carbonaceous material in interstellar grains and interplanetary dust particles2–4 indicate that condensed organic compounds may have been present in meteorite parent bodies at the time of aqueous alteration. One group of compounds thought to be representative of this carbonaceous material is the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)5. Recently it was proposed that PAHs condense on SiC grains in the molecular envelopes of carbon-rich red-giant stars6, which would allow for their subsequent incorporation into meteorite parent bodies during accretion. This incorporation mechanism is supported by the identification of SiC grains in carbonaceous chondrites7. The possibility therefore exists that PAHs, and/or other condensed organic compounds, represent the starting material for aqueous alteration which leads to the formation of amino acids and other water-soluble organic compounds. Here we present calculations of the distribution of aqueous organic compounds in metastable equilibrium with representative PAHs as functions of the fugacities of O2, CO2 and NH3. The results reported here for pyrene and fluoranthene, two PAHs with different structures but the same stoichiometry, differ greatly but indicate that the formation of amino and carboxylic acids is energetically favourable at probable parent-body alteration conditions. The actual reaction mechanisms involved could be revealed by consideration of isotope data for PAHs, amino acids, other organic compounds and carbonates in carbonaceous chondrites8,9.
Pseudo-Paget's Disease of the Vulva: A Case Report.

: An unusual case of metastatic intraepithelial transitional cell carcinoma in situ to the vulvar epithelium resembling extramammary Paget’s disease is presented in a 75-year-old woman with a history of concurrent high-grade transitional cell carcinoma in situ of the bladder. Histologically and immunohistochemically, the tumor cells resembled the in situ bladder lesion. Epidermotropic spread of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is extremely rare, with lesions known to occur in urethral mucosa and around urethral meatus, representing an extramammary form of Paget’s disease. The present case represents previously unreported isolated intraepithelial metastasis of a urothelial carcinoma in situ to vulvar epithelium resembling extramammary Paget’s disease.
Victims of the City in Novels of Zola and Dostoevsky

In her article "Victims of the City in Novels of Zola and Dostoevsky" Marta L. Wilkinson argues that urbanity in its nineteenth-century setting functioned as the culpable agent in criminal behavior found in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and in several of Zola's Rougon-Macquart novels. Wilkinson presents an analysis of the novels based on Merlin Coverly's concept of psychogeography which supports the extension of the cityscape as an integral part of the novels' characters. Further, Wilkinson illustrates how in Zola's and Dostoevsky's novels the city reigns triumphant as characters fall victim to disease, drink, or are left with desperate choices: in Dostoevsky's novel suicide or banishment to Siberia and in Zola's novels the acceptance of inhuman life in the complicit city. Marta L. Wilkinson, "Victims of the City in Novels of Zola and Dostoevsky" page 2 of 8 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 14.4 (2012):
Fatty acids and sterols of selected hyphochytriomycetes and chytridiomycetes

Abstract The fatty acids and sterols of eight Chytridiomycetes and two Hyphochytriomycetes, and fatty acids of the Oomycete Pythium gracile , were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. In addition to the fatty acids anticipated for fungi, the two Hyphochytriomycetes ( Hyphochytrium catenoides and Rhizidiomyces apophysatus ) and four of the Chytridiomycetes ( Catenaria anguillulae, Blastocladiella emersonii, Monoblepharella sp., and Allomyces macrogynus ) contained arachidonic acid as a major fatty acid of the polar lipid fraction, and this fatty acid was detected as a minor component of Rhizophlyctis rosea and Spizellomyces punctatum . Eicosapentaenoic acid constituted 4.6% of the polar lipid fatty acids in Monoblepharella sp., and trace amounts were detected in several other species. Both the gamma (ω-6) and alpha (ω-3) isomers of linolenic acid were detected in all of the species analyzed. Cholesterol was the predominant (≥73%) sterol of B. emersonii, R. rosea, A. macrogynus , and Chytridium confervae , and a minor ( C. anguillulae , and H. catenoides . The major sterols of the other species included lanosterol ( C. anguillulae , 45%), stigmasta-5,22-dien-3β-ol ( H. catenoides , 51%), 24-ethyl-cholesterol ( S. punctatum , 38%; H. catenoides , 17%; Monoblepharella sp., 70%; and R. apophysatus , 84%), 24-methyl-cholesterol ( H. catenoides , 23%; R. apophysatus , 14%; S. punctatum , 53%), and 24-methylene cholesterol ( Rhizophydium sphaerotheca , 51%). Neither ergosterol nor fucosterol was detected in any of the species studied.
Stability analysis of normal and neoplastic growth

A model for normal and abnormal tissue growth is defined by a system of differential equations. The model consists of a proliferating compartment, which is characterized by a decreasing growth rate, and a nonproliferating one. The compartments are also parametrized by their death and transfer rates. A stability analysis of the system shows in a precise way how abnormal growth may result from a perturbation of the parameters leading to a change in an equilibrium of the tissue size.
The Effect of Polysaccharides on Energy Utilization, Nitrogen Retention and Fat Absorption in Chickens

Abstract A DEPRESSION in the growth of rats was observed when 5% of agar agar or Irish moss was added to the diet of rats (Nilson and Schaller, 1941), while Vaughan et al. (1962) reported that carrageen-in inhibited the in vitro digestion of proteins by pepsin. Booth et al. (1963) found that the digestion in rats of agar agar was 21%, pectin 19% and guar gum 76% when fed at levels of 15%, 10% and 6%, respectively. Ershoff and Wells (1962) reported no significant growth depression in rats with 10% pectin, guar gum, locust bean gum or carrageenan. These materials, however, reduced plasma and liver cholesterol when 1% of cholesterol was fed in the diet. Fisher et al. (1964) reported that pectin reduced blood cholesterol in chicks fed cholesterol and Fisher et al. (1965) reported further that pectin reduced blood cholesterol in chicks only when cholesterol was fed. Vohra and Kratzer . . .
A retrospective analysis of 10-year survivors from carcinoma of the lung.

From 1949 to 1972, 4732 patients with carcinomas of the lung were seen. Of these, 118 patients were found alive at 10 years from their initial diagnosis and treatment. This number represents only 2.5% of all lung cancers seen because many have been lost to follow-up within the first ten years, and their true status is not known. The authors attempted to look at the patient characteristics that might have influenced long-term survival. A case-matched study was also done of patients with carcinoma of the lung who lived less than 2 years and who had the same age, sex, histology, and year of diagnosis. In the long-term survivors, the median age was 57 years, 2 of 3 had epidermoid carcinoma, 86% were smokers, 76% were symptomatic, and 70% had one or both parents alive at age 70 years or older. There was no difference in these variables in the case-matched group. Of the 118 long-term survivors, 91 were men and 27 were women. Sixty-seven percent had Stage I disease, 13% Stage II, and 20% Stage III. None had distant metastasis at presentation. Of the 118 patients, 115 had surgery. Eighteen of the 115 surgically treated patients also had postoperative external radiation. Three patients with Stage III disease received radiation without surgery. None had recurrence of their cancer, 27 developed new cancers, and 70% of these were new lung cancers. Although the majority of the long-term survivors had Stage I cancers, a third had Stage II or III disease. No long-term survivor died of his original disease, suggesting that a 10-year survival is adequate proof of cure in carcinoma of the lung. Cancer 53:1405-1408, 1984.
Expression of DNA Methyltransferases Is Influenced by Growth Hormone in the Long-Living Ames Dwarf Mouse In Vivo and In Vitro

Methyltransferase expression and DNA methylation are linked to aging and age-related disease. We utilized 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old Ames dwarf and their wild-type siblings to examine the genotype and age-related differences in the expression of methyltransferase enzymes related to DNA methylation in the liver, glycine-N-methyltransferase and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). We found that DNMT proteins and transcripts are differentially expressed in dwarf mice compared with wild-type siblings that can be attributed to age and/or genotype. However, DNMT1 protein expression is drastically reduced compared with wild-type controls at every age. DNMT3a protein levels coincide with differences observed in DNMT activity. Growth hormone appears to modulate expression of DNMT1 and 3a in dwarf liver tissue and primary hepatocytes. Therefore, growth hormone may contribute to age-related processes, DNA methylation, and, ultimately, longevity.
Break-even- und Kosten-Umsatz-Gewinn-Analyse

Die Break-even-Analyse gibt der Unternehmensleitung konzentrierte Informationen, die sonst umfangreiche Berichte und Tabellen erforderten. Man sollte aber bedenken, das durch die Verwendung von Unterlagen der Kostenrechnung gewisse Einschrankungen gelten. Gewohnlich sind bestimmte Annahmen unterstellt, die wieder nur unter ganz bestimmten Voraussetzungen gelten. Die Unterlagen selbst durfen nur im Zusammenhang mit den in der Untersuchung und der graphischen Darstellung gezeigten Ergebnissen betrachtet werden. Die Break-even-Analyse ist naturlich kein Rezept zum sicheren Erfolg; sie gibt aber Hinweise auf die Erfolgsmoglichkeiten und verweist auf Alternativen sowie deren Folgen. Daraus erklart sich ihre grose Beliebtheit in der Praxis.
Contextual Meanings of the Strengths Perspective for Social Work Practice in Mental Health

Although the strengths perspective seems a natural framework for social workers practicing in mental health, it often plays a minor role in planning and evaluation. Two issues complicate its use: (a) The concept of strengths has different meanings and functions, depending on whether viewed as part of assessment, intervention, or outcome, and (b) strengths perspective is an applied concept operating only through the medium of a specific intervention, not a modality whose efficacy can be independently evaluated. When these factors are ignored, the role of the strengths perspective can seem vague, peripheral, too obvious and “soft” to be a serious component of the change process—yet, understood in context, it is an essential element of social work's unique approach.
Optimized query execution in large search engines with global page ordering

Large web search engines have to answer thousands of queries per second with interactive response times. A major factor in the cost of executing a query is given by the lengths of the inverted lists for the query terms, which increase with the size of the document collection and are often in the range of many megabytes. To address this issue, IR and database researchers have proposed pruning techniques that compute or approximate term-based ranking functions without scanning over the full inverted lists. Over the last few years, search engines have incorporated new types of ranking techniques that exploit aspects such as the hyperlink structure of the web or the popularity of a page to obtain improved results. We focus on the question of how such techniques can be efficiently integrated into query processing. In particular, we study pruning techniques for query execution in large engines in the case where we have a global ranking of pages, as provided by Pagerank or any other method, in addition to the standard term-based approach. We describe pruning schemes for this case and evaluate their efficiency on an experimental cluster-based search engine with million web pages. Our results show that there is significant potential benefit in such techniques.
A Design Technique for Embedded Electromagnetic Band Gap Structure in Load Board Applications

A new design technique and analysis for an embedded electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure is presented. In modern multifunction designs, it may be required to integrate noise-sensitive analog circuits next to digital circuits. Here, digital switching noise can propagate through power/ground planes and affect analog circuit performance. It is important to block this effect. To prevent the noise propagation, an EBG-patterned power/ground plane can be an acceptable solution. However, difficulties arise when the EBG structure is put in a stripline-like environment; the embedded EBG structure loses the noise filtering function. The reason for the functional failure is analyzed, followed by a solution. The proposed solution has been demonstrated by both simulation and measurement. Simulation and measurement results demonstrate that the proposed embedded EBG structure can be effective for the desired noise isolation. The design technique is tested on a prototype load board for a 10-bit 3-GHz analog-to-digital converter from National Semiconductor. The suggested design technique for the embedded EBG structure includes three design parameters: 1) the potentials of the planes above and below the EBG layer; 2) the thicknesses of the dielectric layers above and below the EBG layer; and 3) the number and position of vias interconnecting the top and bottom planes.
Defect recovery in nanodevice-based programmable interconnects (abstract only)

This work focuses on defect tolerance for nanodevice-based programmable interconnects of FPGAs. A single nanodevice can function as a routing switch in place of a pass transistor and its six-transistor SRAM cell in conventional FPGAs. Defects of nanodevices in programmable interconnects are manifested as losses of configurability and can be categorized into stuck- open defect and stuck- closed defect. First, we show that the stuck-closed defects of nanodevices have a much higher impact than the stuck-open defects. Instead of simply avoiding the stuck-closed defects, we recover them by treating them as shorting constraints in the routing. We develop a scalable algorithm to perform timing-driven routing under these extra constraints. We extend the idea of the resource negotiation to balance the goals of timing and routability under shorting constraints. We also develop several techniques to guide the router to map the shorting clusters to those nets with more shared paths for better utilization of routing resources while automatically balancing it with circuit performance. We also enhance the placement algorithm to recover logic blocks which become virtually unusable due to shorted pins. Simulation results show that at the up-to-date level of nanodevice defects (108-1011x higher than CMOS), compared to the simple avoidance method, our approach reduces the degradation of resource usage by 87%, improves the routability by 37%, and reduce the degradation of circuit performance by 36%, at a negligible overhead of tool runtime.
Ulceraties en perforaties van het gehemelte

Ulceraties van het mondslijmvlies kunnen eigenlijk op alle plaatsen in de mond voorkomen. Niettemin zijn er plaatsen in de mond waar bepaalde ulceraties zelden of nooit voorkomen, terwijl er ook ulceraties zijn die alleen of bij voorkeur op het harde gehemelte voorkomen. Genoeg redenen een beknopt overzicht te geven van ulceraties en perforaties van het harde gehemelte, met uitzondering van de dentogeen veroorzaakte oroantrale perforatie. Bij de verdere bespreking ligt de nadruk op het als tandarts en mondhygienist leren herkennen van deze aandoeningen en te weten wanneer verwijzing naar de kaakchirurg zinvol is of zelfs geindiceerd is.
MANAGERIAL DECISION MAKING UNDER INTRANSITIVE CONDITIONS: AN INTERNATIONAL STUDY OF THE VOTER'S PARADOX

Researchers and scholars have been concerned for many years with the normative aspects of amalgamating individual preferences to form a group decision. The present paper studies how managers actually make decisions involving intransitive preference functions by examining how the Voter's Paradox Conflict (VPC) is actually resolved by homogeneous groups of subjects from five different populations (Denmark, England, Switzerland, U.S. Private, and U.S. Military). The results showed that level of cooperation, the reward structure (real versus imaginary money), and experience with the VPC are the major factors relating to the solution obtained. Nationality differences explained little of the variance in decision outcomes. Intrasitivity in preferences seems to be handled similarly by executives in the countries studied. Interpretations are drawn in the context of cooperative and competitive decision theory and for cross-cultural decision research.
The Trevo device: preclinical data of a novel stroke thrombectomy device in two different animal models of arterial thrombo-occlusive disease.

Background The currently available mechanical devices fail to achieve recanalization in as many as 20–40% of proximal arterial occlusion strokes. Objective The preclinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a novel thrombectomy device designed to achieve immediate flow restoration by quickly removing clot is reported. Methods Four confirmatory animal studies were performed with the Trevo device (Concentric Medical Inc, Mountain View, California, USA) in the swine (n=2) and canine (n=1) models of arterial thrombo-occlusive disease employing autologous thrombin generated thrombi. The angiographic response and the degree of device–clot incorporation were evaluated. High resolution flat panel three-dimensional CT was performed to further define the in vivo device–thrombus–vessel interaction. Finally, samples of three swine vessels treated with six passes of the device were explanted for histopathological analysis. Results A total of 16 clots of variable hardness and consistency were implanted in a variety of vascular settings, including the swine internal maxillary, lingual and forelimb arteries as well as the canine external carotid and vertebral arteries. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 2–3 reperfusion was achieved in all cases immediately after device deployment. All 16 clots were retrieved after one (n=15) or two (n=1) passes with the device. Histopathological analysis demonstrated severe disruption of the intima but no hemorrhage of media or adventitia. Conclusion The experimental data suggest that the Trevo device is highly effective at achieving immediate reperfusion of occluded arteries without causing any clinically significant disruption of vascular integrity.
Energy characterization of filesystems for diskless embedded systems

The need for low power, small form-factor, secondary storage devices in embedded systems has led to the widespread use of flash memory. Energy consumption due to processor and flash for such devices is critical to embedded system design. In this paper, we have proposed a quantitative account of energy consumption in both processor and flash due to overhead of filesystem related system calls. A macromodel for such energy consumption is derived using linear regression analysis. The results describing filesystem energy consumption have been obtained from Linux Kernel running Journaling Flash Filesystem 2 (JFFS2) and Extended 3 (Ext3) filesystems on StrongARM processor with flash as secondary storage device. Armed with such a macromodel, a designer can choose to partition filesystem, estimate the application energy consumption (processor and flash) due to filesystem during the early stage of system design.
802.11e QoS Performance Evaluation

Wireless networks have become a tremendous network solution for home and enterprise users, without worrying about wire, and mobility. With IEEE 802.11e Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), we have implemented Quality of Service (QoS) to our wireless network that provides significant improvements for high-priority QoS traffic. However, these improvements have a negative performance impact to lower-priority traffic, such as HTTP, FTP etc. In this paper, we examine two IEEE 802.11e QoS functions which are Point Coordination Function (PCF), and Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF). We also examine their negative effects on performance of lower-priority traffic in two different WLAN infrastructures which are Basic Service Set (BSS) and Extended Service Set (ESS), using OPNET Modeler software. We evaluate the impact of high-priority traffic (with QoS enabled) on low-priority-traffic when they use the same access point. All of the simulation results proved that it has a significant detrimental impact to low-priority-traffic. Performance of HTTP, FTP, and database traffic drops when VoIP and video applications are using same access point.
Structure-Function Studies of P-450BM-3

P-450BM-3 is essentially a three-domain enzyme that contains a substrate-binding heme domain termed P-450BMP and an NADPH-P-450 reductase domain termed BMR, which itself is comprised of a flavin adenine dinucleolide (FAD)-binding and a flavin mononucleolide (FMN) -binding domain, all of which we have expressed, purified, and characterized. We have crystallized and determined the structure of P-450BMP which has a structure similar to the other three P-450 structures, P-450cam, P-450terp, and P-450eryF, thus implying a common P-450 structural fold. However, there are differences in the substrate- and redox-partner-binding regions. P-450BM-3 oxidizes long-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Generally, the more rigid the fatty acid, the more regio- and stereoselective the monooxygenation. We have been able to change the regioselectivity of monooxygenation by mutating phe-87, which lays over pyrrole ring C, to val. Additionally, we have mutated arg-47, which is at the mouth of the access channel, and found that although it does not affect the selectivity of monooxygenation, it does affect substrate binding. Finally, we have reconstituted P-450BM-3 using various domain combinations to characterize electron transfer in P-450BM-3. Subtle changes in the product profile of palmitic acid metabolites indicate that domain-domain interactions may alter the dynamics of substrate binding to the enzyme resulting in a different product profile.
Size‐resolved chemical composition of aerosol particles during a monsoonal transition period over the Indian Ocean

[1] An aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS) was used to measure the size-resolved mixing state of particles over the northern Indian Ocean in October and November 2004. This period was chosen to observe the impact of the monsoonal transition on the size, chemistry, sources, and radiative properties of atmospheric aerosols in the region. Overall, elemental carbon with sulfate (EC-sulfate), biomass/biofuel burning, fresh sea salt (SS), aged sea salt, fly ash, and EC mixed with sea salt were the dominant supermicron particle types, whereas EC-sulfate, biomass/biofuel burning, and fly ash were the dominant submicron particle types. Interestingly, particles composed mostly of aged organic carbon and nitrate were virtually absent during the campaign. This is possibly from low ozone formation in the region or selective scavenging during transport. Notably, during long-range transport periods when an aethalometer measured the highest black carbon concentrations, 77% of submicron particles between 0.5 and 2.5 μm and 71% of EC/soot particles contained an intense 39K+ ion (a known tracer for biomass/biofuel combustion). These observations suggest when the air mass originated from India, biofuel combustion represented a significant source of the regional atmospheric brown cloud. The majority (∼80%) of EC and biomass/biofuel burning particles were mixed with significant amounts of sulfate due to extensive secondary processing of these particles during transport. EC mixed with sea salt was also observed suggesting the particles had undergone cloud processing and become internally mixed during transport. These measurements support the use of an internal mixture of sulfate with EC/soot and biomass/biofuel burning in models to accurately calculate radiative forcing by aerosols in this region.
The Essential Nature of Sharing in Science

Advances in science are the combined result of the efforts of a great many scientists, and in many cases, their willingness to share the products of their research. These products include data sets, both small and large, and unique research resources not commercially available, such as cell lines and software programs. The sharing of these resources enhances both the scope and the depth of research, while making more efficient use of time and money. However, sharing is not without costs, many of which are borne by the individual who develops the research resource. Sharing, for example, reduces the uniqueness of the resources available to a scientist, potentially influencing the originator’s perceived productivity and ultimately his or her competitiveness for jobs, promotions, and grants. Nevertheless, for most researchers—particularly those using public funds—sharing is no longer optional but must be considered an obligation to science, the funding agency, and ultimately society at large. Most funding agencies, journals, and professional societies now require a researcher who has published work involving a unique resource to make that resource available to other investigators. Changes could be implemented to mitigate some of the costs. The creator of the resource could explore the possibility of collaborating with those who request it. In addition, institutions that employ and fund researchers could change their policies and practices to make sharing a more attractive and viable option. For example, when evaluating an individual’s productivity, institutions could provide credit for the impact a researcher has had on their field through the provision of their unique resources to other investigators, regardless of whether that impact is reflected in the researcher’s list of publications. In addition, increased funding for the development and maintenance of user-friendly public repositories for data and research resources would also help to reduce barriers to sharing by minimizing the time, effort, and funding needed by individual investigators to comply with requests for their unique resource. Indeed, sharing is an imperative, but it is also essential to find ways to protect for both the original owner of the resource and those wishing to share it.
TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE: THE THIRD ALTERNATIVE (COMMENTARY)

Contemporary Western attitudes concerning the management of natural re- sources, treatment of nonhuman animals, and the natural world emerge from traditions derived from Western European philosophy, i.e., they assume that humans are autonomous from, and in control of, the natural world. A different approach is presented by Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of indigenous peoples of North America. Although spiritually oriented, TEK converges on Western scientific approaches. TEK is based on close obser- vation of nature and natural phenomena; however, it is combined with a concept of com- munity membership that differs from that of Western political and social thought. TEK is strongly tied to specific physical localities; therefore, all aspects of the physical space can be considered part of the community, including animals, plants, and landforms. As a con- sequence, native worldviews can be considered to be spatially oriented, in contrast to the temporal orientation of Western political and historical thought. TEK also emphasizes the idea that individual plants and animals exist on their own terms. This sense of place and concern for individuals leads to two basic TEK concepts: (1) all things are connected, which is conceptually related to Western community ecology, and (2) all things are related, which changes the emphasis from the human to the ecological community as the focus of theories concerning nature. Connectedness and relatedness are involved in the clan systems of many indigenous peoples, where nonhuman organisms are recognized as relatives whom the humans are obliged to treat with respect and honor. Convergence of TEK and Western science suggests that there may be areas in which TEK can contribute insights, or possibly even new concepts, to Western science. TEK is inherently multidisciplinary in that it links the human and the nonhuman, and is the basis not only for indigenous concepts of nature, but also for concepts of indigenous politics and ethics. This multidisciplinary aspect sug- gests that TEK may be useful in resolving conflicts involving a variety of stakeholders and interest groups in controversies over natural resource use, animal rights, and conservation. TEK may also have implications for human behavior and obligations toward other forms of life that are often unrecognized, or at least not emphasized, in Western science. We present examples from community and behavioral ecology where a TEK-based approach yielded unexpected and nonintuitive insights into natural phenomena. Understanding of TEK may be useful in helping scientists respond to the changing public perceptions of science, and new cultural pressures in our society.
Anadromous alewives in linked lake-stream ecosystems: do trophic interactions in lakes influence stream invertebrate communities?

AbstractTrophic interactions can influence the flux of energy and nutrients between donor and recipient ecosystems, thereby altering recipient food webs and communities. We investigated the potential for anadromous alewife to influence filter-feeding insects in lake outflow streams by altering seston and zooplankton export from lakes to streams through size-selective consumption of zooplankton in lakes. We compared spring and summer zooplankton biomass and body size and seston concentration in 6 lakes and their respective outflow streams (3 with alewife access, 3 without alewife access) in Maine, USA. The contribution of seston particles ≥500-µm and mean pelagic zooplankton size decreased from spring to summer in alewife lakes, but not in lakes without alewife. However, we found no seasonal change in zooplankton body size and seston ≥500-µm in the outflow streams of alewife lakes. Furthermore, zooplankton biomass and seston concentration differed between lakes and streams, a result indicating the influenc...
The phytase analytical activity of pelleted diets may not adequately describe efficacy in the bird

SUMMARY Most commercial broilers are fed pelleted diets containing an exogenous phytase. Various techniques exist to prevent denaturation of phytase during pelleting, but the potential remains for phytase to lose efficacy in liberating phytate-bound phosphorus. Dietary treatments consisted of positive control and negative control diets differing in nonphytate phosphorus by 0.13%, as well as the negative control diets containing 1 of 9 Escherichia coli-derived mixer-added heat-stable phytases. Diets were steam conditioned at 71°C (160°F), 77°C (170°F), and 82°C (180°F) before pelleting. Feed samples were analyzed for phytase pre- and postpelleting by a commercial laboratory to determine retained activity. Pellets conditioned at 77°C were chosen for further evaluation via a feeding experiment because all 9 enzymes demonstrated high retained activity in vitro (≥60%). Diets were fed to Cobb 500 male broilers from 3 to 21 d. Feed intake, FCR, BW gain, tibia breaking strength, and tibia bone ash weight per chick were calculated. Seven out of 9 enzymes resulted in BW gain similar to that of the positive control diet. Five of those enzymes resulted in decreased FCR by an average of 8 points compared with the other 2. Tibia measures demonstrated additional differences among enzyme treatments. Phytase activity did not positively correlate with performance or bone mineralization measures. Therefore, evaluations of phytase may need to include in vivo bird testing beyond in vitro activity assays to fully assess efficacy. It is important to note that our conclusions in this study were derived using specific phytase products that were analyzed for activity by using specific protocols, and diets were pelleted within a selected range of processing conditions (i.e., 77°C and 10 s of conditioning); using alternative methodologies may result in different conclusions.
Counselor Ethical Reasoning: Decision-Making Practice Versus Theory

Counselors’ decision-making processes have received little attention in the literature. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the ethical decision-making practices of counselors working in the field. The results of a phenomenological study indicate that linear models and an orientation to professional ethical guidelines learned in graduate training serve as a foundation, yet not a practical guide, in professional ethical decision making. The authors found that 4 themes guide counselors’ ethical decision making: personal values, clients’ best interest, transparency in decision making, and perceptions of formal training and practice. Implications for practice and counselor education are provided, with recommendations for future research.
On The Structure of Financial Contagion: Econometric Tests and Mercosur Evidence

We introduce a flexible copula-based semi-parametric test of financial contagion that is capable of capturing structural shifts in the transmission channel of shocks across a network of financial markets beyond the increase in the intensity of time-varying dependence. We illustrate the capabilities of the proposed test using returns of stock, money, sovereign debt, and foreign exchange markets of seven Latin-American countries, and test for the presence of pure contagion effects for each major financial crisis that affected the Mercosur region between 1994 and 2001. Besides strong evidence in favor of time-varying market interdependence, we cannot rule out the presence of pure contagion effects in the stock market transmission channel associated with the Mexican, Asian, and Russian financial crises.
The slipper snail, Crepidula: An emerging lophotrochozoan model system

Recent developmental and genomic research focused on "slipper snails" in the genus Crepidula has positioned Crepidula fornicata as a de facto model system for lophotrochozoan development. Here we review recent developments, as well as earlier reports demonstrating the widespread use of this system in studies of development and life history. Recent studies have resulted in a well-resolved fate map of embryonic cell lineage, documented mechanisms for axis determination and D quadrant specification, preliminary gene expression patterns, and the successful application of loss- and gain-of-function assays. The recent development of expressed sequence tags and preliminary genomics work will promote the use of this system, particularly in the area of developmental biology. A wealth of comparative information on phylogenetic relationships, variation in mode of development within the family, and numerous studies on larval biology and metamorphosis, primarily in Crepidula fornicata, make these snails a powerful tool for studies of the evolution of the mechanisms of development in the Mollusca and Lophotrochozoa. By bringing a review of the current state of knowledge of Crepidula life histories and development together with some detailed experimental methods, we hope to encourage further use of this system in various fields of investigation.
Calcium concentration of individual coronary calcified plaques as measured by multidetector row computed tomography

Background— Characteristics of individual calcified plaques, especially calcium concentration (CC), may provide incremental value to global calcium scores in the assessment of plaque burden and risk of coronary events and evaluation of therapeutic intervention. In this study, therefore, we assessed the characteristics of individual calcified plaques and their relationship to other parameters derived from CT analysis of coronary calcium in a community-based cross-sectional cohort. Methods and Results— Coronary artery calcium (CAC) was analyzed in 612 participants of the Framingham Heart Study (third-generation and offspring cohorts) using prospectively ECG-triggered multidetector CT. We determined the CC, Agatston score, calcified volume, and mineral mass of individual calcified plaques in each subject. Heterogeneity of CC was defined as the standard deviation of CC of all individual calcified plaques in a subject. CAC was detected in 274 of 605 subjects. After excluding 57 subjects (21%) because of motion...
Plasma cells and serum proteins in marine fish.

Summary1) Serum proteins of 18 species of fish have been analyzed by means of starch gel zone electrophoresis. In 10 of these species, observations were also made on occurrence of plasma cells in spleens. 2) Elasmobranchs had typical plasma cells in their spleens and proteins in their serum migrating like gamma globulins upon electrophoresis. Teleosts, however, generally had very few plasma cells in their spleens and no demonstrable gamma globulin in the serum. These observations suggest that among marine fish, there may be an association between plasma cells and gamma globulins.