cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retinal image degradation by optical aberrations and light scatter in normal and albino chick eyes

Comprehensive evaluation of retinal image quality requires that light scatter as well as optical aberrations be considered. In investigating how retinal image degradation affects eye growth in the chick model of myopia, we developed a simple method based on Shack-Hartmann images for evaluating the effects of both monochromatic aberrations and light scatter on retinal image quality. We further evaluated our method in the current study by applying it to data collected from both normal chick eyes and albino eyes that were expected to show increased intraocular light scatter. To analyze light scatter in our method, each Shack-Hartmann dot is treated as a local point spread function (PSF) that is the convolution of a local scatter PSF and a lenslet diffraction PSF. The local scatter PSF is obtained by de-convolution, and is fitted with a circularly symmetric Gaussian function using nonlinear regressions. A whole-eye scatter PSF also can be derived from the local scatter PSFs for the analyzed pupil. Aberrations are analyzed using OSA standard Zernike polynomials, and aberration-related PSF calculated from reconstructed wavefront using fast Fourier transform. Modulation transfer functions (MTFs) are computed separately for aberration and scatter PSFs, and a whole-eye MTF is derived as the product of the two. This method was applied to 4 normal and 4 albino eyes. Compared to normal eyes, albino eyes were more aberrated and showed greater light scatter. As a result, overall retinal image degradation was much greater in albino eyes than in normal eyes, with the relative contribution to retinal image degradation of light scatter compared to aberrations also being greater for albino eyes.
Thermo-physical properties of thin films composed of anatase TiO2 nanofibers

Abstract In this paper, anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films ∼60 μm thick are fabricated using the electrospinning technique. The prepared thin films are composed of interconnected anatase TiO2 nanofibers. The transient electro-thermal technique, combined with a temperature–resistance calibration procedure, provides a full spectrum study which examines the relationship between the film’s thermal diffusivity, density and thermal conductivity. It is found that the annealing process significantly reduces the thermal diffusivity of the sample from 3.73 × 10–5 m2 s−1 to the order of 10–6 m2 s−1. The effective thermal diffusivity, conductivity and density of the films are 1.35–3.52 × 10–6 m2 s−1, 0.06–0.36 W m−1 K−1 and 25.8–373 kg m−3, respectively. These values are about one order of magnitude or more lower than the bulk property values. This difference is attributed to the loose interior structure and large concentration of vacancies. A microscale physical model is designed to explore the intrinsic thermal conductivity of the discrete TiO2 nanofibers that compose the films. The calculated intrinsic thermal conductivity of the TiO2 nanofibers varies from 4.67 to 12.2 W m−1 K−1, which is comparable with the bulk thermal conductivity of 8.5 W m−1 K−1. The phonon mean free path calculation demonstrates that the nanofiber size has a negligible impact on the phonon transport. The major restriction on the heat transfer originates from the crystalline structure defect.
Treatment of Oral and Nonoral Sources of Halitosis in Elderly Patients

The increasing number of older patients being seen in medical and dental offices in the industrialised world emphasises the need for a thorough understanding of the normal aging process. Additionally, close attention must be paid to the disease processes that affect this special needs population. Although there are many positive psychosocial issues associated with the aging patient, many diseases and disabilities associated with the aging process place an increased burden on the elderly patient. The relationship between general and oral health must be understood by the practitioner if therapies are to be effective. Although it is not the objective of this article to provide a comprehensive review of oral healthcare, an attempt will be made to provide general information on the diagnosis and treatment planning for oral malodours often associated with poor oral and/or systemic health. Every healthcare provider treating the elderly patient for oral malodours must recognise that there is potentially a direct relationship between the oral and systemic health of the patient. While most oral malodours have a simple cause, no single therapy is always effective. For best results, a team approach to diagnosing and treating oral malodours involves the dentist, physician, dietician and pharmacist. This multidisciplinary approach should be arranged before the onset of any complex therapy. When indicated, supportive, responsible family members should be additionally involved to assure patient compliance. The mouth and teeth can be a source of great pride and pleasure. A beautiful smile is one of the most pleasant greetings a human can offer. Enjoying a meal of fine food and drink is truly gratifying.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Disposition and excretion of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran in the rat.

The absorption, distribution, and excretion of the highly toxic halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) was studied in the male Fischer rat. [14C]TCDF was completely absorbed after oral doses of 0.1 and 1.0 μmol/kg body wt. The distribution pattern was the same whether treatment was by oral or intravenous administration. The liver was the major depot of TCDF, with small amounts being redistributed to the skin and adipose tissue. TCDF was primarily excreted via the bile into the feces. Less than 6% was ever removed in the urine. More than half was excreted in the feces within 2 days. [14C]TCDF-derived radioactivity in the tissues cochromatographed with the parent compound, while in the excreta, only metabolites were detected. Thus, TCDF is readily absorbed, metabolized, and excreted in the feces. This rapid detoxification may account for the relative resistance of the rat to the acute toxicity of TCDF.
Human fibroblast migration in three-dimensional collagen gel in response to noninvasive electrical stimulus. II. Identification of electrocoupling molecular mechanisms.

Cell adhesion and migration is regulated by a series of coordinated and integrated molecular mechanisms. In the accompanying article (Sun et al., Tissue Eng. 10, 1548, 2004), we demonstrate and cha...
Residual Profile Migration

In complex geologic environments, imaging of seismic reflection data requires model-driven depth migration. It is well known that such migration is sensitive to velocity errors. If the velocity model used in migration doea not correctly model the travel-times of reflection events, the images of reflectors on migrated shot profiles will be distorted from the true imagea of the earth. By solving the Eikonal equation, I find rezidual-moveout equations that can be used to estimate residual velocities, and a residualmigration operator that can correct the distortion of the images on migrated shot profiles. For a constant-velocity medium, these results are precise in the kinematic sense. The principles of the method can be extended to the case of a variable-velocity medium.
Multi-stage adaptive noise cancellation for ultrasonic NDE

Abstract Adaptive noise cancellation techniques are ideally suited for reducing spatially varying noise due to the grain structure of material in ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation. Since grain noise is generally uncorrelated, in contrast to the correlated flaw echoes, adaptive filtering algorithms exploit the correlation properties of signals in a C-scan image to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the output signal. In this paper, a multi-stage adaptive noise cancellation method is proposed for enhancing flaw detection in ultrasonic signals. The overall method is based on the use of an adaptive least mean square error filter with primary and reference signals derived from two adjacent positions of the transducers. Results of implementing the proposed algorithm on ultrasonic signals obtained from hard-α inclusions in titanium will be presented.
ANDROGEN PRODUCTION IN THE FEMALE RAT THE OVARY AND THE ADRENAL IN THE IMMATURE RAT1

THE FEMALE PROSTATE, homologue of the male ventral prostate, is present in some female rats. The incidence varies in different strains and may be increased by inbreeding (1). Price (2) demonstrated that during a limited period in the immature female rat (2,1 to 40 days of age) these prostates exhibit evidence of andrc-genie stimulation. In a previous report (3) we confirmed this finding. Included in this report were a few cases of castrate immature females which also had prostates show-ing some androgenic stimulation. This finding was indicative evidence for the hypo-thesis advanced by Price, that the female adrenal cortex might have a temporary an-dromimetic function such as has been demonstrated by us in the immature male rat (4,5). The present report concerns further investigation on this matter, specifically the respective roles of the immature ovary and adrenal in the production of the andro-genie substances responsible for stimulation of the immature female prostate.
Study of HCl clusters in helium nanodroplets: experiments and ab initio calculations as stepping stones from gas phase to bulk.

Presented here are the results of the joint theoretical and infrared laser spectroscopic study of the hydrogen chloride monomer and clusters, (HCl)n (n = 1−6), isolated in helium nanodroplets. The H−Cl stretching bands of the dimers and trimers show a large increase in the band intensity as well as low frequency shift with respect to that in a single HCl molecule. The average frequency of the bands for clusters larger than trimers remains approximately constant, which correlates well with the onset of the folded cyclic structure and the full development of the hydrogen bonding in larger clusters. The structure of the clusters was found to be cyclic planar for trimers, slightly twisted square planar for tetramers, envelope-like for pentamers, and folded pseudobipyramidal for hexamers. This change in structure upon an increase of the cluster size can be seen as an early stage of the structural transition to the HCl solid, which consists of zigzag chains of HCl molecules. Spectra of large clusters of about 5...
Generating optimal structural databases for developing atomistic potentials

Abstract Constructing structural databases that span many different local environments and atomic coordinations is important in the development of realistic atomistic potentials. Using reverse Monte Carlo techniques “optimal” structural databases may be generated that at a fixed density have both near uniform distance and angle distributions. For a database with a fixed to-be-fit distance range, the success of the reverse Monte Carlo scheme used here is determined by the minimum hard-sphere approach distance r min and the basis-point number density. At the equilibrium density for diamond silicon near uniform distance and angle distributions can only be generated for small values of r min for which high-energy structures are included. However, for lower densities near uniform distributions can be obtained for values of r min more typical of reality as basis-points have a larger volume of configuration space to explore. The limits imposed by using hard-sphere constraints are discussed with respect to the classical theory of liquids.
Reversibility of photosynthetic acclimation of swiss chard and sugarbeet grown at elevated concentrations of CO2

Although leaf photosynthesis and plant growth are initially stimulated by elevated CO 2 concentrations, increasing insensitivity to CO 2 (acclimation) is a frequent occurrence. In order to examine the acclimation process, we studied photosynthesis and whole plant development in swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. Koch ssp. ciela) and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris) grown at either ambient or twice ambient concentrations of CO 2 . In an initial controlled environment study, photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO 2 levels was observed in both subspecies 24 days after sowing (DAS) but was not observed at 42 and 49 DAS for sugarbeet or at 49 DAS for swiss chard. Although sugarbeet and swiss chard differed in root size and morphology, this was not a factor in the onset of photosynthetic acclimation. The reversal of photosynthetic acclimation that was observed in older plants grown at elevated CO 2 concentrations was associated with a rapid increase in root development (i.e. increased root : shoot [R/S] ratio), increased sucrose levels in sinks (roots) and no differences in total soluble leaf protein of either subspecies relative to the ambient CO 2 condition. In a second set of experiments, swiss chard and sugarbeet were grown in outdoor Plexiglass chambers at different times of the year (i.e. summer and early fall). Average 24-h temperature was 30.7 and 19.4°C for the summer and fall plantings, respectively. In agreement with the controlled environment study, lack of photosynthetic acclimation, determined from the response of photosynthesic rate to intemal CO 2 concentration, was correlated with increased root biomass and sucrose concentration relative to the ambient condition. However, photosynthetic acclimation was observed depending on the season, i.e. summer (swiss chard) or fall (sugarbeet), suggesting that acclimation was affected by environmental factors, such as temperature. Data from both experiments suggest that continued long-term photosynthetic stimulation may be dependent upon the ability of increased CO 2 to stimulate new sink development which would allow full utilization of the additional carbon made available in a high CO 2 environment.
THE SURFACE-EXPOSED HEME:HEMOPEXIN UTILIZATION PROTEIN OF NONTYPABLE HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE (NTHI) IS A MAJOR TARGET OF HUMAN SERUM ANTIBODY. • 982

THE SURFACE-EXPOSED HEME:HEMOPEXIN UTILIZATION PROTEIN OF NONTYPABLE HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE (NTHI) IS A MAJOR TARGET OF HUMAN SERUM ANTIBODY. • 982
Opposing effects of strychnine and brucine on the germination and growth of lettuce seeds

Strychnine and brucine, two related alkaloids that occur in plants belonging to theStrychnos species, were shown to have opposing effects on the elongation of the radicle of lettuce seeds. Strychnine was found to be inhibitory, whereas brucine was found to be stimulating to radicle elongation. Alkaloids, generally, are more commonly known for their inhibitory effects on plant growth rather than on their stimulating effects.
Internal control quality and information asymmetry in the secondary loan market

We examine the association between disclosure of internal control deficiencies (ICDs) and information asymmetry (IA) in the US secondary loan market. We also investigate which types of ICDs intensify or mitigate conditions of information asymmetry in the same market. Relying on loan syndication, loan credit rating, financial debt covenants and loan size, we further explore the effect of loan specific characteristics on the association between ICDs and IA. Consistent with our predictions, we find that while ICDs increase information asymmetry in the secondary loan market, the inimitable characteristics in the secondary loan market (e.g., syndication, loan credit rating, financial covenants, and loan size) help to mitigate such negative consequences of the disclosure of ICDs on the firm’s informational environment. We further find that disclosures of ICDs for firms in regulated industries help to mitigate the negative consequences of ICDs disclosures on IA.
Initial experience with a prototype clinical intelligent mammography workstation for computer-aided diagnosis

This paper reports on the preliminary results of an on-going prospective evaluation of an `intelligent' mammography workstation. This workstation can provide to radiologists a `second opinion' as to the location of suspicious lesions on mammograms. The workstation consists of a high speed computer, film digitizer, image archive, and both hard and soft copy output. Running on the workstation are automated computerized schemes for the detection of breast masses and clustered microcalcifications. In the current study, all screening mammograms are digitized on the workstation and then analyzed by the computerized schemes. The preliminary results for the first 37 days (573 patients) have been analyzed. Although follow-up to establish truth has not been done for all patients, the two schemes detected the lesion in 10 of the 14 patients who had a `suspicious' lesion present mammographically. Three of the lesions missed by the computer were found to be benign either at biopsy or after further work-up, and the fourth one is scheduled for further work-up. For two patients, a cluster of microcalcifications was detected by the computerized scheme that was initially missed by the radiologist. The false positive rate was 1.2 false masses and 0.87 false clusters per image. Over 70% of the false positive masses were caused by nodular densities and approximately 50% of the false cluster included obviously benign calcifications. The results from this ongoing study will be used to plan a full-scale clinical study.
Chemical modification of proteins: comments and perspectives*

The use of chemical modification of proteins has increased exponentially during the past two decades. Today the many different uses of chemical modification include determination of relative reactivities of side chain groups, the quantitation of individual amino acids, development of affinity reagents, mechanism-based reagents for pharmaceutical uses, cross-linking reagents, special techniques for bioprostheses, blocking reagents for peptide synthesis, and reagents for specific cleavages of peptide bonds. Chemical modification should continue to be a primary tool in protein chemistry. It can supply information or products difficult or impossible to attain by the newer powerful technique of in vitro mutagenesis as well as serve as a supplementary procedure for the latter.
Method for characterizing sulfated glycoproteins in a glycosylation site-specific fashion, using ion pairing and tandem mass spectrometry.

Structural analysis of sulfated glycans is essential in understanding their biological significance. Here, we present a new approach to characterize sulfated glycans present on glycoproteins. The analysis is performed on glycopeptides, so information about the sulfated species is obtained in a glycosylation site-specific manner. This method employs an ion-pairing reagent to stabilize the SO3 group of the glycopeptide, allowing useful information to be obtained during MS/MS experiments. The amount of structural information obtained from (+)ESI-MS/MS of the ion-pair complexes for sulfated glycopeptides of equine thyroid stimulating hormone is compared with information obtained by (−)ESI-MS/MS of the underivatized, sulfated glycopeptides. The results indicate that this new method provides detailed insights into the sequence, branching, and type of N-glycans present, compared to analysis via (−)ESI-MS/MS.
Associations Among Feeding Behaviors During Infancy and Child Illness at Two Years

Objectives To explore the different combinations of early feeding practices and their association with child illness in toddlerhood (i.e., asthma, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, and ear infections). Methods The Early Child Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) offers a unique opportunity to address this issue, as the study features a nationally representative sample of children and includes important questions on early feeding behaviors as well as an extensive list of background characteristics on the families. Using a subsample of approximately 7,900 children from the ECLS-B, data from the 9 month and 2 year collections were analyzed to define the occurrence of three feeding practices during infancy (i.e., by age 6 months) identify the key combinations of these practices, and examine associations between these combinations and child illness via logistic regression. Results Results indicate that 70% of parents initiated breastfeeding, 78% introduced formula and/or solid food before 6 months, 74% introduced solid food, and 15% introduced finger foods before 6 months. The most frequent feeding combinations were: breast milk with formula and solid/finger food (36%), formula with solid/finger food (24%), breast milk with formula (11%), breast milk with solid/finger food (14%), exclusive breast milk (8%), and exclusive formula (7%). After controlling for key demographic and family characteristics, results indicated that children who were exclusively breastfed were less likely to experience respiratory or ear infections than those experiencing other feeding combinations. No differences were found in rates of asthma or gastrointestinal infections. Conclusions This study provides insights for parents, medical professionals, and policy makers on the typical feeding practices and best practices for positive health outcomes in early childhood.
PHOTOCHEMICAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN SALICYLANILIDE PHOTOALLERGY

— The photochemical transformations of 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide, have been characterized by isolation and spectroscopic determination of the primary and secondary photoproducts. The photoreactivity cleanly involves photochemical dechlorination; three chlorines are ultimately lost in an efficient stepwise fashion. A radical mechanism was implicated by formation of a dimer and hydrogen atom abstraction from cysteine when present during photolysis. In the presence of HSA or BSA, the initial dehalogenation leads to a photoadduct with the protein, but dehalogenation of the primary photoproduct, a trichloro compound, does not lead to an efficient photobinding to protein.
Role of carbonic anhydrase IV in corneal endothelial HCO3- transport.

PURPOSE Carbonic anhydrase activity has a central role in corneal endothelial function. The authors examined the role of carbonic anhydrase IV (CAIV) in facilitating CO(2) flux, HCO(3)(-) permeability, and HCO(3)(-) flux across the apical membrane. METHODS Primary cultures of bovine corneal endothelial cells were established on membrane-permeable filters. Apical CAIV was inhibited by benzolamide or siRNA knockdown of CAIV. Apical CO(2) fluxes and HCO(3)(-) permeability were determined by measuring pH(i) changes in response to altering the CO(2) or HCO(3)(-) gradient across the apical membrane. Basolateral to apical (B-to-A) HCO(3)(-) flux was determined by measuring the pH of a weakly buffered apical bath in the presence of basolateral bicarbonate-rich Ringer solution. In addition, the effects of benzolamide and CAIV knockdown on steady state DeltapH (apical-basolateral compartment pH) after 4-hour incubation in DMEM were measured. RESULTS CAIV expression was confirmed, and CAIV was localized exclusively to the apical membrane by confocal microscopy. Both 10 microM benzolamide and CAIV siRNA reduced apparent apical CO(2) flux by approximately 20%; however, they had no effect on HCO(3)(-) permeability or HCO(3)(-) flux. The steady state apical-basolateral pH gradient at 4 hours was reduced by 0.12 and 0.09 pH units in benzolamide- and siRNA-treated cells, respectively, inconsistent with a net cell-to-apical compartment CO(2) flux. CONCLUSIONS CAIV does not facilitate steady state cell-to-apical CO(2) flux, apical HCO(3)(-) permeability, or B-to-A HCO(3)(-) flux. Steady state pH changes, however, suggest that CAIV may have a role in buffering the apical surface.
ESR studies of inter- and intra-lamellar cation exchange processes in Cd2P2S6

The transition metal chalcogenides, M, P2S1 (M = divalcnt transition metal cation), are lamellar materials that undergo an unusual cation exchange process when their crystals are placed in contact with a solution of a transition metal salt. EPR spectroscopy has been used to examine the exchange of paramagnetic Co2 + for Cd*+ in diamagnetic CdrP,S,. It has been possible to study the uptake of ions by the lamellar lattice and to examine the cation coordination environment through its effect on the parameters of the spin-Hamiltonian. In order to extract details of the Co2+ coordination from the observed EPR spectra, theoretical values of the g-value have been computed as a function of several crystal field parameters. The results for Co'+ are compared with previous results for the insertion of Mn'+ into Cd,P2S6 by cation exchange. The relative occupancy of the inter- and intra-lamcllar sites is a function of the cation type and the solvent employed. INTRODUCT ION The transition metal phosphorus chalcogenides (M1P2SL, M = transition metal) form a class of lamellar materials with crystal structures of the CdCI, type (l). The layers are composed of arrays of (p2Ssj'- units coordinated to the M*+ cations through M-S bonds, so that the transition metal ions are in a trigonally distorted octahedral environment. The transition metal layers are separated by two planes of chalcogenide atoms, bound together by relatively weak van der Waals interactions. Because of the weak nature of these interactions, various chemical species may be intercalcated into the van der Waals gap (VWG) between the adjacent chalcogenide layers (2). An unusual ion exchange process occurs in crystalline M,P,S, lattices in which the lattice cations are exchanged with intercalate cations (3). The pro- cess is surprising in terms of the conventional view of transition metal chalcogenide lattices as covalently bonded, extended networks. In Mn2P2Ss, the Mn*+ can be exchanged at room temperature with mono- or dipositive guest cations (G+ or G*+) to form com- pounds with the composition Mn2_,G",;,P2S,. EXAFS studies (4) have demonstrated that Ni*+ guest cations enter the intralamellar Mn*+ vacancies in Mn2P2S6. Recently, Clement et al. (5) studied the exchange process by systematically exchanging the lattice cation in several of the M,P,S, lattice5 with
Debating the language of African literature: Ethiopian contributions

Abstract This essay recapitulates a discussion that appeared in a series of articles in the early 1980s in Yekatit, an Ethiopian periodical, in which three leading Ethiopian literary critics – Asfaw Damte, Sahle Sellassie Berhane-Mariam, and Menghistu Lemma – debate whether African national literatures may be written in non-African languages. Their observations and arguments, made with an awareness of the larger debate that was occurring elsewhere on the continent, offer insights on the topic from a distinctively Ethiopian perspective. That perspective is worthy of our attention for two reasons. First, it serves as a noteworthy example of the nature of Ethiopian literary critical activity during this period, which has been too often overlooked in African studies. Second, the historical perspective offered by this debate, now more than two decades old, offers fruitful background for considering the future directions of Ethiopian literatures.
The Use of Patient-Specific Instrumentation Improves the Accuracy of Acetabular Component Placement

Preoperative assessment of acetabular pathology, planning of bone preparation, and implant placement using current imaging, templating, and surgical techniques are imprecise, frequently resulting in component malposition. This study compared the accuracy of 2 surgical approaches: (1) standard preoperative imaging and instrumentation and (2) a novel 3-dimensional computed tomography scan-based preoperative planning software linked to patient- and implant-specific instrumentation (PSI) for placing acetabular components. The PSI group resulted in a significant improvement (P < .05) in the average deviation of implant position (actual vs planned) for version, inclination, and total offset. Fewer clinically relevant screw perforations were observed in the PSI group. This study shows proof of concept and justifies a clinical trial comparing PSI technology with standard surgical techniques.
Vapor recompression distillation: Multi-scale dynamics and control

This paper focuses on the dynamics and control of a vapor recompression distillation column. A dynamic modeling framework is presented and the presence of multi-timescale behavior is documented. Using singular perturbations, a model reduction procedure is outlined to arrive at reduced order models capturing the dynamics in each time-scale. A hierarchical control scheme is proposed based on the multi-scale nature of the system. The theoretical results are illustrated via a simulation case study on a propane-propylene system.
Linear stability of modulated circular Couette flow

The stability of circular Couette flow when the outer cylinder is at rest and the inner is modulated both with and without a mean shear is examined in the narrow-gap limit. Disturbances are assumed to be axisymmetric. Two criteria are used to determine conditions for stability; the first requires that the motion be strongly stable, the second only that disturbances of arbitrary initial energy decay from cycle to cycle. The behaviour of critical parameters as a function of frequency is similar for the linear and the energy analysis. The range of Reynolds numbers bounded above by certain instability and below by conditional nonlinear stability is enlarged by modulation.
Identification of potential inhibitory peptide drugs for vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2, KDR) using bacteria display methods

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) plays a very important role on the generation and development of newly-formed tumor vessels. Many antibodies and small molecules have been designed or discovered to target it, which can be used as powerful drugs for tumor patients. However, those molecules have very limited effect or strong malignant side effect, which limits their approval by FDA. In our project, we used bacteria display methods to screen and select highly specific peptides with high affinity which can interact with the outer membrane domain of VEGFR2, furthermore, can inhibit the binding ability between VEGF and VEGFR2. Through selection and evolution of peptides, some of those kinds' peptides have been identified and may work as potential drugs for tumor patients.
Molecular methods to detect and monitor dissimilatory arsenate-respiring bacteria (DARB) in sediments

Dissimilatory arsenate-respiring bacteria (DARB) reduce arsenate to arsenite and may play a significant role in arsenic mobilization in aquifers and anoxic sediments. Many studies have been conducted with pure cultures of DARB to understand their involvement in arsenic contamination. However, few studies have examined uncultured DARB in the environment. In order to investigate uncultured DARB in anoxic sediments, genes encoding arsenate respiratory reductases (arr) were targeted as a genetic marker. Degenerate primers for the α-subunit of arr genes were designed and used with PCR amplification to detect uncultured DARB in the sediments collected from three stations (upper, mid and lower bay) in the Chesapeake Bay. Phylogenetic analysis of putative arrA genes revealed the diversity of DARB with distinct community structures at each of the three stations. Arsenate reduction in sediment communities was confirmed using enrichment cultures established with sediment samples from the upper bay. In addition, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the putative arrA genes showed changes in the community structure of DARB in the enrichment cultures while reducing arsenate. This was also confirmed by cloning and sequence analysis of the arrA genes obtained from the enrichment cultures. Thus, we were able to detect diverse uncultured DARB in sediments, as well as to describe changes in DARB community structure during arsenic reduction in anoxic environments.
Effectively Complying with Sarbanes-Oxley in Dynamic Business Environments: A Knowledge Traceability Approach

One of the most pressing issues facing IT managers today is the creation and maintenance of rigorous internal controls as part of compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley act. The costs associated with complying with Sarbanes-Oxley are considerable. It is estimated that a total of 6 billion dollars were spent on Sarbanes-Oxley compliance in 2005, with the average firm spending $7.8 million and 70,000 work hours to comply. Three persisting problems contribute to these costs: (1) the ambiguity of the application of Sarbanes-Oxley requirements; (2) the large volume of documentation required; (3) and the difficulty of applying controls to changing business processes. This paper argues that the difficulties associated with complying with Sarbanes-Oxley are inherently knowledge management problems. Accordingly, this paper applies knowledge traceability concepts to create a framework that links the requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley to business processes
Differential actions of endothelin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in pituitary gonadotrophs.

Endothelin (ET) and GnRH act through specific receptors to promote Ca2+ mobilization and influx pathways in pituitary gonadotrophs. In the present study cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i) and secretory responses to these two agonists are compared. In single gonadotrophs, low concentrations of both agonists cause oscillatory [Ca2+]i responses after a latent period. Such responses usually consist of discrete transients arising from the normal resting level, but are sometimes super-imposed on an elevated basal calcium level. At high doses, ET-1 and GnRH induce biphasic responses, composed of a spike phase followed by a plateau that often shows high frequency and low amplitude Ca2+ transients. The duration of the latent period and the frequency of the subsequent oscillations are correlated, and both are dependent on agonist concentration. The frequencies and amplitudes of Ca2+ spiking are also interrelated; increases in frequency are followed by more rapid decreases in the amplitude of the Ca2+ transients. After K...
Spread Calculation in Composite Gutter Sections

A generalized chart is presented to determine the spread in composite gutters given the gutter discharge. The use of this chart eliminates the tedious trial-and-error calculations to determine the spread in routine pavement drainage problems. The chart is also different from those available in the literature in the sense that it is limited neither to a specific unit system nor to specific gutter dimensions. The use of the chart is demonstrated through a practical application.
Antigua and Barbuda: the International Foundations Bill 2007

Antigua and Barbuda became an international financial centre in 1982 with the enactment of the International Business Corporations Act. Since then, Antigua has had slow to moderate growth, unlike the robust growth which its better known neighbours have enjoyed. Its so far moderate growth rate may be attributed to a failure to implement an aggressive international marketing strategy, and to broaden and enhance its relatively sparse product offerings. As a result, the Government has recognized the urgent need to diversify its economy and has therefore targeted the international financial services sector as a likely engine of growth. It is against this backdrop that the Government introduced a series of financial services laws in Parliament in 2007. Among these was the International Foundations Bill. These laws are expected to be published in the Official Gazette shortly. The Foundations Bill seeks to stimulate investment in the country. It is an indication that the country intends to position itself as an attractive asset protection jurisdiction, and to offer investors a stable, confidential and safe jurisdiction in which to conduct their business affairs. The Bill also seeks to ensure the proper regulation of international foundations in Antigua and Barbuda.
Interaction of methadone, reinforcement history, and variable-interval performance.

Abstract In the present study, we examined how a reinforcement schedule history that generated high or low rates of responding influenced the effects of acute (Experiment 1) and chronic (Experiment 2) methadone administration. Initially, key-peck responses of pigeons were maintained under a variable-interval 90-s schedule of food presentation, and a methadone dose-response curve was determined with doses of 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 mg/kg. The pigeons were then exposed, for at least 40 sessions, to either a fixed-ratio 50 schedule or a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate 10-s schedule, or were given continued exposure to the variable-interval schedule. The methadone dose-response curve was redetermined after all pigeons again were responding under the variable-interval schedule. The effects of two different daily methadone doses (9.0 and 12.0 mg/kg/day) and withdrawal precipitated by naloxone also were assessed. Experience with a fixed-ratio or differential reinforcement of low rate schedule did not result in significantly different response rates under the variable-interval schedule and, in general, the acute effects of methadone did not have differential effects correlated with schedule history. However, for 2 of 4 subjects the rate-decreasing effects of methadone on rates of key pecking were greater following a history of low-rate responding, suggesting a possible interaction between schedule history and effects of methadone. Daily methadone administration under the variable-interval schedule revealed that pigeons with experience under the differential reinforcement of low rate schedule developed more rapid and complete tolerance to the rate-decreasing effects of methadone. Three of the 4 subjects in this group showed rate increases above drug-free baselines during chronic methadone dosing. Pigeons with a history of fixed-ratio responding also developed tolerance to the rate-decreasing effects of methadone but without the subsequent rate increases seen by subjects with low-rate histories. No subjects with variable-interval histories showed complete recovery of drug-free baselines, suggesting that interpolated training under other schedules may attenuate the rate-altering effects of chronically administered drugs. Naloxone (1.0 mg/kg), administered during the chronic methadone phase, resulted in greater disruption of responding by pigeons with a history of low-rate responding, as compared to subjects in the other two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Program extrapolation with jennisys

The desired behavior of a program can be described using an abstract model. Compiling such a model into executable code requires advanced compilation techniques known as synthesis. This paper presents an object-based language, called Jennisys, where programming is done by introducing an abstract model, defining a concrete data representation for the model, and then being aided by automatic synthesis to produce executable code. The paper also presents a synthesis technique for the language. The technique is built on an automatic program verifier that, via an underlying SMT solver, is capable of providing concrete models to failed verifications. The technique proceeds by obtaining sample input/output values from concrete models and then extrapolating programs from the sample points. The synthesis aims to produce code with assignments, branching structure, and possibly recursive calls. It is the first to synthesize code that creates and uses objects in dynamic data structures or aggregate objects. A prototype of the language and synthesis technique has been implemented.
Long-term peritoneal dialysis and encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in children

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is the most serious complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD), with a mortality rate that exceeds 30%. There have been many reports of the incidence of EPS being strongly correlated to the duration of PD. Patients on PD for longer than 5 years, and especially those receiving this treatment for more than 8 years, should undergo careful and repeated surveillance for risk factors associated with the development of EPS. The development of ultrafiltration failure, a high dialysate/plasma creatinine ratio, as determined by the peritoneal equilibration test, peritoneal calcification, a persistently elevated C-reactive protein level, and severe peritonitis in patients on PD for longer than 8 years are signals that should prompt the clinician to consider terminating PD as a possible means of preventing the development of EPS. The impact of the newer, biocompatible PD solutions on the incidence of EPS has not yet been determined.
Adults' Estimates of Sociometric Status of Handicapped and Nonhandicapped Children

12 male and 12 female counselors' estimates of the sociometric status of 60 boys and 61 girls were compared to their peer-rated acceptance within small, same-sex living groups at a 3-wk. camp. Adults' estimates and child-derived ranks for liking were strongly correlated for both physically handicapped and nonhandicapped children of both sexes. Physical attractiveness may be a mediator of the relationship between these judgments.
An integrated simulation framework for water environment management

Integrated water environment management requires that the existing water quality models can be consumable in a seamless way. This paper discusses model integration and computation technology to improve water quality model's consumability. An integrated simulation framework is proposed to contain the heterogeneous models for a uniformed interface to end users. From computational efficiency perspective, a high-efficiency model calibration engine based on parallel computing is discussed. A prototype based on this framework has been developed and a case study is provided. The water quality simulation platform based on this framework can enable decision makers to flexibly switch water quality models according to business purposes.
A growing oceanic carbon uptake: Results from an inversion study of surface pCO2 data

Concerted community efforts have been devoted to producing an authoritative climatology of air-sea CO2 fluxes, but identifying decadal trends in CO2 fluxes has proven to be more challenging. The available surface pCO2 estimates are too sparse to separate long-term trends from decadal and seasonal variability using simple linear models. We introduce Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling as a novel technique for estimating the historical pCO2 at the ocean surface. The result is a plausible history of surface pCO2 based on available measurements and variability inferred from model simulations. Applying the method to a modern database of pCO2 data, we find that two thirds of the ocean surface is trending toward increasing uptake of CO2, with a mean (year 2000) uptake of 2.3 ± 0.5 PgC yr−1 of anthropogenic carbon and an increase in the global annual uptake over the 30 year time period of 0.4 ± 0.1 PgC yr−1 decade−1. The results are particularly interesting in the Southern Ocean, where we find increasing uptake of carbon over this time period, in contrast to previous studies. We find evidence for increased ventilation of deep ocean carbon, in response to increased winds, which is more than offset by an associated surface cooling.
A modified sweep algorithm for interchanging between overparameterized and cell means linear models

The overparameterized and cell means models are alternative formulations of the conventional linear model that underlies designed experiments with fixed effects. Each has its relative advantages and adherents. Statistical software packages generally adopt just one of these formulations, and transition between the two is not routinely undertaken. In this paper we present a modified sweep algorithm for undertaking translation in either direction. The algorithm is illustrated with a published data set from Milliken and Johnson (1984). We demonstrate how to generate the cell means model hypothesis corresponding to any testable hypothesis in the overparameterized model, and indicate that the interpretability of the corresponding sums of squares depends heavily on the selected model.
Differential Effects of Inhibiting Chitin and 1,3-β-d-Glucan Synthesis in Ras and Calcineurin Mutants of Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus must be able to properly form hyphae and maintain cell wall integrity in order to establish invasive disease. Ras proteins and calcineurin each have been implicated as having roles in these processes. Here, we further delineate the roles of calcineurin and Ras activity in cell wall biosynthesis and hyphal morphology using genetic and pharmacologic tools. Strains deleted for three genes encoding proteins of these pathways, rasA (the Ras protein), cnaA (calcineurin), or crzA (the zinc finger transcription factor downstream of calcineurin), all displayed decreased cell wall 1,3-β-d-glucan content. Echinocandin treatment further decreased the levels of 1,3-β-d-glucan for all strains tested yet also partially corrected the hyphal growth defect of the Δ rasA strain. The inhibition of glucan synthesis caused an increase in chitin content for wild-type, dominant-active rasA , and Δ rasA strains. However, this important compensatory response was diminished in the calcineurin pathway mutants (Δ cnaA and Δ crzA ). Taken together, our data suggest that the Ras and calcineurin pathways act in parallel to regulate cell wall formation and hyphal growth. Additionally, the calcineurin pathway elements cnaA and crzA play a major role in proper chitin and glucan incorporation into the A. fumigatus cell wall.
Relation of Sn whisker formation to intermetallic growth: Results from a novel Sn-Cu "bimetal ledge specimen"

Sn whisker formation was studied in a “bimetal ledge specimen” that consisted of a uniform layer of Sn that was covered by Cu on only half the sample. Whiskers are observed to grow in the Cu-free region of the sample, which is attributed to stress generated by the diffusion of Sn atoms along the network of columnar grain boundaries. The Sn diffusion is driven by the intermetallic growth, but the whisker density extends out much further than any measurable Cu concentration. Whiskers were also observed to grow in the Cu-coated region by punching through the overlayer, leaving a Cu-grain on the tip of the Sn whisker.
Dbl and Vav mediate transformation via mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways that are distinct from those activated by oncogenic ras

Abstract Vav and Dbl are members of a novel class of oncogene proteins that share significant sequence identity in a approximately 250-amino-acid domain, designated the Dbl homology domain. Although Dbl functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and activator of Rho family proteins, recent evidence has demonstrated that Vav functions as a GEF for Ras proteins. Thus, transformation by Vav and Dbl may be a consequence of constitutive activation of Ras and Rho proteins, respectively. To address this possibility, we have compared the transforming activities of Vav and Dbl with that of the Ras GEF, GRF/CDC25. As expected, GRF-transformed cells exhibited the same reduction in actin stress fibers and focal adhesions as Ras-transformed cells. In contrast, Vav- and Dbl-transformed cells showed the same well-developed stress fibers and focal adhesions observed in normal or RhoA(63L)-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. Furthermore, neither Vav- or Dbl-transformed cells exhibited the elevated levels of Ras-GTP (60%) observed with GRF-transformed cells. Finally, GRF, but not Vav or Dbl, induced transcriptional activation from Ras-responsive DNA elements (ets/AP-1, fos promoter, and kappa B). However, like Ras- and GRF-transformed cells, both Vav- and Dbl-transformed cells exhibited constitutively activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (primarily p42MAPK/ERK2). Since kinase-deficient forms of p42MAPK/ERK2 and p44MAPK/ERK1 inhibited Dbl transformation, MAPK activation may be an important component of its transforming activity. Taken together, our observations indicate that Vav and Dbl transformation is not a consequence of Ras activation and instead may involve the constitutive activation of MAPKs.