cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infantile cardiomyopathy caused by the T14709C mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA glutamic acid gene

A 6-week-old child presented with hypotonia, myopathy, and a rapidly worsening dilated cardiomyopathy with severe atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and pulmonary hypertension, which proved fatal at age 3 months. Biochemical analysis showed a combined deficiency of the enzymatic activities of complexes I and IV and molecular studies identified a T14709C mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA glutamic acid gene. A review of symptomatology in patients with this mutation shows that it mainly presents in childhood or young adults with mild myopathy and diabetes mellitus. Infants with a high, nearly homoplasmic mutant load can present with more severe symptoms including cardiomyopathy. Families with this mitochondrial DNA mutation should be aware that increased mutant load in a subsequent generation may result in severe and often fatal cardiac symptoms.
Pose determination of cylinders, cones, and spheres from perspective projections

This paper addresses the computation of spheres, right-circular cylinders, and right-circular cones from a single view. Geometric information about these objects are known a priori, as this would be the case for model-based vision applications. The 3-D poses of these objects can be computed using elliptical projection from the sphere or elliptical projections from the circular surfaces of a cylinder or cone. For the cylinder and cone, their poses can also be computed form their linear extremal contours. This paper employs simple analytic geometric techniques that address uniqueness of the solutions as well as the geometric interpretations of the non-unique solutions. For the sphere, its pose can be uniquely determined by its elliptical projection. Using a planar circular surface from either the cone or the cylinder, two solutions to the position and orientation of the circle are possible. From the linear extremal contours of a cylinder, its pose can be computed uniquely if the junctions are visible in the image, otherwise the position has one degree of freedom along the cylinder axis. From the linear contours of a cone, its pose can also be solved uniquely unless the junctions are occluded. In that case there are two possible solutions for the orientation but the position has one degree of freedom along the line joining the projection center to the image apex position.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections: A Fundamental Ingredient for Quality

Nosocomial infections have been recognized for over a century as a critical problem affecting the quality of health care and a principal source of adverse healthcare outcomes. Today, nosocomial infections affect over 2 million patients annually in the United States, at a cost in excess of $4.5 billion.' Among all major complications of hospitalization, nosocomial infections account for 50%; the remaining are medication errors, patient falls, and other noninfectious adverse events.2 A key tenet of the ongoing revolution in health care is the need to provide quality services while responsibly controlling costs. As fee-for-service reimbursement increasingly is replaced by capitated or other fixed-cost payments, dollars saved through prevention of nosocomial infections directly affect the financial well-being of healthcare institutions.' Several articles in this issue of the journal remind us of the importance of surveillance of nosocomial infections and its place in assessing and improving the quality of medical care.
YEAR-LONG WEIGHT LOSS TREATMENT FOR OBESE PATIENTS WITH TYPE II DIABETES :DOES INCLUDING AN INTERMITTENT VERY-LOW-CALORIE DIET IMPROVE OUTCOME ?

Abstract purpose: To evaluate a year-long behavioral weight control program, used with and without an intermittent very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. patients and methods: Subjects (n = 93) were randomly assigned to 50-week treatment programs that used either a balanced low-calorie diet (LCD) of 1,000 to 1,200 kilocalories (kcal) per day throughout or included 2 12-week periods of a VLCD of 400 to 500 kcal per day alternating with the balanced LCD. Weight, glycemic control, blood pressure, and lipids were assessed at baseline, at the end of the year-long treatment, and at 2-year follow-up. results: Subjects in the VLCD program lost significantly more weight than did LCD subjects at the end of the 50-week program (14.2 kg versus 10.5 kg; P = 0.057) and remained off diabetes medication longer ( P conclusions: The intermittent VLCD improved weight loss and glycemic control, but these effects were quite modest and do not appear to justify the clinical use of an intermittent VLCD. Moreover, lengthening treatment to a full year did not prevent relapse. Thus, further research is needed to develop a successful approach to long-term weight control.
Nutritional Yield: A Proposed Index for Fresh Food Improvement Illustrated with Leafy Vegetable Data

Consumer interest in food products, including fresh vegetables, with health promoting properties is rising. In fresh vegetables, these properties include vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and secondary compounds, which collectively impart a large portion of the dietary, nutritional or health value associated with vegetable intake. Many, including farmers, aim to increase the health-promoting properties of fresh vegetables on the whole but they face at least three obstacles. First, describing crop composition in terms of its nutrition-based impact on human health is complex and there are few, if any, accepted processes and associated metrics for assessing and managing vegetable composition on-farm, at the origin of supply. Second, data suggest that primary and secondary metabolism can be 'in conflict' when establishing the abundance versus composition of a crop. Third, fresh vegetable farmers are rarely compensated for the phytochemical composition of their product. The development and implementation of a fresh vegetable 'nutritional yield' index could be instrumental in overcoming these obstacles. Nutritional yield is a function of crop biomass and tissue levels of health-related metabolites, including bioavailable antioxidant potential. Data from a multi-factor study of leaf lettuce primary and secondary metabolism and the literature suggest that antioxidant yield is sensitive to genetic and environmental production factors, and that changes in crop production and valuation will be required for fresh vegetable production systems to become more focused and purposeful instruments of public health.
Factors affecting the effectiveness and acceptance of electronic selection systems

Abstract There has been a rise in the use of electronic selection (e-selection) systems in organizations. Given the widespread use of these systems, this article reviews the factors that affect their effectiveness and acceptance by job applicants (applicant acceptance), and offers directions for future research on the topic. In particular, we examine the effectiveness and acceptance of these systems at each stage of the selection process including (a) job analysis, (b) job application, (c) pre-employment testing, (d) interviewing, (e) selection decision-making, and (f) evaluation and validation. We also consider their potential for adverse impact and invasion of privacy. Finally, we present some implications for e-selection system design and implementation.
Analysis of B lymphocyte cross-reactivity at the single cell level.

Abstract A method is described for assaying whether individual in vivo activated B cells produce antibodies which cross-react with two distinct antigens. The aechnique utilizes a modification of the ELISA spot assay to determine the isotype and antigenic specificity(s) of these antibody secreting cells. To perform the assay, two plastic slides are coated with different andigens and secured together to form chambers capable of holding a monolayer of Ig secreting lymphocytes. The immunoglobulin secreted during culture binds to one or both sides of the antigen-coated chamber (depending upon the specificity and cross-reactivity of the antibody product). This technique was used to evaluate the cross-reactivity of hybridomas and freshly isolated IgM and IgG secreting B cells.
Chromosome numbers, nuclear DNA content, and polyploidy in Consolea (Cactaceae), an endemic cactus of the Caribbean Islands.

Polyploidy, an important mechanism of plant evolution, was investigated in Consolea, an endemic Caribbean opuntioid genus represented by nine subdioecious species with very narrow distributions, including species classified as rare or threatened. Standard chromosome counting and flow cytometric analyses were used to determine chromosome numbers and ploidy of each taxon. Compared to the base number (x ¼ 11), the mitotic and meiotic counts indicated that there are seven hexaploid (2n ¼ 66) and two octoploid species (2n ¼88); no diploids were found. Histograms of intact nuclei confirmed that all species are polyploid, with C-DNA values ranging from 4.88–9.50 pg. The variation of DNA content was significantly higher for the octoploids than for the hexaploids. Male and female sexual morphs had similar DNA content, suggesting that there are no sex chromosomes. Cytomixis between cells and microsporocytes with no chromatin were observed. This provides a mechanism whereby gametes with variable chromosome numbers are produced, influencing reproduction and promoting speciation. In conclusion, C-DNA content and chromosome number separated Consolea species into two groups, which may correspond to two phylogenetic lineages or indicate that polyploidization occurred independently, with comparable effects on C-DNA content.
Dissipation of temperature perturbations in the middle atmosphere

Abstract It is often observed that the stratospheric and mesospheric temperature structure undergoes transient disturbances from its averaged steady-state behavior. The causes may be traceable to gravity waves, planetary waves, solar proton and relativistic electron precipitation, etc. We examine the theoretical time behavior of the atmospheric temperature following the cessation of such heating phenomena as it relaxes toward its quiescent steady-state value. We also study the time-dependent response during a model stratospheric-warming/mesospheric-cooling event. In particular, we investigate the roles of eddy heat conduction, non-LTE cooling in the 15μm CO2 band, and an ambient vertical wind, and their relative importance as they depend upon altitude and time, in modifying temperature changes in this region.
Modeling and Control of Combustion Dynamics in Industrial Gas Turbines

The thermoacoustic response of an industrial-scale gas turbine combustor to fuel flow perturbations is examined. Experimental measurements in a laboratory combustor along with numerical modeling results are used to identify the dynamic behavior of the combustor over a variety of operating conditions. A fast-response actuator was coupled to the fuel system to apply continuous sinusoidal perturbations to the total fuel mass flow rate. The effects of these perturbations on the combustor pressure oscillation characteristics as well as overall operability of the system are described. The results of this work suggest that persistent excitation of the fuel system may present a viable means of controlling combustion dynamics in industrial gas turbine and, in turn, enhance their performance.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Acetylation and phosphorylation of high-mobility group A1 proteins in PC-3 human tumor cells.

In this paper, we examined the posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of high-mobility group A1 (HMGA1) proteins in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells that are either treated or not treated with a hi...
Noise-induced hearing loss in the noise-toughened auditory system

Abstract The auditory system, toughened by an interrupted noise exposure, has been shown in several reports to be less affected by (or protected from) a subsequent high-level noise exposure. Exposure to 115 dB peak SPL, 1 kHz narrow band (400 Hz) transients presented 1/s, 6 h/day, to four groups of chinchillas produced a 10–28 dB toughening effect across the 0.5–8.0 kHz test frequency range. Following either a 30 day or an 18 h recovery period the animals were exposed to the same impulses but presented at 121 or 127 dB peak SPL for five uninterrupted days, thus producing an asymptotic threshold shift (ATS) condition. Comparisons between toughened and untoughened control subjects showed: (1) During the 121 dB exposure there was a statistically significant reduction of 10–25 dB in ATS across the entire test frequency range. Thirty days following the 121 dB exposure there were no significant differences in the postexposure permanent effects on thresholds and sensory cell loss. (2) During the 127 dB exposure only the group with the 30 day interval between the toughening and traumatic exposures showed a small (∼10 dB), statistically significant, frequency-specific (8 kHz), reduction in ATS. Thirty days following the 127 dB exposure a statistically significant protective effect on threshold was measured only at 16.0 kHz. However, both toughened groups showed less inner hair cell loss at and above 1.0 kHz, while only the group with the 18 h interval between the toughening and traumatic exposures showed less outer hair cell loss at and above 1.0 kHz. There were no systematic differences in the response of the toughened animals that could be attributed to the 30 day or 18 h post-toughening interval.
Peripheral Intravenous Access Using Ultrasound Guidance: Defining the Learning Curve

Abstract Background The need for peripheral intravenous (IV) access in anatomically challenging patients is becoming a more commonly encountered clinical problem. The significant investment devoted to physician training for ultrasound-guided vascular access has not yet been matched by a similar commitment to nursing. Nurses, paramedics, and physicians are becoming more enthusiastic about peripheral IV access with ultrasound (PIVUS); however, institutional and clinician support has not yet been forthcoming. The learning curve for PIVUS has never been rigorously studied, and may be flatter than previously assumed. Methods Registered nurses were selected to participate as trainees. Training involved 1:1 sessions consisting of formal orientation to portable ultrasound, mentoring, and practice sessions with a nurse practitioner who has expertise in ultrasound-guided peripheral vascular access; hands-on, supervised practice cannulating vessels on a nonhuman tissue simulator; and supervised attempts on live patients. Results Seven of 8 trainees completed the training. The average number of patient encounters required to achieve 10 successful IV placements was 25 (range = 18-32). The average time required for successful vessel cannulation was 19.57 minutes (range = 5-62 minutes). An average of 25 attempts was required to achieve proficiency, and average of 50 cases was required to maintain consistency. Conclusions In today's practice environment, PIVUS skills are increasingly important. The results of our study demonstrate that, with appropriate hands-on training and supervision, these skills can be effectively taught to registered nurses.
Comparing metal leaching and toxicity from high pH, low pH, and high ammonia fly ash

Abstract Previous work with both class F and class C fly ash indicated minimal leaching from most fly ashes tested. However, the addition of NOx removal equipment might result in higher levels of ammonia in the fly ash. We have recently been testing fly ash with a wide range of pH (3.7–12.4) originating from systems with NOx removal equipment. Leaching experiments were done using dilute CaCl2 solutions in batch and columns and a batch nitric acid method. All methods indicated that the leaching of heavy metals was different in the highest ammonia sample tested and the high pH sample. However, toxicity testing with the Microtox© system has indicated little potential toxicity in leachates except for the fly ash at the highest pH (12.4). When the leachate from the high pH fly ash was neutralized, toxicity was eliminated.
Uranium geochemistry of Orca Basin

Orca Basin, an anoxic, brine-filled depression at a depth of 2200 m in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico continental slope, has been studied with respect to its uranium geochemistry. Uranium concentration profiles for four cores from within the basin were determined by delayed-neutron counting. Uranium concentrations ranged from 2.1 to 4.1 ppm on a salt-free and carbonate-corrected basis. The highest uranium concentrations were associated with the lowest percentage and δ13C organic carbon values. For comparison, cores frm the brine-filled Suakin and Atlantis II Deeps, both in the Red Sea, were also analyzed. Uranium concentrations ranged from 1.2 to 2.6 ppm in the Suakin Deep and from 8.0 to 11.0 ppm in the Atlantis II Deep. No significant correlation was found between uranium concentrations and organic carbon concentrations and δ13C values for these cores. Although anoxic conditions are necessary for significant uranium uptake by non-carbonate marine sediments, other factors such as dilution by rapidly depositing materials and uranium supply via mixing and diffusion across density gradients may be as important in determining uranium concentrations in hypersaline basin sediments.
Elastic Anomalies at Charge Density Wave Transitions in TaS3 and NbSe3

Abstract The temperature dependence of the Young's modulus and internal friction of TaS3 (orthorhombic) and NbSe3 have been measured by the vibrating reed technique. There is a large minimum 2%, in the modulus of TaS3 at the commensurate Peierls distortion (Tc = 222K) and the internal friction increases below Tc(ΔQ−1 = 5×10−5), although no critical relaxation effects are observed. On the other hand, a very small minimum, ΔE/E ~ 0.06%, is observed at the upper incommensurate transition in NbSe3, and a small broad increase (0.03%) at the lower transition. The measurements allow estimates to be made of the stress dependence of the transition temperature and of the electron-phonon coupling constant.
Microbial and chemical responses to pulsed and gradual acid additions in dark- and clear-lake enclosures

Abstract Responses of lake bacteria, protozoans, and chlorophyll a, to two applications of sulfuric acid were observed in lake enclosure experiments. Acid was applied all at once (pulsed addition) or gradually over a 2 week period (gradual addition) to decrease pH to 3.5. These experiments were carried out simultaneously in a dark-dystrophic lake and a clear-oligotrophic lake on the Katherine Ordway Preserve, near Gainesville, Fla. Pulsed acid addition in the clear lake caused bacterial densities and biomass to increase, and bacterial growth to decrease. This indicated decreased grazing of bacteria by protozoans and/or zooplankton. Gradual addition caused some positive effects on bacterial biomass and metabolic processes indicating changes to more acid tolerant bacteria. Bacteria did not have time to adapt in the pulsed acid addition, while they did in the gradual acid addition. Acid additions had no significant effects on protozoan densities or chlorophyll a. Acid additions did not significantly affect bacterial densities or biomass in the dark lake. Glucose assimilation and glucose mineralization were significantly higher on day 6, while only glucose assimilation was higher on day 12 in the pulsed addition. Pulsed acid addition caused a decline in protozoans and chlorophyll a. Gradual acid addition caused increased protozoan densities and decreased chlorophyll a. Either the bacteria were better adapted to acid conditions or the dark lake chemistry buffered them against the effects of acidification.
Top-seeded growth of superconducting (Ba1−ϰKϰ)BiO3 crystals by an electrochemical method

A method is described for the growth of large single crystals of cubic BKBO. The improved technique uses top-seeded growth from Na-free compositions through use of a BKBO reference electrode. By careful control of over-potential it is possible to control the K content (ϰ) and homogeneity in the crystals. For ϰ = 0.38 the highest T c was obtained (32 K) with a sharp transition ( ΔT = 1 K). Details are reported for the crystal growth process and the superconducting properties.
The study and design of a high transmission, high resolution toroidal grating monochromator for soft x-ray radiation

Abstract We have used a multi-element ray tracing program to study the performance of conventional toroidal grating monochromators (TGM) and to design a new TGM with significantly higher transmission and resolution. The contribution to the resolution from astigmatic coma of the optical system has been reduced by approximately an order of magnitude, by using a toroidal front mirror. The vertical defocusing contribution to the resolution has been eliminated by utilizing a movable exit slit.
Electron attachment, effective ionization coefficient, and electron drift velocity for CF4 gas mixtures

For tracking in a SSC experiment with wire chambers, CF4 gas mixtures are very advantageous from the point of view of aging, drift velocity, and spatial resolution. However, they are also known to suffer from considerable electron attachment. This attachment can cause serious inefficiencies in the collection of electrons liberated near the anode wire, and causes broadening of the pulse-height spectrum for all ionization electrons. Two bench-top setups have been used to study electron attachment of CF4 gas mixtures, and related properties such as the gas gain difference between single-electron avalanches and 55Fe X-ray initiated avalanches, the degradation of the energy resolution due to electron attachment, and the effective ionization coefficient α(≡ α − η). A set of three prototype straw-tube modules each containing an 8 × 8 bundle of straws has been constructed and tested at a Fermilab test beam with various CF4 gas mixtures. Some preliminary results on the drift velocity and drift time for these gas mixtures are reported.
Disseminated histoplasmosis in an HIV patient with CD4 count of 1 cell/µL.

We report a case of a young woman with advanced HIV/AIDS who presented with a short duration of fever and shortness of breath, with no recent travel history or previous hospitalisation, accompanied by non-specific abdominal symptoms and suspicious upper gastrointestinal bleed. Her CD4 count was 1 cell/μL raising the suspicious for various opportunistic aetiologies. The initial suspicion was for pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and the patient was treated empirically with antimicrobials. Peripheral smear findings, urinary antigen tests and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were suggestive of disseminated histoplasmosis. PCP was ruled out in BAL. Transabdominal imaging was concerning for periaortic lymphadenopathy raising the suspicion of occult malignancy. Endoscopic evaluation of her digestive tract was unrevealing. Endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) confirmed histoplasmosis. She received a liposomal amphotericin B for 10 days followed by itraconazole with significant improvement. Her CD4 count was found to be the lowest reported count with a single opportunistic pathogen.
A Test of the New VIIRS Lights Data Set: Population and Economic Output in Africa

The present study analyses the new Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) lights data to determine whether it can provide more accurate proxies for socioeconomic data in areas with poor quality data than proxies based on stable lights. Our analysis indicates that VIIRS lights are a promising supplementary source for standard measures on population and economic output at a small scale, especially for low population and economic density areas in Africa. The current analysis also suggests that in comparison to stable lights generated by the DMSP-OLS system, data generated by the VIIRS system provide more information to estimate population than output index. However, further analysis and formal statistical models are needed to evaluate the usefulness of VIIRS lights versus other lights products. With more advanced methods, there is also a potential to generate a synthetic index by combining different lights products to produce a better proxy measure for other indexes.
Influence of Phospholipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Individual Phospholipids in Muscle from Bison, Hereford and Brahman Steers on Flavor

Neutral lipid (NL) and phospholipid (PL) fractions and their corresponding fatty acid profiles from the L. dorsi of Bison, Hereford, and Brahman steers of similar age finished on identical diets were determined. Compositional differences were related to sensory characteristics of the samples. Phosphatidylcholine + lysophosphatidylethanolamine (PC + LPE) existed in the highest concentration in all samples evaluated followed by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingomyelin (SPH), fraction one and phosphatidylserine (PS). Bison contained more total PL, particularly PC + LPE and LPC, than the other two bovine species. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of these PL was greater for Bison. Off-flavor and aftertaste increased with increasing levels of PC + LPE and LPC due to their greater composition of PUFA.
A middle-aged man with asymptomatic chest wall asymmetry.

He has no history of trauma or chest wall surgery, and he has been aware of the asymmetry since early childhood. What is your diagnosis?
Surgical critical care: fungal infections in surgical patients.

Objective:To review the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Candida infections in surgical intensive care unit patients.Design:Selected review of the literature.Setting:Critically ill patients either in an intensive care unit or having undergone a major surgical proce
Genetically-associated variations in the development of hippocampal pyramidal neurons may produce differences in mossy fiber connectivity.

The neuronal generation patterns of hippocampal pyramids were analyzed in two inbred strains of house mice (SM/J and BALB/cJ) using tritiated thymidine radioautography. These two strains of mice possess markedly different patterns of mossy fiber synapses upon pyramidal neurons within a specific segment of regio inferior. The results of this study show that this same segment of regio inferior also displays markedly different patterns of pyramidal neuron generation in the two strains. Specifically, the pyramids of this segment of regio inferior are generated according to the typical [inside-out] sequence in SM/J mice, but this pattern is reversed into an [outside-in] sequence in BALB/cJ mice. The remaining segment of regio inferior, and all of regio superior, is formed in an inside-out sequence in both strains. These results strongly suggest that altered temporal patterns of pyramidal neuron generation may play a major role in determining mossy fiber connectivity patterns.
Heat transfer enhancement in coiled tubes

Abstract The mechanism of Nusselt number oscillation at the junction of a straight and helical tube is examined experimentally. The heat transfer behavior in this development region is used as the basis for heat transfer enhancement in a coil in which the curvature is repeatedly reversed.
MOCVD growth of AlGaN films for solar blind photodetectors

AlGaN based ultraviolet solar blind photodiodes, operating at a peak wavelength of 274 nm with external quantum efficiencies of up to 46% at zero bias, were grown by low pressure MOCVD. The photodiodes operate via backside illumination, allowing the use of Mg doped GaN instead of a high Al mole fraction p-AlGaN layer. The effects of: the individual layer thicknesses, the Al composition difference between the n-type layer and intrinsic layer, the use of an AlGaN composition grade at the i-n interface, and the inclusion of an electron blocking layer at the p-i interface on the device performance were investigated. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Stability of acetabular fractures after internal fixation: A cadaveric study

The rigidity of a transverse acetabular fracture in a laboratory cadaveric model immobilized by internal fixation was studied. On the application of a longitudinal load imposed on the fifth lumbar vertebra, four modes of displacement of the acetabular fracture were monitored by the use of variable impedance transducers. The rigidity of various combinations of lag screws and plates was assessed.The fracture deformations documented were generally quite small at any observation point with any of the fixation methods, and in most cases they were recoverable on load release. Anterior column lag screw fixation combined with plate fixation of the posterior column provided a degree of stability indistinguishable from that of other methods, and allowed the minimal exposure and devascularization of the pelvis. The 3.5 mm reconstruction plate, which is readily contoured to the intricate peri-acetabular bony structure, showed no significant difference in rigidity compared to the other apparently more rigid plates und...
Response of BC-418 plastic scintillator to low-energy protons

Abstract The response of fast plastic scintillators to protons is unknown for energies below approximately 300 keV. The response of BC-418 plastic scintillator to protons from 100 keV to 1 MeV was measured using elastic scattering of neutrons at the University of Kentucky. Protons of precise energies from a Van de Graaff accelerator impinged on a thin LiF target to produce neutrons in narrow energy bands. A coincidence was detected between the recoiling proton in the plastic scintillator and the elastically scattered neutron in a liquid scintillator. The energy of the recoil proton was determined by the elastic scattering kinematics, with the scattered neutron energy precisely determined by time of flight. The results are compared with previous measurements of the response of similar plastic scintillators in the energy region where they overlap.
Optimal design of nature reserves: Consequences of genetic drift

Abstract Computer simulations were used to compare rates of genetic drift and allele fixation in intact populations with those in subdivided populations with the same total numbers of individuals. Subdivided populations with occasional inter-subpopulation migrations typically preserve more heterozygotes over the long term and preserve allelles longer than do corresponding intact populations. Intact populations typically exhibit a short-term (50 generations) advantage over subdivided populations in maintaining heterozygosity. Rates of genetic drift are influenced by population size, intersubpopulation migration rate, and degree of population subdivision. Archipelagos of refuges with occasional inter-refuge migration appear to be the optimal design strategy for genetic conservation.
Analysis of axoplasmic RNA from invertebrate giant axons.

Protein synthesis seems unlikely in axoplasm from the giant axons of the polychaete, Myxicola and the squid, Loligo, as 4S RNA is present but little or no rRNA.
Cell-wall formation in Pelvetia embryos. A freeze-fracture study.

The cell-wall formation in the egg of Pelvetia fastigiata (J.G. Agardh) DeToni (Fucaceae) was studied with freeze-fracture. 1. The wall is lamellated with microfibrils approximately parallel in each lamella. The average orientation of microfibrils turns about 35° in each subsequent lamella. This slow turn gives rise to bow-shaped arcs when the wall is obliquely cross fractured. 2. The organization of the fibrils in the innermost lamellae is visualized by their imprints on the plasma membrane. These imprints are the result of both turgor pressure and adhesion of fibrils to the membrane. 3. Strings of membrane particles appear on the plasma membrane shortly after fertilization. They seem to be formed by a fertilization-induced aggregation of isolated membrane particles. Later each string comes to lie under a fibril and along its imprint. Peculiar lateral rips indicate that some strings are tightly bound to a fibril and may be involved in its orientation. 4. Wall formation in Pelvetia is marked by pronounced secretory activities. Following fertilization, the fusion of cortical vesicles and other vesicles make numerous loci in the plasma membrane. In older embryos, fibril-free patches in the plasma membrane mark the position of microfibril elongation centers in the wall matrix. Prior to germination, these elongation centers and their corresponding membrane patches reach a high density at the presumptive rhizoid end.
Mapping as a visual health communication tool: promises and dilemmas.

In the era of evidence-based public health promotion and planning, the use of maps as a form of evidence to communicate about the multiple determinants of cancer is on the rise. Geographic information systems and mapping technologies make future proliferation of this strategy likely. Yet disease maps as a communication form remain largely unexamined. This content analysis considers the presence of multivariate information, credibility cues, and the communication function of publicly accessible maps for cancer control activities. Thirty-six state comprehensive cancer control plans were publicly available in July 2005 and were reviewed for the presence of maps. Fourteen of the 36 state cancer plans (39%) contained map images (N = 59 static maps). A continuum of map interactivity was observed, with 10 states having interactive mapping tools available to query and map cancer information. Four states had both cancer plans with map images and interactive mapping tools available to the public on their Web sites....
The Dobrushin-Shlosman Phase Uniqueness Criterion and Applications to Hard Squares

The rigorous Dobrushin-Shlosman phase uniqueness criterion is reviewed, then applied to the hard square model to prove that only a single phase exists at activityz=1.185. The criterion is violated (for a five-site by five-site lattice cell) atz=1.35557, but this does not imply phase nonuniqueness. This work complements that of Dobrushin, Kolafa, and Shlosman, who proved phase uniqueness for allz≤1. Certain “experimentally” discovered regularities are presented as conjectures: one for a more general problem and two for the application to hard squares. Even with these regularities, however, substantial further improvements in the algorithmic implementation of the criterion will be required before it can become a practical tool for locating phase transitions.
Retinotopic mapping with spin echo BOLD at 7T

For blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI experiments, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) increases with increasing field strength for both gradient echo (GE) and spin echo (SE) BOLD techniques. However, susceptibility artifacts and nonuniform coil sensitivity profiles complicate large field-of-view fMRI experiments (e.g., experiments covering multiple visual areas instead of focusing on a single cortical region). Here, we use SE BOLD to acquire retinotopic mapping data in early visual areas, testing the feasibility of SE BOLD experiments spanning multiple cortical areas at 7T. We also use a recently developed method for normalizing signal intensity in T(1)-weighted anatomical images to enable automated segmentation of the cortical gray matter for scans acquired at 7T with either surface or volume coils. We find that the CNR of the 7T GE data (average single-voxel, single-scan stimulus coherence: 0.41) is almost twice that of the 3T GE BOLD data (average coherence: 0.25), with the CNR of the SE BOLD data (average coherence: 0.23) comparable to that of the 3T GE data. Repeated measurements in individual subjects find that maps acquired with 1.8-mm resolution at 3T and 7T with GE BOLD and at 7T with SE BOLD show no systematic differences in either the area or the boundary locations for V1, V2 and V3, demonstrating the feasibility of high-resolution SE BOLD experiments with good sensitivity throughout multiple visual areas.
Zionism before the Law: The Politics of Representation in Herzl and Kafka

The author explores a semantic field shared by two authors who were associated with Zionism to different degrees: Theodor Herzl and Franz Kafka. Rather than suggesting influence or borrowing, she shows that Herzl and Kafka employed the tropes of the legal profession, particularly that of the Gestor, or advocate. The first part presents the workings of Herzl's legal imagination, focusing on a series of lawyers fashioned in his plays and contrasting them with a key figure from Herzl's Zionist manifesto The Jewish State: the Gestor. In both cases, different concepts of representation—literary or artistic and legal or political—are crucially intertwined. The most interesting point of contact with Kafka's work is not in any of his explicit references to Zionism but rather in his novel The Trial, where a similar dynamic of different senses of representation is put into motion.
Public Law Litigation: Lessons and Questions

The practice of using courts to foster social change, once confined to the USA, has emerged as a worldwide phenomenon. Foreign practice reflects indigenous forms but faces criticisms similar to that in the USA: that it is ineffective, antidemocratic, and counterproductive. The essay meets these criticisms, first, by recasting US public law litigation as a form of politics that challenges the status quo by forging alliances, changing discursive frames, and disciplining private and public decision making. Looking abroad, the essay emphasizes public law litigation as a meditative institution that facilitates political action and aids in regulatory enforcement where administrative mechanisms are weak or regulation requires ongoing elaboration. Finally, the essay suggests that criticisms of public law litigation tend to neglect three factors: the actual and not assumed comparative advantages of different institutional actors, the role of temporal conditions in affecting social change, and the ubiquity of complex, not dichotomous, relations.
Growth of Wild and Hatchery Strains of Brook Trout

Abstract Various growth characteristics of the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were investigated by comparing the performance of three wild populations with five hatchery groups. Wild populations attained a total length at the end of 2 years of about 6 inches, which was less than half the size of the hatchery trout in the same period. Differences in weight between wild fish and hatchery fish for the same period were of the order of 10 times. Unfavorable temperature and lack of food were chief causes of slow growth of wild populations. Among the hatchery groups, inbreeding caused a decrease in growth. Randomly bred groups were very similar in size at all times up to 20 months of age. Growth rates of brook trout decline rapidly with increase in length or weight. Total length does not increase exponentially over long time periods, but growth in length more closely approximates a linear series with time. Different mathematical models were applied to growth data from the hatchery groups. The Walford-Ford c...
Association between brain indole levels and severity of posthypoxic myoclonus in rats

We have previously reported the presence of posthypoxic, audiogenic myoclonus in rats after cardiac arrest and the ability of the 5-HT precursor, 5-HTP, to attenuate these muscle jerks. In addition, we have recently shown that 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 agonists can reduce the severity of myoclonus in these animals, suggesting a deficiency in serotonergic neurotransmission. In the present study, the levels of 5-HTP, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA were measured in seven regions of the brain in myoclonic and normal rats to identify the areas of the brain in which a serotonergic dysfunction resides. Similar to previous studies, we observed pronounced posthypoxic, audiogenic myoclonus 3 and 14 days after resuscitation from cardiac arrest, with a resolution of the abnormal movements by 45 days postarrest. HPLC measurements revealed significant changes in indole levels in the following areas of the brain: cortical 5-HIAA, striatal 5-HT, striatal 5-HIAA, hippocampal 5-HT, mesencephalic 5-HIAA, myelencephalic 5-HT, myelencephalic 5-HIAA, cerebellar 5-HTP, and cerebellar 5-HT. The changes in striatal 5-HT, cortical 5-HIAA, and mesencephalic 5-HIAA appear most relevant to the pathophysiology of posthypoxic myoclonus because regression analyses showed significant correlations between the myoclonus scores of the animals and the levels of these indoles. Based on the observed pattern of results, we postulate a dysfunction in serotonergic lateral (cortical) and far lateral (extrapyramidal) ascending pathways in posthypoxic myoclonus.
Avoidance behavior in rats as a function of the size and location of anterior cingulate cortex lesions

In 1967, Trafton found that lesions in the anterior midline cortex led to extreme deficits in conditioned avoidance response (CAR) learning in rats. The present study varied the placement and size of anterior cortical lesions in an attempt to further define the areas which are critical in producing the learning deficit. The results indicate a significant correlation between the size of the lesion and the degree of learning deficit in a shuttlebox. The placement of the lesion within the anterior cingulate area was not found to be associated with CAR performance in any predictable manner.
The Interstellar Medium Surrounding the Sun

The Solar System is embedded in a flow of low-density, warm, and partially ionized interstellar material that has been sampled directly by in situ measurements of interstellar neutral gas and dust in the heliosphere. Absorption line data reveal that this interstellar gas is part of a larger cluster of local interstellar clouds, which is spatially and kinematically divided into additional small-scale structures indicating ongoing interactions. An origin for the clouds that is related to star formation in the Scorpius-Centaurus OB association is suggested by the dynamic characteristics of the flow. Variable depletions observed within the local interstellar medium (ISM) suggest an inhomogeneous Galactic environment, with shocks that destroy grains in some regions. Although photoionization models of the circumheliospheric ISM do an excellent job of reproducing the observed properties of the surrounding ISM, the unknown characteristics of the very low-density hot plasma filling the Local Bubble introduces uncertainty about the source of ionization and nature of cloud boundaries. Recent observations of small cold clouds provide new insight into the processes affecting the local ISM. A fuller understanding of the local ISM can provide insights into the past and future Galactic environment of the Sun, and deeper knowledge of the astrospheres of nearby stars.
A parallel graph partitioner on a distributed memory multiprocessor

In order to realize the full potential of speed-up by parallelization, it is essential to partition a problem into small tasks with minimal interactions without making this process itself a bottleneck. We present a method for graph partitioning that is suitable for parallel implementation and scales well with the number of processors and the problem size. Our algorithm uses hierarchical partitioning. It exploits the parallel resources to minimize the dependence on the starting point with multiple starts at the higher levels of the hierarchy. These decrease at the lower levels as it zeroes in on the final partitioning. This is followed by a last-gasp phase that randomly collapses partitions and repartitions to further improve the quality of the fmat solution. Each individual 2-way partitioning step can be performed by any standard partitioning algorithm. Results are presented on a set of benchmarks representing connectivity graphs of device and circuit simulation problems. >
A Systematic Review of Neurofeedback as a Treatment for Fibromyalgia Syndrome Symptoms

AbstractObjectives: Fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] is a musculoskeletal condition that is defined by widespread pain, mood disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction. There is debate surrounding the causes of this disorder, with growing attention being placed on central nervous system [CNS] abnormalities. Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that is designed to alter neurophysiological processes using electro-encephalogram [EEG] technology. This review includes systematic examination and comparison of neurofeedback interventions used to treat FMS symptoms [i.e. pain, fatigue, cognitive function, depression, anxiety, FMS impact]. Systematic searches were conducted on PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, and the Society of Behavioral Medicine listserv for published and unpublished reports of interventions studies.Findings: Seven of the identified 255 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Three of these reports described traditional neurofeedback interventions and four described alternat...
Photophysical pathways of cytosine in aqueous solution

The effects of aqueous solvation on the photophysical pathways involving the S1 excited state in cytosine have been studied with a mean-field QM/MM approach. Two main pathways with small barriers were found previously in isolated cytosine, using multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods, that facilitate radiationless decay to the ground state. These pathways are examined in solvated cytosine using a mean-field QM/MM combined with MRCI, and it is found that barriers in each direction increase moderately. The barriers in the presence of the solvent are 0.23 eV and 0.31 eV for the two different pathways compared to 0.15 eV and 0.14 eV in the gas phase, indicating that the aqueous environment does not make one of the two directions much more preferable.
Learning heuristic functions for numeric optimization problems

Provides a framework for approaching the learning of heuristic functions for numeric optimization problem solutions. The outline of a system called 'Techniques using Experimentation for Acquisition and Creation of HeuRistics 2.0' (TEACHER 2.0), for learning heuristic functions is presented. The system is unique in that it combines many learning techniques into one coherent system. It can be a powerful learning system as it allows the generation of heuristics based on an amalgamation of learning techniques and strategies. The value of the system is illustrated by an example in which TEACHER 2.0 learns a new heuristic that is superior to the typical heuristic for that problem domain. >
A performance evaluation methodology for parallel simulation protocols

Most experimental studies of the performance of parallel simulation protocols use speedup or number of events processed per unit time as the performance metric. Although helpful in evaluating the usefulness of parallel simulation for a given simulation model, these metrics tell us little about the efficiency of the simulation protocol used. In this paper, we describe an Ideal Simulation Protocol (ISP), based on the concept of critical path, which experimentally computes the best possible execution time for a simulation model on a given parallel architecture. Since ISP computes the bound by actually executing the model on the given parallel architecture, it is much more realistic than that computed by a uniprocessor critical path analysis. The paper illustrates, using parameterized synthetic benchmarks, how an ISP-based performance evaluation can lead to much better insights into the performance of parallel simulation protocols than what would be gained from speedup graphs alone.