cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting cleavability of peptide sequences by HIV protease via correlation-angle approach

In designing HIV protease inhibitors as potential drugs for AIDS therapy, knowledge about what peptide sequences in polyproteins are cleavable by HIV proteases is very useful. In this article, based on the formulation that any octapeptide can be uniquely expressed as a 160-dimensional vector and the principle that the similarity of any two such vectors is associated with their correlation angle, a new method is proposed to predict the cleavability of a peptide sequence by HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteases. The average predicted accuracy the new method for the 105 peptide sequences whose cleavability by HIV-1 protease is known is 96/105 = 9.14%, which is about 8% higher than that by the existing method for the same set of data. A considerably high rate of correct prediction was also obtained when the new method was used to predict the HIV-2 protease-cleaved sites in some proteins.
Structural modal interaction with combination internal resonance under wide-band random excitation

In this paper the non-linear interaction of a three degree of freedom structural model subjected to a wide-band random excitation is examined. The non-linearity of the system results in different critical regions of internal resonance and this has a significant effect on the response statistics. With reference to the combination internal resonance of the summed type the system response is analyzed by using the Fokker-Planck equation approach together with a non-Gaussian closure scheme. The non-Gaussian closure is based on the cumulant properties of order greater than three. As a first order approximation the scheme yields 209 first order differential equations in first through fourth order joint moments of the response co-ordinates. The analysis is carried out with the aid of the computer algebra software MACSYMA. The response statistics are determined, numerically in the time and frequency (internal detuning) domains. Contrary to the Gaussian closure scheme, the non-Gaussian closure solution yields a strictly stationary response in addition to a number of complex response characteristics not previously reported in the literature of the area of non-linear random vibration. These include multiple solutions and jump phenomena (jump and collapse in the response mean squares) at internal detuning slightly shifted from the exact internal resonance condition. At exact internal resonance the system response possesses a unique limit cycle in a stochastic sense. The regions of multiple solutions are defined in terms of system parameters (damping ratios and non-linear coupling parameter) and excitation spectral density level.
Tunable Lasers For Isotope Separation

Isotope separation has been achieved by tunable lasers involving both electronic transitions in atoms and vibrational transitions in molecules. A variety of lasers have been used for spectroscopic studies to identify the isotopic shifts and others for either selective excitation of transitions or for selective photodissociation of molecules. The classes of tunable lasers that are reviewed include dye lasers, semiconductor lasers, tunable gas lasers, spin-flip Raman lasers, parametric oscillators and frequency mixing in nonlinear crystals.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Using physical color models in 3-D machine vision

The evolutionary theory of color perception is described. It is based on three main propositions: 1) The physical nature of light and the environmental distributions of its information carrying parameters, 2) Constraints implied by the available biological material and physiological processes, and 3) The evolutionary tendency toward optimal usefulness for the survival of the species. The theory leads directly to the main properties of color perception: a) Newtonian color circle, metamers, additive and subtructive color mixtures, b) Adaptive (relativistic) transformations and color constancy (invariance), c) An operational procedure of color measurements. Among the major predictions are Lorentz type formulas for color transformations, and the explanation of two-color projections. Predictions based on color transformations will be demonstrated with a simple demonstration kit.
An entropy generation metric for non-energy systems assessments

Abstract Processes in non-energy systems have not been as frequent a subject of sustainability studies based on Thermodynamics as have processes in energy systems. This paper offers insight into thermodynamic thinking devoted to selection of a sustainability energy-related metric based on entropy balancing of a non-energy system. An underlying objective in this sustainability oriented study is product quality involving thermal processing during manufacturing vs. resource utilization (say, energy). The product quality for the considered family of materials processing for manufacturing is postulated as inherently controlled by the imposed temperature non-uniformity margins. These temperature non-uniformities can be converted into a thermodynamic metric which can be related to either destruction of exergy of the available resource or, on a more fundamental level of process quality, to entropy generation inherent to the considered manufacturing system. Hence, a manufacturing system can be considered as if it were an energy system, although in the later case the system objective would be quite different. In a non-energy process, a metric may indicate the level of perfection of the process (not necessarily energy efficiency) and may be related to the sustainability footprint or, as advocated in this paper, it may be related to product quality. Controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) of aluminum, a state-of-the-art manufacturing process involving mass production of compact heat exchangers for automotive, aerospace and process industries, has been used as an example.
Redesign of NEMO-Type Spherical Acrylic Submersible for Manned Operation to 3000 ft (914 m) Ocean Depth

A detailed nonlinear three-dimensional (3-D) finite element analysis (FEA) was performed in Phase I on a NEMO (naval experimental manned observatory) type HBOI (Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution) spherical acrylic submersible in order to overcome the crack generation problem at its interfaces. An FEA has been carried out to develop a new design guideline, by reducing the higher stresses and relative displacements at the interfaces, which are believed to be two of the main reasons for crack generation at these areas. Variation of the stiffness between dissimilar materials at the interface, lower nylon gasket thickness, overdesigned aluminum hatch and bottom penetrator plug, attachment of the retainer ring with hatch ring, close placement of the rubber padding to the interface between the acrylic sphere, and the retainer ring are found to be the various causes for higher stresses within the acrylic sphere at the nylon gasket/acrylic interface. Based on the new design guidelines, in Phase II, a new spherical acrylic submersible was fabricated and tested. This design resulted in significant improvements by reducing the peak stresses and relative displacements at the gasket/acrylic interface areas. This improvement in design is expected to significantly extend the crack-free cyclic fatigue life of the acrylic submersible at 3000 ft (914 m) ocean depth.
ANYONS IN A MAGNETIC FIELD: LANDAU LEVELS AND VERTEX OPERATOR REPRESENTATION

We construct exact many-body eigenstates of both energy and angular momentum for the N-anyon problem in an external magnetic field. Such states span the full ground-state eigenspace and have a natural representation in terms of the Fubini-Veneziano vertex operators of string theory.
A comparison of the influences of alkoxide and thiolate ligands on the electronic structure and reactivity of molybdenum(3+) and tungsten(3+) complexes. preparation and structures of M(2)(O(T)Bu)(2)(S(t)Bu)(4), [Mo(S(t)Bu)(3)(NO)](2), and W(S(t)Bu)(3)(NO)(py).

M(2)(O(t)Bu)(6) compounds (M = Mo, W) react in hydrocarbon solvents with an excess of (t)BuSH to give M(2)(O(t)Bu)(2)(S(t)Bu)(4), red, air- and temperature-sensitive compounds. (1)H NMR studies reveal the equilibrium M(2)(O(t)Bu)(6) + 4(t)BuSH M(2)(O(t)Bu)(2)(S(t)Bu)(4) + 4(t)BuOH proceeds to the right slowly at 22 degrees C. The intermediates M(2)(O(t)Bu)(4)(S(t)Bu)(2), M(2)(O(t)Bu)(3)(S(t)Bu)(3), and M(2)(O(t)Bu)(5)(S(t)Bu) have been detected. The equilibrium constants show the M-O(t)Bu bonds to be enthalpically favored over the M-S(t)Bu bonds. In contrast to the M(2)(O(t)Bu)(6) compounds, M(2)(O(t)Bu)(2)(S(t)Bu)(4) compounds are inert with respect to the addition of CO, CO(2), ethyne, (t)BuC triple bond CH, MeC triple bond N, and PhC triple bond N. Addition of an excess of (t)BuSH to a hydrocarbon solution of W(2)(O(t)Bu)(6)(mu-CO) leads to the rapid expulsion of CO and subsequent formation of W(2)(O(t)Bu)(2)(S(t)Bu)(4). Addition of an excess of (t)BuSH to hydrocarbon solutions of [Mo(O(t)Bu)(3)(NO)](2) and W(O(t)Bu)(3)(NO)(py) gives the structurally related compounds [Mo(S(t)Bu)(3)(NO)](2) and W(S(t)Bu)(3)(NO)(py), with linear M-N-O moieties and five-coordinate metal atoms. The values of nu(NO) are higher in the related thiolate compounds than in their alkoxide counterparts. The bonding in the model compounds M(2)(EH)(6), M(2)(OH)(2)(EH)(4), (HE)(3)M triple bond CMe, and W(EH)(3)(NO)(NH(3)) and the fragments M(EH)(3), where M = Mo or W and E = O or S, has been examined by DFT B3LYP calculations employing various basis sets including polarization functions for O and S and two different core potentials, LANL2 and relativistic CEP. BLYP calculations were done with ZORA relativistic terms using ADF 2000. The calculations, irrespective of the method used, indicate that the M-O bonds are more ionic than the M-S bonds and that E ppi to M dpi bonding is more important for E = O. The latter raises the M-M pi orbital energies by ca. 1 eV for M(2)(OH)(6) relative to M(2)(SH)(6). For M(EH)(3) fragments, the metal d(xz)(),d(yz)() orbitals are destabilized by OH ppi bonding, and in W(EH)(3)(NO)(NH(3)) the O ppi to M dpi donation enhances W dpi to NO pi* back-bonding. Estimates of the bond strengths for the M triple bond M in M(2)(EH)(6) compounds and M triple bond C in (EH)(3)M triple bond CMe have been obtained. The stronger pi donation of the alkoxide ligands is proposed to enhance back-bonding to the pi* orbitals of alkynes and nitriles and facilitate their reductive cleavage, a reaction that is not observed for their thiolate counterpart.
Researches on a unilaterally blue-blinded rhesus monkey

Psychophysical measures of hue (wavelength) discrimination and spectral sensitivity were collected over a 3-year-period on a rhesus monkey whose right eye had been exposed to intense blue light 10 years prior and had shown a pronounced loss of blue sensitivity in an increment-threshold, spectral-sensitivity task. Hue discrimination, to a somewhat greater degree than spectral sensitivity, revealed large differences between the normal and blue-exposed eye. The difference limens were in some cases 100 nm for the blue-exposed eye compared to 10-15 nm for the normal eye. The hue-discrimination functions from the blue-exposed eye were similar in form to those from human tritanopes (blue-blind humans), and those from the monkey's normal eye were similar to those from normal humans. Detailed functions, where the variable wavelength was shorter as opposed to longer than the reference wavelength, were shown separately for each of the monkey's eyes; those from the blue-exposed eye were very similar to analogous functions from the one case where they have been shown separately for a human tritanope.
α-Brominated 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitroacetophenones: Potent inhibitors of the erythrocyte anion transport protein

Abstract 4-Hydroxy-3,5-dinitroacetophenone anion inhibits erythrocyte anion transport with a K 50 of 220 μ m in 165 m m KCl, pH 7.3, at 0°C. Substitution of bromine atoms on the α-carbon greatly enhances the inhibitory potency of this class of compounds. Thus, α-bromo-4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitroacetophenone ( III ) anion inhibits chloride transport in erythrocyte ghosts with K 50 values of 13 and 5.3 μ m when [Cl] o = 165 and 16.5 m m KCl, respectively, and [Cl] i = 165 m m . α,α-Dibromo-4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitroacetophenone ( IV ) anion has K 50 values of 0.73 and 0.36 μ m under identical conditions. IV , which can cause >99.9% inhibition without allowing nonspecific leakage of Cl − across the membrane, is one of the most potent monoanion inhibitors of erythrocyte anion transport yet reported. The crystal structure of III has been determined [ P2 1 2 1 2 1 , a = 9.805(1), b = 20.691(2), c = 5.013(1) A , R = 0.042, R w = 0.045 ]. The substituted aromatic ring and the α-bromoacetophenone group form a planar molecule. The bromine atom is within 0.0844(1) A of the plane of the aromatic ring, and the CBr bond is quite short [1.914(6) A]. Both of these observations suggest considerable delocalization of the bromine lone pair electrons into the π system of the molecule.
Virtualization-based bandwidth management for parallel storage systems

This paper presents a new parallel storage management approach which supports the allocation of shared storage bandwidth on a per-application basis. Existing parallel storage systems are unable to differentiate I/Os from different applications and meet per-application bandwidth requirement. This limitation presents a hurdle for applications to achieve their desired performance, which will become even more challenging as high-performance computing (HPC) systems continue to scale up with respect to both the amount of available resources and the number of concurrent applications. This paper proposes a novel solution to address this challenge through the virtualization of parallel file systems (PFSes). Such PFS virtualization is achieved with user-level PFS proxies, which interpose between native PFS clients and servers and schedule the I/Os from different applications according to the resource sharing algorithm (e.g., SFQ(D)). In this way, virtual PFSes can be created on a perapplication basis, each with a specific bandwidth share allocated according to its I/O requirement. This approach is applicable to different PFS-based parallel storage systems and can be transparently integrated with existing as well as future HPC systems. A prototype of this approach is implemented upon PVFS2, a widely used PFS, and evaluated with experiments using a typical parallel I/O benchmark (IOR). Results show that this approach's overhead is very small and it achieves effective proportional sharing under different usage scenarios.
60 Pharmacological Management of Obesity in Certain Syndromes: A Case Report.

Obesity is a common association with Down and Prader Willi Syndromes. Obesity can lead to many different adverse health outcomes, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, type II diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea. We have previously reported successful treatment of hyperinsulinemic obesity syndrome in otherwise normal children and adolescents with amphetamine salts. Our objective was to investigate the effect of amphetamine compounds on the treatment of obesity in syndromes. In this report we present two patients with Down and Prader Willi Syndrome who responded very well to pharmacological treatment, short term. Patient Number 1: B.C. is a 9 year old female who is a known case of trisomy 21 under treatment for autoimmune hypothyroidism, which was well maintained with thyroxine treatment. She was at the 10th percentile for height at the age of 10 years old. She weighed 90 pounds, which was 30 pounds over her ideal body weight and placed her at the 90th percentile for weight. She began treatment with amphetamine mixed compounds, Adderall XR. During the ensuing months her BMI decreased from an initial 26.7 to 24.7, 20.3 and 19.5 within a nine month period. Patient Number 2: G.M. is a 12 year old female child with a known case of Prader Willi Syndrome with moderate mental retardation. She presented at the age of 10 years with her height at the 3rd percentile and her weight at the 75th percentile. She was overweight by 35 pounds for her height. Treatment began with amphetamine mixed compounds, Adderall XR. She too responded favorably by growing along the 3rd percentile while her BMI progressively decreased from 26 to 21.4, 19.2 and 18.8 within a 13 month period. Both patients tolerated this treatment very well. There were no adverse side effects and anecdotally their parents noted improvements in their mental function.
Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells form neurites in the presence of taxol and cytochalasin D.

Abstract We have examined the role of microtubules and microfilaments in neurite outgrowth by chemically modifying their interaction in Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells. Cells exposed to taxol (1 μM), an agent that promotes microtubule polymerization and stabilization, did not form neurites over a 24 h period. Similarly, cells exposed to cytochalasin D (4 μM), an agent which promotes microfilament depolymerization, did not develop neurites. However, cells treated simultaneously with taxol (1 μM) and cytochalasin D (4 μM) produced long (50 μm) thin, unbranched neurites. Neurites formed during this simultaneous treatment grew in a circular pattern, lacked typical growth cones, were packed densely with microtubules and were deficient in microfilaments. Untreated cells maintained in control medium for 24 h formed short (15 μm), thick, highly branched neurites containing a dense meshwork of microtubules, microfilaments and neurofilaments. These results demonstrate that taxol does not block neurite outgrowth from Neuro-2a cells maintained under microfilament-limiting conditions. They suggest further that microtubules may provide the major cytoskeletal framework for neurite elongation.
A computer model of the energy-current loss instabilities in a recirculating accelerator system

Abstract The computer program called ESRA (energy stability in a recirculating accelerator FELs) has been written to model bunches of particles in longitudinal phase space traversing a recirculating accelerator and the associated rf changes and aperture current losses. This code addresses stability issues and determines the transport, noise, feedback and other parameters for which these FEL systems are stable or unstable. A representative system is modeled, the Novosibirisk high power FEL race-track microtron for photochemical research. The system is stable with prudent choice of parameters.
Dynamic changes in conduction velocity and gap junction properties during development of pacing-induced heart failure.

End-stage heart failure (HF) is characterized by changes in conduction velocity (CV) that predispose to arrhythmias. Here, we investigate the time course of conduction changes with respect to alter...
Proline is required for the stimulation of DNA synthesis in hepatocyte cultures by EGF

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to stimulate DNA synthesis in rat parenchymal hepatocytes both in vivo and in vitro (4,9). We report here that this response in vitro is dependent on the amino acids present in the media. Of all the amino acids, proline has the strongest effect. The response to EGF is absent without proline and none of the other amino acids can substitute for it. Added proline (1 mM) to the media caused the labeling index to increase from 11% to 55% in the presence of 50 ng/ml EGF and insulin. In the presence of proline, small additional increases of the EGF effect on DNA synthesis were stimulated by phenylalanine and tyrosine.
Square-well diatomics: Bulk equation of state, density profiles near walls, virial coefficients and coexistence properties

The thermodynamics of fluids composed of tangent diatomics that interact via site-site square-well potentials is studied. Two different routes to the equation of state are investigated: integral equations and perturbation theory. Reference interaction site model (RISM) theory with the mean spherical approximation (MSA) is used to obtain an equation of state via integral equations. Perturbation theory is based on the hard dimer reference fluid, where the local structure of the reference fluid is obtained from Monte Carlo simulation. The theories are tested against Monte Carlo simulations for the pressure, internal energy, coexistence curve, and the second and third virial coefficients. Monte Carlo simulation data for the pressure are obtained from simulations of the fluid confined between hard walls, where the value of the density at the wall yields the bulk pressure. Second and third virial coefficients are calculated from Monte Carol evaluation of the cluster integrals, and the coexistence curve is obtai...
Effect of moisture content on immobilized lipase-catalyzed triacylglycerol hydrolysis under supercritical carbon dioxide flow in a tubular fixed-bed reactor

Surplus fats and oils were reacted with several lipases under supercritical fluid conditions for the purpose of obtaining value-added products. Lipases, however, require sufficient moisture content to act as effective biocatalysts. An immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica was chosen to examine the rate of enzyme moisture loss under laboratory ambient conditions and also under supercritical fluid conditions. A more important aspect was to determine the effect of lipase moisture content on the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols under the same supercritical fluid conditions. Under ambient conditions at constant air flow, the immobilized lipase lost water at the rate of 4 to 5%/h, from 48.3% moisture to a final moisture content of 0.2%. Water is known not to be very soluble in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Nevertheless, under supercritical fluid conditions of 60°C, 4000 psi, and carbon dioxide flow rates of 0.5 or 1 L/min measured as expanded gas, the enzyme moisture loss was approximately 2 to 6%/h. To determine the effect of moisture loss on enzymatic hydrolysis, lipase beds in a tubular reactor with moisture contents of 1.5 to 23.5% were reacted with tripalmitin under supercritical conditions. A lipase with an initial moisture content of 1.5% gave little evidence of hydrolysis whereas those containing 5.4 to 23.5% moisture content resulted in products that contained only palmitic acid and unreacted tripalmitin. Thus, optimal parameters for continuous lipase hydrolysis of tripalmitin require: enough enzyme moisture to compensate for complete substrate hydrolysis; sufficient enzyme moisture for losses due to water solubility in SC-CO2; temperature and pressure sufficient to solubilize the tripalmitin; high carbon dioxide total flow to solubilize all the tripalmitin; and a relatively large enzyme bed volume to increase the solubilized substrate contact time with the enzyme.
Internal migration and the environmental Kuznets curve for US hazardous waste sites

Abstract In the recent special issue of Ecological Economics devoted to the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, Rothman speculates that: “what appear to be improvements in environmental quality may in reality be indicators of increased ability of consumers in wealthy nations to distance themselves from the environmental degradation associated with their consumption” (Rothman, D., 1998. Environmental Kuznets curves – real progress or passing the buck?: a case for consumption-based approaches. Ecol. Econ. 25, 178). Consistent with Rothman’s general hypothesis of ‘distancing’ as a possible source of EKC results, this empirical study advances and tests a line of argument in which internal migration plays a central explanatory role for an observed EKC for US hazardous waste sites. Two specific hypotheses tested are: (i) proximity to hazardous waste site build-up emerges as a factor in the migration decisions of individuals as per capita income increases beyond a threshold level; and (ii) the level of income at which the EKC turns downwards is equal to the threshold level of income in (i). Results provide evidence that migration is a contributing factor to the observed EKC.
Hydrogen radical/molecule reactions in the negative ion mass spectrometry of dicyano‐methane derivatives of 9‐fluorenone and benzophenone

Hydrogen radical/molecule reactions are postulated to rationalize the formation of major fragment ions in the methane negative and positive chemical ionization mass spectrometry of the dicyanomethane derivatives of 9-fluorenone and benzophenone. Evidence for the formation of [M + H]− anions that are not represented by significant peaks in the mass spectra is provided by mass spectra of deuterium-labeled analogs and by tandem mass spectrometry studies of the [M + 1]− anions of the analyte.
CORRELATION OF ULTRASTRUCTURE, AUTOFLUORESCENCE AND ACID PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY IN GRANULES ISOLATED FROM PROXIMAL TUBULES OF THE KIDNEY OF THE RAT.

SJOSTRAND has shown that renal proximal tubule cells of several mammalian species contain autofluorescent granules with a characteristic segmental distribution within the proximal tubule1. Electron microscopic observations of proximal tubule cells have demonstrated several structurally different varieties of cytoplasmic granules and vacuoles2–6. Although none of these has been directly identified with the autofluorescent granules, I have observed that one type of dense granules has a very similar distribution along the proximal tubule7. Novikoff and Koenig have pointed out that acid phosphatase positive granules seen by light microscopy seem to correspond to the autofluorescent granules8,9. Direct information has now been obtained concerning the identity and ultrastructural properties of the autofluorescent granules by isolation of a fraction from rat kidneys in which they are highly concentrated.
Comparison of antioxidants for combined radiation and thermal aging and superposition of radiation and thermal aging for EPR and XLPE

Abstract Thermal and combined thermal and radiation aging of low voltage EPR and XLPE cable insulation with Agerite MA antioxidant and with the ZMTI/Aminox antioxidant system was examined to compare the relative effectiveness of the antioxidant and polymer systems. All provided significant stability with no clear choice of any particular combination being superior to the others. A comparison of degradation from thermal and radiation aging with degradation from combined thermal/radiation aging showed that the damage from the individual aging effects was superposable. This indicates that synergistic effects have little importance for the EPRs and XLPEs tested under the aging conditions observed.
Nearest-neighbor Ising antiferromagnet near the critical field

Abstract A Monte Carlo study of the nearest neighbor Ising anitferromagnet provides new evidence of two phase transitions slightly above the critical magnetic field for a body-centered cubic lattice, in qualitative agreement with the Bethe-Peierls approximation.
COMPARISON OF NONCONTRAST COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND HIGH-FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN THE EVALUATION OF GREAT DANES WITH CERVICAL SPONDYLOMYELOPATHY

Computed tomography (CT) provides excellent bony detail, whereas magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is superior in evaluating the neural structures. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess interobserver and intermethod agreement in the evaluation of cervical vertebral column morphology and lesion severity in Great Danes with cervical spondylomyelopathy by use of noncontrast CT and high-field MR imaging. Fifteen client-owned affected Great Danes were enrolled. All dogs underwent noncontrast CT under sedation and MR imaging under general anesthesia of the cervical vertebral column. Three observers independently evaluated the images to determine the main site of spinal cord compression, direction and cause of the compression, articular process joint characteristics, and presence of foraminal stenosis. Overall intermethod agreement, intermethod agreement for each observer, overall interobserver agreement, and interobserver agreement between pairs of observers were calculated by use of kappa (κ) statistics. The highest overall intermethod agreements were obtained for the main site of compression and direction of compression with substantial agreements (κ = 0.65 and 0.62, respectively), whereas the lowest was obtained for right-sided foraminal stenosis (κ = 0.39, fair agreement). For both imaging techniques, the highest and lowest interobserver agreements were recorded for the main site of compression and degree of articular joint proliferation, respectively. While different observers frequently agree on the main site of compression using both imaging techniques, there is considerable variation between modalities and among observers when assessing articular process characteristics and foraminal stenosis. Caution should be exerted when comparing image interpretations from multiple observers. C � 2014
Translation of ensemble-based weather forecasts into probabilistic air traffic capacity impact

A novel concept of using ensemble-based numerical weather prediction model data for weather-related, probabilistic aviation impact forecasting is demonstrated. This new concept represents a paradigm shift from “creating ensembles of weather information” (e.g., maps of predicted weather hazard intensity) to “developing ensembles of aviation userrelevant information” (i.e., maps of potential throughput as measured by the available flow capacity ratio), which entails a translation of weather forecasts into predictions of reduced airspace capacity. The proof-of-concept is exemplified by focusing on convective storms; however, the advocated approach may be applicable to other aviation hazards, like turbulence, icing, or ceiling and visibility as well. Although the concept is most pertinent to strategic en route traffic flow management, it could be extended to terminal area applications, such as predicting major wind shifts on runways, the onset of precipitation, or a transition from rain to snow. A probabilistic approach is most appropriate for strategic planning horizons, for which deterministic weather forecast are significantly less accurate and an ensemble of forecasts may provide better guidance about the spread of possible future weather scenarios.
Functional Fingerprints of Folds: Evidence for Correlated Structure–Function Evolution

Using structural similarity clustering of protein domains: protein domain universe graph (PDUG), and a hierarchical functional annotation: gene ontology (GO) as two evolutionary lenses, we find that each structural cluster (domain fold) exhibits a distribution of functions that is unique to it. These functional distributions are functional fingerprints that are specific to characteristic structural clusters and vary from cluster to cluster. Furthermore, as structural similarity threshold for domain clustering in the PDUG is relaxed we observe an influx of earlier-diverged domains into clusters. These domains join clusters without destroying the functional fingerprint. These results can be understood in light of a divergent evolution scenario that posits correlated divergence of structural and functional traits in protein domains from one or few progenitors.
Strain-specific proteogenomics accelerates the discovery of natural products via their biosynthetic pathways

The use of proteomics for direct detection of expressed pathways producing natural products has yielded many new compounds, even when used in a screening mode without a bacterial genome sequence available. Here we quantify the advantages of having draft DNA-sequence available for strain-specific proteomics using the latest in ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry for both proteins and the small molecules they generate. Using the draft sequence of Streptomyces lilacinus NRRL B-1968, we show a >tenfold increase in the number of peptide identifications vs. using publicly available databases. Detected in this strain were six expressed gene clusters with varying homology to those known. To date, we have identified three of these clusters as encoding for the production of griseobactin (known), rakicidin D (an orphan NRPS/PKS hybrid cluster), and a putative thr and DHB-containing siderophore produced by a new non-ribosomal peptide sythetase gene cluster. The remaining three clusters show lower homology to those known, and likely encode enzymes for production of novel compounds. Using an interpreted strain-specific DNA sequence enables deep proteomics for the detection of multiple pathways and their encoded natural products in a single cultured bacterium.
Individual differences in exploratory and antipredator behaviour in juvenile smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

Summary The correlation of individual behaviour in different contexts, known as a behavioural syndrome, constrains the optimization of behaviour within each context. Recent studies reveal that the strength of syndromes differs amongst populations and over individual ontogeny. In this study, exploratory behaviour in an unfamiliar environment and behavioural responses to a simulated predator attack in the presence of food were measured in juvenile smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu). The results revealed a syndrome: individuals who actively explored the unfamiliar environment also behaved more boldly in the presence of the model predator. The syndrome implies a tradeoff between collecting information about one’s environment and risk of a predator attack. Additionally, the results revealed different anti-predator strategies. The simulated predator attack induced a longer period of activity (presumably to disperse away from the predator) by shy individuals, who were also more likely to utilize a refuge, had a longer latency to resume activity and were less likely to resume foraging than bold individuals. Larger conspecifics are the main predators of young-of-year smallmouth bass in the population from which subjects were collected. Predation pressure has been implicated as a cause of behavioral syndromes and the results of this study suggest that cannibalism in high density populations is sufficient to induce behavioural correlations.
INTERNET GROUP MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL: AN OBJECT ORIENTED SIMULATION

This paper explains a simulator designed to test IGMPv2 which is used by IP hosts to report their multicast group membership termination to be quickly reported to the routing protocol, which is important for high-bandwidth multicast groups and/or subnets with highly volatile group membership.
Object and user levels of analyses in design: the impact of emotion on implicit and explicit preference for ‘green’ products

Understanding users’ perceptions is a key element in design. However, perceptions are typically assessed at the object level of analysis. In this paper, we distinguish between perceptions at the object level and the user level (study 1), and illustrate implications for product evaluations (study 2). We examine evaluations of ‘green’ products. In study 1, we surveyed 41 design students. At the object level, expressing a ‘natural’ look was associated with ‘safety’ for male and female respondents. However, at the user level, women differed from men and did not associate ‘natural’ with ‘safety’. Study 2 demonstrates how this gender difference is reflected in men's and women's product evaluations in the context of benign or threatening nature images. In an experiment with 112 participants, we found that women, but not men, reduced their implicit preference for natural products in the threat condition. The paper shows the importance of differentiating between the object and user levels of analysis when analysin...
Exosurf Rescue Surfactant Improves High Ventilation-Perfusion Mismatch in Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Summary. Objective: To assess ventilation/perfusion (VA/Q) mismatch of the high type, following rescue surfactant therapy for respiratory distress syndrome. Hypothesis: Surfactant therapy reduces such mismatch. Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, assessing VA/Q with the arterial-alveolar difference of CO, tension (P(a.A)coz). This difference was determined with capnometry and arterial blood gases, using the equation: P(a-A)COZ equals arterial CO, minus alveolar CO, partial pressure. Setting: A level 111 nursery. Patients: Ten intubated infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Intervention: Infants were randomized to each receive two doses of surfactant or two doses of air placebo. Results: P(a.A)C02 improved aiter surfactant and worsened after placebo (P = 0.0021), comparing slopes of 12-hr regression lines. A similar pattern occurred with oxygenation. These changes in P(a.A)COz and in oxygenation were min,imally correlated within the surfactant group. Conclusion: Exosurf rescue surfactant reduced V,/Qmismatch of the high type, over several hours. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1994; 18:279283. 0 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Tumescent mastectomy technique in autologous breast reconstruction

Abstract Background Use of the tumescent mastectomy technique has been reported to facilitate development of a hydrodissection plane, reduce blood loss, and provide adjunct analgesia. Previous studies suggest that tumescent dissection may contribute to adverse outcomes after immediate implant reconstruction; however, its effect on autologous microsurgical reconstruction has not been established. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all immediate microsurgical breast reconstruction procedures at a single academic center between January 2004 and December 2013. Records were queried for age, body mass index, mastectomy weight, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, preoperative radiation, reconstruction flap type, and autologous flap weight. Outcomes of interest were mastectomy skin necrosis, complete and partial flap loss, return to the operating room, breast hematoma, seroma, and infection. Results There were 730 immediate autologous breast reconstructions performed during the study period; 46% with the tumescent dissection technique. Groups were similar with respect to baseline patient and procedural characteristics. Univariate analysis revealed no significant difference in the incidence of mastectomy skin necrosis, complete or partial flap loss, return to the operating room, operative time, estimated blood loss, recurrence, breast hematoma, seroma, or infection in patients undergoing tumescent mastectomy. Multivariate analysis also demonstrated no significant association between the use of tumescent technique and postoperative breast mastectomy skin necrosis ( P = 0.980), hematoma ( P = 0.759), or seroma ( P = 0.340). Conclusions Use of the tumescent dissection technique during mastectomy is not significantly associated with adverse outcomes after microsurgical breast reconstruction. Despite concern for its impact on implant reconstruction, our findings suggest that this method can be used safely preceding autologous procedures.
Online Freight Network Assignment Model with Transportation Disruptions and Recourse

Continuous real-time monitoring of shipment cost and delivery time is increasingly used by companies to reduce transportation costs while avoiding costly delays or disruptions. Recourse refers to the ability of the shipper to update a routing strategy on the basis of information obtained about the state of the network disruptions. An adaptive routing policy is proposed to help shippers and carriers save costs by reacting to information updates. Public transportation agencies can use the formulation to predict the behavior of shippers under disruptions in multimodal transportation networks. A mathematical model is formulated and analyzed; the model accounts for a new type of freight network assignment problem with recourse defined in a dynamic environment and in the presence of probable network disruptions or significant delays. The mathematical model is intended (a) to capture shipper behavior better in the presence of network disruptions and rerouting and (b) to include the heterogeneity in shipper routi...
Shifts in Attitudes Toward Coyotes on the Urbanized East Coast: The Cape Cod Experience, 2005–2012

The migration of coyotes to northeastern United States since the mid-20th century has increased human–coyote interactions. This article offers insights into the evolution of attitudes toward Eastern coyotes by analyzing survey data from voters on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 2005 and 2012. Responses were obtained in a region where familiarity and conflict with coyotes was high. The data supported growing acceptance of coyotes and increased opposition to lethal control. While previous research has found women to feel more negative toward and fearful of large carnivores, in this study gender differences in acceptance and fear of coyotes diminished with time. Greater opposition among women to lethal interventions persisted. Future studies should examine the gender and geographic dimensions of attitudinal change to more fully understand attitudes toward wildlife in urbanized environments.
Finite-amplitude three-dimensional instability of inviscid laminar boundary layers

An inviscid laminar boundary layer flow U(Y) with vertical thickness λ y , and free stream velocity U is disturbed at time i = 0 by a normal velocity ν and by a spanwise velocity w(x,y,z,0) of finite amplitude αU, with spanwise (z) scale λ z , and streamwise (x) scale λ x = λ z /α ; the streamwise velocity u(x,y,z,t) is initially undisturbed. A long wave (λ y /λ z →0) expansion of the Euler equations for fixed α and time scale i s = U -1 λ z /α results in a hyperbolic equation for Lagrangian displacements y. Within the interval i>t s of asymptotic validity, finite parcel displacements (O(λ y )) with finite (O(U)) u fluctuations occur, independent of α no matter how small ; the basic flow U is therefore said to be unstable to streaky (λ x ≥ λ z ) spanwise perturbations. The temporal development of the ('spot') region in the (x,z) plane wherein inflected u profiles appear is computed and qualitatively related to observations of 'breakdown' and transition to turbulence in the flow over a flat plate. The maximum v(x,y,z,t) increases monotonically to infinity as i→t s .
Discussion on the principles of wind turbine condition monitoring system

There is a constant need for the reduction of operational and maintenance costs of the onshore or offshore wind turbine (WT) as it suffers higher reliability risk being exposed to extreme running environment and subject to constantly variable loadings, an efficient condition monitoring system (CMS) is indispensable. Unfortunately, the majority CMS for WT are borrowed from other industry fields (such as the thermal power industry) where they achieve success, however, to date these CMS have not proved entirely satisfactory in wind industry. This article makes the analysis on the possible reasons on it, and discussion on the principles of CMS which apply to the wind energy industry.
The (Dantzig) simplex method for linear programming

In 1947, George Dantzig created a simplex algorithm to solve linear programs for planning and decision-making in large-scale enterprises. The algorithm's success led to a vast array of specializations and generalizations that have dominated practical operations research for half a century.
Sequential Velocity Development in the Ascending and Descending Aorta of the Dog

A conical hot-film probe was used to measure instantaneous velocities in the ascending and descending aorta of anesthetized open-chest dogs. From these point measurements, the radial distributions of velocity were obtained over one cardiac cycle. In general, the hot-film measurements confirmed the observation that the velocity profiles tend to be flat with the highest rates of shear confined to the region of the wall. There were, however, significant variations in the detail from one dog to another. These variations in the shape of the profiles probably are a consequence of many geometrical factors, which include valve inlet geometry, configuration and orientation of the valve plane, and aortic curvature and branching in the descending aorta.
Evaluating gull diets: a comparison of conventional methods and stable isotope analysis

Samples such as regurgitated pellets and food remains have traditionally been used in studies of bird diets, but these can produce biased estimates depending on the digestibility of different foods. Stable isotope analysis has been developed as a method for assessing bird diets that is not biased by digestibility. These two methods may provide complementary or conflicting information on diets of birds, but are rarely compared directly. We analyzed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of feathers of Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) chicks from eight breeding colonies in northern Alaska, and used a Bayesian mixing model to generate a probability distribution for the contribution of each food group to diets. We compared these model results with probability distributions from conventional diet samples (pellets and food remains) from the same colonies and time periods. Relative to the stable isotope estimates, conventional analysis often overestimated the contributions of birds and small mammals to gull diets and often underestimated the contributions of fish and zooplankton. Both methods gave similar estimates for the contributions of scavenged caribou, miscellaneous marine foods, and garbage to diets. Pellets and food remains therefore may be useful for assessing the importance of garbage relative to certain other foods in diets of gulls and similar birds, but are clearly inappropriate for estimating the potential impact of gulls on birds, small mammals, or fish. However, conventional samples provide more species-level information than stable isotope analysis, so a combined approach would be most useful for diet analysis and assessing a predator's impact on particular prey groups. RESUMEN. Evaluando las dietas de gaviotas: una comparaci´
Dietary curcumin supplementation counteracts reduction in levels of molecules involved in energy homeostasis after brain trauma

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is followed by an energy crisis that compromises the capacity of the brain to cope with challenges, and often reduces cognitive ability. New research indicates that events that regulate energy homeostasis crucially impact synaptic function and this can compromise the capacity of the brain to respond to challenges during the acute and chronic phases of TBI. The goal of the present study is to determine the influence of the phenolic yellow curry pigment curcumin on molecular systems involved with the monitoring, balance, and transduction of cellular energy, in the hippocampus of animals exposed to mild fluid percussion injury (FPI). Young adult rats were exposed to a regular diet (RD) without or with 500 ppm curcumin (Cur) for four weeks, before an FPI was performed. The rats were assigned to four groups: RD/Sham, Cur/Sham, RD/FPI, and Cur/FPI. We found that FPI decreased the levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK) and cytochrome c oxidase II (COX-II) in RD/FPI rats as compared to the RD/sham rats. The curcumin diet counteracted the effects of FPI and elevated the levels of AMPK, uMtCK, COX-II in Cur/FPI rats as compared to RD/sham rats. In addition, in the Cur/sham rats, AMPK and uMtCK increased compared to the RD/sham. Results show the potential of curcumin to regulate molecules involved in energy homeostasis following TBI. These studies may foster a new line of therapeutic treatments for TBI patients by endogenous upregulation of molecules important for functional recovery.