cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Identification of the Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Domain of the Escherichia coli RecA Protein

~To identify the ssDNA-binding domain of Eschericlzia coli RecA protein, we examined the ssDNAbinding capabilities of synthetic peptides, the sequences of which were derived from the C- and N-termini and from sequences within loops L1 and L2 of the RecA molecule identified from the crystal structure. Synthetic peptides derived from amino acid residues 185 -21 9 of several bacterial RecA proteins, which include loop L2 of RecA, bound to ssDNA in filter-binding assays, whereas three separate synthetic peptides corresponding to single point mutants of E. coli RecA in this region did not. The binding of RecA to ssDNA examined using a gel-shift assay was inhibited by a synthetic peptide derived from this ssDNA-binding region, but not by synthetic peptides derived from amino acid residues 301 -329 of the C-terminus or from N-terminal residues 6-39. A peptide corresponding to amino acid positions 152169 of the RecA molecule and spanning loop Ll and its flanking regions did not bind ssDNA at peptide concentrations up to 250 pM. We have also defined a synthetic 20-amino-acid peptide that comprises amino acid residues 193-212 and includes loop L2 of RecA as the minimum unit that can bind to ssDNA from this region of RecA. Finally, two maltose-binding protein-RecA fusion proteins were made, one containing amino acid residues 185-224 of RecA and the other the last 51 C-terminal residues of RecA (amino acid residues 303 - 353). In contrast to the C-terminus-derived fusion protein, the fusion protein containing the putative DNA-binding site demonstrated significant binding to single-stranded oligonucleotides in both filter-binding and gel-shift assays. These findings suggest that a portion of the region extending from amino acid residues 193-212 is either part of or the whole ssDNA-binding domain of the RecA protein.
Scaling analytics applications with OpenCL for loosely coupled heterogeneous clusters

OpenCL is an open standard for heterogeneous parallel programming, exploiting multi-core CPUs, GPUs, or other accelerators as parallel computing resources. Recent work has extended the OpenCL parallel programming model for distributed heterogeneous clusters. For such loosely coupled acceleration architectures, the design of OpenCL programs to maximize performance is quite different from that of conventional tightly coupled acceleration platforms. This paper describes our experiences in OpenCL programming to extract scalable performance for a distributed heterogeneous cluster environment. We picked two real-world analytics workloads, Two-Step Cluster and Linear Regression, that offer different challenges to efficient OpenCL implementations. We obtained scalable performance with this architecture by carefully managing the amount of data and computations in the kernel program design and by well addressing the network latency problems through optimizations.
Cultural Indicators: Violence Profile No. 9

Latest report stresses methodology, current findings on the distribution of power in television drama, and the behaviorial correlates of viewing.
A Local-Global Graph Approach for Facial Expression Recognition

In this article, we present a Local Global Graph (LGG) method for recognizing facial expressions from static images irrespective of different illumination conditions, shadows and cluttered backgrounds. First, a neural color constancy based skin detection procedure to detect skin in complex real world images is presented. Second, the LGG method for detecting faces and facial expressions with a maximum confidence from skin segmented images is presented. The LGG approach presented here emulates the human visual perception for face and expression detection. In general, humans first extract the most important facial features such as eyes, nose, mouth, etc. and then inter-relate them for face and facial expression representations. The LG Graph embeds both the local information (the shape of facial feature is stored within the local graph at each node) and the global information (the topology of the face). Facial expression recognition from the detected face images is obtained by comparing the LG Expression Graphs with the existing the LG expression models present in the LGG database. Experimental results on the AR database and real-world images suggest the robustness of the proposed approach for facial expression recognition.
Psychological Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in College Students

Research suggests that among college students, physical and sexual abuse in intimate relationships are associated with posttraumatic stress. Psychological abuse occurs in intimate relationships among college students, and though there is evidence that such abuse has a negative emotional impact, posttraumatic stress has not been extensively researched as an outcome in this population. The purpose of this study is to determine the associations of past-year psychological abuse with posttraumatic stress symptoms while controlling for other types of past-year relationship abuse and lifetime trauma history. The sample consists of 191 college men and women (81.7% women and 89.5% White). Linear regression analyses demonstrate that trauma history, but not past year relationship violence, is a significant predictor of PTSD symptom severity for women, and neither set of variables significantly predicts PTSD symptom severity for men. Implications for future research are discussed.
Social context induces two unique patterns of c-Fos expression in adolescent and adult rats.

The study assessed possible age differences in brain activation patterns to low dose ethanol (.5 g/kg intraperitoneally) and the influence of social context on this activation. Early adolescent or young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed either alone or with an unfamiliar partner of the same age and sex following saline or ethanol administration. c-Fos protein immunoreactivity was used to index neuronal activation in 15 regions of interest. Ethanol had little effect on c-Fos activation. In adolescents, social context activated an "autonomic" network including the basolateral and central amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral hypothalamus, and lateral septum. In contrast, when adult rats were alone, activation was evident in a "reward" network that included the substantia nigra, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortices, lateral parabrachial nucleus, and locus coeruleus.
Human Behavior Theory and the African American Experience

Abstract This article discusses why it is important to give consideration to the black experience if educators and practitioners are to objectively analyze black behavior. It argues that there are few racially-sensitive theoretical formulations that can accurately serve as a base for practice, and even those present should still be subjected to rigorous empirical investigation. Therefore, until new formulations are developed, practitioners may wish to employ “theoretical strips” (bits and pieces of existing theory) to model their practice. Examples of theory pieces are included in this article.
Sustained-load crack growth of hydrogen-charged surface-hardened 316L stainless steel

Abstract The crack growth behavior of hydrogen-charged low-temperature carburized and hydrogen-charged non-carburized 316L stainless steel was studied in wedge-open loading samples containing sharp, cyclic-loading-induced pre-cracks. The hydrogen charging involved exposure to high pressure (≈138 MPa) hydrogen at 573 K for 24 days. Non-carburized samples either resisted crack growth under low stress intensity or exhibited plasticity at the crack tip at high stress intensity. However, in the samples interstitially hardened by low-temperature carburization, and containing a “case” with a “colossal” carbon supersaturation, the main crack extended during loading and several new cracks emerged around the crack tip. This observation could be attributed to the high strength of the hardened case, since an inverse relationship between yield strength and the hydrogen-induced threshold stress intensity factor, K th, is well established in high-strength- and austenitic stainless steels. The crack extension and induced cracking were confined to the hardened case. Plastic zone evolution observations on all samples imply that the presence of hydrogen promotes dislocation mobility, whereas interstitial carbon substantially suppresses the size of the plastic zone.
Shared Perceptions of Organizational Support and Social Comparisons: Implications for Turnover

This article suggests that individual perceptions of organizational support (POS) form, in the aggregate, shared perceptions of organizational support (ShPOS) within work units, and that ShPOS impacts individual outcomes by serving as an individual reference point against which unit members compare individual support they receive. Drawing on a sample of 342 employees of a nationwide entertainment company nested in 82 work units, results from this study indicate ShPOS moderates linkages between POS and commitment and POS and turnover intentions; turnover intentions are also linked to turnover behavior. We offer theory suggesting this occurs through social comparisons between the individual support one receives and average support of individuals in unit, and their associated effects. Theoretical and practical implications for the POS literature, retention, and the role of ShPOS as a referent comparison point are discussed.
Normal theory likelihood ratio statistic for mean and covariance structure analysis under alternative hypotheses

The normal distribution based likelihood ratio (LR) statistic is widely used in structural equation modeling. Under a sequence of local alternative hypotheses, this statistic has been shown to asymptotically follow a noncentral chi-square distribution. In practice, the population mean vector and covariance matrix as well as the model and sample size are always fixed. It is hard to justify the validity of the noncentral chi-square distribution for the resulting LR statistic even when data are normally distributed and sample size is large. By extending results in the literature, this paper develops normal distributions to describe the behavior of the LR statistic for mean and covariance structure analysis. A sequence of local alternative hypotheses is not necessary for the proposed distributions to be asymptotically valid. When the effect size is medium and above or when the model is not trivially misspecified, empirical results indicate that a refined normal distribution describes the behavior of the LR statistic better than the commonly used noncentral chi-square distribution, as measured by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov distance. Quantile-quantile plots are also provided to better understand the different distributions.
Oxide films in laser additive manufactured Inconel 718

Abstract A continuous-wave 5 kW fiber laser welding system was used in conduction mode to deposit Inconel® alloy 718 (IN718) by employing filler wire on as-serviced IN718 parent material (PM) substrates. The direct laser deposited (DLD) coupons and as-serviced IN718 PM were then evaluated through tensile testing. To understand the failure mechanisms, the tensile fracture surfaces of the as-serviced IN718 PM, DLD and DLD-PM samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The fracture surfaces revealed the presence of both Al2O3 and Cr2O3 films, although the latter was reasoned to be the main oxide in IN718. Both the experimental observations and thermodynamic analysis indicated that oxidation of some alloying elements in IN718 cannot be completely avoided during manufacturing, whether in the liquid state under vacuum (for casting, the electron beam melting, welding and/or deposition) or with inert gas protection (for welding or laser deposition). The exposed surface of the oxide film on the fracture surface has poor wetting with the metal and thus can constitute a lack of bonding or a crack with either the metal and/or another non-wetted side of the oxide film. On the other hand, the wetted face of the oxide film has good atom-to-atom contact with the metal and may nucleate some intermetallic compounds, such as Laves, Ni3Nb-δ, Nb-rich MC and γ′ compounds. The potential of their nucleation on Cr2O3 was assessed using planar disregistry. Coherent planes were found between these intermetallics and Cr2O3.
Digital Plug-In Repetitive Controller for Single-Phase Bridgeless PFC Converters

This paper investigates a plug-in repetitive control scheme for bridgeless power factor correction (PFC) converters to mitigate input current distortions under continuous conduction mode and discontinuous conduction mode operating conditions. From the PFC converter model and the fact that a type-II compensator is used, a design methodology to maximize the bandwidth of the feedback controller is suggested. After that, the error transfer function including the feedback controller is derived, and the stability of the repetitive control scheme is evaluated using the error transfer function. The implementation of the digital repetitive controller is also discussed. The simulation and experimental results show that the input current THD is significantly improved by using the proposed control scheme for a 1-kW single-phase bridgeless PFC converter prototype.
Tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene salts [(TMTSF) 2 X]: Anisotropy and effective dimensionality of the Fermi surface

With the use of an analytic approximation for the open Fermi surface of a system with highly anisotropic two-dimensional dispersion, it is shown that the plasma frequency anisotropy is linear in the bandwidth anisotropy. Comparison to the optical data on the Bechgaard salts of tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene [${(\mathrm{TMTSF})}_{2}X$] implies a substantial transverse bandwidth of 140 meV, a full order of magnitude larger than previously supposed, and consistent with predominantly two-dimensional behavior. A critical discussion is presented of the model of, and supporting evidence for, large quasi-one-dimensional (1D) superconducting fluctuations. It is shown, using the above result, that there are several orders of magnitude discrepancy in the temperature obtained for crossover from 3D to 1D behavior. In addition the chief experimental results claimed as proof for fluctuations are susceptible to alternate interpretations.
Definition of a human T cell epitope from influenza A non-structural protein 1 using HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice

Previous results from this laboratory demonstrated that the dominant influenza A epitope recognized by HLA-A2.1-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice was the matrix protein 1 (M1) peptide epitope that is immunodominant in human CTL responses. However, analysis of a large number of CTL lines revealed a subset of influenza A/PR/8/34-specific murine CTL that recognized an HLA-A2.1-restricted epitope distinct from M1. Using recombinant vaccinia viruses encoding different influenza gene segments, the epitope recognized by these CTL was shown to be derived from A/PR/8 non-structural protein 1 (NS1). Because these CTL did not recognize targets infected with the A/Alaska/6/77 strain of influenza, candidate peptide epitopes were synthesized based on sequences that included an HLA-A2.1-specific binding motif, and that differed between A/PR/8 and A/Alaska. All of these CTL recognized a nonamer and a decamer peptide which contained a common eight amino acid sequence and two distinct sets of binding motif residues. However, the nonamer peptide was able to sensitize CTL for half-maximal lysis at 80- to 2500-fold lower doses than either the octamer or decamer. The homologous peptide derived from A/Alaska NS1 contained conservative amino acid changes at positions 4 and 8, and was not recognized at any tested concentration, although it bound with higher affinity to HLA-A2.1 than the peptide from A/PR/8. The A/PR/8 NS1 nonamer epitope was also recognized by human influenza A-specific CTL derived from two individuals. These results substantiate the general utility of HLA class I transgenic mice for the identification of human CTL epitopes for other pathogens.
Early warning of rainfall-induced shallow landslides and debris flows in the USA

The state of knowledge and resources available to issue alerts of precipitation-induced landslides vary across the USA. Federal and state agencies currently issue warnings of the potential for shallow, rapidly moving landslides and debris flows in a few areas along the Pacific coast and for areas affected by Atlantic hurricanes. However, these agencies generally lack resources needed to provide continuous support or to expand services to other areas. Precipitation thresholds that form the basis of landslide warning systems now exist for a few areas of the USA, but the threshold rainfall amounts and durations vary over three orders of magnitude nationwide and over an order of magnitude across small geographic areas such as a county. Antecedent moisture conditions also have a significant effect, particularly in areas that have distinct wet and dry seasons. Early warnings of shallow landslides that include specific information about affected areas, probability of landslide occurrence, and expected timing are technically feasible as illustrated by a case study from the Seattle, WA area. The four-level warning scheme (Null, Outlook, Watch, Warning) defined for Seattle is based on observed or predicted exceedance of a cumulative precipitation threshold and a rainfall intensity–duration threshold combined with real-time monitoring of soil moisture. Based on analysis of historical data, threshold performance varies according to precipitation characteristics, and threshold exceedance corresponds to a given probability of landslide occurrence. Experience in Seattle during December 2004 and January 2005 illustrates some of the challenges of providing landslide early warning on the USA West Coast.
EFFECT OF HIGH LINOLEIC ACID AND ANTIOXIDANT DEFICIENT DIET ON BLOOD SERUM PROTEINS IN CHICKS.

Summary and conclusions1. Chicks fed on an experimental diet, high in linoleic acid and deficient in antioxidants, developed a progressive disease manifested by integumentary changes and signs of central nervous system impairment. 2. Blood serum protein patterns were altered and were characterized by an increase in total protein, a decrease in the A/G ratio, and an increase in beta and alpha 2 globulin fractions. 3. Despite a decreasing A/G ratio, chicks on the experimental diet did not develop exudative diathesis. 4. It appears that the blood serum protein changes are a manifestation of Vit. E deficiency.
Prolonged Vertical Nystagmus After Pentobarbital Sodium Administration

Of 17 healthy adults without nystagmus who ingested 100 mg of pentobarbital sodium, six had up-beating, gaze-evoked vertical nystagmus 12 hours later. Three of them had nystgmus 36 hours later, but none of them had it 60 hours later. Therefore, one should be reluctant to ascribe this type of nystagmus to a disease of the central nervous system in patients who received a barbiturate within several days of examination.
Relationship between Humoral Immune Responses and Oral Temperature during Human Shigellosis

The relationship between oral temperature and serum IgA and IgG antibody responses to Shigella sonnei infection was examined in 65 experimentally infected adult volunteers. Although the IgA antibody response appeared to correlate directly with the rise in oral temperature following infection, stepwise regression analysis revealed other associated signs and symptoms as the critical elements underlying this apparent correlation. There was no evidence of a positive correlation between the IgG antibody response and the peak increment in oral temperature after infection. Although published data obtained in vitro suggest that fever might have a potentiating effect on antibody production, no such effect was seen in human volunteers with acute shigellosis.
Teaching and Demonstrating Classical Conditioning

Problems relating to classroom demonstrations of classical conditioning, especially tendencies to misrepresent Pavlov's procedures, are discussed. The design and construction of the Conditioner, an...
Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life

Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life. By Nicholas Phillipson. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2010, 346 pp., ISBN: 978-0-300-16927-0. $32.50 (hardback). Nicholas Phillipson's biography of A...
Localisation of thiamine within the cotyledon of dormant groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Utilising non-aqueous differential centrifugation for isolation of subcellular components from groundnuts, it appears that intracellular thiamine is predominantly non-particulated. A large proportion of the total thiamine of the cotyledon is associated with cell wall material, most likely due to inward migration of the vitamin from the testa during curing.
An evolving story of angiotensin-II-forming pathways in rodents and humans

Lessons learned from the characterization of the biological roles of Ang-(1-7) [angiotensin-(1-7)] in opposing the vasoconstrictor, proliferative and prothrombotic actions of AngII (angiotensin II) created an underpinning for a more comprehensive exploration of the multiple pathways by which the RAS (renin-angiotensin system) of blood and tissues regulates homoeostasis and its altered state in disease processes. The present review summarizes the progress that has been made in the novel exploration of intermediate shorter forms of angiotensinogen through the characterization of the expression and functions of the dodecapeptide Ang-(1-12) [angiotensin-(1-12)] in the cardiac production of AngII. The studies reveal significant differences in humans compared with rodents regarding the enzymatic pathway by which Ang-(1-12) undergoes metabolism. Highlights of the research include the demonstration of chymase-directed formation of AngII from Ang-(1-12) in human left atrial myocytes and left ventricular tissue, the presence of robust expression of Ang-(1-12) and chymase in the atrial appendage of subjects with resistant atrial fibrillation, and the preliminary observation of significantly higher Ang-(1-12) expression in human left atrial appendages.
The physiatric approach to low back pain

The physiatric approach to low back pain is functional and interdisciplinary. Physiatry approaches the patient from the physical, psychological, and social perspectives to obtain a thorough understanding of his or her goals and needs. Once the assessment is complete, treatment focuses on reducing pain; restoring ability to participate in activities of daily living, work, and recreation; achieving patient independence with care; and reducing dependence on the health care system. This treatment is achieved through the use of a cognitive-behaviorally based interdisciplinary rehabilitation approach, which combines the use of therapeutic exercise, body mechanics and ergonomics, biofeedback, modalities, medications, and vocational counseling.
CANDIDA SEPSIS INCREASES THE SEVERITYOF RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN EXTREMELY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (≤1000 grams) INFANTS ♦ 976

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant complication in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. ROP has been correlated with lower birth weight, earlier gestational age, and degree of respiratory illness. We undertook this study to assess the association of Candida sepsis with ROP in ELBW infants.
Chronic Sinusitis and Rhinitis

In a 6-month period, 186 new patients with chronic nasal symptoms were evaluated. In addition to history and physical examination, all received sinus radiographs. A subset received epicutaneous skin tests to environmental aeroallergens. Patients were divided into five diagnostic categories to determine if history or physical findings could predict abnormal sinus radiographs. No symptom or group of symptoms proved diagnostic; however, no patient with allergic rhinitis had purulent nasal secretions. Positive skin tests occurred in the absence of typical allergy symptoms. Many patients had received inappropriate prior therapy with either surgery or antibiotics. We conclude that sinus radiographs should be obtained in all patients with chronic nasal symptoms not improved by routine therapy.
Host immune constraints on malaria transmission: insights from population biology of within-host parasites

Plasmodium infections trigger complex immune reactions from their hosts against several life stages of the parasite, including gametocytes. These immune responses are highly variable, depending on age, genetics, and exposure history of the host as well as species and strain of parasite. Although the effects of host antibodies that act against gamete stages in the mosquito (due to uptake in the blood meal) are well documented, the effects of host immunity upon within-host gametocytes are not as well understood. This report consists of a theoretical population biology-based analysis to determine constraints that host immunity impose upon gametocyte population growth. The details of the mathematical models used for the analysis were guided by published reports of clinical and animal studies, incorporated plausible modalities of immune reactions to parasites, and were tailored to the life cycl es of the two most widespread human malaria pathogens, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. For the same ability to bind and clear a target, the model simulations suggest that an antibody attacking immature gametocytes would tend to lower the overall density of transmissible mature gametocytes more than an antibody attacking the mature forms directly. Transmission of P. falciparum would be especially vulnerable to complete blocking by antibodies to its immature forms since its gametocytes take much longer to reach maturity than those of P. vivax. On the other hand, antibodies attacking the mature gametocytes directly would reduce the time the mature forms can linger in the host. Simulation results also suggest that varying the standard deviation in the time necessary for individual asexual parasites to develop and produce schizonts can affect the efficiency of production of transmissible gametocytes. If mature gametocyte density determines the probability of transmission, both Plasmodium species, but especially P. falciparum, could bolster this probability through evasion or suppression of host immune responses against the immature gametocytes. However, if the long term lingering of mature gametocytes at low density in the host is also important to ensure transmission, then evasion or suppression of antibodies against the mature stages would bolster probability of transmission as well.
Factors Affecting the Conjugated Linoleic Acid Content of Cheddar Cheese

The effects of package type (cans and nylon vacuum pouches), milling pH (5.5, 5.7, and 5.9), additives [butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), tyrosine, and lysine], and aging (0, 1, 3, and 6 months) on the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of Cheddar cheese was determined. Fatty acid distributions and CLA, moisture, protein, lipid, and titratable acidity contents in raw milk and aged cheeses were determined. The CLA content in canned cheese (3.03 mg/g lipid) was significantly higher than in a vacuum pouch packed cheese (2.70 mg/g lipid) after 6 months of aging. Milling pHs of 5.5 and 5.9 and the addition of BHA, tyrosine, and lysine resulted in significantly lower CLA contents in cheeses aged for 6 months than the control. Multiple linear regression showed that lipid and protein contents contributed to CLA content positively. The content of oleic acid contributed significantly to the relationship between CLA and fatty acids. Keywords: Conjugated linoleic acid; Cheddar cheese; anticarcinogen
New Jersey Defines the Confederation: An Abraham Clark Letter

McCormick puts into context and transcribes a December 9, 1785 letter by Abraham Clark (1726-1794) which recites in detail the basis of New Jersey's opposition to the financial practices of the Continental Congress and provides the background for one of the actions that was to contribute to the downfall of the Confederation, that is, New Jersey's refusal to honor a requisition from the Congress. The letter was sent to John Cleves Symmes and Josiah Hornblower, two of the state's three delegates in the Continental Congress.
Low velocity gradient flow birefringence and viscosity changes in hyaluronate solutions as a function of pH.

The flow birefringence and extinction angle over a velocity gradient range of approximately 5–100 sec−1, and the zero shear-viscosity have been obtained from human umbilical cord hyaluronic acid at concentrations of 0.25, 0.125 and 0.0625%, and pHs 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, and 8.5 and constant ionic strength 0.1. The data indicate a large change in optical anisotropy as a function of pH, with most of the transition in the pH range 7.0–7.5, i.e., across the physiological range. The sign of the anisotropy changes between pH 8.0 and 8.5. These results, together with changes in the extinction angle and intrinsic viscosity as a function of pH, suggest a pH-dependent structural change in the system. Due to the abruptness of the transition, as evidenced by the intrinsic viscosity and flow birefringence, it is probable that the structural transition is cooperative. If the data are interpreted in terms of the Rouse-Zimm Gaussian subchain theory, a modification of the model in terms of the Haller-Cerf concept of internal viscosity is required. Thus, the demonstrated properties of hyaluronate solutions indicate a system with memory of stress. Due to the presence of large concentration effects discernible in the extinction angle measurements, hyaluronic acid probably exists as a network in solution. The results are discussed with respect to the mechanoelectrical transducing properties of hyaluronates and stress-dependent changes in ORD already reported.
A supply chain model of vendor managed inventory

Abstract This research evaluates how vendor managed inventory (VMI) affects a supply channel. Specifically, VMI always leads to a higher buyer's profit, but supplier's profit varies. In the short-term, VMI is found to reduce total costs of the channel system, but under certain cost conditions between buyer and supplier, it could decrease the purchasing price and supplier's profit. In the long-run, it could more likely increase supplier's profit than in the short-run. Finally, VMI is an effective supply chain strategy that can realize many of the benefits obtainable only in a fully integrated supply chain.
Integrated end-to-end timing analysis of networked AUTOSAR-compliant systems

As Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and embedded software functions within an automobile keep increasing in number, the scale and complexity of automotive embedded systems is growing at a very rapid pace. Hence, the automotive industry has been developing the Automotive Open System Architecture (AUTOSAR) to harness the reusability of common interfaces to communication buses, real-time operating systems and services. These common interfaces foster ease of adoption, interoperability, maintainability, predictability, and analyzability. However, realizing such standards also requires strong support from end-to-end design tool chains. In this paper, we describe some key analytical components that together characterize the end-to-end timing properties of hierarchical bus structures composed of FlexRay, CANbus and LINbus. Our analysis shows that the practical constraints imposed by standards such as AUTOSAR can lead to higher levels of schedulable resource utilization. This reduces both the overall component count and cost, while facilitating easy enhancements. Our analytical results show (a) how a schedulable utilization of 100% can be obtained for time-triggered FlexRay static segments under AUTOSAR compliance, (b) average-case schedulable utilization of 87% for the event-triggered CAN bus, and (c) similarities between LINbus and FlexRay analyses. We generalize the analytical results from different bus technologies, by exploiting their common underlying structure to enable an integrated end-to-end timing analysis of hierarchical heterogeneous networks. These together yield an end-to-end framework to analyze heterogeneously networked AUTOSAR-compliant automotive systems.
Periadolescent changes of D(2) -AMPA interactions in the rat nucleus accumbens.

Many aspects of dopamine (DA) systems mature during adolescence. In the nucleus accumbens, the modulation of prefrontal cortical synaptic responses by DA becomes refined during adolescence with the recruitment of a gamma-amino bu- tyric acid (GABA) component. As this GABA component is depolarizing, it remains to be determined whether this change affects action potential firing in nucleus accum- bens neurons. Here we tested whether a D2 agonist affects AMPA-evoked cell firing in slices containing the nucleus accumbens from juvenile (postnatal day, PD 28-34) and adult (PD > 60) rats. 2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2-oxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid (AMPA) (0.1-0.4 lM) depolarized nucleus accumbens neurons and increased their firing in a dose-dependent manner. The D2 agonist quinpirole (2 lM) had different effects in juve- nile vs. adult slices. In the juvenile accumbens, quinpirole enhanced AMPA (0.2 lM) effects on evoked firing in a subset of neurons while it had no effect on the rest. In the adult accumbens, the D2 agonist instead attenuated the effect of AMPA on evoked fir- ing, an interaction that was blocked by the GABA-A antagonist picrotoxin (50 lM). Thus, D2 receptors modulate AMPA responses in the nucleus accumbens differently in juvenile than adult rats, and the adult effect requires local GABA transmission. The incorporation of a GABA component in the modulation of information processing in the nucleus accumbens by DA during adolescence may allow for a better contrast in cortically activated ensembles. Synapse 66:1-8, 2012. V C
Morphometric analysis of oligodendrocytes in the adult mouse frontal cortex

Oligodendrocytes (OLs), the myelinating cells of the central nervous system, have specialized morphologies that subserve their function. Numerous qualitative studies suggest that OLs in different brain regions can differ in their morphological characteristics, including number of branches and internodes, internode length, etc. However, progress in identifying and characterizing the diverse types of OLs and their distribution in the brain has been made difficult by several technical constraints. Here we report a new strategy to analyze OL morphology with a high degree of quantitative power and throughput. We used confocal microscopy and three-dimensional cell tracing software to study OLs in the frontal cortex of mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the control of the proteolipid protein (Plp) gene promoter. Three-dimensional reconstructions were then used to analyze and quantify cell morphology, including total process length, total process surface area, total internode length, number of primary processes, number of branch points, and number of internodes. In addition, these reconstructions were subjected to Sholl analysis, which allows for the quantitative measure of OL arbor complexity. By using this approach, we identified and characterized a previously undescribed population of small OLs with a compact but complex morphology that includes numerous branching processes and a large number of short internodes. Our data suggest that other populations of OLs remain to be identified and characterized and that the tools we have developed could help in the process of characterizing them.
ISOLATION OF NONPATHOGENIC CLOSTRIDIA FROM LIQUID CYCLONE PROCESSED COTTONSEED FLOUR

Liquid cyclone processed cottonseed flour was shown not to be contaminated with Clostridium perfringens, but did contain two culturally similar nonpathogenic microorganisms. Data show that, if cottonseed products are positive for Clostridium perfringens using screening procedures recommended by the Food & Drug Administration, they should be tested further for lecithinase activity, hemolysis of blood agar, gelatin liquefaction, and fermentation of arabinose, mannitol, and xylose to accurately identify the microorganisms.
False positive or true positive troponin in patients presenting with chest pain but ‘normal’ coronary arteries: lessons from cardiac MRI

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly when enhanced with commonly available gadolinium-based contrast agents, is a powerful clinical tool for characterizing myocardial abnormalities. One of the best-known applications of this relatively new technology has been the detection of myocardial infarction. It is also possible to image myocardial scarring or fibrosis in other disease states such as myocarditis and infiltrative cardiomyopathies. Assomull et al. 1 from the Royal Brompton Hospital document the adjunctive diagnostic value of late gadolinium enhancement imaging in patients who present with chest pain, elevated troponin but unexpectedly ‘normal’ appearing coronary angiograms. The introduction of troponin assays revolutionized the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. This was largely based on the high sensitivity and specificity for acute myocardial injury. Elevated troponin was associated with adverse prognosis before we came to a consensus that it must be a marker of cardiac necrosis. On the basis of this work and a much wider range of literature than can be quoted in this brief article, the very definition of myocardial infarction was revised in 2000.2 The revised definition of myocardial infarction required either pathological evidence of acute myocardial infarction or a new set of clinical criteria based largely on serum markers of myocardial necrosis. Acute myocardial infarction can be diagnosed by a typical rise and gradual fall (troponin) or more rapid rise and fall (CK-MB) of biochemical markers of myocardial necrosis with at least one of the following: (i) ischaemic symptoms, (ii) development of pathological q-waves on ECG, (iii) ECG changes indicative of ischaemia (ST-elevation or ST-depression), or (iv) percutaneous coronary intervention.2 Although overall a substantial advance in our understanding … Corresponding author. Tel: +1 301 496 3658; fax: +1 301 402 2389. E-mail address : araia{at}nih.gov
Evidence of O2 supply-dependent VO2 max in the exercise-trained human quadriceps

Maximal O2 delivery and O2 uptake (VO2) per 100 g of active muscle mass are far greater during knee extensor (KE) than during cycle exercise: 73 and 60 ml. min-1. 100 g-1 (2.4 kg of muscle) (R. S. Richardson, D. R. Knight, D. C. Poole, S. S. Kurdak, M. C. Hogan, B. Grassi, and P. D. Wagner. Am. J. Physiol. 268 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 37): H1453-H1461, 1995) and 28 and 25 ml. min-1. 100 g-1 (7.5 kg of muscle) (D. R. Knight, W. Schaffartzik, H. J. Guy, R. Predilleto, M. C. Hogan, and P. D. Wagner. J. Appl. Physiol. 75: 2586-2593, 1993), respectively. Although this is evidence of muscle O2 supply dependence in itself, it raises the following question: With such high O2 delivery in KE, are the quadriceps still O2 supply dependent at maximal exercise? To answer this question, seven trained subjects performed maximum KE exercise in hypoxia [0.12 inspired O2 fraction (FIO2)], normoxia (0.21 FIO2), and hyperoxia (1.0 FIO2) in a balanced order. The protocol (after warm-up) was a square wave to a previously determined maximum work rate followed by incremental stages to ensure that a true maximum was achieved under each condition. Direct measures of arterial and venous blood O2 concentration in combination with a thermodilution blood flow technique allowed the determination of O2 delivery and muscle VO2. Maximal O2 delivery increased with inspired O2: 1.3 +/- 0.1, 1.6 +/- 0.2, and 1.9 +/- 0.2 l/min at 0.12, 0.21, and 1.0 FIO2, respectively (P < 0.05). Maximal work rate was affected by variations in inspired O2 (-25 and +14% at 0.12 and 1.0 FIO2, respectively, compared with normoxia, P < 0.05) as was maximal VO2 (VO2 max): 1.04 +/- 0.13, 1. 24 +/- 0.16, and 1.45 +/- 0.19 l/min at 0.12, 0.21, and 1.0 FIO2, respectively (P < 0.05). Calculated mean capillary PO2 also varied with FIO2 (28.3 +/- 1.0, 34.8 +/- 2.0, and 40.7 +/- 1.9 Torr at 0.12, 0.21, and 1.0 FIO2, respectively, P < 0.05) and was proportionally related to changes in VO2 max, supporting our previous finding that a decrease in O2 supply will proportionately decrease muscle VO2 max. As even in the isolated quadriceps (where normoxic O2 delivery is the highest recorded in humans) an increase in O2 supply by hyperoxia allows the achievement of a greater VO2 max, we conclude that, in normoxic conditions of isolated KE exercise, KE VO2 max in trained subjects is not limited by mitochondrial metabolic rate but, rather, by O2 supply.
Spouses' Ability to Cope with Deployment and Adjust to Air Force Family Demands: Identification of Risk and Protective Factors

Using data from 34,381 Air Force active-duty members, the current study examines active-duty members' perceptions of their spouse's or significant other's ability to cope with deployment of unknown length and adjust to demands of being an Air Force family. Active-duty members' perception of their spouse's ability to cope with deployment significantly varied by rank and time married, with 35 percent of junior enlisted and 30 percent of members married less than three years indicating their spouse would have a serious or very serious problem coping with deployment of unknown length. Protective factors—unit relationship quality, leadership effectiveness, and tangible social support from community members—were positively and significantly related to members' reports of spousal ability to adjust to Air Force family demands. The variance explained by these protective factors was highest for active-duty members who had been away from home for deployment or temporary duty for more than six months in the past twel...
Replication of Herpes-Type Virus in a Burkitt Lymphoma Cell Line

Abstract Replication of the herpes-type virus in the P3HR-1 Burkitt lymphoma cell line was studied. The cell cultures with 106 viable cells/ml were incubated at 33 C for 15 days. The amount of virus in both the cell and fluid portions of the cultures was determined by the loop-drop particle-counting procedure with electron microscopy. An apparent growth curve of the virus was constructed. The maximal cell-associated virus, 1010 virus particles in an 80-ml culture, was observed after 9 days of incubation. The maximal extracellular virus, 2.5 × 109 particles per culture, was observed at the 12th day. About 10% of the released virus particles were enveloped. Under these conditions, there was little or no cell multiplication, but the percentage of immunofluorescent cells reactive to a selected human serum (probably indicating the presence of virus in the cells) increased to a maximum of 50% at the 9th day.
New Benchmarks in Higher Education: Student Engagement in Online Learning

The increase in the adop-tion of Internet-related technologies for online learning has been accompanied by a parallel, but separate, demand for greater accountability in higher education. Measures ...
Modal Analysis of Vehicle Operation and Particulate Emissions from Connecticut Transit Buses

Transit buses represent a significant source of particulate exhaust emissions, especially in urban areas, but few previous studies have quantified these emissions by using real-world, onboard sampling while the vehicles operate in the transportation network. In this study, real-world particle number emissions for hybrid diesel-electric (HDE) and conventional diesel (CD) buses are examined for various vehicle operating conditions and road types in the Hartford, Connecticut, region. The results presented in this paper are based on analysis of the unique second-by-second Connecticut Transit on-road transit bus emissions and operations data set collected between January and November 2004. The modal analysis results indicate that hybrid buses operate differently than do conventional diesel buses. Although the distributions of vehicle specific power (VSP) values (in kw) were similar for the two bus types, the distributions of engine operation parameters (load and speed) were different. More important, VSP alone...
Neurophysiological Evidence of Cooperative Mechanisms for Stereo Computation

Although there has been substantial progress in understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms of stereopsis, how neurons interact in a network during stereo computation remains unclear. Computational models on stereopsis suggest local competition and long-range cooperation are important for resolving ambiguity during stereo matching. To test these predictions, we simultaneously recorded from multiple neurons in V1 of awake, behaving macaques while presenting surfaces of different depths rendered in dynamic random dot stereograms. We found that the interaction between pairs of neurons was a function of similarity in receptive fields, as well as of the input stimulus. Neurons coding the same depth experienced common inhibition early in their responses for stimuli presented at their non-preferred disparities. They experienced mutual facilitation later in their responses for stimulation at their preferred disparity. These findings are consistent with a local competition mechanism that first removes gross mismatches, and a global cooperative mechanism that further refines depth estimates.
Soil carbon and nitrogen in a pine-oak sand plain in central Massachusetts: Role of vegetation and land-use history.

Over the last 150 years much of the landscape of eastern North America has been transformed from predominantly agricultural lands to forest. Although cultivation strongly affects important ecosystem processes such as biomass accumulation, soil organic matter dynamics, and nitrogen cycling, recovery of these processes after abandonment is insufficiently understood. We examined soil carbon and nitrogen pools and nitrogen dynamics for 16 plots on a central Massachusetts sand plain, over 80% of which had been cultivated and subsequently abandoned at least 40 years ago. The two youngest old-field forests, located on sites abandoned 40–60 years prior to our sampling, had the lowest mineral soil carbon content (0–15 cm), 31% less than the average of unplowed soils. Soil carbon concentration and loss-on-ignition were significantly higher in unplowed soils than in all plowed soils, but these differences were offset by the higher bulk density in formerly plowed soils, leading to no significant differences in C content between plowed and unplowed soil. Soil C:N ratios were lower in formerly plowed soils (26.2) than in unplowed soils (28.0). While soil N content was not affected by land-use history or vegetation type, net N mineralization showed much greater variation. In situ August net nitrogen mineralization varied nearly 40-fold between stand types: lowest in pitch pine and white pine stands (−0.13 and 0.10 kg N ha−1 28 day−1), intermediate in scrub oak stands (0.48 kg N ha−1 28 day−1) and highest in aspen and mixed oak stands (1.34–3.11 kg N ha−1 28 day−1). Mineralization was more strongly related to present vegetation than to land-use history or soil N content. Appreciable net nitrification was observed only in the most recently abandoned aspen plot (0.82 kg N ha−1 28 day−1), suggesting that recent disturbance and residual agricultural lime stimulated nitrification. Carbon:nitrogen ratios increased and pH declined with stand age. Higher bulk density, lower loss-on-ignition and C:N ratios, and slightly lower C concentrations in the surface mineral soil are the persistent legacies of agriculture on soil properties. Short-term agricultural use and the low initial C and N concentrations in these sandy soils appear to have resulted in less persistent impacts of agriculture on soil C and N content and N cycling.
Radiation degradation mechanisms in laser diodes

Degradation mechanisms are investigated for laser diodes fabricated with different materials and wavelengths between 660 and 1550 nm. A new approach is developed that evaluates laser degradation below the laser threshold to determine the radiation-induced recombination density. This allows mechanisms at high injection, such as Auger recombination, to be separated from low-injection damage. New results show that AlGaInP lasers in the visible region are nearly an order of magnitude more resistant to radiation damage than devices fabricated with AlGaAs or InGaAsP at longer wavelengths.