cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct insertion and fluorescence studies of rhodamine-labeled beta-adrenergic receptors in cell membranes

Previous studies utilizing the fluorescence of propanolol as a probe for the beta-adrenergic receptor showed that this receptor is motionally constrained. To further study the beta-adrenergic receptor in situ we have reinserted rhodamine-labeled beta-receptors into cell membranes. This report presents documentation of their insertion and physiologic viability. Beta-receptors were purified by affinity chromatography (10,000-fold), then fluorescently labeled with tetramethyl rhodamine isothiocyanate, repurified (55,000-fold) and incubated with rat pancreatic islet cells. The binding of 3H-dihydroalprenolol by these cells was increased from a Bmax of 168 +/- 2 to 309 +/- 20 fmol/mg protein with no change in Kd. Various treatments which remove peripheral membrane proteins, e.g. NaOH, lithium diiodosalicylate, and trypsinization, did not alter binding by the cells with inserted receptors indicating that the receptors inserted into cell membranes. In islet cells treated with Koshland's reagent I, beta-adrenergic binding was completely abolished, but following incubation with isolated beta-receptors, the cells bound beta-adrenergic radioligand with a Bmax of 100 fmol/mg protein, indicating functionality on the part of the inserted receptors. Furthermore, insertion of isolated receptors into frog erythrocytes resulted in increased production of cAMP in response to added isoproterenol. In pancreatic islet cells, incubation with labeled receptors caused the fluorescence to shift in wavelength with increased intensity indicating a shift from an aqueous to a lipid environment, probably into the membrane. Using fluorescence (P), it was found that the inserted receptors became motionally constrained to a P of 0.38 (limiting Po = 0.42) during the first 15 min, remaining so for at least 2 hr. Colchicine (5 micrograms/ml) caused a decrease in P to 0.18 indicating release of constraint. Isoproterenol (10(-5)M) caused a rapid decrease to P = 0.15. This effect was blocked by propranolol. Propranolol itself (10(-5) M) had no effect. These results indicate that the labeled receptors rapidly insert into cell membranes and also support the view that agonist activation of the receptor causes an increase in receptor mobility, presumably due to release of constraint from cytoskeleton elements.
Single-Mode Room-Temperature CW Interband Cascade Lasers Covering the λ = 3–4 μm Spectral Band

Interband cascade lasers emitting at 3.6 ?m operated to a maximum temperature of 335 K and produced 59 mW of cw power at room temperature. Single-mode cw emission with 12 mW of power was demonstrated.
Attribute analyses of GPR data for heavy minerals exploration

This study is a continuation for our previous work [1] depicting soil mineralogy using Texture Analysis (TA) of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data. In addition to TA, Complex Trace Analysis (CTA), and Center Frequency Destitution (CFD) were applied to GPR data to predict the existence of buried heavy mineral deposits. CFD and CTA attribute were also used to determine the concentration of the buried heavy mineral deposits. The features of CTA are useful in showing changes of the potential energy components such as instantaneous energy. τ-parameter and Normal Distribution of Amplitude Spectra (NDoAS) were calculated from CTA to inspect the concentration of the buried samples and CFD was used to reveal energy allocations using spectral content of GPR data in time and frequency domain. GPR data collected from laboratory experiments using 1.5 GHz antenna were used in the study. The experiments were conducted using various heavy mineral samples with different concentrations. Our previous study showed that buried minerals produced high entropy, contrast, correlation, standard deviation, and cluster, but these samples produced low energy, and homogeneity. Variance measure signifies edges of buried samples within host material. This study indicates that first and second derivatives of the envelope calculated from CTA emphasize the variation of the reflected energy and sharpen the reflection boundaries in the data. Instantaneous measures (energy and power) of envelope data reveal the existence of buried samples, while the frequency distribution of the data enables locating the contact of buried mineral. We found τ-parameter, NDoAS, and center-frequency proportionally increase with increased concentration of the mineral samples. The results from the three analyses, although in agreement with the previous work, they substantially improve the detection as well as quantifying the mineral concentration.
Molecular design of multifunctional antibacterial agents against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Antibacterial activity of a series of alkyl gallates (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoates) against Gram-positive bacteria, especially methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains was evaluated. Gram-positive bacteria are all susceptible to alkyl gallates. Dodecyl gallate was the most effective against MRSA ATCC 33591 strain with the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 25 μg/mL (74 μM). The time-kill curve study showed that dodecyl gallate was bactericidal against this MRSA strain at any growth stage. This activity was observed even in the chloramphenicol-treated cells, but the rate of decrease of cell number was slower than that in the exponentially growing cells. The bactericidal activity of medium-chain alkyl gallates was noted in combination with their ability to disrupt the native membrane-associated function nonspecifically as surface-active agents (surfactants) and to inhibit the respiratory electron transport. Subsequently, the same series of alkyl protocatechuates (3,4-dihydroxybenzoates) were studied and the results obtained are similar to those found for alkyl gallates. The length of the alkyl chain is not a major contributor but is related to the activity.
Cresylbenzodioxaphosphorin oxide pretreatment alters soman-induced toxicity and inhibition of tissue cholinesterase activity of the rat.

Abstract The toxicity of soman was investigated in the rat with and without pretreatment with Cresylbenzodioxa-phosphorin oxide (CBDP). Without pretreatment, the 24-h LD 50 for soman was 118.2 μg/kg s.c., and soman inhibited Carboxylesterase (CaE) activity in plasma (ED 50 of 55 μg/kg) and cholinesterase (ChE) activity in brain regions (ED 50 values of 65–105 μg/kg) in a dose-related manner. With pretreatment, the 24-h LD 50 for soman was reduced by approximately 6-fold and 8-fold (by 1.0 mg/kg and 16.0 mg/kg of CBDP, respectively), and the ED 50 values for soman-induced inhibition of ChE activity in brain regions were reduced by approximately 10-fold (by 1.0 mg/kg of CBDP). The dose-dependent severity of soman intoxication varied widely in rats treated with soman alone but not in CBDP-pretreated rats, and the ED 50 for the occurrence of signs of soman intoxication was reduced approximately 7-fold following CBDP (1.0 mg/kg) pretreatment. These data support the hypothesis that CBDP pretreatment effectively blocks tissue CaE sites which serve to detoxify soman, thus potentiating both the soman-induced inhibition of ChE in the CNS and the lethality of soman.
The KAL 007 tragedy the use of FBIS in cross cultural research

Abstract In this paper the use of the daily report of the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) for cross cultural research is described. The author was living in the Soviet Union during the period that the Soviets shot down a Korean Airliner. Shortly after the incident he collected interviews with Soviet citizens and contrasted these impressions with reports carried in the Soviet media in an effort to assess the impact of news reports on the development of belief systems.
BREWSTER-ANGLE REFLECTION: ABSORPTION INFRARED SPECTROMETRY OF ORGANIC FILMS ON METALLIC SUBSTRATES

Reflection−absorption spectrometry has been used to obtain infrared spectra of micrometer thick films on metals. The theory and practice of this method with very thin films is well understood, but with thicker films the bulk properties of the material must be taken into account. The influence of incidence angle and polarization on the spectra that are obtained from this method has been investigated, from both an experimental and theoretical viewpoint. An incidence angle of the pseudo-Brewster angle of the film (∼60°) with p-polarized radiation produces spectra that are the most faithful to what is obtained via transmission spectrometry.
A Class of Discontinuous Petrov–Galerkin Methods. Part I: The Transport Equation

Considering a simple model transport problem, we present a new finite element method. While the new method fits in the class of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods, it differs from standard DG and streamline diffusion methods, in that it uses a space of discontinuous trial functions tailored for stability. The new method, unlike the older approaches, yields optimal estimates for the primal variable in both the element size h and polynomial degree p, and outperforms the standard upwind DG method.
Crop Residue Modeling and Mapping Using Landsat, ALI, Hyperion and Airborne Remote Sensing Data

Various studies have demonstrated that spectral indices derived from remotely sensed data can be used to quantify crop residue cover, if adequately calibrated using in situ data. This study evaluates the capability of the Normalized Difference Tillage Index (NDTI) derived from Advance Land Imager (ALI) relative to that of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and the performance of the Cellulose Absorption Index (CAI) derived from Hyperion and airborne hyperspectral data acquired over central Indiana watersheds. A framework based on Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) matching is also proposed to leverage the superior predictive capability of hyperspectral based indices to improve predictions of multispectral based indices over extended regions. ALI data consistently yielded crop residue models with lower root mean square error (RMSE) values than those developed using Landsat TM data. Hyperspectral based indices were generally superior in predictive capability to the NDTI based predictions. Observation operators derived from the CDF matching method were successful in scaling multiple data sets to achieve models with lower RMSE and improved predictive capability over the entire range of index values.
Myoblastoma of the Striated Muscle

Striated muscle does not often give rise to tumor. Neoplasms containing this tissue are chiefly observed within the kidneys and male gonads. While the kidneys and testes do not normally contain striated muscle fibers, embryonal muscular elements may become misplaced into the anlagen of these organs because of their proximity to the myotome during early evolution. The frequent association of rhabdomyomata of the heart with developmental anomalies suggests that, in these tumors as well, an abnormal histogenetic development may play a role. Neoplasms consisting of striated muscle fibers within voluntary muscles are most unusual in human pathology. Abrikossoff was the first to call attention to a type of neoplasm which occurs chiefly in immediate relation to striated musculature and which is composed of the ancestral cells, the myoblasts. In 1926 he reported five cases under the term myoblastic myoma and in 1931 he added seven new cases. Since his first publication many cases with an identical microscopic structure have been recorded. All of those reporting such cases have agreed with Abrikossoff that the neoplastic elements are derived from the myoblasts. Only two cases have been reported in the English language, both under the title “Rhabdomyoma of the Tongue” (Keynes, Dewey). It would seem, therefore, worth while to describe 6 cases of this tumor observed within the past four years.
New Pharmacotherapies for Pulmonary Hypertension: Where Do They Fit in?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, progressively worsening disease characterized by dysfunction among endothelial and smooth muscle cells within the pulmonary vasculature with a resultant increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular maladaptation and failure, and ultimately early death. The three major therapeutic classes of medications available to treat PAH act as either prostacyclin analogs or endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) or by increasing local nitric oxide (NO) levels by means of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Several recent trials have investigated the use of oral prostanoid therapy, next-generation ERAs, and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators (to increase NO levels) as well as novel formulations of pre-existing therapies. The goal of this manuscript is to briefly review established therapies and then discuss recent developments and practical considerations in each of the major drug classes.
Characterization of best approximations by sums of exponentials

Abstract An exponential sum y can be specified by giving the coefficients b, c of the corresponding initial value problem (Dn + c1Dn − 1 + ··· + cn)y = 0, Dj − 1y(0) = bj, j = 1, 2,…, n. We discuss some of the topological properties of this parametric form, noting that the associated tangential manifold does not suffer a “loss of dimension” when the exponential parameters are allowed to coalesce. Using this representation, we formulate a first order necessary condition which may often be used to characterize a local best Lp-approximation to a given ƒ ϵ L p [0, 1], 1 ⩽ p ⩽ ∞ , from the set Vn(S). A sufficient condition is also given, and the use and limitations of the theorems are illustrated by means of several carefully chosen examples.
Normative Influences on Network Structure in the Evolution of the Children’s Rights NGO Network, 1977-2004

This study examines the impact of legitimacy on the dynamics of interorganizational networks within the nongovernmental organizations’ children’s rights community. The 27-year period of analysis included a critical community event: the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Building on theories of organizational evolution, hypotheses proposed that (1) ratification of the UNCRC served to codify and more broadly communicate the legitimate norms of the community, and (2) dissemination of normative information made it easier (a) for less experienced organizations to form and maintain partnerships, and (b) for organizations to form partnerships without reference to shared third-party contacts or dominant organizations. Data analysis via a longitudinal network model supported the hypotheses. Further investigation via an event history analysis suggested that these effects were largely confined to links among organizations in the children’s rights community and not to li...
Dynamics and low-dimensionality of a turbulent near wake

We investigate the dynamics of the near wake in turbulent flow past a circular cylinder up to ten cylinder diameters downstream. The very near wake (up to three diameters) is dominated by the shear layer dynamics and is very sensitive to disturbances and cylinder aspect ratio. We perform systematic spectral direct (DNS) and large-eddy simulations (LES) at Reynolds number ( Re ) between 500 and 5000 with resolution ranging from 200 000 to 100 000 000 degrees of freedom. In this paper, we analyse in detail results at Re = 3900 and compare them to several sets of experiments. Two converged states emerge that correspond to a U-shape and a V-shape mean velocity profile at about one diameter behind the cylinder. This finding is consistent with the experimental data and other published LES. Farther downstream, the flow is dominated by the vortex shedding dynamics and is not as sensitive to the aforementioned factors. We also examine the development of a turbulent state and the inertial subrange of the corresponding energy spectrum in the near wake. We find that an inertial range exists that spans more than half a decade of wavenumber, in agreement with the experimental results. In contrast, very low-resolution spectral simulation as well as other dissipative LES do not describe accurately the inertial range although they predict low-order statistics relatively accurately. This finding is analysed in the context of coherent structures using a phase averaging technique and a procedure to extract the most energetic (on the average) eigenmodes of the flow. The results suggest that a dynamical model would require of the order of twenty modes to describe the vortex shedding dynamics with reasonable accuracy.
The coreceptor CD2 uses plasma membrane microdomains to transduce signals in T cells

The interaction between a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell (APC) can trigger a signaling response that leads to T cell activation. Prior studies have shown that ligation of the T cell receptor (TCR) triggers a signaling cascade that proceeds through the coalescence of TCR and various signaling molecules (e.g., the kinase Lck and adaptor protein LAT [linker for T cell activation]) into microdomains on the plasma membrane. In this study, we investigated another ligand–receptor interaction (CD58–CD2) that facilities T cell activation using a model system consisting of Jurkat T cells interacting with a planar lipid bilayer that mimics an APC. We show that the binding of CD58 to CD2, in the absence of TCR activation, also induces signaling through the actin-dependent coalescence of signaling molecules (including TCR-ζ chain, Lck, and LAT) into microdomains. When simultaneously activated, TCR and CD2 initially colocalize in small microdomains but then partition into separate zones; this spatial segregation may enable the two receptors to enhance signaling synergistically. Our results show that two structurally distinct receptors both induce a rapid spatial reorganization of molecules in the plasma membrane, suggesting a model for how local increases in the concentration of signaling molecules can trigger T cell signaling.
Oviposition substrate selection by Florida mosquitoes in response to pathogen‐infected conspecific larvae

ABSTRACT: The impact of the presence of larval mosquito pathogens with potential for biological control on oviposition choice was evaluated for three mosquito species/pathogen pairs present in Florida. These included Aedes aegypti infected with Edhazardia aedis, Aedes albopictus infected with Vavraia culicis, and Culex quinquefasciatus infected with Culex nigripalpus nucleopolyhedrovirus (CuniNPV). Two-choice oviposition bioassays were performed on each host and pathogen species with one oviposition cup containing infected larvae and the other cup containing uninfected larvae (control). Both uninfected and E. aedis-infected female Ae. aegypti laid significantly fewer eggs in oviposition cups containing infected larvae. Uninfected gravid female Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus oviposited equally in cups containing uninfected larvae or containing larvae infected with V. culicis or CuniNPV, respectively. Gravid female Ae. albopictus infected with V. culicis did not display ovarian development and did ...
Greater sage-grouse winter habitat selection and energy development

Abstract Recent energy development has resulted in rapid and large-scale changes to western shrub-steppe ecosystems without a complete understanding of its potential impacts on wildlife populations. We modeled winter habitat use by female greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Powder River Basin (PRB) of Wyoming and Montana, USA, to 1) identify landscape features that influenced sage-grouse habitat selection, 2) assess the scale at which selection occurred, 3) spatially depict winter habitat quality in a Geographic Information System, and 4) assess the effect of coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) development on winter habitat selection. We developed a model of winter habitat selection based on 435 aerial relocations of 200 radiomarked female sage-grouse obtained during the winters of 2005 and 2006. Percent sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) cover on the landscape was an important predictor of use by sage-grouse in winter. The strength of habitat selection between sage-grouse and sagebrush was strongest a...
THE OCCURRENCE OF A SUBUNIT PATTERN IN THE UNIT MEMBRANES OF CLUB ENDINGS IN MAUTHNER CELL SYNAPSES IN GOLDFISH BRAINS

Observations additional to those previously reported (34) on boutons terminaux and club endings on Mauthner cell lateral dendrites, primarily as seen in sections of permanganate-fixed material, are described. Certain new findings on OSO4-fixed endings are also included. The boutons terminaux are closely packed in the synaptic bed with ∼ 100 to 150 A gaps between their contiguous unit membranes and a few interspersed glial extensions. Their synaptic membrane complexes (SMC) appear as pairs of unit membranes separated by ∼ 100 to 150A clefts. They contain many vesicles and unoriented mitochondria, but no neurofilaments. The club endings after KMnO4 fixation are, as after OSO4 fixation (34), again seen surrounded by a layer of extracellular matrix material. These endings contain relatively few synaptic vesicles, a few unit membrane limited tubules ∼ 300 A in diameter, and mitochondria oriented perpendicular to the SMC. Neurotubules and neurofilaments are not clearly seen. These components are also virtually absent in the Mauthner cytoplasm. No ribosomes are seen in the KMnO4-fixed material. The unit membranes of the SMC of club endings show up clearly in essentially the same junctional relations described after formalin-OSO4 fixation (34). In addition, the synaptic discs in transverse section show a central beading repeating at a period of ∼ A associated with scalloping of the cytoplasmic surfaces. In oblique views, dense lines are seen repeating at a period of ∼ 90 A. In frontal views a hexagonal array of close-packed polygonal facets is seen. These repeat at a period of ∼ 95 A. Each has a central dense spot <25 A in diameter. Similar subunits are seen in the unit membranes of synaptic vesicles.
Biofuels in the U.S. - Challenges and Opportunities

Biofuels are of rapidly growing interest for reasons of energy security, diversity, and sustainability – as well as for greenhouse gas mitigation. In recent years, the U.S. has enacted regulations – and adopted aggressive goals – to encourage increased usage of biofuels. Individual States (especially California) have taken even stronger positions with respect to biofuels. Initial efforts have focused mainly on ethanol, produced via fermentation of sugars from grains (especially corn). Today's R&D focus is on “2nd Generation Biofuels” that are produced from a variety of biomass feedstocks utilizing a wide range of conversion technologies. This paper summarizes policy and regulatory drivers for biofuels in the U.S., describes usage trends and projections, and highlights major R&D efforts to promote development and commercialization of 2nd Generation Biofuels. R&D is being conducted in many areas, including biomass resource assessment, development of new biomass feedstocks, improved conversion technologies, and integration of systems. Other important considerations include fuel quality and specifications, as well as requirements for blending, distribution, and storage. Considerable R&D, policy, and regulatory efforts are also focused on the energy and environmental consequences of biofuels. This includes not only direct emissions associated with vehicular uses, but also the fuels' life-cycle impacts with respect to total energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and multi-media effects. Due to the wide diversity of biomass feedstocks, conversion technologies, and systems integration approaches, the life-cycle impacts of biofuels can vary widely.
Anger Disturbances Among Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Court-Mandated Treatment

In the present study, the authors clustered a pretreatment sample of 190 perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) mandated to attend group counseling based on State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scores and examined whether these profiles were associated with differential outcomes 1 year postadjudication. Cluster analysis revealed 3 groups: (a) high anger-expressive (HA-E, n = 56), (b) moderate anger-inexpressive (MA-IE; n = 13), and (c) low anger (LA; n = 118). HA-E men perpetrated more IPV, reported experiencing and witnessing more abuse during childhood, scored higher on psychopathology measures, and reported more substance problems. HA-E and MA-IE males had higher program attrition and rearrest rates; MA-IE males were more likely to be arrested for assault-related offenses. Thus, although the majority of partner-abusive men do not present with anger-related disturbances, the presence of anger problems may be a marker for an array of traits that may complicate the treatment process.
Post-Processing Methods for COSMO-CLM Precipitation Over Italy

To produce regional climate scenarios, traditionally, the statistical downscaling has been considered as an alternative to dynamical downscaling. However, the use of the two kinds of downscaling approaches together consents, at least to some extent, to combine their advantages. This report presents the preliminary results of combined downscaling methods for precipitation. The dynamical downscaling is the COSMO-CLM regional climate model applied to ERA40 Reanalysis over the control period 1971-2000. The statistical post-processing of the COSMO-CLM outputs is performed through three different methods following the MOS (Model Output Statistic) approach: linear-scaling, quantile mapping and MOS analogs. The performances of the RCM and of the joint RCM-MOS simulations are evaluated in terms of spatial similarity of three ETCCDI indices (characterizing total precipitation, number of rainy days and maximum precipitation) between observed dataset and downscaled fields at seasonal scale. Three Italian test cases have been considered: Orvieto, Po river basin, and Sardinia. Preliminary results indicate that the application of MOS techniques generally improves the performances of the COSMO-CLM model, regardless the season or the index considered, and, among the MOS methods, better results have been generally obtained with the quantile mapping technique.
Practical stabilization of uncertain dynamical systems by continuous state feedback based on Riccati equation and a sufficient condition for robust practical stability

A set of continuous state-feedback control laws for practical stabilization of a class of uncertain nonlinear dynamical systems is presented. A set of asymptotically stabilizing controllers is given for a subclass of systems. Sufficient conditions for practical and asymptotic stability in the presence of nonlinear uncertainty and disturbances are also given. Matrix Riccati equations are used to design the control laws and to describe the sufficient conditions, and a Lyapunov theorem is used to prove the results. Matching conditions are not required for the state-dependent nonlinearity. >
Optimizing shadow recovery algorithms

Experiments conducted on a database testbed at Princeton indicate excessive page-table I/O is the major performance drawback of shadow recovery. In light of this, a method for parameterizing shadow recovery that minimize page-table I/O without sacrificing to much disk utilization is proposed. Using a simple model, the mechanism is analyzed and evaluated, comparing it to two conventional ones. >
Middle Level Schools—Their Status and Their Promise

Middle schools are here to stay, these writers say. They believe the overriding purpose of middle level education continues to be that of providing programs based on the unique characteristics, needs, and interests of middle level students.
Bark beetles, fuels, fires and implications for forest management in the Intermountain West

Bark beetle-caused tree mortality in conifer forests affects the quantity and quality of forest fuels and has long been assumed to increase fire hazard and potential fire behavior. In reality, bark beetles, and their effects on fuel accumulation, and subsequent fire hazard, are poorly understood. We extensively sampled fuels in three bark beetle-affected Intermountain conifer forests and compared these data to existing research on bark beetle/fuels/fire interactions within the context of the disturbance regime. Data were collected in endemic, epidemic and post-epidemic stands of Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce. From these data, we evaluated the influence of bark beetle-caused tree mortality on various fuels characteristics over the course of a bark beetle rotation. The data showed that changes in fuels over time create periods where the potential for high intensity and/or severe fires increases or decreases. The net result of bark beetle epidemics was a substantial change in species composition and a highly altered fuels complex. Early in epidemics there is a net increase in the amount of fine surface fuels when compared to endemic stands. In post-epidemic stands large, dead, woody fuels, and live surface fuels dominate. We then discuss potential fire behavior in bark beetle-affected conifer fuels based on actual and simulated fuels data. Results indicated that for surface fires both rates of fire spread and fireline intensities were higher in the current epidemic stands than in the endemic stands. Rates of spread and fireline intensities were higher in epidemic stands due, however, to decreased vegetative sheltering and its effect on mid-flame wind speed, rather than changes in fuels. Passive crown fires were more likely in post-epidemic stands, but active crown fires were less likely due to decreased aerial fuel continuity. We also discuss the ecological effects of extreme fire behavior. Information is presented on managing forests to reduce the impact of bark beetle outbreaks and the interplay between management, bark beetle populations, fuels and fire hazard and behavior.
Clinical Use of Real‐Time Three‐Dimensional Echocardiography in Pediatric Cardiology

Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography is a technique that allows three-dimensional imaging without any geometrical assumptions or need for reconstruction from two-dimensional images. This imaging technique should be particularly useful in the pediatric population, for whom a complex cardiac anatomy must be defined. We review the potential usefulness of real-time three-dimensional imaging in the pediatric population and the potential limitations associated with this technique.
Microsatellite characterization and marker development from public EST and WGS databases in the reef-building coral Acropora millepora (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Scleractinia)

Mining for microsatellites (also called simple sequence repeats [SSRs]) in public sequence databases of a common Indo-Pacific coral Acropora millepora identified 191 SSRs from 10 258 expressed sequence tag (EST) and 618 SSRs from 14 625 whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequences. In contrast to other animals, trinucleotide repeats, rather than dinucleotide repeats, are dominant in the WGS-SSRs, and AAT is the most frequent trinucleotide motif in EST-SSRs. We successfully developed 40 polymorphic markers from EST-SSRs and WGS-SSRs. Both EST- and WGS-SSRs show high levels of polymorphism within corals from the same reef patch. Interestingly, markers WGS079 and WGS227 revealed SSR duplications in a few individuals, suggesting recent duplication events. Genotypic linkage disequilibrium was identified in 5 pairs of SSR markers, which will be invaluable for high-resolution studies of genetic admixture in natural populations of A. millepora. Transferability analysis showed that 25 of these markers can be successfully amplified in one of the most ubiquitous Indo-Pacific corals Acropora hyacinthus. The marker collection reported here is the largest ever developed for any reef-building coral. It holds great potential for addressing coral reef connectivity across the Indo-Pacific with an unprecedented precision, especially taking into account the cross-species transferability of a substantial number of markers.
A Hurricane Frederic-Generated Storm-Surge Deposit Exposed along a Surf-Zone Foredune Scarp on Dauphin Island, Alabama, U.S.A.

Abstract Dauphin Island, Alabama, is a 22.5 km-long microtidal barrier island/barrier spit in the northern Gulf of Mexico. As a result of the geomorphic and topographic differences across the island, tropical storms and hurricanes impact it in a variety of ways. Hurricane Frederic crossed the western end of Dauphin Island on 12 September 1979. Storm waves measuring up to 4.6 m above the mean high water level washed over much of the barrier spit portion of the island. On the eastern end of the island, one or more storm surges created a well-defined stratigraphic unit that was subsequently buried and preserved by migrating quartz-sand foredunes. The size of the storm-surge deposit was limited by several factors, including the wave run-up energy and the areal extent and elevation of the foredunes. The nature and types of invertebrate faunas found within the surge-wave deposit reflect a nearshore subtidal source (i.e., inner neritic—likely less than 10-m water depth). The storm deposit provides invaluable inf...
Service-Orientation in the Computing Infrastructure

This paper discusses service-orientation concepts applied to infrastructure orchestration and management. It discusses the concept of service-oriented infrastructure (SOI) and illustrates examples of end-to-end infrastructure services including services provisioned at the bare-metal hardware level. This paper demonstrates the potential to make platform as a service (PaaS) and its value to the IT infrastructure management
Cosmological Inhomogeneities with Bose-Einstein Condensate Dark Matter

We consider the growth of cosmological perturbations to the energy density of dark matter during matter domination when dark matter is a scalar field that has undergone Bose-Einstein condensation. We study these inhomogeneities within the framework of both Newtonian gravity, where the calculation and results are more transparent, and General Relativity. The direction we take is to derive analytical expressions, which can be obtained in the small pressure limit. Throughout we compare our results to those of the standard cosmology, where dark matter is assumed pressureless, using our analytical expressions to showcase precise differences. We find, compared to the standard cosmology, that Bose-Einstein condensate dark matter leads to a scale factor, gravitational potential and density contrast that increase at faster rates.
Lower bounds for the condition number of a real confluent vandermonde matrix

Lower bounds on the condition numberp(Vc) of a real con∞uent Vander- monde matrix Vc are established in terms of the dimension n or n and the largest absolute value among all nodes that deflne the con∞uent Vander- monde matrix or n and the interval that contains the nodes. In particular, it is proved that for any modest kmax (the largest number of equal nodes), •p(Vc) behaves no smaller than On((1+ p 2) n ), and than On((1+ p 2) 2n ) if all nodes are nonnegative. It is not clear whether those bounds are asymp- totically sharp for modest kmax.
Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Agonist Directly Inhibits Proximal Tubule Sodium Pump Activity in Obese But Not in Lean Zucker Rats

We have reported recently that the renal angiotensin II type 2 (AT 2 ) receptors are upregulated and involved in promoting natriuresis/diuresis in obese but not in lean Zucker rats. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that there is an enhanced AT 2 receptor signaling via NO/cGMP pathway leading to greater inhibition of the Na + , K + -ATPase (NKA) activity in the proximal tubules (PT) of obese rather than lean Zucker rats. The AT 2 agonist CGP42112 (0.1 to 100 nmol/L) inhibited (33% at 100 nmol/L) the NKA activity in the PTs of obese but not in lean Zucker rats. The AT 2 antagonist PD123319 (1 μmol/L), not the angiotensin II type 1 antagonist losartan (1 μmol/L), significantly diminished the CGP42112-induced inhibition of the NKA activity in obese rats. The AT 2 agonist (10 nmol/L)–induced NKA inhibition was abolished by the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (10 μmol/L), the NO synthase inhibitor N G -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100 μmol/L), and the protein kinase G inhibitor K1388 (2 μmole/L). CGP42112 (10 nmol/L) caused an increase in serine phosphorylation of NKA α1-subunit in PT of obese rats. Measurement of cGMP and NO revealed that CGP42112 (0.1 to 100 nmol/L) increased cGMP and NO accumulation in the PTs of obese but not lean rats. The CGP42112-induced stimulation of NO and cGMP was blocked by PD123319 (1 μmol/L), N G -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100 μmol/L), and 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (10 μmol/L) but not by losartan (1 μmol/L). The data suggest that the AT 2 receptor activation via stimulation of the NO/cGMP/protein kinase G pathway directly inhibits the tubular NKA activity that provides as a mechanism responsible for the AT 2 receptor–mediated natriuresis in obese but not in lean Zucker rats.
Photoperiodic regulation of reproductive development in male prairie voles: influence of laboratory breeding.

Two populations of male prairie voles, one derived from an outbred laboratory colony and the second consisting of F, offspring of wild-trapped voles, were tested for responsiveness to photoperiod. Animals were reared from birth until 35 days of age either in 16L:8D or 8L:16D photoperiods. Short day lengths did not affect the reproductive apparatus of the laboratory-strain voles; however, offspring of wild-caught voles manifested arrested development of the reproductive system in short photoperiods. These results suggest that selection processes associated with laboratory husbandry can alter responsiveness to photoperiod; the use of wild-trapped animals or their F1 progeny is indicated in photoperiodism research.
SEPARATION OF ELASTIN COMPONENTS BY THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY AND ELECTROPHORESIS

Several methods are described which employ thin layer chromatography and electrophoresis for investigations into the structure and synthesis of crosslinked elastin. These procedures are more sensitive and involve less elaborate equipment than separation on paper. The methods described include an electrophoretic procedure for detecting the crosslinking amino acids in elastin hydrolysates, a method for completely separating desmosine, isodesmosine and merodesmosine in these hydrolysates, and a method for producing two-dimensional peptide maps of elastase digests of elastin.
Signal Detection in Noisy Weakly-Active Dendrites

Here we derive measures quantifying the information loss of a synaptic signal due to the presence of neuronal noise sources, as it electrotonically propagates along a weakly-active dendrite. We model the dendrite as an infinite linear cable, with noise sources distributed along its length. The noise sources we consider are thermal noise, channel noise arising from the stochastic nature of voltage-dependent ionic channels (K+ and Na+) and synaptic noise due to spontaneous background activity. We assess the efficacy of information transfer using a signal detection paradigm where the objective is to detect the presence/absence of a presynaptic spike from the post-synaptic membrane voltage. This allows us to analytically assess the role of each of these noise sources in information transfer. For our choice of parameters, we find that the synaptic noise is the dominant noise source which limits the maximum length over which information be reliably transmitted.
The Effect of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Expansion on a Declining Turbidity Trend in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) has well-documented effects on water clarity. SAV beds can slow water movement and reduce bed shear stress, promoting sedimentation and reducing suspension. However, estuaries have multiple controls on turbidity that make it difficult to determine the effect of SAV on water clarity. In this study, we investigated the effect of primarily invasive SAV expansion on a concomitant decline in turbidity in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The objective of this study was to separate the effects of decreasing sediment supply from the watershed from increasing SAV cover to determine the effect of SAV on the declining turbidity trend. SAV cover was determined by airborne hyperspectral remote sensing and turbidity data from long-term monitoring records. The turbidity trends were corrected for the declining sediment supply using suspended-sediment concentration data from a station immediately upstream of the Delta. We found a significant negative trend in turbidity from 1975 to 2008, and when we removed the sediment supply signal from the trend it was still significant and negative, indicating that a factor other than sediment supply was responsible for part of the turbidity decline. Turbidity monitoring stations with high rates of SAV expansion had steeper and more significant turbidity trends than those with low SAV cover. Our findings suggest that SAV is an important (but not sole) factor in the turbidity decline, and we estimate that 21–70 % of the total declining turbidity trend is due to SAV expansion.
Human Macrophage Genetic Engineering

Macrophages, in addition to their role in innate immunity, play a central role in atherosclerosis as the precursors to foam cells in arterial lesions.1 Macrophages express a variety of scavenger receptors that take up modified apolipoprotein B–containing lipoproteins in a manner that is not subject to the negative feedback regulation observed for the low- density lipoprotein receptor, thus leading to the accumulation of excess cholesterol that is esterified and stored in lipid droplets. Macrophages also express ABCA1 and ABCG1 and, thus, can efflux free cholesterol to apolipoprotein A-I and high-density lipoprotein, respectively, in the first step of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. Macrophages are widely studied in regard to atherosclerosis, modified lipoprotein uptake, and cholesterol efflux/reverse cholesterol transport, as well as to gain insight into pathways and mechanisms that might be leveraged for potential therapeutic strategies. Up until now, most of what we know about macrophage biology is from the study of murine macrophages. It is relatively …
Fracture Toughness of Cryogenic Alloys

Nickel alloy steels have been used for many years to contain liquids and gases in the cryogenic and near-cryogenic temperature range. With the advent of large liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities and tankers, renewed attention has been focused on these application of these steels to cryogenic service. The use of ferritic steels in the applications involves not only developing steels with properties in the heavier sections that have not been widely used before, but also producing steels with properties in the heavy section weldments that are compatible with those of the plate. Austenitic materials may also be used, but their lower yield strength and higher cost have limited their application to special designs requiring minimum thickness. The attractiveness of their light weight and corrosion resistance has focused interest on aluminum alloys for cryogenic service.
Report of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Offered in Pennsylvania Childcare Centers

The study objective was to quantify sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) offerings to children in Pennsylvania (PA) childcare centers and determine whether this information is communicated to parents. In October 2014, a SurveyMonkey link was sent to 4461 PA childcare centers. The 518 respondents represented 88% of PA counties. 279 centers (54%) serve SSBs. 330 (65%) of childcare centers provide parents a report of their child's daily intake. Of 185 centers serving SSBs and providing a daily intake report, 91% include SSB consumption. In total, 38% of centers (103/272) offer but do not report SSB consumption. In 96% of centers, parents may request their child not receive SSBs. In conclusion, though more than half of PA childcare centers surveyed offer SSBs, those providing daily intake reports usually include SSB consumption. Requiring daily intake reports may be a strategy to increase parental awareness of items consumed outside the home.
CHANGES OF BRAIN CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDES INDUCED BY ETHANOL ADMINISTRATION AND WITHDRAWAL

Administration of a single dose of ethanol decreases cyclic GMP levels in all brain areas and cyclic AMP levels in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and pons-medulla oblongata. The cyclic AMP decrease is probably not mediated by an effect of ethanol on adenylate cyclase or phosphodiesterase activities. Low doses of ethanol increase the postdecapitation-induced rise of cyclic AMP in pons-medulla oblongata while high ethanol doses decrease the postdecapitation-induced rise in all brain areas. This decrease might be due to the inhibited conversion of ATP into adenosine in ethanol-treated animals. Chronic administration of ethanol prevents the cyclic AMP-lowering effect of an acute ethanol dose, while the decrease of cyclic GMP is still present. During ethanol withdrawal cyclic AMP levels are increased in the cerebral cortex and pons-medulla oblongata. An inverse relationship between cyclic GMP and GABA levels in the cerebellum of rats undergoing withdrawal was observed and it might be related to some symptoms of ethanol withdrawal. Levels of cyclic nucleotides and GABA were correlated also in some other brain areas indicating that cyclic nucleotides in these areas might be involved in ethanol withdrawal.
A Wide Range CMOS Temperature Sensor With Process Variation Compensation for On-Chip Monitoring

A fully integrated temperature sensor along with a process compensator based on a frequency to voltage converter is presented in this paper. The proposed temperature sensor uses the difference between a reference current source and a proportional to absolute temperature current source to bias a differential ring-based current-controlled oscillator (CCO). The subtracted current in the CCO generates a linearized temperature-dependent frequency. To adjust the current sources and increase accuracy of the temperature sensor, a process compensator is added in the temperature sensor by adding switches to the architecture. With one point calibration, the maximum inaccuracy of ten measured samples is $-1.9~^{\circ }\text{C}\sim 1.5~^{\circ }\text{C}$ over a temperature range of −40 °C–100 °C. The total power consumption is $264~\mu \text{W}$ from a 1.5 V supply voltage at 25 °C. The temperature sensor is implemented in a standard 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS process with an area of 0.0312 mm 2 .
DARPP-32 promoter directs transgene expression to renal thick ascending limb of loop of Henle

DARPP-32, a dopamine- and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-regulated inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1, is highly colocalized with neuronal and nonneuronal D1-type receptors. DARPP-32 concentration is enriched in the renal outer medulla and in the medium-size spiny neurons of the brain. In the ascending limb of the loop of Henle, DARPP-32 is phosphorylated following stimulation by dopamine and other first messengers, and in this form inhibits the activity of the Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase pump. For functional analysis of the DARPP-32 promoter in the kidney, we characterized the murine gene. There are two groups of transcription start sites utilized in the brain, but the proximal set appears to be preferentially used in the kidney. In four of four lines of mice carrying a DARPP-32/lacZ transgene with 2.1 kb of 5'-flanking DNA, adult kidney lacZ transgene expression mimicked that of endogenous DARPP-32. There was no ectopic expression in peripheral organs. We conclude that the sequences ...