cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pirin1 (PRN1) Is a Multifunctional Protein that Regulates Quercetin, and Impacts Specific Light and UV Responses in the Seed-to-Seedling Transition of Arabidopsis thaliana

Pirins are cupin-fold proteins, implicated in apoptosis and cellular stress in eukaryotic organisms. Pirin1 (PRN1) plays a role in seed germination and transcription of a light- and ABA-regulated gene under specific conditions in the model plant system Arabidopsis thaliana. Herein, we describe that PRN1 possesses previously unreported functions that can profoundly affect early growth, development, and stress responses. In vitro-translated PRN1 possesses quercetinase activity. When PRN1 was incubated with G-protein-α subunit (GPA1) in the inactive conformation (GDP-bound), quercetinase activity was observed. Quercetinase activity was not observed when PRN1 was incubated with GPA1 in the active form (GTP-bound). Dark-grown prn1 mutant seedlings produced more quercetin after UV (317 nm) induction, compared to levels observed in wild type (WT) seedlings. prn1 mutant seedlings survived a dose of high-energy UV (254 nm) radiation that killed WT seedlings. prn1 mutant seedlings grown for 3 days in continuous white light display disoriented hypocotyl growth compared to WT, but hypocotyls of dark-grown prn1 seedlings appeared like WT. prn1 mutant seedlings transformed with GFP constructs containing the native PRN1 promoter and full ORF (PRN1::PRN1-GFP) were restored to WT responses, in that they did not survive UV (254 nm), and there was no significant hypocotyl disorientation in response to white light. prn1 mutants transformed with PRN1::PRN1-GFP were observed by confocal microscopy, where expression in the cotyledon epidermis was largely localized to the nucleus, adjacent to the nucleus, and diffuse and punctate expression occurred within some cells. WT seedlings transformed with the 35S::PRN1-GFP construct exhibited widespread expression in the epidermis of the cotyledon, also with localization in the nucleus. PRN1 may play a critical role in cellular quercetin levels and influence light- or hormonal-directed early development.
EFFECTS OF INCUBATION DELAY ON VIABILITY AND MICROBIAL GROWTH OF WOOD DUCK (AIX SPONSA) EGGS

ABSTRACT. Egg viability in birds declines with increasing length of the delay in the start of incubation (i.e., incubation delay) and may be influenced by microbial infection and exposure of eggs to temperatures above physiological zero (>24°C). Onset of incubation during egg laying results in developmental asynchrony of embryos but may help to maintain viability of early-laid eggs. We manipulated incubation delay of Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) eggs and tested for effects of incubation delay and ambient temperature on egg viability and microbial infection. We also examined onset of incubation by egg-laying females. Hatching success declined slowly with increasing length of incubation delay and was very weakly affected by increasing exposure to temperatures >24°C. On average, females began incubation at night 7 days after nest initiation, but egg viability had declined only 8.6% (95% confidence interval: 4.3–15.2) by day 7. Microbial infection of eggshells was not related to length of incubation delay or mean d...
Terminal amino acids of normal and dicoumarol-treated prothrombin

Abstract Selective tritium labelling method for the determination of C-terminal amino acids was applied successfully to proteins whose carboxyl residue is not available to carboxypeptidases A & B or to hydrazinolysis methods. The carboxyl and amino residues of prothrombin were found to be glutamic acid (or glutamine) and alanine, respectively. The C-terminal amino acid of prothrombin did not change by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Prothrombin obtained from dicoumarol-treated steers also had NH 2 -terminal alanine and C-terminal glutamic acid (or glutamine). The similar characteristics of the two preparations (normal and dicoumarol-treated) suggest that the polypeptide chain of the abnormal molecules was not significantly different from that of normal.
Some soil and coprophilous fungi from the South Pacific area.

The soil and dung samples were collected in 1956 by Dr. L. S. Olive of Columbia University. Upon collection, they were placed in containers and air dried. After being returned to the United States, they were refrigerated until such time as they were plated out. Due to this extended period of storage, many fungi may have been lost. Although only a few samples were used for this experiment, several techniques were employed. These were as follows: No. 10059: Small quantities of pulverized soil were spread directly on plates of potato-dextrose agar.
Surfactant replacement therapy for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Surfactant treatment of RDS improves oxygcnation and ventilation whether given immediately after birth or after the onset of the disease. There is also a decrease in associated morbidity (air leak), and improved survival with no significant short term side effects. Information about long term follow-up is limited, but encouraging. The future should bring better surfactants (recombinant DNA human surfactant) and optimization of timing, multiplicity and size of dose, and technique of ventilation. This will allow for the survival of most of the premature infants beyond 25 weeks gestation with minimal morbidity. Surfactant treatment of RDS will go down as a true landmark in the history of neonatology.
Diagnosis and Management of Graves' Ophthalmopathy

Graves' ophthalmopathy is a potentially sight-threatening and disfiguring disease. Subtle or overt clinical evidence of ophthalmopathy is present in 25–50% of patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism. However, sensitive imaging techniques such as orbital ultrasonography and computerized tomography have demonstrated evidence of ocular involvement in the vast majority of hyperthyroid patients. Conversely, careful study of apparently euthyroid patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy indicates that greater than 70% either presently have, or will eventually develop, subtle or overt thyroid dysfunction. At the present time, there are no means to prevent Graves' ophthalmopathy and treatment for established, symptomatic disease is only palliative. Patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy frequently complain of an ocular foreign body sensation, lacrimation, photophobia, blurring of vision, double vision, or deep orbital pressure. Typical findings on examination include periorbital and lid edema, lid retraction, lid lag, con...
Law and persuasion in the elimination of female genital modification.

This article addresses issues involved in creating applied programs designed to eliminate the practice of genital surgeries on women, from the joint standpoints of practical effectiveness and ethical soundness. It takes the position that law and enforcement approaches are insufficient as public policy. Efforts to affect public policy should, rather, focus on gaining adequate funding for research-informed programs of public education and persuasion. The discussion examines approaches relevant to countries where these practices are long-established traditions and the situation of immigrant populations in Europe and the United States. Effective approaches are reviewed, based on practical and theoretical descriptions of change strategies by other scholars, reports on specific programs, and perspectives adapted from the author's ethnographic research with the Nandi people of Kenya.
Gender Role Flexibility in Early Adolescence: Developmental Change in Attitudes, Self-perceptions, and Behaviors

Gender role flexibility has been conceptualized as a multi-dimensional construct that consists of attitudes, self-perceptions, and behaviors. The present study was designed to examine the developmental trajectory of gender role attitude flexibility, self-perception flexibility, and gender-typed behavioral flexibility during early adolescence. One hundred and thirty six male and female sixth grade students completed the Children’s Occupations, Activities, and Traits Scale (Liben & Bigler, 2002) during the fall and spring of their first 2 years of middle school and they kept monthly after-school activity diaries, which were coded for gender stereotypicality. Each component of flexibility exhibited a different pattern of developmental change consistent with the multi-dimensional view of gender role flexibility.
Vitamin D and breast cancer prevention: practical guidelines for clinicians.

This article discusses the evidence surrounding the association between vitamin D deficiency and breast cancer.
Subunit a of the Yeast V-ATPase Participates in Binding of Bafilomycin

Bafilomycin and concanamycin are potent and highly specific inhibitors of the vacuolar (H(+))-ATPases (V-ATPases), typically inhibiting at nanomolar concentrations. Previous studies have shown that subunit c of the integral V(0) domain participates in bafilomycin binding, and that this site resembles the oligomycin binding site of the F-ATPase (Bowman, B. J., and Bowman, E. J. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 3965-3972). Because mutations in F-ATPase subunit a also confer resistance to oligomycin, we investigated whether the a subunit of the V-ATPase might participate in binding bafilomycin. Twenty-eight subunit a mutations were constructed just N-terminal to the critical Arg(735) residue in transmembrane 7 required for proton transport, a region similar to that shown to participate in oligomycin binding by the F-ATPase. The mutants appeared to assemble normally and all but two showed normal growth at pH 7.5, whereas all but three had at least 25% of wild-type levels of proton transport and ATPase activity. Of the functional mutants, three displayed K(i) values for bafilomycin significantly different from wild-type (0.22 +/- 0.03 nm). These included E721K (K(i) 0.38 +/- 0.03 nm), L724A (0.40 +/- 0.02 nm), and N725F (0.54 +/- 0.06 nm). Only the N725F mutation displayed a K(i) for concanamycin (0.84 +/- 0.04 nm) that was slightly higher than wild-type (0.60 +/- 0.07 nm). These results suggest that subunit a of V-ATPase participates along with subunit c in binding bafilomycin.
Signal Designs Minimally Sensitive to Small Errors in Sampling Time

Coordinate transformations are derived which render signal designs minimally sensitive to errors in sampling time. This is accomplished by first solving an eigenvalue problem and then by solving a least mean-square or minimax problem.
APC: braking neutrophils to benefit patients?

Comment on Nick et al, page [3878][1], and comment on Liaw et al, page [3958][2] Higher plasma concentrations of activated protein C (APC) associate with improved survival during sepsis, and exogenous APC decreases neutrophil chemotaxis and recruitment, suggesting that the actions of APC on
SHORT PROKARYOTIC DNA FRAGMENT BINNING USING A HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFIER BASED ON LINEAR DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS AND PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS

Metagenomics is an emerging field in which the power of genomic analysis is applied to an entire microbial community, bypassing the need to isolate and culture individual microbial species. Assembling of metagenomic DNA fragments is very much like the overlap-layout-consensus procedure for assembling isolated genomes, but is augmented by an additional binning step to differentiate scaffolds, contigs and unassembled reads into various taxonomic groups. In this paper, we employed n-mer oligonucleotide frequencies as the features and developed a hierarchical classifier (PCAHIER) for binning short (≤ 1,000 bps) metagenomic fragments. The principal component analysis was used to reduce the high dimensionality of the feature space. The hierarchical classifier consists of four layers of local classifiers that are implemented based on the linear discriminant analysis. These local classifiers are responsible for binning prokaryotic DNA fragments into superkingdoms, of the same superkingdom into phyla, of the same ...
Background and future of energy conversion

A survey is presented of the probable future use and relative value of various energy conversion systems and devices. An earth population of 7 billion within the foreseeable future has been forecast. To meet the consequent energy needs, a broad and sustained attack through high-quality basic and applied research must be undertaken with significant progress recorded within the next decade
TiNi (shape memory) films silicon for MEMS applications

TiNi shape memory alloy in thin film form is an excellent candidate for MEMS microactuation. Using RF sputter deposition, thin films of TiNi (51.7 at% Ti-48.3 at% Ni) have been formed on silicon substrates and produced shape memory behavior at approximately 60/spl deg/C. Films were amorphous when deposited and were subsequently annealed at 515/spl deg/C for 30 min. to crystallize the shape memory microstructure. Excellent adherence was achieved onto silicon, SiO/sub 2/ and poly-silicon surfaces. Microfabrication was used to create TiNi diaphragms, which exhibited useful shape memory microactuation and other desirable mechanical properties. The diaphragms recovered greater than 2% strain when heated through the phase transformation temperature, providing a maximum work density of at least 5/spl times/10/sup 6/ J/m/sup 3/. This work density is higher than that of any other type of microactuation.
Gender-linked Differences in the Toys, Television Shows, Computer Games, and Outdoor Activities of 5- to 13-year-old Children

This study was designed to compare how 5- to 13-year-old children's leisure activity preferences differ with age and gender. Responses from 60 boys and 60 girls about their favorite toys, television shows, computer games, and outdoor activities were compared across leisure categories. The results showed that gender was a significant factor. Overall, boys spent more time in these leisure activities than girls did. They spent the most time engaged in sports, watching television, and playing computer games, whereas girls spent the most time watching television. Results from a gender index for all activities indicated that boys' leisure preferences became slightly more masculine with age. For girls, preferences for television shows became more feminine with age, but preferences for toys, computer games, and sports became less feminine. These self-chosen preferences may provide differential opportunities for the development of visual-spatial skills, achievement, initiative, self-regulation, and social skills.
Barack Obama and the Power of Critical Personal Narrative

This article contextualizes the narrative of the US President Barack Obama to provide an understanding of critical personal narrative (CPN) and its use in mainstream curricula. The authors contend that Barack Obama's narrative serves as a means to understand racial hegemony and the politics of representation in a curricular setting. Through providing an understanding of CPN it is suggested that educational opportunities exist for African American students to rewrite their own educational narratives and for educational practitioners to facilitate this process. In so doing, they are documenting the unfolding present, looking onward to the future yet to be realized.
Reaction of dicarbonyl compounds with dimethyl 3-ketoglutarate. Influence of steric effects on success of the condensation

Abstract The influence of steric factors on the synthesis of substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-3,7 diones via the condensation of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds with dimethyl 3-ketoglutarate 2 is described.
The Yukawa behavior of strong gravity

The purpose of this note is to discuss the asymptotic Yukawa behavior of strong gravity on the classical basis of the scalar-tensor theory in the version of CALLAN, COLEMAN and JACKIW ('). A possible role of gravity in suppressing divergences in electrodynamics has been suggested by a number of authors (2). Recently SALAM ~nd his collaborators have shown that in a nonpolynomial Lagrangian field theory normal gravity does indeed regulate the infhlities and provide an effective cut-off for electrons (3). The electromagnetic self-mass of an electron so obtained is 8m ~_ (3/2=)~mlog(mo/m), where ~ is the fine-structure constant. The cut-off parameter built in has the value of the Planck mass m o = 4n/k o = 5.44.10 -5 g, where ko 2 is the Newtonian gravitational constant multiplied by 8~ in natural units h = c = 1. If a similar mechanism works in hadron physics, the desired cut-off at a few GcV is to result from ~ strong gravity ,> 2 38 2 of the coupling k~10 k o. SALAM has then proposed by analogy with the p~, mixing theory that for short distances strong gravity must be mixed with the usual Einsteinian gravity and conjectured that the mixed f~eld equation when solved for a static case would yield the metric of the form (4)
Inactivation of α-amylases by synthetic detergents

Abstract Crystalline α-amylases of fungal and pancreatic origin were inactivated by incubation with a number of high-molecular quarternary ammonium salts, cationic dyes, or sodium lauryl sulfate. Inactivation was slightly pH dependent, but took place over a wide pH range. Inactivation was most effective after incubation at room temperature for several hours or overnight. Crystalline bacterial α-amylase was inactivated only partly by incubation under comparable conditions. Concentrations above 0.1% of detergent were necessary to attain a substantial extent of enzyme inactivation; however, inactivation showed a dependence on the detergent/enzyme weight ratio, rather than on absolute detergent concentration. Mixtures of cationic detergents with sodium lauryl sulfate, or of the anionic detergent with calcium chloride resulted in an inactivation which was proportional to the amount of free synthetic detergent. The inactivation due to quarternary ammonium salts could not be reversed by subsequent incubation with sodium lauryl sulfate but amylase inactivated by the anionic detergent could be partly reactivated by adding calcium chloride.
Optimization of Multitrain Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO) Desalination

This work focuses on optimal operation of brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) plants employing multitrains which have different service times and membrane permeability parameters. A nonlinear opt...
The low-lying electronic states of Mg2+

The low-lying doublet and quartet states of Mg+ have been studied using a multireference configuration interaction approach. The effect of inner-shell correlation has been included using the core-polarization potential method. The computed spectroscopic constants, lifetimes, and oscillator strengths should help resolve the difference between the recent experiments and previous theoretical calculations.
An electro-optical ion detector for spark source mass spectrometry

Abstract An ion detector for spark source mass spectrometry is described which utilizes a channel electron multiplier array in the chevron configuration with phosphor screen display. An optical flange positions the detector in the focal plane of an AEI-MS702R mass spectrometer. The photographic plate detection mode of the spectrometer is also available with a minimum of change-over time. Preliminary results are shown for several modes of electronic data collection.
Flight measurement of contamination effects on fused silica mirrors

A spacecraft was instrumented with five calorimeters and four temperature controlled quartz crystal microbalances. The calorimeters which are fitted with identical second surface silvered fused silica mirrors of the type frequently used for sun-illuminated spacecraft radiators, serve as contamination effects detectors. Two of the minus 50 degree Celsius TQCMs are located near four of the calorimeters. Over a four year period, the five calorimeter temperatures have increased because accumulated deposit of molecular contamination (from the outgassing spacecraft) has increased the solar absorptance of the mirrors. One, with a significant field of view of the spacecraft, has increased far more than the others which have either little or no spacecraft surfaces in their fields of view. The increases in calorimeter temperatures have been converted into increases in solar absorption. The ratios of these quantities range between 8 multiplied by 10-3 and 1.4 multiplied by 10-2 solar absorptance units per (mu) g/cm2 deposit. These values are consistent with industry practice of designing thermal systems with the expectation that sunlit surface solar absorptance will increase about 0.01 for every 100 angstroms of molecular contamination accumulated. Since the calorimeters were significantly warmer than the TQCMs, an even larger value of this ratio can be supported for conservative design of critical thermal systems.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Intra-field overlay correction for illumination based distortion

The use of extreme freeform illumination conditions and multi patterning processes used to generate sub 40nm images can result in significant intra-field overlay errors. When levels with differing illumination conditions are aligned to each other, these intra-field distortions can result in overlay errors which are uncorrectable using normal linear feedback corrections. We use a double exposure method, previously described by Minghetti [1] et al. to isolate and measure intra-field overlay distortions caused by tool lens signatures and different illumination conditions. A full field test reticle is used to create a dual level expose pattern. The same pattern is exposed twice, but with two different illumination conditions. The first exposure is done with a standard reference illumination. The second exposure is the target illumination condition. The test reticle has overlay target pairs that are measurable when the 2nd exposure is offset in the Y direction by the designed amount. This allows for a high density, 13x13, intra-field overlay measurement to be collected and modeled to determine 2 nd and 3 rd order intra-field terms. Since the resulting illumination and scanner lens specific intra field corrections are independent of field size, the sub-recipes can be applied to any product exposure independent of field size, which use the same illumination conditions as the test exposures. When the method is applied to all exposure levels in a product build cycle, the overlay errors contributed by the reference illumination condition cancel out. The remaining errors are due exclusively to the impact of the illumination condition on that scanner lens. Actual results correlated well with the model with more than 80% of the predicted overlay improvement being achieved.
Resist surface crosslinking using amine-based reactive rinses to mitagate pattern collapse in thin film lithography

As the semiconductor industry continues to push to smaller critical dimensions, pattern collapse during lithographic processing caused by unbalanced capillary forces during the final rinse and drying process has become an important problem that can limit the practical resolution of a resist material to feature sizes larger than its intrinsic resolution limit. One of the primary modes of pattern collapse is via elastoplastic pattern deformation which is strongly related to the mechanical properties of the resist. One approach to mitigating such collapse problems is to enhance the mechanical properties of the resist features. Since such modification of resist physical properties for pattern collapse purposes is difficult to achieve through modified formulation of the resist itself (i.e. due to the complex set of requirements that a resist must satisfy and the complex set of physical and chemical phenomena that underlie the imaging processing itself), we have pursued an alternative strategy for improving the resist mechanical properties after features are developed in the film but before they are rinsed and dried. The family of techniques being developed in this work function through the use of aqueous compatible reactive rinse solutions that can be applied to developed resist features while they are wet during normal rinse processing on a track system. By applying these techniques during the rinse process, the resist features can be strengthened before they are subjected to significant capillary forces during the final drying step. In this work, the use of diamine compounds to reactively crosslink the surface of resists containing carboxylic acid groups through formation of amide bonds using carbodiimide chemistry has been explored. One advantage of this approach is that it is an aqueous process that should be easily compatible with high volume, track-based lithographic processes. Contact angle studies and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the surface crosslinking reaction using such diamine surface rinse treatments. Pattern collapse test structures were fabricated and analyzed to measure the amount of mechanical property improvement imparted by such treatments. Application of such amine reactive rinses was found to clearly result in an improvement in the resistance of resists to pattern collapse as observed by SEM. A comparison of the critical stress at the point of pattern collapse as a function of resist feature size also clearly shows a significant improvement in mechanical resilience of resist samples processed with the reactive rinse treatment.
Economic efficiency and investment potential in the smallholder crop sector in Malawi

The crop sector in Malawi faces a number of constraints which must be overcome before agriculture can reach its full potential. This paper uses the policy analysis matrix (PAM) to assess efficiency in the crop sector and financial analysis to explore the potential of investing in a fruit juice extraction plant in Malawi. The PAM revealed that farmers in Malawi are efficient producers but they face negative incentives in the production and marketing of their products. The nominal protection coefficients (NPCs) for both maize and beans were less than 1 while those of inputs were more than 1. Similarly, the effective protection coefficients (EPCs) were less than 1, implying that the combined effect of transfers and tradable inputs is reducing the private profitability of the systems. On the other hand, the financial analysis demonstrated that Malawi can sustain a fruit juice extraction plant. The project had a positive net present value and a benefit/cost ratio greater than 1 (1.16). Recommendations made from the study relate to the need for diversification into fruits that can sustain a fruit juice extraction plant, encouraging private sector participation and reducing disincentives to crop production.
How Much the Eye Tells the Brain

In the classic “What the frog's eye tells the frog's brain,” Lettvin and colleagues [1] showed that different types of retinal ganglion cell send specific kinds of information. For example, one type responds best to a dark, convex form moving centripetally (a fly). Here we consider a complementary question: how much information does the retina send and how is it apportioned among different cell types? Recording from guinea pig retina on a multi-electrode array and presenting various types of motion in natural scenes, we measured information rates for seven types of ganglion cell. Mean rates varied across cell types (6–13 bits · s−1) more than across stimuli. Sluggish cells transmitted information at lower rates than brisk cells, but because of trade-offs between noise and temporal correlation, all types had the same coding efficiency. Calculating the proportions of each cell type from receptive field size and coverage factor, we conclude (assuming independence) that the approximately 105 ganglion cells transmit on the order of 875,000 bits · s−1. Because sluggish cells are equally efficient but more numerous, they account for most of the information. With approximately 106 ganglion cells, the human retina would transmit data at roughly the rate of an Ethernet connection.
Sensitivity limits of a Sagnac interferometer due to fundamental thermal-induced phase fluctuations in the fiber coil

We briefly review the theory of fundamental thermal induced phase fluctuations in the fiber- loop of a Sagnac interferometer and compare it to novel experimental data. Loop lengths of 1.1 and 2.2 km are considered, showing phase noise levels between approximately 0.2 - 1.4 (mu) rad rms/(root)Hz in the frequency range 1 - 100 kHz. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment is demonstrated, showing that this noise source can have considerable impact on the threshold detection of a Sagnac interferometer based sensor for both detection of reciprocal and non-reciprocal measurands, using practical system parameters. We discuss the impact of this noise source when the Sagnac interferometer is configured for rotation sensing, and show the dependence of the random walk coefficient when the bias frequency and system parameters are varied.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Molecular theory for fluids modelled with gaussian overlap potentials

Abstract In recent years it has become evident that molecular shape is an important factor in determining the equation of state and structure of molecular fluids. In formulating a molecular theory of the equation of state it is important to use a model for the molecular interactions which adequately includes the effect of shape but at the same time is computationally simple. The Gaussian overlap potential can be used effectively to model systems of highly non-spherical shape while retaining the simplicity of a single site potential. The model is applicable to both oblate and prolate molecules. We present calculations, using thermodynamic perturbation theory and Monte Carlo simulations, of the thermodynamic properties and structure of fluids of molecules interacting with a Gaussian overlap potential. Both oblate and prolate molecules are considered. The perturbation theory is based on an extension of the Weeks-Chandler-Andersen theory to orientation dependent potentials, and uses a Mayer-function expansion about a spherically averaged reference potential to compute the structure of the hard core reference system. Results are presented for a prolate model with a length to breadth ratio similar to nitrogen and an oblate model with a length to breadth ratio similar to that of benzene. The predictions of the perturbation theory are compared with the computer simulation results. The theory predicts the structural features of the fluids quite accurately except for the most anisotropic system at high density. The thermodynamic properties of the prolate system are given quite accurately by the theory but for the oblate system, which is more anisotropic, the agreement is less satisfactory.
Joshua Rovner, Fixing the Facts: National Security and the Politics of Intelligence

Joshua Rovner (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press 2011), Pp.280., $35.00. Hb. ISBN: 978-0-8014-4829-4. Joshua Rovner's new book, Fixing the Facts, tackles the important issue of the politicizatio...
Integration of waste processing and biomass production systems as part of the KSC Breadboard project.

Abstract After initial emphasis on large-scale baseline crop tests, the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Breadboard project has begun to evaluate long-term operation of the biomass production system with increasing material closure. Our goal is to define the minimum biological processing necessary to make waste streams compatible with plant growth in hydroponic systems, thereby recycling nutrients into plant biomass and recovering water via atmospheric condensate. Initial small and intermediate-scale studies focused on the recycling of nutrients contained in inedible plant biomass. Studies conducted between 1989–1992 indicated that the majority of nutrients could be rapidly solubilized in water, but the direct use of this crop “leachate” was deleterious to plant growth due to the presence of soluble organic compounds. Subsequent studies at both the intermediate scale and in the large-scale Biomass Production Chamber (BPC) have indicated that aerobic microbiological processing of crop residue prior to incorporation into recirculating hydroponic solutions eliminated any phytotoxic effect, even when the majority of the plant nutrient demand was provided from recycled biomass during long term studies (i.e. up to 418 days) Current and future studies are focused on optimizing biological processing of both plant and human waste streams.
A note on the random mean ergodic theorem

Let {Sn} be any non-trivial random walk on the integers. Then, almost surely, for all p≧1, for any probability space X, for any mixing automorphism T on X, for all feLp(X), $$\frac{1}{n}\sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {f \circ T^{S_i } \to E(f) in L_p (X).}$$
Dynamics and stability of a delay-locked loop

We discuss the transient behavior of a delay-locked loop which is designed to generate a delay-error signal that is proportional to the difference in the autocorrelation function of the input signal at two points separated by a fixed time 2\tau_{1} . When the input signal is a sine wave, we present an exact solution which shows that the system is stable and achieves a delay lock with an ambiguity of an integral number of periods. The second input considered is that of a stationary, ergodic, and band-limited Gaussian signal. In this case we present an approximate analysis which predicts that for times long compared to the inverse bandwidth of the random signal that the delay error is log-normally distributed. For this case we develop the almost sure sample stability criterion [1]. When this criterion is met, the system sample solutions are stable with probability one independant of the system amplification. We also develop stability criteria which limit the system amplification for stability of the first and second moments of the time delay.
A genomewide association study identified CYP2J2 as a gene controlling serum vitamin D status in beef cattle

Vitamin D is an important modulator of calcium homeostasis and has several effects on the immune system. The objective of the study was to estimate its heritability and to identify genomic regions associated with concentration of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in beef cattle. Status of vitamin D was measured in crossbred animals from Cycle VII of the United States Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) Germplasm Evaluation Project. Progeny were born from March through May in 2008 and in 2010. Heritability was estimated and a genomewide association study was conducted on the concentration of 25OHD measured in 1,432 animals at preconditioning and 1,333 animals at weaning. Genotyping of the population was done by imputing from the parental generation genotyped with a high density array (777,000 SNP) to a target population genotyped with a medium density SNP array (50,000 SNP). After imputation, 675,018 SNP were used in the genomewide association study. Heritability of concentration of circulating 25OHD in cattle at preconditioning and at weaning was 0.41 ± 0.08 and 0.32 ± 0.11, respectively. A region on chromosome 3 was associated with circulating 25OHD. The region on BTA3 had 7 SNP significantly (P < 7.4 × 10(-8)) associated at the genomewide level with serum concentrations of serum 25OHD. Genomewide significant SNP spanned the region between 84.93 and 86.65 megabases (Mb); however, 6 SNP reside between 86.64 and 86.65 Mb. The gene CYP2J2 was identified as a candidate gene associated with concentrations of serum 25OHD in cattle. This is 1 of 6 enzymes involved in metabolizing vitamin D to 25OHD. Results from the present study suggest that CYP2J2 is a gene controlling serum 25OHD concentrations in cattle. CYP2J2 should be considered a prime candidate for understanding both genetic and physiological factors affecting serum 25OHD concentrations in cattle and, therefore, vitamin D status.
Zinc inhibits protein phosphorylation in isolated sperm head membranes in Spisula solidissima.

Summary. Zinc, when added to the media in concentrations as low as one micromolar, decreased protein phosphorylation in the isolated sperm head membranes in Spisula solidissima, 70–75%. Other divalent cations barium, strontium, cobalt, and copper, in similar concentrations exerted no effect. Sodium fluoride, a phosphatase inhibitor, had no effect on the zinc induced inhibition on protein phosphorylation and, when zinc was added to the media after the phosphorylation reaction of proteins, the inhibitory effect of zinc was lost. The autoradiography of −32P labeled proteins on SDS gel confirmed the inhibitory effect of zinc on protein phosphorylation. The inhibitory role of zinc on protein phosphorylation in the sperm membranes suggests a physiological role of this cation on membrane activity in the process of fertilization.
Clearance of Sendai virus by CD8+ T cells requires direct targeting to virus‐infected epithelium

Minimal numbers of CD8+ T cells are found in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) populations recovered from Sendai virus-infected mice that are homozygous (-/-) for a beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) gene disruption. The prevalence of the CD8+ set was substantially increased in the pneumonic lungs of 8-12-week radiation chimeras made using substantially class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) glycoprotein-negative beta 2-m (-/-) recipients and normal beta 2-m (+/+) bone marrow. Even so, the CD8+ (but not the CD4+) lymphocyte counts were still much lower than in the (+/+)-->(+/+) controls. The (+/+)-->(+/+) and (+/+)-->(-/-) chimeras cleared Sendai virus and potent virus-immune CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for H-2Kb+viral nucleoprotein peptide were found in the BAL from both groups. However, following in vivo depletion of the CD4+ population, only the (+/+)-->(+/+) mice were able to deal with the infection. Similarly, adoptively transferred, H-2Kb-restricted CD8+ T cells from previously-primed (+/+) mice also failed to clear virus from the lungs of (+/+)-->(-/-) chimeras infected within 2 weeks of reconstitution with bone marrow, though they were effective in the (+/+)-->(+/+) controls. Sendai virus-immune CD8+ T cells are thus unable to eliminate virus-infected beta 2-m (-/-) lung epithelial cells that might be thought to be expressing very small amounts of either isolated class I heavy chain, or class I MHC glycoprotein that has bound beta 2-m derived from beta 2-m (+/+) T cells or macrophages present in the pneumonic lung. Furthermore, the CD8+ CTL that are being exposed to beta 2-m (+/+) stimulators in the BAL population cannot operate in some bystander mode to clear virus from respiratory epithelium.
Modifications to Structured Packings to Increase Their Capacity

The hydraulic performance of structured packed columns is characterized by parameters such as loading point, flooding point, and dry and wet pressure-drop. These parameters can be positively influenced by optimizing the transition areas between two adjacent packing layers. Tests have been done in a two-phase test rig with a rectangular column made of perspex. The test medium is a liquid hydrocarbon in counterflow to saturated nitrogen gas. The performance of different packing structures at the layer-to-layer transition zone and the addition of vane-type elements between two packing layers was evaluated. Several packing modifications were tested and the results were compared with those of a non-modified packing. The intentions of this work are: to rank the modifications of structured packings with respect to the achieved capacity increase; to determine whether flooding is initiated in the core of the corrugated packing or in the transition area in spite of the modifications made on the lower or top side of the packing sheets; and to find out how the loading point is influenced by the modifications.
Human Factors Design considerations for Military Trains

This report describes a research project to develop and verify habitability and human factors design criteria as applied to the design of a train rail car. A study of analogous conditions and similar environments was used to develop specific design solutions and design criteria for the rail cars. Verification of these design criteria was done via an iterative, usability test program with actual user personnel. The results of the first set of studies suggest that this test process improved the design of the system. The methods and results sections of this report contain specific design solutions and general comments that were developed during the test process.
Nonparametric estimation in heteroskedastic regression

Abstract We consider the problem of making inferences about the parameters in a heteroskedastic regression model using the ranks of weighted observations. The model assumes symmetric error distribution and a parametric model for the error variance. It is shown that there is no loss in asymptotic efficiency due to estimating the unknown weights. This extends the theory of rank estimation in the heteroskedastic linear model.
AN EXPERIMENTAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY

1. Hypertrophy induced by the production of aortic insufficiency involves all the chambers of the heart. The greatest absolute increase in weight is in the left ventricle. The remaining segments, arranged in the order of decreasing increments are septum, right ventricle, and auricles. The greatest relative increase is also in the left ventricle, but the auricles show a relative hypertrophy greater than that of the septum or right ventricle. 2. The co-hypertrophy of the auricles is not due to an altered venous pressure, but results from an increased force of auricular systole. 3. The heart shows an increase in weight within one week after the production of aortic insufficiency. The increase in weight is due only in part to an increased water content.
UROLOGIC DISEASES IN AMERICA PROJECT: TRENDS IN RESOURCE USE FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN MEN

Purpose: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common clinical diagnoses in women. In this study we examined epidemiological, economic and health care use trends for UTI in women in the United States. Materials and Methods: The analytical methods used to generate these results have been described previously. Results: The lifetime risk for UTI in women is high (greater than 50%). Between 1988 and 1994 the overall lifetime prevalence of UTI was estimated to be 53,067/100,000 women. Prescribing patterns demonstrated an increase in the trend toward using fluoroquinolones as first line therapy for UTI, which was associated with increased costs. Composite data revealed that overall expenditures for the treatment of UTIs in women in the United States, excluding spending on outpatient prescriptions, were approximately $2.47 billion in 2000. Diagnosis and treatment of UTI in women is performed in various clinical settings. Inpatient hospitalization for UTI care has generally decreased in younger women but increased in elderly women. There has been a sharp increase in emergency room use by younger women, which may reflect disparities in access to health insurance or primary care providers. Most outpatient care of women with UTIs is performed in physician offices. Conclusions: Analysis of health care use and economic data on UTIs in women revealed various interesting trends. These findings will help shape understanding of UTI treatment in relation to other urological disorders in women. The results raise various important future research questions.
Interleukin-8 is essential for normal urothelial cell survival

Interleukin-8 (IL-8; CXCL8) has been shown to play a role in multiple cellular processes. Here, we report an additional role of IL-8 as a growth and essential survival factor for normal human urothelial cells. Supplementing exogenous recombinant human IL-8 to normal urothelial cells promoted cell growth through the Akt pathway. Inhibition of IL-8 expression by small inhibitory RNA (siRNA) caused normal urothelial cells to die. Addition of recombinant human IL-8 rescued the normal urothelial cells treated with IL-8 siRNA. This rescue effect could be blocked by antibodies to the IL-8 receptor CXCR1 but not by CXCR2, suggesting that normal urothelial cells normally have IL-8 autocrine or paracrine activity for survival and growth mediated by CXCR1. IL-8 mRNA levels were lower in samples from patients with interstitial cystitis, a urinary bladder disorder associated with urothelial cell dysfunction and/or loss. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-8 is an important normal urothelial growth factor and is necessary for normal urothelial cell survival in vitro and in vivo. Lower IL-8 expression levels in the urinary bladder may contribute to pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis.
The pharmacology of sunburn erythema

The role of pharmacological substances produced by resident cells in the skin, particularly keratinocytes, mast cells and probably endothelial cells, on functional and cellular aspects of the sunburn response is now becoming more clear. Although new information on the role of adhesion molecules is exciting, the identity of UVsvoked soluble mediators which evoke expression of ELAM-1 and its corresponding neutrophil receptors is awaited, as is the identity of chemoattractants and activators of the immigrant cells. The relevance of these findings to inflammatory photodermatoses is also awaited.
THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL BASIS OF CAPILLARY PERMEABILITY STUDIED WITH PEROXIDASE AS A TRACER

The transendothelial passage of horseradish peroxidase, injected intravenously into mice, was studied at the ultrastructural level in capillaries of cardiac and skeletal muscle. Peroxidase appeared to permeate endothelial intercellular clefts and cell junctions. Abnormal peroxidase-induced vascular leakage was excluded. Neutral lanthanum tracer gave similar results. The endothelial cell junctions were considered to be maculae occludentes, with gaps of about 40 A in width between the maculae, rather than zonulae occludentes. Some observations in favor of concurrent vesicular transport of peroxidase were also made. It is concluded that the endothelial cell junctions are most likely to be the morphological equivalent of the small pore system proposed by physiologists for the passage of small, lipid-insoluble molecules across the endothelium.
Surface optomechanics: Observation of surface acoustic resonances in whispering gallery resonators

We experimentally demonstrate the excitation of a mechanical Rayleigh surface mode through optical electrostriction in a silica microsphere resonator. These modes have applications in optomechanical photonic oscillators and surface acoustic wave based sensing.
The Polyvagal Theory: phylogenetic contributions to social behavior.

The scientific legacy of Paul MacLean provides important insights into the neural substrate of adaptive social behavior in mammals. Through his research and visionary conceptualizations, current investigators can legitimately study social behavior from a neurobiological perspective. His research and writings provided three important contributions. First, he emphasized the importance of evolution as an organizing principle that shaped both the structure of the nervous system and the adaptive social behavior. Second, by defining the limbic system, he legitimized the biological perspective in the study of emotion. Third, he recognized the important role of the vagal afferents in the regulation of higher brain structures. The paper will focus on the Polyvagal Theory. The Polyvagal Theory is a new conceptualization of the role of vagus and employs several features that MacLean emphasized including the importance of evolution, limbic structures and vagal afferents. The Polyvagal Theory builds on these early findings by MacLean and focuses on the link between phylogenetic changes in the autonomic nervous system and social behavior. By focusing on the phylogenetic changes in the structure of the vagus and the role that vagus plays in the neural regulation of visceral state, new insights regarding social behavior emerge. Moreover, by articulating the phylogenetically organized hierarchy of neural circuits, insights into benefits of social behavior become evident as do an understanding of the behavioral and physiological features associated with stress and psychiatric disorders.