cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cryptic diversity within two endemic crayfish species of the Southeastern US revealed by molecular genetics and geometric morphometrics

Crayfishes reach their peak biodiversity in North America, with the Mobile Basin of the southeastern US harboring high levels of endemism. However, the genetic diversity and phylogeography of crayfishes from this region are poorly understood. Here, the genetic structure and shape variation among multiple populations of Cambarus englishi Hobbs and Halland Cambarus halli Hobbs, both endemic to the Tallapoosa River, were examined from three catchments of the drainage (Upper, Little, and Middle) using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences and geometric morphometrics. Notably, a combined COI network analysis found haplotypes from each species coalescing into common networks based on catchment, with significant genetic differentiation being identified between nearly all populations. Geometric morphometric analyses largely agreed with genetic analyses, with shape overlap yet significant differences between species and between the three catchments for C. halli (but not C. englishi). Together this suggests that genetic separation is manifested in part by shape variation and overall, these crayfishes appear to represent “cryptic species complexes.” Our data provide evidence for the establishment of evolutionarily significant units along the Upper, Little, and Middle Tallapoosa and that there is considerable population isolation and cryptic diversity within North American crayfishes.
Eye Tracking Analysis of Visual Cues during Wayfinding in Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease.

Introduction: Persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have profound impairment in wayfinding, potentially related to a deficit in visual attention and selection of relevant environmental information. This study sought to determine differences in visual attention to salient visual cues and nonsalient cues (building features) in older adults with and without AD during active wayfinding in a large-scale, virtual reality spatial task. Methods: Fifteen subjects (7 with AD and 8 controls without AD) were asked to find their way repeatedly during 10 trials in a virtual simulation of a senior retirement community. Subjects wore eye tracking glasses to capture visual fixations while wayfinding. The least square means (LSMs) and their standard errors (SEs) for percentage of fixations and duration of fixations on salient and nonsalient cues were estimated from the linear mixed effects models and compared by group (AD or control) and cue type. Results: The group by cue type interaction was significant for both percentage of fixations ( F (1, 13) = 6.79, p = 0.02) and duration of fixations ( F (1, 13) = 4.87, p = 0.04). The AD group had significantly lower percentages of fixations on salient cues, LSM = 57.91 (SE = 2.44), compared to controls, LSM = 66.40 (SE = 2.19); p = 0.03. Persons with AD had a higher percentage of fixations on building features, LSM = 31.65 (SE = 2.18), than controls, LSM = 24.54 (SE = 1.95); p = 0.02. Shorter durations of fixations on salient cues were experienced by the AD group, LSM = 38.89 (SE = 1.69), than the control group, LSM = 44.69 (SE = 1.55); p = 0.02. Discussion/Conclusion: Individuals with AD may have difficulty selecting relevant information for wayfinding as compared to normally aging individuals and attend more frequently than controls to irrelevant information. This may help explain the wayfinding difficulties seen in AD.
Total Body Irradiation and Risk of Breast Cancer After Blood or Marrow Transplantation: A Blood or Marrow Transplantation Survivor Study Report

PURPOSETo examine the association between total body irradiation (TBI) and subsequent breast cancer in women treated with blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) for hematologic malignancies.PATIENTS...
The Gift of Babel

This chapter focuses on modernist poetry, especially on those aspects of its nature that translation reveals. Translation should be understood yet another face of mimesis. This chapter offers an extensive discussion of the authenticity of translated poetry that hinges on concepts of translation that follow from the insights of Walter Benjamin and Franz Rosenzweig. The legitimacy and authenticity of Bible translations reveals the legitimacy of lyric poetry in translation. The final part of this chapter focuses on two modernist poets, Osip Mandelstam and Paul Celan and returns to the question of modernist “difficulty.” Simplicity and opacity are not mutually exclusive. Even the simplest classical poetry is obscure. This obscurity, though often suppressed, is a permanent feature of all literature. In modernism this feature is closer to the surface than in most poetry.
Emotion regulation in the marketplace: the role of pleasant brand personalities

People prefer to experience pleasant (vs. unpleasant) emotions and thus will take actions to repair unpleasant emotions. In addition, consumers perceive brands as possessing personality characteristics. This research demonstrates that consumers experiencing unpleasant emotions are attracted to brands with opposing, pleasant personalities as a means to repair their emotions. Studies 1a and 1b find that consumers respond more favorably to an exciting brand when they are motivated to repair the unpleasant emotional state of boredom (1a) and that a reduction in boredom in response to the exciting brand drives this effect (1b). Study 2 extends this finding by showing that anxious consumers are motivated to respond more favorably to a calm brand to repair their anxiety. In both cases, the effects only hold when participants are not first given the opportunity to alleviate their unpleasant emotion, thus providing evidence that motivation is the process driving consumers to respond more favorably to brands with pleasant personalities.
Tadalafil-Associated Recurrent Intracerebral Hemorrhage (5414)

Objective: N/A Background: Traditional risk factors for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage include hypertension, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and underlying neoplasm or vascular malformation. There have been only a handful of published case reports regarding phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor-associated intracerebral hemorrhage. Design/Methods: Case report Results: A 77 year old male presented with headache and vision changes. He was taking daily tadalafil for chronic urinary retention, but also had taken an extra dose prior to sexual intercourse that evening. Initial blood pressure was 135/66. Neurologic exam was only notable for right visual field blurriness. Labs were unremarkable including normal coagulation studies and platelets. MRI brain revealed a 2.5 x 1.3 cm left occipital lobe intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and was negative for underlying neoplasm or microhemorrhages. CT angiogram was negative for vascular malformation. He was discharged home after an uneventful stay, and followed up in clinic with mild residual visual deficits. Two months after the hemorrhage, he presented again with worsening vision changes, nausea, vomiting, and fluent aphasia, again after taking an extra dose of tadalafil prior to sexual intercourse. CT head then revealed a 6 x 3.5 cm left parieto-occipital intraparenchymal hemorrhage with intraventricular extension. The patient declined a diagnostic cerebral angiogram. Conclusions: Our patient is the first described case to have two separate intracerebral hemorrhages in the setting of tadalafil use. The effects of PDE-5 inhibitors on the intracranial vasculature are uncertain. Studies have shown that PDE-5 inhibitors may lead to an increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the brain via the PDE-1 and PDE-2 enzymes, thus leading to cerebral vasodilation. PDE-5 inhibition may also lead to impairment of platelet activation and aggregation. The combined effects on cerebral blood flow and platelet activity may increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Therefore, in intracerebral hemorrhage patients, it appears sensible to avoid future use of PDE-5 inhibitors. Disclosure: Dr. Koehn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Griffin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Youn has nothing to disclose.
Increased Use of Disinfectants During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Potential Impacts on Health and Safety

The COVID-19 pandemic has called for the increased use of disinfectants worldwide in public facilities, transportation, hospitals, nursing homes, wastewater treatment facilities, and even common ho...
Teacher and Classroom Predictors of Preschool Teacher Stress

Research Findings: Better understanding the correlates of teacher stress is critical to develop effective, targeted prevention and intervention efforts to decrease early childhood educator stress a...
Counter-intuitive COVID-19 Trajectories - Explanations, Early Warning Indicator and Mitigation Strategies

Abstract The COVID-19 trajectories worldwide have shown several surprising features which are outside the purview of classical epidemiological models. These include (a) almost constant and low daily case rates over extended periods of time, (b) sudden waves emerging from the above solution despite no or minimal change in the level of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), and (c) reduction or flattening of case counts following relaxation of NPI. To explain these phenomena, we add contact tracing to our recently developed cluster seeding and transmission (CST) model. We find no fewer than four effects which make prediction of epidemic trajectories uncertain. These are (a) cryptogenic instability, where a small increase in population-averaged contact rate causes a large increase in cases, (b) critical mass effect, where a wave manifests after weeks of quiescence with no change in parameter values, (c) knife-edge effect, where a small change in parameter across a critical value causes a huge change in the response of the system, and (d) hysteresis effect, where the timing and not just the strength of a particular NPI determines the subsequent behaviour. Despite these effects however, some non-obvious conclusions regarding NPI appear to be robust. In particular, (a) narrowing the circle of one’s social interactions can be as effective a measure as reducing interactions altogether, and (b) a good contact tracing program can effectively substitute for much more invasive measures. Finally, we propose the contact tracing capacity ratio – a metric of the load to which the tracers are subject – as a reliable early warning indicator of an imminent epidemic wave.
A Review of Selected Glass Bead Types from the 2007–2009 Seasons of Excavation at Pattanam, India

Over the last decade, excavations at the archaeological site at Pattanam in Kerala, India, have produced a range of material data related to South India’s involvement in early Indian Ocean exchange networks. One such category is glass beads, an assemblage that now numbers over 100,000 beads. By far the most common type of glass bead from Pattanam is the Indo-Pacific bead, a small monochrome drawn bead that was likely produced in South Indian or Sri Lankan glass bead workshops. But along with Indo-Pacific beads are a variety of other distinct glass bead types, most of which were not made by the drawing method and whose production sites are less certain. A number of them have parallels from other sites in South Asia and elsewhere along the Indian Ocean littoral. These bead categories include gold glass beads; large faceted types that may imitate beryl gemstone beads; polychrome ‘zone’ beads that mimic banded agate beads; large drawn barrel beads and terracotta disc beads. This chapter focuses on the glass bead assemblages from the 2007, 2008 and 2009 excavation seasons. Each bead type is briefly described in terms of their typology and known regional/chronological distributions, as a first step towards understanding Pattanam’s position within a complex suite of inland and maritime exchange networks.
Pharmacologic Options for the Treatment of Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is now clinically defined as a loss of muscle mass coupled with functional deterioration (either walking speed or distance or grip strength). Based on the FRAX studies suggesting that the questions without bone mineral density can be used to screen for osteoporosis, there is now a valid simple questionnaire to screen for sarcopenia, i.e., the SARC-F. Numerous factors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of sarcopenia. These include genetic factors, mitochondrial defects, decreased anabolic hormones (e.g., testosterone, vitamin D, growth hormone and insulin growth hormone-1), inflammatory cytokine excess, insulin resistance, decreased protein intake and activity, poor blood flow to muscle and deficiency of growth derived factor-11. Over the last decade, there has been a remarkable increase in our understanding of the molecular biology of muscle, resulting in a marked increase in potential future targets for the treatment of sarcopenia. At present, resistance exercise, protein supplementation, and vitamin D have been established as the basic treatment of sarcopenia. High-dose testosterone increases muscle power and function, but has a number of potentially limiting side effects. Other drugs in clinical development include selective androgen receptor molecules, ghrelin agonists, myostatin antibodies, activin IIR antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, beta antagonists, and fast skeletal muscle troponin activators. As sarcopenia is a major predictor of frailty, hip fracture, disability, and mortality in older persons, the development of drugs to treat it is eagerly awaited.
Efficient Minimization of Numerical Summation Errors

Given a multiset X={x 1,... x n } of real numbers, the floating-point set summation (FPS) problem asks for S n = x 1+...+ x n , and the floating point prefix set summation problem (FPPS) asks for S k =x 1+...+x k for all k = 1, ... n. Let E k * denote the minimum worst-case error over all possible orderings of evaluating S k . We prove that if X has both positive and negative numbers, it is NP-hard to compute S n with the worst-case error equal to E n * . We then give the first known polynomial-time approximation algorithm for computing Sn that has a provably small error for arbitrary X. Our algorithm incurs a worstcase error at most 2([log(n−1)]+1) E n * . After X is sorted, it runs in O(n) time, yielding an O(n 2)-time approximation algorithm for computing S k for all k = 1, ..., n such that the worst-case error for each S k is less than 2(⌈ log(k−1)⌋+ 1)E k * .
Effects of a stress-reduction program on psychological function, pain, and physical function of systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective To assess the effects of a stress-reduction program on pain, psychological function, and physical function in persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who experience pain. Methods Ninety-two SLE patients were assigned randomly to receive either biofeedback-assisted cognitive-behavioral treatment (BF/CBT), a symptom-monitoring support (SMS) intervention, or usual medical care (UC) alone. Results BF/CBT participants had significantly greater reductions in pain and psychological dysfunction compared with the SMS group (pain, P = 0.044; psychological functioning, P < 0.001) and the UC group (pain, P = 0.028; psychological functioning, P < 0.001). BF/CBT had significantly greater improvement in perceived physical function compared with UC (P = 0.035), and improvement relative to SMS was marginally significant (P = 0.097). At a 9-month followup evaluation, BF/CBT continued to exhibit relative benefit compared with UC in psychological functioning (P = 0.023). Conclusion This study supports the utility of a brief stress management program for short-term improvement in pain, psychological function, and perceived physical function among persons with SLE who experience pain.
A Generalization of Shostak's Method for Combining Decision Procedures

Consider the problem of determining whether a quantifier-free formula o is satisfiable in some first-order theory ?. Shostak's algorithm decides this problem for a certain class of theories with both interpreted and uninterpreted function symbols. We present two new algorithms based on Shostak's method. The first is a simple subset of Shostak's algorithm for the same class of theories but without uninterpreted function symbols. This simplified algorithm is easy to understand and prove correct, providing insight into how and why Shostak's algorithm works. The simplified algorithm is then used as the foundation for a generalization of Shostak's method based on a variation of the Nelson-Oppen method for combining theories.
Current Trends of fMRI in Vision Science: A Review

Studying brain functional activities is an area that is experiencing rapid interest in the field of neuroimaging. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has provided vision science researchers a powerful and noninvasive tool to understand eye function and correlate it with brain activities. In this chapter, we focus on the physiological aspects followed by a literature review. More specifically, to motivate and appreciate the complexity of the visual system, we will begin with a description of specific stages the visual pathway, beginning from the distal stimulus and ending in the visual cortex. More importantly, the development of ascending visual pathway will be discussed in order to help in understanding various disorders associated with it such as monochromacy, albinism, amblyopia (refractive, strabismic). In doing so we will divide the first half into two main sections, the visual pathway and the development of the ascending pathway. The first of these sections will be mostly an anatomy review and the latter will discuss the development of this anatomy with specific examples of disorders as a result of abnormal development. We will then discuss fMRI studies with focus on vision science applications. The remaining sections of this chapter will be highlighting the work done on mainly oculomotor function, some perception and visual dysfunction with fMRI and investigate the differences and similarities in their findings. We will then conclude with a discussion on how this relates to neurologists, neuroscientists, ophthalmologists and other specialists.
Analysis of noise spectral density and coherence resonance phenomena in mixed hysteretic systems driven by noise

The characterization of a hysteretic system response to noise is a challenging problem due to the complexity of the non-Markovian process found as the system output. The recent development of the mathematical theory to describe stochastic processes defined on graphs has provided the framework to analytically calculate the noise spectral density for Preisach hysteretic models [1]. Numerical simulations performed by using Monte Carlo methods have generalized the spectral analysis to other hysteretic models, such as Jiles-Atherton, Coleman-Hodgdon, Energetic and Bouc-Wen model and offered significant insights into this problem [2]. Moreover, stochastic resonance phenomena have been thus identified in complex hysteretic systems subject to a noisy sinusoidal input, when certain conditions are satisfied by the amplitude of the deterministic signal and noise strength [2-4]. These constructive effects of noise seems counter-intuitive but they are nevertheless often found in nonlinear systems and their applications are spreading across various areas of science and engineering. In fact, it is well-known in magnetic community that thermal noise is playing a positive role in achieving higher magnetic storage densities by using heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology.
Pediatric liver transplant portal vein anastomotic stenosis: Correlation between ultrasound and transhepatic portal venography

The objective of this study was to determine which transabdominal ultrasound parameters correlate with portal vein stenosis (PVS) on percutaneous transhepatic portal venography in pediatric liver transplant patients. A retrospective review was performed of percutaneous transhepatic portal venograms performed between 2005 and 2013. The findings were compared to those from ultrasounds performed before venography and at the baseline. Patients were stratified on the basis of the presence of significant PVS (group 1, >50% stenosis; group 2, ≤50% stenosis) on portal venography. Findings were compared to those for age-matched controls. Twenty portal venograms were performed for 12 pediatric patients. Thirteen of the 20 patients (65%) demonstrated significant PVS (>50%). The mean peak anastomotic velocity (PAV) was 253.6±96 cm/s in group 1, 169.7±48 cm/s in group 2, and 51.3±20 cm/s in the control group. PAV (r=0.672, P=0.002) was the only ultrasound variable that correlated with the presence of significant PVS. A receiver operating characteristic curve was generated from PAV and PVS data (area under the curve=0.75, P=0.08). A threshold velocity of 180 cm/s led to a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 71% in predicting significant PVS on portal venography. At the baseline, the mean PAV was 155.8±90 cm/s for group 1 and 69.5±33 cm/s for group 2 (P=0.08); for control subjects, it was 78.9±53 cm/s (P=0.06). PAV is the only measured ultrasound parameter that correlates with significant PVS on portal venography in pediatric liver transplant patients. An elevated baseline PAV may increase the risk of developing PVS.
The Role of Abstraction in High-Performance Computing

Although there is perpetual interest in using high-level languages such as C++ for high-performance computing, the conventional wisdom is that the very data abstractions that make these languages attractive from a software engineering perspective carry with them inherent performance penalties that make them unattractive from a performance perspective. The Matrix Template Library (MTL) is a C++ library specification that consists of a small number of composable template classes for defining sparse and dense matrix types as well as a comprehensive set of generic algorithms for numerical linear algebra. In this paper, we discuss our experiences with MTL and demonstrate that abstraction is not necessarily the enemy of performance and that, in fact, data abstraction can be an effective tool in enabling high performance.
The Classification and Delineation of Communities and Regions in Social System Accounts

We noted in Chapter 1 that social system accounting faces two major problems: how to measure and account for nonmarket activities and how to combine social and economic indicators. In Chapter 2 we used the concept of a ‘closed’ community to suggest that a system of social accounts based on behavior settings could accomplish both of these objectives at the level of a town and its trade area. In Chapter 3 we asserted that all of the objective indicators in the OECD List of Social Indicators (1982) could be picked up and/or incorporated in such an accounting system. In Chapters 4 and 5, we proposed methods for merging eco-behavioral data on genotypes and roles with economic data on industries and occupations at the national level.
Experience in Validation of PowerPCTM Microprocessor Embedded Arrays

Design validation for embedded arrays remains as a challenging problem in today‘s microprocessor design environment. Although several methods for validating embedded arrays have been proposed, not much has been done to characterize the strengths and weaknesses of these methods. This paper provides a comprehensive study of various design validation approaches adopted at the Somerset PowerPC Design Center in the past, including methods from both formal verification and test generation. Effectiveness of these approaches will be measured based on automatic design error injection and simulation at both gate and transistor levels. Experience of using different validation approaches on recent PowerPC microprocessor arrays will be analyzed and discussed.
Cell-wall polysaccharides and glycoproteins of parenchymatous tissues of runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)

1. Polymers were solubilized from the cell walls of parenchyma from mature runner-bean pods with minimum degradation by successive extractions with cyclohexane-trans-1,2-diamine-NNN'N'-tetra-acetate (CDTA), Na2CO3 and KOH to leave the alpha-cellulose residue, which contained cross-linked pectic polysaccharides and Hyp-rich glycoproteins. These were solubilized with chlorite/acetic acid and cellulase. The polymers were fractionated by anion-exchange chromatography, and fractions were subjected to methylation analysis. 2. The pectic polysaccharides differed in their ease of extraction, and a small proportion were highly cross-linked. The bulk of the pectic polysaccharides solubilized by CDTA and Na2CO3 were less branched than those solubilized by KOH. There was good evidence that most of the pectic polysaccharides were not degraded during extraction. 3. The protein-containing fractions included Hyp-rich and Hyp-poor glycoproteins associated with easily extractable pectic polysaccharides, Hyp-rich glycoproteins solubilized with 4M-KOH+borate, the bulk of which were not associated with pectic polysaccharides, and highly cross-linked Hyp-rich glycoproteins. 4. Isodityrosine was not detected, suggesting that it does not have a (major) cross-linking role in these walls. Instead, it is suggested that phenolics, presumably linked to C-5 of 3,5-linked Araf residues of Hyp-rich glycoproteins, serve to cross-link some of the polymers. 5. There were two main types of xyloglucan, with different degrees of branching. The bulk of the less branched xyloglucans were solubilized by more-concentrated alkali. The anomeric configurations of the sugars in one of the highly branched xyloglucans were determined by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. 6. The structural features of the cell-wall polymers and complexes are discussed in relation to the structure of the cell walls of parenchyma tissues.
ATP-EMTP study of adjustable speed drive dc link properties during voltage sags

ATP-EMTP simulations of a 3-phase commercial power distribution system containing adjustable speed drive (ASD) driven induction motors in the presence of single-line-to-ground and balanced three-phase voltage sags are described. The simulations show both the dynamic influence of the motor on the temporal evolution of certain sags and the peak ASD dc link voltage and current as functions of fault type, location, and duration. The results show that dc link recovery currents can be several times larger than their nominal values, and that the most severe effect occurs during and after a long (1000 msec) three phase fault at an electrically remote location.
Evidence that the endogenous heat-stable glucocorticoid receptor stabilizing factor is a metal component of the untransformed receptor complex.

Boiled cytosols prepared from a wide variety of sources contain a low Mr factor that inhibits glucocorticoid receptor transformation to the DNA-binding state (Leach, K.L., Grippo, J.F., Housley, P.R., Dahmer, M.K., Salive, M.E., and Pratt, W.B. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 381-388). In this work, we show that this endogenous factor, which is partially purified from rat liver, produces all of the effects of the group VI-A transition metal oxyanions molybdate and vanadate on the structure and function of glucocorticoid receptors in cytosol preparations. Like molybdate, the endogenous factor behaves as a strong anion with an apparent Mr of 340 on Bio-Gel P-2, and it binds to both hydroxylapatite and Chelex 100 resins. The receptor stabilizing activity of the factor is completely stable to heating at 320 degrees C for 1 h. The small size, profound heat stability, and absorption by a metal chelating resin strongly suggest that the factor is an endogenous metal anion. As reduction of the concentration of the factor in cytosol promotes generation of the DNA-binding form of the receptor, we suggest that this endogenous metal anion interacts with the receptor to stabilize the 9 S complex and maintain the receptor in its untransformed, non-DNA-binding state. We propose that molybdate and vanadate may exert their effects on the untransformed receptor by interacting with the binding site for the endogenous metal anion.
On the posterior distribution of a dirichlet process given randomly right censored observations

Abstract The purpose of this note is to show that the conditional distribution of a Dirichlet process P given n independent observations X 1 … X n from P and belonging to measurable sets A 1 ,… A n with A 1 ⊆ A 1+1 for i =1,… n =1 is a mixture of Dirichlet processes as introduced by Antoniak. It is also shown that this result is applicable in Bayesin decision problems concerning a random survival distribution under Dirichlet process priors.
R6/2 neurons with intranuclear inclusions survive for prolonged periods in the brains of chimeric mice.

The R6/2 mouse possesses mutant exon 1 of human Hdh, and R6/2 mice with 150 CAG repeats show neurological abnormalities by 10 weeks and die by 15 weeks. Few brain abnormalities, however, are evident at death, other than widespread ubiquitinated neuronal intranuclear inclusions (NIIs). We constructed R6/2t+/t− wildtype (WT) chimeric mice to prolong survival of R6/2 cells and determine if neuronal death and/or neuronal injury become evident with longer survival. ROSA26 mice (which bear a lacZ transgene) were used as WT to distinguish between R6/2 and WT neurons. Chimeric mice consisting partly of R6/2 cells lived longer than pure R6/2 mice (up to 10 months), with the survival proportional to the R6/2 contribution. Genotypically R6/2 cells formed NIIs in the chimeras, and these NIIs grew only slightly larger than in 12-week pure R6/2 mice, even after 10 months. Additionally, neuropil aggregates formed near R6/2 neurons in chimeric mice older than 15 weeks. Thus, R6/2 neurons could survive well beyond 15 weeks in chimeras. Moreover, little neuronal degeneration was evident in either cortex or striatum by routine histological stains. Nonetheless, striatal shrinkage and ventricular enlargement occurred, and striatal projection neuron markers characteristically reduced in Huntington's disease were diminished. Consistent with such abnormalities, cortex and striatum in chimeras showed increased astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein. These results suggest that while cortical and striatal neurons can survive nearly a year with nuclear and extranuclear aggregates of mutant huntingtin, such lengthy survival does reveal cortical and striatal abnormality brought on by the truncated mutant protein. J. Comp. Neurol. 505:603–629, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Using Genetic Algorithms for Tasking Teams of Raven UAVs

Control of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles is of importance given that so many have been deployed in the field. This work discusses how genetic algorithms (GA) have been applied to the cooperative tasking of the AeroVironment's Raven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engaged in an intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) mission. Mission assumptions, development of the GA, the method used to test for convergence, and the outcome of preliminary testing are all discussed.
Coupled helicopter rotor/body aeromechanical stability comparison oftheoretical and experimental results

This paper presents the results of an analytical study aimed at predicting the aeromechanical stability of a helicopter in ground resonance, with the inclusions of aerodynamic forces. The theoretical results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results, available in the literature, indicating that the coupled rotor/fuselage system can be represented by a reasonably simple mathmatical model.
Effective operator treatment of the Lipkin model

We analyze the Lipkin model in the strong coupling limit using effective operator techniques. We present both analytical and numerical results for low energy effective Hamiltonians. We investigate the reliability of various approximations used to simplify the nuclear many body problem, such as the cluster approximation. We demonstrate, in explicit examples, certain limits to the validity of the cluster approximation but caution that these limits may be particular to this model where the interactions are of unlimited range.
Effect of Ovariectomy on Blood Pressure and Venous Tone in Female Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

BACKGROUND Venous capacitance plays an important role in circulatory homeostasis. A number of reports have suggested an effect of estrogen on venous function. This study tested the hypothesis that ovariectomy would increase venous tone in the female spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) via autonomic mechanisms. METHODS Five-week-old female SHR were subjected to sham operation (Sham) or ovariectomy (OVX). At 10 weeks of age, the rats were instrumented for the measurement of arterial and venous pressure. A balloon catheter was advanced into the right atrium. Mean circulatory filling pressure (MCFP), an index of venous tone, was calculated. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and MCFP were recorded from conscious rats. Postsynaptic adrenergic responsiveness was assessed by constructing cumulative dose-response curves to norepinephrine (NE). RESULTS MAP was not significantly affected by ovariectomy (Sham 127 +/- 6 mm Hg vs. OVX 130 +/- 3 mm Hg). HR also was not different between groups (Sham 409 +/- 11 bpm vs. OVX 399 +/- 12 bpm). Conversely, MCFP was significantly, but moderately, increased in OVX SHR (Sham 5.2 +/- 0.2 mm Hg vs. OVX 5.9 +/- 0.2 mm Hg). Ganglionic blockade produced marked decreases in MAP, HR, and MCFP in both groups; however, the responses were not different between groups. Infusion of NE caused dose-dependent increases in MAP and MCFP. There were no statistically significant differences in these responses between Sham and OVX SHR. CONCLUSION Endogenous ovarian hormones effect a small reduction in MCFP. This effect does not appear to be mediated by adrenergic mechanisms.
Transport of surface states in the bulk quantum Hall effect

The two-dimensional surface of a coupled multilayer integer quantum Hall system consists of an anisotropic chiral metal. This unusual metal is characterized by ballistic motion transverse and diffusive motion parallel $(z\^{})$ to the magnetic field. Employing a network model, we calculate numerically the phase coherent two-terminal $z$-axis conductance and its mesoscopic fluctuations. Quasi-one-dimensional localization effects are evident in the limit of many layers. We consider the role of inelastic dephasing effects in modifying the transport of the chiral surface sheath, discussing their importance in the recent experiments of Druist et al.
Crystallographic study of the iron-sulfur flavoprotein trimethylamine dehydrogenase from the bacterium W3A1.

Abstract Large single crystals of trimethylamine dehydrogenase, containing both [4Fe-4S]2+ centers and covalently bound FMN, have been prepared by the macro seeding technique. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P21 with cell parameters a = 147.63 A , b = 71.96 A , c = 83.66 A and β = 97.64 ° , and diffract to at least 2.0 A resolution. There is one dimer of approximately 166,000 Mm per asymmetric unit. A 5.0 A resolution anomalous scattering difference Patterson has been computed which shows the presence and position of two [4Fe-4S]2+ centers in the asymmetric unit. A self-rotation function computed at 6.0 A resolution indicates a non-crystallographic 2-fold axis relating the two subunits. These results show trimethylamine dehydrogenase to be composed of two identical or very similar subunits each containing one [4Fe-4S]2+ center.
Cellular G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase Levels Regulate Sensitivity of the α2B-Adrenergic Receptor to Undergo Agonist-Induced Down-Regulation

Chronic coactivation of α2B- and β2-adrenoceptors (AR) was recently reported to down-regulate the α2B-AR at a lower threshold epinephrine (EPI) concentration compared with the activation of α2B-AR alone. This is the result of a modest β2-AR-dependent up-regulation of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3). In the present study, we determined that increasing GRK2 or GRK3 levels, independent of β2-AR activation, decreases the EC50 concentration for agonist-induced down-regulation of the α2B-AR using NG108 cells with or without overexpression (2- to 10-fold) of GRK2 or GRK3. In parental NG108 cells, the EC50 concentration of EPI required for down-regulation of the α2B-AR is 30 μM. A 2- to 3-fold overexpression of GRK3 in NG108 cells, however, reduces the EC50 to 0.2 μM (a 150-fold decrease), whereas a comparable overexpression of GRK2 reduces it to 1 μM (a 30-fold decrease). However, when GRK3 or GRK2 in NG108 cells are overexpressed 8- to 10-fold, the EC50 concentration (0.02 μM EPI) for α2B-AR down-regulation is reduced 1000-fold. These data clearly suggest that a modest (2- to 3-fold) up-regulation of GRK3 is more effective at enhancing the sensitivity of α2B-AR to down-regulation after exposure to EPI than a modest up-regulation of GRK2, but that both GRK2 and GRK3 are equally effective at inducing α2B-AR down-regulation when up-regulated 8- to 10-fold. To our knowledge, this is the first report to systematically demonstrate that GRKs, particularly GRK3, play a pivotal role in modulating the agonist EC50 concentration that down-regulates the α2B-AR and thus adds a new dimension to an already intricate signaling network.
Young children's use of color in classification: Foods and canonically colored objects

Abstract Preschoolers seem reluctant to base categories on color. This may be because they have learned that color has low predictive validity for many categories. Exceptions include foods and kinds of objects that have characteristic colors (e.g., fire engines). In Experiment 1, 3- and 4-year-olds reliably chose a stick of a characteristic color when prompted with the label of a category whose instances have a characteristic color. They could also name categories whose instances generally share the color of a stick that was used as a cue. In Experiment 2, the same children reliably discriminated between replicas of objects that were painted a normal or an anomalous color. This result was replicated with 2-year-olds in Experiment 3. Thus, children recognize from an early age that color has predictive validity for membership in some categories. In Experiment 4, children were more likely to use color than shape to classify novel items when they thought that these were something to eat. In contrast, they were more likely to use shape when they thought the novel items were something to play with. This suggests that children have formed a general hypothesis about the predictive validity of color for kinds of food.
Transboundary water institutions in action

Abstract This analysis compares three game theory scenarios of how transboundary water institutions facilitate sovereign country management of transboundary water pollution along international borders of North America through bearing pollution abatement costs, sharing water monitoring responsibility and formal decision-making for pollution control. The three scenarios include a noncooperation game from an earlier period of unilateral decision-making, a cooperation game with water monitoring and information sharing for decisions, and a Stackelberg game with formal financial channels for one country separate from decisions for wastewater pollution reduction of each country. A numerical comparison of costs, damages and pollution levels for each scenario evolves with data from the US–Mexico border. Results show total costs and damages are minimized at $13,100,000 through cooperation, with the Stackelberg game at the next highest costs and damages for the steady state at $13,300,000. The Stackelberg solution improves considerably the situation for both the US and Mexico compared to the Nash Equilibrium (NE) where total steady costs and damages are $18,700,000. Cost minimization occurs as the US can finance pollution abatement in Mexico in the Stackelberg case cheaper than domestically to reduce damages. A sensitivity analysis explores changes in abatement cost financing and size of transboundary pollution. The divergence between the noncooperative independent action game and the Stackelberg game grows, while the Stackelberg solution continues to stay close to the cooperative solution. Solution strategies with increased wastewater pollution levels show that if wastewater management efforts are delayed without particular coordination from transboundary institutions in a waterway, pollution stock can grow profusely along with abatement cost and damages.
Spatial variability of 13C isotopic discrimination in corn

Water stress influences photosynthesis induced isotopic 13C discrimination (Δ) in C3 and C4 plants. In C4 plants, Δ increases with increasing water stress, while in C3 plants the opposite is true. The amount of Δ that occurs is a function of plant type, interactions between climatic conditions, plant available water, water stress, photosynthesis capacity, plant water demand, and yield. The objective of this study was to determine if Δ measured in corn (Zea mays) tissue collected from summit, shoulder, backslope, and toeslope areas contains spatial structure. Corn grain or fodder samples collected from grid points located at five sites were analyzed for total nitrogen (N) and Δ on a Europa 20:20 ratio mass spectrometer. At sites where crop growth was not N limited, Δ spatial dependence was described using linear models. Spatial dependence most likely was generated by environmental and physical factors that interacted to influence plant available water. Spatial dependence indicates that the basic physiologi...
Affine invariant and robust image registration/conflation algorithm

Robust imagery conflation, co-registration and geo-referencing are critical in many applications such as fusion of multispectral data from multiple sensors. An algorithm that matches linear features from two images can be very accurate because it produces many matched points, but the selection of robust and invariant points is a long-standing challenge. This paper defines several concepts of invariance and robustness of image matching algorithms relative to pairs of transformations. A new affine invariant and noise robust registration/conflation algorithm (EAD algorithm) based on algebraic structures of linear and area features is proposed. A class of Equal Area Divider (EAD) points is a major new component of the EAD-based registration/conflation algorithm. These points are both affine invariant and robust to noise. EAD points augment several known invariant or robust points such as Ramer point (R-point, the curve point with max distance from its chord), curve middle (CM) point and equal shoulders (ES) points that we have used in our structural algorithms previously. R point is affine invariant but is not noise robust, CM and ES are noise robust but not affine invariant. It is shown in this paper that if CM and ES points are computed after affine transform of the first image to the second one using EAD points, then CM and ES points are the same (or in the T-robust vicinity) of correct CM and ES points found in the matched feature in the second image. This statement is formalized and is used in EAD algorithm design.
Dual function materials for CO2 capture and conversion using renewable H2

Abstract The accumulation of CO 2 emissions in the atmosphere due to industrialization is being held responsible for climate change with increasing certainty by the scientific community. In order to prevent its further accumulation in the atmosphere, CO 2 must be captured for storage or converted to useful products. Current materials and processes for CO 2 capture are energy intensive. We report a feasibility study of dual function materials (DFM), which capture CO 2 from an emission source and at the same temperature (320 °C) in the same reactor convert it to synthetic natural gas, requiring no additional heat input. The DFM consists of Ru as methanation catalyst and nano dispersed CaO as CO 2 adsorbent, both supported on a porous γ-Al 2 O 3 carrier. A spillover process drives CO 2 from the sorbent to the Ru sites where methanation occurs using stored H 2 from excess renewable power. This approach utilizes flue gas sensible heat and eliminates the current energy intensive and corrosive capture and storage processes without having to transport captured CO 2 or add external heat.
STABILIZATION OF SULCONAZOLE NITRATE IN A TOPICAL POWDER FORMULATION

Abstract A mixture of sulconazole nitrate and talc appeared to be unstable under accelerated temperature conditions. The rate of degradation was influenced by temperature and the source of talc. Acid washing of the talc or addition of acidic compounds seemed to accelerate the degradation of sulconazole nitrate. The formulation was stabilized by the addition of basic metal salts of some inorganic or organic acids, such as sodium bicarbonate and sodium acetate. The stability was also influenced by the surface area of both the stabilizing agent and sulconazole nitrate
Modelling the long-term response to positive and negative priming of soil organic carbon by black carbon

Observed increases in the mineralization rate of labile organic carbon (LOC) in the presence of black carbon (BC) have led to speculation that corresponding decreases in non-pyrogenic (i.e. non-BC) soil organic carbon (npSOC) could significantly reduce or negate the C sequestration benefit of BC in soils. Here we show that the potential effect of an increased LOC decomposition rate on long-term npSOC stocks is negligible, even when using assumptions that would favour large losses, potentially causing no more than 3–4 % loss of npSOC over 100 years if 50 % of above-ground crop residues were converted to BC annually. Conversely, if the BC-stimulated enhanced stabilization of npSOC that has been observed in laboratory trials is extrapolated to the long-term, it would greatly increase soil carbon stocks by 30–60 %. Annual additions of BC derived from crop residues would increase total SOC (including both BC and npSOC) by an amount five times greater than the potential increase from enhanced stabilization and an order of magnitude greater than losses of npSOC caused by annual removals of biomass to provide BC feedstock.
Nanomechanical sensors: Bent on detecting cancer.

Arrays of microcantilevers that have been coated with a specific oligonucleotide can be used to detect malignant melanoma.
A mathematical model for power output in rowing on an ergometer

A mathematical model relating power output of rower to stroke rate on an ergometer (the Concept II Indoor Rower TM, Model C) is studied. The model is used to analyse the ergometer performance of a particular rower. It is determined that he can be more efficient (i.e. decrease power output while maintaining fixed velocity) by decreasing stroke rate, but at the expense of increasing force during the drive. It is also shown that he can be more efficient by increasing the drag factor (using higher vent setting) without increasing force. Dependence of power output on rowing style (the shape of the force curve) is also examined. It is shown that variation of force during the drive has little effect on efficiency, but efficiency is reduced by asymmetry of the force curve that favours the legs.
Mood Variability in Adolescent Suicide: Importance in Domains of Self-Schemas in Adolescent Suicide

The premise that significant differences exist in self-concept content, structure, and processes between 3 groups of adolescents (age 13–17) was examined in this study. A pilot (and subsequent control group) (n = 23) of non-depressed, non-behaviorally disordered adolescents, and two clinical subgroups consisting of (a) depressed adolescents (n = 30) and (b) adolescents with a history of a past suicide attempt or attempts (n = 12) were recruited and interviewed during 1996–1999. Significant relationships between decreasing levels of importance of school and family and increasing levels of mood variability were found among adolescents with a history of suicidality. Thus use of very specific assessments focused on the importance of school and family may contribute to our understanding of explicit dimensions within the self related to emotional and/or behavioral issues in adolescence.