cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shifts in functional traits among tree communities across succession in eastern deciduous forests

Abstract Throughout the eastern deciduous forest (EDF) region, disturbances, including fire, wind storms, and landslides, interweave with complex topography and vegetation history to produce a mosaic of forest types and ages. Forest composition and dynamics following disturbance can depend on the interaction of plant traits related to resource capture, regeneration, and growth with changes in the post-disturbance environment. Appropriate traits should vary predictably with the stand age of a forest community as this acts as a proxy for time since last disturbance. We used Forest Inventory and Analysis data to investigate the hypothesis that community level means of seed mass and wood density increase, and leaf nitrogen decreases, with age of eastern deciduous forests, reflecting a shift from light-seeded, fast-growing early successional vegetation to heavier-seeded, slower-growing vegetation. As hypothesized, seed mass and wood density were positively correlated with stand age; however, the relationship differed among ecoregions of the EDF. Northern forests in the Warm Continental Division showed lower seed mass and wood density values in young stands, with a stronger increase in these values as succession advanced relative to more southerly ecoregions. This could reflect slower succession, preponderance of light-seeded and low wood density early post-disturbance deciduous trees such as Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera, or presence of conifers in early successional stands. Leaf nitrogen showed no consistent relationship with stand age, suggesting no consistent relationship of photosynthetic rate or soil nitrogen content with tree composition over succession throughout the EDF. Instead, leaf nitrogen differed among the ecoregion divisions and showed a unimodal distribution with latitude, peaking near the middle latitudes of the Hot Continental and Prairie Divisions. Collectively, the results indicate functional trait shifts over succession throughout the EDF, in agreement with a shift from ruderal to more competitive or stress-tolerant strategies, but also point to differences in the strength and shape of that shift among ecoregions. Early post-disturbance forest harbors a unique combination of functional traits. Further, disturbance that creates a mosaic of forest stand ages is important for maximizing not just species diversity, but functional diversity as well.
Mixed valence in CeNi5; effects of dilution and chemical pressure

Abstract X-ray L III absorption measurements were employed to determine the (mixed) valence of the system R 0.9 Ce 0.1 Ni 5 , where R = La, Pr, Gd, Er or Lu. The valences obtained spanned only the narrow range 3.13–3.16 in going from La to Lu, compared to 3.15 for the stoichiometric compound CeNi 5 . These results establish the extreme insensitivity of the mixed valence of CeNi 5 to dilution effects, and, hence, that is a local site phenomenon. Moreover, the valence is relatively insensitive to chemical pressure-induced lattice constant changes as alrge as 3 or 4%.
Fracture failure in crack interaction of asphalt binder by using a phase field approach

Fracture failure in crack interaction of asphalt binder has always been one serious problem in the pavement industry. In the state of the art research of asphalt cracking, single mode cracking has been studied by many researchers but there lacks theoretical and experimental research on the crack interaction of asphalt binder, which is more reasonable and realistic. The traditional way is to use the Griffith’s theory which is complex and complicated. In this paper, the phase field method (PFM) is presented for modeling, which describes the whole cracking system using a phase-field variable that assumes negative one in the void region (crack) and positive one in the solid region (intact). The fracture toughness is then considered as a material property and modeled as the surface energy stored in the diffuse interface between the intact solid and crack void. The non-conserved Allen–Cahn equation is adopted as the system governing equation to evolve the phase field variable to account for the growth of cracks. The energy based formulation of the phase-field method handles the competition between the growth of surface energy and release of elastic energy of crack interaction in a natural way: the crack propagation is a result of the energy minimization in the direction of the steepest descent. Both the linear elasticity and phase-field equation are solved in a unified finite element frame work, which is implemented in the commercial software COMSOL. Two cracking experiments, namely, direct tension test and double edge notch tension test are then performed for validation. It is discovered that the critical load of crack interaction by PFM agrees very well with both experiment results.
Dangerous Machinery: "Conspiracy Theorist" as a Transpersonal Strategy of Exclusion

In a culture of fear, we should expect the rise of new mechanisms of social control to deflect distrust, anxiety, and threat. Relying on the anal- ysis of popular and academic texts, we examine one such mechanism, the label conspiracy theory, and explore how it works in public dis- course to "go meta" by sidestepping the examination of evidence. Our findings suggest that authors use the conspiracy theorist label as (1) a routinized strategy of exclusion; (2) a reframing mechanism that deflects questions or concerns about power, corruption, and motive; and (3) an attack upon the personhood and competence of the questioner. This label becomes dangerous machinery at the transpersonal levels of media and academic discourse, symbolically stripping the claimant of the status of reasonable interlocutor—often to avoid the need to account for one's own action or speech. We argue that this and similar mechanisms simultaneously control the flow of information and sym- bolically demobilize certain voices and issues in public discourse.
Characterization of a soluble mouse liver enzyme capable of hydrolyzing diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate

Abstract A novel mouse liver soluble fraction DFPase which has organophosphatase activities with sarin, soman and tabun, was purified and characterized. However, it lacks paraoxonase and arylesterase activities with paraoxon and phenyl acetate, respectively. This DFPase closely resembles and may be identical with the one purified by Little et al. in 1989 from the soluble fraction of rat liver, based on its substrate specificity, size (∼39 kDa) and its stimulation by several metal ions, namely magnesium, manganese and cobalt. Sequencing of our purified mouse liver DFPase showed it to be identical in its amino acid sequence with the recently identified senescence marker protein-30 (SMP-30) by Fujita et al. in 1996. Other senescence marker proteins possessing high structural homology with the mouse SMP-30 have also been found and sequenced from human and rat livers. There is no structural homology between the senescence marker protein family and the group of mammalian paraoxonases. Thus, it is clear that there are at least two distinct, unrelated families of mammalian liver enzymes that share DFPase activity.
TATA-binding protein-associated factors enhance the recruitment of RNA polymerase II by transcriptional activators.

Transcription factor (TF) IID, comprised of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAFs), is a general transcription factor required for RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription on most eukaryotic genes. Recent findings that TAFs may not be globally required for activator-dependent transcription in vivo andin vitro and that both TAF-dependent and TAF-independent promoters are found in yeast suggest that transcriptional activation can occur through at least two different pathways, depending on the presence or absence of TAFs. Using order-of-addition and template challenge assays performed in a human cell-free transcription system reconstituted with recombinant general transcription factors (TFIIB, TBP, TFIIE, TFIIF), a recombinant general cofactor (PC4), and highly purified epitope-tagged multiprotein complexes (TFIID, TFIIH, pol II), we demonstrate that when TBP is used as the TATA-binding factor transcriptional activators such as Gal4-VP16 and human papillomavirus E2 mainly function by facilitating pol II entry to the promoter region. In contrast, when TFIID is used as the TATA-binding factor, promoter recognition by TFIID appears to be the rate-limiting step facilitated by transcriptional activators during preinitiation complex assembly. Using protein-protein pull-down and far-Western analyses, we further show that the presence of TAFs in TFIID facilitates the recruitment of pol II by transcriptional activators, thereby switching the rate-limiting step from pol II entry to promoter recognition. Our findings thus provide distinct molecular mechanisms for TAF-independent and TAF-dependent activation.
Inhibition of PKC β by Ruboxistaurin Does Not Enhance the Acute Blood Pressure Response to Nitroglycerin

Ruboxistaurin is a selective protein kinase C β inhibitor undergoing clinical investigation for treatment of diabetic microvascular complications. This study assessed a possible blood pressure (BP) interaction between ruboxistaurin and the exogenous nitric oxide donor, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Subjects (N=22) with chronic stable angina received placebo or ruboxistaurin 96 mg/day orally to steady state in a crossover design. Graded GTN (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 120 μg/min) or 5% dextrose solution was then infused intravenously and BP was measured following each dose. Ruboxistaurin did not alter the slope of change in standing systolic BP (ΔsSBP/1n[GTN dose]) curve (P=0.272 analysis of covariance) or affect the ΔsSBP at the estimated GTN dose producing a 10-mm Hg reduction in sSBP from baseline on placebo (mean difference −0.9 mm Hg; 95% confidence of interval, −3.3–1.5). In conclusion, ruboxistaurin does not potentiate the acute BP-lowering effects of GTN. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2007) 82 181–186. doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100210; published online 18 April 2007
Quantitative Computed Tomographic Analysis in the Diagnosis of Dementia

We compared the computed tomographic (CT) scans of 46 patients with dementia with those of 46 normal subjects matched for age and sex. We measured the areas subtended by the third ventricle, frontal horns, bodies of the lateral ventricles, and interhemispheric fissure as depicted in CT sections, then determined the ratio between each of those areas and the entire brain at each level. Patients with dementia had significantly larger ratios on all measures. A multivariate classification procedure showed that a composite formula of two measures, the bodies of the lateral ventricles and the interhemispheric fissure, predicted clinical status in 84% of the cases. Findings indicated that some CT measurements reflected cerebral changes associated with dementia. If appreciated in a suitable probabilistic framework, these data may be clinically useful in supporting or weakening the diagnostic hypothesis of dementia in the many cases in which diagnosis is unclear.
Improving quality of life in female cancer survivors: current status and future questions.

ABSTRACT: Almost 14 million people in the USA alone have been diagnosed with cancer. Given the improvements in diagnosis and treatment, over 60% of patients are expected to survive 5 years or more from the point of diagnosis. Treatments for cancer may result in long-term issues including those that impact the physical, emotional, spiritual or social domains. However, how best to care for issues in survivors remains unclear. Although much attention has been focused on survivorship care plans and survivorship clinics, there are limited data to show they improve outcomes. This article reviews the issues in female cancer survivors that can occur following diagnosis and treatment and suggest strategies that may assist in management. Finally, we review the current views regarding the care of cancer survivors and suggest important issues that must be addressed so that we can reach our goal of improvement in the quality of life of this emerging population.
Effect of pH on the affinity of phospholipids for cholesterol

The ability of multilamellar vesicles of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in aqueous phase to prevent access to cholesterol by a nonpolar solvent was examined. Phosphatidylethanolamine vesicles retained less sterol than phosphatidylcholine vesicles. In mixed vesicles, cholesterol was retained in proportion to the amount of phosphatidylcholine. To alter the charge and hydration of head groups, pH was adjusted from 1.2 to 12.5. Above pH 8, both phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine retained sterol in a 1∶1 molar ratio of phospholipid to cholesterol, regardless of acyl side chain composition. Between pH 2.0 and pH 8.0, sterol retention varied with type of head group and side chain. Lipids with 16-carbon saturated side chains retained more sterol than 18-carbon unsaturated or 12-carbon saturated side chains. Between pH 1.1 and 2.0, none of the phosphatidylethanolamines retained sterol, but long chain phosphatidylcholines, saturated or unsaturated, retained sterol in a 1∶1 molar ratio of phospholipid to sterol. Short chain phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylcholines retained 0 to 20% at the low- to mid-pH range. Size of multilamellar vesicles, measured by Doppler effect light scattering analysis, had no bearing on sterol retention. Sonication of vesicles, which increases surface curvature, increases the retention of sterol. Fluorescence polarization indicated that cholesterol does not interact with DPPC or DLPC side chains. The observations can be interpreted in terms of space requirements of head groups, including charge repulsion and hydration. Other factors, such as monovalent cation replacement by protons, juxtaposition of charged groups on vesicle surfaces and length and unsaturation of acyl side chains affect the affinity of phospholipids for cholesterol.
High performance user space sockets on low power System on a Chip platforms

With the introduction of low power System on a Chip (SoC) processor architectures in enterprise server configurations, there is a growing need to develop the software that will support scale-out, data intensive cloud applications that are deployed in data centers today. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a low latency user space fully compliant TCP/IP socket stack on a low power System on a Chip (SoC) architecture and demonstrate that this library can become the basis for “Big Data” applications that require both high throughput and low latency capabilities all on a power optimized system platform. For our work, we are specifically targeting cloud applications that are developed on runtimes which are seeing great growth in programmer communities and enterprise deployment as well as for which the I/O bottlenecks outweigh the compute requirements, e.g. memcached. On low-power embedded-class SoC servers, these I/O bottlenecks can be prohibitively expensive for performance and scaling requirements of such applications, even when the CPU efficiency and memory bandwidth are adequate. Our approach removes this bottleneck by leveraging available SoC integrated Network Interface Cards (NICs) as well as user space communication - thereby improving pathlength to data as well as preserving CPU cycles from context switching. Our experiments show that we can achieve sub 5 µsec ping-pong latency for 8B packets, and also provide substantive improvement to the memslap benchmark not just when compared to memcached running on the T4240 with the kernel stack (3.5 times better for 16B SETs) but also when compared to a standard x86_64 server with ConnectX 10GbE adapters when power based metrics are used (close to a factor of 2 improvement with power normalized metrics).
Does Hepatocellular Injury in Sepsis Involve Apoptosis

Apoptosis (AO) is a process by which cells typically undergo a form of nonnecrotic cellular suicide. AO normally allows the host to selectively delete cells from a given tissue site without producing bystander injury associated with necrosis. However, inappropriate induction of AO has been associated with a variety of acute as well as chronic pathological states and may contribute to the therapeutic nonresponsiveness frequently encountered in the septic animal/patient's organ function. In this respect, while AO has been demonstrated in a variety of immune cell tissues of septic animals it is unclear if it is present in the septic liver. Therefore, it was the aim of our study to determine if AO is evident in hepatocytes of polymicrobial septic animals. To assess this, C3H/HeN male mice were subjected to polymicrobial sepsis (cecal ligation and puncture) or sham- CLP (Sham). Hepatocytes were then harvested at 4 h (early hyperdynamic phase) or 24 h (late hypodynamic state) later, and indices of AO were assessed [cell cycle analysis of Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining for flow cytometric analysis, DNA extracted, and cell death ELISA]. Plasma glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) was also colorimetrically assessed as well as total viable cell yield as an index of hepatocellular necrosis. The results indicate that indices of hepatocellular AO, as determined by cell cycle analysis and cell death ELISA, were markedly increased in polymicrobial septic mice at 24 h. However, while an increase in DNA fragmentation/degradation could be consistently detected, the pattern was typically faint. Similarly, although there was an increase in Annexin V staining it was not dissociated from that of PI (necrotic index). Alternatively, necrosis (as evidenced by increased GPT levels at both 4 and 24 h) preceded the induction of all the indices of AO. Taken together, these data suggest a role for both necrosis and apoptosis in the evolution of hepatocellular injury encountered in the polymicrobial septic animal/patient which may represent a unique pattern of cell death under such conditions.
Chromosomal location of ribosomal RNA cistrons in Escherichia coli.

DNA isolated from a strain carrying an episomal that contains the str spc region (60–66 min) hybridized with significantly more ribosomal RNA than did DNA from either the parental strain that does not carry the episome or from a similar strain carrying an episome covering a neighboring region (55–61 min) of the genome.
Sedimentation of aggregating colloids

We investigate the combined effects of gravity, attractive interactions, and Brownian motion in suspensions of colloidal particles and nonadsorbing polymer. Depending on the effective strength of gravitational forces, resulting from a density mismatch between the colloids and the solvent, and the magnitude and range of the depletion interactions induced by the polymer, sedimentation in these suspensions can result in an equilibrium structure or a kinetically arrested state. We employ large-scale molecular dynamics simulations to systematically classify the different regimes that arise as a function of attraction strength and gravitational stress. Whereas strong attractions lead to cluster aggregation and low-density arrested states, moderate attractions can enhance crystallization of the colloidal particles in the sediment. We make direct comparisons to experimental results to infer general conclusions about the mechanisms leading to mechanically stable sediments.
Microwave Interstellar Medium Emission in the Green Bank Galactic Plane Survey: Evidence for Spinning Dust

We observe significant dust-correlated emission outside of H II regions in the Green Bank Galactic Plane Survey (-4? < b < 4?) at 8.35 and 14.35?GHz. The rising spectral slope rules out synchrotron and free-free emission as majority constituents at 14 GHz, and the amplitude is at least 500 times higher than expected thermal dust emission. When combined with the Rhodes (2.326 GHz) and Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (23-94 GHz) data, it is possible to fit dust-correlated emission at 2.3-94 GHz with only soft synchrotron, free-free, thermal dust, and an additional dust-correlated component similar to Draine & Lazarian spinning dust. The rising component generally dominates free-free and synchrotron for ? 14?GHz and is overwhelmed by thermal dust at ? 60?GHz. The current data fulfill most of the criteria laid out by Finkbeiner and coworkers for detection of spinning dust.
Soil Carbon Storage by Switchgrass Grown for Bioenergy

Life-cycle assessments (LCAs) of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) grown for bioenergy production require data on soil organic carbon (SOC) change and harvested C yields to accurately estimate net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To date, nearly all information on SOC change under switchgrass has been based on modeled assumptions or small plot research, both of which do not take into account spatial variability within or across sites for an agro-ecoregion. To address this need, we measured change in SOC and harvested C yield for switchgrass fields on ten farms in the central and northern Great Plains, USA (930 km latitudinal range). Change in SOC was determined by collecting multiple soil samples in transects across the fields prior to planting switchgrass and again 5 years later after switchgrass had been grown and managed as a bioenergy crop. Harvested aboveground C averaged 2.5± 0.7 Mg C ha −1 over the 5 year study. Across sites, SOC increased significantly at 0-30 cm (P=0.03) and 0-120 cm (P=0.07), with accrual rates of 1.1 and 2.9 Mg C ha −1 year −1 (4.0 and 10.6 Mg CO2 ha −1 year −1 ), respectively. Change in SOC across sites varied considerably, however, ranging from −0.6 to 4.3 Mg C ha −1 year −1 for the 0-30 cm depth. Such variation in SOC change must be taken into consideration in LCAs. Net GHG emissions from bioenergy crops vary in space and time. Such variation, coupled with an increased reliance on agriculture for energy production, underscores the need for long-term environmental monitor- ing sites in major agro-ecoregions.
Evidence-based medicine for dermatologic surgeons: concepts in critical appraisal of information.

Background. The term evidence-based medicine (EBM) is increasingly being used. Physicians, journal editors, insurance companies, and patients are applying its tenets to clinical decision making. Although there are concerns about the overly zealous application of EBM to clinical situations, many of the basic concepts are important in improving decision making. Objective. To define evidence-based medicine and to review potential problems in basing decision making entirely on less-than-ideal evidence. Methods. We reviewed the EBM literature and looked for examples in dermatology of pitfalls in decision making based on poor evidence. Results. Following a definition of EBM, we review problems inherent in anecdotes and uncontrolled trials, including the placebo effect. Examples of medical practice that have been altered by doing more rigorous studies are provided. Conclusions. Concepts of EBM as currently defined should be considered by dermatologic surgeons in assessing the available information for clinical decision making.
Defensins and Paneth Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides produced by professional phagocytes, Paneth cells, and intestinal epithelial cells. In addition to their potent antimicrobial activity, defensins can also modulate the function and movement of neutrophils, monocytes, T-lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and epithelial cells. Paneth cells are equipped with multiple defensins and antimicrobial proteins and usually reside in the small intestine. This review highlights the diverse functions of defensins and changes in defensin expression and Paneth cell proliferation in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and animal models of inflammatory bowel disease. Current data favor the hypothesis that defensins and Paneth cells may play important roles in the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis through 2 distinct mechanisms. The first mechanism is to act as effector molecules and cells against pathogenic microbes, while the second is to regulate host immune cell functions.
Parallel-channel flow instabilities and active control schemes in two-phase microchannel heat exchanger systems

Parallel-channel flow mal-distribution and pressure-drop flow oscillations are two of the most severe dynamic instabilities for boiling flow especially in microchannel systems. This paper presents a framework for the transient analysis and active control of microchannel flow instabilities at a system-level view. A lumped two-phase flow system model is derived from the momentum balance equation to capture the characteristics of the microchannel heat exchangers. Bifurcations of flow distribution and inlet pressure can arise in parallel-channel two-phase flow systems. This paper investigates the control-theoretic properties with different control devices, including inlet valves and supply pump. Individual control valves at the inlet of each channel can be used to suppress both flow mal-distribution and flow oscillations effectively, although this scheme is subject to higher pressure loss and potential higher supply pumping power. Using the pump alone can only suppress pressure-drop flow oscillations, but not for flow mal-distribution in two identical parallel channels. However, we make an interesting observation that with different channel properties, we regain controllability from the pump and observability from a single channel flow rate measurement.
Behavioral and Neurophysiological Studies On Cat Color Vision

The mechanisms of cat color vision were investigated with behavioral and neurophysiological techniques. Initial spectral sensitivity measurements of responses from single optic tract and lateral geniculate cells uncovered input from only one type of cone, with peak sensitivity at 556 nm. Behavioral studies then demonstrated that cats could distinguish colors in the photopic range, above the level of rod saturation, thus clearly indicating the presence of more than one cone type. A subsequent microelectrode survey of 434 optic tract and lateral geniculate units disclosed rare units in layer B of the geniculate that receive input from two types of cone in an opponent-color fashion.
Cloud water and throughfall deposition of mercury and trace elements in a high elevation spruce-fir forest at Mt. Mansfield, Vermont.

As part of the Lake Champlain Basin watershed study of mercury (Hg) and pollutant deposition, cloud water and cloud throughfall collections were conducted at the south summit (1204 m) of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont between August 1 and October 31, 1998, for multi-element chemical analysis. A passive Teflon string collector was deployed during non-precipitating events to sample cloud/fog water at timberline, while three sets of paired funnels collected cloud throughfall under the red spruce–balsam fir canopy. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of Hg, major ions, and 10 trace elements. Ultra-clean sampling and analysis techniques were utilized throughout the study. Six events were sampled for cloud water alone and four events were sampled for both cloud water and cloud throughfall. Cloud throughfall chemistry showed substantial modification from incident cloud water. Much higher concentrations of Hg (2.3×), base cations (Ca2+, K+, Mg2+; 3–18×) and certain trace elements (Ni, Cu, Mn, Rb, Sr; 2–34×) were observed in throughfall than in cloud water. These results confirm that cloud water can leach a wide variety of elements from tree foliage and wash off dry deposited elements. Cloud water deposited an average of 0.42 ± 0.12 mm of water per hour. Estimated cloud water deposition of Hg was 7.4 µg m−2 for the period August 1–October 31, approximately twice that deposited by rain during this period at a nearby low elevation Hg monitoring site. Our results indicate that cloud water and Hg deposition at Mt. Mansfield are likely to have considerable ecological effects.
Of/From Theology and Deconstruction

RECENTLY, DECONSTRUCTION-the term used somewhat loosely to refer to the post-structuralist style of philosophy and criticism practiced by Jacques Derrida and others-has been put squarely in the middle of the discussion concerning the possibilities of religious thinking in a postmodern world. According to its advocates, deconstruction promises to break Western religious thinking out of its current insignificance, freeing us from traditional theological and philosophical concepts for (as Mark Taylor might put it) a comedic, errant tracing of the divine milieu. However divergent their specific interests may be, those enamored of deconstruction share an apocalyptic vision of a brighter future for theology and religious thinking once they are invigorated by deconstructive insights.' However, the novelty claimed for a deconstructive a/theology seems questionable in light of the possibilities for religious thinking provided by Martin Heidegger. To show this, my argument will proceed in three stages. First, an attempt will be made to summarize the issues that seem to divide Heidegger and Derrida through a brief summary of the similarities that Heidegger and Derrida have to the tragic and the comic respectively. Such a comparison is suggested by the playful and performative nature of the thinking of Heidegger and Derrida (i.e., each demonstrates and enacts that about which they think) and should prove helpful in illuminating the complex issue between Heidegger and Derrida by way of the more familiar but equally complex relationship between tragedy and comedy. The comparison is made, then, on the one hand, to provide us with a key to the "systematic" concerns of Heidegger and Derrida, illustrating how those concerns play themselves out into different sorts of stories, how each narrates a different sort of "logic." On the
Seeking Candidate Mutations That Affect Iron Homeostasis

Abstract ABSTRACT Hereditary hemochromatosis is characterized by marked variation of expression of the defect: very few homozygotes with the C282Y/C282Y HFE genotype have full-blown clinical disease, a larger number show biochemical stigmata of iron overload, and some seem normal biochemically. The following candidate genes have been examined in detail to determine whether polymorphisms in them may be responsible for this variation: transferrin, transferrin receptor 1, transferrin receptor 2, ferritin-L, ferritin-H, IRP1, IRP2, HFE, β 2 microglobulin, mobilferrin/calreticulin, ceruloplasmin, ferroportin, NRAMP 1, NRAMP2 ( DMT1 ), haptoglobin, heme oxygenase-1, heme oxygenase-2, hepcidin, USF2, ZIRTL, duodenal cytochrome b ferric reductase ( DCYTB ), TNFα, keratin 8, and keratin 18. The coding sequence, exon–intron junctions, and promoters of each of these genes was sequenced in DNA from 20 subjects: 5 HFE C282Y/C282Y with clinical disease, 5 HFE C282Y/C282Y with normal/low ferritin levels and no disease, 5 wt/wt with high ferritin and transferrin saturation, and 5 wt/wt normal controls. When coding or promoter polymorphisms were encountered, DNA from large numbers of ethnically defined subjects was examined for these polymorphisms and a relationship between their existence and abnormalities of iron homeostasis was sought. Only in the case of one transferrin mutation did we find a strong relationship between the polymorphism and iron deficiency anemia. The putative genes that affect the expression of HFE mutations remain elusive.
Semi-Markov dynamic programming approach to competitive bidding with state space reduction considerations

Abstract An infinite horizon semi-Markov dynamic programming model is formulated to compute the optimal bidding strategy for a firm using multiple limited resources with idle costs, sequentially bidding in each period for one of the multiple types of projects with different durations and resource requirements. An oligopolistic market with generally stable environmental conditions, in which the lowest bidder secures the project, is considered. Previous bid results are assumed to be known prior to submitting a subsequent bid.
Differential gene expression in patients genetically predisposed to pancreatic cancer.

Background Nearly 10% of all pancreatic cancer (PCA) results from genetic predisposition. Although abnormalities in sporadic PCA have been described, little is known about the genetics of heritable PCA. The purpose of this study was to identify novel genes expressed in patients with a presumed genetic predisposition or “familial” PCA. Patients and methods We defined “familial” PCA as patients having one or more first-degree relatives with biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Using a PCR-based subtractive and enrichment procedure, representational difference analysis (RDA), pancreatic tumor cDNA was reverse-transcribed from pooled poly(A)+ mRNA from six such patients (tester) and compared to pooled cDNA from five normal pancreata (driver). Tumor-specific gene fragments were identified and confirmed to be overexpressed in familial PCA by comparative RT-PCR. Six PCA cell lines, 11 sporadic tumors, 5 neuroendocrine tumors, and 3 chronic pancreatitis tissues were screened to determine the specificity of these genes. Results Sequence analysis revealed several sequences of unknown significance and six genes previously described in neoplasia/carcinogenesis: Apolipoprotein A4, CEA, Keratin 19, Stratifin (14-3-3 sigma), Trefoil Factor, and Calcium Binding Protein S100 A6 . Screening of cell lines and pancreatic tissue types showed varying degrees of specificity for familial and sporadic PCA. The APO-A4 gene was up-regulated in familial PCA. Conclusions The pattern of frequency in all screened tissue suggests that these genes are associated with conditions that produce significant desmoplastic responses and are difficult to differentiate from chronic inflammatory processes. Apolipoprotein A4 is preferentially expressed in familial patients, suggesting that the importance of fatty acid synthesis in carcinogenesis be investigated further.
Heterogeneous afferents to the inferior parietal lobule of the rhesus monkey revealed by the retrograde transport method

Summary The sources of afferent connections to the inferior parietal lobule (rostral part of the area 7 of Brodmann; PF and rostral part of PG of von Bonin and Bailey) were examined with the retrograde transport method in infant and adult rhesus monkeys. Two to 3 days after injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the cortex, the animals were anesthetized, and the brains fixed and processed for the histochemical demonstration of the enzyme marker. Labeled neurons were found in layer III in the ipsilateral prefrontal, parietal, occipital and temporal cortices, notably in areas 5, 19, 22 and 46 of Brodmann, and in area 7 of the contralateral parietal cortex. In the thalamus, HRP-positive cells were located ipsilaterally in the medial pulvinar nucleus in the nuclei centrum medianum and parafascicularis, as well as in the rostral thalamus, lateral and medial to the mammillothalamic tract, in the nucleus ventralis anterior and nucleus paracentralis. Numerous labeled cells were also identified in the magnocellular nuclei of the basal forebrain, in the dorsal and medial raphe nuclei, and in the locus coeruleus. Most of the cells in these regions were located in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the injections, but a number of them were also found in the contralateral hemisphere. In adult monkeys, brownish granules in the cytoplasm of some cells were interpreted as endogenous pigment or due to various pigment precursors. However, all 14 locations listed above were identified in the infant monkey in which endogenous pigment was not a confounding factor.
Successful percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of the radial artery in a patient with chronic upper extremity ischemia and digital gangrene.

Purpose:To report percutaneous treatment of a chronic radial artery occlusion in a multimorbid patient with ischemic tissue loss.Case Report:A 62-year-old man with multiple comorbidities, including...
On computational algorithms for real-valued continuous functions of several variables

The subject of this paper is algorithms for computing superpositions of real-valued continuous functions of several variables based on space-filling curves. The prototypes of these algorithms were based on Kolmogorov's dimension-reducing superpositions (Kolmogorov, 1957). Interest in these grew significantly with the discovery of Hecht-Nielsen that a version of Kolmogorov's formula has an interpretation as a feedforward neural network (Hecht-Nielse, 1987). These superpositions were constructed with devil's staircase-type functions to answer a question in functional complexity, rather than become computational algorithms, and their utility as an efficient computational tool turned out to be limited by the characteristics of space-filling curves that they determined. After discussing the link between the algorithms and these curves, this paper presents two algorithms for the case of two variables: one based on space-filling curves with worked out coding, and the Hilbert curve (Hilbert, 1891).
Convective heat transfer in vee-trough linear concentrators

Abstract Natural convection heat-transfer coefficients have been experimentally determined for trough-type collectors. The effects of Rayleigh number, tilt angle, and ideal concentration ratio on the Nusselt number have been experimentally determined over ranges representative of collector operation. The Rayleigh number range tested was up to 107, the tilt angle was varied from 30–90° and ideal concentration ratios of 2, 3, 4 and 5 were tested. The experimental results are supported by finite element solutions to the governing equations. A method of extending the results to truncated trough collectors and CPC collectors is suggested. The convective losses are compared to those for conventional flat plate collectors. The critical Rayleigh number increases with concentration ratio. Nusselt number increases more rapidly at high concentration ratio than at low values. Correlation equations are developed over the range of parameters tested. These results are useful to designers of collectors of this type, and allow estimation of the thermal losses during operation.
Interplanetary gas. XXV - A solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field interpretation of cometary light outbursts

Possible relationships of cometary brightness outbursts with the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field are examined. Two types of outburst are distinguished: those which involve a significant brightening of both the head and the tail in a comet with a conspicuous plasma tail (Class I), and those involving the brightening of the central condensation of a previously faint comet with no detectable plasma tail (Class II). Class I bursts, as exemplified by Comet Morehouse 1908c, are attributed to the generation in the head of enhanced amounts of ions and their injection into the tail shortly before it disconnects, with ionization provided by sector boundary crossings. Class II events, as exhibited by Comet P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak 1973b, are interpreted as the result of the bombardment of the nucleus by disturbed solar wind near corotated high-speed streams and sector boundaries, leading to highly exothermic chemical reactions.
Analysis of statistical model properties from discrete nuclear structure data

Experimental M1, E1, and E2 photon strengths have been compiled from ex- perimental data in the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) and the Evaluated Gamma-ray Activation File (EGAF). Over 20,000 Weisskopf reduced transition proba- bilities were recovered from the ENSDF and EGAF databases. These transition strengths have been analyzed for their dependence on transition energies, initial and final level ener- gies, spin/parity dependence, and nuclear deformation. ENSDF BE1W values were found to increase exponentially with energy, possibly consistent with the Axel-Brink hypothesis, although considerable excess strength observed for transitions between 4-8 MeV. No sim- ilar energy dependence was observed in EGAF or ARC data. BM1W average values were nearly constant at all energies above 1 MeV with substantial excess strength below 1 MeV and between 4-8 MeV. BE2W values decreased exponentially by a factor of 1000 from 0 to 16 MeV. The distribution of ENSDF transition probabilities for all multipolarities could be described by a lognormal statistical distribution. BE1W, BM1W, and BE2W strengths all increased substantially for initial transition level energies between 4-8 MeV possibly due to dominance of spin-flip and Pygmy resonance transitions at those excitations. Anal- ysis of the average resonance capture data indicated no transition probability dependence on final level spins or energies between 0-3 MeV. The comparison of favored to unfa- vored transition probabilities for odd-A or odd-Z targets indicated only partial support for the expected branching intensity ratios with many unfavored transitions having nearly the same strength as favored ones. Average resonance capture BE2W transition strengths generally increased with greater deformation. Analysis of ARC data suggest that there is a large E2 admixture in M1 transitions with the mixing ratio ≈ 1:0. The ENSDF reduced transition strengths were considerably stronger than those derived from capture gamma ray data implying that those data are strongly biased by favored, unhindered transitions.
Building the Social Work Workforce: Saving Lives and Families

This article depicts a journey over the decades to address some of the needs of children and families in the child welfare system. Recounting a few key milestones and challenges in the past 40 years, it is argued that workforce development is one key to improved outcomes for abused and neglected children and their families. Major events and several turning points are chronicled. Emerging workforce needs in aging are also cited as lessons learned from child welfare have implications for building a gero savvy social work workforce. Funding streams involving IV-E and Medicaid are discussed. It is argued that workforce development can be a life and death issue for some of these most vulnerable populations. Thus, the workforce development agenda must be at the forefront of the social work profession for the 21st century. Key funding streams are needed to foster investments in building and sustaining the social work workforce.
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and NIH grant process: an overview.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) comprise the largest single source of funding in the world for the support of biomedical research. Much of the work of the NIH focuses on the elucidation of fundamental biophysical, biochemical, and biologic aspects of the molecular, cellular, and tissue processes underlying both healthy and diseased states of biologic systems and on the development of cures for the latter. In 2000, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) was created with a somewhat different focus: Rather than concentration on a specific organ system or category of disease, the primary objective of the NIBIB is the advancement of technologies and tools that contribute to all aspects of biomedical research and health care delivery, especially in the imaging sciences and bioengineering. This article provides an overview of the ways in which NIH funds research, with an emphasis on NIBIB support of biomedical imaging. It is intended for radiologists, radiation oncologist...
Analytic Models and Policy Prescription: Understanding Recent Innovation in U.S. Counterterrorism

The threat of terrorism, particularly terrorism involving a weapon of mass destruction (WMD), has received enormous attention in the last decade. Since the mid1990s, the federal government has embarked on a concerted national effort to prepare the country for acts of WMD terrorism. A key component of the counterterrorism agenda is the domestic preparedness program, a series of initiatives aimed at reducing America's vulnerability to a WMD terrorist attack. However, there is a heated debate over whether or not the United States needs a domestic preparedness program at all. This article argues that much of the debate originates in disparate approaches to analyzing terrorism. Terrorism studies specialists use an internal model that analyzes the root causes, motives, and historical patterns of terrorism and concludes that the threat of WMD terrorism against the United States is not sufficient to warrant the domestic preparedness budget. Policy makers and national security experts, however, rely on an external...
The changing landscape of microbial biodiversity exploration and its implications for systematics.

a b s t r a c t A vast diversity of Bacteria and Archaea exists in nature that has evaded axenic culture. Advance- ments in single-cell genomics, metagenomics, and molecular microbial ecology approaches provide ever-improving insight into the biology of this so-called "microbial dark matter"; however, due to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, yet-uncultivated microorganisms are not accommo- dated in formal taxonomy regardless of the quantity or quality of data. Meanwhile, efforts to calibrate the existing taxonomy with phylogenetic anchors and genomic data are increasingly robust. The current climate provides an exciting opportunity to leverage rapidly expanding single-cell genomics and metage- nomics datasets to improve the taxonomy of Bacteria and Archaea. However, this opportunity must be weighted carefully in light of the strengths and limitations of these approaches. We propose to expand the definition of the Candidatus taxonomy to include taxa, from the phylum level to the species level, that are described genomically, particularly when genomic work is coupled with advanced molecular ecology approaches to probe metabolic functions in situ. This system would preserve the rigor and value of tra- ditional microbial systematics while enabling growth of a provisional taxonomic structure to facilitate communication about "dark" lineages on the tree of life.
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC IDENTIFICATION OF FOSSIL PINACEAE POLLEN TO SPECIES BY SURFACE MORPHOLOGY

Abstract One of the problems in Quaternary pollen studies is the difficulty, in certain genera, of identifying fossil pollen grains to species by surface morphology. Often identifications are possible only to family or, at best, generic levels. However, through the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it is possible to distinguish details of surface morphology which separate recent pollen grains to species in some cases. Recent SEM analyses of Pinaceae pollen from Late Quaternary peat deposits in the Pacific Northwest suggest that it is also possible to morphologically distinguish certain species of fossil conifer pollen. Specifically these include: Abies grandis, A. lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, P. glauca, Haploxylon pollen of Pinus albicaulis, P. monticola and P. monophylla, and Diploxylon pollen of Pinus contorta and P. ponderosa. Diagnostic morphological criteria used to separate recent Pinaceae pollen grains to species are generally present in fossil Pinaceae pollen, although certain of the fi...