cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuous recording of the formation of a photolabile fluorophore.

The concentration of fluorescent substances can often be quantitatively measured in very dilute solution. The sensitivity of the measurement of a particular substance depends on the spectrofluorimeter that is used and the intensity of the exciting light. In some cases the intensity of the exciting light must be restricted because the substance is subject to rapid photodecomposition. The observer may reduce the intensity of the exciting light, or excite at a wavelength other than the maximum, thereby decreasing the rate of photodecomposition and also the sensitivity of the measurements. Alternately, a shutter between the light source and the cuvette is kept closed until the scientist is ready to make the measurement of fluorescent radiation. The shutter is then opened and the reading is made immediately. This often proves to be a satisfactory procedure. We were faced with the somewhat more difficult problem of continuously recording the rate of formation of tryptophylglycine from the hydrolysis ofpara-nitrobenzyloxycarbonylglycyltryptophylglycine by the angiotensin-converting enzyme in a microcuvette containing in 200 ~1: substrate, enzyme, and buffer (1). The substrate is not fluorescent because the closely located nitrophenyl group quenches the fluorescence of the tryptophyl residue (2), but the hydrolytic product, tryptophylglycine is not constrained to remain in the vicinity of the nitrophenyl group and its fluorescence is not quenched. However, tryptophylglycine is destroyed by a high intensity of light, while the substrate is probably not photodecomposed due to the efficiency of energy transfer (2-4). This is shown in Fig. 1 where the intensity of fluorescence of tryptophylglycine at 350 nm is seen to decrease with time under continuous illumination with light of wavelength 280 nm. The problem of continuously recording the production of tryptophylglycine by the angiotensin-converting enzyme was solved by exposing the cuvette to the light for only 5 set every minute. To do this, we have placed in front of the light source a rotating disk with a sector cut out to allow the automatic intermittent exposure of the cuvette; see Fig. 3. The disk was rotated by a 1-rpm clock motor. Under these conditions the
Mixed primary culture and clonal analysis provide evidence that NG2 proteoglycan-expressing cells after spinal cord injury are glial progenitors.

NG2+ cells in the adult rat spinal cord proliferate after spinal cord injury (SCI) and are postulated to differentiate into mature glia to replace some of those lost to injury. To further study these putative endogenous precursors, tissue at 3 days after SCI or from uninjured adults was dissociated, myelin partially removed and replicate cultures grown in serum-containing or serum-free medium with or without growth factors for up to 7 days in vitro (DIV). Cell yield after SCI was 5–6 times higher than from the normal adult. Most cells were OX42+ microglia/macrophages but there were also more than twice the normal number of NG2+ cells. Most of these coexpressed A2B5 or nestin, as would be expected for glial progenitors. Few cells initially expressed mature astrocyte (GFAP) or oligodendrocyte (CC1) markers, but more did at 7 DIV, suggesting differentiation of glial precursors in vitro. To test the hypothesis that NG2+ cells after SCI express progenitor-like properties, we prepared free-floating sphere and single cell cultures from purified suspension of NG2+ cells from injured spinal cord. We found that sphere cultures could be passaged in free-floating subcultures, and upon attachment the spheres clonally derived from an acutely purified single cell differentiated into oligodendrocytes and rarely astrocytes. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that SCI stimulates proliferation of NG2+ cells that are glial progenitor cells. Better understanding the intrinsic properties of the NG2+ cells stimulated by SCI may permit future therapeutic manipulations to improve recovery after SCI. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007.
Phylogeny numbers for graphs with two triangles

Abstract Motivated by problems of phylogenetic tree reconstruction, Roberts and Sheng introduced notions of phylogeny graph and phylogeny number. These notions are analogous to and can be considered as natural generalizations of notions of competition graph and competition number that arise from problems of ecology. Given an acyclic digraph D=(V,A), define its phylogeny graph G=P(D) by taking the same vertex set as D and, for x≠y, letting xy∈E(G) if and only if (x,y)∈A or (y,x)∈A or (x,a),(y,a)∈A for some vertex a∈V. Given a graph G=(V,E), we shall call the acyclic digraph D a phylogeny digraph for G if G is an induced subgraph of P(D) and D has no arcs from vertices outside of G to vertices in G. The phylogeny number p(G) is defined to be the smallest r such that G has a phylogeny digraph D with |V(D)|−|V(G)|=r. In this paper, we obtain results about phylogeny number for graphs with exactly two triangles analogous to those for competition number.
Can we now agree to use the same definition to measure response according to CA-125?

Oncologists use measurement of response as an indicator that the therapy they are administering is effective. This information can then be used to decide whether to continue, change, or stop therapy and may also be used as a surrogate end point in a clinical trial. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1 have been accepted as the standard methodology for measuring response. Many patients with ovarian cancer do not have measurable disease, so response cannot often be measured using RECIST criteria. Oncologists have therefore considered using the tumor marker CA-125 as an alternative method for monitoring the treatment of patients with ovarian carcinoma. Serum levels of CA-125 are elevated in more than 90% of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. 2,3 Several different definitions of response based on CA-125 have been proposed, which has led to a variation in the response rate to a particular agent from 10% to 62% in the same group of patients, depending on which definition is used. 4 The Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) consists of representatives from the major gynecologic cancer trial groups around the world. After considerable debate—and after several versions—the GCIG has proposed a precise but simple definition for response according to CA-125, based on a 50% reduction in CA-125 levels that is confirmed and maintained for at least 28 days. 5 This definition, with examples demonstrating its implementation, is posted on the GCIG Web site (http://ctep.info.nih.gov/ resources/gcig/index.html). There are difficulties in validating a new response definition based on a tumor marker, as some patients are only assessable by scans and some are only assessable by the tumor marker. In some patients, scans might classify the response differently from the tumor marker. If a patient is classified as having stable disease by scans but as a responder according to the tumor marker, which is correct? The simplest method used to validate definitions of response based on CA-125 has been to compare response rates according to CA-125 with response rates according to standard criteria and calculate the proportion of patients in whom the CA-125 prediction agrees or differs with the response determined by standard criteria. 6 The accuracy of the definition for response according to CA-125 has also been determined by examining how accurate the CA125‐ defined response was in predicting the activity of drugs in phase II trials, compared with response rates obtained by standard criteria. 7
Nitrogen and carbon isotope fractionation between mothers, neonates, and nursing offspring.

Stable isotope signatures of lactating females and their nursing offspring were measured on 11 species, including herbivores, carnivores, hibernators, and non-hibernators. We hypothesized that: (1) nursing offspring would have stable isotope signatures that were a trophic level higher than their mothers, and (2) this pattern would be species-independent. The plasma of adult females had a δ15N enrichment over their diets of 4.1±0.7‰, but offspring plasma had a mean δ15N enrichment over maternal plasma of 0.9±0.8‰ and no C enrichment (0.0±0.6‰). The trophic level enrichment did not occur between mother and offspring because milk was depleted in both δ15N (1.0±0.5‰) and δ13C (2.1±0.9‰) relative to maternal plasma. Milk to offspring plasma enrichment was relatively small (δ15N enrichment of 1.9±0.7‰ and δ13C enrichment of 1.9±0.8‰) compared to the trophic level enrichment between the adults and their diets. While some species did have significant differences between the isotope signatures of mother and offspring, the differences were not related to whether they were hibernators or non-hibernators, carnivores or herbivores. Investigators wanting to use stable isotopes to quantify weaning or other lactation processes or diets of predators when both adults and nursing offspring are consumed must first establish the parameters that apply to a particular species/environment/diet combination.
Emittance compensation of compact superconducting guns and booster linac system

We discuss the mechanics of emittance compensation for a compact superconducting rf gun with a solenoid, a drift space, and a linac system, and give general rules for designing such a system. It is preferable to ensure that the cathode is recessed and that the solenoid is close to it. The drift length, the solenoid's strength, the size of the waist spot, and the linac's accelerating gradient can be determined from the size of the beam's spot at the gun exit, all of which are easily obtained from simulations. Chromaticity effects generally start at the solenoid but can be ignored in the gun. The energy spread extends the spread of the slices' waist positions, and therefore degrades the emittance compensation. The gun cavity should be designed to minimize energy spread at the gun's exit; this can be achieved by shortening the effective length of the cavity cell. The linac gradient required to minimize chromaticity by focusing at the linac entrance is larger than the gradient required for matching the linac's invariant envelope. The applied solution must be a compromise between these two parameters. For a beam with limited energy spread, its waist must be in front of the linac's entrance.
Colength sequences for matrices over Grassmann algebras

Abstract We prove that the colength sequence of k × k matrices over the Grassmann algebra is asymptotic to a constant times n k 4 .
Selection of Surfactants for Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration

Abstract The selection of a surfactant is an important issue in designing separations processes based on micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration. The binding of hydrophillic solutes to both ionic and nonionic micelles is considered and shown to be a function of the molecular structure of the surfactants, the concentration of the surfactant, and the electrolyte composition of the water. It is also shown that the passage of micelles is only partly restricted by polycarbonate membranes with 100 A ports but is effectively restricted by some cellulose acetate membranes. Swelling the micelles by cosolubilizing certain nonpolar compounds was found to only marginally improve the separation efficiency. There appears to be an optimum surfactant molecular structure, but it will not be possible even under the best conditions to completely remove a hydrophilic solute such as phenol in a single stage. Thus, the process will necessarily be multistage.
Comparative Quality of Florunner and Spanish Peanut Cultivars in Texas1

Starr (St), Spancross (Sp), Goldin I (GI) and Florunner (F1) peanuts were grown at Pearsall (latitude 28° 53′ N) and Stephenville (latitude 32° 12′ N), Texas, with the planting dates adjusted within locations to provide similar environments during pod maturation. Two harvests were made per location with the first harvest approximately 128 days after planting for St and Sp, and 150 days for F1 and GI, and the second harvest 143 and 165 days after the respective plantings. Yields averaged: F1 4,869, GI 4,638, St 4,500, and Sp 4,042 kg/ha. Quality factors including oleic/linoleic acid ratios, oil and protein contents and free fatty acid and peroxide numbers were affected slightly by growing period and location. Peanut butters representing cultivars, locations, and harvests were prepared and evaluated by semitrained flavor panels prior to and at 40-day intervals during accelerated storage tests at 38°C. Statistically significant differences (p = 0.0001) were found between locations, cultivars and storage periods. Preferences for freshly prepared (0-day storage) peanut butters were St > F1 = GI > Sp. After 6 weeks or more storage the flavor and acceptance ratings of Fl and St were equivalent and much higher than for Sp and GI. Peanut butters from Stephenville-grown cultivars scored higher than Pearsall. Late harvest peanut butters were preferred, p = 0.05. Results indicate Florunner is adapted for production in southern portions of the Southwest peanut area, and the qualities of Florunner peanuts and peanut butter compare favor ably with traditional Spanish peanut cultivars.
Graphene: Corrosion-Inhibiting Coating

We report the use of atomically thin layers of graphene as a protective coating that inhibits corrosion of underlying metals. Here, we employ electrochemical methods to study the corrosion inhibition of copper and nickel by either growing graphene on these metals, or by mechanically transferring multilayer graphene onto them. Cyclic voltammetry measurements reveal that the graphene coating effectively suppresses metal oxidation and oxygen reduction. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements suggest that while graphene itself is not damaged, the metal under it is corroded at cracks in the graphene film. Finally, we use Tafel analysis to quantify the corrosion rates of samples with and without graphene coatings. These results indicate that copper films coated with graphene grown via chemical vapor deposition are corroded 7 times slower in an aerated Na2SO4 solution as compared to the corrosion rate of bare copper. Tafel analysis reveals that nickel with a multilayer graphene film grown on it corro...
Reading Instruction in Resource Rooms.

Abstract A study is reported of: 1) resource room teacher time utilization with respect to reading instruction and diagnostic responsibilities related to reading, 2) preparation for teaching reading and, 3) college and university course work requirements in reading. Results indicate that resource room teachers are engaged in activities and procedures related to reading for large amounts of their time. The thoroughness and adequacy of their preparation for teaching reading, as well as college and university requirements in reading for special education teachers, are questioned.
Design function deployment — a design system for the future

Abstract The manufacturing industry is currently faced with the need to compete in terms of quality, cost and time to market, irrespective of the product. This has culminated in the drive to adopt concurrent design approaches to product development. In this regard, the design activity is considered to be pivotal. This paper discusses design function deployment (DFD), a comprehensive design system developed at the Engineering Design Centre, City University, London. It examines, inter-alia, the main contributors to its development, namely: quality function deployment, design models and methods and concurrent engineering, as well as other associated research work. The paper concludes with a description of the DFD design system and model, as well as key areas for further design research.
Highly conducting transparent undoped indium oxide films deposited below 100:9D C by activated reactive evaporation

Highly transparent and conducting undoped indium oxide films have been obtained with a resistivity of ≈;4 × 10−1 Ωcm, a carrier density of ≈; × 1020 cm−3 and a mobility of ≈;18 cm2 V−1−1 at a substrate temperature <70° C and a deposition rate of ≈;8 A/s by an activated reactive evaporation process. The stability of electrical and optical properties at room temperature in the open air is reasonable for a film optimized for conductivity. The optical bandgap of these films is ≈;3.3 eV, lower than that of a high temperature deposited tin doped indium oxide film. It is found that undoped indium oxide films with the best conductivity cannot be obtained if a threshold temperature of ≈;200° C is exceeded either during deposition or during post deposition vacuum anneals. However, highly conductive tin doped indium oxide can be easily obtained at high temperature (T ≈; 400° C) by activated reactive evaporation. It is also noted that highly conductive tin doped indium oxide films are more difficult to make at the lower end of the temperature range unless certain precautions are taken.
Electrocapillary Wave Studies of Oligomeric Ethers: Poly(dimethylsiloxane) and Poly(ethylene glycol)

With the aid of a technique that induces electric field-generated capillary waves on polymeric liquid surfaces and the resulting wave propagation characteristics detected by an optical diffraction method, we examined the surface tension and steady shear viscosity of low molecular weight poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) at different temperatures. The surface tension values are in quite good agreement with those reported in the literature, whereas the shear viscosity values are not as accurate, though they agree within 7% with those determined by a capillary viscometer. The temperature dependences of the surface tensions of both are in agreement with the literature. On the other hand, they differ in their molecular weight dependences, though PDMS shows a small difference due to its relatively small molecular weight, but the PEG slope was in good agreement in spite of its low molecular weight due to its hydrogen bonding. PDMS and PEG show different mode behaviors at high frequenc...
AN OVERVIEW OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION PRACTICES IN BELGIUM, THE NETHERLANDS AND THE UNITED STATES

This article gives an overview of the techniques utilized by the United Stales, the Netherlands, and Belgium in the area of historic preservation. Comparisons are formulated as to the means availab...
Evidence of focal small-fiber axonal degeneration in complex regional pain syndrome-I (reflex sympathetic dystrophy)

CRPS-I consists of post-traumatic limb pain and autonomic abnormalities that continue despite apparent healing of inciting injuries. The cause of symptoms is unknown and objective findings are few, making diagnosis and treatment controversial, and research difficult. We tested the hypotheses that CRPS-I is caused by persistent minimal distal nerve injury (MDNI), specifically distal degeneration of small-diameter axons. These subserve pain and autonomic function. We studied 18 adults with IASP-defined CRPS-I affecting their arms or legs. We studied three sites on subjects' CRPS-affected and matching contralateral limb; the CRPS-affected site, and nearby unaffected ipsilateral and matching contralateral control sites. We performed quantitative mechanical and thermal sensory testing (QST) followed by quantitation of epidermal neurite densities within PGP9.5-immunolabeled skin biopsies. Seven adults with chronic leg pain, edema, disuse, and prior surgeries from trauma or osteoarthritis provided symptom-matched controls. CRPS-I subjects had representative histories and symptoms. Medical procedures were unexpectedly frequently associated with CRPS onset. QST revealed mechanical allodynia (P<0.03) and heat-pain hyperalgesia (P<0.04) at the CRPS-affected site. Axonal densities were highly correlated between subjects' ipsilateral and contralateral control sites (r=0.97), but were diminished at the CRPS-affected sites of 17/18 subjects, on average by 29% (P<0.001). Overall, control subjects had no painful-site neurite reductions (P=1.00), suggesting that pain, disuse, or prior surgeries alone do not explain CRPS-associated neurite losses. These results support the hypothesis that CRPS-I is specifically associated with post-traumatic focal MDNI affecting nociceptive small-fibers. This type of nerve injury will remain undetected in most clinical settings.
Concerns about glucose-meter study

The study by Weinzimer et al.[1][1] cited by Mr. Ellison and colleagues was published in October 2005, just before we submitted our manuscript to AJHP . In retrospect, we should have performed an additional literature search between the acceptance of our revised manuscript (January 2006) and receipt
Phloretin-like Action of Bioflavonoids on Sugar Accumulation Capability of Isolated Intestinal Cells

Flavanones and flavones are structural analogues of phloretin. Like phloretin they inhibit the non-Na+-dependent, facilitated diffusion transport system for sugars associated with the lateral serosal boundary of intestinal epithelial cells. The degree of inhibition varies with the extent and position of hydroxylation of the flavonoid nucleus. Flavones are more potent than corresponding flavanones. Tri- and tetrahydroxylated forms are more inhibitory than similar penta- and hexahydroxylated molecules. With one exception, none of the 18 flavonoids tested has secondary effects as metabolic inhibitors, as does phloretin. Inhibition of the passive sugar transport system with flavonoids allows the concentrative Na+-dependent sugar transport system to establish a better concentration gradient than is observed in untreated cells. The degree of gradient enhancement is proportional to the degree of inhibition of the sugar “leak.” The flavonoid glycosides, which can be considered as phlorizin analogues, also inhibit...
Mushrooms—Mineral Content

SPECTROGRAPHIC analysis of mushrooms by the method described in Nature of April 20, 1929, p. 601, has revealed a remarkable composition. A button mushroom from the Cromer district was divided into skin, white portion, gills, and stem and the parts were dried in a water oven at 100° C. The analyses prove that each part has a high potassium and a low calcium content; the skin contains lithium and it contains most iron. Phosphorus in the dried material varies from about one to three per cent, the gills containing most. The chief interest lies in the presence of silver and copper; all parts contain these, the stem containing least. The spectra of four standards, containing from 0.001 to 0.01 per cent of silver and from 0.002 to 0.02 per cent of copper, and other elements, were photographed on the same plate as the spectra of the parts of the mushroom. Comparison of the spectra proves that the skin, white, and gills contain somewhat more than 0.02 per cent of copper and that all the parts contain decidedly more than 0.01 per cent of silver; the silver content of the gills appears to be not less than 0.05 per cent.
Sex, AIDS, and the Use of Condoms: A Survey of Compliance in College Students.

To evaluate compliance with the suggestion that condoms be used during risky sexual activity, 206 college students' use of condoms during genital and anal sex was surveyed. Analysis indicated that 78% engaged in genital intercourse, and while 20% always used a condom, 44% used condoms less than half the time. Of the 10% engaged in anal sex, 90% did not use condoms. Students at highest risk (with the most partners) were using condoms least often. All respondents reported knowing AIDS was transmitted sexually. Nonetheless, reasons given for not using condoms were belief they knew their partners' sexual history or another form of birth control was being used. Results suggest that outcome studies are needed to assess programs which focus on behavioral change, including use of condoms.
Phenomenology of depression in young girls.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms, the overlap between caregiver and child report, the association between depression and anxiety, and the relationship between symptoms of depression and impairment in young girls. Method Participants in the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a community sample of 2,451 girls aged 5–8 years old and their primary caregivers were interviewed in 2000–2001 using the Child Symptom Inventory and the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire to measure depression, the Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders to measure anxiety, and the Children's Global Assessment Scale to measure impairment. Results Less than 1% of 5- to 8-year-old girls had five or more symptoms of major depression according to the caregiver report. Individual differences in symptom counts and depression scores by caregiver and child report were observed. Agreement between caregivers and girls on depression symptoms was low, with only 2% of the variance in caregiver-reported depression on the Child Symptom Inventory being accounted for by child report on the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire. The level of association between depression and anxiety scores suggested that these constructs are associated but relatively independent in young girls. Both caregiver report and child report of depressive symptoms were uniquely associated with impairment ratings. Conclusions Although major depression appears to be rare among 5- to 8-year-old girls, continuous measures of depressive symptoms yield significant individual differences that are associated with impairment. Thus, preliminary evidence suggests that depressive symptoms can be validly measured in 5- to 8-year-old girls.
The Myth of Ritual: A Native's Ethnography of Zapotec Life-Crises Rituals

The Myth of Ritual: A Native's Ethnography of Zapotec Life-Crises Rituals. Fadwa el Guindi with the collaboration of Abel Hernandez Jimenez. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1986. xvii+147 pp., bibliography, index. $22.95 (cloth). ISBN 0-8165-0907-7
Reinventing the policy sciences: Three steps back to the future

This article examines the contemporary condition of the policy sciences in terms of its shortcomings, which can largely be attributed to an over reliance on instrumental rationality; the complexity of the problem contexts; and an increasingly technocratic orientation. These have combined to distance the policy sciences from their original multidisciplinary character and goals of human dignity and democratic governance. The essay argues that a return to these first principles requires three inter-related steps: a revision of the present policy sciences paradigm; the development of more democratic or participatory procedures; and a focus on problem definition. The article concludes by proposing means by which these steps could be operationalized. Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few. — George Bernard Shaw, ‘Maxims for Revolutionaries,’Man and Superman (1903).
The anatomy and histology of the bicipital tunnel of the shoulder

Background The bicipital tunnel is the extra-articular, fibro-osseous structure that encloses the long head of the biceps tendon. Methods Twelve cadaveric shoulder specimens underwent in situ casting of the bicipital tunnel with methyl methacrylate cement to demonstrate structural competence (n = 6) and en bloc harvest with gross and histologic evaluation (n = 6). The percentage of empty tunnel was calculated histologically by subtracting the proportion of cross-sectional area of the long head of the biceps tendon from that of the bicipital tunnel for each zone. Results Cement casting demonstrated that the bicipital tunnel was a closed space. Zone 1 extended from the articular margin to the distal margin of the subscapularis tendon. Zone 2 extended from the distal margin of the subscapularis tendon to the proximal margin of the pectoralis major tendon. Zone 3 was the subpectoral region. Zones 1 and 2 were both enclosed by a dense connective tissue sheath and demonstrated the presence of synovium. Zone 3 had significantly greater percentage of empty tunnel than zones 1 and 2 did ( P Conclusion The bicipital tunnel is a closed space with 3 distinct zones. Zones 1 and 2 have similar features, including the presence of synovium, but differ from zone 3. A significant bottleneck occurs between zone 2 and zone 3, most likely at the proximal margin of the pectoralis major tendon. The bicipital tunnel is a closed space where space-occupying lesions may produce a bicipital tunnel syndrome. Careful consideration should be given to surgical techniques that decompress both zones 1 and 2 of the bicipital tunnel.
Lessons From Brazil: Separate and Unequal Educational Systems

In this article, the author shares the perspective of an inside informant who knows the Brazilian culture well. The author first describes Brazil as a country. Then, she discusses the Brazilian educational system and how special education fits into that system. Next, the author briefly discusses the Brazilian cultural context and barriers to successful inclusion of students with disabilities. The author concludes by offering thoughts about lessons that can be learned from the Brazilian inclusive special education system.
Management-induced reproductive failure and breeding dispersal in double-crested cormorants on lake champlain

Abstract We studied breeding dispersal of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) associated with management practices that suppressed their reproduction on Lake Champlain in the northeastern United States. We implemented an experiment on one colony by spraying corn oil on cormorant eggs in portions of the colony and leaving other portions untreated. Gulls (Larus spp.) consumed cormorant eggs during the oiling process, but we reduced and then eliminated predation levels after the first year of the study. We used mark–recapture techniques within the experimental framework to measure rates of breeding dispersal for cormorants from the experimental colony and an unmanaged colony in Lake Champlain. Egg oiling increased the movement rate to the unmanaged colony by 3% during the year with no egg predation by gulls. When gulls depredated cormorant eggs at high rates during egg oiling, movement to the unmanaged colony increased by 20%. When cormorants are managed to reduce population sizes, methods that...
Optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry in normal, ocular hypertensive, and glaucomatous eyes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between visual function and retinal nerve fiber layer measurements obtained with scanning laser polarimetry and optical coherence tomography in a masked, prospective trial. METHODS: Consecutive normal, ocular hypertensive, and glaucomatous subjects who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were evaluated. Complete ophthalmologic examination, disk photography, scanning laser polarimetry, optical coherence tomography, and automated achromatic perimetry were performed. RESULTS: Seventy-eight eyes of 78 patients (17 normal, 23 ocular hypertensive, and 38 glaucomatous) were enrolled (mean age, 56.8 ± 11.5 years; range, 26 to 75 years). Eyes with glaucoma had significantly greater neural network scores on scanning laser polarimetry and lower maximum modulation, ellipse modulation, and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured with optical coherence tomography compared with normal and ocular hypertensive eyes, respectively (all P < .005). Significant associations were observed between neural network number (r = −.51, r = .03), maximum modulation (r = .39, r = −.32), ellipse modulation (r = .36, r = −.28), and optical coherence tomography–generated retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (r = .68, r = −.59) and visual field mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation, respectively. All scanning laser polarimetry parameters were significantly associated with optical coherence tomography–generated retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry were capable of differentiating glaucomatous from nonglaucomatous populations in this cohort; however considerable measurement overlap was observed among normal, ocular hypertensive, and glaucomatous eyes. Retinal nerve fiber layer structural measurements demonstrated good correlation with visual function, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness by optical coherence tomography correlated with retardation measurements by scanning laser polarimetry.
Amplitude Reduction and Phase Shifts of Melatonin, Cortisol and Other Circadian Rhythms after a Gradual Advance of Sleep and Light Exposure in Humans

Background: The phase and amplitude of rhythms in physiology and behavior are generated by circadian oscillators and entrained to the 24-h day by exposure to the light-dark cycle and feedback from the sleep-wake cycle. The extent to which the phase and amplitude of multiple rhythms are similarly affected during altered timing of light exposure and the sleepwake cycle has not been fully characterized. Methodology/Principal Findings: We assessed the phase and amplitude of the rhythms of melatonin, core body temperature, cortisol, alertness, performance and sleep after a perturbation of entrainment by a gradual advance of the sleep-wake schedule (10 h in 5 days) and associated light-dark cycle in 14 healthy men. The light-dark cycle consisted either of moderate intensity ‘room’ light (,90–150 lux) or moderate light supplemented with bright light (,10,000 lux) for 5 to 8 hours following sleep. After the advance of the sleep-wake schedule in moderate light, no significant advance of the melatonin rhythm was observed whereas, after bright light supplementation the phase advance was 8.1 h (SEM 0.7 h). Individual differences in phase shifts correlated across variables. The amplitude of the melatonin rhythm assessed under constant conditions was reduced after moderate light by 54% (17–94%) and after bright light by 52% (range 12–84%), as compared to the amplitude at baseline in the presence of a sleep-wake cycle. Individual differences in amplitude reduction of the melatonin rhythm correlated with the amplitude of body temperature, cortisol and alertness. Conclusions/Significance: Alterations in the timing of the sleep-wake cycle and associated bright or moderate light exposure can lead to changes in phase and reduction of circadian amplitude which are consistent across multiple variables but differ between individuals. These data have implications for our understanding of circadian organization and the negative health outcomes associated with shift-work, jet-lag and exposure to artificial light.
Radon-Like features and their application to connectomics

In this paper we present a novel class of so-called Radon-Like features, which allow for aggregation of spatially distributed image statistics into compact feature descriptors. Radon-Like features, which can be efficiently computed, lend themselves for use with both supervised and unsupervised learning methods. Here we describe various instantiations of these features and demonstrate there usefulness in context of neural connectivity analysis, i.e. Connectomics, in electron micrographs. Through various experiments on simulated as well as real data we establish the efficacy of the proposed features in various tasks like cell membrane enhancement, mitochondria segmentation, cell background segmentation, and vesicle cluster detection as compared to various other state-of-the-art techniques.
An Empirical Method for Measuring the Aesthetic Experience to Music

This study was designed to investigate empirically the “aesthetic experience” as individually defined by each subject. Subjects (N = 30) were faculty members and advanced graduate students at a large university school of music. Each subject listened to a 20-minute excerpt from Act I of Puccini's La Boheme and simultaneously manipulated the dial of a Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) to indicate perceived aesthetic level. The CRDI dial represented a negative/positive continuum along a 256-degree arc. Data collected were charted graphically to indicate levels of aesthetic response across time. Subjects completed a questionnaire designed to estimate frequency, duration, location, and magnitude of perceived aesthetic experiences and also indicated whether dial manipulation roughly corresponded to these experiences.Results indicated that there were different responses throughout the excerpt by all subjects. Heightened aesthetic responses were evident during certain parts of the excerpt. “Peak experi...
Mutational analysis of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 rev transactivator: Essential residues near the amino terminus

The expression of certain mRNAs from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is controlled by the viral transactivator Rev, a nucleolar protein that binds a cis-acting element in these mRNAs. Rev is encoded by two viral exons that specify amino acids 1 to 26 and 27 to 116, respectively. Earlier studies have mapped essential regions of the protein that are encoded in the second exon. By further mutational analysis of Rev, we have now identified a novel locus encoded by the first exon that also is essential for transactivation in vivo. Defined by mutations at residues 14 to 20, this locus coincides with a cluster of positively charged and nonpolar amino acids that is conserved in Rev proteins of all known primate immunodeficiency viruses. Rev proteins that contained mutations at this site were defective in both nuclear localization and transactivation and did not function as trans-dominant inhibitors of wild-type Rev. Fusion of these mutants to a heterologous nuclear protein complemented the defect in localization but did not restore biological activity. Our findings suggest that this N-terminal locus may play a direct role in transactivation, perhaps contributing to essential protein-protein interactions or forming part of the RNA-binding domain of Rev.
A secure broadcasting scheme to provide availability, reliability and authentication for wireless sensor networks

Reliability and security of broadcasting is critical in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Since reliability and security compete for the same resources, we are interested in jointly solving for error control coding (to achieve reliability) and integrity for a broadcast scenario. We assume Byzantine attacks in which the adversary can compromise nodes and then drop (or modify) the legitimate packets or inject its own packets. For reliable and efficient multihop broadcasting, it is critical to reduce the energy consumption and latency. To prevent the adversary from consuming the scarce network resources by injecting bogus packets, each receiver node should make sure that packets it receives are authentic and it filters out malicious packets immediately. We build our authentication scheme, on top of a reliable and energy efficient broadcasting protocol called Collaborative Rateless Broadcast (CRBcast) to improve efficiency and reliability. On contrary to the previous schemes, our scheme is resilient with respect to Byzantine adversary as well as routing and flooding attacks and protocol exploits. Moreover, we compared our scheme with the previously proposed broadcast authentication schemes and showed that our scheme outperforms them in terms of efficiency and data availability. This is a crucial improvement over the previous schemes that ensure availability by flooding, introducing very large communication overhead and latency.
Does anti-Semitism among African Americans simply reflect anti-White sentiment?

In his classic essay (1967) titled “Negroes Are Anti-Semitic Because They’re Anti-White,” writer James Baldwin argues that African American resentment of Jews reflects generalized anti-White sentim...
Cognitive development: Looking across at growing up

Theories of cognitive development must be broadened to include other patterns of emerging competence and the role of culture in shaping them.
Mathematical modeling of monolithic catalysts

Mathematical models are developed which account for simultaneous heat transfer, mass transfer, and chemical reaction in the oxidation of carbon monoxide over platinum containing monoliths. A two-dimensional model is shown to predict unusual behavior of the Nusselt number in the presence of rapid reaction. However, a simpler one-dimensional model is adequate for predicting monolith behavior.
Role of NLRP3 (cryopyrin) in acute myocardial infarction.

We read with interest the article by Sandanger et al .1 on the role of NLRP3 (also known as cryopyrin or NALP3) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We want to congratulate the authors for confirming the central role of NLRP3 in the myocardial response to ischaemic injury (as earlier reported by our group in 2011)2 while expanding the findings to explore the differences between the NLRP3 KO and the mouse with deletion of the gene for the Apoptosis-associated Speck-like protein containing a C-terminal Caspase-recruitment domain (ASC KO), which had been characterized by …
Improving the accuracy of SF 6 leakage detection for high voltage switchgear

Even though average leakage rates of SF6 in high voltage equipment are very low, there is no guarantee for a 100% leakage-free system, especially when considering the generally long lifespan of high-voltage equipment. Taking in view the rather strict maximum allowed leakage rate of SF6 per year, regulated by international standards, these facilities should be equipped with suitable monitoring devices. However, accurate detection of low rates of gas leakage is not an easy task. This paper sheds light on the challenges of leakage detection by thorough analysis of physical aspects. Furthermore, it proposes two methods for high-fidelity leakage monitoring and detection with special emphasis on their suitability for use in substations. Application of these methods in the laboratory environment revealed an accuracy of detection levels of 0.3% per year. This is a substantial improvement from the present monitoring systems that show fluctuation levels of the indicator to be as high as up to several percent, which is clearly above the acceptable level.
The hygiene hypothesis and asthma

Purpose of reviewReduced exposure to childhood infections may explain the increased prevalence of allergic diseases in industrialized countries (the hygiene hypothesis). This review will examine recent epidemiologic studies of the hygiene hypothesis and asthma.Recent findingsRecent studies have conf
"Mr. Dewey Is Crazy and Katharine Sharp Hates the University of Chicago:" Gender, Power, and Personality and the Demise of the University of Chicago Course in Library Science 1897-1903.

In 1897, the University of Chicago Extension Division began offering what we today would call “bibliographic instruction” under the aegis of the Bureau of Information of the Illinois State Library Association. The program was expanded under university librarian Zella Allen Dixson, and by 1900 was designed to train librarians and library assistants. The program was severely criticized by Melvil Dewey in 1902 and by the American Library Association’s Committee on Library Training in 1903. In several letters of rebuttal, Dixson accused him and Katharine Sharp of conspiring to close the program for their own personal and professional reasons. This study examines the interactions among the three principals, and of gender, ego, and power in the demise of the program, as well as the ALA’s attempts to construct librarianship as a masculine profession.
Modeling and Analysis of the Asymmetric Source/Drain Extension CMOS Transistors for Nanoscale Technologies

The asymmetric source/drain extension (ASDE) transistor can be a suitable option because of improved short channel effects in technology nodes beyond 32 nm. In this paper, we have analyzed the impact of asymmetric drain extension reduction on the device metrics, namely, gate-to-drain capacitance, drain current, subthreshold leakage, and gate tunneling leakage current. Also, analytical models have been developed to model the effect of the ASDE devices. Based on our proposed analytical model, SPICE-compatible transistor models have been developed to include the ASDE device structure as possible design options. With our SPICE-compatible transistor models, large-scale circuit simulation can be performed to evaluate the benefits and the overheads associated with the ASDE devices. It is observed from circuit simulations that there is an optimal drain extension length which is different from the source extension length. With the ASDE devices, the circuit power delay product can effectively be reduced by almost 35% with respect to the conventional symmetric devices.
Increased Superoxide Generation Is Associated With Pulmonary Hypertension in Fetal Lambs. A Role for NADPH Oxidase

Ligation of the ductus arteriosus in utero produces pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling in fetal and newborn lambs. However, the mechanisms producing these vascular changes are not well defined. Because reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated as mediators of smooth muscle cell proliferation, we hypothesized that increased formation of ROS may be involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension after in utero ductal ligation. Using ethidium fluorescence, we demonstrated an increase in superoxide levels after 9 days of ductal ligation compared with control lungs (P<0.05) that was localized to the adventitia and smooth muscle cells of hypertensive vessels. SOD-1 and SOD-2 protein levels and activities in lung, vein, and artery of hypertensive lambs were unchanged relative to controls after 2 days of ductal ligation. However, after 9 days, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly decreased in arteries from ligated lambs without associated changes in SOD protein expr...
Rate-distortion performance of correlated Gaussian source

In this paper, we prove that the redundancy of coding correlated Gaussian source is the same as that of the memoryless case by the random coding argument, which extends the redundancy results of Zhang, Yang and Wei on lossy source coding of memoryless sources to sources with memory in this special case.
MISR global data products: a new approach

Describes a new type of global, gridded product being created by the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) team. The product is a compressed version, or summary, of MISR geophysical data products on a 1/spl deg/ monthly global grid. Data belonging to each grid cell are summarized by a multivariate histogram. The numbers, sizes, and shapes of the histogram bins vary among cells, and they adapt to the shape of the data in high-dimensional space. Also, bin representatives are means rather than midpoints. These modifications allow data to be summarized parsimoniously and with lower error than is possible using customary, simple, descriptive statistics. The method is demonstrated by compressing test MISR aerosol data, and performance is assessed by comparing computations using compressed data with those using the original.
Interrogation of geophysical maps with uncertainty for AUV micro-navigation

This paper presents high-accuracy algorithms for localization of a small autonomous underwater vehicle by comparing geophysical property maps (computer models) to local measurements obtained from vehicle-mounted sensors and an initial position fix. In the paper, the authors present methods for micro-navigation, which refers to fine-scale, quantitative position determination, that attempt a direct solution for position from a minimal set of measurements, using techniques from computational geometry. Each absolute or differential sensor measurement defines one or more contour lines on the stored geophysical maps along which the vehicle may be located. Possible vehicle positions are determined by finding the intersections of multiple contour lines, obtained by multiple sensors simultaneously measuring several geophysical parameters. The contours are found from efficient and robust computation of the real solutions of non-linear interval polynomial systems of equations. A technique for such solutions based on convex hull properties, Bernstein subdivision and interval arithmetic is described in the paper. >