cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seed banks, salmon, and sleeping genes: effective population size in semelparous, age-structured species with fluctuating abundance.

Abstract: Previous studies reached contrasting conclusions regarding how fluctuations in abundance affect Ne in semelparous species with variable age at maturity: that Ne is determined by the arithmetic mean N among the T years within a generation ( \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $N_{\mathrm{e}\,}\approx T\overline{N}_{t}$ \end{document} ; monocarpic plants with seed banks) or the harmonic mean ( \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{math...
Geochemistry and petrogenesis of early Proterozoic amphibolites, west-central Colorado, U.S.A.

Abstract Early Proterozoic supracrustal rocks exposed in west-central Colorado include amphibolites intimately associated with felsic volcanics and associated volcaniclastic sediments. Three successions are recognized. The Dubois succession (1770-1760 Ma) is comprised chiefly of amphibolites and felsic volcanics. The amphibolites exhibit low concentrations of light REE and HFSE and are broadly similar in composition to tholeiites from immature island arcs and, in some respects, to NMORB. The Cochetopa succession (1745-1730 Ma) includes large amounts of felsic volcanics and volcaniclastic sediments together with amphibolites that exhibit variable but slight incompatible-element enrichment similar to basalts from evolved island-arc systems and associated back-arc basins. The Black Canyon succession is coeval with the Cochetopa succession and is comprised chiefly of volcaniclastic sediments with minor amphibolite. These amphibolites exhibit significant incompatible-element enrichment similar to basalts from continental-margin arc systems. Geochemical modeling indicates that the amphibolites evolved by closed-system fractional crystallization of depleted (for the Dubois succession) to variably enriched parental basalts (for the Cochetopa and Black Canyon successions), chiefly at shallow depths. Incompatible-element distributions in the amphibolites indicate that mantle sources changed with time from relatively depleted (1770-1760 Ma) to variable but slightly enriched (1745-1730 Ma). A provisional model calls upon the Dubois succession forming in an island-arc system followed by collision with the Archean Wyoming Province at ∼ 1750 Ma. The Cochetopa succession was deposited in an intra-arc basin developed within a new continental-margin arc, and the Black Canyon succession formed in a back-arc basin associated with this arc.
Effects of chronic and acute exposure to sulphur dioxide on the growth of hybrid poplar cuttings

Abstract Hybrid poplar clones were fumigated in controlled-environment chambers with either 5 ppm sulphur dioxide for 1 1 2 , 3, and 6 h or with 0·25 ppm sulphur dioxide for six weeks. Multivariate analyses were made from shoot-growth data before and after treatment and on the foliar injury induced by SO 2 . Both short- and long-term fumigation produced similar plant-behaviour responses to the two SO 2 concentrations.
The effectiveness of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation screening in asymptomatic healthcare workers in an Irish orthopaedic unit

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are associated with increased mortality, costs and length of stay compared to non-MRSA infections. This observational 4-year study analyses the impact of screening and treating orthopaedic healthcare workers for MRSA colonisation. A total of 1,011 swabs were taken from 566 healthcare workers. Positive healthcare workers were treated with topical mupirocin to both anterior nares. The prevalence of MRSA colonisation on initial testing was 4.77%. The rate of positive MRSA colonisation of those tested on more than one occasion fell from 5.88% to 2.71% (p = 0.055) on subsequent screening. All healthcare workers receiving treatment were successfully cleared of colonisation; however, some required more than one course of treatment. These results show that there could be a role for screening and treating orthopaedic staff for MRSA colonisation as part of a strategy to reduce the prevalence of MRSA infections in orthopaedic units.
Turbine Airfoil Optimization Using Quasi-3D Analysis Codes

A new approach to optimize the geometry of a turbine airfoil by simultaneously designing multiple 2D sections of the airfoil is presented in this paper. The complexity of 3D geometry modeling is circumvented by generating multiple 2D airfoil sections and constraining their geometry in the radial direction using first- and second-order polynomials that ensure smoothness in the radial direction. The flow fields of candidate geometries obtained during optimization are evaluated using a quasi-3D, inviscid, CFD analysis code. An inviscid flow solver is used to reduce the execution time of the analysis. Multiple evaluation criteria based on the Mach number profile obtained from the analysis of each airfoil cross-section are used for computing a quality metric. A key contribution of the paper is the development of metrics that emulate the perception of the human designer in visually evaluating the Mach Number distribution. A mathematical representation of the evaluation criteria coupled with a parametric geometry generator enables the use of formal optimization techniques in the design. The proposed approach is implemented in the optimal design of a low-pressure turbine nozzle.
Age- and sex-specific genomic profiles in non-small cell lung cancer.

Context Gene expression profiling may be useful in examining differences underlying age- and sex-specific outcomes in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Objective To describe clinically relevant differences in the underlying biology of NSCLC based on patient age and sex. Design, Setting, and Patients Retrospective analysis of 787 patients with predominantly early stage NSCLC performed at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, from July 2008 to June 2009. Lung tumor samples with corresponding microarray and clinical data were used. All patients were divided into subgroups based on age ( Main Outcome Measures Patterns of oncogenic and molecular signaling pathway activation that are reproducible and correlate with 5-year recurrence-free patient survival. Results Low- and high-risk patient clusters/cohorts were identified with the longest and shortest 5-year recurrence-free survival, respectively, within the age and sex NSCLC subgroups. These cohorts of NSCLC demonstrate similar patterns of pathway activation. In patients younger than 70 years, high-risk patients, with the shortest recurrence-free survival, demonstrated increased activation of the Src (25% vs 6%; P Conclusions Among a cohort of patients with NSCLC, subgroups defined by oncogenic pathway activation profiles were associated with recurrence-free survival. These findings require validation in independent patient data sets.
A Class of Low Power Error Compensation Iterative Decoders

Recent power reduction techniques aggressively modulate the supply voltage of embedded buffering memories allowing acceptable hardware errors to flow through the processing chain. In this paper, we introduce a class of modified Turbo and LDPC decoders that provide significant improvements over standard decoders in the presence of hardware noise. Simulation results show a consistent improvement in the BER performance of the modified decoders across all SNRs with very small area and power overheads as compared to the conventional decoders.
Mechanisms involved in irreversible anoxic damage to the in vitro rat hippocampal slice

1. We have studied the effects of anoxia on the recovery of neural transmission between the perforant path and the dentate granule cells in the in vitro rat hippocampal slice. There is almost no recovery of the evoked population spike following 10 min of anoxia in slices from adult rats. 2. A 2 h exposure of slices to creatine markedly improves the recovery of the population spike (80% vs. 5%). The creatine pre-incubation builds up phosphocreatine levels in the slice and prevents the large fall in ATP during anoxia; ATP falls to 7·9 rather than 3·6 nM/mg protein. The intracellular pH of both groups falls to the same level during anoxia. 3. If calcium concentration in the medium is reduced to 0 while magnesium concentration is raised to 10 mM during anoxia the evoked response recovers to about 65%. 4. The data suggest that an attenuation of the fall in ATP or entry of calcium during anoxia protects the tissue against irreversible transmission damage. Thus both of these factors participate in the generation of this damage. It is not yet clear if they act independently or if one acts by altering the other. 5. In the post-anoxic recovery period the intracellular concentration of potassium is reduced by about 25%. However, it is still much higher than in slices that show only partial block of the evoked response when treated with ouabain. Therefore a fall in intracellular potassium 1 h after anoxia cannot explain the lack of recovery of the evoked response in adult tissue. 6. ATP levels in the post-anoxic recovery period are reduced from their pre-anoxic levels (9·7 vs. 13·9 nM/mg protein). However when azide or antimycin A are used to directly reduce ATP to the level found 1 h after anoxia the evoked response is reduced by only about 45%. Thus the reduced post-anoxic ATP levels are not sufficient to explain the loss of the evoked response in adult tissue. 7. The data show that the irreversible loss of transmission is not due to decreased cell ATP or to decreased cell K/Na levels 1 h after the anoxic period. 8. Since creatine pre-incubation protects against irreversible transmission loss this compound or one closely related to it may prove useful in attenuating irreversible brain damage in situ.
Activation of hypersensitive cell death by pathogen-induced receptor-like protein kinases from Arabidopsis.

In Arabidopsis, there is a family of receptor-like protein kinases (RLKs) containing novel cysteine-rich repeats in their extracellular domains. Genes encoding many of these cysteine-rich RLKs (CRKs) are induced by pathogen infection, suggesting a possible role in plant defense responses. We have previously generated Arabidopsis plants expressing four pathogen-regulated CRK genes (CRK5, 6, 10 and 11) under control of a steroid-inducible promoter and found that induced expression of CRK5, but not the other three CRK genes, triggered hypersensitive response-like cell death in transgenic plants. In the present study, we have analyzed the structural relationship of the CRK family and identified three CRKs (CRK4, 19 and 20) that are structurally closely related to CRK5. Genes encoding these three CRKs are all induced by salicylic acid and pathogen infection. Furthermore, induced expression of CRK4, 19and 20 all activates rapid cell death in transgenic plants. Thus, the activity of inducing rapid cell death is shared by these structurally closely related CRKs. We have also performed yeast two-hybrid screens and identified proteins that interact with the kinase domains of CRKs. One of the identified CRK-interacting proteins is the kinase-associated type 2C protein phospohatase known to interact with a number of other RLKs through its kinase-interacting FHA domain. Other CRK-interacting proteins include a second protein with a FHA domain and another type 2C protein phosphatase. Interactions of CRKs with these three proteins in vivo were demonstrated through co-immunoprecipitation. These CRK-interacting proteins may play roles in the regulation and signaling of CRKs.
Robot Eve-In-Hand Using Solid State Linear Array Sensor

An intelligent robot control system based on dynamic sensing feedback using visual eye-in-hand systems have attracted great research efforts, because these systems have several advantages over the use of a fixed external video camera system. For example, it ignores inadequate lighting and background contrast, optical shadows, environmental lighting variables, and an increased maneuverability to access widely scattered or hidden parts. This paper presents an eye-in-hand system using a solid-state linear line scanner as the sensing element. The system currently has the ability to determine the pose and shape of objects, and also is capable of defining the proper grasping site prior to grasping. The paper also describes the system configuration and the proposed object learning and recognition procedure using line scan methods in detail. In this research, an experimental model is built which is used to simulate a fully opened parallel jaw gripper. A photodiode array is embedded in one side of the finger. A Compaq microcomputer based on the Intel 8088 microprocessor is used as the host. An interface between linear array video scanning signals, CPU and Video RAM is built and successfully tested.
Finite element analysis of eccentrically stiffened plates in free vibration

Abstract A compound finite element model is developed to investigate eccentrically stiffened plates in free vibration. The plate elements and beam elements are treated as integral parts of a compound section, and not as independent bending components. The derivation is based on the assumptions of small deflection theory. In the orthogonally stiffened directions of the compound section, the neutral surfaces may not coincide. They lie between the middle surface of the plate and the centroidal axes of the stiffeners. The results of this study are compared with existing ones and with those of the orthotropic plate approximation. Modifications to the existing equivalent orthotropic rigidities are proposed.
DNA fingerprints provide a patient-specific breast cancer marker.

Detection of systemic breast cancer recurrence is limited by lack of universally expressed tumor cell markers. We hypothesized that a test that detects genetic alterations specific to breast cancer cells of an individual patient would provide a superior cancer marker. DNA was extracted from blood, primary tumor, and axillary lymph nodes of 33 breast cancer patients and normal breast tissue of 12 control patients. A patient’s genome was scanned by PCR amplification between Alu sequences. A DNA fingerprint of approximately 17–40 bands was produced for comparison between normal blood and sampled tissues. There were 7 stage I, 18 stage II, 7 stage III, and 1 stage IV breast cancer cases; 33 of 33 cancer cases showed DNA fingerprint differences between blood and primary tumor (P < .0001).This test predicted 100% of positive nodes. No false-negatives occurred, and in two cases malignancy was detected in histologically negative nodes. Three of the 12 controls showed a single similar band change. DNA fingerprinting is a method for detecting and characterizing genetic alterations specific to an individual patient’s primary tumor in 100% of cases tested. These specific changes were also identified in 100% of positive nodes, proving the capacity of the test to detect metastases.
Numerical Simulation in a Multiple Flow Control Valve System of Polymer Melt During Injection Molding Processes

Process control is an important factor for improving the performance and consistency of thermoplastic parts manufactured by injection molding processes. A critical process parameter for manufacturing of high quality plastic parts is cavity pressure. This paper presents a continuation of a numerical based study of flow control utilized during multi-cavity injection molding processes and focuses in more detail on multiple flow control valve systems, since the valves are coupled with one injection source. The capabilities of the current system design are limited by multiple valve interactions, which may produce undesirable effects in regards to flow modulation and pressure distribution in multiple cavities and should be studied further. Understanding the flow modeling details through a single valve system is essential, thereby reducing the computational work involved with a multiple valve system.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Intramolecular CH activation by dicationic Pt(II) complexes

Abstract The dicationic complexes [(ArNC(Me)C(Me)NAr)Pt(solv)2]X2, (Ar=2,6-(CH3)2C6H3; 5a: solv=CH3CN, X=CF3SO3−, BF4−, SbF6−; 5b: solv=(CH3)2CO, X=BF4−, SbF6−) and [(CyNC(H)C(H)NCy)Pt(CH3CN)2]X2, (Cy=C6H11, 6: X=OTf−, BF4−, PF6−, SbF6−) were synthesized from the corresponding Pt dichlorides with two equivalents of AgX. The reactions of 5a with 1-phenylpyrazole, 2-phenylpyridine, 2-vinylpyridine, and 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine afford the cyclometalated products 11–14 via intramolecular CH activation of an sp2 CH bond of the unsaturated sidegroup. Pyridines with saturated groups at the 2-position do not undergo a similar cyclometalation reaction. In trifluoroethanol-d3 solution, 6 undergoes cyclometalation of one of the cyclohexyl groups, an example of sp3 CH bond activation. The latter reaction proceeds only partway to completion, implying that an equilibrium has been reached; in the case where X=OTf−the equilibrium favors the starting dication.
How to force conformity on transmitter-gated channels.

Neurotransmitter-gated ion channels (LGIC) transduce a presynaptic event (release of transmitter) into a postsynaptic event (opening of channels). Given the vagaries of life for a synapse—the quantal content, the number of transmitter molecules in a vesicle, the exact release site, the statistics
Maternal behavior priming in virgin and caesarean-delivered Long-Evans rats: Effects of brief contact or continuous exteroceptive pup stimulation ☆

The effects of 8 days of prior exposure to pups (Priming) in the form of continuous exteroceptive (smell, sight and sound), or 15 min/day physical access (taste and touch possible) stimulation on the subsequent latency to become maternal during cohabitation with pups (concaveation) was studied in Long-Evans female rats. Brief daily access was effective in hastening the onset of maternal behavior only in those virgins which engaged in pup licking during Priming and in maintaining short-latency maternal responsiveness only in those day 21 pregnancy-terminated, thelectomized rats which initiated maternal behavior during Priming. Exteroceptive stimulation was ineffective in both virgins and caesarean-sectioned rats. These findings stress the importance of physical interactions with pups (unrelated to nipple stimulation) for the development of nurturance.
Increase in brain serotonin in experimental porphyria

Abstract Three chemically unrelated compounds, a 5sH steroid, a barbiturate, and a substituted collidine, induce δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase in the livers and lead to increases in the concentration of serotonin in the brains of 13-day-old chick embryos. The temporal relationship between these two events suggests that they are independent effects of the drugs. The bearing of these findings on acute intermittent porphyria is discussed.
Caste and Community Development

The social scientist who studies a program of planned change as vast as India's Community Development Program is likely to be overwhelmed by its complexity. As a result, he may take refuge in minut...
The application of network label propagation to rank biomarkers in genome-wide Alzheimer's data

Ranking and identifying biomarkers that are associated with disease from genome-wide measurements holds significant promise for understanding the genetic basis of common diseases. The large number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genome-wide studies (GWAS), however, makes this task computationally challenging when the ranking is to be done in a multivariate fashion. This paper evaluates the performance of a multivariate graph-based method called label propagation (LP) that efficiently ranks SNPs in genome-wide data. The performance of LP was evaluated on a synthetic dataset and two late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) genome-wide datasets, and the performance was compared to that of three control methods. The control methods included chi squared, which is a commonly used univariate method, as well as a Relief method called SWRF and a sparse logistic regression (SLR) method, which are both multivariate ranking methods. Performance was measured by evaluating the top-ranked SNPs in terms of classification performance, reproducibility between the two datasets, and prior evidence of being associated with LOAD. On the synthetic data LP performed comparably to the control methods. On GWAS data, LP performed significantly better than chi squared and SWRF in classification performance in the range from 10 to 1000 top-ranked SNPs for both datasets, and not significantly different from SLR. LP also had greater ranking reproducibility than chi squared, SWRF, and SLR. Among the 25 top-ranked SNPs that were identified by LP, there were 14 SNPs in one dataset that had evidence in the literature of being associated with LOAD, and 10 SNPs in the other, which was higher than for the other methods. LP performed considerably better in ranking SNPs in two high-dimensional genome-wide datasets when compared to three control methods. It had better performance in the evaluation measures we used, and is computationally efficient to be applied practically to data from genome-wide studies. These results provide support for including LP in the methods that are used to rank SNPs in genome-wide datasets.
Types of inflammation caused by oral prostheses.

Abstract Five distinct types of stomatitis for which the denture is the primary causative agent have been described. The etiology of each has been discussed, and a protocol of clinical management has been recommended. The fact that these inflammations are seen almost daily in a busy practice underscores the importance of periodic maintenance of any oral prosthesis. This emphasizes the advantages which derive from an efficiently administered recall system.
Kinship ties, social networks, and segmented labor markets: evidence from the construction sector in Egypt

Abstract This paper tests for rationing of entry into craft occupations in the construction labor market in Egypt and investigates whether entry is rationed according to regional origin and access to kinship and other social networks. I use a modified version of Roy's model of occupational choice which allows for the existence of costs of entry into craft occupations. Data from a 1988 survey of construction workers are used to estimate the model and test for rationing. The results confirm the existence of rationing according to a worker's regional background, but are inconclusive with respect to kinship ties and social networks.
High-resolution viscous flow simulations at arbitrary Mach number

A characteristic-based unsteady viscous flow solver is developed with preconditioning that is uniformly applicable for Mach numbers ranging from essentially incompressible to supersonic. A preconditioned flux-difference formulation for nondimensional primitive variables is a key element of the present approach. The simple primitive-variable numerical flux is related to Roe's flux-difference scheme and preserves contact discontinuities using primitive variables, with or without preconditioning. Preconditioning by a single-parameter diagonal matrix conditions the system eigenvalues in terms of nondimensional local velocity and local temperature. An iterative implicit solution algorithm is given for the preconditioned formulation and is used for several simple test and validation cases. These include an inviscid shock-tube case, flat-plate boundary layer flow at low Mach number, viscous flow past a circular cylinder at low Reynolds number and with different thermal boundary conditions, and validation cases for incompressible and transonic flows.
DNA polymerase from rat liver chromosomal proteins. I. Partial purification and general characteristics.

Abstract A replicative DNA polymerase has been partially purified from the nonhistone chromosomal proteins of rat liver. The enzyme exhibited an absolute requirement for DNA and divalent metal ions, especially Mg 2+ . The complete supplement of all four deoxyriboside-5′-triphosphates was necessary for optimal enzymic activity. Experiments employing the synthetic polydeoxynucleotides, poly dA and poly dA:dT, demonstrated the replicative nature of the enzyme as well as its preference for a native DNA or double-stranded template. The chromosomal polymerase manifested variations in enzymic activity when templated with DNA's from different sources and showed the greatest activity in the presence of homologous rat liver nuclear DNA. The method of enzyme isolation and the characteristics of the enzymic reaction are described.
Melt intrusion as a trigger for lithospheric foundering and the eruption of the Siberian flood basalts

Any viable model of the Siberian flood basalt (SFB) eruption must provide for a massive pulse of magma, initially erupted below sea level. We propose as a triggering mechanism a limited precursory melt that intrudes and heats the mantle lithosphere, lowering its viscosity, and increasing its density as the melt freezes into eclogite. This warm, dense mantle lithosphere is then removed via a Rayleigh-Taylor instability that creates surface subsidence. Removal of the mantle lithosphere lengthens the melting column, and the melt volume of the SFB can be produced in less than a million years. The model is permissive of the existing geologic data for the SFB, which rule out a traditional hot, deep mantle plume. Numerical models demonstrate that the ability of a mantle upwelling to remove lithosphere is dependent primarily upon the lithospheric rheology, not on the temperature or size of the upwelling.
The phylogeny and evolution of deoxyribonuclease II: An enzyme essential for lysosomal DNA degradation

Deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) is an endonuclease with optimal activity at low pH, localized within the lysosomes of higher eukaryotes. The origin of this enzyme remains in dispute, and its phylogenetic distribution leaves many questions about its subsequent evolutionary history open. Earlier studies have documented its presence in various metazoans, as well as in Dictyostelium, Trichomonas and, anomalously, a single genus of bacteria (Burkholderia). This study makes use of searches of the genomes of various organisms against known DNase II query sequences, in order to determine the likely point of origin of this enzyme among cellular life forms. Its complete absence from any other bacteria makes prokaryotic origin unlikely. Convincing evidence exists for DNase II homologs in Alveolates such as Paramecium, Heterokonts such as diatoms and water molds, and even tentative matches in green algae. Apparent absences include red algae, plants, fungi, and a number of parasitic organisms. Based on this phylogenetic distribution and hypotheses of eukaryotic relationships, the most probable explanation is that DNase II has been subject to multiple losses. The point of origin is debatable, though its presence in Trichomonas and perhaps in other evolutionarily basal “Excavate” protists such as Reclinomonas, strongly support the hypothesis that DNase II arose as a plesiomorphic trait in eukaryotes. It probably evolved together with phagocytosis, specifically to facilitate DNA degradation and bacteriotrophy. The various absences in many eukaryotic lineages are accounted for by loss of phagotrophic function in intracellular parasites, in obligate autotrophs, and in saprophytes.
Toward a unified theory of modulation part I: Phase-envelope relationships

Classical modulation theory deals mainly with single-parameter proportional modulation techniques, i.e., with processes such as AM and FM, wherein the amplitude or angle of a sinusoidal carrier wave is varied as a linear function of an information signal. Classical modulation theory has been immensely useful, but it is a restrictive theory because it can deal tractably with only a limited class of possible modulation processes. In this paper we seek to take the first few steps toward a broader and more unified theory of modulation--a theory which will encompass several recently proposed hybrid modulation schemes as well as conventional techniques, which will suggest new modulation processes, and which might lead toward unification of modulation theory and coding theory. The paper is divided into two parts. Part I is devoted to theoretical development as summarized below. The results of Part I are applied in Part II to study modulation processes per se. The paper as a whole is in the nature of a wide ranging survey rather than a rigorously detailed analysis. The most general form of modulated wave exhibits simultaneous phase and envelope fluctuations. In the first half of Part I, equations are developed to describe phase-envelope relationships when the wave is band-limited. These equations prove to be intimately dependent on the real and complex zeros of the wave. Real zeros ("zero crossings") are familiar physical attributes. Complex zeros, however, are physically rather covert and are a concept foreign to many engineers. Both kinds of zeros are easy to interpret mathematically in terms of the factorization of a Fourier series. In the second half of Part I, three simple examples are used to illustrate relationships between zeros, spectra, envelopes, and phase functions. These examples lead to operational procedures for representing signals in terms of zeros and, most importantly, to a viewpoint wherein zeros are regarded as fundamental informational attributes of signals. This viewpoint leads, in Part II, to the concept of modulation as zero manipulation.
Combined surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the base of tongue: Analysis of treatment outcome and prognostic value of margin status

Background Choice of treatment for base of tongue carcinoma is controversial, with options including surgery alone, radiotherapy alone, or multimodality treatment. Given the highly aggressive nature of these tumors, it has been our institutional policy to manage this disease with combined partial glossectomy (with attempt to avoid laryngectomy if possible) with planned postoperative radiotherapy (RT). We report on our institutional experience with this approach. Methods A retrospective review of the charts of 17 patients with primary base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery and postoperative RT was performed. Patients treated with chemotherapy as part of their management were excluded. All patients underwent partial, hemi-, or subtotal glossectomy; 15/17 patients underwent ipsilateral radical or modified radical neck dissection. All patients received comprehensive postoperative RT (median dose 6000 cGy; range 5040–6920 cGy). Stage distribution was as follows: stage I, 2; stage II, 3; stage III, 2; stage IV, 10. Positive margins for invasive carcinoma were found in 9/17 patients. Median follow-up of surviving patients is 46 months; median follow-up for all patients is 31 months. Results For the entire group of patients, the actuarial 3-year local-regional control rate was 68%. The actuarial 3-year overall survival was 46%. The local-regional control rate was 83% for patients with stage I–III disease versus 50% for stage IV disease. There were no local failures among eight patients with negative margins (local control 100%) compared with an actuarial local control rate of 36% among patients with positive margins (p = .03). Survival, disease-specific survival, and locoregional control were also highly correlated with margin status (p = .003). Late major complications included 5/17 patients requiring permanent G-tubes and/or tracheostomy to prevent aspiration. Conclusions Surgery plus postoperative RT is an intensive treatment for carcinoma of the base of tongue which offers high locoregional control in patients in whom negative margins are achieved. Positive margins indicate a high risk of locoregional and systemic failure, and these patients should be considered for innovative clinical trials after surgery. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 19:494–499, 1997.
Some useful nonparametric tests for ordered alternatives in randomized block experiments

Testing for ordered alternatives in randomized block designs has been a problem of interest for almost three decades (Jonckheere (1954)). Three classes of rank tests have evolved—tests based on “within-blocks” rankings (W-tests), tests based on “ranking after alignment” within blocks (RAA-tests), and tests based on “among-blocks” rankings (A-Tests). This paper focuses on the latter. A simplified version of the Skillings-Wolfe generalized Purl test (1977) is suggested and two very useful A-tests—a generalized Johnson-Mehrotra “Optimal contrast” procedure and a generalized Tryon-Hettmansperger rank test—are developed. These procedures are compared and contrasted with other recent competitors presented by Skllllngs and Wolfe (1978) and by Salama and Quade (1981).
Are Building-Level Characteristics Associated with Indoor Allergens in the Household?

Building-level characteristics are structural factors largely beyond the control of those who live in them. We explored whether building-level characteristics and indoor allergens in the household are related. We examined the relationship between building-level characteristics and indoor allergens: dust mite, cat, cockroach, and mouse. Building-level characteristics measured were presence of pests (seeing cockroaches and rodents), building type (public housing, buildings zoned commercially and residentially, and building size), and building condition (building age and violations). Allergen cutpoints were used for categorical analyses and defined as follows: dust mite: >0.25 μg/g; cat: >1 μg/g; cockroach: >1 U/g; mouse: >1.6 μg/g. In fully adjusted linear analyses, neither dust mite nor cat allergen were statistically significantly associated with any building-level characteristics. Cockroach allergen was associated with the presence of cockroaches (2.07; 95% CI, 1.23, 3.49) and living in public housing (2.14; 95% CI, 1.07, 4.31). Mouse allergen was associated with the presence of rodents (1.70; 95% CI, 1.29, 2.23), and building size: living in a low-rise (<8 floors; 0.60; 95% CI, 0.42, 0.87) or high-rise (8 + floors; 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29, 0.88; compared with house/duplex). In fully adjusted logistic analyses, cat allergen was statistically significantly associated with living in a high-rise (6.29; 95% CI, 1.51, 26.21; compared with a house/duplex). Mouse allergen was associated with living in public housing (6.20; 95% CI, 1.01, 37.95) and building size: living in a low-rise (0.16; 95% CI, 0.05, 0.52) or high-rise (0.06; 95% CI, 0.01, 0.50; compared with a house/duplex). Issues concerning building size and public housing may be particularly critical factors in reducing asthma morbidity. We suggest that future research explore the possible improvement of these factors through changes to building code and violations adherence, design standards, and incentives for landlords.
TETRAMETALLIC D3-SYMMETRIC ALKOXIDE MOLECULES CONTAINING ALUMINUM

A new series of aluminum alkoxide molecules of formula [Al{(μ-OEt)2AlR2}3], where R = Me (1), Et (2), iBu (3), and [Al{(μ-OEt)2GaR2}3], where R = Me (4) and Et (5), have been synthesized and fully characterized. In pure form 1, 2, and 4 are crystalline solids. However, in the presence of a small amount of solvent or impurity all of the compounds exist as oils. They were characterized by 1H NMR, IR, elemental analysis, mp, and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry for compounds 1, 2, and 4.
Preparation of some triethylammonium chloride—N-substituted N′-cyano-O-(triphenylstannyl)isourea complexes

Abstract Eleven (triphenylstannyl)cyanamide: organic isocyanate adducts were converted into anionic complexes by reaction with triethylammonium chloride. The IR spectra of the complexes indicate that the tin is bonded to oxygen rather than to nitrogen in the original adducts. The Mossbauer parameters of two of the complexes were obtained, the quadrupole splittings being consistent with trigonal bipyramidal structures. The Mossbauer parameters of the (triphenylstannyl)cyanamide: organic isocyanate adducts indicate a tin coordination number greater than four.
Sliding Mode Motion Control of a Pneumatic Cylinder

This paper presents simulation and implementation of a sliding mode controller on a pneumatic servo system. Typical controllers for pneumatic systems are fixed gain linear controllers. This study incorporates the non-linear characteristics of the pneumatic actuator into the controller design. A detailed mathematical model of a single ended pneumatic cylinder driven by a servo valve is developed. Effects of non-linear air flow through the valve, compressibility in the cylinder chambers and the residual volume of the connecting pipes are carefully considered. Both viscous and Coulomb frictions within the cylinder have been taken into account. A position tracking sliding mode control strategy is developed and implemented. A series of experiments and simulations are performed to show that the control performance is satisfactory in both tracking and regulation.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Identification of the Molecular Target of Small Molecule Inhibitors of HDL Receptor SR-BI Activity †,‡,§

Scavenger receptor, class B, type I (SR-BI), controls high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism by mediating cellular selective uptake of lipids from HDL without the concomitant degradation of the lipoprotein particle. We previously identified in a high-throughput chemical screen of intact cells five compounds (BLT-1-5) that inhibit SR-BI-dependent lipid transport from HDL, but do not block HDL binding to SR-BI on the cell surface. Although these BLTs are widely used to examine the diverse functions of SR-BI, their direct target(s), SR-BI itself or some other component of the SR-BI pathway, has not been identified. Here we show that SR-BI in the context of a membrane lipid environment is the target of BLT-1, -3, -4, and -5. The analysis using intact cells and an in vitro system of purified SR-BI reconstituted into liposomes was aided by information derived from structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of the most potent of these BLTs, the thiosemicarbazone BLT-1. We found that the sulfur atom of BLT-1 was crucially important for its inhibitory activity, because changing it to an oxygen atom resulted in the isostructural, but essentially inactive, semicarbazone derivative BLT-1sc. SAR analysis also established the importance of BLT-1's hydrophobic tail. BLTs and their corresponding inactive compounds can be used to explore the mechanism and function of SR-BI-mediated selective lipid uptake in diverse mammalian experimental models. Consequently, BLTs may help determine the therapeutic potential of SR-BI-targeted pharmaceutical drugs.
Long-term trends in abundance and distribution of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in the northern Banana river, Brevard county, Florida

Four aerial survey projects were conducted between 1977 and 1986 to determine the abundance, density and distribution of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus), in the northern Banana River, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Manatee density and distribution within selected portions of the 78.5 sq km study area were determined. Peak numbers of manatees occurred in spring of each year. The maximum counts increased from 56 in 1978 to 297 in 1986. Manatee abundance was lowest in the winter of each year. Mean density per flight increased from 0.52 manatees/sq km in 1977-78 to 2.73/sq km in 1984-86. This increase may reflect increases in the east coast population or shifts in the population distribution. Distributional changes were observed in the study area through time, with a lower percentage of manatees occurring in industrial areas and a correspondingly higher percentage of manatees in nonindustrial areas by 1985.
Integrative Regulatory Mapping Indicates that the RNA-Binding Protein HuR Couples Pre-mRNA Processing and mRNA Stability

RNA-binding proteins coordinate the fates of multiple RNAs, but the principles underlying these global interactions remain poorly understood. We elucidated regulatory mechanisms of the RNA-binding protein HuR, by integrating data from diverse high-throughput targeting technologies, specifically PAR-CLIP, RIP-chip, and whole-transcript expression profiling. The number of binding sites per transcript, degree of HuR association, and degree of HuR-dependent RNA stabilization were positively correlated. Pre-mRNA and mature mRNA containing both intronic and 3' UTR binding sites were more highly stabilized than transcripts with only 3' UTR or only intronic binding sites, suggesting that HuR couples pre-mRNA processing with mature mRNA stability. We also observed HuR-dependent splicing changes and substantial binding of HuR in polypyrimidine tracts of pre-mRNAs. Comparison of the spatial patterns surrounding HuR and miRNA binding sites provided functional evidence for HuR-dependent antagonism of proximal miRNA-mediated repression. We conclude that HuR coordinates gene expression outcomes at multiple interconnected steps of RNA processing.
Four new genera of Neactic-Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) for species previously incorrectly placed.

Four new genera belonging to the tribe Dasineurini (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Lasiopteridi) are described for previously incorrectly placed species. The new genera are: Cembrotia Gagne, type species Janetiella coloradensis Felt; Cupressatia Gagne, type-species Janetiella siskiyou Felt; Strobilotia Gagne, type species Phytophaga carpophaga Tripp; and Rhizocecis Gagne, type species Cecidomyia rhois Coquillett. Resulting new combinations are: Cembrotia coloradensis (Felt), Cupressatia siskiyou (Felt), Cupressatia thujae (Hedlin), Strobilotia carpophaga (Tripp) and Rhizocecis rhois (Coquillett).
Current displacement (I-Z) spectroscopy-based characterization of nanoscale electro machining (nano-EM) tools

A nanoscale die-sinking electro machining (nano-EM) process has been developed on the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) platform. The consistency of the features machined by the process depends on the quality of the tools used. A simple, fast, and reliable method has been developed using in situ STM to characterize nano-EM tool quality using current displacement (I-Z) spectroscopy curves. The tunnelling current from the tool was monitored as a function of the distance from the workpiece. The distance where the tunnelling current dropped to zero was correlated with the tool's ability to perform nano-EM and atomic resolution surface scans. The tools for which the tunnelling current dropped to zero at 4 A from the workpiece resulted in consistent nano-EM and atomic resolution topographic scans. A quality criterion based on the I-Z method has been developed for nano-EM tools. This criterion can be extended to define the tool quality in probe-based machining processes and in the emerging field of molecular ...
Epistemología y educación: síntesis general y educación artística en la génesis del auto-evaluación, conciencia y autonomía

Este texto promueve un ejercicio de lectura y reflexion sobre algunos autores,conceptos elementales y teorias en los campos de epistemologia y educacion, migrandoposteriormente para un breve abordaje sobre la posibilidad metodologica cualitativapermeada por la Educacion Artistica. Tenemos fuentes bibliograficos centradosespecialmente sobre los contenidos de Epistemologia, Filosofia, Educacion, Arte eAprendizaje Transformativo. La tematica explicitada busca abrir espacios para posterioresdiscusiones que puedan contemplar un mejor analisis sobre los recursos didacticos ymetodologicos para la ensenanza del Arte a traves de variados lenguajes que busquen el focoen la formacion del individuo como ser social.
Biosynthesis of limonoids in Citrus seedlings

Abstract Radioactive tracer work showed that nomilinoate A-ring lactone was the predominant, if not the only, limonoid biosynthesized and accumulated in seedlings of lemon, Valencia orange, grapefruit and tangerine. Lemon seedlings were excellent tools for biosynthetic preparation of [14C]nomilin.
Eddy currents and paramagnetic resonance in anisotropic conductors with application to TTF‐TCNQ

A theoretical analysis of the eddy currents in an anisotropically conducting solid is given. The geometry considered is that of a long rectangular prism with the applied rf field parallel to the length. The solution for the rf field in the solid has been found in terms of a Fourier series, and the dissipated power and average energy stored have been calculated. The changes in resonant frequency and quality factor of a microwave cavity into which a sample has been introduced are expressed in terms of the stored energy and dissipated power. Application is also made to the EPR absorption due to spins uniformly distributed throughout the sample, as outlined by Bloembergen. The asymmetric resonance line is similar to that of the infinite plate, but the peak line anisotropy is reduced as sample dimensions are decreased. The analysis is applied to samples of TTF‐TCNQ and the results tabulated for varied sample sizes.
Toward a clinically feasible gene expression-based subclassification strategy for septic shock: Proof of concept

Objective To develop a clinically feasible stratification strategy for pediatric septic shock, using gene expression mosaics and a 100-gene signature representing the first 24 hrs of admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. Design Prospective, observational study involving microarray-based bioinformatics. Setting Multiple pediatric intensive care units in the United States. Patients Ninety-eight children with septic shock. Interventions None other than standard care. Measurements and main results Patients were classified into three previously published, genome-wide, expression-based subclasses (subclasses A, B, and C) having clinically relevant phenotypic differences. The class-defining 100-gene signature was depicted for each individual patient, using mosaics generated by the Gene Expression Dynamics Inspector (GEDI). Composite mosaics were generated representing the average expression patterns for each of the three subclasses. Nine individual clinicians served as blinded evaluators. Each evaluator was shown the 98 individual patient mosaics and asked to classify each patient into one of the three subclasses, using the composite mosaics as the reference point. The respective sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of the subclassification strategy were ≥ 4% across the three subclasses. The classification strategy also generated positive likelihood ratios of ≥ 6.8 and negative likelihood ratios of ≤ .2 across the three subclasses. The κ coefficient across all possible interevaluator comparisons was 0.81. Conclusions We have provided initial evidence (proof of concept) for a clinically feasible and robust stratification strategy for pediatric septic shock based on a 100-gene signature and gene expression mosaics.