cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coherence transfer through homonuclear dipolar coupling in an unoriented two spin-1/2 solid-state system

Abstract Dipolar coupling is a valuable NMR parameter to study the structure and dynamics of solids and partially aligned biological molecules in solution. The transfer of magnetization via the homonuclear dipolar coupling, known as dipolar coherence transfer (DCT), has been used to obtain the internuclear distances between two specific sites of interest in a biological solid. In this study, DCT for a pair of dipolar coupled spin-1/2 nuclei in a powder sample under static experimental condition is analyzed in detail by the numerical calculation of the analytical solutions for the time development of the density matrix. The density matrix evolution under the effect of the homonuclear dipolar interaction is evaluated using the product operator formalism. The effect of scalar coupling on DCT is also discussed.
Sunrise temperature dips

Temperature depressions of as much as five degrees F, in the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain regions, during the hour centered about sunrise, appear to be closely related to local air drainages. These sunrise temperature dips may produce errors in mean temperatures as now computed; and lead to possible misadjustment of thermographs.
Systematic approach to new product development

Abstract This article presents a comprehensive product development methodology which systematically guides a product development team to develop products which meet or exceed stakeholders' expectations with efficient use of company's resources.
Scattering of sh waves by thin, semi-infinite inclusions

Abstract A thin, semi-infinite inclusion is perfectly bonded to a surrounding matrix and subjected to an incident, plane, harmonic SH wave. The scattering field is evaluated to first order by the method of singular perturbations and matched asymptotic expansions, with the thickness-to-wavelength ratio as the perturbation parameter. The inner expansion, valid near the tip of the inclusion, obeys the equations of elastostatics, while outer expansion is a wave field comprising the incident wave along with a scattered field generated by sources along the mid-line of the inclusion and at its tip. The scattered wave is of first order in the perturbation parameter, and its far field, as evaluated by the method of steepest descents, contains non-decaying, reflected and transmitted plane waves as well as a radiated portion decaying as r − ½ . For some combinations of incident angle and material properties, there are nulls in the radiated wave at two distinct angles, while in other cases there are none. The angle midway between the nulls is found to be independent of the inclusion-to-matrix density ratio, but to vary with stiffness ratio and angle of incidence. Polar plots of the scattered power flux are given for a 45° incident angle and a range of material properties.
Efficient Multithreaded User-Space Transport for Network Computing

We present a novel user-space and transaction-oriented protocol for use in high-performance distributed computing applications. The TRAP protocol is designed to support low-latency communication in multithreaded message-passing libraries. To demonstrate the viability of TRAP, we implemented and tested the fully operational protocol and conducted several experiments comparing its runtime performance with that of popular communication libraries. For fairness, the experiments did not exploit the TRAP protocol's multithreading capability at the application level. The results show that a TRAP-based communication library can, in various scenarios, outperform extant libraries based on in-kernel or user-level protocols. The results of these experiments also show that the TRAP protocol exhibits scalability characteristics, with respect to number of computing and communicating nodes, that is superior to regular in-kernel TCP/IP and other user-space protocol implementations.
Early S phase DNA replication: a search for targets of carcinogenesis.

Our studies have revealed that replicating DNA is more vulnerable to adduction than is non-replicating DNA. Contrary to our expectations that the vulnerability to neoplastic transformation induced by carcinogens in synchronized cells would parallel the rate of DNA replication, we actually found that the vulnerability was notably increased early in the S phase and more closely paralleled the rate of entry cells into the S phase (the very beginning of S phase) rather than the overall rate of DNA synthesis. From these findings we hypothesized that there were targets for the neoplastic transformation of cells that were among the earliest replicated sequences in the genome. To test that this hypothesis was plausible we investigated the temporal order of DNA replication during the S phase and showed that the order of DNA replication was far more precisely defined than had been recognized previously. The cell synchronization techniques that made those findings possible made it feasible to demonstrate that only a relatively few sites of DNA replication are identifiable in chromosomal bands at the earliest times in the S phase. The same synchronization techniques enabled us to label DNA replicated when populations of cells were very early in S phase and to isolate and clone this DNA. The clonal elements of this library of DNA prepared in this manner have been sequenced and mapped to the human genome. Efforts are in progress to characterize the genes and sequence features associated with these regions. We have utilized methods to identify and characterize origins of DNA replication as a means of locating the earliest replicating part of these early replicating regions. We have identified several new origins of DNA replication that are activated early and late in the S phase but the features of the chromatin at the origin that determines its time of activation remain obscure. In an effort to improve our ability to identify more origins, particularly adjacent origins in genomic regions, we have combined the methods of DNA combing and FISH analysis of combed DNA to search for DNA precursor incorporation patterns characteristic of origins of DNA replication. Preliminary nascent strand abundance studies appear to have proven the existence of two origins of DNA replication predicted from the precursor incorporation studies. We have found that the combed DNA techniques can be combined with precursor incorporation studies and antibodies to sites of DNA damage to address questions of mechanisms of DNA damage and repair. For example these studies have shown recently that DNA damage is not randomly distributed in the genome and that both inhibition of replicon initiation and inhibition of strand elongation are separately distinguishable as components of the S checkpoint function. It is our hope and expectation that these results and the opportunities that they provide for future studies will enable us to identify possible targets for malignant transformation that explain our observation that cells at the start of S phase are vulnerable to the initiation of carcinogenesis.
Modelling earthquake ground motions in California using parametric time series methods

Abstract The use of parametric time series analysis to describe strong motion accelerograms has proven to be an efficient method requiring few modelling parameters. In this study, an ARMA model was used to represent accelerograms which were first processed using a variance-stabilizing transformation. By analyzing a large number of recorded accelerograms in the State of California, relationships were found between ARMA parameters and physical variables making it possible to simulate earthquake ground motions throughout the region. The validity of these results was tested by comparing the accelerograms and response spectra of the initial and simulated records.
Contradictions of emotion in schizophrenia

This paper considers contradictory features of emotional or affective experience and expression in schizophrenia in light of the “Kretschmerian paradox”—the fact that schizophrenia-spectrum patients can simultaneously experience both exaggerated and diminished levels of affective response. An attempt is made to explain the paradox and explore its implications. Recent research on emotion in schizophrenia is reviewed, including subjective reports, psychophysiological measures of arousal or activation, and behavioural measures, focusing on flat-affect and negative-symptom patients. After discussing relevant concepts and vocabulary of emotion (“affect”, “emotion”, “mood”, “feelings”, the “passions”), the need for a phenomenological approach focusing on subjective experience is proposed. Four modes of nonparanoid experience in schizophrenia are discussed: Bodily Alienation, Disengagement, Unworlding, and Subjectivisation. Each mode involves withdrawal from functional contexts—temporal, practical, and interpers...
Observations on adults and eggs of chaoborus flavicans (Diptera: Chaoboridae)

Adults of Chaoborus flavicans (Meigen) (Diptera: Chaoboridae) were observed in the laboratory. Newly emerged females contained well-developed oocytes. Copulation was successfully induced using a method originally developed for mosquitoes. Copulation also took place naturally in a cage. Females could be induced to oviposit by decapitating them. Natural deposition of 18 to 387 eggs occurred on deionized water or on oak-leaf infusion. Naturally deposited eggs were arranged in a regular pattern within a gelatinous matrix. The eggs were smoky-gray in color and translucent, allowing observation of the developing embryos.
Diiron (III) complexes of some relevance to the purple acid phosphatases

Abstract Three diiron(III) complexes of the tetradentate tripodal ligand N-(-ohydroxybenzyl)-N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (HDP), [Fe2(HDP)2O(O2CPh)BPh4 (1), [Fe2(HDP)2O{O2P(OPh)2}]BPh4 (2), and [Fe2(HDP)2{O2(OPh)2}2](BPh4)2 (3), have been synthesized as models for the active site of the purple acid phosphtes. Single crystals of 1 ( P2 1 2 1 2 1 , a=17.728(3) A , b=18.204(4) A c=19.3383(4) A , Z=4, V=6255 A 3 ) and 3 ( P 1 , a=14.316(11) A , b=15.136(17) A , c=13.303(6) A , α=97.04(7)°, β=104.48(5)°, γ=115.51(8)°, Z=1, V=2430(6) A 3 ) were obtained and subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 has a (μ-oxo)(μ-benzoato)Diiron(III) core, while complex 3 has a bis(μ-phosphato)diiron(III) core, the tetradentate HDP completing the coordination spere about each iron center in both complexes. Due to differences in their core structures, the FeFe separations in 1 and 3 are 3.217(11) A and 4.819(1) A, respectively. Complex 2 is presumed to have a structure analogous to 1 with phosphate replacing the benzoate bridge. Both 1 and 2 exhibit strong atiferromagnetic coupling due to the presence of the oxo bridge (J=−111 and −96 cm−1, respectively; H=−2JS1·S2). Interestingly, the iron(III) centers in 3 are not coupled at all; 3 exhibits Curie behavior throughout the entire temperature range studied (6–300 K) with a magnetic moment commensurate with two high-spin iron(III) centers. The three complexes exhibit visible absorption maxima at 522, 516, and 605 nm, respectively, arising from phenolate-to-iron(III) charge transfer transitions. The shifts in the λmax values can be rationalized on the basis of the Lewis acidities of the respective iron(III) centers. These are compared with those of the purple acid phosphatases.
Model of cellulose disappearance from the rumen.

Abstract Lignin concentration in fiber influences the extent of in vivo ruminant digestion, but increasing lignin content during digestion does not slow rate of digestion. Digestion of Lignified fiber proceeds as if the cellulose is of two definable components—potentially digestible and indigestible. Indigestible cellulose disappears from the rumen by passage only. Passage is proportional to that present and may be expressed as a linear semilog function of time. The potentially digestible cellulose disappears by both passage and digestion. These two simultaneous rates sum to one rate which is proportional to that present and may be expressed as a linear semilog function of time. The fractional digestion of the potentially digestible component in the rumen is given by the digestion rate over the sum of digestion rate and passage rate.
Serosal accumulation of amino acids and hepatic lipid levels of rats fed several carbohydrates

Abstract The influence of the type of dietary carbohydrate on the in vitro serosal accumulation of amino acids in rat intestinal tissue was examined. In addition, the hepatic concentration of several classes of lipids was determined. 1. 1. Food consumption and body weight gains of rats fed raw potato starch were significantly higher than those fed cooked potato starch, cornstarch, sucrose, glucose, or dextrin. Rats fed sucrose exhibited significantly lower body weight gains than those on other treatments. 2. 2. The in vitro serosal accumulation of amino acids was lowest in rats fed raw potato starch and sucrose. These animals also exhibited the greatest and least weight of intestinal tissue per unit of length, respectively. There was little difference between other dietary treatments in terms of serosal accumulation rate, although the tissue of dextrin-fed rats tended to show a higher rate of passage. 3. 3. Significantly higher levels of total lipid, free cholesterol, and neutral fat were found in the hepatic tissue of rats fed sucrose. There were no treatment differences in the levels of total cholesterol, phospholipids, free fatty acids, or the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or malate dehydrogenase.
The Helena Banks strike-slip (?) fault zone in the Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake area: Results from a marine, high-resolution, multichannel, seismic-reflection survey

In 1981 the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a high-resolution, 12-channel seismic-reflection survey offshore of Charleston, South Carolina, to study young faults that may be earthquake sources. We collected data along 24 profiles, totaling about 600 km, with shotpoints at 10-m intervals. The Helena Banks fault zone (HBFZ) was crossed by 13 high-resolution profiles which, combined with 5 conventional 64-channel profiles acquired in 1979 across the fault zone, provide greater definition of this structure than any similar feature along the Atlantic seaboard or continental margin. The HBFZ trends N66°E and is about 110 km long (the same trend as the underlying Kiawah Triassic(?) basin); it comprises several segments 10–40 km long that trend between N68°E and N77°E, with a mean of N72°E. The left-stepping echelon pattern of the segments (connected by normal faults observed on two profiles) in the HBFZ suggests slip could possibly be left lateral despite high-angle reverse separation (mean fault dip 70° ± 5°) of Coastal Plain strata seen on the individual reflection profiles. Aeromagnetic data constrain the maximum ratio of horizontal to vertical slip from about 10:1 to 100:1. Our interpretation is consistent with the present-day, northeast-trending, maximum horizontal compressional stress field; however, the reflection data cannot independently prove that the main sense of motion on the HBFZ is strike slip. Examination of vertical separations on six segments across the HBF indicates a linear increase with depth of 51 ± 12 m/km which is similar to 36 m/km and 48 m/km reported previously as measured on multichannel seismic-reflection profiles crossing the Gants and Cooke faults, respectively, on land in the meizoseismal area of the 1886 earthquake. We interpret these results to indicate that, as a first approximation, the stress field did not vary significantly in direction or magnitude from Late Cretaceous time to Pleistocene time (and likely to the present) in the Charleston region. The trend of the HBFZ as mapped by the reflection profiles follows the narrow Kiawah Triassic(?) basin, which was delineated by the second vertical derivative of total magnetic intensity. Several reflection profiles indicate that the HBFZ is a compressional reactivation of an extensional Triassic(?) fault zone bounding the basin.
The Ecological Role of the Prehensile Tail in White-Faced Capuchins (Cebus capucinus)

Prehensile tails appear to have evolved at least twice in platyrrhine evolution. In the atelines, the tail is relatively long and possesses a bare area on the distal part of its ventral surface that is covered with der- matoglyphs and richly innervated with Meissner's corpuscles. In contrast, the prehensile tail of Cebus is relatively short, fully haired, and lacks specialized tactile receptors. Little is currently known regarding tail function in capu- chins, and whether their prehensile tail serves a greater role in feeding or traveling. In this paper we examine patterns of positional behavior, substrate preference, and tail use in wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) inhabiting a wet tropical forest in northeastern Costa Rica. Observational data were collected over the course of 3 months on adult capuchins using an instantaneous focal animal time sampling technique. Differences in the frequency and context of tail use, and the estimated amount of weight support provided by the tail relative to other appendages during feeding/foraging and traveling were used as measures of the ecological role of this specialized organ in capuchin positional behavior. During travel, quadrupedal walking, leaping, and climbing dominated the capuchin positional repertoire. The capuchin tail provided support in only 13.3% of travel and was principally employed during below branch locomotor activities. In contrast, tail-assisted postures ac- counted for 40.6% of all feeding and foraging records and occurred primarily in two contexts. The tail was used to suspend the individual below a branch while feeding, as well as to provide leverage and weight support in above- branch postures associated with the extraction of prey from difficult to search substrates. A comparison of tail use in Cebus, with published data on the atelines indicates that both taxa possess a grasping tail that is capable of supporting the animal's full body weight. In capuchins and howling monkeys, the tail appears to be used more frequently and serves a greater weight- bearing role during feeding than during traveling. In Ateles, and possibly Brachyteles, and Lagothrix, however, the prehensile tail serves a dual role in both feeding and forelimb suspensory locomotion. Additional relationships between white-faced capuchin feeding, positional behavior, extractive forag- ing techniques, and prehensile tail use are discussed. Am J Phys Anthropol
Fault tolerance for arithmetic and logic unit

Very large scale integration (VLSI) technology has evolved to a level where large systems, previously implemented as printed circuit boards with discrete components, are integrated into a single integrated circuit (IC). But aggressive new chip design technologies frequently adversely affect chip reliability during functional operation. Reliability is of critical importance in situations where a computer malfunction could have catastrophic results. Reliability is used to describe systems in which it is not feasible to repair (as in computers on board satellites) or in which the computer is serving a critical function and cannot be lost even for the duration of a replacement (as insight control computers on an aircraft) or in which the repair is prohibitively expensive. The use of concurrent error detection scheme with order to achieve the high reliability requirement of modern computer systems is becoming an important design technique. The present paper describes implementation of error-detection mechanisms for detecting faults within the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The Boolean unit of the ALU uses duplication of hardware with comparison as the error detection mechanism. The arithmetic unit of the ALU uses residue codes as the error detection mechanisms. If a fault is detected in the ALU we have to replace it with the spare ALU which will make error correction possible. We will compare this fault tolerance mechanism with the current fault-tolerance mechanisms (Triple redundancy with single voting scheme and Triple modular redundancy with triplicated voting mechanism).
Molecular-dynamics simulations of nanoscale surface modification of Si(111) via local excitation

Nanoscale surface modification on Si(111) caused by slow highly-charged ions is investigated using molecular-dynamics simulations. Following a recently proposed mechanism of this process, electrons within a localized region of the surface are excited to antibonding states during a short time interval, leading to structural instability. In the simulations this instability is studied by embedding a hemispherical region of 200-391 excited Si on a Si(111) surface. The excited-state bond breaking leads to a completely different dynamics and final result than Coulomb explosion. This is mainly due to a much lower pressure in the excited hemisphere, so very little modification is done to the surface outside the excited region. In many respects the results in this study agree with experiments better than Coulomb explosion, e.g., no shock waves are detected, fairly small sputtering yield, and the formation of surface roughness and amorphous structures. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
Fungal infections of the heart: analysis of 51 autopsy cases.

The clinical setting, predisposing factors and consequences of fungal involvement of the heart were examined in all patients with this condition who underwent autopsy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1889 through 1977. The 51 patients with cardiac fungal infection were all observed since 1954; they ranged in age from 2 weeks to 80 years; 29 were male. Fungal endocarditis was present in 13 patients, myocarditis in 31, pericarditis in 4 and pancarditis in 3. In only one instance was cardiac fungal infection diagnosed during life. The infecting organisms were Candida in 34 patients, Aspergillus in 13, Cryptococcus in 3 and combined Candida and Aspergillus in 1. The conditions appearing to predispose to fungal infection were abdominal surgery in 20 patients, thoracic surgery in 7 and treatment with corticosteroids, antineoplastic agents or antibiotic drugs, alone or in combination, in 43 cases. Endocarditis was most commonly associated with central venous catheters or prosthetic valve surgery and was often caused by Aspergillus. Myocarditis and pancarditis usually occurred in a setting of gastrointestinal surgery, intense antibiotic therapy and systemic candidiasis. Death could be attributed to fungal infection in 36 patients and specifically to cardiac involvement in 8. Endocarditis was diagnosed once during life. Cardiac fungal infection, especially myocarditis, may be difficult to recognize clinically. It is associated with extensive therapeutic interventions and may in itself produce a fatal outcome.
Identification of seminiferous tubule aberrations and a low incidence of testicular microliths associated with the development of azoospermia

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the use of percutaneous testicular sperm aspiration in the assessment of azoospermia and its association with seminiferous tubule microliths. Design: Case report. Setting: Tertiary care fertility center in a university hospital. Patient(s): Male undergoing infertility evaluation. Intervention(s): Testicular biopsy and percutaneous testicular aspiration. Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum hormone analysis, sperm concentration in semen, spermatogenesis in samples from testicular biopsies and aspirations, and microlith composition. Result(s): A patient presented for infertility evaluation with a history of severe oligospermia that progressed to azoospermia. The serum testosterone concentration (357 ng/dL) and LH concentration (9.2 mIU/mL) were normal and the serum FSH concentration (18.3 mIU/mL) was elevated. Testicular biopsy results indicated spermatogenic hypoplasia with limited spermatozoa. Seminiferous tubules obtained by percutaneous testicular aspiration were structurally aberrant, with multiple diverticula. Microliths averaging 120 μm in diameter were observed within and blocking the seminiferous tubules. The microliths were composed of calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatite) in both the core and peripheral regions. Electron microscopy revealed a high degree of collagen-like material within the peripheral zone. Conclusion(s): The presence of seminiferous tubule microliths is associated with the development of azoospermia. In patients with a low incidence of seminiferous tubule microliths and aberrant seminiferous tubule architecture, percutaneous testicular aspiration may provide a diagnostic advantage over testicular biopsy.
A Basal Transcription Factor That Activates or Represses Transcription

We have identified an activity that is required for transcription of downstream promoter element (DPE)-containing core promoters in vitro. The purified factor was found to be the Drosophila homolog of the transcriptional repressor known as NC2 or Dr1-Drap1. Purified recombinant dNC2 activates DPE-driven promoters and represses TATA-driven promoters. A mutant version of dNC2 can activate DPE promoters but is unable to repress TATA promoters. Thus, the activation and repression functions are distinct. These studies reveal that NC2 (Dr1-Drap1) is a bifunctional basal transcription factor that differentially regulates gene transcription through DPE or TATA box motifs.
Site-specific orientation of an α-helical peptide ovispirin-1 from isotope-labeled SFG spectroscopy.

Sum-frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy is often used to probe the backbone structures and orientations of polypeptides at surfaces. Using the ovispirin-1 polypeptide at the solid/liquid interface of polystyrene, we demonstrate for the first time that SFG can probe the polarization response of a single-isotope-labeled residue. To interpret the spectral intensities, we simulated the spectra using an excitonic Hamiltonian approach. We show that the polarization dependence of either the label or the unlabeled amide I band alone does not provide sufficient structural constraints to obtain both the tilt and the twist of the ovispirin helix at a solid/liquid interface, but that both can be determined from the polarization dependence of the complete spectrum. For ovispirin, the detailed analysis of the polarized SFG experimental data shows that the helix axis is tilted at roughly 138° from the surface normal, and the transition dipole of the isotope-labeled C═O group is tilted at 23° from the sur...
Science, Religion and Secularization

The persistence of religion among scientists is the background question from which is derived a number of theoretical questions previously explored only tentatively in the sociology of religion and less by the sociology of science. The examination, organized around the differences in style and subject of these two sociological specialties, argues that the social study of science could benefit from and supplement theoretical concepts recently developed in the sociology of religion. Propositions are developed on the idea of scientism as a general ideology functioning as a substitute religion, and the proposition that modern consciousness is more able to sustain normative dissonance, including dissonance between religious and scientific norms. The discussion is theoretical and programmatic rather than empirical.
Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Stimulation of Adrenocorticotropin and β-Endorphin Release: Effects of Acute and Chronic Stress

The effects of acute and chronic stress on the release of ACTH and β-endorphin in response to stimulation by ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin were examined. Pituitaries were removed from rats who had received either acute stress, chronic stress daily for 14 days with the last stress occurring 24 h before decapitation, or chronic stress followed by an acute stress immediately before decapitation (chronic stress-acute stress). Pituitaries from naive unstressed animals were used as the control group. After processing into single cell suspensions, the pituitaries were incubated with various doses of CRF (10−11 m to 10−9 m) and AVP (10−10 m to 10−8 m). Release of ACTH and β-endorphin into the medium was measured by RIA. A clear dose-dependent response to both releasers was seen in control pituitaries. In acute stress, a decreased responsiveness to arginine vasopressin and CRF was seen. This same blunted response was not seen in chronic stress even if the animals are stressed ...
Spectrogram analysis of genomes

We perform frequency-domain analysis in the genomes of various organisms using tricolor spectrograms, identifying several types of distinct visual patterns characterizing specific DNA regions. We relate patterns and their frequency characteristics to the sequence characteristics of the DNA. At times, the spectrogram patterns can be related to the structure of the corresponding protein region by using various public databases such as GenBank. Some patterns are explained from the biological nature of the corresponding regions, which relate to chromosome structure and protein coding, and some patterns have yet unknown biological significance. We found biologically meaningful patterns, on the scale of millions of base pairs, to a few hundred base pairs. Chromosome-wide patterns include periodicities ranging from 2 to 300. The color of the spectrogram depends on the nucleotide content at specific frequencies, and therefore can be used as a local indicator of CG content and other measures of relative base content. Several smaller-scale patterns are found to represent different types of domains made up of various tandem repeats.
Supersymmetric pair correlation function of Wilson loops

We give a path integral derivation of the annulus diagram in a supersymmetric theory of open and closed strings with D-branes. We compute the pair correlation function of Wilson loops in the generic weakly coupled supersymmetric flat spacetime background with D-branes. We obtain a $\ensuremath{-}{u}^{4}{/r}^{9}$ potential between heavy nonrelativistic sources in a supersymmetric gauge theory at short distances.
Atlantic to Mediterranean Sea Level Difference Driven by Winds near Gibraltar Strait

Observations and numerical simulations show that winds near Gibraltar Strait cause an Atlantic Ocean to Mediterranean Sea sea level difference of 20 cm peak to peak with a 3-cm standard deviation for periods of days to years. Theoretical arguments and numerical experiments establish that this wind-driven sea level difference is caused in part by storm surges due to alongshore winds near the North African coastline on the Atlantic side of Gibraltar. The fraction of the Moroccan coastal current offshore of the 284-m isobath is deflected across Gibraltar Strait, west of Camarinal Sill, resulting in a geostrophic surface pressure gradient that contributes to a sea level difference at the stationary limit. The sea level difference is also caused in part by the along-strait wind setup, with a contribution proportional to the along-strait wind stress and to the length of Gibraltar Strait and adjoining regions and inversely proportional to its depth. In the 20–360-day band, average transfer coefficients between the Atlantic–Alboran sea level difference and surface wind stress at 36°N, 6.5°W, estimated from barometrically corrected Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon data and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data, are 0.10 0.04 m Pa 1 with 1 5-day lag and 0.19 0.08 m Pa 1 with 5 4-day lag for the zonal and meridional wind stresses, respectively. This transfer function is consistent with equivalent estimates derived from a 1992–2003 high-resolution barotropic simulation forced by the NCEP–NCAR wind stress. The barotropic simulation explains 29% of the observed Atlantic–Alboran sea level difference in the 20–360-day band. In turn, the Alboran and Mediterranean mean sea level time series are highly correlated, 0.7 in the observations and 0.8 in the barotropic simulation, hence providing a pathway for winds near Gibraltar Strait to affect the mean sea level of the entire Mediterranean.
Human health risk characterization of petroleum coke calcining facility emissions

Calcining processes including handling and storage of raw petroleum coke may result in Particulate Matter (PM) and gaseous emissions. Concerns have been raised over the potential association between particulate and aerosol pollution and adverse respiratory health effects including decrements in lung function. This risk characterization evaluated the exposure concentrations of ambient air pollutants including PM10 and gaseous pollutants from a petroleum coke calciner facility. The ambient air pollutant levels were collected through monitors installed at multiple locations in the vicinity of the facility. The measured and modeled particulate levels in ambient air from the calciner facility were compared to standards protective of public health. The results indicated that exposure levels were, on occasions at sites farther from the facility, higher than the public health limit of 150 μg/m(3) 24-h average for PM10. However, the carbon fraction demonstrated that the contribution from the calciner facility was de minimis. Exposure levels of the modeled SO2, CO, NOx and PM10 concentrations were also below public health air quality standards. These results demonstrate that emissions from calcining processes involving petroleum coke, at facilities that are well controlled, are below regulatory standards and are not expected to produce a public health risk.
ORIGIN AND FATE OF THE 3’ ENDS OF SINGLE-STRANDED DNA GENERATED BY CONJUGAL TRANSFER OF PLASMID R1162

During conjugation, a single strand of DNA is cleaved at the origin of transfer (oriT) by the plasmid-encoded relaxase. This strand is then unwound from its complement and transferred in the 5′-to-3′ direction, with the 3′ end likely extended by rolling-circle replication. The resulting, newly synthesized oriT must then be cleaved as well, prior to recircularization of the strand in the recipient. Evidence is presented here that the R1162 relaxase contains only a single nucleophile capable of cleaving at oriT, with another molecule therefore required to cleave at a second site. An assay functionally isolating this second cleavage shows that this reaction can take place in the donor cell. As a result, there is a flux of strands with free 3′ ends into the recipient. These ends are susceptible to degradation by exonuclease I. The degree of susceptibility is affected by the presence of an uncleaved oriT within the strand. A model is presented where these internal oriTs bind and trap the relaxase molecule covalently bound to the 5′ end of the incoming strand. Such a mechanism would result in the preferential degradation of transferred DNA that had not been properly cleaved in the donor.
In-vitro activity of gatifloxacin against Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae

We compared the activity of gatifloxacin, a new quinolone, ofloxacin and erythromycin against five isolates of Chlamydia trachomatis and 20 isolates of Chlamydia pneumoniae, including TW183 and clinical isolates from the USA and Japan. Testing was done in cycloheximide treated HEp-2 cells. Gatifloxacin was slightly less active against C. trachomatis and slightly more active against C. pneumoniae than ofloxacin, with MICs at which 90% of the isolates had no inclusions and minimal chlamydicidal concentrations at which 90% of the isolates had no inclusions after passage of 0.25 mg/L. Gatifloxacin was less active than erythromycin for both species.
The Role of the Insula in Schizophrenia

Involvement of the insular cortex is a common finding in neuroanatomical studies of schizophrenia, yet its contribution to disease pathology remains unknown. This review describes the normal function of the insula and examines pathology of this region in schizophrenia. The insula is a cortical structure with extensive connections to many areas of the cortex and limbic system. It integrates external sensory input with the limbic system and is integral to the awareness of the body's state (interoception). Many deficits observed in schizophrenia involve these functions and may relate to insula pathology. Furthermore, reports describing deficits caused by lesions of the insula parallel deficits observed in schizophrenia. Examples of insula-related functions that are altered in schizophrenia include the processing of both visual and auditory emotional information, pain, and neuronal representations of the self. The last of these functions, processing representations of the self, plays a key role in discriminating between self-generated and external information, suggesting that insula dysfunction may contribute to hallucinations, a cardinal feature of schizophrenia.
A DIPHENOL OXIDASE GENE IS PART OF A CLUSTER OF GENES INVOLVED IN CATECHOLAMINE METABOLISM AND SCLEROTIZATION IN DROSOPHILA. I. IDENTIFICATION OF THE BIOCHEMICAL DEFECT IN Dox-A2 [l(2)37Bf] MUTANTS

ABSTRACT Phenol oxidase, a complex enzyme, plays a major role in the processes of sclerotization and melanization of cuticle in insects. Several loci have been reported to affect levels of phenol oxidase activity, but to date only one structural locus has been identified [ Dox-3 F ( 2 -53.1+)]. Recently isolated Dox-A2 mutations ( 2 -53.9) are recessive, early larval lethals, which as heterozygotes reduce phenol oxidase activity. A homozygous mutant escaper had weak, completely unpigmented cuticle and unpigmented bristles. Enzyme assays show that Dox-A2 heterozygotes have diphenol oxidase activity reduced to 47-79% of wild type, whereas monophenol oxidase activity, at 94-106% of wild type, is normal. Elevated pool sizes of the diphenol oxidase substrates DOPA, dopamine, and N -acetyldopamine are observed in the mutant, confirming the enzyme assay results. Separation of the three phenol oxidase A component activities on polyacrylamide gels shows that Dox-A2 mutations reduce the activity of only the A2 component. Dox-A2 may identify a structural locus for the A2 component of the diphenol oxidase enzyme system.—The Dox-A2 locus is one of 18 loci in the dopa decarboxylase, Df ( 2L ) TW130 region of the second chromosome, at least 14 of which affect the formation, melanization or sclerotization of cuticle in some way. These loci form an apparent cluster of functionally related genes.
A Quantitative Method for Assigning Abundance Classifications to Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Kentucky

ABSTRACT: Little is known about the distribution and relative abundance of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) within the United States. However, recent extensive collecting efforts within Kentucky, as well as the compilation and digitization of label data from seven museum collections, have resulted in distribution data for 11,079 beetles collected between 1884 and 2007. We used an integrated approach to assign abundance classifications of rare, local, infrequent, frequent, and abundant to the 253 known leaf beetle species recorded, incorporating both specimen data and our knowledge of the dataset. We initially selected a recently collected subset of 149 species, which were assigned preliminary subjective classifications. Possible index calculations were applied to all 253 species, and the calculation whose order was most aligned with the subjective classifications was chosen. Cutoffs between categories (e.g., abundant to frequent) were identified using subjective classifications as well as natural ...
How do performance support and minimalist systems designers consider audience? Some design tools for user-focused systems

Both electronic performance support systems (EPSS) and minimalist manuals rely on audience analyses as the foundation of their effectiveness. EPSS are computer-based systems that provide whatever resources are necessary to help a person complete a task quickly. Minimalist manuals are documents that are structured to allow users to explore a system on their own, after receiving some basic guidance. Designs driven by the application of EPSS and minimalist audience analyses may apply to the creation of interactive instructions-to empowering an audience to create their own learning. The paper represents an introductory investigation into the implications of audience analysis implicit in EPSS and minimal systems. A comparison of the audience driven design goals of these systems suggests three tools technical communicators can investigate to help audiences construct their own learning: hypertext, multiple information paths, and information layering.
Donor Gender Does Not Affect Liver Transplantation Outcome in Children

The liver is recognized as a sex hormone-responsive organ. Gender-specific differences in liver function are known to exist. Recently, a higher failure rate for organs transplanted in adults from female donors to male recipients has been reported. This increased failure rate of livers obtained from adult females and transplanted into adult males is thought to occur, at least in part, as a result of intrinsic gender-specific differences in hepatocyte cell surface expression and to alterations in the hormonal milieu of the donor liver in the recipient. To determine whether the same graft-recipient gender-determined failure rates pertain in the pediatric liver transplant population, the outcome of 335 primary liver transplants performed in children at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center was examined. No difference in transplant outcome was demonstrated in children based on the gender pairings between the donor and recipient whether or not variables such as the age, etiology of the liver disease, and the blood group of the recipient were included in the data analysis. Thus, in contrast, to the situation in adults, the gender of the donor does not influence the outcome of liver transplantation in children and should not be used as a criterion for donor selection. This difference between adults and children may be due, at least in part, to gender differences in hepatocyte phenotypic expression induced as a consequence of puberty.
A structural model for glutathione-complexed iron–sulfur cluster as a substrate for ABCB7-type transporters

Glutathione-complexed [2Fe–2S] cluster is shown to significantly stimulate the ATPase activity of an ABCB7-type transporter in both solution and proteoliposome-bound forms (KD ∼ 68 μM). The cluster is a likely natural substrate for this transporter, which has been implicated in cytosolic Fe–S cluster protein maturation. A possible substrate-binding site is identified on a new structural model for the active transporter.
Marsilea mollis (Marsileaceae) Sporocarps and Associated Insect Parasitism in Southern Arizona

ABSTRACT. We report observations on reproductive phenology, fecundity, and sporocarp morphology for a population of the semiaquatic fern Marsilea mollis B.L. Rob. & Fernald in southern Arizona and document the parasitic relationships of 2 insects collected with the plants. The recently described weevil Notiodes sporocarpicus O'Brien (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) utilizes the fern's sporocarp as a brood chamber, only the second documented instance of this form of parasitism in the United States. The wasp Lyrcus maculatus (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a parasitoid of the weevil in this system.
Effects of Spatially Varying Selection on Nucleotide Diversity and Linkage Disequilibrium: Insights From Deer Mouse Globin Genes

An important goal of population genetics is to elucidate the effects of natural selection on patterns of DNA sequence variation. Here we report results of a study to assess the joint effects of selection, recombination, and gene flow in shaping patterns of nucleotide variation at genes involved in local adaptation. We first describe a new summary statistic, Zg, that measures the between-sample component of linkage disequilibrium (LD). We then report results of a multilocus survey of nucleotide diversity and LD between high- and low-altitude populations of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus. The multilocus survey included two closely linked α-globin genes, HBA-T1 and HBA-T2, that underlie adaptation to different elevational zones. The primary goals were to assess whether the α-globin genes exhibit the hallmarks of spatially varying selection that are predicted by theory (i.e., sharply defined peaks in the between-population components of nucleotide diversity and LD) and to assess whether peaks in diversity and LD may be useful for identifying specific sites that distinguish selectively maintained alleles. Consistent with theoretical expectations, HBA-T1 and HBA-T2 were characterized by highly elevated levels of diversity between populations and between allele classes. Simulation and empirical results indicate that sliding-window analyses of Zg between allele classes may provide an effective means of pinpointing causal substitutions.
External morphology of the egg of the native (Melitara prodenialis) and exotic (Cactoblastis cactorum) cactus moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Abstract.— Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of the chorionic surface of two pyralids that feed on Opuntia cactus. The chorionic surface of Cactoblastis cactorum has a reticulate pattern due to the ridges on the surface and aeropyles. The chorionic surface has a granular appearance at low magnifications and rugose at high ones. The micropylar area has a central depression with the micropyles and is surrounded by irregularly shaped polygonal cells. The tertiary cells have aeropyles associated with the cells, and these aeropyles have mesh-like extensions that cover their openings. The general appearance of the chorionic surface of Melitara prodenialis is similar to C. cactorum, but the micropylar region differs in that primary cells surrounding the micropylar depression are looping cells of varying sizes. Also, no aeropyles are associated with the looping cells around the micropylar region.
Self-healing reconfiguration for restoration of naval shipboard power systems

Naval shipboard power systems form a critical component of the U.S. defense infrastructure. When there is a fault in a shipboard power system either due to battle damage or material casualty, it is important to quickly isolate the fault and restore supply to as many loads as possible. This paper presents an automated self-healing strategy for reconfiguration for service restoration in naval shipboard power systems. The proposed method is illustrated on a system developed based on a typical surface combatant ship.
Advanced Techniques for Watershed Visualization

Analytical shaded relief is commonly used for visualization of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Sometimes, the quality of unaltered analytical shaded relief can be lacking for identification of streams and water divides. Hydroshading [1] is a technique that provides enhanced capabilities of visualization of hydrologically-meaningful topographical features. In this research, hydroshading algorithms are applied to NASA?s Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM datasets. The visualization technique is applied to coastal and inland watersheds in Mississippi (Saint Louis Bay and Luxapallila, respectively). The testing of hydroshading in these two areas shows that the technique is more effective in areas with moderate topographical relief than in low relief terrain. Combining hydroshading with standard threedimensional visualization of DEMs enhances identification of water divides and streams. Hydroshaded DEMs were used to manually delineate Luxapallila and Saint Louis Bay?s Wolf River catchments. Delineation results are comparable to output of standard automated delineation produced by GIS software (BASINS).
An approach to the adaptive mode transition control of unmanned aerial vehicles

A new approach to the adaptive mode transition control of unmanned aerial vehicles is proposed. The proposed architecture consists of three levels: the highest level is occupied by mission planning routines where information about way points the vehicle must follow is processed. The mid-level controller uses a trajectory-planning component to coordinate the task execution and provides set points for low-level stabilizing controllers. The adaptive mode transitioning control algorithm resides at the lowest level of the hierarchy consisting of a mode transitioning controller and the accompanying adaptation mechanism. An actual flight demonstration is planned for the near future as part of a DARPA sponsored research program to validate the control algorithms.