cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Tools for the Antimitotic Toolbox

One of the drawbacks of the slew of anti-mitotic drugs that are used to treat cancer is that they all target the assembly or disassembly of tubulin, the molecular building block of microtubules. By disrupting the polymerization of tubulin into microtubules, which are the essential components of the mitotic spindle without which mitosis cannot proceed, these drugs are able to inhibit the cell cycle. In a Perspective, Duane Compton discusses a new screening method that identifies anti-mitotic drugs that target components of the spindle other than tubulin. These compounds should prove valuable both in elucidating the different steps in spindle assembly and as the basis of a new class of anticancer agents.
The equatorial aurora in the extreme ultraviolet

The extreme ultraviolet telescope on the Apollo-Soyuz mission observed the equatorial aurora from an altitude of 220 km on four separate occasions in July 1975, in quiet geomagnetic conditions (Ap = 6). In all cases signals well above ambient background in the 50-150, 114-150, 170-600, and 500-780 A bands were recorded as the spacecraft moved across the equator and the instrument viewed the atmosphere below it. The observed emissions are confined to a band roughly 10 to 20 deg in width with the peak emission occurring in the range -15 to +2 deg magnetic latitude. No enhancement on the 1350-1550 A channel was noted. The observed signals are interpreted as recombination radiation of energetic helium and, possibly, oxygen ions originating in the terrestrial ring current.
Interleukin-13 induces human monocyte/macrophage fusion and macrophage mannose receptor expression

Inasmuch as we recently demonstrated that IL-4 is a strong inducer of monocyte/macrophage fusion and IL-13 has been observed to mimic many of the biologic effects of IL-4, the ability of IL-13 to promote human macrophage fusion in vitro was tested and compared with IL-4-mediated fusion. IL-13 induced the fusion of monocyte-derived macrophages as potently as IL-4 under identical culture conditions, and resulted in foreign body-type giant cell formation. At optimal concentrations of cytokine added, statistically equal numbers of macrophages participated in IL-13- and IL-4-induced fusion (66.1 +/- 4.6% and 63.9 +/- 4.4%, respectively). However, the effects of IL-13 and IL-4 were not additive or synergistic, and the maximum fusion obtained when both IL-4 and IL-13 were added was 63.8 +/- 3.6%. Only anti-human IL-13 Abs inhibited IL-13-induced foreign body giant cell formation; the fusion-inducing effects of IL-13 continued to be observed in the presence of neutralizing Abs to IL-4 and several other anti-cytokine Abs, including Abs against IFN-gamma, granulocyte-macrophage CSF, IL-3, and TNF-alpha. IL-13 also significantly enhanced the fluorescence intensity detected by anti-human macrophage mannose receptor Abs, indicating that IL-13, like IL-4, up-regulates expression of the receptor that may be an essential participant in macrophage fusion. The results of this study demonstrate that IL-13, like IL-4, is a potent human macrophage fusion factor, and suggest that although IL-13 acts independently of IL-4 to promote foreign body giant cell formation, it may trigger a common mechanism for macrophage fusion.
Compact prismless low-threshold 30MHz femtosecond Ti:Al2O3 laser

A compact, low threshold, prismless Ti:Al2O3 laser is demonstrated using a novel multi-pass cavity. The laser oscillator has a repetition rate of 29 MHz but measures 30 cm×50 cm and uses 1.5 W of pump power to generate 27-fs, 1.4-nJ pulses.
Chapter 18 Effect of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates on the Gating of G-Protein-Activated K+Channels

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the molecular mechanism by which adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis affects K channel gating by the G βγ subunits or intracellular Na + ions. The data support the hypothesis that hydrolysis of ATP generates phosphoinositol phosphates that in turn regulate muscarinic potassium (K ACh ) activity directly. The studies reveal a functional dependence of G-protein signaling on phosphatidylinositol phospholipids. In the dynamic state of phosphoinositol phosphates in plasma membranes, an additional level of regulation may control the function of this channel and its influence on the electrical activity of the heart. Sodium ions have been shown to regulate K ACh channel activity. In the absence of G-protein signaling, magnesium-dependent hydrolysis of ATP alters the K ACh residence time in the open state and sensitizes the channel to gating by intracellular Na + ions.
Biomechanical Investigation of Airbag-Induced Upper-Extremity Injuries

The factors that influence airbag-induced upper-extremity injuries sustained by drivers were investigated. Seven cadavers were used in 19 direct-forearm interaction static deployments. Forearm fracture was analyzed with respect to time of airbag deployment, distal forearm speed, airbag-module-to-forearm spacing, bone mineral content, and upper-extremity mass. Results suggested that airbag-module-to-forearm spacing has a substantial influence on airbag-induced upper-extremity injuries sustained by drivers. The increased initial spacing which reduces the speeds achieved by the distal forearm results to potentially mitigating injuries.
Low-frequency radio astronomy and the origin of cosmic rays

One of the longest standing mysteries in physics and astronomy is the origin of cosmic rays. Space-based low-frequency radio astronomy holds the promise of providing answers to key pieces of this important puzzle. There are a number of important reasons why the study of Galactic low frequency emission will offer new insights into this 87 year-old problem. (i) The comparison of gamma-ray and radio data may lead to a better understanding of how low energy seed electrons are distributed in the galaxy. (ii) It may be possible to build a 3-dimensional model of the cosmic ray electron distribution in the Galaxy. Such a model would offer new insights into the geometry of the Galactic cosmic ray disk and/or possible halo. (iii) A combination of gamma-ray and low-frequency radio observations also affords the possibility of indirectly measuring the ratio of nuclei to electrons as a function of energy and position in the Galaxy, a critical parameter in understanding cosmic ray acceleration and particle energetics. (iv) Observations of point sources blurred by interstellar scintillation offer the unique possibility of making maps of plasma turbulence in the vicinity of SNR shocks. Characterization of shock turbulence is of profound importance in constraining theoretical models of particle acceleration.
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY OF UBE13 IN HIGH MAGNETIC FIELDS

We have measured the temperature dependent electrical resistivity of single and polycrystal samples of ${\mathrm{UBe}}_{13}$ in high magnetic fields. Two maxima in the resistivity are observed at ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{M}1}$ and ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{M}2}$. ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{M}1}$, the temperature of the colder maximum, increases quadratically with magnetic field H, a field dependence previously observed under hydrostatic pressure. The high temperature maximum at ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{M}2}$ emerges in fields above about 4 T and increases linearly with H, a behavior which may be due to a sharpening of the crystal field levels associated with a depression of the Kondo effect by high magnetic fields. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Line suppression and single line performance of a cw HF chemical laser

Sentman’s rotational nonequilibrium model of a cw chemical laser has been used to examine the effect of line suppression and single line operation on laser performance. The results indicate that (1) even when lines containing upwards of 30% of the multiline power are suppressed, there will be only about a 10% decrease in the power produced, and (2) with proper line choice, better than 50% of the multiline power may be obtainable in the single line mode.
Control strategy for seamless transfer between island and grid-connected operation for a dual-mode photovoltaic inverter

The dual-mode photovoltaic inverter is capable of operating either in grid-connected mode or island mode, acting as a current source for the ac grid in the former and a voltage source for the load in the latter. Transitioning from one mode to the next is non-trivial and can cause large deviations in voltage, current, and frequency because a mismatch in frequency, phase, and amplitude between the inverter output voltage and the grid voltage. This paper presents a model predictive control (MPC) for a single phase, grid-connected voltage source inverter (VSI) to support dual-mode operation and seamless transfer between the two. This technique uses decoupled power control in grid-connected mode and voltage control in island mode respectively. Seamless transfer is implemented through synchronization algorithm and smoothly changing weighting factor for the cost function of the MPC. Compared with PI based controller, the MPC controller is simpler to implement since there is only one parameter to tune, the weighting factor. Combined with second order generalized integrator (SOGI), the synchronization algorithm is used to achieve fast phase detection and improved disturbance rejection. The theoretical analysis, simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Recent developments in planetary Aeolian studies and their terrestrial analogs

This report summarizes the many advances that have been made in the study of planetary Aeolian processes that have taken place since the first Planetary Dunes Workshop was held in May of 2008, through 2011. Many of the recent studies are facilitated by the wealth and variety of high resolution imaging and spectra data still being returned by multiple spacecraft in orbit and on the surface of Mars, as well as Cassini radar and imaging data for the unique linear dunes on Titan, the large moon of Saturn. The report is divided into seven broad topics: exploring the Martian rock record, the action of the wind, sediment composition, sediment transport, Aeolian bedforms, modification processes, and Titan. Analog studies of terrestrial landforms and processes continue to improve our understanding of the operation of Aeolian processes on other planetary surfaces in each of these topics. Four subjects are likely to see increased emphasis during the coming years: Martian aeolianites, sand compositional diversity, active versus inactive features, and deposition versus erosion. Continued growth of the planetary Aeolian literature is expected as several spacecraft continue to provide high-quality data, including the successful arrival of the Curiosity rover at Mars in August of 2012.
Fatigue Life Prediction After Laser Forming

Analysis of the laser forming process has been focused on geometry, yield strength, and microstructure change in the past. However fatigue life has been the primary concern for engineering components in many applications. For laser forming to become a practical rapid prototyping tool, research has to be done to predict fatigue life of sheet metal after laser forming. Microstructure as well as the distribution of residual stresses and strains changes during laser forming process. The current models cannot predict the fatigue life after laser forming accurately because of differences in assumptions. This work presents a model to predict fatigue life of sheet metal after laser forming. Results from microstructure integrated finite element modeling of laser forming are incorporated in the fatigue life model. Low carbon steel is used in this work to validate the model. It is shown that the proposed model can predict the fatigue life of sheet metal after laser forming with good accuracy. The predictions from the model are consistent with experimental results. Effects of laser forming conditions on fatigue life of sheet metal are under investigation.
Strategy, competition and investment: explaining the global divide in e-government implementation with policy variables

The rapid development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has created an environment for citizens to have greater access to their government and to make citizen-to-government contact more inclusive. Previous research does not examine the impact of national public policy initiatives that expand and improve e-government services. This study examines the global divide in e-government implementation by analysing the impact of national policies on the United Nations’ Web Measure Index in 174 countries. A multiple regression analysis shows that e-governance is more extensive in countries that have a regulatory authority for telecommunications, encourage competition in their telecommunication industries and invest more financially in the development of ICTs.
Irreversible processes of spontaneous whisker growth in bimetallic Cu-Sn thin-film reactions.

Using the thermodynamics of irreversible processes, we examine spontaneous interfacial reaction at room temperature in bimetallic Cu-Sn thin films. The reaction forms an intermetallic compound and is interfacial reaction limited. The volume change in forming the compound produces a biaxial compressive stress in the Sn film. The stress results in the growth of Sn whiskers to accompany the reaction. This is a case of an irreversible process of involving the interaction of chemical affinity and mechanical stress. However, the atomic mobility can significantly affect the reaction product and morphology. If the reaction temperature is raised above 100 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, the compound formation becomes so fast that there is no time to grow whiskers, instead hillocks form. To model the whisker growth (or hillock growth), we assume that whiskers grow at weaker spots on the Sn surface where the surface oxide has been broken. These spots become localized stress relief centers, and they are surrounded by a long-range stress gradient needed for whisker growth.
The neural substrate of the startle response

Abstract Fifteen rats were exposed to various intensities of startle-eliciting auditory stimulation and footshock, and measures of response probability and amplitude were obtained. Subjects then received (1) lesions directed at the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (RGI), (2) lesions directed at the nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis (RPC) or (3) no lesions. After surgery, all subjects were tested for the same measures of startle responsiveness as had been collected in the pre-operative series. In addition, sensitivity to heat-induced pain and running wheel activity were also evaluated. Subjects with lesions of RPC showed a significant decrease in both the probability and amplitude of response to footshock as well as to acoustic signals. Subjects in the other two groups did not show significant decreases in responsiveness. No difference in pain sensitivity was found between groups. Subjects with lesions of RPC, however, were more (rather than less) active than the unoperated subjects. These data support the hypothesis that the mammalian startle response is elaborated through the nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis.
Analytical solutions to the granular temperature profiles and effective particle-phase viscosities for single-bubble motion in a fluidized bed

We have considered asymptotic solutions at large bubble Reynolds number to the energy transport equation describing the spatial variation of the “granular temperature” in the flow field around a single bubble in a gas fluidized bed. The granular temperature represents the mean peculiar kinetic energy of the particle phase, and is necessary in a “complete” description of the fluid-particle transport phenomena. In the present case of single-bubble motion, the energy source is from the particle-phase viscous dissipation term. At large bubble Reynolds numbers, viscous effects are confined to a thin boundary-layer region, as in the case of a gas bubble in a liquid. It is demonstrated that the Prandtl number for this problem is O(1), or that the momentum and “thermal” particle-phase boundary layers are of the same order of magnitude. The thermal boundary-layer equation for the granular temperature is subsequently derived and solved analytically. It is assumed that outside the thermal boundary layer, where viscous effects are negligible, the granular temperature is zero. From the mathematical solutions to the energy transport equation associated with single-bubble motion, including viscous dissipation terms and utilizing relationships from the kinetic theory of dense gases, we have given analytical expressions for the effective particle-phase shear viscosity and the effective particle-phase hydrostatic pressure, the two properties which characterize the kinetic component of the particle-phase pressure tensor. The theoretical results show remarkably good agreement with reported experimental measurements of the above properties.
Using Bayesian networks for root cause analysis in statistical process control

Despite their fame and capability in detecting out-of-control conditions, control charts are not effective tools for fault diagnosis. There are other techniques in the literature mainly based on process information and control charts patterns to help control charts for root cause analysis. However these methods are limited in practice due to their dependency on the expertise of practitioners. In this study, we develop a network for capturing the cause and effect relationship among chart patterns, process information and possible root causes/assignable causes. This network is then trained under the framework of Bayesian networks and a suggested data structure using process information and chart patterns. The proposed method provides a real time identification of single and multiple assignable causes of failures as well as false alarms while improving itself performance by learning from mistakes. It also has an acceptable performance on missing data. This is demonstrated by comparing the performance of the proposed method with methods like neural nets and K-Nearest Neighbor under extensive simulation studies.
Phase II Trial of Radio Frequency Ablation of Renal Cancer: Evaluation of the Kill Zone

ABSTRACTPurpose: We report on the pathological evaluation of renal tumors after intraoperative radio frequency ablation performed immediately before surgical nephrectomy.Materials and Methods: Ten patients with renal tumors were enrolled in a prospective, Institutional Review Board approved phase II trial of radio frequency ablation. Following surgical exposure of the kidney a single 12-minute radio frequency ablation of the tumor was performed using the Radionics Cool-tip RF Radio Frequency Ablation System (Radionics, Burlington, Massachusetts). The tumor was then excised via radical or partial nephrectomy. Gross and histological evaluations of the tumor were performed, including evaluation with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide vital staining.Results: All 10 tumors were confirmed histologically to be renal cell carcinoma. Mean tumor size was 3.2 cm. (range 1.4 to 8.0). Of the 10 tumors 8 were completely ablated with a mean treatment margin of 6.75 mm. (range 2 to 13). Of the 2 tumors that were incomplet...
Learning in Mean-Field Games

The purpose of this paper is to show how insight obtained from a mean-field model can be used to create an architecture for approximate dynamic programming (ADP) for a certain class of games comprising of a large number of agents. The general technique is illustrated with the aid of a mean-field oscillator game model introduced in our prior work. The states of the model are interpreted as the phase angles for a collection of nonhomogeneous oscillators, and in this way the model may be regarded as an extension of the classical coupled oscillator model of Kuramoto. The paper introduces ADP techniques for design and adaptation (learning) of approximately optimal control laws for this model. For this purpose, a parameterization is proposed, based on an analysis of the mean-field PDE model for the game. In an offline setting, a Galerkin procedure is introduced to choose the optimal parameters while in an online setting, a steepest descent algorithm is proposed. The paper provides a detailed analysis of the optimal parameter values as well as the Bellman error with both the Galerkin approximation and the online algorithm. Finally, a phase transition result is described for the large population limit when each oscillator uses the approximately optimal control law. A critical value of the control penalty parameter is identified: above this value, the oscillators are incoherent; and below this value (when control is sufficiently cheap) the oscillators synchronize. These conclusions are illustrated with results from numerical experiments.
AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: the epidemiology of heterosexual transmission and the prospects for prevention

As the epidemic of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in sub-Saharan Africa enters its second decade, much has been learned about the distribution and determinants of the disease and its causative agent, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Over 6 million people, or 2.5% of the adult population, are thought to be infected with HIV. The distribution of HIV is largely determined by sexual behavior; as for other sexually transmitted diseases, the characteristics of sexual networks determine the extent and rate of spread of HIV. Female sex workers and their male clients are at high risk for HIV and have been important in initiating the epidemic in many African countries. The dynamics of HIV in the rest of the population are complex; men with multiple sexual partners are largely responsible for transmission of HIV to women in the general population. Other sexually transmitted diseases and lack of male circumcision may increase the probability of transmission of HIV during sexual intercourse and probably are partially responsible for the rapid diffusion of HIV in Africa. Interventions among high-risk groups are needed, but they must be accompanied by attempts to induce behavior change among men and women in the general population. Epidemiologic studies of the determinants of sexual behavior and sexual contact patterns, as well the design and evaluation of interventions, are urgently needed. Key areas for development are the study of behavioral exposures and outcomes, the evaluation of interventions, developing new methods for conducting interventions in resource-poor environments, and increasing the number of African scientists with the skills and resources to conduct epidemiologic studies.
From Integration of Curricula to the Pedagogy of Integrity.

The literature on curricular integration in Jewish education has tended to focus on two basic paradigms. In the first paradigm, the integration of Jewish and general studies curricula represents the aspiration that the graduates of the institution will likewise integrate Jewish and general studies (or “Americanism” or “modernity”) in their lives. In the second paradigm, the integration of Jewish and general studies is conceptualized as a specific form of the more general educational desire for connection making. In this article, I critique specific articulations of these paradigms and argue instead for attention to the pedagogy of integrity.
The SK3 channel promotes placental vascularization by enhancing secretion of angiogenic factors.

Proper placental perfusion is essential for fetal exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste with the maternal circulation. Impairment of uteroplacental vascular function can lead to pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Potassium channels have been recognized as regulators of vascular proliferation, angiogenesis, and secretion of vasoactive factors, and their dysfunction may underlie pregnancy-related vascular diseases. Overexpression of one channel in particular, the small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel 3 (SK3), is known to increase vascularization in mice, and mice overexpressing the SK3 channel (SK3T/T mice) have a high rate of fetal demise and IUGR. Here, we show that overexpression of SK3 causes fetal loss through abnormal placental vascularization. We previously reported that, at pregnancy day 14, placentas isolated from SK3T/T mice are smaller than those obtained from wild-type mice. In this study, histological analysis reveals that SK3T/− placentas at this stage have abnormal placental morphology, and microcomputed tomography shows that these placentas have significantly larger and more blood vessels than those from wild-type mice. To identify the mechanism by which these vascularization defects occur, we measured levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor, and the soluble form of VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1), which must be tightly regulated to ensure proper placental development. Our data reveal that overexpression of SK3 alters systemic and placental ratios of the angiogenic factor VEGF to antiangiogenic factor sFlt-1 throughout pregnancy. Additionally, we observe increased expression of hypoxia-inducing factor 2α in SK3T/− placentas. We conclude that the SK3 channel modulates placental vascular development and fetal health by altering VEGF signaling.
Anti-ganglioside antibodies reveal subsets of cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Abstract Subsets of cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons were identified by using the anti-ganglioside monoclonal antibodies A2B5, D1.1, R24 and JONES. A2B5 and D1.1 labelled a population of cells that was relatively stable between 2 and 20 days in vitro, while the population of cells labelled with both R24 and JONES decreased with time, suggesting that the gangliosides recognized by Jones and R24 are developmentally regulated. Given the observation that the relative proportions of ganglioside species changes with time in culture, it is very important to carefully define the stability of ganglioside antigens before using them as cell markers.
Källen's theorem and the unphysical nature of abelian external fields in Yang-Mills theory

Abstract Yang-Mills theory is considered in an abelian external field with a covariant background gauge-fixing condition. The failure mechanism of Kallen's inequality for the charge renormalization constant is studied, and indicates that a uniform external electric field should decay predominantly into negative norm gluon ghost states. Explicit calculation verifies this conjecture. This result is interpreted as evidence of the unphysical nature of abelian field configurations in Yang-Mills quantum theory.
Heating and ionization of the lower ionosphere by lightning

Nighttime ionospheric electrons at 90–95 km altitude are found to be heated by a factor of 100–500 during the upward passage of short (< 100 μs) pulses of intense (5–20 V/m at 100 km distance) electromagnetic radiation from lightning. Heated electrons with average energy of 4–20 eV in turn produce secondary ionization, of up to 400 cm−3 at ∼95 km altitude in a single ionization cycle (∼3 μs). With the time constant of heating being 5–10 μs, a number of such ionization cycles can occur during a 50 μs, radiation pulse, leading to even higher density enhancements. This effect can account for previously reported observations of ‘early’ or ‘fast’ subionospheric VLF perturbations.
Magnetic Field Dependence of the Superconducting Energy Gap

The magnetic field dependence of the superconducting energy gap ( epsilon ) is derived by means of the GinzburgLandau phenomenonological superconductivity equations. These equations permit the calculation of epsilon for strong magnetic fields. The results are applied to thin evaporated fiims and bulk matter. (T.F.H.)
Plain English and legal writing: Comparing expert and novice writers

Abstract Language-focused materials for teaching professional legal writing to second language writers of English in U.S. law schools have been dominated by a set of “Plain English” recommendations, particularly avoidance of the passive voice and nominalizations. At the same time, little to no research has addressed whether these recommendations actually reflect expert use or whether they are indicative of more or less skilled novice performance. To investigate the use of these features in expert and learner texts, two corpora were examined. The expert corpus was composed of 10 published pedagogical sample memos used in legal writing instruction. The learner corpus was composed of 13 low-rated student memos and 13 high-rated student memos. Although an initial chi-square comparison of learner and expert corpora suggests that the experts use both the passive voice and nominalizations significantly less frequently than learners, further analysis suggests that the usage of these features does not clearly distinguish more skilled novices from those who are less skilled. A closer look at the expert corpus also suggests that the use of these features is highly variable across individual samples. Implications for pedagogy are discussed.
Impact point prediction and projectile identification

This paper presents a multiple model procedure to estimate the state of a ballistic object in the atmosphere and identify it using radar measurements. The measurements are taken during the first part of its trajectory and the final state estimate is then predicted to its impact point on earth. This paper uses, for each model, a different extended Kalman filter for state estimation and then uses the model likelihoods to identify the projectile. Simulations are carried out on three mortar trajectories using 7-state models. It is shown from simulations carried out on several ballistic trajectories that the impact point is predicted to a high degree of accuracy and with a consistent covariance and that the projectile can be identified with a high probability.
Wall Boundary Layers for Maxwell Liquids

Flows of viscoelastic liquids at high Weissenberg number exhibit stress boundary layers near walls. These boundary layers are caused by the memory of the fluid: while particles at the wall remain in their position, particles at some distance from the wall move a long distance within one relaxation time if the Weissenberg number is high. Since the stresses depend on the flow history, this causes a steep boundary layer to form. A rescaling of the variables exploiting the thinness of this boundary layer can be used to derive a reduced set of boundary layer equations. This paper addresses the question of existence of solutions for these boundary layer equations. Using an implicit function argument, we prove the existence of a large class of solutions which arise from spatially periodic perturbations of uniform shear flow. The solutions we find can be characterized by the shear rate outside the boundary layer, which can be prescribed arbitrarily.
On lossless image compression using the Burrows-Wheeler Transform

The Burrows-Wheeler Transform (BWT) is known to be very effective in compressing text data. However, there is still a debate on its performance on images. Motivated by a theoretical analysis of the performance of BWT and MTF, we perform a detailed empirical study on the role of MTF in compressing images with the BWT. We propose two schemes for BWT-based image coding, namely BLIC and BLICX, the later being based on the context-ordering property of the BWT. Experimental results using a set of standard test images show that each of the proposed methods outperformed state-of-the-art lossless image coders, such as CALIC, JPEG-LS, and PPAM.
Dosimetric Comparison of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Static Field Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, and 3D Conformal Planning for the Treatment of a Right-Sided Reconstructed Chest Wall and Regional Nodal Case

We compared 3D conformal planning, static field intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to investigate the suitable treatment plan and delivery method for a right-sided reconstructed chest wall and nodal case. The dose prescribed for the reconstructed chest wall and regional nodes was 50.4 Gy. Plans were compared for target coverage and doses of the lungs, heart, contralateral breast, and healthy tissue. All plans achieved acceptable coverage of the target and IMNs. The best right lung sparing achieved with 3D was a V20 Gy of 31.09%. Compared to it, VMAT reduced the same by 10.85% and improved the CI and HI over 3D by 18.75% and 2%, respectively. The ipsilateral lung V5 Gy to V20 Gy decreased with VMAT over IMRT by as high as 17.1%. The contralateral lung V5 Gy was also lowered with VMAT compared to IMRT by 16.22%. The MU and treatment beams were lowered with VMAT over IMRT by 30% and 10, respectively, decreasing the treatment time by >50%. VMAT was the treatment plan and delivery method of choice for this case due to a combination of improved lung sparing and reduced treatment time without compromising target coverage.
Ecotoxicology and wetland ecosystems: Current understanding and future needs

The term wetlands refers to a mosaic of important ecosystems that typically form transition zones between uplands and aquatic environments. These areas provide support functions for natural and living resources and mediate biogeochemical transformations of global significance. It is becoming clear that the introduction of toxic and other contaminants to large wetland areas has contributed to a series of undesirable trends in habitat quality; availability of valuable fish and wildlife; and quality of associated resources, including surface and ground waters. The purpose of this review is to indicate the importance of wetlands to regional and global ecology and discusses research on the effects of contaminants in wetland ecosystems. Areas of needed future research also are suggested.
A study of germ cell morphology and duration of spermatogenic cycle in the baboon, Papio anubis.

Biopsy and orchiectomy specimens were collected from two adult baboons (Papio anubis) at different intervals after intratesticular injection of H3-thymidine. Zenker-formol or Bouin's fixed materials were stained with PASWeigert-Hematoxylin and radioautographed using the H.S.R. (Harleco Synthetic Resin) coating technique. Morphological features of most germ cells appeared similar to those of other monkeys, except that the spermatids in steps 9 to 11 showed a spike-like projection of the acrosome. Also, the type A spermatogonia showed some resemblance to the human type A spermatogonia. The cell associations consisted of 12 stages and a large number of tubular cross sections showed the presence of two or more stages. In Papio anubis, the zygotene spermatocytes are formed in stage VIII, and spermatozoa are released during stages V and VI. H3-thymidine labeling of germ cells indicated that one cycle of spermatogenesis in this species takes approximately 11 days, and complete spermatogenesis occupies 3.8 cycles, or approximately 42 days. The presence of labeled B type spermatogonia 35 days after H3-thymidine injection indicated the existence of some stem cells. The presence of some labeled Ad spermatogonia in these specimens could not be explained. The data indicated that spermatogenesis in this monkey is somewhat different from that in other monkey species described.
Uptake of neurotransmitters and precursors by clonal lines of astrocytoma and neuroblastoma: III. Transport of choline.

Clonal lines of glial, neuronal, and nonneural origin accumulate choline via a high-affinity carrier-mediated transport system withK m in the range of 10–14 μM. These cell lines also accumulate choline by a second system that is not saturable at 10 mM choline, and that may represent diffusion. The transport of choline in glial cells differs from that seen in neuronal cells with respect to its Na+ requirement. The omission of Na+ from the incubation medium reduces high-affinity choline transport in neuronal cells and enhances it in glial cells. Kinetic analysis of the data indicates that reversible cholinesterase inhibitors and hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) inhibit the high-affinity transport system for choline. On the other hand, the diffusional or low-affinity component of choline transport in either cell type appears to have no Na+ requirement and is unaffected by either cholinesterase inhibitors or 10−4 M HC-3. The neuronal-glial differences in the Na+ requirement of choline transport may be related to the coupling of transport to choline metabolism, which differs in the two cell types. The presence of a high-affinity transport system for choline in clonal glial lines used as models of normal glia suggest that glia may modulate the availability of choline for acetylcholine synthesis at cholinergic synapses.
Crystal Structure of Human Pus10, A Novel Pseudouridine Synthase

Pseudouridine (Psi) synthases catalyze the formation of one or more specific Psis in structured RNAs. Five families of Psi synthases have been characterized based on sequence homology. Pus10 has no significant sequence homology to these defined families and therefore represents a new family of Psi synthases. Initial characterization studies show that an archael Pus10 catalyzes the universally conserved Psi55 in tRNA. We present here the crystal structure of human Pus10 at 2.0 A resolution, which is the first structural description from this novel Psi synthase family. Pus10 is a crescent-shaped molecule with two domains, the universally conserved Psi synthase catalytic domain and a THUMP-containing domain, which is unique to the Pus10 family. Superposition of the catalytic domains of Pus10 and other Psi synthases identifies the full set of conserved Psi synthase active site residues indicating that Pus10 likely employs a similar catalytic mechanism to other Psi synthases. The Pus10 active site is located in a deep pocket of a basic cleft adjacent to flexible thumb and forefinger loops, which could provide further stabilization for binding the RNA substrate. Modeling studies demonstrate that the cleft between the catalytic and accessory domain is large enough and electrostatically compatible to accommodate an RNA stem and support the role of the N-terminal domain as an accessory RNA-binding domain.
Hairy plant polysaccharides: a close shave with microbial esterases

Plants employ an impressive number of ingenious ways to protect themselves from disease. Probably the most important protection against invading micro-organisms is the erection of a tough physical barrier, the plant cell wall, which protects the delicate interior of the plant cell. Pore sizes in the plant cell wall are too small even to allow passage of viruses, and so microbes which infect by penetration must enter either through opportunistic breaks in the wall or by enzymic dissolution (Brett & Waldron, 1990). Plant-saprophytic and -pathogenic micro-organisms produce a range of enzymes to degrade plant cell walls in order to use the cell contents as nutrients or to digest and utilize the polysaccharides in the plant cell wall. This enzyme tool kit has evolved in some micro-organisms to unlock even the most recalcitrant plant cell walls, given time and suitable conditions.
The influence of the queen on brood rearing in ants of the genus Myrmica

Abstract The queen affects larval growth in Myrmica scabrinodis and M. rubra in such a way as to cause an earlier start, an improved survival, a smaller pupal size, and a diminished production of gynes. The first three effects apply to males as well as females. The magnitude of the size reduction does not regress on larval number if workers are constant but it does rise to a limit if workers are increased and larvae constant. Detailed studies of larval growth and the growth of wing buds in the final instar show that suppression occurs throughout ontogeny and that there are no accelerations of development other than those that normally occur in worker production. This applies to both sexes. Queens vary a good deal in their potency but agree in showing an increase during cultivation, an expression perhaps of a normal seasonal increase; there is no quantitative relation between effect and queen number. Workers taken from an active queen do not carry the effect.
Religion in the Context of Culture, Theology, and Global Ethics

The theme of this symposium is distinctive and challenging, because it incorporates the dimensions of interreligious reflection, theology, science, and ethics. This article presents a palette of issues that are both challenge and resource for approaching the theme. Three sets of issues are considered: (1) the role of religion in culture, (2) theological interpretation of nature, disease, and evil, and (3) the fashioning of a global ethic.
Diacetyl Measurement in Orange Juice Using Differential Pulse Polarography

Reconstituted single strength orange juice was distilled to recover diacetyl. 0.5 mL of 1N LiOH was added to 4.5 mL of distillate. Using a static mercury drop electrode, a current vs potential scan was performed between −0.7 and −1.10 vs an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The reduction potential for diacetyl was −0.83 V. Peak heights were proportional to concentration throughout the test range (8.3 ppb to 1 ppm). Diacetyl recoveries were approximately 85%.
Superconductivity. Putting the squeeze on lithium.

At low temperature, some elements are superconductors under normal pressure. Others become superconducting if the pressure is raised. Lithium is the latest low-temperature, high-pressure superconductor.
On the Performance of Doubly-Selective Fading Estimations in High Mobility Systems

This paper studies the theoretical performance of channel estimations in high mobility wireless communication systems operating with doubly-selective (both time-selective and frequency-selective) fading. High mobility communications result in fast time-selective fading with a Doppler spread as high as a few kilo-Hertz. The fast fading variation can be estimated and tracked with pilot-assisted minimum mean squared error (MMSE) channel estimation. The percentage of pilot symbols among the transmitted symbols plays a critical role. A higher pilot percentage can lead to a better channel estimation, but also more overhead. The impacts of the pilot percentage on channel estimations are identified through the derivation of the asymptotic mean squared error (MSE) of channel estimations. The results are expressed as a closed-form expression of various system parameters, including the pilot percentage, the maximum Doppler spread, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), etc.
Transition State of the Base-Promoted Ring-Opening of Isoxazoles. Theoretical Prediction of Catalytic Functionalities and Design of Haptens for Antibody Production

In previous research, Hilvert and co-workers developed an antibody which catalyzes the decomposition of a nitrobenzisoxazole with a rate >108 times faster than the acetate-catalyzed reaction in water. Quantum mechanical calculations were carried out on a model system, the reaction of isoxazole with formate. The orientation of the carboxylate group has a significant effect on the rate. Complexation of the formate base by one water retards the reaction by approximately 5 kcal/mol; hence desolvation of the catalytic base could account for as much as four orders of magnitude in reaction rate. It was also determined that hydrogen-bonding to the forming oxide could potentially lead to greater rate acceleration. The gas phase activation barriers predict that water is the most effective general acid, lowering the activation energy by 9.5 kcal/mol. Methanol and formic acid are also effective, lowering the activation energy by 7.5 and 7.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Our calculations suggest that the combined effects of...
Oncolytic adenovirus research evolution: from cell-cycle checkpoints to immune checkpoints

Oncolytic adenoviruses are modified to exploit the aberrant expression of proteins in cancer cells to obtain cancer-selective replication. Moreover, the natural tropism of oncolytic adenoviruses can be redirected to tumor cells. Clinical trials revealed that oncolytic viruses showed poor replication in the tumor that is due in part to the immune response against the virus. More recent data demonstrated that tumor infection might subvert the tumor immune system and lead to an anti-tumor immune response. In the next few years, combination of adenoviruses with immune checkpoint antibodies and other immune modulators will be tested in clinical trials.
Need for Speed: Mechanical Regulation of a Replicative Helicase

There is much debate about how helicases unwind DNA during DNA replication and how their activity is regulated. In this issue, Johnson et al. (2007) shed light on this conundrum using a single molecule approach to dissect the behavior of the T7 DNA helicase.
Tidal Variability of Swash-Zone Sediment Suspension and Transport

Abstract Ensemble-averaged suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and transport from the swash zone of a high-energy beach are investigated with respect to the time-averaged setup level obtained from calibrated video records. Ensemble-averaged data indicate variability in SSC between both uprush and backwash during rising and falling tides. Mean ebb-tide SSC exceeds mean flood-tide SSC during both the uprush (by 28–34%) and backwash (by up to 25%). Suspended sediment concentration also varies between swash phases over a tidal cycle with mean uprush SSC exceeding mean backwash SSC by 46% to 108% depending on tidal level, with a general percentage decrease during the falling tide. The net ensemble-averaged transport (velocity-SSC product) magnitude displays a decreasing trend from roughly 30 to 20 kg m−1 during the rising tide and from roughly 45 to 15 kg m−1 during the falling tide that cannot be explained based on the percentage of foreshore immersion (water depth) alone. Thus, relative tidal level (cros...
Concerning the similarity theory of A. S. Monin and A. M. Obukhov for the turbulent structure of the thermally stratified surface layer of the atmosphere

This paper considers the theoretical basis of the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory for the turbulent, thermally stratified, surface layer of the atmosphere. It is shown that the classical form of the similarity theory cannot be applied legitimately to the variances of the horizontal components of the wind velocity fluctuation. This limitation of the theory has recently been suspected on the basis of observational data, although its theoretical demonstration emphasizes the need for caution when attempting to apply similarity theory to other characteristics of the surface layer turbulence that are currently of interest.
DNA Damage and Mutations Produced by Chloroacetaldehyde in a CpG-methylated Target Gene

Chloroacetaldehyde (CAA) is a metabolite of the human carcinogen vinyl chloride. CAA produces several types of DNA adducts including the exocyclic base adducts 3,N(4)-ethenocytosine, 1,N(6)-ethenoadenine, N(2),3-ethenoguanine, and 1,N(2)-ethenoguanine. Adducts of CAA with 5-methylcytosine have not yet been characterized. Here we have analyzed the mutational spectra produced by CAA in the supF gene of the pSP189 shuttle vector when present in either an unmethylated or CpG-methylated state. The vectors were replicated in human nucleotide excision repair-deficient XP-A fibroblasts. The mutational spectra obtained with the unmethylated and methylated supF target genes were generally similar with a preponderance of C/G to T/A transitions and C/G to A/T transversions. CAA-induced DNA adducts were mapped along the supF gene by using thermostable thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) in conjunction with ligation-mediated PCR or by a Taq polymerase stop assay. Prominent CAA-induced TDG-sensitive sites were seen at several CpG positions but were independent of methylation. Methylated CpG sites were sites of CAA-induced mutations but were not the major mutational hotspots. Taq polymerase arrest sites were observed at numerous sequence positions in the supF gene and reflected the rather broad distributions of mutations along the sequence. We conclude that methylated CpG sites are not preferential targets for chloroacetaldehyde-induced mutagenesis.