cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing non-Gaussian clutter and detecting weak gaseous plumes in hyperspectral imagery

To detect weak signals on cluttered backgrounds in high dimensional spaces (such as gaseous plumes in hyperspectral imagery) without excessive false alarms requires that the background clutter be effectively characterized. If the clutter is Gaussian, the well-known linear matched filter optimizes the sensitivity to a given plume signal while suppressing the effect of the background clutter. In practice, the background clutter is rarely Gaussian. Here we illustrate non-linear corrections to the matched filter that are optimal for two non-Gaussian clutter models and we report on parametric and nonparametric characterizations of background clutter.
Waxy bloom in peas influences the performance and behavior of Aphidius ervi, a parasitoid of the pea aphid

Leaf surface waxy bloom can influence the predator-prey interactions that take place on peas. We tested whether the interaction between the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Homoptera: Aphidae) and a parasitoid, Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), is affected by reduced wax. We performed greenhouse experiments comparing aphid parasitism by individual A. ervi on two varieties of reduced wax peas to two normal wax sister varieties. We also observed the behavior of individual A. ervi in the greenhouse and measured field parasitism in small plots of reduced wax and normal wax peas. In the greenhouse, individual A. ervi parasitized more aphids on the reduced wax varieties than on their normal wax counterparts. Wasps spent more time actively foraging on reduced wax pea plants, which may contribute to the higher parasitism observed on those varieties. The greenhouse results suggested that the improved performance of individual A. ervi on reduced wax peas might contribute to a higher parasitism on reduced wax peas in the field. Field parasitism was significantly higher in reduced wax pea plots during 2000. Overall parasitism was higher in 2000 than in 2001 and 2002. In the latter years, parasitism was higher on reduced wax plants, but not significantly different from normal wax plants. Improved foraging by individual A. ervi resembles improved foraging by other carnivorous insects on reduced wax peas. The advantages of reduced wax for biological control of the pea aphid may hold when any of several different natural enemies is abundant.
Gossypol and gossypolone enantiomers in tissues of rainbow trout fed low and high levels of dietary cottonseed meal

Gossypol is an antifertilizing agent in males and females. However, gossypol and its metabolite, gossypolone, have also gained interest because of their anticarcinogenic activities. This paper examines for the first time both enantiomers of tissue gossypol and gossypolone in mature rainbow trout fed two diets containing low (15%) and high (60%) levels of cottonseed meal (CM) for 9 months. The gossypol concentration was highest in liver followed by kidney, intestine, testis, blood plasma, stomach, and muscle. Gossypol was detected in muscles of fish fed low- and high-CM diets (0.31 +/- 0.03 and 1.95 +/- 0.59 microg of total gossypol/g, wet basis, respectively). The (+)-gossypol enantiomer was predominantly retained in all tissues. The ratio of (-)- to total gossypol ranged from 30 to 44% in fish fed the high-CM diet and from 23 to 30% in fish fed the low-CM diet except for muscle tissue (44%). Higher gossypolone concentrations were found in intestine than in liver. Gossypolone, however, was not detected in blood plasma, muscle, and testis of fish fed the low-CM diet. The ratio of gossypolone to gossypol was highest in muscle (1.75), followed by intestine (1.59), stomach (1.50), kidney (0.43), liver (0.34), testis (0.28), and blood plasma (0.27). This study indicated that the retention of the (-)-gossypol enantiomer is dependent on dietary concentrations and that the oxidative conversion of gossypol to gossypolone occurs more actively in the digestive tract and muscle than in other tissues in rainbow trout.
Local–global interference is modulated by age, sex and anterior corpus callosum size

To identify attentional and neural mechanisms affecting global and local feature extraction, we devised a global-local hierarchical letter paradigm to test the hypothesis that aging reduces functional cerebral lateralization through corpus callosum (CC) degradation. Participants (37 men and women, 26-79 years) performed a task requiring global, local, or global+local attention and underwent structural MRI for CC measurement. Although reaction time (RT) slowed with age, all participants had faster RTs to local than global targets. This local precedence effect together with greater interference from incongruent local information and greater response conflict from local targets each correlated with older age and smaller callosal genu (anterior) areas. These findings support the hypothesis that the CC mediates lateralized local-global processes by inhibition of task-irrelevant information under selective attention conditions. Further, with advancing age smaller genu size leads to less robust inhibition, thereby reducing cerebral lateralization and permitting interference to influence processing. Sex was an additional modifier of interference, in that callosum-interference relationships were evident in women but not in men. Regardless of age, smaller splenium (posterior) areas correlated with less response facilitation from repetition priming of global targets in men, but with greater response facilitation from repetition priming of local targets in women. Our data indicate the following dissociation: anterior callosal structure was associated with inhibitory processes (i.e., interference from incongruency and response conflict), which are vulnerable to the effects of age and sex, whereas posterior callosal structure was associated with facilitation processes from repetition priming dependent on sex and independent of age.
The role of G-protein-coupled receptors in mediating the effect of fatty acids on inflammation and insulin sensitivity.

Purpose of reviewChronic activation of inflammatory pathways mediates the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, and the macrophage/adipocyte nexus provides a key mechanism underlying decreased insulin sensitivity. Free fatty acids are important in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, although their
Strongyloides stercoralis: cell- and tissue-specific transgene expression and co-transformation with vector constructs incorporating a common multifunctional 3' UTR.

Transgenesis is a valuable methodology for studying gene expression patterns and gene function. It has recently become available for research on some parasitic nematodes, including Strongyloides stercoralis. Previously, we described a vector construct, comprising the promoter and 3′ UTR of the S. stercoralis gene Ss era-1 that gives expression of GFP in intestinal cells of developing F1 progeny. In the present study, we identified three new S. stercoralis promoters, which, in combination with the Ss era-1 3′ UTR, can drive expression of GFP or the red fluorescent protein, mRFPmars, in tissue-specific fashion. These include Ss act-2, which drives expression in body wall muscle cells, Ss gpa-3, which drives expression in amphidial and phasmidial neurons and Ss rps-21, which drives ubiquitous expression in F1 transformants and in the gonads of microinjected P0 female worms. Concomitant microinjection of vectors containing GFP and mRFPmars gave dually transformed F1 progeny, suggesting that these constructs could be used as co-injection markers for other transgenes of interest. We have developed a vector “toolkit” for S. stercoralis including constructs with the Ss era-1 3′ UTR and each of the promoters described above.
COUNTABLE VALUED FIELDS IN WEAK SUBSYSTEMS OF SECOND-ORDER ARITHMETIC

Etude d'une forme equivalente du theoreme d'extension des valuations sur les corps denombrables
Water in the Polar and Nonpolar Cavities of the Protein Interleukin-1β†

Water in the protein interior serves important structural and functional roles and is also increasingly recognized as a relevant factor in drug binding. The nonpolar cavity in the protein interleukin-1β has been reported to be filled by water on the basis of some experiments and simulations and to be empty on the basis of others. Here we study the thermodynamics of filling the central nonpolar cavity and the four polar cavities of interleukin-1β by molecular dynamics simulation. We use different water models (TIP3P and SPC/E) and protein force fields (amber94 and amber03) to calculate the semigrand partition functions term by term that quantify the hydration equilibria. We consistently find that water in the central nonpolar cavity is thermodynamically unstable, independent of force field and water model. The apparent reason is the relatively small size of the cavity, with a volume less than ∼80 A(3). Our results are consistent with the most recent X-ray crystallographic and simulation studies but disagree with an earlier interpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments probing protein-water interactions. We show that, at least semiquantitatively, the measured nuclear Overhauser effects indicating the proximity of water to the methyl groups lining the nonpolar cavity can, in all likelihood, be attributed to interactions with buried and surface water molecules near the cavity. The same methods applied to determine the occupancy of the polar cavities show that they are filled by the same number of water molecules observed in crystallography, thereby validating the theoretical and simulation methods used to study the water occupancy in the nonpolar protein cavity.
Stochastic approximation over multidimensional discrete sets with applications to inventory systems and admission control of queueing networks

We propose new methods to solve simulation optimization problems over multidimensional discrete sets. The proposed methods are based on extending the objective function from a discrete domain to a continuous domain and applying stochastic approximation to the extended function. The extension of the objective function is constructed as a piecewise linear interpolation of the original objective function over a particular partition of ℝd. The advantage of the proposed approach lies in that stochastic approximation is applied to the extension, not the original function, over ℝd, so the estimated optimal solution at each iteration of the proposed methods is not restricted to be an integer point. Rather, we are free to approach the optimal solution aggressively by moving toward the direction of the steepest descent, thereby skipping over intervening points, thereby resulting in fast convergence in the early stage of the procedures.We provide a set of sufficient conditions under which the proposed methods guarantee the almost sure (a.s.) convergence to the optimal solution. One of such conditions is the multimodularity or Ln-convexity of the objective function, which arises in various inventory systems and queueing networks with controlled admission. Numerical examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods in such settings.
Role of Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Ligand-independent Sequestration of CXCR4 in Human Primary Monocytes-Macrophages

The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 and its receptor, CXCR4, play important roles in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) pathophysiology, leukocyte trafficking, inflammation, hematopoiesis, embryogenesis, angiogenesis, and cancer metastasis. The effects of cytokines on the regulation of CXCR4 function were investigated in human primary monocytes-macrophages. The expression of functional CXCR4 on the cell surface was demonstrated by the detection of ligand-induced Ca(2+) mobilization, chemotaxis, and ligand-induced receptor endocytosis. Surface CXCR4 expression was down-regulated by cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-13, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and up-regulated by IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta 1. Down-regulation was mediated post-translationally, in the absence of protein degradation, through an endocytotic mechanism. In contrast to SDF-1 alpha-induced CXCR4 endocytosis, cytokine-induced endocytosis of this receptor was independent of actin filament polymerization. GM-CSF increased the expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3), beta-arrestin-1, Pyk2, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Cytokine treatment also increased the total and tyrosine-specific phosphorylation of CXCR4 as well as the phosphorylation of FAK on tyrosine 397. It also induced the formation of GRK3.CXCR4 or FAK.CXCR4 complexes. Infection of macrophages by primary R5X4 and X4 isolates of HIV-1 was inhibited by IL-4, IL-13, and GM-CSF, an effect that was associated with down-regulation of surface CXCR4 expression. These data indicate that ligand-dependent and ligand-independent endocytoses of CXCR4 are mediated by different mechanisms. Cytokine-induced endocytosis of chemokine receptors may be of therapeutic value in HIV-1 infection, inflammation, tumor metastasis, and defective hematopoiesis.
Predictive modeling of contact-heating process for cooking a hamburger patty

A predictive model of contact-heating process for cooking a hamburger patty was developed using variable heating temperatures and thermal properties. The model was validated with experimental data obtained from cooking hamburger patties with a clam-shell grill. The predicted patty center temperature profiles agreed well with the experimental data. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to analyze the effects of process conditions on cooking of hamburger patties. Grill heating temperature, heat transfer coefficient, and patty thickness were determined to be the major factors in influencing the patty center temperature profiles.
Patients with bilateral loss of caloric response.

Forty-three of 2500 consecutive ENG monitored caloric-induced nystagmus examinations gave no response to 5 cc of ice water in either ear. Among these, nine had CNS neoplasms, of which six were in the midline posterior fossa, six had autoimmune or collagen disease, six were caused by infections (meningitis, otitis, syphilis), five were congenital involving only the ear, five were drug induced, four had combined visual and eighth nerve hereditary disorders. Infection excepted, hearing losses were an irregular associated finding in roughly 50% and were less common in the CNS and systemic disease categories. Neither clinical symptoms nor other ENG findings were good predictors for finding no response to caloric tests.
Convex set reconstruction using prior shape information

In this paper we present several algorithms for reconstructing 2D convex sets given support line measurements for which the angles are known precisely but the lateral displacements are noisy. We extend the algorithms given in a previous paper by explicitly incorporating prior information about the shape of the objects to be reconstructed. We develop the Scale-Invariant algorithms, which incorporate prior shape information by defining prior probabilities on support vectors, where a support vector is a vector formed from the lateral displacements of a particular set of support lines of an object. We also develop the Ellipse-Based algorithms, which either assume or jointly estimate the parameters of an ellipse, given prior distributions that favor ellipses. In order to relate the support vector prior probability to the expected shape of an object we develop a vector decomposition called the Size/Shape/Shift decomposition, which helps to provide insight into the detailed geometric relationship between support vectors and 2D convex objects. We then use the maximum a posteriori criterion to determine the specific form of the support vector estimator. The computations involve a quadratic programming optimization stage, which is used to determine one component of the decomposition, and either a line search or a conjugate gradient stage, which is used to determine the remaining components. The performance of the algorithms is demonstrated using simulated support line measurements of an ellipse.
Max weber revisited: Some lessons from East Asian capitalistic development

Weber's thesis of the incompatibility of the Confucian ethos and rational entrepreneurial capitalism has been challenged by the “economic miracles” of many East Asian countries. One thesis presented here is that Confucianism is compatible with and has facilitated Asian capitalism by its influence on managerial values and practices. According to Weber, the release of tensions created by Calvinism was an important motivating force in the development of capitalism in the Occident. Confucianism offers a parallel mechanism to the profit-seeking drive in Western capitalism. We show that, in Confucian societies, there also exists tensions — in this case, between ideals and reality. These tensions are released through the Confucian concept of a “ceaseless pursuit of renovation”, a motivational mechanism for the development of capitalism in East Asian societies that parallels the West. Weber held that the classic model of bureaucracy, with impersonality at its core, is essential to the development and continuation of capitalism. Our second thesis is that humanism is an important element in Confucian bureaucracy and that humanistic bureaucracy can be both effective and efficient for the development of capitalism.
Analysis of Gene Expression in Streptococcus Mutans in Biofilms in Vitro

The purpose of this study was to develop methods for the consistent production of biofilms of S. mutans containing reporter gene fusions, and to examine the expression of genes involved in sucrose metabolism in adherent populations of this organism. Three strains of S. mutans harboring reporter gene fusions to the gene promoter regions of the gtfBC genes, ftf, and scrA were grown in a Rototorque biofilm fermenter in a tryptone-yeast extract-sucrose medium. Quasi-steady-state levels of reporter gene activity were measured after the biofilms were grown for either 48 hrs or 7 days. Also, induction of gene expression by the addition of sucrose to biofilm cells was monitored. Reporter gene activity was measurable from all gene fusion strains. This study (i) establishes the feasibility of doing detailed molecular and physiologic studies on immobilized populations of S. mutans, (ii) demonstrates that the polysaccharide synthesis machinery of S. mutans is differentially expressed in biofilms, and (iii) opens the ...
Ionic liquid-assisted exfoliation of graphite oxide for simultaneous reduction and functionalization to graphenes with improved properties

A novel one-step approach for the pH-triggered electrochemically interacted exfoliation of graphene sheets in graphite oxide and simultaneous reduction and functionalization with the aid of the ionic liquid is reported. The developed method shows significant advantages over the conventional functionalized/chemically reduced graphene. Particularly, for the first time, no additional stabilizer or modifier is needed to stabilize the resulting processible graphene dispersion. The prepared graphene oxide and its functionalized graphene are characterized by SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV-vis, XRD, Raman, XPS, and NMR. The results indicate that, with the aid of the IL during the reaction, the resulting functionalized graphene shows improved organophilicity, good wettability and improved interfacial interactions as well as significant resistance to thermal degradation. The methodology paves a new way for use of the IL as a processing aid and reaction medium to promote chemical functionalization of graphene through the electrochemically interacted exfoliation of graphene sheets and can be expected to provide a new approach with great promise for its organophilic wettability and enhanced interfacial adhesion as well as improved thermal stability. Furthermore, the controlled modifications of graphene nanoreinforcements can also be expected to alter the nature of the interactions between components.
Biologically-Inspired Adaptive Pectoral-Like Fin Control System For CFD Parameterized AUV

This paper treats the question of adaptive control of a biorobotic autonomous underwater vehicle (BAUV) in the yaw plane using biologically-inspired pectoral-like fins. The fins are assumed to be oscillating harmonically with a combined linear (sway) and angular (yaw) motion. The bias (mean) angle of the angular motion of the fin is used as a control input. Oscillatory fins produce periodic time-varying control forces and moments. It is assumed that the physical parameters, the hydrodynamic coefficients, and the fin force and moment are not known to the designer. Using a discrete-time state variable representation of the BAUV, an adaptive sampled data control system for the trajectory control of the yaw angle using state feedback is derived. The parameter adaptation law is based on the normalized gradient scheme. In the closed-loop system, time-varying yaw angle reference trajectories are tracked and all the signals in the closed-loop system remain bounded. Simulation results for the set point control and sinusoidal trajectory tracking are presented, which show that the control system accomplishes precise trajectory control in spite of the parameter uncertainties, and the inter sample segments of the yaw angle trajectory remain close to the discrete-time reference trajectory.
Self-Reported Questionnaire Response Honesty Among Middle and High School Adolescents. † 34

Self-Reported Questionnaire Response Honesty Among Middle and High School Adolescents. † 34
Assessing learning effects and nonrandom dropout in a contraceptive device trial.

When there is a new device involved in a randomized trial, participants in the new device group might need more time to become skilled at using the new device than those who are in the control group. In addition, participants who are not used to the new device might drop out from the study at a different rate than participants in the control group. Such learning effects and possible nonrandom dropout can substantially influence the evaluation of treatment effects. Without considering these factors, the conclusion of the main study result is vulnerable to potential bias. In this paper we propose a transition model under a Markov process to assess the effects of learning and nonrandom dropout in a randomized control device trial. The transition probabilities of the proposed model can be obtained by maximum likelihood approaches, and then fit by weighted local regressions to describe patterns of learning and participant dropout. A generalized estimating equation approach is applied to evaluate the impact of ...
Wide- and Small-Angle X-ray Analysis of Poly(ethylene-co-octene)

Wide-angle X-ray data point to a three-phase structure in isotropic and drawn specimens of a homogeneous poly(ethylene-co-octene) (7.3 mol % 1-octene). In addition to the amorphous halo, the unoriented polymer exhibits Bragg reflections characteristic of the orthorhombic crystalline phase and an additional reflection that is assigned to the hexagonal mesophase. On stretching 800%, the degree of crystallinity increases from ∼25% to ∼50%, due mainly to the formation of smaller hexagonal crystallites, while the proportions of the orthorhombic and amorphous phases decline. Small-angle X-ray data reveal a distinct long period, pointing to the existence of lamellae that become oriented perpendicular to the draw direction. On releasing the specimen, there is a considerable permanent set (∼350% extension), and the crystallinity declines to ∼30% as the hexagonal crystallites appear to revert to the amorphous structure. The results suggest that the hexagonal mesophase is formed by chain segments that have octene si...
Exposure to glyphosate- and/or Mn/Zn-ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate-containing pesticides leads to degeneration of γ-aminobutyric acid and dopamine neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Previous studies demonstrate a positive correlation between pesticide usage and Parkinson’s disease (PD), which preferentially targets dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons. In order to examine the potential relationship between two common pesticides and specific neurodegeneration, we chronically (24 h) or acutely (30 min) exposed two Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strains to varying concentrations (LC25, LC50 or LC75) of TouchDown® (TD) as percent active ingredient (glyphosate), or Mancozeb® (MZ) as percent active ingredient (manganese/zinc ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate). Furthermore, to more precisely model environmental exposure, worms were also exposed to TD for 30 min, followed by 30-min incubation with varying MZ concentrations. Previous data from out lab suggested general neuronal degeneration using the worm strain NW1229 (pan-neuronal//green fluorescent protein (GFP) construct). To determine whether distinct neuronal groups were preferentially affected, we specifically used EG1285 (GABAergic neurons//GFP construct) and BZ555 (DAergic neurons//GFP construct) worms to verify GABAergic and DAergic neurodegeneration, respectively. Results indicated a statistically significant decrease, when compared to controls (CN), in number of green pixels associated with GABAergic neurons in both chronic (*P < 0.05) and acute (*P < 0.05) treatment paradigms. Analysis of the BZ555 worms indicated a statistically significant decrease (*P < 0.05) in number of green pixels associated with DAergic neurons in both treatment paradigms (chronic and acute) when compared to CN. Taken together, our data suggest that exposure to TD and/or MZ promotes neurodegeneration in both GABAergic and DAergic neurons in the model organism C. elegans.
Rapid erosion of soft sediments by tidewater glacier advance: Taku Glacier, Alaska, USA

2.0 ± 0.1 m a 1 (1940–2005) at L = 3 km (H = 350 m), and 1.5 ± 0.2 m a 1 (1952–2005) at L = 1.5 km (H = 250 m). Detailed mapping over a 4 km 2 area of the terminus revealed a deeply incised channel in line with a major outlet stream. Glaciofluvial processes must play the dominant role in the subglacial erosion and removal of these unlithified sediments. Citation: Motyka, R. J., M. Truffer, E. M. Kuriger, and A. K. Bucki (2006), Rapid erosion of soft sediments by tidewater glacier advance: Taku Glacier, Alaska, USA, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L24504, doi:10.1029/2006GL028467.
Reaction of the carcinogen 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide with sulfhydryl groups of proteins

Abstract Reaction of 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide (4HAQO) with sulfhydryl groups of albumin and enzymes with different types of sulfhydryl groups was studied by direct determination of unreacted sulfhydryl groups and by measurement of enzyme activities. Sulfhydryl groups of albumin, catalase, and alcohol dehydrogenase were markedly consumed in the presence of 4HAQO, and the consumption was clearly dependent on the concentration of 4HAQO. The activities of catalase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and urease were inhibited in the presence of 4HAQO, but the activity of pancreatic lipase was not affected by 4HAQO. The inhibition of these enzymes with similar molar ratios of 4HAQO to sulfhydryl groups varied as follows: catalase > alcohol dehydrogenase > urease. Inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase and urease was almost completely reversed by the addition of glutathione, but the effect of glutathione on the inhibition of catalase was not studied. The insensitivity of lipase to 4HAQO was probably due to inaccessibility of the sulfhydryl groups to 4HAQO, for the enzyme was inhibited markedly by p-chloro-mercuribenzoate, but not by iodosobenzoate under the same experimental conditions. The different sensitivities of sulfhydryl groups in other enzymes to 4HAQO appear to be related to the differences in the locations of the sulfhydryl groups in the enzyme molecules. The reactions of sulfhydryl groups of proteins with 4HAQO may be significant in the mechanism of 4HAQO carcinogenesis.
Impact of Hazardous Substances Regulations on Small Firms in Delaware and New Jersey

Regulations under the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act impose significant requirements on firms handling hazardous chemicals. The nature of the regulations would suggest that small firms, because of limited resources and other structural limitations, would experience more difficulty complying with the regulations than large firms. To understand the difficulties imposed by the regulations on small firms, we interviewed ten small firms in Delaware and New Jersey, states with existing hazardous regulations similar to those being considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and evaluated their responses to state regulations. The impacts of the environmental regulations on the firms and on the risk levels of their businesses are discussed. Propositions for research into small firms compliance are developed. Possible means for reducing the regulatory burden on small firms while enhancing regulatory effectiveness are suggested.
Comparative Studies of Mammalian Acid Lipases: Evidence for a New Gene Family in Mouse and Rat (Lipo)

At least six families of mammalian acid lipases (E.C. 3.1.1.-) catalyse the hydrolysis of triglycerides in the body, designated as LIPA (lysosomal), LIPF (gastric), LIPJ (testis) and LIPK, LIPM and LIPN (epidermal), which belong to the AB hydrolase superfamily. In this study, in silico methods were used to predict the amino acid sequences, secondary and tertiary structures, and gene locations for acid lipase genes and encoded proteins using data from several mammalian genome projects. Mammalian acid lipase genes were located within a gene cluster for each of the 8 mammalian genomes examined, including human (Homo sapiens), chimpanzee (Pons troglodytes), rhesus monkey (Macacca mulatta), mouse (Mus musculus), rat (Rattus norvegicus), cow (Bos taurus), horse (Equus caballus) and dog (Canis familaris), with each containing 9 coding exons. Human and mouse acid lipases shared 44-87% sequence identity and exhibited sequence alignments and identities for key amino acid residues and conservation of predicted secondary and tertiary structures with those previously reported for human gastric lipase (LIPF) (Roussel et al., 1999). Evidence for a new family of acid lipase genes is reported for mouse and rat genomes, designated as Lipo. Mouse acid lipase genes are subject to differential mRNA tissue expression, with Lipa showing wide tissue expression, while others have a more restricted tissue expression in the digestive tract (Lipf), salivary gland (Lipo) and epidermal tissues (Lipk, Lipm and Lipn). Phylogenetic analyses of the mammalian acid lipase gene families suggested that these genes are products of gene duplication events prior to eutherian mammalian evolution and derived from an ancestral vertebrate LIPA gene, which is present in the frog, Xenopus tropicalis.
Abstract 2169: SapC-DOPS induces lethal mitophagy in glioblastoma.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC The goal of this study is to evaluate SapC-DOPS, a novel cancer nanotherapeutic, for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). SapC-DOPS delivered intravenously (i.v) was found to specifically target intracranial tumors in mice bearing spontaneous brain tumor, as well in nude mice intracranially implanted with human GBM cells. Treatment of tumor bearing mice with SapC-DOPS (i.v.) significantly increased survival: 25% and 75% long-term survivors in U87ΔEGFR-Luc and X12v2 implanted mice, respectively (P 0.05). In contrast, SapC-DOPS treatment increased levels of an autophagic marker LC3-II via western blot. Autophagosome formation was also confirmed through transmission electron microscopy. Utilizing a stable GBM cell line expressing a GFP-LC3 fusion protein, we observed punctuated GFP expression following treatment, indicative of autophagosome formation. Quantification of GFP punctated cells showed a significant increase in SapC-DOPS treated cells compared to control (P<.001). Analysis of red/green fluorescence following acridine orange staining showed an induction of acidic vesicular organelles indicative of autophagolysosomes. In addition, inhibition of autophagosome formation using 3-methyladeneine or inhibition of auotphagic vacuole maturation with bafilomycin A1 resulted in a significant rescue of SapC-DOPS-induced killing (P<.001). Knockdown of ATG5 using siRNA also resulted in a rescue of SapC-DOPS-induced cell death and autophagy induction (P<.001). Interestingly, we did not observe a decrease in the activation of mTOR as determined by the phosphorylation of 4EBP1 and p70S6K which are typically induced during autophagy. This led us to test the use of rapamycin, a known inhibitor of mTOR and inducer of autophagy, in combination with SapC-DOPS. By using the Chou Talalay analysis, we observed strong synergy for multiple drug combinations in primary GBM neurospheres (combination index < .4). To investigate whether SapC-DOPS induced autophagy could be preferentially targeting mitochondria (mitophagy), we utilized MitoTracker Green (mitochondria) and LysoTracker Red (autophagolysosomes). By using confocal microscopy analysis, we were able to observe a decrease in mitochondrial mass in cells treated with SapC-DOPS as well as co-localization of mitochondria with autophagolysosomes. In addition to this, we observed a significant decrease in ATP levels following SapC-DOPS treatment (P<.01). These findings suggest therapeutic implications for treating GBM by using SapC-DOPS alone and in combination with an AKT/mTOR inhibitor. Citation Format: Jeffrey Wojton, Naduparambil K. Jacob, Nicholas Denton, Nina Dmitrieva, Hiroshi Nakashima, Chang-Hyuk Kwon, Lionel Chow, Ennio A. Chiocca, Arnab Chakravarti, Balveen Kaur, Xiaoyang Qi. SapC-DOPS induces lethal mitophagy in glioblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2169. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2169
Universal treatment of plumes and stresses for pressurized thermal shock evaluations

The thermal field in a reactor vessel downcomer and resulting thermal/stress response in the adjacent reactor vessel wall during high-pressure safety injection are examined, especially with regard to departures from one-dimensional behavior. Similarity solutions for the stratification (in the cold leg) that creates the downcomer plumes, and scaling considerations for the thermal conduction and stress fields in the vessel wall are developed to provide generalized criteria for the adequacy of the one-dimensional treatment.
Business Technology Strategy for a Major Real Estate and Mortgage Brokerage Company

RealProp1 is a large real estate and mortgage brokerage that's at the forefront of the emerging digital real estate industry. For many years, the company maintained an in-house technology staff, but more recently it sought new leadership to accelerate its digital investments and to explore alternative sourcing models. In this regard, the company plans to respond to new challenges that the industry is presenting as it evolves from a relatively predictable transaction model to one increasingly defined by the Internet. A phased strategy was developed that first stabilized the existing technology environment and then more strategic technology investments were made.
Finite two-dimensional cavities

General formulae for generating unsteady potential flows characterized by the presence of a cavity (which can be finite in extent) are presented. The fluid at infinity is either in accelera­tive motion or at rest, but the two cases are essentially distinct. A class of solution is given explicitly for each case. Steady flows in a gravitational field are also investigated, and a class of solutions representing such flows past a finite cavity is given. Some of the solutions in these three classes have been carried out in detail.
Intraspecific models and spatiotemporal context of size-mass relationships in adult dragonflies

AbstractLength–mass equations are valued for their efficiency and reliability because many animals, including aquatic macroinvertebrates, show predictable correlations between mass and linear body dimensions. Our paper explores overlooked aspects of length–mass applications, including relationships for adult aquatic insects, intraspecific variation, and spatiotemporal context. We analyzed the length–mass relationship in 5 species of adult dragonfly (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) during 2 collection periods (early and late summer flight) at 3 study locations in northern Mississippi, USA. Despite narrow ranges in body and wing length, and given that dragonflies gain postemergence mass without associated changes in skeletal size, both body and wing length showed potential for estimating individual dry mass (R2 ≥ 0.5 in most cases). We also found strong associations between dry and wet length and consistent variation in individual dry mass as a percentage of individual wet mass (∼65% water content) in these sampl...
FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF CLAYS THROUGH CONTROL OF PH AND CHARACTER OF BASE‐EXCHANGE SATURATION*

Marked improvement in the workability of clays and the quality of the fired products can be attained with many clays by a control process that involves the regulation of pH and the character of base saturation by the addition of sodium carbonate and other alkaline materials. The amount of basic material which must be added to effect this proper control is most easily determined by the use of titration curves derived by titrating samples of the clays with alkali. The interpretation of the various types of curves thus obtained is discussed in detail. The control process, if desired, may be used in combination with deairing. The use of certain wetting agents in addition to the control process has given only slight additional benefit.
Distributed Dual Averaging In Networks

The goal of decentralized optimization over a network is to optimize a global objective formed by a sum of local (possibly nonsmooth) convex functions using only local computation and communication. We develop and analyze distributed algorithms based on dual averaging of subgradients, and provide sharp bounds on their convergence rates as a function of the network size and topology. Our analysis clearly separates the convergence of the optimization algorithm itself from the effects of communication constraints arising from the network structure. We show that the number of iterations required by our algorithm scales inversely in the spectral gap of the network. The sharpness of this prediction is confirmed both by theoretical lower bounds and simulations for various networks.
Neurotoxicity From Oxaliplatin Combined With Weekly Bolus Fluorouracil and Leucovorin As Surgical Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II and III Colon Cancer: NSABP C-07

Purpose The randomized, multicenter, phase III protocol C-07 compared the efficacy of adjuvant bolus fluorouracil and leucovorin (FULV) versus FULV with oxaliplatin (FLOX) in stage II or III colon cancer. Definitive analysis revealed an increase in 4-year disease-free survival from 67.0% to 73.2% in favor of FLOX. This study compares neurotoxicity between the treatments. Patients and Methods Neurotoxicity was recorded for all patients using standard adverse event reporting. Patients at select institutions completed a neurotoxicity questionnaire through 18 months of follow-up. Results A total of 2,492 patients enrolled onto C-07 and 400 patients enrolled onto the patient-reported substudy. Mean patient-reported neurotoxicity was higher with oxaliplatin throughout the 18 months of study (P < .0001). During therapy, patients receiving oxaliplatin experienced significantly more hand/foot toxicity (eg, “quite a bit” of cold-induced hand/foot pain 26% FLOX v 2.6% FULV) and overall weakness (eg, moderate weaknes...
Launch packaging options for the PV power module cargo element

The development of photovoltaic (PV) power module cargo element for the Space Station Freedom is discussed. The PV power module consists of several unique assemblies, each with its own function. These assemblies are combined in such a manner that functions are consolidated and packaging is efficient. Several packaging options for the PV power module cargo element are presented. These options are discussed in terms of their impact on the overall flight hardware manifest as determined by the various constraints. Space Station Freedom program considerations are also addressed. >
Histogram model for 3D textures

Image texture can arise not only from surface albedo variations (2D texture) but also from surface height variations (3D texture). Since the appearance of 3D texture depends on the illumination and viewing direction in a complicated manner, such image texture can be called a bidirectional texture function. A fundamental representation of image texture is the histogram of pixel intensities. Since the histogram of 3D texture also depends on the illumination and viewing directions in a complex fashion, we refer to it as a bidirectional histogram. In this work, we present a concise analytical model for the bidirectional histogram of Lambertian, isotropic, randomly rough surfaces, which are common in real-world scenes. We demonstrate the accuracy of the histogram model by fitting to several samples from the Columbia-Utrecht texture database. The parameters obtained from the model fits are roughness measures which can be used in texture recognition schemes. In addition, the model has potential application in estimating illumination direction in scenes where surfaces of known tilt and roughness are visible. We demonstrate the usefulness of our model by employing it in a novel 3D texture synthesis procedure.
Altered parasite assemblages in raccoons in response to manipulated resource availability

The role that host aggregation plays in structuring parasite assemblages was examined by experimentally increasing the contact rates of raccoons, Procyon lotor. Two populations of raccoons in southern New York were monitored for 2 years to determine baseline levels of host interaction and to identify the parasite assemblage. In the third year of the study, one population was provisioned with the addition of clumped food resources, while the other was provisioned with equal quantities of dispersed food resources. Remote photography showed that raccoons aggregated at clumped resources but not at dispersed resources, and therefore contact rates between individuals were higher in the site with clumped resources. There were no differences in parasitism between the sites prior to resource augmentation. Among ectoparasites, there were no significant changes in the prevalence or abundance of any species in response to the perturbation. In contrast, across the endoparasite assemblage within and across hosts, the prevalence of infection increased as a result of increased host contact. Strong increases in the prevalence of a few directly transmitted species and slight increases among most species lead to increased evenness in parasite prevalence, suggesting that parasites in this system are transmission limited. In addition, the number of parasite species per host (the parasite infracommunity) was higher in the clumped-resource population. These endoparasite results suggest that intraspecific variation in the species richness of parasite communities of individual hosts, and the prevalence of parasitic species in host populations as assessed across entire parasitic assemblages, is robustly influenced by intraspecific variation in the degree of host contact. Further, these results suggest that anthropogenic changes which alter resource availability may have important consequences for disease transmission in wildlife.
Lowering the barriers to website testing with CoTester

In this paper, we present CoTester, a system designed to decrease the difficulty of testing web applications. CoTester allows testers to create test scripts that are represented in an easy-to-understand scripting language rather than a complex programming language, which allows tests to be created rapidly and by non-developers. CoTester improves the management of test scripts by grouping sequences of lowlevel actions into subroutines, such as "log in" or "check out shopping cart", which help testers visualize test structure and make bulk modifications. A key innovation in CoTester is its ability to automatically identify these subroutines using a machine learning algorithm. Our algorithm is able to achieve 91% accuracy at recognizing a set of 7 representative subroutines commonly found in test scripts.
Metallofullerenol Gd@C82(OH)22 distracts the proline-rich-motif from putative binding on the SH3 domain

Biocompatibility is often regarded as one important aspect of de novo designed nanomaterials for biosafety. However, the toxicological effect, appearing along with its latency, is much more difficult to address by linearly mapping physicochemical properties of related nanomaterials with biological effects such as immune or cellular regulatory responses due to the complicated protein–protein interactions. Here, we investigate a potential interference of a metallofullerenol, Gd@C82(OH)22, on the function of SH3 domain, a highly promiscuous protein–protein interaction mediator involved in signaling and regulatory pathways through its binding with the proline-rich motif (PRM) peptides, using the atomistic molecular dynamics simulation. Our study shows that when only Gd@C82(OH)22 and the SH3 domain are present (without the PRM ligand), Gd@C82(OH)22 can interact with the SH3 domain by either directly blocking the hydrophobic active site or binding with a hydrophilic off-site with almost equal probability, which can be understood from its intrinsic amphiphilic nature. In a binding competition with the PRM onto the SH3 domain, however, the on-site binding mode is depleted while Gd@C82(OH)22 effectively intercepts the PRM from the putative binding site of the SH3 domain, implying that Gd@C82(OH)22 can disturb protein–protein interactions mediated by the SH3 domain. Despite a successful surface modification in an aqueous biological medium and a more recent demonstration as potential de novo cancer therapeutics, our study indicates that greater attention is needed in assessing the potential cytotoxicity of these nanomaterials.
Using LASSO regression to detect predictive aggregate effects in genetic studies

We use least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to select genetic markers and phenotypic features that are most informative with respect to a trait of interest. We compare several strategies for applying LASSO methods in risk prediction models, using the Genetic Analysis Workshop 17 exome simulation data consisting of 697 individuals with information on genotypic and phenotypic features (smoking, age, sex) in 5-fold cross-validated fashion. The cross-validated averages of the area under the receiver operating curve range from 0.45 to 0.63 for different strategies using only genotypic markers. The same values are improved to 0.69–0.87 when both genotypic and phenotypic information are used. The ability of the LASSO method to find true causal markers is limited, but the method was able to discover several common variants (e.g., FLT1) under certain conditions.