cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction between pyrin and the apoptotic speck protein (ASC) modulates ASC-induced apoptosis.

Abstract Patients with familial Mediterranean fever suffer sporadic inflammatory attacks characterized by fever and intense pain (in joints, abdomen, or chest). Pyrin, the product of theMEFV locus, is a cytosolic protein whose function is unknown. Using pyrin as a “bait” to probe a yeast two-hybrid library made from neutrophil cDNA, we isolatedapoptotic speck protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) (ASC), a proapoptotic protein that induces the formation of large cytosolic “specks” in transfected cells. We found that when HeLa cells are transfected with ASC, specks are formed. After co-transfection of cells with ASC plus wild type pyrin, an increase in speck-positive cells is found, and speck-positive cells show increased survival. Immunofluorescence studies show that pyrin co-localizes with ASC in specks. Speck localization requires exon 1 of pyrin, but exon 1 alone of pyrin does not result in an increase in the number of specks. Exon 1 of pyrin and exon 1 of ASC show 42% sequence similarity and resemble death domain-related structures in modeling studies. These findings link pyrin to apoptosis pathways and suggest that the modulation of cell survival may be a component of the pathophysiology of familial Mediterranean fever.
Management of Stenosis of the Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery: Endarterectomy Versus Angioplasty and Stenting

Recent randomized clinical trial data support the safety and efficacy of carotid artery stenting and carotid endarterectomy for treatment of symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid occlusive disease. Endarterectomy is more effective in preventing stroke, but this may be countered by a higher risk of perioperative myocardial infarction. Age is an important determinant in selecting patients for either carotid endarterectomy or stenting. Patients older than 70 years achieve better outcomes with endarterectomy, and younger patients achieve better outcomes with stenting. Comparative clinical and anatomic durability of endarterectomy and stenting will require additional follow-up from recently completed trials. The efficacy of carotid revascularization compared with modern medical therapy in asymptomatic patients remains an important and unanswered clinical question.
On alterations in the refractive index and scattering properties of biological tissue caused by histological processing

Clinical tissue processing such as formalin fixing, paraffin-embedding and histological staining alters significantly the optical properties of the tissue. We document the alterations in the optical properties of prostate cancer tissue specimens in the 500nm to 700nm spectral range caused by histological processing with quantitative differential interference contrast (qDIC) microscopy. A simple model to explain these alterations is presented at the end.
Condensation of a p-diazooxide with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate: formation of a spiro [4.5] Decatetraenone and a nonenolizable naphthalenone in a single reaction

Abstract The condensation of p-diazooxide 1 with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate at 90°–100°C yields two C26H32O9 products, corresponding to addition of two molecules of ester to one of the carbene 2 . The major product is the novel spirodecatetraenone 4 , and the minor product is the remarkable, nonenolizable naphthalenone 5 . Spirodecatetraenone 4 is not a precursor of 5 , since the former is stable to acids and rearranges only above 200° to give the blocked azulenone 8 . A mechanism for the concomitant formation of product 4 and 5 is proposed.
Choosing the best similarity index when performing fuzzy set ordination on binary data

. Fuzzy set ordination (FSO) may be used with either abundance data or binary (presence/absence) data. FSO requires a similarity index that returns values between 0 and 1. Many indices will do so, but their suitability for FSO has not been tested. Nine binary indices were evaluated in this study. Simulated plant community data sets were generated with COMPAS; they contained five levels of β-diversity, two levels of qualitative noise, and two sampling arrangements (regular or random) along one gradient. Indices were evaluated with rank and linear correlations between the apparent ecological gradient positions generated by FSO and actual gradient positions; the abilities of the best-performing indices to minimize the curlover effect were also compared. All indices performed best at intermediate levels of β-diversity and with regular sampling. Five indices had consistently higher rank and linear correlations (Baroni-Urbani & Buser, Jaccard, Kulczynski, Ochiai and Sorensen), whereas four were consistently lower (Faith, Russell & Rao, Rogers & Tanimoto and Simple Matching). There were no significant differences in curlover among the five best indices. A step-across algorithm, a flexible shortest path adjustment, improved correlations and reduced curlover for the five best indices at higher β-diversity levels. We recommend that one of the five best-performing similarity indices be used with FSO on binary data; a flexible shortest path adjustment should also be employed at higher β-diversities when possible.
Axiomatic theories of ideal stretched exponential relaxation (SER)

Abstract Minimalist theories of complex systems are broadly of two kinds: mean-field (for example, hydrodynamic mode-coupling, random nucleation, lattice, or percolative fractal) and axiomatic. So far only axiomatic theories of properties absent from simple systems and intrinsic to complex systems, such as SER, have been quantitatively successful. SER is the prototypical complex temporal property of glasses, discovered by Kohlrausch 150 years ago, and now observed almost universally in microscopically homogeneous, complex non-equilibrium materials (strong and fragile network and fragile molecular glasses, polymers and copolymers, even electronic glasses). The Scher-Lax trap model (1973) is paradigmatic for electronic SER; for molecular SER Phillips (3IDMRCS 1995) identified two ‘magic’ shape fractions β = 3/5 and 3/7, as confirmed by many later experiments here reviewed. In the dielectric SER frequency domain involving ion conduction, there are also special beta values for fused salts and glasses, slightly, but distinguishably, different because of the presence of a forcing electric field.
Hormonal induction of adipogenesis induces Skp2 expression through PI3K and MAPK pathways.

We have previously shown that the F-box protein, S-phase kinase-associated protein (Skp2) plays a mechanistic role in targeting the cell-cycle inhibitor, p27 for degradation by the 26S proteasome during early stages of 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that protein levels of Skp2 and its accessory protein, Cks1 increased as density-arrested preadipocytes re-entered the cell cycle during clonal expansion, decreased with differentiation-induced growth arrest, and became refractory to hormonal stimulation following the onset of terminal adipocyte differentiation. Component analysis revealed that while maximal Skp2/Cks1 protein accumulation required the complete differentiation cocktail, that insulin was principally involved. Skp2 mRNA accumulation was found to precede the increase in Skp2 protein and succeed the activation of Akt and Erk1/2, mediators of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways, respectively. Using specific inhibitors, we found that while activation of both pathways was required for maximal expression, PI3K signaling was primarily responsible for the increase in Skp2/Cks1 accumulation. The increase in Skp2 mRNA was notable 4 h following hormonal stimulation, plateaued by 12 h during mid-G1 phase progression, and occurred without change to mRNA stability. We further demonstrate that luciferase activity, originating from a pGL3 vector containing 2.4 kb of the Skp2 promoter, increased 2.5-fold with hormonal stimulation. This increase in promoter activity was markedly suppressed following PI3K and MAPK blockade. Deletion studies indicate that responsive elements were located within the proximal Skp2 promoter. These data demonstrate that Skp2 is transcriptionally regulated by PI3K and MAPK pathways as 3T3-L1 preadipocytes transition from quiescence to proliferation during adipocyte hyperplasia. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 204–216, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Lack of effect of synthetic thyrotropin releasing hormone on Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stouti) pituitary-thyroid tissues in vitro.

Abstract Hagfish ( Eptatretus stouti ) thyroid tissue co-cultured with pituitary tissue increased thyroxine (T 4 ) concentration in medium relative to thyroids incubated alone. Synthetic thyrotropin releasing hormone and arginine vasotocin failed (a) to augment medium T 4 in co-cultures and (b) to retard the decline in pituitary thyrotropic activity observed over time.
Demobilization of Paramilitaries in Colombia: Transformation or Transition?

Historically, Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reinsertion (DDR) has provided a useful means to terminate conflicts. Since being catapulted to office in August 2002 with 53 percent of the vote of 46.45 percent of the voters, 1 Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has vigorously pursued a demobilization program, both individual and collective. However, despite the fact that over 40,000 combatants have demobilized under these programs, evidence is growing that this latest round of Colombian DDR is merely transitioning, rather than terminating, violence in that Andean country.
Compatibility analysis of precipitation and runoff trends over the large Siberian watersheds

[1] The consistency of long-term yearly precipitation and runoff trends over the largest Arctic watersheds (Ob, Yenisei and Lena Rivers) is examined. Three gridded precipitation datasets (Climatic Research Unit, University of Delaware, NCEP) are used for comparative analyses with runoff data collected at basin outlets. The results generally demonstrate inconsistency in long-term changes of basin precipitation and runoff. The Yenisei River runoff increases significantly, while precipitation data show mostly negative trends. The Ob River does not show any significant trend either in precipitation or runoff. Positive trend in the Lena River runoff is accompanied by a weak precipitation increase; however, the precipitation increase is not strong enough to support the observed runoff change. The inconsistency identified in basin precipitation and runoff trends suggests uncertainty in both the quality of basin precipitation and runoff datasets, as well as the perceived hydrologic factors impacting runoff change. INDEX TERMS: 9315 Information Related to Geographic Region: Arctic region; 1860 Hydrology: Runoff and streamflow; 1854 Hydrology: Precipitation (3354); 1833 Hydrology: Hydroclimatology; 1620 Global Change: Climate dynamics (3309). Citation: Berezovskaya, S., D. Yang, and D. L. Kane (2004), Compatibility analysis of precipitation and runoff trends over the large Siberian watersheds, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L21502, doi:10.1029/2004GL021277.
A behavioral test of contamination fear in excessive health anxiety.

Abstract Background and objectives Health anxiety is characterized by a preoccupation with the possibility of having a serious health condition or disease. Contemporary conceptualizations of health anxiety have improved in recent years to incorporate a fear of acquiring an illness; however, there is limited experimental data demonstrating the presence of fear of contamination among health anxious individuals. Method The present study utilized behavior approach tasks (BATs) to examine the degree to which contamination fear is present in elevated health anxiety. Participants were 60 undergraduate students who reported elevated health anxiety, contamination fear, or no anxiety about either health or contamination. Participants completed four BATS from which avoidance, anxiety, and disgust ratings were derived. Results Health anxious and contamination fearful individuals exhibited a similar degree of avoidance during the BATs. Contamination fearful participants reported significantly more anxiety and disgust relative to the non-anxious controls, but not the health anxious participants. Health anxious participants did not report more anxiety or disgust than the non-anxious participants. Limitations The use of an analogue sample may limit the extension of these findings to clinical populations. Additionally, the role of general negative affect could not be reliably determined in the absence of an anxious control group. Conclusions These findings suggest that contamination fear may be a source of conceptual overlap between health anxiety and other disorders characterized by contamination fear. This highlights the importance of considering contamination fear in excessive health anxiety.
CREB: a Ca(2+)-regulated transcription factor phosphorylated by calmodulin-dependent kinases

The mechanism by which Ca2+ mediates gene induction in response to membrane depolarization was investigated. The adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB) was shown to function as a Ca(2+)-regulated transcription factor and as a substrate for depolarization-activated Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM kinases) I and II. CREB residue Ser133 was the major site of phosphorylation by the CaM kinases in vitro and of phosphorylation after membrane depolarization in vivo. Mutation of Ser133 impaired the ability of CREB to respond to Ca2+. These results suggest that CaM kinases may transduce electrical signals to the nucleus and that CREB functions to integrate Ca2+ and cAMP signals.
Regulated scouring in a sand-bed river for channel habitat maintenance: A Platte River waterfowl case study

The planned Narrows Reservoir on the South Platte River in Colorado is expected to jeopardize the maintenance of scarce instream waterfowl habitat 400 km downstream in Nebraska's Big Bend reach of the mainstem Platte River. Extreme shrinkage of wide, shallow channel habitat for sandhill and endangered whooping cranes in the Central Flyway has resulted from past reservoir development along the North and South Platte Rivers in Wyoming and Colorado. Proposals to counteract further shrinkage caused by streamflow regulation and depletion include controlled annual peak flows designed to scour the banks, sandbars, and emerging vegetation. The criteria for effective channel maintenance by streambed scouring are examined, as well as the principles involved. The feasibility of preserving the remaining habitat by releasing scouring flows from the Narrows Dam is found seriously lacking. Alternative mechanical measures, such as dredging the channel and bulldozing the tree cover, may prove more practical, although possibly unaffordable.
A compartmentalized device for the culture of animal cells.

A simply-constructed device for the batch culture of animal cells is described that takes advantage of gas-permeable polymer films and continuous dialysis of nutrient fluids. The design separates a cell-growth chamber from a nutrient-medium reservoir with a dialysis membrane, effectively compartmentalizing growth and feeding functions. Resulting culture environment is extaordinarily stable since frequent medium exchanges are not required and macromolecules biosynthesized by cells are retained within the cell-growth compartment. Culture experiments with a variety of mammalian cells (epithelioid, fibroblastic, hybridoma, primary murine) are described that demonstrate unattended culture for up to 30 days. Immunoglobulin (IgG) secreted by cultured hybridoma cells concentrated in the growth compartment more than 25-fold over levels attained at confluence in conventional flasks. Applications for the device in various areas using animal cell culture and potential advantages in scale are discussed.
Cavity-Backed Patch Shared Aperture Antenna Array Approach for Mobile DBS Applications

Relatively low profile antennas can be implemented by sharing more than one aperture in order to realize a specified overall antenna gain. However, the overall radiation pattern of these combined apertures could have unacceptable side-lobe levels. In the case of mobile DBS antennas that require wide-angle steering capability, sharing could degrade the overall performance unless the system is carefully designed. The number of shared apertures is typically limited by the amount of insertion loss caused by the interconnecting feed structure and its mechanical flexibility, as required in the case of mechanical steering. Hence, overall system performance and interconnecting hardware details need to be optimized to minimize such degradation while achieving the greatest practical height reduction.
mGluR2 activation of medial amygdala input impairs vomeronasal organ-mediated behavior

The accessory olfactory bulb normally receives chemosensory input from the vomeronasal organ. Input from accessory bulb to medial amygdala for natural pheromone-containing conspecific chemosignals activates both anterior and posterior medial amygdala and elicits or modulates reproductive and social behavior. Here, a non-specific activation of accessory olfactory bulb by infusion of mGluR2 agonist LCCG1 in male hamsters activates immediate-early gene (Fos) expression only in anterior and not posterior medial amygdala. mGluR2 stimulation concurrently with female chemosensory stimulation produces small changes in the normal chemosensory response in medial amygdala but impairs behavior normally driven by the chemosensory input. The distribution of Fos expression, with an increase in anterior but not posterior medial amygdala, is also seen with chemosensory stimulation by chemosignals from other species, socially non-relevant for hamsters, and by artificial electrical stimulation of the vomeronasal organ. We propose that the spatiotemporal pattern of amygdala input is important for eliciting normal species-specific behavior and that artificial and heterospecific stimulation fails to do so because it does not match the required pattern closely enough. Thus, modification of the pattern by addition of non-specific activation from mGluR2 agonist is sufficient to disrupt behavior normally driven by conspecific chemosensory stimulation.
Cytonuclear Interactions and Relaxed Selection Accelerate Sequence Evolution in Organelle Ribosomes

Many mitochondrial and plastid protein complexes contain subunits that are encoded in different genomes. In animals, nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins often exhibit rapid sequence evolution, which has been hypothesized to result from selection for mutations that compensate for changes in interacting subunits encoded in mutation-prone animal mitochondrial DNA. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed nuclear genes encoding cytosolic and organelle ribosomal proteins in flowering plants. The model angiosperm genus Arabidopsis exhibits low organelle mutation rates, typical of most plants. Nevertheless, we found that (nuclear-encoded) subunits of organelle ribosomes in Arabidopsis have higher amino acid sequence polymorphism and divergence than their counterparts in cytosolic ribosomes, suggesting that organelle ribosomes experience relaxed functional constraint. However, the observed difference between organelle and cytosolic ribosomes was smaller than in animals and could be partially attributed to rapid evolution in N-terminal organelle-targeting peptides that are not involved in ribosome function. To test the role of organelle mutation more directly, we used transcriptomic data from an angiosperm genus (Silene) with highly variable rates of organelle genome evolution. We found that Silene species with unusually fast-evolving mitochondrial and plastid DNA exhibited increased amino acid sequence divergence in ribosomal proteins targeted to the organelles but not in those that function in cytosolic ribosomes. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that rapid organelle genome evolution has selected for compensatory mutations in nuclear-encoded proteins. We conclude that coevolution between interacting subunits encoded in different genomic compartments within the eukaryotic cell is an important determinant of variation in rates of protein sequence evolution.
Inhibition of gastric secretion by extracts containing gastrin.

Summary A method is described for preparation of extracts containing gastrin from mucosa of the pyloric gland area of the stomach of hogs. These extracts stimulated secretion of acid from Heidenhain pouches in dogs when given by continuous intravenous injection in the dose range 2.5 to 40 gm. per hour (dose of gastrin expressed as wet weight of mucosa from which extract was derived). When given as single rapid intravenous injections to dogs secreting in response to continuous injection of gastrin extract or of histamine, these same extracts caused marked inhibition of secretion of acid. Inhibition of acid secretion was not associated with retching, vomiting, rise in rectal temperature, or fall in blood pressure. Doses as low as 6 gm. given as a rapid intravenous injection produced inhibition. Inhibition began within 15 minutes, reached a maximum of 80 to 90 per cent in 30 to 45 minutes and subsided in 2 to 3 hours. Extracts prepared by the same method from mucosa of the fundic gland area, duodenum, ileum, and colon, or from pancreas produced little or no inhibition of acid secretion. It cannot yet be determined whether the stimulatory and inhibitory actions of these extracts are caused by the same or different constituents, but reasons are given for favoring the view that they are the same.
External Beam PIXE Programs at the University of California, Davis

A PIXE system in which large or delicate samples are excited by a low-current external proton beam is described. This system has been used to analyze historical printed books and manuscripts, as well as a large variety of archeological artifacts. The steps used to protect the sample from unnecessary beam current are examined. A recent thorough study of the first volume of the Gutenberg 42-line Bible is described in some detail.
Overview of the MARS Laser Communications Demonstration Project

This paper provides an overview of the Mars Laser Communications Demonstration Project, a joint project between NASA s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (JPL), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL). It reviews the strawman designs for the flight and ground segments, the critical technologies required, and the concept of operations. It reports preliminary conclusions from the Mars Lasercom Study conducted at MIT/LL and on additional work done at JPL and GSFC. The lasercom flight terminal will be flown on the Mars Telecom Orbiter (MTO) to be launched by NASA in 2009, and will demonstrate a technology which has the potential of vastly improving NASA s ability to communicate throughout the solar system.
Molecular imaging as a tool for translating breast cancer science

The ability to measure biochemical and molecular processes underlies progress in breast cancer biology and treatment. These assays have traditionally been performed by analysis of cell culture or tissue samples. More recently, functional and molecular imaging has allowed the in vivo assay of biochemistry and molecular biology, which is highly complementary to tissue-based assays. This review briefly describes different imaging modalities used in molecular imaging and then reviews applications of molecular imaging to breast cancer, with a focus on translational work. It includes sections describing work in functional and physiological tumor imaging, imaging gene product expression, imaging the tumor microenvironment, reporter gene imaging, and cell labeling. Work in both animal models and human is discussed with an eye towards studies that have relevance to breast cancer treatment in patients.
A 24-48 h fed Amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome

Multiple tick saliva proteins, the majority of which are unknown, confer tick resistance in repeatedly infested animals. The objective of this study was to identify the 24-48 h fed Amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome. The 24-48 h tick-feeding phase is critical to tick parasitism as it precedes important events in tick biology, blood meal feeding and disease agent transmission. Fed male, 24 and 96 h fed female phage display cDNA expression libraries were biopanned using rabbit antibodies to 24 and 48 h fed A. americanum female tick saliva proteins. Biopanned immuno-cDNA libraries were subjected to next generation sequencing, de novo assembly, and bioinformatic analysis. More than 800 transcripts that code for 24-48 h fed A. americanum immuno-proteins are described. Of the 895 immuno-proteins, 52% (464/895) were provisionally identified based on matches in GenBank. Of these, ~19% (86/464) show high level of identity to other tick hypothetical proteins, and the rest include putative proteases (serine, cysteine, leukotriene A-4 hydrolase, carboxypeptidases, and metalloproteases), protease inhibitors (serine and cysteine protease inhibitors, tick carboxypeptidase inhibitor), and transporters and/or ligand binding proteins (histamine binding/lipocalin, fatty acid binding, calreticulin, hemelipoprotein, IgG binding protein, ferritin, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, and evasin). Others include enzymes (glutathione transferase, cytochrome oxidase, protein disulfide isomerase), ribosomal proteins, and those of miscellaneous functions (histamine release factor, selenoproteins, tetraspanin, defensin, heat shock proteins). Data here demonstrate that A. americanum secretes a complex cocktail of immunogenic tick saliva proteins during the first 24-48 h of feeding. Of significance, previously validated immunogenic tick saliva proteins including AV422 protein, calreticulin, histamine release factor, histamine binding/lipocalins, selenoproteins, and paramyosin were identified in this screen, supporting the specificity of the approach in this study. While descriptive, this study opens opportunities for in-depth tick feeding physiology studies.
Adaptive Nonlinear Control and Input Preshaping for Flexible-Link Manipulators; Control/Robotics Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Adaptive input precompensators in conjunction with nonlinear controllers for flexible-link manipulators are considered in this paper. The objective is to adaptively tune the parameters of the input preshaping scheme and the rigid-body based nonlinear inner-loop controller so that a vibration free output is achieved for payload variations and parameter uncertainties. Estimation of the vibrational modes and payload is done using the Empirical Transfer Function Estimate (ETFE) system identification algorithm. Experimental results on a two-link flexible manipulator with adaptive nonlinear control and preshaping are provided to show the effectiveness of the advocated controllers.
Selection of a Rare Neutralization-Resistant Variant following Passive Transfer of Convalescent Immune Plasma in Equine Infectious Anemia Virus-Challenged SCID Horses

Vaccines preventing HIV-1 infection will likely elicit antibodies that neutralize diverse strains. However, the capacity for lentiviruses to escape broadly neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) is not completely understood, nor is it known whether NAbs alone can control heterologous infection. Here, we determined that convalescent immune plasma from a horse persistently infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) neutralized homologous virus and several envelope variants containing heterologous principal neutralizing domains (PND). Plasma was infused into young horses (foals) affected with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), followed by challenge with a homologous EIAV stock. Treated SCID foals were protected against clinical disease, with complete prevention of infection occurring in one foal. In three SCID foals, a novel neutralization-resistant variant arose that was found to preexist at a low frequency in the challenge inoculum. In contrast, SCID foals infused with nonimmune plasma developed acute disease associated with high levels of the predominant challenge virus. Following transfer to an immunocompetent horse, the neutralization-resistant variant induced a single febrile episode and was subsequently controlled in the absence of type-specific NAb. Long-term control was associated with the presence of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Our results demonstrate that immune plasma with neutralizing activity against heterologous PND variants can prevent lentivirus infection and clinical disease in the complete absence of T cells. Importantly, however, rare neutralization-resistant envelope variants can replicate in vivo under relatively broad selection pressure, highlighting the need for protective lentivirus vaccines to elicit NAb responses with increased breadth and potency and/or CTL that target conserved epitopes.
Estimating the designated use attainment decision error rates of US Environmental Protection Agency's proposed numeric total phosphorus criteria for Florida, USA, colored lakes.

The utility of numeric nutrient criteria established for certain surface waters is likely to be affected by the uncertainty that exists in the presence of a causal link between nutrient stressor variables and designated use–related biological responses in those waters. This uncertainty can be difficult to characterize, interpret, and communicate to a broad audience of environmental stakeholders. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has developed a systematic planning process to support a variety of environmental decisions, but this process is not generally applied to the development of national or state-level numeric nutrient criteria. This article describes a method for implementing such an approach and uses it to evaluate the numeric total P criteria recently proposed by USEPA for colored lakes in Florida, USA. An empirical, log-linear relationship between geometric mean concentrations of total P (a potential stressor variable) and chlorophyll a (a nutrient-related response variable) in these lakes—that is assumed to be causal in nature—forms the basis for the analysis. The use of the geometric mean total P concentration of a lake to correctly indicate designated use status, defined in terms of a 20 µg/L geometric mean chlorophyll a threshold, is evaluated. Rates of decision errors analogous to the Type I and Type II error rates familiar in hypothesis testing, and a 3rd error rate, Eni, referred to as the nutrient criterion–based impairment error rate, are estimated. The results show that USEPA's proposed “baseline” and “modified” nutrient criteria approach, in which data on both total P and chlorophyll a may be considered in establishing numeric nutrient criteria for a given lake within a specified range, provides a means for balancing and minimizing designated use attainment decision errors. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2012;8:167–174. © 2011 SETAC
The Profession of the Color Blind: Sociocultural Anthropology and Racism in the 21st Century

In this essay, I suggest that American sociocultural anthropology has been a "color blind" profession for nearly a half century and that, as a discipline, we need to restore and refine our color perceptions in order to fight the supposedly fixed opposition in American society between "black" and "white" and deal with the racist consequences of this folk opposition. In the first section, 'How Anthropology Became 'Color Blind,'" I delineate the circumstances under which anthropology became the "color blind" profession. In the second section, "Teaching Color Blindness," I discuss the tendency, in teaching sociocultural anthropology, to ignore racism and its effects. In the final section, "Restoring Color Vision," I take up the questions of what the profession needs to do next to cope with racism and its consequences, emphasizing especially the issue of group identities, how they are formulated, inculcated, and overcome, and proposing a Foucauldian model—following Foucault's lead in analyzing relations of biopower and race—for formulating new ways of responding to and resisting the inevitable recastings of racist ideas,
Single-cell resolution of morphological changes in hemogenic endothelium

Endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT) occurs within a population of hemogenic endothelial cells during embryogenesis, and leads to the formation of the adult hematopoietic system. Currently, the prospective identification of specific endothelial cells that will undergo EHT, and the cellular events enabling this transition, are not known. We set out to define precisely the morphological events of EHT, and to correlate cellular morphology with the expression of the transcription factors RUNX1 and SOX17. A novel strategy was developed to allow for correlation of immunofluorescence data with the ultrastructural resolution of scanning electron microscopy. The approach can identify single endothelial cells undergoing EHT, as identified by the ratio of RUNX1 to SOX17 immunofluorescence levels, and the morphological changes associated with the transition. Furthermore, this work details a new technical resource that is widely applicable for correlative analyses of single cells in their native tissue environments.
Optimal nonlinear interpolative vector quantization

A process by which a reduced-dimensionality feature vector can be extracted from a high-dimensionality signal vector and then vector quantized with lower complexity than direct quantization of the signal vector is discussed. In this procedure, a receiver must estimate, or interpolate, the signal vector from the quantized features. The task of recovering a high-dimensional signal vector from a reduced-dimensionality feature vector can be viewed as a generalized form of interpolation or prediction. A way in which optimal nonlinear interpolation can be achieved with negligible complexity, eliminating the need for ad hoc linear or nonlinear interpolation techniques, is presented. The range of applicability of nonlinear interpolative vector quantization is illustrated with examples in which optimal nonlinear estimation from quantized data is needed for efficient signal compression. >
Identification of the possible defect states in poly(3‐hexylthiophene) thin films

The possible origins of a low density of defect states within the highest occupied molecular orbital to lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap are suggested for regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene). A number of “chemical” defects, impurities, and structural defects could contribute to features in photoemission for regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene), observed within the highest occupied molecular orbital to lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1359–1364, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
Simulation of fast packet-switched photonic networks for interprocessor communication

This paper considers the application of time-division multiplexing as an enhancement to the performance of photonic space switching networks, breaking this tie between transmission and switching bandwidths in space-division topologies. In this way better utilization of the photonic switching bandwidth is achieved. Both synchronous and asynchronous TDM are considered. A simulation study is conducted to examine the buffer behavior at input and output stages of two proposed architectures. The interest is in buffer latency and saturation point as functions of the offered load and the multiplexing factor L. The effect of the latter parameter dominates with the single channel fabric. For an N*N fabric, the input buffer singularity is determined by L/N. In the strictly nonblocking fabric, it is shown that for an arbitrarily large switch dimension, delay performance tends to converge for L>2. >
Ethical concerns about relapse studies.

It is universally accepted that informed consent to participate in medical research should be given by subjects. People have the fundamental human right to freely choose, without coercion or withholding of information necessary to make a reasonable choice, whether they will undergo any risks associated with a research project. United States researchers have known for some time that they have the duty to inform potential subjects of the nature of proposed research and the risks and possible benefits, and to seek consent. Investigators also have the duty to design the research so that it will be scientifically valid while minimizing foreseeable and avoidable harms.
Acidification process technology to control thermophilic spoilage in canned mushrooms

Alternative processes involving the use of citric acid and/or EDTA in mushroom canning operations were evaluated and compared to a standard commercial process as means to control thermophilic spoilage. An average of 68% thermophilic spoilage was observed with the standard control process. Spoilage was reduced to an average of 23.9% by the addition of citric acid to the can brine, and to 16.8% when 500 ppm EDTA was also added to the can brine. However, the best results, 2.4% average spoilage, were observed when mushrooms were vacuum hydrated in a buffered citric acid solution (0.05M, pH 3.5) and EDTA was added to the can brine at 200 ppm equilibrium concentration. This treatment was as the Acid-Vacuum Hydration-Chelation (A-VH-C) Process. Bacteriological evaluation indicated that the A-VH-C Process caused no significant reduction in product spore load counts (after blanching) compared to the control, but did reduce spore load counts after thermal processing. However, cans from all treatments contained viable spores. Outgrowth studies conducted with spores that survived thermal processing and inoculated into Beef Extract Tryptone Iron (BETI) both indicated that spores from cans processed with the A-VH-C Process had the longest generation time. Similar experiments where the BETI broth was treated to simulate the conditions in the cans indicated that the addition of EDTA to the medium had the greatest effect on reducing outgrowth rate of surviving spores.
Knowing vs. Applying Accounting Causal Relationships: Experimental Evidence on the Decision Performance Effects of Problem Similarity and Comparison

Accountants tend to overlook relevant principles and causal relationships that are commonly taught in education and experienced in practice. This raises the question: Do accountants apply what they know? This study relies on analogical reasoning research to develop and test predictions about the tendency of accountants to omit key causal relationships in a challenging decision setting: recommending revenue-maximizing strategies to a client in the midst of a business-model change. In our experiment, we first elicit comparisons of various source problems from some of our participants (the comparison condition), but not from the others (the advice condition). Next, the participants assume the role of a business consultant and recommend ways to improve a client's revenue in a new setting. The new setting shares with the source problems either (1) a key causal relationship and several literal similarities (the literal similarity condition), or (2) a key causal relationship but no literal similarities (the relational similarity condition). We predict and find that comparison enhances the quality of accountants' recommendations when the source problems are literally similar to the new setting, and that depriving participants of literal similarities enhances the quality of recommendations when participants do not make comparisons. Our findings show that similarity and comparison help reduce the gap between knowing and applying accounting causal relationships in new settings. Additional tests confirm that the findings are not explained by whether a participant is equipped with the key accounting causal relationship. The study has implications for decision making in seemingly familiar but complex settings, such as revenue-enhancement or cost-containment decisions following business-model changes.
Counseling recovering alcoholics

84 The magnitude of the problem of alcohol ism—which afflicts about 5 percent of the population over 15 years of age—is gradu ally coming to the attention of the public. In general, those in the helping professions have contributed relatively little toward ef fective intervention in the problem, pri marily because their training has not pro vided a basic understanding of alcoholism. This article focuses on treating recover ing alcoholics—those who recognize their illness, have stopped drinking because they realized the central role it was playing in their difficulties, are currently sober, and in tend to maintain sobriety. The term "re covering" is used instead of the more typical "recovered" to stress the chronic nature of the disorder and the patient's eternal sus ceptibility to relapse. Many sober alcoholics do not seek coun seling because, when their illness is ar rested, they return to their premorbid level of adjustment, in which they were reason ably healthy. Others do not seek it because they are successfully following a program of recovery such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which has a strong mental health component. Some who need counseling avoid it. They believe—often with consid erable justification—that their potential counselor might not be knowledgeable about alcoholism and might even do them more harm than good. However, a considerable number of al coholics do seek counseling after attaining sobriety, and some stop drinking during treatment. The suggestions for counseling given in this article are designed to make professional social workers more aware of the special problems of the recovering alco holic, to help them avoid common pitfalls (such as identifying alcoholism as secon dary or symptomatic, rather than the pri mary disorder), and to point out techniques and attitudes that have proved effective.
The discourse of language learning strategies: towards an inclusive approach

This paper critiques discourse surrounding language learning strategies within Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and argues for the creation of new definitions of language lea...
Trade-Offs Between Public And Private Coverage For Low-Income Children Have Implications For Future Policy Debates

Much of the discussion around the Affordable Care Act has focused on likely changes in coverage and access to care for adults. However, the law also alters coverage options for many low-income children. We used data from the new Health Reform Monitoring Survey Child Supplement to examine access to care and related outcomes for low-income publicly and privately insured children. We found that over 90 percent of low-income insured children had a usual source of care and had parents who were confident that their children could get the health care they need, regardless of their type of coverage. However, on a variety of cost-related measures, including difficulty paying the child’s medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, and satisfaction with health insurance premiums and copayments, children with Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) fared better than those with employer-sponsored insurance. These results have implications for debates about the future of CHIP and other policies that affec...
Relationship between climatic factors and HFMD in Zhangdian District of Zibo.

Objective To study the relationship between climatic factors and HFMD in Zhangdian District,in order to provide evidence for predicting the incidence of HFMD.Methods Data for HFMD and climatic factors(such as temperature,barometric pressure,relative humidity,raining days and precipitation) between 2007 and 2009 years in Zhangdian District were collected.Stepwise regression was used in the analysis using SPSS13.0 software.Results The incidences of HFMD were found to be influenced by the climatic changes.Significant correlation between HFMD and the climatic factor was found.Temperature,barometric pressure,precipitation,relative humidity and rainy days were all used in the regression equation.Conclusion Climatic factor is an important factor to affect the outbreak of HFMD.
Research on Displaying 3D Solid Chinese Characters by OpenGL

This paper discusses how to draw and display the Chinese characters in 3D scene created by VC++ and OpenGL.Through comparing several different ways to draw and display 3D Chinese characters,the authors suggest an easy and practical one to realize it.The illustrations demonstrate the process of 3D solid syntactic parsing tree created by OpenGL and Visual C++6.0,and finish labeling Chinese character and English font on te nodes of the syntactic parsing tree.
Time-Resolved Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect of Magnetic Thin Films for Ultrafast Thermal Characterization.

Thermomagnetic and magneto-optical effects are two fundamental but unique phenomena existing in magnetic materials. In this work, we demonstrate ultrafast time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect (TR-MOKE) as an advanced thermal characterization technique by studying the original factors of the MOKE signal from four magnetic transducers, including TbFe, GdFeCo, Co/Pd, and CoFe/Pt. A figure of merit is proposed to evaluate the performance of the transducer layers, corresponding to the degree of the signal-to-noise ratio in TR-MOKE measurements. We observe improved figure of merit for rare-earth transition-metal-based TbFe and GdFeCo transducers and attribute this improvement to their relatively larger temperature-dependent magnetization and the Kerr rotation angle at the saturated magnetization state. Furthermore, an optimal thickness of TbFe is found to be ∼18.5 nm to give the best performance. Our findings will facilitate the nanoscale thermal characterization and the device design where the thermo-magn...
Some Concluding Policy Perspectives

It may seem disingenuous to close a book on conflict inflation with a discussion of policy problems and recommendations. After all, one of the main lessons of the conflict approach - as applied in the foregoing chapters - is that controlling inflation is not just a matter of technical manipulation of fiscal and monetary instruments, but also hinges upon the degree of (implicit or explicit) distributional consensus among the major income claimants. Moreover, the factors determining the feasibility of consensus themselves go far beyond the purely technical realm insofar as the degree of conflict versus consensus is an endogenous outcome of socio-economic and political struggles among classes and other major groups in the private and public sectors. Indeed, the experiences of post-World War I Germany, the Latin American countries, and the Western European economies all suggest that attempts to stabilize the price level solely on the basis of such pro forma devices as exchange rate pegs, wage/price freezes and/or indexation, and external enforcement schemes are doomed to failure in the long run insofar as they do not cope with the socio-economic underpinning of conflicting income claims.
Suffering, Prayer, and Miracles

Unrelieved suffering leads many to ask, “How can I trust a miracle-working God, who will not help me or my loved ones?” From brief exegeses of Jesus' healing of a man born blind (Jn 9) and of Jesus' response to Pilate's murderous oppression (Lk 13), I argue that (1) God uses suffering to call its witnesses to repentance and to acts of steadfast love that fulfill the creation of humanity; (2) miracles are real, rare, and ambiguous; (3) God is good and powerful enough to deliver everyone decisively, but God's patient commitment to human freedom and universal reconciliation preclude it; (4) all suffering is sacrificial and will become meaningful; and that (5) there are at least three faithful and coordinate responses to suffering.