cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simplifying fragmentation patterns of multiply charged peptides by N-terminal derivatization and electron transfer collision activated dissociation.

N-terminal peptide derivatization strategies used in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry to yield simplified fragmentation patterns have shown limited success for the de novo sequencing of multiply charged peptides, including those predominantly formed in LC−ESI-MS experiments. Significant proton mobilization occurs for multiply charged peptides upon collisional activation, resulting in the formation of both N-terminal and C-terminal product ions rather than an exclusive series of C-terminal ions preferred for de novo sequencing algorithms. To circumvent this problem, multiply charged, N-terminally derivatized peptides were subjected to electron transfer reactions with fluoranthene anions to produce singly charged, radical species. Upon subsequent “soft” collision induced dissociation (CID), highly abundant z-type ions were formed nearly exclusively, which yielded simplified fragmentation patterns amenable to de novo sequencing methods. Furthermore, the derivatized peptides retained labile phosphori...
Experimental T-2 Toxicosis in Swine Following Inhalation Exposure: Effects on Pulmonary and Systemic Immunity, and Morphologic Changes

Thirty-four, 9- to 11-week-old, male castrated, crossbred, specific pathogen-free derived pigs were exposed to a T-2 toxin aerosol at a nebulized dose of 0 or 9 mg/kg in pairs, each pair consisting of 1 control and 1 T-2 treated pig which were exposed on the same day. Twenty to 30% of the toxin (1.8 to 2.7 mg/kg) was retained by the pigs. Five pairs were killed on each of 1, 3 and 7 days after dosing. Two pairs of pigs were designated as a 0.33-day group when one T-2 treated pig died and the other was killed in a moribund state at 8 to 10 hours after dosing. The pulmonary and systemic immunity and morphologic changes of the lungs and other organs were examined. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed to obtain alveolar macrophages (AM) and pulmonary lymphocytes (PL). The phagocytic ability of AM and mitogen-induced blastogenic responses of enriched PL and peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated. Clinically, all of the T-2 treated pigs vomited and were cyanotic, anorexic, lethargic and laterally recumbent. In the 0.33-, 1-, and 3-day T-2 treated pigs, there was a marked reduction in AM phagocytosis and mitogen-induced blastogenic responses of PL but not of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Mild to moderate, multifocal interstitial pneumonia was seen in the majority of the T-2 treated pigs. In pigs dying following inhalation of T-2 toxin, there was a more severe pneumonia, as well as marked necrosis of lymphoid tissues, severe necrohemorrhagic gastroenteritis and edema of the gall bladder wall, and multifocal necrosis of the heart and pancreas. Thus, inhalation exposure to T-2 toxin can result in clinical signs and morphologic changes resembling those reported previously in pigs given T-2 toxin intravascularly (iv) at a dose of 1.2 mg/kg (approximate LD50) or greater, as well as death. Mild pulmonary injury as well as transient impairment of pulmonary immunity was present in pigs surviving inhalation exposure.
Resolvents and solutions of singular Volterra integral equations with separable kernels

The Volterra integral equation (1)x(t)=a(t)+@!"0^tB(t,s)x(s)dswith a kernel of the form B(t,s)=p(t)q(s) is investigated, where a, p, and q are functions that are defined a.e. on an interval [0,T] and are measurable. The main result of this paper states that if qa is Lebesgue integrable on [0,T], the sign of B(t,s) does not change for almost all (t,s), and if there is a function f that is continuous on [0,T], except possibly at countably many points, with B(t,t)=f(t) a.e. on [0,T], then the function x defined by (2)x(t)@?a(t)+@!"0^tR(t,s)a(s)ds,where (3)R(t,s)@?B(t,s)e^@!^"^s^^^t^B^(^u^,^u^)^d^u,solves (1) a.e. on [0,T]. Three diverse examples illustrate the efficacy of using (2) and (3) to calculate solutions of (1). Two of the examples involve singular kernels: the solution of one of them is nowhere continuous on (0,T).
A curriculum for the psychiatric training of family physicians.

Abstract Recognizing the important role of family physicians in mental health care, psychiatry and family medicine faculty developed a psychiatric curriculum for family medicine residents. The collaborative effort utilized graduate interviews, literature review, and specialized group techniques to develop a competency-based curriculum that begins early in the residency, is integrated longitudinally into the remainder of the curriculum, and utilizes seminars, clinical experience, and liaison with a mental health team in the training design.
Fibrosis of the Lung and Other Tissues: New Concepts in Pathogenesis and Treatment

Tissue fibrosis can lead to significant organ dysfunction and resulting patient morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the therapeutic repertoire is currently limited, nonspecific, and largely ineffective. While the pathogenesis is incompletely understood, evidence is accumulating that immune and cytokine mediated mechanisms are critical. In this review, data will be provided to support the role of Type 2 cytokines in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. The importance of the role of the pro-fibrogenic cytokine TGF-beta and CD40-CD40 ligand mediated fibroblast activation will also be evaluated. Finally, novel therapeutic options based on inhibiting these pathways will be described.
The nature of rough-wall oscillatory boundary layers

The nature of an oscillatory (turbulent) boundary layer over a rough wall was studied experimentally by oscillating a flat plate in an otherwise quiescent fluid. The velocity field was measured with respect to a fixed (laboratory) coordinate system and was converted to that relative to a coordinate system fixed to the plate, thus allowing to make inferences on oscillatory flows over rough surfaces such as the coastal ocean boundary layer. The flow visualization revealed that the boundary layer is fed with dipole-like vortex structures generated due to flow separation at roughness elements. The boundary-layer thickness was found to scale with the extent to which these vortex structures travel away from the wall. Enhanced turbulent intensities as well as vertical fluxes of horizontal momentum were observed in the boundary layer at phases conducive for vorticity generation (i.e. in (he proximity of maximum flow velocities). At high Reynolds numbers, the turbulent length-scale measurements agreed well with a ...
Integration of Geospatial Science in Teacher Education

Abstract One of the primary missions of our university is to train future primary and secondary teachers. Geospatial sciences, including GIS, have long been excluded from teacher education curriculum. This article explains the curriculum revisions undertaken to increase the geospatial technology education of future teachers. A general education class introducing geospatial technology to the general student body has been developed, a cartography class has been modified to provide applied geospatial experience explicitly for future teachers, and a service learning partnership with local K–12 schools has been established where students are working with teachers to integrate geospatial sciences in their academic programs.
G‐20 Should Supplant the G‐7

As British Prime Minister Gordon Brown notes in this section, we are witnessing the birth pangs of a new global order in this deepest financial and economic crash since the Great Depression. There will be plenty of pain all around for a while. And when the quarter-century leveraged-debt bubble of the United States—the explosion of which detonated the crash—is finally unwound, the new global balance will favor an Asia flush with cash. The G-20 will replace the G-7 as the executive committee of globalization. And, if wise leadership stays the course, there will be a “green lining” to the recovery as the fiscal stimulus is imbued with an environmental sensibility.
Linking genetic variation in human Toll-like receptor 5 genes to the gut microbiome's potential to cause inflammation

Immunodeficiencies can lead to alterations of the gut microbiome that render it pathogenic and capable of transmitting disease to naive hosts. Here, we review the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 5, the innate receptor for bacterial flagellin, in immune responses to the normal gut microbiota with a focus its role on adaptive immunity. Loss of TLR5 has profound effects on the microbiota that include greater temporal instability of major lineages and upregulation of flagellar motility genes that may be linked to the reduced levels of anti-flagellin antibodies in the TLR5(-/-) host. A variety of human TLR5 gene alleles exist that also associated with inflammatory conditions and may do so via effects on the gut microbiome and altered host-microbial crosstalk.
Mixed micellar electrokinetic chromatography of corticosteroids

Mixed micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MMEKC) using mixtures of bile salt surfactants and/or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was employed to separate a group of corticosteroids. Resolution of electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) can be greatly enhanced by the use of mixed micellar systems due to the fact that the composition of the mixed micelles has a great influence on retention, selectivity and the size of the elution window. By combining surfactants with different structural properties, solute-micelle interactions were manipulated in order to elicit specific separations. Various combinations of bile salts and/or SDS at different mole fractions as well as total micelle concentrations were used in order to enhance the resolution of corticosteroid separations. Large changes in retention and selectivity were observed that often resulted in frequent variations in elution order. In addition, the composition of mixed micellar systems had a great influence on the elution window in EKC, as measured by the ratio of tmc/teo. Addition of SDS to the mixtures of bile salt micelles resulted in significant extension of the elution window and subsequently improvement in resolution. A separation of seventeen corticosteroids was achieved. Finally, MMEKC was applied in order to separate the steroidal components of a mixture of three anti-inflammatory creams.
Behavioural flexibility and problem-solving in a tropical lizard

The role of behavioural flexibility in responding to new or changing environmental challenges is a central theme in cognitive ecology. Studies of behavioural flexibility have focused mostly on mammals and birds because theory predicts that behavioural flexibility is favoured in species or clades that exploit a diversity of habitats or food sources and/or have complex social structure, attributes not associated with ectothermic vertebrates. Here, we present the results of a series of experiments designed to test cognitive abilities across multiple cognitive modules in a tropical arboreal lizard: Anolis evermanni. This lizard shows behavioural flexibility across multiple cognitive tasks, including solving a novel motor task using multiple strategies and reversal learning, as well as rapid associative learning. This flexibility was unexpected because lizards are commonly believed to have limited cognitive abilities and highly stereotyped behaviour. Our findings indicate that the cognitive abilities of A. evermanni are comparable with those of some endothermic species that are recognized to be highly flexible, and strongly suggest a re-thinking of our understanding of the cognitive abilities of ectothermic tetrapods and of the factors favouring the evolution of behavioural flexibility.
Toxicologic studies with pregnant goats fed grass-legume silage grown on municipal sludge-amended subsoil

Pregnant goats were fed grass-legume silage grown on soil amended with 112 dry metric tons per hectare of municipal sewage sludge from Syracuse, New York for 135 days. Whereas PCBs were not detectable in control or sludge-grown silage, cadmium was much higher (3.81 ppm) in the sludge-grown silage as compared to the control silage (0.14 ppm). There were no consistent differences in residues of cadmium in the goat's milk or body tissues of the kids when compared to controls. The concentration of cadmium in the livers of the adult animals was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the sludge treatment than controls. No significant treatment effects were observed in mutagenic responses for the goats milk. Interestingly, the pregnant goats fed the sludge-grown silage produced far too little milk for their kids while the control animals produced sufficient milk. There were no observable changes in the tissue ultrastructure as examined by electron microscopy for both the adults and the kids from either ration treatment.
On Planning: Toward a Natural History of Goal Attainment

Abstract The goal of the essay is to articulate some beginnings for an empirical approach to the study of agency, in the firm conviction that agency is subject to scientific scrutiny, and is not to be abandoned to high-brow aprioristic philosophy. Drawing on insights from decision analysis, game theory, general dynamics, physics and engineering, this essay will examine the diversity of planning phenomena, and in that way take some steps towards assembling rudiments for the budding science, in the process innovating (parts of) a technical vocabulary. The key is focus upon the organization of effort in time. This paper categorizes forms of organization of effort in time, and yields an analysis of both individual agency and coalitions of agents as forms of effort organized in time. Finally, it articulates precise questions pertaining to the natural (evolutionary) history of forms of agency (once upon a time referred to as ‘Will’) that we now find on the ground.
Cerclage and cervical insufficiency: an evidence-based analysis

Since the cervical cerclage was introduced to clinical practice 50 years ago, the efficacy of the operation has not been established by evidence-based standards for many indications. Serious flaws in the methods employed to study the safety and efficacy of cerclage have led to confusion and misuse of the operation, although some investigators maintain that current standards make randomized clinical trials of this traditional surgery unethical. At present, five randomized clinical trials have offered significant information about elective cerclages performed for historical indications, and the expected neonatal survival rate with properly selected elective cerclages is around 87%. Transvaginal ultrasound studies have revealed new paradigms regarding normal cervical function in pregnancy and further understanding about the significance and predictive value of cervical changes at gestational ages between 20-37 weeks. Only two randomized clinical trials have been conducted regarding cerclage in women with decreasing cervical length or with cervical funneling. One of these two failed to demonstrate any resulting improvement in neonatal survival, and the other was too small to be conclusive. To date, no randomized clinical trials have been conducted to demonstrate the efficacy or safety of emergency cerclages performed for advanced cervical dilatation. The many retrospective case series regarding emergency cerclage have failed to provide an evidence-based solution to the management of this problem. Before this traditional surgery continues extensive use in clinical practice, it should be assessed rigorously with randomized clinical trials of sufficient statistical power and external validity to establish the appropriate indications for the operation. In addition, a more thorough understanding of cervical function and molecular biology is essential.
Vibrio fischeri lipopolysaccharide induces developmental apoptosis, but not complete morphogenesis, of the Euprymna scolopes symbiotic light organ.

During initiation of the association between the squid host Euprymna scolopes and its bacterial partner Vibrio fischeri, the bacteria induce dramatic morphogenesis of the host symbiotic organ, a portion of which involves the signaling of widespread apoptosis of the cells in a superficial ciliated epithelium on the colonized organ. In this study, we investigated the role in this process of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial cell-surface molecule implicated in the induction of animal cell apoptosis in other systems. Purified V. fischeri LPS, as well as the LPS of V. cholerae, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexneri, added in the concentration range of pg/ml to ng/ml, induced apoptosis in epithelial cells 10- to 100-fold above background levels. The absence of species specificity suggested that the conserved lipid A portion of the LPS was the responsible component of the LPS molecule. Lipid A from V. fischeri, E. coli, or S. flexneri induced apoptosis. In addition, strains of H. influenzae carrying a mutation in the htrB gene, which is involved in the synthesis of virulent lipid A, showed a diminished ability to induce apoptosis of host cells. Confocal microscopy using fluorescently labeled LPS indicated that the LPS behaves similar to intact bacterial symbionts, interacting with host cells in the internal crypt spaces and not directly with the superficial epithelium. Although LPS was able to induce apoptosis, it did not induce the full morphogenesis of the ciliated surface, suggesting that multiple signals are necessary to mediate the development of this animal-bacterial mutualism.
A Molecular Complex Model for the Chemisorption of Hydrogen on a Nickel Surface

Abstract The chemisorption of hydrogen on nickel is studied using a localized surface complex: H 2 + Ni 2 → Ni 2 H 2 . The electronic structure was calculated using ab initio methods which included electron correlation, the core electrons of Ni being replaced by an ab initio quality effective potential. We find that the chemisorptive bond of H on Ni is formed primarily to the Ni 4s electron, the 3d electrons remaining localized on the individual Ni atoms. The dissociative chemisorption process is explained in terms of Woodward-Hoffmann correlation diagrams, with the d electrons allowing the reaction to occur on an otherwise forbidden reaction path involving a biradical Intermediate.
Imaging Changes during Therapy: Does it Matter?

Summary Recent developments in 3D X-ray imaging have made available new tools for imaging patients in the treatment room. Several researchers in the radiation oncology community are recognizing that these imaging tools not only help to achieve better patient positioning, but also provide a wealth of information relative to the various changes that occur during the course of treatment. This article discusses some of the changes that are observed and what can be done to assess their importance. Two types of changes that can be observed with in-room 3D imaging are considered: positioning changes and anatomical changes. Examples of such changes are given for head and neck and prostate patients. The different magnitudes of these changes are discussed first. Because the biological effect of radiation on anatomical structures is determined by dose, the importance of these changes is then considered through their dosimetric consequences. Early findings show that not all anatomical structures receive the dose that was intended during treatment planning. Because the convolution of positioning and anatomical changes is difficult to predict, the consequences of these changes is better evaluated on a case-by-case basis as a first step towards adaptive radiation therapy.
Numerical Analysis of Natural Convection Induced Oxygen Transport in Liquid Lead Bismuth Eutectic

Liquid lead bismuth eutectic (LBE) is very corrosive to steels. To mitigate structural corrosion of LBE systems, active oxygen control technique is developed. To enhance the speed of oxygen transport in liquid LBE, natural convection has been proposed. This paper numerically analyzes the oxygen transport in a natural convection induced LBE enclosure. Different temperature boundary conditions are added to the container. Both laminar and turbulent LBE flows which are distinguished by strength of flow measured are analyzed. Three laminar cases: (a) heated from the bottom and cooled from the top of the container; (b) heated from the sidewalls and cooled from the top of the container; (c) one sidewall heated and the opposite wall cooled, and one fully turbulent case with one sidewall heated and the opposite sidewall cooled are chosen. Oxidization in near wall areas and formation of oxide layers on container surfaces are considered. In each case, the characteristic velocity and oxygen diffusion time are estimated, the change of oxygen distribution with time are obtained, and the bulk concentration of oxygen and the efficiency of oxide layer formation on different liquid-solid interfaces are calculated. To obtain more information of oxygen transportation and distribution, three-dimension analysis of the laminar flow is done. Based on the analysis, several conclusions are finally obtained.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Assessment of Mechanical Strength Degradation Using an Embedded Fiber-Optic Sensor

A general method is presented for in situ assessment of mechanical strength degradation of materials or components using an embedded interferometric fiber-optic strain sensor. This method is based on the analysis of acoustic signature responses resulting from mechanical excitation of the subject under investigation. Acoustic signature responses are observed by monitoring light intensity changes resulting from the combination of light signals traveling through the embedded optical fiber (experiencing dimensional changes through vibrational excitation) and an external optical fiber. This paper discusses the fundamental aspects of the methodology and its potential investigational pathways and applications. A case study, addressing unobservable corrosion related degradation of aircraft fuselage lap joints is presented as an example for retrieving information and to demonstrate the correlations between material properties and fiber-optic interferometric measurements. The application of inverse method analysis for the interpretation of response signals is also discussed.
An endocannabinoid signaling system modulates anxiety-like behavior in male Syrian hamsters.

An endocannabinoid signaling system has not been identified in hamsters. We examined the existence of an endocannabinoid signaling system in Syrian hamsters using neuroanatomical, biochemical, and behavioral pharmacological approaches. The distribution of cannabinoid receptors was mapped, and membrane fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activity and levels of fatty-acid amides were measured in hamster brain. The impact of cannabinoid CB1 receptor blockade and inhibition of FAAH was evaluated in the elevated plus maze, rota-rod test, and models of unconditioned and conditioned social defeat. A characteristic heterogeneous distribution of cannabinoid receptors was detected in hamster brain using [3H]CP55,940 binding and autoradiography. The FAAH inhibitor URB597 inhibited FAAH activity (IC50 = 12.8 nM) and elevated levels of fatty-acid amides (N-palmitoyl ethanolamine and N-oleoyl ethanolamine) in hamster brain. Anandamide levels were not reliably altered. The cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 (1– 10 mg/kg i.p.) induced CB1-mediated motor ataxia. Blockade of CB1 with rimonabant (5 mg/kg i.p.) induced anxiogenic-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. URB597 (0.1–0.3 mg/kg i.p.) induced CB1-mediated anxiolytic-like effects in the elevated plus maze, similar to the benzodiazepine diazepam (2 mg/kg i.p.). Diazepam (2–6 mg/kg i.p.) suppressed the expression, but not the acquisition, of conditioned defeat. By contrast, neither URB597 (0.3–3.0 mg/kg i.p.) nor rimonabant (5 mg/kg i.p.) altered unconditioned or conditioned social defeat or rota-rod performance. Endocannabinoids engage functional CB1 receptors in hamster brain to suppress anxiety-like behavior and undergo enzymatic hydrolysis catalyzed by FAAH. Our results further suggest that neither unconditioned nor conditioned social defeat in the Syrian hamster is dependent upon cannabinoid CB1 receptor activation.
The Case for Validated Tools in Computer Science Education Research

Measuring student learning in computer science education presents particular challenges, making objective assessment elusive to educators and researchers. Development and validation of the FCS1 and CAS assessment tools demonstrate both the feasibility and benefits of validated assessment instruments in this discipline.
Voyages South and North: The Politics of Transnational Gender Identity in Caramelo and American Chica

This article focuses on a comparative study of two important US Latina narratives, Caramelo (2002) by Chicana author Sandra Cisneros and American Chica (2001) by Peruvian-American Marie Arana. Although the authors descend from different Latin American national heritages, both address key issues to contemporary US Latina narratives post-2000 in the representation of transnational gender identity in their respective historical and social contexts. This study contributes to the growing field of comparative US Latino/a literary studies through questions of genealogy, gender, ethnicity and urban matters.
Characterization of a hormone receptor defect in the androgen-insensitivity mutant.

Abstract Mouse kidney cytosol contains specific receptors that reversibly bind dihydrotestosterone at a concentration of 43 f moles/mg protein. [Nonstandard abbreviation: DHT, dihydrotestosterone, 17 β-hydroxy-5 α-androstan-3-one.] The equilibrium dissociation constant of the receptor-dihydrotestosterone complex is 1.3 × 10 −9 M for females and 1.7 × 10 −9 M for castrated males. The complex sediments at 8–9S in glycerol gradients. In males bearing the androgen-insensitivity mutation (analogous to human testicular feminization), the specific dihydrotestosterone receptor activity is decreased about 8 fold. The residual binding activity has wild type affinity (K D = 1.5 × 10 −9 M) for dihydrotestosterone and also sediments at 8–9S. Kidney cytosol from castrated mutant mice displays a new binding component with low affinity and high capacity for dihydrotestosterone.
Phleomycin-Induced Solubilization of Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Uninfected and T Bacteriophage-Infected Escherichia coli B

Abstract Phleomycin (PM) induces rapid solubilization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), inhibition of cellular mass increase, and loss of viability when added either to growing cultures of Escherichia coli B or an endonuclease I-defective derivative of B. Nonetheless, bacteriophage of the T-even series are produced, albeit to a reduced extent, when PM is added with phage or after infection to E. coli cells. Bacteriophage T4 infection inhibits the ability of PM to bring about the solubilization of DNA; this effect appears to account for most of the resistance of T-even phage replication to PM. The patterns of inhibition of phage yields obtained when PM is added at infection suggest that glucosylation of T-even phage DNA may also have a protective effect. However, PM induces the solubilization of glucosylated and nonglucosylated DNA at approximately the same rate and thermal denaturation studies indicate that the antibiotic binds both types of DNA equally well. The latter experiments also provided evidence that PM dissociates from DNA at temperatures greater than 80 C.
An algorithm to minimize leakage through simultaneous input vector control and circuit modification

Leakage power currently comprises a large fraction of the total power consumption of an IC. Techniques to minimize leakage have been researched widely. In this paper, the authors present an approach which minimizes leakage by simultaneously modifying the circuit while deriving the input vector that minimizes leakage. In this approach, the authors selectively modify a gate so that its output (in sleep mode) is in a state which helps minimize the leakage of other gates in its transitive fanout. Gate replacement is performed in a slack-aware manner, to minimize the resulting delay penalty
Effect of Short-term Cardiovascular Conditioning and Low-Fat Diet on Myocardial Blood Flow and Flow Reserve

Background Cardiovascular conditioning reduces resting myocardial oxygen demand by lowering systolic blood pressure and heart rate. Lower myocardial oxygen demand at rest would be expected to be associated with a decrease in resting myocardial blood flow and, consequently, an increase in myocardial flow reserve as the ratio of hyperemic to resting blood flow. However, the effect of controlled exercise together with a low-lipid diet on myocardial blood flow and flow reserve has not been examined in humans. Methods and Results Myocardial blood flow at rest and after dipyridamole-induced hyperemia (0.56 mg/kg IV) was quantified with [13N]ammonia and positron emission tomography in 13 volunteers before and upon completion of a 6-week program of cardiovascular conditioning and a low-fat diet. Exercise capacity and serum lipid profiles were also assessed at the start and finish of the program. Eight normal volunteers of similar age not participating in the conditioning program served as a control group. Cardiov...
A rapid 2-D centerline extraction method based on tensor voting

Centerline extraction is widely used in medical image processing. It can benefit applications such as building the connectivity map of neurons from microscopic images as well as examining retina vessels for preventing blindness. Many methods have been developed to extract centerlines from 2-D images. An algorithm based on 2-D rapid tensor voting is proposed in this paper. This method uses the Canny edge detector and a simple ridge finding algorithm to roughly extract centerlines, which is fast, does not require any seeds and allows the object to be disconnected. Then efficient 2-D tensor voting is applied to enhance the centerline, which can rapidly bridge the gaps caused by the earlier step and reject artifacts due to noise. We demonstrate the robustness of the algorithm and compare with existing methods. The result shows good computational efficiency as well as accuracy.
Economic Elites, Investments, and Income Inequality

Stratification research documents that income inequality is on the rise. Common explanations include changes in technology, demography, and labor market institutions. This study documents an additional driver of inequality that has been critical to the concentration of income among elites: income from investments. As they have turned to their investment portfolios for income, economic elites have become less reliant on the returns to labor. This finding indicates that the current debate over elite incomes, which tends to focus on the rise of “the working rich,” needs to be expanded to include the role of income-producing wealth. Additionally, such changes have left a dramatic imprint on the entire income distribution, with investment income contributing to a growing share of overall income inequality. While family structure, labor markets, and technological change remain important topics in the study of income inequality, the findings presented here underscore the additional importance of wealth and property ownership.
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Spectrum of Abnormality

* Abbreviations: DDH = : developmental dysplasia of the hip • AAP = : American Academy of Pediatrics There are three important concepts the pediatrician needs to understand when reading the article by Bialik et al1 in this issue. First, regardless of how developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is defined and its incidence calculated, the natural history of this condition is that most infants improve spontaneously with time (and no treatment).2–4 Presently, we can not distinguish those who will from the few that will not. Second, DDH is not a congenital problem but can manifest itself both in and after the newborn period (hence the name change from congenital dislocation/dysplasia of … Address correspondence to H. T. Harcke, MD, FACR, Alfred I. duPont Institute, Department of Medical Imaging, Wilmington, DE 19899.
Ecological consequences of pathogen accumulation on an invasive grass

Release from natural enemies can contribute to the success of biological invasions. However, the advantage gained through enemy release may diminish over time as pathogens, parasites, or herbivores accumulate on invasive species. Pathogen accumulation may result from the development of novel host-pathogen interactions in the invasive range or the introduction of pathogens from the invader's home range or other areas. Previous studies suggest that pathogen accumulation may reduce the performance of invasive species but experimental demonstrations are lacking. Microstegium vimineum is a highly invasive annual grass with an expanding distribution in eastern North America. Bipolaris species and other fungal pathogens have recently been shown to cause foliar blight on invasive populations of Microstegium. Here we used experimental inoculations in controlled laboratory and greenhouse conditions and fungicide applications in the field to evaluate host relations of pathogens infecting invasive Microstegium and the ecological consequences of pathogen infection in nature. Four of seven native plant species tested, including three native grasses and one forb, became infected by at least one of the five pathogens isolated from Microstegium, suggesting that the native species might be sources or alternative hosts for Microstegium pathogens. Microstegium populations may also provide a reservoir of pathogens that could spillover to co-occurring native species and exacerbate the effects of invasions. All five pathogens caused foliar lesions on Microstegium, but there was over a four-fold difference in lesion area caused by different pathogens. Fungicide applications to infected field populations significantly reduced disease symptoms, increased invader biomass by up to 50% and increased seed head production by up to 200% compared to controls. Our results show that pathogen infection of invasive Microstegium caused significant declines in invasive host performance in natural populations, suggesting that the release of invasive species from natural enemies may be temporary.
Immunohistochemical evidence of disease recurrence after liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis

Whether primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) recurs after liver transplantation has remained an interesting and controversial issue; rejection, viral hepatitis, and drug effects all may mimic recurrent PBC histologically and biochemically. Furthermore, reliable clinical criteria for PBC recurrence are lacking. In this study, the issue of disease recurrence using a well-characterized monoclonal antibody (MAb), C355.1, that reacts with the immunodominant mitochondrial autoantigen of PBC (pyruvate dehydrogenase complex [PDC-E2]) was addressed. When used in an immunohistochemical assay, C355.1 produces intense apical staining of bile duct epithelium specifically in liver sections of patients with PBC and may be the earliest known marker of PBC. Immunohistochemical and histological analysis of serial liver biopsy specimens of 67 patients pre- and post-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), including 38 patients with PBC and 29 non-PBC liver disease controls, was performed. Sections were stained with MAb C355.1 or the control MAb C315 and analyzed to determine whether there was a recurrence of apical reactivity in the bile ducts of the posttransplantation biopsy specimens. The immunohistochemical staining was correlated with the histological findings and serum biochemistries at the time of the biopsy. Our data indicate that a significant number of patients who underwent transplantation for PBC (28 of 38) but not controls (0 of 29) develop a staining pattern of liver bile duct epithelium with MAb C355.1 that is indistinguishable from the pretransplantation pattern. Of the 28 patients with this apical staining pattern, 8 were characterized histologically as possible recurrent PBC, 2 as chronic rejection, 2 as acute rejection, 9 as nonspecific changes, 4 as normal or near normal, and 3 had other histological changes. Only 50% of the patients with apical C355.1 staining had liver enzyme levels suggestive of cholestasis. Thus, there appears to be immunohistochemical evidence that supports the concept of recurrence of PBC after OLT. The appearance of biliary epithelial abnormalities before the clinical appearance of disease is important not only for liver transplantation but also for understanding the natural history of PBC.
Targeting the Dimerization of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors with Small‐Molecule Inhibitors

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the control of cell proliferation, and its overexpression is strongly associated with a variety of aggressive cancers. For example, 70-80% of metaplastic (cancer cells of mixed type) breast carcinomas overexpress EGF receptors. In addition, the EGF receptor is a highly significant contributor to common brain tumors (glioblastoma multiforme), both in initiation and progression (Huang P.H., Xu A.M., White F.M. (2009) Oncogenic EGFR signaling networks in glioma. Sci Signal;2:re6.). Brain metastases, an unmet medical need, are also common in metastatic cancer associated with overexpression of EGF receptors. Formation of EGF receptor homodimers is essential for kinase activation and was the basis for exploring direct inhibition of EGF receptor activation by blocking dimerization with small molecules. While inhibitors of protein/protein interactions are often considered difficult therapeutic targets, NSC56452, initially identified by virtual screening, was shown experimentally to inhibit EGF receptor kinase activation in a dose-dependent manner. This compound blocked EGF-stimulated dimer formation as measured by chemical cross-linking and luciferase fragment complementation. The compound was further shown to inhibit the growth of HeLa cells. This first-generation lead compound represents the first drug-like, small-molecule inhibitor of EGF receptor activation that is not directed against the intracellular kinase domain.
Use of Ivermectin to Control the Lesser Mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in a Simulated Poultry Broiler House

Abstract Broiler chickens were fed ivermectin at a level of 2 ppm for 5 wk to determine its efficacy against the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus. This treatment essentially eliminated lesser mealworm larvae; no ivermectin residues were found in the livers of the treated chickens, even without a withdrawal period. However, the feeding of ivermectin may reduce body weights, body weight gain and feed efficiency at older ages.
A large-eddy simulation study of cumulus clouds over land and sensitivity to soil moisture

A series of large-eddy simulations (LES) of non-precipitating cumulus clouds over land was performed. These simulations were idealized from observed conditions at the Southern Great Plains ARM site on 21 June 1997 and were intended to investigate the effect of initial soil moisture on the structure of the cloudy boundary layer. The surface fluxes were either dominated by latent heat or sensible heat flux, with the transition between one regime and the other occurring over a very narrow soil moisture range. The effect on clouds was mixed. Cloud fraction was nearly identical throughout all experiments. Simulations with dominant sensible heat fluxes led to more turbulent boundary layers and higher cloud bases. Simulations dominated by latent heat flux tended to have fewer but stronger updrafts in the cloud layer.
Effects of Celecoxib on Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients on ACE Inhibitors

Nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents have been shown to attenuate the antihypertensive efficacy of ACE inhibitors with average increases in systolic blood pressure (BP) of 5 to 10 mm Hg. Less is known about the specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors now widely used for the treatment of arthritis. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of celecoxib compared with placebo on 24-hour BP levels in ACE inhibitor-treated patients with hypertension. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial involving 178 men and women (mean age, 53 years) with essential hypertension who were treated and controlled with lisinopril monotherapy (10 to 40 mg daily). Baseline BP values were obtained using 24-hour ambulatory recordings. Patients received either celecoxib, 200 mg twice daily (twice the recommended dose for osteoarthritis) (n=91), or placebo (n=87) for 4 weeks, and changes in the 24-hour BP, body weight, and clinical laboratory parameters were assessed. Mean changes from baseline in the 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP were 2.6/1.5+/-0.9/0.6 mm Hg on celecoxib versus 1.0/0.3+/-1/0.6 mm Hg on placebo (P=0.34 for systolic BP; P=0.45 for diastolic BP). The proportion of patients whose 24-hour BP increased by at least 5, 10, 15, or 20 mm Hg were also similar on celecoxib and placebo. No changes in body weight, serum creatinine, or potassium occurred in either group. Thus, these data demonstrate that high doses of celecoxib have no significant effect on the antihypertensive effect of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril. The placebo-subtracted changes observed in 24-hour BP (1.6/1.2 mm Hg) are less than what has been reported for nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in ACE inhibitor-treated patients.
The association between DSM-IV nicotine dependence and stressful life events in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

Background and Objectives: Nicotine dependence (ND) is a pervasive public health concern and a leading cause of preventable mortality. Stressful life events (SLEs), which severely disrupt the lives of individuals experiencing such events, have been posited as correlates of persisting ND. While both ND and SLEs have been studied extensively in relation to other variables, there are few instances in which they have been investigated in concert. Methods: In this study, we use data on 18,013 smokers from the 2001–2002 data set of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, N = 43,093) to examine whether experiencing a SLE in the past 12 months was associated with meeting criteria for ND in the same past 12 months. Logistic regression analyses were conducted while accounting for a variety of covariates. Results: A majority of the SLEs were associated with past 12 month ND, even after controlling for poverty, psychiatric and substance use disorders, and a prior history of ND (...
Metabolic cycling in single yeast cells from unsynchronized steady-state populations limited on glucose or phosphate

Oscillations in patterns of expression of a large fraction of yeast genes are associated with the "metabolic cycle," usually seen only in prestarved, continuous cultures of yeast. We used FISH of mRNA in individual cells to test the hypothesis that these oscillations happen in single cells drawn from unsynchronized cultures growing exponentially in chemostats. Gene-expression data from synchronized cultures were used to predict coincident appearance of mRNAs from pairs of genes in the unsynchronized cells. Quantitative analysis of the FISH results shows that individual unsynchronized cells growing slowly because of glucose limitation or phosphate limitation show the predicted oscillations. We conclude that the yeast metabolic cycle is an intrinsic property of yeast metabolism and does not depend on either synchronization or external limitation of growth by the carbon source.
A slope-ratio method for quantitative open-path FTIR

Two characteristics of ambient background sources must be addressed: their low intensity and their instability. Reference spectra—normally subtracted from sample spectra to remove the source characteristics, instrument response, and other spectral characteristics common to both the reference and sample spectra—are impossible to obtain when an ambient background source that may change rapidly is used. Data collection must be rapid because the source temperature may change, producing changes in the overall shape and intensity of the spectra. The low intensity of ambient sources makes noise a problem that is compounded by subtracting the reference spectrum from the analyte spectrum. We have developed a quantitative method for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the slope-ratio method (SRM), which is less susceptible to these problems. The absorbance and the concentration for each standard taken at the time the analyte is measured and the absorbance for the analyte are substituted into the equation created from the linear equations of the standard and analyte. For ambient backgrounds, artificial reference lines are created by using points on either side of the peak of interest to create a straight line that can be subtracted from the peak. The log of the artificial reference spectrum subtracted from the raw sample spectrum produces absorbance intensities that still follow Beer's Law. Representative absorbance equations are generated for a range of intensities in the laboratory for both the standard and the analyte. The raw spectrum of the analyte measured under experimental conditions must be included with the series because the spectra for standards and the spectrum of the unknown must match within ±10.0%. This procedure has been successfully used for VOCs such as methanol, acetone, and t-butyl ethyl ether, and shows promise in measuring methane under laboratory conditions. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 4: 127–133, 2000
Improving Surface Mass Balance Over Ice Sheets and Snow Depth on Sea Ice

Surface mass balance (SMB) over ice sheets and snow on sea ice (SOSI) are important components of the cryosphere. Large knowledge gaps remain in scientists' abilities to monitor SMB and SOSI, including insufficient measurements and difficulties with satellite retrievals. On ice sheets, snow accumulation is the sole mass gain to SMB, and meltwater runoff can be the dominant single loss factor in extremely warm years such as 2012. SOSI affects the growth and melt cycle of the Earth's polar sea ice cover. The summer of 2012 saw the largest satellite-recorded melt area over the Greenland ice sheet and the smallest satellite-recorded Arctic sea ice extent, making this meeting both timely and relevant.
Keynote Address: A Regulatory Framework for Managing Systemic Risk

This accessible analysis of systemic risk regulation was delivered as the keynote speech at an October 20, 2011 European Central Bank conference on regulation of financial services. Many regulatory responses, like the Dodd-Frank Act in the United States, consist largely of politically motivated reactions to the financial crisis, looking for villains (whether or not they exist). To be most effective, however, the regulation must be situated within a more analytical framework. In this speech, I attempt to build that framework, showing that preventive regulation is insufficient and that regulation also must be designed to limit the transmission of systemic risk and reduce systemic consequences.
Ultrasound Evaluation of Primary Alveolar Grafting in Cleft Lip/Palate Treatment: Development of a Novel Sonographic Grading System.

Objective: To explore ultrasonographic evaluation of primary alveolar repair in cleft lip/palate patients and develop a grading system to assess outcomes of graft success. Design: Sixteen patients with an average age of 2 years 1 month had sonograms performed at various points in their treatment to determine the feasibility of ultrasound in visualizing alveolar bone defects and changes over time postgrafting. A total of 23 sonograms were performed: 21 at an average of 12 months postoperatively and 2 at an average of 1 month preoperatively. Main Outcome Measures: A 10-point grading system was developed assessing three categories: locations of lateral bone bridging across the cleft, quantification of residual defects with air or fluid channels, and locations of calcification. Three operators graded 10 sonograms to assess interobserver reliability, and the scores were also validated against dental radiographs in patients old enough for radiographic imaging. Results: Linear weighted kappa statistics revealed ...