cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laboratory options for the computer science major

Computer Science and Computer Engineering programs typically converge on the Dynamic-Static Interface (DSI) from opposite directions. Computer Science (CS) introduces students to system architecture and organization so they can have a better appreciation for the mechanisms that make their software work, whereas Computer Engineering (CE) introduces students to software design so they can have a better appreciation for the software that will be using the hardware systems they design. Mindful of this distinction between CS and CE, we chronicle the efforts of our CS department to capitalize on current trends in the design and implementation of digital systems to extend our students' expertise in this area. We summarize the current curriculum in our department, present a survey of the language options we have explored for evolving our curriculum, and conclude with a brief description of the laboratory environment we have adopted, which is centered on the Handel-C hardware implementation language.
Cholesterol esterification by lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase in A-I-free plasma

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) mass, activity and endogenous cholesterol esterification rate were measured in plasma and apolipoprotein A-I-free (A-I-free) plasma from two normolipidemic and two hyperlipidemic subjects, and from a patient with Tangier disease. A-I was removed from plasma by an anti-A-I immunosorbent. LCAT activity was measured using an exogenous substrate. The plasma LCAT concentration of the four non-Tangier subjects was 4.63 ± 0.64 μg/ml (mean ± S.D.); means of 26 ± 7% of total LCAT mass and 22 ± 11% of plasma LCAT activity were found in their A-I-free plasma. The plasma LCAT concentration of the Tangier subject was 1.49 μg/ml. About 95% of LCAT mass and all LCAT activity were found in the A-I-free plasma. Thus, the LCAT mass (1.4 μg/ml) and activity (43.1 nmol/h per ml) in Tangier A-I-free plasma were not significantly different from that found in the four non-Tangier A-I-free plasmas (mass = 1.21 ± 0.44 μg/ml; activity: 27.3 ± 18.4 nmol/h per ml). Although the LCAT activity per unit mass of the enzyme in plasma and A-I-free plasma were comparable (24.9 ± 2.8 vs. 22.8 ± 7.8 nmol/h per μg LCAT, n = 5), the plasma cholesterol esterification rate of A-I-free plasma from all subjects was lower than that found in plasma (7.5 ±2.7 vs. 13.0 ±3.8 nmol/h per μg LCAT). In conclusion, although A-I-containing lipoproteins are the preferred substrates of LCAT, other LCAT substrates and cofactors are found in A-I-free plasma along with LCAT. Thus, non-A-I-containing particles can serve as physiological substrates for cholesterol esterification mediated by LCAT.
Glucose-dependent glycosylation of secretory glycoprotein in mouse myeloma cells.

Abstract The mouse myeloma tumor, MOPC-46, produces a kappa-type immunoglobulin light chain that may be isolated from the urine of tumor-bearing animals. This protein possesses a single carbohydrate side chain, attached by glycosylamine linkage to asparagine residue 28. When viable single cell suspensions of the tumor are incubated in vitro in minimum essential medium containing sodium pyruvate as a source of carbon and energy, the major protein synthesized and secreted corresponds to a nonglycosylated form of the kappa light chain. However, when glucose or mannose are substituted for sodium pyruvate as a source of carbon, the immunoglobulin light chain is synthesized and secreted in the fully glycosylated, native form. The dependence of normal glycosylation of the protein on the presence of either glucose or mannose in the medium is relatively specific for these compounds since substitution with either fructose, galactose, glycerol, ribose, or N-acetylglucosamine was ineffective. The nonglycosylated protein produced in the presence of sodium pyruvate was characterized as nonglycosylated MOPC-46 light chain by immunoprecipitation and gel electrophoresis. An identical nonglycosylated protein was produced by tumor cells in the presence of glucose when the incubation mixtures contained tunicamycin.
Dye movement and low-resistance junctions between reaggregated embryonic cells

Abstract Reaggregated cells from Xenopus laevis embryos in blastula through larval stages become electrically coupled within 20 min of the beginning of aggregation. Some of these cells can exchange fluorescein injected intracellularly. The transfer of dye appears to depend on the presence of low-resistance junctions although the precise site of transfer is unknown. The relevance of these results to processes occurring in intact embryos is discussed.
A new brushless D-C excited rotating field synchronous motor

SILICON RECTIFIERS have been used for several years to make brushless d-c excited rotating field synchronous generators.1 The induced field current and voltage during starting have made similar brushless synchronous motors impractical. This paper describes the operation and performance of a new brushless synchronous motor which has been made practical by the development of high-current silicon-controlled rectifiers.2 All sliding- and mechanical-type contacts have been eliminated. The synchronizing function and pull-out protection are automatically provided by a simple static circuit which uses two silicon-controlled rectifiers and Zener diodes. The new motor can be started like a squirrel-cage induction motor with a standard full or reduced voltage starter. The adjustable power factor correction of the conventional synchronous motor is retained.
Seismic Scattering From Inclusions

With the help of finite-difference acoustic wave equation modeling and scale-model analysis, we study the kinematic and dynamic characteristics of strong scattering from inclusions with small radii of curvature compared to a wavelength. For an inclusion with a smooth (relative to a wavelength) curved surface, both grazing-incident and critically-incident elastic waves excite creeping waves that propagate along the inclusion surface. These results are used to formulate an elastic ray-tracing method that can be used to describe scattered waves from inclusions whose size is close to a wavelength. For all inclusion geometries modeled, including irregular inclusions, we discovered a large-amplitude arrival that was not predicted by traditional ray-theory. The raypath and traveltime of this arrival, which we term an inclusion wave, can be predicted by our ray theory.
GC analysis of human breath with a series-coupled column ensemble and a multibed sorption trap.

The combination of a tandem column ensemble and an on-line microsorption trap is used for the analysis of organic compounds in human breath samples. The four-bed sorption trap uses a series of discreet sorption beds containing three grades of graphitized carbon and a carbon molecular sieve to quantitatively remove most organic compounds from 0.8-L breath samples. The trap is then heated to 300 °C in ∼1.5 s and maintained at this temperature for 10 s. The resulting vapor plug width is in the range 0.7−1.3 s for the compounds found in the breath samples. The separation is performed with a 15-m-long, 0.25-mm-i.d. capillary using a 0.5-μm-thick film of nonpolar dimethyl polysiloxane coupled in series to a polar column, either trifluoropropylmethyl polysiloxane or poly(ethylene glycol). Both column combinations are successful in separating the early-eluting compounds acetone, isoprene, pentane, methyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol, which are all common in breath samples. The poly(ethylene glycol) combination gave...
Quantitative measures of aggressive periodontitis show substantial heritability and consistency with traditional diagnoses

Background: Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) research nearly always classifies subjects into traditional discrete categories of localized or generalized, based upon degree of attachment loss (AL) and types of affected teeth. Since AL is continuous and quantitative, however, useful information is lost. We developed quantitative measures of AgP, compared these to traditional methods, and estimated heritabilities in families. Methods: We examined 237 healthy, 169 localized AgP, and 204 generalized AgP subjects. We used the site of maximum AL of each tooth to calculate means for each subject for different groups of teeth. We also applied principal components analysis (PCA) to condense variation among 28 teeth into three orthogonal (uncorrelated) variables. We used discriminant function analysis (DFA) to evaluate how well the quantitative measures match with traditional classifications. Quantitative trait heritabilities were estimated by variance components. Results: PCA clustered first molars, incisors, and the...
Numerical Simulation of Concentration Polarization in a Pervaporation Module

Abstract A mathematical model was developed to describe mass transfer in a slit flow channel formed by a thin supported membrane at the bottom and an impermeable stainless steel block at the top in a lab‐scale flat sheet pervaporation membrane module. Boundary layer theory was employed to obtain the mass transfer equations governing mass transport in the liquid boundary layer and in the membrane matrix. Equations of the model were solved numerically with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. The extent of concentration polarization and its impact upon permeation flux rate under different conditions were examined.
Laparoscopic versus single-incision cholecystectomy.

Background Although recent reports demonstrate large series of single-incision cholecystectomies, few articles compare single-incision data with traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) data. This article compares a large series of single-incision cholecystectomies to a series of traditional LCs performed at an urban tertiary-care center.
Utilization of behavioral studies in developing the intermodal simulator for the analysis of pedestrian traffic (ISAPT)

The effective and efficient design of intermodal facilities is highly dependent on the pedestrian use of these facilities. A pedestrian simulation model, intermodal simulator for the analysis of pedestrian traffic (ISAPT), was created to study the impact of facility design on pedestrian behavior. This paper presents results from an empirical study examining the walking behavior of pedestrians in a corridor and how it was used to improve ISAPT. To quantify pedestrian behavior, 20 minutes of video footage from a university building corridor were studied. The travel speed of the 68 pedestrians included in the analysis was normally distributed with an average of 1.00 m/s. The facility had a flow rate of 0.92 ped/min/m and an overall area module of 1.14 m 2 /ped. To incorporate the findings into ISAPT, the buildings architecture was represented in the simulation. Resource points and barriers, path markers, and pedestrian characteristics were added to the model as well. Future work related to planned empirical studies and modeling strategies are presented.
Real-time measurements of acetylcholine-induced release of ATP from bovine medullary chromaffin cells.

Abstract The luminescent oxidation of luciferin has been used to monitor acetylcholine-induced ATP release from cultured bovine chromaffin cells. Acetylcholine (1-100 μM) evoked ATP release of up to 30% of the total cellular ATP. This secretion required external free calcium and could also be elicited by K+-induced membrane depolarization. The size of the cytosolic ATP compartment was estimated as 5% of the ATP in the cell by solubilising the cell membrane using digitonin (20 μM) or by application to the cells of brief pulses (2 μs) of high electric field (2000 V cm ). Blockers of the voltage-gated Ca 2+ channel effectively blocked K + -induced ATP release, while the acetylcholine antagonists d-tubocurarine and β-bungarotoxin inhibited the acetylcholine-induced release of ATP. These data support the concept that ATP is released together with the catecholamines by exocytosis of chromaffin granule contents. ATP secretion Chromaffin cell Acetylcholine channel Exocytosis Catecholamine
Modeling photosynthetically active radiation in water of Tampa Bay, Florida, with emphasis on the geometry of incident irradiance

Abstract Field studies that compare the spatial and temporal variation in light attenuation often neglect effects of solar elevation angle, yet these effects can be significant. To approximately correct for these angular effects, we developed a model that uses a simplified geometric description of incident direct solar beam and diffuse skylight. The model incorporates effects of solar elevation angle and cloudiness on the amount of in-air photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) that passes through the air-water interface and on K 0 in waters of relatively low turbidity. The model was calibrated with 3266 5-min averages of scalar PAR measured in air and at two depths in water and permits the value of K 0 to be adjusted approximately for the effects of time of day, season and cloudiness. The model was then used with 255 days of in-air PAR data (15-min averages) to evaluate irradiance that entered the water and attenuation in the water. On an annual basis, 49% of the incident scalar irradiance, or 380 μmol m −2 s −1 , was estimated to enter the water of Tampa Bay. The value of K 0 was estimated to vary as much as 41% on a clear summer day due to changes in solar elevation angle. The model was used to make estimates of the depth to which sea-grasses might receive adequate light for survival for a range of values of K 0 . This approach should be useful for projecting the effect of changes in water clarity on the depth of sea-grass survival and for comparing values of K 0 collected at different times of day and in different seasons.
Salt tolerance in crop plants: new approaches through tissue culture and gene regulation

Recent approaches to study of salinity tolerance in crop plants have ranged from genetic mapping to molecular characterization of gene products induced by salt/drought stress. Transgenic plant design has allowed to test the effects of overexpression of specific prokaryotic or plant genes that are known to be up-regulated by salt/drought stress. This review summarizes current progress in the field in the context of adaptive metabolic and physiological responses to salt stress and their potential role in long term tolerance. Specifically considered are gene activation by salt, in view of proposed avenues for improved salt tolerance and the need to ascertain the additional influences of developmental regulation of such genes. Discussion includes the alternate genetic strategy we have pursued for improving salinity tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). This strategy combines single-step selection of salt-tolerant cells in culture, followed by regeneration of salt-tolerant plants and identification of genes important in conferring salt tolerance. We have postulated that activation or improved expression of a subset of genes encoding functions that are particularly vulnerable under conditions of salt-stress could counteract the molecular effects of such stress and could provide incremental improvements in tolerance. We have proceeded to identify the acquired specific changes in gene regulation for our salt-tolerant mutant cells and plants. One particularly interesting and novel gene isolate from the salt-tolerant cells is Alfin1, which encodes a putative zinc-finger regulatory protein, expressed predominantly in roots. We have demonstrated that this protein binds DNA in a sequence specific manner and may be potentially important in gene regulation in roots in response to salt and an important marker for salt tolerance in crop plants.
Characterization of metal ion-exchange on modified surfaces of porous carbon

Abstract Two biologically based ligands, cysteine (Cys) and poly- l -cysteine (PLCys), were coupled with Carbopack-X, a commercially available porous carbon surface after acid activation, through simple cross-linking techniques. The resulting Cys-X and PLCys-X systems are effective for metal binding with capacities in the range of 1–25 μmol metal/g column, depending on the metal tested. Both columns demonstrate similar selectivity for the soft and moderately soft acid metals such as Cd 2+ , Cu + , and Pb 2+ , probably as a result of the soft basic character of the thiol ligand side chains, and exhibit minimal binding of the harder groups IA and IIA metals. Even though PLCys-X and Cys-X displayed similar strong and weak binding characteristics, the PLCys-X system contained stronger binding sites than those possessed by Cys-X. The strongest site displayed by Cys-X has a binding constant of 1×10 9 , with the ability to compete for metal with moderately strong ligands such as ethylenediamine. However, the strongest PLCys-X site possessed a binding constant of about 10 13 , with the ability to compete for metals bound by very strong ligands such as EDTA. Both systems gave quantitative release of bound metals upon exposure to acid. Exposing the thiol-rich ligands to chemical reducing or oxidizing environments altered the metal binding characteristics of both columns, with at least a 50% decrease in metal binding on the oxidized columns due to thiol binding sites because of disulfide bond formation.
MICROSTRUCTURAL COMPARISONS OF THREE COMMERCIAL FRANKFURTERS

Three commercially available brands of beef and pork frankfurters were compared by light and scanning electron microscopy for protein matrix structure and fat distribution within the sausages. One brand had a coarse protein matrix structure, large fat droplets and some large pieces of intact muscle, while a second brand had a more uniform fat and protein distribution with some visible muscle fragments present. A third brand of frank had uniformly small fat droplets evenly distributed in a protein matrix. Scanning electron micrographs show this frank to be a true meat emulsion. These observations show the wide variation between the microstructure of acceptable commercial frankfurters.
Southern hemisphere low level wind circulation statisticsfrom the Seasat scatterometer

Analyses of remotely sensed low-level wind vector data over the Southern Ocean are performed. Five-day averages and monthly means are created and the month-to-month variability during the winter (July-September) of 1978 is investigated. The remotely sensed winds are compared to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABM) and the National Meteorological Center (NMC) surface analyses. In southern latitudes the remotely sensed winds are stronger than what the weather services' analyses suggest, indicating under-estimation by ABM and NMC in these regions. The evolution of the low-level jet and the major stormtracks during the season are studied and different flow regimes are identified. The large-scale variability of the meridional flow is studied with the aid of empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The dominance of quasi-stationary wave numbers 3,4, and 5 in the winter flows is evident in both the EOF analysis and the mean flow. The signature of an exceptionally strong blocking situation is evident in July and the special conditions leading to it are discussed. A very large intraseasonal variability with different flow regimes at different months is documented.
Bending of an axially constrained beam

Abstract In the elementary theory of bending of beams, the neutral surface is assumed to be inextensible and free relative longitudinal motion of the ends of the beam is permitted. In the present analysis, the bending of a pin-connected beam due to lateral loads is considered under conditions that no such relative end displacements are permitted to occur, thereby giving rise to a stretching of the neutral surface under induced axial constraint forces. The problem then becomes essentially non-linear since the forces of constraint themselves depend on the lateral deflection of the beam. Resulting axial constraint forces, lateral displacements and moments in the beam are determined in terms of a single parameter depending on both the applied load intensity and slenderness of the beam.
A Note on the Poisson Likelihood Ratio Test Statistic for Kulldorff's Scan Methods

Methods based on scan statistics are widely used in health-related applications to detect clusters of disease. The most common methods are based on the Bernoulli and Poisson models. Kulldorff (1997) derived the likelihood ratio test statistic for his scan method for both of these models. His scan statistic is widely used with freely available software, SaTScan™ (see Kulldorff, 2005). We provide an alternative derivation of the likelihood ratio test statistic in the Poisson case. Our derivation is simpler and more general in the sense that it applies when the incidences are not aggregated into subregional counts.
Quasispecies heterogeneity within the E1/E2 region as a pretreatment variable during pegylated interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C virus infection

A series of 29 patients undergoing treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection with pegylated alpha-2a interferon plus ribavirin were studied for patterns of response to antiviral therapy and viral quasispecies evolution. All patients were treatment naive and had chronic inflammation and fibrosis on biopsy. As part of an analysis of pretreatment variables that might affect the outcome of treatment, genetic heterogeneity within the viral E1-E2 glycoprotein region (nucleotides 851 to 2280) was assessed by sequencing 10 to 15 quasispecies clones per patient from serum-derived PCR products. Genetic parameters were examined with respect to response to therapy based on serum viral RNA loads at 12 weeks (early viral response) and at 24 weeks posttreatment (sustained viral response). Nucleotide and amino acid quasispecies complexities of the hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) were less in the responder group in comparison to the nonresponder group at 12 weeks, and genetic diversity was also less both within and outside of the HVR-1, with the difference being most pronounced for the non-HVR-1 region of E2. However, these genetic parameters did not distinguish responders from nonresponders for sustained viral responses. Follow-up studies of genetic heterogeneity based on the HVR-1 in selected responders and nonresponders while on therapy revealed greater evolutionary drift in the responder subgroup. The pretreatment population sequences for the NS5A interferon sensitivity determinant region were also analyzed for all patients, but no correlations were found between treatment response and any distinct genetic markers. These findings support previous studies indicating a high level of genetic heterogeneity among chronically infected HCV patients. One interpretation of these data is that early viral responses are governed to some extent by viral factors, whereas sustained responses may be more influenced by host factors, in addition to effects of viral complexity and diversity.
Synthesis of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor 3H-RAC-X-65

We prepared the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor N-[1(S)-carboxy-3-(4′-3H)carboxanilidopropyl]-L-Ala-L-Pro (3H-RAC-X-65). The triflate of D-(+)-lactic acid benzyl ester was reacted with N′-(4-iodophenyl)-L-glutamine methyl ester. The benzyl ester was removed with HF, and the free carboxyl group was coupled to L-proline methyl ester via diphenylphosphorylazide. Methyl ester groups were removed by saponification. The product was dehalogenated in 10 Ci of 3H2 to yield 3H-RAC at 24.3 Ci/mmole (89.7% yield). 3H-RAC-X-65 was indistinguishable from its unlabeled counterpart in its ability to inhibit ACE and enter into a tightly bound enzyme:inhibitor complex.
Prey selection and foraging period of the predaceous rocky intertidal snail, Acanthina punctulata

The diet and foraging period of the neogastropod Acanthina punctulata were investigated in order to test various aspects of recent optimal foraging strategy models. This intertidal snail is an actively searching predator which preys on snails and barnacles by boring a hole in the shell and rasping out the flesh. Unlike many gastropod predators, Acanthina drill its gastropod prey at a very specific location on the columella, the thickest portion of the shell.
Longitudinal changes in glucose metabolism during pregnancy in obese women with normal glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Objective: This study prospectively evaluated the longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity, insulin response, and endogenous (primarily hepatic) glucose production and suppression during insulin infusion in women with normal glucose tolerance (control) and gestational diabetes mellitus before and during a planned pregnancy. Study Design: Eight control subjects and 7 subjects in whom gestational diabetes mellitus developed were evaluated with an oral glucose tolerance test, an intravenous glucose tolerance test, and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with infusion of [6,6 2 H 2 ]glucose before conception and at 12 to 14 and 34 to 36 weeks' gestation. Insulin response was estimated as the area under the curve during the intravenous glucose tolerance test. Basal endogenous glucose production was estimated from isotope tracer dilution during steady state with [6,6 2 H 2 ]glucose and suppression during insulin infusion. Insulin sensitivity to glucose was defined as the glucose infusion rate required to maintain euglycemia during steady-state insulin infusion. Body composition was estimated with hydrodensitometry. Data were analyzed with 2-way analysis of variance with repeated measures for 2 groups. Results: There were increases in first-phase ( P = .006) and second-phase ( P = .0001) insulin responses in both groups with advancing gestation, but the increase in second-phase response was significantly greater ( P = .02) in the gestational diabetes mellitus group than in the control group. Basal glucose production increased significantly ( P = .0001) with advancing gestation, and there was resistance to suppression during insulin infusion in both groups ( P = .0001). There was less suppression of endogenous glucose production however, in the gestational diabetes mellitus group than in the control group ( P = .01). Insulin sensitivity decreased with advancing gestation in both groups ( P = .0001), and there was lower insulin sensitivity in the gestational diabetes mellitus group than in the control group ( P = .04). Significant decreases in insulin sensitivity with time ( P = .0001) and between groups ( P = .03) remained when the data were adjusted for differences in insulin concentration or residual hepatic glucose production. Conclusion: Obese women in whom gestational diabetes mellitus develops have a significant increase in insulin response but decreases in insulin sensitivity and suppression of hepatic glucose production during insulin infusion with advancing gestation with respect to a matched control group. These metabolic abnormalities in glucose metabolism are the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes, for which these women are at increased risk in later life. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:903-16.)
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Closer Look at Genetic Testing in Long-QT Syndrome: Will DNA Diagnostics Ever Be Enough?”

Regarding my editorial,1 Dr Kaufman writes that genotype can be “very useful” in those who meet the clinical criteria for the long-QT syndrome in that it may stratify risk and identify the optimum therapy. Although such claims are often made, it is remarkably difficult to demonstrate that a specific genetic variant confers additional information on risk or on the natural history of long-QT syndrome. The studies cited did not control for mode of presentation or confounding familial relationships and modeled risk on the basis of small numbers of events (with unknown interdependence).2,3 Importantly, these studies also …
Caribbean crushing: Competition among US homeports

The article explores the competitive aspects of US ports which provide cruise service to the Caribbean region. Via a shift-share analysis, growth at individual ports is apportioned into three components allowing for the suggestion of both long-and short-term planning strategis.
Fortunes for the Bold: Emergence and Evolution of the Private Military and Security Industry

A private military and security company industry has emerged over the past three decades. A significant focus has been on the provision of services to United States Government and its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. While this work has been important it begs the question as to how representative it is, as well as what has happened since the decrease in direct military activities by these principles in these locations. This study analyzes a unique dataset of nearly 1,500 private military and security organizations which was collected specifically for this purpose. Findings suggest a much greater breadth and diversity of activities than previously reported. It also suggests that this is an industry accelerating its growth through the identification and exploitation of both traditional and new opportunities. This challenges arguments that this industry is primarily a surrogate of the Unites States military or that it is in decline in the wake of its interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. This suggests patter...
Advances in stem cell mobilization

The use of mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) has largely replaced the use of bone marrow as a source of stem cells for both allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation. G-CSF with or without chemotherapy is the most commonly used regimen for stem cell mobilization. Some donors or patients, especially the heavily pretreated patients, fail to mobilize the targeted number of stem cells with this regimen. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) trafficking could lead to the development of newer mobilizing agents and therapeutic approaches. This review will cover the current methods for stem cell mobilization and recent developments in the understanding of the biology of stem cells and the bone marrow microenvironment.
Reversible inhibition of in vitro epithelial cell proliferation by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Abstract Subconfluent cultures of a mouse epithelial cell line, which after prolonged subculturing exhibited an elevated saturation density as compared to the original cell line, were treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD). Cultures of cells with or without TCDD grew at equal rates until confluency was reached. At confluency, cultures treated with as little as 10 −11 m TCDD showed a decline in cell proliferation relative to controls as demonstrated by cell enumeration and supported by reduced [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation (both by liquid scintillation spectrometry of whole culture and autoradiography of individual cells). After 14 days of exposure, the saturation density of the treated culture was about 50% of the control culture. This TCDD-induced, increased sensitivity to density-dependent inhibition of replication (DDIR) was accompanied by a change from a fusiform morphology in the high-saturation-density control cells to a flat cobblestone appearance in the treated low-saturation-density cells. The nondividing cultures treated for 14 days with 10 −11 m TCDD had the same viability as control cultures. Upon trypsin suspension and reseeding, these formerly quiescent cultures were again capable of growing to high cell density and of again showing susceptibility to TCDD-induced changes in cell growth and morphology. Evidence is presented to suggest that this reversible increase in sensitivity to DDIR and the morphological change are not a consequence of cell growth inhibition. This system may provide the basis for an in vitro model to study the effect of TCDD on the control of replication of these cells.
Use of Positive-Negative Deviant Analyses to Improve Programme Targeting and Services: Example from the TamilNadu Integrated Nutrition Project

This paper describes the characteristics of southern rural Indian children who grow best (positive deviants) and worst (negative deviants) as compared to median growers. A 100 each of positive and negative deviants and 120 median growers were selected after analysing the 12-month growth patterns (weight-for-age) of 2954 children enrolled in the TamilNadu Integrated Nutrition Project (TINP), a major health and nutrition intervention project covering nearly one million children in rural south India. The determinants of poor growth that have been left unaddressed by 6 years of TINP exposure are delineated to address the question of what more needs to be done. Further, the rationale for differential targeting of services to negative deviants and to median growers is discussed, as are the implications for programme evaluation. Data indicate that the next generation of projects targeted at the most needy (negative deviants) should address the issues of gender discrimination in childcare, of breastfeeding, of diarrhoeal disease, and of maternal empowerment. Such interventions will, however, not improve the growth of median growers in the direction of positive deviance. Instead, programmes targeted at the median growers need to support the hygienic use of nonbreast milk supplements. Improving family wealth will also improve the nutritional status of the median growers, but less so than for the negative deviants.
Cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc determination in precipitation: A comparison of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and graphite furnace atomization atomic absorption spectrometry

Selected trace element analysis for cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in precipitation samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission Spectrometry (ICP) and by atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace atomization (AAGF) have been evaluated. This task was conducted in conjunction with a longterm study of precipitation chemistry at high altitude sites located in remote areas of the southwestern United States. Coefficients of variation and recovery values were determined for a standard reference water sample for all metals examined for both techniques. At concentration levels less than 10 micrograms per liter AAGF analyses exhibited better precision and accuracy than ICP. Both methods appear to offer the potential for cost-effective analysis of trace metal ions in precipitation.
TEMPORAL PROPERTIES OF PHOTOREFRACTIVE MATERIALS

Photorefractive two-beam coupling is examined experimentally for the case of high modulation depth. It is seen that the dynamics of signal growth and decay are best described by a double exponential function. The properties of this function with respect to interaction angle and modulation depth are studied. It is suggested that the equations governing photorefractive dynamics may be reduced to a pair of coupled bilinear rate equations which adequately describe photorefractive dynamics for high modulation depth.
Arctic stratospheric ozone depletion and increased UVB radiation: potential impacts to human health.

Contrary to popular belief, stratospheric ozone depletion, and the resultant increase in solar UV-B (280-320 nm), are unlikely to fully recover soon. Notwithstanding the success of the Montreal Protocol in reducing the amount of ozone destroying chemicals into the stratosphere, the life-times of these compounds are such that even with full compliance with the Protocol by all countries, it will be decades before stratospheric ozone could return to pre-1980 levels. This raises the question, therefore, of what will happen to biological processes essential to the maintenance of life on earth which are sensitive to damage by increased UV-B radiation, particularly those involved with human health? The polar regions, because of the vagaries of climate and weather, are the bellwether for stratospheric ozone depletion and will, therefore, be the first to experience impacts due to increases in solar UV-B radiation. The impacts of these are incompletely understood and cannot be predicted with certainty. While some UV-B impacts on human health are recognized, much is unknown, unclear and uncertain. Thus, this paper attempts, as a first approximation, to point out potential impacts to the health and welfare of human inhabitants of the Arctic due to increased solar UV-B radiation associated with stratospheric ozone depletion. As will be seen, much more data is critically needed before adequate risk assessment can occur. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2005; 64(5):509-522) Keywords: Arctic population, ozone depletion, UV-B effects
Consensual pupillary light reflex in the pigmented rat

We measured the pupillary light reflex (PLR) in 5 pigmented, Long Evans rats (under urethan sedation) in three conditions: direct stimulation, consensual stimulation, and a control condition designed to measure the effects of stray light. The average constriction (maximal amplitude) produced by a ganzfeld stimulus delivering 1.6 log quanta absorbed per rod per sec for a duration of 3 sec was measured to be 0.78 +/- 0.07 mm for the direct PLR, 0.67 +/- 0.06 mm for the consensual PLR, and 0.07 +/- 0.029 mm for the control condition. We corrected the consensual measurement for each rat by subtracting the value of the control (stray-light induced) constriction. A comparison of the corrected consensual constriction to the direct constriction showed that, on average, the consensual constriction attained an amplitude of 78% of the direct constriction. Our findings contradict claims that the consensual pupillary light reflex is absent in rodents. Although our results are in agreement with findings showing bilateral projections of the retina to the pretectum (which subserves the pupillary light reflex) in the rat, the consensual-to-direct ratio we report is higher than might be expected from anatomical estimates of the overall proportion of uncrossed to crossed optic fibers in the rat.
Iterated perturbation theory for the attractive Holstein and Hubbard models.

A strictly truncated (weak-coupling) perturbation theory is applied to the attractive Holstein and Hubbard models in infinite dimensions. These results are qualified by comparison with essentially exact quantum Monte Carlo results. The second-order iterated perturbation theory is shown to be quite accurate in calculating transition temperatures for retarded interactions, but is not as accurate for the self-energy or the irreducible vertex functions themselves. Iterated perturbation theory is carried out through fourth order for the Hubbard model. The self-energy is quite accurately reproduced by the theory, but the vertex functions are not. Anomalous behavior occurs near half-filling because the iterated perturbation theory is not a conserving approximation.
Genetic and developmental basis of renal coloboma (papillorenal) syndrome

Renal coloboma syndrome, also known as papillorenal syndrome, is characterized by optic nerve anomalies and kidney hypodysplasia. Autosomal dominant mutations in the gene encoding the paired box transcription factor, PAX2, can be identified in nearly half of all patients with this phenotype. The primary ophthalmologic findings include congenital central retinal vasculature absence associated with abnormalities in retinal blood vessel patterning and deeply excavated optic discs. Other published findings include optic nerve hypoplasia, optic nerve cyst, optic nerve pits, retinal coloboma, microphthalmia and scleral staphyloma. Visual acuity ranges from normal to severe impairment. Up to one third of affected patients will develop end-stage renal disease. Mouse and zebrafish with Pax2/pax2a mutations provide developmentally based explanations for the observed phenotypic observations in affected patients.
What controls the recent changes in African mineral dust aerosol across the Atlantic

Abstract. Dust from Africa strongly perturbs the radiative balance over the Atlantic, with emissions that are highly variable from year to year. We show that the aerosol optical depth (AOD) of dust over the mid-Atlantic observed by the AVHRR satellite has decreased by approximately 10% per decade from 1982 to 2008. This downward trend persists through both winter and summer close to source and is also observed in dust surface concentration measurements downwind in Barbados during summer. The GEOS-Chem model, driven with MERRA re-analysis meteorology and using a new dust source activation scheme, reproduces the observed trend and is used to quantify the factors contributing to this trend and the observed variability from 1982 to 2008. We find that changes in dustiness over the east mid-Atlantic are almost entirely mediated by a reduction in surface winds over dust source regions in Africa and are not directly linked with changes in land use or vegetation cover. The global mean all-sky direct radiative effect (DRE) of African dust is −0.18 Wm−2 at top of atmosphere, accounting for 46% of the global dust total, with a regional DRE of −7.4 ± 1.5 Wm−2 at the surface of the mid-Atlantic, varying by over 6.0 Wm−2 from year to year, with a trend of +1.3 Wm−2 per decade. These large interannual changes and the downward trend highlight the importance of climate feedbacks on natural aerosol abundance. Our analysis of the CMIP5 models suggests that the decreases in the indirect anthropogenic aerosol forcing over the North Atlantic in recent decades may be responsible for the observed climate response in African dust, indicating a potential amplification of anthropogenic aerosol radiative impacts in the Atlantic via natural mineral dust aerosol.
Multiscale analysis of temporal variability of soil CO2 production as influenced by weather and vegetation

Ecosystem processes are influenced by weather and climatic perturbations at multiple temporal scales with a large range of amplitudes and phases. Technological advances of automated biometeorological measurements provide the opportunity to apply spectral methods on continuous time series to identify differences in amplitudes and phases and relationships with weather variation. Here we used wavelet coherence analysis to study the temporal covariance between soil CO2 production and soil temperature, soil moisture, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Continuous (hourly average) data were acquired over 2 years among three vegetation types in a semiarid mixed temperate forest. We showed that soil temperature and soil moisture influence soil CO2 production differently at multiple periods (e.g. hours, days, weeks, months, years), especially after rain pulse events. Our results provide information about the periodicity of soil CO2 production among vegetation types, and provide insights about processes controlling CO2 production through the study of phase relationships between two time series (e.g. soil CO2 production and PAR). We tested the performance of empirical models of soil CO2 production using the continuous wavelet transform. These models, built around soil temperature and moisture, failed at multiple periods across the measured dates, suggesting that empirical models should include other factors that regulate soil CO2 production at different temporal scales. Our results add a new dimension for the analysis of continuous time series of biometeorological measurements and model testing, which will prove useful for analysis of increasing sensor data obtained by environmental networks.
3D Human Pose Reconstruction Using Millions of Exemplars

We propose a novel exemplar based method to estimate 3D human poses from single images by using only the joint correspondences. Due to the inherent depth ambiguity, estimating 3D poses from a monocular view is a challenging problem. We solve the problem by searching through millions of exemplars for optimal poses. Compared with traditional parametric schemes, our method is able to handle very large pose database, relieves parameter tweaking, is easier to train and is more effective for complex pose 3D reconstruction. The proposed method estimates upper body poses and lower body poses sequentially, which implicitly squares the size of the exemplar database and enables us to reconstruct unconstrained poses efficiently. Our implementation based on the kd-tree achieves real-time performance. The experiments on a variety of images show that the proposed method is efficient and effective.
Recommendations for standards regarding preclinical neuroprotective and restorative drug development

The plethora of failed clinical trials with neuroprotective drugs for acute ischemic stroke have raised justifiable concerns about how best to proceed for the future development of such interventions. Preclinical testing of neuroprotective drugs is an important aspect of assessing their therapeutic potential, but guidelines concerning how to perform preclinical development of purported neuroprotective drugs for acute ischemic stroke are lacking. This conference of academicians and industry representatives was convened to suggest such guidelines for the preclinical evaluation of neuroprotective drugs and to recommend to potential clinical investigators the data they should review to reassure themselves that a particular neuroprotective drug has a reasonable chance to succeed in an appropriately designed clinical trial. Without rigorous, robust, and detailed preclinical evaluation, it is unlikely that novel neuroprotective drugs will prove to be effective when tested in large, time-consuming, and expensive clinical trials. Additionally, similar recommendations are provided for drugs with the potential to enhance recovery after acute ischemic stroke, a burgeoning new field with great potential but little currently available data. The suggestions contained in this document are meant to serve as overall guidelines that must be adapted to the individual characteristics related to particular drugs and their preclinical and clinical development needs.
Automating Hardware and Software Evolution Analysis

Cost-effective software evolution is critical to many distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems. Selecting the lowest cost set of software components that meet DRE system resource constraints, such as total memory and available CPU cycles, is an NP-Hard problem. This paper provides three contributions to R\&D on evolving software-intensive DRE systems. First, we present the Software Evolution Analysis with Resources (SEAR) technique that transforms component-based DRE system evolution alternatives into multidimensional multiple-choice knapsack problems. Second, we compare several techniques for solving these knapsack problems to determine valid, low-cost design configurations for resource constrained component-based DRE systems.\if false with multiple potential upgrades that cannot be solved efficiently by existing techniques\fi. Third, we empirically evaluate the techniques to determine their applicability in the context of common evolution scenarios. Based on these findings, we present a taxonomy of the solving techniques and the evolution scenarios that best suit each technique.
A 431-Yr Reconstruction of Western Colorado Snowpack from Tree Rings

Abstract A tree-ring-based reconstruction for 1 April snow water equivalent (SWE) is generated for the Gunnison River basin region in western Colorado. The reconstruction explains 63% of the variance in the instrumental record and extends from 1569 to 1999. When the twentieth-century part of the record is compared to the full record, the variability and extremes in the twentieth century appear representative of the long-term record. However, years of extreme SWE (low and high) and persistent low SWE events are not evenly distributed throughout the record. The twentieth century is notable for several periods that lack extreme years, and along with the nineteenth century and the second half of the eighteenth century, contains many fewer persistent low SWE events than the first half of the reconstruction. Low SWE in the western United States is associated with several circulation patterns, including the Pacific–North American (PNA) pattern and those related to El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), but the Gun...