cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of HIV-1 recombination in its natural target cells

Genetic recombination is believed to assist HIV-1 diversification and escape from host immunity and antiviral therapies, yet this process remains largely unexamined within the natural target-cell populations. We developed a method for measuring HIV-1 recombination directly that employs reporter viruses bearing functional enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) and enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) genes in which recombination produces a modified GFP gene and GFP fluorescence in the infected cells. These reporter viruses allow simultaneous quantification of the dynamics of HIV-1 infection, coinfection, and recombination in cell culture and in animal models by flow-cytometric analysis. Multiround infection assays revealed that productive cellular coinfection was subject to little functional inhibition. As a result, generation of recombinants proceeded according to the square of the infection rate during HIV-1 replication in T lymphocytes and within human thymic grafts in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)-hu (Thy/Liv) mice. These results suggest that increases in viral load may confer a compounding risk of virus escape by means of recombinational diversification. A single round of replication in T lymphocytes in culture generated an average of nine recombination events per virus, and infection of macrophages led to ≈30 crossover events, making HIV-1 up to an order of magnitude more recombinogenic than recognized previously and demonstrating that the infected cell exerts a profound influence on the frequency of recombination.
Effects of vaccination on the acute-phase protein response and measures of performance in growing beef calves.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of vaccination on the acute-phase protein (APP) reaction (Exp. 1 and 2) and measures of performance (Exp. 2) in growing beef calves. In Exp. 1, the APP reaction was assessed in newly weaned steers administered 1 of 3 treatments (n = 8 steers/treatment), consisting of 1) Mannheimia haemolytica vaccine (One Shot; Pfizer Inc., New York, NY), 2) Clostridium vaccine (UltraBac 7; Pfizer, Inc.), or 3) saline-injected control. Blood samples for the evaluation of APP concentrations were collected on d 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 and steer BW measured on d 0 and 21 relative to treatment administration. Plasma concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp) increased (P 0.36) among treatments. On d 1, plasma Cp concentrations increased (P < 0.01) sharply in vaccinated heifers but not control heifers and were greater (P < 0.05) in vaccinated vs. control heifers on d 3, 6, 9, and 12 relative to injection. Daily DMI did not differ (P = 0.66) among treatments (average = 9.1 kg/d; SEM = 0.34); however, ADG and G:F were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for control vs. vaccinated heifers (1.14 vs. 0.87 kg/d and 0.13 and 0.10 kg, respectively; SEM = 0.064 and 0.011). These data indicate that within a 2 wk period after vaccination, beef calves experience an acute-phase protein response, which may result in reduced ADG and feed efficiency.
Inhibition of E-rosette formation by two iron salts.

Abstract The effects of four different metal salts on E-rosette formation by human peripheral blood lymphocytes and cells from a human T-cell line were examined. Pretreatment of lymphocytes with FeCl3 and Fe-citrate inhibited rosette formation. The inhibition was related to cell and iron salt concentrations. Zinc chloride and Na-citrate had no significant effect on rosette formation. The results indicate that lymphocytes can bind Fe3+ and the possible implications of this finding are discussed in relation to the known roles played by T lymphocytes in the control of erythropoiesis and cellular immunity.
Kinship and Economic-Rational Migration: a Comparison of Micro- and Macro-level Analyses

Social theorists have thought of economic-rational migration as a requisite of modern society which leads to the dispersion of kin and weakening of kin ties. Census data on State Economic Areas and...
Pharmacist’s intervention for older hospitalized patients

Of older adult patients admitted to the hospital, about 34–50% experience a decrease in functionality resulting in increased hospital length of stay (LOS), health care cost, and morbidity and mortality.[1][1] Because of the presence of multiple chronic disease states in the elderly, they consume
Effects of resistant maize silks on corn earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) biology: a laboratory study.

Results of a laboratory study show that even low levels of resistant maize, Zea mays L., silks reduced corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), growth and extended the life cycle by about 3 d. An intermediate level of resistance in maize silks reduced corn earworm growth, extended developmental time by about 8 d per generation, and subsequently reduced egg production by approximately 30%. A high level of resistance in maize silks reduced corn earworm growth, extended the life cycle by about 20 d, and reduced egg production by about 65% per generation. In addition to these parameters, if corn earworm attacked maize each generation, the intermediate level of this type of resistance would eliminate about two generations per year and the high level of resistance 40-50% of the generations per year. Thus, if hybrid maize can be developed with intermediate to high levels of resistance to corn earworm, then populations that usually devastate alternate crops can be dramatically reduced while reducing pesticide use by growers.
Very low high-density lipoproteins without coronary atherosclerosis

Epidemiological studies have established that concentrations of plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are inversely associated with premature atherosclerosis, but the physiological basis of this relationship remains unknown. We investigated 5 probands with very low plasma HDL. None had clinical or biochemical findings typical of the known genetic disorders with low HDL nor had evidence of premature coronary atherosclerosis by sensitive diagnostic methods. All 5 probands and the son of 1 of them had rapid catabolism of the HDL apolipoproteins A-I and A-II. These results indicate that not all people with low HDL are necessarily at risk of premature coronary heart disease and that further investigation is required before decisions can be made about their management.
Is radiochemistry the ultimate in trace analysis.

ABSTRACT The literature of Analytical Chemistry abounds in papers describing the use of specific measurement techniques for the determination of trace amounts of both inorganic and organic constituents. Recent emphasis throughout the world on problems of pollution and health has encouraged the extension of existing trace methods and the search for, and development of, potential new techniques. Unfortunately, it often appears that the field of trace analysis is split into two widely disparate groups: one, where proponents of a particular technique tend to measure the capabilities of their methods on ‘distilled water’ or other near ideal systems, and the other, where those developing the trace methods must apply them without delay to very practical samples such as air particulates, waste water, food, blood, etc. The former experimenter often extolls the ‘ultra’ sensitivities of 10-8to 10-9 grammes attainable under certain conditions, while the latter often expresses satisfaction if he can get an answer on his practical sample to within an accuracy of 10-25 or even 50 per cent. Often, also, there is little communication and/or understanding between members of these two groups. Whether we like it or not, trace analysis is today in the spotlight of public attention and the analytical chemist can perform an important service if many of his efforts can be related to the solution of some of these practical problems. Thus, when the environmentalist asks about the amount of contaminant in a specific sample the analytical chemist should be able to give an unbiased value with an associated accuracy limit—not just a value obtained with highly refined measurements using one or another specific technique or procedure. Proponents of widely-used trace analysis methods such as atomic absorption, spark source mass spectrometry, polarography, activation analysis, etc., often give the impression that their methods alone can solve a large fraction of the problems of trace analysis. In addition, from time to time new, specialized trace methods are reported and sometimes find use in solving special analytical problems. However, the trace analyst deceives himself and, worse yet, gives false impressions to others unless he is able to understand the biases of his methods and instruments in relation to other possible methods and instruments and in addition expresses these biases quantitatively as accuracy error limits. Our experience at NBS in certifying trace element Standard Reference Materials in matrices as diverse as glass, orchard leaves, gold, zinc, beef liver, tuna fish and coal has given us an insight into the optimum contributions which can be made by many of these methods. The advantages and disadvantages of activation analysis as well as of several other types of radiochemical methods will be discussed in relation to other trace analysis techniques, based on our NBS experience in practical trace analysis.
VEGF-mediated phosphorylation of eNOS regulates angioblast and embryonic endothelial cell proliferation.

To evaluate potential roles of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of the endothelial lineage and neovascular processes (vasculogenesis and angiogenesis) we evaluated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS) expression in 7.2–8.5 days post-coitum (dpc) mouse embryos. Analysis revealed that p-eNOS(S1177) but not P-eNOS(S617) or P-eNOS(T495) was expressed in a subpopulation of angioblasts (TAL-1+/Flk-1+/CD31−/CD34−/VE-Cadherin−) at 7.2 dpc. A role of the VEGF/Akt1/eNOS signaling pathway in the regulation of the endothelial cell (EC) lineage was suggested by the strong correlation observed between cell division and p-eNOS(S1177) expression in both angioblasts and embryonic endothelial cells (EECs, TAL-1+/Flk-1+/CD31+/CD34+/VE-Cadherin+). Our studies using Akt1 null mouse embryos show a reduction in p-eNOS(S1177) expression in angioblast and EECs that is correlated with a decrease in endothelial cell proliferation and results in changes in VEGF-induced vascular patterning. Further, we show that VEGF-mediated cell proliferation in Flk-1+ cells in allantoic cultures is decreased by pharmacological inhibitors of the VEGF/Akt1/eNOS signaling pathways. Taken together, our findings suggest that VEGF-mediated eNOS phosphorylation on Ser1177 regulates angioblast and EEC division, which underlies the formation of blood vessels and vascular networks.
An Unusual Case of Bipartite Patella Fracture with Quadriceps Rupture

Bipartite patella fracture with quadriceps rupture is an unusual injury. It is quite often mistaken as an avulsion fracture of patella, and the X-ray of contra-lateral knee is useful for diagnosis, and appropriate treatment should be decided at the time of surgery. We report a single case of this entity in which bipartite patella fracture was misdiagnosed initially as a patellar fracture.
A fatal case of iatrogenic hypercalcemia after calcium channel blocker overdose

We report a case of a 61-year-old woman treated for a suspected verapamil overdose with continuous calcium chloride infusion, resulting in severe hypercalcemia of 32.3 mg/dL (8.07 mmol/L) with a normal range of 8.6–10.5 mg/dL (2.15–2.63 mmol/L). Treatment with acute hemodialysis rapidly normalized the serum calcium level, but the patient later died of vasoconstrictive complications of hypercalcemia.
Fetal distress secondary to vancomycin-induced maternal hypotension.

Abstract The rapid administration of intravenous vancomycin may produce fetal distress secondary to maternal hypotension.
Coatings for controlled-release drug delivery systems.

(1998). Coatings for Controlled-Release Drug Delivery Systems. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy: Vol. 24, No. 12, pp. 1139-1154.
SPONGE-INHABITING BARNACLES OF THE AMERICAS: A NEW SPECIES OF ACASTA (CIRRIPEDIA, ARCHAEOBALANIDAE), FIRST RECORD FROM THE EASTERN PACIFIC, INCLUDING DISCUSSION OF THE EVOLUTION OF CIRRAL MORPHOLOGY

Se describe Acasta newmani n. sp. del Golfo de California. Esta es la primera cita de Acasta en el Pacofico oriental. Se discuten las hip otesis sobre la correlacion entre morfologoa cirral y los metodos de alimentacion y especificidad de huespedes. Las similitudes, entre A. newmani y A. cyathus Darwin, 1854 indican que son un ejemplo del patron comun entre especies hermanas a ambos lados del istmo de Panama, en el Caribe y Pacofico oriental tropical. Se incluye una clave de las siete especies americanas de cirropedos que viven en esponjas, indicando la especie huesped y sus distribuciones. El rango de distribucion de Membranobalanus nebrias (Zullo & Beach, 1973) se extiende desde las islas Gal apagos hasta el Golfo de California. Acasta newmani n. sp. from the Gulf of California, Mexico is described. This is the first report of Acasta from the eastern Pacific. Hypotheses are discussed concerning the correlation of cirral morphology with feeding methods and host specificity. The similarities between A. newmani and Acasta cyathus Darwin, 1854 indicate that they are examples of the common pattern of trans-isthmian sibling taxa in the Caribbean and eastern tropical Pacific. A key to the seven sponge-inhabiting barnacle species of the Americas is presented with citations noting their host sponge species and known ranges in the Americas. The range of Membranobalanus nebrias (Zullo & Beach, 1973) is extended from the Galapagos Islands to the Gulf of California.
Histological age estimation using rib and clavicle

Histological methods for estimating age at death using osteon population densities for the rib, clavicle, and rib and clavicle combined are presented. Predicting formulas were generated from a sample of 40 individuals of known age, sex, and race. Independent samples of 12 ribs and 7 clavicles were used to test the formulas. Mean differences between known and predicted ages were 1.1 years, 2.6 years, and 3.4 years for the clavicle, rib and clavicle combined, and rib formulas respectively. An analysis of variance found no significant differences among the means for predicted and known ages. Since the formula based upon rib and clavicle combined has the higher standard error and r2, and includes data from different bones, it should provide better overall accuracy and reliability, and is recommended whenever both bones are available.
Achievement Motivation and Type A Behavior as Motivational Orientations

Abstract This study investigated the relationships among achievement motivation, Type A behavior, and motivational orientation in a sample of college undergraduates. Employing a content analytic scoring system to assess intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations in open-ended material, intrinsic orientation was associated with achievement motivation and extrinsic orientation with Type A behavior. Supplementary analyses revealed a linkage between Type A behavior and instrumental concerns about interpersonal superiority and prestige. The findings help to bridge previously disparate research traditions in dispositional achievement behavior and contextual motivational orientation.
A comparison between imaging radar and medical imaging polar format algorithm implementations

The polar format algorithm (PFA) is a well known method for forming imagery in both the radar community and the medical imaging community. PFA is attractive because it has low computational cost, and it partially compensates for phase errors due to a target's motion through resolution cells (MTRC). Since the imaging scenarios for remote sensing and medical imaging are traditionally different, the PFA implementation is different between the communities. This paper describes the differences in PFA implementation. The performance of two illustrative implementations is compared using synthetic radar and medical imagery.
Evaluation of prosodic juncture strength using functional data analysis.

Prosodic structure has large effects on the temporal realization of speech via the shaping of articulatory events. It is important for speech scientists to be able to systematically quantify these prosodic effects on articulation in a way that is capable both of differentiating between the degree of prosodic lengthening associated with varying linguistic contexts and that is generalizable across speakers. The current paper presents a novel method to automatically quantify boundary strength from articulatory speech data based on functional data analysis (FDA). In particular, a new derived variable—the Deformation Index—is proposed, which is the area under FDA time-deformation functions. First using synthetic speech produced with the TaDA task dynamics computational model, the Deformation Index is shown to be able to capture a priori known differences in boundary strengths instantiated in the π-gesture framework. Additionally, this method accurately distinguishes between types of boundaries in non-synthetic speech produced by four speakers.
Regulation of brain water during acute hyperosmolality in ovine fetuses, lambs, and adults.

In adult rats, when plasma osmolality increases, water flows across the blood-brain barrier down its concentration gradient from brain to plasma, and brain volume deceases. The brain responds to th...
Productivity Improvement through Modeling: An Overview of Manufacturing Experience for the Food Industry

ABSTRACT: Food production and manufacturing of durable goods share common needs for understanding, modeling, and controlling processing conditions in order to obtain desirable product characteristics. This article presents a review of research on manufacturing process modeling, with a focus on historical developments in the metrology and standards infrastructure to improve productivity and competitiveness of machining systems. To remain competitive, manufacturing requires accurate and reliable machines and processes whose characteristics are known and guaranteed for a wide variety of tasks and conditions. Productive, high-quality manufacturing will increasingly rely on a science-based understanding and monitoring of the available machining processes and equipment to produce the first part and every subsequent part on time and to specification with no significant time spent on process development or setup.
An evaluation of relational join algorithms in a pipelined query processing environment

A query processing strategy which is based on pipelining and data-flow techniques is presented. Timing equations are developed for calculating the performance of four join algorithms: nested block, hash, sort-merge, and pipelined sort-merge. They are used to execute the join operation in a query in distributed fashion and in pipelined fashion. Based on these equations and similar sets of equations developed for other relational algebraic operations, the performance of query execution was evaluated using the different join algorithms. The effects of varying the values of processing time, I/O time, communication time, buffer size, and join selectively on the performance of the pipelined join algorithms are investigated. The results are compared to the results obtained by employing the same algorithms for executing queries using the distributed processing approach which does not exploit the vertical concurrency of the pipelining approach. These results establish the benefits of pipelining. >
The Changing Face of War in Textbooks: Depictions of World War II and Vietnam, 1970–2009

How have U.S. high school textbook depictions of World War II and Vietnam changed since the 1970s? We examined 102 textbooks published from 1970 to 2009 to see how they treated U.S. involvement in ...
The CELLSCAN system - T.M. a leucocyte pattern analyzer

Medical workers suspect that the incidence of the binucleate lymphocyte in the peripheral blood stream is an index of radiation damage. The fact that the incidence of this type of white cell is of the order of one per each million blood cells makes practical use of this index by the human observer essentially impossible. The Atomic Energy Commission has therefore arranged for the construction of a blood cell scanning system with which to determine the feasibility of the semi-automatic identification of the binucleate lymphobyte in glass-mounted smears of human blood.The CELLSCAN system consists of a closed circuit television microscope coupled to a special purpose digital computer. The system produces a quantized image of the leucocyte whose pattern is to be analyzed. The computer program causes the quantized image to be operated upon serially in such a way that groupings of contiguous binary "1's" are reduced to single 1's. Sampling the number of isolated 1's at various instants during the reduction process produces a histogram of the leucocyte's various constituent parts. The CELLSCAN system is intended to determine whether the resultant histogram of the binucleate lymphocyte is unique in the histogram population of all leucocytes.
Evaluating the Causes of Rising Food Prices in Low and Middle Income Countries

The effects of population, income, prices of major inputs, and exchange rate of the U.S. dollar on the prices of three key agricultural and food commodities (feed grains, oilseed, and fruits) for 13 low-income countries and seven middle-income countries were evaluated. Given the short time period, a modified seeming unrelated regression-vector autoregressive model that incorporates the lagged exogenous variables property of time series models and the system of equation estimation is employed in the analysis. The study finds no single factor that persistently explains all soaring food prices as reported in the literature. The only factor that persistently explains soaring food prices are the contemporaneous and one-year lagged exchange rates and income.
RBAC for High Performance Computing Systems Integration in Grid Computing and Cloud Computing

This paper describes a Role-based Access Control (RBAC) mechanism for distributed High Performance Computing (HPC) systems that will facilitate scalable evaluation, management and enforcement of access control policies. The RBAC mechanism forms an enhanced security framework for Grids and Clouds that will allow for interoperability between technologies in the two domains. The mechanisms being proposed here are important because the current lack of software tools and security standards in accessing distributed HPC systems and transporting Large Data Sets can add immensely to overheads in data processing or data integration times. RBAC models make policy management scalable and by virtue of being modular allow for more sophisticated access control models to be integrated with them. This paper shows how existing security standards can be leveraged for the specification and management of RBAC policies with the aim to allow disparate applications, systems and security domains to interoperate. The extensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML) can be used for policy specification and management across disparate organizations and the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) can be used for authentication and authorization assertions across the same. Both standards can be leveraged to facilitate policy management and enforcement, and delegation of rights. Authorization servers like Shibboleth can be leveraged for use as RBAC system components.
Gendering comparative politics

This essay offers a conceptualization of a comparative politics of gender (CPG) and some explanations for why CPG work is marginalized in the comparative politics subfield. I delineate CPG as a field of study in which gendered dependent or independent variables are the defining feature and present illustrative examples of four different types of CPG research. I contend that institutional and historical factors account for much of the marginalization of CPG research, and I propose some courses of actions through which CPG scholars can lessen this marginalization. The failure of comparative politics scholars to engage with gendered work is also a serious problem. The essay concludes by offering some suggestions for better integrating CPG scholarship into the subfield.
Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (expiration and inspiration ratio) in type 1 diabetes: Incidence and predictors

The pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy is poorly understood. In this prospective study, we investigated the incidence rate and potential predictors for cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in a cohort of childhood-onset type 1 diabetic patients. Subjects from the Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study were examined at baseline and then biennially. CAN was diagnosed by abnormal ( 200 ug/min) (RR=2.46, p=0.0001) to be significant independent predictors. Hypertension was, however, predictive if nephropathy was not included in the model. We conclude that beyond age and poor glycemic control, nephropathy is a significant risk factor for CAN and this association may explain some of the increased mortality seen in CAN.
Bystander injury evaluation of children from Midwestern agricultural operations

BACKGROUND: With more than a million youth living on agricultural operations, it is important for parents to understand the consequences of bystander injuries that children experience in these environments. We identified the childhood injuries for bystander status and compared the severity of these injuries to the working children in the Regional Rural Injury Study-II (RRIS-II). METHODS: RRIS-II followed 16,546 children ( approximately 85% of eligible) from rural communities in the Midwest for two six-month recall periods in 1999 and 2001. Demographic, injury, and exposure data were collected through comprehensive computer-assisted telephone interviews. Child injuries were cataloged using narrative scenarios into four categories: (a) directly work-related; (b) indirectly work-related; (c) non-working accomplice; and (d) non-working attendant; the latter three all being bystander categories. Poisson regression modeling was used to calculate rates of bystander injuries. Frequencies were used for comparison of severity measures. RESULTS: Among the 463 child injuries (aged Language: en
Editorial Comment—Can MRI Reliably Detect Hyperacute Intracerebral Hemorrhage? Ask the Medical Student

Although never formally tested, a CT is required to exclude intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in acute stroke prior to thrombolysis. Therefore, centers that use MRI in acute stroke must in addition obtain a CT to safely rule out ICH. Despite traditional skepticism, MRI is intrinsically able to detect hyperacute ICH. Such capability is based on the magnetic susceptibility effect of deoxyhemoglobin. In ICH, hemoglobin extravasates in an environment with a low O2 concentration, low pH, and high CO2. Because of the Bohr effect, such changes promote the formation of deoxyhemoglobin extending from the periphery of the hematoma toward the center. Deoxyhemoglobin has 4 unpaired electrons and is therefore paramagnetic (χ >0). As such, it produces magnetic inhomogeneities that result in local T2* relaxation enhancement. Obviously, the MR contrast of deoxyhemoglobin is highly dependent on the mode of imaging acquisition. …
Energy needs of dwarf (dw) broiler breeder hens.

Abstract Studies were conducted to determine the daily energy needs of the dwarf broiler breeder hen. In the first study, hens were control-fed diets ranging from 325 to 400 M.E. kcal./hen/day with ample amounts of other essential nutrients. Hens did not totally consume all of their daily allotment so in a second study the calorie allowance ranged from 260 to 320 M.E. kcal./hen/day. From the results of these studies it is estimated that the daily energy requirement of the dwarf broiler breeder hen is greater than 249 but no more than 269 M.E. kcal./day.
Evidence for Perceptual “Trapping” and Adaptation in Multistable Binocular Rivalry

When a different pattern is presented to each eye, the perceived image spontaneously alternates between the two patterns (binocular rivalry); the dynamics of these bistable alternations are known to be stochastic. Examining multistable binocular rivalry (involving four dominant percepts), we demonstrated path dependence and on-line adaptation, which were equivalent whether perceived patterns were formed by single-eye dominance or by mixed-eye dominance. The spontaneous perceptual transitions tended to get trapped within a pair of related global patterns (e.g., opponent shapes and symmetric patterns), and during such trapping, the probability of returning to the repeatedly experienced patterns gradually decreased (postselection pattern adaptation). These results suggest that the structure of global shape coding and its adaptation play a critical role in directing spontaneous alternations of visual awareness in perceptual multistability.
Ti-thickness dependent electromigration resistance of the Al-Cu-Si/TiN/sub x//TiSi/sub y/ barrier contact system

The electromigration resistance for the Al-Cu-Si alloy/titanium nitride/titanium silicide barrier contact system was evaluated as a function of the deposited Ti thickness (0-1000 AA). Both the conventional constant current stress and current ramping stress were applied. It was found that the electromigration resistance of the contact structure increases with the Ti thickness monotonically, although the rate of increase reduces drastically once the Ti thickness exceeds 400 AA. At a Ti thickness of 1000 AA, the mean time to failure is more than an order of magnitude longer than that of contacts without the titanium nitride barrier. There is an excellent correlation between the result derived from conventional constant current stress and that from the current ramping stress. The current ramp method, therefore, can be used as a relative reliability indicator for contact structures on wafer-level tests. Thermal stress data show that an adequate margin of thermal stability exists for contact structures at all Ti thicknesses (>or=200 AA). Accordingly, a process window for the Ti thickness in this technology can be defined depending on the requirement of electromigration resistance for contacts. >
An extendable framework for expectation-based visual servoing using environment models

Visual servoing is a manipulation control strategy that precisely positions objects using imprecisely calibrated camera-lens-manipulator systems. In order to quickly and easily integrate sensor-based manipulation strategies such as visual servoing into robotic systems, a system framework and a task representation must exist which facilitates this integration. The framework must also be extendable so that obsolete sensor systems can be easily replaced or extended as new technologies become available. In this paper we present a framework for expectation-based visual servoing which visually guides tasks based on the expected visual appearance of the task. The appearance of the task is generated by a model of the environment that uses texture-mapped geometric models to represent objects. A system structure which facilitates the integration of various configurations of visual servoing systems is presented, as well as a hardware implementation of the proposed system and experimental results using a stereo camera system.
Stand-alone monitoring of time varying digital data using reconfigurable System-On-Chip technology

Reconfigurable System-On-Chip is a new technology compared to traditional System-On-Chip. Their use in designing an embedded system allows for low circuit size, portability, low cost, small power consumption, low path latency, high data rate processing, while protecting design from obsolescence, and allowing past deployment customization. Traditional data monitoring systems are computer-based. In many fields like industrial or medical fields, it is difficult to bring a computer into these fields due to various restrictions like power consumption, size and cost. By using high density Filed Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) technologies, stand-alone data monitoring systems can be designed. In this research, time varying data is monitored and plotted on a graphical display module using a novel stand-alone system design. That system is capable of monitoring continuous time varying data by plotting it graphically without the use of a personal computer. Successful achievements are presented in the paper for experimental data.
Seed Germination Response of Rapid-Cycling Brassica oleracea Grown Under Increasing Sodium Selenate

Abstract Breeding plants to be more efficient at micronutrient accumulation is a proposed strategy for fighting worldwide malnutrition of humans. Selection for increased selenium (Se) in Brassica oleracea L. is possible. However, when present at high levels, micronutrients such as Se can affect seed germination and subsequently hamper breeding efforts. The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the accumulation of Se in seeds of B. oleracea; and (2) to determine effects that Se accumulation may have on seed germination. Plants of a rapid‐cycling B. oleracea population were grown in nutrient solutions with sodium selenate (Na2SeO4) concentrations up to 7 mg L−1 (2.93 mg Se L−1). Seeds and leaves were harvested from the selenized plants and analyzed for Se content using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Germination percentage and rate were determined by sowing seeds in moistened towels, placing them in an incubator at 21°C, and observing radicle emergence. Selenium accumulated in the seeds, but a...
Developmental Dyscalculia and the Brain

Developmental dyscalculia (DD) is a complex learning disorder that affects basic numerical processing and math learning in 3–6% of schoolchildren. Children with DD show poor performance on a broad range of numerical tasks, and comorbid impairments, such as reading or attentional problems, are common. In the last 15 years, neuroimaging studies have revealed a distributed neuronal network including several cortical and subcortical areas for representing and processing numerical information. In contrast, only a few studies to date have examined the neuronal basis of DD. Existing findings suggest that at least some forms of DD are associated with alterations in brain function, brain structure, metabolism, and fiber connections in the parietal cortex. However, different forms of DD and even DD associated with abnormalities in the parietal cortex appear to involve other cortical and subcortical regions.
Clinical variables associated with glaucomatous injury in eyes with large optic disc cupping.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To characterize the range of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and standard automated perimetry damage in eyes with large vertical cup-disc ratio (VCDR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Complete examination, standard automated perimetry, scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the RNFL and optic nerve head were performed. Large VCDR was defined as > or = 0.80 using stereoscopic disc examination and OCT optic nerve head analysis. Structural and functional characteristics were assessed separately in eyes with a disc area of less than 2 mm2, 2 to 2.5 mm2 and greater than 2.5 mm2. RESULTS: Fifty-seven eyes of 57 subjects were enrolled. A broad range in mean deviation (2.0 to -32.8 dB) and mean RNFL thickness with OCT (24.3-100.4 microm) and scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation (24.0-61.7 microm) was identified. Predictors of standard automated perimetry severity using multiple linear regression were mean RNFL thickness using OCT (P = .001) and scanning laser polarimetry (P = .001), OCT-vertical cup diameter (P = .003), temporal, superior, nasal, inferior, temporal standard deviation (P = .03), and OCT-disc area (P = .04). Eyes with an OCT-disc area of less than 2 mm2 demonstrated significantly greater standard automated perimetry damage, RNFL loss using OCT and scanning laser polarimetry, and OCT-rim area (P = .002, .0007, .03, and < .0001, respectively) compared with eyes with a disc area of greater than 2.5 mm2. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with large VCDR have a wide range of RNFL atrophy and standard automated perimetry damage. Small optic discs are associated with more advanced glaucomatous injury.
The curse of growing scales: from inception to successful community-driven software development

Sustainable HPC software development requires careful planning, design and implementation from the ground up, as growing demands during the product evolution renders static processes that were successful at a smaller scale untenable, when scope and resource requirements expand. This white paper aims to address some relevant questions to tackle the curse of growing scales in science and resources (human and computing) during various stages of scientific software evolution.
A Quadratic Basis Function, Quadratic Geometry, High Order Panel Method.

Most panel method implementations use both low order basis function representations of the solution and flat panel representations of the body surface. Although several implementations of higher order panel methods exist, diculties in robustly computing the self term integrals remain. In this paper, methods for integrating the single and double layer self term integrals are presented. The approaches are conceptually simple and robust. The paper considers quadratic basis functions to represent the solution, while the geometry of the body is approximated using piecewise parametric quadratic patches. Increased convergence rates are demonstrated for cases where the quadratic basis functions on quadratic curved panels are used. The quadratic panel method converges at a rate proportional to the cube of the panel side length (or NP 3 2, where NP is the number of panels).
MERRF and Kearns-Sayre Overlap Syndrome Due to the Mitochondrial DNA M.3291T>C Mutation (P07.209)

Objective: To report a patient with a complex phenotype of myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) syndrome and Kearns–Sayre syndrome (KSS), who harbored a m.3291T>C mutation in the tRNALeu(UUR) gene. This mutation has never been reported in association with a MERRF/KSS syndrome. Background Individuals who harbor a pathogenic mtDNA mutation can manifest overlapping features of typical mitochondrial syndromes. MERRF is a multisystem disorder characterized by myoclonic seizures, cerebellar ataxia, mitochondrial myopathy, and ragged-red fibers (RRF) on muscle biopsy, commonly caused by the m.8344A>G mutation in the tRNALys gene. KSS is a mitochondrial disorder characterized by onset before 20 years of age of progressive external ophthalmoplegia or pigmentary retinopathy, together with at least one of a triad of cerebellar ataxia, heart block, and elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein. Typically, KSS is due to single, large-scale deletions of mtDNA. Design/Methods: Clinical data were collected. Muscle histochemical and biochemical analysis was performed. Muscle DNA was screened for mtDNA large-scale rearrangements and point mutations. Mutation level was quantified by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Results: A 48-year-old man presented with progressive myoclonus epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia, hearing loss, myopathic weakness, ophthalmoparesis, pigmentary retinopathy, and bifascicular heart block. Muscle biopsy demonstrated multiple RRF. Biochemical analysis of respiratory chain enzymes was normal. Genetic tests were negative for the common MERRF mtDNA mutations, and no deletions in mitochondrial DNA were detected. Direct sequencing mtDNA revealed a T-to-C transition at nucleotide position 3291 in the tRNALeu(UUR) gene. PCR RFLP showed 92% mutant genome in muscle. Conclusions: This is the first report associating a m.3291T>C mutation in the tRNALeu(UUR) gene with an adult-onset MERRF/KSS overlap. Our data reinforce the well-established concept that, in mtDNA-related disorders, the same genetic abnormality can be associated with a wide spectrum of phenotypes, and the observation that tRNALeu(UUR) is a hotspot for mtDNA mutations. Supported by: The National Institutes of Health (NIH HD32062) and by the Marriott Mitochondrial Disorders Clinical Research Fund (MMDCRF). M.H. was supported by NIH grants (R01HD57543, R01HD056103, and RCNS070232) and by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Disclosure: Dr. Emmanuele has nothing to disclose. Dr. Silvers has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sotiriou has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tanji has nothing to disclose. Dr. DiMauro has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hirano has received personal compensation for activities with Athena Diagnostics as a speaker.Dr. Hirano has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports.Dr. Hirano has received research support from Santhera Pharmaceutical and Edison Pharmaceuticals.
Changing Trends in the Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in the United States.

The incidence of thyroid cancer in the United States has tripled in 30 years, rising rapidly since the 1990s. This substantial increase, chiefly comprising small papillary cancers, has been attributed to widespread diagnosis of subclinical disease.1 Autopsy studies show a sizeable prevalence (5%–30%) of clinically occult thyroid cancer in asymptomatic persons. The rising diagnosis of thyroid cancer has been linked to increasing health care utilization and imaging practices,2–4 which have led to the increased discovery of small papillary thyroid cancers, which generally exhibit indolent behavior.
Resonance Stabilization Effects on Ketone Autoxidation: Isomer-Specific Cyclic Ether and Ketohydroperoxide Formation in the Low-Temperature (400–625 K) Oxidation of Diethyl Ketone

The pulsed photolytic chlorine-initiated oxidation of diethyl ketone [DEK; (CH3CH2)2C═O], 2,2,4,4-d4-DEK [d4-DEK; (CH3CD2)2C═O], and 1,1,1,5,5,5-d6-DEK [d6-DEK; (CD3CH2)2C═O] is studied at 8 torr and 1–2 atm and from 400–625 K. Cl atoms produced by laser photolysis react with diethyl ketone to form either primary (3-pentan-on-1-yl, RP) or secondary (3-pentan-on-2-yl, RS) radicals, which in turn react with O2. Multiplexed time-of-flight mass spectrometry, coupled to either a hydrogen discharge lamp or tunable synchrotron photoionizing radiation, is used to detect products as a function of mass, time, and photon energy. At 8 torr, the nature of the chain propagating cyclic ether + OH channel changes as a function of temperature. At 450 K, the production of OH is mainly in conjunction with formation of 2,4-dimethyloxetan-3-one, resulting from reaction of the resonance-stabilized secondary RS with O2. In contrast, at 550 K and 8 torr, 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-3-one, originating from oxidation of the primary r...
Discrepancy in the Measurement of Reduced Triphosphopyridine Nucleotide Oxidized during Ethylmorphine N-Demethylation Due to the Presence of a Nucleotide Pyrophosphatase

The failure to establish the required 1:1 stoichiometry for TPNH utilization and product formation for the hepatic drug-metabolizing system involving cytochrome P-450 has been attributed to TPNH utilization by endogenous substrates. Attempts to achieve stoichiometry by subtracting endogenous TPNH utilization from TPNH utilization in the presence of substrate have not proved satisfactory. When the disappearance of TPNH was monitored both enzymatically and by observing the decline in spectral absorbance at 340 nm in the presence and absence of the substrate, ethylmorphine, values were identical initially, but became increasingly divergent with incubation time. Less of the apparent TPNH was present when the enzymatic procedure was used. The high values obtained by the spectrophotometric method were shown to be due to reduced nicotinamide mononucleotide, which also gives a maximum absorption peak at 340 nm. NMNH is formed through the action of microsomal nucleotide pyrophosphatase. Moreover, ethylmorphine inhibits NMNH formation by competing for TPNH for its N-demethylation. A 1:1 stoichiometry of TPNH utilization to formaldehyde formation was possible when calculations were corrected to include rates of NMNH formation. EDTA (0.2 mM) inhibited NMNH formation and thereby enabled the calculation of a 1:1 stoichiometric relationship. ATP and 59-AMP also inhibited nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity.
Religion and Violence: how symbiotic a relationship?

Violence is often seen as intimately connected to the Abrahamic religions, while on other accounts peace is the main religious objective. There is plenty of scope for coming to both conclusions when we examine Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It could be argued that religion takes violence seriously and provides suggestions for controlling it. In fact, the methodology of theology itself emphasizes balance and moderation, and so attempts to control violent and aggressive human behavior. Islam in particular, and all the Abrahamic religions, tend to accord theologically with Aristotelian approaches to ethics, and so an unbridled enthusiasm for violence would be anathema. The Abrahamic religions provide intellectual resources for the regulation of conflict and clearly all take a positive view of peace.
Induced Plasmacytoma Formation in Mice

Although plasmacytomas can develop spontaneously in mice, the more common origin requires inducing agents. In the system which we will describe, plasmacytomagenesis is initiated by the intraperitoneal injection of paraffin oils such as the alkane pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane) (Anderson and Potter 1969). These tumors can also be induced by the intraperitoneal implantation of solid plastic materials as was originally discovered by Merwin and Algire (see Merwin et al. 1963). An important characteristic of plasmacytoma induction in mice is that it only works in certain inbred strains such as BALB/cAn in which the expected average incidence is ∼ 60%, or NZB where between 30 and 40% of the mice develop these tumors; most other inbred strains do not develop these tumors (Morse et al. 1980). Plasmacytomas have been studied cytogentically by Francis Wiener and Shinsuke Ohno, and over 95% of them have reciprocal chromosomal translocations involving immunoglobulin genes (chromosomes 12 and 6 and 16) and c-myc (chromosome 15) or loci near c-myc such as Pvt-1 (Ohno et al. 1979,1984). These translocations cause deregulation of c-mvc transcription (Mushinski 1988). Deregulation of c-myc cooperates with other oncogenic mutations to transform certain B-lymphocytes but does not appear to be sufficient by itself to cause transformation (see Potter 1990). C-myc deregulation is consistently found in spontaneous rat immunocytomas (plasma cell tumors) and in Burkitt’s lymphoma in man (see Potter 1990).
Race and Evolution in Antebellum Alabama: The Polygenist Prehistory We’d Rather Ignore

The name of Alabama physician Josiah Clark Nott (1804–1873) adorns a building on the campus of the University of Alabama perhaps in part because he made it possible for scientists to speak of the origins of humanity and an antiquated Earth without first nodding to Genesis. Nott popularized a fully secular science that investigated the development of humanity two decades before Darwin’s Descent of Man (1871). But Nott also provided solid scientific support for some of the most repugnant racial theories of the Victorian era. Using previously unexplored archival resources, this essay attempts to clear up the mythology surrounding Nott, the history of evolutionary theory, and the role of American science during the foundation of anthropology.