cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Widespread expression of conserved small RNAs in small symbiont genomes

Genome architecture of a microbe markedly changes when it transitions from a free-living lifestyle to an obligate symbiotic association within eukaryotic cells. These symbiont genomes experience numerous rearrangements and massive gene loss, which is expected to radically alter gene regulatory networks compared with those of free-living relatives. As such, it remains unclear whether and how these small symbiont genomes regulate gene expression. Here, using a label-free mass-spec quantification approach we found that differential protein regulation occurs in Buchnera, a model symbiont with a reduced genome, when it transitions between two distinct life stages. However, differential mRNA expression could not be detected between Buchnera life stages, despite the presence of a small number of putative transcriptional regulators. Instead a comparative analysis of small RNA expression profiles among five divergent Buchnera lineages, spanning a variety of Buchnera life stages, reveals 140 novel intergenic and antisense small RNAs and 517 untranslated regions that were significantly expressed, some of which have been conserved for ∼65 million years. In addition, the majority of these small RNAs exhibit both sequence covariation and thermodynamic stability, indicators of a potential structural RNA role. Together, these data suggest that gene regulation at the post-transcriptional level may be important in Buchnera. This is the first study to empirically identify Buchnera small RNAs, and we propose that these novel small RNAs may facilitate post-transcriptional regulation through translational inhibition/activation, and/or transcript stability. Ultimately, post-transcriptional regulation may shape metabolic complementation between Buchnera and its aphid host, thus impacting the animal’s ecology and evolution.
Separation of the filipin complex by gradient-elution high performance liquid chromatography

A method has been developed for the separation of the filipin complex components by gradient-elution high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The elution order for the major filipin components (filipins I approximately IV) was established by first isolating the component fractions by thin-layer chromatography. Each component fraction was then subjected to gradient HPLC. The order of elution for the major filipin components was from first to last: III, IV, II and I. The unexpected reversal in the elution order for filipins III and IV may be evidence that the two filipins are stereoisomeric at the C-1' position. Finally, gradient elution HPLC was used to compare various preparations of filipin. In addition, the technique has been applied to other preparations of polyene antibiotics which have structures similar to that of filipin.
Females lay fewer eggs for males with greater courtship success in a lekking Drosophila

The evolutionary basis for female mate choice in lek mating systems has been a common subject of research in animal behaviour. Because males apparently provide only gametes to females in lekking species, most research has focused on possible indirect (genetic) benefits that females might gain by discriminating among males. Despite the emphasis on indirect benefits, it has been recognized that females in non-resource-based systems such as leks could potentially gain direct benefits via mate choice if males varied in fertilization abilities, for example. Previous evidence has shown that females of a lekking Hawaiian Drosophila, D. grimshawi, vary in fecundity when mated to certain males, and that females possess preferences for vigorously courting males. This study tests the hypothesis that D. grimshawi females gain direct benefits by preferentially mating with more sexually vigorous males. Male courtship vigour (performance of wing and head-under-wing displays) and the consequences of female choice on offspring production were evaluated separately using different females. Unexpectedly, matings involving more vigorously courting males resulted in fewer offspring being produced. Reduced offspring number resulted because females laid fewer eggs when mating with males having greater courtship success. These results are discussed in light of sexual conflict and possible multiple mating by females. Females also demonstrated considerable variation in mating behaviour and behavioural variation was correlated with mating benefits.
A Phase I and Pharmacokinetic Study of BAY59: A Novel Taxane

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the dose limiting toxicities (DLT) and the pharmacokinetics of BAY59, a novel taxane given as a 1-hour intravenous infusion every 3 weeks in patients with advanced refractory solid tumors. Experimental Design: Initially, 15 patients with previously treated (median of 4 prior chemotherapy regimens) refractory cancers, but with normal marrow, hepatic and renal function were treated with BAY59 at doses of 15, 30, 50, 75 and 100 mg/m2 using a standard dose escalation design. Subsequently, 11 patients were treated, 5 at 90 mg/m2 and 6 who had had prior oxaliplatin at 75 mg/m2. Results: At 75 mg/m2, grade 4 neutropenia was noted in 2/6 patients, of whom 1 had grade 4 neutropenia lasting more than 5 days (DLT). At 100 mg/m2, 2/2 patients had febrile neutropenia, with 1 fatality. At 90 mg/m2, 2/5 patients had DLTs, including grade 3 neuropathy, severe lower extremity pain, dehydration and grade 4 neutropenia. The MTD was determined to be 75 mg/m2. A cohort of 6 patients, previously exposed to oxaliplatin, were enrolled at the MTD to evaluate the incidence of neurotoxicity. While DLTs (grade 3 arthralgia, grade 4 neutropenia) were noted in 3/6 patients, there was no increase in the incidence of neurotoxicity. There were no responses. Pharmacokinetics of BAY59 was linear over the doses studied, with a median terminal half-life of 21 h. Conclusions: The recommended phase II dose for BAY59 is 75 mg/m2.
Synthesis and structural determination of multidentate 2,3-dithiol-stabilized Au clusters.

Interface bond structure, in addition to the well-known size and shape quantum confinement effects, is another factor that affects the properties of nanomaterials that is less known and studied. Inspired by the thiol-bridging “staple” motif (RS−Au−SR, Jadzinsky; et al. Science 2007, 318, 430.) discovered from monothiol-stabilized gold nanoclusters, dithiol ligand 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulfonic (DMPS) acid has been employed to synthesize dithiol-protected Au clusters (DTCs). The structure and property of the Au DTCs are studied to probe two effects: the entropy gain of dithiol over monothiol ligand protection and the constraint to the formation of the thiol bridging surface bonding. The hydrodynamic sizes of Au DTCs were estimated by diffusion nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The size distribution, Au core plus ligands on solid support, was confirmed by atomic force microscope (AFM) imaging. Size-dependent optical properties were observed. Au4 clusters at high purity, characterized by mass spectrometry and...
Engendering Racial Perceptions An Intersectional Analysis of How Social Status Shapes Race

Intersectionality emphasizes that race, class, and gender distinctions are inextricably intertwined, but fully interrogating the co-constitution of these axes of stratification has proven difficult to implement in large-scale quantitative analyses. We address this gap by exploring gender differences in how social status shapes race in the United States. Building on previous research showing that changes in the racial classifications of others are influenced by social status, we use longitudinal data to examine how differences in social class position might affect racial classification differently for women and men. In doing so, we provide further support for the claim that race, class, and gender are not independent axes of stratification; rather they intersect, creating dynamic feedback loops that maintain the complex structure of social inequality in the United States.
Understanding the Demand-Side Issues of International Corruption

In global business, business organizations and their representatives frequently encounter corruption and may be the perpetrators, victims, or simply participants in such acts. While international corruption has existed in multiple forms for several years, many individuals, companies, nations, and international organizations are currently attempting to reduce or eliminate corrupt acts because of their harmful effects on local economies and the quality of life of citizens. Several of these corruption curtailment efforts have been directed toward the supply-side of corruption, i.e., those who make corrupt payments. In developing an understanding of corruption, however, and formulating strategies for its reduction, consideration must also be given to the demand-side of corruption, i.e., those who demand and accept corrupt payments. Accordingly, this study examined the demand-side of corruption and several related factors in the categories of government, economy and poverty, education, geography, and culture. Analysis of these factors employed the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), formulated annually by Transparency International (TI), and other sources. Several factors in each of the five categories were found to correlate significantly with perceived corruption, and strategies for addressing these issues were developed and discussed.
The structure of human hair

Abstract The process of hair formation involves keratinization. Hair and its sheaths undergo keratinization at different speeds and with different modes. In the hair bulb, the matrix of hair and its follicle are composed of similar-looking immature cells, eg, they all contain a small number of wispy tonofilaments and weakly developed desmosomes. Except for their topographic location, there is no clue as to which cell layer they will eventually form. The cells that are located most centrally, just above the dermal papilla, most likely produce the medulla (Fig. 2-1). A large mass of immature cells located peripheral to the medullary matrix and above the shoulders of the dome-shaped dermal papilla are most likely the matrix cells of the future cortex. Further toward the periphery and down the slope of the dermal papilla are the matrix cells of the cuticle of the cortex, cuticle of the inner root sheath, and inner root sheath (Huxley and Henle). Outermost and close to the bottom of the dermal papilla are the matrix cells of the outer root sheath. As the matrix cells move toward the surface of the skin, more definitive alignment of each layer becomes apparent, the timetable of keratinization of each layer is set, and the matrix cells of each layer follow a distinct mode of keratinization. 1–3
A complex of recombination and repair genes in Haemophilus influenzae.

Abstract Two transformation-defective strains of Haemophilias influenzae have been studied with respect to their ability (1) to be transformed (2) to repair DNA damage induced by ultraviolet light, X-rays and methyl methanesulfonate (3) to allow recombination of temperature-sensitive mutants of the H. influenzae phage HP1 c1 , and (4) to be induced after lysogenization with wild-type phage. One of the strains was obtained following exposure of wild-type cells to DNA from the other, originally selected as a u.v.-sensitive strain. These strains have been crossed by transformation with wild type and with each other, and repair and recombination in the transformants have been investigated. The results indicate that both strains contain a defect in their recombination mechanism, since phage recombination is not detectable in either of them. The recombination defects in the two strains are different from each other by the following criteria: (1) The residual transformation frequencies in the strains are different, about 10 −6 and 10 −7 that of the wild type. (2) The recombination defect in the original strain with the higher transformation frequency, which contains a mutation we have called rec 1 − , is inseparable from u.V., X-ray, and methyl methanesulfonate sensitivity and lack of inducibility following lysogenization. The derived strain, which is u.v. resistant and inducible, has an intermediate sensitivity to methyl methanesulfonate and slight sensitivity to X-rays. (3) The rec 1 + gene can be transferred into the original Rec 1 − strain, either with wild-type DNA or with DNA from the derived recombination-defective mutant; rec 1 − can also be transferred into the wild-type strain. We have been unable to transfer the derived Rec − defect into the wild type, nor have we succeeded in transforming the derived strain carrying this recombination defect to normal recombination, either with wild-type DNA or with DNA from the Rec − 1 mutant. In spite of the fact that one of the Rec − strains was obtained following transformation of wild-type cells with DNA from the other Rec − , the two Rec − strains can be crossed to produce a Rec + . To account for this anomalous result it is postulated that the original Rec − strain contains two mutations, rec − 1 and mex − , and that the derived strain is rec + 1 , mex − , the mex − mutation conferring intermediate sensitivity to methyl methanesulfonate and slight sensitivity to X-rays. It is further postulated that the derived Rec − strain contains a third altered gene, rec p 2 , which was obtained through the selection procedure used to isolate the strain from the wild-type culture exposed to rec 1 − mex − rec 2 + DNA, and that the combination mex − rec 2 p causes the Rec − phenotype.
Higher-order corrections to Higgs-boson pT.

Higher-order corrections to the transverse-momentum distribution of Higgs bosons produced via gluon fusion are calculated. The calculation produces a spectrum including multiple-gluon effects normalized to next-to-leading order in ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}$.
Improving future optical turbulence calculations

Optical turbulence information is important because it describes an atmospheric effect that can significantly degrade the performance of electromagnetic systems and sensors, e.g., free-space optical communications and infrared imaging. However, analysis of selected past research indicates that there are some areas (i.e., data and models) in which optical turbulence information is lacking. For example, optical turbulence data coupled with atmospheric characterization models in hilly terrain, coastal areas, and within cities are few in number or non-existent. In addition, the bulk of existing atmospheric computer models being used to provide estimates of optical turbulence (Cn2) intensity are basically one-dimensional in nature and assume uniform turbulence conditions over large areas. As a result, current program codes may be deficient or in error for non-uniform areas, such as environments with changing topography and energy budgets. By exploring alternate (non-similarity) numerical models for momentum, Reynolds stress, and heat flux we suggest that some very practical computational research can be performed to provide better characterization of optical turbulence (Cn2) and related effects beyond current limitations.
Characterization of acoustically induced deformations of human tympanic membranes by digital holography and shearography

Recently, we introduced a Digital Optoelectronic Holographic System (DOEHS) for measurement of acoustically induced deformations of the human tympanic membrane (TM) in order to study and diagnose pathologic conditions of the middle-ear. The DOEHS consists of laser-delivery illumination (IS), optical head (OH), image-processing computer (IP), and positioning arm (PS) subsystems. Holographic information is recorded by a CCD and numerically reconstructed by Fresnel approximation. Our holographic otoscope system is currently deployed in a clinic and is packaged in a custom design. Since digital holography is a high sensitivity measurement technique and the interfering light waves travel along different paths, it makes measurements acquired by DOEHS susceptible to external vibrations. In order to avoid this susceptibility, we are testing a shearography setup as OH. Shearography presents same advantages as holographic interferometry, but it is less susceptible to vibration and external noise, which is a characteristic needed for the use of our techniques in a clinical environment. In this paper we present work in progress in our development of a shearography technique based on a Mach-Zehnder configuration as OH and demonstrate its application by quantifying vibrations modes in thin membranes, including human TM. Results are compared with those obtained with DOEHS.
Automatically documenting program changes

Source code modifications are often documented with log messages. Such messages are a key component of software maintenance: they can help developers validate changes, locate and triage defects, and understand modifications. However, this documentation can be burdensome to create and can be incomplete or inaccurate.We present an automatic technique for synthesizing succinct human-readable documentation for arbitrary program differences. Our algorithm is based on a combination of symbolic execution and a novel approach to code summarization. The documentation it produces describes the effect of a change on the runtime behavior of a program, including the conditions under which program behavior changes and what the new behavior is.We compare our documentation to 250 human-written log messages from 5 popular open source projects. Employing a human study, we find that our generated documentation is suitable for supplementing or replacing 89% of existing log messages that directly describe a code change.
Neutral transport in a gas target divertor: experimental simulation in PISCES-A and DEGAS modeling results

Abstract The DEGAS Monte Carlo neutral transport code is applied to gas target divertor simulation experiments in the PISCEA-A linear plasma device to study the neutral gas dynamics in a well diagnosed environment. The experimental geometry is accurately represented by a novel use of the toroidal symmetry option. Axial and radial density and electron temperature profiles, experimentally determined from Langmuir probe data are used as plasma input data for the code. It is found that the molecular and atomic hydrogen density profiles obtained from DEGAS agree well with the experimentally determined neutral densities. The electron energy balance from DEGAS indicates electron power losses by ionization, radiation and dissociation in excess of 95% of the input power for the highest gas puffing rates ( S gas ≤ 3 Torr 1/s), in agreement with experimental observations.
Some Remarks on the Runs Test and the Use of the Hypergeometric Distribution

Abstract It is demonstrated that important properties of the distribution of runs can be obtained immediately from the hypergeometric distribution for which results are already well-known.
Adherence and Morbidity Following Emergency Department Care Among Inner-City Children With Asthma

Objectives. To explore the utility of two measures, Risk for Nonadherence (RN) and Admitted Nonadherence (AN), developed in a national sample of children with chronic asthma, for predicting short-term morbidity among children following a pediatric emergency department (PED) visit for acute asthma and to compare verbal and self-completion of these measures. Design, Setting, and Participants. Prospective cohort study of children 3 to 11 years of age presenting to a PED with an acute asthma exacerbation. Caretakers were randomized to self-completion of a questionnaire assessing RN and AN or to verbally respond to the same questionnaire administered by a research assistant. Five asthma morbidity indicators were collected at 2, 4, and 8 weeks following discharge from the PED. Results. One hundred fifty-four patients were enrolled. There were no significant differences in asthma severity, RN, or AN, or the number of items missing on questionnaires between the self-completion and verbal administration groups.Pat...
Glucuronoxylomannan of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype C: structural analysis by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Abstract The major extracellular polysaccharide (glucuronoxylomannan, GXM) from six strains of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype B was characterized by gas-liquid chromatography (g.l.c.), g.l.c.-mass spectrometry (g.l.c.-m.s.), and nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy. Ultrasonic irradiation (u.i.) was used to reduce the mol.wt. of native GXM from 9.75 × 10 5 to 1.15 × 10 5 without apparent change in its composition (GXM-S). The Xyl p :Man p :Glc p A molar ratio of the GXM and GXM-S from the six strains of C. neoformans serotype B is approximately 3.5:3.0:0.6. GXM-S was O -deacetylated (GXM-D) by treatment with NH 4 OH. The 13 C-n.m.r. analysis of GXM-D gave spectra that served as characteristic fingerprints of the structure and also facilitated the assignment of the anomeric carbon resonances to specific structural moieties present in GXM-D. The GXM-D from each serotype B strain was found to be similar by 13 C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The structure contains a linear (1→3)-α- d -Man p backbone substituted with 2- O -β-Glc p A and 2- O -β-Xyl p . β-Xyl p is also O-4 linked to the Man p substituted with Glc p A. In addition, a model for the disposition of the Xyl p and Glc p A side chain substituents along the mannopyranan backbone is proposed, based upon results from the combination of g.l.c.-m.s. and 13 C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.
A gray-level thinning method for delineation and representation of arteries.

Abstract The quantification of three dimensional (3D) properties of coronary arteries is of significant importance. The performance of the 3D analysis is critically based on low-level representation of the arterial tree for different projections. A skeletal representation of arteries can provide appropriate data structure for registration of multiple angiographic projections and it can be further utilized for 3D reconstruction of the arterial tree. This paper presents anaautomated method for extracting the skeletal points of an arterial tree directly from the gray-level information without determining the edges a priori. It offers the advantage of improved reliability compared to methods based on detecting dual edges of the arteries. Novel application of filtering techniques provide accurate estimates of the statistics of the background. A recursive search scheme is used to aggregate the skeletal representation at multiple resolutions. Results on a set of Digitally Subtracted Angiograms (DSA) have been presented.
Impact of baseline PR interval on cardiac resynchronization therapy outcomes in patients with narrow QRS complexes: an analysis of the ReThinQ Trial.

Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and ventricular dyssynchrony is an important contributor. The ReThinQ trial reported no improvement with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35 %, narrow QRS (<130 ms), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III, and echocardiographically detected dyssynchrony, in spite of echocardiographic optimization. We investigated whether a subset of narrow QRS patients might derive benefit from CRT, based on baseline PR interval. We retrospectivelyanalyzed the 87 patients from ReThinQ who were randomized to CRT. Patients were divided into two groups: baseline PR interval <180 ms and baseline PR interval ≥180 ms. The primary outcome was change in VO2 max at 6 months; secondary outcomes were change in LVEF, 6-min walk distance, and change in NYHA class. Forty-six patients had PR < 180 ms and 41 had PR ≥ 180 ms. The baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. As compared to patients with a short PR interval, at 6 months, only patients with PR ≥ 180 ms showed a statistically significant increase in VO2 max from 12.2 to 13.6 mL/kg min (P = 0.045). Similarly, LVEF was significantly improved only in the long PR group (0.26 to 0.28, P = 0.038). A greater percentage of patients in the long PR group showed improvement by at least one NYHA class (59 vs. 35 %, P = 0.033). A longer baseline PR interval may allow more efficacious delivery of CRT by allowing programming of physiologic AV delays. A short baseline PR interval may contribute to LV under-filling and CRT non-response.
Effect of low and high intensity exercise on circulating growth hormone in men

We hypothesized that circulating GH would increase only if a threshold of work intensity [corresponding to the anaerobic or lactate threshold (LT)] was exceeded. Ten healthy male volunteers (18-35 yr) first performed ramp-type progressive cycle-ergometer exercise to determine the LT and the maximal oxygen uptake. On subsequent mornings after an overnight fast, each subject performed bouts of 1, 5, and 10 min constant work rate exercise of either high intensity (above LT) or low intensity (below LT). A 1-h interval separated exercise bouts. Gas exchange (breath-by-breath), GH, immunoreactive insulin, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured at regular intervals. After the 10-min bouts of high compared with low intensity exercise, lactate was 7.2 +/- 3.7 mmol/L vs. 1.4 +/- 1.3, P less than 0.05; epinephrine was 1,113 +/- 519 pmol/L vs. 496 +/- 273, P less than 0.05; and norepinephrine was 7.89 +/- 3.45 nmole/L vs. 2.83 +/- 1.34, P less than 0.05. GH did not increase significantly from preexercise baseline during low intensity exercise (e.g., GH after 10-min low intensity exercise changed from baseline values by 1.5 +/- 2.0 micrograms/L, NS). Although lactate was elevated after 5-min of high intensity exercise, peak GH was significantly elevated (mean increase above baseline of 7.7 +/- 2.4 micrograms/L, P less than 0.05) only after 10 min of high intensity exercise (increases in 9 of 10 subjects). The GH increase occurred despite simultaneous increases in both IRI and glucose. A minimum duration of 10 min, high intensity exercise consistently increased circulating GH in adult males.
The HECT ubiquitin‐protein ligase (UPL) family in Arabidopsis: UPL3 has a specific role in trichome development

Summary Attachment of one or more ubiquitins (Ubs) to various intracellular proteins has a number of roles in plants including the selective removal of regulatory proteins by the 26S proteasome. The final step in this modification is performed by ubiquitin-protein ligases (E3s) that promote Ub transfer to appropriate targets. One important family of E3s is defined by the presence of a HECT domain, an active site first found at the C-terminus of the human E3 (E6-AP). Using a consensus HECT domain as the query, we identified a family of seven HECT-containing ubiquitin-protein ligases (UPL1–UPL7) in Arabidopsis thaliana that can be grouped into four subfamilies. The UPL3 and UPL4 subfamily encodes approximately 200-kDa proteins with four Armadillo repeats similar to those in the nuclear pore protein importin-α, suggesting that these E3s identify their targets through binding to nuclear localization sequences. Although T-DNA disruptions of the UPL3 locus do not affect overall growth and development of Arabidopsis, the mutants show aberrant trichome morphology. Instead of developing three branches, many upl3 trichomes contain five or more branches. The upl3 trichomes also often undergo an additional round of endoreplication resulting in enlarged nuclei with ploidy levels of up to 64C. upl3 plants are hypersensitive to gibberellic acid-3 (GA3), consistent with the role of gibberellins in trichome development. The phenotype of upl3 mutants is similar to that of kaktus, a previously described set of trichome mutants with supernumerary branches. Genetic analyses confirmed that upl3 mutants and kaktus-2 are allelic with kaktus-2 plants harboring a splice-site mutation within the UPL3-transcribed region. Collectively, the data indicate that the ubiquitination of one or more activator proteins by UPL3 is necessary to repress excess branching and endoreplication of Arabidopsis trichomes.
Building a Transcontinental Affiliation: A New Model for Academic Health Centers

The affiliation between The Methodist Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital is, to our knowledge, the first transcontinental affiliation between major nonprofit academic health centers (AHCs) in the United States. The rationale for the affiliation was clear to those involved in the discussions. The institutions share the same mission of fostering progress in clinical care, education and research; and because of their geographic separation, Methodist, Weill Cornell and New York-Presbyterian do not compete with each other in providing clinical care to their regional populations. While academic "competition" and potential competition for international referrals do exist, it was judged that these potential areas of competition could easily transform into collaborations. Most importantly, this situation ottered an opportunity to explore new models for AHCs, which many feel must change to better meet society's needs.1 Also, it seemed that this could have importance beyond the collective interests of the three institutions. A spirit of optimism and possibility, respect and trust between the key individuals, the support of senior board leadership, and recognition of the need to conclude the negotiations promptly served as the key enablers of agreement. The affiliation agreement's straightforward basic terms facilitate collaboration in patient care, teaching, research and operational performance. The affiliation is primary and reciprocally exclusive in New York and Texas (e.g., Methodist is Weill Cornell's only affiliate in Texas, and Weill Cornell is both The Methodist Hospital's primary academic affiliate and its only affiliate in New York, but both may have other affiliations). Members of Methodist's medical staff are eligible for faculty appointments at Weill Cornell, but appointments are neither automatic nor required. The primary academic appointment for chairs will be at Weill Cornell. Mutual efforts to improve clinical care include coordination between department chairs and sharing best practices, quality methods and clinical databases. The affiliates intend to collaborate extensively in education - including graduate medical education (GME), medical student education and research training at the graduate and postgraduate levels - and foster joint research, particularly clinical and translational research. Finally, administrative staff explore opportunities for sharing processes and progress in operational performance.
Global climate change and human health impacts: investigation and analysis in the classroom using innovative technologies

The objective of the NASA Global Climate Change Education (GCCE) project is to provide educators at the elementary, secondary, and undergraduate levels the tools and resources to access NASA climate information and related Earth system information, in order to engage students in critical thinking about global climate change and the potential impacts on human health across the planet.This project incorporates NASA climate change information and other Earth system information related to human health into NASA World Wind, an open source 3-D visualization tool. World Wind uses OGC-compliant Web Coverage Services (WCS) and Web Map Services (WMS) that allow zooming in from satellite altitude to any location on the Earth's surface. Student lessons will use climate data made available through the enhanced NASA World Wind interface to explore potential impacts on human health in areas of food security, water security, and infectious disease.Two existing Web-based resources, the Climate Mapper tool from IAGT and the Population Estimation Service from SEDAC, will be merged and made available through a customized NASA World Wind interface that will launch from the Web. This merger of two NASA-supported tools will allow the technical component and parametric statistics to be applied to additional climate- and human health-related data sets from CIESIN, such as world population grids, malnutrition levels related to changes in temperature and precipitation that would impact staple food production, population displacement related to rising sea levels, and spatial epidemiology of vector-borne diseases and population access to a public health infrastructure.
An algorithm for generalizing topography to grids while preserving subscale morphologic characteristics-creating a glacier bed DEM for Jakobshavn trough as low-resolution input for dynamic ice-sheet models

The objective of this paper is to derive an algorithm for preserving important subscale morphologic characteristics at grids of lower-resolution, in particular for linear features such as canyons and ridge lines. The development of such an algorithm is necessitated by applications that require reduced spatial resolution, as is common in cartographic generalization, GIS applications, and geophysical modeling. Since any algorithm that results in weighted averages, including optimum interpolation and ordinary kriging, cannot reproduce correct depths, a new algorithm is designed based on principles of mathematical morphology. The algorithm described here is applied to derive a subglacial bed of the Greenland Ice Sheet that includes the trough of Jakobshavn Isbrae as a continuous canyon at correct depth in a low-resolution (5-km) digital elevation model (DEM). Data from recent airborne radar measurements of the elevation of the subglacial bed as part of the CReSIS project are utilized. The morphologic algorithm is designed with geophysical ice-sheet modeling in mind, in the following context. Currently occurring changes in the Earth's climate and the cryosphere cause changes in sea level, and the societal relevance of these natural processes motivates estimation of maximal sea-level rise in the medium-term future. The fast-moving outlet glaciers are more sensitive to climatic change than other parts of the Greenland ice sheet. Jakobshavn Isbrae, the fastest-moving ice stream in Greenland, follows a subglacial geologic trough. Since the existence of the trough causes the acceleration of the slow-moving inland ice in the Jakobshavn region and the formation of the ice stream, correct representation of the trough in a DEM is essential to model changes in the dynamics of the ice sheet and resultant sea-level predictions, even if current ice-sheet models can typically be run only at 5-km resolution. The DEM resultant from this study helps to bridge the conceptual gap between data analysis and geophysical modeling approaches. It is available as SeaRISE Greenland bed data set dev1.2 at http://websrv.cs.umt.edu/isis/index.php/SeaRISE_Assessment.
On the possibility of plate tectonics on Venus

Abstract Several arguments have been put forward suggesting that Venus has no place tectonics. We examine some of these arguments and suggest that because conditions on the surface of Venus are very different from those on Earth, the arguments should be reconsidered. We show that in the absence of an ocean, the differential hypsographic curve of Earth would probably have only one mode, like that for Venus. We show that the atmosphere of Venus is quite capable of erosion, provided that near-surface velocities are about 1 m · sec−1 or more, and that therefore the “oceanic” areas on Venus, should they exist, are probably covered with some thickness of sediment. If sedimentation on Venus is at all rapid, it is likely that subduction zones could be filled up and made unrecognizable topographically. Because Venus does not have an ocean, and because its surface temperature is much greater than that on Earth, ridge crests on Venus have a much smaller topographic expression than those on Earth. If significant sedimentation occurs they would be completely unrecognizable topographically.
Reliability modeling for dependent competing failure processes with changing degradation rate

This article proposes reliability models for devices subject to dependent competing failure processes of degradation and random shocks with a changing degradation rate according to particular random shock patterns. The two dependent failure processes are soft failure due to continuous degradation, in addition to sudden degradation increases caused by random shocks, and hard failure due to the same shock process. In complex devices such as Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems the degradation rate can change when the system becomes more susceptible to fatigue and deteriorates faster, as a result of withstanding shocks. This article considers four different shock patterns that can increase the degradation rate: (i) generalized extreme shock model: when the first shock above a critical value is recorded; (ii) generalized δ-shock model: when the inter-arrival time of two sequential shocks is less than a threshold δ; (iii) generalized m-shock model: when m shocks greater than a critical level are recorded; and (iv)...
Environmental and Family Associations With Racism1

Environmental and family factors related to racism in college students were investigated. Students (N=114) at a southern liberal-arts college filled out an extensive survey about childhood activities and family of origin, and 40 of their mothers completed a similar survey. The Attitudes Toward Blacks (Brigham, 1993) scale measured racism. Several hypotheses were supported. Students who exhibited less racism also reported that they made more diverse friends in school, came from a more diverse hometown, had diverse encounters and friendships at an earlier age, and had more positive foreign travel experiences. In addition, more racist students perceived their mothers as being more prejudiced while they were growing up, and they perceived their fathers as being more prejudiced currently. Finally, students judged their mothers as less racist than their fathers, and also reported that their mothers exhibited less racist behaviors than did their fathers. The importance of racially diverse experiences and friendships early in life are discussed as means to decrease racism.
Theoretical Calculation of the Thermal Resistance of a Conducting and Convecting Surface

A closed-form theoretical expression has been derived for the conductive and convective thermal resistance of frequently used electronic component and package covers. Numerical results are plotted in a manner that is applicable to a variety of devices such as flat packs, dual-in-line packages, and ceramic circuit cards,
Tracking the Origins and Emergence of Photonic Integrated Circuits

Summary form only given. The concept of integrating many photonic devices on a chip was first proposed in 1969, based on the early success of integrating electronic circuits. After 38 years, large-scale photonic integrated circuits are just now emerging as a commercial success (with the initial public stock offering of Infinera). Considerable effort is now devoted to combining the photonic and electronic components on one carrier and eventually on one chip. The story of its progress and present promise provides an excellent example of the importance of massive investments in processing technology with a focus on yield and performance.
Decision-Guided Self-Architecting Framework for integrated distribution and Energy Management

The future success of the Smart Grid (SG) depends on many technological developments and innovations being created. The SG will be characterized by decentralized generation, improved network communications, demand response, greater reliability and robustness to failures. The future power grid will also have many interacting components needing greater capabilities to coordinate and manage power and information flows in as an efficient manner as possible. Though many power distribution engineering and analysis tools have been developed to operate the grid in a real-time manner, there are still areas requiring improved systems integration and decision-making. One such critical area that has great opportunity for improvement is at the interface between Distribution Management Systems (DMS) operated by distribution utilities and Energy Management Systems (EMS) operated by end consumers. This paper proposes the development of a set of technologies in the form of Decision-Guided Self-Architecting (DGSA) Framework whose purpose is to provide integrated, real-time optimal decision support in the common domain that intersects the operations of DMS and EMS. This is a key area requiring attention as the overall grid may be sub-optimized unless there is well-integrated and coordinated, optimal decision-making across the various power generating, distributing, and consuming entities of the SG. In addition, this paper also describes the supporting technologies upon which the framework is based and presents two key applications of the DGSA Framework: Energy Management Systems and an Energy Investment Advisor. Also presented are two cases that each illustrate various scenarios for how the framework would be implemented and the type of decisions that would be made with such a framework.
Homeostasis of Brain and Cerebrospinal Fluid Calcium Concentrations During Chronic Hypo‐and Hypercalcemia

Three-week-old rats were made hypocalcemic or hypercalcemic by being fed diets low or high in Ca. Both total and ionized [Ca]s in the plasma decreased about 40% and remained depressed for 4 weeks in rats fed a low-Ca diet. Plasma [Ca]s in rats fed a high-Ca diet increased by 30% and remained elevated for 7 weeks. After 8 weeks on the diets, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [Ca] changed by less than 30% whereas brain [Ca] changed by less than 20% of the chronic changes in plasma ionized [Ca]. Assuming a brain extracellular volume of 20% and noting that brain extracellular volume equilibrates freely with CSF, the findings demonstrate only small perturbations in the Ca content of the brain cellular compartment during sustained hypo or hypercalcemia. Partial regulation of CSF and brain extracellular Ca suggests a role for the blood-brain barrier in regulating CNS [Ca] during chronic changes in plasma [Ca].
Safety and efficacy of an algorithm-based protocol in the management of diabetic ketoacidosis

Objective: To determine the efficacy of an algorithm-based protocol to manage diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).Methods: Our study is a retrospective chart review of patients with DKA managed before and ...
A cross-layer approach to energy efficiency for adaptive MIMO systems exploiting spare capacity

In this paper, we propose a mechanism to switch between multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) with two transmit antennas and single-input multiple-output (SIMO) to conserve mobile terminals' energy. We focus on saving uplink RF transmission energy of mobile terminals in cellular systems supporting best effort traffic. The key idea is to judiciously slow down transmission rates when a base station is underutilized. We show that there exists a crossover point on the transmission rate below which SIMO consumes less power than MIMO when circuit power is included. The crossover point is an increasing function of the circuit power, the number of receive antennas and channel correlation, all of which increase the potential energy savings resulting from mode switching. We propose an adaptive mode switching algorithm combined with rate selection to maintain a user's target throughput while achieving energy efficiency. Extensive flow-level simulations under dynamic loads confirm that the proposed technique can reduce the transmission energy by more than 50% and enables an effective tradeoff between file transfer delay and energy conservation.
The Cytoplasmic Domain of the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Receptor-related Protein, but Not That of the LDL Receptor, Triggers Phagocytosis

The macrophage LDL receptor and LDL receptor-related protein (LRP, CD91) mediate the phagocytic-like uptake of atherogenic lipoproteins and apoptotic cells, yet the structural basis of their phagocytic functions is not known. To address this issue, we transfected macrophages with chimeric proteins containing the cytoplasmic tails and transmembrane regions of the LDL receptor or LRP and the ectodomain of CD2, which can bind non-opsonized sheep red blood cells (SRBCs). Macrophages expressing receptors containing the LDL receptor domains were able to bind but not internalize SRBCs. In contrast, macrophages expressing receptors containing the cytoplasmic tail of LRP were able to bind and internalize SRBCs. Chimeras in which the LRP cytoplasmic tail was mutated in two di-leucine motifs and a tyrosine in an NPXYXXL motif were able to endocytose anti-CD2 antibody and bind SRBCs, but SRBC phagocytosis was decreased by 70%. Thus, the phagocytic-like functions of LRP, but not those of the LDL receptor, can be explained by the ability of the LRP cytoplasmic tail to trigger phagocytosis. These findings have important implications for atherogenesis and apoptotic cell clearance and for a fundamental cell biological understanding of how the LDL receptor and LRP function in internalization processes.
Microphone-array systems for speech recognition input

An understanding of algorithmic and engineering techniques for the construction of a high-quality microphone array system for speech input to machines is the goal of this project; it implicitly assumes that wearing a head-mounted microphone, or sitting at a fixed location in front of a table microphone is most often an unacceptable imposition for a user of a speech recognizer. Rather, the array system should electronically track a particular talker in a small room having other talkers and noise sources and should provide a signal of quality comparable to that of the head-mounted microphone. In particular, the project is focused on the measurement of smallroom acoustic properties and the derivation of underlying mathematical algorithms for the acoustic field, for talker tracking and characterization, for array layout, for correlated and uncorrelated noise elimination, and for beamforming. Simultaneously, digital array systems are being designed, built, and used.
What Comparative Effectiveness Research Is Needed? A Framework for Using Guidelines and Systematic Reviews to Identify Evidence Gaps and Research Priorities

Comparative effectiveness research is a key element of current efforts to reform U.S. health care, but prioritizing new research to address identified gaps in the evidence is an ongoing challenge. ...
Type A behavior pattern, multiple-task performance, and subjective estimation of mental workload

This paper examines the relation between the Type A behavior pattern, individual differences in multiple-task performance, and the dissociation between performance and subjective estimates of mental workload. Sixteen females completed the Jenkins Activity Survey and performed a variety of information processing tasks under single- and dual-task conditions. After each task, subjects rated the workload they had experienced on eight bipolar adjective scales. The slope of the memory-search task was the only single-task performance measure that showed a significant difference between Type As (36 msec) and Type Bs (68 msec). However, on three of the four dual-task combinations, Type As had faster response times than Type Bs. Dissociations between performance and subjective estimates of workload were apparent between Type A and Type B individuals on the frustration and fatigue scales. Type As reported less frustration and more fatigue under single-task than under dual-task conditions, whereas Type Bs reported the opposite pattern.
US domestic extremist groups on the Web: link and content analysis

Although US domestic extremist and hate groups might not be as well-known as some international groups, they nevertheless pose a significant threat to homeland security. Increasingly, these groups are using the Internet as a tool for facilitating recruitment, linking with other extremist groups, reaching global audiences, and spreading hate materials that encourage violence and terrorism. A study of semiautomated methodologies to capture and organize domestic extremist Web site data revealed interorganizational structures and cluster affinities that coincided with both domain expert knowledge and earlier manual research.