cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional murine airway segmentation in micro-CT images

Thoracic imaging for small animals has emerged as an important tool for monitoring pulmonary disease progression and therapy response in genetically engineered animals. Micro-CT is becoming the standard thoracic imaging modality in small animal imaging because it can produce high-resolution images of the lung parenchyma, vasculature, and airways. Segmentation, measurement, and visualization of the airway tree is an important step in pulmonary image analysis. However, manual analysis of the airway tree in micro-CT images can be extremely time-consuming since a typical dataset is usually on the order of several gigabytes in size. Automated and semi-automated tools for micro-CT airway analysis are desirable. In this paper, we propose an automatic airway segmentation method for in vivo micro-CT images of the murine lung and validate our method by comparing the automatic results to manual tracing. Our method is based primarily on grayscale morphology. The results show good visual matches between manually segmented and automatically segmented trees. The average true positive volume fraction compared to manual analysis is 91.61%. The overall runtime for the automatic method is on the order of 30 minutes per volume compared to several hours to a few days for manual analysis.
l-Arginine does not reverse impaired agonist-induced increases in macromolecular efflux during diabetes mellitus

Objective: The first goal of this study was to determine the effect of diabetes mellitus on agonist-induced increases in venular macromolecular permeability of the hamster cheek pouch. The second goal was examine the role for an alteration in the availability of l-arginine to nitric oxide synthase in impaired agonist-induced increases in macromolecular permeability during diabetes. Methods: We used intravital fluorescent microscopy and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-dextran; mw=70 K) to examine macromolecular extravasation from post-capillary venules in non-diabetic and diabetic (2 weeks after injection of streptozotocin) hamsters in response to histamine and substance P. Increases in extravasation of macromolecules were quantitated by counting the number of venular leaky sites and by calculating the clearance (ml/s×10−6) of FITC-dextran-70K. Results: In non-diabetic hamsters, histamine (1.0 and 5.0 μM) and substance P (50 and 100 nM) increased permeability of the cheek pouch microcirculation to FITC-dextran-70K. In contrast, histamine- and substance P-induced increases in macromolecular extravasation were markedly reduced in diabetic hamsters. Next, we investigated whether alterations in histamine- and substance P-induced changes in macromolecular extravasation in diabetic hamsters may be related to an alteration in the availability of l-arginine. We examined whether exogenous application of l-arginine (100 μM) could restore impaired histamine- and substance-P-induced increases in macromolecular extravasation in diabetic hamsters. We found that l-arginine potentiated agonist-induced increases in macromolecular extravasation in non-diabetic hamsters, but did not alter responses in diabetic hamsters. Conclusion: These findings suggest that short-term diabetes mellitus alters agonist-induced alterations in microvascular permeability. The mechanism of altered microvascular permeability during diabetes mellitus does not appear to be related to an impaired availability of l-arginine.
Seismic response of foundations embedded in a layered half‐space

An integral equation technique to determine the response of foundations embedded in a layered viscoelastic half-space when subjected to various types of seismic waves is presented. The technique is validated by comparison with previous results for rigid hemispherical and cylindrical foundations embedded in a uniform half-space. Illustrative results for rigid cylindrical foundations embedded in layered media are also presented.
A Rho-like small GTPase of Entamoeba histolytica contains an unusual amino acid residue in a conserved GDP-stabilization region and is not a substrate for C3 exoenzyme

The Entamoeba histolytica small GTP-binding protein EhRho1 has an unusual amino acid residue at a conserved site found in all known Ras superfamily proteins. EhRho1 has an isoleucine at position 45, which corresponds to position 28 of human Ras and Rac and position 30 of human Rho and Cdc42. All other known small GTPases have an aromatic residue (typically phenylalanine) at this position, and mutation to a leucine renders other Ras proteins constitutively active by reason of diminished affinity for GDP. It was determined that the EhRho1 protein has a half-time of GDP dissociation similar to that of a human Rho protein, HsRhoA, and therefore an isoleucine at this site in EhRho1 is not likely to render EhRho1 constitutively active. It was also found that EhRho1 is not a substrate for the Rho-specific C3 exoenzyme. Thus EhRho1 appears to be an unusual member of the Ras family.
Molecular weight of some human and cow caseins

Abstract The molecular weights of a number of caseins isolated from human and cow milks have been determined by sedimentation equilibrium. The predominant human caseins, which differ only in their content of phosphorus, have a molecular weight of approximately 25,000 daltons, a value similar to that of cow β- and γ-caseins. Other cow caseins (R, S, and TS) have molecular weights of 13,000–16,000. All values obtained by these measurements agree with minimum molecular weights calculated from content of tryptophan assuming the presence of one residue per molecule.
Quantitative reactivity profiling predicts functional cysteines in proteomes

Cysteine is the most intrinsically nucleophilic amino acid in proteins, where its reactivity is tuned to perform diverse biochemical functions. The absence of a consensus sequence that defines functional cysteines in proteins has hindered their discovery and characterization. Here we describe a proteomics method to profile quantitatively the intrinsic reactivity of cysteine residues en masse directly in native biological systems. Hyper-reactivity was a rare feature among cysteines and it was found to specify a wide range of activities, including nucleophilic and reductive catalysis and sites of oxidative modification. Hyper-reactive cysteines were identified in several proteins of uncharacterized function, including a residue conserved across eukaryotic phylogeny that we show is required for yeast viability and is involved in iron-sulphur protein biogenesis. We also demonstrate that quantitative reactivity profiling can form the basis for screening and functional assignment of cysteines in computationally designed proteins, where it discriminated catalytically active from inactive cysteine hydrolase designs.
VOLATILE COMPONENTS IN SCENT GLAND SECRETIONS OF GARTER SNAKES (Thamnophis spp.)

Previous analyses of the scent gland secretions of snakes have focused on the nonvolatile components. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of secretions from North American garter snakes (Thamnophis butleri, T. couchi, T. elegans, T. melanogaster, andT. sirtalis) indicated the following seven major volatile components: acetic, propanoic, 2-methylpropanoic, butanoic, and 3-methylbutanoic acids, trimethylamine, and 2-piperidone. Five or more of these compounds were observed in secretions of select boid, colubrid, pythonid, and viperid snakes, suggesting that they are widespread scent gland products. 3-Methylbutanal also was detected in some snake species.
The relationship between sex of the alcoholic and patterns of interaction in the home.

The paper explores the relationship between sex of the identified alcoholic and patterns of interaction in the home. Twenty-three families with a male alcoholic member were compared to eight families with a female alcoholic member along a series of factors representing basic dimensions of interactional behavior. These dependent measures were derived via direct observation of families in their homes, using the Home Observation Assessment Method (HOAM). Previous analyses of this same HOAM database had demonstrated statistically significant associations between HOAM factor scores and the current drinking status of the alcoholic family member. In contrast to reports in the literature which have made claims to having demonstrated global differences between the behavior of male and female alcoholics, our data indicated that overall patterns of family home behavior were remarkably similar when sex of the alcoholic member was the only variable used to distinguish comparison groups. Thus no direct impact of sex of...
IS U.S. GLOBAL ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS DECLINING? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE U.S. ECONOMIC GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS?

The decline in the U.S. global economic position has led to widespread concern about U.S. global competitiveness. This declining in U.S. competitiveness is reflected by changes in its standard of living, relative changes in U.S. productivity, investments, and trade balances since 1980. While still ahead of other countries in standard of in income compared with other nations, as real income continues to rise elsewhere.
Equatorial geomagnetic anomaly and its associated current system

Steady state equatorial electron density distribution and associated current system in ionospheric F region
On the compatibility between defuzzification and fuzzy arithmetic operations

Since the introduction of the extension principle by Zadeh, the arithmetic of fuzzy numbers has gained importance both from the theoretical and the practical points of view. For the former, many works were accomplished on the topological level as well as on the parametrization level in order to improve the foundation of the theory and to simplify the performance of different combination operations. For the latter, in many practical applications, the need for a permanent switch from a fuzzy representation to a numerical representation is patent. This transformation is usually carried out by the defuzzification process. This paper addresses some theoretical results about some invariance properties concerning the relationships between the defuzzification outcomes and the arithmetic of fuzzy numbers. One of the benefits of such analysis is the fact that when the matter is the determination of the defuzzified value pertaining to the result of some manipulation of fuzzy quantities, the explicit determination of the resulting fuzzy set (or distribution) can be obviated, while the process may be restricted to a standard computation over single values corresponding to defuzzified initial inputs.
MRI‐Assisted Thrombolysis for Delayed Arrival Among Patients With Ischemic Stroke

Time window for thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke can be based on chronological or physiological (imaging) data. Both of these approaches have their unique strengths and weaknesses. The concept of chronological-based thrombolysis is supported by several randomized clinical trials whereas imaging-based thrombolysis has not been validated entirely by randomized trials. Therefore, careful evaluation of strategies using image-based identification of patients who might benefit from thrombolysis is needed. Patients undergoing thrombolysis on delayed arrival appear to be the most logical group in whom image-based strategies should be evaluated.
Transverse elastic moduli of unidirectional fiber composites with fiber/matrix interfacial debonding

Abstract An elastic contact model is developed to predict the transverse Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and shear modulus of unidirectional fiber composites with interfacial debonding. The elastic deformation formulae of the fiber under contact pressure are derived by the use of elasticity theory. These results are then used in the formulation of an analytic boundaryelement method for solving the interfacial debonding problem. The two extreme cases of perfect bonding and the fiber-like void are also studied. On the basis of this theory, the upper and lower bounds of the transverse moduli for unidirectional fiber composites with imperfect fiber/matrix interfaces are provided. Numerical calculations of parametric studies are conducted for four composites, and some basic characteristics of the transverse elastic moduli of unidirectional fiber composites with interfacial debonding are presented.
Environmental Radiation Standards and Risk Limitation

The Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission have established environmental radiation standards for specific practices which correspond to limits on risk to the public that vary by several orders of magnitude and often are much less than radiation risks that are essentially unregulated, e.g., risks from radon in homes. This paper discusses a proposed framework for environmental radiation standards that would provide a more meaningful correspondence with limitation of risk. This framework includes (1) the use of limits on annual effective dose equivalent averaged over a lifetime, rather than limits on dose equivalent to whole body or any organ for each year of exposure, (2) consideration of dose and risk to younger age groups as well as adults, (3) limits on annual effective dose equivalent averaged over a lifetime for specific practices no lower than 0.25 mSv (25 mrem), (4) maintenance of all exposures as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA), and (5) establishment of a generally applicable de minimis dose for public exposures. Implications of the proposed regulatory framework for current standards for limiting public exposures are discussed.
Derivation of the Fradkin-Shenker result from duality: Links to spin systems in external magnetic fields and percolation crossovers

In this article, we illustrate how the qualitative phase diagram of a gauge theory coupled to matter can be directly proved and how rigorous numerical bounds may be established. Our work reaffirms the seminal result of Fradkin and Shenker from another vista. Our main ingredient is the combined use of the self-duality of the three-dimensional ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}/{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ theory and an extended Lee-Yang theorem. We comment on extensions of these ideas and firmly establish the existence of a sharp percolation crossover line in the two-dimensional ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}/{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ theory.
Boards of Trustees As Buffers: The Case History of the City University of New York

The Board of Trustees at City University of New York (CUNY) functions as a ‘buffer’ body whose jurisdiction includes two-year community colleges, senior colleges, comprehensive four-year colleges, a four-year technical college, medical school, an umbrella single graduate school for doctoral programmes, a school of social work, law school, medical school, and a four-year college of criminal justice. It is closely integrated into the social and political fabric of the community in that the state governor appoints ten members, the city mayor selects five members and the heads of the university student and university faculty senates serve ex officio. Several instances are cited to illustrate the board in action.
Simple electromagnetic methods of pulse generation

For some applications, the transistorised circuits generally used for firing thyristors are not necessarily the most suitable. In power applications of thyristors, for example, firing pulses synchronised with the mains supply are frequently required, and circuits based on the properties of square-loop magnetic material may offer a number of advantages for such use. This paper describes two simple new techniques for producing pulses by electromagnetic methods to trigger thyristors, and includes a mathematical analysis of their operation. The inherent disadvantage of earlier electromagnetic techniques has been the relatively long rise time of the pulses, but methods of overcoming this trouble are described in the paper.
Mars laser hygrometer.

We have designed and built a miniature near-IR tunable diode laser (TDL) spectrometer for measuring in situ the water vapor mixing ratio either in the Martian atmosphere or thermally evolved from Martian soil or ice samples. The laser hygrometer uses a thermoelectrically cooled single-mode distributed-feedback TDL at 1.87 μm to scan over a selected vibration-rotation line of both H2O and CO2 near 5327.3 cm-1. A working prototype that weighs only 230 g has been built and used to generate spectra whose analysis demonstrates precision sensitivities as fine as 1 part in 106 by volume in 1 s or 0.1 part in 106 in 10 s at Martian pressures and temperatures. Absolute uncertainties of ∼5% are calculated.
Reduction of infarct size and preservation of endothelial function by multidose intravenous adenosine during extended reperfusion.

It has been proposed that infarct extension is developed from the early to the late phase of reperfusion (R). This study compares the protective effect of single or multidose administration of adenosine (Ado) on infarct size during early and late phases of R by attenuating neutrophil (PMN) recruitment. Forty-one dogs underwent 60-min left anterior descending artery (LAD) ischemia followed by 6, 24, and 48 h of R, respectively. Infarct size (%) increased over 6 to 24 h (27 ± 2 to 38 ± 4; P < 0.05 24 h versus 6 h group), with a corresponding increase in creatine kinase activity. Transmural myocardial blood flow (mL/min/g) decreased from 6 to 24 h (0.47 ± 0.02 to 0.29 ± 0.02; P < 0.05 24 h versus 6 h group). PMN localization (mm2 myocardium) in the perinecrotic tissue detected by immunohistochemistry with anti-CD18 antibody, and accumulation detected by myeloperoxidase (MPO, ΔAbs/min/g) increased from 6 to 24 h (292 ± 25 to 605 ± 44; P < 0.05 24 h versus 6 h group; and 55 ± 7 to 96 ± 5; P < 0.05 24 h versus 6 h group), respectively. In in vitro analysis, PMN adherence (mm2 endothelium) to postischemic LAD increased from 98 ± 2 to 125 ± 3 (P < 0.05 24 h versus 6 h group) and maximal LAD endothelium-dependent relaxation (%) impaired from 6 to 24 h (74 ± 7 to 42 ± 10; P < 0.05 24 h versus 6 h group). Intravenous Ado (140 μg/kg/min) for 2 h at R reduced infarct size (17 ± 2; P < 0.05 Ado versus 6 h group), CD18 positive cells (130 ± 10; P < 0.05 Ado versus 6 h group), MPO (14 ± 3; P < 0.05 Ado versus 6 h group), PMN adherence (57 ± 2; P < 0.05 Ado versus 6 h group), and augmented LAD vascular relaxation (102 ± 5 versus 74 ± 7; P < 0.05 Ado versus 6 h group). However, this protection by Ado was lost when R was extended to 24 h. Treatment with multiple infusion of Ado at 2, 6, 12, and 18 h R significantly preserved protective effects seen at 6 h R in the Ado group. Protection by multidose Ado was still preserved when R was extended to an additional 24 h. These data suggest that interventions aiming at permanently reducing R injury may thus need to be administered not only at early R, but also during late phase. A slow wave of PMN accumulation at late R may be involved in the extension of infarction and endothelial dysfunction.
Two-electron sensitization: A new concept for silver halide photography

The primary process in conventional photography involves electron transfer from an excited dye molecule into the conduction band of a silver halide microcrystal. Repeated events of this type ultimately lead to formation of a small, stable cluster of silver atoms in the silver halide that acts as the latent image, along with the one-electron oxidized forms of the dye molecules. Here we describe a new concept for increasing the efficiency of photographic systems, two-electron sensitization, which makes use of the chemical potential stored in the oxidized dyes. In conventional photography, subsequent reactions of the oxidized dyes are not controlled and may in fact include counterproductive return electron transfer reactions (recombination). In the two-electron sensitization scheme, an appropriately designed electron donor molecule, X−Y, that is added to the photographic dispersion transfers an electron to the oxidized dye to give a radical cation, X−Y•+. The X−Y•+ then undergoes a fragmentation reaction to ...
Normocalcemia without hyperparathyroidism in vitamin D-deficient rats

Despite numerous attempts, no reliable dietary regimen exists to achieve vitamin D deficiency (-D) in rats without attendant changes in plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH), Ca, or phosphate. This represents an important obstacle to proper investigations of the physiologic role(s) of vitamin D metabolites in the function of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] target tissues. This paper describes the successful development of such a diet, which uses a combination of high Ca content, properly controlled Ca/P ratio, and lactose. Normal weanling rats were fed diets containing A, 0.8% Ca, 0.5% P, +D3, or -D diets containing B, 0.8% Ca and 0.5% P; C, 2.0% Ca and 1.25% P; or D, 2.0% Ca, 1.25% P, and 20% lactose. After 6 diet weeks group D rats remained normocalcemic and normophosphatemic, but diet groups B and C became hypocalcemic (6.9 ± 0.8 and 7.2 ± 0.4 mg/dl, respectively). Thus high dietary Ca and P was incapable of maintaining normal plasma Ca levels in the absence of dietary lactose. The normocalcemia in group D was not maintained by elevated PTH secretion because N-terminal PTH levels were also normal (14 ± 3 versus 20 ± 5 pg/ml). In contrast, PTH levels were markedly elevated in hypocalcemic groups B and C (47 ± 7 and 48 ± 10 pg/ml, respectively). Plasma 25-OHD3 and 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels were reduced to < 120 and < 12 pg/ml, respectively, in all -D groups. Thus the high-Ca diet and the use of normal weanlings did not impede the development of vitamin D deficiency. This rat model of normocalcemic vitamin D deficiency will greatly facilitate elucidation of the physiologic role(s) of vitamin D metabolites in the normal functioning of 1,25-(OH)2D3 targets.
Longitudinal changes in femur bone mineral density after spinal cord injury: effects of slice placement and peel method

Summary Surveillance of femur metaphysis bone mineral density (BMD) decline after spinal cord injury (SCI) may be subject to slice placement error of 2.5%. Adaptations to anti-osteoporosis measures should exceed this potential source of error. Image analysis parameters likewise affect BMD output and should be selected strategically in longitudinal studies.
Postponement of Health Care by Widowed, Divorced, and Never-Married Older Men

This longitudinal research investigated the relationship between marital status and postponement of health care, reasons for postponement of treatment, factors associated with delaying care, and changes in health care behavior over a decade among 375 unmarried older men.
Paradoxic splitting of the second sound with transposition of the great vessels

Abstract Previously described causes of paradoxic splitting of the second heart sound have included late activation of the left ventricle and early activation of the right ventricle. Paradoxic splitting may also result from late activation of the right ventricle if complete transposition of the great vessels is present. Such a case with complete transposition, right bundle branch block, and paradoxic splitting of the second heart sound is presented.
Sulfate incorporation by embryonic chick bone the essentiality of sodium, of potassium, and of protein synthesis

Sulfate incorporation by emryonic chick pelvic rudiments requires protein synthesis. The incorporation is also dependent on the presence in the incubation medium of both Na+ and K+, and is inhibitable by ouabain. In the presence of Na+ and K+, the addition of amino acids to the incubation medium stimulates sulfate incorporation. If other monovalent cations are substituted for either Na+ or K+, sulfate incorporation in the absence of amino acids is decreased and stimulation by addition of amino acids is greatly reduced or eliminated. The possibilities that the Na+ and K+ requirements are due to the participation by these ions in protein synthesis and in transport into the cell of amino acids, sulfate and glucose are discussed.
Smallpox and pregnancy: from eradicated disease to bioterrorist threat

Health care personnel must be prepared for the threat of bioterrorism. Our objective is to educate primary care providers, obstetricians in particular, in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of smallpox. Smallpox poses a particularly serious threat because of its high case-fatality rate in unvaccinated populations (no one younger than 25 years has been vaccinated, and older persons have little remaining residual immunity). Routine nonemergency smallpox vaccination is restricted to laboratory staff working with smallpox-related viruses. Under these circumstances, contraindications to vaccination are pregnancy, immunodeficiency, exfoliative skin conditions (eczema), and allergy to vaccine components. In case of an intentional release of the smallpox virus, those directly exposed and their close contacts must be vaccinated and isolated. Under such emergency circumstances, pregnant women exposed to the variola virus should be vaccinated because of the lethality of the disease during pregnancy. Currently, there is a limited supply of vaccine available.
Nutritional and metabolic effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment for prostate cancer

Cancer commonly leads to weight loss associated with increased glucose production and protein breakdown. Medical or surgical castration results in decreased muscle mass, increased fat mass, and weight gain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in body composition, protein metabolism, hepatic glucose production, (HGP), and basal energy expenditure in 10 men with advanced stage C and D prostate cancer receiving a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (Buserelin). Metabolic parameters and nutritional status were determined at 0, 2, 6, and 12 months of therapy. Baseline measurements of plasma leucine appearance (76.2 +/- 5.4 microM/kg/h) and HGP rates (80.1 +/- 2.9 mg/m2/min) were greater than previously reported for normal volunteers. GnRH agonist therapy in prostate cancer patients was associated with a significant reduction in serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), luteinizing hormone (LH), and cortisol, and significant increases in triiodothyronine (T3) and free triiodothyronine (free T3). Neither basal energy expenditure nor plasma leucine appearance rates were changed over time, but there were significant linear reductions in HGP rates (80.1 +/- 2.9 mg/m2/min, mean +/- SEM; 79.9 +/- 2.3, 73.7 +/- 3.4, 72.5 +/- 2.3; P less than .01; baseline, 2, 6, and 12 months, respectively, by repeated measures ANOVA). In all patients, significant increases in body weight, triceps skin fold, cholesterol, and fat mass were noted. Total body water content was not significantly increased after the 12-month period; therefore, the weight gain seen in these patients was water-free tissue, ie, fat mass.
Computed tomographic scan of the chest underestimates the number of metastatic lesions in osteosarcoma

Abstract Purpose Survival in osteosarcoma correlates with complete resection of primary and metastatic disease. The feasibility of complete pulmonary metastasectomy using thoracoscopy has been raised. Because palpation is not possible, minimally invasive techniques require preoperative radiological enumeration and localization of metastases not presenting at the lung surface. We hypothesized that computed tomographic (CT) scanning underestimated the number of pulmonary metastases in these patients. Methods Institutional review board approval was obtained. We determined the association between the number of lesions identified by CT scanning and the number of metastases found at thoracotomies for metastatic osteosarcoma from May 1996 to October 2004. Correlations between CT findings and pathology results were computed using the Kendall τ -b correlation coefficient. Depth, in millimeters, from the pleural surface was measured for those lesions seen on CT scan. Results We analyzed 54 consecutive thoracotomies performed in 28 patients for whom complete imaging was available. Computed tomographic scanning was performed a median of 20 days before thoracotomy (range, 1-85 days). Correlation between the number of lesions identified by CT and the number of metastases resected at surgery was poor, with a Kendall τ -b correlation coefficient of 0.45 ( P P Conclusions Even in the era of modern CT scanning, only a very rough correlation exists between CT findings and the number of lesions identified at thoracotomy. In more than one third of thoracotomies in our series, metastases would have been missed by any tactic besides manual palpation of the lung during open thoracotomy. Minimal access procedures should not be the approach of choice if the goal is resection of all pulmonary metastases in osteosarcoma.
Facial Expression Synthesis on Robots: An ROS Module

We present a generalized technique for easily synthesizing facial expressions on robotic faces. In contrast to other work, our approach works in near real time with a high level of accuracy, does not require any manual labeling, is a fully open-source ROS module, and can enable the research community to perform objective and systematic comparisons between the expressive capabilities of different robots.
What cognitive differences are measured by the role category questionnaire

Two experiments investigated whether scores on the Role Category Questionnaire (RCQ) predict the amount of psychological knowledge activated about others. The amount of knowledge activated about a known peer was operationalized as mean reaction time to decide whether 32 traits described the peer. In Experiment 1, RCQ scores predicted the knowledge activated about peers described on the RCQ, an additional well‐known peer and an unknown peer. The main effect for RCQ scores did not reach significance in Experiment 2 where respondents thought about peers different from those described on the RCQ. A meta‐analytic comparison of the results of the two experiments suggested that RCQ scores significantly predict the amount of conceptual psychological knowledge activated about others. Also hypothesized was that persons with higher RCQ scores possess richer trait schemas and differentiate more between similar traits. The former hypothesis was supported, while the latter received only partial support.
Principles of visual key construction―with a visual identification key to the Fagaceae of the southeastern United States

Background and aims. Advances in digital imaging have made possible the creation of completely visual keys. By a visual key we mean a key based primarily on images, and that contains a minimal amount of text. Characters in visual keys are visually, not verbally defined. In this paper we create the first primarily visual key to a group of taxa, in this case the Fagaceae of the southeastern USA. We also modify our recently published set of best practices for image use in illustrated keys to make them applicable to visual keys. Methodology. Photographs of the Fagaceae were obtained from internet and herbarium databases or were taken specifically for this project. The images were printed and then sorted into hierarchical groups. These hierarchical groups of images were used to create the ‘couplets’ in the key. A reciprocal process of key creation and testing was used to produce the final keys. Principal results. Four keys were created, one for each of the parts—leaves, buds, fruits and bark. Species description pages consisting of multiple images were also created for each of the species in the key. Creation and testing of the key resulted in a modified list of best practices for image use visual keys. Conclusions. The inclusion of images into paper and electronic keys has greatly increased their ease of use. However, virtually all of these keys are still based upon verbally defined, atomistic characters. The creation of primarily visual keys allows us to overcome the well-known limitations of linguistic-based characters and create keys that are much easier to use, especially for botanical novices.
An anomaly in space-time characteristics of certain programs running in a paging machine

The running time of programs in a paging machine generally increases as the store in which programs are constrained to run decreases. Experiment, however, have revealed cases in which the reverse is true: a decrease in the size of the store is accompanied by a decrease in running time.An informal discussion of the anomalous behavior is given, and for the case of the FIFO replacement algorithm a formal treatment is presented.
Effects of RNases on rejection of pollen from Nicotiana tabacum and N. plumbaginifolia

S-RNases are implicated in both inter- and intra-specific pollen rejection in Nicotiana. At least two mechanisms contribute to S-RNase dependent rejection of pollen from self compatilble species such as Nicotiana plumbaginifolia and N. tabacum. Cloned S-RNases from self incompatible N. alata expressed in styles of self compatible N. tabacum cause rejection of N. tabacum pollen through a factor-independent mechanism. However, rejection of N. plumbaginifolia pollen occurs only when S-RNases are expressed in conjunction with non-S-RNase factors from N. alata (factor-dependent pollen rejection). Here, we compared the pollen rejection activity of four RNases in these two systems. Recombinant RNase expression levels in the factor-dependent N. plumbaginifolia system were insufficient to cause pollen rejection. However, three S-RNases were active in the factor-independent N. tabacum pollen rejection system. This system shows the broadest specificity of any system so far examined. However, RNaseI from E. coli could not cause N. tabacum pollen rejection. Thus, RNase activity alone is not sufficient for pollen rejection. Our results suggest that S-RNases are specially adapted to function in pollen rejection.
Deep Impact Spacecraft Shielding Design—Surviving a Comet Encounter

This paper describes the development of the structural protection for the Deep Impact impactor and flyby spacecraft against hypervelocity impacts due to passage through Comet Temple 1, including the following items: A description of the comet flux models and system safety requirements, The brief description of the structural design resulting from the above requirements, The results of probability-based penetration analyses, and The results from limited hypervelocity impact tests against copper and graphite-based hypervelocity impact shields.
Target recognition using cepstrum and inverse filtering

This research proposes an algorithm to recognize a target that may differ from a reference template in position, scale, and in-plane rotation. The proposed algorithm accomplishes the recognition in two steps: rotation and scale detection followed by translation detection. In the first step, the Fourier transformation of the cepstrum is used to achieve the translation invariance, and a polar-logarithmic coordinate system is employed to convert the scale and rotation changes into linear shifts. In the second step, the template is regenerated to the correct size and orientation using rotation and scale parameters obtained from step one. In both steps matching is accomplished using template inverse filtering, which generates a Dirac delta function that appears as a sharp peak. The distinguishing features of this system are three-fold. First, while detecting the existence of the target, it provides the translation, scale, and rotation parameters, which are often needed in many applications. Secondly, it employs the template inverse filters to increase the auto-correlation peaks and suppress the cross-correlation coefficients and noise. Thirdly, it utilizes the cepstrum instead of the spectrum to enhance the high frequency components, and therefore improves the recognition significantly for scale and rotation detection. Experimental examples demonstrate recognition results.
Computational fluid dynamics analysis of a direct write manufacturing process

This paper investigates the microdroplet generation mechanism in a direct write manufacturing process. A continuous inkjet (CIJ) method is utilised to deposit conductive nano particulate materials which can be used for building functionally gradient micro-sized features and devices. The spatial and temporal complexity of this process requires a computational modelling methodology to complement its experimental development. A CFD model is developed that is further validated using an ultra-high speed photography experimental setup. Input parameters such as fluid pressure, excitation frequency and voltage of the piezoelectric disc within the CIJ print head are varied to obtain trends for droplet volume and velocity. The dynamic pressure fluctuations due to acoustic waves generated during the piezoelectric disc excitation are studied. The effect of excitation parameters on satellite droplet formations is explained. These findings can be useful for the fabrication of freeform miniaturised devices in three dimensional spaces.
BBC3 (PUMA) regulates developmental apoptosis but not axonal injury induced death in the retina

Naturally occurring apoptosis is a developmental process that shapes the retina by eliminating overproduced neurons. In the absence of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member BAX, developmental apoptosis in the retina is disrupted and extra neurons survive. It is unknown how BAX is activated or if this regulation varies between neuronal types and subtypes. Since the Bcl-2 family members BIM, BID, and BBC3 (PUMA) are powerful direct activators of BAX, we used mice deficient for each of these genes to investigate their importance in developmental apoptosis. Bax deficient mice have an increase in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), bipolar cells and dopaminergic amacrine cells, but not photoreceptors, horizontal cells or cholinergic amacrine cells. The retinas of adult Bim and Bid deficient mice appeared to have no increase in any retinal cell type. Bbc3 deficient mice, either homozygous or heterozygous for a null allele of Bbc3, had an increase in the same cell types as Bax deficient mice. An analogous result may occur in the brain where, similar to Bax deficient mice, Bbc3 deficient mice have a larger gross brain weight compared to wild type mice. In contrast to its developmental role, BBC3 did not appear to be a primary factor in BAX-dependent axonal injury induced neurodegeneration in adult RGCs. The regulation of BAX activation in the retina appears to be complex, dependent on the developmental stage of the animal, the nature of the insult and even the type of neuron.
Analysis of Melamine, Cyanuric Acid, Ammelide, and Ammeline Using Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization/Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI/TOFMS)

Abstract Melamine, cyanuric acid, two compounds connected to tainted pet food, and related analogs have been analyzed using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. (M+H)+ ions were observed for ammelide and ammeline under positive ion conditions with sinapinic acid as the matrix. With alpha‐cyano‐4‐hydroxy‐cinnamic acid as the matrix, a matrix‐melamine complex was observed; however, no complex was observed with sinapinic acid as the matrix. (M−H)− was observed for cyanuric acid with sinapinic acid as the matrix.
Soft x-ray microscopy with coherent x rays (invited)

The Soft X‐ray Undulator beamline at the NSLS supports a soft x‐ray imaging program including scanning transmission microscopy, scanning photoemission microscopy, Gabor and Fourier transform holography, and large angle diffraction. Zone plates from an LBL Center for X‐ray Optics/IBM collaboration are used as optical elements. The current instrumentation of the beamline and the experimental stations is discussed, along with plans for the future at the NSLS and prospects for imaging programs at third generation sources.
THE CHANGING PLANTATION

ABSTRACT The usual classification of plantation farming as a tropical institution can no longer hold in the face of continued agricultural rationalization. Characteristics long considered essential to the plantation, such as crop specialization, advanced cultivation and harvesting techniques, large operating units, management centralization, labor specialization, massive production, and heavy capital investment, are also being increasingly associated with more extratropical farms. Other traditional marks of the plantation have been altered. Monoculture has declined and cooler-zone crops have gained in importance. Domestic markets are beginning to challenge foreign outlets. Administrative structures now range from the individually owned to the state-controlled type. Entrepreneurs are ethnically more diverse but often are of the same group as their workers. Labor is scarcer but better trained and is more imbued with the attitudes of an industrial worker. Rapid expansion of the modern plantation has also mad...
Immigrant threat and national salience: Understanding the "English official" movement in the United States

The passage of (and debate over) immigration laws in Arizona highlights the increasing linguistic diversity of the US. To date, 31 states have passed an English-official bill. In this paper, we test several hypotheses concerning the adoption of such legislation across the states. Using data spanning the past three decades, we present event history models on the timing of adoption since the start of the modern movement in 1980. Like previous works, we find that the timing of adoption in states is structured by immigrant population and the initiative process. However, we find a conditional story that has been overlooked to date: the effects of immigrant threat only increase the likelihood of English-official legislation adoption when the issue of immigration is nationally salient.
Temporal production systems

A novel knowledge representation and reasoning mechanism for qualitative reasoning in time within the framework of production systems is introduced. The approach presented provides temporal reasoning in a production system framework and supports refinement. Refinement indicates replacement of atomic events at one level of abstraction by a more detailed set of events at the next level. >
Disruption of O-GlcNAc Cycling in C. elegans Perturbs Nucleotide Sugar Pools and Complex Glycans

The carbohydrate modification of serine and threonine residues with O-linked beta- N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is ubiquitous and governs cellular processes ranging from cell signaling to apoptosis. The O-GlcNAc modification along with other carbohydrate modifications, including N-linked and O-linked glycans, glycolipids, and sugar polymers, all require the use of the nucleotide sugar UDP-GlcNAc, the end product of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). In this paper, we describe the biochemical consequences resulting from perturbation of the O-GlcNAc pathway in C. elegans lacking O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase activities. In ogt-1 null animals, steady-state levels of UDP-GlcNAc/UDP-GalNAc and UDP-glucose were substantially elevated. Transcripts of genes encoding for key members in the HBP (gfat-2, gna-2, C36A4.4) and trehalose metabolism (tre-1, tre-2, tps-2) were elevated in ogt-1 null animals. While there is no evidence to suggest changes in the profile of N-linked glycans in the ogt-1 and oga-1 mutants, glycans insensitive to PNGase digestion (including O-linked glycans, glycolipids, and glycopolymers) were altered in these strains. Our data support that changes in O-GlcNAcylation alters nucleotide sugar production, overall glycan composition, and transcription of genes encoding glycan processing enzymes. These data along with our previous findings that disruption in O-GlcNAc cycling alters macronutrient storage underscores the noteworthy influence this posttranslational modification plays in nutrient sensing.
The National Banking Acts and the Transformation of New York City Banking During the Civil War Era

Focusing on the New York banking sector, we analyze a neglected, but profound impact of the National Banking Acts. By resisting federal banking legislation and “boycotting” newly chartered national banks, the New York Clearing House Association members created market opportunities for the new entrants to dominate the correspondent banking market. The new entrants’ aggressive tactics including interest payments on deposits increased their vulnerability to panicky withdrawals by country banks. They also magnified conflicts of interest within the clearinghouse, which weakened its central banking functions and further destabilized the macroeconomy.
Manzala lagoon, Nile delta, Egypt : modern sediment accumulation based on radioactive tracers

This study was undertaken to determine whether recent anthropogenic changes in the Nile basin have affected the modern rate of sediment accumulation in the Nile delta. Excess 210Pb, 137Cs, and 239,240Pu were used to develop a sediment chronology for a core from central Manzala lagoon, the delta sector which has had the highest average rate of sediment accumulation during the Holocene (to about 0.7 cm year–1). Excess 210Pb was detected in the top 32 cm of the core, yielding an accumulation rate of 1.2 cm year–1, higher than the mean rate for the Holocene. A high 137Cs/239,240Pu ratio requires a reactor source (possibly Chernobyl) for these nuclides. Low concentrations of excess 210Pb and weapons-fallout nuclides precluded recognition of changes in sediment accumulation rate in Manzala lagoon during this century and may limit the use of tracer radionuclides for modern sediment chronology in the Nile delta.
Diabetes mellitus and progression of rigidity and gait disturbance in older persons

Background: Parkinsonian-like signs, including rigidity, gait disturbance, and bradykinesia, are common and progressive in old age and are associated with morbidity and mortality. Few risk factors for these signs have been identified. Diabetes mellitus, also a common chronic condition in old age and known to be associated with physical and neurologic disability, may be associated with parkinsonian-like signs. Objective: To examine the relation of diabetes to four parkinsonian-like signs. Methods: Participants were 822 older Catholic clergymen and women who were without clinically diagnosed Parkinson disease or dementia at baseline. For up to 9 years, they had uniform annual evaluations, which included a modified version of the motor portion of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, from which previously established measures of four specific parkinsonian-like signs were derived. Participants were evaluated for the presence of diabetes, based on direct medication inspection and history. Results: Diabetes was present in 128 (15.6%) participants. In random effects models controlling for age, sex, and education, diabetes was associated with worsening rigidity ( p p p = 0.08). Conclusion: Diabetes may be a previously unrecognized risk factor for progression of parkinsonian-like signs in older persons.
Discovery of a small molecule targeting IRA2 deletion in budding yeast and neurofibromin loss in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a life-threatening complication of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). NF1 is caused by mutation in the gene encoding neurofibromin, a negative regulator of Ras signaling. There are no effective pharmacologic therapies for MPNST. To identify new therapeutic approaches targeting this dangerous malignancy, we developed assays in NF1(+/+) and NF1(-/-) MPNST cell lines and in budding yeast lacking the NF1 homologue IRA2 (ira2Δ). Here, we describe UC1, a small molecule that targets NF1(-/-) cell lines and ira2Δ budding yeast. By using yeast genetics, we identified NAB3 as a high-copy suppressor of UC1 sensitivity. NAB3 encodes an RNA binding protein that associates with the C-terminal domain of RNA Pol II and plays a role in the termination of nonpolyadenylated RNA transcripts. Strains with deletion of IRA2 are sensitive to genetic inactivation of NAB3, suggesting an interaction between Ras signaling and Nab3-dependent transcript termination. This work identifies a lead compound and a possible target pathway for NF1-associated MPNST, and shows a novel model system approach to identify and validate target pathways for cancer cells in which NF1 loss drives tumor formation.