cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coordinate systems and transformations for 3D modeling: the unifying concept in the RADIUS common development environment

The RADIUS Common Development Environment pulls together many diverse functions into an integrated whole. The main goal of the environment is to provide a system to do interactive modeling of 3-dimensional scenes from multiple images, as well as, providing an infrastructure to support the research in and implementation of image understanding-based algorithms for this and other tasks. The RCDE contains facilities for: CAD-system-like 3D modeling; image processing; electronic-light-table image viewing and exploitation; frame and non-frame camera photogrammetry; and photo realistic rendering. The major achievement of the system is the high level of integration and interoperability between and among these facilities. The key realization that enables this is that every entity represented in the RCDE has an associated local coordinate system. This includes cartographic and cultural features, images and sub-images, text annotations, graphical user interface elements, photogrammetric conjugate points and even the earth itself. These entities are tied together through a flexible and efficient network of coordinate transformations. This allows each type of data to be represented, manipulated, and displayed in the most convenient and precise form, without sacrificing functionality or generality, in addition to enabling the fusion of different types of geometric data. In this paper, we explain the coordinate system representations and transformation facilities in the RCDE and outline some of the rationale and strategies behind the current design and implementation. Also included are examples drawn from its use in the government sponsored RADIUS program.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Modulating alignment and contractile protein expression in vascular smooth muscle cell sheets: Using microcontact printing and mechanical conditioning

Disrupted hierarchical structure in blood vessels following cardiovascular injury may contribute to maladaptive remodeling and lead to changes in mechanical properties. Cell-based tissue-engineered constructs that mimic native structures can actively adapt to guide remodeling, growth, and self-maintenance at the injury site. Cell sheet engineering technologies allow recovery without using damaging enzymes, but produce fragile cell sheets. To increase robustness, we may also be able to use mechanical conditioning to replicate native biomechanical properties. Additionally, aligning cells before mechanical conditioning may influence extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion and thus, mechanical properties.
The impact of violence on African-American teenagers' health-related quality of life, as measured by the SF-36

Background Exposure to violence affects an individual9s overall health. For example, reductions in the mental health and social functioning domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) strongly correlate with domestic violence. Purpose There is a gap in the literature on the influence violence on HRQoL for African-American teenagers in particular. Methods African-American teenagers (N=491) enrolled in a behavioural intervention self-reported during waves of data collection, beginning at age (mean) 16.0 through age (mean) 18.5, exposure to violent crime, propensity for aggression, perpetration of violence, and dimensions of HRQoL as defined by the SF-36. We used a fixed-effects linear regression model to investigate the impact of being a violence victim or perpetrator on each of the eight dimensions and two component summary scales of the SF-36, while controlling for high depressive symptoms and socio-economic risk status. Differences are significant at a p Results Considering the eight dimensions of HRQoL, for victims we found a significant reduction in the ‘role-limitations’ domain for victims and, for perpetrators we found a significant decrease in the ‘role-limitations’ and ‘mental health’ domains. Regarding the component summary scales, for perpetrators we found significant decreases in both the physical and mental summary scales. Significance Our results agree with other published studies that suggest violence significantly decreases a victim9s overall mental health. However, for violence victimisation and perpetration, we found that violence might also impair African-American teenagers9 ability to handle ‘normal or usual daily activities,’ which may indicate that violence interferes with their societal and household productivity.
Enhanced photostability of genetically encodable fluoromodules based on fluorogenic cyanine dyes and a promiscuous protein partner.

Fluoromodules are discrete complexes of biomolecules and fluorogenic dyes. Binding of the dyes to their cognate biomolecule partners results in enhanced dye fluorescence. We exploited a previously reported promiscuous binding interaction between a single-chain, variable fragment antibody protein and a family of cyanine dyes to create new protein−dye fluoromodules that exhibit enhanced photostability while retaining high affinity protein−dye binding. Modifications to the dye structure included electron-withdrawing groups that provide resistance to photo-oxidative damage. Low nanomolar equilibrium dissociation constants were found for the new dyes. Fluorescence microscopy illustrates how yeast can be surface-labeled with three different colors based on a single protein and appropriately chosen dyes.
Synthesis of a deuterium labeled variant of the rat hepatocarcinogen, methapyrilene

Methapyrilene, I, once a commonly found antihistamimic drug, has been synthesized with four deuterium labels, three of which are on the thiophene ring. Initially, thiophene was deuterated by solvolysis of the tetramercuric acetate-derivative with deuterium chloride. Carbonylation of the thiophene ring at the 2-position, by the addition of dimethylformamide to the 2-lithio-derivative, gave [3,4,5-d3] thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde. Condensation of this aldehyde with 2-aminopyridine was followed by reduction of the resulting imine with sodium borodeuteride to yield the N-([3,4,5-d3]-2-thienyl[d]-methylene)-2-aminopyridine, VIII. Alkylation of the lithium salt of VIII with dimethylaminoethylchloride gave N, N-dimethyl-N'-[2-pyridyl]-N'-([3,4,5-d3]-2-thienyl-[d]methylene)-1,2-ethane diamine, I, in good yield. Combustion analysis, 500 mHz NMR, and mass spectrometry confirmed the identity of the product which will be useful for metabolic studies.
The comparative biology of environmental stress: behavioural endocrinology and variation in ability to cope with novel, changing environments

Coping with perturbations of the environment such as severe storms and other climatic extremes, habitat degradation, changes in predator numbers, invasive species and social disruption is one of the most essential physiological and behavioural processes. The palaeontological record shows that organisms have had to cope with environmental perturbations throughout the history of life on Earth. These ancient processes show highly conserved mechanisms, but also great flexibility in responses to social and physical environment challenges. Adrenocortical responses to perturbations can trigger a coping response called the emergency life history stage (EHLS). However, if the adaptive value of the ELHS declines because of trade-offs with other life history stages such as breeding, then the adrenocortical response to acute perturbations (stress) can be modulated. Mechanisms involve allostasis and reactive scope with three foci of regulation: hormone secretion, transport and response. It is now well known that modulation of the adrenocortical responses to perturbations occur through gene–environment interactions during development and throughout the life cycle. These modulations involve individual differences in gender, age, experience and condition as well as latitudinal, altitudinal and hemispheric variations. Dramatic consequences of human-induced rapid environmental change such as increasing frequency and intensity of environmental perturbations will likely have implications for continued adaptation to extreme events. Note that modulation of the stress response also involves three major processes: modulation of robustness (i.e. become more resistant to acute stress); modulation of responsiveness (i.e. modulate the actual response to stress for more flexibility); and modulation of resilience (i.e. how quickly and completely the recovery is after the perturbation has passed). Mechanisms underlying these modulations remain largely unexplored.
Measurements of turbulent correlations in supersonic flows with longitudinal surface curvature

The effect of longitudinal surface curvature on the turbulent correlations of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer was studied experimentally in an axisymmetric channel. Upstream of the interaction, the nominal freestream Mach number was 3.78, the Reynolds number based on boundary layer momentum thickness was 5778, and the boundary layer thickness was 0.9 cm. For the flow with the longitudinal surface curvature, the overall turning angle was approximately 10.2 degrees, and maximum delta-j/kappa approximately 0.09. The shear stresses, measured by a hot wire anemometry, reached the peak values quite rapidly for the flow with surface curvature as compared to the corresponding flow without surface curvature.
Evidence for an ABC-Type Riboflavin Transporter System in Pathogenic Spirochetes

ABSTRACT Bacterial transporter proteins are involved in the translocation of many essential nutrients and metabolites. However, many of these key bacterial transport systems remain to be identified, including those involved in the transport of riboflavin (vitamin B 2 ). Pathogenic spirochetes lack riboflavin biosynthetic pathways, implying reliance on obtaining riboflavin from their hosts. Using structural and functional characterizations of possible ligand-binding components, we have identified an ABC-type riboflavin transport system within pathogenic spirochetes. The putative lipoprotein ligand-binding components of these systems from three different spirochetes were cloned, hyperexpressed in Escherichia coli, and purified to homogeneity. Solutions of all three of the purified recombinant proteins were bright yellow. UV-visible spectra demonstrated that these proteins were likely flavoproteins; electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and thin-layer chromatography confirmed that they contained riboflavin. A 1.3-A crystal structure of the protein (TP0298) encoded by Treponema pallidum, the syphilis spirochete, demonstrated that the protein’s fold is similar to the ligand-binding components of ABC-type transporters. The structure also revealed other salient details of the riboflavin binding site. Comparative bioinformatics analyses of spirochetal genomes, coupled with experimental validation, facilitated the discovery of this new ABC-type riboflavin transport system(s). We denote the ligand-binding component as riboflavin uptake transporter A (RfuA). Taken together, it appears that pathogenic spirochetes have evolved an ABC-type transport system (RfuABCD) for survival in their host environments, particularly that of the human host. IMPORTANCE Syphilis remains a public health problem, but very little is known about the causative bacterium. This is because Treponema pallidum still cannot be cultured in the laboratory. Rather, T. pallidum must be cultivated in laboratory rabbits, a restriction that poses many insurmountable experimental obstacles. Approaches to learn more about the structure and function of T. pallidum’s cell envelope, which is both the physical and functional interface between T. pallidum and its human host, are severely limited. One approach for elucidating T. pallidum’s cell envelope has been to determine the three-dimensional structures of its membrane lipoproteins, molecules that serve many critical survival functions. Herein, we describe a previously unknown transport system that T. pallidum uses to import riboflavin, an essential nutrient for the organism’s survival. Moreover, we found that this transport system is present in other pathogenic spirochetes. This is the first description of this new type of bacterial riboflavin transport system.
THE DISTURBED GERIATRIC PATIENT

It is well known that the geriatric patient frequently becomes disturbed, upset, excited, quarrelsome and irritable. Consequently, he can and does become a serious management problem both inside and outside a psychiatric institution. Generally, tranquilizers are given to this kind of patient. However, most of the time the effects of such medication are of only a temporary nature. If tranquilizers are discontinued, these patients frequently relapse into their previous state of disturbed and hostile behavior. When tranquilizers are given for as long as three months without any significant improvement in the patient's disturbed behavior, it is doubtful whether this type of drug will solve the treatment problem. For this reason the author studied, over a period of five years, 100 male geriatric patients aged 65 and older who were in the Veterans Administration Hospital, Coatesville, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the basic cause of the psychiatric disturbances involved.
CHOQUET AGGREGATION USING ORDER INDUCING VARIABLES

We discuss the OWA and Choquet integral aggregation operators and point out the central role the ordering operation plays in these operators. We extend the capabilities of the Choquet integral aggregation by allowing the ordering to be induced by some values other then those being aggregated. This allows us to consider an induced Choquet Choquet integral aggregation operator. We look at the properties of this operator. We then look at its applications. Among the applications considered are aggregations guided by linguistic and other ordinal structures. We look at the use of induced aggregation in nearest neighbor methods. We also consider the Choquet aggregation of complex objects such as matrices and vectors.
Spectroscopic studies and AFM analysis of Er3+-doped yttrium oxide nanoparticles

There has been a strong interest in materials with nanometer dimensions because of its immense new applications in sensors, detectors, amplifiers, novel laser sources and emitters. Trivalent-erbium doped Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles have been synthesized, and their spectroscopic studies have been carried out using visible laser excitation. The size estimation of the nanoparticles using atomic force microscope will be presented. The upconversion mechanism and laser power studies for the different emissions from Er 3+ doped nanocrystals will also be presented.
Nematodes found in New York state fields with several different cropping histories

A comparison was made of the kinds and numbers of nematodes present in several fields where potatoes had been grown continuously for many years, and other areas, some of which were of the same soil type, where potatoes had not been grown. Nematodes were removed from the soil by screening instead of by the use of the Baermann funnel because the Baermann funnel was found to be inefficient for the recovery of plant parasites. A more extended survey would be needed to determine conclusively the effects of continuous cropping with potatoes on populations of plant parasitic nematodes. The only plant parasitic nematodes present in large quantity in any of the fields surveyed were two undescribed species ofPratylenchus.
Balancing target flexibility and target denaturation in computational fragment‐based inhibitor discovery

Accounting for target flexibility and selecting “hot spots” most likely to be able to bind an inhibitor continue to be challenges in the field of structure-based drug design, especially in the case of protein–protein interactions. Computational fragment-based approaches using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are a promising emerging technology having the potential to address both of these challenges. However, the optimal MD conditions permitting sufficient target flexibility while also avoiding fragment-induced target denaturation remain ambiguous. Using one such technology (Site Identification by Ligand Competitive Saturation, SILCS), conditions were identified to either prevent denaturation or identify and exclude trajectories in which subtle but important denaturation was occurring. The target system used was the well-characterized protein cytokine IL-2, which is involved in a protein–protein interface and, in its unliganded crystallographic form, lacks surface pockets that can serve as small-molecule binding sites. Nonetheless, small-molecule inhibitors have previously been discovered that bind to two “cryptic” binding sites that emerge only in the presence of ligand binding, highlighting the important role of IL-2 flexibility. Using the above conditions, SILCS with hydrophobic fragments was able to identify both sites based on favorable fragment binding while avoiding IL-2 denaturation. An important additional finding was that acetonitrile, a water-miscible fragment, fails to identify either site yet can induce target denaturation, highlighting the importance of fragment choice. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pharmacokinetics of Voriconazole Administered Concomitantly with Fluconazole and Population-Based Simulation for Sequential Use

In clinical practice, antifungal therapy may be switched from fluconazole to voriconazole; such sequential use poses the potential for drug interaction due to cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19)-mediated inhibition of voriconazole metabolism. This open-label, randomized, two-way crossover study investigated the effect of concomitant fluconazole on voriconazole pharmacokinetics in 10 subjects: 8 extensive metabolizers and 2 poor metabolizers of CYP2C19. The study consisted of 4-day voriconazole-only and 5-day voriconazole-plus-fluconazole treatments, separated by a 14-day washout. Voriconazole pharmacokinetics were determined by noncompartmental analyses. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was developed in Simcyp (Simcyp Ltd., Sheffield, United Kingdom) to predict the magnitude of drug interaction should antifungal therapy be switched from fluconazole to voriconazole, following various simulated lag times for the switch. In CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers, fluconazole increased the maximum plasma concentration and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of voriconazole by 57% and 178%, respectively. In poor metabolizers, however, voriconazole pharmacokinetics were unaffected by fluconazole. The simulations based on pharmacokinetic modeling predicted that if voriconazole was started 6, 12, 24, or 36 h after the last dose of fluconazole, the voriconazole AUC ratios (sequential therapy versus voriconazole only) after the first dose would be 1.51, 1.41, 1.28, and 1.14, respectively. This suggests that the remaining systemic fluconazole would result in a marked drug interaction with voriconazole for ≥24 h. Although no safety issues were observed during coadministration, concomitant use of fluconazole and voriconazole is not recommended. Frequent monitoring for voriconazole-related adverse events is advisable if voriconazole is used sequentially after fluconazole.
Dissociation of acetone radical cation (CH3COCH3+˙→ CH3CO++CH3˙): An ab initio direct classical trajectory study

The dissociation of acetone radical cation (CH3COCH3+˙ → CH3CO+ + CH3˙) has been studied by ab initio direct classical trajectory calculations at the MP2/6-31G(d) level of theory. A total of 247 trajectories were initiated at the transition state of the keto–enol tautomerization. A microcanonical ensemble using quasiclassical normal mode sampling was constructed by distributing 10 kcal mol−1 of excess energy above the barrier. The dissociation is found to favor the loss of the newly formed methyl group in agreement with experiments. The branching ratio of methyl loss was calculated to be 1.53 ± 0.20 which is fortuitously in very good agreement with the experimental ratio of 1.55 for 8–12 kcal mol−1 excess energy. Nearly 50% of the available energy is retained by the acetyl fragment as vibrational energy. The methyl fragment has very little vibrational energy but receives ca. 25% of the available energy in translation. The translational energy distribution of the methyl radicals is bimodal with the newly formed methyl having higher average translational energy than that the methyl derived from the spectator group.
Essays on Citation Classics in Cardiology

This will allow the reader to appreciate the evolution of knowledge and concepts in the area of the original article, based on work that has been achieved since it was first published, in line with progress in medical science and technology. Obviously, the longer the time from the original publication, the greater the changes that are to be seen. It may become evident that, with the advances in technology, the interpretation of the physiological/pathophysiological phenomena related to a particular disease indeed differs from that of the original paper.
Numerical Simulation of Episodes of Organized Convection in Tropical Northern Africa

AbstractA large-domain convection-permitting numerical model is used to simulate episodes of deep convection, which are generated during the day over the Ethiopian Highlands and then propagate westward over the eastern and central Sahel region (5°–20°N) of northern Africa. The simulation comprises 12.5 days within the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) field campaign in 2006. During this period, long-lived precipitation episodes that survived beyond a single diurnal cycle occurred in the lee of the Ethiopian Highlands only every 2–3 days in both the simulation and observations. This contrasts with some other latitudinal corridors in the lee of major topography, such as the central United States, where long-lived heavy precipitation episodes frequently occur on successive nights.The intermittency of long-lived events for the current case occurs despite regular daily triggering of convection along the upstream orography, and is linked to strong lower-tropospheric stabilization and reduction o...
On “Valley Floor Sedimentation in the Upper Mississippi Valley”by Knox

(1989). On “Valley Floor Sedimentation in the Upper Mississippi Valley”by Knox. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 79, No. 4, pp. 593-600.
Post-traumatic synovitis presenting as a mass in the suprapatellar bursa of the knee MRI appearance

A lobulated mass in the suprapatellar bursa of the knee is presented with MRI findings simulating the features of focal pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVS). Microscopic examination demonstrated a nonspecific, inflammatory mass of hypertrophied synovium. The MRI features of various forms of synovitis are reviewed from recent literature and differential considerations of a suprapatellar, intrabursal mass are discussed.
Formulating Dairy Rations with Neutral Detergent Fiber. 1. Effect of Silage Source

Abstract Alfalfa and corn silages were evaluated as sources of forage fiber in diets for early lactation cows formulated to contain equal amounts of neutral detergent fiber. Diets were designed to contain 32% neutral detergent fiber and 17% crude protein. Twenty-four cows were assigned on the basis of parity and calving date to one of three experimental diets fed as complete mixed rations. Silage contents of the three complete mixed rations on a dry basis were 54.8% alfalfa silage, 67.4% corn silage, and 60.1% of a 1:1 combination of these two silages. The remainder of the experimental rations was composed of corn, soybean meal, minerals, and vitamins. Experimental rations were fed for a 9-wk period, which was preceded and followed by 3-wk periods when all cows were fed a standard diet. Using the average of pre- and postexperimental period means as a covariate, no significant differences were found among the experimental means for actual milk and fat-corrected milk yield or milk composition. Daily dry matter intake as a percent of body weight was lower for cows fed the corn silage-based diet. There were no differences in milk production between alfalfa silage and corn silage when diets contained similar concentrations of neutral detergent fiber. Rations containing 32% neutral detergent fiber were adequate for cows in early lactation producing approximately 30kg of 4% fat-corrected milk/d.
Host selection and food utilization of the red pumpkin beetle, Raphidopalpa foveicollis (Lucas) (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera)

An analysis of the host plant relationships with respect to the red pumpkin beetle,Raphidopalpa foveicollis Lucas is presented based on the role of receptors involved in host selection, the quantitative food utilization on different cucurbitaceous host plants and the biochemical parameters involved in food plant selection. Orientation of the beetles towards the host plants appeared to be profoundly affected when the receptors present on the antennae and mouthparts were ablated or coated. Though significant differences were observed with regard to the quantity of food ingested among different host plants, ingestion of food was higher for mature leaves and flowers compared to young and senescent leaves. Accordingly, mature leaves and flowers showed high nitrogen and proteins, low sugars, moderately high phenols and narrowC/N ratio compared to other plant parts. The chemosensory receptors present on the antennae and mouthparts were also studied using scanning electron microscope.
Modeling the complexity of genetic networks: Understanding multigenic and pleiotropic regulation

Molecular genetics presents an increasingly complex picture of the genome and biological function. Evidence is mounting for distributed function, redundancy, and combinatorial coding in the regulation of genes. Satisfactory explanation will require the concept of a parallel processing signaling network. Here we provide an introduction to Boolean networks and their relevance to present-day experimental research. Boolean network models exhibit global complex behavior, self-organization, stability, redundancy and periodicity, properties that deeply characterize biological systems. While the life sciences must inevitably face the issue of complexity, we may well look to cybernetics for a modeling language such as Boolean networks which can manageably describe parallel processing biological systems and provide a framework for the growing accumulation of data. We finally discuss experimental strategies and database systems that will enable mapping of genetic networks. The synthesis of these approaches holds an immense potential for new discoveries on the intimate nature of genetic networks, bringing us closer to an understanding of complex molecular physiological processes like brain development, and intractable medical problems of immediate importance, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and a variety of genetic diseases.
Usefulness and limitation of spatial representation

Abstract What discussed herein is not an “open problem” in the sense of mathematics. It is a problem that psychologists should keep in mind when presenting a formal model. A model will be useful for phenomena on which the model has been formulated. However, the model may contain a number of remaining properties that not necessarily represent related psychological phenomena adequately. The situation is analogous to that the particle model of light does not represent diffraction whereas the wave model of light is not adequate for the Compton effect. When presenting a model, mathematical psychologists should be especially keen about this point. The problem is discussed with a concrete example.
Subcontracting Practices in the Construction Industry of Pakistan

AbstractSubcontracting on construction projects is a common and well-established practice. Contractors enlist the services of subcontractors to achieve certain objectives, including obtaining cost reductions, securing access to specialized services, and risk sharing. Nonetheless, subcontracting on a project can introduce certain associated problems that can affect construction management and construction quality. This research explored exclusively the subcontracting practices in the construction industry of Pakistan, identified the main problem areas, examined the overall satisfaction with the quality of service provided by subcontractors, and focused on ways to improve the quality of construction affected by subcontracting. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the extent and involvement of construction firms in subcontracting, reasons for subcontracting, and the selection criteria of subcontractors. Additionally, interviews were conducted with researchers, professionals, and experts in the...
Ethnicity, Culture and Park Design: Case Studies of Urban Parks in American Chinatowns

This paper examines the role of ethnicity and culture in the making of urban parks. It focuses on neighbourhood parks in three Chinatowns to explore how park design that addresses the social and cultural needs of the user groups affects park uses. The study employs a combination of field observation, personal interviews, and archival research to examine how the park is used by the ethnic community, uses which adapt or subvert the dominant forms of public space and public life. While the case studies reveal the unique cultural practices of the Chinese as an ethnic group, the analysis also provides general insight into the association between park design and the level of integration of park space into the everyday life of ethnic minorities.
New Molecular Imaging Targets to Characterize Myocardial Biology

Molecular imaging represents a targeted approach to noninvasively assess biologic (both physiologic and pathologic) processes in vivo. Ideally the goal of molecular imaging is not just to provide diagnostic and prognostic information based on identification of the molecular events associated with a pathologic process but rather to guide individually tailored pharmacologic, cell-based, or genetic therapeutic regimens. This article reviews the recent advances in myocardial molecular imaging in the context of the cardiovascular processes of angiogenesis, apoptosis, inflammation, and ventricular remodeling. The focus is on radiotracer-based single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography molecular imaging approaches.
FPGA-Based Design of a Pulsed-OFDM System

An enhancement to the MB-OFDM system, known as Pulsed-OFDM, has been proposed to reduce the complexity and power consumption of the transceiver without sacrificing performance. In this paper, we describe the detailed FPGA implementation of a complete Pulsed-OFDM transceiver. The resource requirements are given for each of the major blocks for an implementation using a Xilinx Virtex?-4 device. The entire system can be mapped onto a single FPGA chip.
Host Utilization of Field-Caged Native and Introduced Thistle Species by Rhinocyllus conicus

Rhinocyllus conicus Froelich was introduced from Europe into North America as a biological control agent of the exotic weed Carduus nutans L. Concern exists over the feeding of this weevil on at least 25 species of native Cirsium thistles. Beginning in 2008, cage studies isolating adults of R. conicus on buds and flower heads of all eight thistle species (native and introduced) recorded from Tennessee were conducted to test if R. conicus could use these species for reproduction and what impacts larval feeding of R. conicus may have on seed production. Larvae of R. conicus completed development in heads of the native species C. carolinianum (Walter) Fernald and Schubert. and C. horridulum Michaux, and significant reductions in seed numbers of both species occurred during 2008. Rhinocyllus conicus oviposited on both C. carolinianum and C. horridulum at significantly greater levels than the introduced species C. arvense (L.) Scopoli and C. vulgare (Savi) Tenore. Infested heads of C. carolinianum contained numbers of R. conicus per centimeter of plant head width similar to Ca. nutans in 2008, and both native species contained numbers of R. conicus per centimeter of plant head width similar to C. arvense and C. vulgare in 2009. Body length was similar between R. conicus reared on native thistles and its target host Ca. nutans. This report is the first documentation of R. conicus feeding and reproducing on C. carolinianum and C. horridulum. Although R. conicus has been observed only on introduced thistles in naturally occurring populations in this region, the utilization of C. carolinianum and C. horridulum as host species in controlled conditions warrants continued monitoring of field populations and further investigation into factors that may influence nontarget feeding in the future.
A Systems-Level Interrogation Identifies Regulators of Drosophila Blood Cell Number and Survival

In multicellular organisms, cell number is typically determined by a balance of intracellular signals that positively and negatively regulate cell survival and proliferation. Dissecting these signaling networks facilitates the understanding of normal development and tumorigenesis. Here, we study signaling by the Drosophila PDGF/VEGF Receptor (Pvr) in embryonic blood cells (hemocytes) and in the related cell line Kc as a model for the requirement of PDGF/VEGF receptors in vertebrate cell survival and proliferation. The system allows the investigation of downstream and parallel signaling networks, based on the ability of Pvr to activate Ras/Erk, Akt/TOR, and yet-uncharacterized signaling pathway/s, which redundantly mediate cell survival and contribute to proliferation. Using Kc cells, we performed a genome wide RNAi screen for regulators of cell number in a sensitized, Pvr deficient background. We identified the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) Insulin-like receptor (InR) as a major Pvr Enhancer, and the nuclear hormone receptors Ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (usp), corresponding to mammalian Retinoid X Receptor (RXR), as Pvr Suppressors. In vivo analysis in the Drosophila embryo revealed a previously unrecognized role for EcR to promote apoptotic death of embryonic blood cells, which is balanced with pro-survival signaling by Pvr and InR. Phosphoproteomic analysis demonstrates distinct modes of cell number regulation by EcR and RTK signaling. We define common phosphorylation targets of Pvr and InR that include regulators of cell survival, and unique targets responsible for specialized receptor functions. Interestingly, our analysis reveals that the selection of phosphorylation targets by signaling receptors shows qualitative changes depending on the signaling status of the cell, which may have wide-reaching implications for other cell regulatory systems.
Effects of burrow ventilation on activities of a terebellid polychaete and silicate removal from sediment pore waters

The behavior and activities of a terebellid polychaete, Eupolymnia heterobranchia, in the presence of artificially irrigated tubes and the effects of Eupolymnia and artificial irrigation on silicate removal from sediment pore waters were examined in the laboratory. Eupolymnia built more tubes and longer tubes in sediments containing artificially irrigated tubes relative to unventilated sediments. Morcovcr, worm tubes were located closer to artificially ventilated tubes than expected by chance. Silicate fluxes were positively related to the dry weight ofworms and to the number of tubes in sediments when they consisted of either Eupolymnia tubes or artificially irrigated tubes alone. However when tube types were mixed (Eupolymnia + artificially irrigated tubes), silicate Auxcs were lower than in sediments containing artificially ventilated tubes alone. Thus, worm behavior was altered by the prescncc of artificially irrigated tubes. In addition, interactions between worms and artificially ventilated tubes served to rcducc silicate flux relative to sediments containing artificially ventilated tubes only.
EFFECT OF BLANCH TREATMENT ON QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF CANNED DRY PINTO AND SMALL AND LARGE LIMA BEANS

Two lots of three canned dry bean types were treated as follows: no blanch, two water, and two steam blanch methods (cooled or not cooled after blanching) in order to assess treatment effect on quality attributes after 1 day and 1 mo storage. Storage times did not affect drained weights, but the not blanched and not cooled samples were significantly higher in drained weights than the samples cooled after blanching. The blanch method and post-blanch treatment had significant effects, which varied between bean types, on drained weight, shear values and percent split beans, but not on moisture content. The lot had a significant effect on all quality attributes.
p53: link to the past, bridge to the future

Although the p53 tumor suppressor was identified nearly three decades ago and plays a pivotal role in human cancer, its complexity continues to surprise the research community. Indeed, it was only recently discovered that p53 belongs to a multigene family that also includes p63 and p73 (Kaghad et al. 1997; Schmale and Bamberger 1997). Both p63 and p73 express an array of isoforms as a result of multiple promoter usage and alternative splicing (Yang et al. 1998; Zaika et al. 2002). This complexity within the p53 gene family has, until now, been considered a unique feature of p63 and p73. In this issue, Bourdon et al. (2005) use currently available molecular techniques to revisit the structure of p53, the founding member of this gene family. This work reveals that like the p53-related genes p63 and p73, p53 also makes use of several promoters and undergoes alternative splicing to generate multiple isoforms. Thus, a comparison of p53-related genes reveals strikingly similar traits among family members that produce a plethora of related but functionally diverse proteins that add further complexity to the role of p53-related proteins in development, cancer, and aging
Some global bifurcation results for elastic plates

This paper is concerned with global bifurcation results of some buckling problems for thin elastic plates under von Karman's model. We consider these problems as applications of a general topological degree analysis for bifurcation of variational inequalities.
Solitary and multiple tumors of follicular infundibulum: a review of 168 cases with emphasis on staining patterns and clinical variants

Background Tumor of the follicular infundibulum (TFI) is an uncommon benign adnexal tumor that usually presents as a solitary keratotic papule in the head and neck area. Infrequently, it may present as multiple lesions or in association with other conditions. Although it was initially described in 1961, the pathogenesis of this lesion is still controversial. Methods The clinical and histologic features of 168 cases of TFI were reviewed. Random cases were stained with elastic Van Gieson, cytokeratin (CK)20 and Ber-EP4. Clinical data and clinical images were collected. Results The median age at presentation was 66 years with a slight female predominance. As subset of patients (7.7%) had multiple TFI, some of which presented with hypopigmented lesions of the head and neck area. TFI has a unique staining pattern; all cases tested showed a brush-like network of elastin fibers, no cases stained for Ber-EP4 and 91.7% of cases show single cell positivity to CK20. This is in contrast to basal cell carcinoma used for comparison purposes. Conclusion TFI is a distinct neoplastic entity with a unique staining pattern and variable clinical presentation. One should be aware of the potential clinical presentation of multiple TFI as hypopigmented lesions especially in the head and neck area.
YEAR ONE OF THE YUDHOYONO-KALLA DUUMVIRATE

In the first year of their government, the joint leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla is reminiscent of Indonesia's first presidential and vice presidential team, the duumvirate or dwitunggal of President Sukarno and Vice President Mohammad Hatta. Though not without its weaknesses, the Yudhoyono–Kalla duumvirate is more likely to be successful than its predecessor, whose dissolution led to the overthrow of parliamentary democracy in the late 1950s. The problems that Indonesia faces today are more manageable; today's leaders are also more compatible in policy goals and understanding of politics. Progress to date is most notable in the organisation of the government's political power base, the policy response to the tsunami, the forging of the Aceh peace agreement, and action against corrupt officials, while economic policy making has been less successful.
Security of graph data: hashing schemes and definitions

Use of graph-structured data models is on the rise - in graph databases, in representing biological and healthcare data as well as geographical data. In order to secure graph-structured data, and develop cryptographically secure schemes for graph databases, it is essential to formally define and develop suitable collision resistant one-way hashing schemes and show them they are efficient. The widely used Merkle hash technique is not suitable as it is, because graphs may be directed acyclic ones or cyclic ones. In this paper, we are addressing this problem. Our contributions are: (1) define the practical and formal security model of hashing schemes for graphs, (2) define the formal security model of perfectly secure hashing schemes, (3) describe constructions of hashing and perfectly secure hashing of graphs, and (4) performance results for the constructions. Our constructions use graph traversal techniques, and are highly efficient for hashing, redaction, and verification of hashes graphs. We have implemented the proposed schemes, and our performance analysis on both real and synthetic graph data sets support our claims.
The splice is right: Guarantors of fidelity in pre-mRNA splicing

Two recent papers, one from the Staley laboratory (Koodathingal and colleagues) and the other from the Cheng laboratory (Tseng and colleagues), show that the RNA-dependent ATPase Prp16, which is required for the second step of splicing, acts to reject slowly splicing pre-mRNAs immediately before the first catalytic reaction in pre-mRNA splicing. The results answer long-investigated questions about the actions of Prp16 and provide a wealth of molecular details on the proofreading process in pre-mRNA splicing. The discussion here reviews and integrates the results of the two papers and describes the implications for proofreading in splicing.
Derangements on the n -cube

Chen, W.Y.C. and R.P. Stanley, Derangements on the n-cube, Discrete Mathematics 115 (1993) 65-15. Let Q. be the n-dimensional cube represented by a graph whose vertices are sequences of O’s and l’s of length n, where two vertices are adjacent if and only if they differ only at one position. A k-dimensional subcube or a k-face of Q. is a subgraph of Q. spanned by all the vertices u1 u2 u, with constant entries on n-k positions. For a k-face Gx of Q. and a symmetry w of Q., we say that w fixes Gt if w induces a symmetry of Gt; in other words, the image of any vertex of G,, is still a vertex in Gk. A symmetry w of Q. is said to be a k-dimensional derangement if w does not fix any k-dimensional subcube of Q.; otherwise, w is said to be a k-dimensional rearrangement. In this paper, we find a necessary and sufficient condition for a symmetry of Q. to have a fixed kdimensional subcube. We find a way to compute the generating function for the number of k-dimensional rearrangements on Q.. This makes it possible to compute explicitly such generating functions for small k. Especially, for k =O, we have that there are 1.3 . (2n- 1) symmetries of Q. with at least one fixed vertex. A combinatorial proof of this formula is also given.
Integrating actual road design into highway driving simulators for research, design, and consumer information applications

The ability to capture actual road conditions in an automated and cost-effective manner has increased significantly with advances in sensor technologies, computer capabilities, and analysis techniques. Likewise, the fidelity of low-cost highway driving simulators has advanced over the years. This paper presents the latest results of Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) work at the Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, VA regarding the capture of road geometry and other road features and its use in a driving simulator for research, design, and public education purposes. FHWA’s Digital Highway Measurement (DHM) System utilizes multiple sensor and location technologies and computer analysis capabilities to efficiently collect and process roadway geometry and other information. These electronic files, together with roadside features such as signage and markings can be imported into the highway driving simulator to create a simulation of an actual road. To demonstrate the capabilities of the system, information was collected on a two-lane rural road; the processed data was imported into the driving simulator; and a comparison of driving performance was made for two sets of drivers (one set that drove the road under varying pavement markings and another who drove the simulated road). The simulator was also used by highway engineers to help design an entirely new interchange configuration (diverging diamond). Human subjects drove the simulation to test their understanding of the design. The video of the simulated road was also used in a public hearing process to brief and convince private citizens of the value of the new design. Keywords – highway safety, roadway data collection, simulation
Public scholarship as a vocation : museums and identity

Let me begin with a series of examples that illustrate the ways people are engaged in public scholarship, and the many forms it can take. Some deal specifically with museums, others with topics that different kinds of museums might try to exhibit. Taken together they suggest a wide range of issues that apply to museums, just as what museums do apply to other institutions of civil society.
Glucocorticoids and insulin: complex interaction on brown adipose tissue

Glucocorticoids and insulin effect long-term reciprocal changes in food intake and body weight. We tested the interactions of corticosterone and insulin on caloric efficiency, white adipose tissue ...
Age-Associated Decrease in Beta-Adrenergic Receptors and Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Rat Brown Adipose Tissue

The ability to regulate body temperature diminishes with age. In the rat, nonshivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) serves as the regulator of body temperature. This process is stimulated by catecholamine activation of adenylate cyclase through the beta-adrenergic receptor. However, beta-adrenergic responsiveness also diminishes with age. To investigate the age-related alterations in beta-adrenergic function in BAT, beta-adrenergic receptor number and cytochrome c oxidase activity were assessed in 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old rats, and adenylate cyclase activity was assessed in 3-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old rats. The amount of brown adipose tissue recovered from senescent rats was 30% less than that from either the 3- or 12-month-old rats. There was a corresponding decrease in the total amount of cytochrome c oxidase activity in the 24-month-old rats. In the senescent rats, the density of beta-adrenergic receptors was twofold less than in the 3- and 12-month-old rats. The decrease in density was predominately due to a decrease in the beta 1-adrenergic subtype. Isoproterenol- and NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity were threefold greater and forskolin-stimulated activity was fourfold greater in the 3-month than in the older rats. There was no change in the Kact for isoproterenol with age. These biochemical alterations with age may contribute to the inability of older animals to thermoregulate when exposed to cold.