cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Snail grazing and the abundance of algal crusts on a sheltered New England rocky beach

Abstract The encrusting algae Ralfsia verrucosa (Areschoug) and Hildenbrandia rubra (Meneghini non Harvey) are the dominant primary space holders on protected rocky beaches in southern New England where the herbivorous snail Littorina littorea (Linnaeus) is found at extremely high densities. All erect algal species are excluded by heavy grazing pressure. We here examine the influence of snail grazing on the abundance of these two species in light of their relative physical and chemical antiherbivore defense mechanisms. Of the two, Hildenbrandia rubra is the more grazer resistant. Experimental removal of Littorina littorea from a penned area for 12 months resulted in increased Ralfsia verrucosa abundance relative to a control area, though there was marked seasonal variation in abundance in both control and snail removal areas. Hildenbrandia rubra abundance was not directly affected by the presence of Littorina littorea, and revealed very little growth and no detectable recruitment in either area. Increased Ralfsia verrucosa growth in snail removal areas, however, resulted in R. verrucosa overgrowing >95% of the Hildenbrandia rubra initially present, though this overgrowth was not lethal to Hildenbrandia rubra. At the high snail densities found on protected rocky beaches in southern New England, grazing pressure precludes the presence of all erect algae and limits overgrowth and substratum monopolization by encrusting algal species.
Environmental evaluation of base-loaded CHP systems for different climate conditions in the US

This article examines a methodology to illustrate the emissions reduction potential by a base-loaded combined heating and power (CHP) system in a given building across different US regions. In addition, the size of the prime mover that may potentially reduce the carbon dioxide emissions is determined. The potential carbon dioxide emission savings from a CHP system considers the ratio of emissions conversion factors applied to imported electricity to emissions conversion factors applied to fuel consumed Results indicate that to be able to achieve savings in carbon dioxide emissions, must be larger than a unique constant that only depends on the CHP components efficiencies. A hospital benchmark building developed by the Department of Energy in different climate conditions was used as an example to apply the methodology presented in this article. The effects of the CHP power generation unit (PGU) size and the CHP system efficiency on carbon dioxide emissions are also considered, and a range of possible value...
Pleomorphic Calcifications, Tumor Markers, and Response to Therapy.

IntroductionMany breast cancers are initially identified by pleomorphic calcifications (PC) on mammography (MG). We hypothesized that presence of PC correlates with primary tumor markers and with response to systemic therapy.MethodsMammograms of women with Stage I-III breast cancer were evaluated for the presence of PC. Only patients with biopsy proven invasive carcinoma in association with PC were included. Primary tumor markers (ER, PgR, and HER2) were determined in the standard manner at the time of core biopsy and correlated with presence or absence of PC on MG. We also evaluated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), based on data showing a role in tumor progression and possible interaction with HER2 and/or ER. Primary tumors were immunostained with an anti-COX2 monoclonal antibody, and staining of ≥ 5% or more of tumor cells was considered as positive. For response to therapy analyses, complete pathologic response (pCR) was defined as lack of any residual invasive disease in primary tumor and regional lymph nodes. We used chi-square and Fischer9s exact test for the statistical analysis.ResultsWe prospectively enrolled 239 patients. Median age was 51.2 years and the median follow up was 26 months. Pleomorphic calcifications were more often found in HER2 positive patients (22/37) vs. HER2 negative (71/202), P = 0.005, as well as in COX2 positive patients (28/57), P = 0.044. There were no significant associations between PC and ER or PgR. PC were less prevalent in triple receptor negative patients (11/55)[20%] as compared to receptor positive patients (84/188), P = 0.001. We found PC predicted DCIS to be associated with invasive cancers (27/51)[53%] compared to those who showed no DCIS associated with their invasive breast cancer (57/157) [36%] (P=0.035).When evaluating response to therapy, patients with PC on MG were more likely to have a pCR (6/18) [33%] as compared to those who showed absence of pleomorphic calcifications (2/34)[ 6%], following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, P= 0.015.ConclusionsPleomorphic calcifications were significantly associated with HER2 and COX2 positive primary tumors. Patients with PC were also more likely to have a pCR after systemic therapy. Information regarding PC on MG may be helpful in predicting tumor marker status and response to therapy. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2027.
Detection and quantification of montmorillonite nanoclay in water-ethanol solutions by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Organo-modified montmorillonite (O-MMT) was detected in various water-ethanol solutions by using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, based on the simultaneous elemental analysis of silicon (Si) and aluminium (Al). The quantification limits of the method were 0.03 mg L–1 for Si and 0.01 mg L–1 for Al, but can be improved to 8 μg L–1 for Si and 3 μg L–1 by using the concentration function of the instrument. A stability test of O-MMT in suspension was conducted by considering the solvent type (i.e., water and/or ethanol) and a surfactant. A good dispersion of O-MMT was achieved in suspensions with water and ethanol at 1:2 (v/v) or with pure ethanol, while the addition of a surfactant improved the dispersion of O-MMT in water. The Si and Al concentrations in the suspensions were correlated with O-MMT concentrations. The Si and Al contents in the O-MMT were determined by using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry to be 22% ± 1.1% and 9.3% ± 0.5% wt/wt, respectively, which was in agreeme...
Learning to Be a Counselor: A Prepracticum Point of View.

Research team conducted 8 phenomenological interviews with pre-practicum counseling students at a southeastern research university regarding the students' experiences of learning to be a counselor. Seven themes emerged from analyzing transcripts of the audiotaped individual interviews: the journey, decision making, self-doubt, counseling is, learning, boundaries, and differences. Results indicate that students view their experiences as a journey permeated with self-doubt.
The importance of seedling competition in the segregation of spruce and fir in the southern Appalachians

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh] Poir.) and red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) are codominants of southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests. Fraser fir generally dominates above 1740 m, while red spruce usually dominates below this elevation. This study was designed to determine whether the present segregation of the two species along elevational gradients is associated with seedling competition or contrasting physiological responses to environmental factors. Seedlings were grown for two years in a replacement series experiment along two elevational transects extending from 1300 m to 1900 m, and harvested for growth analysis. Competition increased with decreasing elevation and Fraser fir was apparently the stronger competitor. Mortality was inversely correlated with elevation and was most evident in red spruce in May, and in fir in late summer. Fir growth increased with elevation and red spruce grew most at the middle elevation (1600 m). Neither competitive interactions nor growth responses completely explained the elevational segregation of red spruce and Fraser fir. We hypothesize that the early-successional Fraser fir quickly dominates at higher elevations following disturbance and that continued disturbance will favor its dominance at higher elevations. However, the late-successional noncompetitive red spruce slowly establishes itself and, while consistently present, may only dominate in the absence of disturbance and where other species are at the margins of their distribution.
A ‘multi-colour’ SXR diagnostic for time and space-resolved measurements of electron temperature, MHD activity and particle transport in MCF plasmas

A fast (?0.1?ms) and compact 'multi-colour' soft x-ray array has been developed for time and space-resolved electron temperature (Te) measurements in magnetically confined fusion (MCF) plasmas. The electron temperature is obtained by modelling the slope of the continuum radiation from ratios of the available 1D-Abel inverted radial emissivity profiles over different energy ranges, with no a priori assumptions of plasma profiles, magnetic field reconstruction constraints or need of shot-to-shot reproducibility. This technique has been used to perform fast Te measurements in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), avoiding the limitations imposed by the well-known multi-point Thompson scattering, electron cyclotron emission and electron Bernstein wave mode conversion diagnostics. The applicability of this 'multi-colour' technique for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mode recognition and a variety of perturbative electron and impurity transport studies in MCF plasmas is also discussed. Reconstructed 'multi-colour' emissivity profiles for a variety of NSTX scenarios are presented here for the first time.
Short forms in psychological assessment--Ethical and forensic concerns for school psychology: Comment on Thompson, LoBello, Atkinson, Chisholm, and Ryan (2004).

Whereas psychological assessment remains a critical skill, it can demand considerable time and effort. In fact, it can often feel tedious and even laborious. As a partial outgrowth, short forms in psychological testing are intrinsically appealing. Unfortunately, many concerns can be raised regarding this practice. This article represents a response to A. P. Thompson, S. G. LoBello, L. Atkinson, V. Chisholm, and J. J. Ryan (2004) and is intended to strengthen the discussion on this practice.
Airborne Doppler radar observations of a convective storm

Abstract Airborne Doppler radar can collect data on target storms that are quite widely dispersed. However, the relatively long time required to sample an individual storm in detail, particularly with a single aircraft, and the amplification of the statistical uncertainty in the radial velocity estimates when Cartesian wind components are derived, suggests that errors in wind fields derived from airborne Doppler radar measurements would exceed those from a ground based radar network which was better located to observe the same storm. Error distributions for two analysis methods (termed Overdetermined and Direct methods) are given and discussed for various flight configurations. Both methods are applied to data collected on a sea breeze induced storm that occurred in western Florida on 28 July 1982. Application of the direct solution, which does not use the continuity equation, and the overdetermined dual-Doppler method, which requires the use of the continuity equation, resulted in similar fields. Since t...
Improved heatbath method for Monte Carlo calculations in lattice gauge theories

Abstract Heatbath methods give more rapid equilibration and shorter correlation times for the Markov processes which generate lattice gauge configurations in Monte Carlo computations. We introduce an improved method for generating configurations according to the SU(2) heatbath distribution, which is also a central component of the SU(3) “quasi-heatbath” method of Cabibbo and Marinari. For problems of interest our method offers an improvement of a factor of about four.
Applications of E‐graphs in network design

In this paper, we introduce a construction that produces graphs, called E-graphs, by replacing the edges in a core graph with a copy of a given graph. These graphs are generalizations of several graphs that have recently been presented as models for network designs, including the G-network and its extensions. We discuss several invariant properties of these graphs with emphasis on those of interest in network design, such as number of edges, diameter, and domination number. © 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lobster shell carotenoprotein organisation in situ studied by photoacoustic spectroscopy

A SINGLE carotenoid pigment, astaxanthin, bound to specific proteins in a complex quaternary structure, provides shell coloration in the lobster Homarus americanus1–8. The absorption of light by these carotenoproteins is uniform over a remarkable spectral range, as evidenced by the reflectance of a blue shell fragment which is low (5–6%) and essentially constant from 400 to 700 nm (ref. 9). This uniform absorption cannot be assigned to any combination of the carotenoprotein complexes which have been isolated. To assess the significance of these chemical species and to make specific inferences about carotenoprotein function in vivo, it is essential to measure the absorption spectrum in situ10. Several astaxanthin–protein complexes which absorb in the visible region have been isolated and spectroscopically characterised1–9,11. These include α-and γ-crustacyanin with absorption maxima at 632 and 625 nm, respectively, and a second complex called the yellow protein7,11 which absorbs maximally at 410 nm. An early in situ absorption measurement of a carapace sample taken immediately after ecdysis and before calcification has been reported by Cheesman et al.4. However, the absence of structure in the reflectance measurements9 from a mature, opaque carapace suggests that conventional spectroscopy can yield little information about absorption maxima in situ. By using a new spectroscopic technique, photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), we have obtained spectra of a native shell fragment and here report the existence of a near continuum of astaxanthin absorption energies which span the visible spectral region. Furthermore, these pigments are in an anisotropic distribution within the endocuticle, that is, those absorbing in the blue are near the surface whereas those absorbing in the red are in the interior.
Transgenic Over-Expression of Bovine α-Lactalbumin and Human Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in Porcine Mammary Gland

Abstract The first week postpartum is the period of greatest loss for US swine producers, with most morbidity and mortality attributed to malnutrition and scours. Despite the benefit to be gained by improving lactation performance, little progress has been made in this area through conventional means. Transgenic technology provides an important tool for addressing the problem of low milk production and its detrimental impact on swine production. Transgenic swine over-expressing bovine α-lactalbumin (α-LA) and human IGF-I were developed. α-Lactalbumin was selected for its role in lactose synthesis and regulating milk volume. IGF-I regulates mammary development and piglet intestinal development. The IGF-I construct consisted of the IGF-I gene inserted directly behind the α-LA signal peptide coding sequence to allow secretion of IGF-I into milk. Outcomes assessed were milk composition and yield and piglet growth and intestinal development. First parity α-LA gilts (n=8) had higher milk lactose content in early lactation and 20 to 50% greater milk yield on d 3, 6, and 9 of lactation than nontransgenic gilts (n=10). Weight gain of piglets suckling α-LA gilts was greater from d 7 and 21 postpartum than control piglets. Colostral IGF-I was ∼10-fold higher in first-parity IGF-I transgenic gilts (n=5) than non-transgenic gilts (n=4), and elevated milk IGF-I is maintained throughout lactation at ∼0.6mg/L. Milk yield tended to be greater in IGF-I transgenic swine in early lactation. Thus, transgenic over-expression of milk proteins and growth factors may provide a means to improve swine lactation performance.
The CB1 Endocannabinoid System Modulates Adipocyte Insulin Sensitivity

Mounting evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system regulates energy metabolism through direct effects on peripheral tissues as well as central effects that regulate appetite. Here we examined the effect of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) signaling on insulin action in fat cells. We examined effects of the natural CB1 agonist, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and the synthetic CB1 antagonist, SR141716, on insulin action in cultured adipocytes. We used translocation of glucose transporter GLUT4 to plasma membrane (PM) as a measure of insulin action. 2-AG activation of the CB1 receptor promoted insulin sensitivity whereas antagonism by SR141716 reduced insulin sensitivity. Neither drug affected GLUT4 translocation in the absence of insulin or with high doses of insulin. Consistent with these results we found that insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the protein kinase Akt was increased by 2-AG, attenuated by SR141716, and unaffected in the absence of insulin or by addition of high-dose insulin. These data provide a functional and molecular link between the CB1 receptor and insulin sensitivity, because insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt is required for GLUT4 translocation to the PM. The sensitizing effects of 2-AG were abrogated by SR141716 and Pertussis toxin, indicating that the effects are mediated by CB1 receptor. Importantly, neither 2-AG nor SR141716 alone or in combination with maximal dose of insulin had effects on GLUT4 translocation and Akt phosphorylation. These data are consistent with a model in which the endocannabinoid system sets the sensitivity of the insulin response in adipocytes rather than directly regulating the redistribution of GLUT4 or Akt phosphorylation.
Classical calculation of high-energy electron capture in 5-MeV proton-hydrogen collisions.

The existence of the classical Thomas peak in the angular distribution of projectiles undergoing capture in collisions of 5-MeV protons with atomic hydrogen is explored using the three-body, three-dimensional classical-trajectory Monte Carlo technique. A method that selects only that portion of the initial phase space which yields capture at this energy was developed to make the calculation tractable due to the extremely small cross section. The spectrum obtained displays only a small shoulder near the angle predicted by Thomas on the basis of successive classical binary collisions and the total (integral) cross section is overestimated by a factor of 26 compared to recent experimental measurements. The overestimation originates from too large a contribution from velocity matching direct capture; the energy regime in which it is significant is discussed. In addition, the double-scattering events in this model which contribute significantly to the cross sections are found to differ substantially from the Thomas picture.
Fault-tolerant typed assembly language

A transient hardware fault occurs when an energetic particle strikes a transistor, causing it to change state. Although transient faults do not permanently damage the hardware, they may corrupt computations by altering stored values and signal transfers. In this paper, we propose a new scheme for provably safe and reliable computing in the presence of transient hardware faults. In our scheme, software computations are replicated to provide redundancy while special instructions compare the independently computed results to detect errors before writing critical data. In stark contrast to any previous efforts in this area, we have analyzed our fault tolerance scheme from a formal, theoretical perspective. To be specific, first, we provide an operational semantics for our assembly language, which includes a precise formal definition of our fault model. Second, we develop an assembly-level type system designed to detect reliability problems in compiled code. Third, we provide a formal specification for program fault tolerance under the given fault model and prove that all well-typed programs are indeed fault tolerant. In addition to the formal analysis, we evaluate our detection scheme and show that it only takes 34% longer to execute than the unreliable version.
Helix unfolding in unsolvated peptides.

The conformations of unsolvated Ac-K(AGG)5+H+ and Ac-(AGG)5K+H+ peptides (Ac = acetyl, A = alanine, G = glycine, and K = lysine) have been examined by ion mobility measurements over a wide temperature range (150−410 K). The Ac-K(AGG)5+H+ peptide remains a globule (a compact, roughly spherical structure) over the entire temperature range, while both an α-helix and a globule are found for Ac-(AGG)5K+H+ at low temperature. As the temperature is raised the α-helix unfolds. Rate constants for loss of the helix (on a millisecond time scale) have been determined as a function of temperature and yield an Arrhenius activation energy and preexponential factor of 38.2 ± 1.0 kJ mol-1 and 6.5 ± 3.7 × 109 s-1, respectively. The α-helix apparently does not unfold directly into the globule, but first converts into a long-lived intermediate which survives to a significantly higher temperature before converting. According to molecular dynamics simulations, there is a partially untwisted helical conformation that has both a...
Properties of Canola Protein-based Plastics and Protein Isolates Modified Using SDS and SDBS

Canola protein isolates were prepared from canola meal flour using alkaline solubilization and acid precipitation. The isolates were treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) with concentrations between 1 and 5%. Functional property analysis of modified isolates revealed that water absorption and fat absorption increased by up to 115 and 78%, respectively, with increasing SDBS concentrations. Fat absorption of SDS-modified isolates showed a similar trend to that of SDBS-modified isolates (86% increase), but water absorption decreased (by 77%) in the 5% SDS treatment. SDS and SDBS treatments reduced the emulsifying activity of protein isolates by 34 and 30%, respectively. The denaturation effect of SDS and SDBS treatments increased the surface hydrophobicity of proteins and resulted in increased tensile strength (by 14 and 41%), tensile modulus (by 31 and 52%), and toughness (by 44 and 64%) of plastic specimens prepared using modified isolates. Only the 3% treatments of SDS and SDBS increased the elongation of plastics (by 22 and 11%, respectively) while other treatments did not show significant differences from the plastics that used non-modified isolates. The water absorption of plastics increased by 33% with the 5% SDS treatment; the SDBS treatments showed a 9% decrease in water absorption for the 1% treatment but no significant differences at higher concentrations. Denaturation by SDS and SDBS can be employed to alter functional properties of canola protein isolates as well as the mechanical properties of canola protein-based plastics.
Convergence preserving mappings on topological groups

Abstract It is well known that a mapping φ : R → R is convergence preserving, that is, whenever an infinite series ∑ a n converges, the series ∑ φ ( a n ) converges, if and only if there exists m ∈ R such that φ ( x ) = m x in some neighborhood of 0. We explore convergence preserving mappings on Hausdorff topological groups, showing in particular, that if G × G is a Frechet group, and H has no small subgroups, then a mapping φ : G → H is convergence preserving if and only if there is a neighborhood of the identity in G on which φ is a sequentially continuous homomorphism.
Gastrointestinal reactivity in rats lacking anterior insular neocortex

Behavioral and physiological studies have shown that the insular neocortex participates in a wide variety of special visceral processes, in particular, the higher-order integration of taste stimuli and the regulation of autonomic activity. The present experiment examined the involvement of the anterior insular (gustatory) neocortex (AIGN) in gastrointestinal reactivity and taste learning in rats by the use of a modified taste aversion training procedure. Normal rats and rats lacking AIGN demonstrated similar “illness thresholds” to the early onset symptoms of ingested LiCl. Conversely, animals lacking AIGN showed significant impairments in taste aversion learning ability. From a consideration of several research findings it is concluded that animals lacking AIGN can normally perceive tastes and illness, but these animals experience reliable impairments in taste aversion learning ability.
The Quality of Data on “Race” and “Ethnicity”: Implications for Health Researchers, Policy Makers, and Practitioners

Implicit assumptions about the quality of data on “race” and “ethnicity” underlie the design of much of today’s research on health disparities. Health researchers, policy makers, and practitioners tend to take it for granted that racial/ethnic categories are clearly and consistently defined; that individual race/ethnicity can be easily, validly, and reliably determined; and that categories capture population groups that are so inherently different from each other that any reported racial/ethnic difference can automatically be generalized to the US population as a whole. This article outlines a series of issues that challenge these assumptions about the quality of race/ethnicity data. While race/ethnicity classifications can approximate socially constructed identities for some groups of people under some circumstances, these classifications are inherently too imprecise to allow meaningful statements to be made about underlying biological or genetic differences between groups. Findings of racial/ethnic differences should be reported with appropriate caveats and interpreted with caution. Particular caution should be exercised in hypothesizing genetic differences between groups in the absence of convincing genetic evidence.
Achieving Federalism in the Regulation of Coastal Energy Facility Siting

Although the federal government is taking an increasing role in land use decisions and the siting of energy facilities, many policy goals have come in conflict with state and local controls. The coastal areas are a particularly crucial point of Federal-state conflict, as illustrated by the consistency clause of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972. Two dispute-resolution models for replacing the consistency clause are described and assessed under the five criteria of federalism, efficiency, efficacy, administrative workability, and political feasibility. The second model's plan to form a bargaining panel representing governmental and private interests is recommended as a replacement for the consistency clause rather than extending the present CZMA authorization beyond 1980. Model II preserves both Federal and state roles by emphasizing compromise rather than litigation. 225 references. (DCK)
Melting temperatures of the Allende meteorite: implications for a Hadean magma ocean

Abstract Melting temperatures of the silicate fraction of the Allende CV3 meteorite, at upper mantle pressures, are several hundred degrees lower than that of fertile peridotite xenoliths or ‘pyrolite’. If the Earth accreted from material similar to chondrites, then deep mantle melting could have occurred with a relatively modest heat budget. It is concluded that initial chemical composition is an important variable in realistic magma ocean models.
Injury patterns among female trauma patients: recognizing intentional injury.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence and interpersonal violence are a major source of morbidity and mortality among women. Our objective was to identify patterns of injury consistent with intentional injury in female trauma patients admitted to the hospital. METHODS: Subjects were women aged 16 to 65 years discharged from acute care hospitals in a single year with a primary diagnosis of injury. Data were collected from 14 states across the United States. Analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Women who suffered blunt intentional trauma exhibited very different injury patterns than those hospitalized for motor vehicle collisions or falls. The risk of facial injury with blunt intentional trauma was much higher than for other mechanisms (odds ratio, 4.9; 95% confidence interval, 4.20-5.74). Head injury was also more common in these women (odds ratio, 1.4, 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.70). CONCLUSION: Physicians can potentially improve identification of cases of intimate partner violence and interpersonal violence by understanding common injuries associated with interpersonal violence. Language: en
Debt and Deception: How States Avoid Making Hard Fiscal Decisions

Government borrowing occurs whenever the government forgoes control over some future flow of resources or benefits in order to acquire resources for current use. Based on this definition, the authors identify several ways that state governments borrow, which include widely recognized forms of debt as well as types of actions that are less transparent. Case studies for Connecticut, Illinois, and New York document the large amounts of future commitments that these states have taken on to cover operating deficits over the last decade. The authors conclude by evaluating the usefulness of current financial statements for assessing the amount of borrowing that states have done to support current services and suggest areas for which additional information is needed.
Spatio-Spectral Color Filter Array Design for Enhanced Image Fidelity

In digital imaging applications, data are typically obtained via a spatial subsampling procedure implemented as a color filter array - a physical construction whereby only a single color representative is measured at each pixel location. Owing to the growing ubiquity of color imaging and display devices, much recent work has focused on the interplay between color filter array design and subsequent digital processing, including in particular the canonical spatio-chromatic reconstruction task known as demosaicking. Here we consider the problem of improved color filter array design, leading to enhanced image fidelity. We first analyze the limitations of the well-known Bayer pattern, currently most popular in industry. We then propose a framework for designing rectangular color filter arrays amenable to efficient and completely linear reconstruction, and provide examples of new patterns that enable improvements in reconstruction quality.
Accelerated Evolution of CES7, a Gene Encoding a Novel Major Urinary Protein in the Cat Family

Cauxin is a novel urinary protein recently identified in the domestic cat that regulates the excretion of felinine, a pheromone precursor involved in sociochemical communication and territorial marking of domestic and wild felids. Understanding the evolutionary history of cauxin may therefore illuminate molecular adaptations involved in the evolution of pheromone-based communication, recognition, and mate selection in wild animals. We sequenced the gene encoding cauxin, CES7, in 22 species representing all major felid lineages, and multiple outgroups and showed that it has undergone rapid evolutionary change preceding and during the diversification of the cat family. A comparison between feline cauxin and orthologous carboxylesterases from other mammalian lineages revealed evidence of strong positive Darwinian selection within and between several cat lineages, enriched at functionally important sites of the protein. The higher rate of radical amino acid replacements in small felids, coupled with the lack of felinine and extremely low levels of cauxin in the urine of the great cats (Panthera), correlates with functional divergence of this gene in Panthera, and its putative loss in the snow leopard. Expression studies found evidence for several alternatively spliced transcripts in testis and brain, suggesting additional roles in male reproductive fitness and behavior. Our work presents the first report of strong positive natural selection acting on a major urinary protein of nonrodent mammals, providing evidence for parallel selection pressure on the regulation of pheromones in different mammalian lineages, despite the use of different metabolic pathways. Our results imply that natural selection may drive rapid changes in the regulation of pheromones in urine among the different cat species, which in turn may influence social behavior, such as territorial marking and conspecific recognition, therefore serving as an important mechanism for the radiation of this group of mammals.
A Foundational Approach to Preparing Teachers for Family and Community Involvement in Children's Education:

Pour mettre en place et consolider la relation famille-ecole-communaute, la formation des enseignants doit mettre l'accent sur une connaissance des experiences quotidiennes des familles et encourager la participation des parents dans l'education de leurs enfants. Selon cet objectif, l'A. propose quelques evolutions pour le programe de formation des enseignants
Union Democracy Reexamined

Trade union leaders serve dual, seemingly contradictory roles. They must command militant organizations in conflicts with employers. Simultaneously, they must be accountable and democratically responsive to their members. Few unions possess the institutions or leadership to accomplish both. This article analyzes the practices of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), in which effective contract negotiation (including leadership during strikes) and an informed, active rank-and-file democracy are mutually supportive. We offer an alternative to standard accounts of union democracy. While the claims are based on a detailed case study, the theoretical model and its insights hold for labor unions and organizations more broadly.
Putting active learning into multimedia applications: dynamic definition and refinement of concept classifiers

The authors developed an extensible system for video exploitation that puts the user in control to better accommodate novel situations and source material. Visually dense displays of thumbnail imagery in storyboard views are used for shot-based video exploration and retrieval. The user can identify a need for a class of audiovisual detection, adeptly and fluently supply training material for that class, and iteratively evaluate and improve the resulting automatic classification produced via multiple modality active learning and SVM. By iteratively reviewing the output of the classifier and updating the positive and negative training samples with less effort than typical for relevance feedback systems, the user can play an active role in directing the classification process while still needing to truth only a very small percentage of the multimedia data set. Examples are given illustrating the iterative creation of a classifier for a concept of interest to be included in subsequent investigations, and for a concept typically deemed irrelevant to be weeded out in follow-up queries. Filtering and browsing tools making use of existing and iteratively added concepts put the user further in control of the multimedia browsing and retrieval process.
ANTIBIOTIC SELECTION IN OBSTETRIC PATIENTS

Penicillin and ampicillin are valuable antibiotics in obstetrics because of their excellent activity against group A and group B streptococci. In addition, ampicillin is the treatment of choice for enterococcal infections, particularly urinary tract infections. Limited spectrum cephalosporins are of primary value as prophylactic agents. Ceftriaxone, an intermediate spectrum agent, is an excellent drug for treatment of infections caused by N. gonorrhoeae. Extended spectrum cephalosporins, penicillins, and carbapenems provide sufficient coverage against pathogenic organisms to be used as single agents for treatment of polymicrobial infections such as chorioamnionitis and puerperal endometritis. Alternatively, combination regimens such as clindamycin or metronidazole plus an aminoglycoside or aztreonam are also highly effective in this clinical situation. Erythromycin and azithromycin have value primarily for treatment of endocervical chlamydial infections and mycoplasma pneumonia in obstetric patients and for intrapartum prophylaxis against group B streptococcal infection in patients who are allergic to beta-lactam antibiotics.
A low-power memristive neuromorphic circuit utilizing a global/local training mechanism

As conventional CMOS technology approaches fundamental scaling limits novel nanotechnologies offer great promise for VLSI integration at nanometer scales. The memristor, or memory resistor, is a novel nanoelectronic device that holds great promise for continued scaling for emerging applications. Memristor behavior is very similar to that of the synapses necessary for realizing a neural network. In this research, we have considered circuits that leverage memristance in the realization of an artificial synapse that can be used to implement neuromorphic computing hardware. A charge sharing based neural network is described which consists of a hybrid of conventional CMOS technology and novel memristors. Results demonstrate that the circuit can be implemented with energy consumption on the order of tens of femto-joules. Furthermore, a training circuit is presented for implementing supervised learning in hardware with low area overhead.
Response of thick composite rings under uniform external pressure

Abstract The investigation reported herein is concerned with examining, via an experiment, the response of thick hoop wound AS4/PPS and S-2 Glass/ Epoxy rings subjected to external hydrostatic pressure. A custom pressurization testing chamber was manufactured for this purpose. Two different methods of applying the pressure was examined. In the first of these methods, constrained ring buckling (mode three) was observed in the initial stages of the test as the specimen was constrained from motion by the rubber membrane used to seal the hydraulic pressure. In the second type of loading method, unconstrained ring buckling (mode two) was observed. Microscale failure initiators such as fiber kinking or delamination between plies was visible in the rings that were unloaded upon buckling. A one dimensional shear deformation theory and a two dimensional elasticity theory were employed to examine the buckling and initial postbuckling behavior of the tested rings. Good agreement between experiment and theory is noted. The details of the analytical work pertaining to the ring buckling analysis is reported elsewhere.
How a Hedgehog might see holoprosencephaly

Detailed knowledge of the Hedgehog signaling pathway is fundamental to an understanding of vertebrate development as well as several birth defects in humans. Here we review various aspects of Hedgehog synthesis, secretion, distribution and function in the context of the most common anomaly of the developing forebrain in humans, holoprosencephaly. Genetic studies in numerous model organisms are beginning to elucidate the factors that are likely candidates for the causes of early embryonic defects in humans, including holoprosencephaly.
3D simulation technology as an effective instructional tool for enhancing spatial visualization skills in apparel design

The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of 3D simulation technology for enhancing spatial visualization skills in apparel design education and further to suggest an innovative teaching approach using the technology. Apparel design majors in an introductory patternmaking course, at a large Midwestern University in the United States, participated in this study. Three different teaching methods (lecture, 3D simulation instruments, and paper patternmaking) were employed in consecutive instructional phases, within a single day. A short questionnaire devised to assess students’ visualization abilities and overall evaluation on the three different teaching methods was administered to the students after each of the three phases. Overall, students’ abilities to visualize 2D patterns onto a human body were improved by all three teaching methods. The 3D simulation instruments anchored positive effects of training on spatial visualization abilities between lecture and paper patternmaking practices. The results affirm that 3D simulation technology has positive potential as an efficient instructional tool for improving students’ visualization skills in apparel design.
Pulmonary surface-active materials in the chediak-higashi syndrome.

Beige mice express the Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Large inclusions, identified as abnormal lysosomes, are found in many cells. The inclusions in type II alveolar epithelial cells are enlarged lamellar bodies and they are associated with an increase in total lung surface-active material and phospholipid. Comparison of recovery of phospholipid in surface-active materials from beige and black (normal) mice indicates that in the beige mice there is an increase in total phospholipid and disaturated phosphatidylcholines in whole lung and in surface-active materials in residual lung after lavage. Hosphatidycholine and phosphatidylglycerol are increased as percentages of total lung phospholipid. Calculated alveolar surface coverage of surface-active materials isolated from residual beige lungs is greater than three times that of normal lungs. Surface-active materials recovered from beige mice are qualitatively similar in phospholipid composition and in surface activity to materials recovered from normal mice. The quantity of surface-active material phospholipid recovered in the lavage of beige mouse lungs was normal. The basis for the abnormal accumulation of lamellar body lipids is not known.
La influencia pasada y presente de las visiones del mundo: Max Weber y el descuido de un concepto sociológico

En el presente ensayo se sintetiza la definicion de Max Weber de visiones del mundo [world views] y se senalan los distintos modos en los que, en su sociologia, las visiones del mundo influyen en la formacion de los grupos sociales. Se indica el modo en el que las visiones del mundo son caracterizadas por una autonomia "dinamica" y "estabilizadora" y tambien se analiza la capacidad de ellas para constituir fuerzas fundantes y "de apoyo" [background] para (a) la organizacion racional–metodica de la vida y (b) la incorporacion de desarrollos historicos y del cambio social. Posteriormente se discute la influencia de las visiones del mundo en relacion con la pregunta crucial de como se transmite su "autonomia", argumentandose que las doctrinas de salvacion, los portadores sociales y diversas "configuraciones sociales" son indispensables en dicho fenomeno. Finalmente, se examina el analisis de Weber acerca de nuestra epoca, en la que las visiones del mundo han perdido gran parte de su influencia original. ?"Necesitan" las sociedades de visiones del mundo?; ?son importantes las consecuencias de que las visiones del mundo se debiliten seriamente? Las visiones del mundo, se concluye, constituyen un concepto significativo en el analisis sociologico que, sin embargo, ha sido hasta ahora ampliamente ignorado
Treatment of Calf Diarrhea: Oral Fluid Therapy

Diarrhea remains the leading cause of mortality in beef and dairy calves. Calves that have diarrhea frequently develop dehydration, strong ion acidosis, and electrolyte abnormalities, and are in a state of negative energy balance. Oral electrolyte therapy is a simple and economical method of addressing all of these potential complications. This article gives an overview of oral electrolyte therapy of calves, including indications, guidelines for administration, and how to choose an electrolyte product.
The Science of Shock and Fluid Resuscitation

This chapter seeks to review the leading causes of shock in the surgical patient and to guide the clinician in the diagnosis and management of shock in this population. Shock represents a state of inadequate tissue perfusion, which needs to be recognized and treated promptly to avoid organ injury. The leading causes of shock reviewed include hypovolemic shock, septic shock, and cardiogenic shock. Special focus is given to recent data including early goal-directed therapy for septic shock resuscitation and management of the patient requiring a massive transfusion. Fluid resuscitation strategies and endpoints for resuscitation are also reviewed.
A Demand System for a Dynamic Auction Market with Directed Search

We develop a demand system for a dynamic auction market with directed search. In each period, heterogeneous goods are exogenously supplied and sold by second price auction, and incumbent bidders choose which good to bid on and how much to bid. Bidder valuations are multidimensional, private and perfectly persistent, and the population of bidders evolves according to an exogenous entry and endogenous exit process. We prove that the state of the market | which includes active bidders' types and information sets | evolves as a geometrically ergodic Markov process. We characterize best responses as solutions to a partially observed Markov decision problem and provide conditions under which the econometrician can identify equilibrium strategies from time series data. We provide additional conditions under which this allows nonparametric identi cation of preferences. When the market is large so that each bidder's actions are informationally small, we show bidderwise identi cation: the valuations of bidders whose individual time series includes a bid on every product are identifi ed. Two-stage nonparametric and semiparametric estimation procedures are proposed, and shown to work well in Monte Carlo and counterfactual simulations.
Molecular Analysis of Components Responsible for Protection of Azotobacter Nitrogenase from Oxygen Damage

Many of the foundations of our current knowledge of nitrogen fixation have been based on studies of the Azotobacter species. These range from the early characterizations of the energy-utilizing nature of the nitrogenase reaction, to the demonstration of hydrogen evolution as an inherent by-product of the nitrogenase catalysis, and to the discovery and characterization of alternative nitrogenases. Now, with the recent solving of the crystal structure of the iron protein and molybdenum-iron protein of the nitrogenase from A. vinelandii, it is probably fair to say that the Azotobacter nitrogenase system is our most advanced model-system for nitrogenase structure and function.
The Evaluation of In Vitro Drug Dissolution of Commercially Available Oral Dosage Forms for Itraconazole in Gastrointestinal Simulator With Biorelevant Media

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a multicompartmental in vitro dissolution apparatus, gastrointestinal simulator (GIS), in assessing the drug dissolution of 2 commercially available oral dosage forms for itraconazole (ICZ). The GIS consists of 3 chambers, mimicking the upper gastrointestinal tract. In vitro dissolution of ICZ capsule or oral solution was evaluated in United States Pharmacopeia apparatus II and GIS. To investigate the suitability of fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF) to predict better in vivo, FaSSIF as well as phosphate buffer were used as dissolution media. Area under the dissolved drug amount-time curve (AUDC) was calculated for each dosage form in each apparatus, and the ratios of AUDCoral solution to AUDCcapsule were compared with human pharmacokinetic data. Based on this comparison, GIS with FaSSIF can adequately distinguish the pharmacokinetic profiles of 2 oral dosage forms for ICZ. Additionally, Caco-2 cell transepithelial transport study in combination with GIS revealed that improved drug dissolution by formulations resulted in enhanced permeation of ICZ through cell monolayer, suggesting the observed ICZ concentration in the GIS will directly reflect systemic exposure. These results indicate GIS would be a powerful tool to assess the formulations of ICZ as well as other Biopharmaceutics Classification System class II drug formulations.