cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Syntenic assignment of human serotonin receptor subtype 2 (HTR2), esterase D (ESD), and fms-related tyrosine kinase (FLT) homologs to bovine Chromosome 12

Bovine x rodent somatic hybrid cells have been used to syntenically map three bovine genes homologous to loci on human Chromosome (Chr) 13. These three loci, fms-related tyrosine kinase gene (FLT), esterase D (ESD), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2 (HTR2; serotonin receptor subtype 2), were assigned to bovine Chr 12 (BTA12) with 91-95% concordance to the coagulation factor 10 (F10) locus. Along with a previously mapped BTA12 gene, retinoblastoma-1 (RBI), this conserved synteny group spans 178 cM on human Chr 13 (HSA13). Previous reports suggested homology between HSA13 and both BTA2 and BTA12. Results reported here extend the boundary of the HSA13-BTA12 comparative map, contradict the previous preliminary assignment of ESD to BTA2, and suggest instead that the q arm of HSA13 may be entirely conserved in BTA12.
The Effects of Contextual Interference on Females With Varied Experience in Open Sport Skills

Abstract The acquisition and transfer effects of contextual interference (Battig, 1979) were investigated on a coincidence anticipation task. The experimental task required subjects to make predictive judgements so that their responses coincided with the arrival of a light stimulus. Sixty females were selected from an activity questionnaire determining the extent of experience in similar tasks. One half were selected reporting no experience, and the remaining subjects had prior and present involvement in tasks requiring predictive judgements. Battig's (1979) conceptualization of memory was supported for experienced subjects in one transfer task. Experienced subjects who processed the acquisition tasks in high contextual interference (random order of presentation) performed significantly better than novice subjects in the same acquisition context. In addition, acquisition under a random sequence facilitated transfer to a novel task for experienced subjects as compared to acquisition under a constant order ...
A C 2 trivariate macro-element based on the Clough-Tocher-split of a tetrahedron

A C^2 trivariate macro-element is constructed based on the Clough-Tocher-split of a tetrahedron into four subtetrahedra. The element uses supersplines of degree 13, and provides optimal order approximation of smooth functions.
Interactions of components of human rhinovirus type 2 with Hela cells.

Abstract Two particulate components were produced by acidification followed by neutralization of human rhinovirus type 2, an RNA-containing A component (135 S) and the B component (80 S), and these were found to lack the ability to attach to host cells. Components sedimenting at 135 S and/or at 80 S were also generated by acidification and neutralization of several other human rhinoviruses, suggesting that the ability to produce these may be of taxonomic significance. About 20% of the naturally occurring top component of human rhinovirus type 2 attached to the virus-specific receptors of host cells, and this population has the same polypeptide composition as natural top component particles incapable of interaction with host cells. It is postulated that the biologically active population differs only in its surface conformation from the nonattaching fraction of natural top component.
Folate and Vitamin B6 Intake and Risk of Colon Cancer in Relation to p53 Expression

Background & Aims: Considerable evidence suggests that a low-folate diet increases the risk of colorectal cancer, although the results of a recent randomized trial indicate that folate supplementation may not reduce the risk of adenoma recurrence. In laboratory models, folate deficiency appears to induce p53 mutation. Methods: We immunohistochemically assayed p53 expression in paraffin-fixed colon cancer specimens in a large prospective cohort of women with 22 years of follow-up to examine the relationship of folate intake and intake of other one-carbon nutrients to risks by tumor p53 expression. Results: A total of 399 incident colon cancers accessible for p53 expression were available. The effect of folate differed significantly according to p53 expression ( P heterogeneity = .01). Compared with women reporting folate intake 6 intake conferred a protective effect on p53-overexpressing cancers (top versus bottom quintile: RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.35–0.94; P heterogeneity = .01) but had no effect on p53 wild-type tumors. Conclusions: We found that low folate and vitamin B 6 intake was associated with an increased risk of p53-overexpressing colon cancers but not wild-type tumors.
Effects of isotopic substitution on the chemiluminescence spectra obtained during the reaction of F2 with CS2

Abstract Emission spectra have been obtained during the gas-phase reaction of F2 with CS2 on substitution with carbon-13 and sulfur-34 in effort to ascertain the identity of the emitter. Absence of any measurable shift in the vibronic bands on substitution with carbon-13 suggests that carbon is not present in the emitting molecule and that the previous assignment should be discarded. The measured vibrational frequencies and their shifts on isotopic substitution with sulfur-34 are nearly identical to those that have been reported previously by other workers for the ground electronic state of SF2.
Synthesis, characterization, and star polymer assembly of boronic acid end‐functionalized polycaprolactone

Boronic acid end-functionalized polycaprolactone (PCL) polymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization using a pinacol boronate ester-containing (Bpin) initiator. The polymerization provides access to boron-terminated polymers (i.e. Bpin-PCL-OH) with narrow molecular weight distributions (PDI = 1.09). Postsynthetic manipulation of the polymer's terminal hydroxyl group by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition chemistry provides a series of bis end-functionalized polymers with significant structural diversity at the termini. Deprotection of the boronate ester end group was accomplished with an acidic solid phase DOWEX resin. The boronate ester deprotection methodology does not result in hydrolysis of the polymeric backbone. The boronic acid-tipped polymers were converted into star polymer assemblies using thermal dehydration and ligand-facilitated trimerization. Thermal dehydration of (HO)2B-PCL-OAc to the corresponding boroxine-based star polymer assembly was inefficient and lead to degradation products. Ligand-facilitated trimerization using either pyridine or 7-azaindole as the Lewis base was efficient and mild. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Abstract ED02-04: Using mouse models to develop new drugs and strategies for prevention

Numerous high-profile publications have confirmed that an individual tumor contains hundreds of mutations, that a tumor will continue to acquire mutations as it progresses, and that significant tumor heterogeneity exists not only between tumors but also within a tumor. Because of these challenges, prevention of cancer should be more effective than treating end-stage disease. Mouse models are useful tools for developing new drugs and strategies for cancer prevention, and we have used mouse models of breast, pancreas, and lung cancer to ask different types of questions. Our data demonstrate the benefits of early intervention in the process of carcinogenesis. Moreover, multifunctional drugs that target key regulatory nodes are more effective than targeted therapies for prevention, and combining drugs that target different pathways or cell types can enhance the potency and reduce the toxicity of individual drugs. Citation Format: Karen T. Liby. Using mouse models to develop new drugs and strategies for prevention. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr ED02-04.
Temporal changes in innate immune signals in a rat model of alcohol withdrawal in emotional and cardiorespiratory homeostatic nuclei

Background: Chronic alcohol use changes the brain’s inflammatory state. However, there is little work examining the progression of the cytokine response during alcohol withdrawal, a period of profound autonomic and emotional upset. This study examines the inflammatory response in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and dorsal vagal complex (DVC), brain regions neuroanatomically associated with affective and cardiorespiratory regulation in an in vivo rat model of withdrawal following a single chronic exposure. Methods: For qRT-PCR studies, we measured the expression of TNF-α, NOS-2, Ccl2 (MCP-1), MHC II invariant chain CD74, and the TNF receptor Tnfrsf1a in CeA and DVC samples from adult male rats exposed to a liquid alcohol diet for thirty-five days and in similarly treated animals at four hours and forty-eight hours following alcohol withdrawal. ANOVA was used to identify statistically significant treatment effects. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and confocal microscopy were performed in a second set of animals during chronic alcohol exposure and subsequent 48-hour withdrawal. Results: Following a chronic alcohol exposure, withdrawal resulted in a statistically significant increase in the expression of mRNAs specific for innate immune markers Ccl2, TNF-α, NOS-2, Tnfrsf1a, and CD74. This response was present in both the CeA and DVC and most prominent at 48 hours. Confocal IHC of samples taken 48 hours into withdrawal demonstrate the presence of TNF-α staining surrounding cells expressing the neural marker NeuN and endothelial cells colabeled with ICAM-1 (CD54) and RECA-1, markers associated with an inflammatory response. Again, findings were consistent in both brain regions. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the rapid induction of Ccl2, TNF-α, NOS-2, Tnfrsf1a and CD74 expression during alcohol withdrawal in both the CeA and DVC. IHC dual labeling showed an increase in TNF-α surrounding neurons and ICAM-1 on vascular endothelial cells 48 hours into withdrawal, confirming the inflammatory response at the protein level. These findings suggest that an abrupt cessation of alcohol intake leads to an acute central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory response in these regions that regulate autonomic and emotional state.
Mechanical strain at alveolar bone and circummaxillary sutures during acute rapid palatal expansion

Introduction Palatal expansion can potentially affect alveolar bone and circummaxillary sutures. In this study, we characterized their mechanical strain during acute expansion. Methods Eight 3- and 6-month-old fresh pig heads received acute palatal expansion with hyrax expanders. Strain gauges were used to measure strain at the buccal alveolar bone of anchor and adjacent nonanchor teeth, and at maxillary-premaxillary, maxillary-zygomatic, and zygomatic-temporal sutures during expansion. Intermolar width changes were measured from dental casts. Results Intermolar width increased less than expander activation, and the midpalatal sutures were only opened slightly. Alveolar bone strain increased linearly with expander activation and decayed by 20% to 30% during postactivation intervals. Compressive strain at anchor-tooth alveolar bone locations was directed occlusally and apically, related to tooth tipping, and significantly higher than that at nonanchor tooth locations. With expander activation, suture strains increased monotonically and tended to plateau. Suture strain magnitude was generally similar to physiologic (masticatory) strains reported in the literature. The dominant strain polarity was compression at the maxillary-zygomatic and zygomatic-temporal sutures, but there was tension at the maxillary-premaxillary suture. Conclusions In these pigs, palatal expansion can cause significant occlusal-apical compression at buccal alveolar bone and physiologic-level strains at circummaxillary sutures.
Clathrin-independent internalization of normal cellular prion protein in neuroblastoma cells is associated with the Arf6 pathway

To understand the role of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in the internalization of normal cellular prion protein (PrPc) in neuronal cells, N2a cells were depleted of clathrin by RNA interference. PrPc internalization via the constitutive endocytic pathway in the absence of Cu2+ and the stimulated pathway in the presence of Cu2+ were measured in both control and clathrin-depleted cells. Depletion of clathrin had almost no effect on the internalization of PrPc either in the presence or absence of Cu2+, in contrast to the marked reduction observed in transferrin uptake. By contrast, the internalization of PrPc was inhibited by the raft-disrupting drugs filipin and nystatin, and by the dominant-negative dynamin-1 mutant dynamin-1 K44A, both in the presence and absence of Cu2+. The internalized PrPc was found to colocalize with cargo that traffic in the Arf6 pathway and in large vacuoles in cells expressing the Arf6 dominant-active mutant. These results show that PrPc is internalized in a clathrin-independent pathway that is associated with Arf6.
Investigation of Drug Release from Solids III*: Effect of a Changing Surface-Weight Ratio on the Dissolution Rate

A dissolution study was conducted in which the surface area-weight ratio of a dissolving solid was not held constant. Cylindrical tablets containing large pores were employed to follow the dissolution process. Studies in distilled water indicated that the surface area of the tablet pore was incompletely exposed to the solvent due to occlusion by air. Solutions with a lower surface tension than water were capable of wetting the entire surface area and a corresponding increase in the dissolution rate was obtained. When the air was evacuated from the artificially produced tablet pores the solvent was permitted to come in contact with the entire surface and the dissolution rate increased. Dissolution from the pore surface occurred at a slower rate than from the exterior surface due to the longer diffusional pathway of the solute molecules.
A Convenient Synthesis of Glycosminine, 4-Quinazolinone Alkaloid, and Related Compounds

Abstract Glycosminine or 2-(phenylmethyl)-4(3H)-quinazolinone, 6-methyl and 7-chloro derivatives as well as the related structural isomers 2-(4-methylphenyl)-4(3H)-quinazolinone, 6-methyl and 7-chloro compounds have been synthesized.
Experimental Benchmarks of EGS

Monte Carlo codes are very complex and full of approximations. Hence, it is essential to benchmark them against high-quality experimental data in order to establish their accuracy. The purpose of this chapter is to present a variety of experimental benchmarks of the EGS code system1, 2 in its low-energy region, i.e., up to 50 MeV. These benchmarks will demonstrate that the code is capable of producing accurate results in a wide variety of simulations. However, this does not mean that this, or any other code, can always be trusted. Whenever a new situation is encountered, it is the user’s responsibility to ensure the code works accurately in those circumstances. One of the advantages of using a general purpose code such as EGS or the ITS system3 is that a wide variety of experimental comparisons already have been made, and thus the user’s task is lessened. However, one must always ensure that the code is being used properly, and hence each user should attempt to duplicate some appropriate experimental or previously calculated data.
Spoilage of Miscellaneous Foods

This chapter covers the microbiological spoilage of eggs, cereals and flour, bakery products, dairy products, sugar and spices, nutmeats, beverages and fermented foods, salad dressings, and canned foods.
Spectroscopic Investigation into Oxidative Degradation of Silica‐Supported Amine Sorbents for CO2 Capture

Oxidative degradation characteristics of silica-supported amine sorbents with varying amounts of tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG; P200 or P600 represents PEG with molecular weights of 200 or 600) have been studied by IR and NMR spectroscopy. Thermal treatment of the sorbents and liquid TEPA at 100 °C for 12 h changed their color from white to yellow. The CO2 capture capacity of the TEPA/SiO2 sorbents (i.e., SiO2-supported TEPA with a TEPA/SiO2 ratio of 25:75) decreased by more than 60 %. IR and NMR spectroscopy studies showed that the yellow color of the degraded sorbents resulted from the formation of imide species. The imide species, consisting of NH associated with two CO functional groups, were produced from the oxidation of methylene groups in TEPA. Imide species on the degraded sorbent are not capable of binding CO2 due to its weak basicity. The addition of P200 and P600 to the supported amine sorbents improved both their CO2 capture capacities and oxidative degradation resistance. IR spectroscopy results also showed that TEPA was immobilized on the SiO2 surface through hydrogen bonding between amine groups and the silanol groups of SiO2. The OH groups of PEG interact with NH2/NH of TEPA through hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonds disperse TEPA on SiO2 and block O2 from accessing TEPA for oxidation. Oxidative degradation resistance and CO2 capture capacity of the supported amine sorbents can be optimized through adjusting the ratio of hydroxyl to amine groups in the TEPA/PEG mixture.
Designing dashboards for managing model lifecycle

Data mining is being extensively used for analysis of large data collections. While there is previous work on dashboard support for visual mining of the data, there is little or no work on dashboard support for managing the lifecycle (e.g. health) of the data mining models themselves. Issues such as quick performance decay, large scale deployments, collaborative use, and real-time business integration of models necessitate this type of support. In this paper, based on a year long study, we first describe the six stages of the model lifecycle and the preliminary design of the backend system that helps users manage mining models. Next, we discuss the three dimensions to be considered for dashboard visualization of the model lifecycle: introspection, customization, and presentation.
Clustering phenomena in message-passing schemes

We examine the clustering phenomena of solutions to inference problems defined on graphs and its effect on message-passing algorithms.
Likelihood surface preprocessing with the JPDA algorithm: Metron data set

This paper presents tracking results on the Metron data set using the JPDA algorithm and a preprocessing likelihood surface formulation. The Metron data set is a simulated data set and is designed to be very difficult with large bearing and range errors which leads to high localization error for true detections. There are also significant amounts of clutter. Results using other data association algorithms such as the PDA, PDAFAI, and PDAFAIwTS were not good, which led to the use of a likelihood surface. The preprocessing step using the likelihood surface is key for achieving reasonable results. For the baseline tracking scenario where the truth is known, the results were encouraging. Extending this technique to include acoustic modeling and Doppler information will be topics of future research.
Navigating Hazardous Conditions Understanding HIV Medication Adherence in the Context of Depression

Depression is highly prevalent among HIV-positive individuals and has been identified as an important predictor of suboptimal adherence to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). To date, however, researchers have not adequately examined how depression influences adherence among depressed HIV-positive patients. The aim of our study was to explore the process by which depression interacts with other factors relevant to medication adherence decision making to influence adherence to HAART. We used principles of grounded theory to guide our methods. We conducted interviews with 21 HIV-positive individuals diagnosed with comorbid depressive disorders. Results indicated that depression, HIV-related cues, and health and self-care beliefs combined to influence coping strategies. Coping strategies, in turn, predicted whether participants were able to adhere to HAART. These findings can be used by practitioners to broaden the scope of factors they consider when treating depressed patients who might be at risk for nonadherence.
Inhibin subunit gene expression and distribution in the ovaries of immature, young adult, middle-aged, and old female rats

In young adult female rats, the patterns of inhibin subunit mRNA expression during the estrous cycle are regulated by cyclic changes in gonadotropin secretion and follicular development. Since there are distinct alterations in profiles of both hormone secretion and folliculogenesis during the reproductive lifespan of the female rat, we have characterized the gene expression and distribution of inhibin subunit mRNAs in immature (22 days), young adult cyclic (3-4 months), middle-aged cyclic (9-10 months), and old (12-13 months) persistent estrous (PE) rat ovaries. Northern blot analyses revealed that in contrast to young adult cyclic rats, inhibin alpha- and beta A-subunit mRNA levels in the ovaries of middle-aged cyclic rats remained substantially elevated after the proestrous gonadotropin surges and ovulation. Likewise, acyclic immature and old PE rats showed high levels of inhibin alpha- and beta A-subunit transcripts in their ovaries. In situ hybridization analyses demonstrated that inhibin alpha- and beta A mRNAs were abundantly expressed in maturing follicles of both young and middle-aged cyclic females, while high levels of alpha-subunit transcripts were only detected in the ovarian stroma of middle-aged animals. The ovaries of old PE rats had numerous large cystic follicles (with variable layers of granulosa cells) and few degenerating cyst-like structures (completely devoid of granulosa cells). Inhibin subunit transcripts were expressed abundantly in both the granulosa (alpha and beta A-subunits) and theca interna (alpha-subunit only) layers of large follicles, but were absent from degenerating cysts devoid of granulosa cells. The ovarian stroma of PE rats also expressed very high levels of inhibin-alpha, but not beta A mRNA. The ovaries of immature rats contained large numbers of uniformly developing secondary follicles. High levels of inhibin-alpha mRNA were expressed homogeneously in the granulosa layer of all growing follicles, whereas inhibin beta A mRNAs were only detected in selectively larger follicles with multiple layers of granulosa cells. Hormone RIAs of serum samples from these same groups of animals showed that basal levels of serum FSH were substantially higher in immature, middle-aged cyclic, and old PE rats than in young adult rats. These results demonstrate that enhanced ovarian inhibin subunit gene expression in the female rat is associated with increased serum FSH levels regardless of chronological age. On the other hand, aging appears to selectively enhance inhibin alpha, but not beta A, gene expression in the ovarian stroma, such that it may gradually become a major secondary site of alpha-subunit mRNA production in addition to the follicular compartments.
An RGS-containing sorting nexin controls Drosophila lifespan.

The pursuit of eternal youth has existed for centuries and recent data indicate that fat-storing tissues control lifespan. In a D. melanogaster fat body insertional mutagenic enhancer trap screen designed to isolate genes that control longevity, we identified a regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain containing sorting nexin, termed snazarus (sorting nexin lazarus, snz). Flies with insertions into the 5′ UTR of snz live up to twice as long as controls. Transgenic expression of UAS-Snz from the snz Gal4 enhancer trap insertion, active in fat metabolic tissues, rescued lifespan extension. Further, the lifespan extension of snz mutants was independent of endosymbiont, e.g., Wolbachia, effects. Notably, old snz mutant flies remain active and fertile indicating that snz mutants have prolonged youthfulness, a goal of aging research. Since mammals have snz-related genes, it is possible that the functions of the snz family may be conserved to humans.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. The charts of 17 children found to have RSV among 493 children who underwent liver transplantation between February 1985 and February 1991 were reviewed. The median age at diagnosis was 20 months. Median time of diagnosis was 24 days after transplantation. Thirteen patients developed nosocomial infections while convalescing from their transplant. Common symptoms included tachypnea, cough, fever, and congestion. Acute radiographic changes were seen in 12 patients. Two deaths were associated with progressive pulmonary disease and occurred in children with infection early in the postoperative period who were intubated before the onset of symptoms. RSV in children after liver transplantation has a clinical spectrum similar to that in normal children. Early onset of infection (less than 20 days) after transplantation and preexisting lung disease may predict more severe disease.
Gravitational Lensing by Stars in a Galaxy Halo: Theory of Combined Weak and Strong Scattering

The theory of gravitational lensing of background quasars by stars in the halo of a galaxy is considered. In the limiting case of small ‘optical depth’, only one star is close enough to the beam to cause strong scattering, and the effect of all the other stars is treated as a perturbation with both systematic and random components. The perturbation coming from weak scattering can increase the number of images and the amplification in those cases where the amplification is already high; such events are preferentially selected in flux limited observations. The theory is applicable to the apparent association of background quasars with foreground galaxies. A comparison with earlier work on the same problem is given. The relevance of these results to gravitational lensing by galaxies as perturbed by random inhomogeneities surrounding the ray path is also briefly discussed.
Impact of ultrasound and computed tomography prostate volume registration on evaluation of permanent prostate implants.

Purpose: Ultrasound (US)-guided permanent prostate implants typically use US prostate volumes to plan the implant procedure and CT prostate volumes for 3D dosimetric evaluation of the implant. Such a protocol requires that CT and US prostate volumes be registered. We have studied the impact of prostate volume registration on postimplant dosimetry for patients with low-grade prostate cancer treated with combined US and fluoroscopicguided permanent implants. Methods and Materials: A US image set was obtained with the patient in the lithotomy position to delineate the prostate volume that was subsequently used for treatment planning. Each plan was customized and optimized to ensure complete coverage of the US prostate volume. After implant, a CT scan was obtained for postimplant dosimetry with the patient lying supine. Sources were localized on CT by interactively creating orthogonal images of small cubes, whose dimensions were slightly larger than the source, to assure unique identification of each seed. Ultrasound and CT 3D surfaces were registered using either (a) the rectal surface and base of the prostate, or (b) the Foley balloon and urethra as the alignment reference. A dose distribution was assigned to the US prostate volume based on the CT source distribution, and the dose -volume histogram (DVH) was calculated. Result: Prostate volumes drawn from US images differ from those dram from CT images with the CT volumes being typically larger than the US volumes. Urethral registration of the prostate volume based on aligning the prostatic urethra generates a dose distribution that best follows the preimplant plan and is geometrically the preferable choice for dosimetry. Conclusion: The dose distribution and the DVH for the US prostate is sensitive to the mode of registration limiting the ability to determine if acceptable dose coverage has been achieved.
A new upper bound to the throughput of a multi-access broadcast channel

A new upper bound of 0.6126 packets/slot is established for the through-put of a time-slotted multi-access broadcast channel subject to an infinite population of user stations (whose transmissions are modeled by a Poisson process) using (0)-, (1)-, (e)-feedback to denote a slot with none, one, or at least two packets, respectively.
On the choice of spatial and categorical scale in remote sensing land cover classification

Our interest in this paper is on the choice of spatial and categorical scale, and their interaction, in creating classifications of land cover from remotely sensed measurements. We note that in discussing categorical scale, the concept of spatial scale naturally arises, and in discussing spatial scale, the issue of aggregation of measurements must be considered. Therefore, and working towards an ultimate goal of producing multiscale, multigranular characterizations of land cover, we address here successively and in a cumulative fashion the topics of (1) aggregation of measurements across multiple scales, (2) adaptive choice of spatial scale, and (3) adaptive choice of categorical scale jointly with spatial scale. We show that the use of statistical finite mixture models with groups of original pixel-scale measurements, at successive spatial scales, offers improved pixel-wise classification accuracy as compared to the commonly used technique of label aggregation. We then show how a statistical model selection strategy may be used with the finite mixture models to provide a data-adaptive choice of spatial scale, varying by location (i.e., multiscale), from which classifications at least as accurate as those of any single spatial scale may be achieved. Finally, we extend this paradigm to allow for jointly adaptive selection of spatial and categorical scale. Our emphasis throughout is on the empirical quantification of the role of the various elements above, and a comparison of their performance with standard methods, using various artificial landscapes. The methods proposed in this paper should be useful for a variety of scale-related land cover classification tasks.
Participation, stance and affect in the organization of activities

The organization of embodied participation frameworks, stance and affect is investigated using as data a sequence in which a father is helping his daughter do homework. Through the way in which they position their bodies toward both each other and the homework sheet that is the focus of their work the two contest the interactive and cognitive organization of the activity they are pursuing together. The father insisted that their work be organized in a way that would allow him to demonstrate the practices required to solve her problems. However the daughter refused to rearrange her body to organize the participation framework that would make this possible, and demanded instead that Father tell her the answers. When the daughter consistently refused to cooperate Father eventually walked out, but returned later, and they constructed a very different affective and cognitive alignment. Such phenomena shed light on range of different kinds of epistemic, moral and affective stances that are central to both the o...
China As a Test Case: Is the Rule of Law Essential for Economic Growth?

China is the fastest growing country in the world. Yet its adherence to the Rule of Law is frequently criticized. Does the coexistence of these two facts mean that institutions in general, and the Rule of Law in particular, are not necessary for sustained economic growth? The experience of the Asian Tigers, who had an overall growth record in their early years at least equal to China's, suggests that China may face a slowdown in growth. China is still a poor country, poorer than the Asian Tigers when their growth slowdown began. The Asian Tigers faced many of the same problems of crony capitalism, connected lending and poor corporate governance that China now faces. China's institutional and governance weaknesses involve a weak judiciary, including a lack of judicial independence; a weak financial sector with inadequate banking and corporate bond markets; and an outmoded bankruptcy system. Yet China's leadership, starting with Deng Xiaoping, has avoided some of the missteps of the transition countries of the former Soviet Union and has recognized the need for an evolutionary approach toward a more efficient economic system. But there is nothing in China's experience to date that would lead to the conclusion that institutional and Rule of Law issues are not important in economic development.
Mechanism of Anelasticity

SUMMARY to modem vector processors-‘supercomputers’-now makes possible extremely large-scale seismological computations, in which the anelasticity of the earth can be treated in an exact manner. For this exact formalism to be physically meaningful, it must be shown to be consistent with a convincing physical model of anelasticity. Such a model is investigated for unsaturated, solid-earth materials. It is a scattering mechanism which is based on the nature of polycrystalline aggregates. For transverse waves, this linear mechanism of anelasticity is given by
Pain Uncertainty in Patients with Fibromyalgia, Yoga Practitioners, and Healthy Volunteers

Background Uncertainty about potentially painful events affects how pain is experienced. Individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) often exhibit anxiety and catastrophic thoughts regarding pain and difficulties dealing with pain uncertainty. Objectives The effects of pain uncertainty in predictably high odds (HO), predictably low odds (LO), and even odds (EO) conditions on subjective ratings of pain (PR) and skin conductance responses (SCR) following the administration of a painful stimulus were examined for individuals with fibromyalgia (IWFM), healthy volunteers (HVs), and yoga practitioners (YPs). We hypothesized IWFM would demonstrate the greatest physiological reactivity to pain uncertainty, followed by HVs and YPs, respectively. Methods Nine IWFM, 7 YPs, and 10 HVs participated. Results Custom contrast estimates comparing responses for HO, LO, and EO pain conditions showed higher SCR for IWFM (CE = 1.27, p = 0.01) but not for HVs or for YPs. PR for the EO condition were significantly greater than for HO and LO conditions for IWFM (CE = 0.60, p = 0.012) but not for HVs or YPs. YPs had lower SCR and PR than did HVs. Conclusions Results show that uncertainty regarding pain increases the experience of pain, whereas certainty regarding pain may reduce pain ratings for individuals with fibromyalgia.
Discriminating Non-Native English with 350 Words

This paper describes MITRE’s participation in the native language identification (NLI) task at BEA-8. Our best effort performed at an accuracy of 82.6% in the eleven-way NLI task, placing it in a statistical tie with the best performing systems. We describe the variety of machine learning approaches that we explored, including Winnow, language modeling, logistic regression and maximum-entropy models. Our primary features were word and character n-grams. We also describe several ensemble methods that we employed for combining these base systems.
VENTILATION AND ANIMAL RESPIRATION | Gill Respiratory Morphometrics

Respiration in most fishes involves gas exchange between the water and blood through the gill epithelium. The ability to acquire oxygen to sustain metabolic processes depends largely on the gill respiratory surface area and the thickness of the water–blood barrier. Measurement of these dimensions requires lengthy and exacting methodologies, but allows for the comparison of fishes based on the diffusion capacity of the gills, and provides insight into selective factors sculpting gill morphology. Both gill area and the thickness of the respiratory epithelium can range more than an order of magnitude to reflect species-specific metabolic requirements and dissolved oxygen levels in the surrounding environment.
Measurement of the Effect of Temperature on Stress Distribution and Deformation in Multilayer Optical Thin Film Structures

This study investigates methods of predicting the deformation and stress distribution in multilayer optical thin film structures. The thin film layers include materials of various thermal expansion coefficients, elastic moduli, and melting temperatures. Each layer is deposited at a different temperature, causing complex thermal and deposition stresses throughout the structure. In addition, since the deposition temperatures of some of the layers are high (>600°C), stress relaxation and plastic flow may occur in materials with low melting temperatures. A combination of theoretical predictions and experimental measurements is used to measure and quantify the deformation caused by residual and thermal stresses in the films as well as any plastic deformation that may have occurred. Results from a model using multilayer plate bending theory to determine the elastic deformation of the device due to thermal stresses are reported. These predictions, as well as a more common method of predicting film stress and curvature, are compared to experimentally measured curvature changes as a function of temperature in the samples. However, when plastic deformation begins to occur at high temperatures, the residual stress and degree of deformation are no longer predictable based on elastic theory alone, and have to be measured experimentally. Plastic deformation in the substrate is discussed as a cause of a high observed curvature following sample heating.
Two Unusual Chytridiaceous Fungi

Two uniflagellate, monocentric, eucarpic chytrids having in common a branched, lobed, and digitate pattern of growth are reported. The full extent of the endobiotic system of the fungi was not observed, hence assignment of them to Phlyctidium and Phlytochytrium is provisional. Observations on the developmental morphology of the fungi, though fragmentary, are recorded, and the taxonomic implications are discussed. Binomials are not applied since neither fungus could be fully characterized.
Alkyl Substitution Effect on Oxidation Stability of Sulfone-Based Electrolytes

Organic sulfone compounds have been widely used as high-voltage electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries for decades. However, owing to the complexity of the synthesis of new sulfones, only a few commercially available sulfones have been studied. In this paper, we report the synthesis of new sulfone compounds with various substituent groups and the impact of the substituent group on the oxidation stability of sulfones. Electrochemical floating tests using a 5 V LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 spinel cathode and density functional theory calculations showed that the cyclopentyl-substituted sulfone McPS suffered from oxidation instability, starting from 4.9 V versus Li+/Li, as observed by the large leakage currents. On the other hand, the isopropyl-substituted sulfone MiPS and tetramethylene substituted sulfone TMS showed much improved oxidation stability under identical testing conditions. The substitution structure of the sulfone plays a significant role in the determination of its oxidative stability and should first be considered for the development of new sulfone-based electrolytes for high-voltage, high-energy lithium-ion batteries.
RNA processing in C. elegans.

Abstract In Caenorhabditis elegans, newly transcribed RNA is processed in several novel ways. Although introns are removed by a canonical spliceosome, they have evolved several specialized features that reflect the differences in the way they are recognized and the way they are spliced. C. elegans introns are unusually short, in part because they have no specific branch-point sequences and contain minimal polypryimidine tracts. Instead, their 3′ splice site is characterized by a highly conserved consensus sequence, which alone may be sufficient to position all spliceosomal elements at the 3′ end of the intron. Many RNA molecules are also trans-spliced: a capped 22 nt RNA leader is donated by one of a family of specialized snRNPs and spliced to an unpaired 3′ splice site, usually just upstream of the start codon. The RNA upstream of this splice site, the outron, is removed during trans-splicing and presumably degraded, making the identification of the transcriptional start site problematic. Transcripts from approximately 70% of all genes are trans-spliced. Trans-splicing has enabled the evolution of operons – multigene clusters in which a single upstream promoter drives the transcription of a polycistronic pre-mRNA. The C. elegans genome contains more than 1000 such operons. The polycistronic pre-mRNA is processed into individual gene-encoding mRNAs by coordinated upstream 3′ end formation and downstream trans-splicing. An intercistronic RNA sequence, the Ur element, plays a key role in specifying downstream trans-splicing.
Skate and die? The safety performance of skateboard travel: A look at injury data, fatality data, and rider behavior

Abstract Background/methods While usually thought of for recreation, skateboards can and are used for travel. Recreational skateboarding, an “extreme sport”, can carry a reputation for danger. What is the safety performance of skateboard travel? This study explores skateboard travel safety by (1) examining fatality and injury data, and (2) observing how skateboarders ride and how that could influence safety. Data on skateboarder injuries and fatalities are available for the United States from two national databases, news reports, and a skateboarding interest group. Observations of skateboard travelers and their travel behavior took place at the University of California, Davis, which has more than 1000 skateboard travelers. Observations include travel speed, conflicts with other users, and instances of potentially dangerous behavior. Results In California in 2012, 14 skateboarders or scooter riders were killed in collisions with automobiles; at least 10 of which occurred during travel. Utilizing mode share and trip length data from the California Household Survey, we estimate this corresponds to a fatality rate of approximately 20.9–23.0 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. Observed skateboarders travel between 6 and 14 miles per hour and 9.7 mph on average. This is very similar to bicyclists that were observed (6–19 mph range, 11.6 mph average). Additionally, observations show that skateboard travelers travel forward in straight lines and do not typically engage in aerial tricks or other unpredictable behavior. Conclusions Skateboard travelers, like pedestrians and bicyclists, are “vulnerable users” of the transportation system, with fatality rates per distance traveled several times greater than motor vehicle occupants, and with motor vehicle collisions a common factor. Behaviorally, skateboarders roll along at speeds slightly slower than bicyclists. Thus, skateboarding safety issues mirror bicycle safety issues, with some potential for skateboarder-pedestrian conflicts due to speed differentials, and skateboarder injury and fatality risk from exposure to motor vehicles.
Formation of Biogenic Amines in Cheese

Biogenic amines (BA) are organic basic nitrogenous compounds with biological activity mainly formed with the decarboxylation of amino acids by microorganisms. Histamine, putrecine, cadaverine, tyramine, tryptamine, β-phenylethylamine, spermidene, and spermine are considered to be the most important biogenic amines occurring in foods. The consumption of food containing large amounts of these amines can result in toxicological consequences. Cheese is the main fermented milk product likely to contain potentially harmful levels of BA, especially tyramine, histamine, and putrecine. Cheeses are among foods containing high protein in which enzymatic and microbial activities cause the formation of BA from amino acids decarboxylation. The use of raw milk having poor hygienic quality and length of ripening time can increase formation of BA in cheese. Chromatography techniques are mainly used in separation and quantification of BA. This article focuses on the formation of BA in cheese, the factors affecting BA production, the type of the microorganisms causing the production of BA, and the available methods used for detection of BA in cheese.
Health and Psychosocial Outcomes of a Telephonic Couples Behavior Change Intervention in Patients With Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE To compare glycemic control and secondary outcomes of a 4-month telephonic couples behavioral intervention to individual intervention, and to education, for adults with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A randomized trial with the following three arms: couples calls (CC) (n = 104); individual calls (IC) (n = 94); and diabetes education (DE) (n = 82). All arms had self-management education (two calls). CC and IC had 10 additional behavior change calls. CC addressed collaboration and relationships/communication. Participants consisted of 280 couples, among whom one partner had type 2 diabetes and an A1C level ≥7.5%. Blinded assessments occurred at 4, 8, and 12 months. The primary outcome was change in A1C; and secondary outcomes were BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, depressive symptoms, diabetes self-efficacy, and diabetes distress. RESULTS Patients had a mean age of 56.8 years; 61.6% were male, and 30.4% were minorities. The baseline mean A1C level was 9.1%. Intention-to-treat analyses found significant A1C reductions for all (12 months: CC −0.47%, IC −0.52%, DE −0.57%), with no differences between arms. Preplanned within-arm analyses were stratified by baseline A1C tertiles: lowest tertile (7.5–8.2%), no change from baseline; middle tertile (8.3–9.2%), only CC led to significantly lower A1C level; and highest tertile (≥9.3%), significant improvement for all interventions. For BMI, CC showed significant improvement, and CC and DE led to decreased waist circumference. The IC group showed greater blood pressure improvement. Results for secondary psychosocial outcomes favored the CC group. CONCLUSIONS In adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, a collaborative couples intervention resulted in significant, lasting improvement in A1C levels, obesity measures, and some psychosocial outcomes. For those with exceedingly high A1C levels, education alone was beneficial, but additional intervention is needed to achieve glycemic targets.
Aerosol in tropical cirrus

Publisher Summary Measurements of condensation nuclei (CN) in and near cirrus were carried out on the NASA DC-8, as part of the TOGA-COARE mission from January–February 1993. Flights at temperatures between -35° C and -55° C in cirrus anvils from tropical convection in the western Pacific Ocean showed the irregular occurrence of high concentrations up to 8000 cm-3, compared to the background of 200 cm-3. These particles could be removed by heating, with significant depletion at temperatures above 120° C, suggesting a sulfuric acid component of the aerosol. Further heating beyond 200° C caused a further reduction, suggesting ammonium sulfate and/or ammonium bisulfate. Results from specific penetrations show considerable variability in composition between sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate. Simultaneous measurements of ice particles show concentrations in excess of 1 cm-3, well below the concentration of CN. Thus significant concentrations of haze particles as high concentration solute, both super cooled and supersaturated may be present, the larger particles acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). A simple model describes the mechanisms of cirrus formation and the importance of CCN in leading to the ice formation process, and the implications of changing aerosol type and concentration on cirrus optical properties