cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Escherichia coli and Enterococci Attachment to Particles in Runoff from Highly and Sparsely Vegetated Grassland

Limited data on microbial partitioning between the freely suspended and particulate attached phases during transport along overland flow pathways have resulted in high uncertainty in bacterial fate and transport models and the application of these models to watershed management plans. The objectives of this study were to examine differences in attachment between E. coli and enterococci in runoff from plots with highly and sparsely vegetated grassland; investigate relations between flow regime, total suspended solids, and E. coli and enterococci attachment; and identify the particle size categories to which the attached cells were associated. Two rainfall simulations were conducted on large field plots 3 m wide by 18.3 m long with highly and both highly and sparsely vegetated covers and treated with standard cowpats. Results from the first experiment representing pasture with highly vegetated cover indicate that the majority of E. coli and enterococci are transported from the fresh manure source in the unattached state with only 4.8% of E. coli and 13% of enterococci associated with particles. The second experiment which compared partitioning in runoff from both highly and sparsely vegetated covers found lower bacterial attachment rates: the average E. coli percent attached was 0.06% from plots with highly vegetated cover and 2.8% from plots with sparsely vegetated cover while the corresponding values for enterococci were 0.98% and 1.23%, respectively. The findings from this study provide the first set of data on bacterial partitioning in overland flow from large field plots, and results may be helpful for parameterizing water quality models and designing conservation practices.
MEAN FREE PATH FOR DISCRETE ELECTRON ENERGY LOSSES IN METALLIC FOILS

The discrete energy losses observed when a beam of electrons passes through a thin foil have been studied as a function of incident energy. Foils of Al, Mg, and Cu ranging in thickness from 14 to 85 \ensuremath{\mu}g/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ have been bombarded with electrons of energies 25 to 115 kev. Losses appear at multiples of 14.9 ev and 10.7 ev respectively for Al and Mg whereas only one loss is found in Cu at 22.6 ev. Mean free paths for the losses lie in the range 25\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10 \ensuremath{\mu}g/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, 165\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}55 \ensuremath{\mu}g/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, and 90\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30 \ensuremath{\mu}g/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ for the three metals. The magnitudes of the losses agree with the plasma oscillation theory of Pines and Bohm for Al and Mg if the number of free electrons per atom is chosen about equal to the valence. In addition the mean free path as a function of energy for Al agrees closely with the theoretical curve.
EXCHANGE FIELD EFFECT ON THE ANDREEV BOUND STATE STUDIED BY FERROMAGNET/HIGH Tc SUPERCONDUCTOR INTERFACE

We have prepared Ag/BSCCO and Fe/Ag/BSCCO planar junctions to study the effect of Fe exchange field on the tunneling spectra. The junctions were constructed so that the tunneling direction is within the ab-plane, either along the maximum or minimum gap direction. Andreev bound states were observed as zero energy peak in the minimum gap direction. The exchange field caused major splitting of the zero energy peak, which did not occur in Ag/BSCCO junctions. We had detected a few percent (6 to 7%) of s-wave subcomponent at the interface in many of these junctions. This s-wave subcomponent had a Tc of about 20K.
Distributions and properties of cytochromes P-450 and cytochrome P-450 reductase from rat colon mucosal cells.

Abstract 1. Cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450 fractions have been separated and partially purified from colonic mucosal microsomes of rat pretreated with phenobarbital or s-naphthoflavone. 2. Colonic cytochrome P-450 reductase has a molecular weight of 76,000. 3. The K m values of colonic cytochrome P-450 reductase for the artificial electron acceptors cytochrome c , ferricyanide, and dichlorophenolindophenol and the electron donor NADPH are 6, 50, 11 and 11 μM, respectively. 4. Immunochemical techniques identified the presence of β-naphthoflavone Forms 1, 4 and 5 after β-naphthoflavone treatment but β-naphthoflavone Forms 1 and 4 and phenobarbital Form 1 after phenobarbital treatment.
Cholestasis and hypermethioninemia during dietary management of hereditary tyrosinemia type 1

with increasing age and with the presence of hypertension and arteriosclerosis. Stebbens 1~ found that aortic coarctation and polycystic renal disease were associated with an increased incidence of cerebral aneurysms and that the increase was explainable on the basis of a high incidence of hypertension in these conditions. Patel and Richardson lz also found a high incidence of aortic coarctation and polycystic kidney disease with hypertension in their series of childhood aneurysms. Connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and fibromuscular hyperplasia of the renal arteries, are also associated with intracerebral aneurysms. ~3.~4 In these cases, congenital defects in the media associated with hemodynamic forces are thought to account for aneurysm formation. Jenkins et al. 14 reported a case of an ll-year-old girl with an anterior communicating artery aneurysm and refractory hypertension, attributed to unilateral renal artery fibromuscular hyperplasia. The patient underwent aortorenal bypass grafting with complete resolution of the hypertension. Repeat angiography 3 months after the renal surgery showed virtual disappearance of the aneurysm. This experience, as well as our own, suggests that hypertension is a significant influence in the development of intracranial aneurysms in children. Our patient had cardiac and retinal evidence of chronic hypertension. The two fully developed aneurysms were at branching sites, and the two early aneurysmal blebs formed at bends in the arteries. Rhoton a5 has described how these curves in an artery alter hemodynamics, resulting in stresses at the apical regions of the curve. Inasmuch as our patient did not have any congenital vascular defect, hypertension may be more than a factor influencing aneurysm formation in blood vessels contaLning a congenital defect; chronic hypertension may have a primary role in aneurysm formation.
Phase-Dield Simulation of Rhombohedral and Tetragonal Phases in Ferroelectric Single Crystals

Ferroelectric materials exhibit spontaneous polarization and domain structures below the Curie temperature. In this work the phase field approach has been used to simulate phase transformations and the formation of ferroelectric domain structures. The evolution of phases and domain structures was simulated in ferroelectric single crystals by solving the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equation with polarization as the order parameter. In the TDGL equation the free energy of a ferroelectric crystal is written as a function of polarization and applied fields. Change of temperature as well as application of stress and electric fields leads to change of the free energy and evolution of phase states and domain structures. In this work the finite difference method was implemented for the spatial description of the polarization and the temporal evolution of polarization field was computed by solving the TDGL equation with an explicit time integration scheme. Cubic to tetragonal, cubic to rhombohedral and rhombohedral to tetragonal phase transformations were modeled, and the formation of domain structures was simulated. Field induced polarization switching and rhombohedral to tetragonal phase transition were simulated.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
An office-based primary care trial of pindolol ('Visken') in essential hypertension.

SummaryA large, open, multi-centre study was performed by physicians in general practice to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of pindolol (10 to 20 mg per day) in the treatment of patients with essential hypertension. The records of 7324 patients who completed the 6-week protocol with pindolol alone or in combination with a diuretic were analyzed by computer. Substantial reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were obtained in the majority of patients regardless of age, sex or race. No difference in blood pressure response was found between patients taking diuretics concurrently and those on pindolol alone. Side-effects were generally not troublesome and a trend toward a reducing incidence of side-effects was noted in all patients as the duration of therapy increased. Black patients tended to complain of fewer side-effects than did white patients.
Determination of Monocarbamate to Dicarbamate Ratios in Ethylenediamine Carbamates by NMR Spectroscopy

The dicarbamate content of the adducts of ethylenediamine with carbon dioxide, carbon disulfide, and carbonyl sulfide can be determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The effect of experimental variables on the dicarbamate content and the stability of the adducts are explored.
Vector Superfields and Lorentz Violation

We extend Lorentz-violating supersymmetry models to include vector superfields. The $CPT$-preserving model generalizes easily, while the obvious attempt at generalizing the $CPT$-violating model meets serious obstructions. Generalizations of the $CPT$-preserving but Lorentz-violating model to higher dimensions are also straightforward. Compactification is used to reduce the six-dimensional theory to an $\mathcal{N}=2$ Lorentz-violating theory in four dimensions, while the ten-dimensional theory is used to produce an $\mathcal{N}=4$ Lorentz-violating theory. This may be useful in future constructions involving AdS/CFT correspondence with Lorentz violation.
On the Nature of Teaching and Teacher Education: Difficult Practices that Look Easy

The effort over the past 150 years to create an effective and respected system for preparing teachers in the United States has not been easy. A large body of research on the history of teacher-education reform is a tale of persistent mediocrity and resistance to change. The author's aim in this article is not to revisit this sad story, but to examine an old and enduring problem that has long blocked the path to a truly professional education for teachers, that teaching is an enormously difficult job that looks easy. The author explores the roots of the gap between the reality and the perception of learning to teach by first spelling out some of the characteristics of teaching that make it such a difficult form of professional practice. He then examines key elements in the nature of teaching that make the pro- cess of becoming a teacher seem so uncomplicated.
Acid-Suppressing Agents and Risk for Clostridium difficile Infection in Pediatric Patients:

Background. Acid-suppressing agents have been associated with increased Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of acid-suppressing therapy with the development of CDI in the pediatric population. Methods. This was a retrospective case-control study. Children aged 1 through 17 years with a positive C difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result obtained between June 1, 2008, and June 1, 2012, were randomly matched to a control population selected from patients with negative PCR. Results. A total of 458 children were included. No difference was observed in acid-suppressive therapy prior to PCR in CDI-positive versus -negative patients (n = 131 [57.2%] vs n = 121 [52.8%], P = .348). Among patients receiving acid-suppressing therapy prior to obtaining a PCR, no difference was observed in proton pump inhibitor use (45% vs 46.3%, P = .843), but histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) use was greater in the CDI-positive patients (32.8% vs 1...
Effects of chronic corticosterone ingestion on spatial memory performance and hippocampal serotonergic function

Abstract The effects of chronic ingestion of corticosterone (8 weeks via the drinking water, 400 μg/ml) on spatial memory performance and on monoamine levels in brain areas related to memory were investigated. Corticosterone treatment was associated with a long lasting (5 weeks post treatment) increase in 5-HT levels (44%) in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and decrease in 5-HT (50%) and NE (36%) levels in the frontal cortex. No effects were found in CA1, CA3 or in nucleus basalis. Performance of the rats on an 8-arm radial arm maze showed no overall effect of corticosterone treatment on trials to criterion or choice accuracy scores. However, three of the treated rats, who had consumed the most corticosterone during treatment, 12.5±0.3mg/day, were impaired relative to all subjects. Thus, these results that hippocampal serotonergic terminals show long lasting effects from corticosterone and may also be an early indicator of deleterious effects of glucocorticoids on hippocampal function. However, since only a small number of corticosterone-treated rats showed behavioral changes, future experiments are necessary to address the possibility that a higher level of corticosterone intake alters spatial memory as well as brain morphology and neurochemistry. Additional studies are also needed to determine whether such changes represent a threshold effect of the steroid or a dose-response function.
EFFECT OF ALDOSTERONE ON SODIUM FLUXES IN LARVAL AMBYSTOMA TIGRINUM.

THERE seems to be little question that aldosterone acts in mammals to facilitate sodium reabsorption from the distal tubules of the kidney. Its role in salt balance is obvious. Recent observations on anuran amphibians indicate that the sodium transport system in the skin and urinary bladder may also be controlled by this hormone1–4. Since uptake of sodium across the skin and renal reabsorption both serve the same end, the observations are easily integrated into a coherent functional and phyletic framework. However, sodium re-absorption from the kidneys of eels adapted to fresh water was unaffected by aldosterone and uptake across tho gills was markedly depressed5. Inhibition of uptake of sodium was also noted in salt loaded euryhaline trout injected with deoxycorticosterone6. Thus the consistency of the picture apparently fails in fishes.
A NEW STATISTICAL METHOD FOR FILTERING AND ENTROPY ESTIMATION OF A CHAOTIC MAP FROM NOISY DATA

We consider a discrete time deterministic chaotic dynamical system, xn+1=τ(xn), where τ is a nonlinear map of the unit interval into itself. We assume that τ is piecewise expanding and piecewise C2. The effects of noise contamination are modeled by xn+1=τ(xn)+ξn, where ξn is an independent random variable with small noise amplitude. A new statistical method is presented for filtering τ and estimating the metric entropy of τ from observed noisy data.
Haplotypes of the Potato Psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, on the Wild Host Plant, Solanum dulcamara, in the Pacific Northwestern United States

‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) is a bacterium that infects solanaceous crops and causes plant decline and yield losses, especially in potato and tomato. Lso is transmitted to these hosts by the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli Sulc) vector. B. cockerelli host plants are not limited to crop plants, but also include many wild, solanaceous weeds. These wild hosts could potentially impact overwintering and breeding of the psyllids and serve as reservoirs for Lso. In the Pacific Northwestern United States, B. cockerelli was recently reported to overwinter on bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara L.). The present study utilized high resolution melting analysis of the B. cockerelli mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene to assess the psyllid populations occurring on S. dulcamara during the summer and winter months in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. This technique has previously been used to analyze the cytochrome c oxidase I gene of B. cockerelli, and has identified four psyllid haplotypes. Lso infection was also determined for the psyllids collected from S. dulcamara. During both the summer and the winter months in the Pacific Northwest, the Northwestern psyllid haplotype was the predominant population found living on S. dulcamara. However, low levels of the Western psyllid population were also present in Washington and Oregon during the same period. No overwintering psyllids tested were Lso-infected, suggesting that these populations do not pose an imminent threat of Lso transmission to newly emerging potatoes and other solanaceous crops in the region, unless a source of Lso becomes available.
Rapid fabrication strategies for primary and secondary mirrors at Steward Observatory Mirror Laboratory

The pursuit of economical fabrication of large (8 m) fast (< f/2), astronomical optics has led to the development of efficient fabrication and testing methods at the Mirror Lab. These methods rely on a mix of advanced technology blended with some traditional practices. Two fabrication strategies have been developed, one for primary mirrors and one for secondary mirrors. Both of these plans rely heavily on the use of the stressed lap both as a grinder as well as for polishing. For secondary fabrication novel methods of testing the convex, severely aspheric mirrors are used.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
4. Paths and Semipaths: Reconceptualizing Structural Cohesion in Terms of Directed Relations:

In a groundbreaking article, Moody and White (2003) introduced the concept of structural cohesion, simultaneously characterizing emergent communities and their internally embedded layers by the number of node-independent paths interconnecting individuals. Like many studies, however, they “corrected” the directionality discovered in some of their data. While often done for important purposes, doing so potentially confounds structural cohesion with unrelated concepts. Some relations, especially those relating to the dynamic aspects of social life, are inherently directed, in whole or in part, and it may prove worthwhile to respect this directionality. In this article, I recast structural cohesion in terms of directed social relations and identify four distinct ways of measuring it. In two example data sets—hiring relations among graduate programs and trust relations among neighborhood residents—I show that only strong embeddedness, a type of structural cohesion emerging from directed relations, proves to be a powerful, robust, independent explanatory factor. I further show that if the directionality in the data in these examples had been “corrected,” the importance of structural cohesion would have been dramatically undervalued.
School-Based Obesity Intervention Associated with Three Year Decrease in Student Weight Status in a Low-Income School District.

School-based interventions may be a way to address increasing rates of childhood obesity. Following an obesity intervention implemented by a low-income school district we found evidence of weight status change among district students. The school district served 5,000 children in Western New York at that time and approximately 4,000 students were in the target group (grades 3–12). The district allocated federal grant funds to implement changes to physical education equipment and curriculum, health education curriculum, and school food and to offer afterschool access to equipment and activities. As part of the grant reporting requirements, school staff measured student height and weight twice yearly for three years. We were subcontracted as evaluators for this grant and district staff shared this de-identified data with us for assistance with grant reporting. We obtained IRB approval from SUNY at Buffalo for analysis and publication of the data. Data analysis involved longitudinal descriptive and inferential (paired-samples t tests, Chi square tests) statistical analyses of Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles of students with baseline and endpoint height and weight measurements (n = 2,259). Overall the mean BMI percentile of students decreased significantly from 70.4 to 65.7 % (p < 0.001). This exceeds the change in BMI percentile seen at the national level. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of students categorized as overweight or obese (p < 0.001). Conclusions are limited due to the lack of a control population however they indicate that a three year multilevel school-based intervention involving physical activity and nutritional changes was correlated with improved weight status among participating school children.
Synthesis and Photoresponse of Large GaSe Atomic Layers

We report the direct growth of large, atomically thin GaSe single crystals on insulating substrates by vapor phase mass transport. A correlation is identified between the number of layers and a Raman shift and intensity change. We found obvious contrast of the resistance of the material in the dark and when illuminated with visible light. In the photoconductivity measurement we observed a low dark current. The on–off ratio measured with a 405 nm at 0.5 mW/mm2 light source is in the order of 103; the photoresponsivity is 17 mA/W, and the quantum efficiency is 5.2%, suggesting possibility for photodetector and sensor applications. The photocurrent spectrum of few-layer GaSe shows an intense blue shift of the excitation edge and expanded band gap compared with bulk material.
Dimorphic development of Amblyospora sp. (Microspora: Amblyosporidae) in Culex salinarius gynandromorphs.

Afin de determiner si la taille des mâles et des femelles est due a une difference du genotype ou a des hormones en analysant le developpement des parasites dans un hote gynandromorphique, la presence de gynandromorphes est examinee parmi des adultes de C.s. d'une colonie infectee
The kinetics of benzo(a)pyrene anti-7,8-dihydrodiol 9, 10-epoxide formation from benzo(a)pyrene and regulatory membrane effects.

Abstract r -7, c -10, t -8, t -9-Tetrahydroxybenzo( a )pyrene (7,10/8,9-tetrol), which is the principal hydrolysis product of r -7, t -8-dihydroxy- t -9,10-oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo( a )pyrene ( anti -diol-epoxide), was resolved and measured by HPLC in organic extracts of incubations which contained induced rat liver microsomes and BP. Kinetic analyses showed that: (a) following a 5- to 7-min lag period, anti -diol-epoxide formation was linear, and (b) levels of anti -diol-epoxide formed were highly dependent upon the starting BP concentration. anti -Diol-epoxide production increased at starting BP concentrations of 0–12 μ m and decreased in incubations containing 12–25 μ m BP. However, between 25 and 100 μ m BP, anti -diol-epoxide formation was stable at a level representing 65% of the peak production which occurred at a starting BP concentration of 12 μ m . BP oxidation was competitively inhibited by (−)- trans -BP-7,8-dihydrodiol and about five times less effectively by the (+)- trans -BP-7,8-dihydrodiol. The inability of a severalfold excess of BP (25–100 μ m ) to totally inhibit BP-7,8-dihydrodiol oxidation was explained by the presence of a microsomal substrate compartment which was saturated at only 6–8 μ m BP, the remaining BP present as aggregates in the aqueous compartment. Purification of microsomes by Sepharose 2B gel filtration after reaction with [ 3 H]BP also indicated that BP-7,8-dihydrodiol was preferentially concentrated in the microsome compartment leading to a net increase in the ratio of BP-7,8-dihydrodiol to BP in the microsomal compartment, which favored BP-7,8-dihydrodiol oxidation to yield the biologically active anti -diol-epoxide.
INVESTIGATION OF RELATIVELY RARE ADVERSE DRUG EVENTS AS EXEMPLIFIED BY A STUDY OF AMIODARONE-INDUCED OPTIC NEUROPATHY

AbstractResponding to the problem of adverse events caused by a drug in a relatively small proportion of patients presents special challenges to the manufacturers of such products. The present paper considers, as an example of this type of problem, optic nerve degeneration associated with the clinical use of amiodarone in what is probably a very small subcohort of the patients who use this drug. Possible methods for investigating, defining, and controlling this type of problem are discussed.
Block product code design with the aid of union bounds

Applying soft-input soft-output iterative decoding allows block product codes (BPCs) to exhibit error-correcting capability close to that of convolutional code-based turbo codes. However, finding the best BPC design for a given target code size can be difficult. This paper analyzes BPC performance using weight distribution and union bounds, which leads to a systematic BPC design procedure. The analysis is supported by simulations and examples.
Nasal Saline for Chronic Sinonasal Symptoms A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To determine if isotonic sodium chloride (hereinafter “saline”) nasal irrigations performed with large volume and delivered with low positive pressure are more effective than saline sprays at improving quality of life and decreasing medication use. Design A prospective, randomized controlled trial. Setting Community. Participants A total of 127 adults with chronic nasal and sinus symptoms. Interventions Patients were randomly assigned to irrigation performed with large volume and delivered with low positive pressure (n = 64) or spray (n = 63) for 8 weeks. Main Outcome Measures Change in symptom severity measured by mean 20-Item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20) score; change in symptom frequency measured with a global question; and change in medication use. Results A total of 121 patients were evaluable. The irrigation group achieved lower SNOT-20 scores than the spray group at all 3 time points: 4.4 points lower at 2 weeks (P = .02); 8.2 points lower at 4 weeks (P Conclusion Nasal irrigations performed with large volume and delivered with low positive pressure are more effective than saline sprays for treatment of chronic nasal and sinus symptoms in a community-based population. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00318006
Dutch elm disease pathogen transmission by the banded elm bark beetle Scolytus schevyrewi

Summary Dutch Elm Disease (DED) is a vascular wilt disease of Ulmus species (elms) incited in North America primarily by the exotic fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi. The pathogen is transmitted via root grafts and elm bark beetle vectors, including the native North American elm bark beetle, Hylurgopinus rufipes and the exotic smaller European elm bark beetle, Scolytus multistriatus. The banded elm bark beetle, Scolytus schevyrewi, is an exotic Asian bark beetle that is now apparently the dominant elm bark beetle in the Rocky Mountain region of the USA. It is not known if S. schevyrewi will have an equivalent vector competence or if management recommendations need to be updated. Thus the study objectives were to: (i) determine the type and size of wounds made by adult S. schevyrewi on branches of Ulmus americana and (ii) determine if adult S. schevyrewi can transfer the pathogen to American elms during maturation feeding. To determine the DED vectoring capability of S. schevyrewi, newly emerged adults were infested with spores of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and then placed with either in-vivo or in-vitro branches of American elm trees. The inoculation of trees via feeding wounds was successful 30% of the time for in-vivo trials and 33% for in-vitro trials. Although the infection rate of DED has declined in Colorado over the past 10 years, the disease is still present in urban elms. While it appears that S. schevyrewi is another vector of the DED pathogens, it appears that S. schevyrewi is no more efficient than S. multistriatus. Thus, management programs that remove elm bark beetle breeding sites, rapidly remove DED-infected elms and include the planting of DED-resistant elms should continue to be effective management tactics.
Threshold Current Reduction and Output Power Enhancement with Magnetic Field in Sub-Monolayer InAs Quantum Dot VCSELs

The characteristics of a InAs/GaAs self-organized quantum dot (QD) vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with both non-magnetic and ferromagnetic (FM) contacts under an externally-applied magnetic field in the Faraday geometry is investigated. Considerable enhancement in output light intensity and threshold current reduction when the magnetic field is in the out-of-plane direction is observed. In contrast, little or no change is observed for an in-plane magnetic field.
The Association of Patient Chronic Disease Burden and Self-Management Requirements With Shared Decision Making in Primary Care Visits:

Background:Shared decision making (SDM) is associated with positive health outcomes and may be particularly relevant for patients with chronic disease.Objectives:To investigate whether (1) patients...
PRESENTATION OF THE PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEDAL TO GEERAT J. VERMEIJ

Friends and Colleagues: I am delighted and honored to introduce this year's recipient of the Paleontological Society Medal, Geerat J. Vermeij. I did not study with Gary or work at the same institution with him. Nor have I ever collaborated with him. Nevertheless, Geerat Vermeij is one of my personal heroes. With the exception of the late Stephen Jay Gould, no one has exerted a greater influence on my scientific thought. As a student of Steve Gould, I had been persuaded that most evolution occurred in speciation events, that ecological relationships were thus unimportant in evolution, and that the history of life displayed no inherent directionality. Yet, as I pursued my own studies of Miocene molluscs from Maryland, something didn't seem right. Though my work did indeed document much evolution occurring at speciation, certain traits such as shell thickness displayed distinct long-term directional trends—something Steve said shouldn't happen. Tellingly, the species with the greatest directional change also were the most common victims of predation by shell-drilling naticid gastropods. Ecology had to matter in the evolution of these molluscs, and Vermeij's 1987 book, Evolution and Escalation: An Ecologic History of Life, helped me understand how and why. Organisms do evolve in response to their enemies; Miocene bivalves evolved thicker shells in response to naticid predation, but the naticids themselves evolved in response to their own enemies, and not to their benign prey. Vermeij termed this process of adaptation to enemies “escalation” and …
The effects of lipid location on non-invasive estimates of body composition using EM-SCAN technology.

We evaluated the effect of lipid location on body-composition estimation accuracy using electromagnetic scanning (EM-SCAN), a non-invasive [total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC)] method. Molds were constructed that simulated a `general' small mammal, either 93% lean/7% lipid (control) or 82% lean/18% lipid (lipid-location groups). In the 18% lipid molds, we varied the location of the fat; simulating all the fat in the head, tail or midsection or simulating homogenous distribution. Comparisons were made between the EM-SCAN output of each lipid-location group, and multiple-regression techniques were performed to derive body-composition estimation equations for both lipid mass ( M L) and fat-free mass ( M FF). Device output varied significantly for all lipid-location groups even though all groups contained 18% body fat, showing a lipid-location effect on device output. Calibration equations derived for each lipid-location condition estimated both M L and M FF accurately, but an independent equation was required for each lipid-location condition. In situations where species significantly vary body fat content and location, for example during hibernation or reproductive periods, we suggest deriving a calibration equation that is more representative of the actual body composition to improve M L and M FF estimation accuracy using non-invasive EM-SCAN methods.
Modeling and control of the silicon production process system using robust inventory control strategy

This paper describes a simplified mathematical model of a silicon production system. We also describe a parameter estimation procedure and reliable control strategy for robust control of the silicon production process. This adaptive extremum-referring control scheme for the silicon reactor process utilizes the steady state production curve to construct a seeking method that drives the silicon production achieving optimization indirectly.
A 100-element planar Schottky diode grid mixer

The authors present a Schottky diode grid mixer suitable for mixing or detecting quasi-optical signals. The mixer is a planar bow-tie grid structure periodically loaded with diodes. A simple transmission line model is used to predict the reflection coefficient of the grid to a normally incident plane wave. The grid mixer power handling and dynamic range scales as the number of devices in the grid. A 10-GHz 100-element grid mixer has shown an improvement in dynamic range of 16.3 to 19.8 dB over an equivalent single-diode mixer. The conversion loss and noise figure of the grid are equal to those of a conventional mixer. The quasi-optical coupling of the input signals makes the grid mixer suitable for millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave applications by eliminating waveguide sidewall losses and machining difficulties. The planar property of the grid potentially allows thousands of devices to be integrated monolithically. >
Registration traffic and service availability for two-tier wireless networks

In order to provide better services to wireless mobile users with different QoS requirements, the multitier system such as the interconnection network of a satellite communications network and a terrestrial cellular network can be developed, where flexible resource allocation schemes can be designed. In such a system, location management is critical; some registration schemes have previously been proposed and analyzed under specific assumptions. In this paper, we carry out a performance evaluation of such schemes under more realistic assumptions, and easy-to-use analytical results are obtained.
Analysis of immunoglobulin Sγ3 recombination breakpoints by PCR: Implications for the mechanism of isotype switching

The molecular mechanism of immunoglobulin switch recombination is poorly understood. Switch recombination occurs between pairs of switch regions located upstream of the constant heavy chain genes. Previously we showed that switch recombination breakpoints cluster to a defined subregion in the Sgamma3, Sgamma1 and Sgamma2b tandem repeats. We have developed a strategy for direct amplification of Smu/Sgamma3 composite fragments as well as Smu and Sgamma3 regions by PCR. This assay has been used to analyze the organization of Smu, Sgamma3 and a series of Smu/Sgamma3 recombination breakpoints from hybridomas and normal mitogen-activated splenic B cells. DNA sequence analysis of the switch fragments showed direct joining of Smu and Sgamma3 without deletions or duplications. Mutations were found in two switch junctions on both sides of the crossover point, suggesting that template switching is the most likely model for the mechanism of switch recombination. Statistical analysis of the positions of the recombination breakpoints in the Sgamma3 tandem repeat indicates the presence of two sub-clusters, suggesting non-random usage of DNA substrate in the recombination reaction.
Ribosomal Proteins RPS11 and RPS20, Two Stress-Response Markers of Glioblastoma Stem Cells, Are Novel Predictors of Poor Prognosis in Glioblastoma Patients

Glioblastoma stem cells (GSC) co-exhibiting a tumor-initiating capacity and a radio-chemoresistant phenotype, are a compelling cell model for explaining tumor recurrence. We have previously characterized patient-derived, treatment-resistant GSC clones (TRGC) that survived radiochemotherapy. Compared to glucose-dependent, treatment-sensitive GSC clones (TSGC), TRGC exhibited reduced glucose dependence that favor the fatty acid oxidation pathway as their energy source. Using comparative genome-wide transcriptome analysis, a series of defense signatures associated with TRGC survival were identified and verified by siRNA-based gene knockdown experiments that led to loss of cell integrity. In this study, we investigate the prognostic value of defense signatures in glioblastoma (GBM) patients using gene expression analysis with Probeset Analyzer (131 GBM) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, and protein expression with a tissue microarray (50 GBM), yielding the first TRGC-derived prognostic biomarkers for GBM patients. Ribosomal protein S11 (RPS11), RPS20, individually and together, consistently predicted poor survival of newly diagnosed primary GBM tumors when overexpressed at the RNA or protein level [RPS11: Hazard Ratio (HR) = 11.5, p<0.001; RPS20: HR = 4.5, p = 0.03; RPS11+RPS20: HR = 17.99, p = 0.001]. The prognostic significance of RPS11 and RPS20 was further supported by whole tissue section RPS11 immunostaining (27 GBM; HR = 4.05, p = 0.01) and TCGA gene expression data (578 primary GBM; RPS11: HR = 1.19, p = 0.06; RPS20: HR = 1.25, p = 0.02; RPS11+RPS20: HR = 1.43, p = 0.01). Moreover, tumors that exhibited unmethylated O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) or wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) were associated with higher RPS11 expression levels [corr (IDH1, RPS11) = 0.64, p = 0.03); [corr (MGMT, RPS11) = 0.52, p = 0.04]. These data indicate that increased expression of RPS11 and RPS20 predicts shorter patient survival. The study also suggests that TRGC are clinically relevant cells that represent resistant tumorigenic clones from patient tumors and that their properties, at least in part, are reflected in poor-prognosis GBM. The screening of TRGC signatures may represent a novel alternative strategy for identifying new prognostic biomarkers.
Illustrative visualization techniques for hurricane advisory information

We have developed new illustrative visualization techniques inspired by artistic brush strokes for graphically representing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Hurricane Center's (NHC) hurricane advisory statements. To address the complexity of the advisory information and the limitations of traditional map displays, our techniques offer enhanced representations that map advisory data attributes to the visual features in brush strokes. By condensing the information into a single, comprehensible image, our new representations avoid many perceptual issues that affect the perception and cognition of the current NHC graphical products. In the current work, we describe the motivation and algorithmic details of two variants of our approach: the small brush stroke and long brush stroke methods. We also present the results of applying our techniques to the representation of hurricane advisories from the 2005 season, which include those of the infamous Hurricane Katrina. The results highlight the promise of our illustrative visualization methods as an effective approach for the dispensation of this vital information.
Id-1 and Id-2 Proteins as Molecular Markers for Human Prostate Cancer Progression

Purpose: Id proteins are dominant-negative regulators of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors that control malignant cell behavior in many different tissues. This study aimed to identify the potential role of Id-1 and Id-2 proteins as molecular makers for prostate cancer progression. Experimental Design: Using the technique of immunohistochemistry, we determined Id-1 and Id-2 expression in a panel of 67 human prostate biopsies. We also manipulated Id-1 and Id-2 expression in LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines and determined the effects on invasion in vitro, matrix metalloproteinase secretion, and proliferation. Results: Both Id-1 and Id-2 proteins were up-regulated during human prostate cancer progression in vivo and were overexpressed in highly aggressive prostate cancer cells. In vitro, constitutive expression of Id-1, and to a lesser extent Id-2, converted nonaggressive LNCaP prostate cancer cells into more proliferative and invasive cells and increased their secretion of matrix metalloproteinases. Conversely, the down-regulation of Id-2 expression in highly metastatic PC3 cells reduced their growth potential and invasiveness. Conclusions: We propose that both Id-1 and Id-2 proteins control prostate cancer cell phenotypes and could serve as molecular markers of aggressive human prostate cancer.
Strategies to Identify Genes for Complex Diseases

Genes underlie numerous human diseases and traits. Although we have witnessed a great deal of success in identifying disease-susceptible genes, the task remains challenging for most of the complex diseases. This paper reviews evidence for the role of genetic factors in complex diseases including breast cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. We then describe strategies that can potentially optimize our chance of success in identifying genes involved in complex diseases. Advances in molecular biology, particularly mapping of the human genome, statistical methods that provide more accurate models of complex patterns of inheritance, and basic medical science, which have increased our understanding of disease pathophysiology, will ultimately strengthen the ability of the current generation of genetic epidemiological studies to identify the genetic basis of complex human disorders.
Molecular Simulation of Rheological Properties using Massively Parallel Supercomputers

Advances in parallel supercomputing now make possible molecular-based engineering and science calculations that will soon revolutionize many technologies, such as those involving polymers and those involving aqueous electrolytes. We have developed a suite of message-passing codes for classical molecular simulation of such complex fluids and amorphous materials and have completed a number of demonstration calculations of problems of scientific and technological importance with each (described at the World Wide Web site http://flory.engr.utk.edu/ldrd). In this paper, we will focus on the molecular simulation of rheological properties, particularly viscosity, of simple and complex fluids using parallel implementations of non-equilibrium molecular dynamics. Such calculations represent significant challenges computationally because, in order to reduce the thermal noise in the calculated properties within acceptable limits, large systems and/or long simulated times are required.
Early results of the Fontan procedure in one hundred consecutive patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review a large, single institutional experience with the Fontan procedure for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Methods: One hundred consecutive patients with "classic" hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent Fontan palliation between February 1992 and April 1998. Patient demographic, morphologic, and procedural variables were examined and analyzed. In particular, two different surgical techniques were used: technique I (February 1992 to December 1995) employed cardiopulmonary bypass and moderate systemic hypothermia, and technique II (December 1995 to April 1998), profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest. A retrospective review of medical records was performed and variables were examined and analyzed. Results: Hospital survival for the entire cohort was 89% (95% CI 83%-95%). The technique of operation, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and aortic crossclamp time were each strongly associated with survival. Survival for patients treated by technique I was 79% (95% CI 68-91%; n=48) and for those treated by technique II, 98% (95% CI 94%-100%; n=52). Cardiopulmonary bypass and crossclamp times were also highly correlated with time to extubation and length of intensive care unit stay. Preoperative pulmonary artery pressure was correlated with survival; preoperative oxygen saturation, right atrial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary artery size, extent of aortopulmonary artery collaterals, and echocardiographic estimates of ventricular function and tricuspid regurgitation were not correlated with survival. Conclusions: Our recent experience with Fontan palliation for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome suggests that it is attended by low perioperative mortality. The precise operative technique used appears to be an important determinant of outcome, with the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and crossclamping being particularly significant. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;119:1110-8)
Abstraction layers for scalable microfluidic biocomputing

Microfluidic devices are emerging as an attractive technology for automatically orchestrating the reactions needed in a biological computer. Thousands of microfluidic primitives have already been integrated on a single chip, and recent trends indicate that the hardware complexity is increasing at rates comparable to Moore's Law. As in the case of silicon, it will be critical to develop abstraction layers--such as programming languages and Instruction Set Architectures (ISAs)--that decouple software development from changes in the underlying device technology. Towards this end, this paper presents BioStream, a portable language for describing biology protocols, and the Fluidic ISA, a stable interface for microfluidic chip designers. A novel algorithm translates microfluidic mixing operations from the BioStream layer to the Fluidic ISA. To demonstrate the benefits of these abstraction layers, we build two microfluidic chips that can both execute BioStream code despite significant differences at the device level. We consider this to be an important step towards building scalable biological computers.
Backward adaptive tree coding of speech at 16 kbps

The authors investigate the performance of eight fully backward adaptive DPCM-based code generators with exhaustive searching to shallow depths. In particular, they compare the performance of fixed (matched and unmatched) autoregressive (AR), fixed (matched and unmatched) moving average (MA), undamped and damped Kalman AR, and undamped and damped gradient MA code generators in DPCM searched to a maximum depth of 5 with incremental single symbol release. SNR, subjective listening test, and spectrogram performance comparisons are employed. The performance gain due to adaptive prediction over unmatched fixed prediction is greater than the gain provided by multipath searching over single path searching. >
Identification of mRNA binding proteins that regulate the stability of LDL receptor mRNA through AU-rich elements

The 3′untranslated region (UTR) of human LDL receptor (LDLR) mRNA contains three AU-rich elements (AREs) responsible for rapid mRNA turnover and mediates the stabilization induced by berberine (BBR). However, the identities of the specific RNA binding proteins involved in the regulation of LDLR mRNA stability at the steady state level or upon BBR treatment are unknown. By conducting small interfering RNA library screenings, biotinylated RNA pull-down, mass spectrometry analysis, and functional assays, we now identify heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (hnRNP D), hnRNP I, and KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KSRP) as key modulators of LDLR mRNA stability in liver cells. We show that hnRNP D, I, and KSRP interact with AREs of the LDLR 3′UTR with sequence specificity. Silencing the expression of these proteins increased LDLR mRNA and protein levels. We further demonstrate that BBR-induced mRNA stabilization involves hnRNP I and KSRP, as their cellular depletions abolished the BBR effect and BBR treatment reduced the binding of hnRNP I and KSRP to the LDLR mRNA 3′UTR. These new findings demonstrate that LDLR mRNA stability is controlled by a group of ARE binding proteins, including hnRNP D, hnRNP I, and KSRP. Our results suggest that interference with the ability of destabilizing ARE binding proteins to interact with LDLR-ARE motifs is likely a mechanism for regulating LDLR expression by compounds such as BBR and perhaps others.
Raman Spectroscopy at Canisius College

At Canisius we have a prism spectrophotometer using a photographic plate to record the spectra. In addition to flint prisms for use as monochromators, we have a pair of hollow prisms which can be filled with a liquid of proper refractive index to bend and disperse the beam. We are conducting an interesting experiment with this latter set of prisms.