cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Localization of The Tropomyosin-Binding Sites in Troponin T And Functional Suppression of An Error Splicing of Its C-Terminal Variable Region

The interaction between troponin T (TnT) and tropomyosin (Tm) is pivotal in the Ca2+-regulation of muscle contraction. It has been known for three decades that TnT has two binding sites for Tm. The conserved middle and the C-terminal regions of TnT each contain a Tm-binding site and both sites are critical for the function of muscle thin filament. However, the precise locations of the Tm-binding sites have not been identified. By mAb competition assays, we located the middle region Tm-binding site of TnT in the beginning of the conserved sequence. Previous data showed that deletion of the C-terminal 14 amino acids in TnT did not reduce Tm-binding. Cardiac TnT with a longer deletion of the C-terminal 28 amino acids also retained the C-terminal Tm-binding site as shown by its dominant cardiomyopathy phenotype that indicates effective myofilament incorporation. In contrast, a truncation of slow TnT deleting the C-terminal 83 amino acids due to a nonsense mutation significantly lowered Tm-binding affinity and causes a recessive form of nemaline myopathy. Considering the known crystal structure of partial troponin, we further tested additional deletions to locate the C-terminal region Tm-binding site of TnT in the beginning of the T2 segment. Different from the dominant C-terminal truncation mutation of cardiac TnT, an error-splicing of the mutually exclusive exon 16 and exon 17 in fast skeletal muscle TnT significantly lowered Tm-binding affinity by deleting the C-terminal 28 amino acids and replacing it with a long non-sense peptide. The suppression of potentially harmful effects of the splicing error provides a mechanism to protect muscle function.
Life-long learning cell structures —continuously learning without catastrophic interference

As an extension of on-line learning, life-long learning challenges a system which is exposed to patterns from a changing environment during its entire lifespan. An autonomous system should not only integrate new knowledge on-line into its memory, but also preserve the knowledge learned by previous interactions. Thus, life-long learning implies the fundamental Stability-Plasticity Dilemma, which addresses the problem of learning new patterns without forgetting old prototype patterns. We propose an extension to the known Cell Structures, growing Radial Basis Function-like networks, that enables them to learn their number of nodes needed to solve a current task and to dynamically adapt the learning rate of each node separately. As shown in several simulations, the resulting Life-long Learning Cell Structures posses the major characteristics needed to cope with the Stability-Plasticity Dilemma.
Age Stereotype Disconfirming Information and Evaluations of Old People

Abstract We examined the effects of information that contradicted age stereotypes on evaluations of old and young targets of either gender by old and young Americans. Results indicated an age favorability bias only in the evaluations made by young respondents. Old respondents were more favorable in their evaluations overall and were uninfluenced by the targets' age or gender. Age-stereotypic attitudes were unrelated to evaluations of individual targets.
Morphology of a novel cyanobacterium and characterization of light-harvesting complexes from it: Implications for phycobiliprotein evolution

Abstract The morphology of the marine cyanobacterium DC-2 and two light-harvesting complexes from it have been characterized. DC-2 has an outer cell wall sheath not previously observed, the purified phycoerythrin shows many unusual properties that distinguish it from all phycoerythrins characterized to date, and isolated phycobilisomes have a single absorption band at 640 nm in the phycocyanin-allophycocyanin region of the spectrum. On the basis of these observations we suggest that DC-2, rather than being a member of the Synechococcus group, should be placed in its own taxonomic group. In addition, the particular properties of the isolated phycoerythrin suggest that it may be representative of an early stage in the evolution of the phycoerythrins. These observations are of special interest in light of the contribution DC-2 and related cyanobacteria may make to global primary productivity.
The collagen and hexosamine content of the skin of normal and experimentally treated rats.

Abstract The collagen and hexosamine contents of the skin of growing rats were determined. Regression equations were derived upon the basis that there is a linear relationship between the logarithm of body weight and logarithm collagen, logarithm body weight and logarithm hexosamine, logarithm body area and logarithm collagen, and logarithm body area and logarithm hexosamine. The collagen content of the skin increases much more rapidly than the increase in weight. The hexosamine content increases with weight more nearly in a proportional manner so that the ratio of hexosamine to collagen falls as the weight increases. Several pilot experiments were carried out to determine the effects of a variety of factors upon the production of hexosamine and collagen in skin.
Gas—liquid annular flow under microgravity conditions: a temporal linear stability study

A temporal linear stability study was performed for a gas—liquid annular flow configuration under microgravity conditions. Data used to validate the modeling includes that generated by Texas A&M as well as all the other known data in two-phase flow under reduced gravity conditions. Following a discussion of theoretical considerations on the growth rates of different instabilities, it is shown that given the fluid properties, pipe diameter and phasic flow rates, one can predict with a high level of confidence the flow regime in the pipe. Acceptable confidence levels (∼80%) are achieved when one differentiates between slug, slug—annular, and annular flow. Higher confidence levels (∼90%) are found when one differentiates between slug and annular flow by merging the annular and slug—annular categories.
Scientific Method and Retailing Research: A Retrospective

Abstract In this paper, we review the 164 articles published in the Journal of Retailing over the 2002–2007 time-span, the period reviewed by Grewal and Levy in their recent article entitled “Retailing Research: Past, Present and Future” [Grewal, Dhruv and Michael Levy (2007), “Passing the Baton, Journal of Retailing 2001 to 2007,” Journal of Retailing, 83 (4) (in this issue)] for their content. Two study characteristics are reviewed for each publication: (1) approach adopted for methodology (classified into eight categories of Student Surveys, Consumer Surveys, Secondary Data, Laboratory Studies, Industry Surveys, Qualitative Methods, modeling, and other) and (2) inferential tools employed by the scholars. The latter are sub-grouped into six categories of regression, ANOVA/MANOVA, structural equation modeling (SEM), analytical modeling, qualitative analysis, and other. Patterns of the usage of these approaches and techniques are tracked over the years and across content areas. We find that researchers in a particular Substantive Content Area tend to focus on particular methodological approaches and inferential tools. We argue that much is to be gained by shaking up these historical patterns.
Systemic therapies for psoriasis: an evidence-based update.

The treatment of psoriasis has evolved over the years, with the focus now largely on the use of biologic agents. With treatment options expanding, evidence-based studies to guide physicians’ treatment decisions become increasingly important. Our objective was to review current literature to provide an evidence-based update on systemic therapies for psoriasis. A systematic review of the literature was conducted from 1 January 2012 through 1 July 2013 to identify all randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews of systemic psoriasis treatments. A total of 46 publications were identified and reviewed. Randomized clinical trials for the treatment of psoriasis focused heavily on biologic agents, both currently approved agents and anti-interleukin (IL)-17 agents in development. The anti-IL-17 agents appear effective according to phase II clinical trials. Several new oral agents are being studied, and, although they do not appear as effective as the biologic agents, they may be an option as an alternative to traditional oral agents, with more favorable safety profiles. Several systematic reviews focused on efficacy among the biologics, with infliximab consistently superior to the others, and etanercept the least effective of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors. Longer-term safety data on biologics is now available and encouraging. Current studies of traditional oral therapies are lacking. Current studies continue to support the use of biologic agents in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis, with better efficacy and safety profiles than traditional systemic agents. Newer anti-IL-17 agents and several new oral agents are in development and have shown promise in clinical trials.
Pattern formation in plant epidermis through inhibition of immediately adjacent cells by pattern elements

Examples of short-range inhibition in plant development were sought which satisfy four criteria for simplicity of expression. The range of inhibition extends only to adjacent cells and these criteria are (1) pattern of expression is within a two-dimensional array of cells, (2) cells of the array do not proliferate during pattern formation, (3) spacing between special cells extends only for a distance of one cell, and (4) no unequal cell divisions occur to complicate the pattern of cell arrangement. In one case of hairs or trichomes, the cells are evenly dispersed over the adaxial surface of the sepal ofSalvia splendens L. The R value of Clark and Evans is 1.64 for hair arrangement and hairs are formed from 21.1% of the epidermal cells. Based on cell behavior and an assumed method of inhibition, ordinary differential equations were written for formation of three types of cells in the tissue, free cells (F), trichome-bearing cells (T), and inhibited cells (I). Computer generated numerical solutions for these equations give cell type frequencies of 0.056 (F), 0.198 (T), and 0.745 (I), close to the observed values of 0.057 (F), 0.211 (T), and 0.731 (I). A similar approach was employed in analysis for the deployment of the cotton fibers in the ovular epidermis ofGossypium hirsutum L. and for that of the floating stomata of the fernAnemia phyllitidis (L). Sw. In general, these three patterns of epidermal deriviatives are most easily explained by one-cell wide inhibition fields between inhibiting special cells and inhibited contiguous cells. Other patterns in plants cannot be explained by this mechanism.
A new polymer electrolyte for solid-state quantum dot sensitized solar cells

Abstract Liquid electrolytes in quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) cause device packaging and stability issues, and in this work a new type of solid-state electrolyte based on PEO–PVDF polymer blends with S/tetramethylammonium sulfate (S/TMAS) redox additive is investigated. UV–Vis and ionic conductivity measurements are performed to characterize the electrolytes' optical and electrochemical properties. QDSSCs are fabricated using the polymer electrolytes, and a possible additional redox process in the cells is proposed. The study shows that the PEO–PVDF polymer electrolyte with the S/TMAS redox additive can improve the solar cell incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency and stability. This research could shed light on the study of novel solid-state QDSSCs based on polymer electrolytes with further enhanced performance.
Sagittal focusing of synchrotron radiation

Abstract We describe a simple device that has successfully been used to sagittally focus about 2.5 mrad of synchrotron radiation with an energy resolution equivalent to that of a double crystal channel cut monochromator. Deep narrow slots are cut into a 6 mm thick silicon crystal wafer cut into a triangular shape. The slots leave a connecting link of 0.25 mm thickness. The triangular shape allows a simple means of providing a cylindrical surface approximated polygonally by the thick crystal segments between the narrow slots. The device was tested with 10 and 15 keV synchrotron radiation on one of the CHESS white beam lines at a magnification of 1 3 as suggested by Sparks et al. At both energies the diffracted beam power in the bent crystal was equivalent to that in the unbent state to within a few percent.
Evaluating multilevel programs

Multilevel programs—that is, programs with multiple levels of administration, funding, and implementation—present dynamic and challenging environments for the conduct and use of evaluation. The challenges include questions, priorities, audiences, and purposes that vary at each level. This chapter discusses the challenges as well as the opportunities for increasing the value of evaluation at the federal, state, and local levels. Five areas of information are used as a framework for the discussion: (1) Who came? (2) Who cares? (3) What was the intervention? (4) What changed, and what difference did it make? (5) How much did it cost? Using the Cooperative Extension System and other cases as illustrations, the authors describe the relative emphases given to these questions at the different levels, the motivations for those emphases, and the opportunities evaluators can take to make multilevel evaluations useful to audiences at all levels. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Does family of origin functioning predict adult somatic complaints

It has long been believed that adult somatic complaints are associated with early family dysfunction. Yet, few studies have examined this hypothesis in community samples, where medically unexplained symptom complaints are estimated to be very common. Given the potential population-wide impact of subthreshold symptom complaints as well as questions about the extent to which findings with patient populations generalize to broader samples of community adults, the present study examines the influence of distal family factors on current adult somatic complaints relative to demographic and other psychosocial predictors. Results based on multiple linear regression analysis indicated that, after controlling for the other variables, family-of-origin functioning did not predict adult somatic complaints. However, self-reported symptoms of current depressed mood and low internal locus of control were significantly linked to somatic complaints ( p ¼0.001). These results lend support to questions about the generalizability of findings based on psychiatric groups to broader community samples, highlight the robust relationship between contemporaneous attributions of lower internal control, depressed mood, and somatic complaints, and suggest that early family environment may not be the most important focus of attention for health professionals providing care to adults in the community.
Cost Estimates and Sensitivity Analyses for the Ammonia Fiber Explosion Process

Process designs were conducted for each unit of the conceptual ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) process, and fixed capital investment and operating costs were estimated. AFEX costs about $20-40/t of dry biomass treated. Several promising areas for reducing process costs exist. Return on investment (ROI) calculations were also done for AFEX-treated materials (as digestibility-enhanced animal feeds), in conjunction with sensitivity analyses on the overall processing costs. Estimated ROIs range from over 100%/y to negative, depending on the system variables. The most important variables are the cost of corn and corn fiber, ammonia loading, and whether or not drying is required.
An analysis of the adiabatic switching method: Foundations and applications

Abstract The adiabatic switching method is characterized through a discussion of formal adiabatic theory and through a variety of numerical examples. Adiabatic invariance theory for one degree of freedom problems is developed in detail. This provides a formal basis for the analysis of various aspects of the method. The role of: 1) the switching function, 2) the zero order reference Hamiltonian, and 3) ensemble averaging of results are addressed with more rigour function than in previous discussions. The use of adiabatic switching to implement EBK quantization is illustrated by a treatment of the Henon-Heiles system. It is shown how adiabatic switching is useful for periodic orbit determination and adiabatic propagation of semiclassical eigenstates. The behavior of the conjugate angle variables in near adiabatic dynamics is formally and numerically explored. The theory of adiabatic separatrix crossing is developed and several aspects of the theory are numerically tested for a time-dependent quartic double well.
Aggregation of the Chicken Mite, Dermanyssus Gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)

Dermanyssus gallinae mites consistently aggregate and form clusters of mixed developmental stages; recently fed mites aggregate most quickly and form more definite clusters than unfed mites. Thigmokinesis and pheromones are involved in the clustering behavior. The aggregation pheromone(s) is volatile and can be recognized by mites without directly contacting it. D. gallinae is not attracted (or if so, only weakly) to several synthetic chemicals that are reported to function as pheromones in other acarine taxa. It is somewhat attracted to synthetic guanine.
Head positioning servo design for the IBM 3344/3350 disk files

The 3344/3350 disk files have significantly increased both the recording areal density and total storage capacity per spindle in comparison to previous disk file products, such as the 3340. Parameters directly related to the head positioning systems are compared. Three areas of the head positioning servo system that required design changes for increased performance are described: (1) the encoding used on the servo disk to obtain position information, (2) the compensation technique employed in the track following controller to reduce steady state positioning error and (3) implementation of the phase plane trajectory for improved accuracy and settling as well as decreased access time.
An effective methodology for the stochastic project compression problem

In this paper, we consider the problem of planning a complex project when task durations are random. Specifically, we consider the problem of deciding how much to compress tasks in order to minimize the expected total cost that is defined by the sum of direct, indirect, and incentive costs. We initially consider this problem under the assumption that task durations can be modeled by a negative exponential distribution although we later relax this assumption and show that our methodology can be applied to any general distribution. To solve this problem, we develop an effective heuristic algorithm that we call the Stochastic COmpression Project (SCOP) algorithm; the SCOP algorithm is straightforward to implement and our numerical tests indicate that the algorithm performs significantly better than previously reported heuristics. In addition, we compare our approach to solutions found using expected values embedded in a deterministic approach (an approach that is frequently used to solve this problem in prac...
Diets to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease 1957-2013: What Have We Learned?

Our understanding of the potential cardioprotective properties of nutrition is relatively recent, with most relevant studies completed in the last several decades. During that time, there has been an evolution in the focus of nutritional intervention. Early trials emphasized reduction of dietary fat with the goal of preventing heart disease by reducing serum cholesterol. Results from trials focused exclusively on dietary fat reduction were disappointing, prompting subsequent studies incorporating a whole diet approach with a nuanced recommendation for fat intake. The Mediterranean-style diet, with a focus on vegetables, fruit, fish, whole grains, and olive oil, has proven to reduce cardiovascular events to a degree greater than low-fat diets and equal to or greater than the benefit observed in statin trials.
Cancer prevention education in United States medical schools: how far have we come?

Nearly 20 years ago, the American Association of Cancer Education conducted a pioneering survey on the status of cancer prevention and detection education at US medical schools. Eight recommendations to improve teaching followed. In the ensuing 20 years, modest progress has been made in realizing these objectives. Herein, we review progress to date and call for a national forum of anti-cancer organization to forge a new series of competencies for all US medical students.
The Role of Thoracic Radiotherapy in the Management of Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: Past, Present, and Future

The role of thoracic radiation therapy in the management of limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is reviewed. Although chest irradiation has been used to treat SCLC for over four decades, its standard role in the management of limited-stage disease was established only during the last decade. Multiple prospective randomized trials have shown that the addition of thoracic radiation therapy to chemotherapy usually halves local failure rates, from >60% with chemotherapy alone to about 30% with chemoradiation therapy. Additionally, survival at 3 years is also improved by 50%, from 10% with chemotherapy alone to about 15% with chemoradiation therapy. However, issues relating to the timing, volume (ie, prechemotherapy vs postchemotherapy), and the dose fractionation scheme of thoracic radiation therapy in the treatment of limited-stage SCLC still remain unresolved. Recent review of the literature indicates the most optimal timing of thoracic radiation therapy appears to be concurrent with chemotherapy vs either a sequential or an alternating approach. Studies are currently under way evaluating the optimal volume and dose fractionation scheme to use in the delivery of thoracic radiation therapy. In summary, thoracic radiation therapy significantly improves both local chest control and survival in the treatment of limited-stage SCLC.
The many paths to peace

Beyond War rejects the view that we are inherently warlike. But that, says anthropologist Richard Wrangham, is not the way to stop wars
Learning Agility: Spanning the Rigor–Relevance Divide

Having struggled for several years with not only trying to define learning agility but attempting to measure this construct as well (Mitchinson, Gerard, Roloff, & Burke, 2012; Mitchinson & Morris, 2012)—a far more daunting task—it is our desire to state at the outset that we are grateful to DeRue, Ashford, and Myers (2012) for (a) their work on ‘‘conceptual clarity’’ and (b) helping us feel that we are no longer alone in our pursuit of definition and relevant theory. With these points in mind, we have three comments to contribute to the focal article. First, although the article provides academic rigor to the construct of learning agility that, to date, has been lacking, it potentially comes at a cost to the practical use of the construct’s origins. Second, although the authors place much needed effort on clarifying exactly what is meant by the term ‘‘agility,’’ we argue that the term ‘‘learning’’ requires equal—perhaps greater—scrutiny. Finally, we close with an exploration of some of the benefits and challenges of constructing a measure of learning agility based on this new model.
Acoustic/infrasonic rocket engine signatures

Infrasonics offers the potential of long-range acoustic detection of explosions, missiles and even sounds created by manufacturing plants. The atmosphere attenuates acoustic energy above 20 Hz quite rapidly, but signals below 10 Hz can propagate to long ranges. Space shuttle launches have been detected infrasonically from over 1000 km away and the Concorde airliner from over 400 km. This technology is based on microphones designed to respond to frequencies from .1 to 300 Hz that can be operated outdoors for extended periods of time with out degrading their performance. The US Army Research Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory have collected acoustic and infrasonic signatures of static engine testing of two missiles. Signatures were collected of a SCUD missile engine at Huntsville, AL and a Minuteman engine at Edwards AFB. The engines were fixed vertically in a test stand during the burn. We will show the typical time waveform signals of these static tests and spectrograms for each type. High resolution, 24-bit data were collected at 512 Hz and 16-bit acoustic data at 10 kHz. Edwards data were recorded at 250 Hz and 50 Hz using a Geotech Instruments 24 bit digitizer. Ranges from the test stand varied from 1 km to 5 km. Low level and upper level meteorological data was collected to provide full details of atmospheric propagation during the engine test. Infrasonic measurements were made with the Chaparral Physics Model 2 microphone with porous garden hose attached for wind noise suppression. A B&K microphone was used for high frequency acoustic measurements. Results show primarily a broadband signal with distinct initiation and completion points. There appear to be features present in the signals that would allow identification of missile type. At 5 km the acoustic/infrasonic signal was clearly present. Detection ranges for the types of missile signatures measured will be predicted based on atmospheric modeling. As part of an experiment conducted by ARL, sounding rocket launches have been detected from over 150 km. A variety of rockets launched from NASA’s Wallops Island facility were detected over a two year span. Arrays of microphones were able to create a line of bearing to the source of the launches that took place during different times of the year. This same experiment has been able to detect the space shuttle from over 1000 km on a regular basis. These two sources represent opposite ends of the target size, but they do demonstrate the potential for the detection and location of rocket launches.
Different genes underlie adaptive melanism in different populations of rock pocket mice.

Identifying the genes responsible for adaptation has been an elusive goal in evolutionary biology. Rock pocket mice ( Chaetodipus intermedius ) provide a useful system for studying the genetics of adaptation: most C. intermedius are light-coloured and live on light-coloured rocks, but in several different geographical regions, C. intermedius are melanic and live on dark-coloured basalt lava, presumably as an adaptation for crypsis. Previous work demonstrated that mutations at the melanocortin-1 receptor gene ( Mc1r ) are responsible for the dark/light difference in mice from one population in Arizona. Here, we investigate whether melanism has evolved independently in populations of dark C. intermedius from New Mexico, and whether the same or different genes underlie the dark phenotype in mice from these populations compared with the dark mice from Arizona. Seventy-six mice were collected from pairs of dark and light localities representing four different lava flows and adjacent light-coloured rocks; lava flows were separated by 70–750 km. Spectrophotometric analysis of mouse pelage and of rock samples revealed a strong positive association between coat colour and substrate colour. No significant differences were observed in the colour of rocks among the four lava flows, suggesting that mice in these separate populations have experienced similar selection for crypsis. Despite this similarity in environment, melanic mice from the three New Mexico populations were slightly, but significantly, darker than melanic mice from Arizona. The entire Mc1r gene was sequenced in all mice. The previously identified mutations responsible for the light/dark difference in mice from Arizona were absent in all melanic mice from three different populations in New Mexico. Five new Mc1r polymorphisms were observed among mice from New Mexico, but none showed any association with coat colour. These results indicate that adaptive melanism has arisen at least twice in C. intermedius and that these similar phenotypic changes have a different genetic basis.
The Paradoxical Control of American Clerks

This exploratory ethnographic study describes some of the control strategies used by a multinational manufacturer of communications technology to influence the attitudes and productivity of its clerical employees. Production quotas were applied to all clerical activities, but workers were also rewarded for their ability to creatively solve on-the-job problems. In addition, clerks were socialized to regard their jobs as careers, and they were expected to make personal sacrifices to benefit the corporation. The paper describes ways in which the clerical staff responded to these control efforts. Some found the rewards their jobs offered inadequate and they quit after a short time. The remainder, however, did not question the corporation's definition of the situation, and they devised ways to satisfy their employer's expectations. These ranged from superhuman efforts to meet targeted goals to quasi-legal manoeuvres to circumvent them.
Understanding New and Emerging Business Technologies

Today a number of new technologies are increasingly emerging, which promise companies to innovate, improve their efficiencies, or realize new business opportunities. As a program/project manager, however, you need to know that actual benefits from new emerging technologies would be rarely gained without a good understanding of their impact on business and especially, of their business implications and accompanying managerial changes required from technology adoption. Good news is that you can use well-developed techniques to understand a new emerging technology which include technology forecasting, technology assessment, and technology foresight. In this chapter, you will see a suite of technology forecasting techniques with illustrations for the bibliometric and patent analysis techniques. For the purpose of understanding emerging technologies, this chapter presents two case studies for technology forecasting on two emerging business technologies: Radio Frequency Identification and Web service.
Complement and alcoholic liver disease: role of C1q in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced liver injury in mice.

Background & Aims Complement is involved in the development of alcoholic liver disease in mice; however, the mechanisms for complement activation during ethanol exposure have not been identified. C1q, the recognition subunit of the first complement component, binds to apoptotic cells, thereby activating the classical complement pathway. Because ethanol exposure increases hepatocellular apoptosis, we hypothesized that ethanol-induced apoptosis would lead to activation of complement via the classical pathway. Methods Wild-type and C1qa −/− mice were allowed free access to ethanol-containing diets or pair-fed control diets for 4 or 25 days. Results Ethanol feeding for 4 days increased apoptosis of Kupffer cells in both wild-type and C1qa −/− mice. Ethanol-induced deposition of C1q and C3b/iC3b/C3c was colocalized with apoptotic Kupffer cells in wild-type, but not C1qa −/− , mice. Furthermore, ethanol-induced increases in tumor necrosis factor–α and interleukin-6 expression at this early time point were suppressed in C1q-deficient mice. Chronic ethanol feeding (25 days) increased steatosis, hepatocyte apoptosis, and activity of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in wild-type mice. These markers of hepatocyte injury were attenuated in C1qa −/− mice. In contrast, chronic ethanol (25 days)-induced increases in cytochrome P450 2E1 expression and oxidative stress did not differ between wild-type and C1qa −/− mice. Conclusions For the first time, these data indicate that ethanol activates the classical complement pathway via C1q binding to apoptotic cells in the liver and that C1q contributes to the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced liver injury.
Whom (or what) do you (mis)trust?: historical reflections on the psychology and sociology of information technology

The article presents some reflections on the history of information technology. It use the sundial, the typewriter, the computer, the expert system, and the advanced information processing workstation (AIPW) as case studies to trace changes in the research and development process as it relates to human factors issues. The historical trends involve questions of trust-trust and mistrust of the computer technology on the part of the end user, on the one hand, and trust and mistrust of the research and development process on the part of system developers on the other.
The neurotoxicology of hard foraging and fat-melts

In this issue of PNAS, Maswood et al. (1) extend the already remarkable effects of caloric restriction (CR) to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6, tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced parkinsonism in rhesus monkeys. MPTP was identified in synthetic street heroin as a cause of rapid-onset parkinsonism (2). This lipophilic protoxin rapidly crosses the blood–brain barrier and is converted in astrocytes by monoamine oxidase B to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) (3), which selectively damages dopaminergic neurons. CR in the range of 10–40% with balanced micronutrients commensurately increases the lifespan of many short-lived species (4, 5, 6). The basis for the robust effects of CR on longevity, while far from clear, have been associated with the attenuation of many aging processes (e.g., accumulation of oxidation products in nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids) and chronic diseases (e.g., tumors and renal neurodegeneration). Blood glucose and insulin are lowered, but glucocorticoids are elevated, which is paradoxic for neuroprotective effects (7). Ongoing studies with rhesus monkeys show benefits to health particularly in the middle-aged, which tend to suffer from obesity; however, effects on longevity remain to be proven (4, 8). Recently, shorter-term CR has been applied to models of neurological disease and, during a span of months, has positive effects on Alzheimer's disease transgenics (9) and in the present Parkinson's disease model. The protocol used in these studies of adult rhesus …
Cardiopulmonary Signal Sensing from Subject Wearing Body Armor

Continuous wave (CW) Doppler motion sensing radar can detect human physiological signal such as respiration or heart signals at a distance and through barriers. It has been shown that heart rate can be extracted with good accuracy for normally clothed subjects. Such technique could potentially be used to search for survivors in battlefield triage applications. To assess the feasibility of such applications, we investigated Doppler radar of cardiopulmonary signal sensing from subjects wearing body armor vests. This paper presents measurement results of heart signals obtained using CW Doppler radar from a subject wearing body armor vest. Since armor plate reflects most of the RF signal, received signal after reflected from a subject is phase modulated with motion of an armor plate induced by chest motion, rather than directly with chest motion due to cardiopulmonary motion. Two different cases, including supine and seated positions, are chosen for this study, and good sensitivity was obtained in both cases. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first published result of cardiopulmonary signal detection from a subject wearing a body armor vest.
DC-side high impedance ground fault detection for transformerless single-phase PV systems

The ground fault is one of the most common faults in the Photovoltaic (PV) power generation system. Previously, the ground fault detection interrupter (GFDI) and spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) methods were applied in the PV system to detect the ground fault of PV arrays. However, the limitations of GFDI constrain its ability to detect high impedance ground fault (HIGF) at PV arrays, and the implementation of SSTDR will increase the system cost. A novel approach based on the common mode (CM) model of the full-bridge inverter to detect the HIGF of PV arrays is proposed in this paper. Both the mathematical verification and PSIM simulation prove the effectiveness of CM model in detecting the HIGF for transformerless single-phase PV systems.
FOXO Transcription Factors Control E2F1 Transcriptional Specificity and Apoptotic Function

The transcription factor E2F1 is a key regulator of proliferation and apoptosis but the molecular mechanisms that mediate these cell fate decisions remain unclear. Here, we identify FOXO transcription factors as E2F1 target genes that act in a feed-forward regulatory loop to reinforce gene induction of multiple apoptotic genes. We found that E2F1 forms a complex with FOXO1 and FOXO3. RNAi-mediated silencing of FOXO impaired E2F1 binding to the promoters of cooperative targets genes. A FOXO3 mutant insensitive to inactivation by survival kinases rescued the inhibitory effect of growth factor signaling on E2F1-mediated transcription and apoptosis. The E2F1/FOXO axis is frequently blocked in cancer, as evidenced by the specific down regulation of the FOXO-dependent E2F1 transcriptional program in multiple cancer types and by the association of a reduced E2F1/FOXO transcriptional program with poor prognosis. HDAC and PI3K inhibitors were identified as specific activators of E2F1/FOXO transcription, acting to enhance E2F1-induced apoptosis in a FOXO3-dependent manner. Notably, combining the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat with a PI3K inhibitor led to enhanced FOXO-dependent apoptosis. Collectively, our results identify E2F1/FOXO cooperation as a regulatory mechanism that places E2F1 apoptotic activity under the control of survival signaling. Therapeutic reactivation of this tumor suppressive mechanism may offer a novel broad-acting therapy for cancer.
Correlates of Mutagen Sensitivity in Patients with Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancer

Although tobacco and alcohol use are the major determinants of upper aerodigestive tract carcinogenesis, not all smokers develop cancer. This phenomenon is due to individual variation in genetic susceptibility to carcinogens. One explanation may be differences in mutagen sensitivity (as measured by the in vitro bleomycin-induced mutagen sensitivity assay) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Antioxidant supplementation has also been shown to decrease DNA damage and thus may also inhibit carcinogenesis. In this study, we examined whether smoking, alcohol intake, and dietary antioxidant intake were correlated with mutagen sensitivity. The 612 patients evaluated are part of an ongoing multicenter Phase III trial of 13-cis retinoic acid for the prevention of second primary tumors. We found that patients with pharyngeal cancers were more likely than patients with oral cavity or larynx cancers to be mutagen sensitive. There were no significant differences in the distribution of mutagen sensitivity by sex or alcohol use. Never smokers were significantly more likely (61.1%) to be mutagen sensitive than current smokers (35.6%). Dietary consumption of the micronutrients alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and vitamin C was not correlated with mutagen sensitivity. Therefore, we suggest that mutagen sensitivity is an independent marker of cancer risk not affected by other known risk factors.
Pragmatics and Discourse: A Resource Book for Students. 2nd ed. by CUTTING, JOAN.

The article reviews the book "Pragmatics and Discourse: A Resource Book for Students," by Joan Cutting.
Running EveryWare on the Computational Grid

The Computational Grid [10] has recently been proposed for the implementation of high-performance applications using widely dispersed computational resources. The goal of a Computational Grid is to aggregate ensembles of shared, heterogeneous, and distributed resources (potentially controlled by separate organizations) to provide computational "power" to an application program. In this paper, we provide a toolkit for the development of Grid applications. The toolkit, called EveryWare, enables an application to draw computational power transparently from the Grid. The toolkit consists of a portable set of processes and libraries that can be incorporated into an application so that a wide variety of dynamically changing distributed infrastructures and resources can be used together to achieve supercomputer-like performance. We provide our experiences gained while building the EveryWare toolkit prototype and the first true Grid application.
Charge-Coupled-Device Charge-Collection Efficiency And The Photon-Transfer Technique

The charge-coupled device has shown unprecedented performance as a photon detector in the areas of spectral response, charge transfer, and readout noise. Recent experience indicates, however, that the full potential for the CCD's charge-collection efficiency (CCE) lies well beyond that realized in currently available devices. In this paper we present a definition of CCE performance and introduce a standard test tool (the photon-transfer technique) for measuring and optimizing this important CCD parameter. We compare CCE characteristics for different types of CCDs, discuss the primary limitations in achieving high CCE performance, and outline the prospects for future improvement.
Bipolar device design for circuit performance optimization

Processes such as polysilicon emitter, various self-alignment schemes, and deep trench isolation have led to significant improvements in intrinsic speed and reductions in parasitic RC elements in silicon BJT (bipolar junction transistor) devices. Some basic physical limitations involved in further scaling the intrinsic device vertical profile for silicon BJTs are discussed. Also presented is a review of recent developments in silicon-based heterojunction bipolar transistors which have the potential of overcoming some of the basic limitations in homojunction BJTs. >
Hypoxic Preconditioning Enhances the Benefit of Cardiac Progenitor Cell Therapy for Treatment of Myocardial Infarction by Inducing CXCR4 Expression

Myocardial infarction rapidly depletes the endogenous cardiac progenitor cell pool, and the inefficient recruitment of exogenously administered progenitor cells limits the effectiveness of cardiac cell therapy. Recent reports indicate that interactions between the CXC chemokine stromal cell–derived factor 1 and its receptor CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) critically mediate the ischemia-induced recruitment of bone marrow–derived circulating stem/progenitor cells, but the expression of CXCR4 in cardiac progenitor cells is very low. Here, we studied the influence of hypoxia on CXCR4 expression in cardiac progenitor cells, on the recruitment of intravenously administered cells to ischemic heart tissue, and on the preservation of heart function in a murine myocardial infarction model. We found that hypoxic preconditioning increased CXCR4 expression in CLK (cardiosphere-derived, Lin−c-kit+ progenitor) cells and markedly augmented CLK cell migration (in vitro) and recruitment (in vivo) to the ischemic myocardium. Four weeks after surgically induced myocardial infarction, infarct size and heart function were significantly better in mice administered hypoxia-preconditioned CLK cells than in mice treated with cells cultured under normoxic conditions. Furthermore, these effects were largely abolished by the addition of a CXCR4 inhibitor, indicating that the benefits of hypoxic preconditioning are mediated by the stromal cell–derived factor 1/CXCR4 axis, and that therapies targeting this axis may enhance cardiac-progenitor cell–based regenerative therapy.
Rainfall Characteristics Associated with the Remnants of Tropical Storm Helene in Upstate South Carolina

Abstract A description is given of rainfall characteristics associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Helene, which made landfall on the panhandle of Florida and moved through parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina during 22–23 September 2000. Also included in the description are rainfall events in advance of the approach of Helene to South Carolina. Emphasis is placed on the implications of these characteristics regarding the ability of the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) to measure rainfall accurately for this system when employing reflectivity factor–rainfall rate (Z–R) algorithms as defined by the National Weather Service. The results are based on analysis of raindrop size spectra collected with a disdrometer in upstate South Carolina at the Clemson University Atmospheric Research Laboratory. It was found that there were pronounced variations in the Z–R relationship from day to day and within a day that would limit the accuracy of radar measurement of rainfall. A d...
Integrating Neurocounseling into the Counseling Profession: An Introduction

This special issue on neurocounseling offers diverse examples of the integration of neuroscience into the practice of counseling. These introductory remarks define neurocounseling, neurotherapy, neurofeedback, self-regulation and therapeutic life changes. Examples of each are offered to assist the readers in better understanding how teaching, practicing and researching the physiological underpinnings of many mental health concerns expands the skills and efficacy of all counselors.
Predicting Number of Oocytes in Adult Western Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Regression equations to predict number of oocytes, or potential fecundity, of western spruce budworm (WSBW), Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, adult females based on pupal and adult parameters are presented. Fresh pupal mass was the most precise predictor variable, pupal abdomen width and dry mass of adults or adult abdomens were less precise but still very good predictors, and pupal abdomen length was the least precise parameter for estimating number of oocytes. WSBW pupal mass decreased as the pupa aged. Therefore, it is important to know pupal age if pupal mass is used to predict number of oocytes. Duration of pupal period and pupal mass were inversely related; individuals that spent 10 d in the pupal stage were significantly smaller than pupae that developed in 7–9 d. Host species the WSBW larva fed upon significantly affected the regression between number of oocytes and pupal mass, and also affected pupal mass, adult abdomen mass, and adult whole mass but did not affect number of oocytes in the adult. Factors to consider when using pupal or adult size measurements to estimate WSBW fecundity are discussed.
Technology of Underwater Rock Explosion and Hole Completion in Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant of Lianyun Port

A detailed analysis is made on the difficulty of underwater rock explosion and hole completion in Tianwan nuclear power plant,Lianyun Port. An effective method is pu forward to solve the problems caused by overlying rocks by introduction of casing-pipe connected drilling tools.
Tracing our roots: new opportunities and new challenges in clinical laboratory science (1977-1992).

Objective To describe new opportunities and challenges facing clinical laboratory science between 1977 and 1992. Design A survey of literature on the history of clinical laboratory science was conducted. References consulted include various books and professional journals. Conclusion Between 1977 and 1992 the role of clinical laboratory scientist continued to evolve and expand as new tests and instruments were introduced. Over time, they began to assume greater responsibilities for analyzing and interpreting test results, evaluating and implementing quality assurance programs and new methodologies, and became involved, to a greater extent, in laboratory management and supervision, education, and research. A wide variety of career opportunities were opened to clinical laboratory scientists, providing them with employment opportunities beyond the milieu of the clinical laboratory. Federal regulations aimed at controlling cost of healthcare had a significant effect on the clinical laboratory and clinical laboratory personnel. Stricter guidelines for reimbursement of laboratory services by third-party payees and private insurers forced laboratories to scrutinize their costs and develop creative strategies to attract clients. Attrition, job satisfaction, salaries, and personnel shortages grew in importance during this period as well, prompting research in these areas.