cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HSP90 inhibitor AUY922 induces cell death by disruption of the Bcr-Abl, Jak2 and HSP90 signaling network complex in leukemia cells

The Bcr-Abl protein is an important client protein of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). We evaluated the inhibitory effects of the HSP90 ATPase inhibitor AUY922 on 32D mouse hematopoietic cells expressing wild-type Bcr-Abl (b3a2, 32Dp210) and mutant Bcr-Abl imatinib (IM)-resistant cell lines. Western blotting results of fractions from gel filtration column chromatography of 32Dp210 cells showed that HSP90 together with Bcr-Abl, Jak2 Stat3 and several other proteins co-eluted in peak column fractions of a high molecular weight network complex (HMWNC). Co-IP results showed that HSP90 directly bound to Bcr-Abl, Jak2, Stat 3 and Akt. The associations between HSP90 and Bcr-Abl or Bcr-Abl kinase domain mutants (T315I and E255K) were interrupted by AUY922 treatment. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Bcr-Abl showed a dose-dependent decrease in 32Dp210T315I following AUY922 treatment for 16h. AUY922 also markedly inhibited cell proliferation of both IM-sensitive 32Dp210 (IC50 =6 nM) and IM-resistant 32Dp210T315I cells (IC50 ≈6 nM) and human KBM-5R/KBM-7R cell lines (IC50 =50 nM). AUY922 caused significant G1 arrest in 32Dp210 cells but not in T315I or E255K cells. AUY922 efficiently induced apoptosis in 32Dp210 (IC50 =10 nM) and T315I or E255K lines with IC50 around 20 to 50 nM. Our results showed that Bcr-Abl and Jak2 form HMWNC with HSP90 in CML cells. Inhibition of HSP90 by AUY922 disrupted the structure of HMWNC, leading to Bcr-Abl degradation, nhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Thus, inhibition of HSP90 is a powerful way to inhibit not only IM-sensitive CML cells but also IM-resistant CML cells.
Anthropometric cutoffs and associations with visceral adiposity and metabolic biomarkers after spinal cord injury

Background/Objectives To examine associations of different anthropometric measurements of central adiposity to visceral adipose tissue (measured via multi-axial magnetic resonance imaging; MRI) and cardiometabolic disease risk factors in men with spinal cord injury (SCI). Additionally, to determine population-specific seated/supine waist and abdominal circumference cutoffs, which may identify men at increased risk of cardiometabolic disease. Participants/Methods Twenty-two men with chronic SCI underwent MRI scans, anthropometric measurements along with assessments of various cardiometabolic risk biomarkers. Pearson/part (accounting for age as a covariate) correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the associations between study variables. Abdominal and waist circumference cutoffs were extrapolated using the slope of linear regression equations. Results Seated/supine abdominal and waist circumferences were (P < 0.01) associated with MRI visceral fat cross-sectional area (VATCSA), VAT volume and CSA:TotalCSA. Low density lipoprotein, non-high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were positively associated with seated/supine abdominal and waist circumferences after controlling for age; r = 0.50–0.61, r = 0.46–0.58, r = 0.52–0.58, P < 0.05, respectively. Tumor necrosis factor alpha was associated with seated/supine abdominal and waist circumferences after accounting for age; r = 0.49–0.51 and r = 0.48–0.56, P < 0.05 respectively. The population-specific cutoffs were 86.5cm and 88.3cm for supine waist and abdominal circumferences, respectively, as well as 89cm and 101cm for seated waist and abdominal circumferences, respectively. After dichotomizing VATCSA (< or ≥ 100cm2), peak oxygen uptake, triglycerides, insulin sensitivity and glycated hemoglobin were different (P < 0.05) between groups. After dichotomizing (< or ≥ 86.5cm) supine waist circumference, VATCSA, triglycerides and insulin sensitivity were different (P < 0.05) between groups. Conclusions Seated/supine circumferences are associated with both central adiposity and biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk in persons with SCI. Population-specific cutoffs are proposed herein to identify central adiposity and potential cardiometabolic disease risk after SCI.
Comparison of Line Tension Measurement Methods for Lipid Monolayers at Liquid-Liquid Coexistence.

Several methods of measuring the line tension between phase-separated liquid-ordered–liquid -disordered domains in phospholipid–cholesterol systems have been proposed. These experimental techniques...
A Decade of eParticipation Research

The first ePart conference was organized in Linz in 2009, co-located with the longer-running eGov conference, which at the time was in its 7th year. Since then, we have seen ten conferences focusing on eParticipation research. In this paper, we summarize these ten years by examining authors, keywords and prominent themes of the conferences. Our starting point is two early papers on eParticipation, which aimed to provide an overview and agenda for the field. We show how the eParticipation community addressed this agenda, and how the agenda has changed over a decade of eParticipation research.
Vascularized composite allotransplantation versus solid organ transplantation: innate-adaptive immune interphase.

Purpose of review Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA), a life-enhancing treatment for patients with complex tissue defects, trauma or illness, expounds upon the foundation of solid organ transplantation (SOT), the gold standard in end-stage organ failure. As innate and adaptive immunity remain the fundamental concern, this review highlights divergent immunobiology responses in VCA and SOT recipients. Recent findings Host innate immune activation drives peritransplant tissue ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Despite the direct relationship between ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-stress and cell-mediated acute rejection, the mechanism of how IRI may affect VCA loss needs investigation. With skin grafts being highly immunogenic, the incidence of cell-mediated rejection is higher in VCA than SOT; whereas ex-vivo perfusion may exert cytoprotection against IRI in VCA and SOT. New treatment concepts, such as topical immunosuppression or cell-based tolerogenic therapies, may avoid systemic immunosuppression in VCA. Although antibody-mediated rejection is relatively rare in VCA and its disease seems to be distinct from that in SOT, little is known as to whether and how IRI may influence humoral immune rejection cascade in VCA or SOT. Summary Further understanding of the innate-adaptive immune crosstalk should contribute to much needed development of novel therapies to improve VCA outcomes, based on strategies established in SOT.
Modulation of the autonomic nervous system through mind and body practices as a treatment for atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common symptomatic arrhythmia that is associated with stroke. Contemporary management of the disease is focused on anticoagulation to prevent stroke, coupled with catheter ablation to limit symptoms and prevent deleterious cardiac remodeling. Emerging data highlights the importance of lifestyle modification by managing sleep apnea, increasing physical activity, and weight loss. There is significant data that supports a link between the autonomic nervous system, arrhythmia development, and atrial fibrillation therapy. It is likely that lifestyle modification through these techniques that are aimed to reduce stress may also mediate atrial fibrillation development through this mechanism. This review examines how mind and body practices such as meditation, yoga, and acupuncture may influence the autonomic nervous system and mitigate atrial fibrillation progression and regression. Available evidence from molecular and anatomical levels through to clinical observations and translational clinical trials were scrutinized and a case established for these interventions as potential powerful mediators of anti-arrhythmic benefit.
Abstract 895: The Role of Poly(rC)-Binding Protein-1 in Heart Development

Poly(rC)-Binding Protein-1 (Pcbp1) belongs to the KH homology superfamily of nucleic acid-binding proteins, which has been implicated in a vast array of biological processes such as iron transport,...
Impact of multiple placental pathologies on neonatal death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants

To determine the association of placental pathology, including multiple placental lesions, with the occurrence and severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), death, and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in preterm infants. A retrospective cohort study of neonates <29 weeks gestational age (GA) born at Parkland Hospital from 08/2009 to 08/2012. Infants were stratified as follows: Group 1: no significant placental pathology; Group 2: single significant placental lesion; and Group 3: ≥2 placental lesions (multiple lesions). Primary outcome was death and/or BPD. Two-year neurodevelopmental follow-up was compared. In all, 42% (100/241) of infants had one placental lesion, and 34% (82/241) ≥2 lesions. As the number of the pathologic lesions increased (no lesions vs. 1 vs. ≥2), the occurrence of death or BPD increased (25%, 37%, and 52%, respectively; P = 0.004). Moreover, infants with multiple pathologic lesions were more likely to have NDI (29%, 29%, and 46%, respectively; P = 0.03). After logistic regression, infants with multiple pathologic lesions were more likely to develop moderate-to-severe BPD [P < 0.01; OR 3.9 (1.5–10.1)] but not NDI. Neonates <29 weeks GA with multiple placental pathologic lesions have an increased risk for developing BPD, suggesting an interaction between placental inflammation and vascular pathology and the pathogenesis of BPD; however, the risk of NDI is not increased.
Keys to healthy family child care homes: Results from a cluster randomized trial.

Abstract Early care and education settings, such as family child care homes (FCCHs), are important venues for children's health promotion. Keys to Healthy Family Child Care Homes evaluated a FCCH-based intervention's impact on children's diet and physical activity. This study enrolled 496 children aged 1.5–4 years and 166 FCCH providers into a cluster-randomized control trial (intervention = 242 children/83 FCCHs, control = 254 children/83 FCCHs) conducted during 2013–2016. The 9-month intervention addressed provider health, health of the FCCH environment, and business practices, and was delivered through three workshops, three home visits, and nine phone calls. The attention control arm received a business-focused intervention. Primary outcomes were children's diet quality (2 days of observed intakes summarized into Healthy Eating Index scores) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (3 days of accelerometry) at the FCCH. Secondary outcomes were child body mass index (BMI), FCCH provider health behaviors, and FCCH nutrition and physical activity environments and business practices. Repeated measures analysis, using an intent-to-treat approach, accounting for clustering of children within FCCHs and adjusting for child age, sex, and BMI, was used to evaluate change (completed in 2018). Compared to controls, intervention children significantly improved their diet quality (5.39, p = .0002, CI = 2.53, 8.26) but not MVPA (0.31, p = .195, CI = −0.16, 0.79). Intervention FCCH providers significantly improved their diet quality and several components of their FCCH environment (i.e., time provided for physical activity, use of supportive physical activity practices, and engagement in nutrition and physical activity education/professional development). FCCHs are malleable settings for health promotion, especially diet quality. Trial registration This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01814215 .
The Social Psychology of Design Thinking

This article examines the cardinal tenets of design thinking using the research, theory, and insights of social psychology. People’s intuitions are often incorrect and, moreover, it is often diffic...
STEMI AND ARTERIAL THROMBI FOLLOWING SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA USE

Stimulation of cannabinoid-1 receptor (CBR1) leads to multiple unfavorable cardiac parameters including procoagulatory changes on platelets, decreased myocardial contractility, stress cardiomyopathy, and regional coronary artery vasospasm. Traditional cannabis is a partial CBR1 agonist, while
Failure of Equilibrium Selection Methods for Multiple-Principal, Multiple-Agent Problems with Non-Rivalrous Goods: An Analysis of Data Markets

The advent of machine learning tools has led to the rise of data markets. These data markets are characterized by multiple data purchasers interacting with a set of data sources. Data sources have more information about the quality of data than the data purchasers; additionally, data itself is a non-rivalrous good that can be shared with multiple parties at negligible marginal cost. In this paper, we study the multiple-principal, multiple-agent problem with non-rivalrous goods. Under the assumption that the principal's payoff is quasilinear in the payments given to agents, we show that there is a fundamental degeneracy in the market of non-rivalrous goods. Specifically, for a general class of payment contracts, there will be an infinite set of generalized Nash equilibria. This multiplicity of equilibria also affects common refinements of equilibrium definitions intended to uniquely select an equilibrium: both variational equilibria and normalized equilibria will be non-unique in general. This implies that most existing equilibrium concepts cannot provide predictions on the outcomes of data markets emerging today. The results support the idea that modifications to payment contracts themselves are unlikely to yield a unique equilibrium, and either changes to the models of study or new equilibrium concepts will be required to determine unique equilibria in settings with multiple principals and a non-rivalrous good.
Cryptochromes Suppress HIF1α in Muscles.

Summary Muscles preferentially utilize glycolytic or oxidative metabolism depending on the intensity of physical activity. Transcripts required for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism undergo circadian oscillations of expression in muscles, and both exercise capacity and the metabolic response to exercise are influenced by time of day. The circadian repressors CRY1 and CRY2 repress peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ), a major driver of oxidative metabolism and exercise endurance. CRY-deficient mice exhibit enhanced PPARδ activation and greater maximum speed when running on a treadmill but no increase in exercise endurance. Here we demonstrate that CRYs limit hypoxia-responsive transcription via repression of HIF1α-BMAL1 heterodimers. Furthermore, CRY2 appeared to be more effective than CRY1 in the reduction of HIF1α protein steady-state levels in primary myotubes and quadriceps in vivo. Finally, CRY-deficient myotubes exhibit metabolic alterations consistent with cryptochrome-dependent suppression of HIF1α, which likely contributes to circadian modulation of muscle metabolism.
Manufactured solutions for the method-of-moments implementation of the electric-field integral equation

Abstract Though the method-of-moments implementation of the electric-field integral equation plays an important role in computational electromagnetics, it provides many code-verification challenges due to the different sources of numerical error. In this paper, we provide an approach through which we can apply the method of manufactured solutions to isolate and verify the solution-discretization error. We accomplish this by manufacturing both the surface current and the Green's function. Because the arising equations are poorly conditioned, we reformulate them as a set of constraints for an optimization problem that selects the solution closest to the manufactured solution. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach for cases with and without coding errors.
Subjective health in adolescence: Comparing the reliability of contemporaneous, retrospective, and proxy reports of overall health

Abstract Self-rated health (SRH) is one of the most important social science measures of health. Yet its measurement properties remain poorly understood. Most studies ignore the measurement error in SRH despite the bias resulting from even random measurement error. Our goal is to estimate the measurement reliability of SRH in contemporaneous, retrospective, and proxy indicators. We use the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to estimate the reliability of SRH relative to proxy assessments and respondents’ recollections of past health. Even the best indicators – contemporaneous self-reports – have a modest reliability of ~0.6; retrospective and proxy assessments fare much worse, with reliability less than 0.2. Moreover, not correcting for measurement error in SRH leads to a ~20–40% reduction in its correlation with other measures of health. Researchers should be skeptical of analyses that treat these subjective reports as explanatory variables and fail to take account of their substantial measurement error.
Biomaterials used in dental applications to improve success rate of implantation: A review

Dental implants are the first choice in replacing any lost teeth. The material used for dental implants should have high mechanical strength, superior biocompatibility, good osseointegration ability, high resistance to corrosion and wear and better aesthetic appeal. Titanium (Ti) is popularly used in dentistry for implant purpose as it exhibits excellent mechanical and biological properties. The hypersensitivity and grey colour of the implant has raised demands for metal-free implant materials with more aesthetic value. With the advancements in biosciences and technology there are various materials options for implants in dentistry. The objective of this review article is to study different materials properties which can be a viable alternative to titanium. Ceramics (zirconia) and polymers (PEEK, PMMA) are emerging as promising metal-free alternative to titanium implants. Nevertheless, further long-term clinical rates and studies are needed to validate total replacement of titanium by the aforementioned materials.
Special Education Funding: Fund Services For Kids, Not Profits For Charter Managers

Special education funding for Pennsylvania charter schools is not based on what the charters actually spend on services for their students with disabilities. Most charters in Pennsylvania receive substantially more in special education tuition that they spend on services to those students. That outcome is legal under the current tuition formula, but it should not be. The funding formula should be reformed so that it bases charter tuition on the actual services needed by charter students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Charters should spend special education tuition on those needed services or return the money to the school districts.
d -amino Acid Inhibits Biofilm but not New Bone Formation in an Ovine Model

Background Infectious complications of musculoskeletal trauma are an important factor contributing to patient morbidity. Biofilm-dispersive bone grafts augmented with d-amino acids (d-AAs) prevent biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo, but the effects of d-AAs on osteocompatibility and new bone formation have not been investigated.
Morning after My Death

Before this dawn, as always, one sparrow, one note: a piccolo, now a flute, and now another centering the dark on the fence around my house. My hollow in the bed beside my wife cannot hear it. Nor my feet which do not strike the floor, my body no longer groping for robe, slippers, my curse which is not here against the cold: none of what she remembers greets the body of the woman I remember rising, wrapping herself in hesitation just a second. And why she pauses, suspended that next second I can only guess. Instead, I can be certain this is the instant my birds will begin together to orchestrate the lifting of the sky. Here is where imagination has to leave us, and you, wiser than I, reader, living still, may find such music in a morning of small things as permits you to see enormities today may come to. And give you visions only the dead possess when I try to come back and must rely upon darkness turning to dawn, that I not speak too loudly my disguises.
A study of the bioengineered surgical sponge

The postoperatively retained foreign body PORFB can induce complications leading to the need for follow-up surgery to ensure its removal, to treat or prevent the formation of an abscess, and to minimize the risk of death for the patient and liability for the surgeon and hospital. The most common cause of PORFB complications is the surgical sponge. Previously, PORFB prevention was focused on improved efficiency in RFB counting; however, because of the inability to entirely eliminate human error, cost, and the potentially unproven patient outcome improvement, new approaches have been sought. We examined the use of a novel bioengineered, biodegradable sponge BSS to reduce the risk of complications due to PORFBs, thus potentially improving patient outcomes.
Long-term disease-free survival in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia

Twenty-six of 45 adults (58%) with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia who were treated with intensive induction chemotherapy over 5 yr ago entered complete remission. All patients entering remission were placed on weekly maintenance chemotherapy consisting of cytosine arabinoside and 6-thioguanine. The median duration of complete remission was 17 mo and 7 patients (27%) remained in their initial remission for 62 + to 102 + mo. All but one of the patients in complete remission over 5 yr have had treatment discontinued. Only 1 of 7 patients in remission for more than 5 yr has relapsed. Median survival is 26.5 mo, and 8 patients (31%) currently remain alive without evidence of leukemia 63--105 mo from diagnosis. It is possible to achieve long-term disease-free survival with chemotherapy alone in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.
PEG-PDMS-BMP-2 hydrogels for directed osteogenic differentiation of MSCs from alternative sources

The goal of this study was to explore the differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells derived from synovium tissue (Sy-MSCs) for bone tissue engineering. Scaffolds based on poly(ethylene)glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) have been shown to be osteoinductive and osteoconductive. In this study, mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and synovium tissue were encapsulated in PEG-PDMS hybrid hydrogels for directed osteogenic differentiation. Bone morphogenic factor (BMP-2) was added to these scaffolds in order to augment their osteogenic potential. After 3 weeks of culture, markers for osteogenic differentiation were found to be upregulated for scaffolds containing PDMS and BMP-2. Moreover, the response for Sy-MSCs was found to be comparable to that of bone marrow-derived MSCs.
Occurrence of Klebisiella pneumoniae in surface waters.

The occurrence of Klebsiella pneumoniae in surface waters was not found to be ubiquitous. When it was isolated, Escherichia coli could also be found. The fecal coliform to fecal streptococci ratio suggest that its origin could be human animal, or mixed sources.
Proarrhythmia Related to Prolongation of Repolarization: Mechanisms, Monitoring, Prevention, and Management

Ion current basis for action potential duration and QT lengthening To understand cardiac refractoriness it is essential to understand the factors controlling repolarization. Prolonging cardiac repolarization is caused by lengthening the action potential duration or plateau in cardiac cells, and appears on the ECG as prolongation of the QT interval (Fig. 1). The action potential plateau is supported by many membrane currents including slowly decaying inward currents, depolarizing Na1 current and Ca21 current, which are balanced against activating outward currents, repolarizing transient outward current, the rapid and slow delayed recti~er K1 currents, and inward recti~er K1 current, along with a contribution from electrogenic pump currents (Na1–Ca21 exchange, Na1–K1 exchange). Thus, the action potential plateau (of both atrial and ventricular cells) is complex because no single current dominates. Repolarization is modulated by many mechanisms including neurohumoral agents (e.g., catecholamine, adenosine, etc.) and intracellular second messenger systems. The integrity of cell-to-cell coupling by gap junctions also participates in control of repolarization and can exert large effects on heterogeneity of repolarization. Pharmacologically, the cardiac action potential can be prolonged either by augmenting inward current or by suppressing outward current, and many cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular drugs exert these effects. In addition, the QT interval can be prolonged in a number of cardiac disease states including ischemia and reperfusion, heart failure, and hypertrophy as a result of changes in current density and altered channel regulation [1], and in the congenital long QT syndrome as a result of mutations in the genes for Na1 or certain K1 channels [2].
Binary and Ordinal Data Analysis in Economics: Modeling and Estimation

This chapter is concerned with the analysis of statistical models for binary and ordinal outcomes. Binary data arise when a particular response variable of interest yi can take only two values, i.e. yi ∈ {0, 1}, where the index i = 1, . . . , n refers to units in the sample such as individuals, families, firms, and so on. Such dichotomous outcomes are widespread in the social and natural sciences. For example, to understand socio-economic processes, economists often need to analyze individuals’ binary decisions such as whether to make a particular purchase, participate in the labor force, obtain a college degree, see a doctor, migrate to a different country, or vote in an election. By convention, yi = 1 typically indicates the occurrence of the event of interest, whereas the occurrence of its complement is denoted by yi = 0.
Learning characteristics of adaptive fault tolerant filters in the presence of transient errors

Adaptive digital filters can be designed with hardware redundancy so they can continue operating effectively after the occurrence of certain types of hardware failures, thereby achieving reliability through a mechanism known as adaptive fault tolerance. It is known that the extra degrees of freedom provided by properly added hardware redundancy gives many equivalent optimal solutions within the coefficient parameter space. This paper investigates the convergence properties of an adaptive fault tolerant FIR filter when temporary noise-induced errors occur.
Distributed Multi-Robot Algorithms for the TERMES 3D Collective Construction System

The research goal of collective construction is to develop systems in which large numbers of autonomous robots build large-scale structures according to desired specifications. We present algorithms for TERMES, a multi-robot construction system inspired by the building activities of termites. The system takes as input a high-level representation of a desired structure, and provides rules for an arbitrary number of simple climbing robots to build that structure, using passive solid building blocks under conditions of gravity. These rules are decentralized, rely on local information and implicit coordination, and provably guarantee correct completion of the target structure. Robots build staircases of blocks (potentially removable as temporary scaffolds) that they can climb to build structures much larger than themselves.
Manufacturing technology and the role of manufacturing research

The complexity and the importance of manufacturing technologies and the role of manufacturing research in the advancement of technology are described. Leverage areas for timely introduction of products to manufacturing and scale-up to volume manufacturing are identified. Examples of several manufacturing research projects at IBM are given to illustrate key points. >
TEF-1 transrepression in BeWo cells is mediated through interactions with the TATA-binding protein, TBP.

Transcription enhancer factor-1 (TEF-1) has been implicated in transactivating a placental enhancer (CSEn) that regulates human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS) gene activity. We demonstrated that TEF-1 represses hCS promoter activity in choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells (Jiang, S. W., and Eberhardt, N. L.(1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 13609-13915), suggesting that TEF-1 interacts with basal transcription factors. Here we demonstrate that hTEF-1 overexpression inhibits minimal hCS promoters containing TATA and/or initiator elements, Rous sarcoma virus and thymidine kinase promoters in BeWo cells. Cotransfection of TEF-1 antisense oligonucleotides alleviated exogenous TEF-1-mediated repression and increased basal hCS promoter activity, indicating that endogenous TEF-1 exerts repressor activity. GST-TEF-1 fusion peptides fixed to glutathione-Sepharose beads retained in vitro-generated human TATA-binding protein, hTBP. The TEF-1 proline-rich domain was essential for TBP binding, but polypeptides also containing the zinc finger domain bound TBP with higher apparent affinity. TBP supershifted hTEF-GT-IIC DNA complexes, but TEF-1 inhibited in vitro binding of TBP to the TATA motif. Coexpression of TBP and TEF-1 in BeWo cells alleviated TEF-1-mediated transrepression, indicating that the TBP-TEF-1 interaction is functional in vivo. The data indicate that TEF-1 transrepression is mediated by direct interactions with TBP, possibly by inhibiting preinitiation complex formation.
Illuminating light: an optical design tool with a luminous-tangible interface

We describe a novel system for rapid prototyping of laserbased optical and holographic layouts. Users of this optical prototyping tool ‐ called the Illuminating Light system ‐ move physical representations of various optical elements about a workspace, while the system tracks these components and projects back onto the workspace surface the simulated propagation of laser light through the evolving layout. This application is built atop the Luminous Room infrastructure, an aggregate of interlinked, computer-controlled projector-camera units called I/O Bulbs. Philosophically, the work embodies the emerging ideas of the Luminous Room and builds on the notions of ‘graspable media’. We briefly introduce the I/O Bulb and Luminous Room concepts and discuss their current implementations. After an overview of the optical domain that the Illuminating Light system is designed to address, we present the overall system design and implementation, including that of an intermediary toolkit called voodoo which provides a general facility for object identification and tracking.
Analysis of spectra using correlation functions

A novel method is presented for the quantitative analysis of spectra based on the properties of the cross correlation between a real spectrum and either a numerical synthesis or laboratory simulation. A new goodness-of-fit criterion called the heteromorphic coefficient H is proposed that has the property of being zero when a fit is achieved and varying smoothly through zero as the iteration proceeds, providing a powerful tool for automatic or near-automatic analysis. It is also shown that H can be rendered substantially noise-immune, permitting the analysis of very weak spectra well below the apparent noise level and, as a byproduct, providing Doppler shift and radial velocity information with excellent precision. The technique is in regular use in the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) project and operates in an interactive, realtime computing environment with turn-around times of a few seconds or less.
Photodissociation Spectroscopy of Zn+−Formaldehyde

We report on a combined experimental and theoretical study of the photodissociation spectroscopy and chemical dynamics of Zn+−formaldehyde. We identify two overlapping absorption bands correspondin...
Data Acquisition System for Dark Matter Detectors

Progress in Ge detector technology has resulted in ultralow backgrounds of less than 0.3 counts keV−1 kg−1 d−1 at energies between 5 and 12 keV, and less than 1.0 counts kev−1 kg−1 d−1 for energies between 3 and 5 keV. Coupled with good energy resolution, 0.4 keV FWHM at 10 keV, this allows searches for DM particles with m ≥8 GeV/c2.
A simulated-annealing heuristic for shift scheduling using non-continuously available employees

Abstract This paper presents a simulated-annealing heuristic (SAH) for developing shift schedules. We assume that each employee is available only during an individually-specified portion of the day and has individually-specified limits on the duration of shifts to which he/she can be assigned. We evaluate the effectiveness of the SAH under several “neighborhood” search parameters using a primary set of 144 test problems. These parameters include numerous criteria for adding shifts during schedule construction and for dropping shifts during schedule improvement. Our results allow us to make observations regarding appropriate search “neighborhoods” in labor-scheduling and other applications for simulated-annealing. Using a secondary set of 20 test problems we compare the SAH to an efficient optimal integer-programming model. On average, SAH's schedules are 0.29% more costly than optimal schedules but are obtained in 8.4% of the time required to generate optimal schedules.
Ultra-violet light-induced changes in membrane properties in secretory cells

Abstract Illumination with ultra-violet is used widely in physiological experiments for the photolysis of caged compounds. In the peptidergic cells of the pituitary gland, as well as cultured PC12 cells, ultra-violet light was found to produce changes in a number of membrane properties. Light of sufficient intensity to produce rapid photolysis of commonly used caged compounds induced changes in K+ and Ca2+ current, as well as changes in membrane capacitance. All responses to light showed a rapid timecourse, activating in a few ms and decaying within 10–50 ms after illumination ended. Experiments with radical scavengers and with inhibitors of cytochrome p450 and phospholipase A2 failed to block the light responses. These rapid responses to light emphasize that experiments employing ultra-violet light in the photorelease of physiological and pharmacological agents require special care for control of light artifacts.
A modified PABC immunoassay for the quantitation of DNA dependent RNA polymerase I: a procedure applicable to other proteins present in minute amounts and/or isoforms

An indirect enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) has been developed to measure the amount of RNA polymerase I (E.C.2.7.7.6) in silkmoth tissue cell extracts. Subunit specific monoclonal antibodies (MABs) were immobilized on the solid substrate by a variation of the widely used Protein-Avidin-Biotin-Capture (PABC) technique. The use of the commercially available biotinylated anti-mouse antibody as a bridge to bind the monoclonal antibody eliminates the need for the biotinylation of the monoclonal antibody in the laboratory. The RNA polymerase in solution was captured by the monoclonal antibody and was measured by the successive binding of rabbit polyclonal antibody and alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-rabbit antibody. This procedure is more reliable, reproducible and leads to greater sensitivity compared to the direct binding of the monoclonal antibody to the microtiter plate. RNA polymerase I captured by the antibodies from tissue extracts was measured at levels of 0.5 ng/well. This assay system can be utilized as a general procedure to quantitate the levels of proteins present at very low levels and that are found in different isoforms containing multiple and/or shared subunits.
Trajectories of depressive symptoms, dopamine D2 and D4 receptors, family socioeconomic status and social support in adolescence and young adulthood.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, we tested the association between dopamine D2 and D4 receptors and a trajectory of depressive symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Second, we reestimated the association between the dopamine receptors and depression after taking into account the effects of socioeconomic disparity and child-parent ties and social support. METHODS The study uses the DNA sample of approximately 2500 individuals in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Each individual was measured three times in 1994, 1996, and 2002. RESULTS This study has yielded robust associations of the DRD2 and DRD4 variants with depressive symptoms among male adolescents and young adults. The DRD2*304/178 genotype is associated with a level of depressive symptoms 0.04-0.07 points (3-5% of the mean) higher than the DRD2*178/178 genotype. Relative to the other more common DRD4 variants, the DRD4*379/379 genotype raises the level of depression by about 0.25 points (about 17% of the mean). These findings hold after adjusting for the effects of socioeconomic status (family structure, parental education, family income, mother's employment status, and whether attending public school) and child-parent ties/social support (conflict with parent(s), closeness to parent(s), parental availability, and social support). Although the gene-sex interaction is clearly present, the tests of gene-lifecourse interaction did not yield any significant results. CONCLUSION Our findings emphasize the importance of joint influences of genetic propensities and social environment on depressive symptoms.
EXPRESSION OF THE AVIAN α7-INTEGRIN IN DEVELOPING NERVOUS SYSTEM AND MYOTOME

Integrins are cell surface receptors for a variety of extracellular matrix molecules including fibronectin, laminin and collagens. Although their role in development is not completely understood, they are likely to have important functions in cell migration and axon guidance. To characterize the types of integrins expressed in the developing nervous system, we have used monoclonal antibodies against α_7- and α_v-integrin subunits to examine the distribution of these subunits in the early chick embryo. Low levels of α_7 immunoreactivity were first observed in the neural tube and developing myotome of stage 17 embryos (E2.5). Although low levels of α_7 expression were associated with most neuroepithelial cells, distinct α_7 immunoreactivity was first detected in the ventrolateral portions of the neural tube at a stage corresponding to the time when the first neurons differentiate. Its distribution pattern overlapped with that of commissural neurons in the developing spinal cord. α_7 was also prominently localized to the motor neurons and their axons emanating from the neural tube. In addition, α7 immunoreactivity was observed on a subpopulation of trunk neural crest cells migrating through the somitic sclerotome. At later stages, α_7 expression was observed in other nervous system structures such as the pigmented retinal epithelial cells. In addition to its distribution in the developing nervous system, α_7 immunoreactivity was associated with early myotomal cells shortly after myotome formation and its expression persisted throughout myotome development. In contrast to α_7, α_v-integrin had a limited distribution in the nervous system, being expressed only at low levels in the neural tube. However, α_v displayed prominent immunoreactivity in the myotome and in endothelial cells of the dorsal aorta. The results suggest that α_7-integrin is one of the prevalent integrin subunits on neurons and axons in the developing spinal cord.
An Asynchronous FPGA with Two-Phase Enable-Scaled Routing

The configurable routing in asynchronous FPGAs accounts for 80-90% of the total area and consumes 80-90% of the total power. This paper presents an asynchronous FPGA that applies two techniques to reduce power consumption. First, the routing is altered to use two-phase logic rather than four-phase logic. Second, enable (acknowledge) signals are voltage scaled such that the overall FPGA performance is not affected. The resulting FPGA is evaluated across eight of the MCNC LGSynth93 benchmarks. This FPGA consumes up to 60% less power than a conventional asynchronous FPGA. In addition, the extra slack provided by two-phase routing increases the throughput of some benchmarks by up to 70%. The additional hardware required to implement the low-power techniques increases the total area by only 12%.
Reducing Unauthorized Access by Insiders through User Interface Design: Making End Users Accountable

A long-time tenet of information security is the principle of least privilege, which requires that systems users be given the minimum amount of access privilege required to complete a task. However, many financial, medical, and customer records systems grant employees broad access for reasons of practical necessity. Unfortunately, with broad access rights comes potential for abuse. This paper investigates how user interface design features of a system can be designed to make end users feel more accountable for their actions in the system and less likely to abuse their access rights. To do so, we developed a factorial survey to determine the effects of user interface design features relating to three aspects of accountability: (1) identifiability, (2) evaluation, and (3) social presence. The results of the factorial survey show that the accountability design features significantly reduced intention to commit unauthorized access.
Image processing in digital mammography

Digital mammography is likely to replace conventional mammography within a few years. In anticipation of this, our group has been exploring the implications of image processing in digital mammography. Some of our findings are reported here.
Ischemic lesion volume determination on diffusion weighted images vs. apparent diffusion coefficient maps

Though diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is frequently used for identifying the ischemic lesion in focal cerebral ischemia, the understanding of spatiotemporal evolution patterns observed with different analysis methods remains imprecise. DWI and calculated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were serially obtained in rat stroke models (MCAO): permanent, 90 min, and 180 min temporary MCAO. Lesion volumes were analyzed in a blinded and randomized manner by 2 investigators using (i) a previously validated ADC threshold, (ii) visual determination of hypointense regions on ADC maps, and (iii) visual determination of hyperintense regions on DWI. Lesion volumes were correlated with 24 hour 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazoliumchloride (TTC)-derived infarct volumes. TTC-derived infarct volumes were not significantly different from the ADC and DWI-derived lesion volumes at the last imaging time points except for significantly smaller DWI lesions in the pMCAO model (p=0.02). Volumetric calculation based on TTC-derived infarct also correlated significantly stronger to volumetric calculation based on last imaging time point derived lesions on ADC maps than DWI (p<0.05). Following reperfusion, lesion volumes on the ADC maps significantly reduced but no change was observed on DWI. Visually determined lesion volumes on ADC maps and DWI by both investigators correlated significantly with threshold-derived lesion volumes on ADC maps with the former method demonstrating a stronger correlation. There was also a better interrater agreement for ADC map analysis than for DWI analysis. Ischemic lesion determination by ADC was more accurate in final infarct prediction, rater independent, and provided exclusive information on ischemic lesion reversibility.
Auxin perception: in the IAA of the beholder

Auxin signaling through the SCF(TIR1)-Aux/IAA-ARF pathway is one of the best-studied plant hormone response pathways. Components of this pathway, from receptors through to transcription factors, have been identified and analyzed in detail. Although we understand elementary aspects of how the auxin signal is perceived and leads to a transcriptional response, many questions remain about the in vivo function of the pathway. Two crucial issues are the tissue specificity of the response, i.e. how distinct cell types can interpret the same auxin signal differently, and the response to a signaling gradient, i.e. how a graded distribution of auxin can elicit distinct expression patterns along its range. Here, we speculate on how signaling through the canonical SCF(TIR1)-Aux/IAA-ARF pathway may achieve divergent responses.
Scanning tunneling microscopy observation of dislocations with superlattice structure in graphite

Dislocation ribbons with superlattice structure are observed in graphite samples by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In one sample, the angle of rotation between graphite layers in the dislocation ribbon is 3.0° and the displacement of the atoms on one side of the ribbon with respect to the atoms on the other side due to the rotation is found to be a multiple of the distance between β-site atoms in graphite. The regions of normal graphite between the ribbons are found to change to a superlattice region with repeated scanning. Also, additional graphite layers over the ribbons do not alter their visibility.
Gratitude for small and large favors: A behavioral test

The effect of large and small favors on gratitude was tested using a behavioral measure. Participants were 149 undergraduates (120 female, 29 male). Half received raffle tickets for a US$100 prize, and half received tickets for a US$10 prize. Some received tickets from another (fictitious) student, and others received tickets by chance. Participants receiving a favor subsequently distributed more tickets to the other student; participants receiving a more valuable favor also distributed more (ps < 0.05). Self-reported grateful motivation predicted distribution better than did indebtedness. Grateful motivation mediated the relationship between favor and distribution (p < 0.05). Results provide validity for a behavioral measure of gratitude, tentatively support favor value as a determinant of gratitude, and further differentiate between gratitude and indebtedness.
PrivaSense: providing privacy protection for sensor networks

Sensor networks are used in a variety of applications such as battlefield reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and traffic monitoring. Security and privacy become important concerns when people are participants in sensor network applications [1]. In this research, we focus on providing a framework in which the privacy of people participating in sensor networks applications is protected.
Quantitation of S100 protein‐positive cells in inflamed and non‐inflamed keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma

Langerhans cells (LC) were identified and quantitated in non-inflamed keratoacanthoma (KA), inflamed KA, non-inflamed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and inflamed SCC, by their content of S100 protein. The number of LCs per high-power field was markedly increased in inflamed KA when compared to the other groups. Using similar methods on frozen sections, the expression of HLA-DR was identified on keratinocytes in KA in areas of inflammation but not in other lesions under study. We hypothesize that increased numbers of LCs in inflamed KA are part of the process which results in tumor regression.
Molecular phylogeny of the animal kingdom

A rapid sequencing method for ribosomal RNA was applied to the resolution of evolutionary relationships among Metazoa. Representatives of 22 classes in 10 animal phyla were used to infer phylogenetic relationships, based on evolutionary distances determined from pairwise comparisons of the 18S ribosomal RNA sequences. The classical Eumetazoa are divided into two groups. Cnidarians arose from a protist ancestry different from the second group, the Bilateria. Within the Bilateria, an early split gave rise to Platyhelminthes (flatworms) and the coelomate lineage. Coelomates are thus monophyletic, and they radiated rapidly into four groups: chordates, echinoderms, arthropods, and eucoelomate protostomes.