cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A tunable and reversible platform for the intracellular formation of genetically engineered protein microdomains

From mitochondria to the nuclear envelope, the controlled assembly of micro- and nanostructures is essential for life; however, the level at which we can deliberately engineer the assembly of microstructures within intracellular environments remains primitive. To overcome this obstacle, we present a platform to reversibly assemble genetically engineered protein microdomains (GEPMs) on the time scale of minutes within living cells. Biologically inspired from the human protein tropoelastin, these protein polymers form a secondary aqueous phase above a tunable transition temperature. This assembly process is easily manipulated to occur at or near physiological temperature by adjusting molecular weight and hydrophobicity. We fused protein polymers to green fluorescent protein (GFP) to visualize their behavior within the cytoplasm. While soluble, these polymers have a similar intracellular diffusion constant as cytosolic proteins at 7.4 μm(2)/s; however, above their phase transition temperature, the proteins form distinct microdomains (0.1-2 μm) with a reduced diffusion coefficient of 1.1 μm(2)/s. Microdomain assembly and disassembly are both rapid processes with half-lives of 3.8 and 1.0 min, respectively. Via selection of the protein polymer, the assembly temperature is tunable between 20 and 40 °C. This approach may be useful to control intracellular formation of genetically engineered proteins and protein complexes into concentrated microdomains.
Food Insecurity Is Linked to a Food Environment Promoting Obesity in Households With Children

Abstract Objective To determine the extent to which the presence and accessibility of healthful and less healthful foods in children's homes vary with level of food security. Methods A total of 41 parents or primary caregivers who had at least 1 child ages 2–13 and resided in a low-income area with limited food access completed a home food inventory and a validated measure assessing household food security. Results Compared with food-secure participants, marginal or low/very low food-secure caregivers reported significantly more obesity-promoting foods in the home, more microwavable or quick-cook frozen foods, and greater access to less healthful foods in the kitchen (all P s Conclusions and Implications Given the greater presence and accessibility of less healthful foods, targeting home food environment may improve diet quality and health status in children of low-income, food insecure households.
Object model construction by invariance and photogrammetry

ABSTRACTSeveral recent invariance techniques such as: trilinearity (trifocal tensor), cross-ratio of planes, BC-Invariant, and factorization of the fundamental matrix, have been extensively analyzed. Significant characteristics which distinguish themfrom equivalent photogrammetric techniques have been determined and assessed. Test results from simulated and real data,particularly related to the construction of imaged objects, are presented. These are in turn compared to results obtained fromphotogrammetry. Conclusions are drawn particularly with respect to the relative performance of the various methods, andrecommendations made for continuing research.Keywords: invariance, photogrammetry, object construction, model projection, image transfer, least squares adjustment,trilinearity, fundamental matrix. 1. INTRODUCTION In previous work"2'3, the authors investigated general invariance techniques applied to images of both two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) objects and explored their use in image and object transfer. For two-dimensional objects, point-based, line-based, and combined point/line-based invariance techniques were analyzed. Most invariance techniques are linearin the unknowns to be determined. This is one of its primary advantages. However, as was discovered in our earlier research2,it can also be one of its main drawbacks. An inconsistency problem due to using different point and line sequences in theinvariance equations was discovered. A solution to that problem was developed based on a refined least squares approach, forwhich the linear invariance equations become non-linear. Corresponding photogrammetric techniques based on projectivetransformation between planes for point and line features were implemented and tested. The photogrammetric solution alwaysprovided unique answers while the invariance techniques worked well only with strong geometric configuration. For three-dimensional objects, point-based image invariance using the fundamental matrix, F, particularly the transfer of images fromtwo photographs to a third was investigated2. Constraining the F-matrix to having a zero determinant is necessary in order tostabilize the image transfer solution. A photogrammetric technique equivalent to image transfer, called extended relativeorientation (ERO) was developed. The configuration of image points used to estimate the F-matrix was found to be critical,which significantly affects the image transfer results (not any subset of 7 points should fall on or near a plane). Objectconstruction using the invariance technique of cross-ratio of planes was extensively investigated and tested3. The originalmethod by Barrett, utilizing linear equations, suffered from the same inconsistency problem as in the 2D case. Re-formulationbased on refined least squares alleviated the sequence problem. Experiments showed significant improvements in the resultsdue to this development.In this paper, several additional recent invariance techniques have been extensively researched. These are based on the
Propranolol Treatment for an Isolated, Obstructing Subglottic Hemangioma

Results: A 6-month-old, previously full-term male with no history of prior intubations was admitted for evaluation of respiratory distress, biphasic stridor and recurrent ‘croup’. Microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy revealed a subglottic hemangioma obstructing 90% of the subglottic airway. Propranolol and prednisone therapy was immediately initiated following cardiology evaluation. The patient’s stridor and respiratory distress rapidly resolved, and a repeat airway evaluation 3 days following the start of propranolol showed 80% airway obstruction. Four days later, the hemangioma had contracted further to 60% obstruction. The patient remained asymptomatic and the subglottic hemangioma slowly decreased in size over the ensuing 4 months after the patient was weaned from prednisone. No additional therapy was necessary for management of this patient’s subglottic hemangioma.
A Role for Endogenous Prostaglandins in Defective Glucose Potentiation of Nonglucose Insulin Secretagogues in Diabetics

Noninsulin dependent diabetics have insulin responses to nonglucose secretagogues that are subnormal for their plasma glucose levels. Since endogenous prostaglandins have been implicated in the abnormal insulin responses to glucose in diabetics, the present study was performed to explore whether prostaglandins might also play a role in the defective insulin responses to nonglucose stimuli. We examined the effects of infusions of either prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or sodium salicylate (SS), a PG synthesis inhibitor, on the acute insulin responses (AIR's) to arginine and isoproterenol and on the glucose potentiation of the insulin response to arginine in both normal and diabetic subjects. The AIR to arginine was augmented by SS in diabetics (SS = 61 ± 12 μU/ml, control = 37 ± 5 μU/ml, n = 11, p < .01). SS, however, had no effect on the AIR to arginine in normal subjects (SS = 39 ± 4 μU/ml, control = 34 ± 4 μU/ml, n = 6, p = ns). Similarly, SS augmented the AIR to an isoproterenol pulse in diabetics (SS = 38 ± 9 μU/ml, control = 18 ± 3, n = 9, p < .05) but not in normal subjects (SS = 19 ± 4 μU/ml, control = 21 ± 4 μU/ml, n = 8, p = ns), suggesting a SS-sensitive defect in the insulin response to these nonglucose stimuli in diabetics. Conversely, PGE2 inhibited the AIR to arginine in diabetics (PGE = 28 ± 5 μU/ml, control = 39 ± 7 μU/ml, n = 7, p < .05), but not in normal subjects (PGE = 74 ± 7 μU/ml, control = 80 ± 14 μU/ml, n = 5, p = ns). The effect of SS on glucose potentiation of the AIR to arginine was studied by measuring the AIR to arginine at two different levels of plasma glucose, one before and one after an insulin infusion, with glucose potentiation defined as the ratio ΔAIR/Δprestimulus glucose. Glucose potentiation was significantly less in diabetics than in normals and SS significantly improved glucose potentiation toward normal values in diabetics but did not change glucose potentiation in normals. These findings suggest that endogenous PG's may play a role in the defective glucose potentiation of the AIR to nonglucose secretagogues in diabetics resulting in impaired insulin responses to these stimuli. This defect is partially reversible by an inhibitor of PG synthesis.
Neighborhood competition in several violet populations

Research into local (neighborhood) competition has heretofore focused on either natural populations of long-lived woody plants or artifical populations of herbaceous annuals. To explore the usefulness of these techniques for herbaceous perennials, 1 applied them to 11 natural populations of 4 species of violet (Viola blanda, V. pallens, and V. incognita, alone and with V. adunca). Ramet density ranged from 132 to 508 per square meter. The analysis tried to account for the size of each ramet (expressed as the number of leaves) using information on the number, size, and angular aggregation of neighboring plants in three concentric annuli (0-3, 3-6, and 6-9 cm). Simple rank correlations between leaf number and these measures of local competition were usually of the expected sign, but were consistently significant in only two of the populations (1 pallens and 1 incognita). No significant correlations were of the "wrong" sign. When the spatial independent variables were combined into multiple regression equations they accounted for between 5 and 59% of the total variance in leaf number. The equations were best in predicting individual size in the Newfoundland populations of V. incognita which had the greatest range in individual size. Total plant density appeared unrelated to predictive success.The neighborhood competition approach can be applied to natural populations of herbaceous perennials, but low density, inaccurate measures of plant performance and microvariation in site quality limit its usefulness. In particular, it seems impossible to determine the mechanism by which neighbors exert their competitive effects with this approach.
MicroRNAs and Cellular Phenotypy

This Essay explores the notion that specialized cells have unique vulnerabilities to environmental contingencies that microRNAs help to counteract. Given the ease with which new microRNAs evolve, they may serve as ideal facilitators for the emergence of new cell types.
A facile synthesis of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-α-l-fucopyranosyl-3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-d-glucopyranose, the Lewis a blood-group antigenic determinant, and related compounds

Abstract A simple strategy was developed for the procurement of benzyl 2-acetamido-6- O -benzyl-2-deoxy-3- O -(2,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-β- d -galactopyranosyl)-β- d -gluco-pyranoside ( 8 ). Reductive opening of the acetal ring of benzyl 2-acetamido-4,6- O -benzylidene-2-deoxy-3- O -(2,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-β- d -galactopyranosyl)-β- d -gluco-pyranoside gave, exclusively, the desired, key intermediate 8 . Fucosylation of 8 with 2,3,4-tri- O -benzyl-α- l -fucopyranosyl bromide, under catalysis by bromide ion, afforded the trisaccharide derivative which, on O -deacetylation, followed by hydrogenolysis, produced the title trisaccharide. Starting from methyl 2-acetamido-4,6- O -benzylidene-2-deoxy-3- O -(2,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-β- d -galactopyranosyl)-α- d -glucopyranoside, the synthesis of methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4- O -α- l -fucopyranosyl-3- O -β- d -galactopyranosyl-α- d -glucopyranoside was accomplished by a similar reaction-sequence. The synthesis of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4- O -α- l -fucopyranosyl- d -glucopyranose is also described. The structures of the final saccharides, and of various other intermediates, were established by 1 H- and 13 C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.
Petroleum industry techniques yield new insights into 3D GPR data

We have adapted petroleum industry technologies to 3D GPR datasets from a variety of geological and archaeological settings. Seismic attribute analysis designed for 3D seismic volumes of oil fields has been used to map a 19th century cemetery and to prepare a Roman archaeological site for detailed study by mapping the prior disturbances of the site. Specific seismic attributes that we have successfully applied include connectedness (“geoanomalies”), semblance (or dissimilarity), volume rendering (transparency visualization), and waveform classification. An especially powerful strategy is to use two or more attributes simultaneously via volume rendering that allows multiple visualizations.
Heavy residue production in 215 MeV 16O+27Al reactions.

Mass, velocity, and angular distributions have been measured for heavy products and for light charged particles from the reaction 215 MeV $^{16}\mathrm{O}$${+}^{27}$Al. Coincidences between evaporation residues and light charged particles have also been measured. Statistical-model calculations, incorporating light-particle decay from either the compound nucleus or the composite nucleus formed in the direct emission of a beam velocity particle, cannot account for the observed cross sections or angular distributions of the heavy residues. More elaborate kinematic simulations, which include direct light-particle emission as observed in the light-particle inclusive data, also do not work. This supports the notion that heavy fragment production (Ag4) would be needed to account for the residue distributions.
An LIF equivalence ratio imaging technique for multicomponent fuels in an IC engine

A method for identifying fuel/tracer mixtures suitable for laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements of in-cylinder equivalence ratios is presented. The concentrations of multiple LIF tracers are adjusted so that the total vapor-phase fluorescence is proportional to the instantaneous mass evaporation rate. In this way, LIF image intensities are proportional to local fuel mass, which in turn can be converted into local fuel equivalence ratios. Uncertainty generated by pressure and temperature dependencies of ketone tracers is assessed. A two-fuel-component mixture developed with the method is used to measure two-dimensional fuel equivalence ratios in an optically accessible direct-injection spark-ignition engine. Results are compared with the equivalence ratio distribution of a mixture with a single fuel component. It is found that the effect of fuel volatility on the equivalence ratio distribution at the time of spark becomes more distinct as the start-of-injection timing is retarded.
Explained variance in logistic regression: A Monte Carlo study of proposed measures

R²is widely relied on in linear regression to index a model's discriminatory power. Many counterparts have been proposed for use in logistic regression, but no single measure is consistently used. Two potential criterion values are relevant: the explained variance in the latent scale underlying the binary indicator of event occurrence and the explained risk of the event itself. In this study, Monte Carlo methods were used to examine the performance, with respect to fixed theoretical levels of explained variance and explained risk, of eight R²analogues. The McKelvey-Zavoina measure appears to be best at estimating explained variance and either the sample-estimated explained risk or the ordinary least squares R²to be best at indexing explained risk. Other measures appear to be poor choices, primarily because asymptotic trends suggest they may be inconsistent estimators of the relevant criterion.
Review of Instruments Assessing Parenting Competencies used in Child Custody Evaluations

The following instruments of parenting capacity that are currently used in child custody evaluations are reviewed: The Ackerman–Schoendorf Scales for Parent Evaluation of Custody (ASPECT), the Bricklin Perceptual Scales and Perception of Relationships Test, the Child Abuse Potential Inventory, the Parent–Child Relationship Inventory, and the Parenting Stress Index. Each instrument is described, as well as research on the measure's norms, reliability, validity, and generalizability. The measures are discussed with regard to their approach in assessing parental effectiveness and principles of test construction.
Abstract 2261: Heat-shock and autophagy in cancer: Novel role for DGK iota

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Autophagy is a cellular process by which damaged proteins, protein aggregates, and organelles are sequestered by lysosome-like compartments and degraded. Autophagy contributes to quality control, cell death, and senescence. Defects in autophagy cause the accumulation of cellular damage, inhibit cell death processes, and promote an inflammatory state that facilitates tumor development. In contrast, the heat shock response, which is mediated primarily by the transcription factor, HSF1 is frequently enhanced in cancer. Despite this inverse relationship between autophagy and heat-shock in cancer, the direct influence of heat-shock and HSF1-mediated gene expression on autophagy has not been investigated. Our study suggests that heat-shock mediated gene expression suppresses autophagy in a human colorectal cancer cell line. Our data show that diacylglycerol kinase iota (DGK iota) expression is regulated by HSF1. DGK iota phosphorylates diacylglycerol, generating phosphatidic acid (PA), which is a potent suppressor of autophagy through its activation of the serine/threonine kinase mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of HSF-1-mediated gene expression on autophagy, and to examine the specific contribution of DGK iota in this effect. We utilized RKO colorectal cancer cells for this investigation and assayed autophagy using complimentary techniques, including: conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II, which was monitored by Western blot; and the formation of autophagic vesicles (autophagosomes), which were visualized by high-content screening confocal microscopy of cells harboring an LC3-GFP expression construct. The influence of basal and heat-shock (42°C)-simulated HSF1 activity on autophagy was analyzed using siRNA. Silencing of HSF1 led to a profound increase in autophagic markers, suggesting a role for HSF1-driven gene expression in the suppression of autophagy. In HSF1-deficient cells we also observed increased phosphorylation of p70S6K, which is a surrogate marker for mTOR activation. We confirmed that DGK iota mRNA and protein expression is mediated by HSF1. Using biochemical inhibitors of DGK activity, we observed a significant increase in autophagy, supporting our hypothesis that DGK iota participates in suppressing autophagy. Additional siRNA experiments of DGK iota are being performed to confirm this effect, along with measurements of cellular PA levels. Taken together, these results indicate an important role for HSF1 in the suppression of autophagy, and provides mechanistic insight into a potential, tumor-promoting role for DGK iota. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2261. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2261
Bounds on fourth-generation fermion masses in the standard model

In the standard model, if the ratios of Yukawa couplings to gauge couplings are bounded functions of the renormalization point, then the fourth-generation fermion massesm U , m D , andm L (in GeV) are constrained to lie within a domain approximately given by (m U /213)4.8+(m D /209)4.8+(m L /161)2.4<1.
Dimerization of α-Methylstyrene (AMS) Catalyzed by Sulfonic Acid Resins: A Quantitative Kinetic Study

Abstract The dimerization of α-methylstyrene was examined at 50°C and 1 atm in nonpolar cumene and polarp-cresol solvents, using both soluble liquid acids and resin-based solid acids as catalysts. In particular, the activities of a representative macroporous sulfonic acid resin, Amberlyst-15®, and Nafion® perfluorosulfonic acid resin in three different microstructures, gel-type Nafion® NR-50 resin, a carbon-supported Nafion® resin, and a Nafion® resin/silica composite material, have been compared. The Nafion® resin/silica composites showed, by far, the highest activity. Supported Nafion® resin on carbon and Amberlyst-15® are effective catalysts as well and are all more active than pure Nafion® resin based on catalyst weight. None of the small molecule acids were sufficiently soluble to show significant catalytic action in the nonpolar solvent cumene. On the other hand, in the polarp-cresol media, the homogeneous acids showed relative activities in the same order as theirpKas; and the strongest aqueous acid, triflic acid was more active than any of the resin catalysts on an acid equivalent basis. Among the resin catalysts, only the Nafion® NR50 gel showed significant activity enhancement inp-cresol. In order to gain insight into these relative catalytic activities, the acid capacity and accessibility of acid groups in these solid acid catalysts were studied using temperature programmed desorption/thermogravimetric analysis (TPD/TGA) techniques with isopropanol as probe molecule. The TPD/TGA studies show that the sulfonic acid groups are readily accessible to 2-propanol vapor in the 13 wt% Nafion® resin/SiO2composite but not in gel-type Nafion® resin and Amberlyst-15®.
Detection of formaldehyde vapor using conductive polymer films

Abstract We have developed conductive elements incorporating thin poly(aniline)/poly(ethyleneimine) composite films prepared by spin casting and report on their characteristics for formaldehyde detection via changes in conductivity. We find significant increases in the resistance, for example greater than 10 kΩ at a concentration of 38 ppm exposed for 1 min, of these films upon exposure to formaldehyde vapor in a laboratory gaseous exposure chamber. The films are less responsive to other volatile organic vapors, such as methanol, acetone and dichloromethane. The morphology of the films was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, which indicated a porous surface well suited to vapor phase adsorption.
Adaptive dynamic programming for terminally constrained finite-horizon optimal control problems

Adaptive dynamic programming is applied to control-affine nonlinear systems with uncertain drift dynamics to obtain a near-optimal solution to a finite-horizon optimal control problem with hard terminal constraints. A reinforcement learning-based actor-critic framework is used to approximately solve the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation, wherein critic and actor neural networks (NN) are used for approximate learning of the optimal value function and control policy, while enforcing the optimality condition resulting from the hard terminal constraint. Concurrent learning-based update laws relax the restrictive persistence of excitation requirement. A Lyapunov-based stability analysis guarantees uniformly ultimately bounded convergence of the enacted control policy to the optimal control policy.
Computed tomography appearance of spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage in a pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytomas are adrenal tumors that are diagnosed with time-consuming 24-h urine collection studies. Adrenal hemorrhage is a rare but serious complication of pheochromocytomas that has been reported in only about 50 cases [Sutton MG, Sheps SG, Lie JT. Prevalence of clinically unsuspected pheochromocytomas. Review of a 50-year autopsy series. Mayo Clin Proc 1981;56:354-360]. We had a patient with a classic presentation of pheochromocytoma complicated with hypertensive crisis leading to spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage. We report the computed tomographic (CT) findings of ruptured pheochromocytoma that helped us in early detection and treatment of this life-threatening complication.
The roles of the solute and solvent cavities in charge-transfer-to-solvent dynamics: ultrafast studies of potasside and sodide in diethyl ether.

Although electron transfer reactions are among the most fundamental in chemistry, it is still not clear how to isolate the roles of the solute and solvent in moving charge between reactants in solution. In this paper, we address this question by comparing the ultrafast charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) dynamics of potasside (K−) in diethyl ether (DEE) to those of sodide (Na−) in both DEE and tetrahydrofuran (THF). We find that for sodide in both DEE and THF, CTTS excitation leads to delayed ejection of a solvated electron that appears with its equilibrium absorption spectrum. This indicates that the ejected electrons are localized in pre-existing solvent traps, suggesting that the structure of liquid DEE is characterized by cavities that are favorably polarized to localize an excess electron, as has been previously shown is the case for liquid THF. We also find that the geminate recombination dynamics following CTTS excitation of sodide in THF and DEE are similar, suggesting that the nature of the CTTS ex...
Objective measurement of complex multimodal and multidimensional display formats: a common metric for predicting format effectiveness

Computer-based display designers have more sensory modes and more dimensions within sensory modality with which to encode information in a user interface than ever before. This elaboration of information presentation has made measurement of display/format effectiveness and predicting display/format performance extremely difficult. A multivariate method has been devised which isolates critical information, physically measures its signal strength, and compares it with other elements of the display, which act like background noise. This common Metric relates signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) within each stimulus dimension, then combines SNRs among display modes, dimensions and cognitive factors can predict display format effectiveness. Examples with their Common Metric assessment and validation in performance will be presented along with the derivation of the metric. Implications of the Common Metric in display design and evaluation will be discussed.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Teachers’ reactions to animations as representations of geometry instruction

This study looks at future and novice teachers’ responses to and perceptions of a set of animations as representations of geometry instruction. While the future teachers responded more agreeably to the animations, discussion forum and survey data provide evidence that the animations prompted both future and novice teachers to consider how pedagogical decisions affect the classroom environment and how students think about and communicate geometric ideas. Data also suggest that the animations helped both groups refresh their content knowledge.
The Phenomenology of True Dreams in Maimonides

Maimonides' conception of true dreams posits an important role for the faculty of imagination within the growth of the intellectual self. However, unlike many modern theories of the dream, Maimonides requires one to subject the imagination to intellectual processes, in order to be able to harness the imagination for the practical knowledge. The imagination found in the dream images consists of objective graded levels based on the purity of the imagination from desire and the use of the intellect. The content of the dream is new piece of knowledge, a solution, a political agenda, or a vision for the future that needs to be contextualized within one's own life. Maimonides emphasizes the image as an intellectual object, specifically a single object and not the event. For Maimonides dreams do not give supernatural content nor are true dreams a universal part of daily life. They are extraordinary and do not have presentational immediacy.
Middle Tertiary Unconformity, North Boulder and Jefferson Basins, Southwestern Montana

The middle Tertiary unconformity, mappable throughout the Townsend, Clarkston, and Three Forks basins (Robinson, 1960), can be mapped also throughout the North Boulder and Jefferson basins. In the North Boulder basin, as in the Three Forks basin, the unconformity is erosional; in the other three basins it may be angular as well. The unconformity separates strata as young as middle Oligocene from strata as old as upper Miocene. The topography in the North Boulder and Jefferson basins at the end of the middle Tertiary erosional episode was apparently similar to the present topography, but drainage was probably to the southwest. Then, as now, one or more broad benches rose gently toward the mountain fronts, and at least part of one bench rose from a scarp bordering the floodplain of the ancestral Jefferson River.
Calcium(II) meso-2,3-diphenylsuccinate heptahydrate

The title compound, [Ca(C16H12O4)(H2O)6]·H2O, adopts a conformation about the central C—C bond that places the two carboxylate groups in an anti orientation. The crystal consists of layers of two-dimensional arrays of 2,3-di­phenyl­succinate dianions which are linked by bridging Ca2+ cations. The unit cell contains two Ca2+ cations in an unusual four-membered Ca—O—Ca—O ring in which the bridging O atoms belong to water mol­ecules rather than carboxyl­ates, i.e. poly­[[[di-μ-aqua-bis­[penta­aqua­calcium(II)]]-μ-(meso-2,3-di­phenyl­succinato-O:O′)] succinate dihydrate].
New Generation of Predictive Technology Model for Sub-45 nm Early Design Exploration

A predictive MOSFET model is critical for early circuit design research. To accurately predict the characteristics of nanoscale CMOS, emerging physical effects, such as process variations and correlations among model parameters, must be included. In this paper, a new generation of predictive technology model (PTM) is developed to accomplish this goal. Based on physical models and early-stage silicon data, the PTM of bulk CMOS is successfully generated for 130- to 32-nm technology nodes, with an Leff of as low as 13 nm. The accuracy of PTM predictions is comprehensively verified: The error of I on is below 10% for both n-channel MOS and p-channel MOS. By tuning only ten primary parameters, the PTM can be easily customized to cover a wide range of process uncertainties. Furthermore, the new PTM correctly captures process sensitivities in the nanometer regime, particularly the interactions among Leff, Vth, mobility, and saturation velocity. A website has been established for the release of PTM: http://www.eas.asu.edu/~ptm
Comparison of RC op.-amp. and RC current conveyor filters

Abstract Voltage mode filters implemented using (non-ideal) current conveyors are compared with the corresponding filters implemented using (non-ideal0 op.-amp. and current conveyor niters are found to perform similarly although the parasitic impedances of the non-ideal current conveyor sometimes complicate the design of current conveyor filters.
A method for selecting data subsets from large medical databases

Because of the exponential increase in health care expenditures, attention has been drawn to the cost and effectiveness of health care delivered. The use of electronic data bases as a means for assessing health care effectiveness has been advocated as powerful computer systems have become commonplace. The need to work efficiently with extremely large data bases presents difficult challenges to researchers who wish to focus on specific aspects of the data. This paper describes a computer program written to facilitate the analysis of large medical data sets by providing a straightforward way to specify and select data subsets from the aggregate data base.
Enhanced Efficiency in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Shape-Controlled Plasmonic Nanostructures

In this work, we demonstrate enhanced light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with gold nanocubes of controlled shape. Silica-coated nanocubes (Au@SiO2 nanocubes) embedded in the photoanodes of DSSCs had a power conversion efficiency of 7.8% relative to 5.8% of reference (TiO2 only) devices, resulting in a 34% improvement in DSSC performance. Photocurrent behavior and incident photon to current efficiency spectra revealed that device performance is controlled by the particle density of Au@SiO2 nanocubes and monotonically decreases at very high nanocube concentration. Finite difference time domain simulations suggest that, at the 45 nm size regime, the nanocubes predominantly absorb incident light, giving rise to the lightning rod effect, which results in intense electromagnetic fields at the edges and corners. These intense fields increase the plasmonic molecular coupling, amplifying the carrier generation and DSSC efficiency.
Theoretical studies of the correlations in moderately asymmetric binary hard-sphere solid mixtures.

A theoretical approach to calculate the correlation functions in binary hard-sphere (HS) solid mixtures is developed. The method is motivated by the theory of correlations in one-component HS solids [Rascon et al., Phys. Rev. E 54, 1261 (1996)] and the Kirkwood-Buff theory for solutions. Combined with the fundamental measure density functional theory the approach provides correlation functions in good agreement with the numerical simulations results for the moderately asymmetric mixtures.
Coagulation and Fibrinolytic System Protein Profiles in Women with Normal Pregnancies and Pregnancies Complicated by Hypertension.

Abstract Objective The current study longitudinally evaluated concentrations of fibrinogen (Fib), D-dimer, plasminogen activator type-1 (PAI-1) and tissue type plasminogen activator (T-Pa) before pregnancy and in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy with a focus on pregnancy transition. Study design Twenty healthy, nonsmoking, nulliparous women, aged 29.8 ± 3.0 years, BMI 23.3 ± 3.2 kg/m2 were studied during menstrual cycle day 8 ± 4 and again in early (11–15 weeks) and late (31–34 weeks) pregnancy. Seventeen women had singleton conceptions and delivered at term with uncomplicated pregnancies (CTL) and three women developed complicated hypertension (CH) during pregnancy after the third trimester (late pregnancy) evaluation. Data are means ± SEM, Significance was based on p Results Fib was the only protein evaluated that increased in early pregnancy relative to the prepregnancy assessment. D-dimer, PAI-1 and T-Pa increased in the third trimester compared with prepregnant and early pregnant values (p Conclusions Increases in fibrinogen are evident in early pregnancy whereas fibrinolysis, perhaps in response to the procoagulant environment of pregnancy, is increased during late pregnancy. Before development of clinically overt hypertension, T-Pa is increased without concomitant changes in other proteins assessed. This is consistent with altered endothelial function with preeclampsia that may contribute to, or reflect, the vasculopathy accompanying this disorder.
Action of thiocyanate on gastric mucosa in vitro

Abstract Thiocyanate in addition to its well-known action in inhibiting HCl secretion by the amphibian gastric mucosa has been shown to inhibit 42K flux and the potential difference change due to K+ or Rb+ concentration changes in the bathing solutions. Cs+ does not substitute for K+ in the stomach. Other secretory inhibitors have similar effects. These data may be interpreted by regarding the mucosa as consisting of two parallel circuits residing in the parietal and surface cells, with the parietal cell being responsible for the major fraction of the 42K movement through the mucosa, which is associated with HCl secretion, and the surface cell possessing the K+ perm-selective membrane.
A question of literacy Understanding and renewing the humanities in a global world

The article discusses the nature of humanistic knowledge. Analyzing the relation between aesthetic judgment, literacy and knowledge as defined by the French seventeenth-century Jansenist school of Port-Royal, the article argues that Port-Royal’s interpretation of the enthymeme can be used to define the cognitive basis of aesthetic judgments in the various disciplines of the humanities. The article concludes with arguments that the literacy provided by the humanities explains their value as a necessary foundation for understanding the global world.
Effective principal quantum numbers and integral transform functions

A relationship between the effective principal quantum numbers of Hartree–Fock orbitals and the domains of integral transform orbitals, with homogeneous weight functions, is defined. This relationship is used to determine the nonlinear parameters of Hulthen type 0s and 1p orbitals for the ground states of the second and third rows of atoms and to explain the failure of the Hulthen 2d function as an adequate representation of a 3d Hartree–Fock orbital.
Assay of mono ADP-ribosyltransferase activity by using guanylhydrazones☆

Abstract Guanylhydrazones of p-nitrobenzaldehyde and methylglyoxal serve as acceptors of ADP-ribosyl groups for the reactions catalyzed by cholera toxin. The absorption spectrum of the ADP-ribosylated p-nitrobenzylidine aminoguanidine is similar to that of a 1:1 mixture of ADP-ribose and p-nitrobenzylidine aminoguanidine. Results from fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry prove that the product is mono-ADP-ribosylated. ADP-ribosylation lowers the pKa of the p-nitrobenzylidine aminoguanidine by 0.7–0.8 pH unit. Assay methods are developed for measuring the ADP-ribosyltransferase reaction by following the rate of disappearance of p-nitrobenzylidine aminoguanidine by high-performance liquid chromatography or spectrophotometrically by monitoring the absorbance increase at 370 nm accompanying ADP-ribosylation of p-nitrobenzylidine aminoguanidine. The high-performance liquid chromatographic system can be utilized to measure ADP-ribosyltransferase activity in animal tissues. By using this procedure, the presence and quantitation of an ADP-ribosyltransferase in a homogenate of rabbit skeletal muscle is reported.
Recoil synthesis of high specific activity 11C-cyanide

Abstract The low radiation dose associated with the short half-life of 11C (20.4 min), the good spatial resolution possible in imaging β+ emission and the chemical identity of 11C containing compounds to their 12C homologues, make 11C labeled organic compounds very attractive for use in nuclear medicine. As an initial step in the synthesis of 11C amines and amino acids we have developed methods for direct recoil synthesis of large quantities of 11CN−. We used the 11N(p, α)11C reaction with bombardment of solid LiNH2 or a gas target containing 99% N2 and 1% H2. Using a continuous flow of N2 + H2 through a quartz-lined gas target we have routinely recovered in the gas flow from the target over 500 mCi of 11CN- following bombardment with 15–30 μA of 15 MeV protons for 30–45 min. Analysis of all of the 11C activity in the gas stream from the target during bombardment showed ∼61% H 11 CN , ∼28% 11 C hydrocarbons, ∼9% Co and ∼2% CO2. The total H11CN recovered amounted to ∼20% of the total theoretical yield in the target.
Challenges In Processing Data From Mosaic Sensors

Mosaic sensors have been advanced as superior sensors for observing moving targets in cluttered background, because they are potentially more sensitive than scanning sensors. Processing data from mosaic sensors, however, differs greatly from processing data from scanning sensors. Mosaic sensors produce much more data and the staring array introduces problems in rejecting background and assembling tracks. This paper surveys the mosaic data processing sequence showing how the nature of mosaic sensors introduces processing challenges in most of its stages. Also identified are design variables, such as detector size or integration time, that affect how well these challenges can be met. As an example of a design variable's influence on processing performance, the effect of blur circle size on the performance of a specific tracking and trajectory estimation algorithm is presented.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Interpresentation effects in paired-associate learning

Three experiments on PA learning investigated the effects of number and learning state of items interpolated between successive presentations of a pair on learning rate for the pair. In Exp. I, pairs were presented twice per trial with 0, 1, 2, or 3 interpolated items, or once per trial—Conditions 0, 1, 2, 3, and N respectively—in a mixed list design. Fewer presentations to criterion were required as spacing was increased. Condition 0 pairs took as many trials (twice as many presentations) as Condition N items, confirming Greeno's (1964) result. Conditions 1 to 3 took fewer presentations than 0 but more than N. In Exp. II, massed items were distributed over training, to avoid an artifact in Exp. I. In two replications of the same design, no reliable effects of spacing were found. In Exp. III, during a preliminary series Ss received PA training on a 12-item list (Group L) or free-recall training on the same 12 stimulus items (Group U). Both groups then learned a 16-item PA list, 12 items from the preliminary series and four new items. In two replications, acquisition of the new items was significantly faster in L than U. It was concluded that the number of unlearned items being concurrently processed had a significant effect on acquisition rate, and that when this variable was taken into account, spacing of presentation was relatively unimportant with one exception, viz., when an item was presented twice in immediate succession, the second presentation was a waste of time.
Individual Differences in Personality Predict Externalizing Versus Internalizing Outcomes Following Sexual Assault

For some women, the experience of being sexually assaulted leads to increases in externalizing behaviors, such as problem drinking and drug use; for other women, the experience of being assaulted leads to increases in internalizing distress like depression or anxiety. It is possible that pre-assault personality traits interact with sexual assault to predict externalizing or internalizing distress. We tested whether concurrent relationships among personality, sexual assault, and distress were consistent with such a model. We surveyed 750 women just prior to their freshman year at a large public university. Consistent with our hypotheses, at low levels of negative urgency (the tendency to act rashly when distressed), sexual assault exposure had little relationship to problem drinking and drug use. At high levels of negative urgency, being sexually assaulted was highly associated with those externalizing behaviors. At low levels of internalizing personality traits, being assaulted had little relationship to depression and anxiety symptoms; at high levels of the traits, assault experience was highly related to those symptoms. Personality assessment could lead to more person-specific post-assault interventions.
Differential Responses of the Phosphorylation of Ribosomal Protein S6 to Nerve Growth Factor and Epidermal Growth Factor in PC 12 Cells

: Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that the phosphorylation of the S6 protein of the ribosomes is catalyzed by at least two different and separable kinase activities in PC12 cells. One of these activities is increased by treatment of the cells with nerve growth factor, the other by treatment of the cells with epidermal growth factor. The present work shows that these two factors stimulate the phosphorylation of S6 with quite different kinetics, and that both the number of phosphates incorporated into S6 and the phosphopeptide pattern of S6 are different in cells treated with nerve growth factor than in cells treated with epidermal growth factor. The characteristics of the nerve growth factor-sensitive S6 kinase and of the epidermal growth factor-sensitive kinase were also clearly different. Substrate specificity and inhibitor studies indicated that neither was identical to cyclic AMP-dependent kinase, kinase C, or the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinases. However, two major phosphopeptides produced by S6 phosphorylation in nerve growth factor-treated cells were also seen on phosphorylation of S6 by cyclic AMP-dependent kinase in vitro. In addition, when rat liver 40S ribosomal subunits were pretreated with cyclic AMP-dependent kinase in vitro, the action of the nerve growth factor-sensitive S6 kinase was increased about twofold.
EFFECTS OF DIETARY CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDES ON LIPID CONCENTRATIONS IN LIVER, PLASMA, AND BILE

Dietary cholesterol (CHL) and triglycerides (TG) can influence plasma, hepatic, and biliary lipid composition, but effects on lipids in these three compartments during the early stages of CHL gallstone formation have not been studied in parallel. We fed prairie dogs diets containing one of four tes oils (safflower, coconut, olive, or menhaden) at either 5 or 40% of calories, in the presence of 0 or 0.34% CHL, for 3 wk. In the absence of dietary CHL, increases in dietary TG produced 50–200% increases in the concentrations of biliary CHL and hepatic cholesteryl ester (CE), while the concentrations of hepatic free CHL (FC) as well as plasma FC and CE remained relatively unchanged. Increasing dietary CHL to 0.34% resulted in increases in hepatic FC of approximately 50% for all four fats regardless of whether they were supplied at 5 or 40% of calories. CHL supplementation caused more pronounced increases in biliary CHL (200–400%), hepatic CE (50–200%), plasma FC (up to 100%), and plasma CE (up to 150%), and these increases were exacerbated by concurrent supplementation of dietary fat and CHL (biliary CHL: 300–700%; hepatic CE: 100–250%; plasma FC: up to 165%; plasma CE: 100–350%). These results indicate that enhanced secretion of biliary CHL and, to a lesser extent, increased synthesis of hepatic CE, may be primary mechanisms for maintaining the hepatic FC pool. Furthermore, dietary CHL and high levels of fat intake are independent risk factors for increasing biliary CHL concentrations, and adverse effects on lipid concentrations in plasma and bile tend to be exacerbated by ingestion of diets rich in both fat and CHL.
Measuring outcomes of behavioural interventions for STD/HIV prevention.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV specialists present a structured overview of the major challenges facing the behavioral intervention field today especially as they apply to STD/HIV prevention. Outcome measures are essential for intervention research program evaluation and surveillance. The implications of using a particular outcome measure for the conclusions and interpretation to be deduced from the findings may differ depending on whether it is used in the context of intervention research program evaluation or surveillance. Outcomes may be measured at the individual or population level. The analysis of the various aspects revolving around the selection definition and empirical specification of outcome measures associated with STD/HIV prevention-related behavioral interventions has resulted in three conclusions concerning the choice of outcome measures in STD/HIV prevention. The highest priority is to identify and define conceptually and operationally the outcome of interest. The researchers needs to consider carefully the implications of context (surveillance program evaluation and intervention research) and level of measurement (individual vs. population). The proper choice of the outcome of interest is more important than issues of measurement error. The next conclusion is that researchers should focus carefully on the issue of the use of surrogate measures (e.g. behavioral outcomes as surrogates for biomedical outcomes of interest). They should clearly state all assumptions made in choosing a particular surrogate outcome. The last conclusion is that consideration of context is very important when choosing outcome measures. Each context (surveillance vs. program evaluation vs. intervention research) implies a distinct set of strengths and weaknesses for each possible outcome of interest.