cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy for Nanoscale Characterization of Tissue Ultrastructure

Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) can be used to image large (100-micrometer size) volumes of biological tissue, and thus complements standard transmission electron tomography, as well as scanning transmission electron tomography. SBF-SEM is attractive not only for its ability to generate high-resolution three-dimensional ultrastructure, but also for its relative ease of implementation. Whereas electron tomography traditionally requires the tissue block to be manually sectioned, SBF-SEM makes use of an automated ultramicrotome built in to the SEM's specimen chamber; and tissues optimally stained with heavy metals and imaged with backscattered electrons, show equivalent contrast to TEM images of conventionally stained sections (Denk and Horstmann, 2004). Using SBF-SEM it is possible to image the organization and geometrical parameters of complex tissues, extending over 100-micrometer dimensions, in three dimensions at 10-nm spatial resolution in the plane of the block face and 25-nanometer resolution in the perpendicular direction. For example, we have reconstructed entire mouse pancreatic islets of Langerhans, allowing us to determine the distribution of cell types, average numbers of insulin granules in beta cells, numbers of glucagon granules in alpha cells, and the organization of capillaries. Moreover, since acquisition of such data sets can be performed relatively quickly, it is possible to obtain results from many samples and to compare wild-type and knock-out islets.W. Denk and H. Horstmann, PLoS Biology 2(11): 1900-1909 (2004).This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of NIBIB, NIH.
Permeability of ammonia, methylamine and ethylamine in the cyanobacterium,Synechococcus R-2 (Anacystis nidulans) PCC 7942

Permeabilities of ammonia (NH3), methylamine (CH3NH2) and ethylamine (CH3CH2NH2) in the cyanobacterium (cyanophyte)Synechococcus R-2 (Anacystis nidulans) have been measured. Based on net uptake rates of DCMU (dichlorophenyldimethylurea) treated cells, the permeability of ammonia was 6.44±1.22 μm sec−1 (n=13). The permeabilities of methylamine and ethylamine, based on steady-state14C labeling were more than ten times that of ammonia (Pmethylamine=84.6±9.47 μm sec−1 (76),Pethylamine=109±11 μm sec−1 (55)). The apparent permeabilities based on net uptake rates of methylamine and ethylamine uptake were significantly lower, but this effect was partially reversible by ammonia, suggesting that net amine fluxes are rate limited by proton fluxes to an upper limit of about 700 nmol m−2 sec−1. Increasing concentrations of amines in alkaline conditions partially dissipated the pH gradient across the cell membrane, and this property could be used to calculate the relative permeabilities of different amines. The ratio of ethylamine to methylamine permeabilities was not significantly different from that calculated from the direct measurements of permeabilities; ammonia was much less effective in dissipating the pH gradient across the cell membrane than methylamine or ethylamine. An apparent permeability of ammonia of 5.7±0.9 μm sec−1 could be calculated from the permeability ratio of ammonia to methylamine and the experimentally measured permeability of methylamine. The permeability properties of ammonia and methylamine are very different; this poses problems in the interpretation of experiments where14C-methylamine is used as an ammonia analogue.
Quantity judgments of auditory and visual stimuli by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Many species can choose between two visual sets of stimuli on the basis of quantity. This is true when sets are both visible, or are presented one set at a time or even one item at a time. However, we know comparatively little about how well nonhuman animals can compare auditory quantities. Here, three chimpanzees chose between two sets of food items when they only heard each item fall into different containers rather than seeing those items. This method prevented the chimpanzees from summing the amount of visible food they saw because there were no visual cues. Chimpanzees performed well, and their performance matched that of previous experiments with regard to obeying Weber’s law. They also performed well with comparisons between a sequentially presented auditory set and a fully visible set, demonstrating that duration of presentation was not being used as a cue. In addition, they accommodated empty sets into these judgments, although not perfectly. Thus, chimpanzees can judge auditory quantities in flexible ways that show many similarities to how they compare visual quantities.
Ritual Healing and the Politics of Identity in Contemporary Navajo Society

My point of departure is the intersection of three heavily traveled conceptual highways that wind across American anthropology. The first is ritual healing, which has preoccupied anthropology as religion, as performance, as therapy, and as a window on broader cultural processes (Csordas and Kleinman 1996; Dow 1986a; Kleinman 1980;Levi-Strauss 1966). Second is identity politics—that is, the deployment of representation and mobilization of community within plural societies in the name of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, or religion—which has in recent years captured the attention of both cultural anthropology and interdisciplinary cultural studies (Calhoun 1994; Friedman 1992; Giddens 1990; Lash and Friedman 1992). Third, Navajo society remains one of the most heavily documented, most frequently drawn on for ethnographic examples, and most irritated by the persistent probing of anthropologists of all stripes (Farella 1984; Kluckhohn and Leighton 1946; Lamphere 1977; Witherspoon 1977). In this article, I elaborate the relation between ritual healing and identity politics in contemporary Navajo society by presenting a conceptual framework that can potentially be applied across a wider range of societies.
Machiavellianism in medical students.

ABSTRACT To be more responsive to the nation’s health needs, medical educators should identify those personal qualities associated with effective primary medical care. For this research Machiavellianism was chosen as a tracer character trait opposed to the characteristics embodied in an ideal family physician. A survey was conducted of 167 freshmen from one medical school and 823 seniors from four medical schools, with Machiavellianism scores used to predict their professional role characteristics, attributional style toward patients, and choice of a career specialty. Results showed that 15% of all students scored positively on the Machiavellianism scale. Mean Machiavellianism scores for seniors did not differ from those for freshmen. Men had higher Machiavellianism scores than women. Those students with high Machiavellianism scores relied excessively on high-tech medicine and were externally controlled, intolerant of ambiguity, and authoritarian. Seniors’ high Machiavellianism scores predicted a negative attributional style toward geriatric and hypochondriac patients, thereby validating the use of Machiavellianism to measure medical students’ indifference to patients and their problems.
Age at first intercourse in twins reared apart: Genetic influence and life history events

Abstract The first analysis of age at first intercourse in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) reared apart twins was conducted. Data were gathered for 34 MZA twin pairs, 25 DZA twin pairs and 23 individual twins, via a comprehensive Sexual Life History Assessment. Genetic influence on age at first intercourse was indicated by higher MZA ( r i = .34, p r i = −.22, ns) intraclass correlations. Associations among age at first intercourse, selected life history events and rearing family relations for female twins were also examined. Life history events included age at menarche, the interval between menarche and first intercourse, as well as age at first kiss, marriage and childbirth. These associations were assessed with reference to parental investment theory and child development theory. The ages at first kiss, marriage and childbirth, as well as the menarche–intercourse interval, for female twins were significantly associated with age at first intercourse. Twins engaging in earlier intercourse felt less happy than their peers and less fulfilled in their rearing home than those engaging in later intercourse. Age at menarche and most rearing family variables showed no association with age at first intercourse.
Microbial degradation of sorbed and dissolved protein in seawater

The effects of adsorption and concentration on rates of protein degradation by marine bacteria were examined by measuring hydrolysis and remineralization of the radiolabeled protein, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase ([methyl- 3 H]Rubisco). Protein adsorbed at low surface concentrations on glass beads had hydrolysis and remineralization rate constants 247% and 282% higher than protein bound at high surface concentrations. Moreover, thin films of bound protein were hydrolyzed and remineralized 522% and 1,033% faster than comparable pool sizes of dissolved protein. At high concentrations, however, rates of hydrolysis and remineralization were not significantly different between proteins in dissolved or sorbed pools. Results demonstrate that proteins adsorbed to surfaces can be as bioavailable as those in solution. In fact, the sorption process may actually aid bacterial degradation by concentrating the protein and hydrolysates at an interface and by unfolding proteins to relax steric hindrance and expose a higher proportion of bonds to bacterial endo- and exohydrolases.
Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus Mediates the Sympathetic and Arterial Pressure Responses to Leptin

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that plays an important role in the regulation of energy homeostasis through its action in the central nervous system. Leptin decreases body weight by promoting satiety and increasing thermogenesis via increasing sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) to brown adipose tissue. Leptin also increases renal SNA and arterial pressure. The arcuate nucleus is considered as a major nucleus for leptin action on energy homeostasis. We tested whether leptin action in the arcuate nucleus simultaneously activates SNA to brown adipose tissue and the kidney. The sympathetic and cardiovascular responses to intra-arcuate injection of leptin were compared with those evoked by intracerebroventricular administration of leptin in rat. Intracerebroventricular administration of leptin (10 μg) caused a significant increase in SNA to brown adipose tissue and the kidney. Intracerebroventricular leptin also increased mean arterial pressure. Direct injection of leptin (500 ng) into the arcuate nucleus increased both brown adipose tissue (254±49%; P <0.001 versus vehicle) and renal SNA (111±31%; P <0.001 versus vehicle). Microinjection of leptin into the arcuate nucleus also produced a substantial increase in mean arterial pressure (from 82±3 to 100±7 mm Hg; P =0.02). These data demonstrate that leptin action in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus is important for the control of sympathetic outflow to both brown adipose tissue and the kidney. These results also suggest that the cardiovascular effects of leptin might be evoked by the action of this hormone in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.
Iterative Fisher/minimum variance optical classifier

Abstract Automated organization and search of a large database is addressed. We consider image spectrometry data for mineral element classification as our large class problem. We find our new iterative Fisher/minimum-variance classifier design and knowledge-base organization yields 100% correct classification with high confidence.
Identification of acidic phosphorus-containing ligands involved in the surface chemistry of CdSe nanoparticles prepared in tri-N-octylphosphine oxide solvents.

The surface ligand composition of CdSe nanoparticles prepared using technical grade tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) was investigated using a nucleophilic ligand displacement methodology and 31P {1H} NMR spectroscopy. 4-(N,N-Dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) and benzyltrimethylammonium propionate were added to tetrahydrofuran solutions of CdSe nanoparticles prepared in technical grade TOPO. DMAP was shown to be a sufficiently strong nucleophile to displace the more weakly coordinating ligands, TOPO, TOPSe, di-n-octylphosphinate, and n-octylphosphonate (OPA). Benzyltrimethylammonium propionate was shown to be a stronger nucleophile than DMAP in that it could displace all the aforementioned surface-bound ligands as well as a previously unidentified surface-bound phosphorus species. Independent synthesis and 31P {1H} NMR spectral matching confirmed that the new species was P,P′-(di-n-octyl) dihydrogen pyrophosphonic acid (PPA). The PPA was shown to form during the nanoparticle synthesis via the dehydrative cond...
Redirected T-cell cytotoxicity to epithelial cell adhesion molecule-overexpressing adenocarcinomas by a novel recombinant antibody, E3Bi, in vitro and in an animal model.

BACKGROUND To redirect cytotoxic T cells to target a broad range of adenocarcinomas, the authors constructed a novel, recombinant, bispecific antibody, E3Bi, directed at the tumor-associated antigen, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), and the CD3 receptor on T cells. METHODS T cells were prepared from healthy blood donors. The cytotoxicity of activated T cells (ATC) redirected to tumor cells by E3Bi was measured with in vitro 51Cr release assays. In vivo studies were performed in a severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)/Beige mouse xenograft model. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with low doses (1 mg/kg) or high doses (10 mg/kg) of E3Bi along with ATC (2 × 109 cells/kg), and treatment efficacy was evaluated both by ex vivo tumor cell survival assay after in vivo treatments and by in vivo tumor growth delay studies. RESULTS In vitro, targeting the EpCAM-overexpressing human tumor cell lines with E3Bi increased specific cytotoxicity of ATC by > 70% at an effector-to-target ratio of 2.5 (P < 0.001); this cytotoxicity was abolished competitively in the presence of an anti-EpCAM monoclonal antibody. In contrast, E3Bi did not enhance ATC cytotoxicity toward the low EpCAM-expressing tumor cell line. In ex vivo tumor cytotoxicity assays, a significant reduction in tumor cell survival (40% with low-dose E3Bi; 90% with high-dose E3Bi) was observed in E3Bi/ATC-treated mice compared with control mice that were treated with ATC only. In addition, SCID/Beige mice xenografted with LS174T tumors demonstrated a significant tumor growth delay (P = 0.0139) after receiving E3Bi/ATC/interleukin 2 (IL-2) compared with mice that received ATC/IL-2 alone. CONCLUSIONS E3Bi specifically and very efficiently redirected T cells to destroy EpCAM-overexpressing tumors both in vitro and in an animal model. These results suggest a therapeutic utility for E3Bi in the treatment of adenocarcinomas. Cancer 2004;100:1095–103. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Knocking Down Strawmen

The Internet's openness and neutral treatment are vital to its past and future utility. Many of the debates concerning these terms are based on strawman proposals that fail to consider the fundamental design philosophy of the Internet's architecture and protocols.
Master equation analysis of intermolecular energy transfer in multiple-well, multiple-channel unimolecular reactions. I. Basic theory

We present a full theoretical analysis of the master-equation formulation of the problem of intermolecular energy transfer in multiple-well, multiple-channel systems. It is shown that the master equation for chemical or thermal activation possesses a unique steady state, that corresponding to the trivial solution. Rate equations local in time and therefore time-independent rate coefficients for the dissociating processes may be obtained only if a state of secular equilibrium exists. For chemically-activated systems, a general state of secular equilibrium may exist which may contain within it a regime wherein there is a well-separated, nontrivial, least negative eigenvalue of the master equation kernel. The dynamics of thermally activated systems are similarly deduced by treating them as chemically activated systems with appropriate modifications to the inhomogeneous source term of the master equation. A degenerate and nondegenerate perturbation theory analysis of the case of rapid thermalization in the vi...
Replication of Orgyia pseudotsugata Baculovirus DNA: lef-2 and ie-1 Are Essential and ie-2, p34, and Op-iap Are Stimulatory Genes

A transient DNA replication assay was used to identify genes located within m.u. 90.5-7.0 of the Orgyia pseudotsugata multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) genome that influenced replication of a reporter plasmid containing an OpMNPV origin of replication, when cotransfected into uninfected Lymantria dispar cells. The viral transactivator ie-1 and a 2.4-kb subclone were found to be essential for replication. The 2.4-kb region was sequenced and open reading frames were identified. Replication assays using subclones from this region identified a gene called late expression factor 2 (lef-2), as the essential replication gene. The OpMNPV lef-2 gene encodes a protein with a predicted molecular weight of 22.7 kDa (204 amino acids) and exhibits 54.7% amino acid sequence identity with its homolog in the genome of the Autographa californica MNPV. Transcriptional mapping using both Northern blot and S1 nuclease protection assays demonstrated that OpMNPV lef-2 was expressed at both early and late times postinfection as a transcript of about 1.6 kb. The early transcript initiated approximately 30 nt downstream of a TAATA box, whereas the late transcript initiated from within a late promoter consensus motif. In addition, we identified three genes stimulatory for DNA replication including two OpMNPV transcriptional activators (ie-2 and p34) and Op-iap, which is the functional analog of the AcMNPV p35 gene that inhibits apoptosis in AcMNPV-infected Spodoptera frugiperda cells.
Loss of "galactose permease" and galactose sensitivity of E. coli associated with mutation in lac operon

Abstract E.coli W3092C which possesses a constitutive “galactose permease” and is galactose sensitive loses its galactose sensitivity concurrently with a mutation in the lac operon. ML32400 which likewise possesses a constitutive “galactose permease” and is galactose sensitive loses both “permease” and sensitivity concurrently with a mutation in the lac operon. The experimental results presented here clearly show that there is a direct relationship between galactose resistance, “galactose permease,” and the lac operon. E.coli ML32400 and W3092C may have genetically different “galactose permeases”.
Maximum likelihood genetic sequence reconstruction from oligo content

One promising technique for determining long genetic sequences is sequencing by oligonucleotide content. This technique involves probing a segment of the unknown multimillion “character” genetic sequence for the presence or absence of known short subsequences. The information obtained from such hybridization experiments may be represented in network form. Network optimization methods may then be applied to identify the most likely forms of the unknown target sequence. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Unexpected deacetylation mechanism suggested by a density functional theory QM/MM study of histone-deacetylase-like protein

To characterize the catalytic mechanism for zinc-dependent histone deacetylases (HDAC), we have carried out density functional theory QM/MM studies on the deacetylation reaction catalyzed by a histone-deacetylase-like protein (HDLP). The calculation results do not support the previous mechanistic hypothesis, but suggest a lower protonation state for the active site as well as a 4-fold zinc coordination during the reaction process. To characterize such mechanistic difference is not only significant for our fundamental understanding of its inner workings but also crucial for the design of HDAC inhibitors.
Spirituality and Clinical Care: Exploring Developmental Changes In Nursing and Medical Students

Objective: This study identifies and assesses changes in spiritual experiences and the perceived importance of spiritual issues in nursing and medical students participating in a Spirituality and Clinical Care course. Students participated in the study by completing two survey instruments: the Spiritual Experience IndexRevised (SEI-R) and the Spiritual Importance (SI) scales. Differences from pretest to posttest by sex and by discipline (medicine vs nursing) and changes in spiritual maturity are assessed and analyzed. Results: Data analyses explored discipline differences, sex differences,andchangesinlevelsofspiritualmaturityoneyearafter the two-week course. Students (N 416) participating in the course reflected a significant increase in perceived importance of spirituality in practice, with females of both disciplines showing greater increases than males, and students in nursing showing greater increases than students in medicine. Female students were more trusting than male students in spiritual measures for support. An interesting finding revealed that both male and female students evidenced reduced dogmatic perceptions over time, with medical students declining more sharply than nursing students. Finally, changes in the levels of spiritual maturity of the students were measured. Students in contrasting developmental groups (n 127) regressed over time to more dogmatic and underdeveloped levels of spiritual maturity. Conclusions: Maintenance or advancement of spiritual development was the expected outcome as students began to develop the art of their practice. It was unexpected that students would regress to a more dogmatic or underdeveloped spiritual level. Several explanations for these findings are explored.
Endogenous ranking and equilibrium Lorenz curve across (ex-ante) identical countries: A generalization

Abstract This paper proposes a symmetry-breaking model of trade with a finite number of identical countries and a continuum of tradeable consumption goods, which differ in their dependence on nontradeable intermediate inputs, “producer services”. Productivity of each country is endogenous due to country-specific external economies of scale in its service sector. It is shown that, in any stable equilibrium, the countries sort themselves into specializing in different sets of tradeable goods and that a strict ranking of countries in per capita income, TFP, the service sector share, and the capital–labor ratio emerge endogenously. Furthermore, the distribution of country shares, the Lorenz curve, is unique and analytically solvable in the limit, as the number of countries grows unbounded. Using this limit as an approximation allows us to study what determines the shape of distribution, perform various comparative statics and to evaluate the welfare effects of trade. In doing so, this paper extends the analysis of Matsuyama (Econometrica, 81:5 (September 2013), 2009–2031) for more general and flexible forms of scale economies. It turns out that the technique introduced in Matsuyama (Econometrica, 81:5 (September 2013), 2009–2031) is useful for the equilibrium characterization in this general case as well. Although some results of comparative statics and on welfare inevitably need to be modified, they change in ways that illuminate the underlying mechanism of symmetry-breaking.
Cross-Cultural Equivalence and Validity of the Vietnamese MMPI-2: Assessing Psychological Adjustment of Vietnamese Refugees

The cross-cultural equivalence and validity of the Vietnamese translation of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2 (MMPI-2) were examined in a sample of 1st-generation Vietnamese refugees in the United States (N = 143). Respondents completed the Vietnamese MMPI-2, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, a measure of acculturation, and a demographic questionnaire. An inspection of MMPI-2 mean profiles and items showing extreme endorsement rates suggested that certain symptom tendencies and cultural values may be reflected in responses to some MMPI-2 items. Older age, lower acculturation, greater experienced premigration-postmigration traumas, and military veteran status were all associated with elevated MMPI-2 profiles, suggesting that the MMPI-2 functions in a reasonably equivalent and valid way in this population.
The Chesson strain of plasmodium vivax in humans and different species of Aotus monkeys.

Comparison was made between the parasitemia of Chesson strain Plasmodium vivax in humans and in splenectomized Aotus lemurinus griseimembra, A. nancymaae, A. vociferans, and A. azarae boliviensis monkeys. In the monkeys, 56.3% of the animals had maximum counts > 25,000/μL and in humans 59.6% were above this peak parasitemia. In humans, it took an average of 9.3 days to reach the maximum parasite count. In monkeys with no previous infections, it took an average of 18.9 days to reach the maximum parasite count; for those with previous infections, it took an average of 15 days. Human and nonhuman primate data on this parasite suggest that splenectomized Aotus monkeys, particularly A. lemurinus griseimembra, and to a somewhat lesser extent A. vociferans, can mimic the course of Chesson malaria in humans regarding parasitemia and mosquito infection.
Mucin Apoprotein Expression in COPD

Mucins, which are complex glycoproteins that provide the viscoelastic properties of mucus that are essential for the protection of the airways, are characterized by a variable-number tandem repeats (VNTR) region that may undergo alternate splicing during transcription. Such transcripts may yield multiple proteins via diverse post-translational modifications involving glycosylation (within each VNTR). Fifteen distinct mucin genes have been identified, with several mapping to chromosomal clusters (ie, 7q22 and 11p15.5), possibly having evolved by gene duplication. The deduced protein sequences can be subdivided into both membrane-associated mucins and secreted mucins. Membrane-associated mucins consist of cytoplasmic, transmembrane, and extracellular domains. The membrane-associated mucins MUC1, MUC4, and MUC11 have been localized to the lung. In addition to VNTRs, secreted mucins possess repeated cysteine-rich D-domains (which are important in polymerization). Secreted mucins that are localized to the lung include MUC2 (in cells with and without secretory granules), MUC5AC (in surface and submucosal mucous cells), MUC5B and MUC8 (in submucosal mucous cells), and MUC7 (in submucosal serous cells). Currently, little is known about the regulation of mucins in COPD patients. Recent studies with acrolein and cigarette smoke have suggested that MUC5AC is inducible (accompanied by epidermal growth factor [EGF] ligand formation and the activation of EGF receptor- dependent pathways), whereas MUC5B is constitutively expressed (increasing through gland enlargement). Similarly, little is known about the genetic determinants that control mucus hypersecretion, but preliminary findings in animal models suggest that intrastrain differences in acrolein-induced mucin formation are amenable to genetic analysis. As our understanding of the functional genomics of mucin biology increases, further clinical targets and therapeutic strategies are likely to emerge.
Patterns of range-wide genetic variation in six North American bumble bee (Apidae: Bombus) species

The increasing evidence for population declines in bumble bee (Bombus) species worldwide has accelerated research efforts to explain losses in these important pollinators. In North America, a number of once widespread Bombus species have suffered serious reductions in range and abundance, although other species remain healthy. To examine whether declining and stable species exhibit different levels of genetic diversity or population fragmentation, we used microsatellite markers to genotype populations sampled across the geographic distributions of two declining (Bombus occidentalis and Bombus pensylvanicus) and four stable (Bombus bifarius; Bombus vosnesenskii; Bombus impatiens and Bombus bimaculatus) Bombus species. Populations of declining species generally have reduced levels of genetic diversity throughout their range compared to codistributed stable species. Genetic diversity can be affected by overall range size and degree of isolation of local populations, potentially confounding comparisons among species in some cases. We find no evidence for consistent differences in gene flow among stable and declining species, with all species exhibiting weak genetic differentiation over large distances (e.g. >1000 km). Populations on islands and at high elevations experience relatively strong genetic drift, suggesting that some conditions lead to genetic isolation in otherwise weakly differentiated species. B. occidentalis and B. bifarius exhibit stronger genetic differentiation than the other species, indicating greater phylogeographic structure consistent with their broader geographic distributions across topographically complex regions of western North America. Screening genetic diversity in North American Bombus should prove useful for identifying species that warrant monitoring, and developing management strategies that promote high levels of gene flow will be a key component in efforts to maintain healthy populations.
Photocaged DNAzymes as a General Method for Sensing Metal Ions in Living Cells

DNAzymes, which are sequences of DNA with catalytic activity, have been demonstrated as a potential platform for sensing a wide range of metal ions. Despite their significant promise, cellular sensing using DNAzymes has however been difficult, mainly because of the “always-on” mode of first-generation DNAzyme sensors. In this paper, to overcome this limitation, a photoactivatable (or photocaged) DNAzyme was designed and synthesized, and its application in sensing ZnlI in living cells was demonstrated. In this design, the adenosine ribonucleotide at the scissile position of the 8–17 DNAzyme was replaced by 2'-O-nitrobenzyl adenosine, rendering the DNAzyme inactive and thus allowing its delivery into cells intact, protected from nonspecific degradation within cells. Irradiation at 365 nm restored DNAzyme activity, thus allowing the temporal control over the sensing activity of the DNAzyme for metal ions. Finally, the same strategy was also applied to the GR-5 DNAzyme for the detection of PbII, thus demonstrating the possible scope of the method.
Molecular interference of fibrin’s divalent polymerization mechanism enables modulation of multiscale material properties

Protein based polymers provide an exciting and complex landscape for tunable natural biomaterials through modulation of molecular level interactions. Here we demonstrate the ability to modify protein polymer structural and mechanical properties at multiple length scales by molecular 'interference' of fibrin's native polymerization mechanism. We have previously reported that engagement of fibrin's polymerization 'hole b', also known as 'b-pockets', through PEGylated complementary 'knob B' mimics can increase fibrin network porosity but also, somewhat paradoxically, increase network stiffness. Here, we explore the possible mechanistic underpinning of this phenomenon through characterization of the effects of knob B-fibrin interaction at multiple length scales from molecular to bulk polymer. Despite its weak monovalent binding affinity for fibrin, addition of both knob B and PEGylated knob B at concentrations near the binding coefficient, Kd, increased fibrin network porosity, consistent with the reported role of knob B-hole b interactions in promoting lateral growth of fibrin fibers. Addition of PEGylated knob B decreases the extensibility of single fibrin fibers at concentrations near its Kd but increases extensibility of fibers at concentrations above its Kd. The data suggest this bimodal behavior is due to the individual contributions knob B, which decreases fiber extensibility, and PEG, which increase fiber extensibility. Taken together with laser trap-based microrheological and bulk rheological analyses of fibrin polymers, our data strongly suggests that hole b engagement increases in single fiber stiffness that translates to higher storage moduli of fibrin polymers despite their increased porosity. These data point to possible strategies for tuning fibrin polymer mechanical properties through modulation of single fiber mechanics.
Effect of finishing methods on surface characteristics and performance of precision components in rolling/sliding contact

Functional performance of precision mechanical components such as bearings is known to depend on their surface characteristics, which result from the finishing method used. However, a detailed study of the impact of modern finishing methods on surface integrity, and tribological and mechanical performance is needed to fully understand the complex relationship for bearing steel surfaces prepared using the following methods: Grinding (GD), Honing (HN), Hard Turning (HT) and Isotropic Finishing (IF). This paper presents the results of an experimental study aimed at understanding the complex relationship of these finished surfaces subjected to rolling?sliding lubricated contact. The resulting Three-Dimensional (3D) texture and residual stresses, and their influence on rolling/sliding friction, torque, temperature and bearing life are evaluated. Specific surface features are identified to explain the observed trends.
Verifying properties of well-founded linked lists

We describe a novel method for verifying programs that manipulate linked lists, based on two new predicates that characterize reachability of heap cells. These predicates allow reasoning about both acyclic and cyclic lists uniformly with equal ease. The crucial insight behind our approach is that a circular list invariably contains a distinguished head cell that provides a handle on the list. This observation suggests a programming methodology that requires the heap of the program at each step to be well-founded, i.e., for any field f in the program, every sequence u.f,u.f.f,... contains at least one head cell. We believe that our methodology captures the most common idiom of programming with linked data structures. We enforce our methodology by automatically instrumenting the program with updates to two auxiliary variables representing these predicates and adding assertions in terms of these auxiliary variables.To prove program properties and the instrumented assertions, we provide a first-order axiomatization of our two predicates. We also introduce a novel induction principle made possible by the well-foundedness of the heap. We use our induction principle to derive from two basic axioms a small set of additional first-order axioms that are useful for proving the correctness of several programs.We have implemented our method in a tool and used it to verify the correctness of a variety of nontrivial programs manipulating both acyclic and cyclic singly-linked lists and doubly-linked lists. We also demonstrate the use of indexed predicate abstraction to automatically synthesize loop invariants for these examples.
Evaluation of hepatic structures by transesophageal echocardiography.

A 52-year-old woman presented for orthotopic liver transplantation because of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. She suffered hepatic encephalopathy, esophageal variceal bleeding, and Crohn’s disease. The TIPS procedure was performed 15 months ago with a VIATORR stent (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Flagstaff, AZ) deployed through the right hepatic vein, intraparenchymal tract, and right portal vein to relieve portal hypertension. TEE showed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50%, diastolic dysfunction, and ascites. From the transgastric short-axis view, the TEE probe was turned to the right and rotated to 53°. The right hepatic vein was found to be dilated to 2 cm. A 1-cm-wide tubular structure with echogenic walls was connected to the right hepatic vein anteriorly inside the hepatic parenchyma (Fig 1). Color-flow Doppler identified continuous flow into the right hepatic vein from this structure without significant turbulence. Pulse-wave Doppler revealed a flow velocity of 92.3 cm/s in systole and 70.1 cm/s in diastole (Fig 2). This structure was believed to e the metal stent placed during the TIPS procedure for two reasons: the chogenic wall and corrugated configuration are consistent with stent haracteristics, and continuous high-velocity forward flow rarely is oberved in native hepatic veins. Within TIPS stents, the high portal veino-hepatic vein pressure gradient exceeded the right atrial pressure (which s low because of intravascular depletion in liver failure patients) during oth systole and diastole, which resulted in persistent flow through the tent. The patient tolerated the liver transplantation well and was disharged home on postoperative day 10.
Trade-offs in Energy Allocation During Lactation

SYNOPSIS. During lactation, mothers require energy to meet both maternal and offspring requirements. If a mother exports too much energy to dependent offspring (in milk), her weight loss may be excessive and maternal risk may increase. Conversely, too little energy allocation to offspring may reduce the growth rate or induce mortality of dependent offspring. This paradigm was evaluated in cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidus ) supporting small (3 pup) and large (6 pup) litters from early to late lactation. Several types of evidence indicate that physiological constraints limit the ability of mothers with large litters to provide resources to offspring. Mothers with large litters produced a dilute, energy-poor milk and their rates of food intake, weight loss and energy export per litter appeared to approach physiological maxima. Whereas the energy exported to pups in small litters increased from early to late lactation, the energy flow per pup in large litters was consistently low; consequently, offspring in large litters had low growth rates. An increase in either maternal food intake or weight loss (catabolism of maternal tissue) could have provided additional energy to offset the low growth rate of pups in large litters. However, mothers with large litters did not substantially increase their food intake or weight loss compared with mothers supporting small litters. These results indicate that the maternal support of offspring in large litters is limited. The pattern of energy allocation shown by cotton rats with large litters likely reflects a compromise between meeting maternal and offspring energy requirements ( cf. , Parker and Macnair, 1979). The energy flow is greater than optimal for the parent but less than optimal for the offspring. Less maternal-offspring conflict occurs in small than large litters because offspring in small litters maintain a high growth rate at a relatively low maternal cost. Yet, under favorable environmental conditions, the reduction in maternal-offspring conflict has no apparent fitness benefit.
Cooperative STBC-OFDM Transmissions with Imperfect Synchronization in Time and Frequency

In this paper, we study the cooperative STBC-OFDM transmissions when the cooperative transmitters are not perfectly synchronized in time and carrier frequency. While OFDM can effectively resolve the limited delay asynchronism among the transmitters, the asynchronism in carrier frequency presents a major hurdle. Based on an approximate channel model, we analyze the performance of STBC-OFDM cooperative transmissions, compare them with non-cooperative ones, and propose a joint ICI mitigation and STBC decoding algorithm
Review : Advances in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers with emphasis on the wall-layer regions

Current information concerning three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers is discussed. Several topics are presented including (i) a detailed description of eleven experiments published since 1990. In nine cases cross flows are controlled by pressure gradients imposed from the freestream, but in two cases the cross flows are wall-shear-driven. The other topics include (ii) an examination of state of the art in measurement techniques; (iii) a look at some issues and ideas in turbulence modeling; and (iv) an introduction to new work on the visualization and description of quasicoherent structures (high/low-speed streaks and turbulent vortices) in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers.
Some Aspects of Steroid Research Based on Natural Products from Plant Origin

A short report on the use of diosgenin as a starting material for the preparation of a number of steroids is given. The synthesis of several steroid hormones is briefly described. Historical aspects of the chemical synthesis and clinical studies of steroidal contraceptive agents are also mentioned. Some human facets of research in the steroid field are outlined.
Lyα Absorption-Line Systems in the Gravitational Lens Q0957+5611*

Far-ultraviolet spectra of the gravitational lens components Q0957+561A and B were obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph (HST FOS). Two previously known absorption-line systems were detected at redshifts zdamped = 1.3911 and zLyα = 1.1249. Their prominent absorption features are superposed on intense QSO continuum emission between λλ900-1400 in the quasar rest frame. Strong O VI λ1033, Lyα λ1216, and N V λ1240 line emission found at the QSO redshift (zQSO = 1.41) accompany the absorption-line systems. Lyα through Ly associated with the damped absorption system were found in both lensed components, together with other ionic species of N I, N III, C II, C III, Si II, Si III, and O I. We tentatively identify O VI λλ1033, 1037 absorption at the damped Lyα redshift, which, if confirmed, would be the highest ionization species yet detected in such systems. The equivalent widths of the Lyman series in Q0957+561A are measurably greater compared with absorption in 0957+561B, consistent with the narrower and shallower depth of the Lyman series line profiles in image B. The differences of the damped Lyman series absorption in the lensed components are the only significant spectral characteristic that distinguishes the far-ultraviolet spectra of 0957+561A and B. These results indicate that the damped Lyα absorber is inhomogeneous over scale lengths of ~200 pc, which corresponds to the beam separation at the damped Lyα redshift. However, the equivalent widths of neutral and ionized metals in lens components A and B are correlated, which suggests these spectral features arise in an extended region. The metal line-absorption strength is consistent with lower column densities compared with the hydrogen line-forming region. Thus, the small coherence length scale indicated by the difference in hydrogen line absorption between the lensed components suggests the geometric ray paths intercept different regions of a galactic disk that is viewed pole-on, while the metal absorption occurs in the halo.
Nutritional Evaluation of the Protein in Oilseed Products Heated with Sugars

Defatted flours and protein isolates from glandless cottonseed, peanut, and soybean were complexed with glucose or sucrose in a ratio of 1:1 by weight and heated at 100°C for 0, 2, or 6 hr. Quality changes by the heat treatment were assessed by determining the extent of browning (browning index), in-vitro protein digestibility, available lysine total amino acids, and computed protein efficiency ratio (C-PER). Whereas the sucrose-containing complexes changed very little in all the quality parameters determined, the counterparts containing glucose decreased substantially in protein quality along with the increased intensity of browning. Before heating, protein digestibility of the complex containing defatted flour of an oilseed was lower than that of the isolate counterpart. When heated, however, the isolate-glucose complexes decreased more in protein digestibility than the flour-glucose complexes. The available lysine content decreased by 76-83% for the complexes with glucose in contrast with 2-10% for those with sucrose. As to total amino acids, marked losses in arginine, lysine, tryptophan, and histidine were found in the complexes containing glucose, with the arginine loss as high as the lysine loss. Lysine-rich soy proteins lost lysine in greater percentages than lysine-poor peanut and cottonseed proteins. C-PER decreased by 63-86% in the glucose-containing complexes, with the highest decrease shown for soy flour-glucose. In-vitro protein digestibility, available lysine, and C-PER were all highly correlated (P < 0.01) with browning index. Available lysine was also highly correlated with C-PER.
Bibliography of California Resources (Chapter 6) in 'Locating the Law': A Handbook for Non-Law Librarians

"Locating the Law: A Handbook for Non-Law Librarians" (June Kim, ed., 5th ed. rev. 2011), is a presentation of the Southern California Association of Law Libraries (SCALL) and is intended to provide basic information for non-law librarians about California and federal legal materials: what they are, how they are organized, and how to use them.The full book is copyright 2011 by SCALL (Chapter 6 is posted here by permission), and is available for download, free of charge, at SCALL's website (download Chapter 6 here, free of charge, for more information).Chapter 6, by Patrick Meyer (Acting Library Director and Adjunct Professor of Law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego), covers California legal materials.
Atherosclerosis and cancer: flip sides of the neoplastic response in mammalian cells?

Scientific and medical evidence over the past 30 years has established striking parallels between atherosclerosis and cancer—pathogenetic relationships that cross the boundaries of fiction into the realm of reason. Both diseases in humans are characterized by uncontrolled regulation of cellular growth and differentiation and share many common genomic targets during the course of growth dysregulation. Such parallels can be reconciled if atherosclerotic plaques are viewed as neoplasms of smooth muscle origin.
Extremely weakly unconditionally convergent series

It is proved that if Σi=1∞Xi is a non-convergent series in a Banach spaceX such that Σi=1∞|f(Xi)|<∞ for all extreme pointsf of the unit ball ofX*, thenX contains a subspace isomorphic toc0, improving a result of Bessaga and Pelczynski. The proof uses Fonf’s result that Lindenstrauss-Phelps spaces contain isomorphs ofc0.