cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factorless Ribosome Assembly on the Internal Ribosome Entry Site of Cricket Paralysis Virus

Abstract The cricket paralysis virus (CrPV), a member of the CrPV-like virus family, contains a single positive-stranded RNA genome that encodes two non-overlapping open reading frames separated by a short intergenic region (IGR). The CrPV IGR contains an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) that directs the expression of structural proteins. Unlike previously described IRESs, the IGR IRES initiates translation by recruiting 80 S ribosomes in the absence of initiator Met-tRNA i or any canonical initiation factors, from a GCU alanine codon located in the A-site of the ribosome. Here, we have shown that a variety of mutations, designed to disrupt individually three pseudoknot (PK) structures and alter highly conserved nucleotides among the CrPV-like viruses, inhibit IGR IRES-mediated translation. By separating the steps of translational initiation into ribosomal recruitment, ribosomal positioning and ribosomal translocation, we found that the mutated IRES elements could be grouped into two classes. One class, represented by mutations in PKII and PKIII, bound 40 S subunits with significantly reduced affinity, suggesting that PKIII and PKII are involved in the initial recruitment of the ribosome. A second class of mutations, exemplified by alterations in PKI, did not affect 40 S binding but altered the positioning of the ribosome on the IRES, indicating that PKI is involved in the correct positioning of IRES-associated ribosomes. These results suggest that the IGR IRES has distinct pseudoknot-like structures that make multiple contacts with the ribosome resulting in initiation factor-independent recruitment and correct positioning of the ribosome on the mRNA.
A Central Role for mTOR Kinase in Homeostatic Proliferation Induced CD8+ T Cell Memory and Tumor Immunity

The cell-intrinsic mechanisms guiding naive CD8+ T cells for clonal expansion and memory generation via homeostatic proliferation (HP) are unclear. Here, we have shown that HP of naive CD8+ T cells requires IL-7-, but not IL-15-induced mTOR kinase activation. HP-induced mTOR enhances transcription factor T-bet for functional maturation and CD122 expression, which sensitizes for an IL-15-dependent memory transition by favoring transcription factor Eomesodermin over T-bet. Inhibition of mTOR blocks T-bet and CD122 expression but preserves memory in an IL-15-independent manner by promoting Eomesodermin expression. The ability of rapamycin to augment HP-induced memory was cell-intrinsic given that silencing mTOR in CD8+ T cells generated identical outcomes. Strikingly, HP-induced CD8+ T cell memory generated by IL-15-dependent or -independent mechanisms demonstrated identical tumor efficacy. These results indicate a central role for mTOR in HP-induced CD8+ T cell responses and demonstrate the importance for CD8+ memory in HP-induced tumor efficacy.
Strategies for Incorporating Spirituality as Part of Recovery-Oriented Practice: Highlighting the Voices of Those With a Lived Experience

Spirituality has received attention as a potential recovery-enhancing resource for people with psychiatric disabilities, yet practice guidelines for addressing spirituality among this population remain underdeveloped. This article presents the perspectives of those with the lived experience of serious mental illness regarding what constitutes effective practice for addressing spirituality. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 adults with psychiatric disabilities who had diverse spiritual beliefs. Participants recommended a variety of provider strategies ranging from nondirective (e.g., effective listening) to increasingly directive (e.g., recommending spiritual readings). Participants also expressed the need for providers to be able to address spiritually related challenges, including spiritual abuse, stigma, and delusions with religious content. The study is relevant for recovery-oriented social workers and related mental health professionals.
Electromagnetic pulses from nuclear explosions

Apart from their many other effects, detonated nuclear explosives become coupled to electromagnetic fields and send out electromagnetic pulses (EMPs). To the author's knowledge, the first observation of this effect was on 16 July 1945, by Enrico Fermi at the experimental Trinity explosion. The expanding ionized gases in the fireball displaced the earth's magnetic fields and in this way created electromagnetic radiation. It is now known that EMPs of at least several tens of kilovolts per meter might be generated over wide areas from high-altitude nuclear explosions. Similar and even stronger internally generated EMPs have to be considered in spacecraft. The immediate result is that the electronic memory of an exposed system might be erased. If sufficient energy is concentrated on a semiconductor or on its electrical connections, some of this vital equipment may be permanently wiped out. Today there is almost universal dependence on electronic computers. They are used by first-graders as well as by research engineers. Industry, communications, financial records - all are at stake here. In the event of heavy EMP radiation, I suspect it would be easier to enumerate the apparatus that would continue to function than the apparatus that would stop. In almost all cases, adequate protection can be provided in theory. However, this would entail considerable expense. A final point must be stressed: what is involved in a consideration of EMP is knowledge that, to a great extent, is classified today. The military establishment can take the measures needed for defense because it possesses the classified information. But without widespread dissemination of information to industry - and therefore without actual declassification of essential parts of the EMP discussion - the civilian economy faces the prospects of grinding to a halt in a nuclear encounter.
Ingestion of nutrition bars high in protein or carbohydrate does not impact 24-h energy intakes in healthy young adults.

Abstract Sales of nutrition bars increased almost 10-fold to $1.7 billion over the past decade yet few studies have examined the impact of bar ingestion on dietary parameters. In this crossover trial, 24-h energy intakes were assessed in free-living college students ingesting a high-protein (HP, 280 kcal) or a high-carbohydrate (HC, 260 kcal) nutrition bar upon waking. Fifty-four students entered the trial, and 37 participants completed the three test days. Daily energy intakes ranged from 1752 ± 99 kcal for the non-intervention day to 1846 ± 75 and 1891 ± 110 kcal for the days the HP and HC bars were consumed respectively (p = 0.591). However, for individuals who reported high levels of physically activity (n = 11), daily energy intakes increased significantly compared to the control day for the HC bar day (+45%; p = 0.030) and HP bar day (+22%; p = 0.038). Macro- and micro-nutrient intakes differed significantly across test days in the total sample mirroring the nutrient profile of the specific bars. These data suggest that young adults adjust caloric intakes appropriately following the ingestion of energy-dense nutrition bars over a 24-h period. Moreover, nutrition bars may represent a unique opportunity to favorably influence nutrient status of young adults.
The plant hormone auxin: Insight in sight

Physiological experiments conducted over the last 60 years indicate that the plant hormone auxin regulates a diverse set of developmental processes via changes in cell division, cell elongation and cell differentiation. Recent studies using transgenic plants with altered auxin levels support these conclusions and promise to provide more detailed information on the role of auxin during plant development. Although it is possible that all auxin responses are mediated by the same primary biochemical events, the studies described in this review are more consistent with multiple modes of auxin action. The development of molecular and genetic approaches to the study of hormone action should resolve this issue. The accelerated rate of progress in this field suggests that real insight into the mechanism of auxin action may be forthcoming.
REVISED COORDINATES FOR APOLLO HARDWARE

The Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter provides direct imaging, at pixel scales of 0.5 to 1.0 meter, of anthropogenic equipment left on the Moon. We identified the descent stages of the lunar modules, central stations of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package, Laser Ranging Retroreflectors (LRRRs), and Lunar Roving Vehicles in each NAC image of the Apollo landing sites. The pixel coordinates of those objects were then converted to latitude and longitude coordinates using SPICE routines in the U.S. Geological Survey Integrated System for Imagers and Spectrometers. For images that contained an LRRR, pointing information was updated to match the well known LRRR coordinates. Final coordinates for each object are reported as averages from multiple images. NAC observations allow refinement of the locations of these objects and result in a more accurate geodetic referencing at these historic sites. Additionally, the anthropogenic coordinate analysis enables realistic error estimates for NAC derived coordinates for features anywhere on the Moon.
Control of vortex breakdown by addition of near-axis swirl

We present a new method for controlling vortex breakdown (VB) via addition of co- or counter-rotation near the axis. Co-rotation is adequate to totally suppress VB, whereas counter-rotation increases the number and size of VB “bubbles” and makes the flow unsteady. We study these effects in a closed cylindrical container, in which a rotating end disc drives the base flow; an independently rotating central rod (with rod radius≪disk radius) is employed to control VB. This flow, being free of ambient disturbances, is well suited for understanding both the VB mechanism and its control; the present work appears to be the first to study VB control. We develop and explain our control strategy using flow visualization and simple analytical reasoning. Our results suggest that an additional co- or counter-rotation, applied near the vortex axis, can be effective in suppressing or enhancing VB in practical flows.
Focal adhesion kinase tyrosine-861 is a major site of phosphorylation by Src

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) participates in signaling events induced by diverse stimuli including integrin engagement, oncogenic transformation and mitogenic neuropeptides. FAK's signaling function is regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation. The major autophosphorylation site is tyrosine-397, which interacts with the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of Src-family kinases including Src and Fyn. Full activation of FAK appears to require additional phosphorylation by the associated Src-family kinases. Previously identified Src sites include catalytic domain tyrosines-576 and -577, important for maximal FAK kinase activity, and tyrosine-925, which permits an SH2-mediated association with Grb2. A full understanding of FAK-mediated signaling events will require the identification of all sites of tyrosine phosphorylation. Here we report that tyrosine-861 is the major Src site in the carboxyl-terminal domain of FAK. Phosphotyrosine-861 may function in additional interactions between FAK and SH2-containing proteins.
A novel syndrome resembling Desbuquois dysplasia

We report on three Tunisian siblings with a rare assortment of clinical and radiographic abnormalities closely resembling Desbuquois dysplasia. However, the siblings have had normal facies, normal hands, and were mentally normal. There were severe musculo-skeletal distinguishing features such as joint stiffness, severe kyphoscoliosis, and multiple large joint dislocations. Moreover, the patients had an additional remarkable radiographic feature not reported in Desbequois dysplasia-multiple carpal ossification centers. The diagnosis of Desbuquois dysplasia is more difficult in older children and adults as the characteristic facial features of early childhood may recede, and the metaphyseal growth plates obliterate. This condition of these patients represents a novel Desbuquois-like syndrome.
DNA Charge Transport within the Cell

The unique characteristics of DNA charge transport (CT) have prompted an examination of roles for this chemistry within a biological context. Not only can DNA CT facilitate long-range oxidative damage of DNA, but redox-active proteins can couple to the DNA base stack and participate in long-range redox reactions using DNA CT. DNA transcription factors with redox-active moieties such as SoxR and p53 can use DNA CT as a form of redox sensing. DNA CT chemistry also provides a means to monitor the integrity of the DNA, given the sensitivity of DNA CT to perturbations in base stacking as arise with mismatches and lesions. Enzymes that utilize this chemistry include an interesting and ever-growing class of DNA-processing enzymes involved in DNA repair, replication, and transcription that have been found to contain 4Fe-4S clusters. DNA repair enzymes containing 4Fe-4S clusters, that include endonuclease III (EndoIII), MutY, and DinG from bacteria, as well as XPD from archaea, have been shown to be redox-active when bound to DNA, share a DNA-bound redox potential, and can be reduced and oxidized at long-range via DNA CT. Interactions between DNA and these proteins in solution, in addition to genetics experiments within Escherichia coli, suggest that DNA-mediated CT can be used as a means of cooperative signaling among DNA repair proteins that contain 4Fe-4S clusters as a first step in finding DNA damage, even within cells. On the basis of these data, we can consider also how DNA-mediated CT may be used as a means of signaling to coordinate DNA processing across the genome.
An Experimental Investigation of Hydrogen Fumigation in a Small Direct-Injection Diesel Engine During Part-Load Operation

Hydrogen enrichment may offer enhanced performance of internal combustion engines. Hydrogen’s high specific energy, wide flammability limits, and high flame speed are all desirable traits that can potentially enhance combustion. However, hydrogen’s low energy density and its need to be produced from another energy source pose significant challenges for implementation. Hydrogen enrichment involves co-firing of hydrogen and another primary fuel. The hydrogen can be aspirated through the intake manifold via fumigation or injected at the port or cylinder with the primary fuel. The effect of hydrogen fumigation in diesel engines has been studied to some degree but is not fully understood. In this research, a single-cylinder four-stroke direct-injection diesel engine was modified for hydrogen fumigation and was instrumented to monitor combustion related performance parameters. This engine is representative of low-cost systems that are widely used in developing nations for agricultural and other low power applications. A factorial design of experiments was implemented to study the effects and interactions of hydrogen fumigation flow rate, injection timing, and diesel fuel flow rate on part-load engine performance. At relatively low energy fractions, hydrogen was found to have statistically insignificant effects on brake torque and indicated mean effective pressure, leading to modest decreases in brake thermal efficiency. Exhaust gas temperature increased with hydrogen enrichment. The coefficient of variance of indicated mean effective pressure decreased with hydrogen enrichment, and visible changes to the in-cylinder pressure trace were observed, particularly when injection timing was retarded. The results of this investigation show that for this specific configuration, hydrogen enrichment is not beneficial to the combustion process. The marginal improvements in coefficient of variance and changes of in-cylinder pressure cannot justify the decrease in thermal efficiency of the engine.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Dependence of fluorescence intensity on the spectral overlap between fluorophores and plasmon resonant single silver nanoparticles.

We investigate the fluorescence from dyes coupled to individual DNA-functionalized metal nanoparticles. We use single-particle darkfield scattering and fluorescence microscopy to correlate the fluorescence intensity of the dyes with the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectra of the individual metal nanoparticles to which they are attached. For each of three different dyes, we observe a strong correlation between the fluorescence intensity of the dye and the degree of spectral overlap with the plasmon resonance of the nanoparticle. On average, we observe the brightest fluorescence from dyes attached to metal nanoparticles that have a LSPR scattering peak ∼40−120 meV higher in energy than the emission peak of the fluorophore. These results should prove useful for understanding and optimizing metal-enhanced fluorescence.
School Chemistry: The Need for Transgression

Studies of the philosophy of chemistry over the past 15 years suggest that chemistry is a hybrid science which mixes scientific pursuits with technological applications. Dominant universal characterizations of the nature of science thus fail to capture the essence of the discipline. The central goal of this position paper is to encourage reflection about the extent to which dominant views about quality science education based on universal views of scientific practices may constrain school chemistry. In particular, we discuss how these predominant ideas restrict the development of chemistry curricula and instructional approaches that may better support the learning of the ideas and practices that studies of the philosophy of chemistry suggest are at the core of the discipline. Our analysis suggests that philosophical studies about the nature of chemistry invite us to transgress traditional educational boundaries between science and technology, inquiry and design, content and process, and to reconceptualize school chemistry as a paradigmatic techno scientific subject. To support these changes, chemical education researchers should expand the scope of their investigations to better understand how students and teachers reason about and engage in more authentic ways of chemical thinking and doing.
A reparametrization-invariant approach to string field theory

Abstract Using reparametrization invariance as the only requirement, we show, by a series of algebraic steps, how the only reparametrization-invariant generalization of d'Alembert's operator for both open and closed bosonic strings, is in fact nilpotent and thus the BRST charge. The construction follows a proposal made many years ago by one of the authors.
Input/output APIs and data organization for high performance scientific computing

Scientific Data Management has become essential to the productivity of scientists using ever larger machines and running applications that produce ever more data. There are several specific issues when running on petascale (and beyond) machines. One is the need for massively parallel data output, which in part, depends on the data formats and semantics being used. Here, the inhibition of parallelism by file system notions of strict and immediate consistency can be addressed with ldrdelayed data consistencypsila methods. Such methods can also be used to remove the runtime coordination steps required for immediate consistency from machine resources like Bluegene's separate networks for barrier calls and its dedicated IO nodes, thereby freeing them to instead, perform alternate tasks that enhance data output performance and/or richness. Second, once data is generated, it is important to be able to efficiently access it, which implies the need for rapid data characterization and indexing. This can be achieved by adding small amounts of metadata to the output process, thereby permitting scientists to quickly make informed decisions about which files to process from large-scale science runs. Third, failure probabilities increase with an increasing number of nodes, which suggests the need for organizing output data to be resilient to failures in which the output from a single or from a small number of nodes is lost or corrupted. This paper demonstrates the utility of using delayed consistency methods for the process of data output from the compute nodes of petascale machines. It also demonstrates the advantages derived from resilient data organization coupled with lightweight methods for data indexing. An implementation of these techniques is realized in ADIOS, the Adaptable IO System, and its BP intermediate file format. The implementation is designed to be compatible with existing, well-known file formats like HDF-5 and NetCDF, thereby permitting end users to exploit the rich tool chains for these formats. Initial performance evaluations of the approach exhibit substantial performance advantages over using native parallel HDF-5 in the Chimera supernova code.
Global Cities and Developmentalist States: How to Derail What Could Be an Interesting Debate: A Response to Hill and Kim:

There is a substantive analysis in this article showing the key role of the developmentalist state in Japan and South Korea. I agree with this. But Hill and Kim (2000) position this issue in a manner that would lead one to infer that I do not. In much of my work, especially on the global city, I have focused in enormous detail on how Japan is different from the US and have emphasised the importance of capturing this speci city rather than falling in the trap of conventional comparative social science and its need to standardise across countries. Hill and Kim have chosen to overlook this. Perhaps this results from the fact that the authors never seem to go past p. 10 in their referencing of The Global City. Not a single reference in the 19 times they cite something from my work goes past p. 10 in that book—indeed, a third of all these references never go past p. 5. Admittedly, the almost 400 pages that follow are very tedious—all that detailed differentiation of the three cities and their institutional and historical settings, all that unpacking of data-sets and of specialised literatures, who needs it! The framing of an argument matters. Hill and Kim set up their critique in a manner that derails the possibility for a substantive debate: whether the modes through which a leading international business and  nancial centre such as Tokyo or Seoul articulates with the global economic system are shaped in signi cant ways by the presence of a developmental state to the point that these cities cannot be thought of as global cities. I think this is an interesting question. But this is not what the authors want to discuss. They simply assert that the developmentalist state and the global city are two mutually exclusive categories and that hence, insofar as Japan and South Korea have a developmentalist state, the global city model is not applicable to Tokyo and Seoul. This framing also allows for a particular distortion which is to produce the impression that the global city model is incompatible with a critical analysis of the power of global  nance. This then leads them to assert, among other somewhat surprising statements, that I have writen a “breathless paean to global high  nance” (note 3). Admittedly, I have been and remain impressed with the power of global  nance to destroy signi cant sectors of national economies, distort other markets and subvert state policy. I rather thought that, if anything, this was a breathless paean against global  nance and, apparently, so have the hundreds of commentaries and critiques I have received from all quarters on my treatment of global  nance. In
The U.S. technology frontier

In Caselli and Coleman (2000) we developed a framework that separately identifies the efficiency units embodied in unskilled labor, skilled labor, and capital in a country’s aggregate production function. Applying that framework to cross-country data, we showed that countries where unskilled labor is relatively abundant are those with the most efficient unskilled workers, while countries where skilled labor and capital are abundant are the most efficient users of these inputs. We interpreted these findings as evidence of appropriatetechnology adoption: in each country firms choose from a menu of technologies; different technologies imply different combinations of values for the efficiency units embodied in the three factors of production; in each country the technology is chosen that makes the most of the most abundant factors. In this paper we apply the same framework to time-series data from the United States over the period 1963–1992. We find that throughout this period the efficiencies of skilled labor and capital have risen. The efficiency of unskilled labor has risen in tandem with those of the other factors in the early part of the sample, but surprisingly, it has been falling since sometime in the 1970’s (the exact turning point depends somewhat on some parametric assumptions). In analogy with the cross-country evidence, these changes are closely associated with changes in the relative abundance of skilled labor and capital, which increased rather dramatically. In this sense, the recent history of technologies in use by U.S. firms may mimic the choice of technologies around the world today: as skills and capital become more abundant, technologies are chosen that maximize the efficiency of these inputs. As we discuss below, however, in the U.S. context the converse story (relative labor supplies adjusting to exogenous changes in technology) is also consistent with the data. Besides its relevance to models of technology adoption, this evidence also sheds new light on the widely documented recent increase in the skilled wage premium in the United States. Lawrence F. Katz and Kevin M. Murphy (1992) and David H. Autor et al. (1998) used the relative wage and the relative labor supply series to show that the efficiency of unskilled labor relative to skilled labor must have declined over time. Our framework allows us to go further and show that, indeed, the absolute efficiency of unskilled labor has fallen (after 1970), while the efficiency of skilled labor and capital have increased. A similar result was obtained with different techniques by Marta Ruiz Arranz (2001).
A micro-electromechanical model of ferroelectric materials with thermal and rate effects

A micro-electro-mechanical model of the behavior of piezoelectric ceramics including thermal, and rate effects is presented and compared to experimental data. Results include analytical and numerical investigations of the behavior of piezoelectric ceramics. The model is based on physical mechanisms and includes elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric anisotropy. Moreover, the model is based on an internal energy approach so that work-energy relations may be directly applied. Results from the model give insight into material behavior.
Parental attitudes and the development of the primary transitional object.

Research on the primary transitional object has ignored the subtle interactions that occur between parents and children in the development and use of the primary transitional object. While conscious expectations of whether the child will develop a primary transitional object do not seem to be an important factor, unconscious motivations seem to determine if parents serve as either facilitators or disturbers of the child's relationship to the primary transitional object. The ways in which parental attitudes may affect the development of the primary transitional object, and the consequences of this, are described.
Impact of MEEF on low k 1 lithography and mask inspection

In this paper, we present a comparative simulation study of mask defect impact in a high MEEF process and its detectability under a mask inspection too. A simulation mode for a mask inspection system is constructed and validated by comparing the simulated signal with data collected from an inspection tool. With this calibrated mode, defect images and scan signals from programmed defect pattens are studied. The corresponding wafer CD variations caused by programmed defects are simulated using a photolithography simulator. We find that for a mask defect of a given size, its impact on wafer varies greatly from location to location, depending on the MEEF of the host patterns surrounding the defect. In comparison, the signal from a high-resolution inspection tool varies linearly with defect size and is nearly independent of the host patterns. Once the MEEF starts its sharp increase, the sensitivity of the inspection tool is required to increase at the same rate. An inspection tool operating at its resolution limit generally could not follow the sharp increase in MEEF once the wafer process starts to degrade. It is therefore important to control the MEEF in the original pattern design to ensure that residual defect does not cause circuit malfunction. Extra margins may have to be introduced in the design rule to account for the impact of residual defects.
An improved Monte Carlo method in structural reliability

Abstract A Monte Carlo technique is presented for obtaining accurate estimates of component failure probabilities based on small sample sizes. It is an improvement on a recent method by Harbitz and is based on the exclusion from sampling of a maximum hypersphere contained in the safe region as opposed to that of the ν-sphere. After finding the maximum hypersphere in the standard normal space of basic variables a two-stage sampling procedure involving conditional distributions is employed.
Tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa: a regional assessment of the impact of the human immunodeficiency virus and National Tuberculosis Control Program quality

Abstract Background : The effect of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic on tuberculosis (TB) has been evaluated for certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa. However, no multi-country comparisons have been performed of the magnitude of the changes in TB case rates and the roles of the HIV epidemic and national TB control program (NTP) quality in these changes. Methods : We examined trends in TB case rates after 1985 for 20 sub-Saharan African countries, and also from 1975–1984 for 10 of these countries (core countries). Average annual changes in TB case rates after 1985 were stratified by 1992 urban low-risk HIV seroprevalence and by NTP quality, as determined by a survey of international TB experts. Results : Case rates in the core countries decreased by an average of −1.6% per year prior to 1985, but increased by an average of +7.0% per year after 1985 (+7.7% per year after 1985 in all 20 countries). Average annual case rates after 1985 increased approximately twice as fast in countries with high vs low or intermediate HIV seroprevalence ratings. In both the core countries and all 20 countries, the average annual rate of rise in case rates after 1985 decreased as NTP quality rating increased. This relationship persisted even after stratification by HIV seroprevalence rating. Conclusions : TB case rates have increased in sub-Saharan Africa since 1985. These increases were relatively greater as HIV seroprevalence increased, and relatively lower as NTP quality increased. Improving NTP quality is essential to mitigate the resurgence of TB in the HIV era.
Formation of highly charged ions of ambient gases near laser-heated targets.

The observation of spectral lines arising from ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{7+}$ ions in a 0.7-Torr atmosphere surrounding a laser-heated slab target is reported. Such line radiation is mainly emitted from a narrow zone which is located some distance away from the target, depending on the target material used (C, Li, or Al). According to a phenomenological model, the neon gas is initially heated to an electron temperature of ${k}_{B}$${T}_{e}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}200 eV and ionized to the ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{8+}$ (ground-state) species by supersonic radiative and electronic thermal conduction. The ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{7+}$-line radiation results in this model from three-body recombination of the ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{8+}$ plasma as it rapidly cools, following the cessation of the laser pulse and the overtaking by lower-temperature target plasma.
Decreased regional cerebral blood flow in medial prefrontal cortex during trauma-unrelated stressful imagery in Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

BackgroundNeuroimaging research has demonstrated medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) hyporesponsivity and amygdala hyperresponsivity to trauma-related or emotional stimuli in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Relatively few studies have examined brain responses to the recollection of stressful, but trauma-unrelated, personal events in PTSD. In the current study, we sought to determine whether regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) abnormalities in mPFC and amygdala in PTSD could be observed during the recollection of trauma-unrelated stressful personal events.MethodParticipants were 35 right-handed male combat veterans (MCVs) and female nurse veterans (FNVs) who served in Vietnam: 17 (seven male, 10 female) with current military-related PTSD and 18 (nine male, nine female) with no current or lifetime PTSD. We used positron emission tomography (PET) and script-driven imagery to study rCBF during the recollection of trauma-unrelated stressful versus neutral and traumatic events.ResultsVoxelwise tests revealed significant between-group differences for the trauma-unrelated stressful versus neutral comparison in mPFC, specifically in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Functional region of interest (ROI) analyses demonstrated that this interaction in mPFC represented greater rCBF decreases in the PTSD group during trauma-unrelated stressful imagery relative to neutral imagery compared to the non-PTSD group. No differential amygdala activation was observed between groups or in either group separately.ConclusionsVeterans with PTSD, compared to those without PTSD, exhibited decreased rCBF in mPFC during mental imagery of trauma-unrelated stressful personal experiences. Functional neuroanatomical models of PTSD must account for diminished mPFC responses that extend to emotional stimuli, including stressful personal experiences that are not directly related to PTSD.
Group VIA phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β) modulates Bcl-x 5′ splice site selection and suppresses anti-apoptotic Bcl-x(L) in β-cells

Diabetes is a consequence of reduced β-cell function and mass, due to β-cell apoptosis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is induced during β-cell apoptosis due to various stimuli, and our work indicates that group VIA phospholipase A2β (iPLA2β) participates in this process. Delineation of underlying mechanism(s) reveals that ER stress reduces the anti-apoptotic Bcl-x(L) protein in INS-1 cells. The Bcl-x pre-mRNA undergoes alternative pre-mRNA splicing to generate Bcl-x(L) or Bcl-x(S) mature mRNA. We show that both thapsigargin-induced and spontaneous ER stress are associated with reductions in the ratio of Bcl-x(L)/Bcl-x(S) mRNA in INS-1 and islet β-cells. However, chemical inactivation or knockdown of iPLA2β augments the Bcl-x(L)/Bcl-x(S) ratio. Furthermore, the ratio is lower in islets from islet-specific RIP-iPLA2β transgenic mice, whereas islets from global iPLA2β−/− mice exhibit the opposite phenotype. In view of our earlier reports that iPLA2β induces ceramide accumulation through neutral sphingomyelinase 2 and that ceramides shift the Bcl-x 5′-splice site (5′SS) selection in favor of Bcl-x(S), we investigated the potential link between Bcl-x splicing and the iPLA2β/ceramide axis. Exogenous C6-ceramide did not alter Bcl-x 5′SS selection in INS-1 cells, and neutral sphingomyelinase 2 inactivation only partially prevented the ER stress-induced shift in Bcl-x splicing. In contrast, 5(S)-hydroxytetraenoic acid augmented the ratio of Bcl-x(L)/Bcl-x(S) by 15.5-fold. Taken together, these data indicate that β-cell apoptosis is, in part, attributable to the modulation of 5′SS selection in the Bcl-x pre-mRNA by bioactive lipids modulated by iPLA2β.
Prospective study of the incidence and outcome of intra-abdominal hypertension and the abdominal compartment syndrome.

Background: Intra-abdominal hypertension has been recognized as a source of morbidity and mortality in the traumatized patient following laparotomy. Multiple organ dysfunction attributable to intra-abdominal hypertension has been called the abdominal compartment syndrome. The epidemiology and characteristics of these processes remain poorly defined. Methods: Intra-abdominal pressure was measured prospectively in all patients admitted to a trauma intensive care unit over 9 months. Data were gathered on all patients with intra-abdominal hypertension. Results: Some 706 patients were evaluated. Fifteen (2 per cent) of 706 patients had intra-abdominal hypertension. Six of the 15 patients with intra-abdominal hypertension had abdominal compartment syndrome. Half of the patients with abdominal compartment syndrome died, as did two of the remaining nine patients with intra-abdominal hypertension. Patients with abdominal compartment syndrome had a mean intra-abdominal pressure of 42 mmHg compared with 26 mmHg in patients with intra-abdominal hypertension only (P < 0·05). Conclusion: The incidence of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome was 2 and 1 per cent respectively. Intra-abdominal hypertension did not necessarily lead to abdominal compartment syndrome, and often resolved without clinical sequelae. Abdominal compartment syndrome did not occur in the absence of earlier laparotomy. Abdominal compartment syndrome was associated with a marked increase in intra-abdominal pressure (above 40 mmHg). © 2002 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd
Comparative cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin and a morpholino anthracycline derivative (KRN8602).

The toxicities of doxorubicin (DXR) and 3'-deamino-3'-morpholino-13-deoxy-10-hydroxycarcminomycin (KRN8602) were compared in perfused rat heart preparations. In addition, their toxicities in isolated myocytes as well as their abilities to cause oxidation of intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated. Finally, their capacities to initiate oxygen consumption and lipid peroxidation in isolated microsomes were determined. DXR caused a dramatic decrease in left ventricular pressure in the perfused hearts and a leak of lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) from isolated myocytes. These effects were not observed with KRN8602 at comparable concentrations although KRN8602 caused oxidation of GSH to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in the myocytes. Both anthracyclines caused an increase in oxygen consumption and lipid peroxidation in isolated microsomes although these effects were more pronounced with KRN8602. The results of these experiments demonstrate that, despite the high capacity to redox cycle and to generate oxygen-derived oxidants, KRN8602 exhibited no measurable cardiotoxicity. The findings are consistent with a view that, if the formation of such oxidants is central to the cardiotoxicity of DXR, these substances must be formed in cellular compartments, e.g. plasma membranes, where the morpholino derivative (KRN8602) does not accumulate.
Recent developments in targeting protein misfolding diseases

Protein misfolding is an emerging field that crosses multiple therapeutic areas and causes many serious diseases. As the biological pathways of protein misfolding become more clearly elucidated, small molecule approaches in this arena are gaining increased attention. This manuscript will survey current small molecules from the literature that are known to modulate misfolding, stabilization or proteostasis. Specifically, the following targets and approaches will be discussed: CFTR, glucocerebrosidase, modulation of toxic oligomers, serum amyloid P (SAP) sections and HSF1 activators.
Restoration of 3D Vestibular Sensation in Rhesus Monkeys Using a Multichannel Vestibular Prosthesis

Abstract Profound bilateral loss of vestibular hair cell function can cause chronically disabling loss of balance and inability to maintain stable vision during head and body movements. We have previously shown that chinchillas rendered bilaterally vestibular-deficient via intratympanic administration of the ototoxic antibiotic gentamicin regain a more nearly normal 3-dimensional vestibulo-ocular reflex (3D VOR) when head motion information sensed by a head-mounted multichannel vestibular prosthesis (MVP) is encoded via rate-modulated pulsatile stimulation of vestibular nerve branches. Despite significant improvement versus the unaided condition, animals still exhibited some 3D VOR misalignment (i.e., the 3D axis of eye movement responses did not precisely align with the axis of head rotation), presumably due to current spread between a given ampullary nerve’s stimulating electrode(s) and afferent fibers in non-targeted branches of the vestibular nerve. Assuming that effects of current spread depend on relative orientation and separation between nerve branches, anatomic differences between chinchilla and human labyrinths may limit the extent to which results in chinchillas accurately predict MVP performance in humans. In this report, we describe the MVP-evoked 3D VOR measured in alert rhesus monkeys, which have labyrinths that are larger than chinchillas and temporal bone anatomy more similar to humans. Electrodes were implanted in five monkeys treated with intratympanic gentamicin to bilaterally ablate vestibular hair cell mechanosensitivity. Eye movements mediated by the 3D VOR were recorded during passive sinusoidal (0.2–5 Hz, peak 50°/s) and acceleration-step (1000°/s 2 to 150°/s) whole-body rotations in darkness about each semicircular canal axis. During constant 100 pulse/s stimulation (i.e., MVP powered ON but set to stimulate each ampullary nerve at a constant mean baseline rate not modulated by head motion), 3D VOR responses to head rotation exhibited profoundly low gain [(mean eye velocity amplitude)/(mean head velocity amplitude)
Advanced applications for distribution system optimization

The primary objective for distribution system operation has always been to provide acceptable voltage for all customers under all loading conditions while maintaining safe conditions for the field workforce and the general public and protecting distribution system assets from unnecessary damage due to overloading and fault conditions. While these continue to be the primary motivations for distribution system management, there is growing interest in improved efficiency and reliability on the distribution system, the objectives being reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved customer satisfaction. To accomplish these expanded operating objectives, electric distribution utilities are deploying new advanced technologies, such as volt-VAR optimization and optimal network reconfiguration, that will “squeeze” more capacity out of existing assets and rapidly restore service following an outage without compromising the traditional primary operating objectives. This proposed paper will summarize these new application functions, explain how they work, identify benefit these functions supply, and discuss the practical realities (issues and challenges, potential pitfalls, etc) that may be encountered when implementing these new application functions. The results will enable utility companies who are contemplating advanced applications to make informed decisions about these applications.
White space backup network architecture for the connection continuity of wired and wireless access networks

In the past decade, we have witnessed accelerated and multi-faceted developments in hyper-connected world, providing wired/wireless licensed or unlicensed-based access networks such as DSL, cable, or WiFi™, cellular and WiMAX networks. Today, since we have virtually unlimited digital data in the network accessible from everywhere, a divers set of contents and aggressive traffic have accentuated the issues of congestion and reliability due to the prominence of trouble in network access. Particularly, to the specialized access networks operating for public safety, business transactions, and military operations, a broken Internet or wide area network (WAN) connection can cause serious consequences if they have no alternative reliable access networks or only unreliable paths on unlicensed-based access networks. This paper proposes the white space backup network that operates on unused TV spectrum to provide alternative paths with a better reliability than conventional unlicensed-based access networks. The numerical results of performance evaluation demonstrate that the proposed white space backup network can contribute to less time delay in the delivery of messages or transactions than the time delay of the conventional approach, which waits the recovery. Since this time savings is a crucial benefit to time-critical applications, we expect the deployment of the white space backup networks can assist those applications to achieve a shorter processing time even under a broken Internet or WAN connection.
Distance learning immersive environments

Distance learning technologies are becoming more important for the delivery of content as distance education seems rapidly growing adoption worldwide. These technologies allow collaboration between students and teachers in globally disparate environments. Immersive environments are one recent innovation with significant promise, offering a sense of presence-the sense of "being there"-which can strengthen and reinforce distance learning. The primary purpose of this study is to research the sense of presence using an immersive environment. While this is a work-in-progress, the authors provide preliminary results and conclusions. Sense of presence-the sense of "being there"-was explored in the distance learning immersive environments.A majority of participants felt a high sense of presence in the immersive environment than in the real world.Immersive environments are one recent innovation with significant promise for creating collaborative distance learning.
DEVELOPMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY OF THE NEWBORN

The increased susceptibility of newborns, especially those born prematurely to serious infections has been well documented.@, 48* 62 Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and neonatal intensive care, neonatal infections continue to be an important determinant of childhood morbidityand mortality in both developed and Third World c~untries.~ The incidence of neonatal sepsis has remained unchanged and ranges from 1 to 10 per 1000 live births with an even higher incidence of 21 per 1000 live births among the developing countries where access to sophisticated ”modem” technology is limited.=, 40, 141 Concurrent meningitis, associated with a high risk of neurologic morbidity, occurs in about one fourth of cases.@ In the preantibiotic era, neonatal sepsis was almost always fatal. Mortality has decreased sigruficantly after the introduction of antimicrobial agents and technologic advances in neonatal management. In the past 15 years, the case-fatality rate for noninfectious neonatal illnesses has continued to decline, whereas that for infectious diseases has reached a plateau of approximately 15% for late-onset sepsis (sepsis that occurs between 4 and 30 days of life), and 15% to 50% for early-onset sepsis (sepsis that occurs in the first 4 days of life).a The impact of neonatal infections as a significant cause of neonatal death globally is more evident in developing countries, as recently reviewed by St~ll.~~~ Neonatal infections are responsible for between 1.5 and 2 million neonatal deaths per year, or between 4000 and 5000 deaths per day in the less developed countries of the w0r1d.l~~ The incidence of neonatal sepsis is even higher and inversely proportional to the gestational age and birth weight. In Israeli, Finnish, and American studies, very low birth weight infants (VLBW; weighing 4500