cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Picking the arginine lock on PQLC2 cycling.

A key function of lysosomes is degradation of complex macromolecules, which is followed by export of the constituent metabolites to the cytoplasm. To enable this metabolite export, lysosomes harbor many transporters spanning their limiting membrane. Loss-of-function mutations in lysosomal transporters for lipids, amino acids, and nucleotides are often associated with devastating developmental and neurometabolic diseases, collectively known as lysosomal storage disorders (1, 2). Along with degradation of macromolecules, lysosomes are also the cellular site of activation for important signaling pathways, such as the master regulator of growth and metabolism, mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) kinase, and the C9orf72-SMCR8-WDR41 (CSW) complex, which plays important but poorly understood roles in neuronal cell homeostasis (3, 4). Emerging evidence indicates that the metabolite-recycling and signaling functions of the lysosome are tightly coupled. Such coupling is mediated, at least in part, by transporter−receptor (“transceptors”) proteins, which possess both solute transport activity and receptor-like signaling activities (5, 6). Lysosomal examples of transceptors include two amino acid transporters, sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 9 (SLC38A9) and proline−glutamine loop repeat-containing protein 2 (PQLC2; pronounced “picklock two”), which have been linked to regulation of mTORC1 and CSW complex, respectively (7⇓–9). An important mechanistic aspect of transporter function is that they must undergo a cyclic conformational change that alternately exposes their solute binding site to either side of the membrane. In the transceptor case, these cyclic conformational rearrangements not only enable solute transport, but they are also key for signaling activity, although how this coupling occurs remains poorly understood. Writing in PNAS, Leray et al. (10) study the dynamics of how specific cationic amino acids (CAA) modulate the gating of the PQLC2 and elucidate a model for the amino acid signaling function of PQLC2. PQLC2, … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: rzoncu{at}berkeley.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Analyzing the Radio Frequency Interference Environment at Cal/Val Site Locations for the Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) Mission

The Soil Moisture Active/Passive satellite was launched in 2015 to provide global and continuous maps of land surface soil moisture and freeze-thaw using L-Band microwave radiometry. Even though the 1400-1427 MHz frequency used by SMAP is a protected portion of the spectrum, Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is still observed that can corrupt the radiometer's measurements. Nine distinct algorithms are implemented as part of SMAP's level 1 processing to detect and filter out RFI contributions. However, any remaining undetected RFI are major concern especially at the locations of cal/val sites used for evaluating soil moisture retrieval performance. This paper presents an analysis of the RFI environment at SMAP cal/val site locations and assesses the impact of RFI on soil moisture retrievals at those locations.
The training of future clinical geneticists: Evaluation and reflection on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Foundation Summer Genetics Scholars Program

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the Summer Genetics Scholars Program of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Foundation is to expose medical students to medical genetics and genomics early during school with the aim of increasing the number of physicians pursuing a career in this field. This survey study evaluated the Summer Genetics Scholars Program on the achievement of its goals. Methods Former Summer Genetics Scholars who had completed medical school were sent a 13-question survey aimed at evaluating the program and obtaining feedback about their experiences. Results Of 125 former scholars, 55 completed the survey with 2 additional participants partially completing the survey. The vast majority of former participants report either being very satisfied or satisfied with their experience (96%). Conclusion Whereas most participants found their experience to be beneficial, evaluation of the initial 6 years of the program did not show an increase in the number of students entering residencies in medical genetics and genomics. It likely is too early to assess the program’s true influence on entry into the field because data were only available for the first 6 years of the Summer Genetics Scholars Program, and many residents typically choose to complete another primary specialty before medical genetics and genomics.
Probabilistic Fiber Composite Micromechanics

Probabilistic composite micromechanics methods are developed that simulate expected uncertainties in unidirectional fiber composite properties. These methods are in the form of computational procedures using Monte Carlo simulation. The variables in which uncertainties are accounted for include constituent and void volume ratios, constituent elastic properties and strengths, and fiber misalignment. A graphite/epoxy unidirectional composite (ply) is studied to demonstrate fiber composite material property variations induced by random changes expected at the material micro level. Regression results are presented to show the relative correlation between predictor and response variables in the study. These computational procedures make possible a formal description of anticipated random processes at the intra-ply level, and the related effects of these on composite properties.
Children's sleep, skin conductance level and mental health.

SUMMARY We examined relations between childrens sympathetic nervous system activity, indexedby skin conductance level (SCL) during baseline and reactivity to a challenging task andtheir sleep problems. We also assessed SCL as a moderator of associations betweenchildrens sleep problems and their mental health. A sample of healthy and typicallydeveloping school-attending children (78 boys and 98 girls) participated (meanage = 8.7 years; standard deviation = 0.36). Sleep was assessed via actigraphy andself-reports. Parents reported on childrens externalizing behaviors and childrenreported their internalizing symptoms. Findings demonstrate that sleep disruptions(duration, quality) are associated with lower basal SCL. In the context of sleepproblems, a lower level of basal SCL functioned as a vulnerability factor for depressionsymptoms and worse self-esteem. Further, children with both increased SCL reactivityand sleep problems were at risk for depression symptoms. Results illustrate thesigniﬁcance of simultaneous examinations of various biological and physiologicalsystems in the prediction of childrens wellbeing.keywords actigraphy, children, depression, self-esteem, skin conductance, sleep
Validation of the coronal mass ejection predictions at the Earth orbit estimated by ENLIL heliosphere cone model

[1] Modeling is an important tool in understanding physical processes in the space weather. Model performance studies evaluate the quality of model operation by comparing its output to a measurable parameter of interest. In this paper we studied the performance of the combination of the halo coronal mass ejection (CME) analytical cone model and ENLIL three-dimensional MHD heliosphere model. We examined the CME arrival time and magnitude of impact at 1 AU for different geoeffective events, including the October 2003 Halloween Storm and the 14 December 2006 storm CMEs. The results of the simulation are compared with the ACE satellite observations. The comparison of the simulation results with the observations demonstrates that ENLIL cone model performs better compared to reference mean velocity and empirical models.
Extensions by Antiderivatives, Exponentials of Integrals and by Iterated Logarithms

Let F be a characteristic zero differential field with an algebraically closed field of constants, E be a no-new-constant extension of F by antiderivatives of F and let y1, ..., yn be antiderivatives of E. The antiderivatives y1, ..., yn of E are called J-I-E antiderivatives if the derivatives of yi in E satisfies certain conditions. We will discuss a new proof for the Kolchin-Ostrowski theorem and generalize this theorem for a tower of extensions by J-I-E antiderivatives and use this generalized version of the theorem to classify the finitely differentially generated subfields of this tower. In the process, we will show that the J-I-E antiderivatives are algebraically independent over the ground differential field. An example of a J-I-E tower is extensions by iterated logarithms. We will discuss the normality of extensions by iterated logarithms and produce an algorithm to compute its finitely differentially generated subfields.
Image Processing Using Shearlets

Since shearlets provide nearly optimally sparse representations for a large class of functions that are useful to model natural images, many image processing methods benefit from their use. In particular, the error rates of data estimation from noise are highly dependent on the sparsity properties of the representation, so that many successful applications of shearlets center around restoration tasks such as denoising and inverse problems. Other imaging problems, where also the application of the shearlet representation turns out to be very beneficial, include image enhancement, image separation, edge detection, and estimation of the geometric features of an object.
Interconnection minimization in multiport memories based data path synthesis

The authors present an efficient technique for minimization of interconnect in multiport memory based data path synthesis for application-specific designs. The minimization problem has been formulated as a 0-1 integer linear programming problem. A 0-1 integer linear programming model is presented which performs functional unit and connection allocation tasks simultaneously assuming that registers have already been grouped into multiport memories. Experimental results have shown that the interconnections can be reduced by using this technique. >
Linear block precoding for blind channel estimation in OFDM systems

We propose a novel approach for blind channel estimation over frequency selective channels in OFDM system. By introducing a non-redundant unitary preceder for each pair of blocks before they enter the OFDM system, the channel can be identified up to a complex scalar ambiguity based upon a simple cross-correlation operations applied to successive received signal blocks. It is shown that the proposed approach not only maintains the transmission power, but also provides multipath diversity and bandwidth efficiency.
Vasopressin alone or with epinephrine may be superior to epinephrine in a clinically relevant porcine model of pulseless electrical activity cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest remains an important entity in the clinical field. In the United States, annually there are about 450,000 sudden cardiac deaths in the prehospital or ED setting [1]. Current survival rates are about 5% to 10% of cardiac arrest cases, as reported in a recent European multicenter trial [2]. The presenting rhythm of cardiac arrest has changed over the last decade. The incidence of primary ventricular fibrillation (VF) is decreasing and the incidence of pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is increasing [3]. The widespread introduction of automated external defibrillators in the lay setting can be expected to increase the incidence of postcounter shock PEA. Pulseless electrical activity has a worse prognosis than VF [2]. Epinephrine the is currently recommended medical therapy for PEA [4]. Epinephrine increases coronary perfusion pressure (CoPP) and myocardial perfusion.
Nitrogen distribution in human milk from 2 to 16 weeks postpartum.

The objective of this study was to determine how the major nitrogen components in human milk vary as total nitrogen in the milk changes. Milk samples were collected from 10 mothers at 2, 6, 12, and 16 wk postpartum. The major nitrogen components compared were total, nonprotein, urea, protein, casein, and whey nitrogens. Total nitrogen decreased from 2.18 mg/ml at 2 wk to 1.76 mg/ml at 16 wk. The percentage of nonprotein nitrogen was 19% and remained constant with time postpartum. Urea nitrogen averaged .14 mg/ml and also remained constant. Protein nitrogen decreased from 1.77 mg/ml at 2 wk to 1.42 mg/ml at 16 wk. As the total nitrogen in milk changed, the percentages of nonprotein nitrogen, whey nitrogen, and casein nitrogen remained relatively constant.
Differing degrees of susceptibility to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis among inbred strains of hamsters.

Abstract Susceptibility to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis was examined in five highly inbred strains of hamsters. The frequency of disease was reproducible within a given strain, but differed remarkably from strain to strain. Two strains—Bio 15.16 and Bio 87.20—appeared to share similar major histocompatibility genes. Despite genetic similarities, susceptibility to acute paralytic EAE was remarkably different in the two strains. Strain 15.16 hamsters consistently developed acute paralysis 10–21 days after sensitization with heterologous nervous tissue and immunologic adjuvants. Strain 87.20 hamsters never developed disease acutely. Protection from EAE was not absolute, however, for some animals developed histopathologic evidence of EAE. Using alternative methods to induce EAE did not alter susceptibility in 87.20 hamsters. Genetic analysis of offspring of susceptible 15.16 and resistant 87.20 hamsters suggested that a single autosomal gene, unrelated to the major histocompatibility locus, accounted for differences in EAE susceptibility in these two strains. This gene had a more profound influence on clinical patterns of EAE than on histopathologic markers of disease.
Comparative study of high speed steels obtained through explosive compaction and hot isostatic pressing

Abstract Two grades of high speed steel (HSS) powders, T42 and M3II, were explosive compaced. The feasibility of shock compaction by explosives of HSSs using a cylindrical configuration and the microstructures of consolidated or compacted powders are analyzed. A comparison between their characteristics and some commercial hot isostatically pressed tool steels was also carried out. Since mechanical properties of HSSs depend strongly on their heat treatment, all the materials studied (hot isostatically pressed and explosive compacted) were austenized, quenched and tempered in conditions close to those used in the processing of conventional tool steels. The study of their properties and microstructure has shown that explosive compaction of HSS powders is a potential manufacturing process for them.
Gender Differences in Officer Attitude and Behavior

Abstract Historically, research on gender differences in police work has focused on whether women can “hold their own” in the male-dominated profession of policing. This body of research has undergone a shift from examining whether women can do the job, to how women do the job differently. This topic is intertwined with the increased use of community policing and recognition of the importance of officers having strong “people” skills and the ability to work with citizens. This paper focuses on how male and female officers respond to citizens differently in terms of providing comfort. Results from this analysis indicate that neither officer attitude nor behavior is dictated by officer sex. Rather, other important variables interact with sex to explain attitude and behavior. In addition, situational factors are most important in determining officer behavior. Officer attitude about citizens is not related to officers providing comfort to citizens.
Inflexibility in intramuscular triglyceride fractional synthesis distinguishes prediabetes from obesity in humans.

Whether intramuscular triglyceride (IMTG) concentration or flux is more important in the progression to type 2 diabetes is controversial. Therefore, this study examined IMTG concentration, as well as its fractional synthesis rate (FSR), in obese people with normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 20) vs. obese people with prediabetes (PD; n = 19), at rest and during exercise. Insulin action and secretion were assessed using an intravenous glucose tolerance test. [U-13C]palmitate was infused for 4 h before and throughout 1.5 h of treadmill walking at 50% VO2max. IMTG concentration was measured by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, and FSR by gas chromatography–combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometer, from muscle biopsies taken immediately before and after exercise. Basal IMTG concentration was higher (43 ± 5.7 vs. 27 ± 3.9 mg/mg dry weight, P = 0.03) and FSR trended lower (0.23 ± 0.04 vs. 0.32 ± 0.05/h, P = 0.075), as did insulin action (Si; 2.9 ± 0.43 vs. 3.3 ± 0.35 × 10−4/mU/ml, P = 0.07), in PD vs. NGT. IMTG concentration did not change significantly during exercise, but was no longer different in PD vs. NGT (45 ± 7.7 vs. 37 ± 5.8 mg/mg dry weight, P = 0.41). IMTG FSR suppressed during exercise in NGT (−81% to 0.06 ± 0.13/h, P = 0.02), but not PD (+4% to 0.24 ± 0.13%/h, P = 0.95). Palmitate oxidation was similar during rest (P = 0.92) and exercise (P = 0.94) between groups, but its source appeared different with more coming from muscle at rest and plasma during exercise in NGT, whereas the converse was true in PD. Altogether, higher basal IMTG concentration that is metabolically inflexible distinguishes obese people with PD from those with NGT.
The Non-Capitalist Way of Development:

The "non-capitalist way of development" (NCWD) is proposed by development theorists from socialist bloc countries as a political economy alternative to capitalist and populist development strategie...
Photoluminescence in polycrystalline CuInSe2 solar cells

Abstract Photoluminescence (PL) data have been reported by several workers for both single-crystal and polycrystalline CuInSe 2 , including actual solar cells. Careful comparison shows a substantial agreement among the PL transitions reported and a consistent defect energy level diagram. Correction is made for the electrostatic term in the PL transition energy, which can be quite large for polycrystalline material and which can be used to estimate defect densities. Plausible physical arguments are presented to identify the primary levels. The dominant donor proposed is the selenium vacancy, a double donor which would have ionization energies near 40 and 70 meV. The dominant acceptor proposed is copper on an indium site, also a double level with near-hydrogenic energies of 40 and 80 meV.
Effects of a single combined dose of pregnant mares serum gonadotrophin and human chorionic gonadotrophin on ovulation rate in young rabbits

Abstract Twenty prepubertal rabbit does, 12–14 weeks of age, were randomly allocated to a treatment group receiving 72 IU pregnant mares serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) and 36 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in a single i.m. dose, or to a control group receiving an injection of physiological saline. At 48 h after administration of treatment or control injections, animals were exposed to males to determine if breeding receptivity had been induced. Does were sacrificed at 96 h post treatment and their reproductive tracts were assessed for hormonal stimulation. The ovaries of treated does had significantly higher numbers of ovulation sites than did those of control animals (17.6 vs. 2.1; Fisher's LSD0.01). One doe in the treatment group and one doe in the control group showed mating receptivity. There was no age, weight, dam or replication effect. All does in the treatment group ovulated. This study shows that prepubertal rabbits, 12–14 weeks of age, can be induced to ovulate using a single, combined dose of PMSG and HCG. Although this treatment does not stimulate estrus behavior, the protocol can be employed to simplify procedures and reduce the handling of animals when inducing superovulation for the purpose of oocyte retrieval or artificial insemination.
Psychometric analysis of the functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G) scale in a rural sample

BACKGROUND Quality of life for persons with cancer has been studied extensively in urban populations. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale was developed for use in clinical trials. The authors tested the psychometric properties of the FACT-G scale in a sample of rural cancer patients. METHODS A systematic replication of the 1993 study by Cella et al., in which FACT-G was developed, was employed to assess the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the scale. RESULTS The reliability and validity of the FACT-G scale for evaluating rural cancer patients was determined to be sufficient for research purposes. The factor structure was the same as that reported by Cella et al. CONCLUSIONS The FACT-G scale is appropriate for use in studies of the quality of life of rural cancer patients. Cancer 1997; 79:2446-52. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Long time series study of oceanic ecosystems

Better understanding of the structure and function of natural ecosystems is now widely regarded as essential to protecting the habitability of our planet. Fortunately, the oceans are not yet at the stage of exploitation and rapid alteration that terrestrial environments, especially the tropical rain forests, are now experiencing. Our wise use of the oceans in the future, however, will depend upon having a firm and fundamental understanding of why marine ecosystems are structured the way they are, how they function, and what are the forces that hold them together or make them change. There is still time to acquire the requisite knowledge, and we believe that prolonged direct observation at open ocean sites can contribute greatly. The logistics for this are of a reasonable scale. New (but tested) measurement and data processing techniques can produce a very extensive yet manageable data set. Therefore, to enhance our basic scientific understanding and to provide information for future management decisions, we propose that a program for multiyear occupation of midocean stations should be designed and fielded by the international oceanographic community.
Electron Transfer by Excited Benzoquinone Anions: Slow Rates for Two-Electron Transitions

Electron transfer (ET) rate constants from the lowest excited state of the radical anion of benzoquinone, BQ–•*, were measured in THF solution. Rate constants for bimolecular electron transfer reactions typically reach the diffusion-controlled limit when the free-energy change, ΔG°, reaches −0.3 eV. The rate constants for ET from BQ–•* are one-to-two decades smaller at this energy and do not reach the diffusion-controlled limit until −ΔG° is 1.5–2.0 eV. The rates are so slow probably because a second electron must also undergo a transition to make use of the energy of the excited state. Similarly, ET, from solvated electrons to neutral BQ to form the lowest excited state, is slow, while fast ET is observed at a higher excited state, which can be populated in a transition involving only one electron. A simple picture based on perturbation theory can roughly account for the control of electron transfer by the need for transition of a second electron. The picture also explains how extra driving force (−ΔG°) ...
The interplay among software volatility, complexity and development outcomes: evidence from open source software

The study posits a mediating role of software complexity in the association between software volatility and different software development outcomes. Empirical tests using data from 326 open source software projects support such a partial mediating role of software complexity in the association between software volatility and development outcomes. Archival data is tested using an ordinary least squares mediated model. The paper uses productivity, defect count and development speed as dependent variables.
A comparison between protein crystals grown with vapor diffusion methods in microgravity and protein crystals using a gel liquid-liquid diffusion ground-based method

Crystals of human serum albumin have been successfully grown in a variety of gels using crystallization conditions otherwise equivalent to those utilized in the popular hanging-drop vapor-equilibrium method. Preliminary comparisons of gel grown crystals with crystals grown by the vapor diffusion method via both ground-based and microgravity methods indicate that crystals superior in size and quality may be grown by limiting solutal convection. Preliminary X-ray diffraction statistics are presented.
A model of heat production and transport in a water calorimeter

The heat diffusion equation for a watercalorimeter under isothermal and adiabatic boundary conditions has been solved analytically for a general source function. Based upon this model an interactive computer program has been developed and employed to predict the temporal variation of the temperature distribution in a watercalorimeterirradiated with 250 kV, 4‐, 6‐, and 25‐MV x rays and 7‐, 13‐, and 32‐MeV electrons. The model requires central‐axis depth dose curves as inputs and allows for any number of alternate heating and cooling periods. It is found that the shape of the cooling curve following an irradiation period depends upon the location of the point of measurement, the choice of boundary conditions, and the thermal history of the calorimeter.
Reconstruction of urethral erosion in men with a neurogenic bladder.

OBJECTIVE To describe the surgical outcomes and operative technique for reconstructing catheter-induced urethral erosion in men with a neurogenic bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a prospective study of 11 men (median age 45 years, range 26–52) who had elective urethroplasty for urethral erosion between 2004 and 2007 by one surgeon (C.M.G.). All men had a diagnosis of neurogenic bladder and indwelling catheter-induced urethral erosion. Reconstructive techniques included primary closure in six men, substitution urethroplasty with a penile skin graft in three, penile skin flap in one and a buccal mucosa graft in one. A two-stage approach was used in one man. RESULTS The median (range) length of erosion from the meatus before surgery was 6 (4–10) cm. The repair was successful in seven men at a mean (range) follow-up of 25 (8–46) months. Of those with recurrence of erosion, the median length of the resultant defect was 2 (2–3) cm. All recurrences were in the first five patients of this series. The median time to recurrence of erosion was 1 month and recurrence did not appear to be related to any particular surgical technique. Urethral catheter traction after surgery appeared to be one of the factors related to repair breakdown. CONCLUSION The reconstruction of catheter-induced urethral erosion in men with a neurogenic bladder is feasible. Primary closure appears to be the best reconstructive method for urethral erosion, and avoiding catheter traction after surgery contributes to successful urethroplasty.
Monte Carlo Sampling with Hierarchical Move Sets: POSH Monte Carlo.

We present a new Monte Carlo method for sampling rugged energy landscapes that allows for efficient transitions across sparsely distributed local basins. The trial move consists of two steps. The first step is a large initial trial move, and the second step is a Monte Carlo trajectory generated using smaller trial moves. To maintain detailed balance, a reverse transition probability is estimated along a path that differs from the forward path. Since the forward and reverse transitions are different, we name the algorithm POSH (port out, starboard home) Monte Carlo. The process obeys detailed balance to the extent that the transition probabilities are correctly estimated. There is an optimal range of performance for a given energy landscape, which depends on how sparsely the low energy states of the system are distributed. For simple model systems, adequate precision is obtained over a large range of inner steps settings. Side chain sampling of residues in the binding region of progesterone antibody 1dba a...
Altered Passive Eruption: The Undiagnosed Entity

Excessive gingiva can result from delayed or altered tooth eruption. This condition should be considered in restorative dentistry, orthodontic and esthetic treatment.
Quantifying amino acid and protein substitution using Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy can be a powerful tool for the characterization of modified amino acids and proteins. In addition to the potential for quantitative results, it offers the advantage of not requiring any sample preparation. Modification of amines and thiols on amino acids and proteins are common reactions used for medical, biological, food, and agricultural purposes. We hypothesized that the Raman spectrum could be used to quantify the reactions and would be more informative than typical characterization techniques such as the ninhydrin test. To prove the hypothesis, the amino acids alanine, cysteine, and lysine were modified with ethyl vinyl sulfone (EVS) using a nucleophilic addition reaction known as the Michael addition and the product was characterized using Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectroscopy results were compared with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy results based on ninhydrin analysis of the modified amino acids. The Raman spectroscopy analysis was able to discern site-specific reactions on the amino acids and suggested that more amino acid moieties were substituted than predicted using the ninhydrin test alone. Substitution of the full protein ovalbumin with EVS showed similar results. The ninhydrin test showed the substitution of primary amines and thiols but could not detect substitution of secondary amines remaining after loss of the primary amine. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The dead hand: Reagan, Gorbachev and the untold story of the Cold War arms race

David E. Hoffman, London, Icon Books, 2011, viii+577 pp. Dr Strangelove probably never made it to Soviet movie theatres. If it had, then they would have known that their ‘real-world doomsday device...
Retrospective classification of prostate-specific antigen tests: differentiating screening from diagnostic clinical encounters.

Abstract To assess the validity of retrospective medical chart review as a method of classifying prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests as screening or diagnostic services, we reviewed PSA tests ordered at a university hospital ( n = 95). PSA tests were reviewed by four raters: medicine resident (RES), oncologist (ONC), urologist (UR), medicine attending (GM)−and the physician who ordered the PSA test (ATTEND) using predefined standardized criteria. Agreement rates by individual rater and ATTEND were 0.79 (GM), 0.80 (ONC), 0.74 (UR), 0.83 (RES), for a composite percent agreement of 0.79. ATTEND incorrectly classified seven tests; exclusion of these tests raised agreement rates to 0.86 (GM), 0.86 (ONC), 0.80 (UR), 0.90 (RES), for a group composite percent agreement of 0.86. Of note, two raters had higher agreement rates when evaluating screening PSA tests than when evaluating diagnostic PSA tests. Standardized criteria applied to medical charts provide a valid method of retrospectively classifying PSA tests.
Structural Innovations In The Columbus Project: An 11.3 Meter Optical Telescope

The Columbus Project's goal is to develop and construct an 11.3 meter telescope by the 500th anniversary of the discovery. of American, 1992. The consortium that was formed to complete this task with this optimistic time schedule includes the University. of Arizona, Ohio State University, Arcetri Observatory (representing the Italian Telescope Group), and the University of Chicago. The mirror work being done by Roger Angel at the University of Arizona is the major defining parameter. The telescope is foreseen as being constructed of two 8-meter diameter, F:1 primaries with a 14 meter center separation.
X-ray properties of quasars

The X-ray properties of 111 catalogued quasars have been examined with the imaging proportional counter on board the Einstein Observatory. Thirty-five of the objects, of redshift between 0.064 and 3.53, were detected as X-ray sources. The 0.5–4.5-ke V X-ray properties of these quasars are correlated with their optical and radio continuum properties and with their redshifts and variability characteristics. The X-ray luminosity of quasars tends to be highest for those objects which are bright in both the optical and radio regimes and which exhibit optically violent variability. These observations suggest that quasars should be divided into two classes on the basis of radio luminosities, spectra, evolution and underlying morphology and, thus, that quasars can make up a significant portion of the diffuse soft X-ray background only if the slope of the optical quasar log N–log S relation is steeper than 2 to mB ≍21.5.
Are tick populations really less variable and should they be

Empirical evidence from electrophoretic examinations of Metastriate ticks does not support the prediction that these ectoparasites necessarily have low levels of genetic variability within populations and large interpopulation differences. In part, the failure of the theory to produce a parsimonious prediction seems to stem from the use of an inappropriate model based on spatial environmental heterogeneity. The experimental data are better explained in terms of host mobility, tick population size, and the degree of host specificity of the tick.
981-47 Increased Chemoreceptor Sensitivity — A Contributory Cause of Dyspnea in Chronic Heart Failure

The precise mechanism of dyspnea in chronic heart failure (CHF) is not known. We studied the chemosensitivity of 14 CHF patients (11 men; age 62 ± 1 [mean ± SEM] years; radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction 29 ± 4) and 9 controls (6 men; age 56 ± 3 years) by assessing the ventilatory response to hypoxia using transient pure nitrogen inhalation and to hypercapnia using single breath inhalation of 13% carbon dioxide in air The ventilatory response to hypoxia was significantly increased in CHF compared with normal subjects (0.67 ± 0.14 vs 0.24 ± 0.05 I/min/% SaO 2 , P = 0.013) but not to hypercapnia (0.31 ± 0.03 vs 0.26 ± 0.05 I/min/mmHg CO 2 , P = NS). Mean maximal oxygen consumption on cardiopulmonary exercise testing was 16.4 ± 0.8 vs 26.7 ± 1.8 ml/min/kg ( P l 0.01) and the slope relating minute ventilation (V E ) and carbon dioxide production (VCO 2 ) was 34.1 ± 2.0 vs 25.8 ± 0.8 ( P l 0.01). There was a correlation between the hypoxic ventilatory response and V E /VCO 2 slope ( r = 0.43, P = 0.043) and an inverse trend between this response and maximal oxygen consumption (r = -0.36, P = 0.099). There was no correlation between the hypoxic ventilatory response and ejection fraction ( r = -0.25, P = NS). We conclude that there is an increased chemosensitivity to hypoxia in CHF and this may contribute to the mechanism of dyspnea in this condition.
Effect of 6-aminonicotinamide on insulin release and C-14 glucose oxidation by isolated pancreatic rat islets: difference between glucose, tolbutamide and aminophylline.

Collagenase—isolated pancreatic islets collected from adult rats were incubated with glucose, tolbutamide or aminophylline (a soluble salt of theophylline). Indices of activity were insulin released into the medium, and oxidation of glucose labeled either in the C–l or C–6 position. Whereas glucose alone (16.5mM) produced a highly significant increase in insulin release, tolbutamide (0.1 mg/ml) or aminophylline (1 or 10mM) were ineffective by themselves. Both, however, potentiated the effect of glucose. If production of 14–CO2 from labeled glucose (SA 1.0 μi/mg) was measured in the presence of glucose, addition of neither tolbutamide nor aminophylline changed the number of 14–CO2 counts. If the islets were obtained from animals pretreated with 6–Aminonicotinamide, glucose released significantly less insulin, and less C–l carbon was incorporated into 14–CO2, indicating possible interference with adequate functioning of the pentose phosphate shunt. Addition of tolbutamide did not restimulate oxidation of gl...
A Chemiluminescent Clock Reaction: A Dramatic Illustration of Competing Reaction Kinetics

In the presence of both rubrene and perylene dissolved in hexanes, oxalyl chloride and hydrogen peroxide react to generate three different colors of light in the order yellow, then white, and finally blue. Student observers with additional TLC data can develop a simple kinetics model involving competing fluorescer decomposition and emission events.
Redesigning semiempirical-like pi-electron theory with second order effective valence shell Hamiltonian (Hν) theory: application to large protonated Schiff bases

Abstract The fast and simple second order effective valence shell Hamiltonian ( H ν) method is applied to the series of protonated Schiff bases (CC−)nCNH2 + for n = 1, 5, generating ab initio analogs of the π-electron effective integrals αi, βi,j and γi,j that appear in the semiempirical Pariser-Pan-Pople (PPP) theory. The H νβi,j and γi,i transfer remarkably well between all five Schiff bases. The other non-negligible effective integrals constitute only a minute fraction of the matrix elements of the H ν two- and three-electron operators and also transfer exceptionally well. The present calculations set the stage for developing an ab initio PPP model applicable to these and other biological interesting chromophores.
Radiative Corrections in Precision Electroweak Physics: a Historical Perspective

The aim of this article is to review the important role played by radiative corrections in precision electroweak physics, in the framework of both the Fermi theory of weak interactions and the standard theory of particle physics. Important theoretical developments, closely connected with the study and applications of the radiative corrections, are also reviewed. The role of radiative corrections in the analysis of some important signals of new physics is also discussed.
Bottle‐Feeding Histories of Preterm Infants

Objective: To describe the bottle-feeding histories of preterm infants and determine physical indices related to and predictive of bottle-feeding initiation and progression. Design: Ex post facto. Setting: Academic medical center. Participants: A convenience sample of 40 preterm infants without concomitant cardiac, gastrointestinal, or cognitive impairment. Main Outcome Measures: Postconceptional age at first bottle-feeding, full bottle-feeding, and discharge. Results: The morbidity rating, using the Neonatal Medical Index (NMI), was most strongly correlated with postconceptional age at first bottle-feeding (r = .34, p p Conclusions: The NMI may be a useful tool for predicting the initiation and progression of bottlefeeding in preterm infants.
Direct Adaptive Rejection of Vortex-Induced Disturbances for a Powered SPAR Platform

The Rapidly Deployable Stable Platform (RDSP) is a novel vessel designed to be a reconfigurable, stable at-sea platform. It consists of a detachable catamaran and spar, performing missions with the spar extending vertically below the catamaran and hoisting it completely out of the water. Multiple thrusters located along the spar allow it to be actively controlled in this configuration. A controller is presented in this work that uses an adaptive feedback algorithm in conjunction with Direct Adaptive Disturbance Rejection (DADR) to mitigate persistent, vortex-induced disturbances. Given the frequency of a disturbance, the nominal DADR scheme adaptively compensates for its unknown amplitude and phase. This algorithm is extended to adapt to a disturbance frequency that is only coarsely known by including a Phase Locked Loop (PLL). The PLL improves the frequency estimate on-line, allowing the modified controller to reduce vortex-induced motions by more than 95% using achievable thrust inputs.
Synthesis and reactivity of cis-dichloro(enamine)(amine)platinum(II) complexes

Abstract The reaction of Zeise's dimer, trans -μ-dichlorobis(ethylene)platinum(II) chloride, with a variety of alkyl-substituted enamines led to complexes of the type cis -[Pt(C(2)-enamine)(amine)Cl 2 ], where the enamine ligand is coordinated to the platinum(II) center through its nucleophilic carbon atom (C(2)) and the amine ligand is derived from the parent enamine. Analogous palladium complexes were prepared. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR ( 1 H, 13 C), and IR spectroscopy. Addition of 1 equiv. Ph 3 P to cis -[Pt(CH 3 CHCHNEt 2 )(Et 2 NH)Cl 2 ] resulted in substitution of the enamine ligand by Ph 3 P. When 2 equiv. Ph 3 P were added, both the enamine and amine ligands were replaced. Hydrolysis of cis -[Pt(CH 2 CHCHNEt 2 )(Et 2 NH)Cl 2 ] in dilute acetic acid resulted in formation of cis -[Pt(Et 2 NH) 2 -Cl 2 ], through enamine hydrolysis. Possible mechanisms for these reactions and for the formation of the complexes are discussed.
Determinants of Cooperativity in Repeat Protein Folding

Repeat proteins have been popular model systems in protein folding research due to their modular architecture. Although each repeat has the same fold, because of sequence variation, the folding energy is not distributed evenly among the repeats. Therefore, it is challenging to quantify the repeat-repeat interactions and the intrinsic folding energies of every repeat. To overcome this difficulty, we designed a consensus ankyrin repeat(CANK), which is brought together to make arrays of identical repeats. By solution NMR, we solved the structure of our three repeat CANK, NRC, and verify that NRC adopts the canonical Ankyrin repeat protein fold. Our SAXS measurements show that CANKs in different length arrays also adopt the same fold. By fitting unfolding transitions of a limited number of constructs to Ising model, we found that the individual repeats have low intrinsic stability, but the interfacial interactions are highly stabilizing. We also extended our Ising formalism to include the temperature dependence of unfolding free energy and we quantified the enthalpic and entropic contribution to intrinsic and interfacial stabilities, as well as, the uneven distribution of heat capacity of unfolding into the intrinsic and interfacial components. Our results suggest that intrinsic folding resembles secondary structure formation(loss of conformational entropy) and interfacial folding involves hydrophobic desolvation(entropy increase and negative heat capacity change upon folding). To separate out the contribution of long range electrostatics to intrinsic and interfacial stability, we measured the salt dependence of CANK stabilities. Our results show that NaCl stabilizes the interfaces and has marginal destabilizing effect on intrinsic stability. Currently we are trying to identify the charge-charge interactions responsible for the high salt dependence of interfacial stability by NMR techniques and single point substitutions.
Assembly of semihistone A24

Abstract Nucleosomal semihistone A24 (uH2A) is composed of histone H2A and ubiquitin peptides. The kinetics of incorporation of nascent H2A and ubiquitin into A24 of transformed chicken lymphocytes (MSB cells) have been examined by peptide mapping, COOH-terminus analysis, density labeling and isopycnic centrifugation of chromosomal proteins. We find that newly synthesized H2A is rapidly conjugated to ubiquitin. SDS-PAGE analysis of fractionated density gradients suggests, however, that newly synthesized ubiquitin becomes bound nonselectively to both new and preexisting H2A molecules.
An AUTS2-Polycomb complex activates gene expression in the CNS

Naturally occurring variations of Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) comprise a core assembly of Polycomb group proteins and additional factors that include, surprisingly, autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2). Although AUTS2 is often disrupted in patients with neuronal disorders, the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis is unclear. We investigated the role of AUTS2 as part of a previously identified PRC1 complex (PRC1–AUTS2), and in the context of neurodevelopment. In contrast to the canonical role of PRC1 in gene repression, PRC1–AUTS2 activates transcription. Biochemical studies demonstrate that the CK2 component of PRC1–AUTS2 neutralizes PRC1 repressive activity, whereas AUTS2-mediated recruitment of P300 leads to gene activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) demonstrated that AUTS2 regulates neuronal gene expression through promoter association. Conditional targeting of Auts2 in the mouse central nervous system (CNS) leads to various developmental defects. These findings reveal a natural means of subverting PRC1 activity, linking key epigenetic modulators with neuronal functions and diseases. Polycomb group proteins are known to maintain gene repression during development; however, when autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) associates with some Polycomb group complexes, these complexes have an unexpected gene activation role, offering new insight into the role of AUTS2 in neurological disorders. Polycomb group proteins, which maintain gene repression during development, comprise two main complexes (PRC1 and PRC2), with distinct enzymatic activities. Some PRC1 complexes associate with autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2), the gene for which is often disrupted in neuronal disorders. Here, Danny Reinberg and colleagues find that AUTS2 confers an unexpected transcriptional activation function on PRC1, and the PRC1–AUTS2 complex regulates neuronal genes. Deletion of the Auts2 locus in the mouse central nervous system leads to developmental defects. AUTS2 may have a key role in modulating PRC1 activity during normal brain development.
Oxygen diffusion in beta zircaloy during steam oxidation

Abstract Analytical and finite-difference methods developed to deal with diffusion in finite systems with moving boundaries were used to compute oxygen concentration profiles in the beta phase of Zircaloy specimens oxidized in steam. The results for isothermal exposures at temperatures from 927 to 1371°C are presented and discussed in terms of the properties and observations from a previously reported experimental data set. The computational results furnish a basis for the argument that the (prior) beta phase oxygen content and distribution may contribute significantly to the observed mechanical properties of Zircaloy specimens. The application of the computational methods was also extended to the case of oxygen diffusion in beta Zircaloy during non-isothermal temperature excursions. The exact shapes of the resulting profiles in these cases were shown to be dependent not only upon the shape of the temperature transient, but also upon the specific model chosen to represent the β−α transformation behavior during cooling.
The Complex Role of Sleep in Adolescent Depression

Psychological and pharmacologic treatments for youth depression yield post-acute response and remission rates that are modest at best. Improving these outcomes is an important long-term goal. The authors examine the possibility that a youth cognitive behavioral therapy insomnia intervention may be an adjunct to traditional depression-focused treatment with the aim of improving depression outcomes. This “indirect route” to improving youth depression treatment outcomes is based on research indicating that the risk of depression is increased by primary insomnia and that sleep problems interfere with depression treatment success and on emerging adult depression randomized controlled trial results. The authors describe the protocol they developed.