cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEW CARQUINEZ STRAIT SUSPENSION BRIDGE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

The new Carquinez Strait bridge in California with a total length of 1060m and a major span of 728m is the first major suspension bridge to be built in North America in over thirty years. It incorporates the latest in seismic analysis, foundation design and a state-of-the-art steel orthotropic box girder superstructure. The 1927 bridge was replaced mainly because of modern seismic resistance requirements. The bridge is situated in one of the most active seismic regions in the world. In an extreme event, the bridge should suffer only repairable damage. The superstructure is welded continuously from one end to the other, and is isolated from the towers using only rocker links for supports. These rocker links allow the box girder to swing freely between the tower legs, reducing interaction between the towers and the orthotropic box girder. Because of variable geology including soft clays, claystones, shale and fractured claystones and sandstones, the tower foundations were constructed of groups of twelve piles, each consisting of 3-m diameter reinforced concrete piles cast in driven steel shells. Details of the bridge deck are given.
Molecular-Based Theory for Drag on a Circular Cylinder by a Liquid

A simple multiscale theory is presented that predicts the inertial drag on an infinite cylindrical rod in a homogeneous liquid. The theory essentially integrates the van der Waals molecular interactions between the rod molecules and the surrounding fluid molecules, where these integrated molecular forces are influenced by the bulk motion of the surrounding fluid. The theory suggests that the drag force exhibited by the fluid onto the rod is caused by the combination of leading-edge repulsive forces and trailing-edge attractive forces, and the predicted drag coefficient increases linearly with the rod diameter. An application of the theory to the endothelial glycocalyx layer (EGL), which contains an array of 20 nm diameter protein chain fibers lining the walls of human blood vessels, predicts a substantial difference in drag coefficient when compared to a continuum theory. This result shows that theory predicts a small inertial drag force compared to viscous force on the EGL, which provides some validation of the theory.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Franklin D. Roosevelt: his poliomyelitis and orthopaedics.

Following World War II, the number of orthopaedic surgeons rapidly increased and the specialty expanded to include the treatment of fresh fractures. Many factors contributed to this development. This article discusses the contributions of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the growth of orthopaedic surgery. From the earliest time in recorded history, surgeons followed armies to treat their battle injuries. The orthopaedic surgeons of the nineteenth century treated musculoskeletal deformities; infections, particularly tuberculosis of bones and joints; and the complications of trauma, especially in children, but they did not engage in the treatment of acute trauma. Their knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of bones and joints provided them with the opportunity to use their skills to treat those needing rehabilitation during World War I. As they became proficient in this role, they also became involved in the acute treatment of fractures. In his presidential address at the Seventy-fourth Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) in 1961, Edward F. Cave stated, “Orthopaedic surgery was reborn and expanded during and after World War I, largely because trauma to the extremities became a part of orthopaedic surgery for the first time.”1 Later in the address, Cave stated, “World War II changed all of this. The sections of orthopaedic surgery in military hospitals often represented the largest divisions on the surgical services. Surgical teams sent to the forward areas were staffed by orthopaedic surgeons…. If the development of orthopaedic surgery was enhanced by World War I, it was expanded tenfold by the experience gained in the War of 1939–45, thanks in no small measure to one of our members, the late Major General Norman T. Kirk, who was at that time the Surgeon General of the Army.” In 1940, prior to the American entry into the war, the American Academy of Orthopaedic …
Progress towards a near IR single-photon superconducting nanowire camera for free-space imaging of light

We describe our progress towards building a free-space coupled array of nanowire detectors with a multiplexed readout. The cryogenic, optical, and electronic packaging to readout the array will be discussed.
Correlational methods in research on human learning: an amplification.

This paper considers two recommendations regarding the use of correlational methods in research on problems of human learning. These suggestions are that residual gain scores are especially appropriate for defining gains in such studies and that the results of factor analyses of gain scores are relevant to substantive problems of learning. It is concluded, first, that no acceptable logical or empirical grounds were presented for preferring residual scores to other linearly defined gain scores for use with correlational techniques; instead, the residual scores were shown to have several serious weaknesses. The second conclusion is that a factor analysis of gain scores is inappropriate for substantive problems of human learning; however, properly designed and correctly analyzed factor studies may supplement other techniques for such problems. Some weaknesses of a single-group design for a study of learning effects were also noted.
How children combine vision and touch when perceiving the shape of objects

Descriptive findings are now available on developmental changes in the ways children explore objects by eye and by hand in order to perceive their characteristics. The major question for this research was how vision and touch cooperate perceptually to gather information about unfamiliar shapes. We assumed that by ages 4 and 5, a cooperative division of labor for purposes of information gathering would be established between the two perceptual systems. Both observational and performance data supported the conclusion that for the perception of shape characteristics, the eyes are given an almost exclusive role, with hands serving mainly to orient objects for visual inspection. These findings are contrary to those of some Soviet researchers and suggest a different interpretation of the relations between vision and touch during the course of growth.
Recombinant bioprocess optimization for heterologous protein production using two-stage, cyclic fed-batch culture.

A two-stage, cyclic fed-batch bioprocess was designed, and its performance evaluated to improve rice α-amylase productivity by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica SMY2 (MatA, ade1, ura3, xpr2), ATCC 201847, containing a replicative plasmid coding for a rice α-amlyase. Transcription of the recombinant gene is controlled by the XPR2 promoter. The first stage (or growth stage) was operated in the fed-batch mode, and the growth medium, designed to maintain a constant high cell density (i.e., 60 g/l), was fed according to a predetermined and preprogrammed optimal feed rate which, in turn, maintained the specific cell growth rate at an optimal value (i.e., 0.1 h−1). Typically, when the volume in the first stage reached a preset value, a portion of culture broth (i.e., 55%) was transferred to the second stage (or production stage). The remaining cells in the growth stage were then fed with fresh growth medium according to the bioprocess control strategy developed, while induction of α-amylase expression and its production was taking place in the second stage. The second stage was also operated in the fed-batch mode, and the production medium designed to maintain a constant high cell density and high productivity of heterologous protein was fed at a predetermined and preprogrammed rate, which maintained the specific cell growth rate at an optimal level. The volumetric α-amylase productivity achieved (1835 units l−1 h−1) from the two-stage, cyclic fed-batch culture process was twofold higher than that of the fed-batch culture process. The genetic stability of the recombinant strain and the design of optimal media for growth and production stages are also critically important to a successful implementation of the two-stage, cyclic fed-batch process for production of heterologous protein.
Chloroform-Soluble Schiff-Base Zn(II) or Cd(II) Complexes from a Dynamic Combinatorial Library

A dynamic combinatorial library of metal ion Schiff-base complexes have been studied for the extraction of Zn(II) or Cd(II) from aqueous solution into chloroform. Library components consist of different aminophenols and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde. Extraction of both Zn(II) and Cd(II) into chloroform was observed from aqueous solutions containing 0.0500 mM M(NO3)2, 0.100 M aminophenol, 0.100 M 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, 0.100 M NaCl, and 5.00 mM buffer at pH 8.5. Extraction was dependent on pH but not on counterions including Cl-, Br-, or NO3-. Studies showed that equilibrium was attained between the Schiff-base complexes across the two-phase chloroform−water system after 24 h of stirring. Analysis of the extracted species by use of 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry as well as solubility studies on characterized complexes suggested that the major extracted species is the neutral bis-Schiff-base metal ion complex. In libraries containing mixtures of two different aminophenols and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehy...
Laser Capture Microdissection of Neurons from Differentiated Human Neuroprogenitor Cells in Culture

Neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs) isolated from the human fetal brain were expanded under proliferative conditions in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) to provide an abundant supply of cells. NPCs were differentiated in the presence of a new combination of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), dibutyryl cAMP (DBC) and retinoic acid on dishes coated with poly-L-lysine and mouse laminin to obtain neuron-rich cultures. NPCs were also differentiated in the absence of neurotrophins, DBC and retinoic acid and in the presence of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) to yield astrocyte-rich cultures. Differentiated NPCs were characterized by immunofluorescence staining for a panel of neuronal markers including NeuN, synapsin, acetylcholinesterase, synaptophysin and GAP43. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and STAT3, astrocyte markers, were detected in 10-15% of differentiated NPCs. To facilitate cell-type specific molecular characterization, laser capture microdissection was performed to isolate neurons cultured on polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) membrane slides. The methods described in this study provide valuable tools to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration.
The Oxidation of iridium-aluminum and iridium-hafnium intermetallics at temperatures above 1550°C

The oxidation behavior of iridium-aluminum and iridium-hafnium intermetallics has been investigated in various oxygen pressures and at temperatutes between 1550 and 1800°C. The hafnium concentration necessary for the formation of a continuous external HfO2 scale is above 50 at.% hafnium. The aluminum concentration necessary for the formation of a continuous external Al2O3 scale is above 55 at. % aluminum, which is the aluminum-rich boundary of the IrAl intermetallic. Thus, it appears that the IrAl25 intermetallic necessary for the formation of a protective, external Al2O3 scale in the iridiumaluminum system. The activation energy for the growth of Al2O3 on iridiuim (60 at.%) aluminum intermetallic is in agreement with that determined pre viously for the NiAl intermetallic at lower temperatures. This suggests that similar process may control the Al2O3 scale growth on these two intermetallics.
Alexithymia and hedonic capacity

Abstract The relationship between alexithymia and hedonic capacity was examined in a sample of 119 college students as well as in a sample of 54 married individuals. Subjects completed self-report measures of hedonic capacity, alexithymia. and depression and negative affect. The results indicated that difficulty identifying and communicating one′s emotions was consistently associated with a diminished capacity to experience pleasure in social, but not physical, situations. Alexithymia and social hedonic capacity continued to be related when variance shared with depression or negative affect was removed from the relationship. The implications of these results for our understanding of alexithymia are discussed.
Barriers to Effective Drug Abuse Prevention: The Role of Authoritarian Ideology

Abstract The relationships between authoritarian ideology and attitudes and beliefs about illegal drugs, the War on Drugs, and prevention strategies were investigated among 353 university faculty, administrators, and students. A confidential mail survey assessed five variables: right-wing authoritarianism, attitude toward drug legalization, attitude toward drug decriminalization, belief regarding the controlled use of illegal drugs, and the tendency to endorse a “just say no” approach to substance abuse prevention. Multivariate analyses revealed that highly authoritarian participants were significantly more opposed to both drug legalization and drug decriminalization than less authoritarian participants. Only nonauthoritarian participants favored decriminalization, though they did not favor legalization. Compared to those scoring lower on authoritarianism, higher-scoring authoritarian participants held significantly more dichotomous beliefs about illegal drugs (i.e., that abstinence or compulsive drug abu...
A re-examination of the use of ability to pay taxes by local governments

Abstract The orthodox view of local finance in the U.S. is that local governments should abstain from using ability to pay taxes because migration would result in a misallocation of resources and would nullify any attempt to redistribute income. This paper uses a general equilibrium model of a metropolitan area to examine the efficiency and redistributive properties of local income taxation relative to local head taxes. Contrary to the orthodox assertion, the results indicate that local governments can use income taxation without substantially misallocating resources. In addition, some redistribution results from the use of local income taxes.
Correlation of hemodynamic forces and atherosclerotic plaque components

Local hemodynamic forces in atherosclerotic carotid arteries are thought to trigger cellular and molecular mechanisms that determine plaque vulnerability. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has emerged as a powerful tool to characterize human carotid atherosclerotic plaque composition and morphology, and to identify plaque features shown to be key determinants of plaque vulnerability. Image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has allowed researchers to obtain time-resolved wall shear stress (WSS) information for atherosclerotic carotid arteries. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of initiation and progression of atherosclerosis can be obtained through the comparison of WSS and plaque composition. The aim of this study was to explore the hypothesis that intra-plaque hemorrhage, a feature associated with adverse outcomes and plaque progression, is more likely to occur in plaques with elevated WSS levels. We compared 2D representations of the WSS distribution and the amount of intra-plaque hemorrhage to determine relationships between WSS patterns and plaque vulnerability. We extracted WSS data to compare patterns between cases with and without hemorrhage. We found elevated values of WSS at regions where intra-plaque hemorrhage was detected, suggesting that WSS might be used as a marker for the risk of intra-plaque hemorrhage and subsequent complications.
Research ethics III: Publication practices and authorship, conflicts of interest, and research misconduct.

Purpose In this series of articles—Research Ethics I, Research Ethics II, and Research Ethics III—the authors provide a comprehensive review of the 9 core domains for the responsible conduct of res...
On the thermodynamic driving force for nucleation at large undercoolings

Abstract The molar free energy difference Δ G f , between amorphous and crystalline phases, is computed using heat capacity data over a large temperature range between the melting ( T m 0 ) and the glass transition temperatures. These values are used to assess the validity of the approximate correction factors, f H1 = T / T m 0 and f H2 = 2 T /( T + T m 0 ), suggested by Hoffman [Thermodynamic driving force in nucleation and growth processes. J Chem Phys 1958;29(5):1192–93], and widely used in the literature for a variety of polymers to account for the change in free energy with temperature, T . Surprisingly, for polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene, which are industrially important polymers, it is found that the performance of these correction factors is worse than uncorrected estimates. For isotactic polystyrene and polyethylene oxide, it is found that the correction factor f H2 offers a good approximation for the free energy of fusion at moderate to large undercoolings, although Hoffman's criterion recommends the use of f H1 . Empirical correction factors that provide a better fit with the experimental data, and a computer program used to determine them are also provided.
Social Policy by Popular Demand

Why are unemployment benefits more generous in some countries? This article argues that citizens trade off the redistributive and insuring effect of social insurance. As a result, the distribution of risk in a society has important consequences via popular demand for social policy-making. At the microlevel, the article shows that, in addition to income, the risk of unemployment is a key predictor of individual-level preferences for unemployment benefits. Based on the microlevel findings, the article argues that at the macrolevel the homogeneity of the risk pool is an important determinant of benefit generosity: the more equally unemployment risk is distributed, the higher unemployment replacement rates are. Empirical testing at both levels finds support for this account of social policy by popular demand.
Forage Legumes: Forage Quality, Fixed Nitrogen, or Both

Forage legumes have the unique attributes of producing a high-quality forage to enhance animal performance and the ability to utilize atmospheric N that eliminates the legume plants dependence on soil N. Biological N 2 fixation (BNF) rates are dependent on the infection by an effective rhizobia strain on the root hairs for each legume species. Producers planting forage legumes have the potential to utilize both benefits. However, both forage quality and BNF are influenced by numerous factors, including legume species, management practices, and climate, which determine their contribution to a forage-livestock system. Because of soil and climatic differences, the region of the United States dictates which legume species are grown, how productive they are, and how they are utilized in a forage-livestock system. Major factors influencing the contribution of legumes will be reviewed followed by a discussion of predominant legume species and their utilization in various regions of the United States.
The times, they are a changing

Change is inevitable, especially in the field of software engineering. We must change what we teach and how we teach it if we are to remain relevant and useful to our students. This requires openness to new approaches and more effective collaboration among academics, practitioners and experts on educational methods.
Current status of insecticidal control of wireworms in potatoes

Thomas P. Kuhar (Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech), John Speese III (Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech), Joanne Whalen (Department of Entomology and Applied Ecology, University of Delaware), Juan M. Alvarez (Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho), Andrei Alyokhin (Department of Biology, University of Maine), Gerald Ghidiu (Department of Entomology, Rutgers University) and Martin R. Spellman (Extension IPM Associate, University of Delaware) summarize the performance of various insecticides in efficacy trials for control of wireworms in potatoes and discuss the future outlook.
Mammalian reservoirs and epidemiology of rabies diagnosed in human beings in the United States, 1981-1998.

: Between 1981 and 1998, 37 cases of rabies were diagnosed in human beings in the United States. Information directly linking the cause of infection to animal bite was available for only eight of these cases. Indirect incrimination of the vector by analysis of cDNA sequences obtained by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of samples indicated that for all cases (12/12) believed to have been acquired in foreign countries, variants of the rabies virus (VRVs) associated with dogs (7/12 involved known bite histories) were the cause of the rabies infections. In contrast, VRVs associated with bats (bat-associated VRVs or BAVs) were implicated as the cause of 88% (22/25) of infections believed to have been acquired within the United States (1/22 involved known bite histories). Sequence analyses revealed that a single BAV (Ln/Ps), associated with rabid silver-haired (Lasionycteris noctivagans) and Eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus) bats, was implicated in 73% (16/22) of bat-associated infections. Silver-haired bats are predominantly solitary and migratory. Eastern pipistrelle bats may occur individually or in small clusters. Both species are only infrequently submitted for rabies testing. Unrecognized bites and unique properties of the Ln/Ps BAV may explain its association with the majority of rabies infections in human beings in the United States.
Oral Erythromycin and Symptomatic Relief of Gastroparesis: A Systematic Review

Abstract Objective Erythromycin is a motilin agonist that greatly increases the fractional rate of gastric emptying. Although a number of studies document the efficacy of erythromycin in improving gastric emptying, little information exists concerning symptom improvement in patients with gastroparesis. The aim of this study was to review clinical trials of erythromycin to determine the efficacy of this agent in producing symptom relief in patients with gastroparesis. Methods A MEDLINE search from 1966 to 2001 was performed to identify all clinical trials using erythromycin in patients with gastroparesis. The search was further limited to clinical trials using symptom assessment as an endpoint. References from index citations were reviewed to identify additional studies. The search was conducted independently by two authors, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus opinion. Results Thirty-five clinical trials were identified, and five met inclusion criteria. One study each involved gastroparesis caused by surgery and systemic sclerosis. Three studies evaluated patients with diabetic or idiopathic gastroparesis. No study used symptoms as a primary endpoint. Improvement was reported in 26 of 60 (43%) patients. Individual symptom scores were available for 23 of 60 subjects in these studies, and symptom improvement was seen in 11 of 23 (48%) patients. One study compared erythromycin and metoclopromide in an open-label, crossover fashion, and found no difference between the two agents. All studies were methodologically weak and highly subject to bias. Four of five studies were open-label trials. Sample sizes in all studies were ≤13 subjects, and treatment duration was ≤4 wk in all studies. Conclusions Although clearly a potent prokinetic, limited data exist concerning efficacy of erythromycin in treating gastroparesis. Small sample sizes, uncontrolled designs, short duration, and inadequate symptom assessment limit available studies. Well-designed trials designed to assess symptom relief in gastroparesis are needed.
AR, apoE, and cognitive function.

Reduced androgen levels in aged men and women might be risk factors for age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ongoing clinical trials are designed to evaluate the potential benefit of estrogen in women and of testosterone in men. In this review, we discuss the potential beneficial effects of androgens and androgen receptors (ARs) in males and females. In addition, we discuss the hypothesis that AR interacts with apolipoprotein (apoE)4, encoded by e4 and a risk factor for age-related cognitive decline and AD, and the potential consequences of this interaction.
A molecular beam study of weakly bound bimolecular complexes containing SO2

Abstract The potential importance of bimolecular complexes in atmospheric processes is reviewed. Many observations suggest weakly bound species play significant roles in the atmosphere. Since the lack of binding energy data for such clusters makes definite conclusions difficult, experimental studies of the interaction of SO 2 with 18 different molecular binding partners was carried out. The relative binding energy of these complexes was estimated by observing how effectively a given cluster competed with the formation of other weakly bound species in a supersonic molecular beam source. Trends, and possible explanations for such trends, are discussed.
Opening the SecYEG Protein Translocon

The Sec61/SecYEG translocon is the central component of the major biosynthetic pathway for membrane and secreted proteins. To incorporate membrane proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane of eukaryotes (Sec61), or into the plasma membrane of prokaryotes (SecYEG), the translocon relies on the opening of a lateral helical gate formed by transmembrane (TM) helices TM2 and TM7. The crystallographic structure of the closed state of the translocon (B. van der Berg et al, Nature 427, 36-44, 2003) solved in the absence of bound signal peptide provides valuable information on possible scenarios of membrane protein insertion. Nevertheless, the sequence of structural rearrangements that leads to the opening of the translocon and the geometry of the translocon in its open state remain unknown. To derive information on the structure and dynamics of possible open conformations of the SecYEG translocon, we performed prolonged molecular dynamics simulations of the SecYEG translocon in which we mutated residues determined to participate in stabilizing interactions of the closed state. We have also performed a simulation of the SecYEG translocon with a bound signal peptide. The computations provide insights into interactions essential for keeping the lateral gate closed and how perturbations of these interactions cause rearrangements of the gate.This work was supported by research grants from the National Institute for General Medical Sciences, the NIH National Center for Research Resources, and the National Science Foundation.
Exact solution for a metapopulation version of Schelling’s model

More than 40 y ago, Schelling introduced one of the first agent-based models in the social sciences. The model showed that even if people only have a mild preference for living with neighbors of the same color, complete segregation will occur. This model has been much discussed by social scientists and analyzed by physicists using analogies with spin-1 Ising models and other systems. Here, we study the metapopulation version of the model, which mimics the division of a city into neighborhoods, and we present the first analysis to our knowledge that gives detailed information about the structure of equilibria and explicit formulas for their densities.
An analytic theory of the impact of velocity overshoot on the drain characteristics of field-effect transistors

An analytic theory of the impact of velocity overshoot on the drain current characteristics of field-effect transistors is presented. Good agreement between the theory and experimental data is demonstrated for silicon MOS devices. Some applications of the theory are outlined. >
Lapped RVQ and alphabet and entropy constraints

The paper reports on some methods to improve the performance of residual vector quantization (RVQ) for low bit rate image coding. The problem addressed is the direct application of RVQ-based techniques to coding images at low bit rates. In the first part of the paper, RVQs are investigated where vectors are allowed to overlap. The RVQ structure allows this to be done in stages and without increasing the bit rate, resulting in a reduction in blocking effects. In the second part of the paper, entropy-constrained RVQ is considered where an additional constraint is placed on the RVQ codebook to improve the reproduction quality given fixed memory constraints. >
Differential membrane potential and ion current responses to different types of shear stress in vascular endothelial cells

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) distinguish among and respond differently to different types of fluid mechanical shear stress. Elucidating the mechanisms governing this differential responsiveness...
A Model for Optimum Control of Stochastic Sampled-Data Systems

A model is developed for a sampled-data feedback control system for processes having randomly-distributed outputs or involving measurement techniques that introduce a significant component of variance in the measured values of the controlled variable. The principal development concerns a simple proportional control system with fixed proportionality constant. An acceptable range for the constant is determined from stability criteria for the case of a normally-distributed output with constant process variance and is observed to coincide with well-known servo-mechanism design principles. The method of derivation involves successive operations on the normal probability density function. The effects on system response time constant, oscillatory tendencies, and system variance of various values of the constant within the acceptable range are discussed. Finally, two classes of criterion functions are mentioned, from which optimum values of the proportionality constant can be determined. The first involves fixed tolerances on individual items of output, and the second treats costs that are functions of the deviation between desired and actual outputs.
A Test of the Mediating Role of Gender Role Conflict: Latino Masculinities and Help-Seeking Attitudes

Restrictive emotionality and restrictive affectionate behavior between men, 2 components of male gender role conflict (O’Neil, Helms, Gable, David, & Wrightsman, 1986) were studied to understand their mediating role in the association between 2 Latino masculinity ideologies (i.e., machismo and caballerismo) and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Four separate path analyses (Mplus, V 7.11, Muthen & Muthen, 1998–2013) were used to test for the hypothesized indirect effects. Results did not indicate support for any of the 4 hypothesized indirect effects with a community-based sample of 202 adult Latino men. However, significant associations between machismo, age, and help-seeking attitudes were found. Implications of these findings as well as recommendations for future research are discussed.
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae WRN homolog Sgs1p participates in telomere maintenance in cells lacking telomerase

Werner syndrome (WS) is marked by early onset of features resembling aging, and is caused by loss of the RecQ family DNA helicase WRN. Precisely how loss of WRN leads to the phenotypes of WS is unknown. Cultured WS fibroblasts shorten their telomeres at an increased rate per population doubling and the premature senescence this loss induces can be bypassed by telomerase. Here we show that WRN co-localizes with telomeric factors in telomerase-independent immortalized human cells, and further that the budding yeast RecQ family helicase Sgs1p influences telomere metabolism in yeast cells lacking telomerase. Telomerase-deficient sgs1 mutants show increased rates of growth arrest in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle as telomeres shorten. In addition, telomerase-deficient sgs1 mutants have a defect in their ability to generate survivors of senescence that amplify telomeric TG1–3 repeats, and SGS1 functions in parallel with the recombination gene RAD51 to generate survivors. Our findings indicate that Sgs1p and WRN function in telomere maintenance, and suggest that telomere defects contribute to the pathogenesis of WS and perhaps other RecQ helicase diseases.
Quantifying Fluid Mixing with the Shannon Entropy

We introduce a methodology to quantify the quality of mixing in various systems, including polymeric ones, by adapting the Shannon information entropy. For illustrative purposes we use particle advection of two species in a two-dimensional cavity flow. We compute the entropy by using the probability of finding a suitable chosen group/complex of particles of a given species, at a given location. By choosing the size of the group to be in direct proportion to the overall concentration of the components in the mixture we ensure that the entropic measure is maximized for the case of perfect mixing, that is, when at each location the component concentration is equal to the corresponding overall component concentrations. The scale of observation role in evaluating mixing is analyzed using the entropic methodology. We also illustrate the effect of initial conditions on mixing in a laminar system, typical in operations involving polymers.
Semilinear problems with bounded nonlinear term

We solve boundary value problems for elliptic semilinear equations in which no asymptotic behavior is prescribed for the nonlinear term.
A cable twisting model and its application in CSIC multi-stage cabling structure

The ITER conductor is made of a superconductor cable with multi-stage twisted strands. The spatial structure of such a cable is essential for understanding the effect of load and strain on the performance of a superconducting cable. Unfortunately, there have no analytical models so far to describe accurately such twisted spatial structure. This paper proposes a twisting matrix model to accurately describe the spatial structure of a multi-stage twisted superconducting cable. Although the current model only simulates the first step of a cabling process, it still gives approximately neighboring relation between strands and sub-cables. This neighboring relation is essential for any cabling simulation. The 2nd step simulation, i.e., compaction, can be realized by finite element method based on the cable spatial structure constructed by the proposed one. The simulation results by this model agree well with the observations for pitch and orientation.
Design and in silico screening of inhibitors of the cholera toxin.

Background: Cholera toxin (CT) is the causative agent for cholera, which is responsible for the death of millions of people. The holotoxin structure of CT in conjunction with its mechanism of action reveals four potential target areas to design CT therapeutic agents: i) the inhibition of adenylate cyclase; ii) the blockage of the active site of the enzyme located in the A subunit; iii) the disruption of the assembly of the holotoxin by interrupting the A2–B interaction; and iv) the interception of the receptor binding to the bottom of the B pentamer. Objective/method: In this review, some of the most exciting and successful CT inhibitors and their design strategies are highlighted. These include transition state analogues and substrate analogues as CTA inhibitors, and pentavalent ligand, sugar-containing dendrimers and sugar mimics as CTB inhibitors. Some recent progress in in silico screening methods is also summarized. Conclusion: The most potent inhibitor demonstrated an IC50 of 50 pM.
Databases on the Web

This chapter describes how Web browsers are used to connect to databases. The emphasis is on those situations in which an organization wishes to provide live, dynamic, transactional data to persons outside the organization. The evolution of databases and technological requisites for connecting, retrieving, and displaying dynamic database data are considered, including the special demands that the Internet places on databases. The chapter briefly covers data normalization, relationships, and referential integrity. Examples of typical connection and processing approaches are given, such as Common Gateway Interface, Application Program Interfaces, Active Server Pages, PHP:Hypertext Preprocessor, and Cold Fusion. Keywords: application program interface (API); dynamic database data; normalization; object-oriented databases; relational databases; SQL
Using Corpora in the Language Learning Classroom: Corpus Linguistics for Teachers

The goal of this book is to make the ideas of corpus linguistics accessible to teachers and, most important, provide ideas, instruction, and opportunities for teachers to use the applications of corpus linguistics in their classrooms. "Using Corpora in the Language Learning Classroom "is intended for graduate students who are studying applied linguistics or TESOL, for teacher-trainers working with language instructors, and for practicing language teachers who want to better understand corpus linguistics and how to incorporate it into their classroom.The book has three sections: (1) a general introduction to corpus linguistics, which contains a brief look at the theory and principles of corpus linguistics; (2) a section that reviews corpus-influenced materials and commonly used corpora; and (3) a set of corpus-designed activities that rely on several tools (MICASE, COCA, TextSTAT, for example) to teach a variety of language skills.This book does not intend to provide a complete theoretical foundation for corpus linguistics, but it does aim to provide its readers with the basic theoretical underpinnings and tools needed to work with corpora in the classroom in such a way that they are able to more effectively and efficiently help students to acquire a second language."
Evaluation of the Green Dot Bystander Intervention to Reduce Interpersonal Violence Among College Students Across Three Campuses

Evidence suggests that interventions to engage bystanders in violence prevention increase bystander intentions and efficacy to intervene, yet the impact of such programs on violence remains unknown. This study compared rates of violence by type among undergraduate students attending a college campus with the Green Dot bystander intervention (n = 2,768) with students at two colleges without bystander programs (n = 4,258). Violent victimization rates were significantly (p < .01) lower among students attending the campus with Green Dot relative to the two comparison campuses. Violence perpetration rates were lower among males attending the intervention campus. Implications of these results for research and practice are discussed.
Lysosomal dysfunction and impaired autophagy underlie the pathogenesis of amyloidogenic light chain‐mediated cardiotoxicity

AL amyloidosis is the consequence of clonal production of amyloidogenic immunoglobulin light chain (LC) proteins, often resulting in a rapidly progressive and fatal amyloid cardiomyopathy. Recent work has found that amyloidogenic LC directly initiate a cardiotoxic response underlying the pathogenesis of the cardiomyopathy; however, the mechanisms that contribute to this proteotoxicity remain unknown. Using human amyloidogenic LC isolated from patients with amyloid cardiomyopathy, we reveal that dysregulation of autophagic flux is critical for mediating amyloidogenic LC proteotoxicity. Restoration of autophagic flux by pharmacological intervention using rapamycin protected against amyloidogenic light chain protein-induced pathologies including contractile dysfunction and cell death at the cellular and organ level and also prolonged survival in an in vivo zebrafish model of amyloid cardiotoxicity. Mechanistically, we identify impaired lysosomal function to be the major cause of defective autophagy and amyloidogenic LC-induced proteotoxicity. Collectively, these findings detail the downstream molecular mechanisms underlying AL amyloid cardiomyopathy and highlight potential targeting of autophagy and lysosomal dysfunction in patients with amyloid cardiomyopathy.
Conclusion and Discussion

Before discussing my findings, I would like to point out the disparity of sampling and courses taken between China and the U.S. First, the U.S. sample was a convenience sample taken from an interdisciplinary middle grade math and science program in a large public university. The U.S. participants came primarily from one of three routes of middle grade mathematics teacher preparation: a program designed exclusively for middle grade teachers’ preparation. The Chinese participants were sampled from the secondary prospective mathematics preparation programs. In China, secondary school includes middle and high schools. There is only one type of secondary mathematics teacher preparation program (including middle and high schools) although there are variations regarding course design and arrangement.
Basilar Artery Occlusion in an Adolescent Girl: A Risk of Oral Contraceptives?:

An 18-year-old adolescent girl died of an extensive pontine infarction. At postmortem examination she was found to have a thrombosis of the basilar and intracranial vertebral arteries with associated focal hyperplasia of the intima. Her ovaries were grossly small and inactive, with absent corpora lutea. Based on these findings, we suspect she was taking oral contraceptives. In cases of unexplained fatal strokes in young females, careful pathologic examination of the ovaries may provide etiological clues.
Accursed, Superior Men: Ethno-Religious Minorities and Politics in the Medieval Mediterranean

One of the most salient features of the medieval Mediterranean is that it was a zone of intense interaction and long-term cohabitation of members of various ethno-religious communities whose relations are usually conceived of as fundamentally adversarial. Yet Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived amongst each other in both the Christian- and Muslim-ruled Mediterranean, even during the era of the crusades. Typically, such relationships have been presented as either fundamentally hostile, or cordial, and as related to the “tolerance” that host cultures were inclined to demonstrate as a consequence of their own religious orientation. This paper takes a different, phenomenological approach by focusing on a specific manifestation of this interaction: the emergence of out-group political elites in confessionally defined societies. Through the medium of three case studies—a powerful Jew in Islamic Spain, a powerful Muslim in Norman Sicily and a powerful Coptic Christian in Fatimid Egypt—I demonstrate that the status of minority elites was related to concrete political circumstances grounded in the particular environment of the region, and that, despite cultural differences that might have distinguished them, these societies developed near-identical strategies for engaging with minority elites. The language of religious polemic, exclusion, and marginalization was present, but it tended to serve as a post factum rationalization for repression rather than its cause, and tended to be deployed decisively only in certain circumstances. This provides new insights not only into Muslim-Christian-Jewish relations, but the fundamental nature of Mediterranean history and society.
Tuberculous sacroiliitis. A case report and review of the literature

Background: Infections of the musculoskeletal system are tuberculous in nature in 1–5% of cases. The sacroiliac joint is involved in 3–9.7%. We describe the case of a 32-year-old man with tuberculous sacroiliitis presented as a growing mass on the lateral aspect of his right proximal and mid-thigh. Open biopsy, histology, cultures and PCR established the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Results: After surgical drainage of the abscess, the patient was administrated a triple antibiotic regimen for 12 months. Seven years postoperatively, the patient is disease-free with no functional limitation. This case report highlights the importance of continued awareness for early detection and treatment of a tuberculous sacroiliac joint infection.
Rapid Changes in Rat Heart Lipoprotein Lipase Activity after Feeding Carbohydrate

The effect of feeding various carbohydrates on the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) released by heparin from perfused rat heart was investigated. Animals fasted for 8 to 12 hours were given a single 3-ml dose of 60% (w/v) glucose, sucrose or fructose solution or 3 ml water by intubation. After various time intervals, the hearts were removed and perfused with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing 1 unit heparin/ml. The perfusate was then assayed for LPL activity. From 35 to 80 minutes after feeding the LPL activity released by heparin from hearts of the glucose fed animals decreased 85% compared to the LPL activity released from hearts of the control group fed water. A similar decline in lipase activity was seen in the sucrose-fed group. In contrast to the glucose and sucrose data, fructose feeding produced no change in the heparin-releasable LPL activity compared with the control animals fed water. The LPL activity remaining in the heart tissue after perfusion with heparin was not significantly different in the experimental and control groups. The capacity of the hearts to hydrolyze 14C-labeled chylomicrons following glucose or sucrose feeding was also reduced by 70 to 85%.
A procedure for designing a translator from C to VHDL

Hardware/software codesign can be defined as the unification of separate hardware and software paths towards the development of a system as a whole. One of the prominent aspects of a codesign process is C to VHDL translation. This paper describes a procedure to design a translator from C to VHDL using transformation algorithms, which facilitate the process of C to VHDL translation. In particular, we examine the transformation algorithms involved in the process of C to VHDL translation.
A Comparison of Five Radiographic Systems to D-Speed Film in the Detection of Artificial Bone Lesions

The purpose of this study was to compare three direct digital sensors (Kodak 6100 [Rochester, NY], Schick CDR [Long Island City, NY], and Dexis PerfectSize [Alpharetta, GA]), a phosphor plate system (OpTime; Milwaukee, WI), and F-speed film to standard D-speed film in the detection of artificial bone lesions prepared in mandible bone sections. Artificial bone lesions were prepared at varying depths in the cortical bone. Radiographs were randomly presented to nine different observers. Logistic regression analysis indicated significant differences in lesion detection among the radiographic systems at the mean percentage of cortical bone remaining. The Kodak filtered, Schick filtered, OpTime unfiltered, Schick unfiltered, and Dexis filtered images were significantly better at lesion detection compared with D-speed film.
Model-based systems security quantification

In this paper, we address the issue of security verification and evaluation of systems at the design level. To this end, we elaborate a practical and formal framework that enables security risk assessment and security requirements verification on systems that are designed using SysML activity diagrams. Our approach is based on probabilistic adversarial interactions between potential attackers and the system design models. These interactions result in a global model that is used to quantify security risks by applying probabilistic model-checking. We rely on a standard catalogue of attack patterns to build a library of attacks' design patterns. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we apply it on a real-life case study related to the Secure Real Time Streaming Protocol.