cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Import of a mitochondrial presequence into protein-free phospholipid vesicles

A synthetic mitochondrial presequence has been shown to translocate across pure phospholipid bilayers. The presequence was fluorescently labeled so that its association with membranes could be monitored spectroscopically. In the presence of large unilamellar vesicles, the presequence showed time- and potential-dependent protection from reaction with added trypsin and dithionite. The protection was rapidly reversed by treatment of the vesicles with detergent. If the vesicles contained trypsin, the added presequence became sensitive to digestion by the protease. The results show that a mitochondrial presequence can translocate across phospholipid bilayers that lack a hydrophilic translocation pore.
Observation of Atlantic Sturgeon Predation by a Flathead Catfish

Abstract Sturgeons (family Acipenseridae) are a highly threatened taxon worldwide; populations have declined for several reasons, including overfishing and habitat modification. It has been suggested that the widely introduced, highly piscivorous, flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris is responsible for the decline of certain sturgeon populations in North America. Here we present the first field observation of flathead catfish predation on a sturgeon of any species, an Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus in the Satilla River, Georgia. Our finding demonstrates a potential impact of flathead catfish predation on sturgeon populations; however, more research is needed to describe the full magnitude of such effects on sturgeon populations. Received July 29, 2010; accepted December 4, 2010
Mediator-assisted photocurrent extraction from the thylakoids

Abstract Photocurrent extracted from the thylakoids has been studied as a function of electron mediator concentration. Phenazine methosulfate is used to facilitate the charge transfer from the thylakoid's charge transport chain to the outside medium. The photocurrent has been shown to originate from the photosynthesis on the thylakoid membranes. Comparing with a previous study using para-Benzoquinone as the mediator, a similar peak effect in the photocurrent as a function of concentration is observed, but the magnitude of the current is nearly a thousand times greater. A semi-quantitative analysis is presented to explain the data found in those systems.
Use of Pitzer's equations to determine the media effect on the formation of lead chloro complexes

Abstract The spectrophotometric measurements of chloro complexes of lead in aqueous HCl, NaCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2 solutions at 25°C have been analyzed using Pitzer's specific interaction equations. Parameters for activity coefficients of the complexes PbCl+, PbCl20 and PbCl3− have been determined for the various media. Values of K 1 = 30.0 ± 0.6 , K 2 = 106.7 ± 2.1 and K 3 = 73.0 ± 1.5 were obtained for the cumulative formation constants. [ Pb 2+ + nCl − → PbCl n 2−n ) ]. These values are in reasonable agreement with literature data. The Pitzer parameters for the PbCl ion pairs in various media were used to calculate the speciation of Pb2+ in an artificial seawater solution.
A DNA vaccine expressing tyrosinase-related protein-2 induces T-cell-mediated protection against mouse glioblastoma

A mouse glioblastoma cell line, termed GL261, was shown to express high levels of proteins involved in melanin biosynthesis such as the tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which is commonly overexpressed in melanoma cells. Mice injected with GL261 cells developed a CD8(+) T-cell response to TRP-2 and a DNA vaccine expressing human (h)TRP-2 induced CD8(+) T cells that recognized TRP-2 expressed by GL261 cells indicating that this melanoma-associated antigen may be suited for active immunotherapy of glioblastoma. Mice vaccinated with a DNA vaccine expressing TRP-2 were partially protected against subcutaneous, intravenous, or intracerebral challenge with the glioblastoma cells. Vaccine-induced protection against intracerebral challenge required both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Vaccine efficacy was enhanced upon addition of IL-12 as a genetic adjuvant. These results indicate that this well-defined melanoma-associated antigen can induce an adaptive immune response, which limits the intracerebral progression of a glioblastoma.
A new approach for the justification of ensembles in quantum statistical mechanics — I

In this and the following paper, a new approach for the justification of ensembles in statistical mechanics is given. The essential physical idea is that a measurement is an average of values arising from disjoint regions in three-space. This idea is given a mathematical basis in terms of a class of operators called “local operators,” and the first paper is devoted primarily to the development of the properties of local operators. In particular, a complete characterization of the bounded local operators on ℒ2 spaces of finite measure is given. Two results of importance for statistical mechanics are also derived. First, it is shown that the observables of quantum mechanics are local operators. Second, it is shown that the expectation value of an observable for a pure state can be written formally as an ensemble average. In the following paper, these results are used to develop a new approach for the justification of statistical ensembles.
Effect of tamoxifen on mitoxantrone cytotoxicity in drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant MCF-7 cells.

The influence of the antiestrogen tamoxifen (TAM) on the activity of mitoxantrone (MXN), was evaluated against wild-type MCF-7/WT and their multidrug-resistant variant MCF-7/ADR cells. Multidrug resistance (MDR) in this cell line which was selected for resistance to Adriamycin (ADR), is associated with increased expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). In a clonogenic assay it was observed that TAM (1–10 μM) significantly enhanced the activity of MXN in the MCF-7/ADR but not in the drug-sensitive cell line. Isobologram analysis indicated that the effect of the combination was additive in the parental MCF-7/WT cells and strongly synergistic in the MDR MCF-7/ADR cells. Also, TAM (10 μM) caused a three-fold increase in the steady-state levels (Css) of MXN in MCF-7/ADR cells but did not modulate MXN levels in MCF-7/WT cells. The observed synergism in MCF-7/ADR cells was perhaps due to the increase in Css of MXN that may involve interaction of TAM with P-gp. The combination of MXN and TAM may be useful in the treatment of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant breast cancer.
Toward a Fuzzy Logic Control of the Infant Incubator

Premature birth is a world wide problem. Thermo regulation is a major problem in premature infants. Premature infants are often kept in infant incubators providing convective heating. Currently either the incubator air temperature is sensed and used to control the heat flow, or infant’s skin temperature is sensed and used in the close loop control. Skin control often leads to large fluctuations in the incubator air temperature. Air control also leads to skin temperature fluctuations. The question remains if both the infant’s skin temperature and the incubator air temperature can be simultaneously used in the control. The purpose of the present study was to address this question by developing a fuzzy logic control which incorporates both incubator air temperature and infant’s skin temperature to control the heating. The control was evaluated using a lumped parameter mathematical model of infant-incubator system (Simon, B. N., N. P. Reddy, and A. Kantak, J. Biomech. Eng. 116:263–266, 1994). Simulation results confirmed previous experimental results that the on–off skin control could lead to fluctuations in the incubator air temperature, and the air control could lead to too slow rise time in the core temperature. The fuzzy logic provides a smooth control with the desired rise time.
Hirschsprung Disease of the Adult Mimicked by Chronic Constipation or Vice Versa

Hirschsprung disease is a rare congenital disorder characterized by a functional obstruction of the distal bowel due to aganglionic bowel segments with impaired motility. It is a rare condition in the adult, and usually mimicked by a long standing history of constipation, requiring great astuteness to diagnose. We present a case with all the clinical and radiologic characteristics of adult Hirschsprung disease, which had a final diagnosis of chronic constipation in a mentally impaired individual. doi:10.4021/jmc731w
Hematoma-Related Seizures Detected During Subdural Electrode Monitoring

A 28-year-old woman with epilepsy developed the new onset of paroxysmal tongue tingling during subdural electrode monitoring. Her symptoms coincided with electrographic seizure activity arising from an area of the perisylvian region that had not previously been involved in her habitual seizures. At electrode removal, a focal 2 x 2 cm hematoma was detected and evacuated from beneath these electrode contacts. Unexpected episodic events may represent nonhabitual seizure activity related to the surgical procedure.
Protein Phosphatase 6 Subunit with Conserved Sit4-associated Protein Domain Targets IκBϵ

Protein Ser/Thr phosphatases compose a PPP family that includes type-2 PP2A, PP4, and PP6, each with essential functions. The human PP6 gene rescues sit4(ts) mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Sit4 phosphatase function depends on multiple Sit4-associated protein (SAP) subunits. We report here finding a SAPS sequence domain encoded in only a single gene each in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila but in three distinct open reading frames in Xenopus, Mus musculus, and Homo sapiens. The SAPS proteins are more divergent in sequence than PP6. Northern hybridization showed differential distribution of the human SAPS-related mRNA in multiple human tissues, named as PP6R1, PP6R2, and PP6R3. Antibodies were generated, distribution of endogenous PP6, PP6R1, PP6R2, and PP6R3 proteins was examined by immunoblotting, and the abundance of mRNA and protein in various tissues did not match. FLAG-tagged PP6R1 and PP6R2 expressed in HEK293 cells co-precipitated endogenous PP6, but not PP2A or PP4, showing specificity for recognition of phosphatases. The SAPS domain of PP6R1 alone was sufficient for association with PP6, and this predicts that conserved sequence motifs in the SAPS domain accounts for the specificity. FLAG-PP6R1 and FLAG-PP6R2 co-precipitated HA-IkappaBepsilon. Knockdown of PP6 or PP6R1 but not PP6R3 with siRNA significantly enhanced degradation of endogenous IkappaBepsilon in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The results show SAPS domain subunits recruit substrates such as IkappaBepsilon as one way to determine specific functions for PP6.
An expression-packaging-processing vector which selects and maintains 7-kb DNA inserts in the blue T4 phage genome.

Abstract We have developed an efficient positive-selection vector to insert foreign DNA segments fused to the T4 ipIII gene (encoding internal protein IPIII) into the bacteriophage T4 genome. By using partial deletions of the T4 e gene, which encodes phage lysozyme, lysozyme activity required for plaque formation is used to select plasmid integrants which restore the e gene. In this work, we demonstrate that DNA inserts more than 7.0 kb in length can be incorporated into a T4 genome lacking the alt gene. In addition, the recombinant T4 not only contains a fusion gene driven by the T4 ipIII promoters, but also packages the fusion protein into the T4 capsid due to targeting by the IPIII portion. This expression-packaging-processing system shows that active IPIII::βGal fusion reporter protein is produced and packaged during phage infection.
Frequency-Dependent Ionospheric Refraction Effects on the Doppler Shift of Satellite Signals

Analysis of four-frequency satellite Doppler data has allowed the separation and measurement of frequency-dependent ionospheric contributions to the Doppler shift, providing information useful in the study of errors incurred when tracking radio signals through the ionosphere. These refraction errors affect the accuracy of navigational position fixes obtained by Doppler satellite tracking systems. Some measured ionospheric refraction errors reported here are of interest because their magnitudes are significantly greater than those heretofore predicted from theoretical considerations.
Director dynamics of uniformly aligned nematic liquid crystals in transient shear flow

We have developed a modular rheo-optical apparatus to study the flow properties of liquid crystals. Its main components are shearing device, strong magnetic field, and optical microscope. We performed experiments on well defined initial morphologies with uniform molecular alignment. The monodomains were achieved with strong magnetic fields (4.7T). Time-resolved conoscopy is the primary optical technique in our investigation. We propose a simple relation between the distribution of alignment angles over the sample thickness and the conoscopically measured angle, to quantitatively measure the alignment angle in shear flow. We followed the relaxation of a shear-induced splay deformation in small molecule model systems (N-(p-methoxybenzylidene) p-butylaniline (MBBA), pentyl-cyano-biphenyl (5 CB) and a commercially available mixture OM14244). We define a rotational director diffusivity $$D_R = \frac{{K_s }}{{\eta _s }}$$ (K s splay elastic constant. i7s splay viscosity) from the relaxation process and devised a model, based on the diffusion equation to determine their values. The director alignment behavior of the small molecule liquid crystals (SMLC's) in shear flow is well described by the two-dimensional Leslie-Ericksen model. The effect of director elasticity can clearly be seen in our experiments, resulting in a decrease of the steady state alignment angle at smaller Ericksen numbers. We found that there is no strain rate dependence of the director vorticity from 0.002/s to 2/s for poly-(γ-benzyl-D/L-glutamate) (PBG). We determined α2/α3 = −44 for a 2007o solution of 280000 molecular weight PBG in m-cresol at 20°C. The conoscopic interference pattern vanished after 8 strain units from an initially planar alignment and shearing could be reversed up to 10 strain units to completely recover the initial monodomain.
Kuhn and Scientific Practices

Joseph Rouse Wesleyan University Thomas Kuhn's philosophical work has helped initiate or reinvigorate many of the central themes in the philosophy of science over the past three decades. His claim that appropriate attention to history could decisively transform familiar philosophical of science views was of course prophetic. Kuhn's discussion of meaning change, incommensurability, and the interdependence of theory and observation occasioned both the rise of rationalist metamethodologies and the renewal of scientific realism. Constructivist sociologies of science and various social epistemologies also trace a lineage to Kuhn's discussion of normal science and the role of scientific communities in sustaining research traditions. The striking growth of philosophies of the special sciences was perhaps foreshadowed as well by Kuhn's reflections on the "ramshackle structure" of normal science in contrast to familiar presumptions of the theoretical unity of the sciences. Yet in my view, one of the most philosophically far2
Wangechi Mutu: A Fantastic Journey

This essay is a slightly modified excerpt of the introduction to Trevor Schoonmaker, Wangechi Mutu: A Fantastic Journey (Durham, NC: Nasher Museum of Art, Duke University, 2013), a catalogue published on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name. The exhibition is Mutu’s first survey in the United States, the most comprehensive and innovative show yet for this internationally renowned, multidisciplinary artist. Wangechi Mutu: A Fantastic Journey presented more than fifty works from the mid-1990s to the present, including collage, drawing, sculpture, installation, and video. The exhibition featured many of the artist’s most iconic collages drawn from major international collections; rarely seen early works, and new creations. The exhibition also unveiled the artist’s sketchbooks of intimate drawings that reveal her creative process and inspirations, on public view for the first time. Other highlights included Mutu’s first-ever animated video, created in collaboration with Santigold, commissioned by the Nasher Museum. The Nasher Museum was the first venue for the touring exhibition, which was on view there from March 21 through July 21, 2013. It traveled to the Brooklyn Museum, where it was on view through March 9, 2014, and continued to the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, in April 2014 and the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in September 2014.
Sportista: female fandom in the United States

Andrei S. Markovits and Emily K. Albertson's Sportista: Female Fandom in the United States analyzes the often stereotyped female fan of big-time sports in the USA. Markovits has produced a consider...
Magnetic seizure therapy: development of a novel intervention for treatment resistant depression

Abstract Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective and most rapidly acting treatment for severe treatment resistant major depression, but its use is limited by its cognitive side effects. Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a new form of convulsive therapy using high-dosage repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to induce focal cortical seizures under anesthesia. MST is under study as a means of reducing the side effects of ECT through the enhanced control over the sites of seizure initiation and topography of seizure propagation afforded by the relative focality of rTMS. This review traces the stages in the development of MST, from device development, to preclinical testing, to clinical trials. The results of a study on the comparative safety of chronic MST and electroconvulsive shock in non-human primates support the safety of both interventions, and indicate that the seizures induced by MST are more focal and have less impact on deeper brain structures. This non-human primate model and a controlled clinical trial in patients with major depression, suggest that MST may induce fewer side effects and less amnesia than ECT. Ongoing work will yield the first data on the antidepressant efficacy of MST. If ultimately shown to be effective, MST could represent a new, less invasive option for patients with severe treatment resistant depression or other disorders who would otherwise require ECT.
Mapping the upstream boundary of somatic mutations in rearranged immunoglobulin transgenes and endogenous genes.

Abstract Mammalian B-cell specific somatic hypermutation contributes to affinity maturation of the antibody response. This mutator activity is highly focused on rearranged immunoglobulin variable regions, but the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. In an effort to gain insights into the mechanism of somatic hypermutation, the precise distribution and frequency of mutations upstream of murine immunoglobulin genes was determined by examining the same variable gene segments when mutated in different B-cell lines. Immunoglobulin sequences analysed included κ light chain transgenes bearing mutated Vκ24 variable regions, and the endogenous Vκ gene isolated from myeloma MOPC167, which also exhibits mutations in the variable region. In addition, mutated endogenous V H 1 gene segments of the S107 heavy chain variable gene family were also examined. For both V H 1 and Vκ24, somatic mutations were generally not found upstream of the leader intron, even in genes which exhibited a high mutation frequency in the variable region itself. The 5′ somatic mutation boundary identified in immunoglobulin transgenes overlaps the boundary observed in endogenous genes, suggesting that both share cis -elements required for defining the mutable domain. Furthermore, the location of this 5′ boundary appears not to change when these immunoglobulin genes are examined in different cell lines. These data may be indicative of a defined start site for immunoglobulin mutator activity.
Bridging the divide between technologists and policy-makers

Modern governments face an increasing number of issues that require extensive knowledge of science or technology for effective decision-making. These include issues of health care, environment, energy, agriculture, national defense, communications and transportation, to name a few. There is no shortage of expertise to address these issues; the majority of scientists and engineers who have ever lived are alive today. Yet all too often, the policy-making process does not benefit from this technical expertise. There is a great divide between technologists-research-oriented, forward-looking engineers and scientists-and policy-makers, elected legislators and their staffs at the local, state and Federal levels. As a result, we have a system in which policy-makers are too often deprived of knowledge that they need to do their job well, and in which technologists with this knowledge have limited influence. Each side may blame the other for its inaccessibility. At the core of this failure to communicate are two groups with different operational systems and different cultures.
Cell-mediated infection of human placental trophoblast with HIV in vitro.

In order to investigate how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gains entry to the placenta, we have performed in vitro experiments in which highly purified trophoblast cells isolated from term huma...
Integrating electrical and aerodynamic characteristics for DFIG speed control study

A doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) is a ‘special’ variable speed induction machine widely used in modern large wind turbines. Unlike a fixed-speed wind turbine, a DFIG wind turbine depends on the controls of the system at both the generator and the wind turbine levels, and the operation of the turbine is affected by the electrical characteristics of the generator and the aerodynamic characteristics of the turbine blades. This paper presents a DFIG speed control study by combining the two characteristics together in an integrative environment. The generator characteristics are examined for different d-q control conditions, and the extracted power characteristics of the turbine blades are presented versus generator slip. Then, the two characteristics are analyzed in an integrative environment to investigate various factors that are critical for stable and effective DFIG speed control design. Extensive simulation studies are performed to illustrate DFIG operating properties affected by both wind turbine electrical and aerodynamic characteristics.
Examining variation in and barriers to widespread implementation of an innovation

to evaluate change in thinking and processing and (b) using these composites compare changes from intake to 45days in the ratings of TRIP and non-TRIP clients. Preliminary analyses suggest that clients attending at least four TRIP sessions showed significant interactions across time on most composite measures including pre-contemplation and decision making. These results support the initial effects of TRIP on improving judgment and decision making in the early weeks of treatment.
The circular loop antenna immersed in a dissipative medium

Investigations were made of the radiating and circuit properties of circular loop antennas when immersed in conducting media with various loss tangents. The following quantities were experimentally examined and compared with the available theoretical results. 1) Driving point admittance Y_{in} of circular loops as a function of the circumference per wavelength, 2\pib/\lambda = \betab . 2) Current amplitude and phase distributions. 3) Field patterns. In each case the loss tangent \sigma/\omega\epsilon_{r}\epsilon_{0} of the medium (conductivity \sigma , permittivity \epsilon_{r}\epsilon_{0} ) is taken as a parameter. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory. A comparison between the behavior of the loop in a conducting medium and those of a linear dipole was made wherever possible. It was discovered that there is a cut off size beyond which the driving point admittance of a linear dipole is the same whether or not its ends are connected to form a loop. This particular loss tangent is 1.06, and the cut off size is \lambda/2 . A circular loop antenna with \betab= 1.0 is excited predominantly in a dipole mode and its field pattern resembles that of a two element dipole array. A study was made to determine how this pattern becomes more like that of a monopole as the loss tangent of the solution is increased.
Prejudice Versus Discrimination: An Empirical Example and Theoretical Extension

The present research attempts to determine if the notion of separate theories for prejudice and discrimination, as put forth by Rose, is viable. The paper examines, as a result of differential responses to selected situational variables, some of the reasons why nonprejudiced subjects discriminate against blacks and prejudiced subjects do not. The situational variables (social constraint and social distance) were experimentally introduced in a field setting. The paper concludes by agreeing with Rose's contention that separate theories for prejudice and discrimination are necessary. However, the authors take exception with the idea that theories of discrimination are sufficient to explain discriminatory behavior. In particular, in order to better understand discriminatory behavior, the argument is set forth that instead of restricting the scope of investigation, as suggested by Rose, it should be enlarged by including other relevant variables which have been shown to have an impact on discriminatory behavior. Other studies have indicated that conformity tendencies are often involved in producing behaviors which are inconsistent with attitudes. It is suggested that some measures of these, as well as of attitudes, should be included in future studies of discrimination. I t would seem that theories of prejudice do not necessarily account for discriminatory behavior (cf. Rose, 1956; Simpson and Yinger, 1958; Westie, 1964). This very statement was made a number of years ago by the late Arnold Rose (1956). Had the notion of separate theories for prejudice and discrimination been seriously considered, it would no doubt have had a great impact on subsequent studies. Since this task has remained largely unattended, the present report has as its focus an examination of data on prejudice and discrimination. The discussion which follows the presentation and analysis of data is largely inferential. It is directed toward an examination of issues which are crucial, timely, and need to be fully explored. Results from other studies are utilized to check on the potential relevance of these inferences for the development of
Commentaries and Rejoinder to "Trade-Off Aversion as an Explanation for the Attraction Effect: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study"

Vol. XLVI (February 2009), 14–24 14 © 2009, American Marketing Association ISSN: 0022-2437 (print), 1547-7193 (electronic) *Scott A. Huettel is Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience (e-mail: scott.huettel@duke. edu), and John W. Payne is Joseph J. Ruvane Jr. Professor of Management and Marketing, Fuqua School of Business (e-mail: jpayne@duke.edu), Duke University. The authors thank colleagues in the Duke Center for Neuroeconomic Studies for stimulating discussions about integrating the neural and decision sciences. The Duke Institute for Brain Sciences provided support for those discussions and for our joint research. Commentaries and Rejoinder to “Trade-Off Aversion as an Explanation for the Attraction Effect: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study”
THE CIV PROCESSES IN THE CRIT EXPERIMENTS

A qualitative analysis is conducted to reconcile the experimental data from critical ionization velocity (CIV) studies with CIV theories. The experimental data are reviewed demonstrating that: (1) the wave frequency is variable and low; (2) the wave polarization is almost isotropic; (3) electron energization is not easily reconciled with the observed wave spectrum; and (4) ambient electron density plays a role in determining CIV triggering conditions. Analytical treatment is given to the dispersion relation of the lower hybrid wave (LWH) instability driven by the streaming of an ion beam generated by the interaction of the neutral cloud with the ambient atmosphere. By incorporating the LWH instabilities of strong turbulence and finite-size effects into theoretical CIV relationships, the observations can be interpreted. The issues raised by the experimental data are understood within the context of a hypothesis of backward propagating nonlinearly collapsing wavepackets.
LAMELLAR BODY SECRETION: ULTRASTRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF AN UNEXPLORED FUNCTION OF SYNOVIOCYTES

The intra- and extracellular distribution and relative density of lamellar bodies (LBs) were determined by electron microscopy in synovial biopsies from 20 non-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. LBs were found on the synovial surface, in intimal cells, throughout intimal matrix, in blood vessel walls, in endothelial cytoplasm and within vascular lumena. Lamellar profiles were observed in type B synoviocytes within rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), in association with the Golgi apparatus, and embedded in electron dense matrix (projection cores) in multivesicular bodies. Exocytotic release of mature LBs into intimal matrix was observed. In type A synoviocytes the outer lamellae of LBs were frequently found in contiguity with the limiting membrane of lysosomes. An in vitro investigation of the ultrastructural features of LB formation in cultured type B synoviocytes (from 3 non-RA patients) gave results similar to those obtained in biopsies. These studies provide ultrastructural evidence of synoviocyte activity in secreting and degrading phospholipid lubricant in a sophisticated system whose function and pathological derangements are largely unknown.
Vegetation's importance in regulating surface elevation in a coastal salt marsh facing elevated rates of sea level rise

Rising sea levels threaten the sustainability of coastal wetlands around the globe, thus understanding how increased inundation alters the elevation change mechanisms in these systems is increasingly important. Typically, the ability of coastal marshes to maintain their position in the intertidal zone depends on the accumulation of both organic and inorganic materials, so one, if not both, of these processes must increase to keep pace with rising seas, assuming all else constant. To determine the importance of vegetation in these processes, we measured elevation change and surface accretion over a 4-year period in recently subsided, unvegetated marshes, resulting from drought-induced marsh dieback, in paired planted and unplanted plots. We compared soil and vegetation responses in these plots with paired reference plots that had neither experienced dieback nor subsidence. All treatments (unvegetated, planted, and reference) were replicated six times. The recently subsided areas were 6–10 cm lower in elevation than the reference marshes at the beginning of the study; thus, mean water levels were 6–10 cm higher in these areas vs. the reference sites. Surface accretion rates were lowest in the unplanted plots at 2.3 mm yr−1, but increased in the presence of vegetation to 16.4 mm yr−1 in the reference marsh and 26.1 mm yr−1 in the planted plots. The rates of elevation change were also bolstered by the presence of vegetation. The unplanted areas decreased in elevation by 9.4 mm yr−1; whereas the planted areas increased in elevation by 13.3 mm yr−1, and the reference marshes increased by 3.5 mm yr−1. These results highlight the importance of vegetation in the accretionary processes that maintain marsh surface elevation within the intertidal zone, and provide evidence that coastal wetlands may be able to keep pace with a rising sea in certain situations.
Unusual drainage of the testicular veins.

An unusual drainage of the testicular veins was found during routine cadaveric dissection. Specifically, the lateral division of each testicular vein on both left and right sides was found to drain into the subcostal veins. No other anomalies of the veins of the abdomen were found. Knowledge of the many anomalies that can potentially occur in the abdominal region is necessary in interpretation of images of this anatomical area. Additionally, knowledge of these variations is important surgically; for example, anomalous veins that ought to be ligated during surgery for varicocele go unnoticed and result in recurrence of the varicocele. Clin. Anat. 18:536–539, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Decrease in Hospitalization and Mortality Rates among Children with Perinatally Acquired HIV Type 1 Infection Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Background. The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression in perinatally infected children is not well documented. This study aims to identify the effect of evolving antiretroviral therapy on the immunologic and virologic status of and hospitalization and mortality rates among perinatally infected children.Methods. Children receiving outpatient care during 1994–2001 at 3 HIV clinics in southern California were observed longitudinally for CD4 + cell percentage, plasma HIV-1 RNA load, antiretroviral treatment, Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis, and rate of hospital admissions.Results. A total of 129 children were observed during the study period; 51% were girls, and 40.3% were Hispanic, 29.5% were African American, and 27.1% were white. The mean CD4 + cell percentage increased from 22.5% in 1994 to 31.2% in 2001 (P < .01), and the mean plasma HIV-1 RNA load decreased from 4.53 log 10 copies/mL in 1996 to 3.27 log 10 copies/mL in 2001 (P < .001). The use of HAART increased from 0% in 1994 to 93% in 2001 (P < .01), whereas the use of PCP prophylaxis decreased from 55% to 16% during this time (P < .001). The hospitalization rate decreased from 6.49 to 0.60 admissions per 100 person-years during 1994–2001 (P < .001). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome—associated hospital admission rates decreased from 15.6% in 1994 to 0% in 2001 (P < .0001). Similarly, the admission rate for patients with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention category B decreased from 29.7% in 1994 to 5.9% in 2001 (P < .0001). Logistic regression analysis showed that CD4 + cell percentage and viral load were independently associated with risk of hospitalization. Survival was significantly longer for those who received HAART.Conclusions. HIV-1—associated mortality and hospitalization rates decreased significantly between 1994 and 2001 in perinatally infected children. This correlated with an increase in CD4 + cell percentage and a decrease in HIV-1 RNA load concurrently with the expanded use of HAART.
Hypoxic patterns of placental injury: a review.

Context.—In utero hypoxia is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and can be evaluated retrospectively to explain perinatal outcomes, to assess recurrence risk in subsequent pregnancies, and to investigate for medicolegal purposes by identification of many hypoxic placental lesions. Definitions of some placental hypoxic lesions have been applied relatively liberally, and many of them are frequently underreported. Objectives.—To present a comprehensive assessment of the criteria for diagnosing acute and chronic histologic features, patterns, and lesions of placental and fetal hypoxia and to discuss clinicopathologic associations and limitations of the use thereof. The significance of lesions that have been described relatively recently and are not yet widely used, such as laminar necrosis; excessive, extravillous trophoblasts; decidual multinucleate extravillous trophoblasts; and, most important, the patterns of diffuse chronic hypoxic preuterine, uterine, and postuterine placental injur...
Territory defense of nesting Burrowing Owls: responses to simulated conspecific intrusion

Abstract To investigate the potential expression of territorial behavior of Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) in southwestern Idaho, we used a playback protocol to determine if Burrowing Owls actively defended their nesting site from conspecifics, and if so, to determine the extent of their territorial boundaries. Eighty-eight percent of male Burrowing Owls responded to the broadcast of conspecific primary calls. All responsive males uttered primary calls, and many owls approached the broadcast speaker, exhibited white-and-tall stances, and bobbed. Females responded less frequently than males, but one female whose mate was presumably dead exhibited an intense response to the playback trial. There were no differences in number of primary calls uttered, number of white-and-tall stances performed, or number of bobs of focal males among three broadcast distances: (0 m, 50 m, and 100 m) from the active nest burrows. However, focal owls approached the broadcast speaker more closely at broadcast distances of 0...
Strictly primitive recursive realizability, I

A realizability notion that employs only primitive recursive functions is defined, and, relative to it, the soundness of the fragment of Heyting Arithmetic (HA) in which induction is restricted to formulae is proved. A dual concept of falsifiability is proposed and an analogous soundness result is established for a further restricted fragment of HA.
Sequence of centromere separation: a possible role for repetitive DNA

The centromeres of a mitotic cell at the meta-anaphase junction separate in a non-random, genetically controlled sequence before anaphase migration ensues. In several, but not all, of the organisms studied so far it appears that the timing of separation of a centromere into two visible units depends upon the quantity of pericentric heterochromatin. A critical analysis of this parameter of cell cycle suggests that the sequence of centromere separation is influenced by repetitive DNA present in the pericentric region. In those cases with qualitatively uniform repetitive DNA in centromeric regions, the chromosomes carrying lesser quantities separate earlier than those with greater amounts. However, the overall pattern of separation may be determined by interactions between both quantitative and qualitative parameters of the repetitive DNA. It has been suggested that repetitive DNA has no transcriptional properties. It is probably only a structural component which acts as a site for the accumulation of protein molecules synthesized by some locus not present in the centromeric region. These proteins accumulate to saturate the centromeric repetitive DNA resulting in a (trilaminar) structure called the kinetochore. The longer the stretch to be saturated, the larger would be the kinetochore-like structure. Once saturated, the centromere splits into two subunits. Premature separation results in a lack of saturation and formation of an 'immature' kinetochore. This may lead to chromosome malsegregation. Thus, indirectly, one property of repetitive DNA in the centromeric region appears to be the maintenance of diploidy.
Filtration Enhances Suspended Sediment Deposition from Surface Water to Granular Permeable Beds

We present results from an experimental study of suspended particle (4.5–36.5 urn silicon carbide powder) deposition from surface water to ‘clean’ equi-granular permeable beds in a small 12.5×12.5×15cm box and a re-circulating flume. Enhanced deposition rates of up to 5 times the accepted sediment deposition model (e.g., Einstein, 1968) are explained by filtration of particles in the bed. Compared to this model deposition increases with increasing surface fluid speed, decreasing suspended particle size and increasing bed particle size. These results can be explained by an increased ability of particles to penetrate into the bed with the pore water which increases the effective filter thickness. The predominant deposition mechanism within the bed pores appears to be settling. Enhanced deposition, evident in Einstein’s (1968) experimental data, was previously attributed to flocculation but may be explained better by filtration. These enhanced deposition rates drop off to close to the accepted model predicted rate after a certain volume of sediment has entered the bed, which may be due to the slumping of deposits from the top of bed elements. This reduction in deposition rate occurs long before the bed is filled with fine sediment.
Accounting for epistatic interactions improves the functional analysis of protein structures.

Motivation: The constraints under which sequence, structure and function coevolve are not fully understood. Bringing this mutual relationship to light can reveal the molecular basis of binding, catalysis and allostery, thereby identifying function and rationally guiding protein redesign. Underlying these relationships are the epistatic interactions that occur when the consequences of a mutation to a protein are determined by the genetic background in which it occurs. Based on prior data, we hypothesize that epistatic forces operate most strongly between residues nearby in the structure, resulting in smooth evolutionary importance across the structure. Methods and Results: We find that when residue scores of evolutionary importance are distributed smoothly between nearby residues, functional site prediction accuracy improves. Accordingly, we designed a novel measure of evolutionary importance that focuses on the interaction between pairs of structurally neighboring residues. This measure that we term pair-interaction Evolutionary Trace yields greater functional site overlap and better structure-based proteomewide functional predictions. Conclusions: Our data show that the structural smoothness of evolutionary importance is a fundamental feature of the coevolution of sequence, structure and function. Mutations operate on individual residues, but selective pressure depends in part on the extent to which a mutation perturbs interactions with neighboring residues. In practice, this principle led us to redefine the importance of a residue in terms of the importance of its epistatic interactions with neighbors, yielding better annotation of functional residues, motivating experimental validation of a novel functional site in LexA and refining protein function prediction. Contact: lichtarge@bcm.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Altered function in CD8+ T cells following paramyxovirus infection of the respiratory tract.

For many respiratory pathogens, CD8 + T cells have been shown to play a critical role in clearance. However, there are still many unanswered questions with regard to the factors that promote the most efficacious immune response and the potential for immunoregulation of effector cells at the local site of infection. We have used infection of the respiratory tract with the model paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5) to study CD8 + T-cell responses in the lung. For the present study, we report that over time a population of nonresponsive, virus-specific CD8 + T cells emerged in the lung, culminating in a lack of function in ∼85% of cells specific for the immunodominant epitope from the viral matrix (M) protein by day 40 postinfection. Concurrent with the induction of nonresponsiveness, virus-specific cells that retained function at later times postinfection exhibited an increased requirement for CD8 engagement. This change was coupled with a nearly complete loss of functional phosphoprotein-specific cells, a response previously shown to be almost exclusively CD8 independent. These studies add to the growing evidence for immune dysregulation following viral infection of the respiratory tract.
Proinsulin and Insulin Content of Subcellular Fractions from an Islet Adenoma

A human islet adenoma was obtained at surgery, homogenized and fractionated by centifuge into nuclear, secretion granule, microsomal and soluble fractions in 0.25 m sucrose. Protein, RNA and immunoreactive insulin were determined in the fractions. By means of polyacrylamide electrophoresis and Sephadex column chromatography, estimates of insulin precursors were made in all fractions. Proinsulin and an intermediate immunoreactive protein were estimated at less than 6% of the total immunoreactive material in the homogenate, nuclear and secretion granule fractions. In the microsome fraction, proinsulin and intermediate protein represented 50–80% of the total insulin-like material while in the soluble fraction, 17–30% of the assayable material was proinsulin + intermediate protein. The total content of insulin was 185 U/g wet weight. The human islet adenoma was compared to islets from other species and the significance of the results discussed.
20/spl times/5 Gbit/s optical WDM-TDM transmitter using a single-stripe multiwavelength mode-locked semiconductor laser

Summary form only given. In this paper, we demonstrate a tunable multiwavelength mode-locked semiconductor laser based on a single-stripe semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). By actively mode-locking the single-grating-loaded external cavity semiconductor laser system, 20 wavelength channels are simultaneously generated with each wavelength transmitting 12-ps pulses at a 600-MHz rate. A conventional pulse interleaving configuration multiplexes pulse train by eight fold to give a final 5-Gbit/sec pulse rate.
Immunization in Special Populations

With improving survival rates after treatment of cancer, an increase in hematopoietic stem cell (HSCT) and solid organ transplantation, the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, and immunosuppressive therapies for patients with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases, the population of immunocompromised children who have vaccination needs to consider is increasing. Understanding the degree of immune compromise and prospective immune recovery of these children is important in guiding the administration of vaccines. For some of these disease states, all affected persons will be severely immunocompromised; for others (eg, HIV), the spectrum of severity caused by the disease itself or stage of treatment will determine the degree of compromise of the immune system. Killed or inactivated vaccines do not pose any risk to patients with altered immunocompetence, but the effectiveness of such vaccines
Paying Bank Examiners for Performance

Investigations into the recent financial crisis have found that banking regulators knew or should have known of many of the problems that would ultimately cripple the finance industry. We argue that their failure to address those problems prior to the crisis was at least partly due to misaligned incentives for bank examiners that encourage inadequate inspection and forbearance and discourage the curbing of ill-advised risk taking. We recommend changing examiners’ incentives to better align them with the public good. Specifically, banking regulators should be “paid for performance” — rewarded for nurturing long-term health for the banks they oversee as well as well-timed decisions to seize control of failing banks.
Tension-Compression Fatigue of a Nextel™720/alumina Composite at 1200 °C in Air and in Steam

Tension-compression fatigue behavior of an oxide-oxide ceramic-matrix composite was investigated at 1200 °C in air and in steam. The composite is comprised of an alumina matrix reinforced with Nextel™720 alumina-mullite fibers woven in an eight harness satin weave (8HSW). The composite has no interface between the fiber and matrix, and relies on the porous matrix for flaw tolerance. Tension-compression fatigue behavior was studied for cyclical stresses ranging from 60 to 120 MPa at a frequency of 1.0 Hz. The R ratio (minimum stress to maximum stress) was −1.0. Fatigue run-out was defined as 105 cycles and was achieved at 80 MPa in air and at 70 MPa in steam. Steam reduced cyclic lives by an order of magnitude. Specimens that achieved fatigue run-out were subjected to tensile tests to failure to characterize the retained tensile properties. Specimens subjected to prior cyclic loading in air retained 100 % of their tensile strength. The steam environment severely degraded tensile properties. Tension-compression cyclic loading was considerably more damaging than tension-tension cyclic loading. Composite microstructure, as well as damage and failure mechanisms were investigated.