cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discovery of small-molecule enzyme activators by activity-based protein profiling

Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) has been used extensively to discover and optimize selective inhibitors of enzymes. Here, we show that ABPP can also be implemented to identify the converse-small-molecule enzyme activators. Using a kinetically controlled, fluorescence polarization-ABPP assay, we identify compounds that stimulate the activity of LYPLAL1-a poorly characterized serine hydrolase with complex genetic links to human metabolic traits. We apply ABPP-guided medicinal chemistry to advance a lead into a selective LYPLAL1 activator suitable for use in vivo. Structural simulations coupled to mutational, biochemical and biophysical analyses indicate that this compound increases LYPLAL1's catalytic activity likely by enhancing the efficiency of the catalytic triad charge-relay system. Treatment with this LYPLAL1 activator confers beneficial effects in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. These findings reveal a new mode of pharmacological regulation for this large enzyme family and suggest that ABPP may aid discovery of activators for additional enzyme classes.
Ideology of Iranian Revolution: Four Paradigmatic Views

Any explanation of the ideology of the Iranian revolution is based on a worldview. The premise of this book is that any worldview can be associated with one of the four broad paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. This chapter takes the case of the ideology of the Iranian revolution and discusses it from the four different viewpoints. It emphasizes that the four views expressed are equally scientific and informative; they look at the phenomenon from their certain paradigmatic viewpoint; and together, they provide a more balanced and a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under consideration. In this chapter, Sects. 1, 2, 3, and 4 present the four perspectives, and Sect. 5 concludes the chapter.
Generating contextual trajectories from user profiles

The trajectory of traffic participants is an essential source for pattern mining and knowledge discovery in urban mobility. However, real-world trajectory data are often not publicly available due to privacy concerns or intellectual property constraints. Although some simulators or synthetic trajectory datasets have been proposed, many of them only consider the spatial-temporal aspects of the trajectory data, but ignore other contextual information that could impact trajectories. On one hand, trajectories are usually associated with and affected by user profiles (e.g., a person's daily routines and preferred modes of transportation). On the other hand, an individual's movements are also affected by environmental conditions and interactions with other traffic participants, particularly in urban scenarios (e.g., routing choices due to congestion or road conditions). Such contextual trajectories provide a more realistic representation of the mobility patterns of traffic participants. Due to the lack of such datasets or trace generators, this work presents ConTraSim (Contextual Trajectory Simulation), a novel approach for generating contextual trajectories based on the Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) traffic simulator. More specifically, the proposed approach is designed to produce GPS traces annotated by contextual information that mimic the movements of multiple types of traffic participants in urban areas. As a case study, we also generate a sample dataset using the proposed method and compare it to real-world data to demonstrate how well the synthetic data reflects real-world data characteristics.
Current Status and Future of BI-RADS in Multimodality Imaging, From the AJR Special Series on Radiology Reporting and Data Systems

BI-RADS is a communication and data tracking system that has evolved since its inception as a brief mammography lexicon and reporting guide into a robust structured reporting platform and comprehensive quality assurance tool for mammography, ultrasound, and MRI. Consistent and appropriate use of the BI-RADS lexicon terminology and assessment categories effectively communicates findings, estimates the risk of malignancy, and provides management recommendations to patients and referring clinicians. The impact of BI-RADS currently extends internationally through six language translations. A condensed version has been proposed to facilitate a phased implementation of BI-RADS in resource-constrained regions. The primary advance of the 5th edition of BI-RADS is harmonization of the lexicon terms across mammography, ultrasound, and MRI. Harmonization has also been achieved across these modalities for the reporting structure, assessment categories, management recommendations, and data tracking system. Areas for improvement relate to certain common findings that lack lexicon descriptors and a need for further clarification of proper use of category 3. BI-RADS is anticipated to continue to evolve for application to a range of emerging breast imaging modalities.
An analysis of slow convergence in interval propagation

When performing interval propagation on integer variables with a large range, slow-convergence phenomena are often observed: it becomes difficult to reach the fixpoint of the propagation. This problem is practically important, as it hinders the use of propagation techniques for problems with large numerical ranges, and notably problems arising in program verification. A number of attempts to cope with this issue have been investigated, yet all of the proposed techniques only guarantee a fast convergence on specific instances. An important question is therefore whether slow convergence is intrinsic to propagation methods, or whether an improved propagation algorithm may exist that would avoid this problem. This paper proposes the first analysis of the slow convergence problem under the light of complexity results. It answers the question, by a negative result: if we allow propagators that are general enough, computing the fixpoint of constraint propagation is shown to be intractable. Slow convergence is therefore unavoidable unless P=NP. The result holds for the propagators of a basic class of constraints.
Lipid emulsion rescue therapy blocks AMPK activation and Akt inhibition induced by bupivcaine cardiotoxicity (1154.9)

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in energy sensing and cell survival pathways both during bupivacaine-induced cardiac pharmacotoxicity and during the accelerated recovery caused by lipid-emulsion. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and instrumented to monitor arterial pressures, carotid flows and to deliver drugs to both jugular veins. Animals were separated into 4-conditions: no treatment (control), 10mL/kg lipid emulsion (30% Intralipid, Frensius Kabi, Uppsala, Sweden) over 1 minute, 10mg/kg Bupivacaine over 20s, or 10mL/kg Bupivacaine followed 10 seconds later by 10mL/kg lipid emulsion. Animals were sacrificed at four time-points 0 minutes (for control), 1, 5 & 10 minutes following infusions. Hearts were flash-frozen and proteins extracted in an anti-protease, anti-phosphatase buffer. Following protein quantified for equal loading, the samples were run on a 4-15% Bis-Tris gel, transferred to nitrocellulose paper, stained with phosphorylation-site-specific antibodies in the AMPK and Akt...
Differential diagnosis of Class II malocclusions: Part 1. Facial types associated with Class II malocclusions

By means of computer-based statistical methods, several types of Class II malocclusion have been discovered with defining horizontal and vertical characteristics. Of the six horizontal types, four are severe syndromes, one is a loose, ill-defined grouping of cases with mild skeletal features, and one has only the dental features of Class II. Five vertical types associates with Class II were also revealed, although each vertical is not associated with all horizontal types. A simplified simulation of the computerized procedures has been developed for routine use in clinical practice.
Computer simulation of elastic and structural properties of thin films. I. (001) orientation in fcc metals

Abstract The structural and elastic properties of an unsupported thin metallic (001) film are investigated as function of the film thickness, Λ. The zero-temperature constant-stress relaxation procedure employed yields both the atomic structure and equilibrium dimensions as functions of Λ, for which a lattice-dynamics like calculation of the elastic constants is subsequently performed. Throughout, the results obtained by means of a Lennard-Jones (LJ) pair potential are compared with those obtained for a many-body potential of the embedded-atom-method (EAM) type. Although the detailed atomic relaxations differ substantially for the two potentials, the same generic elastic behavior as function of Λ is obtained. Quantitative differences are shown to arise from the rather different surface tensions obtained for the two potentials which, in turn, are due to the different shapes of the related cohesive-energy versus lattice-parameter curves for the perfect crystal. Remarkably, both potentials predict a strenghtening of certain elastic moduli and a softening of others. We conclude that the basic elastic properties of thin films are governed by the structural disorder associated with the very presence of the free surfaces and only indirectly by the dimensional changes.
Economic Theory Has Nothing to Say about Policy (and Principles Textbooks Should Tell Students That)

The correct answer to each of these questions is false; economic theory, on its own, has nothing to say about policy. But, if you ask most economics majors, and many economists, the answer you would get to at least one of these questions would be true. That’s sad, and suggests that there is a problem with how economic policy is taught.
Exploring the sustainability life cycle of enterprise computers in higher education

Enterprise computing services play a critical role in universities enabling faculty, students, and staff to complete meaningful work and further goals of the institution. These services require physical server computers with processors, disk space, and memory. Physical servers take up data center space and consume power; they are designed for performance with little detail paid to ecological design. In an effort to reduce hardware and maintenance costs, a trend to virtualize these servers exists, which would also free up physical space and save energy. This exploratory case study explored the current sustainable computing trends at a large university in the Midwest as well as whether practices of virtualizing enterprise server computers were economically, socially, and ecologically sustainable. Finally, this study investigated how these practices were planned, monitored, and evaluated. Findings indicate virtualizing enterprise servers in the Intelligent Infrastructure is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainability. Recommendations for university leadership were developed as a result of data gathering and analysis from participant interviews, correspondence, observations and artifacts. Maximizing utility and outreach were the two dominant related themes present in the data sources.
Seeing Privilege Where It Isn’t: Marginalized Masculinities and the Intersectionality of Privilege

When discussing privilege, we often consider it a zero-sum quantity, one either has it or one does not. Since privilege is distributed along a range of axes, we consider three sites in which male privilege is compromised by marginalization by other statuses: disability status, sexuality, and class. Employing a Symbolic Interactionist approach, derived from Erving Goffman's Stigma (1963), we observe strategies employed by disabled men, gay men and working class men to reduce, neutralize, or resist the problematization of masculinity as a constitutive element of their marginalization by class, sexuality, or disability.
Converging health inequalities in later life--an artifact of mortality selection.

An emergent issue in the health inequalities debate is how socioeconomic status (SES) and physical health relate over the life course. Many studies indicate that the SES-health relationship diminishes in later life. The present research tests the hypothesis that this convergence in health inequalities is an artifact of mortality selection, which biases downwards the "true" association between SES and health in later life. By including respondents who had subsequently died or were loss-to-followup into the analysis, I assess the sensitivity of the age-specific association between education and health to sample selection processes. I study U.S. adults followed for approximately ten years using the NHANES I Epidemiologic Followup Study. Results based on the surviving sample are robust to the inclusion of people selected out of the sample due to mortality or attrition. Sample selection biases do not appear to explain the convergence in health inequalities in late life.
POSITIONS OF 127 HYADS AND 6-cm OBSERVATIONS OF 320 HYADS

Accurate positions are given for 127 Hyades cluster stars which previously had only approximate positions known. The fields of 320 Hyads, including 55 X-ray stars, were observed with the VLA to a 6-cm detection level of approximately 0.5 mJy. There were no detections.
Synthesis of Monodisperse Platinum Acetylide Oligomers End-Capped with Naphthalene Diimide Units

We report the synthesis and structural characterization of a series of monodisperse platinum acetylide oligomers with the general structure NDI-[Ph−C≡C−Pt(PBu3)2−C≡C−]n−Ph−NDI, where n = 2, 3, 6, o...
THERMAL RADIATION PROPERTIES OF TURBULENT LEAN PREMIXED METHANE AIR FLAMES

Thermal radiation properties of turbulent premixed flames have received little attention in the past perhaps because of the lower radiative heat loss compared with that for non-premixed flames. However, the high-temperature sensitivity of NO kinetics and the importance of radiation in near-limit laminar premixed flames provide fundamental reasons for studies of radiation properties of turbulent premixed flames. Reduced cooling airflows in lean premixed combustors, miniaturization of combustors, and the possible use of radiation sensors in combustion control schemes are some of the practical reasons for studying radiation heat transfer in these flames. Motivated by this, we report the first (to our knowledge) study of spectral radiation properties of turbulent premixed flames. Measurements of mean, root mean square (rms) and probability density functions (PDFs) of spectral radiation intensities leaving diametric paths at five heights in two turbulent lean premixed methane/air jet flames stabilized using small H2/air pilot flames in a coflow of air were completed. Measurements of spectral radiation intensities leaving three laminar flames were also completed. These data were used to evaluate narrowband radiation calculations independent of the treatment of turbulent fluctuations. Stochastic spatial series analysis was used to estimate instantaneous distributions of temperature. The analysis requires the specification of mean and rms temperature distributions, integral length scale distributions, and an assumption of exponential spatial correlation function. We specified the mean and rms temperature distributions measured by calibrated narrowband thin filament pyrometry. A simple flame and mixing model was used to relate the concentrations of CO2 and H2O to the temperature. We used scalar spatial series in conjunction with a radiation model to calculate the mean, rms, and PDFs of spectral radiation intensities. Overall, the model predictions are in reasonable agreement with the data. The only improvement needed is in the area of capturing correlated occurrences of high temperatures along the radiation path.
Understanding the ergonomic risk for musculoskeletal disorders in the United States agricultural sector

Introduction Farming is a very large industry in the United States. Understanding the risks for injuries and more specifically musculoskeletal disorders in this industry poses a challenge for health officials. Methods A review was conducted of the existing peer-reviewed publications prior to December 2006 about injuries and musculoskeletal disorders for farmers and farm workers. The aim was to review existing knowledge concerning: (1) the prevalence, types, and causes of farm-related injuries, paying particular attention to musculoskeletal disorders and the special populations within the agricultural sector, and (2) interventions that have been developed to reduce risk factors associated with farm-related injuries. Results Farmers and farm workers experience high rates of low back, shoulder, and upper extremity disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders may disproportionately affect farm youth and migrant workers due to the types of farm tasks performed. There is an urgent need for improved and validated interventions to reduce exposures and to improve the health of farmers and farm workers. Discussion Future farm-related musculoskeletal disorder research should emphasize: (1) better identification of exposures for special populations, (2) development of interventions for diverse farm populations, and (3) identification of additional exposures for musculoskeletal disorders. Inadequate understanding of musculoskeletal disorders in farming impedes efforts to prevent this common and important type of occupational injuries on farms. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:501–511, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Formation and fate of platelet microparticles

There is increasing evidence that platelet microparticles participate in thrombus formation. Yet the origin of platelet microparticles and their fate in the circulation remain poorly defined. It is unknown, for example, whether circulating platelet microparticles found in healthy individuals are derived from activated platelets or generated during megakaryopoiesis. The life span of platelet microparticles and the mechanism of their clearance have also not been determined. This article addresses these fundamental aspects of the physiology of platelet microparticles.
Identification of a gene cluster involved in flagellar basal body biogenesis in Caulobacter crescentus.

Abstract The bacterial flagellum is a complex structure composed of a transmembrane basal body, a hook, and a filament. In Caulobacter crescentus the biosynthesis and assembly of this structure is under temporal and spatial control. To help to define the order of assembly of the flagellar components and to identify the genes involved in the early steps of basal body construction, mutants defective in basal body formation have been analyzed. Mutants in the flaD flaB flaC gene cluster were found to be unable to assemble a complete basal body. The flaDBC motC region was cloned and the genes were localized by subcloning and complementation analysis. A series of Tn5 insertion mutations in the flaDBC region were mapped. Complementation analysis of the Tn5 insertion mutants indicated the existence of at least four transcriptional units in the region and identified the presence of two new genes designated flbN and flbO. Mutants in flbN, flaB, flaC and flbO were unable to assemble any basal body structure and are likely to be involved in the early steps of basal body formation. The flaD mutant, however, was found to contain a partially assembled basal body consisting of the rod and three hook-distal rings. All of the mutants in this cluster exhibited pleiotropic effects on the expression of other flagellar and chemotaxis functions, including the level of synthesis of flagellins, the hook protein and hook protein precursor, and the level of chemotaxis methylation.
Medical Imaging Capability Of Liquid Surface Ultrasonic Holography

Liquid surface acoustical holography offers a new and exciting method of medical imaging. In comparison to the conventional ultrasonic B scan, (pulse-echo tomography*) acoustical holography offers the advantage of a true focused image, a continuous gray scale image, and a through transmission mode which displays the object relative to both absorption contrast and phase contrast. In addition, it is a real time imaging system allowing for a wide range of dynamic studies. The purpose of this report is to compare the imaging properties of a prototype system with imaging properties which we forsee to be necessary for broad medical application.
Strategy Discovery as a Competitive Negotiation between Metacognitive and Associative Mechanisms

Abstract Both metacognitive and associative models have been proposed to account for children's strategy discovery and use. Models based on only metacognitive or only associative mechanisms cannot entirely account for the observed mix of variability and constraint revealed by recent microgenetic studies of children's strategy change. We propose a new approach where metacognitive and associative mechanisms interact in a competitive negotiation. This approach provides the flexibility to model the observed variability and constraint.
Can community composition be predicted from pairwise species interactions

Plant communities are often structured by interactions among species, such as competition or facilitation. If competition is an important factor that controls the presence and absence of species within intact communities, then a competitive hierarchy, a ranked order from competitive dominant to competitive subordinate, should predict the composition of intact communities. We tested whether a competitive hierarchy derived from pairwise comparisons accurately predicts species abundances within a constructed polyculture community consisting of seven species common to old-field plant communities. We first conducted a pot experiment in field conditions wherein we grew the species in all possible combinations, then created a competitive hierarchy derived from both competitive effect and competitive response for each species. Concurrently, at the same site in native field soil, we constructed polycultures consisting of the same seven species and calculated an abundance hierarchy based on foliar cover, biomass, and an index of species performance. The competitive hierarchy was not concordant with the abundance hierarchy, indicating that simple pairwise comparisons may not account for other factors that influence the abundance of species within relatively complex communities.
Abstract 4479: PF-04691502, a potent and selective PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor with antitumor activity

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC The PI3K pathway, which regulates cell growth, proliferation and survival, is activated in many types of human tumors by mutational activation of PI3Kα, loss of function of PTEN or activation of receptor tyrosine kinases. Inhibition of key signaling proteins in the pathway, such as PI3K, AKT and mTOR, therefore represents a high value targeting strategy for diverse cancers. PF-04691502 is a dual-specificity inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR which shows potent and selective activity in in vitro biochemical, cell and xenograft models. In in vitro biochemical assays PF-04691502 inhibited recombinant PI3Kα, β, γ and δ isoforms with Ki's of 1.2-2.2 nM and recombinant mTOR with a Ki of 9.1 nM. PF-04691502 demonstrated a high degree of selectivity for inhibition of PI3K family kinases as shown by lack of activity against a panel of >75 protein kinases, including the Class III PI3K hVps34. PF-04691502 also inhibited transformation of avian fibroblasts mediated by PI3K γ, δ, mutant PI3Kα E545K or membrane-localized AKT with IC50's of ∼100nM. In cell assays PF-04691502 inhibited PI3K/mTOR signaling in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells with PI3Kα mutations and in U87MG glioblastoma cells with PTEN alteration, as indicated by reduced levels of phosphorylation of AKT(T308), AKT(S473) and S6 ribosomal proteins. Functional studies for anti-proliferative effects suggest PF-04691502 has broad efficacy across tumor types. In SKOV3 and U87MG xenograft models PF-04691502 treatment resulted in dose-dependent tumor growth inhibition (TGI) with maximum TGI of ∼70% at the maximum tolerated dose of 10 mg/kg, by once daily oral dosing. Inhibition of AKT(S473) phosphorylation and S6RP(S235/236)/PRAS40(T246)/4EBP1(T37/46) phosphorylation were used as quantitative and qualitative pharmacodynamic (PD) endpoints, respectively; a clear pharmacokinetic (PK)/PD relationship was established in both models after multiple dose oral administration. In the U87MG xenograft model AKT(S473) phosphorylation was inhibited with an estimated EC50 of 5.7 nM (free plasma concentration) based on PK/PD modeling. The free plasma Area Under Curve was estimated to be 850 nM*hr for 70% TGI at 10mg/kg and was found to be similar in the SKOV3 model. The projected human efficacious dose of 10 mg once daily oral dosing provides Caverage steady state exposure of 22.4 nM (free plasma concentration) which is sufficient for 50-80% inhibition of pAKT S473, and corresponds to 74% TGI. Phase 1 clinical trials of PF-04691502 as a single agent are planned. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4479.
Atmospheric Thermodynamic Profiling with Neural Networks

This paper reviews recent progress in neural-network-based atmospheric parameter retrieval algorithms. Satellite-based observations of the atmosphere are related to atmospheric and surface variables by the radiative transfer equation. Direct inversion of the radiative transfer equation is often intractable as the underlying atmospheric phenomenology is usually neither linearly related to the observations nor Gaussian. Neural networks provide a computationally efficient alternative with their relatively simple structure. However, effective use of neural network techniques in problems of this nature requires careful preprocessing of the input data, and this preprocessing is often highly dependent on the remote sensing scenario under consideration. In this paper, we present techniques for preprocessing neural network input data in the spectral, spatial, and temporal domains. The utility of these techniques is demonstrated with several applications, including the estimation of the atmospheric temperature profile, water vapor profile, and precipitation rate using satellite-based passive microwave and infrared measurements.
Fidelity Among Sirex Woodwasps and Their Fungal Symbionts

We report that associations between mutualistic fungi and their economically and ecologically important woodwasp hosts are not always specific as was previously assumed. Woodwasps in the genus Sirex engage in obligate nutritional ectosymbioses with two species of Amylostereum, a homobasid\iomycete genus of white rot fungi. In the present study, the Amylostereum species and genotypes associated with three species of Sirex native to eastern North America and one relatively recent invasive Sirex from Europe were investigated by comparing intergenic spacer regions (IGS). Sirex spp. were sampled over 6 years from 23 sites in six US states, ranging from Maine in the northeast to Louisiana in the southeast, to obtain samples of Amylostereum from mycangia of adult females. Two of the native Sirex species (Sirex nigricornis and Sirex nitidus) were associated with either Amylostereum chailletii or Amylostereum areolatum, refuting the hypothesis of strict species-specific relationships. However, the invasive Sirex noctilio and the native Sirex cyaneus were each collected with only A. areolatum or A. chailletii, respectively, although S. noctilio was associated with two different IGS genotypes of A. areolatum and S. cyaneus occurs sympatrically with the other native Sirex. In Pinus, the preferred host tree of S. nigricornis and S. noctilio, these species co-occurred in 25.9 % of trees sampled, and horizontal transmission of fungal strains from S. noctilio to S. nigricornis was documented, although only in one tree. The extent that further spread and establishment of S. noctilio will alter the composition of symbionts carried by native Sirex is unknown but will depend in part on the degree of flexibility in these host–symbiont associations.
On the equivalence between roof duality and Lagrangian duality for unconstrained 0–1 quadratic programming problems

Abstract We are concerned in this paper with techniques for computing upper bounds on the optimal objective function value to any unconstrained 0–1 quadratic programming problem (maximization). In particular, we study three methods for obtaining upper bounds as presented in a recent paper by Hammer, Hansen, and Simeone: (1) generating two classes of upper-bounding linear functions referred to as paved upper planes and roofs, (2) solving the continuous relaxation of a mixed-integer linear problem by Rhys, and (3) the quadratic complementation of variables which results in a bound called the height. We show that all three methods directly result from standard properties of a reformulation of the quadratic problem as a mixed-integer linear program, with methods (1) and (3) resulting from a Lagrangian dual of this reformulation. Based on this reformulation, we expand upon the published results.
The benefits of expressive writing on sleep difficulty and appearance concerns for college women.

The college years represent an important developmental period in the lives of young women, who report health-related difficulties such as sleep disturbance and body/eating concerns. This study explored whether expressive writing (EW) can decrease health-relevant complaints among college women. College females (n = 111) were randomised into an EW condition (writing about body concerns) or a control writing condition and completed three 15-min writing sessions. Results indicate that participants in the EW condition reported less sleep difficulty and less body-focused upward social comparison at 8-week follow-up, relative to control participants. For individuals who reported higher perceived stress at baseline, the EW condition resulted in less eating disturbance and less social comparison, relative to the control condition. The effect of EW on eating disturbance for those who were high in stress was partially mediated by the change in upward social comparisons focused on one's body. These findings suggest t...
Identification of Multiple Sensor Disturbances during Process Monitoring

A novel, automated method based on principal component analysis is presented for the detection and identification of disturbed sensors during a process monitoring application. As opposed to previous approaches, which are capable of identifying a fault in only a single sensor, the backward elimination sensor identification (BESI) algorithm is presented, which can identify upsets in multiple sensors. In the method, disturbed sensors are identified sequentially, or one at a time, using a residual-based criterion. The BESI algorithm is sensitive to changes in sensor correlations detected by conventional multivariate statistical process control but offers the ease of interpretation of conventional univariate methods. The BESI algorithm is successfully employed in the identification of disturbed sensors in simulated spectroscopic data and industrial process data. By examining the disturbance profiles generated over time by the BESI algorithm, it is also possible to distinguish between sensor and process disturb...
P143Targeting the mitochondrial fission proteins, MiD49 and MiD51, as a therapeutic strategy for cardioprotection

Background: Ischaemic heart disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Novel therapeutic strategies are essential to protect the heart from acute ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). It has been reported that inhibiting mitochondrial fission, protects the heart against cardiomyocyte death during acute IRI. We investigated the mitochondrial fission proteins, MiD49 and MiD51, as novel targets for cardioprotection, Methods and Results: Genetic ablation of both MiD49 and MiD51 in HL-1 cardiac cells (a murine atrial-derived cell line), using shRNAs had the following effects: (1) A significant increase in the proportion of cells expressing predominantly elongated mitochondria (81.5±2.9% MiD49+MiD51 knockdown vs. 49.4±4.9% vector control: n=120 cells/group; P<0.05); (2) It led to a delay in time taken to induce mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening (485±61 seconds MiD49+MiD51 knockdown vs. 233±20 seconds vector control: n=120 cells/group; P<0.05); (3) Cell death following simulated IRI was reduced (27.9±3.0% MiD49+MiD51 knockdown vs. 56.7±2.4% vector control: n=300 cells/group; P<0.05). Interestingly, the individual knockdown of either MiD49 or MiD51 alone had no effect on these parameters. Unexpectedly, the over-expression of either MiD49 or MiD51 had similar beneficial effects: (1) The formation of abnormally elongated (hyperfused) mitochondria with a peri-nuclear distribution; (2) It delayed the induction of MPTP opening (339±23 seconds MiD49 over-expression, 336±19 seconds MiD51 over-expression vs. 208±16 seconds vector control: n=120 cells/group; P<0.05); (3) It reduced cell death following simulated IRI (21.5±3.7% MiD49 over-expression, 20.0±3.7% MiD51 over-expression vs. 52.0±4.6% vector control: n=300; P<0.05). The explanation for this apparent beneficial effect with MiD49 or MiD51 over-expression, may be due to Drp1 sequestration to mitochondria, leading to unopposed abnormal mitochondrial elongation (hyperfusion). Conclusions: Here we show that combined knockdown of the newly discovered mitochondrial fission proteins, MiD49 and MiD51, induced mitochondrial elongation, delayed MPTP opening, and protected cells against simulated acute IRI, implicating MiD49 and MiD51 as novel targets for cardioprotection. Unexpectedly, the over-expression of these fission proteins induced a state of abnormal hyperfusion, delayed MPTP opening, and protected cells against simulated acute IRI.
Initiating Expressive Communication: An Analysis of the Listener Preparatory Behaviors of Preschoolers with Developmental Disabilities in Center-Based Programs

This descriptive study examined the listener preparatory behaviors (LPBs) of selecting a listener, establishing listener proximity, and obtaining listener attention of 16 preschoolers with moderate to severe developmental disabilities within the daily classroom routine. Using an observational coding system, the study identified the patterns of listener preparatory behaviors that were associated with opportunities for the target children's expressive communication. Eighteen distinct listener preparatory behavior patterns were observed, 16 of which described the LPB patterns that children used when initiating expressive communication. These patterns revealed that opportunities for children to display all three listener preparatory behaviors in classrooms were minimal, because almost all expressive communication took place with proximate partners. The results also demonstrated that using specific attention-getters were not significantly more successful than just stating the message. However, target children ...
Geochemistry and microbial ecology in alkaline hot springs of Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea

The availability of microbiological and geochemical data from island-based and high-arsenic hydrothermal systems is limited. Here, the microbial diversity in island-based hot springs on Ambitle Island (Papua New Guinea) was investigated using culture-dependent and -independent methods. Waramung and Kapkai are alkaline springs high in sulfide and arsenic, related hydrologically to previously described hydrothermal vents in nearby Tutum Bay. Enrichments were carried out at 24 conditions with varying temperature (45, 80 °C), pH (6.5, 8.5), terminal electron acceptors (O2, SO4 (2-), S(0), NO3 (-)), and electron donors (organic carbon, H2, As(III)). Growth was observed in 20 of 72 tubes, with media targeting heterotrophic metabolisms the most successful. 16S ribosomal RNA gene surveys of environmental samples revealed representatives in 15 bacterial phyla and 8 archaeal orders. While the Kapkai 4 bacterial clone library is primarily made up of Thermodesulfobacteria (74%), no bacterial taxon represents a majority in the Kapkai 3 and Waramung samples (40% Proteobacteria and 39% Aquificae, respectively). Deinococcus/Thermus and Thermotogae are observed in all samples. The Thermococcales dominate the archaeal clone libraries (65-85%). Thermoproteales, Desulfurococcales, and uncultured Eury- and Crenarchaeota make up the remaining archaeal taxonomic diversity. The culturing and phylogenetic results are consistent with the geochemistry of the alkaline, saline, and sulfide-rich fluids. When compared to other alkaline, island-based, high-arsenic, or shallow-sea hydrothermal communities, the Ambitle Island archaeal communities are unique in geochemical conditions, and in taxonomic diversity, richness, and evenness.
Redesign of senior capstone program in electrical and computer engineering and its assessment

Our students are required to take part in a year-long capstone program consisting of a one quarter lecture course and a follow-on two-quarter industry-sponsored capstone project. Feedback from students, alumni and capstone sponsors indicated that: a) students needed better preparation before starting their projects, b) we should introduce a realistic mini-project, and c) students should learn and apply project management, time management, teamwork, and communication skills. Our redesigned lecture course has a term-long practicum project that mimics the follow-on project, requiring completion of a project from concept to test. During this practicum project, students apply all the best practices in design and project management that they are learning in lectures. Our program is assessed using multiple methods (focus groups, surveys, evaluation of student work) and multiple sources (students, alumni, sponsors and faculty). This enables triangulation of data and increases our confidence in validity of the results. Data was collected over four years and overall we have found good agreement between different methods and sources. This rich set of data validated our course redesign and provided an insight that students' writing skills and project management need even further improvement.
“In-situ” sputter deposition of superconducting BiSrCaCuO thin films

Abstract Thin films of Bi Sr Ca Cu O, which are superconducting as-deposited, have been sputtered onto MgO substrates using a single Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox cast target. An rf-magnetron source was used, with substrates held at temperatures up to 850 °C in an argon-oxygen (50%-50%) atmosphere. Evidence of the higher transition temperature “2223” phase is present in both x-ray diffraction data and resistivity vs. temperature measurements. Necessary conditions for “in-situ” growth are have been explored.
Opiate modulation of separation-induced distress in non-human primates

Infant rhesus monkeys respond to separation from their mothers with a dramatic increase in vocalizations and activation of autonomic and pituitary-adrenal systems. Using the mother-infant separation paradigm in rhesus monkeys, we focused on the role of opiate systems in modulating the behavioral and neuroendocrine consequences of a brief, naturally occurring stressor. In the first experiment, morphine 0.1 mg/kg significantly decreased separation-induced vocalizations without affecting activity levels. In the second experiment, naloxone 1.0 mg/kg increased distress vocalizations but lower doses had no effect. In the third experiment we blocked the effect of morphine 0.1 mg/kg with naloxone 0.1 mg/kg, a dose of naloxone that had no intrinsic effects of its own. This suggests that the reduction of separation-induced vocalizations by morphine is mediated by opiate receptors. The last experiment demonstrated that separation-induced increases in pituitary-adrenal hormones can also be modulated by opiate agonists and antagonists. These findings are consistent with work in non-primate species and support the hypothesis that opiate receptors are specifically involved in mediating separation-induced vocalizations and pituitary-adrenal activation in primates.
In vivo complementation of infectious transcripts from mutant tobacco mosaic virus cDNAs in transgenic plants

A full-length cDNA clone of the U1 (common) strain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was constructed, and highly infectious transcripts were produced in vitro using bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. Frameshift mutations designed to cause premature termination of translation were introduced into either the 30-kDa movement protein (MP) gene or the coat protein (CP) gene. The MP-frameshift mutant was unable to locally or systemically infect inoculated tobacco plants. However, inoculation of transgenic tobacco plants that expressed a wild-type TMV MP gene resulted in both local and systemic viral infection. The CP-frameshift mutant, although unable to move systemically in nontransformed tobacco, exhibited systemic movement in transgenic plants that expressed a wild-type TMV CP gene. Transgenic tobacco plants that expressed the appropriate wild-type TMV gene were thus able to complement, in trans, mutant viruses lacking a functional MP or CP gene.
Antibiotic Impregnated Beads in Open Fractures. A Report on the Technique and Possible Applications in Military Surgery

The use of antibiotic impregnated beads has been shown to be a valuable adjunct in the prevention of infection in open fractures. The bead pouch technique employs these beads within the wound, producing high local levels of antibiotic in a moist environment. This effectively inhibits bacterial colonisation and wound infection whilst preventing desiccation of structures such as bone and tendons. This technique can be used to manage wounds until soft tissue cover is obtained, whether by delayed primary suture or by plastic surgical means. The potential use in acute military surgery includes the management of wounds associated with fractures, damage to tendons or neuro-vascular injury. In such cases delay in soft tissue cover may be clinically necessary or dictated by casualty evacuation to rearward surgical facilities. The bead pouch technique offers a means of managing the wound between initial wound surgery and soft tissue cover.
10 Channel, 45.6 Gb/s per Channel, Polarization-Multiplexed DQPSK, InP Receiver Photonic Integrated Circuit

We demonstrate a 10 wavelength, 200 GHz spaced, monolithically integrated, polarization-multiplexed, InP differential quadrature phase shift keying receiver operating at 45.6 Gb/s per wavelength. The receiver is based on a novel technique for polarization demodulation and phase tracking that does not require any external components.
Effect of fasting on alanine-stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion

Abstract The effect of a 5-day fast on glucose- and alanine-stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion was examined in the dog. As predicted from investigation of other species, prolonged fasting markedly inhibited glucogenic insulin secretion. In contrast, insulin and glucagon secretion after alanine challenge were unaltered by the prolonged fast. These data support the hypothesis that the physiologic response to this amino acid with fasting may be partially responsible for the regulation of insulin secretion in this state.
Influence of uv light on the passive behaviour of SS316—effect of prior illumination

The influence of uv light (300 nm) on the nucleation of meta-stable pits on type 316 stainless steel in a neutral 0.5 mol dm−3 NaCl solution using current-time measurements is described. A significant increase in the induction periods and a decrease in the rate of pit nucleation were observed for specimens pre-passivated under illumination conditions, indicating that illumination leads to a modification of the passive film that persists even after irradiation is removed. This increased resistance to pitting attack is explained in terms of the semiconducting nature of the passive film and the Point Defect Model (PDM) for the growth and breakdown of passive films. It is proposed that generation of electron-hole pairs leads to a quenching of the electric field strength and consequent modification of the vacancy structure, leading to a decrease in the flux of cation vacancies across the barrier layer. Good agreement was observed between the ratios of experimentally measured and theoretically calculated induction periods for specimens pre-passivated in the dark and in the light.
Spherical Discriminant Analysis in Semi-supervised Speaker Clustering

Semi-supervised speaker clustering refers to the use of our prior knowledge of speakers in general to assist the unsupervised speaker clustering process. In the form of an independent training set, the prior knowledge helps us learn a speaker-discriminative feature transformation, a universal speaker prior model, and a discriminative speaker subspace, or equivalently a speaker-discriminative distance metric. The directional scattering patterns of Gaussian mixture model mean supervectors motivate us to perform discriminant analysis on the unit hypersphere rather than in the Euclidean space, which leads to a novel dimensionality reduction technique called spherical discriminant analysis (SDA). Our experiment results show that in the SDA subspace, speaker clustering yields superior performance than that in other reduced-dimensional subspaces (e.g., PCA and LDA).
Comparison of ionic and low-osmolar contrast media during cardiac catheterization

The use of nonionic contrast agents during cardiac catheterization decreases the incidence of both major and minor cardiovascular complications when compared with ionic contrast. Hemodynamic and electrophysiologic effects are less profound especially in patients who have severe coronary artery disease or left ventricular dysfunction. Sparse data exist comparing ionic and nonionic contrast in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. No clinical evidence suggests that nonionic contrast agents are less nephrotoxic than ionic contrast though patients with significant baseline renal dysfunction (creatinine > 3.0) might benefit. The incidence of thrombotic events appears to be similar for both types of agents. Finally, the risk reduction of cardiovascular events must be weighed against markedly higher costs.
Exposure provides refuge from a rootless invasive macrophyte

Abstract Free-floating Utricularia inflata Walt. has the potential to alter native isoetid communities as it expands its range from the Atlantic coastal plain into northeastern New York lakes. This field study assessed (1) in situ growth potential for U. inflata at varying depths (1.0–3.0 m), (2) displacement of U. inflata from sites with different exposures to wind and water movement, and (3) U. inflata 's relative abundance over a depth range (0.5 m, 1.0 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m, and 2.5 m) at each of nine Adirondack Mountain lake sites varying in exposure. Plants grew well in shallow water (RGR: 0.014–0.039 day −1 ) at depths from 1.0 m to 2.5 m, but lost mass at 3.0 m. Significantly fewer U. inflata plants remained at sites and depths with greater exposure to wave action, as well as those with greater water current. Vegetation sampling confirmed greater relative frequency of U. inflata at sheltered sites and along deeper contours. Despite its potential to grow well in shallow water, water movement can prevent the accumulation of U. inflata there, and thus provide a refuge for native species able to withstand wave exposure.