cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MITOCHONDRIA AS REVERSIBLE REGULATORS OF AGING ASSOCIATED SKIN WRINKLES AND HAIR LOSS IN MICE

To evaluate the consequences of the decline in mtDNA content associated with aging we have created an inducible mouse model expressing, in the polymerase domain of POLG1, a dominant-negative mutation that induces depletion of mtDNA. We utilized this inducible mouse model to modulate mitochondrial function by depleting and repleting the mtDNA content. We demonstrate that, in mice, ubiquitous expression of dominant-negative mutant POLG1 leads to 1) reduction of mtDNA content in skin, 2) skin wrinkles, and 3) hair loss. By turning off the mutant POLG1 transgene expression in the whole animal, the skin and hair phenotypes revert to normal after repletion of mtDNA. Thus, we have developed whole-animal mtDNA depleter-repleter mice. These mice present evidence that mtDNA homeostasis is involved in skin aging phenotype and loss of hair and provide an unprecedented opportunity to create tissue-specific mitochondrial modulation to determine the role of the mitochondria in a particular tissue.
Metabolic testing does not alter distance running lower body sagittal kinematics

Abstract Background Distance running fitness is commonly assessed using metabolic testing (MT). During MT, the runner must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth. It is unclear if this increased challenge alters running kinematics and/or stride-to-stride variability (SSV). In this study we thoroughly assess the sagittal plane lower body joint angles. Research question Are there significant differences between standard treadmill running kinematics and those collected during MT? Methods Twenty recreational runners participated (34.8 ± 10.0 years; 20+ miles per week). Six Vicon Bonita cameras were used to collect kinematic data (200 Hz). A metabolic cart (Parvo Medics TrueOne 2400) was used for heart rate (HR) collection and testing. Participants ran 4 × 4 min at preferred pace: 2 control runs (CON) and 2 MT runs. Ten strides were used to generate average stance and swing joint angle plots. The phase plots were compared for CON and MT and mean difference scores were calculated (to determine the kinematic change). SSV was determined by assessing the standard deviations among the 10 strides. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for significant differences among CON and MT trials. Reliability was assessed for 8 discrete joint angles using ICC analysis. Results There were no significant differences between CON and MT for both the joint angle plot comparisons and SSV. For the discrete kinematic measures, ICC scores were strong (0.89-0.99) between CON and MT. During MT, there were slight increases (p Significance Results from this study support the validity of simultaneously conducting a kinematic and MT analysis. However, clinicians and performance coaches should be aware that 1) MT is slightly more physiologically demanding than CON and 2) approaches from this study can be used during individual assessments to confirm that kinematics are similar (between CON and MT).
Red under Blue: Chinese Humanitarian Action in UN Peacekeeping Missions

This article documents humanitarian action undertaken by Chinese troops in six UN peacekeeping missions and shows that Chinese peacekeepers engaged in very similar types of humanitarian action rega...
Longitudinal changes in walking cadence across pregnancy and postpartum.

Abstract Background Physical activity during pregnancy has many health benefits yet few pregnant women meet US guidelines for physical activity. Traditionally, physical activity has been measured as time spent in moderate and/or vigorous intensity activity, but quantifying intensity is challenging. There is increasing interest in measuring both daily steps and stepping rate, or cadence, as an indicator of physical activity overall and intensity of that activity. Research question: Does free-living step cadence change across pregnancy (from 20 weeks to 32 weeks) and postpartum (12 weeks postpartum) when data is collected via hip-worn ActiGraph (ActiGraph Corp., Pensacola, FL) accelerometers? Methods: A total of n = 32 pregnant women were enrolled in a longitudinal study of physical activity during pregnancy; these women wore accelerometers on their right hip for one week at 20 weeks gestation, again at 32 weeks gestation, and at 12 weeks postpartum. Data were used to determine total daily steps, time spent (min/day) in various cadence ranges, minutes spent at >100 and >130 steps/min as well as mean, median, maximum, and peak cadences. Results: Pregnant women accumulated significantly fewer steps per day in the third trimester compared to second (1164 steps/day less) or postpartum (1397 steps/day less) time points. Third trimester women also spent significantly fewer minutes/day in MVPA (cadences ≥100 steps/minute; 4.1 min/day less) and had a significantly lower peak cadence (10.6 steps/min less), compared to second trimester only. Significance: These data indicate that pregnant women take fewer steps and walk at slower cadences in the third trimester compared to second and to postpartum, which indicates that total PA as well as absolute intensity of PA are altered during pregnancy.
A 48-to-6 V Multi-Resonant-Doubler Switched-Capacitor Converter for Data Center Applications

Compared with conventional switched-capacitor (SC) converters with two operating phases, multi-phase SC converters can achieve the same conversion ratio with fewer capacitors and switches. This feature makes multi-phase SC converters an attractive candidate for applications with large conversion ratios. To further improve the performance by enabling soft-charging and soft-switching operations, SC converters can be transformed to resonant switched-capacitor (ReSC) converters with augmented inductor(s). This work presents an 8-to-1 multiphase ReSC converter design that features the least-possible number of switches and capacitors for the achieved gain. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results from a practical implementation are provided to demonstrate the benefits of the multi-phase resonant approach. A 48-to-6 V converter prototype with 40 A output current for data center applications was built and tested. The prototype achieved 98.6% peak efficiency (98.0% including gate drive loss) and 1675 W/in3 power density, achieving one of the best overall in-class performances.
Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Geriatric Population Present an Opportunity to Improve Recognition and Treatment of Osteoporosis

Introduction:Osteoporosis remains an undertreated disease entity causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Proximal humerus fractures are a common sentinel fracture, providing an opportunity to ...
Cytoplasts: Isolation and Uses

During the production and handling of protoplasts, a variety of plasmalemmabound fragments may be produced. These fragments contain a portion of the cytoplasm and may or may not contain the nucleus (see Figs. 1-4). Enucleate plasmalemma-bound protoplast fragments have been observed in protoplasts preparations from explants of Pisum sativum leaves (Wallin et al. 1978), Allium cepa epidermis (Bradley 1978; Bracha and Sher 1981), Brassica oleracea cotyledons (Vatsya and Bhaskaran 1981), Lycopersicon esculentum fruits (De and Swain 1983), and Brassica napus hypocotyls (Spangenberg 1985; Spangenberg and Schweiger 1986; Spangenberg et al. 1986). Enucleate membrane-bound protoplast fragments form when protoplasts are derived from elongated unicellular filaments including Funaria hygrometrica protonema (Gwozdz and Waliszewska 1979), Nicotiana and Hyoscyamus muticus pollen tube cells (Lorz and Potrykus 1980a) and Gossypium hirsutum fibers (Gould et al. 1986). Enucleate membrane-bound protoplast fragments have also been produced from protoplasts derived from suspension cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum, N. sylvestris, Daucus carota (Wallin et al. 1978), Zea mays, H.muticus (Lorz et al. 1981), Nicotiana plumbaginifolia (Hoffmann 1981), Solanum nigrum (Lesney et al. 1983), Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (Fakhrai and Evans 1986), Lycopersicon peruvianum, L.penelli, Petunia hybrida, and Solanum lycopersicoides (Tan 1987).
Algebraic multigrid operators for disordered systems and lattice gauge theory

Most of the computer time in simulating lattice gauge theories [1] is spent on calculating Green’s functions of the fermion matrix. Similar disordered matrix problems appear in many other branches of physics. The algebraic multigrid method can be used to construct coarse-grid approximations to disordered linear lattice operators which improve the performance of a variety of numerical algorithms.
No H 0 assistance from assisted quintessence

Early dark energy, as a proposed solution to the Hubble tension, faces an additional ``why now'' problem. Why should dark energy emerge just prior to recombination, billions of years before the onset of cosmic acceleration? Assisted quintessence explains this connection by positing that multiple scaling fields build up over time to drive the present-day cosmic acceleration. In this framework, early dark energy is inevitable. Yet, we show that scaling also leads to the demise of the scenario: the same feature that solves the coincidence problem then spoils a concordance of the Hubble constant inferred from the cosmic microwave background with that from the local distance ladder. The failure of the model offers a novel lesson on the ability of new physics to resolve the Hubble tension.
Distributed simulation systems

An overview of technologies concerned with distributing the execution of simulation programs across multiple processors is presented. Here, particular emphasis is placed on discrete event simulations. The High Level Architecture (HLA) developed by the Department of Defense in the United States is first described to provide a concrete example of a contemporary approach to distributed simulation. The remainder of this paper is focused on time management, a central issue concerning the synchronization of computations on different processors. Time management algorithms broadly fall into two categories, termed conservative and optimistic synchronization. A survey of both conservative and optimistic algorithms is presented focusing on fundamental principles and mechanisms. Finally, time management in the HLA is discussed as a means to illustrate how this standard supports both approaches to synchronization.
Coupling of the mid-depth and abyssal components of the global overturning circulation according to a state estimate

Using velocities from a state estimate, Lagrangian analysis maps the global routes of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) exiting the Atlantic and reentering the upper branch of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Virtual particle trajectories followed for 8100 years highlight an upper route (32%) and a lower route (68%). The latter samples σ2 > 37.07 and is further divided into subpolar (20%) and abyssal cells (48%). Particles in the abyssal cell detour into the abyssal North Pacific before upwelling in the Southern Ocean. NADW preferentially upwells north of 33°S (67%). Total diapycnal transformations are largest in the lower route but of comparable magnitudes in the upper route, challenging its previous characterization as “adiabatic.” Typical transit times are 300, 700, and 3600 years for the upper route, subpolar, and abyssal cells, respectively. The AMOC imports salinity into the Atlantic, indicating its potential instability to high-latitude freshwater perturbations.
A Case of Failed Dual Antiplatelet Therapy With Oral Anticoagulant in the Prevention of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) or strokes cause focal neurological deficits, which may be due to rupture or occlusion of blood vessels supplying areas of the brain. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent and significant risk factor for ischemic CVA, mainly via the embolic pathway. This is evident as newly diagnosed patients with AF are typically started on anticoagulation therapy if their CHA2DS2-VASc score is equal to or greater than two. Furthermore, ischemic CVA may occur as a thrombotic phenomenon due to significant vessel atherosclerotic disease involving plaque ulceration and rupture. Such a phenomenon may be curtailed with antiplatelet therapy in at-risk patient populations, particularly as a form of secondary prevention. This case highlights the unfortunate incidence of an ischemic CVA in a patient using dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and anticoagulation.
Hierarchy of signaling thresholds downstream of the T cell receptor and the Tec kinase ITK.

The strength of peptide:MHC interactions with the T cell receptor (TCR) is correlated with the time to first cell division, the relative scale of the effector cell response, and the graded expression of activation-associated proteins like IRF4. To regulate T cell activation programming, the TCR and the TCR proximal interleukin-2-inducible T cell kinase (ITK) simultaneously trigger many biochemically separate signaling cascades. T cells lacking ITK exhibit selective impairments in effector T cell responses after activation, but under the strongest signaling conditions, ITK activity is dispensable. To gain insight into whether TCR signal strength and ITK activity tune observed graded gene expression through the unequal activation of distinct signaling pathways, we examined Erk1/2 phosphorylation or nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB translocation in naive OT-I CD8+ cell nuclei. We observed the consistent digital activation of NFAT1 and Erk1/2, but NF-κB displayed dynamic, graded activation in response to variation in TCR signal strength, tunable by treatment with an ITK inhibitor. Inhibitor-treated cells showed the dampened induction of AP-1 factors Fos and Fosb, NF-κB response gene transcripts, and survival factor Il2 transcripts. ATAC sequencing analysis also revealed that genomic regions most sensitive to ITK inhibition were enriched for NF-κB and AP-1 motifs. Specific inhibition of NF-κB during peptide stimulation tuned the expression of early gene products like c-Fos. Together, these data indicate a key role for ITK in orchestrating the optimal activation of separate TCR downstream pathways, specifically aiding NF-κB activation. More broadly, we revealed a mechanism by which variations in TCR signal strength can produce patterns of graded gene expression in activated T cells.
Developmental Trajectories and Predictors of Delinquent Peer Association

Although the important relationship between age and peers is well-known, relatively little empirical attention has focused on heterogeneous patterns of deviant peer association over time. In light ...
Travel as Relationship Therapy Examining the Effect of Vacation Satisfaction Applied to the Investment Model

As adults continue to work longer and take less vacation days, relationship dynamics are changing to accommodate individuals’ responsibilities to career, family life, and self. Thus, the current study sought to understand how vacation satisfaction may enhance relationship commitment and possibly build stronger relationships and lessen the chance of relationship termination for adult couples. To do so, the current research applied the concept of vacation satisfaction to the Investment Model with the goal of better understanding the antecedents to relationship satisfaction and commitment. Results revealed that relationship satisfaction and quality of alternatives are good predictors of relationship commitment and that satisfaction with vacations assists the investment model in explaining couples’ relationship commitment. From a practical standpoint, results revealed that tourism suppliers could use this information to promote travel as a means for strengthening relationships.
MO-F-CAMPUS-J-02: Automatic Recognition of Patient Treatment Site in Portal Images Using Machine Learning

Purpose: To investigate the method to automatically recognize the treatment site in the X-Ray portal images. It could be useful to detect potential treatment errors, and to provide guidance to sequential tasks, e.g. automatically verify the patient daily setup. Methods: The portal images were exported from MOSAIQ as DICOM files, and were 1) processed with a threshold based intensity transformation algorithm to enhance contrast, and 2) where then down-sampled (from 1024×768 to 128×96) by using bi-cubic interpolation algorithm. An appearance-based vector space model (VSM) was used to rearrange the images into vectors. A principal component analysis (PCA) method was used to reduce the vector dimensions. A multi-class support vector machine (SVM), with radial basis function kernel, was used to build the treatment site recognition models. These models were then used to recognize the treatment sites in the portal image. Portal images of 120 patients were included in the study. The images were selected to cover six treatment sites: brain, head and neck, breast, lung, abdomen and pelvis. Each site had images of the twenty patients. Cross-validation experiments were performed to evaluate the performance. Results: MATLAB image processing Toolbox and scikit-learn (a machine learning library in python) were used to implement the proposed method. The average accuracies using the AP and RT images separately were 95% and 94% respectively. The average accuracy using AP and RT images together was 98%. Computation time was ∼0.16 seconds per patient with AP or RT image, ∼0.33 seconds per patient with both of AP and RT images. Conclusion: The proposed method of treatment site recognition is efficient and accurate. It is not sensitive to the differences of image intensity, size and positions of patients in the portal images. It could be useful for the patient safety assurance. The work was partially supported by a research grant from Varian Medical System.
1 De Novo Approaches to Monosaccharides and Complex Glycans

Over the years, considerable effort has been made toward the development of new synthetic routes to monosaccharides [1]. This interest came primarily from the medicinal chemistry community, as these new routes often provided access to unnatural sugars, which could be of use in structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies. In addition, the synthesis of monosaccharides, and in particular hexoses, has served as a challenge and ameasuring stick to the synthetic organic community. Of particular interest are the routes to hexoses that start from achiral starting materials, where asymmetric catalysis is used to install the stereochemistry. In the synthetic organic community, these routes are described as ‘‘de novo’’ or ‘‘de novo asymmetric’’ routes to carbohydrates, whereas in the carbohydrate community, the term de novo takes up other meanings. For the purposes of this review, the term de novo asymmetric synthesis refers to the use of catalysis for the asymmetric synthesis of carbohydrates from achiral compounds [2]. This then precludes the inclusion of de novo process that produced sugars frommolecules with preexisting chiral centers (e.g., Seeberger and Reisig) [3, 4]. The challenge of a de novo synthetic approach to carbohydrates has been met by many groups (Scheme 1.1). These approaches begin most notably with the seminal work by Masamune and Sharpless [5] (2 to 5), which utilized iterative asymmetric epoxidation of allylic alcohols to prepare all eight possible hexoses. More recently, Danishefsky [6] demonstrated the power of asymmetric heteroDiels–Alder reaction for the synthesis of several glycals (3 and 4 to 5), which inspired further studies toward oligosaccharide synthesis. Johnson and Hudlicky [7] turned to the use of enzyme catalysis for the oxidation/desymmetrization of substituted benzene rings to achieve hexopyranoses (1 to 5). Alternatively, Wong and Sharpless [8] used a combination of transition metal catalysis (asymmetric dihydroxylation) and an enzyme-catalyzed aldol reaction for the synthesis of several 2-keto-hexoses. More recently, this challenge has been engaged by MacMillan who utilized an iterative aldol reaction approach (a proline-catalyzed aldol followed by a subsequent diastereoselective aldol reaction) to produce various hexoses
Creatine Kinase Level and Lipid Peroxidation Rate in Human Spermatozoa from Patients with Cancer

Purpose: The present study assessed whether the poor semen quality in patients with cancer results from the inhibition of sperm maturation as indicated by creatine kinase or from increased oxidative stress as assessed by lipid peroxidation of the sperm membrane. Methods: Cryopreserved semen specimens from patients with testicular (n = 10) and nontesticular (n = 12) cancer and normal healthy donors (n = 14) were analyzed for lipid peroxidation and creatine kinase levels. Results: The levels of creatine kinase and malonaldehyde did not differ among testicular or nontesticular patients with cancer or normal healthy donors. Conclusions: Poor semen quality in testicular and nontesticular patients with cancer is not related to creatine kinase or lipid peroxidation levels; it may be related to other factors.
The Role of Pediatricians as Innovators in Pediatric Nutrition

Innovation is about making changes. When it comes to health care, innovations, though they may be something 'new', may not be beneficial if not demonstrated to be an improvement over what is current practice. Innovations in pediatric nutrition sometimes fall into this category. The establishment of safe water and milk supplies at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries is viewed as one of the greatest advances in preventative medicine and truly was an 'innovation', with its dramatic impact on infant mortality. Other innovations in pediatric nutrition included the development of the caloric method of infant feeding which led to the large-scale adoption of a single infant formula. This required cooperation with industry and ultimately led to the development of life-saving specialty formulas for various disease states including inborn errors of metabolism. Over the last 50 years there have been further modifications of term infant formula that have included taurine, carnitine, nucleotides, whey proteins, PUFAs including decosahexenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid, probiotics, and prebiotics. Many of these additions are of questionable benefit and are questioned as true innovations. Though the addition of novel nutrients to infant formula has been an area of great interest, more basic research (including randomized controlled trial) is needed to determine many pediatric nutrient requirements including the lower and upper limits of nutrients added to infant formula. Such research could be facilitated by institutions such as the US National Institute of Child Health whose establishment in 1962 was a significant 'innovation' as it led to advances in pediatric nutritional research. Much more research is needed to determine basic pediatric nutritional requirements and pediatricians should strive for such true innovations.
Reduction of oxoselenium anions by iron(II) hydroxide

The reaction between iron(II) hydroxide and solutions containing oxoselenium anions results in a dramatic reduction in the concentrations of dissolved selenate and/or selenite. This reaction presents the possibility of a practical method for the removal of soluble selenium from water systems. Examination of the iron precipitates which carry the selenium was carried out. Basic chemical reactions to isolate the selenium followed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electron diffraction patterns establish the identity of the selenium product as the element in its stable gray, trigonal form.
Multiple Forms of Phospholipase D Inhibitor from Rat Brain Cytosol PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HEAT-LABILE FORM

Abstract Rat brain cytosol contains proteins that markedly inhibit the activity of partially purified brain membrane phospholipase D (PLD) stimulated by ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP). Sequential chromatography of the brain cytosol yielded four inhibitor fractions, which exhibited different kinetics to heat treatment at 70°C. Purification of the most heat-labile inhibitor to homogeneity yielded two preparations, which displayed apparent molecular masses of 150 kDa and 135 kDa, respectively, on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Tryptic digests of the 150- and 135-kDa proteins yielded similar elution profiles on a C reverse-phase column, suggesting that the 135-kDa form is a truncated form of the 150-kDa form. Sequences of two tryptic peptides were determined. A data base search revealed no proteins with these sequences. The purified 150-kDa inhibitor negated the PLD activity stimulated by Arf, RhoA, or Cdc42. The concentration required for half-maximal inhibition was 0.4 nM. Concentration dependence on the 150-kDa inhibitor was not affected by changes in the concentrations of Arf, PIP, or phosphatidylcholine used in the assays, suggesting that the inhibition is not due to competition with the activators or substrate for PLD. The purified inhibitor did not affect the PIP-hydrolyzing activity of a phospholipase C isozyme that was measured with substrate vesicles of lipid composition identical with that used for the PLD assay. Thus, the mechanism of inhibition appears to be a specific allosteric modification of PLD rather than disruption of substrate vesicles.
Flavor changing chronomagnetic moments: a Monte Carlo study of the top quark

We have studied direct top quark production and single top quark production through anomalous flavor changing chromomagnetic moments. We find that it is possible to detect anomalous flavor changing chromomagnetic moments of the top quark using di­ rect top quark production if the charm quark coupling strength is larger than /c^/A > .062 TeV~^ at Run 2 of the Tevatron, or larger than Kc/\ > .0084 TeV~^ at the LHC. or if the up quark coupling is laxger than k^/A > .019 TeV~^ at the Tevatron or larger than Kii/A > .0033 TeV~^ at the LHC. Single top quaxk production cannot measure couplings as smail, but may still be of use since it has a related process within the standajd model, which will be studied. .A. deviation of this measurement from the standard model may point toward flavor changing couplings of this type.
THE FUTURE INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AS A RESULT OF THE REELECTION OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

On November 6, 2012, Barack Obama was reelected President of the United States. What effect will this have on the future interpretation of the Constitution? This article identifies 20 areas of constitutional law that would likely change if one more liberal justice is appointed to the Supreme Court.
The Determination of Cloud Masses and Dust Characteristics from Submillimetre Thermal Emission

The principles by which the dust and masses and total masses of interstellar clouds and certain characteristics of interstellar dust grains can be derived from observations of far infrared and submillimeter thermal emission are reviewed. To the extent possible, the discussion will be independent of particular grain models.
Effects of nicotine on β-endorphin, αMSH, and ACTH secretion by isolated perfused mouse brains and pituitary glands, in Vitro

The effects of nicotine on secretion of the pituitary peptides beta-endorphin, alpha MSH, and ACTH were studied using the isolated perfused mouse brain (IPMB) and isolated superfused pituitaries of C3H mice. Nicotine (6.1 microM) stimulated secretion of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity from C3H IPMB approximately twofold. Secretion of alpha MSH immunoreactivity was stimulated approximately two- and sixfold by 6.1 microM and 12.2 microM nicotine, respectively. However, nicotine (6.1 microM) had no direct effect on the secretion of beta-endorphin, alpha MSH, or ACTH immunoreactivities from the isolated superfused pituitaries. The data suggest nicotine acts in the brain to stimulate pituitary secretion of alpha MSH and beta-endorphin. Electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity of the IPMB was monitored. Nicotine induced characteristic ECoG changes including a reduction of input voltage, a biphasic response of rapid desynchronization followed by prolonged synchronization, and seizure at high doses (12.2 microM).
Application of INEPT nitrogen-15 and silicon-29 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry to derivatized fulvic acids

Abstract Use of the INEPT experiment has been examined in two derivatization studies of the Suwannee River fulvic acid. In the first study, the fulvic acid was derivatized with 15 N enriched hydroxylamine. The quantitative 15 N NMR spectrum, acquired with a 45° pulse angle, 2.0 second pulse delay and inverse gated decoupling, showed that oximes (390-340 ppm) were the major derivatives, followed by nitriles (270-240 ppm), hydroxamic acids (170-160 ppm), secondary amides (150-115 ppm), and lactams (115-90 ppm). The INEPT 15 N NMR spectrum was acquired using refocussing delays and polarization transfer times optimized for signal enhancement of singly protonated nitrogens. INEPT greatly enhanced the amide and lactam resonances, and showed that resonances downfield of 180 ppm in the quantitative spectrum represented nonprotonated nitrogens. In the second study, the fulvic acid was first methylated with diazomethane and then silylated with hexamethyldisilazane. The 29 Si NMR spectra exhibited two major peaks, from approximately 33 to 22 ppm, representing silyl esters of carboxylic acids, and from 22 to 13 ppm, representing silyl ethers of alcohols and phenols. The INEPT 29 Si NMR spectrum was virtually identical to the quantitative 29 Si spectrum, acquired with a 90° pulse angle, 5.0 second pulse delay, inverse gated decoupling, and relaxation reagent. INEPT therefore can be used for quantitative analysis of trimethylsilyl derivatives of the fulvic acid, saving spectrometer time and eliminating the need for relaxation reagents.
Time-dependent solutions of 2+1 gravity.

Time-dependent solutions of 2+1 gravity are found for N particles on a sphere with g handles. The theory is reduced to a constrained Hamiltonian system with a finite number of global observables. These include three-vectors that give the spacetime position of each particle, and others that are related to the Teichm\"uller parameters. With these global observables, the dynamical equations (${\mathit{d}}^{2}$${\mathit{x}}^{\mathit{i}}$${\mathit{dt}}^{2}$=0) decouple. The cases of the torus and uniformly expanding sphere with N sources are shown to agree with solutions from the metric formulation.
Landscape features influence genetic structure of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) currently live in metapopulations in the parts of their range where plague, caused by the bacterium Yesinia pestis, has invaded. Prairie dogs are highly susceptible to the pathogen, with most animals within towns dying during Y. pestis outbreaks. A review of population genetic studies of prairie dogs demonstrates considerable differentiation between prairie dog towns. Despite declines and fluctuations in size of prairie dog populations, they continue to harbor considerable genetic variation. This results from continual dispersal and gene flow, likely along low-lying drainages that connect towns. When combined with estimates of population size, the landscape genetic approach described here will provide precise estimates of dispersal and gene flow, in addition to evaluation of long-term stability of prairie dog metapopulations.
Using Object Knowledge in Visual Tracking and Reaching

Nine-month-old infants were presented with an engaging and challenging task of visually tracking and reaching for a rolling ball that disappeared and reappeared from behind an occluder. On some trials, the infant observed the experimenter place a barrier on the ball's track; the barrier remained partially visible above the occluder throughout the remainder of the trial. When the task involved only predictive tracking, infants' anticipatory gaze shifts were faster when no barrier was present. When the task involved both tracking and reaching, there were more reaches when no barrier was present. If the infant reached, the timing and extension of the reach and the accompanying gaze shift did not differ with regard to the barrier. Because catching the ball was quite difficult for these infants, task demands interfered with the integration of visual information and visuospatial reasoning about the barrier with the reaching action.
SQL optimization in a parallel processing database system

A database management system (DBMS) with a parallel processing database system is different from conventional database systems. Accordingly, writing SQL for a parallel processing DBMS requires special attention to maintain parallel efficiency in DBMS resources usage such as CPU and I/O. This paper discusses the techniques in SQL writing, tuning, utilization of index, data distribution techniques in a parallel processing DBMS architecture. The resource savings statistics based on several experiments show significant reduction of computing resources usage and improvement of parallel efficiency (PE) can be achieved by using different optimization techniques.
Intramolecular Energy Transfer within Butadiyne-Linked Chlorophyll and Porphyrin Dimer-Faced, Self-Assembled Prisms

The synthesis and photophysical properties of butadiyne-linked chlorophyll and porphyrin dimers in toluene solution and in several self-assembled prismatic structures are described. The butadiyne linkage between the 20-positions of the macrocycles results in new electronic transitions polarized along the long axes of the dimers. These transitions greatly increase the ability of these dimers to absorb the solar spectrum over a broad wavelength range. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy reveals the relative rate of rotation of the macrocycles around the butadiyne bond joining them. Following addition of 3-fold symmetric, metal-coordinating ligands, both macrocyclic dimers self-assemble into prismatic structures in which the dimers comprise the faces of the prisms. These structures were confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering experiments in solution using a synchrotron source. Photoexcitation of the prismatic assemblies reveals that efficient, through-space energy transfer occurs between the macrocyclic dimers within the prisms. The distance dependence of energy transfer between the faces of the prisms was observed by varying the size of the prismatic assemblies through the use of 3-fold symmetric ligands having arms with different lengths. These results show that self-assembly of discrete macrocyclic prisms provides a useful new strategy for controlling singlet exciton flow in antenna systems for artificial photosynthesis and solar cell applications.
The spatial patterns of adverse health effects of ozone pollution on childhood respiratory diseases in urban Houston

This paper reports on the investigation of the spatial patterns and variations of adverse health effects of ozone pollution on childhood respiratory diseases in Houston, Texas. The study period is June to September of 2001. No significant global relationship exists between ozone pollution and prevalence of childhood respiratory diseases. However, geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis reveals spatially varied adverse health effect. With the guidance from GWR results, the association between ozone pollution and childhood respiratory disease prevalence is proved to be significant in three sub-regions. Moreover, spatial regression analysis suggests the presence of spatial dependence of the prevalence of childhood respiratory diseases. The spatial variation of the relationship between ozone pollution and childhood respiratory disease prevalence indicates health effects of confounding or intervening factors. The spatial dependency of disease prevalence is related to both the spatial patterns of poll...
Surface sculpting with stochastic deformable 3D surfaces

This paper introduces a new stochastic surface model for deformable 3D surfaces and demonstrates its utility for the purpose of 3D sculpting. This is the problem of simple-to-use and intuitively interactive 3D free-form model building. A 3D surface is a sample of a Markov random field (MRF) defined on the vertices of a 3D mesh where MRF sites coincide with mesh vertices and the MRF cliques consist of subsets of sites. Each site has 3D coordinates (x,y,z) as random variables and is a member of one or more clique potentials which are functions of the vertices in a clique and describe stochastic dependencies among sites. Data, which is used to deform the surface can consist of, but is not limited to, an unorganized set of 3D points and is modeled by a conditional probability distribution given the 3D surface. A deformed surface is a MAP (maximum a posteriori probability) estimate of the joint distribution of the MRF surface model and the data. The generality and simplicity of the MRF model provides the ability to incorporate unlimited local and global deformation properties. Included in our development is the introduction of new data models, new anisotropic clique potentials, and cliques, which involve sites that are spatially far apart. Other applications of these models are possible, e.g., stereo reconstruction.
Lifetime fluorescence method for determining membrane topology of proteins

Abstract Recently, we introduced a sensitive method for determining the bilayer topology ( cis - or trans -leaflet location) of single-site cysteine-linked 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD) fluorescent labels on membrane proteins [A.S. Ladokhin, J.M. Isas, H.T. Haigler, S.H. White, Determining the membrane topology of proteins: Insertion pathway of a transmembrane helix of annexin 12, Biochemistry 41 (2002) 13617–13626]. It uses a novel quencher, LysoUB, composed of a single acyl chain attached to a UniBlue chromophore. In its original version, the method relied on the comparison of steady-state fluorescence measurements of membrane-inserted proteins in samples with different distributions of the LysoUB in cis - and trans -leaflets of the lipid bilayer. Here we modify the method to take advantage of the fluorescence lifetime methodology, which allows us to simplify sample manipulation and, as a result, increase the reliability of topology determination. We tested the method using three model systems with artificially created all- cis , all- trans , and isotropic distribution of NBD. Because the quenching efficiency is higher when LysoUB and NBD are in the same leaflet, introduction of the quencher into the cis -leaflet results in a predictably different amount of quenching for these three model systems. Indeed, the addition of 2% LysoUB into the all- cis NBD model system causes strong reduction of the longest lifetime (from 8.1 to 4.9 ns), whereas the same addition of LysoUB results in marginal quenching (from 8.7 to 8.5 ns) in the case of all- trans NBD. This difference provides a good basis for topology determination using time-resolved fluorescence quenching.
Impairment in coupled beta-adrenergic receptor and adenylate cyclase system during bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coupled beta-adrenergic receptor (BAR) and adenylate cyclase (AC) system of the lung during the course of the bleomycin-(Bleo) induced pulmonary fibrosis in hamsters. The BAR population, dissociation constants (Kd), AC activity, and its sensitivity to various stimulators were studied at 2, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after intratracheal administration of either 1 unit of Bleo or an equivalent volume of saline. The BAR population in the lungs of Bleo-treated animals did not differ from control at the early times, but it was significantly reduced to 5.9 × 103 fmol and 3.6 × 103 fmol from the control values of 1.1 × 104 fmol and 1.5 × 104 fmol per lung at 14 and 21 days after treatment, respectively. The Kd values for control hamster lung ranged from 2.5 × 10−11 M to 3.7 × 10−11 M, and for Bleo-treated hamster lung, from 2.7 × 10−11 M to 4.8 × 10−11 M. The Kd at the earliest time, 2 days after treatment, did not differ significantly from the Kd values at the subsequent...
Effects of clonidine on self-selection of nutrients

A Richter cafeteria was used to probe the self-selection of separate macro- and micronutrients in animals injected with the alpha 2 agonist, clonidine. The most effective dose of clonidine (25 micrograms/kg) used by previous investigators with more limited nutrient offerings elicited increases in carbohydrate (1, 12, 36 hr) and vitamin A (36 hr) consumption, and decreases in salt consumption (1, 36 hr). Casein intake was depressed at 1 hour, but increased at 12 hr. A significant negative correlation between sucrose and oil intake lent statistical support to Richter's concept of "sucrose and oil burners." Other significant correlations indicated that physiological links between nutrients may underly their cooccurrence in an animal's diet.
Cytolytic effector mechanisms and gene expression in autologous graft-versus-host disease: distinct roles of perforin and Fas ligand

The administration of cyclosporin A (CsA) after autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) paradoxically elicits a systemic autoimmune syndrome that resembles graft-versus-host disease (GVHD); this is termed autologous GVHD (autoGVHD). Although dominated by activated CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, the complex cellular reaction also includes CD4+ T cells and involves multiple effector mechanisms. To determine the temporal development and relative importance of these mechanisms in autoGVHD, perforin/granzyme, Fas ligand (FasL), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin-18 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was examined in 36 patients treated with CsA after SCT. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that perforin/granzyme B, TNF-alpha, and interleukin-18 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients in whom autoGVHD developed were markedly higher (and temporally associated with the onset of autoaggression) compared with the levels detected in healthy individuals and in control, non-CsA-treated SCT patients. It is interesting to note that patients in whom autoGVHD did not develop also demonstrated increased mRNA levels for these cytokines: however, expression was substantially lower compared with that in patients with autoGVHD. It is important to note that IFN-gamma mRNA levels were selectively increased in CD8+ cells only from patients in whom autoGVHD developed. The development of autocytolytic T cells in autoGVHD correlated with increased expression of perforin, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha mRNA. Furthermore, enhanced autoreactive T-cell activity and the induction of autoGVHD was also concordant with perforin and TNF-alpha mRNA upregulation in CD4+ cells. Surprisingly, FasL mRNA levels were significantly decreased, with a progressive loss of FasL mRNA expression as autocytolytic activity increased. These findings suggest that IFN-gamma/perforin-based CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes seem to play a dominant role in autoGVHD and that TNF-alpha/perforin-based CD4+ cells may amplify this autoaggressive syndrome. The FasL pathway may play an important role in the regulation of this immune syndrome.
Dichotomous sampling of vapor and aerosol of methylene-bis-(phenylisocyanate) [MDI] with an annular diffusional denuder.

A dichotomous sampler was developed for speciation of airborne methylene-bis-(phenylisocyanate) (MDI) into vapor and aerosol fractions. The sampler consisted of an impactor inlet and two sections of annular diffusional denuder, in series with a glass fiber filter. The denuders and filter were coated with N-4-nitrobenzyl-N-1-propylamine for collection and derivatization of MDI followed by high performance liquid chromatography analysis. The sampler was evaluated in the laboratory with test atmospheres of MDI over a range of 24 to 355 µg/m3 at an average temperature of 26°C. The total amounts of MDI collected by the dichotomous sampler were not significantly different from a reference sampler over the entire range of MDI concentrations. The first denuder collected MDI vapor with an average efficiency of 91.6±5.2%, in comparison to a theoretical efficiency of 94.1%. MDI existed solely in the vapor state up to approximately 75 µg/m3 and was collected on the denuders. Above this, MDI partitioned into vapor and...
Learning Styles and Visual Literacy for Learning and Performance

Abstract Identifying students’ learning styles has been found to be a significant factor for planning effective instruction. Also, visuals have been proven to be a learning enhancer if it is connected to the learning styles. The aim of this paper is to address some of the fundamental questions about learning styles and visual literacy for learning and performance. Questions including how people learn; what are the learning styles, and how it is determined. It also focuses on how visuals can be connected to the learning styles including multiple intelligences of individuals with learning disabilities such as agenesis of the corpus callosum. It also differentiates between visuals for learning and performance. Some of the visual and learning theories, along with instructional and graphic design models will also be introduced and discussed.
Resonance Raman Spectrum of a 2A1u Ferryl Porphyrin π-Cation Radical

Resonance Raman spectra are reported for the iron complex of tetramethyltetramesitylporphine (TMTMP) in its ferric, ferryl, and ferryl π-cation forms. For comparison, the spectra of the copper comp...
Head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma requiring parotidectomy: prognostic indicators and treatment selection.

ObjectiveEvaluate characteristics and risk factors for patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).Study DesignRetrospective case series.SettingTertiary care center.Patients and MethodsChart review of patients with cSCC undergoing a parotidectomy (2003-2012).ResultsOf 218 patients identified, 49% presented with a new primary lesion (n = 107) and 51% with a recurrence (n = 111). Parotid lymph nodes were positive in 52% of patients; 81% had a concurrent neck dissection, and 28% had cervical lymph node metastases. In 18% of patients, both parotid and cervical nodes were positive, while 44% were both parotid and cervical node negative; 33% had positive parotid and negative cervical nodes, and only 5% had negative parotid and positive cervical nodes. The overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 0.71 and 0.58. Overall 5-year survival was lower for patients presenting with recurrent (0.49) versus new primary disease (0.69; P = .04). In addition, decreased overall 5-year survival rates were a...
Analogues of Horn’s theorem for finite unions of starshaped sets in ℝd

Fix k, d, 1 ≤ k ≤ d + 1. Let \( \mathcal{F} \) be a nonempty, finite family of closed sets in ℝd, and let L be a (d − k + 1)-dimensional flat in ℝd. The following results hold for the set T ≡ ∪{F: F in \( \mathcal{F} \)}.