cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II from the Glaucocystophyta: functional constraint and short-branch exclusion in deep eukaryotic phylogeny

Evolutionary analyses of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) have yielded important and at times provocative results. One particularly troublesome outcome is the consistent inference of independent origins of red algae and green plants, at odds with the more widely accepted view of a monophyletic Plantae comprising all eukaryotes with primary plastids. If the hypothesis of a broader kingdom Plantae is correct, then RPB1 trees likely reflect a persistent phylogenetic artifact. To gain a better understanding of RNAP II evolution, and the presumed artifact relating to green plants and red algae, we isolated and analyzed RPB 1 from representatives of Glaucocystophyta, the third eukaryotic group with primary plastids. Phylogenetic analyses incorporating glaucocystophytes do not recover a monophyletic Plantae; rather they result in additional conflicts with the most widely held views on eukaryotic relationships. In particular, glaucocystophytes are recovered as sister to several amoebozoans with strong support. A detailed investigation shows that this clade can be explained by what we call "short-branch exclusion," a phylogenetic artifact integrally associated with "long-branch attraction." Other systematic discrepancies observed in RPB 1 trees can be explained as phylogenetic artifacts; however, these apparent artifacts also appear in regions of the tree that support widely held views of eukaryotic evolution. In fact, most of the RPB1 tree is consistent with artifacts of rate variation among sequences and co-variation due to functional constraints related to C-terminal domain based RNAP II transcription. Our results reveal how subtle and easily overlooked biases can dominate the overall results of molecular phylogenetic analyses of ancient eukaryotic relationships. Sources of potential phylogenetic artifact should be investigated routinely, not just when obvious "long-branch attraction" is encountered.
INCREASED MORTALITY IN AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS DUE TO LYMPHATIC AND HEMATOPOIETIC MALIGNANCIES

To search for potentially carcinogenic effects of electromagnetic field exposures, the author conducted a population-based study of mortality in US amateur radio operators. Ascertainment of Washington State and California amateur radio operators (67,829 persons) was done through the 1984 US Federal Communications Commission Amateur Radio Station and/or Operator License file. A total of 2,485 deaths were located for the period from January 1, 1979 through December 31, 1984, in a population of amateur radio operators which accumulated 232,499 person-years at risk. The all-cause standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 71, but a statistically significant increased mortality was seen for cancers of the other lymphatic tissues (SMR = 162), a rubric which includes multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The all-leukemia standardized mortality ratio was slightly, but nonsignificantly, elevated (SMR = 124). However, mortality due to acute myeloid leukemia was significantly elevated (SMR = 176).
The cybernetics of design and the design of cybernetics

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to connect two discourses, the discourse of cybernetics and that of design.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes a comparative analysis of relevant definitions, concepts, and entailments in both discourse, and an integration of these into a cybernetically informed concept of human‐centered design, on the one hand, and a design‐informed concept of second‐order cybernetics, on the other hand. In the course of this conceptual exploration, the distinction between science and design is explored with cybernetics located in the dialectic between the two. Technology‐centered design is distinguished from human‐centered design, and several axioms of the latter are stated and discussed.Findings – This paper consists of recommendations to think and do things differently. In particular, a generalization of interface is suggested as a replacement for the notion of products; a concept of meaning is developed to substitute for the meaninglessness of physical properties; a th...
Bioenergetic Profiles Diverge During Macrophage Polarization: Implications for the Interpretation of 18F-FDG PET Imaging of Atherosclerosis

Conventional cardiovascular imaging is invaluable for the assessment of late sequelae of atherosclerosis, such as diminished perfusion reserve and luminal stenosis. Molecular imaging provides complementary information about plaque composition and ongoing biologic processes in the vessel wall, allowing the early diagnosis and risk stratification of patients. Detection of enhanced glucose uptake, using 18F-FDG PET, has been proposed as a noninvasive approach to track macrophage activation as a critical event in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. In this study, we determined the impact of macrophage polarization on glucose metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Methods: Murine peritoneal macrophages were incubated in the presence of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) plus tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or interleukin-4 (IL-4) to induce classic (M1 and MLPS) or alternative (M2) polarization, respectively. Glucose uptake was measured using 3H-deoxyglucose. Oxidative phosphorylation was evaluated using an extracellular flux analyzer. Mitochondrial DNA copy numbers were quantified by polymerase chain reaction. The expression of glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1), hexokinase-1 and -2 (Hk-1 and Hk-2, respectively), mitochondrial transcription factor-1 (Tfam), and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (Cox-1) was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Stimulation of macrophages by LPS, but not polarization with either IFN-γ plus TNF-α (M1) or IL-4 (M2), resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in 3H-deoxyglucose uptake. Enhanced glucose uptake by MLPS macrophages paralleled the overexpression of rate-limiting proteins involved in transmembrane transport and intracellular trapping of glucose—that is, Glut-1, Hk-1, and Hk-2. Alternatively polarized M2 macrophages developed a markedly higher spare respiratory capacity than both nonpolarized and classically polarized M1 macrophages. M2 polarization was associated with a 4.6-fold increase in mitochondrial content of the cells, compared with nonpolarized macrophages. The expression of Tfam, a major regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, and Cox-1, a critical component of respiratory chain, was significantly increased in M2 polarized macrophages. Conclusion: Polarization of macrophages induces distinct metabolic profiles with respect to glycolysis versus oxidative phosphorylation, with alternatively polarized macrophages shifting to mitochondria as their main source of adenosine triphosphate. Only MLPS, but not M1 or M2 polarized macrophages, showed increased glucose uptake, suggesting that glucose metabolism is regulated independent of the polarization state and macrophage polarization may not be detectable by 18F-FDG PET.
The effect of coolant loss on current leads for superconducting magnets

Abstract In this paper, we have examined the recovery of current leads for superconducting magnets after loss of coolant. It is found that if a lead is without cooling for longer than a time τ max , thermal runaway can be prevented by an increase in cooling or a decrease in current through the lead. It is evident that designing a lead away from its optimal values can make the lead significantly less susceptible to problems of thermal runaway.
Keeping up with your friends: function Foo, library Bar.DLL, and work item 24

Development teams who work with others need to be aware of what everyone is doing in order to manage the risk of taking on dependencies. Using newsfeeds of software development activities mined from software repositories, teams can find relevant information to help them make well-informed decisions that affect the success of their endeavors. In this paper, we describe the architecture of a newsfeed system that we are currently building on top of the Codebook software repository mining platform. We discuss the design, construction and aggregation of newsfeeds, and include other important aspects such as summarization, filtering, context, and privacy.
Distribution of the hypoxia marker CCI-103F in canine tumors.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and distribution of hypoxic tumor cells in spontaneous canine tumors, and to relate these parameters to various tumor and patient characteristics, such as tumor volume, tumor type, or tumor location. Methods and Materials: Hypoxic tumor cells were labeled in vivo in 32 primary malignant canine tumors by bioreductive binding of the nitroimidazole hypoxia marker CCI-103F. CCI-103F was given at 40 mg/kg IV. Tumors were completely excised, and CCI-103F adducts were detected in histologic sections (mean, 138 sections-per-tumor) by peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunostaining. Area fraction (area labeled/total area examined) of labeled regions was measured via computer assisted image analysis. In tumors with a volume 3 , each cubic centimeter of tumor was examined; in larger tumors 100 randomly selected 1 cm 3 samples were examined. Results: There were 13 soft-tissue sarcomas, 11 mast-cell tumors, five carcinomas, two lymphosarcomas, and one melanoma. Tumors varied from 2000 cm 3 . Labeled cells were present in 31 of 32 canine tumors examined, and varied between 0 and 35%. Mean (± SD) % label was 12.2% ± 16.7%; 13 of the 32 dogs had % labeled area Conclusion: CCI-103F labeling of hypoxic regions in tumors provides a nonradioactive method of detecting nitroimidazole adducts at the cellular level, and allows concurrent histologic examination. The pattern of labeling is consistent with detection of hypoxic tumor cells arising from oxygen diffusion limitations. This method may have clinical applicability in the detection of tumor hypoxia.
Voltage-controlled optical/RF phase shifter

A new fiber-optic device designed to steer the radiation beam of a phased-array antenna has been demonstrated. A radiofrequency (RF) signal at 125 MHz is generated via photomixing at the output of a single-mode fiber-optic interferometer. The phase of the electrical signal is shifted over several cycles in direct proportion to a voltage applied to an optical controller. The controller consists of a Pockels-type optical phase modulator located in one arm of the heterodyne interferometer. Rapid changes in RF phase are feasible. A miniature low-voltage version of the device, based upon integrated optics, is proposed.
The metallation of Troeger's base

Abstract Complexation of Troeger's base with boron trifluoride etherate followed by treatment with n-BuLi results in the formation of an anion. This reacts with electrophiles stereoselectively to give alkylation products in good to excellent yields.
Electrical actuation of ionic hydrogels based on polyvinyl alcohol grafted with poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid-co-acrylonitrile) chains

Novel electrically conducting composite materials consisting of poly(pyrrole) (PPy) nanoparticles dispersed in a poly(vinyl alcohol)-g-poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid-co-acrylonitrile) hydrogels were prepared within the polymer matrix by in situ polymerization of pyrrole. The conversion yield of pyrrole into PPy particles was determined gravimetrically while structural confirmation of the synthesized polymer was sought by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and UV-visible spectroscopy. The morphology of PPy nanoparticles containing hydrogel matrix was investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. Electrical conductivity of nanocomposite hydrogels of different compositions was determined by LCR meter while electroactive behavior of nanocomposite hydrogels swollen in electrolyte solutions was investigated by effective bend angle measurements. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
The Effects of Stimulant Medication on the Online Story Narrations of Children with ADHD

The current study investigated the inclusion of goal-based story events in the online story narrations of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as compared with their peers, and explored the effect of stimulant medication on the narrations in children with ADHD. Children completed a narration task on two separate occasions. Children with ADHD (n = 17) completed one narration on medication and the other one on placebo. Results indicated that narrations of comparison children (n = 25) were significantly more likely than narrations of children with ADHD to include the story’s positive outcome, completion of the story’s overall goal, and specific attempts linked to the goal. Children with ADHD included a larger total number of clauses in their narrations when on stimulant medication than when on placebo, but medication showed no significant effects for any other variables. Results indicate that stimulant medication may not be effective at reducing goal-based story comprehension deficits in children with ADHD.
DNA polymerase ζ is essential for hexavalent chromium-induced mutagenesis

Translesion synthesis (TLS) is a unique DNA damage tolerance mechanism involved in the replicative bypass of genetic lesions in favor of uninterrupted DNA replication. TLS is critical for the generation of mutations by many different chemical and physical agents, however, there is no information available regarding the role of TLS in carcinogenic metal-induced mutagenesis. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))-containing compounds are highly complex genotoxins possessing both mutagenic and clastogenic activities. The focus of this work was to determine the impact that TLS has on Cr(VI)-induced mutagenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Wild-type yeast and strains deficient in TLS polymerases (i.e. Polζ (rev3), Polη (rad30)) were exposed to Cr(VI) and monitored for cell survival and forward mutagenesis at the CAN1 locus. In general, TLS deficiency had little impact on Cr(VI)-induced clonogenic lethality or cell growth. rad30 yeast exhibited higher levels of basal and induced mutagenesis compared to Wt and rev3 yeast. In contrast, rev3 yeast displayed attenuated Cr(VI)-induced mutagenesis. Moreover, deletion of REV3 in rad30 yeast (rad30 rev3) resulted in a significant decrease in basal and Cr(VI) mutagenesis relative to Wt and rad30 single mutants indicating that mutagenesis primarily depended upon Polζ. Interestingly, rev3 yeast were similar to Wt yeast in susceptibility to Cr(VI)-induced frameshift mutations. Mutational analysis of the CAN1 gene revealed that Cr(VI)-induced base substitution mutations accounted for 83.9% and 100.0% of the total mutations in Wt and rev3 yeast, respectively. Insertions and deletions comprised 16.1% of the total mutations in Cr(VI) treated Wt yeast but were not observed rev3 yeast. This work provides novel information regarding the molecular mechanisms of Cr(VI)-induced mutagenesis and is the first report demonstrating a role for TLS in the fixation of mutations induced by a carcinogenic metal.
Adherence to Statin Therapy in Elderly Patients After Hospitalization for Coronary Revascularization

Low levels of statin adherence have been documented in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but whether coronary revascularization is associated with improved adherence rates has yet to be evaluated. We identified all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in 2 statewide pharmacy assistance programs who were ≥65 years old, who had been hospitalized for CAD from 1995 through 2004, and who had been prescribed statin therapy within 90 days of discharge (n = 13,130). Statin adherence was measured based on the proportion of days covered with statin therapy after hospital discharge, and full adherence was defined as proportion of days covered ≥80%. Statin adherence was compared in patients with CAD treated with medical therapy (n = 3,714), percutaneous coronary intervention (n = 6,309), or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (n = 3,107). Statin adherence significantly increased over the period of the study from 70.5% to 75.4% (p <0.0001). After hospitalization for CAD, patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass graft surgery had full adherence rates of 70.6% and 70.2%, respectively. Full adherence rates were significantly lower for patients treated with coronary revascularization compared to patients treated with medical therapy (79.4%, p <0.0001). Independent predictors of higher statin adherence included treatment with medical therapy, later year of hospital admission, white race, previous statin use, and use of other cardiac medications after CAD hospitalization (p <0.01 for all comparisons). In conclusion, in patients receiving invasive coronary treatment, statin adherence remains suboptimal, despite strong evidence supporting their use. Given the health and economic consequences of nonadherence, these findings highlight the need for developing cost-effective strategies to improve medication adherence after coronary revascularization.
On the calculation of the temperature distribution in a packed bed for solar energy applications

Abstract Calculations utilizing the exact solutions for the temperature distributions of the solid in and the fluid flowing through a packed bed with arbitrary initial bed temperature and arbitrary inlet fluid temperature have been carried out. The computational method allows a reversal of the direction of the flow at arbitrary times. The influence of the nondimensional frequency of a periodic flow reversal on the bed and fluid temperatures at the steady periodic state are presented.
Association of schizophrenia spectrum and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children with ASD and clinic controls.

Abstract Objective This study examines relations between the severity of specific symptoms of schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) and severity of the three defining symptom domains of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with ASD ( N = 147) and child psychiatry outpatient referrals (Controls; N = 339). Method Participants were subdivided into four groups depending on ASD status (±) and whether they met symptom criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (±ADHD). Their mothers and teachers evaluated them with a DSM-IV -referenced rating scale. Results Correlations between schizoid personality symptoms and ASD social skills deficits were moderate to large, and this was true for children with ASD and Controls, regardless of ADHD status, and for mother's and teachers’ ratings. Conversely, severity of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking were minimally correlated with ASD severity with the exception of Controls with ADHD. The disorganized behavior and negative symptoms of schizophrenia evidenced the strongest pattern of associations with ASD symptoms, and this was particularly true for children with co-morbid ADHD (±ASD, all three ASD symptom dimensions), and for teachers’ ratings of all four groups. Nevertheless, there was considerable variability in relations for specific symptoms across informants and groups. Correlations between SSD symptom severity and IQ were generally low, particularly among the ASD Only group and for all teacher-rated symptoms. Conclusion Associations between ASD and SSD symptoms were often dimension-specific, and this was particularly evident in children without ADHD (±ASD; mothers’ ratings). Findings were interpreted as supporting the deconstruction of complex clinical phenotypes as a means of better understanding interrelations among psychiatric syndromes.
Error Tabulation by Text Searching of Large Chemical Data Base Compilations—Application to the ASTM Infrared Spectral Index

A text search method has been developed with which errors within large data base compilations may be located if the citations contain redundant information. This study has been applied to the ASTM Infrared Spectral Index of 91 875 spectra. Each citation within the data base contains some redundant information. If the citation is correct, the redundant information is the same; if the information differs, the citation is incorrect and an error has been located. The overall error was found to be between 3 and 5% within the limits of this study. The error search is general and can be applied to most chemical data base compilations.
The effect of acupuncture duration on analgesia and peripheral sensory thresholds

Acupuncture provides a means of peripheral stimulation for pain relief. However, the detailed neuronal mechanisms by which acupuncture relieves pain are still poorly understood and information regarding optimal treatment settings is still inadequate. Previous studies with a short burst of unilateral electroacupuncture (EA) in the Tendinomuscular Meridians (TMM) treatment model for pain demonstrated a transient dermatomally correlated bilateral analgesic effect with corresponding peripheral modality-specific sensory threshold alterations. However, the impact of EA duration on the analgesic effect in this particular treatment model is unknown. To obtain mechanistically and clinically important information regarding EA analgesia, this current prospective cross-over study assesses the effects of EA duration on analgesia and thermal sensory thresholds in the TMM treatment model. Baseline peripheral sensory thresholds were measured at pre-marked testing sites along the medial aspects (liver and spleen meridians) of bilateral lower extremities. A 5-second hot pain stimulation was delivered to the testing sites and the corresponding pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were recorded. Three different EA (5Hz) stimulation durations (5, 15 and 30 minutes) were randomly tested at least one week apart. At the last 10 seconds of each EA session, 5 seconds of subject specific HP stimulation was delivered to the testing sites. The corresponding pain and EA VAS scores of de qi sensation (tingling) during and after the EA were recorded. The measurements were repeated immediately, 30 and 60 minutes after the EA stimulation. A four-factor repeat measures ANOVA was used to assess the effect of stimulation duration, time, location (thigh vs. calf) and side (ipsilateral vs. contralateral) of EA on sensory thresholds and HP VAS scores. A significant (P < 0.01) main effect of time and location with warm, cold and hot pain thresholds at the four testing sites without any significant difference in duration effect was observed. Similar time and location effects were observed with HP VAS with the longer durations (15 and 30 minutes) of stimulation showed a slower onset, but a more sustainable bilateral analgesic benefit than the short stimulation duration (5 minutes). The 15-minute stimulation resulted in an earlier onset of analgesic effect than the 30-minute stimulation paradigm. Longer durations of EA stimulation provide a more sustainable analgesic benefit to hot noxious stimulation than a shorter duration of stimulation. The increase of cold threshold with sustained warm threshold temperature elevation as observed in the longer durations of EA suggests that as the duration of EA lengthened, there is a gradual shifting from an initial predominantly spinally mediated analgesic effect to a supraspinally mediated modulatory mechanism of thermal pain. The 15-minute stimulation appeared to be the optimal setting for treating acute pain in the lower extremities.
Chemical Applications of Topology and Group Theory. 23. A Comparison of Graph-Theoretical and Extended Huckel Methods for Study of Bonding in Octahedral and Icosahedral Boranes.

Abstract : The graph theory derived model for the bonding topology in the globally delocalized polyhedral boranes B6H6(2-) is evaluated by comparison of the energies of the core molecular orbitals with those obtained by the 1962 LCAO-MO extended Huckel calculations of Hoffmann and Lipscomb. Of particular interest is how well the complete graphs K sub 6 and K sub 12 used in the graph theory derived model approximate the bonding topologies of the unique internal orbital (radial orbitals) of the octahedron and icosahedron, respectively. In the case of the B6H6(2-) octahedron the single positive eigenvalue of the K sub 6 graph corresponds to the results from the extended Huckel calculations. In the case of the B12H12(2-) icosahedron the graph theory derived model is far less satisfactory since the singl positive eigenvalue of the K sub 12 graph disagrees with the four bonding core molecular orbitals (an A1g and three triply degenerate T sub 1u molecular orbitals) found by the extended Huckel calculations after removing the effect of the mixing of core and surface bonding orbitals corresponding to the same irreducible representations. However, this core-surface orbital mixing raises the energy of the triply degenerate T sub 1u core molecular orbitals to antibonding levels so that the graph theory derived model fortuitiously gives correct skeletal electron counts for the regular icosahedron despite this fundamental error.
Lateral rectus EMG and contractile responses elicited by cat abducens motoneurons.

Stimulation of 41 single, abducens nucleus motoneurons in the cat evoked electromyographic (EMG) and contractile responses in the ipsilateral lateral rectus muscle. Separate, bipolar, fine wire EMG recording electrodes in the global and orbital muscle layers showed that 22 muscle units were confined to the global layer, 8 to the orbital layer, and 11 units were contained in both (bilayer) muscle layers. Bilayer units demonstrated significantly greater twitch (P ≤ 0.002) and maximum tetanic (P < 0.001) tensions as well as faster fusion frequencies (P ≤ 0.022) than either global or orbital units. Bilayer units also showed the lowest average kt values (the slope of the linear relationship between motoneuron stimulation frequency and isometric tetanic tension). Bilayer units were predominantly fast fatigable (FF). Global units displayed all muscle unit types including all the nontwitch (NT) units. Orbital units were identified as slow fatigable (SF) and fast fatigue resistant (FR). 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Field Study of New Employee Training Programs Industry Practices and Strategic Insights

Given the importance of well-designed and well-executed training programs, it is important to learn more about the content and design of effective training programs for new employees, particularly those that have been implemented in the hospitality industry. Through a field study assessment of pre-opening training programs that have been implemented by fifteen hotel firms and sixteen restaurant companies, we found that hotels and restaurants spend approximately the same time on pre-opening training for new staff, with the exception of restaurant managers, who receive significantly more days of training than do their hotel counterparts. In addition, there were substantive differences in the amount of pre-opening training based on firm size and whether the company was publicly traded or privately held. We also found that the majority of pre-opening training is designed and delivered by corporate staff, and a balance of active and passive training methods are used for facilitation. Finally, although our surv...
BICALUTAMIDE 150 MG IN ADDITION TO STANDARD CARE IN PATIENTS WITH LOCALIZED OR LOCALLY ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER: RESULTS FROM THE SECOND ANALYSIS OF THE EARLY PROSTATE CANCER PROGRAM AT MEDIAN FOLLOWUP OF 5.4 YEARS

ABSTRACTPurpose:: We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of 150 mg bicalutamide daily given in addition to standard care, in patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer.Materials and Methods:: The bicalutamide Early Prostate Cancer program consists of 3 randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trials prospectively designed for combined analysis. A total of 8,113 men with T1b–T4, M0, any N (N0 in 1 trial) prostate cancer were randomized to bicalutamide 150 mg/day (4,052) or placebo (4,061) in addition to standard care (radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy or watchful waiting). Primary end points were objective progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival.Results:: At median 5.4 years of followup (21.6% progression events) bicalutamide significantly improved PFS in the overall population. This result was driven by positive results in trials 24 and 25, with the North American trial (trial 23) showing no difference. Patients with locally advanced disease gained most benefit from...
Nanoparticle dispersion in polymer nanocomposites by spin-diffusion-averaged paramagnetic enhanced NMR relaxometry

We developed an analytical relationship between nuclear magnetic relaxation and interparticle spacings in polymer nanocomposites filled with paramagnetic-impurity-containing clay nanoparticles. Using 1H NMR relaxometry, clay nanoparticle dispersion was quantified and agrees with interparticle spacing distributions determined from statistical analysis of TEM images. Some information on the overall quality of clay dispersion is revealed. This work offers a new approach and new insights into nanoparticle dispersion in polymer nanocomposites.
Do all Human Functions and Behaviors, as well as the “Self”, Have Cholinergic Correlates?

In the course of the five most recent International Symposia on Cholinergic Mechanisms (ISCMs) as well as at this XIII ISCM, the focus was mostly on matters microscopic and molecular, except for solitary excursions into memory and learning, addiction, and clinical and toxicological subjects. In fact, this is also true for many recent reviews and meetings concerned with the cholinergic transmission. Yet, macroscopic and overt phenomena that are of great importance have strong cholinergic correlates. To remedy this lacuna, macromolecular overt cholinergic brain-dependent activities will be reviewed such as reflex automatic phenomena, EEG functions, behaviors, and the sense of the “self” or “self-awareness”, particularly the difficulties associated with neuroscientific explanation of the “self,” and the many approaches to this dilemma will be discussed.
Participation, the camel and the elephant of design: an introduction

Probably many people reading this special issue have worked with participatory design, or know someone who has tried to inject participatory practices into their work. Others might have heard about...
Pressing back: Split Britches' Lost Lounge and the retro performativity of lesbian performance.

Using theories of affect and queer temporality, this article examines Split Britches’ Lost Lounge as lesbian resistance to the pressures to remember or forget the past, condemn or embrace the future. In this piece, butch–femme duo Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver develop a retro performativity that pushes back against systems that strive to make lesbianism invisible, private, and apolitical. Through performances that resignify past pop culture artifacts, particularly the duo of Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Shaw and Weaver perform a past that is simultaneously lost and embodied, pressuring the audience to reconsider notions of progress and beauty.
DEPS-1 promotes P-granule assembly and RNA interference in C.elegans germ cells

P granules are germ-cell-specific cytoplasmic structures containing RNA and protein, and required for proper germ cell development in C. elegans. PGL-1 and GLH-1 were previously identified as critical components of P granules. We have identified a new P-granule-associated protein, DEPS-1, the loss of which disrupts P-granule structure and function. DEPS-1 is required for the proper localization of PGL-1 to P granules, the accumulation of glh-1 mRNA and protein, and germ cell proliferation and fertility at elevated temperatures. In addition, DEPS-1 is required for RNA interference (RNAi) of germline-expressed genes, possibly because DEPS-1 promotes the accumulation of RDE-4, a dsRNA-binding protein required for RNAi. A genome wide analysis of gene expression in deps-1 mutant germ lines identified additional targets of DEPS-1 regulation, many of which are also regulated by the RNAi factor RDE-3. Our studies suggest that DEPS-1 is a key component of the P-granule assembly pathway and that its roles include promoting accumulation of some mRNAs, such as glh-1 and rde-4, and reducing accumulation of other mRNAs, perhaps by collaborating with RDE-3 to generate endogenous short interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs).
No association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in DLX6 and Piccolo genes at 7q21-q22 and autism.

Several independent genome scans have revealed excess allele sharing in an overlapping 40 cM region of 7q21-34 in autism. DLX6 and Piccolo (PCLO) at 7q21-q22 are two positional and functional candidate genes in autism. We have investigated a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 4 of the PCLO gene and a SNP in intron 1 of the DLX6 gene for linkage and association in autistic disorder using both qualitative and quantitative analyses. One hundred ninety-six multiplex autistic disorder families were tested using transmission disequilibrium and two-point affected sib pair linkage analysis. We found no evidence of association or linkage with the two intragenic markers. In addition, there was also no linkage or association between language and stereotypic behavior quantitative traits in autism and the SNPs. In conclusion, our studies suggest that these two SNPs in DLX6 and PCLO genes are not in linkage disequilibrium with autism.
A note on mechanism and memory in the kinetics of biochemical reactions

Abstract The concentrations of intermediates are normally eliminated from a reaction rate expression by making a pseudo-steady-state hypothesis. A suggestion made by Halsey is here developed to show that a kinetic mechanism can also lead to a reaction rate expression that is a functional of the concentration history. In this instance of fading memory, of which Coleman and Mizel have given a general theory, the same assumption that justifies the pseudo-steady-state hypothesis (namely, that the ratio of the enzyme and substrate concentrations is very small) obliviates the past history and leads to conventional kinetic expressions.
The Bin3 RNA methyltransferase is required for repression of caudal translation in the Drosophila embryo

Bin3 was first identified as a Bicoid-interacting protein in a yeast two-hybrid screen. In human cells, a Bin3 ortholog (BCDIN3) methylates the 5′ end of 7SK RNA, but its role in vivo is unknown. Here, we show that in Drosophila, Bin3 is important for dorso-ventral patterning in oogenesis and for anterior–posterior pattern formation during embryogenesis. Embryos that lack Bin3 fail to repress the translation of caudal mRNA and exhibit head involution defects. bin3 mutants also show (1) a severe reduction in the level of 7SK RNA, (2) reduced binding of Bicoid to the caudal 3′ UTR, and (3) genetic interactions with bicoid, and with genes encoding eIF4E, Larp1, polyA binding protein (PABP), and Ago2. 7SK RNA coimmunoprecipitated with Bin3 and is present in Bicoid complexes. These data suggest a model in which Bicoid recruits Bin3 to the caudal 3′ UTR. Bin3's role is to bind and stabilize 7SK RNA, thereby promoting formation of a repressive RNA–protein complex that includes the RNA-binding proteins Larp1, PABP, and Ago2. This complex would prevent translation by blocking eIF4E interactions required for initiation. Our results, together with prior network analysis in human cells, suggest that Bin3 interacts with multiple partner proteins, methylates small non-coding RNAs, and plays diverse roles in development.
CONTINUOUS-WAVE OPERATION OF MONOLITHIC TWO-MODE OPTICAL FLIP-FLOP WITH ETCHED LASER MIRRORS

The authors report continuous wave operation of a monolithic two-mode optical flip-flop with orthogonal light outputs. Bistable states with large ON/OFF ratios are demonstrated. The states can be switched with short electrical pulses. The device could function as an optical memory in future time-division switching networks.
Fractionation and characterization of particles simulating wear of total joint replacement (TJR) following ASTM standards

Reactions of bone cells to orthopedic wear debris produced by the articulating motion of total joint replacements (TJRs) are largely responsible for the long-term failure of such replacements. Metal and polyethylene (PE) wear particles isolated from fluids from total joint simulators, as well as particles that are fabricated by other methods, are widely used to study such in vitro cellular response. Prior investigations have revealed that cellular response to wear debris depends on the size, shape, and dose of the particles. Hence, to have a better understanding of the wear-mediated osteolytic process it is important that these particles are well characterized and clinically relevant, both qualitatively, and quantitatively. In this study we have fractionated both ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Ti particles, into micron (1.0-10.0 μm), submicron (0.2-1.0 μm), and nanoparticle (0.01-0.2 μm) fractions, and characterized them based on the following size-shape descriptors as put forth in ASTM F1877: i) equivalent circle diameter (ECD), ii) aspect ratio (AR), iii) elongation (E), iv) roundness (R), and v) form factor (FF). The mean (± SD) ECDs (in μm) for micron, submicron, and nanoparticles of UHMWPE were 1.652 ± 0.553, 0.270 ± 0.180, and 0.061 ± 0.035, respectively, and for Ti were 1.894 ± 0.667, 0.278 ± 0.180, and 0.055 ± 0.029, respectively. The values for other descriptors were similar (no statistically significant difference). The nanofraction particles were found to be more sphere-like (higher R and FF values, and lower E and AR values) as compared to larger particles. Future experiments will involve use of these well characterized particles for in vitro studies.
Test protocol for comparing two-dimensional bar code hand-held reader technologies

Abstract Current advances in reader technology offer users of two-dimensional bar codes many choices in selecting a hand-held reader for their particular application. Specifications exist that describe required functionality for various scanning technologies, but little work has been done in the published literature with respect to assessing the relative performances of these technologies when actually incorporated into a hand-held unit. In this paper, a suite of standard tests is presented to measure the decode time of hand-held readers. These tests were applied to a PDF417 two-dimensional bar code symbol and used to compare the performance of five newly developed hand-held readers over four different reader technologies. The technologies included laser scanning, linear CCD, area CCD, and CMOS technology. The tests focused on the following factors that typically affect decode time: lighting conditions, reading distance, orientation angles of the reader, and use of the readers in a typical freehand application. Results show the tests to be a valid means for comparing performance of differing hand-held reader technologies typically used for two-dimensional dimbologies.
Reply to: Comment on 'Vibrational relaxation and spectral diffusion following ultrafast OH stretch excitation of water', by H.J. Bakker, A.J. Lock, D. Madsen

Abstract Both IR and anti-Stokes Raman measurements on OH stretch vibrations ν OH of water see two time constants, ∼0.3 and ∼0.6 ps. We attribute the former to spectral diffusion and the latter to the ν OH lifetime. This interpretation is evident from our Raman spectra, which show the ν OH spectrum changing shape and the ν OH population decaying. The ν OH decay is accompanied by the rise (∼0.6 ps) and subsequent fall (∼1.4 ps) of population in the δ OH bending vibration. Bakker et al. [Chem. Phys. Lett. 385 (2004) 329] assert their IR data indicates an absence of (>100 fs) spectral diffusion, that the faster time constant is the ν OH lifetime and that the slower is the lifetime of a conjectured intermediate state. The properties of this conjectured intermediate differ significantly from the bending vibration directly observed by us. The intensity analysis by Bakker et al. said to contradict our interpretation relies entirely on ad hoc assumptions about excited-state absorptions. We show these ad hoc assumptions are unfounded and some are unreasonable, and that a plausible explanation for the IR intensities exists that is consistent with our interpretation.
Schemes for SR-Tree packing

Modern database applications like geographic information systems, multimedia databases, and digital libraries dealing with huge volumes of high dimensional data, make use of multidimensional index structures. Among them, SR-tree has been shown to outperform the R-Tree and its variants and the SS-Tree. For static datasets, packed index structures provide better retrieval performance. This paper presents schemes for SR-Tree packing based on different pre-processing techniques. The results show that these schemes consistently outperform packed R-Tree and conventional SR-Tree structures in terms of storage space and query performance.
Compendium of Recent Test Results of Single Event Effects Conducted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

This paper reports heavy ion, proton, and laser induced single event effects results for a variety of microelectronic devices targeted for possible use in NASA spacecrafts. The compendium covers devices tested within the years of 2010 through 2012.
Does Welfare Affect Family Processes and Adolescent Adjustment

Recent welfare reform legislation requires increased parental work effort and imposes time limits on the receipt of federal assistance. These changes were based in part on assumptions that parental welfare receipt may be negatively related to family processes and children's attitudes and behaviors. Currently, researchers know little about the effects of welfare by itself relative to the effects of related variables such as family demographic characteristics, economic strain, and neighborhood factors on processes among families with adolescent children. This study investigates parenting behaviors, parent-adolescent relationships, and adolescent attitudes and behaviors in three family types. Families of adolescents ages 11-15 who received income from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) in the previous 12 months are compared with poor families who have not received AFDC in the last year and with families who are neither poor nor welfare dependent. We found minimal support for the hypothesis that welfare is negatively related to family processes and adolescent attitudes and behaviors, although mothers receiving welfare report fewer effective parent management practices than their poor non-welfare counterparts. Implications of the findings for current social policy debates are discussed.
Developing a Flexible Platform for Optimal Engineering Design of Commercial Wind Farms

In this paper, we develop a flexible design platform to account for the influences of key factors in optimal planning of commercial scale wind farms. The Unrestricted Wind Farm Layout Optimization (UWFLO) methodology, which avoids limiting assumptions regarding the farm layout and the selection of turbines, is used to develop this design platform. This paper presents critical advancements to the UWFLO methodology to allow the synergistic consideration of (i) the farm layout, (ii) the types of commercial turbines to be installed, and (iii) the expected annual distribution of wind conditions at a particular site. We use a recently developed Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) based method to characterize the multivariate distribution of wind speed and wind direction. Optimization is performed using an advanced mixed discrete Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm. We also implement a high fidelity wind farm cost model that is developed using a Radial Basis Function (RBF) based response surface. The new optimal farm planning platform is applied to design a 25-turbine wind farm at a North Dakota site. We found that the optimal layout is significantly sensitive to the annual variation in wind conditions. Allowing the turbine-types to be selected during optimization was observed to improve the annual energy production by 49% compared to layout optimization alone.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Multielectrode recordings: the next steps

At present, a growing number of laboratories are acquiring the capability of simultaneously monitoring the extracellular activity of over a hundred single neurons in both anaesthetized and awake animals. This paradigm, known as multielectrode recordings, is changing the face of systems neuroscience by allowing, for the first time, the visualization of the function of entire neural circuits at work. Current methods of multielectrode recording employ state of the art technologies; two potential new avenues of research will likely emerge from the further development of these experimental paradigms.
SI and PI analyses of complex IC packagings using non-conformal domain decomposition methods

In this paper, we present non-conformal, non-overlapping domain decomposition methods (DDMs) for DC IR drop and AC signal integrity (SI) analyses of high-power chip-package-PCBs. The proposed non-conformal DDMs start by partitioning the composite device into inhomogeneous sub-regions with temperature-dependent material properties. Subsequently, each sub-domain is meshed independently according to its own characteristic features. As a consequence, the troublesome mesh-generation task for complex ICs can be greatly relaxed. Numerical example of SI/PI analyses of a complex IC package demonstrates the flexibility and potentials of the proposed non-conformal DDMs.
A Unified Approach to Some Recent Developments in Jet Noise Theory

There have been a number of recent developments in the theory of jet noise, many of which are generalizations of Lighthill's original acoustic analogy approach. The purpose of this article is to derive a generic set of equations that provides a structure for reviewing and categorizing these ideas.
Molecular predictive and prognostic markers in colon cancer

Colorectal cancer remains one of the major cancer related death despite progress in the cytotoxic treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) over the past decade. The introduction of targeted agents has improved the progression free and overall survival of metastatic disease. However, 40-50% of patients do not experience beneficial effects and it remains a challenge to select patients likely to respond to therapy. Several new molecular predictive and prognostic markers have been identified and are now being translated into routine clinical practice. K-Ras mutation is the first established molecular marker with a lack of response in K-Ras mutated patients treated with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy. The validation of predictive and prognostic markers will result in more successful and less toxic therapeutic regimens for cancer patients. This review aims to summarize the most important currently available predictive and prognostic molecular markers in colorectal cancer.
On the variance of Shannon products of graphs

We study the combinatorial problem of finding an arrangement of distinct integers into the d-dimensional N-cube so that the maximal variance of the numbers on each @?-dimensional section is minimized. Our main tool is an inequality on the Laplacian of a Shannon product of graphs, which might be a subject of independent interest. We describe applications of the inequality to multiple description scalar quantizers (MDSQ), to get bounds on the bandwidth of products of graphs, and to balance edge-colorings of regular, d-uniform, d-partite hypergraphs.
Hospital Design and Face to Face Interaction among Clinicians: A Theoretical Model:

A growing body of literature suggests that face-to-face interaction among clinicians in hospitals affects patient outcomes. How can face-to-face interaction among clinicians be influenced positively to improve patient outcomes in hospitals? So far, most strategies for improving face-to-face interaction in hospitals have focused on changing organizational culture. In contrast, this paper proposes a theoretical model that shows how spatial program and structure can help face-to-face interaction fulfill its purposes in hospitals by controlling the interfaces among different communities of clinicians.