cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The distal region and receptor tyrosines of the Epo receptor are non‐essential for in vivo erythropoiesis

The erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) is required for the proliferation and survival of committed erythroid lineage cells. Previous studies have utilized receptor mutations to show the requirement for the distal half of the cytoplasmic domain of the EpoR and receptor tyrosines for activation of signaling pathways potentially critical to Epo function. To extend these studies to in vivo erythropoiesis, we have created two mutant strains of mice. One strain (H) contains a truncation of the distal half of the cytoplasmic domain, while the second strain (HM) contains the same truncation as well as the mutation of the residual tyrosine (Y343) to a phenylalanine. Strikingly, both strains of mice are viable, with only slight alterations in constitutive erythropoiesis or in in vitro assays of red cell lineage function. Challenging H mutant mice with continuous injections of Epo results in an erythrocytosis that is not seen in HM mice. The results demonstrate that neither the distal region nor receptor tyrosines are essential for in vivo EpoR function, but contribute to receptor function in a subtle manner.
Chromosomal abnormalities induced in vitro by extracts of mouse allogeneic lymphocytes.

Abstract Mouse embryo cells were challenged in vitro with extracts of spleen and lymph node lymphocytes and scored for chromosomal abnormalities. Aberrations were observed in higher frequency in cells treated with allogeneic than with syngeneic lymphocyte extracts.
The consumer's views of health

Reviews of the literature indicate a shift in the way consumers and health care providers define health. If these groups hold different views of health, consumers may not adhere to medical regimens or follow health promotion advice. This pilot study was designed to compare consumer's views of health with two current conceptual models. Sixty-five adults completed a questionnaire with 34 definitions of health in 12 categories. The analyses revealed that adults rated the self-concept, fitness and role performance categories as the strongest indicators of health. Also, there were significant gender and educational differences. Women were more likely than men to view social involvement and harmony as health indicators. Three categories, namely body image, fitness and self-actualization, were significantly different between educational groups. The findings are discussed in relation to two models of health and implications for nursing practice and research.
Methods for microcarrier culture of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells avoiding the use of enzymes

Enzymes situated along the luminal surface of pulmonary endothelial cells interact with circulating solutes, notably with vasoactive substances, to regulate the hormonal composition of systemic arterial blood. However, it is becoming clear that the range and complexity of reactions occurring at or near the surface of endothelial cells are greater than previously recognized. In addition, evidence indicates that the quality of cell cultures used to define specific endothelial functions must be carefully controlled, together with development of improved understanding of the effects of long-term culture on pulmonary endothelial cells. We have developed new techniques for the culture of pulmonary endothelial cells which avoid exposure to proteolytic enzymes at both the isolation step and during subculture. A combination of mechanical harvest and culture on microcarrier beads has provided a system for the long-term, large-scale culture of pulmonary endothelial cells, features which to a large extent determine the scope of biochemical studies which can be undertaken.
Post Discharge Chemistry of Aromatic Molecules in Rare Gas

We have employed 800 nm 150 fs laser pulses to carry out photoionization (PI) time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection of intermediates following corona discharges on aromatic molecules (alkylbenzenes and pyridine) in He, stabilized by subsequent supersonic gas expansions. Observed product peaks appear to be at least roughly in proportion to actual number densities; PI induced fragmentation of parent ions appears not to be excessive. Consequently, 800 nm fs PI should be useful for general product analysis applications in plasma chemistry. For most alkylbenzenes subjected to corona discharges in rare gas, the overall trends in product chemistry are similar in many respects to observed flame and pyrolysis chemistry in rare gases for the same species. Following discharge, as in those other cases, H deficient carbon radical fragments initially produced react in turn to form larger aromatic species. However, compared with flame/pyrolysis, discharge produced a larger number of fragment species, which can lead to a wider and somewhat different range of higher mass aromatic products. Co-addition of even a small component of O2 to the discharge mixes has a potent effect in inhibiting formation of higher mass aromatic products in alkylbenzenes.
Identity, Reasoning, and Emotion: An Empirical Comparison of Three Sources of Moral Motivation

Prior research on moral motivation has primarily emphasized moral reasoning and moral emotion; however, identity may also play an important role. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relative importance of prosocial identity, prosocial moral reasoning, and empathy in predicting prosocial behavior. The sample included 91 university students, ages 19–35 years (M=21.89; SD=3.01; 80% European American; 65% female). Prosocial identity and empathy, but not prosocial moral reasoning, were positively associated with overall prosocial behavior. Exploratory analyses examined how these three sources of prosocial motivation differentially related to six forms of prosocial behavior. Results suggest the importance of considering the roles of all three sources of moral motivation.
Thrombospondins 1 and 2 are important for afferent synapse formation and function in the inner ear

Thrombospondins (TSPs) constitute a family of secreted extracellular matrix proteins that have been shown to be involved in the formation of synapses in the central nervous system. In this study, we show that TSP1 and TSP2 are expressed in the cochlea, and offer the first description of their putative roles in afferent synapse development and function in the inner ear. We examined mice with deletions of TSP1, TSP2 and both (TSP1/TSP2) for inner ear development and function. Immunostaining for synaptic markers indicated a significant decrease in the number of formed afferent synapses in the cochleae of TSP2 and TSP1/TSP2 knockout (KO) mice at postnatal day (P)29. In functional studies, TSP2 and TSP1/TSP2 KO mice showed elevated auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds as compared with wild-type littermates, starting at P15, with the most severe phenotype being seen for TSP1/TSP2 KO mice. TSP1/TSP2 KO mice also showed reduced wave I amplitudes of ABRs and vestibular evoked potentials, suggesting synaptic dysfunction in both the auditory and vestibular systems. Whereas ABR thresholds in TSP1 KO mice were relatively unaffected at early ages, TSP1/TSP2 KO mice showed the most severe phenotype among all of the genotypes tested, suggesting functional redundancy between the two genes. On the basis of the above results, we propose that TSPs play an important role in afferent synapse development and function of the inner ear.
A viscoelastic soft tissue model for haptic surgical simulation

Brain surgeons distinguish tumors from healthy tissue by the way the tissue deforms. Accurately simulating these deformations at haptic update rates is still a challenge. Biological tissues exhibit complex viscoelastic behavior and undergo large deformation during surgery. For this purpose we evaluate the accuracy and computational performance of the Christensen viscoelastic material model in combination with non-linear finite elements. Our results show that realistic viscoelastic properties of brain tissue can be simulated with haptic feedback at 70% of the update rate of the non-viscoelastic large deformation Neo-Hookean model
Analysis of the curing behavior of cyanate ester resin systems

The role of metal catalysts on the curing characteristics of bisphenol A-based cyanate ester resin systems was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheological measurements. Bisphenol A dicyanate was cured with the octoates and naphthenates of zinc and manganese and with cobalt acetylacetonate at concentrations ranging from 0 to 750 ppm metal. Nonylphenol at concentrations between 0 and 8 phr was used as the cocatalyst. The results show that at metal catalyst concentrations less than 100 ppm and nonylphenol concentrations less than 4 phr, a maximum glass transition temperature of 250 to 260°C is obtained, irrespective of the type of catalyst used. For samples cured without nonylphenol, the maximum Tg was 298 to 302°C. At high catalyst concentrations, the Tg decreases with increasing catalyst concentration for the zinc catalysts, whereas no concentration effect was observed for samples cured with either manganese or cobalt. Nonylphenol was effective as a cocatalyst in achieving high conversions; however, the Tg at full conversion was found to decrease with increasing nonylphenol levels.
Effect of side-chains on solution properties of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymers in aqueous solvents

Abstract The solubility and association of water-soluble copolymers of N -(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) containing both p -nitroaniline-terminated oligopeptide side-chains and N -2-hydroxyethylpiperazine- N ′-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) side-chains in aqueous solvents were investigated using light scattering methods. The weight-average molar masses, second virial coefficients, diffusion coefficients and hydrodynamic sizes of the copolymer molecules and their aggregates were studied as a function of the copolymer concentration, temperature and solvent pH. The copolymers with a low content ( p -nitroaniline were soluble molecularly in aqueous solutions. The water solubility was substantially enhanced by the presence of HEPES side-chains. The copolymers with a high content (∼7 mol%) of p -nitroaniline-containing side-chains associated in water, generally forming two types of micelles of different sizes. Micelle formation depended on hydrophobic and amphiphilic side-chain content, polymer concentration, temperature and solvent pH. Thus, macromolecules containing a higher amount of p -nitroaniline and a small amount of HEPES side-chains tended to form small, compact micelles with the hydrophobic p -nitroaniline molecules oriented into the core, while macromolecules with a high content of HEPES side-chains tended to form large micelles. The formation of large micelles was strongly dependent on solvent pH, due to the electrolyte behaviour of the HEPES moieties. The solution properties of the copolymers generally reflected the competition between these two association processes.
Network synchronization with variable discrete control corrections

The automatic synchronization of all the clocks of a digital communication network to a common frequency represents an important control problem, for synchronism allows for efficient communication without the need for large data buffers. It is known that, such synchronisation can be achieved by a control scheme known as Discrete Control Correction, in which periodic frequency-corrections are made to the clocks, the correction to clock i being a fixed proportion σi of the change in the corresponding buffer level from the previous correction. This paper extends previous results to the case when σi is allowed to vary from correction to correction, as either a deterministic or random function σi(k). This generalization is obtained by using fT(k){−C}f(k) as a measure of asynchronism in the network, where f(k) is the vector of node frequencies and −C is a positive semi-definite matrix determined by the network connections. In more general terms, the results constitute a set of sufficient conditions for the stab...
Assessment of Application Timing of Bacillus spp. to Suppress Pre- and Postharvest Diseases of Apple

Four isolates of Bacillus spp. were tested in a 2-year field study for biological control of pre- and postharvest diseases of apple. For the preharvest test, bacteria were applied to 'Golden Delicious' and 'Rome Beauty' trees in May or May and June. Foliar apple scab severity was assessed weekly. After harvest, fruit were wounded and then either left untreated or given a postharvest application of the bacteria. Wounded fruit were then inoculated with the bitter rot pathogen and lesion size was measured over 8 days. Bacillus megaterium isolate A3-6, B. mycoides isolate A1-1, and B. cereus isolate FLS-5 applied in May or May and June significantly reduced fruit and foliar apple scab severity in both years. A postharvest application of the bacteria (alone or in combination with a preharvest application) resulted in the greatest suppression of bitter rot on both cultivars (P < 0.04). The May + June + postharvest application of isolate A3-6 resulted in the greatest suppression of bitter rot, with an average of 45 and 95% reduction in lesion size compared with nontreated controls on 'Golden Delicious' and 'Rome Beauty' fruit, respectively. Results from this study indicate that preharvest applications of the bacteria were able to reduce foliar and fruit scab and an additional postharvest application was effective in reducing bitter rot severity.
Growth effects on the insulin alteration of Chang liver fatty acid metabolism.

Abstract The effect of insulin on the free fatty acid metabolism of Chang liver cells was observed to vary, depending on the growth rates of the cells. When the cells were not actively growing, insulin modestly increased the total recovery of radioactive fatty acid in lipid and produced a major increment of fatty acid in cellular triglyceride. During logarithmic growth of the cells these insulin changes were much less pronounced.
Morphological control and physiology of Scenedesmus strain 170

Abstract Control of the unicellular stage of Scenedesmus strain 170 was shown to be a complex phenomenon involving a number of factors. Nitrogen, as ammonium, was the main factor involved in controlling unicell formation. High light intensities, temperatures between 22 and 28°C, and cell pretreatment in a medium of low total salts (medium 7) all increased unicell percentages. Cell pretreatment in a medium of high total salts (Bristol's medium) yielded reduced unicell levels. It was proposed that the effect of light, temperature and cell pretreatment on unicell formation was secondary depending on their interaction with nitrogen metabolism. Cell ultrastructure, internal nitrogen and carbohydrate levels, and ammonium uptake rates for cells pretreated in both medium 7 and Bristol's medium are compared in support of the role of nitrogen metabolism in unicell production.
Secure instant messaging in enterprise-like networks

Instant messaging (IM) has been one of most frequently used malware attack vectors due to its popularity. However, previous solutions are ineffective to defend against IM malware in an enterprise-like network environment, mainly because of high false positive rate and the requirement of the IM server being inside the protected network. In this paper, we propose a novel IM malware detection and suppression mechanism, HoneyIM, which guarantees almost zero false positive on detecting and blocking IM malware in an enterprise-like network. The detection of HoneyIM is based on the concept of honeypot. HoneyIM uses decoy accounts to trap IM malware by leveraging malware spreading characteristics. Fed with accurate detection results, the suppression of HoneyIM can conduct a network-wide blocking. In addition, HoneyIM delivers attack information to network administrators in real-time so that system quarantine and recovery can be quickly performed. The core design of HoneyIM is generic, and can be applied to the scenarios that either enterprise IM services or public IM services are used in the protected network. Based on open-source IM client Pidgin and client honeypot Capture, we build a prototype of HoneyIM and validate its efficacy through both simulations and real experiments. Our results show that HoneyIM provides effective protection against IM malware in enterprise-like networks.
Identification and Simulation Evaluation of a Combat Helicopter in Hover

Frequency-domain parameter identification techniques were used to develop a hover mathematical model of the AH-64 Apache helicopter from flight data. The unstable AH-64 bare-airframe characteristics, without a stability augmentation system, were parameterized in the conventional stability-derivative form. To improve the model's vertical response, a simple transfer-function model approximating the effects of dynamic inflow was developed. The model, with and without stability augmentation, was then evaluated by AH-64 pilots in a moving-base simulation. It was the opinion of the pilots that the simulation was a satisfactory representation of the aircraft for the tasks of interest. The principal negative comment was that height control was more difficult in the simulation than in the aircraft.
Eye Optics of Marine Mammals

Marine mammals are unique in their need to see equally clear both above and under water. Three theories of how their eyes adapt to these different environments are discussed.
TATA-dependent and TATA-independent transcription at the HIS4 gene of yeast.

Two systems of transcription factors stimulate expression of the HIS4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. High-level transcription induced by amino-acid starvation is mediated by Gcn4 (ref. 1) and basal transcription is mediated jointly by the factors Bas1 and Bas2 (Pho2)2–4. We now show that wild-type Gcn4 requires the TATA element for correct messenger RNA start-site selection, but Gcn4 derivatives with deletions in the activation domain activate HIS4 transcription at the correct mRNA start site (I) in the absence of the TATA element. Gcn4 derivatives that activate TATA-independent transcription show low levels of activation. Similarly, we find that low levels of transcription by Basl/Bas2 are TATA-independent, whereas high levels are TATA-dependent. These results show that the HIS4 TATA element is required for mRNA start-site selection only under conditions of high-level transcription.
Introduction to Developing Peer-Mediated Support Systems for Helping Professionals: Are We Ready to Practice What We Preach?

In the consultation literature, there is widespread acknowledgment of the importance of collaboration and joint problem solving (Zins, Kratochwill, & Elliott, 1993). Indeed, when promoting consulta...
Conducting Cognitive Developmental Research in Museums: Theoretical Issues and Practical Considerations

Increasingly, cognitive developmental researchers are forming partnerships with museums as a way to achieve both overlapping and distinctive goals. Such partnerships can further our understanding of cognitive development by providing opportunities to study children's learning within social contexts. At the same time, these collaborations can support the design of effective informal learning experiences for children and families. This article presents three distinct models for doing research in museums; they are presented in the context of both theoretical and practical concerns. Examples of research–museum partnerships are described, practical problems and potential solutions are discussed, and suggestions are provided for developmental researchers with an interest in developing museum partnerships.
Local orbitals for bonding in ethane

An extension of the FSGO model is used to construct local bonding orbitals for ethane. These improved functions provide for a more accurate description of the internal rotational barrier in ethane, while retaining the computational simplicity and intuitive nature of the simple FSGO model.
Increasing Performance in the Small Group CBT Setting

Pairs of students worked with CBT under different levels of advance notice. Students who were provided with an advance notice of a question they would later have to answer scored higher than students who did not receive an advance notice. The advance notice used in this study was relatively simple and did not require additional training or time.
Cardiac biopsy in patients with" primary" atrial fibrillation. Histologic evidence of occult myocardial diseases

Fourteen patients (ten men and four women; mean age, 37 years) with lone atrial fibrillation (AF) (1 to 18 months' duration) were evaluated by thyroid function tests, two-dimensional echocardiography, hemodynamics, coronary angiography, and left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy, because of unresponsiveness to the usual antiarrhythmic therapy. The results of the T3, T4, TSH, and TRH tests were normal in all patients; cardiac valves and ventricular and atrial sizes (left atrium less than 40 mm) were within the normal limits; also normal were LVEDP (less than or equal to 10 mm Hg) and EF (greater than 0.50). Histologic findings were abnormal in all cases, with three patients showing cardiomyopathic changes, three other patients showing active myocarditis (lymphocytic in two and eosinophilic in one), and eight patients with nonspecific necrosis or fibrosis or both. Steroids (prednisone; 50 mg/m2 of body surface area daily) used in addition to antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with eosinophilic and lymphocytic active myocarditis were able to cause reversion to sinus rhythm, while the other patients continued to have AF. This study documents that occult myocardial diseases (myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, and nonspecific necrosis or fibrosis) can underlie "primary" AF. The addition of steroids to antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with refractory AF and histologic evidence of active myocarditis seems to be useful in controlling the arrhythmia.
Environmental Impacts of Powdertracking Using Fluorescent Pigments

Tests revealed long-term persistence of pigments and the potential for environmental contamination. Primary persistence of pigments falling from animals lasted through the melting of 3-m-deep snowpacks, summer rains, and winds for at least 2 years. Secondary persistence included transfer of pigments to non-test animals, and concentration and incorporation into scat and woodrat middens. Feces persist in middens extending potential contamination up to 40,000 years. Since the potential for long-term, environmental contamination exists, researchers should carefully consider initial application techniques, clean up methods, and residual visual and ultraviolet visual contamination.
SUBTERRANEAN INSECTS OF MARSH GRASS ( SPARTINA MICHAUXIANA HITCHCOCK)

During the summer of 1929 it occurred to the author to collect the subterranean insects of stands of marsh grass (Spartina Michauxiana Hitchcock). No large areas of this grass were found in the vicinity of Ames, Iowa. The places of study hence were restricted to a half dozen small spots along the fence lines of tilled fields near Ames. The soil was a black loam and not well-drained at these places. The digging in this tough sod proved rather a slow procedure. With a spade a piece of sod about six by eight inches was loosened at a time and the mass of rootstocks, roots and soil was separated at the side of the road to bring the insects into view. This method did not lend itself to quantitative study.
Superconductors of mixed order-parameter symmetry in a Zeeman magnetic field

We study the effect of a Zeeman magnetic field in the superconducting phase with a two-component order-parameter scenario, such as ${d}_{{x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}}{+e}^{i\ensuremath{\theta}}\ensuremath{\alpha}$, where $\ensuremath{\alpha}{=d}_{\mathrm{xy}},$ s. This scenario is equivalent to applying a magnetic field parallel to the Cu-O plane. In a weak magnetic field, which does not cause much change to the predominant d wave, it supresses the minor $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ component leading to pure d-wave phase. This observation is contrary to the effect of a magnetic field applied in the c direction to the Cu-O planes that are believed to induce a minor component $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ to d-wave superconductors. We also show that the response of such superconductors to a weak Zeeman magnetic field can be quite different depending on the phase $\ensuremath{\theta}$ of the minor component $(\ensuremath{\alpha})$.
The effects of the ionophore A23187 on pattern formation in the alga Micrasterias

We have used the divalent cation ionophore A23187 to investigate the hypothesis that cytoplasmic localization of Ca2+ is responsible for localized growth in the alga Micrasterias. In a preliminary study we found that, of the major salts contained in the cell's medium, only CaCl2 was needed for normal development. In cells developing in the presence of A23187 and extracellular Ca2+, we postulated that the ionophore would induce a spatially uniform influx of Ca2+ that would overwhelm endogenous Ca2+ gradients. When developing cells were treated with A23187 and 2 mM CaCl2, we observed a delocalization of the cell's normal pattern of wall deposition. This effect was less pronounced when cells were exposed to A23187 and 2 mM MgCl2. These results support the hypothesis that localized regions of high Ca2+ concentration normally mediate localized expansion of tip-growing lobes in Micrasterias.
Design and control of a novel hybrid feed drive for high performance and energy efficient machining

Abstract Achieving sustainability in manufacturing requires that the energy consumption of manufacturing machines be reduced without unduly sacrificing their speed and accuracy. This paper presents the design and control of a novel feed drive whose actuation method and drive configuration change depending on the mode of the machining operation. During rapid traverse, the table is driven at its center of gravity using a linear motor. When cutting begins, the table automatically couples to a motor-driven shaft, while the linear motor provides active vibration damping and quasi-static error compensation. Improvements in speed, accuracy and/or energy efficiency over conventional drives are experimentally demonstrated.
Representation or abdication? How citizens use institutions to help delegation succeed

Modern democracy requires delegation. Oneproblem with delegation is that principals andagents often have conflicting interests. A secondproblem is that principals lack informationabout their agents. Many scholars conclude that theseproblems cause delegation to become abdication. Wereject this conclusion and introduce a theory ofdelegation that supports a different conclusion. Thetheory clarifies when interest conflicts andinformation problems do (and do not) turn delegationinto abdication. We conclude by arguing that remediesfor common delegation problems can be embedded in thedesign of electoral, legislative, and bureaucraticinstitutions. The culmination of our efforts is asimple, but general, statement about when citizens andlegislators can (and cannot) control their agents.
Epidemiology of late and moderate preterm birth.

Preterm birth affects 12.5% of all births in the USA. Infants of Black mothers are disproportionately affected, with 1.5 times the risk of preterm birth and 3.4 times the risk of preterm-related mortality. The preterm birth rate has increased by 33% in the last 25 years, almost entirely due to the rise in late preterm births (34–36 weeks’ gestation). Recently attention has been given to uncovering the often subtle morbidity and mortality risks associated with moderate (32–33 weeks’ gestation) and late preterm delivery, including respiratory, infectious, and neurocognitive complications and infant mortality. This section summarizes the epidemiology of moderate and late preterm birth, case definitions, risk factors, recent trends, and the emerging body of knowledge of morbidity and mortality associated with moderate and late preterm birth.
Threonine 82 in the regulatory chain is important for nucleotide affinity and for the allosteric stabilization of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase

Abstract The three-dimensional structure of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase complexed with the allosteric effector CTP, shows an interaction between the hydroxyl of Thr-82 in the regulatory chain (Thr-82r) with the γ-phosphate of CTP (R.P. Kosman, J.E. Gouaux, W.N. Lipscomb, Crystal structure of CTP-ligated T state aspartate transcarbamoylase at 2.5 A resolution: implications for aspartate transcarbamoylase mutants and the mechanism of negative cooperativity, Proteins Struct. Funct. Genet. 15 (1993) 147–176). In order to determine whether the Thr-82r interaction with the γ-phosphate of CTP is important for either binding of the nucleotide effectors or their function, site-specific mutagenesis was employed. The mutant enzyme in which Thr-82r was replaced by Ala had almost the identical maximal observed specific activity as the wild-type enzyme; however, the mutant enzyme had a significantly increased [Asp]0.5, the aspartate concentration at one-half the maximal observed specific activity, as well as slightly increased homotropic cooperativity. The mutant enzyme was also activated more by ATP and inhibited less by CTP as compared to the wild-type enzyme. In addition, the nucleotide concentration required for one-half maximal effect was increased approx. 3-fold as compared to the corresponding values for the wild-type enzyme. The maximal inhibition of the mutant enzyme, in the presence of UTP and CTP was similar to that observed for the wild-type enzyme; however, higher concentrations of the nucleotides were required to achieve this level of inhibition. The reduced affinity of CTP, UTP and ATP induced by the mutation indicates that the hydrogen bonding interaction between the γ-phosphate of the nucleotide effector and the side-chain hydroxyl of Thr-82r is important for the binding of the nucleotide effectors to the allosteric site. Furthermore, this interaction is important for the discrimination between CTP and CDP. Finally, the greater homotropic cooperativity, greater [Asp]0.5, diminished CTP inhibition and greater ATP activation of the mutant enzyme correlates with the X-ray structure of the mutant enzyme which shows that the unligated enzyme is in an ‘extreme’ T-state. These findings add support to the theory that the global stabilization of the enzyme is critical for both the homotropic and heterotropic properties of aspartate transcarbamoylase.
Effect of erythropoietin and oxygen tension on in vitro synthesis of hemoglobin A and F by adult human bone marrow.

SummaryHemoglobin F and A synthesis was studied in in vitro suspensions of normal adult human bone marrow. Hb A synthesis continued throughout the 7 2-hour period whereas Hb F synthesis ceased after 24 hours. Erythropoietin, added in vitro, stimulated total hemoglobin synthesis without affecting Hb F synthesis. Hypoxia depressed total globin synthesis without affecting Hb F synthesis. Thus the synthesis of Hb A and F appears to respond independently to environmental stimuli.
Markov Chain Monte Carlo Detectors for Channels With Intersymbol Interference

In this paper, we propose novel low-complexity soft-in soft-out (SISO) equalizers using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique. We develop a bitwise MCMC equalizer (b-MCMC) that adopts a Gibbs sampler to update one bit at a time, as well as a group-wise MCMC (g-MCMC) equalizer where multiple symbols are updated simultaneously. The g-MCMC equalizer is shown to outperform both the b-MCMC and the linear minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalizer significantly for channels with severe amplitude distortion. Direct application of MCMC to channel equalization requires sequential processing which leads to long processing delay. We develop a parallel processing algorithm that reduces the processing delay by orders of magnitude. Numerical results show that both the sequential and parallel processing MCMC equalizers perform similarly well and achieve a performance that is only slightly worse than the optimum maximum a posteriori (MAP) equalizer. The MAP equalizer, on the other hand, has a complexity that grows exponentially with the size of the memory of the channel, while the complexity of the proposed MCMC equalizers grows linearly.
Management of low grade papillary bladder tumors.

Purpose: We evaluated the management and treatment outcomes of low grade papillary bladder tumors.Materials and Methods: We evaluated 215 patients diagnosed with low grade and noninvasive papillary bladder tumors, and followed them every 6 months with flexible cystoscopy for 6 to 10 or more years. Tumor recurrence was treated with transurethral resection or outpatient cystoscopic fulguration.Results: Of the 215 patients 143 (67%) had at least 1 recurrence (positive cystoscopy). With a median followup of 8 years tumor recurrences averaged 6.2 (range 1 to 19) requiring 0.34 transurethral resections per year or 1 transurethral resection every 3 years, or 0.61 fulgurations or 1 fulguration approximately every 2 years. There were 17 patients (8%) who had progression in grade or stage and 1 patient (0.5%) died of bladder cancer. Patients most likely to have recurrence had multiple tumors, low grade (TaLG) carcinoma or tumor at first followup cystoscopy.Conclusions: Surveillance cystoscopy at 6-month intervals c...
Impact of human milk bacteria and oligosaccharides on neonatal gut microbiota establishment and gut health

Neonatal gut microbiota establishment represents a crucial stage for gut maturation, metabolic and immunologic programming, and consequently short- and long-term health status. Human milk beneficially influences this process due to its dynamic profile of age-adapted nutrients and bioactive components and by providing commensal maternal bacteria to the neonatal gut. These include Lactobacillus spp., as well as obligate anaerobes such as Bifidobacterium spp., which may originate from the maternal gut via an enteromammary pathway as a novel form of mother–neonate communication. Additionally, human milk harbors a broad range of oligosaccharides that promote the growth and activity of specific bacterial populations, in particular, Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides spp. This review focuses on the diversity and origin of human milk bacteria, as well as on milk oligosaccharides that influence neonatal gut microbiota establishment. This knowledge can be used to develop infant formulae that more closely mimic nature’s model and sustain a healthy gut microbiota.
Employee voice in workplace religious discrimination legal disputes

This article extends current understanding of actions employees take when they experience spiritual or religious expression in the workplace (SRW) discrimination, specifically considering employee ...
Neither Here nor There: Knowledge Sharing and Transfer with Proactive Structuration

Information technologies hold great promise in their ability to link distributed workers, allowing organizations to take advantage of the potential benefits of effectively gathering knowledge without regard to geographic boundaries. This can be advantageous for an organization's overall capabilities, given that employing workers from diverse backgrounds can increase an organization's knowledge base. Paradoxically, these technologies may also serve to dampen knowledge sharing, unless proactively managed. This paper extends work on adaptive structuration theory and sensemaking to develop the concept of proactive structuration. We explain how organizations and teams can proactively manage distributed work arrangements to best position the team to take advantage of knowledge sharing for enhanced performance
Triadic model of the neurobiology of motivated behavior in adolescence

Background. Risk-taking behavior is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in adolescence. In the context of decision theory and motivated (goal-directed) behavior, risk-taking reflects a pattern of decision-making that favors the selection of courses of action with uncertain and possibly harmful consequences. We present a triadic, neuroscience systems-based model of adolescent decision-making.Method. We review the functional role and neurodevelopmental findings of three key structures in the control of motivated behavior, i.e. amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and medial/ventral prefrontal cortex. We adopt a cognitive neuroscience approach to motivated behavior that uses a temporal fragmentation of a generic motivated action. Predictions about the relative contributions of the triadic nodes to the three stages of a motivated action during adolescence are proposed.Results. The propensity during adolescence for reward/novelty seeking in the face of uncertainty or potential harm might be explained by a strong reward system (nucleus accumbens), a weak harm-avoidant system (amygdala), and/or an inefficient supervisory system (medial/ventral prefrontal cortex). Perturbations in these systems may contribute to the expression of psychopathology, illustrated here with depression and anxiety.Conclusions. A triadic model, integrated in a temporally organized map of motivated behavior, can provide a helpful framework that suggests specific hypotheses of neural bases of typical and atypical adolescent behavior.
Image-based multiscale structural models of fibrous engineered tissues

While it is firmly established that the mechanical behavior of most biological tissues, including bioengineered tissues, is governed by an underlying network of protein fibers, it is still not clear how best to obtain and utilize structural information to predict mechanical response. In this paper, methods are presented to (1) quantify the fiber arrangement in a tissue from different imaging tools, (2) incorporate that structure into a multiscale model, and (3) solve the model equations to predict both the microscopic and the macroscopic tissue response. In principle these concepts could be applied to any tissue (incorporating the specific tissue components as needed), but for demonstration purposes, the focus of the current work is on cell-compacted collagen gel, a model engineered tissue.
Analysis of Pontryagin’s Minimum Principle-Based Energy Management Strategy for PHEV Applications

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the optimal energy management problem for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) solved using the Pontryagin’s minimum principle (PMP). The aim of this analysis is to study the relationships between the control parameters and the vehicle and driving characteristics. In this study, a relationship between the state and co-state trajectories with the battery characteristics has been developed which has not been explored in a similar fashion in prior literature. Results from sensitivity analysis show a strong asymmetry in higher and lower estimation of the initial value of the co-state. A spatial domain analysis is also carried out which shows quasi linearity of the optimal state of charge (SOC) with respect to trip length for a combination of driving cycles. Knowledge gained from this exercise enables us to develop an adaptive energy management strategy.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Resolving the Grain Boundary and Lattice Impedance of Hot-Pressed Li7La3Zr2O12 Garnet Electrolytes

Here, the cubic-stabilized garnet solid electrolyte with a nominal composition of Li6.28Al0.24La3Zr2O12 is thoroughly characterized by impedance spectroscopy. By varying the frequency of the applied AC signal over 11 orders of magnitude for characterizations from –100 to +60 °C, the relative contributions of grain and grain boundary conduction are unambiguously resolved.
An EM-Like Algorithm for Semi- and Nonparametric Estimation in Multivariate Mixtures

We propose an algorithm for nonparametric estimation for finite mixtures of multivariate random vectors that strongly resembles a true EM algorithm. The vectors are assumed to have independent coordinates conditional upon knowing from which mixture component they come, but otherwise their density functions are completely unspecified. Sometimes, the density functions may be partially specified by Euclidean parameters, a case we call semiparametric. Our algorithm is much more flexible and easily applicable than existing algorithms in the literature; it can be extended to any number of mixture components and any number of vector coordinates of the multivariate observations. Thus it may be applied even in situations where the model is not identifiable, so care is called for when using it in situations for which identifiability is difficult to establish conclusively. Our algorithm yields much smaller mean integrated squared errors than an alternative algorithm in a simulation study. In another example using a ...
COMKAT: Compartment Model Kinetic Analysis Tool

Compartment models are the basis for most physiologically based quantification of nuclear medicine data. Although some software packages are available for this purpose, many are expensive, run on relatively few types of computers or are of limited capability, and cannot be extended because of the unavailability of source code. Consequently, institutions with modeling expertise often develop software for themselves, which has the disadvantages of lack of standardization and possible replication of effort. Therefore, general-purpose compartment-modeling software distributed with source code would be a welcome resource for the nuclear medicine community. Methods: We formulated a mathematic framework within which compartment models containing unimolecular and bimolecular (receptor saturation) kinetics can be described. We implemented this framework within MATLAB and call the resultant software COMKAT (Compartment Model Kinetic Analysis Tool). Results: COMKAT simplifies the process of defining and solving standard blood flow, 18F-FDG, and receptor models as well as models of a user’s own design. In particular, COMKAT automatically defines and implements state, analytic sensitivity, and Jacobian equations. Given these, COMKAT can perform simulations in which model outputs are solved for specified parameter values, thereby allowing the user to predict how sensitive data are to these parameters. In addition, COMKAT can be used to estimate values for the parameters by fitting model output to experimental data. COMKAT is equipped with command-line and graphic user interfaces from which the user can access these features. Examples of these applications are presented along with validation and performance summaries. Conclusion: COMKAT is a useful software tool and is available without cost to researchers, at www.nuclear.uhrad.com/comkat.
Distribution of small vasopressinergic neurons in golden hamsters

In rats, small (diameter: ca. 10 μm) vasopressinergic neurons have been localized in the forebrain, including extrahypothalamic sites, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the medial amygdala (MeA). In golden hamsters, no such neurons have ever been described in extrahypothalamic sites, while their presence in some hypothalamic sites, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), remains controversial. The present studies were carried out to confirm the existence of small vasopressinergic neurons in the forebrain of golden hamsters, using rats as a positive control. The presence of small vasopressinergic neurons in these sites was first tested by imrnunocytochemistry in colchicine-treated animals. The resulting distribution was corroborated by in situ hybridization for vasopressin (AVP) mRNA. While a large number of small AVP-immunoreactive (AVP-ir) neurons was found in the BST and MeA of colchicine-treated rats, none was found in the same locations in hamsters. Interestingly, as a few large (diameter: 20–25 μm) AVP-ir neurons were found in the BST just medial to the small neurons in rats, the same area contained a few large and small AVP-ir neurons in hamsters. In the PVN, large and small AVP-ir neurons were found in rats and hamsters. However, three to four times more neurons were counted in rats. These data were confirmed by in situ hybridization. Indeed, in hamsters, no labelling for AVP mRNA was detected in small neurons within the BST and MeA. Furthermore, the PVN of rats contained more labelling for AVP mRNA, as compared to hamsters. These results confirm that the distribution of vasopressiner gic neurons in rats cannot be generalized to other species without a detailed analysis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Position-based routing in ad hoc networks

The availability of small, inexpensive low-power GPS receivers and techniques for finding relative coordinates based on signal strengths, and the need for the design of power-efficient and scalable networks provided justification for applying position-based routing methods in ad hoc networks. A number of such algorithms were developed previously. This tutorial will concentrate on schemes that are loop-free, localized, and follow a single-path strategy, which are desirable characteristics for scalable routing protocols. Routing protocols have two modes: greedy mode (when the forwarding node is able to advance the message toward the destination) and recovery mode (applied until return to greedy mode is possible). We discuss them separately. Methods also differ in metrics used (hop count, power, cost, congestion, etc.), and in past traffic memorization at nodes (memoryless or memorizing past traffic). Salient properties to be emphasized in this review are guaranteed delivery, scalability, and robustness.
Solid-Liquid Hybrid Thermal Interfaces for Low-Contact Pressure Thermal Switching

SOLID -LIQUID HYBRID THERMAL INTERFACES FOR LOW-CONTACT PRESSURE THERMAL SWITCHING Y. Jia and Y. S. Ju a Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering University of California, 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1597, U.S.A. a) corresponding author. email: just@seas.ucla.edu Abstract Switchable thermal interfaces allow controlled modulation of thermal conductance and are a key enabler of micro-devices and systems that require reconfigurable heat transfer paths. We report a solid-liquid hybrid thermal interface for reliable low-contact pressure (< 1 kPa) switching with on-state thermal contact resistance < 15 x10 -6 m 2 K/W. Reduction in the thermal resistance of hybrid interfaces created through electroplating was evaluated using transient pulsed heating measurements and thermal time constant characterization. Compared with pure liquid-mediated interfaces and direct solid-solid contacts reported previously, the hybrid interface shows superior thermal performance under the same loading pressure while avoiding the use of liquid metals. The hybrid interface may be readily used with low-power electrostatic or Lorenz force-based actuators as part of integrated thermal micro-devices. Key words: thermal switch, microscale heat transfer, waste heat harvesting, solid-state refrigeration
Effect of Surface Moisture on Dielectric Behavior of Ultrafine BaTiO3 Particulates

The effects of adsorbed H2O on the dielectric properties of ultrafine BaTiO3 particulates of varying particle size and environmental history were determined. The dielectric behavior depends strongly on surface hydration. No particle size dependence of dielectric constant was found for dehydroxylated surfaces in ultrafine particulate (unsintered) BaTiO3 materials. For equivalent particle sizes, the ac conductivity is sensitive to surface morphology. Reactions with H2O vapor appear to account for the variations in dielectric properties. Surface dehydration was effectively accomplished by washing as-received powders in isopropanol.
The 'vanishing' IT productivity: a simple theory

The perceived phenomenon that huge investments in information technology (IT) over the past four decades have yielded a very small gain in productivity has been dubbed the "IT paradox." Researchers have tried various methods to prove or disprove the "paradox." This article highlights the challenges researchers have faced and proposes a simple theory to explain what seems to be a vanishing contribution of IT to productivity growth.