cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of a mitochondrial gene in the conformation and optical properties of mitochondrial cytochromes in Neurospora crassa

The mitochondrial cytochrome spectrum of the poky strain of Neurospora crassa and its variation during the life cycle have been analyzed. Two factors are taken into account in addition to those usually considered; absorption in the near-ultraviolet Soret region and the physical nature of the electronic transitions which give rise to the absorption bands. From this extended analysis, a hypothesis based on the chemical nature of the axial environment of the heme groups has been constructed to account for spectroscopic observations. A model has been developed that provides a biochemical mechanism by which a genetic defect in mitochondrial DNA can lead to structural defects in the axial environment of the hemes and thus to an altered cytochrome spectrum. Previously reported absences or deficiencies of cytochromes based on visible absorption spectroscopy may in some cases indicate the absence or deficiency of only the particular polypeptide subunits of a complex which are synthesized within the mitochondria. This interpretation is consistent with the various manifestations of the poky phenotype which have been observed.
The Effect of Oxygen on Sodium Excretion in Hypoxemic Patients with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

In advanced chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD), sodium retention is common, associated with reduction in renal plasma flow (RPF) and stimulation of the renin-aldosterone (PRA-PA) system, two abnormalities due to or influenced by hypercapnia: the independent role of hypoxemia in perturbing sodium homeostasis is unknown. In five stable patients with COLD (FEV1 = 0.9 +/- 0.21, mean +/- SE) with mild edema, during two weeks of a low sodium diet (one week on room air: pH = 7.39 +/- 0.02; PaO2 = 55 +/- 4 mm Hg; PaCO2 = 49 +/- 4 mm Hg; and one week on O2: pH = 7.38 +/- 0.01; PaO2 = 72 +/- 6 mm Hg; PaCO2 = 52 +/- 4 mm Hg) we monitored sodium balance, systemic and renal hemodynamics, plasma sodium and potassium, PRA, PA, and atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH). During air breathing, patients uniformly showed a depression of RPF despite normal cardiac output; plasma hormone levels did not differ from controls but there was elevation (greater than 2 SD above the normal mean) of PRA in four patients, PA in two patients, and ANH in two of five patients. During O2 breathing, urinary sodium increased significantly from 67 +/- 7 to 102 +/- 10 mEq/24 h. Surprisingly, the patients experienced a small but significant weight gain (0.6 +/- 0.1 kg). None of the other variables was affected by O2 therapy. The following conclusions were reached: in advanced COLD, correction of hypoxemia results in sodium diuresis, indicating that hypoxemia (in the presence of hypercapnia) contributes to sodium retention. The mechanism for this beneficial effect of O2 will require further investigation.
Induction of Rat Mammary Cancers by Cancer Chemotherapeutic Agents

HUGGINS et al.1 demonstrated that multiple mammary adenocarcinomas could be induced rapidly and invariably in female rats of the Sprague–Dawley strain by gastric instillation of 3-methylcholanthrene. Later, 7,12-di-methylbenz(a)anthracene was found to induce the same cancer2. Shellabarger et al.3 induced similar mammary cancers in rats by sub-lethal whole-body γ-irradiation. Recently, Huggins and Fukunishi4 noted that mammary carcinomas elicited either by X-irradiation or by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene had similar enzyme constitutions and hormone-dependency. Huggins and Yang5 have postulated that both radiation and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons exert their oncogenic effect by selective changes in the nucleic acids of mammary cells. In an experiment described here, it was noted that mammary cancers can arise also in rats receiving anti-cancer drugs, including biological alkylating agents. Although the biological alkylating agents have been shown to induce cancers in rats, these have usually been sarcomas arising at the site of a subcutaneous injection6.
The Younger Siblings of Childbearing Adolescents: Parenting Influences on Their Academic and Social-Emotional Adjustment

The younger siblings of childbearing adolescents have poorer school outcomes and exhibit more internalizing and externalizing problems compared to their peers without a childbearing sister. We test a model where living with an adolescent childbearing sister constitutes a major family stressor that disrupts mothers’ parenting and well-being, and through which, adversely affect youths’ adjustment. Data came from 243 Latino younger siblings (62% female, M age 13.7 years) and their mothers, 121 of whom lived with a childbearing adolescent sister and 122 of whom did not. Individual fixed-effects models controlled for earlier measures of each respective model construct, thereby reducing omitted variable bias from pre-existing group differences. Results show that, for boys, the relationship between living with a childbearing adolescent sister and youth outcomes was sequentially mediated through mothers’ stress and parenting (i.e., monitoring and nurturance). For girls, however, the relationship was mediated through mothers’ monitoring only. Findings elucidate the within-family processes that contribute to the problematic outcomes of youth living with childbearing adolescent older sisters.
Mechanism of glutamine-mediated amelioration of lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-8 production in Caco-2 cells.

Abstract The mechanism of glutamine (Gln)-mediated down-regulation of inflammation in the intestine is poorly understood. We hypothesize that Gln down-regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IL-8 production in intestinal epithelial cells via transcription factors that counteract the effect of LPS-mediated increase in IL-8. Caco-2 cells were incubated with different doses of Gln with or without methionine sulfoximine (MS), an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase for 24 h before stimulation by LPS (100 μg/ml for 24 h). Inhibitors of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) family were added to cells for 1.5 h following stimulation by LPS. The p38 inhibitor SB 203580 resulted in a significant decrease in IL-8 peptide production ( p p
Temperature dependence of the hyperfine field of Tc in Fe

Using BaF2 scintillation counters we made a series of DPAC measurements on99TcFe in the temperature range 77 < T < 1020 K. Our results at room temperature are consistent with earlier measurements of Raghavan and Raghavan. Contrary to earlier suppositions, Hhf(T) does not have an anomalous temperature dependence like that of OsFe.
Synthesis of circular DNA in avian tumor virus particles.

Abstract Small quantities of covalently closed circular DNA were synthesized in an endogenous reaction using purified avian tumor virus. This observation suggests that the enzymes necessary to convert virion RNA into double-stranded circular DNA are carried by the virus particles.
Data layouts for object-oriented programs

Object-oriented programs rely heavily on objects and pointers, making them vulnerable to slow downs from cache and TLB misses. The cache and TLB behavior depends on the data layout of objects in memory. There are many possible data layouts with different impacts on performance, but it is not known which perform better. This paper presents a novel framework for evaluating data layouts. The framework both makes implementing many layouts easy, andenables performance measurements of real programs using a product Java virtual machine on stock hardware. This is achieved by sorting objects during copying garbage collection; outside of garbage collection, program performance is solely determined by the data layout that the sort key implements. This paper surveys and evaluates 10 common data layouts with 32 realistic bench mark programs running on 3 different hardware configurations. The results confirm the importance of data layouts for program performance, and show that almost all layouts yield the best performance for some programs and the worst performance for others.
Interference competition and sexual selection promote polymorphism in Colias (Lepidoptera, Pieridae)

1 ‘Alba’ is a genetic polymorphism in butterflies of the genus Colias (the sulphurs) which confers on its female carriers white (A–) rather than yellow (aa) wings. Previous studies of ‘alba’s’ resource-based effects in Colias alexandra and Colias scudderi suggested the rare morph should be eliminated in each species. Here the selective regime acting on ‘alba’s’ wing colour effect is examined to determine if it can maintain polymorphism. 2 Field experiments and observations reveal species-specific differences in morph fecundity resulting from selection on wing colour. ‘Alba’ female and male Colias lose flight time, an index of Colias fitness, to unproductive courtship with pierines (white butterflies in the subfamily Pieridae), a form of interference competition. Flight time losses are greater in C. alexandra, which co-occur more extensively with pierines than C. scudderi. ‘Alba’ females also spent less time being harassed by courting male Colias than yellow females; this form of sexual selection on morph wing colour is particularly strong in C. alexandra. 3 Loss of male and ‘alba’ female Colias flight time and the degree of male Colias preference for the yellow morph correlate with the extent each Colias species co-occurs with pierines, suggesting interference competition influences Colias courtship decisions and ‘alba’ frequency. 4 Both interference competition and sexual selection are density dependent in their effects; these effects were modelled using Holling’s equation. Modelling results show temporal variation in Colias and pierine densities over the past 20 years caused morph fitness to vary such that in at least one year each morph in each species had greater relative fitness with respect to colour-based selective pressures. Although this selective regime does not maintain polymorphism under temporal models of fitness variation, trade-offs between these colour-based effects and ‘alba’s’ temperature and resource-based effects in a spatially heterogeneous environment could maintain polymorphism.
A Computer Program to Generate Sample Correlation and Covariance Matrices.

Given a population-covariance matrix, this program can generate any number of sample-covariance (or correlation) matrices, based on any sample sizes. If no population matrix is input, the program generates random correlation matrices.
Non-steady state magnetic mineral reduction, chemical lock-in, and delayed remanence acquisition in pelagic sediments

Abstract Magnetic hysteresis data collected from pelagic sediment sites in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean define a progressive deepening of modern redox boundaries with decreased organic carbon input. Paleomagnetic data from the site with the highest organic carbon shows marked changes in the natural remanent magnetization at the modern Fe-redox boundary, suggesting a type of chemical lock-in process in which some magnetic grains form in situ above the boundary and freely orient in the field. The depth of chemical lock-in suggests paleomagnetic data will be smoothed on time scales ranging from less than 40 kyr to more than 425 kyr. The higher values are compatible with models calling for a delayed remanence acquisition to account for the ‘saw-tooth’ pattern observed in some sedimentary paleointensity records.
Striatal FoxP2 Is Actively Regulated during Songbird Sensorimotor Learning

Background Mutations in the FOXP2 transcription factor lead to language disorders with developmental onset. Accompanying structural abnormalities in cortico-striatal circuitry indicate that at least a portion of the behavioral phenotype is due to organizational deficits. We previously found parallel FoxP2 expression patterns in human and songbird cortico/pallio-striatal circuits important for learned vocalizations, suggesting that FoxP2's function in birdsong may generalize to speech.
Scalability and Security of Self-Organized Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Wireless ad hoc networks (WANETs) offer communications over a shared wireless channel without any pre-existing infrastructure. Forming peer-to-peer security associations in self-organized WANETs is more challenging than in conventional networks due to the lack of central authorities. In this paper, we propose a generic model to evaluate the relationship of connectivity, memory size, communication overhead and security in fully self-organized WANETs. Based on some reasonable assumptions on node deployment and mobility, we show that when the average number of authenticated neighbors of each node is on the order of 0(1), with respect to the network size n, most of the nodes can be securely connected, forming a connected secure backbone. This connected secure backbone can be utilized to break routing-security dependency loop, and provide more derived security associations in a multi-hop fashion.
Donor-plant environment effects on regeneration from barley embryo-derived callus

High levels of green plant regeneration are necessary for efficient barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) transformation. Experiments to optimize regeneration of calli derived from immature embryos have examined the effects of genotype and media components, but research on the effects of donor-plant growth environment is lacking. Defined growth conditions in growth chambers are known to give consistent regeneration rates, but space often is limited. The objective of this project was to evaluate regeneration from barley tissue cultures of Golden Promise' and 'Morex' grown under greenhouse conditions, planted on four different dates, to determine optimal greenhouse planting times. Results were compared with cultures from plants grown in the growth chamber planted on the same four dates. Genotype, growth environment, and planting date had significant effects on green plant regeneration. Cultures of embryos from plants sown in the greenhouse in December resulted in significantly fewer green regenerants per plate. Regeneration was more dependent on the average solar radiation than on temperature. The best greenhouse regeneration rates for Morex were not significantly different than regeneration from growth chamber-grown donor plants. Green plant regeneration was higher and less variable from growth chamber-grown donor plants. Sufficient regeneration from greenhouse-grown donor plants can be reached when natural light levels are high and temperatures are moderate.
Demo: RecDroid: An Android Resource Access Permission Recommendation System

Nowadays, it is prohibitive for apps market places, such as Google App Store, to thoroughly verify an app's resource permission requests to be legitimate or malicious. As a result, mobile users are left to decide for themselves whether an app is safe to use or not. To assist users to make correct decisions as for whether to accept a permission request or not, we propose RecDroid. RecDroid is a crowdsourcing recommendation framework that collects apps' permission requests and users' responses to those requests, from which an experts ranking algorithm is used to seek expert users in the system and a recommendation algorithm is used to suggest appropriate responses to permission requests (accept or reject) based on experts' responses. In this demo, we demonstrate a user case to show how the RecDroid system assists users in permission control. We also explain the major principles and processes behind that support the RecDroid recommendation system.
Epigenetic variation in tissue cultured Gaura lindheimeri

High levels of variability were observed in tissue cultured Gaura lindheimeri genotypes when flowered in situ. Tissue culture treatments for chromosome doubling (colchicine: 0, 0.25, 1.25 mM; trifluralin: 0, 15, 30 μM) were all highly variable for morphological traits. Experiment No. 1 tested the tissue culture protocols used. In the first control (C1), plantlets were subcultured continuously. Nodes were excised and placed on solid medium for the second control (C2). In the third control (C3), nodes were excised and put in liquid medium for 24 h at room temperature. The fourth control (C4) was the same as the third control except liquid cultures were moved to 4°C for 48 h after treatment at room temperature. Experiment No. 2 examined the stability of the variation. Representative plants with different traits were selected for clonal propagation and grown in a replicated trial in the greenhouse. Several morphological traits (flower size, leaf length:width ratios, petal length:width ratios, and flower color) were measured. All of the controls had as much variability as the treated plants. Flower size of the first flower for plant number 01G-02 was significantly different in C1 compared with C3, but not with C2 and C4. Plant number 443-1 (white) was more stable in the replicated trial for the flower size than plant number 01G-02 (pink). All traits measured for plant number 01G-02 were unstable; most flower colors and patterns reverted back to the original color of the non-tissue cultured plants. The somaclonal variation observed was epigenetic in nature, indicating changes in DNA methylation.
Curious learning, cultural bias, and the learning curve

Today's interactive installations are characterized by simplistic feedback mechanisms, limited underlying databases of content, and very little autonomous intelligence. Yet even these rudimentary systems provide great opportunities for curious learning, surprise, and serendipitous discovery. They also serve as a social nexus. The interpersonal, back-channel communications and ancillary activities of the audience, which currently remain largely unsensed and unprocessed, can be just as important as the primary authored experience. The key to accessing and communicating larger perceptions in the digital age may well lie in the collective social activities that occur within the context of shared narratives. The exchanges and experiences of group exploration and discovery, communal curious learning promises rewards far beyond the mere enjoyment of story and the instant gratifications of an individual's remote control.
Effects of race and exposure on judgments of interpersonal favorability.

Two experiments replicated and extended the “mere exposure” effect across the variables of race, sex, and level of initial favorability. Both experiments employed a between subjects design in which white subjects rated their favorability toward 20 photographs, 10 of black and 10 of white college graduates. The initial exposure sequence was followed by 10 repetitions of each photograph for experimental subjects and an inverted alphabet printing task for control subjects. During the posttest all subjects again rated the photographs. Irrespective of race and sex of photograph or initial level of favorability, exposure functioned to enhance interpersonal attractiveness in both experiments.
Bifurcation to infinitely many sinks

This paper considers one parameter families of diffeomorphisms {Ft} in two dimensions which have a curve of dissipative saddle periodic pointsPt, i.e.Ftn(Pt)=Pt and |detDFtn(Pt)|<1. The family is also assumed to create new homoclinic intersections of the stable and unstable manifolds ofPt as the parameter varies throught0. Gavirlov and Silnikov proved that if the new homoclinic intersections are created nondegenerately att0, then there is an infinite cascade of periodic sinks, i.e. there are parameter valuestn accumulating att0 for which there is a sink of periodn [GS2, Sect. 4]. We show that this result is true for real analytic diffeomorphisms even if the homoclinic intersection is created degenerately. We give computer evidence to show that this latter result is probably applicable to the Henon map forA near 1.392 andB equal −0.3.
The Inflationary decade

Abstract In the ten years since Guth proposed the inflationary Universe, we have come to appreciate the rich and varied phenomena associated with inflation; most of them unanticipated in the original work. We have also learned that inflation is a picture than can be accomodated within many frameworks. In this paper I review some of the models for inflation (old, new, chaotic, extended, etc.). I also discuss some of the “generic” predictions of inflation, particularly those that bear upon nuclear astrophysics.
SU-C-18A-04: 3D Markerless Registration of Lung Based On Coherent Point Drift: Application in Image Guided Radiotherapy

Purpose: This study evaluated a new probabilistic non-rigid registration method called coherent point drift for real time 3D markerless registration of the lung motion during radiotherapy. Method: 4DCT image datasets Dir-lab (www.dir-lab.com) have been used for creating 3D boundary element model of the lungs. For the first step, the 3D surface of the lungs in respiration phases T0 and T50 were segmented and divided into a finite number of linear triangular elements. Each triangle is a two dimensional object which has three vertices (each vertex has three degree of freedom). One of the main features of the lungs motion is velocity coherence so the vertices that creating the mesh of the lungs should also have features and degree of freedom of lung structure. This means that the vertices close to each other tend to move coherently. In the next step, we implemented a probabilistic non-rigid registration method called coherent point drift to calculate nonlinear displacement of vertices between different expiratory phases. Results: The method has been applied to images of 10-patients in Dir-lab dataset. The normal distribution of vertices to the origin for each expiratory stage were calculated. The results shows that the maximum error of registration between different expiratory phases is less than 0.4 mm (0.38 SI, 0.33 mm AP, 0.29 mm RL direction). This method is a reliable method for calculating the vector of displacement, and the degrees of freedom (DOFs) of lung structure in radiotherapy. Conclusions: We evaluated a new 3D registration method for distribution set of vertices inside lungs mesh. In this technique, lungs motion considering velocity coherence are inserted as a penalty in regularization function. The results indicate that high registration accuracy is achievable with CPD. This method is helpful for calculating of displacement vector and analyzing possible physiological and anatomical changes during treatment.
Low doses of dietary lead are associated with a profound reduction in the time to the onset of puberty in female mice

We report results from a replication in second and third generation female mice of accelerated time to puberty associated with low Pb exposure levels . Mice in the 2nd generation study are offspring of mice from the initial study; the 3rd generation mice are offspring from mice in the 2nd generation study. For each generation the time to puberty onset was markedly influenced by exposure to dietary lead. Modest increases in blood lead concentration from a normal background of 2-3 to 8-13 micro g/dl delayed the onset of puberty by 10-20% from a normal of 33-35 days to about 40-43 days; reducing blood lead from 2-3 to 0.7 micro g/dl was associated with profound acceleration of puberty to 21 days, an enhancement by over 30%. This dose-response relationship, which replicates previous novel findings, has possible ecological as well as public health significance and indicates that lead is able to induce biologically significant changes at blood lead levels previously thought to be without effect.
Glucocorticoid-mediated activation of DNA degradation in avian lymphocytes

Little information is known about the molecular mechanism of programmed cell death in the avian species. In the current study we have analyzed this process in chickens using a glucocorticoid-lymphocyte model system. Three-week-old male broiler chicks were treated in vivo with the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone. Following this treatment genomic DNA was isolated from thymocytes and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Dexamethasone activated a DNA degrading process in which the genome was specifically cleaved at internucleosomal intervals. This steroid-induced response occurred prior to thymocyte cell death and was time and glucocorticoid dose dependent, as well as tissue and steroid specific. Only the glucocorticoid class of steroid hormones could elicit this response and DNA degradation was only detectable in lymphoid tissues that contained immature lymphocytes. Internucleosomal DNA degradation could also be elicited via administration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, a treatment that elevates endogenous glucocorticoids. Based on these data, glucocorticoid-activated DNA degradation of the avian thymocyte genome appears to be a steroid receptor-mediated process which involves the activation of an endogenous nuclease that cleaves the genome at internucleosomal sites. Degradation of the thymocyte genome occurs prior to cell death and may represent an initial event in a cascade of hormone-mediated processes that culminate in a type of cellular suicide referred to as programmed cell death.
Measurement of the unstable RNA in exponentially growing cultures of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.

Abstract A new technique for measuring the rate of turnover and quantity of unstable RNA in exponentially growing cells has been developed which escapes the interpretive difficulties of earlier methods. It depends upon the fact that an unstable RNA fraction has easily measurable effects upon the kinetics of labelling of GTP; before the GTP pool can become fully labelled, unlabelled nucleotides present as GTP or in unstable RNA must be washed into stable RNA. (There is no equilibration with guanine in the medium.) Consequently, if the uptake of label into GTP is rapid, with only the delay predicted from the experimentally measured GTP pool size, then it is possible to conclude that there is little or no unstable RNA. In Bacillus subtilis, however, the GTP pool is labelled very slowly which, with other data, indicates a large amount of unstable RNA (9% of the guanine residues of the cell in unstable RNA). Similar measurements of the rapidity of GTP labelling in Escherichia coli indicate that there is much less unstable RNA (about 3%) in this organism. The curve expressing GTP specific activity as a function of time is shown to be the sum of two exponential terms with very different time constants. From the relative sizes of the two exponential terms, it is possible to estimate the rate of turnover of the unstable RNA. The result is weighted most heavily for the slow components of the decaying messenger, and thus it sets an upper limit to the true average decay time for the unstable RNA. This decay time (upper limit) was three minutes for the unstable RNA in B. subtilis grown at 37 °C with a doubling time of 115 minutes and six minutes when the cells were grown at 30 °C with a doubling time of 225 minutes. For E. coli (growing at 30 °C with a doubling time of 66 minutes) the decay time measured in this way was about four minutes. Thus the decay times as measured in these experiments are the same order of magnitude as have been observed by measuring the decay of pulse-labelled RNA and the decay of protein synthetic capacity after the addition of actinomycin. The various estimates of the decay rate of messenger RNA in bacteria are discussed in terms of the possible theoretical ambiguities in the interpretation of each.
Formation and Passivation of New Paramagnetic Defects Associated With Thermal Oxides On Silicon

A new spin resonance spectrum has been observed with electron paramagnetic resonance in thermal oxides grown on (111) silicon. Our analysis indicates that this new spectrum consists of two isotropic resonances. One resonance has a g-value of 2.0026 and a linewidth (FWHM) of 1.2 G (labeled SL8); the other resonance has a g-value of 2.0029 and a linewidth (FWHM) of 5 G (labeled SL9). These spectra might be due to impurity contamination resulting from the oxidation process and associated with defects at interior surfaces. The SL8 resonance in particular appears to be located within the as-grown thermal oxide. The effects of 60Co gamma irradiation and annealing in either hydrogen or ammonia on these spectra are also presented in this paper.
The effect of mitomycin C after long-term storage on human Tenon's fibroblast proliferation.

Purpose To investigate the effect of mitomycin C (MMC) after long-term storage on proliferation of human Tenon's fibroblasts in vitro. Methods Human Tenon's fibroblasts in tissue culture were exposed for 5 minutes to MMC (0.4 mg/mL) that was either freshly prepared or had been stored for as long as 18 months at either 4 degrees C or -20 degrees C. The MTT colorimetric assay was used to determine the inhibition of proliferation as measured indirectly by mitochondrial activity. Results The inhibition rate was 88% using fresh MMC, and declined to a mean of 73% when using MMC that had been stored for as long as 18 months at 4 degrees C; this decrease was not statistically significant. The mean inhibition for MMC stored at -20 degrees C was 68%, and this was significantly less than inhibition with fresh MMC. Inhibition did not vary significantly with MMC after different storage times. Conclusion Mitomycin C continues to have strong in vitro antiproliferative effects when stored for as long as 18 months at 4 degrees C or -20 degrees C. A significant decline in potency compared with fresh MMC occurs when MMC is stored at -20 degrees C.
Evaluating State-Specific Antibiotic Resistance Measures Derived from Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, National Healthcare Safety Network, 2011

DISCLOSURE The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry. OBJECTIVE Describe the impact of standardizing state-specific summary measures of antibiotic resistance that inform regional interventions to reduce transmission of resistant pathogens in healthcare settings. DESIGN Analysis of public health surveillance data. METHODS Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) data from intensive care units (ICUs) of facilities reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network in 2011 were analyzed. For CLABSI due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-nonsusceptible Klebsiella species, and carbapenem-nonsusceptible Klebsiella species, we computed 3 state-level summary measures of nonsusceptibility: crude percent nonsusceptible, model-based adjusted percent nonsusceptible, and crude infection incidence rate. RESULTS Overall, 1,791 facilities reported CLABSIs from ICU patients. Of 1,618 S. aureus CLABSIs with methicillin-susceptibility test results, 791 (48.9%) were due to MRSA. Of 756 Klebsiella CLABSIs with ESC-susceptibility test results, 209 (27.7%) were due to ESC-nonsusceptible Klebsiella, and among 661 Klebsiella CLABSI with carbapenem susceptibility test results, 70 (10.6%) were due to carbapenem-nonsusceptible Klebsiella. All 3 state-specific measures demonstrated variability in magnitude by state. Adjusted measures, with few exceptions, were not appreciably different from crude values for any phenotypes. When linking values of crude and adjusted percent nonsusceptible by state, a state's absolute rank shifted slightly for MRSA in 5 instances and only once each for ESC-nonsusceptible and carbapenem-nonsusceptible Klebsiella species. Infection incidence measures correlated strongly with both percent nonsusceptibility measures. CONCLUSIONS Crude state-level summary measures, based on existing NHSN CLABSI data, may suffice to assess geographic variability in antibiotic resistance. As additional variables related to antibiotic resistance become available, risk-adjusted summary measures are preferable.
Specification transformers: a predicate transformer approach to composition

This paper explores theories that help in (i) proving that a system composed from components satisfies a system specification given only specifications of components and the composition operator, and (ii) deducing desirable properties of components from the system specification and properties of the composition operator. The paper studies compositional systems in general without making assumptions that components are computer programs. The results obtained from such abstract representations are general but also weaker than results that can be obtained from more restrictive assumptions such as assuming that systems are parallel compositions of concurrent programs. Explorations of general theories of composition can help identify fundamental issues common to many problem domains. The theory presented here is based on predicate transformers.
Analysis of recombinant mouse zona pellucida protein 2 (ZP2) constructs for immunocontraception

In this study we have examined the potential of recombinant mouse zona pellucida glycoprotein 2 (ZP2) as a target for immunocontraception. Immunogenicity studies and fertility trials were performed in outbred Swiss-Webster mice using four ZP2 constructs: Val(35)-Gly(200) (ZP2(V35-G200)), Val(35)-Leu(331) (ZP2(V35-L331)), Pro(325)-Ala(637) (ZP2(P325-A637)), and Val(35)-Ala(637) (ZP2(V35-A637)). A significant antibody response occurred to three of the four immunogens, however antibodies capable of recognizing native ZP occurred only after immunization with ZP2(V35-A637) and ZP2(P325-A637). Only immunization with ZP2(V35-A637) correlated with a reduction in fertility. Examination of the physiological basis for infertility revealed that: (1) passive transfer of ZP2 antiserum induced infertility in non-immune mice; (2) ovaries of infertile mice appeared histologically normal; (3) infertile mice produced normal numbers of eggs and (4) ZP of ovulated eggs from infertile mice demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of sperm bound compared to eggs from adjuvant controls. Infertility can be caused entirely by ZP2 antibodies without the incidence of significant ovarian pathology. This study also demonstrated that immunization with the bioactive (sperm binding) region of ZP2, recombinant ZP2(V35-G200), did not result in a significant immune response that recognized native ZP or inhibited fertility. Consequently we designed a ZP2-sperm antigen construct, replacing the C-terminal region of ZP2 with Sp17. This construct proved to be immunogenic and reduce fertility while directing the immune response to the Val(35)-Gly(200) region of ZP2.
Folie à Famille: A Family Therapist's Perspective

Over the last century there have been reports in the psychiatric journals of an unusual disorder, folie a famille, yet the syndrome has been neglected by family theorists. In this paper the literature on delusions shared by families is examined from the perspective of a family therapist. The role the disorder plays in defining the continuum of functional/dysfunctional shared familial beliefs is described, and a case example demonstrating that folie a famille may be underreported is presented.
Technology and Current Reading/Literacy Assessment Strategies

Computer-based technologies offer promise as a means to assess students and provide teachers with better understandings of their students' achievement. This article describes recent developments in computer-based and web-based reading and literacy assessment, focusing on assessment administration, information management, and report creation. In addition, current software for observational record keeping, portfolio systems, and recreational reading management is considered. Finally, several web-based sources are described that provide teachers with tools for improving assessment.
Interacciones entre genes y entorno y factores de riesgo cardiovascular

En esta revision se discuten las razones para analizar las interacciones entre genes y entorno, y los estudios recientes que examinan las interacciones entre genes y moduladores ambientales en relacion con la enfermedad cardiovascular y sus factores de riesgo comunes. Los estudios que se han centrado en el tabaquismo, el alcohol, la actividad fisica y el cafe son todos ellos de tipo observacional y tienen unos tamanos muestrales relativamente grandes. Sin embargo, tienden a examinar un unico gen y no abordan las interacciones con otros genes y con otros factores ambientales relacionados. El diseno de los estudios que han examinado las interacciones entre genes y dieta ha sido observacional o de intervencion, estos de tamano mucho menor. Entre las interacciones descritas de los genes y la dieta, es importante resaltar la confirmacion de que APOA5 es un gen importante que interviene en el metabolismo de los trigliceridos, que se armoniza por factores de la dieta, asi como la identificacion del APOA2 como modulador de la ingesta alimentaria y del riesgo de obesidad. El estudio de las interacciones entre genes y entorno es un campo activo en el que hay una gran necesidad de investigacion. Los obstaculos tecnicos para la realizacion de los estudios geneticos estan siendo superados con rapidez. La inclusion de una informacion detallada y fiable sobre los factores ambientales constituye una dificultad importante para estas investigaciones. Los avances en este campo deberan incluir el uso de poblaciones mas amplias y zonas geograficas multiples, pero tambien el empleo de enfoques mas precisos, estandarizados y exhaustivos, que permitan capturar la informacion sobre los factores ambientales.
Reinforcement of mate preference among hybridizing Heliconius butterflies

Recent models of mate preference evolution suggest that direct selection on alleles at preference loci and correlated evolution of preference with locally adapted mating cues are more likely to drive the evolution of assortative mate preference than reinforcement. Mate preference evolution in mimetic Heliconius butterflies has been attributed to all three forms of selection, but here we show that reinforcement has been critical. By examining geographical variation in assortative mating and male mate preference among seven populations of three hybridizing Heliconius species from Costa Rica, we found pronounced character displacement of preference such that sexual isolation was enhanced in areas of interspecific contact. Of the different explanations for the evolution of assortative mate preference, only reinforcement is dependent on interspecific contact in this system. Thus, the observed pattern of reproductive character displacement of mate preference is best explained as a product of indirect selection generated by natural selection against nonmimetic hybrids.
Naltrexone in vivo protects μ receptors from inactivation by β-funaltrexamine, but not κ receptors from inactivation by nor-binaltorphimine

Abstract The ability of the competitive opioid antagonist, naltrexone, to protect opioid receptors from inactivation by the nonequilibrium antagonists, β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA) and nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), was examined in vivo. Male rats were injected SC with 10 mg/kg naltrexone or saline, 30 min before being injected intracisternally (IC) with water, 10 μg β-FNA, or 1.0 or 10 μg nor-BNI. The rats were tested for analgesic responses to either U69,593 (nor-BNI groups) or morphine (β-FNA groups), on a 50°C hot plate, 24 h later. Morphine produced dose-related increases in the latency to paw lick in rats that received water (IC) (mean ED 50 = 3.2 mg/kg). Little or no analgesia occurred after 1.0–30 mg/kg of morphine in animals that had received saline (SC) and 10 μg β-FNA (IC) 24 h earlier. Pretreatment with 10 mg/kg naltrexone attenuated the antagonist effects of β-FNA (morphine ED 50 = 10.8 mg/kg). U69,593 also produced analgesia in animals that received water (IC) (ED 50 = 0.97 mg/kg). This analgesia was dose-dependently blocked by nor-BNI for up to 7 days. Naltroxone did not inhibit the actions of nor-BNI. Thus, naltroxone prevented inactivation of μ receptors by β-FNA but not inactivation of κ receptors by nor-BNI, suggesting that antagonist interactions with μ receptors are different from those with κ receptors.
Reservoir geomechanical parameters identification based on ground surface movements

Determination of geomechanical parameters of petroleum reservoir and surrounding rock is important for coupled reservoir–geomechanical modeling, borehole stability analysis and hydraulic fracturing design. A displacement back analysis technique based on artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA) combination is investigated in this paper to identify reservoir geomechanical parameters based on ground surface displacements. An ANN is used to map the nonlinear relationship between Young’s modulus, E, Poisson’s ratio, v, internal friction angle, Φ, cohesion, c and ground surface displacements. The necessary training and testing samples for ANN are created by using numerical analysis. GA is used to search the set of unknown reservoir geomechanical parameters. Results of the numerical experiment show that the displacement back analysis technique based on ANN–GA combination can effectively identify reservoir geomechanical parameters based on ground surface movements as a result of oil and gas production.
FastLane: making short flows shorter with agile drop notification

The drive towards richer and more interactive web content places increasingly stringent requirements on datacenter network performance. Applications running atop these networks typically partition an incoming query into multiple subqueries, and generate the final result by aggregating the responses for these subqueries. As a result, a large fraction --- as high as 80% --- of the network flows in such workloads are short and latency-sensitive. The speed with which existing networks respond to packet drops limits their ability to meet high-percentile flow completion time SLOs. Indirect notifications indicating packet drops (e.g., duplicates in an end-to-end acknowledgement sequence) are an important limitation to the agility of response to packet drops. This paper proposes FastLane, an in-network drop notification mechanism. FastLane enhances switches to send high-priority drop notifications to sources, thus informing sources as quickly as possible. Consequently, sources can retransmit packets sooner and throttle transmission rates earlier, thus reducing high-percentile flow completion times. We demonstrate, through simulation and implementation, that FastLane reduces 99.9th percentile completion times of short flows by up to 81%. These benefits come at minimal cost --- safeguards ensure that FastLane consume no more than 1% of bandwidth and 2.5% of buffers.
Generation and characterization of an EICP0 null mutant of equine herpesvirus 1

Abstract The EICP0 gene (gene 63) of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) encodes an early regulatory protein that is a promiscuous trans -activator of all classes of viral genes. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technology and RecE/T cloning were employed to delete the EICP0 gene from EHV-1 strain KyA. Polymerase chain reaction, Southern blot analysis, and DNA sequencing confirmed the deletion of the EICP0 gene and its replacement with a kanamycin resistance gene in mutant KyA. Transfection of rabbit kidney cells with the EICP0 mutant genome produced infectious virus, indicating that the EICP0 gene is not essential for KyA replication in cell culture. Experiments to assess the effect of the EICP0 deletion on EHV-1 gene programming revealed that mRNA expression of the immediate-early gene and representative early and late genes as well as the synthesis of these viral proteins were reduced as compared to the kinetics of viral mRNA and protein synthesis observed for the wild type virus. However, the transition from early to late viral gene expression was not prevented or delayed, suggesting that the absence of the EICP0 gene did not disrupt the temporal aspects of EHV-1 gene regulation. The extracellular virus titer and plaque areas of the EICP0 mutant virus KyAΔEICP0, in which the gp2-encoding gene 71 gene that is absent in the KyA BAC was restored, were reduced by 10-fold and 19%, respectively, when compared to parental KyA virus; while the titer and plaque areas of mutant KyAΔEICP0Δgp2 that lacks both the EICP0 gene and gene 71 were reduced more than 50-fold and 67%, respectively. The above results show that the EICP0 gene is dispensable for EHV-1 replication in cell culture, and that the switch from early to late viral gene expression for the representative genes examined does not require the EICP0 protein, but that the EICP0 protein may be structurally required for virus egress and cell-to-cell spread.
Tetraplex formation of a guanine-containing nonameric DNA fragment.

A combination of spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques has been used to characterize the structures formed by a family of short, guanine-containing DNA single strands of the form d[GGTTXTTGG], X = A, C, G, T. In 1 molar NaCl at low temperatures, these molecules do not behave like single strands, but rather exhibit properties consistent with tetraplex formation. The standard state enthalpies, entropies, and free energies for formation of each tetraplex have been measured, as have preliminary nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. In 1 molar KCl, the melting behavior of the structure or structures is more complex than in 1 molar NaCl. This observation may be related to the recently proposed "sodium-potassium switch."
Material Transfer in Monomolecular Layers of a Boundary Lubricant

Bailey and Courtney-Pratt1 have studied the shearing of monomolecular layers of calcium stearate between flat mica sheets. They concluded that this shearing in the boundary lubricant film, which may afford almost perfect protection against wear, still contributes significantly to sliding friction. The processes which occur in the contact of such atomically flat surfaces protected by boundary films are therefore of some interest. It has been shown that mica surfaces brought into contact interchange the exchangeable potassium ions on their surfaces (preceding communication). This observation seems to support the postulate that the adhesive force between mica surfaces is ionic in nature2. Rideal and Tadayon3 observed transfer of stearic acid from monolayers deposited on mica to other mica surfaces, but the major portion of their work seems to have been concerned with surface diffusion processes rather than true contact transfer.
Apparent Activity in High-Throughput Screening: Origins of Compound-Dependent Assay Interference

Expansive compound collections made up of structurally heterogeneous chemicals, the activities of which are largely undefined, present challenging problems for high-throughput screening (HTS). Foremost is differentiating whether the activity for a given compound in an assay is directed against the targeted biology, or is the result of surreptitious compound activity involving the assay detection system. Such compound interference can be especially difficult to identify if it is reproducible and concentration-dependent - characteristics generally attributed to compounds with genuine activity. While reactive chemical groups on compounds were once thought to be the primary source of compound interference in assays used in HTS, recent work suggests that other factors, such as compound aggregation, may play a more significant role in many assay formats. Considerable progress has been made to profile representative compound libraries in an effort to identify chemical classes susceptible to producing compound interference, such as compounds commonly found to inhibit the reporter enzyme firefly luciferase. Such work has also led to the development of practices that have the potential to significantly reduce compound interference, for example, through the addition of non-ionic detergent to assay buffer to reduce aggregation-based inhibition.
A New Optical Experiment and the Use of a Single Lens for High Magnification; Observation of Entoptic and Diffraction Phenomena

An interesting optical experiment may be performed with a camera and converging lens. An extension of the experiment by use of the eye in place of the camera makes possible high magnifications with a single lens, location of flaws in glass, observation and location of particles within one’s own eye and observation of Fresnel diffraction effects.