cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Up-Regulation of Gene Related to Anergy in Lymphocytes Is Associated with Notch-Mediated Human T Cell Suppression

A growing body of literature indicates that the Notch pathway can influence the activation and differentiation of peripheral murine T cells, though comparatively little is known about the effects of Notch signaling in human T cells. In the present report we demonstrate that Jagged-1-induced Notch signaling (using immobilized Jagged-1 fusion protein) during stimulation of purified human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells potently inhibits T cell proliferation and effector function, including both Th1- and Th2-associated cytokines. Inhibition of T cell activation is not due to apoptosis or disruption of proximal TCR signaling, but is associated with up-regulation of GRAIL (gene related to anergy in lymphocytes) in CD4+ T cells, with modest effects on other E3 ubiquitin ligases such as c-Cbl and Itch. When evaluated for its effects on CD4+ T cell differentiation, Jagged-1-mediated signaling inhibits T cell cytokine secretion with no significant effect on proliferative responses. Collectively, these data demonstrate that Notch signaling in human T cells induced by Jagged-1 promotes a novel form of T cell hyporesponsiveness that differs from anergy, whereby primary T cell proliferation and cytokine secretion are potently inhibited, and effector function but not proliferative capacity are ameliorated upon secondary stimulation.
Strategic nuclear weapons: A force for the Post‐Cold War World

In this article, it is argued that the U.S. ICBM force has no strategic value and should be dismantled. The article outlines a post‐cold war U.S. strategic nuclear force and proposes how this dyad force fits a strategy rather than offering a strategy to fit within the force. Deterrence theory anchors the analysis here. Second, this article asserts that U.S. security will be enhanced in the next century with Russian‐American cooperation on nuclear issues. Moving to a dyad now is step one in that direction, which in turn changes the perception of U.S. strategic weapons. As weapons proliferate, deterrence against renegade nations and groups must become the cornerstone of U.S. doctrine. A dyad force and Russian‐American cooperation, both steps that restructure U.S. doctrine, will begin a process that deters these nations or groups. This article depicts how each leg of the U.S. triad that remains following the START II treaty is a continuation of START I logic and planning. In other words, the article attempts...
Word association in early Alzheimer's disease

The hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease (AD) degrades semantic representations predicts that AD qualitatively alters spontaneous thoughts. In two experiments contrasting free associations to words with strong (e.g., bride-groom) versus weak (e.g., body-leg) associates participants with AD produced less common responses (e.g., bride-pretty) than normal controls but only for words with strong associations, and only on the first (but not on second or third) association response. Furthermore, all participants produced fewer semantically related responses to words with weak associates. Because strong associations should be retrieved more easily than weak associations these results are problematic for retrieval-based accounts of AD. Instead we propose that AD entails a semantic deficit, and that strong associations involve more semantic processing than weak associations (in all speakers).
The role of rare structural variants in the genetics of autism spectrum disorders

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and restricted interests and behaviors. Despite high estimates of heritability, genetic causes of ASD have long been elusive, due in part to a high degree of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity (Bailey et al., 1995). Recently, important advances have been made in the genetics of ASD with the use of new technologies for the direct detection of copy number variation (CNV) in the human genome. CNV studies have revealed that de novo deletions and duplications, typically less than 1 Mb in size, are strongly associated with ASD, suggesting that spontaneous structural mutations play a more important role in the etiology of disease than was previously recognized. Rare mutations have been identified at many different locations in the genome, and multiple ‘hot spots’ have been identified where identical rearrangements recur with high frequency. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that autism, like mental retardation, is caused by a large number of individually rare mutations. These studies serve as a model for how other emerging technologies for mutation detection (e.g. next generation sequencing platforms) could be used to further elucidate the role of rare sequence changes in ASD.
Engineering Kunitz domain 1 (KD1) of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 to selectively inhibit fibrinolysis: properties of KD1-L17R variant

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) inhibits factor XIa, plasma kallikrein, and factor VIIa/tissue factor; accordingly, it has been proposed for use as an anticoagulant. Full-length TFPI-2 or its isolated first Kunitz domain (KD1) also inhibits plasmin; therefore, it has been proposed for use as an antifibrinolytic agent. However, the anticoagulant properties of TFPI-2 or KD1 would diminish its antifibrinolytic function. In this study, structure-based investigations and analysis of the serine protease profiles revealed that coagulation enzymes prefer a hydrophobic residue at the P2′ position in their substrates/inhibitors, whereas plasmin prefers a positively charged arginine residue at the corresponding position in its substrates/inhibitors. Based upon this observation, we changed the P2′ residue Leu-17 in KD1 to Arg (KD1-L17R) and compared its inhibitory properties with wild-type KD1 (KD1-WT). Both WT and KD1-L17R were expressed in Escherichia coli, folded, and purified to homogeneity. N-terminal sequences and mass spectra confirmed proper expression of KD1-WT and KD1-L17R. Compared with KD1-WT, the KD1-L17R did not inhibit factor XIa, plasma kallikrein, or factor VIIa/tissue factor. Furthermore, KD1-L17R inhibited plasmin with ∼6-fold increased affinity and effectively prevented plasma clot fibrinolysis induced by tissue plasminogen activator. Similarly, in a mouse liver laceration bleeding model, KD1-L17R was ∼8-fold more effective than KD1-WT in preventing blood loss. Importantly, in this bleeding model, KD1-L17R was equally or more effective than aprotinin or tranexamic acid, which have been used as antifibrinolytic agents to prevent blood loss during major surgery/trauma. Furthermore, as compared with aprotinin, renal toxicity was not observed with KD1-L17R.
Use of specific endonuclease cleavage in RNA sequencing

Abstract Nonradioactive RNA fragments may be sequenced by incorporation of (3H)-label into 3'-terminal positions, controlled digestion with specific ribonucleases, and separation according to size of the digestion products on polyethyleneimine- (PEI-) cellulose thin layers. This combination of techniques allows one to measure accurately distances of specific cleavage sites from the labeled terminal positions. The cleavage specificities of RNases T1, U2, and A are utilized to identify the positions of G, A, and pyrimidine residues respectively. C and U may be distinguished by mobility differences on PEI-cellulose thin layers at ph 2.6. The procedure is simple, rapid, and highly sensitive; as little as 0.5 - 1 microgram of a RNA of the size of tRNA will be needed to sequence all fragments in a complete RNase digest.
Resonant and nonresonant multiphoton ionization of helium.

We have investigated the multiphoton ionization of helium at wavelengths between 310 and 330 nm at intensities between 8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{13}$ and 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{14}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and at 630 nm at intensities of 1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{15}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. We characterize the ionization processes from photoelectron energy and angular distributions observed concurrently with photoion spectra. At the shorter wavelengths we find that resonant enhancement via the ac Stark shifted six-photon resonant states (1s3d and 1s3s) is a dominant ionization path as described previously by Perry, Sz\"oke, and Kulander [Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 1058 (1989)] and by Rudolph et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 3241 (1991)]. At intensities above those required for resonant enhancement, and at wavelengths longer than those required for six-photon resonance, we observe that nonresonant seven-photon ionization dominates. This process gives rise to continuous distributions of low-energy electrons with characteristic angular distributions that peak near 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} relative to the laser polarization. At yet higher intensities, above the threshold where the nonresonant seven-photon channel closes, the dominant ionization path occurs via seven-photon resonant states with odd parity. This path gives rise to angular distributions characteristic of intermediate states with f character.
Effect of Interictal Epileptiform Discharges on Nocturnal Plasma Prolactin Concentrations in Epileptic Patients with Complex Partial Seizures

To investigate the effect of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) on plasma prolactin (PRL) level, we studied 18 epileptic patients with complex partial seizures (CPS) who did not experience clinical or subclinical ictal events during all-night monitoring with polygraphic recording and video imaging. The density of IEDs peaked during non-REM stages and was significantly reduced during REM stage. Mean plasma PRL concentrations in epileptic patients, when sampled at 30-min intervals, showed a moderate but significant elevation during non-REM (p less than 0.001) and awake stages (p less than 0.005), but not during REM stage, when compared with 10 nonepileptic control subjects studied in a similar fashion. The data obtained in this physiologically controlled environment indicate that the cumulative effect of IEDs may modify PRL regulatory mechanisms, resulting in a modest elevation of plasma concentrations independent of ictal discharges.
Table-driven implementation of the logarithm function in IEEE floating-point arithmetic

Algorithms and implementation details for the logarithm functions in both single and double precision of IEEE 754 arithmetic are presented here. With a table of moderate size, the implementation need only working- precision arithmetic and are provably accurate to within 0.57 ulp.
Globules and Beads: What Do They Indicate About Small-Diameter Copper Conductors that Have Been Through a Fire?

Many fire investigators believe the presence of a rounded mass of re-solidified copper at the end of a small-diameter copper conductor means the conductor was energized at the time of the fire. While testing performed in the course of fire investigations by others and in this work has demonstrated that beads of re-solidified copper may be present on conductors known to have voltage present at the time of the fire, there may also be globules of re-solidified copper on conductors known not to have been energized. Even if the copper conductor orientation during a fire is considered, the external appearance of these beads and globules on small, 34 AWG conductors has not been found to be a reliable indicator of the cause of formation, often requiring further analysis. In an effort to identify and determine potential differences between beads created by electrical faulting alone and globules created by fire attack, testing was performed in which 34 AWG conductors were exposed to laboratory flames and burning bedding with and without being energized. The resulting beads and globules were then analyzed considering both their external appearances and internal microstructures. The analysis of the internal microstructures considering grain boundaries, voids, damage, and signs of re-melting provided insight concerning the cause of such features on tinned, 34 AWG conductors that can be found at fire scenes. Specifically, in unpowered 34 AWG conductors the copper microstructure variations between globules and the immediately adjacent wires has shown that at least a 432°C temperature differential can be created without electrical faulting in this work. Beads created by electrical faulting alone have been found to have characteristics that distinguish them from globules caused by fire attack in this work as well. The microstructures in beads resemble the heat-affected and fusion zones of a fusion weld, while the proximal unmelted wires do not reach the annealing temperature of copper. This condition creates a sharp line of demarcation between the melted and unmelted conductor surfaces as a result of the localized heat from electrical faulting seen within the beads. This sharp line of demarcation can be used to identify beads as opposed to globules.
The top 10 programming languages Spectrum¿s 2014 ranking [DataFlow]

Working with computational journalist Nick Diakopoulos, IEEE Spectrum has weighted and combined 12 metrics from 10 sources (including IEEE Xplore, Google, and GitHub) to rank the most popular programming languages. If you don?t agree with our weighting, want to see more languages, or are interested in what?s dominant in a specific subsector, such as mobile, go to our online interactive version. There you can adjust the weight of each metric and create your own custom ranking.
The postgenomic shipwright

review of The Delphic Boat: What Genomes Tell Us, by Antoine Danchin, translated by Alison Quayle
Elastic properties of three-dimensional percolation networks with stretching and bond-bending forces

We report the results of the first numerical simulations of elastic properties of three-dimensional percolation networks in which both central and bond-bending forces are present. Using extensive Monte Carlo simulations and finite-size scaling analysis and taking into account corrections to scaling, we find $f\ensuremath{\simeq}3.78$ with an error of about 3%, where $f$ is the critical exponent that characterizes the power-law behavior of the elastic moduli near the percolation threshold ${P}_{c}$. This agrees excellently with the experimental measurements of $f$ for sintered materials and for gels near the gelation point. It also agrees with the relation $f=t+2v$, where $t$ is the critical exponent of the electrical conductivity of the network, and $v$ the correlation-length exponent. Also studied is the ratio of the bulk and shear modulus of the system. As ${P}_{c}$ is approached, this ratio approaches a value close to 4/3.
Finiteness properties of local cohomology modules for regular local rings of mixed characteristic: the unramified case

In this note we partially extend results on the finite-ness properties of local cohomology modules from the case of a regular local ring containing a field to the unramified case of a regular local ring of mixed characteristic.
Pediatric mandibular reconstruction following resection of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A case report

Abstract Purpose Squamous cell carcinoma is a common entity among adult head and neck cancer patients, with many requiring reconstruction post resection. Conversely, this entity is rare among children with major reconstruction even more unique. This case and the concomitant review of literature highlight the intricacies of pediatric facial reconstruction. Methods The case described is of a 6-year-old African-American boy with poor dentition and a painful, 1.5 cm epiphytic lesion on the alveolar ridge of the left mandible. Incisional biopsy and computerized tomography were employed to obtain diagnosis and extent of disease. Surgical resection and reconstruction followed. Results Incisional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. Maxillofacial computerized tomography confirmed the extent of the mandibular lesion. After interdisciplinary discussion and weighing options with the family, a segmental mandibulectomy, neck dissection, and right fibula free flap reconstruction with titanium 2.0 mm metal plate fixation was performed. Re-examination post-operatively showed complete coverage of the defect and the ability to restore excised dentition. Conclusion Squamous cell carcinoma within the pediatric population occurs less often than sarcomas, but may necessitate major reconstruction. Without rigid reconstruction, contracture may result. The current consensus favors microvascular bone reconstruction. However, a lack of consensus exists regarding the timing of dental rehabilitation.
Identification of the nd Δ and Σ states and the 1,3Φ←←X 3Σ−g transition of O2 by resonant multiphoton ionization

Spectra of the 3d Rydberg state region of O2 have been obtained by two‐photon resonant ionization of the ground electronic state. By varying the rotational distribution and radiation polarization, all observed bands were identified and attributed to excitation of Σ, Δ, and Φ states. Earlier assignments were corrected. The Δ and Φ assignments are complete while the Σ assignments are so far incomplete.
Comparative Analysis on the Stability of Feature Selection Techniques Using Three Frameworks on Biological Datasets

Feature (gene) selection is a common preprocessing technique used to counter the problem of high dimensionality(too many independent features) found in many bioinformaticsdatasets, addressing this problem by creating a smaller feature subset including only the most important features. Although feature selection techniques are often evaluated based on how they can help improve classification performance, it is also important to find stable feature selection techniques which will give consistent results even in the face of dataset perturbations(such as class noise or sampling used to alleviate the problem of imbalanced data). This is especially important in bioinformatics, where the prime concern may be gene discovery rather than classification. In this study we use three frameworks to evaluate the stability of gene selection techniques: "sampledcleanvs. sampled-clean, " "sampled-noisy vs. sampled-noisy, " and" sampled-clean vs. sampled-noisy." All frameworks involve pairwisecomparisons among the results from the perturbed datasets(due to sampling or class noise injection followed by sampling). They differ in terms of whether they observe how sampling can create variation within the feature subsets (sampled-clean vs. sampled-clean), how noisy datasets (which were then sampled)can create a wide spread of selected features (sampled-noisyvs. sampled-noisy), or how features selected on clean and noisy datasets differ, after both datasets have been sampled (sampledcleanvs. sampled-noisy). Along with these three frameworks, our comparison of seven feature ranking techniques uses four cancer gene datasets, applies three sampling techniques, and generates artificial class noise to better simulate real-world datasets. The results from the frameworks are generally similar, with Signal-To-Noise and ReliefF showing the best stability and Gain Ratio showing the worst across all three frameworks, although Relief-W is notable for showing moderate to above-average stability when the clean datasets are used, but giving the second worst performance when noise was present.
Selective oxidation of methane over Vycor glass, quartz glass and various silica, magnesia and alumina surfaces

The reaction between methane and oxygen was investigated in empty Vycor glass and quartz tubes and over various silica compounds in powder form. In the temperature range of 893-993 K and with methane-to-oxygen ratios close to unity, formaldehyde, ethane and ethene were produced with a combined 53-96% selectivity over Vycor glass reactor surfaces. Quartz reactor surfaces were less active, but gave the same products. Silica compounds in powder form such as Cab-0-Sil, Ludox gels and silicic acid were investigated at temperatures lower than 893 K where the blank activity of the quartz reactor became negligible. These silica compounds followed similar trends of activity as the Vycor or quartz reactor tubes, although at much lower temperatures. High oxygen-to-methane ratios improved the rates of overall methane reaction and C, formation. Short residence times enhanced the formaldehyde over the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide selectivity. The reaction rates increased with pressure. However, in contrast to the results on empty reactor surfaces, no ethane was produced over the silica compounds, the ethene yields were lower, and the carbon dioxide production was higher. While the apparent activation energies for the overall methane reaction and for the production of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethene and ethane were dependent on the nature of the catalytic surface, the apparent activation energy for the formaldehyde formation appeared to be independent of the catalyst and remained constant at about 130 kJ/mol. This might imply that formaldehyde is generated in the gas phase and that carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide can be formed in secondary reactions of formaldehyde involving surface interactions. The effect of the acid/base character of the catalyst was explored by comparing the activities of the silica compounds with those of MgO and y-A&O,. MgO and ?-Al,O,, were more active than the silicas, but produced only carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
Review of induced molting by feed removal and contamination of eggs with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis

As laying hens age, egg production and quality decreases. Egg producers can impose an induced molt on older hens that results in increased egg productivity and decreased hen mortality compared with non-molted hens of the same age. This review discusses the effect of induced molting by feed removal on immune parameters, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) invasion and subsequent production of SE-contaminated eggs. Experimental oral infections with SE show molted hens are more susceptible to SE infection and produce more SE-contaminated eggs in the first few weeks post-molt compared with pre-molt egg production. In addition, it appears that molted hens are more likely to disseminate SE into their environment. Molted hens are more susceptible to SE infection by contact exposure to experimentally infected hens; thus, transmission of SE among molted hens could be more rapid than non-molted birds. Histological examination of the gastrointestinal tracts of molted SE-infected hens revealed more frequent and severe intestinal mucosal lesions compared with non-molted SE-infected hens. These data suggest that induced molting by feed deprivation alters the normal asymptomatic host-pathogen relationship. Published data suggest the highest proportion of SE-positive eggs is produced within 1-5 weeks post-molt and decreases sharply by 6-10 weeks and dissipates to the background level for non-molted hens by 11-20 weeks. Appropriate treatment measures of eggs produced in the fist 5 weeks post-molting may decrease the risk of foodborne infections to humans.
Accumulation of Long-Chain Glycosphingolipids during Aging Is Prevented by Caloric Restriction

Background: Chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease are major causes of morbidity and mortality that are seen far more commonly in the aged population. Interestingly, kidney function declines during aging even in the absence of underlying renal disease. Declining renal function has been associated with age-related cellular damage and dysfunction with reports of increased levels of apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammation in the aged kidney. Bioactive sphingolipids have been shown to regulate these same cellular processes, and have also been suggested to play a role in aging and cellular senescence. Methodology/Principal Findings: We hypothesized that alterations in kidney sphingolipids play a role in the declining kidney function that occurs during aging. To begin to address this, the sphingolipid profile was measured in young (3 mo), middle aged (9 mo) and old (17 mo) C57BL/6 male mice. Interestingly, while modest changes in ceramides and sphingoid bases were evident in kidneys from older mice, the most dramatic elevations were seen in long-chain hexosylceramides (HexCer) and lactosylceramides (LacCer), with C14- and C16-lactosylceramides elevated as much as 8 and 12-fold, respectively. Increases in long-chain LacCers during aging are not exclusive to the kidney, as they also occur in the liver and brain. Importantly, caloric restriction, previously shown to prevent the declining kidney function seen in aging, inhibits accumulation of long-chain HexCer/LacCers and prevents the age-associated elevation of enzymes involved in their synthesis. Additionally, long-chain LacCers are also significantly elevated in human fibroblasts isolated from elderly individuals. Conclusion/Significance: This study demonstrates accumulation of the glycosphingolipids HexCer and LacCer in several different organs in rodents and humans during aging. In addition, data demonstrate that HexCer and LacCer metabolism is regulated by caloric restriction. Taken together, data suggest that HexCer/LacCers are important mediators of cellular processes fundamental to mammalian aging.
Evolution of Io's volatile inventory

Voyager data are used to make crude estimates of the rate at which Io loses volatiles, by a variety of processes, to the surrounding magnetosphere, for the case of both the current, SO2-dominated atmosphere and hypothetical paleoatmospheres in which such other gases as N2 may have been the dominant constituent. Among the mechanisms making significant contributions to the prodigious rate at which Io is losing volatiles are: the interaction of the magnetospheric plasma with volcanic plume particles and the background atmosphere; the sputtering of ices on the surface, if the nightside atmospheric pressure is low enough; and Jeans' escape of O as a dissociation product of SO2 gas. It is also argued that in the case of paleoatmospheres only the first two alternatives would have been possible and, nevertheless, insufficient to account for N2 loss over the life of the satellite.
Injected mRNA does not increase protein synthesis in unfertilized, fertilized, or ammonia-activated sea urchin eggs

We have investigated whether the rate of protein synthesis in unfertilized and fertilization-activated sea urchin eggs is limited by the availability of mRNA by injecting eggs, zygotes, and ammonia-activated eggs with globin mRNA. Message-injected and buffer-injected cells were labeled with radioactive amino acids and the proteins separated on a polyacrylamide gel. The relative amounts of newly synthesized globin and endogenous proteins were obtained by scanning the gel fluorograph. Globin mRNA is translated poorly in Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis eggs and does not significantly increase or decrease endogenous protein synthesis. In zygotes and ammonia-activated eggs, however, globin mRNA is translated well and appears to compete with endogenous mRNAs for the limiting component of the translational machinery as it is released. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that either ribosomes or recruitment factors are gradually activated after fertilization or ammonia treatment, that such components are the rate-limiting factor, and that they impart the typical sigmoidal increase in protein synthesis rate observed in fertilized eggs before the first cleavage.
Lithium enolates of simple ketones: structure determination using the method of continuous variation.

The method of continuous variation in conjunction with 6Li NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize lithium enolates derived from 1-indanone, cyclohexanone, and cyclopentanone in solution. The strategy relies on forming ensembles of homo- and heteroaggregated enolates. The enolates form exclusively chelated dimers in N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylethylenediamine and cubic tetramers in tetrahydrofuran and 1,2-dimethoxyethane.
Molecular dynamics prediction of the mechanism of ester hydrolysis in water.

Hydrolysis reactions of the basic units of biological polymers with water, or the reverse reaction, the formation of ester, amide, ketal, or phosphate bonds, occur with very high activation barriers in the gas phase but occur much more rapidly in pure water. Car−Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations reported here show that the rate of hydrolysis of methyl formate in pure water is consistent with mechanisms involving cooperative catalysis by autoionization-generated hydroxide and hydronium, a process known to have an activation free energy of 23.8 kcal/mol. In this mechanism, autoionization is followed by rapid simultaneous acid−base catalysis.
Guest column: testing linear properties: some general theme

The last two decades have seen enormous progress in the development of sublinear-time algorithms -- i.e., algorithms that examine/reveal properties of "data" in less time than it would take to read all of the data. A large, and important, subclass of such properties turn out to be "linear". In particular, these developments have contributed to the rich theory of probabilistically checkable proofs (PCPs) and locally testable codes (LTCs). In this survey, we focus on some of the general technical themes at work behind the many results in this area.
Singular value decomposition for novelty detection in ultrasonic pipe monitoring

Guided wave ultrasonics is an attractive technique for structural health monitoring, especially on pressurized pipes. However, civil infrastructure components, including pipes, are often subject to large environmental and operational variations that prevent traditional baseline subtraction-based approaches from detecting damage. We collect ultrasonic data on a large-scale pipe segment in its normal operating conditions and observe large environmental variations. We developed a damage detection method based on singular value decomposition (SVD) that is robust to those benign variations. We further develop an online novelty detection framework based on our SVD method to detect the presence of a mass scatterer on the pipe at the same time that we collect the data. We examine the framework with both synthetic simulations and field experimental data. The results show that the framework can effectively detect the presence of a scatterer and is robust to large environmental and operational variations.
Role Played by the Glutamate 71 and Aspartate 80 Carboxyl-Carboxylate Interaction in KCSA C-Type Inactivation Gating

In KcsA, C-type inactivation gating encompasses structural changes at the channel's selectivity filter (SF), which involve collapse of the channel and loss of two K+ ions in consecutive positions. It was proposed that the strength and/or the inter-atomic distance of the carboxyl-carboxylate (COOH-COO) interaction between D80 and E71 is the driving force behind KcsA C-type inactivation gating, a conclusion largely based on computational and functional analysis of a mutagenesis perturbation study at position 71. However, we propose an alternative molecular explanation based on the high-resolution structure of KcsA's open and C-type inactivated state (unpublished data), in which a network of water molecules, "inactivating waters", stabilizes the SF in the collapsed conformation. Based on this observation, we propose that KcsA's E71 provides the right dielectric environment for the "inactivating waters" to be hydrogen-bonded between them and to hold KcsA's SF in the collapsed conformation. In order to validate our model, we investigated the functional and structural consequences of perturbing the COOH-COO interaction by introducing an alanine or the isosteric asparagine at position 80. We expressed, purified and functionally evaluated these mutants and despite the disrupted COOH-COO interaction, both mutants displayed a strong C-type inactivating phenotype. Additionally, we solved the X-ray structure of the D80N mutant in the closed state, showing that the structure displayed a novel inter-subunit interaction between N80 and the Y82 residue from a neighboring subunit. This result demonstrates that the COOH-COO interaction is not the driving force for C-type inactivation gating of KcsA, since in its absence the channel still displayed strong inactivation. We are actively pursuing the X-ray structure of the D80A mutant in the closed state.Funding: NIH 1R01GM097159-01A1; Welch Foundation BI-1757.
Bible Knowledge and Moral Judgment: Knowing Scripture and Using Ethical Reasoning

The relationship between moral judgment and religious knowledge was investigated, with an analysis of the impact of academic skill on both domains. Fifty-six Bible college seniors completed measures of moral judgment (Defining Issues Test), Bible knowledge (Standardized Bible Content Test), and academic skill (Academic Profile). Results indicate that the three measures were significantly correlated in a positive direction. Bible knowledge was positively related with the most sophisticated level of Kohlberg's moral reasoning and negatively correlated with preconventional morality. These relationships could not be simply explained by the level of cognitive ability. Discussion follows on the potential causal directions and implications for Bible knowledge and sophisticated moral judgments being related.
Talking Across Boundaries: A Case Study of Distributed Governance

We explore the relation between organizational culture and governance in distributed nonprofit organizations. The transmission of culture across geographic distances facilitates governance in nonprofit distributed organizations, allowing distributed members to span the boundary of the organization to accomplish organizational objectives. We suggest that boundary-spanning is a key aspect of governance in distributed nonprofit organizations. While much of the governance literature focuses on the boundary-spanning activities of nonprofit boards, we describe boundary-spanning as an activity engaged in by distributed organizational members of nonprofit organizations. Distributed workers negotiate multiple relationships at the edge of their organization, what we call talking across boundaries. We present an in-depth case study that illustrates successful governance in a distributed nonprofit organization. We identify the elements of organizational culture that contribute to governance processes and facilitate the achievement of organizational objectives.
Dry powder aerosol generation in different environments: Performance comparisons of albuterol, albuterol sulfate, albuterol adipate and albuterol stearate

Abstract Aerosols formed by three salts and the free base of albuterol were compared following their formation from similarly micronized crystalline powders held in a model dry powder inhaler (DPI) under varying environmental conditions. Aqueous solubility at 22°C was the greatest for albuterol adipate diethanolate (353 mg/ml), followed by albuterol sulfate (250 mg/ml), albuterol free base (15.7 mg/ml) and albuterol stearate (0.6 mg/ml). Temperature and relative humidity (RH) of the air drawn through the inhaler was systematically varied in the range 20–45°C and 30–95% RH. Several inhaler performance outcomes were compared statistically between physical forms and across the applied environmental conditions. Significant differences (P 0.05) although only albuterol adipate diethanolate and albuterol sulfate were insensitive at 94% RH and 45°C. At 20°C and 50% RH, the fine particle percent of the emitted doses [mean (experimental range)] were 77.7 (7.3)%, 63.6 (4.2)%, 9.0 (1.8)% and 55.7 (3.4)% for the free base, sulfate, adipate diethanolate and stearate salts of albuterol, respectively. Fine particle doses and percents of albuterol and albuterol sulfate decreased progressively with increasing relative humidity and temperature while albuterol adipate diethanolate and albuterol stearate aerosol performance remained largely unaffected; these latter salts showed changes in fine particle percents only at 45°C and 95% RH although the adipate diethanolate deaggregated very poorly under all conditions. Overall, albuterol stearate, the most hydrophobic salt, emptied and aerosolized best from the inhaler and showed least sensitivity to temperature and humidity. Neither solubility nor moisture sorption correlated directly with inhaler performance in high humidity environments, showing that the multiplicity of factors controlling the quality of the emitted aerosol from DPIs prevents straightforward prediction of optimal physical forms and mandates their experimental review. Nevertheless, salt selection is an important area to screen as new compounds are developed for inhalation and DPI device performance continues to improve.
Learning Styles in Assessment of Students

This study investigated the viability of including the Learning Styles Inventory and an aptitude and interest test in assessment, to predict group learning style. Analysis gave a 40 4% ht rate, 15.4% above the base rate of 25%. Academic major, accommodating interest, science interest, and numerical aptitude significantly contributed to classification. The sample included 147 community college students enrolled in social science courses. Inferences drawn from the data suggest that including a learning styles inventory as part of a preassessment package for entering students can provide valuable information for students in making choices of academic goals and careers.
Ultrasonic absorption and permeability for liposomes near phase transition.

Abstract The specific ultrasonic absorption coefficient per wavelength as a function of temperature in the vicinity of the phase transition of liposomes, composed of a 4:1 mixture of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), of different sizes was determined using an acoustic interferometer. Small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) and multilamellar vesicles (MLV) yielded results similar to those in the literature, viz., an absorption maximum at the transition temperature. Seven intermediate sizes including several size distributions of large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) were studied, yielding information on size dependencies of the temperatures at which the peaks occur, the widths at half peak amplitude, and the peak amplitudes. All liposome sizes except the SUV exhibited approximately the same transition temperature as did the largest MLV. The widths of the peaks were inversely related to liposome size, with a strong dependence for the smallest vesicles and an approach to independence for the largest vesicles. The amplitudes of the peaks exhibited a general increase with size with two exceptions, viz., the SUV and the vesicles with average diameters of 90–100 nm. It was also found that the membrane permeability increased near the transition temperature. The temperature dependencies of ultrasonic absorption and membrane permeability are compared.
Trends in incidence of subtrochanteric fragility fractures and bisphosphonate use among the US elderly, 1996-2007.

Increasing numbers of atypical hip fractures have been reported among patients with bisphosphonate use. However, the nature and extent of the problem are unknown despite recent investigations. To analyze national trends in hip fractures and medication use in the elderly US population, we respectively used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) from 1996 to 2007. In NIS, subtrochanteric fragility fractures were compared with typical hip fractures in femoral neck and intertrochanteric regions. Between 1996 and 2007, age-adjusted rates for typical hip fractures decreased by 31.6% among women (from 1020.5 to 697.4 per 100,000 population) and 20.5% among men (from 424.9 to 337.6 per 100,000 population). In contrast, overall trends in age-adjusted rates for subtrochanteric fragility fractures remained unchanged among men (p = .34) but increased 20.4% among women from 28.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 27.7–29.1) in 1999 to 34.2 (95% CI 33.4–34.9) per 100,000 population in 2007. The annual percentage increase was 2.1% (95% CI 1.3–2.8, p < .001) based on joinpoint regression analysis. In MEPS, bisphosphonate use increased predominantly in women (from 3.5% in 1996 to 16.6% in 2007) compared with men (2.3% in 2007). In the context of declining typical hip fractures among the US elderly, we observed small but significant increases in the incidence of subtrochanteric fragility fractures from 1999 among postmenopausal women. Using age-adjusted rates, we estimated that for every 100 or so reduction in typical femoral neck or intertrochanteric fractures, there was an increase of one subtrochanteric fragility fracture. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
A new approach to the numerical fatigue‐life prediction of spot‐welded structures

From the numerical evaluation of the experimental data for the double-cup specimens (DC specimens) under cross-tension, a new and simple fatigue parameter is derived which is based on the nominal radial stress at the tip of the spot weld and the thickness of the sheets. The new parameter is especially suitable for use in the context of a FE calculation. The relation of the proposed fatigue parameter to the stress intensity factor is shown by a simple example. The results show that, instead of the nominal stress, the notch effect (or the singularity due to a spot weld) has to be considered in order to characterize the fatigue behaviour of the weld. This is supported by the evaluation of the same test data using notch stresses. A FE model for the spot weld is presented which can be used to determine the nominal stress around a spot weld. Using this model, the experimental results for H-type specimens under tensile-shear can be evaluated subsequently, and hence the viability of the new parameter demonstrated.
Basic classes and embedded spheres

Abstract For a given smooth four-manifold we study the relation between the simple type condition for Donaldson invariants and the intersections of basic classes with smoothly embedded spheres with self-intersection −2 and −3. Studying the structure of Donaldson invariants imposed by the existence of embedded spheres we also recover one criterion for a manifold being of simple type (previously proven by Kronheimer and Mrowka using singular connections).
Time-resolved FTIR spectroscopic study of the evolution of helical structure during isothermal crystallization of propylene 1-hexene copolymers. Identification of regularity bands associated with the trigonal polymorph

Abstract Two different types of regularity bands are identified in a real time FTIR crystallization of a series of random propylene 1-hexene copolymers. The first is akin to the bands observed in the homopolymer, those associated with 3 1 helices of isotactic sequences of different n length ( n , number of monomer units). The second type corresponds to vibrational coupling of short sequences of the chain that include the 1-hexene comonomer. Among the latter are absorbances at 910 and 1025 cm −1 which are markers for the formation of a trigonal phase in these copolymers. They remain unchanged prior to and during crystallization in copolymers with the 1-hexene units rejected from the crystallites ( 13 mol% 1-hexene). Analysis of the real time evolution of IR regularity bands during isothermal crystallization of these copolymers confirms the beginning of crystallization at a critical helical sequence length ( n ∗) of ∼12 isotactic units (841 cm −1 ), and enables details of the early and final stages of crystallization. In the homopolymer and copolymers, the intensity of regularity bands with n ≤ 10 is constant in the initial undercooled melt, and increases simultaneously with the appearance of helices with n ≥12, in support of a classical crystallization mechanism of nucleation and growth. Due to density fluctuations in the initial melt, the short helices eventually collapse in aggregates or precursors that spontaneously (within the experimental macroscopic time frame) extend to stable nuclei ( n ≥ 10). Stable nuclei further extend and grow cooperatively dragging additional short sequences as inferred by the simultaneous temporal evolution of helices with n = 10 and greater. The intensity of the 998 cm −1 ( n = 10) band prior to nucleation, correlates directly with the isotactic sequence length of the copolymer and is independent of the final structure that evolves, either monoclinic or trigonal. This feature infers a nucleation event driven preferentially by the initial steady-state content of short helices in iPP and iPP-based copolymers. The temporal evolution of the 841 cm −1 band is an excellent avenue to study the crystallization kinetics of copolymers, including those with very low crystallinities. Via FTIR, the mechanism of the formation of mesomorphic crystallites in copolymers with ∼10 mol% 1-hexene at low temperatures is contrasted with the formation of alpha crystallites at higher temperatures in the nucleation driven range. The intensity of the 841 cm −1 band ( n = 12) at the end of the transformation correlates linearly with the degree of crystallinity obtained by WAXD.
Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging.

A review of the first five years of experience with pediatric abdominal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR) is presented. The abdomen is examined organ by organ with description of normal anatomy and pathological processes. Practical clinical uses of MR are indicated. There is a brief review of motion artifact supression techniques.
Enhancement of the acrosome reaction of hamster spermatozoa by the proteolytic enzymes, kallikrein, trypsin, and chymotrypsin

The involvement of a kallikrein−kinin system in the motility of mammalian spermatozoa has been suggested by several investigators. We found that incorporation of kallikrein (0.1–1.0) unit/ml) in the sperm incubation medium did not enhance the motility of hamster spermatozoa that were already active. However, this enzyme significantly increased the incidence of the acrosome reaction. Trypsin (1.8–18 units/ml) and chymotrypsin (0.34–3.4 units/ml) also increased the incidence of the acrosome reaction, and accelerated its onset. Kinins (bradykinin and kallidin) added to the medium in a wide concentration range (1 ng/ml to 1 mg/ml) had no marked effects on either the motility or the acrosome reaction. A kallikrein−kinin system is apparently not of primary importance at least for the acrosome reaction. The enhancement of the acrosome reaction by exogenous proteinases may be due in part to accelerated removal or alteration of the sperm surface coat (glycoprotein) by the enzyme peior to the acrosome reaction. Exogenous proteinases may also act synergistically with endogenous (acrosomal) proteinases (and other enzymes) in altering membrane proteins and dispersing the acrosome matrix during the course of teh acrosome reaction.
Consumption of wheat seed reserves during germination and early growth as affected by soil water potential

Seed size and weight are important criteria for determining seedling vigour and stand establishment. Evolution of seed dry weight of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during germination and early growth was examined because poor stands are often associated with the depletion and exhaustion of seed reserves. Two laboratory experiments were conducted on filter paper and in soil at three water potentials using wheat seeds. Seed, root, and shoot dry weights were recorded at approximately one-day intervals. Coleoptile and first leaf lengths were also measured at all sampling periods. Wheat seedlings grown on filter paper in the dark grew to a length of 90 to 100 mm with 50% of the initial seed weight remaining after eight days when the experiment was terminated. In soil, wheat seedlings grew 15 mm with 25% of the initial seed weight remaining. Seed reserves were depleted more quickly when the soil was wet because seedlings grew more quickly. There were significant and similar negative relationships between seed weight and coleoptile length of wheat seedlings grown on filter paper and in soil. There was no effect of soil water potential on the relationship between seed weight and shoot length. Therefore, it was concluded that poor wheat stands are not likely to occur due to depletion of seed reserves under field conditions without mechanical obstacles.