cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nucleobase-Directed Amyloid Nanotube Assembly

Cytosine nucleobases were successfully incorporated into the side chain of the self-assembling amyloid peptide fragment HHQALVFFA to give ccAQLVFFA. At a pH range of 3−4, where cytosine is expected to be partially protonated, small-angle X-ray scattering analyses revealed the nucleobase peptide assembles to be well-defined nanotubes with an outer diameter of 24.8 nm and wall thicknesses of 3.3 nm. FT-IR and X-ray diffraction confirmed β-sheet-rich assembly with the characteristic cross-β architecture of amyloid. The β-sheet registry, determined by measuring 13CO−13CO backbone distances with solid-state NMR and linear dichroism, placed the cytosine bases roughly perpendicular to the nanotube axis, resulting in a model where the complementary interactions between the cytosine bases increases β-sheet stacking to give the nanotube architecture. These scaffolds then extend the templates used to encode biological information beyond the nucleic acid duplexes and into covalent networks whose self-assembly is stil...
Appearance of ferroelectricity in thin SxSe1-x crystalline films

Abstract Appearance of ferroelectricity has been predicted in the SxSe1-x (x=0.08-0.18) single crystalline films (thickness below 5 nm) using quantum chemical and molecular dynamics simulations. Direct measurements of the spontaneous polarization show appearance of the ferroelectricity for the film thickness below 5 nm with sulfur content × = 0.10-0.30. Inelastic neutron scattering and Raman measurements confirms substantial role of electron-phonon anharmonicity in the observed ferroelectric phase transition
Aryne Acyl-Alkylation in the General and Convergent Synthesis of Benzannulated Macrolactone Natural Products: An Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)-Curvularin

A general approach for the synthesis of benzannulated macrolactone natural products utilizing an aryne acyl-alkylation reaction is described. Toward this end, the total syntheses of the natural products (−)-curvularin, curvulin, and (−)-diplodialide C are reported. Furthermore, the aryne insertion technology has enabled the rapid conversion of simple diplodialide natural products to curvularin, thereby connecting these two biosynthetically distinct classes of compounds via synthetic methods.
Risk of fractures in older adults using antihypertensive medications

Many medications used to control blood pressure have been associated with bone metabolism. In addition, hypertension itself may be associated with reduced bone mineral density. We examined the relative risk of fracture among subjects with hypertension initiating single-drug therapy for antihypertension treatment. We assembled a large cohort of Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis of hypertension who had not filled a prescription for an antihypertensive medication in the prior 365 days. All subsequently began treatment with a single antihypertensive drug. These subjects were followed forward using health care utilization data to determine the risk of a typical osteoporotic fracture. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were constructed to assess the relative risk of fracture across types of antihypertensive medications. We identified 376,061 eligible subjects. Fracture rate in the total cohort was 35.2 per 1000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 34.4-36.1]. Rates varied significantly across type of antihypertensive, with thiazide diuretics having the lowest rate (28.5, 95% CI 25.4-31.9) and loop diuretics the highest rate (49.0, 95% CI 46.1-52.1). In models adjusting for relevant comorbidities and comedications accessible in health care utilization data, the risk of fracture was reduced in users of angiotensin receptor blockers [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.76, 95% CI 0.68-0.86) and thiazide diuretics (HR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.76-0.97) compared with calcium channel blockers. The adjusted fracture risk was not significantly different from the reference for loop diuretics, beta blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It is concluded that the risk of fracture differs across users of different antihypertensive medications.
The Drosophila fsh locus, a maternal effect homeotic gene, encodes apparent membrane proteins

The maternal effect gene fsh is involved in the establishment of segments and the specification of their identities; the progeny of mutant females are missing portions of thoracic and abdominal segments, and may have homeotic transformations of third thoracic segments to second thoracic segments. The fsh locus interacts synergistically with loci such as Ubx and trx in the production of homeotic transformations. We have characterized cDNA clones corresponding to the major fsh transcripts expressed in ovaries and early embryos, and to a pupal transcript. The expression of fsh transcripts in ovaries is restricted to the germline; in developing embryos, transcripts are found throughout the cytoplasm. The different ovarian/embryonic transcripts (7.6 and 5.9 kb) are generated by use of alterantive polyadenylation and splice sites. These transcripts encode two large predicted proteins of 110 and 205 kDa that have unusual amino acid compositions: 40% of the residues are glycine, alanine, or serine, and there are several regions of homopolymers and simple sequence repeats. Hydropathy analysis indicates that these proteins span the membrane. We suggest that the expression of fsh proteins in the membrane of the embryo is required for proper functioning of genes such as Ubx in the specification of segmental identity.
Formulation of polylactide-co-glycolic acid nanospheres for encapsulation and sustained release of poly(ethylene imine)-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers complexed to oligonucleotides

Antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) have been shown to induce dystrophin expression in muscles cells of patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and in the mdx mouse, the murine model of DMD. However, ineffective delivery of AOs limits their therapeutic potential. Copolymers of cationic poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and non-ionic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) form stable nanoparticles when complexed with AOs, but the positive surface charge on the resultant PEG-PEI-AO nanoparticles limits their biodistribution. We adapted a modified double emulsion procedure for encapsulating PEG-PEI-AO polyplexes into degradable polylactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanospheres. Formulation parameters were varied including PLGA molecular weight, ester end-capping, and sonication energy/volume. Our results showed successful encapsulation of PEG-PEI-AO within PLGA nanospheres with average diameters ranging from 215 to 240 nm. Encapsulation efficiency ranged from 60 to 100%, and zeta potential measurements confirmed shielding of the PEG-PEI-AO cationic charge. Kinetic measurements of 17 kDa PLGA showed a rapid burst release of about 20% of the PEG-PEI-AO, followed by sustained release of up to 65% over three weeks. To evaluate functionality, PEG-PEI-AO polyplexes were loaded into PLGA nanospheres using an AO that is known to induce dystrophin expression in dystrophic mdx mice. Intramuscular injections of this compound into mdx mice resulted in over 300 dystrophin-positive muscle fibers distributed throughout the muscle cross-sections, approximately 3.4 times greater than for injections of AO alone. We conclude that PLGA nanospheres are effective compounds for the sustained release of PEG-PEI-AO polyplexes in skeletal muscle and concomitant expression of dystrophin, and may have translational potential in treating DMD.
Executive veto, legislative override, and structure-induced equilibrium*

In this study the structure-induced equilibrium approach for modeling democratic institutions is extended to allow for the added structural features of executive veto and legislative override. A multidimensional model is presented for a budgetary process involving three actors — a legislature, an appropriations committee, and an executive. In order to focus attention on the role of the veto and override possibilities, simplifying assumptions are made with regard to other aspects of the agenda formation process. In particular, the committee has monopoly agenda power, a closed amendment control rule is operative, and perfect-foresight expectations are held by the committee and the executive. Given these assumptions, utility maximization by the several actors generates a budget outcome characterized as a structure-induced equilibrium. The general model is illustrated geometrically with a two-dimensional example, permitting budget outcomes to be analyzed for various combinations of veto rules and override provisions. The analysis demonstrates that budget outcomes are sensitive to alternative specifications of veto rules and override provisions. In the illustration, executive veto power is shown to vary directly with both the permissiveness of the veto rule and the stringency of the override provision. Similar relationships, however, are not found to exist for total budget expenditures.
Permeability of spatially correlated porous media

Abstract Lattice Boltzmann algorithm is an increasingly popular method of modeling fluid flow in complex media because of its ability to simulate the Navier–Stokes equation in a parallel mode and to handle complicated geometry. In this paper, a lattice Boltzmann method is used to simulate 3D fluid flow in correlated porous media. The fluid pressure at the inlet and the outlet of the flow domain is specified by spatial extrapolation of particle populations. The effect of porosity and spatial correlation on the permeability of 3D porous media is studied. The hydraulic radius of an exponentially correlated porous medium can be estimated from its porosity and correlation length. Carman–Kozeny equation is used to estimate the permeability with the Kozeny constant expressed as a function of the correlation length. A predictive model for the permeability of a porous structure has been developed from this analysis. A general porous media can be modeled as a superposition of several exponentially correlated porous media and its permeability can be estimated from this model by using a linear combination of the correlation lengths of the superimposing media.
Measuring Thermal and Thermoelectric Properties of One-Dimensional Nanostructures Using a Microfabricated Device

We have batch-fabricated a microdevice consisting of two adjacent symmetric silicon nitride membranes suspended by long silicon nitride beams for measuring thermophysical properties of one-dimensional manostructures (nanotubes, nanowires, and mmobelts) bridging the two membranes. A platinum resistance heater/thermometer is fabricated on each membrane. One membrane can be Joule heated to cause heat conduction through the sample to the other membrane. Thermal conductance, electrical conductance, and Seebeck coefficient can be measured using this microdevice in the temperature range of 4-400 K of an evacuated Helium cryostat. Measurement sensitivity, errors, and uncertainty are discussed. Measurement results of a 148 nm and a 10 nm-diameter single wall carbon nanotube bundle are presented.
A computer model to study norepinephrine-induced oscillations of contraction in tail arteries of spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats

The purpose of this study is to develop a computer model of oscillatory contractions in isolated arteries from the tails of spontaneously hypertensive, stroke-prone rats (SHRSP). The computer simulation incorporates biologic data from experiments and mathematic expressions derived from an electric circuit model of the biologic system. The model characterizes the cellular mechanisms which have been proposed to be responsible for the oscillatory activity. Results indicate the ability of the model to provide results which closely match experimentally obtained data.
A fuse for magnetic resonance imaging probes

In a research environment, a magnetic resonance imaging system's manufacturer-supplied protection against excessive rf power deposition in the sample is often compromised. This paper presents a widely applicable scheme, based on a commonly available fuse, that simply and effectively limits the average rf power into a magnetic resonance imaging probe. © 1989 Academic Press, Inc.
Coastal groundwater dynamics off Santa Barbara, California: combining geochemical tracers, electromagnetic seepmeters, and electrical resistivity

This paper presents repeat field measurements of 222 Rn and 223,224,226,228 Ra, electromagnetic seepage meter-derived advective fluxes, and multi-electrode, stationary and continuous marine resistivity surveys collected between November 2005 and April 2007 to study coastal groundwater dynamics within a marine beach in Santa Barbara, California. The study provides insight into magnitude and dynamics of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and associated nutrient loadings into near-shore coastal waters, where the predominant SGD drivers can be both spatially and temporally separated. Rn-222 and 223,224,226,228 Ra were utilized to quantify the total and saline contribution, respectively, of SGD. The two short-lived 224,223 Ra isotopes provided an estimate of apparent near-shore water mass age, as well as an estimate of the Ra-derived eddy diffusion coefficient, Kh ( 224 Ra ¼ 2.86 � 0.7 m 2 s �1 ; 223 Ra ¼ 1.32 � 0.5 m 2 s �1 ). Because 222 Rn (t ½ ¼ 3.8 day) and 224 Ra (t
Cocktail Volume Effects in 4πβ Liquid Scintillation Spectrometry with 3H-Standard Efficiency Tracing for Low-Energy β-Emitting Radionuclides

Abstract The effect of total liquid scintillation (LS) cocktail volume (or mass) in the 4πβ LS spectrometry of β-emitting radionuclides has been investigated. The magnitude of such possible volume effects on the apparent activity of low-energy β-emitting radionuclides, as determined by the CIEMAT/NIST 3H-standard efficiency tracing method, as well as any systematic trends in the relative detection efficiencies of low-ebergy β-emitters were studied. The radionuclides chosen for the study, 63Ni and 36Cl, were traced against 3H. Detection efficiency losses, as a function of total LS cocktail volume, were found to be energy-dependent. Because of the low Eβmax for the decay of 3H and 63Ni, systematic losses in efficiency with increasing cocktail mass, as well as at extremely low (
Parallel quasi-Newton methods for unconstrained optimization

We discuss methods for solving the unconstrained optimization problem on parallel computers, when the number of variables is sufficiently small that quasi-Newton methods can be used. We concentrate mainly, but not exclusively, on problems where function evaluation is expensive. First we discuss ways to parallelize both the function evaluation costs and the linear algebra calculations in the standard sequential secant method, the BFGS method. Then we discuss new methods that are appropriate when there are enough processors to evaluate the function, gradient, and part but not all of the Hessian at each iteration. We develop new algorithms that utilize this information and analyze their convergence properties. We present computational experiments showing that they are superior to parallelization either the BFGS methods or Newton's method under our assumptions on the number of processors and cost of function evaluation. Finally we discuss ways to effectively utilize the gradient values at unsuccessful trial points that are available in our parallel methods and also in some sequential software packages.
Indeterminate growth and ramification of the climbing leaves of Lygodium japonicum (Schizaeaceae)

Morphological and anatomical specializations of the climbing leaves (CL) of Lygodium japonicum were investigated. Examination of growth relationships between the rachis and pinnae of the circumnutating CL revealed a close relationship to the "searcher" morphology of twining shoots. The CL has resting pinna apices (leafbuds) capable of replacing a damaged leaf apex or ramifying the foliar axis. Their structure and growth is similar to the main leaf apex. CL growth is indeterminate and occurs at a steady rate. Crozier uncoiling and rachis elongation occurs by a mechanism of unequal rates of cell division and elongation. The adaptations of the CL are interpreted as specializations within the basic principles of fern leaf morphogenesis. LEAVES OF ADULT PLANTS of the fern genus Lygodium are uniquely adapted as climbing organs. Their features which are related to the climbing habit include: indeterminate growth; circumnutation; rapid rachis elongation; delay in pinna expansion; ramification from pinnaborne leafbuds (Mueller, 1982a). Investigations of shoot branching and leaf initiation and development led to the conclusion that, in spite
Copernican kinship: an origin myth for the category

In many traditional mythologies, kinship constitutes the privileged idiom of both unity and diversity in the cosmos. In "post-mythological" thought, categories logically conceived attempt to take over the cosmic role of kinship. I compare two accounts of the nature and genesis of categories—those by Durkheim and Mauss on one hand, and by Lakoff and Johnson on the other. Neither account severs ties with mythology or kinship; moreover, the structure of the category, like kinship, offers a mode of projecting the human as the cosmic. To the long-standing anthropological concern with the ways in which humans impose their diverse categories on the world, we should add a concern with the ways category-theorists impose their diverse worlds on the category.
A hypervelocity - microparticle - impacts laboratory with 100-km/s projectiles

Abstract A hypervelocity-microparticle-impacts (HMI) laboratory has been developed at the Ion Beam Facility (IBF) of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) using a 6-MV Van de Graaff accelerator. The purpose of the laboratory is to characterize physical phenomena associated with hypervelocity impacts. Submicrometer-sized particles with velocities ranging from less than 1 km/s to greater than 100 km/s have been produced and detected. The technology development program is emphasized, and the results of a few preliminary experiments such as impact cratering and the determination of conducting-polymer size distributions are reported.
Autophagy in metazoans: cell survival in the land of plenty

Cells require a constant supply of macromolecular precursors and oxidizable substrates to maintain viability. Unicellular eukaryotes lack the ability to regulate nutrient concentrations in their extracellular environment. So when environmental nutrients are depleted, these organisms catabolize existing cytoplasmic components to support ATP production to maintain survival, a process known as autophagy. By contrast, the environment of metazoans normally contains abundant extracellular nutrients, but a cell's ability to take up these nutrients is controlled by growth factor signal transduction. Despite evolving the ability to maintain a constant supply of extracellular nutrients, metazoans have retained a complete set of autophagy genes. The physiological relevance of autophagy in such species is just beginning to be explored.
The Effects of Part-Time Workers on Establishment Financial Performance

Using a sample of 1,468 private sector establishments, this article addresses the relationship among part-time workers, commitment-based human resource (HR) systems, and establishment financial performance. Building on theoretic perspectives about equity perceptions and reciprocal exchanges, we find that the proportion of part-time workers in an establishment workforce is nonlinearly related to establishment financial performance in an inverted U-shaped relationship. In addition, the interaction between part-time workers and commitment-based HR systems is negatively related to establishment performance. The analysis suggests that those deciding about how to structure establishments’ workforces should consider how interactions between different types of workers within workforces can influence establishment performance.
Midline cells and the organization of the vertebrate neuraxis

Vertebrate embryos exhibit a striking midline axis of symmetry that can be recognized in the overall body plan, the framework of skeletal structures and the organization of the nervous system. Cells located at the midline of the embryo during gastrulation have a crucial influence on the establishment of cell identity and pattern within the nervous system. The identification of transcription factors and secreted proteins that are expressed by these midline cell groups has begun to provide a molecular characterization of the organizing centers that establish early neural identity and pattern.
The linked-cluster expansion for the deuteron optical potential

Abstract The Goldstone-Hugenholtz linked-cluster expansion for the transition amplitude is derived for elastic deuteron scattering reactions. From this expression, the deuteron optical potential is derived, and the relationship between this potential and the single-nucleon optical potential is established.
Individual and cultural learning in stag hunt games with multiple actions

Abstract We compare cultural learning and individualistic, belief-based learning in a class of generalized stag hunt games. Agents can choose from among multiple potentially cooperative actions or can take a secure, self-interested action. We assume that a proportion of the cooperative actions prove effective, while others can be undermined by a predatory action. For this class of games, the set of stable equilibria is identical under the two learning rules. However, we show that the basins of attraction for the efficient equilibria are much larger for cultural learning. We further show that as the stakes grow arbitrarily large, cultural learning always locates an efficient equilibrium while belief-based learning never does.
The Physical Properties of the Midcourse Space Experiment Galactic Infrared-dark Clouds

The SPIRIT III infrared telescope on the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite has provided an unprecedented view of the mid-infrared emission (8-25 μm) of the Galactic plane. An initial analysis of images from MSX Galactic plane survey data reveals dark clouds seen in silhouette against the bright emission from the Galactic plane (Egan et al.). These clouds have mid-infrared extinctions in excess of 2 mag at 8 μm. We probed the physical properties of 10 of these MSX dark clouds using millimeter-wave molecular rotational lines as an indicator of dense molecular gas. All 10 clouds were detected in millimeter spectral lines of H2CO, which confirms the presence of dense gas. The distances to these clouds range from 1 to 8 kiloparsecs and their diameters from 0.4 to 15.0 pc. Excitation analysis of the observed lines indicates that the clouds are cold (T 105 cm-3]. Some of the clouds have nearby H II regions, H2O masers, and other tracers of star formation at comparable spectral line velocities; however, only one cloud contains embedded centimeter or infrared sources. The lack of mid- to far-infrared emission associated with these clouds suggests that they are not currently forming high-mass stars. If star formation is present in these clouds, it is clearly protostellar class 0 or earlier.
Low-distance surface codes under realistic quantum noise

Experimental implementation of the surface code will be a significant milestone for quantum computing. We develop a circuit and a decoder targeted for near-term implementation of a distance-3 surface code. We simulate the code under amplitude and phase damping and compare the threshold to a Pauli-twirl approximation. We find that the approximation yields a pessimistic threshold estimate. From numerical Monte Carlo simulations, we identify the gate and measurement speeds required to achieve reliable error correction. For superconductor devices, a qubit encoded in a 17-qubit surface code demonstrates a lower error rate than an unencoded qubit assuming gate times of 5--40 ns and ${T}_{1}$ times of at least 1--2 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$. If ${T}_{1}\ensuremath{\ge}10$ ns, the difference is significant and can be experimentally measured, allowing near-term implementation and verification of a small surface code. For ion trap devices, gates times of 1 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ and ${T}_{1}\ensuremath{\ge}40$ ms admit measurable differences in error rate.
The Voices of Kentucky Employers: Benefits, Challenges, and Promising Practices for an Aging Workforce

This study explored Kentucky employers’ preparedness for the aging workforce using focus groups and a survey. Although employers perceived many benefits of older workers, five key challenges of an aging workforce emerged: institutional knowledge loss, older workers’ dependent care commitments, health and safety problems, generation gaps, and lack of technical skills. The results also suggested potential solutions and organizational practices to address each of these challenges. These practices include succession planning, meaningful work, flexible work, safety climate, wellness programs, generational empathy training, technology training, and intergenerational mentoring.
UC-PBG Substrate for Planar Antennas

The recently developed Uniplanar Compact Photonic Bandgap (UC-PBG) substrate is used to reduce surface wave losses for an aperture-coupled fed patch antenna on a thick, high dielectric constant substrate. The surface wave dispersion diagram of a 50mil thick UC-PBG substrate has been numerically computed and found to have a complete stopband in the frequency range 11.4-12.8Ghz. A patch antenna working at 12GHz is built on the UC-PBG substate. Computed results and measured data show that the antenna mounted on the UC-PBG radiates a higher level of power in the broadside direction than the same antenna etched on a grounded dielectric slab with same thickness and dielectric constant Improvement of radiation pattern on both E-and H-plane is observed while cross-polarization remains 13dB down the copolar component level.
The effects of anaerobiosis and uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation on mitotic timing and the induction of intranuclear macrotubules in the slime mold,Physarum polycephalum

Mitotically synchronous plasmodia of the slime moldPhysarum polycephalum were subjected to brief exposures of either pure atmospheres of carbon dioxide or nitrogen gases or to pulsetreatments with respiratory poisons (sodium azide, sodium arsenate, or 2,4-dinitrophenol, DNP) at many different phases of the mitotic cycle to assess their effects on the mechanism(s) controlling the timing of mitosis. Plasmodia were fully viable after a pulse of CO2 lasting up to 90 minutes or after a N2-pulse of 30 minutes in duration. Upon return to normal aeration, all treated plasmodia entered a fully synchronous mitosis with a variable excess mitotic delay, which was dependent on the duration of the pulse and time of application in the mitotic cycle. Likewise, plasmodia exposed to 15-minute-pulses of a sublethal dose of sodium arsenate (0.1 mM), sodium azide 0.05 mM) and 2,4-DNP (0.2 mM) yield characteristic patterns of excess mitotic delay upon returnal to normal culture conditions. Two different types of phase response curves (PRC) were generated by these treatments. This suggests that at least two distinct respiratory-linked physiological mechanisms are involved in control of mitosis onset and regulation of mitotic timing inPhysarum.
Interobserver variability of the SYNTAX score by interventional cardiologists

Purpose: In spite of being a complex calculation, reports of interobserver variability between interventional cardiologists (IC) of the SYNTAX score (SS) are limited. The objectives of this study are: a) report the interobserver variability of the SS between ICs, b) detect the main source of discrepancy. Methods: 98 consecutive angiograms with left main and/or three vessel disease were selected. Two ICs calculated the total SS. Results were analyzed categorically with linear weighted Kappa (k), quantitatively with concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and visually through Bland Altman plot. The number of lesions observed by patient, presence of left main disease, number of bifurcations and total occlusions were analyzed by k. After establishing significant discrepancy of SS as more than the 50th percentile of the total error committed, logistic regression was performed in order to detect which characteristics were associated with high discrepancy. Results: The median SS was 28.5 (IQ: 22-36) and 29 (IQ: 22-41) for both ICs. The k was 0.70 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.81) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.74) for tertiles and deciles respectively. The CCC was 0,82 (CI 95% 0,75 - 0,87). Visual analysis is compatible with good agreement between observers (Figure). The k of lesions was 0,76, left main disease 0,83, bifurcacions 0,55 and occlussions 0,95. The 50th percentile of discrepancy was 4 points. Only the disagreement on the number of lesions per patient was associated with a discrepancy of more than 4 points (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.54 to 8.99). ![Figure][1] Bland Altman Conclusions: We detected an acceptable level of agreement of the SS between ICs. Although variability of lesions per patient was acceptable, their disagreement was the only factor associated with a significant error in the assessment of the SS. [1]: pending:yes
Testing conclusions from functional imaging of working memory with data from acute stroke

Functional imaging studies indicate that the left hemisphere mediates verbal working memory, while the right hemi- sphere mediates both verbal and spatial working memory. We evaluated acute stroke patients with working memory tests and imaging to identify whether unilateral dysfunction causes deficits in spatial and/or verbal working memory deficits. While left cortical stroke patients had verbal working memory impairments ( p< 0.003), right cortical stroke patients had both verbal ( p< 0.007) and spatial working memory ( p< 0.03) impairments, confirming functional imaging results. Patients with transient ischemic stroke and patients with non-cortical stroke did not have significant deficits in working memory in either modality.
Particulate matter disrupts human lung endothelial barrier integrity via ROS- and p38 MAPK-dependent pathways.

Epidemiologic studies have linked exposure to airborne pollutant particulate matter (PM) with increased cardiopulmonary mortality and morbidity. The mechanisms of PM-mediated lung pathophysiology, however, remain unknown. We tested the hypothesis that PM, via enhanced oxidative stress, disrupts lung endothelial cell (EC) barrier integrity, thereby enhancing organ dysfunction. Using PM collected from Ft. McHenry Tunnel (Baltimore, MD), we assessed PM-mediated changes in transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) (a highly sensitive measure of barrier function), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in human pulmonary artery EC. PM induced significant dose (10–100 μg/ml)- and time (0–10 h)-dependent EC barrier disruption reflected by reduced TER values. Exposure of human lung EC to PM resulted in significant ROS generation, which was directly involved in PM-mediated EC barrier dysfunction, as N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC, 5 mM) pretreatment abolishe...
Bacterial phylogenetic diversity and a novel candidate division of two humid region, sandy surface soils

The extent of microbial community diversity in two similar sandy surface soils from Virginia and Delaware (USA) was analysed with a culture-independent small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene-based cloning approach with about 400– 700 SSU rDNA clones obtained from each sample. While there were no operational taxonomic units (OTUs) having more than three individuals, about 96 – 99% of the OTUs had only a single individual. The clones showing less than 85% similarity to the sequences in the current databases were fully sequenced. The majority of the clones (55%) had sequences that were more than 20% different from those in the current databases. About 37% of the clones differed by 15 – 20% in sequence from the database, 16% of the clones differed by 10 – 15%, and 5% of the clones differed by only 1 – 10%. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these sequences fell into 10 of the 35 – 40 known phylogenetic divisions. Many of the clones were affiliated with Acidobacterium (35%). While a substantial portion of the clones belong to alpha (24%) and beta (12%) Proteobacteria, a few of them were affiliated with delta (6%) and gamma (3%) Proteobacteria. About 6% of the clones belong to Planctomycetes, and 4% of the clones were related to gram-positive bacteria. About 4% of clones were related to other bacterial divisions, including Cytophaga, Green sulfur bacteria, Nitrospira, OP10, and Verrucomicrobia. Eight sequences had no specific association with any of the known divisions or candidate divisions and were phylogenetically divided into three novel division level groups, named AD1, AD2 and AD3. Candidate division AD1 represented by six clones (4%) was found in both sites and consisted of two subdivisions. The community structures were similar between these two widely separated, sandy, oligotrophic, surface soils under grass vegetation in a temperate, humid climate but somewhat dissimilar to community structures revealed in similar studies in other types of soil habitats. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Path optimization for oil probe

We discuss a robust method for optimal oil probe path planning inspired by medical imaging. Horizontal wells require three-dimensional steering made possible by the rotary steerable capabilities of the system, which allows the hole to intersect multiple target shale gas zones. Horizontal "legs" can be over a mile long; the longer the exposure length, the more oil and natural gas is drained and the faster it can flow. More oil and natural gas can be produced with fewer wells and less surface disturbance. Horizontal drilling can help producers tap oil and natural gas deposits under surface areas where a vertical well cannot be drilled, such as under developed or environmentally sensitive areas. Drilling creates well paths which have multiple twists and turns to try to hit multiple accumulations from a single well location. Our algorithm can be used to augment current state of the art methods. Our goal is to obtain a 3D path with nodes describing the optimal route to the destination. This algorithm works with BIG data and saves cost in planning for probe insertion. Our solution may be able to help increase the energy extracted vs. input energy.
Molecular Basis of Differences in (−)(trans)-3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidiny)-cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide-Induced Desensitization and Phosphorylation between Human and Rat κ-Opioid Receptors Expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

The agonist (−)(trans)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidiny)-cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide [(−)U50,488H] caused desensitization of the human κ-opioid receptor (hkor) and Flag-tagged hkor (Flag-hkor) but not the rat κ-opioid receptor (rkor) and Flag-tagged rkor (Flag-rkor) stably expressed in CHO cells as assessed by guanosine 5′-O-(3-[35S]thiotriphosphate) binding. In addition, (−)U50,488H stimulation enhanced phosphorylation of the Flag-hkor, but not Flag-rkor. (−)U50,488H-induced phosphorylation of the Flag-hkor was reduced by expression of the dominant negative mutant GRK2-K220R, demonstrating the involvement of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). However, expression of GRK2 and arrestin-2 or GRK3 and arrestin-3 did not result in desensitization or phosphorylation of the Flag-rkor after (−)U50,488H pretreatment. To understand the molecular basis of the species differences, we constructed two Flag-tagged chimeric receptors, Flag-h/rkor and Flag-r/hkor, in which the C-terminal domains of Flag-hkor and Flag-rkor were switched. When stably expressed in CHO cells, Flag-r/hkor, but not Flag-h/rkor, was desensitized and phosphorylated after exposure to (−)U50,488H, indicating that the C-terminal domain plays a critical role in the differences. We then generated a Flag-hkor mutant, in which S358 was mutated to N (Flag-hkorS358N) and a Flag-rkor mutant, in which N358 was substituted with S (Flag-rkorN358S). Although Flag-hkorS358N was not phosphorylated or desensitized by (−)U50,488H stimulation, Flag-rkorN358S underwent (−)U50,488H-induced desensitization with slightly increased phosphorylation. These results indicate that there are differences in (−)U50,488H-induced desensitization and phosphorylation between the hkor and the rkor. In addition, the C-terminal domain plays a crucial role in these differences and the 358 locus contributes to the differences. Our findings suggest caution in extrapolating studies on κ-opioid receptor regulation from rats to humans.
Japan Transformed: Political Change and Economic Restructuring

Japan Transformed: Political Change and Economic Restructuring Frances McCall Rosenbluth and Michael F. Thies (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010) The issues of whether or not Japan is a “...
What's in a name.com?: The effects of ‘.com’ name changes on stock prices and trading activity

This paper uses a market signaling perspective to examine investor reactions to firm announcements of name changes to include ‘.com.’ Firms that change their name as a purely cosmetic technique are contrasted to those that employ other strategic investments. Results show that announcements of ‘.com’ name changes are associated with significant increases in stock prices and trading activity. Furthermore, the magnitude of investor reactions is significantly larger when name changes are accompanied by other strategies. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HIPS-assisted target handoff between camera pairs

The requirements for planetary manipulation systems are becoming more stringent with time. Missions are moving beyond simple driving and instrument placement to include sample handling, target selection from meters away, and precision re-sampling of a location. In one of these tasks, remote target selection, the target is selected in a high-viewpoint camera pair. The rover begins tracking the target in these cameras as the rover approaches the target. When the rover gets close enough that the target is in view of the low-viewpoint cameras, target handoff occurs. Target handoff is the process of identifying the same target in each set of cameras so that the low-viewpoint cameras can commence tracking. Tracking is then done in the lower cameras until the rover is within optimal range for manipulation operations. Target handoff also has applications in areas such as surveillance, security, and multi-viewpoint tracking. Planetary manipulation systems typically employ two sets of calibrated stereo cameras to achieve precision on the order of one centimeter or ten pixels. As imprecision in handoff translates to location error of the final sample, this level of precision is not sufficient for upcoming missions. By utilizing the method of hybrid image-plane/stereo (HIPS), initially developed for visually guided manipulation, handoffs have been achieved with errors of about one and a half pixels.
Risk Factors for Self-Reported Adverse Drug Events Among Medicare Enrollees

Background:Adverse drug events (ADEs) occur in older adults. ADEs occur in up to 6.5% of all hospitalized patients and outpatients, and about 28% of these events are preventable. The proportion of outpatients with an ADE ranges from 5% to 35%, depending on the exact definition used. There is a critical need to examine the risk factors associated with having an ADE to increase awareness about medication safety among older adults.Objective:To quantify the association between risk factors such as the number of pharmacies used by patients and their concern and necessity beliefs about medicines, and self-reported ADEs.Methods:A cross-sectional Internet survey was administered by Harris Interactive. Harris Interactive asked individuals from their online panel who were 65 years of age or older, US residents, and enrolled in Medicare to complete the survey. A convenience sample of 1220 anonymous surveys was obtained. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. The dependent variable was self-reported ADE...
The Role of Osteopontin in the Development of Albuminuria

Several gene array studies have suggested that osteopontin (Opn) expression strongly correlates with albuminuria and glomerular disease. Urinary Opn concentration and kidney Opn immunoreactivity were found to be increased in patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. In addition, renal Opn mRNA was increased in the Ins2(Akita) mouse model of type 1 diabetic nephropathy, in the LPS-induced albuminuria model, and in glomeruli of puromycin aminonucleotide-induced nephrotic rats. Opn knockout mice did not develop albuminuria in response to LPS injection, and Opn knockout mice were protected from diabetes-induced albuminuria and mesangial expansion. In the glomerulus, Opn immunostaining was increased specifically in podocytes. Treatment of podocytes with recombinant Opn activated the NF-kappaB pathway, increased expression of urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, and increased podocyte motility. Taken together, these results indicate that Opn plays an important role in the development of albuminuria, possibly by modulating podocyte signaling and motility.
Instrumental variables, bootstrapping, and generalized linear models

T his paper discusses and illustrates the qvf command for tting gen- eralized linear models. The differences between this new command and Statas glm command are highlighted. One of the most notable features of the qvf com- mand is its ability to include instrumental variables. This functionality was added specically to address measurement error but may be utilized by the user for other purposes. The qvf command was developed in the C-language using Statas new plugin features and executes much faster than the glm ado-le.
A Review of: “Barry Rubin and Judith Colp Rubin. Chronologies of Modern Terrorism.”

Terrorism has become a fact of modern life. Yet, as the work under review makes clear, the phenomenon has roots that extend back to at least the 16th century. The authors date modern terrorism to t...
Hands in the Pockets of Mercurial Donors: NGO Response to Shifting Funding Priorities

The NGO–donor relationship is especially volatile. NGOs in developing countries heavily rely on foreign donor funding and donor dominance is evident. This article explores the relationship at times when donors revise funding priorities and partner NGOs try to adapt. The article draws on qualitative research of multiple observations to study the decisions of four NGOs in response to several shifts in donor funding. The analysis reveals variation in NGO responses to such shifts: suspend the relationship, reach common ground, automatically execute the donor’s interests, and voluntarily and deliberately adapt to the situation. Building on Hirschman’s typology, four modes of NGOs’ response are identified: exit, voice, loyalty, and, a newly proposed mode, adjustment. Additional interpretation of NGOs’ responses and possible implications for NGO management are discussed.
Seismic moment distribution revisited: II. Moment conservation principle

SUMMARY We compare the tectonic rate with earthquake data using several theoretical distributions to approximate the seismic moment‐frequency relation. We derive formulae to estimate parameters of the seismic moment distributions by comparing the earthquake occurrence rate with tectonic strain. We analyse the tectonic moment rate and the earthquake moment distribution for several types of tectonic environments, including subduction zones, plate bounding transform faults and deforming continental regions. In this analysis we use finer subdivisions of tectonic regions to infer whether earthquake size distribution properties established previously for large provinces (Flinn‐Engdahl seismic regions) could be applied to smaller zones extending over a few hundred kilometres. Although the shortness of the available earthquake catalogues makes our results less reliable, several conclusions can be drawn from the analysis. The universality of the β-parameter (the slope of the moment‐frequency relation) is reasonably well confirmed for all of these tectonic regions and their subdivisions. In each region, we estimate the strain rate or relative plate motion from a plate tectonic model, active fault data or geodetic data. According to the moment‐frequency relation, the ratio of the tectonic moment rate to the earthquake rate depends on the β value, the corner magnitude (mc) and the effective seismogenic thickness. We find that this ratio does not vary systematically with the relative plate velocity, the ratio of parallel to perpendicular plate motion, time since the last major earthquake and the length of fault zone segments established by previous earthquake history. We obtain similar results for the western United States and southeast Asia; the corner magnitude is approximately equal to that for the circum-Pacific Rim and there is no systematic dependence of the mc parameter on a geographic region or strain rate. Assuming the commonly accepted values for seismogenic thickness, elastic modulus and 100 per cent seismic coupling, the corner magnitude values for plate boundary zones and continental areas are 8.3‐8.8, i.e. similar to those values obtained by statistical analysis.
Occurrence and Characterization of Mercury Resistance in the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus by Use of Gene Disruption

Mercury resistance mediated by mercuric reductase (MerA) is widespread among bacteria and operates under the control of MerR. MerR represents a unique class of transcription factors that exert both positive and negative regulation on gene expression. Archaea and bacteria are prokaryotes, yet little is known about the biological role of mercury in archaea or whether a resistance mechanism occurs in these organisms. The archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus was sensitive to mercuric chloride, and low-level adaptive resistance could be induced by metal preconditioning. Protein phylogenetic analysis of open reading frames SSO2689 and SSO2688 clarified their identity as orthologs of MerA and MerR. Northern analysis established that merA transcription responded to mercury challenge, since mRNA levels were transiently induced and, when normalized to 7S RNA, approximated values for other highly expressed transcripts. Primer extension analysis of merA mRNA predicted a noncanonical TATA box with nonstandard transcription start site spacing. The functional roles of merA and merR were clarified further by gene disruption. The merA mutant exhibited mercury sensitivity relative to wild type and was defective in elemental mercury volatilization, while the merR mutant was mercury resistant. Northern analysis of the merR mutant revealed merA transcription was constitutive and that transcript abundance was at maximum levels. These findings constitute the first report of an archaeal heavy metal resistance system; however, unlike bacteria the level of resistance is much lower. The archaeal system employs a divergent MerR protein that acts only as a negative transcriptional regulator of merA expression.
Green and controlled synthesis of gold and platinum nanomaterials using vitamin B2: density-assisted self-assembly of nanospheres, wires and rods

For the first time, we report efficient density-assisted self-assembly synthesis of gold and platinum nanospheres, nanowires and nanorods using vitamin B2 (riboflavin) at room temperature without employing any special capping or dispersing agent; this environmentally benign and general approach affords a facile entry to production of shape-selective Au and Pt noble nanostructures, which can be extended to silver and palladium nanostructures.
PNEUMOCOELOM ASSOCIATED WITH SERRATOSPICULUM AMACULATA IN A BALD EAGLE

Serratospiculum amaculata Nemutodes were identified radiographically in the air sacs of an eagle which developed acute respiratory distress several days after treatment for severe head trauma. The nematodes were found at necropsy within the air sacs and lungs. One of the nematodes was found protruding through a hole in the lung. Although this parasite was reported in a falcon which died post operatively this is the first report of death in an eagle related to the presence of this parasite and is also the first time the parasite itself has been observed in a raptor antemortem.