cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Signed analogs of bipartite graphs

Abstract We characterize the edge-signed graphs in which every ‘significant’ positive closed walk (or combination of walks) has even length, under seven different criteria for significance, and also those edge-signed graphs whose double covering graph is bipartite. If the property of even length is generalized to positivity in a second edge signing, the characterizations generalize as well. We also characterize the edge-signed graphs with the smallest nontrivial chromatic numbers.
Inflammatory Markers in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients: Preliminary Evidence of a Prospective Association With Depressive Symptoms

Inflammatory activity has been associated with both coronary disease and depressive symptoms. We sought to determine whether inflammatory markers in myocardial infarction (MI) patients are prospectively associated with depressive symptomatology. Participants were a convenience sample of MI patients. Depressive symptoms were assessed soon after the MI and again 7 months postdischarge. Inflammatory markers examined were interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1b. Results suggest no significant cross-sectional association between inflammatory markers and depressive symptoms at baseline. However, bivariate and multiple regression analyses revealed a significant positive prospective association between baseline IL-6 and depressive symptoms 7 months later (b = .57, p < .01). The results suggest that temporal considerations are important in understanding relationships between inflammation and depressive symptoms following MI.
Designing Wetlands for Amphibians: The Importance of Predatory Fish and Shallow Littoral Zones in Structuring of Amphibian Communities

Under section 401 and section 404 of the Clean Water Act, permission to degrade existing natural wetlands in the USA may be conditional on restoring or creating ‘replacement’ wetlands. Success of wetland mitigation efforts in adequately replacing lost wildlife habitats depends on our good understanding of key ecological attributes that affect the structure of wetland faunal communities. We examined the effects of the presence of predatory fish, shallow vegetated littoral zone, emergent vegetation cover, wetland age and size on amphibian diversity in 42 replacement wetlands located in the Ohio’s North Central Tillplain ecoregion. We recorded 13 species of pond-breeding amphibians, and the average local species richness (α-richness) was 4.2 ± 1.7 species per site (range 1–7). There is strong evidence for the positive association between amphibian species richness and presence of a shallow littoral zone, and the negative association with presence of predatory fish. There was no evidence for the association between species richness and age, size, amount of forest cover within 200 m, nor the amount of emergent vegetation cover at the study sites. It is estimated that local species richness in wetlands with shallows was 1.76 species higher on average than in wetlands without shallows (95% CI from 0.75 to 2.76). The presence of predatory fish was associated with an average reduction in species richness by an estimated 1.21 species (95% CI from 0.29 to 2.11). Replacement wetlands were placed in areas with little or no existing forest cover, and amphibian species associated with forested wetlands were either rare (eastern newt, spotted salamander) or not present at all (marbled salamander, wood frog). In addition, we surveyed all replacement wetlands constructed under section 401 in Ohio since 1990, and found that predatory fish were present in 52.4% of the sites and that shallows were absent from 42.7% of the sites. Our results indicate that current wetland replacement practices could have a negative effect on the amphibian diversity within our region.
Software for Reliability Testing of Computer Peripherals: A Case History

This article addresses: 1) the problem of inadequate software for the reliability testing of computer peripherals, and 2) the development and use of a software package specifically designed for reliability testing of disk drive peripherals. The software package enables one to carry out controlled reliability testing of disk drive peripherals. Necessary data for statistical calculation are available when needed and in the detail required. Non-drive errors can be isolated and not allowed to distort test results. The soundness of data collected allows for long-term testing under changing conditions to proceed with assurance of accuracy. Product reliability and thereby customer satisfaction can be more fully assured. The creation of the software also provided an outline of a sound methodology for future reliability software development. This methodology has continued to be employed within Intel and at a number of the vendors supplying Intel with disk drive peripherals.
Organ-dependent induction of systemic resistance and systemic susceptibility in Pinus nigra inoculated with Sphaeropsis sapinea and Diplodia scrobiculata.

Systemic induced resistance (SIR) is a well-known host defense mechanism against pathogen attack in herbaceous plants, but SIR has only recently been documented in conifers. We tested if inoculation of Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) with Sphaeropsis sapinea (Fr.:Fr.) Dyko and Sutton or Diplodia scrobiculata de Wet, Slippers and Wingfield results in SIR or systemic induced susceptibility (SIS) to subsequent colonization by S. sapinea. Induction at the stem base resulted in significant (P < 0.01) SIR in the upper stem, and induction in the upper stem resulted in significant (P < 0.05) SIR at the stem base, indicating that SIR is bidirectional in Austrian pine. However, inoculation at the stem base resulted in significant (P < 0.01) SIS in shoot tips, demonstrating that, in the same host species, the expression of resistance can be organ-dependent, resulting in either SIR or SIS depending on the site of challenge infection. Systemic induced resistance in the stem was associated with induced lignification, supporting a potential role for this defense mechanism in disease resistance. Systemic induced susceptibility has been documented before, but this is the first demonstration of organ- dependent expression of both SIR and SIS in a tree or any other plant.
Scm3 Is Essential to Recruit the Histone H3 Variant Cse4 to Centromeres and to Maintain a Functional Kinetochore

The kinetochore is a complex multiprotein structure located at centromeres that is essential for proper chromosome segregation. Budding-yeast Cse4 is an essential evolutionarily conserved histone H3 variant recruited to the centromere by an unknown mechanism. We have identified Scm3, an inner kinetochore protein that immunopurifies with Cse4. Scm3 is essential for viability and localizes to all centromeres. Construction of a conditional SCM3 allele reveals that depletion results in metaphase arrest, with duplicated spindle poles, short spindles, and unequal DNA distribution. The metaphase arrest is mediated by the mitotic spindle checkpoint being dependent on Mad1 and the Aurora kinase B homolog Ipl1. Scm3 interacts with both Ndc10 and Cse4 and is essential to establish centromeric chromatin after DNA replication. In addition, Scm3 is required to maintain kinetochore function throughout the cell cycle. We propose a model in which Ndc10/Scm3 binds to centromeric DNA, which is in turn essential for targeting Cse4 to centromeres.
Prediction of Peak Cylinder Pressure Variations Over Varying Inlet Air Condition of Compression-Ignition Engine

Peak cylinder pressure of a compression-ignition engine can be affected by engine inlet air condition such as its temperature and pressure. The variation of peak cylinder pressure due to varying inlet air temperature and pressure is analytically studied in this paper. An analytical model is developed and thus the variations of peak cylinder pressure can be predicted along with inlet air temperature or pressure varying. It is indicated that cylinder compression ratio (CR) and intake air boost ratio (pm0 /pi0 ) play significant roles in affecting the variation of peak cylinder pressure over inlet air temperature and pressure, and the pressure variation is proportional to CRk and pm0 /pi0 . The predicted results are compared to those from engine experiments, and show a close agreement. The prediction also includes the investigation of the variation in peak cylinder pressure due to varying the cylinder TDC volume. Results from the analytical studies are presented and show that the change in pmax versus a change in the volume is also affected by compression ratio. This indicates that for a certain change in the clearance volume, a higher compression-ratio configuration would produce a greater change in pmax than a lower compression-ratio would with the rest of the engine design parameters remaining unchanged.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Enhancement op morphine analgesia in rats following removal from contextual conditioned fear cues

Abstract 1. 1. Previous studies have shown that morphine analgesia is enhanced when analgesia testing is conducted in an environment that has been previously paired with shock, but not in a novel or neutral environment. 2. 2. Two experiments were conducted to assess if enhanced morphine analgesia could be demonstrated in a neutral context if rats were first exposed to conditioned fear cues. This was done by pre-exposing rats to a context previously paired with shock and testing for enhanced morphine analgesia in a neutral context immediately following removal from the conditioned fear context. To determined if conditioned analgesia contributed to the enhanced morphine analgesia, rats were tested for analgesic responsiveness immediately following removal from conditioned fear cues, prior to morphine administration. 3. 3. In Experiment 1, although conditioned analgesia was not observed, a small enhancement of morphine analgesia was demonstrated in an neutral context in rats pre-exposed to conditioned fear cues, compared to non-conditioned controls. 4. 4. In Experiment 2, which employed more sensitive test procedures, a strong enhancement of morphine analgesia was observed in a neutral context only in those rats that demonstrated conditioned analgesia.
Shield volcano topography and the rheology of lava flows on Io

Stereo and photoclinometry derived topography of shield-like volcanoes on Io indicate little relief (<3 km) and very low slopes (0.2° to 0.6°). Several shield volcanoes appear to be associated with broad rises of 1 to 3 km, but only 5 shield volcanoes have been identified with steep flank slopes (between 4° and 10°). These steep slopes are restricted to within 20–30 km of the summit, but where discernable, most of the lava flows observed on these edifices occur on the outer flanks where slopes are less than a degree. Despite their abundance, ionian shield volcanoes are among the flattest in the Solar System. The steepest volcanoes on Io are most comparable to large venusian shield volcanoes. Using simplistic Bingham rheologies we estimate the viscosity and yield strengths of ionian lavas. Yield strengths are estimated at 101–102 Pa, lower than most basaltic lavas. Viscosity estimates range from 103 to 105 Pa s, although these are probably upper limits. Actual values may have been as low as 100 Pa s. Viscosity is sensitive to flow velocity, which is poorly known on Io. The best constraint on flow velocity comes from observations of the 1997 Pillan eruption, which bracket the eruptive phase to 132 day maximum, and more probably less than 50 days. Low slopes, long run-out distances and our estimated rheologic properties are consistent with (but not proof of) a low silica, low viscosity, high temperature composition for ionian lavas, supporting arguments for low-silica lava compositions such as basalt or komatiite. We cannot eliminate sulfur on rheologic grounds, however.
The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire revisited: Dimensions and correlates

The authors reexamined the factor structure of the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (D. E. Broadbent, P. F. Cooper, P. Fitzgerald, & K. R. Parkes, 1982) and its correlates. The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire was designed to assess a person's likelihood of committing an error in the completion of an everyday task. A principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded 4 internally consistent, interpretable factors. These factors were labeled Memory, Distractibility, Blunders, and (memory for) Names. This study lends partial support for the factor analytic solution proposed by L. K. Pollina, A. L. Greene, R. H. Tunick, and J. M. Puckett (1992). In addition, it extends previous findings by providing initial evidence for the construct validity of the factors established by correlating factor scores with measures of other related constructs (i.e., boredom proneness, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Type A behavior pattern).
DIRECT INTERACTION BETWEEN RAB3D AND THE POLYMERIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN RECEPTOR AND TRAFFICKING THROUGH REGULATED SECRETORY VESICLES IN LACRIMAL GLAND ACINAR CELLS

The lacrimal gland is responsible for tear production, and a major protein found in tears is secretory component (SC), the proteolytically cleaved fragment of the extracellular domain of the polyme...
Characterization and uncertainty analysis of VOCs emissions from industrial wastewater treatment plants

Air toxics from the industrial wastewater treatment plants (IWTPs) impose serious health concerns on its surrounding residential neighborhoods. To address such health concerns, one of the key challenges is to quantify the air emissions from the IWTPs. The objective here is to characterize the air emissions from the IWTPs and quantify its associated uncertainty. An IWTP receiving the wastewaters from an airplane maintenance facility is used for illustration with focus on the quantification of air emissions for benzyl alcohol, phenol, methylene chloride, 2-butanone, and acetone. Two general fate models, i.e., WATER9 and TOXCHEM+V3.0 were used to model the IWTP and quantify the air emissions. Monte Carlo and Bootstrap simulation were used for uncertainty analysis. On average, air emissions from the IWTP were estimated to range from 0.003 lb/d to approximately 16 lb/d with phenol being the highest and benzyl alcohol being the least. However, emissions are associated with large uncertainty. The ratio of the 97.5th percentile to the 2.5th percentile air emissions ranged from 5 to 50 depending on pollutants. This indicates point estimates of air emissions might fail to capture the worst scenarios, leading to inaccurate conclusion when used for health risk assessment. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2010
Self diffusion of interacting membrane proteins

A two-dimensional version of the generalized Smoluchowski equation is used to analyze the time (or distance) dependent self diffusion of interacting membrane proteins in concentrated membrane systems. This equation provides a well established starting point for descriptions of the diffusion of particles that interact through both direct and hydrodynamic forces; in this initial work only the effects of direct interactions are explicitly considered. Data describing diffusion in the presence of hard-core repulsions, soft repulsions, and soft repulsions with weak attractions are presented. The effect that interactions have on the self-diffusion coefficient of a real protein molecule from mouse liver gap junctions is also calculated. The results indicate that self diffusion is always inhibited by direct interactions; this observation is interpreted in terms of the caging that will exist at finite protein concentration. It is also noted that, over small distance scales, the diffusion coefficient is determined entirely by the very strong Brownian forces; therefore, as a function of displacement the self-diffusion coefficient decays (rapidly) from its value at infinite dilution to its steady-state interaction-averaged value. The steady-state self-diffusion coefficient describes motion over distance scales that range from approximately 10 nm to cellular dimensions and is the quantity measured in fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments. The short-ranged behavior of the diffusion coefficient is important on the interparticle-distance scale and may therefore influence the rate at which nearest-neighbor collisional processes take place. The hard-disk theoretical results presented here are in excellent agreement with lattice Monte-Carlo results obtained by other workers. The concentration dependence of experimentally measured diffusion coefficients of antibody-hapten complexes bound to the membrane surface is consistent with that predicted by the theory. The variation in experimental diffusion coefficients of integral membrane proteins is greater than that predicted by the theory, and may also reflect protein-induced perturbations in membrane viscosity.
Experimental Chemistry Teaching: Understanding Teaching Assistants Experience in the Academic Laboratory

La investigacion del aprendizaje en los laboratorios de quimica se ha enfocado muy poco en las experiencias de los estudiantes de posgrado que fungen como instructores (Instructores Asistentes) y sobre como estas afectan el aprendizaje. Un estudio fenomenologico fue realizado para explorar el sentido que once IAs asignaron a su tarea de instruccion. La reduccion y el analisis fenomenologicos de entrevistas produjeron tres dimensiones fundamentales que describen la experiencia de los IAs: Hacer, Saber y Transferir. El rol percibido de los IAs emergio como el factor que interconecta estas tres dimensiones. Los resultados sugieren que los IAs se ven a si mismos como proveedores de conocimiento y administradores del tiempo y la seguridad, y que su auto-imagen determina sus decisiones sobre la instruccion y el ambiente de aprendizaje. Los beneficios accesibles para los IAs (dominio de los contenidos, habilidades de comunicacion y satisfaccion personal) no son exclusivos de la instruccion en el laboratorio. No fueron evidentes los beneficios relacionados con el desarrollo de perspectivas mas sofisticadas sobre el conocimiento y la ciencia. En este articulo se discuten implicaciones para la instruccion y el entrenamiento de asistentes
LAPACK: A portable linear algebra library for high-performance computers

The goal of the LAPACK project is to design and implement a portable linear algebra library for etficient use on a variety of high-performance computers. The library is based on the widely used LINPACK and EISPACK packages for solving linear equations, eigenvalue problems, and linear least-squares problems, but extends their functionality in a number of ways. The major methodology for making the algorithms run faster is to restructure them to perform block matrix operations (e.g. matrix-matrix multiplication) in their inner loops. These block operations may be optimized to exploit the memory hierarchy of a specific architecture. In particular, we discuss algorithms and benchmarks for the singular value decomposition.
Relative overexpression of macrophage-derived cytokines in orbital adipose tissue from patients with graves' ophthalmopathy

Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is an autoimmune disorder involving the adipose and connective tissues of the orbit. The study of cytokines present in these tissues may reveal the nature of the cells and immune responses involved in GO pathogenesis. In the current study, we performed relative quantification of the expression of cytokine genes in orbital adipose tissue from patients with GO (n = 6) and normal individuals (n = 2). Real-time RT-PCR was performed using fluorescent probes and primers for cytokines including IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha. Results showed IL-1 beta to be the gene having the greatest fold expression increase over normal in four of six patients. TNF-alpha was increased in all six GO patients. In addition, IL-8, IL-10, and IFN-gamma were increased in five of six GO patients. We found no evidence of either IL-4 or IL-5 expression in any of the GO or normal samples. The increased expression of the macrophage-derived cytokines IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 suggests the presence of macrophage activation and ongoing antigen presentation within the orbit in GO. In addition, the overexpression of IFN-gamma, without evidence of IL-4 or IL-5 expression, supports the concept that cell-mediated, rather than humoral, immunity plays the predominant role in pathogenesis of this disorder.
Chronic Ketamine Reduces the Peak Frequency of Gamma Oscillations in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex Ex vivo.

Abnormalities in EEG gamma band oscillations (GBO, 30‐80 Hz) serve as a prominent biomarker of schizophrenia (Sz), associated with positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Chronic, subanesthetic administration of antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), such as ketamine, elicits behavioral effects, and alterations in cortical interneurons similar to those observed in Sz. However, the chronic effects of ketamine on neocortical GBO are unknown.Thus, here we examine the effects of chronic (five daily i.p. injections) application of ketamine (5 and 30 mg/kg) and the more specific NMDAR antagonist, MK801 (0.02, 0.5, and 2 mg/kg), on neocortical GBO ex vivo. Oscillations were generated by focal application of the glutamate receptor agonist, kainate (KA), in coronal brain slices containing the prelimbic cortex.This region constitutes the rodent analog of the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a brain region strongly implicated in Sz-pathophysiology. Here we report the novel finding that chronic ketamine elicits a reduction in the peak oscillatory frequency of KA-elicited oscillations (from 47 to 40 Hz at 30 mg/kg). Moreover, the power of GBO in the 40‐50 Hz band was reduced. These findings are reminiscent of both the reduced resonance frequency and power of cortical oscillations observed in Sz clinical studies. Surprisingly, MK-801 had no significant effect, suggesting care is needed when equating Sz-like behavioral effects elicited by different NMDAR antagonists to alterations in GBO activity. We conclude that chronic ketamine in the mouse mimics GBO abnormalities observed in Sz patients. Use of this ex vivo slice model may be useful in testing therapeutic compounds which rescue these GBO abnormalities.
The Effects of Megadoses of Selected B Complex Vitamins on Children with Hyperkinesis Controlled Studies with Long-Term Follow-up.

One hundred children with hyperkinesis and cerebral dysfunction were given individual three-day trials of pharmacologic doses of thiamin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine, and placebo. When beneficial response was noted, a second week-long trial of vitamins was given, alternating with placebo, followed by long-term therapy. Two-thirds of the remaining children not responding to this schedule were then given pharmacologic doses of niacinamide, combinations of B-complex vitamins, or elimination diets.Eight children dramatically responded to pharmacologic doses of thiamin, of which four still require the vitamin either intermittently or continuously after four years. Nine children responded to 300 mg of pyridoxine; an additional 5 patients responded only after receiving larger doses. Only one child could be maintained on placebo.In subsequent trials, 11 responded to niacin or to combinations of B-complex vitamins with minerals. In a two-year follow-up, six children who had demonstrated no beneficial response...
Dual active bridge buck-boost converter

A novel isolated bidirectional dc/dc converter suitable for high power applications is proposed. The proposed converter has bidirectional power flow capability with low device ratings for a wide source voltage range. The converter is controlled by varying the duty cycle and phase of the firing pulses, to achieve power flows in both directions and controlled current stresses, resulting in low total device rating (TDR) for a wide source voltage range. The proposed converter can scale to high power and uses system parasitics effectively. As a proof of concept, simulation results and comparison of TDR with conventional solutions based on analytical derivations are presented in a 100 kW level. Design considerations in building DAB3 converter in a 100kW level are presented.
Re-Inventing Government? Let's Re-Invent Special Education

Persistent problems in meeting the intent of Public Law 94-142 (and its reauthorization legislation) are caused by the failure of federal and state leaders to collaborate beyond the boundaries of current policies to develop new approaches to meeting the learning needs of students with disabilities. Much of the hindrance derives from problems with current referral-to-placement procedures. This article proposes a way to escape from the quagmire of laws, regulations, and policies that make special education costly rather than free and that inhibit teachers from developing appropriate educational strategies.
Reference curves for triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses in US children and adolescents

Background Skinfold thicknesses have long been considered important and valid measurements of subcutaneous fat. Nevertheless, there are no current skinfold reference data for US children and adolescents. Objective We developed new percentile reference curves for triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses by using the same national samples as those included in the reference curves for body mass index (BMI) in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000 Growth Charts. Design We included triceps and subscapular skinfold-thickness measurements for 32,783 individuals who also had complete data for BMI. The LMS method was used to derive 10 smoothed skinfold-thickness percentile reference curves and to generate the L, M, and S parameters that allow the calculation of standardized z scores. Results The new reference curves exhibit established age- and sex-related patterns of development, including dramatic prepubescent increases in subcutaneous fatness in boys at the highest percentiles. Comparisons of smoothed medians for race-ethnicity groups confirm greater subcutaneous fatness in white children than in black age mates at the triceps site but similar median subscapular skinfold thicknesses. Median skinfold thicknesses for children considered overweight (> or =85th percentile) or obese (> or =95th percentile) on the basis of BMI cutoffs do not follow closely the skinfold percentile reference channels across age, especially in boys, which suggests a certain degree of independence between BMI and skinfold thickness at the upper extremes of the BMI distribution. Conclusions The age- and sex-standardized skinfold percentiles and z scores will be appropriate for a wide range of research applications that consider measures of subcutaneous fat. Because they were developed by using the same children as those used for the 2000 BMI curves of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they provide an important new complementary assessment tool that should be appropriate for almost all US children and adolescents.
Encoding of codes on curves

Decoders for algebraic geometry codes on curves have been studied in several places. The article considers the question of encoding data. The encoders are immediately consistent with the parity-check formulation of the codes rather than the generation matrix formulation. Two distinct techniques are described. In the first method, the algebraic geometry code is described as a linear combination of Reed-Solomon codes. The second, uses methods of signal processing and the two-dimensional Fourier transforms to relate the encoder and the decoder. >
A General Approach for Receptor and Antibody-Targeted Detection of Native Proteins Utilizing Split-Luciferase Reassembly

The direct detection of native proteins in heterogeneous solutions remains a challenging problem. Standard methodologies rely on a separation step to circumvent nonspecific signal generation. We hypothesized that a simple and general method for the detection of native proteins in solution could be achieved through ternary complexation, where the conditional signal generation afforded by split-protein reporters could be married to the specificity afforded by either native receptors or specific antibodies. Toward this goal, we describe a solution phase split-luciferase assay for native protein detection, where we fused fragmented halves of firefly luciferase to separate receptor fragments or single-chain antibodies, allowing for conditional luciferase complementation in the presence of several biologically significant protein targets. To demonstrate the utility of this strategy, we have developed and validated assay platforms for the vascular endothelial growth factor, the gp120 coat protein from HIV-1, and...
Enzymatic transformation of PGH2 to PGF2α catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases

Abstract Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) purified from both rat liver cytosol and microsomes catalyzed the direct reduction of PGH 2 to PGF 2α . As much as 40% of the substrate was transformed into a prostanoid whose R f value corresponded to that of PGF 2α . The identification of the reaction product as PGF 2α was confirmed by TLC and reverse-phase HPLC as well as by mass spectral analysis. In the absence of GSTs, PGH 2 was found to be primarily converted to PGE 2 and PGD 2 . Also, PGF 2α formation was completely abolished by decylglutathione, a potent inhibitor of both peroxidase and transferase activity associated with GSTs. These results indicate that the direct reduction of endoperoxide moiety of PGH 2 to form PGF 2α is an enzymatic process. Interestingly, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px) showed very little PGF 2α formation from PGH 2 . However, this enzyme was very active in the reduction of PGG 2 to PGH 2 . In contrast, GSTs were very poor in the conversion of PGG 2 to PGH 2 . Therefore, it is possible that the relative tissue distribution of Se-GSH-Px and GSTs might play an important role in the tissue specific synthesis of PGF 2α .
Differential roles for disulfide bonds in the structural integrity and biological activity of kappa-Bungarotoxin, a neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist.

Bungarotoxin, a -neurotoxin derived from the venom of the banded Krait, Bungarus multicinctus, is a homodimeric protein composed of subunits of 66 amino acid residues containing five disulfide bonds. -Bungarotoxin is a potent, selective, and slowly reversible antagonist of R3‚2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. -Bungarotoxin is structurally related to the R-neurotoxins, such as R-bungarotoxin derived from the same snake, which are monomeric in solution and which effectively antagonize muscle type receptors (R1‚1A‰) and the homopentameric neuronal type receptors (R7, R8, and R9). Like the -neurotoxins, the long R-neurotoxins contain the same five conserved disulfide bonds, while the short R-neurotoxins only contain four of the five. Systematic removal of single disulfide bonds in -bungarotoxin by site-specific mutagenesis reveals a differential role for each of the disulfide bonds. Removal of either of the two disulfides connecting elements of the carboxy terminal loop of this toxin (Cys 46-Cys 58 and Cys 59-Cys 64) interferes with the ability of the toxin to fold. In contrast, removal of each of the other three disulfides does not interfere with the general folding of the toxin and yields molecules with biological activity. In fact, when either C3-C21 or C14-C42 are removed individually, no loss in biological activity is seen. However, removing both produces a polypeptide chain which fails to fold properly. Removal of the C27-C31 disulfide only reduces the activity of the toxin 46.6-fold. This disulfide may play a role in specific interaction of the toxin with specific neuronal receptors.
Scalable extensibility via nested inheritance

Inheritance is a useful mechanism for factoring and reusing code. However, it has limitations for building extensible systems. We describe nested inheritance, a mechanism that addresses some of the limitations of ordinary inheritance and other code reuse mechanisms. Using our experience with an extensible compiler framework, we show how nested inheritance can be used to construct highly extensible software frameworks. The essential aspects of nested inheritance are formalized in a simple object-oriented language with an operational semantics and type system. The type system of this language is sound, so no run-time type checking is required to implement it and no run-time type errors can occur. We describe our implementation of nested inheritance as an unobtrusive extension of the Java language, called Jx. Our prototype implementation translates Jx code to ordinary Java code, without duplicating inherited code.
INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP VARIATION IN ECHOLOCATION CALLS OF BIG BROWN BATS, EPTESICUS FUSCUS (CHIROPTERA: VESPERTILIONIDAE)

We explored the ability to discriminate between echolocation calls of 20 adult and 20 juvenile big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Variables describing each call were entered into discriminant function analyses (DFAs) to assess the success of call separation by age, sex, and individual. In agreement with earlier findings of age-dependent differences in the echolocation calls of big brown bats, we could discriminate calls by age class (juvenile versus adult) with 75% correct classification by DFA. We were not able to separate calls by sex. For discrimination of individuals, we found 63% correct classification (compared with 2.5% expected by chance alone). Correct classification was significantly higher for adults than for juveniles (74% versus 69%), perhaps indicating that calls become more stable as a bat ages.
Anterior zonulotomy: Rescue technique for capsulorhexis tear-out

An anterior zonulotomy technique to rescue a capsulorhexis tear-out is described. The technique uses microsurgical instruments that are capable of performing microprocedures within the confines of the anterior chamber. The anterior zonulotomy releases the tractional impediment caused by the anterior zonular fibers, enabling the surgeon to use conventional rescue methods to redirect the CCC centrally. The technique demonstrates how microsurgical instruments can be used to safely perform an anterior zonulotomy for radial tear-outs that have become lodged in the zonular fibers. Financial Disclosure The author has no financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Abstract C46: Racial disparities in risk of second breast tumors after ductal carcinoma in situ: A population-based analysis

Importance: The impact of race and ethnicity on second breast tumors among women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has not been well defined. Objective: To examine racial disparity in DCIS outcomes according to clinical characteristics of tumors. Design, Setting, and Patients: Data from 18 US Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries included 102,489 women diagnosed with primary unilateral DCIS from 1988 through 2009 (white 73.6%, black 9.7%, Asian 9.0%, and Hispanic 7.7%). Patients undergoing mastectomy (n=31,899) were excluded from the analysis of ipsilateral breast recurrence. Main Outcomes and Measures: Relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) of ipsilateral breast recurrence and contralateral breast tumors adjusted for pathologic factors, treatment, age at the diagnosis of DCIS, year of diagnosis, and registry. Results: Among 74,809 women treated with breast conserving surgery or with no surgical treatment, 2,925 (3.9%) developed ipsilateral breast recurrence during a median follow-up of 66 months. Compared with white women, black (RR=1.46; 95% CI, 1.29-1.65) and Hispanic (RR=1.18; 95% CI, 1.03-1.36) women experienced elevated risk of ipsilateral recurrence, which was similar for invasive cancer vs DCIS. A significant increase in risk of ipsilateral recurrence among black women persisted, regardless of age at the diagnosis of DCIS, treatment, tumor grade, tumor size, and histology. Overall, 3,723 (3.6%) of 102,489 women with DCIS developed contralateral breast tumors during a median follow-up of 70 months. The risk for contralateral breast tumors was significantly increased among black (RR=1.21; 95% CI, 1.08-1.36) and Asian (RR=1.16; 95% CI, 1.02-1.31) women compared with white women. Such association depended on type of events (Pheterogeneity Conclusions and Relevance: Black women with DCIS had disproportionately excess risks of second breast tumors in the ipsilateral and contralateral breasts, which could not be explained by pathologic features and treatment. The elevated risk of ipsilateral recurrence among black and Hispanic women suggests their need for more intensive follow-up and surveillance. Citation Format: Ying Liu, Graham Colditz. Racial disparities in risk of second breast tumors after ductal carcinoma in situ: A population-based analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C46. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-C46
Pharmacotherapy Considerations for the Management of Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Health care providers should be aware of the pharmacotherapy considerations in the American Heart Association's guidelines for advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). Current evidence does not suggest a reduction in mortality with ACLS medications; however, these medications can improve return of spontaneous circulation. Proper agent selection and dosing are imperative to maximize benefit and minimize harm. The latest guideline update included major changes to the ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia and pulseless electrical activity/asystole algorithms, which providers should adopt. It is critical that providers be prepared for post-code management. Health care professionals should remain abreast of changing evidence and guidelines.
GENETICS OF HOST-CACTUS RESPONSE AND LIFE-HISTORY EVOLUTION AMONG ANCESTRAL AND DERIVED POPULATIONS OF CACTOPHILIC DROSOPHILA MOJAVENSIS.

The extent of host-specific genetic variation for two life-history traits, egg to adult developmental time and viability, and one morphological trait closely tied to fitness, adult thorax size, was exposed by employing a nested half-sib/full-sib breeding design with Baja and mainland populations of Drosophila mojavensis recently extracted from nature. This study was motivated by the presence of substantial variation in life histories among populations of D. mojavensis that use the fermenting tissues of particular species of columnar cacti for feeding and breeding in the Sonoran Desert. Full-sib progeny from all sire-dam crosses were split into cultures of agria cactus, Stenocereus gummosus, and organ pipe cactus, S. thurberi, to examine patterns of genotype-by-environment interaction for these fitness components. Baja flies expressed shorter egg-to-adult developmental times, higher viabilities, and smaller body sizes than mainland flies consistent with previous studies. Significant sire and dam components of variance were exposed for developmental time and thorax size. Genotype-by-environment interactions were significant at the level of dams for developmental time and nearly significant for viability (P = 0.09). Narrow- and broad-sense heritabilities were influenced by host cactus, sex, and population. No strong pattern of genetic correlation emerged among fitness components suggesting that host-range expansion has not been accompanied by formation of coadapted life histories, yet the ability to estimate genetic correlations and their standard errors was compromised by the unbalanced nature of the data set. Genetic correlations in performance across cacti were slightly positive, evidence for ecological generalism among populations explaining the observed pattern of multiple host cactus use within the species range of D. mojavensis.
Environmentally Conscious Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Environmental and safety issues are becoming increasingly critical for the selection of materials and their processing techniques. While the choice of “green” materials is important from the perspective of disposal of spent or used products, the choice of environmentally sound processes is important to cut down manufacturing waste and limit the use of toxic solvents and solids. Some examples from the electronics and the aerospace industry are described.
Abstract 831: Chemopreventive effects of selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) raloxifene on intestinal neoplasia of APCMin/+ mice

Estrogen receptor β (ER-β) has been implicated in several neoplastic diseases. Previously we have shown that ER-β is up-regulated in human and rodent colonic tumors, suggesting ER-β as a potential target for colon cancer prevention (Naveena et al., CaPR 2009). Thus, ER-β modualtors, SERMs are useful for colon cancer prevention. Hence, we tested raloxifene, an ER antagonist in APC Min/+ mice treated with azoxymethane (AOM), to enhance the colonic tumors. Six-week-old male and female APC Min/+ (9/group) were injected s.c., with AOM at 5 mg/kg BW, once a week for three weeks. APC Min/+ mice were then fed diets containing 0, 1.5, and 3.0 ppm raloxifene for 12 weeks before intestinal tumors and various markers of toxicity, cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated. Results suggest that dietary administration of 1.5 and 3.0 ppm raloxifene in male mice suppressed small intestinal polyp formation by 24% (p 70% less polyps with size of >1-mm suggesting suppression of tumor volume/size. Also, we find that raloxifene treatment in female APC Min/+ mice showed significantly reduced serum creatine phosphokinase and cholesterol levels, and an increased alkaline phosphatase levels when compared to untreated control mice. Also, a dose-dependent increase in serum calcium was observed with raloxifene administration. Dietary raloxifene showed no liver enzyme toxicities as measured by aspartate aminotransferase levels in serum. However, raloxifene administered mice showed a modest decrease in serum glucose levels. The mRNA and protein expression levels for p21 cip/waf1 were significantly higher with decreased expression of Cyclin D1 and PCNA in raloxifene treated colonic tumors and SI polyps compared to control diet fed mice tissues, suggesting estrogen9s function in crypt cell proliferation. Overall, our results clearly suggest that raloxifene significantly suppresses small intestinal and colonic polyps formation by up-regulating p21 cip/waf1 and has potential usefulness for human colon cancer prevention. (Supported by CN53300 and R01-94962) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 831. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-831
Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Solving Magnetohydrodynamic Equations

This abstract discusses the implementation of viscous compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations using Discontinuous Galerkin method. Both onedimensional and two dimensional MHD equations are solved and validation results are presented. The code uses a local Lax-Friedrichs flux for the inviscid numerical fluxes and BR2 scheme for the viscous fluxes. An eight wave formulation [1] is implemented to reduce the divergence errors in the two dimensional simulations. The in house code predicts results accurately when compared to the published results.
A radiation analysis of a Comstockiella chromosome system: destruction of heterochromatic chromosomes during spermatogenesis in Parlatoria oleae (Coccoidea: Diaspididae).

In the males of the olive scale insect, Parlatoria oleae (2n=8), the paternal set of chromosomes becomes heterochromatic during late cleavage or early blastula and remains so until spermatogenesis. Immediately before the onset of meiosis in the males one or more heterochromatic chromosomes disappear from each primary spermatocyte. At prophase four euchromatic and from one to three heterochromatic chromosomes are present in each cell. The disappearance of the heterochromatic chromosomes before meiosis could be due either to the dehetero-chromatization of the heterochromatic chromosomes and their subsequent pairing with their euchromatic homologues, or to the destruction of the heterochromatic chromosomes. — The alternative interpretations of spermatogenesis in P. oleae were tested by using chromosome aberrations, which had been induced in the heterochromatic set by paternal X-irradiation, as genetic markers in breeding tests of about 400 X1 males. Meiosis was examined in X1 males which showed conspicuous chromosomal rearrangements in their somatic cells. The absence of either heteromorphic chromosome pairs or multivalents at spermatogenesis and the failure of the X1 males to transmit any form of chromosome aberration induced by paternal irradiation is strong evidence that the heterochromatic chromosomes are destroyed in P. oleae. — The evolutionary relationships of the chromosome systems in the coccids are considered. Models are outlined for the derivation of a Comstockiella system involving chromosome destruction either from a lecanoid sequence or from a hypothetical Comstockiella sequence involving chromosome pairing. Problems concerning the control of chromosome destruction are discussed.
Abstract 2930: Calorie restriction and rapamycin, but not exercise, inhibit MMTV-Wnt-1 mammary tumor growth in a mouse model of postmenopausal obesity

Obesity is an established breast cancer risk factor in postmenopausal women, and calorie restriction (CR) and exercise (EX) are the two most recommended ways to prevent or reverse obesity. The mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a potential mechanistic target underlying the effects of these interventions, and rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) has been shown to mimic many of the anticancer effects of CR. However, the effects of obesity reversal by CR, EX, or treatment with rapamycin, on mammary tumor development have not been well studied. Therefore, we administered a diet-induced obesity regimen to 60 ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice for 8 weeks to induce obesity. The mice were then randomized into 4 groups (n=15/group): Control (AIN-76A diet ad libitum); CR (30% calorie restriction relative to control); EX (control diet ad libitum + treadmill exercise at 20m/min, 45min/day, 5days/week); and Rapamycin (control diet ad libitum + 5mg/kg injected i.p. every 48 hrs). Body weight and total body fat were measured every two weeks (using MRI). All mice were injected (4 th mammary fat pad) with 5 × 10 4 MMTV-Wnt-1 mammary tumor cells at week 12, and at week 18 tumors were extracted and analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). At the end of the study, mice in the CR group weighed significantly less (27.6 ± 2.6 g) and displayed lower percent body fat (34.7 ± 5.2 %) than mice in the control group (41.7 ± 2.9 g and 47.9 ± 1.8 %). There were no differences in body weigh or percent body fat in the EX (38.3 ± 3.10 g and 45.9 ± 2.6 %) and Rapamycin (37.4 ± 2.7 g and 46.6 ± 5.6 %) groups compared to control. At the end of the study, the CR and Rapamycin groups had comparable tumor weights (0.04 ± 0.02 g and 0.07 ± 0.04 g) that were significantly smaller than those in the control and EX groups (both 0.3 ± 0.2 g and 0.3 ± 0.2 g). IHC analysis showed that Rapamycin significantly reduced p-mTOR, Cyclin D1 and p-S6 Ribosomal Protein (markers of mTOR activation) compared to control, Exercise and CR. Exercise displayed variable levels of p-mTOR, Cyclin D1 and p-S6 and CR displayed no differences compared to control. Rapamycin tumors were bimodal for both p-Akt (upstream of mTOR) and Ki67 (proliferation marker); those tumors displaying high p-Akt (∼50%) also displayed high Ki67 staining, but tumors with low pAkt displayed low Ki67 staining. CR and Exercise had no effect on p-Akt and Ki67 compared to control. There were no differences in Cleaved-Caspase 3 (marker of apoptosis) between the groups. We conclude that CR and Rapamycin reverse the effects of obesity on Wnt-1 mammary tumor growth, but apparently via different mechanisms, while EX does not appear to have anti-tumor growth effects in obese mice. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2930.