cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The “caudate-spindle” II. Facilitatory and inhibitory caudate-cortical pathways

Abstract In acute surgical experiments on cats it was found that transmission as well as generation of caudate-induced cortical spindles depend primarily on rostral diencephalic structures (n. ventralis anterior). The same was found to be true of caudate-induced cortical desynchronization. The existence of a “caudate-loop” (thalamus→caudate→ventral anterior nucleus) is suggested into which ascending signals are fed off, and from which they return as modified
Organizational Citizenship and Selection: Does Candidate Gender Matter?

A recent study by Podsakoff et al. (2011) reported that candidates for jobs who were judged as displaying higher levels of certain organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) were evaluated more fa...
Direct and legacy effects of long‐term elevated CO2 on fine root growth and plant–insect interactions

Increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations alter leaf physiology, with effects that cascade to communities and ecosystems. Yet, responses over cycles of disturbance and recovery are not well known, because most experiments span limited ecological time. We examined the effects of CO₂ on root growth, herbivory and arthropod biodiversity in a woodland from 1996 to 2006, and the legacy of CO₂ enrichment on these processes during the year after the CO₂ treatment ceased. We used minirhizotrons to study root growth, leaf censuses to study herbivory and pitfall traps to determine the effects of elevated CO₂ on arthropod biodiversity. Elevated CO₂ increased fine root biomass, but decreased foliar nitrogen and herbivory on all plant species. Insect biodiversity was unchanged in elevated CO₂. Legacy effects of elevated CO₂ disappeared quickly as fine root growth, foliar nitrogen and herbivory levels recovered in the next growing season following the cessation of elevated CO₂. Although the effects of elevated CO₂ cascade through plants to herbivores, they do not reach other trophic levels, and biodiversity remains unchanged. The legacy of 10 yr of elevated CO₂ on plant-herbivore interactions in this system appear to be minimal, indicating that the effects of elevated CO₂ may not accumulate over cycles of disturbance and recovery.
Beta Endorphin Levels in PCOS Women: Relationship With Insulin Secretion

Background : An understanding of the relationship between beta endorphin ( Beta ) with insulin, glucose and gonadotropins may explain how non-pharmacologic treatment options such as exercise and acupuncture may be beneficial to women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The objective was to examine the correlation of Beta with insulin, glucose and gonadotropins, controlling for exercise and body mass index (BMI). Methods : 40 untreated women with a confirmed diagnosis of PCOS (NIH criteria) were tested. Height, exercise frequency and exercise intensity were self-reported; weight was measured by nurses. Blood samples were collected for the biological measures of interest. The setting was an academic US medical center. Statistical analyses consisted of Spearman correlations and partial correlations with an alpha = 0.05. The main outcome measures included plasma Beta, insulin and glucose (fasting and AUC) from a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, serum gonadotropins. Results : The mean Beta level was 7.92 pmol / mL (sd = 4.0, range 1.92 - 18.7, 25% / 75% interquartile range 4.56 - 11.29). Beta was associated with log e AUC-insulin (P = 0.04) after adjustment for exercise as measured via energy equivalents; this correlation was unaffected by additional control of BMI. No relationship between Beta and luteinizing hormone, the luteinizing hormone / follicle stimulating hormone ratio, or glucose was seen after accounting for BMI and exercise. Conclusion : Beta was positively correlated with AUC-insulin after accounting for exercise. Future studies could investigate the affects of Beta -potentiating therapies, such as exercise and acupuncture, in women with PCOS to determine how these changes in Beta are related to insulin / glucagon balance. doi:10.4021/jem62w
Quantitative Assessment of Lung Function in Stage I and Stage III Lung Radiation Therapy Patients Using 4DCT-based Ventilation Imaging

To calculate ventilation: the lungs were segmented on the inhale and exhale phase of the 4DCT dataset. Once the lungs were appropriately segmented, a deformable image registration algorithm was used to link the lung voxel elements in the inhale phase to the exhale phase. Following spatial registration, corresponding Hounsfield Units were input into a density-change-based model for quantifying the local ventilation (Equation 1).
An Experimental Study of Ammonia-Water Bubble Absorption in a Large Aspect Ratio Microchannel

An experimental study of absorption of ammonia into a constrained thin film of ammonia-water solution is presented. A large aspect ratio microchannel with one of its walls formed by a porous material is used to constrain the thickness of the liquid film. An exit visualization section was used to confirm absorption of ammonia gas within the microchannel. Experiments were performed at a pressure of 1 bar and a fixed inlet temperature of the weak solution, for weak solution flow rates from 10 to 30 g/min, inlet mass concentrations from 0 to 15 percent, and gas flow rates between 1 and 3 g/min. Results indicate that the overall heat transfer coefficient changes little for lower inlet weak solution concentrations and for lower gas flow rates, but increases noticeably for a higher solution and gas flow rate. The solution side log-mean temperature distribution increases with an increase in inlet solution concentration. Absorber exit visualization revealed the presence of periodic ammonia bubbles, occurring in varying sizes and periods, indicating that improvements to the current design are necessary to ensure complete absorption within the microchannel.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Cloning and expression of secreted antigens of Clostridium difficile in Escherichia coli.

Abstract The feasibility of the cloning and expression of Clostridium difficile antigens in Escherichia coli was investigated. The expression of a limited number of cloned clostridial antigens under the control of clostridial promoter elements in E. coli was observed.
Conglomerability of probability measures on Boolean algebras

For the case where B is a Boolean algebra of events and P is a probability (finitely additive) deFinetti (1972) considered the question of conglomerability of P and found that in many circumstances this natural notion was equivalent to countable additivity of P. Schervish, Seidenfeld, and Kadane (1984) pursued these investigations on the connection between countable additivity and conglomerability in greater detail for the case where B is a σ-algebra. Hill and Lane (1985) and Zame (1988) give alternative proofs. This article is an extension (for the most part) of Schervish, Seidenfeld, and Kadane's work to the case where B is an arbitrary Boolean algebra. The more restrictive notion of positive conglomerability for a class of algebras, including the countable algebras, σ-complete algebras, and inifinite product algebras is treated completely. This class is described by the requirement that a {0, 1}-valued measure be countably additive if every countable family of negligible sets is contained within a negligible set (i.e., corresponds to a P-point of of the Stone space). In general positive conglomerability fails to be equivalent to countable additivity though the degree of failure is minor. Building on techniques of Hill, Lane, and Zame, we obtain partial results on conglomerability for non-σ-complete algebras.
Extending Deterrence Theory: Do Delinquent Peers Condition the Relationship between Perceptions of Getting Caught and Offending?

Studies suggest that the perceived certainty of punishment has little or no effect on subsequent offending. Some researchers, however, argue that perceived certainty deters offending among some types of people but not among others. This article contributes to this line of argument by examining whether the effect of perceived certainty on offending is conditioned by the individual's social environment, specifically the individual's level of association with delinquent peers. Using longitudinal data from a sample of high school students, the authors find that perceived certainty only predicts offending among youth with no or some delinquent peers.
Energy allocation strategies of young temperate fish: an eco-genetic modeling approach

We use an individual-based eco-genetic model to explore the relative selective pressures of size-dependent predation, overwinter mortality, and density-dependent energy acquisition in structuring p...
Selection policies for a multifunctional workforce

This paper investigates the selection and assignment of workers to tasks based on individual learning and forgetting characteristics in order to improve system throughput. We examine the performance of five policies that rank and select workers using a learning and forgetting-based assignment to address the task allocation problem. We are interested in the interaction between the implemented policies and various factors such as the ratio of generalists to specialists in the workforce, the level of multifunctionality and the level of workforce heterogeneity. Results demonstrate that, when implementing cross-training, selecting workers based on a greedy prediction of system output is outperformed by other simpler policies based on prior expertise.
Bellingshausen and western Antarctic Peninsula region: Pigment biomass and sea-ice spatial/temporal distributions and interannual variabilty

The Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program seeks to obtain a comprehensive understanding of various components of the Antarctic marine ecosystem—the assemblage of plants, microbes, animals, ocean, and sea-ice south of the Antarctic Polar Front. A central hypothesis of the Palmer LTER is that the seasonal and interannual variability of sea ice affects all levels of the Antarctic marine ecosystem, from the timing and magnitude of seasonal primary production to the breeding success and survival of apex predators. In the context of this high-latitude ecosystem we use satellite imagery to examine physical forcing and possible mechanisms influencing the distribution of phytoplankton biomass in the region to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula. We evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of pigment biomass (estimated as chlorophyll-a concentrations using SeaWiFS data) in response to the spatial and temporal variability of sea-ice extent (estimated from passive microwave satellite data). While the ocean-color data record is relatively short (7 years) and contains high interannual variability, there are persistent spatial patterns of phytoplankton biomass that indicate important regional-scale physical mechanisms including: the marginal ice zone and its impact on the mixed-layer depth, the timing of spring sea-ice retreat, the importance of the southern Antarctic Circumpolar front, and teleconnections with sub-polar regions. The SeaWIFS imagery presented here provides the most complete synoptic space/time views of phytoplankton biomass within this region to date. These observations suggest that the southern Antarctic Circumpolar front may have a more profound influence on the western Antarctic Peninsula ecosystem than previously thought.
Transducer design and neural signature analysis for diagnosis of energized transmission lines

A new sensor technology based on electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT) for nondestructive testing is developed and used for real-time fault recognition of energized overhead transmission lines. The fault detection is achieved by analysis of the reflected signatures from broken strands on the transmission line. Reflected waves received by the EMAT are analyzed using an artificial neural network (ANN) technique for failure detection and signature identification. From the field tests done at two towers of live transmission lines, this EMAT system shows prospective potential for fault detection in electric transmission lines.
Radiographic and patient factors associated with pre-radiographic osteoarthritis in hip dysplasia.

Background: Hip dysplasia leads to abnormal loading of articular cartilage, which results in osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomic and demographic factors associated with the early onset of osteoarthritis in dysplastic hips by utilizing the delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) index as a marker of the disease. Methods: Ninety-six symptomatic dysplastic hips in seventy-four patients were assessed with standard radiographs and a dGEMRIC scan. The lateral center-edge angle of Wiberg, the acetabular index of Tonnis, and the break in the Shenton line were measured on a standing anteroposterior radiograph. Anterior undercoverage was assessed by measuring the anterior center-edge angle on a Lequesne false-profile view. A labral tear was considered to be present when contrast agent was seen through the entire thickness of the labrum on magnetic resonance arthrography. Osteoarthritis was defined as a dGEMRIC value of <390 msec (two standard deviations below the dGEMRIC index in normal hips). Results: The mean dGEMRIC index (and standard deviation) for this cohort (473 ± 104 msec) was significantly lower than that of a morphologically normal hip (570 ± 90 msec). The anterior center-edge angle, the joint space width, and the presence of a labral tear were all found to be associated with osteoarthritis in the univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis identified age, the anterior center-edge angle, and the presence of a labral tear as independent factors associated with osteoarthritis. A second model was fitted with omission of the anterior center-edge angle because the lateral and anterior center-edge angles were highly correlated and the lateral center-edge angle is a more common clinical measure. This model identified age, the lateral center-edge angle, and the presence of a labral tear as significant independent factors associated with osteoarthritis. Conclusions: As has been demonstrated in previous studies of the hip, this investigation showed osteoarthritis to be associated with increasing age and the severity of dysplasia, as demonstrated both by the Wiberg lateral center-edge angle and the Lequesne anterior center-edge angle. Additionally, we identified a labral tear as being a risk factor for osteoarthritis. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Labor induction in the patient with preterm premature rupture of membranes

Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) affects up to one-third of all preterm births and confers serious maternal risks, including intra-amniotic infection, and an increased risk of neonatal complications, including respiratory distress and intraventricular hemorrhage. Management of PPROM is a highly individualized process that requires an accurate determination of gestational age and causal factors, as well as the balancing of maternal and fetal risks. In this review of the existing literature on induction of labor in PPROM, we examine the differences in appropriate management of patients with early (32 weeks 0 days to 33 weeks 6 days) and near term (34 weeks 0 days to 36 weeks 6 days) PPROM, and compare the safety and efficacy of available treatment options. This review of previous research findings provides general guidelines for clinical decision making and highlights the need for future research on management of PPROM.
Thiol-acrylate nanocomposite foams for critical size bone defect repair: A novel biomaterial.

Bone tissue engineering approaches using polymer/ceramic composites show promise as effective biocompatible, absorbable, and osteoinductive materials. A novel class of in situ polymerizing thiol-acrylate based copolymers synthesized via an amine-catalyzed Michael addition was studied for its potential to be used in bone defect repair. Both pentaerythritol triacrylate-co-trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETA-co-TMPTMP) and PETA-co-TMPTMP with hydroxyapatite (HA) composites were fabricated in solid cast and foamed forms. These materials were characterized chemically and mechanically followed by an in vitro evaluation of the biocompatibility and chemical stability in conjunction with human adipose-derived mesenchymal pluripotent stem cells (hASC). The solid PETA-co-TMPTMP with and without HA exhibited compressive strength in the range of 7–20 MPa, while the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility results demonstrate higher metabolic activity of hASC on PETA-co-TMPTMP than on a polycaprolactone control. Scanning electron microscope imaging of hASC show expected spindle shaped morphology when adhered to copolymer. Micro-CT analysis indicates open cell interconnected pores. Foamed PETA-co-TMPTMP HA composite shows promise as an alternative to FDA-approved biopolymers for bone tissue engineering applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A: 3531–3541, 2013.
Aspect Extraction through Semi-Supervised Modeling

Aspect extraction is a central problem in sentiment analysis. Current methods either extract aspects without categorizing them, or extract and categorize them using unsupervised topic modeling. By categorizing, we mean the synonymous aspects should be clustered into the same category. In this paper, we solve the problem in a different setting where the user provides some seed words for a few aspect categories and the model extracts and clusters aspect terms into categories simultaneously. This setting is important because categorizing aspects is a subjective task. For different application purposes, different categorizations may be needed. Some form of user guidance is desired. In this paper, we propose two statistical models to solve this seeded problem, which aim to discover exactly what the user wants. Our experimental results show that the two proposed models are indeed able to perform the task effectively.
Tau decays involving the eta meson.

The decays of the \ensuremath{\tau} lepton which involve the \ensuremath{\eta} meson are examined within the standard model. Such modes are prime candidates to comprise the approximately 7% of \ensuremath{\tau} decays (with a one-prong topology) that are not assignable to known exclusive channels. It is shown that the combination of existing electron-positron annihilation data and measurements of five-prong \ensuremath{\tau} decays prevents modes involving the \ensuremath{\eta} from contributing more than 2% to one-prong \ensuremath{\tau} decays.
Relationship of Effective to Census Size in Fluctuating Populations

: The effective size of a population ( Ne ) rather than the census size ( N) determines its rate of genetic drift. Knowing the ratio of effective to census size, Ne / N, is useful for estimating the effective size of a population from census data and for examining how different ecological factors influence effective size. Two different multigenerational ratios have been used in the literature based on either the arithmetic mean or the harmonic mean in the denominator. We clarify the interpretation and meaning of these ratios. The arithmetic mean Ne / N ratio compares the total number of real individuals to the long-term effective size of the population. The harmonic mean Ne / N ratio summarizes variation in the Ne / N ratio for each generation. In addition, we show that the ratio of the harmonic mean population size to the arithmetic mean population size provides a useful measure of how much fluctuation in size reduced the effective size of a population. We discuss applications of these ratios and emphasize how to use the harmonic mean Ne / N ratio to estimate the effective size of a population over a period of time for which census counts have been collected. Resumen: El tamano efectivo de una poblacion ( Ne ) y no el tamano censal ( N) determina su tasa de deriva genica. Conocer la proporcion del tamano efectivo con el censal, Ne / N, es de utilidad para estimar el tamano efectivo de una poblacion a partir de datos censales y para examinar como influyen en el tamano efectivo diferentes factores ecologicos. Se han utilizado dos diferentes proporciones Ne / N en la literatura basados en la media aritmetica o en la media armonica en el denominador. Aclaramos la interpretacion y significado de esas proporciones. La media aritmetica en la relacion Ne / N compara el total de individuos reales con el tamano efectivo de la poblacion a largo plazo. La relacion Ne / N con base en la media armonica sintetiza la variacion en la proporcion Ne / N para cada generacion. Adicionalmente, mostramos que la proporcion de la media armonica del tamano poblacional con la media aritmetica del tamano poblacional es una medida util de como la fluctuacion en tamano reduce el tamano efectivo de una poblacion. Discutimos las aplicaciones de estas proporciones y enfatizamos como utilizar la proporcion Ne / N basada en la media armonica para estimar el tamano efectivo de una poblacion en un periodo de tiempo en el cual se han colectado datos censales.
Pressure‐Sintered Silicon Carbide

Silicon carbide was hot-pressed to uniform densities of the order of 98% of the theoretical density, with slight additions of aluminum and iron aiding in this densification. Other elements having some effect were lithium, calcium, chromium, zirconium, and boron. This dense silicon carbide had very high strength at high temperatures; for example, it had a modulus of rupture of 70,000 1b. per sq. in. at 2500°F.
SINGLE-MOLECULE ANALYSIS OF RNA POLYMERASE TRANSCRIPTION

The kinetics and mechanisms of transcription are now being investigated by a repertoire of single-molecule techniques, including optical and magnetic tweezers, high-sensitivity fluorescence techniques, and atomic force microscopy. Single-molecule techniques complement traditional biochemical and crystallographic approaches, are capable of detecting the motions and dynamics of individual RNAP molecules and transcription complexes in real time, and make it possible to directly measure RNAP binding to and unwinding of template DNA, as well as RNAP translocation along the DNA during transcript synthesis.
Defining frequent use: the numbers no longer count.

Just about every other business but ours welcomes frequent patrons. Rack up more airline miles and you get a better seat; buy 10 lattes, the next one is free. But in the emergency department (ED), frequent translates to “too frequent.” Frequent users of EDs—in the opinion of the public and many in the health care profession—are responsible for the increase in ED visits and abuse of health care dollars; they are likely homeless, mentally ill, substance users, and (in the United States) uninsured; they are too impatient or too lazy to make an appointment with their primary physicians (if they have them); and their problems don’t require an ED. These myths persist despite several previous large population-based studies showing that frequent users are similar to less frequent users, with the exception of their greater health care needs. In this month’s Annals, Doupe et al have not only reinforced these earlier studies but also further elucidated that frequent users are not of a piece. Eschewing the traditional (and probably outdated) definition of a frequent user, one who makes 3 to 5 visits annually, the authors determined that patients with as many as 6 visits are similar to those with 1 visit. Only if one moves the bar several notches to the right and defines frequent visits as 7 or more annually do we start to see some differences in patient characteristics and needs. Those with 7 or more visits had a greater incidence of mental illness and substance abuse. Those with 18 or more visits were actually younger than the other groups but had a higher rate of mental illness. According to these findings, it might be tempting to redefine frequent use according to the “breakpoint” in patient characteristics. However, the breakpoints are not clear cut, and they overlap. Mental illness is present in the group with 1 to 6 visits; the proportion of patients with many primary care visits gradually increases from 1 to 18 visits. The characteristics of highly frequent users change at 15 visits according to their residence and at 17 visits according to age, and the number of primary care visits is about the same. These results agree with previous research showing that the factors prompting frequent use exist along a t
High-throughput measurements of the optical redox ratio using a commercial microplate reader

There is a need for accurate, high-throughput, functional measures to gauge the efficacy of potential drugs in living cells. As an early marker of drug response in cells, cellular metabolism provides an attractive platform for high-throughput drug testing. Optical techniques can noninvasively monitor NADH and FAD, two autofluorescent metabolic coenzymes. The autofluorescent redox ratio, defined as the autofluorescence intensity of NADH divided by that of FAD, quantifies relative rates of cellular glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. However, current microscopy methods for redox ratio quantification are time-intensive and low-throughput, limiting their practicality in drug screening. Alternatively, high-throughput commercial microplate readers quickly measure fluorescence intensities for hundreds of wells. This study found that a commercial microplate reader can differentiate the receptor status of breast cancer cell lines (p 0.05) in cell lines that are responsive and nonresponsive, respectively, to the breast cancer drug trastuzumab. These studies indicate that the microplate readers can be used to measure the redox ratio in a high-throughput manner and are sensitive enough to detect differences in cellular metabolism that are consistent with microscopy results.
Are dietary restraint scales valid measures of acute dietary restriction? Unobtrusive observational data suggest not

The finding that dietary restraint scales predict onset of bulimic pathology has been interpreted as suggesting that dieting causes this eating disturbance, despite the dearth of evidence that these scales are valid measures of dietary restriction. The authors conducted 4 studies that tested whether dietary restraint scales were inversely correlated with unobtrusively measured caloric intake. These studies, which varied in foods consumed, settings, and populations, indicated that common dietary restraint scales were largely uncorrelated with acute caloric intake. Results suggest that these scales are not valid measures of short-term dietary restriction and imply that it may be prudent to reinterpret findings from studies thai use these scales, including those that suggest dietary restraint is a risk factor for bulimic pathology.
Paraplegia after thoracic aortic occlusion: influence of cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Experimental and early clinical results.

Abstract Paraplegia occurs in 6.5% to 40% of patients after repair of extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms requiring aortic clamping. This study aimed to determine whether drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) done before aortic cross-clamping could decrease the incidence of paraplegia in dogs. The descending thoracic aorta was clamped distal to the left subclavian artery for either 40 minutes (group I) or 60 minutes (group II). All control animals in group I (10) and group II (10) showed evidence of spinal cord injury with paraparesis or paraplegia. In contrast, 9 of 10 animals (90%) in group I and 7 of 10 animals (70%) in group II that had CSF drainage before aortic cross-clamping were neurologically normal (p
Duration of freezing necessary to damage the leaves of Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decraene

Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decraene is an invasive plant species that introduces economic, social, and environmental stresses. After observing frost damage to F. japonica plants in the field, we exposed leaves of F. japonica and a native species (Acer saccharum Marshall) to freezing temperatures in the laboratory and compared their net photosynthetic rate to that of fresh leaves. In both species, the net photosynthetic rate of leaves frozen for 0.5 h or for 1 h were not significantly different from each other but were both significantly less than that of fresh leaves. Fresh leaves of F. japonica had a higher net photosynthetic rate than those of A. saccharum, but the relationship was reversed in all freezing treatments. Frozen leaves of F. japonica contained microscopically visible frost lenses, which revealed the mechanism of the damage. These results quantify how quickly F. japonica is damaged by freezing conditions and suggest that minimum vernal temperatures may limit its range expansion.
Characterization of sub-systems of a molecular biowire-based biosensor device

We describe the fabrication and characterization of components of a biosensor system that can be used for simultaneous screening of multiple pathogens in a sample. The two sub-systems are: (1) a mixed antibody immunosensor based on molecular biowires and (2) a multi-channel potentiostat for measuring conductance across the immunosensor. The immunosensor operates by converting binding events between antigen and antibody into a measurable electrical signal using polyaniline nanowires as labels and transducers. By mixing and patterning antibodies on a substrate, the response of the biosensor can detect the presence of either one of several pathogens present in the analyte through an equivalent change in conductance. The paper also presents a 42-channel potentiostat array which can be used for measuring the conductance change across the immunosensor. Each channel of the array uses a novel semi-synchronous ΣΔ modulator which enables detection down to femtoampere current ranges.
Plastering: A new approach to automated, 3-D hexahedral mesh generation

This report describes the progress of the three-dimensional mesh generation research, using plastering, during the 1990 fiscal year. Plastering is a 3-D extension of the two-dimensional paving technique. The objective is to fill an arbitrary volume with hexahedral elements. The plastering algorithm's approach to the problem is to remove rows of elements from the exterior of the volume. Elements are removed, one level at a time, until the volume vanishes. Special closure algorithms may be necessary at the center. The report also discusses the common development environment and software management issues. 13 refs.
Identification of the A-band localization domain of myosin binding proteins C and H (MyBP-C, MyBP-H) in skeletal muscle

Although major constituents of the thick filaments of vertebrate striated muscles, the myosin binding proteins (MyBP-C and MyBP-H) are still of uncertain function. Distributed in the cross-bridge bearing zone of the A-bands of myofibrils, in a series of transverse 43 nm stripes, the proteins are constructed of a tandem series of small globular domains, each composed of approximately 90-100 amino acids, which have sequence similarities to either the C2-set of immunoglobulins (IgC2) and the fibronectin type III (FnIII) motifs. MyBP-C is composed of ten globular domains ( approximately 130 kDa) whereas MyBP-H is smaller ( approximately 58 kDa) and consists of a unique N-terminal segment followed by four globular domains, the order of which is identical to that of MyBP-C (FnIII-IgC2-FnIII-IgC2). To improve our understanding of this protein family we have characterized the domains in each of these two proteins which are required for targeting the proteins to their native site(s) in the sarcomere during myogenesis. Cultures of skeletal muscle myoblasts were transfected with expression plasmids encoding mutant constructs of the MyBPs bearing an N-terminal myc epitope, and their localization to the A-band examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Based on the clarity and intensity of the myc A-band signals we concluded that constructs encoding the four C-terminal motifs of MyBP-C and MyBP-H ( approximately 360 amino acids) were all that was necessary to efficiently localize each of these peptides to the A-band. Truncation mutants lacking one of these 4 domains were less efficiently targeted to the C-zone of the sarcomere. Deletion of the last C-terminal motif of MyBP-H, its myosin binding domain, abolished all localization to the A-band. A chimeric construct, HU-3C10, in which the C-terminal motif of MyBP-H was replaced by the myosin binding domain of MyBP-C, efficiently localized to the A-band. Taken together, these observations indicate that MyBP-C and MyBP-H are localized to the A-band by the same C-terminal domain, composed of two IgC2 and two FnIII motifs. A model has been proposed for the interaction and positioning of the MyBPs in the thick filament through a ternary complex of the four C-terminal motifs with the myosin rods and titin.
Food security amidst water scarcity: Insights on sustainable food production from Saudi Arabia

Abstract Water, energy, and food security are of critical concern as rising population growth and rapid urbanization place greater pressure on our natural resources. The trade of ‘virtual water’ through agricultural products and its appropriation through foreign direct investment (FDI) in food production have emerged as potential strategies for water-scarce countries seeking food security. In Saudi Arabia, where domestic agricultural enterprise remains a state priority despite extreme water scarcity, a shift to overseas food production to meet domestic demand could have significant implications for water and energy use as well as local labor markets. This study evaluates the growing internationalization of food production in water-scarce countries using the case of Saudi Arabia as a microcosm to illustrate the tradeoffs in resource consumption associated with crop selection and farming practices. This analysis indicates that the implications of different types of large-scale agribusiness must be more explicitly accounted for in government policy given the non-renewable nature of groundwater and energy. This work also quantifies the increase in the import of virtual water through conventional trade, which has significant potential to minimize groundwater pumping for food production in arid environments. A brief, complementary assessment of the growing role of FDI shows that further analysis is needed to ascertain the long-term resource impacts of direct investment in overseas enterprise and to minimize potentially negative impacts on water access and rural livelihoods in target nations. Active engagement of local communities and/or more holistic investment in infrastructure or improving agricultural productivity could also help avoid the potential for conflict and contribute towards long-term sustainability.
Ion channels and calcium signaling in motile cilia

The beating of motile cilia generates fluid flow over epithelia in brain ventricles, airways, and Fallopian tubes. Here, we patch clamp single motile cilia of mammalian ependymal cells and examine their potential function as a calcium signaling compartment. Resting motile cilia calcium concentration ([Ca2+] ~170 nM) is only slightly elevated over cytoplasmic [Ca2+] (~100 nM) at steady state. Ca2+ changes that arise in the cytoplasm rapidly equilibrate in motile cilia. We measured CaV1 voltage-gated calcium channels in ependymal cells, but these channels are not specifically enriched in motile cilia. Membrane depolarization increases ciliary [Ca2+], but only marginally alters cilia beating and cilia-driven fluid velocity within short (~1 min) time frames. We conclude that beating of ependymal motile cilia is not tightly regulated by voltage-gated calcium channels, unlike that of well-studied motile cilia and flagella in protists, such as Paramecia and Chlamydomonas.
Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl derivatives of transition metals : IV. Some new (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)metal carbonyl derivatives of chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten: reactivity of bimetallic compounds with metal-metal triple bonds.

Abstract Some reactions of [(CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 2 ] 2 (M = Cr and Mo) and (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 3 CH 3 (M = Mo andW) are described. Reactions of the bimetallic derivatives [(CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 2 ] 2 (M = Cr and Mo) general result in complete cleavage of the metal-metal triple bond often with carbonyl transfer to give monometallic (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 3 X derivatives. Thus treatment of [(CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 2 ] 2 (M = Cr and Mo) with sodium amalgam in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature gives the anions [(CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 3 ] - identified by reactions with (C 6 H 5 ) 3 SnCl, HgCl 2 and Hg(CN) 2 to give the corresponding yellow (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 3 R derivativees [R(C 6 H 5 ) 3 Sn, ClHg, and 1/2 Hg]. Reactions of [(CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 2 ] 2 (M = Cr and Mo) with iodine at room temperature give the corresponding violet to red tricarbonyl iodides (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 3 I (M = Cr and Mo). Reactions of [(CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO 2 ] 2 (M = Cr and Mo) with nitric oxide at room temperature give the corresponding orange nitrosyls (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 2 NO (M = Cr and MO). The methyl derivatives (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 3 CH 3 (M = Mo and W) react with iodine to give the iodides (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 3 I (M = Mo and W) and (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 W(CO) 2 I 3 and with sulfur dioxide to give t he yellow S-sulfinates (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 M(CO) 3 So 2 CH 3 (M = Mo and W). The reaction of acetylpentamethyl- cyclopentadiene with (CH 3 CN) 3 W(CO) 3 in boiling methylcyclohexane gives the yellow σ-acetyl derivative (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 W(CO) 3 (COCH 3 ) in low yield in addition to the previously reported σ-methyl derivative (CH 3 ) 5 C 5 W(CO) 3 CH 3 .
DIDMOAD syndrome in a Libyan family.

SUMMARYWe report three Libyan children from one family with the syndrome diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness, (DIDMOAD). Two children presented with diabetic ketoacidosis while one was discovered during screening of the family. All three children are alive, two of them on desmopressin (DDAVP) and insulin therapy and one on DDAVP only.
Women and Addiction

Over the last 25 years, awareness of the significance of gender differences in addiction has grown exponentially in the United States. International studies of gender differences are scarce but growing in number. Understanding gender differences in epidemiology, etiology, risk and protective factors, clinical presentation, psychiatric comorbidity, course of illness, and treatment outcomes of substance use disorders (SUDs), particularly in developing countries, is critical to the implementation of effective treatment and prevention strategies.
Unified Synthesis of 10-Oxygenated Lycopodium Alkaloids: Impact of C10-Stereochemistry on Reactivity

The pronounced impact of the C10 stereochemistry on the successful construction of a polycyclic Lycopodium alkaloid scaffold has been explored. A wide range of reaction conditions and functionality were investigated to control a keto sulfone Michael addition to construct the C7–C12 linkage. An unexpected, overriding impact of the C10 stereochemistry in stereoselectivity and reaction rate in the Michael addition was observed. Furthermore, divergent reactivity of a conformationally accelerated, intramolecular Mannich cyclization based on the C10 stereochemistry was discovered. The successful execution of this synthetic route resulted in the total synthesis of all three known 10-oxygenated Lycopodium alkaloids: 10-hydroxylycopodine, paniculine, and deacetylpaniculine.
SOME UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF FLUORESCENCE DECAY DATA

Publisher Summary This chapter explores a few unresolved questions pertaining to the mathematical analysis of fluorescence decay data. Several studies have focused on compartmental analysis identification problems. The chapter discusses applications of the techniques to the analysis of multiexponential fluorescence decay data. It explores the problem of determination of the amplitudes and time constants for the N exponential components present in the data. The chapter discusses the treatment of nonrandom errors such as scattered light, zero time shifts, and cutoff errors. The method of analysis used is based on moment techniques. The chapter discusses the experiments in which a sample containing fluorescent molecules is excited with a short pulse of light. Many of the excited molecules emitted photons fluorescently and a single photon was detected randomly by the instrument. The time between excitation and the detected emission was measured, and the event is recorded. This process was repeated until a histogram was developed representing the fluorescence decay profile. In the study, each fluorescent component was assumed to decay exponentially.
Effects of Urban Vegetation on Mitigating Exposure of Vulnerable Populations to Excessive Heat in Cleveland, Ohio

AbstractHot weather is a threat to human health, especially in cities, where urban heat islands (UHIs) are elevating temperatures already on the rise from global climate change. Increased vegetation can help reduce temperatures and exposure to heat hazards. Here, an ensemble of geographically weighted regressions (GWR) on land surface temperature (LST) is conducted for May–October to estimate potential LST reductions from increased vegetation and to assess the effect of temperature reductions among vulnerable populations in Cleveland, Ohio. Possible tree canopy increases are applied to the results, and it is found that LST reductions can range from 6.4° to 0.5°C for May–October and are strongest from May to July. Potential LST reductions vary spatially according to possible canopy increases and are highest in suburban fringe neighborhoods and lower in downtown areas. Among populations at high heat-related health risks, the percentage of the population 65 years of age or older in Cleveland is negatively as...
W. Arthur Lewis and New World: Variations within the Analytic Framework of Neoclassical Economics

Substantively, the broad disagreements between the NWG and W. Arthur Lewis reflected technical rather than fundamental differences, as the main disagreements were internal to neoclassical economic theory. Lewis was aware that imperialism (1870-1945) retarded and/or constrained the space for capital accumulation in the colonies and that it produced and/or intensified economic inequality and limited social transformation in most colonies; however, this was not an original insight. Lewis said, the “backwardness of the less developed countries of 1870 could be changed only by people prepared to alter certain customs, laws, and institutions, and to shift the balance of political and economic power away from the old landowning and aristocratic classes.” He stressed that “the imperial powers ... allied themselves with the existing power blocs. They were especially hostile to educated young people whom, by means of a color bar, they usually kept out of positions where administrative experience might be gained, whether in the public service or in private business…. One result of this was to divert into a long and bitter anti-colonial struggles much brilliant talent which could have been used creatively in development sectors” (Lewis 1978: 214, quoted in Frieden 2006:91; see Girvan 2005; Boulding 1951: 216).
Mapping Personas: Designing UX Relationships for an Online Coastal Atlas

Abstract Following the emerging importance of networks to digital rhetoric, we theorize user experience (UX) design as a form of networked rhetoric. By networked rhetoric, we mean the act of tracing rhetorical impacts between human and nonhuman actors within networks. While researching emerging trends in this area, we were asked to conduct a usability study of an online coastal atlas. During this research project, we found that the atlas was not usable for many of its core user base, and were able to help the atlas’s development team to rethink their application based on the relationships they wanted users to be able to form with this emerging system. Through our discussion of this research within the purview of networked rhetoric, we provide implications for other digital rhetoricians interested in helping to craft better user experiences for their colleagues, students, and community partners.
Reactive Information Displays

Reactive Information Displays (RIDs) that track and react to a user's attention, to present the right information at the right place and in the right time, constitute a relatively unexplored frontier in Human- Computer Interaction. While research on this topic has a two-decade history, advances have been sporadic. One reason may be the difficulty in developing models for predicting the user's attention trajectory and information needs. This paper describes a cognitive model of comprehension and problem solving in visuo-spatial and causal reasoning tasks, points out how principles derived from the model suggest an approach to RID design, and discusses results from an experiment that compared problem solving from a static display and four kinds of RIDs. Results indicate that RIDs have the potential to enhance user performance.
Brand portfolio coherence: Scale development and empirical demonstration

Abstract Pressure to manage complex and dynamic brand portfolios has posed a serious challenge for firms in protecting their brand identity and retaining loyal customers. To help firms overcome this challenge, the authors propose the new construct of brand portfolio coherence (BPC) to describe consumers' perceptions that (sub-)brands in a brand portfolio share a common underlying logic of features reflected in design, personality, and status. Through three comprehensive studies, the research develops and validates a multi-dimensional measure of BPC and differentiates it from relevant constructs, such as brand fit, connection, positioning, trust, and loyalty. Nomological examination shows that perceived BPC improves (re)purchase decisions with regard to brands in the portfolio. Furthermore, the research uncovers the mechanisms through which BPC exerts its impact and identifies customer-, product-, and brand strategy–related boundaries of the effect. Overall, the BPC construct and measure offer useful tools and managerial implications for firms to effectively manage brand portfolios to retain and grow customer base.
Ergodicity of the Weil–Petersson Geodesic Flow

We describe the proof that the geodesic flow for the Weil–Petersson metric on the moduli space of Riemann surfaces is ergodic and in fact Bernoulli. Other chapters in this volume complement this summary by describing in depth the needed implementation of the Hopf argument and some of the pertinent aspects of moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces (and Teichmuller theory).