cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing Fleeting Interactions in Large and Dynamic Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases with Novel NMR Methods

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are modular, multi-domain, enzymatic assembly lines that combine simple substrates to synthesize complex natural products (e.g. penicillin, bacitracin, yersiniabactin). Substrates are each covalently attached to so-called carrier proteins (CP) via a post-translationally introduced phosphopantetheine arm. CPs present the substrates to catalytic domains in a series of transient, sequential domain/domain and domain/substrate interactions during biosynthesis. Thus, understanding the mechanism of NRPS assembly line synthesis necessitates both characterizing fleeting molecular interactions and unraveling the molecular determinants for the directionality of these interactions. Unfortunately, the large molecular weight of NRPS domains, the presence of dynamics between domains and within domains, and the lability of tethered substrates have precluded studying these processes at the molecular level. Here, we present methods that permitted us to overcome these limitations and we discuss our findings. First, by exploiting the non-invasive nature of NMR we found that chemical substrates interact with their carrier proteins and these interactions may modulate domain communication to provide directionality. Second, we present a method that facilitates resonance assignments in large proteins. By applying covariance to conventional spectra, simplified correlation maps permit to identify sequential residues or to assign side-chain resonances with a simple visual inspection. Hence, resonances of 37 kDa and 53 kDa NRPS domains could be assigned unambiguously, enabling us to describe molecular signatures of transient interactions involving these domains.
The evolution of a graduate capstone accounting course

Abstract This paper discusses how the design of a graduate capstone accounting course evolved over 3 years, taking into consideration input from various stakeholders. The course has three, 5-week modules: accounting ethics, earnings management, and business strategy. The accounting ethics module emphasizes codified principles of ethics and professional behavior in accounting. The integrating theme of the last two modules is how accounting professionals can detect earnings management being used as a short-term solution to a longer-term strategic problem. Materials are included that may assist other schools contemplating a capstone accounting course in their 150-hour program.
Syntheses, structures, modification, and optical properties of meso-tetraaryl-2,3-dimethoxychlorin, and two isomeric meso-tetraaryl-2,3,12,13-tetrahydroxybacteriochlorins

The refined syntheses, modification, and first X-ray structural characterization of meso-tetraarylporphyrin-derived β-tetraolbacteriochlorins are described. These investigations assign the relative stereochemistry of their two isomers (both cis-vic-diol pairs on the same or opposite sides of the porphyrin plane), an assignment that could not be provided by NMR, UV-vis or fluorescence spectroscopy, or mass spectrometry. Moreover, the first crystal structures of a 2-hydroxychlorin and a 2,3-dihydroxychlorin, as its dimethylether, are reported. Dihydroxylation and diimide reduction of the dimethoxychlorin result in the formation of stable mixed-functionality bacteriochlorins. The photophysical properties (UV-vis absorption and fluorescence emission) of all chromophores are contrasted against each other, delineating the electronic effects of diol substitution and conformational modulation. Lastly, the acid-induced dehydration/demethoxylation of the tetraol-, dioldimethoxy-, and tetramethoxybacteriochlorins to provide chlorins is delineated.
Muscarinic-dopaminergic synergism on retinal cyclic AMP formation.

Abstract The cholinergic agonist, carbachol, produces a small increase in cyclic AMP concentration in the isolated rat retina, and markedly potentiates dopamine-stimulated cyclic AMP formation. This effect of carbachol is mediated through a muscarinic receptor, is calcium-independent, and is not due to inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity. Activation of miscarinic receptors may potentiate dopaminergic responses in the retina by enhancing coupling of the dopamine receptor to adenylate cyclase.
Biomass production and protein synthesis by alfalfa under salt stress

Abstract This study was conducted on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants under normal and salt stress conditions using Hoagland solution in a growth chamber. The biomass production and protein synthesis by one low salt tolerant alfalfa cultivar ('Mesa‐sirsa 83CL, MS 83CL') and one germination salt tolerant selection ('Mesa‐sirsa cycle 3, MS Cycle 3') were investigated under normal (Control = 0.3 bars osmotic pressure) and NaCl salinity (6.0 bars osmotic pressure) conditions. The 15‐day‐old seedlings were grown for 15 additional days in complete Hoagland solution before and 90 days after the completion of salt treatment. Three harvests were made on days 30, 60, and 90 after the completion of salt treatment. Total biomass production (fresh and dry weights of shoots) by plants were measured and plant tissues were analyzed for crude protein and protein‐N content. The MS Cycle 3 selection produced slightly more (statistically not significant) biomass than the standard cultivar under salt stress condition. Howe...
Ethylene-stimulated Synthesis of Ribosomes, Ribonucleic Acid, and Protein in Developing Fig Fruits.

Ethylene profoundly stimulates the growth and ripening of fig fruits if applied during the second half of growth period II, the slow growth phase of the characteristic double sigmoid growth curve (7, 9). Although ethylene-treated fruits ripened 2 to 3 weeks early, within 6 days from inception of treatment, they were indistinguishable from ripe, untreated fruits (7). Moreover, ethylene induced a typical respiratory climacteric rise identical to that associated with normal ripening and the initiation of growth period III (7). Recently, Hulme et al. (4) have demonstrated an ethylenestimulated synthesis of unspecified types of RNA in apple tissue slices in concert with climacteric phenomena. Our intent in this study was to use the dramatic response of fig fruits to ethylene along with available analytical techniques to discern the temporal aspects of stimulated RNA synthesis and the forms of RNA being synthesized.
Monitoring Patient Safety

The opportunity to improve patient safety is significant and the pressure to improve it is increasing. An approach to evaluate an organization's progress with patient safety efforts has not been clearly articulated, and existing efforts to monitor safety are likely inadequate. We present a framework to monitor patient safety, combining valid rate-based measures to evaluate outcomes and processes of care, and non-rate-based measures to evaluate structure and context of care. We present an example of how the safety scorecard from this framework is used to monitor patient safety at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and in over 150 ICUs in Michigan, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
Modeling of Flow-Induced Corrosion with Nonuniform Boundary Conditions

Abstract The flow-induced corrosion with nonuniform corrosion product concentration at the wall serving as boundary conditions in a slug flow, laminar flow, and turbulent flow was investigated. Analytical solutions were obtained. Dependence of the corrosion rate on the wall concentration distributions and the flow types were analyzed. One of the applications of the present study is to serve as a tool to predict the corrosion/precipitation in a nuclear reactor coolant system and to provide information on how to enhance the lifetime. The solution is partly validated by comparing the theoretical results with experimental results from a liquid lead loop.
Language, Class, and Identity: Teenagers Fashioning Themselves Through Language

Abstract This article uses discourse analysis to study how teenagers from different social classes in the United States use language to fashion themselves as different “kinds of people.” Our analyses lead us to the following conclusions: The working class teens (in these interviews) use language to fashion their identities in a way that is closely attached to a world of social and dialogic interaction. The upper middle class teens (in these interviews) use language to construct their identities in a way that detaches itself from “everyday” social interaction and orients more towards their personal biographical trajectories through an “achievement space” defined by the (deeply aligned) norms of their families, schools, and powerful institutions in our society. In addition, the upper middle class teens use the abstract language of rational argumentation to “cloak” (of “defer”) their quite personal interests and fears, while the working class teens use a personalized narrative (i.e., story-based) language to encode their values, interests, and themes.
Regression analysis of health care charges with heteroscedasticity

We examine the effects of a prospective drug utilization review and patients' characteristics on total in-patient and out-patient health care charges. Our analysis of charges is complicated by the fact that the total health care charges are skewed. A log-transformation of these charges can normalize their distribution but may not stabilize their variance. To handle these problems, we propose a linear regression model with a non-constant variance (heteroscedasticity). Using results from a fitted linear regression model for log-transformed charges, we also discuss interpreting the regression coefficients in the original scale and estimating the total health care charges to individual patients. Employing these methods, we analyse total health care charges for drug utilization review patients with hypertension and identify patients' factors that are related to their total health care charges.
Activities and free energies of mixing in binary silicate melts

The thermodynamic properties of the Whiteway, Smith and Masson (WSM) models of polymerized silicate melts are calculated. The free energy is calculated as a function of composition and degree of polymerization of the silicate ions from heats of mixing and Guggenheim’s expression for the configurational entropy of a system of linear and branched chain polymer molecules in which random mixing of the mer units occurs. The variations, with composition, of the equilibrium degree of polymerization, the activities of solution components and the free energy of mixing are calculated as functions of the stability of the solid orthosilicate compound. Under the assumption of random mixing of the mer units, the thermodynamic properties are found to be independent of whether the SiO in4 su4 ion is considered to be a bifunctional or tetrafunctional polymerizing unit. It is found that the apparent differences between the dependencies, on composition, of the ion fraction of O2- in the WSM linear chain model and the WSM branching chain model are the result of the assumption, in these models, that random mixing of the anions occurs,i.e. that the systems exhibit Temkin behavior. It is suggested that the deviations of the theoretical free energies of mixing from experimental measurement, which begin when the mole fraction of silica is between 0.3 and 0.4, are due to the first significant appearance of ring ions in actual silicate melts at some composition within this range.
Acoustic metrology for dimensional conformance

Abstract This study presents an innovative concept —acoustic metrology—for on-line dimensional conformance inspection. It investigates the linear and radial dimensions as well as the true position of a center. It conclusively finds that as these dimensions change, the resonant frequencies of tested cylindrical and flat plate parts also shift. The high resonant frequencies appear to shift more than low resonant frequencies with linear and radial dimensional deviations of cylindrical parts. However, the dimensional deviations of a flat plate part only influence certain numbers of resonant frequencies. The amount of the frequency changes of all tested parts is proportional to the dimensional deviations. The test results reveal a feasible gaging method that can be used for inspection of a production line for a “Go” or “No Go” decision.
Change in "resolved plans" and "suicidal ideation" factors of suicidality after participation in an intensive outpatient treatment program.

Abstract Background This study aims to investigate factors related to suicide in a unique clinical population with more chronic psychopathology than many outpatient samples. Method One hundred and five adult outpatients were included in the current study. We predicted that higher scores on the resolved plans and preparation (RPP) factor of the Beck Suicide Scale [Beck, A.T., Kovacs, M., Weissman, M., (1979). Assessment of suicidal intention: The scale for suicidal ideation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 47, 343–352] would predict multiple attempter status even after accounting for co-morbid diagnoses and suicidal ideation (SI) factor scores. Additionally, we predicted that the scores on the RPP factor would decrease less over time than scores on the SI factor. Results and conclusions Results were consistent with both hypotheses, suggesting that RPP factor scores were uniquely predictive of status as a multiple attempter and were more stable over time. Limitations Mental health diagnoses were rendered without the use of a structured interview and therefore no reliability data were collected.
Antimalarial therapy prevents Myc-induced lymphoma

The two modes of self-destruction at the cellular level - apoptosis (self-killing) and autophagy (self-eating) - are thought to be tumor suppressive. In particular, germline loss of function of genes involved in autophagy has been associated with tumorigenesis. However, recent studies, including the one by Maclean et al. reported in this issue of the JCI, indicate that autophagy can provide a means for cell survival when nutrients are limiting, such that inhibition of autophagy by the antimalarial drug chloroquine can inhibit tumorigenesis, specifically Myc-induced lymphoma in mice (see the related article beginning on page 79). These findings suggest that a new use of an old drug for cancer prevention may profoundly affect disease outcome.
Shock computations with adaptive mesh refinement and moving grids

Abstract Highly accurate shock wave problems are presented using a combination of numerical techniques. The new feature of this scheme is the treatment of discontinuities (shocks or contact surfaces) which are replaced by approximate step functions. These approximations permit the solution of the Euler equations within the discontinuity and permits a convenient way of treating source terms within a discontinuity. The strong conservative law form is used throughout. An explicit moving grid technique is used in which a moving frame is found in which the conservation law equations appear stationery in a least squares sense. In this moving frame, it is possible to drastically reduce or eliminate the temporal truncation errors. Thus, the same time integration scheme can be used throughout the computational domain in the discontinuous as well as continuous regions. For accurate physics of wave interactions, a nonlinear Riemann solver is applied. In conjunction with the Riemann solver as new waves from such interactions are created, an adaptive mesh refinement scheme injects new mesh points automatically to define a post collision wave structure. Results are presented for the shock tube problem, the von Neumann spherical blast wave, Noh's spherical shock problem, shock interactions with a set-up and step-down contact discontinuity.
THERAPEUTIC COMPONENTS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY: A 25-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT OF RESEARCH

This paper summarizes the experiments of the Johns Hopkins Psychotherapy Research Unit on brief psychotherapy of psychiatric outpatients. Major findings were that the beneficial results of psychotherapy include two components, activation of patients' expectations and learning of social skills; that
Silicon-in-silica spheres via axial thermal gradient in-fibre capillary instabilities

The ability to produce small scale, crystalline silicon spheres is of significant technological and scientific importance, yet scalable methods for doing so have remained elusive. Here we demonstrate a silicon nanosphere fabrication process based on an optical fibre drawing technique. A silica-cladded silicon-core fibre with diameters down to 340 nm is continuously fed into a flame defining an axial thermal gradient and the continuous formation of spheres whose size is controlled by the feed speed is demonstrated. In particular, spheres of diameter o500 nm smaller than those produced under isothermal heating conditions are shown and analysed. A fibre with dual cores, p-type and n-type silicon, is drawn and processed into spheres. Spatially coherent break-up leads to the joining of the spheres into a bispherical silicon ‘p–n molecule’. The resulting device is measured to reveal a rectifying I–V curve consistent with the formation of a p–n junction.
In Silico Modeling of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A10 Substrates Using the Volsurf Approach

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A10 (UGT1A10) catalyzes glucuronidation of a wide range of chemicals including many drugs. Here, we report the first in silico model quan- tifying the substrate selectivity and binding affinity (as Km) for UGT1A10. The training set for model construction comprises 32 structurally diverse compounds, which are known substrates for UGT1A10. The model was derived by applying the standard VolSurf method involving calculation of VolSurf descriptors and partial least square (PLS) analyses. The yielded PLS model with two components shows statistical significance in both fitting and internal predicting (r 2 = 0.827, q 2 = 0.774). The model predictability was further validated against a test set of 11 external compounds. The activity values for all test substrates were predicted within 1log unit. Moreover, the model reveals an overlay of chemical features influencing the enzyme-substrate binding. Those include the size and shape, capacity factors, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, and polarizability. In conclusion, the VolSurf approach is successfully utilized to es- tablish a predictive model for UGT1A10. The derived model should be an efficient tool for high-throughput prediction of UGT1A10 metabolism. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 101:3531-3539, 2012
Oxygen Isotopic Analysis of Archaeological Shells to Detect Seasonal Use of Wetlands on the Southern Pacific Coast of Mexico

Abstract Oxygen isotopic ratios in modern and archaeological marsh clam shells ( Polymesoda radiata ) from the Acapetahua Estuary in southwestern Mexico record large scale salinity fluctuations caused by alternating wet and dry seasons. Thus, prehistoric patterns of rainfall can be reconstructed and the season of molluscan death can be estimated. Changes in the oxygen isotopic patterns preserved in marsh clam shells from late Archaic period ( c . 3000–1800 bc ) archaeological deposits indicate that the season of shellfish harvesting changed dynamically through time in this region. Based on this study, and other lines of archaeological evidence, we argue that hunter–gatherers during the early stages of the late Archaic period visited locations in the littoral zone throughout the year with a focus during dry season months. Through the late Archaic period a general trend occurred toward wet season use of these locations. This culminated at the end of the late Archaic period with the exclusive use of the littoral zone during wet season months. These data indicate a fundamental shift in the way these estuarine locations were being used. We argue that people living in this region altered their overall subsistence strategy during the late Archaic period due to scheduling conflicts that occurred with the adoption of maize agriculture.
Making Sense of “The Boy Who Died”: Tales of a Struggling Successful Writer

This article presents a case study of a fourth grade boy's experiences in writing, preceding and following a story he wrote about a boy whose struggles in writing led directly to his death. We expl...
Digital Formations: IT and New Architectures in the Global Realm -

Digital Formations: IT and New Architectures in the Global Realm. Edited by Robert Latham and Saskia Sassen. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2005. 367p. 27.95 paper.This is an interesting collection of essays about what the editors call “digital formations.” A social formation is something in society that is emerging without a single founding event, in its early stages of development, and tending toward a variable structure and nature (p. 9). Despite this, “you should be able to identify a coherent configuration of organization, space, and interaction” (p. 10). Several of the social formations studied by the authors in this volume are only partly digital: that is, they combine digital and nondigital elements. They are all, however, subject to “digitization,” which involves the “rendering of facets of social and political life in a digital form” (p. 16). One important reason for studying digital formations is that some are potentially “destabilizing of existing hierarchies of scale and nested hierarchies” (p. 19), while others reinforce them. An example of the former is the open-source software movement (as chronicled here by Steve Weber); an example of the latter is what Dieter Ernst in his chapter calls the “global flagship networks” created by large multinational corporations.
A simplified model of Combined Sewer Overflows to estimate event driven enteric pathogen concentrations in drinking water sources

Raw sewage discharges from Combined Sewer Overflows(CSO’s) during rainfall can severely impact drinking water quality. Drinking water risk assessment studies in the past have not adequately captured the event driven temporal fluctuations in source water quality. This is despite the knowledge that fecal contamination of source waters is impacted by rainfall and long-term accumulated risks are affected by event driven concentration peaks. This paper presents a simple methodology to estimate the enteric pathogen loadings into the receiving water as a result of combined sewer overflows. The proposed methodology is more suitable for risk assessment studies to formulate policies for public health protection.
Sources of Older Parents’ Ambivalent Feelings Toward Their Adult Children: The Case of Rural China

Objectives. Relying on the concept of sociological ambivalence, this study investigated the sources of intergenerational ambivalence in rural China, a traditional society that undergoes dramatic demographic, economic, and social changes.
A Pattern-Based Design Approach for Subscription Management of Software as a Service

Software as a Service (SaaS) is essentially about delivering a software application as a service over the Web with a usage-based charging plan. Existing Web service subscription models do not consider the complexity of the application and the business environment; for example, multiple service elements with mutual dependencies derived from one application, or various business partnership models for reselling and cross-selling services. Therefore the design of subscription management is critical for a SaaS provider to appropriately decompose its application into service elements and then package them into service offerings for a client or business partner to subscribe according to the nature of the application and the overall business design. In this paper, we propose a pattern-based approach for the subscription management design of SaaS. A subscription model is introduced first to capture the different entities and their relationships involved in SaaS subscription. Then a method supported with service structure patterns and business interaction patterns analysis is presented to empower a SaaS provider to design an appropriate subscription model for its service offering. A case study is made to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method at the end of this paper.
Local Secretion of Urocortin 1 Promotes Microvascular Permeability during Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation

Urocortin 1 (Ucn1) is a neuropeptide that regulates vascular tone and is implicated in both the vascular and immune cell-mediated responses to inflammation. The role of Ucn1 in regulating microvascular permeability has not been determined. We hypothesized that local Ucn1 release promotes microvascular permeability and that this effect augments the local gastrointestinal vascular response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation. We measured hydraulic (Lp) and macromolecule permeability in mesenteric venules. We show that a continuous infusion of 10−7 m Ucn1 in a postcapillary venule increased Lp 2-fold over baseline, as did LPS-induced inflammation. However, simultaneous infusion of Ucn1 and LPS markedly increased Lp by 7-fold. After local knockdown of Ucn1 using RNA interference, infusion of Ucn1 with LPS resulted in return to 2-fold increase, confirming that Ucn1 synergistically augments hydraulic permeability during inflammation. LPS and Ucn1 treatment also resulted in increased number...
Lead-on-chip technology for high performance packaging

The modeling and simulation efforts for the development of a lead-over-chip (LOC) style package for 16 Mb dynamic random access memories is described. Electrical models and simulation address the effects of power bus noise and the interaction of chip conductors with the LOC lead frame. The thermomechanical stress issues in the LOC package are modeled using finite element techniques to optimize the design and material properties to avoid damage to the chip or package during fabrication and testing. For surface mount components, stress from the reflow process resulting from vapor pressure concentrated at points of delamination must also be comprehended and minimized. Thermal analysis of the LOC package was performed using finite element analysis and measurements, and the data were compared to those of standard packaging designs. >
Solvent Extraction Studies of Zinc with Alamine 336 in Aqueous Chloride and Bromide Media

Abstract A study has been undertaken to develop solvent extraction systems for zinc with Alamine 336 in aqueous chloride and bromide media. The parameters studied include acid concentration, halide concentration, pH, reagent concentration, aqueous to organic ratio, and rate of extraction and stripping. The study shows that zinc can be extracted efficiently from both chloride and bromide media. The zinc-Alamine 336 extraction system shows potential for use to remove zinc from polluted industrial wastewater.
Interaction of SLC6A4 and DRD2 polymorphisms is associated with a history of delirium tremens.

Several genetic polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with alcohol withdrawal seizures (AWS) and delirium tremens (DT). To replicate and further explore these findings, we investigated the effects of 12 previously reported candidate genetic variations in two groups of alcohol-dependent European Americans with a history of withdrawal, which differed according to the presence (n = 112) or absence (n = 92) of AWS and/or DT. Associations of AWS and/or DT with the genomic and clinical characteristics and gene-gene interaction effects were investigated using logistic regression models. None of the polymorphisms were significantly associated with AWS/DT after correction for multiple testing. However, we found a significant interaction effect of the SLC6A4 promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and DRD2 exon 8 single nucleotide polymorphism rs62 76 on AWS and/or DT history (P = 0.009), which became more significant after adjustment for lifetime maximum number of drinks consumed per 24 hours (P < 0.001). Subsequent analysis revealed an even stronger association of the SLC6A4-DRD2 interaction with DT (P < 0.0001), which remained significant after Bonferroni correction. Results reveal decreased likelihood of DT in alcoholics that carry the DRD2 rs6276 G allele and SLC6A4 LL genotype. This study provides the first evidence to implicate the interaction between serotonin and dopamine neurotransmission in the etiology of DT. Replication is necessary to verify this potentially important finding.
Electromechanical Impedance Sensor for In Vivo Monitoring the Body Reaction to Implants

A novel sensor for in situ monitoring of the body reaction to implants has been developed. A piezoelectric wafer active sensor was adapted for biomedical applications (bio-PWAS). A number of bio-PWAS sensors have been implanted in rats and left in place up to 64 days. The bio-PWAS were able to oscillate in several resonance modes, radial-wise (in-plane) and thickness-wise (out-of-plane). The electromechanical impedance was measured over a wide frequency band, covering several radial vibration modes and the first thickness mode. The recorded data was processed with impedance spectroscopy methods. Preliminary results indicate a correlation between the electromechanical impedance spectrum of the bio-PWAS and the state of implantation. Quantitative studies have shown that the first radial mode amplitude seems to correlate with the short-time inflammatory and immune response, while the thickness mode amplitude seems to correlate with both the short-term inflammatory response and long-term encapsulation and fib...
EFFECTS OF INSULIN ON THE WEIGHT OF THE RABBIT'S SUPRARENAL GLANDS.

There is no gross hypertrophy of the adrenals in rabbits after long continued, daily doses of insulin.
Analyzing regression test selection techniques

Regression testing is a necessary but expensive maintenance activity aimed at showing that code has not been adversely affected by changes. Regression test selection techniques reuse tests from an existing test suite to test a modified program. Many regression test selection techniques have been proposed, however, it is difficult to compare and evaluate these techniques because they have different goals. This paper outlines the issues relevant to regression test selection techniques, and uses these issues as the basis for a framework within which to evaluate the techniques. The paper illustrates the application of the framework by using it to evaluate existing regression test selection techniques. The evaluation reveals the strengths and weaknesses of existing techniques, and highlights some problems that future work in this area should address.
A Model for the Ionospheric Clutter in HFSWR Radar

In order to find an effective arithmetic which can suppress the useless ionospheric clutter in a surface wave radar system, a new model for the ionospheric clutter is proposed here. Using the multiple phase-screen method used for the investigation of the HF wave propagation, the amplitude and phase scintillation of the ionospheric clutter can be obtained. Using the results of the multiple phase-screen method and considering the altitudinal change of the reflect-point, a model for the ionospheric clutter is given. Then, the experimentally derived data of the ionospheric clutter in a practical radar system are analyzed. The statistical results of the experimentally derived data prove the validity of the model for the ionospheric clutter.
The Prestalk-Prespore Pattern in Cellular Slime Molds

In cellular slime molds the slugs become divided into two regions with different properties, an anterior prestalk zone and a posterior prespore zone . Although the cells in these zones are normally destined to form the stalk cells and spores of the fruiting body, respectively, they are not irreversibly committed to one sort of differentiation or the other during the slug stage. The volume ratio of the two zones remains almost constant over a wide range of slug sizes. If the prestalk-prespore pattern is disturbed by removing tissue from the slug, conversion of tissue from prestalk to prespore or vice versa occurs as necessary to restore a normal pattern with normal proportions. Conversions also occur in both directions during normal development. The initial formation of the prestalk-prespore pattern may well involve sorting-out, but other mechanisms must be invoked to account for regulation. We describe three different models of the generation of the prestalk-prespore pattern, the‘cell-contact model’ of McMahon, in which pattern is created by interactions of cells with their immediate neighbors, the‘positional-information model’ of various authors, in which pattern formation involves an overall gradient and a gradient-reading mechanism, and the‘activator-inhibitor model’ of Gierer and Meinhardt, in which the prestalk-prespore pattern is formed by a system of diffusible substances that affect one another's production. The activator-inhibitor model is the most successful of the models at describing the known features of the prestalk-prespore pattern. The various models lead to a number of distinctive predictions. According to the cell-contact model, small transplants may cause gross changes in the prestalk-prespore pattern, and mutants may exist which severely disrupt pattern formation even if diluted with a large excess of wild-type cells. Positional-information models predict the existence of ‘gradient-reading mutants’ slugs that are a mixture of such mutants and wild-type cells would show two prestalk-prespore boundaries, one at the mutant and one at the normal position. Both the activator-inhibitor model and some versions of the positional-information model predict that small transplants will sometimes induce accessory prestalk or prespore zones; the quantitative characteristics of these effects may allow one to make a case in favor of one or other of the two models. Finally, the activator-inhibitor model leads one to expect that mutants may be isolated which normally show accessory prestalk or prespore zones. A search for these phenomena may help determine whether the activator-inhibitor model will continue to enjoy its present preeminent position.
Clevudine Inhibits Hepatitis Delta Virus Viremia: a Pilot Study of Chronically Infected Woodchucks

In a small controlled study, clevudine, a potent inhibitor of hepadnaviruses, including hepatitis B virus and woodchuck hepatitis virus, suppressed hepatitis delta virus (HDV) viremia in chronically infected woodchucks. Suppression was correlated with the marked reduction of woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen in individual animals, consistent with the concept that repression of surface antigen expression may be a useful antiviral strategy for HDV.
Isolation and characterization of CvIV4: A pain inducing α- scorpion toxin

Background: Among scorpion species, the Buthidae produce the most deadly and painful venoms. However, little is known regarding the venom components that cause pain and their mechanism of action. Using a paw-licking assay (Mus musculus), this study compared the pain-inducing capabilities of venoms from two species of New World scorpion (Centruroides vittatus, C. exilicauda) belonging to the neurotoxin-producing family Buthidae with one species of non-neurotoxin producing scorpion (Vaejovis spinigerus) in the family Vaejovidae. A pain-inducing a-toxin (CvIV4) was isolated from the venom of C. vittatus and tested on five Na + channel isoforms. Principal Findings: C. vittatus and C. exilicauda venoms produced significantly more paw licking in Mus than V. spinigerus venom. CvIV4 produced paw licking in Mus equivalent to the effects of whole venom. CvIV4 slowed the fast inactivation of Nav1.7, a Na + channel expressed in peripheral pain-pathway neurons (nociceptors), but did not affect the Nav1.8-based sodium currents of these neurons. CvIV4 also slowed the fast inactivation of Nav1.2, Nav1.3 and Nav1.4. The effects of CvIV4 are similar to Old World a-toxins that target Nav1.7 (AahII, BmK MI, LqhIII, OD1), however the primary structure of CvIV4 is not similar to these toxins. Mutant Nav1.7 channels (D1586A and E1589Q, DIV S3–S4 linker) reduced but did not abolish the effects of CvIV4. Conclusions: This study: 1) agrees with anecdotal evidence suggesting that buthid venom is significantly more painful than non-neurotoxic venom; 2) demonstrates that New World buthids inflict painful stings via toxins that modulate Na + channels expressed in nociceptors; 3) reveals that Old and New World buthids employ similar mechanisms to produce pain. Old and New World a-toxins that target Nav1.7 have diverged in sequence, but the activity of these toxins is similar. Pain-inducing toxins may have evolved in a common ancestor. Alternatively, these toxins may be the product of convergent evolution.
Other Incomplete Designs

If Factor B is nested in Factor A, it is impossible to separate the B main effect from the AB interaction. When effects cannot be separated, they are confounded. Whenever the factors in a design are not completely crossed, some effects will be confounded. However, in some designs the factors are neither completely crossed nor completed nested. The 4 × 6 design in Table 9.1 is an example; in this design, the factors are not completely crossed, yet neither is nested within the other. The analysis of most such partially nested designs is very difficult, but for certain designs it is relatively simple.
Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis should be suspected in patients 10 to 30 years of age who present with sore throat and significant fatigue, palatal petechiae, posterior cervical or auricular adenopathy, marked adenopathy, or inguinal adenopathy. An atypical lymphocytosis of at least 20 percent or atypical lymphocytosis of at least 10 percent plus lymphocytosis of at least 50 percent strongly supports the diagnosis, as does a positive heterophile antibody test. False-negative results of heterophile antibody tests are relatively common early in the course of infection. Patients with negative results may have another infection, such as toxoplasmosis, streptococcal infection, cytomegalovirus infection, or another viral infection. Symptomatic treatment, the mainstay of care, includes adequate hydration, analgesics, antipyretics, and adequate rest. Bed rest should not be enforced, and the patient's energy level should guide activity. Corticosteroids, acyclovir, and antihistamines are not recommended for routine treatment of infectious mononucleosis, although corticosteroids may benefit patients with respiratory compromise or severe pharyngeal edema. Patients with infectious mononucleosis should be withdrawn from contact or collision sports for at least four weeks after the onset of symptoms. Fatigue, myalgias, and need for sleep may persist for several months after the acute infection has resolved.
Stiffness method for anticipating earthquakes

In strain softening earthquake models, the single variable R = Kf / Ks measures the nearness to earthquake instability; Kf and Ks are stiffnesses of the fault zone and elastic surroundings. Instability occurs when increasing R reaches unity. For a simple two-dimensional antiplane model, R is a function of d e/ dU and H , where e is shear strain at the ground surface, and U is remote displacement observed at a distance, H , from the fault. R is independent of the fault zone constitutive law, crustal rigidity, and shear stress magnitude.
Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents

1. Chrystal Wittcopp, MD* 2. Rushika Conroy, MD, MS* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Children’s Hospital, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Metabolic syndrome in obese children is associated with increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Currently, no unifying definition exists and the impact of metabolic syndrome on other obesity-related comorbidities continues to be poorly understood. After completing this article, the reader should be able to: 1. Describe the relationship between obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS). 2. Recognize the difficulty in defining MetS in the pediatric population. 3. Recognize the multiple risk factors associated with MetS in the pediatric population. 4. Describe the importance of various clinical features associated with MetS. 5. Initiate screening for MetS in appropriate patients and develop treatment strategies for those patients. As the prevalence of obesity in adults and youth continues at historically high rates, so does the occurrence of obesity-related comorbidities. Many chronic diseases that were once believed to be conditions of adults alone are now being seen commonly in the pediatric population. The combination of dyslipidemia, abnormal glucose regulation, central adiposity, and hypertension, known collectively as metabolic syndrome (MetS), has long been recognized in the obese adult population and is associated with an increased risk for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The definitive criteria for MetS have not been firmly established; many criteria have small differences that can alter the risk stratification for progression to CVD and T2D. (1)(2) What is clear is that the risk of developing CVD or T2D increases substantially in the presence of MetS, with a twofold increase for the former and fivefold increase for the latter in adult populations. (3) In the pediatric population, only 1 set of criteria is …
A Novel Distributed Mutual Exclusion Algorithm Based on Tree Topology Networks

Distributed Mutual Exclusion (DME) is an important problem of distributed systems. According to the properties of tree network systems,a novel algorithm TNDME was presented for them. Based on the node sets between the root and the requestors,the algorithm generated distributed mutual exclusion quorums by trace methods. And Lamport's logical timestamps were utilized to guarantee the time sequence. Furthermore,"Max Remainder Tree" probe methods were employed to implement the fault-tolerance of the algorithm. The algorithm model,the main idea,the data structures,the messages and the codes are described respectively. Performance analysis and simulation results show that it has lower message complexities,shorter response delay and better fairness than the traditional algorithms.
Hydrodesulfurization of Fluid Catalytic Cracking Decant Oils in a Laboratory Flow Reactor and Effect of Hydrodesulfurization on Subsequent Coking

This study investigates the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of fluidized catalytically cracked decant oils used as feedstock for needle coke production. Three decant oils, representing a high (4.0 wt %), medium (2.5 wt %), and low (0.9 wt %) sulfur content, were hydrotreated in a fixed-bed flow reactor. Removing sulfur from larger ring systems in decant oils is the most effective way of reducing the needle coke sulfur content, because large aromatics are significant contributors to the coke product obtained from delayed coking. Two commercial catalysts with different pore size distributions were tested for their hydrodesulfurization activities, selectivities for specific sulfur-containing species, and hydrogenation of constituent polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under different operating conditions. The decant oils and hydrotreated products were analyzed by GC/MS to determine changes in molecular compositions of the feedstocks. Following HDS, the decant oils and their hydrotreated products were carbonized to p...
A Lower Devonian stylonurid eurypterid from Arctic Canada

IN 1990 the junior author found a large eurypterid in an isolated slab while carrying out field work in the Lower Devonian Snowblind Bay Formation of Cornwallis Island, Northwest Territories (Figure 1). The size of the slab, and its position on a precipitous scree slope, precluded its collection at that time. However, the specimen was collected by a party from the University of Alberta, Edmonton during the summer of 1994 and is now in the collections of the Geology Department. It bears the University of Alberta collections number UA10477. Eurypterids previously have been reported from the Silurian of the Canadian Arctic by Thorsteinsson (1958), Copeland and Bolton (1960), Copeland (1962), McGregor and Narbonne (1978), and Jones and Kjellesvig-Waering (1985). However, this new specimen represents the first documented eurypterid occurrence from the Devonian of this region. It is also the first record of a Canadian Arctic stylonurid.
Sonography of Morton Neuromas What Are We Really Looking At

OBJECTIVES To determine what accounts for the sonographic appearance of a Morton neuroma by correlating preoperative sonograms with the sonographic appearance of the resected surgical specimen, the surgical findings, and the pathologic examination. METHODS Ten Morton neuromas that had preoperative sonograms underwent postoperative specimen sonography and histologic evaluation. The appearance and size of the neuromas were compared between the preoperative and postoperative specimen images and were compared to the surgical and pathologic appearances. RESULTS Preoperative images showed a fibrillar echogenic nerve coursing into a heterogeneous hypoechoic mass measuring 14.3 mm in average length (range, 9.0-24.0 mm) that contained a round, mildly echogenic mass within it measuring 7.6 mm in average length (range, 4.5-12.0 mm). Surgically, the specimens showed scarred intermetatarsal bursas and tangled vessels surrounding the nerve. Specimen sonography showed echogenic focal enlargement of the nerve at the site of the neuroma, measuring 6.8 mm in average length (range, 3.5-11.0 mm). The size of the resected neuroma was smaller than the hypoechoic mass on the presurgical images (P < .001). Within the hypoechoic mass, the small echogenic focus showed no difference in size compared to the specimen (P = .40), but the shape of the echogenic specimen was fusiform, whereas the preoperative appearance was round. Histologically, the resected specimens showed sclerosis and mucoid degeneration of the nerve fascicles and fibrotic thickening of the perineurium. CONCLUSIONS The hypoechoic heterogeneous mass that is referred to as a Morton neuroma sonographically is really a "neuroma-bursal complex" that is much larger than the actual neuroma itself.
A procedure for the generation of interval type-2 membership functions from data

Display OmittedSketch of the proposed procedure including the DE & DE-TA hybrid metaheuristics. Proposes a new interval type-2 membership function called extended interval type-2 membership function.Presents a new procedure for generating a set of extended interval type-2 membership functions for an interval type-2 linguistic variable from data.Shows the working of the proposed procedure with real world data.Discusses the effects of distance measures and initial solutions. This paper proposes a new interval type-2 fuzzy set taking extended interval type-2 membership function (IT2 MF) as its values, and presents a new procedure for generating a set of extended IT2 MFs from data for an interval type-2 linguistic variable. An extended IT2 MF is defined as the min and max of two extended (type-1 or ordinary) membership functions. The procedure has the following steps: (i) for each interval type-2 linguistic variable, specifying the number of membership functions to be generated, i.e. the granularity level, (ii) choosing two fuzzy exponents to be used, (iii) for each fuzzy exponent, applying the fuzzy c-means variant (FCMV) proposed by Liao et al. [1] to obtain the corresponding centers and membership values, and (iv) carrying out parametric optimization by applying a metaheuristic or a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm to determine the optimal parameters associated with the extended IT2 MFs so that the mean squared error (MSE) or sum of squared errors (SSE) between the membership values obtained by FCMV and those predicted by the extended IT2 MFs is minimized. The proposed procedure was illustrated with an example and further tested with iris data and weld data. The effects of using two different interval distance measures and the cluster means obtained by the FCMV as part of the initial solutions in the differential evolution metaheuristic were also investigated and discussed.