cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disruption of Splicing Regulated by a CUG-Binding Protein in Myotonic Dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is caused by a CTG expansion in the 3' untranslated region of the DM gene. One model of DM pathogenesis suggests that RNAs from the expanded allele create a gain-of-function mutation by the inappropriate binding of proteins to the CUG repeats. Data presented here indicate that the conserved heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein, CUG-binding protein (CUG-BP), may mediate the trans-dominant effect of the RNA. CUG-BP was found to bind to the human cardiac troponin T (cTNT) pre-messenger RNA and regulate its alternative splicing. Splicing of cTNT was disrupted in DM striated muscle and in normal cells expressing transcripts that contain CUG repeats. Altered expression of genes regulated posttranscriptionally by CUG-BP therefore may contribute to DM pathogenesis.
Hysteretic properties of glucose uptake in rat adipocytes.

Abstract The time course and concentration dependence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake were evaluated in isolated rat adipocytes. There is an initial rapid velocity of deoxyglucose uptake which decreases to a lower steady state rate of accumulation. In addition, an intermediary plateau in the concentration range of 0.1 to 0.4 mM deoxyglucose is evident. These data demonstrate that deoxyglucose uptake displays the hysteretic properties of many complex regulatory metabolic processes. This hysteresis may serve to buffer oscillations in blood glucose concentration. The declining rate of uptake with time may also explain why the assessment of deoxyglucose uptake at 30 s overestimates the rate of glucose utilization over more prolonged periods.
Extracellular calcium and the inotropic effect of cooling on isolated skeletal muscle

Abstract 1. 1.|The maximal isometric twitch and tetanic tensions of isolated frog sartorii muscles have been studied at 10 and 20°C. 2. 2.|Reducing incubation temperature from 20 to 10°C caused a large (53.1%) increase in twitch tension and a smaller (20.4%) decrease in tetanic tension. 3. 3.|Thermal ratios ( R 10 ) for twitch and tetanic tension were 0.65 and 1.26, respectively. 4. 4.|Addition of the Ca 2+ -channel antagonist diltiazem (3 × 10 −5 M ) to the incubation medium had no effect on twitch or tetanic tension at 20°C. 5. 5.|Diltiazem significantly depressed the potentiating effect of reduced temperature on twitch tension but had no effect on the depressing effect of reduced temperature on tetanic tension. 6. 6.|These results suggest that the positive inotropic effect of cooling on isometric twitch tension is, at least, partially dependent on extracellular Ca 2+ entry during activation.
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the microscopic protonation of l-cysteine

Abstract The protonation scheme of L-cysteine has been investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance. Chemical shift data as a function of pH are given for L-cysteine, L-cysteine methyl ester and S-methyl-L-cysteine. Use of derivatives of L-cysteine permits determination of the effect of protonation of the amino, sulfhydryl and carboxylic sites on the chemical shift of the -CH and -CH 2 protons. On the basis of these results, a set of simultaneous equations was written whose solution yielded the fraction of protonation of each site upon the addition of n equivalents of acid to the initially completely deprotonated molecule.
Treatment of massive pulmonary embolism with centrally administered tissue-type plasminogen activator

We report the use of centrally administered tissue-type plasminogen activator for three patients who presented with massive pulmonary embolism to the emergency department. In all patients, rapid improvement of pulmonary arterial pressures ensued by the end of the drug infusion, while the presenting symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath subsided.
Geophysical signatures of mud mounds at hydrocarbon seeps on the Louisiana continental slope, northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Mud mounds are common features at cold seeps in many areas of the world. They are abundant in the northern Gulf of Mexico, where they occur at the numerous hydrocarbon seeps on the continental margin. Although the mounds are widely known, their geophysical signatures and geology have not been widely studied in detail. In this study, we examined mounds in two areas of the upper Louisiana slope using geophysical data of several types: 11–12 kHz side-scan sonar, 3.5 kHz echo-sounder profiles, near-bottom 2–12 kHz chirp sonar profiles, and three-dimensional (3D) multichannel seismic data. In side-scan images the mud mounds appear as ovoid high backscatter spots associated with larger, irregular high backscatter zones along faults and fault complexes. Three different sonar responses were noted: (1) a more-or-less uniform appearance, (2) a central higher backscatter spot surrounded with a lower return halo (bulls-eye), and (3) a more-or-less uniform high backscatter area with an acoustic dead-spot near its center. Near-bottom chirp sonar records indicate high lateral variability in seafloor reflection characteristics, implying that the long-range acoustic signature of a given mound results from the integration of seafloor characteristics. In these records, anomalous seafloor echo types include strong seafloor reflectors (hardbottom) or buried hardbottom, acoustic wipe-out (attenuation), and acoustic turbidity (prolonged echoes). Cores from acoustically anomalous seafloor areas indicate that a variety of seep-related material has been introduced into the near-seafloor sediments. The prevalence of strong bottom return signatures implies that the formation of hard grounds or crusts is an integral part of hydrocarbon seep evolution and suggests that much of the ovoid high backscatter signatures may result from such features. Multichannel seismic reflection data from several of the active mounds show columnar subsurface chaotic reflection zones and strong reflections in sediments directly underneath. Seafloor seismic amplitude maps from these mounds are either generally uniform, with a positive or negative anomaly, or display a ring of higher reflectivity around the mound periphery. Positive or negative anomalies may depend on the degree of seafloor lithification and sediment gas charging. The ring feature is thought to result from the preferential concentration of seep-debris in the mound periphery relative to the center. Some mounds, which show no seismic reflection anomaly from the seafloor, appear inactive. Altogether, observations from this study are consistent with the mud mounds being formed by sedimentary volcanism. The data imply they are Holocene features that have a life-cycle that includes hardbottom formation, which progressively crusts over the fluid vent, ending its activity.
Some correlations between specificity and sequence of the first complementarity-determining segments of human kappa light chains.

Abstract Examination of the sequences of the first complementarity-determining segments of the light chains of two IgM cold agglutinins agains blood group I, four monoclonal IgM antibodies against IgG proteins, and of three Bence Jones proteins provides clues for predicting which residues contribute to antibody specificity and indicates that these predictions may be tested by evaluating recovery of antibody activity and specificity when various light chains are recombined with homologous and heterologous heavy chains.
Human VIP-α: An emerging biologic response modifier to treat primary pulmonary hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a rare life-threatening disorder of unknown etiology manifested by chronic elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure. Given that pulmonary vasoconstriction, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and in situ thrombosis contribute appreciably to the evolution of PPH, treatment with vasodilators, antiproliferative drugs and anticoagulants, alone or in combination, constitute the pharmacologic standard of care. To this end, long-term administration of oral calcium channel blockers, prostacyclin analogs by various routes and oral endothelin-1 receptor antagonists, alone or in combination, is efficacious in treating patients with PPH. Unfortunately, efficacy is hampered by poor stability, delivery and bioavailability, and by systemic toxicity. Hence, there is an ongoing need to develop and test new drugs to treat patients with PPH. To address this issue, a novel, targeted, long-acting, biocompatible and safe sterically stabilized liposomal and micellar ...
How predictable are the results of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy? A review.

ABSTRACT At the close of 1994, the AOA News reported that at least 14 companies were preparing to market equipment for excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). More than a dozen PRK centers had been formed for the purpose of recruiting optometrists to co-manage PRK patients. Because the surgery is a “no-touch” computer-driven procedure whose duration is measured in seconds, the preoperative and postoperative care of PRK patients will assume major importance. Optometrists who will be asked to take part in the management of PRK patients must be able to counsel patients on matters such as the predictability of the procedure in terms of postoperative refractive error and visual acuity, as well as the possibility of unintended consequences such as difficulty in night driving. Information currently available, mainly as a result of studies conducted in other countries, shows that the results of PRK are highly predictable for preoperative myopia up to about –3.00 D and somewhat less predictable for myopia between –3.00D and –6.00 D, whereas for myopia greater than –6.00 D the probability of achieving a full correction decreases rapidly with increasing amounts of myopia. As compared to radial keratotomy (RK) in which the postoperative refractive error drifts relentlessly in the hyperopic direction, PRK brings about an initial hyperopic shift followed by regression leading to increasing myopia. Researchers disagree on the cause of the postoperative hyperopic shift and regression, and on the value of various methods of controlling regression including the use of wider and deeper ablation profiles and the postoperative use of corticosteroids and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs. It is too early to determine whether the myopic creep in PRK will be as persistent as the hyperopic creep in RK, but it is likely that whereas presbyopic post-RK patients may have adequate distance vision but require corrective lenses for reading, presbyopic post- PRK patients may be sufficiently myopic to require lenses for distance vision but not for reading.
Blockade of apomorphine-induced aggression by morphine or neuroleptics: differential alteration by antimuscarinics and naloxone.

Abstract Both morphine and the neuroleptics, haloperidol and oxyperomide, dose-dependently reduce the aggression in rats produced by 20 mg/kg of apomorphine, a dopamine receptor stimulant. The narcotic antagonist, naloxone, prevents this effect of morphine but not the effect of neuroleptics. Dexetimide, a centrally acting antimuscarinic drug, antagonizes the reduction in aggression produced by the neuroleptics, but does not affect morphine's action. The cholinergic agonist, pilocarpine, enhances this action of oxyeromide. These results suggest that a cholinergic component contributes to the anti-agression action of neuroleptics and demonstrates a difference in the mechanism of action between neuroleptics and morphine.
A Data-adaptive Spatial Resolution Method For Three-dimensional Inversion of Triaxial Borehole Electromagnetic Measurements

We develop a novel adaptive inversion technique: Data-adaptive Spatial Resolution Inversion (DSRI) method. DSRI eliminates the need to select parameterization prior to inversion. Instead, one performs a hierarchical search for the correct parameterization while solving a sequence of inverse problems with an increasing dimension of parameterization. A parsimonious approach to the inverse problem involves the application of the same refinement applied all over the spatial domain. Such an approach may lead to over-parameterization, subsequently, to unrealistic conductivity estimates and excessive computational work. With DSRI technique, the new parameterization at an arbitrary stage of inversion sequence is allocated such that new degrees of freedom are not necessarily introduced all over the spatial domain of the electromagnetic problem. The aim is to allocate new degrees of freedom only where it is warranted by the data. Inversion results confirm that DSRI constitutes a robust technique for efficient multiparameter inversion of multicomponent electromagnetic measurements.
American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J. Daley- His Battle for Chicago and the Nation

For more than two decades, Mayor Richard J. Daley ruled Chicago with an iron fist. The last of the big city bosses, Daley ran an unbeatable political machine that controlled over one million votes. From 1955 until his death in 1976, every decision went through his office and he was a major player in national politics too: Kennedy and Johnson owed their presidencies to his control of the Illinois vote, and he made sure they never forgot it! In a city legendary for its corruption and backroom politics, Daley's power was unrivalled. He transformed Chicago, once a dying city, into a modern metropolis but he also made it America's most segregated city. A man of profound prejudices and a deep authoritarian streak, he constructed the nations largest and worst ghettos, sidestepped civil rights laws, and successfully thwarted Martin Luther King's campaign. A quarter-century after his death, journalists Cohen and Taylor present a biography of the man, drawn from newly uncovered material and interviews with his contemporaries. It is the story of his rise from the working-class Irish neighbourhood of his childhood to his role as one of the most important figures in modern American history.
Functional adaptations in the skeletal muscle microvasculature to endurance and interval sprint training in the type 2 diabetic OLETF rat

Prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes includes recommendation to perform aerobic exercise, but evidence indicates that high-intensity exercise training may confer greater benefit. Unique moto...
Radarclinometry - Bootstrapping the radar reflectance function from the image pixel-signal frequency distribution and an altimetry profile

A method for determining the dependence of radar backscatter on incidence angle that is applicable to the region corresponding to a particular radar image is derived. The method is based on enforcing mathematical consistency between the frequency distribution of the images' pixel signals and a one-dimensional frequency distribution of slope component, which is obtained from a radar or laser altimetry profile in or near the imaged area. To test the resulting algorithm, an arbitrarily selected reflectance function is used to generate an artificial radar image from a digitized topographic map of the Lake Champlain West quadrangle in the Adirondack Mountains, U.S. It is found that, for 99 percent of the data, the maximum error is 1 degree.
Dimensions of Poverty and Famine in the Upper Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract Poverty and famine in the Upper Eastern Region of Ghana are the result of a multiplicity of factors. This paper analyses some of these, and proposes some strategies for mitigating the problems.
Terrorism Targeting Industrial Chemical Facilities: Strategic Motivations and the Implications for U.S. Security

Policy to reduce the threat of a terrorist attack against industrial chemical facilities—critical infrastructure with potential to cause mass casualties—is being driven by incomplete and, in some cases, incorrect assumptions. This article chronicles incidents by non-state actors directed at the chemical industry and explores the strategic considerations prompting groups to target the industry. By incorporating motivations for targeting infrastructure a more robust, comprehensive risk assessment is realized. Analysis challenging the “insider” threat paradigm and recommendations to ameliorate the potential effects are also presented. These are found to differ substantially from the leading policy measures currently advocated.
A note on singularity in given names.

(1948). A Note on Singularity in Given Names. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 271-272.
The large diverse gene family var encodes proteins involved in cytoadherence and antigenic variation of plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes

Abstract The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum evades host immunity by varying the antigenic and adhesive character of infected erythrocytes. We describe a large and extremely diverse family of P. falciparum genes ( var ) that encode 200–350 kDa proteins having the expected properties of antigenically variant adhesion molecules. Predicted amino acid sequences of var genes show a variable extracellular segment with domains having receptor-binding features, a transmembrane sequence, and a terminal segment that is a probable submembrane anchor. There are 50–150 var genes on multiple parasite chromosomes, and some are in clustered arrangements. var probes detect two classes of transcripts in steady-state RNA: 7–9 kb var transcripts, and an unusual family of 1.8 – 2.4 kb transcripts that may be involved in expression or re-arrangements of var genes.
Operant conditioning of licking in vampire bats,Desmodus rotundus

Four adult female vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus), weighing 28–35 g, were autoshaped to keypress to obtain 0.5-ml quantities of defibrinated cattle blood reinforcer. Keypressing required 7 g of force, and response rates were moderately low (500–600 presses/h). Because of the force requirements, the apparatus was then modified so that licking from a tube would deliver the blood reinforcer. Bats were trained on variable-ratio, fixed-ratio, variable-interval, and fixed-interval schedules. Some of the schedules produced lick-response rates averaging 60/min. With conditioned suppression (light stimulus paired with brief electric footshock), bats learned within 15 sessions to completely suppress operant licking while the light was on.
Search for neutral Higgs at LEP 200

One of the primary tasks for the coming round of experiments is the search for the Higgs boson(s), the final, undetected remnant(s) of electroweak symmetry breaking. What, exactly, are we looking for. There may exist one or more scalar particles, charged or neutral, which decay preferentially, up to mixing angles which may cloud the phenomenological picture, into the heaviest available ''daughters'', and which weigh anything within the accessible mass range. Clearly, this search will have to be carried out at several different machines, taking advantage of their complementary features. The author describes here a few of the ways he thinks he can find the neutral, Standard Model Higgs at LEP 200, an e/sup +/e/sup -/ colliding beam machine at E/sub cm/= 200 GeV. Perhaps some of these techniques will be of some use at pp colliders as well.
Treating periprosthetic joint infections as biofilms: key diagnosis and management strategies

Considerable evidence suggests that microbial biofilms play an important role in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) pathogenesis. Compared to free-floating planktonic bacteria, biofilm bacteria are more difficult to culture and possess additional immune-evasive and antibiotic resistance mechanisms, making infections harder to detect and eradicate. This article reviews cutting-edge advances in biofilm-associated infection diagnosis and treatment in the context of current PJI guidelines and highlights emerging technologies that may improve the efficacy and reduce costs associated with PJI. Promising PJI diagnostic tools include culture-independent methods based on sequence comparisons of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene, which offer higher throughput and greater sensitivity than culture-based methods. For therapy, novel methods based on disrupting biofilm-specific properties include quorum quenchers, bacteriophages, and ultrasound/electrotherapy. Since biofilm infections are not easily detected or treated by conventional approaches, molecular diagnostic techniques and next-generation antibiofilm treatments should be integrated into PJI clinical practice guidelines in the near future.
A different type of indentation size effect

Pop-in during nanoindentation, which indicates the onset of dislocation plasticity, was systematically investigated in annealed and pre-strained single crystals of nickel using spherical indenters with different tip radii. As the indenter radius and pre-strain decrease, the maximum shear stresses determined from the pop-in loads increase. This represents a new type of indentation size effect (ISE), based not on the measured hardness as in conventional ISE, but on the stress needed to initiate dislocation plasticity.
Extreme points for convex mappings ofB n

We exhibit a collection of extreme points of the family of normalized convex mappings of the open unit ball of ℂ n forn≥2. These extreme points are defined in terms of the extreme points of a closed ball in the Banach space of homogeneous polynomials of degree 2 in ℂ n−1, which are fully classified. Two examples are given to show that there are more convex mappings than those contained in the closed convex hull of the set of extreme points here exhibited.
Improving regression-model-based streamwater constituent load estimates derived from serially correlated data

Summary A regression-model based approach is a commonly used, efficient method for estimating streamwater constituent load when there is a relationship between streamwater constituent concentration and continuous variables such as streamwater discharge, season and time. A subsetting experiment using a 30-year dataset of daily suspended sediment observations from the Mississippi River at Thebes, Illinois, was performed to determine optimal sampling frequency, model calibration period length, and regression model methodology, as well as to determine the effect of serial correlation of model residuals on load estimate precision. Two regression-based methods were used to estimate streamwater loads, the Adjusted Maximum Likelihood Estimator (AMLE), and the composite method, a hybrid load estimation approach. While both methods accurately and precisely estimated loads at the model’s calibration period time scale, precisions were progressively worse at shorter reporting periods, from annually to monthly. Serial correlation in model residuals resulted in observed AMLE precision to be significantly worse than the model calculated standard errors of prediction. The composite method effectively improved upon AMLE loads for shorter reporting periods, but required a sampling interval of at least 15-days or shorter, when the serial correlations in the observed load residuals were greater than 0.15. AMLE precision was better at shorter sampling intervals and when using the shortest model calibration periods, such that the regression models better fit the temporal changes in the concentration–discharge relationship. The models with the largest errors typically had poor high flow sampling coverage resulting in unrepresentative models. Increasing sampling frequency and/or targeted high flow sampling are more efficient approaches to ensure sufficient sampling and to avoid poorly performing models, than increasing calibration period length.
A magnetic micropump with tri-membrane fully differential structure

MEMS are typically defined as the devices or systems which are integrated with electrical and mechanical components on a silicon substrate through the microfabrication techniques. Due to its low cost, small size, low power consumption with high efficiency, MEMS technology has been widely used in many fields. In this paper, the design and simulation of a magnetic micropump with tri-membrane fully differential structure is presented. The proposed micropump has two inlets and two outlets. It has two pumping chambers sealed by three Si membranes. A permanent magnet is deposited on the middle membrane. Poly-Si coils are deposited on the top and bottom membranes separately. When electrical current is conducted in the coil, a magnetic field is excited, and its polarity (north and south poles) can be easily exchanged by reversing the conducting current. The design and analysis of the micropump has been discussed in details, and based on those theoretical analysis, a set of optimized design parameter has been achieved. The ANSYS simulation is used to verify the function of micropump. The proposed micropump leads to improved pumping rate with better efficiency.
Biochemical and immunological identity of the hepatic peroxisomal and microsomal trans-2-enoyl CoA hydratase bifunctional protein☆

Abstract In the present study, the hepatic microsomal and peroxisomal bifunctional trans -2-enoyl CoA hydratases were isolated and purified from rats treated with 2% di-(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate for 8 days. These two enzymes (microsomal and peroxisomal) were purified with the identical purification procedures and had identical molecular masses of 76 kDa. A single band was observed on an electrophoretic gel of an equimixture of the two proteins. Both preparations had identical pI's of 8.6 and pH optima of 6.0 for the dehydrogenase (reductase) and 7.5 for the hydratase activity. Two-dimensional gel analysis of an equimixture of the two preparations showed only one band. Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis showed that an antibody raised against the purified microsomal enzyme interacted at a point with the peroxisomal enzyme, indicating immunologic identity. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the antibody formed a single band with total microsomal and peroxisomal fractions. The antibody inhibited the enzymatic activities of both preparations in a similar manner. Interestingly, the antibody had a markedly greater inhibitory effect on the reductase activity of the two enzyme preparations, and a much less inhibitory effect on the hydratase activity, suggesting that the antigenic determinants reside at or near the catalytic site of the reductase portion of the protein. These results suggest that the microsomal and peroxisomal bifunctional proteins are identical.
Preliminary studies on the immunogenicity and amount of Escherichia coli polypeptides in biosynthetic human insulin produced by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract To find out whether biosynthetic human insulin produced from Escherichia coli contained bacterial polypeptides and whether these were immunogenic, polypeptides obtained from E. coli containing a plasmid similar to the one used to produce A and B chains but lacking the genes for these chains were used to measure the degree of human serum binding to iodinated peptides, to study immunogenicity in guineapigs, and to develop a sensitive immunoradiometric assay for E. coli polypeptides. Several biosynthetic human insulin preparations were tested by the use of this assay. Sera from 20 new diabetic patients receiving either biosynthetic human insulin or purified porcine insulin were tested for anti- E. coli polypeptide antibodies. 2, 4, and 6 month antibody levels in patients receiving biosynthetic human insulin did not differ significantly from pretreatment levels or from levels in those receiving porcine insulin. E. coli polypeptides were essentially non-immunogenic in guineapigs or rabbits unless emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant. Biosynthetic human insulin did not produce anaphylaxis or delayed skin and Arthus reactions in guineapigs immunised with E. coli polypeptides emulsified in incomplete or complete Freund's adjuvant. The immunoradiometric assay for measuring E. coli polypeptides in biosynthetic human insulin preparations showed an absence of E. coli polypeptides capable of stimulating an immunogenic reaction.
Seismic images of the Brooks Range fold and thrust belt, Arctic Alaska, from an integrated seismic reflection/refraction experiment

Abstract We describe results of an integrated seismic reflection/refraction experiment across the Brooks Range and flanking geologic provinces in Arctic Alaska. The seismic acquisition was unusual in that reflection and refraction data were collected simultaneously with a 700 channel seismograph system deployed numerous times along a 315 km profile. Shot records show continuous Moho reflections from 0–180 km offset, as well as numerous upper- and mid-crustal wide-angle events. Single and low-fold near-vertical incidence common midpoint (CMP) reflection images show complex upper- and middle-crustal structure across the range from the unmetamorphosed Endicott Mountains allochthon (EMA) in the north, to the metamorphic belts in the south. Lower-crustal and Moho reflections are visible across the entire reflection profile. Travel-time inversion of PmP arrivals shows that the Moho, at 33 km depth beneath the North Slope foothills, deepens abruptly beneath the EMA to a maximum of 46 km, and then shallows southward to 35 km at the southern edge of the range. Two zones of upper- and middle-crustal reflections underlie the northern Brooks Range above ~ 12–15 km depth. The upper zone, interpreted as the base of the EMA, lies at a maximum depth of 6 km and extends over 50 km from the range front to the north central Brooks Range where the base of the EMA outcrops above the metasedimentary rocks exposed in the Doonerak window. We interpret the base of the lower zone, at ~ 12 km depth, to be from carbonate rocks above the master detachment upon which the Brooks Range formed. The seismic data suggest that the master detachment is connected to the faults in the EMA by several ramps. In the highly metamorphosed terranes south of the Doonerak window, the CMP section shows numerous south-dipping events which we interpret as a crustal scale duplex involving the Doonerak window rocks. The basal detachment reflections can be traced approximately 100 km, and dip southward from about 10–12 km near the range front, to 14–18 km beneath the Doonerak window, to 26–28 km beneath the metamorphic belts in the central Brooks Range. The section documents middle- and lower-crustal involvement in the formation of the Brooks Range.
M -Chain graphs of posets

The m -chain graph of a finite poset is defined as a generalization of the covering graph. 2-chain graphs of posets whose covering graphs are trees are characterized.
Is cornstarch-thickened milk formula better than strengthened regular milk formula for infant regurgitation?

Is cornstarch-thickened milk formula better than strengthened regular milk formula for infant regurgitation?
Small scale screening to determine the ability of different polymers to inhibit drug crystallization upon rapid solvent evaporation.

In this study, the ability of 7 chemically diverse polymers [Eudragit E100 (E100), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poly(vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate) (PVPVA), poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS)] to inhibit the crystallization of 8 readily crystallizable model compounds [benzamide (BD), phenacetin (PH), flurbiprofen (FB), flufenamic acid (FFA), chlorpropamide (CP), chlorzoxazone (CZ), bifonazole (BI) and lidocaine (LI)] was investigated. Films of the different drug−polymer combinations were prepared by rapid evaporation from solution, using a spin coating method. A total of 7 different drug/polymer weight ratios [90/10, 75/25, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 25/75 and 10/90 (w/w)] were evaluated for each drug−polymer combination. Crystallization behavior of the films was monitored using polarized light microscopy over 7 days of room temperature storage under dry conditions. It was observed that c...
Les liaisons dangereuses: Adhesion molecules do it statistically

Can we use this classification also for larger complexes? Adhesion proteins expressed on the surface of a cell play a central role in both providing structural integrity to cells and in transferring information to a cell. For example, the successful establishment of an adhesive link between a cell and a surface by integrins initiates multiple cascades of signaling pathways that can lead to cell motion (2). The nature of the expressed adhesion molecules of a cell also can act as an address of a differentiated cell during the tissue formation of an embryo (3), while endothelial cells lining the gut and blood vessels are stapled together by rivets consisting of clusters of adhesion molecules. Finally, the recognition of “self” from “non-self” during the immune response in part involves “lock-and-key” adhesion between adhesion molecules of the white blood cells of the immune systems with partner adhesion molecules on the target cells (4).
Cognitive-behavioral therapy to promote smoking cessation among African American smokers: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The health consequences of tobacco smoking disproportionately affect African Americans, but research on whether efficacious interventions can be generalized to this population is limited. This study examined the efficacy of group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for smoking cessation among African Americans. Method: Participants (N = 154; 65% female, M = 44 years old, mean cigarettes/ day = 13) were randomly assigned to either (a) group CBT or (b) group general health education (GHE). Participants in both conditions received 6 sessions of counseling and 8 weeks of transdermal nicotine patches. The primary outcome variable was 7-day point prevalence abstinence (ppa), assessed at the end of counseling (2 weeks) and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Secondary outcomes included 24-hr ppa and 28-day continuous abstinence (assessed at 3 and 6 months). Results: Intent-to-treat analyses demonstrated the hypothesized effects, such that 7-day ppa was significantly greater in the CBT than the GHE condition at the end of counseling (51% vs. 27%), at 3 months (34% vs. 20%), and at 6 months (31% vs. 14%). Results of a generalized linear mixed model demonstrated a significant effect of CBT versus GHE on 7-day ppa (odds ratio = 2.57, 95% CI [1.40, 4.71] and also an effect of time (p < .002). The Condition × Time interaction was not significant. Similar patterns of results emerged for 24-hour ppa and 28-day continuous abstinence. Results from per protocol analyses (i.e., participants who completed all aspects of the study) corroborate the intent-to-treat findings. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that intensive, group CBT smoking cessation interventions are efficacious among African American smokers.
Measurement of the gas constants for various proportional-counter gas mixtures

Abstract The relationship between proportional-counter gain and the properties of the gas can be expressed in terms of a semi-empirical relationship. Measurements have been made to verify the validity of this expression, and values of the gas constants for various mixtures have been measured.
Cooling Effect of Permeable Asphalt Pavement Under Dry and Wet Conditions

The improvement of the street thermal environment for walking and cycling is attracting increased attention as a strategy for increasing livability. This approach has also been proposed as a strategy for mitigating the local heat island effect and reducing energy use for buildings and vehicle air conditioning during hot periods. This research explored a potential pavement design and management strategy for improving the street thermal environment and mitigating the heat island effect. Through field measurements on pavement test sections with both conventional and alternative designs, the thermal behavior and cooling effect of permeable asphalt pavements under dry and wet conditions were investigated. The overall 7-day average cooling effect of wetting once on permeable pavements for near-surface air was approximately 0.28°C to 0.45°C; for the surface, the temperature was approximately 1.2°C to 1.6°C, and it was approximately 1.5°C to 3.4°C for the in-depth layers. On the basis of these findings, permeable...
The Experience of Military Families with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders During Relocation and Separation

Military families with a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are underrepresented in the literature. In order to provide appropriate services, research must be done to determine the needs of these families. A qualitative methodology was used to interview military spouses with children with ASD about their experiences with therapeutic services. Overall, results indicate military families with a child with ASD experience challenges associated with both the military lifestyle and having a child with special needs. Due to their membership in two groups prone to support limitations and therapeutic service accessibility issues, military families with a child with ASD may be at additional risk for high levels of stress and difficulty obtaining and maintaining ASD related services.
ERCC1 is required for FANCD2 focus formation.

The rare genetic disorder Fanconi anemia, caused by a deficiency in any of at least thirteen identified genes, is characterized by cellular sensitivity to DNA interstrand crosslinks and genome instability. The excision repair cross complementing protein, ERCC1, first identified as a participant in nucleotide excision repair, appears to also act in crosslink repair, possibly in incision and at a later stage. We have investigated the relationship of ERCC1 to the Fanconi anemia pathway, using depletion of ERCC1 by siRNA in transformed normal human fibroblasts and fibroblasts from Fanconi anemia patients. We find that depletion of ERCC1 does not hinder formation of double strand breaks in crosslink repair as indexed by γH2AX. However, the monoubiquitination of FANCD2 protein in response to MMC treatment is decreased and the localization of FANCD2 to nuclear foci is eliminated. Arrest of DNA replication by hydroxyurea, producing double strand breaks without crosslinks, also requires ERRC1 for FANCD2 localization to nuclear foci. Our results support a role for ERCC1 after creation of a double strand break for full activation of the Fanconi anemia pathway.
Structural Fatigue in Spinel Electrodes in High Voltage ( 4 V ) Li / Li x Mn2 O 4 Cells

Evidence of structural fatigue has been detected at the surface of discharged Li{sub x}[Mn{sub 2}]O{sub 4} spinel electrodes in (4 V) Li/Li{sub x}[Mn{sub 2}]O{sub 4} cells. Under nonequilibrium conditions, domains of tetragonal Li{sub 2}[Mn{sub 2}]O{sub 4} coexist with cubic Li[Mn{sub 2}]O{sub 4}, even at 500mV above the thermodynamic voltage expected for the onset of the tetragonal phase. The presence of Li{sub 2}[Mn{sub 2}]O{sub 4} on the particle surface may contribute to some of the capacity fade observed during cycling of Li/Li{sub x}[Mn{sub 2}]O{sub 4} cells.
Environmental DNA sequencing primers for eutardigrades and bdelloid rotifers.

Background The time it takes to isolate individuals from environmental samples and then extract DNA from each individual is one of the problems with generating molecular data from meiofauna such as eutardigrades and bdelloid rotifers. The lack of consistent morphological information and the extreme abundance of these classes makes morphological identification of rare, or even common cryptic taxa a large and unwieldy task. This limits the ability to perform large-scale surveys of the diversity of these organisms. Here we demonstrate a culture-independent molecular survey approach that enables the generation of large amounts of eutardigrade and bdelloid rotifer sequence data directly from soil. Our PCR primers, specific to the 18s small-subunit rRNA gene, were developed for both eutardigrades and bdelloid rotifers.
Renal cell carcinoma: review of novel single-agent therapeutics and combination regimens

A search of the Medline database and ASCO 2003 conference proceedings was conducted to identify clinical trials currently underway using single-agent therapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Combination trials were identified using the ASCO 2003 conference proceedings. Fourteen single-agent therapies employing different mechanisms of action were identified in the published literature: imatinib mesylate (Gleevec); bevacizumab (Avastin); thalidomide (Thalomid); gefitinib (ZD1839) (Iressa); cetuximab (IMC-C225) (Erbitux); bortezomib (PS-341) (Velcade); HSPPC-96 (Oncophage); BAY 59-8862; ABT-510; G250; CCI-779; SU5416; PTK/ZK; and ABX-EGF. Six distinct fields of clinical research have emerged: monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, vaccines, second-generation taxanes, nonapeptides and immunomodulators. Five combination regimens, primarily biological response modifiers (interleukin-2 or interferon-alpha), chemotherapy- or thalidomide-based, were identified. All therapies demonstrated acceptable toxicity profiles. Clinical benefit was assessed based on each study's reported criteria: antitumor response (regression or stability) ranged from 5% to 71%. In the past several years, significant advances in the underlying biological mechanisms of RCC, particularly the role of tumor angiogenesis, have permitted the design of molecularly targeted therapeutics. Based on preliminary and limited studies, combination therapies offer the greatest clinical benefit in the management of this malignancy, although additional basic research is still warranted.
A General Model for Transition in Wall-Bounded Flows

A simple ODE analog for the near-wall streak-vortex mechanism is used to construct a transition model that responds to classical instability modes, local velocity and pressure disturbances, and wall roughness. The ODE analog governs the evolution of two scalar fields, which represent the local amplitudes of near-wall quasi-streamwise vortices and streaky velocity disturbances, respectively. A local Reynolds number characterises the response to vortical disturbances. At low values, all disturbances decay. At high Reynolds numbers, finite disturbances induce transition to a self-sustaining high-amplitude state. The model is intended for application to Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes calculations or large-eddy simulations in which the near-wall features cannot be resolved. The model also estimates turbulent wall stress using outer layer velocities, by assuming logarithmic behavior for 0 ≤ y+ ≤ 65; it may thus have potential as a general wall model.
Damned If You Do; Damned If You Don’t!

This paper discusses the Principle of Normative Invariance: ‘An action’s moral status does not depend on whether or not it is performed.’ I show the importance of this principle for arguments regarding actualism and other variations on the person-affecting restriction, discuss and rebut arguments in favor of the principle, and then discuss five counterexamples to it. I conclude that the principle as it stands is false; and that if it is modified to avoid the counterexamples, it is gutted of any interest or power.
Asymmetry and Aging of Mycobacterial Cells Lead to Variable Growth and Antibiotic Susceptibility

Cells use both deterministic and stochastic mechanisms to generate cell-to-cell heterogeneity, which enables the population to better withstand environmental stress. Here we show that, within a clonal population of mycobacteria, there is deterministic heterogeneity in elongation rate that arises because mycobacteria grow in an unusual, unipolar fashion. Division of the asymmetrically growing mother cell gives rise to daughter cells that differ in elongation rate and size. Because the mycobacterial cell division cycle is governed by time, not cell size, rapidly elongating cells do not divide more frequently than slowly elongating cells. The physiologically distinct subpopulations of cells that arise through asymmetric growth and division are differentially susceptible to clinically important classes of antibiotics.
Obtaining online approximation algorithms for facility dispersion from offline algorithms

Facility dispersion problems arise in the context of placing obnoxious facilities and retail outlets. In the offline version of such a problem, the input consists of a complete graph on n nodes, a nonnegative weight (distance) for each edge, and the number k l n of facilities to be placed. The goal is to choose a facility placement consisting of k nodes so as to maximize a given measure of the distances among the facilities. Here, we consider an online version of the problem where the value of k is not known apriori; instead, requests for facilities arrive one at a time. It is also required that previously placed facilities cannot be moved or eliminated. Our main result is that for any objective that satisfies two properties, namely monotonicity and graceful degradation, any offline approximation algorithm with a performance guarantee ρ can be used to develop an algorithm with competitive ratio cρ for the online version, where c is a constant independent of the problem instance. Objectives for which our result applies include the average edge weight and average weight of a star subgraph. The result holds even when the edge weights do not satisfy the triangle inequality. We also identify dispersion objectives for which the offline and online versions have different behaviors when only one of the above two properties is satisfied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 47(4), 206–217 2006
Piecewise convex estimation for signal processing

Additional methods of nonparametric function estimation (splines, kernels and especially wavelet filters) usually produce artificial features/spurious oscillations. Piecewise convex function estimation seeks to reliably estimate the geometric shape of the unknown function. We outline how piecewise convex fitting may be applied to signal recovery, instantaneous frequency estimation, surface reconstruction, image segmentation, spectral estimation and multivariate adaptive regression. Two distinct methodologies for shape-correct estimation are given. First, we propose a piecewise convex information criterion that strongly penalizes additional inflection points and "efficiently" penalizes additional degrees of freedom. Second, a two-stage adaptive (pilot) estimator is described. In the first stage, the number and location of the change points are estimated using strong smoothing. In the second stage, a constrained smoothing spline fit is performed with the smoothing level chosen to minimize the MSE. The imposed constraint is that a single second-stage change point occurs in a region about each empirical change point of the first-stage estimate. This constraint is equivalent to requiring that the third derivative of the second-stage estimate has a single sign in a small neighborhood about each first-stage change point.
On the Rearrangeability of 2(Iog 2 N) &#8211;1 Stage Permutation Networks

For any parallel computer systems which consist of many processing elements and memories, interconnection networks provide communication paths among processing elements and memories. Both the rearrangeability proof and the control algorithm are well known for the Benes network, which is intrinsically symmetric. However, there has been little progress for the case of nonsymmetric networks of similar hardware requirements.
African American Women and AIDS: Factors Influencing Risk and Reaction to HIV Disease:

African American women represent the fastest growing group of individuals infected with HIV in the United States. Social and contextual influences on HIV risk vulnerability in this group are discussed, with particular emphasis on risk behaviors related to heterosexual contact and injection drug use. Social factors associated with the sex-ratio imbalance and low rates of condom use in the African American community are addressed, as are contextual influences related to environmental stress and psychosocial issues. We describe interventions that directly address both social and contextual influences on African American women’s risk behaviors. Finally, mental health and psychological concerns are presented as a framework for better understanding women’s reactions to HIV/AIDS and for developing comprehensive programs and services that better meet their needs.