cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family caregivers' distress responses to daily behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: The moderating role of relationship quality

Objectives Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are associated with distress among caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD), but less is known about how relationship quality may buffer this association. This study examines the association between daily BPSD and daily perceived distress among family caregivers and the moderating role of relationship quality. Methods Data were from 173 family caregivers of PWD from the Daily Stress and Health study. Relationship quality was assessed at the baseline interview; then on each of the 8 following consecutive days, caregivers reported frequency of daily BPSD (six domains) and their respective distress (calculated as daily distress sum and daily distress mean scores) through daily evening phone interviews at home. A 2-level multilevel model approach was employed to differentiate within-person (WP) and between-person (BP) effects. Results Greater daily BPSD occurrence was associated with higher daily distress (sum and mean scores) at WP and BP levels. However, relationship quality moderated the association between daily BPSD occurrence and daily distress sum scores at both WP and BP levels. Caregivers who reported better relationship quality with the PWD had lower levels of daily distress sum scores in response to daily BPSD occurrence, compared to their counterparts with poorer relationship quality. Conclusions This study revealed that relationship quality attenuated the effect of daily BPSD occurrence on caregivers' distress. Future dementia caregiver education and support programs should consider building relationship quality into the personalized program design to improve caregiver mental health and well-being.
Far Infrared Spectroscopy of Superconducting NbN

Transmission data have been obtained between 20 and 100 cm−1 in NbN films. The results show-strong coupling effects and help in understanding granular behavior.
The Role of Facilitators in the Constraint Negotiation of Leisure-Time Physical Activity

There is substantial research on the constraint negotiation of leisure, including research on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and some research exploring different aspects that might affect t...
Rigorous Curricular Innovation: Development, Integration, and Evaluation of Anatomic Clinical Correlations Module

OBJECTIVE To develop an anatomy clinical correlations module utilizing modern instructional design techniques and theoretically structured student feedback for course improvements. DESIGN A pre-experimental, single group post-test study. Eleven module sessions were structured using the 5-E instructional strategy (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate). Learning impact was measured using Keller's ARCS framework (attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction) and narrative student feedback was collected to inform case alterations. The course was repeated the following year with the integrated feedback and year-on-year comparisons were drawn. SETTING Single-institution study at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS Medical students currently enrolled in the first-year anatomy course. RESULTS Year-on-year comparisons for AY18-19 (n = 78) and AY19-20 (n = 118) yielded statistically significant improvements in attention (4.69-4.76, p = 0.01) and relevance (4.54 to 4.75, p ≤ 0.001) with high total combined survey response rates (n = 196/238, 82.4%). Internal consistency was good for attention and strong for the following scales: total scale, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction. Narrative feedback referenced the importance of applied anatomy, clinical context and decision-making, the format of the sessions. CONCLUSIONS We structured a series of anatomic clinical correlations using an evidence-based instructional strategy, assessed its impact, and improved on the course to optimize the motivation to learn anatomy. Systematic use of structured student feedback is important to ensure case difficulty is within the zone of proximal development.
Electrophoresis, Proteins, Batch and Continuous

Introduction Band Broadening (Dispersive) Effects Performance Metrics Batch Analytical Tools Capillary Electrophoresis Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Batch Preparative Tools Preparative Gel Electrophoresis Preparative Continuous-Flow Electrophoresis Thin-Film Apparatus Continuous-Flow Electrophoresis with Recycle (RCFE) Discussion Nomenclature Bibliography Keywords: analytical; batch; capillary; continuous; dispersion; electrophoresis; PAGE; preparative
Structure Property Relationships in Ion Implanted Ceramics

Ion implantation is used to alter the near-surface properties of materials in a manner which is independent of many of the constraints associated with normal processing methods. Since virtually any element can be injected into a solid in a controlled and reproducible fashion, this doping process (nonequilibrium in nature) often leads to compositions and structures unobtainable by conventional means. Although ion implantation doping has had its greatest success in semiconductor technology, it has been utilized in recent years to alter the physical and chemical properties of metals, and the optical and electrical properties of insulators. Relatively little work has been reported on changes in the mechanical properties of insulators (ceramics) as a result of ion implantation.
Residual motions caused by micro-gravitational accelerations

It is shown here that, under certain conditions, the low-frequency accelerations on experiments being performed aboard orbiting spacecraft due to gravity gradient, atmospheric drag, and spacecraft attitude or orientation can cause sustained fluid motions which require correction by advanced mass compensation techniques. The gravity gradient tensor is derived, and an expression for the difference between the absolute accelerations of a free particle and the mass center of the spacecraft is obtained. A model for the variation of atmospheric density with altitude is discussed, the equations governing the relative motion of a drag-free particle with respect to the mass center of the spacecraft are presented, and analytical and numerical solutions are obtained. Two possible spacecraft altitudes are considered. The problem of the Stokes motion of a sphere immersed in a viscous fluid is examined. Results are presented for the motion of a steel ball in water and for a triglycine sulfate crystal freely suspended in solution.
A Picture Drawing System Using a Binary Relational Datbase

The Picture Drawing System is a prototype general purpose graphics system which uses the binary relational database system NDB. The prototype was developed to demonstrate that the full potential of graphics systems can only be realised with an effective database management subsystem, and that the binary relational database approach offers precisely the kind of support needed.
A Multidimensional Continued Fraction Generalization of Stern's Diatomic Sequence

Continued fractions are linked to Stern's diatomic sequence 0,1,1,2,1,3,2,3,1,4,... (given by the recursion relation a_2n=a_n and a_{2n+1} = a_n + a_{n+1}, where a_0=0 and a_1=1), which has long been known. Using a particular multidimensional continued fraction algorithm (the Farey algorithm), we will generalize the diatomic sequence to a collection of numbers that quite naturally should be called the triatomic sequence (or a two-dimensional Pascal with memory sequence). As continued fractions and the diatomic sequence can be thought of as coming from systematic subdivisions of the unit interval, this new triatomic sequence will arise by a systematic subdivision of a triangle. We will discuss some of the algebraic properties for the tri-atomic sequence.
Video Compression Standards

The sections in this article are 1 System Issues in Video Compression 2 Principles and Practice of Video Compression 3 Current Video Compression Standards 4 Emerging Video Compression Standards 5 Summary and Additional Topics
Unequal-Arm Interferometry and Ranging in Space

Space-borne interferometric gravitational wave detectors, sensitive in the low-frequency (millihertz) band, will fly in the next decade. In these detectors the spacecraft-to-spacecraft light-traveltimes will necessarily be unequal, time-varying, and (due to aberration) have different time delays on up- and down-links. By using knowledge of the inter-spacecraft light-travel-times and their time evolution it is possible to cancel in post-processing the otherwise dominant laser phase noise and obtain a variety of interferometric data combinations sensitive to gravitational radiation. This technique, which has been named Time-Delay Interferometry (TDI), can be implemented with constellations of three or more formation-flying spacecraft that coherently track each other. As an example application we consider the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission and show that TDI combinations can be synthesized by properly time-shifting and linearly combining the phase measurements performed on board the three spacecraft. Since TDI exactly suppresses the laser noises when the delays coincide with the light-travel-times, we then show that TDI can also be used for estimating the time-delays needed for its implementation. This is done by performing a post-processing non-linear minimization procedure, which provides an effective, powerful, and simple way for making measurements of the inter-spacecraft light-travel-times. This processing technique, named Time-Delay Interferometric Ranging (TDIR), is highly accurate in estimating the time-delays and allows TDI to be successfully implemented without the need of a dedicated ranging subsystem.
Flow Behavior of Basal Ice as Related to Modeling Considerations

Simple shear tests on the bottom 17 m of basal ice from Camp Century, Greenland, were carried out in order to study the flow behavior near the bottom of an ice sheet and its implications for ice-sheet modeling. The ice core was recovered in 1966. Our experimental results show that the basal ice tested, (which contained alternating bands of dirty and clean ice) has the highest strain-rate ever reported for polycrystalline ice under simple shear. The enhancement factors obtained are interpreted in terms of fabric, ageing, and impurity. Horizontal velocity profiles are calculated using data reported previously for Camp Century and Dye 3 stations. Various depth-age relationships are compared with these data. The higher than expected shear strain-rates measured on samples of near-bottom ice from Camp Century may very well exist at other locations. If such high shear strain-rates are more prevalent than presently thought, they could have an important bearing on ages calculated by physical or mathematical models of ice sheets.
Air quality and urban planning: Towards an integrative approach

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses integrated land use approaches to urban air management. Integrated environmental management (IEM) is a concept that now holds great currency at the national, state, and local levels. Although definitions vary, IEM is generally considered to convey an inter-organizational, coordinated approach for environmental management that takes into account social, political, economic, and institutional human actions in a particular environmental system. At the federal level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management have recently launched ecosystem approaches for carrying out their mandates. And at the state level, new institutional relationships have been formed to address land and water resource management. According to the Director of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to environmental stewardship may represent the most important scientifically and philosophically based management principle yet developed. The chapter describes policy instruments that can be used to implement such an approach and obstacles to successful implementation. These obstacles include the limitations of urban reconfiguration as an approach to air quality management, institutional impediments to the transmission of policy from the federal to the local level, and market resistance to policy implementation.
Durable remission with rituximab in a patient with an unusual variant of Castleman's disease with myelofibrosis-TAFRO syndrome

A 28-year-old man was referred to our institution in 2012 with a 3 month history of progressive weakness and fatigue, fever, night sweats, abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, generalized swelling and an overall poor performance status. His initial investigations showed hemoglobin 89 g/L, white blood cell 2.3 × 109/L, platelets 75 × 109/L, blood urea nitrogen 50 mg/dL, and creatinine 2.5 mg/dL. Physical examination showed diffuse lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. Computerized tomography scan showed diffuse lymphadenopathy (including mediastinal and retroperitoneal), pleural effusions and massive splenomegaly. Bone marrow (BM) evaluation revealed a hypercellular marrow (90%) showing atypical megakaryocytic hyperplasia with aberrant clustering and frequent nuclear hyperlobulation (Fig. 1A; Hematoxylin and Eosin HE 400×) with an overall MF-2 grade fibrosis. The trabeculated bone was mildly thickened. Cytogenetic analysis of the BM aspirate demonstrated a diploid male karyotype. Molecular studies were negative for a BCR/ABL-1 fusion as well as JAK-2, MPL, and CALR mutations. An inguinal lymph node biopsy demonstrated germinal center regression with vessels extending into the germinal centers, exhibiting the so-called “lollipop” morphology (Fig. 1C,H,E; 200×). The interfollicular regions were expanded by numerous mature-appearing plasma cells and high endothelial venules (Fig. 1D,H,E; 400×). Anti-CD138 immunohistochemistry highlighted numerous plasma cells, which showed polytypic kappa and lambda light chain expression. There was no immunophenotypic aberrancy by flow cytometry analysis. The overall morphologic and immunophenotypic findings supported Castleman's disease (CD) with mixed features of hyaline-vascular and plasma cell variants. At the outside hospital, the patient was treated with packed red blood cell transfusions and oral steroids with improvement in symptoms and cell counts. Our investigations showed elevated LDH and β2 micro-globulin, polymerase chain reaction positive for HHV-6 in the BM and negative for HHV-8, EBV, hepatitis viruses and HIV 1 and 2. Other infectious and autoimmune work up was negative. Serum IL-6 levels were normal (likely due to the steroids he has received at the outside hospital). The patient was treated with 4 weekly doses of single agent rituximab at 375 mg/m2. The patient had remarkable clinical improvement with the first dose of rituximab and after 4 doses achieved remission. After 16 months of follow up, the patient maintains a normal clinical examination, normalized blood counts, and is transfusion-independent. A recent BM biopsy showed minimal reticulin fibrosis and mild dysplasia in megakaryocytes.
Loop antenna for mobile and personal communication systems

This paper presents the results of a loop antenna, which can be used as an antenna element with a portable hand-held cellular telephone, for the first and third generation of mobile and personal communication systems. The antenna is analyzed using the finite-difference time-domain method, and the results are compared with measurements. By grounding and not grounding one end of the loop, the same element can be used to resonate at the appropriate frequencies for the first and third generation of mobile and personal communications systems.
Spider Glue Proteins Have Distinct Architectures Compared with Traditional Spidroin Family Members

Adhesive spider glues are required to perform a variety of tasks, including web construction, prey capture, and locomotion. To date, little is known regarding the molecular and structural features of spider glue proteins, in particular bioadhesives that interconnect dragline or scaffolding silks during three-dimensional web construction. Here we use biochemical and structural approaches to identify and characterize two aggregate gland specific gene products, AgSF1 and AgSF2, and demonstrate that these proteins co-localize to the connection joints of both webs and wrapping silks spun from the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus. Protein architectures are markedly divergent between AgSF1 and AgSF2, as well as traditional spider silk fibroin family members, suggesting connection joints consist of a complex proteinaceous network. AgSF2 represents a nonglycosylated 40-kDa protein that has novel internal amino acid block repeats with the consensus sequence NVNVN embedded in a glycine-rich matrix. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of AgSF1 reveals pentameric QPGSG iterations that are similar to conserved modular elements within mammalian elastin, a rubber-like elastomeric protein that interfaces with collagen. Wet-spinning methodology using purified recombinant proteins show AgSF1 has the potential to self-assemble into fibers. X-ray fiber diffraction studies performed on these synthetic fibers reveal the presence of noncrystalline domains that resemble classical rubber networks. Collectively, these data support that the aggregate gland serves to extrude a protein mixture that contains substances that allow for the self-assembly of fiber-like structures that interface with dragline silks to mediate prey capture.
Flat Panel Imagers Based on Excimer Laser Annealed, poly-Si Thin Film Transistor Technology

Pulsed Excimer-Laser Annealing (ELA) has become an important technology to produce high performance, poly-Si Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) for large area electronics. The much-improved performance of these poly-Si TFTs over the conventional hydrogenated amorphous Si TFTs enables the possibility of building next generation flat panel imagers with higher-level integration and better noise performance. Both the on-glass integration of peripheral driver electronics to reduce the cost of interconnection and the integration of a pixel level amplifier to improve the noise performance of large area imagers have been demonstrated and are discussed in this paper.
Books worth (re-)reading: The act of creation by Arthur Koestler (1969)

The late comedian George Carlin, who knew a thing or two about how cartharsis derives from humor and playfulness, admired and recommended Koestler's book The act of creation. Published in 1964 in t...
Gram-negative sepsis. Background, clinical features, and intervention.

Gram-negative sepsis remains an urgent medical problem, with more than 200,000 cases occurring each year in the United States and an associated mortality rate of 20 to 50 percent. Since the onset of shock greatly worsens prognosis and to encourage early intervention, the term sepsis syndrome was developed to describe the features of a preshock septic state. Early clinical and metabolic indicators are discussed, and current therapy is reviewed. Better understanding of the pathophysiology of endotoxin release from Gram-negative bacteria and advances in biotechnology have led to the development of potential new treatments for sepsis. One such development—monoclonal antibodies to endotoxin—has shown great promise in the effort to block the progression to septic shock, reduce mortality, and decrease the overall costs of sepsis to the patient and to the national economy. (Chest 1991; 100:802-08)
Ethical Aspects of Genetic Testing

This article explores ethical concerns and emerging dilemmas associated with the proliferation of information resulting from the extraordinary advances in molecular genetics. It provides an overview of the ethical and legal challenges associated with predictive testing for inherited disease currently being addressed in the literature. Finally, it offers a framework of ethical principles that can be used to guide nurses and other practitioners in the appropriate application of research findings to the clinical practice setting. The ethical guidelines of self-determination, benefit-burden ratio, and justice promulgated in The Belmont Report are interpreted in the new context of predictive genetic testing. The author concludes by discussing how to balance the technical imperative to advance genetic knowledge for the sake of human health with the ethical imperative to preserve the fundamental rights and liberties of both individuals and communities who are its recipients.
A Chemical Sensor That Can Detect the Frequency of Ultrasound

Herein is described a chemical sensor that can detect the frequency of ultrasound. Exposure of aqueous n-alkyl sulfate or sulfonate surfactant solutions to high-intensity ultrasound results in the formation of secondary carbon-centered radicals. The yield of these radicals reaches a maximum plateau, the magnitude of which is limited by the dynamic ability of the surfactant to accumulate at the rapidly oscillating gas/solution interface of cavitation bubbles. For this reason, the maximum plateau yield observed following sonolysis of sodium butane sulfonate solutions compared to that of sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions (i.e., CHSBSo/CHSDS) was greater than 1. Interestingly, it was found that the CHSBSo/CHSDS ratio had a linear dependence on ultrasound frequency. Since it is known from earlier studies that the CHSBSo/CHSDS ratio is independent of ultrasound intensity and of the geometry of flat plate exposure systems, a plot of the CHSBSo/CHSDS ratio against ultrasound frequency yields a calibration curve. W...
Using the Readiness Assurance Process and Metacognition in an Operating Systems Course

There is significant evidence that active learning techniques facilitate superior learning outcomes when compared to traditional lecture-based techniques. However, adopting an entirely new pedagogy is a time-consuming endeavor that requires considerable effort. In this work, we describe simple transitional steps that we used to increase the amount of active learning in our Operating Systems (OS) course. After introducing these techniques in the Fall 2013 offering of this course, we observed dramatic improvements in a variety of measures of student outcomes, including withdraw-D-failure (WDF) rates and final exam performance. We also observed marked improvement in project completion rates. Our results suggest that adopting components of active learning pedagogies can contribute to positive outcomes with modest investments in time and effort.
Experimental study of diffusion and segregation in a Si-(GexSi1-x) heterostructure.

Experimental results have been obtained on the segregation coefficients of boron, phosphorus, and arsenic in the Si-(${\mathrm{Ge}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Si}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$) heterostructure. It is found that boron tends to segregate into the ${\mathrm{Ge}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Si}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$ layer, while phosphorus and arsenic tend to segregate away from it. The results are discussed within the framework of Hu's recent theory. The important factor is the ``ideal work function'' difference between two regions of the heterostructure; this difference can be estimated from the band-gap change and the band offsets. The effect of pseudomorphic strain energy is found to be appreciable for boron. Within experimental error, the diffusivities have not been appreciably affected.
Distortion-Product Emissions and Auditory Sensitivity in Human Ears With Normal Hearing and Cochlear Hearing Loss

Distortion product emissions (DPEs) at 2f1 – f2 frequencies were measured in 53 human ears; 21 of them exhibited cochlear hearing loss. DPEs were obtained as a function of stimulus level (DPE growt...
Orexin A effects on wakefulness in obesity prone and obesity resistant rats.

Orexin A administration into the rostral lateral hypothalamic area (rLHa) stimulates spontaneous physical activity, and is much more effective at producing this activity in obesity-resistant (OR) rats as compared to obesity-prone (OP) rats. However, orexin A also stimulates wakefulness. Thus, it is possible that orexin A effects on spontaneous physical activity (or other orexin-mediated effects) are secondary to enhanced wakefulness in orexin A stimulated rats. To test this, we measured wakefulness following orexin A administration in OP and OR rats. We hypothesized that orexin A would stimulate greater levels of wakefulness in OR rats (compared to OP). To test this, rats were prepared with cannuale aimed at the rLHa, and EEG and EMG probes to record sleep/wake states by radiotelemetry. EEG and EMG waveforms were recorded for 2 h following orexin A (500 pmol) or vehicle injection. Data were hand scored to determine time spent in sleep/wake states (active wake, quiet wake, slow wave sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM)). Orexin A significantly increased active wake (p 0.05 for all comparisons), indicating that differences in behavioral responses (e.g. feeding, physical activity) to orexin A in OP and OR rats are not due to differences in wakefulness.
Selective Zn diffusion in n-GaAs with a sputtered Si mask at 650°C

Zinc has been selectively diffused into n-GaAs substrates with a mask of Si deposited by magnetron sputtering at room temperature. No lateral enhanced diffusion along the substrate/mask interface is observed. At the diffusion temperature of 650°C studied here, no appreciable Si diffusion into the substrate is observed.
The American Professoriate: A Status Check of Factors and Perceptions

Since the publication of Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate (Boyer, 1990) many changes have taken place in higher education in America. However, how have faculty perceptions of aspects of the professoriate such as teaching, research, publishing, administration, quality, and areas of interest, changed in the twenty-plus years since the initial research on this topic. This project provides an overview and insight in the current concerns of faculty with respect to promotion and tenure issues. The findings suggest a number of changes have taken place in the way scholarship is perceived by faculty. Publishing still maintains a significant role in decision-making about tenure and promotion and there is still a significant difference in the perception of factors in achieving tenure and promotion between research institutions and liberal arts institutions. There are differences between tenured and non-tenured faculty in concerning what constitutes appropriate scholarship. The scholarship of teaching is seen as important by faculty and yet most have indicated they have little formal teacher training. In both research and liberal arts institutions research and grant writing are seen as important, but there is also a concern that these activities detract from the primary role as a teacher.
Causal uncertainty and correction of judgments

Abstract We examined whether raising uncertainty about the causes of one’s judgments motivates correction. Specifically, we examined whether activating chronically accessible causal uncertainty (CU) beliefs with a conditional warning about possible bias enhances correction of weather judgments for tropical weather primes and of word frequency judgments for the availability bias. In two studies we showed that activating chronic beliefs led to careful correction of target judgments. Moreover, Study 2 revealed that chronically high-CU individuals who received a conditional warning felt more uncertain than did other participants, but that this uncertainty was suppressed somewhat by adjusting for the bias. Results are discussed in light of recent models of judgment correction (e.g., Wegener & Petty, 1997 ), and the causal uncertainty model ( Weary & Edwards, 1996 ).
Synthesis of Water-Soluble PEGylated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotube salts prepared by treating single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with lithium in liquid ammonia react with ω-bromocarboxylic acids to yield sidewall-derivatized SWNTs. These can be reacted with amine-terminated polyethyleneglycol (PEG) chains (e.g., H2N−mPEG−OMe, MW = 5000 Da) to yield water-soluble PEGylated SWNTs. Short nanotubes (average length ∼ 60 nm) functionalized by PEGylation of the carboxylic acid groups at the end of the nanotubes exhibit greater solubility in water than the longer (average length ∼ 300 nm) sidewall-PEGylated pristine nanotubes.
Model guided adaptive design and analysis in computer experiment

Computer experiments have become increasingly important in several different industries. These experiments save resources by exploring different designs without necessitating real hardware manufacturing. However, computer experiments usually require lengthy simulation times and powerful computational capacity. Therefore, it is often pragmatically impossible to run experiments on a complete design space. In this paper, we propose an adaptive sampling scheme that interactively works with predictive models to sequentially select design points for computer experiments. The selected samples are used to build predictive models, which in turn guide further sampling and predict the entire design space. For illustration, we use Bayesian additive regression trees (BART), multiple additive regression trees (MART), treed Gaussian process and Gaussian process to guide the proposed sampling method. Both real data and simulation studies show that our sampling method is effective in that (i) it can be used with different predictive models; (ii) it can select multiple design points without repeatedly refitting the predictive models, which makes parallel simulations possible and (iii) the predictive model built on its generated samples gives more accurate predictions on the unsampled points than the models built on samples from other methods such as random sampling, space-filling designs and some adaptive sampling methods. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining, 2012 © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ubiquitylation of proteins in livers of hibernating golden-mantled ground squirrels, Spermophilus lateralis

Abstract Rodent hibernators experience low core body temperature (as low as −2 °C) and reduced metabolic rates during hibernation. Concordant with energetic constraints, protein synthesis is negligible during torpor. To maintain pools of key regulatory proteins, proteolysis must be depressed as well. Ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis consists of two major steps: (1) ubiquitylation or tagging of a protein substrate by ubiquitin and (2) the protein substrate’s subsequent degradation by the 26S proteasome. Earlier, we demonstrated that the low temperatures typical of torpor virtually arrest proteolytic processing. Here, we demonstrate that in vitro ubiquitylation still continues at greater than 30% of maximal rates at temperatures as low as 0 °C. Continued ubiquitylation in the presence of severely depressed proteolysis may explain the previously observed 2- to 3-fold increase of ubiquitin conjugates during torpor. We determined if there is a qualitative change in the type of ubiquitylation e.g., monoubiquitylation vs polyubiquitylation that occurs during torpor. We found no bias for monoubiquitylation in any state of the torpor cycle. We further determined that substrate limitation of free ubiquitin is not limiting ubiquitylation during torpor. We conclude that while the cold temperatures of torpor may limit proteolysis in accordance with metabolic demands, continued ubiquitylation may result in increased ubiquitin conjugate concentrations that must be processed upon arousal.
Conformational analysis and parallel QM/MM X-ray refinement of protein bound anti-Alzheimer drug donepezil

The recognition and association of donepezil with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been extensively studied in the past several decades because of the former’s use as a palliative treatment for mild Alzheimer disease. Herein, we examine the conformational properties of donepezil and we re-examine the donepezil-AChE crystal structure using combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) X-ray refinement tools. Donepezil’s conformational energy surface was explored using the M06 suite of density functionals and with the MP2/complete basis set (CBS) method using the aug-cc-pVXZ (X = D and T) basis sets. The donepezil-AChE complex (PDB 1EVE) was also rerefined through a parallel QM/MM X-ray refinement approach based on an in-house ab initio code QUICK, which uses the message passing interface (MPI) in a distributed SCF algorithm to accelerate the calculation via parallelization. In the QM/MM rerefined donepezil structure, coordinate errors that previously existed in the PDB deposited geometry were imp...
Diffraction by a cat's whisker

The diffraction patterns produced by a single slit of width w and a thin wire of the same width are exactly the same. This is called Babinet's principle and is based on the fact that the interference pattern produced by blocking out part of a wavefront depends only on the locations of the edges of the diffraction obstacle.
Projection and displacement: a cross-cultural study of folk-tale aggression.

"The analysis of the folk-tale data supports the essential features of the theory which was developed to supply insight into the consequences and outcomes of action and behavior in folk tales. The approach-avoidance theory of Miller, restated in terms of Whiting's modification of it for the influence of conflict-produced drives, provides a coherent basis for the explanation of the phenomena of projection and displacement in folk tales." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)
Stress intensity factors in a cracked infinite elastic wedge loaded by a rigid punch

A plane elastic wedge-shaped solid was split through the application of a rigid punch. It was assumed that the coefficient of friction on the the contact area was constant, and the problem had a plane of symmetry with respect to loading and geometry, with the crack in the plane of symmetry. The problem was formulated in terms of a system of integral equations with the contact stress and the derivative of the crack surface displacement as the unknown functions. The solution was obtained for an internal crack and for an edge crack. The results include primarily the stress intensity factors at the crack tips, and the measure of the stress singularity at the wedge apex, and at the end points of the contact area.
Insulin-like growth factor II induces apoptosis in osteoblasts

The ability of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) to modulate apoptosis was studied in murine osteoblasts. At 72 h of culture, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 nM IGF-II produced a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis assayed by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and confirmed with acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining. A maximal increase of 5.0-fold above control was found with 1 nM IGF-II. A time course of treatment with 0.1 nM IGF-II demonstrated a significant increase in apoptosis compared to vehicle-treated cells by 48 h. IGF-II-induced apoptosis could not be inhibited by a blocking antibody to the IGF-I receptor. Human osteoblast cultures demonstrated a similar dose-dependent increase in apoptosis with IGF-II. No significant effect of IGF-II was found on proliferation in murine osteoblast cultures. Western blot analysis demonstrated that IGF-II decreased Bcl-2 protein levels, but not Bax, resulting in a significant reduction in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. To determine if overexpression of Bcl-2 could block IGF-II-induced apoptosis, osteoblasts were isolated from a transgenic mouse that overexpresses human Bcl-2 in bone through a construct utilizing the 2.3 kb promoter region of the Type I collagen gene linked to a 1.8 kb region of human Bcl-2 (Col2.3Bcl-2). At 72 h, IGF-II significantly increased apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in osteoblast cultures from the control littermates. In osteoblasts from Col2.3Bcl-2 mice, no significant effect on apoptosis was found with 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0 nM IGF-II. Western blot analysis of Bcl-2 and Bax levels demonstrated a transient decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio at 24 h with no decrease in the ratio at 48 or 72 h. Thus, IGF-II appears to promote osteoblast apoptosis, and overexpression of Bcl-2 is able to block IGF-II-induced apoptosis.
Algorithms and the Grid

We review the impact of Grid Computing and Web Services on scientific computing, stressing the importance of the “data-deluge” that is driven by deployment of new instruments, sensors and satellites. This implies the need to integrate the naturally distributed data sources with large simulation engines offering parallel low latency communication and so to integrate parallel and Grid computing paradigms. We start with an overview of these and the evolving service architectures. We illustrate the identified areas of interest for Algorithms and the Grid with the specific example of SERVOGrid that supports earthquake science research. We comment on the appropriate messaging infrastructure for Grids and data assimilation and contrast it with MPI.
Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes of a Yoga and Mindfulness Intervention for School Teachers.

Many public school teachers face formidable challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, limited administrative resources, and high numbers of students with behavioral and emotional problems. Mindfulness-based strategies are a potentially promising means of reducing teachers' stress and enhancing their ability to handle job demands effectively. This pilot randomized study assessed the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a 6-session yoga and mindfulness program for teachers developed by the Holistic Life Foundation, a local nonprofit organization. Seven urban public schools were randomly assigned either to receive the intervention or to a no-intervention control condition. A volunteer sample of teachers within those schools participated in the study, with 21 teachers attending the intervention and 22 teachers in the control arm. Intervention feasibility was assessed by examining recruitment response and intervention attendance and by gathering qualitative feedback from intervention instructors and par...
The Use of Standardized Forearm Emg Measures to Predict Single and Multi-Digit Forces

Determination and integration of force requirements is an essential component of designing tools and workstations that involve the use of the hand and fingers. This study investigated the feasibility of circumventing direct force measurements through the use of linear models to estimate time varying forces from myoelectric measures. Such a process is of utility when designing and evaluating hand tools and human-machine interfaces involving finger intensive tasks, since the integration of task force requirements are necessary to reduce the risk of injury to the upper limbs. Surface electrodes were used to record electromyographic signals collected from three standardized electrode sites on the forearm. Multiple linear regression models were generated to predict finger force levels with the three normalized electromographic measures as predictor variables. The results suggest that standardized procedures for obtaining EMG data and simple linear models can be used to accurately predict finger forces (R2-adj:...
ETS family of genes in leukemia and Down syndrome.

The human ETS2 and ERG genes are members of the ETS gene family, with sequence homology to the viral ets gene of the avian erythroblastosis retrovirus, E26. These genes are located on chromosome 21 and molecular genetic analysis of Down syndrome (DS) patients with partial trisomy 21 suggested that ETS2 may be a gene within the minimal DS genetic region. We have, in fact, been able to confirm the presence of the ETS2 gene dosage in triplicate occurring in occult human 21 chromosome abnormalities. It is known that ERG and ETS2 gene translocations occur in certain specific leukemias associated with defined chromosome rearrangements [e.g., t(8;21)]. Moreover, it is known that DS individuals are at greater risk for leukemic disease than their normal familial cohorts, implying that trisomy of that region of human chromosome 21 may play a role in the development of this type of neoplasia. The human ETS genes, first identified in our laboratory, are highly conserved, being found from lower organisms, like Drosophila and sea urchin, to humans. In mammals, the ETS genes are structurally distinct, located on separate chromosomes; they are transcriptionally active and differentially regulated. The ETS2 protein is phosphorylated and turns over with a half-life of approximately 20 min. After activation with the tumor promoter, TPA, the level of ETS2 elevates 5- to 20-fold. The properties of the ETS2 protein, such as nuclear localization, phosphorylation, rapid turnover, and response to protein kinase C, indicate that this protein belongs to a group of oncogene proteins thought to have regulatory functions in the nucleus. In the mouse thymus ets-1 and ets-2 are 8-10-fold higher, respectively, in the CD4+ subset than in other subsets examined, suggesting a role in T-cell development for these genes. Cells transfected with the cellular ets-2 gene, expressing higher levels of ets-2 products, showed a stimulated proliferation response, abolished their serum requirement and formed colonies in soft agar that could induce tumors in nude mice. Collectively, these data suggest that this family of genes might play a role in controlling specific steps of the signaling transduction pathway. Thus, the ETS genes, as other genes with homology to viral oncogenes, might be instrumental in regulating cellular growth and differentiation, as well as organismal development.
Study design options in evaluating gene-environment interactions: practical considerations for a planned case-control study of pediatric leukemia.

Background We compare methodological approaches for evaluating gene–environment interaction using a planned study of pediatric leukemia as a practical example. We considered three design options: a full case-control study (Option I), a case-only study (Option II), and a partial case-control study (Option III), in which information on controls is limited to environmental exposure only. Procedure For each design option we determined its ability to measure the main effects of environmental factor E and genetic factor G, and the interaction between E and G. Using the leukemia study example, we calculated sample sizes required to detect and odds ratio (OR) of 2.0 for E alone, an OR of 10 for G alone and an interaction G × E of 3. Results Option I allows measuring both main effects and interaction, but requires a total sample size of 1,500 cases and 1,500 controls. Option II allows measuring only interaction, but requires just 121 cases. Option III allows calculating the main effect of E, and interaction, but not the main effect of G, and requires a total of 156 cases and 133 controls. Conclusions In this case, the partial case-control study (Option III) appears to be more efficient with respect to its ability to answer the research questions for the amount of resources required. The design options considered in this example are not limited to observational epidemiology and may be applicable in studies of pharmacogenomics, survivorship, and other areas of pediatric ALL research. Pediatr Blood Cancer. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The role of nitric oxide in hypertension and renal disease progression

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) serves a number of functions in the vasculature. In response to stimuli such as shear stress or acetylcholine, eNOS catalyses the production of nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine. The NO diffuses across the endothelium into neighbouring smooth muscle and induces vasodilation. NO also acts locally to prevent platelet and leucocyte aggregation and inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. It has been shown that mice lacking eNOS have decreased blood pressure, decreased heart rate and increased plasma renin activity. It has also been reported that NO production was reduced in patients with essential hypertension compared with normotensive individuals. In several animal models of renal disease (subtotal renal ablation, ureteral obstruction and diabetes), the administration of L-arginine, and probably the increase in NO synthesis, reduced the degree of glomerulosclerosis, ameliorated the changes in the tubulointerstitial compartment of the kidney and also decreased the infiltration of the kidney by invading macrophages. In summary, the L-arginine-NO pathway plays an important role in hypertension, renal disease, inflammation and atherosclerosis. This pathway also interacts with the renin-angiotensin system, the eicosanoid pathway, endothelin, cytokines and regulators of inflammation such as NF-kappaB.
Efficient multimedia data encryption based on flexible QM coder

Efficient multimedia encryption algorithms are fundamental to multimedia data security because of the massive data size and the need of real-time processing. In this research, we present an efficient encryption scheme, called the RCI-QM coder, which achieves the objective of encryption with a regular QM coder by applying different coding conventions to encode individual symbols according to a statistically random sequence. One main advantage of our scheme is the negligible computation cost associated with encryption. We also demonstrate with cryptanalysis that the security level of our scheme is high enough to thwart most common attacks. The proposed RCI-QM coder is easy to implement in both software and hardware, while providing backward compatibility to the standard QM coder.
Numerical study of spinodal decomposition for Langevin equations.

We study the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model for spinodal decomposition by numerical solution of the associated Langevin equation. The evolution of the system after deep temperature quenches to many different points in the ordered region of the phase diagram has been followed for time scales that are estimated to be equivalent to at least ${10}^{4}$ and up to more than ${10}^{5}$ Monte Carlo steps. Analysis of results obtained for block-correlation functions show that the system exhibits scaling behavior and that the average domain size L(t) grows as L(t)\ensuremath{\sim}${t}^{1/4}$ in the time region covered by the calculations. We have also studied the quasistatic structure factor C(q,t). The results obtained for this quantity are consistent with those obtained for the block correlations, although, in agreement with other authors, we find that results for C(q,t) alone are not conclusive.
Selective hydrogenation of acetylene in the presence of ethylene on K+-β-zeolite supported Pd and PdAg catalysts

The selective hydrogenation of acetylene in the presence of ethylene has been studied on K+ exchanged {beta}-zeolite supported Pd and PdAg catalysts. Results from batch reactor studies with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) have shown that the K+-{beta}-zeolite support is more selective than the Al2O3 or Na+-{beta}-zeolite supports toward the hydrogenation of acetylene. The rate and equilibrium constants for Pd/K+-{beta}-zeolite and PdAg/K+-{beta}-zeolite were determined using a Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The selectivity of the PdAg bimetallic catalyst is twice of that of the Pd catalyst. Results from flow reactor studies show that the PdAg/K+-{beta}-zeolite catalyst has higher selectivity but lower activity toward acetylene hydrogenation than the Pd/K+-{beta}-zeolite catalyst. The selectivity to the undesirable ethane by-product is inhibited on the bimetallic catalyst. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) studies and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis confirm the formation of Pd-Ag bimetallic bonds in the PdAg/K+-{beta}-zeolite catalyst.
Perils of prediction in U.S./Canadian comparisons.

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Design of Temperature Testing System Based on Zigbee

A temperature testing system based on zigbee is designed in this paper. The whole system uses CC2430 RFIC as the core component. The hardware structure and software process of temperature testing terminal and coordinator are proposed. The test indicates that this system has fine performance and strong application value.