cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Microtubules Drive Circuit Rewiring in the Absence of Neurite Remodeling

A striking neuronal connectivity change in C. elegans involves the coordinated elimination of existing synapses and formation of synapses at new locations, without altering neuronal morphology. Here, we investigate the tripartite interaction between dynamic microtubules (MTs), kinesin-1, and vesicular cargo during this synapse remodeling. We find that a reduction in the dynamic MT population in motor neuron axons, resulting from genetic interaction between loss of function in the conserved MAPKKK dlk-1 and an α-tubulin mutation, specifically blocks synapse remodeling. Using live imaging and pharmacological modulation of the MT cytoskeleton, we show that dynamic MTs are increased at the onset of remodeling and are critical for new synapse formation. DLK-1 acts during synapse remodeling, and its function involves MT catastrophe factors including kinesin-13/KLP-7 and spastin/SPAS-1. Through a forward genetic screen, we identify gain-of-function mutations in kinesin-1 that can compensate for reduced dynamic MTs to promote synaptic vesicle transport during remodeling. Our data provide in vivo evidence supporting the requirement of dynamic MTs for kinesin-1-dependent axonal transport and shed light on the role of the MT cytoskeleton in facilitating neural circuit plasticity.
Changing patterns of mobility as a response to climatic deterioration and aridification in the middle Holocene southern Sahara

The African Humid Period witnessed a rapid human re-occupation of the Sahara as numerous lakes formed during the Holocene climatic optimum circa 10-5 kya. Permanent waters attracted a variety of aquatic and terrestrial fauna allowing for long-term occupation of specific paleolake basins. The Gobero paleolake in central Niger was one such location that preserves a unique mortuary record from the southern Sahara. Here, we use radiogenic strontium isotope analysis to investigate how human communities adapted to aridification throughout the Holocene. In particular, we examine the effects of increasing climate instability on patterns of human mobility. Results of radiogenic strontium isotope analysis of enamel and bone samples from Middle Holocene burials (∼7.2-4.9 kya) indicate predominantly local values with no evidence for sex-based variation. Comparisons of radiogenic strontium isotope data with previously published (Stojanowski and Knudson: Am J Phys Anthropol 146 (2011) 49-61) Early Holocene burials (∼9.7-8.3 kya) indicate significant differences in both enamel and bone values. Middle Holocene individuals demonstrate a predominantly non-local signature for enamel values and a predominantly local signature for bone values. Those individuals with non-local bone values always demonstrated non-local enamel values; however, the opposite was not the case. This suggests a divergence of mobility strategies during the Middle Holocene with a minority of individuals maintaining a more mobile existence throughout their life and others maintaining a similar strategy as Early Holocene hunter-gatherers that was tied to the paleolake basin. The more mobile individuals likely lived during the terminal phase of the lake's occupation. One response to aridification by Saharan peoples, then, was increasing mobility.
Poly(vinyl alcohol) Rehydratable Photonic Crystal Sensor Materials

We developed a new photonic crystal hydrogel material based on the biocompatible polymer poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which can be reversibly dehydrated and rehydrated, without the use of additional fillers, while retaining the diffraction and swelling properties of polymerized crystalline colloidal arrays (PCCA). This chemically modified PVA hydrogel photonic crystal efficiently diffracts light from the embedded crystalline colloidal array. This diffraction optically reports on volume changes occurring in the hydrogel by shifts in the wavelength of the diffracted light. We fabricated a pH sensor, which demonstrates a 350 nm wavelength shift between pH values of 3.3 and 8.5. We have also fabricated a Pb(+2) sensor, in which pendant crown ether groups bind lead ions. Immobilization of the ions within the hydrogel increases the osmotic pressure due to the formation of a Donnan potential, swelling the hydrogel and shifting the observed diffraction in proportion to the concentration of bound ions. The sensing responses of rehydrated PVA pH and Pb(+2) sensors were similar to that before drying. This reversibility of rehydration enables storage of these hydrogel photonic crystal sensors in the dry state, which makes them much more useful for commercial applications.
Clinical usefulness of genetic information for predicting radiographic damage in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether knowledge of genetic information aids the prediction of radiographic damage for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in whom extensive sociodemographic, family history, clinical, and immunologic information is available. METHODS: Subjects included 146 Caucasian women who were participants in a community based longitudinal study of RA. Our primary outcome measure was the severity of erosive disease. Nongenetic covariates included age at RA onset, disease duration, family history of RA, education level, family income, baseline values of function, painful and swollen joint groups and pain rating, and rheumatoid factor positivity. All women were genotyped for the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) and the tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa) microsatellite. Likelihood ratio tests (LRT) were performed to evaluate the usefulness of genetic information for predicting radiographic damage in RA, after adjusting for nongenetic covariates. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves displaying the sensitivity and specificity of combinations of nongenetic and genetic information were derived, and the areas under the curves (AUC) were compared. RESULTS: Genetic information contributed significantly to the prediction of radiographic damage in RA even after adjusting for all nongenetic covariates (p value for LRT = 0.0019). The odds ratio describing the risk of severe erosive disease among individuals who had inherited both the SE and TNFa allele 11 (TNFa11) was 7.6 compared to individuals who were SE and TNFa11 negative. Analysis of ROC curves confirmed the usefulness of genetic information. CONCLUSION: Genetic information is useful for predicting radiographic damage in RA even for patients in whom extensive sociodemographic, family history, clinical, and immunologic information is available.
Do Patients With Income-Based Insurance Have Access to Total Joint Arthroplasty?

article i nfo Article history: Received 27 August 2013 Accepted 26 November 2013 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is expected to increase health care availability through Medicaid expansion. The objective of this study was to evaluate potential effects of the PPACA by examining access to total hip arthroplasty in Southern California. 39 orthopaedic surgeons were called to schedule a hip arthroplasty. Insurances used included a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Medicare, and three income-based insurances. There was a significant difference in acceptance rate when comparing PPO and Medicare patients with income-based insurances (P b 0.001). This study showed that in Southern California, patients with income-based insurances are limited in the number of surgeons from whom they can receive care. Thus, although the PPACA will increase the number of insured patients, it may not similarly increase access to providers.
The influence of restricted rotation on the spectral properties of acetophenonetricarbonylchromium complexes

Abstract The tricarbonylchromium complexes of the following derivatives of acetophenone have been prepared: the 2,4-, 2,5- and 3,4-dimethyl-; 2,4,5- and 2,4,6-trimethyl-; 2,3,4,5-tetramethyl-; 2,3,4,5,6- pentamethyl-; 2,6-dimethyl-4-t-butyl-; 2,4,6-triisopropyl-; 4-cyclohexyl-; 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- and 3,5-dimethoxy-; and 2,3,4-, 2,4,6- and 3,4,5-trimethoxyacetophenone. Preparative, analytical, IR, UV-Vis and PMR spectral data are presented. The extent to which steric hindrance influences the color and spectral properties of these complexes is discussed. Complexes containing 2,6-disubstitution are yellow whereas compounds containing other substitution patterns are orange to red. The 4-cyclohexylacetophenone complex gives an unusually simple first- order proton spectrum that allows geminal, axial and equatorial coupling constants to be determined.
Theoretical Basis for Optical Granulometry by Wavelet Transformation

AbstractA theoretical framework for optical granulometry of sands by a wavelet transformation method is presented. The Haar wavelet transformation is explained by using simple mathematics with comparisons drawn to the use of wavelet decomposition in image compression and image enhancement. The use of seven wavelet decomposition levels on thousands of 128×128 pixel areas of a much larger image of a soil specimen presorted by size yields the soil’s particle-size distribution. The method employs previously developed calibration curves of a wavelet index (CA) versus the average number of pixels per particle diameter (PPD). The curves are nonlinear in CA versus log10(PPD) space. This paper demonstrates that the nonlinearity stems from having to use a relatively low number of decomposition levels. With future advances in camera technology, a linear CA versus log10(PPD) calibration curve could be developed requiring a single soil texture index (T) parameter.
Electronic Excitation Transfer from Carotenoid to Bacteriochlorophyll in the Purple Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas acidophila

Ultrafast fluorescence upconversion has been used to probe electronic excitation transfer within the B800−B820 light-harvesting antenna of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 7050. Emission from the carotenoid S2 band decays in 54 ± 8 fs, and the bacteriochlorophyll B820 Qy band rises in approximately 110 fs. The B820 Qy rise time is wavelength-dependent. Energy-transfer rates between the carotenoid and several neighboring bacteriochlorophyll are calculated. Coupling strengths are estimated through transition dipole−transition dipole, polarization, and higher-order Coulombic coupling along with a new transition density volume coupling calculation. Data are compared to calculated energy-transfer rates through the use of a four-state model representing direct carotenoid to B820 energy transfer. The carotenoid emission data bound the S2 to Qx transfer time between 65 and 130 fs. The S1 to Qy transfer is assumed to be mediated by polarization and Coulombic coupling rather than by exchange; the transfer time is...
Parametric analysis of parameters for electrical-load forecasting using artificial neural networks

Accurate total system electrical load forecasting is a necessary part of resource management for power generation companies. The better the hourly load forecast, the more closely the power generation assets of the company can be configured to minimize the cost. Automating this process is a profitable goal and neural networks should provide an excellent means of doing the automation. However, prior to developing such a system, the optimal set of input parameters must be determined. The approach of this research was to determine what those inputs should be through a parametric study of potentially good inputs. Input parameters tested were ambient temperature, total electrical load, the day of the week, humidity, dew point temperature, daylight savings time, length of daylight, season, forecast light index and forecast wind velocity. For testing, a limited number of temperatures and total electrical loads were used as a basic reference input parameter set. Most parameters showed some forecasting improvement when added individually to the basic parameter set. Significantly, major improvements were exhibited with the day of the week, dew point temperatures, additional temperatures and loads, forecast light index and forecast wind velocity.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Case report 861

We believe MR findings to be quite characteristic of primary lymphedema. We believe that MR has a role in diagnosing lymphedema and its complications.
Fundus Lesions in Malignant Hypertension: I. A Pathologic Study of Experimental Hypertensive Choroidopathy

• Experimental hypertensive choroidopathy was studied in 29 eyes from 15 monkeys in which accelerated renovascular systemic hypertension developed after a modified Goldblatt procedure. We followed up the animals from five days to 21 months to examine clinically and histopathologically the spectrum of the pathologic process. The pathologic features of hypertensive choroidopathy in our animals may be categorized into three phases: (1) Acute ischemic phase: The initial change in the choroidal vasculature was constriction of arterioles, which leads to focal necrosis of the choriocapillaris and the retinal pigment epithelium and focal subretinal exudate. (2) Chronic occlusive phase: Occlusive changes involving arteries, arterioles, and choriocapillaris occurred later. (3) Chronic reparative phase: With time, recanalization took place at all levels of the choroidal vasculature. The subretinal fluid was reabsorbed, leaving diffuse patchy depigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium, which followed lobular arrangement of the choriocapillaris. Arteriolization of the choriocapillaris developed; this seems to be a defense mechanism to withstand the elevated systemic blood pressure.
Noise-induced cochlear F-actin depolymerization is mediated via ROCK2/p-ERM signaling

Our previous work has suggested that traumatic noise activates Rho-GTPase pathways in cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs), resulting in cell death and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In this study, we investigated Rho effectors, Rho-associated kinases (ROCKs), and the targets of ROCKs, the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins, in the regulation of the cochlear actin cytoskeleton using adult CBA/J mice under conditions of noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) and permanent threshold shift (PTS) hearing loss, which result in changes to the F/G-actin ratio. The levels of cochlear ROCK2 and p-ERM decreased 1 h after either TTS- or PTS-noise exposure. In contrast, ROCK2 and p-ERM in OHCs decreased only after PTS-, not after TTS-noise exposure. Treatment with lysophosphatidic acid, an activator of the Rho pathway, resulted in significant reversal of the F/G-actin ratio changes caused by noise exposure and attenuated OHC death and NIHL. Conversely, the down-regulation of ROCK2 by pretreatment with ROCK2 siRNA reduced the expression of ROCK2 and p-ERM in OHCs, exacerbated TTS to PTS, and worsened OHC loss. Additionally, pretreatment with siRNA against radixin, an ERM protein, aggravated TTS to PTS. Our results indicate that a ROCK2-mediated ERM-phosphorylation signaling cascade modulates noise-induced hair cell loss and NIHL by targeting the cytoskeleton.
Vibrational frequencies and dephasing times in excited electronic states by femtosecond time-resolved four-wave mixing

Abstract Time-resolved degenerate four-wave mixing (TRDFWM) for an electronically resonant system in a phase-matching configuration that measures population decay is reported. Because the spectral width of input light exceeds the vibrational Bohr frequency of a strong Raman active mode, the vibrational coherence produces strong oscillations in the TRDFWM signal together with the usual population decay from the excited electronic state. The data are analyzed in terms of a four-level system: ground and excited electronic states each split by a vibrational quantum of a Raman active mode. Absolute frequencies and their dephasing times of the vibrational modes at ≈590 cm−1 are obtained for the excited as well as the ground electronic state. The vibrational dephasing rate in the excited electronic state is about an order of magnitude faster than that in the ground state, the origin of which is speculated upon.
Porous silicon advances in drug delivery and immunotherapy

Biomedical applications of porous silicon include drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics and immunotherapy. This review summarizes new silicon particle fabrication techniques, dynamics of cellular transport, advances in the multistage vector approach to drug delivery, and the use of porous silicon as immune adjuvants. Recent findings support superior therapeutic efficacy of the multistage vector approach over single particle drug delivery systems in mouse models of ovarian and breast cancer. With respect to vaccine development, multivalent presentation of pathogen-associated molecular patterns on the particle surface creates powerful platforms for immunotherapy, with the porous matrix able to carry both antigens and immune modulators.
Influence of bovine diabetogenic peptide, growth hormone, and prolactin on tissue glycogen, liver fat, and liver water of fasting rats

Abstract 1. 1. Bovine diabetogenic peptide, growth hormone, and prolactin were compared with respect to their effects on tissue glycogen, liver fat, and liver water in fasting rats. 2. 2. Bovine diabetogenic peptide increases liver size, liver glycogen, liver water, and total liver lipids. 3. 3. Bovine diabetogenic peptide, in contrast to growth hormone and prolactin, does not increase muscle glycogen levels.
Selection and altered properties of brain-colonising metastatic melanoma.

Two of the least understood properties of malignant tumour cells are their abilities to invade surrounding normal tissues and to escape to form secondary tumours (metastases) at near and distant sites1–3. Distant metastases can arise when invading malignant cells penetrate into and are disseminated in the lymphatics, coelomic cavities or blood circulatory system. The mere presence of tumour cells in the blood does not necessarily indicate that distant metastatic disease will follow4, for most blood-borne malignant cells die rapidly in the circulation with few surviving to form secondary tumours2–5. In various experimental blood-borne metastatic tumour systems the location of gross metastases is nonrandom and does not correlate with the first capillary bed encountered6–10. This suggests that other factors are involved in tumour cell arrest apart from nonspecific trapping2,3,9,10. These would include cellular adhesive interactions of tumour cells with themselves11–13 (homotypic aggregation), heterotypic aggregations with circulating14–16 and non-circulating12,17,18 host cells, interactions with blood clotting components19–21, tumour cell deformability22,23, release or display of malignant cell hydrolytic enzymes24,25 and interactions with host immunological defences2,16,18,26,27. Unique tumour cell surface properties probably determine malignant cell arrest and survival at specific sites3,12,17,18,28 and this has been demonstrated when enzymatic treatment of malignant tumour cells has modified experimental metastasis26,29. We report here that variant cell lines of malignant melanoma can be selected in vivo28 for brain-specific colonisation30. These variants have cell surface characteristics that correlate with their brain specificity in vivo.
Cygnus X-3: 3.3 mm Observations

OBSERVATIONS of the early September 1972 flare of the radio counterpart of Cyg X-3 were made at 3.3 mm (90 GHz) with the 4.6-m antenna of the Aerospace Corporation. Observing and data reduction procedures identical to those described by Fogarty et al.1 yielded the 3.3 mm total fluxes (E-W linear polarization) given in Table 1.
Protease-degradable PEG-maleimide coating with on-demand release of IL-1Ra to improve tissue response to neural electrodes

Neural electrodes are an important part of brain-machine interface devices that can restore functionality to patients with sensory and movement disorders. Chronically implanted neural electrodes induce an unfavorable tissue response which includes inflammation, scar formation, and neuronal cell death, eventually causing loss of electrode function. We developed a poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel coating for neural electrodes with non-fouling characteristics, incorporated an anti-inflammatory agent, and engineered a stimulus-responsive degradable portion for on-demand release of the anti-inflammatory agent in response to inflammatory stimuli. This coating reduces in vitro glial cell adhesion, cell spreading, and cytokine release compared to uncoated controls. We also analyzed the in vivo tissue response using immunohistochemistry and microarray qRT-PCR. Although no differences were observed among coated and uncoated electrodes for inflammatory cell markers, lower IgG penetration into the tissue around PEG+IL-1Ra coated electrodes indicates an improvement in blood-brain barrier integrity. Gene expression analysis showed higher expression of IL-6 and MMP-2 around PEG+IL-1Ra samples, as well as an increase in CNTF expression, an important marker for neuronal survival. Importantly, increased neuronal survival around coated electrodes compared to uncoated controls was observed. Collectively, these results indicate promising findings for an engineered coating to increase neuronal survival and improve tissue response around implanted neural electrodes.
Observations of the Finescale Structure of a Dryline during VORTEX 95

Abstract The three-dimensional finescale structure of a dryline observed over the Texas panhandle during the Verification of the Origins in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) on 6 May 1995 is presented. High-resolution observations documenting dryline evolution were collected from midafternoon while it moved slowly eastward until late afternoon as it retrogressed back to the west. Dryline variability in the horizontal along-line direction was revealed by airborne Doppler radar observations from the National Center for Atmospheric Research Electra Doppler radar and ground-based measurements from the nearby WSR-88D at Amarillo, Texas. This variability was created as the dryline interacted with horizontal convective rolls forming west of the dryline. The rolls intersected the dryline at periodic locations creating radar reflectivity and vertical velocity maxima. More importantly, clouds initiated at these intersection points. Additional dryline variability was generated through the interaction of the low-level fl...
774-5 Effect of Cardiac Translation on Measurement of Left Ventricular Wall Velocities: Implications for Doppler Imaging of Myocardium

Doppler imaging of the myocardium is a new application which has the potential to record myocardial velocities. These recorded velocities, however, include cardiac motion independent of ventricular contraction. A measured myocardial velocity, therefore, represents the net vector of contraction, translation, and rotation. To determine the effects of cardiac translation on myocardial velocities, 2-dimensional (2D) and M-mode echocardiographic recordings were obtained in 10 normal subjects. The average anteroseptal (AS) and posterior wall (PW) velocities were measured by 2D echo directed M-mode in the centerline of the parasternal short-axis view. Translation was measured from 2D echo cine-loop display as the displacement of the epicardial junction of the right ventricular free wall and interventricular septum during systole. The average translational velocity is reported as the component of the displacement vector parallel to the M-mode beam (+ = toward transducer). The AS and PW velocities (cm/sec) displayed in the table represent net measured velocities, which include the translational vector. Results AS PW Translation Mean ± SD 3.2 ± 0.5 4.5 ± 1.1 +1.3 ± 0.6 Range 2.4 to 4.0 3.4 to 6.9 -l.4 to + 2.4 In 8/10 subjects the velocity vector was positive. The mean percent error in the M-mode derived velocities due to translation was 41% for the AS wall and 31% for the PW. Conclusions 1) As measured by 2D echocardiography, the magnitude of the translational vector is significant when compared to the M-mode derived myocardial velocities. 2) The relative error demonstrated in the measured velocities may be further modified when applied in two dimensions, due to the angle of incidence of the Doppler beam. 3) New techniques for measuring myocardial velocities, such as Doppler imaging of the myocardium, should incorporate algorithms which correct for the translational vector.
Options and Efficiency

This paper argues that in an uncertain world options written on existing assets can improve efficiency by permitting an expansion of the contingencies that are covered by the market. The two major results obtained are, first, that complex contracts can be "built up" as portfolios of simple options and, second, that there exists a single portfolio of the assets, the efficient fund, on which all options can be written with no loss of efficiency. An option contract is any security whose returns are dependent on the returns of some other underlying security (or securities). Warrants, puts, and calls are familiar financial examples of options written on stocks, but preferred stock and subordinated debentures and even such diverse contracts as life insurance policies could also be viewed as options. The serious study of options in the financial literature began with the long-neglected thesis by Bachelier and was revived in the 1960's by a number of authors who focused in on the pricing problem, i.e., the problem of determining the equilibrium relationship between the value of an option and the value of the stock it is written on.1 The intention of this paper is to consider the related problem of the efficiency aspects of option contracts. Arrow's 2 introduction of the state-space approach to uncertainty in economics has brought the recognition that an inadequate number of markets in contingent claims would be a source of inefficiency. In the state-space approach the random events that might occur are subsets of elementary points or "states" in a (probability) space, and the possibility of inefficiency arises whenever the feasible set of pure contingent claims, claims to wealth if a single state occurs and nothing otherwise, fails to span all the state
An analysis of crowd workers mistakes for specific and complex relevance assessment task

The TREC 2012 Crowdsourcing track asked participants to crowdsource relevance assessments with the goal of replicating costly expert judgements with relatively fast, inexpensive, but less reliable judgements from anonymous online workers. The track used 10 "ad-hoc" queries, highly specific and complex (as compared to web search). The crowdsourced assessments were evaluated against expert judgments made by highly trained and capable human analysts in 1999 as part of ad hoc track collection construction. Since most crowdsourcing approaches submitted to the TREC 2012 track produced assessment sets nowhere close to the expert judgements, we decided to analyze crowdsourcing mistakes made on this task using data we collected via Amazon's Mechanical Turk service. We investigate two types of crowdsourcing approaches: one that asks for nominal relevance grades for each document, and the other that asks for preferences on many (not all) pairs of documents.
Energy-Nonconserving Planck Fluctuations and Strong Forces

On the basis of the recent demonstration that sources of the dual Riemann tensor are violations of local energy-momentum conservation, it is hypothesized that matter is subject to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle because of stochastic Planck-scale fluctuations in the Euclidean geometry of the vacuum. The identification of such singularities with unitons, whose masses are quantized in discrete units of the Planck mass, and also with the sources of “strong gravity,” is shown to lead to the correct strength, range, and duration of strong interactions. A vacuum-induced cosmological term, due to coupling of spin to space-time torsion, results in massive gravitons, with mass similar to the spin-2 mesons, and a Yukawa, rather than Newtonian, variation of the hadron gravitational potential, thus adding support to “strong gravity” theories of the strong force.
A Thyroid Hormone Response Unit Formed between the Promoter and First Intron of the Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase-Iα Gene Mediates the Liver-specific Induction by Thyroid Hormone

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I (CPT-I) catalyzes the rate-controlling step of fatty acid oxidation. CPT-I converts long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs to acylcarnitines for translocation across the mitochondrial membrane. The mRNA levels and enzyme activity of the liver isoform, CPT-Iα, are greatly increased in the liver of hyperthyroid animals. Thyroid hormone (T3) stimulates CPT-Iα transcription far more robustly in the liver than in non-hepatic tissues. We have shown that the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) binds to a thyroid hormone response element (TRE) located in the CPT-Iα promoter. In addition, elements in the first intron participate in the T3 induction of CPT-Iα gene expression, but the CPT-Iα intron alone cannot confer a T3 response. We found that deletion of sequences in the first intron between +653 and +744 decreased the T3 induction of CPT-Iα. Upstream stimulatory factor (USF) and CCAAT enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) bind to elements within this region, and these factors are required for the T3 response. The binding of TR and C/EBP to the CPT-Iα gene in vivo was shown by the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. We determined that TR can physically interact with USF-1, USF-2, and C/EBPα. Transgenic mice were created that carry CPT-Iα-luciferase transgenes with or without the first intron of the CPT-Iα gene. In these mouse lines, the first intron is required for T3 induction as well as high levels of hepatic expression. Our data indicate that the T3 stimulates CPT-Iα gene expression in the liver through a T3 response unit consisting of the TRE in the promoter and additional factors, C/EBP and USF, bound in the first intron.
Mantle transition zone structure beneath Tanzania, east Africa

We apply a three-dimensional stacking method to receiver functions from the Tanzania Broadband Seismic Experiment to determine relative variations in the thickness of the mantle transition zone beneath Tanzania. The transition zone under the Eastern rift is 30–40 km thinner than under areas of the Tanzania Craton in the interior of the East African Plateau unaffected by rift faulting. The region of transition zone thinning under the Eastern rift is several hundred kilometers wide and coincides with a 2–3% reduction in S wave velocities. The thinning of the transition zone, as well as the reduction in S wave velocities, can be attributed to a 200–300°K increase in temperature. This thermal anomaly at >400 km depth beneath the Eastern rift cannot be easily explained by passive rifting and but is consistent with a plume origin for the Cenozoic rifting, volcanism and plateau uplift in East Africa.
Stability and Morphology of Gold Nanoisland Arrays Generated from Layer-by-Layer Assembled Nanoparticle Multilayer Films: Effects of Heating Temperature and Particle Size

This article reports the effects of heating temperature and composition of nanoparticle multilayer films on the morphology, stability, and optical property of gold nanoisland films prepared by the nanoparticle self-assembly/heating method. First, nanoparticle–polymer multilayer films are prepared by the layer-by-layer assembly. Nanoparticle multilayer films are then heated at temperature ranging from 500 to 625 °C in air to induce an evaporation of organic matters from the films. During the heating process, the nanoparticles on the solid surface undergo coalescence, resulting in the formation of nanostructured gold island arrays. Characterization of nanoisland films using atomic force microscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy suggests that the morphology and stability of gold island films change when different heating temperatures are applied. Stable gold nanoisland thin film arrays can only be obtained after heat treatments at or above 575 °C. In addition, the results show that the use of nanoparticles with dif...
GROWTH RATES OF Macrobrachium rosenbergii IN SOUTH FLORIDA. 2. GROWTH OF INTRASPECIFIC HYBRIDS

Growth rates for hybrid Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Thai x Malaysian X Malaysian and Thai x Malaysian X Thai x Malaysian) raised in south Florida are presented. The second generation Thai x Malaysian hybrids had a mean weight of 31.8 g at 210 days of age. The back-crossed hybrids had a mean weight of 28.6 g at 187 days of age and 33.8 g at 247 days. The growth of both of these hybrids was greater than that of our most successful Malaysian animals which had a mean weight of 19.5 g after 198 days.
Internal Fertilization in an Oviparous Frog

Eleutherodactylus coqui, an oviparous frog, undergoes internal fertilization. If this mode of fertilization occurs in other species of anurans, interpretations of anuran reproductive strategies based on the assumption of external fertilization must be reviewed.
H2, Ne, and N2 Energies of Encapsulation into C60 Evaluated with the MPWB1K Functional.

The recently suggested MPWB1K functional is tested on H2@C60, Ne@C60, and N2@C60 as a tool for evaluations of stabilization energies upon encapsulation of nonmetallic species into fullerenes. It is found that the MPWB1K (modified Perdew−Wang and Becke functionals) values can be within a few kilocalories per mole from the MP2 or SCS-MP2 (spin-component scaled MP2) values so that further applications of the functional are clearly encouraged. The best estimates of the encapsulation-energy gains found for H2@C60, Ne@C60, and N2@C60 are at least 4 kcal/mol, slightly less than 4 kcal/mol, and about 9 kcal/mol, respectively.
Failure of bretylium to suppress inducible ventricular tachycardia

Abstract Five patients with recurrent, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias were given bretylium tosylate intravenously for a minimum of 4 days. Arrhythmias were not related to acute ischemia in any patient. Four patients had inducible ventricular tachycardia, and one patient had inducible ventricular fibrillation requiring cardioversion while taking no medications. Programmed electrical stimulation was then repeated to assess the ability of bretyllum to suppress inducible ventricular tachycardia. Bretylium tosylate, at a mean dose of 2.3 mg intravenously per minute, did not suppress inducible ventricular arrhythmias in any patient. Rapid ventricular tachycardia was induced in all patients, and ventricular fibrillation was induced in one patient. Two patients required external cardioversion to terminate their arrhythmias. Bretylium tosylate, given in relatively large doses chronically, did not suppress inducible ventricular arrhythmias in these five otherwise drug-refractory patients with chronic recurrent ventricular tachycardia. This failure to suppress inducible ventricular arrhythmias cannot be attributed to the initial catecholamine release which occurs in the first hour or two after the drug is administered.
Pelvic hemangiopericytomas: A report of five cases and literature review

Five cases of pelvic hemangiopericytomas are reported. One of these tumors arose from the uterus, and four patients had extrauterine, pelvic hemangiopericytomas. The patient with a primary uterine hemangiopericytomas had only simple excision, and, after 6 years, is alive and free of disease. All four patients with extrauterine, pelvic hemangiopericytomas had incomplete resection of their tumors because of hemorrhage. However, pelvic radiation therapy was then employed in these patients and produced a complete regression in one patient and partial regression in two patients with minimal shrinkage in another patient. The latter patients were reexplored after pelvic radiation and underwent complete resection of their disease. Two patients developed pelvic recurrences at 2 and 9 years, respectively, and these were effectively resected. All four patients are all alive and free of disease 5 to 18 years later. If this lesion is unexpectedly discovered at laparotomy, our experience suggests that the resection should be discontinued and that they should be treated with pelvic radiation and delayed resection of persistent and recurrent pelvic tumors.
GTPase Signalling: New Functions for Diaphanous-Related Formins

The Diaphanous-related formins are effectors for Rho GTPases. Two recent reports have unveiled previously unappreciated activities of Drf3 (mDia2), eliciting cytoskeletal rearrangements at the behest of Cdc42, and of DRF2 (hDia2C), regulating endosome dynamics for RhoD.
Comparison of the spectroscopic properties of metalloporphyrins

Abstract Electron ionisation (EI) and positive NH 3 chemical ionisation (CI) mass spectra, 1 H NMR and IR spectra were obtained for octaethylporphyrin (OEP) and some of its metal derivatives. In each case, the spectra displayed a strong metal-dependency. For EI mass spectra, there was no obvious metal-dependency for singly charged fragment ions; however, the ratio of doubly charged fragment ions to singly charged fragment ions was metal-dependent. For chelated metal ions with closed outer shell electron configurations, there was a correlation between this ratio, and the ratio of the electronegativity (Pauling scale) to the atomic radius of the metal ion. The correlation does not work for open shell transition metal complexes. In CI mass spectra there appears to be an inverse relationship between the relative abundance of the pyrrolic fragment ions and the electronegativity of the metal ion. The extent of the de-shielding of the meso (bridge) protons in the 1 H NMR was directly related to both the ionic radius and the oxidation state of the chelated metal ion. The IR spectrum showed several metal-dependent peaks. The peak at ca. 920 cm −1 was dependent on both the metal-pyrrolic nitrogen bond distance and the charge of the complexed metal ion. It is hoped that these data will prove valuable both in determining the role of post-chelation factors in the predominance of Ni(II) and O = V(IV) porphyrins in the geosphere, and in the detection of any other geoporphyrin metal complexes.
CHILD REARING AS A MECHANISM FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: The Relationship of Child Gender to Parents' Commitment to Gender Equity

In this article, the authors argue that having daughters has the potential of sensitizing parents to issues of gender equity. Because parents invest a significant amount of themselves in their children, anticipated and actual struggles that their children face, and the public policies addressing those struggles, take on increased salience. We find that both fathers' and mothers' support for public policies designed to address gender equity increases when parents have daughters only. The findings are stronger for men, suggesting that child rearing might provide a mechanism for social change whereby fathers' connection with their daughters undermines their commitment to patriarchy. At the same time, when men have sons only, they show the least support for gender equity public policies, suggesting that wanting what is best for their children may keep men from challenging their patriarchal dividend.
Depression affects adherence measurement but not the effectiveness of an adherence intervention in heart failure patients

Abstract Objectives To assess the influence of depressive symptoms on adherence with heart failure medications and to determine whether the effect of a pharmacy-based intervention to improve heart failure medication adherence is modified by depressive symptoms. Design Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial. Setting University-affiliated ambulatory care practice. Patients Patients 50 years or older with congestive heart failure randomly assigned to usual care (n = 192) or intervention (n = 122). Intervention Pharmacist-provided intervention to improve heart failure medication adherence. Main outcome measures Medication adherence was measured via patient self-report and using electronic prescription lids; depressive symptoms were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale. General linear models examined the main effect of depressive symptoms on medication adherence and whether depressive symptoms modified the effectiveness of the intervention. Results At baseline, 37% (n = 117) of participants screened positive for depression. In the usual care group, mean adjusted self-reported adherence was 75% for depressed participants and 81% for nondepressed participants ( P = 0.04); mean adjusted adherence measured electronically was 71% for depressed participants and 69% for nondepressed participants ( P = 0.65). Intervention effectiveness did not differ for depressed compared with nondepressed participants. Conclusion The effectiveness of a pharmacy-based intervention to improve adherence does not appear to be influenced by depression. However, the method used to measure adherence (electronically measured versus self-reported) influences the interpretation of the relationship between depression and heart failure medication adherence.
Pyrolysis of Precambrian kerogens - Constraints and capabilities

Precambrian kerogens are currently considered to be the primary candidates for the search of biochemical fossils. Degradation of kerogens by relatively 'mild' pyrolysis techniques, such as under high vacuum, can liberate indicative structural moieties which were incorporated in, and perhaps shielded by, these solid and highly condensed, basically aromatic substances. It is necessary to observe analytical constraints (sample size and shape, temperature, pressure, time, etc.) in order to prevent an overabundant yield of secondary pyrolyzates (inter- and intramolecular rearrangements) which can prevent kerogen characterization. Potential biochemical fossils have been found in Precambrian kerogens. Demonstratable syngenetic biochemical fossils are expected after kerogen diagenesis and catagenesis is understood in sufficient detail, and when pyrolysis is augmented by multiple, improved analytical techniques.
ACTIVATION OF STAT PROTEINS AND GROWTH CONTROL

This review will discuss how STAT (Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription) proteins, a group of transcription factors that transmit signals from the extracellular surface of cells to the nucleus, are involved in growth control. I will discuss the anatomy of a STAT protein, how it works as a transcription factor, the molecules that regulate its “activity”, the phenotypes of mice that lack individual STAT proteins and their involvement in growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and transformation. Finally, a number of examples will be presented of how dysregulated STAT signaling may be involved in the pathogenesis of cancer. BioEssays 23:161–169, 2001. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Certain inference problems for multivariate hypergeometric models

Certain Inference problems associated with the multivariate hypergeometric models: the property of completeness, maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters of multivariate negative inverse hypergeometric, Bayesian estimation of the parameters of multivariate hypergeometric and multivariate inverse hypergeometrics and the limiting forms of the posterior distributions are discussed in this paper. A two-stage approach for generating the prior distribution, first by setting up a parametric super population and then choosing a prior distribution is followed. Posterior expectations and variances of certain functions of the parameters of the finite population are provided in cases of direct and inverse sampling procedures. It is shown that under extreme diffuseness of prior knowledge the posterior distribution of the finite population mean has an approximate mean and variance (N-n) S2/Nn, providing a Bayesian interpretation for the classical unbiased estimates in traditional sample survey theory.
Control Concepts for Pneumatic-Tube Vehicles

The pneumatic-tube transport system, its operation, and its conceptual development as a high-speed-ground-transportation alternative are discussed briefly. Schemata for control of passive and nonpassive tube vehicles are proposed. System simulations employing a Fanno-flow model and each of the control schemata are outlined. Results contrasting controlled and uncontrolled system operations are presented as plots of the vehicle's velocity and acceleration versus the vehicle's position in the tube. Results evidence the infeasability of existing, passive vehicle concepts. /Author/
Observations on the Feeding Habits of Some Woodpeckers and Woodcreepers in Costa Rica

The observations reported here were made while I attended the Tropical Entomology Course offered by the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica sponsored by the National Science Foundation. In spite of the brevity of the study, I believe that the results are a useful addition to the scant knowledge on food and feeding habits of tropical woodpeckers and woodcreepers. Observations on bird predation were made during the wet season in 1965 in three forest types (Holdridge, 1964): tropical dry forest (Playa Coco in Guanacaste), tropical moist forest (Puerto Viejo in Heredia and Palmar Sur in Puntarenas), and the subtropical wet forest life zone (Turrialba in Cartago). These locations represented four of Costa Rica's seven provinces. Visual observations of the species of woodpeckers and woodcreepers present, their feeding habits, and behavior were made at various times of the day. Specimens of 6 of the 16 species of woodpeckers and 2 of the 16 species of woodcreepers were studied and collected in the various locations. Stomach analyses were made from a total of 21 stomachs representing 8 of these species. Estimates were made on a visual examination of the entire stomach content, spread out in a petri dish; a piece of graph paper underneath provided a grid. The percentage of the identifiable portions was estimated from the area occupied on the grid. These figures seldom represent the actual volume of arthropods taken at the time of feeding because of autolysis. Although Martin (1949) claims that there is no need of preservatives if the stomachs are examined within 24 hours, Koersveld (1950) and Dillery (1965) found that digestion and autolysis of food continues for some time after death, depending on temperature and time interval between the death of the bird and examination of the stomach content. Immediate fixing of the stomach contents after killing is, therefore, desirable. Scientific names of woodpeckers of the genus Centurus follow Selander and Giller (1963); all other names of birds follow Peters' check lists (1948, 1951) and Mayr and Greenway (1960).
Spatial and Temporal Variability of Antarctic Precipitation from Atmospheric Methods

Abstract The spatial and temporal variability of net precipitation (precipitation minus evaporation/sublimation) for Antarctica derived from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts operational analyses via the atmospheric moisture budget is assessed in comparison to a variety of glaciological and meteorological observations and datasets. For the 11-yr period 1985–95, the average continental value is 151 mm yr−1 water equivalent. Large regional differences with other datasets are identified, and the sources of error are considered. Interannual variability in the Southern Ocean storm tracks is found to be an important mechanism for enhanced precipitation minus evaporation (P − E) in both east and west Antarctica. In relation to the present findings, an evaluation of the rawinsonde method for estimating net precipitation in east Antarctica is conducted. Estimates of P − E using synthetic rawinsondes derived from the analyses are found to compare favorably to glaciological estimates. A signific...
What Nursing Interventions Reduce the Risk of Symptomatic Urinary Tract Infection in the Patient With an Indwelling Catheter

QUESTION 1What nursing strategies to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI) are promulgated in national guidelines on this topic?QUESTION 2Do elements of catheter design (size and material of construction) reduce subsequent UTI risk?QUESTION 3Does sterile technique during insertion
First order unbinding transition in layered superconductors

Abstract A vortex unbinding transition is studied in a thin superconducting layer, Josephson-coupled to a semi-infinite layer. For a system of thermally populated vortices, the usual Kosterlitz-Thouless transition is preempted. A lower order transition should be observed which is mediated by the screening of free vortices.