cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fault geometries on Uranus’ satellite Miranda: Implications for internal structure and heat flow

Abstract Miranda, a ∼470-km-diameter uranian icy satellite, has a surface that exhibits evidence of a complex tectonic history. Tectonic structures are mostly localized in three regions termed coronae, but also form a rift system inferred to be global in extent. Ridges within the boundary of Arden Corona, and those that make up the 340° Chasma, part of the global rift system, have been interpreted as normal fault blocks. Using Voyager data, we test the hypothesis that these Arden Corona faults, as well as those at the northern edge of the 340° Chasma, are listric in geometry. For this testing, we use four geometric criteria for listric faults: (1) progressive down-dip decrease in fault scarp dip, (2) progressive down-dip increase in back-tilted face slope, (3) concavity of the exposed scarp surface, and (4) presence of a rollover structure. Results of this analysis support the hypothesis that the faults within the Arden Corona boundary are listric in geometry, but do not strongly support the hypothesis for the faults within the 340° Chasma. By analogy with terrestrial structures, the listric character of faults within the Arden Corona boundary suggests the presence of a subsurface detachment. This detachment likely occurred at Miranda’s brittle–ductile transition zone at the time of faulting. Measurements of the Arden Corona fault system geometry are used to estimate depths to the proposed brittle–ductile transition zone at the time of faulting, resulting in values of 6.7–9.0 km. Those depths in turn are used to estimate a thermal gradient of 6–25 K km−1 and a surface heat flux of 31–112 mW m−2. The weaker evidence of a listric geometry for the faults of the 340° Chasma suggests that those faults did not interact with a brittle–ductile transition at the time of their formation. Our estimated thermal gradient of the Arden Corona region is consistent with a previous heating event on Miranda that was as significant as Europa’s current resonance-induced tidal heating. This heating event may be associated with a hypothesized previous tidal resonance of Miranda with Umbriel and/or Ariel.
The Serotonin 5-HT2C Receptor Is a Prominent Serotonin Receptor in Basal Ganglia: Evidence from Functional Studies on Serotonin-Mediated Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) 5-HT 2A and 5-HT 2C receptors belong to the class of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC)-linked receptors. Conditions were established for measuring 5-HT 2A -linked and 5-HT 2C -linked PLC activity in membranes prepared from previously frozen rat frontal cortex and caudate. In the presence of Ca 2+ (300 nM) and GTPγS (1 μM), 5-HT increased PLC activity in caudate membranes. Pharmacological analysis using the selective 5-HT 2A antagonist, spiperone, and the nonselective 5-HT 2A/2C antagonist, mianserin, demonstrated that over half of the 5-HT-stimulated PLC activity was due to stimulation of 5-HT 2C receptors as opposed to 5-HT 2A receptors. Radioligand binding assays with [ 3 H]RP 62203 and [ 3 H]-mesulergine were used to quantify 5-HT 2A and 5-HT 2C sites, respectively, in caudate. From these data, the B max for caudate 5-HT 2A sites and 5-HT 2C sites was 165.4 ± 9.7 fmol/mg of protein and 49.7 ± 3.3 fmol/mg of protein, respectively. In contrast to that in caudate, PLC activity in frontal cortex was stimulated by 5-HT in a manner that was inhibited by the 5-HT 2A -selective antagonists, spiperone and ketanserin. Taken together, the results indicate that 5-HT 2A - and 5-HT 2C -linked PLC activity can be discerned in brain regions possessing both receptor subtypes using membranes prepared from previously frozen tissue. More importantly, significant 5-HT 2C -mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis was observed in caudate, despite the relatively low density of 5-HT 2C sites. The significance of these observations with respect to the physiological function of 5-HT 2C receptors is discussed.
Electrochemical membrane cell design for sulphur dioxide separation from flue gas

Abstract An electrochemical membrane technique has previously been demonstrated to remove sulphur dioxide from flue gas and simultaneously deliver concentrated sulphur trioxide as a by-product stream. However, this device operates at temperatures > 500°C, making retrofit difficult to standard coal-burning power plants. Lower temperature operation requires a lower-melting membrane electrolyte which would provide a sulphur-carrying anion. Pyrosulphates are logical choices, some melting near 300°C. Examination of potassium pyrosulphate revealed it was suitable, provided vanadia was added to catalyse oxidation of the sulphur from the plus-four to plus-six state. A preliminary design is presented for a 500 MW power plant desulphurization facility. The economics are attractive: capital costs are estimated at US $18 kW−1 and operating costs at 0.9 mil (kWh)−1. Further, the temperature of operation is low enough to permit installation downstream from the economizer, a requisite for retrofit application.
A Comparison of Surfacelet-Based Methods for Recognizing Linear Geometric Features in Material Microstructure

Integration of material information and mechanical properties with geometry enables many product development activities, including design, analysis, and manufacturing. To integrate material information into CAD systems, geometric features of material microstructure must be recognized and represented, which is the focus of this paper. Linear microstructure features, such as fibers or grain boundaries, can be found computationally from microstructure images using surfacelet based methods, which include the Radon or Radon-like transform followed by a wavelet transform. By finding peaks in the transform results, linear features can be recognized and characterized by length, orientation, and position. The challenge is that often a feature will be imprecisely represented in the transformed parameter space. In this paper, we investigate several variations of the surfacelet based feature recognition methods, including masks, clustering methods, and whether to recognize features in the Radon or wavelet transform. These variations will be investigated to identify their strengths and limitations on a metal alloy and reinforced polymer microstructures.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Alterations in hematocrit and respiratory rate induced by methylene blue.

SummaryThe hematocrits of anesthetized dogs increased and their respiratory rates rose during intravenous infusion of 20 mg of methylene blue per kg of body weight. Blood pressure and heart rate responses were variable. In unanesthetized rats, intraperitoneal injections of 65 mg of methylene blue per kg of body weight induced marked increases in hematocrit. Splenectomy and phenoxybenzamine, an alpha sympathetic blocking agent, abolished the hematocrit response to methylene blue, indicating that reflex splenic contraction was the cause of the increase in hematocrit.
Opsoclonus as a manifestation of Hashimoto’s encephalopathy

We present a 59-year-old male with early manifestation of opsoclonus associated with gait ataxia as a rare clinical presentation of Hashimoto's encephalopathy. Empiric use of intravenous immunoglobulin followed by intravenous high dose methylprednisolone was initiated with subsequent remittance of opsoclonus, encephalopathy, ataxia, and tremor. Extensive workup for infectious, autoimmune, and paraneoplastic etiologies were undertaken and all studies were negative. Thyroglobulin antibodies (312 U/mL) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (457 U/mL) were elevated (normal <60 U/mL) with a euthyroid state (thyroid stimulating hormone 3.13 μIU/mL). Three months after intravenous steroid therapy, the concentrations of thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were retested and found to have decreased considerably. Thus, with steroid therapy, the patient's opsoclonus and encephalopathy improved. We have presented a patient with a rare case of opsoclonus as the principal presenting feature of Hashimoto's encephalopathy that was incompletely responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin and resolved with corticosteroids. This report underscores the importance for clinical practitioners to maintain a high index of suspicion for Hashimoto's encephalopathy in cases of opsoclonus, especially when accompanied by an atypical presentation.
Coexistence of Pernicious Anaemia and Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia: An Experiment of Nature Involving Vitamin B12 Metabolism

Summary. Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and pernicious anaemia (PA) coexisted in a 51-yr-old man (who also had myasthenia gravis). His serum vitamin B12 level was normal instead of the high value expected in CML, or the low value expected in PA. Short-term culture of his peripheral blood cells showed deranged DNA synthesis of the type observed in vitamin B12 deficiency, indicating that his ‘normal’ serum vitamin B12 level was not associated with normal amounts of vitamin B12 available to his CML cells. A tracer dose of 0.45 μg of[57 Co]vitamin B12 disappeared abnormally slowly from his serum over 24 hr (as previously observed by others in patients with either CML or PA). A therapeutic injection of vitamin B12 appeared to disappear abnormally slowly from his serum over a period of 2 yr. His serum showed a markedly elevated unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity, with a less sharp increase in percentage of vitamin B12 binding α as compared to β globulin than usually expected in CML. Withholding therapeutic vitamin B12 for 2 yr has been associated with stabilization of his WBC at the 40 000-50 ooo/μl range. Although this association could be chance rather than cause and effect, the patient does represent an ‘experiment of nature’ involving vitamin B12 metabolism and does raise the question as to whether his leukaemia is retarded by his deficiency of vitamin B12, which results from inadequate absorption of vitamin B12 and possibly from elevated serum vitamin B12 binding a globulin rendering his circulating vitamin B12 metabolically inert.
Brood pheromone modulates honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) sucrose response thresholds

Foraging behavior and the mechanisms that regulate foraging activity are important components of social organization. Here we test the hypothesis that brood pheromone modulates the sucrose response threshold of bees. Recently the honeybee proboscis extension response to sucrose has been identified as a ”window” into a bee’s perception of sugar. The sucrose response threshold measured in the first week of adult life, prior to foraging age, predicts forage choice. Bees with low response thresholds are more likely to be pollen foragers and bees with high response thresholds are more likely to forage for nectar. There is an associated genetic component to sucrose response thresholds and forage choice such that bees selected to hoard high quantities of pollen have low response thresholds and bees selected to hoard low quantities of pollen have higher response thresholds. The number of larvae in colonies affects the number of bees foraging for pollen. Hexane-extractable compounds from the surface of larvae (brood pheromone) significantly increase the number of pollen foragers. We tested the hypothesis that brood pheromone decreases the sucrose response threshold of bees, to suggest a pheromone- modulated sensory-physiological mechanism for regulating foraging division of labor. Brood pheromone significantly decreased response thresholds as measured in the proboscis extension response assay, a response associated with pollen foraging. A synthetic blend of honeybee brood pheromone stimulated and released pollen foraging in foraging bioassays. Synthetic brood pheromone had dose-dependent effects on the modulation of sucrose response thresholds. We discuss how brood pheromone may act as a releaser of pollen foraging in older bees and a primer pheromone on the development of response thresholds and foraging ontogeny of young bees.
Microwave limb sounder experiments for UARS and EOS

Microwave limb sounding can provide important measurements for understanding global change and processes in Earth's stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere. An experiment for this purpose, operating at millimeter wavelengths, is now ready for launch on the NASA Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). An enhanced experiment at submillimeter wavelengths is also in study for the future NASA Earth Observing System (EOS).© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Neutron brachytherapy for the treatment of malignant neoplasia

In the 1930's both neutrons and the cyclotron were discovered, developed and used almost immediately for neutron beam therapy. Cf-252 was discovered in 1950 but its potential for cancer therapy was not postulated until 1965. Early sporadic clinical trials were used to treat only a few patients. The recognition of its curative properties and usefulness for bulky localized and radioresistant cancer therapy was not made until recently. In 1985, the Lexington Workshop led to a sharing of independent experiences from the USA, Japan, and the USSR; early trial experiences were related to neutron beam results. Localized neutron therapy using brachytherapy methods was found effective against radioresistance and bulky tumors. However, it needed to be used properly and with full appreciation of clinical oncology and the role of photon adjuvant therapy.
Crystal chemistry of Ruddlesden-Popper type structures in highT c ceramic superconductors

Similar structural patterns have been noticed in the systems La-Cu-O, La-Ni-O and Bi and Tl-containing superconducting oxides. The formation of Ruddlesden-Popper type layers (alternating slabs of rocksalt and perovskite structures) is seen in these oxides which is similar in many respects to what is seen in the system Sr-Ti-O. However, there are some significant differences, for example the rocksalt and perovskite blocks in new superconducting compounds are not necessarily electrically neutral, unlike in the Sr-Ti-O system. It, thus, becomes necessary to create oxygen vacancies in the basic perovskite (figure 1) structure of Bi-containing compounds, when the width of the perovskite slab changes on addition of extra Cu-O planes. Results of our atomistic simulations suggest that these missing oxygen ions allow the Cu-O planes to buckle in Bi-series of compounds. This is also supported by the absence of buckling in the Sr-Ti-O series of compounds and the first member of Bi-containing compounds in which there are no missing oxygen ions. We present additional results on the phase stability of polytypoid structures in La-Cu-O system and defect chemistry of compounds of La-Ni-O system.
Lateral tunneling, ballistic transport, and spectroscopy in a two-dimensional electron gas.

We report a direct observation, via electron energy spectroscopy, of lateral tunneling and lateral ballistic-electron transport in a two-dimensional electron gas (2D EG). This was accomplished through the use of a novel transistor structure employing two potential barriers, induced by 50-nm wide metal gates deposited on a GaAs/AlGaAs selectively doped heterostructure. Hot electrons with very narrow energy distributions (\ensuremath{\simeq}5 meV wide) have been observed to ballistically traverse 2D EG regions \ensuremath{\simeq}170 nm wide with a mean free path of about 480 nm.
Optical Data Storage: Three Perspectives

Milster has pulled together a series of articles that explore the status, potential, and future of three viable optical data storage systems.
The transition to baroclinic chaos on the β-plane

Experiments on two-layer β-plane flows are described. The regime diagrams for both easterly and westerly forcing indicate complex scenarios by which baroclinically unstable flows can become chaotic as the forcing is increased. The transition sequence can involve as many as three different vacillation mechanisms, but also exhibits the periodic window phenomena prevalent in many model dynamical systems. The fractal dimension of the chaos at low rotational Froude number F is measurable and is somewhat less than 3. The dimension increases as F is raised. A six-wave low-order model, while successfully predicting some of the observed vacillations, gives a relatively poor description of the chaos.
Chaplain rounds: a chance for medical students to reflect on spirituality in patient-centered care.

Objective This study assesses the perceived impact of a required half-day with a hospital chaplain for first-year medical students, using a qualitative analysis of their written reflections.
Tolstoy's Animals

In recent years, critics sensitive to animal issues have begun to theorize a new direction in literary criticism, an animal-centric or animal-standpoint criticism. Such a criticism seeks to examine works of literature from the point of view of how animals are treated therein, often looking to reconstruct the standpoint of the animals in question. This article examines a selection of short stories by Leo Tolstoy considering them exemplary from the point of view of animal-standpoint criticism.
Alpha tocopheryl succinate, retinoic acid and polar carotenoids enhanced the growth-inhibitory effect of a cholesterol-lowering drug on immortalized and transformed nerve cells in culture.

Objective: Statins (cholesterol lowering drugs) with a closed-ring structure (lovastatin, simvastatin and mevastatin) and an open-ring structure (pravastatin and fluvastatin) are currently used in the management of cardiac disease. Lovastatin and simvastatin inhibit the growth of tumor cells; however, the studies on the effect of a statin in combination with micronutrients such as α-tocopheryl succinate (α-TS), 13-cis retinoic acid (RA) and polar carotenoids (PC) have never been performed. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of mevastatin alone and in combination with the above micronutrients on the growth of mouse neuroblastoma (NB) cells and rat immortalized dopamine (DA) neurons in culture. In addition, a comparative efficacy of mevastatin and pravastatin on the growth of NB cells was studied.Methods: Cells were treated with mevastatin in combination with individual antioxidants, α-TS, RA and polar carotenoids, 24 hours after plating. Fresh growth medium and agents were ch...
Cytological Localization of Placental Lactogen Messenger Ribonviicleic Acid in Syncytiotrophoblast Layers of Human Placenta

Previous histochemical studies identified human placental lactogen (hPL) in the syncytial layer rather than in the cytotrophoblast cells of human placenta. However, these studies failed to rule out the possibility that de novo synthesis occurred in a cell type distinct from that in which the highest steady state level is accumulated after intercellular transport. To address this point, localization of placental mRNA in trophoblasts was attempted by the technique of in situ hybridizaton. Term placental sections were incubated with [3H]cDNA transcribed from sucrose gradient-purified hPL mRNA. Slides were stained, fixed for autoradiography, and examined under the light microscope. The syncytial layer was covered with silver grains. The amount of this radioactivity was greatly reduced when placental fragments were incubated with globin [3H]cDNA or if hPL [3H]cDNA was hybridized to sections of human tonsil tissue. In addition, the amount of silver grains was greatly reduced when the sections were prehybridized with labeled probe. These results suggest that hPL is synthesized in the syncytial layer of placental villi and that the appearance of hPL in this region was not the result of intercellular transport.
Editorial: Three Perspectives of Employment Discrimination 50 Years After the Civil Rights Act—A Promise Fulfilled?

Purpose In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, this paper reviews contradictory perspectives of the status of employment discrimination.
Control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the hospital setting

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common cause of nosocomial infections. Healthcare professionals in the United States should develop programs to prevent transmission of this organism within their institutions. Aggressive control efforts are justified for several reasons: (1) the incidence of nosocomial MRSA reflects the general effectiveness of infection control practice; (2) MRSA do not replace susceptible strains but instead increase the overall rate of nosocomial S. aureus infections; (3) MRSA infections cause substantial morbidity and mortality; (4) serious MRSA infections must be treated with vancomycin. Thus, in hospitals with high rates of MRSA, use of this antimicrobial agent increases, which in turn may increase the risk for selecting vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Hospitals have used numerous different approaches to control nosocomial spread of MRSA. Staff should choose a control method based on the prevalence of MRSA in their institution and in their referring facilities, the rate of nosocomial transmission of MRSA in their hospital, the risk factors present in their patient population, the reservoirs and modes of transmission specific to their hospital, and their resources. Any MRSA control plan must stress adherence to basic infection control measures, such as hand washing and contact isolation precautions. In addition, decolonization of patients and staff, control of antimicrobial use, surveillance cultures, and molecular typing may be helpful adjuncts.
Substitution of Glutamic 779 with Alanine in the Na,K-ATPase α Subunit Removes Voltage Dependence of Ion Transport

Abstract The effects of changing Glu-779, located in the fifth transmembrane segment of the Na,K-ATPase α subunit, on the phosphorylation characteristics and ion transport properties of the enzyme were investigated. HeLa cells were transfected with cDNA coding the E779A substitution in an ouabain-resistant sheep α1 subunit (RD). Steady state phosphorylation stimulated by Na+ concentrations less than 20 mM or by imidazole were similar for RD and E779A enzymes, an indication that phosphorylation and Na+ occlusion were not altered by this mutation. With E779A enzyme, higher Na+ concentrations reduced the level of phosphoenzyme and stimulated Na-ATPase activity in the absence of K+. These effects were a consequence of Na+ increasing the rate of protein dephosphorylation. In voltage-clamped HeLa cells expressing E779A enzyme, a prominent electrogenic Na+-Na+ exchange was observed in the absence of extracellular K+. Thus, increased Na-ATPase activity and Na+-dependent dephosphorylation result from Na+ acting as a K+ congener with low affinity at extracellular binding sites. These data suggest that E779A does not directly participate in ion binding but does affect the connection between extracellular ion binding and intracellular enzyme dephosphorylation. In cells expressing control RD enzyme, Na,K-pump current was dependent on membrane potential and extracellular K+ concentration. However, Na,K-pump current in cells expressing E779A enzyme was voltage independent at all extracellular K+ tested. These results indicate that Glu-779 may be part of the access channel determining the voltage dependence of ion transport by the Na,K-ATPase.
Intraoperative qRT-PCR for Detection of Lymph Node Metastasis in Head and Neck Cancer

Purpose. Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has been shown to accurately stage the regional lymphatics in oral carcinoma. However, intraoperative pathology is only moderately sensitive and final pathology takes several days to complete. We developed a rapid, automated and quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assay that can match final pathology in an intraoperative time-frame. Materials and methods. 448 grossly tumor-negative lymph nodes were evaluated for expression of three markers (PVA, PTHrP and TACSTD1). Conformity of metastasis detection by qRT-PCR was determined using H&E and immunohistochemistry as the gold standard. PVA and TACSTD1 were multiplexed with GUSB to develop a rapid, automated single-tube qRT-PCR assay using the Cepheid GeneXpertTM system. This assay was used to analyze 103 lymph nodes in an intra-operative time-frame. Results. 442 nodes produced an informative result for both qRT-PCR and pathologic examination. Concordance of qRT-PCR for individual markers with final pathology ranged from 93% to 98%. The best marker combination was TACSTD1 and PVA. A rapid, multiplex assay for TACSTD1 and PVA was developed on the Cepheid GeneXpert and demonstrated excellent reproducibility and linearity. Analysis of 103 lymph nodes demonstrated 94.2% accuracy of this assay for identifying positive and negative nodes. The average time for each assay was 35 minutes. Summary. A rapid, automated qRT-PCR assay can detect lymph node metastasis in head and neck cancer with high accuracy compared to pathologic analysis and may be more accurate than intraoperative pathology. Combined, SNB and rapid qRT-PCR could more appropriately guide surgical treatment of patients with head and neck cancer.
Design and characterization of an actively controlled hybrid energy storage module for high-rate directed energy applications

There is considerable need for a mobile, reliable, efficient, and compact prime power supply for a host of applications, including directed energy and electrical grid backup among others. Electrochemical energy storage devices, which possess either high-power density or high-energy density, have been developed recently and are very applicable for use in these applications. The need for both high energy and high power, however, makes the design and implementation of such a prime power supply a nontrivial task. While lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are available, which possess both high power and energy density, operation at high power reduces their cycle life, decreasing the reliability and increasing the cost of the system when replacement becomes necessary more frequently. One proposed method involves optimally combining high-energy batteries with high-power electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) using actively controlled power electronics to regulate the current to and from each respective device. In such a scheme, energy can be slowly sourced to and from the batteries, while the capacitors are used to supply or accept the bulk of the current when the demand is high, especially during fast transients. This type of scheme should not only maximize the batteries' cycle life and ensure that both the energy and power required of the load(s) is always available, but will also increase the instantaneous power capabilities of the system, offering a well-rounded solution to sourcing steady and/or transient loads. When augmenting a fossil fuel generator with a hybrid energy storage module (HESM), the HESM has the ability to act as a high-energy reservoir that can harvest energy from the generator when the loads are in short periods of inactivity. This enables the generator to be continuously base loaded, thereby maintaining a high level of efficiency at all times, while theoretically maintaining the required power quality of the main ac bus. At the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), an actively controlled, high-rate HESM has been constructed to evaluate its performance under the typical load condition presented by directed energy weapons. It has been assembled using LIBs, EDLCs, and commercial off-the-shelf power electronic converters. A discussion about the future of HESMs, the experimental setup at UTA, and the results obtained thus far will be presented here.
On the Independence Number of Steiner Systems

A partial Steiner (n, r, l)-system is an r-uniform hypergraph on n vertices in which every set of l vertices is contained in at most one edge. A partial Steiner (n, r, l)-system is complete if every set of l vertices is contained in exactly one edge. In a hypergraph H, the independence number α(H) denotes the maximum size of a set of vertices in H containing no edge. In this article we prove the following. Given integers r, l such that r ≥ 2l− 1 ≥ 3, we prove that there exist a partial Steiner (n, r, l)-system H such that α(H) . ( l − 1 r − 1 (r)l ) 1 r−1 n r−l r−1 (log n) 1 r−1 as n→∞. This improves earlier results of Phelps and Rodl, and Rodl and Ŝinajova. We conjecture that it is best possible as it matches the independence number of a random r-uniform hypergraph of the same density. If l = 2 or l = 3, then for infinitely many r the partial Steiner systems constructed are complete for infinitely many n.
The epithelial cell transforming sequence 2, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho GTPases, is repressed by p53 via protein methyltransferases and is required for G1-S transition

The epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (ECT2), a member of the Dbl family of guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho GTPases, is required for cytokinesis. The tumor suppressor p53 plays a crucial role in coordinating cellular processes, such as cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, in response to stress signals. Here, we showed that ECT2 is negatively regulated by wild-type p53 but not tumor-derived mutant p53 or other p53 family members. In addition, ECT2 is down-regulated in multiple cell lines by DNA damage agents and Nutlin-3, an MDM2 antagonist, in a p53-dependent manner. We also showed that the activity of the ECT2 promoter is repressed by wild-type p53, and to a lesser extent, by p21. In addition, the second activation domain in p53 is necessary for the efficient repression of ECT2. Importantly, we found that the ECT2 gene is bound by p53 in vivo in response to DNA damage and Nutlin-3 treatment. Furthermore, we provided evidence that inhibition of protein methyltransferases, especially arginine methyltransferases, relieve the repression of ECT2 induced by DNA damage or Nutlin-3 in a p53-dependent manner. Finally, we generated multiple cell lines in which ECT2 is inducibly knocked down and found that ECT2 knockdown triggers cell cycle arrest in G1. Taken together, we uncovered a novel function for ECT2 and provided a novel mechanism by which p53 represses gene expression via protein methyltransferases.
The Spacing of the Interstellar 6.2 and 7.7 Micron Emission Features as an Indicator of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Size

A database of astrophysically relevant, infrared spectral measurements on a wide variety of neutral as well as positively and negatively charged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ranging in size from C10H8 through C48H20, is now available to extend the interstellar PAH model. Beyond simply indicating general characteristics of the carriers, this collection of data now makes it possible to conduct a more thorough interpretation of the details of the interstellar spectra and thereby derive deeper insights into the nature of the emitting material and conditions in the emission zones. This Letter is the first such implementation of this spectral database. The infrared spectra of PAH cations, the main PAH form in the most energetic emission zones, are usually dominated by a few strong features in the 1650-1100 cm-1 (6.1-9.1 microns) region that tend to cluster the vicinity of the interstellar emission bands at 1610 and 1320 cm-1 (6.2 and 7.6 microns), but with spacings typically somewhat less than that observed in the canonical interstellar spectrum. However, the spectra in the database show that this spacing increases steadily with molecular size. Extrapolation of this trend indicates that PAHs in the 50-80 carbon atom size range are entirely consistent with the observed interstellar spacing. Furthermore, the profile of the 1610 cm-1 (6.2 microns) interstellar band indicates that PAHs containing as few as 20 carbon atoms contribute to this feature.
The role of streamwise vorticity in the near-field entrainment of round jets

The role of streamwise vortex structures in the near-field (x/d < 10) evolution of a round jet is examined. In free shear layers the streamwise vorticity develops into Bernal-Roshko structures which are streamwise vortex pairs. Similar structures are shown to exist in round jets. These structures, which evolve and amplify in the braid region between primary vortical structures, are shown to drastically alter the entrainment process in the near field and to increase the rate at which fluid is entrained into the jet. As the flow evolves downstream, the efficiency of the streamwise vorticity in entraining fluid increases relative to that of the azimuthal vorticity. Beyond the end of the potential core regime, the entrainment process is mainly controlled by streamwise vorticity. These processes are identified via flow visualization and confirmed by detailed global entrainment measurements.
Word Alignment via Quadratic Assignment

Recently, discriminative word alignment methods have achieved state-of-the-art accuracies by extending the range of information sources that can be easily incorporated into aligners. The chief advantage of a discriminative framework is the ability to score alignments based on arbitrary features of the matching word tokens, including orthographic form, predictions of other models, lexical context and so on. However, the proposed bipartite matching model of Taskar et al. (2005), despite being tractable and effective, has two important limitations. First, it is limited by the restriction that words have fertility of at most one. More importantly, first order correlations between consecutive words cannot be directly captured by the model. In this work, we address these limitations by enriching the model form. We give estimation and inference algorithms for these enhancements. Our best model achieves a relative AER reduction of 25% over the basic matching formulation, outperforming intersected IBM Model 4 without using any overly compute-intensive features. By including predictions of other models as features, we achieve AER of 3.8 on the standard Hansards dataset.
Characteristics and Behavioral Outcomes for Youth in Group Care and Family-Based Care A Propensity Score Matching Approach Using National Data

This study aimed to answer two questions: (a) Given expected differences in children who are placed in group care compared to those in family-based settings, is it possible to match children on baseline characteristics? (b) Are there differences in behavioral outcomes for youth with episodes in group care versus those in family-based care? Using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, the study sample included 1,191 children with episodes in out-of-home care (n = 254 youth with group care episodes; n = 937 youth with episodes in family-based care and no group care). Conditioning variables were identified, which distinguished between the two groups of youth. Using propensity score matching, all youth placed into group care were matched on the propensity score with family-based care youth. Behavioral outcomes at 36 months, as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist, were compared for the matched sample. Of the total 254 youth with group care episodes, 157 could be matched to youth...
Updated guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities.

In September 2012, a joint committee, including representatives from the American College of Cardiology Foundation, American Heart Association, and Heart Rhythm Society, released a focused update of the 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. The writing committee included representatives from The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The update focused on the indications for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and follow-up of pacemakers and other devices. Because cardiac surgeons care for patients who require these devices, this update is relevant to our practice.
Role of Planar Defects in Compound Semiconductor Crystals: From Growth of Nanomasts & Nanosails to Processing Light Emission in DualBeam FIB/SEM

When crystals are made smaller than a grain, grain boundaries and 3-dimensional defects are no longer a concern. The free surfaces of nanometer-scale crystals dominate the energy considerations, and even the strain energy of 1dimensional defects cannot be contained, causing dislocations to leave during bending, both during growth and stress [1]. Fortunately, point (0-D) defects can be contained, and impurities compensated for by doping, thereby enabling the production of robust p/n junctions in semiconductor nanowires. The fourth defect type, 2D-planar defects, however, not only can be common but can play a role to lower the overall energy of the crystal during growth [2] as well as play a role in optical and electrical properties. Future nanowires will have requirements of both direction and performance. For optical properties there is the further concern of containment, so that light does not escape from the sides [3]. The roles of planar defects on properties and structures need further study.
Consensual norms regarding patient involvement.

Abstract A stratified sample of 72 nurses, physicians and members of the general public met together in small tripartite dialogue groups each month for 20 months, in order to mutually identify health care behaviors that effectively involve patients in their own health care. Content analysis of 200 hours of verbatim transcripts from the dialogue sessions yielded 1245 patient involvement behaviors. These behaviors were rated by all subjects for their degree of importance within the normative health care relationship through use of a Likert-type inventory. Analysis of the 656 behaviors from the inventory which were classified as essential for effective patient involvement produced 44 clusters, with inter-item correlations ranging from 0.80 to 0.95. Further reduction of the 44 clusters indicated six core clusters, suggesting key norms that existed regarding effective involvement of patients in their own care. Salient norms centered on overt contracts in health relationships, egalitarian communication between patient and professional, patient access to broad-based information, tailoring of treatment programs, self-care and lifestyle modification. The lack of congruence between these norms and the realities of health care is discussed.
Synthesis of a new substrate for detection of lacZ gene expression in live Drosophila embryos.

Escherichia coli lacZ, which encodes β-galactosidase, has become a widely used reporter gene to study the developmental regulation of gene expression in a variety of organisms. To detect the presen...
Simple systematic synthesis of size-tunable covalent organophosphonitridic framework nano- and microspheres

Covalent organophosphonitridic framework nano- and microspheres were synthesized by a condensation reaction between hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (PNC) and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) in anhydrous dimethylformamide (DMF) at a temperature of 125 °C in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). The spheres were almost monodisperse and the diameter could be adjusted from 80 nm to 1.5 μm by varying the concentration of the reactants PNC and DAB. The spheres are thermally stable up to 480 °C in air and are completely oxidatively-depolymerized at 750 °C.
Get the FACS fast: Automated FACS face analysis benefits from the addition of velocity

Much progress has been made in automated facial image analysis, yet current approaches still lag behind what is possible using manual labeling of facial actions. While many factors may contribute, a key one may be the limited attention to dynamics of facial action. Most approaches classify frames in terms of either displacement from a neutral, mean face or, less frequently, displacement between successive frames (i.e. velocity). In the current paper, we evaluated the hypothesis that attention to dynamics can boost recognition rates. Using the well-known Cohn-Kanade database and support vector machines, adding velocity and acceleration decreased the number of incorrectly classified results by 14.2% and 11.2%, respectively. Average classification accuracy for the displacement and velocity classifier system across all classifiers was 90.2%. Findings were replicated using linear discriminant analysis, and found a mean decrease of 16.4% in incorrect classifications across classifiers. These findings suggest that information about the dynamics of a movement, that is, the velocity and to a lesser extent the acceleration of a change, can helpfully inform classification of facial expressions.
An evaluation of weather and disease as causes of decline in two populations of boreal toads

Two populations of boreal toads (Bufo boreas) experienced drastic declines in abundance in the late 1990s. Evidence supported the hypothesis of disease (the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ) as the cause of these declines, but other hypoth- eses had not been evaluated. We used an 11-year capture-recapture data set to evaluate weather and disease as causes of these declines. We developed sets of mathematical models that reflected hypothesized relationships between several weather variables and annual survival rates of adult males in these populations. In addition, models that reflected the possibility that the declines were caused by an introduced fungus were developed. All models were fit to the data and were evaluated using a model selection criterion (QAIC c). Our analysis provided strong support for the hypothesis of an introduced fungus and little support for the hypothesis that weather conditions caused the declines. Our results also suggest a strong, negative ''marking effect'' on survival rates of boreal toads. Model- averaged estimates of survival rate are presented.
Mitochondrial-Nuclear Epistasis Impacts Fitness and Mitochondrial Physiology of Interpopulation Caenorhabditis briggsae Hybrids.

In order to identify the earliest genetic changes that precipitate species formation, it is useful to study genetic incompatibilities that cause only mild dysfunction when incompatible alleles are combined in an interpopulation hybrid. Such hybridization within the nematode species Caenorhabditis briggsae has been suggested to result in selection against certain combinations of nuclear and mitochondrial alleles, raising the possibility that mitochondrial–nuclear (mitonuclear) epistasis reduces hybrid fitness. To test this hypothesis, cytoplasmic–nuclear hybrids (cybrids) were created to purposefully disrupt any epistatic interactions. Experimental analysis of the cybrids suggests that mitonuclear discord can result in decreased fecundity, increased lipid content, and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels. Many of these effects were asymmetric with respect to cross direction, as expected if cytoplasmic–nuclear Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities exist. One such effect is consistent with the interpretation that disrupting coevolved mitochondrial and nuclear loci impacts mitochondrial function and organismal fitness. These findings enhance efforts to study the genesis, identity, and maintenance of genetic incompatibilities that precipitate the speciation process.
The Use of an Intermediate Model for Solving Word Problems

Several researches have shown that a special kind of learning environments, intermediate models, can help students construct mathematical knowledge in those cases that this knowledge cannot be learned informally. This chapter describes an intermediate model, the Planner, which exemplifies several meanings of the basic operations on numbers. Twelve fourth graders learned to model and solve difficult word problems with the Planner. We report here on one interesting result: experimental students were particularly successful at recalling the formulation and the solution of word problems after a long delay. This result indicates that the students foimed particularly rich representations during their work with the intermediate model. The concluding part of the chapter articulates what causes an intermediate model such as the Planner to trigger learning.
Consequences of pinyon and juniper woodland reduction for wildlife in North America

Pinyon and juniper (Pinus spp., Juniperus spp.) woodlands are expanding into shrublands and grasslands throughout much of western North America. Woodland reduction is frequently used to mitigate the effects of conifer encroachment on game species (e.g. mule deer Odocoileus hemionus) and shrub and grassland-obligate species (e.g. sage grouse Centrocercus spp.). Although these practices are widespread, previous studies on the effects of woodland reduction on animal communities have not yet been synthesized, making it difficult to set priorities for future research and practice. To address this gap, we first summarize the history of pinyon and juniper reduction in western North America and characterize known wildlife habitat associations in pinyon and juniper ecosystems. We then review and synthesize evidence from the scientific literature on wildlife responses to pinyon and juniper woodland reduction. We tallied the outcomes of these studies to determine the relative proportions of positive, negative, and non-significant responses by different taxonomic groups and functional groups. The majority (69%) of animal species responses to woodland reduction treatments were non-significant. However, particular groups of species (taxonomic and/or functional) were more likely to respond positively or negatively, depending on the woodland reduction treatment method. Unexpectedly, investigators often found non-significant or negative responses by ungulates to woodland reduction, and non-significant responses by sagebrush obligate species. However, few studies measured effects on sagebrush obligate species, which limits inference for this group. Indeed, our review demonstrates that the effects of woodland reduction are well-understood for only a subset of taxonomic groups (e.g. birds and small mammals); whereas other groups (e.g. reptiles and terrestrial invertebrates) are consistently under-studied. Further, a shortage of large-scale and long-term research limits our ability to fully understand spatial and temporal wildlife responses to woodland reduction. We encourage practitioners to design and implement pinyon and juniper reduction projects to experimentally assess the effects of these practices on both target and non-target species. Adopting consistent monitoring protocols across projects would also facilitate greater understanding of how factors such as treatment type, size, location and duration result in positive or negative impacts to diverse wildlife of conservation concern.
Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses of Delirium Symptoms in a Sample of Nursing Home Residents.

Objective: This study examined the latent constructs of delirium symptoms among nursing home (NH) residents in the United States. Method: Cross-sectional NH assessment data (Minimum Data Set 2.0) from the 2009 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey were used. Data from two independent, randomly selected subsamples of residents ≥65 years were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: There were 367 and 366 individuals in the EFA and CFA, respectively. Assessment of multiple model fit statistics in CFA indicated that the two-factor structure provided better fit for the data than a one-factor solution. The two factors represented cognitive and behavioral latent constructs as suggested by the related literature. A correlation of .72 between these constructs suggested moderate discriminant validity. Conclusion: This finding emphasizes the importance of health care providers to be attentive to both cognitive and behavioral symptoms when diagnosing, treating, ...