cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Negative reciprocity, not ordered assembly, underlies the interaction of Sox2 and Oct4 on DNA.

The bodies of humans and other animals contain many types of cells that perform different roles in the body. Most cells in the body carry the same DNA, which is arranged into sections known as genes. The marked differences between cell types arise because different sets of genes are switched on or ‘expressed’. Proteins called transcription factors control which genes are expressed by binding to DNA and recruiting groups of accessory proteins. However, it is not clear how they interact with each other and with the accessory proteins to decide whether to express a gene. For instance, it is thought that some accessory proteins may provide energy for this process, but it is unknown whether the energy is used continuously or only for a short time. Insights from physics suggest that the former could have more powerful effects. In 2014, a team of researchers reported using a microscopy approach, known as single-molecule imaging, to follow two transcription factors called Sox2 and Oct4 in cells from mice. After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded that Sox2 and Oct4 had a specific order of binding to DNA, with Sox2 often binding first and then assisting Oct4 to bind. Now Biddle et al. report that the claim made in the 2014 study is unsupported because of errors in the way the data were analyzed. In particular, Biddle et al. argue that what the earlier study actually calculated is not an order of binding but a measure of whether energy is being continuously used when Sox2 and Oct4 bind to DNA. Biddle et al. reanalyzed the data from the 2014 work and concluded that Sox2 increases the extent of Oct4 binding to DNA, while Oct4 decreases the amount of Sox2 binding to DNA. Mathematical models suggest this may be due to the continuous use of energy as the two proteins bind to DNA. Alternatively, it could also happen if Sox2 and Oct4 helped each other to bind at some sites on DNA and hindered each other from binding in other places, even if energy is only used for a short time. These findings reveal that there is unexpected complexity in how transcription factors bind to DNA. The next step following on from this work is to carry out experiments that test the two possible explanations for how Sox2 and Oct4 interact on DNA. Including physics in the analysis may help describe more accurately the biology of how transcription factors determine gene expression. Understanding this process will shed new light on many important biological questions and may aid the development of gene therapy and other new medical techniques.
Abstract 470: Ultrasound Carotid Plaque Features, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Events: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background: Grayscale ultrasound atherosclerotic plaque characteristics may predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, though they have not been investigated in a large primary prevention cohort....
Characterization of newly synthesized, chiral tamoxifen analogs.

2485 TAM, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), is currently used for the adjuvant treatment of estrogen receptor (ER) + breast cancer. There are limitations however to its usefulness including a 4-fold increase of endometrial carcinoma associated with long term usage in postmenopausal women and the development of resistance. Based on these problems and others we have began to synthesize and evaluate a series of new chiral tamoxifen analogs Stereo-selective chiral derivatives differ from TAM by replacement of the central double bond with a cyclopropyl moiety, introducing two chiral centers within the molecule. We hypothesize that novel chiral TAM analogs will demonstrate tissue specific activity through ER isotype (α and β) selectivity as well as inducing unique ligand-ER complex conformations. Our studies aim to direct the synthesis of future chiral TAM analogs by determining what effects altering the size, hydrophobicity and stereochemistry of a molecule have on its interaction with ER isotypes. Once characterized, these analogs are not only potential therapeutic agents, but become tools with which to assess SERM-ER interactions. Growth inhibitive properties have been analyzed using MCF7-S (ER+ breast cancer cell line), its sublines TAM resistant MCF7/LCC2, Faslodex resistant MCF7/LCC9 (Brunner et al., Cancer Res. 57:3486, 1997) and the ER- breast cancer cell line BT-20. Cell growth was assessed using the sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay. Agent 99149 was found to be 3-fold more potent than TAM in MCF7-S, while 02009 was found to be 2 more potent than TAM against resistant LCC2 cells. The use of reporter plasmid XETL containing an estrogen response element (ERE) linked to a luciferase gene, allowed us to evaluate the direct inhibition of ERE mediated transcription. MCF7-S cells were transiently transfected with XETL and treated with 100nM of E2 and/or 2μM of TAM or analog. Agent 99149 was found to be less potent than TAM in inhibiting ERE mediated transcription. This does not correspond with the previously presented IC50 data and suggests that greater antiproliferation activity seen with 99149 may be due to drug effects other than inhibition of ERE controlled transcription. The X-ray crystal structure of both ER isoforms are known and have been used to determine the key amino acids within the binding site that differentially interact with agonists and antagonists. It is then possible to model theoretical distortions to ER conformation by virtually docking these structures to the receptor using a virtual docking software program (AutoDoc). Structure-function relationships are being analyzed within a set of ten tamoxifen analogs that will facilitate the selection of a lead compound, based on receptor and possible tissue selectivity, and the rational design of future compounds (This work was supported by NCI Student Training Grant CA09072-28)
Evaluation of the Actions of Metformin and Taurine, Singly and in Combination, on Metabolic and Oxidative Alterations Caused by Diabetes in Rat Erythrocytes and Plasma

This study has compared the actions of metformin (MET) and taurine (TAU), singly and in combination, on diabetes-induced metabolic and oxidative alterations in a chemical rat model of diabetes. Groups of six male Sprague-Dawley rats, 225–250 g, were used in the study. Diabetes was induced on day 1 with streptozotocin, 60 mg/kg, i.p. The rats were then separately treated with MET, TAU or MET plus TAU, each at a 2.4 mM/kg/day p.o., or with insulin, 4 U/kg/day s.c., from day 15 to day 56. Blood samples were collected on day 57. One portion was assayed for HbA1c and the other was used to obtain plasma and red blood cells (RBCs). The plasma was used to measure glucose, insulin, and hemoglobin levels, and indices of oxidative stress; and the RBCs were analyzed for hemoglobin content, membrane ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids, and indices of oxidative stress. In comparison to normal rats, diabetic ones showed a marked increase in plasma glucose and blood HbA1c level, a lower plasma insulin, and evidence of significant hemolysis. In addition, oxidative stress was detected in the plasma and RBCs, and the RBC membrane ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids was higher in diabetic than in normal specimens. MET was more effective than TAU in attenuating the changes in circulating glucose, insulin and HbA1c levels, about equipotent in lowering changes in RBC membrane lipids and in preserving the RBC redox status, and weaker in attenuating changes in indices of oxidative stress. When used together, TAU was found to enhance the antioxidant actions of MET both in the plasma and RBCs. The present results suggest that MET and TAU are more protective against diabetes-induced metabolic and oxidative alterations when used together than separately, probably because of complementary actions.
Vocal Music Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary effects of a vocal music therapy (VMT) program on chronic pain management. Design: A mixed methods intervention...
Effect of dimension parameters on the optical properties of a single silicon nanotube

Abstract Silicon nanotube (SiNT) is a new semiconductor nanostructure prepared in recent years, which has unique optical properties. However, there is still no specific study on the optical performance of SiNT. In this work, the light collection and absorption properties of SiNT are compared with those of silicon nanowire (SiNW) by numerical simulation method; meanwhile, the effect of dimension parameters on the optical performances of SiNT were investigated. It is found that, the resonance wavelength (Res. λ) of SiNT with the same outer diameter (D1) as SiNW, is obviously shorter than that of it; and SiNT shows slightly greater and much wider extinction and absorption efficiency peaks than SiNW. The Res. λ of SiNT almost increases linearly with its wall thickness (δ) and D1. The light collection ability of SiNT will be enhanced by increasing D; while, its light absorption ability decreases with δ and D1. The AM1.5 -weighted integrals of the extinction and absorption efficiency demonstrate that a SiNT with δ = 10 nm and D1 = 200 nm shows the best sunlight collection, but that with δ = 10 nm and D1 = 100 nm shows the strongest sunlight absorption.
S -Nitroso-N- acetylpenicillamine impregnated endotracheal tubes for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia

The chances of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) increases 6-20 folds when an endotracheal tube (ETT) is placed in a patient. VAP is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections and comprises 86% of the nosocomial pneumonia cases. This study introduces the idea of nitric oxide-releasing ETTs (NORel-ETTs) fabricated by the incorporation of the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) into commercially available ETTs via solvent swelling. The impregnation of SNAP provides NO release over a 7-day period without altering the mechanical properties of the ETT. The NORel-ETTs successfully reduced the bacterial infection from a commonly found pathogen in VAP, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by 92.72 ± 0.97% when compared with the control ETTs. Overall, this study presents the incorporation of the active release of a bactericidal agent in ETTs as an efficient strategy to prevent the risk of VAP.
The Federal Reserve and A Cascade of Failures: Inequality, Cognitive Narrowness and Financial Network Theory

The recent financial crisis hollowed out the core of American middle-class financial stability. In the wake of the financial crisis, household net worth in the U.S. fell by 24%, for a loss of $16 trillion. Moreover, retirement accounts, the largest class of financial assets, took a steep drop in value, as did house prices, and these two classes of assets alone represent approximately 43% of all household wealth. The losses during the principal crisis years, 2007-2009, were devastating, “erasing almost two decades of accumulated prosperity,” in the words of a 2013 report. By the Federal Reserve. Beyond these direct household balance-sheet losses, 1 out of every 4 homeowners were underwater by 2009 with mortgages worth less than the value of their homes. If we add the 3.7 to 5 million foreclosures that forced Americans to move from the economic and emotional stability of family homes, we see a portrait of dramatic financial instability in the wake of the financial collapse. And the Federal Reserve’s commitment to low interest rates, so beloved on Wall Street, has prevented many families from rebuilding their wealth through interest on savings; these “zero-bound” interest rates are an impediment to middle-class recovery from the losses of the crisis.By contrast, the financial sector, the cause of the crisis, has prospered from adversity, growing to 9% of GDP by 2010 even as it became less efficient. This is one of the highest shares of GDP in the past half century and represents 29% of all profits in America. The financial sector earns profits by pooling funds to bring net savers together with net borrowers in financial contracts, a process known as intermediation. Economist Thomas Philippon of New York University found that the profits from intermediation grew from less than 2% of GDP in 1870 to nearly 6% before the economic crash of 1929. After World War II, financiers gradually increased their share of the economy to 5% by 1980, close to what it had been before the crash. The focused deregulatory agenda of the Reagan administration and Alan Greenspan’s deregulatory passions at the helm of the Fed from 1987 to 2006 swelled the balance sheets of financial firms to the high point of 9% of GDP by 2010.The return to investors did not match the growth in the financial sector’s share of GDP. So what did investors get for their money? Philippon says it’s impossible to beat the market in part because of high-frequency trading that locks out the ordinary investor through sophisticated high-speed computer transmission of orders with preferential cable and algorithmic access to the trading desks.
Small-Scale Isotropy and Ramp-Cliff Structures in Scalar Turbulence

Passive scalars advected by three-dimensional Navier-Stokes turbulence exhibit a fundamental anomaly in odd-order moments because of the characteristic ramp-cliff structures, violating small-scale isotropy. We use data from direct numerical simulations with grid resolution of up to 8192^{3} at high Peclet numbers to understand this anomaly as the scalar diffusivity, D, diminishes, or as the Schmidt number, Sc=ν/D, increases; here ν is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. The microscale Reynolds number varies from 140 to 650 and Sc varies from 1 to 512. A simple model for the ramp-cliff structures is developed and shown to characterize the scalar derivative statistics very well. It accurately captures how the small-scale isotropy is restored in the large-Sc limit, and additionally suggests a possible correction to the Batchelor length scale as the relevant smallest scale in the scalar field.
Learning curve in robotic transabdominal preperitoneal (rTAPP) ventral hernia repair: a cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis.

rTAPP-VHR is a novel technique which may be added to a surgeon’s armamentarium. We aim to evaluate the robotic transabdominal preperitoneal ventral hernia repair (rTAPP-VHR) learning curve based on operative times while accounting for peritoneal flap integrity. We performed a retrospective analysis of a database collected over a 7-year period. Patients with primary ventral hernias were included and a cumulative sum analysis(CUSUM) was used to create learning curves for three subsets of operative times. A risk-adjusted CUSUM (RA-CUSUM) accounted for repair quality based on peritoneal flap completeness. The flap was considered as incomplete when peritoneal gaps were unable to be closed. 105 patients undergoing rTAPP-VHR were included. Learning curves were created for skin-to-skin, console, and off-console times. Patients were divided into three phases. In terms of skin-to-skin times, both phase 2&3 had a mean 11 min shorter than that of phase 1 (p = 0.0498, p = 0.0245, respectively), with a steady decrease after forty-six cases. An incomplete peritoneal flap was noted in 25/36 patients in phase 1, as compared to 5/24 and 5/45 patients in phase 2&3, respectively. When risk-adjusted for peritoneal flap completeness, gradually decreasing skin-to-skin times were observed after sixty-one cases. In terms of off-console times, the mean across three phases was 14 min, with marked improvement after forty-three cases. Forty-six cases were needed to achieve steadily decreasing operative times. We can assume that ensuring good-quality repairs, through maintenance of peritoneal flap integrity, was gradually improved after sixty-one cases. Moreover, familiarization with port placements and robotic docking was accomplished after forty-three cases.
Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy Precipitated by COVID-19 and Influenza A Coinfection

Myocardial injury is associated with excess mortality in severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, but the mechanisms of injury are diverse. We describe a case of stress-induced cardiomyopathy in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A coinfection. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
Increasing Access to Tomographic Resources: Web-based Telemicroscopy and Database

The application of electron tomography to cell biology has led to important insights into the 3D fine structure of subcellular processes and organelles. Tomography has been particularly useful for studying relatively large, multi-component structures such as the Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and synaptic complexes. When combined with very powerful high voltage electron microscopes, tomography has also provided high resolution quantitative views of extended structures such as neuronal dendrites in very thick sections (4 μm) at electron microscopic resolution. The utility of tomography is twofold: first, it provides 3D examination of subcellular structure without the need for serial section analysis; second, because the computed slices through the tomographic volumes can be much thinner than is possible to produce by physical sectioning, it reveals structural detail in the range of 5-30 nm that tends to be obscured in conventional thin sections. Tomographic analysis has forced re-assessment of long-standing views of organelles such as mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus and as the technique advances, additional insights are likely forthcoming.Electron tomography is an expensive technique, both in terms of the instruments used and the computational resources required. The three major high voltage electron microscope resources in the United States, San Diego, Boulder and Albany, all are actively engaged in tomographic research and offer this important technology to the scientific community at large.
Chromatin accessibility and microRNA expression in nephron progenitor cells during kidney development

Abstract Mammalian nephrons originate from a population of nephron progenitor cells (NPCs), and it is known that NPCs’ transcriptomes change throughout nephrogenesis during healthy kidney development. To characterize chromatin accessibility and microRNA (miRNA) expression throughout this process, we collected NPCs from mouse kidneys at embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) and postnatal day zero (P0) and assayed cells for transposase-accessible chromatin and small RNA expression. We observe 46,374 genomic regions of accessible chromatin, with 2,103 showing significant changes in accessibility between E14.5 and P0. In addition, we detect 1,104 known microRNAs, with 114 showing significant changes in expression. Genome-wide, changes in DNA accessibility and microRNA expression highlight biological processes like cellular differentiation, cell migration, extracellular matrix interactions, and developmental signaling pathways such as Notch. Furthermore, our data identify novel candidate cis-regulatory elements for Eya1 and Pax8, both genes with a role in NPC differentiation; we also associate expression-changing microRNAs, including let-7-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-181a-2-3p, and miR-9-3p, with candidate cis-regulatory elements. Overall, our data characterize NPCs during kidney development and point out new candidate regulatory elements for genes and microRNA with key roles in nephrogenesis.
Developing trauma resilient communities through community capacity-building.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a significant public health issue, negatively impacting a range of health outcomes. Providers and administrators in public mental health systems recognize the widespread experience of trauma, as well as their limited ability to address trauma within their communities. In response, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health funded nine regionally based community partnerships to build capacity to address trauma. We describe partnership and community capacity-building efforts and examine community impact, defined as successful linkages to resources and changes in stress tolerance capacities among community members. METHODS: We conceptualized community capacity-building as dissemination of trauma-informed education and training, community outreach and engagement, and linkage of community members to resources. We measured trauma-informed trainings among partnership members (N = 332) using the Trauma-Informed Organizational Toolkit. Outreach, engagement and linkages were documented using Event and Linkage Trackers. We examined changes in the type of successful linkage after the issuance of statewide mandatory restrictions in response to COVID-19. We examined changes in stress tolerance capacities among community members (N = 699) who were engaged in ongoing partnership activities using the 10-item Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale; the 28-item Coping Orientation to Problems; and the pictorial Inclusion of Community in Self Scale. RESULTS: Training and education opportunities were widespread: 66% of members reported opportunities for training in 13 or more trauma-informed practices. Partnerships conducted over 7800 community capacity-building events with over 250,000 attendees. Nearly 14,000 successful linkages were made for a wide range of resources, with consistent linkage success prior to (85%) and during (87%) the pandemic. In response to COVID-19, linkage type significantly shifted from basic services and health care to food distribution (p < .01). Small but significant improvements occurred in coping through emotional and instrumental support; and sense of community connectedness (p < .05 each). CONCLUSIONS: Community-based partnerships demonstrated effective capacity-building strategies. Despite the pandemic, community members did not report reduced stress tolerance, instead demonstrating gains in external help-seeking (use of emotional and instrumental supports) and perception of community connectedness. Future work will use qualitative methods to examine the impact of community capacity-building and the sustainability of this approach for addressing the impact of trauma within communities.
What went wrong: explaining counterexamples

One of the chief advantages of model checking is the production of counterexamples demonstrating that a system does not satisfy a specification. However, it may require a great deal of human effort to extract the essence of an error from even a detailed source-level trace of a failing run. We use an automated method for finding multiple versions of an error (and similar executions that do not produce an error), and analyze these executions to produce a more succinct description of the key elements of the error. The description produced includes identification of portions of the source code crucial to distinguishing failing and succeeding runs, differences in invariants between failing and nonfailing runs, and information on the necessary changes in scheduling and environmental actions needed to cause successful runs to fail.
Anesthesia for a patient with morbid obesity using dexmedetomidine without narcotics

Purpose To describe the anesthetic management of a patient with extreme obesity undergoing bariatric surgery whose intraoperative narcotic management was entirely substituted with dexmedetomidine.
Student Rating Myths Versus Research Facts from 1924 to 1998

Sixteen of the most common myths regarding student ratings of instructors and instruction are looked at from the perspective of the research that has been conducted on them over the past seventy-four years. It is concluded that the myths are, on the whole, myths. However, suggestions are made about how the information regarding the myths can be used to both improve and document instructional effectiveness.
Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma arising within a lesion of discoid lupus erythematosus in an African-American woman.

The incidence of skin cancer is rare in African Americans; however, there are several reports of patients with depigmented or hypopigmented lesions on sun-exposed areas, such as the scalp, who are at increased risk for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Decrease in melanin, immunosuppressive therapy, frequent ultraviolet exposure, human papillomavirus infection, chronic scarring, and inflammatory processes are factors associated with the development of SCC in black patients.1 We present a rare case of a 55-year-old African-American woman who had SCC within a discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) lesion.
Lower hybrid heating and current drive on PLT

Steady currents up to 165 kA for 3.5 seconds and 420 kA for 0.3 seconds have been maintained by 800 MHz lower hybrid waves. For line-averaged densities up to 7 x 10/sup 12/ cm/sup -3/ the current is maintained with no input power from the ohmic heating transformer. The waves are launched with an array of six waveguides. Measurements of X rays and electron cyclotron radiation show that the rf power produces and maintains a suprathermal tail of electrons apparently independent of the number of fast electrons in the plasma prior to turning on the rf power. Measurements of current-drive efficiency and the electron tail provide direct evidence for a resonant wave-particle interaction. The radial profile of the rf-sustained current inferred from x-ray measurements is peaked in the center of the plasma and appears to obey the same q-value restraints as the inductively driven ohmic heating current. Current drive is observed to be accompanied always by radiation at frequencies greater than or equal to ..omega../sub ce/ and less than or equal to ..omega../sub pe/. The connection between this radiation and the current-drive mechanism is under study.
A Seat at the Table: Affective Formation and United Methodist Higher Education.

The increasingly pronounced distinction between educational institutions that retain their ecclesial identity and those that jettison religious commitments reflects a bifurcated educational landscape in which institutions are characterized either as a “church-related” or a “Christian college and university.” This development can be understood as the emergence of separate tables around which disparate conversations exist among those who identify themselves according to the terms of each tradition.James K. A. Smith's Cultural Liturgies series emerges from the Christian college and university tradition and has introduced affective formation into the parlance of contemporary conversations related to Christian higher education. Although United Methodists traditionally identify their higher education institutions as church-related colleges and universities, the Wesleyan theological commitment to forming holistic affections displays theological resonance with contemporary conversations about affective formation....
Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS; Sullivan et al., Psychol. Assess. 7, 524–532, 1995) has recently been developed to assess three components of catastrophizing: rumination, magnification, and helplessness. We conducted three studies to evaluate the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the PCS. In Study I, we conducted principal-components analysis with oblique rotation to replicate the three factors of the PCS. Gender differences on the original PCS subscales were also analyzed. In Study II, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses to evaluate the adequacy of fit of four alternative models. We also evaluated evidence for concurrent and discriminant validity. In Study III, we evaluated the ability of the PCS and subscales to differentiate between the responses of clinic (students seeking treatment) and nonclinic undergraduate samples. Also, in the clinic sample, we evaluated evidence of concurrent and predictive validity for the PCS. The internal consistency reliability indices for the total PCS and subscales were examined in all three studies. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Thermal wet oxidation of GaP and Al0.4Ga0.6P

Thermal wet oxidations of GaP and Al0.4Ga0.6P at 650 °C for various times have been performed. Comparisons are made on oxidation rates and post oxidation morphology. Transmission electron microscopy shows that when oxidizing GaP, polycrystalline monoclinic GaPO4⋅2H2O forms without noticeable loss of phosphorus. Oxidation for 6 h or more leads to poor morphology resulting in cracks and detachment. A thickness expansion of about 2.5–3 times is noticed as a result of oxidation. In contrast, oxidized Al0.4Ga0.6P exhibits much better morphology without cracks or detachment from the substrate. The oxide has an almost amorphous-like microstructure. The oxidation process shows typical diffusion-limited reaction at long anneals. Preliminary work on the oxidation of AlP indicates that the reaction leads to formation of Al2O3 and possible volatile P2O5 diffusing out of the specimen. Thus, from the structural viewpoint, AlGaP forms a better oxide suitable for device needs.
Linking Citizen Participation to Empowerment Practice

Abstract The author examines the social work literature on citizen participation and empowerment in order to identify key concepts that can be used to define empowerment-oriented community practice. A historical overview of the emergence of citizen participation and empowerment in the practice literature is presented, along with an overview of similar innovations and concepts related to social service delivery: the use of informal help and the Independent Living Movement. This literature is used to develop a model of empowerment practice that focuses on the importance of participatory decision-making structures in community-based organizations.
A statistical approach for selecting discriminative features of spatial regions of interest

We propose a statistical approach based on a supervised framework for reducing the dimensionality of the feature space when characterizing and classifying spatial Regions of Interest (ROIs). Our approach employs the statistical techniques of Bootstrapping simulation, Bayesian Inference and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), to select the most informative features according to their discriminative power across distinct classes of data. This reduces the dimensionality of the initial feature space and also improves the classification of the ROIs, since features providing irrelevant information with respect to class membership are discarded. We also introduce a weighted Euclidean Distance designed to effectively classify the ROIs. We evaluate the proposed technique using experiments that involve synthetic spatial regions and real ROIs extracted from medical images. We demonstrate its effectiveness in classification experiments (using established classifiers) and in similarity searches. We also test its scalability on large datasets. Our approach is comparable with or better than other major competitors. We achieve an accuracy of 87% on classifying ROIs in brain images. These results are an improvement of previously reported classification experiments, and show the effect of reducing the dimensionality of the initial feature space.
Splice-Junction Elements and Intronic Sequences Regulate Alternative Splicing of the Drosophila Myosin Heavy Chain Gene Transcript

The Drosophila muscle myosin heavy chain (Mhc) gene primary transcript contains five alternatively spliced exon groups (exons 3, 7, 9, 11 and 15), each of which contains two to five mutually exclusive members. Individual muscles typically select a specific alternative exon from each group for incorporation into the processed message. We report here on the cis-regulatory mechanisms that direct the processing of alternative exons in Mhc exon 11 in individual muscles using transgenic reporter constructs, RT-PCR and directed mutagenesis. The 6.0-kilobase exon 11 domain is sufficient to direct the correct processing of exon 11 alternatives, demonstrating that the alternative splicing cis-regulatory elements are local to Mhc exon 11. Mutational analysis of Mhc exon 11 reveals that the alternative exon nonconsensus 5'-splice donors are essential for alternative splicing regulation in general, but do not specify alternative exons for inclusion in individual muscles. Rather, we show, through exon substitutions and deletion analyses, that a 360-nucleotide intronic domain precisely directs the normal processing of one exon, Mhc exon 11e, in the indirect flight muscle. These and other data indicate that alternative exons are regulated in appropriate muscles through interactions between intronic alternative splice-specificity elements, nonconsensus exon 11 splice donors and, likely, novel exon-specific alternative splicing factors.
Adolescent Intervention Research

Martin, G. & Copeland, J. (2008). The Adolescent Cannabis Check-Up: Randomized trial of a brief intervention for young cannabis users. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 34, 407–414.This Austral...
The extracellular polymeric substance of the green alga Penium margaritaceum and its role in biofilm formation

The desmid Penium margaritaceum is a common resident of biofilms of shallow Adirondack wetlands in New York State, USA. It was isolated and grown in the laboratory where it readily formed biofilms and produced large amounts of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). The EPS was separated into two fractions: an EPS gel and soluble EPS. Both fractions were rich in xylose, fucose and glucuronic acid. The EPS gels contained large amounts of 3-linked, 4-linked and 3,4-linked fucose, 3,4-linked glucuronic acid and terminal xylose linkages. The EPS gel consisted of a fibrillar matrix that linked cells and cell substrate together. Immunofluorescence analysis using an anti-EPS antibody revealed that EPS secretion occurs in several different modes, which contributes to initial adhesion, capsule formation and gliding.
Heat transfer and convection onset in a compressible fluid: 3He near the critical point.

Heat transport in 3He above its critical temperature Tc was studied along the critical isochore in a flat Rayleigh-Benard cell (height h=1 mm, diameter D=57 mm). The range of the reduced temperature epsilon was 5 x 10(-4)< or = epsilon < or =2 x 10(-1). The temperature difference deltaT(t) across the fluid layer as a function of the time t was measured for different values of the heat current q until steady state was reached. The crossover was observed from the regime dominated by the Rayleigh criterion for the convection onset to that controlled by the adiabatic temperature gradient (ATG), or "Schwarzschild criterion," in good quantitative agreement with predictions. The slope of the convective heat current versus the reduced Rayleigh number was found to be independent of compressibility and the same as for still less compressible fluids. Plots of Nu versus Ra, both corrected for the ATG effect, are presented for early-stage convective turbulence (1 x 10(5)<Ra<5 x 10(8)), with unexpected results for the highest values of Pr approximately 590. The evolution of the transients deltaT(t) upon turning q on and off are described. In the nonconvective regime, the observed transient relaxation curve agrees quantitatively with predictions. In the convective regime, the shape of deltaT(t) changes qualitatively with increasing q and with epsilon. In the Appendix, new data for the thermal conductivity are presented, the impact of the "piston effect" on the temperature profiles inside the fluid is described, and the derivation for deltaT(t) in the diffusive regime is outlined.
Response of two prairie forbs to repeated vole herbivory

Vertebrate herbivores as diverse as ungulates, geese, and rabbits preferentially feed on plants that have previously experienced herbivory. Here, we ask whether smaller grassland “cryptic consumers” such as voles (Microtus ochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus) preferentially clip (cut stems for access to leaves or seeds) or avoid previously clipped individuals of two tallgrass prairie species (Desmanthus illinoensis and Echinacea purpurea) within a growing season. Further, we ask how these plants respond to repeated clipping within a growing season, and whether the effects of this herbivory last into the subsequent growing season. Voles preferentially clipped stems of D. illinoensis and E. purpurea plants that had been previously clipped. The exception was indiscriminant clipping of stems of E. purpurea late in the growing season when its achenes, a favorite vole food, ripened. For D. illinoensis, repeated clipping resulted in a 59% reduction in biomass, 42% lower ratio of reproductive to vegetative biomass, and 57% fewer seeds produced per plant compared with unclipped plants. These effects lasted into the following growing season in which plants were protected from voles. In contrast, the only effect of repeated clipping for E. purpurea was that the number of achenes per plant was substantially reduced by three episodes of clipping. This effect did not carry over to the next growing season. Such differences in D. illinoensis and E. purpurea response to repeated stem clipping by voles offer insights into how these small rodents can effect major changes in composition and dominance in grassland communities.
Remittances and the sources of growth

This article studies the effects of remittances on economic growth and the sources of growth:capital accumulation and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth. This approach is different from previous studies, in that, it focuses on the transmission mechanism instead of the impact of remittances on economic growth. We find that remittances have conflicting effects on the two sources of growth: capital accumulation and productivity growth. Remittances have a significantly positive impact on capital accumulation while the impact on TFP growth is insignificant. These findings suggest that while remittances enhance investment and contribute to physical capital accumulation, the lack of efficiency enhancing effect or possible adverse impact on TFP growth would make the net effect on economic growth ambiguous.
Entrance effects for power‐law fluid

Entrance pressure losses for the creeping flow of a power-law fluid are calculated for an abrupt contraction of ratio 2, 4, 8 and ∞ for both the axisymmetric and planar cases using P2P1 and PP1 finite elements. Contrary to some earlier findings in the literature, the entrance pressure loss obtained by using the two different types of finite elements, both of which satisfy the Babuska-Brezzi condition, are found to converge to the same results. The present results also confirm that the variational method of Duda and Vrentas gives excellent upper bounds for both the axisymmetric and planar cases with infinite contraction ratio.
The development of callosal projections in normal and one-eyed rats

The course of callosal development in area 17 of rats suggests that, unlike immediately adjacent regions, axons of callosal origin do not normally gain access to upper cortical layers, and this results in the loss of an early exuberant callosal pathway. Removal of optic input, however, permits invasion of these layers of area 17 by callosal axons and results in survival of callosally projecting neurons in area 17.
AERONET, airborne HSRL, and CALIPSO aerosol retrievals compared and combined: A case study

[1] On 4 August 2007 a unique opportunity for the intercomparison of aerosol retrievals occurred as part of the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) and Twilight Zone (CATZ) campaign in the Washington, D. C., urban complex. During the course of the experiment, several Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Cimel Sun photometers were deployed along the CALIPSO track, together with NASA Langley Research Center's airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) instrument flying overhead. A series of daytime coincident measurements was made by the various instruments, permitting a number of important opportunities for the intercomparison of the various instrumental measurements of aerosols as well as evaluation of the Constrained Ratio Aerosol Model-fit (CRAM) technique for aerosol retrievals from elastic backscatter lidar. The results from the intercomparison are discussed as an illustrative case study in sensor combination and aerosol retrieval methodology.
559. A Pseudo-Exon Derived from an Intronic Insertion Is Responsible for Duchenne-Like Muscular Dystrophy in the Welsh Corgi Dog

Top of pageAbstract Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common X- linked inherited disease, with an incidence of 1 in 3500 male births. This disease is relentlessly progressive and usually fatal by early adulthood. A wide range of mutations in the dystrophin gene have been characterized for DMD, as well as the less severe form, Becker's Muscular Dystrophy. DMD presents gene therapy challenges due to the size of the gene and resulting cDNA and the wide variety and complexity of the mutations involved. Animal models for DMD have been described in the mouse, cat and dog. The disease in mice and cats is significantly less severe than that seen in humans, while the canine disease, characterized by muscle hypertrophy, followedby muscle loss, fibrosis and death, closely mimics disease progression in affected humans. As is expected from the frequency of mutation in the human population, DMD has been recognized in several breeds of dogs including the Golden Retriever, German Short-Haired Pointer, Rottweiler, Labrador Retriever, West Highland White and Welsh Corgi. Where the mutation has been determined, each breed has demonstrated a new mutation. Here we report the identification of the mutation responsible for DMD in the Welsh Corgi. Affected dogs can be recognized at, or shortly after, birth by increased serum creatine kinase levels. These dogs show progressive muscle atrophy and fibrosis, stunted growth, contractures and consequent debilitation. However, several of the affected males have lived to sexual maturity. Muscle biopsies from affected Corgis show that most fibers remain unstained for dystrophin, while rare fibers show dystrophin staining using a variety of antibodies. Sequence analysis of the cDNA indicates a 166 base insertion between exons 13 and 14, based on the human exon structure. The inserted sequence shows a high degree of sequence similarity to a canine LINE-1 element. Sequence analysis of intron 13, which is approximately 25kb, indicates that there is an insertion in the intron. The insertion is immediately downstream of an AG dinucleotide pair and contains the 166 bases seen in the cDNA followed by a GT dinucleotide pair and additional inserted sequence. Thus the insertion utilizes a putative intronic 3' splice acceptor site and a 5' splice donor to form a novel exon, which is spliced into the mature mRNA. An in-frame stop codon in this novel exon results in a truncated dystrophin protein, which is non-functional. Staining of occasional fibers with antibodies to epitopes located downstream of this insertion indicates that this exon may be skipped or that alternative splicing and/or promoter use may produce a product. This large animal model, with its defined mutation, will be useful in a variety of ways, including the use of gene repair approaches to skip the inserted exon, studies of spicing mechanisms in dystrophin, and studies of other gene therapy approaches.
Evolution of Leakage Current Paths in MC-Si PV Modules From Leading Manufacturers Undergoing High-Voltage Bias Testing

The evolution of leakage currents in photovoltaic modules undergoing outdoor high-voltage bias testing is studied using data from high-voltage bias testing of multicrystalline silicon modules from leading manufacturers. An analysis of the module leakage currents as a function of environmental conditions including temperature, relative humidity, rain, and wetness is carried out. The behavior of the modules was found to be dependent on the module construction and the materials used. The Arrhenius model was used to fit the experimental data and activation energies were computed for various relative humidity values. The effect of dew and rain (wetness) on the front glass was investigated. Changes in the leakage current during dry conditions were studied using the temperature dependence of resistivity of bulk soda-lime glass. Because of the approximately tenfold increase in leakage currents during the wet conditions, it is suggested that the accelerated tests should not be limited exclusively to noncondensing environments but should also be complemented with tests that include wet conditions.
Overproduction of Pichia pastoris or Plasmodium falciparum protein disulfide isomerase affects expression, folding and O-linked glycosylation of a malaria vaccine candidate expressed in P. pastoris

Production of recombinant malaria proteins in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has been difficult due to constraints in transcription, translation and/or post-translation controls. Use of codon-optimized genes has resolved many of the transcriptional controls; however, efforts to overcome translational and post-translational modifications involving disulfide bond formation and glycosylation have been mostly restricted to knocking-out putative N-linked glycosylation sites. We report now on the effect of overproduction of P. pastoris protein disulfide isomerase (PpPDI) and Plasmodium falciparum (PfPDI) on production of a disulfide-rich P. falciparum transmission-blocking vaccine candidate, Pfs25. Pfs25 is expressed in P. pastoris as two isoforms (A and B); the A form has been selected for Phase I human studies. Overproduction of PpPDI in the P. pastoris Pfs25 production clone markedly enhanced the expression level of Pfs25(A) and (B) by 3-fold, while overproduction of PfPDI increased the proportion of Pfs25(A) compared to (B). The resultant Pfs25 products were purified and fully characterized biochemically. In addition to differences in production levels, the mass spectra of PpPDI-Pfs25(A) compared to Pfs25(A) and PfPDI-Pfs25(A) were different due to the pattern and level of O-linked glycosylation. The overproduction of PpPDI or PfPDI provides new platforms for expression of disulfide-rich malaria proteins.
Human Responding on Multiple Variable Interval Schedules and Extinction

Abstract Human subjects performed a button-pressing task for three sessions on one of six different multiple variable interval, variable interval (mult VI VI) schedules, followed by one session of extinction on both schedule components. Separate groups were trained with schedule components of VI-5s vs VI-10s, VI-5s vs VI-20s, VI-5s vs VI-40s, VI-10 vs VI-20s, VI-10s vs VI-40s, and VI-20s vs VI-40s. During acquisition, the degree of component discrimination as well as how closely the data fitted Herrnstein′s Matching Law were controlled by both the absolute and relative differences between schedule components and the overall density of reinforcements. During extinction, most subjects responded more to the high-density component than to the low-density component, but responding also declined more rapidly in the higher density component. Differences during extinction were influenced by the absolute and relative differences in the schedule components experienced during acquisition as well as by which component was experienced first during extinction.