cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phorbol ester-stimulated phosphorylation of keratinocyte transglutaminase in the membrane anchorage region

The membrane-bound transglutaminase of cultured keratinocytes became radioactively labelled upon addition of [32P]Pi to the medium. Transglutaminase phosphorylation was also demonstrable using particulate material isolated from cell homogenates. Compatible with mediation of the labelling by protein kinase C, the degree of phosphorylation in intact cells was stimulated approx. 5-fold in 4 h on treatment with the tumour-promoting phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, but not by phorbol. The extent of labelling was virtually unaffected by cycloheximide inhibition of protein synthesis, indicating that it arose primarily through turnover of phosphate in the membrane-bound enzyme. Phosphoamino acid analysis detected labelling only of serine residues. Most of the label was removed by trypsin release of the enzyme from the particulate fraction of cell homogenates, which deletes a membrane anchorage region of approximately 10 kDa. Upon trypsin treatment of the enzyme after immunoprecipitation, the phosphate label was recovered in soluble peptide material with a size of several thousand Da or less. Indicative of fragmentation of the membrane anchorage region, this material was separable by h.p.l.c. into two equally labelled peptides. Moreover, when the enzyme was labelled with [3H]palmitate or [3H]myristate, the fatty-acid-labelled peptide material required non-ionic detergent for solubilization and was separable from the phosphate-labelled material by gel filtration. Phorbol ester treatment of cultured keratinocytes in high- or low- Ca2(+)-containing medium was not accompanied by an appreciable protein-synthesis-independent change in transglutaminase activity. Independent of possible alteration of the intrinsic catalytic activity of the enzyme, phosphorylation may well modulate its interaction with substrate proteins, a potential site for physiological regulation.
A Propensity Score Analysis of Clostridium difficile Infection among Adult Trauma Patients.

Abstract Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is now the most common cause of health-care–associated infection and carries a mortality rate ranging from 5–30%. Previously, trauma patie...
Crowdsensing-Based Road Condition Monitoring Service: An Assessment of Its Managerial Implications to Road Authorities

The ubiquity of smart devices in vehicles, such as smartphones allows for a crowdsensing-based information gathering of the vehicle’s environment. For example, accelerometers can reveal insights into road condition. From a road authorities’ perspective, knowing the road condition is essential for scheduling maintenance actions in an efficient and sustainable manner. In Germany, expensive laser-based road inspections are scheduled every four years. In future, they could be extended or completely replaced with a crowd-based monitoring service. This paper determines whether the lower accuracy of crowdsensing-based measurements is redeemed by its potential of near-real time data updates. Partially observable Markov decision processes are applied for determining maintenance policies that minimize roads’ life-cycle costs. Our results show that substituting laser-based road condition inspections by a crowdsensing-based monitoring service can decrease total costs by 5.9 % while an approach, which combines both monitoring approaches, reduces the costs by 6.98 %.
Are People Attracted to Others Who Resemble Their Opposite-Sex Parents? An Examination of Mate Preferences and Parental Ethnicity Among Biracial Individuals:

It is generally believed that people tend to be attracted to and pair with others who resemble their opposite-sex parents. Studies 1A (n = 1,025) and 1B (n = 3,105) tested this assumption by examin...
Nanotechnology in Neuroscience Reveals Membrane Mobility Matters

Quantum dots are nanometer-sized semiconductors that have size-tunable, narrow emission bands, high quantum yields, and are resistant to photobleaching. Ligand-conjugated quantum dots enable the re...
The Effect of Movement Phase on the Contralaterally Coordinated Paired Associative Stimulation-Induced Excitability

Paired associative stimulation (PAS) has been shown to increase corticospinal excitability (CSE) providing a promising adjuvant therapeutic approach for stroke. Combining PAS with movement of the stimulated limb may further increase enhancement of CSE, however, individuals with moderate to severe stroke may not be able to engage in the necessary repetitive voluntary movements of the paretic limb. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of contralaterally coordinated PAS (ccPAS) applied to the resting hand extensors during fast extension of the contralateral hand. A potential dependency of CSE modulation on the phase of the movement of the opposite hand was evaluated. Eleven participants each completed three session: PAS applied to the resting right hand during the preparation phase of the extension of the contralateral (left) hand; PAS applied during the execution phase of the left hand extension; and PAS applied with both hands at rest. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were evoked from the right extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscles prior and immediately after each session. PAS delivered during the muscle contraction of the left hand and PAS delivered at rest both increased the MEP amplitude in the right EDC. PAS delivered before the left hand movement onset led to a decrease in the MEP amplitude measured in the right EDC muscle. We conclude that PAS induced bidirectional changes in the amplitude of MEPs that were dependent on the phase of the movement of the opposite hand.
Ivacaftor, a Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Potentiator, Enhances Ciprofloxacin Activity Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa:

BackgroundMethods to improve the clinical efficacy of currently available antibiotics against multidrug resistant bacteria in cystic fibrosis (CF) chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are greatly needed. I...
Masculinity, Scripts of

This article explores contemporary scripts of masculinity. Scripting theory allows for behaviors to be examined in regard to individual actors, interactions between individuals, and also how these are influenced by culture more broadly. Each of these levels of scripting is discussed independently as it relates to the construction of masculine scripts. Although these scripts guide individuals in their social interactions, it is necessary to understand how multiple scripts emerge. Here, the ways in which masculine scripts are constrained by social structures to produce particular masculinities are examined in regard to age, sexual orientation, class, and race.
Planned release of genetically modified organisms: Scientific and regulatory issues

There is a great deal of excitement with the advent of recombinant DNA technology and biotechnology. These disciplines open up a Pandora of possibilities for genetically manipulating plants, animals, and microbes for release into the environment to be used as “work horses.” There is little doubt that these genetically engineered organisms will have potential impacts on physical, biological and human components of the environment. The potential effects have to be monitored and assessed in order that careful and prudent releases are conducted. Genetically engineered nitrogen fixing organisms are no exception.
Jacobi, Smith, Caffey, Fontana: A History of Child Abuse Pediatrics in New York City

Background: The history of child abuse pediatrics in New York City reflects the development of medicine as a profession influenced by social movements reacting to poverty, economic exploitation, and child maltreatment. As physicians began to specialize in caring for children, they recognized that children were a vulnerable class affected by special medical problems and diseases, but even more affected by poor social conditions which were sometimes confounded by abuse and neglect from their parents and caregivers. As …
Procedural Generation of 3D Planetary-Scale Terrains

The creation of three-dimensional geographical surface has been a primary concern at the forefront of the fields of space mission simulation. This paper introduces how to apply procedural terrain generation techniques to the creation of 3D terrains for a spherical object. The paper first identifies algorithms that can be used to generate terrains on a spherical surface. Then, the paper compares computational complexity and scalability of using these algorithms in 3D planetary scale simulation. The paper uses a benchmarking program created in virtual reality (VR) to evaluate the performance of these algorithms in the simulation and imaging of planetary bodies in VR including execution time, quality and memory usage.
Simulation of Circular Dichroism by Chromophores Coupled with Selective Reflection by Cholesteric Stacks.

The Good–Karali theory is extended to simulate composite circular dichroism (CD) through a cholesteric stack by incorporating chromophore’s selective absorption (SA) and cholesteric stack’s selective reflection (SR). Based on the independently evaluated anisotropic refractive indices and absorption coefficients, helical sense and pitch length, and film thickness, the theory is capable of describing transmission, reflection, and absorption through spin-cast cholesteric glassy liquid crystal films of nonafluorene. The resulting composite CD spectra agree quite well with experimental observations. The theory informs that SA plays a dominant role over SR in the composite CD. Specifically, the right-handed stack of the chromophore with its absorption dipole aligned with the local director in the cholesteric stack preferentially absorbs the left-handed over the right-handed circularly polarized light. The algebraic sign of the predicted composite CD flips by reversing the cholesteric host film’s handedness without altering other parameter values. The established theory and computation constitute a solid foundation for optimizing circular polarizers by exploring the readily accessible parameter space targeting various potential applications.
Social Music: Investigating the Link Between Personal Liking and Perceived Groove

Integrating methods from experimental social psychology and music perception, we tested the hypothesis that when listeners personally like a musician, they will be more inclined to experience his or her music as both provoking movement and as subjectively pleasurable, the two core features of perceived groove. In Experiment 1, participants were exposed to a set of moderately-syncopated, high-groove drum-breaks which they were led to believe were either produced by a relatively likable or unlikable musician. In line with predictions, participants led to find the musician more versus less likable rated the same drum-breaks as more evocative of both the urge to move and of feelings of pleasure. When participants in a follow-up study (Experiment 2) were administered the exact same manipulation of likability, but exposed to highly-syncopated, low-groove drum-breaks, these effects were eradicated, suggesting that the results of Experiment 1 were not merely due to demand characteristics or response biases. Together, these findings support the notion that listeners are more responsive to “participating in the music” when they are relatively motivated to affiliate with the musician(s). Methodological limitations and directions for future research on the social psychological underpinnings of groove are discussed.
The role of denitrification genes in anaerobic growth and virulence of Flavobacterium columnare

AIMS: Comparative genomics analyses indicated that the Flavobacterium columnare genome has unique denitrification genes relative to Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Flavobacterium johnsoniae, including nasA (nitrate reductase), nirS (nitrite reductase), norB (nitric oxide reductase) and nosZ (nitrous oxide reductase). The current study determines the roles of nasA, nirS, norB and nosZ in anaerobic growth, nitrate reduction, biofilm formation and virulence. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four in‐frame deletion mutants in virulent F. columnare strain 94‐081 were constructed by allelic exchange using pCP29 plasmid. Compared with parent strain 94‐081, FcΔnasA,FcΔnirS and FcΔnosZ mutants did not grow as well anaerobically, whereas the growth of FcΔnorB strain was similar to the parent strain (FcWT). Exogenous nitrate was not significantly consumed under anaerobic conditions in FcΔnasA, FcΔnirS and FcΔnosZ compared to parent strain 94‐081. Under anaerobic conditions, Fc∆nasA, Fc∆norB and Fc∆nosZ formed significantly less biofilm than the wild type strain at 24 and 96 h, but FcΔnirS was not significantly affected. The nitrite reductase mutant FcΔnirS was highly attenuated in catfish, whereas FcΔnasA, FcΔnorB and FcΔnosZ had similar virulence to FcWT. CONCLUSIONS: These results show, for the first time, that denitrification genes enable F. columnare to grow anaerobically using nitrate as an electron acceptor, and nitrite reductase contributes to F. columnare virulence. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These findings indicate potential for F. columnare to grow in nitrate‐rich anaerobic zones in catfish production ponds, and they suggest that a Fc∆nirS strain could be useful as a safe live vaccine if it protects catfish against columnaris disease.
Evaluating Legislative Districts Using Measures of Partisan Bias and Simulations

A well-developed body of research offers ways to measure the partisan advantages that result from legislative districting. Although useful to researchers and legal practitioners, those studies also...
The Influence of Management Bonding on Firms’ Financial Reporting Risk

I investigate how top management cohesiveness/bonding affects firms’ financial reporting risk. I operationalize team cohesiveness/bonding by measuring the social connections among the top executives of firms through four types of social networks: educational background, employment history, off-the-job organization activities, and board positions. Using a sample of firms identified in the Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Releases (AAERs), I find that top management who are more cohesive and bonded through social connections are more likely to commit accounting misconduct. The cohesiveness/bonding among top management teams is associated with more years of financial misstatements and lower probability of misstatement detection. These results are consistent with a well-documented “groupthink” phenomenon in social psychology that is associated with dysfunctional decision-making processes. The results highlight the importance of considering social bonding status as a risk factor in investigating and detecting financial fraud.
A constitutive model for materials with directionally strain locking microstructures

Strain locking materials have a limit to the extent to which they can be stretched along one or more axes. The strain limit can be due to the reorientation of stiffening phases at microstructural o...
Strabonia. Ein Gespräch über Religion

Das Schlusskapitel besteht aus einem Dialog zwischen vier Personen zu den Grundthesen des Buches. Der Naturalist Encephalius, die Konstruktivistin Strabonia, der fideistische Theologe Revelatus und der rationalistische Religionsphilosoph Theophilus beurteilen das Buch jeweils von ihrer eigenen philosophischen Weltanschauung her und gelangen zu keiner Einigung.
Vascular Toxicity of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Pulmonary Hypertension

A 41-year-old woman was diagnosed with CML and treated in the first-line setting with dasatinib, a second-generation BCR-ABL TKI. After 2 years of treatment, she achieved a major molecular response but reported new dyspnea on exertion.
Pulsed blue light inactivates two strains of human coronavirus.

Emerging evidence suggests that blue light has the potential to inactivate viruses. Therefore, we investigated the effect of 405 nm, 410 nm, 425 nm and 450 nm pulsed blue light (PBL) on human alpha coronavirus HCoV-229 E and human beta coronavirus HCoV-OC43, using Qubit fluorometry and RT-LAMP to quantitate the amount of nucleic acid in irradiated and control samples. Like SARS-CoV-2, HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 are single stranded RNA viruses transmitted by air and direct contact; they have similar genomic sizes as SARS-CoV-2, and are used as surrogates for SARS-CoV-2. Irradiation was carried out either at 32.4 J cm-2 using 3 mW cm-2 irradiance or at 130 J cm-2 using 12 mW cm-2 irradiance. Results: (1) At each wavelength tested, PBL was antiviral against both coronaviruses. (2) 405 nm light gave the best result, yielding 52.3% (2.37 log10) inactivation against HCoV-OC43 (p < .0001), and a significant 1.46 log 10 (44%) inactivation of HCoV-229E (p < .01). HCoV-OC43, which like SARS-CoV-2 is a beta coronavirus, was more susceptible to PBL irradiation than alpha coronavirus HCoV-229E. The latter finding suggests that PBL is potentially antiviral against multiple coronavirus strains, and that, while its potency may vary from one virus to another, it seems more antiviral against beta coronaviruses, such as HCoV-OC43. (3) Further, the antiviral effect of PBL was better at a higher irradiance than a lower irradiance, and this indicates that with further refinement, a protocol capable of yielding 100% inactivation of viruses is attainable.
Hybrid Reynolds-Averaged/Large-Eddy Simulations of a Coaxial Supersonic Freejet Experiment

Reynolds-averaged and hybrid Reynolds-averaged/large-eddy simulations have been applied to a supersonic coaxial jet flow experiment. The experiment was designed to study compressible mixing flow phenomenon under conditions that are representative of those encountered in scramjet combustors. The experiment used either helium or argon as the inner jet nozzle fluid, and the outer jet nozzle fluid consisted of laboratory air. The inner and outer nozzles were designed and operated to produce nearly pressure-matched Mach 1.8 flow conditions at the jet exit. The purpose of the computational effort was to assess the state of the art for each modeling approach and to use the hybrid Reynolds-averaged/large-eddy simulations to gather insight into the deficiencies of the Reynolds-averaged closure models. The Reynolds-averaged simulations displayed a strong sensitivity to choice of turbulent Schmidt number. The initial value chosen for this parameter resulted in an overprediction of the mixing layer spreading rate for the helium case, but the opposite trend was observed when argon was used as the injectant. A larger turbulent Schmidt number greatly improved the comparison of the results with measurements for the helium simulations, but variations in the Schmidt number did not improve the argon comparisons. The hybrid Reynolds-averaged/largeeddy simulations also overpredicted the mixing layer spreading rate for the helium case, while underpredicting the rate of mixing when argon was used as the injectant. The primary reason conjectured for the discrepancy between the hybrid simulation results and the measurements centered around issues related to the transition from a Reynolds-averaged state to one with resolved turbulent content. Improvements to the inflow conditions were suggested as a remedy to this dilemma. Second-order turbulence statistics were also compared with their modeled Reynolds-averaged counterparts to evaluate the effectiveness of common turbulence closure assumptions.
kCBAC-Net: Deeply Supervised Complete Bipartite Networks with Asymmetric Convolutions for Medical Image Segmentation.

Accurate and automatic medical image segmentation is challenging due to significant size and shape variations of objects (e.g., in multi-scales) and missing/blurring object borders. In this paper, we propose a new deeply supervised k-complete-bipartite network with asymmetric convolutions (kCBAC-Net) to exploit multi-scale features and improve the capability of standard convolutions for segmentation. (1) We leverage a generalized complete bipartite network to reuse multi-scale features, consolidate feature hierarchies at different scales, and preserve maximum information flow between encoder and decoder layers. (2) To further capture multi-scale information, we sequentially connect k complete bipartite network modules together to facilitate their processing in different image scales. (3) We replace the standard convolution by asymmetric convolution block to strengthen the central skeleton parts of standard convolution, enhancing the model’s robustness on exploiting more discriminative features. (4) We employ auxiliary deep supervisions to boost information flow in the network and extract highly discriminative features. We evaluate our kCBAC-Net on three datasets (ultrasound lymph node segmentation (2D), 2017 ISIC Skin Lesion segmentation (2D), and MM-WHS CT (3D)), achieving state-of-the-art performance.
Rearrangements of Unsaturated Organoboron and Organoaluminum Compounds

Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on the rearrangements of unsaturated groups. The three principal aspects of molecular reorganization are considered: first, the occurrence of sigmatropic rearrangements; second, the organic group migrations of the [l ,n] type occurring by way of isolable tetracoordinate organoboron or organoaluminum complexes; and third, the relevance of such rearrangement tendencies to the intermolecular reactions of these metal alkyls with organic substrates. The chapter presents the value of viewing the collapse of complexes as potential pericyclic processes, where the interplay of kinetic versus thermodynamic control on ketone insertions into carbon–metal bonds is discussed. Close examination of various substitution and addition reactions of organoboron and organoaluminum compounds reveals the ways in which these processes occur via intermediate complexes, which in turn rearrange with remarkable site- and stereo-selectivity. Having a greater covalent character than lithium and magnesium reagents, boron and aluminum organometallic will generally have a lower reactivity toward organic substrates. It is evident that the rearrangements of unsaturated organoboranes and organoalanes will prove to be a fertile area in which the reaction mechanisms involving the chirality of carbon-metal bonds can be explored, and the implications and applicability of the principles of pericyclic reactions can be probed. The rearrangements encountered in these studies have opened up some fresh vistas on unusual reactions, on the generation of subvalent group III organometallic, and on the synthesis of metallocycles of great theoretical interest.
Pulmonary Disease with Hemorrhage in Henoch-Schöenlein Purpura

Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a common vasculitic syndrome of childhood. Pulmonary hemorrhage is a rare complication, which resulted in death in three of four previously reported cases. We report concerning four additional patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura and pulmonary hemorrhage. Three survived the episode. Aggressive and supportive care may improve survival.
Using matching in algebraic equation solving

This paper describes the use of powerful algebraic matching techniques for applying rewrite rules in equation solving. A matcher is presented that knows about the commutativlty and associativity of addition and multiplication, will provide defaults for missing summands and factors, and if necessary will solve algebraically for the value of pattern variables.
Fusion of multiple images with robust random field models

A fusion of multiple sensors with different resolution and noise characteristics is considered. The fusion of two sensors is formulated as a robust estimation problem, then the two-sensor fusion algorithm is generalized to the fusion of multiple sensors. In the two-sensor fusion problem, two sensors are assumed having complimentary characteristics, one with poor resolution and the other with poor noise characteristics. The fusion of multiple sensors is done by applying the weighted sum of images obtained by pairwise fusion. The multisensor fusion algorithm is tested with simulated images and real synthetic aperture radar images. In the experiment, the fusion algorithm yielded images where both resolution and signal-to-noise ratio are substantially improved compared to images before applying the fusion.
Protecting Natural Capital through Ecosystem Service Districts

In this article, we focus on the potential of governmental authorities dedicated to management of ecosystem services. We argue that the creation of such Ecosystem Service Districts (ESDs) will improve the efficient provision of services necessary for human welfare. At the moment, when agencies manage for natural resources, they typically do so in a defined geographical area or district. Given the prevalence and importance of districts for soil conservation, resource conservation, flood control, and other local services, we explain how ESDs could provide a coherent and efficient governmental institution for monitoring and investing in natural capital. A focus on ESDs would create a mechanism to help ensure that natural capital is protected and maintained with the same care and concern as that given to built and human capital. Establishing and managing ESDs will involve an exploration of the underlying ecological processes that provide the services, of the economic significance of the services, and of the legal issues involved in managing natural ecosystems for the good of a local or regional community. Central in all these analyses will be land use decisions. Land use determines which of the initial ecosystems and services are maintained intact. In addition, many of the key trade-offs between the continued functioning of natural ecosystems and the extension of economic activities arise naturally in the context of land-use choices, such as farming versus forestation, development versus conservation, etc. In examining the geographical, economic, and legal obstacles in designing ESDs, we suggest an integrative framework for managing the patterns of land use in a district that can provide several different ecosystem services, and that also has the potential to support many different types of economic activity, some of which can conflict with the continued integrity of the natural ecosystems. Part I of the article explains the why ecosystem services are under threat and the potential benefits of managing their conservation through ESDs. Part II lays out the basic ecological-economic framework and principles for district design. Part III sets out the key legal issues and Part IV presents a tentative roadmap of how to put theory into practice. The importance of ecosystem services is no longer disputed. How to realize more fully their value, and hence their conservation, however, remains an active research area. ESDs, though fraught with challenges, provide a potentially powerful institutional mechanism to address the relative neglect of ecosystem services in public policy by bringing their crucial importance into focus and aiding in their preservation.
Longevity and the barren aristocrat

Experiments with fruitflies have shown that those with fewer offspring generally live longer. Twelve-hundred years of genealogical data from British aristocrats now suggests that this relationship extends to humans.
Planning Note: American Public Housing

American public housing policy was never an entirely domestic affair. Housing reformers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries routinely visited European cities “seeking enlightenment about how ...
Cortical remodelling induced by activity of ventral tegmental dopamine neurons

Representations of sensory stimuli in the cerebral cortex can undergo progressive remodelling according to the behavioural importance of the stimuli. The cortex receives widespread projections from dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which are activated by new stimuli or unpredicted rewards, and are believed to provide a reinforcement signal for such learning-related cortical reorganization. In the primary auditory cortex (AI) dopamine release has been observed during auditory learning that remodels the sound-frequency representations. Furthermore, dopamine modulates long-term potentiation, a putative cellular mechanism underlying plasticity. Here we show that stimulating the VTA together with an auditory stimulus of a particular tone increases the cortical area and selectivity of the neural responses to that sound stimulus in AI. Conversely, the AI representations of nearby sound frequencies are selectively decreased. Strong, sharply tuned responses to the paired tones also emerge in a second cortical area, whereas the same stimuli evoke only poor or non-selective responses in this second cortical field in naive animals. In addition, we found that strong long-range coherence of neuronal discharge emerges between AI and this secondary auditory cortical area.
On the isotropy of the X-ray background radiation.

The spatial fluctuations expected for various models of the X-ray background radiation are examined. The constraints that observations place on the source distribution and radiation mechanisms are then presented. Most models are at present consistent with the lack of observed small scale anisotropy. Future measurements of the beam-to-beam fluctuations could offer a positive test of the inverse Compton explanation for the origin of the X-ray background radiation.
The National Park System: Visions for Tomorrow

The American national park system consists of more than 390 units scattered over 49 states and spread across 82 million acres. Although legally referred to as a system, our national parks are actually a diverse collection of natural, recreational, historical, cultural, archeological, and other sites that have been melded together under the aegis of the National Park Service without any overarching vision or much forethought. Since its origin over 130 years ago, the national park idea has steadily evolved, reflecting changes in our society and economy. Traditionally, the national park has been viewed as a wilderness, tourist destination, playground, laboratory, wildlife reserve, and an economic engine for nearby communities. But with advances in scientific knowledge and our maturing sense of social justice, national parks can also be conceived as the vital core of larger ecosystems, as essential biodiversity reserves, and as important civic educational entities. Given this evolution, how might we expand and strengthen the national park system to meet tomorrow’s challenges? Several options merit consideration: expanding individual parks to embrace entire ecosystems, creating new national restoration areas, promoting park-focused ecosystem management arrangements, and developing new urban-based parks to address the needs of an increasingly diverse populace. It may be necessary, however, to revisit the “national significance” standard that has long guided expansion of the national park system. The ultimate goal must be to address and meet the needs of the future generations to whom our national parks are dedicated.
On the role of calpain and rho proteins in regulating integrin-induced signaling

Integrin-induced adhesion of cells activates intracellular signaling pathways that lead to cytoskeletal reorganizations and altered cell behavior. One of the signaling molecules that is activated as a consequence of integrin-induced signaling is calpain. Much of the understanding of calpain's importance in signaling has come from the study of platelets. Studies on platelets have demonstrated that the major substrates for calpain are proteins present in the complexes of integrin, cytoskeletal proteins, and signaling molecules that form as a consequence of integrin engagement. We have now shown that calpain is also active in cultured adherent cells and that the calpain-induced cleavage of proteins in these cells is required for integrin-induced changes in cell morphology and spreading. Investigation of the mechanisms involved has revealed that calpain induces integrin-induced formation of focal adhesions and actin filament reorganizations and that it does so by inducing the activation of both Rac1 and RhoA.
Challenging Privilege through Africentric Social Work Practice

Privilege refers to the unearned advantages enjoyed by a particular group simply because of membership in that group. Privileges accrue to those who (consciously or not) oppress others and are generally invisible to those who enjoy them. In seeing reality from the standpoint of other groups, one acquires the vantage point necessary to see privilege and its effects. Africentric theory describes the ethos and values of Africans and African Americans and provides a standpoint from which social workers can more effectively identify and build on the strengths of African Americans. Building on the concept "loss of terms," Africentric theory provides a framework within which social workers can challenge the invisible hegemony of privilege. This article challenges social workers to understand the nature of privilege as it relates to oppression and to develop a profound multicultural literacy that is carefully translated into practice imperatives.
Analysis of liquid-phase-based sensors utilizing SH surface waves on rotated Y-cut quartz

Surface shear horizontal (SH) wave propagation at the boundary of rotated Y-cut quartz with a viscous fluid is theoretically analyzed for liquid-phase-based sensor applications. Analytical expressions are obtained for the fractional velocity change and attenuation coefficient in terms of the material constants, liquid viscosity and density, and wave frequency. The analysis is also modified to include the effects of a thin layer of dielectric material to increase the device sensitivity. This is due to the fact that the effect of mass loading of the film is to convert the subsurface wave radiation into a guided surface SH wave. The effects of liquid relaxation time are also accounted for in the analysis, and it is shown that the relaxation time sets detection limits on the range of liquid viscosity than can be measured. >
Directional and color preference in adult zebrafish: Implications in behavioral and learning assays in neurotoxicology studies

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a useful vertebrate model organism for neurological studies. While a number of behavior and learning assays are recently reported in the literature for zebrafish, many of these assays are still being refined. The initial purpose of this study was to apply a published T-maze assay for adult zebrafish that measures how quickly an organism can discriminate between different color stimuli after receiving reinforcement to measure learning in a study investigating the later life impacts of developmental Pb exposure. The original results were inconclusive as the control group showed a directional and color preference. To assess directional preference further, a three-chambered testing apparatus was constructed and rotated in several directions. The directional preference observed in males was alleviated by rotating the arms pointing west and east. In addition, color preference was investigated using all combinations of five different colors (orange, yellow, green, blue and purple). With directional preference alleviated results showed that both male and female zebrafish preferred colors of shorter wavelengths. An additional experiment tested changes in color preference due to developmental exposure to Pb in adult male zebrafish. Results revealed that Pb-exposed males gained and lost certain color preferences compared to control males and the preference for short wavelengths was decreased. Overall, these results show that consideration and pretesting should be completed before applying behavioral and learning assays involving adult zebrafish to avoid innate preferences and confounding changes in neurotoxicology studies and that developmental Pb exposure alters color preferences in adult male zebrafish.
Making Decisions From a Distance: The Impact of Technological Mediation on Riskiness and Dehumanization

Telepresence means business people can make deals in other countries, doctors can give remote medical advice, and soldiers can rescue someone from thousands of miles away. When interaction is mediated, people are removed from and lack context about the person they are making decisions about. In this paper, we explore the impact of technological mediation on risk and dehumanization in decision-making. We conducted a laboratory experiment involving medical treatment decisions. The results suggest that technological mediation influences decision making, but its influence depends on an individual's self-construal: participants who saw themselves as defined through their relationships (interdependent self-construal) recommended riskier and more painful treatments in video conferencing than when face-to-face. We discuss implications of our results for theory and future research.
RGS6 Interacts with SCG10 and Promotes Neuronal Differentiation ROLE OF THE G GAMMA SUBUNIT-LIKE (GGL) DOMAIN OF RGS6

RGS proteins comprise a large family of proteins named for their ability to negatively regulate heterotrimeric G protein signaling. RGS6 is a member of the R7 RGS protein subfamily endowed with DEP (disheveled, Egl-10, pleckstrin) and GGL (G protein gamma subunit-like) domains in addition to the RGS domain present in all RGS proteins. RGS6 exists in multiple splice variant forms with identical RGS domains but possessing complete or incomplete GGL domains and distinct N- and C-terminal domains. Here we report that RGS6 interacts with SCG10, a neuronal growth-associated protein. Using yeast two-hybrid analysis to map protein interaction domains, we identified the GGL domain of RGS6 as the SCG10-interacting region and the stathmin domain of SCG10 as the RGS6-interacting region. Pull-down studies in COS-7 cells expressing SCG10 and RGS6 splice variants revealed that SCG10 co-precipitated RGS6 proteins with complete GGL domains but not those with incomplete GGL domains, and vice versa. Expression of SCG10-interacting forms of RGS6 with SCG10 in PC12 or COS-7 cells resulted in co-localization of both proteins. RGS6 potentiated the ability of SCG10 to disrupt microtubule organization in PC12 and COS-7 cells. Furthermore, expression of SCG10 and RGS6 each enhanced NGF-induced PC12 cell differentiation, and co-expression of SCG10 with RGS6 produced synergistic effects on NGF-induced PC12 differentiation. These effects of RGS6 on microtubules and neuronal differentiation were observed only with RGS6 proteins with complete GGL domains. Mutation of a critical residue required for interaction of RGS proteins with G proteins did not affect the ability of RGS6 to induce neuronal differentiation. These findings identify SCG10 as a binding partner for the GGL domain of RGS6 and provide the first evidence for regulatory effects of an RGS protein on neuronal differentiation. Our results suggest that RGS6 induces neuronal differentiation by a novel mechanism involving interaction of SCG10 with its GGL domain and independent of RGS6 interactions with heterotrimeric G proteins.
Solar electric propulsion for advanced planetary missions

Use of solar electric propulsion can result in mass and propellant savings for future NASA missions to explore the solar system, enabling lightweight probes to targets in the solar system that have previously been out of reach. However, such electric-propulsion missions require large amounts of power, and require extremely lightweight solar arrays. The NASA Glenn COMPASS team was used to perform conceptual designs for several advanced missions, in order to develop a top-level understanding of the difficulties and the technologies needed, and the interaction of the power system with the propulsion system requirements for missions both close to, and far from, the Sun. Some near term and farther term missions analyzed include an exploration mission to a binary asteroid, a mission to land on and return a sample from the large main-belt asteroid Ceres, a mission to land a surface probe on Mercury, and a mission to the outer planet Uranus.
Hot spots for allosteric regulation on protein surfaces.

Summary Recent work indicates a general architecture for proteins in which sparse networks of physically contiguous and coevolving amino acids underlie basic aspects of structure and function. These networks, termed sectors, are spatially organized such that active sites are linked to many surface sites distributed throughout the structure. Using the metabolic enzyme dihydrofolate reductase as a model system, we show that: (1) the sector is strongly correlated to a network of residues undergoing millisecond conformational fluctuations associated with enzyme catalysis, and (2) sector-connected surface sites are statistically preferred locations for the emergence of allosteric control in vivo. Thus, sectors represent an evolutionarily conserved "wiring" mechanism that can enable perturbations at specific surface positions to rapidly initiate conformational control over protein function. These findings suggest that sectors enable the evolution of intermolecular communication and regulation.
EEG sleep of young adults with major depression: a controlled study ☆

Abstract The EEG sleep of 75 subjects aged 16–25 years was studied. Thirty-eight were in an episode of RDC major depression, and 37 were normal controls. Only one sleep continuity measure differed between the two groups: sleep latency was significantly longer in the depressive group. REM period latencies and other sleep variables did not differ between the groups. Subgroup analyses, within the depressed group with respect to inpatient status, revealed significantly higher REM density (P
Irrigation cooling effect on temperature and heat index extremes

[1] Previous studies of the long-term climate effects of irrigation have focused on average monthly temperatures. Given the importance of temperature (T) extremes to agriculture and human health, we evaluated irrigation induced changes in various metrics of T extremes using daily observations in California and Nebraska. In addition, simulations from a regional climate model were used to evaluate irrigation effects on T and heat index (HI; also known as the discomfort index) extremes in California, with the latter representing a combined measure of T and humidity. Contrary to our expectation that irrigation would have larger effects on hot days when sensible heat fluxes are higher, both observations and a regional climate model indicate that irrigation cools T on the hottest days of the year by a similar magnitude as on an average summer day. The HI is also reduced by irrigation, but by a much smaller magnitude than T because of the higher humidity above irrigated surfaces. Interestingly, HI is influenced less on the most extreme days than on average days, because of the nonlinear effect of humidity on HI at high T.
Target Population Involvement in Urban Ciclovias: A Preliminary Evaluation of St. Louis Open Streets

Ciclovias are active street events when roads are open to walkers, cyclists, and families and closed to automobiles. Over 70 cities in the USA have implemented ciclovias to promote physical activity. The authors evaluated four events during 2010 to determine what activities participants perform and who is attending. For two ciclovia events in St. Louis, Missouri, observation reports of activities, gender, and age of 1,452 participants were collected, and 82 adults were interviewed via direct approach. The survey covered six domains: physical activity, travel to event, sense of community, marketing, economic impact, and demographics. Each event occurred within the city, along multiple streets. Domains were selected from Ciclovia Recreativa developed by Ciclovia Bogota, Pan American Health Organization, and CDC. Additional questions addressed city-specific goals and matched similar evaluations in other cities. Over 50 % of participants met CDC-defined weekly minute thresholds for physical activity. Participants, primarily (>80 %) middle class, college educated, and white, were not representative of the majority minority city population, which has high rates of poverty, and low percentage of college graduates. Cities must work with residents to increase low-income minority population participation in ciclovia-based physical activity.
Subunit interfaces contribute differently to activation and allosteric modulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Abstract Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely distributed in the nervous system and are implicated in many normal and pathological processes. The structural determinants of allostery in nAChRs are not well understood. One class of nAChR allosteric modulators, including the small molecule morantel (Mor), acts from a site that is structurally homologous to the canonical agonist site but exists in the β(+)/α(−) subunit interface. We hypothesized that all nAChR subunits move with respect to each other during channel activation and allosteric modulation. We therefore studied five pairs of residues predicted to span the interfaces of α3β2 receptors, one at the agonist interface and four at the modulator interface. Substituting cysteines in these positions, we used disulfide trapping to perturb receptor function. The pair α3Y168–β2D190, involving the C loop region of the β2 subunit, mediates modulation and agonist activation, because evoked currents were reduced up to 50% following oxidation (H 2 O 2 ) treatment. The pair α3S125–β2Q39, below the canonical site, is also involved in channel activation, in accord with previous studies of the muscle-type receptor; however, the pair is differentially sensitive to ACh activation and Mor modulation (currents decreased 60% and 80%, respectively). The pairs α3Q37–β2A127 and α3E173–β2R46, both in the non-canonical interface, showed increased currents following oxidation, suggesting that subunit movements are not symmetrical. Together, our results from disulfide trapping and further mutation analysis indicate that subunit interface movement is important for allosteric modulation of nAChRs, but that the two types of interfaces contribute unequally to receptor activation.
Results of Pioneer 10 and 11 Meteoroid Experiments: Interplanetary and near‐Saturn

The meteoroid penetration detectors on Pioneer 10 (channel 0) recorded 95 penetrations through the 25-micron stainless steel test material while the spacecraft was between 1 and 18 AU. The spatial density of 10 to the -9 g meteoroids is found to be essentially constant between 1 and 18 AU. The meteoroid penetration detectors on Pioneer 11 recorded 87 penetrations (55 on channel 0 and 32 on channel 1) through the 50-micron stainless steel test material while the spacecraft was between 1 and 9 AU. It is found that the meteoroids between 4 and 5 AU are not in direct circular or near-circular orbits near the ecliptic plane. The Pioneer 11 data obtained between 4 and 5 AU are best explained by the meteoroids being in randomly inclined orbits of high eccentricity. If meteoroids are in these cometlike orbits, the great increase in penetration flux previously measured near Jupiter with the Pioneer 10 experiment cannot be attributed to gravitational focusing unless the size distribution of meteoroids changes substantially between 1 and 5 AU. At Saturn encounter, the penetration flux increased by about three orders of magnitude, probably as the result of impacts from ring particles. Saturn's ring E is estimated to be 1800 km thick with an optical thickness greater than 10 to the -8.
Platelet cytoskeleton--membrane interactions.

Abstract The order of attachment of the purified platelet cytoskeletal proteins, F-actin, α-actinin and Actin Binding Protein (ABP) to the isolated platelet membrane has been investigated. Of the three proteins, only F-actin would directly interact with a membrane preparation that had been extensively washed to remove associated cytoskeletal proteins. α-Actinin would only add to the membrane to which F-actin had been re-attached and ABP only if both F-actin and α-actinin were present on the membrane. These studies provide some insight into the nature of the attachment of the platelet cytoskeleton to the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.