cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Source Parameters of the 16 July 2010 Mw 3.4 Germantown, Maryland, Earthquake

The 16 July 2010 M 3.4 Germantown, Maryland, earthquake was the largest recorded earthquake to occur within 50 km of Washington, D.C. I estimated the source parameters of the Germantown earthquake and its M 2.1 aftershock using the empirical Green’s Function (EGF) method. I found that both earthquakes have small‐radius, high‐stress drops (static and dynamic) and high radiated energy, comparable to the source parameters of other Northeastern America earthquakes obtained using similar EGF methods. These results are consistent with previous observations that intraplate earthquakes have higher stress drops than plate‐boundary earthquakes. Higher stress drops of intraplate earthquakes may result from longer healing times and lower strain rates characteristic of intraplate regions. I estimated the frequency‐independent attenuation factor, Q , for all available source‐station paths, constraining the solution with the previously estimated source parameters, and find attenuation to be low, with constant Q varying from 743 to 3000 (maximum resolvable Q ), and 889 to 3000, for P and S waves, respectively, at hypocentral distances from around 100 to 200 km, and at frequencies between 1 and 40 Hz. The occurrence of high‐stress‐release earthquakes within regions where seismic attenuation is low makes these intraplate earthquakes potentially more damaging than their plate‐boundary counterparts.
Effect of Brown Rust on Yield of Sugarcane in Louisiana

Brown rust, caused by Puccinia melanocephala, can cause severe epidemics in susceptible sugarcane cultivars during spring and early summer in Louisiana. The effect of the disease on yield was evaluated in field experiments conducted during three growing seasons. A mixture of three fungicides-azoxystrobin, propiconazole, and tebuconazole-applied biweekly during the spring epidemic period kept brown rust severity low (<5%), and plants protected by fungicide applications throughout the epidemic provided an estimate of attainable yield for comparison with plants naturally infected with rust. A combined analysis over three seasons estimated brown rust caused reductions of 16 and 14% in cane tonnage and total amount of sucrose produced, respectively, in cv. LCP 85-384. The greatest reduction in total sucrose yield of 22% resulted from the epidemic of longest duration, and stalk weight was negatively correlated with rust severity. Comparisons of the yields obtained from plots in which brown rust was controlled early versus late in the epidemic suggested that the impact of the disease is greatest from the middle to late epidemic period when stem elongation has begun.
Low night temperatures have a differential effect on the diurnal cycling of gene expression in cold–sensitive and tolerant tomatoes*

Abstract. Comparisons were made between the changes in mRNA levels induced by low night temperatures in the cold–sensitive tomato and two altitudinal ecotypes of the wild species L. hirsutum. Changes in mRNA levels were detected by resolving in vitro translation products of poly(A)+ RNA by 2-D PAGE. The treatment was applied by first growing plants in a thermoperiod of 25/18°C and then switching to 25/6°C. All tomatoes displayed a diurnal cycling in which a set of mRNAs accumulated at the end of the 18°C nights, whereas another accumulated at the end of the 25°C days. The accumulation of night specific mRNAs was inhibited by 6°C nights in the cold sensitive tomatoes while that of the tolerant one was only marginally affected. All tomatoes showed a similar reduction in the apparent turnover rate of the day specific mRNAs during the 6°C nights. Finally, low night temperatures induced the accumulation of six to eight mRNAs in all genotypes. This number increased by 15 in L. esculentum after the seventh night and are likely involved in stress response rather than acclimation/tolerance. The tomato is proposed as a genetic model to discriminate genes involved in acclimation/tolerance from those involved in stress response.
SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING THEORIES (2nd ed.). Rosamond Mitchell and Florence Myles. London: Arnold, 2004. Pp. xiii + 303. $21.95 paper.

Second Language Learning Theories (2nd ed.). Rosamond Mitchell and Florence Myles. London: Arnold, 2004. Pp. xiii + 303. $21.95 paper.According to one authority, there are over 20 theories of SLA. This book attempts to help students without a substantial background in linguistics make sense of this diverse field by explaining and relating the most important of these. The second edition updates the original by dropping or shortening the discussion of older theories (Schumann's, 1986, acculturation model is now discussed in the chapter on historical antecedents) and updating the discussion of others (the expanded chapter on Vygotsky is particularly good). Chapter 1 contains a discussion of what an adequate theory of SLA would look like, pointing out, for example, the distinction between a property theory like Universal Grammar (UG) and a transition theory like connectionism; this distinction is referred to throughout the book. Chapter 2 offers a valuable account of the historical development of the SLA field, which includes discussions of behaviorism and the monitor model. Again, this preliminary groundwork is referred to in subsequent chapters.
eCodonOpt: a systematic computational framework for optimizing codon usage in directed evolution experiments

We present a systematic computational framework, eCodonOpt, for designing parental DNA sequences for directed evolution experiments through codon usage optimization. Given a set of homologous parental proteins to be recombined at the DNA level, the optimal DNA sequences encoding these proteins are sought for a given diversity objective. We find that the free energy of annealing between the recombining DNA sequences is a much better descriptor of the extent of crossover formation than sequence identity. Three different diversity targets are investigated for the DNA shuffling protocol to showcase the utility of the eCodonOpt framework: (i) maximizing the average number of crossovers per recombined sequence; (ii) minimizing bias in family DNA shuffling so that each of the parental sequence pair contributes a similar number of crossovers to the library; and (iii) maximizing the relative frequency of crossovers in specific structural regions. Each one of these design challenges is formulated as a constrained optimization problem that utilizes 0-1 binary variables as on/off switches to model the selection of different codon choices for each residue position. Computational results suggest that many-fold improvements in the crossover frequency, location and specificity are possible, providing valuable insights for the engineering of directed evolution protocols.
Hydrogen bond dynamics in aqueous NaBr solutions

hydrogen bond dynamics in aqueous solutions (20) and other hydrogen-bonded liquids (21). Water molecules around monatomic ions provide the simplest system for the investigation of the dynamics of water in the presence of charges. Therefore, examining the dynamics of water in simple ionic solutions, such as sodium bromide (NaBr), can provide valuable insights that will increase understanding of chemical processes and biological systems that involve charged species in aqueous solutions. In pure water, water molecules are hydrogen-bonded to neighboring water molecules in a more or less tetrahedral geometry making an extended hydrogen bond network. Hydrogen bonds are continually breaking and reforming, and hydrogen bond lengths (strengths) are continually changing (9). The structure of water fluctuates on femtosecond to picosecond time scales (6, 9). The slowest component of the fluctuations is associated with the global structural rearrangement of the hydrogen bond network (7). As salt is dissolved in water, water molecules form hydration shells around ions, and consequently the local hydrogen bond network is perturbed. In this paper, a very detailed study of the hydrogen bond dynamics of water in highly concentrated NaBr solutions is presented. Four experimental observables, which are based on measurements on the OD stretch mode of HOD in H2O, were used. Ultrafast 2D IR vibrational echo experiments were used to measure spectral diffusion, which is directly related to the time evolution of the hydrogen bond structure. Polarization-selective IR pump–probe experiments were used to measure orientational relaxation dynamics of water, which is affected by the interactions of water molecules with their surroundings. The IR pump–
A regulatory role of Wnt signaling pathway in the hematopoietic differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells.

Abstract One of the most important issues in stem cell research is to understand the regulatory mechanisms responsible for their differentiation. An extensive understanding of mechanism underlying the process of differentiation is crucial in order to prompt stem cells to perform a particular function after differentiation. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the hematopoietic differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we investigated murine ES cells for the presence of hematopoietic lineage markers as well as Wnt signaling pathway during treatments with different cytokines alone or in combination with another. Here we report that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is down-regulated in hematopoietic differentiation of murine ES cells. We also found that differentiation induced by the interleukin-3, interleukin-6, and erythropoietin combinations resulted in high expression of CD3e, CD11b, CD45R/B220, Ly-6G, and TER-119 in differentiated ES cells. A high expression of β-catenin was observed in two undifferentiated ES cell lines. Gene and protein expression analysis revealed that the members downstream of Wnt in this signaling pathway including β-catenin, GSK-3β, Axin, and TCF4 were significantly down-regulated as ES cells differentiated into hematopoietic progenitors. Our results show that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a role in the hematopoietic differentiation of murine ESCs and also may support β-catenin as a crucial factor in the maintenance of ES cells in their undifferentiated state.
Mars - Regolith adsorption and the relative concentrations of atmospheric rare gases

Laboratory measurements of Kr and Xe adsorption on samples of ground montmorillonite, limonite and basalt at -77 C have been performed. Results suggest that (1) most degassed martian Xe could be adsorbed on a regolith with a large effective surface area, and (2) if this is the case the elemental composition of martian nonradiogenic rare gas (counting that in the regolith) may be virtually identical to that of ordinary chondrites.
Interdisciplinary studies in communication and information sciences: promises and problems

The case for interdisciplinary study is discussed in the context of an example of a recently formalized interdisciplinary doctoral program in communication and information sciences at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Interdisciplinary study is seen as necessary in the acquisition of knowledge especially as it pertains to the study of information technologies and human communication endeavors. Understanding a broad range of conceptual ideas across a number of more traditional disciplines is regarded as a must to understanding the implications of the information age more fully. Advantages and disadvantages of such a study strategy are presented within the organizational structure and processes of the modern day university. >
Temperature-Dependent Development of Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Sugarcane Under Laboratory Conditions

ABSTRACT Lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is an important sugarcane pest in southern Florida. Development of immature stages (eggs, larvae, prepupae, and pupae) of lesser cornstalk borer was observed on sugarcane at constant temperatures (13, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36°C), 65–70% RH, and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. Total development (from egg deposition to adult emergence) ranged from 22.8 ± 0.3 d at 33°C to 120.7 ± 2.8 d at 13°C. Lesser cornstalk borer required 543.48 DD to complete development. Developmental time decreased with increase in temperature from 13 to 33°C and increased markedly at 36°C in all immature stages. One linear and six nonlinear models used to model insect development (Briere-1, Briere-2, Logan-6, Lactin, Taylor, and polynomial models) were tested to describe the relationship between temperature and developmental rate (d-1). Criteria used to select the best model were the greatest r2, lowest residual sum of squares (RSS), ...
Colistin susceptibility testing: evaluation of reliability for cystic fibrosis isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Objectives: Antibiotic susceptibility methods that are commonly used to test bacterial isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis are of uncertain reliability for the polymyxins. To assess the reliability of four standard testing methods, this pilot study used a challenge set that included polymyxin-resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Methods: Twenty-five P. aeruginosa and 12 S. maltophilia isolates were tested for susceptibility to colistin (polymyxin E). Repeatability (concordance of replicates performed concurrently), reproducibility (concordance of replicates performed over time) and comparability (concordance of different methods) of agar dilution, broth microdilution, Etest and disc diffusion were assessed through the use of descriptive statistics and scatterplot analyses. Results: All four methods displayed excellent repeatability (overall concordance rate of 99%). However, analysis of reproducibility revealed substantially lower rates of concordance (74% for agar dilution, 84% for broth microdilution and Etest, and 91% for disc diffusion). In addition, comparability to agar dilution of the three other methods was generally poor, with overall rates of very major error ranging from 12% for broth microdilution to 18% for Etest and disc diffusion. Conclusions: Compared with agar dilution, other susceptibility testing methods give high rates of apparent false polymyxin susceptibility for cystic fibrosis isolates of P. aeruginosa and S. maltophilia. Prospective study of the correlation between in vitro susceptibility and clinical response is needed to clarify whether these discrepancies reflect oversensitivity of the agar dilution method or insensitivity of the other methods.
Functional genetic characterization of salivary gland development in Aedes aegypti

Despite the devastating global impact of mosquito-borne illnesses on human health, very little is known about mosquito developmental biology. In this investigation, functional genetic analysis of embryonic salivary gland development was performed in Aedes aegypti, the dengue and yellow fever vector and an emerging model for vector mosquito development. Although embryonic salivary gland development has been well studied in Drosophila melanogaster, little is known about this process in mosquitoes or other arthropods. Mosquitoes possess orthologs of many genes that regulate Drosophila melanogaster embryonic salivary gland development. The expression patterns of a large subset of these genes were assessed during Ae. aegypti development. These studies identified a set of molecular genetic markers for the developing mosquito salivary gland. Analysis of marker expression allowed for tracking of the progression of Ae. aegypti salivary gland development in embryos. In Drosophila, the salivary glands develop from placodes located in the ventral neuroectoderm. However, in Ae. aegypti, salivary marker genes are not expressed in placode-like patterns in the ventral neuroectoderm. Instead, marker gene expression is detected in salivary gland rudiments adjacent to the proventriculus. These observations highlighted the need for functional genetic characterization of mosquito salivary gland development. An siRNA- mediated knockdown strategy was therefore employed to investigate the role of one of the marker genes, cyclic-AMP response element binding protein A (Aae crebA), during Ae. aegypti salivary gland development. These experiments revealed that Aae crebA encodes a key transcriptional regulator of the secretory pathway in the developing Ae. aegypti salivary gland. The results of this investigation indicated that the initiation of salivary gland development in Ae. aegypti significantly differs from that of D. melanogaster. Despite these differences, some elements of salivary gland development, including the ability of CrebA to regulate secretory gene expression, are conserved between the two species. These studies underscore the need for further analysis of mosquito developmental genetics and may foster comparative studies of salivary gland development in additional insect species.
Molecular phenotyping of retinal ganglion cells.

Classifying all of the ganglion cells in the mammalian retina has long been a goal of anatomists, physiologists, and cell biologists. The rabbit retinal ganglion cell layer was phenotyped using intrinsic small molecule signals (aspartate, glutamate, glycine, glutamine, GABA, and taurine) and glutamate receptor-gated 1-amino-4-guanidobutane excitation signals as the clustering dimensions for formal classification. Intrinsic signals alone yielded 7 ganglion cell superclasses and 1 amacrine cell superclass; the addition of excitation signals ultimately resolved 14 natural ganglion cell classes and 3 amacrine cell classes. Ganglion cells comprise two-thirds to three-quarters of the cells in the ganglion cell layer and exhibited distinct metabolic, coupling, and excitation phenotypes, as well as characteristic sizes, population fractions, and patterns. Metabolic signatures (mixtures of glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, and GABA) chemically discriminated ganglion from amacrine cells. Coupling signatures reflected heterologous coupling states across ganglion cells: (1) uncoupled, (2) coupled to GABAergic amacrine cells, and (3) coupled to glycinergic amacrine cells. Excitation signatures reflected differential channel permeation rates across classes after AMPA activation. Extraction of unique size and patterning features from the data sets further validated the robustness of the classification. Because the classifications were explicitly blinded to structure, this is strong evidence that molecular phenotype classes are natural classes. Correspondences of molecular phenotype classes to functional classes were inferred from size, coupling, encounter, and physiological attributes. Ganglion cell classes display markedly different ionotropic drives, which may partly explain the physiological brisk–sluggish spectrum of ganglion cell spiking patterns.
Evidence for pH-Dependent Protease Activity in the Adeno-Associated Virus Capsid

Incubation of highly purified adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids in vitro at pH 5.5 induced significant autocleavage of capsid proteins at several amino acid positions. No autocleavage was seen at pH 7.5. Examination of other AAV serotypes showed at least two different pH-induced cleavage patterns, suggesting that different serotypes have evolved alternative protease cleavage sites. In contrast, incubation of AAV serotypes with an external protease substrate showed that purified AAV capsid preparations have robust protease activity at neutral pH but not at pH 5.5, opposite to what is seen with capsid protein autocleavage. Several lines of evidence suggested that protease activity is inherent in AAV capsids and is not due to contaminating proteins. Control virus preparations showed no protease activity on external substrates, and filtrates of AAV virus preparations also showed no protease activity contaminating the capsids. Further, N-terminal Edman sequencing identified unique autocleavage sites in AAV1 and AAV9, and mutagenesis of amino acids adjacent to these sites eliminated cleavage. Finally, mutation of an amino acid in AAV2 (E563A) that is in a conserved pH-sensitive structural region eliminated protease activity on an external substrate but did not seem to affect autocleavage. Taken together, our data suggested that AAV capsids have one or more protease active sites that are sensitive to pH induction. Further, it appears that acidic pHs comparable to those seen in late endosomes induce a structural change in the capsid that induces autolytic protease activity. The pH-dependent protease activity may have a role in viral infection.
Architecture and IC implementation of a digital VRM controller

This paper develops the architecture of a digital PWM controller for application in multiphase voltage regulation modules (VRMs). In this context, passive current sharing and VRM transient response with nonzero controller delay are analyzed. A scheme for sensing a combination of the VRM output voltage and output current with a single low-resolution window analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is proposed. The architecture and IC implementation of a digital PWM (DPWM) generation module, using a ring-oscillator-multiplexer scheme, is discussed. Experimental results from a prototype VRM and a partial controller IC implementation are presented.
Rare case of asymptomatic spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

We present a case of a 46-year-old woman who presented to the emergency room after a syncopal episode. Most of her initial workup did not lead to any diagnosis. However, the transthoracic echocardiogram showed new onset left ventricular dysfunction. Further, cardiac evaluation showed a chronic coronary artery dissection in the proximal left anterior descending artery. Syncope was related to vasovagal event but rapid plasma reagin being positive led to the question of whether the coronary artery dissection was secondary to vasculitic manifestation of prior syphilis infection. More research is needed to answer this question and to find such an association. .
Computational fluid dynamics modeling of laboratory flames and an industrial flare

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology for simulating the combustion process has been validated with experimental results. Three different types of experimental setups were used to validate the CFD model. These setups include an industrial-scale flare setups and two lab-scale flames. The CFD study also involved three different fuels: C3H6/CH4/Air/N2, C2H4/O2/Ar, and CH4/Air. In the first setup, flare efficiency data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) 2010 field tests were used to validate the CFD model. In the second setup, a McKenna burner with flat flames was simulated. Temperature and mass fractions of important species were compared with the experimental data. Finally, results of an experimental study done at Sandia National Laboratories to generate a lifted jet flame were used for the purpose of validation. The reduced 50 species mechanism, LU 1.1, the realizable k-ϵ turbulence model, and the EDC turbulence–chemistry interaction model were used for this work. Flare ef...
Gastric parietal cell H(+)-K(+)-ATPase microsomes are associated with isoforms of ankyrin and spectrin

Stimulation of HCl secretion by gastric parietal cells requires the fusion of cytoplasmic H(+)-K(+)-ATPase-bearing tubulovesicles with the apical membrane. This insertion of membrane results in a dramatic increase in apical surface area through the formation of microvilli. To elucidate the elements that may stabilize the newly inserted H(+)-K(+)-ATPase within the apical membrane, we searched for specific cytoskeletal proteins associating with the gastric enzyme. We document by immunoblot analysis that ankyrin, spectrin, and actin copurify with H(+)-K(+)-ATPase microsomes prepared from gastric parietal cells. Coprecipitation of 125I-labeled native erythrocyte ankyrin with the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase from gastric microsomes using anti-H(+)-K(+)-ATPase antibodies suggests that ankyrin associates with the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy show that ankyrin and H(+)-K(+)-ATPase cosegregate within resting and secreting parietal cells. Taken together, these data suggest that the association of the gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase with spectrin and actin is mediated by ankyrin and that this interaction contributes to the maintenance of the polarized distribution of the enzyme to the apical domain of gastric parietal cells during acid secretion.
Methyl bromide efficacy and residues in large-scale quarantine tests to control codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on nectarines in field bins and shipping containers for export to Japan

Large-scale tests in 1986 through 1992 of the methyl bromide quarantine treatment (48 g per m3 for 2 h at 21 degrees C with a 50% volume chamber load) to control codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), on nectarines for export to japan resulted in 100% mortality of 159,829 1-d-old eggs on fruit in field bins and three survivors in 64,004 eggs tested on fruit packed in shipping containers. The true survival proportion at the 95% CL was greater than or equal to 35 per million based on the total lumber of eggs in all tests. Methyl bromide sorption in tests with nectarines packed in shipping containers (range, 33.4-41.2%) was lower than in tests with fruit in field bins (range, 49.6-60.5%) because less fruit was placed in the fumigation chamber when packed in shipping containers. The products of mean concentration multiplied by time in all tests were essentially within the recommended values of 68.0 +/- 3.0 g h per to provide quarantine security. Forty-eight hours after fumigation, inorganic bromide residues were below the tolerance of 20 ppm. Five days after storage at 2.5 degrees C, mean organic bromide residues were < 0.001 ppm. 'May Glo', May Diamond', and 'Mayfire' nectarines were approved for export to Japan after fumigation in field bins based on our test results. Efficacy and residue data for fumigation of 'May Grand', 'Firebrite', 'Red Diamond', 'Royal Giant', 'Spring Red', 'Summer Grand', and Fantasia' nectarines in shipping containers are in review by regulatory agencies.
Research on Charge Mechanism of Additional Capital of Systemically Important Banks Based on Copula-CoVaR Model

This paper establishes an additional risk capital charge mechanism of systemically important banks on the basis of CoVaR risk measurement framework,aiming at the capital being able to cover the risk spillover accurately.We use the Copula-CoVaR model to measure commercial banks' risk spillover effects and then determine their capital adequacy based on controlling each bank's systematic risk spillover consistently.Finally,according to its capital adequacy situation,the corresponding systemically important banks additional capital charge percentage is determined.
Determining Optimum Scheme of Rushing to Deal with Emergency for Crude Oil Pipeline by Using Fuzzy Evaluation Method

With fuzzy mathematical evaluation method to compare different schemes of rushing to deal with emergency for crude oil pipeline,many qualitative factors can be transformed into quantitative ones,so as to make more complete and accurate analysis. The factor set of fuzzy mathematical evaluation method includes degree of reliability,time and cost of emergency handling,loss,social impact,and so on. Each factor is composed of several factor subsets. Evaluation set is the grade of superior or inferior of scheme. This method can overcome shortcomings arising from subjectivity and offer scientific basis for rationally determining optimum scheme of emergency handling.
Extra- and intracellular recordings from the avjunction: discerning the mechanisms for irregular ventricular responses during supraventricular arrhythmias.

INTRODUCTION There has been a long-standing controversy regarding the mechanism(s) to explain the irregular ventricular response during atrial tachycardia (AT) or atrial fibrillation (AF) and where the site of block, if any, resides in the atrioventricular (AV) junction. METHODS We studied 12 Langendorff preparations perfused with modified Tyrode's solution containing 5-10 mM diacetyl monoxime which suppressed contractility but allowed the use of intracellular action potential (AP) recordings. Octapolar catheters (2-mm rings, 2-mm spacing) were secured along the tricuspid annulus from the apex to the base of the triangle of Koch and along the anterior limbus of the fossa ovalis to record extracellular, slow pathway, fast pathway, His bundle (Hb) and AV nodal (AVN) extracellular potentials as well as intracellular action potentials. RESULTS AT or AF induced by rapid atrial pacing showed a variety of irregular responses due to: (1) Wenckebach conduction showing decrement within the AVN and progressive diminution of extracellular AVN potentials (n = 5); (2) repetitive concealed conduction proximal to the AVN (n = 3); (3) ectopic beats arising within the AVN (n = 2); (4) ectopic beats arising at the Hb (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS In this experimental preparation, extracellular and intracellular recordings provided presumptive evidence for the mechanisms causing the irregularities of the ventricular response such as repetitive concealed conduction, enhanced automaticity or electrotonically triggered activity. Also more definitive determinations of the site of block in the AV junction were also obtained.
Multi-Color Single Molecule FRET Study of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Binding

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are unstructured at the native condition and fold when attaching to their binding partners. Understanding the mechanism of this process requires probing conformational changes of IDPs during binding processes. Since multiple binding pathways should exist as protein folding, single-molecule spectroscopy is expected to provide unique information such as the distribution of binding pathways. In order to probe conformational changes of IDPs and their interactions with binding targets simultaneously, it is necessary to obtain the distance information between more than two fluorophores. In this work, we performed three-color FRET spectroscopy to study the oligomerization of the tetramerization domain (TD) of the tumor suppressor protein p53. Two monomers of TD form a dimer at low nM concentration and subsequently two dimers form a tetramer at higher concentration. In the dimerization experiment, one monomer TD construct was labeled with Alexa 488 and Alexa 647 and immobilized on a PEG-coated glass coverslip via a biotin-streptavidin linkage. Another TD construct was labeled with Alexa 750 as a binding partner in solution. Using the alternating excitation of two picosecond-pulsed lasers (485 and 640 nm) at 40 MHz, it was possible to detect all three FRET efficiencies between three fluorophores. In addition, from the average delay times between photon arrivals and laser excitation, the fluorescence lifetime of each state was measured. We determined the dissociation constant and the dissociation rate of the dimer, which are consistent with the previous measurements by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. More importantly, we observed TD monomer conformations in the dimer that are different from that in the tetramer. The faster formation of the tetramer than the dissociation of the dimer at high TD concentration suggests that these dimers with different conformations should be on pathway intermediates during the tetramerization.
Climate Change, Ocean Chemistry, and the Evolution of Reefs Through Time

Reef building has responded to changes in climate, ocean chemistry, and a variety of other physical and biological factors during the geologic past, as have the taxa involved. Many of the data revealed by the geologic record are also relevant to human impacts on coral reefs today and their success moving forward. This chapter reviews the responses of reefs and reef builders to environmental changes over Earth’s history and relates this information to projected changes due to anthropogenic activities going forward. These changes include increasing temperature, ocean acidification, more intense storms, sea-level rise, nutrification, and sedimentation. Past events provide some insights, but are somewhat limited proxies of future impacts, largely because of the perhaps unprecedented current rate of CO2 release today. Present-day rates of climate change and ocean acidification may be higher than at any point in the geologic past, and may exceed the capacity for corals and other reef builders to tolerate or adapt to the changing environment.
The CUPAD System: Initial Clinical Evaluation

The clinical application of the CUPAD system involves two main areas of evaluation: (1) the determination of whether new useful diagnostic information is present in the images of normal and disease states and (2) the determination of the adaptability of CUPAD for routine clinical examinations.
Abstract 35: Breast cancer metabolism: Are ketone bodies energetic substrates

Cancer cell metabolism differs from non-transformed cells in that cancer cells do not employ oxidative phosphorylation for ATP-production from glucose even in the presence of adequate oxygen concentrations. This conjecture increases the cancer cell9s reliance on glucose, potentially reducing the cancer cell9s ability to utilize non-glucose substrates. The main alternative to glucose are high-energy breakdown products of hepatic lipid metabolism, collectively termed ketone bodies. Non-transformed cells are able to metabolize ketone bodies to form ATP, but the role of ketone bodies’ metabolism in human breast cancer cells is unclear, since it relies on metabolic functions downstream of glucose metabolism. Here we aimed to determine if human breast cancer cells will utilize ketone bodies (beta-hydroxybuterate) as energy substrate in the absence of glucose. Cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was measured after 48 h or 72 h of treatment using an MTT-Assay. Treatment conditions were various glucose concentrations (4.5 g/l to 0 g/l) and 25 nM beta-hydroxybuterate (BHB) for all cells after overnight serum starvation. After 48 h, cell proliferation decreased to 47% (p After 72 h, cell proliferation decreased to 30.5% (p These preliminary results indicate that human breast cancer cells are not able to use ketone bodies as energy substrates in the absence of glucose. An additional finding was also that more aggressive, triple-negative breast cancer cells are able to survive with very low glucose conditions. Pending further investigation, this may provide a rationale for dietary carbohydrate restriction as neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer patients, but may necessitate further glucose restrictions than what can be achieved through diet alone. Citation Format: Alyssa M. Dixon, Michael Weichhaus. Breast cancer metabolism: Are ketone bodies energetic substrates. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 35.
Male Adaptations to Retain a Mate

Men expend significant amounts of time, effort, and resources on finding, attracting, and sustaining a relationship with a mate. Those resources may have been used in vain, however, if the woman in which he invested those resources defects from the relationship, even temporarily. Consequently, men are hypothesized to have evolved psychological mechanisms that motivate the production of behaviors dedicated to the detection of such risks and the prevention of such losses. These mate retention behaviors may be directed at rival males or the man’s partner and may inflict costs for her defection or reward her fidelity, but they all function by increasing the cost-to-benefit ratio of a woman’s continued devotion to the existing relationship. This ratio, and men’s use of different categories of mate retention behaviors, is influenced by a wide variety of variables, including men’s and women’s mate value and characteristics of the existing relationship.
A broad-scale comparison of aerobic activity levels in vertebrates: endotherms versus ectotherms

Differences in the limits and range of aerobic activity levels between endotherms and ectotherms remain poorly understood, though such differences help explain basic differences in species' lifestyles (e.g. movement patterns, feeding modes, and interaction rates). We compare the limits and range of aerobic activity in endotherms (birds and mammals) and ectotherms (fishes, reptiles, and amphibians) by evaluating the body mass-dependence of VO2 max, aerobic scope, and heart mass in a phylogenetic context based on a newly constructed vertebrate supertree. Contrary to previous work, results show no significant differences in the body mass scaling of minimum and maximum oxygen consumption rates with body mass within endotherms or ectotherms. For a given body mass, resting rates and maximum rates were 24-fold and 30-fold lower, respectively, in ectotherms than endotherms. Factorial aerobic scope ranged from five to eight in both groups, with scope in endotherms showing a modest body mass-dependence. Finally, maximum consumption rates and aerobic scope were positively correlated with residual heart mass. Together, these results quantify similarities and differences in the potential for aerobic activity among ectotherms and endotherms from diverse environments. They provide insights into the models and mechanisms that may underlie the body mass-dependence of oxygen consumption.
Direct numerical simulations of stably stratified decaying unforced turbulence

Abstract In the present paper, the turbulent mixing and structure of decaying stably stratified flows are investigated using direct numerical simulations (DNS). A key quantity for estimating turbulent diapyncal mixing in stably stratified flows is the flux Richardson number Rf (also commonly referred to as the mixing efficiency) which is a measure of the amount of turbulent kinetic energy that is irreversibly converted to background potential energy. Using simulations with varying strengths of density stratification, it is found that when the buoyancy Reynolds number R e b = ϵ / ( ν N 2 ) (where ϵ is the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate, ν is the kinematic viscosity, and N is the Brunt–Vaisala frequency), is less than 10, Rf becomes a property of the fluid as strong buoyancy effects inhibit turbulent mixing and hence Rf is influenced by (molecular) Prandtl number effects. On the other hand, for energetic flows at higher buoyancy Reynolds numbers (i.e. Reb > O(10)), Prandtl number effects diminish, indicating that Rf is a property of the flow. Flow visualization of enstrophy structures show the presence of elongated vortex tubes characteristic of classic isotropic turbulence for weakly stratified flows while ‘pancake-like’ structures emerge for strongly stratified flows.
The Political Question Doctrine in State Constitutional Law

The political question doctrine is, to put the matter most succinctly, a doctrine employed by the courts to avoid resolving certain controversies on the grounds that the issues in the case are essentially political, not legal. The doctrine emerges out of key U.S. Supreme Court cases in which the Court declined to intervene in constitutional disputes on the grounds that these disputes raised political, rather than legal, questions and were therefore not appropriate for judicial resolution. 1 This doctrine has been rightly described as one of the classic nonjusticiability doctrines, sharing in common with
Writing and Learning in the Health Sciences: Rhetoric, Identity, Genre, and Performance

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM linkages are generally acknowledged to help students improve as writers and engage more deeply in disciplinary course content. However, the extent to which the literacy skills that are taught in general writing courses transfer to the specific writing needs of a particular discipline remains a debatable issue. Referring to first year writing courses, Amy Devitt notes that writing courses “have been attacked as not useful, in part because of a potential lack of transferability of the general writing skills learned in composition courses to the particular writing tasks students will later confront” ( ). Margaret Mansfield similarly maintains that attempts to reproduce real world writing in the classroom are “intrinsically doomed” ( ), as do many of the essays in Joseph Petraglia’s collection, Reconceiving Writing, Rethinking Writing Instruction, which question the value of what Petraglia terms GWSI (General Writing Skills Instruction). However, an important benefit of a cross curricular model, one that receives little attention in writing across the curriculum scholarship, is that linked courses not only help students improve as writers, but they can also enable students to understand that “when people learn, they don’t take on new knowledge so much as a new identity” (Lindquist ). Identity is closely linked with writing, but WAC tends to focus primarily on the actual writing, not on the role writers play in a discourse community. In this essay, we discuss a successful linkage between a writing class and a class in Health Sciences that used rhetoric, with particular emphasis on the concepts of identity, genre, and performance, to help students gain insight into the role of writing in the field of Public Health and understand what it means to be a Public Health professional. Differences in students’ responses to essays written at the beginning of the semester as
Noise from a rotor ingesting a thick boundary layer and relation to measurements of ingested turbulence

Abstract Haystacked peaks in rotor noise spectra are produced by the correlated unsteady loading on neighboring blades. This noise can be predicted with knowledge of the turbulent inflow and blade response function, but this is not trivial, especially for complex turbulent inflows that are both inhomogeneous and anisotropic. This paper details the radiated noise and direct measurement of the unsteady upwash correlation in the rotating frame of a 10-bladed, 457 mm diameter rotor immersed in planar wall boundary layers of different thickness at non-thrusting and thrusting advance ratios. At low thrust conditions, the measured upwash correlation can be predicted using the fixed frame space-time correlation function of the undisturbed inflow. However, as the advance ratio is lowered, predictions progressively deviate from measurements. This is shown to be due to both the distortion of the approaching turbulence and the formation of a separation region on the wall beneath the rotor. At these low advance ratios, haystacks at the blade passage frequency and harmonics are observed in the blade-to-blade upwash coherence spectra at spanwise locations near the blade tips. Also, a lateral contraction of the turbulence is not observed in measurement of the spanwise coherence with increasing thrust. Finally, increasing the boundary layer thickness increases spectral levels of the radiated noise at higher advance ratios near zero thrust by a factor similar to the increase in boundary layer thickness. At low advance ratios, peaks in the measured noise have the same approximate magnitude for similar rotational and freestream velocities regardless of the boundary layer thickness as these are likely produced by interaction with vortex structures in the separated region.
Contextual Influences on Motivation and Performance: An Examination of Achievement Goal Structures

In achievement goal theory, as in the broader discipline of psychology, a false dichotomy has obfuscated our understanding of the influences of contextual and personality features on behavior. Thankfully, this problem is being addressed by many scholars. Just as the nature versus nurture debate has waned among psychologists, the person versus environment divide in motivation research, and particularly in achievement goal theory, is currently being bridged by a common answer: It is both. The achievement goals that individuals pursue in a given situation depend both on the personal goal orientation of the individual and messages in the achievement context that make particular goals salient.
Instilling Fear and Regulating Behavior: Immigration Law as Social Control

Immigration law has been aptly described as offering a window into our national psyche. As evidenced in the recent presidential campaign, our national psyche is in a state of heightened anxiety, particularly with regards to immigrants. President Trump tapped into and stoked this fear with vows to build a wall at our southern border, bar Muslims from entering the country, and deport Mexicans dubbed “rapists and murders.” From the initial days of the new Administration, it became clear that this fear of foreigners would play a central role in re-shaping immigration policy and in regulating the behavior of immigrants, and citizens, within the nation. For example, shortly after assuming office, the President issued an Executive Order barring all refugees from entering the United States for three months, indefinitely barring Syrian refugees, and prohibiting visas for nationals of seven Muslim- majority nations. The President also signed Executive Orders to build a wall at our Southern border, enhance interior enforcement efforts and dramatically increase detention and deportation directed at all unauthorized immigrants within the nation. Even if the new administration cannot effectively build a wall to seal off our southern border or detain and deport upwards of nine million undocumented immigrants, the new climate of fear is already serving to control the immigrant population. While much scholarly attention has been paid to critiquing the plenary power doctrine and to analyzing the criminalization of immigration law, this article explores the interaction between the plenary power doctrine and the domestic use of immigration law to create a heightened state of fear for immigrants within the United States. This article offers a historical perspective, exploring the connection between the Supreme Court’s deference to the legislative and executive branches when regulating immigration and the myriad laws, policies, and enforcement strategies that are implemented and carried out in such a way as to (not unintentionally) instill fear in the immigrant community. This combination of constitutional immunity and fear of detection have given rise to a largely compliant workforce and population that demands little in return for the labor provided. Rather than examining this result as an unwanted or unintended consequence of enforcement measures, or even an effort to encourage self-deportation, I argue that one goal of immigration regulation within the U.S. has always been to instill fear and control immigrant behavior as a means of creating an obedient workforce and community. By shedding greater light on the domestic aspect of immigration regulation, this article complements existing scholarship advocating for greater judicial scrutiny and constitutional protections for immigrants.
The Cognitive Profile of Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia (VaD) refers to cognitive impairment secondary to compromise of cerebral perfusion. Although some reports document dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative cause after Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (1), others suggest that VaD is the second leading cause of dementia in North America (2). VaD has been estimated to account for 15–25% of cognitive impairment among the elderly (3). Interestingly, the extant literature has not emphasized descriptions of the cognitive profile of VaD in the same way it has for AD.