cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcription Factors Mediate the Enzymatic Disassembly of Promoter-Bound 7SK snRNP to Locally Recruit P-TEFb for Transcription Elongation

The transition from transcription initiation into elongation is controlled by transcription factors, which recruit positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) to promoters to phosphorylate RNA polymerase II. A fraction of P-TEFb is recruited as part of the inhibitory 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP), which inactivates the kinase and prevents elongation. However, it is unclear how P-TEFb is captured from the promoter-bound 7SK snRNP to activate elongation. Here, we describe a mechanism by which transcription factors mediate the enzymatic release of P-TEFb from the 7SK snRNP at promoters to trigger activation in a gene-specific manner. We demonstrate that Tat recruits PPM1G/PP2Cγ to locally disassemble P-TEFb from the 7SK snRNP at the HIV promoter via dephosphorylation of the kinase T loop. Similar to Tat, nuclear factor (NF)-κB recruits PPM1G in a stimulus-dependent manner to activate elongation at inflammatory-responsive genes. Recruitment of PPM1G to promoter-assembled 7SK snRNP provides a paradigm for rapid gene activation through transcriptional pause release.
Maintaining Quality Standards in Franchise Chains

In the present paper we identify those characteristics of the markets served by a franchise chain which determine the relative incentives of the owner of the chain to monitor the behavior of individual franchisees. We find that the owner has greater incentives to monitor the outlets that serve the relatively smaller markets and those that are subject to greater fluctuations in the state of the demand confronting them. We also find that the extent of competition with other chains has an ambiguous effect on the incentives to monitor the franchisees:
An analytic evaluation of microcomputer educational OR/MS Software

Abstract This paper evaluates, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), six recent OR/MS software for microcomputers. Two methods were used to aggregate the individual responses and close agreement was found between individual ratings, as well as between methods. The overall ranking of the six software packages was not practically affected by changes in the importance assigned to the various criteria. Guidelines are provided to select the appropriate software, depending upon specific requirements of the user.
The Validity of the Screening Test of Academic Readiness in Predicting Achievement in First and Second Grades

The ability of the Screening Test of Academic Readiness (STAR) to predict academic achievement was assessed through using two samples of beginning kindergarten pupils from two successive years in a large midwest suburban school district. At the beginning of the first grade, the Stanford Early School Achievement Test (SESAT), Primary Battery II, was administered to both samples of pupils. Obtained STAR-SESAT correlations ranged from .087 to .700. In addition, the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT), Primary Battery I, was administered to one sample two years after the STAR administration, when the pupils were in the second grade. The STAR-SAT correlations ranged from .059 to .699. All but one of the 216 correlation coefficients were statistically significant. The total score on the STAR and the STAR Numbers subtest appeared to be the best predictors of academic achievement in both first and second grades.
Physiological models for scaling plot measurements of CO2 flux across an arctic tundra landscape.

Regional estimates of arctic ecosystem CO2 exchange are required because of the large soil carbon stocks located in arctic regions, the potentially large global-scale feedbacks associated with climate-change-induced alterations in arctic ecosystem C sequestration, and the substantial small-scale (1–10 m2) heterogeneity of arctic vegetation and hydrology. Because the majority of CO2 flux data for arctic ecosystems are derived from plot-scale studies, a scaling routine that can provide reliable estimates of regional CO2 flux is required. This study combined data collected from chamber measurements of CO2 exchange, meteorology, hydrology, and surface reflectance with simple physiological models to quantify the diurnal and seasonal dynamics of whole-ecosystem respiration (R), gross primary production (GPP), and net CO2 exchange (F) of wet- and moist-sedge tundra ecosystems of arctic Alaska. Diurnal fluctuations in R were expressed as exponential functions of air temperature, whereas diurnal fluctuations in GPP were described as hyperbolic functions of diurnal photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Daily integrated rates of R were expressed as an exponential function of average daily water table depth and temperature, whereas daily fluctuations in GPP were described as a hyperbolic function of average daily PPFD and a sigmoidal function of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) calculated from satellite imagery. These models described, on average, 75–97% of the variance in diurnal R and GPP, and 78–95% of the variance in total daily R and GPP. Model results suggest that diurnal F can be reliably predicted from meteorology (radiation and temperature), but over seasonal time scales, information on hydrology and phenology is required to constrain the response of GPP and R to variations in temperature and radiation. Using these physiological relationships and information about the spatial variance in surface features across the landscape, measurements of CO2 exchange in 0.5-m2 plots were extrapolated to the hectare scale. Compared to direct measurements of hectare-scale F made using eddy covariance, the scaled estimate of seasonally integrated F was within 20% of the observed value. With a minimum of input data, these models allowed plot measurements of arctic ecosystem CO2 exchange to be confidently scaled in space and time.
Seismic Design and Testing of an RC Slab-Column Frame Strengthened by Steel Bracing:

Abstract This study is concerned with developing a rational design procedure for use of ductile steel bracing for strengthening existing seismically “weak” RC slab‐column building structures. A one‐third scale, two‐bay, two‐story RC slab‐column frame model was selected to represent existing seismically inadequate structures of its type. The design procedure, construction and test results of the steel bracing system for strengthening the RC frame are presented in this paper. The strengthened frame was subjected to a combination of gravity and cyclic lateral loads up to 2% overall frame drifts. The behavior of the strengthened frame improved dramatically over that of the bare RC frame. A maximum 2.75% drift in the first story was reached which is highly probable during severe earthquake motions.
Islet amyloid polypeptide toxicity and membrane interactions

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is responsible for amyloid formation in type 2 diabetes and contributes to the failure of islet cell transplants, however the mechanisms of IAPP-induced cytotoxicity are not known. Interactions with model anionic membranes are known to catalyze IAPP amyloid formation in vitro. Human IAPP damages anionic membranes, promoting vesicle leakage, but the features that control IAPP–membrane interactions and the connection with cellular toxicity are not clear. Kinetic studies with wild-type IAPP and IAPP mutants demonstrate that membrane leakage is induced by prefibrillar IAPP species and continues over the course of amyloid formation, correlating additional membrane disruption with fibril growth. Analyses of a set of designed mutants reveal that membrane leakage does not require the formation of β-sheet or α-helical structures. A His-18 to Arg substitution enhances leakage, whereas replacement of all of the aromatic residues via a triple leucine mutant has no effect. Biophysical measurements in conjunction with cytotoxicity studies show that nonamyloidogenic rat IAPP is as effective as human IAPP at disrupting standard anionic model membranes under conditions where rat IAPP does not induce cellular toxicity. Similar results are obtained with more complex model membranes, including ternary systems that contain cholesterol and are capable of forming lipid rafts. A designed point mutant, I26P-IAPP; a designed double mutant, G24P, I26P-IAPP; a double N-methylated variant; and pramlintide, a US Food and Drug Administration–approved IAPP variant all induce membrane leakage, but are not cytotoxic, showing that there is no one-to-one relationship between disruption of model membranes and induction of cellular toxicity.
Photoconductive measurements on microwave-assisted plasma-enhanced chemically vapor deposited diamond films

Abstract Intrinsic photoconductivity is studied in microwave plasma-enhanced chemically vapor deposited polycrystalline diamond thin films. Two excitation sources are used to excite free carriers: a mode-locked Nd:YAG laser producing UV pulses 3–5 ps in duration of energy 6.26 eV, and a synchrotron source producing 350 ps pulses of broad band X-rays with energy less than 2.5 keV. Both sources are used to study 3–6 μm thick polycrystalline diamond films grown by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. The procedure used to prepare the films is described. Values for the carrier mobility and lifetime have been extracted from the results. The lifetimes are very short (less than 50 ps), probably because of the high density of defects within the crystallites. The mobility is considerably higher than that reported earlier on diamond films. We extracted a value of approximately 60 cm2V-1s-1 at a field of 103V cm-1. The photoresponse of the microwave films as a function of induced carrier density is similar to that of natural diamond. Specifically, carrier-carrier scattering reduces the mobility at high densities.
Picosecond infrared multiphoton ionization of chromyl chloride

Abstract Picosecond infrared multiphoton ionization (MPI) was demonstrated as a viable technique for monitoring the population in the excited states in a polyatomic molecule such as CrO2Cl2. This method differs from resonant MPI in the sense that tunable UV laser is not needed. By time delaying the excitation laser pulse and the ionization laser pulse, dynamical information on energy relaxation of the excited state can be obtained in the usual manner. This technique was demonstrated with CrO2Cl2 with 532 nm excitation. It was observed that at this frequency the relaxation was due mainly to collisional deactivation, in agreement with previous studies. This technique should be applicable to the investigation of ultrafast collisionless intramolecular dynamics in polyatomic molecules.
A New Directionality Software Tool Reveals Muscle Microtubule Pattern Alterations

Cytoskeletal components have distinct patterns, whose modifications may indicate pathological changes. However, the changes may be difficult to assess visually. For example, recent data show that microtubules play a role in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy pathology. We and others have reported, earlier, that the microtubules of the mdx (dystrophin-null) mouse are perturbed. Although it was possible to assess microtubule patterns in fibers of adult fast muscles (EDL) visually, it was not possible to do so in fibers from slow muscles (Soleus), which have a more tangled microtubule pattern. We need a robust tool to analyze the digital images, more specifically to detect the directionality of the microtubule network. The most commonly used tool is based on the Tamura method, which is calculated from 3 x 3 edge filters. This approach mainly focuses on local image features while neglecting the global features. We find that this method is not well suited to the structure of microtubules. We have therefore developed a new directionality detection method utilizing texture features. The software generates a graphic by calculating the texture correlation for each orientation. Both local and global features contribute to the final results. A direct visual comparison of the produced images makes it easy for the user to distinguish subtle variations in pattern. A directionality score is also calculated based on the peak sharpness in the plot. This new tool was used to compare microtubules in the soleus muscle of wild-type, mdx, utrophin-null and double knockout mice. The directionality scores revealed differences among these mouse lines which could not be appreciated visually and which paralleled the differences observed in EDL muscles.
PARATHYROID AND GONAD RELATIONSHIP IN REGULATING BLOOD CALCIUM FRACTIONS IN CHICKENS1,2

Plasma diffusible calcium levels of cocks and capons with or without estrogen treatment are significantly decreased by parathyroidectomy. The level of nondiffusible calcium is increased by estrogen in sham and starved controls, but not when estrogenized birds are parathyroidectomized and diffusible levels are significantly decreased. Spontaneous recovery from parathyroidectomy occurs in about 6 days. Cocks and capons injected with estrogen after parathyroidectomy show no increase in non-diffusible levels when diffusible levels are still abnormally low by 4 days after the operation. Parathyroids and estrogen are suggested to be indirectly related in regulating plasma calcium of birds. The parathyroids maintain diffusible calcium at normal levels so that estrogen can increase non-diffusible calcium.
Probing the Stereochemical Requirements for Receptor Recognition of δ Opioid Agonists through Topographic Modifications in Position 1

A series of side-chain constrained tyrosine derivatives, 2‘,6‘-dimethyl-β-methyltyrosines (TMT), has been designed and incorporated into position 1 of the highly selective δ opioid agonists DPDPE (Tyr-d-Pen2-Gly-Phe-d-Pen5-OH) and deltorphin I (DELT I, Tyr-d-Ala-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2). Molecular mechanics calculations on isolated TMT residues and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of the TMT1-containing peptides in DMSO showed that each of the four stereoisomers of TMT favors one particular rotamer of the side-chain χ1 torsional angle. Therefore, substitution of four TMT isomers for Tyr1 allows us to perform a systematic conformational scan through three staggered rotamers of the aromatic side chain, gauche (−), trans, and gauche (+), and to explore specific binding requirements of the receptor in relation to the side chain conformation. The potency and selectivity of four isomers of [TMT1]DPDPE and four isomers of [TMT1]DELT I were evaluated by radioreceptor binding assays in the rat brain using ...
A virial coefficient analysis of helium adsorption isotherms

A model in which the atoms in the second layer of a monolayer-plus helium film are assumed to form a quasi-two-dimensional gas is used to analyze the isotherm data of Goellner, Daunt, and Lerner for helium on Grafoil. The parameters in the model are determined by a least-squares fit of the model isotherm to the data. These parameters include the second and third virial coefficients of the quasi-two-dimensional gas and the binding energy of the second-layer atoms to the first layer. The empirical values are compared to recent theoretical predictions for the two-dimensional helium gas. The agreement and discrepancies between theoretical and empirical values are discussed. The conclusion is that the second layer (at low densities) can be described as an imperfect two-dimensional gas with perhaps some modification of the interatomic potential due to substrate effects.
Weak isospin of the b-quark and possible non-existence of a t-quark

Abstract We consider the possibility that the left-handed b-quark is a weak isospin singlet, instead of the usually assumed (t,b) L doublet assignment. Neutral current decays of the b serve as distinctive tests of this alternative; these tests are independent of the values of mixing parameters. Branching ratios of b→sl + l − of 2% or b→dl + l − of 1% are predicted.
Staging sexuality in an all-male adaptation of Romeo and Juliet

This article considers Lu Po-shen’s adaptation and production of Romeo and Juliet in the context of Taiwanese traditions of cross-dressing performances. It asks how far conventional attitudes to sexuality were troubled by the staging decisions and acting styles.
Fetch requirements for bowen ratio measurements of latent and sensible heat fluxes

Abstract Simultaneous measurements of the Bowen ratio were made at different fetch-to-height ratios over an aerodynamically smooth plot of bermudagrass which was downwind of an aerodynamically rough field of cotton. The measurements were used to evaluate effects of fetch and measurement height on Bowen ratio estimates of latent and sensible heat fluxes. The measurements indicated that significant boundary-layer adjustment occurred within the first 15 m of fetch. For the conditions encountered, the Bowen ratio and its variability increased with measurement height. However, departure from ideal fetch (measurement within the equilibrium sublayer) had only a small effect on flux estimates. The data suggest that when the Bowen ratio is small, the method can be used successfully at fetch-to-height ratios as low as 20:1, much less than the often-quoted value of 100:1.
Molecular pathway alterations in CD4 T-cells of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice in the preinsulitis phase of autoimmune diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a multigenic disease caused by T-cell mediated destruction of the insulin producing pancreatic islet s-cells. The earliest sign of islet autoimmunity in NOD mice, islet leukocytic infiltration or insulitis, is obvious at around 5 weeks of age. The molecular alterations that occur in T cells prior to insulitis and that may contribute to T1D development are poorly understood. Since CD4 T-cells are essential to T1D development, we tested the hypothesis that multiple genes/molecular pathways are altered in these cells prior to insulitis. We performed a genome-wide transcriptome and pathway analysis of whole, untreated CD4 T-cells from 2, 3, and 4 week-old NOD mice in comparison to two control strains (NOR and C57BL/6). We identified many differentially expressed genes in the NOD mice at each time point. Many of these genes (herein referred to as NOD altered genes) lie within known diabetes susceptibility (insulin-dependent diabetes, Idd) regions, e.g. two diabetes resistant loci, Idd27 (tripartite motif-containing family genes) and Idd13 (several genes), and the CD4 T-cell diabetogenic activity locus, Idd9/11 (2 genes, KH domain containing, RNA binding, signal transduction associated 1 and protein tyrosine phosphatase 4a2). The biological processes associated with these altered genes included, apoptosis/cell proliferation and metabolic pathways (predominant at 2 weeks); inflammation and cell signaling/activation (predominant at 3 weeks); and innate and adaptive immune responses (predominant at 4 weeks). Pathway analysis identified several factors that may regulate these abnormalities: eight, common to all 3 ages (interferon regulatory factor 1, hepatic nuclear factor 4, alpha, transformation related protein 53, BCL2-like 1 (lies within Idd13), interferon gamma, interleukin 4, interleukin 15, and prostaglandin E2); and two each, common to 2 and 4 weeks (androgen receptor and interleukin 6); and to 3 and 4 weeks (interferon alpha and interferon regulatory factor 7). Others were unique to the various ages, e.g. myelocytomatosis oncogene, jun oncogene, and amyloid beta (A4) to 2 weeks; tumor necrosis factor, transforming growth factor, beta 1, NF?B, ERK, and p38MAPK to 3 weeks; and interleukin 12 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 to 4 weeks. Thus, our study demonstrated that expression of many genes that lie within several Idds (e.g. Idd27, Idd13 and Idd9/11) was altered in CD4 T-cells in the early induction phase of autoimmune diabetes and identified their associated molecular pathways. These data offer the opportunity to test hypotheses on the roles played by the altered genes/molecular pathways, to understand better the mechanisms of CD4 T-cell diabetogenesis, and to develop new therapeutic strategies for T1D.
Circadian rhythms: the cancer connection.

The Per2 gene is a core component of the circadian clock in mammals. It now seems that the mouse Per2 gene is also involved in suppressing tumours, through other genes that affect cell proliferation and death.
The immunological properties of the Clostridium pasteurianum rubredoxin

Abstract An antibody to Clostridium pasteurianum rubredoxin was found in goat serum after multiple injections of the protein. This antibody was purified by adsorption and elution from a Sepharose-rubredoxin column. The purified antibody formed a precipitating complex with C. pasteurianum rubredoxin and aporubredoxin, but not with the rubredoxin from Micrococcus aerogenes, Peptostreptococcus elsdenii , and Pseudomonas oleovorans . All rubredoxins tested were adsorbed to Sepharose-antirubredoxin columns indicating that each could form a soluble complex with anti- C. pasteurianum rubredoxin. The relative affinity of the antirubredoxin for the various rubredoxins was demonstrated by its ability to inhibit the rubredoxin-dependent reduction of cytochrome c by NADPH in the presence of NADP-ferredoxin oxidoreductase. These data suggest that there are two antigenic determinants in C. pasteurianum rubredoxin and only one such determinant in the rubredoxin from other organisms which are recognized by anti- C. pasteurianum rubredoxin.
Permeabilization of the plasmalemma and wall of soybean root cells to macromolecules

A technique has been developed that results in the reversible permeabilization of the cell wall and plasmalemma of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) root cells grown in suspension and callus culture. Cells in culture are treated with saponin (0.1 mg/ml) for 15 min at room temperature. They are then coincubated in separate experiments with fluorescent-derivatized dextrans (20-70 kDa) or fluorescein-conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G to ascertain the exclusion size of macromolecules capable of diffusing across the cell wall and plasmalemma into the cytoplasm. Following an incubation period of 30 min, it was observed by conventional and confocal fluorescence microscopy that all derivatized macromolecules tested (20-140 kDa) could be incorporated into the cytoplasm, but not into the vacuole. This procedure did not appear to affect cell viability adversely. A normal doubling time was observed for these cells following the permeabilization procedure.
Bias error in maximum likelihood estimation

A study of bias error in the maximum likelihood estimates of parameters for the Gumbel, Frechet, and Weibull distributions is documented. The study suggests that a single polynomial expression can be used to correct the bias error of all three distributions. The expression is used to develop an error function for each distribution. The error function allows study of the impact of corrections for bias error on extreme value predictions for reasonable values of the distributional parameters. The results indicate that the impact for most data is negligible.
The effects of pharmacologic doses of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on local cerebral blood flow in the awake, unrestrained rat.

Abstract Previous study of the effects of acute insulin-induced hypoglycemia on cerebral blood flow (CBF) have resulted in conflicting results. An alternate approach to the study of glucoprivation is the administration of pharmacologic doses of the glucose analogue, 2-deoxy- d -glucose (2-DG). 2-DG is transported across the blood–brain barrier tissue where it is phosphorylated to 2-deoxy- d -6-phospahte (2-DG-6-P) but not metabolized further. The 2-DG-6-P accumulates and inhibits the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate, thus blocking glycolysis and glucose metabolism. In the present study we have employed the [ 14 C]iodoantipyrine method to examine the effects of a pharmacologic dose (5 mg/kg) of 2-DG on local cerebral blood flow (ICBF) regions of the brain in conscious, unrestrained, adult male rats. The 2-DG treatment raised arterial plasma glucose levels from 8 to 17 mM without affecting arterial blood p O 2 , p CO 2 or pH but increased lCBF in most brain regions examined. The largest increases were in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamic nuclei (+65 to +157%). Smaller increases were found in most structures of the limbic system, brainstem, and white matter, and no changes in lCBF were seen in the cerebellar cortex and ventral medial hypothalamus. The results indicate that cerebral glucoprivation produced by pharmacological doses of 2-deoxyglucose is accompanied by substantial increase in blood flow in most regions of the brain.
Probing Weinberg's nonlinear quantum mechanics

Abstract A search for nonlinear representations of propositions is made by assuming that the multiplication rule Weinberg uses to express the Lie bracket as a commutator can also be used to calculate functions representing squares of propositions. For systems described by two-component wave functions, the result is negative: the functions representing nontrivial propositions are all the same as in ordinary quantum mechanics.
A criterion based audit of community-acquired pneumonia

We undertook a prospective audit of patients admitted to a specialist respiratory unit in order to assess: (a) the completeness of the objective assessment of severity of community-acquired pneumonia in patients on admission to hospital, and whether such indices were useful in predicting outcome; (b) the completeness of microbiological testing and whether maximizing the number of specimens sent to the laboratory would increase the frequency of positive microbiological diagnoses and; (c) the influence of the above on clinical management. Forty-eight patients with consolidation on chest X-ray were studied in two audit periods: 1 February 1991 to 1 May 1991 and 2 May 1991 to 16 March 1992. After the first audit period, a rubber stamp with a check list of microbiological investigations was used in the patients' notes. Seven ‘markers of severity' of pneumonia, were recorded consistently throughout the study and these were useful in predicting outcome ( P In the first audit period sputum culture, blood culture and acute serology were recorded in approximately 50% of patients. Following the introduction of the rubber stamp, the requesting of sputum, blood and urine antigen rose from none in the first audit period to 40–60%. The increase in the number of specimens obtained was not associated with an increase in the proportion of positive microbiological diagnoses. Clinical management was altered in 10 patients because of the microbiological reports and in four patients with negative microbiology ( χ 2 =8·19; P Conclusion: The standard of initial assessment was high in this specialist unit, and the presence of two or more ‘markers of severity' did help predict outcome. A simple change in work practice resulted in a significant improvement in the thoroughness of microbiological investigations. This did not result in an increase in the frequency of positive microbiological diagnoses, although in the 19 patients with a microbiological diagnosis antibiotic treatment was modified significantly more often than in patients with no pathogen isolated.
Characterization of a new Maillard type reaction product generated by heating 1-deoxymaltulosyl-glycine in the presence of cysteine.

The reaction between Amadori compounds and cysteine was investigated. When 1-deoxymaltulosyl-glycine (glycyl-fructosyl-glucose) was heated at 100 °C with cysteine in a neutral aqueous solution, a n...
Assessment of the impacts of the 1997–98 El Niño on the Asian‐Australia Monsoon

Using state-of-the-art satellite-gauge monthly rainfall estimate and optimally interpolated sea surface temperature (SST) data, we have assessed the 1997-98 AA-monsoon anomalies in terms of three basic causal factors: basin-scale SST, regional coupling, and internal variability. Singular Value Decomposition analyses of rainfall and SST are carried out globally over the entire tropics and regionally over the AA-monsoon domain. Contributions to monsoon rainfall predictability by various factors are evaluated from cumulative anomaly correlation with dominant regional SVD modes. Results reveal a dominant, large-scale monsoon-El Nino coupled mode with well-defined centers of action in the near-equatorial monsoon regions during the boreal summer and winter respectively. The observed 1997-98 AA-monsoon anomalies are found to be very complex with approximately 34% of the anomalies of the Asian (boreal) summer monsoon and 74% of the Australia (austral) monsoon attributable to basin-scale SST influence associated with El Nino. Regional coupled processes contribute an additional 19% and 10%, leaving about 47% and 16% due to internal dynamics for the boreal and austral monsoon respectively. For the boreal summer monsoon, it is noted that the highest monsoon predictability is not necessary associated with major El Nino events (e.g. 1997, 1982) but rather in non-El Nino years (e.g. 1980, 1988) when contributions from the regional coupled modes far exceed those from the basin-scale SST. The results suggest that in order to improve monsoon seasonal-to-interannual predictability, there is a need to exploit not only monsoon-El Nino relationship, but also intrinsic monsoon regional coupled processes.
The travel-time ellipse : an approximate zone of transport

Abstract A zone of transport for a well is defined as the area in the horizontal plane bounded by a contour of equal ground-water travel time to the well. For short distances and ground-water travel times near a well, the potentiometric surface may be simulated analytically as that for a fully penetrating well in a uniform flow field. The zone of transport for this configuration is nearly elliptical. A simple method is derived to calculate a travel-time ellipse that approximates the zone of transport for a well in a uniform flow field. The travel-time ellipse was nearly congruent with the exact solution for the theoretical zone of transport for ground-water travel times of at least 10 years and for aquifer property values appropriate for southeastern Minnesota. For distances and travel times approaching infinity, however, the ellipse becomes slightly wider at its midpoint and narrower near its upgradient boundary than the theoretical zone of transport. The travel-time ellipse also may be used to simulate the plume area surrounding an injection well. However, the travel-time ellipse is an approximation that does not account for the effect of dispersion in enlarging the true area of an injection plume or zone of transport; hence, caution is advised in the use and interpretation of this simple construction.
Time-resolved study of silicon during pulsed-laser annealing

Near-surface temperatures and temperature gradients have been studied in silicon during pulsed laser annealing. The investigation was carried out using nanosecond resolution x-ray diffraction measurements made at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source. Thermal-induced-strain analyses of these real-time, extended Bragg scattering measurements have shown that the lattice temperature reached the melting point during 15 ns, 1.1 to 1.5 J/cm/sup 2/ ruby laser pulses and that the temperature of the liquid-solid interface remained at that temperature of the liquid-solid interface remained at that temperature throughout the high reflectivity phase, after which time the surface temperature subsided rapidly. The temperature gradients below the liquid-solid interface were found to be in the range of 10/sup 70/C/cm.
EVALUATION OF MITRAL VALVE AREA AFTER MITRACLIP PROCEDURE: A REAL-TIME 3D TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC STUDY

Mitral valve area (MVA) decreases after MitraClip deployment. However, it may be difficult to accurately measure double orifice areas after the procedure by 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography because orifices are located in different 2D planes (Figure, lower right). Our purpose was to determine the
Associations of the apolipoprotein A1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster with triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels in women with type 2 diabetes

Abstract The apolipoprotein gene cluster (APOA1/C3/A4/A5) was recently associated with triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in non-diabetic population. Little is known whether the variations in these genes affect lipid homeostasis in patients with type 2 diabetes. We examined the associations of 10 polymorphisms at APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster with blood lipids among 902 diabetic women. A linkage disequilibrium (LD) breakdown was observed between APOA5 and other genes. APOA5 S19W was associated with significantly higher fasting TG levels ( P =0.001). Two common haplotypes encompassing four APOA5 polymorphisms (SNP1, SNP2, S19W, and SNP3) were associated with 35.6mg/dL (haplotype 2212, APOA5*2, P =0.016) and 57.8mg/dL (haplotype 1121, APOA5*3, P =0.0002) higher fasting TG levels compared with the most common (haplotype 1111, APOA5*1), respectively. Adjustment for age, BMI, and other covariates did not appreciably change such associations. In addition, APOC3 promoter polymorphism −455T/C showed significant associations with fasting TG levels ( P =0.006), whereas APOA4 +347T/A showed significant associations with lower levels of HDL-C ( P =0.017). Our results indicate that the variability in APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster may affect TG and HDL levels in women with type 2 diabetes.
Neutralization and Transfer of Lipopolysaccharide by Phospholipid Transfer Protein

Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) are lipid transfer proteins found in human plasma. PLTP shares 24% sequence similarity with LBP. PLTP mediates the transfer and exchange of phospholipids between lipoprotein particles, whereas LBP transfers bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) either to lipoprotein particles or to CD14, a soluble and cell-surface receptor for LPS. We asked whether PLTP could interact with LPS and mediate the transfer of LPS to lipoproteins or to CD14. PLTP was able to bind and neutralize LPS: incubation of LPS with purified recombinant PLTP (rPLTP) resulted in the inhibition of the ability of LPS to stimulate adhesive responses of neutrophils, and addition of rPLTP to blood inhibited cytokine production in response to LPS. Transfer of LPS by rPLTP was examined using fluorescence dequenching experiments and native gel electrophoresis. The results suggested that rPLTP was able to mediate the exchange of LPS between micelles and the transfer of LPS to reconstituted HDL particles, but it did not transfer LPS to CD14. Consonant with these findings, rPLTP did not mediate CD14-dependent adhesive responses of neutrophils to LPS. These results suggest that while PLTP and LBP both bind and transfer LPS, PLTP is unable to transfer LPS to CD14 and thus does not mediate responses of cells to LPS.
Asymmetric Dependence Implications for Extreme Risk Management

Empirical evidence shows that asset returns appear to be more highly correlated on the downside than on the upside, particularly for equities. This is in addition to the well-established property that return variances vary over time. GARCH-type models allow for the latter, but disturbances are typically assumed to be multivariate Gaussian or Student- t , which forces the correlations to be symmetric. This is especially problematical in estimating extreme risk exposures using standard measures like value at risk (VaR) and expected shortfall (ES), for which lower tail dependence causes symmetric models to underestimate downside exposure. Tsafack proves this proposition using a new concept of lowerstochastic ordering. He then explores how much difference it makes to estimate VaR and ES for portfolios of U.S. and Canadian stocks and bonds allowing dependence in the extreme left tail with a Gumbel copula. The data show significant asymmetric tail dependence especially for stocks, and the models that impose symmetry underestimate the risk of extreme tail events. VaR at the 5% level is fairly accurately estimated by standard symmetric models but they do not capture the behavior of the more remote tails, so that VaR at 1% and 0.5% and ES at 5% and beyond are underpredicted.
A consideration of some approaches to course organization

An introductory artificial intelligence course may be taught with emphasis on theory and formalism ("science"), or with emphasis on designing and building artifacts that display intelligence ("engineering"). Along another dimension, it makes pedagogical sense to organize the course around a central theme, but the course may instead be taught as a smorgasbord of approaches and problems. This paper briefly considers the four possible combinations of approaches.
Survival and growth of a range of Populus clones in central South Carolina USA through age ten: Do early assessments reflect longer-term survival and growth trends?

Abstract Increased emphasis is being placed on developing bioenergy production capacity in the United States and Populus species or hybrids have been identified as strong candidates for the southeastern United States. Thirty-one Populus clones were planted in South Carolina and survival and growth assessments were completed after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 10th growing seasons. Survival and growth differed significantly among clones. Age-to-age correlations for survival and growth traits were made and results suggest that for most clones, age 10 survival was strongly correlated with first-year survival. A small group of clones exhibited delayed mortality indicating poor longer-term adaptability. For growth, clonal selections based on age 3 volumes could be made and rank changes involve moderate to poorly performing clones. Clones with the greatest age 3 volumes, 184-411, WV416, and 52-225, ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for age 10 volume. These clones represent both T × D hybrids and pure Populus deltoides clones suggesting growth is a function of specific clonal characteristics rather than overall species or hybrid traits. The growth obtained under these test conditions is generally less than the maximum growth rates of the same clones obtained in various tests. Potential reasons for this variation are discussed. To develop Populus as a commercially viable bioenergy crop for the southeastern United States, concurrent research to identify site requirements, adaptability, and appropriate management regimes is needed. Further breeding and clonal selection will be critically important, but it is unlikely that this alone will be sufficient to assure high productivity.
Hamiltonian time evolution for general relativity

Hamiltonian time evolution in terms of an explicit parameter time is derived for general relativity, even when the constraints are not satisfied, from the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner-Teitelboim-Ashtekar action in which the slicing density $\ensuremath{\alpha}(x,t)$ is freely specified while the lapse $N\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\alpha}{g}^{1/2}$ is not. The constraint ``algebra'' becomes a well-posed evolution system for the constraints; this system is the twice-contracted Bianchi identity when ${R}_{\mathrm{ij}}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0$. The Hamiltonian constraint is an initial value constraint which determines ${g}^{1/2}$ and hence $N$, given $\ensuremath{\alpha}$.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I and Cancer Mortality in Older Men

Context: Although numerous studies have explored the relation of IGF-I with cancer incidence, few have investigated the association between IGF-I and cancer mortality. Objective: This study examined the association of serum IGF-I levels with cancer mortality in older community-dwelling men. Design, Setting, and Participants: We conducted a prospective, population-based study of 633 men aged 50 yr and older (mean = 73) who attended a 1988–1991 research clinic visit when blood was obtained for measurement of IGF-I. Participants were followed for vital status through July 2006. Main Outcome Measure: All-cancer mortality was assessed. Results: Median IGF-I was 96 ng/ml. During the 18-yr follow-up, 368 deaths occurred; 74 (20%) were due to cancer. Cox regression analyses showed a significant quadratic association between IGF-I and all-cancer mortality (P = 0.039). Higher levels of IGF-I were associated with progressively higher risk of cancer death after adjusting for age, IGF-binding protein-1, adiposity, exercise, current smoking, and previous cancer. The adjusted risk of cancer death was statistically significant for IGF-I levels above 120 ng/ml, with magnitudes of effect ranging from 1.61 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.28–2.02] to 2.61 (95% CI = 1.46–4.64). For the 46% of men with IGF-I above 100 ng/ml, the risk of fatal cancer was 1.82 (95% CI = 1.11–2.96) compared to the risk with lower levels. Conclusions: Higher serum IGF-I in older men is associated with increased risk of cancer death, independent of age, adiposity, lifestyle, and cancer history. These results suggest caution in the use of IGF-I-enhancing therapies to slow the adverse effects of aging.
A new technique for determining the preferred failure angle of brittle rock

Abstract A new technique for the accurate determination of the preferred failure angle of rocks has been developed. This technique involves using prismatic specimens notched at varying inclinations and loaded to failure. Photoelastic model studies are presented that support the hypothesis that the preferred failure angle observed is a property of the material and not of the notch geometry. Preliminary comparisons, employing cement and St. Cloud Granodiorite, of the preferred failure angles derived from this technique with those predicted by the Coulomb-Mohr criterion and Griffith theory suggest that each theory may have its own realm of validity that could eventually be mapped as a function of rock properties such as grain size, composition and microfabric.
Liver transplantation for severe intrahepatic noncirrhotic portal hypertension

Intrahepatic noncirrhotic portal hypertension can be idiopathic or associated with known toxic, developmental, vascular, or biliary tract diseases. Most patients are successfully managed medically or with shunting procedures. The goal of this study was to explore the reasons some patients require orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The clinical features, gross and microscopic liver explant pathology, and posttransplantation course in 16 patients who underwent OLT for intrahepatic noncirrhotic portal hypertension were studied. There were 11 men and 5 women with a mean age of 47 years. Clinical manifestations included gastrointestinal varices (n = 12), ascites (n = 8), encephalopathy (n = 3), and hepatopulmonary syndrome (n = 3). Cirrhosis was misdiagnosed clinically, radiographically and/or histologically in 13 patients (81%). Grossly, liver explants weighed a mean of 1,100 g, and 12 had a nodular appearance. Histologically, all 16 livers had portal tract vascular abnormalities, 15 had nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH), and 9 had incomplete septal cirrhosis. After OLT, mild NRH features were noted in 2 patients, and 1 of these patients developed evidence of portal hypertension. This study demonstrates that a subset of patients with intrahepatic noncirrhotic portal hypertension have severe symptoms requiring OLT. Accurate pre-OLT diagnosis is frequently difficult at advanced stages of the disease; 81% of our patients carried a diagnosis of cirrhosis. Morphologically, the explanted livers showed evidence of vascular abnormalities, NRH, and increased fibrosis, but not cirrhosis. Importantly, however, a diagnosis of cirrhosis is not required in this group of patients to qualify them for OLT, and these patients have good long-term graft function after OLT.
Changes during the course of the psychotherapeutic relationship.

Changes in the therapeutic relationship over time were explored using the Therapy Session Report for 30 patients and six therapists at an out-patient clinic. 11 patients dropped out after the third session, while the continuing group consisted of 19 patients for whom sessions ranged from 5 to 33 Significant differences on both patient and therapist evaluations were found between the dropout and continuing groups, there being high agreement from inception to termination. Results emphasized the importance of early establishment of a collaborative relationship in short-term psychotherapy.
Temperature-dependence of resistance at an electrotonic synapse.

The junctional resistance at septa of the crayfish lateral giant axon is inversely related to temperature with a Q 1l, of about 3 over the range from 5° to 20°C. Nonjunctional axonal membrane is much less affected. Resistance changes occur rapidly with temperature changes. No correlates in ultrastructure of the synapses have been found.
Different amyloidogenic peptides share a similar mechanism of neurotoxicity involving reactive oxygen species and calcium

The amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) that accumulates as insoluble plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's victims can be neurotoxic, by a mechanism that may involve generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and destabilization of cellular calcium homeostasis. We now provide evidence that the mechanism of neurotoxicity of two other amyloidogenic peptides (APs), human amylin and beta 2-microglobulin, also involves induction of ROS and elevation of [Ca2+]i. Human amylin, beta 2-microglobulin and A beta 1-40 all caused significant death of neurons in rat hippocampal cell cultures during 24-48 h exposure periods. Rat amylin, a non-AP, was not neurotoxic. Each AP caused an elevation of rest [Ca2+]i during a 20 h exposure period, and promoted a sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i following exposure to glutamate which was significantly greater than controls. Each AP induced accumulation of ROS in neurons which preceded elevation of [Ca2+]i. Several antioxidants, including propyl gallate, vitamin E and the spin-trapping compound N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone attenuated the elevation of [Ca2+]i and neurotoxicity induced by the peptides. The data indicate that different APs share a common mechanism of neurotoxicity involving free radical accumulation and destabilization of [Ca2+]i homeostasis.