cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geometric model to predict improvement after lingual frenulectomy for ankyloglossia.

Abstract Objectives Frenulectomy for ankyloglossia is an intervention that often improves breastfeeding quality for both the mother and infant. Current classification systems assess and identify patients with ankyloglossia, but they do not predict the degree of improvement after lingual frenulectomy. We propose an idealized geometric model to quantify the potential effect of frenulectomy for ankyloglossia. Methods Our geometric model depicts the intact lingual frenulum as a triangular pyramid of mucosa on the floor of mouth. After incising one edge of the pyramid, as is performed during a frenulectomy, the structure unfolds to a two-dimensional diamond whose dimensions can be calculated. Utilizing this calculation, we can predict percent improvement in tongue extension after frenulectomy based off the original dimensions of the pyramid. Results Our multivariable equation that allows for the calculation of the percent increase in tongue extension is based on the frenulum thickness, frenulum length, tongue length, and insertion point of the frenulum on the tongue. The initial height of the frenulum and the proximity of the frenulum insertion to the tip of the tongue had the largest impact on tongue extension, whereas frenulum width had the smallest impact. Conclusion Lingual frenulectomy has subjectively been reported to improve lingual tongue movement. Our mathematical model identifies multiple anatomic variables that lead to an increase in tongue extension after frenulectomy. Our model is the first step in supporting this subjective improvement with quantifiable measurements, and can allow for future validation studies.
Invisible Pension Investments

A large share of the more than $5.5 trillion in private pension plan assets is held in certain types of indirect investment vehicles. If those vehicles file their own annual return with the Department of Labor they are called "direct filing entities" (or DFEs), and pension plans that invest in them are excused from providing detailed information concerning the assets, liabilities, and investment performance of the DFEs. Consequently, the publicly-available summary financial information reported by pension plans investing through one or more DFEs is seriously incomplete: while a plan must identify the categorical nature of its direct investments (for example, as common or preferred stock, corporate or government debt, real estate, etc.), indirect investments through a DFE are reported only as interests in the DFE, without regard to the underlying nature of the DFE‘s assets and liabilities. Matching the DFE‘s return with the returns filed by plans that invest through the DFE is theoretically possible, but it is technically difficult and has not been comprehensively achieved.This study undertakes the task of linking returns filed by large private pension plans and DFEs in 2008. After explaining the types of DFEs, summary statistics on the extent of pension plan investment through DFEs and the composition of DFE portfolios are reported. The process employed to link the holdings of each DFE to its investor plans is described, followed by description and analysis of the results. Important differences in the asset allocations of pension plans of various types are revealed, and the portfolio compositions of plans that do and do not invest through DFEs are compared. Because 35 percent of plans that invest in a DFE are found to file internally inconsistent returns which preclude successful linking of DFE financial information to the investor plan, the plan characteristics associated with such deficient filings are investigated. Although the composition of DFE portfolios is currently invisible to plan participants and the general public, we find little evidence that DFEs have been systematically exploited to obscure the identity of pension plan investments. Finally, the results of this study are reviewed in light of the purposes of pension plan financial disclosure. Even if routine, accurate, and comprehensive matching of DFE financial information with investor plans were available, ERISA‘s text and policies support the regulatory formulation of a far more detailed digital disclosure regime.
Predictors of successful patent ductus arteriosus closure with acetaminophen in preterm infants

Evaluate predictors of successful PDA closure following acetaminophen treatment. Retrospective cohort study of ≤30 weeks GA infants born from 1 January 2013–30 September 2019, and treated with single course acetaminophen by symptomatic PDA treatment strategy. Multiple maternal and neonatal variables were identified as potential predictors. Univariate analysis and multivariable regression models were applied to evaluate the strongest predictors. Sixty-six patients were included, 28 (42.4%) had successful PDA closure following acetaminophen. Success was associated with GA > 26 weeks (65% vs. 33%, AUC = 0.64), birthweight >750 g (53% vs. 32%, AUC = 0.61), PDA size ≤0.2 cm (63% vs. 32%, AUC = 0.64), and no prior indomethacin use (56% vs. 33%, AUC = 0.61). Multivariable model identified GA > 26 weeks (RR = 1.92, CI 1.20–3.09) and PDA size ≤0.2 cm (RR: 1.82, CI 1.11–2.98) as the strongest predictors. Acetaminophen may be more successful in targeted PDA closure in >26 weeks GA infants with PDA size ≤0.2 cm.
Subsystem Identification of Feedback and Feedforward Systems with Time Delay

Abstract We present an algorithm for identifying discrete-time feedback-and-feedforward subsystems with time delay that are interconnected in closed loop with a known subsystem. This frequency-domain algorithm uses only measured input and output data from a closed-loop discrete-time system, which is single input and single output. No internal signals are assumed to be measured. The orders of the unknown feedback and feedforward transfer functions are assumed to be known. We use a two-candidate-pool multi-convex-optimization approach to identify not only the feedback and feedforward transfer functions but also the feedback and feedforward time delay. The algorithm guarantees asymptotic stability of the identified closed-loop transfer function. The main analytic result shows that if the data noise is sufficiently small and the cardinality of the feedback-candidate-pool set is sufficiently large, then the identified feedforward and feedback delays are equal to the true delays, and the parameters of the identified feedforward and feedback transfer functions are arbitrarily close to the true parameters. This subsystem identification algorithm has application to modeling human-in-the-loop behavior. To demonstrate this application, we apply the new subsystem identification algorithm to data obtained from a human-in-the-loop control experiment in order to model the humans’ feedback and feedforward (with delay) control behavior.
Phospholipid-transfer proteins.

Abstract Progress in the understanding of the in vivo function of phospholipid-transfer proteins was highlighted by the establishment of the essential role of a phosphatidylinositol/phosphatidylcholine transfer protein in the vesicle-mediated protein secretory pathway of yeast, and the linkage via this protein between protein secretion and phospholipid metabolism.
Efficacy of prayer in inducing immediate physiological changes: a systematic analysis of objective experiments.

Objectives To assess the immediate impact of prayer on physiological state by systematically reviewing objective, controlled experimental studies in the literature. Content Experimental studies measuring objective physiological changes induced by prayer. Studies containing the keyword, "Prayer" anywhere in the title or abstract were curated from the following databases: Public/Publisher Medline (PubMed), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) in May 2019. Titles and abstracts were screened with the remaining 30 articles analyzed for inclusion. Only experimental studies were included. Summary Eight experimental studies were identified of which five investigated neurocognitive changes and three investigated systemic physiological changes during prayer. The five studies focusing on neuroactivity used functional MRI (fMRI), electroencephalography or SPECT imaging to obtain measurements. The remaining three studies analyzed an array of systemic physiological metrics, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral resistance, baroreceptor sensitivity and/or cardiovascular rhythm variability during prayer. All studies aside from one saw objective changes during prayer. Neurocognitive changes were mainly associated with improved mental functioning, control and pain tolerance. Prayer was found to slow down physiological functions in two of the three vital-based studies, with the third reporting no change in physiological status. None of the studies measured blood marker changes. Outlook Experimental studies show prayer to induce healthy neurocognitive and physiological changes. Additional studies exploring objective measures from prayer are encouraged to provide practitioners with a more nuanced, scientific perspective when it comes to prescribing prayer as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy.
Minority Adolescent Mental Health Diagnosis Differences in a National Sample

Introduction Mental health disparities and differences have been identified amongst all age groups, including adolescents. However, there is a lack of research regarding adolescents within the Military Health System (MHS). The MHS is a universal health care system for military personnel and their dependents. Research has indicated that the MHS removes many of the barriers that contribute to health disparities. Additional investigations with this population would greatly contribute to our understanding of disparities and health services delivery without the barrier of access to care. Materials and methods This study analyzed the diagnostic trends of anxiety, depression, and impulse control disorders and differences within a national sample of adolescents of active-duty military parents. The study utilized 2006 to 2014 data in the MHS Data Repository for adolescents ages 13-18. The study identified 183,409 adolescents with at least one diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to assess the differences and risks for anxiety, depression, and impulse control disorders in the identified sample. Results When compared to White Americans, minority patients had a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with an impulse control disorder (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43; confidence interval [CI] 1.39-1.48) and a decreased likelihood of being diagnosed with a depressive disorder (OR = 0.98; CI 0.95-1.00) or anxiety disorder (OR = 0.80; CI 0.78-0.83). Further analyses examining the subgroups of minorities revealed that, when compared to White Americans, African American adolescents have a much higher likelihood of receiving a diagnosis of an impulse control disorder (OR = 1.66; CI 1.61-1.72) and a lower likelihood of receiving a diagnosis of a depressive disorder (OR = 0.93; CI 0.90-0.96) and an anxiety disorder (OR = 0.75; CI 0.72-0.77). Conclusion This study provides strong support for the existence of race-based differences in adolescent mental health diagnoses. Adolescents of military families are a special population with unique experiences and stressors and would benefit from future research focusing on qualitative investigations into additional factors mental health clinicians consider when making diagnoses, as well as further exploration into understanding how best to address this special population's mental health needs.
When Distal Group Norms Work: Testing Effectiveness of Distal Norm-based Messages as a Function of Desirability-motivated Identification

Most norm-based health campaigns on college campuses feature the most proximal group: health norms of the target college. However, the proximal group may have adverse norms, and fabricating positiv...
3 Specific Design Principles: Elaborating the Scaffolded Knowledge Integration Framework

The series of design-based research studies of inquiry projects yield specific design principles to help designers and teachers transform science students into lifelong learners one inquiry project at a time. Here we connect these principles to the metaprinciples and pragmatic pedagogical principles introduced in chapter 3 (Linn, Davis, & Eylon, this volume) . We discuss how these principles can help design partner­ ships (see Shear, Bell, & Linn, chap. 1 2 , this volume) , create new proj­ ects, or help individual teachers improve their practice .
Measuring the Physiologic Properties of Oral Lesions Receiving Fractionated Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can treat superficial, early-stage disease with minimal damage to underlying tissues and without cumulative dose-limiting toxicity. Treatment efficacy is affected by disease physiologic properties, but these properties are not routinely measured. We assessed diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) for the noninvasive, contact measurement of tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation (St O2 ) and total hemoglobin concentration ([tHb]) in the premalignant or superficial microinvasive oral lesions of patients treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-PDT. Patients were enrolled on a Phase 1 study of ALA-PDT that evaluated fluences of 50, 100, 150 or 200 J cm(-2) delivered at 100 mW cm(-2) . To test the feasibility of incorporating DRS measurements within the illumination period, studies were performed in patients who received fractionated (two-part) illumination that included a dark interval of 90-180 s. Using DRS, tissue oxygenation at different depths within the lesion could also be assessed. DRS could be performed concurrently with contact measurements of photosensitizer levels by fluorescence spectroscopy, but a separate noncontact fluorescence spectroscopy system provided continuous assessment of photobleaching during illumination to greater tissue depths. Results establish that the integration of DRS into PDT of early-stage oral disease is feasible, and motivates further studies to evaluate its predictive and dosimetric value.
Wnt signaling and the establishment of cell polarity

Wnt signaling involves multiple mediators and molecular targets functions to regulate cell division, polarity, shape, motility, and fate. In addition to the best‐studied regulation of gene expression by the Wnt/β‐catenin or canonical pathway, Wnt proteins signal via Frizzled and Disheveled to regulate epithelial cell polarity, asymmetric cell divisions, and cell movements by noncanonical pathways. These include the planar cell polarity pathway in the fly wing and a similar pathway that controls convergent extension movements in vertebrates and mammalian cochlear cell polarization. Although historically cell polarity decisions have been associated exclusively with the noncanonical pathways, there is an emerging role for β‐catenin‐dependent Wnt signaling in cell polarization. This chapter discusses multiple targets of Wnt pathways implicated in cell polarity regulation during embryonic development and the relationship between canonical and noncanonical Wnt pathways.
Solomon M. Hsiang Receives 2013 Science for Solutions Award: Response

I am honored to receive this award, created by Peter Schlosser, nominated by my postdoc advisor Michael Oppenheimer, and alongside my thesis advisor Mark Cane, recipient of this year's Maurice Ewing Medal—all role models and original pioneers in “the application and use of Earth and space sciences to solve societal problems.”
CoMet : a synthetic benchmark for message-passing architectures

Rapid advances in hardware technology have led to wide diversity in parallel computer architectures. This diversity makes it di cult to evaluate or compare the performance of di erent parallel computers. Existing benchmarks tend either to be too architecture-speci c, or too high-level. Both problems can result in benchmarks that not only provide insu cient information on the performance characteristics of the computer being tested, but are also di cult to port. New benchmarking approaches are needed for new architectural classes, particularly distributed-memory, message-passing computers. This paper focuses on benchmarking distributed-memory message-passing computers. A synthetic benchmark called CoMet (COmmunication METrics), is presented. CoMet is based on common communication patterns found in parallel scienti c algorithms. This paper presents the CoMet design, and describes an implementation of CoMet on the Intel iPSC/860. CoMet is freely available by anonymous FTP from Oregon Graduate Institute.
How to Pass a Turing Test

I advocate a theory of “syntactic semantics” as a way of understanding how computers can think (and how the Chinese-Room-Argument objection to the Turing Test can be overcome): (1) Semantics, considered as the study of relations between symbols and meanings, can be turned into syntax – a study of relations among symbols (including meanings) – and hence syntax (i.e., symbol manipulation) can suffice for the semantical enterprise (contra Searle). (2) Semantics, considered as the process of understanding one domain (by modeling it) in terms of another, can be viewed recursively: The base case of semantic understanding – understanding a domain in terms of itself – is “syntactic understanding.” (3) An internal (or “narrow”), first-person point of view makes an external (or “wide”), third-person point of view otiose for purposes of understanding cognition.
Historic Bridges : Evaluation, Preservation, and Management

Introduction Steven J. Fenves Part 1 History The Mississippi River Railway Crossing at Clinton, Iowa Charles Birnstiel The Dragon Bridge of Li Chun in Ancient China Martin P. Burke, Jr. and Huan Cheng Tang Part 2 Management Bridging the Gap: Connecting Design and Historic Preservation Goals on Milwaukee County's Historic Parkway Bridges Amy R. Squitieri and Bob S. Newbery Managing Historic Bridges in Minnesota: The Historian and the Engineer Collaborate Robert M. Frame III and Steven A. Olson Part 3 Evaluation Structural Deck Evaluation of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge Ching Chiaw Choo and Issam E. Harik Extant Lenticular Iron Truss Bridges from the Berlin Iron Bridge Company Alan J. Lutenegger Wind and Truss Bridges: Overview of Research Frederick R. Rutz and Kevin L. Rens Mechanical Properties of Wrought Iron from Penns Creek Bridge (1886) Stephen Buonopane and Sean Kelton Part 4 Preservation, Rehabilitation and Restoration The Preservation of Historic Bridges Allan King Sloan Preservation of Historic Iron Bridges: Adaptive Use Bridge Project, University of Massachusetts-Amherst Alan J. Lutenegger Preservation of Stone Masonry Aqueducts on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Denis J. McMullan and Douglas E. Bond Rehabilitation of Two Historic Timber Covered Bridges in Massachusetts S. D. Daniel Lee and Brian Brenner The Historic Rehabilitation of the Market Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee Ian C. Engstrom Reinventing Squire Whipple's Bridge Joseph J. Fonzi and Preston Vineyard
Early Organizational Effects of Hormones

Sex differentiation offers one of the most striking examples of the realization of genetic differences by epigenetic means. “Indeed, especially in ... [coldblooded vertebrates] the environment assumes a greater part in fashioning the end-product than in almost any other genetically controlled process” (Dodd, 1960). In particular, behavioral sex differentiation provides a dramatic example of a permanent effect of sex steroids on brain function. There is also the possibility, already achieved in some species, of experimentally producing complete sex reversal.
Pore Interconnectivity Influences Growth Factor-Mediated Vascularization in Sphere-Templated Hydrogels

Rapid and controlled vascularization within biomaterials is essential for many applications in regenerative medicine. The extent of vascularization is influenced by a number of factors, including scaffold architecture. While properties such as pore size and total porosity have been studied extensively, the importance of controlling the interconnectivity of pores has received less attention. A sintering method was used to generate hydrogel scaffolds with controlled pore interconnectivity. Poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres were used as a sacrificial agent to generate porous poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels with interconnectivity varying based on microsphere sintering conditions. Interconnectivity levels increased with sintering time and temperature with resultant hydrogel structure showing agreement with template structure. Porous hydrogels with a narrow pore size distribution (130-150 μm) and varying interconnectivity were investigated for their ability to influence vascularization in response to gradients of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). A rodent subcutaneous model was used to evaluate vascularized tissue formation in the hydrogels in vivo. Vascularized tissue invasion varied with interconnectivity. At week 3, higher interconnectivity hydrogels had completely vascularized with twice as much invasion. Interconnectivity also influenced PDGF-BB transport within the scaffolds. An agent-based model was used to explore the relative roles of steric and transport effects on the observed results. In conclusion, a technique for the preparation of hydrogels with controlled pore interconnectivity has been developed and evaluated. This method has been used to show that pore interconnectivity can independently influence vascularization of biomaterials.
Basal forebrain acetylcholine release during REM sleep is significantly greater than during waking

Cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain supply the neocortex with ACh and play a major role in regulating behavioral arousal and cortical electroencephalographic activation. Cortical ACh release is greatest during waking and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and reduced during non-REM (NREM) sleep. Loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons contributes to sleep disruption and to the cognitive deficits of many neurological disorders. ACh release within the basal forebrain previously has not been quantified during sleep. This study used in vivo microdialysis to test the hypothesis that basal forebrain ACh release varies as a function of sleep and waking. Cats were trained to sleep in a head-stable position, and dialysis samples were collected during polygraphically defined states of waking, NREM sleep, and REM sleep. Results from 22 experiments in four animals demonstrated that means ± SE ACh release (pmol/10 min) was greatest during REM sleep (0.77 ± 0.07), intermediate during waking (0.58 ± 0.03), and lowest during NREM sleep (0.34 ± 0.01). The finding that, during REM sleep, basal forebrain ACh release is significantly elevated over waking levels suggests a differential role for basal forebrain ACh during REM sleep and waking.
Sedation in Endoscopic Practice

Sedation impacts every aspect of endoscopy practicedthe quality of the examination, the satisfaction of the endoscopist and of the patient, the efficiency and cost of delivering services, and the compliance of patients with surveillance guidelines. Despite its pivotal role, the field of endoscopic sedation has been relatively overlooked. As recently as 2004, authorities wrote that sedation ‘‘has remained . a poorly studied entity that [is] rife with historical uncontrolled data and extrapolations’’ [1]. That same year, only 2.8% of the abstracts published by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy pertained to sedation [2]. Consequently, until recently the practice of endoscopic sedation looked much as it had in the 1980s: a benzodiazepine and narcotic were administered by a gastroenterologist using a syringe and unsophisticated monitoring [3]. Today, the sedation landscape is changing. New sedation agents and improved patient-monitoring and drug-delivery technologies are challenging traditional practices. Increasing demand for endoscopic services, shrinking reimbursements, and competing diagnostic technologies are prompting recognition that new approaches to sedation can improve practice efficiency and patient outcome. At one end of the spectrum is unsedated endoscopy; at the other is monitored anesthesia care with propofol administered by an anesthesiologist. This article discusses new developments in endoscopic sedation and their implications for practice management. Sedation and practice efficiency Efficiency is defined as ‘‘the ratio of the.useful output to the total input in any system’’[4]. In endoscopy, ‘‘total input’’ includes time input (namely, physician, nurse, and technician time) and cost input (drugs, facility,
Phosphatidic acid effects on cytosolic calcium and proliferation in osteoblastic cells

Our previous studies show that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates phospholipase D (PLD)-induced phosphatidic acid (PA) formation in rat calvarial osteoblastic cells.28 This study investigated the effects of PA on cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) and proliferation, and the possible involvement of the PLD pathway in EGF effects on [Ca2+]i and proliferation in rat calvarial osteoblastic cells. PA markedly increased [Ca2+]i. This response was unaffected by thapsigargin, which depletes [Ca2+]i pools, blocked by verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, and enhanced by propanolol, an inhibitor of PA-phosphohydrolase. PA also reduced the EGF dependent-[Ca2+]i increase by 60%, while a PLD inhibitor blocked these effects. Furthermore, PA significantly increased cell proliferation (P < 0.05) which was inhibited by verapamil and enhanced by H-7 (PKC inhibitor). The PLD inhibitor significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the EGF-induced increase in proliferation. In summary, PA stimulates rat calvarial osteoblastic cell proliferation and mobilization of [Ca2+]i using extracellular pools, and EGF's mitogenic effect on these cells requires activation of PLD.
The effect of pore structure on fluid‐solid reactions: Application to the SO2‐lime reaction

The effect of varying pore structures on the kinetics of fluid-solid reactions is investigated through the random pore model developed in prior papers (Bhatia and Perlmutter, 1980, 1981). By considering several idealized pore-size distributions it is shown that a solid having a uniform pore size is intrinsically less reactive than one possessing a pore-size distribution. For solids with bimodal pore size distributions optimal structures are shown to exist for which the reactivity is a maximum. Numerical solutions were obtained to the model equations for various values of the parameters characterizing the pore structure, the diffusion, and the chemical kinetics. The results show that the conversion-time behavior and the expected ultimate conversion can be very sensitive to variations in surface area and porosity for reactions accompanied by an increase in volume of the solid phase. These findings are in agreement with experimental literature on the SO2-lime reaction (Ulerich et al., 1978; Borgwardt and Harvey, 1972; Potter, 1969; Falkenberry and Slack, 1968) and the model is shown to fit the data of Borgwardt (1970), and of Hartman and Coughlin (1974, 1976). It is seen that this reaction is diffusion controlled under the conditions of Hartman and Coughlin, in consonance with their own finding using the grain model, and a prior Pigford and Sliger (1973) interpretation. The temperature behavior of the diffusion coefficient in the product layer suggests the participation of an activated process, possibly a solid state diffusion step.
Statistical continuum mechanics analysis of effective elastic properties in solid oxide fuel cell glass–ceramic seal material

A full statistical analysis of the microstructure of glass–ceramic solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) seal material, G18, is performed to calculate elastic properties. Predictions are made for samples aged for 4 h and 1000 h, giving different crystallinity levels. Microstructure of the glass–ceramic G18 is characterized by correlation function for each individual phase. Predicted results are compared with the Voigt and Reuss bounds in this study. The weak contrast analysis results in elastic modulus predictions between the upper and lower bounds but closer to the upper bound.
Apparatus for tranferring and freezing tissue under high pressure

Summary Certain physical effects of high pressure gases on tissue can be determined by conventional freeze-substitution methods, providing the operational pressure is maintained while the specimen is being frozen. An apparatus for accomplishing the transfer and freezing operations under pressure was constructed and has proven satisfactory.
Antenatal steroids and neonatal outcomes in controlled clinical trials of surfactant replacement

A substantial body of scientific data stretching over more than 20 years indicates that prenatal steroids are safe and effective in improving pregnancy outcome among women in premature labor.‘-* A meta-analysis published in 1990 of more than 3000 infants in 12 different randomized clinical trials of antenatal steroids conducted before surfactant showed conclusively that prenatal steroids significantly reduced necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular hemorrhage (MI), and neonatal mortality.’ Nevertheless, prenatal steroids were and still are far from universally used among women at risk of preterm labor, particularly in the United States. The purpose of this article is to describe the results of retrospective analyses of the association of prenatal steroids with perinatal morbidity and mortality among infants enrolled in randomized clinical trials of surfactant replacement therapy.
Enzymatic Probing Analysis of an Engineered Riboswitch Reveals Multiple off Conformations

We investigated the gene regulatory mechanism of a previously engineered riboswitch +thiMN15#19 that turns on gene expression in response to thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). In vitro enzymatic probing was performed to identify the secondary structures of the OFF conformations predicted by Mfold. Interestingly, enzymatic probing data of the riboswitch and its variants indicated that the riboswitch in its OFF state adopts two distinct structures. Moreover, further in vivo experiments suggested that both OFF structures contribute to the riboswitch function. A deeper understanding of how riboswitches function at the molecular level should enhance our ability to design synthetic riboswitches with new or improved characteristics.
A quantitative single-cell assay for protein kinase B reveals important insights into the biochemical behavior of an intracellular substrate peptide.

The introduction of peptides into living cells for the purpose of manipulating cellular biochemistry has become widespread throughout biology. However, little is known about the behavior of these short sequences of amino acids within cells, particularly those used as substrates or inhibitors for kinases and other enzymes. We utilized a quantitative, single-cell assay to demonstrate that an 11-amino acid peptide was efficiently phosphorylated by intracellular protein kinase B (PKB) in fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080 and in NIH-3T3 cells. The phosphorylated peptide was also readily dephosphorylated by intracellular phosphatases. Assays of the peptide's phosphorylation in single, living cells measured the balance of the activities of PKB and phosphatases in that cell. At a peptide concentration below the K M of PKB and the phosphatases, the ratio of phosphorylated to nonphosphorylated peptide at the steady state was independent of the peptide concentration. A single-cell assay utilizing this peptide revealed the existence of two subpopulations of cells whose unique activities had hitherto been obscured by population averaging. Additional studies of cells stimulated by PDGF demonstrated that a quantitative analysis of PKB activation in response to a physiological stimulus was possible. These studies demonstrated that short peptides can remain specific within the complex intracellular milieu and function as sensitive reporters of the activation state of native kinases within live cells.
Preparation of amino acid-appended cholic acid derivatives as sensitizers of Gram-negative bacteria

Abstract Attachment of amino acids to cholic acid derivatives yielded compounds that sensitize Gram-negative bacteria to hydrophobic antibiotics. Incorporation of three amino acid onto a cholic acid derivative via ester bonds was only achieved with non-α-branched amino acids. Three non-α-branched or three α-branched amino acids were coupled to the steroid backbone via amide bonds.
Aspects of psychodynamic neuropsychiatry III: magic spells, the placebo effect, and neurobiology.

Abstract Through a case study, the importance of supporting the positive transference is stressed—from both a psychological and neurobiological perspective. The article argues that the neurobiology of expectation underlies transference. This neurobiology has been investigated particularly over the past several decades in work concerning the placebo effect. By understanding the neurobiology of expectation, one gains a better understanding of the neurobiology of the transference. This enables clinical predictions—and decisions—that are informed not just by the teachings of psychology but also by the science of biology.
Symmetric games with only asymmetric equilibria

Abstract It is known that not every symmetric game has a symmetric equilibrium because there are examples of symmetric games that fail to have any equilibria at all. But this leads to the following question: If a symmetric game has a Nash equilibrium, does it have a symmetric Nash equilibrium? In this Note, we show that the answer to this question is no by providing two examples of symmetric games that have only asymmetric equilibria.
A PTAS for capacitated sum-of-ratios optimization

Motivated by an application in assortment planning under the nested logit choice model, we develop a polynomial-time approximation scheme for the sum-of-ratios optimization problem with a capacity constraint and a fixed number of product groups.
Nonconfocal multimode resonators for masers

The case of a resonator composed of two concave spherical reflectors separated by an arbitrary distance is examined. The general problem of the electromagnetic field distribution over the nonconfocal aperture is first formulated by means of the Huygens principle. The solution of the resulting integral equation is obtained analytically in the highly nonconfocal limit. It was found that when the reflector spacing d is much larger than the radius of curvature b of the reflectors, the aperture field distribution is in the form of traveling waves. For arbitrary d/b, the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the lowest order mode is obtained by numerical solution using the IBM 7090 computer. The diffraction loss was found to increase rapidly when d→2b and a geometrical interpretation of this behavior is given. Furthermore, it was found that as the spacing departs from the confocal value, the apertures are no longer surfaces of constant phase. The optimum spacing for maximum Q of the resonator is also obtained.
Exercise improves cognition and hippocampal plasticity in APOE ε4 mice

Abstract Background Human studies on exercise, cognition, and apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) genotype show that e4 carriers may benefit from regular physical activity. Methods We examined voluntary wheel-running, memory, and hippocampal plasticity in APOE e3 and APOE e4 transgenic mice at 10–12 months of age. Results Sedentary e4 mice exhibited deficits in cognition on the radial-arm water maze (RAWM), a task dependent on the hippocampus. Six weeks of wheel-running in e4 mice resulted in improvements on the RAWM to the level of e3 mice. Hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were similar in e3 and e4 mice, and after exercise BDNF was similarly increased in both e3 and e4 mice. In sedentary e4 mice, tyrosine kinase B (Trk B) receptors were reduced by 50%. Exercise restored Trk B in e4 mice to the level of e3 mice, and in e4 mice, exercise dramatically increased synaptophysin, a marker of synaptic function. Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that exercise can improve cognitive function, particularly in e4 carriers.
Optical angular constancy is maintained as a navigational control strategy when pursuing robots moving along complex pathways

The optical navigational control strategy used to intercept moving targets was explored using a real-world object that travels along complex, evasive pathways. Fielders ran across a gymnasium attempting to catch a moving robot that varied in speed and direction, while ongoing position was measured using an infrared motion-capture system. Fielder running paths were compared with the predictions of three lateral control models, each based on maintaining a particular optical angle relative to the robotic target: (a) constant alignment angle (CAA), (b) constant eccentricity angle (CEA), and (c) linear optical trajectory (LOT). Findings reveal that running pathways were most consistent with maintenance of LOT and least consistent with CEA. This supports that fielders use the same optical control strategy of maintaining angular constancy using a LOT when navigating toward targets moving along complex pathways as when intercepting simple ballistic trajectories. In those cases in which a target dramatically deviates from its optical path, fielders appear to simply reset LOT parameters using a new constant angle value. Maintenance of such optical angular constancy has now been shown to work well with ballistic, complex, and evasive moving targets, confirming the LOT strategy as a robust, general-purpose optical control mechanism for navigating to intercept catchable targets, both airborne and ground based.
Internal motional averaging and three-dimensional structure determination by nuclear magnetic resonance.

Abstract Dynamic averaging effects from internal motions on interproton distances estimated from nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE) are determined by using a molecular dynamics simulation of lysozyme. Generalized order parameters measuring angular averaging and radial averaging parameters are calculated. The product of these two parameters describes the full averaging effects on cross-relaxation. Analysis of 2778 non-methyl NOE interactions from the protein interior and surface indicates that distances estimated by assuming a rigid molecule have less than 10% error for 89% of the NOE interactions. However, analysis of 1854 methyl interactions found that only 68% of the distances estimated from cross-relaxation rates would have less than 10% error. Qualitative evaluation of distances according to strong, medium and weak NOE intensities, when used to define only the upper bound for interproton separation, would misassign less than 1% of the distance constraints because of motional averaging. Internal motions do not obscure the identification of secondary structure, although some instances of significant averaging effects were found for interactions in α-helical regions. Interresidue NOEs for amino acids more than three residues apart in the primary sequence are more extensively averaged than intraresidue or shortrange interresidue NOEs. Intraresidue interactions exhibit a greater degree of angular averaging than those involving interresidue proton pairs. An internal motion does not equally affect all NOE interactions for a particular proton. Thus, incorporation of averaging parameters in nuclear magnetic resonance structure determination procedures must be made on a proton-pair-wise basis. On the basis of the motional averaging results, particular fixed-distance proton pairs in proteins are suggested for use as distance references. A small percentage of NOE pairs localized to three regions of the protein exhibit extreme averaging effects from internal motions. The regions and types of motions involved are described.
Attenuation by sphingosine-1-phosphate of rat microvessel acute permeability response to bradykinin is rapidly reversible.

To evaluate the hypothesis that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and cAMP attenuate increased permeability of individually perfused mesenteric microvessels through a common Rac1-dependent pathway, we ...
Exact and heuristic procedures for capacity expansion problems with congestion

The problem of determining an optimal capacity expansion and contraction schedule over time for production resources subject to congestion is addressed. Previous to this work non-linear constraints based on expected queue length have been used to represent congestion, whereas concave clearing functions that capture the relationship between expected throughput and expected work in process inventory in a planning period are used in this paper. A column generation procedure that uses a previously developed pseudo-polynomial-time algorithm for the single-workcenter problem to generate new columns is proposed. The fractional solution obtained by column generation is then used to construct a feasible solution. Computational experiments on randomly generated test problems show that the procedure consistently produces near-optimal solutions in modest CPU times. The column generation formulation is also used to obtain lower bounds in an exact branch-and-bound algorithm, and it is shown that this new procedure is a...
RULE-CIRCULARITY AND THE JUSTIFICATION OF DEDUCTION

I examine Paul Boghossian's recent attempt to argue for scepticism about logical rules. I argue that certain rule-and proof-theoretic considerations can avert such scepticism. Boghossian's ‘Tonk Argument’ seeks to justify the rule of tonk-introduction by using the rule itself. The argument is subjected here to more detailed proof-theoretic scrutiny than Boghossian undertook. Its sole axiom, the so-called Meaning Postulate for tonk, is shown to be false or devoid of content. It is also shown that the rules of Disquotation and of Semantic Ascent cannot be derived for sentences with tonk dominant. These considerations deprive Boghossian's scepticism of its support.
Observations on the nesting behaviour of seven species of Crabro (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)

Summary Data are presented on the nests and prey of seven species of Crabro from diverse localities in North America. In two instances (virgatus and largior) this is the first published report. Further information is provided for the following previously studied species: argusinus, advena, cribrellifer, latipes, and monticola. Behavioural differences among these species are not conspicuous. Most are rather general fly predators, but cribrellifer appears to show a strong preference for Asilidae. There are also differences in type of soil used for nesting and in antipredator behaviour such as approach flights and daily cycles of activity. Two species, largior and monticola, provision their nests early in the morning, before miltogrammine flies are active in numbers. All species probably make cells of two sizes, larger cells containing more prey and producing females, smaller cells males.
Cumulonimbus Vertical Velocity Events in GATE. Part II: Synthesis and Model Core Structure

Abstract The properties of convective drafts and cores are presented in Part I. By our definition a convective updraft must have a positive vertical velocity for 0.5 km, and exceed 0.5 m s−1 for 1 s; a convective updraft core must exceed 1 m s−1 for 0.5 km. Downdrafts and downdraft cores are defined analogously. Here the properties of the drafts and cores are compared to results of previous work. In addition, the implications of the results in Part I are discussed. GATE cores and drafts are comparable in size and intensity to those measured in hurricanes but weaker than those measured in continental thunderstorms. The lesser intensity seems related to the nearly moist adiabatic GATE sounding. The mass flux by GATE cores is consistent with large-scale requirements. It is fairly evenly distributed over a range of core size and intensity. Updraft core vertical velocity and diameter are positively correlated, primarily the result of a few large strong events. The vast majority of GATE convective cores are suf...
The M+A center in KCl

Abstract Absorption and emission bands of the M + A (Na) center are identified and compared to the corresponding transitions of the M + center.
Abstract B35: Target discovery: Using VBIM technique to identify carboplatin resistance genes in ovarian cancer cells

Among gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death each year. Women are often diagnosed with an advanced stage of the disease as it is frequently without overt or specific symptoms until late in its development. One of the major chemotherapy drugs used to treat ovarian cancer is carboplatin. Carboplatin was introduced in the late 1980s and has since gained popularity in clinical treatment due to its vastly reduced side-effects compared to its parent compound, cisplatin. Although resistance to carboplatin remains a major barrier to the successful treatment of ovarian cancer, the mechanisms of its resistance are poorly understood. In this study, we used the novel validation-based insertional mutagenesis (VBIM) technique to identify carboplatin resistance genes in ovarian cancer cells and to further confirm and evaluate their role in mediating carboplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells. In a preliminary screen, we identified three novel proteins whose functions have never been previously linked to carboplatin resistance in ovarian cancer. We name them ovarian cancer carboplatin resistance genes OCCRP-1, 2 and 3. By generating stable A2780 cells in which OCCRP-1 is either overexpressed or knocked down, we confirmed that OCCRP-1 is a carboplatin resistance gene in ovarian cancer cells. Similar work is carrying on for OCCRP-2 and 3 as well. Our study promises to discover novel mechanisms of gene-mediated carboplatin resistance so that reversal or bypass of this resistance in ovarian cancer can be achieved by developing small chemical inhibitors which ultimately will lead to novel therapeutic approaches for ovarian cancer treatment. Citation Format: Han Wei, Tao Lu. Target discovery: Using VBIM technique to identify carboplatin resistance genes in ovarian cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: From Concept to Clinic; Sep 18-21, 2013; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2013;19(19 Suppl):Abstract nr B35.
Existential Anxiety in Adolescents: Prevalence, Structure, Association with Psychological Symptoms and Identity Development

Existential anxiety is hypothesized to be a core human issue in a great deal of theoretical and philosophical writing. However, little is known about the emergence of these concerns and their relation to emotional functioning in youth. The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomenon of existential anxiety in a sample of adolescents. Data on existential concerns, identity development and psychological symptoms were collected on a sample of 139 youth in grades 9–12. Results indicated that existential anxiety concerns have a theoretically consistent factor structure, are common among adolescents, and are associated with psychological symptoms, as well as identity issues. Results are discussed with regard to the importance of existential concerns in the lives of youth and the need for additional research.
Suggestions for a mathematical biophysics of auditory perception with special reference to the theory of aesthetic ratings of combinations of musical tones

Generalising the previously studied neurobiophysical schemes, consisting of excitatory and inhibitory elements, a neural mechanism is discussed, which may be involved in the perception of combinations of musical tones. Equations, giving the total value of central excitation for a combination of any two tones are derived, available observations are discussed in the light of the suggested theory.