cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
KIF3A accelerates KIF3C within the kinesin-2 heterodimer to generate symmetrical phosphate release rates for each processive step.

Heterodimeric KIF3AC is a mammalian kinesin-2 that is highly expressed in the central nervous system and associated with vesicles in neurons. KIF3AC is an intriguing member of the kinesin-2 family because the intrinsic kinetics of KIF3A and KIF3C when expressed as homodimers and analyzed in vitro are distinctively different from each other. For example, the single-molecule velocities of the engineered homodimers KIF3AA and KIF3CC are 293 and 7.5 nm/s, respectively, whereas KIF3AC has a velocity of 186 nm/s. These results led us to hypothesize that heterodimerization alters the intrinsic catalytic properties of the two heads, and an earlier computational analysis predicted that processive steps would alternate between a fast step for KIF3A followed by a slow step for KIF3C resulting in asymmetric stepping. To test this hypothesis directly, we measured the presteady-state kinetics of phosphate release for KIF3AC, KIF3AA, and KIF3CC followed by computational modeling of the KIF3AC phosphate release transients. The results reveal that KIF3A and KIF3C retain their intrinsic ATP-binding and hydrolysis kinetics. Yet within KIF3AC, KIF3A activates the rate of phosphate release for KIF3C such that the coupled steps of phosphate release and dissociation from the microtubule become more similar for KIF3A and KIF3C. These coupled steps are the rate-limiting transition for the ATPase cycle suggesting that within KIF3AC, the stepping kinetics are similar for each head during the processive run. Future work will be directed to define how these properties enable KIF3AC to achieve its physiological functions.
Nrf2 Regulates Anti-Inflammatory A20 Deubiquitinase Induction by LPS in Macrophages in Contextual Manner

The aberrant regulation of inflammatory gene transcription following oxidant and inflammatory stimuli can culminate in unchecked systemic inflammation leading to organ dysfunction. The Nrf2 transcription factor dampens cellular stress and controls inflammation by upregulating antioxidant gene expression and TNFα-induced Protein 3 (TNFAIP3, aka A20) deubiquitinase by controlling NF-kB signaling dampens tissue inflammation. Here, we report that Nrf2 is required for A20 induction by inflammatory stimuli LPS in monocyte/bone marrow derived macrophages (MDMΦs) but not in lung-macrophages (LDMΦs). LPS-induced A20 expression was significantly lower in Nrf2-/- MDMΦs and was not restored by antioxidant supplementation. Nrf2 deficiency markedly impaired LPS-stimulated A20 mRNA expression Nrf2-/- MDMΦs and ChIP assays showed Nrf2 enrichment at the promoter Nrf2-/- MDMΦs upon LPS stimulation, demonstrating that Nrf2 directly regulates A20 expression. Contrary to MDMΦs, LPS-stimulated A20 expression was not largely impaired in Nrf2-/- LDMΦs ex vivo and in vivo and ChIP assays showed lack of increased Nrf2 binding at the A20 promoter in LDMΦ following LPS treatment. Collectively, these results demonstrate a crucial role for Nrf2 in optimal A20 transcriptional induction in macrophages by endotoxin, and this regulation occurs in a contextual manner.
Water maser emission toward ultracompact HII regions

We present preliminary results of a recent VLA observation of the 616−523 masing transition of interstellar H2O toward the ultracompact HII regions G29.96 − 0.02 and G5.89 − 0.39. The positions of the maser spots relative to the ionized gas are given and their radial velocities are compared with velocities obtained from molecular line and hydrogen recombination line observations.
Application of blind MIMO identification methods to blind detection of asynchronous DS-CDMA signals in multipath channels

A code-constrained inverse filter criterion based approach is presented for blind detection of asynchronous short-code DS-CDMA (direct sequence code division multiple access) signals in multipath channels. Only the spreading code of the desired user is assumed to be known; its transmission delay may be unknown. We focus on minimization of the negative normalized fourth cumulant of inverse filtered (equalized) data with respect to the equalizer coefficients subject to the equalizer lying in a subspace associated with the desired user's code sequence. Previously we presented a projection method for constrained optimization. In this paper we investigate a penalty function-based approach to constrained optimization. Global minima and some of the local minima of the cost function are investigated. A simulation example is presented.
Quality enhancement in standard compliant frame rate up conversion by motion smoothing

In this paper, we address the problem of standard compliant frame rate up conversion (SC-FRUC) at the decoder by using received motion vectors analysis and processing for low bit rate applications. In the proposed SC-FRUC scheme, the skipped frames are generated at the decoder by using received motion vectors only. We introduce a smooth motion vector interpolation method to enhance visual quality in FRUC. We also discuss the visual artifacts that degrade the quality of the interpolated frames in FRUC applications. Experimental results show that the proposed motion processing algorithm improves the visual quality of frames both spatially and temporally.
Predicting the effects of error sources in bandgap reference circuits and evaluating their design implications

Errors that arise from tolerance variations and mismatches between devices severely degrade the performance of bandgap reference circuits, which are essential building blocks to all high-performance systems. All these error sources have been analyzed (and verified through SPICE) and their design implications have been addressed. It has been found that resistor tolerance aid current-mirror mismatch are the dominant sources of error in bandgap reference-type circuits. Further, it has been found that resistor mismatch, transistor mismatch, and current-mirror mismatch errors have a PTAT variation, while resistor tolerance error has a CTAT dependence - both PTAT and CTAT errors are eliminated by trimming the PTAT terminating resistor in a bandgap circuit, only at room temperature. Resistor TC errors cannot be trimmed out and hence resistors must therefore be carefully selected and designed.
The identity of «the Muftī of Oran», Abū l-‘Abbās Aḥmad b. Abī Jum‘ah al-Maghrāwī al-Wahrānī (d. 917/1511)

This study attempts to identify the “muftī of Oran”, outlining his life and career through an analysis of the available data in North African sources. I suggest that already in the biographical sources of sixteenth century, the biographies of two scholars were conflated, that of the muft himself, Abū l-‘Abbās Aḥmad b. Abī Ŷum‘a (m. 917/1511), and that of his son, Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muḥammad Saqrūn (d. 929/1523-24). This study endeavors to resolve this conflation. Originally from Oran, Aḥmad studied in Tlemcen and eventually settled in Fez, where he obtained a position as professor of Islamic law. It is likely that he issued his famous fatwā of 910/1504 to the Moriscos there, as one of the prominent jurists of the city, intending to oppose the opinion of his contemporary Aḥmad b. Yaḥya al- Wansarīsī (d. 914/1508).
Sparse representation for motion primitive-based human activity modeling and recognition using wearable sensors

The use of wearable sensors for human activity monitoring and recognition is becoming an important technology due to its potential benefits to our daily lives. In this paper, we present a sparse representation-based human activity modeling and recognition approach using wearable motion sensors. Our approach first learns an overcomplete dictionary to find the motion primitives shared by all activity classes. Activity models are then built on top of these motion primitives by solving a sparse optimization problem. Experiments on a dataset including nine activities and fourteen subjects show the advantages of using sparse representation for activity modeling and demonstrate that our approach achieves a better recognition performance compared to the conventional motion primitive-based approach.
Carnitine Acetyltransferase: Candidate for the Transfer of Acetyl Groups Through the Mitochondrial Membrane of Yeast

On the basis of its specific activity and its affinity for acetyl-coenzyme A, carnitine acetyltransferase appears to be the most likely candidate for acetyl group transfer out of yeast mitochondria.
Thermal Design and Flight Experience of the Mars Exploration Rover Spacecraft Computer-Controlled, Propulsion Line Heaters

The viewgraph presentation examines propulsion line heater design and problems in the Mars Rover. Topics include a Mars Exploration Rover (MER) project description and MER spacecraft configuration, mission overview, MER cruise stage hardware, thermal design drivers in the propulsion lines, propulsion line control set points prior to launch, MER A and B flight trajectories, MER A early and mid cruise flight experience, MER A and B mid cruise flight experience, MER B late cruise flight experience, and lessons learned
Chemical Shifts in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

This article explains a variety of methods used to calculate 13C and proton (1H) chemical shifts for alkanes, alkenes, aromatic compounds, and cyclic compounds. Additivity rules, which account for the effect of different functional groups, are used to calculate chemical shifts for a wide range of compounds. Example calculations are provided for each rule, to clarify the use and for comparison with experimental results. The chemical shifts calculated with these rules are typically accurate to ±10 ppm for 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ±0.5 ppm for 1H-NMR.
Time-optimal graph traversal for two agents: when is formation travel beneficial?

This paper addresses the question, "when and how should autonomous agents engage in formation travel?" Specifically, we formulate and solve an optimization problem for two agents traversing a graph, under joint velocity constraints. The results are applicable to the problem of constructing optimal trajectories for formation travel. The analysis is illustrated by two examples.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations and experience with solidification/stabilization technology

Two important areas in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulation for low-level waste management, 10 CFR Part 61, involve the requirements for waste classification and waste form. The waste classification system establishes three categories of wastes acceptable for near-surface disposal. These categories are determined by the concentrations of nuclides important for disposal. Class A wastes have low concentrations and need only meet minimum waste-form requirements. Class B and C wastes have higher concentrations and are required to have stability to minimize disposal trench subsidence effects. This paper discusses the approaches recommended to demonstrate that such wastes meet the stability criteria, including acceptable tests and test criteria which could be used by waste generators to demonstrate waste stability. Discussion is also included on the solidification technologies and high-integrity containers that have been developed to meet the requirement.
Simultaneous measurement of ethanol and ethyl-d5 alcohol by stable isotope gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Efforts to define gender- and ethnic-dependent differences in ethanol first-pass metabolism by gastric mucosa and liver have been limited by a lack of analytical tools that distinguish ethanol concurrently administered by oral and intravenous routes. A stable isotope gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for simultaneous measurement of ethanol and ethyl-d5 alcohol in serum was developed to meet this need. The assay was linear from 1 to 30 mmol/L. The limit of quantification was 1 mmol/L. Analytical imprecision (CV) was 90%. Specificity was based on retention time and reproducibility of ion ratios. The assay was free from interference by other volatile alcohols. Simultaneous oral administration of ethanol and ethyl-d5 alcohol produced nearly identical pharmacokinetic profiles. Simultaneous oral ingestion of ethanol and intravenous infusion of ethyl-d5 alcohol, adjusted for gastric emptying time, revealed decreased bioavailability of ethanol by the oral route. The method described is sufficient to study the first-pass metabolism of ethanol.
Electrothermoelastic Behavior of Piezoelectric Coupled Cylinders

A coupled axisymmetric electrothermomechanical solution is presented for modeling the response of layered concentric cylinders exhibiting piezoelectric behavior. The governing equations for the problem are derived using conventional approaches incorporating electromechanical coupling terms and a unique higher order constitutive model that correctly reflects the strong dependence of the piezoelectric strain coefficients on temperature. This analytical approach suggests that stiffness values measured at constant electric displacement conditions are dependent on temperature due to depolarizing field influences. The layered concentric cylinder arrangement is used to model the quasistatic response of a piezoelectric linear motor currently proposed for space applications. Analytical/experimental results suggest that the nonlinear dependence of the piezoelectric coefficients with electric field can be extrapolated to lower temperatures using the proposed constitutive relation.
RNAPack: an integrated NMR approach to RNA structure determination.

Over the last decade, a vast number of useful nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments have been developed and successfully employed to determine the structure and dynamics of RNA oligonucleotides. Despite this progress, high-resolution RNA structure determination by NMR spectroscopy still remains a lengthy process and requires programming and extensive calibrations to perform NMR experiments successfully. To accelerate RNA structure determination by NMR spectroscopy, we have designed and programmed a package of RNA NMR experiments, called RNAPack. The user-friendly package contains a set of semiautomated single, double, and triple resonance NMR experiments, which are fully optimized for high-resolution RNA solution structure determination on Varian NMR spectrometers. RNAPack provides an autocalibration feature that allows rapid calibration of all NMR experiments in a single step and thereby speeds up the NMR data collection and eliminates user errors. In our laboratory, we have successfully employed this technology to solve RNA solution structures of domains of the internal ribosome entry site of the genomic hepatitis C viral RNA in less than 3 months. RNAPack therefore makes NMR spectroscopy an attractive and rapid structural tool and allows integration of atomic resolution structural information into biochemical studies of large RNA systems.
Predispositions toward Green Issues: The Potential Efficacy of Advertising Appeals

Abstract Green advertising appeals have become increasingly popular as more and more environmentally friendly products are introduced. Consequently, identifying which green appeals are the most effective becomes a critical issue. This study used two samples to examine the potential efficacy of seven distinct green issues as advertising appeals. Results suggest that health-oriented green appeals might be the most effective advertising message strategies for the young college-educated students. Results also indicate that although working adults might prefer health, waste, and energy issues, the older group may not be as sensitive to distinct green issues. In addition, the findings indicate that college women may be more responsive than college men to waste and wildlife appeals.
Abstracts of papers presented at the 2005 pittsburgh conference.

To attend or not to attend, that is the question. The Pittsburgh Conference continues to pose this conundrum to conferees and exhibitors alike. This year's conference was the first to be presented without a set of paper abstracts—a good thing some would say but this old codger always used the paper abstracts to select papers of interest to our readership and to seek a full publication. The exhibit took its usual format but it seemed that there were less manufacturers present. The information presented to the attendees was also lacking and many companies' details were missing from the final program book, an omission no doubt on their behalf—my company was one of these—however I feel sure that past Pittcon organizers would have been more persistent in getting the required details for the audience. As is now the norm, many of the presentations take the form of posters displayed within the exhibition area. Without a driver to get the audience there, the traffic was slow, to say the least. Lecture presentations were also attended in a mixed fashion. So the Pittsburgh Conference show moves on, and again next year it will be held in Orlando from 12 March to 17 March 2006. No doubt I will be there making it a straight 31 in a row; in Pittsburgh Conference terms I am just a beginner with many of the attendees making more shows in a run than that. Selected abstracts dealing with topics of interest to the readers of this journal follow—hopefully many of these groups will be willing to publish their work either within this journal or elsewhere.
Effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitors on cardiovascular disease in patients with gout: a cohort study

Abstract Background Hyperuricemia and gout are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is unknown whether treating hyperuricemia with xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs), including allopurinol and febuxostat, modifies cardiovascular risks. Methods We used US insurance claims data to conduct a cohort study among gout patients, comparing XOI initiators with non-users with hyperuricemia defined as serum uric acid level ≥6.8 mg/dL. We calculated incidence rates of a composite nonfatal cardiovascular outcome that included myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, stroke, and heart failure. Propensity score (PS)-matched Cox proportional hazards regression compared the risk of composite cardiovascular endpoint in XOI initiators vs those with untreated hyperuricemia, controlling for baseline confounders. In a subgroup of patients with uric acid levels available, PS-matched Cox regression further adjusted for baseline uric acid levels. Results There were 24,108 PS-matched pairs with a mean age of 51 years and 88% male. The incidence rate per 1000 person-years for composite CVD was 24.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.6-26.0) in XOI initiators and 21.4 (95% CI, 19.8-23.2) in the untreated hyperuricemia group. The PS-matched hazard ratio for composite CVD was 1.16 (95% CI, 0.99-1.34) in XOI initiators vs those with untreated hyperuricemia. In subgroup analyses, the PS-matched hazard ratio for composite CVD adjusted for serum uric acid levels was 1.10 (95% CI, 0.74-1.64) among XOI initiators. Conclusions Among patients with gout, initiation of XOI was not associated with an increased or decreased cardiovascular risk compared with those with untreated hyperuricemia. Subgroup analyses adjusting for baseline uric acid levels also showed no association between XOI and cardiovascular risk.
Chronic exposure to cadmium attenuates behavioral sensitization to morphine.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impact of dietary cadmium on morphine-induced changes in locomotor activity. Adult male rats were exposed ad libitum to an adulterated food supply containing 100 ppm added cadmium chloride, or an identical diet containing no added cadmium, for 45 days prior to testing for the locomotor activating effects of successive daily morphine administration (0, 5,10, or 20 mg/kg per session) on locomotor activity. On day 1 of testing, increasing doses of morphine produced a dose-related suppression of activity, and this sedative effect was greater in control than in cadmium-exposed animals. Repeated morphine administration resulted in tolerance to the sedative effects of the drug, and a systematic elevation of locomotor activity over the 14-day testing period was observed, with the augmentation (sensitization) effect more pronounced in control than cadmium-exposed animals. There was no indication that conditioning (context) events played a role in the effects observed here.
Quest for lower immunosuppression in cardiac transplantation: an analysis of the TICTAC trial.

Evaluation of: Baran DA, Zucker MJ, Arroyo LH et al.: A prospective, randomized trial of single versus dual drug immunosuppression in heart transplantation: the Tacrolimus in Combination, Tacrolimus Alone Compared (TICTAC) trial. Circ. Heart Fail. 4(2), 129–137 (2011). Success in cardiac transplantation has been attributed to improved immunosuppressive regimens. Conventionally, patients are treated with a triple regimen following transplantation, consisting of a calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporine or tacrolimus), antiproliferative agent (mycophenolate mofetil) and corticosteroids. These agents, however, are associated with a significant morbidity which has prompted a quest for minimization of immunosuppressive regimens; a challenging goal, given the potential for allograft rejection particularly early after transplantation. This article reviews a recent study by Baran and colleagues who boldly challenged the notion that triple immunosuppression is a prerequisite for success after cardiac transplantation. ...
Intention structure and extended responses in a portable natural language interface

This paper describes discourse processing inKingKong, a portable natural language interface.KingKong enables users to pose questions and issue commands to a back end system. The notion of a discourse is central toKingKong, and underlies much of the intelligent assistance thatkong provides to its users.kong's approach to modeling discourse is based on the work of Grosz and Sidner (1986). We extend Grosz and Sidner's framework in several ways, principally to allow multiple independent discourse contexts to remain active at the same time. This paper also describesKingKong's method of intention recognition, which is similar to that described in Kautz and Allen (1986) and Carberry (1988). We demonstrate that a relatively simple intention recognition component can be exploited by many other discourserelated mechanisms, for example to disambiguate input and resolve anaphora. In particular, this paper describes in detail the mechanism inKingKong that uses information from the discourse model to form a range of cooperative extended responses to queries in an effort to aid the user in accomplishing her goals.
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases as Therapeutic Targets in Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMSs) are the most common soft tissue sarcomas of childhood and adolescence. To date, there are no effective treatments that target the genetic abnormalities in RMS, and current treatment options for high-risk groups are not adequate. Over the past two decades, research into the molecular mechanisms of RMS has identified key genes and signaling pathways involved in disease pathogenesis. In these studies, members of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family of cell surface receptors have been characterized as druggable targets for RMS. Through small molecule inhibitors, ligand-neutralizing agents, and monoclonal receptor-blocking antibodies, RTK activity can be manipulated to block oncogenic properties associated with RMS. Herein, we review the members of the RTK family that are implicated in RMS tumorigenesis and discuss both the problems and promise of targeting RTKs in RMS.
Synthesis of odd generation triazine dendrimers using a divergent, macromonomer approach.

Using a macromonomer, first, third, and fifth generation triazine dendrimers can be prepared using a divergent approach. The nine-step process to the fifth generation target relies on an iterative two-reactions-per-generation strategy to yield the desired material in ∼48% overall yield. This target displays 96 surface groups. NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry show that exceptionally narrow polydispersity is achieved using this strategy.
TcSCA complements yeast mutants defective in Ca2+ pumps and encodes a Ca2+-ATPase that localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Intracellular Ca2+in Trypanosoma cruzi is mainly located in an acidic compartment named the acidocalcisome, which among other pumps and exchangers possesses a plasma membrane-type Ca2+-ATPase. Evidence for an endoplasmic reticulum-located Ca2+ uptake has been more elusive and based on indirect results. Here we report the cloning and sequencing of a gene encoding a sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum-type Ca2+-ATPase from T. cruzi. The protein (TcSCA) predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the gene has 1006 amino acids and a molecular mass of 109.7 kDa. Several sequence motifs found in sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum-type Ca2+-ATPases were present in TcSCA. Expression of TcSCA in yeast mutants deficient in the Golgi and vacuolar Ca2+pumps (pmr1 pmc1 cnb 1) restored growth on EGTA. Membranes were isolated from the pmr1 pmc1 cnb1 mutant transformed with TcSCA, and it was found that the TcSCA polypeptide formed a Ca2+-dependent and hydroxylamine-sensitive32P-labeled phosphoprotein of 110 kDa in the presence of [γ-32P]ATP. Cyclopiazonic acid, but not thapsigargin, blocked this phosphoprotein formation. Transgenic parasites expressing constructs of TcSCA with green fluorescent protein exhibited co-localization of TcSCA with the endoplasmic reticulum proteins BiP and calreticulin. An endoplasmic reticulum location was also found in amastigotes and trypomastigotes using a polyclonal antibody against a COOH-terminal region of the protein. The ability of TcSCA to restore growth of mutant pmr1 pmc1 cnb 1 on medium containing Mn2+ suggests that TcSCA may also regulate Mn2+homeostasis by pumping Mn2+ into the endoplasmic reticulum of T. cruzi.
Nucleotide sequencing and serological evidence that the recently recognized deer tick virus is a genotype of Powassan virus.

Abstract Deer tick virus (DTV) is a recently recognized North American virus isolated from Ixodes dammini ticks. Nucleotide sequencing of fragments of structural and non-structural protein genes suggested that this virus was most closely related to the tick-borne flavivirus Powassan (POW), which causes potentially fatal encephalitis in humans. To determine whether DTV represents a new and distinct member of the Flavivirus genus of the family Flaviviridae, we sequenced the structural protein genes and 5′ and 3′ non-coding regions of this virus. In addition, we compared the reactivity of DTV and POW in hemagglutination inhibition tests with a panel of polyclonal and monoclonal antisera, and performed cross-neutralization experiments using anti-DTV antisera. Nucleotide sequencing revealed a high degree of homology between DTV and POW at both nucleotide (>80% homology) and amino acid (>90% homology) levels, and the two viruses were indistinguishable in serological assays and mouse neuroinvasiveness. On the basis of these results, we suggest that DTV should be classified as a genotype of POW virus.
Cholesterol in neurologic disorders of the elderly: stroke and Alzheimer’s disease

Mechanisms for the regulation of intracellular cholesterol levels in various types of brain and vascular cells are of considerable importance in our understanding of the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, particularly atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is increasingly clear that conversion of brain cholesterol into 24-hydroxycholesterol and its subsequent release into the periphery is important for the maintenance of brain cholesterol homeostasis. Recent studies have shown elevated plasma concentrations of 24-hydroxycholesterol in patients with AD and vascular dementia, suggesting increased brain cholesterol turnover during neurodegeneration. The oxygenases involved in the degradation and excretion of cholesterol, including the cholesterol 24-hydroxylase and the 27-hydroxylase, are enzymes of the cytochrome P-450 family. This review focuses on the newly recognized importance of cholesterol and its oxygenated metabolites in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke and AD. The reduction in stroke and AD risk in patients treated with cholesterol-lowering statins is also discussed.
The health challenge of stress experienced by Native American adolescents.

Little is known about how Native American youth experience or manage stress. The purpose of this study was to describe the health challenge of stress experienced by Cherokee-Keetoowah adolescents and to identify approaches used to manage stress. All adolescents regardless of ethnicity face normative sources of stress, such as daily hassles and transition experiences like moving to a new school. Native American youth are known to have significantly greater stress, related to social and economic factors, than their white peers. They are exposed to a variety of continuous stressors including poverty and family disruption. A qualitative story–theory-guided approach was used to conduct a secondary analysis of existing data collected from a larger study where written stories of stress were gathered from 50 Cherokee-Keetoowah adolescents ranging in ages from 14 to 18 years. The data analysis was guided by the story inquiry method to identify dimensions of the health challenge of stress and approaches used to resolve the health challenge. Three health challenge groups were identified: burden of expectations, relationship disruption, and imposing feelings and the actions of others. The most frequently described stories of stress expressed were the burden of expectation of self or from others ( n =33). Connecting with valued others, engaging in meaningful activities, and choosing a positive attitude about change were themes that characterized ways that these adolescents managed stress. It is essential to understand how Native American adolescents experience stress and what they do to manage it if we wish to deter the physical and mental consequences of stress. The development of stress-reducing culturally competent interventions that are built on a foundation such as story sharing is a culturally congruent approach for intervening with Native American adolescents.
On Conditional Expectations of Location Statistics

Abstract Let T 1 and T 2 be two odd location statistics, such as the sample mean and the sample median. Let S 1 and S 2 be two even location-free statistics, such as the sample variance and the sample range. When sampling from a symmetric distribution, it is proved that the conditional expectation of either odd location statistic, given the even location-free statistics, is equal to θ, the midpoint of the distribution. This implies that if the random weights W 1 and W 2 are functions of even location-free statistics so that W 1 + W 2 = 1, then W 1 T 1 + W 2 T 2 is an unbiased estimator of θ.
Photonic crystals in biosensing

We discuss the use of 2-D photonic crystal microcavities built in the silicon-on-insulator platform to detect tiny amount of biological material. The devices are functionalized to capture the appropriate target with a negligible false positive response.
Relationship between Fibromyalgia and Obesity in Pain, Function, Mood and Sleep

Abstract Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a prevalent and disabling chronic pain disorder. Past research suggests that obesity is a common comorbidity and may be related to the severity of FMS. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationships between FMS and obesity in the multiple FMS-related domains: hyperalgesia, symptoms, physical abilities, and sleep. A total of 215 FMS patients completed a set of self-report inventories to assess FMS-related symptoms and underwent the tender point (TP) examination, physical performance testing, and 7-day home sleep assessment. Forty-seven percent of our sample was obese and an additional 30% was overweight. Obesity was related significantly to greater pain sensitivity to TP palpation particularly in the lower body areas, reduced physical strength and lower-body flexibility, shorter sleep duration, and greater restlessness during sleep. The results confirmed that obesity is a prevalent comorbidity of FMS that may contribute to the severity of the problem. Potential mechanisms underlying the relationship are discussed. Perspective This report presents how obesity may be interrelated to fibromyalgia pain, disability, and sleep. We found that obesity is common in FMS. Approximately half of our patients were obese and an additional 30% were overweight. We also found that obesity in FMS was associated with greater pain sensitivity, poorer sleep quality, and reduced physical strength and flexibility. The results suggest that obesity may aggregate FMS and weight management may need to be incorporated into treatments.
"Star Wars" revisited-Ethics and safety-critical software

This article describes a curriculum module developed around a Reagan-era SDI debate on the theme "Star wars: can the computing requirements be met?" This module may be appropriate for use in ethics-related or software-engineering related courses taught in undergraduate Information Systems, Information Technology, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering programs. It should also be appropriate for use in courses in general engineering ethics or technology and society.
Functional Regulation of L-type Calcium Channels via Protein Kinase A-mediated Phosphorylation of the β2 Subunit

Activation of protein kinase A (PKA) through the β-adrenergic receptor pathway is crucial for the positive regulation of cardiac L-type currents; however it is still unclear which phosphorylation events cause the robust regulation of channel function. In order to study whether or not the recently identified PKA phosphorylation sites on the β2 subunit are of functional significance, we coexpressed wild-type (WT) or mutant β2 subunits in tsA-201 cells together with an α1C subunit, α1CΔ1905, that lacked the C-terminal 265 amino acids, including the only identified PKA site at Ser-1928. This truncated α1C subunit was similar to the truncated α1C subunit isolated from cardiac tissue not only in size (∼190 kDa), but also with respect to its failure to serve as a PKA substrate. In cells transfected with the WT β2 subunit, voltage-activated Ba2+ currents were significantly increased when purified PKA was included in the patch pipette. Furthermore, mutations of Ser-478 and Ser-479 to Ala, but not Ser-459 to Ala, on the β2 subunit, completely abolished the PKA-induced increase of currents. The data indicate that the PKA-mediated stimulation of cardiac L-type Ca2+currents may be at least partially caused by phosphorylation of the β2 subunit at Ser-478 and Ser-479.
Temperature Influences Selective Mortality during the Early Life Stages of a Coral Reef Fish

For organisms with complex life cycles, processes occurring at the interface between life stages can disproportionately impact survival and population dynamics. Temperature is an important factor influencing growth in poikilotherms, and growth-related processes are frequently correlated with survival. We examined the influence of water temperature on growth-related early life history traits (ELHTs) and differential mortality during the transition from larval to early juvenile stage in sixteen monthly cohorts of bicolor damselfish Stegastes partitus, sampled on reefs of the upper Florida Keys, USA over 6 years. Otolith analysis of settlers and juveniles coupled with environmental data revealed that mean near-reef water temperature explained a significant proportion of variation in pelagic larval duration (PLD), early larval growth, size-at-settlement, and growth during early juvenile life. Among all cohorts, surviving juveniles were consistently larger at settlement, but grew more slowly during the first 6 d post-settlement. For the other ELHTs, selective mortality varied seasonally: during winter and spring months, survivors exhibited faster larval growth and shorter PLDs, whereas during warmer summer months, selection on PLD reversed and selection on larval growth became non-linear. Our results demonstrate that temperature not only shapes growth-related traits, but can also influence the direction and intensity of selective mortality.
Phospholamban Mutants Compete with Wild Type for SERCA Binding in Living Cells

We have used fluorescent fusion proteins stably expressed in HEK cells to detect directly the interaction between the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA) and phospholamban (PLB) in living cells, in order to design PLB mutants for gene therapy. Ca2+ cycling in muscle cells depends strongly on SERCA. Heart failure (HF), which contributes to 12% of US deaths, typically exhibits decreased SERCA activity, and several potential therapies for HF aim to increase SERCA activity. We are investigating the use of LOF-PLB mutants (PLBM) as gene therapy vectors to increase SERCA activity. Active SERCA1a and WT-PLB, tagged at their N termini with fluorescent proteins (CFP and YFP), were coexpressed in stable HEK cell lines, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used to detect their interaction directly. Phosphorylation of PLB, induced by forskolin, caused an increase in FRET from CFP-SERCA to YFP-PLB, indicating that SERCA inhibition can be relieved without dissociation of the complex. This suggests that a LOF mutant might bind to SERCA with sufficient affinity to complete effectively with WT-PLB, thus relieving SERCA inhibition. Therefore, we transiently expressed a series of PLBM in the CFP-SERCA/YFP-PLB cell line, and found decreased FRET, implying competition between PLBM and WT-PLB for binding to SERCA. These results establish this FRET assay as a rapid and quantitative means of screening PLBM for optimization of gene therapy to activate SERCA, as needed for gene therapy in HF.
True three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance zeugmatographic images of a human brain.

A three-dimensional image of a preserved human brain, resolved into cubical 0.03 cm3 volume elements, has been obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) zeugmatography, using a twostage reconstruction technique. Intensities in such images represent concentrations of water and other liquids or liquid-like substances. The image has been displayed as computer-generated multiple transverse, coronal and sagittal sections, so as to display most clearly a number of anatomical features. The potential of this technique in physiological research and clinical practice is discussed.
Civilizational Diversity and Support for Traditional Values

Values concerning religion, family and gender are conceptions of the desirable in these domains of life. Studies of development have shown that, instead of eagerly adopting modernity, people may resist it and adhere to traditional religious, family and gender values. Although Western societies increasingly move in the direction of modern values, the proportion of people in the world with traditional values may be increasing – given the higher fertility rates in less developed societies where traditional values are more common. This study develops a causal model of the social bases of support for traditional values: the individual's sex, age, education, occupational status and income; the level of socio-economic development of one's society; and the civilization of which one's society is a part. Multivariate regression analysis of data from representative samples of the populations of eighty societies in the 2000 (fourth) wave of the World Values Surveys confirms the hypotheses. Around the world, women are more traditional than men in religious values, but more modern in family and gender values. Traditional values are most often supported by older people, those of lower socio-economic status, living in less developed societies, in Islamic, Sub-Saharan African and Latin American civilizations.
Partial-Insulation Winding Technique for NbTi Coils

In 2010, we reported, for the first time, the no-insulation (NI) winding technique for high-temperature superconducting (HTS) pancake coils. Based on our test results of small NbTi NI coils, reported in 2011, the key benefits, i.e., enhanced mechanical integrity, compactness, and thermal stability, of the NI winding technique, appear intact for low-temperature superconducting (LTS) windings. However, the intrinsic charging delay observed in NI coils, caused by the lack of insulation, is more pronounced in LTS coils of a bare round wire than in HTS pancakes of thin, wide tape. Thus, to significantly reduce the charging delay in LTS coils of a bare round wire, we proposed a partial-insulation (PI) winding technique, a variation of the NI technique. In the PI winding of a bare round wire, a thin insulation sheet is introduced every few layers-note that in the PI winding, there are no turn-to-turn insulations. This paper reports results, experimental and analytical, of the PI winding technique in which bare-round-wire NI and PI coils were prepared to quantify the effects of PI winding technique. Three LTS coils of the identical dimension and magnet constant were wound with 0.4 mm diameter NbTi mono-filament wire and tested in a bath of liquid helium at 4.2 K, respectively, with three winding techniques: insulated (INS); NI; and PI. We analyzed the experimental results by applying an equivalent circuit model that had earlier been successfully applied to another set of experimental results. A graph model of resistance matrix was applied to estimate characteristic resistance of both NI and PI coils.
Shock-compression parameters for uranium dioxide from 5 to 330 GPa

Abstract Calculations related to liquid metal, fast-breeder-reactor, excursion analyses based on extrapolations of published Hugoniot data for UO 2 are in serious error because the experimental techniques used to obtain the data did not resolve the strong multiple-wave shock structures present. We have used the inclined prism, flash gap, and two-stage gas-gun techniques to determine shock-compression parameters for UO 2 up to 330 GPa. The Hugoniot elastic limit for UO 2 was found to be 5.7 GPa. The low-pressure shock velocity, U s , can be described in terms of particle velocity, U p , by U s = 3.88 + 1.11 (U P −0.3) for 0.3 P −1 . At high pressure, a plot of shock versus particle velocity displays a discontinuity between 1.05 p −1 , which appears to be a manifestation of a solid-solid phase transition. For 1.8 P −1 , the plot is given by U s = 5.8 + 1.28 (U P −1.8) . This curve differs substantially from those previously reported.
Extensive infectious myelitis post bariatric surgery

Inflammatory myelopathy is an inflammatory neurological disorder of the spinal cord (myelopathy). It occurs in 1 (severe) to 8 (mild) cases/million per year. It is often referred to in the literature as “transverse myelitis” or “acute transverse myelitis”. Myelopathy and by extension myelitis, can present as pyramidal (motor), sensory, and/or autonomic dysfunction to varying degrees. Symptoms typically develop over hours to days and worsen over days to weeks. Sensory symptoms usually present as paresthesia ascending from the feet with or without back pain at or near the level of the myelitis. A cervical level focal myelitis can present as sensory symptoms restricted to the feet without ascending extension. Motor symptoms often include weakness that preferentially affects the flexors of the legs and the extensors of the arms (pyramidal distribution of weakness) and can include sphincter dysfunction. This is the case of a 55 years old female patient who develops sudden onset abdominal abscess one year after bariatric surgery that was complicated by an extensive infectious myelitis and cerebral abscesses without any cerebral symptoms. She received adequate antibiotherapy treatment with good evolution. This case is among the first in the medical literature that has occurred one year after bariatric surgery complicated by an abdominal and cerebral abscesses, and extensive infectious myelitis. We discussed all types of myelitis including, the autoimmune and the infectious origin. We showed the progressive evolution by showing MRI sequences. We emphasized about the importance of rapid initiation of the antibiotherapy as well as adding glucocorticoids.
Computer studies of respiration—II: Postural variations in ventilatory parameters

Variations in ventilatory parameters between the supine and standing positions were studied using a data-processing apparatus designed for respiratory studies. Three significant changes were observed: (1) the anatomic dead space increased in the standing position; (2) the end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration was lower in the standing than in the supine position; and (3) the rate of excretion of carbon dioxide was lower in the standing than in the supine position during the period of this study (5 min per position).
Chemical Factors Affecting Anthocyanin Formation and Morphogenesis in Cultured Hypocotyl Segments of Impatiens balsamina.

Introduction The effects of various chemicals on anthocyanin synthesis and morphogenesis in the Impatiens hypocotyl were investigated to determine possible relationships between a specific biochemical process (anthocyanin synthesis) and morphogenetic events (the formation of roots and epidermal hairs). Cultured segments of balsam (Impatiens balsamina L.) provide excellent material for the study of anthocyanin formation as an indicator of metabolic conditions accompanying differentiation (3). A similar approach to studying morphogenesis has been taken by Klein and Hagen (7) using cultured balsam flower petals. The axis of the etiolated hypocotyl presents a gradient of tissue differentiation from an actively dividing meristem in the region of the hypocotyl arch to highly specialized tissue zones toward the base (2, 8). Correspondingly, different segments of the balsam hypocotyl axis differ in their capacity to form roots, epidermal hairs, and anthocyanin pigments when cultured on an agar medium (3).
Electron microscopic observations on glycerol-extracted rabbit muscles treated with dialyzed iron at low pH.

Treatment of myofibrils isolated from glycerol-extracted rabbit psoas mucles with dialyzed iron in the pH range of 1.5–2.0 produces a marked deposition of stain particles in the I bands. A bands are considerably less reactive, although M line staining is observed. Control preparations treated with a solution of MgCl2 at the same pH, concentration, and temperature, and for the same period of time as used for the dialyzed iron reagent are unreactive throughout the myofibrils. Methylation for 4 hours at 60°C, blocks dialyzed iron staining. Extraction of rabbit psoas muscles with low ionic strength Tris buffer, pH 8.0, alters thick filament and thin filament fine structure and removes M lines and Z disks if prolonged sufficiently, but does not prevent dialyzed iron staining of material remaining in the I bands. Digestion of myofibrils with trypsin for 10 minutes removes M lines and Z disks and causes thin filament disorganization in the I bands, but does not prevent reaction of dialyzed iron with material remaining in the I bands. It is concluded that dialyzed iron reveals acid mucosubstances associated with I band thin filaments in rabbit skeletal muscle; it seems unlikely that this reagent reacts nonspecifically with proteins of the myofibrils. It is suggested that acid mucosubstances form a three-dimensional network throughout the I bands.