cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring microRNA reporter activity in skeletal muscle using hydrodynamic limb vein injection of plasmid DNA combined with in vivo imaging.

microRNA regulation plays an important role in the remodeling that occurs in response to pathologic and physiologic stimuli in skeletal muscle. In response to stress, microRNAs are dynamically regulated, resulting in a widespread “fine-tuning” of gene expression. An understanding of this dynamic regulation is critical to targeting future therapeutic strategies. Experiments elucidating this dynamic regulation have typically relied on in vitro reporter assays, ex vivo sample analysis, and transgenic mouse studies. Surprisingly, no experimental method to date allows rapid in vivo analysis of microRNA activity in mammals. To improve microRNA studies we have developed a novel reporter assay for the measurement of skeletal muscle microRNA activity in vivo. To minimize muscle damage, hydrodynamic limb vein injection was used for the introduction of plasmid DNA encoding bioluminescent and fluorescent reporters, including click-beetle luciferase and the far-red fluorescent protein mKATE. We then applied this technique to the measurement of miR-206 activity in dystrophic mdx4cv animals. We found that hydrodynamic limb vein injection is minimally damaging to myofibers, and as a result no induction of muscle-specific miR-206 (indicative of an injury response) was detected. Unlike intramuscular injection or electroporation, we found that hydrodynamic limb vein injection results in dispersed reporter expression across multiple hindlimb muscle groups. Additionally, by utilizing click-beetle luciferase from Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus as a reporter and the far-red fluorescent protein mKATE for normalization, we show as a proof of principle that we can detect elevated miR-206 activity in mdx4cv animals when compared to C57Bl/6 controls. Hydrodynamic limb vein injection of plasmid DNA followed by in vivo bioluminescent imaging is a novel assay for the detection of reporter activity in skeletal muscle in vivo. We believe that this method will allow for the rapid and precise detection of both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in response to skeletal muscle stress. Additionally, given the post-mitotic status of myofibers and stable expression of plasmid DNA, we believe this method will reduce biological variability in animal studies by allowing longitudinal studies of the same animal cohort.
Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Anti-A Antibody Capture in Novel Integrated Bead and Hollow Fiber Modules

Anti-A/B antibody removal from blood reduces the hyperacute rejection risk following ABO-incompatible transplantation. We are developing an integrated bead and fiber module (BSAF) that selectively removes anti-A from blood. In BSAF blood flows through the inner lumen of microfiltration fibers. Starling flow carries plasma from the inner fiber lumen to the beads in the shell compartment where antibodies bind to covalently attached antigens on the beads. In this study, we developed a mathematical model to guide the choice of key design and operational parameters for a clinical BSAF device. The model demonstrated that for a given flow rate and reservoir volume, antibody removal rate was dependent on the magnitude of a lumped parameter, k (L) m (B)/Q (s), that characterizes the ratio of antibody uptake rate by the beads to the Starling flow rate in the device. The highest antibody removal rate was predicted for the perfusion limited regime, when k (L) m (B)/Q (s) → 10; Once this maximum limit was obtained, any further increase in the antibody removal rate was only possible by increasing the flow rate. Key model predictions were validated in a series of experiments. The model was then used to conceptually design a BSAF capable of a clinically relevant rate of anti-A removal.
Phase transitions in leucite, KAISi 2 O 6

An order parameter treatment of the phase transitions in leucite, KAlSi2O6, at approximately 950 and 920 K: $$Ia\overline 3 d$$ (cubic) → I41 acd(tetragonal) → I41 a(tetragonal) is presented in terms of Landau theory and induced representation theory. The Al-Si order with decreasing temperature is taken as the primary order parameter to which other distortions (K+ ion displacements, strain components, etc.) couple linearly. The expected Al-Si ordering behavior and the associated K+ ion displacements for both transitions are derived and the resulting twin domain orientations are listed. The sequence of phase transitions results from a coupling of Γ 3 + and Γ 4 + representations. The Landau free energy for the five-dimensional reducible representation has been simplified to two components resulting in a linearquadratic coupling of the components. Possible phase diagrams are derived by free energy minimization. The cubic → tetragonal transition is first-order, whereas the tetragonal-tetragonal transition may be second order. A tricritical point exists at which the first-order transition changes to second-order.
Dynamics of the formation of HD from D(H) atoms colliding with H(D)Cu(111): a model study of an Eley-Rideal reaction

Abstract It has long been postulated that gas-surface chemical reactions can occur upon a single gas-surface encounter, by an Eley-Rideal (ER) mechanism. In this paper, we describe results for the reaction of D(H) atoms with H(D) Cu (111) , which clearly confirmed that such direct gas-surface reactions indeed occur. We present angular and velocity distributions for the molecular products, as well as nascent internal-state distributions. We show that the angular distributions are asymmetric about the surface normal, providing proof of the direct nature of the reactions. We also show that the HD product has a very high degree of translational, vibrational, and rotational excitation, accounting for essentially all of the ∼ 2.3 eV available energy. Theses energies are in the order E trans > E vib > E rot . Strong isotope effects are observed, particularly in the angular and vibrational state distribution, where results for H-on-D are clearly different than those for D-on-H. We briefly compare our findings with the results of recent calculations.
Analysis of two-stage recombinant bacterial fermentations using a structured kinetic model

A structured kinetic model has been employed to analyze the performance of a two-stage continuous fermentation of a recombinant Escherichia coli. Separating the cell growth phase from the gene expression phase in two fermentors minimizes the growth rate difference between the recombinant cells and the plasmid-free cells in the first fermentor, thereby increasing the plasmid stability. The plasmid-harboring cells from the first fermentor are continuously fed into the second fermentor, in which the foreign protein synthesis is turned on by the addition of the inducer. Consequently, the recombinant cells experience an immediate reduction in growth rates as soon as they enter the second stage and then recover to synthesize the foreign protein. To analyze the fermentation performance contributed by these cells with different intracellular foreign protein levels and growth rates, a novel method for determining the residence time distribution of the growing cells in the second stage has been formulated. Combined with this method, the structured kinetic model for recombinant bacterial cells is used to predict the plasmid stability and foreign productivity at various operation conditions, such as induction strength and dilution rates. This model can provide us with thorough understanding of the characteristics of the two-stage fermentations, and is useful for the development of large scale continuous cultures of recombinant bacteria.
Characterization of Cytochrome P450 3A Inactivation by Cannabidiol: Possible Involvement of Cannabidiol-Hydroxyquinone as a P450 Inactivator

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major constituent of marijuana and a potent inhibitor of P450-mediated hepatic drug metabolism. Mouse P450 3A11 metabolism of [14C]CBD resulted in the formation of radiolabeled P450, which after digestion with lysyl endopeptidase C (Lys-C) and HPLC resolution of peptides, revealed one major broadly eluting peak of radioactivity. Electrophoresis/autoradiography of this peak identified several peptide bands, one of which was predominantly radiolabeled and had an apparent molecular mass of approximately 6 kDa. Amino-terminal sequence determination of this band revealed the presence of two peptides whose sequences identified them as Ala344-Lys379 and Gly426-Lys454. To characterize the reactive species that may be generated during P450 3A11-catalyzed CBD metabolism, reduced glutathione (GSH) was used as a trapping agent for possible electrophilic metabolites. Incubation of P450 3A11 in the presence of cofactors NADPH, CBD, and [3H]GSH resulted in the formation of a radiolabeled product which was absent in incubations lacking any of the cofactors. The UV absorption spectra of this compound indicated absorbances at approximately 220, 275, and 350 nm, and mass spectral analysis revealed prominent ions at m/z 634, 599, 505, 402, and 359, ions consistent with that of a GSH adduct of CBD-hydroxyquinone. A synthetic CBD-hydroxyquinone-GSH adduct was also prepared and had UV absorption and mass spectra nearly identical to that of the P450-mediated CBD-GSH adduct. CBD-hydroxyquinone formation may be the penultimate oxidative step involved in CBD-mediated modification and inactivation of P450 3A11.
Hepatitis C virus: virology and experimental systems.

Over the past several years, significant progress has been made toward the understanding of hepatitis C virus, especially the development of in vitro cell culture models. The scientific community now has the tools to gain a better understanding of the virus, which should translate into better clinical therapeutic modalities. Many new drugs are currently being evaluated, and a few are already undergoing clinical trails. This article focuses on the current advances in hepatitis C virus virology.
Effect of menopausal status on lipolysis: comparison of plasma glycerol levels in middle-aged, premenopausal and early, postmenopausal women.

Abstract To determine whether menopausal status affects systemic lipolysis, we measured plasma glycerol concentrations following an overnight fast and during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic conditions (40 mU [middot] m [minus ]2 [middot] min [minus ]1 ) in 43 middle-aged, premenopausal women (mean [plusmn] SE; 47 [plusmn] 0.4 years) and 26 early, postmenopausal (51 [plusmn] 0.8 years) women. In addition, body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and abdominal fat distribution by computed tomography (CT). Postmenopausal women had greater amounts of whole body (fat mass, 22.8 [plusmn] 1.4 v 17.4 [plusmn] 1.2 kg; percent fat, 34.7 [plusmn] 1.2 v 29.1 [plusmn] 1.4; both P [lt ] .01) and intra-abdominal fat (89.0 [plusmn] 6.5 v 55.9 [plusmn] 4.4 cm 2 ; P [lt ] .01) compared with premenopausal women. Despite greater adiposity, plasma glycerol concentrations were similar between pre- and postmenopausal women following an overnight fast (142.7 [plusmn] 9.7 v 136.1 [plusmn] 6.4 [mu ]mol/L) and at 30 minutes (112.7 [plusmn] 5.5 v 108.4 [plusmn] 4.5 [mu ]mol/L ) and 120 minutes (92.7 [plusmn] 4.5 v 97.5 [plusmn] 5.9 [mu ]mol/L ) into the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Plasma glycerol levels remained similar after statistical adjustment for fat mass, percent fat, and intra-abdominal fat. Moreover, no differences in plasma glycerol were observed in pre- and postmenopausal women matched ([plusmn] 5%) for fat mass (n = 22/group) or intra-abdominal fat (n = 15/group). In premenopausal women, plasma glycerol levels at 30 and 120 minutes of hyperinsulinemia were positively related to adiposity measures (range, r = .314 to r = .493; P [lt ] .05 to P [lt ] .01), although no relationships were found in postmenopausal women. Our results suggest no effect of menopausal status on plasma glycerol levels under postabsorptive or hyperinsulinemic conditions.
Dynamics of the Current Crisis

Sometimes, it is useful to take a step back and remind ourselves why recessions occur and why recoveries usually follow shortly thereafter. Having done that, we can try to understand the causes of far more serious recessions and what must be done to recover. The authors point out how such severe recessions, including the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009, differ profoundly from most others.
Linear Modeling of a Marine Gas Turbine Power Plant

Aerospace gas turbine control designers have long recognized the suitability of modern control theory to deal with the severe problem of controlling multiple turbine outputs by generating multiple inputs. Marine gas turbines are equally complex and thus suggest a similar approach. Many modern methods require a state-space approach to turbine and load modeling, this paper outlines a procedure used to generate such a state-space model for a marine gas turbine plant. Simulation results for linear and non-linear plant models are compared and a modern controller development to achieve reduced fuel consumption is briefly discussed.Copyright © 1988 by ASME
Changing societal attitudes toward persons with severe mental illness

Persons with severe mental illness are often stigmatized as a result of their psychiatric condition, which likely contributes to their difficulties in interpersonal relations, occupational functioning, and self-esteem. Given the pervasive effects of stigma on the adjustment of persons with severe mental illness, it is necessary to identify potential strategies for reducing barriers that interfere with their acceptance into the community. In this article, we briefly review research on the stigma of severe mental illness, followed by suggestions on how mental health professionals might best approach the problem of reducing the stigma associated with severe mental illness. Potential strategies of stigma reduction include education about severe mental illness, promoting contact between the community and persons with severe mental illness, and “value self-confrontation,” a technique used to reduce prejudice toward persons in ethnic minorities. The article concludes with a discussion of future directions for research in this area.
The First Organosiloxane Thin Films Derived from SiCl3-Terminated Dendrons. Thickness-Dependent Nano- and Mesoscopic Structures of the Films Deposited on Mica by Spin-Coating

This article describes a new type of organosiloxane thin films derived from SiCl3-terminated carbosilane dendrons of the second, third, and fourth generations, containing 9, 27, and 81 SiCl3 terminal groups. The films were deposited on mica surfaces by spin-coating from solutions of the dendrons with a series of concentrations. The resulting submonolayer to multilayer films were investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM studies showed that the morphology of the films was highly dependent upon the generation of the dendrons and the film thickness. Mesoscopic ring, disk, or hole structures were observed. These structures were composed of nanoparticles with sizes corresponding to one dendron molecule or the cluster of a few laterally bound molecules. At submonolayer coverage, the molecules tended to flatten and spread out on mica surfaces. Significantly, this study showed that molecularly flat monolayers could be obtained with the dendrons containing up to 81 SiCl3 terminal groups. Prior to curing...
Lysis of intravascular thrombus prior to coronary stenting using the dispatch infusion catheter.

The presence of angiographic evidence of thrombus is generally thought to be a contraindication to coronary stent placement. This report describes four patients in whom angiographic thrombus was lysed using the Dispatch infusion catheter prior to coronary stenting. Urokinase was infused via the Dispatch catheter with resolution of angiographic evidence of thrombus in all cases. No complications were encountered using this technique, and all patients had excellent angiographic results after stenting. We conclude that lysis of intracoronary thrombus using the Dispatch Infusion catheter is feasible and appears safe in this small study. Further trials are needed to determine if this technique reduces the acute stent thrombosis rate compared to other techniques for stent deployment in the presence of angiographic evidence of thrombus. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Sphingosine Kinase and Sphingosine 1-Phosphate in Cardioprotection

Activation of sphingosine kinase/sphingosine 1-phosphate– mediated signaling has emerged as a critical cardioprotective pathway in response to acute ischemia/reperfusion injury. Application of exogenous sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) in cultured cardiac myocytes subjected to hypoxia or treatment of isolated hearts either before ischemia or at the onset of reperfusion (pharmacologic preconditioning or postconditioning) exerts prosurvival effects. Synthetic congeners of S1P mimic these responses. Gene-targeted mice null for the sphingosine kinase 1 isoform whose hearts are subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury exhibit increased infarct size and respond poorly either to ischemic preconditioning or to ischemic postconditioning. Measurements of cardiac sphingosine kinase activity and S1P parallel these observations. High-density lipoprotein is a major carrier of S1P, and studies of hearts in which selected S1P receptors have been deleted implicate the S1P cargo of high-density lipoprotein in cardioprotection. These observations have considerable relevance for future therapeutic approaches to acute and chronic myocardial injury.
Diffusion of small particles: Electrostatic effects

Abstract The diffusive flux of small particles in ionic solution can be augmented by electrostatic effects. An equation is derived for the enhanced diffusivity in terms of the particle charge and the properties of the solution. For the particular case of micron-size latex spheres, these effects are negligible in 0.1 M salt solution. This conclusion obviates electrostatic effects as an explanation for Uzelac and Cussler's (1) anomalous results on latex diffusion.
Polyvalent Display and Packing of Peptides and Proteins on Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Predicted Versus Experimental Results

Quantum dots (QDs) are loaded with a series of peptides and proteins of increasing size, including a <20 residue peptide, myoglobin, mCherry, and maltose binding protein, which together cover a range of masses from <2.2 to approximately 44 kDa. Conjugation to the surface of dihydrolipoic acid-functionalized QDs is facilitated by polyhistidine metal affinity coordination. Increasing ratios of dye-labeled peptides and proteins are self-assembled to the QDs and then the bioconjugates are separated and analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Fluorescent visualization of both conjugated and unbound species allows determination of an experimentally derived maximum loading number. Molecular modeling utilizing crystallographic coordinates or space-filling structures of the peptides and proteins also allow the predicted maximum loadings to the QDs to be estimated. Comparison of the two sets of results provides insight into the nature of the QD surface and reflects the important role played by the nanoparticle's hydrophilic solubilizing surface ligands. It is found that for the larger protein molecules steric hindrance is the major packing constraint. In contrast, for the smaller peptides, the number of available QD binding sites is the principal determinant. These results can contribute towards an overall understanding of how to engineer designer bioconjugates for both QDs and other nanoparticle materials.
An L2-miss-driven early register deallocation for SMT processors

The register file is one of the most critical datapath components limiting the number of threads that can be supported on a Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) processor. To allow the use of smaller register files without degrading performance, techniques that maximize the efficiency of using registers through aggressive register allocation/deallocation can be considered. In this paper, we propose a novel technique to early deallocate physical registers allocated to threads that experience L2 cache misses. This is accomplished by speculatively committing the load-independent instructions and deallocating the registers corresponding to the previous mappings of their destinations, without waiting for the cache miss request to be serviced. The early deallocated registers are then made immediately available for allocation to instructions within the same thread as well as within other threads, thus improving the overall processor throughput. On the average across the simulated mixes of multiprogrammed SPEC 2000 workloads, our technique results in 33% improvement in throughput and 25% improvement in terms of harmonic mean of weighted IPCs over the baseline SMT with the state-of-the-art DCRA policy. This is achieved without creating checkpoints, maintaining per-register counters of pending consumers, performing tag re-broadcasts, register re-mappings and/or additional associative searches.
TROCHANTERIC UNION FOLLOWING REVISION TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY

Ninety-nine patients (106 hips) with a trochanteric osteotomy during revision total hip arthroplasty were evaluated at a minimum of 5 years after surgery. Trochanteric reattachment was done with monofilament cobalt-chromium wires. The influence of the following variables on trochanteric union was examined: a prior trochanteric osteotomy, an existing trochanteric nonunion, trochanteric advancement to the lateral femur, use of vertical (in addition to horizontal) wires through the trochanter, and use of a trochanteric mesh. Overall, union occurred in 92 of the 106 trochanters (87%). Fifty-three of 61 trochanters (86.9%) healed after an initial osteotomy, whereas 34 of 38 (89.5%) healed after a repeat osteotomy. Five of the 7 trochanters with an existing nonunion healed, and 5 of 5 trochanters reattached to a bulk allograft healed. Twenty-nine of 36 trochanters (80.5%) reattached to cancellous bone healed, compared with 58 of 65 (89.2%) that were reattached to the lateral femoral cortex. Ninety percent (83/92) of the trochanters reattached in conjunction with use of a chrome-cobalt mesh healed, compared with 64.3% (9/14) of those without (P < .05). Of the variables studied, only the use of mesh was statistically significant. Osteotomy through a previously healed trochanter, advancement of the trochanter to cortical bone, existing trochanteric nonunion, trochanteric reattachment to a bulk allograft, and lack of vertical wires for fixation did not adversely affect the likelihood of obtaining trochanteric union.
Options for Down Syndrome Screening: What Will Women Choose?

Down syndrome screening has been offered to pregnant women since the early 1980s. Protocols have changed as research confirmed improvements that result in higher detection rates and lower false-positive rates. Results from 2 clinical trials evaluating screening protocols that include ultrasound measurement of nuchal translucency and biochemical testing in the first and second trimester are now available. First-trimester screening is an option if there are adequate ultrasound, diagnostic, and counseling services available. Regional variation in the availability of these services may limit the implementation of first-trimester screening. Combining screening tests for Down syndrome from both trimesters as an integrated test offers the highest detection rate with the lowest false-positive rate. The possibility of avoiding a positive screen will make this an attractive option for some. Timing, detection rate, false-positive rates, and personal factors influence the decision women make regarding screening versus diagnostic testing. This article reviews the efficacy of current protocols for Down syndrome screening. Accurate information about available screening tests will facilitate informed decisions about screening and testing.
A roadmap for aircraft engine life extending control

The concept of aircraft engine life extending control is introduced. A brief description of the tradeoffs between performance and engine life are first explained. The overall goal of the life extending controller is to reduce the engine operating cost by extending the on-wing engine life while improving operational safety. The research results for NASA's Rocket Engine life extending control program are also briefly described. Major building blocks of the engine life extending control architecture are examined. These blocks include: life prediction models, engine operation models, stress and thermal analysis tools, control schemes, and intelligent control systems. The technology fields that would likely impact the successful implementation of an aircraft engine life extending control are also briefly described. Near, intermediate, and long term goals of NASA's programs are also presented.
Establishment of Characteristic Gut Bacteria during Development of the Honeybee Worker

Previous surveys have shown that adult honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers harbor a characteristic gut microbiota that may play a significant role in bee health. For three major phylotypes within this microbiota, we have characterized distributions and abundances across the life cycle and among gut organs. These distinctive phylotypes, called Beta, Firm-5, and Gamma-1 (BFG), were assayed using quantitative PCR, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) microscopy, and the experimental manipulation of inoculation routes within developing bees. Adult workers (9 to 30 days posteclosion) contained a large BFG microbiota with a characteristic distribution among gut organs. The crop and midgut were nearly devoid of these phylotypes, while the ileum and rectum together contained more than 95% of the total BFG microbiota. The ileum contained a stratified community in which the Beta and Gamma-1 phylotypes dominated, filling the longitudinal folds of this organ. Deep sequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed clear differences among communities in midgut, ileum, and rectum. In contrast with older workers, larvae and newly emerged workers contain few or no bacteria, and their major food source, bee bread, lacks most characteristic phylotypes. In experiments aimed at determining the route of inoculation, newly emerged workers (NEWs) sometimes acquired the typical phylotypes through contact with older workers, contact with the hive, and emergence from the brood cell; however, transmission was patchy in these assays. Our results outline a colonization pattern for the characteristic phylotypes through A. mellifera ontogeny. We propose the names “Candidatus Snodgrassella alvi” and “Candidatus Gilliamella apicola” for the Beta and Gamma-1 phylotypes, respectively.
Consanguinity and Other Marriage Market Effects of a Wealth Shock in Bangladesh

This paper uses a wealth shock from the construction of a flood protection embankment in rural Bangladesh coupled with data on the universe of all 52,000 marriage decisions between 1982 and 1996 to examine changes in marital prospects for households protected by the embankment relative to unprotected households living on the other side of the river. We use difference-in-difference specifications to document that brides from protected households commanded larger dowries, married wealthier households, and became less likely to marry biological relatives. Financial liquidity-constrained households appear to use within-family marriage (in which one can promise ex-post payments) as a form of credit to meet up-front dowry demands, but the resultant wealth shock for households protected by the embankment relaxed this need to marry consanguineously. Our results shed light on the socioeconomic roots of consanguinity, which carries health risks for offspring but can also carry substantial benefits for the families involved.
Is there Evidence for the Bipolar Spectrum and the Safety of Pharmaceutical Interventions

Social workers constitute a high proportion of mental health professionals and a high percentage of social workers provide mental health care. Thus, psychiatric diagnoses and pharmaceutical interventions are relevant for many social workers. This article reviews the rise in the diagnoses of bipolar spectrum disorders for both children and adults. It considers the safety of antipsychotic medications, a mainstay of treatment for children and adults, which, in addition to other well-documented negative side effects, have recently been shown to decrease brain volume by a significant percent. These issues are particularly relevant for children in the foster care system.
Direct and Indirect Effects of Maternal Intelligence, Maternal Age, Income, and Home Environment on Intelligence of Preterm, Low-Birth-Weight Children

Low birth weight (LBW) infants are at elevated risk for adverse developmental outcomes, including impaired cognition. From a public health perspective, interventions designed primarily to prevent and/or secondarily to avert intellectual impairments could have substantial impact on social and fiscal costs associated with LBW. But LBW is a heterogenous condition correlated with demographic, biological, psychological, and social variables. In this study we examined direct and indirect effects of maternal intelligence, age, income, and home environment on 3-year intelligence among premature LBW children. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to determine the extent to which SES (measured by family income) and home environment mediate effects of maternal IQ and age on child IQ. Maternal IQ was found to have major direct and indirect consequences. Indirect effects were mediated by income and home environment. A small part of the influence of income is explained by home environment. Taken together with results of other studies, these findings suggest that standard family interventions to improve cognitive outcome for children of poor and intellectually compromised women are not likely to produce impressive results.
Pheromone-aided robust multipath and multipriority routing in wireless MANETs

In this paper, we present an ant-based multipath routing protocol that considers both energy and latency. Energy efficiency is an important issue in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) since node energy supplies are stored in batteries. In order to increase the network lifetime it is important to maximize the minimum node energy along the path. As the network topology changes, failures may occur on active routes, resulting in the need for new route discoveries if only single routes per flow are maintained. Frequent new route discovery would, however, increase routing overhead and increase mean and peak packet latency. Using multiple routes simultaneously per flow can be a solution to these problems. In a multipath context, we consider mobile ad-hoc communication networks with dual-priority traffic: latency-critical and not latency-critical. For latency-critical traffic, energy-pheromone and delay-pheromone metrics are combined after being normalized so that their respective significance is preserved. For not latency-critical traffic, only energy-pheromone metrics are used.
Nutrient concentration relationships between the fourth petiole and upper-stem of potato plants

Successfully evaluating the nutritional status of a crop during growth and development is dependent upon sampling an identifiable plant part. Consistently sampling a petiole of the same maturity in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) is difficult. We evaluated the nutrient relationships between the upper-stem and the fourth petiole from Russet Burbank plants in field studies having N, P, K, Zn or Mn variables. The upper-stem was obtained by excising the stem below the sixth leaf and removing all leaves and the terminal meristem. Petole NO3-N, P, K, Zn and Mn concentrations were from deficient to sufficient. The NO3-N, P and K concentrations were similar in the fourth petiole and upper-stem, while the Zn concentration was 40% higher in the upper-stem. Calcium, Mg and Mn concentrations were lower in the upper-stem than in the fourth petiole. Copper and S relationships were not adequately defined. The fourth petiole’s NO3-N, P and K diagnostic concentrations now used to monitor plant nutrient status can also be used for upper-stem samples. Zinc diagnostic concentrations should be increased, while Ca, Mg and Mn concentrations should be adjusted downward in the upper-tem. Additional data are needed to refine the Ca and Mg relationships, and to establish relationships for Cu, S and other essential nutrients. A significant advantage of using the upper-stem is the elimination of the petiole selection problem when sampling.
Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging of myocardial radiofrequency ablation: initial in vivo results

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging techniques were used to monitor radiofrequency (RF) ablation of ovine cardiac tissue in vivo. Additionally, ARFI M-mode imaging methods were used to interrogate both healthy and ablated regions of myocardial tissue. Although induced cardiac lesions were not visualized well in conventional B-mode images, ARFI images of ablation procedures allowed determination of lesion location, shape, and relative size through time. The ARFI M-mode images were capable of distinguishing differences in behavior through the cardiac cycle between healthy and damaged tissue regions. As conventional sonography is often used to guide ablation catheters, ARFI imaging, which requires no additional equipment, may be a convenient modality for monitoring lesion formation in vivo.
Genetic effects of fresh cigarette smoke in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ability of fresh cigarette smoke from University of Kentucky reference cigarette 2R1 to induce gene conversion, reverse mutation and mitotic crossing-over in strain D7 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined. A closed cell suspension-recycle system using 2 peristaltic pumps interconnected to a single-port reverse-phase smoking machine was developed to provide complete exposure of cells to smoke within 0.2--10 sec of its generation. The exposed cells showed a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of all the 3 genetic endpoints examined. Cell age was an important factor with younger cells being more sensitive than older. Filtration studies showed that the gas phase possessed as much as 25% of the total whole-smoke activity. Activated charcoal reduced the activity of smoke in direct proportion to its amount in the filter. Acetate filter did not appreciably alter the activity. A comparison of whole smoke from various cigarettes showed that: (1) the nicotine content of a cigarette does not affect the genetic activity of smoke; (2) burley and flue-cured tobaccos have differential activity in gene conversion and reverse mutation systems; and (3) the genetic effects of whole smoke are not peculiar to tobacco pyrolysis because similar effects are produced by smokes from lettuce and other non-tobacco cigarettes. It is concluded that the yeast D7 system can be used effectively for the quantitative evaluation of genetic effects of smoke from different cigarettes, and both whole cigarette smoke and its gas phase possess mutagenic as well as recombinogenic activity that can be modified by the use of filters.
Rare Cause of Osteomyelitis of the Mandible: Report of Case

A case of osteomyelitis caused by Nocardia asteroides occurring in a heavily irradiated mandible is reported. Irradiation used in the treatment of cancer has long been known to be a contributing factor in mandibular necrosis. Infection with loss of bone occurs in the presence of many organisms that abound in the mouth. In this instance, a necrotic mass in the mandible that was surgically excised contained N asteroides. The area previously had been treated with cancericidal doses of ionizing radiation.
CDK5 is a major regulator of the tumor suppressor DLC1

DLC1 is a tumor suppressor protein whose full activity depends on its presence at focal adhesions, its Rho–GTPase activating protein (Rho-GAP) function, and its ability to bind several ligands, including tensin and talin. However, the mechanisms that regulate and coordinate these activities remain poorly understood. Here we identify CDK5, a predominantly cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinase, as an important regulator of DLC1 functions. The CDK5 kinase phosphorylates four serines in DLC1 located N-terminal to the Rho-GAP domain. When not phosphorylated, this N-terminal region functions as an autoinhibitory domain that places DLC1 in a closed, inactive conformation by efficiently binding to the Rho-GAP domain. CDK5 phosphorylation reduces this binding and orchestrates the coordinate activation DLC1, including its localization to focal adhesions, its Rho-GAP activity, and its ability to bind tensin and talin. In cancer, these anti-oncogenic effects of CDK5 can provide selective pressure for the down-regulation of DLC1, which occurs frequently in tumors, and can contribute to the pro-oncogenic activity of CDK5 in lung adenocarcinoma.
Evolutionary operation and control of chromatographic processes

A novel generalized run-to-run control (GR2R) control strategy is presented for the optimization and control of nonlinear preparative chromatographic processes. The GR2R approach synergistically employs a hybrid (both physical and empirical) model to control chromatographic processes in the presence of sporadic and autocorrelated disturbances. First, parameters of the physical model through experiments are determined, and then the physical model is used to estimate initial parameters of the nonlinear empirical model (Hammerstein) using orthogonal forward regression. Parameters of the nonlinear empirical model are updated at the end of each run using a nonlinear recursive parameter estimation method. The updated empirical model is then used in the control algorithm (model predictive control) to estimate operating conditions for the next batch. Processes operating under fixed optimal conditions are compared with those operating with GR2R control for both gradient and displacement chromatography. The GR2R outperforms the fixed conditions in the presence of various disturbances (such as bed capacity, column efficiency, and feed load) and is an effective strategy for the optimization and control of complex chromatographic processes.
Using an ovarian monitor as an adjunct to natural family planning

The need to identify a reliable ovulation predictor has received attention by the scientific community in recent years. For couples practicing natural family planning, a more precise identification of the fertile phase would be a welcome adjunct to their method. A home ovarian monitor invented by Professor J. B. Brown of Melbourne, Australia, enables couples to measure the principal urinary metabolite of ovarian estrogen and progesterone. The charted results reveal the hormonal pattern of the menstrual cycle and thus identify the beginning, peak, and end of the fertile period. A study involving 21 couples was conducted with the purpose of assessing overall acceptability, including ease of use, motivation, and client satisfaction. At the completion of the study, 12 couples indicated a high degree of motivation and satisfaction with the monitor. None reported difficulty with the test procedure. Increased confidence in natural family planning was cited as the most positive evaluation and the time required to perform the test, as the most negative.
Neural Systems for Error Monitoring: Recent Findings and Theoretical Perspectives

Complex behavior requires a flexible system that maintains task performance in the context of specific goals, evaluating behavioral progress, adjusting behavior as needed, and adapting to changing contingencies. Generically referred to as performance monitoring, a key component concerns the identification and correction of differences between an intended and an executed response (i.e., an error). Brain mapping experiments have now identified the temporal and spatial components of a putative error-processing system in the large-scale networks of the human brain. Most of this work has focused on the medial frontal cortex and an associated electrophysiological component known as the error-related negativity (or error negativity). Although the precise role, or roles, of this region still remain unknown, investigations of error processing have identified a cluster of modules in the medial frontal cortex involved in monitoring/maintaining ongoing behavior and motivating task sets. Other regions include bilateral anterior insula/inferior operculum and lateral prefrontal cortex. Recent work has begun to uncover how individual differences might affect the modules recruited for a task, in addition to the identification of associations between pathological states and aberrant error signals, leading to insights about possible mechanisms of neuropsychiatric illness.
Socioeconomic Attainments of Asian Americans

According to the majority-minority paradigm, racial and ethnic minorities have lower socioeconomic characteristics than whites owing to discrimination. Asian Americans defy this conventional view, however, at least on average. Asian Americans tend to have higher mean levels of educational achievements, and several recent studies indicate approximate parity with whites in most arenas of the labor market for those Asian Americans who were schooled in the United States. Their favorable socioeconomic outcomes stand in contrast to the widespread discrimination and labor market disadvantages that Asian Americans encountered during the earlier part of the twentieth century. The improved opportunities for Asian Americans suggest increasingly successful interrelations with whites in the post–Civil Rights era, with its more multicultural ethos. Less encouragingly, the favorable average socioeconomic profile of Asian Americans in the post–Civil Rights era in part reflects the rising significance of class resources a...
Group selection for adaptation to multiple-hen cages: production traits during heat and cold exposures.

Abstract A selected line of White Leghorns that has shown improved survivability and productivity and reduced feather loss in multiple-hen cages was evaluated for production traits under both stressed and unstressed conditions. It was hypothesized that hens selected for adaptation to multiple-bird cages would react less intensely to stressors and therefore lay more eggs and have lower mortality under stressed conditions. Three lines of chickens (selected, control, and commercial) were housed in either single-hen (1 hen) or multiple-hen cages (12 hens, social competition) at 16.7 or 17.1 wk of age. They were subsequently subjected to cold exposure at 33 wk of age and heat exposure at 44 wk of age. The selected line of chickens in multiple-hen cages showed an increased resistance to heat exposure, as indicated by lower mortality, when compared to the control and commercial lines housed in multiple-hen cages. Egg production 8 d prior to, during, and 8 d following either cold or heat exposures indicated that the selected line of chickens withstood social, handling, and environmental stressors better than the control line and, in some cases, the commercial line of chickens. It was concluded that the selected line of Leghorns showed evidence of stress resistance through lowered mortality and improved production.
S10.3 Modeling the Effect of TAP on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Background The efficacy of ARV treatment that achieves viral suppression in dramatically reducing HIV infectiousness is proven. What is less clear is the implications for the best use of treatment in programmes, how treatment should and could be scaled up and wheat the effectiveness of treatment use in programmes will be across populations. Methods Review of observational data on the impact of treatment programmes on HIV incidence and deaths and mathematical models exploring the impact of existing and proposed programmes. Results Mathematical models show that HIV treatment can reduce HIV incidence, but this reduction depends upon who is treated, the success of the programme maintaining viral suppression in those treated and on patterns of risk behaviour. Observations of the impact of treatment programmes on the spread of HV at a population level show mixed impacts with competing interpretations and implications for future programmatic development. Treatment guidelines emphasise the treatment of those who probably contribute least to onward transmission of HIV and more work is required to understand local epidemiology and design treatment programmes accordingly. Conclusions Future, studies of the impact of treatment as prevention should concentrate on how to implement at scale treatment programmes and maximise reductions in incidence. Using HIV treatment as an HIV prevention intervention promises a major step forward in responding to the HIV pandemic, but taking success for granted could generate unsustainable programmes with perverse outcomes.
Molecular structure of cytochrome c2 isolated from Rhodobacter capsulatus determined at 2.5 A resolution.

Abstract The molecular structure of the cytochrome c 2 , isolated from the purple photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus , has been solved to a nominal resolution of 2·5 A and refined to a crystallographic R -factor of 16·8% fo this investigation belong to the space group R 32 with two molecules in the asymmetric unit and unit cell dimensions of a = b = 100·03 A , c = 162·10 A as expressed in the hexagonal setting. An interpretable electron density map calculated at 2·5 A resolution was obtained by the combination of multiple isomorphous replacement with four heavy atom derivatives, molecular averaging and solvent flattening. At this stage of the structural analysis the electron densities corresponding to the side-chains are well ordered except for several surface lysine, glutamate and aspartate residues. Like other c -type cytochromes, the secondary structure of the protein consists of five α-helices forming a basket around the heme prosthetic group with one heme edge exposed to the solvent. The overall α-carbon trace of the molecule is very similar to that observed for the bacteriol cytochrome c 2 , isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum , with the exception of a loop, delineated by amino acid residues 21 to 32, that forms a two stranded β-sheet-like motif in the Rb. capsulatus protein. As observed in the eukaryotic cytochrome c proteins, but not in the cytochrome c 2 from Rsp. rubrum , there are two evolutionarily conserved solvent molecules buried within the heme binding pocket.
Translocation of Y-linked genes to the dot chromosome in Drosophila pseudoobscura

One of the most striking cases of sex chromosome reorganization in Drosophila occurred in the lineage ancestral to Drosophila pseudoobscura, where there was a translocation of Y-linked genes to an autosome. These genes went from being present only in males, never recombining, and having an effective population size of 0.5N to a state of autosomal linkage, where they are passed through both sexes, may recombine, and their effective population size has quadrupled. These genes appear to be functional, and they underwent a drastic reduction in intron size after the translocation. A Y-autosome translocation may pose problems in meiosis if the rDNA locus responsible for X-Y pairing had also moved to an autosome. In this study, we demonstrate that the Y-autosome translocation moved Y-linked genes onto the dot chromosome, a small, mainly heterochromatic autosome with some sex chromosome-like properties. The rDNA repeats occur exclusively on the X chromosome in D. pseudoobscura, but we found that the new Y chromosome of this species harbors four clusters bearing only the intergenic spacer region (IGS) of the rDNA repeats. This arrangement appears analogous to the situation in Drosophila simulans, where X-rDNA to Y-IGS pairing could be responsible for X-Y chromosome pairing. We postulate that the nascent D. pseudoobscura Y chromosome acquired and amplified copies of the IGS, suggesting a potential mechanism for X-Y pairing in D. pseudoobscura.