cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A targeted proteomic analysis of the ubiquitin-like modifier nedd8 and associated proteins

Nedd8 is a small ubiquitin-like protein that can be conjugated to substrate-proteins in a process known as neddylation. Although neddylation plays a critical regulatory role in cell proliferation and development, the spectrum of Nedd8 substrates and its interaction network remain poorly understood. To explore the neddylation pathway at the proteome level, we have affinity purified Nedd8 modified and associated proteins from HEK293 cells stably expressing GST-Nedd8 and employed LC-MS/MS for subsequent protein identification. A total of 496 GST-Nedd8 modified and associated proteins have been identified, including all of the eight cullin family members (i.e., Cul-1, -2, -3, -4A, -4B, -5, -7, and Parc) that are involved in the neddylation and ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway. In addition, a group of proteins involved in transcription, DNA repair and replication, cell cycle regulation and chromatin organization, and remodeling have been copurified and identified. Apart from protein identification, the neddylation sites of cullins were determined by MS/MS analysis, which agree well with previous mutagenesis studies. Furthermore, MS analyses revealed that Nedd8 K11, K22, K48, and K60 can form chains in vivo, whereas Nedd8 K22 and K48 can be neddylated in vitro. These results present the first molecular evidence for in vitro and in vivo polyneddylation, suggesting that chain formation of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins may be a general phenomenon for these modifications. Although much remains to be explored for the biological significance of the observations, this work provides critically important information regarding Nedd8 chain assembly and its interaction network. The vast amount of proteomic information obtained here can provide clues on the biological role of Nedd8 and lay the foundation for an in-depth analysis of the regulation of the Nedd8 pathway.
Constraining deep‐ocean circulation during glacial times

[1] Scientists have known for 30 years that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels varied substantially during the ice ages, yet the cause remains uncertain. Given that the deep ocean contains 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere, variable air-sea exchange may have played a primary role in regulating atmospheric CO2. One of the primary goals of paleoceanography is to determine whether the deep ocean sequestered more carbon during glacial times. Today the deep Atlantic is filled by water masses that form in the North Atlantic near Greenland and in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. In the South Atlantic the boundary between these water masses sits approximately 4 kilometers below the ocean's surface. Analyses of microfossils from deep-sea sediments show the pattern was very different during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, ∼20,000 years ago). The carbon isotopic ratio of these fossils, which reflects the chemistry of the water in which they were formed, indicates there was a stronger isotopic gradient with water depth during the LGM. Water from the Southern Ocean also occupied a much larger proportion of the deep Atlantic, filling it from the bottom to an approximately 2-kilometer water depth. (Paleoceanography, doi:10.1029/2010PA001938, 2011)
Myocardial Oxygen Consumption Is Affected by Dynamic Cardiomyoplasty in Dogs with Adriamycin‐Induced Cardiomyopathy

The purpose of the study was to investigate a possible myocardial sparing effect by dynamic cardiomyoplasty. We directly measured cardiac work and myocardial oxygen consumption after dynamic cardiomyopathy in dogs with adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy. Ten dogs with cardiomyopathy induced by 4 weekly intracoronary infusions of adriamycin were studied. Five dogs underwent right latissimus dorsi cardiomyoplasty with progressive myostimulation, and five served as controls. Right heart and coronary sinus catheterizations were performed at 0, 10, and 15 weeks. Four and two dogs, respectively, the cardiomyoplasty and the control group, survived until 15 weeks. Cardiac work was not different between the control and the cardiomyoplasty groups (p = 0.42). Myocardial oxygen consumption was less in the cardiomyoplasty group (185.70 +/- 37.22; 165.75 +/- 25.86; 161.40 +/- 54.14 J/min at 0, 10, and 15 weeks, respectively) compared to the control group (147.80 +/- 70.99; 275.00 +/- 103.24; 263.50 +/- 52.75 J/min at 0, 10, and 15 weeks, respectively, p = 0.019). Mechanical cardiac efficiency was not meaningfully different between the cardiomyoplasty group (16.08% +/- 5.39%; 20.51% +/- 5.89%; 20.67% +/- 11.98% at 0, 10, and 15 weeks, respectively) compared to the control group (15.29% +/- 8.06%; 9.40% +/- 1.22%; 13.40% +/- 2.29% at 0, 10, and 15 weeks, respectively, p = 0.093). Acute changes of the cardiosynchronization ratio (2:1, 1:1, OFF) did not affect myocardial oxygen consumption or cardiac work within the cardiomyoplasty group. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty reduced myocardial oxygen consumption in dogs with adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy.
The Individuation of Causal Powers by Events (and Consequences of the Approach)

In this paper, I explore the notion of a “causal power,” particularly as it is relevant to a theory of properties whereby properties are individuated by the causal powers they bestow on the objects that instantiate them. I take as my target certain eliminativist positions that argue that certain kinds of properties (or relations) do not exist because they fail to bestow unique causal powers on objects. In reply, I argue that the notion of causal powers is inextricably bound up with our notion of what an event is, and not only is there disagreement as to which theory of events is appropriate, but on the three prevailing theories, it can be shown that the eliminativists arguments do not follow.
Type 2 diabetes, mitochondrial biology and the heart

Diabetes is recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This is due, in large part, to premature atherosclerosis, enhanced thrombogenicity and activation of systemic inflammatory programs with resultant vascular dysfunction. More enigmatic mechanisms underpinning diabetes-associated cardiac pathophysiology include the direct metabolic consequences of this disease on the myocardium. Nevertheless, a role for diabetes-associated disruption in cardiac contractile mechanics and in increasing cardiomyocyte susceptibility to ischemic-stress has been implicated independent of vascular pathology. This review will focus broadly on the direct effects of diabetes on the cardiac myocardium with more specific reference to the role of the modulation of cardiomyocyte mitochondrial function in these disease processes. This focus in part, stems from the growing recognition that in some instances mitochondrial dysfunction is central to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes, and in others, diabetes associated disruption in mitochondrial function exacerbates and accentuates the pathophysiology of diabetes.
The Factor Replicability of the Litwin and Stringer Organizational Climate Questionnaire: An Inter and Intra-Organizational Assessment

Four recent factor analytic studies of the Litwin and Stringer Organizational Climate Questionnaire (LSOCQ) are compared to assess the consistency of the instrument's factor structure when administered to different organizational populations. In addition, separate factor analytic results of the LSOCQ for three functional subgroups of a single organization are compared to investigate the LSOCQ's factor consistency within a single organization. Although there is somewhat more intrathan interorganizational replicability of factors, both comparisons raise considerable doubt about the validity of the Litwin and Stringer instrument.
Survey of transform methods in remote sensing information processing

ABSTRACT One unique feature in the remote sensing problems is that a significant amount of data are available, from which desired information must be extracted. Transform methods offer effective procedures to derive the most significant information for further processing or human interpretation and to extract important features for pattern classificaiton. In this paper a survey of the use of major transforms in remote sensing is presented. These transforms have significant effects on pattern recognition as features derived from orthogonal or related transforms tend to be very effective for classification, and on data reduction and compression. After the introduction, we will examine the empirical orthogonal function , the discrete Karhunen-Loeve transform and related transforms, the wavelet transform, and the component analysis. 1. INTRODUCTION In remote sensing, the large amount of data makes it necessary to perform some type of transforms which can preserve the essential information while considerably reducing the amount of data. Orthogonal transforms are highly desired as they tend to extract non-overlapped information from the data and are thus more efficient. These transforms generally involve linear operations. Let x be an input vector and y =Wx be an output vector with reduced dimensionality after applying a transformation represented by the matrix W. For orthogonal transform, the vectors forming W are orthogonal. The optimal orthogonal transform in the minimum mean square error sense is the discrete Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT). It has several equivalent names such as the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and principal component analysis (PCA). For the purpose of pattern classification, such transforms can be useful as features. However the low mean square error does not guarantee the minimum probability of error typically used as classification performance measure. In fact the transforms for data representation are generally not the same as those for discrimination. We will examine other transforms such as the wavelet transform which has recently been used quite extensively in the remote sensing problems, and the independent component analysis (ICA) which was largely used in the blind source separation problems. The references listed though incomplete are representative of the activity in the topic areas.
Simple formula for high-energy gluon bremsstrahlung in a finite, expanding medium

Previous authors have considered the problem of the medium effects on single gluon bremsstrahlung associated with producing a high-energy particle in a finite, time-dependent QCD plasma. Working to leading logarithmic order, I show that the result for the bremsstrahlung gluon spectrum can be cast into a remarkably simple form in the general case. I similarly analyze the process of pair production. Also, I comment on the radius of convergence of the opacity expansion in cases where the leading-log approximation holds, showing that the opacity expansion does not converge when the thickness of the plasma is greater than roughly the bremsstrahlung formation time.
Subtyping of Salmonella enterica Serovar Newport Outbreak Isolates by CRISPR-MVLST and Determination of the Relationship between CRISPR-MVLST and PFGE Results

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Newport (S. Newport) is the third most prevalent cause of food-borne salmonellosis. Rapid, efficient, and accurate methods for identification are required to track specific strains of S. Newport during outbreaks. By exploiting the hypervariable nature of virulence genes and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), we previously developed a sequence-based subtyping approach, designated CRISPR–multi-virulence-locus sequence typing (CRISPR-MVLST). To demonstrate the applicability of this approach, we analyzed a broad set of S. Newport isolates collected over a 5-year period by using CRISPR-MVLST and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Among 84 isolates, we defined 38 S. Newport sequence types (NSTs), all of which were novel compared to our previous analyses, and 62 different PFGE patterns. Our data suggest that both subtyping approaches have high discriminatory abilities (>0.95) with a potential for clustering cases with common exposures. Importantly, we found that isolates from closely related NSTs were often similar by PFGE profile as well, further corroborating the applicability of CRISPR-MVLST. In the first full application of CRISPR-MVLST, we analyzed isolates from a recent S. Newport outbreak. In this blinded study, we confirmed the utility of CRISPR-MVLST and were able to distinguish the 10 outbreak isolates, as defined by PFGE and epidemiological data, from a collection of 20 S. Newport isolates. Together, our data show that CRISPR-MVLST could be a complementary approach to PFGE subtyping for S. Newport.
Gibberellic acid promotes growth and cell wall synthesis in Avena internodes regardless of the orientation of cell expansion

Segments cut from the next-to-last (peduncular-1) internode of Avena sativa L. cv. Victory (oat) shoots elongate as much as 10-fold in response to gibberellic acid (GA 3 ). The objective of the present investigation was to differentiate the effects of GA 3 on growth from its effects on wall synthesis (measured gravimetrically and through the incorporation of [ 14 C]-glucose) by using several cell wall synthesis inhibitors with widely varying mechanisms of action. Four compounds, viz. monensin, cycloheximide, lanthanum, and galactose, caused (1) relatively little inhibition of either cell wall synthesis or elongation in segments without GA 3 , (2) roughly proportionate, dose-dependent inhibition of elongation and wall synthesis in GA 3 -treated segments and (3) generally greater inhibition of GA 3 -promoted uptake of radioactivity than of wall incorporation or elongation. Two other compounds, colchicine and 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (DCB), (1) inhibited GA 3 -induced elongation considerably more than cell wall synthesis and (2) caused swelling (radial expansion), especially of GA 3 -treated segments. DCB-treated internodal cells apparently compensated for inhibited cellulose synthesis by greater synthesis of matrix polysaccharide (beginning between 3 and 6 h). While normal cellulose synthesis was not required for short-term (up to 6 h) GA 3 -induced elongation or for long-term hormone-promoted radial expansion, it was required for sustained GA 3 -induced elongation. These results indicate that GA 3 -promoted cell wall loosening (manifested as radial expansion) and cell wall synthesis in Avena internodes occur at least partially independently of any hormonal effect on the orientation of microtubules and microfibrils
Diversity, complexity and interactions: an overview of Rocky Mountain forest ecosystems

This overview of Rocky Mountain forest ecosystems characterizes some of the major types, processes and management issues in the region. There are large ranges in edaphic conditions and striking environmental gradients, all interacting to influence the distribution of species, the nature of communities and disturbance regimes. The discussion focuses on the central role of disturbance and how understanding disturbance regimes influences the search for effective approaches to stewardship.
Ancient continental margin assemblage in the northern Coast Mountains, southeast Alaska and northwest Canada

Geologic relations indicate that quartz-rich metasedimentary rocks in the northern Coast Mountains separate strata to the east that belong to the Stikine terrane from strata to the west of the Alexander, Wrangellia, and Taku terranes. The quartz-rich rocks structurally overlie western terranes along a mid-Cretaceous thrust fault and are overlain structurally (originally stratigraphically ) by strata of the Stikine terrace. These rocks are interpreted to be a continental margin assemblage that belongs to the Yukon Crystalline terrane. U-Pb and Nd isotopic data indicate that the metasedimentary rocks were shed from a source terrane consisting at least in part of Proterozoic rocks.
Combination antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnant women.

Objective: To describe the safety, efficacy, and perinatal transmission rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with combination antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy. Methods: Retrospective study of all HIV-infected pregnant women treated with combination antiretroviral therapy after September 1, 1996, and who delivered by September 1, 1998, at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center. Results: Thirty women received combination therapy, 13 with protease inhibitor. Median baseline CD4 was 285 cells/mm3; 16 (53%) had AIDS, 20 (67%) were antiretroviral-experienced, and 11 (37%) were illicit substance users. Fourteen were receiving antiretroviral therapy (eight with protease inhibitor) during the first trimester. Combination therapy was prescribed for a median of 26 weeks during pregnancy. One third changed antiretroviral therapy, and nearly half (47%) were nonadherent. Twenty-four women had a successful viral load and/or CD4 response. The median (range) delivery gestation was 39 (32–42) weeks, and the median (range) birth weight was 2892 (1430–3863) g. Adverse outcomes included one stillbirth; one case of microcephaly; and five infants less than 2500 g, two of which were under 36 weeks’ gestation. Median birth weight did not differ with maternal protease exposure. None of the 26 infants studied for at least 4 months had HIV infection. Associated maternal complications were four cases of pregnancy-induced hypertension, one of gestational diabetes, and one exacerbation of hepatitis C virus. Conclusion: Combination antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy was efficacious in reducing viral load, increasing CD4, and preventing vertical HIV transmission in women with advanced HIV disease, extensive antiretroviral experience, prior history of vertical transmission, and/or substance abuse. The findings are promising in this preliminary report that combination antiretroviral therapy may not be related to major infant toxicity, but further study is warranted.
8OH-DPAT-Induced Ocular Hypotension: Sites and Mechanisms of Action

The purpose of this study was to define the ocular actions of 8-OH-DPAT(DPAT), a 5-HT(1A)receptor agonist. The intraocular pressure responses to topically applied DPAT were dose related (25, 125, 250 microgram) and bilateral in normal rabbits but of relatively short duration. Ocular hypotension induced by topical, unilateral DPAT (125 microgram) in normal eyes did not occur in sympathetically denervated eyes. DPAT-induced ocular hypotension was inhibited by pretreatment with spiroxatrine, a 5-HT(1A)and alpha(2C)receptor antagonist, but not spiperone, a 5-HT(2A)receptor antagonist. In contrast, the hypotensive effect produced by unilaterally applied DPAT in the contralateral eye was abolished following pretreatment with rauwolscine, an alpha(2)-receptor antagonist, but the DPAT-induced ocular hypotension was not antagonized in the treated (ipsilateral) eye. Following central administration of DPAT (3 microgram) into the lateral ventricle, intraocular pressure was lowered bilaterally at 10 min and the effect lasted for 2 hr. In in vitro experiments, DPAT (0.1, 1, 10 micrometer) failed to alter norepinephrine release in rabbit iris-ciliary bodies. However, DPAT depressed basal cAMP levels in rabbit iris-ciliary bodies and also caused a dose-related (1, 10, 100 micrometer) inhibition of isoproterenol (1 micrometer)-stimulated cAMP accumulation by 26%, 58% and 82%, respectively. These findings indicate that: (1) based upon bilateral activity by the topical route, DPAT-induced ocular hypotension could result, in part, through activation of 5-HT(1A)receptors in the eye and 5-HT(1A)receptors and/or alpha(2C)adrenoreceptors in the central nervous system, (2) the activity of DPAT on 5-HT(1A)and/or alpha(2C)receptors was confirmed by antagonism of the ocular hypotensive response by spiroxatrine, (3) although there is no apparent prejunctional effect of DPAT on sympathetic nerves of iris-ciliary bodies, the accumulation of basal and isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP levels were depressed by DPAT, and (4) as a result of inhibition by rauwolscine, the ocular hypotensive effect of DPAT in the contralateral eye could involve an action on alpha(2)adrenoreceptors in the central nervous system.
Where marketing planning fails

Abstract This article discusses the results of a recent study of marketing planning in U.K. manufacturing companies. A sample survey revealed some strengths in marketing planning, but also revealed many weaknesses. For example, only a small proportion of companies prepare a comprehensive marketing plan. These identified weaknesses suggest that, in many situations, marketing planning has failed and the author suggests where it has failed. After discussing the results in detail, the author summarizes the identified strengths and weaknesses and suggests several implications for managers who are responsible for marketing planning.
Dairy Farm Cost Efficiency

A stochastic cost equation was estimated for US dairy farms using national data from the production year 2000 to determine how farmers might reduce their cost of production. Cost of producing a unit of milk was estimated into separate frontier (efficient) and inefficiency components, with both components estimated as a function of management and causation variables. Variables were entered as impacting the frontier component as well as the efficiency component of the stochastic curve because a priori both components could be impacted. A factor that has an impact on the cost frontier was the number of hours per day the milking facility is used. Using the milking facility for more hours per day decreased frontier costs; however, inefficiency increased with increased hours of milking facility use. Thus, farmers can decrease costs with increased utilization of the milking facility, but only if they are efficient in this strategy. Parlors compared with stanchions used for milking did not decrease frontier costs, but decreased costs because of increased efficiency, as did the use of a nutritionist. Use of rotational grazing decreased frontier costs but also increased inefficiency. Older farmers were less efficient.
An Aptamer-Functionalized Microfluidic Platform for Biomolecular Purification and Sensing

Aptamers are oligonucleotides (DNA or RNA) that bind to chemical and biological analyte targets via affinity interactions. Through an in vitro synthetic process, aptamers can be developed for an extremely broad spectrum of analytes, such as small molecules, proteins, cells, viruses, and bacteria. Target recognition by aptamers is highly selective, as affinity interactions result in secondary aptamer conformational structures that specifically fit the target. The aptamer-target binding is also reversible and depends strongly on external stimuli such as pH and temperature. The specificity and stimuli-responsiveness of aptamers are highly attractive to biological purification and sensing, which generally involve isolating minute quantities of targets from complex samples with non-specific molecules and impurities present at orders-of-magnitude higher concentrations. We present an aptamer-functionalized microfluidic platform that by design exploits the specificity and temperature-dependent reversibility of aptamers to enable biomolecular purification and sensing. Using the specificity of aptamers, we demonstrate highly selective capture and enrichment of biomolecules. Employing thermally induced, reversible disruption of aptamer-target binding, we accomplish isocratic elution of the captured analytes and regeneration of the aptamer surfaces, thereby eliminating the use of potentially harsh reagents. Using integrated microfluidic control, the eluted analytes are detected in a label-free fashion by mass spectrometric methods.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Water with some alkali silicate systems up to 3,000 pounds pressure

The apparatus for studying the phase equilibrium-relationships in systems containing water and silicate [previously described, Amer. J. Sci., v. 35A, p. 217, 1938] has been modified for more convenient operation and higher pressures. In this apparatus, the silicate mixtures are heated under a constant pressure of water-vapor, the charge is quickly cooled by quenching, and is examined. By changing the temperature at constant pressure, the melting point at that pressure can be determined; repetition at a series of pressures and analysis of the quenched charges enable the P-T-X relationships to be established.
Identification of superior discriminators during non-ROC studies

Small, efficient observer performance study methods, such as multi-point rank order and forced choice, can be used to either determine the necessity to perform a large scale, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) study or to set the boundary conditions at which it makes sense to perform an ROC study. Because these studies often require observers to discriminate between (among) modes having small visual differences, we decided to address the issue of observers' abilities to make distinctions between modes in these types of non-ROC studies. In this project we reviewed the data of six different non-ROC studies that included a total of 24 observers to determine whether some behave as better mode discriminators. Because of the actual small differences, most observers performed poorly in identifying differences between or among modes. At the same time, at least one and sometimes more observers could identify extremely small differences between modes. These differences were statistically significant. Our results indicate that a good mode discriminator in one study may not perform as well in another such study. Non-ROC studies can be highly sensitive to differences between modes. However, large differences in observer performance combined with observer inconsistency across studies necessitates that these studies include multiple observers.
Photonucleation of lithium aluminosilicate glass

Photonucleation has been studied previously in glasses in the lithium silicate system. In this work it was intended to extend this phenomenon to the lithium aluminosilicate system in order to crystallize /3-spodumene only. Various glass compositions with alumina content varying from 10 to 25 wt. were investigated. Glass batches were mixed with water to form a slurry completely dried and then melted. Glass was then exposed to UV radiation and subsequently heat treated. When prepared in this manner photonucleation was not obtained for these systems containing higher amounts of alumina. However when the slurry was allowed to form a wet but firm mixture and then melted the resulting glass exhibited the photonucleation effect. The results are explained in terms of the oxidative nature of water in silicate batches and melts. 1
Crohn's disease and urinary bladder mass.

The presence of a bladder mass in a patient with inflammatory bowel disease poses a diagnostic dilemma. We present the case of a 26-year-old male with a bladder mass who had not previously been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Initial biopsies of the bladder mass were consistent with inflammatory changes, but superficial transitional cell carcinoma could not be reliably excluded. Subsequent evaluation confirmed the presence of Crohn's disease with bladder involvement, and the patient underwent bowel resection and partial cystectomy. Pathologic evaluation demonstrated Crohn’s disease and no evidence of malignancy. Accurate differentiation of benign and malignant bladder masses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease may be difficult and requires cooperation between pathologists and clinicians.
Stream sediment geochemical investigations in Arkansas - comparisons of manganese, zinc and lead-zinc districts with an unmineralized area

Abstract Aqua regia extracts of the minus 95-mesh fraction of bottom stream sediments from four areas in the State of Arkansas, U.S.A., all with contrasting mineralogy and/or lithology, were analyzed for Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Ba. Each of these elements increased uniformly with Mn content in Area I, a Mn district, whereas in the other areas only some of the elements followed this pattern. Background metal values of the stream sediments are similar for the manganese area and two other areas, all three of which have appreciable amounts of black shale outcrops. A fourth area containing little shale and mineralized in Zn is characterized by uniformly low background metal values, except for Zn. The largest anomalous values for Co, Cu, Ni and Ba are associated with the area enriched in Mn (Area I). Apparently Mn coatings on clasts and clasts of Mn ore are enriched in Co, Cu, Ni, and Ba and are responsible for these anomalous values. These high values, rather than base metal/Mn ratios, are the best geochemical indicators in stream sediments for this type of strata-bound Mn mineralization.
Disorders of lung matrix remodeling

A set of lung diseases share the tendency for the development of progressive fibrosis ultimately leading to respiratory failure. This review examines the common pathogenetic features of these disorders in light of recent observations in both humans and animal models of disease, which reveal important pathways of lung matrix remodeling.
It's actual, so it must be possible

IN "It's Actual, so It's Possible" 1 Norwood Russell Hanson argues in the following way. Many philosophers are inclined to accept at once two "philosophical principles": one of these is the principle that all true propositions are logically possible, i.e., self-consistent; the other is the principle that "a proposition whose negation is consistent cannot entail another whose negation is inconsistent-save in that 'degenerate' case wherein a necessary proposition is said to be strictly implied by any proposition whatever" (p. 71). We may restate these two principles as follows: A. If P is true, then P is logically possible. B. If P is logically contingent, then P entails no necessary propositions. These two principles, Hanson argues, are prima facie inconsistent. For it can be demonstrated that: C. If P is logically contingent, then "P is logically possible" is necessary. (And from C it follows that "P is logically possible" is either necessarily true or necessarily false.) Now consider some contingent proposition P: by the first principle P (or "P is true") entails "P is possible." By principle C however, "P is possible" is necessary; hence a necessary proposition is entailed by a contingent one, which contradicts principle B. Hanson then goes on to suggest a way out of the difficulty. I want to point out a mistake in Hanson's argument for C; and I shall argue further that the solution he proposes to the problem arising from the incompatibility of A, B, and C is quite unacceptable. Now the fact that Hanson's piece is written in dialogue form might create certain difficulties of interpretation. I am assuming throughout that the views expressed by Socrates are Hanson's and that Socrates' argument on pages 71-72 is offered as a genuine proof of principle C. Socrates' (or Hanson's) proof for C is a reductio ad absurdum; he proposes to deduce a contradiction from the negation of "P is logically possible" (where P is a contingent proposition) thereby showing that "P is logically possible" is necessary (again, where P is contingent). So he begins by assuming at step (1) of the proof the proposition that P is not logically possible and adds at step (2) the proposition that P is contingent (p. 71). He then deduces a contradiction. But the deduction of a contradiction from the conjunction of these two propositions is hardly astonishing, since "P is con-
School-level IRT assessment of year-to-year performance changes

Year-to-year changes in average writing performance for a sample of 188 schools were estimated with a group-level version of the generalized partial credit IRT model. School-level IRT-based equating adjustments were required to provide a stable scale over the 2 years and to estimate year-to-year changes in average performance for the sample of schools. The results illustrated that technical equating adjustments can be important even when there have been rigorous efforts to write new prompts comparable in difficulty to the old and to train new rating teams to implement earlier standards of writing sample grading.
The light-dependent cytotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene: effect on human erythrocytes, Escherichia coli cells, and Haemophilus influenzae transforming DNA

Abstract In vitro, the photodynamic compound bernzo[ a ]pyrene (BAP) generates singlet oxygen efficiently when irradiated in organic solvents. It also photogenerates superoxide anion radical in water and can act as a photoreducing agent in the absence of oxygen. In vivo, the hemolysis of human erythrocytes, the inactivation of Escherichia coli cells representing a series of strains differing in excision repair and catalase proficiency, and the inactivation of Haemophilus influenzae transforming DNA activity were used to characterize the phototoxicity of BAP in the presence of near-UV light (290–400 nm). The results are consistent with BAP behaving as a photosensitizer that generates both superoxide and singlet oxygen, and that damages chiefly membranes. DNA does not seem to be a major target in the phototoxic reactions investigated.
Inhibition of the Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase Pathway Abrogates Polyinosinic:Polycytidylic Acid–Stimulated Hyaluronan-Mediated Human Mucosal Smooth Muscle Cell Binding of U937 Monocytic Cells

The origin of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown and likely to be multifactorial. Our laboratory has established that in human mucosal smooth muscle cells (M-SMCs), cellular stress induced by virus or the viral mimic double-stranded RNA (polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [poly I:C]) increases cell surface hyaluronan (HA) deposition and the formation of long cable-like structures of HA that are important for leukocyte attachment. Since leukocyte accumulation and hyperplasia of the M-SMCs are characteristic pathological changes observed in IBD patients, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways play established roles in cell survival, we investigated whether this pathway is involved in this unique HA-mediated leukocyte attachment. Poly I:C–stimulated M-SMCs bind significantly more monocytic cells than untreated cells and this response was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. Since Akt is a critical downstream regulator of PI3K, we ...
Xenobiotic metabolism and mutation in a human lymphoblastoid cell line.

Summary Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase-1 (AHH-1) cells are a human lymphoblastoid cell line competent in some aspects of xenobiotic metabolism. This cell line contains stable mixed function oxidase activity which is inducible by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) but not by phenobarbital or Arochlor 1254. Two substrates for the cellular mixed function oxidase activity, benzo [ a ] pyrene (B[ a ] P) and 7-ethoxyresorufin, have been examined. The basal and induced activities have different kinetic parameters toward these two substrates. In contrast, basal and induced activities had similar sensitivities to two cytochrome P -450 suicide substrates. B [ a ] P metabolism and mutagenicity were studied in this cell line. AHH-1 cells were found to produce predominantly B [ a ] P phenols and quinones. The major phenol metabolite cochromatographed with authentic 9-hydroxy B [ a ] P. AHH-1 cells were capable of forming glucuronic acid conjugates of B[ a ] P phenols; the major product after hydrolysis cochromatographed with 3-hydroxy B [ a ] P standard. AHH-1 cells did not contain detectable epoxide hydrolase activity using B[ a ] P-4,5-oxide as substrate. This observation is consistent with the absence of trans -dihydrodiol B[ a ] P metabolites in the metabolic profile. B[ a ] P-induced mutagenicity at the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase ( hgprt ) locus in AHH-1 cells was found to be linearly related to phenol production during treatment and inhibited by α -naphthoflavone (ANF).
Uncertainty analysis of sub-channel code calculated ONB wall superheat in rod bundle experiments using the GRS methodology

Abstract Rod bundle experiments were performed for prototypical PWR operating conditions in the project “New Experimental Studies of Thermal-Hydraulics of Rod Bundles (NESTOR)”. The intent of the project was to improve the understanding of the Axial Offset Anomaly (AOA) through improved modeling of Onset of Nucleate Boiling (ONB) ( EPRI, 2008 ) using sub-channel codes. Skewing of the axial power profile (AOA) is most likely driven by the deposition of boron in the crud layer on nuclear fuel rods, which is caused by boiling on the fuel rod surface ( EPRI, 2008 ). VIPRE-I ( Srikantiah, 1992 ), a sub-channel code, was chosen for the analysis of NESTOR tests and for which uncertainty analysis was performed. NESTOR experimental results were used to optimize grid-loss coefficients, friction-loss coefficients, and a single-phase heat transfer model in the code. By modeling NESTOR ONB tests, the VIPRE-I calculated wall superheat was determined at the experimental ONB locations. This calculated ONB wall superheat could be used as a criterion in VIPRE-I for the prediction of ONB; however, it is important to quantify the uncertainty of this calculated ONB wall superheat in order to know the accuracy of such a criterion. The VIPRE-I model optimization process, however, was a complicated one and involved interaction of both experimental and code modeling uncertainties. The propagation of these uncertainties was treated using the Gesellschaft fur Anlagen und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) methodology; a process which is detailed in this paper.
Thermal Stability of RNA Phage Virus-Like Particles Displaying Foreign Peptides

To be useful for genetic display of foreign peptides a viral coat protein must tolerate peptide insertions without major disruption of subunit folding and capsid assembly. The folding of the coat protein of RNA phage MS2 does not normally tolerate insertions in its AB-loop, but an engineered single-chain dimer readily accepts them as long as they are restricted to one of its two halves. Here we characterize the effects of peptide insertions on the thermal stabilities of MS2 virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying a variety of different peptides in one AB-loop of the coat protein single-chain dimer. These particles typically denature at temperatures around 5-10°C lower than unmodified VLPs. Even so, they are generally stable up to about 50°C. VLPs of the related RNA phage PP7 are cross-linked with intersubunit disulfide bonds and are therefore significantly more stable. An AB-loop insertion also reduces the stability of PP7 VLPs, but they only begin to denature above about 70°C. VLPs assembled from MS2 single-chain dimer coat proteins with peptide insertions in one of their AB-loops are somewhat less stable than the wild-type particle, but still resist heating up to about 50°C. Because they possess disulfide cross-links, PP7-derived VLPs provide an alternate platform with even higher stability.
Some Properties of Traces for Stochastic and Deterministic Parabolic Weighted Sobolev Spaces

Abstract The results presented provide information on the behavior near x1=0 for fixed t>0 in the sense of Lp-spaces with weights for functions u(t)=u(t, x1, x′) (x1⩾0, x′∈ R d−1, t⩾0) satisfying stochastic partial differential equations of type du(t)=(Δu(t)+f(t)) dt+gk(t) dwkt with zero boundary condition on x1=0.
Phonon‐Coupled Interactions between Paramagnetic Excitons

It is shown that exciton—phonon coupling in solid free radicals leads to a spin‐independent repulsion between paramagnetic excitons. This repulsion may make a significant contribution to the activation energy for spin‐exchange line broadening that is observed in the paramagnetic resonance of a number of solid free radicals.
The field levels near midnight at low and equatorial geomagnetic stations

Abstract This study concerns the day-to-day behavior of the geomagnetic field level near the midnight hours. Using data from a distribution of observatories from the pole to the Equator in the American hemisphere and around the Earth in low latitudes, it was found that the midnight level changes below about 40° latitude vary in a consistent fashion to indicate a current source at an antisolar position within the nightside magnetosphere. This source had many of the characteristics expected from a magnetospheric tail and ring-current response to disturbances brought into the Earth's environment by the solar wind.
Sex Differences in Life Satisfaction among the Elderly

Sex differences in life satisfaction are a recurrent research issue in the field of social gerontology. However, the evidence concerning the effect of sex on morale is still inconclusive. This may be due to (a) the neglect of other relevant variables, (b) the failure to distinguish between main effects and interaction effects, and (c) the lack of formal statistical tests in making comparisons. In this study, a causal model of life satisfaction is proposed and evaluated by using four data sets with sample sizes ranging from 961 to 3,996. The proposed structural model fitted both the male and female subsamples reasonably well. The findings were also replicated across these four data sets. No systematic sex difference was found in terms of structural parameters. This indicates that the same causal mechanism is operating among the males as well as the females.
Bolus dynamic computed tomography in the evaluation of pulmonary sequestration

Three cases of pulmonary sequestration evaluated by bolus dynamic computed tomography are described. The computed tomography appearance and the differential diagnosis are discussed. It is important to recognize the advantages of the bolus dynamic technique in the evaluation of pulmonary sequestration as it may eliminate the need for further studies.
WHAT HAPPENS TO ADVERTISEMENTS WHEN THEY GROW UP

T HE American Association of Advertising Agencies sponsored a major study of consumer response to advertising in 1963 and 1964. The major findings of that study were well publicized in 1964 and 1965 and a thorough description and analysis of the study was published in 1968 by the Harvard Business School under the general authorship of Raymond A. Bauer and Stephen A. Greyser of Harvard, with the collaboration of Donald L. Kanter and W. M. Weilbacher. This book was entitled Advertising in America: The Consumer View.' The research procedure was a mixture of the conventional and the unusual. The respondents first expressed their attitudes about advertising as an institution. Next, with the help of a hand counter and diary, they counted advertisements from four media (TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines) which engaged their attention as they went about their daily routine. From the advertisements that engaged their attention (caused them to depress the counter), the respondents were asked to identify and describe those that were informative or annoying or offensive or enjoyable. These four categories were defined broadly for our respondents: pilot work indicated that the four concepts, as defined, covered a high fraction of consumer re-
A Candida albicans CRISPR system permits genetic engineering of essential genes and gene families

Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast that causes mucosal and systematic infections with high mortality. The absence of facile molecular genetics has been a major impediment to analysis of pathogenesis. The lack of meiosis coupled with the absence of plasmids makes genetic engineering cumbersome, especially for essential functions and gene families. We describe a C. albicans CRISPR system that overcomes many of the obstacles to genetic engineering in this organism. The high frequency with which CRISPR-induced mutations can be directed to target genes enables easy isolation of homozygous gene knockouts, even without selection. Moreover, the system permits the creation of strains with mutations in multiple genes, gene families, and genes that encode essential functions. This CRISPR system is also effective in a fresh clinical isolate of undetermined ploidy. Our method transforms the ability to manipulate the genome of Candida and provides a new window into the biology of this pathogen.
Identifying expressions of opinion in context

While traditional information extraction systems have been built to answer questions about facts, subjective information extraction systems will answer questions about feelings and opinions. A crucial step towards this goal is identifying the words and phrases that express opinions in text. Indeed, although much previous work has relied on the identification of opinion expressions for a variety of sentiment-based NLP tasks, none has focused directly on this important supporting task. Moreover, none of the proposed methods for identification of opinion expressions has been evaluated at the task that they were designed to perform. We present an approach for identifying opinion expressions that uses conditional random fields and we evaluate the approach at the expression-level using a standard sentiment corpus. Our approach achieves expression-level performance within 5% of the human interannotator agreement.
Gender in the Emerging Urban Work Force

Industrial restructuring has had a substantial impact on gender differences in work outcomes within urban labor markets. Structural shifts weakened existing patterns of production and employment an...
Seasonal Diets of an Introduced Population of Fallow Deer on Little St. Simons Island, Georgia

Abstract We examined seasonal diets of an introduced population of Dama dama dama (European Fallow Deer) on Little St. Simons Island, GA. We analyzed rumen contents from hunter-harvested deer during fall and winter of 2004–05 and 2005–06. Fecal pellets also were collected monthly from November 2004 to December 2005 and examined microscopically for unique plant-cell characteristics. Fallow Deer utilized a variety of food items based on seasonal availability, although mast and browse were the most abundant food items in the rumens examined. Fallow Deer preferred Quercus spp. (oak) acorns, but consumed more Sabal palmetto (Cabbage Palm) fruit when acorns were less abundant. Microhistological techniques underestimated the occurrence of highly digestible items such as mast, but were more effective at identifying grasses and browse. Grasses were the most common and abundant forage class in feces, with peak grass use in the summer (67%). Fallow Deer's ability to utilize a wide variety of food items including low...
Focal Adhesion Kinase Regulates the Localization and Retention of Pro-B Cells in Bone Marrow Microenvironments

Progenitor B cells reside in complex bone marrow (BM) microenvironments where they receive signals for growth and maturation. We reported previously that the CXCL12-focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-VLA4 pathway plays an important role in progenitor B cell adhesion and migration. In this study, we have conditionally targeted in B cells FAK, and found that the numbers of progenitor pro-B, pre-B, and immature B cells are reduced by 30–40% in B cell-specific FAK knockout mice. When cultured in methylcellulose with IL-7 ± CXCL12, Fak -deleted pro-B cells yield significantly fewer cells and colonies. Using in situ quantitative imaging cytometry, we establish that in longitudinal femoral BM sections, pro-B cells are preferentially localized in close proximity to the endosteum of the metaphyses and the diaphysis. Fak deletion disrupts the nonrandom distribution of pro-B cells and induces the mobilization of pro-B cells to the periphery in vivo. These effects of Fak deletion on pro-B cell mobilization and localization in BM are amplified under inflammatory stress, that is, after immunization with nitrophenol-conjugated chicken γ-globulin in alum. Collectively, these studies suggest the importance of FAK in regulating pro-B cell homeostasis and maintenance of their spatial distribution in BM niches.
On the stereochemistry of the titanium-induced intramolecular pinacol coupling reaction

Abstract We have devised and tested a simple model for predicting the stereochemistry of the titanium-induced intramolecular pinacol coupling reaction. The model is based on molecular mechanics calculations of the dimethylsilyl acetals of the potential pinacol products.