cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumour-derived exosomes and their role in cancer-associated T-cell signalling defects.

Dendritic and lymphoid ‘exosomes’ regulate immune activation. Tumours release membranous material mimicking these ‘exosomes,’ resulting in deletion of reactive lymphocytes. Tumour-derived ‘exosomes’ have recently been explored as vaccines, without analysis of their immunologic consequences. This investigation examines the composition of tumour-derived ‘exosomes’ and their effects on T lymphocytes. Membranous materials were isolated from ascites of ovarian cancer patients (n=6) and Western immunoblotting was performed for markers associated with ‘exosomes.’ Using cultured T cells, ‘exosomes’ were evaluated for suppression of CD3-ζ and JAK 3 expressions and induction of apoptosis, measured by DNA fragmentation. ‘Exosome’ components mediating suppression of CD3-ζ were isolated by continuous eluting electrophoresis and examined by Western immunoblotting. ‘Exosomes’ were shown to be identical with previously characterised shed membrane vesicles by protein staining and TSG101 expression. ‘Exosomes’ expressed class I MHC, placental alkaline phosphatase, B23/nucleophosmin, and FasL. ‘Exosomes’ suppressed expression of T-cell activation signalling components, CD3-ζ and JAK 3 and induced apoptosis. CD3-ζ suppression was mediated by two components: 26 and 42 kDa. Only the 42 kDa component reacted with anti-FasL antibody. These results indicate that, while ‘exosomes’ express tumour antigens, leading to their proposed utility as tumour vaccines, they also can suppress T-cell signalling molecules and induce apoptosis.
A covalent complex between horse heart cytochrome c and yeast cytochrome c peroxidase: kinetic properties

The kinetic properties of a 1:1 covalent complex between horse-heart cytochrome c and yeast cytochrome c peroxidase (ferrocytochrome-c:hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.5) have been investigated by transient-state and steady-state kinetic techniques. Evidence for heterogeneity in the complex is presented. About 50% of the complex reacts with hydrogen peroxide with a rate 20-40% faster than that of native enzyme; 20% of the complex exists in a conformation which does not react with hydrogen peroxide but converts to the reactive form at a rate of 20 +/- 5 s-1; 30% of the complex does not react with hydrogen peroxide to form the oxidized enzyme intermediate, cytochrome c peroxidase Compound I. Intramolecular electron transfer between covalently bound ferrocytochrome c and an oxidized site in cytochrome c peroxidase Compound I is too fast to measure, but a lower limit of 600 s-1 can be estimated at 5 degrees C in a 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer at pH 7.5. Free ferrocytochrome c reduces cytochrome c peroxidase Compound I covalently bound to ferricytochrome c at a rate 10(-4) to 10(-5)-times slower than for free Compound I. The transient-state ferrocytochrome c reduction rates of Compound I covalently linked to ferricytochrome c are about 70-times too slow to account for the steady-state catalytic properties of the 1:1 covalent complex. This indicates that hydrogen peroxide can interact with the 1:1 complex at sites other than the heme of cytochrome c peroxidase, generating additional species capable of oxidizing free ferrocytochrome c.
Rewrite method for theorem proving in first order theory with equality

In this paper we extend the term rewriting approach to first order theorem proving, as described in Hsiang & Dershowitz 1983), to the theory of first order predicate calculus with equality. Consequently, we have showed that the term rewriting method can indeed be made to be as powerful as paramodulation and resolution combined.
The food-entrained prolactin and cortisol release in late pregnancy and prolactinoma patients.

Abrupt and concomitant increments in circulating cortisol and PRL levels in association with food intake at noon were observed in hyperprolactinemic pregnant women. During late pregnancy, the quantitative release was at least 12-fold greater for PRL and substantially more for cortisol compared to values in nonpregnant women. In contrast, patients with hyperprolactinemia due to prolactinoma exhibited an absence of the PRL response to the noon meal and a significantly smaller rise in cortisol, suggesting an independent mechanism for the release of these two hormones due to food ingestion. These observations may be important for future elucidation of neuroendocrine links between feeding and metabolic homeostasis in pregnancy. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 54: 1109, 1982)
1216 ROLE OF PLASMA GLUCOSE IN THE REGULATION OF ENDOGENOUS GLUCOSE PRODUCTION IN THE HUMAN NEWBORN

Although the endogenous glucose production rate (Ra) in the newborn human and animals is high compared with adults, their plasma glucose concentrations are low. The newborn frequently develop hyperglycemia in response to glucose infusions. Previous data have shown that glucose release by isolated liver from human fetus is regulated by glucose concentration. In the present study, the role of glucose in the regulation of endogenous glucose production was examined by infusing glucose at 2.6 - 4.6 mg/kg·min to 8 normal term, 5 preterm and 8 small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants. All infants were healthy and had no overt clinical problems. Ra was measured during basal state and during glucose infusion by tracer dilution using [6, 6, 2H2]glucose. (mean ± SD) There was a negative correlation between peak glucose (PG) and Ra during glucose infusion (r = -0.59 P = .006). PG was also related to the rate of glucose infusion. These data show that as in human adults, Ra is regulated by plasma glucose in the newborn infant.
Crystallization-induced reactions of copolymers: 6. Reorganization of polyesters in the liquid crystal state

Abstract A series of random thermotropic poly(4-oxybenzoate-co-ethylene terephthalate), P(OB/ET), and poly(3-chloro-4-oxybenzoate-co-ethylene terephthalate), P(COB/ET), copolymers were prepared and their thermal properties were determined. The crystallization induced reactions (CIR) of some of these copolymers were investigated in the liquid crystal state. The effects of reaction parameters such as reaction time, temperature, type and amount of catalyst, and molecular weight of the initial sample were examined for yields, compositions, properties and sequence distributions of the reorganized products. The initial liquid crystal copolymers formed a mixture of soluble and insoluble products after the CIR process, and the latter are believed to be multiblock, crystalline oxybenzoate copolymers which are infusible above an average oxybenzoate sequence length of approximately four units.
Lack of radiation maculopathy after palladium-103 plaque radiotherapy for iris melanoma.

Purpose To report on the risk of radiation maculopathy for iris and iridociliary melanomas treated by 103 Pd plaque radiotherapy. Methods and Materials This is a retrospective clinical case series of 30 eyes in 30 patients with melanomas limited to the iris or invading the ciliary body. The main outcome measures included demographic information, laterality, tumor size, location, visual acuity, radiation dose, local control, retinal evaluation, and duration of follow-up. Results Thirty patients were followed for a median 36 months (range, 12–90 months). Sixteen of 30 tumors (53%) were pure iris melanomas, and 14 (47%) were primary iris melanomas extending into the ciliary body. Radiation dosimetry showed that the median tumor apex dose was 85 Gy (range, 75–100 Gy), lens dose 43.5 Gy (range, 17.8–60 Gy), fovea dose 1.8 Gy (range, 1.3–5 Gy), and central optic disc dose 1.7 Gy (range, 1.3–4.7 Gy). Cataracts developed in 20 of the 28 phakic eyes (71.4%). No patient in this series developed radiation maculopathy or radiation optic neuropathy. Last best-corrected visual acuity was ≥20/25 in 28 patients (93%) at a median 36 months' follow-up. Conclusion Though visual acuities were transiently affected by radiation cataract, no radiation maculopathy or optic neuropathy has been noted after 103 Pd treatment of iris and iridociliary melanomas.
Single and double Higgs production by gauge boson fusion

Abstract We investigate the fusion processes W+W−→Z0H0, W+W−→γH0 and W+W−→H0H0, where H0 denotes the standard model Higgs-boson. Calculations are performed for SSC energies using both the effective gauge boson treatment and the exact perturbative treatment of the constituent level processes qq→qq+Z0H0, etc. These approaches yield cross sections that are in reasonable agreement. The differences between the two are attributable to the additional diagrams present in the perturbative calculation due to gauge invariance. We study the differences as a function of rapidity and transverse momentum cuts.
Evaluation of Solution Procedures for Material and/or Geometrically Nonlinear Structural Analysis

This paper presents an assessment of the solution procedures available for the analysis of inelastic and/or large deflection structural behavior. A literature survey is given which summarizes the contribution of other researchers in the analysis of structural problems exhibiting material nonlinearities and combined geometric-material nonlinearities. Attention is focused at evaluating the available computational and solution techniques. Each of the solution techniques is developed from a common equation of equilibrium in terms of pseudo forces. The solution procedures are applied to circular plates and shells of revolution in an attempt to compare and evaluate each with respect to computational accuracy, economy, and efficiency. Based on the numerical studies, observations and comments are made with regard to the accuracy and economy of each solution technique.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING OR ORGANIZING COMMUNITY? Gender and the Crafts of Empowerment

This article looks at two strains of urban community organizing, distinguished by philosophy and often by gender, and influenced by the historical division of American society into public and private spheres. The authors compare the well-known Alinsky model, which focuses on communities organizing for power, and what they call the women-centered model, which focuses on organizing relationships to build community. These models are rooted in somewhat distinct traditions and vary along several dimensions, including conceptions of human nature and conflict, power and politics, leadership, and the organizing process. The authors conclude by examining the implications of this analysis and questions for further research and practice.
Migration, formation, and growth of pure Cd whiskers in Cd-based compounds

The migration, formation, and growth of Cd islands and long whiskers were studied in single crystals of Cd84Yb16, Cd51Yb14, and Cd17Ca3 and polycrystals of Cd85Ni15 and high-purity Cd. It was found that Cd moves rapidly to the sample surface in quasi-crystal Cd84Yb16, forming islands in less than 2 h. The Cd whiskers that have submicron diameters and lengths of several hundred microns to millimeters can grow in several days under high vacuum. Evidence was presented to demonstrate that the whiskers grow from the base instead of the tip. While whiskers are easily observed in hex-CdYb, i-CdYb, and CdCa single crystals, no Cd whisker formation or migration of any kind was present on the surfaces of Cd85Ni15 and pure Cd samples, subjected to similar environmental conditions for even longer durations. This result suggests that oxidation of the reactive element is essential for the enhanced whisker growth kinetics observed. Because Cd islands and whiskers grow spontaneously in a matter of hours instead of months required for tin or zinc whiskers, CdYb alloys would be good candidates for detailed whisker formation and growth mechanisms studies.
Randomized controlled trial of recombinant interferon alfa-2b in chronic NANB hepatitis: Dose schedules and results

Abstract •■ Response rate: 50–65% (87.5% within 2 months). •■ Relapse in 80% after down titration, 80% response again on up titration. •■ Relapse after end of treatment: 55%, usually transient.
Stimulated resonance Raman scattering of rhodamine 6G

Stimulated resonance Raman scattering (SRRS) of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) has been observed in microdroplets. By increasing the R6G concentration and input-laser intensity, SRRS from R6G can be distinguished from the R6G lasing. SRRS can be further amplified by the lasing gain when the SRRS is near the peak of the lasing gain profile. When the R6G Raman emission is at wavelengths longer than the lasing envelope, SRRS can still be enhanced by seeding from residual R6G fluorescence.
A Long-Kept Secret in the Heart

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4][![Graphic][5] ][5] A 61-year-old man with a known history of chronic hepatitis C was evaluated for chest pain due to non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. On chest x-ray and angiography, many small radio-opaque
Recovery of Fertilizer Nitrogen Applied to Burley Tobacco

The high cash value of burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) may lead to ineffective excess fertilization of the crop. The effects of N management on fertilizer N use efficiency by burley tobacco and recovery of residual fertilizer N by a winter cover crop were determined. Tobacco was grown in 1993 at two locations with 0 to 336 kg N ha -1 broadcast applied before transplanting or 168 kg N ha -1 sidedressed at onset of rapid growth (5 wk after transplanting). Seasonal recoveries of 15 N-depleted fertilizer N were determined in aboveground tissues of the tobacco crop. The amount of labeled fertilizer N recovered at harvest (29 to 124 kg N ha -1 ) increased with increasing amounts of N applied, but fertilizer N use efficiency was constant at 36.6 ± 0.9% for broadcast applications. Sidedress N enhanced labeled fertilizer N recovery (43 to 54% of applied N, depending on location), even though total aboveground dry matter was equal to or 12% less than that of plants grown with the same amount of N applied by broadcast. Recovery of residual labeled fertilizer N in the cover crop ranged from 2 to 7% of applied N and was greatest for the highest amount of N applied. Fertilizer N recoveries estimated by the difference method equaled those of the 15 N method at 5 wk after transplanting. At 13 wk after transplanting, the difference method, particularly for applications of 84 and 168 kg N ha -1 , overestimated fertilizer N recoveries relative to the 15 N method, and is unlikely to provide an accurate measure of fertilizer N use by burley tobacco across a wide range of N applications. Reducing the amount of broadcast applied fertilizer to give a 10% decrease in air-cured leaf yield would decrease the unaccounted fertilizer N by 80 to 115 kg N ha -1 , depending on location. As compared with broadcast application of fertilizer N before transplanting, drill banding the N at about 5 wk after transplanting would equal or further decrease unaccounted amounts of fertilizer N.
Metropolitan and Outstate Alignments in Illinois and Missouri Legislative Delegations.

Rural overrepresentation and metropolitan underrepresentation in state legislatures have long been standard targets for the criticisms of students of state and local government. As Murray Stedman, for example, puts it, "Rural minorities control many state legislatures and thereby penalize urban majorities. The virtual serfdom of the urbanite to the rurally controlled state legislatures in many areas is a recurrent plaint in the writings of political scientists."2 Commenting on the tendency of state legislators to form blocs reflecting individual localities and their local and regional interests, Alfred DeGrazia concludes that "every American state with any considerable urban population has undergone protracted conflict between rural and urban blocs, often regardless of party lines."' Textbooks on municipal government, and state and local government, universally condemn urban underrepresentation in state legislatures and say, or imply, that the result is consistent defeat or frustration of urban interests in the legislative arena.4 My purpose here is to introduce a note of factual skepticism into a portion of the discussion. The literature on "urban-rural" conflict does not proceed from a precise definition of what is "urban." The census definition, as places of 2,500 or more population, and the fringe in metropolitan areas, has not been adopted; nor does "urban" mean all incorporated places. If either of these definitions were used, many state legislatures now called rural-dominated would have to be classified as urban-dominated on the basis of the percentage of members from districts in which a majority of the population resides in urban places.5 The "urban-
Do impassable dams and flow regulation constrain the distribution of green sturgeon in the Sacramento River, California?

Summary Conservation of the threatened green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris in the Sacramento River of California is impeded by lack of information on its historical distribution and an understanding of how impassable dams and altered hydrographs are influencing its distribution. The habitat preferences of green sturgeon are characterized in terms of river discharge, velocity, channel gradient, and air temperature associated with 2590 sightings of green sturgeon in the Klamath and Rogue rivers using the Mahalanobis distance D2, a multivariate measure of distance from the mean habitat conditions associated with the sightings. D2 was then calculated for reaches of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries under historic and current (2007) hydrographs to assess where and when habitat conditions in the Sacramento–San Joaquin basin are similar to those known to support green sturgeon. The model for current habitat conditions was validated with observations of acoustically-tagged green sturgeon at large in the basin in 2007. The model predicts that in the absence of impassable dams and altered hydrographs, green sturgeon would utilize the mainstem Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, and several major tributaries including portions of the lower Feather River, American River, and Yuba River. While dams block access to about 9% of historically available habitat, it is likely that the blocked areas contained relatively high amounts of spawning habitat because of their upstream position in the river network. Flow regulation below the reservoirs has mixed effects on habitat suitability for green sturgeon, with many reaches showing increased suitability in winter and spring, but with some reaches showing decreased suitability in many months, particularly late spring through early autumn. Overall, it appears that the main effect of construction of large water-storage reservoirs in the Sacramento–San Joaquin river basin has been to curtail the distribution of green sturgeon within this basin.
Ultraviolet-filtering properties of commonly used tissue cell culture plasticware.

Background: Fluorescent sunlamps are a common source of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) for photobiology research. However, these lamps emit a significant amount of biologically irrelevant wavelengths that, if not removed, can drastically skew results and perhaps lead to mistaken conclusions regarding human photobiology. The use of a cellulose triacetate sheet (Kodacel) to filter the shorter ultraviolet wavelengths has become the accepted standard in photobiology. Over time, the transmission characteristics of this sheet may be altered due to photochemical changes. In addition, in vitro experiments utilizing filtered fluorescent sunlamps require the removal of plastic tissue cell culture lids, increasing the possibility of contamination. Methods: We evaluated the transmission characteristics of various commercially available plastic lids used in tissue cell cultures. In addition, we used a biological system containing the human elastin promoter/ chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene construct to compare the effects of filtering from these plastic lids. Results: Here, we demonstrate that the transmission of UVR and the biological response through plastic culture dish lids is similar to that of Kodacel. Conclusion: Although this is an improvement for in vitro experiments, further improvements can be made using more realistic UVR sources, e.g. UVA-340 lamps, which mimic the short wavelengths of sunlight.
Relationship between semantic paraphasias and related nonverbal factors.

Szrmmary.-Word-finding deficits are a common problem in aphasic patients. One hypothesis suggests that the difficulty that patients experience in naming objects or pictures is related to a disruption in the ability to access the lexicon. Another hypothesis suggests that these problems are caused by a disruption of the mental dictionary and the semantic representations contained in it. The main purpose of this study is to assess whether nonverbal factors such as the ability to distinguish between similar attributes of objects is related to word-use problems in aphasia. 14 adults with left hemisphere cerebrovascular accidents and some word-use deficit were administered the First 30 items of the Boston Naming Test and the Conceptual Matching subtest of he Detroit Test of Learning Aptitude. Errors on the Conceptual Ma~ching subtest correlated significantly with the number of semantic paraphasias. Word-finding ddficulties are common symptoms in patients with aphasia, the language dsorder associated with stroke; however, evidence suggests that impaired performance in naming tasks is not a unitary phenomenon but varies among aphasic subgroups. These word-finding difficulties may be manifested in surface behaviors such as semantic (verbal) paraphasias, literal - (phonemic) paraphasias, circumlocutions, and neologisms. It has been dernonstrated that there might be a relationship between some types of errors and the severity of anomia (word findmg dfficulty) according to Marshall (1976). Yet the causal factors of such ddferent surface manifestations remain unclear. According to Benson (19791, a number of anornic sympton~s originate from various neurological lesions and are related to the clinical type of aphasia. He described three basic word-finding disorders associated with aphasia which correspond to distinct levels of breakdown in the naming process: word-prodr,c~ion anomia (nonfluent aphasia, conduction aphasia): This deficit may res~~lr from motor speech deficits. The patient knows the word, recognizes it, and represents it in all modahties, b~~t cannot say it or can say it only with di€€iculty and after delay and struggle. Such patients are more likely to benefit from simple cues such as the first sound or syllable of the target word. word selection anomia (pure anomic aphasia): The patient has difficulty evoking the name but
Regulative Assumptions, Hinge Propositions and the Peircean Conception of Truth

This paper defends a key aspect of the Peircean conception of truth—the idea that truth is in some sense epistemically-constrained. It does so by exploring parallels between Peirce’s epistemology of inquiry and that of Wittgenstein in On Certainty. The central argument defends a Peircean claim about truth by appeal to a view shared by Peirce and Wittgenstein about the structure of reasons. This view relies on the idea that certain claims have a special epistemic status, or function as what are popularly called ‘hinge propositions’.
Functional Areas of Leadership in Social Movements

(1966). Functional Areas of Leadership in Social Movements. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 137-156.
The Pluralization of Protestant Politics: Public Responsibility, Rearmament, and Division at the 1950s Kirchentage

In the aftermath of World War II, Christian leaders in Germany embraced the political ideology of Christian Democracy. Viewing Nazism as a form of materialism and atheism, which they blamed on the ongoing secularization and moral decay of German society, both Protestant and Catholic leaders argued that only the society-wide renewal of Christian faith and Christian values could provide a solid foundation for the future. Enjoying a privileged position in the eyes of the western Allies (particularly the Americans), the churches took on a leading role in the reconstruction of German society. And, working to overcome the postwar disillusionment of many of their members, church leaders urged their followers to take active, personal responsibility for political life in the new German states.
The pulmonary collectins and surfactant metabolism.

▪ Abstract Lung surfactant covers and stabilizes a large, delicate surface at the interface between the host and the environment. The surfactant system is placed at risk by a number of environmental challenges such as inflammation, infection, or oxidant stress, and perhaps not surprisingly, it demonstrates adaptive changes in metabolism in response to alterations in the alveolar microenvironment. Recent experiments have shown that certain components of the surfactant system are active participants in the regulation of the alveolar response to a wide variety of environmental challenges. These components are capable not only of maintaining a low interfacial surface tension but also of amplifying or dampening inflammatory responses. These observations suggest that regulatory molecules are capable of both sensing the environment of the alveolus and providing feedback to the cells regulating surfactant synthesis, secretion, alveolar conversion, and clearance. In this review we examine the evidence from in vitr...
Impact of targeted health promotion on cardiovascular knowledge among American Indians and Alaska Natives

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute developed the Honoring the Gift of Heart Health (HGHH) curriculum to promote cardiovascular knowledge and heart-healthy lifestyles among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). Using data from a small randomized trial designed to reduce diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among overweight/obese AI/ANs, we evaluated the impact of an adapted HGHH curriculum on cardiovascular knowledge. We also assessed whether the curriculum was effective across levels of health literacy (defined as the 'capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions'). We examined change in knowledge from baseline to 3 months for two groups: HGHH (N = 89) and control (N = 50). Compared with controls, HGHH participants showed significant improvement in heart attack knowledge and marginally significant improvement in stroke and general CVD knowledge. HGHH participants attending ≥1 class showed significantly greater improvement than controls on all three measures. Although HGHH participants with inadequate health literacy had worse heart attack and stroke knowledge at baseline and 3 months than did participants with adequate skills, the degree of improvement in knowledge did not differ by health literacy level. HGHH appears to improve cardiovascular knowledge among AI/ANs across health literacy levels.
HLA Antigens and Susceptibility to Juvenile Diabetes: do Additive Relative Risks Imply Genetic Heterogeneity?*

The relative risk of B8/B15 heterozygotes for juvenile-onset diabetes is higher than the risk for people having B8 or B15 alone. This has been cited as evidence for genetic heterogeneity in juvenile diabetes. However, the observed relative risks are compatible with a single susceptibility allele. If disease susceptibility is recessive, for example, then an individual with two disease associated antigens is more likely to be susceptible than an individual with only one associated antigen. The relative risk for an HLA heterozygote should be intermediate between that of the respective homozygotes, so that an interaction effect of two alleles can only be supported if the heterozygote risk is significantly greater than both homozygote risks. The estimated relative risks for B8 and B15 homozygotes, based on data from four different populations, is approximately equal to the risk for B8/B15 heterozygotes. Moreover, disease manifestations which are differentially associated with B8 and B15, such as antibody production to exogenous insulin, may be due to linkage disequilibrium between HLA and other loci which are not directly related to susceptibility of juvenile diabetes. Therefore, while the susceptibility to juvenile diabetes may have several genetic forms, there is no support for distinct B8-associated and B15-associated forms of susceptibility.
An Organizational Justice‐Based View of Self‐Control and Agency Costs in Family Firms

abstract By integrating insights from two seemingly disparate literatures – economics andorganizational justice – within the general agency framework, we advance propositions thatsuggest a ﬁne-grained explanation of agency costs at family ﬁrms. In so doing, we account forthe differential effects of the controlling owners’ self-control (i.e. the governance mechanismsthey adopt and how they administer those mechanisms) on the justice perceptions of the familyand non-family employees. Our integrative view allows us to strike a realistic balance betweenthe overly optimistic views about family ﬁrm governance that have been expressed by agencyscholars and the overly pessimistic views expressed by management scholars in the past fewyears. INTRODUCTION The family business literature describes various forms of family business ownershipbased on the stage of ownership dispersion, such as sibling partnership (where varyingproportions of ownership are held by members of a single generation) and cousin con-sortium
Trypanosome cdc2-Related Kinase 9 Controls Spliced Leader RNA cap4 Methylation and Phosphorylation of RNA Polymerase II Subunit RPB1

Conserved from yeast to mammals, phosphorylation of the heptad repeat sequence Tyr(1)-Ser(2)-Pro(3)-Thr(4)-Ser(5)-Pro(6)-Ser(7) in the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) subunit, RPB1, mediates the enzyme's promoter escape and binding of RNA-processing factors, such as the m(7)G capping enzymes. The first critical step, Ser(5) phosphorylation, is carried out by cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7), a subunit of the basal transcription factor TFIIH. Many early-diverged protists, such as the lethal human parasite Trypanosoma brucei, however, lack the heptad repeats and, apparently, a CDK7 ortholog. Accordingly, characterization of trypanosome TFIIH did not identify a kinase component. The T. brucei CTD, however, is phosphorylated and essential for transcription. Here we show that silencing the expression of T. brucei cdc2-related kinase 9 (CRK9) leads to a loss of RPB1 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, this event did not impair RNA Pol II transcription or cotranscriptional m(7)G capping. Instead, we observed that CRK9 silencing led to a block of spliced leader (SL) trans splicing, an essential step in trypanosome mRNA maturation, that was caused by hypomethylation of the SL RNA's unique cap4.
Optimal Legal Firing Sequence of Petri Nets Using Linear Programming

Petri nets (PNs) are a reliable graphical and mathematical modeling tool for the formal modeling and validation of systems (W. Reisig, A Primer in Petri Net Design, Springer-Verlag: Berlin, Heidelberg, 1992). Applications of PNs include discrete event dynamic systems (DEDS) that are recognized as being concurrent, asynchronous, distributed, parallel, and/or nondeterministic. It is also a powerful formal method for the analysis of concurrent, embedded, and distributed finite state systems (K. Varpaaniemi, Series A: Research Reports, No. 26, Helsinki University of Technology, Digital Systems Laboratory, Oct. 1993). The reachability analysis of PNs is strategically significant as it captures the dynamic behavior of the system as well as providing efficient verification of the correctness of the model. Few linear programming (LP)-based methods can be found that address the reachability problem, and some of these are suitable for optimal control problems. However, due to an inherent state explosion they are difficult to implement; other methods run easily into deadlock as they lack appropriate mechanisms to avoid the firing of critical transitions (T. Matsumoto and A. Tarek, in Proceedings of the 35th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Kobe, Japan, 1996-12, pp. 4459–4468). In this paper an improved and easy to implement method is proposed that combines the Optimality Principle and Linear Programming (OP + LP) techniques to find an Optimal Legal Firing Sequence (OLFS) in PNs. This method can be applied to ordinary PNs with self-loops, avoids deadlocks, and can also be used for general PNs having cycles.
Effects of mass distribution on the mechanics of level trotting in dogs

SUMMARY The antero–posterior mass distribution of quadrupeds varies substantially amongst species, yet the functional implications of this design characteristic remain poorly understood. During trotting, the forelimb exerts a net braking force while the hindlimb exerts a net propulsive force. Steady speed locomotion requires that braking and propulsion of the stance limbs be equal in magnitude. We predicted that changes in body mass distribution would alter individual limb braking–propulsive force patterns and we tested this hypothesis by adding 10% body mass near the center of mass, at the pectoral girdle, or at the pelvic girdle of trotting dogs. Two force platforms in series recorded fore- and hindlimb ground reaction forces independently. Vertical and fore–aft impulses were calculated by integrating individual force–time curves and Fourier analysis was used to quantify the braking–propulsive (b–p) bias of the fore–aft force curve. We predicted that experimental manipulation of antero–posterior mass distribution would (1) change the fore–hind distribution of vertical impulse when the limb girdles are loaded, (2) decrease the b–p bias of the experimentally loaded limb and (3) increase relative contact time of the experimentally loaded limb, while (4) the individual limb mean fore–aft forces (normalized to body weight + added weight) would be unaffected. All four of these results were observed when mass was added at the pelvic girdle, but only 1, 3 and 4 were observed when mass was added at the pectoral girdle. We propose that the observed relationship between antero–posterior mass distribution and individual limb function may be broadly applicable to quadrupeds with different body types. In addition to the predicted results, our data show that the mechanical effects of adding mass to the trunk are much more complex than would be predicted from mass distribution alone. Effects of trunk moments due to loading were evident when mass was added at the center of mass or at the pelvic girdle. These results suggest a functional link between appendicular and axial mechanics via action of the limbs as levers.
Visualizing history to improve users' location and comprehension of collaborative work

Many applications place users into collaborations with unknown and distant partners. Collaboration between participants in such environments is more efficient if individuals can identify and understand the contributions of others. A traditional approach to supporting such understanding within the CSCW community is to record user activity for later access. Issues with this approach include difficulties in locating activity of interest in large tasks and that history is often recorded at a system-activity level instead of at a human-activity level. To address these issues, this paper introduces CoActIVE, a history mechanism that clusters records of user activity and extracts keywords from manipulated content in an attempt to provide a human-level representation of history. Multiple visualization techniques' based on this processing were compared in their ability to improve users' location and comprehension of the activity of others. The results show the combination of clustering low level history events into activity segments and new visualizations summarizing activity within a segment result in a significant improvement over prior interfaces.
Language and Two Phenomenologies

I have three concurrent concerns in this paper. The first is to display a picturable model of some of the main features of phenomenological method. I wish in this case to clarify some of the complexities and implications of a phenomenological procedure for a philosophical context often more Anglophilic and Europophobic than not. But on the way to this end I wish also to begin the sketch of what I hope will become a considered re-interpretation of phenomenological history. I wish to differentiate two distinguishable, but often confused, lines of development from a common base in Husserlian thought.
The Effect of Fillers on Polymer Properties

(1978). The Effect of Fillers on Polymer Properties. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering: Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 117-129.
Intensive English Programs in the United States: An Overview of Structure and Mentoring

Although English as a second language (ESL) programs are common in the United States, there is surprisingly little research documenting the existing structures and mentoring strategies they use. This lack of research could be partly due to ESL programs' widely varying internal structures (Larson, 1990) and the fact that they are often marginalized by the university academic system (see, e.g., Carkin, 1997; Case, 1998; Kaplan, 1997; Vandrick, 1994), which leaves many programs “homeless” and without the support of university-wide mentoring systems. This article is an overview of the structures and mentoring strategies found in ESL programs throughout the United States. A questionnaire was distributed electronically to the 67 accredited university ESL programs found on the University and College Intensive English Programs website, with 20 of the questionnaires returned. One surprising result was the relatively low number of teaching assistants employed by ESL programs. Although all of the programs surveyed offered some sort of professional development, there was a dearth of a formal mentoring structure within most of the ESL programs.
Molecular markers reveal strong geographic, but not host associated, genetic differentiation in Aphidius transcaspicus, a parasitoid of the aphid genus Hyalopterus

Host plant associated genetic differentiation is a common phenomenon in phytophagous insects, but the degree to which such associations sequentially drive diversification at higher trophic levels is not as well understood. A recent study examining neutral molecular markers in Hyalopterus aphids revealed that genetic structure in this genus is strongly determined by primary host plant use (Prunus spp.). In this paper, we take a similar approach to determine whether this host plant specificity has affected genetic structure in the parasitoid Aphidius transcaspicus, an important natural enemy of Hyalopterus spp. in the Mediterranean. Mitochondrial DNA (428 bp) and seven microsatellite loci were examined in parasitoids collected from aphid populations on almond, apricot, peach and plum trees from Spain and Greece. In contrast to the previous findings for Hyalopterus from the same regions, here we find no evidence for host associated diversification in A. transcaspicus at the species level or below, though geographic structure between regional populations is exceptionally high. These findings have several implications for our understanding of the ecology and evolution of A. transcaspicus as well as for its use as a biological control agent for Hyalopterus, suggesting that a consideration of host plant specificity may be less critical than factors such as climatic suitability or geographic origins of invasive populations.
Polylactide (PLA)-based amphiphilic block copolymers: synthesis, self-assembly, and biomedical applications

Polylactide (PLA) and its copolymers are one type of hydrophobic aliphatic polyester based on hydroxyalkanoic acids. They possess exceptional qualities: biocompatibility; FDA approval for clinical use; biodegradability by enzyme and hydrolysis under physiological conditions; low immunogenicity; and good mechanical properties. These critical properties have facilitated their value as sutures, implants for bone fixation, drug delivery vehicles, and tissue engineering scaffolds in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. However, the hydrophobicity of PLA and its copolymers remains concerns for further biological and biomedical applications. One promising approach is to design and synthesize well-controlled PLA-based amphiphilic block copolymers (ABPs); typical hydrophilic copolymers include poly(meth)acrylates, poly(ethylene glycol), polypeptides, polysaccharides, and polyurethanes. This review summarizes recent advances in the synthesis and self-assembly of PLA-containing ABPs and their bio-related applications including drug delivery and imaging platforms of self-assembled nanoparticles, and tissue engineering of crosslinked hydrogels.
Karyotypes of the Neotropical pseudoscorpions Semeiochernes armiger and Cordylochernes scorpioides (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae)

The karyotypes and course of meiosis of two pseudoscorpions, Semeiochernes armiger (Balzan 1892) and Cordylochernes scorpioides (Linnaeus 1758) (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae), are described for the first time. The diploid chromosome number of the male is 69 in S. armiger and 47 in C. scorpioides. As in most pseudoscorpions studied to date, autosomes exhibit predominantly biarmed morphology. Both species possess an X0 sex chromosome system. In most pseudoscorpions with X0 system karyotyped so far, including European chernetids, the X chromosome exhibits metacentric morphology. In contrast, the X chromosome of both neotropical chernetids studied exhibits asymmetric, submetacentric morphology.
Interpreting Diabetes Mellitus: Differences between Patient and Provider Models of Disease and their Implications for Clinical Practice

Current medical literature suggests that Type 2 diabetes mellitus can be controlled by diet and hypoglycemic agents or diet and insulin therapy. Nevertheless, adhering to a low glucose dietary regimen remains problematic for a majority of patients, and management of the disease is an ongoing source of frustration for physicians and other providers. While calling for more research on the physician's experience of treating chronic conditions like diabetes, the authors argue that much of the current frustration stems from the different frames or explanatory models that physicians and patients use to understand the disease. By comparing physician narratives collected in several clinical contexts (e.g., medical lectures, precepting sessions, patient care sessions and personal interviews) with patient stories obtained primarily through narrative interviews, the authors highlight crucial differences in the way physicians and patients experience and think about the disease. In particular, the authors highlight differences between physicians and patients across five dimensions: etiology, symptoms/signs, factors which affect blood sugar, ideal blood sugar, and future prospects. In concluding, the authors sketch out elements of a theory of clinical practice involving diabetes care. Data for the study was collected at two family practice training sites in Chicago.
Molecular analysis of bivalve tumors: models for environmental/genetic interactions.

Abstract An increase in both the numbers and types of tumors found in finfish and shellfish has been noted in the past several decades. In many cases, while the increase in tumor incidence can be correlated with increases in aquatic toxicant levels, causality cannot be definitively proven. One recent epidemiologic investigation identified the prevalence of gonadal cancers as high as 40% in softshell clams (Mya arenaria) in Maine and 60% in hardshell clams (Mercenaria spp.) from Florida. A second study of these same geographic areas identified human mortality rates due to ovarian cancer as significantly greater than the national average. The rise in mortality rates in humans correlated with the increased use of herbicides in these areas as well as with the appearance of significant numbers of gonadal tumors in the clams. Studies were initiated in our laboratory to examine the molecular basis of these neoplasms in bivalves. NIH3T3 transfection assays were used to examine DNA isolated from these molluscan tumors for the presence of activated oncogenes. DNAs isolated from advanced tumors in both species were able to transform NIH3T3 cells and induce tumors in athymic mice. Studies are now underway to identify the gene(s) detected by these assays and also to examine the molecular mechanisms of toxic response of herbicide-exposed clams.
Cleaning up America's Coal: An Analysis of States' Potentials for Carbon Capture and Storage

Coal-fired power plants across the United States, though affordable and reliable providers of approximately 39% of the nation’s power, emit approximately 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Therefore, in moving forward with legislation to reduce the amount of emissions, coal-fired power plants are among the first emitters to be targeted. This research examined individual power plants and states across the country, and after determining the energy profile and amount of coal emissions for each state and analyzing the unique characteristics of each power plant, an analysis was conducted to determine which power plants would benefit most from a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) retrofit. CCS, which captures carbon and prevents it from being released into the atmosphere, provides a unique solution for coal-fired power plants in that it allows them to continue their normal use while reducing emissions. In the framework of the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations for coal-fired power plants through the Clean Power Plan, several states were ranked based on their energy profiles, emission amounts, and CCS retrofit value. With this research, a quantitative outreach strategy was designed for the Department of Energy to implement CCS technology in a select group of states, focusing on cost-effectiveness and efficiency of CCS in each state. The states that were identified as ideal candidates for CCS retrofits included: Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, and West Virginia.
Bortezomib plus modified R-CHOP as initial therapy for indolent B-cell lymphomas: Phase I results

8577 Background: Adding rituximab (R) to chemotherapy improves survival for patients (pts) with follicular lymphoma (FL) and other indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), but not all pts respond. Bor...
Optogenetic activation of striatal cholinergic interneurons regulates L-dopa-induced dyskinesias

L-dopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs) are a serious complication of L-dopa therapy for Parkinson's disease. Emerging evidence indicates that the nicotinic cholinergic system plays a role in LIDs, although the pathways and mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we used optogenetics to investigate the role of striatal cholinergic interneurons in LIDs. Mice expressing cre-recombinase under the control of the choline acetyltransferase promoter (ChAT-Cre) were lesioned by unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. AAV5-ChR2-eYFP or AAV5-control-eYFP was injected into the dorsolateral striatum, and optical fibers implanted. After stable virus expression, mice were treated with L-dopa. They were then subjected to various stimulation protocols for 2h and LIDs rated. Continuous stimulation with a short duration optical pulse (1-5ms) enhanced LIDs. This effect was blocked by the general muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist atropine indicating it was mAChR-mediated. By contrast, continuous stimulation with a longer duration optical pulse (20ms to 1s) reduced LIDs to a similar extent as nicotine treatment (~50%). The general nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist mecamylamine blocked the decline in LIDs with longer optical pulses showing it was nAChR-mediated. None of the stimulation regimens altered LIDs in control-eYFP mice. Lesion-induced motor impairment was not affected by optical stimulation indicating that cholinergic transmission selectively regulates LIDs. Longer pulse stimulation increased the number of c-Fos expressing ChAT neurons, suggesting that changes in this immediate early gene may be involved. These results demonstrate that striatal cholinergic interneurons play a critical role in LIDs and support the idea that nicotine treatment reduces LIDs via nAChR desensitization.