cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A DBQ in a multiple-choice world: A tale of two assessments in a unit on the Byzantine Empire

Abstract This case study explored how a teacher, Mr. Smith, and his students experienced a mandated performance assessment while simultaneously preparing for an end of the year high-stakes, multiple-choice assessment. We employed qualitative research methods to examine how the teacher enacted a mandated performance assessment during a unit on Byzantium and how students described their learning and classroom experiences from the unit. Drawing on Grant׳s idea of ambitious teaching and learning of history and Ball׳s work on policy realization, analysis of these data indicated that Mr. Smith interpreted and enacted a performance assessment in ways that differed from how district and state policy makers intended. Despite an assessment that the district designed to promote historical thinking skills, students learned primarily factual knowledge.
Evidence supporting cryptic species within two sessile microinvertebrates, Limnias melicerta and L. ceratophylli (Rotifera, Gnesiotrocha)

Microorganisms, including rotifers, are thought to be capable of long distance dispersal. Therefore, they should show little population genetic structure due to high gene flow. Nevertheless, substantial genetic structure has been reported among populations of many taxa. In rotifers, genetic studies have focused on planktonic taxa leaving sessile groups largely unexplored. Here, we used COI gene and ITS region sequences to study genetic structure and delimit cryptic species in two sessile species (Limnias melicerta [32 populations]; L. ceratophylli [21 populations]). Among populations, ITS region sequences were less variable as compared to those of the COI gene (ITS; L. melicerta: 0-3.1% and L. ceratophylli: 0-4.4%; COI; L. melicerta: 0-22.7% and L. ceratophylli: 0-21.7%). Moreover, L. melicerta and L. ceratophylli were not resolved in phylogenetic analyses based on ITS sequences. Thus, we used COI sequences for species delimitation. Bayesian Species Delimitation detected nine putative cryptic species within L. melicerta and four putative cryptic species for L. ceratophylli. The genetic distance in the COI gene was 0-15.4% within cryptic species of L. melicerta and 0.5-0.6% within cryptic species of L. ceratophylli. Among cryptic species, COI genetic distance ranged 8.1-21.9% for L. melicerta and 15.1-21.2% for L. ceratophylli. The correlation between geographic and genetic distance was weak or lacking; thus geographic isolation cannot be considered a strong driver of genetic variation. In addition, geometric morphometric analyses of trophi did not show significant variation among cryptic species. In this study we used a conservative approach for species delimitation, yet we were able to show that species diversity in these sessile rotifers is underestimated.
The January Effect and Institutional Investors: Tax-Loss-Selling or Window-Dressing?

Prior studies attribute the January effect to individual investors' tax-loss-selling and institutional investors' window-dressing. This paper provides evidence that institutional investors contribute to the January effect via tax-loss-selling, not via window-dressing. I examine sales of loss stocks in quarter four by institutional investors with incentives to realize losses for tax purposes and no incentive to window-dress, and by institutional investors with incentives to window-dress and no incentive to realize losses for tax purposes. Abnormally low (high) returns over the last (first) few trading days of December (January) are associated with sales by the former but not by the latter.
Abstract 2753: The molecular basis of blocking the TIM-3 checkpoint with the LY3321367 mAb in cancer immunotherapy

The anti-T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) antibody LY3321367 is a promising immune-checkpoint inhibitor that is being clinically tested for the treatment of multiple solid tumors (NCT03099109). LY3321367 was phenotypically selected from a large set of phage library Fabs that are TIM-3 binders. Tim3 has multiple protein and non-protein binding partners; hence, we attempt in this study to deconvolute the molecular mechanism of action of LY3321367. Surprisingly, LY3321367 in ELISA assays partially blocks the TIM-3/GAL-9 complex but does not block the TIM-3/CEACAM-1 complex. We also utilized X-ray crystallography to solve the structure the LY3321367-Fab complex with the IgV domain of TIM-3 at 2.0A resolution. After solving the unbound structure of the LY3321367-Fab, we demonstrated that its CDRs do not undergo any conformational changes upon binding human TIM-3. The structural alignment of the human TIM-3/LY3321367-Fab complex with the available murine TIM-3 structure unexpectedly suggests that the 6.0A epitope of LY3321367 overlaps the phosphatidylserine (PS) binding site on TIM-3. Consequently, we developed a cell-based assay to demonstrate that LY3321367 completely blocks the binding of soluble human TIM-3 to PS displayed on the surface of Campothecin-treated DO11.10 cells. Our structural results suggest an important role for PS in TIM-3 biology which is blocked by LY3321367. When combined with the partial blocking of GAL-9, the structural data of LY3321367 suggests that the binding sites of PS and GAL-9 may be proximal to each other on TIM-3. Citation Format: Jaafar N. Haidar, Stephen Antonysamy, Sneha Mathew, Lan Wu, Yi Zhang, Margaret C. Kearins, Leyi Shen, J. Michael Sauder, David Schaer, Kyla E. Driscoll, Michael Kalos. The molecular basis of blocking the TIM-3 checkpoint with the LY3321367 mAb in cancer immunotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2753.
Color in the Curriculum or in Ourselves? Why I Thought I Had to Choose

I used to be firmly of the opinion that diversity in the curriculum was far more important than diversity in the faculty. As far as I was concerned, it would not do students nearly as much good to have a rainbow of professors teaching them the same old Herodotus, Ruskin, and Michelangelo as having
Cyclopentane hydrate slurry viscosity measurements coupled with visualisation

One of the advanced strategies in hydrate plug prevention is to obtain an in-depth knowledge of the rheological properties of hydrate slurries. A major challenge in hydrate rheological measurements...
Abstract P289: Parenting Practices are Associated With Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure Among Latinx Adolescents

Introduction: Adherence to dietary recommendations among Latinx adolescents is low, contributing to an increased risk for obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Parents play a crucial role in adolesc...
A New Isosporan (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina (Aves: Passeriformes: Turdidae), in Oklahoma.

The wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina, is a North American passerine bird closely related to other thrushes and is widely distributed across North America. Nothing is known of the coccidian parasites of this bird. Feces from a single H. mustelina found dead in McCurtain County, Oklahoma were collected and examined for coccidia; it was found to be passing a new species of Isospora. Oocysts of Isospora gmelini n. sp. are subspheroidal to ellipsoidal with a smooth bilayered wall, measure (length [L] × width [W]) 19.5 × 16.5 µm, and have a L/W ratio of 1.2; a micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent but polar granule(s) are present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal to elongate and measure 13.4 × 8.9 µm, L/W 1.5; a buttonlike Stieda body is present, but sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are absent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of a compact spheroid with a dense, irregular mass of finer granules lying between and dispersed among the sporozoites. Although several isosporans have been reported from other turdid birds, mainly from Brazil and Costa Rica, this is the initial coccidian reported from H. mustelina and only the second known from the Turdidae in the mainland of the United States.
Natural convection heat transfer from a bundle of heated circular cylinders with staggered arrangement immersed in molten solar salt

Abstract A two-dimensional steady-state natural convection heat transfer from a bundle of closely spaced isothermally heated cylinders in a staggered arrangement immersed in molten solar salt was investigated in this study for a laminar flow regime using numerical analysis. The flow and temperature fields and heat transfer from the cylinder bundle were predicted as functions of tube spacing and flow conditions. It was determined that flow patterns and heat transfer are strongly affected by the transverse and longitudinal cylinder-to-cylinder spacing ST and SL, Rayleigh number and thermo-physical properties of the heat storage fluid. Performance maps in the form of contour diagrams for the average Nusselt number Nu and dimensionless heat transfer volumetric density are presented for a staggered bundle of circular horizontal cylinders immersed in a molten solar salt. The variation of the heat transfer enhancement for the staggered bundle of horizontal cylinders shows that there is an optimal transverse cylinder spacing resulting in the highest heat transfer enhancement. The heat exchanger geometry was optimized by determining the optimal set of the tube (cylinder) spacings SL/D and ST/D in the bundle resulting in the maximum volumetric heat transfer rate q , and smallest size, and lowest cost of a heat exchanger. A set of correlations were developed for the maximum and optimum dimensionless heat transfer volumetric densities as functions of the Rayleigh number RaD. The analyzed geometries are important in the solar heating and storage technology, nuclear reactor safety, and waste heat recovery applications.
Various clinical practice guidelines for sports-related concussion are of sufficient methodological quality by AGREE II: a systematic review

Importance Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) relating to concussion management are published by various healthcare specialties, including but not limited to orthopaedic surgery, family medicine, neurology and athletic trainers. A systematic analysis can help identify high quality CPGs for clinical use by sports medicine physicians. Objective The purpose of this study is to systematically identify and appraise relevant CPGs related to sports-related concussion in adult patients. Evidence review Predetermined selection criteria were used by two reviewers who independently identified published CPGs before 1 November 2018. CPGs were excluded if they focused only on paediatric patients or their scope was greater than concussion in the setting of sports. The remaining guidelines were analysed by five independent reviewers with different levels of training using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tool. Guidelines were deficient if they earned scores less than 50%. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess interobserver agreement between the evaluators. Scores were compared by publishing institution and healthcare discipline using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Findings Seven CPGs met the inclusion criteria. Guidelines came from neurologists, athletic therapists/trainers and interdisciplinary sports medicine bodies. Interobserver agreement was strong and mean scores between surgical trainees (124.5) and board-certified surgeons (125.9) were not statistically different. Guideline quality was variable but not deficient (>50%), except regarding ‘editorial independence’. No statistical difference was found between guidelines from different publishing institutions. Additionally, no statistical difference was found between guidelines published by different healthcare professionals. Conclusions and relevance Overall, CPG quality was variable but not deficient, except for the domain of editorial independence. Bias due to poor editorial independence is a concern, particularly in CPGs published by non-physicians. Given the similarity in content and methodological quality, consideration should be given to condense evidence into a single CPG to be used by all healthcare professionals in the management of sports concussion. Level of evidence 1, Systematic Review.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound is Having Its Moment

Hospital culture regarding imaging and the specialties which perform it has been resistant to change. In particular, ultrasound performed at the point of care (POCUS) has taken a while to become established within hospital systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has seemingly caused acceleration of POCUS acceptance. What is driving this rapid culture change?
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 mediates pancreatic β-cell dysfunction by intermittent hypoxia.

The role of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 in pancreatic β-cell response to intermittent hypoxia (IH) was examined. Studies were performed on adult wild-type (WT), HIF-1α heterozygous (HET), β-cell-specific HIF-1-/- mice and mouse insulinoma (MIN6) cells exposed to IH patterned after blood O2 profiles during obstructive sleep apnea. WT mice treated with IH showed insulin resistance, and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction manifested as augmented basal insulin secretion, and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and these effects were absent in HIF-1α HET mice. IH increased HIF-1α expression and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in β-cells of WT mice. The elevated ROS levels were due to transcriptional upregulation of NADPH oxidase (NOX)-4 mRNA, protein and enzymatic activity, and these responses were absent in HIF-1α HET mice as well as in β-HIF-1-/- mice. IH-evoked β-cell responses were absent in adult WT mice treated with digoxin, an inhibitor of HIF-1α. MIN6 cells treated with in vitro IH showed enhanced basal insulin release and elevated HIF-1α protein expression, and these effects were abolished with genetic silencing of HIF-1α. IH increased NOX4 mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity in MIN6 cells and disruption of NOX4 function by siRNA or scavenging H2O2 with polyethylene glycol catalase blocked IH-evoked enhanced basal insulin secretion. These results demonstrate that HIF-1-mediated transcriptional activation of NOX4 and the ensuing increase in H2O2 contribute to IH-induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.
Perceived proprietary right to resources and its role in reciprocal prejudices between Black and Asian Americans.

I offer a new measure of perceived proprietary right (PPR) to resources as an operationalization of one critical aspect of Harold Blumer's group threat theory. Black (n = 82), Asian (n = 72), and White (n = 176) participants completed PPR items in the context of a residential resource allocation task designed to evoke competitive threat. A four-factor model of PPR was established through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. For Black participants, competitive threat was directly related to anti-Asian prejudice. For Asian participants, competitive threat was related to anti-Black prejudice indirectly, through belief in merit as a source of PPR. Moderated parallel mediation models also uncovered PPR beliefs - on the basis of past oppression and outsider status - as possible sources of allyship between Black and Asian community members. Findings are discussed in relation to Black and Asian relations specifically and the contribution of PPR to intergroup relations more generally.
Considerations for Replacement Heifer Housing

The calves and heifers on a dairy farm represent the future of the milking herd. Beginning at birth, the replacement animals should be the best of the lot, genetically superior to the older animals. Accomplishing this is the result of a well-managed breeding program; taking advantage of the genetic superiority requires that nutrition, health and housing are part of the management program as well. For healthy, potentially high producing replacement animals, the housing environment should provide adequate space for water, feed, resting and exercise. High humidities are especially detrimental to animal health requiring adequate ventilation to remove the moisture produced by the animals themselves. Adequate ventilation also removes other air pollutants so as to maintain suitable air quality.
The Ocean in the School: Pacific Islander Students Transforming Their University: RICK BONUS Durham, Duke University Press, 2020

This book explores how a group of Pacific Islander students in Seattle set out to transform a predominantly white institution that did not value them nearly as much as it tokenised them. How these ...
Dual Tasking during Trip Recovery and Obstacle Clearance among Young, Healthy Adults in Human Factors Research.

Trip-induced falls are extremely common in ergonomic settings. Such situations can lead to fatal or non-fatal injuries, affecting the workers’ quality of life and earning capacity. Dual tasking (DT) is a leading cause of trips and ineffective obstacle clearance among workers. DT increases their attentional demand, challenging both postural control and concurrent secondary tasks. As the human brain has limited attentional processing capacity, even young, healthy adults need to prioritize duties during DT. This article aimed to analyze these secondary task types and their applications in recent trip-related studies conducted on young, healthy adults. An extensive review of the recent trip-related literature was performed to provide a condensed summary of the dual tasks used. In previous trip-related literature, distinct types of secondary tasks were used. The choice of the concurrent task must be made vigilantly depending on the occupation, environmental context, available resources, and feasibility. DT can be used as a tool to train workers on selective attention, which is a lifesaving skill in ergonomic settings, especially in the occupations of roofers, construction workers, or truck drivers. Such training can result in successful obstacle clearance and trip recovery skills, which eventually minimizes the number of falls at the workplace.
PRP for Immune Mediated Alopecias (Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis)

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common cause of non-cicatricial hair loss with a sudden, unpredictable, and recurrent course that is associated with significant psychosocial burden. Current treatment options, such as topical and intralesional corticosteroids, systemic immunosuppression, topical immunotherapy, and Janus Kinase Inhibitors (JAK inhibitors), have been employed with varying success. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells (SCs) have been introduced as minimally invasive, safe treatment options for hair loss, including AA. The literature to date suggests that PRP is comparable to intralesional corticosteroids and topical minoxidil in patchy alopecia areata with trends toward an earlier, more robust, and more sustained response. The in vitro and animal studies regarding the use of stem cells in AA are promising, but more clinical studies are required to understand its full potential as a treatment option for AA.
Anthocyanins in Colorectal Cancer Prevention Review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still a big health burden worldwide. Nutrition and dietary factors are known to affect colorectal cancer development and prognosis. The protective roles of diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been previously reported to contain high levels of cancer-fighting phytochemicals. Anthocyanins are the most abundant flavonoid compounds that are responsible for the bright colors of most blue, purple, and red fruits and vegetables, and have been shown to contribute to the protective effects of fruits and vegetables against cancer and other chronic diseases. Berries and grapes are the most common anthocyanin-rich fruits with antitumor effects. The antitumor effects of anthocyanins are determined by their structures and bioavailability as well as how they are metabolized. In this review, we aimed to discuss the preventive as well as therapeutic potentials of anthocyanins in CRC. We summarized the antitumor effects of anthocyanins and the mechanisms of action. We also discussed the potential pharmaceutical application of anthocyanins in practice.
Development of a reverse genetics system to generate a recombinant Ebola virus Makona expressing a green fluorescent protein.

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated the potential application of reverse genetics technology in studying a broad range of aspects of viral biology, including gene regulation, protein function, cell entry, and pathogenesis. Here, we describe a highly efficient reverse genetics system used to generate recombinant Ebola virus (EBOV) based on a recent isolate from a human patient infected during the 2014–2015 outbreak in Western Africa. We also rescued a recombinant EBOV expressing a fluorescent reporter protein from a cleaved VP40 protein fusion. Using this virus and an inexpensive method to quantitate the expression of the foreign gene, we demonstrate its potential usefulness as a tool for screening antiviral compounds and measuring neutralizing antibodies.
On Risk & Responsibility: Gun Control and the Ethics of Hunting

This article explores gun control and the ethics of hunting and suggests that hunting ought not to be permitted, and not because of its impact on those animals that are hunted, but because of the risk other humans are subjected to as a result of some being permitted to own guns for mere preference satisfaction. This article examines the nature of freedom, its value, and how responsibility for the exercising of that freedom ought to be regarded when it involves subjecting others to a risk of grave bodily harm. A distinction between two kinds of freedom is put forth and it is argued that it would be wrong to sacrifice freedoms of intrinsic worth for freedoms of instrumental worth. Essays Philos (2015)16:217-231 | DOI: 10.7710/1526-0569.1533 Published online: 7 July 2015. © Christopher A. Riddle 2015 Contact author: cariddle@utica.edu Acknowledgement: I would like to thank Robert Halliday, John Johnsen, Chet LoConti, and Luke Perry for helpful suggestions and comments. On Risk & Responsibility | Riddle
Metrics of Quality in Graduate Training.

This commentary, in response to Dixon et al. (Behavior Analysis in Practice, 8, 7–15, 2015), describes difficulties in defining metrics of quality in graduate training for different audiences (types of applicants). Outcome measures are preferred whenever possible, supplemented by subjective but frequently used opinion surveys.
A 30 MIPS VLSI CPU

A description is given of a VLSI CPU which implements an existing 32-b architecture with a set of 140 instructions, most of which can be executed within one effective clock cycle. The device is fabricated in an nMOS process with three metal layers having minimum metal-1 line width of 1.5 mu m and drawn device lengths of 1.7 mu m. The die, containing 183000 transistors, is 1.4 cm*1.4 cm. The CPU directly addresses external SRAMs organized as a two-way set-associative split 512-kb-instruction/512-kb-data cache. Separate instruction and data paths allow for concurrent overlapped cache memory access. Chip specifications are presented, and the CPU data path is shown. >
Photonic spectral density of coupled optical cavities

We study a pair of anharmonic optical cavities that is connected by an optical fiber. The photonic spectral density characterizes the evolution of the coupled cavities after the system has been prepared in a Fock or N00N state. We evaluate the photonic spectral density within the recursive projection method and find that the anharmonicity leads to a collapse of the low-energy spectrum. The level spacing of the remaining spectrum agrees quite well with that of the harmonic cavities, whereas the spectral weights are strongly affected by the anharmonicity.
Studies on the mechanism of fatty acid synthesis: IV. Biosynthesis of long-chain fatty acids in reconstructed system of soluble enzymes from chicken liver

Abstract The preparation and properties of an enzyme system from chicken liver, capable of synthesizing long-chain fatty acids from acetate-1-14C, were described. A soluble extract of liver was resolved into 4 distinct enzymic fractions the combination of which was essential for synthesis. A requirement for ATP, CoA, DPNH, TPN, isocitrate and Mn++ was established. Under these conditions the major product of the synthesis was plamitic acid but appreciable amounts of 14C were also found in lauric and myristic acids.
Quantifying Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quinolones and Examining Their Interactions with Lipids

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a quorum sensing molecule termed the Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone; PQS) that regulates an array of genes involved in virulence. This chapter addresses four related techniques useful for detecting and quantifying PQS. First, extraction of PQS from complex mixtures (e.g. cell cultures) is described. Separation of PQS from extracts by Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) is used in combination with the natural fluorescence of the molecule for quantification. A second separation technique for the PQS precursor HHQ using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is also described, and this assay exploits the molecule’s characteristic absorbance for quantification. A third method for quantification of PQS from simple mixtures (e.g. enzyme assays) using fluorescence is outlined. Finally, a protocol for determining PQS interactions with membrane lipids through Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is presented. These techniques allow for quantification and characterization of PQS from diverse environments, a prerequisite to understanding the biological functions of QS molecules.
Gene structure and transcription in mouse cells with extensively demethylated DNA.

Abstract In previous work, three clonal cell lines with extremely low DNA methylation levels were derived by multiple consecutive treatments of C3H 10T1/2 C18 (10T1/2) cells with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR). In this study we examined the methylation status of genes in these three methyl-deficient clones to assess the specificity of the induced hypomethylation. Complete demethylation of virtually all 5'-CCGG-3' sites was observed in four genes examined, but some sites common to all three clones were persistently methylated even after further exhaustive 5-aza-CdR treatment. Thus, there is a subset of methylation sites within these cells which can never be stably demethylated. The extensive demethylation was not always associated with changes in the level of RNA expression of the genes examined but was strongly correlated with an altered chromatin structure of the unexpressed alpha 1-globin gene and the muscle determination gene MyoD1. These results provide a direct correlation between hypomethylation and the induction of a transcriptionally competent chromatin state.
Pancreatic Stellate Cells (PSCs) express Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and pancreatic cancer stimulates COX-2 in PSCs

Background Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), the inducible form of prostaglandin G/H synthase, is associated with several human cancers including pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a central role in the intense desmoplasia that surrounds pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The present study examined COX-2 expression in PSCs. PSCs isolated from normal rats, were cultured and exposed to conditioned medium (CM) from the human pancreatic cell line, PANC-1.
FPGA Implementation & Acceleration of Building blocks for Biologically Inspired Computational Models

In recent years there has been significant research in the field of computational neuroscience and many of these biologically inspired cognitive models are based on the theory of operation of mammalian visual cortex. One such model of neocortex developed by George & Hawkins, known as Hierarchical Temporal Memories (HTM), is considered for the research discussed here. We propose a simple hierarchical model that is derived from HTM. The aim of this work is to evaluate the hardware cost and performance against software based simulations. This work presents a detailed hardware implementation and analysis of the derived hierarchical model. We show that these networks are inherently parallel in their architecture, similar to the biological computing, and that parallelism can be exploited by massively parallel architectures implemented using reconfigurable devices such as the FPGA. Hardware implementation accelerates the learning process which is useful in many real world problems. We have implemented a complex network node that operates in real time using an FPGA. The current architecture is modular and allows us to estimate the hardware resources and computational units required to realize large scale networks in the future.
Investors' Use of Historical Forecast Bias to Adjust Current Expectations

We explore the extent to which investor response to earnings information differs in the presence of historical bias in earnings forecasts. Overall, the results are consistent with the notion that investors take historical forecast bias into account when interpreting information in earnings announcements and that the market's reaction to forecast errors is larger (less negative) when forecasts are historically more optimistic and suggests that the functional form commonly used in the earnings response literature does not appropriately capture the effect of real unexpected earnings information (i.e., investors' expectation errors as opposed to analysts' forecast errors) on stock returns.
Monoterpene cyclases: Physicochemical features required for pyrophosphate binding determined from inhibition by structural analogs☆

Monoterpene cyclases catalyze the divalent metal ion-dependent conversion of geranyl pyrophosphate, the ubiquitous C10 intermediate of isoprenoid biosynthesis, to a variety of monoterpene skeletons, and the pyrophosphoryl moiety is a primary determinant for substrate binding by these enzymes. To determine what specific features of this functional group are critical for enzymatic recognition, inorganic pyrophosphate and a series of structurally related analogs were examined as inhibitors of geranyl pyrophosphate:(+)-alpha-pinene cyclase and geranyl pyrophosphate:(+)-bornyl pyrophosphate cyclase from sage (Salvia officinalis). Analysis of trends in the magnitude of inhibition by the analogs relative to inorganic pyrophosphate indicated that the combination of ionization state (formal charge) at the enzymatic pH optimum, ability to chelate divalent metal ions, and intramolecular flexibility is required for effective interaction with both cyclases. Only when all of these criteria are met is inhibition of cyclization comparable to that observed with inorganic pyrophosphate.
Foraging benefits and limited niche overlap promote a mixed species association between two solitary species of spider.

Mixed species associations are of general importance because of the diversity of ecological relations they can represent (e.g., mutualisms, commensalisms, exploitative relationships). We test for a non-random association between two normally solitary species of spider, the black widow ( Latrodectus mactans ) and the orchard spider ( Leucage venusta ). We use field observations comparing solitary and associated individuals of both species to elucidate what effect the association has on prey capture. We then evaluate what influence the association has on prey consumption, as inferred from change in body mass after a reciprocal removal experiment. From our field census we confirm that these species associate non-randomly in wild populations; furthermore, we failed to detect a difference in the number or kinds of prey which hit solitary and associated webs of either species, suggesting the association is not merely an aggregation to microhabitats which afford higher prey availability. Our observational data on prey capture indicate the association serves to increase the capture efficiency of Le. venusta , in part through ricocheted prey, but we failed to detect a prey capture effect for La. mactans . The results of our reciprocal removal experiment suggest the relationship is a commensalism: benefiting Le. venusta and leaving La. mactans unaffected.
An Investigation of Motivation to Transfer Second Language Learning

Research on motivation in second language (L2) education has tended to focus on learning; this study took an alternative perspective, examining students' motivation to transfer L2 learning. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 40 students who were enrolled in several sections of a university English-for-academic-purposes (EAP) writing course and who were concurrently taking other academic courses in various disciplines. The interviews focused on whether students were motivated to transfer learning from the EAP course to their other courses and what factors influenced this motivation. Analysis of the interview data indicated that true motivation to transfer (i.e., a combination of desire, favorable attitudes, and effort) was rare. The factors that influenced these students' motivation to transfer learning from the EAP course to their other courses fell into eight categories (e.g., perceptions of opportunity for transfer; personal beliefs about transfer). Implications of these findings for theory, practice, and future research related to L2 transfer motivation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
FDG PET characterization of renal masses: preliminary experience.

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the potential efficacy of fluorine-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxy- d -glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) to detect renal tumours and to characterize indeterminate renal cysts. Subjects and methods: Twenty-six PET scans were performed in 21 patients (14 PET scans in 10 patients with malignant renal tumours and 12 PET scans in 11 patients with Bosniak type 3 indeterminate renal cysts). Pathological proof was obtained in 18 of 21 patients (10 with solid neoplasms, eight with indeterminate cysts). Imaging was performed 1 h after injection of 5–10 mCi of FDG with IV administration of Lasix (10 mg) 20 mins after injection. Two consecutive 9.7-cm image segments were scanned to cover the entire renal areas. Results: PET accurately depicted solid neoplasms as areas of increased uptake in nine of 10 patients. Bilateral renal cell carcinomas were missed in one diabetic patient. All but one indeterminate renal cysts were correctly classified as benign (photopenic areas), but an indeterminate cyst with a 4-mm papillary neoplasm was wrongly classified as benign. There were no false positive PET interpretations. The mean tumour-to-kidney ratio was 3.0 for malignant lesions. Conclusion: We conclude that FDG PET scanning shows promise in the evaluation of indeterminate renal cysts. A positive PET scan in the appropriate clinical setting obviates the need for cyst aspiration. A negative PET scan in conjunction with a negative cyst aspiration offers confirmatory evidence of benignity. Our preliminary results are encouraging and further work is ongoing.
An improvement to an analog-to-digital converter for differential transducers

An improvement to a paper recently published (see ibid., vol.IM-28, no.3, p.216, 1979) is described. The original paper shows how a quantity, measured by a pair of differential resistive transducers can be converted into a time interval by incorporating the transducers in the integrator of a dual-slope analogue-to-digital converter. Offset error is measured by using two dual-slope cycles. The improvement shows how the calculation of the offset can be avoided if the reference time of the dual-slope cycles is modified in accordance with previous measurements.
Numerical and experimental studies of mixing characteristics in a T-junction microchannel using residence-time distribution

Abstract The mixing behavior in laminar flow in microchannels is investigated using numerical and experimental approaches. The concept of residence-time distribution (RTD) was applied to indirectly characterize flow and mixing in a T-junction microchannel chosen as a model microchannel mixer/reactor. The residence-time distribution used in this study, although a well-known method for characterizing mixing behavior in conventional macro mixers/reactors, is still a novel measure for the characterization of mixing in microchannels. The standard T-junction microchannel and one of its modifications were studied for their mixing characteristics by performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of pulse tracer experiments. Experimentally, RTD measure in conjunction with a UV–vis absorption spectroscopy detection technique was used to characterize flow and mixing quality in the microchannels studied. The moments of the RTD and coefficient of variation were used to quantify the mixing behavior. Two flow models, namely the well-known axial dispersion model (ADM) and a semi-empirical model (SEM), were used to obtain model descriptions for the RTD of the microchannel. As expected, the SEM fits better the experimental data than the ADM since the SEM with its characteristic asymmetric distribution predicts better the strong laminar flow behavior in the microchannels than the ADM. The results from the simulations and experiments are in very good agreement thus establishing the validity of the mathematical model and the associated solution algorithm implemented in the CFD simulations. The CFD code in conjunction with the RTD measure can then be used as a predictive tool in the design, evaluation, and optimization of microscale flow systems.
Comparison between failure sequence and failure path for brittle systems

Abstract For classes of structures with discrete members, such as trusses and frames, system failure is generally expressed in terms of component failures. The components are presumed to be ‘two-state’ members, i.e., either fail or safe. Furthermore, for such systems, it is convenient to use a failure tree to represent the various combinations of component failures that will lead to system failure. Search strategies are then developed to search the failure tree for the dominant modes of the system. As part of the strategy the probability of occurrence of a failure mode is evaluated. The exact method of evaluating such probabilities is called the failure sequence formulation. Alternatively, an approximate method called the failure path formulation has been used widley. A comparison between the failure path formulation to the failure sequence formulation is considered. The implications of the differences of the two formulations on the result of search strategies are discussed.
Novel codon-optimized mini-intronic plasmid for efficient, inexpensive, and xeno-free induction of pluripotency

The development of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has revolutionized the regenerative medicine field. This technology provides a powerful tool for disease modeling and drug screening approaches. To circumvent the risk of random integration into the host genome caused by retroviruses, non-integrating reprogramming methods have been developed. However, these techniques are relatively inefficient or expensive. The mini-intronic plasmid (MIP) is an alternative, robust transgene expression vector for reprogramming. Here we developed a single plasmid reprogramming system which carries codon-optimized (Co) sequences of the canonical reprogramming factors (Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and c-Myc) and short hairpin RNA against p53 ("4-in-1 CoMiP"). We have derived human and mouse iPSC lines from fibroblasts by performing a single transfection. Either independently or together with an additional vector encoding for LIN28, NANOG, and GFP, we were also able to reprogram blood-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into iPSCs. Taken together, the CoMiP system offers a new highly efficient, integration-free, easy to use, and inexpensive methodology for reprogramming. Furthermore, the CoMIP construct is color-labeled, free of any antibiotic selection cassettes, and independent of the requirement for expression of the Epstein-Barr Virus nuclear antigen (EBNA), making it particularly beneficial for future applications in regenerative medicine.
Interaction between Foxc1 and Fgf8 during mammalian jaw patterning and in the pathogenesis of syngnathia.

Syngnathia (bony fusion of the upper and lower jaw) is a rare human congenital condition, with fewer than sixty cases reported in the literature. Syngnathia typically presents as part of a complex syndrome comprising widespread oral and maxillofacial anomalies, but it can also occur in isolation. Most cartilage, bone, and connective tissue of the head and face is derived from neural crest cells. Hence, congenital craniofacial anomalies are often attributed to defects in neural crest cell formation, survival, migration, or differentiation. The etiology and pathogenesis of syngnathia however remains unknown. Here, we report that Foxc1 null embryos display bony syngnathia together with defects in maxillary and mandibular structures, and agenesis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In the absence of Foxc1, neural crest cell derived osteogenic patterning is affected, as osteoblasts develop ectopically in the maxillary prominence and fuse with the dentary bone. Furthermore, we observed that the craniofacial musculature is also perturbed in Foxc1 null mice, which highlights the complex tissue interactions required for proper jaw development. We present evidence that Foxc1 and Fgf8 genetically interact and that Fgf8 dosage is associated with variation in the syngnathic phenotype. Together our data demonstrates that Foxc1 – Fgf8 signaling regulates mammalian jaw patterning and provides a mechanistic basis for the pathogenesis of syngnathia. Furthermore, our work provides a framework for understanding jaw patterning and the etiology of other congenital craniofacial anomalies, including temporomandibular joint agenesis.
Renormalization group equation and non-perturbative effects in string-field theory

Abstract We derive the renormalization group equation for string field theory and show that it implies the Batalin-Vilkovisky equation and the factorization equations of first quantized string theory. We solve the renormalization group equation to obtain a non-perturbative expression for the vacuum energy. We also discuss mass shifts.
Release of Theophylline from Ethyl Cellulose Mecrocapsues Alone and in Conjuction with Fat Embedded (Precirol®) Granules and Hydroxypropyl Methycellulose

AbstractMicrocapsules of theophylline with ethyl cellulose were prepared by coacervation technique using cabosil® (silicon dioxide) as separant. Tablets were prepared from microcapsules, microcapsules + theophylline fat embedded granules, and microcapsules and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 4000 (HPMC). Release was studied in vitro by the rotating basket method. Prolonged release of theophylline was observed from microcapsules with no drug dumping. The release from microcapsules was of first-order whereas that from all the tablet formulation was diffusion controlled according to the Higuchi model. Good correlation was found between release rate and core:wall ratio for all the systems. Decrease in hardness of tablets made from microcapsules alone decreased the release rate, indicating damage of microcapsules during compression. The tablets compressed from fat embedded granules, microcapsules with fat embedded granules, and microcapsules with HPMC gave a desired release for a 74 hour sustained release prepar...
Electromigration in VLSI of thin film interconnects

On a piece of silicon chip of the size of a fingernail, we can make hundreds of millions of transistors. The chip is the building block of modern microelectronic devices and computers. To function together, the transistors must be interconnected by ultra-fine aluminum or copper thin film wires having a diameter of less than one hundredth of our hair. These wires are called interconnects and carry a very high electric current density during device operation. The high current density can cause atomic displacement in the wire and lead to void (open) and extrusion (short) formation. The displacement is called electromigration and it is the most serious and persistent reliability problem of microelectronic devices and computers. The interconnects are 3-dimensional and are insulated by ultra-thin dielectric. The insulation induces thermal stress between the wire and the dielectric. The 3-dimentional structure induces current crowding when the interconnect turns, which enhances electromigration. In this proceedings paper, we review briefly what is new about electromigration in Cu interconnects.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Generalized Synthesis of Nonlinear Springs for Prescribed Load-Displacement Functions

A spring’s nonlinear load-displacement function is described by three factors, the (i) shape function, (ii) load-range, and (iii) displacement-range. The shape function encompasses the nonlinear relationship between the load and displacement, and therefore, is the most difficult factor to match. In this paper, we present a general scheme for topology, size, and shape optimization of nonlinear springs for prescribed load–displacement shape functions, while simultaneously meeting manufacturing, space, and stress constraints. This paper presents the objective function and a novel, floating point parametric model used within a genetic algorithm optimization scheme. The nonlinear springs all undergo large deformations and are evaluated by nonlinear finite element analysis. Two examples are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology in synthesizing nonlinear springs that match a prescribed load-displacement shape function.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Approximation and application of the Musiela stochastic PDE in forward rate models

In this article, we consider the Musiela equation of forward rates, which is a hyperbolic stochastic partial differential equation. A weak formulation of the problem using the streamline upwind Petrov–Galerkin method is analysed. Error analysis of the method yields estimates for the convergence rates. Computational examples are provided that illustrate not only the discretization methods used, but the type of results relevant to bond pricing that can be obtained from the equation.
Individual Differences in Concurrent Performance of Gunner's and Robotic Operator's Tasks:

In this study, we simulated a military mounted environment and conducted an experiment to examine the workload and performance of the combined position of gunner and robotic operator and how individual difference factors such as perceived attentional control and spatial ability were related to the task performance. Results showed that gunner's target detection performance degraded significantly when he or she had to concurrently monitor, manage, or teleoperate an unmanned ground vehicle compared to the gunnery-single task condition. Those with higher spatial ability performed significantly better than those with lower spatial ability. Participants with higher perceived attentional control performed better on a concurrent communication task in the more challenging robotic task conditions. Participants' perceived attentional control was negatively correlated with the severity of their simulator sickness but not with their perceived workload.
Temperature changes associated with nerve excitation: detection by using polyvinylidene fluoride film.

Summary By using a pyroelectric film made of stretched and poled polyvinylidene fluoride, a small, fast rise in the temperature of the crustacean nerve associated with nerve excitation was detected.