cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA regulation of lipid metabolism

MicroRNAs are structural components of an epigenetic mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation of messenger RNA translation. Recently, there is significant interest in the application of microRNA as a blood-based biomarker of underlying physiologic conditions, and the therapeutic administration of microRNA inhibitors and mimics. The purpose of this review is to describe the current body of knowledge on microRNA regulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism, and to introduce the role of microRNA in development and progression of atherosclerosis.
GENDER IDENTITY EXPANSION AND NEGOTIATION IN THE TOXIC WASTE MOVEMENT

Symbolic interactionism contends that identities are contextual, negotiated, shifting, and potentially transformed through activism. The research presented here suggests that gender identities of s...
Transformations for Imperfectly Nested Loops

Loop transformations are critical for compiling high-performance code for modern computers. Existing work has focused on transformations for perfectly nested loops (that is, loops in which all assignment statements are contained within the innermost loop of a loop nest). In practice, most loop nests, such as those in matrix factorization codes, are imperfectly nested. In some programs, imperfectly nested loops can be transformed into perfectly nested loops by loop distribution, but this is not always legal. In this paper, we present an approach to transforming imperfectly nested loops directly. Our approach is an extension of the linear loop transformation framework for perfectly nested loops, and it models permutation, reversal, skewing, scaling, alignment, distribution and jamming. We also give a completion procedure which generates a complete transformation from a partial transformation.
Effects of pH and polyvalent cations on the selective permeability of gall-bladder epithelium to monovalent ions.

1. 1. From the effect of pH on KCl diffusion potentials an effective titration curve is obtained for the membrane charges controlling ion selectivity in gall-bladder epithelium. The epithelium behaves as if it is negatively charged at physiological pH (K+ and Na+ more permeant than Cl−), has an isoelectric point near pH 3, and is positively charged at lower pH (Cl− more permeant than K+ or Na+). This inversion of selectivity at low pH is completely reversible. 2. 2. The positive charges responsible for selective permeability to Cl− at low pH react with 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. 3. 3. The relative potencies of 17 polyvalent cations in increasing PCl/PNa are compared, where P stands for relative permeability coefficients of the ions indicated. 4. 4. Low pH and high Ca2+ concn. both decrease cation conductance and increase anion conductance. 5. 5. Protonation of membrane charges also affects selectivity among alkali cations: PCs/PNa inverts, and PK/PNa decreases, at low pH. 6. 6. The results are related to theories analysing inter-cation specificity in terms of the field strength of membrane charged groups.
Brain anomalies in velo-cardio-facial syndrome

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in 11 consecutively referred patients with velo-cardiofacial syndrome (VCF) showed anomalies in nine cases including small vermis, cysts adjacent to the frontal horns, and small posterior fossa. Focal signal hyperintensities in the white matter on long TR images were also noted. The nine patients showed a variety of behavioral abnormalities including mild developmental delay, learning disabilities, and characteristic personality traits typical of this common multiple anomaly syndrome which has been related to a microdeletion at 22q11. Analysis of the behavioral findings showed no specific pattern related to the brain anomalies, and the patients with VCF who did not have detectable brain lesions also had behavioral abnormalities consistent with VCF. The significance of the lesions is not yet known, but the high prevalence of anomalies in this sample suggests that structural brain abnormalities are probably common in VCF.
Mitral Valve Replacement in Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is an eosinophil-mediated tissue injury causing multiple organ failure. Cardiac manifestations include subendocardial fibrosis, thrombus leading to peripheral emboli, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and valvar dysfunction. This article describes a patient with the syndrome and reviews surgical experience with valve replacement and long-term prognosis.
Are Antidepressant Drugs That Combine Serotonergic and Noradrenergic Mechanisms of Action More Effective Than the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Treating Major Depressive Disorder? A Meta-analysis of Studies of Newer Agents

Background Recent studies suggest that the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) with newer antidepressant drugs that simultaneously enhance norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmission might result in higher response and remission rates than the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The goal of our work was to compare response rates among patients with MDD treated with either of these two broad categories of antidepressant drugs. Methods Medline/Pubmed, EMBase, clinical trial registries, program syllabi from major psychiatric meetings held since 1995, and documents from relevant pharmaceutical companies were searched for double-blind, randomized trials comparing a newer serotonergic-noradrenergic antidepressant drug (venlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran, mirtazapine, mianserin, or moclobemide) with an SSRI for MDD. Results Ninety-three trials ( n = 17,036) were combined using a random-effects model. Treatment with serotonergic + noradrenergic antidepressant drugs was more likely to result in clinical response than the SSRIs (risk ratio [RR] = 1.059; response rates 63.6% versus 59.3%; p = .003). There was no evidence for heterogeneity among studies combined ( p = 1.0). Excluding each individual agent did not significantly alter the pooled RR. With the exception of duloxetine (.985), RRs for response for each individual serotonergic + noradrenergic antidepressant drug were within the 95% confidence interval of the pooled RR (1.019–1.101). Conclusions Serotonergic-noradrenergic antidepressant drugs seem to have a modest efficacy advantage compared with SSRIs in MDD. With the Number Needed to Treat (NNT) statistic as one indicator of clinical significance, nearly 24 patients would need to be treated with dual-action antidepressant drugs instead of SSRIs in order to obtain one additional responder. This difference falls well below the mark of NNT=10 suggested by the United Kingdom's National Institute of Clinical Excellence but nonetheless might be of public health relevance given the large number of depressed patients treated with SSRI /serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant drugs. Further research is needed to examine whether larger differences between classes of antidepressant drugs might exist in specific MDD sub-populations or for specific MDD symptoms.
Character, Social-Emotional, and Academic Outcomes among Underachieving Elementary School Students.

One purpose of this research was to examine the psychometric properties of a character assessment scale (the Character Assessment for School Age Children; CASAC) based on 6 pillars of character (Josephson Institute, 2009). Many youth development and character education programs utilize some, if not all, of the pillars of character explicitly or implicitly (e.g., Prestwich, 2004), yet few character assessments integrate these components in a comprehensive way (e.g., Character Education Partnership [CEP], 2008). Furthermore, as many of these programs have been utilized to augment academic achievement, emphasis on the importance of formative evaluation has increased (e.g., Berkowitz & Bier, 2004; Zins, Bloodworth, Weissberg, & Walberg, 2004). Hence, a brief assessment of character that is also predictive of academic achievement among underachieving students would be useful as a formative evaluation tool. A second purpose was to examine the significance of character and other social–emotional indexes in predi...
George Seber: A statistical ecology pioneer and scientist par excellence

George Seber was born in Sydney, Australia, on April 6, 1938, and moved to New Zealand when he was 7 years old. He took his bachelor's and master's degrees at Auckland University and then continued his graduate studies under a Commonwealth Scholarship at Manchester University, England, in 1960. After completing a Ph.D. in Statistics there in 1963, he spent 2 years as an Assistant Lecturer in Statistics at the London School of Economics. While in Manchester, John Darroch interested him in capture-recapture models. In 1965, two independent papers in Biometrika by the two Georges (Jolly and Seber) introduced to the world the Jolly-Seber open capture-recapture model (Jolly 1965; Seber 1965). In 1965, George returned to New Zealand and joined the Auckland University Mathematics Department. In 1971, he was invited to a personal Chair in Biometrics at the University of Otago, but he later returned to Auckland in 1973 to take up the first Chair in Statistics and the Headship of a newly created Statistics Unit within the Mathematics Department. In 1972, the first edition of The Estimation of Animal Abundance was published and, as we shall see later, this had a profound influence on the field. His reputation as a scientist of great distinction was established. Seber has published many papers from 1962 until the present. He has taught and mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students. Writing eight books covering many areas of statistics has been a major occupation throughout his career. He was involved with establishing a new Department of Statistics at Auckland University in 1994. He has received many honors and was recently awarded the Hector medal by the Royal Society of New Zealand. His current research interests are in adaptive sampling, methods of estimating
Stackelberg in the lab: The effect of group decision making and “Cooling-off” periods

Abstract The Stackelberg duopoly is a fundamental model of sequential output competition. The equilibrium outcome of the model results in a first-mover advantage where the first-moving firm produces more output, and earns larger profits, relative to the second-moving firm. Huck et al., 2001 , Huck and Wallace, 2002 test the Stackelberg duopoly in a lab setting and find that behavior is largely inconsistent with the equilibrium predictions of the model. We hypothesize that this inconsistency is a result of differences between the decision making environment implemented in the lab and firm environments in the field. In this paper, we experimentally investigate whether group decision making and a decision “cooling-off” period lead to more profit maximizing Stackelberg behavior in the lab. Specifically, we re-test the Stackelberg duopoly in the lab while implementing (i) two-person decision making groups, and (ii) a 10-min cooling-off period for second movers. In line with the previous studies, we find that second-mover response behavior is largely inconsistent with profit maximization. Furthermore, the implementation of groups and a cooling-off period has little effect on second-mover behavior. However, we find that group first-movers choose significantly lower output levels than individuals. While further from the equilibrium prediction, we show that these lower output choices by groups are more in-line with profit maximizing behavior, conditional on the non-profit maximizing response behavior of second-movers.
Sphingosine effects on the contractile behavior of skinned cardiac myocytes.

Abstract Sphingosine modulates myocytes beating behavior by acting on the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release channel, the ryanodine receptor. Chemically skinned myocytes isolated from adult rabbit ventricles exhibited spontaneous asynchonous contractions in response to micromolar levels of calcium. These cells do not have a functional sarcolemma but exhibit spontaneous contraction-relaxation cycles which are controlled by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The intracellular second messenger, sphingosine, significantly reduced myocytes beat frequency in a biphasic manner with an IC 50 of c. 0.5 μM. A computerized video-enhancement micrography system was used to determine the effect of sphingosine on sarcomere contractile parameters and to determine the potential source of the altered beating behavior produced by sphingosine. Contraction parameters related to sarcomere shortening were unaffected by sphingosine in the submicromolar range, suggesting that sphingosine had no effect on the contractile machinery itself. However submicromolar sphingosine had a significant inhibitory effect on the spread of activation from sarcomere to sarcomere in these cells. Activation waves were propagated with an average velocity of 331 and 199 μ/s in control and sphingosine (0.58 μM) treated cells, respectively. Permeabilized myocyte calcium uptake was markedly increased by treatment with sphingosine, consistent with an inhibitory effect of sphingosine on sarcoplasmic calcium release. Sphingosine blocked calcium-induced calcium release from isolated cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes containing the ryanodine receptor. The results suggest that the site of sphingosine action on calcium signaling and beating behavior in the cardiac cell is the sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptor. By inhibiting channel opening sphingosine may increase the calcium threshold necessary to trigger calcium-induced calcium release, thus modulating cardiac excitation-contraction coupling.
Development of a Wavelet Analytical Tool for Isolating and Evaluating Cavitation-Induced Hemolysis Generated During Mechanical Heart Valve Closure

Cavitation formed during the closure of mechanical heart valves (MHVs) can harm nearby blood cells and valve surfaces. In this study we focus on an approach to accurately measure cavitation energy in order to compare the effectiveness of replacement valves. Cavitation energy is difficult to measure acoustically because it is masked by other pressure fluctuations in the body or system. To improve upon currently used analytical techniques, a wavelet isolation technique was developed to quantify cavitation energy. With this method, acoustic signals captured by a hydrophone are decomposed, denoised, and then reconstructed. Wavelet analysis should prove to be particularly valuable in vivo, where visual evidence of cavitation cannot be obtained.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Direct intracellular measurement of non-linear postreceptor transfer functions in dark and light adaptation in Limulus

Abstract Using one microelectrode inserted into a Limulus retinular cell, simultaneous recordings were made of the receptor potential evoked by light falling on that retinular cell and of the optic nerve action potentials generated in the eccentric cell coupled to that retinular cell. The postreceptor transfer function for sensory quantity was thereby examined directly between the retinular cell receptor potential and the eccentric cell action potentials over a more extended range than had been reported in previous studies. This transfer function exhibited a strong non-linearity; the function had 3 discrete linear segments. It is similar to the function relating extrinsic current to spike frequency in cat motoneuron. Light adaptation induced a shift of the transfer function. There were certain phenomenological similarities between the effect of light adaptation on the receptor and postreceptor transfer functions. But there were also enough dissimilarities to suggest that the mechanism of postreceptor adaptation is different than the receptor adaptation mechanism.
Partial purification and characterization of erythropoietin receptors from erythroid progenitor cells.

Abstract We have partially purified and characterized erythropoietin (Epo) receptors of erythroid progenitor cells which were obtained from the spleens of anemia-inducing Friend virus infected mice. Membrane proteins of splenic erythroid progenitor cells were solubilized with 1% Triton X-102. Upon chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel anion-exchange columns, two distinct Epo receptor peak fractions referred to as Peak I and Peak II were identified by 125 I-Epo binding assays using the polyethylene glycol precipitation method. The Peak I and Peak II samples were then individually chromatographed on an S-Sepharose column. The S-Sepharose-purified Peak I and Peak II samples were crosslinked with 125 I-Epo in the presence and absence of excess unlabeled Epo by disuccinimidyl suberate treatment, and then analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and autoradiography. Both Peak I and Peak II samples showed a radiolabeled peptide with a M r 135K and the labeling was blocked by excess unlabeled Epo. Since the M r of Epo is about 35K, Epo receptor peptide has a M r approximately 100K. To determine whether Epo stimulates autophosphorylation of the receptors, the S-Sepharosepurified Peak I and Peak II samples were incubated with or without Epo, and then briefly incubated in the presence of [γ- 32 P]ATP and Mn 2+ . The tyrosine residue phosphorylated protein was isolated by an immuno-chemical technique, and then analyzed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. The result showed that Epo stimulates phosphorylation of a 100-kDa peptide.
Drug prevention in junior high: A multi-site longitudinal test

Results from a longitudinal experiment to curb drug use during junior high indicate that education programs based on a social-influence model can prevent or reduce young adolescents' use of cigarettes and marijuana. This multi-site experiment involved the entire seventh-grade cohort of 30 junior high schools drawn from eight urban, suburban, and rural communities in California and Oregon. Implemented between 1984 and 1986, the curriculum's impact was assessed at 3-, 12-, and 15-month follow-ups. The program, which had positive results for both low- and high-risk students, was equally successful in schools with high and low minority enrollment. However, the program did not help previously confirmed smokers and its effects on adolescent drinking were short-lived.
Differential Solubilization of γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Receptive Sites from Membranes of Mammalian Brain

Sodium-dependent (+Na) and sodium-independent (-Na) receptive sites for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) residing in or on frozen synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) of bovine cerebral cortex were characterized as to binding constants, pharmacologic specificities, and sodium dependence. The SPM fraction was then treated with various concentrations of Triton X-100 resulting in the loss of pharmacologic specificity, binding characteristics, and sodium dependence associated with +Na GABA receptive sites in SPM. The resulting junctional complex preparation (JC), i.e., a fraction enriched in junctional complexes, possessed only the pharmacologic specificity and binding constants associated with -Na receptive sites whether assayed in the presence or absence of 100 mM-NaCl. This is probably due to the detergent dispersal or solubilization of the +Na GABA receptive site. The binding constants, KD and Bmax, for -Na GABA binding in SPM were 170 nM and 4.4 pmol/mg protein, while in JC they were 186 nM and 3.7 pmol/mg protein. Under repeated washing the KD was reduced to 60 +/- 6.9 nM and the Bmax was reduced to 2.5 +/- 0.5 pmol/mg protein in JC, probably owing to the removal of endogenous ligand or inhibitor, and not to inhibition by residual Triton X-100. Multiple extraction with 0.1% or 0.5% Triton X-100 did not alter the KD or Bmax values for the binding of [3H]GABA to JC. Sodium-independent GABA binding was lost from JC membranes with the use of sodium deoxycholate, probably through solubilization.
Respiratory modulation of lingual muscle activity across sleep-wake states in rats.

In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, inspiratory activation (IA) of lingual muscles protects the upper airway from collapse. We aimed to determine when rats’ lingual muscles exhibit IA. In 5 Sprague-Dawley and 3 Wistar rats, we monitored cortical EEG and lingual, diaphragmatic and nuchal electromyograms (EMGs), and identified segments of records when lingual EMG exhibited IA. Individual segments lasted 2.4–269 s (median: 14.5 s), most (89%) occurred during slow-wave sleep (SWS), and they collectively occupied 0.3–6.1% of the total recording time. IA usually started to increase with a delay after SWS onset and ended with an arousal, or declined prior to rapid eye movement sleep. IA of lingual EMG was not accompanied by increased diaphragmatic activity or respiratory rate changes, but occurred when cortical EEG power was particularly low in a low beta-1 frequency range (12.5–16.4 Hz). A deep SWS-related activation of upper airway muscles may be an endogenous phenomenon designed to protect the upper airway against collapse.
Genetic Association between Dopamine Transporter Protein Alleles and Cocaine-Induced Paranoia

Genetic Association between Dopamine Transporter Protein Alleles and Cocaine-Induced Paranoia
Studies on synthesis and structure of virus-coded low molecular weight RNA in adenovirus type 2-infected KB cells

Abstract Three new virus-coded low molecular weight RNA species which migrate slightly faster on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels than virus-associated (VA) RNA were isolated from KB cells late after productive infection with adenovirus type 2. All three species are synthesized in quantities much smaller than VA RNA. The relative rates of labeling of the three species differ at different times after infection. The base composition of the three novel RNA molecules differs among themselves and is different from that of VA RNA. The structure of the minor RNA species with migration most different from that of VA RNA was studied in detail. Its T 1 ribonuclease oligonucleotide map resembles the map of VA RNA but is not identical. It has a different 3′ end from VA RNA and is missing several T 1 oligonucleotides present in our VA RNA. It contains some T 1 oligonucleotides not present in VA RNA.
Bursty traffic over CDMA: predictive MAI temporal structure, rate control and admission control

We study data communications for the downlink in code-division-multiple-access (CDMA) networks. The focus of this paper is to exploit the predictive temporal structure of the multi-access interference (MAI) for adaptive resource allocation, particularly for rate control and admission control. We also investigate the impact of fading and traffic burstiness on the system performance. We first present our result that when the input data traffic corresponds to multiple ON-OFF heavy tailed sources, the MAI process is asymptotically self-similar (with Hurst parameter 1/2 < H < 1). Thus the MAI has a non-trivial predictive temporal structure that enables accurate interference prediction. We exploit the predictive MAI structure to construct a multiple time-scale interference predictor. Rate adaptation is carried out based on the predicted interference level. Our numerical results show that this rate control scheme achieves significantly better performance than that using the packet-level MAI prediction only. We also devise a joint rate control and admission control scheme. To this end, we propose a sliding observation window scheme that has a two-tier flavor: Each observation window is divided into many time slots, rate control based on the interference prediction is conducted in each slot, and the corresponding throughput in the observation window is used for admission control accordingly.
Operator — Stable distributions with independent marginals

Let Μ be a full operator-stable probability measure over a finite dimensional real inner product space V. Necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for Μ to have independent univariate marginals with respect to some basis of V. These essentially amount to the statement that the support of the Levy spectral measure is a subset of the union of one-dimensional subspaces of V determined by the vectors in a basis of the subspace of V spanned by the support of the non-Gaussian component. A representation for an exponent of such a Μ is also given.
Biphasic effect of norepinephrine in the regulation of hepatic tyrosine transaminase activity.

Abstract Norepinephrine injection is associated with a biphasic response of heptatic tyrosine transaminase (tyrosine aminotransferase, l -tyrosine: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase EC 2.6.1.5) activity in the adrenalectomized and hypophysectomized rat. After an initial increase, enzyme activity falls below control levels. The increase in tyrosine transaminase activity is blocked by cycloheximide but not actinomycin D, ergotamine tartrate, or propranalol. Depression of tyrosine transaminase activity by norepinephrine is maximal at night when enzyme activity normally rises to peak levels, resulting in a suppression of the circadian enzyme rhythm. The decreased activity at night occurs without prior induction, indicating the independence of these two effects of norepinephrine. Evidence suggesting that norepinephrine depresses tyrosine transaminase activity by competing with apoenzyme for the pyridoxal-5′-phosphate cofactor is presented. These observations indicate that a regulator molecule may have multiple effects on an enzyme system varying not only with dosage but with time of administration.
Solubility of nitrogen in binary III–V systems

Abstract A version of the valance-force-field (VFF) model has been developed specifically for the calculation of the nitrogen solubility in conventional III–V binary compounds. At very low N concentrations, i.e., in the dilute limit, the atoms surrounding the N are allowed to relax. It is found that the energy due to bond stretching and bond bending is lowered and the solubility limit is increased substantially when both sublattices are allowed to relax to distances as large as the sixth nearest neighbor positions. Using this model, the equilibrium mole fraction of N in GaP was calculated to be 6 × 10 −7 cm −3 at 700°C, which agrees with experimental data and closely approximates the results of the semi-empirical delta-lattice parameter model. It is more than three orders of magnitude larger than the result obtained using the simplest VFF model with relaxation of only the first neighbor bonds. Other nitride systems such as GaAsN, AlPN, AlAsN, InPN, and InAsN were investigated as well. The equilibrium mole fraction of nitrogen in InAs is the highest (about 0.002 at 700°C). A miscibility gap is also predicted for the commercially important GaInN system.
Remote monitoring of inhaled bronchodilator use and weekly feedback about asthma management: an open-group, short-term pilot study of the impact on asthma control

Objective: Adequate symptom control is a problem for many people with asthma. We asked whether weekly email reports on monitored use of inhaled, short-acting bronchodilators might improve scores on composite asthma-control measures. Methods: Through an investigational electronic medication sensor attached to each participant’s inhaler, we monitored 4 months’ use of inhaled, short-acting bronchodilators. Participants completed surveys, including the Asthma Control Test TM (ACT), to assess asthma control at entry and monthly thereafter. After the first month, participants received weekly email reports for 3 months. The reports summarized inhaled bronchodilator use during the preceding week and provided suggestions derived from National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines. Paired t-tests and random-effects mixed models were implemented to assess changes in primary asthma endpoints. Results: Thirty individuals participated in the 4-month study; 29 provided complete asthma control information. Mean age was 36.8 years (range: 19–74 years); 52% of respondents were female. Mean ACT scores were 17.6 (Standard Deviation [SD] =3.35) at entry and 18.4 (SD=3.60) at completion of the first month. No significant difference appeared between ACT values at entry and completion of the first month (p=0.66); however, after participants began receiving email reports and online information about their inhaler use, mean ACT scores increased 1.40 points (95% CI: 0.61, 2.18) for each subsequent study month. Significant decreases occurred in 2-week histories of daytime symptoms (b= 21.35, 95% CI: 22.65, 20.04) and nighttime symptoms (b= 20.84, 95% CI: 21.25, 20.44); no significant change in activity limitation (b= 20.21, 95% CI: 20.69, 0.26) was observed. Participants reported increased awareness and understanding of asthma patterns, level of control, bronchodilator use (timing, location) and triggers, and improved preventive practices. Conclusions: Weekly email reports and access to online charts summarizing remote monitoring of inhaled bronchodilator frequency and location were associated with improved asthma control and a decline in day-to-day asthma symptoms.
BANK-LENDING “MANIAS” IN THEORY AND HISTORY*

A popular view of banking crises sees them as consequences of prior bank lending “manias.” Such manias are supposed to be especially likely in legally unrestricted banking systems, where banks can issue notes and are not subject to statutory reserve requirements. Here it is argued that the bank lending mania hypothesis (1) exaggerates the role of subjective factors, including bankers' “confidence” or “optimism,” as a stimulus to bank lending, and (2) is not supported by evidence from past, legally unrestricted banking systems.
Stiffness Transfer Matrix Method (STMM) for stable dispersion curves solution in anisotropic composites

This paper discusses combined transfer matrix method (TMM) with stiffness matrix method (SMM) for obtaining a stable solution for dispersion curves of Lamb wave propagation in non-isotropic layers. TMM developed by Thomson and Haskell experiences numerical deficiency at high frequency thickness simulations. SMM was proposed by different researchers to solve the instability issue of TMM. This study shows that stable SMM is good at high frequencies, and TMM needs to be combined with SMM to obtain stable and robust behavior over the frequency range. Numerical simulations of dispersion curves are presented for wave propagation in orthotropic unidirectional fiber composites and cross ply composites. The paper ends with conclusions and future work.
Deuterium retention and release from highly irradiated annealed tungsten after exposure to a deuterium DC glow discharge

Samples from tungsten rods irradiated by 800 MeV protons in the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center have been used in experiments to study the effects of radiation damage and annealing on the retention of hydrogen isotopes. These samples were annealed and then exposed to deuterium ions using a DC glow discharge. Following exposure, the samples were subjected to a linear temperature ramp from ∼300 to ∼1500 K, and the offgas analyzed by mass spectrometry. The results indicate that annealing to a temperature of only 1273 K for 6 h effectively removed all irradiation-produced traps, and that hydrogen trapping at voids is not as prevalent as had been assumed. Modeling the deuterium release suggests that most of the trapping occurred in near-surface 1.4 eV traps, in a low concentration of uniform 1.4 eV traps, and in 0.95 eV traps likely resulting from oxygen diffusion from the original water-cooled irradiation environment.
Ubiquitin regulates GGA3-mediated degradation of BACE1

BACE1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1) is a membrane-tethered member of the aspartyl proteases, essential for the production of β-amyloid, a toxic peptide that accumulates in the brain of subjects affected by Alzheimer disease. The BACE1 C-terminal fragment contains a DXXLL motif that has been shown to bind the VHS (VPS27, Hrs, and STAM) domain of GGA1–3 (Golgi-localized γ-ear-containing ARF-binding proteins). GGAs are trafficking molecules involved in the transport of proteins containing the DXXLL signal from the Golgi complex to endosomes. Moreover, GGAs bind ubiquitin and traffic synthetic and endosomal ubiquitinated cargoes to lysosomes. We have previously shown that depletion of GGA3 results in increased BACE1 levels and activity because of impaired lysosomal degradation. Here, we report that the accumulation of BACE1 is rescued by the ectopic expression of GGA3 in H4 neuroglioma cells depleted of GGA3. Accordingly, the overexpression of GGA3 reduces the levels of BACE1 and β-amyloid. We then established that mutations in the GGA3 VPS27, Hrs, and STAM domain (N91A) or in BACE1 di-leucine motif (L499A/L500A), able to abrogate their binding, did not affect the ability of ectopically expressed GGA3 to rescue BACE1 accumulation in cells depleted of GGA3. Instead, we found that BACE1 is ubiquitinated at lysine 501 and is mainly monoubiquitinated and Lys-63-linked polyubiquitinated. Finally, a GGA3 mutant with reduced ability to bind ubiquitin (GGA3L276A) was unable to regulate BACE1 levels both in rescue and overexpression experiments. These findings indicate that levels of GGA3 tightly and inversely regulate BACE1 levels via interaction with ubiquitin sorting machinery.
Controllable self-assembly of amphiphilic macrocycles into closed-shell and open-shell vesicles, nanotubes, and fibers

Depending on functional groups, amphiphilic hexaamide macrocycles self-assemble into closed-shell and open-shell vesicles in polar solvents. In the presence of water, open-shell vesicles morph into closed-shell vesicles, whereas acidification of the medium transforms vesicles into nanotubes and fibers.
Salinity and Temperature Tolerances of Black Sea Bass Juveniles

Abstract The salinity and temperature tolerances of black sea bass Centropristis striata juveniles (46 ± 10.3 mm total length [mean ± SD]) were estimated to assist in decisions concerning location of culture facilities and types of production systems. At 21°C, all exposed fish survived for 7 d in salt concentrations of 10, 20, or 35 g/L. All fish exposed to salt concentrations of 5 g/L died within 3 d. Temperature extremes were estimated after acclimation of fish to 24–25°C. Half of the juveniles exposed to a gradual increase (+0.65°C/d) or decrease (–0.51°C/d) in temperature (at a nominal salt concentration of 20 g/L) were dead when the water temperature reached 33.3°C and 3.7°C, respectively. Results of this study indicate that this species requires saline water at or above a salt concentration of 10 g/L and that it may not be practical to keep black sea bass over winter or over summer in shore-based outdoor facilities located in temperate climates.
Common mechanisms activate plant guard receptors and TLR4

In metazoans, the innate immune system uses Pattern Recognition Receptors to detect conserved microbial products, whereas in plants Guard Receptors detect virulence factors or activities encoded by pathogens. In a recent study, Williams and colleagues report that plant Guard receptors can be activated by a mechanism remarkably similar to that of mammalian Toll-like Receptor 4.
Repair of potentially lethal radiation damage in mammalian cells is associated with enhancement of malignant transformation.

THERE have been several attempts to define conditions necessary for the fixation of the transformed state in mammalian cells in vitro. The relationship between fixation and proliferation after treatment has been studied in cell cultures exposed to methylcholanthrene1, X irradiation2,3 and SV40 virus4. Cells were exposed to the carcinogen while in the density-inhibited plateau phase of growth, and subsequently subcultured at low cell density so that they could resume cell division. Transformation frequency was always reduced by delaying subculture for 24 h or longer, suggesting that cells must divide soon after exposure to a carcinogen in order to fix the transformed state. No data were reported for subculture less than 24 h after treatment.
Preference for Sweet Foods and Higher Body Mass Index in Patients Being Treated in Long-Term Methadone Maintenance

Opiate use has been associated with preference for sweets in both humans and animals. In 2002, the food preferences and eating habits of non-institutionalized patients in methadone treatment and controls were measured and compared. Questionnaires were administered to 14 patients and 14 controls with similar demographic characteristics (there were 19 women and 9 men ranging in age from 19 to 59 years). The patients reported higher consumption of sweets, higher eagerness to consume sweet foods, and a wish to consume quantities larger than that desired by controls. Patients had a significantly higher body mass than controls. The study's limitations are noted. These findings suggest a link between methadone and a desire for calorically dense foods. A study of eating behavior is warranted.
Announcing a Name Change and New Scope

our transaction���s name has changed - from IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SYSTEMS, MAN, AND CYBERNETICS PART B: CYBERNETICS to a more concise Transactions on Cybernetics (TCyb). For the past many months, the publications of the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (SMCS) have been undergoing a major reorganization. The reorganization was based on numerous discussions with the SMCS membership and positive feedback that were received and on recommendations from the 2006 IEEE Periodicals Review. In November 2011, the IEEE Technical Activities Board approved the name and scope changes of all three transactions: 1) IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SYSTEMS, MAN, AND CYBERNETICS PART A: SYSTEMS AND HUMANS to IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SYSTEMS, MAN, AND CYBERNETICS: SYSTEMS; 2) IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SYSTEMS, MAN, AND CYBERNETICS PART C: APPLICATIONS AND REVIEWS to IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON HUMAN���MACHINE SYSTEMS; and 3) this transaction. The realignment of the three transactions is meant to help better situate research topics, areas, and articles for the society through its publications. Here are the associated scopes for the three transactions. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SYSTEMS, MAN, AND CYBERNETICS: SYSTEMS - The scope of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SYSTEMS, MAN, AND CYBERNETICS: SYSTEMS includes the fields of systems engineering. It includes issue formulation, analysis and modeling, decision making, and issue interpretation for any of the systems engineering life cycle phases associated with the definition, development, and deployment of large systems. In addition, it includes systems management, systems engineering processes, and a variety of systems engineering methods such as optimization, modeling, and simulation. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CYBERNETICS - The scope of IEEE TCyb includes computational approaches to the field of cybernetics. Specifically, the transactions welcomes papers on communication and control across machines or between machine, human, and organizations. The scope of TCyb includes areas such as computational intelligence, computer vision, neural networks, genetic algorithms, machine learning, fuzzy systems, cognitive systems, decision making, and robotics, to the extent that they contribute to the theme of cybernetics or demonstrate an application of cybernetics principles. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON HUMAN���MACHINE SYSTEMS - The scope of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON HUMAN-MACHINE SYSTEMS includes the fields of human machine systems. It covers human systems and human organizational interactions, including cognitive ergonomics, system test and evaluation, and human information processing concerns in systems and organizations.
Successful cooperative interactions between primed T and B lymphocytes derived from Gix+ and Gix- congenic mice.

Abstract Using the congenic partner mouse strains, 129 and 129- G ix − , which differ only at the locus coding for the G ix -gp70 viral envelope glycoprotein, the possible involvement of such viral-encoded membrane macromolecules in successful interactions between T and B lymphocytes has been investigated. These studies demonstrate that reciprocal mixtures of primed T and B lymphocytes from these respective congenic mice interact quite effectively in the development of adoptive secondary antibody responses. Moreover, reciprocal mixtures of purified populations of unprimed T and B lymphocytes from these strains cooperated quite well to develop primary in vitro anti-SRBC antibody responses. Thus, in contrast to the critical role played by I -region genes in dictating the efficiency of lymphocyte interactions, the G ix locus does not apparently influence the ability of such cells to interact, at least at the stages of differentiation analyzed in these experiments, provided stringent H-2 identity requirements are met.
Synergistic enhancement of selective nanophotothermolysis with gold nanoclusters: potential for cancer therapy.

Background and Objective We developed a new approach that enhances selective photothermolysis of tumor through laser activation of synergistic phenomena around nanoclusters, which are self-assembled into cancer cells. Study Design/Materials and Methods In vitro verification of this approach was performed by laser pulse irradiation (420–570 nm and 1064 nm; 8–12 nanosecond; 0.1–10 J/cm2) of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells targeted with primary antibodies to which 40-nm gold nanoparticles were selectively attached by means of secondary antibodies. Photothermal (PT) radiometry, thermolens techniques, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, silver and gold enhancing kits, and viability test (Annexin V-propidium iodide) were employed to study nanoparticle spatial organization, the dynamics of microbubble formation, and cell damage. Results The assembly of gold nanoclusters on the cell membrane was accompanied by increased local absorption and red-shifting as compared to cells that did not have nanoclusters. These effects were amplified by a silver-enhancing kit and pre-irradiation of cells with low laser-pulse energy. Finally, a significant increase in laser-induced bubble formation and cancer cell killing was observed using near-IR lasers (1064 nm). A cancer cell antigens was used to provide target specificity for nanoclusters formation making the cancer cells sensitive to laser activation. Conclusion The described approach uses relatively small and simple gold nanoparticles offering more effective delivery to target. In addition, the further self-assembling of these nanoparticles into nanoclusters on live cells provides significant enhancement of laser-induced cell damage. These nanoclusters (gold “nanobombs”) can be activated in cancer cells only by confining near-IR laser pulse energy within the critical mass of the nanoparticles in the nanoclusters. Lasers Surg. Med. 37:219–226, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Using Astrology to Teach Research Methods to Introductory Psychology Students

A classroom demonstration designed to test an astrological hypothesis can help teach introductory psychology students about research design and data interpretation. The activity illustrates differences between science and nonscience, the role of theory in developing and testing hypotheses, making comparisons among groups, probability and statistical significance, and the complications involved in interpreting research data.
The importance of the task in analyzing expert judgment

Abstract The accuracy of judgmental forecasts of temperature and precipitation was analyzed. In contrast to the findings of many studies of expert judgment and forecasting, forecasts were highly accurate and forecaster agreement was high. Human forecasters performed better than an operational forecasting model and about the same as a linear regression model. Differences between temperature and precipitation forecasts could be predicted from differences between the tasks. In general, differences between tasks were much greater than differences between forecasters. Task predictability was an excellent indicator of forecast accuracy. The characteristics of the environment for forecasting temperature and precipitation that contribute to accuracy include high-quality information and the availability of "guidance" based on a computer model. It is concluded that an understanding of the properties of the task is essential for understanding the accuracy of expert judgment.
Care of the Premature Infant: A Résumé of a Study on Social Organization and Function of Nursing Services in a Premature Infant Center

Summary This inventory or evaluation of social organization, attitudes and relationships of personnel and current work distribution has been, and we hope will be, helpful in our continuing efforts to iniprove our programs of caring for premature infants and of training others in this work. Most of the faults brought to light by this study are probably not unique in our unit, and practically all of them are correctible. Necessarily greater dependence on aids—nonprofessional persons trained on the job—has evolved as a reasonable, practical, and effectiae solution to current and increasing shortages of professional nursing staff. Closer integration of care and training programs will almost certainly require expansion of learning experiences and responsibilities for aids, with more and more of the time and talents of a carefully selected but relatively small staff of professional nurses devoted to supervision and training efforts. Experienced nonprofessional care personnel deserve and should have increased formal recognition as an important step toward further success in both care and training programs. Also important are a number of changes aimed a t integrating more closely these two major objectives and a t correcting as best we can those causes for conflicts, anxieties, and frustrations revealed by this study. Whatever successes we have enjoyed in our care prograni have been achieved despite serious and continuing shortages of personnel in all categories. A consequently huge care-burden of itself has quite apparently and logically forced experienced nurses and aids to impress on d l newer workers very forcibly and quite effectively the concept of “deuotion to care duty” as the most important value guiding all activities in this Unit. This concept in turn seems to deniand further opportunity for informally supervised crib—side learning experiences even under the pressures of a caseload such as ours, if we are to attain greater successes. From these facts and generalizations, several hypotheses seem justified and are probably widely applicable: (1) When joint goals of care and training exist in a hospital unit, niajor emphasis will probably always be given to the former. (2) The ability to assume responsibility for performance of any procedure will vary directly with understanding, skill, and experience in that procedure. (3) Real or perceived ambiguities in responsibilities or authorities will interface with accomplishment of goals. (4) Exposure and correction of psychologic or social bases for conflict within any programs can do much to further the successes of such programs. (5) Finally, standards and recommendations will probably always require major modification on the basis of purely local considerations.
The concept of intelligence.

Abstract Rosch's theory of concepts, applied to the concept of intelligence, suggests that one's intelligence is just the degree to which one resembles a prototypically intelligent person. Because no single characteristics defines the prototype, there can be no adequate process-based definition of intelligence. In principle, a combination of many empirically derived measures into a single index—as in a Binet test—would be appropriate. In practice, many of the relevant characteristics are simply impossible to measure.