cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photocycle Dynamics and Vibrational Spectroscopy of the E46Q Mutant of Photoactive Yellow Protein

The dynamics over the initial 100 ns (3 ps time resolution) of the room-temperature photocycle of the E46Q mutant of photoactive yellow protein (PYPE46Q) are measured using picosecond transient absorption (PTA) spectroscopy. Three intermediates, I0E46Q, I0⧧E46Q, and I1E46Q, are observed in the room-temperature PYPE46Q photocycle. Although their respective formation and decay rates differ, I0E46Q, I0⧧E46Q, and I1E46Q correspond to analogous intermediates (i.e., I0, I0⧧, and I1) observed by PTA in the room-temperature photocycle of the wild type (WT) photoactive yellow protein (PYP). These PTA data show that the replacement of glutamic acid 46 with glutamine influences the kinetic properties of the PYP photocycle, but does not alter the general photochemical mechanism itself. The influence of the E46Q mutation on the PYP chromophore can be independently obtained by measuring changes in the vibrational degrees of freedom of ground-state PYP and PYPE46Q. Vibrational spectra (1100−1700 cm-1) of both PYP and PY...
Abstract 1362: Nuclear morphometry measures progressive atypia in the development of pancreatic carcinoma

Pancreatic lesions that are not clearly benign are often treated as malignant despite uncertainty in the true diagnosis due to the nearly universally fatal nature of pancreatic carcinoma (PC). Nuclear morphometry is a technique to quantify nuclear features too complex for the human eye to discern. We hypothesized that nuclear atypia can be quantified with morphometry in order to distinguish between chronic pancreatitis, IPMN, and PC. We retrospectively analyzed 14 specimens of chronic pancreatitis, 16 IPMN lesions, and 19 PC lesions. Clinicopathologic data were obtained. Nuclear morphometry determined overall atypia based on the average nuclear abnormality of 95 distinct nuclear features (a nuclear signature). For PC lesions, 5 nuclear features defined a classification score (CS) representing the proportion of aggressive nuclei in a given PC lesion. Statistical significance was determined with ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The average age for all patients was 63 ± 15 years while 62% were male; there were no differences between the 3 groups. The follow up was approximately 4 years in all groups as well. The average nuclear atypia of chronic pancreatitis was 0.80, 0.99 for IPMN, and 1.08 for PC (P = 0.02). Importantly, based on 5 nuclear features, the CS for PC lesions that recurred was 87% while it was only 56% for those PC lesions that did recur (P = 0.04). The research describes a precise, accurate, and objective method to distinguish IPMN from PC. The CS and overall atypia score provides a method to not only objectively describe a given lesion, but it importantly describes where in the progression from benign to malignant lesion an unknown lesion exists. Clinically, this may be of great utility in risk stratifying unknown pancreatic lesions at the time of diagnosis or tissue biopsy. Citation Format: Evan S. Glazer, Kimberly A. Hill, Hao (Helen) Zhang, Peter Bartels, Joseph Watkins, David S. Alberts, Robert S. Krouse. Nuclear morphometry measures progressive atypia in the development of pancreatic carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1362. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1362
Spatial aspect of color and scientific implications of Retinex image processing

The history of the spatial aspect of color perception is reviewed in order to lay a foundation for the discussion of retinex image processing. While retinex computations were originally conceived as a model for color constancy in human vision, the impact on local contrast and lightness is even more pronounced than the compensation for changes in the spectral distribution of scene illuminants. In the MSRCR, the goal of the computation is fidelity to the direct observation of scenes. The primary visual shortcoming of the recorded image is that dark zones such as shadow zones are perceived with much lower contrast and lightness than for the direct viewing of scenes. Extensive development and testing of the MSRCR leads us to form several hypotheses about imaging which appear to be basic and general in nature. These are that: 1) the linear representation of the image is not usually a good visual representation, 2) retinex image enhancements tend to approach a statistical ideal which suggests the existence of a canonical visual image, and 3) the mathematical form of the MSRCR suggests a deterministic definition of visual information which is the log of the spectral and spatial context ratios for any given image. These ideas imply that the imaging process should be thought of, not as a replication process whose goal is minimal distortion, but rather as a profound non-linear transformation process whose goal is a statistical ideal visual representation. These insights suggest new directions for practical advances in bringing higher levels of visual intelligence to the world of computing.
Competitive suppression of prototrophs.

IN a recent publication1, Jinks has compounded the erroneous impression, first given by Grigg2, that competitive suppression is a neglected source of error in studies of prototrophs or reversions of nutritional requirement in micro-organisms. Kolmark and Westergaard3 have shown that Grigg's criticism is inapplicable to their case; but since Jinks's publication is subsequent to this, and expresses the belief that “it is not easy to see a simple way of avoiding [the] effects” of competitive suppression, a brief recollection of the facts published elsewhere on the matter seems called for. Competitive suppression is certainly a real phenomenon and has been studied experimentally in some detail4–6. The findings relevant to the present issue are that: (1) the addition of prototrophs to the culture of organisms from which prototrophs it contains are being screened measures the extent of competitive suppression; (2) when competitive suppression is not acting, dilution of the culture results in a corresponding decrease in the number of prototrophs, and added prototrophs are recovered.
Shrinking, widening, reversing, and stagnating trends in US socioeconomic inequities in cancer mortality for the total, black, and white populations: 1960–2006

Objectives of study To test recent claims that cancer inequities are bound to increase as population health improves.
On the development of a low-cost real-time remote patient monitoring system using a novel non-invasive microwave vital signs sensor

In this paper, HCAC's research and development efforts on the development of integrated and low cost telemedicine system are summarized. The developed telemedicine system allows the medical personnel to remotely examine and measure the vital signs of the patients whereas the novel microwave sensor and the associated signal processing method opens up new avenues for an integrated and accurate approach for the continuous monitoring of the vital signs without hindering the mobility of patients.
Computationally efficient modeling of ordering of quenched phases.

Computationally efficient discrete space-time models of phase-ordering dynamics of thermodynamically unstable systems (e.g., spinodal decomposition) are proposed. Two-dimensional lattice (100\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}100) simulations were performed to obtain scaled form factors.
EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY OF HYPERSONIC FORWARD-FACING CAVITY FLOW

Hypersonic flow over the nose of a blunt body with a forward-facing cavity is studied both experimentally (Mach 5 blowdown tunnel) and numerically (commercial finite volume code). Trends are established for the pressure oscillations within the cavity, flowfield structure, and surface heating for different cavity depths and lip radii. Resonant pressure oscillations within the cavity are an experimental flow feature but occur numerically, for the cavity geometries studied, only if freestream fluctuations are present. The oscillations are dominated by the quarter-wave frequency of the cavity. In the numerical simulations, the oscillation strength increases with cavity depth. In the experiments, oscillation strength generally increases with cavity depth; however, for a specific midrange of cavity depths, experiments show that the pressure oscillations switch randomly between two modes of behavior involving smalland large-amplitude fluctuations. Agreement between experiment and computations is good for the flowfield structure and surface heating of shallow cavity flows. Sharp lips produce both a recirculation region that cools the outer surface, and severe heating just inside the cavity. Rounding the lip eliminates the recirculation region and alleviates heating inside the cavity. Experimental results show that the strong oscillations associated with deeper cavities may produce a cooling effect.
Late Cenozoic extension in northeastern Greece: Strymon Valley detachment system and Rhodope metamorphic core complex

The Strymon Valley detachment system accommodated at least 25 km of extension at the northern margin of the Aegean extensional province from middle Miocene through early Pliocene time. The primary detachment surface is exposed as a gently southwest-dipping low-angle normal fault—similar to those widely known in core complex settings of the U.S. Basin and Range province—for more than 150 km along strike, from the Aegean Sea coast in northeastern Greece northward into the Struma Valley of southern Bulgaria. Hanging-wall rocks in the Strymon Valley detachment system moved in a S53°W direction relative to the footwall, resulting ultimately in the tectonic unroofing of the Rhodope metamorphic core complex. Several segments of the Strymon Valley detachment have previously been interpreted as thrust faults formed during a Miocene compressional event. Our results negate the principal evidence for this event and imply instead that extensional deformation has characterized the northern Aegean region since at least middle Miocene time. Displacement ceased on the Strymon Valley detachment with the late Pliocene development of the Strymon and Drama basins. We propose that those basins, together with the other principal basins of the northern Aegean region, are subsiding above an active northeast-dipping, extensional detachment zone that forms a unified kinematic system with the western offshore continuation of the dextral North Anatolian strike-slip fault, the North Aegean trough. If this hypothesis is correct, then the North Aegean trough, the western strands of the North Anatolian fault, and the principal modern depocenters of the northern Aegean region may all have originated no earlier than late Pliocene time.
Crack cocaine: A risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus infection type I among inner-city parturients

OBJECTIVE To define the relationship between crack cocaine use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection while controlling for other HIV risk factors. METHODS We performed a case-control study among inner-city pregnant women who were followed at a large urban hospital in Atlanta, Georgia; 79 of the women were HIV-1-infected and 525 were seronegative. We identified the women from a prenatal population undergoing routine voluntary HIV-1 antibody screening. RESULTS From July 1, 1989 to December 31, 1990, we screened 13,469 pregnant women; 80 (5.9 per 1000) were HIV-1-infected. One seropositive woman who did not complete a risk-behavior questionnaire was excluded from the study. Seropositivity was associated with a history of crack cocaine use (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-4.8), intravenous drug use (odds ratio 14.5, 95% CI 4.5-46.3), and a history of sexually transmitted diseases (odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.5-4.5). We found a significant interaction (P = .01) between a history of crack cocaine use and employment status: Unemployed women who used crack cocaine were 3.5 times more likely to be HIV-1-infected than were employed women who used crack cocaine. CONCLUSIONS Crack cocaine use was found to be a risk factor associated with HIV-1 infection among pregnant women, particularly those who were unemployed. This finding suggests that the impact of crack cocaine use on HIV transmission may be related to economic factors and possibly to either trading sex for money to buy cocaine or trading sex for the drug.
Propulsion Trades for Space Science Missions

Abstract This study evaluated the relative benefits of proposed deep space propulsion technology improvements in three areas: advanced chemical, solar electric, and solar sail. Within each area, specific states, representing current technology (present-1999), mid-term (2000–2004), and far term (2005+), were selected for evaluation. The figures of merit used were net spacecraft mass delivered, size of the launch vehicle needed, trip time, cost, and risk. Based on the results, an investment strategy was recommended to NASA headquarters, along with possible scenarios for its implementation.
Refueling tokamaks by injection of compact toroids.

It is shown that transverse injection of a hypervelocity high-density spheromak plasmoid into a tokamak plasma may be a viable fueling scheme. Three important processes occur and are discussed individually: establishment of equilibrium, slowing down, and disassembly of the compact toroid.
Molecular QCA design with chemically reasonable constraints

In this article we examine the impacts of the fundamental constraints required for circuits and systems made from molecular Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) devices. Our design constraints are “chemically reasonable” in that we consider the characteristics and dimensions of devices and scaffoldings that have actually been fabricated. This work is a necessary first step for any work in QCA CAD, and can also help shape experiments in the physical sciences for emerging, nano-scale devices. Our work shows that QCA circuits, scaffoldings, substrates, and devices should all be considered simultaneously. Otherwise, there is a very real possibility that the devices and scaffoldings that are eventually manufactured will result in devices that only work in isolation. “Chemically reasonable” also means that expected manufacturing defects must be considered. In our simulations we introduce defects associated with self-assembled systems into various designs to begin to define manufacturing tolerances. This work is especially timely as experimentalists are beginning to work on merging experimental tracks that address devices and scaffolds—and the end result should facilitate correct logical operations.
Epigenetic Modifications of the Estrogen Receptor β Gene in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells

Background: The mechanisms of estrogen insensitivity or estrogen resistance in ovarian cancer cells are not known. Studies on regulation of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene have suggested a role for epigenetics in silencing ER expression. Materials and Methods: Cells from insensitive ovarian cancer cells, SKOV3 and HEY, were cultured with and without the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (AzaC) and the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, trichostatin (TSA). ERβ promoter methylation was examined using bisulfite sequencing. RNA was collected for oligonucleotide array studies. Results: Cell type-specific ERβ promoter methylation was found as well as relative hypomethylation of the ERβ promoter in SKOV3 compared to HEY cells. Preferential demethylation of specific CpGs by different treatments was found. AzaC and TSA resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition and alterations in expression of numerous genes. Conclusion: The ERβ promoter is differentially methylated in ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, AzaC and TSA can inhibit ovarian cancer cell growth.
Eradication of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) causes nearly 200,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. The magnitude of the risk for acquiring venous thromboembolism (VTE) in U.S. hospitals is staggering (1). About 8 million Medical Service and 4 million Surgical Service patients are at moderate or high risk for developing VTE each year (2). The surgeon General has declared that PE is the most preventable cause of death within hospitals (3). Thus, a spotlight shines brightly on quality control and quality improvement practices within American hospitals (4) to ensure that maximum effort is exerted to prevent PE and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). A convergence of passionate advocates (5), including health care providers, patients, and governmental authorities, will transform the status quo and enable eradication of hospital-acquired VTE. Catalysts for VTE eradication are listed in Table 1. Failure to prevent in-hospital PE and DVT will no longer be tolerated. For example, Medicare and Medicaid will have stopped reimbursing hospitals for incremental care needed to treat postoperative total hip or knee replacement patients who develop VTE (6). Whether this new policy is wise or equitable is debatable (7), but its influence in augmenting VTE prophylaxis and in decreasing the rate of postoperative VTE is undeniable. We have entered a new era that focuses on venous disease. This contemporary heightened awareness to VTE prevention constitutes a remarkable achievement. Only a decade ago, VTE was an orphan disease which received only a modicum of attention from major cardiology, pulmonary, and haematology specialty societies. Major organisations representing these specialties were concerned about VTE but did not embrace the field as a top priority. Transformative champions who had argued in favour of paying more attention to preventing venous thrombosis had to compete with more forceful voices that favoured emphasis on more traditional core subject matter for each organisation. Examples are acute coronary syndrome for cardiologists, asthma/chronic lung disease for pulmonologists, and leukaemia/lymphoma for haematologists. Venous disease education tended to be handled as an “afterthought.” Discussion of VTE’s wide scope and potential for harm did not capture the imagination of professionals or the public. Apathy was a common response when the subject of VTE was raised. There was no unifying push toward universal protection of hospitalised patients against DVT and PE.
Programmed autophagocytosis accompanying conjugation in the ciliate Stylonychia mytilus.

Abstract Conjugation and postconjugant development in Stylonychia is accompanied by a period of approximately 80 hr during which the cells are unable to ingest food. This period is one of considerable synthetic activity, encompassing important portions of the development of the new macronucleus. Light- and electron-microscopic observations of conjugating pairs and exconjugant cells reveal a process of autophagocytosis that may provide the supplies of energy (and precursors) necessary for postconjugant developmental events. Small autophagosomes (AP) form in conjugants; degenerating mitochondria are prominent among the inclusions observed in these bodies. Soon after separation of pairs, large dense AP appear, apparently by coalescence and condensation of the smaller AP. These “mature” AP give only a slight acid phosphatase reaction. The number of AP slowly declines during postconjugant development; about 60 hr after separation all the AP have been digested. Several observations suggest that this autophagocytosis is part of the developmental program initiated soon after mating begins: (1) The first indications of AP formation occur while conjugating pairs are still able to feed, and thus cannot be attributed to the stress of starvation; (2) formation of large numbers of AP is rather abrupt, whereas their dissolution is very gradual, covering most of the nonfeeding period; and (3) the pattern of AP formation and dissolution is similar in cells whose new macronuclear development has been prevented by brief hydroxyurea treatment.
Biocompatible microfabricated magnetic cylinders as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

This paper proposed a novel MEMS-based fabrication process for biocompatible, hollow cylindrical ferromagnetic contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Compared to previous works on Ni-based cylindrical-nanoshells and Fe-based double-disk particles, biocompatibility and yield issues were strongly considered in this development of a simplified MEMS fabrication process incorporating iron oxide thin films. The novel, simplified microfabrication process developed herein yields a robust, reproducible fabrication methodology for the further development of this new class of MRI contrast agents, which offers the potential for multiplexing as well as functional imaging capacity with the incorporation of environmentally sensitive materials to modulate the degree of central water diffusion.
Chinch Bug (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) Control with Insecticides on Wheat, Field Corn, and Grain Sorghum, 1981

The best control of Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say) on wheat was obtained with prorate granules with ca. 58% control. Chlorpyrifos, carbofuran, and carbonyl sprays were less effective in wheat. Planting time applications, to sorghum, of carbofuran sprays and granules and carbosulfan sprays and granules resulted in significantly larger plant stands than did treatments of aldicarb, chlorpyrifos, and terbufos granules. Postemergence application of phorate granules and chlorpyrifos spray to corn reduced chinch bugs over 90% in one experiment during the first week. In one out of two experiments, carbaryl and carbofuran postemergence sprays to corn reduced chinch bugs by more than 90% during the first week, whereas in the other experiment the reduction was less than 70% (66.6 and 23.8%, respectively). The addition of permethrin to carbaryl increased control ca. 15%. Postemergence application of carbofuran granules to corn provided 70.5% control in 1 week.
Older-Worker-Friendly Policies and Affective Organizational Commitment

In the United States the Baby Boomer generation is advancing toward retirement age and many are choosing to stay in the workforce. This study develops and analyzes a model of the impact of older-worker-friendly (OWF) policies in organizations on job satisfaction, strain-based work/family conflict, and affective organizational commitment in older workers. The data included 368 full-time employed persons age 50 years or older who participated in a telephone survey. Linear regression was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships. Results indicated that the model was supported. Older workers who were employed at organizations with more older-worker-friendly policies had higher levels of job satisfaction and lower levels of strain-based work/family conflict, which led to higher levels of affective organizational commitment.
Community Violence, Social Support Networks, Ethnic Group Differences, and Male Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence

The authors examined how witnessing community violence influenced social support networks and how these networks were associated with male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) in ethnically diverse male college students. The authors assessed whether male social support members themselves had perpetrated IPV (male network violence) and whether female social support members had been victimized by intimates (female network victimization). The results indicated an association between community violence and male network violence; both factors were significantly associated with higher levels of IPV. Furthermore, the relationship between community violence and IPV was partially mediated by male network violence. Additionally, the results indicated a moderated relationship such that male participants who reported the highest levels of exposure to community violence and male network violence were at highest risk for IPV. However, this relationship did not hold across all ethnicities and races. The findings suggest that the mechanisms associating community violence, networks, and IPV are multifaceted and differ across ethnicity and race.
Extrinsic Cotton Effects of Bishydroxycoumarin when Bound to Bovine Serum Albumin

The binding of bishydroxycoumarin to bovine serum albumin at pH 7.4 was investigated by circular dichroism and differential absorption. No major conformational changes were observed on binding, but optical activity was induced at wavelengths above 290 nm. and investigated for various drug‐to‐protein ratios. Several possible explanations for the experimental observations are made.
Church Growth in Britain: A Response to Steve Bruce

This article examines the extent of church growth in Britain in recent decades, in response to the articulation of the secularisation thesis with regard to Christian congregations in recent British history. It shows that alongside the widely recognised phenomenon of church decline, there has been significant church growth—notably in London, amongst black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities and amongst new churches. This runs counter to many discussions of religion in recent British history, which assume overwhelming and ongoing church decline and which assume any church growth is peripheral. The article recognises evidence of significant church decline—but critiques the view that this should be the sole or the dominant narrative. The findings of the article throw up a range of questions that offer significant new avenues for further research.
Sites of direct and indirect halogenation of albumin.

Abstract The sites of radiohalogenation in proteins vary with the labeling method and the pH of the labeling reaction. We have directly halogenated albumin with carrier-free radioiodide by three methods (pH range 2.2–9.3), and with carrier-free radiobromide by the chloroperoxidase method (pH range 2.2–4.6). Albumin was also indirectly halogenated by attaching a radioiodinated acylating agent, N -succinimidyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (SHPP). The labeled proteins were proteolyzed enzymatically at neutral pH and the labeled amino acids produced were analyzed by liquid chromatography. Iodination at pH 7 yielded predominantly monoiodotyrosine, but at lower pH, fewer tyrosyl residues are labeled and a greater number of unstable sulfur-iodine bonds are formed at cysteinyl residues. Bromination with chloroperoxidase resulted in a high degree of labeling of cysteinyl residues at pH 2.8, the condition for optimum activity of this halogenating enzyme. Indirect halogenation with SHPP resulted in labeling of mid-chain lysyl, histidyl and tyrosyl residues.
Nanostructured functional dendrimers and polymers for photonics

Abstract Compared to conventional molecular design for organic NLO materials, the concept of using nanoscale architectural control to tailor the size, shape, conformation, and functionality of NLO chromophores and macromolecules provides a great opportunity for simultaneous optimization of macroscopic electro-optic activity, thermal stability, and optical loss. All the results discussed in this review are extremely encouraging and this new approach may help to launch a new paradigm for the molecular engineering of next generation high-performance E–O materials. To cite this article: A. Dirksen, L. De Cola, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).
Considerations in prophylaxis for tumor-associated epilepsy: Prevention of status epilepticus and tolerability of newer generation AEDs

Abstract Objective To identify risk factors for the development of tumor-associated epilepsy (TAE) and potential benefit of newer generation AEDs in seizure prevention. Methods We performed an IRB approved retrospective study of newly diagnosed GBM patients at the University of Rochester between 1/1/05 and 5/13/11. Records were reviewed to describe demographics, seizure incidence, occurrence of status epilepticus, and AED use and toxicity. Results 172 patients with newly diagnosed GBM were included in the study. 53.4% developed TAE. 31.4% had seizure prior to diagnosis. 118 patients were seizure-free at diagnosis: 32.2% developed post-diagnosis TIE (PostTAE) and 60.2% remained seizure-free. 70 seizure-free patients received an AED peri-operatively. 36 were weaned off AEDs and 31 were continued. Incidence of PostTAE and time to first seizure were comparable in AED-treated and untreated patients. 4 PostTAE patients presented with status epilepticus (SE), all were not AED treated. AEDs were withdrawn in 10 patients due to toxicity: 9 from phenytoin and 1 from levetiracetam. Conclusion There is a high incidence of PostTAE in GBM. Prophylactic AED therapy did not reduce PostTAE but may have prevented SE. Minimal toxicity was observed on 2nd generation AEDs. The high burden of epilepsy in this population and tolerability of newer AEDS suggest that AAN guidelines should be revisited.
Measuring Dynamic Flexibility of the Coil State of a Helix-forming Peptide

Abstract To investigate the dynamic flexibility of the coil state of a helix-forming peptide the end-to-end contact rate was determined. Nanosecond optical excitation of tryptophan at one end of a 22 residue, alanine peptide populates a long-lived triplet state which is quenched upon close contact with a cyclic disulfide attached to the opposite end. Analysis of the decay of the triplet population using a two-state model for helix formation yields the diffusion-limited end-to-end contact rate of the coil state of the peptide as well as the helix→coil and coil→helix rates. The helix–coil rates are very similar to those previously measured in laser temperature-jump experiments. The end-to-end contact rate of 1.1×107 s−1 in the coil state is tenfold faster than the rate for a disordered peptide with threonine substituted for alanine and, somewhat surprisingly, is about twice the rate for a disordered glycine-containing peptide. These differences are discussed in terms of the theory of Szabo, Schulten and Schulten. The rates should provide important new benchmarks for testing the accuracy of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations.
Hepatic Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 Deficiency Protects Mice from Carbohydrate-Induced Adiposity and Hepatic Steatosis

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), a critical regulator of energy metabolism, catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fats. To understand the tissue-specific role of SCD1 in energy homeostasis, we used Cre-lox technology to generate mice with a liver-specific knockout of Scd1 (LKO). LKO mice were protected from high-carbohydrate, but not high-fat (HF), diet-induced adiposity and hepatic steatosis. Additionally, on a high-sucrose, very low-fat (HSVLF) diet, lipogenesis and levels of nuclear SREBP-1 and ChREBP were significantly decreased in the livers of LKO relative to Scd1(lox/lox) (Lox) mice. HSVLF feeding in LKO mice caused hypoglycemia and hepatic carbohydrate reduction due to an impairment of gluconeogenesis. Oleate, but not stearate, supplementation normalized adiposity, gluconeogenesis, triglyceride secretion, and hepatic lipogenesis of LKO mice. These results indicate that hepatic SCD1 expression (and thus, oleate) is required for carbohydrate-induced adiposity, but SCD1 inhibition in extrahepatic tissues is required to protect mice from HF-induced obesity and insulin resistance.
Stationary properties of the real interest rate and the per-capita consumption growth rate: empirical evidence for theoretical arguments

Many economic theories connecting the real interest rate and the per-capita consumption growth rate require that both rates evolve together over time. This article investigates whether these rates present similar stationary behaviour for the seven most industrialized countries over the 1957–2005 period. The analysis relies on the unit root tests developed by Elliott et al. (1996) and Lopez (2006) to look for stationary or regime-wise stationary behaviour, respectively. Furthermore, the final break selection uses Bai and Perron's (2003) method. The results show, for all the countries considered, that both rates are either stationary or regime-wise stationary with the same number of breaks and, mostly, with corresponding dates. The results hold whether the rates are calculated annually or quarterly.
The neurobiology of trust.

The article discusses brain science and people's inclination to trust a stranger which is found to come from exposure to the molecule and hormone oxytocin, which is known for inducing labor in pregnant women. How people decide whether to trust a new acquaintance or potential business partner is explored. The importance of oxytocin while playing the trust game is considered. Further understanding of impaired social interactions could be realized by oxytocin's functions with other brain chemicals. INSETS: FAST FACTS;OXYTOCIN AND GENEROSITY;OXYTOCIN AND THE BRAIN;National Trust
Polyamine effects on purine-purine-pyrimidine triple helix formation by phosphodiester and phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Abstract Utilization of oligodeoxyribonucleotides to inhibit specific gene transcription in vivo (antigene strategy) requires the efficient formation of triple helices under physiological conditions. However, pyrimidine-motif triplexes are not favored at physiological pH, and physiological concentrations of potassium cations hamper purine-motif triplex formation. Here we investigated the effects of polyamines on promoting triplex formation by G/T-rich oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing either phosphodiester or a diastereomeric mixture of phosphorothioate linkages. Compared with Mg2+, equimolar concentrations of polyamines greatly facilitated purine-motif triplex formation with the following order of effectiveness: spermine > spermidine > putrescine. At low polyamine concentrations, phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were better at triplex formation than the corresponding phosphodiester oligonucleotides. Kinetic studies indicated that polyamines facilitated triplex formation by increasing the rate of oligonucleotide-duplex DNA association. However, triplex accumulation with either oligonucleotide was still low under physiological conditions (140 mM K+, 10 mM Mg2+, 1 mM spermine). The inhibitory effects of K+ could be partially overcome with high concentrations of Mg2+ or spermine, with phosphodiester oligonucleotides being better able to form triplexes than phosphorothioates under these conditions.
Ergodic Theory of Markov Chains Admitting an Infinite Invariant Measure

We consider real valued Markov chains . . . , x-1x0, x1, . . . with a stationary transition probability function
On-the-energy-shell optical potential for He-H2 vibrational excitation☆

Abstract The one-the-energy-shell optical potential is calculated for vibrational excitation in atom-diatom collisions. Effects of energies and potential energy parameters on the imaginary part of the on-shell optical potential is studied. It is shown that detailed collisional dynamics can be investigated from the optical potential studies.
Evolution of regulatory genes and patterns: Relationships to evolutionary rates and to metabolic functions

In an effort to understand the forces shaping evolution of regulatory genes and patterns, we have compared data on interspecific differences in enzyme expression patterns among the rapidly evolving Hawaiian picture-winged Drosophila to similar data on the more conservative virilis species group. Divergence of regulatory patterns is significantly more common in the former group, but cause and effect are difficult to discern. Random fixation of regulatory variants in small populations and/or during speciation may be somewhat more likely than divergence driven by selection. Within the picture-winged group, we also have compared enzymes that fulfill different metabolic roles. There are highly significant differences between individual enzymes, but no obvious correlations to functional categories.
What Do City Planners Need to Know? When Do They Need to Know It?

Do university planning programs provide their graduates with the knowledge, skills and values they will require in their professional careers? A national on-line survey of planning practitioners finds that there is a close correspondence between what planners consider to be important and the curriculum standards and criteria of the Planning Accreditation Board, which are the model for the curricula of accredited Planning degrees. Individual elements are ranked high in importance, regardless of respondents’ educational and occupational characteristics. Both Globalization and Sustainability/Environmental Quality received relatively low importance rankings from respondents; this suggests areas for increased attention by universities and continuing education.
Comparing Poor, Minority Elementary Students' Interest and Background in Science with That of Their White, Affluent Peers.

Using survey data, poor, minority, inner-city elementary students were compared with White, affluent children regarding science information, science experiences, and personal preferences concerning science education. The students' perceptions of scientists, levels of disciplinary knowledge, sources of science information, voluntary science-related activities, and desired amounts of school science instruction were also investigated. The results, contrary to common expectations, indicated several areas where the two groups did not differ. The level of science knowledge was found to be higher among the White, affluent group. However, attitudes toward science were more positive, the current amount of instructional time devoted to science was greater, and a desire for more science instruction was evidenced among the inner-city, minority students.
Nonlinear edge enhancement

The article work extends a nonlinear, image enhancement scheme proposed by Greenspan and Anderson (see Proceedings of SPIE on Image and Video Processing II, vol.2182, p 2-13, 1993). We concentrate on parameter sensitivity in a global scheme, as well as motivate and discuss adaptive local parametrization in the enhancement algorithm. The enhancement scheme uses nonlinear filtering to augment the frequency spectrum of a blurred input (creating new high-spatial frequencies). As a result of the enhancement, images are created with higher resolution than the sampling rate would allow. This property is highly valuable in application domains which require limited bandwidth to represent or transmit images, including the HDTV and videophone markets.
The Influence of Stratification and Nonlocal Turbulent Production on Estuarine Turbulence: An Assessment of Turbulence Closure with Field Observations

Abstract Field observations of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), dissipation rate e, and turbulent length scale demonstrate the impact of both density stratification and nonlocal turbulent production on turbulent momentum flux. The data were collected in a highly stratified salt wedge estuary using the Mobile Array for Sensing Turbulence (MAST). Estimates of the dominant length scale of turbulent motions obtained from the vertical velocity spectra provide field confirmation of the theoretical limitation imposed by either the distance to the boundary or the Ozmidov scale, whichever is smaller. Under boundary-limited conditions, anisotropy generally increases with increasing shear and decreased distance to the boundary. Under Ozmidov-limited conditions, anisotropy increases rapidly when the gradient Richardson number exceeds 0.25. Both boundary-limited and Ozmidov-limited conditions demonstrate significant deviations from a local production–dissipation balance that are largely consistent with simple scaling r...
Transcriptome profiling of a curdlan-producing Agrobacterium reveals conserved regulatory mechanisms of exopolysaccharide biosynthesis

The ability to synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPS) is widespread among microorganisms, and microbial EPS play important roles in biofilm formation, pathogen persistence, and applications in the food and medical industries. Although it is well established that EPS synthesis is invariably in response to environmental cues, it remains largely unknown how various environmental signals trigger activation of the biochemical synthesis machinery. We report here the transcriptome profiling of Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31749, a microorganism that produces large amounts of a glucose polymer known as curdlan under nitrogen starvation. Transcriptome analysis revealed a nearly 100-fold upregulation of the curdlan synthesis operon upon transition to nitrogen starvation, thus establishing the prominent role that transcriptional regulation plays in the EPS synthesis. In addition to known mechanisms of EPS regulation such as activation by c-di-GMP, we identify novel mechanisms of regulation in ATCC 31749, including RpoN-independent NtrC regulation and intracellular pH regulation by acidocalcisomes. Furthermore, we show evidence that curdlan synthesis is also regulated by conserved cell stress responses, including polyphosphate accumulation and the stringent response. In fact, the stringent response signal, pppGpp, appears to be indispensible for transcriptional activation of curdlan biosynthesis. This study identifies several mechanisms regulating the synthesis of curdlan, an EPS with numerous applications. These mechanisms are potential metabolic engineering targets for improving the industrial production of curdlan from Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31749. Furthermore, many of the genes identified in this study are highly conserved across microbial genomes, and we propose that the molecular elements identified in this study may serve as universal regulators of microbial EPS synthesis.
PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE CARE OF STANDARD AND HIGH RISK SURGICAL PATIENTS

Many new approaches to the treatment of lung cancer are discussed in this issue. There have been significant advances in the areas of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combined modality treatment. At this time, surgical resection remains the central component of curative therapy for lung cancer. The success of perioperative management lies in the attainment of several desirable outcomes. These include minimizing postoperative morbidity and mortality, expansion of the patient population who can safely receive potentially curative therapy, and the resultant reduction in hospital length of stay and costs. This discussion of perioperative management includes patient selection, preoperative interventions, and management in the immediate postoperative period. Intraoperative anesthetic management is not discussed in this review.
A probabilistic analysis reveals fundamental limitations with the environmental impact quotient and similar systems for rating pesticide risks

Comparing risks among pesticides has substantial utility for decision makers. However, if rating schemes to compare risks are to be used, they must be conceptually and mathematically sound. We address limitations with pesticide risk rating schemes by examining in particular the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) using, for the first time, a probabilistic analytic technique. To demonstrate the consequences of mapping discrete risk ratings to probabilities, adjusted EIQs were calculated for a group of 20 insecticides in four chemical classes. Using Monte Carlo simulation, adjusted EIQs were determined under different hypothetical scenarios by incorporating probability ranges. The analysis revealed that pesticides that have different EIQs, and therefore different putative environmental effects, actually may be no different when incorporating uncertainty. The EIQ equation cannot take into account uncertainty the way that it is structured and provide reliable quotients of pesticide impact. The EIQ also is inconsistent with the accepted notion of risk as a joint probability of toxicity and exposure. Therefore, our results suggest that the EIQ and other similar schemes be discontinued in favor of conceptually sound schemes to estimate risk that rely on proper integration of toxicity and exposure information.
A what-and-where neural network for invariant image preprocessing

A feedforward neural networks for invariant image preprocessing is proposed that represents the position, orientation, and size of an image figure (where it is) in a multiplexed spatial map. This map is used to generate an invariant representation of the figure that is insensitive to position, orientation, and size for purposes of pattern recognition (what it is). Image recognition is based upon the output from the what channel. A multiscale array of oriented filters, followed by competition between orientations and scales, is used to define the where filter. >
Million Hearts—Where Population Health and Clinical Practice Intersect

More than 2 million heart attacks and strokes occur each year, resulting in > 800 000 cardiovascular deaths. Despite declining trends in mortality, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States, and the prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and tobacco use can still be greatly improved.1 Of US adults aged ≥18 years, 31% have hypertension, and this prevalence has shown little improvement in the past decade. Of these adults, 70% receive pharmacological treatment, but only 46% are controlled.2 We see similar trends in hypercholesterolemia.3 Although there has been a long-term trend toward declining cardiovascular disease mortality because of both improvements in risk factors and treatments,4 much additional progress is needed in both clinics and communities. Million Hearts is a population-health initiative, jointly led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Million Hearts is committed to improving the cardiovascular health of the nation through policy and systems-level changes that impact both community and clinical practice interventions. Doing so will require a common agenda from which all partners can work and focused outcomes by which all progress can be measured. It is a time-limited, concerted effort from public health, clinical, community, and advocacy stakeholders to improve risk factors for and subsequent outcomes of cardiovascular disease. Million Hearts complements a number of existing public and private initiatives, including Healthy People 2020,5 Let’s Move!6 and Life’s Simple 7.7 The initiatives' community-based interventions will focus on tobacco cessation, sodium reduction, and artificial trans fat elimination. These community interventions will be carried out in conjunction with a network of public health practitioners, including state and local departments of health, advocacy groups, and community-based organizations. Clinical practice policy and systems changes will improve performance on the delivery of …
An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study of the electronic properties of ultrathin Ni films on Ru(0001) and Mo(110)

The electronic properties of ultrathin films of Ni on Ru(OO01) and Mo(ll0) have been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of Ni coverage (film thickness) are investigated for both substrates as is the effect of surface annealing temperature for the Ru(0001) substrate. In addition the effects of CO and H, chemisorption on Ni-covered Mo(ll0) and CO chemisorption on Ni-covered Ru(0001) are examined. The results indicate that the atoms in 1 ML of Ni on Mo(ll0) are electronically perturbed with respect to Ni{lOO) surface atoms, while the electronic perturbation for a monolayer of Ni on Ru(OOO1) is burns. There is qualitative agreement between the shifts measured in the core-level binding energies and the corresponding CO desorption temperatures. The shifts can be explained by: (1) variations in the Ni-Ni interactions caused by a change in geometry of Ni surface atoms on Ru(OOO1) or Mo(ll0) as compared to Ni(lOO), and (2) the effects of Ni-Ru and Ni-Mo interactions. The adsorption of CO and H, induces a decrease in the electron density of the Ni adlayers.
Calcium channels are models of self-control

When Ca2+ ions flow through the pore of an individual voltage-gated Ca2+ channel, they act back on the channel they've passed through and alter subsequent Ca2+ flow. Such local, almost instantaneous regulation involves both positive and negative feedback mechanisms: Ca2+-dependent facilitation (CDF