cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scheduled Conversion of Replication Complex Architecture at Replication Origins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the Cell Cycle

Abstract Replication of DNA within Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosomes is initiated from multiple origins, whose activation follow their own inherent time schedules during the S phase of the cell cycle. It has been demonstrated that a characteristic replicative complex (RC) that includes an origin recognition complex is formed at each origin and shifts between post- and pre-replicative states during the cell cycle. We wanted to determine whether there was an association between this shift in the state of the RC and firing events at replication origins. Time course analyses of RC architecture using UV-footprinting with synchronously growing cells revealed that pre-replicative states at both early and late firing origins appeared simultaneously during late M phase, remained in this state during G1 phase, and converted to the post-replicative state at various times during S phase. Because the conversion of the origin footprinting profiles and origin firing, as assessed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, occurred concomitantly at each origin, then these two events must be closely related. However, conversion of the late firing origin occurred without actual firing. This was observed when the late origin was suppressed in clb5-deficient cells and a replication fork originating from an outside origin replicated the late origin passively. This mechanism ensures that replication at each chromosomal locus occurs only once per cell cycle by shifting existing pre-RCs to the post-RC state, when it is replicated without firing.
SYNTHESIS OF PROPIOLAMIDE AND 1H, 13C AND 15N NMR SPECTRA OF FORMAMIDE, ACETAMIDE AND PROPIOLAMIDE

A high-yield synthesis and purification of propiolamide is described. The structure and purity of the compound were confirmed by 1H, 13C and 15N NMR studies. Natural abundance 13C and 15N chemical shift measurements in 3.0 M acetonitrile solutions are reported along with 1H–1H, 1H–15N and 1H–13C spin coupling constants. Polarization transfer techniques were used for the 15N and 13C measurements. The propiolamide NMR parameters were compared with those for 3.0 M solutions of formamide and acetamide in acetonitrile solution. Measurements at 298 and 278 K indicated that for all three compounds there is still significant rotation about the carbon–nitrogen bond at room temperature. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Host nutrition and severity of Myrothecium leaf spot of Dieffenbachia maculata perfection

Abstract The foliage plant Dieffenbachia maculata (Lodd) G. Don ‘Perfection’ was grown with slow-release fertilizer levels from 1120 to 8960 kg N/ha/year (1120 rate = 12 g 19:6:12 per 15 cm pot/year). Height and foliar and root appearances were evaluated and recorded prior to inoculating plants with the fungal pathogen Myrothecium roridum Tode ex. Fries. Plant height increased with fertilizer level up to 2240–3360 kg N/ha/year, but decreased as the rate continued to increase. Foliar quality was primarily quadratic with highest quality plants fertilized at levels ranging from 2240 to 5600 kg N/ha/year. In contrast, root quality was best for plants fertilized at the 1120 and 2240 kg N/ha/year levels, and decreased linearly as fertilizer rate increased. Number of leaf spots increased linearly as fertilizer level increased in four of five tests.
Combined Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Continuum Calculations of pKa in Carbonic Anhydrase

Deprotonation of zinc-bound water in carbonic anhydrase II is the rate-limiting step in the catalysis of carbon dioxide between gas- and water-soluble forms. To understand the factors determining the extent of dissociation, or pKa, of the zinc-bound water, we apply quantum chemistry calculations to the active site coupled with a continuum model of the surrounding environment. Experimentally determined changes in pKa associated with mutations of the active site are well reproduced by this approach. Analysis of the active site structure and charge/dipole values provides evidence that mutations cause changes in both conformation of the active site structure and local polarization, which accounts for the shifts in pKa. More specifically, the shifts in pKa correlate with the dipole moments of the zinc-bound water upon deprotonation. The data further support the conclusion that the distinct pKa values found in mutations of the same type, but applied to different sites, result from asymmetric ligation and differ...
Potential Role of IGF-I in Hypoxia Tolerance Using a Rat Hypoxic-Ischemic Model: Activation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α

Hypoxia preconditioning and subsequent tolerance to hypoxia-ischemia damage is a well-known phenomenon and has significant implications in clinical medicine. In this investigation, we tested the hypothesis that the transcriptional activation of IGF-I is one of the underlying mechanisms for hypoxia-induced neuroprotection. In a rodent model of hypoxia-ischemia, hypoxia preconditioning improved neuronal survival as demonstrated by decreased hypoxia-ischemia-induced neuronal apoptosis. To study the role of IGF-I in hypoxia tolerance, we used in situ hybridization to examine IGF-I mRNA distribution on adjacent tissue sections. In cerebral cortex and hippocampus, hypoxia preconditioning resulted in an increase in neuronal IGF-I mRNA levels with or without hypoxia-ischemia. To test its direct effects, we added IGF-I to primary neuronal culture under varying oxygen concentrations. As oxygen concentration decreased, neuronal survival also decreased, which could be reversed by IGF-I, especially at the lowest oxygen concentration. Interestingly, IGF-I treatment resulted in an activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), a master transcription factor for hypoxia-induced metabolic adaptation. To evaluate whether IGF-I transcriptional activation correlates with HIF-1α activity, we studied the time course of HIF-1α DNA binding activity in the same rat model of hypoxia-ischemia. After hypoxia-ischemia, there was an increase in HIF-1α DNA binding activity in cortical tissues, with the highest increase around 24 h. Like IGF-I mRNA levels, hypoxia preconditioning increased HIF-1α DNA binding activity alone or with subsequent hypoxia ischemia. Overall, our results suggest that IGF-I transcriptional activation is one of the metabolic adaptive responses to hypoxia, which is likely mediated by a direct activation of HIF-1α.
Opposite-sex housing reactivates the declining GnRH system in aged transgenic male mice with FGF signaling deficiency

The continued presence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons is required for a healthy reproductive lifespan, but factors that maintain postnatal GnRH neurons have not been identified. T...
A comparison of linear and optimal non-linear filters for a machine maintenance problem†

In a previous paper an optimal maintenance policy for a machine subject to intermittent failure was studied. The policy depended on the implementation of a non-linear (but recursive) filter which provides the best (mean-square) estimate of the two-state process describing the intermittency. In this paper the information available to the controller is restricted to that provided by a more easily implemented ‘ piecewise-linear ’ filter, and its performance is compared with that of the optimal filter. It turns out that the piecewise-linear filter performs reasonably well for moderate rates of intermittency. For low rates, the linear filter performs poorly, and in a regime of frequent switches between desired and defective operation, both filters function equally poorly.
Multi-constraint-pruning: an algorithm for finding K shortest paths subject to multiple constraints

The main task of network resilience research is: when network is failure how to find a replacement path for the affected business as soon as possible, and also guarantee the quality of service (QoS). Different businesses have different QoS needs, in order to find a best resilience routing for different business, we need to take into account a variety of constraints, it has also increased the routing complexity. In this paper, a new algorithm to calculate the first K multiple-constrained-shortest-paths (KMCSP) in a given constraints network has been presented. We call it multi-constraint-pruning algorithm. The algorithm is able to calculate the k shortest paths based on the required constraints weights. In different QoS, the weight of different priority for each constraint would be considered in the algorithm. The program we wrote for multiple-pruning algorithm is able to list the KMCSP for different QoS, and draw a graphic represent the KMCSP. After extensive experiments in Matlab environment, the feasibility and speed improvement of algorithm has been proved in this paper.
Ndj1, a Telomere-Associated Protein, Promotes Meiotic Recombination in Budding Yeast

Dynamic telomere repositioning is a prominent feature of meiosis. Deletion of a telomere-associated protein, Ndj1, results in the failure of both attachment and clustering of telomeres at the nuclear envelope and delays several landmarks of meiosis I, such as pairing, synaptonemal complex formation, and timing of the meiosis I division. We explored the role of Ndj1 in meiotic recombination, which occurs through the formation and repair of programmed double-strand breaks. The ndj1Δ mutation allows for the formation of the first detectable strand invasion intermediate (i.e., single-end invasion) with wild-type kinetics; however, it confers a delay in the formation of the double-Holliday junction intermediate and both crossover and noncrossover products. These results challenge the widely held notion that clustering of telomeres in meiosis promotes the ability of homologous chromosomes to find one another in budding Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We propose that an Ndj1-dependent function is critical for stabilizing analogous strand invasion intermediates that exist in two separate branches of the bifurcated pathway, leading to either noncrossover or crossover formation. These findings provide a link between telomere dynamics and a distinct mechanistic step of meiotic recombination that follows the homology search.
Fault Detection, Identification and Estimation in the EHA System using multiple model estimation

In this paper, a model-based Fault Detection, Identification and Estimation (FDIE) scheme has been developed for the condition monitoring of the electro-hydraulic actuator (EHA) system. The scheme combines the use of a model of the EHA system with the multiple-model (MM) estimation algorithm to evaluate if fault is present, its cause and its severity. Using a multivariate nonlinear stochastic model, the EHA system dynamic responses are simulated in the presence of different types of faults. The FDI and estimation in the EHA system is to determine the system state over time and extrapolate the trend of state evolution in the future time given a stream of observations. The state to be estimated is assumed to be hybrid, i.e., it consists of both discrete and continuous components. System operational modes (nominal or faulty) are described as the discrete components of the hybrid state, while the continuous components track the dynamic behavior of the system to be monitored. The MM estimation algorithm makes use of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) technique to generate estimates of states and key physical parameters, which are related to faults in the EHA system. The proposed fault detection and identification (FDI) is formulated as a hybrid interacting multiple-model estimation scheme. The interaction scheme between multiple models is introduced into the MM estimation algorithm to yield more robust detection and estimation. Estimates of the key physical parameters in the EHA system are assessed against baseline values and fused with the FDI results for higher level monitoring purposes. Two parameters of interests, namely torque motor equivalent resistance and the effective bulk modulus are investigated for the EHA system condition monitoring purpose. The simulation results highlight the considerable potential of the proposed technique for achieving improved condition monitoring of the EHA system.
QUANTITATIVE VERSUS QUALITATIVE TOURISM RESEARCH

Abstract In order to examine the importance of “quantitative” vs. “qualitative” tourism research, similar developments in anthropology arc examined. In addition, the impact of such thought upon marketing is discussed. The tradeoffs of choosing “qualitative” or “scientific” techniques are overtly considered, “science” and “art” in research are operationally defined, and the strength of each method is juxtaposed and justified. Such an analysis is vital since tourism seeks to build its own distinct research tradition. An eclectic approach of choosing research methods is recommended in light of the fact that tourism scholars and practitioners deal with complex phenomena and, as a result, rigorous, scientific methods are not always appropriate for the problems encountered.
Experimental Investigation of Thin Film InGaAsP Coolers

Abstract : Most optoelectronic devices for long haul optical communications are based on the InP/InGaAsP family of materials. Thin film coolers based on the same material system can be monolithically integrated with optoelectronic devices such as lasers, switches, and photodetectors to control precisely the device characteristics such as wavelength and optical power. Superlattice structures of InGaAs/InP and InGaAs/InGaAsP are used to optimize the thermionic emission resulting in a cooling behavior beyond what is possible with only the Peltier effect. A careful experimental study of these coolers is undertaken. Mesa sizes, superlattice thickness, and ambient temperature are all varied to determine their effect on cooling performance. A three-dimensional, self-consistent thermal-electric simulation and an effective one-dimensional model are used to understand the experimental observations and to predict what will occur for other untested parameters. The packaging of the coolers is also determined to have consequences in the overall device performance. Cooling on the order of 1 to 2.3 degrees over 1-micron thick barriers is reported.
Signal 3 Tolerant CD8 T Cells Degranulate in Response to Antigen but Lack Granzyme B to Mediate Cytolysis

Naive CD8 T cells that respond in vivo to Ag and costimulation in the absence of a third signal, such as IL-12, fail to develop cytolytic function and become tolerized. We show in this study that CD8 T cells purified from TCR transgenic mice and stimulated in vitro in the presence or absence of IL-12 form conjugates with specific target cells, increase intracellular Ca2+, and undergo degranulation to comparable extents. Perforin is also expressed at comparable levels in the absence or presence of a third signal, but expression of granzyme B depends upon IL-12. Levels of granzyme B also correlate strongly with the cytolytic activity of cells responding in vivo. In contrast, an increase in CD107a (lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1) expression resulting from degranulation cannot distinguish in vivo generated lytic effector cells from tolerized, noncytolytic cells. Thus, it appears that cells rendered tolerant as a result of stimulation in the absence of a third signal fail to lyse target cells because they are "shooting blanks."
Nomadic culture and its impact on organizational support for nomadic behaviors and employee job satisfaction

Organizations are utilizing new technologies to mobilize their workforce in the quest to be flexible and responsive, expand globally, and achieve competitive advantages. While much research effort on nomadic computing focuses on technical issues, organizational issues, such as the enabling role of organizational culture, are often overlooked. This study examines a framework that links organizational culture to organizational support for employees' nomadic behaviors and job satisfaction. Based on Schein's conceptualization of culture, we coined the term "nomadic culture" to describe the underlying assumptions, espoused values, and artifacts that support today's workforce's ability to work anytime anywhere enabled by nomadic computing technologies.
Prospective Evaluation of the Value of Negative Sonographic and Mammographic Findings in Patients With Palpable Abnormalities of the Breast

Objective. To evaluate the value of combined negative sonographic and mammographic findings in patients with palpable breast abnormalities. Methods. One hundred seventy-two patients with 186 palpable abnormalities who had combined negative sonographic and mammographic findings were prospectively studied. Patients who did not undergo biopsy had imaging and clinical follow-up; the mean follow-up period was 28.9 months (range, 24‐33 months). Results. Twelve patients underwent biopsy; benign histologic diagnoses were reported in all 12 (12 [6.9%] of 172). In the remaining 160 patients who were followed, there was no interval development of breast cancer at the site of the palpable abnormality. The negative predictive value of combined negative mammographic and sonographic findings in a patient with a palpable abnormality of the breast was 100%. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that in a patient with a palpable abnormality of the breast, the negative predictive
A novel, non-apoptotic role for Scythe/BAT3: a functional switch between the pro- and anti-proliferative roles of p21 during the cell cycle.

BACKGROUND Scythe/BAT3 is a member of the BAG protein family whose role in apoptosis has been extensively studied. However, since the developmental defects observed in Bat3-null mouse embryos cannot be explained solely by defects in apoptosis, we investigated whether BAT3 is also involved in cell-cycle progression. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Using a stable-inducible Bat3-knockdown cellular system, we demonstrated that reduced BAT3 protein level causes a delay in both G1/S transition and G2/M progression. Concurrent with these changes in cell-cycle progression, we observed a reduction in the turnover and phosphorylation of the CDK inhibitor p21, which is best known as an inhibitor of DNA replication; however, phosphorylated p21 has also been shown to promote G2/M progression. Our findings indicate that in Bat3-knockdown cells, p21 continues to be synthesized during cell-cycle phases that do not normally require p21, resulting in p21 protein accumulation and a subsequent delay in cell-cycle progression. Finally, we showed that BAT3 co-localizes with p21 during the cell cycle and is required for the translocation of p21 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus during the G1/S transition and G2/M progression. CONCLUSION Our study reveals a novel, non-apoptotic role for BAT3 in cell-cycle regulation. By maintaining a low p21 protein level during the G1/S transition, BAT3 counteracts the inhibitory effect of p21 on DNA replication and thus enables the cells to progress from G1 to S phase. Conversely, during G2/M progression, BAT3 facilitates p21 phosphorylation by cyclin A/Cdk2, an event required for G2/M progression. BAT3 modulates these pro- and anti-proliferative roles of p21 at least in part by regulating cyclin A abundance, as well as p21 translocation between the cytoplasm and the nucleus to ensure that it functions in the appropriate intracellular compartment during each phase of the cell cycle.
Engineering analysis of the reactive extrusion of ?-caprolactone: The influence of processing on molecular degradation during reactive extrusion

We have observed that earlier models of the reactive extrusion of ϵ-caprolactone (CL), which do not include a consideration of mechanical degradation, significantly overpredict the molecular weights of the product. We have performed an engineering analysis of the increase in the molecular weight and the shear-induced reduction of the molecular weight after the polymerization of CL during reactive extrusion. The variation of the molecular weight has been correlated to the polymerization rate and the mechanical power input into the poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) melt. We first compute the increase in the molecular weight of PCL during reactive extrusion as a function of the mean residence time until the conversion is completed. Subsequently, we compute the shear-induced reduction of the molecular weight after polymerization through the reactive extrusion of CL. The influence of the mechanical load on the PCL melt with increasing shear stress is important for predicting the molecular weight of the final product, particularly after polymerization. Our approach to the prediction of the reduction of the molecular weight is based on the correlation between the specific mechanical energy (i.e., the energy consumed per unit of mass of the material extruded) and the molecular weight. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1007–1017, 2004
Energetically costly behaviour and the evolution of resting metabolic rate in insects

1. A general hypothesis is presented to explain interspecific differences in size-independent resting metabolic rate. This hypothesis is based on a presumed trade-off between a low resting metabolism and adaptations of metabolism during activity. 2. With such a trade-off, selection to reduce resting metabolism is less intense in active species than in species where resting metabolism constitutes a large proportion of the daily metabolic costs. Those animals that spend more energy on activity should therefore have a higher resting metabolic rate than animals that spend less energy on activity. 3. A literature review reveals that flying insects have higher resting metabolic rates than species that use energetically less demanding types of locomotion. 4. Insects producing acoustic advertisement signals can be shown to have higher mass-independent resting metabolic rates than closely related species without this energetically demanding behaviour. 5. Literature data on vertebrate resting metabolic rates are also consistent with the presented hypothesis: the more energy animals spend on activity, the higher the mass-independent resting metabolic rate.
Relevance of time-varying and time-invariant retrieval error sources on the utility of spaceborne soil moisture products

[1] Errors in remotely-sensed soil moisture retrievals originate from a combination of time-invariant and time-varying sources. For land modeling applications such as forecast initialization, some of the impact of time-invariant sources can be removed given known differences between observed and modeled soil moisture climatologies. Nevertheless, the distinction is seldom made when evaluating remotely-sensed soil moisture products. Here we describe an Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) for radiometer-only soil moisture products derived from the NASA Hydrosphere States (Hydros) mission where the impact of time-invariant errors is explicitly removed via the linear rescaling of retrievals. OSSE results for the 575,000 km2 Red-Arkansas River Basin indicate that climatological rescaling may significantly reduce the perceived magnitude of Hydros soil moisture retrieval errors and expands the geographic areas over which retrievals demonstrate value for land surface modeling applications.
An Arabidopsis Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Protein Modulates Metal Homeostasis and Auxin Conjugate Responsiveness

The plant hormone auxin can be regulated by formation and hydrolysis of amide-linked indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) conjugates. Here, we report the characterization of the dominant Arabidopsis iaa–leucine resistant3 (ilr3-1) mutant, which has reduced sensitivity to IAA–Leu and IAA–Phe, while retaining wild-type responses to free IAA. The gene defective in ilr3-1 encodes a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper protein, bHLH105, and the ilr3-1 lesion results in a truncated product. Overexpressing ilr3-1 in wild-type plants recapitulates certain ilr3-1 mutant phenotypes. In contrast, the loss-of-function ilr3-2 allele has increased IAA–Leu sensitivity compared to wild type, indicating that the ilr3-1 allele confers a gain of function. Microarray and quantitative real-time PCR analyses revealed five downregulated genes in ilr3-1, including three encoding putative membrane proteins similar to the yeast iron and manganese transporter Ccc1p. Transcript changes are accompanied by reciprocally misregulated metal accumulation in ilr3-1 and ilr3-2 mutants. Further, ilr3-1 seedlings are less sensitive than wild type to manganese, and auxin conjugate response phenotypes are dependent on exogenous metal concentration in ilr3 mutants. These data suggest a model in which the ILR3/bHLH105 transcription factor regulates expression of metal transporter genes, perhaps indirectly modulating IAA-conjugate hydrolysis by controlling the availability of metals previously shown to influence IAA–amino acid hydrolase protein activity.
CCD-based range-finding sensor

Integration-time-based, time-domain computation provides an area-efficient way to process image information by directly handling photo-created charge during photo-sensing. We have fabricated and tested a CCD-based range-finding sensor which uses the time-of-flight method for range measurement. The sensor exploits two charge packets for light integration and detects the delay of the received light pulse relative to the transmitted light pulse. It has detected a 10 cm distance difference at the range of 150 cm in the dark background.
A new trajectory control of a flexible-link robot based on a distributed-parameter dynamic model

The objective of this study is to develop a new trajectory-tracking control method, free from the so-called spillover instability, for a flexible-link robot. Based on a distributed-parameter dynamic model (a partial differential equation), a new moment-feedback trajectory-tracking control scheme is designed for a one-link flexible robot having a payload at the free end, in which zero geometric boundary conditions at the hub end and non-zero dynamic boundary conditions at the free end are taken into account. The proposed control is then extended to an adaptive scheme to cope with parametric uncertainties. The proposed control is stable for trajectory-tracking control and asymptotically stable at desired goal positions, which is proven by using the Lyapunov stability theorem. In addition, the proposed trajectory-tracking control, based on a distributed-parameter dynamic model, does not have the spillover problem. Furthermore, the control performance is guaranteed regardless of the magnitude of desired angle...
Diabetes and associated risk factors among Asian American subgroups in New York City.

The diabetes burden is disproportionately experienced by minorities in the U.S., particularly diverse Asian American subgroups. National age-adjusted diabetes rates range from 4.0% among Koreans to 14.2% among Asian Indians (1). In New York City (NYC), foreign-born South Asians have an age-adjusted diabetes prevalence nearly twice as high as foreign-born “other Asians” (13.6 vs. 7.4%) (2). Existing studies on Asian Americans are hampered by a lack of generalizability or inability to distinguish between Asian subgroups (2,3). Our study builds upon the existing literature by examining diabetes prevalence rates and risk factors among three of the largest Asian American subgroups in NYC. The current analysis uses combined data from three waves of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health across the U.S. (REACH U.S.) Risk Factor Survey (2009–2011). An address-based sampling frame method was used to oversample Asian Americans while reducing the bias of traditional random-digit dialing; further details on methodology are described elsewhere (4). …
Global Analysis of Posttranscriptional Regulation by GlmY and GlmZ in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a significant human pathogen and is the cause of bloody diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The virulence repertoire of EHEC includes the genes within the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) that are largely organized in five operons, LEE1 to LEE5, which encode a type III secretion system, several effectors, chaperones, and regulatory proteins. In addition, EHEC also encodes several non-LEE-encoded effectors and fimbrial operons. The virulence genes of this pathogen are under a large amount of posttranscriptional regulation. The small RNAs (sRNAs) GlmY and GlmZ activate the translation of glucosamine synthase (GlmS) in E. coli K-12, and in EHEC they destabilize the 3' fragments of the LEE4 and LEE5 operons and promote translation of the non-LEE-encoded effector EspFu. We investigated the global changes of EHEC gene expression governed by GlmY and GlmZ using RNA sequencing and gene arrays. This study extends the known effects of GlmY and GlmZ regulation to show that they promote expression of the curli adhesin, repress the expression of tryptophan metabolism genes, and promote the expression of acid resistance genes and the non-LEE-encoded effector NleA. In addition, seven novel EHEC-specific sRNAs were identified using RNA sequencing, and three of them--sRNA56, sRNA103, and sRNA350--were shown to regulate urease, fimbria, and the LEE, respectively. These findings expand the knowledge of posttranscriptional regulation in EHEC.
Is It Gropable? Assessing the Impact of Mobility on Textile Interfaces

In a mobile environment, the visual attention a person can devote to a computer is often limited. In such situations, a manual interface should be “gropable,” that is, the user should be able to access and use the interface with little to no visual attention. We compare stationary and mobile input on two embroidered textile interfaces; a single touch three button interface and a multitouch four button interface that is activated by pressing two buttons at the same time. Sixteen participants completed 480 trials while walking a path and sitting. While multitouch increases the expressiveness of gestures that can be performed, our user study only shows a slight, not statistically signi?cant, increase in accuracy and an understandable decrease in speed for simple selection tasks.
A Class I UV-blocking (senofilcon A) soft contact lens prevents UVA-induced yellow fluorescence and NADH loss in the rabbit lens nucleus in vivo.

Abstract It is known that fluorescence, much of it caused by UVA light excitation, increases in the aging human lens, resulting in loss of sharp vision. This study used an in vivo animal model to investigate UVA-excited fluorescence in the rabbit lens, which contains a high level of the UVA chromophore NADH, existing both free and bound to λ-crystallin. Also, the ability of a Class I (senofilcon A) soft contact lens to protect against UVA-induced effects on the rabbit lens was tested. Rabbit eyes were irradiated with UVA light in vivo (100 mW/cm2 on the cornea) for 1 h using monochromatic 365 nm light. Irradiation was conducted in the presence of either a senofilcon A contact lens, a minimally UV-absorbing lotrafilcon A contact lens, or no contact lens at all. Eyes irradiated without a contact lens showed blue 365 nm-excited fluorescence initially, but this changed to intense yellow fluorescence after 1 h. Isolated, previously irradiated lenses exhibited yellow fluorescence originating from the lens nucleus when viewed under 365 nm light, but showed normal blue fluorescence arising from the cortex. Previously irradiated lenses also exhibited a faint yellow color when observed under visible light. The senofilcon A contact lens protected completely against the UVA-induced effects on fluorescence and lens yellowing, whereas the lotrafilcon A lens showed no protection. The UVA-exposure also produced a 53% loss of total NADH (free plus bound) in the lens nucleus, with only a 13% drop in the anterior cortex. NADH loss in the nucleus was completely prevented with use of a senofilcon A contact lens, but no significant protection was observed with a lotrafilcon A lens. Overall, the senofilcon A lens provided an average of 67% protection against UVA-induced loss of four pyridine nucleotides in four different regions of the lens. HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection indicated a nearly six-fold increase in 365 nm-excited yellow fluorescence arising from lens nuclear λ-crystallin after the in vivo UVA exposure. It is concluded that UVA-induced loss of free NADH (which fluoresces blue) may have allowed the natural yellow fluorescence of λ-crystallin and other proteins in the lens nucleus to become visible. Increased fluorescence exhibited by UVA-exposed λ-crystallin may have been the result of a UVA-induced change in the conformation of the protein occurring during the initial UVA-exposure in vivo. The results demonstrate the greater susceptibility of the lens nucleus to UVA-induced stress, and may relate to the formation of human nuclear cataract. The senofilcon A contact lens was shown to be beneficial in protecting the rabbit lens against effects of UVA light, including changes in fluorescence, increased yellowing and loss of pyridine nucleotides.
A cyclophilin homology domain-independent role for Nup358 in HIV-1 infection.

The large nucleoporin Nup358/RanBP2 forms eight filaments that project from the nuclear pore into the cytoplasm where they function as docking platforms for nucleocytoplasmic transport receptors. RNAi screens have implicated Nup358 in the HIV-1 life cycle. The 164 C-terminal amino acids of this 3,224 amino acid protein are a cyclophilin homology domain (Nup358Cyp), which has potential to bind the HIV-1 capsid and regulate viral progress to integration. Here we examined the virological role of Nup358 in conditional knockout mouse cells and in RNAi-depleted human CD4+ T cells. Cre-mediated gene knockout was toxic and diminished HIV-1 infectivity. However, cellular health and HIV-1 susceptibility were coordinately preserved if, prior to gene inactivation, a transposon was used to express all of Nup358 or only the N-terminal 1340 amino acids that contain three FG repeats and a Ran-binding domain. HIV-1, but not N74D capsid-mutant HIV-1, was markedly sensitive to TNPO3 depletion, but they infected 1–1340 segment-complemented Nup358 knockout cells equivalently. Human and mouse CypA both rescued HIV-1 in CypA gene −/− Jurkat cells and TRIM-Nup358Cyp fusions derived from each species were equally antiviral; each also inhibited both WT and N74D virus. In the human CD4+ T cell line SupT1, abrupt Nup358 depletion reduced viral replication but stable Nup358-depleted cells replicated HIV-1 normally. Thus, human CD4+ T cells can accommodate to loss of Nup358 and preserve HIV-1 susceptibility. Experiments with cylosporine, viruses with capsids that do not bind cyclophilins, and growth arrest did not uncover viral dependency on the C-terminal domains of Nup358. Our data reinforce the virological importance of TNPO3 and show that Nup358 supports nuclear transport functions important for cellular homeostasis and for HIV-1 nuclear import. However, the results do not suggest direct roles for the Nup358 cyclophilin or SUMO E3 ligase domains in engaging the HIV-1 capsid prior to nuclear translocation.
Does previous transurethral prostate surgery affect oncologic and continence outcomes after RARP

We examined the effect of previous transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) on multiple oncologic and continence outcomes after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). We performed a retrospective cohort study of a total of 2693 patients from 2007 to 2014 who underwent RARP. Patients were stratified into 49 patients who had previous TURP prior to RARP (group 1) and 2644 patients who had no TURP prior to RARP (group 2). We collected operative variables including estimated blood loss, operative time, and positive surgical margin (PSM) rates. Urinary continence, defined as 0 pads per day (PPD), and social continence, defined as 1-PPD, were also assessed. American Urological Association Symptoms Score (AUASS), overall ability to function sexually, and Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaire were evaluated at 3 and 12 months after RARP. Weakness of urinary stream (EPIC #4d) at 12 months imposed a greater problem for group 1 patients with prior TURP compared to group 2 patients without prior TURP (p = 0.012). PSM was not statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.110). Group 1 patients had a greater PSM rate (30.61 %) as compared to group 2 (20.95 %). PSM locations in group 1 patients showed the most common locations at the posterior and apex. The difference between the two groups for AUASS, overall sexual function, estimated blood loss, operative time, urinary continence, and social continence was not statistically significant. We examined the effect of previous TURP on postoperative RARP continence and oncologic outcomes. This data can be used to counsel those with prior TURP before RARP.
Motor Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in Four States with Seat Belt Use Laws

Analyse des accidents de circulation mortels dans les quatre Etat du Michigan, du New Jersey, de l'Illinois et de New York disposant de lois sur le port de la ceinture de securite
Do Electoral Laws Affect Women’s Representation?:

Numerous studies have found that proportional electoral rules significantly increase women’s representation in national parliaments relative to majoritarian and mixed rules. These studies, however, suffer from serious methodological problems including the endogeneity of electoral laws, poor measures of cultural variables, and neglect of time trends. This article attempts to produce more accurate estimates of the effect of electoral rules on women’s representation by using within-country comparisons of electoral rule changes and bicameral systems as well as matching methods. The main finding is that the effect of electoral laws is not as strong as in previous studies and varies across cases. The policy implication is that changes in electoral laws may not provide a quick and consistent fix to the problem of low women’s representation.
The end of the epidemiology wars? Epidemiological ‘ethics’ and the challenge of translation

This article presents findings from a content analysis of the epidemiological literature from 1990 to 2007. We argue that the notion of multi-causality served as a boundary object that, on the surface, helped to defuse many of the conflicts raised by the so-called ‘epidemiology wars’ of the mid-1990s. But underneath this apparent consensus, we find that epidemiologists have forged two largely divergent ways of navigating their way through a thicket of questions about units and levels of analysis, the nature of disease causation, and the role of epidemiologists in public affairs. The inductive ethic delineates a data-driven enterprise, in which the mission of epidemiology is articulated as determining disease etiology, and it is frequently espoused by epidemiologists interested in the effects of genetic and behavioral risk factors. In contrast, the deductive stance argues for a theory-driven approach, reflecting a historical concern in epidemiology with population-level dynamics. These ethics encompass commitments to differing causal frameworks and views of scientific credibility and social responsibility. Based on these findings, we offer some reflections on the relationships among boundary objects, translation processes, and methods standardization, and how these highlight the challenges to interdisciplinarity in scientific work.
Assumption: A Single Sentence Undermines Many Principles for Taxing Insurers on 'Non-Reinsurance' Acquisitions

In this report, the authors set forth the substantial problems that would be created by an example in the section 338 temporary regulations pertaining to insurance company acquisitions.
Associations Between Substance Use in Commission of Sexual Crimes and Offense Characteristics Among Youth: Mitigating Effects of Substance Use Treatment

The small extant research base on substance use and youth sexual offending has very few descriptive details. Furthermore, research has yet to test associations between the use of substances in the commission of sexual crimes and offense-related characteristics and how substance use treatment can mitigate these effects. In a sample of residentially housed youth adjudicated of a sexual crime ( N = 332), prevalence patterns are broken down by type of substance use behavior. Sequential regression models are run to test the associations between substance use prior to a sexual crime and number of victims, sexual deviance, and non-sexual criminality. Substance use treatment is tested as a mitigating factor in these relationships. Results reveal high levels of family substance use, and high rates of alcohol, marijuana, and other substance use. There were associations between substance use prior to sexual criminality and sexual deviance and non-sexual criminality. Substance use treatment reduced the effects of substance use on non-sexual criminality. Research and treatment implications are offered.
Hypoxia Inducible Factors Modulate Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption and Transcriptional Regulation of Nuclear-Encoded Electron Transport Chain Genes.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF1) is a stress-responsive nuclear transcription factor that is activated with a decrease in oxygen availability. HIF1 regulates the expression of genes involved in a cell’s adaptation to hypoxic stress, including those with mitochondrial specific function. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role of HIF1 in mitochondrial homeostasis, we studied the link between hypoxia, HIF1 transactivation, and electron transport chain (ETC) function. We established immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) for HIF1α wild-type (WT) and null cells and tested whether HIF1α regulates mitochondrial respiration by modulating gene expressions of nuclear-encoded ETC components. High-throughput quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to screen nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes related to the ETC to identify those whose regulation was HIF1α-dependent. Our data suggest that HIF1α regulates transcription of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) heart/muscle isoform 7a...
Frazzled precision guides axons

During development, growing neurons often follow gradients of secreted guidance cues to reach their destination. It now seems that at least one secreted cue — the Netrin protein — can also provide guidance information by being trapped in a specific part of the central nervous system.
Amniotic fluid glucose: a maternal, fetal, and neonatal correlation.

While it has been noted that amniotic fluid glucose is increased in patients with diabetes mellitus, the exact significance of this finding is not known. Our study of amniotic fluid glucose in 53 amniotic fluid samples from 41 patients shows a high correlation of amniotic fluid glucose levels of 30 mg. per 100 ml. or greater with neonatal hypoglycemia. We have also found elevated amniotic fluid glucose levels in patients whose only other indication of abnormal glucose metabolism was recurrent glycosuria. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.
Winter is changing: Trophic interactions under altered snow regimes

Abstract Shifts in abiotic conditions can strongly influence not only the demography, ecology, and evolution of individual species, but also the networks of interactions that structure communities and ecosystems. Though many studies have addressed how changes in mean temperature or rainfall patterns will affect ecosystems, there has been far less attention on the impact of changing snow regimes. As climate change alters the abundance and persistence of snowpack in temperate and polar regions of the globe, novel reductions or accumulations of snow may dramatically impact the nature of interactions between organisms in these ecosystems. In this review, we focus on four major mechanisms by which snow cover affects food webs, by (1) generating an insulated subniveal environment, (2) providing a physical or visual refuge from consumption, (3) affecting movement of animals across landscapes, and (4) driving phenology. For each of these mechanisms, we explore examples of observational and experimental studies that have addressed the role of changing snow conditions on food web processes. Then we highlight open questions regarding the influence of changing snow cover on trophic interactions, and suggest types of experiments and tools that could advance this field of research. We conclude that more experimental work is needed to understand the net effects of altered snow cover on food webs, particularly because snow cover may simultaneously affect multiple trophic levels through different mechanisms.
Drought and the risk of hospital admissions and mortality in older adults in western USA from 2000 to 2013: a retrospective study

Summary Background Occurrence, severity, and geographic extent of droughts are anticipated to increase under climate change, but the health consequences of drought conditions are unknown. We estimate risks of cardiovascular-related and respiratory-related hospital admission and mortality associated with drought conditions for the elderly population in western USA. Methods For this retrospective study, we analysed the 2000 to 2013 data from the US Drought Monitor for 618 counties in the western USA to identify full drought periods, non-drought periods, and worsening drought periods stratified by low severity and high severity. We used Medicare claims made between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2013, to calculate daily rates of cardiovascular admissions, respiratory admissions, and deaths among adults aged 65 years or older. Using a two-stage hierarchical model, we estimated the percentage change in health risks when comparing drought with non-drought period days, controlling for daily weather and seasonal trends. Findings On average, 2·1 million days were classified as non-drought periods and 0·6 million days were classified as drought periods. Compared with non-drought periods, respiratory admissions significantly decreased by −1·99% (95% posterior interval −3·56 to −0·38) during the full drought period, but not during worsening drought conditions. Mortality risk significantly increased by 1·55% (0·17 to 2·95) during the high-severity worsening drought period, but not the full drought or low-severity worsening drought periods. Cardiovascular admissions did not differ significantly during either full drought or worsening drought periods. In counties where drought occurred less frequently, we found risks for cardiovascular disease and mortality to increase during worsening drought conditions. Interpretation Drought conditions increased risk of mortality during high-severity worsening drought, but decreased the risk of respiratory admissions during full drought periods among adults aged 65 years and older. Counties that previously had fewer drought events show larger risk for mortality and cardiovascular disease. This research describes an understudied environmental association with global health significance. Funding The Yale Institute of Biospheric Studies, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Inversion of oceanographic profiling lidars by a perturbation to a linear regression

We present a simple, robust inversion for airborne oceanographic lidar profiles. A linear regression to the logarithm of the return is followed by a perturbation to obtain a backscatter estimate. For typical thin plankton layer examples, errors are expected to be <10% over 90% of the ocean. The inversion was applied to lidar data off the coast of Florida, where the correlation between lidar backscatter at 5 m and surface chlorophyll concentration from satellite ocean color measurements was 0.92.