cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Declarative memory is critical for sustained advantageous complex decision-making

Previous studies have reported conflicting evidence concerning the contribution of declarative memory to advantageous decision-making on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). One study, in which the measurement of psychophysiology during the task necessitated a 10-s delay between card selections, found that six participants with amnesia due to hippocampal damage failed to develop a preference for advantageous decks over disadvantageous decks [Gutbrod, K., Krouzel, C., Hofer, H., Muri, R., Perrig, W., & Ptak, R. (2006). Decision-making in amnesia: Do advantageous decisions require conscious knowledge of previous behavioural choices? Neuropsychologia, 44(8), 1315-1324]. However, a single-case study (where psychophysiology was not measured and no delay between card selections occurred) showed that an amnesic patient developed normal preference for advantageous decks [Turnbull, O. H., & Evans, C. E. (2006). Preserved complex emotion-based learning in amnesia. Neuropsychologia, 44(2), 300-306]. We sought to resolve these discrepant findings by examining IGT performances in five patients with profound amnesia (WMS-III General Memory Index M=63) and bilateral hippocampal damage caused by anoxia (n=4) or herpes simplex encephalitis (n=1). In one administration of the IGT, psychophysiology measurements were utilized and a 6-s delay was interposed between card selections. In a second administration, no delay between card selections was interposed. While age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy comparison participants showed significant learning with a gradual preference for advantageous decks in both conditions, amnesic patients, irrespective of IGT administration condition and extent of medial temporal lobe damage, failed to develop this preference. These findings strongly discount the possibility that the delay between card selections explains why amnesic participants fail to learn in the IGT, and suggest instead a significant role for medial temporal lobe declarative memory systems in the type of complex decision-making tapped by the IGT.
Aperture‐coupled pentagon shape dielectric resonator antennas providing wideband and multiband performance

The aperture-coupled regular and irregular pentagon-shaped dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) are presented providing wideband and multiband performances. The regular and irregular pentagon shape DRAs show wideband impedance matching (S11 = −10 dB) bandwidth of 42% (from 2.55 to 3.9 GHz) and 45.8% (from 2.57 to 4.1 GHz), respectively. Further, the irregular pentagon shape DRA also shows triple bands: 2.42–2.61 GHz (Band 1), 3.15–4.05 GHz (Band 2) and 5–5.65 GHz (Band 3) with a percentage matching bandwidths of 7.55, 23.77, and 12.2%, respectively. These DRAs offer acceptable directional radiation patterns for both wideband and multiband performances. Prototype of the regular pentagon shape DRA has been fabricated and experimentally verified for both the matching bandwidth and radiation performance. The simulated and measured results are in very good agreement. These DRAs can find applications in wireless communications devices such as base stations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:395–400, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27338
An Information Space for Partial Length Perception in Dynamic Touch

In 2 experiments, participants held a rod, which was occluded from view, at some position along its length and reported the 2 partial lengths—the lengths to the left and to the right of the hand. In Experiment 1, the possible importance of gravitational torque was investigated by comparing judgments made during freely wielding a rod with judgments made during wielding it about a fixed horizontal axis. Performance was better in the free condition, but participants' moderate success in the fixed condition implicated the importance of gravitational torque. In Experiment 2, in which the fixed axis was vertical so no gravitational torque was available, participants could not discriminate longer and shorter sides, though the sum (total rod length) correlated highly with the sum of the 2 partial-length judgments, implicating the importance of inertial moment alone. The results imply that a variable space that captures partial lengths can be derived from moment of inertia and gravitational torque, at least when r...
Theories of earnings-announcement timing

Abstract Recent empirical research has found that when a firm releases its earnings report earlier than expected, its stock price rises, on average, while if the report is late, its stock price declines. The analysis here focuses on two alternative explanations for these findings, each based on the premise that some firms with unfavorable earnings increase their reported income through earnings management. In one case earnings management necessitates a reporting delay, while in the other a delay is caused by the manager's desire to first observe other firms' earnings. Both cases lead to market reactions consistent with the empirical findings.
Robust Transmit Nulling in Wideband Arrays

The ability to create nulls in the transmit pattern of a phased array antenna has many applications in communication and radar systems, including interference and clutter mitigation. This paper describes the implementation of transmit nulls in wideband arrays through the use of a filter bank inserted behind each array element. The filter bank decimates and partitions the transmit signal into independent subbands and utilizes a tapped delay line (TDL) in each subband to form frequency invariant spatial nulls in the array's transmit pattern. New contributions developed in this paper include an algorithm for determining the TDL coefficients and a novel band partitioning scheme based on principal component filter banks (PCFBs), which is shown to be optimal for minimizing spectral errors if the TDL coefficients are quantized. Numerical techniques are presented for approximating ideal PCFBs using practical paraunitary filter banks (PUFBs) and perfect reconstruction filter banks (PRFBs).
The significance of suffering in cancer care

Understanding suffering as a possible meaning of cancer for patients and families is a necessary part of cancer nursing care. This article presents a discussion of suffering as a possible meaning of cancer for patients and family members. Suffering is addressed in the context of its definition as an experience of the whole person. First, to illustrate suffering, a narrative of a young man treated for leukemia with bone marrow transplantation is presented. The narrative focuses on the man's suffering as he struggles to make meaning of what has happened to him, a struggle that ends with his death. The second part of the article presents eight aphorisms or succinct principles of suffering. Each aphorism is discussed with examples from the case narrative and related literature.
Application of Sonic Moduli of Elasticity and Rigidity to Testing of Heavy Refractories

The application of A.S.T.M. C 215-51 T (Tentative Method of Test for Fundamental Transverse Frequency of Concrete Specimens for Calculating Young's Modulus of Elasticity) to the nondestructive testing of 1- by 1- by 7-in. laboratory fire-clay specimens and standard 9-in. fire-clay and high-alumina refractory brick is reviewed. Both room-temperature measurements and hot sonic modulus of elasticity measurements to 1700°F. are analyzed. Sonic moduli of elasticity and rigidity are compared with modulus of rupture by a theory of measurements and statistical analysis. The limits of uncertainty of the average of modulus of rupture are shown to be a function of the degree of verification whereas in the case of both sonic moduli they are not. Limits of uncertainty of the average of sonic moduli data are usually of the same order as errors calculated from the precision of measurements. In the case of modulus of rupture of well-vitrified clays, the uncertainty of the average is much greater than calculated error limits. Sonic moduli differentiate statistically between two samples of 60% alumina brick whereas modulus of rupture does not. If Poisson's ratio is assumed to be zero rather than the conventional one-sixth, ratios of sonic modulus of elasticity to rigidity are shown to approximate the theoretical ratio more closely. Effects of nonuniform density to displace normal nodes are illustrated. Hot sonic modulus of elasticity is shown to reflect changes due to crystallographic inversions, deterioration of chemical bond in unfired brick, and development of sintered bond in unfired brick.
The Invisible Primary and Its Effects on Democratic Choice

The current method for selecting presidential nominees by the two major parties went into place mostly in 1972 and certainly by 1976, after Buckely v. Valeo . It was the natural culmination of reform efforts over the history of the republic in that, while prior reforms consistently invoked greater openness and democratic governance as rationales for their adoption, this method actually empowered voters as the central figures in determining who would be nominated (see Aldrich 1987 ). This fact became fully evident almost at once. The selection via primaries of senator George McGovern in 1972 and governor Jimmy Carter in 1976 as the Democratic presidential nominees arguably not only would not have happened, they would not have even come close to winning nomination without successful appeal to the voting public.
Action of Rennin on κ-Casein

Abstract The action of rennin on κ -casein was studied as a function of time using several methods to measure activity. The first indication of rennin cleavage of κ -casein is precipitability in .1M acetate buffer at pH 5.2 and 5C. A longer exposure to rennin is required to alter κ -casein so that it forms a precipitate with calcium ions and loses its ability to stabilize α s -casein. The least sensitive indication of rennin activity is measurement of nitrogen soluble in 2% trichloroacetic acid. Electrophoresis experiments showed that these methods detect various stages in the conversion of κ -casein to para- κ -casein.
Perception of tobacco use prevention and cessation among faculty members in Latin American and Caribbean dental schools.

Rates of tobacco use are increasing in the regions of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Unfortunately, tobacco cessation education is not a standard component of the dental curriculum in LAC dental schools. The objective of this study was to identify the perceptions of LAC dental faculty members regarding the tobacco use prevention and cessation (TUPAC) competencies that should be addressed in the dental curricula. Dental deans and faculty completed a web-based questionnaire in Spanish, Portuguese, French, or English. The questionnaire contained 32 competencies grouped into the five A's (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange) of tobacco cessation and six supplementary questions for identifying barriers to providing TUPAC education to dental students. Respondents indicated the degree to which they believed each competency should be incorporated into the dental curricula using a five-point Likert scale (“1” = strongly disagree to “5” = strongly agree). Responses were obtained from 390 faculty members (66 % South America, 18 % Mexico/Central America, 16 % the Caribbean). Of the respondents, 2, 12, and 83 % reported that smoking was allowed in clinical environments, other indoor environments, and outdoor environments of their dental schools, respectively. Mean importance ratings for each of the competencies were as follows: Ask (4.71), Advise (4.54), Assess (4.41), Assist (4.07), and Arrange (4.01). Overall, LAC dental educators agree that TUPAC training should be incorporated into the dental curricula. Assist and Arrange competencies were rated lower, relative to other competencies. Tobacco use among dental educators and high rates of on-campus smoking could potentially pose barriers to promoting cessation interventions in the LAC dental schools.
Evaluating aging of coatings and sealants: Mechanisms

Abstract Photodegradation mechanisms of a model coating/sealant system based upon styrene–butadiene–styrene triblock copolymer have been investigated. The model system was exposed to ultraviolet–visible radiation using an integrating sphere-based exposure chamber at 30 °C and
Self-assembly of cerium compound nanopetals via a hydrothermal process: Synthesis, formation mechanism and properties

Nanopetals of cerium hydroxycarbonate have been synthesized via a controlled hydrothermal process in a mixed water-ethanol medium. Electron microscopy indicates that each microsized flower consists of tens to hundreds of cerium hydroxycarbonate nanopetals. These nanopetals have a very large aspect ratio: a width as large as 10 {mu}m, with a thickness as thin as 10 nm. The formation of the cerium compound depends strongly on the composition of the precursors, and is attributed to the favored ethanol oxidation by Ce(IV) ions over Ce(IV) hydrolysis process. Raman studies showed that microflower CeO{sub 2} preferentially stabilizes O{sub 2} as a peroxide species on its surface for CO oxidation. - Graphical abstract: Nanopetals of cerium compounds have been synthesized using a hydrothermal method in a mixed water-ethanol medium. Electron microscopy reveals that each microflower consists of tens to hundreds of cerium hydroxycarbonate nanopetals. These nanopetals have a very large aspect ratio: the thickness is as thin as 10 nm whereas the width is as large as 10 {mu}m. The formation of these unique structures depends strongly on the composition of the precursors, and is attributed to the favored ethanol oxidation by Ce(IV) ions over Ce(IV) hydrolysis.
The effects of pH regulation upon the release of sulfate from ferric precipitates formed in acid mine drainage

`Batch experiments' (25:1 v:w) were used to test the effects of pH upon the release of SO−24 from ferric precipitates formed in acid mine drainage (AMD) in southeastern Kentucky. Analytical grade CaO [`quicklime'], Ca(OH)2 [hydrated lime] and CaCO3 [referred to as `limestone'] were used as alkalinity generating agents and were mixed with ferric precipitates composed of amorphous iron oxyhydroxides, jarosite and goethite. Regression analyses indicated that aqueous SO−24 concentrations increased linearly with pH between values of 2.5 and 9.0. At pH=7, 30–45% of the oxalate soluble SO−24 was released from the ferric precipitates. The 3 types of alkaline neutralizing agents released similar, but not identical, quantities of SO−24 at a given pH. The results of these experiments suggest that AMD remediation schemes should consider raising the pH of waste streams only to values necessary to precipitate and/or sorb metals, in order to minimize SO−24 desorption. Iron oxyhydroxides that precipitate within AMD often sorb high concentrations of SO−24; a significant percentage of which will be released in streams draining carbonate bedrock.
Tri-component Diels–Alder polymerized dendrimer glass exhibiting large, thermally stable, electro-optic activity

A novel, thermally curable, tri-component organic glass for electro-optic applications was designed and synthesized. The system employed the Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction to effect efficient cross-linking. The first component was a dendrimer containing multiple electro-optic chromophore substituents surrounded by an outer periphery possessing diene functionality. The second was a furan-protected, bis-dienophile electro-optic chromophore, introduced in order to function as a nonlinear optically-active cross-linking agent. The initial glass-transition temperature of the material was tuned by the addition of the third component, an optically-inert, maleimide-based dienophile cross-linking agent. Tuning of this mixture allowed optimum poling temperature to coincide with optimum thermal conditions for promotion of the Diels–Alder cross-linking reaction. The electro-optic properties of the material were evaluated in real-time, using a reflection-based single-beam ellipsometry apparatus that was modified to perform in situ signal monitoring. The high electro-optic activity observed (r33 of 150 pm V−1), was thermally stable up to 130 °C (a 48 °C improvement over similar uncross-linked materials). After processing, materials were insoluble in acetone, retained 90% of their original r33 after 15 months at room temperature, and performed well in accelerated operational testing at 85 °C in air.
Mass transfer in evaporating falling liquid film mixtures

We provide the formulation of the governing equations and boundary conditions that describe the evaporation of two-component liquid films falling down a vertical surface. Based on these governing equations, the concentration profile and axially developing Sherwood numbers are calculated by a numerical procedure. An analytical representation of the asymptotic Sherwood number with a value of 140/33 is derived, and the results of the numerical calculation are shown to approach this analytical solution at long lengths
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM OVERACTIVITY IN MEN WITH LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS SECONDARY TO BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

ABSTRACTPurpose: The relationship of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) to objective measures of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as prostatic size and urodynamic parameters, has proved difficult to evaluate. Studies in animal models of BPH suggest that autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is an important determinant of prostatic growth. We investigated the relationship of ANS activity to LUTS as well as to objective measures of BPH in men with BPH.Materials and Methods: This study was done in 3,047 men with LUTS secondary to BPH during screening for enrolment at 1 center in a large, multicenter, double-blind, placebo controlled trial designed to assess the long-term effects of medical therapy on BPH progression. A total of 38 men with an American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score of 8 or greater and a maximum urinary flow rate of 4 to less than 15 ml per second had ANS activity assessed based on heart rate, blood pressure, the response to circulatory stress via tilt table, and plasma...
Effects of thiastearic acids on growth and on dihydrosterculic acid and other phospholipid fatty acyl groups of Leishmania promastigotes

Thiastearic acid positional isomers (8, 9, 10, 11) were examined for their ability to inhibit population growth and the biosynthesis of a phosphatidylethanolamine cyclopropane fatty acyl group, cis-9,10-methyleneoctadecanoic acid (dihydrosterculic acid), by promastigotes of Leishmania species. Thiastearic acids are candidate chemotherapeutic agents, since cyclopropane fatty acids are not formed by vertebrate cells. 8- and 10-thiastearic acids strongly inhibited the growth of strains containing the most dihydrosterculic acid (Leishmania tropica and Leishmania donovani; 25-35% phosphatidylethanolamine fatty acyl groups) and less strongly inhibited strains containing no dihydrosterculic acid (Leishmania major). The 11-thiastearic acid was less effective and 9-thiastearic acid ineffective. Strains containing 1-15% dihydrosterculic acid (L. donovani, Leishmania braziliensis, Leishmania aethiopica and Leishmania mexicana mexicana) were with few exceptions not inhibited by any of the isomers. All the thiastearic acid isomers caused a dose-dependent loss of dihydrosterculic acid. This was accompanied by a loss of phosphatidylethanolamine in the case of dihydrosterculic acid-rich leishmanial strains exposed to the 8- and 10-isomers. The 8- and 10-thiastearic acids also caused a loss of C18 unsaturated fatty acyl groups and increases in palmitic and stearic acids in the phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine of the dihydrosterculic acid-rich and dihydrosterculic acid-free leishmanial strains. 11-Thiastearic acid was much less effective and 9-thiastearic acid ineffective. These changes were not evident in those strins which contained 1-15% dihydrosterculic acid and whose growth was not inhibited by the thiastearic acid isomers. It is concluded that thiastearic acid isomers may inhibit both dihydrosterculic acid biosynthesis and fatty acid desaturation, with the 9-isomer having the highest specificity for dihydrosterculic acid biosynthesis. Population growth of promastigotes of Leishmania species in culture is not dependent upon dihydrosterculic acid biosynthesis but is dependent upon fatty acid desaturation.
Oligocene or Younger Thrust Faulting in the Ruby Mountains, Northeastern Nevada

A klippe of unmetamorphosed Devonian carbonate rocks rests on the Harrison Pass intrusive body south of Toyn Creek in the central Ruby Mountains, Elko County, Nevada. This klippe and other klippen of Carboniferous strata—first mapped by R. P. Sharp (1942)—that rest on lower Paleozoic strata are believed to represent a once-continuous thrust sheet that developed after emplacement of the intrusive body. This intrusion of coarse-grained granodiorite to quartz monzonite is exposed over an area of about 45 square miles. Potassium-argon and lead-alpha age determinations on four samples of the intrusive body establish Oligocene or younger age for the thrusting. Potassium-argon age determinations on biotites from the four samples range from 29 to 36 m.y. with a possible analytical error of ±10 percent. Lead-alpha age determinations (all with a possible analytical error of ±10 m.y.) on zircon showed 40 m.y. for three of the samples and 30 m.y. for the fourth. Lead-alpha and potassium-argon dates on a fifth sample collected by R. R. Coats also fall within these ranges. The agreement of the radiometric dates indicates a lack of thermal activity subsequent to the emplacement of the intrusion and establishes a maximum age of Oligocene for the thrust faulting. The present distribution of thermally metamorphosed Paleozoic rocks in the Ruby Mountains seems to preclude the possibility that the thrust plate originated within the Ruby Mountains. Sharp suggested a western source with displacement of from 7 to 10 miles.
An Improvement of a Recent Eulerian Method for Solving PDEs on General Geometries

We improve upon a method introduced in Bertalmio et al. [4] for solving evolution PDEs on codimension-one surfaces in $$\mathbb{R}^N.$$ As in the original method, by representing the surface as a level set of a smooth function, we use only finite differences on a Cartesian mesh to solve an Eulerian representation of the surface PDE in a neighborhood of the surface. We modify the original method by changing the Eulerian representation to include effects due to surface curvature. This modified PDE has the very useful property that any solution which is initially constant perpendicular to the surface remains so at later times. The change remedies many of problems facing the original method, including a need to frequently extend data off of the surface, uncertain boundary conditions, and terribly degenerate parabolic PDEs. We present numerical examples that include convergence tests in neighborhoods of the surface that shrink with the grid size
Synthesis of and photodegradation in a series of poly(ethylene terephthalate)–co–4,4′‐sulfonyldibenzoate yarns

Phototendering studies of poly(ethylene terephthalate) homopolymer yarn and a series of poly(ethylene terephthalate–co–4, 4′-sulfonyldibenzoate) copolymer yarns have shown that photosensitized degradation occurs more readily in the copolymers than in the homopolymer. A photo-oxidative mechanism involving the second monomer, dibutyl 4, 4′-sulfonyldibenzoate, has been proposed to account for the photosensitization. The photophysical processes in the second monomer, dibutyl 4, 4′-sulfonyldibenzoate, were studied by absorption and luminescence techniques. The lowest excited singlet and triplet in this compound were identified as the 1(π, π*) and 3(π, π*) states, respectively. The energy levels in the second monomer have been assigned as follows: 1S1 ∼ 33,000 cm−1, 1S2 ∼ 42,000 cm−1, and 3T1 ∼ 26,000 cm−1.
Cross-sectoral collaboration in the pursuit of social change: Addressing sex trafficking in West Bengal:

This field note explores how a hybrid social change organization based in India engaged in cross-sectoral collaboration with police and community-based sectors to address sex trafficking and advanc...
DIETARY OXALATE LOADS AND RENAL OXALATE HANDLING

ABSTRACTPurpose: Dietary oxalate makes a significant contribution to urinary oxalate excretion and, thus, may have a role in calcium oxalate kidney stone formation. Studies have indicated that the ingestion of oxalate rich foods results in transient increases in plasma oxalate concentrations and urinary oxalate excretion. We examined changes in plasma and urinary oxalate following oral crystalline oxalate loading under controlled dietary conditions to further define the renal handling of oxalate by normal adults.Materials and Methods: Six normal adult subjects consumed controlled diets of known oxalate content for 1 week before ingesting loads of 0, 2, 4 and 8 mmol of oxalate. Urinary and plasma changes were measured to assess renal oxalate handling. Urinary excretion of proximal tubule derived enzymes and isoprostanes was monitored to assess for renal injury and oxidative stress.Results: Time and dose dependent changes in plasma oxalate, urinary oxalate and in the clearance ratio of oxalate-to-creatinine...
A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE SUBTRIBE LAGASCEINAE (COMPOSITAE, HELIANTHEAE)

A B S T R A C T The subtribe Lagasceinae of the tribe Heliantheae is recognized traditionally to consist of two genera: Lagascea and Coulterella. Although both taxa possess uni-flowered heads aggregated into synflorescences, they are very different in most other morphological and anatomical respects. The six species of Lagascea that were investigated cytologically are n = 17, whereas the monotypic Coulterella is n - 18 with chromosomes one-half the size of those of Lagascea. The dissimilarities suggest that the two genera should not be retained in the same subtribe, and that the subtribe Lagasceinae should be abandoned. Lagascea seems to be related most closely to genera of the subtribe Helianthinae, such as Alvordia. Coulterella, on the other hand, seems closest to Flaveria of the tribe Helenieae or Senecioneae. THE HELIANTHEAE of the Compositae is regarded as one of the largest and most primitive of the 13 tribes of the family (Bentham, 1873; Cronquist, 1955a). Because of large size and diverse morphology, the Heliantheae have been subdivided traditionally into 11 subtribes (Hoffmann, 1890; Carlquist, 1957). Recent studies of the Melampodiinae and Milleriinae (Stuessy, 1971, 1973) have indicated that these two subtribes are heterogeneous, and that the predictive quality of the subtribal classification of the entire tribe is not as great as it could or should be. This report on the subtribe Lagasceinae is an attempt to improve subtribal delimitations. Of the 11 subtribes of the Heliantheae, the Lagasceinae are one of the smallest with only two included genera: Lagascea Cav. (with seven species; Stuessy, unpubl.) and Coulterella Vasey & Rose (monotypic). Both genera have uniflowered heads aggregated into compound capitula, a floral condition found nowhere else in the tribe. In addition, Lagascea has been placed in several different tribes and subtribes, resulting in part from the unusual compound nature of its inflorescence. The purposes of the present paper, therefore,
Coulomb Scattering of Polarized Electrons

An approximate analytical expression for the spin dependent cross section for Coulomb scattering, valid to order ( alpha Z)/sup 4/, is developed. The development is based on a modification of the Sommerfeld-Maue wave function. The ( alpha Z)/sup 2/ and ( alpha Z)/sup 3/ terms in the resulting cross section are identical with the corresponding terms found by the second Born approximation. The ( alpha Z)/sup 4/ term is verified by analytically summing the corresponding term in the Mott series. Graphs are presented which compare the approximate ana lytical expressions for both the cross section and asymmetry function with exact numerical results. (auth)
Giant cell lesions of the skull.

Giant cell tumor, chondroblastoma, brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism, aneurysmal bone cyst, fibrous dysplasia, and reparative giant cell granuloma have been discussed with reference to their behavior in the skull. They have been compared with special regard to clinical presentation, roentgenographic appearance, gross and microscopic pathologic characteristics, treatment, and prognosis.
High-level expression and purification of untagged and histidine-tagged HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

We have devised simplified protocols to purify large quantities of histidine-tagged (His-tagged) and untagged heterodimeric forms of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT). Here, we report the optimization of overexpression and purification of heterodimeric RT expressed in Escherichia coli. The coding sequences of p66 and p51 subunits of RT were amplified using PCR from HXB2 HIV-1 and cloned into a bacterial expression system. The resulting expression plasmids for the RT subunits, pET-RT66 and pET-RT51, were under a strong T7/lac promoter that is induced by isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside. Purification of heterodimeric forms of RT was facilitated by high-level expression of these subunits that represented approximately 30-40% of total cell protein. For purification of the His-tagged heterodimeric RT, cell pellet from cells expressing the untagged p66 subunit was mixed in excess with a cell pellet expressing tagged p51. For untagged heterodimeric RT, the pellet from cells expressing p51 was mixed in excess with pellet expressing p66. Subunit dimerization occurred during cell lysis. During the subsequent chromatography steps, stable p66/p51 heterodimer was purified to homogeneity. The heterodimeric nature of the final preparations of RT was confirmed by analytical gel filtration, mass spectrometry, and denaturing gel electrophoresis. Further, the sensitivity of these enzyme preparations to AZTTP indicated that the histidine tag had no effect on nucleoside inhibitor binding, nucleotide binding or insertion, or DNA binding. The application of these expression/purification methodologies represents a useful method to purify large quantities of heterodimeric RT for structural investigations and provides an efficient protocol to produce subunit-specific amino acid alterations necessary for unambiguous structure/function investigations.
A comparison of the factor structure of an assertion scale across sex and population

The factor structure of the College Self-Expression Scale (CSES), a measure of assertion, was investigated in two large universities and one women's college. For each population, a principal axis solution with squared multiple correlations on the diagonals and a varimax rotation of factors with eigenvalues greater than one was used. Factor structures were compared statistically within and across populations. Although only a modest percentage of total variance was extracted, the results indicated that the CSES is multifactored, that the factor structure is relatively stable within the same population, and that sex differences influenced the factor structure less than population differences.
High-frequency shape and albedo from shading using natural image statistics

We relax the long-held and problematic assumption in shape-from-shading (SFS) that albedo must be uniform or known, and address the problem of “shape and albedo from shading” (SAFS). Using models normally reserved for natural image statistics, we impose “naturalness” priors over the albedo and shape of a scene, which allows us to simultaneously recover the most likely albedo and shape that explain a single image. A simplification of our algorithm solves classic SFS, and our SAFS algorithm can solve the intrinsic image decomposition problem, as it solves a superset of that problem. We present results for SAFS, SFS, and intrinsic image decomposition on real lunar imagery from the Apollo missions, on our own pseudo-synthetic lunar dataset, and on a subset of the MIT Intrinsic Images dataset[15]. Our one unified technique appears to outperform the previous best individual algorithms for all three tasks. Our technique allows a coarse observation of shape (from a laser rangefinder or a stereo algorithm, etc) to be incorporated a priori. We demonstrate that even a small amount of low-frequency information dramatically improves performance, and motivate the usage of shading for high-frequency shape (and albedo) recovery.
Constitutional de novo t(1;22)(p22;q11.2) and ependymoma☆

Abstract There is a body of evidence suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 22 which plays a role in the pathogenesis of ependymomas. We report a patient with a de novo constitutional t(1;22)(p22;q11.2) who developed a malignant ependymoma at age 5. The patient is otherwise phenotypically normal. By fluorescence in situ hydridization (FISH) analysis, the chromosome 22 breakpoint has been localized to the region between the DiGeorge locus and BCR. Since NF2 and EWS are both distal to BCR, they are presumably not involved in this rearrangement. This patient may offer a unique opportunity to identify the chromosome 22 ependymoma tumor suppressor gene by cloning the translocation breakpoint.
The effects of yellowing viruses on yield of sugar beet in field trials, 1985 and 1987

Summary The separate effects of beet yellows virus (BYV) and beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) on yield of sugar-beet cultivars inoculated at different growth stages were assessed in field trials in 1985 and 1987. Early or mid-season inoculation decreased sugar yield by up to 47% for BYV, and up to 29% for BMYV. Infections after the end of July had no significant effect on yield. Both viruses caused significant increases in the juice impurities sodium, potassium and amino-nitrogen after infecting plants early in the season. Yield losses associated with infection were determined by the causative virus, the time of infection, and susceptibility of the sugar-beet cultivars.
Photodetector arrays from 100 mm diameter InGaAs/InP epitaxial wafers

Abstract Low dark current (210 nA/cm2 at −1 V), high shunt resistance area product (0.3 MΩ cm2) photodetector arrays have been fabricated on 100 mm diameter InGaAs/InP epitaxial wafers. The lattice-matched In.53Ga.47As was deposited by organometallic vapor-phase epitaxy upon sulfur-doped InP substrates. High-quality surface appearance and good uniformity of X-ray and photoluminescence intensity and wavelength were observed. Over 360 linear arrays of 256 or 512-element devices can be obtained from these 100 mm diameter wafers and represent more than a four-fold yield increase over that obtained with current industry standard of 50 mm diameter wafers. Good results from 320×240 element InGaAs/InP focal plane arrays fabricated on 75 mm diameter substrates were also obtained.
SHOCK-WAVE COMPRESSIONS OF TWENTY-SEVEN METALS. EQUATIONS OF STATE OF METALS

An explosive system is used to drive a strong shock wave into a plate of 24ST aluminum. This shock wave propagates through the 24ST aluminum into small test specimens which are in contact with the front surface of the plate. A photographic technique is used to measure velocities associated with the 24ST aluminum shock wave and with the shock wave in each specimen.The measured velocities are transformed, using the conservation relations, to pressure-compression points. Resulting pressure-compression curves are given for 27 metals. The range of data is different for each material but typically covers the pressure interval 150 to 400 kilobars; probable errors in reported experimental pressure-compression curves are 1 or 2% in compression for a given pressure.The experimental curves, which consist thermodynamically of a known $P$, $V$, $E$ locus for each material, are used to calculate a more complete high-pressure equation of state. This is done by means of a theoretical estimate of the volume variation of the Gr\"uneisen ratio $\ensuremath{\gamma}(V)=V{(\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}P}{\ensuremath{\partial}E})}_{V}$. Calculated $P$, $V$, $T$ states are listed for the various materials. For 24ST aluminum, quantities of application in shock-wave hydrodynamics are also tabulated.
Novel Calibration Method for Swept Source OCT with Improved Resolution and Dynamic Range

For a swept source OCT, a real-time calibration process is necessary. Using Genetic Algorithm and precise interpolation, a novel calibration process is developed. When compared with existing approaches, axial resolution and dynamic range are increased.
Prenatal vitamin intake during pregnancy and offspring obesity

In animal studies, exposure to multivitamins may be associated with obesity in the offspring; however, data in humans are sparse. We therefore examined the association between prenatal vitamin intake during pregnancy and offspring obesity. We investigated the association between prenatal vitamin intake and obesity among 29 160 mother–daughter dyads in the Nurses’ Health Study II. Mothers of participants provided information on prenatal vitamin use during pregnancy with the nurse daughter. Information on body fatness at ages 5 and 10, body mass index (BMI) at age 18, weight in 1989 and 2009, waist circumference, and height was obtained from the daughter. Polytomous logistic regression was used to predict BMI in early adulthood and adulthood, and body fatness in childhood. Linear regression was used to predict waist circumference in adulthood. In utero exposure to prenatal vitamins was not associated with body fatness, either in childhood or in adulthood. Women whose mothers took prenatal vitamins during pregnancy had a covariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of being obese in adulthood of 0.99 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92–1.05, P-value=0.68) compared with women whose mothers did not take prenatal vitamins. Women whose mothers took prenatal vitamins during pregnancy had a covariate-adjusted OR of having the largest body shape at age 5 of 1.02 (95% CI 0.90–1.15, P-value=0.78). In additional analyses, in utero exposure to prenatal vitamins was also unrelated to adult abdominal adiposity. Exposure to prenatal vitamins was not associated with body fatness either in childhood or in adulthood.
Accurate Mass Precursor Ion Data and Tandem Mass Spectrometry Identify a Class I Human Leukocyte Antigen A*0201–Presented Peptide Originating from Vaccinia Virus

We have used accurate mass precursor ion data generated on a hybrid linear-ion trap-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer to augment tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data generated on two different instrument types. Results from these experiments have allowed us for the first time to identify a naturally processed peptide presented by a class I human leukocyte antigen allele (HLA-A*0201) that was isolated from B cells infected by live vaccinia, the viral agent of the smallpox vaccine. The accurate mass data, in conjunction with MS/MS data, was able to identify the sequence IVIEAIHTV (aa 187–195) from the protein thymidylate kinase of vaccinia, distinguishing it from a similar sequence IVLEAIAEH: a “self-peptide” from the human protein phospholipase Cβ3. Accurate mass data for the doubly charged species from the naturally processed and presented peptide was 497.8006, which was within 0.8 ppm of the calculated m/z of 497.8002, while being −37.3 ppm from the calculated m/z (497.7820) of the second-ranked peptide sequence IVLEAIAEH. Accurate mass data ranged from less than 0.1 to 1.2 ppm for other peptides identified in this sample. A BLAST search shows this sequence, IVIEAIHTV, is conserved in the same protein of a number of other orthopoxviruses, including the variola (smallpox) virus. Additionally, accurate mass data were able to uncover a false positive search result that was not distinguished by scoring of the match to the MS/MS data.
(his)6-Tag-Specific Optical Probes For Analyses of Proteins and Their Interactions

The hexahistidine (His6)/Nickel (II)-Nitrilotriacetic Acid (Ni2+-NTA) system is a rapid and efficient tool for affinity purification of recombinant proteins. The NTA group has many other valuable applications, including surface immobilization of (His)6-tagged proteins and the attachment of chromophores and fluorophores to His6-tagged proteins. Here we explore several applications of the NTA-derivative fluorescent probe, (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3. This molecule binds (His)6-tagged proteins N-ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor (NSF) and O6-alklyguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) with moderate affinity (KD = 200-300 nM) and without detectable effect on the assayable functions of these proteins. High specificity makes this interaction suitable for detecting a (His)6-tagged protein in the presence of a large excess proteins that do not carry (His)6-tags, allowing (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3 to be used as a probe in crude cell extracts and as a (His)6-specific gel stain. (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3 binding is rapidly reversible in 10 mM EDTA or 500 mM imidazole but in the absence of these agents the probe exchanges slowly between (His)6-tagged proteins (kexchange ∼ 5 × 10-6 s-1 with 0.2 μM labeled protein in the presence of 1μM (His)6-peptide). Labeling a protein with (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3 allows characterization of hydrodynamic properties by fluorescence anisotropy or analytical ultracentrifugation under conditions (such as high ATP concentration) that would interfere with direct detection of protein by absorbance or fluorescence in the near UV. In addition, FRET between of (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3-labeled protein and a suitable donor or acceptor provides a convenient assay for binding interactions and has the potential to allow accurate measurements of donor-acceptor distance.Supported by NIH grant GM-070662 to MGF.
Levetiracetam: A Practical Option for Seizure Management in Elderly Patients With Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive impairment and seizures are common in our aging population. Anticonvulsant treatment is problematic due to sedation, cognitive slowing, and behavioral changes. Levetiracetam has favorable pharmacokinetics, good efficacy in elderly individuals, a favorable side effect profile, and lacks major drug interactions. We conducted a prospective, uncontrolled, phase 4, open label, 12-week study of levetiracetam to better profile its efficacy, safety, and impact on cognitive/behavioral status in 24 cognitively impaired, elderly individuals. In total, 69% were seizure free for the duration of the study; the remaining participants had satisfactory seizure control. Fatigue was the most common side effect (5 participants). Significant overall improvements were observed for the Folstein’s Mini-Mental State Examination and the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale—Cognitive. No significant changes were seen in behavioral or functional measures. Levetiracetam is an effective antiepileptic drug in elderly individu...
Effect of rare-earth doping in RCrSb3 (R=La, Pr, Sm, and Gd)

We report on the electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility of La or Gd doped RCrSb{sub 3} (R=La, Pr, Sm, and Gd). Single crystals were grown by increasing the nominal dopant by 25%. In general, two magnetic ordering transitions are found, T{sub C1} is attributed to ferromagnetic ordering of the itinerant Cr sub-lattice, and, at lower temperatures, T{sub C2} is attributed to ordering of the localized rare-earth sub-lattice. Alloying on the rare-earth site varies the de Gennes factor, DG = (g-1){sup 2}J(J+1), and dT{sub C1}/d(DG) = -2K, while dT{sub C2}/d(DG) = 5K. These ordering temperatures are found to converge at GdCrSb{sub 3}, where a single ferrimagnetic transition is found at T{sub C2} = 86 K due to an anti-alignment of the itinerant Cr moments and the localized rare-earth moments. Initially, for DG 4.5, the rare-earth sub-lattice anti-alignes with respect to the Cr sub-lattice, and the Weiss temperature decreases five times as fast. In the region between (3.5 < DG < 4.5), a first order phase transition is found at T{sub C2}.
A novel formulation of the volume integral equation for electromagnetic scattering

A novel method to solve the volume integral equation involving inhomogeneous and anisotropic permittivity and permeability dielectric objects is introduced. A curl-conforming edge element is used to model the electric field distributions. This simplifies the process of finding the matrix representation of the integral equations. Furthermore, the reciprocity preserving method to solve the volume integral equation is presented based on the reciprocity theorem. By introducing a delta function in the volume integral equation, this method decomposes one complicated integral into several simple integrals, which simplifies the calculation of integration. MLFMA is utilized to accelerate the matrix vector product process for large problems. Duffy's method is applied for all the surface and volume singular integrations. Representative numerical results are shown to be excellent.
Humic substances as electron acceptors for microbial respiration

HUMIC substances are heterogeneous high-molecular-weight organic materials which are ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic environments. They are resistant to microbial degradation1 and thus are not generally considered to be dynamically involved in microbial metabolism, especially in anoxic habitats. However, we show here that some microorganisms found in soils and sediments are able to use humic substances as an electron acceptor for the anaerobic oxidation of organic compounds and hydrogen. This electron transport yields energy to support growth. Microbial humic reduction also enhances the capacity for microorganisms to reduce other, less accessible electron acceptors, such as insoluble Fe(III) oxides, because humic substances can shuttle electrons between the humic-reducing microorganisms and the Fe(III) oxide. The finding that microorganisms can donate electrons to humic acids has important implications for the mechanisms by which microorganisms oxidize both natural and contaminant organics in anaerobic soils and sediments, and suggests a biological source of electrons for humics-mediated reduction of contaminant metals and organics.
Ligand-mediated short-range attraction drives aggregation of charged monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles.

Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are a promising new class of nanomaterials with applications in drug delivery, self-assembly, and biosensing. The versatility of the AuNP platform is conferred by the properties of the protecting monolayer which can be engineered to tune the surface functionality of the nanoparticles. However, many applications are hampered by AuNP aggregation, which can inhibit functionality or induce particles to precipitate out of solution, even for water-soluble AuNPs. It is critical to understand the mechanisms of aggregation in order to optimally engineer protecting monolayers that both inhibit aggregation and maintain functionality. In this work, we use implicit solvent simulations to calculate the free energy change associated with the aggregation of two small, charged, alkanethiol monolayer-protected AuNPs under typical biological conditions. We show that aggregation is driven by the hydrophobic effect related to the amphiphilic nature of the alkanethiol ligands. The...
Title and Abstract

Not all elements of a scientific manuscript are equally important. The title should attract attention. The abstract should provide sufficient specificity to inform the reader of the manuscript’s co...