cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 367: Tumorigenesis: an investigation by network evolution and perturbations of somatic mutations in cancer interactome

Cells govern biological actions through highly complex biological networks. Perturbations to the complex molecular network due to driver mutations may transit cells to new phenotypic states, e.g., tumorigenesis. Identifying how genetic lesions such as somatic mutations perturb these networks is a fundamental challenge in cancer biology. The recent TCGA studies revealed that a typical tumor contains two to as many as eight of driver mutations while the numerous remaining somatic mutations are passenger mutations. So far, it remains largely unknown what evolutionary forces and how the genetic lesions disrupt cancer interactome that leads to tumorigenesis. In this study, we systematically investigated the relationship among the network topology, evolutionary rates, and evolutionary origins of somatic and germline mutation driven disease genes in the large context of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks by utilizing recently released extensive somatic mutations and gene annotation data. We aimed to address two fundamental questions. (1) Whether cancer genes display a distinct network topology from Mendelian disease genes, and why? (2) From a network biology perspective, how the transition occurs from a normal cell to a tumor cell as initiated by a few driver genetic mutations? We collected the largest ever cancer gene list and five comprehensive networks. We found evolutionary origin is the main determinant of the unique network centrality of cancer proteins. We further investigated the perturbations of network topology by somatic mutations that were identified from 3268 tumors across 12 cancer types in TCGA. We revealed that the network-attacking perturbation of somatic mutations on central hubs of cancer interactome is a main feature of tumor emergence and evolution. This finding elucidates the high efficiency of the transition during tumorigenesis as initiated by a few driver mutations. This work improves our understanding of dynamic network-attacking perturbation by somatic mutations during tumorigenesis, and, in turn, of the implications for both basic cancer biology and the development of personalized antitumor therapy. Citation Format: Feixiong Cheng, Peilin Jia, Quan Wang, Chen-Ching Lin, Zhongming Zhao. Tumorigenesis: an investigation by network evolution and perturbations of somatic mutations in cancer interactome. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 367. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-367
Cultural Heritage, Patrimony, and Repatriation

In contemporary usage, the terms cultural heritage and cultural patrimony are synonyms. Both are metaphors that depict the idea that the culture (material and immaterial) of a specific social group is its property, owned collectively and passed on from one generation to the next. In the past 50 years, these terms have come to constitute a discursive space in which academic disciplines such as anthropology, archaeology, art history, and philosophy have interacted with professional disciplines such as law, museology, and architecture; and these university-based fields have had to interface with a much broader public, newly interested in what has come to be called the politics of culture. Repatriation is a term that signifies the return of cultural artifacts, from metropolitan institutions that had “collected” them to local communities that can claim to have created them. Repatriation has gained momentum since the Second World War, as both decolonization and various international conventions have provided a platform for once colonized peoples to claim items of their cultural heritage that had been taken from them. Repatriation is a directional process, from center to periphery. It includes both the return of artifacts and a ceding of control over the interpretation of such artifacts. Keywords: authenticity; cultural heritage; cultural patrimony; museums; property; repatriation
Axion induced oscillating electric dipole moments

In this study, the axion electromagnetic anomaly induces an oscillating electric dipole for any magnetic dipole. This is a low energy theorem which is a consequence of the space-time dependent cosmic background field of the axion. The electron will acquire an oscillating electric dipole of frequency ma and strength ~ 10-32 e-cm, within four orders of magnitude of the present standard model DC limit, and two orders of magnitude above the nucleon, assuming standard axion model and dark matter parameters. This may suggest sensitive new experimental venues for the axion dark matter search.
Restoration of degraded transitional (piñon–juniper) woodland sites improves ecohydrologic condition and primes understory resilience to subsequent disturbance

An overstory thinning and slash mulch treatment designed to improve ecohydrologic condition of degraded transitional (pinon–juniper) woodland sites was evaluated at four sites over a cumulative 16-year period beginning in 1994. Study sites were located within Bandelier National Monument and Santa Fe National Forest on the east-facing Pajarito Plateau of the Jemez Mountains in North-Central New Mexico. Across all sites, total understory cover increased several-fold at 3 to 5 years post-treatment relative to both pre-treatment condition and control, whereas measures of runoff and sediment production were reduced by an order of magnitude. During the course of post-treatment monitoring, several coincident disturbances (multi-year drought beginning in fall 1999, wildfire in spring 2000 and pinon ips beetle outbreak in 2002) caused widespread vegetation mortality and allowed differential recovery patterns to be documented across treatment and control areas. Response to these unplanned disturbances suggested prior restoration to improve ecohydrologic function of denuded intercanopy locations also primed understory resilience as measured by the relative capacity of restored areas to regain levels of effective cover. Treatment areas affected by drought-beetle tree mortality exceeded pre-drought levels of understory cover within two growing seasons while retaining improved hydrologic function; by contrast, control areas continued to exhibit accelerated runoff and erosion despite temporary improvements in understory cover post-disturbance. Post-fire outcomes suggest that prior restoration also enhanced levels of understory cover post-burn relative to control, despite negative-soil-heating effects from consumed slash. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Coronaviridae Now Comprises Two Genera, Coronavirus and Torovirus: Report of the Coronaviridae Study Group

At the April 1992, mid-term meeting of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) a proposal from the Coronaviridae Study Group (CSG) to include the torovirus genus in the Coronaviridae was accepted. Following another proposal, the arterivirus genus was removed from the Togaviridae but not assigned to another family. The arteriviruses have some features in common with the Coronaviridae but also have major differences. After much debate, culminating in September 1992, it was decided that the CSG would not recommend inclusion of arterivirus in the Coronaviridae. It was agreed that (a) the nomenclature used for coronavirus genes, mRNAs and polypeptides (Cavanagh et al., 1990) should be used for toroviruses, (b) that the small (about 100 amino acids) membrane-associated protein, which is distinct from the integral membrane glycoprotein M, associated with virions of infectious bronchitis (Liu & Inglis, 1991) and transmissible gastroenteritis (Godet et al., 1992) coronaviruses would be referred to by the acronym sM (lower case 's') and (c) that 'pol' (polymerase) should be used as a working term for gene 1, which comprises open reading frames (ORFs) 1a and 1b in both genera of the Coronaviridae.
Microbiologic Assays and Neurological Toxicity during Use of Adenine Arabinoside in Humans

Patients with herpesvirus infections were given intravenous injections of 10-20 mg of adenine arabinoside (ara-A)/kg per day. When given the higher dosage, some patients with chronic hematologic conditions showed mild to moderate additional depressions in the level of hemoglobin. The number of neutrophils and platelets did not decrease, even when numbers were low at the onset of treatment with ara-A. Two patients with Hodgkin's disease who received 20 mg of ara-A/kg per day developed a transient motor aphasia resembling akinetic mutism. With the regimens of ara-A used and challenge inocula of approximately 50 plaque-forming units of virus, the minimal inhibitory concentrations of ara-A and hypoxanthine arabinoside for herpesviruses are usually not achieved in serum but may be attained in body fluids (urine and vesicular fluid). Antiviral activity in vesicular fluids is likely to involve a combination of ara-A, hypoxanthine arabinoside, and interferon.
Grb10 Inhibits Insulin-stimulated Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS)-Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling Pathway by Disrupting the Association of IRS-1/IRS-2 with the Insulin Receptor

Grb10 has been proposed to inhibit or activate insulin signaling, depending on cellular context. We have investigated the mechanism by which full-length hGrb10gamma inhibits signaling through the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins. Overexpression of hGrb10gamma in CHO/IR cells and in differentiated adipocytes significantly reduced insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2. Inhibition occurred rapidly and was sustained for 60 min during insulin stimulation. In agreement with inhibited signaling through the IRS/PI 3-kinase pathway, we found hGrb10gamma to both delay and reduce phosphorylation of Akt at Thr(308) and Ser(473) in response to insulin stimulation. Decreased phosphorylation of IRS-1/2 may arise from impaired catalytic activity of the receptor, since hGrb10gamma directly associates with the IR kinase regulatory loop. However, yeast tri-hybrid studies indicated that full-length Grb10 blocks association between IRS proteins and IR, and that this requires the SH2 domain of Grb10. In cells, hGrb10gamma inhibited insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect IR catalytic activity toward Tyr(972) in the juxtamembrane region and Tyr(1158/1162/1163) in the regulatory domain. We conclude that binding of hGrb10gamma to IR decreases signaling through the IRS/PI 3-kinase/AKT pathway by physically blocking IRS access to IR.
Cyclic Flow Experiments of a Fine Particle Separation Hydrocyclone

Basic separating principle of hydrocyclones and the cyclic experimental research facilities are introduced. The difficulty of separating fine particle is described. Based on a solid-liquid hydrocyclone used for separating fine particles, effect of cyclic flow condition on hydrocyclone’s performance is studied. Effects of cyclic period ratio, cyclic flowrate amplitude ratio, Reynolds number, gas liquid ratio, and the cyclical signal type on the hydrocyclone’s fine particle separation performance, especially on relative overflow purifying rate were studied in detail. The results show that the separation efficiency of the hydrocyclone operated under cyclic flow condition can be higher than that in steady condition, when the cyclic period ratio is about 0.68 and the cyclic flowrate amplitude ratio is about 2%. Rectangular wave seems to be the best cyclic signal for enhancing the hydrocyclone’s separation efficiency. The cyclical change of flowrate leads to the increasing of hydrocyclone’s energy consumption to some extent, while the increasing amount is very less, which is no more than 3% in general.© 2007 ASME
Steady-state design of second-order digital filters using the Kalman formulation

Abstract A design methodology for second-order digital band-pass filters is described based on the Kalman filter formulation with a sinusoidal signal model. When driver noise is included, steady-state relationships between the Kalman gain, the coefficients of the covariance matrix and the coefficients of the driver-noise covariance matrix are derived. Then, expressions for the steady-state filter, discrete-time transfer function, magnitude and phase functions, pole-zero locations and −3dB frequencies are derived. Finally, a procedure for selecting the driver-noise covariance matrix based on the desired frequency domain characteristics is developed. A design example illustrates the procedure.
Thioaldehydes and Thioketones

The synthesis of thioaldehydes and thioketones is described, along with related compounds further substituted on sulfur. Simple thioaldehydes are generally unstable compounds and are trapped in situ with a range of dienes, to furnish hetero-Diels–Alder cycloadducts. A range of transformations has been used to access simple thioaldehydes: the thermolysis of phenacyl sulfoxides, direct sulfuration of aldehydes, and 1,2-elimination reactions are popular approaches. The synthesis of unsaturated thioaldehydes is also reviewed. Popular approaches to these more stable derivatives include: direct thionation of aldehydes with phosphorus or silicon-based reagents, sulfuration of hydrazones, and flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP). Functional group transformations that furnish thioketones are reviewed, direct thionation is the predominant transformation, and is also used to access unsaturated thioketones from the corresponding carbonyl compounds. Additionally, methods of synthesis of compounds further substituted on sulfur are reviewed. This includes the synthesis of thiocarbonyl ylides, sulfines, thiosulfines, thiocarbonyl-S-imides, thiopyrylium salts, sulfonium ylides, sulfenes, and sulfoxonium ylides.
Application of USB High-Speed Signal Lines in the Analysis of Electromagnetic Interference

In this paper, authors focus on the influence during the using of USB2.0 Interface board in reading and/or writing radiation arisen from the electromagnetic interference and provide some suggestions. This work employs two typical common using device, WIREWOUND filter and multilayer filter under the environment of the resistance of 90 ohm and 180 ohm to execute the analysis of the electromagnetic interference measurement. Numerous simulations have been made and obtain some successful results.
Sea of Pearls: Seven Thousand Years of the Industry That Shaped the Gulf

Sea of Pearls, by Robert Carter, is an ambitious book that traces the history of pearling in the Persian Gulf for 7000 years. This is a virtual encyclopedia for Gulf pearling that provides any scho...
In-situ study of the migration of grain boundary facets in Au bicrystals under high driving forces

A study is made of the migration of grain boundary facets possessing simple intrinsic dislocation structures in gold by means of hot-stage in-situ transmission electron microscopy making use of capillary-induced high driving forces which occur during initial grain growth in bonded thin-film bicrystals. In the case of low-angle tilt boundary facets the migration occurs by the nucleation of pairs of boundary steps and their subsequent lateral motion via glide processes of the component primary dislocations. These events can be video recorded and analysed on a subsecond time scale. Experiments with high-angle near-∑5 grain boundaries indicate that the migration occurs by the sbuffling of atoms directly across the interface. The secondary dislocations which are present move along with the boundary but are not involved in the primary migration mechanism. The measured boundary kinetics are discussed quantitatively on the basis of the proposed shuffling mechanism.
Cell analog of the conditioned reflex to cortical electrical stimulation.

The possibility of obtaining a cellular analog of a CR was investigated on the sensory motor cortex of the unanesthetized rabbit. Single unit activity was analyzed. Stimulation through surface cortical electrodes 2.5–12mm away from the recording microelectrode was used as the conditional stimulus (CS). The unconditional stimulus (US) was stimulation through two closely situated electrodes. With short (1–5 sec) inter-trial intervals, and with a US of sufficient strength and duration, a well-marked augmentation of the excitatory response to CS was obtained in most neurons. However, it was short (less than 30 sec) and, as a rule, it was the analog not of a CR but of a pseudo conditioned reflex, for it did not require pairing of the CS and US, but appeared after one or a few presentations of the US alone. In 9 of the 21 neurons tested with longer intervals between trials (7–120 sec) conditioned-reflex changes were observed. These changes consisted of the appearance (or modification) of a response to the CS during conditioning trials and disappearance during extinction trials, or of the appearance of a response at the time corresponding to the missing US when the US was intermittently omitted. The character of the conditioned-reflex changes (activation or inhibition) was the same as that of the cell's response to the US. Changes appeared after the first 10–20 conditioning trials and recovery after extinction took place more rapidly than initial conditioning, i.e., in 5–10 combinations.
Therapeutic options in minimizing left ventricular hypertrophy

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), a target-organ response to chronic pressure or volume overload, is associated with its own independent risks of death in patients with hypertension. Numerous studies have shown that LVH increases the risk of coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke or transient ischemic attack, all-cause deaths, and sudden death. Although the mechanisms by which LVH develops are incompletely understood, the renin-angiotensin system may play an important role. All major classes of antihypertensive agents (calcium channel blockers, diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) can cause LVH regression but not all to the same degree. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may provide the most pronounced reduction in left ventricular mass per millimeter of mercury of blood pressure reduction. In addition, animal studies and human trials show promise for the regression of LVH with the use of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Because ARBs act specifically on the AT(1) receptor, angiotensin II can exert its favorable effects on cell growth inhibition through the AT(2) receptor. One small study that compared the ARB valsartan with atenolol found significant regression of LVH with the ARB by 8 months of treatment.
Back to the future of Immunology Today.

To celebrate the publication of the 100th issue of Immunology Today, we invited founding editor John Inglis to reflect upn the development of the journal from its earliest days.
The interpretation of classroom performance feedback: An attributional approach

Educators provide communication feedback to students in order to improve subsequent performance. However students may interpret feedback in non‐productive ways. Two studies examined the effects of trait anxiety on production of and attributions about feedback comments. In Study One participants generated their own feedback in response to a hypothetical performance. Categories of feedback replicated work conducted by Book and Simmons (1980). Anxiety was associated with negative comments for most categories, but with positive comments concerning content. Trait anxiety was also related to negative external attributions. In Study Two all participants were given identical feedback. Their attributions indicated a self‐serving effect where positive comments were attributed internally and negative comments externally. Anxiety was not related to negative attributions, but was associated with more internal interpretations. Grade expectations were more strongly related to the feedback than to the trait.
Response to Commentators on “Clash of Definitions: Controversies about Conscience in Medicine”

We appreciate the thoughtful commentaries on our article, “Clash of Definitions: Controversies about Conscience in Medicine” (Lawrence and Curlin 2007). There we claimed that conflicts over conscie...
The physics of jets

Recent data on the fragmentation of quarks and gluons is discussed in the context of phenomenological models of parton fragmentation. Emphasis is placed on the experimental evidence for parton showers as compared to a fixed order QCD treatment, on new data on inclusive hadron production and on detailed studies of baryon production in jets.
On energy efficiency and amdahl's law in FPGA based chip heterogeneous multiprocessor systems (abstract only)

This poster presents our preliminary findings on the relationship between speedup and energy efficiency on FPGA based Chip Heterogeneous Multiprocessor Systems (CHMPs). While researchers have investigated how to tailor combinations of heterogeneous compute engines within a CHMP system to best meet the performance needs of specific applications, exploring how these optimized architectures also effect energy efficiency is not as well studied. We show that a simple relationship exists between the speedup these systems gain and their associated energy efficiency. We show that the simple relationship between Amdahl's law and energy efficiency. All the experiments result achieved through actual run time measurements on homogeneous and heterogeneous multiprocessor systems implemented within a Xilinx Virtex6 FPGA. We further show how a systems with 6 MicroBlaze soft processors' dynamic power and hence the overall energy efficiency of the system can be effected through transparent operating system control of the compute resources. We also present how to use clock gating to control the dynamic power consumption for each processor and with this careful power-aware management unit, the system's dynamic power consumption can follow the requirements of each application.
The Impact of Static and Dynamic Pairs on Pair Programming

Pair programming is a programming technique in which pair of people doing programming on a single machine. The programming pair consists of a driver and a navigator or observer. The driver addresses the operational issues; i.e., responsible for implementing the current module in hand. The navigator addresses the strategic issues; i.e., keeps in mind the strategic direction the code must take. Pair programming is a dynamic process and pairing aids the rapid dispersal of system knowledge through the team while developing it. Since most of the pair programming experiments were not conducted as described in extreme programming and the empirical evidence of pair programming is mixed we were not got the true picture about the impact created by pair programming on software development. In this paper, we evaluated the dynamic pair programming methodology with static pair programming and traditional individual programming. The empirical evidence shows that static pair programming is the most expensive and slower technology than dynamic pair programming and individual programming technologies. It also indicates that dynamic pair programming is the fastest software development methodology than static pair programming and traditional individual programming methodologies.
Women's Colleges Then and Now: Access Then, Equity Now

(2001). Women's Colleges Then and Now: Access Then, Equity Now. Peabody Journal of Education: Vol. 76, No. 1, pp. 5-30.
Optimal exposure control for high dynamic range imaging

A common technique used to acquire high dynamic range image data is that of exposure bracketing—short exposure times are required to capture bright regions of the image without saturation, whereas long exposure times are needed to capture darker image regions effectively. This article describes how to take into account the statistics of the photon arrival process to derive optimal exposure control for maximizing signal recoverability in high dynamic range imaging.
Overcoming expressed obstacles to compliance: The role of sensitivity to the expressions of others and ability to modify self‐presentation

The present analysis examines the influence that the individual difference variables sensitivity to the expression of others and ability to modify one's self‐presentation exert on responses to refused requests when specific types of obstacles are stated in a refusal. Results suggest that requesters who are more sensitive to the expression of others and have greater ability to adapt self‐presentation are more likely to engage in further persuasion and less likely to engage in facework when unwillingness obstacles are encountered than when imposition or inability obstacles occur.
The Social Origins of Adult Political Behavior

Political socialization research has focused on the role of parents, extracurricular activities, and the school curriculum during adolescence on shaping early adult political behavior (Beck & Jennings, 1982; Flanagan, Syvertsen, & Stout, 2007; Torney-Purta, Richardson, & Barber, 2004). However, no study to date has examined how properties of adolescents’ social networks affect the development of adult political outcomes. Using social network analysis, we find that both a respondent’s social integration in high school and his friends’ perceptions of their own social integration affect the respondent’s later political behavior as a young adult. Peer and network effects are at work in political socialization. This has important implications for our understanding of the development of social capital, political trust, and political participation, as well as our general understanding about how one’s social network influences one’s own attitudes and behavior.
The influence of self- and other-deprecatory humor on presidential candidate evaluation during the 2008 US election

This study considers the effect of participants’ evaluation of self-deprecatory and other-deprecatory (attack) humorous comments made by presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain during the 2008 electoral season. Humor, by evoking laughter in an audience, provides evidence of support for competitors for a leadership position through social contagion, and can be used to attack competitors (Alexander, 1986) while sanctioning behavior at odds with group norms, whereas humor focused on oneself may be seen as a way of attending to egalitarian norms while ascending the dominance hierarchy (Boehm, 1999). A total of 185 participants analyzed here took part in a web-based experiment carried out 2 weeks before the 2008 presidential election. Short video excerpts of the presidential candidates making both self-deprecatory and other-deprecatory humorous comments serve as stimuli. Findings suggest previously held opinions about the presidential candidates influence participant evaluation of humorous comment...
Results from Fermilab charm experiment E791

Recent results from Fermilab experiment E791 are summarized. Topics covered include mixing and CP violation in charm decays, form factors in the semileptonic decay D + → ¯K *0 lv , hyperon production asymmetries and a look at upcoming results.
Mutation spectrum of the rhodopsin gene among patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

We searched for point mutations in every exon of the rhodopsin gene in 150 patients from separate families with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Including the 4 mutations we reported previously, we found a total of 17 different mutations that correlate with the disease. Each of these mutations is a single-base substitution corresponding to a single amino acid substitution. Based on current models for the structure of rhodopsin, 3 of the 17 mutant amino acids are normally located on the cytoplasmic side of the protein, 6 in transmembrane domains, and 8 on the intradiscal side. Forty-three of the 150 patients (29%) carry 1 of these mutations, and no patient has more than 1 mutation. In every family with a mutation so far analyzed, the mutation cosegregates with the disease. We found one instance of a mutation in an affected patient that was absent in both unaffected parents (i.e., a new germ-line mutation), indicating that some "isolate" cases of retinitis pigmentosa carry a mutation of the rhodopsin gene.
Small-angle neutron scattering studies of low polarity telechelic ionomer solutions. 2. Single chain scattering

A direct probe of the single chain conformation in associating low polarity model telechelic ionomer solutions has been obtained using small-angle neutron scattering. A contrast matching technique was employed utilizing a solution of hydrogenated and deuterated ionomer chains in a mixture of labeled and unlabeled solvent molecules. The scattering data at all concentrations and ionic levels examined show an excellent fit to the wormlike chain model. Single chain scattering patterns were obtained for two sodium-neutralized carboxy−telechelic polystyrene ionomers that differ by a factor of 2 in their molecular weight, in a concentration range from the dilute to the concentrated solution regime. The single chain dimensions were found to be influenced by both the ionic interactions and the extent of association. Both ionomer systems showed a contraction of the chain dimensions in the dilute solution regime which is more pronounced for the lower molecular weight telechelic ionomer. As concentration increases, t...
Behavioral characterization of opioid mixed agonist-antagonists

The effects of agonists and partial agonists of both mu and kappa receptor systems are described in several behavioral tests in rhesus monkeys. Procedures measuring drug discrimination, drug self-administration, drug dependence, and drug-induced analgesia are differentially sensitive to the agonist and antagonist effects of various opioids. The sensitivity of each of the procedures may be modified by altering behavioral parameters or dose of drug used to establish the behavioral effect.
Limitations on the renewability of renewable energy resources

Abstract The primary supposition about renewable forms of energy is that use of such resources will not result in depletion or exhaustion. While it is true that natural energy flows such assun and wind are not directly subject to degradation by use, there may still be indirect limitations on renewability. The exploitation of natural energy flows may require that systems of nonrenewable “support” resources be used to capture, store, and convert natural energy into useful forms. Poor resource management practices that degrade the support resources may therefore, in effect, endanger renewability. Biomass is an illustrative case of a renewable energy resource with nonrenewable support components. The soil and water management practices of American agriculture, a large-scale biomass production system, are resulting in serious degradation and depletion of these vital system elements. This degradation represents a threat to the future of biomass food and energy supplies.
Dynamics-independent null experiment for testing time-reversal invariance

It is shown that it is impossible to construct, in any reaction in atomic, nuclear, or particle physics, a null experiment that would unambiguously test the validity of time-reversal invariance independently of dynamical assumptions.
Expert systems‐based robot technology

: Despite their potential advantages, robots are not used much by industry andlor services. One of the major reasons for this situation is the limitations of robots, especially their lack of ‘intelligence”. Artificial intelligence and expert systems technologies can help in this case. This paper describes the potential contribution of expert systems to the decision making capabilities of robots and to decisions regarding robots. The major potential contribution of expert systems is in the automation of the error recovery process. Specifically, when something is going wrong in the robot itself or in its work environment, an automated corrective action is needed. Today's technology is capable of economically handling some of the activities in the process (e.g. interpretation of signals from sensors, diagnosis of what is wrong and suggestions for remedies). The AI technology is still not capable in most cases (at least in an economical manner) of actually restoring the robot's operations. The paper also gives examples of several experimental expert systems in the robotic field.
Intracellular acidification is not a prerequisite for glutamate-triggered death of cultured hippocampal neurons

Abstract Glutamate decreased intracellular pH (pH i ) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. The protonophore, FCCP (1μM), produced an acidification comparable to that produced by glutamate. Application of glutamate to FCCP-treated cells, returned pH i to resting levels. This alkaline shift resulted from a glutamate-induced membrane depolarization that removed the driving force across the plasmalemma for H + entry via FCCP. The endogenous protonophore, arachidonic acid (10 μM), produced pH i changes similar to those elicited by FCCP. Because application of glutamate and FCCP in combination did not change pH i , this treatment was used to determine the role of glutamate-induced acidification in neurotoxicity. FCCP (1 μM, 5 min) did not affect neuronal viability, either alone or in combination with various concentrations of glutamate, as indicated by the release of lactate dehydrogenase into the bathing medium. Thus, acidification was not the cause of glutamate-induced cell death although, it may be symptomatic of neurotoxic processes.
Oxidative damage, mitochondrial oxidant generation and antioxidant defenses during aging and in response to food restriction in the mouse

This study was conducted in order to test the concept that oxidative damage is associated with aging and may be a factor in the modulation of life span in response to variations in caloric intake. Mice fed a diet that was 40% lower in calories (DR) than the ad libitum fed (AL) animals exhibited a 43% extension in average life span and a 61% prolongation in mortality rate doubling time. A comparison of AL and DR mice at 9, 17 and 23 months of age indicated that the protein carbonyl content in the brain, heart and kidney increased with age and was significantly greater in the AL than DR group in each organ at each of the three ages. Mitochondrial state 4 or resting respiratory rate increased with age in the AL, but not the DR group, and was also relatively higher in the former. The rates of mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generation increased with age and were higher in the AL than DR mice in all the three organs at each age. In contrast, there was no clear-cut overall pattern of age-related or dietary-related changes in antioxidant defenses provided by superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Results suggest that mechanisms of aging and life span shortening by enhanced caloric intake are associated with oxidative damage arising from corresponding changes in mitochondrial oxidant production. Protein carbonyl content, and mitochondrial O2·− and H2O2 generation may act as indices of aging.
Amino-acid sequence of extracellular ribonuclease (barnase) of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

THE ribonuclease, barnase, produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens has a molecular weight of 12,382, consisting of 110 amino-acid residues. It is one of the smallest proteins containing neither disulphide bonds nor non-peptide cross-Bnks which nevertheless maintain a well defined tertiary structure1,2. The next smallest reported enzyme of similar nature is the lysozyme of phage T4, with 160 residues. The barnase structure is reversibly destroyed by denaturing solvents or heat2, in what approximates a one step, highly cooperative, transition. Studies of this reaction should be very useful in illustration approaching the general problem of sequence-determined folding in proteins. In particular, thermodynamically meaningful quantitative differences in the stability of various genetic variants and chemically modified, or synthetic, barnases could be measured. Some work has been reported on the effect of various environmental parameters on the transition3 as well as the effects of modification by carboxypeptidases4. Full utilization of such data requires knowledge of both amino-acid sequence and three dimensional structurs. The complete amino-acid sequence is reported here (Fig. 1). The sequence was obtained by conventional procedures involving analysis of peptides isolated after hydrolysis of the native or modified protein by various proteases. Open image in new window
Improved successive quadratic programming optimization algorithm for engineering design problems

Algorithme d'optimisation des processus de genie chimique structures, de calcul plus facile et de conception plus claire que celui de Berna et al. Cet algorithme est base sur une programmation quadratique sequentielle
Immunity to continuous RF disturbances

The article consists of a Powerpoint presentation on RF disturbances. The areas discussed include: RF disturbances; electromagnetic field radiation; RF transmitter; RF signal source and coupling/decoupling network.
A Comparison Study of the Behavior and Practices of Casino Gamblers as Compared to Those Gamblers of Sport Book Activities

ABSTRACT This study examines the behavior of gamblers who have a specific area of preferred gambling. Some gamblers prefer casino games such as table games and slots while others prefer sports betting or pari-mutuel wagering. The intention of this study was to identify differences in behaviors, activities, and attitudes of gamblers that indulge in different types of gambling. This information will be important to marketing professionals of the gaming industry in assisting them to develop promotional activities for their perspective target markets.
Evolution-like selection of fast-folding model proteins.

Abstract We propose an algorithm providing sequences of model proteins with rapid folding into a given target (native) conformation. This algorithm is applied to a chain of 27 residues on a cubic lattice. It generates sequences with folding 2 orders of magnitude faster than that of the practically random starting sequence. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the increase in speed is matched by an increase in stability: the evolved sequences are much more stable in their native conformation than the initial random sequence. The unfolding temperature for evolved sequences is slightly higher than the simulation temperature, bearing direct correspondence to the relatively low stability of real proteins.
Modeling S wave amplitude patterns for events in the Kurile slab using three‐dimensional Gaussian beams

[1] The shear velocity structure of the subducted Kurile slab is modeled using shear wave amplitude residual spheres. We measure long-period SH and ScSH phase amplitudes for 10 intermediate and deep focus earthquakes recorded at World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network and Canadian Seismic Network stations from 1967 to 1986. After correction for source radiation pattern, geometric spreading, and empirical receiver/upper mantle effects, the data for intermediate depth Kurile slab events show smoothly varying amplitude residual sphere patterns with low amplitudes concentrated in the direction down the slab dip. The data are modeled using three-dimensional dynamic ray tracing and a three-dimensional Gaussian beam method. Starting models are taken from previous P and S wave arrival time residual sphere studies. Three-dimensional ray tracing indicates that ray patterns and resulting amplitudes are very sensitive to the depth extent of the slab and to the position of the event relative to the across-slab velocity gradient. This sensitivity allows us to place some constraints on the Kurile slab geometry, position of each event within the slab, and penetration depth of coherent slab structure. Our final slab model is defined by an asymmetric error function that peaks at 4% higher velocity than Preliminary Reference Earthquake Model 25 km from the top of the slab. The total width of the thermal anomaly averages 140 km. The slab is tabular and extends to 670 km in the northern half of the Kurile subduction zone. In the southern half of the subduction zone the slab flattens along the 670 km discontinuity and deflects laterally, persisting to 750 km depth.
Implications of production sharing on exchange rate pass‐through

This paper presents a theoretical model to analyse exchange rate pass-through when there is cross-border production sharing. With production sharing, between two nations, we have pass-through at two different levels, one at the level of the imported parts and components used in making the final good and the other at the level of the final good. We find the higher the pricing-to-market at the intermediate good level, the lower the pass-through for the final good. The model is further extended to analyse three-country production sharing, substitution between two alternate sources of imported inputs. Finally, we draw some policy implications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Principal component analysis of BGP update streams

In this paper, we propose a novel methodology to identify border gateway protocol (BGP) updates associated with major events — affecting network reachability to multiple ASes — and separate them (statistically) from those attributable to minor events, which individually generate few updates, but collectively form the persistent background noise observed at BGP vantage points. Our methodology is based on principal component analysis, which enables us to transform and reduce the BGP updates into different AS clusters that are likely affected by distinct major events. We demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of our methodology through simulations and real BGP data.
Choline and choline ester concentrations in porcine milk throughout lactation

Choline and choline esters are present in milk and are important for the suckling neonate. Choline concentrations in porcine milk had not been previously reported, therefore choline, glycerophosphocholine, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphocholine concentrations in porcine prepartum mammary secretions, colostrum and milk were determined herein by HPLC and GC-MS. Milk samples were collected from second parity cross-bred sows by manual expression ∼12 hr prepartum and on day 1 to 28 postpartum. The choline content of prepartum secretions was 5,121 ± 268 μmol/L. With the onset of lactation, the choline concentration initially declined to 2,235 ± 261 μmol/L, which was lower than prepartum secretions (P < 0.05). Between d 2 and 28 postpartum, the total choline concentration in porcine milk was relatively stable at 3,117 ± 498 μmol/L, however, the contribution of the individual choline compounds varied with lactation. Glycerophosphocholine predominated prepartum secretions (78.9 ± 1.7%) and on day 1 postpartum (42.9 ± 11.5%), whereas phosphocholine was the predominant choline moiety in milk after day 2 (55–78% of total choline). In general, the concentrations of choline and glycerophosphocholine declined, phosphocholine rose (from 24.3 ± 20.2% to 78.6 ± 4.7% of total choline) and phosphatidylcholine remained relatively constant (6.8 ± 1.0% of total choline) as lactation progressed. In summary, the total choline content of mature porcine milk averaged 3 mM. Assuming milk intake of 800 mL/day and an average body weight of 4 kg between days 1 and 28 postpartum, choline intake of the suckling piglet would be ∼600 μmoles/kg/day.
Regulation of equine fibrinolysis in blood and peritoneal fluid based on a study of colic cases and induced endotoxaemia

Much of the pathophysiology associated with equine gastrointestinal diseases is attributed to the effects of endotoxin on haemostasis. Because little is known about the responses of the equine fibrinolytic system to endotoxin, regulation of the system was investigated. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) were identified as the primary plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor, respectively, in equine blood. Under experimental conditions, the equine fibrinolytic system responded to endotoxin in a manner similar to that reported in man, with an early, transient increase in t-PA activity followed by an overwhelming and prolonged increase in activity of PAI-1. To investigate the response of the equine fibrinolytic system to clinical endotoxaemia, endotoxin concentrations were measured in plasma and peritoneal fluid, and activities of t-PA and PAI-1 were compared between healthy horses (n = 38) and horses with naturally occurring gastrointestinal diseases (n = 150). It was observed that plasma PAI-1 and peritoneal t-PA were increased concurrently in abnormal horses; and that these increases were associated with the presence of endotoxin. The results of this study suggest that 1) fibrinolysis is regulated in horses in a manner similar to that in man; 2) regulation of fibrinolysis is altered in endotoxaemic horses with gastrointestinal diseases; 3) events occurring in the vascular system may not reflect those in the peritoneal cavity; and 4) t-PA activity is increased in the peritoneal fluid of endotoxaemic horses with gastrointestinal diseases.
The pole triangle, Burmester theory and order and branching problems—I The order problem

Abstract A branching problem occurs in a four-bar mechanism when it is impossible to move the mechanism from one required configuration to another without temporarily disconnecting one of its joints. If the two fixed centres for the cranks of a four-bar mechanism are located arbitrarily on the centre-point curve for a given set of positions for the coupler, it is well-known that the resulting mechanism is likely to suffer branching. The paper considers how branching can be predicted from a study of the features of the centre- and circle-point curves.
No association between alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and familial Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common mid to late age-of-onset neurodegenerative disorder. AD has a strong and complex genetic etiology, and multiple genes, acting independently and/or interacting, likely affect the risk of developing AD. Several genes involved with AD already have been described, but only the APOE gene on chromosome 19q has been shown to affect the risk of the most common form of AD, occurring with onset over the age of 65. Because a substantial portion of late-onset AD is not explained by APOE, other genes affecting late-onset AD likely occur. These could act either independently or perhaps interact with APOE. alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin (ACT) is a major component of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of AD patients and may play a role in the pathophysiology of AD. It has been proposed that a specific polymorphism within the ACT gene interacts with APOE to increase the risk of developing AD. Our results do not confirm this finding.
EFFECTS OF INSULIN AND OF DL-ALDOSTERONE ON PROTEIN SYNTHESIS BY MOUSE UTERI IN ORGAN CULTURE.

Abstract 1. 1. A basal medium made up of 3 parts TC Medium MB 752/1, 1 part chick embryo extract (20 per cent), and 1 part agar (2 per cent), supported the synthesis of net protein by surviving hemi-uteri from 9–10 day old mice. 2. 2. When insulin and dl -aldosterone were added to the basal medium, an increment of some 80 per cent protein was obtained over a period of 6 days. 3. 3. Aldosterone had an effect similar to that of insulin; both hormones stimulated significant increases in protein content and in incorporation of 14C-1-leucine into organ protein; the hormones were effective whether acting alone or in conjunction with each other.