cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
p204 Protein Is a Novel Modulator of Ras Activity

The murine p200 family protein, p204, modulates cell proliferation and tissue differentiation. Many of its activities are exerted in the nucleus. However, in cardiac myocytes, p204 accumulated in the cytoplasm. A yeast two-hybrid assay revealed a p204-cytoplasmic Ras protein interaction. This was confirmed (i) by coimmunoprecipitation of p204 with Ras in mouse heart extract and with endogenous or ectopic H-Ras and K-Ras in cell lysates as well as (ii) by binding of purified H-Ras-GTP to purified p204 in vitro. p204 inhibited (i) the cleavage of RasGTP to RasGDP by RasGAP; (ii) the binding to RasGTP of Raf-1, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Ral-GDS, effectors of Ras signaling; and (iii) activation by the Ras pathway of the phosphorylation and thus activation of downstream targets (e.g. MEK, Akt, and p38MAPK). Oncogenic Ras expression triggered the phosphorylation and translocation of p204 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. This is expected to increase the interaction between the two proteins. Translocation triggered by Ras oncoprotein was blocked by the LY294002 inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Ras did not promote phosphorylation or translocation to the cytoplasm of mutated p204 in which serine 179 was replaced by alanine. p204 overexpression inhibited the anchorage-independent proliferation of cells expressing RasQ61L oncoprotein. Ras oncoprotein triggered in MEF3T3 cells the rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton and the enhancement of cell migration through a membrane. Overexpression of p204 inhibited both. Ras oncoprotein or activated, wild-type Ras was described to increase Egr-1 transcription factor expression. We report that a sequence in the gene encoding p204 bound Egr-1, and Egr-1 activated p204 expression. Ras oncoprotein or activated wild-type Ras increased the expression in 3T3 cells of p204 together with that of Egr-1. Furthermore, the activation of expression of a single copy of K-ras oncogene in cultured murine embryonic cells induced the expression of a high level of p204 as well as its distribution between the nuclei and the cytoplasm. Thus, p204 may serve as a negative feedback inhibitor of Ras activity.
Do Clinical Evaluations in a Psychiatry Clerkship Favor Students With Positive Personality Characteristics

Objective The authors examine associations of personality characteristics, National Board of Medical Examiners subject examination performance, and Objective Structured Clinical Examination performance with clinical evaluations of third-year medical students in a psychiatry clerkship.
Stability of the axial phase of superfluid He3 in aerogel with globally anisotropic scattering

It has been suggested that anisotropic quasiparticle scattering will stabilize anisotropic phases of superfluid $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ contained within a highly porous silica aerogel. For example, global anisotropy introduced via uniaxial compression of aerogel might stabilize the axial state, which is called the $A$-phase in bulk superfluid $^{3}\mathrm{He}$. Here, we present measurements of the phase diagram of superfluid $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ in a 98% porous silica aerogel by using transverse acoustic impedance methods. We show that uniaxial compression of the aerogel by 17% does not stabilize an axial phase.
Tumor of the back in a break dancer

Break dancing is a form of recreation that may result in minor and major trauma among participants. A case is presented of an adolescent who developed an unusual swelling on his back after persistent vigorous involvement in break dancing. Resolution of the tumor occurred after several months of avoiding the activity. Other injuries caused by break dancing are reviewed, and preventive measures are discussed.
New Developments in the Assessment of Developmental Immunotoxicology

Recent progress has been made in directly comparing the risk of immunotoxicity following exposure to various drugs and environmental chemicals during different stages of life. With the availability of an increased developmental immunotoxicology database, new concepts of effective immunotoxicological risk assessment have emerged. From the standpoint of risk assessment, recent results suggest that there is greater value obtained from exposure-assessment of non-adults than can be derived solely from adult-exposure-outcome data. This is hardly surprising given the fact that, for the vast majority of known immunotoxicants compared across age groups, the non-adult stages are more sensitive than adults for risk of clinically important immunomodulation. Therefore, if immunotoxicity testing is to identify risk for the more susceptible subpopulations, the adult is not the informative model. This brief review, based on the Immuntoxicology III conference presentation, describes the data supporting age-based differenc...
The relative importance of social responsibility in determining organizational effectiveness: Student responses

This paper investigates the relative importance of social responsibility criteria in determining organizational effectiveness. The organizational effectiveness menu was used as a questionnaire with a sample of 151 senior undergraduates. Each respondent was asked to rate the importance of the criteria from three constituent perspectives within a service organization: (1) as a manager, (2) as an investor, (3) as an employee. Later, a subsample of students (n=61) responded to the same questionnaire acting as a manager in an assigned case study. The results indicated that students acting as managers, investors, or employees rate social responsibility criteria among the least important of the determinants of organizational effectiveness. Moreover, while specific situations may call for changes in the relative importance of these criteria, social responsibility criteria were not viewed, generally, as the most important determinants of organizational effectiveness.
Mitoxantrone for malignant pleural effusion due to metastatic sarcoma.

Malignant pleural effusion due to metastatic sarcoma is a difficult problem to treat. Mitoxantrone hydrochloride is an anthracenodione that has been reported to be useful when used intracavitary for malignant effusion due to gynaecological malignancies. We reviewed 15 cases of malignant pleural effusion due to pleural involvement by metastatic sarcoma that were treated with intrapleural mitoxantrone. None of the patients had previous pleurodesis. A standard dose of 20 mg per square metre in 50 cc of saline solution was instilled by chest tube after drainage of the effusion. All patients were initially evaluated by chest CAT scans and chest films, control films were done immediately and 6 weeks after treatment. Thirteen cases were evaluated. Three patients presented with fever, two patients had local pain and one pateint developed neutropenia. Three patients did not respond to the treatment. Complete resolution of the effusion was achieved in 76% of the patients: such an effect could be due to the local antineoplasic activity of the drug. We believe that mitoxantrone is effective in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion due to pleural involvement with sarcoma without causing significant local or systemic toxicity.
Optimizations of the Gravitationally Organized Related Mapping ANN through Genetic Algorithms

Abstract GORMANN is a self-organizing neural network utilizing Newton's law of universal gravitation. The results GORMANN are similar to a cross between a Kohonen SOM and morphological skeleton: the input is discretized and only the key features of the input are preserved. Like the SOM, GORMANN requires a number of input parameters (e.g. the learning rate) which greatly impact the quality of the resulting network. There have been several successful applications of genetic algorithms to optimize SOM parameters. Based on the success of these efforts, we applied a genetic algorithm to GORMANN to achieve the same end. Due to the theoretical nature and immaturity of the GORMANN algorithm, especially when compared to the Kohonen SOM, a group of unique challenges must be overcome. As GORMANN is a young neural network architecture, it has no strong theoretical background. In addition, the uniqueness of GORMANN requires new methods of measuring and comparing performance. In this paper we introduce a genetic algorithm-based method for optimizing the input parameters of GORMANN. A group of two-dimensional input patterns is used to illustrate the effectiveness of our method.
The Gravitational Field of a Nullicle

We present a natural generalization of the Schwarzschild solution. It is an exact solution of the vacuum Einstein field equations and is interpreted as the gravitational field of a nullicle (null-particle).
Regional cerebral blood flow estimated by 133-xenon inhalation.

A method is described for estimating the clearance rate and fractional blood flow of the fast (gray matter) compartment of the brain from the first ten minutes of 133Xe clearance curves, following a one-minute inhalation. Computer-simulated data were used to test the adequacy of the two-compartmental model employed, and to evaluate the stability of the parameters in the presence of random noise. A comparison was made between this approach and the previously reported three-compartmental analysis. Regional cerebral blood flow data were obtained on 48 young control subjects and 20 elderly demented patients. Hemispheral regional, and test-retest variations were determined, as well as differences between the groups.
A prospective, masked 18 month minimum follow-up on neurophysiologic changes in persons with spinal stenosis, low back pain, and no symptoms

Objectives To describe neurophysiologic changes over time in persons with and without spinal complaints and to assess whether paraspinal denervation predicts change in stenosis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical course. Design Prospective, controlled, masked trial. Setting University spine program. Participants Persons aged 55 to 80 years, screened for polyneuropathy and determined on clinical examination to have spinal stenosis, mechanical low back pain, or no spinal symptoms. Interventions A comprehensive codified history was obtained and subjects underwent physical examination, ambulation testing, masked electrodiagnostic testing including paraspinal mapping, and MRI, repeated at greater than 18 months. This study presents detailed technical information and additional analyses not reported previously. Main Outcome Measurements Change in electrodiagnostic findings. Among persons with clinical stenosis, relationship of change in paraspinal mapping scores to MRI findings and clinical changes. Results Of 149 initial subjects, 83 (79.3% of eligible subjects) repeated testing at 20 (±2 SDs) months. No significant change in limb muscle spontaneous activity or motor unit pathology was noted in any group. In 23 persons with initial diagnosis of stenosis, paraspinal mapping electromyography related to change in diagnosis over time (analysis of variance F = 3.77, P = .037), but not to most initial magnetic resonance imaging measurements or to change in spinal canal diameter. Conclusions Clinical spinal stenosis is neurophysiologically stable in most persons. Paraspinal electromyographic changes reflect large changes in clinical course, but neither neurophysiologic nor clinical changes relate to change in spinal geometry over 20 months.
Age-dependent seizure semiology in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Summary: Objective: To examine the effects of age on different aspects of temporal lobe seizure semiology. Methods: We performed a video analysis of 605 archived seizures from 155 consecutive patients (age 10 months to 49 years) selected by seizure freedom after temporal lobectomy. Eighty patients had hippocampal sclerosis (HS). Beside semiological seizure classification, we assessed age dependency of several axes of seizure semiology: (1) aura, (2) number of different lateralizing signs, occurrence of ictal (3) emotional signs, (4) autonomic symptoms, (5) automatisms, and (6) secondary generalization as well as (7) the ratio of motor seizure components. Results: From the 155 patients, 117 reported aura, 39 had ictal emotional signs, 51 had autonomic symptoms, 130 presented automatisms, while 18 patients showed secondary generalization at least once during their seizures. Altogether 369 (median: 2/patient) different lateralizing signs were recorded. Frequency of HS (p < 0.001), ictal automatisms (p < 0.001), secondary generalization (p = 0.014), number of different lateralizing signs (p < 0.001) increased while the ratio of motor seizure component (p = 0.007) decreased by age. Auras, emotional symptoms, and autonomic signs occurred independently of patients’ ages. Hippocampal sclerosis adjusted linear models revealed that the frequency of automatisms and secondarily generalized seizures as well as the number of different lateralizing signs are HSindependent significant variables. Conclusion: Our findings support that brain maturation significantly influences the evolution of some important aspects (motor seizures, lateralizing signs) of temporal lobe seizure semiology. Conversely, other aspects (aura, emotional, and autonomic signs) are independent of the maturation process. This is the first report investigating age dependency of epileptic seizure semiology comparing all age groups. Key Words: Temporal lobe epilepsy—Seizure semiology—Age.
Fixated behavior in rats induced by frontal lesions and conflict

Abstract Male albino rats were subjected to frontal lesions and/or a conflictful insoluble problem on a Lashley jumping apparatus. They were subsequently tested on a bright-dark discrimination problem and its reversal. Compared to non-lesioned non-conflicted controls, rats having only frontal lesions showed a slight, if any, deficit but rats having only the insoluble problem had a significant deficit in solving the discrimination. The rats having both treatments (lesion and insoluble problem) were inferior to all other groups in solving the discrimination problem. In the reversal problem animals that were only lesioned made more correct responses than non-lesioned animals but this did not lead to more solutions. Analysis of learning scores and latency data suggests that the lesioned rats had a learning deficit that was especially evident when they were formerly subjected to the insoluble problem, a problem in which the reward cue outcomes were not held constant. In contrast animals experiencing only an insoluble problem learn about reward cue outcomes during the soluble problem but cannot abandon the conflict-induced response.
Solving the combinatorial double auction problem

Abstract This paper studies the solution of several types of combinatorial (double) auctions. Such auctions have recently been used in business-to-business trading in a centralized marketplace, or in multi-agent coordination systems in artificial intelligence. When the goods are indivisible, solving the winner determination problem (WDP) is an integer programming problem and NP-hard in its general form. We show that a general combinatorial double auction can be reduced to a combinatorial single-sided auction, which is a multi-dimensional knapsack problem. Next, we compare the performance of several solution approaches for this type of problem. We contrast the branch-and-bound method with the intelligent search method proposed separately in three well-referenced papers. We found that theoretically the LP relaxation bounds always dominate the bounds used in the specialized intelligent searches. We also found empirically that the performance of this branch-and-bound method is superior to the specialized search methods that have been proposed for this class of problems.
Computer viruses in urban Indian telecenters: characterizing an unsolved problem

Computer viruses can pose a serious threat to the operations of computer kiosks in the developing world. In this paper, we investigate the experiences, behaviors, and unmet needs of telecenter owners as they attempt to prevent virus infections on their machines. Based on interviews in 25 centers in Bangalore, India, we conclude that virus control is largely an unsolved problem for this population. We characterize the local strategies for coping with viruses, barriers to eliminating the problem, and opportunities for future research.
Co-localization of ecdysteroid receptors and c-fos-like protein in the brain of Manduca sexta larvae

The presence of c-fos, a marker for cell activation, was investigated in cerebral neurons actively expressing ecdysteroid receptors during larval-pupal development in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Colocalization was accomplished by ecdysteroid autoradiography using the tritiated high affinity 20-hydroxyecdysone agonist ponasterone A and immunocytochemistry with an antibody to a peptide sequence which is highly conserved in both human and murine c-fos. Immunoreactivity to a c-fos-like protein(s) was present in nuclei of many neurons of all the developmental stages examined. However, with the exception of the optic lobe, cells expressing nuclear ecdysteroid receptors were more immunoreactive than non-ecdysteroid-binding neurons. These data suggest that ecdysteroid-induced gene activation and translation may involve c-fos expression.
Calcium influx and DREAM protein are required for GnRH gene expression pulse activity

Recent evidence using GT1-7 cells indicates that GnRH pulsatility depends on exocytotic-release and gene transcription events. To determine whether calcium or DREAM may play a role in linking these processes, we used an L-type Ca2+-blocker (nimodipine) and found that not only GnRH gene expression (GnRH-GE) pulse activity was abolished but also that binding of proteins to OCT1BS-a (essential site for GnRH-GE pulses) was reduced. We further found that only EF-hand forms of DREAM were expressed in GT1-7 and that DREAM was part of the complex binding to OCT1BS-a. Finally, microinjection of DREAM antibody into cells abolished GnRH-GE pulses demonstrating its importance in pulsatility. These results reveal that calcium and DREAM may bridge cytoplasmic and nuclear events enabling temporal coordination of intermittent activity. Expression of DREAM in various cell types coupled with the universal role of calcium raise the possibility that these factors may play similar role in other secretory cells.
Discoveries and Dangers in Teaching Theology with PowerPoint

PowerPoint can be a genuine aid to theological education by providing a medium for employing visual art in the classroom. But PowerPoint does not and should not replace the ordinary stuff of teaching and learning theology: reading, lecturing, discussing texts, and writing papers. Like any other tool, its pedagogical benefit depends on discerning use. Particular care must be used to blunt PowerPoint's tendency to produce a disembodied, decontextualized learning environment. Using PowerPoint to incorporate art into theology classes is not merely a strategy for making verbal points more powerfully. Art can sometimes go where theological words cannot.
A Position-Modulated Alignment Test Technique in the Presence of Ship's Flexure

This article proposes a test procedure that is expected to reduce the effect of ship's flexure on test accuracy. The recommended procedure takes repeated measurements in alternating positions and averages the results. A test analysis is presented which derives an expression for test accuracy in terms of appropriate variables and the statistical characteristics of ship's flexure, assuming that the ship's flexure is a random walk. The expectation is that this analysis will enable the test designer to bound the time required to perform the test. Reasonable test parameters are assumed, and it is shown that they result in a practicable test time.
Comparison of Active Constrained Layer Damping by Using Extension and Shear Mode Piezoceramic Actuators

We analyze, numerically by the finite element method, three-dimensional electromechanical deformations of a thick laminated plate with layers made of aluminum, a viscoelastic material and a piezoceramic (PZT). Two arrangements of layers are considered. In one case a central PZT layer is surrounded on both sides by viscoelastic layers and aluminum layers are on the outside surfaces. The PZT is poled in the longitudinal direction and an electric field is applied to it in the transverse direction. Thus shearing deformations of the PZT layer dominate over its extensional deformations. In the second arrangement, the aluminum layer is in the middle and the PZT layers are on the outside. The poling direction and the electric field are along the thickness of the PZT layer. Extensional deformations of the PZT layer are significantly more than its shearing deformations. The problem formulation incorporates geometric nonlinearities and the constitutive relation for the PZT includes quadratic terms in the electric fi...
Bargaining in Legislatures over Particularistic and Collective Goods

We develop a bargaining model in which a legislature divides a budget among particularistic and collective goods. By incorporating both private and public goods in a unified model, we uncover nonmonotonic relationships between legislative preferences for collective spending and the amount of the budget actually allocated to collective goods. Put simply, policy proposers can exploit coalition partners' strong preferences for public goods to actually provide fewer public goods in equilibrium while directing more private goods to themselves. These results explain why policy reforms to limit special interest spending often fail. This unified model also sheds new light on when legislatures prefer open or closed amendment rules and when coalitions take different sizes and shapes.
Genetic Programming for Letters Identification Based on Neural Network

According to the problem that the letters identification is not high accuracy using neural networks, in this paper, an optimal neural network structure is designed based on genetic algorithm to optimize the number of hidden layer. The English letters can be identified by optimal neural network. The results obtained in the genetic programming optimizations are very satisfactory. Experiments show that the identification system has higher accuracy and achieved good ideal letters identification effect.
Alkyl polyglucoside microemulsion phase behavior

Abstract We review several key elements of alkyl polyglucoside (C m G n ) microemulsion phase behavior. The low solubility of C m G n surfactants in oils such as alkanes makes producing C m G n microemulsions and subsequent study of their phase behavior difficult. Increasing the solubility of C m G n in oil is therefore helpful for the systematic study of C m G n -based microemulsion formulations. To this end, the role of cosurfactants in producing microemulsions with water, alkanes, and n-alkyl β- d -glucopyranosides is first discussed. Adding C 10 βG 1 to mixtures of water–alkane–ethoxylated alcohol surfactants (C i E j ) produces a region of the three-phase body (a ‘chimney’) that is independent of temperature; thus C m βG 1 are not completely soluble in the co-oil formed of alkane and C i E j at higher temperatures. Then, through a novel approach using oxygenated ether oils (C k OC 2 OC k ), microemulsions are formed with water, C k OC 2 OC k , and C m βG 1 and the phase behavior studied as a function of temperature and composition. Increased C m βG 1 solubility in the more hydrophilic ether oils produces patterns of phase behavior in water–C k OC 2 OC k –C m βG 1 mixtures that are identical to those observed in water–alkane–C i E j mixtures. Using the water–ether oil–C m βG 1 mixtures as a base case, the role of C m G n surfactant structure in setting C m G n microemulsion phase behavior is explored. The solubility of the α- d anomer (n-alkyl α- d -glucopyranosides, C m αG 1 ) in water is much less than that of the β- d surfactant, and these solubility boundaries extend to high surfactant and oil concentrations in water–C k OC 2 OC k –C m αG 1 mixtures. Adding C m G 2 compounds to water–C k OC 2 OC k –C m βG 1 mixtures shifts the phase behavior to high temperatures, again demonstrating the extreme hydrophilic nature of the sugar headgroup. Finally, adding small amounts of ionic alkyl sulfate surfactants to water–C k OC 2 OC k –C m βG 1 mixtures dramatically reduces the total amount of surfactant needed to form a single-phase microemulsion.
Expression, Purification, and Characterization of the G Domain ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeElongation Factor 2

Abstract Protein synthesis elongation factor 2 (EF-2), a member of the G protein superfamily, catalyzes the movement of the ribosome along mRNA in a reaction driven by the hydrolysis of GTP. In the present study, we have expressed, purified, and characterized the G domain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae EF-2 to define its functional properties. A peptide of 185 amino acids was found to be sufficient to bind guanine nucleotides when expressed in Escherichia coli either as a fusion with the maltose binding protein or as a truncation. The fusion was expressed as a soluble, active protein, while the truncation was expressed as an insoluble protein that required renaturation in order to function. Similar to native EF-2, both expression products bound GDP, but they did so with significantly lower affinity ( K d ca. 200 μ m for both the fusion and the truncation vs ca. 0.5 μ m for native EF-2). However, in contrast to native EF-2 which requires the ribosome for GTP hydrolysis, the isolated G domain hydrolyzed GTP ( K m ca. 40 μ m ; turnover rate ca. 0.5 min −1 ) in the absence of the ribosome. We conclude that the G domain residues necessary for GTP binding and hydrolysis are located in the first 185 amino acids of S. cerevisiae EF-2.
Catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons on platinum

The catalytic oxidation of several hydrocarbons on a platinum filament has been examined. From a study of the conditions required for heterogeneous thermal ignition, the rates of oxidation of several paraffins were determined. The influence of chemical structure of the hydrocarbon molecule on the catalytic process is discussed.
Teaching anxieties revealed: pre-service elementary teachers’ reflections on their mathematics teaching experiences

Over the last 50 years, there has been ample research dedicated to mathematics anxiety in contexts of teaching and learning. However, there has been less attention focused on pre-service teachers’ anxieties about teaching mathematics in classroom settings. This study analyzed pre-service teachers’ reflections at the conclusion of an elementary mathematics field experience in order to determine common themes surrounding anxiety-related events based on mathematics practice-teaching experiences. Through qualitative analysis of pre-service teachers’ reflections using open and axial coding, three categories and ten themes surrounding elementary pre-service teachers’ anxiety-related events based on mathematics practice-teaching experiences emerged. Some of the themes presented were ones that increased pre-service teachers’ anxieties for teaching mathematics, whereas other themes reflected aspects of the field experience that decreased anxiety for teaching mathematics. Based on the themes revealed in this study,...
THE EFFECTS OF NOISE ON PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN'S PRE-READING SKILLS

Abstract Previous research has shown a link between chronic noise exposure and reading skills. Elementary school-age children are thought to be negatively affected by such exposure. A limited amount of work has been done on the effects of chronic noise on pre-school children, and such work has primarily focused on attentional skills. A cohort model was used in this study to examine the effects of chronic noise on pre-school children's pre-reading skills. All of the children attended the same child care center. Ninety 4 and 5-year-old children were tested on cognitive measures of pre-reading skills and were rated by classroom teachers on their understanding and use of language. Children were tested in year one, before sound attenuation work in the classrooms, and in year two, after the installation of sound absorbent panels. In the quieter condition, children scored higher than their noisier cohort on the letter–number–word recognition measure and were rated higher by their teachers on the language scale. In addition, children in the quieter classrooms were less susceptible than those in the noisy classrooms to induced helplessness.
Postnatal deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in monkeys: Fluid intake and urine concentration

Previous studies demonstrated increased fluid intake in rhesus monkeys exposed to combined prenatal and long-term postnatal (PRE+POST) dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids. Here we determined the effect of dietary deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids occurring only prenatally (PRE) or only postnatally (POST). Water intake over 24 hours, water intake in 15-minute tests, and excretion of combined urine and feces over 24 hours were all about twice as great in POST as in PRE monkeys. Neither group preferred or avoided salt solutions compared to water in two-bottle tests. Serum electrolytes, total protein, and glucose were within the normal range, and both groups concentrated urine when deprived of water. Levels of all omega-3 fatty acids in red blood cells were greatly depressed in POST monkeys, while levels of omega-6 fatty acids were elevated or unchanged. These results confirm the effects of PRE+POST deficiency on fluid intake and demonstrate that postnatal deficiency by itself is sufficient for the effects.
Abundance, viability and diversity of the indigenous microbial populations at different depths of the NEEM Greenland ice core

The 2537-m-deep North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) core provided a first-time opportunity to perform extensive microbiological analyses on selected, recently drilled ice core samples representing different depths, ages, ice structures, deposition climates and ionic compositions. Here, we applied cultivation, small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene clone library construction and Illumina next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeting the V4–V5 region, to examine the microbial abundance, viability and diversity in five decontaminated NEEM samples from selected depths (101.2, 633.05, 643.5, 1729.75 and 2051.5 m) deposited 300–80 000 years ago. These comparisons of the indigenous glacial microbial populations in the ice samples detected significant spatial and temporal variations. Major findings include: (a) different phylogenetic diversity of isolates, dominated by Actinobacteria and fungi, compared to the culture-independent diversity, in which Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were more frequent; (b) cultivation of a novel alphaproteobacterium; (c) dominance of Cyanobacteria among the SSU rRNA gene clones from the 1729.75-m ice; (d) identification of Archaea by NGS that are rarely detected in glacial ice; (e) detection of one or two dominant but different genera among the NGS sequences from each sample; (f) finding dominance of Planococcaceae over Bacillaceae among Firmicutes in the brittle and the 2051.5-m ice. The overall beta diversity between the studied ice core samples examined at the phylum/class level for each approach showed that the population structure of the brittle ice was significantly different from the two deep clathrated ice samples and the shallow ice core. Keywords: Greenland; NEEM ice core; indigenous microbial diversity; isolates; Illumina MiSeq. To access the supplementary material for this article, please see supplementary files (in the column to the right) under Article Tools. (Published: 16 February 2015) Citation: Polar Research 2015, 34 , 25057, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v34.25057
Photon-pair comb generation in a Silicon microdisk resonator

We demonstrate an on-chip single photon source that produces ultra-bright high-purity photon pairs in a comb fashion, achieving a spectral brightness of 6.24×107 pair/s/mW2/GHz which is the highest performance reported up to date.
Grammar-driven generation of domain-specific language testing tools

Domain-specific languages (DSLs) assist an end-user in writing a software program using idioms that are closer to the abstractions found in a specific problem domain. Language tool support for DSLs is lacking when compared to the capabilities provided for standard object-oriented general purpose languages (GPLs). For example, support for debugging and testing a program written in a DSL is often nonexistent. This poster abstract introduces an investigation into a grammar-driven technique to build a framework to generate DSL testing tools (e.g., debugger and test engine). This research demonstrates the feasibility and applicability of using information derived from DSL grammars and existing software components to support end-user debugging and testing in a domain friendly environment.
Thought Acceleration Boosts Positive Mood Among Individuals with Minimal to Moderate Depressive Symptoms

Studies have found that accelerated thought speed induces positive mood. Positive mood and thought speed typically are abnormally low for individuals experiencing depression. Two experiments show that the positive mood of individuals with mild to moderate depressive symptoms is boosted by a manipulation accelerating thought speed. Participants read streaming text presented at a controlled rate in order to induce either fast-paced thinking or neutral-paced thinking. In both experiments, individuals with mild to moderate depressive symptoms (based on the Beck Depression Inventory-II) who were led to think fast reported more positive mood than those induced to think at a neutral pace. They also reported more positive mood at post-test relative to pre-test. Individuals with minimal or no depressive symptoms showed similar responses, whereas those with more severe depressive symptoms appeared unaffected. No effects emerged on measures of negative mood or general depressive symptoms. Future studies should investigate potential therapeutic effects of fast thinking in clinical samples and whether repeated inductions of fast thinking produce extended benefits.
Hypothermia in trauma patients

Hypothermia occurs commonly in severely injured patients and is associated with a high mortality rate. It perturbs the normal homeostatic response to injury and affects multiple organ systems and physiologic processes. In trauma patients, hypothermia-induced coagulopathy often leads to marked bleeding diathesis and frequently provides a challenge for the surgeon. Once hypothermia occurs, it is often difficult to correct. Efforts to prevent and treat hypothermia in trauma patients should be instituted in the field and continued as an integral part of the resuscitation process. Hospital personnel and physicians at various levels caring for trauma patients from the initial injury and thereafter should bear in mind that a patient's temperature is as important as any other vital sign. Appropriate measures for preventing and treating hypothermia should be instituted promptly and tended to with utmost vigilance.
Prolonged nerve blockade delays the onset of neuropathic pain

Aberrant neuronal activity in injured peripheral nerves is believed to be an important factor in the development of neuropathic pain. Pharmacological blockade of that activity has been shown to mitigate the onset of associated molecular events in the nervous system. However, results in preventing onset of pain behaviors by providing prolonged nerve blockade have been mixed. Furthermore, the experimental techniques used to date to provide that blockade were limited in clinical potential in that they would require surgical implantation. To address these issues, we have used liposomes (SDLs) containing saxitoxin (STX), a site 1 sodium channel blocker, and the glucocorticoid agonist dexamethasone to provide nerve blocks lasting ∼1 wk from a single injection. This formulation is easily injected percutaneously. Animals undergoing spared nerve injury (SNI) developed mechanical allodynia in 1 wk; nerve blockade with a single dose of SDLs (duration of block 6.9 ± 1.2 d) delayed the onset of allodynia by 2 d. Treatment with three sequential SDL injections resulting in a nerve block duration of 18.1 ± 3.4 d delayed the onset of allodynia by 1 mo. This very prolonged blockade decreased activation of astrocytes in the lumbar dorsal horn of the spinal cord due to SNI. Changes in expression of injury-related genes due to SNI in the dorsal root ganglia were not affected by SDLs. These findings suggest that formulations of this kind, which could be easy to apply clinically, can mitigate the development of neuropathic pain.
Methyl groups of trimethylamine N-oxide orient away from hydrophobic interfaces.

The molecular orientation of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a powerful protein stabilizer, was explored at aqueous/hydrophobicinterfacesusingvibrationalsumfrequency spectroscopy (VSFS). The systems studied included the octadecyl- trichlorosilane (OTS)/water interface, which represents an aqu- eous solution in direct contact with a hydrophobic medium. Surprisingly, the measurements revealed that the methyl groups of TMAO pointed into the aqueous phase and away from the OTS. This orientation may arise from the more hydrophilic nature of methyl groups attached to a strongly electron-with- drawing atom such as a quaternary nitrogen. Additional studies were performed at the air/water interface. This interface showed a high degree of TMAO alignment, but the dangling OH from water was present even at 5 M TAMO. Moreover, the addition of this osmolytemodestlyincreasedthesurfacetensionoftheinterface.Thismeantthatthisspecieswassomewhatdepletedattheinterface comparedtothebulksolution.These findingsmayhaveimplicationsforthestabilizingeffectofTMAOonproteins.Specifically,the strong hydrationrequired for the methyl groups aswell asthe oxidemoiety shouldbe responsiblefor the osmolyte's depletion from hydrophobic/aqueous interfaces. Such depletion effects should help stabilize proteins in their folded and native conformations on entropic grounds, although orientational effects may play an additional role.
What's Being Sold and to What End? A Content Analysis of College Viewbooks

(2008). What's Being Sold and to What End? A Content Analysis of College Viewbooks. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 79, No. 6, pp. 671-691.
A numerical study of bluff body aerodynamics in high Reynolds number flows by viscous vortex element method

Abstract The viscous vortex element method was studied in the present paper, and some modifications developed. Improvements were made to better represent the near-wall vorticity when obtaining numerical solutions for the Navier–Stokes equations. In particular, we split the boundary vortex sheet into two parts at each time step. One part remains a vortex sheet lying on the boundary of the solid body, and the other enters into the flow field as a free vortex element with a uniformly distributed vorticity. A set of kinematic relationships are used to determine the two appropriate portions of the split, and the position of the free vortex element at the time of release. Another improvement was the inclusion of the nonlinear acceleration terms in the flow equations near the solid boundary when evaluating the surface pressure distribution. The aerodynamic force coefficients were then obtained by summing up the pressure forces. By comparing the computed surface vorticities, surface pressures, and aerodynamic force coefficients with existing numerical/experimental data in the cases of circular cylinders and aerofoils, it was shown that the present approach is more accurate in modelling the flow features and force coefficients without making different ad hoc assumptions for different geometries. The algorithm is also applied to determine the aerodynamic forces for a bridge deck section. The results are compared with experimental results obtained in the water channel laboratory at the Center for Applied Stochastics Research at Florida Atlantic University.
Using Data Tables to Represent and Solve Multiplicative Story Problems.

This study tested the effectiveness of an experimental instructional strategy for writing arithmetic sentences for simple multiplication and division story problems involving nonintegral factors. The experimental strategy consisted of building an intermediate problem representation to display the problem quantities in the form of a data table and using multiplicative reasoning. This strategy was compared with a traditional strategy of solving an analogous problem with simpler numbers. Five intact seventh-grade classes participated in the study. Significant effects in favor of the experimental group were found on an intermediate test and a posttest.
Acidic precipitation in southeastern Arizona: Sulfate, nitrate and trace-metal deposition

Abstract Precipitation was collected during 1984 and 1985 at two sites in southeastern Arizona within 100 km of two copper smelters. The precipitation-depth-weighted mean pH was 4.63 and wet sulfate deposition was 8.9 kg ha−1 over a 13-month period. High acidity and sulfate concentration occurred when upper-level winds were from the directions of the smelters. A smelter ‘fingerprint’, based on antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, was identified, and used to evaluate the smelter contribution to precipitation sulfate on an annually-averaged basis. The variations in the relative proportions of these trace metals were too large to permit application of the method to individual precipitation events.
Gravitational effects of global textures

A solution for the dynamics of global textures is obtained. Their gravitational field during the collapse and the subsequent evolution is found to be given solely by a space-time dependent deficit solid angle.'' The frequency shift of photons traversing this gravitational field is calculated. The space-time dependent texture metric locally contracts the volume of three-space and thereby induces overdensities in homogeneous matter distributions. There are no gravitational forces unless matter has a nonzero angular momentum with respect to the texture origin which would be the case for moving textures.
Fluid accumulation, recognition and staging of acute kidney injury in critically-ill patients

Introduction: Serum creatinine concentration (sCr) is the marker used for diagnosing and staging acute kidney injury (AKI) in the RIFLE and AKIN classification systems, but is influenced by several factors including its volume of distribution. We evaluated the effect of fluid accumulation on sCr to estimate severity of AKI. Methods: In 253 patients recruited from a prospective observational study of critically-ill patients with AKI, we calculated cumulative fluid balance and computed a fluid-adjusted sCr concentration reflecting the effect of volume of distribution during the development phase of AKI. The time to reach a relative 50% increase from the reference sCr using the crude and adjusted sCr was compared. We defined late recognition to estimate severity of AKI when this time interval to reach 50% relative increase between the crude and adjusted sCr exceeded 24 hours. Results: The median cumulative fluid balance increased from 2.7 liters on day 2 to 6.5 liters on day 7. The difference between adjusted and crude sCr was significantly higher at each time point and progressively increased from a median difference of 0.09 mg/dL to 0.65 mg/dL after six days. Sixty-four (25%) patients met criteria for a late recognition to estimate severity progression of AKI. This group of patients had a lower urine output and a higher daily and cumulative fluid balance during the development phase of AKI. They were more likely to need dialysis but showed no difference in mortality compared to patients who did not meet the criteria for late recognition of severity progression. Conclusions: In critically-ill patients, the dilution of sCr by fluid accumulation may lead to underestimation of the severity of AKI and increases the time required to identify a 50% relative increase in sCr. A simple formula to correct sCr for fluid balance can improve staging of AKI and provide a better parameter for earlier recognition of severity progression.
Interferon Production by Lymphocytes in Human Milk

Despite their limited ability to synthesize immunoglobulins (only IgA and not IgM or IgG) lymphocytes of human colostrum and human breast milk can be stimulated by Newcastle disease virus to produce interferon in the same amount as do blood lymphocytes. The maximum interferon production by milk lymphocytes was found on the 4th and the 5th day postpartum.
Characterization of EvgAS-YdeO-GadE Branched Regulatory Circuit Governing Glutamate-Dependent Acid Resistance in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli prefers growth in neutral pH environments but can withstand extremely acidic conditions (pH 2) for long periods. Of the four E. coli systems that contribute to acid resistance, one, the glutamate-dependent system, is remarkable in its efficacy and regulatory complexity. The resistance mechanism involves the intracellular consumption of protons by the glutamate decarboxylase isozymes GadA and GadB. The antiporter GadC then exports the product, gamma-aminobutyric acid, in exchange for fresh glutamate. A microarray study using overexpressed regulators uncovered evgAS and ydeO as potential regulators of gadE, now known to encode the essential activator of the gadA and gadBC genes. Examination of evgA and ydeO under normal expression conditions revealed that their products do activate gadE expression but only under specific conditions. They were important during exponential growth in acidified minimal medium containing glucose but were unnecessary for gadE expression in stationary-phase cells grown in complex medium. The response regulator EvgA activates gadE directly and indirectly via induction of the AraC-like regulator ydeO. Evidence obtained using gadE-lacZ operon fusions also revealed that GadE was autoinduced. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that EvgA, YdeO, and GadE bind to different regions upstream of gadE, indicating they all act directly at the gadE promoter. Since GadE controls the expression of numerous genes besides gadA and gadBC, the relevance of these regulatory circuits extends beyond acid resistance.
Distribution logistics in the process industries: establishing railcar requirements

The Manufacturing World is often classified into Discrete Manufacturing and Process Operations.Process Industry Operations generally are classified as 'Batch' or 'Continuous'; we can think of these as producing 'stuff' as opposed to the discrete individual 'things' produced in Discrete Manufacturing Operations. These Manufacturing World's clearly have much in common, but there are areas in which they can be quite different. They certainly have overlap, but at the extremes they can be fundamentally different and present unique challenges. Continuity of Operations is one of these areas; some Continuous Chemical plants may operate 'around-the-clock' for several years between 'shutdowns'. This means that they literally continue to operate even when there are maintenance difficulties. They may slow down for grade changes or unusual operating conditions, but they do not stop altogether as this could force the entire production train down for a major overhaul/restart which can be very expensive and/or time consuming. For some chemical plants a total shutdown can poison the reaction catalyst. For some polymer plants a total shutdown can mean the molten polymer 'freezes' in the lines. Each of these will result in a long period of total outage while the plant is refurbished and restarted. When a Process is 'Continuous' in this sense, it certainly can create some unusual challenges from a "Logistics Viewpoint". Aspects of these challenges are JIT/WIP Inventory, Material Handling, and Product Distribution. This paper will (1) discuss these challenges with emphasis on Final Product Distribution and Railcar Requirements, and (2) briefly describe two cases where careful Analysis and Modeling helped lead to substantial improvements in Operations Understanding and to significant Financial Savings (both Investment and Cost).