cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agent-based modeling and genetic programming for modeling land change in the Southern Yucatán Peninsular Region of Mexico

Abstract Land-use and land-cover change research increasingly takes the form of integrated land-change science, the explicit joining of ecological, social and information sciences. Traditional interdisciplinary methods are buttressed by new ones stemming from computational intelligence research and the complexity sciences. Several of these – genetic programming, cellular modeling and agent-based modeling – are applied to land change in the Southern Yucatan Peninsular Region (SYPR) of Mexico through the SYPR Integrated Assessment (SYPRIA). This work illustrates how computational intelligence techniques, such as genetic programming, can be used to model decision making in the context of human–environment relationships. This application also contributes to methodological innovations in multicriteria evaluation and modeling of coupled human–environment systems. This effort also demonstrates the importance of considering both social and environmental drivers of land change, particularly with respect to the decision making of change agents within the context of key socioeconomic and political drivers, particularly as channelled through market institutions and land tenure, and ecological factors, especially characteristics of land-use and land-cover such as state, history and fragmentation. SYPRIA demonstrates the utility of modeling methods based in computational intelligence and the complexity sciences in helping understand the decision making of land-change agents as a function of both social and environment drivers.
Class, household structure, and the peasantry: An empirical approach

The article examines a number of criteria by which to categorise rural households into distinct socio‐economic classes. Based on the author's sample survey of 211 households in the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, the study argues that an analysis of rural class structure must focus not only on access to the means of production and the extent of participation in the labour market but also on key structural features of domestic units such as household size, generational composition, and the division of labour by gender and age. Statistical tests strongly support the thesis that considerations of household structure sharpen and enrich the concept of class. The results also define and distinguish three main class types in the survey region ‐ commercial, subsistence, and landless households.
Die rastlose Erde

Leben wie wir es kennen und Meere, in denen es entstanden ist, gibt es in unserem Planetensystem nur auf der Erde. Unsere nachsten Nachbarn, Venus und Mars, sind zu heis beziehungsweise zu kalt. Auf Venus gibt es nur Wasserdampf, und auf Mars ist das Wasser in Form von Eis unter der Oberflache vergraben. Nur auf der Erde herrschen Temperaturen zwischen 273 und 373 Kelvin, bei denen Wasser flussig ist.
Simple is beautiful

Motivation: The deluge of biological information from different genomic initiatives and the rapid advancement in biotechnologies have made bioinformatics tools an integral part of modern biology. Among the widely used sequence alignment tools, BLAST and PSI-BLAST are arguably the most popular. PSI-BLAST, which uses an iterative profile position specific score matrix (PSSM)-based search strategy, is more sensitive than BLAST in detecting weak homologies, thus making it suitable for remote homolog detection. Many refinements have been made to improve PSI-BLAST, and its computational efficiency and high specificity have been much touted. Nevertheless, corruption of its profile via the incorporation of false positive sequences remains a major challenge. Results: We have developed a simple and elegant approach to resolve the problem of model corruption in PSI-BLAST searches. We hypothesized that combining results from the first (least-corrupted) profile with results from later (most sensitive) iterations of PSI-BLAST provides a better discriminator for true and false hits. Accordingly, we have derived a formula that utilizes the E-values from these two PSI-BLAST iterations to obtain a figure of merit for rank-ordering the hits. Our verification results based on a ‘gold-standard’ test set indicate that this figure of merit does indeed delineate true positives from false positives better than PSI-BLAST E-values. Perhaps what is most notable about this strategy is that it is simple and straightforward to implement. Contact: bundschuh@mps.ohio-state.edu
STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF OMEGA-METHYLPANTOTHENIC ACID ON CORTICOSTERONE SECRETION IN THE RAT

Adrenal venous blood was collected from pantothenic acid deficient rats, and the rate of secretion of corticosterone, the predominant corticosteroid in the rat, was determined. A decrease in corticosterone output was demonstrated, which occurred before the development of the hemorrhagic adrenal necrosis typical of pantothenic acid deficiency. Omega-methylpantothenic acid also produced a significant reduction of corticosterone secretion, which was reversible over a 24 hour period by pantothenic acid. Chronic administration of ACTH blocked the inhibitory effect of omega-methylpantothenic acid on corticosterone secretion. Omega-methylpantothenic acid did not produce hemorrhagic adrenal necrosis, even in rats in which a hemorrhagic tendency had been produced by treatment with sodium warfarin. The potentialities of omega-methylpantothenic acid as a pharmacologic agent for the suppression or destruction of the adrenal cortex are discussed.
Growth temperature modulates the spatial variability of leaf morphology and chemical elements within crowns of climatically divergent Acer rubrum genotypes

Summary Our understanding of leaf acclimation in relation to temperature of fully grown or juvenile tree crowns is mainly based on research involving spatially uncontrolled growth temperature. In this study, we test the hypothesis that leaf morphology and chemical elements are modulated by within-crown growth temperature differences. We ask whether within-species variation can influence acclimation to elevated temperatures. Within-crown temperature dependence of leaf morphology, carbon and nitrogen was examined in two genotypes of Acer rubrum L. (red maple) from different latitudes, where the mean annual temperature varies between 7.2 and 19.4 � C. Crown sections were grown in temperaturecontrolled chambers at three daytime growth temperatures (25, 33 and 38 � C). Leaf growth and resource acquisition were measured at regular intervals over longterm (50 days) controlled daytime growth temperatures. We found significant intraspecific variation in temperature dependence of leaf carbon and nitrogen accumulation between genotypes. Additionally, there was evidence that leaf morphology depended on inherited adaptation. Leaf dry matter and nitrogen content decreased as growth temperature was elevated above 25 � C in the genotype native to the cooler climate, whereas they remained fairly constant in response to temperature in the genotype native to the warmer climate. Specific leaf area (SLA) was correlated positively to leaf nitrogen content in both genotypes. The SLA and the relative leaf dry matter content (LM), on the other hand, were correlated negatively to leaf thickness. However, intraspecific variation in SLA and LM versus leaf thickness was highly significant. Intraspecific differences in leaf temperature response between climatically divergent genotypes yielded important implications for convergent evolution of leaf adaptation. Comparison of our results with those of previous studies showed that leaf carbon allocation along a vertical temperature gradient was modulated by growth temperature in the genotype native to the cooler climate. This
Generation and application of high-resolution infrared computer imagery

The generation of high-fidelity simulated infrared imagery requires a unique combination of physical principles and computer image generation technology. At the Georgia Tech Research Institute infrared simulation software has been developed that couples three-dimensional geometric models with geographic databases, infrared radiance prediction models, and computer graphics techniques for image rendering to generate high-resolution synthetic infrared imagery. These features provide a large degree of flexibility to the simulation and allow it to be employed over a wide spectrum of applications. A discussion of a simulation methodology, a review of the GTVISIT scene simulation tool, and a discussion of several applications are given.
Dispersion compensation for ultrashort pulse transmission using two-mode fiber equalizers

We numerically simulate ultrashort pulse propagation in dispersion compensated fiber links using two-mode equalizing fibers. By choosing a proper length ratio between the conventional single-mode fiber and the compensating two-mode fiber, both the dispersion and the dispersion slope can be eliminated simultaneously. As a result, dispersion compensated propagation of sub-picosecond pulses should be possible for distances in excess of 100 km. Our analysis shows that for sub-picosecond pulses, dispersion-limited propagation distances offered by this technique may significantly exceed those possible with soliton propagation. We also evaluate nonlinearity limits due to self-phase modulation. >
Adaptive Broadcasting for Similarity Queries in Wireless Content Delivery Systems

We present a new adaptive and energy-efficient broadcast model to support flexible responses to client queries. Clients do not have to request documents by name, since they may know the characteristics of the documents but not the document names or IDs. In our model, clients specify requirements through attributes, and servers broadcast documents that match client requests at a prespecified level of similarity. A given document may satisfy several clients, so the server broadcasts a minimal set of documents that achieves a desired level of satisfaction in the client population. The server obtains randomized feedback from clients and adapts its broadcast program accordingly. Clients use a selective tune-in scheme based on approximate indexing to conserve energy. Our model captures client interest patterns efficiently and accurately and scales very well with the number of clients while reducing the overall client average waiting times. The selective tune-in scheme reduces client energy consumption greatly, with a modest wait time increase.
William Dean' Theory of Urban Growth: Chicago's Commerce and Industry, 1854–1871

William H. Dean, Jr. argued the development of a commercial agglomeration at any site is a function of three interrelated variables: trade routes, position, and nodality. Industrial agglomerations follow commercial ones. Dean's theory is discussed and applied to Chicago's growth before the Great Fire of 1871. The initial development of Chicago's transportation infrastructure is described. Data for the balance of receipts and shipments of selected items and growth rates for receipts and shipments from 1854 to 1871 are presented.
A potential role for aldose reductase in steroid metabolism.

Aldose reductase (ALR2) is a monomeric NADPH-dependent reductase distinguished from other members of the aldo-keto reductase enzyme family in its ability to catalyze the reduction of a variety of hexoses and pentoses. The role of ALR2 in enhanced polyol synthesis in diabetic and galactosemic tissues is well documented (Kinoshita and Nishimura, 1988), as is the potential therapeutic use of ALR2 inhibitors to delay or prevent the onset and progression of metabolic complications leading to cataract and retinopathy (Sarges and Oates, 1993). New insights into the structure of ALR2, together with emerging data demonstrating that many individual aldo-keto reductases may participate in divergent metabolic pathways, lead us to question whether sugars represent the only physiologically-relevant substrate of this enzyme.
Critical Phenomenon and Equations of States

This chapter deals with critical phenomenon and fluctuations, near- and super-critical properties of fluids, especially water, with applications to magma-hydrothermal systems, equations of states of gas, solid and melt extending to very high P-T regimes that are of special interest in the Earth sciences.
The affinity of signal recognition particle for presecretory proteins is dependent on nascent chain length.

We have developed an assay in which incomplete preprolactin chains of varying lengths are targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane in an elongation independent manner. The reaction had the same molecular requirements as nascent chain translocation across the ER membrane, namely, it was signal recognition particle (SRP) dependent, and required the nascent chain to be present as peptidyl tRNA (i.e. most likely ribosome associated) and to have its signal sequence exposed outside the ribosome. We found that the efficiency of the targeting reaction dropped dramatically as the chains grew longer than 140 amino acids in length, which probably reflected a decrease in affinity of the nascent chain-ribosome complex for SRP. Thus at physiological SRP concentrations (10 nM) there appears a sharp cut-off point in the ability of these chains to be targeted, while at high SRP concentrations (270 nM) all chains could be targeted. In kinetic experiments, high concentrations of SRP were found to change the time in elongation after which translocation of the nascent polypeptide could no longer occur.
Should applicants' ethnicity be considered in medical school admissions?

Medical school admission committees can act within current legal guidelines to identify and recruit students from groups that are underrepresented in medicine. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adherence to mouse corneas in organ culture.

The present study was designed to obtain further information on the nature of the corneal macromolecule(s) to which Pseudomonas aeruginosa adheres and how adherence might be prevented. Scarified adult mouse corneas in organ culture were treated with trypsin or lipase to determine whether the receptor molecule(s) was protein or lipid in nature. Trypsin (20 micrograms/ml) treatment of the cornea for 5 min had no significant effect on bacterial adherence, and longer periods of enzyme exposure resulted in extensive surface cell lysis. In contrast, lipase treatment (50,000 U/ml) for 1 h caused little visible cell lysis and significantly reduced bacterial adherence. To test further the lipid nature of the receptor, a highly purified monosialoganglioside (GM1) preparation (500 micrograms/ml) was used to preincubate (1 h) the cornea prior to bacterial application, and this also inhibited bacterial adherence. Similar corneal treatment with gangliotetraosylceramide (asialo GM1) (500 micrograms/ml) had little effect on ocular bacterial binding. Premixing of the bacterial inoculum with GM1 prior to corneal application had no significant effect on inhibiting bacterial binding, but similarly premixing the bacterial inoculum with asialo GM1 transiently decreased adherence. Lastly, premixing of the bacterial inoculum or preincubation of corneas with fibronectin (500 micrograms/ml for 1 h) both decreased bacterial adherence. These findings provide evidence that the receptor-adhesin interactions of P. aeruginosa at the ocular surface in organ culture are complex, involve a glycolipid moiety, and may be blocked by a ganglioside containing at least one sialosyl residue or by fibronectin, which may bind to membrane-associated gangliosides. Images
Large-scale implementation of sequential protein and peptide immunoaffinity enrichment LC/nanoLC–MS/MS for human β-nerve growth factor

Background: A previously described immunoaffinity (IA)-LC-MS/MS assay for human β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) was implemented to support large-scale sample testing for multiple clinical trials. Methodology & results: The procedure was modified to increase throughput by simultaneous preparation of two 96-well plates and LC duty-cycle reduction. Robustness of the LC method and nano-ESI was ensured during large-scale assay execution by closely monitoring and, if needed, replacing system components prior to failure. Following validation, the assay was used to analyze approximately 19,000 samples from multiple clinical studies over several years. Conclusion: Routine implementation of the β-NGF IA-LC–MS/MS assay supported drug development programs. This optimized assay format now serves as a template for other clinical protein biomarker assays.
Book reviews: Author meets critic: a set of reviews (and response)*View all notes

Judith Halberstam, New York: New York University Press, 2005, viii +213pp., $19 paperback, (ISBN 0-8147-2585-1), $65 hardback, (ISBN 0-8147-3584-3) *These comments were first presented in an Author...
Plastic Flow of L12 Ordered Alloys

The flow stress of many Li2 ordered alloys has a very unusual temperature dependence: the flow stress increases with increasing temperature. This unusual behavior is related to the nature of dislocation dissociation and core structure. The flow stress increase is the result of thermally activated cross slip of $$\left[{\overline 1 01} \right]\left({111} \right)$$ screw dislocations to the (010) plane which is accompanied by a transformation of the dislocation core from a glissile to a sessile form. Thus dislocations which are mobile on (111) planes become immobile after cross-slip into (010) planes. The dependence of the flow stress on temperature, orientation and sense of the applied uniaxial stress will be discussed in the light of this cross slip model for Ni3Al, Ni3Ga and for γ/γ′ nickel base superalloys. The response of Ni3Al to cyclic plastic strains (plastic strain controlled fatigue) will also be shown to be in accord with the cross slip model. The mean stress in such a test becomes compressive or tensile, depending on the orientation of the sample, even though the net plastic strain is zero after each cycle. The strengthening of Ni3Al by ternary additions will also be discussed. It will be shown that ordinary solid solution strengthening models are not applicable but that the cross slip model can also be applied. Finally, it will be shown that dislocation core simulation studies predict that there should also be a class of Li2 ordered alloys that show a “normal” flow stress-temperature behavior, i.e., the flow stress increases at low temperatures. The results of our studies on Pt3Al will be used to illustrate this behavior.
Primitive fishes: environmental adaptations and persistence McKenzie DJ, Farrell AP, Brauner CJ (eds) (2007) Primitive fishes, Vol. 26, Fish physiology, Academic Press, Amsterdam, 562 pp, US$94.50

Keywords Agnatha.Sarcopterygii.Polypteriformes.Acipenseriformes.Holosteans.PrimitiveAnyone who has seen a lamprey, sturgeon, bowfin, orany other ‘primitive fish’ can attest to the mystique ofthese animals. Primitive fishes can (in my case) evokethe wonder experienced as children over dinosaurs, agroup that is younger in geologic time than manyprimitive fishes (Kardong 1995). The ancient lineageand persistence of primitive fishes through time makesthem amenable to studies of phylogeny and evolution.Primitive fishes are especially interesting from ananthropomorphic view, as some, lungfishes and coela-canths, may be more closely related to humans than toother fishes (Maisey 1996;Janvier,Figure1.3inChapter 1; Youson, Chapter 9). In my case, the ancientlineage of primitive fishes also makes them interestingto study with respect to their physiological adaptationsto their present and past environments. Many of theprimitive fishes have changed very little in appearanceover time and it is a wonder that they have persisted forso long.The authors of the book chapters occasionallyspeculate about how the physiology of primitive fishesadapted them to past environments (Chapter 1) or hasenabledthemtopersistincurrentenvironments(Chapter10). For the most part, however, care is taken by allauthors(especiallyJanvierinChapter1)toacknowledgethat the physiology we see now may not indicateadaptation to past environments (witnessed by themarine origin of lungfishes, which now only exist infreshwater; Janvier, Chapter 1). Fossils typically captureonlythecalcifiedskeletalremainsoforganismsandomitthesoftanatomyinwhichmanyphysiologicalprocessesoccur. As a result, fishes lacking a rigid, calcifiedskeleton have relatively poor fossil records (e.g.,lampreys; Janvier, Chapter 1). Skeletons have theirlimitations for fishes with bony elements, as functioncannot always be deduced from morphology (e.g., seeWainwright 2007). ‘In sum, very few fossil data aredirectly informative to primitive vertebrate physiolo-gists’ (Janvier, Chapter 1, pg. 40).‘Primitive Fishes’ is a well-bound book that staysopen on your desktop for easy access and reference. Ipreferred the ‘old-style’ covers of past books in theFish Physiology series (Volumes 1–13). However thecover of ‘Primitive Fishes’ presents an attractive colorscheme with a whimsical and arresting line drawing ofprimitive fishes by the author of Chapter 1, Janvier.My only complaint about how the book is ‘puttogether’ is that the color inserts for figures are often,but not always, inserted several pages away from the
Automated Vortex Core Analysis for Multi-Zone Numerical Flow Simulations

An automated approach is implemented to perform data analyses of vortex cores extracted from numerical flow simulations. The new approach generates contiguous vortex core lines in multi-zone grids. Then, several interactive techniques are presented that extract quantitative data such as cross-flow velocity profiles and vortex core diameter. The approach provides a faster way of analyzing flow features than is possible using conventional post-processing tools. Furthermore, it provides a new way of analyzing vortex cores.
Discursive encounters: dance, inscription, and modern identities in interwar Paris

Although scholars have studied the impact of black cultures upon French identities and interwar culture, the more fundamental relationship between black dance and the articulation of modern French, African diasporic, and American identities awaits critical treatment. Through an examination of references to the black entertainer Josephine Baker in journalism by Martinican intellectual Jane Nardal, French dance critic Andre Levinson, and American poet e. e. cummings, this article explores their ‘discursive encounters’ with black dance, which provides a language for these writers, artists, and intellectuals to grapple with their own modern subjectivities.
Preoperative Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predicts Biochemical Recurrence in Prostate Cancer after Radical Prostatectomy.

Objectives To evaluate the utility of preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI) in predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP).
Shifting Science, Considered Costs, and Static Statutes: The Interpretation of Expansive Environmental Legislation

Congress often passes expansive legislation, frequently environmental and public health regulatory statutes, where both the definition of those items being regulated and the mandate have significant breadth. How should these provisions be construed? While it is difficult to establish a model which determines whether to broadly or narrowly construe an expansive statutory provision, factors that impact this choice include the existence of express limitations on the mandate, understandings of congressional intent, avoiding regulation that might do more harm than good, the nature of the regulated item, and intervening circumstances such as new understandings in law, policy or science. This Article sets out to establish how, why, and when courts should broadly interpret expansive environmental and public health legislation. Absent express limitations requiring cost-benefit analysis or technological feasibility, courts should broadly construe expansive legislation because courts are equipped to interpret the mandate, the costs of non-regulation are potentially high, and it should be assumed that Congress, in recognition of changed circumstances, was aware of the breadth of the textual language; whereas courts should allow administrative agencies to narrowly or broadly construe statutory provisions with such limitations subject to Chevron deference.
Analyze on simplified simulation model of converter station

In this paper, a simplified simulation model of HVDC converter station based on real-time simulation system (RTDS) is presented. Instead of several converter units, a lumped parameter model is purposed. Equivalent calculations are done on converter transformers, converter bridges and control loops. Simulation results are analyzed on static operating point, small disturbance and fault states. A comparison between simulation results of simplified model and traditional model shows, simplified model has the same characteristic as traditional model when operating around statistic operation point. The simplified model uses less simulation nodes and less calculation resources, therefore it is more suitable in large scale distribution power network simulation.
Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB) binds amyloid β-protein protofibrils

The neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) includes amyloid plaque formation by the amyloid β-protein (Aβ) and intracellular paired helical filament formation by tau protein. These neuropathogenetic features correlate with disease progression and have been revealed in brains of AD patients using positron emission tomography (PET). One of the most useful positron emission tomography imaging agents has been Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB). However, since its introduction in 2002, substantial evidence has accumulated suggesting that Aβ oligomerization and protofibril formation, rather than fibril formation per se, may be the more important pathogenetic event in AD. Detecting protofibrils and oligomeric forms of Aβ thus may be of value. We report here the results of experiments to determine whether PiB binds to oligomers or protofibrils formed by Aβ40 and Aβ42. We observed strong binding to Aβ42 fibrils, significant binding to protofibrils, and weaker binding to Aβ42 oligomers. PiB also binds Aβ40 fibrils, but its binding to Aβ40 protofibrils and oligomers is substantially lower than for that observed for Aβ42.
Low vitamin D does not predict statin associated muscle symptoms but is associated with transient increases in muscle damage and pain

Abstract Background and aims Low vitamin D (VITD) may contribute to statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). We examined the influence of baseline and change in VITD in patients with verified SAMS. Methods SAMS was verified in 120 patients with prior statin muscle complaints using 8-week randomized, double-blind crossover trials of simvastatin (SIMVA) 20 mg/d and placebo. 25 (OH)vitamin D was measured at each phase of the trial. Results Forty-three patients (35.8%) experienced muscle pain on SIMVA but not placebo, exhibiting confirmed SAMS. VITD (mean ± standard deviation) prior to SIMVA treatment was not different between patients who did (31.7 ± 12.1 ng/mL, n = 43) or did not (31.6 ± 10.3 ng/mL, n = 77) develop SAMS and did not predict SAMS ( p = 0.96). The change in VITD with SIMVA treatment was not different between patients with and without SAMS (0.3 ± 5.9 vs. 0.2 ± 8.3 ng/mL, respectively) and did not predict SAMS ( p = 0.96). The proportion of patients classified as VITD deficient ( 2 = 1.45; p = 0.23), nor did the proportion of patients classified as VITD insufficient ( vs. 48; χ 2 p = 0.94). Both baseline and on-statin VITD were inversely related to the change in creatine kinase (CK) with statin therapy ( p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively), independent of SAMS ( p = 0.36 and 0.35). Conclusions Baseline VITD, VITD deficiency/insufficiency and changes in VITD with statin therapy do not predict SAMS in patients with rigorously verified SAMS. However, low VITD may exacerbate statin-induced muscle injury and could contribute to SAMS development with a longer duration of statin treatment.
Interpolation Between the Instant Form and the Front Form of Relativistic Dynamics

The instant form and the front form of relativistic dynamics proposed by Dirac (Rev Mod Phys 21:392–399, 1949) can be linked by introducing an interpolating angle. The instant form dynamics (IFD) provides a traditional approach evolved from non-relativistic dynamics and makes a close contact with Euclidean space developing temperature-dependent quantum field theory, lattice QCD, etc. The front form dynamics, now known as the light-front dynamics (LFD), however, works strictly in Minkowski space and provides useful frameworks to study deep inelastic scattering, parton distribution functions, deeply virtual Compton scattering, generalized parton distributions, etc. We present the recent development of the interpolation between IFD and LFD and discuss ramifications from this development.
Investigation of the Molecular Interactions Regulating the Function of Human Cardiac Myosin

Cardiac myosin interacts cyclically with actin in the presence of ATP in the sarcomere to drive heart contraction. Previous fiber studies suggested that the structure and function of myosin in the thick filaments are regulated by its own regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation and through its interaction with myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C). Interestingly, ∼80% of mutations that cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a relatively common genetic cardiac disorder characterized by hypercontractility, have been found in the genes encoding human β-cardiac myosin and human cardiac MyBP-C. It has been hypothesized that the heads of the two-headed motor can adopt a sequestered structure where the heads interact asymmetrically with their own tail as Ser-15 residue of RLC remains dephosphorylated, and the N-terminal domains of MyBP-C binds to myosin to stabilize the structure. We designed two different two-headed human β-cardiac myosin motor constructs differing in the length of their S2 tail domains and co-expressed them with both of the human light chains to test the hypothesis that the number of myosin heads available for interaction with actin is regulated by phosphorylation of the RLC and MyBP-C. The shorter construct (2-hep HMM) is devoid of the tail region needed for the interaction of S2 with its S1 heads whereas the longer one (25-hep HMM) has the required length of S2 tail region to allow such interactions. We found that the maximal actin-activated ATPase rate for 2-hep HMM and the single-headed myosin construct S1 are essentially the same, and are only slightly changed by RLC phosphorylation. On the other hand, de-phosphorylated 25-hep HMM has a significantly lower maximal actin-activated ATPase than the 2-hep HMM, consistent with the former having fewer actin-accessible S1 heads than the latter. Additionally, binding experiments of 2-hep and 25-hep HMM with the N-terminal C0-C2 domain of human cardiac MyBP-C showed that the affinity of complex formation is weakened by phosphorylation of either RLC or MyBP-C.
Metallomesogen Templates for Shape Control of Metal Selenide Nanocrystals

Metal alkanethiolates are organometallic single-source precursors that have been used to synthesize metal sulfide nanocrystals (NCs) from thermal decomposition reactions. Ag and Cu alkanethiolates are remarkable because they adopt lamellar bilayer nanostructures that give rise to mesogenic behavior akin to that of thermotropic liquid crystals. Such metallomesogen precursors have been demonstrated to template the nucleation and growth of highly anisotropic NC morphologies. In this work, we synthesize novel metallomesogen compounds, namely, CuSeC12H25 and AgSeC12H25, to target shaped metal selenide NCs. We show that these compounds adopt lamellar bilayer structures and undergo mesogenic transitions at elevated temperatures. We find that structural disparities between the CuSeC12H25 and AgSeC12H25 mesophases lead to the formation of distinct two- and one-dimensional NC morphologies, respectively. Moreover, both compounds exhibit an isotropic phase that produces either nanospheres or irregularly shaped partic...
Cigarette Nicotine Content as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Negative Affect and Smoking.

Introduction Research suggests a strong association between negative affect (NA) and smoking. However, little is known about the association between NA and smoking among individuals who switch to reduced-nicotine cigarettes. The goal of this study was to examine the extent to which cigarette nicotine content moderates the relationship between NA and smoking over time. Methods Seven hundred and seventeen participants, 237 in the normal nicotine content (NNC; 15.8 mg/g and usual brand) cigarette group and 480 in the very low nicotine content (VLNC; 2.4 mg/g nicotine or less) cigarette group, participated in a randomized trial that examined the effects of cigarette nicotine content on smoking behavior over 6 weeks. We used parallel process latent growth curve modeling to estimate the relationship between changes in NA and changes in the numbers of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD), from baseline to 6 weeks, as a function of cigarette nicotine content. Results The relationship between NA and investigational CPD reduced over time for those in the VLNC group, but not for those in the NNC group. There was no significant relationship between change in PA and CPD over time for either cigarette group. Conclusions Smoking VLNC cigarettes disrupts the relationship between smoking and negative affect, which may help reduce nicotine dependence. Implications This study suggests that the association between NA and smoking behavior is reduced over time among those that smoked reduced-nicotine content cigarettes. This provides additional evidence that smoking reduced-nicotine content cigarettes may help reduce nicotine dependence.
Chapter 3 – Functions, Scoping, Recursion, and Other Miscellany

To write useful, reusable code functions are essential. In this chapter we introduce the concept of functions and demonstrate how to write them in Python. The details of calling functions and returning data given. Writing comments that describe what the function does, its parameters, and return values in the form of docstrings is detailed, and the way to print these docstrings using the help function is shown. The concept of function scope is introduced and demonstrated through examples. Recursion, or functions calling themselves, is discussed and demonstrated through the calculation of the factorial. Finally, interacting with external files in Python is discussed, in particular, writing and calling functions in other files via modules and reading and writing text files.
Perceived Powerlessness as a Mediator between Life Stressors and Deviant Behaviors

The Threat Appraisal and Coping Theory suggest that when facing life stressors, individuals may perceive that they are powerless to change them, which may prompt “maladaptive coping” deviant behavi...
Local Polynomial Metrics for K Nearest Neighbor Classifiers

In many pattern recognition systems, metrics are frequently employed to quantify the dissimilarity that exists between two given patterns. Common applications occur in clustering algorithms, radial basis function classifiers, and nearest neighbor classifiers (Duda et al., 2001). A bounty of results exist that demonstrate the importance of selecting a metric (or dissimilarity measure) with care (e.g., Simard et al., 1993). In the following, we present an adaptive algorithm that uses local polynomial regression to construct a metric useful for a pattern classification problem described by a set of correctly classified patterns. Although we introduce this algorithm in the context of the k nearest neighbor classifier, it is applicable to other pattern classifiers that use proximity in feature space as a measure of pattern similarity.
Autism and Aspergers

Advances in early diagnosis and treatment have meant that the outcome of autism has improved substantially over the past decade. At the same time, challenges for adolescents with autism and related disorders remain. Increasingly, adolescents with autism have been able to achieve significantly higher levels of personal self-sufficiency and independence. Although frequently now able to meet the demands of higher education, persistent social-communication problems often impede acquisition of important skills needed for adult independence. For some individuals, persistent intellectual disability (often associated with significant behavioral difficulties) remains an enduring challenge. For others, the onset of new problems presents other challenges. These include the higher risk for seizure disorder with an onset in adolescents as well as the increased rate of depression and mood problems. In comparison to the literature on preschool and school age children, the research base is much more limited for adolescents. More work is needed to clarify effective, evidence-based, intervention strategies in this population.
Optimal Currency Denomination in Long-Term Debt Financing

As state-owned and corporate entities gain a more global outlook, foreign currency-denominated debt instruments become an integral part of their financing options. In a world of efficient currency markets and integrated capital markets, optimal currency-denomination for long-term debt sourcing decisions become a matter of indifference since nominal interest rates reflect inflation rate expectations, which, in turn, determine the future spot exchange-rate adjustment path. In such an idealized world, the effective cost of debt across currency “habitats” should be equal. In reality, most financial markets are segmented from one another—at least to some degree—and the resulting international cost of debt discrepancies are what keep corporate treasurers busily employed. Indeed, in a world of “mildly” segmented capital markets (see box 9.1), where “overshooting” exchange rates, credit rationing with interest-rate ceilings, and “crowding out” by public borrowers are generally the norm rather than the exception, the issue of optimal currency denomination assumes real operational significance.
Aphid pectinases, cell wall fragments, and biotype evolution

A number of economically important aphid species exhibit the genetic capability to respond to selection pressure, thus forming new, more virulent biotypes, that are capable of overcoming previously resistant host germplasm and/or making species-level shifts in host range. Because the ability to enzymatically dissolve its way down to the sieve elements of the phloem is apparently critical to the feeding success of most aphid species, it is not surprising to find a relationship between pectinase chemistry of the insect and pectin chemistry of the plant (Campbell & Dreyer, 1990). We have elucidated some aspects of these very complex relationships with the greenbug (Schizaphis graminum (Rondani)) pectinase - sorghum pectin system (Reese et al., 1990).
Coactivation with anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody enhances anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody-induced proliferation and IL-2 synthesis in T cells from autologous bone marrow transplant recipients.

Recent studies show that costimulation of T cells with anti-CD28 Mab (anti-CD28) enhances anti-CD3 Mab (anti-CD3)-induced proliferative responses and cytokine production. This study determines if coactivation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 corrects defects in proliferation and IL-2 secretion in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients. PBL or T cells from 5 of 16 autologous and 5 of 22 allogeneic recipients increased their anti-CD3-induced proliferation responses by > 50% after coactivation. In short-term ( 180 day after BMT) autologous recipients, the group mean response after anti-CD3 activation increased from 62,600 to 78,400 cpm after coactivation. The long-term autologous recipient group had costimulated responses from PBL that were significantly higher than the paired anti-CD3-induced responses (p < 0.01); in contrast, such differences were not seen in allogeneic recipient groups. After anti-CD3 stimulation, the mean response of 88,000 cpm for PBL from short-term allogeneic recipients and the mean response of 83,600 cpm for PBL from long-term allogeneic recipients were higher than those in PBL from autologous recipients were higher than those in PBL from autologous recipient groups. The amount of IL-2 secreted by T cells from three autologous and three allogeneic recipients was enhanced 0.9-25-fold by coactivation. Coactivation of PBL from selected recipients increased proliferation into the normal range and increased IL-2 secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Genetic polymorphisms of 5-LO

The clinical success of zileuton and other 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitors for the treatment of asthma strongly supports the hypothesis that alterations in the expression of 5-LO have important implications in the pathogenesis of diseases characterized by excess leukotriene production. In a clinical trial with zileuton about 50% of patients have shown a sustained improvement in FEV1 (force expiratory volume at 1 sec) of ≥ 10% in response to 5-LO inhibition [1]. It is likely that the issues of incomplete therapeutic responses in asthma are not isolated to 5-LO inhibitors perse, but are problems associated with all antiasthmatic drugs, and reflect the fact that asthma is a heterogeneous disease with complex and interdependent genetic and environmental etiologic factors [2, 3]. One intriguing possibility is that the leukocytes of asthmatics differ in their functional expression of 5-LO, such that 5-LO products contribute to a variable extent in the overall pathogenesis of asthma. As a result of these differences, patients overexpressing 5-LO, and therefore 5-LO products, will be more responsive to 5-LO inhibition, whereas other patients whose disease is less dependent on 5-LO activity will be less responsive to these drugs. Is there a potential for genetic differences in the 5-LO gene to be responsible for altered 5-LO expression and some of the observed heterogeneity among asthmatic patients? The answer to this question appears to be yes, and because of its essential role in the formation of leukotrienes, 5-LO is considered to be an excellent candidate gene in the ongoing search for genetic polymorphisms that may account for asthma development or phenotypic variability. This chapter will review what is known about 5-LO gene regulation and how this regulation may be altered by naturally occurring promoter mutations.
Single-molecule DREEM imaging reveals DNA wrapping around human mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein

Improper maintenance of the mitochondrial genome progressively disrupts cellular respiration and causes severe metabolic disorders commonly termed mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein (mtSSB) is an essential component of the mtDNA replication machinery. We utilized single-molecule methods to examine the modes by which human mtSSB binds DNA to help define protein interactions at the mtDNA replication fork. Direct visualization of individual mtSSB molecules by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a random distribution of mtSSB tetramers bound to extended regions of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), strongly suggesting non-cooperative binding by mtSSB. Selective binding to ssDNA was confirmed by AFM imaging of individual mtSSB tetramers bound to gapped plasmid DNA substrates bearing defined single-stranded regions. Shortening of the contour length of gapped DNA upon binding mtSSB was attributed to DNA wrapping around mtSSB. Tracing the DNA path in mtSSB-ssDNA complexes with Dual-Resonance-frequency-Enhanced Electrostatic force Microscopy established a predominant binding mode with one DNA strand winding once around each mtSSB tetramer at physiological salt conditions. Single-molecule imaging suggests mtSSB may not saturate or fully protect single-stranded replication intermediates during mtDNA synthesis, leaving the mitochondrial genome vulnerable to chemical mutagenesis, deletions driven by primer relocation or other actions consistent with clinically observed deletion biases.
Disorders of Written Expression

Writing is a complex task that requires the integration of cognitive and motor skills, specifically language functions, executive functions, and graphomotor output. Writing difficulties are relatively common in childhood and adolescence and may reflect difficulties with any of the contributing elements. In this chapter, we review the typical developmental trajectory of writing skills. We also describe the type of writing difficulties associated with common neurodevelopmental conditions, including developmental dysgraphia, dyslexia, language disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), nonverbal learning disorder (NLD), and writing anxiety. We discuss the assessment of writing disorders and how test results may inform the identification of appropriate interventions, providing an illustrative case study.
Transcanal Microscopic Transpromontorial Approach for Vestibular Schwannoma

Objectives This video demonstrates the transcanal transpromontorial approach for resection of vestibular schwannoma. Design/Setting/Participants Present study is based on a video of a single patient undergoing the above approach at a tertiary care skull base surgery program. Results This video demonstrates a transcanal microscopic transpromontorial approach for resection of an enlarging intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma in a young patient with nonserviceable hearing. The video highlights the pertinent surgical anatomy and outlines, in a step-by-step fashion, the approach to the internal auditory canal via this minimally invasive approach. The surgical indications and reconstructive techniques are also discussed ( Fig. 1 ). Conclusions A transcanal microscopic transpromontorial approach for vestibular schwannoma is feasible and offers a minimally invasive option for patients electing for microsurgical resection. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/-oKkRooytws .
Educational and Policy Issues Related to the Use and Interpretation of Intelligence Tests in the Schools

This article addresses educational and policy issues related to the use and interpretation of intelligence (“IQ”) tests in the schools. Contemporary research on the structure of human cognitive abi...
Scraping the Bottom of the Beer Barrel: Consumer Preferences for Localness and Responses to Brewery Acquisitions

The U.S. beer industry has shifted dramatically over the past two decades from a highly concentrated and homogeneous industry to one composed of thousands of small, heterogeneous producers, primarily focused on local markets. This shift evokes the question: how much do consumers prefer locally produced craft beer? I use large, newly developed datasets, based on beer reviews and observations of weekly sales, to explore the market for craft beer in America and address this question. Analysis of ratings data provides clear evidence of preferences for local and independently owned craft beer among avid craft beer drinkers. Examination of sales data extends these results to the general U.S. population, also showing that consumer demand is less price elastic for local beer than nonlocal beer. In econometric analysis, “natural experiments” created by mergers and acquisitions act as exogenous shifts in localness, and they are found to cause reductions in ratings but mixed changes in demand. Finally, ratings and sales are combined to infer an implicit value for local preferences.
Writing the future

ABSTRACTIn Plato's dialogues, theories of the sign emerge from theories about divination. Language and its arts are intertwined with the becoming-conscious contradictions of fortune-telling. This e...