cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Update in hormone therapy use in menopause.

The original report from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) changed our understanding of the benefits and risks of hormone therapy. Since that time, reanalysis of the WHI and additional data from other studies have further refined these concepts. Here we provide an update on recent advances in the field. Menopausal hormone therapy continues to have a clinical role in the management of vasomotor symptoms. However, our understanding of the role of hormones in cardiovasculardiseaseandbreastcancercontinuestoevolve.Furtheranalysesoftheeffectofageand proximity to menopause at the time of initiation of therapy, duration of treatment, dose, route of administration, and the persistence of risks and benefits after stopping hormone therapy are described. In addition, recent data have emerged suggesting that there may be a link between hormone therapy and cancers of the lung and ovary. Finally, we discuss new advances in hormone therapy that will likely lead to a more favorable benefit-to-risk ratio, enabling safer effective menopausal symptom relief. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96: 255–264, 2011)
Interactions of Peptides with DnaK and C-Terminal DnaK Fragments Studied Using Fluorescent and Radioactive Peptides

Abstract Monocysteine derivatives of Peptide C (KLIGVLSSLFRPK) were modified with N -((2-(acetoxy)ethyl)- N -methyl)amino-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (ANBD) to introduce a fluorescent probe. Five Peptide C derivatives—PepC-V5C-ANBD, PepC-L6C-ANBD, PepC-S7C-ANBD, PepC-S8C-ANBD, and PepC-L9C-ANBD—were then used to investigate the peptide-binding properties of DnaK. Introduction of the ANBD moiety at positions 8 and 9 of Peptide C yields peptides that bind to DnaK with a high affinity similar to unmodified peptide C. In contrast, the derivative carrying ANBD at position 6, PepC-L6C-ANBD, bound to DnaK with a binding affinity 470 times lower than that of PepC-L9C-ANBD. Peptide C derivatives carrying ANBD at positions 5 or 7 have intermediate DnaK binding affinities. By assaying the binding affinities of PepC-L9C-ANBD and PepNR-S6C-[1- 14 C]acetamide to DnaK and three C-terminal fragments of DnaK, DnaK 384–638 (residues 384 to 638), DnaK 389–607 (residues 389 to 607) and DnaK 386–561 (residues 386 to 561), we found that the last 31 residues of DnaK (residues 607–638) do not have a significant effect on the peptide binding to DnaK. However, residues 561 to 607, which form the C, D, and E α-helices directly adjacent to the peptide binding pocket of DnaK [X. Zhu, X. Zhou, W. F. Burkholder, A. Gragerov, C. M. Ogata, M. E. Gottesman, and W. A. Hendrickson, Science 272, 1606–1614, 1996], play important roles in stabilizing the DnaK/peptide complex. The kinetics of PepC-L9C-ANBD binding to DnaK, DnaK 384–638, DnaK 389–607, and DnaK 386–561 also support this observation.
The use of cortisone and ACTH in rheumatoid disease in swine.

SummaryDiseased conditions occur in swine which bear considerable resemblance to rheumatic or rheumatoid diseases in the human. Some naturally affected swine showed definite improvement following treatment with cortisone and also with ACTH. More work needs to be done before drawing conclusions as to how closely analogous are the rheumatoid conditions in swine and in the human.
The linear cable theory as a model of gill blood flow.

The vascular organization of the teleost gill suggests that blood flow distribution from the filamental artery to the respiratory lamellae is governed by relationships analogous to the cable conduction properties of a nerve axon. The space constant (λ) by definition is the distance along the gill filament at which the in-series resistance of the afferent filament artery equals the in-parallel resistance of the afferent lamellar arteriolar, lamellar, efferent lamellar arteriolar (ALA-L-ELA) segments. Constriction of the afferent filamental artery or uniform dilation of the ALA-L-ELA will decrease λ. As λ decreases, flow through the proximal (basal) lamellae greatly increases at the expense of distal lamellar perfusion. When λ increases in a system of finite length the flow profile must account for reflected pressures within the main vessel. The λ calculated from corrosion casts of gill vasculature is 14 to 12 the filament length. This favors blood flow through the proximal lamellae and when cardiac output increases, the proportion of cardiac output perfusing the proximal areas increases at the expense of distal lamellar blood flow. To offset these changes it is proposed that increased distal lamellar perfusion is achieved by simultaneous vasodilatation of distal and constriction of proximal ALA-L-ELA segments and dilation of the afferent filamental artery.
Detection and tracking of small targets in persistence

The phenomenon of persistence is introduced and potential problems related to target detection and tracking in its presence are discussed. The authors present a set of algorithms suitable for real-time detection and tracking of various combinations of persistence and target types.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The complexity of the residual node connectedness reliability problem

This paper considers a probabilistic network in which the edges are perfectly reliable but the nodes fail with some known probabilities. The network is in an operational state if the surviving nodes induce a connected graph. The residual node connectedness reliability $R(G)$ of a network G is the probability that the graph induced by the surviving nodes is connected. This reliability measure is very different from the widely studied K-terminal network reliability measure. It is proven that the problem of computing the residual connectedness reliability is NP-hard by showing that the problem of counting the number of node induced connected subgraphs of a given graph is $# {\bf P}$-complete. The problem remains $# {\bf P}$-complete for split graphs as well as planar and bipartite graphs.
Studying technology-based strategies for enhancing motivation in mathematics

During the middle school years, students frequently show significant declines in motivation toward school in general and mathematics in particular. One way in which researchers have sought to spark students’ interests and build their sense of competence in mathematics and in STEM more generally is through the use of technology. Yet evidence regarding the motivational effectiveness of this approach is mixed. Here we evaluate the impact of three brief technology-based activities on students’ short-term motivation in math. 16,789 5th to 8th grade students and their teachers in one large school district were randomly assigned to three different technology-based activities, each representing a different framework for motivation and engagement and all designed around an exemplary lesson related to algebraic reasoning. We investigated the relationship between specific technology-based activities that embody various motivational constructs and students’ engagement in mathematics and perceived competence in pursuing STEM careers. Results indicate that the effect of each technology activity on students’ motivation was quite modest. No gains were found in self-efficacy; for implicit theory of ability, a lower incremental view of ability was found; we found modest declines in value beliefs. With respect to math learning, students in all three inductions had modest improvements in their scores on the math learning measure. However, these effects were modified by students’ grade level and not by their demographic variables. In addition, teacher-level variables did not have an effect on student outcomes. The present findings highlight the importance of tailoring motivational experiences to students’ developmental level. Our results are also encouraging about developers’ ability to create instructional interventions and professional development that can be effective when experienced by a wide range of students and teachers. Further research is needed to determine the degree, duration of, and type of instructional intervention necessary to substantially impact multi-dimensional, deep-rooted motivational constructs, such as self-efficacy.
Evolution of Insect Eye Development: First Insights from Fruit Fly, Grasshopper and Flour Beetle

SYNOPSIS. The molecular genetic dissection of Drosophila eye development led to the exciting discovery of a surprisingly large panel of genes and gene activities, which are functionally conserved across phyla. Little effort has yet been made towards pinpointing non-conserved gene functions in the developing Drosophila eye. This neglects the fact that Drosophila visual system development is a highly derived process. The comparative analysis of Drosophila eye development within insects can be expected to enhance resolution and accuracy of between phyla comparisons of eye development, and to reveal molecular developmental changes that facilitated the evolutionary transition from hemimetabolous to holometabolous insect development. Here we review aspects of early Drosophila eye development, which are likely to have diverged from the situation in more primitive insects, as indicated by results from work in the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum and the grasshopper Schistocerca americana.
Systemic Vascular Function Is Associated with Muscular Power in Older Adults

Age-associated loss of muscular strength and muscular power is a critical determinant of loss of physical function and progression to disability in older adults. In this study, we examined the association of systemic vascular function and measures of muscle strength and power in older adults. Measures of vascular endothelial function included brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and the pulse wave amplitude reactive hyperemia index (PWA-RHI). Augmentation index (AIx) was taken as a measure of systemic vascular function related to arterial stiffness and wave reflection. Measures of muscular strength included one repetition maximum (1RM) for a bilateral leg press. Peak muscular power was measured during 5 repetitions performed as fast as possible for bilateral leg press at 40&#x25; 1RM. Muscular power was associated with brachial FMD (𝑟=0.43, 𝑃l0.05), PWA-RHI (𝑟=0.42, 𝑃l0.05), and AIx (𝑟=−0.54, 𝑃l0.05). Muscular strength was not associated with any measure of vascular function. In conclusion, systemic vascular function is associated with lower-limb muscular power but not muscular strength in older adults. Whether loss of muscular power with aging contributes to systemic vascular deconditioning or vascular dysfunction contributes to decrements in muscular power remains to be determined.
Site-specific base changes in the coding or promoter region of the human β- and γ-globin genes by single-stranded oligonucleotides

SSOs (single-stranded oligonucleotides) can mediate site-specific alteration of base-pairs in episomal and chromosomal target genes in mammalian cells. The TNE (targeted nucleotide exchange) can result in either repair or mutation of a gene sequence and is mediated through endogenous DNA repair pathway(s). Thus the approach provides a technique for the treatment of monogenic disorders associated with specific point mutations such as SCD (sickle cell disease). We studied the potential application of SSOs for SCD by introducing either an A to T substitution at the sixth codon of the human beta-globin gene (sickle locus) or a C to G mutation at -202 of the Ggamma-globin gene promoter region. The latter TNE is an alternative strategy to ameliorate the clinical manifestations of sickle cell anaemia by re-activating fetal haemoglobin gene expression in adult erythrocytes. A sensitive and valid PCR assay system was developed, which allows detection of point mutations as low as 0.01% at these sites. Using this system, TNE between 0.01 and 0.1% at the sickle locus or gamma-globin gene promoter region was detected after transfection with SSOs in cultured human cell lines. TNE in the Ggamma-globin promoter region exhibited varying degrees of strand bias that was dependent on SSO design and the cell's DNA mismatch repair activity. The results suggest that the endogenous DNA repair machinery may permit SSO correction of the sickle defect by modification of the beta- and/or gamma-globin genes.
Interpreting Multiple Correspondence Analysis as a Multidimensional Scaling Method

We formulate multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) as a nonlinear multivariate analysis method that integrates ideas from multidimensional scaling. MCA is introduced as a graphical technique that minimizes distances between connecting points in a graph plot. We use this geometrical approach to show how questions posed of categorical marketing research data may be answered with MCA in terms of closeness. We introduce two new displays, the star plot and line plot, which help illustrate the primary geometric features of MCA and enhance interpretation. Out approach, which extends Gifi (1981, 1990), emphasizes easy-to-interpret and managerially relevant MCA maps. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) is weil on its way to becoming a popular tool in marketing research (Hoffman & Franke, 1986). For example, Green, Krieger, and Carroll (1987) use MCA to analyze the relationship between consumers' choice profile predictions from a conjoint task and consumer demographic characteristics. In a similar vein, Kaciak and Louviere (1990) illustrate how MCA may be used to analyze data from discrete choice experiments. Carroll and Green (1988) apply individual differences MDS to normalized Burt matrices (a principal data matrix in MCA) to determine the relationship between consumer demographics and automobile characteristics with respect to number of cars in the household. More recently, Valette-Florence and Rapacchi (1991) perform an MCA on the attributes-consequences-values matrix derived from a laddering task to construct a product positioning map and Hoffman and Batra (1991) apply MCA to study the association between television program types and audience viewing behaviors.
Introduction to the revised American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases position paper on acute liver failure 2011

The diagnosis of ALF hinges on identifying that the patient has an acute insult and is encephalopathic. Imaging in recent years has suggested “cirrhosis,” but this is often an overcall by radiology, because a regenerating massively necrotic liver will give the same nodular profile as cirrhosis.1 It is vital to promptly get viral hepatitis serologies, including A-E as well as autoimmune serologies, because these often seem to be neglected at the initial presentation. Fulminant Wilson's disease can be diagnosed most effectively not by waiting for copper levels (too slow to obtain) or by obtaining ceruloplasmin levels (low in half of all ALF patients, regardless of etiology), but by simply looking for the more readily available bilirubin level (very high) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP; very low), such that the bilirubin/ALP ratio exceeds 2.0. 2 The availability of an assay that measures acetaminophen adducts has been used for several years as a research tool and has improved our clinical recognition of acetaminophen cases when the diagnosis is obscured by patient denial or encephalopathy. 3 Any patient with very high aminotransferases and low bilirubin on admission with ALF very likely has acetaminophen overdose, with the one possible exception being those patients who enter with ischemic injury. Obtaining autoantibodies should be routine and a low threshold for biopsy in patients with indeterminate ALF should be standard, given that autoimmune hepatitis may be the largest category of indeterminate, after unrecognized acetaminophen poisoning. 4
Novel ROC-type method for testing the efficiency of multivariate statistical methods in fMRI.

The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) method is a useful and popular tool for testing the efficiency of various diagnostic tests applicable to functional MRI (fMRI) data. Typically, the diagnostic tests are applied on simulated and pseudo-human fMRI data, and the area under the ROC curve is used as a measure of the efficiency of the diagnostic test. The effectiveness of such a method depends on how well the simulated data approximate the real data. For multivariate statistical methods, however, this technique is usually inadequate, as the spatial dependence among voxels is ignored for simulated data. In this work a modified ROC method using real fMRI data with a broader scope is proposed. This method can be applied to most fMRI postprocessing techniques, including multivariate analyses such as canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Also, the relationship of the modified ROC method with the conventional ROC method is discussed in detail.
Consequences of learning about historical racism among european american and african american children

Knowledge about racism is a critical component of educational curricula and contemporary race relations. To examine children's responses to learning about racism, European American (Study 1; N= 48) and African American (Study 2; N= 69) elementary-aged children (ages 6-11) received history lessons that included information about racism experienced by African Americans (racism condition), or otherwise identical lessons that omitted this information (control condition). Children's racial attitudes and cognitive and affective responses to the lessons were assessed. Among European American children, racism condition participants showed less biased attitudes toward African Americans than control condition participants. Among African American children, attitudes did not vary by condition. Children in the two conditions showed several different cognitive and affective responses to the lessons.
A formal approach to designing a class-subclass structure using a partial-order on the functions

We present a formal method for designing the class structure based on a partial order on the functions, which is derived from the use-relationship between the functions and the various data items. We can regard this method as an initial step in building a theory of refactoring and design-patterns. Our method can identify the functions which should be factored into subfunctions, including their desired signatures and a reduced use-complexity, in order to simplify the class-subclass structure. A similar remark holds for the decomposition or consolidation of data items as well. We illustrate our method with several examples.
Guidance Molecules in Synapse Formation and Plasticity

A major goal of modern neuroscience research is to understand the cellular and molecular processes that control the formation, function, and remodeling of chemical synapses. In this article, we discuss the numerous studies that implicate molecules initially discovered for their functions in axon guidance as critical regulators of synapse formation and plasticity. Insights from these studies have helped elucidate basic principles of synaptogenesis, dendritic spine formation, and structural and functional synapse plasticity. In addition, they have revealed interesting dual roles for proteins and cellular mechanisms involved in both axon guidance and synaptogenesis. Much like the dual involvement of morphogens in early cell fate induction and axon guidance, many guidance-related molecules continue to play active roles in controlling the location, number, shape, and strength of neuronal synapses during development and throughout the lifetime of the organism. This article summarizes key findings that link axon guidance molecules to specific aspects of synapse formation and plasticity and discusses the emerging relationship between the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control both axon guidance and synaptogenesis.
A Perpetual Race to Stay Ahead

This paper presents a model of dynamic competition between two firms that repeatedly engage in an innovative activity. The state of competition-measured by the difference between the number of innovations introduced by the firms--evolves stochastically according to their effort level. The structure of Markov perfect equilibria is identified. It is generally not true that competition is fiercest when firms are closest. Rather, firms invest under two distinct circumstances: while sufficiently ahead, to outstrip their rival and secure a durable leadership; while behind, to regain leadership and prevent the situation from worsening to the point where their rival outstrips them. industry. Such a market structure cannot be adequately modelled by a repeated game since history obviously affects market opportunities. More precisely, previous outcomes determine the range of available actions and pay-offs. Economists have thus resorted to the study of races to gain insights into the strategic issues raised by such competition. With the notable exceptions of Aoki (1991), Harris (1991) and Budd, Harris and Vickers (1993), most of the literature has analysed formal races, displaying exogenous finishing lines or deadlines, as well as final prizes and rewards, and the corresponding results rely on backward induction. However, such assumptions do not seem to capture accurately the essential features of many markets. Often, the rivalry only ends, if at all, when one of the competitors withdraws, so that the deadline should be endogenized. Moreover, benefits and losses are continuously collected. Additionally, the emerging empirical literature on races stresses the inadequacy of standard models and the need to model R&D as a race with multiple prizes. In the words of Cockburn and Henderson (1994), "Our finding that the modern game theoretic literature is of only limited usefulness as an empirical guide points to the need (...) to model R&D as a race with multiple prizes." The model analysed in this paper is an attempt to offer an adequate framework for this type of dynamic competition. The stochastic evolution of the state of competition between two firms depends on their respective effort levels. The state of competition is measured by the
3-Dimensional Shape Capture Using Intelligent Blocks as Direct Modeling

A new-type 3-dimensional shape capture is proposed by directly inputting the structure built with intelligent blocks without using any camera or equipment to capture the shape of the object. The intelligent block developed in this study has CPU and several peripheral ports communicating data among blocks simply connecting blocks, and the connected block structures are directly input to the personal computer as a 3-dimensional image. The personal computer displays 3-dimensional image by computer graphics technology.
Defining Optimal Therapy for Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Purpose: We defined an optimal curative strategy for muscle invasive bladder cancer and to determine how best to deliver curative therapy.Materials and Methods: We reviewed published reports from 1985 to 2006 dealing with the treatment of muscle invasive (stage T2-T4a) bladder cancer. We analyzed all cohort, phase II and randomized phase III studies providing level 1 to 3 evidence impacting survival.Results: Cisplatin based chemotherapy combined with high quality radical cystectomy and complete pelvic lymph node dissection improves survival over that of cystectomy alone. Surgery quality is an important predictor of survival even in patients receiving chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is favored over adjuvant chemotherapy because it is better tolerated and more patients are able to receive effective therapy before rather than after surgery.Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy and complete pelvic lymph node dissection is the optimal curative strategy in most patients pre...
Adaptive evolutionary Monte Carlo algorithm for optimization with applications to sensor placement problems

In this paper, we present an adaptive evolutionary Monte Carlo algorithm (AEMC), which combines a tree-based predictive model with an evolutionary Monte Carlo sampling procedure for the purpose of global optimization. Our development is motivated by sensor placement applications in engineering, which requires optimizing certain complicated "black-box" objective function. The proposed method is able to enhance the optimization efficiency and effectiveness as compared to a few alternative strategies. AEMC falls into the category of adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms and is the first adaptive MCMC algorithm that simulates multiple Markov chains in parallel. A theorem about the ergodicity property of the AEMC algorithm is stated and proven. We demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method by applying it to a sensor placement problem in a manufacturing process, as well as to a standard Griewank test function.
Analytical and numerical calculation for the focal waveform of a prolate-spheroidal IRA

This paper deals with the numerical and analytical results for the focal waveform of a prolate-spheroidal IRA. Both numerical and analytical calculations are for IRAs with different feed arms. In both cases the comparisons between the numerical and analytical results are presented and discussed.
Image reconstruction using projection onto convex sets, model constraints, and linear prediction theory for the removal of phase, motion, and Gibbs artifacts in magnetic resonance and ultrasound imaging

The Fourier transform is the standard image reconstruction technique used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and it is an integral part of the inverse scattering formalism in ultrasound (US) imaging. Unfortunately, artifacts such as Gibbs ringing induced by a finite sampling window or systematic errors in phase may significantly impede the interpretation of the resulting Fourier transform images. Further, when only a few parameters are needed to characterize the object function, it is likely not to be the best technique for optimal signal-to-noise. In this paper, the application of a parameter estimation reconstruction scheme using a priori constraints to remove Gibbs ringing and improve resolution and signalto- noise is presented for MRI and US. Projection onto convex set theory is also used to regenerate uncollected data in partial Fourier imaging, and model constraints are used to correct motion artifacts in MRI. These methods are found not to require unrealistic values of the signal-to-noise ratio and are likely to prove practical in future applications.
Motion-resolved imaging of moving objects embedded within scattering media by the use of time-gated speckle analysis

Spectral analysis of a time-evolving speckle pattern is used to provide motion-resolved detection of moving objects embedded within scattering media. Results show that the ability to detect small non-stationary scattering objects and to discriminate between objects moving at different rates is greatly enhanced.
Molecular diagnostic platforms for detecting Aspergillus.

Invasive aspergillosis remains difficult to diagnose despite advances in imaging and antigen-based serological testing. To overcome this problem, nucleic acid (NA)based amplification assays were introduced to identify infecting pathogens. Unfortunately, the reliability of such assays to detect Aspergillus spp. has met with mixed success. A new generation of NA platforms are emerging, which greatly improve our ability to detect Aspergillus-specific DNA and RNA from respiratory and blood samples. These platforms can accurately detect a single genome, and the emergence of pan-fungal and pan-Aspergillus probes offer promise for broader detection. PCR remains the most important platform, especially when coupled with real-time probes. It is multiplex friendly and can distinguish between closely related target sequences. Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) is an RNA-directed isothermal transcription-based amplification platform, which is more robust than PCR resulting in a 10 14 -fold amplification. RNA-based detection facilitates more target options and can be used to assess cell viability. Both DNA and RNA amplification platforms take advantage of allele-specific properties of probes, which are valuable for assessing drug resistance markers. Finally, as new molecular diagnostic platforms mature, their role may expand to include early monitoring of therapy.
IL-13 Fusion Cytotoxin Ameliorates Chronic Fungal-Induced Allergic Airway Disease in Mice

IL-13 has emerged as a major contributor to allergic and asthmatic responses, and as such it represents an attractive target in these diseases. In this study, IL-13-responsive cells in the lung were targeted via the intranasal administration of IL-13-PE38QQR (IL-13-PE), comprised of human IL-13 and a derivative of Pseudomonas exotoxin, to Aspergillus fumigatus-sensitized mice challenged with A. fumigatus spores, or conidia. Mice received 50, 100, or 200 ng of IL-13-PE or diluent alone (i.e., control group) on alternate days from day 14 to day 28 after the conidia challenge. The control group of mice exhibited significant airway hyperreactivity, goblet cell hyperplasia, and peribronchial fibrosis at day 28 after conidia. Although the two lower doses of IL-13-PE had limited therapeutic effects in mice with fungal-induced allergic airway disease, the highest dose of IL-13-PE tested significantly reduced all features of airway disease compared with the control group. Whole lung mRNA expression of IL-4Ralpha and IL-13Ralpha1 was markedly reduced, whereas bronchoalveolar lavage and whole lung levels of IFN-gamma were significantly elevated in mice treated with 200 ng of IL-13-PE compared with the control group. This study demonstrates that a therapy designed to target IL-13-responsive cells in the lung ameliorates established fungal-induced allergic airway disease in mice.
Role of Single-Stranded DNA Binding Activity of T Antigen in Simian Virus 40 DNA Replication

We have previously mapped the single-stranded DNA binding domain of large T antigen to amino acid residues 259 to 627. By using internal deletion mutants, we show that this domain most likely begins after residue 301 and that the region between residues 501 and 550 is not required. To study the function of this binding activity, a series of single-point substitutions were introduced in this domain, and the mutants were tested for their ability to support simian virus 40 (SV40) replication and to bind to single-stranded DNA. Two replication-defective mutants (429DA and 460EA) were grossly impaired in single-stranded DNA binding. These two mutants were further tested for other biochemical activities needed for viral DNA replication. They bound to origin DNA and formed double hexamers in the presence of ATP. Their ability to unwind origin DNA and a helicase substrate was severely reduced, although they still had ATPase activity. These results suggest that the single-stranded DNA binding activity is involved in DNA unwinding. The two mutants were also very defective in structural distortion of origin DNA, making it likely that single-stranded DNA binding is also required for this process. These data show that single-stranded DNA binding is needed for at least two steps during SV40 DNA replication.
M-PSM: Mobility-Aware Power Save Mode for IEEE 802.11 WLANs

With the proliferation of Wi-Fi equipped mobile devices such as smart phones, it becomes even more important to design and implement effective power management schemes for Wi-Fi interfaces so that the battery lifetime can be prolonged. In this paper, we propose an enhancement to the default 802.11 Power Save Mode (PSM), called M-PSM, which exploits additional power-saving opportunities by considering user mobility and detailed traffic condition when making the sleep/wakeup schedules for Wi-Fi interfaces. We have implemented M-PSM in the Madwifi device driver and demonstrated its effectiveness via experiments and trace-based simulations.
Asymmetric enrichment of PIE-1 in the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote mediated by binary counterdiffusion

To generate cellular diversity in developing organisms while simultaneously maintaining the developmental potential of the germline, germ cells must be able to preferentially endow germline daughter cells with a cytoplasmic portion containing specialized cell fate determinants not inherited by somatic cells. In Caenorhabditis elegans, germline inheritance of the protein PIE-1 is accomplished by first asymmetrically localizing the protein to the germplasm before cleavage and subsequently degrading residual levels of the protein in the somatic cytoplasm after cleavage. Despite its critical involvement in cell fate determination, the enrichment of germline determinants remains poorly understood. Here, combining live-cell fluorescence methods and kinetic modeling, we demonstrate that the enrichment process does not involve protein immobilization, intracellular compartmentalization, or localized protein degradation. Instead, our results support a heterogeneous reaction/diffusion model for PIE-1 enrichment in which the diffusion coefficient of PIE-1 is reversibly reduced in the posterior, resulting in a stable protein gradient across the zygote at steady state.
Towards a kinect-based behavior recognition and analysis system for small animals

This paper presents a Microsoft Kinect®-based image processing system that is capable of automated tracking and behavior recognition in freely moving animals. The depth image provided by the Kinect infrared (IR) camera is used in the image processing algorithm, which works under both bright and dark conditions, compared to conventional red-green-blue (RGB) cameras that need proper lighting or LEDs on the headstage. For animal tracking, the subject trajectory was recorded/refreshed every 0.5 s, with a maximum positioning error of 1.6 cm. For behavior recognition, 5 different types of rodent behavior were considered: standstill, walking, grooming, rearing, and rotating are classified using a support vector machine (SVM) with radial basis function kernels. The algorithm was verified in vivo using data acquired from a 2 month-old Sprague Dawley rat weighting ∼400 grams in a standard homecage and compared with manual ground truth. The overall behavior recognition accuracy was 95.34% and 89.41% in bright and dark conditions, respectively.
Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for Fusarium virguliforme and their utility within clade 2 of the Fusarium solani species complex

Abstract Clade 2 of the Fusarium solani species complex contains plant pathogens including Fusarium virguliforme and closely related species Fusarium brasiliense, Fusarium crassistipitatum, Fusarium tucumaniae, which are the primary causal agents of soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS), a significant threat to soybean production. In this study, we developed microsatellite markers from a F. virguliforme genome sequence and applied them to a F. virguliforme population collection of 38 isolates from Michigan and four reference strains from other locations. Of the 225 detected microsatellite loci, 108 loci were suitable for primer design, and 12 of the microsatellite markers were determined to be highly polymorphic, amplifying on average 5.7 alleles per locus. Using these markers, F. virguliforme isolates were partitioned into three distinct clusters, but isolates were not grouped based on relatedness of sampling sites. In addition, 11 out of 12 markers were demonstrated to be highly transferrable to other closely related species.
Electrospinning ultrathin continuous cellulose acetate fibers for high-flux water filtration

Abstract This paper reports the fabrication and filtration characterization of advanced fibrous cellulose acetate (CA) membranes for high-flux water filtration. The ultrathin nonwoven fibrous CA membranes with varying fiber diameter and areal weight were produced by electrospinning and post-processed by hot-press. The filtration efficiency of the ultrathin fibrous CA membranes was characterized by controlled water-filtration tests based on artificial colloids prepared via dispersing polystyrene (PS) particles of the diameters of 5 μm, 2 μm, 500 nm, and 100 nm in water, respectively. Natural river water was further used for evaluating the filtration capability of the electrospun fibrous CA membranes. Experimental results show that the rejection rate of the present fibrous CA membranes to PS particles with the diameter of 2 μm was up to 99.8%. In addition, the filtration efficiency of the electrospun fibrous CA membranes increased with increasing areal weight of the membranes. In the case of the filtering electrospun fibrous CA membranes with the fiber diameter of ∼800 nm and membrane areal weight ∼0.005 g/cm 2 , the measured turbidity of natural river water after filtration can reach as low as 0.135 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) while the initial flow flux can reach up to 20,455 L/m 2 h at the feed pressure 14 psi. The study suggests that low-cost electrospun fibrous membranes can be used for stable, high-flux water microfiltration with the filtration efficiency.
Self-assembly of cholesterol tethered within hydrogel networks

Abstract Cholesterol self-assembles into weakly ordered aggregates when tethered to a crosslinked hydrogel network of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). PEG-diacrylate and cholesterol-PEG-acrylamide (PEG-chol) were co-polymerized in organic solvent and transferred to water for equilibrium swelling. Small-angle x-ray scattering revealed self-assembled cholesterol structures not present during network synthesis. At lower ratios of PEG-tethered cholesterol to PEG (
Essay on Inter-Jurisdictional Issues in Adoption: Where Is This Child Not My Child, An

This paper examines the emerging possibilities for the American adoption model as American society continues to grow and evolve in its understanding of the needs and rights of children to have permanent, secure family settings in which to develop and mature. Specifically, this paper addresses the strengthening of some of the weaker threads of contemporary judicial adoption decrees which confer rights on persons who choose to assume parental roles for children and who are not exclusively heterosexual.
Abstract 17911: Acute Cardiac Dysfunction by Adult-onset Cardiac Myosin Light Chain Kinase Ablation

Introduction: Under sustained pressure overload, myocytes that initially remodel to become short and thick, eventually become elongated and maladaptive with little force for contraction. Mechanisms underlying this transition are largely unknown. We previously demonstrated that 1 week of transverse aortic constriction in wild-type mice reduced cardiac myosin light chain kinase (cMLCK) levels by ~85%. In cultured cardiomyocytes, cMLCK knockdown led to sarcomere disorganization. Germline Mylk3 (encoding cMLCK) knockout mice demonstrated moderate heart failure. Hypothesis: Acute cMLCK reduction is causative for reduced contractility and remodeling of cardiomyocytes during the transition from compensated to decompensated hypertrophy. Methods: To mimic acute cMLCK reduction, adult inducible Mylk3 gene knockout mice, Mylk3flox/flox/merCremer, were generated and compared to 2 control mice (Mylk3flox/flox and Mylk3+/+/merCremer) following tamoxifen injection (50 mg/kg/day, 2 consecutive days). We assessed cardiac function (MRI, echocardiogram) in addition to histopathologic (tissue sectioning, immunostaining, and EM), cellular (cell size and cell shortening and intracellular free Ca2+) and molecular analyses. Results: Reduction of cMLCK proteins was evident at day 4 following tamoxifen-injection in inducible Mylk3 knockout mice. At day 7, inducible Mylk3 knockout but not control mice demonstrated heart failure [%FS, 28.0% in flox/flox (n=6), 27.7% in +/+/merCremer (n=6), 19.8% in flox/flox/merCremer (n=8)]. Analysis of inducible Mylk3 knockout mice revealed unique, severely convoluted cell morphology; isolated cardiomyocytes were elongated and thinner with disorganized sarcomere and reduced contractility (%FS in sarcomere length, control 5.1% vs. inducible knockout 2.4%). Adenovirus encoding cMLCK enhanced organized sarcomere structures; this was not prevented by co-infection of adenovirus unphosphorylatable MLC2v(Ser14/15Ala) mutants incorporated into sarcomere. Conclusion: Results of acute cMLCK reduction in a novel mouse model suggest that cMLCK plays a pivotal role in transition from compensated to decompensated hypertrophy via sarcomere disorganization likely independent of MLC2 phosphorylation.
Direct Cinemicrography with the Electron Microscope

Dynamic study of chemical and physical reactions by use of the electron microscope is particularly valuable when combined with cinemicrography, using techniques such as time-lapse photography and continuous magnification changes. Direct use of the imaging electron beam for photographic exposure gives maximum photographic quality, but presents problems of slow speeds of emulsions to electrons, outgassing and embrittlement of film in the microscope vacuum, and static discharge fogging. Several types of 16mm films have been evaluated in microscopy experiments. Techniques for effective cine recording have been used with special electron microscopy reaction methods for application to nuclear fuel ceramics.
A rabbit model of diarrhea due to invasive Escherichia coli.

A nonpiliated strain of invasive Escherichia coli of human origin (HInvEC) was given to rabbits (weight, 0.7-1.1 kg) in doses ranging from 1.5 x 108 to 2.5 X 1010 bacteria. E. coli strain HInvEC colonized the ileum, cecum, and colon in large numbers for one to three days and produced diarrhea in 91 (58%) of the 156 rabbits. A dose of 2.5 x 101o0 bacteria reliably and repeatedly elicited diarrheal disease in 80% of the animals. The acute pathohistology as determined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and immune fluorescent microscopy was manifest in the distal ileum, cecum, and colon. Prominent findings included mucosal ulcers, bacterial invasion of the lamina propria, and a polymorphonuclear infiltrate in the lamina propria. Diarrhea due to strain HInvEC was followed by a rise in the titer of serum antibody to O antigen of E. coli. Studies in the past several years have established the importance of invasive Escherichia coli as a cause of diarrhea in humans [1-5]. Sakazaki [1] implicated invasive E. coli in 4% of 1,076 hospitalized patients with diarrhea and 1.6% of 624 patients with diarrhea who did not require hospitalization. Strains of invasive E. coli were isolated from 20%-30% of children with diarrhea admitted to hospitals in Brazil [2] and the United States [3]. One recent study found that 3.4% of people who developed travelers' diarrhea while attending a meeting in Mexico City were infected with invasive strains of E. coli [4], although two other investigations [6, 7] reported no isolation of invasive strains.
C−CN vs C−H Cleavage of Benzonitrile Using [(dippe)PtH]2

The reaction of [(dippe)PtH]2 with benzonitrile at 140 °C produced two products, the C−H-activated adduct (dippe)Pt(H)(2-C6H4CN) (2) and the C−CN-activated adduct (dippe)Pt(Ph)(CN) (5), with the ki...
Preferences for (In)Formal Language: Correlations with Attitudes toward Linguistic Variation, Multilingualism, Tolerance of Ambiguity, and Residence Abroad.

ABSTRACTDrawing on data collected via a web-based survey, the study investigates the relationship between preferences for (in)formal language and attitudes toward linguistic variation among a large group of monolingual and multilingual adults (n = 379). Also explored are the links between preferences for (in)formal language and several secondary variables: tolerance of ambiguity, degree of multilingualism, age, experience living abroad, and educational achievement. Participants with more favourable attitudes toward linguistic practices that diverge from standard usage, who were more tolerant of ambiguity, and who had spent at least some time living or working in a foreign country tended to have more informal linguistic preferences. Formality preferences did not, however, appear to be related to knowledge of multiple languages, age, or education. Extending the findings reported in a previous study [van Compernolle, R. A. (2016). Are multilingualism, tolerance of ambiguity, and attitudes toward linguistic v...
Effects of electrolyte and lighting regimen on growth of heat-distressed broilers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible interactions between photoschedules [23 h light (L):1 h dark (D); 16L:8D] and electrolytes provided by KCl and NaCl in the drinking water of broilers grown at elevated temperatures. Birds raised on each photoschedule were exposed to 8 h of 23.9 C, 4 h of 23.9 to 35 C, 4 h of 35 C, and 8 h of 35 to 23.9 C. Photoschedule had no effect on body weight gain, feed consumption, or carcass characteristics. Male birds that received NaCl gained 10.5% more (P < .05) weight than those receiving no water additive. Male birds consumed up to 37% more water (P < .05) and gained up to 21% more weight (P < .05) than similarly raised females. There was no effect of electrolytes on carcass characteristics.
Effect of laser oxygen liquid extract on expression of nestin of hippocampal tissues for status epilepticus rats

Objective To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of laser oxygen liquid to status epilepticus(SE) by observing the influences of laser oxygen liquid to the blood oxygen partial pressure of normal rats and the expression of neuroepithelial stem protein(nestin) of hippocampal neurons of rats following pentylenetetrazol-induced SE.Methods The blood oxygen partial pressure of 28-day-old Sprague Dawley(SD) healthy male rats were checked by extraction of abdominal aortic blood postnatal day 28(P28) SD rats received pentetrazole(PTZ) intra-abdominaly to make the model of SE.The rats were divided randomly into PTZ +laser oxygenate fluid group,PTZ+glucose solution(GS) group,NS+laser oxygenate fluid group and normal saline(NS)+GS group,the number of each group was 40 rats.Each group was injected with laser oxygen liquid and glucose of 5% from tail vein.After the rat models were successfully established for 0 day,3 days,7 days,10 days and 14 days,the expressions of nestin in hippocampal were observed by immunohistochemical method.Results The blood oxygen partial pressure showed obvious increase after the laser oxygen liquid was injected for 0.5 h,1 h,1.5 h,2 h in comparing to that without the injection,respectively(102.25±8.87) mmHg,(144.00±7.03) mmHg,(112.25±8.86) mmHg,(96.88±7.12) mmHg(P0.05).The blood oxygen partial pressure was the highest after the laser oxygen liquid was injected for 1 hour.The number of nestin-positive cells in the rats of PTZ+GS group with SE after 3 d,7 d,10 d,14 d increased obviously comparing to that of NS+GS group,respectively(10.83±2.07) /view,(13.33±2.16) /view,(17.17±1.72) /view,(18.50±2.17) /view(P0.05).The number of nestin-positive cells in the rats of PTZ laser oxygen liquid group after 7 d,10 d,14 d increased comparing to that of PTZ+GS group,respectively(13.33±2.16) /view,(17.17±1.72) /view,(18.50±2.17) /view(P0.05).Conclusion The blood oxygen partial pressure has been increased by laser oxygen liquid.The expression of nestin in hippocampal tissues of the SE rats has been increased by laser oxygen liquid,which facilitates neuroregeneration.
Investigation of soybean rust in kudzu(Pueraria lobata Ohwi)

In order to find out the soybean rust occurring in kudzu(Pueraria lobata Ohwi) of the main origin hosts in Guangxi Province,the investigation was conducted in a wide range of 32 counties during 2005-2007.The results showed the soybean rust(Phakopsora pachyrhiza Syd.) occurred at the cultivar kudzu(Pueraria lobata Ohwi) and wild kudzu (P.lobata(wild) Ohwi) in the whole area of Guangxi Province from 21°78′～26°03′ latitude and 105°91′～111°54′ longitude.But the occurring time was different,the occurring area was the southward area of 23°55′ latitude in winter.The investigation results provided reliable information for the monitoring,forecast,and management of the soybean rust in the future.
Small-Molecule Turn-On Fluorescent Probes for RDX

New fluorescent probes have been tested for their ability to detect nitramine (RDX) and nitroaromatic (TNT) explosives. The probes display turn-on behavior upon exposure to RDX, while their fluorescence is dramatically reduced by the presence of TNT and other nitroaromatic compounds. The probes are applicable in qualitative assays that can distinguish between RDX and TNT as well as acidity and formaldehyde vapors.