cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nerve-dependent modulation of acetylcholine receptor epsilon-subunit gene expression

The relative abundance of mRNAs encoding the gamma- and epsilon- subunits of acetylcholine receptor changes in opposite directions during mouse development. Both gamma- and epsilon-mRNAs are expressed early in muscle development in vivo, and in aneural embryonic muscle and myogenic cell lines in vitro, though gamma-mRNA is at least 20-fold more abundant than epsilon-mRNA in these circumstances. While during normal development, gamma-mRNA decreases to an undetectable level by postnatal day 12, epsilon-mRNA first increases 10-fold between day 2 and day 12–15, then decreases to the level characteristic of adult muscle. We have found that the transition form gamma- to epsilon-mRNA is influenced by the levels of thyroid hormones. Indeed, high and low levels of thyroid hormones, respectively, accelerated and delayed the switch between gamma- and epsilon-mRNAs. Neither the dramatic postnatal rise in epsilon-mRNA nor its sensitivity to thyroid hormones was observed in denervated newborn animals. By contrast, denervation was without effect on epsilon-mRNA expression in adult muscle. These results suggest that, although not required for the initial activation of the epsilon-gene nor its maintenance in adult muscle, the nerve plays a major role in the perinatal regulation of epsilon-gene transcription.
Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin 7 days after fixed-time artificial insemination of suckled beef cows.

We determined the effects of adminis- tering hCG 7 d after a fixed-time AI (TAI) on ovarian response, concentrations of progesterone, and pregnan- cy rates in postpartum suckled beef cows. Cows at 6 locations received 100 μg of GnRH (Fertagyl, Intervet Animal Health, Millsboro, DE) and a controlled inter- nal drug release (CIDR) device (CIDR EAZI-Breed, Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY), followed in 7 d by 25 mg of PGF2α (Lutalyse, Pfizer Animal Health) and CIDR removal. At 64 h after CIDR removal, cows received an injection of GnRH and AI (d 0), and then were stratified by days postpartum and parity and as- signed randomly to 2 treatments administered 7 d after TAI: 1) 1 mL of saline (saline; n = 252); or 2) 1,000 IU of hCG (Chorulon, Intervet Animal Health; n = 254). Blood samples were collected on d −21, −10, and 33 relative to TAI (d 0) at all locations, on d 7 and 68 at 5 locations, and on d 14 at 1 location to determine concentrations of progesterone. Transrectal ultrasonog- raphy was used to determine pregnancy status on d 33 and 68 at all locations, to monitor response of follicles and corpora lutea (CL) in response to treatment at 1 location (n = 106) on d 7 and 14, and to determine the number of CL present in pregnant cows on d 33 in 3 locations (n = 130). Pregnant cows had greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of progesterone at the time of treatment (d 7) compared with nonpregnant cows (3.7 ± 0.1 vs. 2.6 ± 0.2 ng/mL, respectively). On d 14, hCG-treated cows had a greater (P < 0.05) vol- ume of luteal tissue (12.1 ± 0.5 vs. 7.3 ± 0.5 cm 3 , re- spectively) and greater concentrations of progesterone (6.8 ± 0.4 vs. 5.4 ± 0.5 ng/mL, respectively) compared with saline-treated cows. A greater (P < 0.01) percent- age of hCG-treated cows (90.6%) had multiple CL on d 14 compared with saline-treated cows (0%), and a greater percentage of pregnant cows treated with hCG (74.6%) had multiple CL on d 33 compared with saline- treated cows (3.0%). Pregnancy rates of hCG-treated cows (56.3%) tended (P = 0.07) to differ from those of saline-treated cows (50.0%). Concentrations of proges- terone in pregnant hCG-treated cows were greater (P < 0.05; 7.7 ± 0.3 vs. 5.8 ± 0.3 ng/mL, respectively) on d 33 than for pregnant saline-treated cows, but were similar between treatments on d 68 (7.2 ± 0.3 vs. 6.7 ± 0.4 ng/mL, respectively). We conclude that treat- ment with hCG increased the volume of luteal tissue on d 14 and concentrations of progesterone on d 14 and 33 after TAI. Treatment with hCG tended to increase pregnancy rates at 5 of 6 locations from 1.1 to 27 per- centage points (average = 10.2) compared with saline, but cumulative pregnancy rates determined on d 68 after TAI were similar between treatments.
The effect of water on maleic acid and salicylic acid extractions

Abstract Contamination of methanol by water was evidenced by the occurrence of ettringite in residues of cement extracted using a solution of maleic acid in methanol. Therefore, an analytical method was developed to determine water contents, based on the reaction of 2,2-dimethoxypropane with water, which forms acetone and methanol. Methanol analyzed by this method was found to contain as much as 2 percent H 2 O. Thus it is necessary to use freshly dried methanol for extracting the silicates from cement or clinker. However, it was found that removal of all water causes the solution of maleic acid in methanol to gel when the cement or clinker is added, and the salicylic acid procedure is thus preferred because it does not form such a gel. It was shown that methanol containing levels of water as low as 0.5 percent will cause loss of water-soluble phases from cement or clinker.
Investigatin of charge-transfer interactions between carbon tetrabromide and aromatic donors by gas chromatography

Abstract A gas chromatographic method has been employed to study th charge-transfer interactions between alkylated benzenes and molten CBr 4 . Resultant activity coefficients have been analyzed in terms of the constituent intermolecualr forces. Experimental results indicate a weak, but genuine charger-transfer interaction between aromatic solute and CBr 4 . The charge-transfer interaction is temperatue dependent, decreasing rapidly in magnitude with increasing temperature. An increasing complexation effect is noted for the addition of electron-repelling groups on the benzene nucleus.
Communities and archaeology under the Soufrière Hills Volcano on Montserrat, West Indies

The volcanically devastated landscape of Montserrat and its social fabric comprise what Maria Tumarkin (2005) calls a “traumascape”—a site of tragedy and catastrophe that is also a place of coping and resilience. How Montserratians engage with trauma is evident in how they remember their recent and historical pasts, and in how they are reinventing aspects of their heritage in order to sustain a distinctly Montserratian identity for the future. Such a process of coping presents challenges for conducting archaeology in collaboration with the community. In this article, we describe the experiences of a recently established project on the island (Survey and Landscape Archaeology on Montserrat) and discuss the potential for, and the obstacles involved in, developing longer-term, sustainable forms of collaboration between archaeologists and local Montserratian communities when facing the unusual circumstances of volcanic disaster and hazard.
Relationships between effects of environmental temperature and seston on growth and mortality of Mytilus edulis in a temperate northern estuary.

The growth and mortality of experimentally-rafted Mytilus edulis L. of known age at 7 locations in a northern estuary (Damariscotta River, Maine, USA) were related to environmental temperatures and to the presence or absence of various potential food sources. All particles were regarded as potential food substrates. Growth decreased appreciably at sites where water temperatures exceeded 20°C, but mussels survived a wide range of elevated temperature exposures, ranging from 0 to 149 degree-days in excess of 20°C. The maximum temperature was 25°C. Mortalities of mussels at all sites but did affect the extent of mortality, which increased abruptly in late summer, when water temperatures were declining. Differences in degree-days of exposure to elevated temperatures did not influence the timing of mortality, which occurred synchronously at all times, but did affect the extent of mortality, which ranged from 35 to 90%. The period of high mortality was preceded by a rapid decline in phytoplankton standing crop. Total particle concentrations decreased during this period, but the shift toward larger particles suggests that there was little, if any, decrease in total volume of material in the seston, at least through August. It is suggested that living phytoplankton provided the critical energy source for these mussels, and that the mortalities were caused by rapidly reduced ration at a time of metabolic stress. The role of temperature and the possible role of the gametogenic cycle are discussed. In addition, the feeding efficiency of M. edulis may have decreased during this period due to an increase in mean particle diameter. Chlorophyll was divided into a nannoplankton fraction ( 20 μm). A smaller size criterion for this distinction is proposed for future studies. The importance of nannoplankton to the primary production of this estuary and the role of nannoplankton and nannoplankton-sized particles in the diet of mussels in nature are discussed.
Parametric modelling as a scheduling tool

Abstract This paper focuses on the use of parametric modelling for the scheduling of personnel. The use of parametric models is found best suited for industries that experience fluctuating demand influenced by external factors. An illustration of the use of this tool in scheduling is shown for the banking industry. A numerical example is also given. The scheduling model has been implemented and shown to be reliable and effective.
Design, Synthesis, and Analysis of Yeast tRNAPhe Analogs Possessing Intra- and Interhelical Disulfide Cross-Links†

Disulfide cross-links have been site-specifically incorporated into unmodified yeast tRNAPhe by total chemical synthesis. One cross-link is between positions 1 and 72 in the amino-acid acceptor stem, and it was prepared by replacing G1 and C72 with N3-(thioethyl)uridine. A second cross-link is in the central D-region of yeast tRNAPhe between 11 and 25, and it was synthesized by replacing C11 and C25 with 2‘-O-alkylthiol modified cytosine residues. Air oxidation to form the cross-link at both sites occurs in 12 h and is nearly quantitative. Analysis of the cross-linked products by native and denaturing PAGE along with Pb(II) cleavage experiments demonstrates that the cross-linked molecules are monomeric and suggests that the disulfide bridges do not significantly alter the structure of the modified tRNAs relative to the parent sequence. The finding that cross-link formation between thiol-derivatized residues correlates with the position of these groups in the crystal structure of native yeast tRNAPhe and t...
A powder X-ray diffraction survey of the effects of substituting strontium for barium in a barium nickel oxide

Abstract The effect of substituting strontium for barium in two-layer barium nickel oxide has been studied. Samples were prepared from appropriate mixtures of BaO2, SrO2, and NiO at 700°C under a wet oxygen atmosphere. Under these conditions the two-layer structure does not persist across the composition range. Among the various ways in which the X-ray powder patterns could be indexed, the most plausible calls for two more phases, one which may have a nine-layer structure, the other a compressed two-layer structure analogous to “Ba3Ni3O8.”
Evaluating technology that makes physical games for children more engaging

Throwing is an important physical skill that lays the foundation for the ability to participate in many physical activities and sports experiences. We aim to support the development of physical skills through exertion game design; our focus here is on the design of an exertion based throwing game that aims to help children improve their ability to throw. We discuss the results of some initial play testing, and how these observations informed our game design.
Direct effects of nicotine on the meiotic maturation of hamster oocytes

The effect of nicotine on the meiotic maturation of cultured hamster oocytes was investigated. Oocytes were cultured for up to 24 h and meiotic status was scored cytogenetically from chromatin spreads. The highest concentration of nicotine tested (5 mM) caused marked perturbations at both the first and second meiotic divisions which resulted in degenerating blobs of chromatin at 24 h. The most pronounced of these perturbations was either blockage at Metaphase I or disruption of homologue segregation to result in two groups of bivalents formed at Anaphase I. Concentrations of nicotine at or below 0.5 mM did not adversely affect the meiotic process. These data show, therefore, that nicotine significantly interferes with oocyte meiotic maturation only at concentrations far in excess of 0.1 to 1.0 microM, the concentration range of nicotine anticipated to be present in the blood of an "average" smoker. Thus, we conclude that the documented reduced fertility of women who smoke cigarettes is unlikely to be due to a direct effect of nicotine on oocyte meiotic maturation.
Heart period variability during vagal nerve stimulation

Vagal nerve stimulation is an emerging therapy for epilepsy, yet little is known regarding the effects of this stimulation on heart period variability. We selected 10 patients (two female, eight male) who were receiving high-frequency, high-intensity left vagal nerve stimulation for intractable epilepsy. Electrocardiogram data were recorded for a 7 min baseline, 2.5 min of stimulation and a 7 min post-stimulation period. We found no significant changes in average heart period, instantaneous changes of successive R-to-R intervals greater than 50 ms or fractal dimension. We also found no significant changes in the total power in the 0.0–0.04 Hz, 0.04–0.12 Hz and 0.2–0.4 Hz bands with stimulation of the left vagus nerve. This study suggests that left vagal nerve stimulation has little acute effect on the cardiac rhythm or heart period variability.
Earthquake response of elastic SDF systems with non‐linear fluid viscous dampers

The steady-forced and earthquake responses of SDF systems with a non-linear fluid viscous damper (FVD) are investigated. The energy dissipation capacity of the FVD is characterized by the supplemental damping ratio ζsd and its non-linearity by a parameter designated α. It is found that the structural response is most effectively investigated in terms of ζsd and α because (1) these two parameters are dimensionless and independent, and (2) the structural response varies linearly with the excitation intensity. Damper non-linearity has essentially no influence on the peak response of systems in the velocity-sensitive spectral region, but differences up to 14% were observed in the other spectral regions. The structural deformation is reduced by up to 25% when ζsd= 5%; and by up to 60% when ζsd= 30%. Non-linear FVDs are advantageous because they achieve essentially the same reduction in system responses but with a significantly reduced damper force. For practical applications, a procedure is presented to estimate the design values of structural deformation and forces for a system with non-linear FVD directly from the design spectrum. It is demonstrated that the earthquake-induced force in a non-linear FVD can be estimated from the damper force in a corresponding system with linear FVD, its peak deformation, and peak relative velocity; however, the relative velocity should not be approximated by the pseudo-velocity as this approximation introduces a large error in the damper force. Finally, a procedure is presented to determine the non-linear damper properties necessary to limit the structural deformation to some design value or the structural capacity for a given design spectrum. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relativistic Hartree-Fock-Slater oscillator strengths for Tl

Abstract Relativistic expressions for the radiative transition probabilities are presented to all multipole orders. The oscillator strengths for several lines of the diffuse series of Tl are calculated with the relativistic Hartree-Fock-Slater model. Our calculations agree fairly well with the experimental data of Penkin and Shabanova.
Informatic Tools and Approaches in Postmarketing Pharmacovigilance Used by FDA

The safety profile of newly approved drugs and therapeutic biologics is less well developed by pre-marketing clinical testing than is the efficacy profile. The full safety profile of an approved product is established during years of clinical use. For nearly 40 years, the FDA has relied on the voluntary reporting of adverse events by healthcare practitioners and patients to help establish the safety of marketed products. Epidemiologic studies, including case series, secular trends, case-control and cohort studies, are used to supplement the investigation of a safety signal. Ideally, active surveillance systems would supplement the identification and exploration of safety signals. The FDA has implemented a number of initiatives to help identify safety problems with drugs and continues to evaluate their efforts.
Contingent Claims Analysis Applied in Credit Risk Modeling

A fundamental in credit risk analysis is estimation of the probability that fixed-income securities will migrate to different bond rating categories. Unlike historical transition probabilities, several contingent claims credit risk methodologies simulate the value of a firm9s assets and/or debt ratio to create bond rating probability distributions. This study tests the validity of using empirically calculated debt ratios to assign bond ratings. The empirical tests provide evidence supporting the use of such methodologies, with some caveats. Debt ratios are industry-specific and time-dependent, so care must be taken in estimating model parameters from historical relationships.
Metal Accumulation by Aquacultured Seedlings of Indian Mustard.

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern) seedlings grown in aerated water (aquacultured) were able to ac cumulate various metals from artificially contaminated water over a range of environmenta...
Multicentric Kaposi's Sarcoma of the Conjunctiva in a Male Homosexual with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

A 38-year-old male homosexual with the new Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) had biopsy proven Kaposi's sarcoma of the right palpebral conjunctiva, extraocular mucocutaneous areas, and lymph nodes. Histologically, the palpebral tumor was characterized by atypical spindle cell proliferation and multiple slit-like vessels. Staining for Factor VIII-related antigen was positive in the cytoplasm of some tumor cells. Electron microscopy disclosed Weibel-Palade bodies in cells lining scattered slit-like vascular channels. The palpebral tumor mass was relatively nonadherent to its surrounding tissues and thus its simple excision was noteworthy; despite the prominent vascularity of the tumor, minimal bleeding was associated with its surgical resection. Any patient with AIDS should have all mucosal surfaces routinely examined for the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma lesions
Protein S controls hypoxic/ischemic blood-brain barrier disruption through the TAM receptor Tyro3 and sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor

The anticoagulant factor protein S (PS) has direct cellular activities. Lack of PS in mice causes lethal coagulopathy, ischemic/thrombotic injuries, vascular dysgenesis, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption with intracerebral hemorrhages. Thus, we hypothesized that PS maintains and/or enhances the BBB integrity. Using a BBB model with human brain endothelial cells, we show PS inhibits time- and dose-dependently (half maximal effective concentration [EC50] = 27 ± 3 nM) oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced BBB breakdown, as demonstrated by measurements of the transmonolayer electrical resistance, permeability of endothelial monolayers to dextran (40 kDa), and rearrangement of F-actin toward the cortical cytoskeletal ring. Using Tyro-3, Axl, and Mer (TAM) receptor, tyrosine kinase silencing through RNA interference, specific N-terminus–blocking antibodies, Tyro3 phosphorylation, and Tyro3-, Axl- and Mer-deficient mouse brain endothelial cells, we show that Tyro3 mediates PS vasculoprotection. After Tyro3 ligation, PS activated sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (S1P1), resulting in Rac1-dependent BBB protection. Using 2-photon in vivo imaging, we show that PS blocks postischemic BBB disruption in Tyro3+/+, Axl−/−, and Mer−/− mice, but not in Tyro3−/− mice or Tyro3+/+ mice receiving low-dose W146, a S1P1-specific antagonist. Our findings indicate that PS protects the BBB integrity via Tyro3 and S1P1, suggesting potentially novel treatments for neurovascular dysfunction resulting from hypoxic/ischemic BBB damage.
Learning from text: Matching readers and texts by latent semantic analysis

This study examines the hypothesis that the ability of a reader to learn from text depends on the match between the background knowledge of the reader and the difficulty of the text information. Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA), a statistical technique that represents the content of a document as a vector in high‐dimensional semantic space based on a large text corpus, is used to predict how much readers will learn from texts based on the estimated conceptual match between their topic knowledge and the text information. Participants completed tests to assess their knowledge of the human heart and circulatory system, then read one of four texts that ranged in difficulty from elementary to medical school level, then completed the tests again. Results show a nonmonotonic relation in which learning was greatest for texts that were neither too easy nor too difficult. LSA proved as effective at predicting learning from these texts as traditional knowledge assessment measures. For these texts, optimal assignment o...
Why we cannot grow a human arm

There are several significant issues that prevent us from growing a human arm now, or within the next 10-20 years. From a tissue engineering perspective, while we can grow many of the components necessary for construction of a human arm, we can only grow them in relatively small volumes, and when scaled up to large volumes we lack the ability to develop adequate blood/nerve supply. From a genetic engineering perspective, we will probably never be able to turn on the specific genes necessary to "grow an arm" unless it is attached to a fetus and this presents enormous ethical issues related to farming of human organs and structures. Perhaps the most daunting problem facing the transplantation of a tissue engineered or transplanted arm is that of re-innervation of the structure. Since the sensory and motor nerve cells of the arm are located outside of the structure, re-innervation requires those nerves to regenerate over relatively large distances to repopulate the nervous system of the arm. This is something with which we have had little success. We can grow repair parts, but "growing an arm" presents too many insurmountable problems. The best we could possibly do with tissue engineering or genetic engineering would be the equivalent of a fetal arm and the technical problems, costs, and ethical hurdles are enormous. A more likely solution is a functional, permanent, neuroelectronically-controlled prosthesis. These are nearly a reality today.
Epigenetic therapy of cancer: past, present and future

The initiation and progression of cancer is controlled by both genetic and epigenetic events. Unlike genetic alterations, which are almost impossible to reverse, epigenetic aberrations are potentially reversible, allowing the malignant cell population to revert to a more normal state. With the advent of numerous drugs that target specific enzymes involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, the utilization of epigenetic targets is emerging as an effective and valuable approach to chemotherapy as well as chemoprevention of cancer.
Linkage Between Learning Styles and Design Engineering Perceptions of Undergraduate Students

The debate on inculcating effective design engineering learning - its fundamental conceptualization, application of theoretical constructs to model physical devices/systems, and development of tools for solving unstructured problems - and associated critical thinking has primarily focused on curricula issues. Little effort has been made to understand the cognitive underpinning of students that lends to success in this direction. This paper presents the findings of a transverse study to assess learning styles of undergraduate mechanical engineering students and their perceptions about design engineering. Survey results from a batch of sophomores and seniors are analyzed to ascertain: (i) aspects of learning styles that are conducive to design comprehension, and (ii) perceptions about design engineering that aid or impede such learning.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Chromophore maturation and fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy of fluorescent proteins in a cell-free expression system.

Abstract Cell-free synthesis, a method for the rapid expression of proteins, is increasingly used to study interactions of complex biological systems. GFP and its variants have become indispensable for fluorescence studies in live cells and are equally attractive as reporters for cell-free systems. This work investigates the use of fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) as a tool for quantitative analysis of protein interactions in cell-free expression systems. We also explore chromophore maturation of fluorescent proteins, which is of crucial importance for fluorescence studies. A droplet sample protocol was developed that ensured sufficient oxygenation for chromophore maturation and ease of manipulation for titration studies. The kinetics of chromophore maturation of EGFP, EYFP, and mCherry were analyzed as a function of temperature. A strong increase in the rate from room temperature to 37 °C was observed. We further demonstrate that all EGFP proteins fully mature in the cell-free solution and that brightness is a robust parameter specifying stoichiometry. Finally, FFS is applied to study the stoichiometry of the nuclear transport factor 2 in a cell-free system over a broad concentration range. We conclude that combining cell-free expression and FFS provides a powerful technique for quick, quantitative study of chromophore maturation and protein–protein interaction.
Induced remission of malignant melanoma with actinomycin D. Immunologic implications.

Five patients with malignant melanoma of the extremities experienced tumor regression while being treated with intravenous actinomycin D. Each had responded to a prior isolated perfusion with actinomycin D with transient tumor regression and drug toxicity in the perfused limb. Three patients are free of demonstrable melanoma for more than 4 1/2 years. These patients exhibited intense delayed skin hypersensitivity to test antigens; however, patients with melanoma exhibited a greater sensitivity to these antigens than did patients with carcinoma. Two other patients died of metastases to the brain without recurrent melanoma elsewhere. Five other patients similarly treated did not respond with tumor regression. No similar regression of melanoma has been observed in 23 patients treated with actinomycin D alone or among 101 other patients treated with 18 other chemotherapeutic agents.
Winter day lengths enhance T lymphocyte phenotypes, inhibit cytokine responses, and attenuate behavioral symptoms of infection in laboratory rats

Annual variations in day length (photoperiod) trigger changes in the immune and reproductive system of seasonally-breeding animals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether photoperiodic changes in immunity depend on concurrent photoperiodic responses in the reproductive system, or whether immunological responses to photoperiod occur independent of reproductive responses. Here we report photoperiodic changes in enumerative, functional, and behavioral aspects of the immune system, and in immunomodulatory glucocorticoid secretion, in reproductively non-photoperiodic Wistar rats. T-cell numbers (CD3+, CD8+, CD8+CD25+, CD4+CD25+) were higher in the blood of rats housed in short as opposed to long-day lengths for 10 weeks. Following a simulated bacterial infection (Escherichia coli LPS; 125 microg/kg) the severity of several acute-phase sickness behaviors (anorexia, cachexia, neophobia, and social withdrawal) were attenuated in short days. LPS-stimulated IL-1beta and IL-6 production were comparable between photoperiods, but plasma TNFalpha was higher in long-day relative to short-day rats. In addition, corticosterone concentrations were higher in short-day relative to long-day rats. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that photoperiodic regulation of the immune system can occur entirely independently of photoperiodic regulation of the reproductive system. In the absence of concurrent reproductive responses, short days increase the numbers of leukocytes capable of immunosurveillance and inhibition of inflammatory responses, increase proinflammatory cytokine production, increase immunomodulatory glucocorticoid secretion, and ultimately attenuate behavioral responses to infection. Seasonal changes in the host immune system, endocrine system, and behavior may contribute to the seasonal variability in disease outcomes, even in reproductively non-photoperiodic mammals.
Radical self-psychology

This articel is a book review essay on a recent short volume by Stolorow and Atwood (1992) entitled Contexts of Being: The Intersubjective Foundations of Psychological Life.
The Undue Influence of Causation

Robert Nelson and colleagues (2011) claim that no useful analysis of “voluntariness” appears in the academic literature and identify their goal as “fill[ing] the gaps left by inadequate and incompl...
Molecular dynamics simulations on discoidal HDL particles suggest a mechanism for rotation in the apo A-I belt model.

Abstract Apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) is the major protein component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Elevated levels of HDL in the bloodstream have been shown to correlate strongly with a reduced risk factor for atherosclerosis. Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out on three separate model discoidal high-density lipoprotein particles (HDL) containing two monomers of apo A-I and 160 molecules of palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), to a time-scale of 1 ns. The starting structures were on the basis of previously published molecular belt models of HDL consisting of the lipid-binding C-terminal domain (residues 44–243) wrapped around the circumference of a discoidal HDL particle. Subtle changes between two of the starting structures resulted in significantly different behavior during the course of the simulation. The results provide support for the hypothesis of Segrest et al. that helical registration in the molecular belt model of apo A-I is modulated by intermolecular salt bridges. In addition, we propose an explanation for the presence of proline punctuation in the molecular belt model, and for the presence of two 11-mer helical repeats interrupting the otherwise regular pattern of 22-mer helical repeats in the lipid-binding domain of apo A-I.
Images of transequatorial F region bubbles in 630‐ and 777‐nm emissions compared with satellite measurements

Images of transequatorial F region bubbles were obtained from magnetic field aligned airglow observations from Haleakala, Hawaii, for 9 nights in August 1988. Bubbles of scale size 10-100 km were recorded with an intensified CCD detector attached to a filter wheel imager, and sequential images were made in the plasma recombination emissions at 630 nm and 777 nm and in the background emissions. The observations also yield information on the large-scale structure of the ionosphere in the northern Appleton Anomaly region, particularly on the latitude variations of plasma concentration and layer height. Measurements from the DMSP F8 and F9 satellites extend this to include the southern Anomaly region. The DMSP satellites were near 830 km in altitude and in near-polar orbits at about 1800 and 2120 hours local time. A comparison of the bubble images and the DMSP results with plasma concentration and drift velocities obtained from the San Marco satellite allows us to put the measurements along the San Marco track into the larger ionospheric context. One-to-one correspondence is found between the presence of the optical bubbles and the presence of plasma depletions measured from the San Marco satellite, allowing identification on consecutive orbits of the same depletions. This extends for up to 5 hours of the satellite measured information for individual depletions, that is, their vertical and horizontal drift velocities and the plasma concentration variations. The images show the shapes of the depletions in apex height and longitude and their evolution. Horizontal drift velocities of the bubbles were determined by a correlation analysis. Bubble occurrence is compared with day-to-day changes in the equatorial fountain electric fields and transequatorial asymmetries caused by neutral winds, and with measurements of radar backscatter from centimeter-scale irregularities associated with bubbles in the Kwajalein sector. The development of 10-100 km scale size bubbles at a given time and location is clearly a consequence of the presence of even larger wavelike corrugations in the F layer, provided there is also at least a moderately strong equatorial fountain.
Size and Development Times of Herbivorous Host and Parasitoid on Distantly Related Foodplants

Abstract Important life history traits of animals may parallel those of their food sources, a factor that plays out at multiple trophic levels, potentially influenced by sexual and temporal variation. Here I evaluate the role of three variables in a system featuring a pair of alternative host plants, a herbivore, and its principal primary parasitoid. My test system consists of the fern-feeding moth Herpetogramma theseusalis (Crambidae) and its principal enemy, the parasitoid wasp Alabagrus texanus (Braconidae), which depend on two distantly related host plants, sensitive Onoclea sensibilis (Dryopteridaceae) and marsh Thelypteris palustris (Thelypteridaceae) ferns. I measured the effects of host plant, sex and yearly variation on several aspects of the mass and development times of the moth and wasp on the two host plants. Although the timing of pupation and eclosion, and length of pupal period, varied from year to year, both the moth and wasp often varied in the same way on the two host plants, with faste...
Implications of the Theory of Successful Intelligence for Career Choice and Development

The theory of successful intelligence provides a perspective on career choice and development that is somewhat different from the perspective provided by conventional theories of abilities. The article opens with a discussion of some general issues in career choice and development. It then describes the theory of successful intelligence. Next, it presents data validating the theory. Finally, it draws some conclusions.
CEDA currents: IEEE/ACM MEMOCODE Contest Update

CEDA hosted a luncheon in June at this year's DAC to honor Robert Brayton, winner of the 2007 Phil Kaufman Award, for his impact on the field of electronic design through contributions in EDA. The eleven winning teams from the IEEE/ACMMEMOCODE Hardware/Software Codesign Contest in March were also formally announced.
A unique class of duocarmycin and CC-1065 analogues subject to reductive activation.

N-Acyl O-amino phenol derivatives of CBI-TMI and CBI-indole2 are reported as prototypical members of a new class of reductively activated prodrugs of the duocarmycin and CC-1065 class of antitumor agents. The expectation being that hypoxic tumor environments, with their higher reducing capacity, carry an intrinsic higher concentration of “reducing” nucleophiles (e.g., thiols) capable of activating such derivatives (tunable N–O bond cleavage) increasing their sensitivity to the prodrug treatment. Preliminary studies indicate the prodrugs effectively release the free drug in functional cellular assays for cytotoxic activity approaching or matching the activity of the free drug, yet remain essentially stable and unreactive to in vitro DNA alkylation conditions (<0.1–0.01% free drug release), pH 7.0 phosphate buffer, and exhibit a robust half-life in human plasma (t½ = 3 h). Characterization of a representative O-(acylamino) prodrug in vivo indicate that they approach the potency and exceed the efficacy of the free drug itself (CBI-indole2) indicating that not only is the free drug effectively released from the inactive prodrug, but that they offer additional advantages related to a controlled or targeted release in vivo.
2 Pathophysiology of Obesity Comorbidity: The Effects of Chronically Increased Intra-abdominal Pressure

Severe obesity is associated with multiple comorbidities that reduce the life expectancy and markedly impair the quality of life. Morbidly obese patients can suffer from central (android) obesity or peripheral (gynoid) obesity or a combination of the two. Gynoid obesity is associated with degenerative joint disease and venous stasis in the lower extremities. Android obesity is associated with the highest risk of mortality related to problems due to the metabolic syndrome or syndrome X, as well as increased intraabdominal pressure (IAP). The metabolic syndrome is associated with insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), which in turn are associated with nonalcoholic liver disease (NALD), polycystic ovary syndrome, and systemic hypertension (1–7). Increased IAP is probably responsible in part or totally for obesity hypoventilation, venous stasis disease, pseudotumor cerebri, gastroesophageal reflux disease, stress urinary incontinence, and systemic hypertension. Central obesity is also associated with increased neck circumference and sleep apnea.
EGFL7 is a chemoattractant for endothelial cells and is up-regulated in angiogenesis and arterial injury.

The endothelium of the adult vasculature is normally quiescent, with the exception of the vasculature of the female reproductive system. However, in response to appropriate stimuli (ie, wound healing, atherosclerosis, tumor growth and metastasis, arthritis) the vasculature becomes activated and grows new capillaries through angiogenesis. We have recently identified a novel endothelial-restricted gene, Egfl7, that encodes a 41-kd secreted protein (Fitch MJ, Campagnolo L, Kuhnert F, Stuhlmann H: Egfl7, a novel epidermal growth factor-domain gene expressed in endothelial cells. Dev Dyn 2004, 230:316–324). Egfl7 is expressed at high levels early during mouse embryonic development and is strictly associated with the vascular bed. In this study, we investigated Egfl7 expression in the quiescent adult vasculature, in the pregnant uterus, and in two different models of arterial injury, namely ballooning and ferric chloride injury. By RNA in situ hybridization, Egfl7 expression in the vasculature was found to be restricted to the endothelium of the capillaries and mature vessels. In the pregnant uterus, increased vascularization was accompanied by up-regulation of Egfl7. On arterial injury, Egfl7 expression was up-regulated in the regenerating endothelium, but not in the neointima. Importantly, the EGFL7 protein acted as a chemoattractant for embryonic endothelial cells and fibroblasts in a cell migration assay. Together, these results suggest that Egfl7 functions in the formation and maintenance of endothelial integrity and that its up-regulation may be a critical component in the reorganization of the vascular bed in response to angiogenic stimuli.
Intellectual Human Capital and the Emergence of Biotechnology: Trends and Patterns, 1974–2006

We present an analysis of the trends and patterns documenting the role of intellectual human capital in the emergence of knowledge within both new biotech ventures and incumbent pharmaceutical firms. We leverage individual-level data detailing the publication and citation records for more than 284 000 scientists employed by biotech and pharma firms between 1974 and 2006. During this 33-year time period, these scientists published nearly 1.2 million academic papers that were cited 16.8 million times. Through a detailed analysis of these data, we attempt to gain insights into the similarities and differences between the activity, productivity, and movement of star and nonstar scientists across both biotech and pharma firms over time.
Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering with Ordering Constraints

Many previous researchers have converted background knowledge as constraints to obtain accurate clustering. These clustering methods are usually called constrained clustering. Previous ordering constraints are instance level non-hierarchical constraints, like must-link and cannot-link constraints, which do not provide hierarchical information. In order to incorporate the hierarchical background knowledge into agglomerative clustering, we extend instance-level constraint to hierarchical constraint in this paper. We name it as ordering constraint. Ordering constraints can be used to capture hierarchical side information and they allow the user to encode hierarchical knowledge such as ontologies into agglomerative algorithms. We experimented with ordering constraints on labeled newsgroup data. Experiments showed that the dendrogram generated by ordering constraints is more similar to the pre-known hierarchy than the dendrogram generated by previous agglomerative clustering algorithms. We believe this work will have a significant impact on the agglomerative clustering field.
Oral Status and Resident Well-being in a Skilled Nursing Facility Population

We studied the relationship between oral status and well-being in dentate and edentulous institutionalized residents through interviews with and dental examinations on 58 men and women. Oral status (measured by oral function, dental problem self report, soft tissue anomalies, and dry mouth) and well-being (measured by affect balance, self-esteem, health status, and nurse's ratings) were similar for dentate and edentulous subjects. Multiple regression analyses indicated oral status was significantly related to well-being. Unexpectedly, the extent of caries and plaque was also positively related to well-being, suggesting complex relationships between oral status markers and well-being in institutional settings.
Exposure to Direct and Scatter Radiation with Use of Mini-C-Arm Fluoroscopy

Background: Mini-c-arm fluoroscopy has become an important resource to the orthopaedic surgeon. Exposure of the orthopaedic surgical team to radiation during standard large-c-arm fluoroscopy has been well studied; however, little is known about the amount of exposure to which a surgical team is subj
1453 APNEA AND BRADYCARDIA DURING ORAL FEEDING IN TERM NEONATES

Recent studies in infants have demonstrated substantial reduction in minute ventilation during oral feeding. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of cyanosis and bradycardia during oral feeding as a result of the reduction in minute ventilation or apnea. Heart rate, sucking pressure, respiratory efforts and airflow were monitored continuously during feeding in 50 term neonates (mean birth weight 3.5 kg, gestational age 39.7 weeks) in the first week of life. Bradycardia (≤100/min) occurred in 9 (18%) infants during the continuous sucking phase of oral feeding. Six of these episodes were preceded by apnea and the remaining 3 episodes were associated with hypopnea (marked reduction in minute ventilation). Airway obstruction occurred during most of the apneic episodes (5/6) and two resulted in cyanosis. The apnea and bradycardia resolved spontaneously with continued feeding in all except one infant. The only intervention performed was discontinuation of feeding in this infant. No episodes of isolated bradycardia or aspiration (associated with coughing and/or choking) was seen in any of the infants monitored. Our results suggest that apnea and transient bradycardia occur more frequently than previously recognized in term infants during oral feeding. This presumably reflects the inability of some infants in coordinating the feeding and breathing patterns during the first week of life and should be considered normal unless it persists beyond the neonatal period. Supported by grants by NIH (HL-01156) and March of Dimes (5-426).
Exometabolites of Leishmania donovani promastigotes. II. Spontaneous changes of exometabolite after isolation.

The defined medium of Steiger and Steiger conditioned by growth ofLeishmania donovani strain 3S promastigotes served as the primary source of parasite exometabolites. Four fractions of the conditioned medium were recovered by Sephadex G-25 column chromatography. These fractions shared immunologic determinants, but differed in their molecular weights, affinity for Sephadex G-25, and absorption spectra. Degradation and/or aggregation of one of the fractions (Fraction IV) appeared to yield substances found in the remaining three fractions. Furthermore, by appropriate manipulations, Fraction IV could be transformed into substances resembling those described by previous workers, eg., excretory factor (EF) or antigenically active glycoproteins (AAGP). The present findings suggest that the primary exometabolite released byL. donovani is a small glycopeptide-like molecule; however, in media conditioned by growth of promastigotes and during isolation procedures, aggregation and/or degradation processes yield higher molecular weight substances which vary in size and physico-chemical properties.
After-coaching leadership skills and their impact on direct reports: recommendations for organizations

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the after-coaching leadership skills of management that affected direct reports. The selection process relied on sequential sampling as a means of choosing 20 participants for in-depth interviews. After the transcription of the interviews, Atlas.ti software was used to manage data coding. Four themes emerged: (a) management's tools resulting in a motivated environment; (b) effects of management creating safe work environments; (c) depth of communication; and (d) self-reflection.
Touch-input Devices: Training the Device or the Operator?

Although touch-entry devices offer a number of advantages in low-resolution situations, requirements for high-resolution input must take into account the inherent biases and limitations of the operator. After the determination of operator bias in making high-resolution descriminations, attempts were made to examine the applicability of performance models for reducing the amount of “registered” error. It was found that bias error could be reduced, but that individual models are probably necessary for this to be done effectively.
A Fluxgate Magnetometer for the Applications Technology Satellite

A satellite-borne magnetometer used to detect magnetohydrodynamic wave propagation within the magnetosphere is introduced. The instrument is a biaxial, closed-loop, fluxgate magnetometer. The unit consists of the basic magnetometer plus additional sections, including a data processor, a field nulling section, and sensitivity selection logic. The basic magnetometer is discussed briefly, the additional sections in greater detail. It is shown that the use of sum and difference amplifiers in the data processor enable the derivation of magnetic field vectors transverse and parallel to the spacecraft spin axis. The field nulling section involves the use of an offset-field-generator to apply discrete current steps to the sensor offset winding in order to null the ambient sensor field. The use of three sensitivity levels is shown to maintain the analog output within the dynamic range of the instrument. An in-flight calibration section is discussed and referenced to instrument stability and sensitivity. A brief discussion of the ATS satellite mentions the advantages of its orbit, which is favorable for the study of long-term magnetic field variations and for correlation with plasma and particle experiments also onboard.