cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping of the Ur-7 gene for specific resistance to rust in common bean

Bean rust, caused by Uromyces appendiculatus (Pers.: Pers.) Unger, is a major disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). A recommended strategy to obtain durable rust resistance is to use molecular markers linked to rust resistance genes for pyramiding monogenic resistance genes into a single bean cultivar. However, markers linked to the Ur-7 gene for specific resistance (SR) to rust present in the cultivar Great Northern (GN) 1140 have not been reported. Our objectives were to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to the Ur-7 gene for SR to rust race 59 using bulked segregant analysis in an F 2 population from the Middle American (MA) common bean cross 'GN1140' (resistant) × GN Nebr. #1 (susceptible) and to map the Ur-7 gene on an existing RAPD marker-based linkage map constructed by means of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the MA cross GN BelNeb-RR-1 × A 55. A single dominant gene controlling SR to race 59 was found in the F 2 and confirmed in the F 3 . Six RAPD markers were detected in a coupling phase linkage with the Ur-7 gene. Cosegregating coupling-phase markers OAD12.550 and OAF17.900 were found. These were also present in pinto US-5 from which the rust resistance of GN1140 was derived. Among the three repulsion-phase markers, marker OAB18.650 was the most closely linked to the Ur-7 gene at a distance of 7.6 centimorgans (cM). All linked markers detected in the F 2 population also segregated in the RILs and were located on linkage group 11 of the existing linkage map. These markers linked to the Ur-7 gene of MA origin identified here, along with other independent rust resistance genes from other germplasm, could be utilized to pyramid multiple genes into a bean cultivar for more durable rust resistance.
Finite‐element stress analysis of failure mechanisms in a multilevel metallization structure

A finite‐element method taking into account material nonlinearity was used to calculate the stress distribution in interconnecting lines and studs of a three‐dimensional multilevel metallization structure in a microelectronic device. A good correlation was obtained between the location of calculated stress concentration centers and the experimentally observed void sites in the stud. Accordingly, the failure mechanisms of the stress‐induced voiding in the stud and the crack formation in the underlying substrate were inferred to be associated with different stress components. Furthermore, the stress concentration centers were found to migrate as the temperature changes, which agrees with the experimental observations.
Race and Space: Hiring Practices of Los Angeles Electronics Firms

: Some spatial mismatch theorists have incorporated racial discrimination in employment into their quantitative models as a causal factor, in addition to spatial barriers, in explaining the unemployment problems of Blacks. They generally argue that racist employers are more likely to locate in the suburbs, rather than the inner city, which helps to explain why Blacks are less likely to be employed there. We take a qualitative approach to the spatial mismatch question on the basis of personal interviews with employers in the electronics industry in Los Angeles. We found that employers in black neighborhoods were just as likely as employers in non-black neighborhoods to discriminate in their hiring practices and hold preferences for workers from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Consequently, black residential proximity to firms is unlikely to completely overcome barriers associated with racial discrimination in employment. We argue that spatial mismatch models face limitations to analyzing racial discrimination in employment that are inherent in their quantitative models.
Gain scheduling for semiactive MR dampers

Control of semiactive devices, such as magnetorheo-logical fluid dampers for mitigating earthquake- and wind-induced motion of structures, is often accomplished using a clipped-optimal approach. This control strategy uses a primary optimal controller designed assuming the devices were active, linear and ideal, and a secondary bang-bang controller to make the semiactive device produce forces that mimic, as closely as possible, the desired active control. With multiple control devices, one or more may be inactive at any one time when the corresponding desired force is non-dissipative and cannot be exerted by a semiactive device. This approach effectively uses a gain scheduling type of approach, but it has not previously been studied in that context. This paper investigates a variety of schedule combinations of control gains to determine which approaches strongly affect the performance of the closed-loop response and find optimal gain schedule designs. The example demonstrates that improvements of at least 15%, relative to a standard clipped-optimal control, are achievable with a simple gain schedule design.
Response of urinary lipophilic aldehydes and related carbonyl compounds to factors that stimulate lipid peroxidation in vivo.

Peroxidation of lipids results in the formation of a number of aldehydic and other carbonyl-containing secondary degradation products. The effect of peroxidative stimuli mediated by vitamin E deficiency, a diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (containing cod liver oil), and carbon tetrachloride administration on urinary excretion of a number of lipophilic aldehydes and related carbonyl compounds was examined in rats. These secondary lipid peroxidation products were measured as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatives. All three treatments increased urinary excretion of secondary lipid peroxidation products, although the pattern of excretion of these products varied somewhat among the treatments. Significant increases were found in butanal, hexanal, octanal. butan-2-one, pentan-2-one, hex-2-enal, hepta-2,4-dienal, 4-hydroxyhex-2-enal, 4-hydroxyoct-2-enal, 4-hydroxynon-2-enal, and a number of unidentified carbonyl compounds. These results suggest that urinary excretion of these lipophilic secondary lipid peroxidation products is a useful and noninvasive marker of whole-body lipid peroxidation.
Factors Contributing to Improving Electric Service by Means of High-Speed Switching and Utilization of Stored Energy

The quality of electric service as reflected through variations in motor speeds resulting principally from voltage surges is about as important to many manufacturing processes as is the continuity of such service. This paper sets forth the effects of voltage surges on an extremely speed-sensitive manufacturing process and describes how the effect can be minimized to the extent of becoming harmless. Test data are given which show the effects of voltage surges, of varying duration and magnitude, on the process, and the voltage surge is shown engraved in the finished product as the purchaser sees it. The maximum tolerable driving motor speed variation, without impairment to the product, is established and means are described for preventing a greater variation irrespective of the voltage surge intensity. An alarm system is described which is capable of instantly responding when variations in speed exceed tolerable limits. Use of a synchronous condenser, to supply energy during the interim of severe voltage disturbances or brief power failures, is effective in preventing motor-speed variations from exceeding the tolerable limits. These and other recent improvements will provide highly reliable electric service for the requirements of those manufacturing proccesses which are very exacting as to speed variations.
On a network creation game

We introduce a novel game that models the creation of Internet-like networks by selfish node-agents without central design or coordination. Nodes pay for the links that they establish, and benefit from short paths to all destinations. We study the Nash equilibria of this game, and prove results suggesting that the "price of anarchy" [4] in this context (the relative cost of the lack of coordination) may be modest. Several interesting: extensions are suggested.
Methodology for the 3-dimensional model-assisted evaluation of polycrystalline materials

The quantitative nondestructive evaluation of tailored microstructures is becoming an increasingly important topic. In aerospace engine materials, NDE methods are needed to characterize polycrystalline grain information related to mean grain sizes, grain size distributions, and misorientation states. In the present research effort, model-assisted ultrasound methods are being developed to study fully 3-dimensional elastic wave propagation and scattering interactions with synthetic and realistic microstructures in nickel superalloy materials. A methodology for integrating synthetic and realistic 3-dimensional microstructure states into ultrasonic finite element models has been developed. The methodology utilizes a recently developed software platform called DREAM.3D, which provides a means for generating, analyzing, and archiving 3-dimensional microstructure volumes. In the present effort, custom Matlab code was developed to synergistically connect the DREAM.3D environment with ultrasound FEM modeling software. The resulting software capability provides a means for accurately representing the full 3-dimensional crystallographic stiffness matrix values in complex polycrystalline systems, where ultrasonic sensing models are being used to understand time-resolved, backscatter ultrasound sensing for enhanced microstructure characterization in aerospace materials.
In Situ Characterization of Adsorbates in Solid−Liquid Interfaces by Reflection−Absorption Infrared Spectroscopy

A cell has been designed for the in situ characterization of catalytic intermediates adsorbed at liquid−solid interfaces by single-reflection infrared spectroscopy. The design of our cell is based on previous setups used for the study of electrochemical systems, and consists of a cylindrical Teflon body terminated by a calcium fluoride prism cut in a trapezoidal shape with two faces beveled to 60° to let the infrared beam in and out of the cell on one end and by a polished platinum disk (the solid sample) mounted on a retractable rod on the other. The solid sample is cleaned by repeated electrochemical oxidation−reduction cycles using KClO4, HClO4, or H2SO4 electrolytes, and a thin liquid film is then trapped between the two surfaces for the liquid−solid adsorption studies. The performance of this cell was first tested by studies on the adsorption of carbon monoxide from 1.0 M H2SO4 solutions. Significant signals were detected for the adsorbed CO, comparable to those seen under vacuum or under high pressu...
Hyperfine interactions and nuclear moments in even uranium isotopes from Mössbauer spectroscopy

Abstract Nuclear γ-resonance (Mossbauer effect) measurements have been performed using the 45 keV, 0 + → 2 + transition in 234 U, 236 U and 238 U. Values are obtained for the ratio of quadrupole moments of the 2 + level in these isotopes, Q (234): Q (236): Q (238) = 1: (1.13 ± 0.09): (1.13 ± 0.10), and for the magnetic moments of the 2 + level, μ (234): μ (236): μ (238) = 1: (0.98 ± 0.06): (0.94 ± 0.09). No isomer shifts are detected, placing an upper limit on the change in nuclear mean square charge radius of | Δ 〈 r 2 〉| ≦ 2 × 10 −4 fm 2 for all three isotopes. Relative merits of the three uranium isotopes for nuclear γ-resonance spectroscopy are discussed, and some preliminary attempts at observing resonances in 233 U and 235 U are mentioned.
Bone densitometry in pediatric patients treated with pamidronate

Background: Increasing numbers of children are being treated with the bisphosphonate pamidronate for low bone mineral density, particularly children with increased risk of fractures caused by bone disorders or low/non-weight bearing. Objective: To determine the effect of intravenous pamidronate on the bone mineral density of children with osteogenesis imperfecta and spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Materials and methods: Charts of 38 children with osteogenesis imperfecta (n=20) and spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (n=18) treated with pamidronate were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were selected for treatment because of prior fracture and/or abnormally low bone mineral density. All received intravenous pamidronate at two-month to eight-month intervals and were periodically examined using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: All patients had abnormally low bone mineral density prior to treatment. Lumbar spine bone mineral density and z-scores showed serial improvement in 31 of 32 patients. Spine bone mineral density increased 78±38.1% in OI and 47.4±39.0% in children with cerebral palsy. The area of greatest lateral distal femur bone mineral density improvement was in the metaphysis adjacent to the growth plate, with a 96±87.8% improvement in the osteogenesis imperfecta group and 65.7±55.2% improvement in the cerebral palsy group. Increases in bone mineral density exceeded that expected for age-specific growth. This was demonstrated by improvement in both spine and femur z-scores for both groups. No children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy experienced fractures after the first week of treatment, whereas patients with osteogenesis imperfecta continued to have fractures but at a decreased rate. Conclusions: Intravenous pamidronate given at 3- to 4-month intervals proved to be effective in increasing bone mineral density in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta and spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The greatest gains in bone mineral density were observed in the children with osteogenesis imperfecta, but they did continue to fracture, albeit at a decreased rate. Children with cerebral palsy gained bone mineral density and did not continue to fracture.
A Novel High Throughput Invasion Screen Identifies Host Actin Regulators Required for Efficient Cell Entry by Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii critically relies on cell invasion as a survival strategy to evade immune clearance during infection. Although it was widely thought that Toxoplasma entry is parasite directed and that the host cell is largely a passive victim, recent studies have suggested that host components such as microfilaments and microtubules indeed contribute to entry. Hence to identify additional host factors, we performed a high-throughput siRNA screen of a human siRNA library targeting druggable proteins using a novel inducible luciferase based invasion assay. The top 100 hits from the primary screen that showed the strongest decreases in invasion were subjected to confirmation by secondary screening, revealing 24 proteins that are potentially involved in Toxoplasma entry into host cells. Interestingly, 6 of the hits appear to affect parasite invasion by modifying host cell actin dynamics, resulting in increased deposition of F-actin at the periphery of the cell. These findings support the emerging notion that host actin dynamics are important for Toxoplasma invasion along with identifying several novel host factors that potentially participate in parasite entry.
Hydrosilylation of Carbonyl-Containing Substrates Catalyzed by an Electrophilic η1-Silane Iridium(III) Complex

Hydrosilylation of a variety of ketones and aldehydes using the cationic iridium catalyst (POCOP)Ir(H)(acetone)+, 1 (POCOP = 2,6-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinito)phenyl), is reported. With triethyl silane, all but exceptionally bulky ketones undergo quantitative reactions employing 0.5 mol % catalyst in 20−30 min at 25 °C. Hydrosilylation of esters and amides results in over-reduction and cleavage of C−O and C−N bonds, respectively. The diastereoselectivity of hydrosilylation of 4-tert-butyl cyclohexanone has been examined using numerous silanes and is highly temperature dependent. Using EtMe2SiH, analysis of the ratio of cis:trans hydrosilylation products as a function of temperature yields values for ΔΔH‡ (ΔH‡(trans) − ΔH‡(cis)) and ΔΔS‡ (ΔS‡(trans) − ΔS‡(cis)) of −2.5 kcal/mol and −6.9 eu, respectively. Mechanistic studies show that the ketone complex (POCOP)Ir(H)(ketone)+ is the catalyst resting state and is in equilibrium with low concentration of the silane complex (POCOP)Ir(H)(HSiR3)+. The silane compl...
Endovascular Treatment of Extracranial Carotid Artery Stenosis: Update on Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting

The endovascular treatment of carotid artery stenosis has undergone substantial refinement since its introduction, and carotid artery angioplasty and stenting is now widely performed on symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Well-designed, large randomized prospective trials showed that carotid endarterectomy provided a significant and durable benefit to selected patients with significant carotid narrowing. Many trials are currently under way comparing endovascular stenting and surgery. Two recently published trials suggest endovascular stenting is at least as good as carotid endarterectomy in terms of safety and efficacy. In the future, carotid stenting may become the standard procedure for patients with significant carotid occlusive disease and a high estimated risk of future stroke.
Neutral and Cationic Group 4 Complexes Containing Bis(borylamide) Ligands, [R2BNCH2CH2NBR2]2- (R = 2,4,6-i-Pr3C6H2, M = Zr; R = Cyclohexyl, M = Ti, Zr, Hf)

Reaction of Li2(TripBen)(THF)4 ([(2,4,6-i-Pr3C6H2)2BNCH2CH2NB(2,4,6-i-Pr3C6H2)2]2- = (TripBen)2-) with ZrCl4(THF)2 in toluene cleanly provides (TripBen)ZrCl2. (TripBen)ZrCl2 can be alkylated with Grignard reagents to yield the dimethyl (2), diethyl (3), and dibutyl (4) derivatives, (TripBen)ZrR2. The structure of (TripBen)Zr(CD3)2 reveals that π bonding between boron and nitrogen results in one Trip ring on each boron being oriented over the two alkyl groups. The reaction between (TripBen)ZrMe2 and B(C6F5)3 in pentane yields colorless crystals of {(TripBen)ZrMe}{MeB(C6F5)3} (5a). The dialkyl complexes 2−4 react with [HNMe2Ph][B(C6F5)4] in toluene to yield free dimethylaniline and species that are identical to 5a according to NMR spectra. (CyBen)M(CH2SiMe3)2 complexes ([(cyclohexyl)2BNCH2CH2NB(cyclohexyl)2]2- = (CyBen)2-) are prepared by the reaction between Li2(CyBen)(ether) and M(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2(ether)x (M = Ti, Zr, or Hf). (CyBen)MI2 complexes are formed upon treating (CyBen)M(CH2SiMe3)2 complexes with io...
Composite/fundamental Higgs mesons (II). Model building

Abstract We use the idea of effective Higgs mesons in a technicolor theory with a non-trivial fixed point to build a realistic grand unified theory. We are led to a theory based on a product of five SO(10) gauge symmetries with a cyclic symmetry which permutes the factors, in which there is a connection between the multiplicity of flavors and the gauge hierarchy puzzle. We discuss the fermion mass matrix and argue that it produces small mass ratios between generations without unnaturally small parameters. The model predicts another lepton doublet with no corresponding normal quarks.
THE LIMITS OF HIERARCHY: “ENTERPRISE CORPORATIONS” IN CHINA

In shifting from central planning to market allocation of resources, a number of Chinese government organs were converted into “enterprise corporations,” hybrid governance structures which were supposed to attain the best of both market incentives and hierarchical coordination. This paper examines specific cases of enterprise corporations in light of the trade‐offs between markets and hierarchies predicted by transaction cost economics. It analyzes the problems which arose in the attempt to replicate the high‐powered incentives of markets within hierarchies.
Restraints on backbone conformations in solid state NMR studies of uniformly labeled proteins from quantitative amide 15N-15N and carbonyl 13C-13C dipolar recoupling data.

Recent structural studies of uniformly 15N, 13C-labeled proteins by solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) rely principally on two sources of structural restraints: (i) restraints on backbone conformation from isotropic 15N and 13C chemical shifts, based on empirical correlations between chemical shifts and backbone torsion angles; (ii) restraints on inter-residue proximities from qualitative measurements of internuclear dipole–dipole couplings, detected as the presence or absence of inter-residue crosspeaks in multidimensional spectra. We show that site-specific dipole–dipole couplings among 15N-labeled backbone amide sites and among 13C-labeled backbone carbonyl sites can be measured quantitatively in uniformly-labeled proteins, using dipolar recoupling techniques that we call 15N-BARE and 13C-BARE (BAckbone REcoupling), and that the resulting data represent a new source of restraints on backbone conformation. 15N-BARE and 13C-BARE data can be incorporated into structural modeling calculations as potential energy surfaces, which are derived from comparisons between experimental 15N and 13C signal decay curves, extracted from crosspeak intensities in series of two-dimensional spectra, with numerical simulations of the 15N-BARE and 13C-BARE measurements. We demonstrate this approach through experiments on microcrystalline, uniformly 15N, 13C-labeled protein GB1. Results for GB1 show that 15N-BARE and 13C-BARE restraints are complementary to restraints from chemical shifts and inter-residue crosspeaks, improving both the precision and the accuracy of calculated structures.
Duration of Shh signaling contributes to mDA neuron diversity

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is critical for various developmental processes including specification of the midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons in the ventral mesencephalon (vMes). While the timing of Shh and its response gene Gli1 segregates mDA neurons, their overall lineage contribution to mDA neurons heavily overlaps. Here, we demonstrate that the same set of mDA neuron progenitors sequentially respond to Shh signaling (Gli1 expression), induce Shh expression, and then turn off Shh responsiveness. Thus, at any given developmental stage, cells rarely co-express Shh and Gli1. Using Shh(Cre:GFP) mice to delete the Smoothened receptor in the Shh pathway, we demonstrate that the loss of Shh signaling in Shh expressing cells results in a transient increase in proliferation and subsequent depletion of mDA neuron progenitors in the posterior vMes due to the facilitated cell cycle exit. Moreover, the change in duration of Shh signaling in vMes progenitors altered the timing of the contribution to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) mDA neurons. Taken together, our investigation on the relationship between the Shh-secreting and -responding cells revealed an intricate regulation of induction and cessation of Shh signaling that influences the distribution of mDA neurons in the VTA and SNc.
Atrial fibrosis and the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is commonly associated with congestive heart failure (CHF), and CHF has been shown to be associated with atrial structural remodeling resulting in fibrosis. Atrial interstitial fibrosis has been seen in patients with CHF and in animal models of pacing-induced heart failure. With atrial fibrosis, conduction abnormalities result in increased AF vulnerability. The mechanism of AF associated with CHF is under debate, as both focal and reentrant mechanisms have been observed in animal models of CHF. However, recent studies using frequency-domain analysis have shown that the AF within this model is characterized by discrete, stable, high-frequency areas. The precise signaling processes involved in the development of atrial fibrosis are unknown. Angiotensin appears to play a role, as inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (or angiotensin-receptor blocker) blunts atrial fibrosis in animal models of heart failure and decreases the incidence of AF in patients with heart failure. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) also appears to play an important role. Mouse models that overexpress TGF-β1 have profound atrial fibrosis and AF (with normal ventricles). Heart failure in canine models also produces increases in atrial TGF-β1 expression, and inhibition of this expression prevents atrial fibrosis and the development of a substrate for AF. Atrial fibrosis appears to play a role in the development of a vulnerable substrate for AF, especially in the setting of CHF.
Sex, drugs and matrices: Mathematical prediction of HIV infection

The purpose of this paper is to consider a very simple model of the AIDS epidemic. This model illustrates how the spread of AIDS can be affected by parameters whose values, at the present time, are very imprecise or unknown. Of particular interest are the data related to sexual encounters and practices, data which are often unreliable or ambiguous. In this regard, the present model also suggests that the epidemiology of AIDS is particularly sensitive to the limitations in the assessment of sexuality/drug‐related behavior. Using a system of elementary differential equations, the present paper illustrates (using 3 examples) that depending upon the value of critical parameters, one could predict either very rapid increases of seropositivity or a decreasing rate of seropositivi‐ty. Thus, in order to diminish the ambiguity, it becomes crucial to make careful estimates of the sexual “interaction” coefficients, along with all other parameters, to insure that reasonable predictions can be made.
Characterization of respiratory deposition of fluticasone-salmeterol hydrofluoroalkane-134a and hydrofluoroalkane-134a beclomethasone in asthmatic patients.

Abstract Background Fixed combination fluticasone-salmeterol is the most used anti-inflammatory asthma treatment in North America, yet no studies report the actual respiratory tract dose or the distribution of drug within the lungs. Inflammation due to asthma affects all airways of the lungs, both large and small. Inhaled steroid delivery to airways results from a range of drug particle sizes, with emphasis on smaller drug particles capable of reaching the peripheral airways. Previous studies suggested that smaller drug particles increase pulmonary deposition and decrease oropharyngeal deposition. Objectives To characterize the dose of fluticasone-salmeterol hydrofluoroalkane-134a (HFA) (particle size, 2.7 μm) delivered to asthmatic patients and examine the drug distribution within the lungs. The results were compared with the inhalation delivery of HFA beclomethasone (particle size, 0.7 μm). Methods A crossover study was conducted in asthmatic patients with commercial formulations of fluticasone-salmeterol and HFA beclomethasone radiolabeled with technetium Tc 99m. Deposition was measured using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography gamma scintigraphy. Results Two-dimensional planar image analysis indicated that 58% of the HFA beclomethasone and 16% of the fluticasone-salmeterol HFA were deposited in the patient's lungs. The oropharyngeal cavity and gut analyses indicated that 77% of the fluticasone-salmeterol HFA was deposited in the oropharynx compared with 35% of the HFA beclomethasone. Conclusions The decreased peripheral airway deposition and increased oropharyngeal deposition of fluticasone-salmeterol HFA was a result of its larger particle size. The smaller particle size of HFA beclomethasone allowed a greater proportion of lung deposition with a concomitant decrease in oropharyngeal deposition.
EMG activity of orbicularis oris superior, orbicularis oris inferior, and masseter muscles of mild and moderate articulatory disordered children.

The peak amplitude of EMG activity was measured from the orbicularis oris superior, orbicularis oris inferior, and masseter muscles for 3 mild and 3 moderately articulatory disordered and 3 normal ...
Biosynthesis of patulin. Dehydrogenase and dioxygenase enzymes of penicillium patulum

Abstract Two aromatic dehydrogenases catalyzing the reversible conversions of gentisyl alcohol and m -hydroxybenzyl alcohol to their corresponding aldehydes have been partially purified. These partially purified dehydrogenases were shown to require NADPH. In the case of the gentisyl alcohol-gentisaldehyde interconversion, a 46-fold purification was achieved using POLYCLAR AT and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. A cell-free system capable of converting gentisaldehyde to patulin was prepared with a pH optimum of 8.0. The system was dependent on O 2 and NADPH, was stimulated by ATP and inhibited by the Fe 2+ chelators, α, α-dipyridyl and o -phenanthroline. These results suggest a dioxygenase mechanism for patulin synthesis from gentisaldehyde.
Fingerprints of Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The influence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) on cancer is not well understood. High-throughput sequencing of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) illustrates the influences of EBV on oncogenesis and identifies driver pathways that might be therapeutically useful for NPC treatment.
NALOXONE, A SPECIFIC OPIOID ANTAGONIST, REVERSES CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC CONSTIPATION

Two patients with long-standing idiopathic chronic constipation, which responded only to large daily doses of laxatives and additional suppositories and enemas, were treated with the specific opioid antagonist, naloxone, on a single-blind crossover basis. Both patients responded to naloxone treatment, with increased passage of faeces and increased wet and dry faecal weight. Although naloxone is poorly absorbed after oral administration, there was a positive response during oral as well as intravenous treatment, suggesting that the primary effect of naloxone is at specific opiate receptor sites in the myenteric plexus and other neural and endocrine cells of the intestinal wall.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene: prospects for treatment of heart disease

Nitric oxide functions as a signaling molecule with a well-established role in vascular homeostasis. It is synthesized from the oxidation of L-arginine by the enzyme, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The eNOS gene has a number of polymorphic sites, including SNPs, dinucleotide repeats and variable number tandem repeat sequences, and the opportunity exists to investigate polymorphic functional correlates as well as disease-specific associations, especially in cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, and its most severe consequence, myocardial infarction. A number of clinical and functional correlative studies involving eNOS polymorphisms have been reported and are presented. The promise and complexity of pharmacogenetics is illustrated using eNOS as an example because of its relationship with cardiovascular biology and pathology. In this review, we will discuss the impact of nitric oxide, eNOS, genetic regulation, clinical investigation and, ultimately, prospects for treatment of heart disease.
Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric studies of the urinary metabolites of male rats given indan.

Abstract The identified urinary metabolites of male rats exposed to indan are: 1- and 2-indanone; 1-, 2- and 5-indanol; 2- and 3-hydroxyl-1-indanone; and cis- and trans-indan-1,2-diol. Indan causes kidney damage in male rats in a manner similar to the cyclic hydrocarbons cis- and trans-decalin and JP-10. Lesions produced by indan occur only in male rats and not in female or control rats.
Disturbances in a power transmission system

A simple model for a power transmission system is presented. In this model, disturbances of all sizes may occur. They are randomly triggered and have the characteristic behavior of avalanches. A single parameter describes the scaling of the avalanche size. This parameter combines a measure of closeness to the maximum load, size of transferred loads during an overloading event, and connectivity of the system. The probability distribution function of the size of the disturbance has power-scaling range with the exponent close to -1. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
Weyl gauging and spontaneously broken Lorentz symmetry: Some alternative models

Some new effective actions are suggested for theories in which the affine connection is not completely specified by the metric. The new actions lead to models in which the metric, torsion, and Weyl vector fields all propagate. The dimensionally reduced versions do not contain third derivatives of the gauge potentials in the field equation. Some simple models which exhibit simultaneous breaking of Weyl andD-dimensional Lorentz symmetry are investigated. It is shown that it is possible for this effect to occur in any model in which the field action contains the Einstein-Hilbert term. This is due to the fact that the contortion occurs in this object as part of an indefinite quadratic form.
Food Habits of Walleye in Shadehill Reservoir, South Dakota

ABSTRACT The growth rate of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) in Shadehill Reservoir, a 1,900-ha impoundment in Northwestern South Dakota, is much slower than the statewide average. We investigated the food habits of walleye in Shadehill Reservoir from 1994 to 1995 to determine if the slow growth is prey-related. Walleye were collected at night using electrofishing equipment and experimental gill nets. Of the 201 stomachs examined, 114 contained food. We calculated the relative importance (RI) index to evaluate the contribution of each prey item to the diet. Due to a relatively small sample size and inherent gear biases, data from all seasons were combined and analyzed by length group. The RI analysis indicated that Daphnia spp. was the most important prey for sub-stock length (<25 cm total length) walleye. White bass (Morone chrysops) became increasingly important for longer walleye and was the most important prey for quality- to preferred-length walleyes (38–50 cm TL). Aquatic dipteran larvae were the seco...
Non-equivalent roles of two periplasmic subunits in the function and assembly of triclosan pump TriABC from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In Gram-negative bacteria, multidrug efflux transporters function in complexes with periplasmic membrane fusion proteins (MFPs) that enable antibiotic efflux across the outer membrane. In this study, we analyzed the function, composition and assembly of the triclosan efflux transporter TriABC-OpmH from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We report that this transporter possesses a surprising substrate specificity that encompasses not only triclosan but the detergent SDS, which are often used together in antibacterial soaps. These two compounds interact antagonistically in a TriABC-dependent manner and negate antibacterial properties of each other. Unlike other efflux pumps that rely on a single MFP for their activities, two different MFPs, TriA and TriB, are required for triclosan/SDS resistance mediated by TriABC-OpmH. We found that analogous mutations in the α-helical hairpin and membrane proximal domains of TriA and TriB differentially affect triclosan efflux and assembly of the complex. Furthermore, our results show that TriA and TriB function as a dimer, in which TriA is primarily responsible for stabilizing interactions with the outer membrane channel, whereas TriB is important for the stimulation of the transporter. We conclude that MFPs are engaged into complexes as asymmetric dimers, in which each protomer plays a specific role.
Control on landscapes with local minima and flat regions: A simulated annealing and gain scheduling approach

Landscapes containing local minima and ?flat? regions are frequently encountered in multi-layer neural networks that employ sigmoid-like activation function in the hidden layers. Numerous techniques in the neural network community have been proposed to address these issues. In this note, we extend these ideas to the neural network control of nonlinear systems. We propose a solution which employs simulated annealing and a gain scheduled learning rate.
An Introduction to Nicolai Hartmann’s Critical Ontology

Nicolai Hartmann contributed significantly to the revitalization of the discipline of ontology in the early twentieth century. Developing a systematic, post-Kantian critical ontology ‘this side’ of idealism and realism, he subverted the widespread impression that philosophy must either exhaust itself in foundationalist epistemology or engage in system-building metaphysical excess. This essay provides an introduction to Hartmann’s approach in light of the recent translation of his early essay ‘How is Critical Ontology Possible?’ (1923) In it Hartmann criticizes both the pretensions of epistemology as well as the principal errors of classical ontology, and he proposes a series of correctives that lead to his development of a highly original and elaborate stratified categorial ontology. This introduction explains the most important errors of the ‘old’ ontology, his correctives to them, and further fleshes out these correctives with reference to his mature ontological work.
Social Aspects of Labor Organizing: Maquiladora Workers in a Grassroots Development Effort:

Beginning in the mid-1960s, Mexico encouraged the development of industrial assembly plants known as maquiladoras along its northern border and in selected areas of the interior. Although it began as a stopgap measure to employ men returning from the U.S. bracero worker program, the Border Industrialization Program soon became Mexico’s principal development initiative for the border region. Since then, numerous scholars have evaluated the success of the plants by examining their impacts on the economy, the environment, and labor. This study adds to this research literature by assessing the impact of the maquiladora program from the perspective of the assembly line workers. It describes and analyzes the activities of a grassroots, participatory development effort to organize maquiladora workers for more than 20 years. Participatory approaches to development are defined and described in terms of the problems and challenges that animate this field of research. The findings demonstrate how participatory effor...
Administrators' and Teachers' Attitudes Toward Mainstreaming

Attitudes toward mainstreaming were assessed through a questionnaire containing items relating to the possible effects of mainstreaming on the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral development of youngsters who are handicapped, as well as the effects on nonhandicapped peers, teachers, and administrators. The four groups sampled included elementary principals, special education administrators, classroom teachers, and special education teachers. Responses were subjected to a factor analysis that yielded four subscales regarding mainstreaming: Academic Concerns, Socioemotional Concerns, Administrative Concerns, and Teacher Concerns. Discriminant analysis revealed significant and meaningful differences among the four groups in their attitudes toward mainstreaming.
AUA White Paper on Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections: Definitions and Significance in the Urological Patient

Abstract Introduction Catheter associated urinary tract infections are widely recognized as the most common health care associated infection in the acute care hospital setting. Methods Experts have reviewed the literature on catheter associated urinary tract infections in urological patients. Where the literature was lacking, expert opinion was used to build recommendations which may be useful to the urological community. Results In this white paper we address limitations surrounding how and when current definitions can be used to detect a catheter associated urinary tract infection in a urological patient, and propose alternative methods for diagnosing catheter associated urinary tract infection in specific populations, including geriatric, neurogenic bladder and lower urinary tract reconstruction. Techniques to avoid catheter associated urinary tract infections through proper urethral catheterization and alternatives to indwelling catheters for urological patients are also discussed. Conclusions Patients with urological disorders have specific concerns relating to catheter associated urinary tract infections. A review of the available literature as well as common clinical practice provides directives for the treatment of these patients in a specific and distinctive fashion to reduce the risk of infection. By understanding the needs and technical modifications necessary in these patients, hospital systems and practitioners can limit patient exposure to catheter associated urinary tract infections.
What Public? Whose Schools?.

In discussing reform of public schools, the conversation is usually about schools; in this article I examine the meaning of public, drawing on Dewey's (1927/1954/1988) understanding of the nature of a public and its importance to democratic life. Vouchers and other market challenges to public education are a danger to the existence of a public, and a threat to democratic life. I consider the relevant differences between publics, markets, and audiences, and their relation to democracy. Finally, I consider public schools as both a reflection of public will and a central means to create a public.
Elderly Homeless Veterans in Los Angeles: Chronicity and precipitants of homelessness.

Objectives. We compared the characteristics of chronically homeless and acutely homeless elderly veterans to better understand precipitants of homelessness.Methods. We conducted interviews with 33 chronically and 26 acutely homeless veterans aged 65 years and older receiving transitional housing services in Los Angeles, California, between 2003 and 2005. We asked questions regarding their sociodemographic characteristics and other social status measures. Other precipitants of homelessness were acquired via observation and open-ended and structured questions.Results. Both veterans groups were more similar than different, with substantial levels of physical, psychiatric, and social impairment. They differed significantly in homelessness history, with chronically homeless veterans having more homelessness episodes and more total time homeless. They were also less educated and had smaller social networks. In response to open-ended questioning, elderly homeless veterans revealed how health and substance use is...
Boasian Legacies in Linguistic Anthropology: A Centenary Review of 2011

ABSTRACT I review scholarship in linguistic anthropology produced in 2011 with attention to the continuing influence of Franz Boas' program for the anthropology of language laid out in his 1911 “Introduction” to the Handbook of American Indian Languages. Although the aims of linguistics and cultural anthropology have changed, many of the tenets of the Boas plan remain central to the subdiscipline of linguistic anthropology. The scope of linguistic anthropological inquiry today includes more than language as denotational code, covering practices of signification and communication in their social and cultural contexts. This expansion has brought new perspectives to the questions pursued by Boas and his students, and this review considers the current place of topics such as indigenous language change, language and race, linguistic relativity, and secondary rationalization alongside approaches to performativity, intertextuality, circulation, and semiotic mediation with an eye to the Americanist legacy of the subdiscipline. [Franz Boas, intertextuality, relativity, ritual performativity, race].
Group-based medium access for next-generation wireless LANs

Recently, there has been extensive research interest in increasing the data rates supported by IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs. For this purpose, IEEE 802.11 formed Task Group N to develop specifications for high-data-rate wireless LANs. The medium access in the legacy 802.11 is not scalable as it exhibits a large control overhead when the data rates increase and a large collision rate when the number of stations is large. In this paper, we introduce a group-based medium access control (GMAC) protocol for wireless LANs with high data rates and a large number of stations. With GMAC, stations are divided into groups that are free of hidden nodes. Each group has a leader and only group leaders contend using CSMA/CA. Once a group leader wins the contention, it reserves transmission time for all the stations in its group and issues a polling packet specifying the group's schedule. Stations in the same group transmit after their leader according to the polling packet. GMAC achieves significant throughput gain over DCF by reducing the collision rate and the control overhead. Simulation studies show that GMAC maintains a high throughput as the data rates and the number of stations increase.
Currents, landscape structure, and recruitment success along a passive-active dispersal gradient

There exists a gradient in dispersal behavior from passive to active, which reflects organisms’ dependence upon currents vs. self-propelled movement. We asked: Do currents modify organism–landscape interactions to influence recruitment success along this dispersal gradient? Using a spatially-explicit cellular model, we simulated the recruitment success of three generalized dispersal strategies (walkers, swimmers, and drifters) through hierarchically structured benthic landscapes. We evaluated the relative recruitment success (recruited population size, overall area occupied, time to recruit) of the three dispersal strategies in similar landscapes, as well as the consequences of varying the total proportion of habitat suitable for recruitment, and the scale and pattern of habitat patchiness on recruitment success. In the presence of currents, swimmers and drifters generally recruited over larger areas and in less time than walkers. Differences among the dispersal strategies’ recruitment success were most pronounced when an intermediate number of good habitat cells (16–48% of landscape) were broadly dispersed across the landscape. Although recruitment success always increased with increasing proportion of good habitat, drifters were more sensitive, and swimmers less sensitive, to these landscape changes than walkers. We also found that organisms dispersing within currents typically responded non-linearly (logarithmically or exponentially) to increasing proportion of total good habitat, whereas walkers more often responded linearly.
Function and biotechnology of extremophilic enzymes in low water activity

Enzymes from extremophilic microorganisms usually catalyze chemical reactions in non-standard conditions. Such conditions promote aggregation, precipitation, and denaturation, reducing the activity of most non-extremophilic enzymes, frequently due to the absence of sufficient hydration. Some extremophilic enzymes maintain a tight hydration shell and remain active in solution even when liquid water is limiting, e.g. in the presence of high ionic concentrations, or at cold temperature when water is close to the freezing point. Extremophilic enzymes are able to compete for hydration via alterations especially to their surface through greater surface charges and increased molecular motion. These properties have enabled some extremophilic enzymes to function in the presence of non-aqueous organic solvents, with potential for design of useful catalysts. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge of extremophilic enzymes functioning in high salinity and cold temperatures, focusing on their strategy for function at low water activity. We discuss how the understanding of extremophilic enzyme function is leading to the design of a new generation of enzyme catalysts and their applications to biotechnology.