cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective reconstitution of human D4 dopamine receptor variants with Gi alpha subtypes.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are seven-transmembrane (TM) helical proteins that bind extracellular molecules and transduce signals by coupling to heterotrimeric G proteins in the cytoplasm. The human D4 dopamine receptor is a particularly interesting GPCR because the polypeptide loop linking TM helices 5 and 6 (loop i3) may contain from 2 to 10 similar direct hexadecapeptide repeats. The precise role of loop i3 in D4 receptor function is not known. To clarify the role of loop i3 in G protein coupling, we constructed synthetic genes for the three main D4 receptor variants. D4-2, D4-4, and D4-7 receptors contain 2, 4, and 7 imperfect hexadecapeptide repeats in loop i3, respectively. We expressed and characterized the synthetic genes and found no significant effect of the D4 receptor polymorphisms on antagonist or agonist binding. We developed a cell-based assay where activated D4 receptors coupled to a Pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway to increase intracellular calcium concentration. Studies using re...
Speciation genetics: evolving approaches

Much progress has been made in the past two decades in understanding Darwin's mystery of the origins of species. Applying genomic techniques to the analysis of laboratory crosses and natural populations has helped to determine the genetic basis of barriers to gene flow which create new species. Although new methodologies have not changed the prevailing hypotheses about how species form, they have accelerated the pace of data collection. By facilitating the compilation of case studies, advances in genetic techniques will help to provide answers to the next generation of questions concerning the relative frequency and importance of different processes that cause speciation.
Nitrogen relations for net CO2 uptake by the cultivated hemiepiphytic cactus, Hylocereus undatus

Abstract The net CO2 uptake ability of a vine-like cactus native to shaded habitats, Hylocereus undatus, was hypothesized to adjust more rapidly to changes in the applied nitrogen concentration, which can have major impacts on fruiting, than the more massive cactus most widely cultivated for fruit, Opuntia ficus-indica. Specific objectives were to examine the effects of applied N on stem N concentrations and chlorophyll levels, which can affect net CO2 uptake ability and hence growth. After 9 weeks, the total daily net CO2 uptake for H. undatus was only 26% less for the relatively low N concentration of 0.32 mM than for 8 mM N (the N concentration in 0.5-strength Hoagland solution; all other nutrients were maintained at their concentration in 0.2-strength Hoagland solution), compared with 2 weeks for major changes for O. ficus-indica in response to changing applied N. Based on the maximal net CO2 uptake rates at night for the Crassulacean acid metabolism H. undatus, the half-time for the shift in response to seven different N concentrations applied for 22 weeks was 12–13 weeks; the half-time for the attainment of the highest net CO2 uptake rate of 10 μmol m−2 s−1 in response to subsequent application of 16 mM N for 11 weeks was 8–9 weeks. After 22 weeks, the stem N level in response to 0.16 mM N was 0.9% by dry mass and the chlorophyll content per unit stem area was 0.30 g m−2 compared with 2.5% and 0.63 g m−2 for 16 mM N. Subsequent application of 16 mM N for 11 weeks reversed the observable stem bleaching and raised the chlorophyll toward the highest levels. Both the chlorophyll content and the N level per unit stem area are highly correlated with the net CO2 uptake ability of H. undatus and either could help assess the physiological status of this cactus.
A finite difference approximation for a coupled system of nonlinear size-structured populations

Abstract : We study a quasilinear nonlocal hyperbolic initial-boundary value problem that models the evolution of N size-structured subpopulations competing for common resources. We develop an implicit finite difference scheme to approximate the solution of this model. The convergence of this approximation to a unique bounded variation weak solution is obtained. The numerical results for a special case of this model suggest that when subpopulations are closed under reproduction, one subpopulation survives and the others go to extinction. Moreover, in the case of open reproduction, survival of more than one population is possible.
Factor Structure of the Dissociative Experiences Scale: An Examination Across Sexual Assault Status

The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) has a long history within the literature, with conflicting reports concerning its underlying components and stability across different samples. This study examined the DES factor structure using advanced analytic procedures. Additionally, the impact of sexual victimization on the underlying components of the DES was explored, in order to examine whether sexual trauma influenced the scale’s structure. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis suggested the possibility of either a 1- or 2-factor structure in DES data obtained from an unselected sample of college females. Comparison of these models using an independent validation sample in Study 2 observed a clear advantage of a 2-factor structure. Study 3 explored whether sexual assault status influenced the structure of the 2-factor DES model, using samples drawn from Studies 1 and 2. A multiple group confirmatory factor analysis supported a robust 2-factor structure for the DES irrespective of sexual assault status.
Hans Peter Luhn and Herbert M. Ohlman: Their roles in the origins of keyword-in-context-permutation automatic indexing

The invention of automatic indexing using a keyword-in-context approach has generally been attributed solely to Hans Peter Luhn of IBM. This article shows that credit for this invention belongs equally to Luhn and Herbert Ohlman of the System Development Corporation. It also traces the origins of title derivative automatic indexing, its development and implementation, and current status. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ecological and morphological response of brackish tidal marshland to the next century of sea level rise: Westham Island, British Columbia

Abstract In response to climatic warming, eustatic sea level has been predicted to rise by about 50 cm in the next century. While feedbacks between vegetation growth and sediment deposition tend to allow marshes to maintain their morphology under a constant rate of sea level rise, recent observations of marsh deterioration suggest that changes in the rate of sea level rise may induce loss of economically and ecologically important marshland. We have developed a three dimensional model of tidal marsh evolution that couples vegetation growth and sediment transport processes including bed accretion and wave erosion. We use the model to simulate the response of marshes and tidal flats along the Fraser River Delta, British Columbia to 100 yr forecasts of sea level change. Under low sea level-rise scenarios, the delta and its marshes prograde slightly, consistent with historical measurements. While accretionary processes greatly mediate the response to increased rates of sea level rise, vegetation zones transgress landward under median and high sea level rise rate scenarios. In these scenarios, low marsh erosion and constriction of high marsh vegetation against a dyke at its landward edge result in a 15–35% loss of marshland in the next century. Several important behavioral changes take place after 2050, suggesting that predictions based on field observations and short term model experiments may not adequately characterize (and sometimes underestimate) long-term change. In particular, the replacement of highly productive high marsh vegetation by less productive low marsh vegetation results in continued reduction of the system's total biomass productivity, even as the rate of loss of vegetated area begins to decline.
Isolation, Identification, and Synthesis of Two Oxidative Degradation Products of Olanzapine (LY170053) in Solid Oral Formulations

Two impurities found in both stressed and aged solid-state formulations of olanzapine have been identified as (Z)-1,3-dihydro-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2-(2-oxopropylidene)-2H-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one (1) and (Z)-1-[1,2-dihydro-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2-thioxo-3H-1,5-benzodiazepin-3-ylidene]propan-2-one (2). The structures indicate that the two impurities are degradation products resulting from oxidation of the thiophene ring of olanzapine. The impurities were isolated by preparative HPLC from a thermally stressed formulation, and characterized by UV, IR, MS, and NMR. A synthetic preparation of compounds 1 and 2 by reaction of olanzapine with the singlet oxygen mimic 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) is presented. The structure of 2 was also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. A degradation pathway for the formation of 1 and 2 is proposed. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:883–892, 2008
Imperfection-insensitive axially loaded thin cylindrical shells

The high efficiency of circular monocoque cylindrical shells in carrying axial loads is impaired by their extreme sensitivity to imperfections and there is an extensive body of literature that addresses this behavior. Instead of following this classical path, focused on circular cross-sections, this paper presents a novel approach that adopts optimal symmetry-breaking wavy cross-sections (wavy shells). The avoidance of imperfection sensitivity is achieved by searching with an evolutionary algorithm for smooth cross-sectional shapes that maximize the minimum among the buckling loads of geometrically perfect and imperfect wavy shells. It is found that shells designed through this approach can achieve higher critical stresses and knockdown factors than any previously known monocoque cylindrical shells. It is also found that these shells have superior mass efficiency to almost all previously reported stiffened shells.
Using Roquefortine C as a Biomarker for Penitrem A Intoxication

Penitrem A is a well-recognized tremorgenic mycotoxin produced by several Penicillium spp. However, most natural cases of penitrem A intoxication have been associated with Penicillium crustosum. Another Penicillium sp., Penicillium roqueforti, is used for the production of blue cheese and is found in silage and feeds. Penicillium roqueforti produces a mycotoxin, roquefortine C, which is also produced by P. crustosum. In contrast to a tremorgenic syndrome produced by penitrem A, roquefortine C toxicosis is characterized by a paralytic syndrome. Two cases of penitrem A intoxication in dogs are presented to investigate the use of roquefortine C as a biomarker for penitrem A exposure. The vomitus, serum, and urine were analyzed for roquefortine C and penitrem A. Results suggest that roquefortine C can be a sensitive biomarker for penitrem A intoxication. However, the detection of roquefortine C in the absence of penitrem A could merely suggest ingestion of blue cheese or spoilt silage or feed. A review of the literature did not identify any case positive for penitrem A but negative for roquefortine C. In cases in which both mycotoxins were detected, roquefortine C concentration was always higher than penitrem A concentration. In contrast, several cases have been described where the clinical history suggested penitrem A intoxication, but only roquefortine C was detected. In conclusion, roquefortine C can serve as a sensitive biomarker for penitrem A intoxication, but the clinical presentation needs to be considered for proper interpretation of its detection in the absence of penitrem A.
Thermal Resistance of Pseudomonas fragi in Milk Containing Various Amounts of Fat

Similar populations of Pseudomonas fragi were grown at 25 C for 20 hr or at 7 C for 7 days in milk containing 0, 10, and 20% fat; they were then heated at 48, 50, and 52 C in milk containing 0, 10, and 20% fat. After inoculation, the heating medium contained 2.1 × 106 to 6.9 × 106 organisms per milliliter. The P. fragi cells grown in skim milk had greater thermal resistance (D52 = 3.0 to 3.1) than those grown in milk containing fat (D52 = 1.9 to 2.5). The organisms grown at 7 C for 7 days in milk containing 10% fat were more resistant (D52 = 3.0) than those grown in the same medium at 25 C for 20 hr (D52 = 2.0). The presence of 0 to 20% milk fat in the heating medium had no apparent effect on the thermal resistance.
Superoptimizer: a look at the smallest program

Given an instruction set, the superoptimizer finds the shortest program to compute a function. Startling programs have been generated, many of them engaging in convoluted bit-fiddling bearing little resemblance to the source programs which defined the functions. The key idea in the superoptimizer is a probabilistic test that makes exhaustive searches practical for programs of useful size. The search space is defined by the processor's instruction set, which may include the whole set, but it is typically restricted to a subset. By constraining the instructions and observing the effect on the output program, one can gain insight into the design of instruction sets. In addition, superoptimized programs may be used by peephole optimizers to improve the quality of generated code, or by assembly language programmers to improve manually written code.
Metastatic Tumors to the Iris in 40 Patients

Purpose Metastatic cancer to the iris is rare, and the best approaches to clinical recognition and treatment of this neoplasm are not widely known. We reviewed a series of patients with metastatic cancer to the iris and elucidated the clinical variations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment of this neoplasm. Methods The files of the Wills Eye Hospital Ocular Oncology Service were surveyed, and cases of metastatic cancer to the iris were extracted for further analysis. General data, systemic data, tumor characteristics, diagnostic methods used, treatment, and prognosis were tabulated. Results Of 512 patients with uveal metastasis, the iris was involved in 40 (7.8%). The metastasis originated from breast carcinoma in 16 cases, lung carcinoma in 11, carcinoid tumor in three, melanoma in three, colonic carcinoma in two, and esophageal, laryngeal, prostate, and kidney carcinoma in one case each. In one case the primary tumor was never identified. There was no history of primary cancer in 13 (32%) of 40 patients. All iris metastases were unilateral, and secondary glaucoma was present in 15 (38%). Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the iris lesion helped to establish the diagnosis in 11 cases. Treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both, achieved local tumor control in all patients. The overall mean survival was 20 months and the median survival was 13 months after diagnosis of the iris metastasis. Conclusions Iris metastasis can show a spectrum of clinical variations, but its features are generally distinctive enough to differentiate it from other intraocular neoplasms and inflammations. Treatment consists of chemotherapy, which was sometimes combined with ocular irradiation. The visual prognosis was good but the systemic prognosis was generally poor.
High performance mainframe computer cables

The mainframe computer is a fascinating combination of various packaging technologies including multichip modules, card-on-board assemblies, DC-DC power supplies, and high performance cable assemblies. Advances in chip technology along with higher density first and second level packaging have reduced the number of cables used in mainframe computers while the performance requirements for cables have continued to increase. High performance mainframe cables have evolved over the years from simple transmission line ribbon cables to custom discrete mini-coax cables. The latest evolutionary change is a spin-off from the standard SCSI style cable referred to as the STI cable. The STI (self timed interface) cable is a hybrid 'SCSI style' cable used in the latest IBM S/390 mainframes. The STI cables use standard 50 pin SCSI connector hardware and a 22 pair bulk wire to provide up to 330 Mb/s data transfer rates for each of the differential pairs in the cable. The cables are used for both internal and external connections between processors and provide 8 bit data in and data out paths as well as parity and clock signals. Performance results of the cable demonstrate the delicate balance required to satisfy the conflicting electrical and mechanical requirements for the interconnection.
Relative visual performance: A basis for application:

Visual performance is defined in terms of the speed and accuracy of processing visual information. To evaluate illuminated tasks in terms of visual performance, it is necessary to have a valid computational model that relates measurable, salient aspects of the visual environment (e.g. target contrast) to measurable human responses (e.g. visual response time). A model of visual performance should be independent of the influence of non-visual factors as they influence speed and accuracy. It is also important to have practical application tools that can measure the salient aspects of the visual environment and compute (predict) visual performance for real tasks. This paper describes the basis for a visual performance model and how it can be applied using a computer imaging device.
Genome-wide scan and conditional analysis in bipolar disorder: evidence for genomic interaction in the National Institute of Mental Health genetics initiative bipolar pedigrees.

Abstract Background In 1989 the National Institute of Mental Health began a collaborative effort to identify genes for bipolar disorder. The first 97 pedigrees showed evidence of linkage to chromosomes 1, 6, 7, 10, 16, and 22 (Nurnberger et al 1997). An additional 56 bipolar families have been genotyped, and the combined sample of 153 pedigrees studied. Methods Three hierarchical affection status models were analyzed with 513 simple sequence repeat markers; 298 were common across all pedigrees. The primary analysis was a nonparametric genome-wide scan. We performed conditional analyses based on epistasis or heterogeneity for five regions. Results One region, on 16p13, was significant at the genome-wide p p ≤ .01). Conditional analysis assuming epistasis identified a significant increase in linkage at four regions. Families linked to 6q24 showed a significant increase in nonparametric logarithms of the odds (NPL) scores at 5q11 and 7q21. Epistasis also was observed between 20p12 and 13q21, and 16p13 and 9q21. Conclusions The findings are presented in rank order of nominal significance. Several of these regions have been previously implicated in independent studies of either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The strongest finding is at 16p13 at D16S748 with an NPL of 3.3, there is evidence of epistasis between this locus and 9q21. Application of conditional analyses is potentially useful in larger sample collections to identify susceptibility genes of modest influence that may not be identified in a genome-wide scan aimed to identify single gene effects.
An Algebraic Formulation for Data Refinement

We analyze recent work on an algebraic formulation for data refinement. Hoare's principal mathematical constructions are reviewed. Then, they are mildly reformulated and unified in terms of two principal category theoretic notions: those of an enriched category and monad, also known as a triple. The requisite definitions and theory are given, together with several examples to illustrate precisely how Hoare's work, including his main theorem may be seen in this light.
The crystal structure of augmenter of liver regeneration: A mammalian FAD-dependent sulfhydryl oxidase

The crystal structure of recombinant rat augmenter of liver regeneration (ALRp) has been determined to 1.8 A. The protein is a homodimer, stabilized by extensive noncovalent interactions and a network of hydrogen bonds, and possesses a noncovalently bound FAD in a motif previously found only in the related protein ERV2p. ALRp functions in vitro as a disulfide oxidase using dithiothreitol as reductant. Reduction of the flavin by DTT occurs under aerobic conditions resulting in a spectrum characteristic of a neutral semiquinone. This semiquinone is stable and is only fully reduced by addition of dithionite. Mutation of either of two cysteine residues that are located adjacent to the FAD results in inactivation of the oxidase activity. A comparison of ALRp with ERV2p is made that reveals a number of significant structural differences, which are related to the in vivo functions of these two proteins. Possible physiological roles of ALR are examined and a hypothesis that it may serve multiple roles is proposed.
Implementing cash for work programmes in post-tsunami Aceh: experiences and lessons learned

Cash for work (CFW) programmes are utilised in various disaster and emergency contexts and were a prominent component of the tsunami response in Aceh province, Indonesia. This paper describes Mercy Corps’ CFW programme, discusses CFW implementation experiences and provides key recommendations for similar programmes in future emergencies. For the majority of CFW participants and their households, CFW was the only source of household income and 93 per cent of household incomes were attributable to it. The CFW programme empowered displaced populations to return to their communities; 91 per cent of participants indicated that CFW facilitated their return. Other reported psychosocial benefits included providing productive activities and giving communities an opportunity to work together. Mercy Corps’ experience in Aceh demonstrates that cash disbursements can be safely delivered in a widespread manner in emergencies, and that when implemented on a short-term basis, can have positive impacts at the individual and community level.
An experimental study of the unsteady nature of the viscous sublayer

Measurements of the fluctuations in the mass transfer rate to small circular electrodes mounted flush with a pipe wall are used to study the unsteady nature of the viscous sublayer. These fluctuations in the mass transfer rate reflect flow fluctuations at y+ca 0.5. From these measurements it is concluded that the flow disturbances are elongated in the direction of flow and are characterized by a time scale equal to the diameter of the pipe divided by the bulk average velocity. An attempt is made to relate the mass transfer fluctuations to the fluctuation in velocity gradient at the wall. It is concluded that the ratio of the root-mean-square fluctuating velocity gradient at the wall to the average velocity gradient at the wall is at least 0.11.
Dynamic shift-map coding with side information at the decoder

Shift-map codes have been studied as joint source-channel codes for continuous sources. These codes are useful in delay-limited scenarios and also provide better tolerance to deviations of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from a target SNR, compared to separate source and channel coding. This paper defines a generalized family of shift-map codes that share a strong connection with redundant residue number systems (RRNS), and are henceforth called RRNS-map codes. In the proposed coding scheme, side information about the source allows the decoder to consider only a fraction of the codebook for decoding, with no change in the encoding process. With an appropriately designed RRNS-map code, in this fraction of the codebook, the codewords are much better separated than the original codebook. As a result, RRNS-map codes achieve the same distortion in the mean square error sense as conventional shift-map codes without side information, but significantly outperform shift-map codes when side information is provided to the decoder. This coding scheme is ideally suited to applications where a simple and fixed encoding scheme is desired at the encoder, while the decoder is given access to side information about the source.
Tourette's Disorder and Related Problems: A Review and Update

Tourette's disorder is a complex, multifaceted condition of neurological origin with psychiatric symptomatology characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics. It begins during childhood and has a waxing and waning course. Coexisting obsessive-compulsive symptoms, attentional problems, and other behavioral features are common. Pathophysiology involves dysfunction in basal ganglia and related corticothalamic circuits. Many patients who present in clinical settings have mild to moderate symptoms and require only education, monitoring, and long-term follow-up. Those with more-severe symptoms require treatment, typically including both pharmacotherapy and nonmedication approaches. In addition to traditional neuroleptic treatment, a variety of agents such as clonidine, serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants can be used. Further investigation is needed in a variety of areas, including longitudinal follow-up studies of children, adolescents, and adults with Tourette's disorder; systematic i...
Analysis of optimized input and output harmonic termination on the linearity of 5 GHz CMOS radio frequency amplifiers

The high-frequency nonlinear distortion of a small-signal CMOS common-source amplifier stage is analyzed as a function of bias, source and load termination impedance, and harmonics at 5 GHz using a Volterra analysis. The predictions closely match measurements over bias, and source and load impedances. The results can be applied to low-power wireless RF circuit design applications.
Studies of latex paint films exposed to aqueous SO2: pH effects

Latex paint films containing the acid-soluble extender calcium carbonate have been exposed to aqueous SO2 and other acidic solutions to evaluate the effects of acidic deposition at different pH values on the coatings. CaCO3 is completely removed from these films upon immersion in acidic solutions. The leaching process was monitored with weight loss and infrared measurements. The removal rate was found to be strongly dependent on pH, decreasing with increasing pH. Removal of CaCO3 occurs even for distilled water which has been allowed to equilibrate with atmospheric CO2 (pH 5.6). The removal rate seems to depend only on [H+]; the identity of the acidic anion is apparently insignificant. An empirical relation between the rate of removal and pH was formulated from the weight loss data. The analyses of the results from both weight loss and infrared methods suggested that the mechanism of removal at pH 2.0 is diffusion controlled, whereas a chemical reaction involving H+ becomes more important at higher pH values.
Cutting Edge: A Double-Mutant Knockin of the CD28 YMNM and PYAP Motifs Reveals a Critical Role for the YMNM Motif in Regulation of T Cell Proliferation and Bcl-xL Expression

CD28 is a critical regulator of T cell function, augmenting proliferation, cytokine secretion, and cell survival. Our previous work using knockin mice expressing point mutations in CD28 demonstrated that the distal proline motif was primarily responsible for much of CD28 function, whereas in marked contrast to prior studies, mutation of the PI3K-binding motif had little discernible effect. In this study, we examined the phenotype of mice in which both motifs are simultaneously mutated. We found that mutation of the PYAP motif unmasks a critical role for the proximal tyrosine motif in regulating T cell proliferation and expression of Bcl-xL but not cytokine secretion. In addition, we demonstrated that, although function is more severely impaired in the double mutant than in either single mutant, there remained residual CD28-dependent responses, definitively establishing that additional motifs can partially mediate CD28 function.
Cavitary Pulmonary Disease

A pulmonary cavity is a gas-filled area of the lung in the center of a nodule or area of consolidation and may be clinically observed by use of plain chest radiography or computed tomography. Cavities are present in a wide variety of infectious and noninfectious processes. This review discusses the differential diagnosis of pathological processes associated with lung cavities, focusing on infections associated with lung cavities. The goal is to provide the clinician and clinical microbiologist with an overview of the diseases most commonly associated with lung cavities, with attention to the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the host.
Conversion of 9-substituted adenines to the corresponding purines: a simple deamination method for adenine derivatives

Abstract An effective procedure for the replacement of an amino group in nucleic acid bases with hydrogen is described. The method provides a direct synthesis of the antibiotic, nebularine, from adenosine.
Ice and travel among the Fort Norman Slave: Folk taxonomies and cultural rules,

Through the use of data collected among Slave Indians living in northern Canada, this paper explores a problem in ethnographic methodology: how to describe cultural rules such that contextual restrictions which operate upon them are identified and made explicit. Following a discussion of some of the ways in which the aims and assumptions of current sociolinguistic theory can be applied to this problem, a formal model is presented of Slave rules for travelling on the ice of frozen lakes and rivers. This model, which specifies the conditions under which a Slave hunter can be expected to cross an expanse of ice or avoid it, reveals the sensitivity of normative rules to variation in contextual features and illustrates both the value and feasibility of incorporating these features into ethnographic accounts. (Ethnographic methodology, sociolinguistics, formal analysis, Canadian Indians, language and environment.)
The clinical course of progressive bulbar palsy.

Our objective was to study the clinical course of patients diagnosed with progressive bulbar palsy (PBP). We reviewed all 392 medical records of ALS patients seen between 1 January 2000 and 31 July...
Computer-Aided Usability Evaluation of In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems:

This paper reports the development of a computer-aided engineering (CAE) software for human machine interface (HMI) designers to predict and benchmark the usability of in-vehicle infotainment systems. At the front end of the software a graphic user interface (GUI) was developed that allows HMI designers to create digital mockups of designs and setup the tasks for simulation. At the back end a digital driver was created for simulating the driver cognition and performance based on the cognitive architecture of QN-MHP (Queuing Network-Model Human Processor). The software is able to simulate a driver performing in-vehicle secondary tasks (e.g., tuning radios) while steering a vehicle, make quantitative predictions of the driver’s task performance and workload. To validate the software outputs, an experiment was conducted on a driving simulator with two typical in-vehicle infotainment systems (a physical panel and a touch screen), and a radio tuning task was used as a test case. The results show that the softw...
Role of dopamine in the regulation of aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone secretion in man

This study was designed to investigate dopaminergic mechanisms involved in the control of corticosteroid secretion. Administration of the dopamine agonist bromocriptine (2.5 mg three times a day for 4 days) to 10 normal males suppressed (p < 0.01) plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18-OHB) responses to upright posture, isometric handgrip exercise, furosemide administration and angiotensin II infusion without altering supine blood pressure, electrolytes or plasma cortisol. Plasma 18-OHB responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone infusion were not altered by bromocriptine treatment. These observations suggest that angiotensin-mediated 18-OHB and aldosterone secretion is selectively inhibited by dopaminergic mechanisms. Thus, dopamine and angiotensin II may operate as opposing factors in the control of aldosterone biosynthesis.
A Review of: “Statistics at Square One, Eleventh Edition, by M. J. Campbell and T. D. V. Swinskow,”

This book is in its eleventh edition with newly added chapters: 3, Summary Statistics for Binary Data; 9, Diagnostic Tests; and 14, Use of Computer Software. Its tenth edition has already found its...
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 With a Pheochromocytoma: A Rare Presentation of Von Recklinghausen Disease

The combination of Von Recklinghausen disease with a pheochromocytoma has a genetic linkage but is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Von Recklinghausen disease or neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a neurocutaneous disorder characterized by cafe-au-lait macules and multiple, soft tissue neurofibromas. While a pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor characterized by intermittent hypertension. NF1 predisposes patients to pheochromocytomas; however, this occurrence is extremely rare. We describe the case of a young male with neurofibromatosis and a pheochromocytoma. J Endocrinol Metab. 2015;5(5):309-311 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jem308w
Assessing earnings management flexibility

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a new measure of earnings management flexibility based on the limits of the allowable set of accruals, prior discretionary accruals used, and the reversal rate of these accruals.Design/methodology/approach – Quarterly financial data from Compustat for the period 1990‐2009 were used to construct the flexibility measure. Then the author examined how well this measure captures flexibility by investigating its effect on a firm's probability of meeting analysts' forecasts.Findings – The results show that this flexibility measure better captures the firm‐specific flexibility than that of Barton and Simko which captures mainly the difference in flexibility across industries. Further, the positive effect of their measure on a firm's probability of meeting/beating analysts' forecasts is not observed in the extended sample period.Practical implications – The flexibility measure proposed here can assist investors, analysts, or researchers to compare earnings manageme...
In Vivo Expression of the β-Glucoside (bgl) Operon of Escherichia coli Occurs in Mouse Liver

An Escherichia coli DNA fragment was identified that contained part of the beta-glucoside (bgl) operon. This fragment was identified because it contained a promoter that was responsible for the expression of a reporter gene, the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, in a mouse liver during bacterial infection but not when a bacterial clone was grown in vitro. This fragment contained a promoter and a rho-independent transcription terminator which were flanked by the 3' end of bglG and the 5' end of bglF. Reverse transcription-PCR confirmed that cat-specific mRNA was produced in infected mouse liver but not in vitro. mRNA encoding the positive regulator of the bgl operon, bglG, also was detected in mouse liver infected with an E. coli strain. These results demonstrated that expression of the bgl operon occurs in infected mouse liver and suggests a unique role for this operon in vivo.
Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors – PWAS Transducers

This chapter introduces the piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS), which are inexpensive low-profile transducers that operate on the piezoelectric principle. PWAS transducers couple the electrical and mechanical effects through the piezoelectric constitutive equations. The chapter discusses first PWAS transducers as actuators and establishes their electric excitation range, operation with bias voltage, and effective expansion and displacement. Next, the chapter analyzes PWAS transducers as stress and strain sensors in both static and dynamic regimes. The thickness effects on PWAS excitation and sensing are discussed. The use of PWAS transducers for vibration and wave excitation and sensing is illustrated. Guidelines for PWAS installation and quality checks are given. The durability and survivability of PWAS transducers under temperature cycling, outdoor environmental exposure, submersion in operational fluids, large strains, and fatigue are discussed. Typical uses of PWAS transducers are discussed. The chapter ends with summary, conclusions, problems, and exercises.
The front door to the fourth corner: variations on the sample unit × trait matrix in community ecology

Calculating a sample unit × trait matrix provides a flexible first step in analyzing the relationships between species traits and explanatory variables. This matrix is obtained by multiplying a sample unit × species matrix by a species × trait matrix, but the content of the resulting matrix depends on whether and how traits are standardized and whether or not the multiplication is followed by a weighted averaging step. To maximize versatility of the SU × trait matrix, including comparability among traits, and usability with a wide range of distance measures, we recommend first standardizing traits by min-to-max, then calculating abundance-weighted trait averages in each sample unit.
comets (Constrained Optimization of Multistate Energies by Tree Search): A Provable and Efficient Protein Design Algorithm to Optimize Binding Affinity and Specificity with Respect to Sequence

Practical protein design problems require designing sequences with a combination of affinity, stability, and specificity requirements. Multistate protein design algorithms model multiple structural or binding “states" of a protein to address these requirements. comets provides a new level of versatile, efficient, and provable multistate design. It provably returns the minimum with respect to sequence of any desired linear combination of the energies of multiple protein states, subject to constraints on other linear combinations. Thus, it can target nearly any combination of affinity (to one or multiple ligands), specificity, and stability (for multiple states if needed). Empirical calculations on 52 protein design problems showed comets is far more efficient than the previous state of the art for provable multistate design (exhaustive search over sequences). comets can handle a very wide range of protein flexibility and can enumerate a gap-free list of the best constraint-satisfying sequences in order of objective function value.
Building energy information systems: synthesis of costs, savings, and best-practice uses

Building energy information systems (EIS) are a powerful customer-facing monitoring and analytical technology that can enable up to 20 % site energy savings for buildings. Few technologies are as heavily marketed, but in spite of their potential, EIS remain an underadopted emerging technology. One reason is the lack of information on purchase costs and associated energy savings. While insightful, the growing body of individual case studies has not provided industry the information needed to establish the business case for investment. Vastly different energy and economic metrics prevent generalizable conclusions. This paper addresses three common questions concerning EIS use: what are the costs, what have users saved, and which best practices drive deeper savings? We present a large-scale assessment of the value proposition for EIS use based on data from over two-dozen organizations. Participants achieved year-over-year median site and portfolio savings of 17 and 8 %, respectively; they reported that this performance would not have been possible without the EIS. The median 5-year cost of EIS software ownership (up-front and ongoing costs) was calculated to be $1800 per monitoring point (kilowatt meter points were most common), with a median portfolio-wide implementation size of approximately 200 points. In this paper, we present an analysis of the relationship between key implementation factors and achieved energy reductions. Extent of efficiency projects, building energy performance prior to EIS installation, depth of metering, and duration of EIS were strongly correlated with greater savings. We also identify the best practices use of EIS associated with greater energy savings.
Abstract 5104: Cell-surface receptor expression in osteosarcoma

Purpose: Although numerous cell-signaling receptors have been described in the setting of osteosarcoma, the comprehensive characterization of receptors on the cell-surface has not been described. The goal of the current study was to characterize and quantify the expression of cell-surface receptors across multiple standard osteosarcoma cell lines and patient samples placed in culture. Methods: Both standard (n=4) and patient derived (n=10) osteosarcoma cell lines were cultured and labelled with a panel of commercially available flurophore-bound antibodies including antibodies to EGFR, HER-2, HER-3, HER-4, IGF-1R, IGF-2R, IR, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, CMET, FGFR-2, FGFR-3, PDGF alpha, and PDGF beta. Standard cell lines utilized were 143b, HOS, Saos, and U205. Patient samples included samples 229, 231, 232, 238, 252, 293, 308, 311, 242, and 290. Background fluorescence was accounted for using either a known negative control cell line if available or the antibody-specific IgG isotype. Unlabelled cells were also evaluated for inherent fluorescence. Cell analysis was performed using flow cytometry (FACS) and data was analyzed using FloJo software. The geometric fluorescent means were calculated and compared against positive controls. Results: Although a degree of variability in cell-surface receptor expression existed between the different cell lines, preliminary results show high expression of PDGFR-beta in all 14 cell lines, with an average geometric mean of 1376 (range 93.8 - 4496). A higher expression of IGF-1R was also noted across all cell lines, with an average geometric mean of 881 (range 122 - 3191). In depth analysis of receptor expression and the interrelationship of these various receptors is ongoing. Conclusion: Preliminary results demonstrate PDGFR-Beta and to a lesser extent IGF-1R to be consistently expressed on the cell-surface in all tested osteosarcomas cell lines. Data analysis of receptor expression and interrelationships between receptor expression is ongoing. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5104.
Behaviors of Nucleoli at the Growth Period of Egg Cells of a Slug (Limax flavus)

Behaviors of nucleoli were studied histochemically on ovotestes of Limax flavus with the following results:There are found two different kinds of nucleoli and the mode of their developments seems to be divided into three stages. The development of an eosinophile nucleolus (true nucleolus) rich in RNA is accompanied by the production of a nucleolus-associated corpuscle. The true nucleolus seems to produce the nucleolus-associated corpuscle which is surrounded with an envelope derived from the true nucleolus. Besides, it is suggested that a protein rich in arginine is formed in the internal space of nucleolus-associated corpuscle which is in contact with true nucleolus.The nucleolus-associated corpuscle, when accomplished, becomes in contact with the nuclear envelope and the eosinophile nucleolus with a basophile nucleolus.The above findings may support a view that nucleoli concern an intranuclear protein synthesis playing a special role between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
Some Minimum Variance Block Designs for Estimating Treatment Differences

SUMMARY In this paper we consider experimental settings requiring usage of a block design in which v treatments are to be tested in b blocks of size k. A block design is called MV-optimal in such a setting if the maximal variance with which it estimates elementary treatment differences is minimal among all available designs. MV-optimal designs are particularly useful in exploratory experiments where as much information as possible is desired on the effects of all treatments being studied. Some sufficient conditions are derived which can be used to establish the MV-optimality of certain types of generalized group divisible designs as defined in Jacroux (1982) and some easy methods for constructing such MV-optimal designs are given.
THE ROLE OF VORAPAXAR IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING: FINDINGS FROM THE TRA 2P-TIMI 50 TRIAL

Vorapaxar reduces the risk of cardiovascular death (CVD), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke in stable patients (pts) with prior atherothrombosis. The role of vorapaxar in pts with severe CAD who undergo CABG and the safety with respect to bleeding are of strong interest for clinical practice.
Methods to test accuracy of the indicator for "focal spot to image receptor distance" in roentgenographic equipment

Objective To study and analyze the methods for testing accuracy of the indicator for "focal spot to image receptor distance" in roegenographic equipment.Methods According to the national standard of "Specification for Testing of Image Quality Control in Regular Medical X-Ray Diagnostic Equipment"(WS 76—2011),the distance from focal spot to image receptor of roetgenographic equipment was calculated and inferred.Results The distance of "focal spot to image receptor distance" in roegenographic equipment,with the value of p as its indicator,can be accurately measured using international standard method,otherwise it was measured by inference method.Conclusion Appropriate method should be selected according to actual situation in measurement to reduce error in measuring the distance of "focal spot to image receptor distance" in roegenographic equipment,as the requirements for acceptance range of measurement results become more strict in the new national standard.
Disulfide bond characterization of endogenous IgG3 monoclonal antibodies using LC-MS: an investigation of IgG3 disulfide-mediated isoforms

The use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the manufacture of innovator and biosimilar biotherapeutics has increased tremendously in recent years. From a structural perspective, mAbs have high disulfide bond content, and the correct disulfide connectivity is required for proper folding and to maintain their biological activity. Therefore, disulfide linkage mapping is an important component of mAb characterization for ensuring drug safety and efficacy. The native disulfide linkage patterns of all four subclasses of IgG antibodies have been well established since the late 1960s. Among these IgG subtypes, disulfide mediated isoforms have been identified for IgG2 and IgG4, and to a lesser extent in IgG1, which is the most studied IgG subclass. However, no studies have been carried out so far to investigate whether different IgG3 isoforms exist due to alternative disulfide connectivity. In an effort to investigate the presence of disulfide-mediated isoforms in IgG3, we employed a bottom-up mass spectrometry approach to accurately determine the disulfide bond linkages in endogenous human IgG3 monoclonal antibody, and our results show that no such alternative disulfide bonds exist. While many antibody-based drugs are developed around IgG1, IgG3 represents a new, and in some cases, more desirable drug candidate. Our data represent the first demonstration that alternative disulfide bond arrangements are not present in endogenous IgG3; and therefore, they should not be present in recombinant forms used as antibody-based therapeutics.
Investor classification and sentiment analysis

The paper discusses the bias of investors and the affect it has on the volatility of the stocks in the market. We also show how sentiment analysis can be run on the pulled tweets and why we chose the Microsoft Azure sentiment analyzer over the other commercial sentiment analyzer tools. Finally, we provide some future direction where we plan to take this research forward and conclude with some closing remarks.