cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Topoisomerase IV, not gyrase, decatenates products of site-specific recombination in Escherichia coli

DNA replication and recombination generate intertwined DNA intermediates that must be decatenated for chromosome segregation to occur. We showed recently that topoisomerase IV (topo IV) is the only important decatenase of DNA replication intermediates in bacteria. Earlier results, however, indicated that DNA gyrase has the primary role in unlinking the catenated products of site-specific recombination. To address this discordance, we constructed a set of isogenic strains that enabled us to inhibit selectively with the quinolone norfloxacin topo IV, gyrase, both enzymes, or neither enzyme in vivo. We obtained identical results for the decatenation of the products of two different site-specific recombination enzymes, phage lambda integrase and transposon Tn3 resolvase. Norfloxacin blocked decatenation in wild-type strains, but had no effect in strains with drug-resistance mutations in both gyrase and topo IV. When topo IV alone was inhibited, decatenation was almost completely blocked. If gyrase alone were inhibited, most of the catenanes were unlinked. We showed that topo IV is the primary decatenase in vivo and that this function is dependent on the level of DNA supercoiling. We conclude that the role of gyrase in decatenation is to introduce negative supercoils into DNA, which makes better substrates for topo IV. We also discovered that topo IV has an unexpectedly strong DNA relaxation activity that, together with gyrase and topo I, is able to set the supercoiling levels in Escherichia coli.
Assembly research and manipulation

The current research issues in assembly being explored world wide will be discussed. The work falls under two main headings namely, a) parts mating science-the study of the phenomena which occurs when parts interact during the assembly process, the kind of information available, its quality, etc. b) programmable assembly system - the study of economic machines which can be applied to batch manufacturing under conditions of model mix, design change or rapid evolution or obsolensence of the product. A system which has the capability of being taught a new task rather than being built specifically to do the task. Exploration of the parts mating question requires investigation into geometric, force-friction, and logical test characteristics of the mating process involving the generation of and the carrying out of very precise experiments to examine hypothesis. Programmability issues include the analysis of manufactured products to determine kinds of tasks, statistics of their occurence and geometric requirements on the placing and alignment of parts; and the general economic modeling and comparison of manual assembly, assembly by special machines, and assembly by programmable machines.
Effect of amino acids on feeding behaviour of the European corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis (Hübn.)

Abstract When incorporated in an agar-based purified diet, a number of amino acids had significant effects on the feeding behaviour of first instar larvae of the European corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis (Hubn.). The duration of larval feeding periods was used as the criterion of the effects of the amino acids on feeding and was measured indirectly in terms of the population equilibria attained between pairs of experimental diets. Average feeding duration was increased by a number of amino acids, but most notably by l -alanine, dl -α-amino- n -butyric acid, l -serine, and l -threonine. A negative effect on feeding was observed with l -tryptophane, l -arginine, and β-alanine. The borers responded weakly to d -alanine and not at all to d -serine and d -threonine. Although the borers' response to amino acids was superficially similar to the response to sugars, different and independent sensory mechanisms were apparently involved. The effect of l -amino acids on borer feeding was found to be correlated with molecular weight and water solubility, although this property could not account for all the results obtained.
Concept Map-Based Knowledge Modeling: Perspectives from Information and Knowledge Visualization

This article explores the idea of knowledge modeling as defined at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. The notion of knowledge modeling is described to illustrate a particular method by which concept maps might be employed to create a useful structure and organization of other information and knowledge resources. Knowledge model structuring and navigational schemes afforded by the approach are described and illustrated. An example of a knowledge model pertaining to weather forecasting on the Gulf coast of the United States is presented to illustrate these ideas. Examples of how information visualization techniques have been and might be applied to the knowledge modeling scheme are discussed. Ideas pertaining to how knowledge models might serve as learning resources are briefly presented throughout. The article concludes with additional discourse regarding specific ways in which the knowledge modeling approach might be employed to create, present, and organize effective electronic learni...
Effect of medetomidine and its antagonism with atipamezole on stress-related hormones, metabolites, physiologic responses, sedation, and mechanical threshold in goats

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of medetomidine and its antagonism with atipamezole in goats. Study design Prospective randomized crossover study with 1 week between treatments. Animals Six healthy 3-year-old neutered goats (three male and three female) weighing 39.1–90.9 kg (60.0 ± 18 kg, mean ± SD). Methods Goats were given medetomidine (20 μg kg −1 , IV) followed, 25 minutes later, by either atipamezole (100 μg kg −1 , IV) or saline. Heart and respiratory rate, rectal temperature, indirect blood pressure, and mechanical threshold were measured, and sedation and posture were scored and blood samples obtained to measure epinephrine, norepinephrine, free fatty acids, glucose, and cortisol concentrations at baseline (immediately before medetomidine), 5 and 25 minutes after medetomidine administration, and at 5, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after the administration of antagonist or saline. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used to evaluate data; p Results Medetomidine decreased body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate and increased mean arterial blood pressure, cortisol, and glucose. Recumbency occurred 89 ± 50 seconds after medetomidine administration. All goats were standing 86 ± 24 seconds after atipamezole administration whereas all goats administered saline were sedate and recumbent at 2 hours. Tolerance to compression of the withers and metacarpus increased with medetomidine. From 5 to 120 minutes after saline or atipamezole administration, there were differences in body temperature, glucose, and cortisol but none in heart rate or blood pressure. Three of the six goats receiving saline developed bloat; five of six urinated. After atipamezole, four of six goats developed piloerection and all goats were agitated and vocalized. Conclusion At the doses used, atipamezole antagonized the effects of medetomidine on recumbency, sedation, mechanical threshold, and the increase in glucose. Atipamezole increased the rate of return of cortisol toward baseline, and prevented further decline in rectal body temperature. Clinical relevance Atipamezole may be used to antagonize some, but not all effects of medetomidine.
Inhibition of the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on mouse epidermal glutathione peroxidase and ornithine decarboxylase activities by glutathione level-raising agents and selenium-containing compounds.

Abstract The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent tumor promoter known to inhibit superoxide dismutase (SOD) (superoxide: superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.15.1.1) and catalase (CAT) (H 2 O 2 : H 2 O 2 oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.6) activities, on mouse epidermal glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (glutathione: H 2 O 2 oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.9) activity in vivo and in vitro. TPA led to a rapid and transient increase in GSH peroxidase specific activity within 30 min followed by a decrease from 1 to 12 h. Incubation of isolated epidermal cells with GSH level-raising agents and/or selenium-containing compounds increased remarkably basal GSH peroxidase activity, and thus, abolished totally the prolonged inhibitory effects of TPA on this enzyme. The inhibitory effects of 0.2 mM cysteine (Cys) or 0.5 mM GSH and 2.5 μM Na 2 SeO 3 or 50 μM selenocystamine on TPA-decreased GSH peroxidase activity were additive, in relation with their additive inhibitory effects on TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) ( l -ornithine carboxylyase, EC 4.1.1.17) activity. These data support the hypothesis that the stimulators of the GSH-dependent antioxidant protective system of the epidermal cells may inhibit the oxidative challenge linked to skin tumor promotion by TPA.
Transparent silica glasses containing single walled carbon nanotubes

Organic/inorganic matrix nanocomposites have been created using an acid catalyzed, tetraethyl orthosilicate-based sol-gel technique with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). By utilizing nanotubes functionalized with the dendron methyl 3,5-di(methyltrigycoloxy)benzylic alcohol (IPEG), ultrasonic blending in the sol phase prior to gelation yields excellent dispersion characteristics of the nanotube phase. The glasses were densified by heating to 600 °C yielding 80% of theoretical density with little change in the optical appearance or behavior. These materials exhibited intrinsic Rayleigh scattering, suggesting near ideal dispersion. Nonlinear optical transmission was observed for 1064 and 532 nm light suggesting that the matrix has a strong broad band coupling to the optical field. Such composites allow for a host of applications based on the novel confinement properties of carbon nanotubes in a robust inorganic host.
Integer linear programming and heuristic techniques for system-level low power scheduling on multiprocessor architectures under throughput constraints

The increased complexity and performance requirements of embedded systems has led to the advent of programmable multiprocessor architectures. The paper presents system-level design techniques for minimizing the power consumption of throughput constrained periodic applications (such as multimedia and network processing) that are mapped to multiprocessor architectures. The paper discusses several design techniques that integrate dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) along with loop transformations (pipelining and unrolling), and apply dynamic power management (DPM) as the final design step. The paper presents an optimal mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation along with three modifications that trade-off solution quality for reduced run times. The paper also presents a heuristic technique along with deterministic (LPPWU"d"e"t) and simulated annealing based (LPPWU"s"a) optimization strategies for solving the system-level low power design problem. The proposed techniques are evaluated by extensive experimentation with multimedia applications (MPEG-1 decoder, JPEG decoder, MP3 encoder), and synthetic taskgraphs (with 10-40 nodes). The proposed techniques are compared with two existing strategies that apply (i) loop pipelining (FP) with DPM but no DVS, and (ii) DVS and DPM but no loop transformations (LPS [Luo, Jha, Power conscious joint scheduling of periodic task graphs and aperiodic tasks in distributed real-time embedded systems, Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Aided Design, November 2000]), respectively. The optimal MILP formulation, LPPWU"d"e"t and LPPWU"s"a give an average power reduction of 50.68%, 48.57% and 49.23%, respectively, for multimedia applications when compared against FP. While all our techniques are able to satisfy the performance constraints for JPEG and MPEG-1 decoding applications, the LPS technique fails in many cases. Further, the results produced by our deterministic and simulated annealing based techniques for multimedia benchmarks are on an average within 8.04% and 2.75%, respectively, of the optimum solution produced by the MILP based approach. The experimentation with large synthetic taskgraphs demonstrate that the run times of the heuristic techniques scale very well.
Henry’s Constants of 2-Ketones in Aqueous Solutions Containing Inorganic or Quaternary Ammonium Salts

Henry’s constants of 2-propanone, 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, and 2-heptanone in aqueous solutions containing inorganic salts or quaternary ammonium salts were determined at temperatures between 313 and 343 K, and salt ionic strengths below 5.0. Our data show that inorganic salts generally salt-out the 2-ketones, whereas quaternary ammonium salts generally salt-in the 2-ketones. However, 2-propanone is salted-out by both types of salts. We have also extended a published model based on dilute solution theory to solutions containing two inorganic salts, as well as to solutions containing quaternary ammonium salts. We show that it is possible to correlate all data for salting-out behavior using a single salt-effect parameter for each system. Salting-in behavior can also be correlated with a single parameter, although agreement with experiment is not as good as in the case of salting-out behavior. This is because the model does not explicitly account for the role of dispersion forces in these systems...
Instrument-to-Instrument Transfer of Raman Spectra:

A procedure has been developed to permit recalculation of a Raman spectrum that has been taken on a source spectrometer to allow its quantitative use with data taken from a target system. The procedure is based on accurate characterization of both the source and target spectral abscissas by means of a neon spectrum that is recorded at the time the Raman measurements are made. Corrections are made for wavelength-dependent behavior of both systems, for differences in dispersion for the two systems, and for variation in the number, spacing, and size of the detector elements. An example is presented in which the fingerprint and CH regions of the Raman spectrum of cyclohexane are transferred from higher to lower resolution context.
Zinc Concentration in Hydroponic Solution Culture Influences Zinc and Sulfur Accumulation in Brassica rapa L

Abstract A rapid cycling population of Brassica rapa L. was grown hydroponically and subjected to solution zinc (Zn) concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 200 mg L−1. The objectives of the study were to determine how available Zn affected plant growth, and the accumulation of Zn, total sulfur (S), sulfate (SO4 2−) in B. rapa shoots. Plants exposed to Zn levels above 5 mg L−1 exhibited mild visual toxicity symptoms as well as stunted root and shoot growth. Plants exposed to Zn levels ≥50 mg L−1 had chronic toxicity symptoms after several days of exposure and did not measurably grow. Mineral analysis showed that Zn accumulated linearly in plant shoots in response to increasing Zn, despite the expression of varying levels of Zn toxicity symptoms. Total shoot S and SO4 2− accumulated at amounts greater than the control when exposed to Zn levels ≥25 mg L−1 Zn; even though solution S did not vary among treatments. At the higher Zn concentrations, shoot S did not differ from the control. Additionally, SO4 2− was r...
State newborn screening in the tandem mass spectrometry era: more tests, more false-positive results.

BACKGROUND. The advent of tandem mass spectrometry has made it possible to test newborns for multiple conditions efficiently. It is not known how state newborn screening programs have changed screening practices in response to this technology and how it affects the number of false-positive test results. METHODS. We obtained data from the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center regarding the screening practices for each of the 50 states, to determine the number of mandated disorders added to state newborn screening panels between 1995 and 2005. Combining these data with reported specificities from the literature and the number of births in each state, we estimated the number of infants who would have received false-positive results through screening with tandem mass spectrometry in 2005. RESULTS. The average state mandated screening for 5 disorders in 1995 (range: 0–8 disorders). Wyoming was the only state that decreased its panel size over the next decade. Kansas and Texas were the only states that did not add disorders to their panels between 1995 and 2005; the average state added 19. Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Tennessee each added ≥40 disorders. Assuming that an individual test for a disorder had a specificity of 99.995%, we estimated that ∼2575 infants would have received false-positive results through screening with tandem mass spectrometry in 2005. If specificity was assumed to be 99.9%, then the number increased to >51000. CONCLUSIONS. State newborn screening programs have expanded dramatically in the past decade. Because the benefit of such testing may be unclear in some cases and because the number of infants who may receive false-positive results and may be labeled falsely as having disease is potentially sizeable, a more cautious approach is needed.
The future of HIV care in the USA

Background The number of people living with HIV in the USA increased by 50% to 1.115 million persons from 1996 to 2006 and may exceed 1.5 million by 2015. The rising caseloads are straining the HIV care system, while recession and the unknown fate of health reforms are sources of uncertainty. HIV care in the USA evolved within a fragmented healthcare system. Unique community-based support and education linked to diverse multidisciplinary HIV care teams contributed to ‘AIDS exceptionalism’. Objective To describe HIV care in the USA in 2011 and to consider future trends. Methods Literature review. Results Though evidence for effectiveness of HIV care teams is increasing, HIV care in the USA in 2011 is severely challenged. Low reimbursements, rising caseloads and increasing care complexity are leading to clinician shortages. Access to antiretrovirals through Medicare and Medicaid is worsening, and deficiencies in AIDS Drug Assistance Programs are increasing. Durable health insurance will become available for most Americans in 2014 through new health reforms, but the likelihood of incomplete coverage, fierce political opposition and the uncertain details are reasons for concern. At the same time, recent trends in HIV epidemiology, pathogenesis and care services have reinforced the need for multidisciplinary teams with strong community linkages. Conclusions HIV advocates have their greatest challenge to date to ensure that the gains and lessons in HIV care learnt from the past are not lost in the transition to national health reform in the next turbulent 5 years in the USA.
Continuous Reverberation Response and Comb Spectra Waveform Design

A model for the matched filter response to continuous reverberation from the transmission of broadband waveforms is developed. The application is for reverberation from a rough interface, based on perturbation theory. The model is developed for both the stationary rough bottom and the moving ocean surface interfaces. The mean reverberation is predicted as a function of the Doppler speed of the matched filter replica. Application is made to the design of waveforms with comb-like spectra. A uniform train of impulses produces a comb spectrum that is shown to significantly reject reverberation for a certain range of Doppler speeds. A similar low-reverberation response is produced from a continuous source emitting a wavetrain composed of adjacent hyperbolic-frequency-modulated (HFM) pulses. A waveform design technique is demonstrated to ensure continuity of the entire HFM wavetrain. Finally, waveforms with geometrically spaced comb spectra are considered. A new geometric comb waveform with constant amplitude is specified. However, this waveform requires a large bandwidth which may be difficult to obtain with practical high-power sources. Hard and soft-clipped versions of the comb spectra waveform are considered which provide useful compromises between the amount of reverberation suppression, the transmitted energy efficiency, and the utilization of available bandwidth.
Lower extremity compartment syndrome in the acute care surgery paradigm: safety lessons learned

Prompt diagnosis and decompression of acute lower extremity compartment syndrome (LECS) in the multisystem injured patient is essential to avoid the devastating complications of progressive tissue necrosis and amputation. Despite collaborative trauma and orthopedic management of these difficult cases, significant delays in diagnosis and treatment occur. Periodic system review of our trauma and orthopedic data for complications of LECS led us to hypothesize that delayed diagnosis and limb loss were potentially preventable events in our trauma center. Academic level 1 trauma center. We performed a prospective review of our trauma registry for all cases of LECS over a 7 year period (2/98–10/2005). Variables reviewed included demographics, injury patterns, tissue necrosis, amputation and mortality. Eighty-three (10 female, 73 male) cases were reviewed. Mean age = 33.3 years (range 1–78). Mean ISS = 19.4, GCS = 12.5. Five (6.0%) had amputations; 7 (8.4%) died. Fractures occurred in 68.7% (n = 57), and vascular injuries were present in 38.6% (n = 32). In 7 patients (8.4%), a delayed compartment release resulted in muscle necrosis requiring multiple debridements, subsequent wound closure problems, and long term disability. Of note, none of these patients had prior compartment pressure measurements. Furthermore, 6 patients (7%) had superficial peroneal nerve transections as complications of their fasciotomy. In the multisystem injured patient, LECS remains a major diagnostic and treatment challenge with significant risks of limb loss as well as complications from decompressive fasciotomy. These data underscore the importance of routine surveillance for LECS. In addition, a thorough knowledge of regional anatomy is essential to avoid technical morbidity.
Band Deformation at a T-Junction While Electrofocusing in a Dog-Leg Microchannel

On-chip isoelectric focusing (IEF) has been performed in both straight and dog-leg microchannels. Three-dimensional microfluidic chips were fabricated on poly di-methyl-siloxane (PDMS) using soft lithography and multilayer bonding techniques. Plasma oxidized PDMS channel surfaces were dynamically coated with methyl cellulose to discourage electroosmotic flow during separation and purification processes. In a straight microchannel, IEF was completed within 5 minutes at an applied electric field strength of 50 V/cm using broad range ampholytes. The focused bands were generally well-formed with sharp edges and were less than 100 microns across yielding a putative peak capacity in excess of 100 peaks in a 2-cm long channel. However, the conventional IEF protocol shifts the focused bands toward the cathodic well. This cathodic drift can be effectively minimized by placing highly viscous polymer solutions in the electrode reservoirs. In dog-leg microchannels, initially well formed focused band dispersed at the Tee-channel junction, but refocused at the dog-leg channels with relatively lower resolution.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Aflatoxin production on high moisture corn and sorghum with a limited incubation.

Abstract Samples of ground, cracked, or whole kernels of sorghum or corn were inoculated with Aspergillus flavus #15546. The samples were incubated at 25 or 30C and 90% relative humidity for 48 or 72h. In all treatments, the 72-h samples contained more aflatoxins B 1 and B 2 than the 48-h samples. Cracked sorghum at 30C for 72h and whole sorghum at 25C for 72h contained more aflatoxins than any other treatment. Even in these short incubation periods, enough aflatoxin could be produced to be harmful to livestock.
Sport-related Concussion in Adolescents

Sport-related concussion is a common problem encountered by pediatricians and other primary care physicians. Assessment of concussion is based on clinical evaluation. The Zurich consensus statement provides a basic framework to guide concussion management decisions and recommends an individualized approach and the exercising of clinical judgment in return-to-play decisions. This article reviews practice aspects of concussion for the adolescent athletes who present in the primary care office or clinic setting.
Spatial and temporal instabilities in a CO 2 laser

We show experimentally the appearance of time-dependent and stationary complex spatial structures in a ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ laser. A comparison of the data with a theoretical model supports the notion that the observed phenomena result from the nonlinear interaction of transverse cavity modes with the active medium. The simultaneous appearance of spatial and temporal instabilities hints to the interesting prospect that one may be able to study turbulence in a laser system.
Application rate and timing, potting medium, and host plant effects on the efficacy of Steinernema feltiae against the fungus gnat, Bradysia coprophila, in floriculture

Abstract Effects of three nematode concentrations, five application timings, four potting media, and two host plants on the efficacy of Steinernema feltiae against the fungus gnat, Bradysia coprophila, were studied in the greenhouse and growth chamber experiments. In New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri), application rates of 1.25 and 2.5 × 105 infective juveniles/m2 of S. feltiae equally and significantly reduced the population of fungus gnats relative to the control but in poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), 2.5 and 5 × 105 infective juveniles/m2 produced similar reductions. Nematode efficacy against the fungus gnats was significantly lower in the nursery-mix as compared with Ball-mix, Metro-mix, and Pro-mix potting media. Nursery-mix was also favorable to fungus gnat colonization and had the highest infestation. Application of S. feltiae to the Metro-mix and Pro-mix significantly reduced B. coprophila emergence relative to the control 7 days after treatment but in the Ball-mix it took 14 days. In all the four media, poinsettia supported significantly higher numbers of fungus gnats than the impatiens but nematode efficacy was higher in the impatiens. Application timing affected the efficacy of S. feltiae against fungus gnats infesting poinsettia but not impatiens. In the growth chamber, only application 16 days post-transplanting significantly suppressed the fungus gnat emergence as early as 31 days after treatment and remained significant throughout the experiment but all other application timings (0–8 days post-transplanting) suppressed the fungus gnat emergence only after 75 days. In the greenhouse, all four application timings significantly suppressed the fungus gnats on poinsettia relative to the control 34 days after treatment. We conclude that nematode application rate and timing, potting medium, and host plant are all important factors in the control of fungus gnats with entomopathogenic nematodes.
Predicting the Energetics of Conformational Fluctuations in Proteins from Sequence: A Strategy for Profiling the Proteome

The abundance of dynamic and disordered regions in proteins suggests that structural determinants alone may not be sufficient to describe function. Instead, descriptors that account for the dynamic features of the energy landscape populated by the protein ensemble may be required. Here, we show that the thermodynamics of the dynamical complexity that imparts biological function can be largely reconstructed using sequence information alone, allowing thermodynamic characterization of entire proteomes without the need for structural analysis. We show that this tool can be used to analyze conserved energetic signatures within classes of proteins, as well as to compare the thermodynamic character of different proteomes.
Molecular properties as descriptors of octanol-water partition coefficients of herbicides

Molecular modeling techniques were used to establish relationships between the octanol/water partition coefficient (K ow) and molecular properties of 90 herbicides with several types of chemistry. The Kow values were obtained from the literature. Various molecular properties were calculated by quantum mechanical methods using molecular modeling software. The quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) analysis of all herbicides showed that K ow was dependent on bulk (van der Waals volume, VDWv) and electronic (dipole moment, µ; superdelocalizability of highest occupied molecular orbital, SHOMO; nucleophilic superdelocalizability, SN) properties, and the model explained 68% of the variation in K ow. Herbicides were broadly divided into six families (ureas, acid amides, triazines, carbamates, diphenyl ethers, and dinitroanilines) based on structural similarities, and separate equations were established for each group. The QSAR models accounted for 74 to 98% of the variation in K ow within these six groups. Applicability of these models was tested for some herbicides. The QSAR models produced estimates that correlate well with experimental values and appear to be specific to structurally similar compounds.
On the difference between consecutive primes

Abstract Recently Iwaniec and Pintz have shown that (Pn + 1 − Pn) ⪡ Pnθ, where θ = ( 11 20 − δ) and δ ≤ 1 406 . Here it is shown that by suitable refinements in Section 3 of their paper one can take δ ≤ 1 384 . If one assumes the Selberg conjecture (the smallest positive eigenvalue of the non-euclidean Laplacian for Hecke congruence groups is greater than or equal to 1 4 ), then one can obtain the improvement δ 1 380 , which would be best possible by the present form of their construction.
Supply Chains and Segment Profitability: How Input Pricing Creates a Latent Cross-Segment Subsidy

ABSTRACT: Recent years have seen an increased emphasis on developing more precise accounting measures of market- and customer-level profitability. By their very nature, such segment profitability measures may unwittingly neglect complementarities. Such complementarities have been widely recognized on the demand side due to brand recognition, predatory pricing, or interdependent products. We develop a model showing that important supply-side complementarities can also be prevalent. In particular, when a firm relies on a self-interested supplier for inputs used across multiple segments, the wholesale price it pays depends on the average profitability of its segments. Taking such interaction between upstream pricing and the firm’s downstream reach into account, the model shows that: (1) segment profit calculations can understate or overstate the value added by the segment depending on the segment’s relative contribution margin, and (2) the firm sometimes benefits from devoting resources to less profitable se...
Development of a novel drainage device for glaucoma surgeries

Current implant devices used in the surgical treatment of glaucoma fail at an unacceptable rate. These devices suffer from a number of engineering shortcomings which must be addressed in order to create successful ocular implant devices. Device function is often impaired by the body's wound healing processes. A major factor is protein adhesion, which leads to accumulation of collagen. This causes scar tissue formation, which can impede the flow of aqueous humor through the device. We will describe different methods to improve the function of drainage devices so that they last longer without the need for major surgical intervention or higher toxicity drugs to modulate the wound healing pathway. Instead, there are steps of device design and production that make the use of minimally invasive surgeries possible. These include surface chemistry modifications and mechanical innovations in the device itself. By modifying the surface, we aim to reduce the amount of scar tissue that adheres to the device. Also, by improving on the pressure control in drainage valves, we can maintain a consistent intraocular pressure that is beneficial for treating glaucoma.
Non-Smad pathways in TGF-β signaling

Transforming growth factor-β utilizes a multitude of intracellular signaling pathways in addition to Smads to regulate a wide array of cellular functions. These non-canonical, non-Smad pathways are activated directly by ligand-occupied receptors to reinforce, attenuate, or otherwise modulate downstream cellular responses. These non-Smad pathways include various branches of MAP kinase pathways, Rho-like GTPase signaling pathways, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT pathways. This review focuses on recent advances in the understanding of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of non-Smad pathways. In addition, functions of these non-Smad pathways are also discussed.
Dysregulated Toll-Like Receptor–Induced Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-6 Responses in Subjects at Risk for the Development of Type 1 Diabetes

We tested the hypothesis that altered Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling may be involved in early stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D). To do so, we analyzed TLR-induced interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 responses in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) from seropositive compared with seronegative subjects. Similar frequencies of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), and monocytes were observed in seropositive and seronegative subjects. Subjects with autoantibodies had increased proportions of monocytes expressing IL-1β ex vivo. Activating PBMNCs with TLR3, TLR4, or TLR7/8 agonists in vitro led to increased percentages of IL-1β–expressing monocytes and mDCs from seropositive versus seronegative subjects. TLR ligation also resulted in a diminished IL-6 response in seropositive individuals as lower frequencies of IL-6–expressing monocytes and mDCs were induced. The dysregulated TLR-induced IL-1β and IL-6 pathways were more readily detectable in children aged <11 years and from 11 to <21 years, respectively, and did not involve altered HbA1c or the presence of one or more autoantibodies. Finally, subjects with autoantibodies had lower amounts of serum chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 compared with autoantibody-negative subjects. Our data may imply that alterations in innate immune pathways are detectable in genetically susceptible individuals and could be linked with the early course of T1D.
The Ligand for Osteoprotegerin (OPGL) Directly Activates Mature Osteoclasts

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and OPG-ligand (OPGL) potently inhibit and stimulate, respectively, osteoclast differentiation (Simonet, W.S., D.L. Lacey, C.R. Dunstan, M. Kelley, M.-S. Chang, R. Luethy, H.Q. Nguyen, S. Wooden, L. Bennett, T. Boone, et al. 1997. Cell. 89:309–319; Lacey, D.L., E. Timms, H.-L. Tan, M.J. Kelley, C.R. Dunstan, T. Burgess, R. Elliott, A. Colombero, G. Elliott, S. Scully, et al. 1998. Cell. 93: 165–176), but their effects on mature osteoclasts are not well understood. Using primary cultures of rat osteoclasts on bone slices, we find that OPGL causes approximately sevenfold increase in total bone surface erosion. By scanning electron microscopy, OPGL-treated osteoclasts generate more clusters of lacunae on bone suggesting that multiple, spatially associated cycles of resorption have occurred. However, the size of individual resorption events are unchanged by OPGL treatment. Mechanistically, OPGL binds specifically to mature OCs and rapidly (within 30 min) induces actin ring formation; a marked cytoskeletal rearrangement that necessarily precedes bone resorption. Furthermore, we show that antibodies raised against the OPGL receptor, RANK, also induce actin ring formation. OPGL-treated mice exhibit increases in blood ionized Ca++ within 1 h after injections, consistent with immediate OC activation in vivo. Finally, we find that OPG blocks OPGL's effects on both actin ring formation and bone resorption. Together, these findings indicate that, in addition to their effects on OC precursors, OPGL and OPG have profound and direct effects on mature OCs and indicate that the OC receptor, RANK, mediates OPGL's effects.
A high performance surface-micromachined elevated patch antenna

In this paper, an air-filled elevated microstrip antenna resonating at 25 GHz based on surface micromachining technology is fabricated and characterized for the first time. The antenna is air-lifted on high-epsir soda-lime glass substrate and demonstrates a 7% 10 dB bandwidth in measurement. A 10.2 dBi directivity and a nearly frequency-independent broadside radiation pattern over a range of 7 GHz around the center frequency are projected in simulation and currently are experimentally investigated. The elevated patch is fed by a vertical epoxy-core metal-coated micromachined probe and supported by several epoxy posts underneath. By the unique feeding technique we have developed in this paper, the dielectric filled between the patch and the ground is air only and the requirement of low-epsir substrate for patch antennas and high-epsir, substrate for compact feeding network can be satisfied simultaneously. The performance degradation for traditional microstrip antenna directly built on high-epsir substrate is alleviated a lot due to the elimination of surface waves in the substrate
Habitat use, diet and roost selection by the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) in North America: a case for conserving an abundant species

Insectivorous bats are integral components of terrestrial ecosystems. Despite this, a growing number of factors causing world-wide declines in bat populations have been identified. Relatively abundant species are important for bat conservation because of their role in ecosystems and the research opportunities they offer. In addition, species that have been well-studied present unique opportunities to synthesize information and highlight important areas of focus for conservation and research. This paper focuses on a well-studied abundant bat, Eptesicus fuscus. I review the relevant literature on habitat use, diet and roost selection by E. fuscus in North America, and highlight important areas of conservation and research for this species, including the effects of roost disturbance, control of economically important insect pests, exposure to pesticides, long-term monitoring of populations, and the potential consequences of expanding populations. These issues have broad implications for other species and can be used to focus future research and conservation efforts.
X-ray crystal structure of an IkappaBbeta x NF-kappaB p65 homodimer complex.

We report the crystal structure of a murine IkappaBbeta x NF-kappaB p65 homodimer complex. Crystallographic models were determined for two triclinic crystalline systems and refined against data at 2.5 and 2.1 A. The overall complex structure is similar to that of the IkappaBalpha.NF-kappaB p50/p65 heterodimer complex. One NF-kappaB p65 subunit nuclear localization signal clearly contacts IkappaBbeta, whereas a homologous segment from the second subunit of the homodimer is mostly solvent-exposed. The unique 47-amino acid insertion between ankyrin repeats three and four of IkappaBbeta is mostly disordered in the structure. Primary sequence analysis and differences in the mode of binding at the IkappaBbeta sixth ankyrin repeat and NF-kappaB p65 homodimer suggest a model for nuclear IkappaBbeta.NF-kappaB.DNA ternary complex formation. These unique structural features of IkappaBbeta may contribute to its ability to mediate persistent NF-kappaB activation.
Should Online Auctions Employ Dynamic Buyout Pricing Models

Online auctions are inherently dynamic. Online auction designs that internalize temporal changes in the economic environment are generally expected to perform better than static designs. This is because providing opportunities for both buyers and sellers to inform each other about preference changes over time can increase market transparency and lead to more efficient markets. In this paper, we focus on a feature that is unique to online auctions, the buyout price. We introduce a dynamic buyout model and show analytically how the buyout price should change over time in order to maximize seller profit and buyer surplus. Based on our theoretical results, we suggest that online auction performance can be improved with the addition of more dynamic features. Finally, we describe an experimental design that can be used to estimate the benefits of a dynamic buyout option.
Alcohol Withdrawal Assessment Training Protocol: A Case Study

It has become exceedingly challenging for nurses to manage alcohol withdrawal syndrome because their patients’ clinical symptoms have become much more complicated, especially when they present with complex co morbidities. Additionally, it is critical that nurses and physicians work collaboratively with alcohol withdrawal assessment protocols, so that patients receive the most effective detoxification treatment. The purpose of this case study is to present one approach to implementing an alcohol assessment training protocol using the CIWA/ Ar at a southern New England acute care hospital on the psychiatric unit. Consequently, the planning and implementation process created a more cohesive team among the nurses and physicians, which may potentially contribute to positive patient outcomes.
Involvement of intracellular calcium in hormone secretion from pituitary cells.

Abstract Cells were dissociated from normal rat pituitaries by a combination of mechanical agitation and enzymatic action, seeded into culture flasks and grown in monolayer culture. When such cells were exposed to an extract of the hypothalamic stalk-median eminence area (HSME) a dosedependent secretion of ACTH was observed. A 2-h exposure to Ca-free media significantly reduced the HSME-stimulated release of ACTH but the measured levels were still greater than the unstimulated controls. When the 45Ca2+ uptake into the cultured cells was measured both control and HSME-stimulated cells yielded identical results (60–80 nmol Ca/mg cell protein). Upon removal of the calcium associated with the surface coat it was found that HSME actually decreased the cellular uptake of calcium. Since variations in uptake can result from changes in influx or efflux as well as from variations in pool size or turnover times of calcium exchange with intracellular compartments, a series of isotope washout experiments were performed. Neither HSME nor theophylline affected the rate constant of calcium efflux from what is believed to be the cytosol pool to the extracellular media. Both agents, however, prompted a shift of intracellular calcium into a more tightly bound compartment. The data suggest that the calcium required for pituitary hormone secretion is derived primarily from an intracellular rather than extracellular origin. It may be that, via the action of cyclic AMP, such calcium can be mobilized from intracellular stores and shifted to a more tightly bound compartment where it can participate in the intracellular processes associated with secretion.
Semantic Blindness: Repeated Concepts are Difficult to Encode and Recall under Time Pressure:

This study demonstrates a recently predicted cognitive phenomenon known as semantic blindness, an inhibitory effect attributable to concept repetition in the serial recall of rapidly presented sentences Proficient bilinguals read mixed, Spanish-English sentences, each including a target and a pretarget word Targets and pretargets were related in three ways They were identical (e g, like-like), semantically identical across languages (e g, gusta-like), and nonidentical within or across languages (e g, read-like) Equivalent repetition blindness was found for targets with identical and semantically identical pretargets, indicating that repetition deficits were occurring solely at the semantic level, rather than at orthographic or phonological levels
Retinoblastoma cells are inhibited by aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) partially through activation of AMP-dependent kinase

5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an analog of AMP, is widely used as an activator of AMP-kinase (AMPK), a protein that regulates the responses of the cell to energy change. We studied the effects of AICAR on the growth of retinoblastoma cell lines (Y79, WERI, and RB143). AICAR inhibited Rb cell growth, induced apoptosis and S-phase cell cycle arrest, and led to activation of AMPK. These effects were abolished by treatment with dypiridamole, an inhibitor that blocks entrance of AICAR into cells. Treatment with the adenosine kinase inhibitor 5-iodotubericidin to inhibit the conversion of AICAR to ZMP (the direct activator of AMPK) reversed most of the growth-inhibiting effects of AICAR, indicating that some of the antiproliferative effects of AICAR are mediated through AMPK activation. In addition, AICAR treatment was associated with inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, decreased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein-S6 and 4E-BP1, down-regulation of cyclins A and E, and decreased expression of p21. Our results indicate that AICAR-induced activation of AMPK inhibits retinoblastoma cell growth. This is one of the first descriptions of a nonchemotherapeutic drug with low toxicity that may be effective in treating Rb patients.—Theodoropoulou, S., Kolovou, P. E., Morizane, Y., Kayama, M., Nicolaou, F., Miller, J. W., Gragoudas, E., Ksander, B. R., Vavvas, D. G. Retinoblastoma cells are inhibited by aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) partially through activation of AMP-dependent kinase.
Proteomic Analysis of the Burkholderia pseudomallei Type II Secretome Reveals Hydrolytic Enzymes, Novel Proteins, and the Deubiquitinase TssM

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the etiologic agent of melioidosis, is an opportunistic pathogen that harbors a wide array of secretion systems, including a type II secretion system (T2SS), three type III secretion systems (T3SS), and six type VI secretion systems (T6SS). The proteins exported by these systems provide B. pseudomallei with a growth advantage in vitro and in vivo, but relatively little is known about the full repertoire of exoproducts associated with each system. In this study, we constructed deletion mutations in gspD and gspE, T2SS genes encoding an outer membrane secretin and a cytoplasmic ATPase, respectively. The secretion profiles of B. pseudomallei MSHR668 and its T2SS mutants were noticeably different when analyzed by SDS-PAGE. We utilized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify proteins present in the supernatants of B. pseudomallei MSHR668 and B. pseudomallei ΔgspD grown in rich and minimal media. The MSHR668 supernatants contained 48 proteins that were either absent or substantially reduced in the supernatants of ΔgspD strains. Many of these proteins were putative hydrolytic enzymes, including 12 proteases, two phospholipases, and a chitinase. Biochemical assays validated the LC-MS/MS results and demonstrated that the export of protease, phospholipase C, and chitinase activities is T2SS dependent. Previous studies had failed to identify the mechanism of secretion of TssM, a deubiquitinase that plays an integral role in regulating the innate immune response. Here we present evidence that TssM harbors an atypical signal sequence and that its secretion is mediated by the T2SS. This study provides the first in-depth characterization of the B. pseudomallei T2SS secretome.
Acute sympathetic vasoconstriction at rest and during dynamic exercise in cyclists and sedentary humans

The impact of exercise training on sympathetic activation is not well understood, especially across untrained and trained limbs in athletes. Therefore, in eight sedentary subjects (maximal oxygen c...
Does Chlamydia pneumoniae cause atherosclerosis

This presentation will be in 3 parts. First, there will be an introduction to the microbiology and epidemiology of Chlamydia pneumoniae. I will then present the data that establish an association between C pneumoniae and atherosclerosis, and finally, I will discuss some of the preliminary data concerning a causal role for C pneumoniae and atherosclerosis.