cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shareholder Democracy: Does Gretchen Get it Right?

By 2007, Gretchen Morgenson, assistant editor and columnist at The New York Times, had gained significant attention from business leaders, regulators, and academics for her coverage of a wide range of financial and governance issues. Morgenson wrote the majority of her articles about corporate malfeasance at the executive and board level, drawing attention to both prominent and lesser-known examples of misbehavior in corporate America. Not everyone, however, agreed with her depiction of and analytical approach to covering governance issues. Critics charged that, although many of the trends she pointed to were worthy of debate, her articles did not appropriately take a comprehensive view or acknowledge the broad implications of her positions. To some extent, Morgenson’s critics were as aggressive in their rebuttal as she was in her assertions. Outside observers were left to wonder whether the polemics employed by both parties helped to further a broad public understanding of the issues under debate or whether they instead fueled the rancor, leaving both sides impossibly divided over the role of shareholders and directors in corporate governance.
Physical Activity and Worsening of Radiographic Findings in Persons With or at Higher Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective The benefits of physical activity among persons with or at higher risk for knee osteoarthritis are well established. However, activity levels in this population are low, in part due to concern that activity will damage the knee joint. We hypothesized that sedentary and moderate-vigorous physical activity are each associated with greater risk of radiographic worsening of knee OA. Methods In Osteoarthritis Initiative participants with or at higher risk for knee OA enrolled in an accelerometer substudy at 48 months (study baseline), physical activity was measured by a uniaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT1M). Radiographic progression was defined as any 48 month to 96 month worsening of Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade scores. All analyses were knee-level; we used multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations, adjusting for key covariates. Results Of the 1,206 participants, 631 (52%) were female, the mean ± SD age was 64 ± 9 years, and mean ± SD body mass index (BMI) was 28 ± 5. The mean ± SD average daily sedentary activity was 602 ± 86 minutes, average daily light activity was 284 ± 75 minutes, and average daily moderate-vigorous activity was 20 ± 20 minutes. In 1,978 knees, 267 (14%) had worsening of K/L grade scores. In the multivariable model, age, sex, BMI, and pain, were associated with K/L grade worsening, but neither sedentary activity (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.99 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.97-1.01]) nor moderate-vigorous activity (adjusted OR 1.00 [95% CI 0.91-1.09]) were associated with K/L grade worsening. Conclusion In persons with or at higher risk for knee OA, age, sex, BMI, and pain, but not objectively measured average daily minutes of sedentary or moderate-vigorous activity, were associated with subsequent worsening of K/L grade. Whether findings differ in persons with more severe knee OA and/or engaged more frequently in moderate-vigorous activity should be examined in future studies.
Ambipolar SB-FinFETs: A New Path to Ultra-Compact Sub-10 nm Logic Circuits

Ultracompact sub-10-nm logic gates based on ambipolar characteristics of Schottky-barrier (SB) FinFETs and gate workfunction engineering (WFE) approach are introduced. Novel logic gate designs are proposed using WFE, whereby adjustment of workfunction in the contacts as well as two independently biased FinFET gates leads to an unprecedented degree of freedom for logic functionality that has not been explored before. The use of SB contacts, along with the high-k gate dielectric and ultrathin body, bestows a high-degree of short-channel immunity to the SB-FinFETs with ambipolar current–voltage characteristics down to 5 nm. The unique trait of the proposed novel logic gates is to lower CMOS transistor count by 50% and hence reduce overall area and power dissipation significantly. To illustrate this potential, an entirely novel conjugate (n/p channel) CMOS pass-gate transistor that can function as a two-transistor (2T) XOR and minimalist 2T NAND/NOR gates is designed and verified with TCAD simulations. Depending on the gate designed, TCAD simulations indicate that judicious choice of gate workfunctions between 3.7 and 5.2 eV can lead to CMOS logic gates with a power–delay product (PDP) at ${5}\times {10}^{-{18}}$ J level with immunity to ±0.1-eV workfunction variations. It is shown that WFE in independent-gate SB-FinFETs can lead to ultracompact logic circuits with 50% reduction in area and up to 10 times reduction in power, without significant degradation to overall PDP performance due to slower switching response compared with the conventional designs with p-n junction FinFET counterparts.
Synergy theory for murine Harderian gland tumours after irradiation by mixtures of high-energy ionized atomic nuclei

Experimental studies reporting murine Harderian gland (HG) tumourigenesis have been a NASA concern for many years. Studies used particle accelerators to produce beams that, on beam entry, consist of a single isotope also present in the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) spectrum. In this paper synergy theory is described, potentially applicable to corresponding mixed-field experiments, in progress, planned, or hypothetical. The "obvious" simple effect additivity (SEA) approach of comparing an observed mixture dose-effect relationship (DER) to the sum of the components' DERs is known from other fields of biology to be unreliable when the components' DERs are highly curvilinear. Such curvilinearity may be present at low fluxes such as those used in the one-ion HG experiments due to non-targeted ('bystander') effects, in which case a replacement for SEA synergy theory is needed. This paper comprises in silico modeling of published experimental data using a recently introduced, arguably optimal, replacement for SEA: incremental effect additivity (IEA). Customized open-source software is used. IEA is based on computer numerical integration of non-linear ordinary differential equations. To illustrate IEA synergy theory, possible rapidly-sequential-beam mixture experiments are discussed, including tight 95% confidence intervals calculated by Monte-Carlo sampling from variance-covariance matrices. The importance of having matched one-ion and mixed-beam experiments is emphasized. Arguments are presented against NASA over-emphasizing accelerator experiments with mixed beams whose dosing protocols are standardized rather than being adjustable to take biological variability into account. It is currently unknown whether mixed GCR beams sometimes have statistically significant synergy for the carcinogenesis endpoint. Synergy would increase risks for prolonged astronaut voyages in interplanetary space.
Reflections on an International Research Immersion Field Study as a High Impact Practice to Produce Publishable Papers by Underrepresented Undergraduates.

Engaging undergraduates in publishable research is challenging. Skills including researching topics, statistical knowledge, and writing abilities are necessary; however, students often face time constraints or financial challenges that impede them from engaging in these experiences. Conducting research with underrepresented students can be an even bigger challenge, as these groups are known to face additional financial or family burdens that the traditional student does not face. This essay reports on the development of an international field study with the goal of producing publishable research by undergraduates. To date, 27 students (68% Hispanic, 52% first generation) have participated in a week-long immersion field experience in Roatan, Honduras. As an interdisciplinary field study, students were exposed to animal behavior, ecology concepts, and research methods through a two-course sequence that incorporated the field experience. In this essay, we share our best practices for conducting a field study with students from underrepresented populations with the goal of producing publishable research. We include the evolution of the course curriculum that was informed by self-reported student experiences and a brief description of some of the projects students designed. Students reported that the field experience highlighted the importance of adjusting research plans and expectations. Ultimately, this program exposed students to advantages and disadvantages of conducting field research while increasing confidence in their ability to conduct effective and meaningful research. A minimum of two semesters may be needed to create publishable research projects and 1 week of data collection is not sufficient for successful research projects.
Service Network Design Problem with Capacity-Demand Balancing.

This paper addresses developing cost-effective strategies to respond to excessive demand in the service network design problem in a multi-period setting. The common assumption states that the capacity of freight carriers' assets is capable of handling all of the forecasted demand; however, we assume that there are certain periods such as holiday season in which excessive demand is observed. The demand strictly exceeds the carrier's capacity; even though, the average demand can be still fulfilled throughout the year. In this sense, we let the carrier has three options to respond to the demand: Dispersing the demand with a penalty, leasing additional asset(s) temporarily, and outsourcing some capacity. We propose a modeling and solution approach that jointly incorporates asset management and sizing, outsourcing (3PLs), and earliness/tardiness penalties. The objective is to minimize the overall operational costs by optimally selecting and scheduling the home fleet with respect to 'demand shifting' choices, selecting services from third parties, and routing the commodities on the designed network. We propose an arc-based formulation as well as valid inequalities and present a comprehensive computational study on the randomly generated instances. The formulations with valid inequalities (VIs) outperform the regular formulation in obtaining tighter lower bounds. One set of VIs can improve the CPU time elapsed by 25% on medium-instances that can be solved optimally within the time limit. Furthermore, we develop a custom multi-phase dedicate-merge-and-mix algorithm (DMaM) to solve CSSND problem with an emphasis of obtaining solutions as high-quality as possible practically in a short time in the real world. DMaM has a promising potential to obtain solutions especially for very large instances whereas the commercial solver cannot initialize the B&B algorithm due to excessive memory usage.
Deformations with maximal supersymmetries part 2: off-shell formulation

Continuing our exploration of maximally supersymmetric gauge theories (MSYM) deformed by higher dimensional operators, in this paper we consider an off-shell approach based on pure spinor superspace and focus on constructing supersymmetric deformations beyond the first order. In particular, we give a construction of the Batalin-Vilkovisky action of an all-order non-Abelian Born-Infeld deformation of MSYM in the non-minimal pure spinor formalism. We also discuss subtleties in the integration over the pure spinor superspace and the relevance of Berkovits-Nekrasov regularization.
External Forcing Explains Recent Decadal Variability of the Ocean Carbon Sink

The ocean has absorbed the equivalent of 39% of industrial-age fossil carbon emissions, significantly modulating the growth rate of atmospheric CO2 and its associated impacts on climate. Despite th...
Treatment consolidation after vertical integration: Evidence from outpatient procedure markets

ABSTRACT Hospital ownership of physician practices has grown across the US and these strategic decisions seem to drive higher prices and spending. Using detailed physician ownership information and a universe of Florida discharge records, we show novel evidence of hospital-physician integration foreclosure effects within outpatient procedure markets. Following hospital acquisition, physicians shift nearly 10% of their Medicare and commercially insured cases away from ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) to hospitals and are up to 18% less likely to use an ASC at all. Altering physician choices over treatment setting can be in conflict with patient and payer cost, convenience and quality preferences.
Modes of Production: Bakeries as Factories and Workshops

Despite regional variation in the Roman baking industry, broader contextual analysis does reveal some important information about the industry. Roman bakeries tended to be small workshops, no more than one or two rooms. There is, however, another type of bakery, attested archaeologically at Ostia, which was more like a massive bread factory. The ovens in Ostia’s bakeries can be over 5 m in diameter. This, in itself, is not a new observation, but what has been lacking in previous analyses is a means of interpreting the dichotomous nature of this evidence. In Chapter Three, the different types of bread production are recast as ‘modes of production’ per the Marxist legacy of social historical materialism in archaeological thought. Combined with comparanda from the Industrial Revolution, different modes of production are deployed to expand our conceptualization of ‘the bakery’ beyond process to include the relationship of production to dichotomies such as home and work, family and workforce, and craftsman and businessman.
A farewell message from the outgoing editor

I have had the honor and privilege to serve Military Psychology for quite some time. My service began as an ad hoc reviewer (1993–1997), continued as a member of the board (1998–2002) and associate...
The Etonogestrel Implant in Adolescents: Factors Associated With Removal for Bothersome Bleeding in the First Year After Insertion

ABSTRACT Study Objective Temporizing measures such as hormonal pills can temporarily improve the side effect of breakthrough bleeding in individuals using the etonogestrel implant. The aims of this study were to determine demographic factors that are associated with bothersome bleeding and to evaluate the impact of prescribing temporizing measures on implant continuation. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting The research was conducted in an adolescent medicine primary and specialty care clinic, an adolescent family planning clinic, and a clinic that cares for parenting adolescents. Participants A chart review was conducted on 1200 patients aged 12-24 years who received the implant in 2016. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome measure was removal of the implant within the first year of use. We followed each patient for 1 year to determine rates of removal, reasons for removal, and temporizing measures prescribed for bleeding. Results Younger age and lower body mass index were associated with reporting bothersome vaginal bleeding. Patients who were nulliparous or had bothersome bleeding were more likely to have the implant removed in the first year. Patients who received a temporizing measure for bleeding were more likely to retain the implant for 1 year than were those who did not receive one (67.1% vs 40%, P Conclusions Some patients are more likely to report concerns with bleeding or to have the implant removed in the first year after insertion. Prescribing temporizing measures to control bothersome vaginal bleeding may decrease rates of removal in the first year.
Multiphoton Excitation of Bond Modes

In this paper we present a treatment of weakly coupled identical bond modes which allows a detailed computation of spectroscopic intensities based upon the knowledge of properties of the isolated bond modes and their interactions. Our approach is useful in that we can explicitly keep track of which terms in the bond mode potential, in the coupling, and in the dipole expression will give rise to a given multiphoton transition. In our discussion we use the problem of two coupled Morse oscillators but the method works equally well for more realistic potentials. The hamiltonian for our model problem is $$ H = ({p_1}^2 + {p_2}^2 + 2\;\alpha \;{p_1}{p_2})/2 + ({f_1}^2 + {f_2}^2 + 2\;\beta \;{f_1}{f_2})/2\;{\lambda^2} $$ (1) where fj = 1 − exp[−λ (qj − q0)]. The width of the Morse potential is prportional to 1/λ. In these units the energy levels of the individual local modes are (nj + 1/2) − λ2(nj + 1/2)2/2. After outlining our method we will illustrate using two photon excitation of the n1 + n2 = 4 states of the system.
Redshift-space distortions in massive neutrino and evolving dark energy cosmologies

Large-scale structure surveys in the coming years will measure the redshift-space power spectrum to unprecedented accuracy, allowing for powerful new tests of the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ cold dark matter ($\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\mathrm{CDM}$) picture as well as measurements of particle physics parameters such as the neutrino masses. We extend the time-renormalization-group (RG) perturbative framework to redshift space, computing the power spectrum ${P}_{s}(k,\ensuremath{\mu})$ in massive neutrino cosmologies with time-dependent dark energy equations of state $w(z)$. Time-RG is uniquely capable of incorporating scale-dependent growth into the ${P}_{s}(k,\ensuremath{\mu})$ computation, which is important for massive neutrinos as well as modified gravity models. Although changes to $w(z)$ and the neutrino mass fraction both affect the late-time scale dependence of the nonlinear power spectrum, we find that the two effects depend differently on the line-of-sight angle $\ensuremath{\mu}$. Finally, we use the hacc N-body code to quantify errors in the perturbative calculations. For a $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\mathrm{CDM}$ model at redshift $z=1$, our procedure predicts the monopole (quadrupole) to 1% accuracy up to a wave number $0.19h/\mathrm{Mpc}$ ($0.28h/\mathrm{Mpc}$), compared to $0.08h/\mathrm{Mpc}$ ($0.07h/\mathrm{Mpc}$) for the Kaiser approximation and $0.19h/\mathrm{Mpc}$ ($0.16h/\mathrm{Mpc}$) for the current state-of-the-art perturbation scheme. Our calculation agrees with the simulated redshift-space power spectrum even for neutrino masses above the current bound, and for rapidly evolving dark energy equations of state, $|dw/dz|\ensuremath{\sim}1$. Along with this article, we make our redshift-space time-RG implementation publicly available as the code redtime.
Casting Light on Neural Function: A Subjective History

Optical methods offer a number of advantages for the study of neural systems. Optical techniques are relatively noninvasive, and offer wide field of view, in addition to high resolution in time and in space. Improvements in optical sensor technologies and imaging techniques continually enhance imaging performance, and extend resolution into three dimensions. Digital signal processing strategies allow increasingly subtle signals to be extracted and visualized. Imaging methods allow large populations of cells to be examined simultaneously, while resolving individual cells. Differential absorption or fluorescence emission by endogenous biochemicals or exogenous reporters allows characterization of specific aspects of the chemical and physical environment of cells, and produces signals that are highly correlated with neural activation. Fast intrinsic optical signals, which appear to be tightly coupled to the biophysical processes of neural activation, hold great promise for dynamic imaging of function in large populations of neurons. Coupled with multi-channel electrophysiological and computational modeling techniques, optical imaging enables powerful new understanding of the function of the brain.
The 5-O-β-d-Galactofuranosyl-containing Exocellular Glycopeptide of Penicillium charlesii CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PHOSPHOGALACTOMANNAN

Abstract This and the succeeding paper report the structural properties of the major exocellular glycopeptide produced by Penicillium charlesii on shake culture. Treatment of the purified glycopeptide with 0.4 n NaOH resulted in the formation of mono-, di-, tri-, and polysaccharide fractions which were separated by gel permeation chromatography. The polysaccharide was characterized by: (a) methylation and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of the products, (b) acetolysis followed by separating the products on a Bio-Gel P-2 column, and (c) Smith degradation followed by separation and identification of glycerol and threitol by gas-liquid chromatography. These investigations show that the polysaccharide (phosphogalactomannan) contains approximately 90 mannopyranosyl residues and a variable number of galactofuranosyl residues. Acetolysis resulted in the formation of mannopentaose, mannotetraose, mannotriose, mannobiose, and mannose in the ratio of 2:11:4:5:13, respectively. Analysis of the methylated products and nuclear magnetic resonance studies indicate that the mannopyranosyl residues are linked to one another primarily through α(1→2)- and α(1→6)O-glycosidic linkages. The glycopeptide also contains 8 to 10 polygalactofuranosyl chains of variable length, each of which is attached to the C-3 atom of a mannopyranosyl residue. Each galactofuranoside is attached by β(1 →5)O-glycosidic linkage to the adjoinng galactofuranosyl residue. The polymer contains 9 to 10 phosphorus atoms per mole, and they occur in the mannan as phosphodiesters. The phosphorus atoms are not attached to the same mannopyranosyl residues to which the polygalactofuranosyl chains are linked.
UV- and gamma-radiation sensitive mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis seedlings repair UV-induced DNA damage via light-dependent and -independent pathways. The mechanism of the ``dark repair'' pathway is still unknown. To determine the number of genes required for dark repair and to investigate the substrate-specificity of this process we isolated mutants with enhanced sensitivity to UV radiation in the absence of photoreactivating light. Seven independently derived UV sensitive mutants were isolated from an EMS-mutagenized population. These fell into six complementation groups, two of which (UVR1 and UVH1) have previously been defined. Four of these mutants are defective in the dark repair of UV-induced pyrimidine [6-4] pyrimidinone dimers. These four mutant lines are sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effects of gamma radiation, suggesting that this repair pathway is also involved in the repair of some type of gamma-induced DNA damage product. The requirement for the coordinate action of several different gene products for effective repair of pyrimidine dimers, as well as the nonspecific nature of the repair activity, is consistent with nucleotide excision repair mechanisms previously described in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and nonplant higher eukaryotes and inconsistent with substrate-specific base excision repair mechanisms found in some bacteria, bacteriophage, and fungi.
’Refined, highfalutin’ principles’: The northern public, the constitution, and slavery, 1861–62

Early in the Civil War an anticonstitutional rhetoric arose on the Northern home front in response to military delays and defeats as well as congressional debates over the constitutionality of punitive actions against rebel citizens. This critique was based in part on the Constitution's protections of rebel citizens’ rights, especially their disputed right to hold human property. Impatient Northerners also perceived the political compromises with slavery throughout the sectional conflict as based on constitutional principles. As a result, some Northerners began to equate the Constitution with slavery, and began to demand that the document be revised or even rewritten. This essay argues, however, that in spite of their critique of the Constitution's perceived protections of slavery, war‐minded Northern citizens did not advocate immediate or widespread emancipation.
The chemical shift anisotropies of 1H in H2O(s) and H2S(s)

Abstract The proton NMR is powdered samples of H 2 O(s) and H 2 S(s) have been studied by multiple pulse line narrowing techniques. The resultant spectra provide nuclear magnetic shielding tensors that are approximately axially symmetric. The anisotropy, Δσ − σ | − σ ⊥ , is 34.2 ± 1.0 ppm for ice and 11.1 ± 1.0 ppm for the highest-temperature phase of solid hydrogen sulfide. Comparisons are made with previous experimental and theoretical work.
Continuous-Wave All-Solid-State Laser Operation of Cr4+: Forsterite and Cr4+:Ca2GeO4

Continuous-wave tunable laser operation all-solid-state Cr4+:Mg2SiO4 (Cr:forsterite) and Cr4+:Ca2GeO4 (Cunyite) has been demonstrated. A master oscillator power amplifier semiconductor diode laser was utilized to pump both Cnforsterite and Cunyite. Diode-pumped Cnforsterite was tunable over the 1236-1300-nm spectral range, generating a maximum output of 10 mW at 1260 nm for 640 mW of pump power absorbed by the crystal. Diode-pumped Cunyite was also demonstrated. A maximum output power of 20mW was measure at 1420 nm and the observed tuning range was 1390–1473. A fiber laser was also used to pump Cunyite. A maximum output power of 240 mW was measure from the Cunyite laser for 2.6 W absorbed pump power.
Intermediate Filament and Ecm Mechanics Deduced from Desmin Knockout Muscles

Desmin is the skeletal muscle intermediate filament protein that forms a mesh-like network around Z-disks and helps transmit force to the extracellular matrix (ECM). It generally functions as a mechanical integrator of the cell, maintaining lattice connectivity and enabling efficient force transmission. Desmin related myopathies have debilitating effects that range from muscle weakness and atrophy to cardiac and respiratory failure. Studies performed on desmin knockout muscles have begun to elucidate the physiological and biological roles of desmin, but the mechanical properties of the desmin network are still unknown.We performed incremental stress-relaxation tests on fibers and fiber bundles from desmin knockout and wildtype mouse EDL muscles to investigate how the absence of desmin affects the fiber and fiber bundle viscoelastic properties. Using these data, we developed a structural model with explicit elastic and viscous elements representing the desmin, the rest of the fiber and the ECM. Single fibers from desmin knockout muscles were significantly more compliant (linear modulus = 122±61 kPa) compared to wildtype fibers (176±49 kPa, p<0.05). These data demonstrate that the desmin matrix bears 30-40% of the passive load in muscle cells, a much greater fraction than previously believed. In contrast to fibers, bundles of fibers were nonlinear and demonstrated the opposite trend_bundles from desmin knockout muscles were over twice as stiff (440±237 kPa) compared to wildtype bundles (214±97 kPa) at 60% strain (p<0.0001). Time constants for stress-relaxation were larger for fibers than bundles and were significantly larger for knockout bundles compared to wildtype bundles. These data suggest a biological and biomechanical interaction between muscle cells and the ECM and may indicate that the ECM becomes stiffer in desmin knockout muscles in response to the more compliant fibers.
The Financial Rate of Profit What is it, and how has it behaved in the United States?

This work contributes to the almost nonexistent literature on the profit rate of the financial sector. It updates the single study to include financial variables to cover the past decade, compares this profit rate to the (almost unpublished) Weisskopf and NIPA financial profit rates, compares the financial and nonfinancial sector rates, and details the procedure to construct the profit rate in the financial sector including relevant financial variables which capitalists consider to make profit-rate decisions.JEL Classification: B50, E11
Unanswered Prayers: Religiosity and the God-Serving Bias

Two self-report experiments examined how religiosity affects attributions made for a target person's death. Online adults (Study 1, N = 427) and undergraduate students (Study 2, N = 326) read about Chris who had a heart attack, used religious or health behaviors, and lived or died. Participants made attributions to Chris and God (both studies), and reported their emotions (Study 2). Participants made more attributions to Chris when he lived than when he died, but only when he used health behaviors. The highly religious made more attributions to God, but not when Chris used religious behaviors and died (the God-serving bias); they reported the most positive emotions when Chris lived after using religious behaviors (the Hallelujah effect). Directions for future research in terms of implicit religious beliefs and normative evaluations of religion are discussed.
pH-dependent fluorescence of a heterologously expressed Aequorea green fluorescent protein mutant: in situ spectral characteristics and applicability to intracellular pH estimation.

The green fluorescent protein of Aequorea victoria (GFP) is a natural peptide chromophore without substrate or cofactor requirements for fluorescence. In vitro, a recombinant F64L/S65T GFP mutant (GFPmut1) exhibited pH sensitive fluorescence within the physiologic range. When heterologously expressed in BS-C-1 cells or rabbit proximal tubule cells, uniform cytosolic and nuclear fluorescence was observed. Cytosolic fluorescence constituted over 80% of the total. Excitation scanning of transfected cells revealed two GFPmut1-specific regions that were pH-sensitive over the physiologic range, and each region exhibited a unique pH “bias” in fluorescence emission. Excitation at or near the expected maximum of 488 nm (region II) uniformly resulted in fluorescence that was preferentially altered at acidic pH. In contrast, a novel “wild-type” excitation peak at 400 nm (region I) resulted in alkaline-biased fluorescence similar to that described for the wild-type chromophore in vitro, suggesting that wild-type spec...
Protein kinase structure and function analysis with chemical tools

Protein kinases are the largest enzyme superfamily involved in cell signal transduction and represent therapeutic targets for a range of diseases. There have been intensive efforts from many labs to understand their catalytic mechanisms, discover inhibitors and discern their cellular functions. In this review, we will describe two approaches developed to analyze protein kinases: bisubstrate analog inhibition and phosphonate analog utilization. Both of these methods have been used in combination with the protein semisynthesis method expressed protein ligation to advance our understanding of kinase-substrate interactions and functional elucidation of phosphorylation. Previous work on the nature of the protein kinase mechanism suggests it follows a dissociative transition state. A bisubstrate analog was designed against the insulin receptor kinase to mimic the geometry of a dissociative transition state reaction coordinate distance. This bisubstrate compound proved to be a potent inhibitor against the insulin receptor kinase and occupied both peptide and nucleotide binding sites. Bisubstrate compounds with altered hydrogen bonding potential as well as varying spacers between the adenine and the peptide demonstrate the importance of the original design features. We have also shown that related bisubstrate analogs can be used to potently block serine/threonine kinases including protein kinase A. Since many protein kinases recognize folded protein substrates for efficient phosphorylation, it was advantageous to incorporate the peptide-ATP conjugates into protein structures. Using expressed protein ligation, a Src-ATP conjugate was produced and shown to be a high affinity ligand for the Csk tyrosine kinase. Nonhydrolyzable mimics of phosphoSer/phosphoTyr can be useful in examining the functionality of phosphorylation events. Using expressed protein ligation, we have employed phosphonomethylene phenylalanine and phosphonomethylene alanine to probe the phosphorylation of Tyr and Ser, respectively. These tools have permitted an analysis of the SH2-phosphatases (SHP1 and SHP2), revealing a novel intramolecular stimulation of catalytic activity mediated by the corresponding phosphorylation events. They have also been used to characterize the cellular regulation of the melatonin rhythm enzyme by phosphorylation.
Sol-gel polymerization of tetraalkoxygermanium and organotrialkoxygermanium monomers

While the sol-gel polymerizations of tetraalkoxy- and organotrialkoxysilanes have been extensively studied, there have been few reports of similar investigations with the analogous tetraalkoxygermanium and organotrialkoxygermanium compounds. Germanium alkoxides have received less attention due, in part to their higher cost, but also their greater reactivity towards hydrolysis and condensation reactions. Germanium oxide materials are potentially interesting because the Ge-O-Ge linkage is labile (compared with the siloxane bond in silica gels and polysilsesquioxanes) opening up the possibility of further chemical modification of the polymeric architecture. This may permit hydrolytic reorganization of germanium oxide networks under relatively mild conditions. In this paper, we will present the results of our investigations of the sol-gel polymerizations of tetraethoxygermanium 1, tetraisopropoxygermanium 2, and methyltriethoxy-germanium 3 to afford network materials as both xerogels and aerogels.
The structure of the substrate-free form of MurB, an essential enzyme for the synthesis of bacterial cell walls

Abstract Background: The repeating disaccharide and pentapeptide units of the bacterial peptidoglycan layer are connected by a lactyl ether bridge biosynthesized from UDP- N -acetylglucosamine and phosphoenolpyruvate in sequential enol ether transfer and reduction steps catalyzed by MurA and MurB respectively. Knowledge of the structure and mechanism of the MurB enzyme will permit analysis of this unusual enol ether reduction reaction and may facilitate the design of inhibitors as candidate next-generation antimicrobial agents. Results The crystal structure of UDP- N -acetylenolpyruvylglucosamine reductase, MurB, has been solved at 3.0 a and compared with our previously reported structure of MurB complexed with its substrate enolpyruvyl-UDP- N -acetylglucosamine. Comparison of the liganded structure of MurB with this unliganded form reveals that the binding of substrate induces a substantial movement of domain 3 (residues 219–319) of the enzyme and a significant rearrangement of a loop within this domain. These ligand induced changes disrupt a stacking interaction between two tyrosines (Tyr190 and Tyr254) which lie at the side of the channel leading to the active site of the free enzyme. Conclusion The conformational change induced by enolpyruvyl-UDP- N -acetylglucosamine binding to MurB results in the closure of the substrate-binding channel over the substrate. Tyr190 swings over the channel opening and establishes a hydrogen bond with an oxygen of the α -phosphate of the sugar nucleotide substrate which is critical to substrate binding.
Stresses in Jointed Rigid Pavements

A novel application of the principles of fracture mechanics combined with multilayered elastic theory is used to obtain the design stresses midway between the transverse joints at the bottom of the longitudinal edge of rigid pavements and for corner loading of slabs without dowels. The thermal curl stresses and deflection for slabs that are curled up, with and without vehicular loading, are also determined. The basic idea is to treat a joint with no load transfer, as a crack in a continuously supported plate on an elastic foundation. The deflection and stresses caused by the joint are determined by fracture mechanics, and those for the continuous pavement are determined by the CHEVRON multilayered elastic computer program. The total deflection and stresses are then obtained by superposition. The deflection and stresses so determined are compared with the Westergaard theoretical solutions, the results of finite-element programs, and experimental data from the American Association of State Highway Officials Road Test, showing good agreement.
Purification of human renin.

Abstract Human renin was purified 2,800-fold from a partially purified preparation to an electrophoretically homogeneous state by a series of three different types of affinity chromatography and two additional conventional chromatographic steps at a yield of 9.7%. This amounts to a 420,000-fold purification from a crude kidney extract. This pure human renin preparation has a specific activity of 830 Goldblatt unit/mg and is stable at pH 6.2 and 4°C at least for 3 weeks.
An interactive group decision aid for multiobjective problems: An empirical assessment

Abstract Organizations are frequently required to make decisions about multiobjective problems. The complexity of such decision processes increases drastically when the participation of multiple decision makers becomes necessary. This is primarily due to the unique preference structures of the participants whose individual judgements of the ‘best compromise solution’ may not coincide. Nominal and/or interacting groups have been found to improve the decision-making effectiveness and efficiency associated with such multiple objective, multiple decision-maker problems. This study reports the results of a laboratory experiment involving the use of an interactive multiobjective group decision aid. The effect of two independent variables on a set of performance measures is investigated. The first independent variable is the presence or absence of a formal preference aggregation procedure in a group decision aid. The strength of decision-maker's linear programming background is the second independent variable. The dependent variables are solution quality, speed of convergence to a final agreement, and user confidence in the best compromise solution. Analysis and implications of the experimental results are provided and future research work is outlined.
Two-year outcomes in patients with mild refractory angina treated with enhanced external counterpulsation.

Cardiovascular Division, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York; *Graduate School of Public Health and †Cardiology Division,University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; ‡Division of Cardiology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA. IEPR data c ollect-ed at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USASummaryBackground: In the International Enhanced External Coun-terpulsation Patient Registry (IEPR), approximately 85% ofthe patients treated are in Canadian Cardiovascular Society(CCS) class III–IV with no option for further invasive coro-nary revascularization procedures.Hypothesis: This study sought to determine whether it isclinically important to establish whether the observed durablereduction in disabling severe angina with enhanced externalcounterpulsation (EECP) treatment can be extended to thosewith less severe CCS class II angina, who also have no optionfor further revascularization.Methods: This study evaluated the immediate response,durability and clinical events over a 2-year period after EECPtreatment in 112 patients with Canadian Cardiovascular So-ciety (CCS) class II angina versus 1,346 patients with classIII–IV angina using data from the International EECP PatientRegistry (IEPR). Results: Treatment with EECP significantly (by at leastone CCS class) reduced angina frequency, nitroglycerin use,and improved quality of life in both groups. At 2-year follow-up, 74% of class II and 70% of class III–IV patients remainedfree of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) andcontinued to demonstrate a durable CCS class improvementover baseline. Conclusion: The robust effectiveness of EECP as a nonin-vasive device, together with its relatively low start-up and re-current costs, makes it an attractive consideration for treatingpatients with milder refractory angina in addition to the patientwith severely disabling angina treated in current practice.Key words: noninvasive, 2-year outcome, enhanced externalcounterpulsation, anginaIntroductionEnhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninva-sive device for the treatment of patients with coronary arterydisease. It consists of three pair of pneumatic cuffs wrappedaround the lower extremities. The cuffs inflate sequentially atthe beginning of diastole and deflate during systole, producingsystolic unloading and diastolic augmentation as well as in-creasing venous return.
Sprinter : a novel transmembrane protein required for Wg secretion and signaling

Wingless (Wg) is a secreted ligand that differentially activates gene expression in target tissues. It belongs to the Wnt family of secreted signaling molecules that regulate cell-to-cell interactions during development. Activation of Wg targets is dependent on the ligand concentration in the extracellular milieu; cellular mechanisms that govern the synthesis, delivery and receipt of Wg are elaborate and complex. We have identified sprinter (srt), which encodes a novel, evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein required for the transmission of the Wg signal. Mutations in srt cause the accumulation of Wg in cells that express it, and retention of the ligand prevents activation of its target genes in signal-receiving cells. In the absence of Srt activity, levels of Wg targets (including Engrailed in embryos lacking maternal and zygotic srt, and Senseless and Achaete in wing discs) are reduced. Activation of Wg targets in the receiving cells does not require srt. Hence, the function of Srt is restricted to events occurring within the Wg-producing cells. We show that srt is not required for any aspect of Hedgehog (Hh) signal transduction, suggesting specificity of srt for the Wg pathway. We propose that srt encodes a protein required for Wg secretion that regulates maturation, membrane targeting or delivery of Wg. Loss of srt function in turn diminishes Wg-pathway activation in receiving cells.
Husserl's Theory of Consciousness in the Fifth Logical Investigation

Analyse du role de l'essence intentionnelle dans les premieres oeuvres de Husserl. Examinant les notions d'experience intentionnelle et d'acte d'objectification, ainsi que les notions de qualite et matiere appliquees a l'action, definies dans la cinquieme «Recherche logique», l'A. revise les interpretations respectives de la theorie husserlienne de la conscience developpees par Levinas et Q. Smith. A partir du principe de Husserl et de la distinction entre les actes d'objectification et les actes de non-objectification, l'A. montre que la position realiste de Husserl dans la cinquieme «Recherche logique» anticipe le transcendantalisme des «Idees»
Interleukin 1-induced Fos and Jun do not regulate inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat islets of Langerhans and RINm5F cells.

Recent evidence indicates that nitric oxide (NO) produced after expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mediates cytokine-induced inhibition of insulin secretion by pancreatic islets. The current studies were designed to characterize the involvement of immediate-early response genes, c-fos and c-jun, in interleukin 1 (IL-1)-induced expression of iNOS. iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by both rat islets and RINm5F cells was time dependent, with maximal expression observed after an approximately 3- to 6-h exposure to IL-1. IL-1 also stimulated rapid and transient expression of c-fos and c-jun by both rat islets and RINm5F cells, with maximal mRNA accumulation detected 30-60 min after IL-1 treatment. IL-1-induced protein synthesis of Fos and Jun was observed as early as 30 min, peaked between 3-5 h, and decreased by 8 h after IL-1 treatment. Temporal correlation of Fos and Jun expression and iNOS gene induction suggested that Fos and Jun might regulate iNOS gene transcription by rodent pancreatic beta...
Evidence of a Sensory Processing Unit in the Mammalian Macula

We cut serial sections through the medial part of the rat vestibular macula for transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examination, computer-assisted 3-D reconstruction, and compartmental modeling. The ultrastructural research showed that many primary vestibular neurons have an unmyelinated segment, often branched, that extends between the heminode (putative site of the spike initiation zone) and the expanded terminal(s) (calyx, calyces). These segments, termed the neuron branches, and the calyces frequently have spine-like processes of various dimensions with bouton endings that morphologically are afferent, efferent, or reciprocal to other macular neural elements. The major questions posed by this study were whether small details of morphology, such as the size and location of neuronal processes or synapses, could influence the output of a vestibular afferent, and whether a knowledge of morphological details could guide the selection of values for simulation parameters. The conclusions from our simulations are (1) values of 5.0 k omega cm2 for membrane resistivity and 1.0 nS for synaptic conductance yield simulations that best match published physiological results; (2) process morphology has little effect on orthodromic spread of depolarization from the head (bouton) to the spike initiation zone (SIZ); (3) process morphology has no effect on antidromic spread of depolarization to the process head; (4) synapses do not sum linearly; (5) synapses are electrically close to the SIZ; and (6) all whole-cell simulations should be run with an active SIZ.
Conformal deformation of metrics on subdomains of surfaces

We consider prescribing Gaussian curvature on subdomains of a surface. We employ thedistribution of mass principle (Theorem 3.3) to smooth subdomains of a Riemannian manifold to obtain that for critical and supercritical cases, a function can be the Gaussian curvature of some pointwise conformal metric, provided it satisfies certain conditions.
Three-dimensional study of Mars upper thermosphere/ionosphere and hot oxygen corona: 1. General description and results at equinox for solar low conditions

important reaction, the dissociative recombination of O2 is responsible for most of the production of hot atomic oxygen deep in the dayside thermosphere/ionosphere. The investigation of the Martian upper atmosphere is therefore complicated by the change in the flow regime from a collisional to a collisionless domain. Past studies, which used simple extrapolations of 1-D thermospheric/ionospheric parameters, could not account for the full effects of realistic conditions, which are shown to be of significant influence on the exosphere both close to and far away from the exobase. In this work, the combination of the new 3-D Direct Simulation Monte Carlo kinetic model and the modern 3-D Mars Thermosphere General Circulation Model is employed to describe selfconsistently the Martian upper atmosphere at equinox for solar low conditions. For the first time, a 3-D analysis and shape of the Martian hot corona is provided, along with density and temperature profiles of cold and hot constituents as functions of position on the planet. Atmospheric loss and ion production (found to be more than an order of magnitude lower than the neutral escape), calculated locally all around the planet, provide valuable information for plasma models, refining the understanding of the ion loss, atmospheric sputtering, and interaction with the solar wind, in general.
Electrospray LC/MS — can it be used to determine lower molecular weight molecules?

A brief description of electrospray theory and operation is presented with emphasis on the determination of lower molecular weight molecules.