cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of Individual Glycosylation Sites on Glycoproteins

In this unit, glycopeptides generated by endopeptidase digestion are first separated by reversed-phase chromatography. The presence of hydrophilic, negatively charged oligosaccharides shortens retention times, causing glycopeptides to elute in considerably broader peaks than do peptides, so by following the elution profile either radiochemically or colorimetrically, the peaks corresponding to unique glycopeptides can be identified. With proper controls, the number of peaks will correspond to the number of different glycosylation sites. The eluted fractions are suitable for analysis by lectin chromatography, and the peptide sugar linkage can be defined either by endoglycosidase digestion or chemical cleavage. Oligosaccharides freed from the peptide according to the methods described in this unit can be characterized by size or charge, techniques not generally applicable with glycopeptides.
Social Security Reform in 2005 and Beyond

Social Security reform started out with a bang in 2005. President Bush made it the centerpiece of his 2005 State of the Union address, and he spent the early months of the year on a 60-day, 60-city tour around the country in which he touted his pet project of creating Social Security "personal retirement accounts." Despite its early prominence, Social Security reform ended with a whimper by the end of 2005. This Article describes and analyzes three of the most politically salient reform proposals in 2005: (1) President Bush's "Personal Retirement Accounts," (2) Robert Pozen's "Progressive Price Indexing Plan," and (3) Proposals to Fund Personal Retirement Accounts with Social Security's Annual Surpluses. The Article then explains why Social Security reform failed despite President Bush's Herculean effort to create personal retirement accounts. Finally, it concludes by discussing the prospects for reform in 2006 and beyond.
Chromosome Instability Syndromes

Several mutant genes are known that greatly increase the incidence of chromosome aberrations and have striking clinical effects. The most extensively studied of these autosomal recessive disorders are Bloom syndrome (BS), Fanconi anemia (FA), and ataxia telangiectasia (AT). The risk of cancer is enhanced in such individuals: one-fourth of BS patients, one-eighth of AT patients, and about one-eighth of FA patients develop cancer, frequently at an early age. The great interest in BS, FA, and AT might seem out of proportion to their rare occurrence. However, their study has shed light on chromosome structure and function, providing insights into the role of disturbed DNA replication and repair in causing chromosome breaks, mutator phenotypes, and cancer.
Brain Response to Endotoxin

Abstract The cellular and systemic responses of the brain to endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] administration are considered in relation to how the central nervous system receives information about the presence of LPS in blood and extracellular fluids (ECFs). In an attempt to provide an answer to the question of “How does the brain know the body is sick?” we review LPS-induced signaling pathways, reaction of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract epithelium and related vagal sensory nerves, related endothelium of local vascular beds in both the GI tract and the brain, as well as the specialized brain vasculature of circumventricular organs (CVOs) and blood vessels in the brain parenchyma. The featured signal pathways activated by low (subseptic) doses of LPS involve cytokines and prostanoids conveying messages to the brain via perivascular and blood vessel component cells and vagal visceral afferents. Activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, as it represents a key component of the acute-phase reaction to LPS, is the functional endpoint emphasized in the studies presented. Individual animals were instrumented to permit rapid sampling from ECF in the anterior hypothalamus and concomitant peripheral blood sampling at 15-min intervals before and after intravenous LPS administration. Changes in interleukin (IL)-1β and hormones from pituitary [adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)] and adrenal (corticosterone) components of the HPA axis were studied in individual animals. Intrahypothalamic changes in IL-1β and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) within the first half hour after LPS administration implicate hypothalamic mechanisms contributing to HPA axis activation after endotoxin. The importance of hypothalamus in this acute-phase reaction is examined further in another set of experiments involving excitotoxic chemical lesions of cell bodies in the anterior hypothalamic area (AHA) prior to LPS exposure. When viewed together, the results of these studies emphasize the importance of rapid communication of the periphery with the AHA via multiple routes after peripheral exposure to LPS, which allows the activation of all levels of the HPA axis during the acute-phase reaction.
Automatic facial pose determination of 3D range data for face model and expression identification

Many of the contemporary 3D facial recognition and facial expression recognition algorithms depend on locating primary facial features, such as the eyes, nose, or lips. Others are dependent on determining the pose of the face. We propose a novel method for limiting the search space needed to find these "interesting features." We then show that our algorithm can be used in conjunction with surface labeling to robustly determine the pose of a face. Our approach does not require any type of training. It is pose-invariant and can be applied to both manually cropped models and raw range data, which can include the neck, ears, shoulders, and other noise. We applied the proposed algorithm to our created 3D range model database, the experiments show the promising results to classify individual faces and individual facial expressions.
Investigation of Laser Peening Effects on Hydrogen Charged Stainless Steels

Hydrogen-rich environments such as fuel cell reactors can exhibit damage caused by hydrogen permeation in the form of corrosion cracking by lowering tensile strength and decreasing material ductility. Coatings and liners have been investigated, but there were few shot-peening or laser peening studies referenced in the literature with respect to preventing hydrogen embrittlement. The surface compressive residual stress induced by laser peening had shown success in preventing stress corrosion cracking (SCC) for stainless steels in power plants. The question arose if the residual stresses induced by laser peening could delay the effects of hydrogen in a material. This study investigated the effect of laser peening on hydrogen penetration into metal alloys. Three areas were studied: laser peening, hydrogenation, and hydrogen detection. This study demonstrated that laser peening does not reduce the hydrogen permeation into a stainless steel surface nor does it prevent hydrogen embrittlement. The effect of laser peening to reduce hydrogen-assisted fatigue was unclear.
Decidual production of prolactin in late gestation: Further evidence for a decidual source of amniotic fluid prolactin

The capacity of human decidual tissue to synthesize prolactin de novo throughout late gestation was investigated and correlated with the levels of prolactin (PRL) in amniotic fluid. Maximal concentrations of PRL in both amniotic fluid and samples of decidua were found prior to the thirtieth week of gestation and declined simultaneously until term. A high correlation (r = 0.90, p 0.05). These data are interpreted as indicating (1) that decidual tissue varies throughout late gestation, in both its initial content of prolactin and its ability to synthesize prolactin de novo, in a manner which correlates to a high degree with variations in amniotic fluid prolactin levels and (2) that the decidual tissue is the major source of amniotic fluid prolactin.
Impact of smart antenna designs on network capacity

Smart antenna technology is being considered for mobile platforms such as automobiles, cellular phones (mobile unit), laptops, etc. This paper presents a comprehensive effort on smart antennas that examines and integrates antenna array design, digital signal processing algorithms (for angle of arrival estimation and adaptive beamforming), and the impact of these on the network throughput. The results presented are part of a broader project that considers this antenna system in the context of reconfigurable broadband (high-speed) networks.
Excited-state electron transfer from ruthenium-polypyridyl compounds to anatase TiO2 nanocrystallites: evidence for a Stark effect.

Photophysical studies were performed with [Ru(dtb)2(dcb)](PF6)2 and cis-Ru(dcb)(dnb)(NCS)2, where dtb is 4,4′-(C(CH3)3)2-2,2′-bipyridine, dcb is 4,4′-(COOH)2-2,2′-bipyridine, and dnb is 4,4′-(CH3(CH2)8)2-2,2′-bipyridine), anchored to anatase TiO2 particles (∼15 nm in diameter) interconnected in a mesoporous, thin film (∼10 μm thick) immersed in Li+-containing acetonitrile electrolytes. Pulsed-laser excitation resulted in rapid, nonquantitative excited-state injection into TiO2 with a rate constant that could not be time-resolved, kinj > 108 s−1, to yield an interfacial charge-separated state. Return of this state to ground-state products displayed observation-wavelength-dependent kinetics due to charge recombination and a second process. The second process occurred in parallel and was assigned to a transient Stark effect created by the electric field originating from the electrons in TiO2 on ruthenium sensitizers that had not undergone excited-state injection. The kinetics for this processes were well mod...
Optical Constants of Iron in the Visible Region

The optical constants of clean iron single-crystal surfaces maintained in an ultrahigh vacuum were determined. An ellipsometric technique was used to determine values of the optical constants as a function of wavelength in the region of 3600–7000 A. A maximum at 4900 A in the conductivity versus wavelength curve indicates the presence of an interband transition.
Affect and pain in rheumatoid arthritis: do individual differences in affective regulation and affective intensity predict emotional recovery from pain?

Background: Individual differences in adaptation to rheumatoid arthritis are not fully accounted for by illness severity or duration of symptoms.Purpose: In this study, we assessed differences in affect regulation and affect intensity as variables that might be important for identifying women with rheumatoid arthritis who are resilient versus those who have disrupted moods following pain exacerbations.Method: Specifically, affective regulation, affect intensity, active coping, neuroticism and weekly reports of pain, positive affect, and negative affect were assessed in a sample of 81 women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.Results: Our results indicated that affective regulation, affect intensity, and active coping played important but distinct roles in the ebb and flow of negative and positive affect. In particular, active coping was related to positive affect, whereas affective regulation and affect intensity showed interactive effects, moderating the prospective relationship between pain and negative affect and pain and positive affect.Conclusion: Overall, this study suggests that recovery from rheumatoid arthritis pain can be swift, except for those women who have difficulty regulating strong unpleasant affect.
β Irradiation of recurrent ptergia: results and complications

Although postoperative beta irradiation for prevention of pterygium recurrence is widely used, its complication rate has not been widely appreciated. Thirty-six patients underwent pterygium excision followed by irradiation with 90Sr to between 1600 and 5300 cGy (median 2400) in two to four fractions over 7 to 27 days. A median of three fields were used in each treatment course (range two to 10). Most patients had undergone previous treatment for their pterygia, including surgery alone (25 patients), or both surgery and irradiation (5 patients). Overall, recurrences developed in 10 eyes (28%). Recurrence occurred in one eye after re-irradiation (20%), compared to 9 of 31 (29%) previously non-irradiated eyes (p greater than 0.1). There was no association with number of excisions and recurrences, although all but 6 patients had undergone more than one excision. Thirteen patients (36%) developed complications including: epithelial defect or corneal thinning (3), symblepharon (5), cataract (4) and corneal ulceration (1). Complications developed in 4 of the 5 (80%) re-irradiated eyes compared to 9 of 31 (29%) previously non-irradiated eyes (p less than 0.05). The power of the statistical analysis was limited by sample size, but no significant association was observed between the development of complications or recurrences and total dose, number of abutting fields, number of previous surgical excisions or patient age, even when re-irradiated patients were excluded. Recently described calibration uncertainties with the 90Sr applicator may explain in part these complications. Alternatively, technical factors such as the number of fields or volume treated may play a role. Excessive complications and recurrences with the use of postoperative beta irradiation in this series emphasize the danger of re-treatment and the need for alternative safe and effective therapies.
Naturalizing Subjective Character

When I have a conscious experience of the sky, there is a bluish way it is like for me to have that experience. We may distinguish two aspects of this “bluish way it is like for me”: (i) the bluish aspect and (ii) the for-me aspect. Let us call the bluish aspect of the experience its qualitative character and the for-me aspect its subjective character. What is this elusive for-me-ness, or subjective character, of conscious experience? In this paper, I examine six different attempts to account for subjective character in terms of the functional and representational properties of conscious experiences. After arguing against the first five, I defend the sixth.
Biotransformation of -phenyl--naphthylamine to -naphthylamine in a laboratory sludge system

Abstract N -Phenyl- β -naphthylamine, a widely used rubber antioxidant and antiozonant, was biotransformed into β -naphthylamine, a potent carcinogen, in a laboratory sewage sludge system. β -Naphthylamine appeared to accumulate in the aqueous phase of the system while the undegraded parent compound appeared to be associated with the sludge solids.
Local Fields of Extremals for Optimal Control Problems with State Constraints of Relative Degree 1

A local embedding of a boundary arc into a field of extremals is constructed for single-input optimal control problems with state space constraints given by control-invariant manifolds of relative degree 1. The strong local optimality of the reference trajectory is proved.
2-dimensional numerical analysis of laminated thin film elements

A theoretical analysis of the laminated thin film elements is carried out by solving the micromagnetic equation. The boundary conditions of the equation are obtained by assuming that the magnetization is pinned at the edges of the elements. The dimension of the element is 2 mu m*20 mu m, with 150-AA-thick magnetic layers and a 50-AA-thick nonmagnetic layer. For the numerical analysis each magnetic layer is divided into 40*100 segments. The demagnetizing field is obtained by integrating the surface poles generated at the boundaries of the elements. Two different element shapes are considered: rectangular and diamond. Each shape is solved with its anisotropy constant either parallel or perpendicular to the long dimension of the element. >
Nursing epistemology: traditions, insights, questions.

Epistemology is the study of what human beings know, how they come to know what they think they know and what the criteria are for evaluating knowledge claims. Nursing epistemology is the study of knowledge shared among the members of the discipline, the patterns of knowing and knowledge that develops from them, and the criteria for accepting knowledge claims. Three types of knowledge specific to nursing as a discipline are described here: clinical knowledge, conceptual knowledge and empirical knowledge. Different criteria for evaluating each type are suggested.
Simulation Study of Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Piezoelectric Thin Film Coated Polymer Tube

A novel piezoelectrically actuated micropump was designed and its characteristics were simulated. The proposed structure of micropump consists of a polymer pipe coated with three curved piezoelectric strips, which actuate the polymer pipe walls using an external power source. A three dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) was used to study the deformation in the polymer pipe. The pump prototype comprises three semi-cylindrical discs made of PZT-5H and a polyimide pipe; PZT discs are placed on the opposite sides of a polyimide pipe. The structure was simulated for a wide range of voltages and frequencies. The stroke volume of the micropump was calculated using the deformation profiles obtained from the FEA. The results indicated that the change of stroke volume of pipe was functions of both voltage and frequency of power. Also there were few peak points of stroke volume associated with bending mode of piezoelectric strips. At the lower frequency (<1 KHz) and voltage regions (<100 V), a flow rate of few μl/min could be achieved for a pump designed with check values at the end of the pipe.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Synthesis of oligosaccharides containing the X-antigenic trisaccharide (α-l-Fucp-(1→3)-[β-d-Galp-(1→4)]-β-d-GlcpNAc) at their nonreducing ends☆

Abstract The “armed” methyl 2,3,4-tri- O -benzyl-1-thio-β- l -fucopyranoside was reacted with “disarmed” phenyl O -(tetra- O -acetyl-β- d -galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-6- O -benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-1-thio-β- d -glucopyranoside in the presence of CuBr 2 -Bu 4 NBr complex to give phenyl O -(2,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-β- d -galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)- O -[(2,3,4-tri - O -benzyl-α- l -fucopyranosyl)-(1→3])-6- O -benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-1-thio-β- d -glucopyranoside ( 6 ) as a novel glycosyl donor. The glycosylating capability of 6 was further examined using N -iodosuccinimide-triflic acid as a reagent. This led to the synthesis of a tetrasaccharide and a pentasaccharide incorporating the X-antigenic structure represented by 6 .
Characterization of Multilayer Material Properties of Descending Aorta

In a wide range of biomechanical modeling of aorta from traumatic injury to stent grafts, the arterial wall has been considered as a single homogeneous layer vessel, ignoring the fact that arteries are composed of distinct anatomical layers with different mechanical characteristics. In this study, using a custom-made nanoindentation technique, changes in the mechanical properties of porcine thoracic aorta wall in the radial direction were characterized using a quasi-linear viscoelastic model. Two layers of equal thickness were mechanically distinguishable based on the radial variations in the instantaneous Young’s modulus E and reduced relaxation function G(t). The overall results showed that the outer half was stiffer and showed less relaxation than the inner half. These layers may correspond to media and adventitia in the specimens.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Thermoelectric Power and the Bauschinger Effect

IT has been proposed1,2 that the Bauschinger effect which occurs in face-centred cubic metals after a plastic strain exceeding 1 per cent might be attributed to the rearrangement of dislocations at the beginning of the reversal of strain. If we rather crudely reckon, that changes of thermoelectric power and electric resistance are measures of the total disorder in a lattice, then these should remain constant during the Bauschinger strain, though increasing during previous and subsequent plastic strain, because during the Bauschinger strain the total disorder in the lattice is not increasing, but merely being re-arranged.
In vivo cleaved CDCP1 promotes early tumor dissemination via complexing with activated β1 integrin and induction of FAK/PI3K/Akt motility signaling.

In vivo cleaved CDCP1 promotes early tumor dissemination via complexing with activated β1 integrin and induction of FAK/PI3K/Akt motility signaling
Should Sniffing Wi-Fi Be Illegal?

Should it be against the law to sniff Wi-Fi packets? This question not only has ramifications for Wi-Fi and wiretapping but also poses broader questions about how we use law to protect online privacy. It leads us to consider many important and recurring debates about the collision of law and technology.
Comment on Kirk Mcclure's “The low‐income housing tax credit program goes mainstream and moves to the suburbs”

Abstract As McClure's article notes, the Low‐Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program has indeed gone mainstream. Given the tarnished reputation of many other federal low‐income housing programs, this is good news. It is also surprising in some ways considering the many programmatic flaws inherent in the LIHTC program. As a point of departure, I look at why McClure and others are able to describe the program in a positive light despite its many flaws. I attribute this to the unique political culture of the United States, for which the LIHTC program is well suited. In addition, it sidesteps one of the thorniest problems that have bedeviled low‐income housing programs—the spatial isolation of poor minorities. Until the LIHTC program explicitly addresses this issue, however, any praise must be tempered by a great deal of caution.
Cost Analysis of Teleretinal Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy in a County Hospital Population

Compliance to annual diabetic eye examination remains poor: 48–66% nationally and 18% in inner cities (1,2). To improve noncompliance to diabetic eye examination in an inner-city county hospital population with an undersupplied eye clinic, the Wishard-Eskenazi Teleretinal Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (WETDRS) program was implemented in June 2009. Four Topcon digital retinal cameras were purchased by the health system for screening of only patients lacking a documented eye clinic visit within the past year at four primary care clinics. Captured images were remotely interpreted by eye physicians and electronically reported back to primary care clinics. To determine the cost of teleretinal screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) through primary care, we conducted a retrospective review from program initiation through February 2013 (45-month time period). Institutional review board approval was obtained, and research adhered to tenets of the Declaration of …
Effect of ketoconazole on cyclosporine dose in healthy dogs.

Objective—To determine the degree to which the dose of oral cyclosporine (CyA), in healthy dogs, can be decreased by concurrent oral administration of ketoconazole. Dogs in this study were observed for physical or biochemical side effects that might have been caused by the administration of CyA and ketoconazole. Study Design—Prospective research study. Sample Population—Five healthy, intact female Beagle dogs. Methods—CyA was administered orally twice daily to achieve stable whole blood trough levels of 400 to 600 ng/mL. Ketoconazole was added at a low therapeutic dose (average dose: 13.6 mg/kg/d) then at a subtherapeutic dose (average dose: 4.7 mg/kg/d). CyA whole blood trough levels were monitored every 3 to 4 days and maintained at 400 to 600 ng/mL by adjusting CyA doses accordingly. Physical examination, CBC, biochemical profile, and urinalysis were performed at 2-week intervals throughout the study period. Results—The initial mean dose of CyA required to achieve target blood levels was 14.5 mg/ kg/d. With concurrent ketoconazole (low therapeutic dose, average dose: 13.6 mg/kg/d) and CyA administration, the CyA dose declined to 3.4 mg/kg/day (range: 1.2 to 5.2 mg/kg/d), representing a 75% reduction in CyA dose and monetary savings of 57.8%. At a subtherapeutic dose of ketoconazole (average dose: 4.7 mg/kg/d), combination therapy resulted in a CyA dose of 10.1 mg/kg/day (4.9 to 10.6 mg/kg/d), representing a 38% reduction in CyA dose and monetary savings of 23.8%. Weight loss and transient hypoalbuminemia of unknown clinical significance were observed. Other physical and biochemical evaluations were unremarkable over the 12-week study period. Conclusions—The oral administration of ketoconazole can be used to reduce substantially the oral CyA dose needed to maintain selected blood levels in healthy dogs. Clinical Relevance—The oral administration of ketoconazole can result in substantial cost savings to owners of dogs receiving CyA after renal allograft transplantation or for the treatment of autoimmune disease.
Solid Phase Extraction of N-Linked Glycopeptides Using Hydrazide Tip

Glycoproteome contains valuable information where biomarkers may be discovered for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Nowadays, with the ever-increasing performances of mass spectrometers, the emphasis is shifting to the sample preparation for better throughput and reproducibility. Therefore, to facilitate high throughput N-linked glycopeptide isolation, in this study, a novel hydrazide tip was devised and an integrated workflow of N-linked glycopeptide isolation using hydrazide tips was presented. With the use of bovine fetuin as a standard glycoprotein, the incubation time was determined for each major step of glycopeptide isolation. With the use of commercially available human serum, multiple parallel isolations of glycopeptides were performed using hydrazide tips with a liquid handling robotic system. We demonstrated that, with the hydrazide tips, the processing time was significantly decreased from 3 to 4 days to less than 8 h with excellent reproducibility. The hydrazide pipet tips have great potenti...
Soil evolution along a forest-salt marsh transect under a regime of slowly rising sea level, southeastern United States

Soil evolution in salt marshes at North Inlet, SC, is driven by slowly rising sea level (3.4 mm/yr). As sea level rises the boundary between the low-lying coastal forest and high marsh moves up slope. As sandy forested Spodosols become subject to tidal inundation and salinization, forest vegetation (Pinus, Quercus, Nyssa, Lagerstroemia, and Vaccinium) is replaced successively by Cedrus, Iva, Juncus, Borrichia, Salicornia, short-form Spartina, and finally medium Spartina. These botanical changes accompany gradual changes in soil texture, chemistry and morphology. The originally sandy textured A and E horizons of the Spodosol become progressively enriched in clay and silt by tidal deposition of marine mud. These fine grained deposits do not form a distinct geogenetic layer but rather are mixed downward into the original sandy horizons by intense fiddler crab (Uca) burrowing. Thus soils in the marsh become gradually more sandy with depth. The strong color contrast between the original A and E horizons is eventually obliterated by mud enrichment and the growth of a dense Spartina root mat, leaving a medium gray A horizon that is difficult to sub-divide. In addition, the decay of organic matter in the marsh soils via sulfate reduction results in increased soil sulfur with distance into the marsh. The sandy, black spodic horizon originally formed in the forest environment occurs beneath the marsh surface at depths of less than 1 m and to distances of several hundred meters from the forestmarsh boundary. Except perhaps for its upper 10 cm, the spodic B horizon appears to have been little affected by marsh processes. The presence of the spodic horizon in the marsh profile, and the fact that it is not buried beneath a sufficiently thick and distinct geologic deposit, poses an interesting taxonomic problem. Based on their moisture regime, sulfur content, and spodic horizons, the marsh soils are best classified as Sulfaquentic Haplaquods. However, the spodic horizon, which is diagnostic for this classification, is clearly relict in terms of the processes that are thought to be responsible for its formation.
Job Securityand Product Market Competition

In the present paper, we relate the extent of job security offered to incumbent managers to the extent of competition among firms in the product market, where the extent of job security is measured by the probability that an incumbent manager continues to be employed by his current firm and the extent of competition is measured by the degree of differentiation between competing brands. We demonstrate that when competition between firms intensifies and “on-the-job training” is relatively more conducive to reducing the variable costs of production, firms tend to offer reduced (increased) job security to incumbent managers, provided that the degree of differentiation between competing products is sufficiently large (small), respectively. If “on-the-job training” is relatively more conducive to reducing the fixed costs of production, however, the previous result is reversed.
Social strife in cockerel flocks during the formation of peck rights

Abstract Agonistic encounters and various physiological parameters were measured from 62 to 91 days of age in cockerels maintained in flocks where comb phenotypes were intermingled and maintained separately. Plasma corticosterone levels were significantly higher 1 week after flocks were assembled than on the day of assemblage or after the formation of peck rights. There was evidence of social stratification based on comb phenotypes. Neither this stratification nor rank in the peck order per se had a predictable influence on the physiological measures of stress.
The Optimum Response of Second-Order, Velocity-Controlled Systems With Contactor Control

This paper is concerned with the optimum control problem for plants described by second-order differential equations with constant coefficients and with velocity control. Emphasis is placed on the case where the characteristic equation of the system has one zero root and two complex conjugate roots. The problem is studied in terms of the motion of the phase point in a three-dimensional phase space. An iteration method is developed to obtain the optimum trajectory, which in turn gives the optimum response.
Histone H3 Lysine 9 Methylation and HP1γ Are Associated with Transcription Elongation through Mammalian Chromatin

Methylation of histones modulates chromatin structure and function. Whereas methylation of histone H3 on lysines 4, 36, and 79 has been linked with gene activation, methylation of H3 on lysines 9 and 27 and histone H4 on lysine 20 is associated with heterochromatin and some repressed genes within euchromatin. Here, we show that H3K9 di- and trimethylation occur in the transcribed region of active genes in mammalian chromatin. This modification is dynamic, as it increases during activation of transcription and is rapidly removed upon gene repression. Heterochromatin Protein 1gamma (HP1gamma), a protein containing a chromo-domain that recognizes H3K9 methylation, is also present in the transcribed region of all active genes examined. Both the presence of HP1gamma and H3K9 methylation are dependent upon elongation by RNA polymerase II. These findings demonstrate novel roles for H3K9 methylation and HP1gamma in transcription activation.
An Interview with Stephen Strobbe, MS, RN, NP, APRN-BC, CARN, Clinical Director, University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services

I had the privilege of conducting an interview with Stephen Strobbe. Stephen has been a member of the International Nurses Society of Addictions (IntNSA) for over 10 years and he is a Certified Add...
In vitro cytotoxicity of metals to bluegill (BF-2) cells.

BF-2 cells, an established fibroblastic cell line derived from the caudal fin of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), were exposed to 18 metal salts. Cytotoxieity was assayed by the neutral red (NR) technique. Based on the concentration of metal that reduced the uptake of neutral red by 50% (NR50), the rank order of Cytotoxieity for the cationic metals was silver > mercury > cadmium > zinc > copper > cobalt > nickel > lead > tin > manganese > chromium (trivalent), and for the anionic metal complexes it was arsenite > dichromate > chromate > arsenate > selenite > permanganate > selenate. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.909) between the NR50 ranking for the divalent metal cations and their chemical softness parameters (σp). A good correlation (r=0.833) was also found between thein vitro NR50 Cytotoxieity values for the cationic metals and thein vivo water-borne LC50 values for bluegill. There was no correlation, however, between NR50 and LC50 data for the anionic metal complexes, primarily due to the unusual tolerance, as reported in the literature, of fish for hexavalent chromium salts.
In Vivo Detection of Experimental Optic Neuritis by Pupillometry

Optic neuritis is an inflammatory demyelination of optic nerve often occurring in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an MS model, develop optic neuritis, but it is detected histologically after sacrifice, limiting the ability to monitor progression or treatment in vivo. We examined whether pupillary light responses measured by pupillometry can identify eyes with optic neuritis in EAE mice. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to unilateral light flashes of increasing intensity at 10 s intervals (4.7, 37, and 300 μW/cm(2)). Pupillary responses were recorded with a commercially available pupillometer. EAE was then induced by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Pupillometry was repeated up to 17 days post-immunization, and responses were correlated with optic nerve inflammation. By day 17 post-immunization, 90% of EAE eyes had optic nerve inflammation. EAE eyes had significantly reduced pupillary constriction compared to control eyes. Mice exhibited more than a 25% decrease in pupillary constriction in at least one eye by days 13-15 post-immunization. In some eyes, pupil responses decreased prior to onset of detectable inflammation. Results show that pupillometry detects decreased optic nerve function in experimental optic neuritis, even in the absence of histological detection. Measuring pupillary constriction allows in vivo identification and functional assessment of eyes with optic neuritis that will be useful in evaluating potential therapies over time. Furthermore, results demonstrate that decreased visual function occurs early in optic neuritis, before optic nerve inflammation reaches its peak level.
Histologic abnormalities of the left ventricle in a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia

Right ventricular histologic abnormalities have been described in association with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, but the cause of the disease is unknown. Identical abnormalities were noted in endomyocardial biopsy specimens from the right and left ventricles of a 20-year-old male patient with the clinical syndrome of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Left ventricular function was normal at rest and during bicycle exercise. Eighteen months previously, he had shown clinical and serologic evidence of mycoplasmal myocarditis. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia may represent predominant involvement of the right ventricle in a generalized cardiomyopathic process, possibly as a consequence of healed myocarditis.
Advection-dominated Accretion Model of the Black Hole V404 Cygni in Quiescence

We have analyzed archival ASCA data on the soft X-ray transient source V404 Cyg in quiescence. We find that in the energy range 0.7-8.5 keV the spectrum is a hard power law with a photon spectral index between 1.8 and 2.6 (90% confidence limits). We present a model of V404 Cyg in which the accretion flow has two components: (1) an outer thin disk with a small annular extent and (2) a large interior region where the flow is advection dominated. Nearly all the radiation in the infrared, optical, UV, and X-ray bands is from the advection-dominated zone; the thin disk radiates primarily in the infrared where it contributes about 10% of the observed flux. The spectrum we calculate with this model is in excellent agreement with the ASCA X-ray data presented here, as well as with previous optical data. Moreover, the fit is very insensitive to the choice of parameters such as black hole mass, orbital inclination, viscosity coefficient α, and magnetic field strength. We consider the success of the model to be strong support for the advection-dominated accretion paradigm, and further evidence of the black hole nature of V404 Cyg. We discuss strategies whereby systems with advection-dominated accretion could be used to prove the reality of event horizons in black holes.
Aural Image in Practice: A Multicase Analysis of Instrumental Practice in Middle School Learners.

This multiple case study examined six adolescent band students engaged in self-directed practice. The students’ practice sessions were videotaped. Students provided verbal reports during their practice and again retrospectively while reviewing their video immediately after practice. Students were asked to discuss their choice of practice strategies, their self-assessment process, and their motivation. This study suggests that student use (and nonuse) of aural imagery seemed to affect practice in multiple ways relating to motivation, goal setting, strategy use, and self-assessment. The quality of aural image a student had of the music to be played seemed to be related to the student’s level of music literacy.
Implicit learning mediates base rate acquisition in perceptual categorization

We explored the possibility, suggested by Koehler (Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 19, 1-53, 1996; also Spellman Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 19, 38, 1996), that implicit learning mediates the influence of base-rates on category knowledge acquired through direct experience. In two experiments, participants learned simple perceptual categories with unequal base-rates (i.e., presentation frequency). In Experiment 1, participants received either response training or observational training. In Experiment 2, participants received response training with either immediate or delayed feedback. In previous studies, observational training and delayed feedback training have been shown to disrupt implicit learning. We found that base-rate influence was weaker in these conditions when category discriminability was low (i.e., when category membership was difficult to determine). This conclusion was based on signal detection β values as well as decision-bound modeling results. Because these disruptions to implicit learning attenuate the base-rate effect, we conclude that implicit learning does indeed underlie the influence of base-rates learned through direct experience. This suggests that the implicit learning system postulated by the COVIS theory of categorization (Ashby, Alfonso-Reese, Turken, & Waldron Psychological Review, 105, 442-481, 1998) may be involved in developing sensitivity to category base-rates.
A review of clinical and pathological prostatitis syndromes

A l though prostatitis literally means an inflammation of the prostate gland, clinically, it may or may not be associated with inflammation. The disease, which primarily affects adult males, is the third most important disease of the prostate gland. On the basis of autopsy studies, one report found a prevalence of 6.3% histologic inflammation of the prostate, 1 whereas another found 44%. 2 In 1978 to 1979, symptoms due to prostatitis accounted for approximately 25% of outpatient visits for genitourinary complaints) Of the 12,768,000 visits made to urologists in 1991, 5.3% (677,000 visits) were for inflammatory disease of the prostate. Furthermore, prostatitis ranked fourth among the 20 principal diagnoses most frequently rendered by the physician for visits to urologists. 4 The morbidity associated with chronic forms of prostatitis is considerable; specifically, chronic pelvic pain symptoms and disturbances in urinary and sexual function. 5 Furthermore, prostatitis is an important differential diagnosis for prostate cancer 6 because patients may have an enlarged prostate, increased serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), 7'~ a hard prostate, 9 or an abnormal sonographic image of the prostate. 1° Finally, prostatitis has been associated with abnormal sperm quality and infertility, u Prostatitis is an obscure and poorly understood disease in part because of limited physical access to the gland, uncertain etiology, lack of distinguishing clinical features, nonuniform diagnostic criteria, and a protracted treatment course. .2 Prostatitis has historically been classified into four clinical entities: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, nonbacterial or abacterial prostatitis, and prostatodynia. 13'14 Approximately
Gradual opening of skewed passages in wave rotors

Introduction T problem of gradual opening of rectangular axial passages in wave rotors was studied in Ref. 1. In that reference, the mathematical model used to simulate the opening process was decribed in detail. This Note is intended as an extention of the previous article. Historically, most wave machines designed to produce shaft power had skewed passage.' For this reason opening of a skewed passage is analyzed in this paper, and conclusions drawn for the case of rectangular axial passages are examined in light of the results for the skewed case.
SOLITARY WAVES AND ATOMIC POPULATION TRANSFER VIA THE CONTINUUM

Exact analytic results are presented that represent a pair of solitary waves that can propagate through an atomic medium with their shapes invariant while producing transfer of atoms or molecules from one bound state to another via a continuum. The speed of the waves and the amount of population transfer are given in terms of the wave amplitudes. A general (not solitary wave) solution for the case of a single wave is presented, together with a nonlinear Beer's law of absorption.
Performance of time- and frequency-domain binaural beamformers based on recorded signals from real rooms.

Extraction of a target sound source amidst multiple interfering sound sources is difficult when there are fewer sensors than sources, as is the case for human listeners in the classic cocktail-party situation. This study compares the signal extraction performance of five algorithms using recordings of speech sources made with three different two-microphone arrays in three rooms of varying reverberation time. Test signals, consisting of two to five speech sources, were constructed for each room and array. The signals were processed with each algorithm, and the signal extraction performance was quantified by calculating the signal-to-noise ratio of the output. A frequency-domain minimum-variance distortionless-response beamformer outperformed the time-domain based Frost beamformer and generalized sidelobe canceler for all tests with two or more interfering sound sources, and performed comparably or better than the time-domain algorithms for tests with one interfering sound source. The frequency-domain minimum-variance algorithm offered performance comparable to that of the Peissig–Kollmeier binaural frequency-domain algorithm, but with much less distortion of the target signal. Comparisons were also made to a simple beamformer. In addition, computer simulations illustrate that, when processing speech signals, the chosen implementation of the frequency-domain minimum-variance technique adapts more quickly and accurately than time-domain techniques.
The effect of riblets in rectangular duct flow

Abstract Much is known about the benefits of surface structures which mimic the riblets found on the skin of fast swimming sharks. Structures have been fabricated for study and application which replicate and improve upon the natural shape of the shark skin riblets, providing a maximum drag reduction of nearly 10% in external turbulent fluid flow. Mechanisms of fluid drag in turbulent flow and riblet-drag reduction theories from experiment and simulation are discussed. A brief review of riblet performance studies is given, and optimal riblet geometries are defined for external flow. A discussion of the structure of internal turbulent fluid flow is provided, and existing data for riblet drag reduction benefit is presented. A flow cell for studying riblet effects in internal rectangular duct flow is discussed, and data collected using several riblet surfaces fabricated for the flow cell is presented and analyzed. A discussion of the effects of the riblets on fluid flow is given, and conclusions are drawn about the possible benefits of riblets in internal fluid flow.
Radiocarbon dating and the “old wood” problem: The case of the Hohokam chronology

Abstract Many archaeological chronologies, including that of the Hohokam in southern Arizona, are based on a series of radiocarbon dates on wood. This paper argues that because of variability in rates of wood decay processes (in the environment and in systemic context), such archaeological chronologies are potentially biased towards excessive antiquity by an old wood problem and must be reassessed. Following the theoretical insights of Dean (1978) , this paper sets forth principles and procedures for relating radiocarbon dates to cultural events. Emphasis is placed on identifying and taking into account the formation processes of (1) the dated specimens and (2) the deposits that yielded them. This methodological framework is applied to Hohokam radiocarbon dates, and a chronology much shorter than the original Gladwin-Haury formulation is supported.
General irrigation scheduling package for microcomputers

Abstract A general irrigation scheduling computer package called Micro-Scheduler has been developed. Since 1980, it has been used to schedule irrigation for over 1000 farm-seasons in Michigan and across the United States of America. The package utilizes real time weather data to schedule irrigation based on locally developed crop curves and rooting depths. The purpose of this paper is to describe the merits of the current version of Micro-Scheduler and its usefulness to Water Management Districts, Soil Conservation Districts, Cooperative Extension Agents, and large irrigation systems operators.
Are climate model simulations useful for forecasting precipitation trends? Hindcast and synthetic-data experiments

Water scientists and managers currently face the question of whether trends in climate variables that affect water supplies and hazards can be anticipated. We investigate to what extent climate model simulations may provide accurate forecasts of future hydrologic nonstationarity in the form of changes in precipitation amount. We compare gridded station observations (GPCC Full Data Product, 1901?2010) and climate model outputs (CMIP5 Historical and RCP8.5 simulations, 1901?2100) in real and synthetic-data hindcast experiments. The hindcast experiments show that imputing precipitation trends based on the climate model mean reduced the root mean square error of precipitation trend estimates for 1961?2010 by 9% compared to making the assumption (implied by hydrologic stationarity) of no trend in precipitation. Given the accelerating pace of climate change, the benefits of incorporating climate model assessments of precipitation trends in water resource planning are projected to increase for future decades. The distribution of climate models? simulated precipitation trends shows substantial spatially coherent biases, suggesting that there may be room for further improvement in how climate models are parametrized and used for precipitation estimation. Linear extrapolation of observed trends in long precipitation records may also be useful, particularly for lead times shorter than about 25 years. Overall, our findings suggest that simulations by current global climate models, combined with the continued maintenance of in situ hydrologic observations, can provide useful information on future changes in the hydrologic cycle.