cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Goal-directed action planning in infants with Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND Down syndrome (DS) is a neurogenetic disorder associated with risk for executive dysfunction, or difficulties with the cognitive processes required for planning volitional, goal-directed behaviour. This study examines the developmental origins of difficulties with goal-directed action planning in infants with DS to inform our understanding of the cognitive phenotype associated with DS and its implications for intervention. METHOD First, the study compared the performance of infants with DS (n = 44, mean chronological age = 7.5 months, SD = 2.3) and typically developing infants (n = 31, mean chronological age = 7.5 months, SD = 2.9) on plan production and planning efficiency during an early planning task. Next, potential sources of variability in planning behaviour (motor performance and sensory processing) within the DS sample were examined. All infants completed an early planning laboratory task and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III Cognitive Scale. The motor and sensory skills of infants with DS were assessed by the motor scales of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III and the Infant Sensory Profile-2. DS-related biomedical history information was provided by caregivers for the infants with DS. RESULTS Between-group differences in planning were observed on the dimensions of strategy production and completion, such that infants with DS were less efficient in their strategy execution than typically developing infants. In the DS group, motor skills and sensory processing were associated with planning efficiency on all components of the early planning task. CONCLUSIONS Less efficient action planning in infants with DS may disrupt the shaping of goal-directed behaviour, and the identification of early risk factors associated with planning efficiency has important implications for early intervention.
Experiences of Clergy Managing Church Finances with Varying Degrees of Financial Literacy Training

Clergy financial literacy has been discussed as a vital tool to help leaders effectively manage their personal finances, as well as the financial responsibilities of church and parish governance. H...
GeoSecure-R: Secure Computation of Geographical Distance using Region-anonymized GPS Data

Today Location-Based Services (LBS) are used by millions of users all over the world. These services widely use multimedia sensory data such as GPS location. LBS provides enormous convenience to the users, but at the expense of continuously tracking their location. This raises severe privacy concerns. The distance computation using users’ GPS coordinates is a crucial component in many LBS, such as the fitness tracker app and understanding driving habits. In this paper, we propose a method, called GeoSecure-R, to calculate the distance without revealing the users’ exact location. The proposed method ensures users’ privacy with region anonymity while maintaining utility, i.e., it provides LBS that requires only the traveled distance rather than the actual location of the user. Experimental results on Microsoft’s GeoLife dataset show that the proposed method calculates the distance metric very close to what we get using the actual location of the user.
ER/K-link—Leveraging a native protein linker to probe dynamic cellular interactions

ER/K α-helices are a subset of single alpha helical domains, which exhibit unusual stability as isolated protein secondary structures. They adopt an elongated structural conformation, while regulating the frequency of interactions between proteins or polypeptides fused to their ends. Here we review recent advances on the structure, stability and function of ER/K α-helices as linkers (ER/K linkers) in native proteins. We describe methodological considerations in the molecular cloning, protein expression and measurement of interaction strengths, using sensors incorporating ER/K linkers. We highlight biological insights obtained over the last decade by leveraging distinct biophysical features of ER/K-linked sensors. We conclude with the outlook for the use of ER/K linkers in the selective modulation of dynamic cellular interactions.
Common cell type nomenclature for the mammalian brain.

The advancement of single cell RNA-sequencing technologies has led to an explosion of cell type definitions across multiple organs and organisms. While standards for data and metadata intake are arising, organization of cell types has largely been left to individual investigators, resulting in widely varying nomenclature and limited alignment between taxonomies. To facilitate cross-dataset comparison, the Allen Institute created the Common Cell type Nomenclature (CCN) for matching and tracking cell types across studies that is qualitatively similar to gene transcript management across different genome builds. The CCN can be readily applied to new or established taxonomies and was applied herein to diverse cell type datasets derived from multiple quantifiable modalities. The CCN facilitates assigning accurate yet flexible cell type names in the mammalian cortex as a step towards community-wide efforts to organize multi-source, data-driven information related to cell type taxonomies from any organism.
Capturing copepod dynamics in the Northern California Current using sentinel stations

Abstract Ecosystem indicators track information about states and trends in ocean systems and are a valuable tool for ecosystem assessment and management. To ensure that indicators are used appropriately in both science and management contexts, it is important to understand the extent to which they represent broader spatial patterns. In the Northern California Current (NCC) off the Oregon and Washington state coasts in the USA, copepod metrics derived from data collected at a well-sampled station on the Newport Hydrographic (NH) Line (‘NH05’, five nmi offshore from Newport, OR, USA) are commonly used as indicators of the region’s general ocean conditions. Using correlation analyses, we examined the utility of NH05 as a sentinel station (i.e. representative of a broader region) with respect to the abundance and biomass of warm-water and cold-water copepods in the NCC. Copepod correlations between NH05 and other locations in the NCC were higher for the warm-water copepods than the cold-water group, with correlations being slightly higher for abundance than biomass. Paracalanus parvus had the highest NH05 correlations among the warm-water copepod species, and Acartia longiremis had the highest NH05 correlations among the cold-water copepod species. We also broadened our analysis to evaluate other sampling sites as sentinel stations and found that some sites were equally or more representative of copepod dynamics in the NCC than NH05, though none of these sites tend to be sampled as often as NH05. This analysis emphasized that the warm-water copepods tend to be more similarly distributed in the NCC than the cold-water copepods, and thus their changes through time are better captured by most stations. In contrast, correlations among the cold-water copepods in the NCC vary by location and appear to be strongly related to depth, with the highest correlations at mid-shelf stations.
Natural Selection Shapes Maintenance of Orthologous sRNAs in Divergent Host-Restricted Bacterial Genomes

Historically it has been difficult to study the evolution of bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) across distantly related species. For example, identifying homologs of sRNAs is often difficult in genomes that have undergone multiple structural rearrangements. Also, some types of regulatory sRNAs evolve at rapid rates. The high degree of genomic synteny among divergent host-restricted bacterial lineages, including intracellular symbionts, is conducive to sRNA maintenance and homolog identification. In turn, symbiont genomes can provide us with novel insights into sRNA evolution. Here, we examine the sRNA expression profile of the obligate symbiont of psyllids, Carsonella ruddii, which has one of the smallest cellular genomes described. Using RNA-seq, we identified 36 and 32 antisense sRNAs (asRNAs) expressed by Carsonella from the psyllids Bactericera cockerelli (Carsonella-BC) and Diaphorina citri (Carsonella-DC), respectively. The majority of these asRNAs were associated with genes that are involved in essential amino acid biosynthetic pathways. Eleven of the asRNAs were conserved in both Carsonella lineages and the majority were maintained by selection. Notably, five of the corresponding coding sequences are also the targets of conserved asRNAs in a distantly related insect symbiont, Buchnera. We detected differential expression of two asRNAs for genes involved in arginine and leucine biosynthesis occurring between two distinct Carsonella-BC life stages. Using asRNAs identified in Carsonella, Buchnera, and Profftella which are all endosymbionts, and Escherichia coli, we determined that regions upstream of these asRNAs encode unique conserved patterns of AT/GC richness, GC skew, and sequence motifs which may be involved in asRNA regulation.
Letter to the Hon. Sen. Orrt (NYS Senate) Regarding Litigation Finance (Lawsuit Lending) (2018)

Following testimony to the New York State Senate's Standing Committee on Consumer Protection (available on SSRN and YouTube), Professor Steinitz was asked to elaborate on her recommendation for a statutory minimum recovery requirement to protect consumers of litigation financing. Enclosed is her response to this inquiry.
Trauma Informed Strategies for Human Trafficking Education in Urban Schools: An Attachment Theory Perspective:

It is being increasingly recognized that providing human trafficking education (HTE) in schools is an effective prevention tool. Yet, the strategies that may be utilized in delivering these program...
Partial nephrectomy for selected renal cortical tumours of ≥ 7 cm.

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To examine our institutional experience in patients treated with partial nephrectomy (PN) for renal cortical tumours (RCTs) of ≥7 cm, as PN is an accepted surgical approach for appropriate RCTs of <7 cm but there are limited data on the use of PN for larger tumours. PATIENTS AND METHODS After Institutional Review Board approval, we examined our prospectively collected surgical database for patients treated with PN for RCTs of ≥7 cm between 1989 and 2008. Pertinent demographic, clinical, surgical and pathological data were reviewed. RESULTS In all, 34 patients (37 renal units) were identified for analysis with a median (interquartile range, IQR) age of 63 (52–71) years, median (IQR) tumour size of 7.5 (7.2–9.0) cm with the largest tumour being 19 cm. In 31 renal units (28 patients, 84%) carcinoma was evident, with 16 renal units (43%) having conventional clear cell carcinoma, followed by papillary in eight renal units (21%). Currently, 20 of these 28 patients (71%) are disease free, three are alive with metastatic disease (two had known preoperative metastatic disease), three died from disease and two died from other causes. The median (IQR) preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate was 65 (55–73) mL/min/1.73 m2, compared with 55 (47–74) mL/min/1.73 m2 after PN (P= 0.003, paired Student’s t-test). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that PN for RCTs of ≥7 cm can be safely performed and provide effective tumour control for selected patients. PN should be considered for patients with appropriate tumours, solitary kidneys or pre-existing renal insufficiency.
The public world of insect vibrational communication

Food webs involving plants, herbivorous insects and their predators account for 75% of terrestrial biodiversity (Price 2002). Within the abundant arthropod community on plants, myriad ecological and social interactions depend on the perception and production of plant-borne mechanical vibrations (Hill 2008). Study of ecological relationships has shown, for example, that termites monitor the vibrations produced by competing colonies in the same tree trunk (Evans et al. 2009), that stink bugs and spiders attend to the incidental vibrations produced by insects feeding or walking on plants (Pfannenstiel et al. 1995, Barth 1998) and that caterpillars can distinguish among the foraging-related vibrations produced by their invertebrate predators (Castellanos & Barbosa 2006). Study of social interactions has revealed that many insects and spiders have evolved the ability to generate intricate patterns of substrate vibration, allowing them to communicate with potential mates or members of their social group (Cokl & Virant-Doberlet 2003; Hill 2008). Surprisingly, research on the role of substrate vibrations in social and ecological interactions has for the most part proceeded independently, in spite of evidence from other communication modalities – acoustic, visual, chemical and electrical – that predators attend to the signals of their prey (Zuk & Kolluru 1998; Stoddard 1999). The study by Virant-Doberlet et al. (2011) in this issue of Molecular Ecology now helps bring these two areas of vibration research together, showing that the foraging behaviour of a spider is influenced by the vibrational mating signals of its leafhopper prey.
Lattice packings with gap defects are not completely saturated

Author(s): Kuperberg, Greg; Kuperberg, Krystyna; Kuperberg, Wlodzimierz | Abstract: We show that a honeycomb circle packing in $\R^2$ with a linear gap defect cannot be completely saturated, no matter how narrow the gap is. The result is motivated by an open problem of G. Fejes T #x27;oth, G. Kuperberg, and W. Kuperberg, which asks whether of a honeycomb circle packing with a linear shift defect is completely saturated. We also show that an fcc sphere packing in $\R^3$ with a planar gap defect is also not completely saturated.
Change of shape in the yrast sequence in 50Cr.

In shell model calculations for the yrast even-spin states of {sup 50}Cr, the static quadrupole moments of the low-spin states 2{sub 1}{sup +}, 4{sub 1}{sup +}, 6{sub 1}{sup +}, and 8{sub 1}{sup +} are negative but those of the high-spin states 10{sub 1}{sup +}, 12{sub 1}{sup +}, and 14{sub 1}{sup +} are positive. Yrast states with even spins greater than the single {ital j} shell limit, {ital J}{sub max}=14, again have negative quadrupole moments. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Ethnicity Reporting Practices for Empirical Research in Three Autism-Related Journals.

This review examines ethnicity reporting in three autism-related journals (Autism, Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, and Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders) over a 6-year period. A comprehensive multistep search of articles is used to identify ethnicity as a demographic variable in these three journals. Articles that identified research participants’ ethnicity were further analyzed to determine the impact of ethnicity as a demographic variable on findings of each study. The results indicate that ethnicity has not been adequately reported in these three autism related journals even though previous recommendations have been made to improve inadequacies of descriptive information of research participants in autism research (Kistner and Robbins in J Autism Dev Disord 16:77–82, 1986). Implications for the field of autism spectrum disorders are discussed in addition to further recommendations for future research.
Schedule-induced aggression against a slide-image target

Pigeons were trained to keypeck on a multiple schedule of reinforcement consisting of three 20-sec fixed interval components followed by one 200-sec fixed-interval component. In one phase of the study, a rear-projected slide image of a pigeon was present, while in another phase, a taxidermically prepared pigeon was present. Although more schedule-induced aggression occurred against the stuffed model than against the slide, the topography and temporal locus of attack against either target were comparable.
Transcription of the non-repetitive genome in liver hypertrophy and the homology between nuclear RNA of normal and 12 H-regenerating liver.

Abstract The percentage of the non-repetitive genome transcribed and the complexity of nuclear RNA were estimated in normal and 12 h-regenerating rat liver. Nuclear RNA from normal or 12 h-regenerating liver hybridizes with approximately 6.1% of non-repetitive DNA (12.2% of the single-copy genome, assuming assymetric transcription). The estimated complexity of either of these nuclear RNA populations is 7.6 · 1010 daltons, which is approximately 7 times higher than that calculated for polysomal mRNA. Cross hybridization experiments did not show differences between the nuclear RNA populations of normal and 12 h-regenerating liver. The results indicate that liver hypertropy (without hyperplasia) may be brought about without a large increase in the proportion of the non-repetitive genome transcribed.
Effect of chronic changes in heart rate on congestive heart failure.

Abstract Background Heart rate can affect cardiac function, but the importance of rates lower than 100 paced beats per minute is unknown. We therefore sought to evaluate the impact of different heart rates on ejection fraction, 6-minute walk, and peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) in heart failure patients. Methods and Results We studied 13 pacemaker-dependent New York Heart Association Class III patients with ejection fraction 2 and 6-minute walk) were assessed. Ejection fraction, peak VO 2 , and 6-minute walk distance were significantly different among the 3 heart rates. All 3 were depressed at 90 ppm. A heart rate of 90 also led to more clinical deterioration and premature discontinuation from that period. Conclusions Pacing at a heart rate of 90 led to lower ejection fraction, VO 2 , 6-minute walk distance and clinical evidence of worsening heart failure as compared with slower heart rates.
Using Policy to Improve Teacher Induction: Critical Elements and Missing Pieces

To understand the relationship between induction policies, programs, and practices, we conducted case studies of three long-standing induction programs. Drawing on interviews, observations, and policy documents, we asked the following: (a) What policy tools operate in these contexts, and how do they effect local induction practices? (b) What can we learn about the relationship between induction policy and practice, including its influence on mentors and work? Our analysis finds that how the problem of induction is defined shapes the nature and duration of support offered and the programmatic tools and resources provided. Our analysis further shows that mentoring emerged the favored policy instrument, although provisions for mentor training varied considerably. To support the kind of teaching demanded by today's reforms, beginning teachers will need mentors who are skilled in helping them learn in and from practice. Consequently, induction policy will need to focus attention equally on new teachers and the...
Reactivity pattern and cytokine profile of T cells primed by myelin peptides in multiple sclerosis and healthy individuals.

Autoreactive T cells specific for candidate myelin antigens, including myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP), are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Myelin-reactive T cells primed in vivo by myelin breakdown products or microbial cross-reactive antigens during the disease processes may exhibit a reactivity pattern and cytokine profile different from those in the normal T cell repertoire. In this study, we examined the precursor frequency, the reactivity pattern and cytokine profile of myelin-reactive T cells that were primed in vitro with overlapping peptides of MBP and PLP in patients with MS and healthy individuals. The results revealed that T cells specific for peptides of MBP and PLP occurred at a relatively higher precursor frequency in patients with MS than that in healthy individuals. We identified a number of dominant T cell epitopes within MBP and PLP, some of which were not previously detected using whole myelin antigens as the primary stimuli. Some residues represented common immunodominant regions that were detected in both MS patients and healthy controls while others were associated only with MS. MBP-reactive T cell lines generally exhibited a Th0-like cytokine profile. There was significantly increased Th1 cytokine production (i. e. TNF and IFN-γ) among MS-derived T cell lines. PLP-reactive T cell lines had a distinct cytokine profile, producing predominantly TNF-α and little or not IFN-γ and IL-4. The findings have important implications in the understanding of the role of myelin-reactive T cells in MS.
Analysis of iodide and iodate in Lake Mead, Nevada using a headspace derivatization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

We report here a derivatization headspace method for the analysis of inorganic iodine in water. Samples from Lake Mead, the Las Vegas Wash, and from Las Vegas tap water were examined. Lake Mead and the Las Vegas Wash contained a mixture of both iodide and iodate. The average concentration of total inorganic iodine (TII) for Lake Mead was ∼90 nM with an iodide-to-iodate ratio of ∼1. The TII concentration (∼160 nM) and the ratio of iodide to iodate were higher for the Las Vegas Wash (∼2). The TII concentration for tap water was close to that of Lake Mead (∼90 nM); however, tap water contained no detectable iodide as a result of ozonation and chlorine treatment which converts all of the iodide to iodate.
Prenatal diagnosis of Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome

Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome exhibits deficient activity of the enzyme arylsulfatase-B in cultured skin fibroblasts. Prenatal diagnosis was successfully attempted in two pregnancies of a consanguineous Chaldean couple whose first child is affected with Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome. In both instances, deficient arylsulfatase-B activity was observed in amniotic fluid cell cultures, and the diagnosis was confirmed by 35S-sulfate studies and postmortem enzymology and electron microscopy. The prenatal diagnosis of Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome remains problematic. Residual activity of arylsulfatase-B in the affected homozygote can make interpretation difficult, and the behavior of many lysosomal enzymes varies greatly in response to tissue culture conditions and enzyme extraction processes.
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENT ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF ELDERLY PERSONS

This study reports an investigation of the psychological well-being of 90 elderly persons living in independent, retirement, and nursing homes. In previous studies elderly persons have not been matched on high levels of social and physical functioning across these living environments. Analyses indicated significantly that elderly persons living in their own homes or retirement homes reported greater well-being than their matched cohorts in nursing homes.
Comparison of five methods for estimating subjective probability distributions.

Abstract Five methods for estimating probability distributions were compared with respect to accuracy, reliability, and acceptability through an analysis of variance framework. Although no one method was found to be statistically superior in all cases, the Ranking Method, proposed by Smith (1967) appears to be the best method for individual assessment of probability distributions. A major factor influencing the performance of the methods was the skewness of the distribution. Generally, the estimation methods were most accurate and reliable for nonskewed distributions.
Expression of Two Self-enhancing Antifreeze Proteins from the Beetle Dendroides canadensis in Arabidopsis thaliana

Antifreeze proteins depress the non-equilibrium freezing point of aqueous solutions, but only have a small effect on the equilibrium melting point. This difference between the freezing and melting points has been termed thermal hysteresis activity (THA). THA identifies the presence and relative activity of antifreeze proteins. Two antifreeze protein cDNAs, dafp-1 and dafp-4, encoding two self-enhancing (have a synergistic effect on THA) antifreeze proteins (DAFPs) from the beetle Dendroides canadensis, were introduced into the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana via Agrobacterium-mediated floral dip transformation. Southern blot analysis indicated multiple insertions of transgenes. Both DAFP-1 and/or DAFP-4 were expressed in transgenic A. thaliana as shown by RT-PCR and Western blot. Apoplastic fluid from T3 DAFP-1 + DAFP-4-producing transgenic A. thaliana exhibited THA in the range of 1.2–1.35°C (using the capillary method to determine THA), demonstrating the presence of functioning antifreeze proteins (with signal peptides for extracellular secretion). The freezing temperature of DAFP-1 + DAFP-4-producing transgenic A. thaliana was lowered by approximately 2–3°C compared with the wild type.
The Political Implications of Dependency Theory

The widely diverse body of theory that has come to be known as dependency theory has had a significant impact on the anti-imperialist movement and revolutionary forces particularly in Latin America. It enjoys a fairly high degree of prestige and influence not only among professional economists and social scientists its principal advocates but within the revolutionary movements themselves. Whether intentionally or unconsciously, the proponents of dependency theory are actually responsible for advancing two strategic political lines for the movement.1 The first and most influential calls for an independent road to capitalist development (and/or gradual transition to socialism) as a means of overcoming the historical legacy of underdevelopment: i.e., independence from foreign domination. This is ultimately a reformist policy that readily appeals to the apologists for neocolonialism and only leads to the proliferation of poverty and exploitation. In effect, this line underestimates the possibility and necessity of socialist revolution as a distinct, advanced stage in the struggles for national liberation and therefore serves to conciliate bourgeois nationalism. The most sophisticated advocates of this line are Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1972) and Samir Amin (1976).2 The second strategic line calls for world-wide socialism as a precondition for eliminating underdevelopment. This idealist view is based on the proposition that imperialism, or foreign "domination," directly causes underdevelopment and serves as the main obstacle to development. In effect, this ultra-"left" line underestimates the role of the national democratic stage of
Anti-inflammatory effects of hypertonic saline on pulmonary epithelial cells are due to hyperosmolarity

NTRODUCTION: The fundamental mechanism by which hyperonic saline (HTS) exerts anti-inflammatory benefits on pulmonary pithelium remains unknown. TNF activates transcription by NFB, which is known to be necessary for acute lung injury. HTS has een shown to diminish inflammation when administered intraveously and recently aerosolized HTS has been shown to attenuate ung inflammation. However it is unclear whether this antinflammatory effect is due to hyperosmolarity or hyper-ionicity due o 180-200mM NaCl. We examined hyperosmolar (HOsm) treatent effects on NF-kB signaling in human pulmonary epithelial cells timulated with TNF.
Identification of a Consensus DNA-Binding Site for the Arabidopsis thaliana SBP Domain Transcription Factor, AtSPL14, and Binding Kinetics by Surface Plasmon Resonance†

Proteins with a conserved Cys- and His-rich SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP) domain are transcription factors restricted to photosynthetic organisms that possess a novel two Zn-finger structure DNA-binding domain. Despite the fact that altered expression of some SBP-encoding genes has profound effects on organism growth and development, little is known about SBP domain protein target genes. Misexpression of the Arabidopsis thaliana AtSPL14 SBP domain gene confers resistance to programmed cell death and modifies plant architecture. A consensus DNA-binding motif for AtSPL14 was identified by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) or random binding site selection (RBSS). DNA recognized by AtSPL14 contained the core binding motif (GTAC) found for other SBP domain proteins, but mutational analyses indicated that at least one additional flanking nucleotide is necessary for effective AtSPL14−DNA interaction. Comparison of several SBP domain amino acid sequences allows us to hypo...
An Experiment in Teaching College Mathematics

Summary Kac has observed that the ideal preparation in mathematics, especially for non‐mathematicians, should focus not on acquiring skills but on acquiring certain attitudes. We administered a special attitude questionnaire to a sample of graduate students in mathematics and undergraduate speech majors. We found significant differences on 10 of 27 items on this test. We then administered this test to a mixed group of undergraduates at the beginning and at the end of a special experimental mathematics ‘course’ designed to modify and shape attitudes. We found changes in attitudes in the intended direction. The primary aims of the experimental course were to: 1. Get students without any prior acquaintance with mathematics or a fear thereof to approach their studies more analytically. 2. Acquire orientation to and acquaintance with 25‐75 basic concepts and methods covering sets, algebra, logic, computers, analysis, probability, math‐statistics and topology in an over‐all map of how they logically fit togethe...
Effect of crack-microcracks interaction on energy release rates

The energy release rates associated with the main crack advancing into its surrounding damage zone, and the damage zone translation relative to the main crack, as well as the energy of interaction between the crack and the damage zone are analyzed. The displacement and stress fields for this crack-damage interaction problem are reconstructed by employing a semi-empirical stress analysis which involves experimental evaluation of the average microcrack density in the damage zone.
Functional divergence of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and related gamma-2 herpesvirus thymidine kinases: novel cytoplasmic phosphoproteins that alter cellular morphology and disrupt adhesion

The nucleoside kinase encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a relatively inefficient enzyme with substrate specificity for thymidine alone, unlike alphaherpesvirus thymidine kinases (TKs). Similar to all gammaherpesvirus TKs, KSHV TK is composed of two distinct domains, a conserved C-terminal kinase and a novel and uncharacterized N terminus. Ectopic expression of KSHV TK in adherent cells induced striking morphological changes and anchorage independence although cells survived, a property shared with the related rhadinovirus TKs of rhesus monkey rhadinovirus and herpesvirus saimiri. To determine whether KSHV TK served alternate functions relevant to the rhadinovirus life cycle and to reveal the contribution of the N terminus, an enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged fusion protein and serial mutants were generated for investigation of intracellular localization and cell biology. Analysis of truncation mutants showed that a proline-rich region located within the N terminus cooperated with the conserved C-terminal kinase to tether KSHV TK to a reticular network in the cytoplasm and to induce morphological change. Fusion of the KSHV N terminus to herpes simplex virus type 1 TK, a nucleus-localized enzyme, similarly resulted in cytoplasmic redistribution of the chimeric protein but did not alter cell shape or adhesion. Unlike other human herpesvirus TKs, KSHV TKs and related rhadinovirus TKs are constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated; a KSHV TK mutant that was hypophosphorylated failed to detach and grow in suspension. Loss of adhesion may enhance terminal differentiation, viral replication, and egress at the cellular level and at the organism level may facilitate detachment and distant migration of KSHV-replicating cells within body fluids--promoting oropharyngeal transmission and perhaps contributing to the multifocal lesions that characterize KS.
Effect of alterations in frequency, inspiratory time, and airway pressure on gas exchange during high frequency jet ventilation in dogs with normal lungs

Abstract High frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is becoming increasingly useful for providing respiratory support in patients with normal lungs during operative procedures, , and also has been advocated as a technique for ventilating patients during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We studied the effect of frequency, percent inspiratory time ( I E ratio), peak airway pressure, and airway pressure difference (peak-PEEP) during HFJV as operational variables on the efficacy of gas exchange in dogs with normal lungs. We observed that at a constant peak airway pressure and. percent inspiratory time, PaCo2 generally increases as frequency rises above 100/min. In constrast, PaC02 generally decreases as percent inspiratory time is reduced at a constant frequency and peak airway pressure. In addition, increasing peak airway pressure and airway pressure difference are associated with lower levels of PaCo2. Arterial oxygenation was adversely affected by frequencies above 300/min, but was otherwise not influenced by alterations in frequency, percent inspiratory time, or airway pressure.
Cow Manure: Waste or Resource?

Raw materials for farm products, including milk and animal protein (meat), contain water, carbon, and nutrients. Manure and farm process wastewater contain the same constituents. These resources are environmental pollutants if not managed properly. Money is spent to buy the raw materials and then to dispose of the same materials, albeit in a more complex form-and waste management is expensive.
Ensilage Treatment of Crawfish Waste for Improvement of Astaxanthin Pigment Extraction

Acid ensilage treatment preserves crawfish heat-processed waste under ambient temperature conditions with stabilization of the astaxanthin pigment present. Implementation of acid ensiling prior to pigment extraction increased concentration of the astaxanthin oil extract by 40–50%, and oil recovery by 10%. A twofold increase in free amino nitrogen, and a 70% reduction in exoskeleton calcium carbonate, were observed in crawfish silage (pH 4.2) from acid/enzymatic hydrolysis, compared with controls. A correlation was seen between solubilization of calcium carbonate and pigment release in relation to silage pH. The role of acid-resistant proteolytic microorganisms in breakdown of carotenoprotein complex is discussed. Application of ensilage process for ultimate commercial production of astaxanthin-enriched vegetable or fish oils from pigment rich crustacean wastes is postulated.
Local composition and carrier concentration in Pb0.7Ge0.3Te and Pb0.5Ge0.5Te alloys from 125Te NMR and microscopy

Pb0.7Ge0.3Te and Pb0.5Ge0.5Te alloys, (i) quenched from 923 K or (ii) quenched and annealed at 573 K for 2 h, have been studied by 125Te NMR, X-ray diffraction, electron and optical microscopy, as well as energy dispersive spectroscopy. Depending on the composition and thermal treatment history, 125Te NMR spectra exhibit different resonance frequencies and spin-lattice relaxation times, which can be assigned to different phases in the alloy. Quenched and annealed Pb0.7Ge0.3Te alloys can be considered as solid solutions but are shown by NMR to have components with various carrier concentrations. Quenched and annealed Pb0.5Ge0.5Te alloys contain GeTe- and PbTe-based phases with different compositions and charge carrier concentrations. Based on the analysis of non-exponential 125Te NMR spin-lattice relaxation, the fractions and carrier concentrations of the various phases have been estimated. Our data show that alloying of PbTe with Ge results in the formation of chemically and electronically inhomogeneous systems. 125Te NMR can be used as an efficient probe to detect the local composition in equilibrium as well as non-equilibrium states, and to determine the local carrier concentrations in complex multiphase tellurides.
Surface Temperature Inversions in a Canyon

Abstract A micrometeorological investigation was made of ground layer inversion formation, maintenance, and dissipation, and of the related thermal circulations as they were observed in and near the mouth of Red Butte Canyon in the Wasatch Range of northern Utah. Measurements of temperature and other parameters at various locations and levels were made near the mouth of the canyon by means of a semi-automatic instrument and recording network. Analysis of data obtained during the summer of 1957 showed that one basic pattern occurred on 90 per cent of the days. Detailed study of this basic pattern revealed the following significant features: 1) The formation of a thin film of cold air within the canyon an hour or two before (astronomical) sunset. 2) A definite wind shift from up-canyon to down-canyon within about 10 min, near the time of sunset. 3) Extremely rapid local cooling and increase in wind speed near the canyon mouth for about half an hour after the wind shift. 4) Quasi-steady wind and little cooli...
Feedback Regulation of Raf-1 and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAP) Kinase Kinases 1 and 2 by MAP Kinase Phosphatase-1 (MKP-1)

Inactivation of growth factor-regulated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) has been proposed to occur in part through dephosphorylation by the dual specificity MAP kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), an immediate early gene that is induced by mitogenic signaling. In this study, we examined the effect of MKP-1 on signaling components upstream of ERK1 and ERK2. Coexpression of MKK1 or MKK2 with MKP-1 resulted in 7–10-fold activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK), which required the presence of regulatory serine phosphorylation sites. Endogenous MKK1 and MKK2 were also activated upon MKP-1 expression. Raf-1, a direct regulator of MKK1 and MKK2, was activated under these conditions, and a synergistic activation of MKK was observed upon coexpression of Raf-1 and MKP-1. This effect did not appear to involve synthesis of autocrine growth factors or the inhibition of basal extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity but was inhibited by a dominant negative Ras mutant, indicating that MKP-1 enhances Ras-dependent activation of Raf-1 in a cell autonomous manner. This study demonstrates positive feedback regulation of Raf-1 and MKK by the MKP-1 immediate early gene and a potential mechanism for activating Raf-1/MKK signaling pathways alternative to those involving ERK.
New oxide superconductors

Abstract Crystals of the new high temperature superconductor Bi 2 Sr 3−x Ca x Cu 2 O 8+y have been grown and studied. Single crystal x-ray diffraction data were used to determine a pseudo tetragonal structure based on an A-centered orthorhombic cell with a = 5.399A,b= 5.414A,and c= 30.904A. The structure contains the copper-oxygen sheets as in La 2 CuO 4 and YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 , but the copper-oxygen chains present in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 do not occur in Bi 2 Sr 3−x Ca x Cu 2 O 8+y . Electrical measurements on our single crystals show a resistivity drop at about 116 K and apparent zero resistivity at 91 K. We find superconductivity at 120 K in the Tl/Ca/Ba/Cu/O system. Also, we have for the first time prepared phases of the type La 2−x Na x CuO 4 . These materials are superconducting with T c 's as high as 40 K, and they have some unusual magnetic behavior starting at about 10 K.
Synthesis and optical properties of conjugated dendrimers with unsymmetrical branching

An improved synthetic approach to conjugated monodendrons with unsymmetrical branching structures is reported. Dendrimers containing two or three such conjugated monodendrons are synthesized and their optical properties are studied. Such dendrimers exhibit broad absorptions and very high fluorescence quantum yields, making them promising candidates for applications in molecular-based photonics.
SST: An Efficient Suffix-Sharing Trie Structure for Dictionary Lookup

In many information systems, a dictionary lookup is widely adopt and utilized as a part of computation. To use in-memory dictionary, one of the most popular techniques is the using of trie structure to store a collection of words. However, it is well-known that the using of trie will consume a large amount of memory when the collection of words is large and it cannot notify the nature of words which may help users to better understand context. Therefore, in this paper, an efficient Suffix-Sharing Trie structure, named SST, is proposed to store all of words. SST is a two-trie structure that not only share prefixes but it can also share suffixes of words. By doing this, SST can identify which words having a suffix as a component and it can also reduce the memory consumption from the trie structure. Experimental results show that the proposed SST structure is efficient on both runtime and memory usage to maintain a collection of words in-memory.
Amnesia following cortical brain damage in mice.

Mice were subjected to either bilateral frontal pole, anterior-medial, posterior-medial or occipital cortical brain damage one day before or immediately after training in a one-trial passive avoidance task. Both pretrial and posttrial frontal lesions and both pretrial and posttrial anterior-medial lesions impaired retention 24 hr after training; posterior-medial and occipital lesions had no significant effects at any time. Anterior-medial lesions impaired retention when surgery was performed as long as 8 hr after training; frontal lesions impaired retention only when surgery was performed within the first post-trial hour. When retest was conducted 1 hr after training and surgery was performed immediately after training, frontal lesions but not anterior-medial lesions impaired retention. The results indicated that the cortex participates in memory storage and furthermore that substrates for modulating long-term and short-term storage could be distinguished.
Improved outcomes for laparoscopic appendectomy compared with open appendectomy in the pediatric population.

Introduction: The appendectomy is a common emergent surgical procedure in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to examine our institution's experience and outcomes in the appendectomy in the pediatric population early in our transition from open surgery to a predominantly laparoscopic approach. Methods: We retrospectively studied all pediatric patients (age 20 years) that underwent an appendectomy at a tertiary care center over 2 years. The data collected included patient demographics, comorbidities, operative details, outcomes, and complications. Results: Two hundred twenty-three consecutive patients, with a mean age of 9.5 (3.9) years, were included in the study. Forty-four laparoscopic and 179 open appendectomies were performed. Two of the laparoscopic cases were converted to open appendectomies. Significant differences were seen between the two groups, with longer operative times (P < 0.0001) and lower estimated blood loss (P = 0.007) in the laparoscopic group. Operative times improved ...
Developing Phoneme Awareness through Alphabet Books.

Previous research suggests that children who are successful in phoneme awareness tasks also have high levels of alphabet knowledge. One connection between the two might be alphabet books. Such books typically include both letter-name information and phonological information about initial sounds (‘B is for bear’). It may be that children who are read alphabet books, and thus understand how B is for bear, will learn both letter names and be able to isolate phonemes. To examine this, we gave three treatments to different groups of prekindergarteners. In the first group, the teacher read conventional alphabet books. In the second, the teacher read books chosen to contain the letter names only, without example words to demonstrate sound values. The third group, a control, read only storybooks. We found that all groups gained in print concept and letter knowledge over the course of the study. The conventional alphabet group made significantly greater gains in phoneme awareness than the group that read books about letters without example words, suggesting that conventional alphabet books may be one route to the development of phoneme awareness.
Molecular comparison of the negative-acting nitrogen control gene, nmr, in Neurospora crassa and other Neurospora and fungal species

InNeurospora crassa, the expression of unlinked structural genes which encode nitrogen catabolic enzymes is subject to genetic and metabolic regulation. The negative-actingnmr regulatory gene appears to play a role in nitrogen catabolite repression. Using theN. crassa nmr gene as a probe, homologous sequences were identified in a variety of other filamentous fungi. The polymerase chain reaction was used to isolate thenmr-like gene from the exotic Mauriceville strain ofN. crassa and from the two related species,N. intermedia andN. sitophila. Sequence comparisons were carried out with a 1.7-kb DNA segment which includes the entire coding region ofnmr plus 5′ and 3′ noncoding sequences. The size of thenmr coding region was identical in all threeNeurospora species. Approximately 30 nucleotide base substitutions were found in the coding region of thenmr gene of each of the sister species when compared to the standardN. crassa sequence. However, most of the base changes occurred in third codon positions and were silent. The NMR proteins ofN. sitophila and ofN. intermedia display only three and four amino acid substitutions, respectively, from theN. crassa protein. Two regions of high variability, which include deletions and insertions of bases, were found in the 5′ and 3′ noncoding regions of the gene.
Mississippi Basin nitrogen flux believed to cause Gulf hypoxia

An expanding hypoxic zone develops each spring and summer on the Louisiana-Texas shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, and nitrogen from the Mississippi River Basin has been implicated as one of the principal causes. Hypoxic conditions, which occur when dissolved oxygen concentrations are less than 2 mg/L, can cause stress or death in bottom-dwelling organisms that cannot leave the zone. The mid-summer extent of the hypoxic zone has more than doubled since it was first systematically mapped in 1985 [Rabalais et al., 1999]. The largest hypoxic zone measured to date occurred in 1999, when it reached ∼20,000 km2, about the size of the state of New Jersey [Rabalais, 1999].
Chiral porous coordination networks: rational design and applications in enantioselective processes

This paper provides a short review of recent progress in the synthesis and characterization of homochiral metal-organic coordination networks (MOCNs) and their applications in the areas of asymmetric catalysis and chiral separations. Although chiral MOCNs can be constructed from achiral components, the resulting bulk solids tend to be racemic and are thus not useful for enantioselective processes. A couple of examples of homochiral solids built from achiral bridging ligands are presented along with more prevalent homochiral MOCNs built from chiral bridging ligands that are categorized based on their network dimensionality. Preliminary applications of these homochiral solids in asymmetric catalysis and chiral separations are also presented.