cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein cofactors and substrate influence Mg2+-dependent structural changes in the catalytic RNA of archaeal RNase P.

The ribonucleoprotein (RNP) form of archaeal RNase P comprises one catalytic RNA and five protein cofactors. To catalyze Mg2+-dependent cleavage of the 5' leader from pre-tRNAs, the catalytic (C) and specificity (S) domains of the RNase P RNA (RPR) cooperate to recognize different parts of the pre-tRNA. While ∼250-500 mM Mg2+ renders the archaeal RPR active without RNase P proteins (RPPs), addition of all RPPs lowers the Mg2+ requirement to ∼10-20 mM and improves the rate and fidelity of cleavage. To understand the Mg2+- and RPP-dependent structural changes that increase activity, we used pre-tRNA cleavage and ensemble FRET assays to characterize inter-domain interactions in Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) RPR, either alone or with RPPs ± pre-tRNA. Following splint ligation to doubly label the RPR (Cy3-RPRC domain and Cy5-RPRS domain), we used native mass spectrometry to verify the final product. We found that FRET correlates closely with activity, the Pfu RPR and RNase P holoenzyme (RPR + 5 RPPs) traverse different Mg2+-dependent paths to converge on similar functional states, and binding of the pre-tRNA by the holoenzyme influences Mg2+ cooperativity. Our findings highlight how Mg2+ and proteins in multi-subunit RNPs together favor RNA conformations in a dynamic ensemble for functional gains.
The Rest Of the World's Dollar-Weighted Return on U.S. Treasurys

Since 1980, foreign investors have consistently earned lower returns on U.S. Treasurys than other market participants. The dollar-weighted returns or IRRs realized by the ROW 300 bps. are lower than the buy-and-hold return. The ROW's demand for U.S. Treasurys is inelastic compared to the demand of all other Treasury investors. The ROW IRRs are at least 150 bps per annum lower than the IRR of all other investors, excluding the Fed. Consistent with demand for dollar-denominated safe assets, the ROW tends to buy Treasurys when bond prices are high. During the 2021 pandemic, ROW demand for longer maturity U.S. Treasurys has weakened.
Biological Treatment Process for Removing Petroleum Hydrocarbons from Oilfield Produced Waters

“Produced water” is the single largest volume of waste generated by the oil and gas industry. These waters are generated during crude oil and natural gas production, at both onshore and offshore operations. The amount of produced water generated is dependent upon the method of recovery and the nature of formation. In some formations, large volumes of water are pumped to the surface with the oil and gas in the early stages of production; in others, water is not produced until the formation has been significantly depleted; and in some, water is never generated.
Wnt/β‐catenin signaling of cartilage canal and osteochondral junction chondrocytes and full thickness cartilage in early equine osteochondrosis

The objective of this study was to elucidate gene and protein expression of Wnt signaling molecules in chondrocytes of foals having early osteochondrosis (OC) versus normal controls. The hypothesis was that increased expression of components of Wnt signaling pathway in osteochondral junction (OCJ) and cartilage canal (CC) chondrocytes would be found in early OC when compared to controls. Paraffin-embedded osteochondral samples (7 OC, 8 normal) and cDNA from whole cartilage (7 OC, 10 normal) and chondrocytes surrounding cartilage canals and osteochondral junctions captured with laser capture microdissection (4 OC, 6 normal) were obtained from femoropatellar joints of 17 immature horses. Equine-specific Wnt signaling molecule mRNA expression levels were evaluated by two-step real-time qPCR. Spatial tissue protein expression of β-catenin, Wnt-11, Wnt-4, and Dkk-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry. There was significantly decreased Wnt-11 and increased β-catenin, Wnt-5b, Dkk-1, Lrp6, Wif-1, Axin1, and SC-PEP gene expression in early OC cartilage canal chondrocytes compared to controls. There was also significantly increased β-catenin gene expression in early OC osteochondral junction chondrocytes compared to controls. Based on this study, abundant gene expression differences in OC chondrocytes surrounding cartilage canals suggest pathways associated with catabolism and inhibition of chondrocyte maturation are targeted in early OC pathogenesis.
Beyond the ‘wild tribes’: understanding modern Afghanistan and its diaspora, edited by Ceri Oeppen and Angela Schlenkhoff

According to the UNHCR, more than 5 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan since 2002, increasing the population of the country by over 20%, with returnees in some regions numbering as many ...
Symmetric Space-Bounded Computation (Extended Abstract)

A symmetric Turing machine is one whose "yields" relation between configurations is symmetric. The space complexity classes for such machines are found to be intermediate between the corresponding deterministic and nondeterministic space complexity classes. Certain natural problems are shown to be complete for symmetric space complexity classes, and the relationship of symmetry to determinism and nondeterminism is investigated.
Simian virus 40 agnoprotein facilitates normal nuclear location of the major capsid polypeptide and cell-to-cell spread of virus.

Abstract The simian virus 40 agnoprotein is a 61-amino-acid, highly basic polypeptide that is coded within the 5' leader of late 16S mRNAs. To better understand agnoprotein function and to more effectively differentiate cis-from trans-acting effects of an agnogene mutation, we constructed a mutant virus that carries a single-base-pair substitution and fails to produce agnoprotein. pm 1493 contains a T/A to A/T transversion at sequence position 335. This mutation converts the agnoprotein initiation codon from ATG to TTG, preventing synthesis of the protein. The mutant displays only a modest growth defect in CV-1P and AGMK cells and no defect in BSC-1 cells. Early-gene expression, DNA replication, synthesis of late viral products, and the kinetics of virion assembly all appear normal in pm 1493-infected CV-1P cells. Immunofluorescent studies, however, indicate that localization of the major capsid polypeptide VP1 is different in mutant- than wild-type virus-infected cells. Furthermore, the lack of agnoprotein led to inefficient release of mature virus from the infected cell. Agnogene mutants could be severely compromised in their ability to propagate in monkeys given their reduced capacity for cell-to-cell spread.
Myeloid Suppressor Cells Accumulate and Regulate Blood Pressure in Hypertension

Rationale:Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to the progressive pathology of hypertension, and T-cell activation is required for the genesis of hypertension. However, the precise role of myeloid cells in this process is unclear. Objective:To characterize and understand the role of peripheral myeloid cells in the development of hypertension. Methods and Results:We examined myeloid cells in the periphery of hypertensive mice and found that increased numbers of CD11b+Gr1+ myeloid cells in blood and the spleen are a characteristic of 3 murine models of experimental hypertension (angiotensin II, L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester, and high salt). These cells express surface markers and transcription factors associated with immaturity and immunosuppression. Also, they produce hydrogen peroxide to suppress T-cell activation. These are characteristics of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Depletion of hypertensive MDSCs increased blood pressure and renal inflammation. In contrast, adoptive transfer o...
Dibenzo-crown facilitated transport across a CHcl3 liquid membrane

Abstract A study is reported of the variation in rates of transport of Na + and K + across a bulk liquid membrane as a function of variously substituted dibenzo-18-crown-6 ionophores and temperature. The rate of transport was found to vary as a function of ionophore basicity (least basic—least transport). This is in accord with metal complexation by the ionophore being the controlling feature for this range of ionophores. The temperature dependence was variable. For “good” bases, increase in temperature led to a decrease in transport (e.g., dibenzo-18-C-6/K + ); while for “poor” bases the reverse trend was noted (e.g., octachlorodibenzo-18-C-6/Na + ).
Electroencephalographic Activation: Nonspecific Habituation by Verbal Stimuli

A decrease in the duration of the electroencephalographic activation response to a series of different words: emotional, "neutral," and scrambled occurred. The response to "neutral" words was consistently briefer than that to the other words. This result is evidence of a nonspecific habituation of activation, which implies that habituation to classes of stimuli can occur.
Susceptibility of an Insect Leptomonas and Crithidia fasciculata to Several Established Antitrypanosomatid Agents

Growth inhibition of the lower trypanosomatids Crithidia fasciculata and a Leptomonas from a hemipteron by several established trypanocides and leishmanicides were compared in four complex and one defined media. The Leptomonas was more susceptible than C. fasciculata in all media, especially to phenanthridines (ethidium, prothidium, isometamidium) and diamidines (pentamidine, diminazene diaceturate [Berenil], hydroxystilbamidine, stilbamidine); concentrations of these drugs required for 50% inhibition of the Leptomonas were <5 mug/ml. In contrast, C. fasciculata was uninhibited by <20 mug of diamidines per ml and was three- to sixfold less susceptible than the Leptomonas to isometamidium and prothidium. Both trypanosomatids were susceptible to nucleoside antibiotics, e.g., nucleocidin. Neither was inhibited by suramin, melarsen, melarsen oxide, or tryparsamide. The Leptomonas was more susceptible to standard trypanocides than five other insect trypanosomatids in a complex medium; it was the only one inhibited by <20 mug of stilbamidine and hydroxystilbamidine per ml.
Comparative genomic sequence analysis and isolation of human and mouse alternative EGFR transcripts encoding truncated receptor isoforms.

This study presents the annotated genomic sequence and exon-intron organization of the human and mouse epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genes located on chromosomes 7p11.2 and 11, respectively. We report that the EGFR gene spans nearly 200 kb and that the full-length 170-kDa EGFR is encoded by 28 exons. In addition, we have identified two human and two mouse alternative EGFR transcripts of 2.4-3.0 kb using both computational and experimental methods. The human 3.0-kb and mouse 2.8-kb EGFR mRNAs are predominantly expressed in placenta and liver, respectively, and both transcripts encode 110-kDa truncated receptor isoforms containing only the extracellular ligand-binding domain. We also have demonstrated that the aberrant 2.8-kb EGFR transcript produced by the human A431 carcinoma cell line is generated by splicing to a recombinant 3'-terminal exon located in EGFR intron 16, which apparently was formed as a result of a chromosomal translocation. Finally, we have shown that the human, mouse, rat, and chicken 1.8- to 3.0-kb alternative EGFR transcripts are generated by distinct splicing mechanisms and that each of these mRNAs contains unique 3' sequences that are not evolutionarily conserved. The presence of truncated receptor isoforms in diverse species suggests that these proteins may have important functional roles in regulating EGFR activity.
‘Keep at It! Accept the Challenges of Your Critics’

In this article, Professor John Howard shares with our readers his life experiences as a pancreatic surgeon-researcher and gives advice to junior pancreatologists starting a career in pancreatic research. Professor Howard made an outstanding contribution to the understanding of acute pacreatitis and he is a pioneer in the development of management approaches for pancreatic diseases.
The clinical pharmacology of antiretrovirals for HIV prevention

Purpose of review Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) clinical trial results using antiretrovirals can seem confusing, if not conflicting. We review recent antiretroviral pharmacokinetic studies to help explain PrEP trial results. Recent findings Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that topical dosing, compared with oral dosing, achieves far higher colon and vaginal tissue drug concentrations, and far lower drug concentrations in blood. After oral dosing, higher tenofovir diphosphate concentrations are found in colon tissue than cervico-vaginal tissue, but the reverse is the case for emtricitabine triphosphate, although it does not persist as long. Vaginal dosing achieves measurable tenofovir concentrations in the rectum and vice versa. Within and among oral PrEP trials, increased drug concentration is associated with increased HIV protection, with drug concentration differences best explained by adherence, rather than pharmacokinetics. The poor level of protection in topical studies is not consistent with concentration-response in oral studies indicating unknown variables in need of further investigation. Summary Sparse pharmacokinetic sampling in large trials combined with more intensive sampling in smaller pharmacokinetic-focused studies help explain trial outcome differences due largely to differences in adherence, tissue pharmacokinetics, and type of HIV exposure. Pharmacokinetic analysis can identify protective drug concentration targets, guide dose optimization, and inform future trials.
The yield point load of a conical shell

Abstract This paper is concerned with a simply supported conical shell loaded at its vertex through a central boss. The shell material is rigid perfectly plastic and is assumed to obey Tresca's yield condition. The complete solutions for exact and simplified yield conditions are constructed by numerical methods. The proper choice of yield condition is predicted by a natural extension of the stress profile on the yield surface and checked locally by the flow rule and overall by boundary conditions. The simplified yield condition in geometric language is one which partly coincides and/or partly circumscribes the exact yield surface. Such simplification is made only in the region of the shell where circumferential membrane force | n θ | becomes large.
Implicit leadership theories in Japan and the US

Research on implicit leadership theories (ILTs) has shown that cultural values play a role in individuals' images or prototypes regarding leaders' behavior and attributes. We examined individuals' ILTs in Japan and the United States with regard to potential cultural differences in the variability and mean levels of ILT dimensions. We collected data from 133 participants in the US and 164 participants in Japan and examined the standard deviations and means of 15 dimensions of ILTs. There was some support for our hypothesis that Japanese participants would have lower variability in their ILTs. With regard to mean levels of ILTs, US participants had higher mean scores than Japanese participants for 11 of the 12 ILT dimensions that showed significant mean differences. We interpret our findings in light of the two countries' levels of individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and cultural tightness, and we provide research and practical implications regarding leadership in global companies.
Hyperosmolality inhibits exocytosis in sea urchin eggs by formation of a granule-free zone and arrest of pore widening.

Hyperosmolality is known to inhibit membrane fusion during exocytosis. In this study cortical granule exocytosis in sea urchin eggs is used as a model system to determine at what step this inhibition occurs.Strongylocentrotus purpuratus eggs were incubated in hyperosmotic seawater (Na2SO4, sucrose or sodium HEPES used as osmoticants), the eggs activated with 20 μm A23187 to trigger exocytosis, and then quick frozen or chemically fixed for electron microscopy. Thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas show that at high osmolality (2.31 osmol/kg), there is a decrease in cortical granule size, a 90% reduction in granule-plasma membrane fusion, and formation of a granulefree zone between the plasma membrane and cortical granules. This zone averages 0.64 μm in thickness and prevents the majority of granules from docking at the plasma membrane. The remaining granules (∼10%) exhibit early stages of fusion which appear to have been stabilized; the matrix of these granules remains intact. We conclude that exocytosis is blocked by two separate mechanisms. First, the granule-free zone prevents granule-plasma membrane contact required for fusion. Second, in cases where fusion does occur, opening of the pocket and dispersal of the granule contents are slowed in hyperosmotic media.
Restraining mandated service costs: Innovative diffusion of transplant technologies in arizona's medicaid program

Medical technological innovations while usually beneficial are inevitably costly to the medical profession, to government, to the economy, and to society in general. Organ transplantations are prime examples of this dilemma. Such services are mandated by the federal government to state Medicaid programs. A cost-saving effort in Arizona's Medicaid program involving negotiation and competitive bidding with providers of transplantation services could have broad positive implications for states willing to copy Arizona's approach. The approach may even have implications for general health care reform.
Rational enhancement of second-order nonlinearity: bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)hetero-aryl-amino donor-based chromophores: design, synthesis, and electrooptic activity.

Two new highly hyperpolarizable chromophores, based on N,N-bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)aryl-amino donors and phenyl-trifluoromethyl-tricyanofuran (CF3-Ph-TCF) acceptor linked together via π-conjugation through 2,5-divinylenethienyl moieties as the bridge, have been designed and synthesized successfully for the first time. The aryl moieties on the donor side of the chromophore molecules were varied as to be thiophene and 1-n-hexylpyrrole. The linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of all compounds were evaluated in addition to recording relevant thermal and electrochemical data. The properties of the two new molecules were comparatively studied. These results are critically analyzed along with two other compounds, reported earlier from our laboratories and our collaborator’s, that contain (i) aliphatic chain-bearing aniline and (ii) dianisylaniline as donors, keeping the bridge (2,5-divinylenethienyl-), and the acceptor (CF3-Ph-TCF), constant. Trends in theoretically (density functional theory, DFT) predic...
Biological antifreeze agents in coldwater fishes

Abstract 1. 1. Biological antifreezes are present in coldwater fishes and lower their freezing point below the freezing point of seawater (− 1.9°C), without substantially increasing the osmotic content of their body fluids. 2. 2. The antifreeze agents present in the Antarctic notothenioid and northern gadid fishes are glycopeptides composed of alanine, threonine, galactose and N -acetylgalactosamine. In other northern fishes they are peptides which differ substantially in composition between species, but are similar in that two thirds of their residues are alanine and they are rich in the polar residues aspartate, glutamate, threonine and serine. 3. 3. Although the average mol. wt of the antifreezes is between 5000 and 10,000. they have a very large effect, on the freezing point of water which has been termed an antifreeze effect. The depression of the freezing point occurs via the non-colligative mechanism, adsorption-inhibition. Adsorption to ice prevents water from joining the ice lattice by increasing the radius of curvature of the fronts on the growth steps of the crystals thereby increasing their surface free energy. 4. 4. The antifreezes are a permanent feature of the Antarctic fishes, but in many northern fishes they are present only during the winter and the antifreeze cycle appears to be an endogenous one. 5. 5. Antifreeze concentrations in the blood are between 3 and 4%, but they are not present in the urine. In the Antarctic and many northern species, the antifreezes are conserved in the circulation because the kidneys are aglomerular or functionally aglomerular. In the glomerular winter flounder, the acidic peptide antifreeze is conserved in the circulation because it is not filtered. Retention of the peptide occurs because it is repelled from the negatively charged basement membrane of the capillary wall. Small amounts of low mol. wt antifreeze are lost via the bile and digestive system where their role appears to be prevention of freezing of the dilute intestinal fluid.
Supersymmetry and the Quark Mass Matrix

Abstract We describe a class of supersymmetric models which make qualitative predictions for the structure of the quark mass matrix. In particular the models explain the large ratios between the masses of third generation particles and those of the two lighter generations, as well as the smallness of third generation mixing angles. They can also explain why grand unified predictions for quark lepton mass ratios might work only for the third generation. A natural mechanism for explaining why charge 2 3 quarks are generally heavier than those with charge −1 3 is also found.
Sex differences in the activity wheel as a function of fetal age at irradiation

Female offspring of gravid rats administered a single dose of 200 R of ionizing irradiation on Gestation Days 17, 19, or 21 remained significantly more active than similarly treated males. Both groups increased their activity over control levels with a lesser effect in evidence for 17 and 21 day males. Day 19 males were. unexpectedly, as active as the comparable female group.
Segmental spinal instrumentation without sublaminar wires.

We have developed a method of segmental spinal instrumentation that precludes the passage of sublaminar wires, thus reducing the likelihood of neurological complications. The technique utilizes the base of the spinous process as the purchase site for segmental fixation and a newly developed buttonwire implant. The technique and early experience with this method are described.
Hydrogen evolution and exchange, and conversion of N2O to N2 by soybean root nodules.

Abstract Soybean root nodules support the evolution of H 2 and an exchange reaction yielding HD from D 2 and endogenous H donors. The evolution of hydrogen is inhibited by N 2 and N 2 O but is rather insensitive to CO. The exchange reaction is strongly inhibited by CO and by N 2 O but is activated by N 2 . N 2 O is converted to N 2 by soybean nodules. A working hypothesis to encompass these experimental observations has been proposed.
Classification of Uncertain Data Streams Based on Extreme Learning Machine

Classification over data streams is an important task in data mining. The challenges become even larger when uncertain data are considered. An important challenge in the classification of uncertain data streams is concept drift and uncertainty of data. This paper studies the problem using extreme learning machine (ELM). We first propose weighted ensemble classifier based on ELM (WEC-ELM) algorithm, which can dynamically adjust classifier and the weight of training uncertain data to solve the problem of concept drift. Furthermore, an uncertainty classifier based on ELM (UC-ELM) algorithm is designed for the classification of uncertain data streams, which not only considers tuple value, but also its uncertainty, improving the efficiency and accuracy. Finally, the performance of our methods is verified through a large number of simulation experiments. The experimental results show that our methods are effective ways to solve the problem of classification of uncertain data streams and are able to solve the problem of concept drift, reduce the execution time and improve the efficiency.
Extensive size polymorphism of the human keratin 10 chain resides in the C-terminal V2 subdomain due to variable numbers and sizes of glycine loops.

Abstract Existing data suggest that the human keratin 10 intermediate filament protein is polymorphic in amino acid sequence and in size. To precisely define the nature of the polymorphism, we have used PCR amplification and sequence analyses on DNA from several individuals including five with documented size variations of the keratin 10 protein. We found no variation in the N-terminal or rod domain sequences. However, we observed many variations in the V2 subdomain near the C terminus in glycine-rich sequences with a variation of as much as 114 base pairs (38 amino acids), but all individuals had either one or two variants. Our results show that (i) the keratin 10 system is far more polymorphic than previously realized, (ii) the polymorphism is restricted to insertions and deletions of the glycine-rich quasipeptide repeats that form the glycine-loop motif in the C-terminal domain, (iii) the polymorphism can be accounted for by simple allelic variations that segregate by normal Mendelian mechanisms, and (iv) the differently sized PCR products most likely represent different alleles of a single-copy gene per haploid genome.
Review of Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from Hawai'i and Adjacent Seamounts. Part 3: Genera Thouarella, Plumarella, Callogorgia, Fanellia , and Parastenella

Ten species of Hawaiian primnoids are described and/or discussed, completing the review of the 28 primnoids known from the Hawaiian Islands. This family constitutes 29% of the Hawaiian octocoral fauna. Callogorgia americana is synonymized with C. gilberti, resulting in a disjunct distribution in the Pacific and Northwest Atlantic. Two new species are described (Plumarella circumoperculum Cairns and Parastenella bayeri Cairns), and two (Callogorgia gilberti and C. robusta) are reported for the first time since their original descriptions over a century ago. Keys are provided for the Hawaiian primnoid genera and all species of the genus Parastenella; comparative tables are provided for the Hawaiian Callogorgia and Fanellia. A distinctive nematocyst pad is described for the genus Parastenella. Highly modified polyps caused by copepod parasites are described for two species: Callogorgia gilberti and Thouarella hilgendorfi.
Sensitomeric response of DCS-class professional digital cameras

The sensitometric dynamic range of a silicon-based CCD imager is generally based on the ratio of the array element's well capacity to store electrons and the readout noise level of the imager. The readout noise level is analogous with the base+fog level of film, and exceeding the capacity of a pixel's well generates excess electrons resulting in overexposure of the image. Therefore, CCD imaging cameras exhibit S-shaped H and D curves with range limiting toes and shoulders similar to silver halide based film and paper. It is generally accepted that to capture all the tomes of a typical subject image, the capturing imager should have a minimum dynamic range of 7 f-stops. Current professional film and paper support this 7 f-stop requirement, with some films capable of 8-9 f-stops of tonal dynamic range. This paper describes a recent research project conducted at the Institute to characterize the sensitometric response of several DCS-class professional CCD digital imaging cameras. Cameras tested included to Eastman Kodak DCS 420, DCS 460, and the Canon EOS-DCS 3.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The NADPH metabolic network regulates human αB-crystallin cardiomyopathy and reductive stress in Drosophila melanogaster.

Dominant mutations in the alpha-B crystallin (CryAB) gene are responsible for a number of inherited human disorders, including cardiomyopathy, skeletal muscle myopathy, and cataracts. The cellular mechanisms of disease pathology for these disorders are not well understood. Among recent advances is that the disease state can be linked to a disturbance in the oxidation/reduction environment of the cell. In a mouse model, cardiomyopathy caused by the dominant CryABR120G missense mutation was suppressed by mutation of the gene that encodes glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), one of the cell's primary sources of reducing equivalents in the form of NADPH. Here, we report the development of a Drosophila model for cellular dysfunction caused by this CryAB mutation. With this model, we confirmed the link between G6PD and mutant CryAB pathology by finding that reduction of G6PD expression suppressed the phenotype while overexpression enhanced it. Moreover, we find that expression of mutant CryAB in the Drosophila heart impaired cardiac function and increased heart tube dimensions, similar to the effects produced in mice and humans, and that reduction of G6PD ameliorated these effects. Finally, to determine whether CryAB pathology responds generally to NADPH levels we tested mutants or RNAi-mediated knockdowns of phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and malic enzyme (MEN), the other major enzymatic sources of NADPH, and we found that all are capable of suppressing CryABR120G pathology, confirming the link between NADP/H metabolism and CryAB.
Event-based archival information organization

Event-based information organization methods from other communities provide insights for rethinking archival information organization and redesigning archival description metadata. Differences between event and function are analyzed, and the possibility of using events as a kind of provenance to organize and describe archival information is discussed. Two approaches to redesigning archival description metadata are discussed: making the current narrative descriptions of archives management events more structured and replacing encoded archival description with a metadata framework based on recordkeeping and archives management events in records life cycle.
An Overview of Solid-Like Electrolytes for Supercapacitors

Supercapacitors with an electric double-layer design have attracted great attention in the recent years because they are promising energy storage devices for a number of applications, particularly for portable electronics and electric automobiles. They utilize the interface between the electrode and the electrolyte to store energy, resulting in energy storage devices with high power density but low energy density compared to batteries. To improve the performance and reduce the cost, researchers have made significant progress in increasing energy density, electrode voltage, and cycle life. The increase of the energy density is considered to be achieved mainly by increasing the effective specific interface between the electrodes and the electrolyte. Various electrodes with porous structure have been attempted to increase the specific surface area. The increase of electrode voltage is realized primarily via the change of liquid electrolytes to gel, solid and composite ones. In this overview, they are summarized as solid-like electrolytes. This paper reviews the materials adopted and the processing methods developed for solid-like electrolytes, as well as the general characteristics of supercapacitors employing such electrolytes.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The effect of centrifugation on agar/sucrose gels

Abstract The viscoelascity and water mobility of 3% agar gels containing 5, 10 and 20% sucrose, before and after centrifugation, were studied by using dynamic mechanical spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry. Centrifugation was found to induce damage in the gel by phase separation of water. However, results suggest that water can recombine after centrifugation with closely packed macromolecules to provide a similar molecular structure to that of the gel before centrifugation. Sucrose helped reduce exudation of water at low centrifugation speeds through hydrogen bonding. The effects of centrifugation at high speed on water mobility were compensated by increasing sucrose concentration. Centrifugation created water compartments in the gel with distinct motion properties. On the contrary, sucrose concentration did not affect the hydraulic radius of these compartments.
SU‐E‐T‐505: A Phantom Study of 4D‐SBRT Lung Treatment with CyberKnife Using Novel Fiducial Markers

Purpose: To analyze and verify feasibility of single fiducial tracking using four different types of fiducial markers with the Synchrony® technique in CyberKnife® (CK) SBRTlung treatment. Methods: A dynamic thorax phantom (CIRS Inc.) was scanned in a static mode using a Philips Brilliance Big‐Bore CT scanner. Four fiducial types were used: short wire, long wire, curl, and multi‐coil (Cook® Medical). A single fiducial was placed in a target volume in vertical, horizontal and parallel orientations relative to the treatment imaging system. Correlation and confidence level of the fiducial marker compared to external markers were recorded. CTimages were transferred to MultiPlan® system for treatment planning. After the plan was completed and authorized, dual x‐rays were used for tumor tracking. Breathing and tumor tracking motions were correlated by a combination of x‐rays and infrared external markers. For confidence level and correlation error, phantom‐based tracking was simulated for regular breathing motions and these parameters were collected until Synchrony established a full breathing cycle. Results: Tracking confidence levels of the fiducials ranged from 72% to 89.3%, with correlation errors of 0.23 mm to 1.1 mm. The 0.5 and 1.0 cm wire‐type fiducials were the most sensitive to error dependent upon insert direction. Using these markers, if the orientation was parallel to the phantom's rib cage, the CyberKnife was unable to register due to adjacent high density areas such as bony structures. The curl and multi‐coil types were more robust to orientation bias. Conclusions: It is possible to use single wire fiducials for Synchrony but continuous tumor tracking may not be reliable due to their high dependency on orientation. Curl or multi‐coil type fiducials are less sensitive to orientation and, as a result, may be better suited for single‐fiducial tracking.
A multifaceted public health approach to statewide aviation safety.

Background During the 1990s, Alaskan pilots had one of the most hazardous occupations in the US. In 2000, a multifaceted public health initiative was launched, focusing on Alaskan air taxi/commuter (AT) operations, including risk factor identification, improved weather information, and the formation of an industry-led safety organization. Methods Effectiveness was assessed by comparing rates of crashes using Poisson regression, comparing trends in annual numbers of crashes, and assessing changes in the number and type of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) events. Results The greatest improvements were seen in Alaska fatal AT crashes with a 57% decrease in rates between time periods. While the number of AT crashes in the rest of the US steadily declined during 1990–2009, Alaska only showed significant declines after 2000. CFIT crashes declined but remained more deadly than other crashes. Conclusions This coordinated effort was successful in reducing crashes in the Alaskan AT industry. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
EFFECT OF METAL IONS ON RESIDUAL NITRITE1

The effect of various metal ions on residual nitrite was studied in both a meat system and a model system. Reducing ability, nitrosylhemochrome, nitrate and pH were determined in an attempt to explain the mechanism of loss of nitrite in the system. The control meat system contained 2% NaCl and 156 ppm of NaNO2 while treatment groups had 0.05% of metal ions (Fe++, Fe+++, Cu++, Zn++, Ca++, and Mg++ as chloride salts) substituted for the same amount of NaCl. The results showed that ferrous (Fe++), ferric (Fe+++), cupric (Cu++) and Zinc (Zn++) ions caused a depletion of nitrite while calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) ions did not have any effect on residual nitrite. The model system consisted of 25 mM PIPES buffer at pH 5.8 to which was added 156 ppm NaNO2 with or without 0.05% metal ions. Only ferrous (Fe++) ion decomposed more nitrite than the control after heating. Considering the results from both systems, the mode of action for each ion appeared to be different; ferrous ion appeared to act directly as an electron donor, ferric ion acted like ferrous after being reduced, cupic ion appeared to act as an electron donor after being reduced and then as an electron acceptor, and zinc ion seemed to be effective only by decreasing the pH of the system.
Tandem Catalysis: Three Mechanistically Distinct Reactions from a Single Ruthenium Complex

Organometallic catalysts are traditionally designed and optimized to mediate a single reaction. As the number of applications that require combinatorial and other high-speed synthetic protocols increases, it will become desirable for catalysts to mediate multiple, mechanistically distinct transformations directly or upon simple modification. As an example of such a system, we demonstrate the ability of a single component precatalyst to mediate three different reactions to form well-defined block copolymers.
Early development of X-cells in kitten lateral geniculate nucleus

Lateral geniculate nucleus cells of the kitten were classified as X-cells or Y-cells with a contrast reversal test and their latencies to optic chiasm shock were measured. X-cells with mature latencies were found as early as 21 days. Y-cells did not have adult latencies at 40 days. The early development of some X-cells may be due to differential rates of fiber myelination and synaptic maturation within the lateral geniculate nucleus.
Nonlinear Hyperbolic Waves

A theory describing the propagation of nonlinear hyperbolic waves of any strength is developed. It is valid for small values of the wavelength, i. e. of the typical scale length of variation in the direction of propagation. At first the wave propagates along wave normals according to one-dimensional theory. It quickly splits up into a set of distinct waves, each of which soon becomes weak. The weak waves then propagate along rays according to weakly nonlinear geometrical optics.
Bringing food desert residents to an alternative food market: a semi-experimental study of impediments to food access

The emerging critique of alternative food networks (AFNs) points to several factors that could impede the participation of low-income, minority communities in the movement, namely, spatial and temporal constraints, and the lack of economic, cultural, and human capital. Based on a semi-experimental study that offers 6 weeks of free produce to 31 low-income African American households located in a New Orleans food desert, this article empirically examines the significance of the impeding factors identified by previous scholarship, through participant surveys before, during, and after the program. Our results suggest economic constraints are more influential in determining where the participants shop for food than spatial and temporal constraints, and the study participants exhibit high levels of human and cultural capital regarding the purchase and consumption of locally grown produce. We also find them undeterred by the market’s predominantly White, middle-class cultural social space, which leads us to question the extent to which cultural exclusivity discourages their participation in AFNs. For all five factors we find that the constraints posed to accessing the local food market were not universal but varied among the participants. Finally, the study reveals some localized social constraints, fragmented social ties in particular, as a possible structural hurdle to engaging these residents in the alternative market in their neighborhood. Conclusions point to the need for a multi-dimensional and dynamic conceptualization of “food access.”
Both hypodiploidy and deletion of chromosome 13 independently confer poor prognosis in multiple myeloma

Complete or partial deletion of chromosome 13 or translocations involving 13q (delta13) by conventional cytogenetic analysis confers a poor prognosis in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, even with timely application of tandem autologous transplants. It was recently suggested that the prognostic significance of delta13 is related to its frequent association with hypodiploidy but by itself does not have a poor prognostic significance. We therefore analysed our experience in 1475 consecutive MM patients in whom we intended treatment with tandem transplants after a melphalan-based conditioning regimen. Patients with abnormal cytogenetic analysis were grouped into hypodiploid/hypotetraploid, pseudodiploid and hyperdiploid groups, according to their modal chromosome number. Their event-free and overall survival were compared with those of patients with a normalkaryotype. Both hypodiploidy and delta13 were found to independently confer poor prognosis in MM patients. Furthermore, these parameters in combination with easily obtained pretransplant levels of beta-2 microglobulin and albumin define three groups of MM patients with clearly distinct outcomes.
Irrigation scheduling performance by evapotranspiration-based controllers

Abstract Evapotranspiration-based irrigation controllers, also known as ET controllers, use ET information or estimation to schedule irrigation. Previous research has shown that ET controllers could reduce irrigation as much as 42% when compared to a time-based irrigation schedule. The objective of this study was to determine the capability of three brands of ET-based irrigation controllers to schedule irrigation compared to a theoretically derived soil water balance model based on the Irrigation Association Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT) protocol to determine the effectiveness of irrigation scheduling. Five treatments were established, T1–T5, replicated four times for a total of twenty field plots in a completely randomized block design. The irrigation treatments were as follows: T1, Weathermatic SL1600 with SLW15 weather monitor; T2, Toro Intelli-sense; T3, ETwater Smart Controller 100; T4, a time-based treatment determined by local recommendations; and T5, a reduced time-based treatment 60% of T4. All treatments utilized rain sensors set at a 6 mm threshold. A daily soil water balance model was used to calculate the theoretical irrigation requirements for comparison with actual irrigation water applied. Calculated in 30-day running totals, irrigation adequacy and scheduling efficiency were used to quantify under- and over-irrigation, respectively. The study period, 25 May 2006 through 27 November 2007, was drier than the historical average with a total of 1326 mm of rainfall compared to 1979 mm for the same historical period. It was found that all treatments applied less irrigation than required for all seasons. Additionally, the ET controllers applied only half of the irrigation calculated for the theoretical requirement for each irrigation event, on average. Irrigation adequacy decreased when the ET controllers were allowed to irrigate any day of the week. All treatments had decreased scheduling efficiency averages in the rainy season with the largest decrease of 29 percentile points with a timer and rain sensor (T4) and an average decrease of 20 percentile points for the ET controllers, indicating that site specific rainfall has a significant effect on scheduling efficiency results. Rainfall did not drastically impact the average irrigation adequacy results. For this study, there were two controller program settings that impacted the results. The first setting was the crop coefficients where specific values were chosen for the location of the study when calculating the theoretical requirement whereas the controllers used default values. The second setting was the soil type that defines the soil water holding capacity of the soil. The ET controllers were able to regularly adjust to real-time weather, unlike the conventional irrigation timers. However, the incorporation of site specific rainfall measurements is extremely important to their success at managing landscape water needs and at a minimum a rain sensor should be used.
Hormonal regulation of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in gonadal tissues of the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus).

Abstract The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), a member of the StAR-related lipid transfer domain (START) family, is critical to regulated steroidogenesis in vertebrates. We have isolated a cDNA encoding StAR from a well-studied model of teleost physiology, the Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus. This cDNA (1204 nucleotides total length) contains an open reading frame of 858 nucleotides encoding a protein of 286 amino acids. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates the putative Atlantic croaker StAR protein is more closely related to StAR proteins (62–85% identity) than to the related START protein MLN-64 (28–31% identity). Green monkey kidney cells (COS-1) cotransfected with Atlantic croaker StAR and human cholesterol side chain cleavage (SCC) expression constructs are able to produce significantly more pregnenolone than cells transfected with SCC alone. StAR mRNA is detected in the Atlantic croaker head kidney by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in the kidney and hypothalamus in some individuals. Gonadal StAR gene expression is below the level of detection by RT-PCR in most individuals, but can be detected using fluorescent probes in quantitative RT-PCR. StAR mRNA is not detected in the Atlantic croaker brain. Six hour in vitro treatment of Atlantic croaker ovarian follicles with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is insufficient to significantly alter StAR mRNA levels; however, 24 h hCG treatment induces StAR mRNA levels 17-fold over untreated controls. Neither 6 nor 24 h treatment with hCG significantly alters StAR mRNA levels in Atlantic croaker testicular minces. Likewise, 6 h in vitro treatment with estradiol, testosterone or the maturation-inducing steroid 17,20β,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one is without effect on gonadal StAR mRNA levels.
Bone Erosion in Allergic Fungal Sinusitis

Allergic fungal (Aspergillus) sinusitis was initially described in 1983. Histologic identification of fungal hyphae, eosinophils, and Charcot-Leyden crystals in allergic mucin from the involved sinus is considered diagnostic. The fungus is felt to incite the allergic response. The histologic similarity of this disease to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis prompted the name, allergic aspergillus sinusitis. However, in the absence of definitive cultures or laboratory tests indicating Aspergillus as the organism involved, the more appropriate term would be allergic fungal sinusitis. Bone erosion frequently has been described in invasive fungal sinusitis, especially in immunocompromised hosts. However, bone erosion has been seen in only 4 of 21 previously reported cases of allergic fungal sinusitis and is considered unusual. We report 11 additional cases diagnosed over the last 52 months. Seven were noted on computed tomographic scan to have marked multifocal bone destruction. Histologically, this appear...
Complex Signatures of Natural Selection at the Duffy Blood Group Locus

The Duffy blood group locus (FY) has long been considered a likely target of natural selection, because of the extreme pattern of geographic differentiation of its three major alleles (FY*B, FY*A, and FY*O). In the present study, we resequenced the FY region in samples of Hausa from Cameroon (fixed for FY*O), Han Chinese (fixed for FY*A), Italians, and Pakistanis. Our goals were to characterize the signature of directional selection on FY*O in sub-Saharan Africa and to understand the extent to which natural selection has also played a role in the extreme geographic differentiation of the other derived allele at this locus, FY*A. The data from the FY region are compared with the patterns of variation observed at 10 unlinked, putatively neutral loci from the same populations, as well as with theoretical expectations from the neutral-equilibrium model. The FY region in the Hausa shows evidence of directional selection in two independent properties of the data (i.e., level of sequence variation and frequency spectrum), observations that are consistent with the FY*O mutation being the target. The Italian and Chinese FY data show patterns of variation that are very unusual, particularly with regard to frequency spectrum and linkage disequilibrium, but do not fit the predictions of any simple model of selection. These patterns may represent a more complex and previously unrecognized signature of positive selection.