cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Altering DNA polymerase incorporation fidelity by distorting the dNTP binding pocket with a bulky carcinogen-damaged template

Fidelity of DNA polymerases is predominantly governed by an induced fit mechanism in which the incoming dNTP in the ternary complex fits tightly into a binding pocket whose geometry is determined by the nature of the templating base. However, modification of the template with a bulky carcinogen may alter the dNTP binding pocket and thereby the polymerase incorporation fidelity. High fidelity DNA polymerases, such as bacteriophage T7 DNA polymerase, are predominantly blocked by bulky chemical lesions on the template strand during DNA replication. However, some mutagenic bypass can occur, which may lead to carcinogenesis. Experimental studies have shown that a DNA covalent adduct derived from (+)-anti-BPDE [(+)-(7R,8S,9S,10R)-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene], a carcinogenic metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene (BP), primarily blocks Sequenase 2.0, an exo(-) T7 DNA polymerase; however, a mismatched dATP can be preferentially inserted opposite the damaged adenine templating base within the active site of the polymerase [Chary, P., and Lloyd, R. S. (1995) Nucleic Acids Res. 23, 1398-1405]. The goal of this work is to elucidate structural features that contribute to DNA polymerase incorporation fidelity in the presence of this bulky covalent adduct and to interpret the experimental findings on a molecular level. We have carried out molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations with AMBER 6.0, investigating a T7 DNA polymerase primer-template closed ternary complex containing this 10S (+)-trans-anti-[BP]-N(6)-dA adduct in the templating position within the polymerase active site. All four incoming dNTPs were studied. The simulations show that the BP ring system fits well into an open pocket on the major groove side of the modified template adenine with anti glycosidic bond conformation, without disturbing critical polymerase-DNA interactions. However, steric hindrance between the BP ring system and the primer-template DNA causes displacement of the modified template adenine, so that the dNTP base binding pocket is enlarged. This alteration can explain the experimentally observed preference for incorporation of dATP opposite this lesion. These studies also rationalize the observed lower probabilities of incorporation of the other three nucleotides. Our results suggest that the differences in incorporation of dGTP, dCTP, and dTTP are due to the effects of imperfect geometric complementarity. Thus, the simulations suggest that altered DNA polymerase incorporation fidelity can result from adduct-induced changes in the dNTP base binding pocket geometry. Furthermore, plausible structural explanations for the observed effects of [BP]-N(6)-dA adduct stereochemistry on the observed stalling patterns are proposed.
mTOR Promotes Survival and Astrocytic Characteristics Induced by Pten/Akt Signaling in Glioblastoma

Combined activation of Ras and Akt leads to the formation of astrocytic glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in mice. In human GBMs, AKT is not mutated but is activated in approximately 70% of these tumors, in association with loss of PTEN and/or activation of receptor tyrosine kinases. Mechanistic justification for the therapeutic blockade of targets downstream of AKT, such as mTOR, in these cancers requires demonstration that the oncogenic effect of PTEN loss is through elevated AKT activity. We demonstrate here that loss of Pten is similar to Akt activation in the context of glioma formation in mice. We further delineate the role of mTOR activity downstream of Akt in the maintenance of Akt+KRas-induced GBMs. Blockade of mTOR results in regional apoptosis in these tumors and conversion in the character of surviving tumor cells from astrocytoma to oligodendroglioma. These data suggest that mTOR activity is required for the survival of some cells within these GBMs, and mTOR appears required for the maintenance of astrocytic character in the surviving cells. Furthermore, our study provides the first example of conversion between two distinct tumor types usually thought of as belonging to specific lineages, and provides evidence for signal transduction-mediated transdifferentiation between glioma subtypes.
The Research on Design and Manufacture of AC Resistor

Ohm is the basic unit of electric parameter. Its quantity transferable system is achieved by the ohm resistor. The quality of the ohm resistor is directly related to the accuracy and reliability of quantity transmission system. Ohm resistor can be divided into DC resistor and AC resistor to use. With the development of modern electronic technology, the AC resistor attracts more attention. The design and manufacture of AC resistor has always been difficult which involves cross-integration of the mechanics, electromagnetic and material science, the design effect of most products is not ideal. The technical features, design principles and factors in manufacturing are present in this paper for AC resistor manufacture and test units.
Intracellular development of a large DNA bacteriophage lytic for Caulobacter crescentus.

The cytological alterations accompanying Cb Φ 13 infection of Caulobacter crescentus CB13 cells were followed by electron microscopic examination of sections of cells fixed at various stages of the infection. During the first half of the latent period, the cells appear unaltered. In the second half, the nucleoplasm migrates to the cell periphery and becomes more discrete than the nucleoplasm of uninfected cells. Phage particles appear within the migrated nucleoplasm. The only further alteration apparent in the sections is the absence of the lysozyme-versenesoluble layer of the cell wall of phage-lysed cells.
Family Factors Associated with Externalizing Disorders in Preschoolers

This review presents literature on family factors associated with externalizing behavior in preschool children. Studies that identify family patterns of preschoolers with both hyperactivity and aggression and longitudinal studies on family factors associated with negative behavioral outcomes in children were reviewed. Overall, the research documents that negative family characteristics are more prevalent in families of preschoolers with externalizing behavior disorders than in families of comparison preschoolers. When compared with families of preschoolers with only hyperactivity, preschoolers with hyperactivity and aggression had families with the most negative characteristics. Longitudinal research documented that certain family characteristics are associated with negative behavioral outcomes in children. Implications from these findings for both research and practice are given.
Pyromorphite : Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone County, Idaho

(2001). Pyromorphite : Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone County, Idaho. Rocks & Minerals: Vol. 76, No. 3, pp. 190-194.
Next generation Autonomous Lunar Geophysical Experiment Package

Geophysical exploration of the interior structure and processes of the Moon has been a high scientific priority dating back to the Apollo days and still remains a high priority even today. The Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) deployed during the Apollo era played an important role in extending knowledge of the Moon's history through seismic, magnetic, and geothermal measurements. In this concept study, a contemporary equivalent of ALSEP was investigated. Autonomous Lunar Geophysical Experiment Package (ALGEP) contains instruments similar to ALSEP but has taken advantage of thirty years of technology advances, allowing for development of instruments with increased sensitivity and reduced size and power requirements. Solar powered modular platforms were designed with each instrument equipped with its own miniaturized power, telecom, command and data handling, and thermal subsystems allowing for nighttime data collection. A base station would provide communication with the Earth. The instruments could be deployed long distances from one another and would be essentially wireless, decreasing deployment complexity and risk.
Flow through beds of porous particles

Intraparticle convection is receiving increased attention in studies of beds of porous particles, especially in biotechnology applications involving cell immobilization and perfursion chromatography. This work presents two approximate models for describing the flow field within a porous particle contained in a fixed or fluidized bed. The first is a swarm model where a spherical porous particle of a specified permeability is contained in a matrix of a different permeability that is equated to the overall bed permeability. Brinkman's equations are solved in both the particle and matrix domains. The second is a cell model in which the spherical porous particle is placed in a spherical envelope of fluid whose diameter is chosen so that the overall bed porosity is conserved. The Stokes equations are solved for the envelope fluid, and Brinkman's or Darcy's equations are solved for the porous particle. For both models, a vector invariant solution is employed which yields the pressure and velocity fields directly in terms of the fundamental solutions to Laplace's equation and the modified Helmholtz equation. Results are presented for the drag force per particle, the overall bed permeability, and the velocity and pressure profiles within the particle. The results of the two different models are similar. An important observation is that the intraparticle velocity is approximately two orders of magnitude larger for particle in a typical packed bed than for an isolated particle under similar conditions, owing to the increased resistance to flow outside the particle caused by the other bed particles. As a result, intraparticle convection plays a key role in reactant transport within the porous particle phase.
Public perceptions of media performance at the beginning of the war on terrorism

This study examines the interplay among audience evaluations of media performance, their expectations about the roles media should fulfill, and restrictive attitudes towards media content at the beginning of military action in Afghanistan. The data are from a national random‐digit dial survey. Audience evaluations of media were positive, and media role expectations predict these evaluations. Both media role expectations and audience evaluations are significant predictors of endorsement of restrictive attitudes.
Impact of the 2009 (7th Edition) AJCC Melanoma Staging System in the Classification of Thin Cutaneous Melanomas

Context. The 7th (2009) edition of the AJCC melanoma staging system incorporates tumor (Breslow) thickness, MR, and ulceration in stratifying T1 primary melanomas. Compared to the prior 6th (2001) edition, MR has replaced CL for thin melanomas. Objective. We sought to identify and report differences of the classification of thin melanomas as well as outcome of SLNB in patients according to the 6th and 7th editions at our institution. Results. 106 patients were identified with thin melanomas verified by wide excision. 31 of 106 thin melanomas were reclassified according to the 7th edition of the AJCC. Of those 31, 15 CL II/III patients (6th edition T1a) were reclassified as T1b based on the presence of mitoses while 16 CL IV patients (6th edition T1b) were categorized as T1a based on the absence of mitoses. 26/31 reclassified patients underwent SLNB, and all were negative. Patients with thin melanoma and a
Repression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 gene expression by E2F4 in skeletal muscle cells

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) gene expression is positively and negatively regulated during muscle differentiation. We recently reported that FGFR1 gene expression was up-regulated by Sp transcription factors in proliferating myoblasts. However, the mechanism of down-regulation of this gene during differentiation is unknown. We have identified the transcription factor E2F4 as a negative regulator of FGFR1 gene expression. Immunodetection studies revealed that endogenous E2F1 and E2F2 proteins were cytoplasmic in myoblasts and myotubes, whereas E2F4 was abundant in the nuclei of both. Upon overexpression, E2F4 repressed FGFR1 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner in myoblasts and Drosophila SL2 cells, and mutation of the E2F4 binding site increased FGFR1 promoter activity and reduced E2F4-mediated repression. Gel shift assays detected E2F4 binding to a synthetic FGFR1 E2F4 binding site and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays detected E2F4 binding to the endogenous FGFR1 promoter in proliferating myoblasts and myotubes. The results indicate that FGFR1 promoter activity in skeletal muscle cells is repressed by E2F4.
Censored regression quantiles

Abstract The object of this paper is to demonstrate how the LAD estimation method for the censored regression model can be extended to more general quantiles. In this paper, the form of the conditional quantiles for the censored regression models is heuristically derived and discussed. The resulting estimators of the regression coefficients, which include the censored LAD estimator as a special case, are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normally distributed under appropriately ‘translated’ versions of the corresponding assumptions for the former approach; consistent estimation of the asymptotic covariance matrix when the error terms are i.i.d. is also treated. The paper discussed how several quantile estimators might be combined to improve efficiency when the error terms are identically distributed, and how tests of homoskedasticity and symmetry of the error distribution can be constructed using particular differences of the estimated coefficients.
Risk factors for renal allograft loss in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Risk factors for renal allograft loss in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Controversy exists regarding the risk factors for renal allograft loss in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study is a retrospective evaluation of each of these independent risk factors in 80 renal transplants for ESRD secondary to SLE done at our institution between 1971 and 1994. Our entire non-diabetic cohort of 1,966 renal transplants is used as a comparison group. Our results showed equivalent graft survival rates between lupus patients and the cohort at 1, 5 and 10 years ( P = 0.56). However, an analysis of cyclosporine-era cadaver grafts revealed that the lupus group had poorer 5-year graft survival than the cohort (41% vs. 71%, P = 0.02). Evaluation of cyclosporine-era lupus graft survival showed significantly improved out-come in living-related lupus recipients over cadaver grafts at five years (89% vs. 41%, P = 0.003). The majority of grafts lost in the lupus cadaver recipients were due to chronic rejection. Rejection was increased in lupus recipients: 69% of lupus patients experienced rejection in the first year compared to 58% of controls ( P = 0.01). Stratified for age, sex, race and cyclosporine use, this difference remained significant ( P = 0.003, relative risk 1.7). Nephrectomy, splenectomy and 3 to 6 months of pretransplant dialysis did not improve graft survival. A dialysis duration of greater than 25 months predicted worse graft survival ( P = 0.01). Among lupus patients, PRA did not correlate with graft outcome ( P = 0.5), and HLA-identical cadaver grafts had improved outcomes compared to cadaver grafts. We conclude that acute and chronic rejection are the major risk factors for graft loss in lupus patients. The superior outcome of living-related over cadaver grafts in lupus patients suggests an increased role for living-related grafts. Pretransplant dialysis, nephrectomy and splenectomy are not indicated.
Vascular pathology of medial arterial calcifications in NT5E deficiency: implications for the role of adenosine in pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Arterial Calcification due to Deficiency of CD73 (ACDC) results from mutations in the NT5E gene encoding the 5′ exonucleotidase, CD73. We now describe the third familial case of ACDC, including radiological and histopathological details of the arterial calcifications. The medial lesions involve the entire circumference of the elastic lamina, in contrast to the intimal plaque-like disease of atherosclerosis. The demonstration of broken and fragmented elastic fibers leading to generalized vascular calcification suggests an analogy to pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), which exhibits similar histopathology. Classical PXE is caused by deficiency of ABCC6, a C type ABC transporter whose ligand is unknown. Other C type ABC proteins transport nucleotides, so the newly described role of adenosine in inhibiting vascular calcification, along with the similarity of ACDC and PXE with respect to vascular pathology, suggests that adenosine may be the ligand for ABCC6.
Fine-Structure Predissociation of Ultracold Photoassociated K 2 39 Molecules Observed by Fragmentation Spectroscopy

We report the first observation of fragmentation spectra of the fine-structure predissociated long-range ${1}_{g}$ and ${0}_{u}^{+}$ $(b^{3}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{{0}^{+}u})$ states of ultracold $(Tl1\mathrm{mK})$ ${}^{39}{\mathrm{K}}_{2}$ molecules. The ${1}_{g}$ state predissociates via the curve crossing at long range $(R\ensuremath{\sim}23\AA{})$ with the repulsive ${0}_{g}^{+}$ state. The ${0}_{u}^{+}$ state, however, predissociates predominantly through molecular fine-structure mixing at short range with the $b^{3}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{1u}$ component. Our technique of fragmentation spectroscopy is a sensitive and selective tool for ultracold photoassociation and fine-structure-changing collisions.
Variability of Stereoacuity in Intermittent Exotropia

Purpose Distance stereoacuity is used to monitor deterioration of intermittent exotropia (IXT), but variability of stereoacuity has not been studied rigorously. The purpose of this study was to assess the variability of stereoacuity over one day in children with IXT. Design Prospective cohort study. Methods Twelve children with IXT were recruited. Stereoacuity was assessed using the Frisby Davis Distance test and the Distance Randot test at distance, and the Frisby and Preschool Randot tests at near. Tests were repeated three or four times over the day, with at least two hours between assessments. The main outcome measure was variable stereoacuity defined as a change by two or more log levels between any two time points over the day. Results Variable stereoacuity at distance was found in five (42%) of 12 patients. Four (33%) of 12 patients demonstrated variable results using the Distance Randot test, three of whom also showed variable results using the Frisby Davis Distance test. One patient had variable results using the Frisby Davis Distance test only. Nine (75%) of 12 patients completed near stereoacuity testing; two (22%) of nine showed variable near stereoacuity. Two (22%) of nine showed variable results using the Preschool Randot test, one (11%) of whom also had variable results using the Frisby test. In some cases, stereoacuity changed from measurable stereoacuity on one assessment to nil on another. Conclusions Nearly half of children with IXT show marked changes in stereoacuity over the course of a single day. When based on isolated measures, an apparent change in distance stereoacuity between visits should be interpreted with caution.
A study of the effects of locking granularity in a data base management system

Many data base systems guarantee some form of integrity control upon multiple concurrent updates by some form of locking. Some "granule" of the data base is chosen as the unit which is individually locked, and a lock management algorithm is used to ensure integrity. By a simulation model this paper explores the desired size of a "granule". Under a wide variety of seemingly realistic conditions, surprisingly coarse granularity is called for. The paper concludes with some implications of these results concerning the viability of so called "predicate locking".Research sponsored by the Naval Electronic Systems Command Contract N00039-76-c-0022, the National Science Foundation Grant DCR75-03839 and the Army Research Office Grant DAAG29-76-6-0245.
The Effect of Microencapsulated Phase-Change Material on the Compressive Strength of Structural Concrete

ABSTRACT Latent heat energy storage through phase-change materials (PCMs) is one possible strategy to control interior temperatures in buildings, improve thermal comfort, and passively reduce building energy use associated with heating and cooling. While PCMs integrated into building structure elements have been studied since the 1970s, challenges of integrating PCMs into building materials while maintaining their heat storage benefits have limited their application in practice. The recent introduction of microencapsulated phase-change materials provides the energy storage capability of PCMs in micron-scale, chemically-inert capsules that can be easily integrated into composite materials such as gypsum wallboard and concrete. The size and physical properties of microencapsulated PCMs suggest that they will behave similarly to filler materials in concrete. Such filler materials are generally less than 125 μm in diameter and can increase concrete strength when added to a mix. This study uses the compress...
A high-pressure probe for NMR studies of homogeneous catalysts

Abstract A new high-resolution, high-pressure probe specifically designed for studies of homogeneous catalysts is described. Its major features, compared to previous designs, are a sample stirring device and increased sensitivity. An optimum resolution of 1 part in 10 8 was obtained for 13 C and 1 H spectra. Spectra showing reactions of organometallic compounds with carbon monoxide are presented, demonstrating the results obtainable with the probe.
Chronic ethanol treatment alters ω-conotoxin and Bay K 8644 sensitive calcium channels in rat striatal synaptosomes

Abstract Two groups of adult Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on a nutritionally complete liquid diet. In one group, 37% of the calories normally provided by dextrin were replaced with ethanol. Animals were maintained on this diet for eight weeks. The addition of ethanol (200 mM) in vitro significantly inhibited both calcium influx and dopamine release from control synaptosomes but did not alter calcium influx or dopamine release from synaptosomes isolated from ethanol-treated rats. The dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644 (1 nM) significantly increased both calcium entry and dopamine release from control synaptosomes depolarized with 15 mM KCl. Bay K 8644 (1 nM) had no significant effect on either calcium entry or dopamine release in synaptosomes isolated from ethanol-treated animals. This loss of functional effect was accompanied by a slight (15%) but statistically insignificant increase in the binding of 3 H-nitrendipine to striatal membranes from ethanol-treated rats as compared to control. The calcium-channel blocker, ω-conotoxin (500 nM) had no effect on voltage-dependent calcium uptake into synaptosomes prepared from control or ethanol-treated rats. Conotoxin (500 nM) inhibited the voltage-dependent release of endogenous dopamine from synaptosomes isolated from both groups by 36–44%. Ethanol (200 mM) added in vitro to control synaptosomes did not alter conotoxin's inhibition of dopamine release but completely abolished the ω-conotoxin-induced inhibition of dopamine release in synaptosomes isolated from ethanol-treated animals. These results suggest that DHP-sensitive and ω-conotoxin-sensitive calcium channels in rat brain respond differentially to chronic exposure to ethanol.
Behavioral effects of neural grafts: Action still in search of a mechanism

This commentary reviews data supporting circuitry reconstruction, replacement neurotransmitters, and trophic action as mechanisms whereby transplants promote recovery of function. Issue is taken with the thesis of Sinden et al. that adequate data exist to indicate that reconstruction of hippocampal circuitry damaged by hypoxia with CA1 transplants is a confirmed mechanism whereby these transplants produce recovery. Sinden et al.'s and Stein & Glasier's proposal that there is definitive evidence showing that all transplants produce trophic effects is also questioned.
Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of 9-aminocamptothecin hydrolysis at physiological pH in the presence of human serum albumin.

Abstract As a first step towards improving the aqueous stability of 9-aminocamptothecin (9AC), a detailed kinetic and thermodynamic investigation of the hydrolysis reaction of 9AC was carried out, using a first derivative absorption spectrophotometry technique. It was found that 9AC-lactone decayed with a half-life of 25 min in PBS at pH 7.4 and 310.15 K. The activation energy (Ea) associated with the hydrolysis of 9AC-lactone was 87.3 ± 3.8 kJ mol−1, whereas the positive enthalpy and entropy values of the 9AC-lactone hydrolysis reaction indicated that the reaction is endothermic and entropically driven. Similarly to other camptothecin analogs, except for SN38, the activation energy for 9AC-lactone hydrolysis in the presence of Human Serum Albumin (HSA) was about 10 kJ mol−1 lower than that determined in plain PBS, whereas the equilibrium 9AC-lactone concentration was decreased in the presence of HSA as compared to that in plain PBS. The lower Ea for 9AC hydrolysis in presence of HSA fully explained the shift of lactone-carboxylate equilibrium towards the carboxylate form with only 4% of active 9AC-lactone remaining in the presence of HSA under physiological conditions. Finally, affinity studies of several camptothecin analogs with HSA, showed that the association constants of the lactone species with HSA are similar and pointed out that the superior stability of the SN38 over the other two analogs (9AC and 9-nitrocamptothecin) is not due to the higher affinity of lactone toward HSA, but it is rather due to the lower affinity of the SN38-carboxylate toward HSA.
Osmotic permeabilities across corneal endothelium and antidiuretic hormone-stimulated toad urinary bladder structures

Osmotic permeabilities of several epithelial structures have been determined with novel optical procedures based on specular microscopy. The osmotic permeabilities of several tissue layers were determined by continuously monitoring the position of the apical tissue borders while an osmotic flow was imposed across those layers. The values found were (in micrometer/s; mean +/- SE): corneal epithelium, 137 +/- 30 (n = 5): antidiuretic hormone stimulated toad bladder, 429 +/- 64 (n = 6); and corneal endothelium, 711 +/- 34 (n = 7). In addition, the osmotically-induced transient change in thickness of the corneal endothelial cells was determined with the help of a computer, and the apparent osmotic permeability measured for the apical membrane was 1420 +/- 160 micrometer/s (n = 5). It is concluded that the osmotic permeability across the endothelial layer is sizably larger than had been previously detected and that osmotic flows across such layer largely traverse the cellular membranes. With osmotic permeability values (per unit of cell membrane area) as large as presently reported, isotonic fluid transport by epithelia can be explained simply on the basis of local osmotic gradients.
The Consistency of Global Relativism

In his recent article Hales (1997) proposes a logic of relativism, contending that the claim "everything is relative" (hereafter Global Relativism, or GR) is provably inconsistent. An obvious question arises for those who take relativism seriously as to whether there is an alternative logic of relativism relative to which Hales's proof fails; I think there is-indeed its existence is all but transparent in Hales's own account. This note makes it explicit and defends the consistency of GR.
Local heating/cooling of the mesosphere due to gravity wave and tidal coupling

Numerical experiments in this study show that the tidal wind may have strong impacts on the stability of the gravity wave and therefore significantly affects the breaking of the gravity wave. This enhances the local dynamical cooling and turbulence heating, and produces descending heating/cooling structures, which are similar to recent lidar observations. The propagating phase of such structures is dependent on the descending phase of the tidal wave and the gravity wave breaking level. The maximum heating corresponds closely with a negative or positive shear of the accelerated flow, depending on the gravity wave propagation direction.
Monoterpene cyclases in grand fir callus cultures: Modulation by elicitors and growth regulators

Abstract Grand fir callus tissue, obtained from debarked sapling stems and cultured on modified solid Murashige and Skoog medium, when transferred to medium lacking growth regulators or glutamine, or containing autoclaved extracts of Trichosporium symbioticum or Penicillium brevicompactum , or chitosan, yeast extract or pectinase, displayed up to an eight-fold increase in the level of monoterpene cyclase activity compared to controls. The activity induced in the calli was principally limonene cyclase, not pinene cyclase which is the major wound-inducible monoterpene synthase in grand fir sapling stems. Mechanical damage to callus tissue and treatment with filter-sterilized extracts of wounded stem had no marked effect on cyclase activity levels. The regulation of induced monoterpene biosynthesis in grand fir calli is different than that observed in wounded saplings; the complement of cyclases induced in cultured cells resembles more closely the constitutive pattern of activities present in intact stems.
Activity recognition using dynamic subspace angles

Cameras are ubiquitous everywhere and hold the promise of significantly changing the way we live and interact with our environment. Human activity recognition is central to understanding dynamic scenes for applications ranging from security surveillance, to assisted living for the elderly, to video gaming without controllers. Most current approaches to solve this problem are based in the use of local temporal-spatial features that limit their ability to recognize long and complex actions. In this paper, we propose a new approach to exploit the temporal information encoded in the data. The main idea is to model activities as the output of unknown dynamic systems evolving from unknown initial conditions. Under this framework, we show that activity videos can be compared by computing the principal angles between subspaces representing activity types which are found by a simple SVD of the experimental data. The proposed approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods classifying activities in the KTH dataset as well as in much more complex scenarios involving interacting actors.
Subfactors with principal graph E 6 (1)

We characterize irreducible II1 subfactorsN ⊂M with principal graphE6(1) as N=P ⋊Z3 ⊂P ⋊A4, whereA4 acts outerly on a factorP.
The Development of Individualized Family Service Plans: Roles for Parents and Staff:

This naturalistic study investigated the development of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) in three early intervention programs attempting to actively involve parents in the planning process. Nine IFSP meetings were videotaped, and the principal participants were interviewed. A category system was developed: the portions presented here focus on roles taken by parents and staff. We concluded that parents have attained partial decision-making power at these sites, but that greater attention to parent participation is needed in goal setting, assessment, and negotiation. Recommendations are made for examining program practices and for future research.
An Intrinsic Circuit Model for Multiple Vias in an Irregular Plate Pair Through Rigorous Electromagnetic Analysis

An irregular plate pair with multiple vias is analyzed by the segmentation method that divides the plate pair into a plate domain and via domains. In the via domains, all the parallel-plate modes are considered, while in the plate domain, only the propagating modes are included to account for the coupling among vias and the reflection from plate edges. Boundary conditions at both vias and plate edges are enforced and all parasitic components of via circuit are expressed analytically in terms of parallel-plate modes. The work presented in this paper indicates that a previous physics-based via circuit model from intuition is a low-frequency approximation. Analytical and numerical simulations, as well as measurements, have been used to validate the intrinsic via circuit model.
Anthrax Protective Antigen Cleavage and Clearance from the Blood of Mice and Rats

Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA) is an 83-kDa (PA83) protein that is cleaved to the 63-kDa protein (PA63) as an essential step in binding and internalizing lethal factor (LF). To assess in vivo receptor saturating PA concentrations, we injected mice with PA variants and measured the PA remaining in the blood at various times using PA83- and PA63-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We found that both wild-type PA (WT-PA) and a receptor-binding-defective mutant (Ub-PA) were cleaved to PA63 independent of their ability to bind cells. This suggested a PA-acting protease activity in the blood. The protease cleaved PA at the furin cleavage sequence because furin site-modified PA mutants were not cleaved. Cleavage measured in vitro was leupeptin sensitive and dependent on calcium. Cell surface cleavage was important for toxin clearance, however, as Ub-PA and uncleavable PA mutants were cleared at slower rates than WT-PA. The cell binding-independent cleavage of PA was also verified by using Ub-PA (which is still cleaved) to rescue mice from toxin challenge by competitively binding circulating LF. This mutant was able to rescue mice even when given 12 h before toxin challenge. Its therapeutic ability was comparable to that of dominant-negative PA, which binds cells but does not allow LF translocation, and to the protection afforded through receptor clearance by WT-PA and uncleavable receptor binding-competent mutants. The PA cleavage and clearance observed in mice did not appear to have a role in the differential mouse susceptibility as it occurred similarly in lethal toxin (LT)-resistant DBA/2J and LT-sensitive BALB/cJ mice. Interestingly, PA63 was not found in LT-resistant or -sensitive rats and PA83 clearance was slower in rats than in mice. Finally, to determine the minimum amount of PA required in circulation for LT toxicity in mice, we administered time-separated injections of PA and LF and showed that lethality of LF for mice after PA was no longer measurable in circulation, suggesting active PA sequestration at tissue surfaces.
Early Results of a Highly Selective Algorithm for Surgery on Patients with Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Prospective Analysis

OBJECTIVE: Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS) encompasses a wide spectrum of disabling symptoms that are often vague and difficult to diagnose and treat. We developed and prospectively analyzed a treatment algorithm for nTOS utilizing objective disability criteria, TOS-specific physical therapy, radiographic evaluation of the thoracic outlet, and selective surgical decompression. METHODS: Patients treated for nTOS from 2000-2009 were reviewed (n=84). In Period 1, most patients were offered surgery with documentation of appropriate symptoms. A prospective observational study began in 2006 (Period 2), aimed to determine which patients benefitted from surgical intervention. Evaluation began with a validated QuickDASH (QD) quality-of-life scale (0-100, 100=worse) and duplex imaging of the thoracic outlet. Patients then participated in physical therapy (PT) for 2-3 months and were offered surgery if there was documented improvement in symptoms. RESULTS: 34 patients underwent 1st rib resection in Period 1 (68% female, mean age 39, 18% athletes, 15% workers comp). In operated patients undergoing duplex imaging, 40% showed compression of their thoracic outlet on provocative positioning. Based on subjective improvement of symptoms, 59% of patients at 6 months had a positive outcome. In Period 2, 50 consecutive patients were evaluated for nTOS (62% female, mean age 35.4, 36% athletes, 14% workers comp) with a mean pre-PT QD score 55.5. All patients were prescribed PT, and 21 (42%) were eventually offered surgical decompression (SURG) based on compliance with PT, interval improvement on QD score, and duplex compression of the thoracic outlet. Differences between the SURG and non-SURG cohorts are shown in the Table. At 6 month follow-up, 93% of patients expressed symptomatic improvement with the mean post-op QD score decreasing to 23.3 (p=.01) CONCLUSIONS: This highly-selective algorithm for nTOS surgery leads to improvement in overall success rates documented subjectively and objectively. Compliance with TOS-specific PT, improvement in QD scores after PT, radiographic impingement, young age, and competitive athletics are associated with improved surgical outcomes. Long-term studies will be necessary to document sustained symptom relief and to determine who the optimal surgical candidates are.
Endovascular treatment strategies for cerebral vasospasm

Cerebral vasospasm is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who have sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage from aneurysm rupture. Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm is also a strong predictor of poor clinical outcome and has thus drawn a great deal of interest from cerebrovascular surgeons. Although medical management is the cornerstone of treatment for this condition, endovascular intervention may be warranted for those in whom this treatment fails and in whom symptomatic vasospasm subsequently develops. The rapid advancements in endovascular techniques and pharmacological agents used to combat this pathological state continue to offer promise in broadening the available treatment armamentarium. In this article the authors discuss the rationale and basis for using the various endovascular options for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm, and they also discuss the limitations, complications, and efficacy of these treatment strategies in regard to neurological condition and outcome.
Multicast ATM switches using buffered MIN structure: a performance study

A (large) multicast ATM switch with an external structure of output queueing and an internal structure of buffered MINs (multistage interconnection networks) is considered, where the buffered MINs (also called a switching network) are composed of switching elements with shared buffer output queueing. A cell replication while routing scheme is used in the switch to implement the multicast function. In this paper, we study the performance of the switch with multicast traffic, mainly via computer simulations. The multicast traffic can be random and bursty. From our study we found that for multicast traffic with a truncated geometric distribution of cell fanouts it has only a slightly worse impact on the performance of the switching elements in isolation or in the last stage of the switching network. The multicast traffic has no worse effect on the switch output buffer behaviour and cell delay in the switching network. Moreover, traffic splitting can substantially improve the switching network performance for highly bursty traffic. Some analytical approximations are given which could be useful in the dimensioning of switching networks.
Image Distortion Correction in EPI: Comparison of Field Mapping With Point Spread Function Mapping

Echo-planar imaging (EPI) can provide rapid imaging by acquiring a complete k-space data set in a single acquisition. However, this approach suffers from distortion effects in geometry and intensity, resulting in poor image quality. The distortions, caused primarily by field inhomogeneities, lead to intensity loss and voxel shifts, the latter of which are particularly severe in the phase-encode direction. Two promising approaches to correct the distortion in EPI are field mapping and point spread function (PSF) mapping. The field mapping method measures the field distortions and translates these into voxel shifts, which can be used to assign image intensities to the correct voxel locations. The PSF approach uses acquisitions with additional phase-encoding gradients applied in the x, y, and/or z directions to map the 1D, 2D, or 3D PSF of each voxel. These PSFs encode the spatial information about the distortion and the overall distribution of intensities from a single voxel. The measured image is the convolution of the undistorted density and the PSF. Measuring the PSF allows the distortion in geometry and intensity to be corrected. This work compares the efficacy of these methods with equal time allowed for field mapping and PSF mapping.
A new set of BXD recombinant inbred lines from advanced intercross populations in mice

Recombinant inbred (RI) strains are an important resource for mapping complex traits in many species. While large RI panels are available for Arabidopsis, maize, C. elegans, and Drosophila, mouse RI panels typically consist of fewer than 30 lines. This is a severe constraint on the power and precision of mapping efforts and greatly hampers analysis of epistatic interactions. In order to address these limitations and to provide the community with a more effective collaborative RI mapping panel we generated new BXD RI strains from two independent advanced intercrosses (AI) between C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) progenitor strains. Progeny were intercrossed for 9 to 14 generations before initiating inbreeding, which is still ongoing for some strains. Since this AI base population is highly recombinant, the 46 advanced recombinant inbred (ARI) strains incorporate approximately twice as many recombinations as standard RI strains, a fraction of which are inevitably shared by descent. When combined with the existing BXD RI strains, the merged BXD strain set triples the number of previously available unique recombinations and quadruples the total number of recombinations in the BXD background. The combined BXD strain set is the largest mouse RI mapping panel. It is a powerful tool for collaborative analysis of quantitative traits and gene function that will be especially useful to study variation in transcriptome and proteome data sets under multiple environments. Additional strains also extend the value of the extensive phenotypic characterization of the previously available strains. A final advantage of expanding the BXD strain set is that both progenitors have been sequenced, and approximately 1.8 million SNPs have been characterized. This provides unprecedented power in screening candidate genes and can reduce the effective length of QTL intervals. It also makes it possible to reverse standard mapping strategies and to explore downstream effects of known sequence variants.
The zoom FFT using complex modulation

A recent paper by Yip discussed the zoom transform as derived from the defining equation of the FFT. This paper simplifies the concepts and removes some of the restrictions assumed by Yip; ie., the total number of points need not be a power of 2. The technique is based on first specifying the desired center frequency, bandwidth, and frequency resolution. The signal is then sampled, modulated, and lowpass filtered. This result is purposely aliased, then transformed using an FFT algorithm. The result is an M-point frequency spectra of the desired bandwidth centered about the center frequency with a higher degree of resolution than could be directly obtained using an M-point transform.
IS IT WHERE YOU GO OR WHAT YOU STUDY? THE RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF COLLEGE SELECTIVITY AND COLLEGE MAJOR ON EARNINGS

All college students must decide where to attend college and what major to study. We estimate how earnings by college major differ at different college selectivity types. We find major-specific earnings vary markedly by college selectivity, with the strongest differences among business majors and the weakest differences among science majors. We also find that when comparing earnings of graduates from top colleges to middle or bottom ranked colleges, the distribution of students across majors can be as important as earnings differences by major in accounting for college selectivity earnings gaps. (JEL I2, J3)
Automated Fault Tree Generation: Bridging Reliability with Text Mining

Proper preventive maintenance of complex systems, such as those used for power generation and medical diagnosis is dependent on the availability of their up-to-date reliability models. These models are constructed from historical maintenance and fault information of the equipment. Due to the complex nature of these machines, constructing these models involves significant manual effort which limits the widespread use of reliability-centric maintenance schemes. In this paper, we describe a process for automating the construction of fault trees, a class of non-state space reliability models, by analyzing maintenance data available as free-form text. It uses a combination of linguistic analysis and domain knowledge to identify the nature of the failure from short plain text descriptions of equipment faults. This information is used to automatically enrich and evolve existing fault trees for better reliability estimation
Effects of Glucagon on Atrioventricular Conduction and Ventricular Automaticity in Dogs

The effects of glucagon, 50 µ/kg, on atrioventricular (A-V) conduction and ventricular automaticity were studied in 14 dogs. Atrial pacing was used to control the heart rate. The His bundle electrogram was recorded, and the interval from the pacing impulse (P) to the His bundle spike (H), the P-H interval, was used as a measure of A-V conduction. Ventricular automaticity was estimated in four dogs by recording vagal escape time and idioventricular rate after 60 seconds of continuous vagal stimulation. In three dogs with experimentally produced, complete heart block the effect of glucagon on idioventricular rate was estimated. When the heart rate was 250/minute, glucagon decreased the P-H interval by 30 ± 3%, from 126 ± 5 to 85 ± 5 msec (P < 0.01). When the heart rate was 310/minute, eight dogs demonstrated second-degree A-V block before glucagon; after glucagon, seven of the eight showed 1:1 A-V conduction. Glucagon increased heart rate by 38 ± 3.5%, from 148 ± 6.6 to 205 ± 8 beats/min (P<0.01). Propranol...
Exploring e-learning development: studies of ICT access and educational usage in Latin America:

This paper examines how the accelerating spread of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in developing countries can be correlated to an increase in the potential for the implementation...
Use of NSAIDs for the Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer

OBJECTIVE:To discuss the role of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (1966–May 2003) was performed to identify key literature. Search items included, but were not limited to, NSAIDs, colorectal cancer, chemoprevention, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)–specific inhibitors, and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:The search included experimental (in vitro and animal models) and clinical studies evaluating the use of NSAIDs for the chemoprevention of colorectal cancer. The MEDLINE search was supplemented by references from selected articles.DATA SYNTHESIS:Numerous experimental, epidemiologic, and clinical studies suggest that NSAIDs have promise as anticancer agents. The mechanism by which NSAIDs lead to decreased colon carcinogenesis is not fully understood, but may involve restoration of apoptosis and inhibition of prostaglandin-mediated angiogenesis. Compelling evidence from many observational s...