cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Preliminary Report on the Cloning of a Constitutively Expressed Rat Liver Cytosolic ALDH cDNA by PCR

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH, EC 1.2.1.3) is a ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid during ethanol metabolism. ALDH is located in virtually all mammalian tissues and found in all major subcellular organelles. The hepatic cDNAs for phenobarbital(PB)-inducible cytosolic ALDH, mitochondrial ALDH, microsomal ALDH, and tumor specific cytosolic ALDH have been cloned in the rat (Dunn, et al., 1989; Farres, et al., 1989; Miyauchi, et al., 1991; Jones, et al., 1988). However, the cDNA for a constitutively expressed rat liver cytosolic ALDH has not been cloned. While constitutively expressed cytosolic ALDHs have been characterized in the livers of numerous species, there is controversy in the literature as to whether this hepatic isoform of ALDH exists in the rat. To address this question, a PCR-based approach to cloning a constitutively expressed cytosolic ALDH from a rat liver cDNA library was employed.
Election 2016 and Michelle Obama

This essay is a reaction to election 2016 by a young college woman. It is an exploration of thoughts and ideas on the morning after the election. Rolle expresses a struggle of different emotions including dread and fear as First Lady Michelle Obama left the White House.
Galaxy Correction Upgrade in the Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) Microwave Radiometer Algorithm

The SMAP mission was designed to measure soil moisture globally for quantifying the water and carbon cyclces. The Brightness Temperature (TB) measurement by the SMAP L-band radiometer over ocean is also used for Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) retrieval. Considering the requirement of the uncertainty in the L-band TB measurement for SSS retrieval, the reflected galaxy correction is to be upgraded by using wind speed dependent galactic TB maps (the cosmic microwave background is included) for the radiometer TB data product (version 4) which is expected to be released in the summer 2018. We address the development of the galactic TB maps. In addition, a correction offset to the modeled ocean radiometric observation for horizontal polarization is described.
“If I became a vegan, my family and friends would hate me:” Anticipating vegan stigma as a barrier to plant-based diets

A significant body of literature has developed which examines why meat consumption continues to be so important to Americans. Our paper contributes to this literature by examining how fear of stigmatization may be a barrier to avoiding meat consumption. This is an important subject because there is evidence that suggests that individuals who avoid meat, especially vegans, are stigmatized for disrupting social conventions related to food. In this paper, we present data from a series of focus groups in which vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous college students discussed perceptions of vegans and veganism. Our analysis shows that non-vegans anticipate stigma associated with eating like vegans. We identify two strategies by which non-vegans attempt to avoid this stigma: social and behavioral distancing. These results suggest that vegan stigma is a barrier that inhibits dietary shifts toward a plant-based diet. Our results are important because they can be used to improve the efficacy of public health initiatives focused on encouraging plant-based diet adoption and meat consumption reduction.
A Study on Optimizing MarkDuplicate in Genome Sequencing Pipeline

MarkDuplicate is typically one of the most time-consuming operations in the whole genome sequencing pipeline. Picard tool, which is widely used by biologists to sort reads in genome data and mark duplicate reads in sorted genome data, has relatively low performance on MarkDuplicate due to its single-thread sequential Java implementation, which has caused serious impact on nowadays bioinformatic researches. To accelerate MarkDuplicate in Picard, we present our two-stage optimization solution as a preliminary study on next generation bioinformatic software tools to better serve bioinformatic researches. In the first stage, we improve the original algorithm of tracking optical duplicate reads by eliminating large redundant operations. As a consequence, we achieve up to 50X speedup for the second step only and 9.57X overall process speedup. At the next stage, we redesign the I/O processing mechanism of MarkDuplicate as transforming between on-disk genome file and in-memory genome data by using ADAM format instead of previous SAM format, and implement cloud-scale MarkDuplicate application by Scala. Our evaluation is performed on top of Spark cluster with 25 worker nodes and Hadoop distributed file system. According to the evaluation results, our cloudscale MarkDuplicate can provide not only the same output but also better performance compared with the original Picard tool and other existing similar tools. Specifically, among the 13 sets of real whole genome data we used for evaluation at both stages, the best improvement we gain is reducing runtime by 92 hours in total. Average improvement reaches 48.69 decreasing hours.
Patterns of Sedentary Behavior in the First Month After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background Sedentary behavior is a key contributor to cardiovascular disease. Few data exist on the sedentary behavior patterns of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods and Results We char...
Not Limited to Iron: A Cobalt Heme-NO Model Facilitates N-N Coupling with External NO in the Presence of a Lewis Acid to Generate N 2 O.

Some bacterial heme proteins catalyze the coupling of two NO molecules to generate N2 O. We previously reported that a heme Fe-NO model engages in this N-N bond-forming reaction with NO. We now demonstrate that (OEP)CoII (NO) similarly reacts with 1 equiv of NO in the presence of the Lewis acids BX3 (X=F, C6 F5 ) to generate N2 O. DFT calculations support retention of the CoII oxidation state for the experimentally observed adduct (OEP)CoII (NO⋅BF3 ), the presumed hyponitrite intermediate (P.+ )CoII (ONNO⋅BF3 ), and the porphyrin π-radical cation by-product of this reaction, and that the π-radical cation formation likely occurs at the hyponitrite stage. In contrast, the Fe analogue undergoes a ferrous-to-ferric oxidation state conversion during this reaction. Our work shows that cobalt hemes are chemically competent to engage in the NO-to-N2 O conversion reaction.
Clinical Evaluation of Swallow

The clinical swallow evaluation, or bedside swallow evaluation, provides swallow specialists with the foundation for identification and management of swallowing disorders. The process of completing a clinical swallow evaluation allows for hypothesis generation and testing regarding etiology of and interventions for dysphagia and helps the clinician to determine what kinds of additional data need to be obtained. For pediatric patients in particular, data obtained during clinical evaluation will streamline diagnosis and treatment, guide decision-making during instrumental assessments, and help to establish the positive rapport that is essential for effective intervention in pediatric patients with dysphagia.
Two-Stage 48-V VRM With Intermediate Bus Voltage Optimization for Data Centers

In this article, a high-efficiency and power-density unregulated inductor-inductor-capacitor (LLC) converter (DCX) is proposed for a first-stage converter in a two-stage 48-V voltage regulator module (VRM) for data center applications. The intermediate bus voltage in the two-stage architecture is evaluated by designing two LLC-DCX converters with fixed transformation ratios of (4:1) and (8:1). The overall efficiency of the two-stage architecture is evaluated, and the optimal bus voltage is selected. The LLC-DCX is designed using gallium nitride (GaN) devices and an optimized integrated magnetic structure. An enhanced primary and secondary termination method, as well as a printed circuit board (PCB) winding structure for equal current sharing among all transformer layers, is proposed, A significant reduction in the total conduction loss for the high-frequency transformer is achieved. The designed LLC-DCX can provide a continuous output power of 900 W with maximum efficiencies of 98.4% for the (4:1) conversion, and 98.0% for the (8:1) conversion, with high-power densities of 1600 and 1200 W/in3, respectively. The overall efficiency of the two-stage VRM was evaluated, and the results show a superior performance when using a lower bus voltage of 6 V.
Evaluation of Lecture Presentation Style in Anatomical Education

Context Advancements in technology have allowed medical students to tailor their study habits to their learning styles. However, little has changed in the way of material presentation in medical sc...
How Start-up Businesses View and Use Accounting in Early Year Operations

This research analyzes how start-up companies implement accounting in their early operations and if that use of accounting (or lack thereof) has played a role in acquiring funding. Prior research shows that the quality of financial statements positively affects investing efficiency for companies in emerging markets (Chen et al., 2011). In this paper, we evaluate the hypothesis that start-ups using financial statements more extensively receive more outside funding than their counterparts. This was tested with a 27-question survey broken into three sections: demographic, accounting use, and financial information. There were 44 participants. The typical start-up profile is 5-6 years old, employs ten people, and identifies in the technology industry. Approximately 75% of participants reported using financial statements. While mostly viewed positively, some participants feel strongly against using standard accounting practices. Results showed companies who use financial statements more often reported a higher percentage of debt and investment funding received than those who used financial statements less frequently or not at all. In conclusion, accounting helps start-ups communicate higher quality information to investors, thus leading to a better chance of receiving capital investment/debt financing. This sample selection was not chosen randomly and is not a statistical depiction of the entire population.
Voltage Noise Mitigation With Barrier Approximation

Barrier synchronization constructs are placed between phases of parallel programs to ensure correctness in the execution – by preventing threads from proceeding to the subsequent phases of the program before all threads have completed the preceding stage(s). Upon release, threads leaving the barrier at the same time cause sudden change in activity that can potentially lead to voltage emergencies in the form of timing errors, due to electrical properties of power delivery network. In this paper, we demonstrate how approximation through barrier relaxation – i.e., letting threads proceed past barriers without waiting for the others, and thereby preventing abrupt activity changes – can help prevent voltage emergencies.
Authoring Autism: On Rhetoric and Neurological Queerness: by M. Remi Yergeau, Durham, NC, Duke UP, 2018, 312 pp., $27.95 (paperback), ISBN: 978-0-8223-7020-8

Authoring Autism is the book that M. Remi Yergeau explains they “long wanted to write” (xvii). It is also the book that rhetoricians have long needed to read. A masterwork of rhetorical theory and ...
Weaknesses of Housing Affordability IndicesUsed by Practitioners

43 Introduction Housing affordability is a prominent concern in the United States for multiple reasons. Since around 2007, there has been a decline in house prices, and in some parts of the country a significant depreciation has occurred. There has also been a continued emphasis placed on becoming a homeowner by the United States government with multiple programs being established to help low-income households obtain homeownership (Schwartz, 2006). Qualifying guidelines for mortgages became more lenient for a time, contributing to the mortgage crisis. In addition, lenders approved borrowers regardless of the borrowers’ ability to pay the loan, and many of those loans were loaded with predatory features (Rushton, 2007). At the same time, the nation as a whole experienced a negative savings rate (Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2008) and increased levels of debt—a notorious combination that caused concerns for housing instability. Weaknesses of Housing Affordability Indices Used by Practitioners
Recurrent spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a cause of non-atherosclerotic acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death that predominantly impacts young and middle-aged women. In addition to the challenges of acute SCAD including arrhythmias, heart failure, and recurrent chest pain, de novo recurrent SCAD occurs in 5-29% of patients. Recurrent SCAD presents both a psychological burden and a significant cardiac risk to patients. Research regarding SCAD recurrence risk has been growing and can guide providers and patients alike.Areas covered: This review provides up-to-date information about many aspects of SCAD with a focus on SCAD recurrence. PubMed articles were reviewed through October 2020, with particular focus on clinical studies and original research. The resulting literature was scrutinized for information on SCAD recurrence. SCAD-associated conditions, genetic data, clinical characteristics, medications, and aspects of post-SCAD care are summarized.Expert Opinion: SCAD recurrence poses a concerning risk for patients with SCAD. Conditions such as hypertension and severe coronary tortuosity may be associated with recurrence. More research is needed to further elucidate risk factors for recurrence and clarify interventions, such as beta blocker therapy, that may reduce recurrence risk.
Trash reconsidered: A relational approach to deposition in the Pueblo Southwest

Abstract Deposition creates the archaeological record; however, the social implications of depositional practices are often overlooked, particularly when considering domestic materials found in upper room fill. In this paper, we argue that the term “trash” and its connotations mischaracterize the thought and meaning that motivate decisions about deposition, as exemplified by ethnohistoric and modern accounts of disposal within Pueblo society. Understanding the context and content of deposition can reveal important aspects of the identities, beliefs, and relationships of the individuals and groups who created them. We explore the social role of deposits at Homol’ovi I, an ancestral Hopi pueblo in northeastern Arizona, through detailed analyses of excavation data. Drawing on contemporary Hopi insights, rooms and objects are found to assume distinct social identities, specifically gender, that influence the placement of materials throughout the pueblo. We conclude that patterns of cultural deposition from all contexts have the potential to provide significant insights about the life histories, reuse, and commemoration of spaces and objects when considering archaeological contexts worldwide.
A transistor voltage reference-and what the bandgap has to do with it

Summary form only given, as follows. Many ICs lack stable avalanche or Zener diodes or the operating voltage to derive a reference voltage. A stable, reproducible low-voltage reference can be derived from a bipolar transistor base-emitter junction. The operating principle of such circuits is described and the significance of the bandgap voltage is explained. >
H/sub infinity / control for singularly perturbed systems via game theory

A dynamic game approach to H/sub infinity / control for singularly perturbed systems is presented. Decomposition of system results in slow and fast subsystems which include the cost functions containing nonorthogonal terms. The fast subproblem can be considered as one of special cases of the slow subproblem. A method for solving the H/sub infinity / control problems with cost functionals containing nonorthogonal terms is developed. >
Closed pelvic perfusion: A new approach to the problem of advanced gynecologic malignancy

Abstract Isolated pelvic perfusion was carried out in 20 patients with advanced nonresectable disease limited to the pelvis. The “closed” method, which does not necessitate abdominal operation, was used. At the time of writing, 6 of the 13 post-operative survivors are alive 6 weeks to 16 months after perfusion. Six patients survived more than 5 months after perfusion. Thirteen patients lived long enough to allow objective and subjective assessment. In all 13, some objective evidence of tumor regression was obtained, and in 11 cases, a variable degree of pain relief was achieved.
Information Theory, Quark Clusters in Nuclei, and Parton Distributions

The procedure of maximization of information entropy can be used to improve our knowledge of parton distributions. This method has been applied in order to achieve improved description of the nuclear effect in Y production due to gluon distribution modification in nuclei.
2D velocity and temperature measurements in high speed flows based on spectrally resolved Rayleigh scattering

The use of molecular Rayleigh scattering for measurements of gas velocity and temperature is evaluated. Molecular scattering avoids problems associated with the seeding required by conventional laser anemometry and particle image velocimetry. The technique considered herein is based on the measurement of the spectrum of the scattered light. Planar imaging of Rayleigh scattering using a laser light sheet is evaluated for conditions at 30km altitude (typical hypersonic flow conditions). The Cramer-Rao lower bounds for velocity and temperature measurement uncertainties are calculated for an ideal optical spectrum analyzer and for a planar mirror Fabry-Perot interferometer used in a static, imaging mode. With this technique, a single image of the Rayleigh scattered light from clean flows can be analyzed to obtain temperature and one component of velocity. Experimental results are presented for planar velocity measurements in a Mach 1.3 air jet.
Uniform Flow Past an Axially Uniform Viscous Vortex

It is believed that the flow past a tornado causes the formation of smaller vortices which produce the “suction spots” observed along the path of destruction. Here we develop a greatly simplified mathematical model to investigate this phenomenon. An axially uniform vortex is developed by visualizing a circular tube with uniform surface suction of fluid possessing circulation at infinity. This vortex is then perturbed by a uniform flow past it. An inner asymptotic expansion of an E1/3 radial boundary layer is matched to an outer expansion to obtain a solution. The results show that a stagnation point developing into a secondary vortex is formed in a free shear layer at critical flow conditions. However, it is difficult to apply our results quantitatively because of the difficulty in comparing the axially uniform vortex with a real tornado vortex.
The Archaeology of Difference: Negotiating Cross‐Cultural Engagements in Oceania

The Archaeology of Difference: Negotiating Cross- Cultural Engagements in Oceania. Robin Torrence and Anne Clarke, eds. New York: Routledge, 2000. 418 pp.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Centaurs and Irregular Satellites

We have obtained near-infrared spectra of the four brightest known Centaurs and of five irregular satellites of giant planets. Many of these objects show 1.5 and 2.0 μm absorption bands indicative of water ice, including 1997 CU_(26), Pholus, Phoebe (S9), and Nereid (N2). The satellites of Jupiter—Elara, Himalia, and Pasaphae (J6, J7, J8)—appear spectrally featureless, consistent with asteroidal origins for these bodies. Phoebe's surface water ice indicates that it formed as an icy planetesimal rather than as an asteroid.
Abstract CN02-03: Prevention of human papillomavirus-related malignancy in the post-vaccine era

We are presently at a crossroads in clinical practice as new public health models for cervical cancer prevention and detection are being developed and tested. In the US, we are in the midst of redefining government policy and medical decision-making based on human papillomavirus (HPV) natural history studies, randomized trials, and prophylactic vaccine uptake. Novel diagnostic, progression and treatment approaches are emerging that are based on a paradigm that recognizes the central role of HPV persistence in anogenital cancer development. Gaps in epidemiological and clinical research will be examined including the role of immune markers in viral clearance, the transmission dynamics of anogenital HPV infection, novel screening modalities in high risk populations, and the implementation of population-based surveillance activities to determine the public health benefit and cost-effectiveness of the prophylactic HPV vaccine. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):CN02-03.
Embedding the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Framework Into the Complex Array of Practices Within Alternative Education Settings: A Decision-Making Process

Alternative education (AE) programs and schools usually serve distinct populations of students with educational disabilities and mental health or other needs. AE program staff often employ a range ...
Thirty years of cardiac transplantation at stanford university

Background: The experience with 30 years of cardiac transplantation at Stanford University Medical Center was reviewed. A total of 954 transplants were performed in 885 patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on immunosuppression received: group I, no cyclosporine (INN: ciclosporin) (n = 201) (January 1968–November 1980); group II, cyclosporine (n = 248) (December 1980–June 1987); and group III, cyclosporine + OKT3 (n = 436) (July 1987–March 1998). Results:The 1-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial survivals were 68%, 41%, and 24% (group I); 80%, 57%, and 37% (group II); and 85%, 68%, and 46% (group III) (I vs II, P < .01; I vs III, P < .005; and II vs III, P < .005). The 1-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial death rates from rejection were 8%, 12%, and 14% (group I); 5%, 7%, and 7% (group II); and 2%, 5%, and 5% (group III) (I vs II, P = not significant; I vs III, P < .005; and II vs III, P < .005). The 1-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial death rates from infection were 25%, 43%, and 50% (group I); 8%, 17%, and 29% (group II); and 6%, 11%, and 16% (group III) (I vs II, P < .005; I vs III, P < .005; and II vs III, P < .05). The 1-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial death rates from graft coronary artery disease were 0%, 5%, and 13% (group I); 0%, 12%, and 19% (group II); and 1%, 6%, and 9% (group III) (I vs II, P < .01; I vs III, P < .005; and II vs III, P = not significant). There have been 69 retransplants in 67 patients with 1-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial survivals of 49%, 27%, and 15%, respectively. Conclusions: The evolution of 3 decades of experience with cardiac transplantation has resulted in improved overall survival. The incidence of rejection and of death from infection and graft coronary artery disease have decreased over time, primarily as a result of improvements in immunosuppression and in the prevention and treatment of infection. Continued advances in perioperative management and the development of more specific, less toxic immunosuppressive agents could further refine this initial experience and improve the survival and quality of life of patients after cardiac transplantation. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:939-51)
Comparison of Proliferation and Genomic Instability Responses to WRN Silencing in Hematopoietic HL60 and TK6 Cells

Background Werner syndrome (WS) results from defects in the RecQ helicase (WRN) and is characterized by premature aging and accelerated tumorigenesis. Contradictorily, WRN deficient human fibroblasts derived from WS patients show a characteristically slower cell proliferation rate, as do primary fibroblasts and human cancer cell lines with WRN depletion. Previous studies reported that WRN silencing in combination with deficiency in other genes led to significantly accelerated cellular proliferation and tumorigenesis. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of silencing WRN in p53 deficient HL60 and p53 wild-type TK6 hematopoietic cells, in order to further the understanding of WRN-associated tumorigenesis.
Comparison of the GlideScope video laryngoscope vs. the intubating laryngeal mask for females with normal airways.

SummaryBackground and objective:In this randomized clinical study, we compared the intubation success rates of the intubating laryngeal mask airway with the GlideScope® in patients with normal airways. The primary hypothesis was that the intubating laryngeal mask airway was equally effective as the
A theorem on income distribution in a small open economy

Abstract If the number of productive factors exceeds the number of commodities produced, changes in factor endowments and/or any commodity price will alter factor prices in a way that depends both upon factor intensities and the degree of factor substitutability. However, bilateral factor intensity rankings for constant price industries by themselves restrict possible factor price changes. If factors are ranked from most to least intensive in any such pair of industries, all the gainers cannot be located at one end of the ranking.
Feature comparisons of 3-D vector fields using earth mover's distance

A method for comparing three-dimensional vector fields constructed from simple critical points is described. This method is a natural extension of previous work (Y. Lavin et al., 1998), which defined a distance metric for comparing two-dimensional fields. The extension to three-dimensions follows the path of our previous work, rethinking the representation of a critical point signature and the distance measure between the points. Since the method relies on topologically based information, problems such as grid matching and vector alignment which often complicate other comparison techniques are avoided. In addition, since only feature information is used to represent, and is therefore stored for each field, a significant amount of compression occurs.
Avidin biotin amplified immunoperoxidase staining of angiotensin‐1‐converting enzyme transferred to nitrocellulose after agarose isoelectric focusing

Angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) subjected to isoelectric focusing in agarose gel can be transferred to nitrocellulose in a reliable and reproducible manner. Specific detection of ACE is enhanced 2-fold by replacing enzyme-conjugated reagents with avidin biotin-conjugated reagents. Sensitivity is not diminished when the carcinogenic substrate 3,3′-diaminobenzidine is replaced with the non-carcinogenic substrate 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole. This improved procedure was used to monitor the spontaneous change in the isoelectric point of ACE which occurred during purification of ACE from outdated human plasma.
Neurodevelopmental and health outcomes in term infants treated with surfactant for severe respiratory failure.

Neurodevelopmental and Health Outcomes in Term Infants Treated With Surfactant for Severe Respiratory Failure
367 6β-HYDROXYCORTISOL: A NON-INVASIVE PROBE TO EVALUATE INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF LEAD (Pb) ON DRUG METABOLISM IN CHILDREN

6β-hydroxycortisol (6βOHF), a normally occurring polar metabolite of cortisol has been shown to be a sensitive index for hepatic enzyme induction. 6βOHF is formed by the mixed function oxidase system in the liver and excreted by the kidney. Pb is known to inhibit hepatic microsomal activity. In order to measure inhibitory effects of lead on drug metabolizing enzyme activity 6βOHF excretion was measured in 11 children (age 2-9 yrs) with mild to moderate Pb intoxication (n1 renal function) prior to chelation therapy. Correlations were examined between 6βOHF and blood Pb, erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) and urinary Pb excretion (after a CaNa2EDTA provocative test). 6βOHF excretion in normal controls was 0.23±.03 mg/m2/24h, but excretion in Pb burdened children was reduced to 0.17 ± 2 mg/m2/24h; (p 0.2). The correlation between 17-hydroxycorticoid excretion and EP or urinary Pb was not significant. Conclusions: 1) The data show that children with undue Pb absorption may have decreased 6βOHF excretion; 2) 6βOHF may thus serve as a non-invasive probe to assess the chelatable, potentially toxic, fraction of body Pb stores; 3) 6βOHF may also be used as a non-invasive index to evaluate the inhibitory effects of undue Pb absorption on drug metabolizing enzyme activity.
Effects of Commercial Heat Setting on the Structure and Properties of Polyester Carpet Yarn

Polyester carpet yarn is heat set during the production process in order to impart structural stability. Although batch (autoclave) and continuous (Superba TVP and Suessen GVA ) heat setting methods are used, the continuous processes are prevalent and constitute a greater part of this study. Commercial heat setting equipment and settings are used here because previous works were the results of laboratory studies. The primary technique applied in this study to determine the microstructural features of polyester is x-ray diffraction. Crystallization and crystallite melting temperatures from differential thermal analysis ( DTA ) and colorimetric determinations of initial rates of dyeing are also measured to provide additional data for interpreting the results, and tensile properties of the yarns are reported as well.X-ray and DTA results indicate no significant increases in the degree of crystallinity of yarns heat set by the Superba TVP method, while crystallinity increases with in creasing temperature for ...
Cryogenic Optical Thermal-Vacuum Testing of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

Cryogenic optical testing and verification the James Webb Space Telescope is one of the biggest challenges in the I&T program. JWST has constructed an incremental verification program for the optical telescope and the integrated science instrument module to ensure compliance and to mitigate the severity of problems on flight hardware.
Relationship of Activity and Aggression to Density in Two Confined Populations of House Mice (Mus Musculus)

Two separate populations of house mice ( Mus musculus ) were established by placing two sibling females with one sibling male into each of two cages. Food and water were provided ad libidum and nest cans and materials were made available. Daily checks were made for births and deaths. Observations of behavior were made during 10-min intervals between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm at various times of the day. The number of mice active and number of attacks and aggressive chases were recorded. From the data gathered, an activity rate and an aggression rate were calculated. In both populations activity rates showed fluctuations with a decreasing trend with increasing density in one population. Aggression rates in both populations fluctuated cyclically with a decreasing trend as density increased in one of the populations. The relationship of aggression to infant mortality is discussed. In view of the data gathered from the populations it was concluded that aggression did not directly affect infant mortality in either of the populations.
Faceting of nanocrystals during chemical transformation: from solid silver spheres to hollow gold octahedra.

We demonstrate that performing a replacement reaction on single crystalline Ag nanospheres of ∼10 nm in diameter in an organic solvent produces hollow Au nanocrystals with an octahedral shape. Different from those Au shells made by starting with Ag particles about 1 order of magnitude larger, which largely reproduce that of the sacrificial Ag counterparts, the hollow nanocrystals obtained in this work show significant changes in the external morphology from the spherical Ag precursors. This evolution of a faceted external morphology during chemical transformation is made possible by the enhanced role of surface effects in our smaller nanocrystals. The competition between the Au atom deposition and Ag atom dissolution on various nanocrystal surfaces is believed to determine the final octahedral shape of the hollow Au nanocrystals. Simultaneous achievement of surface-mediated shape control and a hollow morphology in a one-pot, single-step synthetic procedure in this study promises an avenue to finer tuning ...
Xnf7 Contributes to Spindle Integrity through Its Microtubule-Bundling Activity

Regulation of microtubule dynamics and organization in mitosis by a number of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) is required for proper bipolar spindle assembly, yet the precise mechanisms by which many MAPs function are poorly understood. One interesting class of MAPs is known to localize to the nucleus during interphase yet fulfill important spindle functions during mitosis. We have identified Xenopus nuclear factor 7 (Xnf7), a developmental regulator of dorsal-ventral patterning, as a microtubule-binding protein that also associates with the nuclear import receptor importin alpha/beta. Xnf7 localized to interphase nuclei and metaphase spindles both in Xenopus egg extracts and cultured cells. Xnf7-depleted spindles were hypersensitive to microtubule-depolymerizing agents. Functional characterization of Xnf7 revealed that it binds directly to microtubules, exhibits RING-finger-dependent E3-ubiquitin-ligase activity, and has C-terminal-dependent microtubule-bundling activity. The minimal microtubule-bundling domain of Xnf7 was sufficient to rescue the spindle-hypersensitivity phenotype. Thus, we have identified Xnf7 as a nuclear MAP whose microtubule-bundling activity, but not E3-ligase activity, contributes to microtubule organization and spindle integrity. Characterization of the multiple activities of Xnf7 may have implications for understanding human diseases caused by mutations in related proteins.
A Renewable Tissue Resource of Phenotypically Stable, Biologically and Ethnically Diverse, Patient-Derived Human Breast Cancer Xenograft Models

Breast cancer research is hampered by difficulties in obtaining and studying primary human breast tissue, and by the lack of in vivo preclinical models that reflect patient tumor biology accurately. To overcome these limitations, we propagated a cohort of human breast tumors grown in the epithelium-free mammary fat pad of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)/Beige and nonobese diabetic (NOD)/SCID/IL-2γ-receptor null (NSG) mice under a series of transplant conditions. Both models yielded stably transplantable xenografts at comparably high rates (∼21% and ∼19%, respectively). Of the conditions tested, xenograft take rate was highest in the presence of a low-dose estradiol pellet. Overall, 32 stably transplantable xenograft lines were established, representing 25 unique patients. Most tumors yielding xenografts were “triple-negative” [estrogen receptor (ER)−progesterone receptor (PR)−HER2+; n = 19]. However, we established lines from 3 ER−PR−HER2+ tumors, one ER+PR−HER2−, one ER+PR+HER2−, and one “triple-positive” (ER+PR+HER2+) tumor. Serially passaged xenografts show biologic consistency with the tumor of origin, are phenotypically stable across multiple transplant generations at the histologic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and genomic levels, and show comparable treatment responses as those observed clinically. Xenografts representing 12 patients, including 2 ER+ lines, showed metastasis to the mouse lung. These models thus serve as a renewable, quality-controlled tissue resource for preclinical studies investigating treatment response and metastasis. Cancer Res; 73(15); 4885–97. ©2013 AACR .
Simulation of γ-ray spectrometry of failed TRISO fuel

Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTR) utilize the TRISO microsphere as the fundamental fuel unit in the core. To understand better its behavior under in-core conditions, the fuel is irradiated in a controlled environment that resembles anticipated operating conditions. In this work, simulated γ-ray spectra are developed for the fission product gases that are released upon fuel failure. The simulations are based on Monte Carlo calculations of spectra assuming the use of high-purity germaniun (HPGe) and high-pressure xenon (HPXe) detectors. The γ-ray source terms for the simulations are derived from ORIGEN 2.2 fuel depletion calculations. In addition, measured detector resolution information are included in the Monte Carlo simulations to produce realistically broadened spectra. The effect of fission product release processes are incorporated in the simulation by reconstructing the Monte Carlo photon source terms using a specific gas-release model. Consequently, birth and release γ-ray spectra are constructed for the Kr and Xe gaseous fission products.
Frequent beneficial mutations during single-colony serial transfer of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The appearance of new mutations within a population provides the raw material for evolution. The consistent decline in fitness observed in classical mutation accumulation studies has provided support for the long-held view that deleterious mutations are more common than beneficial mutations. Here we present results of a study using a mutation accumulation design with the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae in which the fitness of the derived populations increased. This rise in fitness was associated specifically with adaptation to survival during brief stationary phase periods between single-colony population bottlenecks. To understand better the population dynamics behind this unanticipated adaptation, we developed a maximum likelihood model describing the processes of mutation and stationary-phase selection in the context of frequent population bottlenecks. Using this model, we estimate that the rate of beneficial mutations may be as high as 4.8×10−4 events per genome for each time interval corresponding to the pneumococcal generation time. This rate is several orders of magnitude higher than earlier estimates of beneficial mutation rates in bacteria but supports recent results obtained through the propagation of small populations of Escherichia coli. Our findings indicate that beneficial mutations may be relatively frequent in bacteria and suggest that in S. pneumoniae, which develops natural competence for transformation, a steady supply of such mutations may be available for sampling by recombination.
Estimating a mixture of stochastic frontier regression models via the em algorithm: A multiproduct cost function application

Researchers have become increasingly interested in estimating mixtures of stochastic frontiers. Mester (1993), Caudill (1993), and Polachek and Yoon (1987), for example, estimate stochastic frontier models for different regimes, assuming sample separation information is given. Building on earlier work by Lee and Porter (1984), Douglas, Conway, and Ferrier (1995) estimate a stochastic frontier switching regression model in the presence of noisy sample separation information. The purpose of this paper is to extend earlier work by estimating a mixture of stochastic frontiers assuming no sample separation information. This case is more likely to occur in practice than even noisy sample separation information. In order to estimate a mixture of stochastic frontiers with no sample separation information, an EM algorithm to obtain maximum likelihood estimates is developed. The algorithm is used to estimate a mixture of stochastic (cost) frontiers using data on U.S. savings and loans for the years 1986, 1987, and 1988. Statistical evidence is found supporting the existence of a mixture of stochastic frontiers.
Air stripping of hexachlorobiphenyl from the aqueous phase

Abstract The distribution and fate of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the aqueous environment is of great importance in evaluating the remediation of heavily contaminated sites. Due to the low solubility and very low vapor pressure of these pollutants, they exist primarily as species sorbed to particulate matter. Therefore, contaminant fate can be governed by particle transport and mass transfer kinetics between the particle, the water and the air. Important particle characteristics include porosity, particle size, surface area, organic carbon content and surface charge. Desorption of hexachlorobiphenyl. from sand. activated carbon and bentonite clay has been studied using a purge-and-trap apparatus. Removal from the aqueous phase, 95.6%, as well as from the sand and bentonite, 94% and 56%, respectively, has been achieved; however, there was no release from the activated carbon. In all cases, mass balance closed within 10%. Governing equations have been developed to model the mass transfer rate under controlled conditions in a purge-and-trap reactor. Assuming that the test chamber is a completely mixed reactor, we are left to solve a set of coupled ordinary differential equations. They will be incorporated into a numerical estimation algorithm, so that model coefficients can be determined and sensitivity analysis conducted. Future work will involve toluene, phenol and pentachlorophenol. The solids effect, air flow rate, and desorption from sludge and sediments will also be investigated. Efforts will be made to determine the mechanisms controlling the association between the solids and pollutants.
Crystal Structure of an RluF―RNA Complex: A Base-Pair Rearrangement Is the Key to Selectivity of RluF for U2604 of the Ribosome

Abstract Escherichia coli pseudouridine synthase RluF is dedicated to modifying U2604 in a stem–loop of 23S RNA, while a homologue, RluB, modifies the adjacent base, U2605. Both uridines are in the same RNA stem, separated by ∼ 4 A. The 3.0 A X-ray crystal structure of RluF bound to the isolated stem–loop, in which U2604 is substituted by 5-fluorouridine to prevent catalytic turnover, shows RluF distinguishes closely spaced bases in similar environments by a selectivity mechanism based on a frameshift in base pairing. The RNA stem–loop is bound to a conserved binding groove in the catalytic domain. A base from a bulge in the stem, A2602, has folded into the stem, forcing one strand of the RNA stem to translate by one position and thus positioning U2604 to flip into the active site. RluF does not modify U2604 in mutant stem–loops that lack the A2602 bulge and shows dramatically higher activity for a stem–loop with a mutation designed to facilitate A2602 refolding into the stem with concomitant RNA strand translation. Residues whose side chains contact rearranged bases in the bound stem–loop, while conserved among RluFs, are not conserved between RluFs and RluBs, suggesting that RluB does not bind to the rearranged stem loop.
Cdc14 activates Cdc15 to promote mitotic exit in budding yeast

Abstract Inactivation of mitotic cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) is required for cells to exit mitosis [1,2]. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Cdk inactivation is triggered by the phosphatase Cdc14, which is activated by a complex network of regulatory proteins that includes the protein kinase Cdc15 [3–6]. Here we show that the ability of Cdc15 to promote mitotic exit is inhibited by phosphorylation. Cdc15 is phosphorylated in vivo at multiple Cdk-consensus sites during most of the cell cycle, but is transiently dephosphorylated in late mitosis. Although phosphorylation appears to have no effect on Cdc15 kinase activity, a non-phosphorylatable mutant of Cdc15 is a more potent stimulator of mitotic exit than wild-type Cdc15, indicating that phosphorylation inhibits Cdc15 function in vivo . Interestingly, inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc15 is removed by the phosphatase Cdc14 in vitro , and overproduction of Cdc14 leads to Cdc15 dephosphorylation in vivo . Thus, Cdc15 serves both as an activator and substrate of Cdc14. Although this scheme raises the possibility that positive feedback promotes Cdc14 activation, we present evidence that such feedback is not essential for Cdc14 activation in vivo . Instead, Cdc15 dephosphorylation may promote some additional function of Cdc15 that is independent of its effects on Cdc14 activation.
'The cat with nine lives': Paul Ngei and the making of modern Kenya

Abstract Every Kenyan knows a story about the Kamba politician Paul Ngei. Ngei fought for Kenya's freedom from British colonial rule during the 1950s, then remained at the pinnacle of the political system in independent Kenya for almost three decades. Yet despite Ngei's prominence, he is almost entirely absent from the large volume of academic scholarship on Kenya. Bringing together testimony from his remaining family and past political associates, as well as utilizing archival records, this article presents a portrait of Ngei. It demonstrates the important role he played in shaping the history of colonial and independent Kenya. As one of the greatest orators in Kenya's history, with an ability to rally rural support like none other, Ngei was a profound threat for Kenya's presidents, especially Jomo Kenyatta. Ngei's ability to hold on to power despite controversy and scandal led the press to nickname him “the cat with nine lives”.
COPD as a Systemic Disease: Impact on Physical Functional Limitations

Abstract Purpose Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a major impact on physical health, the specific impact of COPD on physical functional limitations has not been characterized clearly. We aimed to elucidate the physical functional limitations that are directly attributable to COPD compared to a matched referent group without the condition. Methods We used the Function, Living, Outcomes, and Work (FLOW) cohort study of adults with COPD (n=1202) and referent subjects matched by age, sex, and race (n=302) to study the impact of COPD on the risk of a broad array of functional limitations using validated measures: lower extremity function (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]), submaximal exercise performance (Six Minute Walk Test [SMWT]), standing balance (Functional Reach Test), skeletal muscle strength (manual muscle testing with dynamometry), and self-reported functional limitation (standardized item battery). Multivariate analysis was used to control for confounding by age, sex, race, height, educational attainment, and cigarette smoking. Results COPD was associated with poorer lower extremity function (mean SPPB score decrement for COPD vs referent −1.0 points; 95% CI, −1.25 to −0.73 pts) and less distance walked during the SMWT (−334 feet; 95% CI, −384 to −282 ft). COPD also was associated with weaker muscle strength in every muscle group tested, including both the upper and lower extremities ( P Conclusions A broad array of physical functional limitations were specifically attributable to COPD. COPD affects a multitude of body systems remote from the lung.
Cliff jumping in rats after intravenous treatment with apomorphine.

Apomorphine, given intravenously as a sole treatment to rats, causes them to jump repetitively off a platform. This stereotyped behavior is seen to a lesser extent after morphine, and after combined treatment with desmethylimipramine plus tetrabenazine. Dopa is inactive, whether given alone or in the presence of either a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or a peripherally-acting decarboxylase inhibitor. Amphetamine is also inactive. Although stereotyped cliff jumping behavior after apomorphine may reflect a stimulant effect on dopamine receptors in brain, such a mechanism is insufficient to account for results from the other drugs tested.