cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural Basis of Membrane Bending by the N-BAR Protein Endophilin

Functioning as key players in cellular regulation of membrane curvature, BAR domain proteins bend bilayers and recruit interaction partners through poorly understood mechanisms. Using electron cryomicroscopy, we present reconstructions of full-length endophilin and its N-terminal N-BAR domain in their membrane-bound state. Endophilin lattices expose large areas of membrane surface and are held together by promiscuous interactions between endophilin's amphipathic N-terminal helices. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations reveal that endophilin lattices are highly dynamic and that the N-terminal helices are required for formation of a stable and regular scaffold. Furthermore, endophilin accommodates different curvatures through a quantized addition or removal of endophilin dimers, which in some cases causes dimerization of endophilin's SH3 domains, suggesting that the spatial presentation of SH3 domains, rather than affinity, governs the recruitment of downstream interaction partners.
DNA crosslinking induced by x-rays and chemical agents.

Abstract DNA corsslinking was measured in human diploid fibroblasts by the method of alkaline elution [13,14]. Following treatment of the cells by known DNA crosslinking agents (HN2, mitomycin-C), a controlled frequency of DNA strand breaks was induced by a small test dose of X-rays at 0°C. The effect of the prior treatment with a crosslinking agent was to reduce the rate of DNA elution in a dose dependent manner. When cells were X-irradiated, incubated for 2 h at 37°C in order to permit rejoining of most of the induced DNA strand breaks, and then exposed to the small test dose of X-rays at 0°C, a reduction in the rate of DNA elution occurred. The magnitude of this X-ray induced DNA crosslink effect was dependent upon the initial dose of X-rays (1–60 krad), and was increased by irradiation under hypoxic conditions. A similar level of crosslinking was present 2 h after 5 krad of X-ray as was present with a 30 min exposure to a 1 μM nitrogen mustard. Evidence is presented that crosslinking occurs immediately after X-irradiation and is repaired with incubation at 37°C. X-ray crosslinking was attributed to DNA-protein crosslinks since treatment of the cell lysates with proteinase removed the effect. X-ray induced DNA single strand breaks can be measured over an increased range (25 rad–10 krad) by alkaline elution when the crosslink effect is first removed by proteinase digestion.
Strategies Used in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Survey of Practicing Psychologists

One hundred and twenty three practicing psychologists completed surveys regarding the therapeutic techniques they employ for patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Participants identified their predominant orientation and rated the frequency with which they used a range of 27 specific strategies. Logistic regression analyses identified an expected relationship between specific techniques and the theoretical orientations to which they are most closely linked. These findings suggest a high level of concordance between self-described theoretical orientation and the specific treatment techniques utilized, but also that some theoretical orientations are comprised of smaller independent clusters of strategies. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Mapping the optical properties of slab-type two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides

We report on systematic experimental mapping of the transmission properties of two-dimensional silicon-on-insulator photonic crystal waveguides for a broad range of hole radii, slab thicknesses and waveguide lengths for both TE and TM polarizations. Detailed analysis of numerous spectral features allows a direct comparison of experimental data with 3D plane wave and finite-difference time-domain calculations. We find, counter-intuitively, that the bandwidth for low-loss propagation completely vanishes for structural parameters where the photonic band gap is maximized. Our results demonstrate that, in order to maximize the bandwidth of low-loss waveguiding, the hole radius must be significantly reduced. While the photonic band gap considerably narrows, the bandwidth of low-loss propagation in PhC waveguides is increased up to 125nm with losses as low as 8$\pm$2dB/cm.
Retrieving actions from goal hierarchies

We studied how rapidly subjects could retrieve the order of two actions in a goal hierarchy whose actions were temporally ordered. The subjects learned a four-level hierarchy of 27 goals and actions regarding steps for joining a secret club. Then, with respect to this hierarchy, they verified statements of the form “In order for you to accomplish X, you must have already completed Y” Response times were faster the farther X was from Y in the temporal ordering of the actions, which suggests that judgments were derived by referring to the relative locations of X and Y on a fuzzy time line. Yet when asked to indicate the structure of the subgoal relationships, the subjects drew the hierarchy. This result was replicated in a second experiment. Moreover, when asked to judge whether two actions came from the same one of two plans, the subjects responded no faster for close than for distant actions.
How to Describe It? Why the Term Coming Out Means Different Things in the United States and France

Drawing on 30 in-depth interviews with U.S. and French lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals, we find important similarities in how U.S. and French respondents strategically managed the visibility of their sexual identities but differences in the vocabulary used to discuss those experiences. Specifically, all of the Americans used the expression coming out spontaneously while only five French respondents did so. Instead, French respondents typically rejected coming out in favor of other words or expressions. Rather than simple effects of speaking different languages, these differences stemmed from distinct connotations given to the same—widely diffused—expressions within each local context. Unlike their American peers, who saw the expression's origin in their own history and used in everyday lives, most French respondents resisted what they perceived to be an American cultural object imported by the French media. We also find evidence that the meaning of coming out is changing in both contexts such that in the future, the French and Americans may perceive and use it more similarly. This research contributes to our understanding of the intersection between language, meaning, and political context, within a cross-national setting.
On the status of “things in themselves” in Kant

For Kant, the concept of things in themselves or noumena isnot a door through which we are able to exit from the phenomenal realm into the sphere of mind-independent reality. Rather, it is an epistemic, mind-imposed contrivance through which alone we are able to operate our conceptual scheme — a scheme in which objectivity and externality play a crucial role.
Management of contaminated bone grafts: An experimental in vitro study

Abstract Objectives This study tested various protocols for bone decontamination after bacterial contact to determine if these treatments altered bone structure. Study design Femurs from five Sprague-Dawley rats were sectioned and separated into eight groups. These were contaminated in a broth containing Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Staphylococcus aureus . Subsequently, the groups were treated with eight different decontamination regimens. A Scheffe's Grouping test was used to statistically compare the bacterial counts after each treatment protocol. Results Treatment with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate and 4% alcohol, Neosporin, cefazolin, and saline solution had little effect on bacterial growth. However, povidone-iodine, autoclaving, and ethyl alcohol with ethanol did significantly decrease the bacterial colony counts from the bone specimens. The autoclave and ethyl alcohol/ethanol induced changes in bony histologic examination. Conclusions Results suggested that povidone-iodine decontaminates bone specimens without altering histologic conditions. Determination of successful grafting of bone treated with this protocol is required before its recommendation for clinical use.
“Brother Where Art Thou?” African American Male Instructors' Perceptions of the Counselor Education Profession

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of African American male counselor educators regarding the limited number of African American male faculty members in counselor education. Implications and suggestions on how universities can recruit and retain African American male faculty members are provided. El proposito de este estudio fue investigar las percepciones de educadores en consejeria afroamericanos con respecto al limitado numero de miembros afroamericanos entre el profesorado para la educacion de consejeros. Se proporcionan implicaciones y sugerencias sobre como las universidades pueden contratar y retener profesores varones afroamericanos.
Positive perceptions on safety and satisfaction during a patient-centered timeout before peripheral nerve blockade.

Abstract Objectives To determine the psychometric outcomes of patients participating in an extensive patient-centered verification process before receiving sedation for regional anesthesia. Design Survey. Setting Perioperative areas of university-affiliated hospital. Patients Two hundred eligible patients scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery undergoing peripheral nerve blockade. Interventions Postoperative survey evaluating patient perception, experience, and satisfaction with the anesthetic timeout before regional anesthesia. Measurements Measures using numeric rating scales were obtained on patient perceptions of safety, confidence in anesthesia provider, anxiety, and positive sentiments during participation in block timeout. These variables were analyzed using logistic regression models to correlate with reported pain and satisfaction perioperatively. Main Results One hundred seventy-five patients (93% enrollment) completed the study. More than 90% of patients reported agreeing strongly to feeling safe, confident, relaxed, and positive about their participation in the block timeout. These sentiments are associated with less reported perioperative pain and higher overall satisfaction. Conclusions Patient perceptions of confidence and safety in regional anesthesia providers were enhanced by a preprocedural timeout process. These positive attitudes are associated with a superior perioperative experience and patient satisfaction.
A big data file transfer tool for tablet-class machines

A big data file transport (BDFT) protocol is presented that minimize overheads associated with packet streaming in Java. The BDFT protocol relies on block 1-data transfers, and the elimination of unnecessary data copying between the application layer and the send socket in the standard Java IO model. The implementation uses the Java New IO (NIO) and the Zerocopy libraries. Several experiments are described and results compared against the standard Java IO - a stream-based file transport protocol. The motivation for this study is the development of a client/server big data file transport protocol for tablet-class client machines that rely on the Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) package for distributed computing.
Earth-based observations of Martian albedo changes

The large-scale albedo features of Mars, as observed with Earth-based telescopes, undergo secular changes, cyclic seasonal changes, seemingly random day-to-day changes, and cyclic diurnal changes. The suspension or redistribution of dust may be involved in all four. Some of the recent findings, based on extensive new Earth-based data, are at variance with classical ideas. Current methods of observation and analysis need to be pursued until all Martian seasons have been equally sampled.
Simple method for the variational analysis of a generalised N-dielectric-layer transmission line

A simple method which facilitates the variational analysis of a generalised N-layer (dielectric) transmission line is described. The numerical computations of the capacitance, effective permittivity and the characteristic impedance can be easily performed on a digital computer. It should be realised that the method presented in this letter does, indeed, tremendously simplify the formidable task of the determination of the potential distribution function which meets the boundary conditions of the multilayer inhomogeneous dielectric configuration.
Resistance training, and IGF involvement in the maintenance of muscle mass during the aging process

Sarcopenia is the decline of muscle mass and strength with age. Sarcopenia leads to significant impairment in the ability to carry out normal daily function and thus there is a great need for interventions that will lead to muscle regeneration and repair in the aging population. Age-related sarcopenia in humans, characterized by loss of type I and type II muscle fibers and a decrease in fiber cross-sectional area primarily in type II fibers, can be attenuated by mechanical load on the muscle, which increases cross-sectional area of the remaining fibers, but does not restore fiber numbers characteristic of young muscle. Considerable evidence also implicates age-related declines in muscle insulin-like growth factor action in sarcopenia. IGF-I promotes myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and protein accretion in muscle through multiple signaling mechanisms, including the PI3-kinase, MAP kinase and calcineurin pathways. Exercise and injury induce increases in IGF-I, IGF-I receptors and IGF-I-activated signaling pathways. Although there is evidence that aging muscle retains the ability to synthesize IGF-I, there is also evidence that aging may be associated with attenuation of the ability of exercise to induce an isoform of IGF-I that promotes satellite cell proliferation. Moreover, aging muscle may be resistant to IGF-I, an effect that is reversed by exercise. However, it is clear that over-expression of IGF-I in muscle can protect against age-related sarcopenia.
Short latency somatosensory evoked potentials following median nerve stimulation in man.

Abstract In 20 normal subjects, short latency components of the somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded simultaneously from the scalp and cervical electrodes after stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist. Using a knee reference, 4 positive peaks, P9, P11, P13 and P14, were identified in the scalp recorded potentials, whereas the cervical potentials consisted of the initial positive peak, Pc9, and 3 subsequent negative peaks, N11, N13 and N14. The initial component was negative over the shoulder but otherwise distributed widely as a positive field from the neck to the scalp. Its latency was slightly less than that of the nerve potential recorded at Erb's point. The second component was best recorded at the low cervical area as a negative peak, increasing in amplitude and decreasing in latency laterally towards the site of the stimulus. Its latency was nearly the same as an estimated nerve conduction time from the wrist to the spinal cord. The third component was most consistently recorded as a negative peak at mid and low cervical electrodes, progressively decreasing in amplitude toward the high cervical region. It was often difficult to detect over the scalp. The last component was best recorded as a positive peak at the scalp and nasopharyngeal electrode. This peak was equivocal when recorded from the cervical region unless an ear reference was used. The latencies and field distributions suggest that the cervical potentials represent a negative field near the generator site and that the scalp recorded potentials are primarily attributable to an approaching field of positivity from the same source. We propose that the possible generator sites of the short latency SEPs are: (1) a distal portion of the brachial plexus (Pc9 and P9), (2) entry to the spinal cord (N11 and P11), (3) cervical cord (N13 and P13), and (4) brain stem or cerebellum (N14 and P14).
Ultraviolet-visible metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors fabricated from InxGa1-xN (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.13)

Metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors have been fabricated on InxGa1−xN epitaxial films grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition within the composition range 0≤x≤0.13. The dark current and spectral response were measured for devices with a varying In mole fraction x. The devices, which had nominal finger widths and finger spacing of 5 µm, were biased with modest voltages in the range 2≤Vbias≤5 V. In general, turn-on wave-length and dark current increased with increasing x. Turn-on wavelengths ranged from λ=370 nm to 430 nm and dark current densities ranged from Idark=2×10−2 A/cm2 (Vbias=5 V, x≈0.05) to 9×104 A/cm2 (Vbias=2 V, x≈0.13) depending on the In content, x, of the device active area.
Lattice conditional independence models for contingency tables with non-monotone missing data patterns

Abstract In the analysis of non-monotone missing data patterns in multinomial distributions for contingency tables, it is known that explicit MLEs of the unknown parameters cannot be obtained. Iterative procedures such as the EM-algorithm are therefore required to obtain the MLEs. These iterative procedures, however, may offer several potential difficulties. Andersson and Perlman [Ann. Statist. 21 (1993) 1318–1358] introduced lattice conditional independence (LCI) models for multivariate normal distributions, which can be applied to the analysis of non-monotone missing observations in continuous data (Andersson and Perlman, Statist. Probab. Lett. 12 (1991) 465–486). In this paper, we show that LCI models may also be applied to the analysis of categorical data with non-monotone missing data patterns. Under a parsimonious set of LCI assumptions naturally determined by the observed data pattern, the likelihood function for the observed data can be factored as in the monotone case and explicit MLEs can be obtained for the unknown parameters. Furthermore, the LCI assumptions can be tested by explicit likelihood ratio tests.
FINDING THE PERFECTIVE STEM OF ACTIVE VERBS IN MODERN GREEK

This paper suggests a method for helping students find the perfective stem of active verbs in Modern Greek, given their imperfective stem. This method consists of teaching the students a few phonological rules, whose relevance extends well beyond the grammatical point at hand. With respect to easing the students’ task in learning the perfective stem of some superficially irregular verbs, the paper suggests that teachers familiarize their students with the “underlying” imperfective stem of such verbs, as well as with related lexical items that carry the phonological information which is absent from the surface form of the imperfective stem, but which must be posited for the underlying form of that stem. On the whole, the paper advocates that teachers should not shy from conveying to their student linguistic information which “explains” some of the processes which language-learners have to learn in order to manipulate a new language, provided that such information is given in terms which the students can understand.
Preparation and applications of polyethylene glycol-polystyrene graft resin supports for solid-phase peptide synthesis

Abstract Heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivatives BocNH(CH2CH2O)nCONHCH2CO2H were attached cleanly onto aminomethyl copoly(styrene-1% divinylbenzene) (PS) resins by oxidation-reduction couplings mediated by tri-n-butylphosphine plus 2,2′-dipyridyl disulfide. The amount of PEG incorporated into the resultant PEG-PS graft resins can be controlled through the degree of aminomethylation of the starting cross-linked PS and/or by use of PEG derivatives of different molecular weight (i.e., ∼ 2000 for n = 45 ; ∼ 4000 for n = 90 ). The new PEG-PS supports, which have good swelling properties in an extended range of solvents, were evaluated as supports for stepwise solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using tert.-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) or dithiasuccinoyl (Dts) for Nα-amino protection, along with compatible anchoring handles for the C-terminal residue. Several peptide syntheses were carried out in parallel in order to compare PEG-PS supports with the corresponding parent PS resins; reproducible advantages were observed with PEG-PS. In addition, PEG-PS supports were shown to be uniquely suited for SPPS using acetonitrile as the solvent for all coupling steps and washes.
An update on the role of mitochondrial α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in oxidative stress

The activity of mitochondrial alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDHC) is severely reduced in human pathologies where oxidative stress is traditionally thought to play an important role, such as familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases. This minireview is focused on substantial data that were accumulated over the last 2 decades to support the concept that KGDHC can be a primary mitochondrial target of oxidative stress and at the same time a key contributor to it by producing reactive oxygen species. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Mitochondrial function and dysfunction in neurodegeneration'.
The Shuttle Electrodynamic Tether System (SETS) on TSS-1

The Shuttle Electrodynamic Tether System (SETS) experiment formed part of the scientific experiments comprising the first flight of the NASA/ASI Tethered-Satellite System flown at an altitude of 300 km and an orbital inclination of 28.5 degrees in July–August 1992. The SETS experiment was designed to study electrodynamic behavior of the Orbiter-Tether-Satellite system as well as provide background measurements of the ionospheric environment near the Orbiter. The SETS experiment was able to operate continuously during the mission providing a large data set. Details of the SETS objectives, its instrumentation, and initial results from the mission highlighting voltage, current, and charging measurements are presented here.
Transforming growth factor-β1 differentially regulates proliferation morphology, and extracellular matrix expression by three neural crest-derived neuroblastoma cell lines

Abstract We reported previously (S. L. Rogers, P. J. Gegick, S. M. Alexander, and P. G. McGuire, Dev. Biol. 151, 191-203, 1992) that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) inhibited proliferation, up-regulated fibronectin synthesis, and suppressed melanogenesis in a population of quail neural crest cells in vitro. Here, we report that cell lines derived from the parent SK-N-SH neuroblastoma line (R. A. Ross, B. A. Spengler, and J. L. Biedler, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 71, 741-747, 1983) respond differentially to TGFβ1, and their responses provide further insights into the actions of this growth factor on neural crest subpopulations. The SH-EP cell line exhibits primarily nonneuronal traits and responded to TGFβ1 with increased thymidine uptake after 6 days of culture, increased expression of fibronectin mRNA and protein, and decreased laminin synthesis. Many SH-EP cells also acquired a dramatically elongated morphology, reminiscent of Schwann cells in culture. Thymidine uptake by the neuronal SY5Y cell line was not substantially altered. Neither fibronectin mRNA nor protein was detectable in either TGFβ1-treated or untreated cultures, although laminin synthesis was upregulated by the growth factor. In TGFβ1-treated cultures of the intermediate SH-IN cell line, which has been reported to display both neuronal and nonneuronal characteristics, there was marked flattening of many cells, a steady decrease in thymidine uptake, and increased expression of both fibronectin and laminin. The observed responses of SH-IN cells mimic those observed in primary neural crest cultures and appear to represent similar differentiation toward a mesenchymal phenotype. These results substantiate the idea that closely related but diverging neural crest-derived cell types respond selectively to TGFβ1 and demonstrate that these SK-N-SH-derived cell lines will be useful in experimental approaches that will allow us to infer mechanisms underlying regulation of neural crest differentiation.
Brain lipid-binding protein (BLBP): A novel signaling system in the developing mammalian CNS

Using a polyclonal antibody against postnatal cerebellar cells, we have isolated a new, brain-specific member of the lipid-binding protein family (BLBP). Members of this family, such as cellular retinoic acid-binding protein, have been shown to carry small hydrophobic signaling molecules between cellular compartments. The expression of BLBP is spatially and temporally correlated with neuronal differentiation in many parts of the mouse CNS, including postnatal cerebellum, embryonic spinal cord, and cerebral cortex. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry show that BLBP is transiently expressed in radial glia in both the embryonic ventricular zone and the postnatal cerebellum. Subcellular localization studies by immunoelectron microscopy demonstrate that BLBP is present in the nucleus as well as the cytoplasm. Affinity-purified anti-BLBP antibodies block glial and neuronal differentiation in primary cell cultures, but have no effect on cell proliferation or adhesion. Based on these results, we propose that BLBP is required for the establishment of the radial glial fiber system in developing brain, a system that is necessary for the migration of immature neurons to establish cortical layers.
Evaluation of procedures to acclimate a microbial fuel cell for electricity production

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a relatively new type of fixed film bioreactor for wastewater treatment, and the most effective methods for inoculation are not well understood. Various techniques to enrich electrochemically active bacteria on an electrode were therefore studied using anaerobic sewage sludge in a two-chambered MFC. With a porous carbon paper anode electrode, 8 mW/m2 of power was generated within 50 h with a Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 40%. When an iron oxide-coated electrode was used, the power and the CE reached 30 mW/m2 and 80%, respectively. A methanogen inhibitor (2-bromoethanesulfonate) increased the CE to 70%. Bacteria in sludge were enriched by serial transfer using a ferric iron medium, but when this enrichment was used in a MFC the power was lower (2 mW/m2) than that obtained with the original inoculum. By applying biofilm scraped from the anode of a working MFC to a new anode electrode, the maximum power was increased to 40 mW/m2. When a second anode was introduced into an operating MFC the acclimation time was not reduced and the total power did not increase. These results suggest that these active inoculating techniques could increase the effectiveness of enrichment, and that start up is most successful when the biofilm is harvested from the anode of an existing MFC and applied to the new anode.
Phase diagrams and lipid domains in multicomponent lipid bilayer mixtures.

Understanding the phase behavior of biological membranes is helped by the study of more simple systems. Model membranes that have as few as 3 components exhibit complex phase behavior that can be well described, providing insight for biological membranes. A number of different studies are in agreement on general findings for some compositional phase diagrams, in particular, those that model the outer leaflet of animal cell plasma membranes. These model mixtures include cholesterol, together with one high-melting lipid and one low-melting lipid. An interesting finding is of two categories of such 3-component mixtures, leading to what we term Type I and Type II compositional phase diagrams. The latter have phase regions of macroscopic coexisting domains of {Lα+Lβ+Lo} and of {Lα+Lo}, with domains resolved under the light microscope. Type I mixtures have the same phase coexistence regions, but the domains seem to be nanoscopic. Type I mixtures are likely to be better models for biological membranes.
Social constraints on the onset of incubation in a neotropical parrot: a nestbox addition experiment

Abstract We examined whether the early onset of incubation serves to protect eggs from the dangers imposed by conspecifics in the green-rumped parrotlet, Forpus passerinus , a small neotropical parrot that lays a large clutch and begins incubation on the first egg. Nestboxes with eggs were installed and their fate was followed for 72 h to determine whether egg destruction and nest site take-overs occurred as predicted by the Egg Protection and Limited Breeding Opportunities Hypotheses, or whether additional eggs appeared in the boxes as predicted by the Brood Parasitism Hypothesis. Eggs were destroyed at 40.6% of 69 experimental boxes but at only 4.5% of control nests occupied by laying pairs. No eggs were laid in the experimental boxes. Egg destruction at experimental nests occurred during daylight hours and all mortality was caused by green-rumped parrotlets. Over 75% of the nests were destroyed by male–female pairs prospecting for nest sites, and the remainder were destroyed by male–male pairs. Lone males never destroyed eggs, although they frequently visited experimental boxes. Two of three failures at control nests were the result of nocturnal predators, and the other nest was apparently destroyed by parrotlets. There was no significant difference between experimental and control boxes in the frequency of visitations by lone males, male–female pairs and male–male pairs. Although experimental boxes that parrotlets visited were discovered quickly after placement, parrotlets were usually slow to enter them ( X =5.8 h after discovery, range 0.3–23.5 h). Control nests were rarely left unattended: females spent nearly 75% of their time in the box, and pairs were typically absent for short intervals (median=7.5 min). Control females responded to intruding parrotlets by remaining in the box 94% of the time when alone, whereas males actively displaced and chased intruding parrotlets 66% of the time. Parrotlets that visited control nests approached the box significantly less often than those visiting experimental boxes. To ensure the survival of eggs, parrotlet parents must begin incubating eggs or guarding nests soon after laying to minimize destruction of clutches, loss of nest sites, a decline in the viability of their eggs and the time that all nestlings are exposed to predators.
An Analysis of Some Anomalous Properties of Equiphase Contours

If one thinks of the voltage of a radio signal as a function of the location of some target point, then the phase of this voltage is also such a function. One might imagine that since the voltage exhibits no peculiar properties, neither does the phase; but this is not true. There are many cases for which the phase becomes a multivalued function. This fact is very important in the theory of the phase measurement type of radio surveying or navigational systems; for the phase difference between two points depends not only on the location of the points, but also on the path over which the target is carried.
The Role of Manual Therapies in Equine Pain Management

Manual therapy includes a diverse array of techniques, such as touch therapies, massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic, that were originally developed for use in humans and have been gradually applied to horses. All forms of manual therapy have variable reported levels of effectiveness for treating musculoskeletal issues in humans, but mostly only anecdotal evidence exists in horses. This article explores the scientific literature for evidence of efficacy, safety, and common mechanisms of action of the different forms of manual therapies for potential use in managing acute or chronic pain syndromes in horses. Currently, there is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of spinal mobilization and manipulation in reducing pain and muscle hypertonicity. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy of specific manual therapy techniques and their contribution to multimodal protocols for managing specific somatic pain conditions in horses.
Effects of multi-energy Si and O ion implantation on the optical properties of silica

Abstract Some effects on the optical bands produced by multi energy (highest energy 320 keV) Si and O implantations in (Type III) silica have been measured. We propose that in these samples bands due to the various combinations of oxygen vacancies will increase with increasing Si dose with related O related defects changing at a much smaller rates. In the absorption spectra of samples implanted with O, bands associated with oxygen related defects increase with increasing does, while those due to various forms of O vacancies will change at much smaller rates. Si ions were implanted using implant energies ranging from 35 to 320 keV. O ions were implanted using energies ranging from 35 to 250 keV. The doses at each energy were varied to maintain an approximately constant implanted-species concentration. The implanted layer has an approximately constant concentration for the Si ions that starts 40 nm below the surface and extends to 640 nm, while for the O implanted samples the constant concentration region starts at ∼80 nm from the surface and extend to 640 nm. The Si concentration in the implanted region ranges from ∼0.025 to 0.5 at.% (atomic percent) while the O concentration ranged from 0.035 to 0.7 at.%. The optical absorption was measured from 2.8 to 6.5 eV. We fit the observed spectra for the as implanted samples to the minimum number of bands attributed to intrinsic states in SiO 2 required to fit the data within ±2%. The intensities of these absorption bands were a function of dose and ion species. Bands at 5.01, 5.8 and 6.75 eV increased with increasing Si dose and changed at much smaller rates with increasing O dose, confirming that these bands are related to oxygen vacancies. The band at 4.8 eV increased with increasing O dose confirming that it is due to oxygen related defects, which we attribute to an oxygen molecular ion or peroxy radical.
The C-Terminal Domain of AcrA Is Essential for the Assembly and Function of the Multidrug Efflux Pump AcrAB-TolC

Periplasmic membrane fusion proteins (MFPs) are essential components of multidrug efflux pumps and type I protein secretion systems of gram-negative bacteria. Located in the periplasm, MFPs function by creating a physical link between inner membrane transporters and outer membrane channels. The most conserved sequence of MFPs is located in their distal C-terminal domain. However, neither the structure nor the function of this domain is known. In this study, we investigated the structural and functional role of the C-terminal domain of Escherichia coli AcrA, a periplasmic component of the multidrug efflux pump AcrAB-TolC. Using trypsin proteolysis, we identified the proteolytically labile sites in the C-terminal domain (amino acid residues 315 to 397) of AcrA in vitro. We next used these sites as a map to evaluate the structural integrity of this domain of AcrA inside the periplasm. We found that the C-terminal domain of AcrA is protected from trypsin when the tripartite efflux pump AcrAB-TolC is assembled. In contrast, this domain remains proteolytically labile in cells producing only one of the AcrB or TolC components of the complex. Site-directed mutagenesis of 12 highly conserved amino acid residues of the C-terminal domain of AcrA showed that a single G363C substitution dramatically impairs the multidrug efflux activity of AcrAB-TolC. The G363C mutant interacts with both AcrB and TolC but fails to properly assemble into a functional complex. We conclude that the C-terminal domain of AcrA plays an important role in the assembly and function of AcrAB-TolC efflux pump.
Super-Uniformity of The Typical Billiard Path

1. Introduction. Uniform distribution—also called equidistribution—is a truly fundamental concept. The famous Weyl’s Criterion (about uniform distribution) is perhaps the most frequently quoted result in whole mathematics. This volume celebrates the 70th birthday of Endre Szemeredi: the famous Szemeredi’s Regularity Lemma is also about uniform distribution. It states, very roughly speaking, that every dense graph can be decomposed into a few “regular” parts, where the parts exhibit some kind of local edgeequidistribution. This paper is basically about the quantitative aspects of the continuous Kronecker-Weyl equidistribution theorem.
Optimization of test procedure to improve insulator performance under high electric stress

Surface flashover properties in relation to test procedures were investigated, using single-cycle steady step, multiple-cycle steady-step, multiple-shot, and hill-valley tests. In general, the test procedures were found to influence significantly the surface flashover properties of large-bandgap insulators such as polycrystalline alumina and signal-crystal quartz in vacuum. The steady-step tests increased the degree of conditioning to a higher level during the second day. However, the samples subjected to these tests displayed a higher degree of deconditioning during the second and third day. A simultaneous increase of conditioning and decrease of deconditioning was observed for the multiple-shot and hill-valley tests. The surface flashover performances of 6- mu m-finish alumina specimens for different test procedures are also compared and discussed. The behavior of the insulators under a given test procedure is explained on the basis of surface electronic defects and adsorbed gaseous atoms or molecules. >
Graph Clustering With Missing Data: Convex Algorithms and Analysis

We consider the problem of finding clusters in an unweighted graph, when the graph is partially observed. We analyze two programs, one which works for dense graphs and one which works for both sparse and dense graphs, but requires some a priori knowledge of the total cluster size, that are based on the convex optimization approach for low-rank matrix recovery using nuclear norm minimization. For the commonly used Stochastic Block Model, we obtain explicit bounds on the parameters of the problem (size and sparsity of clusters, the amount of observed data) and the regularization parameter characterize the success and failure of the programs. We corroborate our theoretical findings through extensive simulations. We also run our algorithm on a real data set obtained from crowdsourcing an image classification task on the Amazon Mechanical Turk, and observe significant performance improvement over traditional methods such as k-means.
Is Bcl-2 a valid target in the treatment of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Dysregulation of apoptosis through alterations in the B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins is a hallmark of the pathophysiology of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). Th e most common indolent NHL, follicular lymphoma (FL), has a t(14;18) translocation in about 90% of cases, leading to profound overexpression of Bcl-2 due to juxtaposition of BCL-2 with the immunoglobulin heavy chain ( IgH ) promoter. Th e rarer, often more aggressive, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) does not have a BCL-2 translocation, but nonetheless typically expresses high levels of Bcl-2. Why is the Bcl-2 family so fundamental to the pathogenesis of indolent NHL? Th e answer may lie in the fact that the Bcl-2 family governs a fundamental cellular process: the intrinsic pathway of mitochondrial apoptosis. At the heart of the Bcl-2 family are the anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 itself, as well as the related proteins Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL. Th ese anti-apoptotic proteins bind the key pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak, thereby inhibiting their oligimerization and putting the brakes on apoptosis. Activator and sensitizer pro-apoptotic proteins within the Bcl-2 family are known as BH3-only proteins, so named because they contain only the BH3 (Bcl-2 homology 3) domain found in other Bcl-2 family members. Activator BH3-only proteins include Bim and Bid, which directly activate Bax and Bak, and sensitizer BH3-only proteins such as Bad and Noxa that release Bax and Bak from the anti-apoptotic proteins and thereby indirectly promote apoptosis. Th e dynamic balance of pro- versus anti-apoptotic proteins is a key to determining the fate of a cell [1].
NMR studies of brain 13C-glucose uptake and metabolism : present status

One of the common features of epilepsy is a change in glucose metabolism at the site of seizure activity during and between seizures. The noninvasive in situ study of glucose transport and metabolism by NMR can potentially provide detailed information about this phenomena. In this short review, we will discuss the principles of 13C-glucose NMR studies of the brain and compare the advantages and disadvantages of this method to those of 18F-deoxyglucose studies using positron emission tomography (PET).
Corneal keratocytes: phenotypic and species differences in abundant protein expression and in vitro light-scattering.

PURPOSE Previous studies suggest that corneal haze after injury involves changes in the light-scattering properties of keratocytes that are possibly linked to the abundant expression of water-soluble proteins. The purpose of this study was to determine the protein expression pattern of keratocytes from different species and different cultured rabbit keratocyte phenotypes and to assess differences in light-scattering in vitro.
Variation in concentration of lipids, lipoprotein lipids, and apolipoproteins A-I and B in plasma from healthy women

The components of total variation--biological, inter- and intra-individual, and analytical--of plasma lipids, lipoprotein lipids, and apolipoproteins A-I and B have been determined in a population of 44 healthy women, ages 18-35 years. Blood was sampled three separate times at three-month intervals, with no restrictions on diet or physical activity during these periods. The greatest inter-individual variances were observed for high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, HDL2-cholesterol, and total plasma cholesterol. Triglycerides had the highest intra-individual variance (CV 22%). The percentage of inter- and intra-individual variances of apolipoprotein A-I concentrations were more reflective of total HDL- and HDL2-cholesterol content than of HDL3-cholesterol. Concentrations of calculated low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol showed a greater inter-individual variation (18.6%) than did apolipoprotein B (10.7%). The laboratory CVs for these analytes were similar to other reported values. From these data, we computed the expected variation for subjects in our study for single and repeated measurements. Such considerations can influence decision-making in the clinical setting or in designing epidemiological studies.
Inter-American Court Rules Against Mexico on Gender Violence in Ciudad Juárez

This is Caroline Bettinger-Lopez's blog post about the violence in Ciudad Juarez and the recent Inter-American Court of Human Rights decision against Mexico.
FLORIN: a system to support (near) real-time applications on user generated content on daily news

In this paper, we propose a system, FLORIN, which provides support for near real-time applications on user generated content on daily news. FLORIN continuously crawls news outlets for articles and user comments accompanying them. It attaches the articles and comments to daily event stories. It identifies the opinionated content in user comments and performs named entity recognition on news articles. All these pieces of information are organized hierarchically and exportable to other applications. Multiple applications can be built on this data. We have implemented a sentiment analysis system that runs on top of it.
Inhibition of cellular transport processes by 5-thio-d-glucopyranose

5-Thio-d-glucopyranose, the nearest analogue of normal d-glucose, which is proving a useful tool in examinations of d-glucose biochemistry, affects active and facilitated-diffusion transport processes. 5-Thio-d-glucose is readily transported in rabbit kidney-cortex slices and reaches a tissue/medium ratio of 6.5 within 40min. The sulphur analogue shows typical saturation kinetics with a Km value of 2.4mm and Vmax. value of 70μmol/h per g of cell water. Uptake of 5-thio-d-glucose is phlorrhizin-sensitive, Na+-dependent and energy-dependent. d-Galactose and methyl α-d-glucopyranoside transport is competitively inhibited by 5-thio-d-glucose with Ki values of 4.8 and 9.7mm respectively. 5-Thio-d-glucose thus shows all of the characteristics of active transport in kidney cortex. Transport of neutral amino acids in rat kidney cortex is inhibited by 5-thio-d-glucose. Thus 5.6mm-5-thio-d-glucose causes a 25–30% inhibition of the transport of glycine and the non-metabolized amino acids cycloleucine and α-aminoisobutyric acid. 5-Thio-d-glucose is freely taken up by the facilitated-diffusion transport system in rat diaphragm muscle. The sulphur analogue inhibits the transport of d-xylose in this tissue but has no effect on the uptake of d-arabinose. It is concluded that the ring heteroatom is not an effector of binding in the transport processes examined and causes no important alteration in the conformation of the sugar. The diabetogenic action produced by 5-thio-d-glucose is due, in part, to the ability of the analogue to interfere with cellular transport processes that use d-glucose.
A spectral measurement method for determining white OLED average junction temperatures

The objective of this study was to investigate an indirect method of measuring the average junction temperature of a white organic light-emitting diode (OLED) based on temperature sensitivity differences in the radiant power emitted by individual emitter materials (i.e., “blue,” “green,” and “red”). The measured spectral power distributions (SPDs) of the white OLED as a function of temperature showed amplitude decrease as a function of temperature in the different spectral bands, red, green, and blue. Analyzed data showed a good linear correlation between the integrated radiance for each spectral band and the OLED panel temperature, measured at a reference point on the back surface of the panel. The integrated radiance ratio of the spectral band green compared to red, (G/R), correlates linearly with panel temperature. Assuming that the panel reference point temperature is proportional to the average junction temperature of the OLED panel, the G/R ratio can be used for estimating the average junction temperature of an OLED panel.
Abstract 2753: The Relationship Between Pulmonary Vein Antrum Scarring Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation and Procedural Success: Does Pulmonary Vein Isolation Matter?

Background. A mechanism of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following ablation may be incomplete pulmonary vein antrum (PVA) scarring that allows for conduction between the pulmonary veins (PV) and the left atrium (LA). We report the relationship between circumferential PV scarring detected by delayed enhancement MRI (DE-MRI) and AF recurrence following PVAI. Methods. Eighty-six patients presenting for PVAI underwent DE-MRI 3 months post ablation. Circumferential ablation with posterior wall debulking was performed in all patients. PV ostia were marked on 3D images generated from the MRI data and assessed by consensus of two independent reviewers for the extent of scarring. Complete PVA scarring was defined as a continuous ring of enhancement surrounding the PVA. For patients with incomplete scarring, the degree of scarring was estimated. Results. The figure shows two patients from the cohort, Patient 1 exhibits successful scarring of all PVA. Patient 2 shows scarring of 1 PVA. At three months post ablation, complete circumferential lesion was seen on 131/335 PVA (39.1%). Complete scarring of 4 PVA was seen in 9 patients (10.5%), scarring of 3 PVA in 11 patients (12.8%) and scarring of 2 PVA was seen in 17 patients (19.8). Twenty-nine patients (33.7%) exhibited complete scarring in 1 PVA while 20 patients (23.3%) exhibited scarring in 0 PVA. Kaplan Meier analysis (Figure [E]), suggests that PVA isolation may be important for long-term procedural success. Conclusion: Complete pulmonary vein antrum scarring exists in a very limited number of patients, despite its apparent importance for long-term procedural success.