cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of palmitoyl-CoA binding to albumin on the apparent kinetic behavior of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I

Substrate saturation plots of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I activity from isolated rat liver mitochondria vs. palmitoyl-CoA concentration in the presence of bovine serum albumin have been reported to yield sigmoidal kinetics. Under identical assay conditions we have confirmed these observations as reflected by nonlinear Lineweaver-Burke plots (1/ν1 vs. 1|S|) and an average Hill coefficient of napp. = 1.98 ± 0.09 (Mean±S.E. from four separate experiments). For these determinations the enzyme activity was plotted against the total [palmitoyl-CoA] in the presence of 0.13% bovine serum albumin. Utilizing the total [palmitoyl-CoA] to determine the kinetic properties of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I would be valid only if the relationship between total and free [palmitoyl-CoA] was linear, which is not the case as we have previously shown. When carnitine palmitoyltransferase I substrate saturation kinetics were reanalyzed using the previously determined free [palmitoyl-CoA]'s, the plots revealed a shift to standard hyperbolic kinetics. This observation was confirmed by an average Hill coefficient of napp. = 1.04 ± 0.10 (Mean±S.E.) and linear Lineweaver-Burke plots. The double-reciprocal plots from these analyses yielded an average S0.5 of 2.55 ± 0.82 μM(Mean±S.E.) palmitoyl-CoA and Vmax of 19.69 ± 5.48 nmol/min per mg protein. These studies clearly demonstrate the importance of defining the free [palmitoyl-CoA] when analyzing the kinetics of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I in the presence of bovine serum albumin.
The Space Policy Summit

Abstract A Space Policy Summit of high-level individuals from government, industry and international organizations was held in Houston, TX immediately before the World Space Congress in October 2002. It provided a forum for the discussion of long-term space policy issues in the fields of commercial space exploitation, public good applications and space exploration. This report presents the background to the decision to hold such a summit, and discusses selected issues and recommendations.
Informatics critical to public health surveillance

Public health surveillance is the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data regarding a health-related event for use in public health action to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve health by effective response management and coordination. As new pressures for early detection of disease outbreaks have arisen, particularly for outbreaks of possible bioterrorism (BT) origin, and as electronic health data have become increasingly available, so has the demand for public health situation awareness systems. Although these systems are valuable for early warning of public health emergencies, there remains the cost of developing and managing such large and complex systems and of investigating inevitable false alarms. Whether these systems are dependable and cost effective enough and can demonstrate a significant and indispensable role in detection or prevention of mass casualty events of BT origin remains to be proven. This article will focus on the complexities of design, analysis, implementation and evaluation of public health surveillance and situation awareness systems and, in some cases, will discuss the key technologies being studied in Center for Biosecurity Informatics Research at University of Texas, Health Science Center at Houston.
Finitely Deep Matrices

In the algebraic study of deep matrices ℳ X () on a finite set of indices over a field, Christopher Kennedy has recently shown that there is a unique proper ideal  whose quotient is a central simple algebra. He showed that this ideal, which doesn't appear for infinite index sets, is itself a central simple algebra. In this article we extend the result to deep matrices with a finite set of 2 or more indices over an arbitrary coordinate algebra A, showing that when the coordinates are simple there is again such a unique proper ideal, and in general that the lattice of ideals of ℳ X (A)/ and  are isomorphic to the lattice of ideals of the coordinate algebra A.
Interior estimates for the first-order differences for finite-difference approximations for elliptic bellman's equations

We establish interior estimates for the first-order finite differences of solutions of finite-difference approximations for uniformly elliptic Bellman’s equations.
Photobiological and thermal effects of photoactivating UVA light doses on cell cultures

While near-ultraviolet light has been widely used to photoactivate fluorophores and caged compounds in cells, little is known of the long-term biological effects of this light. UVA (315–400 nm) photoactivating light has been well characterized in short-term cell studies and is now being employed in higher doses to control longer-duration phenomena (e.g. gene expression). Annexin V-Cy5/propidium iodideapoptosis flow cytometry assays were used to determine responses of HeLa cells to doses of UVA light up to 23.85 J cm–2. Cells seeded at low densities had higher percentages of apoptosis and necrosis and were also more susceptible to UVA damage than cells seeded at higher densities. The dose to induce apoptosis and death in 50% of the cells (dose1/2) was determined for two different commercially available UVA light sources: 7.6 J cm–2 for the GreenSpot photocuring system and 2.52 J cm–2 for the BlakRay lamp. All BlakRay doses tested had significant cellular responses, whereas no significant cellular responses were found for doses below 1.6 J cm–2 from the GreenSpot light source. A temperature control and measurement system was used to determine direct heating from the UVA sources and also the effect that cooling cell cultures during photoexposure has on minimizing cell damage. Cooling during the BlakRay photoexposure significantly reduced the percentage of necrotic cells, but there was no significant difference for cooling during photoactivation with the GreenSpot. Differences in cell responses to similar UVA doses of different intensities suggest that photoduration should be considered along with total dose and thermal conditions in photoactivation studies.
Chemical Compatibility of Model Soil-Bentonite Backfill Containing Multiswellable Bentonite

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical compatibility of model soil-bentonite backfills containing multiswellable bentonite (MSB) relative to that of similar backfills containing untreated sodium (Na) bentonite or a commercially available, contaminant-resistant bentonite (SW101). Flexible-wall tests were conducted on consolidated backfill specimens (effective stress=34.5 kPa) containing clean sand and 4.5–5.7% bentonite (by dry weight) using tap water and calcium chloride (CaCl2) solutions (10–1,000 mM) as the permeant liquids. Final values of hydraulic conductivity (k) and intrinsic permeability (K) to the CaCl2 solutions were determined after achieving both short-term termination criteria as defined by ASTM D5084 and long-term termination criteria for chemical equilibrium between the influent and effluent. Specimens containing MSB exhibited the smallest increases in k and K upon permeation with a given CaCl2 solution relative to specimens containing untreated Na bentonite or SW1...
Are Highly Hypnotizable People Naturally Aware Of Their Hypnotic Talents? Implications for Human Potentialities

This article investigated the degree to which high hypnotizables are aware of their capability and assessed their ability to produce it without guidance from a hypnotist. Qualitative data suggest that most participants reported being surprised by their hypnotic responsiveness and the realness of the suggestions. Quantitative data tended to support this trend, in which participants had higher overall responsiveness scores, both objectively and subjectively, when the suggestions were given by a hypnotist compared to self-hypnosis. Though some were able to self-produce some hypnotic phenomena, all participants reported that it was easier to experience the suggested effects when given by the hypnotist. An explanation accounting for this finding, implications for future research, and limitations of the study are also provided.
Prostate cancer in African-American men: outcome following radiation therapy with or without adjuvant androgen ablation.

Abstract Purpose: To compare the outcome of irradiated clinically localized prostate cancer in African-American and white patients. Methods and Materials: This was a retrospective review of 1,201 men, 116 African-American and 1,085 white, with T1–T3, N0/NX, M0 prostate cancer receiving external radiation between 1987 and 1996. Pretreatment characteristics, treatment parameters, and outcome (relapse or rising prostate-specific antigen [PSA] levels, local recurrence, metastatic relapse, and survival) were compared between the groups using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Results: There were no significant differences between African-American and white patients in T-stage, Gleason score, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) level, and testosterone level. African-Americans had a significantly lower incidence of abnormal digital rectal findings and a proportionally higher incidence of obstructive urinary symptoms at presentation and tended to be somewhat younger. A major difference between the two groups was in the significantly higher PSA levels among African-Americans (median, 14 ng/ml) than among white patients (median, 9.5 ng/ml). This translated into a higher incidence of unfavorable disease according to our criteria (39% vs. 25%) among African-Americans and, thus, to the more frequent use of adjuvant androgen ablation and to somewhat higher radiation doses in these patients. With a median follow-up of 42 months the overall 6-year freedom from relapse for African-Americans was 63% compared to 61% for whites ( p = 0.634). We found no significant differences in biochemical relapse rates between any subgroups of African-Americans and whites. Specifically, even patients who did not have androgen ablation, when stratified by PSA levels, had similar outcomes regardless of race. Likewise, local recurrence and metastasis rates were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: Although African-American patients tend to have higher pretreatment PSA levels than white patients, the outcome for the disease is similar in the two groups when stratified by known pretreatment prognostic factors. Our data provide no evidence for the hypothesis that prostate cancer in African-Americans is intrinsically more virulent than in whites.
A Battle of Visions: Dueling Images of Morality in U.S. Political Campaign TV Ads

Televised political campaign advertising remains the most influential means for candidates to communicate with the public. One of the most closely watched political races in the United States played out on TV during the fall of 2006, matching Missouri senatorial candidates who held widely diverse ideologies yet championed very similar issues that were hot button topics nationwide. We applied symbolic convergence theory with its critical method, fantasy theme analysis (FTA), because of its facility to explore and understand meaning constructed through the convergence and competition of alternate symbolic worlds. Through this method, not previously used as a means of tracking the rhetorical visions of competing political campaign TV spots, we explain the master analogue that underpins the advertising rhetoric and offer insights into how candidates and voters make policy choices and the rationales they use to defend them. We illustrate that both the verbal and the visual narratives depict the vastly diverse rhetorical visions of the candidates and, by extension, their supporters based on opposing views of morality associated with Republican and Democratic worldviews. This study extends the reach of FTA in studying the visual signs and symbols of political advertising.
Human bZIP transcription factor gene NRL: structure, genomic sequence, and fine linkage mapping at 14q11.2 and negative mutation analysis in patients with retinal degeneration.

Abstract The NRL gene encodes an evolutionarily conserved basic motif-leucine zipper transcription factor that is implicated in regulating the expression of the photoreceptor-specific gene rhodopsin. NRL is expressed in postmitotic neuronal cells and in lens during embryonic development, but exhibits a retina-specific pattern of expression in the adult. To understand regulation of NRL expression and to investigate its possible involvement in retinopathies, we have determined the complete sequence of the human NRL gene, identified a polymorphic (CA) n repeat (identical to D14S64) within the NRL -containing cosmid, and refined its location by linkage analysis. Since a locus for autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) has been linked to markers at 14q11 and since mutations in rhodopsin can lead to RP, we sequenced genomic PCR products of the NRL gene and of the rhodopsin-Nrl response element from a panel of patients representing independent families with inherited retinal degeneration. The analysis did not reveal any causative mutations in this group of patients. These investigations provide the basis for delineating the DNA sequence elements that regulate NRL expression in distinct neuronal cell types and should assist in the analysis of NRL as a candidate gene for inherited diseases/syndromes affecting visual function.
Sumsets contained in infinite sets of integers

Abstract If the positive integers are partitioned into a finite number of cells, then Hindman proved that there exists an infinite set B such that all finite, nonempty sums of distinct elements of B all belong to one cell of the partition. Erdos conjectured that if A is a set of integers with positive asymptotic density, then there exist infinite sets B and C such that B + C ⊆ A. This conjecture is still unproved. This paper contains several results on sumsets contained in finite sets of integers. For example, if A is a set of integers of positive upper density, then for any n there exist sets B and F such that B has positive upper density, F has cardinality n, and B + F ⊆ A.
From semantic integration to semantics management: case studies and a way forward

For meaningful information exchange or integration, providers and consumers need compatible semantics between source and target systems. It is widely recognized that achieving this semantic integration is very costly. Nearly all the published research concerns how system integrators can discover and exploit semantic knowledge in order to better share data among the systems they already have. This research is very important, but to make the greatest impact, we must go beyond after-the-fact semantic integration among existing systems, to actively guiding semantic choices in new ontologies and systems - e.g., what concepts should be used as descriptive vocabularies for existing data, or as definitions for newly built systems. The goal is to ease data sharing for both new and old systems, to ensure that needed data is actually collected, and to maximize over time the business value of an enterprise's information systems.
Voxelized shadow volumes

Efficient shadowing algorithms have been sought for decades, but most shadow research focuses on quickly identifying shadows on surfaces. This paper introduces a novel algorithm to efficiently sample light visibility at points inside a volume. These voxelized shadow volumes (VSVs) extend shadow maps to allow efficient, simultaneous queries of visibility along view rays, or can alternately be seen as a discretized shadow volume. We voxelize the scene into a binary, epipolar-space grid where we apply a fast parallel scan to identify shadowed voxels. Using a view-dependent grid, our GPU implementation looks up 128 visibility samples along any eye ray with a single texture fetch. We demonstrate our algorithm in the context of interactive shadows in homogeneous, single-scattering participating media.
Near integral domains on nonabelian groups

In this paper the concept of a special automorphism is introduced and used to analyze near integral domains having nonabelian addtive groups. We show that there are finite and infinite near integral domains having additive groups with arbitrary class of nilpotency. We also give another example of a non-nilpotent group which is the additive group of a near integral domain. Finally, nonabelian groups of order less than 1000 are examined to determine which can be the additive group of a near integral domain.
Use of indigenous plants as fish poisons in samoa

Polynesian cultures in general have been very adept at discovering and utilizing native plants to provide food, shelter, clothing, transportation, medicine, and articles of cultural or religious value. As a result of the great antiquity of the Samoan culture, the plant lore of the Samoan people has been developed to a high degree. Unfortunately the rapid westernization of the Samoan islands has led to a loss of specialized knowledge of plants and their uses among many members of the general populace; however, a considerable body of plant lore still exists among the aged chiefs and inhabitants of the outer villages and islands of the Samoan group. The objective of the present study has been to investigate and document the use of native plants to poison fish. Interviews and field observations of the actual techniques in use were made in the villages of Taga and Fa'ala on the island of Savaii, and Malaela and Si'usega on the island of Upolu between December 1978 and February 1979. Some of the early European inhabitants of Samoa directed attention to the plants used as fish poisons in Samoa. Rev. Pratt listed 'Avasa (Tephrosia piscatoria Pers.) as a fish poison in his 1862 dictionary of the Samoan language (Pratt, 1862). Reinecke (1898) recorded the use of T. piscatoria and Barringtonia speciosa Forster. He also recorded the use of Phyllantus simplex Retzius; this, however, is probably an error arising from the fact that both P. simplex and Tephrosia piscatoria have the same Samoan name: 'avasa. Only the latter is used as a fish poison while the former is used medicinally (Parham, 1972). A. F. Kramer (1903) described in some detail the techniques used with T. piscatoria but unfortunately characterized them as being used with Barringtonia asiatica rather than T. piscatoria. As will be described shortly, the techniques used with these two fish poisons differ significantly. More recent workers have also directed some attention to the Samoan use of plants as fish poisons. The use of Barringtonia asiatica as a fish-stupefying agent is mentioned in one floristic work (Setchell, 1924) while both B. asiatica and T. piscatoria are mentioned in three other treatises (Lloyd and Aiken, 1934; Christopherson, 1935; Parham, 1972). A brief account of the use of B. asiatica may be found in Samoan Material Culture (Buck, 1930). The only plants currently used for fish poisoning in Samoa are Tephrosia piscatoria Persoon and Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz. One chief on the island of Savaii reported that the fruits of Meryta sp. (lau fagufagu) were used anciently as fish poison; his report is substantiated by a notation I found on a herbarium sheet of Meryta capitata Christopherson (Garber #622) at the Bishop Museum which reads "'supposed to be useful for fish poisoning." Other than these two reports, however, I have found no evidence for the use of Meryta sp. as fish poison and have been unable to find any native informants who are knowledgeable in the techniques of its use.
Morphological and physiological characteristics associated with tolerance to summer irrigation termination in alfalfa

Deliberately withholding irrigation to alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) during summer, a management strategy referred to as summer irrigation termination (SIT), has been suggested to conserve water in long-season desert environments. Summer irrigation termination may reduce productivity of alfalfa stands, although such effects may be lessened if cultivars with improved tolerance to SIT could be developed. This study was conducted to identify characteristics associated with low crown mortality as the primary component of tolerance to SIT. Using such traits in selection may be superior to direct selection for post-SIT yield, a trait potentially characterized by low heritability. Single spaced nondormant alfalfa plants were grown in a field trial in Tucson, AZ, and subjected to two SIT treatments during two years (Treatment 1, 84 d in 1994 and Treatment 2, 42 d in 1994 and 75 d in 1995). Traits evaluated prior to SIT (forage yield, stem number, plant height, leaf area, and root diameter) were not significantly associated with crown mortality. Significant but weak correlations were detected between crown mortality and days to wilting (r = -0.25) and plant height during SIT (r = -0.29*). Accumulation of osmotically active substances, such as proline and sucrose, was not related to crown mortality. However, crown mortality was significantly correlated with concentration of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) in crown tissue on Days 28 (r = - 0.57*) and 35 (r = - 0.79*) of SIT. The TNC reserves may be essential for continued respiration during periods of drought. Depletion of TNC reserves could have caused plant death in intolerant plants. Concentrations of TNC in crown tissue may represent a criterion in indirect selection for decreased crown mortality during SIT in selected environments.
An Evaluation of Childbirth Education for the Clinic Patient

: A study was made of 97 clinic women who attended a series of preparation for childbirth classes and 24 primigravida clinic women who elected not to attend such classes. Both groups completed a standardized knowledge and understanding (KU) questionnaire related to pregnancy, labor and delivery. In addition, a post-delivery structured interview was undertaken to determine the relative importance of certain subjective variables relating to the labor and delivery experience. KU scores were significantly higher in clinic women who elected to attend such classes. Class attendance was associated with a significant increase in KU scores following 4 class sessions. An inverse correlation was observed between KU scores and the number of anesthesia encounters for prepared clinic women during first and second stage of labor. Prepared multigravidas had significantly fewer medication encounters than did prepared primigravidas (P <.001) and, as a group, prepared women had significantly fewer medication encounters than unprepared primigravid women (P <.001). Both groups of clinic women rated medication during labor of less importance than the presence of a labor companion.
Most of the interleukin 1 receptor antagonist, cathepsin S, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, nerve growth factor, and interleukin 18 release by explants of human adipose tissue is by the non-fat cells, not by the adipocytes

The present studies were designed to compare the relative release of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), cathepsin S, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and interleukin 18 (IL-18) by adipocytes as compared with the non-fat cells present in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue from morbidly obese gastric bypass patients as compared with obese abdominoplasty patients. The release of IL-1Ra, cathepsin S, and MIF by explants of human adipose tissue incubated for 48 hours averaged 6, 9, and 19 pmol/g, respectively, and was far greater than the release of NGF (0.05 pmol/g) or IL-18 (0.006 pmol/g). The release by human adipocytes of IL-1Ra, cathepsin S, and MIF was 0.13, 0.32, and 2.6 pmol/g, respectively, over 48 hours, whereas NGF release was 0.003 and IL-18 0.001 pmol/g. Only the total release of MIF by human adipose tissue explants was enhanced, whereas that of IL-18 was significantly reduced in explants from morbidly obese women. Most of (55%-73%) the release of IL-1Ra, cathepsin S, MIF, NGF, and IL-18 was by the adipose tissue matrix, whereas release by stromal-vascular (SV) cells was 3% to 28% of total release over 48 hours by the adipose tissue matrix, SV cells and adipocytes. The release of NGF by adipocytes was 42%, that of MIF was 27%, and for the other factors 15% or less of release over 48 hours by the adipose tissue matrix, SV cells, and adipocytes. Our results suggest that the non-fat cells in human adipose tissue contribute to most of the release of NGF, IL-18, IL-1Ra, cathepsin S, and MIF seen during primary culture of adipose tissue explants from obese women.
Antifungal activity of post-infectional metabolites from potato tubers

Abstract The antifungal activity of rishitin, phytuberin, anhydro-β-rotunol and solavetivone, metabolites produced in potato tubers in response to microbial infection, was tested against 10 potato pathogens and 3 non-potato pathogens. All of these compounds, except phytuberin, showed antifungal activity against the majority of the fungi when tested at 100 μg/ml, but the presence of organic nutrients in the test system decreased their activity in some cases. Pre-existing germ tubes of certain fungi were often more sensitive to the compounds than normal germ tubes. Phytuberin was only active against P. infestans, causing lysis of the zoospores similar to that caused by the other metabolites. None of the compounds were effective in inhibiting P. infestans and some non-potato pathogens when applied to leaf discs or used as protectant sprays.
Role of premature translational termination in the regulation of expression of the φX174 lysis gene

Abstract Expression of the φX174 lysis (E) gene, a member of an overlapping gene pair, appears to depend on a frameshift-induced chain termination by ribosomes translating the upstream D gene. A — 1 reading frameshift, possibly induced by misreading of an alanine codon as a doublet, causes ribosomes to terminate translation at two different sites, suggesting two modes of regulating expression of the E gene. One frameshift can cause translational termination at a stop codon(s) near the E gene ribosome binding site (RBS), resulting in reinitiation by ribosomes at the E gene RBS. Termination at a second site some 70 bases upstream from the E gene RBS, while too far away to allow ribosomal re-initiation at the E gene RBS, probably results in an unmasking of the message, allowing entry of a new ribosome at the E gene RBS.
Random-Effects Modeling of Categorical Response Data

In many applications observations have some type of clustering, with observations within clusters tending to be correlated. A common instance of this occurs when each subject in the sample undergoes repeated measurement, in which case a cluster consists of the set of observations for the subject. One approach to modeling clustered data introduces cluster-level random effects into the model. The use of random effects in linear models for normal responses is well established. By contrast, random effects have only recently seen much use in models for categorical data. This chapter surveys a variety of potential social science applications of random effects modeling of categorical data. Applications discussed include repeated measurement for binary or ordinal responses, shrinkage to improve multiparameter estimation of a set of proportions or rates, multivariate latent variable modeling, hierarchically structured modeling, and cluster sampling. The models discussed belong to the class of generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), an extension of ordinary linear models that permits nonnormal response variables and both fixed and random effects in the predictor term. The models are GLMMs for either binomial or Poisson response variables, although we also present extensions to multicategory (nominal or ordinal) responses. We also summarize some of the technical issues of model-fitting that complicate the fitting of GLMMs even with existing software.
Manufacturers' compliance with the US Food and Drug Administration's Over‐the‐counter Human Drugs: Labeling Requirements

The use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications is increasing every year among consumers for symptomatic relief of ailments. Consumers have difficulties in reading and comprehending information on the OTC medication packages. A standardized format to present information on OTC medication packages was necessary; hence the FDA announced guidelines, Over-the-counter Human Drugs: Labeling Requirements, on 11 March 1999. Manufacturers have been given 6 years since 1999 to comply with the FDA guidelines. The objective of our study was to evaluate marketed OTC medication packages to determine the extent of adoption of the FDA guidelines by manufacturers. Packages (n ± 104) of OTC medication products from three different categories, viz. pain relievers, cough and cold remedies and stomach remedies, were evaluated for general information, written information and product claims. The Compugraphic point system scale was used to measure the font size of written information. In addition variables recommended by the FDA, such as bullets, paragraphs and hyphenations, were also evaluated. All the variables were coded in a database and analysed using the SAS (Version 8.2) statistical package. The study found that some manufacturers have adopted the FDA guidelines. However, many manufacturers did not implement several aspects of the guidelines. Although manufacturers still have a few more years to adhere to the guidelines, early implementation could benefit the consumers. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving Food Security Classification of Households With Children

We examine the extent to which the household food security classification methods currently used by the US Department of Agriculture may bias comparisons of food security between households with and without children and between households with children of different ages. An alternative method for classifying households with children as to their food security status is described that removes the source of those biases by considering the food security of adults and children based on separate measures. Using data from the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplements from 2001 to 2011, the analysis suggests that the current methods may have overstated the prevalence of food insecurity and understated the prevalence of very low food security in households with children vis-a-vis households without children. The extent to which very low food security may have been understated increased during and following the economic downturn of 2008.
Membrane mobility and clustering of Integrin Associated Protein (IAP, CD47)—Major differences between mouse and man and implications for signaling

Integrin Associated Protein (IAP, CD47) is a ubiquitous integral membrane protein implicated in processes (in mice) that range from inhibiting clearance by phagocytes [Oldenborg et al., Science 2000; Gardai et al., Cell 2005] to neutrophil motility [Lindberg et al., Science 1996]. SIRPα is CD47's main receptor on phagocytes plus a number of other cell types, and SIRPα-CD47 interactions in clusters are believed to mediate signaling. However, considerable species differences in CD47 sequence as well as differences in CD47 extractability from mouse cells versus man motivate a characterization of mobility, clusterability, and kinetics under force of CD47-SIRPα. Despite similar levels of CD47 on red cells from mouse and man, we find an effective avidity of SIRPα-CD47 for mouse appears higher than for human. Both mouse and human CD47 show clustering by multivalent SIRPα complexes, but only mouse cells aggregate with CD47 concentrating at cell–cell contacts. This proves consistent with fluorescence imaged micro-deformation, which indicates near-complete mobility of CD47 on mouse cells compared to only about 30–40% mobility on normal human cells. To qualify the method, we also show that disrupting cellular F-actin dramatically increases the mobility of integral membrane proteins. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy probing of cell membranes with human SIRPα confirms the species-specific interactions and provides evidence of clustering and adhesion on short time scales, but it also shows surprisingly strong forces in detachment for a signaling complex. The results thus highlight major species differences in CD47-SIRPα interactions and CD47 integration, suggesting that signaling by CD47 in man may be qualitatively different from mouse.
The Mutability of Biotechnology Patents: From Unwieldy Products of Nature to Independent 'Object/s'

This article details how patent law works to create discrete, immutable biological ‘objects’. This socio-legal maneuver is necessary to distinguish these artifacts from the unwieldy (and thus unpatentable) realm of the natural world. The creation of ‘objects’ also serves the interests of capital, where a stable, unchanging, immutable object goes hand in hand with commodification. Yet this stabilization is incomplete. Pointing to a variety of different examples, this article illustrates how biotech patents do not speak to specific, immutable things. Biotech patents, rather, are better understood as ontologically fluid (though, as discussed, this fluidity can only occur within limits), which is to say their identity cannot be ‘fixed’ — or, at least, not without undermining the very existence of today’s biotechnology regime. The article concludes by speaking briefly about how this mutability is perpetuating certain inequalities, particularly between holders of various property forms.
Serum lipid response to the graduated enrichment of a Step I diet with almonds: a randomized feeding trial

Background: Frequent consumption of nuts may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by favorably altering serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. Objective: We compared the effects of 2 amounts of almond intake with those of a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet on serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, and glucose in healthy and mildly hypercholesterolemic adults. Design: In a randomized crossover design, 25 healthy subjects (14 men, 11 women) with a mean (± SD) age of 41 ± 13 y were fed 3 isoenergetic diets for 4 wk each after being fed a 2-wk runin diet (containing 34% of energy from fat). The experimental diets included a Step I diet, a low-almond diet, and a high-almond diet, in which almonds contributed 0%, 10%, and 20% of total energy, respectively. Results: Inverse relations were observed between the percentage of energy in the diet from almonds and the subject’s total cholesterol (P value for trend < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.001), and apolipoprotein B (P < 0.001) concentrations and the ratios of LDL to HDL cholesterol (P < 0.001) and of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A (P < 0.001). Compared with the Step I diet, the high-almond diet reduced total cholesterol (0.24 mmol/L or 4.4%; P = 0.001), LDL cholesterol (0.26 mmol/L or 7.0%; P < 0.001), and apolipoprotein B (6.6 mg/dL or 6.6%; P < 0.001); increased HDL cholesterol (0.02 mmol/L or 1.7%; P = 0.08); and decreased the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol (8.8%; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Isoenergetic incorporation of � 68 g of almonds (20% of energy) into an 8368-kJ (2000-kcal) Step I diet markedly improved the serum lipid profile of healthy and mildly hypercholesterolemic adults. Total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations declined with progressively higher intakes of almonds, which suggests a dose-response relation. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77:1379‐84.
Grating-type polarizers using small number of rectangular grooves optimized for maximum isolation

Integrated circuit technology permits the etching of metalized gratings within an overall accuracy better than O.1 /spl mu/m. This allows for mass production of very accurate gratings that can be used for polarization control and separation at terahertz frequencies and beyond. The paper is concerned with determining the profile of polarizing gratings for operation at terahertz frequencies (and higher), in order to obtain optimum electrical performance with a relatively small number of grooves. The gratings are assumed to have a finite number of infinitely-long metalized rectangular grooves illuminated by a plane wave. Two-dimensional integral equations are used to rigorously formulate the scattered field problem. These equations are then solved using standard method-of-moments techniques. As a case study, the electromagnetic scattering of a finite grating with two rectangular grooves per grating period is analyzed and optimized for maximum polarization isolation.
Neurocognitive Performance Stability in a Multiplex Multigenerational Study of Schizophrenia

Certain cognitive measures are heritable and differentiate individuals at risk for schizophrenia from unaffected family members and healthy comparison subjects. These deficits in neurocognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia appear stable in the short-term. However, the duration of most, but not all, longitudinal studies is modest and the majority have relied on traditional average performance measures to examine stability. Using a computerized neurocognitive battery (CNB), we assessed mean performance (accuracy and speed) and intra-individual variability (IIV) in a longitudinal study aimed to examine neurocognitive stability in European-American multiplex families with schizophrenia. Thirty-four patients with schizophrenia, 65 unaffected relatives, and 45 healthy comparison subjects completed the same computerized neurocognitive assessment over approximately 5 years. Measures of mean performance showed that patients had stable accuracy performance but were slower in many neurocognitive domains over time as compared with unaffected family members and healthy subjects. Furthermore, patients and family members showed dissociable patterns of change in IIV for speed across cognitive domains: compared with controls, patients showed higher across-task IIV in performance compared with family members, who showed lower across-task IIV. Patients showed an increase in IIV over time, whereas family members showed a decrease. These findings suggest that measures of mean performance and IIV of speed during a CNB may provide useful information about the genetic susceptibility in schizophrenia.
Ethnocultural Differences in Prevalence of Adolescent Suicidal Behaviors

Data from an ethnically diverse sample of middle school students (grades 6-8; n = 5,423) are analyzed for ethnic differences in suicidal ideation, thoughts about suicide in the past 2 weeks, suicide plans, and suicide attempts. Ideation was examined using a four-item scale and a single item on suicidal thoughts. Ideation was higher among females, older youths, and lower status youths. The same general pattern held for recent suicidal plans and attempts, with the exception of gender, where the trend was for males to report more attempts. Lifetime plans and attempts were higher for females, older youths, and lower status youths. Data were sufficient to compare nine ethnic groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusting for the effects of age, gender, and socioeconomic status, yielded significant odds ratios using the Anglo groups as the reference, for suicidal ideation for the Mexican (OR = 1.76, p < .001), Pakistani (OR = 2.0, p < .01), and Vietnamese (OR = 1.48, p < .05) American groups. For thoughts about suicide in the past 2 weeks, only Pakistani and Mixed Ancestry youths had elevated risk. For suicidal plans in the past 2 weeks, Mixed Ancestry youths (OR = 2.02, p < .05) and Pakistani youths (OR = 3.20, p < .01) had elevated risk. For recent attempts, only the Pakistani American youths had elevated risk (OR = 3.19, p < .01). Future research needs to address whether these results hold in other ethnically diverse communities and, if so, what factors contribute to increased risk among some minority youth and not others.
Use of Antibiotics and Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis in a Population without Known Risk Factors

There are conflicting reports of an association between seropositivity for Chlamydia pneumoniae and risk of deep venous thrombosis. Analyzing longitudinal data from a large claims-based dataset comprised of 166,004 enrollees, we did not find an association between use of usual short courses of anti-chlamydial antibiotics and a lower risk of deep venous thrombosis in a sample without known risk factors for deep venous thrombosis.
A Mile in Moccasins: How Situational Experience Diminishes Dispositionism in Social Inference

In four studies, this article investigates the impact of situational experience on social inference. Participants without firsthand experience of a situation made more extreme and erroneous inferences about the personalities of people behaving in that situation than did participants with firsthand experience. Firsthand experience, thus, appears to diminish dispositionism in social inference because it informs people about the situational constraints that guide behavior. Across all studies, participants also displayed holier-than-thou biases, overpredicting how generously they would act relative to predictions about their peers and also relative to how they actually acted when the situation came.
Networked Urban Climate Governance: Neighborhood-Scale Residential Solar Energy Systems and the Example of Solarize Portland:

With this paper I investigate the role of civil society groups in speeding the urban adoption of green technologies (in particular, renewable energy systems) by creating economic niches, and catalyzing market transformations. I focus on a qualitative case study of Solarize Portland, a community-managed solar energy program that has transformed the local and regional market for solar energy in Portland, OR. This case study is analyzed through the lens of recent theories of public participation that emphasize the multiplicity and complexity of participatory processes in practice. I conclude that�thanks to their flexibility, risk tolerance, and locally embedded understanding of technological change�civil society groups have the capacity to design and implement significant urban sustainability projects. They achieve this by creating niches within the urban landscape that allow local small and medium-sized enterprises to develop and refine their businesses practices; by coordinating novel partnerships between state, community, and private-level actors; and by grounding technological change in the broader social networks that give them meaning and momentum. These findings speak directly to the way that cities approach the complex sociotechnical transitions involved in reshaping urban infrastructure to respond to the challenge of climate change.
A Note on High/Low-Wave-Number Interactions in Spatially Discrete Parabolic Equations

We describe an instability introduced by the spatial discretization of reaction-diffusion equations. The mechanism is a nonlinear interaction between high and low wave-number modes in the discrete equations. In partial differential equations which exhibit strong temporal growth, a parasitic high-wave-number mode is stimulated, through aliasing, by a physically meaningful low-wave-number mode. We analyse the interaction using phase-plane techniques and present complementary numerical results.
Screen printing as a scalable and low-cost approach for rigid and flexible thin-film transistors using separated carbon nanotubes.

Semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes are very promising materials in printed electronics due to their excellent mechanical and electrical property, outstanding printability, and great potential for flexible electronics. Nonetheless, developing scalable and low-cost approaches for manufacturing fully printed high-performance single-wall carbon nanotube thin-film transistors remains a major challenge. Here we report that screen printing, which is a simple, scalable, and cost-effective technique, can be used to produce both rigid and flexible thin-film transistors using separated single-wall carbon nanotubes. Our fully printed top-gated nanotube thin-film transistors on rigid and flexible substrates exhibit decent performance, with mobility up to 7.67 cm2 V–1 s–1, on/off ratio of 104 ∼ 105, minimal hysteresis, and low operation voltage (<10 V). In addition, outstanding mechanical flexibility of printed nanotube thin-film transistors (bent with radius of curvature down to 3 mm) and driving capability f...
Cell Cycle Control of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Latency Transcription by CTCF-Cohesin Interactions

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) latency is characterized by the highly regulated transcription of a few viral genes essential for genome maintenance and host cell survival. A major latency control region has been identified upstream of the divergent promoters for the multicistronic transcripts encoding LANA (ORF73), vCyclin (ORF72), and vFLIP (ORF71) and for the complementary strand transcript encoding K14 and vGPCR (ORF74). Previous studies have shown that this major latency control region is occupied by the cellular chromatin boundary factor CTCF and chromosome structural maintenance proteins SMC1, SMC3, and RAD21, which comprise the cohesin complex. Deletion of the CTCF-cohesin binding site caused an inhibition of cell growth and viral genome instability. We now show that the KSHV genes regulated by CTCF-cohesin are under cell cycle control and that mutation of the CTCF binding sites abolished cell cycle-regulated transcription. Cohesin subunits assembled at the CTCF binding sites and bound CTCF proteins in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Subcellular distribution of CTCF and colocalization with cohesins also varied across the cell cycle. Ectopic expression of Rad21 repressed CTCF-regulated transcription of KSHV lytic genes, and a Rad21-CTCF chimeric protein converted CTCF into an efficient transcriptional repressor of KSHV genes normally activated in the G(2) phase. We conclude that cohesins interact with CTCF in mid-S phase and repress CTCF-regulated genes in a cell cycle-dependent manner. We propose that the CTCF-cohesin complex plays a critical role in regulating the cell cycle control of viral gene expression during latency and that failure to maintain cell cycle control of latent transcripts inhibits host cell proliferation and survival.
Transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for patients with dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease: an analysis and comparison of perioperative outcome.

Objectives To evaluate LRN as treatment for high risk patients. Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) is performed for renal tumors not amenable to nephron-sparing treatments. Indications are increasing to include higher risk patients including those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) necessitating dialysis. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a patient cohort with clinical stage T1 renal tumors undergoing transperitoneal LRN. Parameters examined included patient demographics, medical comorbidities, tumor characteristics, operative outcomes, and complications. Results One hundred eighty-nine patients underwent 195 LRN. Sixteen patients (8.5%) had preexistent ESRD requiring dialysis. A higher American Society of Anesthiologists score (P Conclusions LRN, for the treatment of renal tumors in ESRD patients requiring dialysis, is feasible and safe with acceptable intraoperative and postoperative complication rates. Patients with ESRD may require longer hospital stay after LRN.
Identification of C-terminal extensions that protect proteins from intracellular proteolysis

Abstract Revertants of defective mutants in the Arc repressor of bacteriophage P22 were isolated. Five of the six reverting mutations were frameshifts near the end of the coding sequence which resulted in proteins with C-terminal extensions. Each of the reverting mutations prolong the half-lives in vivo of the proteins in which they reside, yet they do not alter the thermodynamic stability, structure, oligomeric form, or DNA-binding properties of these proteins. Fusion of one of these tails to the C-terminal end of a mutant form of the N-terminal domain of lambda repressor also prevented proteolysis of this protein. These C-terminal sequences may prevent degradation by blocking the recognition of unstable proteins by the proteolytic machinery in the cell.