cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cooperation between p53 and the telomere-protecting shelterin component Pot1a in endometrial carcinogenesis

Type II endometrial cancer (EMCA) represents only 10% of all EMCAs, but accounts for 40% of EMCA-related mortality. Previous studies of human tumors have shown an association between Type II tumors and damaged telomeres. We hypothesized that the lack of murine Type II EMCA models is due to the extremely long telomeres in laboratory mouse strains. We previously showed that telomerase-null mice with critically short telomeres developed endometrial lesions histologically resembling endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (EIC), the accepted precursor for Type II EMCA. However, these mice did not develop invasive endometrial adenocarcinoma, and instead succumbed prematurely to multi-organ failure. Here, we modeled critical telomere attrition by conditionally inactivating Pot1a, a component of the shelterin complex that stabilizes telomeres, within endometrial epithelium. Inactivation of Pot1a by itself did not stimulate endometrial carcinogenesis, and did not result in detectable DNA damage or apoptosis in endometrium. However, simultaneous inactivation of Pot1a and p53 resulted in EIC-like lesions by 9 months indistinguishable from those seen in late generation telomerase-null mice. These lesions progressed to invasive endometrial adenocarcinomas as early as 9 months of age with metastatic disease in 100% of the animals by 15 months. These tumors were poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas with prominent nuclear atypia, resembling human Type II cancers. Furthermore, these tumors were aneuploid with double-stranded DNA breaks and end-to-end telomere fusions and most were tetraploid or near-tetraploid. These studies lend further support to the hypothesis that telomeric instability has a critical role in Type II endometrial carcinogenesis and provides an intriguing in-vivo correlate to recent studies implicating telomere-dependent tetraploidization as an important mechanism in carcinogenesis.
Chemical Mechanical Polishing: Threshold Pressure and Mechanism

The material polishing or removal mechanism has been studied for chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) as used for integrated circuit fabrication.There can exist a threshold pressure in the CMP process due to the tribological interaction among abrasive particles, the polished wafer surface, and the polishing pad. The CMP material removed is negligible if the applied pressure to the wafer is less than the threshold value. A new polishing rate or removal rate equation is derived and it explains the anomalous pressure dependence of polishing rate, which was observed in a variety of dielectric and metal CMP processes. The existence of a threshold pressure in CMP processes has significant implications to CMP consumable development and CMP process optimization. ©1999 The Electrochemical Society
Myosin reorganization in activated RBL cells correlates temporally with stimulated secretion

Rat basophilic leukemia cells secrete histamine and serotonin in response to cross-linking of the IgE receptor by multivalent antigen [Metzger et al., 1986: Ann. Rev. Immunol. 4:419–470]. Receptor crosslinking also induces phosphorylation of the light and heavy chains of myosin II with kinetics similar to that of secretion [Ludowyke et al., 1989: J. Biol. Chem. 264:12492–12501]. Here we show that myosin II localization changes after activation with similar kinetics. Furthermore, these changes are coincident with changes in cell shape and increase in motile activity induced by activation. Within 2 min, activated cells begin to flatten, spread on their substratum, and extend lamellipodia which show active ruffling. Quantitation of the extent of cell spreading from video micrographs shows that 48% of the cells increase significantly in surface area by 5 min and 71% by 15 min. Myosin II is uniformly distributed in unactivated cells but is deficient in newly formed lamellipodia that start to appear at 2 min after activation. In contrast these lamellipodia show strong staining for actin. Further changes in myosin organization are detected by 15 min after activation when myosin reappears in the cell periphery, is concentrated in the perinuclear area, and is also organized in punctate linear arrays that extend from the nucleus to the cell periphery. The kinetics of the early cell shape changes and formation of the myosin-deficient lamellipodia correlate well with, and may relate to, the increase in the level of myosin II phosphorylation reported by Ludowyke et al. [1989: J. Biol. Chem. 264:12492–12501]. Changes in the distribution of cell surface-bound IgE also occur upon antigen activation, and they correlate with the myosin distribution in a manner that suggests that they may be driven by myosin II. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Is Managing IT Security a Mirage

The purpose of this panel is to provide a forum to discuss the main IT security issues confronting organizations today. The panelists and attendees will discuss the existing gap between current IT security practices vs. best practices based on survey trends on IT security for the past 5 years, explore popular models used to justify IT security investments, and showcase some of the most popular hacking tools to demonstrate why it is so easy to compromise organizational IT security assets. The panel will conclude by discussing the emerging IT security standards and practices that may help deter, detect, and mitigate the impact of cyber-attacks. As the title suggests, we posit the question: Is Managing IT Security a Mirage?
Electronic Structure of F Centers: Saturation of the Electron Spin Resonance

It is shown that the unusual observed saturation behavior of the microwave electron spin resonance associated with $F$ centers in KCl, NaCl, and KBr crystals can be accounted for if the overall width is ascribed to interaction between the $F$-center electrons and the nuclear magnetic moments of the ions adjacent to the $F$ centers. The measured saturation factor gives for $F$ centers in KCl a spin-lattice relaxation time of 2.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ sec at room temperature. The observed saturation behavior in which only the absorption saturates is in marked disagreement with the Kramers-Kronig relations. However it is shown, that the Kramers-Kronig relations are not applicable to saturated systems. Expressions which avoid the use of these relations are presented for saturable systems.
Five-year outcomes of adjuvant carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy and intravaginal radiation for stage I-II papillary serous endometrial cancer.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to report our single-institution experience with concurrent adjuvant intravaginal radiation (IVRT) and carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy for early stage uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC). Methods From 10/2000 to 12/2009, 41 women with stage I–II UPSC underwent surgery followed by IVRT (median dose of 21Gy in 3 fractions) and concurrent carboplatin (AUC=5–6) and paclitaxel (175mg/m 2 ) for six planned cycles. IVRT was administered on non-chemotherapy weeks. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate survival, and the log-rank test was used for comparisons. Results Median patient age was 67years (51–80years). Surgery included hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, peritoneal washings, omental biopsy, and pelvic and paraaortic lymph node sampling. FIGO 2009 stage was IA in 73%, IB in 10%, and II in 17%. Histology was pure serous in 71% of cases. Thirty-five patients (85%) completed all planned treatment. With a median follow-up time of 58months, the 5-year disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 85% (95%CI, 73–96%) and 90% (95%CI, 80–100%). The 5-year pelvic, para-aortic, and distant recurrence rates were 9%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. There were no vaginal recurrences. Of the 4 pelvic recurrences, 2 were isolated and were successfully salvaged. Patients with stage II disease had lower DFS (71% vs. 88%; p=0.017) and OS (71% vs. 93%; p=0.001) than patients with stage I disease. Conclusions Concurrent adjuvant carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy and IVRT provide excellent outcomes for early stage UPSC. Whether this regimen is superior to pelvic radiation will require confirmation from the ongoing randomized trial.
Electronic structure of Cu overlayers on AlN

The evolution of the electronic structure and bonding of Cu to AlN has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Ab initio total-energy pseudofunction calculations indicate that the Cu adsorbate initially prefers formation of Cu--Al bonds, not Cu--N bonds. This theoretical finding is supported by good agreement between the density of states (DOS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectra (UPS) for low coverage of Cu on AlN. Cu--N bonds give a DOS in complete disagreement with UPS.
Age-associated decline in natural killer (NK) activity reflects primarily a defect in function of NK cells.

Abstract The possible role that natural killer (NK) cells might play in the control of tumors and certain infections prompted an investigation of the status of NK cells in aged mice of two inbred strains (C3H and C57BL/6). The frequency of NK cells in young-adult and aged mice was assessed by two methods that provided accurate estimates of the relative numbers of NK cells; (a) a functional assay procedure from which the number of lytic units could be estimated, and (b) a target-cell (YAC-1 tumor cells) binding procedure. The frequency of NK cells in the spleens of untreated mice as well as in mice infected with Trypanosoma musculi, the latter a powerful NK cell activating agent, was determined. In both strains of mice the frequency of functionally-competent NK cells declined significantly with age, to a greater extent in C3H than in C57BL/6 mice. Similarly, the potential to generate NK cells upon parasite activation was significantly less in aged than in young mice and the reduced potential was more apparent in C3H than in C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, the target cell-binding procedure showed only a modest decline in the frequency of NK cells in the spleens of aged mice of either strain. It appears, therefore, that the decline in NK activity during aging is a reflection of loss of competence to lyse targets rather than a major decline in the actual numbers of NK cells.
Auger spectroscopy of HCl interaction with Al at low pressures

The purpose of the present study was to determine some adsorption characteristics of HCl with partially clean polycrystalline Al by Auger electron spectroscopy. The adsorption was found to exhibit a Freundlich-type behavior pattern in which the number of molecules adsorbed varied with HCl pressure linearly on a log-log plot. Assuming that the adsorption behaves according to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, the isosteric heat of adsorption increases with coverage at low pressures, appearing to approach a constant value of 4-5 kcal/mole.
Comparative legal research: its function in the development of harmonized law

Most jurists assume that the law of a single country can be studied independently of the law of others. Law students study the law of their own nation. Judges consult national codes and case law. An American or a German scholar assumes that he can write about American law or German law without examining French or Italian law. Even scholars in comparative law often assume that they should first find out what the American, German, French and Italian law is, and then make comparisons. I do not think the law of a single country can be an independent object of study. To understand law, even as it is within that country, one must look beyond its boundaries, indeed, beyond one's own time. Curiously enough, the need for such a transtemporal transnational approach to law was explained most clearly by Portalis, the architect of the French Civil Code. We associate the Code with the emergence of national legal systems in the 19th century. Eventually, nearly every country enacted its own code, each supposedly containing a distinct law. Portalis explained that the French Civil Code could not be the unique source of French law. It could not "govern all and foresee all."' Indeed, virtually every case would present the judge with a problem that the Code by itself could not resolve since "no one pleads against a clear statutory text."2 Unlike 19th century French jurists, he did not say that answers were to be found by exegesis of the Code. He did not say they were to be found by consulting precedent. "Few cases are susceptible of being decided by a statute, by a clear text. It has always been by general principles, by doctrine, by legal science, that most disputes have been
Checking linearity of non-parametric component in partially linear models with an application in systemic inflammatory response syndrome study.

Two tests are proposed for checking the linearity of nonparametric function in partially linear models. The first one is based on a Cramer-von Mises statistic. This test can detect the local alternative converging to the null at the parametric rate 1/√n. A bootstrap resample technique is provided to calculate the critical values. The second one is constructed in a penalized spline framework along with linear mixed-effects (LME) modeling. This is an extension likelihood ratio test for testing zero variance of random effects in LME models. Simulation experiments are conducted to explore the numerical performance of two tests. It is observed that two tests have good level properties, and the first test has a substantially superior power property over the second test in a variety of cases. A real data set is analysed with the proposed tests.
A cross-cultural investigation of information processing.

Abstract Recherche interculturelle sur le traitement de l'information. Cette experience fait partie d'une serie d'etudes sur les processus cognitifs des membres de la tribu des Kpelles du Liberia: elle porte plus particulierement sut Pestimation des quantites. A 240 sujets (120 Kpelles et 120 Americains) on a presente, a l'aide d'un tachistoscope, des plages de points avec des durees variees d'exposition. Les plages different par le nombre (de 3 a 10) et la disposition, structuree ou aleatoire, des points. La performance des sujets americains est en general superieure a celle des Kpelles. L'analyse montre que l'avantage global des americains est dU a: -1) leur plus grande exactitude pour les plages qui component plus de points; - 2) leur plus grande exactitude relative pour des durees breves de presentation; - 3) l'utilisation plus grande de la redondance inherente aux plages structurees. Les AA. pensent pouvoir mettre ces resultats en relation avec les apprentissages differentiels dont chaque groupe cult...
Heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility of ReO3

Abstract The specific heat and magnetic susceptibility of the transition metal oxide ReO3 have been measured. The specific heat results give a Debye temperature ΘD = 460 ± 10 K and an electronic specific heat coefficient γ = 6.45 ± 0.07 cal/mole K2 which are in good agreement with similar measurements on the cubic sodium tungsten bronzes. The magnetic susceptibility and the electronic contribution to the specific heat are within a few percent of the corresponding parameters calculated from the free electron model with one electron per unit cell. Our results show that ReO3 behaves much like a simple metal. No experimental evidence for narrow d-band effects was observed.
On the Accuracy of Upwind and Symmetric TVD Schemes in Simulating Low Mach Number Flow

The accuracy of MUSCL upwind and Yee-Roe-Davis symmetric TVD schemes for simulating low Mach number flow is studied through a numerical experiment of the 2-D lid driven cavity problem. The steady slate solution is reached by using a marching approach based on the pseudocompressibilty method in conjunction with implicit approximate factorization. A finite volume discretization of the conservation equations is used with a four level multigrid method to accelerate the convergence. The tests performed which were in the range of 100 ≤ Re ≤ 5000, show that the Yee-Roe-Davis symmetric scheme generates results in very good agreement with the benchmark results over this range of Re. The MUSCL upwind scheme accuracy deteriorates with the increasing Re.
Central monoamine levels differ between rat strains used in studies of depressive behavior

Previous studies have shown that the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat strain may be a genetic model of depression when their behaviors are compared to Sprague-Dawley (SD) or Wistar (WIS) rats. Significant differences in dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE) transporter site densities have been reported when comparing WKY to both SD and WIS rats. Susceptibility of WKY rats to anxiety and depressive behavior may be related to underlying differences in monoamine levels in various regions of the brain. Levels of monoamines (DA, 5-HT and NE) and their metabolites were measured in monoaminergic cell body, cortical and limbic brain regions using HPLC with electrochemical detection and compared between WKY, WIS and SD rats. In regions where strain differences in monoamine levels were observed (the basolateral amygdala, subregions of the hippocampus and the nucleus accumbens shell), WKY rats consistently had lower levels than SD rats. Similarly, WKY rats had lower monoamine levels compared to WIS, although these differences were observed in a more restricted number of brain regions. Interestingly, WIS rats showed reduced levels of the 5-HT metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in several regions including the prefrontal cortex, subregions of the hippocampus and subregions of the hypothalamus, suggesting decreased 5-HT turnover when compared to both WKY and SD rats. Overall, these results imply that decreased monoamine levels, combined with alterations in transporter sites, may be related to the predisposition of WKY rats towards depressive behavior.
Vaginal douching increased risk of sexually transmitted infections in high-risk adolescents.

Does vaginal douching increase risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in high-risk adolescents? ### Design: prospective cohort study (substudy of Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health [REACH] Project) with median follow-up of 3 years. ### Setting: 16 centres in the USA. ### Participants: 368 females 12–19 years of age (mean age 17 y, 65% had HIV infection) who were considered to be at high risk of STIs and were STI-free at baseline or became STI-free after treatment. ### Risk factor: douching status (assessed every 6 mo): never (did not report douching at any visit), intermittent (reported douching at some, but not all, visits), or always (reported douching at all visits). ### Outcomes: incidence of an STI ( Trichomonas vaginalis , Chlamydia trachomatis , Neisseria gonorrhoeae , or herpes …
Don't look but think: Imaginary scenarios in Wittgenstein's later philosophy

David Bloor has claimed that Wittgenstein is best read as offering the beginnings of a sociological theory of knowledge, despite Wittgenstein's reluctance to view his work this way. This leads him to dismiss Wittgenstein's many self‐characterizations as mere ‘prejudice’. In doing so, however, Bloor misses the import of Wittgenstein's work as a ‘grammatical investigation’. The problems inherent in Bloor's interpretative approach can be discerned in his attitude toward Wittgenstein's use of imaginary scenarios: he demands that they be replaced by real natural history and real ethnography. This demand is misplaced. The very self‐characterizations Bloor dismisses show how imaginary scenarios have a place in his philosophical project simply by being imagined. Three examples are examined and presented in such a way as to make Bloor's demand for replacement increasingly more difficult to comprehend: while in the first case, the demand seems simply beside the point, in the second and third cases, it becomes diffi...
Modelling and analysis of scaled MOSFET devices and circuit simulation

A new approach of extremely scaled MOSFET device based on modified BSIM4v6 is presented for modelling and analysis. The model ensures the continuities of current-voltage, conductance and transconductance through all voltage bias conditions. The improved model has been enhanced by device parameters and dimensions to accounts for all use in various device technologies with less extracted parameters. The accurate model has been implemented in the circuit simulation such as Ring-oscillators and CMOS circuits using HSPICE, SMART Spice and higher level SPICE, comparison with other simulation techniques showed a compromise between computation time and more complex model equations, accuracy is the major factor of simulation results and device performance.
Influence of growth factors on poultry myogenic satellite cells

Abstract Skeletal muscle development in avian and mammalian embryos depends on the proliferation, differentiation, and fusion of embryonic myoblasts. During the late fetal period and following birth or hatching, myogenic satellite cells are responsible for this developmental function. Satellite cells, which are found adjacent to existing skeletal muscle fibers fuse with these fibers and their nuclei direct the synthesis of new protein and function in the maturation of muscle. These events are controlled by specific growth factors that are produced locally by satellite cells and other cells in the muscle. Progress in our understanding of the early events in myogenesis has been made possible by the development of satellite cell cultures and media formulations that allow the assessment of the role of growth factors in skeletal muscle growth and development. Because of the key role that satellite cells play in skeletal muscle growth, development, and regeneration, many scientists in both the agricultural and medical communities have focused their research on understanding the physiology of this cell. From an agricultural perspective, a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating satellite cell activity may lead to procedures to increase the deposition and efficiency of lean muscle (meat) accretion and, perhaps, improve the nutrient composition of meat products.
Envisioning distributed usability evaluation through a virtual world platform

Ideally, usability evaluation would be part of every software development project. However, it is often overlooked due to cost and time constraints. Usability inspection methods were developed to cut cost and time compared to traditional usability evaluation. However, they still bring with them certain requirements such as having multiple designers involved in the evaluation. Inspection techniques have also been shown to be difficult to learn and teach. With software development projects becoming increasingly distributed, it is ever more difficult to have sufficient participants in a usability inspection and to collaboratively learn the techniques. Motivated by these problems, we developed a novel, prototype environment called INspect-World for distributed usability inspection techniques. INspect-World is built on top of the virtual world platform OpenSimulator. As we investigate usability inspections performed in this environment, we also address ideas of human-centered end-user development in mediated communication contexts.
Simulated fault injection: a methodology to evaluate fault tolerant microprocessor architectures

A simulation-based fault-injection methodology for validating fault-tolerant microprocessor architectures is described. The approach uses mixed-mode simulation (electrical/logic analysis), and injects transient errors in run-time to assess the resulting fault-impact. To exemplify the methodology, a fault-tolerant architecture which models the digital aspects of a dual-channel, real-time jet-engine controller is used. The level of effectiveness of the dual configuration with respect to single and multiple transients is measured. The results indicate 100% coverage of single transients. Approximately 12% of the multiple transients affect both channels; none result in controller failure since two additional levels of redundancy exist. >
Sp17 gene expression in myeloma cells is regulated by promoter methylation

Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a 22–24 kDa normal testicular protein aberrantly expressed by tumour cells from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) (Lim et al, 2001) and ovarian cancer (Chiriva-Internati et al, 2002a). It has also been found to be expressed by tumour cells from some malignant melanoma, astrocytoma and colon cancer (unpublished). It is a cancer-testis (CT) antigen expressed only in normal testis and some tumour cells but not in any other normal tissues (Lim et al, 2001; De Jong et al, 2002). Sperm protein 17-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) reactive with Sp17-positive HLA-matched fresh tumour cells could be generated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors (Chiriva-Internati et al, 2001, 2002b) and cancer-bearing patients (Chiriva-Internati et al, 2002a, 2002c). The restricted normal tissue expression of Sp17 and the ability to generate tumour-reactive specific CTLs suggest that Sp17 may be a potential target for tumour vaccines of Sp17-positive tumours.
Recidivism to uncontrolled blood pressure in patients with previously controlled hypertension

Background Control of hypertension has improved nationally with focus on identifying and treating elevated blood pressures (BPs) to guideline recommended levels. However, once BP control is achieved, the frequency in which BP falls out of control and the factors associated with BP recidivism is unknown. In this retrospective cohort study conducted at 2 large, integrated health care systems we sought to examine rates and predictors of BP recidivism in adults with controlled hypertension. No change for methods, results and conclusion. Methods Patients with a prior diagnosis of hypertension based on a combination of International Classification of Diseases , Ninth Revision , codes, receipt of antihypertensive medications, and/or elevated BP readings were eligible to be included. We defined controlled hypertension as normotensive BP readings ( 140/90 mmHg (>130/80 mmHg for diabetes or chronic kidney disease) during a median follow-up period of 16.6 months. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the association between patient characteristics, comorbidities, medication adherence, and provider medication management with time to BP recidivism. Results A total of 23,321 patients with controlled hypertension were included in this study. The proportion of patients with hypertension recidivism was 24.1% over the 16.6-month study period. For those with BP recidivism, the median time to relapse was 7.3 months. In multivariate analysis, those with diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 3.99, CI 3.67-4.33), high normal baseline BP (for systolic BP HR 1.03, CI 1.03-1.04), or low antihypertensive medication adherence (HR 1.20, CI 1.11-1.29) had significantly higher rates of hypertension recidivism. Limitations of this work include demographics of our patient sample, which may not reflect other communities in addition to the intrinsic limitations of office-based BP measurements. Conclusions Hypertensive recidivism occurs in a significant portion of patients with previously well-controlled BP and accounts for a substantial fraction of patients with poorly controlled hypertension. Systematic identification of those most at risk for recidivism and implementation of strategies to minimize hypertension recidivism may improve overall levels of BP control and hypertension-related quality measures.
Accuracy and effectiveness of three-dimensional controlled source electromagnetic data inversions

ABSTRACTUnconstrained 3D inversion of marine controlled source electromagnetic data (CSEM) data sets produces resistivity volumes that have an uncertain relationship to the true subsurface resistivity at the scale of typical hydrocarbon reservoirs. Furthermore, CSEM-scale resistivity is an ambiguous indicator of hydrocarbon presence; not all resistivity anomalies are caused by hydrocarbon reservoirs, and not all hydrocarbon reservoirs produce a distinct resistivity anomaly. We have developed a method for quantifying the effectiveness of resistivities from CSEM inversion in detecting hydrocarbon reservoirs. Our approach uses probabilistic rock-physics modeling to update information from a preexisting prospect assessment, based on uncertain resistivities from CSEM. The result is an estimate the probability of hydrocarbon presence that accounts for uncertainty in the resistivity and in rock properties. Examples using synthetic and real CSEM data sets demonstrate that the effectiveness of CSEM inversion in id...
A high performance architecture for real-time signal processing and matrix operations

The authors present the block data flow architecture (BDFA) which is an alternative to the systolic array and the wavefront array for locally recursive algorithms such as those used for digital signal processing, image processing, and matrix operations. The BDFA retains the advantageous features of a systolic array or a waveform array, such as regularity, modularity, and local interconnection. However, it uses a data partitioning strategy in addition to an algorithm partitioning strategy to reduce the data dependency, to decrease the interprocessor communication requirements and to decrease the hardware complexity compared to systolic and wavefront arrays. The BDFA also uses block data processing and the block data flow paradigm to minimize system management overhead due to communication protocols. Thus, the processors in a BDFA operate efficiently to achieve a system with a high throughput and a high efficiency. >
NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancements due to manganese in the S0 and S2 states of photosystem II-enriched membrane fragments and in the detergent-solubilized photosystem II complex

The NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (NMR-PRE) produced in the solvent proton resonance by manganese in the S0 and S2 states of the oxygen evolving center (OEC) has been recorded for three Photosystem II (PS II)-enriched preparations: (1) PS II-enriched thylakoid membrane fragments (TMF-2 particles); (2) salt-washed (2M NaCl) TMF-2 particles; and (3) the octylglucopyranoside (OGP)-solubilized PS II complex. The second and third preparations, but not the first, are depleted of the peripheral 17 and 23 kD polypeptides associated with the OEC. It has been proposed that depletion of these polypeptides increases the exposure of OEC manganese to the aqueous phase. The NMR-PRE response measures the quantity (T1m+τm)(-1), where T1m is the spin relaxation time and τm is the mean residence time with respect to chemical exchange reactions of solvent protons in the manganese coordination sphere, and, thus, the NMR-PRE provides a direct measure of the solvent proton chemical exchange rate constant τm (-1). This study tested whether the 17 and 23 kD polypeptides shield the OEC from the solvent phase and whether their depletion enhances the S2 and S0 NMR-PRE signals by removing a kinetic barrier to the solvent proton chemical exchange reaction. The amplitude of the S2 NMR-PRE signal, measured in its chemical exchange-limited regime (τm>T1m), is slightly decreased, rather than increased, in preparations (2) and (3) relative to (1), indicating that removal of the 17 and 23 kD polypeptides slightly slows, rather than accelerates, the rate-limiting steps of the solvent proton chemical exchange reactions. In addition, the lifetime of the S2 state was shortened several-fold in the solubilized PS II complex and in salt-washed TMF-2 membranes relative to untreated TMF-2 control samples. The S0 NMR-PRE signal, which is present in TMF-2 suspensions, was not detected in suspensions of the solubilized PS II complex, even though these samples contained high concentrations of active manganese centers (approximately double those of the TMF-2 control) and exhibited an S2 NMR-PRE signal of comparable amplitude to that of the TMF-2 preparation. These results suggest that the 17 and 23 kD extrinsic polypeptides do not shield the NMR-visible water binding site in the OEC from the aqueous phase, although their removal substantially alters the proton relaxation efficiency by shortening T1m.
Bullying affects more than feelings: the long-term implications of victimization on academic motivation in higher education

Bullying has become a prominent topic within education due to recent media headlines in the United States and abroad. The impact of these occurrences ripples beyond the bully and victim to include administrators, parents, and fellow students. While previous research has concluded bullying behaviors decrease as a child progresses in school, more recent studies found bullying can continue into college. The current project investigated differences between perceptions of bullying in high school and college along with how college students' experiences with bullying impacted several constructs related to academic success (i.e., basic psychological needs, academic motivation, perceived social support, and perceived stress). Participants ( N=130N = 130 , 68 male) completed a Perceptions of Bullying Questionnaire, Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS), Academic Motivation Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Perceived Stress Scale, and a demographic data form. The results indicate participants who described themselves as either current or past bullying victims had significantly lower academic motivation than respondents who did not. In addition, current victims of bullying scored significantly lower on two of the three constructs in the BPNS: autonomy and competence. These findings suggest students are susceptible to bullying after high school, and the effects can negatively impact college life, academic motivation, and educational outcomes. In addition, past victimization can cause academic difficulties for college students, even after the harassment has ceased. Language: en
To intervene or not to intervene? A contemporary snap‐shot

What level of sacrifice are we willing to endure in righting which kinds of humanitarian wrongs? Should we fight and even go to war to protect those in dire need? Ultimately, we ask, “To intervene or not to intervene?” The Responsibility To Protect, and an accompanying volume of supporting research with the same title, provide answers to this question from the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS). The ICISS report seeks to achieve two objectives. First, it aims to alter the existing normative consensus about humanitarian intervention, or the use of deadly force to help victims in harm's way. Second, it attempts to emphasize that the international responsibility to intervene to halt mass killings and ethnic cleansing is located in the UN Security Council, and that any intervention should be efficient and effective. This essay reviews the overall findings and argues that the ICISS labored hard but emerged more with suggestions for changes in vocabulary than with a political...
Ancillary care in community-based public health intervention research.

Community-based public health intervention research in developing countries typically takes place not in clinics but in people's homes and other living spaces. Research subjects and their communities may lack adequate nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and basic preventive and therapeutic services.Researchers often encounter unmet health needs in their interactions with individual subjects and need ethical guidelines to help them decide how to respond.To what extent do researchers have an ethical obligation to provide ancillary care—health care beyond what is necessary to ensure scientific validity and subjects' safety? We discuss a case example from Nepal and propose a simple 2-step sequence of questions to aid decision making.
Quick detection of difficult bugs for effective post-silicon validation

We present a new technique for systematically creating postsilicon validation tests that quickly detect bugs in processor cores and uncore components (cache controllers, memory controllers, on-chip networks) of multi-core System on Chips (SoCs). Such quick detection is essential because long error detection latency, the time elapsed between the occurrence of an error due to a bug and its manifestation as an observable failure, severely limits the effectiveness of existing post-silicon validation approaches. In addition, we provide a list of realistic bug scenarios abstracted from "difficult" bugs that occurred in commercial multi-core SoCs. Our results for an OpenSPARC T2-like multi-core SoC demonstrate: 1. Error detection latencies of "typical" post-silicon validation tests can be very long, up to billions of clock cycles, especially for bugs in uncore components. 2. Our new technique shortens error detection latencies by several orders of magnitude to only a few hundred cycles for most bug scenarios. 3. Our new technique enables 2-fold increase in bug coverage. An important feature of our technique is its software-only implementation without any hardware modification. Hence, it is readily applicable to existing designs.
Knowledge-based matching for 3D radiotherapy planning

Develops a system that performs segmentation and recognition of major organs in CT images of human abdomen for 3D organ reconstruction used in radiotherapy. A knowledge-based system has been developed that features the use of constraint-based dynamic thresholding, negative-shape constraints to rapidly rule out infeasible segmentations, and progressive landmarking that takes advantage of the different degrees of certainty of unsuccessful identification of each organ. The results of the experiments indicate that the knowledge-based approach is promising. >
Dynamics of Streptococcus mutans Transcriptome in Response to Starch and Sucrose during Biofilm Development

The combination of sucrose and starch in the presence of surface-adsorbed salivary α-amylase and bacterial glucosyltransferases increase the formation of a structurally and metabolically distinctive biofilm by Streptococcus mutans. This host-pathogen-diet interaction may modulate the formation of pathogenic biofilms related to dental caries disease. We conducted a comprehensive study to further investigate the influence of the dietary carbohydrates on S. mutans-transcriptome at distinct stages of biofilm development using whole genomic profiling with a new computational tool (MDV) for data mining. S. mutans UA159 biofilms were formed on amylase-active saliva coated hydroxyapatite discs in the presence of various concentrations of sucrose alone (ranging from 0.25 to 5% w/v) or in combination with starch (0.5 to 1% w/v). Overall, the presence of sucrose and starch (suc+st) influenced the dynamics of S. mutans transcriptome (vs. sucrose alone), which may be associated with gradual digestion of starch by surface-adsorbed amylase. At 21 h of biofilm formation, most of the differentially expressed genes were related to sugar metabolism, such as upregulation of genes involved in maltose/maltotriose uptake and glycogen synthesis. In addition, the groEL/groES chaperones were induced in the suc+st-biofilm, indicating that presence of starch hydrolysates may cause environmental stress. In contrast, at 30 h of biofilm development, multiple genes associated with sugar uptake/transport (e.g. maltose), two-component systems, fermentation/glycolysis and iron transport were differentially expressed in suc+st-biofilms (vs. sucrose-biofilms). Interestingly, lytT (bacteria autolysis) was upregulated, which was correlated with presence of extracellular DNA in the matrix of suc+st-biofilms. Specific genes related to carbohydrate uptake and glycogen metabolism were detected in suc+st-biofilms in more than one time point, indicating an association between presence of starch hydrolysates and intracellular polysaccharide storage. Our data show complex remodeling of S. mutans-transcriptome in response to changing environmental conditions in situ, which could modulate the dynamics of biofilm development and pathogenicity.
Superposition of magneto-elastic and magneto-crystalline anisotropy in tilted magnetic recording

In this paper, a supplementary anisotropy, induced by elastic stresses, is temporarily introduced and superposed on the shape anisotropy during writing. Consequently, a composite magnetic anisotropy is formed and able to transiently enhance the tilting effect by altering the tilt angle. Furthermore, the transient nature of the magneto-elastic anisotropy may alleviate the intrinsic thermal unstability issue of tilted media.
Optimal portfolios where proceeds are a function of the current asset price

We consider a portfolio model with one riskless and one risky asset where the distribution function of random proceeds is a monotone function of the current price of the risky asset. Several examples of models in the literature with this property are briefly discussed. The main objective is to compare for the monotone price dependent case and the usual price independent case the amount (suitably interpreted) invested in the risky asset. The result is that if proceeds are monotone decreasing in price, then for \(U(x) = \frac{1}{\gamma }(x + A)\), one invests less in the price dependent case, but more if \(U(x) = \frac{1}{\gamma }(x + A)^\gamma\), γ<0, or U(x)=−e−βx. For U(x)=ln(x+A) the amounts are the same. The reverse inequalities hold when random proceeds are monotone increasing in price. The last section which is not included in this abridged version established the fact that if random proceeds are based on a conditional Markov chain of a particular but plausible form then those proceeds are a monotone function of their price.
Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders for Nurses in Hospitals, Long-Term Care Facilities, and Home Health Care A Comprehensive Review

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and reported injuries for nurses and nursing aides.BackgroundNurses and nursing aides suffer from work-related...
Magma ocean influence on early atmosphere mass and composition

Abstract Redox conditions in magma oceans (MOs) have a key influence on the mass and composition of Earth's early atmosphere. If the shallow part of the MO is oxidized, it may be overlain by an H 2 O–CO 2 atmosphere, but if the near-surface magma is close to equilibrium with Fe-rich alloy, then the atmosphere will consist chiefly of H 2 , H 2 O, and CO, and on cooling will be rich in CH 4 . Although MOs are intimately associated with core-forming metal, the redox conditions in their shallow parts are not necessarily reducing. The magmatic Fe 3+ /Fe T ratio is set by equilibrium with metal at depth and homogenized through the magma column by convection. Indirect evidence suggests that the Fe 3+ /Fe T ratio of magmas in equilibrium with alloy at high pressure is greater than at low pressure, such that the shallow part of the MO may be comparatively oxidized and coexist with an atmosphere consisting chiefly of H 2 O and CO 2 . The mass of the atmosphere is dictated by the concentrations of volatile-species dissolved in the magma, which in turn are determined by partitioning between magma and alloy. Very strong partitioning of C into alloy may capture most of the carbon delivered to the growing planet, leaving behind a C-poor bulk silicate Earth (BSE) and a C-poor atmosphere. However, modest solubility of CH 4 in the magma may allow the BSE to retain significant C. Alternatively, if partitioning of C into alloy is extreme but the fraction of metal equilibrated with the MO is small, the alloy may become saturated with diamond. Floatation of diamond in the MO may retain a substantial inventory of C in the early mantle. BSE C may also have been replenished in a late veneer. Following segregation of metal to the core, crystallization of the MO may have prompted precipitation of C-rich phases (graphite, diamond, carbide), limiting the C in the early atmosphere and creating a substantial interior C inventory that may account for the large fraction of BSE carbon in the mantle today. Such precipitation could have occurred owing to a combination of the redox evolution of the crystallizing MO and cooling.
Uptake and diverse effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the metabolic activity of Elliptio complanata measured by calorespirometry

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are important contaminants of world water resources, with effects on aquatic life. Metabolic responses to short-term acute toxicities of naphthalene, anthracene, and chrysene were investigated in the freshwater bivalve mollusk Elliptio complanata using differential scanning calorespirometry coupled with uptake and scanning electron microscopy. Comparing the uptakes of naphthalene, anthracene, and chrysene with that of inulin, which is known to occupy only extracellular space, showed that all compounds studied were taken up. The PAHs studied had diverse effects on the metabolic activity of E. complanata. Naphthalene and, to a lesser degree, chrysene caused stimulation of heat rates, possibly due to uncoupling of oxidative metabolism. Differential scanning calorespirometry coupled with studies of rates of oxygen consumption by the gill tissue exposed to the PAHs showed similar diverse patterns of respiratory rate stimulation and inhibition. Analysis of results of scanning electron microscopy suggested that irreversible damage to the gill tissue occurred in the presence of anthracene but not in the presence on naphthalene or chrysene. The batch calorespirometric method coupled with uptake and spectroscopy proved to be a useful technique to assess the toxicity of PAHs on the control of energy flux in gills of a freshwater bivalve mollusk.
Audit Committee Composition, “Gray Directors,” and Interaction with Internal Auditing

The functioning of corporate audit committees was criticized in recent years by the Treadway Commission, the Public Oversight Board, the Kirk Panel, and the SEC Chairman. In response, the NYSE and NASD sponsored the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) on Improving the Effectiveness of Corporate Audit Committees. The BRC Report includes recommendations aimed at strengthening director independence and qualifications, and highlights the role of internal auditors in assisting audit committees in the corporate governance process. Moreover, the first three recommendations of the BRC relate to audit committee composition: absence of inside or “gray” directors, and presence of a member with financial expertise. This study examines the association between audit committee composition and the committee's interaction with internal auditing. Our results, based on responses from chief internal auditors of 114 public companies, indicate that committees comprised solely of independent directors and with at least one member havin...
Smooth muscle myosin mutants containing a single tryptophan reveal molecular interactions at the actin-binding interface

Elucidation of the molecular details of the cyclic actomyosin interaction requires the ability to examine structural changes at specific sites in the actin-binding interface of myosin. To study these changes dynamically, we have expressed two mutants of a truncated fragment of chicken gizzard smooth muscle myosin, which includes the motor domain and essential light chain (MDE). These mutants were engineered to contain a single tryptophan at (Trp-546) or near (Trp-625) the putative actin-binding interface. Both 546- and 625-MDE exhibited actin-activated ATPase and actin-binding activities similar to wild-type MDE. Fluorescence emission spectra and acrylamide quenching of 546- and 625-MDE suggest that Trp-546 is nearly fully exposed to solvent and Trp-625 is less than 50% exposed in the presence and absence of ATP, in good agreement with the available crystal structure data. The spectrum of 625-MDE bound to actin was quite similar to the unbound spectrum indicating that, although Trp-625 is located near the 50/20-kDa loop and the 50-kDa cleft of myosin, its conformation does not change upon actin binding. However, a 10-nm blue shift in the peak emission wavelength of 546-MDE observed in the presence of actin indicates that Trp-546, located in the A-site of the lower 50-kDa subdomain of myosin, exists in a more buried environment and may directly interact with actin in the rigor acto-S1 complex. This change in the spectrum of Trp-546 constitutes direct evidence for a specific molecular interaction between residues in the A-site of myosin and actin.