cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The N-Domain of the Signal Recognition Particle 54-kDa Subunit Promotes Efficient Signal Sequence Binding

The signal recognition particle 54-kDa subunit (SRP54) binds to the signal sequences of nascent presecretory and transmembrane proteins. Previous studies have shown that signal sequences bind to the C-terminal methionine-rich domain of the protein (M-domain), but have raised the possibility that either the N-terminal domain (N-domain) or the central guanosine triphosphatase module (GTPase-domain) also contribute to signal-sequence-binding activity. We have generated a series of N-domain and GTPase-domain mutants to investigate this issue further. Mutations in a conserved N-domain motif (ALLEADV) produced significant defects in signal sequence binding that correlate with the severity of the mutation. The magnitude of the defect was independent of the preprotein substrate, which suggested that the mutations do not alter the specificity of signal sequence recognition. The N-domain mutants also showed defects in promoting the translocation of presecretory proteins across the membrane of microsomal vesicles, but these defects appeared to be a direct consequence of the reduction in signal-sequence-binding activity and not separate effects of the mutations. By contrast, mutations in the guanosine triphosphatase consensus sequence had no effect on signal sequence binding, but instead severely impaired protein translocation activity. These results indicate that a principal function of the SRP54 N-domain is to promote efficient signal sequence binding. These data also suggest that the SRP54 GTPase regulates the cycle of signal sequence binding and release, perhaps by modulating the relative orientation of the N- and M-domains.
Biodegradability of fluorinated fire-fighting foams in water.

Abstract Fluorinated fire-fighting foams may be released into the environment during fire-fighting activities, raising concerns due to the potential environmental and health impacts for some fluorinated organics. The current study investigated (1) the biodegradability of three fluorinated fire-fighting foams, and (2) the applicability of current standard measures used to assess biodegradability of fluorinated fire-fighting foams. The biodegradability of three fluorinated fire-fighting foams was evaluated using a 28-day dissolved organic carbon (DOC) Die-Away Test. It was found that all three materials, diluted in water, achieved 77–96% biodegradability, meeting the criteria for “ready biodegradability”. Defluorination of the fluorinated organics in the foam during biodegradation was measured using ion chromatography. It was found that the fluorine liberated was 1–2 orders of magnitude less than the estimated initial amount, indicating incomplete degradation of fluorinated organics, and incomplete C F bond breakage. Published biodegradability data may utilize biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC) metrics to quantify organics. COD and TOC of four fluorinated compounds were measured and compared to the calculated carbon content or theoretical oxygen demand. It was found that the standard dichromate-based COD test did not provide an accurate measure of fluorinated organic content. Thus published biodegradability data using COD for fluorinated organics quantification must be critically evaluated for validity. The TOC measurements correlated to an average of 91% of carbon content for the four fluorinated test substances, and TOC is recommended for use as an analytical parameter in fluorinated organics biodegradability tests.
High-speed stroboscopic tachometer with digital readout

An accurate yet simple high-speed tachometer based on the stroboscopic principle can have wide application. High accuracy, however, would require a digital or decade readout. A system is presented whose functional operation and unit design is capable of measuring and reading speeds from 20 to 50,000 rpm with an accuracy of p1 rpm without mechanically loading the motor shaft being observed
Attachment, Continuing Bonds, and Complicated Grief Following Violent Loss: Testing a Moderated Model

There is increasing consensus that mourners' general attachment security and ongoing sense of connectedness to the deceased figure prominently in adjustment to bereavement. However, the interplay between these variables has not been investigated thoroughly. We therefore studied 195 young adults who were bereaved by violent causes (homicide, suicide, and fatal accidents) in the previous 2 years, measuring their attachment-related insecurities (anxiety and avoidance), their specific ongoing attachment or "continuing bond" (CB) to the deceased, and their complicated grief (CG) symptomatology over the loss of this relationship. Analyses indicated that CBs were concurrently linked with greater CG symptomatology. However, other results also suggested that attachment could moderate the adaptiveness of maintaining a sense of connection to the deceased loved one. Specifically, CBs were less predictive of CG symptomatology for individuals with high anxiety and low avoidance, and most predictive of intense grieving for bereaved people whose attachment styles were more highly avoidant and minimally anxious. These findings suggest the relevance of evaluating the appropriateness of clinical techniques that emphasize or deemphasize the CB for mourners who differ in their styles of attachment. Such studies could potentially promote a better match of interventions to clients whose styles of coping are congruent with these procedures.
Effect of increases in afterload on the systolic thickening of acutely ischemic myocardium. An experimental echocardiographic study.

Changes in arterial blood pressure have been shown to alter epicardial ST segment elevations, and have been advocated to minimize infarct size and “salvage” ischemic myocardium. The effect of such changes on the regional function of ischemic myocardium has not been established. To investigate this, we studied the effect of increased afterload on the systolic wall thickening and myocardial perfusion of ischemic ventricular myocardium. In 20 open-chest dogs, an echocardiographic transducer was fixed to the exposed right ventricle and directed to record the motion of the left ventricular posterior wall. Posterior ischemia was created by occlusion of the circumflex coronary, so that the ultrasound beam registered the motion of acutely ischemic myocardium. The ratio of end-systolic to end-diastolic posterior wall thickness (PTs/PTd) was greater than 1 (i.e. systolic thickening) before, and less than 1 (systolic thinning) after, posterior ischemia. Mean arterial pressure was then increased by infusion of methoxamine (Mx) or norepinephrine (NE) or by aortic constriction (CN). PTs/PTd improved from 0.89± 0.03 to 1.10± 0.06 (p<0.05) with CN. Perfusion of the ischemic areas, assessed with 8μ radioactive labled microspheres, showed a corresponding improvement; with MX ischemic myocardial perfusion improved from 32.4±6.2 to 59.6±13.8 ml/100g/min (p<05) and with CN perfusion rose from 30.2±9.3 to 43.8±10.3 ml/100g/min (p<0.5). Thus, increase in afterload improved both the perfusion and regional function of acutely ischemic myocardium.
Static and dynamic visual cues in feed-forward postural control

Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) play an important role in the performance of many activities requiring the maintenance of vertical posture. However, little is known about how variation in the available visual information affects generation of APAs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different visual cues on APAs. Ten healthy young subjects were exposed to external perturbations induced at the shoulder level in standing while the level of visual information about the forthcoming perturbation was varied. The external perturbations were provided by an aluminum pendulum attached to the ceiling. The visual conditions were (1) dynamic cues (full vision and high-frequency strobe light), (2) static cues (low-frequency strobe light) and (3) no cues (eyes open in dark room). Electrical activity of the trunk and leg muscles and center of pressure displacements were recorded and quantified within the time intervals typical for APAs. The results showed that significantly larger APAs were generated in conditions with dynamic visual cues as compared to the conditions with static cues (p < 0.05). Finally, no APAs were observed in the condition where there was complete absence of any visual cues. Principal component analysis further revealed different muscle coupling patterns in the full vision and high-frequency strobe light conditions. These findings suggest the importance of using appropriate visual cues in the generation of APAs.
A characterization of generalized Hall planes

We prove that a translation plane π of odd order is a generalized Hall plane if and only if π is derived from a translation plane of semi-translation class 1–3a. Also, a derivable translation plane of even order and class 1–3a derives a generalized Hall plane. We also show that the generalized Hall planes of Kirkpatrick form a subclass of the class of planes derived from the Dickson semifield planes.
Carbon dioxide snow clouds on Mars: South polar winter observations by the Mars Climate Sounder

[1] We present south polar winter infrared observations from the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) and test three hypotheses concerning the origins of “cold spots”: regions of anomalously low infrared brightness temperatures, which could be due to enrichment in non-condensable gases, low-emissivity surface frost, or optically thick CO2 clouds. Clouds and surface frosts have been historically difficult to distinguish, but the unique limb sounding capability of MCS reveals extensive tropospheric CO2clouds over the cold spots. We find that both clouds and surface deposits play a significant role in lowering the infrared emissivity of the seasonal ice cap, and the granular surface deposits are likely emplaced by snowfall. Surface temperatures indicate the polar winter atmosphere is enriched by a factor ∼5–7 in non-condensable gases relative to the annual average, consistent with earlier gamma ray spectrometer observations, but not enough to account for the low brightness temperatures. A large ∼500-km diameter cloud with visible optical depth ∼0.1–1.0 persists throughout winter over the south polar residual cap (SPRC). At latitudes 70–80°S, clouds and low emission regions are smaller and shorter-lived, probably corresponding to large-grained “channel 1” clouds observed by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter. Snowfall over the SPRC imparts the lowest emissivity in the south polar region, which paradoxically tends to reduce net accumulation of seasonal CO2 by backscattering infrared radiation. This could be compensated by the observed anomalously high summertime albedo of the SPRC, which may be related to small grains preserved in a rapidly formed snow deposit.
Early stage hydration of slag-cement

Abstract The early hydration characteristics of slag cements (blends of separately ground granulated blast furnace slags with portland cement) have been examined. Isothermal calorimetry, chemical shrinkage and compressive strength measurements were made. The kinetics of hydration have been treated; apparent activation energies determined for a slag cement were ∼49 KJ/mole compared with ∼44 KJ/mole for the portland cement used in the blends.
Correlation of renal blood flow determined by the single injection of Hippuran-I131 with direct measurements of flow☆

Abstract 1. 1. In 21 determinations in 11 dogs, the clearance values of I131-labeled Hippuran calculated from the time-concentration curve of arterial blood after a single injection were compared with flows measured simultaneously by collecting the total renal venous drainage from one kidney. 2. 2. The average agreement was 7.6 per cent in a range of flows from 94 to 340 ml. per minute and under conditions of altered blood and urine flow rates. 3. 3. The accuracy and simplicity of the method indicates its clinical usefulness in the area of renal blood flow studies. 4. 4. Classic clearance techniques utilizing Hippuran-I131 also gave excellent agreement with simultaneously measured flow, although renal A-V differences were large.
Quantum chemical study of relative reactivities of a series of amines and nitriles: relevance to prebiotic chemistry.

Using the Iterative Extended Huckel Theory (IEHT) calculations of the electron distribution and orbital energies of a series of thirteen amines, nitriles and amino-nitriles relevant to prebiotic and cosmo-chemistry have been carried out. Ground state properties such as the energy and nature of the highest occupied (HOMO) and lowest empty (LEMO) molecular orbitals, net atomic charges and number of nonbonding electrons have been identified as criteria for correlating the relative nucleophilicity of amine and nitrile nitrogens and the electrophilicity of nitrile and other unsaturated carbon atoms. The results of such correlations can be partially verified by known chemical behavior of these compounds and are used to predict and understand their role in prebiotic organic synthesis.
Suppression of hamster lymphocyte reactivity to simian virus 40 tumor surface antigens by spleen cells from pregnant hamsters

Abstract SV40-transformed tumor cells in hamsters have been found to have cell surface antigens cross-reactive with antigens temporally expressed on fetal tissues. Adoptive transfer assays performed in this laboratory have shown that peritoneal exudate cells from 10-day primiparous hamsters are cytotoxic to SV40-transformed sarcoma cells (WF5-1) carrying fetal antigen, whereas peritoneal exudate cells from multiparous hamsters are less cytotoxic. This suggests a suppressor activity might be present during subsequent pregnancies that reduces the responsiveness of lymphocytes from pregnant hamsters to stimulation by fetal antigens on tumor cells. Using a lymphocyte transformation assay, spleen cells from pregnant hamsters were found to be incapable of responding to preparations of either hamster fetal tissue or SV40-transformed cells. However, a suppressor component can be demonstrated in spleen cell populations of both primi- and multiparous hamsters during pregnancy that is capable of reducing the response of lymphocytes sensitized against SV40 tumor-associated antigens. The degree of suppression is proportional to the ratio of responder cells to spleen cells from pregnant animals. These results suggest there is a subpopulation of spleen cells involved in immunoregulation during pregnancy that has the ability to suppress the reactivity of lymphocytes sensitized against SV40-associated oncofetal antigens.
Postoperative Course and Complications after Pull-through Vaginoplasty for Distal Vaginal Atresia

Abstract Study Objective To report the usual postoperative course and complications after pull-through vaginoplasty for isolated distal vaginal atresia. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective chart review at Texas Children's Hospital of all patients who were diagnosed with isolated distal vaginal atresia and underwent pull-through vaginoplasty during the study time frame. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Postoperative complications such as vaginal stenosis or infection and postoperative vaginal diameter. Results Sixteen patients were identified and charts were reviewed. Patients were initially evaluated by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and found to have distended hematometrocolpos with distal vaginal atresia. All patients underwent pull-through vaginoplasty with similar operative techniques. The average distance from the perineum to the level of the obstruction was 1.84 ± 1.2 cm. Two patients, both with obstructions at greater than 3 cm, experienced stricture formation postoperatively. Four patients (25%) experienced postoperative vaginitis. One patient (6.25%) experienced a postoperative urinary tract infection. Two groups (3 cm or less versus greater than 3 cm) were compared, and the presence of stricture was statistically different based on mean centimeters from perineum prior to pull-through vaginoplasty ( P = .038). Conclusions Distal vaginal atresia is managed with pull-through vaginoplasty. Atresias that extend greater than 3 cm from the perineum are at increased risk for vaginal stricture formation and should be followed to monitor for their formation. Other complications are infrequent and minor.
Aptamers as therapeutic and diagnostic agents

Aptamers are oligonucleotides derived from an in vitro evolution process called SELEX. Aptamers have been evolved to bind proteins which are associated with a number of disease states. Using this method, many powerful antagonists of such proteins have been found. In order for these antagonists to work in animal models of disease and in humans, it is necessary to modify the aptamers. First of all, sugar modifications of nucleoside triphosphates are necessary to render the resulting aptamers resistant to nucleases found in serum. Changing the 2'OH groups of ribose to 2'F or 2'NH2 groups yields aptamers which are long lived in blood. The relatively low molecular weight of aptamers (8000-12000) leads to rapid clearance from the blood. Aptamers can be kept in the circulation from hours to days by conjugating them to higher molecular weight vehicles. When modified, conjugated aptamers are injected into animals, they inhibit physiological functions known to be associated with their target proteins. A new approach to diagnostics is also described. Aptamer arrays on solid surfaces will become available rapidly because the SELEX protocol has been successfully automated. The use of photo-cross-linkable aptamers will allow the covalent attachment of aptamers to their cognate proteins, with very low backgrounds from other proteins in body fluids. Finally, protein staining with any reagent which distinguishes functional groups of amino acids from those of nucleic acids (and the solid support) will give a direct readout of proteins on the solid support.
Android application development to promote physical activity in adolescents

Adolescents in today's society are becoming increasingly less active, contributing to a rising obesity rate. With this epidemic as motivation, and the use of smart phones by youth as opportunity, a suite of Android Applications was developed to promote physical activity among this population.
Studies of the effect of unsaturated fat feeding on cholesterol in the rat.

Abstract The effects of saturated fat feeding as contrasted with unsaturated fats were studied in rats. The rats on unsaturated fat had lower serum cholesterol and less cholesterol deposition in the aorta, kidney, and liver than those on saturated fats. The animals on unsaturated fat had less deposition of orally fed 14C-cholesterol and iv Na-Ac in these organs than those on saturated fat. Evidence was adduced that the kidney is more efficient than the aorta in removing cholesterol on saturated fat diets.
Sources of Cognitive Inflexibility in Set-Shifting Tasks: Insights Into Developmental Theories From Adult Data.

Two experiments examined processes underlying cognitive inflexibility in set-shifting tasks typically used to assess the development of executive function in children. Adult participants performed a Flexible Item Selection Task (FIST) that requires shifting from categorizing by one dimension (e.g., color) to categorizing by a second orthogonal dimension (e.g., shape). The experiments showed performance of the FIST involves suppression of the representation of the ignored dimension; response times for selecting a target object in an oddity task immediately following were slower when the oddity target was the previously ignored stimulus of the FIST. However, proactive interference from the previously relevant stimulus dimension also impaired responding. The results are discussed with respect to two prominent theories of the source of difficulty for children and adults on dimensional shifting tasks: attentional inertia and negative priming. In contrast to prior work emphasizing one process over the other, th...
On the complex zeros of solutions of linear differential equations

A classical result (see R.Nevanlinna, Acta Math.,58 (1932), p. 345) states that for a second-order linear differential equation, w″ + P(z) w′ + Q(z) w=0, where P(z) and Q(z) are polynomials, there exist finitely many rays, arg z=ϕj, for j=1,..., m, such that for any solution w=f(z) ≢ 0 and any e > 0, all but finitely many zeros off lie in the union of the sectors ¦ arg z - ϕj¦ 0, there is a solution f ≢ 0 of the equation having infinitely many zeros in the sector ¦arg z - ϕ¦ 0, all but finitely many zeros of any solution f ≢ 0 must lie in the union of the sectors ¦ arg z - ϕj¦ < e for j=1, ..., m. In addition, our method of proof provides an effective procedure for determining which of the two possibilities holds for a given equation, and in the case when (b) holds, our method will produce the rays, arg z=ϕj. We emphasize that our result applies to all equations having polynomial coefficients, without exception. In addition, we mention that if the coefficients are only assumed to be rational functions, our results will still give precise information on the possible location of the bulk of the zeros of any solution.
Single-Cell Tracking With PET Using a Novel Trajectory Reconstruction Algorithm

Virtually all biomedical applications of positron emission tomography (PET) use images to represent the distribution of a radiotracer. However, PET is increasingly used in cell tracking applications, for which the “imaging” paradigm may not be optimal. Here, we investigate an alternative approach, which consists in reconstructing the time-varying position of individual radiolabeled cells directly from PET measurements. As a proof of concept, we formulate a new algorithm for reconstructing the trajectory of one single moving cell directly from list-mode PET data. We model the trajectory as a 3-D B-spline function of the temporal variable and use nonlinear optimization to minimize the mean-square distance between the trajectory and the recorded list-mode coincidence events. Using Monte Carlo simulations (GATE), we show that this new algorithm can track a single source moving within a small-animal PET system with $ 3 mm accuracy provided that the activity of the cell [Bq] is greater than four times its velocity [mm/s]. The algorithm outperforms conventional ML-EM as well as the “minimum distance” method used for positron emission particle tracking (PEPT). The new method was also successfully validated using experimentally acquired PET data. In conclusion, we demonstrated the feasibility of a new method for tracking a single moving cell directly from PET list-mode data, at the whole-body level, for physiologically relevant activities and velocities.
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-cancer Properties of β-Escin, a Triterpene Saponin

Horse chestnut seed extract is well known for its anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory medicinal properties. More recently, potential anti-carcinogenic properties have been described. β-Escin, a pentacyclic triterpene saponin with aglycone moieties, is the main active compound in horse chestnut seed extract. Here, we summarize the anti-cancer properties of β-escin in preclinical models, and its potential pharmacological use as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of edema and chronic venous insufficiency. The major mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory activities are through modulation of eicosanoids and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB). Anti-proliferation activities occur via induction of p21 and decreased expression of cyclin D1 and anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. In addition, we discuss the clinical pharmacokinetics of β-escin and review the factors that determine its absorption, bioavailability, and distribution in animals. Despite the many beneficial effects of β-escin, it has been studied less extensively in models of cancer. Further studies are warranted to assess the usefulness of β-escin for cancer prevention and therapy.
Effect of clinician advice and patient preparedness to quit on subsequent quit attempts in hospitalized smokers.

BACKGROUND: Although smoking cessation counseling for cardiac inpatients is a quality measure, little data exist regarding postdischarge quit attempts in a primarily urban, African American, underserved population. This study aimed to assess preparedness to quit smoking and quit behaviors. METHODS: Smokers on the cardiology service were asked to rate preparedness using the 10-step Contemplation Ladder. During phone surveys given 30-days postdischarge, patients reported whether they made quit attempts, method and success of attempts, and recall of receiving advice to quit. RESULTS: From February 2006 through July 2007, 2906 of 3364 of inpatients were interviewed. Fifteen percent (436/2906) were current smokers and 415/436 completed the inpatient assessment. Of these, 75% (310/415) indicated they were prepared to quit. At the 1-month follow-up, 67% (276/415) were interviewed and 71% of those patients (195/276) reported making a quit attempt, with most (76%) reporting quitting “cold turkey” (without aid). Compared with less prepared patients, prepared patients were more likely to report making a quit attempt after discharge (77% [163/212] vs. 50% [32/64], P < 0.001) and were successful in that attempt (43% [90/212] vs. 25% [16/64], P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of smokers hospitalized with cardiac disease reported being prepared to quit smoking. Those prepared, and who received advice to quit, were more likely to make a quit attempt and report abstinence than those less prepared. However, most quit attempts were made using the least effective methods. Future studies in a population of primarily African American patients should assess preparedness to quit and target prepared patients with more effective interventions. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:26–32. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Metamodeling: The epistemology of system science

The Metasystem Paradigm postulates a hierarchy of at least three inquiring systems: at the lowest level of abstraction, an inquiring system devoted to IMPLEMENTATION; at the object level, an inquiring system devoted to MODELING; and finally, at the metalevel, an inquiring system devoted to METAMODELING. System Design is incomplete without the intervention of these three inquiring systems, each of which plays a role in System Design. System Science draws its paradigm and its epistemology from the metalevel inquiring system. Furthermore, this inquiring system is dedicated to a methodology called METAMODELING which provides MODELING (at the next-lower inquiring system) with its source of knowledge and its reasoning methods. A design is incomplete unless it takes into account both MODELING and METAMODELING. METAMODELING is to MODELING what the Theory of Design is to Design, or what Decision Making ABOUT Decision Making is to Decision Making, or what Learning to Learn is to Learning. The consequences of using an obsolete modeling paradigm are explored in relation to the discipline of operations research.
Structure-activity relationships of TRH analogs in rat spinal cord injury

Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogs were compared in rats to evaluate the structure-activity relationships of such compounds in the treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury. CG3703, a TRH analog having a modified amino-terminus, significantly improved motor recovery and somatosensory-evoked responses after trauma; in contrast, RX77368, which has a modified carboxy-terminus, was without effect, even at doses up to 10 mg/kg. These findings confirm and extend findings in cats, using other TRH analogs in a different model of spinal trauma. Together, data from rat and cat studies are consistent with the hypothesis that the integrity of the C-terminal amino acid may be critical for the beneficial effects of treatment with TRH and TRH analogs in experimental spinal injury, and suggest that a variety of other TRH analogs having substitutions of the pyroglutamyl or histidyl moieties of the tripeptide may also prove to be effective in the treatment of such injury.
Conservation laws in some two-dimensional models

Abstract Certain classical conservation laws in the chiral O (N) × O (N) and SU (N) × SU (N) models in two dimensions are shown to survive quantization. This indicates that the S matrices of these models must factorize. At least in one case that is checked explicitly, an analogous conservation law in the CPN model does not appear to survive quantization.
The Future of Nursing—Opportunities for Occupational Health Nursing:

In this article, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health report is summarized, and opportunities for occupational health nursing are proposed.
Petrogenetic grid for ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphism in the model system CaO‐MgO‐SiO2‐CO2‐H2O

Petrogenetic grids for ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism were calculated at different Xco2 conditions in the model system CaO-MgO-SiO2-CO2-H2O involving coesite (Co), diopside (Di), dolomite (Do), enstatite (En), forsterite (Fo), magnesite (Ms), quartz (Qz), talc (Tc), tremolite (Tr) using a published internally consistent thermodynamic data set. Two P-T grids at Xco2= 0.01 and 0.5 are described. In the calculated P-T grid at Xco2= 0.01, four out of 10 stable invariant points, Co-En-Ms-Tc, Co-Di-En-Tc-Tr, Co-Di-Ms-Tc-Tr and Di-En-Ms-Tc-Tr lie within the stability field of coesite. If the fluid phase has Xco2= 0.5, no invariant point is stable under UHP conditions. Some magnesite-bearing assemblages are stabilized by the following three reactions: Di + Ms = Do + Fo + CO2, Ms + Tr = Do + Fo + CO2+ H2O and Ms + Tc = Fo+ CO2+ H2O at Xco2= 0.01 and by reaction Ms + Tc = Fo + CO2+ H2O together with these three at Xco2= 0.5. Ten possible UHP assemblages for mafic and ultramafic compositions at very low Xco2 conditions include the following: Co-Do-Ms, Co-Di-Ms, Co-Di-Tc, Di-Ms-Tc, Di-En-Tc-, Di-En-Ms, Co-Di-En, Di-En-Fo, Di-Fo-Ms, Di-Do-Fo. Among them, talc-bearing assemblages are restricted to Xco2 < 0.02 and their high-P limit is 31.7 kb (749°C) at Xco2= 0.01. Dolomite-magnesite-silica assemblages have large P-T stability fields even if Xco2 is as low as 0.1, and could occur in cold subduction zones with very low geothermal gradients. Reported UHP coesite-dolomite assemblage is restricted only to a calc-silicate rock interlayered with marble where Xco2 is relatively higher; no such assemblage appears for mafic and ultramafic rocks with low Xco2 evidenced by the occurrence of diopside (or omphacite) at the expense of dolomite + coesite. The effect of Xco2 on the stability of coesite-dolomite-magnesite, diopside-enstatite-magnesite, diopside-talc assemblages is examined and the occurrence of coesite-dolomite, magnesite-bearing and talc-bearing assemblages in the Dabie UHP rocks are interpreted by employing the calculated P-T grids.
Migrating server storage to SSDs: analysis of tradeoffs

Recently, flash-based solid-state drives (SSDs) have become standard options for laptop and desktop storage, but their impact on enterprise server storage has not been studied. Provisioning server storage is challenging. It requires optimizing for the performance, capacity, power and reliability needs of the expected workload, all while minimizing financial costs. In this paper we analyze a number of workload traces from servers in both large and small data centers, to decide whether and how SSDs should be used to support each. We analyze both complete replacement of disks by SSDs, as well as use of SSDs as an intermediate tier between disks and DRAM. We describe an automated tool that, given device models and a block-level trace of a workload, determines the least-cost storage configuration that will support the workload's performance, capacity, and fault-tolerance requirements. We found that replacing disks by SSDs is not a costeffective option for any of our workloads, due to the low capacity per dollar of SSDs. Depending on the workload, the capacity per dollar of SSDs needs to increase by a factor of 3-3000 for an SSD-based solution to break even with a diskbased solution. Thus, without a large increase in SSD capacity per dollar, only the smallest volumes, such as system boot volumes, can be cost-effectively migrated to SSDs. The benefit of using SSDs as an intermediate caching tier is also limited: fewer than 10% of our workloads can reduce provisioning costs by using an SSD tier at today's capacity per dollar, and fewer than 20% can do so at any SSD capacity per dollar. Although SSDs are much more energy-efficient than enterprise disks, the energy savings are outweighed by the hardware costs, and comparable energy savings are achievable with low-power SATA disks.
Prostatic acid phosphatase in strumal carcinoids of the ovary. An immunohistochemical study

BACKGROUND Strumal carcinoids (SC) are ovarian tumors containing thyroid parenchyma admixed with carcinoid elements. Microscopically, the carcinoid component of SC usually presents a ribbon or trabecular pattern similar to the pattern exhibited by hindgut carcinoids. The authors designed an immunohistochemical study to ascertain further similarities of the carcinoid component of SC to rectal carcinoids. METHODS Five cases of SC were examined by light microscopic study with hematoxylin and eosin and immunoperoxidase staining with a group of neurohormonal peptides, thyroglobulin, prostatic acid phosphatase, and prostate specific antigen. RESULTS All tumors were positive for thyroglobulin, chromogranin, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), and glucagon. They were consistently negative for prostate specific antigen and variably positive to the other antibodies. CONCLUSIONS The consistent positivity of the carcinoid component of SC to PAP immunostaining is a further similarity of these tumors to rectal carcinoids, in which positive immunostaining to PAP has been observed. The similarity is not well understood, however, as all evidence points to the origin of SC from germ cells in mature cystic teratomas without any embryologic relationship to the hindgut.
One-dimensional nanostructures of trigonal tellurium with various morphologies can be synthesized using a solution-phase approach

This article describes a solution-phase, self-seeding approach to the large-scale synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures of trigonal tellurium (t-Te) with diameters ranging from 50 to hundreds of nanometers, and lengths up to tens of micrometers. These highly anisotropic nanostructures were formed through the reduction of orthotelluric acid (or tellurium dioxide) by hydrazine at various refluxing temperatures. Nuclei formed in the reduction process had a strong tendency to grow along the c-axis due to the inherently anisotropic structure of t-Te. Depending on the solvent and refluxing temperature, the growth of t-Te nanostructures was found to follow two distinct paths. When the reaction was refluxed in water and at temperatures below 100 °C, the initial reduction products were a mixture of nanocrystallites of t-Te and spherical colloids of amorphous tellurium (a-Te). When this mixture was aged at room temperature, the a-Te colloids slowly dissolved into the solution and grew into nanowires on the nanocrystallites of t-Te. When the reaction was carried out in pure ethylene glycol (or mixtures with water) and refluxed at temperatures above 100 °C, the 1D nanostructures of t-Te were directly formed in the reduction process. The exact morphology of these anisotropic nanostructures was mainly controlled by the refluxing temperature (Tr); typical examples include spines (Tr < 100 °C), filaments (Tr = 100–160 °C), needles (Tr = 160–180 °C), and tubular structures (Tr > 180 °C). These uniform, relatively monodispersed 1D nanostructures could form stable dispersions in ethylene glycol or water, and be used as the building blocks or templates to generate more complex nanostructured materials.
Measuring the Transition Readiness of Youth with Special Healthcare Needs: Validation of the TRAQ—Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire

Objective The aim of this study was to develop the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ), a measure of readiness for transition from pediatric to adult healthcare for youth with special health care needs (YSHCN). Methods We administered TRAQ to 192 YSHCN aged 16–26 years in three primary diagnostic categories, conducted factor analysis, and assessed differences in TRAQ scores by age, gender, race, and primary diagnosis type. Results Factor analysis identified two TRAQ domains with high internal consistency: Skills for Self-Management and Skills for Self-Advocacy. Each domain had high internal consistency. In multivariate regression models, older age and a primary diagnosis of an activity limiting physical condition were associated with higher scores in Self-Management, and female gender and a primary diagnosis of an activity limiting physical condition were associated with higher scores in Self-Advocacy. Conclusions Our initial validation study suggests the TRAQ is a useful tool to assess transition readiness in YSHCN and to guide educational interventions by providers to support transition.
The Relationship between Leadership Development and Critical Thinking Skills

The primary purpose of this correlational study was to explain the relationship between discipline specific critical thinking skills and leadership training and experiences of selected FFA youth leaders. Researcher-developed measures of critical thinking skills and leadership were used to discover low, but positive relationships between critical thinking skills and each leadership variable of leadership training, leadership experience, and total leadership score. The relationship between leadership training and Evaluation and Total Critical Thinking Skill was significant. Similarly, the relationship between leadership experiences and Analysis and Total Critical Thinking Skill was significant. Finally, the relationship between combined leadership score and Analysis, Evaluation, and Total Critical Thinking Skill was also significant. Recommendations include more student exposure to formal teaching and training in leadership, more research to substantiate the connection between leadership and critical thinking, and more encouragement for students to be more active in non-formal activities.
A taxometric investigation of DSM-IV major depression in a large outpatient sample: interpretable structural results depend on the mode of assessment.

Most taxometric studies of depressive constructs have drawn indicators from self-report instruments that do not bear directly on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic construct of major depressive disorder (MDD). The present study examined the latent structure of MDD using indicator sets constructed from a semistructured clinical interview, self-report questionnaires, and a combination of the two. Taxometric analyses were performed in a large sample of outpatients with primary mood or anxiety disorders. For clinical rating data, results were more consistent with taxonic than dimensional structure, an interpretation supported by additional data obtained from 27 independent raters and objective indices of curve fit. Questionnaire indicators yielded inconclusive results, and combined rating–questionnaire indicators yielded results suggestive of taxonic structure. The findings highlight the importance of assessment in the study of a construct’s latent structure and extend recent findings suggesting that MDD may be taxonic.
Radio frequency identification of Hurricane Katrina victims

There have been reports that the US Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team and health officials in Mississipi's Harrison County have been implanting human cadavers with radio frequency identification (RFID) chips as part of the effort to speed up the identification process of Hurricane Katrina victims. Motivated by the interest generated by this report, this paper comments on the technology, applications, challenges, performance, and individual and societal implications of RFID
Determining empirical thresholds for "definitely large" amounts of food for defining binge-eating episodes.

Binge episodes involve “definitely large” amounts of food, yet limited data exist regarding the upper limits of food consumption in non-binge eating episodes. Study 1 examined the concurrent validity of a self-report measure developed to measure “usual” food consumption. Results support good concurrent validity for most items across response versions. Study 2 identified the upper limits of normal food consumption (i.e., 85th percentile of participants’ largest reported usual servings). Thresholds differed across types of foods, and men reported higher thresholds than women for several foods. Type of food and gender should be considered when assessing for “definitely large” amounts of food.
SIERRA: a 3-D device simulator for reliability modeling

SIERRA is a 3-D general-purpose semiconductor-device simulation program which serves as a foundation for investigating integrated-circuit (IC) device and reliability issues. This program solves the Poisson and continuity equations in silicon under DC, transient, and small-signal conditions. Executing on a vector/parallel minisupercomputer, SIERRA utilizes a matrix solver which uses an incomplete LU (ILU) preconditioned conjugate gradient square (CGS, BCG) method. The ILU-CGS method provides a good compromise between memory size and convergence rate. The authors have observed a 5* to 7* speedup over standard direct methods in simulations of transient problems containing highly coupled Poisson and continuity equations such as those found in reliability-oriented simulations. The application of SIERRA to parasitic CMOS latchup and DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) single-event-upset studies is described. >
Where do ethnolects stop

The paper discusses the complex role of ethnicity in the construction of a peer-based social order in preadolescence, and argues that the indexical value of “ethnic” variables is constructed among, rather than simply within, ethnic groups, and hence incorporates concerns that span ethnic boundaries. In Northern California, white Anglo speech is showing a split in /ae/ as it raises before nasals and backs elsewhere, while Chicano speakers commonly back both classes of /ae/. Based on ethnography in two Northern California elementary schools, this paper shows that the Chicano pattern does not simply index ethnicity, but indexes place in the peer-based social order as well, and as such is available to speakers regardless of ethnicity.
Early rotation and late folding in the Pennsylvania salient (U.S. Appalachians): Evidence from calcite-twinning analysis of Paleozoic carbonates

Calcite-twinning analysis of Paleozoic limestones from 42 sites reveals that the change in regional strike along the frontal edge of the Pennsylvania salient is accompanied by an equal-magnitude rotation of paleostress directions of up to 60 degrees. The rotations, recorded at 22 reliable sites, show no discernible difference between sites with rocks of Cambrian-Ordovician and Silurian-Devonian age. Evidence for similarly fanned orientations is not present in foreland sites. Scatter in the data is attributed to grain-scale rotations and compaction overprinting, as demonstrated in prior studies, and it was reduced by data-cleaning methods as well as by the use of contouring and data-averaging methods. Comparisons of paleostress directions within the belt reveal only minor rotations in the southwest region of the salient, and the bulk of rotation is accommodated by the northern limb. We hypothesize that these rotations resulted from convergence in the thrust wedge against a northerly bounding, rigid basement block around Pennsylvanian times. This created a structural anisotropy in the evolving belt that guided the post-rotational formation of folds in Early Permian times and produced the current pattern of the salient. This model of decoupled thrusting/rotation and folding explains a variety of previously conflicting observations in the area while offering a kinematically consistent scenario that may also apply to other curved orogenic belts.
Millimeter Radio Evidence for Containment Mechanisms in Solar Flares

Recent theories of solar flares are reviewed with emphasis on the aspects of pre-flare heating. The heating evident at 3.3-mm wavelength is analyzed in the form of daily maps of the solar disk and synoptic maps compiled from the daily maps. It is found that isotherms defining antenna temperature enhancements of 340 K correspond in shape and location to facular areas reported by Waldmeier. Maximum enhancements occur over sunspots or near neutral lines of the longitudinal magnetic fields which indicates heating associated with chromospheric currents. These enhancements are correlated with flare importance number and are observed to increase during several days preceding flaring. This evidence for a containment mechanism in the chromosphere is collated with current theories of solar flares.
Environmental Characteristics of Nest Sites Selected by Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in Southern Mississippi

Abstract Nest-site selection can influence both the survivorship of a clutch of eggs as well as the phenotype of resulting hatchlings. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nest sites of Gopherus polyphemus in southern Mississippi differed from randomly chosen prospective nest sites with respect to various habitat parameters. Data were collected that described habitat variables we thought could be biologically relevant. Univariate tests were used to both compare nest sites with non–nest sites, as well as to further narrow the list of variables into those included in an analysis with Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). Our AIC analysis suggests that the amount of bare soil at the apron and the composition of the soil are important factors when modeling nest-site selection for this tortoise. Aprons with nests contained more bare soil (less vegetation and litter cover) and less clay content in the soil than did randomly chosen aprons that did not have nests. These results indicate that nest si...
Cowden Syndrome-Related Mutations in PTEN Associate with Enhanced Proteasome Activity

Germline mutations in PTEN have been described in a spectrum of syndromes that are collectively known as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS). In addition to being mutated in the germline in PHTS, somatic loss-of-function PTEN mutations are seen in a wide range of sporadic human tumors. Here, we show evidence of upregulated proteasome activity in PHTS-derived lymphoblasts, Pten knock-in mice and cell lines expressing missense and nonsense PTEN mutations. Notably, elevated nuclear proteasome activity occurred in cells expressing the nuclear mislocalized PTEN-K62R mutant, whereas elevated cytosolic proteasome activity was observed in cells expressing the cytosolic-predominant mutant PTEN (M3M4 and C136R). Treatment with proteasome inhibitor MG-132 was able to restore both nonsense and missense mutant PTEN protein levels in vitro. PHTS patients with destabilizing PTEN mutations and proteasome hyperactivity are more susceptible to develop neurological symptoms such as mental retardation and autism than mutation-positive patients with normal proteasome activity. A detailed molecular and functional analysis shows that PTEN mutants most likely cause proteasome hyperactivity via two different mechanisms, namely, induction of proteotoxic stress and loss of protein phosphatase activity. These results provide novel insights into the cellular functions of PTEN and reveal molecular mechanisms whereby PTEN mutations increase proteasome activity and lead to neurological phenotypes.