cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HGG-36. ONC201 TARGETING IN DIPG

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a group of predominantly pediatric brain tumors with an average age of diagnosis of 6–7 years old, and a poor prognosis (median survival of ~1 year). Given the location of DIPG in the brainstem, surgical approaches are limited. Furthermore, the tumors have limited responsivity to traditional chemotherapy or radiotherapy, ergo new therapeutic options are needed. Recently, the drug ONC201 has emerged as a potential therapeutic option with outcomes sometimes surpassing progression-free and expected survival outcomes. However, the selectivity of its effect and mechanism in DIPG is still unclear. Here, we pursue a better understanding of ONC201 and its mechanism of action directly in DIPG patient-derived cell lines. First, we demonstrate that a range of DIPG cell lines are highly sensitive to ONC201 and compare this sensitivity to other patient-derived brain tumor and normal controls. Next, we directly show that the mitochondrial protease, ClpP is the primary target of ONC201 in DIPG. Given recent literature implicating the activation of ClpP by ONC201 and dysregulation of the metabolome in other tumors, we are currently examining these downstream effects in DIPG. Ultimately we hope to elucidate whether ClpP targeting can be used to better diagnose and improve therapeutic options in DIPG
Chimeric NK receptor-bearing murine T cells mediate anti-tumor immunotherapy against lymphoma

621 NKG2D is an activating cell surface receptor expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and some T cell subsets. Its ligands are primarily expressed on tumor cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether chimeric NK receptor bearing T cells would directly kill tumor cells and lead to induction of host immunity against tumors. Chimeric NK receptors were produced by linking NKG2D or Dap10 to the cytoplasmic portion of the CD3ζ chain. Our results showed that chNKG2D-bearing T cells responded to NKG2D ligand-bearing tumor cells (RMA/Rae-1β, EG7) but not to wildtype tumor cells (RMA). This response was dependent upon ligand expression on the target cells but not on expression of MHC molecules, and the response could be blocked by anti-NKG2D antibodies. These T cells produced large amounts of Th1 cytokines and proinflamatory chemokines and killed ligand-expressing tumor cells. Adoptive transfer of chNKG2D-bearing T cells inhibited RMA/Rae-1β tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, mice that had remained tumor-free were resistant to subsequent challenge with the wildtype RMA tumor cells, suggesting the generation of immunity against other tumor antigens. Adoptive transfer of chNKG2D-bearing T cells prevented growth of RMA/Rae1β tumor cells in vivo in B6 and B6.Rag1-/- mice indicating that host T and B cells were not required for the anti-tumor effect. However, only B6 mice were protected from a subsequent challenge with RMA tumor cells, suggesting that development of resistance to RMA tumor cells was dependent upon host lymphocytes and likely due to host T cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that modification of T cells with chimeric NKG2D receptors represents a promising approach for immunotherapy against cancer.
Suicide in the city: do characteristics of place really influence risk?

OBJECTIVE: This article investigates the role of social context on individual suicide mortality with attention paid to the possibility that contextual effects are simply the sum of individual characteristics associated with suicide. METHODS: We use restricted data from the 1986-2006 National Health Interview Survey-Linked Mortality Files, which include nearly one million records and 1,300 suicides, to examine the role of familial and socioeconomic context on adult suicide. RESULTS: Results show that adults living in cities with more socioeconomic disadvantage and fewer families living together have higher odds of suicidal death than adults living in less disadvantaged cities and cities with more families living together, respectively, after controlling for individual-level socioeconomic status, marital status, and family size. CONCLUSION: The findings support classic sociological arguments that the risk of suicide is indeed influenced by the social milieu and cannot simply be explained by the aggregation of individual characteristics. Language: en
Pyrosequencing in Cancer

Today, DNA sequencing is one of the most important tools for the study of nucleic acid structure and composition. Traditional DNA sequencing methods are based on dideoxy chain termination technology and are limited in both throughput and cost for most future applications. Recently, pyrosequencing has surfaced as a new sequencing methodology for real-time nucleotide sequencing. It is a nonelectrophoretic DNA sequencing method which circumvents the need for labeled nucleotides, labeled primers, and gel electrophoresis, and offers the advantages of high accuracy, flexibility, parallel processing, and easy automation. Thus, it is increasingly being used in DNA sequencing, genotyping, single nucleotide polymorphism analysis, allele quantification, and whole genome sequencing within the areas of clinical genetics, pharmacogenetics, and microbiology. In this chapter, we will briefly review the key aspects of pyrosequencing technology with a focus on its application in hotspot mutation analysis.
Classification and delineation of groundwater–lake interactions in the Nebraska Sand Hills (USA) using electrical resistivity patterns

Lake–groundwater interactions exhibit a complex three-dimensional (3D) structure that is seldom studied. The utility of waterborne electrical resistivity (ER) surveys is explored for characterization of 3D groundwater flow and solute transport patterns for three lakes in the Nebraska Sand Hills, USA. Waterborne ER surveys, using contrasts between lake and groundwater solutes as natural tracers, are useful for inferring 3D patterns of groundwater flow and solute transport as well as classifying groundwater–lake interactions. Three unique groundwater flow systems are interpreted under each lake from dense networks of two-dimensional (2D) waterborne ER surveys. A lateral transition from high to low ER values beneath the saline Wilson Lake expresses its flow-through regime, where groundwater salinity indicates changes from groundwater inflow to outflow. Alkali Lake ER profiles reveal a prevalent ER increase with depth over the lakebed area that is characteristic of groundwater discharge lakes. ER profiles beneath Gimlet Lake are the most resistive and indicate pockets of high ER related to fresh groundwater discharge into the lake, supporting a flow-through regime with a short flushing time. These ER patterns correctly classify groundwater–lake interactions and provide high spatial resolution of mixing patterns for systems with varying water salinity.
α-Tubulin gene family of maize (Zea mays L.). Evidence for two ancient α-tubulin genes in plants

Abstract Among 81 α-tubulin cDNA clones prepared from RNA from maize seedling shoot, endosperm and pollen, we identified six different α-tubulin coding sequences. The DNA sequence analysis of coding and non-coding regions from the clones showed that they can be classified into three different α-tubulin gene subfamilies. Genes within each subfamily encode proteins that are 99 to 100% identical in amino acid sequence. Deduced amino acid sequence identity between genes in different subfamilies ranges from 89 to 93 %. The results of hybridizations of genomic DNAs to α-tubulin coding region probes and to 3′ non-coding region probes constructed from six different α-tubulin cDNA clones indicated that the maize α-tubulin gene family contains at least eight members. Comparison of deduced α-tubulin amino acid sequences from maize and the dicot species Arabidopsis thaliana showed that α-tubulin isotypes encoded by genes in maize subfamilies I and II are more similar to specific Arabidopsis gene products (96 to 97% amino acid identity) than to isotypes encoded by genes in the other maize subfamilies. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that genes in these two subfamilies were derived from two ancient α-tubulin genes that predate the divergence of monocots and dicots. These same analyses revealed that the gene in maize subfamily III is more closely related to sequences from subfamily I genes than to those from subfamily IT genes. However, the subfamily III gene has no close counterpart in Arabidopsis. We found evidence of a transposable element-like insertion in the subfamily III gene in some maize lines.
Case Report: Thrombosis of a ruptured fusiform basilar apex aneurysm after stenting and selective coiling.

Large fusiform and dissecting type intracranial aneurysmsrepresent a challenge to both endovascular as wellas microsurgical treatment approaches. Those involvingthe upper basilar artery and basilar apex represent a particularchallenge. In many cases these aneurysms are notamenable to intravascular coiling without occluding theparent vessel. Clip reconstructions of such aneurysmsare technically difficult, and are also associated with ahigh probability of morbidity and mortality. We presentan interesting case involving a ruptured fusiform aneurysmof the basilar apex.
Confidence in the Classroom: Ten Maxims for New Teachers.

(1990). Confidence in the Classroom: Ten Maxims for New Teachers. College Teaching: Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 21-25.
Lane-keeping benefits of practical rear axle steer

The classic two-degree-of-freedom yaw-plane or ‘bicycle’ vehicle model is augmented with two additional states to describe lane-keeping behaviour and further augmented with an additional control input to steer the rear axle. A simple driver model is hypothesised where the driver closes a loop on a projected lateral lane position. The driver can select the preview distance to compensate driver/vehicle dynamics, consistent with the ‘cross-over’ model found in the literature. A rear axle steer control law is found to be a function of the front axle steering input and vehicle speed that exhibits stability similar to a positive-real system, while at the same time improving the ability of the driver/vehicle system to track a complex curved lane and improving steady-state manoeuvrability. The theoretically derived control law bears similarity to practical embodiments allowing a deeper understanding of the functional value of steering a rear axle.
Increasing the efficiency of medical research article searching for the public and experts by "shepardizing": a lesson from legal research databases.

A number of factors distinguish online medical journal data (such as MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus) from legal research databases (LexisNexis and Westlaw); however, one major difference that could substantially improve the experience of users of medical journal databases is the adoption of a technique from legal research databases known as “shepardizing” 1–4.
A decision making scheme for potato quality

A decision making scheme is proposed for integrating and evaluating variables important for judging tuber quality in the potato industry. Within the scheme, variables affecting potato quality are grouped into categories according to their mutual association in a decision, and their values are rated according to a common linear scale. Expert opinions, as to which range of variable values ensure “commercially acceptable” and “ideal” potato quality, were superimposed as shaded areas over the numerical ratings. Observations of variables used in a decision can be compared to values delineated by experts to judge whether sampled potatoes would be acceptable for commercial use. The scheme is designed to be utilized at various points in the life cycle of a potato from field to market. It is demonstrated for one variety of sampled tubers that were being stored for chip processing.
The effects of superoxide and the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands on the mitochondrial processing of manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase.

The mitochondrion imports and processes the vast majority of the proteins that constitute its structural elements and metabolic pathways. To study mitochondrial precursor processing in the context of the cellular environment, we employed the baculovirus expression system to overexpress the prototypical precursor protein, human manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (hMn-SOD). It was found that superoxide produced by hyperoxic culture conditions (95% O2atm) or the redox cycling agent paraquat caused a lesion of the import/processing of precursor hMn-SOD in the baculovirus model. The oxidation of key sulfhydryl groups as a component of the mitochondrial processing lesion was implicated by the observation that the sulfhydryl reducing agent dithiothreitol was completely effective in preventing the block of hMn-SOD processing induced by paraquat. Interestingly, the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBzR) agonists PK11194, Ro5-4864, and protoporphyrin IX were all found to enhance mitochondrial processing of the hMn-SOD precursor protein, suggesting a role for the PBzR in the regulation of mitochondrial import of proteins. Collectively, our results suggest a possible redox-regulated mechanism of mitochondrial protein import that may lead to less efficient precursor protein uptake by mitochondria under severely oxidizing conditions.
On the fully developed flow of a dense particulate mixture in a pipe

Abstract In this paper we present the governing equations for the flow of a dense particulate mixture in a pipe. The governing equations for the individual constituent as well as the mixture are provided based on continuum mechanics. Constitutive relations for the stress tensors and the interaction force are presented and discussed. A model is provided for the viscosity of the mixture. Numerical solution for the steady fully developed isothermal flow of such a mixture in a pipe is presented. The importance of the pressure drop and the skin friction in pipe flow are also discussed.
Nuchal translucency and cardiac abnormalities in euploid singleton pregnancies.

AbstractObjective: To investigate different cut-off levels of nuchal translucency (NT) to predict abnormal cardiac findings (ACF) in second trimester ultrasound examination and confirmed postnatal congenital heart defects (CHD) in euploid pregnancies.Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on singleton pregnancies examined in our ultrasound units from 2006 to 2011. Fetuses with an abnormal karyotype were excluded. Different cut-off levels of NT thickness were analyzed to evaluate its performance to detect the ACF on second trimester ultrasound (2nd US) examination and also the CHD detected in neonatal follow-up evaluation of ACF cases.Results: Of the 12 840 cases, a total number of 8541 euploid pregnancies were included in the study. Thirty-three had ACFs detected by 2nd US (3.86/1000). The mean NT thickness was found to be higher in fetuses with ACFs (p < 0.0001). Of 33 ACFs, 17 (52%, 1.99/1000) had major CHDs in neonatal follow-up. The area under the ROC curves for NT thickness to predict ACFs a...
Origin of auroral electric potential structures

Abstract Careful analyses during the past 5–6 years of particle and electric field signatures observed in association with the evening discrete arc have led to major advances in the basic understanding of the structure of the auroral electric potential. The origin of this basic potenital structure, which is inherent in the principle of kinetic plasma distributions in globally inhomogeneous magnetic configurations, is reviewed and examined. It is shown that, once the discrete arc potential structure is understood, this principle of arc formation can be applied to other geomagnetic configurations. In this way, a comprehensive theory of discrete auroral arcs of general configuration, including the theta aurora, can be constructed. Furthermore, completion of the auroral field-aligned current circuit in this theory leads to the hypothesis of downward parallel electric fields in the return current region away from the central portion of the discrete arc potential. Such downward parallel electric fields accelerate ionospheric electrons upward to form the return current and trap low-energy ions at the foot of the field line. It is shown that such trapping of ionospheric ions between the magnetic mirror below and the electric reflection above plays a crucial role in the heating and acceleration of ionospheric ions, which have been found to be an important source of magnetospheric plasma. Evidence for such downward parallel electric field signatures have been found in the last year or so.
Nitrogen metabolism and excretion in an intertidal population of the gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta)

The present study was undertaken to assess the ability of gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) from an intertidal population in northern Florida to make and excrete urea as a nitrogenous waste product. Using an electronic tide gauge and data logger, we were able to demonstrate that toadfish in the intertidal mudflats at Panacea, Florida were air‐exposed approximately 9.3% of the over 2000 h monitored, and that these periods could last as long as 9 h. Toadfish were collected from this site during several seasons in 1993–1994, and were subjected to experiments which measured their nitrogenous waste production (as ammonia and urea). Samples were also analyzed for several biochemical proxies of urea excretion (including liver ornithine‐urea cycle (O‐UC) enzyme activities, and activities of nitrogen feeder enzymes, including the key enzyme glutamine synthetase, GSase), as well as plasma cortisol, urea and other variables. Although freshly collected toadfish from Panacea exhibited relatively high activities of the O‐UC...
Food and freedom

The links between food and freedom at first appear rather remote to policymaking and far from central and practical concerns. The lecture discusses important connections between the two that need to be recognized more fully as background to practical food policy. Although ethics, specifically freedom, seems far less compelling a concept than concrete demands of food, the contrast is artificial. The provision of food is a central issue in general social ethics, since so much in human life does depend on the ability to find enough to eat. In particular, the freedom that people enjoy to lead a decent life, including freedom from hunger, from avoidable morbidity, from premature mortality, etc., is centrally connected with the provision of food and related necessities. Also, the compulsion to acquire enough food may force vulnerable people to do things they resent doing, and may make them accept lives with little freedom. Thus the role of food in fostering freedom can be extremely important. On the other side, freedom may also causally influence the success of the pursuit of food. One consideration that has received a great deal of attention relates to the role of freedom to make profits by providing incentives for the expansion of food production. This consideration has often cropped up in the critical evaluation of agricultural policies pursued in many countries in Africa and Asia. The lecturer supplements the conceptual and theoretical discussions with practical illustrations.
Synchrotron-based far-IRAS investigations of ice on a single-crystal transition metal oxide

Synchrotron-based Far-IR Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy has been used to measure the optical response of multi- layers of water adsorbed on a cleaned and annealed Fe3O4(100) single crystal thin film on MgO(100) substrate in the grazing incidence geometry. Several features of the composite system have been observed. In particular, two derivative-type bands at 700 and 800 cm-1 have been attributed to the librations of ice, and an anti-absorption band at 200 cm-1 has been assigned to be hindered translations of ice.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Anatomical banding of intrinsic connections in striate cortex of tree shrews (Tupaia glis)

The intrinsic connectivity of striate cortex was investigated by injecting horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into this area in tree shrews. Such HRP injections demonstrated periodically organized, stripelike connections within area 17. These stripes occur in layers I-IIIA and consist of a small number or retrogradely filled neurons, some clearly pyramidal, together with HRP-labeled axon terminals. HRP-filled axons trunks run between labeled stripes, interconnecting adjacent and distant regions of the stripe pattern. Correlation with Golgi-stained tissue suggests that these stripes are horizontally interconnected by pyramidal neurons with long intracortical axon collaterals (followed for distances over 1 mm from the soma). The HRP-labeled strips measure about 230 micrometers in width, with a center-to-center repeat distance of 450--500 micrometers. They have been mapped over an 8 mm2 area of striate cortex and would thus seem capable of effecting lateral interactions over considerable portions of the retinotopic map. In their dimensions and overall pattern, these anatomical stripes resemble the 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) bands resulting from visual stimulation of trees shrews with stripes of a single orientation. While the functional role of the HRP-labeled stripes is unclear, their similarities with the 2-DG pattern raise the intriguing possibility that they may be related to orientation selectivity. The striking regularity of these extensive lateral interconnections emphasizes the importance of horizontal intralaminar connections within the cortex.
Fine structural localization of acetylcholinesterase in sensory and motor neurons of the muscle receptor organ in Homarus

Histochemical techniques with the electron microscope for the localization of specific acetylcholinesterase and non-specific cholinesterases have been applied to preparations of the abdominal muscle receptor organ, or stretch receptor, of the lobster. Reaction product specific for AChE was found to be localized in a discrete but interrupted fashion on the external surface of the cell membranes of both the fast and slow sensory neurons at the levels of axon, cell body, large and small dendritic processes, and fine dendritic terminations. Reaction product specific for AChE was also found on the external surface of the limiting membranes of motor axons, but not at neuromuscular endings. Non-specific ChE was limited to cytoplasmic vacuoles and cisternae of the Schwann cells of the neural sheaths. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that in the lobster the ACh system may mediate membrane excitability of nerve fibers. Furthermore, at the level of dendritic terminations this system may mediate the transduction of mechanical into electrical energy via reversible permeability changes.
Piezo-drive circuits for amplitude-modulated locomoton for miniature wireless robots

Piezo-actuators due to their relatively high resonant frequencies and small deflections are ideally suited as accurate displacement transducers. As such, they have been used to implement the legs of the miniature wireless NanoWalker robot where step sizes in the order of a few tenths of nanometers are required for final positioning within the range of an embedded instrument designed to operate at the atomic scale. The relatively high capacitance combined with the high-drive voltage requirement of the actuators, impose constraints on the miniaturization of the electronics. The amplitude modulation scheme requires one amplifier per quadrant electrode on the piezo-legs. Although power amplifiers are suited to drive large capacitive loads with large signal amplitudes without stability problems, the quiescent current of the amplifiers requires several DC/DC converters of significant size. During locomotion, the sudden current increase occurring when high slew rate signals are used during the charging/discharging cycle of the capacitive loads at each walking step, causes the power rail voltage to drop, yielding a reduction in the amplitude of the deflections of the piezo-legs. To minimize the number of DC/DC converters, the slew rate requirement of the drive signal is reduced by an increase of the angular acceleration of the leg created by an initial static friction force with the walking surface. It is then suggested that further miniaturization of the embedded electronics can be achieved by adjusting the kinematic behavior of the piezo-legs with an appropriate mechanical design and the right friction coefficient through careful materials selection.
Multicenter Cluster-Randomized Trial of a Multifactorial Intervention to Improve Antihypertensive Medication Adherence and Blood Pressure Control Among Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk (The COM99 Study)

Background—Medication nonadherence is common and results in preventable disease complications. This study assessed the effectiveness of a multifactorial intervention to improve both medication adherence and blood pressure control and to reduce cardiovascular events. Methods and Results—In this multicenter, cluster-randomized trial, physicians from hospital-based hypertension clinics and primary care centers across Spain were randomized to receive and provide the intervention to their high-risk patients. Eligible patients were ≥50 years of age, had uncontrolled hypertension, and had an estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk greater than 30%. Physicians randomized to the intervention group counted patients' pills, designated a family member to support adherence behavior, and provided educational information to patients. The primary outcome was blood pressure control at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included both medication adherence and a composite end point of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related h...
Spectral Unmixing-Based Crop Residue Estimation Using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Data: A Case Study at Purdue University

Crop residue helps to moderate soil temperature and increase water use efficiency in the short term, while providing improvement in soil quality, increasing soil organic carbon, and facilitating biodegradation of pollutants for long-term sustainability. Since good management of crop residue can also increase irrigation efficiency and reduce erosion, remote sensing-based techniques are receiving increased attention for monitoring crop residue coverage. Indices based on differences and ratios of hyperspectral bands are considered state-of-the-art for operational applications, but are limited because of low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) image data from pushbroom sensors such as Hyperion. This study aims to investigate spectral unmixing as an alternative approach to effectively estimate and monitor crop residue cover with airborne and space-based hyperspectral sensors. The secondary aim is to compare traditional linear unmixing to manifold learning-based unmixing approaches to capture nonlinearities inherent in hyperspectral data. For the data in this case study, manifold learning approaches provide more robust estimates than either the cellulose absorption index (CAI) or linear unmixing of airborne and Hyperion hyperspectral data.
Cell signaling through membrane mucins.

MUC1 and MUC4 are the two membrane mucins that have been best characterized. Although they have superficially similar structures and have both been shown to provide steric protection of epithelial surfaces, recent studies have also implicated them in cellular signaling. They act by substantially different mechanisms, MUC4 as a receptor ligand and MUC1 as a docking protein for signaling molecules. MUC4 is a novel intramembrane ligand for the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2/HER2/Neu, triggering a specific phosphorylation of the ErbB2 in the absence of other ErbB ligands and potentiating phosphorylation and signaling through the ErbB2/ErbB3 heterodimeric receptor complex formed in the presence of neuregulin. In contrast, MUC1 has a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail, which binds β-catenin, a key component of adherens junctions and a regulator of transcription, in a process that is tightly regulated by MUC1 phosphorylation. The specific localization of these membrane mucins to the apical surfaces of epithelial cells suggests that their signaling functions may be important as sensor mechanisms in response to invasion or damage of epithelia. BioEssays 25:66–71, 2003. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Flow cytometry in the evaluation of dermatology patients.

Abstract Cytometry is the measurement of physical and/ or chemical characteristics of cells or other biologic particles. Flow cytometry (FCM) is the me asurement of these properties as the cells pass through the measuring apparatus in a fluid stream. FCM systems have five components: a laser light source, fluidics that allow the cells to stream single-file through the laser, optics that collect the light generated by the cells in the beam, photomultipliers that convert the light signals to electronic data, and the computer system that processes the data. 1,2 From its infancy in the 1960s in research laboratories, FCM has moved to the clinic with an astonishing array of applications. FCM has found a role in particle analysis (size distribution, refractility, concentration), cell sorting (cell enrichment, cell concentration, verification of analysis), oncology (cell classification, clone enumeration, proliferation rate, DNA quantitation), cell biology (DNA content, RNA content, chromosome karyotyping, protein content, enzyme activity, intracellular PH, membrane potential, viability, membrane fluidity), immunology (epitope density, epitope type, surface receptor proximity), 3 and, as discussed here, dermatology.
Single-vendor multi-buyer inventory coordination under private information

This paper considers the problem of coordinating a single-vendor multi-buyer inventory system when there are privacy restrictions in the information required to solve the problem. The objective function and cost parameters of each facility are regarded as private information that no other facilities in the system have access to. Moreover, each facility is responsible to specify its own replenishment policy. The objective is to minimize the total average setup/ordering and inventory-related cost. Solution methodologies under private and global information are developed to find two types of nested power-of-two stationary policies. The first policy assumes all the buyers must replenish simultaneously. The second policy is a more general case where the common replenishment assumption is relaxed. A simple form of information exchange is uncovered that allows the solution methodologies for private and global information yield the same results. The experimental results suggest that the performance of the proposed heuristics is comparable or better than an existing method.
Logging Concessions Enable Illegal Logging Crisis in the Peruvian Amazon

The Peruvian Amazon is an important arena in global efforts to promote sustainable logging in the tropics. Despite recent efforts to achieve sustainability, such as provisions in the US–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, illegal logging continues to plague the region. We present evidence that Peru’s legal logging concession system is enabling the widespread illegal logging via the regulatory documents designed to ensure sustainable logging. Analyzing official government data, we found that 68.3% of all concessions supervised by authorities were suspected of major violations. Of the 609 total concessions, nearly 30% have been cancelled for violations and we expect this percentage to increase as investigations continue. Moreover, the nature of the violations indicate that the permits associated with legal concessions are used to harvest trees in unauthorized areas, thus threatening all forested areas. Many of the violations pertain to the illegal extraction of CITES-listed timber species outside authorized areas. These findings highlight the need for additional reforms.
The U.S. Congress and the institutional design of agencies

Theories of agency design maintain that lawmakers impose requirements on how bureaucratic agencies make policy decisions, preventing those agencies from undermining lawmakers' political and policy goals. Empirical support for these theories is limited, however, by the difficulty of measuring critical variables hypothesized to influence the use of this tool of political control. For this study, I employed a methodology particularly well suited, but not previously employed, to study variance in the use of agency-design provisions: interviews with congressional committee staff. Staffers' responses support several theories, cast doubt on one explanation, and point to nuances in other explanations of agency design.
Nonideality in Mixed Monolayers of Sorbitan Oleates Is Enhanced by Elevated Ionic Strength

Mixtures of sorbitan fatty acid esters and the analogous polyoxyethylene adducts are often used to stabilize emulsions. However, the phase behavior of these mixtures is not clearly understood. In addition, the properties of films of these surfactants depend on solvent conditions. Previous results for mixtures of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoleate with sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, or sorbitan trioleate showed that these surfactants form nonideal mixtures at the air−water interface. In the work reported here, similar films have been investigated with high ionic strength subphases. Nonideality observed with monooleate- and sesquioleate-containing films is enhanced at elevated ionic strength. For mixed films containing sorbitan trioleate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoleate, condensation is observed for films of nearly equimolar composition. A model to explain this behavior is based primarily on molecular shape complementarity.
Nab2p Is Required for Poly(A) RNA Export in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Is Regulated by Arginine Methylation via Hmt1p

From transcription to translation, mRNA is complexed with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP proteins) that mediate mRNA processing, export from the nucleus, and delivery into the cytoplasm. Although the mechanism is unknown, export of mature mRNA from the nucleus is a critical regulatory step in gene expression. Analyses of hnRNP proteins have shown that many of these proteins are required for this essential cellular process. In this study, we characterize the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nab2 protein, which was first identified as a poly(A) RNA-binding protein (Anderson, J. T., Wilson, S. M., Datar, K. V., and Swanson, M. S. (1993) Mol. Cell. Biol.13, 2730–2741). Our work indicates that poly(A) RNA export from the nucleus is dependent upon a functional Nab2 protein; correspondingly, export of Nab2p from the nucleus is dependent upon ongoing RNA polymerase II transcription. Furthermore, we show that Nab2p is modified within its RGG domain by the type I protein-arginine methyltransferase, Hmt1p. Our experiments demonstrate that arginine methylation is required for the export of Nab2p from the nucleus and therefore establish an in vivo effect of this modification. Overall, these experiments provide evidence that Nab2p is an hnRNP protein that is required for poly(A) RNA export and whose export from the nucleus is regulated by Hmt1p.
Variations in CRC Screening Practice: Would This Patient Be Screened?

Abstract Purpose Screening rates for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the United States were below the goal of 50% outlined in Healthy People 2010. Physician recommendation is an important predictor of patient compliance. We compared physician CRC screening decision processes (as depicted in decision trees) and examined how variations in decision processes affected decision outcomes. Further, we examined whether those variations could be attributed to physicians’ characteristics and guidelines’ utilization. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with primary care physicians, developed decision trees, compared trees, used trees to predict the recommendation for 8 sample patients, and used regression analysis to identify predictors of variation. Results Most of the physicians (77.3%) self-reported following clinical guidelines for CRC screening. Physicians considered an average of 5.9 decision criteria (range 2-12) in making their screening recommendations. Frequently cited criteria included patient age and family history. We documented variation for 3 of 8 sample patients. Regression analysis indicated that complexity of decision process, gender, age, and experience of physicians contributed to recommendations on screening. In addition, the self-report adherence to guidelines did not influence whether a physician would recommend CRC screening. Conclusions This study supports the notion that variation in practice is a function of decision processes. Therefore, studying decision processes may facilitate efforts to improve patient outcomes.
Affective organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior: examining the relationship through the lens of equity sensitivity

The main purpose of this study was to test the relationship between affective organizational commitment (AOC), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and equity sensitivity, which heretofore has not been examined. Results revealed an interaction between AOC and equity sensitivity such that persons with an entitled orientation exhibited higher levels of OCB as their degree of AOC increased. Individuals with an entitled orientation and lower levels of AOC exhibited the lowest levels of OCB. This research suggests that organizations should focus on improving the level of AOC in order to increase the citizenship behavior of their entitled members. The moderating effect of equity sensitivity may help to explain why the relationship between AOC and OCB has been characterized as modest or weak in previous research studies.
Enzyme distribution in fragmented bull spermatozoa. I. Adenylpyrophosphatase.

Abstract 1. 1. Washed, homogenized bull sperm was separated into head, midpiece and tail components by differential centrifugation. 2. 2. The average yields on a nitrogen basis were 46, 18 and 25% for the respective fractions. 3. 3. Specific activity of the apyrase of the tail fraction was about 3 times that of the midpiece fraction, and of the standard preparation (total homogenate), while the heads showed practically no apyrase activity. 4. 4. A linear relationship between apyrase activity and enzyme concentration was observed. 5. 5. Phosphate liberation is of the adenylpyrophosphatase type, the flagellum extracts being relatively inactive toward glycerophosphate, yeast adenylate and fructose diphosphate.
Smoking acquisition: peer influence and self-selection.

The study examined and contrasted the extent that peer influence and self-selection for smoking peers may affect acquisition of smoking by adolescents. Data for a U.S. national cohort sample of adolescents (N = 4,444) who were nonsmokers in the 1989 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Surveys and were re-interviewed in 1993 were included. The information included measures of smoking behavior and smoking status of both boys' and girls' best friends. Analysis demonstrated that, although the effects of both peer influence and self-selection of smoking friends occurred, self-selection may play a greater role in adolescents' beginning to smoke. This implies that, while teaching adolescents to resist peer pressure may be necessary, it is perhaps more important to identify factors that influence adolescents' decisions in choosing friends who smoke. This could lead to more effective preventive strategies.
Local Stream Temperature and Drainage Network Topology Interact to Influence the Distribution of Smallmouth Bass and Brook Trout in a Central Appalachian Watershed

ABSTRACT We developed and validated a predictive model of water temperature that could be applied to mapped stream segments in a West Virginia. USA watershed. We then tested the hypothesis that local water temperature and the topology of stream thermal networks interact to determine the distribution of two fishes known to differ in their thermal preference—smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Two measures of regional thermal topology were constructed—mean distance to the nearest five coldwater stream segments and distance to the nearest warmwater stream segment. Consistent with expectations, brook trout were more likely to be found in colder streams, and smallmouth bass were in warmer streams. However, brook trout distributions were statistically independent of the regional thermal context suggesting that regional thermal conditions have less influence on brook trout than local thermal conditions in this system. In contrast, there was a significant effect of stre...
Synthesis of Trioxy- and Tetraoxysilatranes with All Six-Membered Rings. Structure and Dynamic NMR Behavior1

A series of silatranes containing all six-membered rings N[CH2(Me2C6H2)O]3SiR was prepared using tris(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)amine, 7, as the encapsulating agent in the case of 2 (CH2Cl), 4A (CHCH2), 4B (CHCH2), 5 (CH2Ph), and 6 (CH2CH2(C5H4N)). Silatranes 1 (OC6H4-4-Br) and 3 (OC6H4-4-CMe3) were synthesized by transesterification of a previously known silatrane B, where R = OMe. Their structures were established by X-ray analyses and correlated with 29Si NMR data. VT 1H NMR spectra reflected fluxional behavior for all of these chiral molecules 1−6. The activation energies for enantiomeric conversion of the clockwise and anticlockwise orientations of the propeller-like silatranes 1−6 increased as the Si−N distance decreased. This trend paralleled an increase in structural rigidity associated with the ring system as supported by ring torsional data supplied by the X-ray analyses. The degree of nitrogen donor interaction depends primarily on electronegativity effects induced at silicon by the exocycli...
A Survival Guide from an Early Adopter: How Web 2.0 and the Right Attitude Can Enable Learning and Expansive Course Design.

Given the challenges facing higher education in the fast-changing educational and social environment, what can be learned from an instructor who has braved the rapidly changing stream of technologies and has subsequently developed a personal and productive approach to using emerging technologies to teach better and farther? What aspects of instruction and technology savvy can turn the frustrations when integrating new technologies into an adventure, with new learning and new relationships? And, where does the role of vision fit into this journey? And, what about instructor attitude? Student attitude? This article gathers the reflections of an early adopter who continuously develops, pilots, studies, and reports-on technology in online courses, examining a variety of aspects of technology-mediated instruction, sharing experience and research, and ultimately developing an applied, practical operational guide that can frame the questions, considerations, and challenges facing instructors venturing into 21st ...
Evolution of Subgrain Boundaries in Heteroepitaxial GaN/AlN/6H-SiC Grown by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition

We have characterized the surface morphology and luminescence properties of GaN/AlN/ SiC layers of various thicknesses using secondary electron imaging (SEI), panchromatic room temperature cathodoluminescence (CL), atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical Nomarski microscopy, and room and low temperature photoluminescence (PL). The nominally undoped GaN layers were grown by MOCVD on 0.1 m thick AlN buffer layers on commercial 6H-SiC(0001) substrates. The GaN layer thicknesses are 0.5, 1.0, 1.6, and 2.6 m. A second 1.0 m thick layer was grown by identical procedures on a 6H-SiC substrate that was first etched in H2 to remove scratches and damage due to mechanical polishing. Biaxial compressive lattice mismatch stress is present in all layers and decreases with increasing layer thickness, while PL linewidths decrease. The 1 m layer on the H-etched substrate is as relaxed as the 2.6 m layer on a non H-etched substrate, however. Pronounced surface structures, apparently corresponding to columnar subgrain boundaries, are observed on the samples on non H-etched SiC. Their typical sizes increase from about 3 to 10 m with increasing layer thickness. They are absent in the H-etched sample. These structures are generally nonradiative in CL images, although mottled contrast is also observed inside them. Similar layers doped with 3×1018 cm−3 Si do not show these features, suggesting a different microstructure.
α- And β-subunit composition of voltage-gated sodium channels investigated with μ-conotoxins and the recently discovered μO§-conotoxin GVIIJ

We investigated the identities of the isoforms of the α (NaV1)- and β (NaVβ)-subunits of voltage-gated sodium channels, including those responsible for action potentials in rodent sciatic nerves. To examine α-subunits, we used seven μ-conotoxins, which target site 1 of the channel. With the use of exogenously expressed channels, we show that two of the μ-conotoxins, μ-BuIIIB and μ-SxIIIA, are 50-fold more potent in blocking NaV1.6 from mouse than that from rat. Furthermore, we observed that μ-BuIIIB and μ-SxIIIA are potent blockers of large, myelinated A-fiber compound action potentials (A-CAPs) [but not small, unmyelinated C-fiber CAPs (C-CAPs)] in the sciatic nerve of the mouse (unlike A-CAPs of the rat, previously shown to be insensitive to these toxins). To investigate β-subunits, we used two synthetic derivatives of the recently discovered μO§-conotoxin GVIIJ that define site 8 of the channel, as previously characterized with cloned rat NaV1- and NaVβ-subunits expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, where it was shown that μO§-GVIIJ is a potent inhibitor of several NaV1-isoforms and that coexpression of NaVβ2 or -β4 (but not NaVβ1 or -β3) totally protects against block by μO§-GVIIJ. We report here the effects of μO§-GVIIJ on 1) sodium currents of mouse NaV1.6 coexpressed with various combinations of NaVβ-subunits in oocytes; 2) A- and C-CAPs of mouse and rat sciatic nerves; and 3) sodium currents of small and large neurons dissociated from rat dorsal root ganglia. Our overall results lead us to conclude that action potentials in A-fibers of the rodent sciatic nerve are mediated primarily by NaV1.6 associated with NaVβ2 or NaVβ4.
I-Type Lectins

Lysosomes are intracellular membrane-bound organelles that perform the final degradation of many cellular macromolecules. This is achieved by the action of a number of lysosomal enzymes (originally called “acid hydrolases” because of the low internal pH characteristic of lysosomes). These enzymes are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) on membrane-bound ribosomes and traverse the ER-Golgi pathway along with other newly synthesized proteins. At the terminal Golgi compartment (the trans-Golgi network or TGN), they are segregated from all other glycoproteins and selectively delivered to lysosomes. In most “higher” animal cells, this specialized trafficking is achieved primarily by a specific glycan marker that is recognized by certain receptors. This chapter describes the discovery and characterization of this glycan-mediated biological system, which relies on recognition of glycans containing mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) by “P-type” lectins. This was the first clear-cut example of a biological role for glycans on mammalian glycoproteins and the first demonstrated link between glycoprotein biosynthesis and human disease. The interesting history of its discovery is therefore described in some detail.
Inductions, Red Herrings, and the Best Explanation for the Mixed Record of Science

AbstractKyle Stanford has recently claimed to offer a new challenge to scientific realism. Taking his inspiration from the familiar Pessimistic Induction (PI), Stanford proposes a New Induction (NI...
Stabilization of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Systems Using Surface Active Agents

Abstract In this study, surface active agents were used in the preparation of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) by temperature induced phase separation. The surfactants Tween 20, a mixture of long chain carboxylic acids, and oleic acid were used to stabilize the liquid crystal 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) in a poly(isobutyl methacrylate) matrix. The PDLCs formed using the surfactants exhibited more uniform particle sizes and greater particle size stability than comparable systems which contained no surfactant. The stabilized systems maintained their properties after being switched over 100,000 times. Also, the response to an applied electric field was shown to be faster for the stabilized PDLC systems.