cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental significance of a cortical cytoskeletal domain in Chaetopterus eggs

The cortex of Chaetopterus eggs contains a cytoskeletal domain (CD) which includes a specific class of dense granular organelles and a large proportion of the maternal mRNA. This CD, along with its constituent dense granular organelles and mRNA, can be displaced to atypical locations in the egg by centrifugation. To investigate the developmental significance of the CD, we have examined the early development of egg and zygote fragments, prepared by centrifugation, which contained the CD, the nucleus, or both. Specifically, we prepared nucleate egg and zygote fragments depleted in the CD, and two-cell embryos in which the CD was present in only one cell. Nucleate centripetal egg fragments were both unable to develop after fertilization and were depleted in the CD, as shown by electron microscopy, acridine orange staining of cortical organelles, and hybridization with poly(U) and cloned DNA probes. In contrast, about 20-35% of the nucleate centripetal fragments derived from one-cell zygotes developed into swimming larva. Correlated with this improved success of development, we found that these zygotic centripetal fragments contained significant levels of the CD, using the same methods listed above. More effective removal of the CD from zygotic centripetal fragments by stratification prior to fragmentation virtually eliminated their ability to develop. The CD and associated components could be displaced into only one of the first two blastomeres by centrifugation of zygotes immediately prior to the first cleavage. Embryos containing the CD in only one blastomere continued to cleave, but formed defective larva. The results suggest that the cortical CD is necessary for normal embryonic development.
Genome-wide association study of quantitative resistance to southern leaf blight in the maize nested association mapping population

Nested association mapping (NAM) offers power to resolve complex, quantitative traits to their causal loci. The maize NAM population, consisting of 5,000 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from 25 families representing the global diversity of maize, was evaluated for resistance to southern leaf blight (SLB) disease. Joint-linkage analysis identified 32 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with predominantly small, additive effects on SLB resistance. Genome-wide association tests of maize HapMap SNPs were conducted by imputing founder SNP genotypes onto the NAM RILs. SNPs both within and outside of QTL intervals were associated with variation for SLB resistance. Many of these SNPs were within or near sequences homologous to genes previously shown to be involved in plant disease resistance. Limited linkage disequilibrium was observed around some SNPs associated with SLB resistance, indicating that the maize NAM population enables high-resolution mapping of some genome regions.
MEMS Devices and Applications in Aerospace and Civil Engineering

J ‘‘Examination of Bulge Test for Determining Residual Stress, Young’s Modulus, and Poisson’s Ratio of 3C-SiC Thin Films,’’ describe their study of a test that is based on plate mechanics, and illustrate its capabilities within their work on silicon carbide fabrication. Another important topic within MEMS ~and its nanoscale counterpart, NEMS! research is biochemical sensing, for which dissolvable hydrogels can serve as indicators. Aluru and his colleagues from the University of Illinois, in a paper entitled ‘‘Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of Dissolvable Hydrogels,’’ present a mathematical model for hydrogel behavior with comparisons between model and experimental results. Three papers are contributed by researchers in the MEMS community describing the development of devices that can revolutionize aerospace and civil engineering practice. My colleagues from Carnegie Mellon, Xie ~now at the University of Florida! and Fedder, report on the development of vibratory gyroscopes in a paper entitled ‘‘Integrated MEMS Gyroscopes.’’ In a paper entitled ‘‘Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers: Theory and Technology,’’ Khuri-Yakub and his coworkers from Stanford give the reader comprehensive insight into the design, behavior, and performance of ultrasonic transducers. Liu and his coworkers, from the University of Illinois, contribute a paper entitled ‘‘Two-Dimensional Micromachined Flow-Sensor Array for Fluid Mechanics Studies’’ in which they describe the development of two novel sensors for use in fluid mechanics; they start with the physical concepts, show the development of the MEMS process and the device design, and then illustrate the results with experimental studies. I wish to thank the authors of these papers, as well as others who responded with interest and whose papers may appear in future issues of this Journal. The ideas they describe are stimulating, their research practices are exemplary, and their writing is excellent. They set a high standard and we are the beneficiaries. Irving J. Oppenheim Carnegie Mellon University
Synaptic Protein Synthesis Associated with Memory Is Regulated by the RISC Pathway in Drosophila

Long-lasting forms of memory require protein synthesis, but how the pattern of synthesis is related to the storage of a memory has not been determined. Here we show that neural activity directs the mRNA of the Drosophila Ca(2+), Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Kinase II (CaMKII), to postsynaptic sites, where it is rapidly translated. These features of CaMKII synthesis are recapitulated during the induction of a long-term memory and produce patterns of local protein synthesis specific to the memory. We show that mRNA transport and synaptic protein synthesis are regulated by components of the RISC pathway, including the SDE3 helicase Armitage, which is specifically required for long-lasting memory. Armitage is localized to synapses and lost in a memory-specific pattern that is inversely related to the pattern of synaptic protein synthesis. Therefore, we propose that degradative control of the RISC pathway underlies the pattern of synaptic protein synthesis associated with a stable memory.
Energy efficient DVS schedule for fixed-priority real-time systems

Energy consumption has become an increasingly important consideration in designing many real-time embedded systems. Variable voltage processors, if used properly, can dramatically reduce such system energy consumption. In this paper, we present a technique to determine voltage settings for a variable voltage processor that utilizes a fixed-priority assignment to schedule jobs. By exploiting more efficiently the processor slack time, our approach can be more effective in reducing the execution speed for real-time tasks when necessary. Our approach also produces the minimum constant voltage needed to feasibly schedule the entire job set. With both randomly generated and practical examples, our heuristic approach can achieve the dynamic energy reduction very close to the theoretically optimal one (within 2p) with much less computation cost.
Rearrangements of cyclopropylmethylchlorocarbene and dicyclopropylmethylchlorocarbene

Abstract Cyclopropylmethylchlorocarbene ( 3 ) and dicyclopropylmethylchlorocarbene ( 4 ) give only 1,2-H shift products with k H =2.0×10 7 and 1.3×10 7 s −1 , respectively, at 25°C.
Recognition of irrationality of fear and the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder and specific phobia in adults: implications for criteria revision in DSM-5.

Background: In DSM-IV, the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and specific phobia in adults requires that the person recognize that his or her fear of the phobic situation is excessive or unreasonable (criterion C). The DSM-5 Anxiety Disorders Work Group has proposed replacing this criterion because some patients with clinically significant phobic fears do not recognize the irrationality of their fears. In the present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services project we determined the number of individuals who were not diagnosed with SAD and specific phobia because they did not recognize the excessiveness or irrationality of their fear. Methods: We interviewed 3,000 psychiatric outpatients and 1,800 candidates for bariatric surgery with a modified version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. In the SAD and specific phobia modules we suspended the skip-out that curtails the modules if criterion C is not met. Patients who met all DSM-IV criteria for SAD or specific phobia except criterion C were considered to have “modified” SAD or specific phobia. Results: The lifetime rates of DSM-IV SAD and specific phobia were 30.5 and 11.8% in psychiatric patients and 11.7 and 10.2% in bariatric surgery candidates, respectively. Less than 1% of the patients in both samples were diagnosed with modified SAD or specific phobia. Conclusion: Few patients were excluded from a phobia diagnosis because of criterion C. We suggest that in DSM-5 this criterion be eliminated from the SAD and specific phobia criteria sets. Depression and Anxiety, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The effectiveness of the revised scaffold safety standard in the construction industry

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the revised scaffold safety standard in the construction industry and to evaluate time trend analyses on scaffold-related fatalities and injuries, as well as inspections conducted and cited violations of the scaffold safety standard set forth in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 1926, Subpart L. Data on scaffold-related fatalities, injuries, and lost workdays, as well as cited violations of scaffold safety, were assembled from sources such as the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Integrated Management Information System, and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data for the period prior to the revision of the standard were compared with data from the period after the revision. We used autoregressive analyses to evaluate the percentage of change in the mean scaffold-related fatalities, injuries and lost workdays and in the OSHA inspections and cited violations of scaffold safety. Effectiveness analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the revised scaffold safety standard in preventing fatal or nonfatal injuries in the construction industry. Complying with the revised scaffold safety standard would prevent approximately 4.6 fatalities, 404 nonfatal injuries, and 2896 lost workdays per year. A total cost savings associated with compliance was estimated at $5.8 million (2001 US$) per year. Compliance with the revised scaffold safety standard would provide a safer workplace and generate a significant cost saving in the construction industry.
Threshold voltage of narrow channel field effect transistors

Abstract A new effect associated with Metal-Oxide-Silicon Field-Effect-Transistors (MOS-FET's) is presented in this paper. MOS-FET's show an increase of threshold voltage with decreasing ratio of channel width to gate depletion width. This narrow channel effect is explained by means of geometrical edge effects. With decreasing channel width the transition from the field oxide depletion region to the gate oxide depletion region becomes comparable to the gate width and cannot be neglected in the derivation of the threshold voltage equation. A theoretical model is given to explain the influence of decreasing channel width on the threshold voltage as well as on other electrical parameters. This theoretical model is in good agreement with experimental results given in this paper.
Dose‐dependent acute clearance of hepatitis C genotype 1 virus with interferon alfa

To determine if the clearance of hepatitis C genotype 1 virus (HCV) is dependent on the dose of interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha2b), the acute clearance of HCV after a single dose of either 3, 5, or 10 mIU of IFN-alpha was compared in patients with chronic hepatitis C. HCV-RNA levels following IFN-alpha administration were measured. At 24 hours, mean percentage serum viral reduction was 41.4%, 63.7%, and 85.5% for 3, 5, and 10 mIU, respectively (P < .001). At 48 hours, the mean viral reduction was consistently less than the reduction at 24 hours, averaging 22.9%, 61.9%, and 74.3%, respectively (P < .001), indicating that the drug effect diminishes before 48 hours. Regression analysis showed a positive correlation between dose and percent reduction of HCV-RNA levels (r = .6; P < .001). A mathematical model showed that such dose dependence is expected if IFN-alpha partially blocks viral production. Minimum clearance and production rates of HCV were estimated from measurements of HCV-RNA levels after the 10-mIU dose. HCV decay followed an exponential decline with a minimum estimate of the viral clearance rate constant of 2.8 per day, corresponding to a virion half-life of 0.3 days or less. A minimal estimate of the daily HCV production and clearance is 3.7 x 10(11) virions per day, indicating a high rate of replication and turnover. These results indicate that there is a dose-dependent effect of IFN-alpha in clearance of HCV genotype 1. Because the virion production rate is very rapid and because the current recommended dose of IFN-alpha (3 mIU) is often ineffective, larger doses should be considered to treat genotype 1-infected patients.
Experimental vaccines in animal models for schistosomiasis

Considerable morbidity and mortality results from the affliction of an estimated 200 million people worldwide by several species of schistosomes; 779 million are exposed to the disease in 74 different countries. Even though anti-parasitic drugs and other control measures, including public hygiene and snail control are available, the advent of an effective vaccine still remains the most potentially powerful means for the control of this disease. The putative vaccine could be administered to small children prior to the time when their contact with infected water is maximal, so as to prevent severe infection in the subsequent years. This review attempts to summarize the status of schistosome vaccine development with special emphasis on functionally important vaccine candidates. The importance of utilizing both murine and nonhuman primate models as a prerequisite for clinical trials is discussed.
Exterior gravitation of a polyhedron derived and compared with harmonic and mascon gravitation representations of asteroid 4769 Castalia

The exterior gravitation of a constant-density polyhedron is derived analytically in closed form. Expressions for potential, attraction, and gravity gradient matrix involve one logarithm term per edge and one arctangent term per face, The Laplacian can be used to determine whether a field point is inside or outside the polyhedron, This polyhedral method is well suited to evaluating the gravitational field of an irregularly shaped body such as an asteroid or comet, Conventional harmonic and mascon potential and attraction expressions suffer large errors when evaluated close to a polyhedral model of asteroid 4769 Castalia.
Returns dynamics and global integration of BRICS stock markets

The Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) nations are currently among the fastest growing emerging markets. We empirically analyse the BRICS equity market returns’ interdependence on the leading global markets of USA, UK, France and Germany. Results from this study suggest that returns of all BRICS nations are interdependent with the returns of USA, UK, France, and Germany, with varying degree and magnitude. By means of GARCH, we also find evidence of volatility spillover from major global markets to BRICS markets. We explain the observed phenomenon of growing influence – albeit with varying effects – of mature global markets on BRICS equity markets due to the nature of growing trade linkages.
Cofactor-directed reversible denaturation pathways: the cofactor-stabilized Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase homodimer unfolds through a pathway that differs from that of the apoenzyme.

While the urea-mediated unfolding pathway of the Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase (eAATase) homodimer proceeds through a reversible three-state process with a partially folded dimeric intermediate, D ⇄ D* ⇄ 2U (E. Deu and J. F. Kirsch, accompanying paper), that of a cofactor-stabilized form differs. Pyridoxal phosphate, which binds at the intersubunit active sites, stabilizes the native form by 6 kcal mol-1 and dissociates during the D ⇄ D* transition. Reductive trapping of the cofactor to a nondissociable derivative (PPL-eAATase) precludes the formation of D*. A novel monomeric intermediate (M‘-PPL) with 70% of the native secondary structure (circular dichroism) was identified in the unfolding pathway of PPL-eAATase: D-PPL2 ⇄ 2M‘-PPL ⇄ 2U-PPL. The combined results define two structural regions with distinct stabilities: the active site region (ASR) and the generally more stable, dimerization region (DMR). The DMR includes the key intersubunit contacts. It is responsible for the multimeric na...
Identification of a (CUG)n Triplet Repeat RNA-Binding Protein and Its Expression in Myotonic Dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is an autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease that is associated with a (CTG)n repeat expansion in the 3'-untranslated region of the myotonin protein kinase (Mt-PK) gene. This study reports the isolation and characterization of a (CUG)n triplet repeat pre-mRNA/mRNA binding protein that may play an important role in DM pathogenesis. Two HeLa cell proteins, CUG-BP1 and CUG-BP2, have been purified based upon their ability to bind specifically to (CUG)8 oligonucleotides in vitro. While CUG-BP1 is the major (CUG)8-binding activity in normal cells, nuclear CUG-BP2 binding activity increases in DM cells. Both CUG-BP1 and CUG-BP2 have been identified as isoforms of a novel heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP), hNab50. The CUG-BP/hNab50 protein is localized predominantly in the nucleus and is associated with polyadenylated RNAs in vivo. In vitro RNA-binding/photocrosslinking studies demonstrate that CUG-BP/hNab50 binds to RNAs containing the Mt-PK 3'-UTR. We propose that the (CUG)n repeat region in Mt-PK mRNA is a binding site for CUG-BP/hNab50 in vivo, and triplet repeat expansion leads to sequestration of this hnRNP on mutant Mt-PK transcripts.
A Region of Human CD14 Required for Lipopolysaccharide Binding

CD14, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein on the surface of monocytes, macrophages, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, is a receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS). CD14 binding of LPS is enhanced by serum proteins, especially lipopolysaccharide binding protein. The serum-dependent binding of LPS to CD14 stimulates macrophages to make cytokines, which can cause septic shock in humans and animals. Here, we identify a region in human CD14 which is important in serum-dependent LPS binding and LPS-induced cellular activation. Four small regions (4-5 amino acids long) within the N-terminal 65 amino acids of CD14 were deleted singly or in combination. The deletion mutants were stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The mutants were characterized in three assays: reactivity with anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody, serum-dependent LPS binding, and LPS-induced activation of NF-kappa B. Some of the mutants selectively lost reactivity with the anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody that inhibited serum-dependent LPS binding and cellular activation. All of the mutants bound much less LPS than wild type CD14 in the presence of serum. None of the mutants bound more LPS than control CD14-CHO cells in the absence of serum. CD14-CHO cells respond to LPS by activation of NF-kappa B. All of the deletion mutants were less active LPS receptors than wild type CD14-CHO cells. The delta AVEVE mutant, the delta DDED and delta PQPD double mutant, and the delta DDED, delta PQPD, delta AVEVE, and delta DPRQY quadruple deletion mutants were essentially inactive LPS receptors in CHO cells. These studies suggest that the 65 N-terminal amino acids of CD14 are critical for serum-dependent binding of LPS to CD14 and subsequent signal transduction in CHO cells.
Propensity score-based diagnostics for categorical response regression models

For binary or categorical response models, most goodness-of-fit statistics are based on the notion of partitioning the subjects into groups or regions and comparing the observed and predicted responses in these regions by a suitable chi-squared distribution. Existing strategies create this partition based on the predicted response probabilities, or propensity scores, from the fitted model. In this paper, we follow a retrospective approach, borrowing the notion of balancing scores used in causal inference to inspect the conditional distribution of the predictors, given the propensity scores, in each category of the response to assess model adequacy. We can use this diagnostic under both prospective and retrospective sampling designs, and it may ascertain general forms of misspecification. We first present simple graphical and numerical summaries that can be used in a binary logistic model. We then generalize the tools to propose model diagnostics for the proportional odds model. We illustrate the methods with simulation studies and two data examples: (i) a case-control study of the association between cumulative lead exposure and Parkinson's disease in the Boston, Massachusetts, area and (ii) and a cohort study of biomarkers possibly associated with diabetes, from the VA Normative Aging Study.
Modulation of pituitary-adrenocortical function: decreased secretory episodes and blunted circadian rhythmicity in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Twenty-four-hour episodic secretion of cortisol was studied in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease in order to define how and if feedback inhibition of the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenocortical axis had occurred. The patients had prolonged disappearance rates of endogenous cortisol and corticosteroid-binding globulin-binding capacity was low. Multiple sampling (every 20 min) for levels of free and total plasma cortisol was carried out. Mean 24-h total and free plasma cortisol levels were not significantly different from normal, although the mean percentage of free cortisol was high. Cortisol secretion was decreased, as judged by urinary free cortisol values and the percentage of time that secretory activity occurred. Circadian rhythmicity of plasma cortisol levels appeared to be normal, but the amplitude of rhythmicity was decreased. Modulation of cortisol secretion in liver disease patients was shown by fewer secretory peaks and decreased secretory time during 24-h studies. In the subjects stu...
Alcohol use and risky sexual behavior among college students and youth: Evaluating the evidence

Objective: To evaluate the empirical associations between alcohol use and risky sex at two levels of analysis. Global associations test whether individuals who engage in one behavior are more likely to engage in the other, whereas event-specific associations test whether the likelihood of engaging in one behavior on a given occasion varies as a function of engaging in the other on that same occasion. Methods: Studies examining the association between drinking and risky sex in samples of college students and youth were reviewed. Those published in the past 10 years and using event-level methodology or random sampling were emphasized. Results: Findings were generally consistent across levels of analysis, but differed across types of risky behaviors. Drinking was strongly related to the decision to have sex and to indiscriminate forms of risky sex (e.g., having multiple or casual sex partners), but was inconsistently related to protective behaviors (e.g., condom use). Moreover, the links among alcohol use, t...
Designing fuzzy controllers from a variable structures standpoint

A procedure is presented for designing fuzzy controllers based upon variable structures techniques. Three such controllers are presented: the fuzzy equivalents of sliding-mode controllers, saturating controllers, and tanh controllers. By using an approach based upon variables structures (VSS) techniques, the stability of each of these controllers is assured. By using a sliding surface, the order of the rule base is reduced to size r/spl times/m, where r is the number of inputs and m is the number of fuzzification levels. This combination makes the proposed design procedure able to generate simple controllers with guaranteed stability properties. To illustrate the proposed design procedure, fuzzy controllers are designed for a ball-and-beam system. It is demonstrated that in spite of this system being a fourth-order unstable system, the proposed design procedure results in simple stable fuzzy controllers.
HETEROZYGOUS EFFECTS ON FITNESS OF EMS-TREATED CHROMOSOMES IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER)

The heterozygous effects on fitness of second chromosomes carrying mutants induced with different doses of EMS were ascertained by monitoring changes in chromosome frequencies over time. These changes were observed in populations in which the treated chromosomes, as well as untreated competitors, remained heterozygous in males generation after generation. This situation was achieved by using a translocation which links the second chromosome to the X chromosome; however, only untranslocated second chromosomes were mutagenized. Chromosomes were classified according to their effects on viability in homozygous condition. A preliminary homozygosis identified completely lethal chromosomes; secondary tests distinguished between drastic (viability index < 0.1) and nondrastic chromosomes. Chromosomes that were nondrastic after treatment were found to reduce the fitness of their heterozygous carriers by 3-5%. The data show that flies homozygous for these chromosomes were about 2.7% less viable per treatment with 1 mm EMS than flies homozygous for untreated chromosomes. By comparing the fitness-depressing effects of nondrastic EMS-induced mutants in heterozygous condition with the corresponding viability-depressing effects measured by Temin, it is apparent that the total fitness effects are several times larger than the viability effects alone. Completely lethal chromosomes derived from the most heavily treated material reduced fitness by 11% in heterozygous condition; approximately half of this reduction was due to the lethal mutations themselves.
Experimental production of bending and radial flake fractures and implications for lithic technologies

Abstract Bend and radially broken flake tools have been identified in Paleolithic and Paleoindian assemblages, and their presence raises important questions. Were these breaks intentionally produced to serve as tool edges or were broken flakes simply scavenged? More importantly, can we distinguish between intentionally produced breaks and those produced incidentally? Experimental archaeology can help answer these questions. In this paper, three sets of experimentally produced bend and radial flake breaks were compared. Flakes were intentionally broken by percussion, and these breaks were compared to those produced during bifacial core reduction and by flake trampling. The presence of point of impact markers, near ninety degree break angles, and an assemblage with high percentages of bend and radial breaks distinguish intentional fracture from incidental fractures produced during bifacial reduction. High percentages of radial breaks distinguish intentional fracture from trampling. Finally, it may not be possible to identify intentional breaks in a bifacial reduction assemblage severely affected by flake-on-flake trampling.
Oxygen and hydrogen isotope geochemistry of the Star-Morning mine, Coeur d'Alene mining district, Idaho

Oxygen isotope values of vein quartz from the Star-Morning mine range from 13.2{per thousand} to 16.2{per thousand} relative to standard mean ocean water. Calculated isotopic values of water in equilibrium with the vein quartz at 325{degree}C range from 7.2{per thousand} to 10.2{per thousand}. The {delta}{sup 18}O{sub quartz} values decrease with depth in the mine. The {delta}D values of quartz inclusion fluids range from {minus}18{per thousand} to {minus}105{per thousand} and do not significantly correlate with depth. Oxygen isotope values of Belt Supergroup whole-rock samples range from 13.8{per thousand} to 16.8{per thousand}. The data indicate that the fluids were a mix of metamorphic water released from the Belt rocks during low-grade metamorphism, and {sup 18}O-shifted meteoric water.
Role of the Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor in Ca2+ Feedback Inhibition of Calcium Release-activated Calcium Current (I crac)

Abstract We examined the activation and regulation of calcium release-activated calcium current (I crac) in RBL-1 cells in response to various Ca2+ store-depleting agents. With [Ca2+]i strongly buffered to 100 nm,I crac was activated by ionomycin, thapsigargin, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), and two metabolically stable IP3 receptor agonists, adenophostin A andl-α-glycerophospho-d-myoinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (GPIP2). With minimal [Ca2+]ibuffering, with [Ca2+]i free to fluctuateI crac was activated by ionomycin, thapsigargin, and by the potent IP3 receptor agonist, adenophostin A, but not by GPIP2 or IP3 itself. Likewise, when [Ca2+]i was strongly buffered to 500 nm, ionomycin, thapsigargin, and adenophostin A did and GPIP2 and IP3 did not activate detectableI crac. However, with minimal [Ca2+]i buffering, or with [Ca2+]i buffered to 500 nm, GPIP2 was able to fully activate detectableI crac if uptake of Ca2+intracellular stores was first inhibited. Our findings suggest that when IP3 activates the IP3 receptor, the resulting influx of Ca2+ quickly inactivates the receptor, and Ca2+ is re-accumulated at sites that regulateI crac. Adenophostin A, by virtue of its high receptor affinity, is resistant to this inactivation. Comparison of thapsigargin-releasable Ca2+ pools following activation by different IP3 receptor agonists indicates that the critical regulatory pool of Ca2+ may be very small in comparison to the total IP3-sensitive component of the endoplasmic reticulum. These findings reveal new and important roles for IP3 receptors located on discrete IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pools in calcium feedback regulation ofI crac and capacitative calcium entry.
Structured tensor computations: blocking, symmetries and kronecker factorizations

In this thesis we will explore the extensions of several ideas that have proven very successful in matrix computations to the rapidly maturing field of tensor computation. We will mainly focus on the use of blocking techniques, exploiting various different symmetries and developing new computational algorithms and factorizations. In Chapter 2 we develop a novel method to embed a higher-order tensor in a larger, symmetric tensor. Such an embedding at the matrix level is well-known and has been used successfully to derive important matrix algorithms and is one of several ways of connecting the concepts of eigenvalues and singular values for matrices. Our method for higher-order tensors is a generalization of the matrix case, and we use it to derive a previously unknown connection between the concepts of tensor eigenvalues and tensor singular values. We also show how this symmetric tensor embedding can be used to generalize algorithms originally developed for symmetric tensors to arbitrary tensors while preserving their convergence properties. Block tensors are becoming increasingly important within the field of numerical multilinear algebra. Accordingly, it is appropriate to develop an infrastructure that supports reasoning about block tensor computation. In Chapter 3 we establish concise notation that is suitable for the analysis and development of block tensor algorithms, prove several useful block tensor identities, and make precise the notion of a block tensor unfolding. In Chapter 4 we define a new block-based tensor operation that generalizes the matrix Kronecker product. Using this operation, we introduce a new tensor decomposition which extends the Kronecker Product SVD and has many attractive properties. The block unfoldings introduced in Chapter 3 play a pivotal role in the development of these tensor Kronecker methods. Chapter 5 covers two special topics related to the overall theme of this thesis. First, a tensor decomposition based on the matrix QR decomposition with partial pivoting is introduced and its potential for low-rank approximation is explored. Then a power method that efficiently exploits the structure of partially symmetric tensors is proposed, and we investigate the singular value and singular vector properties of such tensors. Overall, these results show how many ideas from matrix computations can be successfully extended to tensors. Just as matrix algorithms have increasingly been tuned to exploit structure such as blocking and symmetries, the same can be done in the tensor setting.
World Wide Web Technology as a New Teaching and Learning Environment

Since the introduction in 1993 of the World Wide Web and the associated multimedia technologies numerous projects are underway introducing the new tool into introductory physics teaching. This paper will describe two such undertakings: The Cockpit Physics project at the United States Air Force Academy and the WebPhysics project at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis.
Multi-channel estimation of time residuals from broadband seismic data using multi-wavelets

Abstract We describe a new multi-channel procedure for estimating arrival time residuals from seismic array data. It incorporates aspects of three traditional array processing methods: frequency-domain beamforming, time-domain beamforming, and principal-component analysis. We start by applying the multi-wavelet transform to the data, which yields a suite of narrow-band seismograms. We use the multi-wavelet transform, instead of the windowed Fourier transform, for superior control over both the time and frequency resolution. We employ a beamforming procedure that uses principal component analysis on the transformed, time-aligned data. The values in the principal component vector and value pair are used to calculate a measure of coherence analogous to semblance. A measure of the misfit of the data to our plane-wave model is contained in the phase differences in the principal component vector. The phase differences can be converted directly to time residuals, but they are only resolvable to a fraction of the analyzing wavelength. Hence, our method is a staged process that moves from lower to higher analyzing frequency bands. We present two data examples that illustrate the wide range of spatial and temporal scales over which this approach can be applied. First, we determine time residuals for the deep-focus Bolivian earthquake of 1994 for a set of broadband stations spread over most of southern California. The time residuals had a range of 2 sec, and after their removal, we were able to stack the data to over 1.0 Hz. Second, we study a local event recorded by high-frequency sensors at an array in Turkmenistan with an aperture of less than 1 km. We found that the time residuals only had a range of 0.02 sec, but by removing them, we significantly improved the stack of the data for the arrival9s dominant frequency.
Emotional intelligence in a stupid world

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to review the five emotional intelligence (EI) competencies as originally outlined by Daniel Goleman but within the context of academic libraries. EI skills can be more important to have than intellectual ability in creating effective organizations. Academic librarians, particularly those in leadership positions, need to be mindful of EI competencies to avoid miscommunication when working with colleagues. Used skillfully, EI has the ability to build more cohesive and stronger collaborations inside and outside the library. EI is just as important for early career librarians as it is for those in senior management positions. Design/methodology/approach – This article reviews the five EI competencies as originally outlined by Daniel Goleman but within the context of academic libraries. It focuses on empathy to demonstrate how its application in libraries can facilitate teamwork, engender better cooperation and strengthen an organization’s culture. Findings – Most libr...
Phosphoprotein with Phosphoglycerate Mutase Activity from the Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

When soluble extracts of the extreme acidothermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus were incubated with [gamma-(32)P]ATP, several proteins were radiolabeled. One of the more prominent of these, which migrated with a mass of approximately 46 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), was purified by column chromatography and SDS-PAGE and subjected to amino acid sequence analysis via both the Edman technique and mass spectroscopy. The best match to the partial sequence obtained was the potential polypeptide product of open reading frame sso0417, whose DNA-derived amino acid sequence displayed many features reminiscent of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate (PGA) mutases [iPGMs]. Open reading frame sso0417 was therefore cloned, and its protein product was expressed in Escherichia coli. Assays of its catalytic capabilities revealed that the protein was a moderately effective PGA mutase that also exhibited low levels of phosphohydrolase activity. PGA mutase activity was dependent upon the presence of divalent metal ions such as Co(2+) or Mn(2+). The recombinant protein underwent autophosphorylation when incubated with either [gamma-(32)P]ATP or [gamma-(32)P]GTP. The site of phosphorylation was identified as Ser(59), which corresponds to the catalytically essential serine residue in bacterial and eucaryal iPGMs. The phosphoenzyme intermediate behaved in a chemically and kinetically competent manner. Incubation of the (32)P-labeled phosphoenzyme with 3-PGA resulted in the disappearance of radioactive phosphate and the concomitant appearance of (32)P-labeled PGA at rates comparable to those measured in steady-state assays of PGA mutase activity.
Mineralogy of Asteroid 1459 Magnya and implications for its origin

Detailed near-infrared spectral observations of Asteroid 1459 Magnya reveal an asteroid that is primarily composed of pyroxene and plagioclase feldspar, confirming earlier suggestions that Magnya has a basaltic composition. The average Magnya spectrum for March 23, 2002 has a Band I center of 0.926 µm and a Band II center of 1.938 µm. Observations over 4 1 hours show little variation in band center positions. The feldspar-to-pyroxene ratio is ∼ 0.6 on Magnya’s surface. Comparing Magnya with the spectral parameters from 4 Vesta shows discordant pyroxene chemistries; Magnya’s pyroxenes contain ∼ 10 mol% less Fs than Vesta’s pyroxenes. This suggests that Magnya originated from a parent body other than 4 Vesta and that its progenitor formed in a more chemically reduced region of the solar nebula within the asteroid belt.
Charge neutralization of heavy-ion ICF driver beams

Summary form only given, as follows. For heavy ion beams to be successful as a driver for inertial confinement fusion targets it must be possible to project a very high beam over several meters in the reactor chamber onto a spot a few millimeters in diameter. This is physically possible with ions of mass A /spl sim/ 200, energy /spl sim/ 10 GeV, and very low charge state 1-2. However, the technology is easier if beam space charge effects can be reduced without excessive increase in beam emittance. Using an electromagnetic, r-z PIC (particle-in-cell) code called BICrz, the author is modeling the processes by which an unneutralized ion beam from the accelerator becomes partially neutralized, by entraining electrons from a preexisting plasma cloud or produced by collisional ionization of chamber vapor, or perhaps other mechanisms. With focal spot size in mind, the degree of neutralization at the front and back of the pulse, and nonlinearity of the radial fields are measured.
Nonsmooth optimization via quasi-Newton methods

We investigate the behavior of quasi-Newton algorithms applied to minimize a nonsmooth function f , not necessarily convex. We introduce an inex- act line search that generates a sequence of nested intervals containing a set of points of nonzero measure that satisfy the Armijo and Wolfe conditions if f is absolutely continuous along the line. Furthermore, the line search is guaranteed to terminate if f is semi-algebraic. It seems quite difficult to establish a convergence theorem for quasi-Newton methods applied to such general classes of functions, so we give a care- ful analysis of a special but illuminating case, the Euclidean norm, in one variable using the inexact line search and in two variables assuming that the line search is exact. In practice, we find that when f is locally Lipschitz and semi-algebraic with bounded sublevel sets, the BFGS (Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno) method with the inexact line search almost always generates sequences whose cluster points are Clarke stationary and with function values converging R-linearly to a Clarke station- ary value. We give references documenting the successful use of BFGS in a variety of nonsmooth applications, particularly the design of low-order controllers for linear dynamical systems. We conclude with a challenging open question.
Shortened REM Latency PostECT Is Associated with Rapid Recurrence of Depressive Symptomatology

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The 1-year relapse rates are reported to be high and in the 30%-60% range, however. To test whether polysomnography (PS) can identify patients with a propensity for relapse we studied 20 patients, responders to a course of ECT, with PS studies. All patients met baseline diagnostic criteria for MDD, were treated with ECT following standardized protocols, had PS studies performed after the course of ECT in a medication-free state, received maintenance antidepressants postECT, and were followed periodically with phone interviews. The recurrence of depressive symptoms was determined at 3 months and 6 months after discharge. Fifty-five percent of the patients were symptomatic when evaluated 6 months after the ECT. Sleep Onset rapid eye movement (REM) periods were identified in 55% of the patients. As a group, patients who had experienced a recurrence of depressive symptoms by 6 months after discharge, had significantly shorter REM latencies after the course of ECT. A shorter REM latency after ECT identified patients who at six months demonstrated significant depressive symptomatology. Shortened REM latency after ECT in patients with MDD appears to be a correlate of vulnerability for relapse.
Path key establishment using multiple secured paths in wireless sensor networks

Random key Pre-distribution scheme has been proposed to overcome the memory, computation and energy limits of individual sensor in wireless sensor networks. In this scheme, a ring of keys is randomly drawn from a large key pool and assigned to a sensor. Nodes sharing common keys can communicate securely, path-key needs to be established for those nodes who do not share any common keys. However, there is no hard security guarantee for path key set up in existing protocols. In this paper, we propose two new methods to discover multiple secure proxies and a scheme to secure path key establishment using secure proxies discovered. We show both from analysis and simulation that our scheme can achieve a high level of security against node capture based on the network parameters the user has chosen, meanwhile only incurring a small amount of overhead. All path keys established in our scheme is exclusively known by two end nodes with high probability.
The truth about texture mapping

The author describes how the unique configuration of the planet Uranus influenced him to take a close look at how the layout of a texture map in memory affects the performance of the rendering algorithm. A planet rendering program that calculates, for each occupied pixel on the screen, the latitude and longitude visible at that pixel, is described. It uses this latitude and longitude to index into a texture map to get a surface color. The actual texture color comes from bilinearly interpolating the texture colors at the four texture map pixels that surround that latitude and longitude. This, along with the shading calculations, gives the net color of the pixel. The use of virtual memory, handling page faults, tiling, and address generation are considered. >
Development of a virosome vaccine for Newcastle disease virus.

Abstract In an effort to protect chickens against Newcastle disease (ND), a nonreplicating virosome vaccine was produced by solubilization of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) with Triton X-100 followed by detergent removal with SM2 Bio-Beads. Biochemical analysis indicated that the NDV virosomes had similar characteristics as the parent virus and contained both the fusion and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase proteins. To target the respiratory tract, specific-pathogen-free chickens were immunized intranasally and intratracheally with the NDV virosome vaccine. This vaccine was compared with a standard NDV (LaSota) live-virus vaccine for commercial poultry. Seroconversion (≥ four fold increase in hemagglutination inhibition [HI] antibody titers) was achieved in all birds vaccinated with the virosome vaccine. Upon lethal challenge with a velogenic NDV strain (Texas GB), all birds receiving either vaccination method were protected against death. Antibody levels against NDV, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorben...
Predictors of disease relapse in IgG4-related disease following rituximab

Objective. IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a relapsing–remitting condition responsible for fibroinflammatory lesions that can lead to organ damage and life-threatening complications at nearly any anatomical site. The duration of remission following treatment varies and predictors of relapse are unclear. The objectives of this study were to review our experience with rituximab as remission induction in IgG4-RD, to clarify the duration of efficacy and to identify predictors of flare following treatment. Methods. In this retrospective cohort study, all patients were treated with two doses of rituximab (1 g) separated by 15 days. Clinical, radiographic and laboratory data pertaining to rituximab response and disease relapse were collected from the electronic medical record. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to estimate the time to disease relapse. Log-rank analyses were performed to compare times to relapse among subgroups. Potential relapse predictors were evaluated with Cox regression analysis. Results. Fifty-seven of 60 patients (95%) had clinical responses to rituximab. Forty-one patients (68%) were treated without glucocorticoids. Twenty-one patients (37%) experienced relapses following treatment at a median time from the first infusion of 244 days. Baseline concentrations of serum IgG4, IgE and circulating eosinophils predicted subsequent relapses, with hazard ratios of 6.2 (95% CI: 1.2, 32.0), 8.2 (95% CI: 1.4, 50.0) and 7.9 (95% CI: 1.8, 34.7), respectively. The higher the baseline values, the greater the risk of relapse and the shorter the time to relapse. Only 10% of the patients had elevations of all three major risk factors, underscoring the importance of measuring all three at baseline. Conclusion. Baseline elevations in serum IgG4, IgE and blood eosinophil concentrations all predict IgG4-RD relapses independently.
Introduction to 'Religion and Human Rights: An Introduction'

This chapter analyzes the interaction of religion and human rights around the world, historically and today. We first describe the place of religion in the modern human rights framework and the formative role played by religious groups in the 1940s to 1960s in defining and defending human rights. We then analyze the kinds of intersecting roles of religion and human rights that are needed to build a more effective human rights culture. Along the way, we address the veritable alphabet of issues that now deeply trouble and divide the world: apostasy, blasphemy, conversion, defamation, evangelization, fundamentalism, genocide, homicide, injustice, and jihad.