cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel nucleolytic activity associated with rabbit liver tRNA nucleotidyltransferase.

Purified preparations of rabbit liver tRNA nucleotidyltransferase contain a nucleolytic activity which removes terminal CMP residues from tRNA-C-C and tRNA-C-C-C. Other tRNA molecules, such as tRNA-C-C-A, tRNA-C-A, tRNA-C-U and tRNA-C are not substrates for this reaction. The activity exhibits a sharp optimum at about pH 10 and a divalent cation (Mg++ or Mn++) is required. The reaction is inhibited by ATP, CTP, pyrophosphate and potassium chloride. The relation of this activity to other reactions catalyzed by tRNA nucleotidyltransferase is discussed.
On caustics associated with horizontal rays and vertical modes

Abstract Wave propagation in a medium with slowly varying inhomogeneities can sometimes be modelled by a combination of normal mode theory in one direction and ray theoretical methods in the other directions. Caustics can occur in the ray theory ansatz. Here we consider those caustics using a Lagrange manifold approach.
Band tails and bandwidth in simple metals.

Electron-electron interactions are included in a calculation of the density of states for the homogeneous electron gas. The shift of the chemical potential is investigated from band tails and quasiparticle renormalization. These effects largely cancel, and the shift of the chemical potential is small.
An Improved 32P-Postlabeling Assay for the Sensitive Detection of 8-Oxodeoxyguanosine in Tissue DNA

To use oxidative DNA lesions as biomarkers of exposure and disease in the human scenario, the assay should not only be sensitive but also applicable to small quantities of DNA that is obtained from human tissue biopsies. Previously, we reported a nonenrichment 32P-postlabeling method for measuring the oxidative DNA lesion, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2‘-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) [Devanaboyina, U., and Gupta, R. C. (1996) Carcinogenesis 17, 917−924]. Here we report a substantial improvement of the assay by enriching 8-oxo-dGp by TLC prior to 32P-labeling. Thus, unmodified nucleotides were removed by 1-directional polyethyleneimine (PEI)-cellulose TLC in 0.2 M formic acid. 8-Oxo-dGp, retained close to the origin, was eluted in 2 M triethylammonium acetate (pH 7.0), lyophilized, 32P-labeled, resolved by TLC, and quantitated. The 8-oxo-dG signal was found to increase linearly with increasing amount of DNA. Its recovery was found to be 55−70%, as determined by using synthetic 8-oxo-dGp. Since the modified assay allowed ...
Detecting Campaign Promoters on Twitter Using Markov Random Fields

As social media is becoming an increasingly important source of public information, companies, organizations and individuals are actively using social media platforms to promote their products, services, ideas and ideologies. Unlike promotional campaigns on TV or other traditional mass media platforms, campaigns on social media often appear in stealth modes. Campaign promoters often try to influence people's behaviors/opinions/decisions in a latent manner such that the readers are not aware that the messages they see are strategic campaign posts aimed at persuading them to buy target products/services. Readers take such campaign posts as just organic posts from the general public. It is thus important to discover such campaigns, their promoter accounts and how the campaigns are organized and executed as it can uncover the dynamics of Internet marketing. This discovery is clearly useful for competitors and also the general public. However, so far little work has been done to solve this problem. In this paper, we study this important problem in the context of the Twitter platform. Given a set of tweets streamed from Twitter based on a set of keywords representing a particular topic, the proposed technique aims to identify user accounts that are involved in promotion. We formulate the problem as a relational classification problem and solve it using typed Markov Random Fields (T-MRF), which is proposed as a generalization of the classic Markov Random Fields. Our experiments are carried out using three real-life datasets from the health science domain related to smoking. Such campaigns are interesting to health scientists, government health agencies and related businesses for obvious reasons. Our results show that the proposed method is highly effective.
Quantitative evaluation of radiation oncologists' adaptability to lower reimbursing treatment programs.

Abstract Purpose Rapid development of sophisticated modalities has challenged radiation oncologists to evaluate workflow and care delivery processes. Our study assesses treatment modality use and willingness to alter management with anticipated limitations in reimbursement and resources. Methods and materials A web-based survey was sent to 43 radiation oncologists in a National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer center network. The survey contained 7 clinical cases with various acceptable treatment options based on our institutional clinical pathways. Each case was presented in 3 modules with varying situations: (1) unlimited resources with current reimbursement, (2) restricted reimbursement (bundled payment), and (3) both restricted reimbursement and resources. Reimbursement rates were based on the 2013 Medicare fee schedule. Adoption of lower reimbursing options (LROs) was defined as the percentage of scenarios in which a respondent selected an LRO compared with baseline. Results Forty-three physicians completed the survey, 11 (26%) at academic and 32 (74%) at community facilities. When bundled payment was imposed (module 1 vs 2), an increase in willingness to adopt LROs was observed (median 11.1%). When physicians were limited to both bundled payment and resource restriction, adoption of LROs was more pronounced (module 1 vs 3; median 22.2%, P 25 years, P = .02). Conclusions Radiation oncologists were more likely to choose lower reimbursing treatment options when both resource restriction and bundled payment were presented. Those with fewer years of clinical practice were less inclined to alter management, perhaps reflecting modern residency training. Future cost-utility analyses may help to better guide radiation oncologists in selection of LROs.
An O ( n 2 ) algorithm for undirected split decomposition

The time complexity of the undirected split, or join, decomposition of a graph is reduced from Ω(n3) to O(n2). In a companion paper, this result is used to improve the time bound for recognizing circle graphs.
Sensitivity of components of the central vestibular complex to pentobarbital

Abstract Conflicting data has accumulated regarding the effects of pentobarbital on mono- and poly-synaptic pathways through the vestibular nuclei. On the one hand, investigators believe that pentobarbital interrupts vestibular polysynaptic pathways to the spinal cord while leaving monosynaptic routes intact; conversely, others have shown that even very small doses of pentobarbital virtually silence vestibular neurone discharge to VIIIth nerve stimulation. The purpose of the present investigation was to dispel the uncertainty of the effects of pentobarbital on vestibular mono- and poly-synaptic linkages. When individual branches of the VIIIth nerve are electrically stimulated, mono- and poly-synaptic field potentials are recorded from the ascending MLF. If pentobarbital is administered in varying doses, its consequent influence on MLF response amplitude is noted and a dose-response curve as in Figure 1 is plotted. It is evident from this curve that both the mono- and poly-synaptic discharges of the MLF are depressed by as little as 4 mg/kg of pentobarbital. At anaesthetic doses the depression of both responses was to about 25% of the control amplitude. Single units in the vestibular nuclei which then project in the ascending MLF are also found to discharge mono- and poly-synaptically to stimulation of individual vestibular nerve branches. The monosynaptic and/or polysynaptic response of any of the semicircular canals can be inhibited by conditioning the utricular nerve 4 msec prior to canal nerve stimulation. Figures 2 and 3 show that pentobarbital, in doses of only 3–4 mg/kg, depresses both mono- and poly-synaptic discharges. In fact, the monosynaptic discharge of the test canal is still functional when the polysynaptic responses have already failed. However, the presumed multisynaptic path that mediates the conditioned inhibition is persistent. Thus, from the data presented in this paper it appears that pentobarbital influences both monoand poly-synaptic pathways to a similar extent. It must be assumed then, that at anaesthetic doses of pentobarbital, the responses seen following vestibular nerve stimulation represent only a fraction of the monosynaptic pathways and include a substantial number of polysynaptic pathways as well.
Polarization and progress in the black community: Earnings and status gains for young black males in the era of affirmative action

We examined the occupational mobility and earnings attainment of young black and white male workers in the period 1974-1981 for evidence of class polarization among blacks in the era following the 1960s' antidiscrimination legislation. Our model links occupational status and earnings to the social resources of education and father's socioeconomic status, using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, 1968-1981. The results suggest that such resources operated more strongly for advantaged blacks than for whites. But for less advantaged blacks, race remained a significant barrier. As predicted by the polarization hypothesis, enforcement of affirmative action guidelines was beneficial, but only to more qualified blacks.
How do centralized and distributed version control systems impact software changes

Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS) have seen an increase in popularity relative to traditional Centralized Version Control Systems (CVCS). Yet we know little on whether developers are benefitting from the extra power of DVCS. Without such knowledge, researchers, developers, tool builders, and team managers are in the danger of making wrong assumptions. In this paper we present the first in-depth, large scale empirical study that looks at the influence of DVCS on the practice of splitting, grouping, and committing changes. We recruited 820 participants for a survey that sheds light into the practice of using DVCS. We also analyzed 409M lines of code changed by 358300 commits, made by 5890 developers, in 132 repositories containing a total of 73M LOC. Using this data, we uncovered some interesting facts. For example, (i) commits made in distributed repositories were 32% smaller than the centralized ones, (ii) developers split commits more often in DVCS, and (iii) DVCS commits are more likely to have references to issue tracking labels.
Isoparametric functions, harmonic and minimal unit vector fields in K-contact geometry

We provide some examples of harmonic and minimal unit vector fields as normalized gradients of isoparametric functions coming from a K-contact geometric setting.
Rate and predictors of prepubertal bipolarity during follow-up of 6- to 12-year-old depressed children

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the rate and predictors of onset of DSM-III bipolar I and bipolar II disorders among 6- to 12- year-old prepubertal subjects with DSM-III major depressive disorder (MDD) who were followed for a 2- to 5-year period. Method This was a prospective, blindly rated study of 79 children with MDD and 31 normal control children matched for age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Subjects and a second informant were assessed at 4-month intervals using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present Episode Version-1986 modified to include 4-month interval ratings and to include DSM-III diagnoses. Family history (FH) was assessed using the FH-Research Diagnostic Criteria obtained from the mother about the subject's first- and second-degree relatives. Results Bipolarity developed in 31.7% (N= 25) of the children with MDD at a mean age of 11.2± 2.0 years and 80% were prepubertal. Loaded FH and multigenerational FH were significantly associated with bipolar I. Neither prior nor current use of tricyclic antidepressants nor atypical depressive features were predictive. Conclusions These findings strongly support the need to educate families of children with prepubertal-onset MDD about the possibility of the emergence of manic and hypomanic symptoms to encourage early recognition and appropriate treatment.
Consumer behaviour and contraceptive decisions: resolving a decades-long puzzle

Demographers theoretical explanations for fertility decline have been based for decades on an assumption that couples make family size decisions influenced by a changing balance between costs and benefits of childbearing resulting in parents reduced demand for children. It has been widely assumed that these decisions are based on changes in social or economic factors such as increased education wealth or economic opportunities or urbanisation or other related factors in their lives. However a number of situations in developing countries have been documented showing that contraceptive prevalence rose more rapidly than such theories could account for. In some instances desired family size changed when contraception became available and in others women who said they did not want to use contraception adopted a method when the option to use it arrived. We have reviewed the cases of this kind that are published in the demographic literature and we offer a plausible explanation grounded in research on consumer behaviour. (excerpt)
Information Physics—Towards a New Conception of Physical Reality

The concept of information plays a fundamental role in our everyday experience, but is conspicuously absent in framework of classical physics. Over the last century, quantum theory and a series of other developments in physics and related subjects have brought the concept of information and the interface between an agent and the physical world into increasing prominence. As a result, over the last few decades, there has arisen a growing belief amongst many physicists that the concept of information may have a critical role to play in our understanding of the workings of the physical world, both in more deeply understanding existing physical theories and in formulating of new theories. In this paper, I describe the origin of the informational view of physics, illustrate some of the work inspired by this view, and give some indication of its implications for the development of a new conception of physical reality.
Stability and regularity results for a size-structured population model

In the present paper a nonlinear size-structured population dynamical model with size and density dependent vital rate functions is considered. The linearization about stationary solutions is analyzed by semigroup and spectral methods. In particular, the spectrally determined growth property of the linearized semigroup is derived from its long-term regularity. These analytical results make it possible to derive linear stability and instability results under biologically meaningful conditions on the vital rates. The principal stability criteria are given in terms of a modified net reproduction rate.
Suppression of Insulin Secretion During Induced Hypocalcemia

A requirement of calcium ion for normal insulin secretion in the pig during the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IGTT) was demonstrated in vivo. In the normocalcemic state, plasma concentrations of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) usually increased 4- to S-fold during the IGTT. However, increases in plasma concentrations of IRI during the IGTT were barely detectable in pigs with hypocalcemia. Intravenous infusions of glucose and calcium borogluconate simultaneously in hypocalcemic pigs resulted in an immediate rise in plasma concentrations of IRI. (Endocrinology 93: 761, 1973)
Adherence to oral therapies in pelvic inflammatory disease.

Purpose: To assess adherence to oral therapies in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Methods: Medication adherence to oral doxycycline therapy (100 mg) was measured using electronic event monitorin...
The surface temperature of the antisolar point of the Moon

The Surface Temperature of the Antisolar Point of the Moon J. M. SAARI Boeing Scientific Research Laboratories, Seattle, Washingtor~ Communicated by Zden~k Kopal Received June 23, 1964 A knowledge of the temperature of the Nicholson (1930), using a vacuum thermoantisolar point of the Moon is of value for couple and a rock salt window, reported a the purpose of comparison with theoretical value of 120 ± 5°K for a region 48" arc models for darkside cooling. Pett i t and from the east limb. Sinton (1962), using a
A murine model for retinopathy of prematurity identifies endothelial cell proliferation as a potential mechanism for plus disease.

Purpose To characterize the features and possible mechanism of plus disease in the mouse oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model for retinopathy of prematurity. Methods Wild-type and Adam (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase) knockout mice were exposed to 75% oxygen from postnatal day 7 to 12 (P7 to P12) (hyperoxia), then returned to normal air (relative hypoxia). Live fundus imaging and fluorescein angiography at P17 were compared to immunofluorescence analysis of flat-mounted retinas. Two hallmarks of plus disease, arterial tortuosity and venous dilation, were analyzed on fixed retinas (P12-P17). The length of tortuous vessels was compared to a straight line between two points; the diameter of retinal vessels was determined using ImageJ software, and bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling was used to visualize proliferation of retinal vascular cells. Results Mice developed retinal arterial tortuosity and venous dilation after exposure to OIR, which was visible in live fundus images and fixed whole-mounted retinas. Vein dilation, arterial tortuosity, and BrdU incorporation gradually increased over time. Moreover, Adam8(-/-) and Adam9(-/-) mice and mice lacking Adam10 in endothelial cells were partially protected from plus disease compared to controls. Conclusions The mouse OIR model can be used to study the pathogenesis of plus disease and identify potential therapeutic targets. The severity of plus disease increases over time following OIR and correlates with increased proliferation of endothelial cells, suggesting that proliferation of vascular cells may be a mechanism underlying the development of plus disease. Moreover, our findings suggest that ADAMs 8, 9, and 10 could be targets for treatment of plus disease.
Staurosporine induces a complete program of terminal differentiation in neoplastic mouse keratinocytes via activation of protein kinase C

Staurosporine (stsp) is a kinase inhibitor which induces cornified envelope assembly and terminal differentiation in normal and neoplastic mouse keratinocytes. In the tumorigenic cell lines 308 and SP-1 experiments were performed to determine if this effect was due only to activation of transglutaminases (TGases) already residing within the cell, or whether stsp was capable of inducing a full program of differentiation. Assessment of keratinocyte differentiation-specific protein expression in neoplastic cells revealed that expression of the suprabasal marker SPR-1 and the granular markers loricrin and filaggrin were induced by stsp. Protein expression was controlled by changes in mRNA expression, determined by Northern blotting. Transcripts for the TGase isoforms TGK and TGE were also induced by stsp in SP-1 cells, whereas only TGK expression was increased in 308 cells, which appear not to express TGE. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation is required for differentiation in normal mouse keratinocytes. To determine if stsp induces differentiation in neoplastic cells by regulation of this signaling pathway cells were treated with the specific PKC inhibitor GF 109203X or with different concentrations of bryostatin 1 to down-regulate specific isoforms of PKC prior to and during treatment with stsp. Stsp-induced protein cross-linking and marker expression were inhibited by GF 109203X, suggesting paradoxical activation of PKC by stsp. PKC alpha, epsilon and delta, but not PKC eta and zeta, were down-regulated by treating both cell types with bryostatin; pre-treatment of cells with bryostatin inhibited stsp-induced protein cross-linking and marker expression, suggesting a necessity for the alpha, delta and/or epsilon isoforms in stsp-induced differentiation.
Improving the selection of focal species exposed to pesticides to support ecological risk assessments

Risk assessment investigates the potential impacts of chemicals on non-target organisms. To assess the risk, ecotoxicologists study the responses of a panel of species to different substance exposure. Among the different parameters used to select indicator species (i.e. focal species), their frequency of occurrence is considered as the key parameter. Although species occurrence within a given habitat is easy to determine, we argue that it does not totally reflect the dependence of a species on a given habitat or its potential exposure to chemicals. In this study, we combined the occurrence of species with their habitat-specificity to identify focal species for risk assessment in cereals. We showed that ranking species by occurrence or by habitat-specificity produced different results, with generalist species ranking high in the occurrence list, and species with specialised habitats ranking high in the abundance list. Integrating frequency and abundance of species into one single indicator (the "Indicator Value") allows us to rank species with specialised habitats as high as generalist species in the top rank species list. Although habitat-specificity is an ecologically meaningful concept, it is largely overlooked in eco-toxicological risk assessment, despite the fact that specialists are good indicators of various environmental pressures. This method could be used extensively at different scales and could contribute to studies on risk assessment issue by (re)introducing ecological and population-level concepts and opening up new trait-based approaches.
SU-FF-T-441: Updated Solid Water™ to Water Conversion Factors for 125I and 103Pd Brachytherapy Sources

Purpose: The updated TG‐43U1 recommends determination of the consensus of low energy brachytherapy source parameters using experimental and Monte Carlo Simulated data. As per this recommendation, the measured parameters in Solid Water™ are converted into water data for clinical application. However, the published conversion factors may have been obtained using Monte Carlo simulations with a cross section files that may have errors for low energy photons, and also for inaccurate chemical composition of the phantom material. In this project impact of different calcium composition in Solid Water™ phantom on dose rate constant, radial dose function of 103Pd and 125I brachytherapy sources have been investigated. Method and Materials: Conversion factor of Solid water™ to water has been determined using MCNP5 Monte Carlo code. In these simulations two different calcium compositions in Solid Water™ of 2.3% (SWa) and 1.7% (SWb) were utilized. Monte Carlo simulations were performed for 125I sources, with and without silver marker, in order to investigate the impact of characteristic x‐rays (emitted by silver marker) on dosimetric parameters. However, the simulation for 103Pd was performed only on one type of the source. Each simulation was run for a total of 20M histories to keep statistical fluctuation less than 0.3%. Results: For 2.3% calcium content phantom material the calculated conversion factor was found to be 1.027 and 1.045 for 125I and 103Pd sources respectively. However, for 1.7% calcium these values were found to be 0.989 and 0.963, respectively. Conclusion: The Solid water‐to‐water conversion factors for 125I and 103Pd sources are found to be 0.989 and 0.963 respectively as compared to the published value of 1.05 and 1.048. In addition, presence of silver marker had no significant impact on conversion factor for I‐125 sources. Moreover, conversion for g(r) was also introduced for clinical application of measured data.
Synthesis of ultrafine particles and thin films of Ni4Mo by the vapor-phase hydrogen coreduction of the constituent metal chlorides

Abstract Ultrafine particles of Ni 4 Mo were synthesized by reducing mixtures of NiCl 2 +MoCl 5 vapors by hydrogen. Effects of the MoCl 5 /NiCl 2 and H 2 /NiCl 2 partial pressure ratios and temperature on the content of the intermetallic phase were investigated. The maximum content of Ni 4 Mo obtained was 93 mol.%. Product particles were in the size ranges of 100–200 nm. A coating of Ni 4 Mo+Ni of 0.7 μm thickness on a Ni substrate was also prepared.
Elder Abuse and Oral Health Care Providers: An Intervention to Increase Knowledge and Self-Perceived Likelihood to Report

The objective of this study was to ascertain whether a symposium on elder abuse raises the level of knowledge and the self-reported likelihood to report elder abuse among licensed oral health care providers. 130 dentists, hygienists, and assistants voluntarily attended a 4-hour training symposium and completed both pre- and postsurveys testing their level of knowledge. Results by statistical analyses, using repeated measurements, Wilcoxon signed-rank test for nonparametric data, showed increases in awareness of reporting process, knowledge/awareness of elder abuse, knowledge of mandated reporter requirements, and comfort levels with recognizing signs and symptoms of elder abuse and neglect. In conclusion, a symposium can increase the self-reported likelihood of reporting elder abuse.
Effect of N rate and tillage on yield, N accumulation and leaf N concentration of grain sorghum

Conservation tillage is an accepted method of decreasing soil erosion. However, limited information is available concerning N fertilizer requirements of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) grown under reduced-tillage management. Tillage effects on sorghum yield and N accumulation in 1985 and 1986 were studied on a Weswood soil (Fluventic Ustochrept) near College Station, Texas (Latitude 30° 35′ N, Longitude 96° 21′ W). Four N rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha−1) were applied to plots managed with no-tillage or conventional tillage. Response of grain yield to N rate was curvilinear while that of stover yield was linear. However, tillage and N interactions also influenced grain and stover yield. At low N rates, conventional tillage produced more stover and grain, but at higher rates tillage differences did not occur. Both tillage systems attained maximum grain yield at 122 kg N ha−1 as determined by regression analysis. Nitrogen accumulation in both stover and panicles was linear with N rate. Lower whole-plant N accumulation with no-tillage at low N rates supported the contention that N was less available in no-tillage soils. Leaf N concentration at anthesis was higher in conventional-tillage treatments. However, a regression of leaf N concentration on N rate predicted a maximum leaf N concentration of 34 g N kg−1 at 164 kg N ha−1 for both tillage treatments. When grain yield was regressed on leaf N concentration for each tillage treatment, maximum yield occurred at leaf N concentrations of 32 and 37 g kg−1 for conventional tillage and no-tillage, respectively. Leaf area index measured at anthesis significantly increased with N rate and was greater in conventional tillage. Leaf N concentration and leaf area index were positively correlated with grain yield. Data from this study suggest that fertilizer N amendments to no-tillage sorghum in excess of that required for maximum conventional-tillage yields are not necessary.
Linear solvation energy relationship of the energy of the absorption maximum of the solvated electron with the solvatochromic parameter alpha

Abstract A linear free energy relationship was found between ν max, the energy of the absorption maximum of the solvated electron in various solvents, and the alpha solvatochromic parameter which is a measure of the hydrogen bond donor ability of the solvent. The relationship is ν max=9470α + 5590 cm−1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.926 and a standard deviation of 1800 for 16 solvents. This is significantly better than a correlation based on the ET(30) parameter of Dimroth. There is a considerable similarity between the solvent, temperature, and pressure dependence of ν max and the absorption spectra of halide ions which are known to be due to a charge transfer to solvent process.
Example of a Relativistic, Completely Integrable, Hamiltonian System

The initial value problem for a system of two relativistic scalar fields in two space-time dimensions is solved. One of them has a self-interaction of the sine-Gordon type, while the other is massless and moves in a background geometry which has a dynamical evolution of its own. The system has soliton solutions and is shown to be completely integrable using the inverse scattering method. The appropriate linear equations are found by thinking of the problem as the isometric embedding of a surface in a three-dimensional Euclidean space.
SWALLOW FUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME : A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

The swallow behavior of 19 children with Down syndrome was reviewed. Findings suggest their oral phase may be impacted by oral hypersensitivity which can interfere with their acceptance of textured foods. A disordered pharyngeal phase was identified in 16 of the children, with aspiration occurring in 10 of the 19 children studied. Aspiration identified was silent for eight of these 10 children with cough data and did not correlate with the severity of their oral phase. Aspiration was, therefore, felt to warrant consideration as a factor in the respiratory illness so often seen in this population.
MiniBooNE 'Windows on the Universe'

Progress in the last few decades has left neutrino physics with several vexing issues. Among them are the following questions: (1) Why are lepton mixing angles so different from those in the quark sector? (2) What is the most probable range of the reactor mixing angle? (3) Is the atmospheric mixing angle maximal? (4) What is the number of fermion generations? These are some of the issues that neutrino science hopes to study; this article will explore these questions as part of a more general scientific landscape, and will discuss the part MiniBooNE might play in this exploration. We discuss the current state of measurements taken by MiniBooNE, and emphasize the uniqueness of neutrino oscillations as an important probe into the 'Windows on the Universe.'
Templated synthesis of mesoporous titanium phosphates for the sequestration of radionuclides

Several mesoporous titanium phosphate phases, with varying pore sizes, were prepared using non-ionic surfactants and easily handled titanium precursors under mild reaction conditions. Preliminary testing reveals that these materials have high affinity for certain radionuclides of environmental concern.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of para-Substituted N-Benzenesulfonyl Derivatives of Anthranilic Acid

Several para-substituted N-benzenesulfonyl derivatives of anthranilic acid were prepared and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using erythrocyte membrane stabilization and carrageenin-induced rat paw edema assays. N-p-Bromobenzenesulfonylanthranilic acid possessed greater activity than phenylbutazone in both assays. Quantitative structure-activity correlations employing the Hansch method were unsuccessful in the erythrocyte membrane stabilization assay. However, correlations were obtained in the rat paw edema assay, and it appears that the activity of these derivatives depends solely on the lipophilic character of the substituents on the benzenesulfonyl ring.
A Plasmodium falciparum host-targeting motif functions in export during blood stage infection of the rodent malarial parasite Plasmodium berghei.

Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) secretes hundreds of proteins—including major virulence proteins—into the host erythrocyte. In order to reach the host cytoplasm, most P. falciparum proteins contain an N terminal host-targeting (HT) motif composed of 11 amino acids. In silico analyses have suggested that the HT motif is conserved throughout the Plasmodium species but experimental evidence only exists for P. falciparum. Here, we show that in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) a reporter-like green fluorescent protein expressed by the parasite can be exported to the erythrocyte cytoplasm in a HT-specific manner. This provides the first experimental proof that the HT motif can function as a signal for protein delivery to the erythrocyte across Plasmodium species. Further, it suggests that P. berghei may serve as a model for validation of P. falciparum secretome proteins. We also show that tubovesicular membranes extend from the vacuolar parasite into the erythrocyte cytoplasm and speculate that these structures may facilitate protein export to the erythrocyte.
Abstract 3467: Progesterone inhibits endometrial cancer growth and invasiveness by modulating the TGF-ß pathway

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Objectives: Our group has shown previously that progesterone may exert a chemoprotective effect against endometrial cancer through modulation of TGF-β signaling and concomitant activation of apoptosis in the endometrium. In addition, it has been shown that increased expression of TGF-β isoforms in human endometrial cancer correlates with decreased survival and poor prognosis. These data suggest that the TGF-β pathway may be an attractive target for chemoprevention strategies. The goal of this study was to further characterize the effect of progesterone on TGF-β signaling pathway components (TGF-β isoform and Smads) and on TGF- β-induced pro-tumorigenic activities in endometrial cancer cell lines. Methods: The expression levels of TGF-β ligands (TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3), TGF-β receptors (TGF-βR1, TGF-βR2, and TGF-βR3) and SMADs (pSMAD2/3, SMAD2/3 and SMAD-4) were determined by immunoblotting in HEC-1B endometrial cancer cells exposed to progesterone for 24, 72 and 120 h. Proliferation and cellular invasion assays were used to access the functional effects of progestin exposure in the HEC-1B and Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell lines. Results: A marked decrease in TGF-β1and TGF-β3 expression was observed at 72 h after treatment with progesterone. Expression of TGF-βR1, TGF-βR2, SMAD2/3 and pSMAD2/3 were substantially reduced at 72 h while levels of SMAD4 and TGF-β2 expression were reduced at 120 h following progesterone. TGF-βR3 expression levels were not affected by any treatment at any time point. Furthermore, TGF-β1-induced cancer cell proliferation and invasion was effectively inhibited by progesterone. Cellular proliferation and invasion were significantly reduced by progestin compared to controls even in the presence of exogenous TGF-β. Conclusions: These results suggest that the down-regulation of TGF-β signaling may be a key mechanism underlying progestin inhibition of endometrial carcinogenesis. Citation Format: Amber A. Bokhari, Laura R. Lee, Dewayne Raboteau, Chad A. Hamilton, George L. Maxwell, Jane M. Turbov, Larry G. Thaete, Gustavo C. Rodriguez, Viqar Syed. Progesterone inhibits endometrial cancer growth and invasiveness by modulating the TGF-s pathway. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3467. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3467
Archaeal Diversity at the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma Described by Cultivation and Molecular Analyses

The Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma is a natural inland terrestrial hypersaline environment that forms evaporite crusts of mainly NaCl. Previous work described the bacterial community through the characterization of 105 isolates from 46 phylotypes. The current report describes the archaeal community through both microbial isolation and culture-independent techniques. Nineteen distinct archaea were isolated, and ten were characterized phenetically. Included were isolates phylogenetically related to Haloarcula, Haloferax, Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, and Natrinema. The isolates were aerobic, non-motile, Gram-negative organisms and exhibited little capacity for fermentation. All of the isolates were halophilic, with most requiring at least 15% salinity for growth, and all grew at 30% salinity. The isolates were mainly mesothermic and could grow at alkaline pH (8.5). A 16S rRNA gene library was generated by polymerase chain reaction amplification of direct soil DNA extracts, and 200 clones were sequenced and analyzed. At 99% and 94% sequence identity, 36 and 19 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected, respectively, while 53 and 22 OTUs were estimated by Chao1, respectively. Coverage was relatively high (100% and 59% at 89% and 99% sequence identity, respectively), and the Shannon Index was 3.01 at 99% sequence identity, comparable to or somewhat lower than hypersaline habitats previously studied. Only sequences from Euryarchaeota in the Halobacteriales were detected, and the strength of matches to known sequences was generally low, most near 90% sequence identity. Large clusters were observed that are related to Haloarcula and Halorubrum. More than two-thirds of the sequences were in clusters that did not have close relatives reported in public databases.
Hypoxia increases vasodilator release from internal mammary artery and saphenous vein grafts

Abstract Background . Greater release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide is implicated in the superior patency of the internal mammary artery (IMA) used in coronary artery bypass grafting. This study compared the release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide into the lumen of the IMA and the saphenous vein under normoxic versus hypoxic conditions. Methods . Segments of canine IMA and saphenous vein were perfused in vitro. Vasorelaxant activity was measured as vasodilatation of coronary artery smooth muscle induced by the effluent. Results . Effluents from the IMA and saphenous vein caused comparable vasodilatation of coronary artery smooth muscle. The vasodilatation reversed when perfusion was switched to a prosthetic conduit. Vasodilator activity from the IMA and saphenous vein was attenuated by removing the intima of the grafts or by adding N G -monomethyl-l-arginine (10 −4 mol/L) or N G -nitro-l-arginine (10 −4 mol/L), two inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis. Indomethacin attenuated vasorelaxant activity from saphenous vein grafts but not IMA grafts (n = 10). Vasodilator release from the IMA and saphenous vein was augmented by hypoxia. This augmentation was inhibited by indomethacin (n = 10, p Conclusions . The release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide and prostacyclin from bypass grafts into the lumen, particularly during hypoxemia, could promote the vasodilatation of distal coronary arterial beds, enhancing myocardial perfusion.
A Palynological Study of the Solaninae (Solanaceae)

Abstract The pollen morphology of 30 species representing eleven closely related Solanaceous genera was investigated using standard palynological techniques, light microscopy, and computer statistical analysis. The genera studied were Athenaea Sendtn., Capsicum L., Chamaesaracha Gray, Nothocestrum Gray, Physalis L., Saracha Ruiz et Pav., Solanum L., Withania Panq., and Witheringia L'Herit. of the subtribe Solaninae and Acnistus Schott. and Lycium L. of the subtribe Lyciinae. The pollen of many of these taxa have not been studied in detail previously and have been reported to be morphologically similar. Comprehensive examination of the combined qualitative and quantitative data established a basis for palynological separation of most of the genera and some of the species. A diagnostic generic key, pollenmorphological descriptions of the genera, photomicrographs, and statistical analyses of the taxa in the “Solaninae complex” are presented.
Diagnosis: to biopsy or not to biopsy: assessing the role of surgical lung biopsy in the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disorder that is associated with a poorer prognosis than subacute idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). IPF can be differentiated from other IIPs on the basis of its histologic pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Although a surgical lung biopsy specimen showing a UIP pattern is required for the definitive diagnosis of IPF, clinical criteria can be used in the absence of a lung biopsy specimen to make a likely diagnosis of IPF. The predictive value of these criteria largely depends on the expertise of the clinician and radiologist, but considerable interobserver variability exists even when evaluations are performed by experts in the field. Moreover, these criteria lead to misdiagnosis in about 25 to 35% of cases. Interobserver variability is reduced and diagnostic accuracy is improved in cases in which a diagnosis is made with a high degree of confidence. Diagnostic accuracy is also higher when the diagnosis is made by a core group of experts rather than by a referring center. The decision on whether or not to perform a surgical lung biopsy is difficult. It is clearly indicated in cases in which clinical or radiologic findings are atypical or when the diagnosis is made with a low degree of certainty.
Concanavalin a mediated uptake of enzymes by fibroblasts

Summary Concanavalin A (Con A) enhanced the binding and uptake of glycoproteins by human fibroblasts at doses which did not affect the uptake of two non-glycosylated proteins. When Con A was preincubated with glycoproteins and the mixture later added to cultured cells, Con A-mediated uptake was time-, temperature-, and lectin-concentration dependent. α-Methylmannoside (αMM), at concentrations which have no effect on the phosphomannosyl-recognition system for uptake of acid hydrolases, inhibited Con A-mediated uptake. These studies illustrate that the analysis of adsorptive pinocytosis of glycoproteins isolated on Con A-Sepharose may be complicated by Con A-mediated uptake of glycoproteins otherwise not taken up.
A Case Study of Explosive Cyclogenesis in the Eastern Pacific

Abstract An explosive cyclogenesis that occurred in the eastern Pacific on 13 November 1981 is described and discussed on the basis of surface and upper air analyses and satellite imagery. During one 12-h period the storm deepened by nearly 40 mb and subsequently attained a central pressure of 950 mb or less. Peak surface winds were in the 45–50 m s−1 range. The Limited Area Fine Mesh (LFM) model 24-h forecast initialized at 0000 GMT on the thirteenth completely failed to predict the storm development. The development took place within a strong baroclinic zone, as a shallow frontal wave traveled from the relatively stable environment of a long-wave ridge to the unstable environment of a long-wave trough. Winds at jet stream level exceeded 90 m s−1 prior to the explosive deepening. The lifted index in and ahead of the storm diminished and became negative prior to the rapid intensification. Measurements revealed that sensible and latent heat fluxes from the ocean contributed significantly to the reduced sta...
The α→ϵ phase transition in iron at strain rates up to ∼109 s−1

We have used a table-top scale laser to dynamically compress iron at strain rates in excess of 109 s−1. Using an embedded ultrafast interferometer, we have measured corresponding free surface histories with a time resolution of approximately 10 ps. We have analyzed the surface histories using a method that accounts for nonsteady wave propagation and time-dependent material behavior. We show that at these strain rates, the α→ϵ polymorphic transition begins within 100 ps after an initial very large (∼10 GPa) and mostly elastic compression and appears largely complete within a similar time thereafter. The corresponding deviatoric stress before the transition begins can exceed 3 GPa, while the transition stress itself is up to 25 GPa, nearly twice the value measured at low strain rates. We use these results to propose a systematic variation with loading time of the normal-stress/relative-volume curve followed by iron during rapid compression.
Second Virial Coefficients and Radii of Gyration for Poly(α-methylstyrene) in Cyclohexane below the ϑ Temperature

Classical and low-angle laser light-scattering experiments were performed to measure the second virial coefficient, A2, and radius of gyration, Rg, of linear poly(α-methylstyrene) (PαMS) in the poor solvent cyclohexane. The molecular weights, Mw, of the polymers used cover the range of 60 000−3 500 000, and all samples have narrow molecular weight distributions. The experimental temperatures are controlled down to about 16 °C below the ϑ temperature (36.2 °C). At this temperature, the scaling exponent of Rg with Mw is 0.414; this appears to be the lowest exponent ever reported for linear chains of synthetic polymers in solution. A strong molecular weight dependence of the measured A2 values for this PαMS/cyclohexane system is observed. These results are compared with the predictions of available theories and with other experimental results.
Extended multipoint identity-by-descent analysis of human quantitative traits: efficiency, power, and modeling considerations.

Goldgar introduced a novel marker-based method for partitioning the variation of a quantitative trait into specific chromosomal regions. Unlike traditional linkage mapping methods, Goldgar's method does not require the estimation of statistical quantities characterizing each locus thought to influence the trait under scrutiny (e.g., allele frequencies, penetrances, etc.). Goldgar's method is thus more flexible and less model dependent than many traditional marker-based genetic analysis techniques. Unfortunately, however, many of the properties of Goldgar's method have not been investigated. In this paper, the utility of an extended version of Goldgar's approach is studied in settings in which sibships are taken as the sampling unit of interest. The extensions discussed resolve around the incorporation of a wider variety of effects and factors into Goldgar's basic model. Analytic studies pertaining to power, sample-size requirements, and estimation procedures for the proposed extended version of Goldgar's method are described. Hypothesis-testing strategies are also discussed. The results of the analytic studies indicate that, although an extended sib-pair version of Goldgar's variance-partitioning approach to modeling the chromosomal determinants of a quantitative trait will be useful only for traits with high heritabilities or when fine-scale genetic maps can be employed. Goldgar's technique as a whole has promise, as it can be made relatively robust statistically, refined through some simple and intuitive extensions, and can be easily adapted to work with more complex sampling units. Further extensions of Goldgar's methods are proposed, and areas in need of additional research are discussed.
ITERATIVE EVALUATION OF THE PATH INTEGRAL FOR A SYSTEM COUPLED TO AN ANHARMONIC BATH

An iterative algorithm is presented for evaluating the path integral expression for the reduced density matrix of a quantum system interacting with an anharmonic dissipative bath whose influence functional is obtained via numerical methods. The method allows calculation of the reduced density matrix over very long time periods.