cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Approaches for Bioaugmentation as a Remediation Technology

Bioaugmentation is commonly employed as a remediation technology. However, numerous studies indicate that introduced microorganisms often do not survive in the environment and thus do not increase contaminant remediation. This review details several new approaches that may increase the persistence and activity of exogenous microorganisms and/or genes following introduction into the environment. These techniques include: (1) bioaugmentation with cells encapsulated in a carrier such as alginate; (2) gene bioaugmentation where the goal is for the added inoculant to transfer remediation genes to indigenous microorganisms; (3) rhizosphere bioaugmentation where the microbial inoculant is added to the site along with a plant that serves as a niche for the inoculant's growth; and (4) phytoaugmentation where the remediation genes are engineered directly into a plant for use in remediation without a microbial inoculant. Additionally, the review discusses the generation of genetically engineered microorganisms for u...
Reactions of Dithiolate Ligands in Mononuclear Complexes of Rhenium(V)

The thermal reactions of the Re(V) dithiolate complex Cp'ReCl2(SCH2CH2S), 1 (where Cp' = EtMe4C5), and related derivatives have been studied. When 1 is heated in toluene in a sealed evacuated tube at 100 degrees C, a dehydrogenation reaction occurs to form a new rhenium complex with a dithiolene ligand, Cp'ReCl2(SCHCHS), 6, in ca. 40% yield. The structure of 6 has been confirmed by an X-ray diffraction study. Under the thermal conditions studied, 1 also undergoes an olefin extrusion reaction. Free ethene is detected in the NMR spectrum of the products, and insoluble rhenium products are also formed. When 1 is reacted with excess ethene under mild conditions, a new organic product, 1,4-dithiane, is formed. Complex 1 is also found to react with oxidants, such as O2 and S8, under mild conditions to form the dehydrogenation product 6. Kinetic studies of the thermal reaction of 1 and related derivatives have been completed, and possible mechanisms for the thermally induced dehydrogenation reaction are discussed.
Electron emission holography of small clusters and surfaces

We consider the three‐dimensional imaging of near‐surface structures by holographic transformations of large‐solid‐angle electron emission data sets. Results are presented for both single and multiple scattering theoretical simulations and experimental data which have been obtained for both the c(2×2) structure of S on Ni(001) and clean Si(111). Although features associated with near‐neighbor atoms are seen in Fourier‐transform images for all of the cases studied, these peaks show shifts of 0.30–1.5 A, as well as broadening and artifacts, that are primarily due to strong forward peaking and phase shifts in the electron‐atom scattering. We further discuss correcting these image aberrations by several methods such as eliminating the forward peaking by a reduction of the data set or multiplication by a suitable Gaussian function, using the scattered‐wave‐included Fourier transform method, and taking a phased summation of several transforms at different energies. All of these correction methods are found to i...
Hemodialysis access failure: A call to action

Hemodialysis access failure: A call to action. Recent evidence suggests that the cost as well as the morbidity associated with the maintenance of hemodialysis access is increasing rapidly; currently, the cost exceeds 1 billion dollars and access related hospitalization accounts for 25% of all hospital admissions in the U.S.A. This increase in cost and morbidity has been associated with several epidemiological trends that may contribute to access failure. These include late patient referral to nephrologists and surgeons, late planning of vascular access as well as a shift from A-V fistulaes to PTFE grafts and temporary catheters, which have a higher failure rate. The reasons for this shift in the types of access is multifactorial and is not explained by changes in the co-morbidities of patients presenting to dialysis. Surgical preference and training also appear to play an important role in the large regional variation and patency rate of these PTFE grafts. We propose a program for early placement of A-V fistulae, a continuous quality improvement, multidisciplinary program to monitor access outcome, the development of new biomaterials, and a research plan to investigate pharmacological intervention to reduce development of stenosis and clinical interventions to treat those that do develop, prior to thrombosis.
Physicochemical properties of selected monoterpenes

Abstract Monoterpenes have physical and chemical properties that may make them attractive alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons in many industrial applications. More widespread use of these chemicals will inevitably increase the likelihood of their discharge into the environment. Several physicochemical properties of these compounds are needed to predict their most likely fate in the environment. This paper reports the aqueous solubilities, vapor pressures, and octanol-water partition coefficients of eight monoterpenes (α-pinene, limonene, γ-terpinene, terpinolene, arbanol, α-terpineol, linalool, and plinol). The aqueous solubilities and vapor pressures were measured at two temperatures, and the octanol-water partition coefficients were measured at one temperature. Well-established empirical correlations between these parameters for other organic compounds were used to evaluate the internal consistency of results obtained in this study. In addition, the predictions of two models were compared with the observed results.
Sleep, breathing, and menopause: the effect of fluctuating estrogen and progesterone on sleep and breathing in women.

Abstract Background: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is more common in men than in women. However, menopause increases the risk for development of OSA. Administration of estrogen and progesterone to postmenopausal women with OSA decreases apnea and hypopnea during sleep. Objective: Because beneficial changes can be observed soon after administration of a short courseof hormones, we hypothesized that suppression of these hormones would rapidly result in the development of SDB. Methods: Production of sex hormones was suppressed with daily administration of leuprolide acetate (LA), a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue, for 5 weeks in women who were participating in a study on pharmacologically induced menopause and physiology. The subjects underwent polysomnographic evaluation at baseline and after 5 weeks of LA administration. Results: In the 12 healthy women aged 18 to 34 years who participated in the study, sleep architecture and respiration were normal at baseline. After LA administration, the subjects stopped their menses, and their plasma concentrations of l7β-estradiol (preadministration, mean [SD] 33.9 [9.0] pg/mL; postadministration, 10.2 [3.4] pg/mL) and progesterone (preadministration, 0.48 [0.05] ng/mL; postadministration, 0.40 [0.06] ng/mL) reached menopausal levels. Sex hormone deficiency was associated with climacteric vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating. Sleep latencies and architecture did not change significantly with LA administration. The participants subjectively noticed some increased snoring that was not confirmed by polysomnogram. Specifically, there was no change in arousal index and no evidence for sleep fragmentation to suggest the presence of increased upper-airway resistance during sleep. The apnea-hypopnea index, 0.07 (0.02) to 0.22 (0.11) events per hour of sleep, did not change with sex hormone deficiency. Conclusions: In this study, sex hormone deficiency in young women resulted in climacteric symptomsand cessation of menses, and was not associated with sleep fragmentation or clinically significant SDB.
Crystal structure and melting point of curium metal

Abstract Curium metal has been found to crystallize in a double hexagonal close packed structure, similar to that of alpha lanthanum. The lattice parameters are: a = 3·496 ± 0·003 A c = 11·331 ± 0·005 A The melting point of the metal was observed to be 1340 ± 40°C.
SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM AND THE TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT CONTRACTION OF SMOOTH MUSCLE IN CALCIUM-FREE SOLUTIONS

The contractile response of turtle oviduct smooth muscle to acetylcholine after 30 min of incubation of muscles in Ca-free, 4 mM ethylene (bis) oxyethylenenitrilotetraacetic acid (EGTA) solutions at room temperature was greater than the contractile response after 30 min of incubation in the Ca-free medium at 37°C. Incubation in Ca-free solution at 37°C before stimulation with acetylcholine in Ca-free solutions at room temperature also reduced the contractile response, suggesting that activator calcium was lost from the fibers at a faster rate at higher temperatures. Electron micrographs of turtle oviduct smooth muscle revealed a sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) occupying approximately 4% of the nucleus- and mitochondria-free cell volume. Incubation of oviduct smooth muscle with ferritin confirmed that the predominantly longitudinally oriented structures described as the SR did not communicate with the extracellular space. The SR formed fenestrations about the surface vesicles, and formed close contacts (couplings) with the surface membrane and surface vesicles in oviduct and vena caval smooth muscle; it is suggested that these are sites of electromechanical coupling. Calculation of the calcium requirements for smooth muscle contraction suggest that the amount of SR observed in the oviduct smooth muscle could supply the activator calcium for the contractions observed in Ca-free solutions. Incubation of oviduct smooth muscle in hypertonic solutions increased the electron opacity of the fibers. A new feature of some of the surface vesicles observed in oviduct, vena caval, and aortic smooth muscle was the presence of approximately 10 nm striations running approximately parallel to the openings of the vesicles to the extracellular space. Thick, thin, and intermediate filaments were observed in turtle oviduct smooth muscle, although the number of thick filaments seen in the present study appeared less than that previously found in mammalian smooth muscles.
A Non-Parametric Variable Selection Algorithm for Allocatory Linear Discriminant Analysis:

A computationally efficient nonparametric algorithm is proposed for the selection of variables in allocatory discriminant analysis. The efficiency of the algorithm derives from an ability to reuse calculations for the inverse of a nonsingular matrix. A subset of the original variables is found for which the leave-one-out estimate of the conditional probability of misclassification is never significantly greater than the estimated conditional probability of misclassification for the full set of predicate variables.
The auroral rays

Abstract A band which appeared over College (Alaska) on the night of March 24, 1962, provided an excellent chance to examine the ray structure of the aurora. Photographs of the bottom edge of the band suggest that the auroral rays are a small-scale folding structure produced by a positive space charge within the auroral electron sheet-beam. It seems unlikely however that the auroral draperies are related to the same type of instability.
Associations Between Self-Expansion and Actual and Perceived (Dis)Similarity and Their Joint Effects on Attraction in Initial Interactions

Self-expansion theory [e.g., Aron, E. N., & Aron, A. (1996). Love and expansion of the self: The state of the model. Personal Relationships, 3, 45–58] suggests that people are attracted to those who offer opportunities to enhance the self. Although there is extensive evidence that similarity predicts liking, self-expansion theorists suggest that self-expansion opportunities are greatest with dissimilar others. Using a social interaction experiment, we explored the associations among perceived self-expansion opportunities, actual and perceived similarity, and attraction in the context of initial interactions. In 15-min interactions, 73 unacquainted dyads either discussed their leisure interests, discussed their political beliefs, or simply “became acquainted.” The discussion topic had no effect on attraction or perceived self-expansion. Actual similarity, operationalized by the degree of difference in partners' self-reported leisure interests or political views, was generally unassociated with perceived se...
Antagonism by CGS 8216 and Ro 15-1788, benzodiazepines antagonists, of the action of chlordiazepoxide on a timing behavior in rats.

Rats were trained to respond under a differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) schedule of reinforcement. Pretreatment with relatively low doses of chlordiazepoxide (1–10 mg/kg) produced increases in total DRL responses and decreases in the numbers of reinforced responses. Chlordiazepoxide produced a shift in the interresponse time (IRT) distribution of DRL responses. Low doses of chlordiazepoxide shifted the IRT distribution of DRL responses. Low doses of chlordiazepoxide shifted the IRT distribution from the reinforced to the non-reinforced bins. In addition there was a marked increase in the number of responses that occurred in the earliest IRT bin (0–3.75 sec). The highest dose of chlordiazepoxide (32 mg/kg) produced a decrease in total DRL responses and resulted in an even IRT distribution of responses. Both CGS 8216 and Ro-1788 had minimal effect on DRL responding when given alone. Ro-1788 had no effect at either 10 or 32 mg/kg, while CGS 8216 produced decreases in DRL responding at 32 and 100 mg/kg. Both Ro-1788 and CGS 8216 antagonized the effects of high and low chlordiazepoxide doses on total DRL responding and on the IRT distribution of responding.
A grammatical approach for real-time design of engineer-to-order products

Products built around common platforms and modified through scaling and configuration, based on customer input, can satisfy needs of individuals. Engineer-to-order (ETO) products require a company to design the product from user specifications, which entails generating models, performing analysis, optimizing performance, and providing feedback to the customer to facilitate decision-making. ETO products require better integration of the customer in the design of the product, which differs from selecting products from catalogues or providing product varieties. In this paper, a web-based framework is presented that supports the design of ETO products. The framework utilizes a formal representation, to denote the entire product customization space, based on two grammars: the first grammar transforms the functional options selected by the customer to high-level functional modules, and the second grammar is used to transform the functional modules to generate detailed computer-aided design and finite element an...
Simplified Lecher Wires for Short Wave Measurements

A method of calibrating a wave meter for short waves, three to five meters, using an ordinary amplifying tube and a B, battery. Resonance is indicated by means of a milliammeter or voltmeter in the plate circuit of the tube. Data is given showing that the accuracy of the method is better than one percent. The average deviation from the mean being about one tenth of a per cent. A simple wave meter is described.
Numerical solution of a class of nonsteady cavity flow problems

This paper describes a boundary value technique which can be applied to a large variety of time dependent viscous flow problems. One example of great interest is studied numerically in considerable detail.
Simultaneous digital measurement of phase and amplitude noise

In this article, we describe the simultaneous digital measurement of both phase (PM) and amplitude (AM) noise of VHF and microwave sources by the direct digitization of the signal-under-test. Our measurement approach takes advantage of a commercially-available, high-dynamic-range analog-to-digital converter driven by a high-performance clock to digitize the signal-under-test with high fidelity. Following digitization, phase and amplitude fluctuations are extracted and converted to PM and AM noise spectra. Measurement of microwave signals is accomplished by the inclusion of a specially-designed low-noise down-converter to translate the signal frequency to the VHF regime while introducing minimal additional signal noise. Measurements made on this system are shown to be in good agreement with those obtained using a conventional heterodyne mixer system. In addition to speeding the characterization of RF sources by simultaneously measuring both PM and AM signal characteristics, the digital noise measurement approach allows the direct measurement of the PM- and AM-noise spectra of more complex signals, such as pulsed CW waveforms, in both the VHF and microwave regimes.
Matching Application-Specific Frontplanes With Generic Backplanes

Beyond displays, large-area flexible electronics face a fragmented market. To explore new applications even only in the laboratory their fabrication must be simplified. One route is to interface application-specific frontplanes, commercially available or custom-fabricated, with generic active-matrix backplanes. This survey identifies applications that can be demonstrated by this approach, at least at the laboratory level. The feasibility of such demonstrations depends much on the technique that is available for frontplane-to-backplane alignment and attachment. If alignment tolerances are unimportant or generous lamination often is a straightforward technique. Applications that need accurate alignment, or interfaces that contain thin layers, demand fabrication as fully-integrated structures.
Beware the Wandering Womb- Painterly Reflections of Early Gynecological Theory

Ailing women languishing in their sickrooms are common subjects in seventeenth-century Dutch genre painting. Because the women in these paintings are usually young, pretty, affluent, and apparently in good health but for their listless poses and the concern shown by the physicians and maids who attend them, scholars have traditionally interpreted the scenes as moralizing sermons against illegitimate pregnancy or as satires against “quack” doctors. However, the medical context of the time suggests that these paintings actually reflect early gynecological theories, which assumed a uterine origin for all diseases of women. The details within the paintings point to the symptoms of, and attempted cures for hysteria, or furor uterinus, a female illness commonly diagnosed in the seventeenth century, but with a history as old as medicine itself.
Considerations for the Use of Cytokine-Secreting Tumor Cell Preparations for Cancer Treatment

Limited efficacy of chemotherapy in most solid tumors has revived interest in immunotherapeutic approaches for cancer. One novel form of immunotherapy is the use of cancer vaccines consisting of tumor cells genetically engineered to secrete cytokines. The rationale for this immunization strategy is based on the existence of tumor-specific antigens, on the importance of the cellular arm of the immune system in mediating an effective antitumor response, and on the role of cytokines in regulating the cellular immune response. Such tumor vaccines showed considerable promise in various animal models and induced potent antitumor immunity in the host, which led to regression of established tumors and, moreover, produced immunological memory protecting animals from a subsequent tumor challenge at a distant site. Translated to the human patient, this implies that genetically modified tumor vaccines may be able to eradicate or reduce existing tumor deposits to subclinical levels as well as provide long-term protect...
Experimental investigation of response of monolithic and bilayer plates to impulsive loads

Abstract This article presents the results of a series of experiments performed to assess the dynamic response of circular monolithic steel and steel–polyurea bilayer plates to impulsive loads. A convenient technique to enhance the energy absorption capability of steel plates and to improve their resistance to fracturing in dynamic events, is to spray-cast a layer of polyurea onto the plates. Since polyurea readily adheres to metallic surfaces and has a short curing time, the technique may be used to retrofit existing metallic structures to improve their blast resistance. We have examined the effectiveness of this approach, focusing on the question of the significance of the relative position of the polyurea layer with respect to the loading direction; i.e., we have explored whether the polyurea layer cast on the front face (the impulse-receiving face) or on the back face of the steel plate would provide a more effective blast mitigating composite. The experimental results suggest that the polyurea layer can have a significant effect on the response of the steel plate to dynamic impulsive loads, both in terms of failure mitigation and energy absorption, if it is deposited on the back face of the plate. And, remarkably, when polyurea is placed on the front face of the plate, it may actually enhance the destructive effect of the blast, promoting (rather than mitigating) the failure of the steel plate, depending on the interface bonding strength between the polyurea and steel layers. These experimental results are supported by our computational simulations of the entire experiment, employing realistic physics-based constitutive models for the steel (DH-36, in the present work) and polyurea [Amini MR, Amirkhizi AV, Nemat-Nasser S. Numerical modeling of response of monolithic and bilayer plates to impulsive loads. Int J Impact Eng, submitted for publication].
North Carolina dental hygienists' view on oral cancer control.

Many oral and pharyngeal cancers (OPC) are preventable. Early detection improves survival rates. Hygienists have opportunities to help reduce the oral cancer burden among their patients. Purpose. The purpose of this project was to qualitatively assess North Carolina dental Hygienists’ views regarding OPC prevention and early detection. Methods. Sixteen practicing dental hygienists participated in 2, 8-person focus groups. Focus groups were taped, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively for content. Results. Four major themes arose: 1) The charge of the dental hygienist was not necessarily to diagnose cancer, but to recognize abnormalities and initiate referral when necessary; 2) The dental hygienist is only helpful in the tobacco cessation process if the patient has a desire to quit; 3) The dental hygienist is most effective if the patient believes the provider is genuine and truly cares about the patient’s well-being; 4) There is always a need for continued education in oral cancer screenings and tobacco cessation, specifically for hands-on courses. Barriers to performing OPC exams included: financial, time, and insufficient dentist support. Barriers for dental hygienists in providing tobacco cessation counseling included: lack of patient interest, lack of patient education materials and resources, smoking parents of adolescents, personality issues, and provider-patient diversity in age, gender, ethnicity, and culture. Conclusions. Dental hygienists felt their most important contribution to oral cancer control was patient education and oral cancer awareness. Professional continuing education is important and barriers need to be addressed to improve oral cancer control efforts.
Neuropsychological evaluation and academic implications for developmental coordination disorder: A case study

Children with developmental coordination disorder are most frequently evaluated for deficits in fine and gross motor skills. Several studies have assessed the relationship between motor incoordination and gross measures of cognition, although there has been minimal research investigating the relationship between coordination deficits, comprehensive cognitive abilities, and academic performance. We present a case study of an 8‐year‐old White boy with developmental coordination disorder who was reported to have significant academic problems, primarily in handwriting and timely completion of his work secondary to his motor deficits. Neurologic, occupational, and physical therapy evaluations reported gross and primarily fine motor coordination deficits with recommendations for standard occupational therapy services. A neuropsychological evaluation revealed generally average abilities on verbal measures and visuospatial measures not requiring motor skills but generally deficient abilities on all visuospatial m...
Determination of self shielding factors and gamma attenuation effects for tree ring samples

Determination of tree ring chemistry using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) is part of an ongoing research between Penn State University (PSU) and Cornell University, The Malcolm and Carolyn Wiener Laboratory for Aegean and Near Eastern Dendrochronology. Tree-ring chemistry yields valuable data for environmental event signatures. These signatures are a complex function of elemental concentration. To be certain about concentration of signature elements, it is necessary to perform the measurements and corrections with the lowest error and maximum accuracy possible. Accurate and precise values of energy dependent neutron flux at dry irradiation tubes and detector efficiency for tree ring sample are calculated for Penn State Breazeale Reactor (PSBR). For the calculation of energy dependent and self shielding corrected neutron flux, detailed model of the TRIGA Mark III reactor at PSU with updated fuel compositions was prepared using the MCNP utility for reactor evolution (MURE) libraries. Dry irradiation tube, sample holder and sample were also included in the model. The thermal flux self-shielding correction factors due to the sample holder and sample for were calculated and verified with previously published values. The Geant-4 model of the gamma spectroscopy system, developed at Radiation Science and Engineering Center (RSEC), was improved and absolute detector efficiency for tree-ring samples was calculated.
Both SMAD2 and SMAD3 Mediate Activin-Stimulated Expression of the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β Subunit in Mouse Gonadotrope Cells

The activins are pleiotropic members of the TGFβ superfamily. Within the anterior pituitary gland, activins stimulate FSH synthesis in an autocrine/paracrine fashion by stimulating transcription of the FSHβ subunit gene. Here, the mechanisms mediating this effect were investigated in the murine gonadotrope cell line, LβT2. Recombinant activin A and activin B dose- and time-dependently stimulated endogenous FSHβ mRNA expression. FSHβ primary transcript and mRNA levels were increased within 30–60 min, but these effects were blocked by preincubation with the transcription inhibitor actinomycin-D, suggesting that the FSHβ gene is a direct target of the activin signal transduction cascade. In other systems, activin signals are transduced through a heteromeric serine/threonine receptor complex, which includes the signaling activin type IB receptor [activin receptor-like kinase 4 (ALK4)]. Transfection of a constitutively active form of the receptor, ALK4T206D, stimulated FSHβ mRNA levels. Overexpression of the i...
Energy conservation in sensor networks through selective node activation

This work presents a novel algorithm to improve energy conservation in sensor networks. The algorithm is based upon selective activation of sensor nodes using thresholding (SAT). The sensor continuously monitors the received signal and makes a binary decision to join the network if the average received signal power falls within the specified minimum and maximum threshold range. Thus, SAT divides all the receivers within the coverage range of the transmitter into sets of active and inactive nodes realizing a saving in power consumption proportional to the number of inactive nodes. The sensor life-time is enhanced by allowing the node to transmit at a power that is a constant fraction of the total residual energy. For two cases of linear and hexagonal networks considered in this work, it is shown that for each transmission, the fraction of inactive nodes may exceed by over 30% of the total number of nodes present within maximum one-hop distance of the transmitter. The cost associated with energy conservation through SAT is (a) increased sensor node density or (b) increased transmission power requirement.
Preexisting Immunity, More Than Aging, Influences Influenza Vaccine Responses.

Background. Influenza disproportionately impacts older adults while current vaccines have reduced effectiveness in the older population. Methods. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of cellular and humoral immune responses of adults aged 50 years and older to the 2008-2009 seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine and assessed factors influencing vaccine response. Results. Vaccination increased hemagglutination inhibition and neutralizing antibody; however, 66.3% of subjects did not reach hemagglutination inhibition titers ≥ 40 for H1N1, compared with 22.5% for H3N2. Increasing age had a minor negative impact on antibody responses, whereas prevaccination titers were the best predictors of postvaccination antibody levels. Preexisting memory B cells declined with age, especially for H3N2. However, older adults still demonstrated a significant increase in antigen-specific IgG(+) and IgA(+) memory B cells postvaccination. Despite reduced frequency of preexisting memory B cells associated with advanced age, fold-rise in memory B cell frequency in subjects 60+ was comparable to subjects age 50-59. Conclusions. Older adults mounted statistically significant humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, but many failed to reach hemagglutination inhibition titers ≥40, especially for H1N1. Although age had a modest negative effect on vaccine responses, prevaccination titers were the best predictor of postvaccination antibody levels, irrespective of age.
Natively unfolded protein stability as a coil-to-globule transition in charge/hydropathy space.

In the absence of experimental assignments, the empirical charge/hydropathy correlation for the prediction of natively unfolded protein sequences (Uversky, V. N.; Gillespie, J. R.; Fink, A. L. Proteins: Struct., Funct., Genet. 2000, 41, 415−427) provides perhaps the most intuitive description of gross polypeptide conformation. The success of this correlation rests on an essential chain length independence of the boundary line between expanded and compact conformations, conversely stabilized by highly charged/weakly hydrophobic residues or weakly charged/highly hydrophobic residues, respectively. We present extensive simulation results for coarse-grained polypeptides over a wide range of sequence hydrophobicities, charges, and lengths. A coil-to-globule transition in sequence composition space analogous to the charge/hydropathy correlation is observed. A near sequence length independent stability boundary is only found when counterions for the charged peptides are explicitly included, as a result of counte...
Dynamics of chromosome number and genome size variation in a cytogenetically variable sedge (Carex scoparia var. scoparia, Cyperaceae)

• Premise of the study : High intraspecifi c cytogenetic variation in the sedge genus Carex (Cyperaceae) is hypothesized to be due to the “ diffuse ” or non-localized centromeres, which facilitate chromosome fi ssion and fusion. If chromosome number changes are dominated by fiand fusion, then chromosome evolution will result primarily in changes in the potential for recombination among populations. Chromosome duplications, on the other hand, entail consequent opportunities for divergent evolution of paralogs. In this study, we evaluate whether genome size and chromosome number covary within species. • Methods : We used fl ow cytometry to estimate genome sizes in Carex scoparia var. scoparia , sampling 99 plants (23 populations) in the Chicago region, and we used meiotic chromosome observations to document chromosome numbers and chromosome pairing relations. • Key results : Chromosome numbers range from 2 n = 62 to 2 n = 68, and nuclear DNA 1C content from 0.342 to 0.361 pg DNA. Regressions of DNA content on chromosome number are nonsignifi cant for data analyzed by individual or population, and a regression model that excludes slope is favored over a model in which chromosome number predicts genome size. • Conclusions : Chromosome rearrangements within cytogenetically variable Carex species are more likely a consequence of fi ssion and fusion than of duplication and deletion. Moreover, neither genome size nor chromosome number is spatially autocorrelated, which suggests the potential for rapid chromosome evolution by fiand fusion at a relatively fi ne geographic scale ( < 350 km). These fi ndings have important implications for ecological restoration and speciation within the largest angiosperm genus of the temperate zone.
PDZK1 binding and serine phosphorylation regulate subcellular trafficking of organic anion transport protein 1a1

Although perturbation of organic anion transport protein (oatp) cell surface expression can result in drug toxicity, little is known regarding mechanisms regulating its subcellular distribution. Many members of the oatp family, including oatp1a1, have a COOH-terminal PDZ consensus binding motif that interacts with PDZK1, while serines upstream of this site (S634 and S635) can be phosphorylated. Using oatp1a1 as a prototypical member of the oatp family, we prepared plasmids in which these serines were mutated to glutamic acid [E634E635 (oatp1a1EE), phosphomimetic] or alanine [A634A635 (oatp1a1AA), nonphosphorylatable]. Distribution of oatp1a1AA and oatp1a1EE was largely intracellular in transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells. Cotransfection with a plasmid encoding PDZK1 revealed that oatp1a1AA was now expressed largely on the cell surface, while oatp1a1EE remained intracellular. To quantify these changes, studies were performed in HuH7 cells stably transfected with these oatp1a1 plasmids. These cells endogenously express PDZK1. Surface biotinylation at 4°C followed by shift to 37°C showed that oatp1a1EE internalizes quickly compared with oatp1a1AA. To examine a physiological role for phosphorylation in oatp1a1 subcellular distribution, studies were performed in rat hepatocytes exposed to extracellular ATP, a condition that stimulates serine phosphorylation of oatp1a1 via activity of a purinergic receptor. Internalization of oatp1a1 under these conditions was rapid. Thus, although PDZK1 binding is required for optimal cell surface expression of oatp1a1, phosphorylation provides a mechanism for fast regulation of the distribution of oatp1a1 between the cell surface and intracellular vesicular pools. Identification of the proteins and motor molecules that mediate these trafficking events represents an important area for future study.
Archaeal RadA protein binds DNA as both helical filaments and octameric rings

The Escherichia coli RecA protein has been a model for understanding homologous eukaryotic recombination proteins such as Rad51. The active form of both RecA and Rad51 appear to be helical filaments polymerized on DNA, in which an unusual helical structure is induced in the DNA. Surprisingly, the human meiosis-specific homolog of RecA, Dmc1, has thus far only been observed to bind DNA as an octameric ring. Sequence analysis and biochemical studies have shown that archaeal RadA proteins are more closely related to Rad51 and Dmc1 than the bacterial RecA proteins. We find that the Sulfolobus solfataricus RadA protein binds DNA in the absence of nucleotide cofactor as an octameric ring and in the presence of ATP as a helical filament. Since it is likely that RadA is closely related to a common ancestral protein of both Rad51 and Dmc1, the two DNA-binding forms of RadA may provide insight into the divergence that has taken place between Rad51 and Dmc1.
Mild to moderate pulmonary hypertension in liver transplantation

Abstract Background Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) are at increased risk for worse outcomes post–liver transplant (LT). This study evaluated LT outcomes and complications for a large number of LT patients with mild to moderate PHTN. Materials and methods This is a retrospective review of data from 2001 to 2011. All cases of PHTN were diagnosed with catheterization (mean pulmonary artery pressure) and categorized according to standard criteria: low-mild, 25–29 mm Hg; high-mild, 30–34 mm Hg; moderate, 35–44 mm Hg; and severe, ≥45 mm Hg. Our center protocol excludes most patients with known moderate and severe PHTN from LT. Outcomes included early liver function, ventilator time, hospital length of stay, and graft and patient survival. Results We reviewed the cardiac and pulmonary records for 1263 patients. There were 102 patients with confirmed PHTN (8%): 63 low-mild, 30 high-mild, and 9 moderate. Patients with PHTN were older (P 48 h post-transplant; P Conclusions These results suggest that PHTN patients require longer post–liver transplant ventilation and length of hospital stay, but have similar early graft function and long-term survival. The risk of PHTN in these patients increases with increasing age.
Adiabatic Compression: A New Method to Measure Latent Heats in Phospholipid Bilayers

The standard method of measuring latent heats of phase transitions which occur in phospholipid bilayers is DSC or DTA at or near atmospheric pressure. A recurring problem with this method is that changes in the specific heat near the phase transition cannot easily be separated from the latent heat itself. Adiabatic compression offers an alternative method of performing a latent heat measurement, and because the sample is under continuous pressure, pre-transitional effects depend on a different combination of thermodynamic variables. As a result, adiabatic compression measurements should not be subject to the same errors as DSC or DTA experiments. Adiabatic compression techniques are described, and measurements on the phospholipid dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) are presented. The results agree with prior measurements, but reveal changes in the latent heat at high pressure never observed before.
Human Factors Psychology in the Support of Forecasting: The Design of Advanced Meteorological Workstations

Abstract Advanced Meteorological Processing (AMP) systems will provide a workstation environment to support the activities of operational forecasters and research meteorologists. AMP system research and development projects are underway at laboratories of the National Weather Service, the U.S. Air Force, and a number of universities and private corporations. AMP systems will integrate artificial intelligence techniques with forecasting procedures, and will support the interpretation and integration of data from new remote sensing satellites and new ground-based radars. This article illustrates human factors research aimed at generating specifications for prototype AMP systems. A task analysis of forecasting deliberations and structured interviews with research meteorologists lead to a number of recommendations about the design of AMP systems, and to some ideas about needed research on graphics displays and the reasoning of expert meteorologists.
Effects of hyperosmolality and diuretics on heat-induced limb vasodilation in baboons

Dehydration attenuates the increase in limb skin blood flow elicited by environmental heating (EH). This study sought to determine which of the two primary effects of dehydration, increased body fluid osmolality or decreased body fluid volume, was primarily responsible for this cutaneous vasoconstrictor bias in baboons. Unanesthetized chronically instrumented baboons were exposed to EH while in euhydrated state, after 65-69 h of water deprivation (dehydration), after infusion of a small volume of hypertonic (20%) saline to raise plasma osmolality and sodium concentration to dehydration levels, and after injections of the diuretic furosemide over a 64-h period to produce an isosmotic fall in extracellular fluid volume. EH consisted of an acute elevation of ambient temperature to 39.5-42.0 degrees C until internal temperature reached 39.5-39.8 degrees C. The normal increases in external iliac artery blood flow and iliac vascular conductance during EH were unchanged by hyperosmolality but were attenuated by 39 and 31%, respectively, after furosemide treatment and by 42 and 46%, respectively, during dehydration. Thus the fall in extracellular fluid volume is the component of dehydration that attenuates the increase in hindlimb blood flow during EH in the same way as dehydration itself.
Seismic Assessment of High-Rise Buildings

A method is presented by which the seismic resistance of a structure can be assessed and which leads to results with a rather high level of confidence. It is based on the notion of the critical excitation of a structure. This is an excitation that drives one of the structural design variables to a larger response peak than any other, in some given set of credible excitations. Evidence is presented which shows that it is possible to reduce the idea to a method with considerable promise for application in practice, but that substantial modifications are necessary in it. The evidence consists of the results of analyses of four high-rise buildings, three in existence and one in the planning stage. The results show that the method leads to designs that are somewhat conservative, but that appear to be consistent with established good engineering practice. Its application therefore seems most appealing to structures that are sufficiently important to demand high confidence in their survival or integrity during an earthquake.
Development of a virtual pump water flow meter with a flow rate function of motor power and pump head

Abstract Water flow rates are key operating variables in chilled and hot water systems. The water flow rate through a pump can be virtually measured using available motor power and pump head with projected motor and pump efficiencies. In general, motor efficiency is implicitly determined by motor power while pump efficiency is given as a function of water flow rate. As a result, the water flow rate has to be calculated through a numerical method, which is difficult to apply in building automation systems (BAS). The objective of this paper is to develop a virtual pump water flow meter, which can be implemented in BAS with an explicit expression of motor power and pump head. First, motor efficiency is regressed as a function of motor power by consolidating multiple dependent factors, then pump efficiency function is reconstructed with pump shaft power and head, and finally experiments are conducted to develop and validate a virtual pump water flow meter on a chilled water pump. The experimental results show that the virtual flow measurements agree well with the flow measurement by a physical meter. The measurement standard deviation is 0.5 L/s for a pump with the design flow rate of 37.9 L/s.
Development and Testing of the ITER Divertor Monoblock Braze Design

AbstractThe monoblock geometry is proposed for the ITER Physics Phase divertor for brazing of carbon armor tiles to copper or molybdenum cooling tubes. Elastic/plastic finite element analyses predicted high residual stresses except with OFHC copper. Samples of pyrolytic graphite tiles brazed to OFHC copper, Glidcop™ Al-15 copper alloy, and molybdenum tubing show cracking in all of the samples, except with the OFHC copper. A 3-tile divertor target consisting of 12 mm thick pyrolytic graphite brazed with a copper-silver alloy to a 12 mm diameter OFHC copper tubing was tested at 15 MW/m2 with a rastered 30 keV electron beam for 1000 thermal cycles. A gradual rise in surface temperature from 1000 C to 1200 C over the 1000 cycles was observed, along with hot stripes (1500 C) at the tile edges. However, no delamination cracks could be detected.
GATA Factor-G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Circuit Suppresses Hematopoiesis

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) originate from hemogenic endothelium within the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region of the mammalian embryo. The relationship between genetic circuits controlling stem cell genesis and multi-potency is not understood. A Gata2 cis element (+9.5) enhances Gata2 expression in the AGM and induces the endothelial to HSC transition. We demonstrated that GATA-2 rescued hematopoiesis in +9.5−/− AGMs. As G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most common targets for FDA-approved drugs, we analyzed the GPCR gene ensemble to identify GATA-2-regulated GPCRs. Of the 20 GATA-2-activated GPCR genes, four were GATA-1-activated, and only Gpr65 expression resembled Gata2. Contrasting with the paradigm in which GATA-2-activated genes promote hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell genesis/function, our mouse and zebrafish studies indicated that GPR65 suppressed hematopoiesis. GPR65 established repressive chromatin at the +9.5 site, restricted occupancy by the activator Scl/TAL1, and repressed Gata2 transcription. Thus, a Gata2 cis element creates a GATA-2-GPCR circuit that limits positive regulators that promote hematopoiesis.
Cutaneous scars and cosmetic surgery.

A review of concepts and principles basic to an understanding of the process of scarring, and their significance in cosmetic operations.
Reflections on a privilege: Becoming part of the course by a collaboration on Blackboard

L'A. bibliothecaire relate son experience de collaboration reussie avec un professeur pour integrer l'enseignement de la culture de l'information a un cours d'histoire sur Blackboard.
DISTRIBUTED MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A FOUR-TANK SYSTEM

Abstract A distributed model predictive control (DMPC) framework is proposed. The physical plant structure and the plant mathematical model are used to partition the control duties over self-sufficient estimation and control nodes. Linear models and local measurements at the nodes are used to estimate the relevant plant states. This information is then used in the model predictive control calculations. Communication among relevant nodes during estimation and control calculations provides improvement over the performance of completely decentralized controllers. The DMPC framework is demonstrated for the level control of an interacting four-tank system. The performance of the DMPC system for disturbance rejection is compared with other control configurations. The results indicate that the performance of the proposed framework provides significant improvement over completely decentralized MPC controllers, and approaches the performance of a fully centralized design.
Predicting G protein-coupled receptor downstream signaling by tissue expression.

Motivation: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are central to how cells respond to their environment and a major class of pharmacological targets. However, comprehensive knowledge of which pathways are activated and deactivated by these essential sensors is largely unknown. To better understand the mechanism of GPCR signaling system, we integrated five independent genome-wide expression datasets, representing 275 human tissues and cell lines, with protein-protein interactions and functional pathway data. Results: We found that tissue-specificity plays a crucial part in the function of GPCR signaling system. Only a few GPCRs are expressed in each tissue, which are coupled by different combinations of G-proteins or β-arrestins to trigger specific downstream pathways. Based on this finding, we predicted the downstream pathways of GPCR in human tissues and validated our results with L1000 knockdown data. In total, we identified 154,988 connections between 294 GPCRs and 690 pathways in 240 tissues and cell types. Availability and Implementation: The source code and results supporting the conclusions of this article are available at http://tatonettilab.org/resources/GOTE/source_code/. Contact: ude.aibmuloc@ittenotat.kcin Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.