cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phosphorylation regulates arginine-rich RNA-binding protein solubility and oligomerization

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate several critical steps in RNA metabolism, including spliceosome assembly, alternative splicing, and mRNA export. Notably, serine-/arginine- (SR)-rich RBPs are densely phosphorylated compared with the remainder of the proteome. Previously, we showed that dephosphorylation of the splicing factor SRSF2 regulated increased interactions with similar arginine-rich RBPs U1-70K and LUC7L3. However, the large-scale functional and structural impact of these modifications on RBPs remains unclear. In this work, we dephosphorylated nuclear extracts using phosphatase in vitro and analyzed equal amounts of detergent-soluble and -insoluble fractions by mass-spectrometry-based proteomics. Correlation network analysis resolved 27 distinct modules of differentially soluble nucleoplasm proteins. We found classes of arginine-rich RBPs that decrease in solubility following dephosphorylation and enrich the insoluble pelleted fraction, including the SR protein family and the SR-like LUC7L RBP family. Importantly, increased insolubility was not observed across broad classes of RBPs. We determined that phosphorylation regulated SRSF2 structure, as dephosphorylated SRSF2 formed high-molecular-weight oligomeric species in vitro. Reciprocally, phosphorylation of SRSF2 by serine/arginine protein kinase 2 (SRPK2) in vitro decreased high-molecular-weight SRSF2 species formation. Furthermore, upon pharmacological inhibition of SRPKs in mammalian cells, we observed SRSF2 cytoplasmic mislocalization and increased formation of cytoplasmic granules as well as cytoplasmic tubular structures that associated with microtubules by immunocytochemical staining. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that phosphorylation may be a critical modification that prevents arginine-rich RBP insolubility and oligomerization.
Resources for the Study of Real Analysis

1. Review of calculus 2. Analysis problems 3. Essays 4. Selected readings Annotated bibliography Additional references Index.
On drawing a graph convexly in the plane (extended abstract)

Let G be a planar graph and H be a subgraph of G. Given any convex drawing of H, we investigate the problem of how to extend the drawing of H to a convex drawing of G. We obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence and a linear algorithm for the construction of such an extension. Our results and their corollaries generalize previous theoretical and algorithmic results of Tutte, Thomassen, Chiba, Yamanouchi, and Nishizeki.
Developing air quality forecasts

Third International Workshop on Air Quality Forecasting Research; Potomac, Maryland, 29 November to 1 December 2011 Elevated concentrations of both near-surface ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter have been implicated in increased mortality and other human health impacts. In light of these known influences on human health, many governments around the world have instituted air quality forecasting systems to provide their citizens with advance warning of impending poor air quality so that they can take actions to limit exposure. In an effort to improve the performance of air quality forecasting systems and provide a forum for the exchange of the latest research in air quality modeling, the International Workshop on Air Quality Forecasting Research (IWAQFR) was established in 2009 and is cosponsored by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environment Canada (EC), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The steering committee for IWAQFR's establishment was composed of Veronique Bouchet, Mike Howe, and Craig Stoud (EC); Greg Carmichael (University of Iowa); Paula Davidson and Jim Meagher (NOAA); and Liisa Jalkanen (WMO). The most recent workshop took place in Maryland.
Luciferase Reporter Assay in Drosophila and Mammalian Tissue Culture Cells

Luciferase reporter gene assays are one of the most common methods for monitoring gene activity. Because of their sensitivity, dynamic range, and lack of endogenous activity, luciferase assays have been particularly useful for functional genomics in cell-based assays, such as RNAi screening. This unit describes delivery of two luciferase reporters with other nucleic acids (siRNA/dsRNA), measurement of the dual luciferase activities, and analysis of data generated. The systematic query of gene function (RNAi) combined with the advances in luminescent technology have made it possible to design powerful whole genome screens to address diverse and significant biological questions.
Signal Processing, Selection Approach in

This article considers selection and ranking goals and techniques in studying the problems of simultaneous detection of signals at several sites and also estimating the number of signals.
VLSI array processors: designs and applications

The key issues in designing an algorithm-oriented array processor are addressed in this tutorial. The author discusses how to express the parallelism and description of the space-time activities associated with a parallel algorithm, how to systematically derive a VLSI array hardware design, and how to apply the methodology to image/vision processing applications. The applications include 2-D convolution for edge detection, rank order filter for noise removal and artificial neural nets for associative classification. >
Generalized Energy Condensation Theory

A generalization of multigroup energy condensation theory has been developed. The new method generates a solution within the few-group framework that exhibits the energy spectrum characteristic of ...
Late Recurrence of Atrial Flutter Following Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation

The success rate for catheter ablation of atrial flutter has been reported to be approximately 90%, but recurrences are common and can be seen in up to 20% of cases. Most of these recurrences are seen within a few weeks following ablation. We report on a patient who developed a recurrence of type I atrial flutter 2 years after an initially successful radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure. Whether the recurrent atrial flutter is due to a new reentrant circuit resulting from slow progression of atrial disease or due to the changes produced by radiofrequency energy in the nearby myocardium is not clear. Further work to define the electrophysiological changes in the atrial myocardium produced by radiofrequency energy, as well as long-term follow-up of patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial flutter may help in answering these questions.
Electromagnetic wave propagation in an asymmetrical coal seam

Electromagnetic wave propagation in a coal seam is analyzed for the case where the surrounding floor and roof rocks have different electrical properties. Numerical results are presented for the attenuation rate and field distribution of the dominant mode. Even when the roof and floor conductivities are different, the vertical electric field and the horizontal magnetic field are the dominant components, and they are nearly constant within the coal seam. The results have application to mine communication and remote sensing of coal seams.
Level-set minimization of potential controlled Hadwiger valuations for molecular solvation

A level-set method is developed for the numerical minimization of a class of Hadwiger valuations with a potential on a set of three-dimensional bodies. Such valuations are linear combinations of the volume, surface area, and surface integral of mean curvature. The potential increases rapidly as the body shrinks beyond a critical size. The combination of the Hadwiger valuation and the potential is the mean-field free-energy functional of the solvation of non-polar molecules in the recently developed variational implicit-solvent model. This functional of surfaces is minimized by the level-set evolution in the steepest decent of the free energy. The normal velocity of this surface evolution consists of both the mean and Gaussian curvatures, and a lower-order, ''forcing'' term arising from the potential. The forward Euler method is used to discretize the time derivative with a dynamic time stepping that satisfies a CFL condition. The normal velocity is decomposed into two parts. The first part consists of both the mean and Gaussian curvature terms. It is of parabolic type with parameter correction, and is discretized by central differencing. The second part has all the lower-order terms. It is of hyperbolic type, and is discretized by an upwinding scheme. New techniques of local level-set method and numerical integration are developed. Numerical tests demonstrate a second-order convergence of the method. Examples of application to the modeling of molecular solvation are presented.
Petroleum companies withdraw from OMDP

The 10 petroleum companies that were to split the costs of the Ocean Margin Drilling Program (OMDP) (Eos, February 19, 1980, p. 90) with the National Science Foundation have withdrawn their support from the project. According to Allen M. Shinn, Jr., director of NSF's Office of Scientific Ocean Drilling, the petroleum companies stated that they are not willing to support the fiscal 1982 efforts as planned. Participation at a future date remains uncertain. The move will indefinitely delay OMDP, Shinn told Eos. ‘I don't think we [NSF] can continue with the program as it is outlined now,’ he added.
Modeling Energy Dissipation in Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy is an important research tool in micro- and nano-scale science because of its high resolution and versatility. Many different operation methods have been developed and more are being developed. In numerical studies, a nonlinear interaction force model is recognized as a necessary part to achieve accurate results. However, the energy dissipation in the system is still generally modeled only by structural and viscous damping which are proportional to velocity, and the non-conservative interaction force models for numerical simulations are limited and frequently not used. In this work, the authors investigate the importance of using a non-conservative interaction force model in numerical simulations. Some modeling methods are discussed and the simulation results for resonant excitation are compared. The response magnitude at the first harmonic is determined to be significantly affected by the modeling approach when the dissipative level in the tip-sample interaction and the structural and viscous damping are high.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Combining Synchronous Transit and Quasi-Newton Methods to Find Transition States

A linear synchronous transit or quadratic synchronous transit approach is used to get closer to the quadratic region of the transition state and then quasi-newton or eigenvector following methods are used to complete the optimization. With an empirical estimate of the hessian, these methods converge efficiently for a variety of transition states from a range of starting structures.
Creating Locally-Resolved Mobile-Source Emissions Inputs for Air Quality Modeling in Support of an Exposure Study in Detroit, Michigan, USA

This work describes a methodology for modeling the impact of traffic-generated air pollutants in an urban area. This methodology presented here utilizes road network geometry, traffic volume, temporal allocation factors, fleet mixes, and emission factors to provide critical modeling inputs. These inputs, assembled from a variety of sources, are combined with meteorological inputs to generate link-based emissions for use in dispersion modeling to estimate pollutant concentration levels due to traffic. A case study implementing this methodology for a large health study is presented, including a sensitivity analysis of the modeling results reinforcing the importance of model inputs and identify those having greater relative impact, such as fleet mix. In addition, an example use of local measurements of fleet activity to supplement model inputs is described, and its impacts to the model outputs are discussed. We conclude that with detailed model inputs supported by local traffic measurements and meteorology, it is possible to capture the spatial and temporal patterns needed to accurately estimate exposure from traffic-related pollutants.
In vivo and in vitro clinical applications of monoclonal antibodies against TAG-72.

Monoclonal antibodies against a tumor-associated antigen (TAG-72) with mucin-like properties have been generated. MAb B72.3 was used to identify and help characterize this antigen. B72.3 has been successfully used for the localization of tumor metastases in situ after i.v. administration. MAb B72.3 has also been used in conjunction with CC49, another anti-TAG-72 MAb, to measure TAG-72 levels in sera and effusions. TAG-72 can be found in the fluids of patients with adenocarcinomas from many different sites. This CA 72-4 double determinant radioimmunoassay in conjunction with assays for carcinoembryonic antigen can identify patients with malignancies with greater sensitivity than either assay alone.
Inspection and sorting of particulate materials with low optical loss characteristics

Many commercial materials sold in bulk form occur as particulates or pellets at some intermediate stage in their production. Detection of defects and foreign particles at this stage is a useful quality control function. This paper describes a concept and implementation for measuring contaminant count and removing undesirable material from a product stream. The system in its present form is restricted to materials that exhibit low optical loss. Many polymers and other particulates fall into this category or are sufficiently close that the system functions effectively. An optical scanner and material transport system are integrated with a computer system to perform the detection and sorting functions. Throughputs of 60 lbs/hour have been demonstrated and higher rates are possible.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Neonatal and Infant Auditory Screening Programs: An Evaluation of their Current Status

The optimal age to recognize the existence of a hearing defect should be infancy, and preferably even the newborn period. For this reason many pediatricians are installing some form of audiometric testing in their offices. Here is a review of the present stage of development of methods for identifying hearing impairment early in life. The earlier a child's deafness is recognized, the faster and more successful will be medical rectification or the starting of essential rehabilitative approaches.
Dual-level designs of buildings under seismic loads

Three methods of dual-level seismic design for buildings are proposed based on consideration of reliability against the serviceability and ultimate limit states. The first is a method of calibration of design parameters according to the two target reliability levels within the context of current code procedures. The method is demonstrated by calibration of seismic load factor and drift limit. The second is an extension of the design earthquake approach to allow consideration of two levels of design earthquake. The performance is assured by linear and nonlinear equivalent static (pushover) analyses. It produces designs which come closer to the design objectives of most current codes. The third is an alternative to the current design procedures. It uses uniform hazard response spectra and a pushover analysis-based equivalent single-degree-of-freedom system to explicitly account for variability and uncertainty in the seismic loads and inelastic response behavior of the structures. This avoids the use of the controversial response reduction factor. Uncertainties in the soil amplification and structural system modeling are accounted for by corresponding design factors similar in concept to the LRFD method. It ensures that the structure meets local (interstory) drift and global ductility requirements with specified probabilities.
A Note on the Application and Evaluation of the Buckle Transducer for Knee Ligament Force Measurement

Knee ligament forces were directly measured with buckle transducers. Given a collection of buckle transducers with adequate rigidity and a variety of sizes to accommodate different ligamentous geometries, two potential problems remain when using the buckles 1) impingement of the transducers with bone, producing a false output; 2) ligament shortening due to buckle installation, potentially altering the distribution of ligament forces around the knee. This report describes our current buckle transducer designs and installation procedures, and presents data which demonstrated that the errors due to ligament shortening and bone impingement can be assessed and reduced to acceptable levels.
The South and the New Deal

When Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in as president, the South was unmistakably the most disadvantaged part of the nation. The region's economy was the weakest, its educational level the lowest, and its laws and social mores the most racially slanted. Moreover, the region was prostrate from the effects of the Great Depression. Roosevelt's New Deal effected significant changes on the southern landscape, challenging many traditions and laying the foundations for subsequent alterations in the southern way of life. At the same time, firmly entrenched values and institutions militated against change and blunted the impact of federal programs. In The South and the New Deal, Roger Biles examines the New Deal's impact on the rural and urban South, its black and white citizens, its poor, and its politics. He shows how southern leaders initially welcomed and supported the various New Deal measures but later opposed a continuation or expansion of these programs because they violated regional convictions and traditions. Nevertheless, Biles concludes, the New Deal, coupled with the domestic effects of World War II, set the stage for a remarkable postwar transformation in the affairs of the region. The post-World War II Sunbelt boom has brought Dixie more fully into the national mainstream. To what degree did the New Deal disrupt southern distinctiveness? Biles answers this and other questions and explores the New Deal's enduring legacy in the region.
A Dryline in Southeast Wyoming. Part II: Airborne In Situ and Raman Lidar Observations

Part I of this study describes the mesoscale structure of a dryline over southeastern Wyoming. This dryline formed just east of the western rim of the high plains on 22 June 2010 and became more defined as it progressedeastwardduringtheafternoon.PartIalsodescribesthenumericallysimulatedstructureandevolution of this dryline and the observed initiation of deep convection in the vicinity of the dryline. An instrumented aircraft, the University of Wyoming King Air, repeatedly flew across this dryline, mostly low enough to penetrate the moist-air wedge east of the dryline. Flight-level in situ data along these low-level penetrations indicate relatively high values of convective available potential energy (CAPE; .1500Jkg 21 ), yet low convective inhibition, within a few kilometers of the dryline. Water vapor transects obtained from a compact nadir-pointing Raman lidar aboard the aircraft reveal an extremely sharp humidity gradient below flight level along the dryline, coinciding with the fineline seen in operational weather radar base reflectivity imagery. Theyalsorevealseveralplumesofhigher specifichumiditywithinthedryelevatedmixedlayerabovethemoistair wedge, possibly precursors of cumulus clouds. The vertical structure of the dryline revealed by Raman lidar and the flight-level data correspond well to that in the high-resolution numerical simulation.
Emigration and Household Structure in a Portuguese Parish, 1850-1920

Focusing in particular on the residence patterns of women over the life course the study explores the impact of a predominantly male pattern of migration on the formation and structure of households in the parish of Lanheses in northwestern Portugal between 1850 and 1920. Households adjusted to the absence of men in ways that demonstrate several characteristics of matrifocality. The female-headed and patriuxorilocal households in Lanheses during the period are the result of centuries of coping both demographically and socially with the absence of men. Male migration has affected household structure in this area not only directly but also indirectly through its impact on female spinsterhood and illegitimacy. (EXCERPT)
UCheck: A spreadsheet type checker for end users

Spreadsheets are widely used, and studies have shown that most end-user spreadsheets contain non-trivial errors. Most of the currently available tools that try to mitigate this problem require varying levels of user intervention. This paper presents a system, called UCheck, that detects errors in spreadsheets automatically. UCheck carries out automatic header and unit inference, and reports unit errors to the users. UCheck is based on two static analyses phases that infer header and unit information for all cells in a spreadsheet. We have tested UCheck on a wide variety of spreadsheets and found that it works accurately and reliably. The system was also used in a continuing education course for high school teachers, conducted through Oregon State University, aimed at making the participants aware of the need for quality control in the creation of spreadsheets.
Array-based approaches to cancer genome analysis

Chromosomal aberrations contribute markedly to the genesis and spread of cancer. Genomic technologies such as array comparative genomic hybridization and high-density single nucleotide polymorphism arrays interrogate the gains, losses and allelic imbalances present in tumor DNA with unprecedented scale and resolution. These tools enable increasingly integrated and multi-faceted genomic studies when combined with robust in silico analytical platforms. Ultimately, insights gleaned from these efforts should speed the deployment of therapeutics tailored to the genomic makeup of individual tumors.
Diverse stereocontrol effects induced by weakly coordinating anions. stereospecific olefin polymerization pathways at archetypal Cs-and C1-symmetric metallocenium catalysts using mono-and polynuclear halo-perfluoroarylmetalates as cocatalysts

Counteranion effects on propylene polymerization rates and stereoselectivities are compared using Cs-symmetric Me2C(Cp)(Flu)ZrMe2 (1; Cp = C5H4,η5-cyclopentadienyl; Flu = C13H8, η5-fluorenyl) and C1-symmetric Me2Si(OHF)(CpR*)ZrMe2 (2; OHF = C13H16, η5-octahydrofluorenyl; CpR* = η5-3-(−)-menthylcyclopentadienyl) precatalysts activated with the mononuclear and polynuclear perfluoroarylborate, -aluminate, and -gallate cocatalysts/activators B(C6F5)3 (3), B(o-C6F5C6F4)3 (4), Al(C6F5)3 (5), Ph3C+B(C6F5)4- (6) Ph3C+FAl(o-C6F5C6F4)3- (7), Ga(C6F5)3 (8), and recently reported mono- and polymetallic trityl perfluoroarylhalometalates Ph3C+FB(C6F5)3- (9), Ph3C+FB(o-C6F5C6F4)3- (10), (Ph3C+)xFx[Al(C6F5)3]yx- (x = 1, y = 1, 11; x = 1, y = 2, 12; x = 2, y = 3, 13), Ph3C+(C6F5)3AlFAl(o-C6F5C6F4)3- (14), Ph3C+XAl(C6F5)3- (X = Cl, 15; X = Br, 16), and Ph3C+F[Ga(C6F5)3]2- (17). Temperature, propylene concentration, and solvent polarity dependence are surveyed in polymerizations catalyzed by 1 activated with cocatalysts 3−1...
Circadian clocks and cell division: What's the pacemaker?

Evolution has selected a system of two intertwined cell cycles: the cell division cycle (CDC) and the daily (circadian) biological clock. The circadian clock keeps track of solar time and programs biological processes to occur at environmentally appropriate times. One of these processes is the CDC, which is often gated by the circadian clock. The intermeshing of these two cell cycles is probably responsible for the observation that disruption of the circadian system enhances susceptibility to some kinds of cancer. The core mechanism underlying the circadian clockwork has been thought to be a transcription & translation feedback loop (TTFL), but recent evidence from studies with cyanobacteria, synthetic oscillators and immortalized cell lines suggests that the core circadian pacemaking mechanism that gates cell division in mammalian cells could be a post-translational oscillator (PTO).
3D CT angiography of the kidney.

(2003). 3D CT Angiography of the Kidney. Critical Reviews in Computed Tomography: Vol. 44, No. 5, pp. 279-304.
Microenvironment design considerations for cellular scale studies

In vivo cellular microenvironments are not well-mimicked in present in vitro cell culture systems. Microtechnology, and microfluidics in particular, provides the tools to create in vivo-like cellular microenvironments in vitro. Features of in vitro cellular microenvironments are discussed and compared to macroscale cell culture environments; the concept of an effective culture volume (ECV) is introduced to facilitate the comparison. Current research using microtechnology to investigate in vitro cellular microenvironments is presented and areas where more research is needed in characterizing the in vitro microenvironment are outlined.
The effect of multiple doses of cimetidine on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of quetiapine in men with selected psychotic disorders

Quetiapine fumarate (Seroquel) is an atypical antipsychotic agent approved for the treatment of psychosis. It is extensively metabolized by the CYP450 3A4 isozyme. The principal aim of the study was to investigate the effect of multiple doses of cimetidine, a nonspecific P450 inhibitor, on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of quetiapine. Thirteen patients (seven completers) with selected psychotic disorders received escalating doses of quetiapine from 25 to 150 mg three times daily on days 3 to 8 and were then maintained at 150 mg three times daily until day 19. Cimetidine (400 mg) was initiated on the afternoon of day 15 and administered three times daily with every dose of quetiapine thereafter. Quetiapine plasma concentrations were measured before and after cimetidine coadministration, and quetiapine pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Of the 13 men who entered the study, seven completed it. A slight increase in quetiapine plasma levels and reduction in oral clearance were observed after cimetidine coadministration. No serious adverse events were observed during quetiapine treatment. No clinically relevant alterations in quetiapine pharmacokinetics were observed after cimetidine coadministration in patients with psychotic disorders.
Approximation of generalized bounded solutions of evolution equations with unbounded operator

We substantiate a parametrization method for a differential equation in a Banach space with an unbounded operator coefficient. We propose an algorithm for finding bounded generalized solutions with an arbitrary order of accuracy.
Exception sentences and polyadic quantification

In this paper, I have proposed a compositional semantic analysis of exception NPs from which three core properties of exception constructions could be derived. I have shown that this analysis overcomes various empirical and conceptual shortcomings of prior proposals of the semantics of exception sentences. The analysis was first formulated for simple exception NPs, where the EP-complement was considered a set-denoting term and the EP-associate was a monadic quantifier. It was then generalized in two steps: first, in order to account for quantified EP-complements, and second, in order to account for polyadic quantifiers as the EP-associates. An additional assumption that was made in several places was that EPs may operate at the level of implications. The consequences of this assumption, though, still have to be investigated.
Use of High Altitude Color and Infrared Photographs in Teaching a Unit on Waves

NASA Earth Observations Aircraft Program (EOAP) high-altitude photographic overflights of the Hawaiian Islands in the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft produced color transparencies on Aerochrome Infrared film and aerial color film of excellent image quality showing multiple overlapping open ocean and near shore wave patterns. These photos were used as a teaching resource in a unit on ocean waves in the Hawaii Marine Studies Science Curriculum Project. In the unit, students are introduced to fundamentals of wave phenomena through observations and measurements and are asked to analyze the complex wave patterns shown in the NASA aerial photos. Many wave phenomena are vividly shown with great clarity on these photographs. Details for obtaining duplicates of these photographs are presented.
Effect of statin therapy on risk of ventricular arrhythmia among patients with coronary artery disease and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors, or statins, have been shown to decrease mortality rates in patients who have coronary artery disease. It has been postulated that part of the mortality benefit conferred by statins is due to a decrease in ventricular arrhythmias. We assessed the effect of statin therapy on recurrent ventricular arrhythmias in 281 patients who developed coronary artery disease after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement. Statin therapy was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of ventricular arrhythmia that would require implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy.
Bootstrapping confidence intervals for clinical input variable effects in a network trained to identify the presence of acute myocardial infarction

The artificial neural network has been successfully applied to a broad range of clinical settings (Widrow and Hoff 1960; Rumelhart et al. 1986; McClelland et al. 1988; Weigend et al. 1990; Hudson et al. 1988; Smith et al. 1988; Saito and Nakano 1988; Kaufman et al. 1990; Hiraiwa et al. 1990; Cios et al. 1990; Marconi et al. 1989; Eberhard et al. 1991; Mulsant and Servan-Schreiber 1988; Bounds et al. 1990; Yoon et al. 1989). Such a network has been adapted for use as an aid to the clinical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (Baxt 1990, 1991, 1992a; Harrison et al. 1991) (heart attack). Both initial retrospective and subsequent prospective studies have revealed that this network performed more accurately than either physicians or other electronic data processing technologies (Baxt 1990, 1991; Goldman et al. 1988). Since nonlinear artificial networks are known to be capable of identifying relationships between input data that are not apparent to human analysis (Weigend et al. 1990), one hope has been that the network could be utilized to identify relationships in clinical data that have not been revealed by previous study. The inherent problem in this hope has been the inability easily to identify how artificial neural networks derive their output. One indirect way that this can be approached is by the stepwise perturbation of isolated individual input variables across a large number of patterns coupled with an analysis of the effect this has on network output. Prior application of this analysis to the artificial neural network trained to identify the presence of acute myocardial infarction revealed that one could gain a
Sublethal effects of Texas brown tide on Streblospio benedicti (Polychaeta) larvae

The Texas brown tide bloom is noted for a concordant decline in benthic biomass and species diversity. However, the link between harmful effects induced by Texas brown tide and benthos has not been demonstrated. It has been proposed there may be a larval bottleneck, where larvae, but not adults, suffer adverse effects. This study was performed to test the effect of brown tide alga, Aureoumbra lagunensis, on mortality, growth and behavior of Streblospio benedicti larvae. Growth rates and swimming speeds, but not mortality rates, of polychaete larvae were reduced in cultures with brown tide relative to Isochrysis galbana, which is about the same size as brown tide. Results from this research indicate that brown tide does have harmful sublethal effects for one dominant species of meroplanktonic larvae, which could help explain reduced adult population size.
(U-Th)/He Dating: Techniques, Calibrations, and Applications

The possibility of dating minerals by the accumulation of ^4He from U and Th decay has been recognized for many years (e.g., Strutt 1905), but in the century since the idea was first conceived, the method has rarely been applied successfully. After several investigations of (U-Th)/He dating of various minerals (e.g., Damon and Kulp 1957; Fanale and Kulp 1962; Damon and Green 1963; Turekian et al. 1970; Bender 1973; Leventhal 1975; Ferreira et al. 1975) the technique was essentially abandoned as yielding unreliable and usually low ages, presumably as a result of diffusive He loss possibly associated with radiation damage. In 1987, Zeitler and coworkers rekindled interest in the method by proposing that in the case of apatite, He ages might be meaningfully interpreted as ages of cooling through very low temperatures. Laboratory diffusion data presented by these authors indicated a closure temperature of about 100oC, a value supported by more recent studies (Lippolt et al. 1994; Wolf et al. 1996b; Warnock et al. 1997). Consistent with this interpretation Wolf et al. (1996a) found that apatite He ages increase systematically with sample elevation in a mountain range, as expected for exhumation-induced cooling through a low closure temperature. Based on the strength of these results and additional laboratory (Farley 2000) and natural (Warnock et al. 1997; House et al. 1999; Stockli et al. 2000) constraints on He diffusivity, recent attention has focused on applications of apatite He thermochronometry. There is also renewed interest in He dating of other U- and Th-bearing minerals both for dating mineral formation and for thermochronometry. For example, Lippolt and coworkers have undertaken detailed studies of He diffusion and dating of various phases, most notably hematite formed in hydrothermal systems (Lippolt and Weigel 1988; Wernicke and Lippolt 1992; Lippolt et al. 1993; Wernicke and Lippolt 1994a,b). Here I present an overview of recent techniques, calibrations, and applications of the (U-Th)/He dating method; Hurley (1954) provides an excellent summary of earlier work in this field. Much of this paper focuses on apatite, because the He behavior and requisite analytical techniques are better established for this phase than for other target minerals, such as zircon and titanite. Similarly, much of this paper concerns He diffusivity behavior required for thermochronometric applications, yet recent work is also considering applications to direct dating, for example, of young tephras (Farley et al. 2001).
Highlights from the Twentieth Annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Meeting

The 20th Annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) Meeting, TCT 2008, was held in Washington, DC, October 12 through 17, 2008. TCT is the largest meeting in the world devoted to transcatheter therapies and is predominantly an interventional cardiology meeting. For the second year, a program was offered for cardiac surgeons to help bring the specialty into this rapidly progressing and exciting field. Although there were many significant trials, mostly pertaining to the treatment of coronary artery disease (as described here), the meeting focused extensively on demonstrating procedures and highlighting new technologies.
Reaction mechanism and regulation of cystathionine β-synthase

In mammals, cystathionine beta-synthase catalyzes the first step in the transsulfuration pathway which provides an avenue for the conversion of the essential amino acid, methionine, to cysteine. Cystathionine beta-synthase catalyzes a PLP-dependent condensation of serine and homocysteine to cystathionine and is unique in also having a heme cofactor. In this review, recent advances in our understanding of the kinetic mechanism of the yeast and human enzymes as well as pathogenic mutants of the human enzyme and insights into the role of heme in redox sensing are discussed from the perspective of the crystal structure of the catalytic core of the human enzyme.
Managing the Human-Milk-Fed, Preterm, VLBW Infant at NICU Discharge The Sprinkles Dilemma

Preterm, very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants are at high nutritional risk because of poor nutrient stores at birth, digestive and neurodevelopmental immaturity, and increased risk of medical and surgical complications. Human milk (HM) is the preferred feeding for nearly all newborns. It is easily digested, well absorbed, and decreases the risk of infection. To meet the nutritional needs of small babies, however, HM requires fortification. HM fortification is the accepted norm during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization. This article reviews how to manage the human-milk-fed preterm VLBW infant at NICU discharge. Recent evidence suggests that HM alone after discharge may not replenish nutrient deficits accumulated during the hospital stay or sustain growth in the immediate follow-up period. Practitioners are challenged with devising nutritionally adequate diets that are practical and sustainable while preserving the HM supply and protecting the breastfeeding experience. We will review the av...
A physical model for the interdigitated fuel drivability index sensor

Abstract An on-board drivability index (DI) sensor has been invented at Delphi Corporation. It is anticipated that the sensor could be used to reduce exhaust emission and improve engine performance during cold starts. During a DI measurement, the initial amount of fuel captured in the sensor declines as the sensor temperature is raised by built-in heating elements. A volatilization curve, a plot of the fuel level versus the sensor temperature, is thus obtained and the DI of the test fuel can be estimated. In this work, a model is proposed that simulates the curves obtained from the DI sensor measurement. This model assumes that the saturated vapor pressure curve for the test fuel determines the shape of its volatilization curve. The model suggests that mass transfer of fuel constituents to the liquid–air interface could be a rate-determining factor for the volatilization process.
Predictors and outcomes of a perioperative myocardial infarction following elective vascular surgery in patients with documented coronary artery disease: results of the CARP trial.

Aims The predictors and outcomes of patients with a peri-operative elevation in cardiac troponin I above the 99th percentile of normal following an elective vascular operation have not been studied in a homogeneous cohort with documented coronary artery disease. Methods and results The Coronary Artery Revascularization Prophylaxis (CARP) trial was a randomized trial that tested the benefit of coronary artery revascularization prior to vascular surgery. Among 377 randomized patients, core lab samples for peak cardiac troponin I concentrations were monitored following the vascular operation and the blinded results were correlated with outcomes. A peri-operative myocardial infarction (MI), defined by an increase in cardiac troponin I greater than the 99th percentile reference (> or =0.1 microg/L), occurred in 100 patients (26.5%) and the incidence was not dissimilar in patients with and without pre-operative coronary revascularization (24.2 vs. 28.6%; P = 0.32). By logistic regression analysis, predictors of MI (odds risk; 95%CI; P-value) were age >70 (1.84; 1.14-2.98; P = 0.01), abdominal aortic surgery (1.82; 1.09-3.03; P = 0.02), diabetes (1.86; 1.11-3.11; P = 0.02), angina (1.67; 1.03-2.64; P = 0.04), and baseline STT abnormalities (1.62; 1.00-2.6; P = 0.05). At 2.5 years post-surgery, the probability of survival in patients with and without the MI was 0.73 and 0.84, respectively (P = 0.03, log-rank test). Using a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, a peri-operative MI in diabetic patients was a strong predictor of long-term mortality (hazards ratio: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.31-4.48; P Conclusion Among patients with coronary artery disease who undergo vascular surgery, a peri-operative elevation in cardiac troponin levels is common and in combination with diabetes, is a strong predictor of long-term mortality. These data support the utility of cardiac troponins as a means of stratifying high-risk patients following vascular operations.
Controlled exposures of volunteers to respirable carbon and sulfuric acid aerosols.

Respirable carbon or fly ash particles are suspected to increase the respiratory toxicity of coexisting acidic air pollutants, by concentrating acid on their surfaces and so delivering it efficiently to the lower respiratory tract. To investigate this issue, we exposed 15 healthy and 15 asthmatic volunteers in a controlled- environment chamber (21°C, 50 percent relative humidity) to four test atmospheres: (i) clean air; (ii) 0.5-μm H2SO4 aerosol at =100 μg/m3, generated from water solution; (iii) 0,5-μm carbon aerosol at =250 μg/m3, generated from highly pure carbon black with specific surface area comparable to ambient pollution particles; and (iv) carbon as in (iii) plus =100 μg/m3 of ultrafine H2SO4 aerosol generated from fuming sulfuric acid. Electron microscopy showed that nearly all acid in (iv) became attached to carbon particle surfaces, and that most particles remained in the sub-μm size range. Exposures were performed double-blind, 1 week apart. They lasted 1 hr each, with alternate 10-min perio...
Reinventing Gerocounseling in Counselor Education as a Specialization

Recent trends in counselor education are moving away from a standardized academic track in gerocounseling. We propose three types of academic models (integrated in-house, out-of-house, and combined) that provide greater academic freedom to counselor education faculty who wish to construct a gero-specialization specific in their program.
Solution of a poker variant

In one variation on poker, each player is dealt one card which he places exposed on his forehead. Thus each player knows every other hand but does not see his own. We call this variation ''inverse poker''. We show that, under certain restrictions, two-person inverse poker and two-person ordinary poker are isomorphic games. In particular, the existing solutions to two-person poker variants all yield solutions to two-person inverse poker variants.
Analysis of miRNAs and Their Targets during Adventitious Shoot Organogenesis of Acacia crassicarpa

Organogenesis is an important process for plant regeneration by tissue or cell mass differentiation to regenerate a complete plant. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in regulating plant development by mediating target genes at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, but the diversity of miRNAs and their potential roles in organogenesis of Acacia crassicarpa have rarely been investigated. In this study, approximately 10 million sequence reads were obtained from a small RNA library, from which 189 conserved miRNAs from 57 miRNA families, and 7 novel miRNAs from 5 families, were identified from A. crassicarpa organogenetic tissues. Target prediction for these miRNAs yielded 237 potentially unique genes, of which 207 received target Gene Ontology annotations. On the basis of a bioinformatic analysis, one novel and 13 conserved miRNAs were selected to investigate their possible roles in A. crassicarpa organogenesis by qRT-PCR. The stage-specific expression patterns of the miRNAs provided information on their possible regulatory functions, including shoot bud formation, modulated function after transfer of the culture to light, and regulatory roles during induction of organogenesis. This study is the first to investigate miRNAs associated with A. crassicarpa organogenesis. The results provide a foundation for further characterization of miRNA expression profiles and roles in the regulation of diverse physiological pathways during adventitious shoot organogenesis of A. crassicarpa.
The iterative thermal emission method

For over 40 years, the Implicit Monte Carlo (IMC) method has been used to solve challenging problems in thermal radiative transfer. These problems typically contain regions that are optically thick and diffusive, as a consequence of the high degree of "pseudo-scattering" introduced to model the absorption and reemission of photons from a tightly-coupled, radiating material. IMC has several well-known features that could be improved: a) it can be prohibitively computationally expensive, b) it introduces statistical noise into the material and radiation temperatures, which may be problematic in multiphysics simulations, and c) under certain conditions, solutions can be nonphysical, in that they violate a maximum principle, where IMC-calculated temperatures can be greater than the maximum temperature used to drive the problem.We have developed a variant of IMC called iterative thermal emission IMC, which is designed to have a reduced parameter space in which the maximum principle is violated. ITE IMC is a more implicit version of IMC in that it uses the information obtained from a series of IMC photon histories to improve the estimate for the end of time step material temperature during a time step. A better estimate of the end of time step material temperature allows for a more implicit estimate of other temperature-dependent quantities: opacity, heat capacity, Fleck factor (probability that a photon absorbed during a time step is not reemitted) and the Planckian emission source.We have verified the ITE IMC method against 0-D and 1-D analytic solutions and problems from the literature. These results are compared with traditional IMC. We perform an infinite medium stability analysis of ITE IMC and show that it is slightly more numerically stable than traditional IMC. We find that significantly larger time steps can be used with ITE IMC without violating the maximum principle, especially in problems with non-linear material properties. The ITE IMC method does however yield solutions with larger variance because each sub-step uses a different Fleck factor (even at equilibrium).
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vaccines induce mucosal IgA responses and protection from airborne infection in BALB/c, but not C3H/HeN mice.

Abstract Immunization with either a live-attenuated (TC-83) or formalin-inactivated (C-84) vaccine for Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus protected BALB/c mice from lethal VEE infection acquired subcutaneously or by aerosol. While vaccinated C3H/HeN mice were also protected from parenteral infection, neither vaccine protected these mice from an aerosol infection. The apparent vaccine failures in C3H/HeN mice could not be attributed to deficiencies in virus-neutralizing antibodies in serum, as these responses were typically of equal or higher titer than those observed in protected BALB/c mice before challenge. IgG subclass analysis offered no facile explanation: profiles of IgG2a dominance were observed in C3H/HeN mice given either vaccine and in BALB/c mice given the live-attenuated vaccine, whereas BALB/c antibody responses shifted toward IgG1 dominance after immunization with the killed C-84 vaccine. Data from immunized congenic showed that the H-2 genes from the C3H/He mice were not singularly responsible for the inability of these mice to resist aerosol infection with VEE virus. VEE virus-specific IgA responses were detected more frequently in respiratory and vaginal secretions obtained from the protected BALB/c mice.