cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unusual bonding in the 1,1,1-triamino-2,2,2-tricyanoethane molecule

Abstract Ab initio electronic structure calculations, carried out at the HF/6-31G * level, reveal existence of two isomers of the 1,1,1-triamino-2,2,2-tricyanoethane molecule. The less stable isomer has the structure of a hexasubstituted ethane with a covalent single bond between the central carbon atoms. The second isomer is best described as a triaminocarbenium (guanidinium) tricyanomethanide (cyanoformide). The bonding in the ionic isomer is of a complicated nature. Analysis of the critical points in the electron density uncovers, in addition to a central carbon-carbon bond and the expected bonds within the guanidinium and cyanoformide moieties, a pattern of three identical bonds between the nitrogen atoms of the amino and cyano groups, and three ring points.
Localization of non–N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate glutamate receptors in normal and Alzheimer hippocampal formation

The hippocampi and adjacent temporal cortices of 24 human brains were examined with antibodies to the GluR1, GluR2/3, and GluR4 subunits of the D,L-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-preferring glutamate receptor. GluR1 immunoreactivity was most dense in the dentate gyrus, with lower densities in other hippocampal and cortical regions. GluR2/3 immunoreactivity was the most intense of the three antibodies, with high levels throughout most hippocampal subfields, where it was localized to cell bodies, proximal axons, and dendrites. GluR4 immunoreactivity was very sparse in all regions. In Alzheimer's disease brains, the general pattern of staining was similar to that seen in control brains. GluR1 and GluR4 immunoreactivity was seen in some but not all neuritic plaques. All three antibodies recognized some neurons undergoing neurofibrillary degeneration.
On mountain wave drag over complex terrain

Mountain wave drag is calculated for rotating, stratified, nonhydrostatic Boussinesq flow over a mountain ridge using linear theory for a variety of mountain profiles representing complex/irregular terrain. The inclusion of a sinusoidal corrugation to the familiar witch-of-Agnesi profile creates a “stegosaurus” profile. The associated drag is greatly enhanced for mesoscale mountains when the corrugation wave-number matches that for the dominant inertia-gravity wave contribution to the cross-mountain surface pressure gradient. Similarly, increasing the jaggedness (by decreasing the exponentb) increases the drag for mesoscale mountains whose topographic spectral intensity,M(k), has the form of a power law:M(k)=mk−b wherek is the zonal wavenumber.
Effects of acute gamma radiation on growth and morphology in Pinus monophylla Torr. and Frem. (Pinyon Pine)

Abstract A Pinus monophylla (pinyon pine) tree was irradiated from a position near the base for eight hours with a Multitron cobalt-60 unit in April 1960. Shoot apices within fifteen inches (0·38 m, ca . 1300 r to 8000 r) showed almost immediate growth inhibition and were killed within four months. Between two and three feet from the source (0·61 to 9·92 m, ca 500 r to 200 r) the terminal buds elongated, but by the end of the season had died, and one or two basal lateral buds had developed per shoot. At three to three and one-half feet (0·92 to 1·07 m, ca . 200 r to 150 r) stem elongation proceeded, but the 1961 bud primordia were dwarfed, and lateral buds elongated. Out to four feet (1·22 m, ca 100 r) no needles developed on the 1960 stem length. From four to five feet from the source (1·22 to 1·53 m, ca . 100 r to 80 r) the number of needles was reduced to from one-half to one-third normal, and approximately one-half were dwarfed. Gnarled growth was common in these dwarf needles. Two vascular tissue anomalies occurred in a number of grossly abnormal as well as in normal appearing needles collected four to six feet from the source (1·2 to 1·8 m; dosages ca 100 r to below 50 r). One, the double vascular strand, probably is related to the naturally occurring fusion process. The other anomaly involved reduction of or lack of vascular tissue. Xylem radii measurements in transverse sections of young stems indicated a decrease in growth for 1960, ranging from 3 to 8 per cent, correlated with increasing exposure. Stem tip elongation in the experimental tree compared with that of the controls was inhibited at doses as low as 15 r. Lateral branching assumes a significant role in shoot recovery from radiation damage, particularly at exposures great enough to affect the actively growing regions of the stem but not the other functional portions.
Deficient SOCS3 expression in CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells and SOCS3‐mediated suppression of Treg function

Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) suppress T helper (Th) cell-mediated immune responses. The cytokines IL-2 and IL-6 are known to influence Treg function. However, their relative effects on Th cells versus Treg are not well understood. Stimulation with IL-2, and to a lesser extent, IL-6, enhanced Treg proliferation, FoxP3 and CTLA4 maintenance, and suppressive function. In contrast, when IL-2 or IL-6 were added to Treg/Th cell cocultures, suppression was inhibited. The molecule SOCS3 negatively regulates responses to IL-2 and IL-6. Interestingly, unlike Th cells, Treg were found to be deficient in SOCS3 protein expression. The significance of this finding lies in the need for Treg to rapidly respond to these cytokines to prevent unwarranted immune responses to self-antigens. Overexpression of SOCS3 in Treg decreased their proliferation, FoxP3 and CTLA-4 expression and suppressive function. Thus, up-regulation of SOCS3 expression may be a useful therapeutic approach in diseases where inhibition of Treg is desirable.
Chronic idiopathic acrocyanosis

Acrocyanosis is an uncommon condition characterized by symmetric coolness and violaceous discoloration of the hands and feet. The nose, ears, lips, and nipples are also often affected. The disease is temperature dependent and generally worsens with cold exposure. Acrocyanosis is often secondary to a variety of underlying causes. We present a very interesting case of a 44-year-old woman with almost lifelong idiopathic acrocyanosis. Differential diagnoses are discussed in this article.
The prevalence and practice management consequences of dental fear in a major US city

Many practitioners do not realize how many current and potential patients have high dental fear. However, dentists do notice their characteristics—intervals between visits and chronic appointment cancellation. This article discusses the results of a major dental fear survey and the implications for practice. In 1986, 1,019 residents of Seattle were surveyed about their dental fears, dental experiences, and perceived oral health status. High dental fear in Seattle was found to affect 204 per 1,000 people. More than 66% acquired their fear in early childhood. Females were 1.8 times more likely than males to report high fear (P s .001). An individual was 1.6 times as likely to have high levels of dental fear if he or she had at least one oral problem such as bleeding gingiva (P = .004).
Television news and international earthquake relief

This study combined an instrumental variable approach with a quasi-experimental design to isolate a naturally occurring, behavioral media effect. The data included measures of real-world earthquake severity, media coverage, and subsequent relief donations for 22 foreign earthquakes. Levels of relief were compared across three sources: private U.S. citizens, the U.S. government, and international agencies. An instrument based on the number of earthquake-related deaths was developed to provide an exogenous measure of media coverage. Findings suggest that more U.S. network news coverage increased aggregate donations by private U.S. citizens. By contrast, the amount of U.S. network news coverage was not associated with U.S. government assistance or international aid, although these forms of aid were highly correlated with other (nondeath) measures of severity.
Behavioral assessment of low back pain: identification of pain behavior subgroups

A hierarchical cluster analysis procedure was used to identify homogeneous subgroups of low back pain patients who show similar pain behavior patterns during a videotaped behavior sample. Subjects, 106 chronic low back pain patients, were divided into 2 samples. The cluster analysis procedure identified 4 very similar subgroups in sample 1 and sample 2. The first subgroup showed a low or moderate level of guarding and a low level of other pain behaviors. The second subgroup showed a high level of guarding and a moderate level of rubbing of the painful area. The third subgroup showed high levels of guarding and moderate levels of bracing and rubbing. The fourth subgroup exhibited a very high level of rubbing and moderate levels of bracing. The subgroups identified may require somewhat different approaches to pain assessment and treatment. The results of this study suggest that the variability in pain behavior evident in low back pain populations may be due to the fact that within these populations there are homogeneous subgroups of patients who differ in the motor pain behaviors they display.
Intentional infection with the AIDS virus as a means of suicide

Abstract This brief paper describes a case study in which a woman attempted to commit suicide by deliberately trying to become infected with HIV. A psychodynamic perspective is developed. A ‘death wish’ of this kind should be taken into consideration in evaluating health education and in the management of some suicidal people.
Hierarchical model for MEMS device performance simulation

In order to achieve successful long-term embedding of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors, issues pertaining to their reliability and failure modes need to be investigated. Understanding critical failure modes and their influence on the sensor output is key to developing micro-sensors and switches for long-term application without re-calibration or periodic device maintenance. In this effort, a hierarchical and multi-level model is developed for simulating the response of a MEMS device under induced mechanical failure conditions. The example MEMS device, an accelerometer is modeled at the dynamic, electro-mechanical interaction, and device levels. Mechanical dynamics level simulates the deformation and stress response of the mechanical stage to applied loads. Electro-mechanical interaction model is used to simulate the electrostatic-mechanical interaction of an accelerometer predicting the capacitance changes and electrostatic forces due to deformation. Device level emulates the signal analysis and calibration stage, thus enabling the simulation of the electrical output when the device is subjected to mechanical force or acceleration inputs. The modeling of the MEMS device at each level is carried out using the Finite Element Method. Potential failure modes, such as internal delamination of the mass and spring elements and micro-cracking, are then emulated. The effect of each failure mode on the sensor output is studied for an identifiable signature in the sensor output signal. Selected results showing the effects of typical failure modes are shown.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
β-Glucan enhancement of T cell IFNγ response in swine

Beta-glucan has been shown to enhance anti-tumor and anti-infection functions in animals. Pigs at 4 months of age were infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) were isolated for the detection of interferon gamma (IFNgamma)-producing cells. We found that soluble high molecular weight beta-glucan could increase IFNgamma-producing cell frequency in a dose-dependent manner in the enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) in the absence of antigenic restimulation. A concentration as low as 1.6 microg/ml gave a significant increase and a similarly high enhancement was achieved at concentrations from 3.2 to 100 microg/ml. In PRRSV-specific IFNgamma ELISPOT, soluble beta-glucan elicited increased PRRSV-specific responses at concentrations from 3.2 to 50 microg/ml, but not at 100 microg/ml, whereas insoluble beta-glucan had no effect. Soluble beta-glucan augmented the porcine cellular immune response in an antigen-independent fashion, whereas insoluble beta-glucan had no activity. This finding suggests that soluble beta-glucan may enhance innate antiviral immunity against PRRSV.
Liquid Sheet Jet Experiments: Comparison With Linear Theory

It has been proposed to protect the structural walls of a future laser fusion reactor with a curtain or fluid-wall of liquid lithium jets. As part of the investigation of this concept, experiments have been performed on planar sheet water jets issuing vertically downward from slit nozzles. The nozzles were subjected to transverse forced harmonic excitation to simulate the vibrational environment of the laser fusion reactor, and experiments were run at both 1 atm and at lower ambient pressures. Linear stability theory is shown to predict the onset of the unstable regime and the initial spatial growth rates quite well for cases where the amplitudes of the nozzle vibration are not too large and the waveform is nearly sinusoidal. In addition, both the linear theory and a simplified trajectory theory are shown to predict the initial wave envelope amplitudes very well. For larger amplitude nozzle excitation, the waveform becomes highly nonlinear and nonsinusoidal and can resemble a sawtooth waveform in some cases; these latter experimental results can only be partially explained by existing theories at the present time.
An examination of methods to estimate the height of the coastal internal boundary layer

This paper examines the assumptions and derivations that govern commonly used methods of estimating the height of the thermal internal boundary layer (TIBL) that occurs near shorelines. We show that nearly all these methods require inputs that can be defined only in the very limited context of the data set used to derive the empirical equations for the boundary-layer height. This analysis suggests that the current formulations have little general applicability, and it points to the need for more reliable methods for estimating the TIBL height.
Problem identification and construction: What do we know, what is the future?

Many cognitive process theories of creativity include an initial process of problem identification, definition, and construction. Previous research suggests that problem identification and construction is related to creativity, and that creative individuals and experts tend to engage in problem identification and construction. Finally, previous research suggests that inducing active engagement in problem identification and construction, through instructions or training, facilitates creativity. In this paper we further offer our views regarding important future direction for researchers in this area. Specifically, issues regarding methodology, the relationship between personality and values and how problems are constructed, and problem identification and construction in teams are suggested as important avenues for future research.
Vibrational Stark Effects in the Active Site of Ketosteroid Isomerase Point to Large Electric Fields Driving Chemical Catalysis

Enzymes are extraordinary catalysts that actuate nearly all biomolecular processes with speed and specificity. Nevertheless, the physical origins of enzymes’ catalytic power remain elusive despite investigations of many enzymes’ mechanisms over the last half-century. Ketosteroid isomerase (KSI) is a small and proficient enzyme - accelerating an isomerization reaction ∼1 trillion-fold over its intrinsic rate in water - that has been employed as a test system to examine the catalytic strategies at Nature's disposal. Electrostatic interactions are broadly purported to play an essential role in catalysis, but this proposal has yet to be experimentally tested in a quantitative fashion. Toward this end, vibrational Stark effect spectroscopy provides a toolkit to measure electric fields in biomolecular environments. By measuring the vibrational Stark effect of an intrinsic probe that mimics the reactive species of KSI's catalytic cycle, we found that KSI's active site focuses an extremely large electric field onto the scissile bond, potentially enabling its speedy chemical conversion through electrostatic interactions. Moreover, we observed a strong correlation between active site electric field and catalytic power across several KSI mutants. These studies are building toward a highly reductionist picture of KSI's catalysis and possibly enzyme catalysis in general.
The market for consultants in the Idaho potato industry

Idaho potato growers and consultants were surveyed to analyze the market for consulting services. Potato growers use three types of technical consultants to improve the profitability of their operations: public consultants, industry consultants, and independent consultants. Growers rated independent consultants most reliable and were most satisfied with industry consultants. Growers rated their own records as the most valuable sources of information for making production, marketing and financial decisions. Consultants were most widely used in production decisions. Pest identification and control was the most commonly offered service by Idaho consultants. Growers who were satisfied with previous use of independent consultants were more likely to continue to use consulting services. Consultants are generally providing the types of services demanded by growers. The largest unmet needs are for consulting services in marketing, business planning and storage management.
Gap Flows through Idealized Topography. Part I: Forcing by Large-Scale Winds in the Nonrotating Limit.

Gap winds produced by a uniform airstream flowing over an isolated flat-top ridge cut by a straight narrow gap are investigated by numerical simulation. On the scale of the entire barrier, the proportion of the oncoming flow that passes through the gap is relatively independent of the nondimensional mountain height e, even over that range of e for which there is the previously documented transition from a ‘‘flow over the ridge’’ regime to a ‘‘flow around’’ regime. The kinematics and dynamics of the gap flow itself were investigated by examining mass and momentum budgets for control volumes at the entrance, central, and exit regions of the gap. These analyses suggest three basic behaviors: the linear regime (small e) in which there is essentially no enhancement of the gap flow; the mountain wave regime (e ; 1.5) in which vertical mass and momentum fluxes play a crucial role in creating very strong winds near the exit of the gap; and the upstream-blockingregime (e ; 5) in which lateral convergence generates the strongest winds near the entrance of the gap. Trajectory analysis of the flow in the strongest events, the mountain wave events, confirms the importance of net subsidence in creating high wind speeds. Neglect of vertical motion in applications of Bernoulli’s equation to gap flows is shown to lead to unreasonable wind speed predictions whenever the temperature at the gap exit exceeds that at the gap entrance. The distribution of the Bernoulli function on an isentropic surface shows a correspondence between regions of high Bernoulli function and high wind speeds in the gap-exit jet similar to that previously documented for shallow-water flow.
Temporal large-eddy simulation: theory and implementation

Large-eddy simulation (LES) has relied almost exclusively on spatial filtering to separate resolved and unresolved scales. For many reasons, temporal filtering may be more natural, particularly for flows of engineering interest. The paper develops the theory of temporal LES (TLES) and provides a demonstration of the concept by simulations of viscous Burger’s flow and incompressible plane-channel flow. The latter is accomplished by adapting the approximate deconvolution model (ADM) of Stolz and Adams (Phys. Fluids 11:1699, 1999) to causal, time-domain filtering. The temporal variant of the ADM is termed the TADM.
Does European Community Regional Policy Empower the Regions

A central goal of the 1980s reforms of the European Community's regional development policy was to contribute to an increase in the discretionary authority of sub–national decision–makers in the Community's member states. This article assesses the degree to which this goal was attained through comparative studies of selected French and Italian regions. It concludes that only in those regions in which timely policy entrepreneurship on the part of regional–level elected leaders coincided with the pre–existence of a territorial policy Community for economic development did the transfer of resources from the Community contribute to regional empowerment.
Creativity in Horizontal and Vertical Domains

Traditionally creativity has been examined based on the creator-centered model, and it has been assumed that creativity is the same across all knowledge domains. This article presents an argument that challenges the traditional view: Creativity is also shaped by the structural constraints a domain places on the process of creativity. To explore how domain constraints are related to creativity, 2 types of domains are distinguished. Horizontal domains allow novelty to occur in all dimensions, resulting in divergent developments of the domain. Vertical domains, in contrast, possess certain stable elements that are existentially fundamental to the domain, thus permitting alteration only around certain dimensions. The horizontality and verticality of domains are examined in this article through 5 structural parameters identifiable in a domain: the aim; methods; symbol systems and uses; rules; and standards of quality. Modem Western and traditional Chinese ink brush painting are used as comparative examples for...
Allelochemics produced by the hydrophyteMyriophyllum spicatum affecting mosquitoes and midges

An extract of the hydrophyteMyriophyllum spicatum L. was found to be toxic to first- and fourth-instar larvae of the mosquitoes,Culex quinquefasciatus Say,Culex tarsalis Coquillett,Culiseta incidens (Thomson),Aedes aegypti L., and chironomid midges in the laboratory. When first-stage larvae were exposed to the extract, the lowest concentration (6.4 mg extract/100 ml H2O) produced 86,60, and 48% mortality inC. incidens, C. quinquefasciatus, andA. aegypti, respectively. Higher concentrations caused 100% mortality in both first and fourth instars (63.75 mg/100 ml H2O or more). In general, the biocidal activity of the extract was found to be similar when first- and fourth-stage larvae were exposed. Some mortality in the successive pupal and adult stages was observed when fourth-stage larvae were exposed to the extract, but mortality occurred only in the various larval instars when first instars were exposed. Among the chironomids,Tanytarsus spp. was more tolerant to the extract thanChironomus spp. In addition to the biocidal activity against immature mosquitoes, the extract was found to show a unique activity acting as an attractant to both sexes of adultC. quinquefasciatus andA. aegypti. The response elicited inA. aegypti appeared to be somewhat higher than that inC. quinquefasciatus. In general, the percentage of males responding to water treated with the extract was higher than that of the females. The extract at higher concentrations seemed to show some repellency at the outset to both species, but induced positive responses later on.
Effect of masker level on overshoot

Overshoot refers to the phenomenon where signal detectability improves for a short‐duration signal as the onset of that signal is delayed relative to the onset of a longer duration masker. A popular explanation for overshoot is that it reflects short‐term adaptation in auditory‐nerve fibers. In this study, overshoot was measured for a 10‐ms, 4‐kHz signal masked by a broadband noise. In the first experiment, masker duration was 400 ms and signal onset delay was 1 or 195 ms; masker spectrum level ranged from −10–50 dB SPL. Overshoot was negligible at the lowest masker levels, grew to about 10–15 dB at the moderate masker levels, but declined and approached 0 dB at the highest masker levels. In the second experiment, the masker duration was reduced to 100 ms, and the signal was presented with a delay of 1 or 70 ms; masker spectrum level was 10, 30, or 50 dB SPL. Overshoot was about 10 dB for the two lower masker levels, but about 0 dB at the highest masker level. The results from the second experiment suggest that the decline in overshoot at high masker levels is probably not due to auditory fatigue. It is suggested, instead, that the decline may be attributable to the neural response at high levels being dominated by those auditory‐nerve fibers that do not exhibit short‐term adaptation (i.e., those with low spontaneous rates and high thresholds).
Fat-induced ileal brake in the dog depends on peptide YY

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Fat in the distal gut inhibits transit through the proximal small intestine as the ileal brake. Although the mediator of this response is not established, peptide YY (PYY) has been considered the most likely peptide candidate because inhibition of intestinal motility by fat in the distal gut correlated with the release of PYY but not other distal gut peptides such as enteroglucagon or neurotensin. Although intravenous administration of PYY inhibits intestinal transit, the role of this peptide remains to be confirmed because systemic PYY may not exert its effect by the same regulatory pathway as fat-induced ileal brake. The aim of this study was to definitively test the hypothesis that PYY mediates fat-induced ileal brake using the technique of peptide immunoneutralization. METHODS: In a fistulated dog model, intestinal transit during perfusion of the distal gut with 60 mmol/L oleate (ileal brake) was examined after intravenous administration of 0.5 mg/kg of PYY antibody (anti-PYY), nonspecific immunoglobulin G (control), or 0.15 mol/L NaCl. Intestinal transit result (cumulative percent recovery of 99mTc) was normalized within each animal against the transit result of the 0.15 mol/L NaCl experiment. RESULTS: Intestinal transit accelerated with PYY immunoneutralization, increasing cumulative percent recovery from 25.9 +/- 6.2 (control) to 81.2 +/- 6.3 (anti-PYY). CONCLUSIONS: Fat-induced ileal brake depends on PYY. (Gastroenterology 1996 May;110(5):1491-5)
Faster Replication and Higher Expression Levels of Viral Glycoproteins Give the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus/Measles Virus Hybrid VSV-FH a Growth Advantage over Measles Virus

VSV-FH is a hybrid vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) with a deletion of its G glycoprotein and encoding the measles virus (MV) fusion (F) and hemagglutinin (H) envelope glycoproteins. VSV-FH infects cells expressing MV receptors and is fusogenic and effective against myeloma xenografts in mice. We evaluated the fusogenic activities of MV and VSV-FH in relationship to the density of receptor on the target cell surface and the kinetics of F and H expression in infected cells. Using a panel of cells expressing increasing numbers of the MV receptor CD46, we evaluated syncytium size in MV- or VSV-FH-infected cells. VSV-FH is not fusogenic at low CD46 density but requires less CD46 for syncytium formation than MV. The size of each syncytium is larger in VSV-FH-infected cells at a specific CD46 density. While syncytium size reached a plateau and did not increase further in MV-infected CHO cells expressing ≥4,620 CD46 copies/cell, there was a corresponding increase in syncytium size with increases in CD46 levels in VSV-FH-infected CD46-expressing CHO (CHO-CD46) cells. Further analysis in VSV-FH-infected cell lines shows earlier and higher expression of F and H mRNAs and protein. However, VSV-FH cytotoxic activity was reduced by pretreatment of the cells with type I interferon. In contrast, the cytopathic effects are not affected in MV-infected cells. In summary, VSV-FH has significant advantages over MV as an oncolytic virus due to its higher viral yield, faster replication kinetics, and larger fusogenic capabilities but should be used in cancer types with defective interferon signaling pathways. IMPORTANCE We studied the cytotoxic activity of a vesicular stomatitis/measles hybrid virus (VSV-FH), which is superior to that of measles virus (MV), in different cancer cell lines. We determined that viral RNA and protein were produced faster and in higher quantities in VSV-FH-infected cells. This resulted in the formation of larger syncytia, higher production of infectious particles, and a more potent cytopathic effect in permissive cells. Importantly, VSV-FH, similar to MV, can discriminate between low- and high-expressing CD46 cells, a phenotype important for cancer therapy as the virus will be able to preferentially infect cancer cells that overexpress CD46 over low-CD46-expressing normal cells.
The best evidence for alcohol screening and brief intervention in primary care supports efficacy, at best, not effectiveness: You say tomāto, I say tomăto? That’s not all it’s about

The review related to this manuscript is available at http://www.ascpjournal.org/content/9/1/13.
Molecular analysis of the Escherichia coli recO gene

The plasmid pLC7-47, which contains lep, rnc, and era, was found to complement the UV-sensitive and recombination-deficient phenotypes caused by the recO1504::Tn5 mutation. Southern blotting analysis demonstrated that pLC7-47 contained a segment of Escherichia coli DNA that covered the region of the E. coli chromosome containing the recO1504::Tn5 mutation. A combination of deletion mapping and insertional mutagenesis localized the recO-complementing region to an approximately 1-kilobase region of a 1.6-kilobase BamHI fragment. The DNA sequence of the 1.6-kilobase BamHI fragment was determined and contained part of era and a 726-base-pair recO open reading frame. The recO open reading frame contained three possible translation start codons and could potentially encode a polypeptide of Mr 26,000. Computer analysis indicated that the putative RecO protein had suboptimal codon usage and did not show significant homology with previously identified proteins whose sequences were present in protein data bases. A combination of primary sequence analysis and secondary structure predictions suggested that recO contains a mononucleotide-binding fold.
MEAN-VARIANCE APPROXIMATIONS TO THE GEOMETRIC MEAN

This paper uses two databases to test the ability of six functions of arithmetic mean and variance to approximate geometric mean return or, equivalently, Bernoulli's expected log utility. The two databases are: (1) a database of returns on frequently used asset classes, and (2) that of real returns on the equity markets of sixteen countries, 1900–2000. Three of the functions of arithmetic mean and variance do quite well, even for return series with large losses. The other three do less well.
Lymphodepletional Strategies in Transplantation

Because lymphocytes were shown to mediate transplant rejection, their depletion has been studied as a mechanism of preventing rejection and perhaps inducing immunologic tolerance. Agents that profoundly deplete lymphocytes have included monoclonal antibodies, cytotoxic drugs, and radiation. We have studied several such agents but focused on antibodies that deplete not only peripheral blood lymphocytes, but also lymph node lymphocytes. Depletion of lymph node T lymphocytes appears to permit peripheral tolerance at least for T cells in animal models. Nevertheless, B-cell responses may be resistant to such approaches, and T memory cells are likewise relatively resistant to depleting antibodies. We review the experimental and clinical approaches to depletion strategies and outline some of the pitfalls of depletion, such as limitations of currently available agents, duration of tolerance, infection, and malignancy. It is notable that most tolerogenic strategies that have been attempted experimentally and clinically include depleting agents even when they are not named as the underlying strategy. Thus, there is an implicitly acknowledged role for reducing the precursor frequency of donor antigen-specific lymphocytes when approaching the daunting goal of transplant tolerance.
Physiological consequences of parasite infection in the burrowing mud shrimp, Upogebia pugettensis, a widespread ecosystem engineer

The burrowing mud shrimp, Upogebia pugettensis, is an important ecosystem engineer throughout bays and estuaries along the Pacific coast of North America. Populations of U. pugettensis have recently declined throughout its range. A likely reason for this decline is the arrival of an invasive bopyrid isopod parasite, Orthione griffenis, which has colonised the system and increased in prevalence. We tested the following three hypotheses regarding this host–parasite system: (1) parasite infection is correlated with the volume of water processed by the host; (2) infection negatively affects host’s energetic state; and (3) infection causes feminisation in male hosts. We used several physiological and morphological measures to quantify the effects of this parasite infection on U. pugettensis. The parasite appears to have different physiological effects on male and female hosts. Our study provides mixed support for the previous theory that predicted the mechanistic interactions between this host and its new parasite. Recent examples from other systems have demonstrated that invasive parasites can have far-reaching influences when they infect ecosystem engineers. Given the negative effects of O. griffenis on U. pugettensis, this invasive parasite may have similarly large impacts on Pacific North-west estuaries throughout its invaded range.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) shedding is highly correlated with markers of immunosuppression in CMV-seropositive women

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) enters latency following primary infection and can subsequently reactivate. Reinfection with a different viral strain can also occur. During these events, CMV is shed in bodily fluids. This study examined correlates of CMV shedding in specimens obtained from the HIV Epidemiology Research Study, a multicenter cohort study of US women with or at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Among the women studied, 91.4 % (911/997) were CMV IgG seropositive. Of these women, 2.7 % (25/911) were CMV IgM seropositive. CMV DNA was detected via real-time PCR more frequently in cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) specimens (55/764, 7.2 %) than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (26/897, 2.9 %). CMV viral loads in 1 ml CVL (median 534; mean 2598; range = 40–74 844) were higher than in 106 PBMCs (median 264; mean 1287; range = 35–13 250). CMV DNA in PBMCs was associated with HIV seropositivity [odds ratio (OR) 13.5; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.8–100], increasing HIV viral load (P<0.001 for trend), decreasing CD4 cell counts (P<0.001 for trend) and CMV DNA in CVL (OR 26; 95 % CI 10.7–64). CMV DNA in CVL specimens was associated with CMV IgM seropositivity (OR 4.3; 95 % CI 1.5–12.3), HIV seropositivity (OR 7.3; 95 % CI 2.6–20), increasing HIV viral load (P<0.001 for trend) and decreasing CD4 cell counts (P<0.001 for trend). The positive predictive value of CMV IgM seropositivity for CMV DNA shedding in either PBMCs or CVL was 20 %. In summary, CMV shedding in CVL and PBMCs was highly correlated with each other and with markers of immune suppression.
Host-Derived Tumor Endothelial Marker 8 Promotes the Growth of Melanoma

Abstract Tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) wasinitially identified asageneoverexpressedinthevasculatureofhumantumorsandwas subsequently identified as an anthrax toxin receptor.To assess the functional role of TEM8, we disrupted theTEM8 gene in mice by targeted homologous recombination.TEM8 / mice were viable and reached adulthood withoutdefects in physiologic angiogenesis. However, histopathologicanalysis revealed an excess of extracellular matrix in severaltissues, including the ovaries, uterus, skin, and periodontalligament of the incisors, the latter resulting in dentaldysplasia. When challenged with B16 melanoma, tumorgrowth was delayed in TEM8 / mice, whereas the growth ofother tumors, such as Lewis lung carcinoma, was unaltered.These studies show that host-derived TEM8 promotes thegrowth of certain tumors and suggest that TEM8 antagonistsmay have utility in the development of new anticancertherapies. [CancerRes2009;69(15):6021–6] Introduction Thevascularizationofsolidtumorsprovidestumorcellswithanessential supply of oxygen and nutrients and is considered aprerequisiteforthesustainedgrowthandspreadofcancer(1).Thesuccessfuldesignofrationalnewagentsthatcaninhibittumorgrowthbydestroyingorpreventingthegrowthoftumorbloodvesselsdependsonanintimatemolecularunderstandingoftumorangiogenesis.Global analysesofgeneexpressionofendothelialcellsliningthetumorbloodvesselsofhumancolorectalcancerhaveledtotheidentificationofaseriesofgenescalledtumorendothelialmarkers(TEM;ref.2).Ofthese,TEM8isofparticularinterestbecauseofitsoverexpressionintumorvesselsofmultipletumortypes,cellsurfacelocalization,highconservationamongspecies,andlackofdetectableexpressionintheangiogenicvesselsofthecorpusluteum(2–4).ThepredominantformofTEM8isa single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein of approximately 80to 85 kDa containing an extracellular von Willebrand type Adomainandalargecytoplasmictail.In vitro TEM8hasbeenfoundtobindcollagentypesIandVI(3,5,6).BothTEM8andcapillarymorphogenesisprotein2(CMG2),itsclosesthomologue,havebeenidentifiedasanthraxtoxinreceptorsandarethereforealsoknownasANTXR1andANTXR2,respectively(7,8).Interestingly,anthraxlethal toxin, composed of lethal toxin and protective antigen,displayedpotentantitumoractivityinpreclinicaltumormodelswhenjudiciouslyadministeredtomiceatnontoxicdoses(9–13).Up-regulationofTEM8intumorvesselsmayhelptoexplainthetumoricidalactivityofanthraxlethaltoxinin vivo,butCMG2,alsoexpressedinendothelialcells,couldpotentiallyplayarole.Tobetter understand the normal functional role of TEM8, wedisruptedtheTEM8 geneinmicebyhomologousrecombination.ThesestudiesshowthatTEM8playsanimportantroleinnormalextracellularmatrix(ECM)homeostasisandthegrowthofcertaintumortypes,suchasmelanoma.
Delay optimal multiaccess communication for general packet length distributions

An M-user Gaussian multiaccess channel with noise density No/2 and bandwidth W is studied. The M data sources generate packets according to independent Poisson processes with a common rate A. The goal is to design a controller, which allocates rates from C to the transmitters as a function of the joint queue state, so as to minimize average system delay. We consider the multiaccess channel with general packet length distributions. A policy giving longer queues higher rates (LQHR) for all increasing, Schur-convex functions is showed. A new technique combining dynamic programming and renewal theory to prove that a modified version of the LQHR policy minimizes for the two-user case is deviced.
Identifying disease associations via genome-wide association studies

Background Genome-wide association studies prove to be a powerful approach to identify the genetic basis of different human diseases. We studied the relationship between seven diseases characterized in a previous genome-wide association study by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. Instead of doing a horizontal association of SNPs to diseases, we did a vertical analysis of disease associations by comparing the genetic similarities of diseases. Our analysis was carried out at four levels – the nucleotide level (SNPs), the gene level, the protein level (through protein-protein interaction network), and the phenotype level.
Syndecan-1: An Inhibitor of Arterial Smooth Muscle Cell Growth and Intimal Hyperplasia

Objective— Arterial injury induces smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, migration, and intimal accumulation of cells and extracellular matrix. These processes are regulated by the administration of the glycosaminoglycans heparin and heparan sulfate, but little is known about the role of endogenous heparan sulfate proteoglycans in the vessel wall. We investigated the response to carotid injury of syndecan-1–null mice to assess the function of one of a conserved family of transmembrane heparan and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. Methods and Results— Syndecan-1–null mice developed a large neointimal lesion after injury, whereas wild-type mice made little or none. This was accompanied by a significant increase in both medial and intimal SMC replication. Cultured syndecan-1–null SMCs showed a significant increase in proliferation in response to PDGF-BB, thrombin, FGF2, EGF, and serum. In response to thrombin, PDGF-BB, and serum syndecan-1–null SMCs expressed more PDGF-B chain message than did wild-type SMCs. Downregulation of PDGF-BB or PDGFRβ inhibited thrombin-, PDGF-BB–, and serum-induced DNA synthesis in syndecan-1–null SMCs. Conclusions— These results suggest the possibility that syndecan-1 may limit intimal thickening in injured arteries by suppressing SMC activation through inhibition of SMC PDGF-B chain expression and PDGFRβ activation.
Treating mesenchymal stem cells with hepatocyte growth factor enhances cardiac markers

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) derived from adult bone marrow are multipotent cells shown to have increased differentiation potential when cultured in reduced-oxygen (2% O 2 ) environments. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a mesodermal cytokine critical for organ formation during embryogenesis, including cardiogenesis. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that culturing hMSCs in reduced O 2 conditions with media supplemented with HGF increases the expression of cardiac myocyte markers. RT-PCR demonstrated expression of myocyte specific α-Actinin (ACTN2) and myocyte enhancement factor 2C (MEF2C) in reduced-O 2 /HGF+ treated cells. Real time PCR showed an 11-fold increase in ACTN2 and 2-fold increase in MEF2C in reduced-O 2 /HGF+ treated cells compared to hMSCs cultured in atmospheric-O 2 /HGF- conditions. These results suggest that the combination of low oxygen and HGF may increase the cardiac differentiation capabilities of hMSCs.
Virtually True: Children's Acquisition of False Memories in Virtual Reality

Previous work on human memory has shown that prompting participants with false events and self-relevant information via different types of media such as narratives, edited 2-dimensional images, and mental imagery creates false memories. This study tested a new form of media for studying false memory formation: Immersive Virtual Environment Technology (IVET). Using this tool, we examined how memory was affected by viewing dynamic simulations of avatars performing novel actions. In the study, 55 preschool and elementary children were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 memory prompt conditions (idle, mental imagery, IVET simulation of another child, or IVET simulation of self). Each child was questioned 3 different times: once before the memory prompt, once immediately after the memory prompt, and once approximately 5 days after the memory prompt. Results showed that preschool children were equally likely to develop false memories regardless of memory prompt condition. But, for elementary children, the mental image...
Phase II study of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and mitomycin C for metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma.

Background. Small bowel adenocarcinoma is a rare gastrointestinal malignancy that is treated primarily with surgery. Even with optimal resection, however, survival is poor and recurrences are common. Response rates to palliative combination chemotherapy are low, and the median duration of survival for metastatic disease is less than 1 year. This study aimed to document the response rate and survival time for patients with advanced small bowel adenocarcinoma who were not surgically curable and were treated with a regimen of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), mitomycin C (Mutamycin
Spectroscopic properties of crystalline elemental boron and the implications on B11C–CBC

Elemental boron is a complicated material that involves a variety of phases with puzzling structures that are still controversial to this day. The allotropes of solid elemental boron include six crystalline phases (α-rhombohedral, β-rhombohedral, α-tetragonal, β-tetragonal, γ-orthorhombic, and α-Ga type), amorphous phases, and nanoscale structures. In the present work, the electronic structure and spectroscopic properties [X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and optical dielectric functions] of the six crystalline phases were studied via the ab initio orthogonalized linear combination of atomic orbitals (OLCAO) method. The calculated XANES and dielectric functions of the α- and β-rhombohedral phases agree well with experiment. Based on this agreement, we predict the XANES spectra and dielectric functions for the other four crystalline phases. Each of the calculated XANES spectra of the five phases that have icosahedral units or clusters of icosahedra show a characteristic set of peak features in the energy range from 190 to 215 eV. These characteristic features were also observed in the XANES spectra of the icosahedron-containing B11C–CBC, a typical boron-rich compound.
News and Views: About Complexity and Why to Care

What is nowadays ubiquitously referred to as complexity emerges in a wide variety of natural, artificial, and social systems. This very rich concept is nontrivial to understand and is therefore hard to operationally define. Consequently, along the years, many intertwined character- izations have been proposed in the literature. Among those, a powerful and practical one consists in focusing on the entropic and statistical mechanical aspects of the system. We attempt here to put this active line of research into a contemporary perspective.
Efficient semantic search over encrypted data in cloud computing

Cloud storage has become more and more popular as it provides many benefits over traditional storage solutions. Despite the many benefits provided by cloud storage, many security problems have also arisen in cloud storage, which prevents companies from migrating their data to cloud storage. As a result, the owners encrypt their sensitive data before storing it in cloud storage. While encryption increases the security of the data, it also reduces the searchability of the data and thus, the efficiency of the search. Recently, research has been done on several schemes which enable keyword searching on encrypted data in cloud computing. However, these schemes contain weaknesses which make them impractical when applied to real-life scenarios. In this paper, we developed a system to support semantic search on encrypted data in cloud computing with three different schemes which are “Synonym-Based Keyword Search (SBKS)”, “Wikipedia-Based Keyword Search (WBKS)”, and “Wikipedia-Based Synonym Keyword Search (WBSKS)”. Our results demonstrated that our schemes are more efficient in terms of performance and storage requirements than the former proposed schemes. Therefore, our developed schemes are more practical than the former proposed schemes.
INTERACTIVE-AGENT ECONOMIES: AN ELUCIDATIVE FRAMEWORK AND SURVEY OF RESULTS

This paper is helpful for understanding interactive-agent economies. It presents a user-friendly framework for exploring the implications of economic interaction, and demonstrates its wide applicability. Agents repeatedly face binary choices and receive i.i.d. shocks; payoffs depend upon one's own action and shocks, as well as upon the actions of a subset of other agents. Simulations explore how properties change as the number of agents, the number of neighbors, and the degree of interaction change. Key results in this framework include the following: The law of large numbers can readily be postponed or defeated, stationarity and ergodicity are trivial to deduce, any equilibrium distribution may be attained in “globally interactive” economies, continuous- and discrete-time analogues generally behave very similarly, dynamics can be sensitive to details of the interaction structure (implying that popular mean-field approximations are not always appropriate), and substantial persistence is typical.