cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hippocampal infusions of apolipoprotein E peptides induce long-lasting cognitive impairment

The inheritance of the varepsilon4 allele of apolipoprotein E (ApoE4) and cholinergic system dysfunction have long been associated with the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, in vitro studies have established a direct link between ApoE and cholinergic function in that synthetic peptides containing segments of the ApoE protein (ApoE(133-149) and ApoE(141-148)) interact with alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the hippocampus. This raises the possibility that ApoE peptides may contribute to cognitive impairment in AD in that the hippocampus plays a key role in cognitive functioning. To test this, we acutely infused ApoE peptides into the ventral hippocampus of female Sprague-Dawley rats and assessed the resultant effects on radial-arm maze choice accuracy over a period of weeks after the infusion. Local ventral hippocampal infusion of ApoE peptides caused significant cognitive impairment in radial-arm maze learning that persisted several weeks after the acute infusion. This persisting deficit may be an important model for understanding the relationship between ApoE protein-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment as well as serve as a platform for the development of new therapies to avoid neurotoxicity and cognitive decline.
Optical properties of evaporated films of ZnS in the vacuum ultraviolet from 160 to 2000 A

The optical properties of vacuum evaporated films of ZnS have been measured from 160 to 2000 A. The reflectance spectrum shows three maxima, at 1800, 1250, and 900 A. The first two are associated with interband transitions while the third is more of an atomic transition. To shorter wavelengths, the reflectance spectrum is featureless and drops to very low values as the wavelength decreases to 300 A. Possible applications of ZnS films in making reflecting interference filters consisting of alternating layers of high- and low-extinction coefficient materials is discussed for wavelengths less than 600 A.
Social sources of information in opportunity recognition: Effects of mentors, industry networks, and professional forums

Abstract Effects on opportunity recognition of three social sources of opportunity-related information (mentors, informal industry networks, participation in professional forums) were investigated. Results indicated that all three sources had direct, positive effects on opportunity recognition by entrepreneurs. In addition, the effects of two sources (mentors and professional forums) were mediated by schema strength, while effects of the third source (informal industry networks) were mediated by self-efficacy. Results are consistent with theories of opportunity recognition that emphasize the role of information and cognitive processes, and suggest that two social sources of information not systematically investigated in previous research–mentors and participation in professional forums–can assist entrepreneurs in identifying opportunities for new ventures.
On the optimization and design of SiGe HBT cascode low-noise amplifiers

Abstract This work presents a new design methodology for inductively-degenerated cascode low-noise amplifiers using advanced epitaxial-base SiGe HBTs. IIP3 and noise figure are simulated using a calibrated linear circuit analysis and Volterra series methodology as a function of the two major design variables: emitter geometry and biasing current. Analytical IIP3 expressions with/without the CB capacitance are derived and used to explain the numerical simulation results. The cancellation among individual non-linearities is maximized at a certain I C and emitter length combination, thus producing an IIP3 peak. The analytical expressions are in good agreement with the numerical simulation results, and can be used for robust circuit design.
Science Career-Related Possible Selves of Adolescent Girls: A Longitudinal Study

This paper uses a possible selves theoretical framework to examine whether and how adolescent girls' images of themselves as future scientists change during their transition from high school to college. Forty-one female high school graduates from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, who had enrolled in an intensive math and science program while in high school, participated in interviews focused on their perceptions of factors that influenced their career plans over time. Participants suggested that career-related internships and intensive academic programs, especially those that yielded important mentoring relationships, were contexts in which they negotiated career-related possible selves and subsequent career plans.
Single-channel dose-response studies in single, cell-attached patches

A method for carrying out dose-response studies of ion channel currents in cell-attached patches has been devised. Patch pipettes are filled at the tip with a solution containing one concentration of ligand and then backfilled with another. The concentration of ligand at the membrane is described as a function of time by the equation for diffusion in a cone, allowing response vs. time data to be transformed into a dose-response curve. For Xenopus myocyte cholinergic receptors, examples of the use of this method are given for several concentration-dependent reactions including blockade by the local anesthetic QX-222, activation by acetylcholine, and modulation of current amplitude by sodium ions. Several methods of analyzing the nonstationary channel kinetics are presented, including a pseudo-stationary approach that uses interval likelihood maximization.
Tensile strained III-V self-assembled nanostructures on a (110) surface

The vast majority of research on epitaxial quantum dots use compressive strain as the driving force for self-assembly on the (001) surface, with InAs/GaAs(001) and Ge/Si(001) being the best-known examples. In this talk, I will discuss our work on determining the feasibility of growing coherent, tensile-strained III-V nanostructures on a (110) surface. GaP on GaAs(110) was chosen as an initial test system. It is hoped that our efforts on self-assembled, tensile-strained dots on a (110) surface will lead the way to new devices exploiting the fundamental differences between the (110) and (001) surfaces. Furthermore it is anticipated that this work will form the first step towards a more general description of self-assembled nanostructure growth under tensile strain.
Smoke Flavor as Related to Phenol, Carbonyl and Acid Content of Bologna

SUMMARY– Phenol, carbonyl and acid determinations were made on layers of bologna that had been smoked during processing. Similar samples were evaluated for intensity of smoke flavor by taste panel. Correlation coefficients between phenols, carbonyls, acids and taste panel evaluation of smoke flavor intensity were 0.81, 0.37 and 0.32, respectively. Thus, phenols appear to be the principal contributor to smoke flavor and aroma.
Issues in Group Work with HIV-Infected Gay and Bisexual Men.

Abstract Gay and bisexual men with HIV-infection face significant challenges. This article focuses on factors to consider in the formulation of a group for this population and the critical issues that may emerge during the group counseling process.
Synthesis and characterization of zinc AP-MOCVD precursors and their utility in the growth of ZnO

A novel β-ketoimine, 4-N-(n-butylamino)-3-penten-2-one (1), and β-enaminoester, Ethyl 3-N-(isopropylamino)-2-butenoate (2), were synthesized by the reaction of the 2,4-pentanedione or ethyl 3-oxo butanoate with the n-butyl and isopropyl amine, respectively. The isolated free ligands 1 and 2 were reacted with diethylzinc to afford Zn(CH3C(NCH2CH2CH2CH3)CHCOCH3)2 (3) and Zn(CH3C(NCH(CH3)2)CHC(O)OCH2CH3)2 (4) respectively. The isolated zinc complexes, 3 and 4, were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR, and MALDI-TOFMS. The molecular structure of 3 and 4 were determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction which revealed both compounds to be four coordinate, monomeric and homoleptic in the solid state. TG analysis showed the air stable compounds to be thermally robust as they both sublimed in a one-step process at atmospheric pressure. The compounds were utilized in the growth of ZnO via AP-MOCVD in the absence of additional oxidant. The carbon content of the film grown from 3 as determined by XPS was 26.2% while that of the film grown by 4 was 8.71%.
Efficient inference and learning in a large knowledge base

One important challenge for probabilistic logics is reasoning with very large knowledge bases (KBs) of imperfect information, such as those produced by modern web-scale information extraction systems. One scalability problem shared by many probabilistic logics is that answering queries involves "grounding" the query--i.e., mapping it to a propositional representation--and the size of a "grounding" grows with database size. To address this bottleneck, we present a first-order probabilistic language called ProPPR in which approximate "local groundings" can be constructed in time independent of database size. Technically, ProPPR is an extension to stochastic logic programs that is biased towards short derivations; it is also closely related to an earlier relational learning algorithm called the path ranking algorithm. We show that the problem of constructing proofs for this logic is related to computation of personalized PageRank on a linearized version of the proof space, and based on this connection, we develop a provably-correct approximate grounding scheme, based on the PageRank---Nibble algorithm. Building on this, we develop a fast and easily-parallelized weight-learning algorithm for ProPPR. In our experiments, we show that learning for ProPPR is orders of magnitude faster than learning for Markov logic networks; that allowing mutual recursion (joint learning) in KB inference leads to improvements in performance; and that ProPPR can learn weights for a mutually recursive program with hundreds of clauses defining scores of interrelated predicates over a KB containing one million entities.
Long-term automated sampling of PCDD/PCDF flue gas: current status and critical issues.

After entry into force of the Stockholm Convention and Aarhus Protocol and in order to implement the upcoming European legal background, the European countries are asked to apply control measures to reduce the release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins and furans (PCDD/PCDF) and polychlorinated biphenyls as well as to establish POPs release inventories. In this perspective, development of measuring techniques of emissions is a focal issue in acquiring useful information. In this paper, results of various measurement campaigns at different municipal waste incineration (MWI) plants using long-term automated sampling of PCDD/PCDF are presented. The samples collected from both manual and automated campaigns were analyzed following the European Standard EN-1948:2006 by high-resolution gas chromatograph/high-resolution mass spectrometer. Performances of two different commercial systems have been investigated. Anomalous values occurred during one long-term campaign (22.16 pg I-toxic equivalent (TEQ)/Nm3), compared to average values (4–5 pg I-TEQ/Nm3) of the MWI. At this maximum value, a main occurrence of abnormal and instable operating conditions has been found. Sampling based on long-term basis was found to be more reliable to monitor PCDD/PCDF emissions than occasional short-term sampling. Nevertheless, the results of long-term campaigns demonstrate that emission levels detected in 15–30 days campaigns, when unsteady operating conditions can occur, as start-up and shut down, are not immediately comparable to the typical levels in a 6–8 h, when operating conditions are generally stable. Moreover, there are often differences observed in the congener profiles between short- and long-term campaigns.
Experimental and predicted aerodynamic characteristics of a proposed Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV) lifting-body configuration at Mach 6 and 10

The effects of Mach number, Reynolds number, and ratio of specific heats on the aerodynamic characteristics of a proposed Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV) lifting-body configuration were examined for a range of angles of attack from -5 deg to 50 deg. Predictions made with a Langley-developed, three-dimensional Navier Stokes solver known as LAURA, which was exercised as an Euler solver for the present study, are compared with the experimental results. Unlike the Shuttle Orbiter, which experienced a significant nose-up increment in pitching moment with decreasing specific heat ratio (i.e., real gas effects), the aerodynamic characteristics of this lifting-body configuration are insensitive to changes in specific heat ratio. The maximum trimmed lift-to-drag ratio achieved was about 1.5. Predicted inviscid values of aerodynamic coefficients were generally in good agreement with measurement.
Environmental Attitudes: 20 Years of Change?

Abstract Earth Day 1970 is considered by many to be the major starting point of the modern environmental era. Where are we today—two decades later? The environmental problems faced by society today will most likely require personal changes in lifestyles as part of their solution. A 1990 study was conducted to compare attitudes of Cornell University students with similar studies done in 1971 and 1981. This trends analysis focused on what students were willing to give up by measuring changes in attitudes toward 35 specific items. In addition, a New Environmental Paradigm growth and technology scale was used to test the hypothesis that people who see benefits of economic growth or have faith in technological solutions are less willing to make personal sacrifices.
Perturbation of Hyaluronan Interactions by Soluble CD44 Inhibits Growth of Murine Mammary Carcinoma Cells in Ascites

Hyaluronan accumulates in ascites during intraperitoneal proliferation of TA3/St murine mammary carcinoma cells and at sites of their invasion of the peritoneal wall. To determine whether hyaluronan is functionally involved in these events, ascites tumor formation was compared in mice injected intraperitoneally with stable transfectants of TA3/St cells that overexpress soluble CD44, a hyaluronan-binding protein, versus in mice injected with transfectants expressing mutated soluble CD44 that does not bind hyaluronan. The soluble CD44 transfectants temporarily grew at a reduced rate within the peritoneal cavity, then went into G1 arrest and were subsequently cleared from the peritoneum. However, transfectants overexpressing mutant soluble CD44 that does not bind hyaluronan exhibited similar ascites accumulation, growth rates, and cell-cycle profiles in vivo to wild-type and vector-transfected TA3/St cells, all of which continued to grow until the tumors became fatal. The soluble CD44-transfected TA3/St cells also failed to attach to and form tumors in the peritoneal wall. When grown in vitro in soft agar, the soluble CD44 transfectants exhibited a dramatic reduction in colony formation compared to wild-type, vector-transfected, and mutant soluble CD44-transfected TA3/St cells. Thus, perturbation of hyaluronan interactions by soluble CD44 has a direct effect on the growth characteristics of these tumor cells, leading to inhibition of anchorage-independent growth in vitro and ascites growth in vivo.
Quantitative comparison of dynamic controllability between a reactive distillation column and a conventional multi-unit process

Abstract A comparison of the steady-state economic optimum designs of two alternative chemical processes was presented in a previous paper [Kaymak, D. B., & Luyben, W. L. (2004). A quantitative comparison of reactive distillation with conventional multi-unit reactor/column/recycle systems for different chemical equilibrium constants. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research , 43 , 2493–2507]. A generic exothermic reversible reaction A + B ↔ C + D occurs in both flowsheets, which consist of a conventional multi-unit reactor/separator/recycle structure and a reactive distillation column. Results showed that the reactive distillation process is significantly less expensive than the conventional process for a wide range of the chemical equilibrium constant when there is no mismatch between the temperature favorable for reaction and the temperature favorable for vapor–liquid separation. A reactive distillation column has fewer control degrees of freedom than a conventional multi-unit system. Therefore a reactive distillation column may have worse dynamic response than a conventional process. The purpose of this paper is to compare the dynamic controllability of these two alternative processes. Three different chemical equilibrium constants are considered. Several control structures are developed for each flowsheet, and their effectiveness is evaluated. Disturbances in production rate and fresh feed compositions are considered. The conventional multi-unit process provides significantly better control. The operability region is much larger, there is less variability in product quality and the dynamic responses are faster than those of the reactive column. Thus, these results demonstrate that there is a significant trade-off in this system between optimum economic steady-state design and dynamic controllability.
A neutron balance approach in flux shape control

Abstract Among the procedures built to verify the reactor power capability there is the determination of the value of parameters constrained to the control of the neutron flux shape. The most common of this kind of problem is the search of the axial position of a control bank leading the axial offset of the power distribution to a target value. The most used procedures to solve this kind of problem are based on the iterative Newton–Raphson method. We present here another way to solve these problems where an equation, derived from the neutron balance, is set and the parameter controlling the shape is the unknown. This method has the advantage to reduce considerably the computation time in situations where changes on the control parameter induce a high distortion on the flux distribution, as is the case of the control rods. CPU time gains of a factor 3 are attained. As an example the case of control of the axial offset of the power distribution is presented, showing its performance and the gain in stability.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PHYSIOLOGY OF GASTRIC SECRETION.—II. THE INTESTINAL PHASE OF GASTRIC SECRETION

1. The pouch of the entire stomach secretes gastric juice after a latent period of from one to three hours when a mixed meal is ingested and enters the intestine directly. 2. The intestinal phase of gastric secretion is due to the action of the products (e.g. peptone, amino-acids, and amines) of digested complex food substances and not apparently to the food in its raw state (meat, carbohydrates, and neutral fat). 3. Water in the intestine stimulates, but not invariably. Whether or not it stimulates depends in part on the degree of thirst and the time since the last meal. The mechanism concerned is discussed. 4. Gastric secretion may be stimulated from the intestine by a non-absorbable substance, namely, 0.5 per cent. saponin solution. The influence of changes in surface tension on the mechanism of stimulation and inhibition is considered. 5. Our observations definitely disprove the specific pyloric or gastrin theory as originally stated by Edkins. A vascular hypothesis is tentatively suggested to explain the mechanism of intestinal stimulation. 6. Our results finally demonstrate that the intestine as a pathway for the stimulation of the gastric glands must be considered in an analysis of the factors concerned in the genesis of gastric secretion. In short, the existence of an intestinal phase is proved.
Theoretical Determination of Modal Damping Ratio of Sloshing Using a Variational Method

This paper investigates a variational method for theoretically determining the first damping ratio of sloshing in cylindrical and arbitrary axisymmetric tanks. In this method, a virtual work expression for the viscous terms in the Navier―Stokes equations is transformed into the first-mode damping term, thereby extending Hamilton's principle for nonviscous sloshing to a variational principle of viscous sloshing. By applying the Galerkin method to the variational principle, a computationally efficient analysis is conducted. For arbitrary axisymmetric tanks, a method for reducing the influence of the change in the fluid velocity boundary condition on the damping estimation is investigated. The proposed method provides theoretical foundations for past empirical results for cylindrical and spherical thanks.
Syndecan-3 and the Control of Chondrocyte Proliferation during Endochondral Ossification

During endochondral ossification, chondrocytes progress through several stages of maturation before they are replaced by bone cells. Chondrocyte proliferation, the first step in this complex multistage process, is strictly controlled both spatially and temporally but its underlying mechanisms of regulation remain unclear. In this study we asked whether chondrocytes produce syndecan-3, a cell surface receptor for growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), and whether syndecan-3 may play a role in proliferation during chondrocyte maturation. We found that proliferating immature cartilage from chick embryo tibia and sternum contained significant amounts of syndecan-3 mRNA, whereas mature hypertrophic cartilage contained markedly lower transcript levels. Immunohistochemical analyses on sections of Day 18 chick embryo tibia revealed that syndecan-3 was spatially restricted and indeed detectable only in immature proliferating chondrocytes in the top zone of growth plate. These syndecan-3-rich proliferating chondrocytes lay beneath developing articular chondrocytes rich in their typical matrix protein tenascin-C, resulting in a striking boundary between these two populations of chondrocytes. Immature proliferating chondrocyte populations reared in growth-promoting culture conditions displayed strong continuous syndecan-3 gene expression; upon induction of maturation by vitamin C treatment, syndecan-3 gene expression was markedly down-regulated. Treatment with FGF-2 for 24 h stimulated both syndecan-3 gene expression and chondrocyte proliferation; this growth stimulation was counteracted by cotreatment with heparinase I or III. The results of the study indicate that syndecan-3 participates in the maturation of chondrocytes during endochondral ossification and represents a regulator of the proliferative phase of this multistage process.
MIDAS III...a compiler version of MIDAS

The original MIDAS program (MIDAS I, Wright Patterson AFB1) and the enlarged version of MIDAS (MIDAS II, North American Aviation2) proved to be effective tools for the digital solution of comple,, engineering problems. For large problems, however, running times for these programs were excessive and means were sought to improve the run-time efficiency. This is achieved in MIDAS III, which is no longer an interpretive type program as are MIDAS I and II, but rather a pre-compiler generating a FORTRAN program which is then compiled and assembled into an efficient machine language program. The execution times for this program are on the average between four and ten times shorter than in the earlier versions of MIDAS. This ap proach not only reduces computer execution time, it also gives the program more flexibility and expansion capa bility. A fourth order Runge-Kutta Merson integration method with automatic stepsize adjustment is used for the solution of the differential equations. As an application of MIDAS ...
From Transistors to NEMS: Highly Efficient Power-Gating of CMOS Circuits

A rapidly growing class of battery constrained electronic applications are those with very long sleep periods, such as structural health monitoring systems, biomedical implants, and wireless border security cameras. The traditional method for sleep-mode power reduction, transistor power gating, has drawbacks, including performance loss and residual leakage. This article presents a thorough evaluation of a new nanotechnology-enabled power gating structure, CMOS-compatible NEMS switches, in the presence of aggressive supply voltage scaling. Due to the infinite off-resistance of the NEMS switches, the average power consumption of an FFT processor performing 1 FFT per hour drops by around 30 times compared to a transistor-based power gating implementation. Additionally, the low on-resistance and nanoscale size means even with current prototypes, area overhead is as much as 5 times lower, with much room for improvement. The major drawback of NEMS switches is the high activation voltage, which can be many times higher than typical CMOS supply voltages. We demonstrate that with a charge pump, these voltages can be generated on-die, and the energy and bootup delay overhead is negligible compared to the FFT processing itself. These results show that NEMS-based power-gating warrants further investigation and the fabrication of a prototype.
Isolation of measles virus polypeptides from infected brain tissue by affinity chromatography

Abstract A method has been developed to isolate measles virus proteins from infected hamster brain tissue. Suckling hamsters inoculated intracerebrally with the HBS strain of measles virus were used in these studies. Viral proteins were isolated from infected brain lysates by affinity chromatography on Sepharose beads coupled with IgG from rabbit hyperimmune anti-measles serum. The eluted proteins were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), electrophoretically transferred onto blotting matrix, and immunolabelled with anti-measles antibodies. Individual viral proteins were identified by labelling with monoclonal or monospecific antibodies. All viral proteins except the fusion (F 1 ) protein were identifiable on the immunoblots in relative amounts comparabe to purified virions. In addition, a second phosphoprotein (P) band not found in purified virions was present in infected brains and cell cultures infected with HBS or LEC strains of virus. This method should be useful for isolating small quantities of viral proteins from large amounts of tissue, and should make possible the characterization of measles virus proteins in persistently infected CNS tissue.
Do Hypothetical Imperatives Require Categorical Imperatives

: Recently, the idea that every hypothetical imperative must somehow be ‘backed up’ by a prior categorical imperative has gained a certain influence among Kant interpreters and ethicists influenced by Kant. Since instrumentalism is the position that holds that hypothetical imperatives can by themselves and without the aid of categorical imperatives explain all valid forms of practical reasoning, the influential idea amounts to a rejection of instrumentalism as internally incoherent. This paper argues against this prevailing view both as an interpretation of Kant and as philosophical understanding of practical reason. In particular, it will be argued that many of the arguments that claim to show that hypothetical imperatives must be backed up by categorical imperatives mistakenly assume that the form of practical reasoning must itself occur as a premise within the reasoning. An alternative to this assumption will be offered. I will conclude that while instrumentalism may well be false, there is no reason to believe it is incoherent.
Modeling mepiquat chloride-temperature interactions in cotton: the model

Abstract The plant growth regulator mepiquat chloride (1,1-dimethylpiperidinium chloride) is used to reduce vegetative growth in cotton. It is commonly used to control the side effects of optimization of inputs such as water and nitrogen. It has been shown that mepiquat chloride (MC) suppresses excessive plant growth by decreasing plant height, number of nodes, fruiting and vegetative branch lengths, and leaf area. A model was developed using data collected under controlled environmental conditions for a range of temperatures. Equations were developed to calculate the concentration of MC in the plant tissue on a daily basis after accounting for the dry-weight increments in plant tissue and abscission of plant parts. A set of stress factors was calculated to account for the reduction in growth of various cotton plant parts as a function of air temperature and tissue concentration of MC. The MC model was incorporated in a cotton simulation model, GOSSYM. The model simulations compared well with observed yields under a range of conditions.
DELAYED FATAL HEMORRHAGE AFTER TRACHEOTOMY.

FATAL HEMORRHAGE as a delayed complication of tracheotomy has rarely been reported. In 1924 Schlaepfer discussed this event in relation to patients who had undergone tracheotomy for laryngeal diphtheria.1The bleeding in those instances developed several days to months after the surgical procedure. It was apparently unrelated to the presence or absence of the tracheal cannula and presumably resulted from rupture of an aneurysm that formed as a consequence of an operative injury to, and subsequent development of necrotizing inflammation within, the wall of a large artery or vein. Not until 32 years later did Davis and Southwick2call attention to another mechanism of delayed fatal hemorrhage after tracheotomy, namely, pressure-induced erosion of the cannula through the tracheal wall into the innominate artery. Death of their two patients occurred within two and five weeks of operation, respectively. The type of complication described by these authors deserves wider
Molecular characterization of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens DNA transfer protein VirB6

The VirB proteins of Agrobacterium tumefaciens assemble a T-pilus and a type IV secretion (T4S) apparatus for the transfer of DNA and proteins to plant cells. VirB6 is essential for DNA transfer and is a polytopic integral membrane protein with at least four membrane-spanning domains. VirB6 is postulated to function in T-pilus biogenesis and to be a component of the T4S apparatus. To identify amino acids required for VirB6 function, random mutations were introduced into virB6, and mutants that failed to complement a deletion in virB6 in tumour formation assays were isolated. Twenty-one non-functional mutants were identified, eleven of which had a point mutation that led to a substitution in a single amino acid. Characterization of the mutants indicated that the N-terminal large periplasmic domain and the transmembrane domain TM3 are required for VirB6 function. TM3 has an unusual sequence feature in that it is rich in bulky hydrophobic amino acids. This feature is found conserved in the VirB6 family of proteins. Studies on the effect of VirB6 on other VirB proteins showed that the octopine Ti-plasmid VirB6, unlike its nopaline Ti-plasmid counterpart, does not affect accumulation of VirB3 and VirB5, but has a strong negative effect on the accumulation of the VirB7-VirB7 dimer. Using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy the authors recently demonstrated that VirB6 localizes to a cell pole in a VirB-dependent manner. Mutations identified in the present study did not affect polar localization of the protein or the formation of the VirB7-VirB7 dimer. A VirB6-GFP fusion that contained the entire VirB6 ORF did not localize to a cell pole in either the presence or the absence of the other VirB proteins. IMF studies using dual labelling demonstrated that VirB6 colocalizes with VirB3 and VirB9, and not with VirB4, VirB5 and VirB11. These results support the conclusion that VirB6 is a structural component of the T4S apparatus.
Detection of multiple paternity and sperm storage in a captive colony of the central Asian tortoise, Testudo horsfieldii

Reproductive success is a critical measure of an organism’s fitness. Determining reproductive success in vertebrates is confounded by the concealed mechanism and timing of fertilization (e.g., sperm competition and storage). To assess the relationship between observed mating behavior and reproductive success in the central Asian tortoise, Testudo horsfieldii Gray, 1844, we determined individual genotypes from a captive colony of adults and their offspring. We constructed a size-selected genomic library from T. horsfieldii and screened for polymorphic microsatellite markers. The screen resulted in identification of two novel microsatellite regions. Cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers using primers developed for the bog turtle, Glyptemys muhlenbergii (Schoepff, 1801), resulted in isolation of three additional polymorphic microsatellites for T. horsfieldii. The five loci, which have between 5 and 17 alleles and observed heterozygosities between 0.44 and 0.90, were used to determine the freq...
Prescriber response to unsolicited prescription drug monitoring program reports in Massachusetts.

Purpose To describe prescriber response to unsolicited patient reports from the Massachusetts prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). Methods Prescribers were surveyed upon receipt of unsolicited reports of their patients' prescription history and three months later. We assessed prescribers' awareness of other prescribers listed in the report, their clinical assessment of medical necessity of all prescribed medications, actions taken by prescribers after receiving the report, and usefulness of the report. Results Of the 333 respondents to the initial survey, only 28 (8.4%) were aware of most, all, or nearly all other prescribers. A total of 146 (43.8%) reported having sufficient knowledge to determine whether the prescriptions were medically necessary, of whom 102 (69.6%) felt the prescriptions were unwarranted. Of the 163 respondents to the follow-up survey, 31.3% added the report to the patient's file, 22.7% discussed the report with other prescribers on the report, 21.5% took no action, and 6% discussed the report with the patient (representing two-thirds of respondents who saw the patient after receiving the report). Most respondents felt that the report was useful for their practice and easy to understand. Conclusions Unsolicited reporting of PDMP data has the potential to improve clinical practice by alerting providers about patients with multiple prescribers and potentially medically unnecessary prescriptions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Non-cooperative Equilibrium for Supergames: A Correction

The purpose of this note is to correct an error in my paper [1]. Under the assumptions of the paper, Proposition 3 is not, in general, true. The point at which the proof goes awry is in the use of the mapping Ω. Ω is treated in the paper as if it were a function (i.e. a point to point mapping); whereas it is in fact a correspondence (a point to set mapping). Ω maps points of the unit simplex into itself, using a subset of the Pareto optimal set to obtain the simplex. A given point in the payoff space may be the image of more than one point in the strategy space. Each strategy, s, which maps into a given point in the Pareto optimal set (i.e. which has a given I associated with it in the simplex), can map into a distinct δ in the simplex. Thus the Brouwer theorem cannot be used. While Ω is surely upper semi-continuous, it need not have convex image sets, ruling out use of the Kakutani fixed point theorem. Furthermore, it need not be lower semi-continuous, ruling out another route to the use of the Brouwer theorem. That route is to use the results of E. Michael [2], which establish that if Ω is lower semi-continuous, then it has a selection which is a continuous function from the unit simplex into itself. The upshot is that the axioms of [1] must be somehow strengthened in one of the ways suggested by the preceding paragraph in order to make the proposition true. One way would be to strengthen A3 so as to make the payoff functions quasi-concave on S. Then the images of Ω would be convex and the Kakutani theorem could be applied. An alternative, which I prefer, is to strengthen A5. Let T = {s | s ∊ S and τ(s) ∊ H*}. T is the subset of strategies in S which map onto the Pareto optimal set, H*. Thus τ−1 is a mapping from H onto S, in general, a correspondence; and, when restricted to H* it is a correspondence from H* onto T. The stronger A5 is: A5′ H* is concave and the mapping τ−1 from H* on to T is lower semi-continuous. A5′ would, of course, be satisfied if the mapping from T to H* were one-to-one.In that case, Ω would be a continuous function and the Brouwer theorem could be directly applied. As A5′ stands, Ω must have a continuous selection to which the latter theorem could be applied. I have seen no way to prove Proposition 3 from the assumptions in [1], nor have I found a more satisfactory method of strengthening them. The only alternatives not mentioned above of which I am aware are essentially minor variations of the two methods.
Copper supplementation restores cytochrome c oxidase assembly defect in a mitochondrial disease model of COA6 deficiency

Mitochondrial respiratory chain biogenesis is orchestrated by hundreds of assembly factors, many of which are yet to be discovered. Using an integrative approach based on clues from evolutionary history, protein localization and human genetics, we have identified a conserved mitochondrial protein, C1orf31/COA6, and shown its requirement for respiratory complex IV biogenesis in yeast, zebrafish and human cells. A recent next-generation sequencing study reported potential pathogenic mutations within the evolutionarily conserved Cx9CxnCx10C motif of COA6, implicating it in mitochondrial disease biology. Using yeast coa6Δ cells, we show that conserved residues in the motif, including the residue mutated in a patient with mitochondrial disease, are essential for COA6 function, thus confirming the pathogenicity of the patient mutation. Furthermore, we show that zebrafish embryos with zfcoa6 knockdown display reduced heart rate and cardiac developmental defects, recapitulating the observed pathology in the human mitochondrial disease patient who died of neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The specific requirement of Coa6 for respiratory complex IV biogenesis, its intramitochondrial localization and the presence of the Cx9CxnCx10C motif suggested a role in mitochondrial copper metabolism. In support of this, we show that exogenous copper supplementation completely rescues respiratory and complex IV assembly defects in yeast coa6Δ cells. Taken together, our results establish an evolutionarily conserved role of Coa6 in complex IV assembly and support a causal role of the COA6 mutation in the human mitochondrial disease patient.
Catholics and Muslims for Choice

It is heartening that many religious groups, previously indifferent to environmental protection and the dire consequences of overpopulation, are now expressing their alarm and beginning to act on their newfound knowledge. This is in part due to increased awareness of the consequences of global warming and pollution to the biosphere and human health. Our inability to control the AIDS epidemic through vaccine and drug development is another contributing factor. Faced with the prospect of its population doubling to over 300 million people in the next 40 years, Pakistan launched a massive project to promote contraception. With 156 million people, Pakistan is the world’s sixth most populous country, and it’s getting bigger by 1.86 percent a year. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on January 13, 2007 emphasized the importance of population control, contending that economic growth could only make a difference to the quality of life if society adopts practices promoting reproductive health and small families. However, he said the government was focusing on a broader spectrum of socio-economic development to forge improvements in health, education, gender equality and women empowerment. Moreover, the Madhya Pradesh government, inspired by the actions taken by the Pakistani government and influenced by a book written by Muzaffar Hussain entitled Census Islam and Family Planning, has devised a similar family planning program. “What comes in the way of family planning is ignorance and not religion,” said Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi. “The community should come out of darkness.” As reported on the Indo-Asian News Service in January 2007, mosques across Pakistan began distributing contraceptives and literature to spread awareness about the importance of family planning and safe sex. Approximately 22,000 clerics and 6,000 women scholars had been appointed and educated to inform the public of the benefits of small families. Moreover, programs were launched to make university-level students aware of these new norms. Clerics have been urged to inform people about the significance of family planning in their sermons, and contraceptives and literature have been distributed in mosques with the slogan “chhoto paribar, sukhi paribar” (small family, happy family). Impressive gains in population control have already been noticed by international aid agencies. Can Christian communities achieve similar rational goals, for the health and welfare of the people, and for the sake of future generations and the biosphere? It seems there are serious efforts in this direction. In recognition of World AIDS Day, Catholics from around the globe called on the Pope to lift the ban on condoms in order to help stem the spread of HIV and AIDS. On December 1, 2006, Catholics for Free Choice delivered a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, signed by thousands of believers from more than 110 countries, which asks him to recognize the health consequences Water Air Soil Pollut (2010) 205 (Suppl 1):S21–S22 DOI 10.1007/s11270-007-9356-6
Microbial Evolution in the Wild

Microbial species thrive in every corner of Earth's biosphere. Their rapid growth rates and promiscuous gene swapping provide ample grist for the evolutionary mill over relatively short time spans. In ocean surface waters, for example, microbial doubling times of about 1 day result in an estimated production of around 1030 new cells per year ( 1 ). (This number exceeds that of all individual grains of sand on Earth by about 10 orders of magnitude.) These cells are not static entities, but rather the products and perpetuators of dynamic evolutionary processes. But exactly how fast, to what degree, and by what mechanisms, do free-living microbes change and evolve over time in natural settings? On page 462 of this issue, Denef and Banfield ( 2 ) report evolutionary rate estimates from free-living microbial species in the wild.
Familial Relationships Between Obesity and NIDDM

Obesity and family history of diabetes are both risk factors for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), but it has been proposed that lean individuals with NIDDM have a greater load of diabetes susceptibility genes. If this is the case, one might expect a high prevalence of NIDDM in relatives of diabetic individuals with a low body mass index (BMI). Among Pima Indians participating in an epidemiological study, prevalence of NIDDM was evaluated in relation to BMI of a diabetic parent or to the average parental BMI when both parents had diabetes in 1,535 offspring from 547 families. Prevalence of NIDDM was also evaluated in relation to BMI of a randomly selected index diabetic sibling in 1,722 siblings from 721 families. NIDDM was diagnosed by an oral glucose tolerance test. Compared with offspring of diabetic parent(s) at the 25th percentile of BMI, the odds ratio (OR) for diabetes in offspring of diabetic parents at the 75th percentile was 0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5–0.7), adjusted for age, sex, BMI in offspring, number of diabetic parents, and age at onset of diabetes and sex of the diabetic parent(s). In the analysis according to BMI in a diabetic sibling, the corresponding OR was 0.8 (95% CI 0.6–0.9). Risk ratios were only modestly higher when the analysis was restricted to relatives of subjects whose BMI had been determined before the onset of diabetes. NIDDM in the presence of a low BMI is more strongly familial than that at a higher BMI. inants of diabetes is present in leaner diabetic people, and it suggests that these determinants are largely separate from those that result in familial aggregation of obesity.
Population structure and foraging biology of the predaceous chilean asteroid Meyenaster gelatinosus and the escape biology of its prey

Observations of the feeding biology of Meyenaster gelatinosus (Meyen) were made between Horcon and the southern Golfo de Penas, Chile. Of 811 sea stars examined, 436 were feeding on individuals representing 30 prey species. M. gelatinosus preys upon almost all the echinoderms and molluscs in its habitat, yet most of the prey species have extremely effective running escape behaviour in which they eventually release their attachment to the substratum, usually assuring that they will be swept to safety. Many of the molluscs exaggerate this by dorsoventral flattening of their mantles, so that they glide even farther. The echinoid Loxechinus albus has a very effective pedicillariae defense. Even at a distance, prey species usually discern foraging M. gelatinosus from non-foraging individuals, and on several occasions were observed touching M. gelatinosus which were eating conspecifics. Comparisons of the sizes of individual M. gelatinosus and their L. albus prey items showed no correlation; none of the prey species except possibly Concholepas choncholepas and M. gelatinosus itself has a refuge in size from attacking M. gelatinosus. The density of M. gelatinosus in 3 of 4 widely separated study areas where such data were collected was 0.04/m2. The mean radius of M. gelatinosus ranged from 150 to 210 mm in five study areas.
Techniques for Reducing Pen Plotting Time

The amount of time used by a pen plotter in drawing a set of line segments depends on the order and directions in which the segments are drawn, and can generally be reduced by reordering and redirecting the segments. This paper presents practical techniques of reducing plotting time. A method is proposed in which a buffer of segments is maintained, and the criterion used in choosing a segment from the buffer to draw is that of closeness to the current pen position. By storing the segment endpoints in a quadtree data structure, it is possible to find the closest endpoint in an amount of time which is essentially independent of the buffer size. The author gives algorithms for inserting, deleting, and finding closest point in the quadtree. The performance of the plotting time reduction program in a sample of real-world applications is given. Test cases from data plotting, computer-aided design and VLSI design are used. 8 references.
Optical Investigations of InAs Growth on GaAs and Lasing in Singly and Multiply Stacked Island Quantum Boxes

We report on the optical investigations of InAs growth on GaAs. In-situ STM/AFM studies show the presence of features 2-4 ML high, which we call quasi-3D (Q3D) clusters, well in advance of 3D island formation. Though the photoluminescence (PL) emission from these Q3D clusters is in the same wavelength regime as that from well developed 3D islands, they show characteristic differences in the PL excitation spectra and temperature dependence of PL, distinguishing them clearly from the 3D islands. Finally, we discuss the lasing observed from lasers containing single and five sets of InAs layers grown with conditions in which the in-situ STM/AFM studies show only 3D islands.
Proclamation and Interreligious Dialogue as Prophetic Dialogue

The author addresses the challenging relationship of proclamation and interreligious dialogue from the perspective of prophetic dialogue, a concept developed by the author and Stephen Bevans. The f...