cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Brazilian Ayahuasca Religions

This article reviews the forthcoming issue of FIR containing an important collection of articles on the origins and developments of religious movements and, later, research movements focused on a powerful psychoactive beverage consisting of the mixture of certain vines (ayahuasca) and leaves (chacrona) found mainly in Western Amazonia. The religious interpretations resulting from the ritual ingestion of the beverage have produced the most varied practices and beliefs, beginning with the indigenous peoples and mestizo herbalists, then migrant rubber-tappers from northeastern Brazil; in the 1960s, urbanites from major cities in Brazil and Europe seeking alternative forms of religious inspiration; and, in the 1990s, a group of Brazilian researchers who have combined anthropological and religious understanding of the phenomena along with legal expertise for the protection of the religious freedom necessary for the religions’ developments. With the diversification and globalization of these new religious movements, the article points to new directions for field research in these religions.
Density gradient characterization of disrupted and untreated eastern encephalitis virus

Preparations of eastern encephalitis virus were disrupted by treatment with sodium deoxycholate. Tween 80 and ether, and sodium lauryl sulfate. The effect of these treatments on the viral specific activities of eastern encephalitis virus were studied. Untreated and disrupted preparations of eastern encephalitis virus were physically characterized by buoyant density centrifugation in cesium chloride density gradients and by rate zonal sedimentation in sucrose density gradients. Disruption by both sodium deoxycholate and Tween 80-ether resulted in the release of hemagglutinating subunits of higher density than the hemagglutinin associated with the intact virion. The hemagglutinating subunits released by both treatments were similar in density and size. A dense complement-fixing component, believed to represent released viral nucleoprotein core, was detected in cesium chloride gradients after sodium deoxycholate treatment of the virus. It was not detected in untreated preparations or in preparations treated with Tween 80-ether. Even at low concentrations, sodium lauryl sulfate was destructive of all viral activities save complement-fixation activity. The hemolytic activity of eastern encephalitis virus was physically closely associated with infectivity and hemagglutinating activity of the virus and was apparently dependent on the structural integrity of the virion.
Serine 577 is phosphorylated and negatively affects the tRNA binding and eIF2α kinase activities of GCN2

Protein kinase GCN2 regulates translation initiation by phosphorylating eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha (eIF2alpha), impeding general protein synthesis but specifically inducing translation of GCN4, a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. GCN2 activity is stimulated in amino acid-deprived cells through binding of uncharged tRNA to a domain related to histidyl tRNA synthetase. We show that GCN2 is phosphorylated by another kinase on serine 577, located N-terminal to the kinase domain. Mutation of Ser-577 to alanine produced partial activation of GCN2 in nonstarved cells, increasing the level of phosphorylated eIF2alpha, derepressing GCN4 expression, and elevating the cellular levels of tryptophan and histidine. The Ala-577 mutation also increased the tRNA binding affinity of purified GCN2, which can account for the elevated kinase activity of GCN2-S577A in nonstarved cells where uncharged tRNA levels are low. Whereas Ser-577 remains phosphorylated in amino acid-starved cells, its dephosphorylation could mediate GCN2 activation in other stress or starvation conditions by lowering the threshold of uncharged tRNA required to activate the protein.
Treadmill responses and physical activity levels of infants at risk for neuromotor delay.

Purpose: This study described developmental changes in treadmill (TM) stepping and physical activity (PA) of infants at risk for neuromotor delay (ND) and explored these changes by diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP). Relationships of stepping and PA with walking onset were examined. Method: Fifteen infants at risk for ND (9.9 2.4 months) were tested every 2 months on a TM until walking onset or 24 months of corrected age. We recorded PA profiles using an activity monitor. Throughout the study, 6 of the 15 infants received a CP diagnosis. Results: Infants increased alternating steps (AltStp), decreased toe contacts, and increased highlevel PA. Infants with CP showed less AltStp, more toe contacts, and less high-level PA than those without CP. Infants’ AltStp and high-level PA revealed a positive correlation to earlier onset of walking. Conclusion: Future studies should examine whether a TM intervention could improve mobility in infants at risk for ND. (Pediatr Phys Ther 2010;22:61–68) Key words: developmental delay, feasibility studies, gait, infant development, physical therapy modalities, walking
Contrasting brain patterns of writing-related DTI parameters, fMRI connectivity, and DTI-fMRI connectivity correlations in children with and without dysgraphia or dyslexia.

Based on comprehensive testing and educational history, children in grades 4–9 (on average 12 years) were diagnosed with dysgraphia (persisting handwriting impairment) or dyslexia (persisting word spelling/reading impairment) or as typical writers and readers (controls). The dysgraphia group (n = 14) and dyslexia group (n = 17) were each compared to the control group (n = 9) and to each other in separate analyses. Four brain region seed points (left occipital temporal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, precuneus, and inferior frontal gyrus) were used in these analyses which were shown in a metaanalysis to be related to written word production on four indicators of white matter integrity and fMRI functional connectivity for four tasks (self-guided mind wandering during resting state, writing letter that follows a visually displayed letter in alphabet, writing missing letter to create a correctly spelled real word, and planning for composing after scanning on topic specified by researcher). For those DTI indicators on which the dysgraphic group or dyslexic group differed from the control group (fractional anisotropy, relative anisotropy, axial diffusivity but not radial diffusivity), correlations were computed between the DTI parameter and fMRI functional connectivity for the two writing tasks (alphabet and spelling) by seed points. Analyses, controlled for multiple comparisons, showed that (a) the control group exhibited more white matter integrity than either the dysgraphic or dyslexic group; (b) the dysgraphic and dyslexic groups showed more functional connectivity than the control group but differed in patterns of functional connectivity for task and seed point; and (c) the dysgraphic and dyslexic groups showed different patterns of significant DTI–fMRI connectivity correlations for specific seed points and written language tasks. Thus, dysgraphia and dyslexia differ in white matter integrity, fMRI functional connectivity, and white matter–gray matter correlations. Of clinical relevance, brain differences were observed in dysgraphia and dyslexia on written language tasks yoked to their defining behavioral impairments in handwriting and/or in word spelling and on the cognitive mind wandering rest condition and composition planning.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK-3) influences epithelial barrier function by regulating Occludin, Claudin-1 and E-cadherin expression

Abstract The Apical Junctional Complex (AJC) encompassing the tight junction (TJ) and adherens junction (AJ) plays a pivotal role in regulating epithelial barrier function and epithelial cell proliferative processes through signaling events that remain poorly characterized. A potential regulator of AJC protein expression is Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3). GSK-3 is a constitutively active kinase that is repressed during epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the present study, we report that GSK-3 activity regulates the structure and function of the AJC in polarized model intestinal (SK-CO15) and kidney (Madin–Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK)) epithelial cells. Reduction of GSK-3 activity, either by small molecule inhibitors or siRNA targeting GSK-3 alpha and beta mRNA, resulted in increased permeability to both ions and bulk solutes. Immunofluorescence labeling and immunoblot analyses revealed that the barrier defects correlated with decreased protein expression of AJC transmembrane proteins Occludin, Claudin-1 and E-cadherin without influencing other TJ proteins, Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Junctional Adhesion Molecule A (JAM-A). The decrease in Occludin and E-cadherin protein expression correlated with downregulation of the corresponding mRNA levels for these respective proteins following GSK-3 inhibition. These observations implicate an important role of GSK-3 in the regulation of the structure and function of the AJC that is mediated by differential modulation of mRNA transcription of key AJC proteins, Occludin, Claudin-1 and E-cadherin.
CONGENITAL ANTERIOR SEGMENT EPITHELIALISATION (CASE)

Posterior polymorphous endothelial dystrophy and iridocorneal endothelial syndrome share common specular microscopic findings, clinical course, and some histopathological features. Despite differences in inherited trait and severity of disease a common pathogenetic mechanism for the two diseases is suggested. This consists of congenital epithelialisation of the posterior corneal surface during embryogenesis with migration of these cells around the anterior segment uninhibited by surrounding normal endothelium.
QR codes in the library

Purpose – The purpose of this column is to examine the use of quick response (QR) codes in libraries and the variety of uses suggest specific uses of this motivating technology for libraries to enhance their own offerings to users with greater potential and possibilities.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a literature review and commentary on this topic that has been addressed by colleague institutions.Findings – QR codes are being used in libraries in numerous and creative ways.Originality/value – The value in addressing this issue is to examine the methods by which libraries are using these codes to address information enhancements regarding available services.
Nanocrystal formation in gas-atomized amorphous Al85Ni10La5 alloy

An Al85Ni10La5 amorphous alloy, produced via gas atomization, was selected to study the mechanisms of nanocrystallization induced by thermal exposure. High resolution transmission electron microscopy results indicated the presence of quenched-in Al nuclei in the amorphous matrix of the atomized powder. However, a eutectic-like reaction, which involved the formation of the Al, Al11La3, and Al3Ni phases, was recorded in the first crystallization event (263°C) during differential scanning calorimetry continuous heating. Isothermal annealing experiments conducted below 263°C revealed that the formation of single fcc-Al phase occurred at 235°C. At higher temperatures, growth of the Al crystals occurred with formation of intermetallic phases, leading to a eutectic-like transformation behaviour at 263°C. During the first crystallization stage, nanocrystals were developed in the size range of 5 ∼ 30 nm. During the second crystallization event (283°C), a bimodal size distribution of nanocrystals was formed with th...
Theoretical reaction indices for dibenz[a,h]acridine

Huckel molecular orbital calculations and application of Seybold-Smith reactivity theory suggest that the Bay-Region diol epoxide derived from the 8,9,10,11-benzo ring of dibenz[a,h] acridine (1) is the same in reactivity as that of the 1,2,3,4-ring in agreement with experimental findings. The calculations dispute an earlier claim of regioselective reactivity at the 8,9,10,11-benzo ring
Institutional v. Technical Environments: Reconciling the Goals of Decentralization in an Evolving Charter School Organization

This article analyzes how macrolevel institutional forces persist and limit the expansion of decentralized schools that attempt to challenge normative definitions and practices of traditional school organizations. Using qualitative case study methodology, the analysis focuses on how one decentralized charter school navigated and reconciled its internal objectives linked to meeting the needs of a Latino, inner-city student population, with the institutional pressures and demands external to the organization. The findings suggest that decentralized school choice options which promise community-based participation and control are constrained by institutionalized rule-based demands that limit the expansion of alternative schooling models which may hold potential for promoting access, voice and equity for parents, students, and teachers.
CLINICAL UTILITY OF AN ABBREVIATED STRUCTURED MATHEMATICS INTERVIEW IN MATHEMATICS DISABLED STUDENTS. 557

CLINICAL UTILITY OF AN ABBREVIATED STRUCTURED MATHEMATICS INTERVIEW IN MATHEMATICS DISABLED STUDENTS. 557
Heheh in conversation: Some coordinating accomplishments of laughter

Despite its frequency in everyday life, we know very little about the interactional characteristics of laughter. This paper explores some of the pragmatic features of laughter in conversation. Laughter is examined as: (1) a turn taking cue, (2) an instruction to hear, (3) a display of hearership, (4) an invitation to elaborate, and (5) a resource in affiliation.
Phagocytic activity in mice treated with isogeneic subcellular fractions

Abstract Treatment of mice with isogeneic subcellular fractions depressed phagocytosis of subsequently injected Cr51 -labeled sheep red cells and colloidal radiogold. Ribosomes were most potent in producing this effect. Lesser activity was exhibited by fractions derived from old donors as compared with those from young donors; from liver collected 6 hours after partial hepatectomy; and from transplanted isogeneic tumors. These observations were interpreted in the light of their possible relationship to cell turnover.
The Relationship Between OMB and the Agencies in the Obama Administration

Abstract Management activities in the US federal government are often defined in terms of the relationship between the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the agencies within the federal structure. The administrations of both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush employed strategies related to information policy, regulatory reform, and performance measurement that minimized the ability of agencies to respond to congressional requirements. At this writing it is not clear how President Obama will use the management control processes and structures that were central to the operation of his predecessors but the balance between OMB and the agencies is likely to be quite different than in the past. There will be instances in which OMB will play the ascendant role but it is also probable that there will be more attention to the importance of agency level decisionmaking. It remains to be seen whether OMB is able to move away from a command and control approach and operate as a facilitator or coordinator.
Probing cellular protein complexes using single-molecule pull-down

Proteins perform most cellular functions in macromolecular complexes. The same protein often participates in different complexes to exhibit diverse functionality. Current ensemble approaches of identifying cellular protein interactions cannot reveal physiological permutations of these interactions. Here we describe a single-molecule pull-down (SiMPull) assay that combines the principles of a conventional pull-down assay with single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and enables direct visualization of individual cellular protein complexes. SiMPull can reveal how many proteins and of which kinds are present in the in vivo complex, as we show using protein kinase A. We then demonstrate a wide applicability to various signalling proteins found in the cytosol, membrane and cellular organelles, and to endogenous protein complexes from animal tissue extracts. The pulled-down proteins are functional and are used, without further processing, for single-molecule biochemical studies. SiMPull should provide a rapid, sensitive and robust platform for analysing protein assemblies in biological pathways.
Recent advances using zebrafish animal models for muscle disease drug discovery

Introduction: Animal models have enabled great progress in the discovery and understanding of pharmacological approaches for treating muscle diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy.Areas covered: With this article, the author provides the reader with a description of the zebrafish animal model, which has been employed to identify and study pharmacological approaches to muscle disease. In particular, the author focuses on how both large-scale chemical screens and targeted drug treatment studies have established zebrafish as an important model for muscle disease drug discovery.Expert opinion: There are a number of opportunities arising for the use of zebrafish models for further developing pharmacological approaches to muscle diseases, including studying drug combination therapies and utilizing genome editing to engineer zebrafish muscle disease models. It is the author’s particular belief that the availability of a wide range of zebrafish transgenic strains for labeling immune cell types, combined with l...
Placental Lactogen Is Expressed but Is Not Translated into Protein in Breast Cancer

Introduction Several studies reported that the pregnancy-specific hormone placental lactogen (hPL) is expressed at both mRNA and protein levels in breast cancer. The overall objective was to establish hPL, the product of the CSH1 and CSH2 genes, as a biomarker for breast cancer. Methods CSH expression was determined at the mRNA level in breast cancer cell lines (BCC) and primary carcinomas by real-time and conventional PCR and the products verified as CSH1 by sequencing. Expression of hPL protein was examined by western blots and immuno-histochemistry, using commercial and custom-made polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Results Variable levels of CSH mRNA were detected in several BCC, and in some primary tumors. We detected a protein, slightly larger than recombinant hPL by western blotting using several antibodies, leading us to postulate that it represents an hPL variant (‘hPL’). Furthermore, some monoclonal antibodies detected ‘hPL’ by immunohistochemistry in breast carcinomas but not in normal breast. However, further examination revealed that these antibodies were non-specific, as efficient suppression of CSH mRNA by shRNA did not abolish the ‘hPL’ band. Custom-made monoclonal antibodies against recombinant hPL detected hPL of the correct size in placental lysate and hPL-overexpressing BCC, but not in unmodified cells or primary carcinomas. hPL protein was detected only when mRNA was increased several thousand fold. Conclusions We call into question previous reports of hPL expression in breast cancer which relied on mRNA levels as surrogates for protein and/or used improperly validated antibodies to measure hPL protein levels. Our data suggests that an inhibitory mechanism(s) prevents translation of CSH mRNA in breast cancer when not highly expressed. The mechanism by which translation of CSH mRNA is inhibited is intriguing and should be further investigated.
Impaired agonist-dependent myosin phosphorylation and decreased RhoA in rat portal hypertensive mesenteric vasculature.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of portal hypertension on agonist-induced myosin phosphorylation and RhoA expression in vascular smooth muscle. A possible link to cAMP-d...
Mechanisms for adatom-induced disruption of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8(001): Scanning-tunneling-microscopy studies of Ag-, Au-, and Cr-overlayer growth.

The growth of Ag, Au, and Cr overlayers on Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 (001) was studied with use of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Submonolayer depositions of Ag at 300 K produced ∼25-A-diam clusters that formed rows along the b axis. These clusters were derived, in part, from Ag atoms but, more importantly, they resulted from a conversion of the terminating Bi-O surface layer into Bi 2 O 3 -like structures. Such a conversion provides the driving force for substrate disruption, even for adatoms that are not chemically active with the constituents of the superconductor
Upregulation of the mitochondrial Lon Protease allows adaptation to acute oxidative stress but dysregulation is associated with chronic stress, disease, and aging

The elimination of oxidatively modified proteins is a crucial process in maintaining cellular homeostasis, especially during stress. Mitochondria are protein-dense, high traffic compartments, whose polypeptides are constantly exposed to superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and other reactive species, generated by ‘electron leakage’ from the respiratory chain. The level of oxidative stress to mitochondrial proteins is not constant, but instead varies greatly with numerous metabolic and environmental factors. Oxidized mitochondrial proteins must be removed rapidly (by proteolytic degradation) or they will aggregate, cross-link, and cause toxicity. The Lon Protease is a key enzyme in the degradation of oxidized proteins within the mitochondrial matrix. Under conditions of acute stress Lon is highly inducible, possibly with the oxidant acting as the signal inducer, thereby providing increased protection. It seems that under chronic stress conditions, however, Lon levels actually decline. Lon levels also decline with age and with senescence, and senescent cells even lose the ability to induce Lon during acute stress. We propose that the regulation of Lon is biphasic, in that it is up-regulated during transient stress and down-regulated during chronic stress and aging, and we suggest that the loss of Lon responsiveness may be a significant factor in aging, and in age-related diseases.
A dual-phase homogenization theory for the hysteresis and butterfly-shaped behavior of ferroelectric single crystals

Abstract Based on the mechanism of domain switch and a micromechanics-based thermodynamic approach, a dual-phase homogenization theory is developed to calculate the hysteresis loops of ferroelectric single crystals. Unlike the classical phenomenological theories, this dual-phase model is capable of delivering the evolution of new domain concentration, and it further indicates that the driving force for domain switch under a pure electric field increases linearly with the applied E. The theory is then applied to a BaTiO3 crystal, to examine its hysteresis loop between the electric displacement D vs. the field E, and the butterfly-shaped longitudinal strain e vs. E. Two types of switching process have been employed for the reversal of ferroelectric domains: a direct 180° switch for the D vs. E, and a two-consecutive 90° switch for the e vs. E as well as for the D vs. E. The second process enables one to bring about the sharp tails of the butterfly in the e vs. E curve that otherwise could not be done by the direct 180° switch. Comparisons with the experimental data of a BaTiO3 crystal also indicate a reasonable agreement.
Skeletal muscle stem cells: a symposium

Muscle stem cells are a population of cells that are important for both adaptations to exercise and muscle regeneration. This symposium was designed to highlight the role of these cells during muscle hypertrophy and development, and in response to insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) induced stimulation.
Genomic alterations associated with malignancy in head and neck cancer

Background Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was performed on 50 primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) to discover molecular genetic alterations underlying the progression of these tumors. Methods In CGH, equal amounts of differently labeled tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and normal reference DNA were hybridized simultaneously to normal metaphase chromosomes. They were visualized by different fluorochromes, and the signal intensities were quantitated separately as gray levels along the single chromosomes. The over- and underrepresented DNA segments were determined by computation of ratio images and average ratio profiles. Results Prevalent changes observed in more than 50% of the HNSCC included deletions of chromosomes 1p, 4, 5q, 6q, 8p, 9p, 11, 13q, 18q, and 21q and DNA overrepresentations of 11q13 as well as 3q, 8q, 16p, 17q, 19, 20q, and 22q. The calculation of ratio profiles of tumor subgroups revealed that well differentiated carcinomas (G1) were defined by the deletions of chromosomes 3p, 5q, and 9p together with the overrepresentation of 3q, suggesting the association with early tumor development. Accordingly, the undifferentiated tumors (G3) were characterized by additional deletions of chromosomes 4q, 8p, 11q, 13q, 18q, 21q, and overrepresentations of 1p, 11q13, 19, and 22q. Conclusion Our data indicate that the CGH patterns of chromosomal imbalances may help to define the malignant potential of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck20: 145–151, 1998.
Development of a novel DNA extraction method for identification and quantification of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis from tissue samples by real-time PCR.

Abstract Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) is the causative agent of Johne's disease in ruminants and possibly associated with human Crohn's disease. One impediment in furthering our understanding of this potential association has been the lack of an accurate method for detection of Map in affected tissues. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods have been reported to have different sensitivities in detection of Map. This is in part attributable to the difficulties of extracting Map DNA and removing PCR inhibitors from the clinical specimens. The maximum efficiency of RT-PCR can only be achieved by using high quality DNA samples. In this study, we present a novel pre-treatment method which significantly increases Map DNA recovery and decreases PCR inhibitors (p
A Neighboring Extremal Approach To Nonlinear Model Predictive Control

Abstract The paper provides an overview of the neighboring extremal approach to nonlinear Model Predictive Control (MPC) of discrete time systems with state and control constraints. A closed form neighboring extremal control solution is presented for the general case when both control sequence and parameters are adjustable by a MPC controller and a sufficient condition for existence of this solution is specified. Computational details are addressed. An experimental application to a DC/DC converter is summarized to illustrate the utility of the algorithm.
High-power, light-weight power conditioning

After a review of light-weight transformer efforts in the US, a weight analysis is carried out. From basic transformer relations and geometrical considerations it is shown how transformer specific power should scale with power and frequency. The result compares well with design results for frequency scaling but not for power scaling. After refinements for variations of voltage, cooling technique, power (while voltage is held constant) and current density, an algorithm is presented that agrees well with the results of adiabatic transformer designs and with vapor cooled transformer designs. Transformer specific powers as low as 0.01 kg/kW are predicted at an operating frequency of 20 kHz. Caution is advised in the use of the algorithm because few of the transformers with which the algorithm is compared have actually been considered. The SDI/AF/NASA megawatt converter program is discussed, and results of Phase I are summarized. >
LilyPad in the wild: how hardware's long tail is supporting new engineering and design communities

This paper examines the distribution, adoption, and evolution of an open-source toolkit we developed called the LilyPad Arduino. We track the two-year history of the kit and its user community from the time the kit was commercially introduced, in October of 2007, to November of 2009. Using sales data, publicly available project documentation and surveys, we explore the relationship between the LilyPad and its adopters. We investigate the community of developers who has adopted the kit---paying special attention to gender---explore what people are building with it, describe how user feedback impacted the development of the kit and examine how and why people are contributing their own LilyPad-inspired tools back to the community. What emerges is a portrait of a new technology and a new engineering/design community in co-evolution.
Misguided efforts and future challenges for research on “diagnostic tests”

This paper was commissioned by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health , together with the accompanying commentaries.
An antibiotic linked to peptides and proteins is released by electron capture dissociation fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

Desfuroylceftiofur (DFC) is a bioactive β-lactam antibiotic metabolite that has a free thiol group. Previous experiments have shown release of DFC from plasma extracts after addition of a disulfide reducing agent, suggesting that DFC may be bound to plasma and tissue proteins through disulfide bonds. We have reacted DFC with [Arg8]-vasopressin (which has one disulfide bond) and bovine insulin (which has three disulfide bonds) and analyzed the reaction products by use of electron capture dissociation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ECD FT-ICR MS), which has previously shown preferential cleavage of disulfide bonds. We observe cleavage of DFC from vasopressin and insulin during ECD, suggesting that DFC is indeed bound to peptides and proteins through disulfide bonds. Specifically, we observed dissociative loss of one, as well as two, DFC species during ECD of [vasopressin + 2(DFC-H)+2H]2+ from a single electron capture event. Loss of two DFCs could arise from either consecutive or simultaneous loss, but in any case implies a gas phase disulfide exchange step. ECD of [insulin + DFC + 4H]4+ shows preferential dissociative loss of DFC. Combined with HPLC, ECD FT-ICR-MS may be an efficient screening method for detection of drug-biomolecule binding.
Association study between the serotonin 1A receptor (HTR1A) gene and neuroticism, major depression, and anxiety disorders.

The serotonin neurotransmitter system in general, and the serotonin 1A receptor in particular, has been broadly implicated in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders, although the results of genetic association studies have been mixed. In this study, we examined the serotonin 1A receptor gene, HTR1A, for its association with shared genetic risk across a range of anxiety and depression-related phenotypes. Using multivariate structural equation modeling, we selected twin pairs from the population-based Virginia Adult Twin Study of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders scoring at the extremes of a latent genetic risk factor that underlies susceptibility to neuroticism, major depression, and several anxiety disorders. One member from each selected pair was entered into a 2-stage, case-control association study for the HTR1A gene. In the resulting sample of 589 cases and 539 controls, four SNPs spanning the HTR1A locus, including the C(−1019)G functional promoter polymorphism (rs6295), were screened in stage 1, the positive results of which were tested for replication in stage 2. While one marker met threshold significance criteria in stage 1, this association was not replicated in stage 2. Post-hoc analyses did not reveal association to any of the specific psychiatric phenotypes. Our data suggests that the HTR1A gene may not play a major role in the genetic susceptibility underlying depressive and anxiety-related phenotypes.
A High-Speed Fully-Programmable VLSI Decoder for Regular LDPC Codes

This paper presents a VLSI implementation of a low-density parity check (LDPC) decoder that achieves 2.4 Gbps throughput yet permits real-time configuration of (1) rate, (2) code length, and (3) the parity equations. This decoder can be programmed in the field, much like an FPGA. We describe the architectural, circuit-level and layout-level details of our implementation. Our design can handle variable rate codes of length up to 1024, and is implemented in a 0.1 mum VLSI fabrication process. Our design has a die size of 12 mm by 8 mm and a power consumption of 7 W. This implementation can be extended to handle longer codes in a partially parallel manner, and allow for on-the-fly modification of the code
The Healthy Brains and Behavior Study: objectives, design, recruitment, and population coverage

Violence is increasingly viewed as a public health issue that may be ameliorated by health-based interventions. The Healthy Brains and Behavior Study (HBBS) aims to identify environmental and biological risk factors for aggression in late childhood and to reduce aggression through psychological and nutritional treatments. Utilizing a cross-disciplinary collaborative research approach, the HBBS has both human and animal components. The human component has two stages consisting of risk assessment followed by treatment. The risk assessment is based on 451 community-residing children aged 11–12 years and their caregivers, during which genetic, brain imaging, neuroendocrine, psychophysiology, environment toxicology, neurocognitive, nutrition, psychological, social and demographic risk variables are collected. Children who met criteria (N = 219) for problematic aggressive behaviors were assigned to one of four treatment groups: cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) alone, nutritional supplements alone, both CBT and nutrition, or treatment-as-usual. Treatment duration was 12 weeks and all children whether in treatment or not were followed-up at three, six, and 12 months. The animal component assessed the effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on the development of aggression. This study contributes knowledge on how biological factors interact with social factors in shaping proactive and reactive aggression and assesses the efficacy of treatment approaches to reduce childhood aggression. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design of pin diode controlled variable attenuator using slow wave microstrip lines

We describe a simple PIN-diode-controlled variable at- tenuator that employs a 0-dB branch-line directional coupler, and present a method to reduce the size using slow-wave microstrip lines. At the center frequency, the attenuation monotonically varied from 0.7 to 23 dB with the control voltage. By using slow-wave microstrip lines, we achieve a 60% size reduction compared to a conventional
From decades to epochs: Spanning the gap between geodesy and structural geology of active mountain belts

Geodetic data from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and from satellite interferometric radar (InSAR) are revolutionizing how we look at instantaneous tectonic deformation, but the significance for long-term finite strain in orogenic belts is less clear. We review two different ways of analyzing geodetic data: velocity gradient fields from which one can extract strain, dilatation, and rotation rate, and elastic block modeling, which assumes that deformation is not continuous but occurs primarily on networks of interconnected faults separating quasi-rigid blocks. These methods are complementary: velocity gradients are purely kinematic and yield information about regional deformation; the calculation does not take into account either faults or rigid blocks but, where GNSS data are dense enough, active fault zones and stable blocks emerge naturally in the solution. Block modeling integrates known structural geometry with idealized earthquake cycle models to predict slip rates on active faults. Future technological advances should overcome many of today's uncertainties and provide rich new data to mine by providing denser, more uniform, and temporally continuous observations.
Roles of the locus coeruleus and adrenergic receptors in brain-mediated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to intracerebroventricular alcohol.

Background Alcohol activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis through its actions in both the periphery and the CNS. The studies presented here were designed to test the CNS-specific noradrenergic mechanisms by which alcohol stimulates HPA activity in the male rat.
Assessing Progress in Retinopathy Outcomes in Type 1 Diabetes: Comparing findings from the Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study and the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy

OBJECTIVE The Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study (WDRS) cohort consisted of patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the same geographic region as, but 8–34 years later than the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) cohort, providing a unique opportunity to assess changes in complications. We estimated the current prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy at 20 years of diabetes duration, compared these between eras, and evaluated the influence of diabetes management. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-year examinations, including fundus photographs, were completed on 305 WDRS subjects during 2007–2011. A subgroup of the WESDR cohort participated in one of four study visits during 1980–1996, at similar diabetes duration ( n = 583). Adjusted ordinal logistic regression with three retinopathy severity categories was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of more severe retinopathy with diagnosis during an earlier era. RESULTS Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was lower in WDRS than in WESDR (8.0% vs. 9.3% [ P < 0.001], and 93.4% vs. 21.3% [ P < 0.001]) used ≥3 daily insulin injections or an insulin pump. In WDRS, 18% had vision-threatening levels of retinopathy vs. 43% in WESDR. The adjusted OR of more severe retinopathy in the earlier era (OR 3.0 [95% CI 2.2–4.0]) was reduced by including 20-year HbA1c in the model (OR 2.2 [1.6–3.0]). CONCLUSIONS Retinopathy severity at a diabetes duration of 20 years is lower in the more recent era of type 1 diabetes. Updated projections should be used when informing newly diagnosed individuals of prognosis and for health care cost assessments. Current glycemic control explained a limited amount of the difference.
On a summability theorem of Berg, Crawford and Whitley

We recall that a matrix A is said to sum a sequence x if Axe c, the space of all convergent sequences, and that A is conservative if it sums every convergent sequence. If A is conservative, A defines a continuous linear operator on c. Berg (2), Crawford (3)and Whitley (9) have proved the following theorem:Theorem 1. A conservative matrix sums no bounded divergent sequence if and only if,considered as an operator on c, it is range closed and has finite-dimensional null-spac
Bioluminescent imaging of Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Chagas disease, caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major public health problem in Central and South America. The pathogenesis of Chagas disease is complex and the natural course of infection is not completely understood. The recent development of bioluminescence imaging technology has facilitated studies of a number of infectious and non-infectious diseases. We developed luminescent T. cruzi to facilitate similar studies of Chagas disease pathogenesis. Luminescent T. cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes were imaged in infections of rat myoblast cultures, which demonstrated a clear correlation of photon emission signal strength to the number of parasites used. This was also observed in mice infected with different numbers of luminescent parasites, where a stringent correlation of photon emission to parasite number was observed early at the site of inoculation, followed by dissemination of parasites to different sites over the course of a 25-day infection. Whole animal imaging from ventral, dorsal and lateral perspectives provided clear evidence of parasite dissemination. The tissue distribution of T. cruzi was further determined by imaging heart, spleen, skeletal muscle, lungs, kidneys, liver and intestines ex vivo. These results illustrate the natural dissemination of T. cruzi during infection and unveil a new tool for studying a number of aspects of Chagas disease, including rapid in vitro screening of potential therapeutical agents, roles of parasite and host factors in the outcome of infection, and analysis of differential tissue tropism in various parasite-host strain combinations.
Parenting and Youth Psychosocial Well- Being in South Korea using Fixed-Effects Models

The present study analyzed the relationship between various parenting practices and an array of adolescent psychosocial outcomes in South Korea, while controlling for demographic, family, school, and neighborhood factors. Analyses were based on five waves of the nationally representative Korea Youth Panel Survey using 3,263 youth (Person Years = 13,121). All parenting (warmth, monitoring, and hostility) and youth’s psychosocial (confidence, depressive symptoms, and aggressive behaviors) measures were reported by the youth. Within-person fixed-effects regression results indicated that parental warmth not only facilitated youth’s confidence, but also protected them against feelings of depression and aggression. Parental monitoring was a predictor of positive self-perception. As a parental measure with a preventive-orientation, monitoring exhibited a trend toward reducing aggressive behavior. On the other hand, hostile parenting was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and aggressive behaviors. ...
Newcomer Socialization: Critical Incidents in Hospitality Organizations

Upon entry into an organization, newcomers are plunged into a "strange new world." Uncertain and anxious, newcomers undergo the process of organizational socialization, seeking information to understand and accept the requirements of their new organizational role in terms of values, beliefs, abilities, and expected behaviors. Much of the research in organizational socialization has focused on investigating the intentional socialization tactics used by organizations to orient newcomers, such as training and orientation programs. Such a focus, however, assumes the information organizations purposefully produce for newcomers is the only information newcom ers use to comprehend their surroundings. By employing the use of critical incidents, evidence is provided that such assumptions may be short-sighted. The organiza tional newcomers surveyed indicated that, of all the types of information they attend to, critical incidents involving training and orientation were not the most important. Such evidence lends su...
Structural evidence: A single charged residue affects substrate binding in cytochrome P450 BM-3

Cytochrome P450 BM-3 is a bacterial enzyme with sequence similarity to mammalian P450s that catalyzes the hydroxylation of fatty acids with high efficiency. Enzyme-substrate binding and dynamics has been an important topic of study for cytochromes P450 because most of the crystal structures of substrate-bound structures show the complex in an inactive state. We have determined a new crystal structure for cytochrome P450 BM-3 in complex with N-palmitoylglycine (NPG), which unexpectedly showed a direct bidentate ion pair between NPG and arginine 47 (R47). We further explored the role of R47, the only charged residue in the binding pocket in cytochrome P450 BM-3, through mutagenesis and crystallographic studies. The mutations of R47 to glutamine (R47Q), glutamic acid (R47E), and lysine (R47K) were designed to investigate the role of its charge in binding and catalysis. The oppositely charged R47E mutation had the greatest effect on activity and binding. The crystal structure of R47E BMP shows that the glutamic acid side chain is blocking the entrance to the binding pocket, accounting for NPG's low binding affinity and charge repulsion. For R47Q and R47K BM-3, the mutations caused only a slight change in kcat and a large change in Km and Kd, which suggests that R47 mostly is involved in binding and that our crystal structure, 4KPA , represents an initial binding step in the P450 cycle.
Mining strong affinity association patterns in data sets with skewed support distribution

Existing association-rule mining algorithms often rely on the support-based pruning strategy to prune its combinatorial search space. This strategy is not quite effective for data sets with skewed support distributions because they tend to generate many spurious patterns involving items from different support levels or miss potentially interesting low-support patterns. To overcome these problems, we propose the concept of hyperclique pattern, which uses an objective measure called h-confidence to identify strong affinity patterns. We also introduce the novel concept of cross-support property for eliminating patterns involving items with substantially different support levels. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for finding patterns in dense data sets even at very low support thresholds, where most of the existing algorithms would break down. Finally, hyperclique patterns also show great promise for clustering items in high dimensional space.
Seasonal variation in diel behaviour and habitat use by age 1+ Steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) in Coast and Cascade Range streams in Oregon, U.S.A.

The seasonal diel behaviour of age 1+ steelhead from Coast and Cascade Range streams in Oregon was examined in the field and in laboratory streams. During the summer, fish from both areas were active during the day in natural streams: they held position in the water column in moderate velocities and depths. At night, fish were in slower water, closer to the bottom above smaller substrates. In winter, diel behaviour differed between the two groups. Coastal fish exhibited behaviour similar to that observed in the summer. Cascade Range fish were not observed during the day, but were found at night, holding positions close to the bottom in slower water. In laboratory streams, fish from both regions were subjected to a decreasing temperature regime from 16°C to 2°C. Use of cover for concealment during the day was negatively correlated with water temperatures for both groups. However, the shelter-seeking response to declining water temperatures was significantly greater for Cascade fish than it was for coastal fish. Field and laboratory observations of diel behaviour support the hypothesis that steelhead from the two geographic regions have different adaptive strategies for winter conditions and that these differences, because they persisted even in laboratory conditions, are probably genetically based.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Short-Range Force Systems on 1024-Node Hypercubes

Two parallel algorithms for classical molecular dynamics are presented. The first assigns each processor to a subset of particles; the second assigns each to a fixed region of 3d space. The algorithms are implemented on 1024-node hypercubes for problems characterized by short-range forces, diffusion (so that each particle’s neighbors change in time), and problem size ranging from 250 to 10000 particles. Timings for the algorithms on the 1024-node NCUBE/ten and the newer NCUBE 2 hypercubes are given. The latter is found to be competitive with a CRAY-XMP, running an optimized serial algorithm. For smaller problems the NCUBE 2 and CRAY-XMP are roughly the same; for larger ones the NCUBE 2 (with 1024 nodes) is up to twice as fast. Parallel efficiencies of the algorithms and communication parameters for the two hypercubes are also examined.