cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Helix Stabilization Precedes Aqueous and Bilayer-Catalyzed Fiber Formation in Islet Amyloid Polypeptide

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is an unstructured polypeptide hormone that is cosecreted with insulin. In patients with type 2 diabetes, IAPP undergoes a transition from its natively disordered state to a highly ordered, all-beta-strand amyloid fiber. Although predominantly disordered, IAPP transiently samples alpha-helical structure in solution. IAPP adopts a fully helical structure when bound to membrane surfaces in a process associated with catalysis of amyloid formation. Here, we use spectroscopic techniques to study the structure of full-length, monomeric IAPP under amyloidogenic conditions. We observe that the residues with helical propensity in solution (1-22) also form the membrane-associated helix. Additionally, reduction of the N-terminal disulfide bond (Cys2-Cys7) decreases the extent of helix formed throughout this region. Through manipulation of sample conditions to increase or decrease the amount of helix, we show that the degree of helix formed affects the rate of amyloid assembly. Formation of helical structure is directly correlated with enhanced amyloid formation both on the membrane surface and in solution. These observations support suggested mechanisms in which parallel helix associations bring together regions of the peptide that could nucleate beta-strand structure. Remarkably, stabilization of non-amyloid structure appears to be a key intermediate in assembly of IAPP amyloid.
The midlatitude warming during 1998–2000

Large scale tropospheric warming of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere extratropics occurred during the period January 1998-January 2000. The anomalies were remarkable for their amplitude, their persistence, their zonal symmetry with warming occurring at all longitudes between 30-50 degrees latitude, and their axial symmetry with respect to the equator. The origin of the anomalies are investigated using atmospheric general circulation models forced by the global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of this period. Two ensembles, based on different models, reproduce the key observed features indicating that the unusual climate state was forced by the global SSTs. However, the atmospheric states were unrelated to the strong and protracted La Nina of the east equatorial Pacific Ocean during this time. We speculate on the role of the Indo-Pacific warm pool, which itself experienced unprecedented warming in 1998 and 1999.
A UNIX concurrent I/O simulator

This paper describes a simulator that allows users to explore concurrent I/O in UNIX. UNIX I/O provides an interesting example of how a shared variable, in this case the file offset, can be affected by concurrent access. The examples given can run on the simulator or a real UNIX-like system such as Linux, Solaris for Mac OS X. The simulator can run programs written by the user and display pictorially the relationship among various data structures involved in I/O, including the process file descriptor table, the system open file table, the inodes, and the data stored on disk. The user can run the program slowly, or step forward or back through the program to examine the data structures in detail. The simulator supports the creation of both child processes and threads as well as open, close, read, write, wait, join and detach functions. The simulator is freely available for download. It can be also be used directly from a browser without the need for installation.
If Momma Ain't Happy: Explaining Declines in Marital Satisfaction Among New Mothers

This study tests competing explanations for the link between the transition to motherhood and declines in wives' marital satisfaction. Using data from the first and second waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 569), we found that new mothers' marital satisfaction declines could be attributed to reductions in wives' quality time spent with their husbands and to increases in perceptions of unfairness in housework. Family role traditionalization in the wake of the birth of a child did not directly explain marital satisfaction declines but was linked to perceptions of marital unfairness. Attendance at religious worship services did not moderate the association between the transition to motherhood and marital satisfaction changes.
The effect of sevoflurane on interventions for blood loss during dilation and evacuation procedures at 18-24 weeks of gestation: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective The objective was to evaluate whether the use of sevoflurane during general anesthesia for dilation and evacuation (DE however, these differences could have arisen by chance. Most cases of excess bleeding required only minor interventions, including uterine massage and/or uterotonic agents. Procedure time, complications, side effects, satisfaction and ease of procedure were similar between groups. Conclusion Addition of sevoflurane to general anesthesia during a DE however, this study was underpowered to detect clinically important differences. Implications In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, sevoflurane did not significantly increase the risk of intervention for bleeding during D&Es. However, this agent should be used with caution as an anesthetic for surgical abortions.
Isothermal titration calorimetric study of RNase-A kinetics (cCMP --> 3'-CMP) involving end-product inhibition.

Purpose. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and progress curve analysis was used to measure the enzyme kinetic parameters (KM and kcat) of the hydrolysis of cCMP by RNase-A, a reaction that includes end-product competitive inhibition by 3'-CMP.
Inhibition of endothelial secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator and its rapid inhibitor by agents which increase intracellular cyclic AMP.

Abstract We investigated the effect of agents which raise intracellular levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP) on the secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) by cultured human umbilical-vein endothelial cells. Significant inhibition of baseline (unstimulated) t-PA and PAI-1 secretion was observed in response to several agents which, when added exogenously, cause increased intracellular cAMP: cholera toxin, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX), dibutyryl-cAMP, and prostaglandin E 1 . These agents also significantly reduced or abolished the previously reported stimulatory effects of thrombin and histamine on t-PA secretion, and, with the exception of MIX, significantly reduced the previously reported stimulatory effect of thrombin on PAI-1 secretion. MIX at a concentration (10 μM) below that required to inhibit t-PA and PAI-1 secretion when tested alone, significantly increased the inhibitory effects of cholera toxin, dibutyryl-cAMP, and prostaglandin E 1 on both t-PA and PAI-1 secretion. The data suggest that elevated intracellular levels of cAMP inhibit both spontaneous endothelial secretion of t-PA and PAI-1, and secretion induced by agents (thrombin and histamine, which stimulate endothelial phosphoinositide metabolism, consistent with bidirectional regulation of endothelial fibrinolytic protein secretion by the adenylate cyclase and phosphoinositide signal transduction pathways. The inhibitory effects of cAMP do not appear to be specific for t-PA and PAI-1, since cholera toxin and MIX also inhibited endothelial secretion of the adhesive protein, fibronectin. Significant inhibition of baseline endothelial t-PA and PAI-1 secretion was also caused by the stable prostacyclin analogue iloprost (ZK 36 374) and by arachidonic acid, which is converted by endothelial cells to prostacyclin, suggesting that prostacyclin produced endogenously by endothelial cells may inhibit secretion of fibrinolytic proteins by increasing intracellular cAMP.
Combining proton conductor BaZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ with carbonate: Promoted densification and enhanced proton conductivity

Abstract We report here that a carbonate can promote the densification and enhance the conductivity of a refractory proton conductor (BaZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ, BZY). Densification of BZY has been successfully demonstrated at as low as 600 °C in the presence of carbonate. The ionic conductivities of the carbonate-added BZY reach 0.33 and 0.38 S/cm at 600 °C in 3%H2O-air and in 3%H2O-H2, respectively. The observation of ionic conductivity increasing with PH2O and PH2 suggests protons as the charge carriers. A new proton transfer and exchange mechanism between oxide and carbonate phases is proposed to interpret the enhanced proton conductivity. A fuel cell based on the composite electrolyte (1 mm-thick), a LiNiO2-MPCC (Mixed Proton and Carbonate-ion Conductor) cathode, a BZY-NiO anode blocking layer and a Ni anode yields 114 mW/cm2 at 670 °C.
Socio-stylistic reflexes of syntactic change in Old French

This paper analyses aspects of the loss of verb-second (V2) in Old French in a historical sociolinguistic perspective. Data come from sequences in which a main declarative is preceded immediately by a tensed subordinate clause (Vance, Donaldson, and Steiner, 2010). Following Romaine (1982), represented speech and narrative are considered to represent distinct registers within a single text. An analysis of intra-textual variation between narrative and represented speech reveals stylistic variation, in that represented speech evinces higher rates of surface subject-verb-(object) orders in main clauses than narrative passages within the same text. The data also reveal gender variation, as the represented speech of women tends to be more linguistically conservative than that of men.
Contiguity versus similarity paraphasic substitutions in Broca's and in Wernicke's aphasia

The present research was carried out to determine whether Jakobson's claim that Broca's aphasic patients emit chiefly semantic paraphasias of the similarity type, whereas Wernicke's aphasic patients produce mainly paraphasic substitutions of the contiguity type, can be supported by data gathered for clinical purposes under controlled conditions. Semantic paraphasias produced by 96 aphasic patients on a standard test of visual naming were taken into account. Three independent judges, blind to aphasia type, classified all responses retained as semantic substitutions into one of the following four categories: those having 1) a strong similarity, 2) a strong contiguity, 3) a mild similarity, and 4) a mild contiguity relation to the correct word. No relationship was found between type of semantic paraphasias and clinical form of aphasia. Furthermore, irrespective of the clinical form of aphasia, aphasics tend to give more similarity substitutions than contiguity substitutions.
Corrections to the closure approximation for the pion-nucleon T-matrix inside the nucleus

Abstract We give a solution to the three-body model of the optical potential of Revai, and Tandy, Redish and Bolle, which is valid in the case when the projectile is very light. The resulting potential includes corrections to the projectile-nucleon t -matrix which arise because the target nucleon is in interaction with the rest of the nucleus. We study the pion-carbon optical potential at energies below the 3,3 resonance by calculating the elastic differential cross section and reaction cross sections to the inelastic channels. As shown in the work of Tandy, Redish and Bolle the reactive content of the optical potential consists of two inelastic channels corresponding to nucleon knockout and nucleon pick-up. We use the pick-up channel as a model of pion absorption with one-nucleon emission, by treating the nucleon as a bound state of a pion and a nucleon.
Infrared spectroscopy and Mie scattering of acetylene aerosols formed in a low temperature diffusion cell

A method is described for forming and spectroscopically characterizing cryogenic aerosols formed in a low temperature gas cell. By adjusting the cell pressure, gas composition and flow rate, the size distribution of aerosol particles can be varied over a wide range. The combination of pressure and flow rate determine the residence time of the aerosols in the cell and hence the time available for the particles to grow. FTIR spectroscopy, over the range from 600 to 6000 cm−1, is used to characterize the aerosols. The particle size distribution can be varied so that, at one extreme, the spectra show only absorption features associated with the infrared active vibrational bands and, at the other, they display both absorption and Mie scattering. In the latter case, Mie scattering theory is used to obtain semiquantitative aerosol size distributions, which can be understood in terms of the interplay between nucleation and condensation. In the case of acetylene aerosols, the infrared spectra suggest that the part...
Marketing's contribution to the implementation of business strategy: an empirical analysis

This paper describes a study that assesses the performance implications of matching marketing strategy to business strategy. In order to conduct this study we first reviewed the literature on marketing strategy to identify its key dimensions. We then conducted a survey of 1000 senior marketing executives about the strategic marketing practices adopted in their respective firms or business units, and developed scales to describe 11 strategic marketing activities. We next performed a K-means cluster analysis using these scales to develop a taxonomy of marketing strategy types consisting of: Aggressive Marketers, Mass Marketers, Marketing Minimizers, and Value Marketers. We then observed that superior performance at the firm or SBU level was achieved when specific marketing strategy types were matched with appropriate Miles and Snow (1978) business strategy types. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Five-Way Experiential Learning Model for Social Work Education

Social workers exercise their practice skills by helping clients find strengths and solutions. In order to comprehensively practice skills for diverse client situations, it is crucial to practice and fine-tune the applications of various therapeutic approaches through clinical drills. This paper presents an experiential learning model, expanded from Kolb's Learning Cycle, which fits the dynamic pedagogical needs of the social work profession. It examines the implementation of the use of the ‘Five-Way Experiential Learning Model’ based on practice learning through personal reflections and professional evaluations. This practice learning study helped 79 MSW students define their ‘five-way learning’ and to analyze its impact on their acquisition of social work skills and clinical practice competencies. This process demonstrates the importance of the transtheoretical connection to achieve a better understanding of clients' situations through the process of change and peer input. Discussions will focus on the ...
Reconfigurable Computing, 3D Integration, and Recognizing Leaders in our Field

This column discusses the special issue on reconfigurable computing, Micro's current calls for papers, topics from the recent business meeting, and recent computer architecture award winners.
Visible diode laser induced fluorescence detection for capillary electrophoretic analysis of amantadine in human plasma following precolumn derivatization with Cy5.29.OSu.

Abstract Visible diode laser induced fluorescence (VDLIF) detection (620–700 nm) has become important in bioanalysis due to the increased sensitivity and selectivity that can be achieved in biological matrices. A selective and sensitive capillary electrophoretic method employing VDLIF detection has been developed for the analysis of amantadine in plasma. Amantadine was extracted from plasma into toluene under alkaline conditions and the residue was derivatized with the far-red label Cy5.29.OSu. The reaction mixture was dried under nitrogen, reconstituted and then injected onto a laboratory constructed capillary electrophoresis system equipped with a laboratory constructed visible diode laser detector temperature tuned to oscillate at 647.8 nm. The selectivity of the technique was evaluated by demonstrating a lack of interfering peaks in extracts of blank plasma. A calibration curve ranging from 1.8 to 461.1 ng ml −1 was shown to be linear. The precision and accuracy of the assay ( n =6) were determined to be within 17% R.S.D. and 15% difference from the nominal concentration respectively. The limits of detection for unextracted amantadine and for amantadine from the extracted concentrate from plasma were determined to be 9.5 fmol and 115 amol respectively.
Assigning macroinvertebrate tolerance classifications using generalised additive models

SUMMARY 1. Macroinvertebrates are frequently classified in terms of their tolerance to human disturbance and pollution. These tolerance values have been used effectively to assess the biological condition of running waters. 2. Generalised additive models were used to associate the presence and absence of different macroinvertebrate genera with different environmental gradients. The model results were then used to classify each genera as sensitive, intermediately tolerant or tolerant to different stressor gradients as quantified by total phosphorus concentration, sulphate ion concentration, qualitative habitat score and stream pH. The analytical approach provided a means of estimating stressor-specific tolerance classifications while controlling for covarying, natural environmental gradients. 3. Computed tolerance classification generally conformed with expectations and provided some capacity for distinguishing between different stressors in test data.
Activation of cerebral cortex during acoustic challenge or acute foot-shock in freely moving, nontethered rats.

Most brain mapping techniques require immobilization of the subject, which extinguishes all but the simplest behaviors. We applied in freely moving rats an implantable microbolus infusion pump (MIP) which can be triggered by remote activation for the injection of the cerebral blood flow tracer [14C]iodoantipyrine during behavioral activation. Consistent with previous electrophysiological, metabolic and brain anatomic studies, CBF-related tissue radioactivity (CBF-TR) increased in acoustic cortex during a 1000 Hz/8000 Hz alternating tone. In response to an acute foot-shock, CBF-TR increased in visual cortex, parietal association cortex, and extended into primary motor cortex, and primary somatosensory cortex mapping the trunk. These results support the utility of implantable pumps as adjunct tools for studying cerebral activation during behavioral challenges in nontethered, nonrestrained animals.
Use of multiple selectivity patterns as a proxy for spatial structure

Abstract There is widespread recognition that spatial structure is important for fisheries stock assessment, and several efforts have been made to incorporate spatial structure into assessment models. However, most studies exploring the impact of ignoring spatial structure in stock assessments have developed population models with multiple subpopulations, rather than exploring the impact spatial dynamics may have on performance of non-spatially structured assessment methods. Furthermore, the data available for stock assessments usually do not include tagging or other data necessary to estimate movement rates. One solution to this problem is to include several fleets, each with a different selectivity pattern to represent availability, within a spatially-aggregated assessment method. In this study, the impacts of ignoring spatial structure, and the effectiveness of using multiple selectivity patterns as a proxy for spatial structure, are evaluated for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine (or California sardine; Sardinops sagax ). A spatially-explicit operating model is used to explore three spatial factors: the existence of size-dependent seasonal migrations across large geographical areas, the influx of another stock into the area of the assessed stock, and the occurrence of recruitment outside the area where it is assumed to occur. Two other factors related to data were evaluated: data availability and data collection design. The assessment model (AM) is based on the 2010 stock assessment for Pacific sardine, implemented in Stock Synthesis, and includes two seasons per year and six fleets, each with a different selectivity pattern. Ignoring spatial structure is found to negatively impact estimation performance, with seasonal movement having the largest impact. The AM compensates for ignoring movement and spatial structure by adjusting the selectivity patterns, but selectivity alone is not able to account for all biases caused by spatial structure.
Improved cellulose acetate membranes for reverse osmosis

Abstract Performance of cellulose acetate membranes in reverse osmosis varies with the conditions under which they are cast. By varying casting solution composition and holding time in a systematic way, improvement in water flux at a given level of salt rejection has been obtained. Statistically designed experiments have been helpful in optimizing these two variables. A phase diagram of the cellulose acetateformamide-acetone casting system has been determined which gives the region of natural solubility of this three component system.
Densities and swimbladder development of juvenile American eels, Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur) as related to energetics of migration

Glass eels and elvers of the American eel were negatively buoyant. Those adapted to sea water were more dense (1.072 ± 0.001 g cm−3) than those adapted to fresh water (1.061 ± 0.001 g cm−3). Adaptation to fresh water increased relative body water content, but did not account for the observed decrease in total body density. Histological examination revealed the presence of a potentially functional swimbladder in the glass eels, although this hydrostatic organ did not becomegas-filled until after freshwater residency had occurred. Calculation of lift as used in the selective tidal transport mechanism suggests that hydrodynamic compensation for horizontal swimming during the estuarine phase of migration is energetically adaptive.
DETECTION OF POME FRUIT VIROIDS BY ENZYMATIC CDNA AMPLIFICATION

We have studied the detection of apple scar skin, dapple apple, and pear rusty skin viroids in nucleic acid extracts of infected pome fruit tissues by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with viroid cDNA-specific primers. Analysis of RT-PCR-amplified products by gel electrophoresis or by Southern blot hybridization indicated that the new procedure is more sensitive than existing detection methods and provides information about viroid detection without requiring large samples or using molecular hybridization. Our results also suggest the potential utility of the PCR technology in detecting other viroids and possibly other plant pathogens.
Ethics in competitive bidding and contracting.

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the “Ethics and Social Responsibility in Engineering and Technology” meeting, New Orleans, 2003.
Variation in a Female Sexual Attractiveness Pheromone Controls Male Mate Choice in Garter Snakes

Male red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) display a courtship preference for larger females during the breeding season. Utilizing behavioral experiments and chemical analyses, we tested the hypothesis that males can discriminate among females of varying size solely by means of the sexual attractiveness pheromone, a previously characterized sex pheromone composed of a homologous series of long-chain saturated and ω-9 cis-unsaturated methyl ketones contained in the skin lipids of females. When presented with skin lipid extracts from large and small females, a greater proportion of males displayed courtship behaviors to large female extracts. This demonstrates that there is an intrinsic property of the female skin lipids that allows males to differentiate among large and small females. Analysis of the sexual attractiveness pheromone revealed that the necessary variation exists for this pheromone to function as a reliable indicator to males of female body size. Specifically, we observed a strong correlation between female snout–vent length and the relative concentration of saturated and ω-9 cis-unsaturated methyl ketones composing the pheromone; smaller females expressed pheromone profiles higher in saturated methyl ketones, while larger females expressed pheromone profiles dominated by unsaturated methyl ketones. The results of this study suggest that male red-sided garter snakes utilize compositional variation in the female sexual attractiveness pheromone to differentiate among potential mates of varying size.
THE SPITZER ATLAS OF STELLAR SPECTRA (SASS)

We present the Spitzer Atlas of Stellar Spectra, which includes 159 stellar spectra (5-32 μm; R ~ 100) taken with the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope. This Atlas gathers representative spectra of a broad section of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, intended to serve as a general stellar spectral reference in the mid-infrared. It includes stars from all luminosity classes, as well as Wolf-Rayet (WR) objects. Furthermore, it includes some objects of intrinsic interest, such as blue stragglers and certain pulsating variables. All of the spectra have been uniformly reduced, and all are available online. For dwarfs and giants, the spectra of early-type objects are relatively featureless, characterized by the presence of hydrogen lines in A spectral types. Besides these, the most noticeable photospheric features correspond to water vapor and silicon monoxide in late-type objects and methane and ammonia features at the latest spectral types. Most supergiant spectra in the Atlas present evidence of circumstellar gas and/or dust. The sample includes five M supergiant spectra, which show strong dust excesses and in some cases polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon features. Sequences of WR stars present the well-known pattern of lines of He I and He II, as well as forbidden lines of ionized metals. The characteristic flat-top shape of the [Ne III] line is evident even at these low spectral resolutions. Several Luminous Blue Variables and other transition stars are present in the Atlas and show very diverse spectra, dominated by circumstellar gas and dust features. We show that the [8]-[24] Spitzer colors (IRAC and MIPS) are poor predictors of spectral type for most luminosity classes.
Seditious Histories: Contesting Thai and Southeast Asian Pasts – By Craig J. Reynolds

This collection is the long‐awaited compilation of new and previously published articles by Craig J. Reynolds, one of the leading historians of Thailand and Southeast Asia. The eleven historically ...
Bounds for self-reconfiguration of metamorphic robots

A metamorphic robotic system is a collection of mechatronic modules, each of which has the ability to connect, disconnect, and climb over adjacent modules. A change in the macroscopic morphology results from the locomotion of each module over its neighbors. In this paper, lower and upper bounds are established for the minimal number of moves needed to change such systems from any initial to any final specified configuration. These bounds are functions of initial and final configuration geometry and can be computed very quickly, while solving for the precise number of minimal moves cannot be done in polynomial time. These bounds can be used to 'weed out' and improve inefficient reconfiguration strategies, and provide a benchmark for the evaluation of heuristics in general.
Agents of Change in the New North

A geographer with extensive experience in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere outlines 12 major agents of change currently active in that hemisphere's Northern Rim (lands and seas poleward of 45° N Lat.). These include population trajectories, aboriginal populations, rising air temperatures and precipitation, thawing of permafrost and winter roads, hydrocarbon and agricultural development, sea ice and shipping, ecosystem shifts, and issues of territorial sovereignty. In addition to exploring the current and potential impacts of each agent across the region as a whole, the paper also highlights key differences among the Northern Rim countries (Canada, Greenland/Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United States) in terms of their responses and/or susceptibilities to these various elements of change.
Double grafting of the left anterior descending artery: is the distance between the internal mammary artery and supplemental vein graft anastomoses relevant in graft survival?

Introduction: Under certain conditions (small internal mammary artery (IMA) or large runoff), double grafting of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery system is necessary to avoid the ominous consequences of myocardial hypoperfusion. Previous studies have shown that a saphenous vein (SVG) adjacent to an IMA graft leads to failure of the IMA. This study compares IMA flow patterns when adjacent (B1 cm) and separated (3‐4 cm) from a SVG placed on a proximally occluded LAD. Methods :A SVG and right IMA (PIMA) to proximal LAD (2.5‐3 mm) coronary bypass were performed in 12 mongrel dogs. The left IMA (DIMA) was anastomosed to the distal LAD (1.5 mm). All anastomoses were carried out without cardiopulmonary bypass. The native LAD was occluded proximally to the PIMA anastomosis, and all graft flows were measured in competitive and non-competitive flow conditions. Results: Isolated graft to LAD flows were similar for the three conduits. There was a drop in flow in both the PIMA and DIMA when placed in competition with the SVG (10.19 3.0 vs. 19.19 4.6 ml:min; PB 0.05). The total drop in flow was significantly greater in the PIMA (67.6 vs. 39.9%; PB 0.05). Diastolic flow was better preserved in the distal IMA graft (19.695.6 vs. 10.293.0 ml:min; PB0.05). The patterns of flow were much different during competition and there was significant retrograde systolic flow in all PIMA grafts while there was no (n 5) or minimal retrograde flow (n 7) in the DIMA grafts. Conclusion: An IMA graft, when adjacent to a SVG, sustains a significant decrease in both total and diastolic flows and develops an oscillating pattern of flow in early systole (retrograde then antegrade). Placing the IMA more distally on the LAD improves flow and decreases retrograde flow. In clinical situations requiring double grafting on the LAD, distance between grafts may be an important factor in maintaining IMA patency. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
Worship and threshold obligations

In this reply to Tim Bayne and Yujin Nagasawa, I defend the possibility of a maximal-excellence account of the grounding of the obligation to worship God. I do not offer my own account of the obligation to worship God; rather I argue that the major criticism (that is raised against maximal-excellence accounts) fails. Thus maximal-excellence can ground an obligation to worship God.
Lithium ion battery automotive applications and requirements

This paper reviews the potential automotive applications for lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries. Various applications are considered in terms of the battery system requirements. USABC and PNGV goals are referenced as they provide general specifications which apply to most original equipment manufacturers. Battery system design assumptions, such as electronic controls, modeling, and thermal management are discussed. Possible Li-ion battery implementation issues are explored, including: abuse tolerance, cycle and calendar life, operating temperature range, environmental impact, reliability, and price.
Simulating soil organic matter with CQESTR (v. 2.0): model description and validation against long-term experiments across North America.

Soil carbon (C) models are important tools for examining complex interactions between climate, crop and soil management practices, and to evaluate the long-term effects of management practices on C-storage potential in soils. CQESTR is a process-based carbon balance model that relates crop residue additions and crop and soil management to soil organic matter (SOM) accretion or loss. This model was developed for national use in U.S and calibrated initially in the Pacific Northwest. Our objectives were: (i) to revise the model, making it more applicable for wider geographic areas including potential international application, by modifying the thermal effect and incorporating soil texture and drainage effects, and (ii) to recalibrate and validate it for an extended range of soil properties and climate conditions. The current version of CQESTR (v. 2.0) is presented with the algorithms necessary to simulate SOM at field scale. Input data for SOM calculation include crop rotation, aboveground and belowground biomass additions, tillage, weather, and the nitrogen content of crop residues and any organic amendments. The model was validated with long-term data from across North America. Regression analysis of 306 pairs of predicted and measured SOM data under diverse climate, soil texture and drainage classes, and agronomic practices at 13 agricultural sites having a range of SOM (7.3–57.9 g SOM kg −1 ), resulted in a linear relationship with an r 2
Ancient borderland terranes of the North American Cordillera: Correlation and microplate tectonics

Enigmatic Paleozoic and Precambrian sequences rich in volcanic and plutonic rocks form discrete terranes along the outer border of the North American Cordillera. These borderland terranes occur in California in the northern Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains, in central Oregon and eastern Oregon–westernmost Idaho, in Washington in the Northern Cascade Mountains and San Juan Islands, in British Columbia in Vancouver Island, and in Alaska in the Alexander Archipelago. The difficulty in relating the geology of the borderland terranes to that of the North American continent, the recognition of ophiolites and suture zones separating the terranes from the continent, plus the Asiatic affinity of certain of the borderland faunas indicate that the terranes are allochthonous relative to the North American continent. Furthermore, major differences in stratigraphy, magmatic activity, tectonic activity, metamorphism, and particularly the ages and types of basement between the terranes — when considered together with discordant paleomagnetic data — suggest that at least six lithospheric plates are represented. The terranes in the Klamath Mountains have an Ordovician ultramafic rock (ophiolite) basement. The Oregon terranes have ultramafic complexes (ophiolites) in close association with volcanic rocks (volcanic arcs) that form the basement. In the Northern Cascade Mountains and San Juan Islands, the terranes have, respectively, Precambrian and Ordovician crystalline metaplutonic (magmatic arc) basement. The terrane in the southern part of the Alexander Archipelago has a Precambrian crystalline meta-volcanic-metasedimentary (remnant arc) basement, but an Ordovician basaltic-andesitic basement (initial deposits of an upward-shoaling island arc) appears farther north. Transcurrent faults segment and truncate parts of the Cordillera, but since the borderlands are in themselves composed of several plates, models of a single allochthonous plate are difficult to apply. More likely, during Precambrian and Paleozoic time, multiple microcontinental plates and volcanic arcs moved outboard and inboard (away from and toward North America) to accommodate a succession of marginal ocean basins opening and closing behind migrating arcs. This was followed in Mesozoic and Cenozoic time by large-scale northwestward drift.
Risk factors for driving into flooded roads

Motor vehicle-related deaths account for more than half of all flood fatalities in the United States, but to date, very little is known about the risk factors associated with why people drive into flooded roads. Using data from survey questionnaires administered in Denver, CO, and Austin, TX, this paper suggests that people who do not take warnings seriously are more likely to drive through flooded roads, as are people aged 18–35, and those that do not know that motor vehicles are involved in more than half of all flood fatalities. In Denver, people who have not experienced a flood previously and those who do not know they live in flood-prone areas are also more likely to drive into flooded roads. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Administration of Protein-Conjugate Pneumococcal Vaccine to Patients Who Have Invasive Disease after Splenectomy Despite Their Having Received 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine

Patients who undergo splenectomy are at greatly increased risk for overwhelming pneumococcal bacteremia and death. Twenty-three-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23), which contains capsular polysaccharides (PSs) from 23 common serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, is strongly recommended for such patients. The capacity to respond to PPV-23 by producing immunoglobulin (Ig) G is genetically regulated. Some proportion of adults do not respond and, despite postsplenectomy administration of PPV-23, may remain susceptible to recurrent pneumococcal sepsis. Here, we describe 2 patients who had recurring pneumococcal bacteremia after undergoing splenectomy despite having received numerous doses of PPV-23. Heptavalent protein-conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PCPV-7) was then administered, and it induced high levels of IgG to all 7 PSs; in one of the patients, functional activity against 5 of the 7 PSs was demonstrable, both in vitro and in vivo. Recurrent pneumococcal bacteremia in patients who have undergone splenectomy may indicate a genetically regulated failure to respond to PPV-23; PCPV-7 may stimulate production of IgG to PSs in such patients.
Trust in Primary Care Providers and Antiretroviral Adherence in an Urban HIV Clinic

Interpersonal trust is an integral component of the patient-provider relationship and has been associated with patient adherence to medications. Studies suggest African Americans may have lower levels of trust in their health care providers than non-Hispanic Whites. This study examines the association between trust in one's primary care provider (PCP) and antiretroviral (ARV) adherence among 175 patients at an urban HIV clinic. Interviews elicited participants' level of trust in their current PCP using a multiple-item trust scale and assessed ARV adherence with a seven-day recall questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to ascertain the effect of trust in PCP on ARV adherence. High trust in PCP was significantly associated with increased odds of ARV adherence compared with low trust (adjusted odds ratio, 2.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.24 to 5.76; p=.01). Enhancing trust in PCPs may be a good target for interventions to improve ARV adherence, particularly among African American patients.
A focus on blood glucose monitoring: relation to glycemic control and determinants of frequency.

Helgeson VS, Honcharuk E, Becker D, Escobar O, Siminerio L. A focus on blood glucose monitoring: relation to glycemic control and determinants of frequency. Objective: To re-examine the relation of blood glucose monitoring to glycemic control among adolescents with type 1 diabetes and to evaluate the relation of demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristics of adolescents who monitor more and less frequently. Research design and methods: Participants were 132 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (average age = 12 yr) and their parents, recruited from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Adolescents were interviewed annually for five consecutive years after routine clinic appointments. At each assessment, data from blood glucose meters were downloaded and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c was recorded from medical records. Results: More frequent blood glucose monitoring was related to better glycemic control. Adolescents who monitored more frequently were younger, from higher social status families, on insulin pumps, and had higher self-efficacy. Age-related declines in blood glucose monitoring occurred among adolescents with low self-esteem, high stressful life events, and lower parental support. Conclusions: Given the importance of blood glucose monitoring for good glycemic control, future research should enhance adolescents' self-efficacy for monitoring and intervene with those who are at risk for age-related declines in blood glucose monitoring.
Isolation and characterization of dnaJ null mutants of Escherichia coli.

Abstract Bacteriophage lambda requires the lambda O and P proteins for its DNA replication. The rest of the replication proteins are provided by the Escherichia coli host. Some of these host proteins, such as DnaK, DnaJ, and GrpE, are heat shock proteins. Certain mutations in the dnaK, dnaJ, or grpE gene block lambda growth at all temperatures and E. coli growth above 43 degrees C. We have isolated bacterial mutants that were shown by Southern analysis to contain a defective, mini-Tn10 transposon inserted into either of two locations and in both orientations within the dnaJ gene. We have shown that these dnaJ-insertion mutants did not grow as well as the wild type at temperatures above 30 degrees C, although they blocked lambda DNA replication at all temperatures. The dnaJ-insertion mutants formed progressively smaller colonies at higher temperatures, up to 42 degrees C, and did not form colonies at 43 degrees C. The accumulation of frequent, uncharacterized suppressor mutations allowed these insertion mutants to grow better at all temperatures and to form colonies at 43 degrees C. None of these suppressor mutations restored the ability of the host to propagate phage lambda. Radioactive labeling of proteins synthesized in vivo followed by immunoprecipitation or immunoblotting with anti-DnaJ antibodies demonstrated that no DnaJ protein could be detected in these mutants. Labeling studies at different temperatures demonstrated that these dnaJ-insertion mutations resulted in altered kinetics of heat shock protein synthesis. An additional eight dnaJ mutant isolates, selected spontaneously on the basis of blocking phage lambda growth at 42 degrees C, were shown not to synthesize DnaJ protein as well. Three of these eight spontaneous mutants had gross DNA alterations in the dnaJ gene. Our data provide evidence that the DnaJ protein is not absolutely essential for E. coli growth at temperatures up to 42 degrees C under standard laboratory conditions but is essential for growth at 43 degrees C. However, the accumulation of extragenic suppressors is necessary for rapid bacterial growth at higher temperatures.
Special Contribution: Interview with Giovanni Arrighi At Some Point Something Has To Give Declining U.S. Power, the Rise of China, and an Adam Smith for the Contemporary Left

iovanni Arrighi (1937-2009) spent his life thinking and writing about what he saw on his well-traveled path: liberation movements in Africa, worker rebellion in Italy, global inequality between North and South, the military and financial limits of US power, and the economic rise of China. In his many articles and books, including an unplanned trilogy on the origins and workings of global capitalism, Arrighi grappled with the complexities of history and the limitations of existing economic and political theories. This rethinking was fully on display in his final book, Adam Smith in Beijing: Lineages of the Twenty-First Century. Although I interviewed Arrighi on May 18, 2008, several months before the financial meltdown in global markets, his prescient statements are relevant for the crises we face today. Arrighi passed away in June 2009. His scholarly and intellectual tradition continues on at the Giovanni Arrighi Center for Global Studies at The Johns Hopkins University.
Individual Members of the Microbiota Disproportionately Modulate Host Innate Immune Responses

Predicting host health status based on microbial community structure is a major goal of microbiome research. An implicit assumption of microbiome profiling for diagnostic purposes is that the proportional representation of different taxa determine host phenotypes. To test this assumption, we colonized gnotobiotic zebrafish with zebrafish-derived bacterial isolates and measured bacterial abundance and host neutrophil responses. Surprisingly, combinations of bacteria elicited immune responses that do not reflect the numerically dominant species. These data are consistent with a quantitative model in which the host responses to commensal species are additive but where various species have different per capita immunostimulatory effects. For example, one species has a high per capita immunosuppression that is mediated through a potent secreted factor. We conclude that the proportional representation of bacteria in a community does not necessarily predict its functional capacities; however, characterizing specific properties of individual species offers predictive insights into multi-species community function.
New strategic plan charts next chapter in College's history: implications for the cardiovascular imager.

Rapid advances in science and technology, uncertainty about systems of medical care delivery, and growing demand for cardiovascular care at a time of workforce transition present extraordinary challenges and opportunities for cardiovascular medicine. To address these challenges and meet the so-
T cells from patients with Candida sepsis display a suppressive immunophenotype.

Despite appropriate therapy, Candida bloodstream infections are associated with a mortality rate of approximately 40 %. In animal models, impaired immunity due to T cell exhaustion has been implicated in fungal sepsis mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine potential mechanisms of fungal-induced immunosuppression via immunophenotyping of circulating T lymphocytes from patients with microbiologically documented Candida bloodstream infections. Patients with blood cultures positive for any Candida species were studied. Non-septic critically ill patients with no evidence of bacterial or fungal infection were controls. T cells were analyzed via flow cytometry for cellular activation and for expression of positive and negative co-stimulatory molecules. Both the percentages of cells expressing particular immunophenotypic markers as well as the geometric mean fluorescence intensity (GMFI), a measure of expression of the number of receptors or ligands per cell, were quantitated. Twenty-seven patients with Candida bloodstream infections and 16 control patients were studied. Compared to control patients, CD8 T cells from patients with Candidemia had evidence of cellular activation as indicated by increased CD69 expression while CD4 T cells had decreased expression of the major positive co-stimulatory molecule CD28. CD4 and CD8 T cells from patients with Candidemia expressed markers typical of T cell exhaustion as indicated by either increased percentages of or increased MFI for programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1). Circulating immune effector cells from patients with Candidemia display an immunophenotype consistent with immunosuppression as evidenced by T cell exhaustion and concomitant downregulation of positive co-stimulatory molecules. These findings may help explain why patients with fungal sepsis have a high mortality despite appropriate antifungal therapy. Development of immunoadjuvants that reverse T cell exhaustion and boost host immunity may offer one way to improve outcome in this highly lethal disorder.
The Role of Aging in Alzheimer’s Disease

Cognitive function in humans declines in essentially all domains starting in the late 50s, and neurodegeneration and dementia seem to be inevitable in all but a few of those who survive to very old age. While age-related cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer’s disease in humans are clearly distinct entities and seem to affect different brain regions, both show the telltale molecular and cellular changes that characterize tissue aging including abnormal proteostasis, loss in stem cell activity, and inflammation. Adding to the challenge of differentiating the two, Alzheimer’s disease is thought to begin up to 20 years before it manifests clinically and, accordingly, there is significant overlap between brain aging and the disease based on structural and functional brain imaging. This chapter will highlight commonalities and emphasize divergences between “normal” brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease and discuss novel approaches to understand the link between the two.