cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The bifunctional NadR regulator of Salmonella typhimurium: Location of regions involved with DNA binding, nucleotide transport and intramolecular communication

NadR is the repressor protein that controls the expression of genes for NAD synthesis. It is also believed to be involved in nucleotide transport. Point mutations conferring different phenotypes were localized to six different regions within the nadR gene. That mutations affecting repression and transport all mapped within nadR confirms the bifunctional model for NadR action. The clustering of these mutations and 2 fusions revealed that those affecting repression lie in the amino terminal while those affecting transport occur in the carboxy-terminal. Mutations resulting in superrepression occurred within a central regions of NadR that probably senses NAD concentrations. This region is predicted to direct the transition between NadR transport and repressor conformations.
Critical review of the animal models of generalized epilepsies.

The state of the art for models of generalized seizures in animals is satisfactory, but improvable for what concerns primary generalized seizures of Petit-Mal type. Other models of secondary generalized seizures are available allowing acceptable ways of studying some mechanisms of epileptogenesis, and/or screening potentials new AEDs. For other forms of seizures such as amyotonic fits, there are no models. By and large, models of epilepsy are lagging behind models of seizures as most of the former when reproduced in the laboratory are short lived. Spontaneously occurring epilepsies in cats should be studied more widely as they may provide a wide variety of epileptic conditions not dissimilar from the ones seen in humans. Overall, models of seizures and epilepsies are more advanced than the models of most neuropsychiatric conditions.
Role strain and stress in split-shift relationships

Although all families experience role strain and stress, split-shift couples are somewhat unique. The husband's and wife's employment causes schedules to be out-of-synch. A conceptual framework is developed for organizing observations about split-shift couples, the types of role strain, and reasons why some experience stress.
Vital sign changes during infant magnetic resonance examinations

Heart rate (HR) and blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) were monitored before and during clinically indicated MR examinations of newborns to (a) identify any temporal relationship between MR scanning and vital sign fluctuations and (b) assess the reliability of SaO2 monitoring of dynamic changes. Fluctuations in HR (but not in SaO2) that are temporally linked to the MR image acquisition occur in most neonates during routine clinical MR examinations.
Acute corticosteroid induced hemorrhage arising from an ileal conduit ulcer.

A 51-year-old man presented elsewhere with thrombocytopenia. He had a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder, and had been treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy and radical cystoprostatectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion 13 years earlier. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura had been diagnosed and 20 mg. oral prednisone daily were initiated. One week after beginning therapy the patient presented to a local emergency room with acute and severe ileal conduit hemorrhage. A coagulation profile was normal except for a low platelet count. He was admitted to the hospital and treated with intravenous hydration and blood transfusions. An arteriogram, loop-o-gram and endoscopy of the ileal conduit using a flexible cystoscope were nondiagnostic. The patient was discharged home and readmitted to the hospital 72 hours later in hemorrhagic shock. He was stabilized with additional blood transfusions and transferred to our medical center for further evaluation and management. Abdominal and pelvic computerized tomography and urine cytology were nondiagnostic. Repeat endoscopy using a flexible sigmoidoscope identified a nonbleeding ileal loop ulcer that was subsequently cauterized and injected with epinephrine (see figure). A corticosteroid taper was initiated. Platelet count remained stable at approximately 100,000/ml. with no further episodes of bleeding. The patient was discharged home. One week later he presented to the emergency room with gross hematuria and a platelet count of 50,000/ml. Splenectomy was performed. Platelet count gradually returned to normal postoperatively. At 24-month followup he had no further episodes of bleeding.
Plasmodium lophurae: Immunization of Pekin ducklings with different antigen preparations

Abstract Pekin ducklings were vaccinated with Freund's complete adjuvant plus free Plasmodium lophurae parasites, erythrocytes infected with P. lophurae schizonts, or parasite membrane vesicles. Approximately 50% of the vaccinated ducklings were resistant to challenge with this malarial parasite. However, little protection was afforded by immunization of ducklings with a parasite-specific histidine-rich protein.
Combat exposure and mental health: the long-term effects among US Vietnam and Gulf war veterans

Using a random sample of more than 4000 veterans, we test the effects of combat exposure on mental health. We focus on two cohorts of veterans: those who served in Vietnam (1964-1975) and the Gulf War (1990-1991). Combat exposure differed between these groups in intensity, duration and elapsed time since exposure. We find that combat exposure generally, and exposure to dead, dying, or wounded people, specifically, is a significant predictor of mental health declines as measured by an individual's Mental Component Summary score. Under our general specifications, the negative effects of combat on mental health were larger for Gulf war veterans than for Vietnam veterans as of 2001. These effects persist after controlling for demographic characteristics, insurance coverage, income and assets. Using discrete factor, nonparametric maximum likelihood (DFML) estimation we controlled for unobserved heterogeneity as well as the factors above. In the DFML specifications we find a negative impact of exposure to dead, wounded or dying people for both Gulf and Vietnam veterans, but find no statistically significant effect for combat exposure overall for Vietnam veterans as of 2001. Based on our Gulf war parameters, we estimate that the costs of mental health declines to be between $87 and $318 per year for each soldier with combat service and exposure to dead, dying and wounded people.
A new approach on estimation of the tail index

Abstract A new approach on tail index estimation is proposed based on studying the in-sample evolution of appropriately chosen diverging statistics. The resulting estimators are simple to construct, and they can be generalized to address other rate estimation problems as well. To cite this article: D.N. Politis, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 279–282.
Time Variant Exposure Analysis (TVEA): A Measurement Tool for Characterizing Particulate Exposure Determinants in Construction

A work sampling-based approach, time variant exposure analysis (TVEA), was developed for assessment of determinants for particulate air contaminants in dynamic construction environments. To use TVEA, the field researcher records observations at fixed intervals to systematically survey over 30 potential determinants that could affect exposure to three types of particulate matter: quartz-containing dusts, diesel exhaust, and a general grouping of “other particles” that includes welding fume and wood dust. Two field studies were conducted to address questions of inter-rater reliability (n = 20) and coding interval appropriateness (n = 21) for the TVEA method. At least substantial inter-rater agreement (kappa > 0.60) was obtained for the TVEA variables related to tool or machine use, process, material, source intensity, and source orientation. Kappa values for source direction (0.22–0.38) and number of sources (0.38–0.60) showed comparatively lower agreement for all particulate types. Observation interval app...
Axillary arterial catheter use associated with hand ischemia in a multi-trauma patient: case report and literature review

A case of hand ischemia associated with use of an axillary arterial catheter in a multi-trauma patient is presented. Despite removal of the arterial catheter and limb salvage procedures, distal hand gangrene developed. Simple measures such as minimizing dressings, use of distal continuous pulse oximetry, placement of invasive arterial catheters in the nondominant extremity, and avoiding their use whenever possible may prevent complications and minimize morbidity.
411 HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS AND MARGIN-OF-SAFETY OF ISOFLU RANE IN NEWBORN PIGLETS

Isoflurane (ISO), a potent inhalation anesthetic, is commonly used for infant anesthesia, but its cardiovascular effects are poorly defined. We invasively measured the effects of ISO on the major determinants of cardiac output in 15 acutely-instrumented healthy newborn piglets and 9 age-matched controls. End-tidal ISO concentrations were determined by mass spectrometry. Hemodynamic readings were obtained at baseline, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.3 MAC (minimum alveolar concentration needed for anesthesia). At 1 MAC: CI -5% (NS), MAP -37%*, systemic resistance -32%*, dP/dT/DP40 -32%*, echo shortening fraction -20%*, HR -15% (NS), LVEDP -18% (NS). 1.3 MAC ISO did not depress any variable further, except HR (-19%*) (*=p<.05 vs baseline and control). 5 pigs who had ↓ HR were paced; MAP, dP/dT/DP40, and systemic resistance remained low while CI did not change. In 12 other piglets, the blood, heart, and brainstem lethal:MAC concentration ratio was 2.1, 2.0, and 2.8, respectively. At 1 MAC, ISO depressed contractility and occasionally caused bradycardia. Because MAP and systemic resistance decreased to a similar extent, CI was unchanged. ↓ MAP may adversely affect flow to those vital organs lacking mature autoregulation. ISO has a limited margin-of-safety in newborn piglets.
Large protein-induced dipoles for a symmetric carotenoid in a photosynthetic antenna complex

Unusually large electric field effects have been measured for the absorption spectra of carotenoids (spheroidene) in the B800-850 light-harvesting complex from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Quantitative analysis shows that the difference in the permanent dipole moment between the ground state and excited states in this protein complex is substantially larger than for pure spheroidene extracted from the protein. The results demonstrate the presence of a large perturbation on the electronic structure of this nearly symmetric carotenoid due to the organized environment in the protein. This work also provides an explanation for the seemingly anomalous dependence of carotenoid band shifts on transmembrane potential and a generally useful approach for calibrating electric field-sensitive dyes that are widely used to probe potentials in biological systems.
The evolution of psychotherapy training: Reflections on manual-based learning and future alternatives

Although psychotherapists-in-training may rely significantly on their clinical intuitions when first beginning to practice therapy, they quickly discover that much more is required to conduct effective treatment. Increasingly over the past two decades, training manuals have been used to impart explicit guidelines to beginning psychotherapists. In addition, manuals offer a means for helping more experienced therapists to learn new approaches, while also allowing careful research on the relative efficacy of different psychotherapies. In some instances, manuals have been designed specifically to address troublesome transference and countertransference issues (e.g., Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy; Strupp & Binder, 1984). But even manualized treatments that target hostile interactions between therapist and patient are sometimes of limited use in teaching therapists to work with difficult patients, as illustrated by the Vanderbilt II Psychotherapy Research Project. Experimental research on the distinctions between implicit learning and explicit learning (e.g., Lee & Vakoch, 1996) helps explain the constraints of manualized treatments. By relying on explicit, clearly articulated guidelines, treatments conducted in accordance with manuals may interfere with tacit reasoning processes. As a consequence of the strong emphasis that manuals place on explicit rules for treatment, this type of training can hinder the development of complex clinical judgments. Future generations of novice psychotherapists may benefit from training experiences that are designed to promote an integration of implicit and explicit learning.
Crossover between quantum and thermal regimes of free-standing nanostructures

Mesomechanical systems offer the possibility to observe and control certain quantum effects. Here we develop a phonon description of transverse motion of a mesoscopic beam with fixed endpoints. We obtain expressions for the fundamental frequencies and quantum fluctuation amplitudes of these structures when subjected to longitudinal compression. We show how the frequencies and fluctuation amplitudes scale with physical dimensions and give estimates for the crossover temperatures which characterize the transition between quantum and thermal regimes.
Comparative excretion and tissue distribution of selenium in mice and rats following treatment with the chemopreventive agent 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate.

Abstract In a previous preliminary investigation, we reported on the excretion, tissue disposition and metabolism of the chemopreventive agent 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate ( p -XSC) in the rat, but similar studies in the mouse have not been explored. Following the oral administration of p -XSC (50 μmol/kg body weight), selenium excretion in feces was comparable to that in urine in mice, but in rats, feces was the major route of excretion. Tetraselenocyclophane (TSC) was the major metabolite detected in mouse and rat feces. In both species, levels of selenium in exhaled air were negligible. At termination, in the mouse, the stomach had the highest selenium content followed by liver and blood, but lung and kidney contained negligible levels of selenium; in the rat, the selenium level in liver was the highest followed by kidney, stomach, blood and lung. The identification of TSC as a fecal metabolite in both species let us to postulate the following metabolic pathway: p -XSC → glutathione conjugate ( p -XSeSG) → a selenol ( p -XSeH) → TSC. Since the glutathione conjugate appears to be the proximal precursor for the selenol metabolite that may be an important intermediate in cancer chemoprevention, we report for the first time the synthesis of p -XSeSG and its other potential metabolites, namely the cysteine- and N -acetylcysteine-conjugates of p -XSC. HPLC analysis of the urine and bile showed a few metabolites of p -XSC; none of which eluted with the synthetic standards described above. When we examined the conversion of p -XSC and p -XSeSG in vitro using rat cecal microflora, TSC was formed from p -XSeSG but not from p -XSC. The formation of TSC from p -XSC in vivo but not in vitro suggests that p -XSC needs to be metabolized to p -XSeSG or an intermediate derived from its further metabolism. Thus, p -XSeSG was given orally to rats and the results showed that the pattern of selenium excretion after p -XSeSG treatment was similar to that of p -XSC; TSC was also identified as a fecal metabolite of p -XSeSG. It may be that the conversion of p -XSeSG to TSC is too facile, or the mere conjugation of p -XSC with glutathione does not occur in rats and mice.
The Interpersonal Nature of Social Stereotypes: Differential Discussion Patterns about In-Groups and Out-Groups

This study examines the interpersonal nature of social stereotypes by investigating the extent to which stereotypic representations are conveyed in discussions about in-groups and out-groups. Same-sex dyads held discussions about their gender in-group and out-group. Discussion content was evaluated by two methods. First, a content analysis revealed that out-group discussions contained more group-level, and fewer self-referent, comments than in-group discussions. Also, the negative comments about the out-group were given as global, group-level comments more so than about specific out-group members (negative comments about the in-group did not differ across level of inclusiveness). Second, new participants rated the overall quality of the discussion transcripts. Discussions about out-groups were rated as more stereotypic and expressing more negative affect than in group discussions. Through these analyses, evidence for the expression of stereotypic representations of out-groups in interpersonal settings was...
Relationship between placement change during foster care and utilization of emergency mental health services

Abstract The present study aimed to confirm a relationship between placement change during a foster care episode and use of emergency mental health care, specifically crisis services and psychiatric hospitalization. Additionally, the study sought to differentiate between placement change's impact on emergency mental health care and emergency mental health care's impact on placement change. We examined placement change during the first 90 days in foster care among 19,351 Californian children and youth who started a new foster care episode between October 1998 and March 2001. Sample selection procedures differentiated between use of crisis and inpatient services prior to and following a placement change. Multivariate analysis revealed that while placement change is a significant predictor of subsequent psychiatric hospitalization, use of crisis services and psychiatric hospitalization are predictors of subsequent placement change. This bidirectional relationship suggests that children in foster care could benefit from both interventions that promote placement stability and improved mental health treatment following psychiatric crises.
Three-dimensional target modeling with synthetic aperture radar

Conventional Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) offers high-resolution imaging of a target region in the range and cross-range dimensions along the ground plane. Little or no data is available in the range-altitude dimension, however, and target functions and models are limited to two-dimensional images. This paper first investigates some existing methods for the computation of target reflectivity data in the deficient elevation domain, and a new method is then proposed for three-dimensional (3-D) SAR target feature extraction. Simulations are implemented to test the decoupled least-squares technique for high-resolution spectral estimation of target reflectivity, and the accuracy of the technique is assessed. The technique is shown to be sufficiently accurate at resolving targets in the third axis, but is limited in practicality due to restrictive requirements on the input data. An attempt is then made to overcome some of the practical limitations inherent in the current 3-D SAR methods by proposing a new technique based on the direct extraction of 3-D target features from arbitrary SAR image inputs. The radar shadow present in SAR images of MSTAR vehicle targets is extracted and used in conjunction with the radar beam depression angle to compute physical target heights along the range axis. Multiple inputs of elevation data are then merged to forge rough 3-D target models.
Kinetics and Mechanism of the Reaction of Cysteine and Hydrogen Peroxide in Aqueous Solution

The oxidation of thiol-containing small molecules, peptides, and proteins in the presence of peroxides is of increasing biological and pharmaceutical interest. Although such reactions have been widely studied there does not appear to be a consensus in the literature as to the reaction products formed under various conditions, the reaction stoichiometry, and the reaction mechanisms that may be involved. This study examines the reaction kinetics of cysteine (CSH) with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in aqueous buffers (in the absence of metal ions) over a wide range of pH (pH 4-13) and at varying ratios of initial reactant concentrations to explore the range of conditions in which a two-step nucleophilic model describes the kinetics. The disappearance of CSH and H(2)O(2) and appearance of cystine (CSSC) versus time were monitored by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of oxygen, metal ions (Cu(2+)), pH (4-13), ionic strength, buffer concentration, and temperature were evaluated. Data obtained at [H(2)O(2)](0)/[CSH](0) ratios from 0.01-2.3 demonstrate that the reaction of CSH with H(2)O(2) in the absence of metal ions is quantitatively consistent with a two-step nucleophilic reaction mechanism involving rate-determining nucleophilic attack of thiolate anion on the unionized H(2)O(2) to generate cysteine sulfenic acid (CSOH) as an intermediate. Second-order rate constants for both reaction steps were generated through model fitting. At [H(2)O(2)](0)/[CSH](0) > 10, the % CSSC formed as a product of the reaction declines due to the increased importance of alternative competing pathways for consumption of CSOH. A thorough understanding of the mechanism in aqueous solution will provide valuable background information for current studies aimed at elucidating the influence of such factors on thiol oxidation in solid-state formulations.
Quantitative study of collagen and elastin of the optic nerve head and sclera in human and experimental monkey glaucoma

Quantitative studies of collagen density and fibril size distribution as well as elastin density were carried out in the optic nerve head and sclera of human and experimental monkey glaucoma eyes. The collagen fibrils of the normal lamina cribrosa are smaller and more uniform in size than those of the sclera. This feature may be an adaptation to maximize either elasticity or resistance to mechanical stress. In glaucomatous nerve heads, there is a major disruption of the structure of the lamina cribrosa beam structure, including a decrease in collagen density. The peripapillary sclera undergoes similar collagen density changes to those in the nerve head in human glaucoma eyes. Elastin fiber density is unchanged in the glaucomatous nerve heads that we studied.
Polymer Models of Protein Stability, Folding, and Interactions†

The unfolded state and flexible linkers in the folded structure play essential roles in protein stability and folding and protein-protein interactions. Intrinsic to these roles is the fact that unfolded proteins and flexible linkers sample many different conformations. Polymer models may capture this and complement experiments in elucidating the contributions of the unfolded state and flexible linkers. Here I review what can be predicted from these models and how well these predictions match experiments. For example, Gaussian chain models give quantitatively reasonable predictions of the effects of residual charge-charge interactions in the unfolded state and qualitatively reasonable results for the effects of spatial confinement and macromolecular crowding on protein stability. A wormlike chain model has met with success in quantifying the effects of flexible linkers in binding affinity enhancement and in regulatory switches. In future developments, more realistic models may emerge from molecular dynamics simulations, and these models will guide experiments to advance our understanding of the unfolded state and flexible linkers.
Equations for bi-directional waves over an uneven bottom

This paper is centered at deriving and studying systems modeling bi-directional surface waves over an uneven or a moving bottom. Compared with the huge amount of work on model equations describing one-way propagation of water waves, much less attention has been given to Boussinesq systems describing two-way propagation of water waves, especially to the systems which are externally forced.
Dissection of estrogen receptor alpha signaling pathways in osteoblasts using RNA-sequencing.

The effects of 17-β-estradiol in osteoblasts are primarily mediated by the nuclear transcription factors, estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ. ERs function through three general modes of action: DNA-binding dependent through estrogen response elements (EREs; designated nuclear ERE signaling); nuclear signaling via protein-protein interactions to other transcription factors (nuclear non-ERE signaling); and extra-nuclear signaling (membrane-bound functions of ERs). Identification of the specific transcriptional signatures regulated by each of these modes of action should contribute to an enhanced understanding of estrogen signaling in osteoblasts. To achieve this goal, we utilized specific mutations of ERα that eliminate the ability of the receptor to signal through a specific mode of action. The non-classical ERα knock-in (NERKI) mutation is incapable of signaling through direct DNA binding to EREs and the nuclear only ERα (NOER) mutation eliminates all membrane-localized signaling. Comparison of the gene expression patterns elicited by these mutations with the wild-type ERα (WT) pattern provides mode-specific data concerning transcriptional regulation by ERα. We expressed these constructs in the ER-negative osteoblastic cell line hFOB (−/+ estrogen) and performed global RNA-sequencing. Using a series of pair-wise comparisons, we generated three lists of genes that were regulated either by the nuclear ERE-dependent, nuclear ERE-independent, or extra-nuclear actions of ERα. Pathway and gene ontology analyses revealed that genes regulated through the nuclear ERE and nuclear non-ERE pathways were largely involved in transcriptional regulation, whereas genes regulated through extra-nuclear mechanisms are involved in cytoplasmic signaling transduction pathways. We also intersected our data with genes linked to bone density and fractures from a recent genome-wide association study and found 25 of 72 genes (35%) regulated by estrogen. These data provide a comprehensive list of genes and pathways targeted by these specific modes of ERα action and suggest that “mode-specific” ligands could be developed to modulate specific ERα functionality in bone.
Use of an automated clinical management system improves outpatient immunosuppressive care following liver transplantation

Objective Immunosuppressive therapy following transplantation, if not managed well, can lead to increased drug toxicity or rejection episodes. We investigated whether use of an automated clinical management system in our liver transplant program would improve clinical outcomes in managing transplant recipients’ immunosuppressive medications. Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of two patient groups receiving liver transplants at our institution. One group of 301 patients transplanted from January 1, 2004 to November 30, 2006 received outpatient immunosuppressive management using a paper charting system. After instituting an automated clinical management system, the following group of 127 patients transplanted from December 12, 2006 to April 1, 2008 received their outpatient immunosuppressive management with that system. Only patients who received tacrolimus therapy, with or without mycophenolate mofetil or prednisone, were studied. Measurements Our endpoints included percentage of patients having rejection and/or tacrolimus toxicity episodes. Various recipient, intraoperative, donor, and postoperative variables, including managing the immunosuppressive therapy with a paper charting system or an automated management system, were studied to determine which factors were associated with our endpoints. Results Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed the automated system was significantly associated with fewer rejection episodes and fewer tacrolimus toxicity events. Formal cost-effectiveness analysis of the nurses’ salaries for 1 year showed the automated system cost US$197 per patient and the paper system cost US$1703 per patient. The automated system improved quality of life years. Conclusion Use of an automated clinical management system for outpatient immunosuppressive management for liver transplant patients has resulted in a decrease in both tacrolimus toxicity and rejection episodes and is cost-effective.
Prospects for photoionization studies of weakly bound molecular complexes using free-electron-laser vacuum-ultraviolet radiation

Clusters of atoms or molecules in the gas phase span the gap between isolated gas-phase species and those in condensed phases. Many important and interesting physical and chemical phenomena can be examined in clusters of controlled sizes, given a radiation source with the characteristics of a vacuum-ultraviolet free-electron laser, such as tunability throughout the vacuum ultraviolet, narrow bandwidth, nanosecond pulse widths, and extremely high photon flux. A survey is presented of experiments feasible with a free-electron laser that have a bearing on the dynamics of chemical reactions. They are reasonable and logical extensions of existing research programs.
Measurement of inclusive quasielastic scattering of polarized electrons from polarized 3He.

We report a measurement of the asymmetry in spin-dependent quasielastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from a polarized 3He gas target. This measurement represents the first demonstration of a new method for studying electromagnetic nuclear structure: the scattering of polarized electrons from a polarized nuclear target. The measured asymmetry is in good agreement with a Faddeev calculation and supports the picture of spin-dependent quasielastic scattering from polarized 3He as predominantly scattering from a polarized neutron.
Colchicine Suppresses the Release of Fibroblast Growth Factors from Alveolar Macrophages In Vitro: The Basis of a Possible Therapeutic Approach to the Fibrotic Disorders

Fibrosis is the accumulation of fibroblasts and the connective tissue products secreted by these cells, usually subsequent to tissue injury. While fibrosis can be useful in preserving the general structural integrity of a tissue, it often alters cell-cell and cell-connective tissue interactions, which leads to loss of tissue function. On the basis of the concept that mononuclear phagocytes can direct the development of fibrosis through the release of specific mediators that stimulate fibroblast proliferation, we propose a therapeutic strategy to prevent fibrosis by preventing the release of these specific mediators. The present study demonstrated that colchicine, a widely used and well-tolerated drug, can block alveolar macrophage release of 2 mediators associated with the development of fibrosis in interstitial lung diseases, fibronectin, and the alveolar-macrophage-derived growth factor (AMDGF). Colchicine blocked the spontaneous release of fibronectin by alveolar macrophages obtained from patients with...
Genetic requirements for induction of germination of spores of Bacillus subtilis by Ca(2+)-dipicolinate.

Ca 21 -DPA triggers germination by first activating CwlJ-dependent cortex hydrolysis; this mechanism is different from nutrient-induced germination where cortex hydrolysis is not required for the early germination events in the spore core. Nevertheless, since nutrients can induce release of the spore’s DPA before cortex hydrolysis, we examined if the DPA excreted from the core acts as a signal to activate CwlJ in the cortex. Indeed, endogenous DPA is required for nutrient-induced CwlJ activation and this requirement was partially remedied by exogenous Ca 21 -DPA. Our findings thus define a mechanism for Ca 21 -DPA-induced germination and also provide the first definitive evidence for a signaling pathway that activates cortex hydrolysis in response to nutrients.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rrm3p DNA Helicase Promotes Genome Integrity by Preventing Replication Fork Stalling: Viability of rrm3 Cells Requires the Intra-S-Phase Checkpoint and Fork Restart Activities

Rrm3p is a 5'-to-3' DNA helicase that helps replication forks traverse protein-DNA complexes. Its absence leads to increased fork stalling and breakage at over 1,000 specific sites located throughout the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome. To understand the mechanisms that respond to and repair rrm3-dependent lesions, we carried out a candidate gene deletion analysis to identify genes whose mutation conferred slow growth or lethality on rrm3 cells. Based on synthetic phenotypes, the intra-S-phase checkpoint, the SRS2 inhibitor of recombination, the SGS1/TOP3 replication fork restart pathway, and the MRE11/RAD50/XRS2 (MRX) complex were critical for viability of rrm3 cells. DNA damage checkpoint and homologous recombination genes were important for normal growth of rrm3 cells. However, the MUS81/MMS4 replication fork restart pathway did not affect growth of rrm3 cells. These data suggest a model in which the stalled and broken forks generated in rrm3 cells activate a checkpoint response that provides time for fork repair and restart. Stalled forks are converted by a Rad51p-mediated process to intermediates that are resolved by Sgs1p/Top3p. The rrm3 system provides a unique opportunity to learn the fate of forks whose progress is impaired by natural impediments rather than by exogenous DNA damage.
Crossed SMPS MOSFET-based protection circuit for high frequency ultrasound transceivers and transducers

The ultrasonic transducer is one of the core components of ultrasound systems, and the transducer’s sensitivity is significantly related the loss of electronic components such as the transmitter, receiver, and protection circuit. In an ultrasonic device, protection circuits are commonly used to isolate the electrical noise between an ultrasound transmitter and transducer and to minimize unwanted discharged pulses in order to protect the ultrasound receiver. However, the performance of the protection circuit and transceiver obviously degrade as the operating frequency or voltage increases. We therefore developed a crossed SMPS (Switching Mode Power Supply) MOSFET-based protection circuit in order to maximize the sensitivity of high frequency transducers in ultrasound systems. The high frequency pulse signals need to trigger the transducer, and high frequency pulse signals must be received by the transducer. We therefore selected the SMPS MOSFET, which is the main component of the protection circuit, to minimize the loss in high frequency operation. The crossed configuration of the protection circuit can drive balanced bipolar high voltage signals from the pulser and transfer the balanced low voltage echo signals from the transducer. The equivalent circuit models of the SMPS MOSFET-based protection circuit are shown in order to select the proper device components. The schematic diagram and operation mechanism of the protection circuit is provided to show how the protection circuit is constructed. The P-Spice circuit simulation was also performed in order to estimate the performance of the crossed MOSFET-based protection circuit. We compared the performance of our crossed SMPS MOSFET-based protection circuit with a commercial diode-based protection circuit. At 60 MHz, our expander and limiter circuits have lower insertion loss than the commercial diode-based circuits. The pulse-echo test is typical method to evaluate the sensitivity of ultrasonic transducers. Therefore, we performed a pulse-echo test using a single element transducer in order to utilize the crossed SMPS MOSFET-based protection circuit in an ultrasound system. The SMPS-based protection circuit could be a viable alternative that provides better sensitivity, especially for high frequency ultrasound applications.
Implicit Science Stereotypes Mediate the Relationship between Gender and Academic Participation

While the gender gap in mathematics and science has narrowed, men pursue these fields at a higher rate than women. In this study, 165 men and women at a university in the northeastern United States completed implicit and explicit measures of science stereotypes (association between male and science, relative to female and humanities), and gender identity (association between the concept “self” and one’s own gender, relative to the concept “other” and the other gender), and reported plans to pursue science-oriented and humanities-oriented academic programs and careers. Although men were more likely than women to plan to pursue science, this gap in students’ intentions was completely accounted for by implicit stereotypes. Moreover, implicit gender identity moderated the relationship between women’s stereotypes and their academic plans, such that implicit stereotypes only predicted plans for women who strongly implicitly identified as female. These findings illustrate how an understanding of implicit cognitions can illuminate between-group disparities as well as within-group variability in science pursuit.
Adaptive spatiotemporal receptive field estimation in the visual pathway

The encoding properties of the visual pathway are under constant control from mechanisms of adaptation and systems-level plasticity. In all but the most artificial experimental conditions, these mechanisms serve to continuously modulate the spatial and temporal receptive field (RF) dynamics. Conventional reverse-correlation techniques designed to capture spatiotemporal RF properties assume invariant stimulus-response relationships over experimental trials and are thus limited in their applicability to more natural experimental conditions. Presented here is an approach to tracking time-varying encoding dynamics in the early visual pathway based on adaptive estimation of the spatiotemporal RF in the time domain. Simulations and experimental data from the lateral geniculate nucleus reveal that subtle features of encoding properties can be captured by the adaptive approach that would otherwise be undetected. Capturing the role of dynamically varying encoding mechanisms is vital to our understanding of vision on the natural setting, where there is absence of a true steady state.
Clinical Aspects of Infection

Infections in solid organ transplant recipients continue to be a significant source of morbidity and mortality. More than 80% of recipients develop at least one infection during the first year [16]. Kidney transplant recipients have the lowest risk of infection as compared to lung, liver, and heart allograft recipients, and this is likely related to the more elective nature of the surgery and better overall status of the patient prior to transplantation. Infections in this patient population, however, can lead to graft dysfunction, allograft rejection, alterations in immune status, and affect the overall transplant outcome [11]. Moreover, chronic graft rejection will necessitate more rigorous immunosuppression which will, in turn, increase the risk of developing infections with immunomodulating viruses [16]. There is thus a fine balance between developing the adequate immunosuppressive regimen that will prevent allograft rejection while at the same time not posing a significant risk for infection.
Random attractors for initial memory codes

The problem of how the temporal relations among events are converted to the spatial structure in neural connections are considered. Random coding is one hypothesis to this problem, in which items to be stored are associated with randomly chosen network attractors, independent of spatial relationships between the items. We demonstrate the idea with a simple network model, and discuss the relevant issues.
Extremal Rocket Motion with Maximum Thrust in a Linear Central Field

TheMayer variationalproblem of determining optimal trajectories of a rocket movingwith maximumthrust in a thin spherical layer within a central Newtonian  eld is considered. The present work is devoted to the analytical investigation of maximum thrust arcs for a rocket engine with constant exhaust velocity and limited mass  ow rate using the necessary conditions of optimality.Many problems of practical interest admit an approximation of the central Newtonian  eld by a linear central  eld. It is shown that the linear central  eld assumption is valid when the thrust vector is nearly tangential to the orbit and the rocket remains in a suf ciently thin spherical layer during the maneuver. When the linear central  eld approximationis utilized, analytic closed-form expressions are obtained describing optimal maximum thrust space trajectories. The problem of optimal orbit transfer between coplanar circular orbits is considered to illustrate the solution process, which comprises two maximumthrust and three null thrust arcs. It is shown that solutionsof the problem are comparablewith solutionsbased on assumptions of instantaneous changes in velocity, including the Hohmann transfer.
Simultaneous switch noise modeling for high performance ASIC

Texas Instruments ASIC Division (TI) has developed a highly accurate and flexible statistical characterization technique using equations to predict output switching noise. A 21-term polynomial equation is described which accurately predicts the number of ground and V/sub cc/ pins required for a given design as nonlinear functions of the number of outputs switching simultaneously, the number of active outputs which are not switching, the ground or V/sub cc/ noise levels allowed, the package pin inductances and transmission line characteristics of the loads. The accuracy and flexibility of this technique is contrasted with traditional, less sophisticated methods. >
Age associations with neural processing of reward anticipation in adolescents with bipolar disorders

Reward/behavioral approach system hypersensitivity is implicated in bipolar disorders (BD) and in normative development during adolescence. Pediatric onset of BD is associated with a more severe illness course. However, little is known about neural processing of rewards in adolescents with BD or developmental (i.e., age) associations with activation of these neural systems. The present study aims to address this knowledge gap. The present sample included 21 adolescents with BD and 26 healthy adolescents, ages 13 to 19. Participants completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) protocol using the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task. Behavioral performance was similar between groups. Group differences in BOLD activation during target anticipation and feedback anticipation periods of the task were examined using whole-brain analyses, as were group differences in age effects. During both target anticipation and feedback anticipation, adolescents with BD, compared to adolescents without psychopathology, exhibited decreased engagement of frontal regions involved in cognitive control (i.e., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). Healthy adolescents exhibited age-related decreases, while adolescents with BD exhibited age-related increases, in activity of other cognitive control frontal areas (i.e., right inferior frontal gyrus), suggesting altered development in the BD group. Longitudinal research is needed to examine potentially abnormal development of cognitive control during reward pursuit in adolescent BD and whether early therapeutic interventions can prevent these potential deviations from normative development.
Improved frequency stability of the dual-noble-gas maser

We report improved frequency stability of the dual-noble-gas maser. This recently developed device can measure very small changes in the Zeeman transition frequencies of cohabitating ensembles of ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ and ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ atoms, and thus may be useful for symmetry tests and precision measurements such as a search for a permanent electric dipole moment of the ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ atom. Using the dual-noble-gas maser, we measured the frequency stability (i.e., the Allan deviation) of the ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ Zeeman transition to be approximately 100 nHz in 6000 s of data acquisition. This Zeeman frequency stability is an order of magnitude improvement over our previous report [R. E. Stoner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 3971 (1996)].
Burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced fibrosis in a Texas Hispanic community cohort

AIM: To investigate the potential burden of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced fibrosis in a hispanic community. METHODS: Four hundred and forty two participants with available ultrasonography data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort were included in this study. Each participant completed a comprehensive questionnaire regarding basic demographic information, medical history, medication use, and social and family history including alcohol use. Values of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), FIB4 index, BARD score, and Aspartate aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) were computed using the blood samples collected within 6 mo of liver ultrasonography from each participant. Hepatic steatosis was determined by ultrasonography. As part of univariable analysis, for continuous variables, comparisons among groups were performed with student-t test, one way analysis of variance, and Mann-Whitney test. Pearson χ2 and the Fisher exact test are used to assess differences in categorical variables. For multivariable analyses, logistic regression analyses were performed to identify characteristics associated with hepatic steatosis. All reported P values are based two-sided tests, and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: The mean age and body mass index (BMI) of the study participants were 49.1 years and 31.3 kg/m2, respectively. Among them, 65.6% were females, 52% had hepatic steatosis, 49.5% had metabolic syndrome, and 29% had elevated aminotransferases. Based on established cut-offs for diagnostic panels, between 17%-63% of the entire cohort was predicted to have NASH with indeterminate or advanced fibrosis. Participants with hepatic steatosis had significantly higher BMI (32.9 ± 5.6 kg/m2 vs 29.6 ± 6.1 kg/m2, P < 0.001) and higher prevalence rates of elevation of ALT (42.2% vs 14.6%, P < 0.001), elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (38.7% vs 18.9%, P < 0.001), and metabolic syndrome (64.8% vs 33%, P < 0.001) than those without hepatic steatosis. The NFS scores (P = 0.002) and the APRI scores (P = 0.002) were significantly higher in those with steatosis but the scores of the FIB4 index and BARD were similar between the two groups. After adjusting for age, gender and BMI, elevated transaminases, metabolic syndrome and its components, intermediate NFS and APRI scores were associated hepatic steatosis in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: The burden of NASH and advanced fibrosis in the Hispanic community in South Texas may be more substantial than predicted from referral clinic studies.
Mass-energy conversion of activating and removing resident oil

In the process of enhancing oil recovery,a variety of interface phenomena is involved with the change of time and space,including mass transfer,heat transfer and momentum transfer of fluid,phase characteristics and the interaction of capillary force,buoyancy and viscous forces. Based on the discussion of activating and removing irreducible resident oil,the theories of physical chemistry,non-equilibrium thermodynamics,dynamics,energy science and micro-dynamics were introduced for research of evolution,diversity and transformation process of fluid flow of the instable patterns in the interface domain. At the same time,the concept and theory of activated-integrated emergence and energy view were proposed for the first time. The process of activated-integrated emergence,including the mechanism and process of spinodal decomposition and nucleation-growth,was expounded. In the discussion of the relationship of system evolution and mass-energy conversion,this theory broke through the boundaries of physics and chemistry to clarify the meaning of state parameters-exergy,and pointed out that exergy effect,entropy effect and field effect were coexistent in the mutil-potential field of the activation integrated emergence in the interface domain. The differences of competition and synergistic function of those effects in manner,quantity and quality modeled the extraordinary and varied configuration,which is the essence of non-equilibrium dynamic system evolution connotation (inner power). It will not only push the work of oil recovery deep into a new dimension,but also provide a new way to explore complex phenomena of the objective world (especially those with physical activity). Therefore,it has a double significance of theoretical innovation and practical application.