cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy as an in-situ real-time probe of no reduction over rhodium at high gas pressures

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been utilized as an in-situ probe of adsorbed species and surface reaction intermediates during the reduction of nitric oxide by either carbon monoxide or hydrogen over polycrystalline Rh films. SERS-active Rh surfaces were prepared by electrodeposition of ultrathin films on electrochemically roughened gold and display remarkably robust SERS activity over a wide range of temperatures (up to 400°C) and pressures (here up to 1 atm). Mass spectrometry, employed in conjuction with SERS, enabled simultaneous real-time measurement of reaction kinetics for the CO-NO reaction. A charge-coupled device detector (CCD) allowed Raman spectra to be recorded on a time-scale (⩽ 10 s) commensurate with reactions occurring on the surface. Several central differences exist between these two reduction processes, most notably the mechanism for NO dissociation. While NO decomposition proceeds through a direct pathway (NO(ads)+S ⇒ N(ads)+O(ads)) and is largely unaffected by the relative amount of gaseous CO, a hydrogen-assisted pathway appears to be prevalent during NO reduction in hydrogen-rich environments. The evidence suggests that this process proceeds via a Rh-NOH intermediate (450 cm−1). Adsorbed atomic nitrogen (315 cm−1) reacted only to form N2 during reduction with CO, adjudged by its removal temperature (325°C) and the absence of N2O formation. In contrast, hydrogen facilitated the reactive removal of this moiety at lower temperatures, most likely via NH3 formation. While extensive surface oxidation was detected during reaction with varying NO/CO ratios, Rh2O3 formation was inhibited under hydrogen-rich mixtures. These differences in surface speciation and their probable roles in the determination of product selectivity are discussed.
Peptide-targeted delivery of a pH sensor for quantitative measurements of intraglycosomal pH in live Trypanosoma brucei.

Studies of dynamic changes in organelles of protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei have been limited, in part because of the difficulty of targeting analytical probes to specific subcellular compartments. Here we demonstrate application of a ratiometric probe for pH quantification in T. brucei glycosomes. The probe consists of a peptide encoding the peroxisomal targeting sequence (F-PTS1, acetyl-CKGGAKL) coupled to fluorescein, which responds to pH. When incubated with living parasites, the probe is internalized within vesicular structures that colocalize with a glycosomal marker. Inhibition of uptake of F-PTS1 at 4 °C and pulse–chase colocalization with fluorescent dextran suggested that the probe is initially taken up by non-receptor-mediated endocytosis but is subsequently transported separately from dextran and localized within glycosomes, prior to the final fusion of labeled glycosomes and lysosomes as part of glycosomal turnover. Intraorganellar measurements and pH calibration with F-PTS1 in T. bruce...
A tale of two limits: fundamental properties of photonic-crystal fibers

We present analytical results that shed new light on the properties of photonic-crystal fibers (optical fibers with periodic structures in their cladding). First, we discuss a general theorem, applicable to any periodic cladding structure, that gives rigorous conditions for the existence of cutoff-free guided modes-it lets you look at a structure, in most cases without calculation, and by inspection give a rigorous guarantee that index-guiding will occur. This theorem especially illuminates the long-wavelength limit, which has proved diffcult to study numerically, to show that the index-guided modes in photonic-crystal fibers (like their step-index counterparts) need not have any theoretical cutoff for guidance. Second, we look in the opposite regime, that of very short wavelengths. As previously identified by other authors, there is a scalar approximation that becomes exact in this limit, even for very high contrast fibers. We show that this "scalar" limit has consequences for practical operation at finite wavelengths that do not seem to have been fully appreciated: it tells you when band gaps arise and between which bands, reveals the symmetry and "LP" degeneracies of the modes, and predicts the scaling of cladding-related losses (roughness, absorption, etc.) as the size of a hollow core is increased.
The Instrument Spreading Correction in GPC. I. The General Shape Function Using a Linear Calibration Curve

Abstract A general shape function is proposed for describing the instrumental spreading behavior in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) columns due to axial dispersion and skewing effects. The general shape function contains statistical coefficients which describe the axial dispersion, skewing, and flattening of ideal monodisperse standards. A method denoted as the “method of molecular weight averages” is used to derive equations to correct GPC number- and weight-average molecular weights and intrinsic viscosities calculated from linear molecular weight calibration curves. The validity of these equations is experimentally verified with data for polystyrene, polybutadiene, and polyvinyl chloride polymers in tetrahydrofuran. The physical significance of the correction equations and their statistical coefficients is discussed in relation to the observed GPC chromatograms. Application of this shape function to the numerical Fourier analysis method for correcting differential molecular weight distribution (DMW...
Comparison between various commercial sources of almond β-glucosidase for the production of alkyl glucosides

Abstract Ten different almond β-glucosidases, from eight commercial sources, were compared for their capacity to produce octyl glucoside by direct condensation from glucose and octanol, with and without added dimethyl formamide (DMF) in the octanol media. All the preparations tested catalyzed the synthesis of octyl glucoside, at rates ranging from 0.002 to 0.012 μmol/h, per added unit of enzyme, one unit being defined as the amount of enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of 1 μmol of p -nitrophenyl-β- d -glucopyranoside ( p -NPG) per minute at 50 °C at pH 4.8. However, none of the preparations showed strong activation by DMF, contrary to what has been previously observed. Some preparations were slightly activated (two-fold maximum) by 10% DMF. It appears that the enzymes with the lowest specific activity for the hydrolysis of p -NPG were activated more strongly by DMF than the most active preparations.
Least-squares tests of time-series,invention effects with and without autocorrelations

Gottman's version of the Mann and Wald asymptotic test for intervention effects in time-series data is presented as a useful small sample procedure. A Monte Carlo simulaltion is conducted to evaluate the procedure for controlling Type I errors with varying values of autoregressive coefficients. Results indicate the procedure works better than Gottman's work originally indicated. However, in some cases error rates can be unacceptably high. Procedures for evaluating changes in level in the presence of autocorrelation and slope are suggested and evaluated.
Simpler derivation of the formulas for generalized ray tracing

The equations for the refraction operation in generalized ray tracing are rederived using the Frenet equations from metric differential geometry and the idea of the directional derivative. Expressions are obtained for the principal directions and curvatures of a refracted wave front in terms of those quantities on the incident wave front and on the refracting surface. This provides the geometrical properties of the refracted wave front in the neighborhood of the traced ray.
Peer Coworker Relationships: Influences on the Expression of Lateral Dissent

Peer coworkers exchange a variety of messages in their organizational experiences. However, little is known about how peer coworker relationship quality affects expression of organizational dissent. This study utilized Kram and Isabella's (1985) typology of peer coworker relationships to examine their impact on lateral dissent expression and dissent messages. The results revealed that special and collegial peers engage in greater amounts of lateral dissent expression than information peers. No differences emerged between the types of peer coworkers relationships in their use of dissent messages. The study lends support to the notion that organizational dissent is influenced by peer coworker relationships.
Variances in Solar Collector Performance Predictions Due to Different Methods of Evaluating Wind Heat Transfer Coefficients

The performance of several solar collector configurations has been predicted using both inappropriate and appropriate relations to evaluate the wind-related heat transfer coefficient. The combinations analyzed are: one or two covers and a selectively absorbing surface coating, and one or two covers and a nonselectively absorbing surface coating all collectors are of the basic liquid heating type. It is shown that the optimum results are obtained by using a global correlation equation proposed by Sparrow et al. (1979).
Estimating the effect of smoking on slowdowns in mortality declines in developed countries.

Declines in mortality rates for females at older ages in some developed countries, including the United States, have slowed in recent decades even as decreases have steadily continued in some other countries. This study presents a modified version of the indirect Peto-Lopez method, which uses lung cancer mortality rates as a proxy for smoking exposure, to analyze this trend. The modified method estimates smoking-attributable mortality for more-specific age groups than does the Peto-Lopez method. An adjustment factor is also introduced to account for low mortality in the indirect method’s study population. These modifications are shown to be useful specifically in the estimation of deaths attributable to smoking for females at older ages, and in the estimation of smoking-attributable mortality more generally. In a comparison made between the United States and France with the modified method, smoking is found to be responsible for approximately one-half the difference in life expectancy for females at age 65.
Are Pick data on parallel exchange rates misleading

Abstract Pick data on parallel exchange rates are widely popular among economists. However, such data may contain inaccuracies and their use may produce misleading results in empirical research. Criteria are defined to assess their quality as good proxies and forecast sources.
Applications of Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) to the study of bone surface modifications

This article examines the application of Reflectance Transformation Imaging to the study of archaeological bone specimens. Visible surface modifications on ancient bone offer evidence of the human behaviors and natural taphonomic processes involved in artifact histories and site formation processes. Reflectance Transformation Imaging allows a researcher to record and represent an object from multiple light angles, as well as to manipulate its color and reflectance properties. Subtle bone surface details, including cut marks, striations, etching and polishing, are highlighted by this technique. Reflectance Transformation Imaging is a highly mobile process that can be completed at archaeological field sites, as well as a relatively inexpensive technique requiring only standard digital photography equipment and software that is freely available (for non-commercial use). Finally, the end result produces a digital image that can be shared with and manipulated by other researchers in order to better evaluate hypotheses and conclusions. Although the technique is limited by the degree of magnification that can be achieved using standard camera lenses and equipment, it offers a useful means of identifying specimens that require more detailed analysis or higher resolution imaging, particularly in cases where export of cultural materials is restricted or prohibited. Using a collection of worked bone artifacts from the ancient Maya site of El Zotz, Guatemala as a case study, this paper presents Reflectance Transformation Imaging as a viable tool in the analysis of worked bone production technologies and use-wear, as well as post-depositional processes and conditions.
Response suppression deficits in treatment-naïve first-episode patients with schizophrenia, psychotic bipolar disorder and psychotic major depression.

Recent evidence indicates common genetic, neurobiological, and psychopharmacological aspects of schizophrenia and psychotic affective disorders. Some similarities in neurocognitive deficits associated with these disorders have also been reported. We investigated performance on antisaccade and visually-guided saccade tasks in treatment-naive first-episode psychosis patients (schizophrenia n=59, major depression n=15, bipolar disorder n=9), matched non-psychotic major depression patients (n=40), and matched healthy individuals (n=106). All psychosis groups displayed elevated antisaccade error rates relative to healthy individuals. Antisaccade latencies were elevated in schizophrenia, but no significant error rate or latency differences were observed among psychosis groups. For schizophrenia only, shorter visually guided saccade latencies were associated with higher antisaccade error rates. Schizophrenia was also the only group without a significant relationship between visually guided and antisaccade latencies. Reflexive saccades were unimpaired except in psychotic unipolar depression, where saccades were hypometric. As in schizophrenia, antisaccade abnormalities are present in affective psychoses, even early in the course of illness and prior to treatment. Disturbances in frontostriatal systems are believed to occur in both affective psychoses and schizophrenia, potentially causing some similar cognitive abnormalities across psychotic disorders. However, the distinct pattern of dysfunction in schizophrenia across oculomotor paradigms suggests possible unique causes of their observed oculomotor performance deficits.
Review of image correlation systems - Hybrid and optical

The operating principles, design, and development histories of three image correlation systems, the Portable Correlator Unit (PCU), the Miniature Correlator Unit (MCU), and the Coherence Interferometer (CI) are reviewed. The PCU and MCU are compact versions of the classical Vander Lught filter optical correlator, essentially parallel optical processors by light valve; the CI is a white-light correlator which functions entirely by interfering light waves, with electronic detection only at the final output, and thus represents a parallel optical processor by rotational-shear interferometer. Details of the design and construction are discussed and illustrated with drawings and photographs. Also considered are applications of the MCU to NASA tasks such as rendezvous and docking on the Mars Rover and Sample Return mission, autonomous robotic exploration of planetary surfaces, and compression and pattern-recognition of remote-sensing data.
Lugendam Formae Sine Virginitate Reliquit : Reading Pyrene and the Transformation of Landscape in Silius' Punica 3

In Punica 3, the poet manipulates the complexities of traditional representations of Hercules to illustrate how Hannibal imitates the demigod's conduct as it is portrayed in the aetiological tale of Pyrene's rape and death. Just as Pyrene's blood stains the homonymous mountains in Spain, Hannibal's army is afflicted with much woe and suffering when crossing the Alps. Verbal echoes from Pyrene's dismemberment throughout the book confirm that the female is not viewed as an object of pathos but rather as a sign "posted" in the narrative in order to foreshadow, but not avert, the disasters that await the male protagonist. HERCULES IS THE HERO par excellence in Flavian epic. 1 For the Punica in particular, critics have considered him the primary model for Scipio Africanus who finally defeats Hannibal. 2 It has also been maintained that, despite certain good qualities in his character, Hannibal is not worthy to be associated with Hercules since the Carthaginian general appears as a counter-Hercules in most of his actions. 3 The present paper focuses on one of Silius' heroines, Pyrene, raped and abandoned by Hercules (3.415-41), and in particular emphasizes the connection
Baculovirus infection influences host protein expression in two established insect cell lines.

We identified host proteins that changed in response to host cell susceptibility to baculovirus infection. We used three baculovirus–host cell systems utilizing two cell lines derived from pupal ovaries, Hz-AM1 (from Helicoverpa zea) and Hv-AM1 (from Heliothis virescens). Hv-AM1 cells are permissive to Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) and semi-permissive to H. zea single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HzSNPV). Hz-AM1 cells are non-permissive to AcMNPV. We challenged each cell line with baculovirus infection and after 24 h determined protein identities by MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. For Hv-AM1 cells, 21 proteins were identified, and for Hz-AM1 cells, 19 proteins were newly identified (with 8 others having been previously identified). In the permissive relationship, 18 of the proteins changed in expression by 70% or more in AcMNPV infected Hv-AM1 cells as compared with non-infected controls; 12 were significantly decreased and 6 cellular proteins were significantly increased. We also identified 3 virus-specific proteins. In the semi-permissive infections, eight proteins decreased by 2-fold or more. Non-permissive interactions did not lead to substantial changes in host cell protein expression. We hypothesize that some of these proteins act in determining host cell specificity for baculoviruses.
Toxicity of Santa Barbara seep oil to starfish embryos: Part 1—hydrocarbon composition of test solutions and field samples

Abstract The composition and concentration of the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of four oils (Prudhoe Bay Crude, Holly Monterey Crude, Holly Rincon Crude and Isla Vista Seep Oil) are described. Changes in concentration and composition with exposure time in our bioassay chambers are described. Rapid concentration decreases and an unusual compositional relationship point to the importance of performing chemical analyses in conjunction with bioassay experiments. Comparison of the chemical composition of dissolved hydrocarbons in seawater at the Isla Vista Seep Oil site with the WSF of the seep oil shows many similarities, although the concentration is lower than the WSF by approximately 1000-fold.
Cognitive and Affective Predictors of Rehabilitation Participation After Stroke

Abstract Skidmore ER, Whyte EM, Holm MB, Becker JT, Butters MA, Dew MA, Munin MC, Lenze EJ. Cognitive and affective predictors of rehabilitation participation after stroke. Objective To examine associations between cognitive and affective impairments and rehabilitation participation during stroke rehabilitation. Design Secondary analyses of stroke patients who received acetylcholinesterase inhibitors during inpatient rehabilitation. Setting University-affiliated inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Participants Patients (N=44) admitted to inpatient stroke rehabilitation with impairment in attention, memory, or executive functions. Interventions Secondary analysis of patients receiving inpatient stroke rehabilitation care plus random assignment to one of two acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or no drug at rehabilitation admission. Main Outcome Measures Correlations between measures of cognitive (Digit Span, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Executive Interview) and affective impairments (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Apathy Evaluation Scale) and participation (Pittsburgh Rehabilitation and Participation Scale) were examined. Significant correlates of participation were examined in a linear multiple regression model. Results Executive functions and depressive symptoms were significant correlates of participation. After controlling for baseline disability, executive functions predicted participation, but depressive symptoms did not (F 4,32 =9.35; R 2 =.54, P Conclusions These findings are an important first step toward understanding potentially modifiable clinical factors that contribute to rehabilitation participation and overall functional status after rehabilitation. A better understanding of cognitive impairment and rehabilitation participation may be used to develop strategies for improving functional outcomes after stroke.
Review of Quality Measures of the Most Integrated Health Care Settings for Children and the Need for Improved Measures: Recommendations for Initial Core Measurement Set for CHIPRA

Abstract Objective To identify, assess, and make recommendations for inclusion of measures that assess the domain of “most integrated health care setting,” with a specific focus on measures of the medical home, one particular mechanism for integrating care, to identify gaps in measurement; and to make recommendations for new measure development. Methods We developed a conceptual framework for care integration and reviewed literature on measures assessing the presence and quality of the medical home to determine their validity, reliability, and feasibility as a proxy for care integration. Results We identified 2 broad approaches to assessing the extent to which patients receive care that fulfills the aims of the medical home: 1) organizational assessment of practice systems and processes thought associated with achieving these desired aims (viz, the National Committee for Quality Assurance Physician Practice Connections—Patient Centered Medical Home measure and the Medical Home Index, and 2) direct assessment by patients/families of their experience of care in targeted dimensions. Based on concerns about the absence of reliability data and the feasibility of applying the practice audit/self-assessment approach on a population level for the purpose of state reporting, as well as the limited data linking performance on the specific measures with important child outcomes, we did not recommend any of the measures of organizational assessments of practice systems for inclusion in the core set as an indicator of care integration. In contrast, measures of the medical home based on items from the National Survey of Child Health on a population level of or the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems for practice- and state-level assessment are more feasible, have known reliability and performance characteristics, and more closely reflect the aims of the medical home, including care integration. Conclusions Measures of health care integration as captured by the experience of care in a medical home can best be assessed for state-level performance through patient/family experience surveys. Better measures of care integration, care coordination, and integration of mental, developmental, and physical health into a comprehensive care system are high-priority topics for measure development.
A connection between subgrid scale eddy viscosity and mixed methods

We consider a new mixed method (related to the `EVSS' method in computational viscoelasticity) for the convection-dominated, convection-diffusion equation in which stabilization is added then removed through the extra `mixed' variables. This consistent stabilization is equivalent to an artificial viscosity operator acting only on the fluctuations in @?u^h. By suitable choice of the mixed spaces, a method of Guermond is recovered exactly. We show that for a different, natural choice a new method results with global error estimates similar to both Guermond's method and the streamline diffusion/SUPG method.
Multiple sclerosis therapies in pediatric patients with refractory multiple sclerosis.

Background Currently available disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are known to be only partially effective in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Little is known about pediatric patients with MS who experience refractory disease while receiving first-line DMTs. Objective To assess the occurrence and management of refractory disease in a group of pediatric patients with MS treated with first-line DMTs approved for adult patients within a network of pediatric MS centers in the United States. Design, setting, and patients A multicenter, retrospective, longitudinal, open-label study design involving record review of 258 patients with pediatric-onset MS (68.6% female; mean [SD] age at disease onset, 13.2 [3.5] years; range of age at onset, 2.0-17.9 years) who were seen at 6 pediatric MS centers in the United States. Intervention We evaluated medication changes owing to refractory disease in cases of pediatric-onset MS. Main outcome measure Disease stability as represented by lack of medication change for breakthrough disease. Results Records of 258 children with a confirmed diagnosis of MS and exposure to DMTs were reviewed. Interferon beta (prescribed to 200 of 258 children [77.5%]) and glatiramer acetate (prescribed to 53 of 258 children [20.5%]) were the 2 most frequently used first-line DMTs. Overall, 144 children (55.8%) continued receiving 1 therapy, while 65 (25.2%), 29 (11.2%), and 20 (7.8%) received 2, 3, or 4 or more sequential therapies, respectively, during a mean (SD) observation period of 3.9 (2.8) years. Second-line DMT use was restricted to interferon beta and glatiramer acetate in 203 children (78.7%), whereas other treatments such as broad-spectrum chemotherapies (cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone hydrochloride), natalizumab, corticosteroids (monthly), and daclizumab were used at some point during the observation period for disease management in 55 children (21.3%). Hispanic children were more likely to experience breakthrough disease while receiving first-line DMTs than non-Hispanic children. Conclusion Although switching between first-line DMTs may be effective in pediatric patients with disease that is refractory to initial treatment, a subset of patients may require second-line therapeutic interventions.
Ethnobotany of nutmeg in the Spice Islands

Nutmeg, endemic to the Maluku Province of Indonesia (formerly known as the Spice Islands), has long been of importance both as a spice and as a commodity that was once of geopolitical significance. Although its botany, cultivation, and history have been studied, ethnobotanical studies of nutmeg in its place of origin are noticeably lacking. The ethnobotany of nutmeg, Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae), was studied in the Indonesian provinces of Maluku and Central and East Java. Historical and current indigenous uses of the fruit and seed are described. Information regarding medicinal aspects was gathered from vendors of herbal remedies, healers, and midwives. It was found that M.fragrans is still used for both culinary and medicinal purposes in its area of origin. M.fragrans is used for diarrhea, mouth sores, and insomnia. In addition, no evidence was found to support previously published reports of nutmeg's hallucinogenic or other psychoactive properties other than a mild sedative action. A renewed suggestion is made that anecdotal reports of nutmeg use as a hallucinogen be revaluated more critically.
Financial costs due to excess health risks among active employees of a utility company.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the health risk-related excess costs of time away from work, medical claims, pharmacy claims, and total costs with and without considering the prevalence of health risks. Methods: A total of 2082 of 4266 employees of a Midwest utility participated in a health risk appraisal (HRA). Individuals were classified by their HRA participation status and also by 15 health risks. Total and excess costs were analyzed for all employees. Results: There were significant excess costs due to individual risks and overall excess health risks in all cost measures. Both excess cost per risk and prevalence of the risk were important factors in determining the excess costs in the population. As compared with low-risk participants, HRA nonparticipants and the medium- and high-risk participants were 1.99, 2.22, and 3.97 times more likely to be high cost status. Conclusions: Approximately one third of corporate costs in medical claims, pharmacy claims, and time away from work could be defined as excess costs associated with excess health risks. (J Occup Environ Med. 2006;48:896–905)
Inhibitory effect of IL-6-induced neuroendocrine cells on prostate cancer cell proliferation.

BACKGROUND The role of increased neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation in prostate cancer (PCA) is not well understood. Long-term exposure of the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP to high concentrations of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) results in permanent transdifferentiation of these cells into a NE phenotype. In this study, we evaluated the effect of IL-6-induced NE cells on the growth of the PCA cell lines LNCaP, PC-3, and DU-145 in vitro. RESULTS Co-culture of NE cells with PCA cells significantly inhibited DNA synthesis in all three PCA cell lines by 30–90% compared to controls. NE cell co-culture resulted in an increased percentage of PCA cells arrested in the S-phase of cell cycle and PCA cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our results imply that NE cells suppress the proliferation of surrounding PCA cells by release of inhibitory factors. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Diafiltration MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry method for culture-independent detection and identification of pathogens directly from urine specimens.

Objectives: With the aim of rapid, culture-independent identification of microorganisms directly from urine specimens, we developed a diafiltration matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) method. Methods: In this procedure, urine specimens are desalted, fractionated, and concentrated prior to MS analysis. The analytic performance characteristics of the diafiltration method were assessed in a prospective trial whereby 100 fresh urine specimens were processed using diafiltration MALDI-TOF MS. Concomitant with this, conventional culture was performed with results blinded to the MS operator. Results: The diafiltration method correctly identified urine specimens positive for uropathogens (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis) and correctly classified all specimens negative for clinically relevant bacteriuria, including a subset of contaminated urine specimens and a subset with growth of clinically insignificant flora. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 67% and 100%, respectively. The detection limit of this method was 10 5 to 10 6 colony-forming units/mL.
SHP-2 Positively Regulates Myogenesis by Coupling to the Rho GTPase Signaling Pathway

Myogenesis is an intricate process that coordinately engages multiple intracellular signaling cascades. The Rho family GTPase RhoA is known to promote myogenesis, however, the mechanisms controlling its regulation in myoblasts have yet to be fully elucidated. We show here that the SH2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, functions as an early modulator of myogenesis by regulating RhoA. When MyoD was expressed in fibroblasts lacking functional SHP-2, muscle-specific gene activity was impaired and abolition of SHP-2 expression by RNA interference inhibited muscle differentiation. By using SHP-2 substrate-trapping mutants, we identified p190-B RhoGAP as a SHP-2 substrate. When dephosphorylated, p190-B RhoGAP has been shown to stimulate the activation of RhoA. During myogenesis, p190-B RhoGAP was tyrosyl dephosphorylated concomitant with the stimulation of SHP-2's phosphatase activity. Moreover, overexpression of a catalytically inactive mutant of SHP-2 inhibited p190-B RhoGAP tyrosyl dephosphorylation, RhoA activity, and myogenesis. These observations strongly suggest that SHP-2 dephosphorylates p190-B RhoGAP, leading to the activation of RhoA. Collectively, these data provide a mechanistic basis for RhoA activation in myoblasts and demonstrate that myogenesis is critically regulated by the actions of SHP-2 on the p190-B Rho GAP/RhoA pathway.
Imitative violence in the real world: A reanalysis of homicide rates following championship prize fights

Recently, Phillips [Am Soc Rev, 1983; 48:560-568] reported that the homicide rate increases on the third day after heavyweight championship prize fights. The present paper reports a reanalysis of Phillips's data using more sophisticated statistical techniques and examining several theoretically important variables not discussed by Phillips or his critics. Using a conservative analysis strategy, our results suggest that the increases in homicides reported by Phillips were not a methodological artifact as suggested by Baron and Reiss [Am Soc Rev 1985; 50:347-363, 372-376]. The homicide increases only occur on the first weekend or holiday after prize fights that receive the greatest publicity.
Amazonian biodiversity: assessing conservation priorities with taxonomic data

Data from 3991 records of museum collections representing 421 species of plants, arthropods, amphibians, fish, and primates were analyzed with GIS to identify areas of high species diversity and endemism in Amazonia. Of the 472 1 · 1∞ grid cells in Amazonia, only nine cells are included in the highest species diversity category (43‐67 total species) and nine in the highest endemic species diversity category (4‐13 endemic species). Over one quarter of the grid cells have no museum records of any of the organisms in our study. Little correspondence exists between the centers of species diversity identified by our collections-based data and those areas recommended for conservation in an earlier qualitative study of Amazonian biodiversity. Museum collections can play a vital role in identifying species-rich areas for potential conservation in Amazonia, but a concerted and structured eAort to increase the number and distribution of collections is needed to take maximum advantage of the information they contain.
Heterogeneous Two-Level Logic and Its Density and Fault Tolerance Implications in Nanoscale Fabrics

Most proposed nanoscale computing architectures are based on a certain type of two-level logic family, e.g., AND-OR, NOR-NOR, NAND-NAND, etc. In this paper, a new fabric architecture that combines different logic families in the same nanofabric is proposed for higher density and better defect tolerance. To achieve this, we apply very minor modifications on the way of controlling nanogrids, while the basic manufacturing requirements remain the same. The fabric that is based on the new heterogeneous two-level logic yields higher density for the applications mapped to it. We find that it also improves the efficiency of fault tolerance techniques as it significantly simplifies the designs. In addition, we found that it enables voting at nanoscale that can improve fault tolerance further. A nanoscale processor is implemented for evaluation purposes. We found that compared with an implementation on a Nanoscale Application-Specific IC (NASIC) fabric with one type of two-level logic, the density of this processor improves by up to 52% by using the heterogeneous logic. Furthermore, the yield is improved by 15% at 2% defective transistors and by 147% at 5% defect rates. Detailed analysis on density and yield is provided. The approach is applicable in grid-based fabrics in general, e.g., it can be used in both NASIC and hybrid semiconductor/nanowire/molecular (CMOL) designs.
Three-dimensional Microwave Imaging with Incorporated Prior Structural Information

Microwave imaging for biomedical applications, especially for early detection of breast cancer and effective treatment monitoring, has attracted increasing interest in last several decades. This fact is due to the high contrast between the dielectric properties of the normal and malignant breast tissues at microwave frequencies. The available range of dielectric properties for different soft tissue can provide important functional information about tissue health. Nonetheless, one of the limiting weaknesses of microwave imaging is that unlike conventional modalities, such as X-ray CT or MRI, it inherently cannot provide high-resolution images. The conventional modalities can produce highly resolved anatomical information but often cannot provide the functional information required for diagnoses. Previously, we have developed a regularization strategy that can incorporate prior anatomical information from MR or other sources and use it in a way to refine the resolution of the microwave images, while also retaining the functional nature of the reconstructed property values. In the present work, we extend the use of prior structural information in microwave imaging from 2D to 3D. This extra dimension adds a significant layer of complexity to the entire image reconstruction procedure. In this paper, several challenges with respect to the 3D microwave imaging will be discussed and the results of a series of 3D simulation and phantom experiments with prior structural information will be studied.
Role of Malondialdehyde in the Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is not clear. The most important risk factors for developing AMD are age, race, and smoking. Genetics, inflammation, and oxidative stress have all been suggested to play a role. The retina is rich in oxygen, free radicals, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and photoactive substances such as lipofuscin, and is exposed to high levels of visible irradiation. Aging is associated with increased oxidative injury. Lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin formation is also increased with aging. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a product of lipid peroxidation and can be used as a biomarker for oxidative stress. In this chapter, we summarize the available evidence of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of AMD. In addition, we have demonstrated that high levels of MDA were present in patients with AMD compared to patients without AMD. This suggests that lipid peroxidation-induced oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.
The Knight of the Werewolf: Bisclavret and the Shape-Shifting Metaphor

(1999). The Knight of the Werewolf: Bisclavret and the Shape-Shifting Metaphor. Romance Quarterly: Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 155-165.
Localization of gravity and topography: constraints on the tectonics and mantle dynamics of Venus

SUMMARY We develop a method for spatio-spectral localization of harmonic data on a sphere and use it to interpret recent high-resolution global estimates of the gravity and topography of Venus in the context of geodynamical models. Our approach applies equally to the simple spatial windowing of harmonic data and to variable-length-scale analyses, which are analogous to a wavelet transform in the Cartesian domain. Using the variable-length-scale approach, we calculate the localized RMS amplitudes of gravity and topography, as well as the spectral admittance between the two fields, as functions of position and wavelength. The observed admittances over 10 per cent of the surface of Venus (highland plateaus and tessera regions) are consistent with isostatic compensation of topography by variations in crustal thickness, while admittances over the remaining 90 per cent of the surface (rises, plains and lowlands) indicate that longwavelength topography is dominantly the result of vertical convective tractions at the base of the lithosphere. The global average crustal thickness is less than 30 km, but can reach values as large as 40 km beneath tesserae and highland plateaus. We also note that an Earth-like radial viscosity structure cannot be rejected by the gravity and topography data and that, without a mechanical model of the lithosphere, admittance values cannot constrain the thickness of the thermal boundary layer of Venus. Modelling the lithosphere as a thin elastic plate indicates that at the time of formation of relief in highland plateaus and tesserae, the effective elastic plate thickness, K, was less than 20 km. Estimates of T, at highland rises are consistently less than 30 km. Our inability to find regions with T, > 30 km is inconsistent with predictions made by a class of catastrophic resurfacing models.
Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression and Vascularization in the Myocardium by Insulin Receptor and PI3K/Akt Pathways in Insulin Resistance and Ischemia

Objective— This study characterized the role of insulin receptors and resistance on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and myocardial vascularization in physiological conditions and after ischemia. Methods and Results— Cardiac microvascular density was reduced by 30% in insulin-resistant Zucker fatty rats versus lean controls. This was associated with a parallel 40% inhibition of insulin-stimulated activation of both Akt and VEGF expression in the myocardium and cardiomyocytes. In contrast, the activation of Erk1/2 by insulin remained unchanged. In cultured cardiomyocytes, insulin or insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 increased VEGF mRNA and protein expression by 2-fold. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt, especially Akt2-mediated cascades but not the Ras/MEK/Erk pathway, using chemical inhibitors, dominant negative adenoviral constructs, or siRNA approaches suppressed VEGF mRNA expression by insulin. Ventricular tissues from muscle insulin receptor knockout (MIRKO) mice, which lack insulin receptor...
Extracting Straight Lines

This paper presents a new approach to the extraction of straight lines in intensity images. Pixels are grouped into line-support regions of similar gradient orientation, and then the structure of the associated intensity surface is used to determine the location and properties of the edge. The resulting regions and extracted edge parameters form a low-level representation of the intensity variations in the image that can be used for a variety of purposes. The algorithm appears to be more effective than previous techniques for two key reasons: 1) the gradient orientation (rather than gradient magnitude) is used as the initial organizing criterion prior to the extraction of straight lines, and 2) the global context of the intensity variations associated with a straight line is determined prior to any local decisions about participating edge elements.
Pupal cuticle proteins of Manduca sexta: characterization and profiles during sclerotization.

Abstract Proteins in pupal abdominal cuticle of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, were characterized during the pre-ecdysial and post-ecdysial periods of sclerotization and endocuticle formation. Protein extractability decreased dramatically as the cuticle became sclerotized through 6 h post-ecdysis, but increased rapidly from 9 to 48 h as endocuticular layers were secreted. Nearly 100 proteins that were extracted from pre-ecdysial cuticle became largely insoluble during sclerotization. Three major proteins in this group destined to become exocuticle had apparent molecular masses (Mapp) of 20, 27 and 36 kDa, and were designated MS-PCP20, MS-PCP27, and MS-PCP36. Amino acid analysis revealed glycine to predominate in all three proteins, and alanine, aspartate, glutamate, proline and serine were also relatively abundant. Histidine residues, which provide sites for adduct and cross-link formation with quinone metabolites of N-β-alanyldopamine during sclerotization of pupal cuticle, ranged from 2 to 3 mol %. N-Terminal amino acid analysis of MSPC-20 and MSPC-36 also revealed some sequence similarities indicating they may be related. An almost entirely new group of proteins appeared by 9 h as endocuticule secretion began, and these increased in abundance through 48 h post-ecdysis. Two of these were major proteins with Mapps of 33 and 34 kDa, and they also had close similarities in their N-terminal amino acid sequences. This study showed that the large number of proteins secreted into the presumptive exocuticle of the pupa before ecdysis are involved in sclerotization reactions and as a consequence become largly insoluble. The epidermis then switches to the secretion of an entirely new group of proteins that are involved in formation of the endocuticle.
Scale-space clustering and classification of SAR images with numerous attributes and classes

Describes application of scale-space clustering to the classification of a multispectral and polarimetric SAR image of an agricultural site. After polarimetric and radiometric calibration and noise cancellation, the authors extracted a 12-dimensional feature vector for each pixel from the scattering matrix. The algorithm was able to partition without supervision a set of unlabeled vectors from 13 selected sites, each site corresponding to a distinct crop, into 13 clusters. The cluster parameters were then used to classify the whole image. The classification map is much less noisy and more accurate than those obtained by hierarchical rules. The algorithm can handle variabilities in cluster densities, cluster sizes and ellipsoidal shapes. >
Adrenal Cortex and Peptidase Activity of Rat Tissue.

SummaryThe administration of ACTH to fasted rats has no appreciable effect on LGGase, GGGase and cobalt-activated GGase activity of crude extracts of liver, muscle, lung, spleen, kidney or skin.
R.F. sputtered Au-Mo contacts to n-GaAs

Capacitance/voltage and current/voltage measurements of r.f. sputtered Au-Mo contacts to epitaxial n/n+ GaAs indicate that compensating damage centres are introduced into the near-surface region of GaAs during the sputtering process. The concentration of these damage centres may be reduced by annealing. For comparison, the net doping profiles in the GaAs were established via independent thermally evaporated Au contacts to the same epitaxial layer.
Recruitment Limitation, Seedling Performance and Persistence of Exotic Tree Monocultures

Many native plant communities are replaced by exotic monocultures that may be successional stages or persistent community types. We surveyed a stand of Sapium sebiferum (Chinese Tallow Tree) that replaced tallgrass prairie in Texas and performed experiments with seeds and seedlings to determine the contributions of recruitment limitation and natural enemy release to allowing such a forest type to persist or to allowing native species to reduce Sapium dominance. The stand was dominated by Sapium, especially for mature trees (>99) and annual seed input (97) but less so for saplings (80). Field sown Sapium seeds had lower germination and survival rates than Celtis seeds. Together with the extreme dominance of Sapium in seed rain this suggests that native species are currently recruitment limited in this stand by seed supply but not by germination, early growth or survival. To investigate whether Sapium may benefit from low herbivory or diseases, we transplanted Sapium and Celtis seedlings into the forest and manipulated foliar fungal diseases and insect herbivores with sprays. As predicted, insect herbivores caused greater damage to Celtis seedlings than to Sapiumseedlings. However, suppression of insect herbivores caused significantly greater increases in survivorship of Sapium seedlings compared to Celtis seedlings. This suggests that herbivores in the understory of this Sapiumforest may significantly reduce Sapiumseedling success. Such a pattern of strong herbivore impact on seedlings growing near adult conspecifics was unexpected for this invasive species. However, even with insects and fungi suppressed, Sapium seedling performance was poor in this forest. Our results point towards Sapium as a successional species in a forest that will eventually be dominated by native trees that are currently recruitment limited but outperform Sapium in the understory.
Cholesterol Absorption From the Intestine Is a Major Determinant of Reverse Cholesterol Transport From Peripheral Tissue Macrophages

Objective— We examined the effect of ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption (CA) inhibitor, and genetic determinants of CA on reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) from subcutaneously injected macrophag...