cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aging and Variability of Voluntary Contractions

Older adults exhibit greater motor variability, which impairs their accuracy and function, compared with young adults. Low-intensity training that emphasizes muscle coordination reduces variability in older adults. Furthermore, a low amount of visual feedback minimizes age-associated differences in variability. We hypothesize that an intervention that combines muscle coordination and reduced visual feedback would be advantageous to improve motor control in older adults.
Bear -- A Resilient Kernel for Tactical Missions

This paper describes Bear, a clean-slate, resilient operating system design intended to support military applications on scalable multi-processors and in embedded systems. The system combines a minimalist micro-kernel with an associated hypervisor, and presents only a 120Kbyte attack surface on 64-bit x86 blade servers. MULTICS-like protections are strictly enforced through extended page tables and Intel VTx extensions. The design utilizes multiple, overlapping, nondeterministic techniques to continually re-establish trust. This is achieved by dynamically regenerating core components of the system. The cumulative effect of this design style is to increase attacker workload by denying surveillance and persistence over time-scales consistent with tactical operations. Unlike traditional approaches to computer security, no attempt is made to detect intrusions: instead, we focus on continually validating, preserving, and re-establishing the ability of a mission to proceed.
The nature of psychiatric nursing: The intersection of paradigm, evolution, and history

Psychiatric nursing, while vibrant and applicable once, is predicated on an approach to care and an understanding of mental illness that reflects an older time. Psychiatric nursing is in the precarious position of having an aging paradigm of practice, rooted in older knowledge and beliefs and recalcitrant to new knowledge and new realities of clinical practice. This article highlights paradigmatic assumptions and identifies the two dominant knowledge structures that struggle to coexist within that paradigm. Practical consequences of practicing psychiatric nursing with an aging paradigm are reviewed and a beginning point for the development of a new paradigm is presented.
Generation and evaluation of isotropic ESR spectrum simulations

Abstract Isotropic ESR spectra often display complicated patterns which are difficult to solve for their hyperfine coupling constants. To simplify the solution process, we present an algorithm for efficiently iterating simulations of isotropic ESR spectra and assessing quality of fit. By calculating the entire field of valid simulations, we ensure that the solution set contains all parameter combinations which produce satisfactory spectra. We have used this method to solve the nitrofurantoin, nifuroxime, and uric acid radical anion spectra. The algorithm requires prior knowledge of the hyperfine coupling constants and the approximate molecular structure; it also features ease of use and implementation and runs in a time frame suitable for faster processing desktop computers.
On improving pseudo-random number generators

The authors provide some theoretical justifications for the asymptotic uniformity and asymptotic independence of the combination generators without the usual assumption of independence of the generators. The theorems presented give a general method of transforming a possibly bad generator into a much better generator which will yield an asymptotically independent and uniformly distributed random sequence. An empirical study demonstrates that only a small number of terms is required in the author's asymptotic theory to achieve a much more uniform random sequence. As pointed out by S.K. Park and K.W. Miller (1988), some generators provided by certain computer systems may not be very random. Combining several generators into a single generator will provide some protection against the possibility of bad system-provided generators. >
Similar patterns of genomic alterations characterize primary mediastinal large-B-cell lymphoma and diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma

To address the possible genetic relationship between primary mediastinal large-B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL) and diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we compared DNA copy number changes identified by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis of 40 PMLBCL and 91 DLBCL tumors. We assessed their karyotypes by G-banding; amplification of MYC, BCL2, and REL genes by Southern blotting; and incidence of nonpolymorphic BCL6 mutations by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP). Overall, CGH identified overlapping and nonoverlapping patterns of DNA copy number changes in the two groups. Among the latter changes, gains of chromosomes 8, 11, 15, and 16 and losses of chromosomes 5, 10, 15, 16, 17, and 20 were seen only in DLBCL, and gains of chromosomes 10, 21, and 22 and losses of chromosomes 11, 13, and 18 were seen only in PMLBCL. Several overlapping changes were identified in both groups, with variation in incidence. Statistical analysis of these changes showed significant gains of chromosomes 3 (P ≤ 0.05) and 7q (P ≤ 0.05) in DLBCL and gains of chromosomes 9 (P ≤ 0.05) and 19 (P ≤ 0.05) and the X chromosome (P ≤ 0.05) and loss of chromosome 4 (P ≤ 0.05) in PMLBCL. Frequent recurring DNA amplification at 2p13-15 and less frequent amplification at 6p21, 12q13, and 18q21 were noted in both groups. Recurring amplification at 1q21 was seen only in DLBCL, whereas nonrecurring amplification at 10p11.2 and 15q22-24 was seen only in PMLBCL. G-banded karyotype analysis identified t(3;14)(q27;q32) in one and t(14;18)(q32;q21) in two cases of PMLBCL. Seven of 13 cases exhibited SSCP variants in the 5′ noncoding region of BCL6. In addition, 19 of 24 PMLBCLs assayed for BCL6 protein expression by immunohistochemistry showed positive results, indicating an origin from a germinal center (GC)–derived B cell. Based on these data, we conclude that PMLBCL is a distinct entity among GC-derived high-grade DLBCLs. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ongoing trials with bevacizumab and other antiangiogenic agents in lung cancer.

Abstract The recent approval of bevacizumab, sunitinib, and sorafenib in a number of diseases has led to significant interest in expanding the role of antiangiogenic therapies in cancer. Specifically, bevacizumab has only received approval for a relatively selective population with advanced nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with good performance status and without coagulopathy, brain metastases, or hemoptysis. This has significantly restricted the potential benefit bevacizumab can bring to patients with lung cancer. In order to address whether bevacizumab might be beneficial in other settings, a multitude of clinical trials are ongoing. These include questions such as the safety of bevacizumab in patients with hemoptysis, brain metastases, and squamous cell histology. The use of bevacizumab is also being addressed in locally advanced and early-stage lung cancer. The results of many of these trials will be available in the next 2–3 years. Unfortunately, as in the case of many targeted therapies, we lack a specific biomarker to predict response to these agents. In addition, although antiangiogenic trials are well under way in NSCLC, this is not the case for small-cell lung cancer, a highly angiogenic disease in which the pace of research is substantially slower.
Enhancement of cluster yield under gold dimer oblique bombardment of the silicon surface

Abstract Recent experiments of silicon bombardment show that kilo electron volt heavy polyatomic projectiles can increase the non-linear enhancement of the total yield of secondary silicon ions as well as the cluster ones. To understand why the heavy polyatomic projectiles increase the yields, molecular dynamics simulations of the bombardment of a Si(100)-(2×1) surface by Al n and Au n , n =1, 2 with an initial energy of 1.5 keV/atom at the incident angle of 45° are carried out. The microscopic analysis shows that upon penetrating into the substrate the Au 2 constituents disintegrate slowly and the collision cascades overlap with a large probability. The process of sharing and depositing energy near the surface is very effective in the Au 2 case under these bombardment parameters. Thus the probability of high yield events for enhancement of cluster yield is increased.
Abstract 3517: Role of primary cilia in breast and prostate cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles expressed on many mammalian cell types and help sense the extracellular environment. Signaling pathways important in development, tissue homeostasis, as well as cancer are known to be regulated by primary cilia, such as the Wnt and Hedgehog pathways. However, little is known about the role of primary cilia in cancer. We have previously demonstrated in a published study that primary cilia expression was significantly decreased through human prostate cancer progression (PLoS ONE 8 (7), 2013). We also discovered that primary cilia lengths were shorter through prostate cancer progression, which suggests dysfunction. In addition, we observed that primary cilia expression and length correlated with canonical Wnt signaling in normal human prostate tissue, premalignant lesions, and a subset of cancers. This data suggested that primary cilia dysfunction may alter Wnt signaling in the human prostate. We have also characterized primary cilia in human breast cancers, and similarly found a significant loss of primary cilia with breast cancer progression. We therefore hypothesize that primary cilia suppress tumorigenesis in these tissues, and consequently that primary cilia loss promotes cancer formation by altering signaling pathways. We are currently testing this hypothesis by knocking out primary cilia in a tumorigenic mammary mouse model and measuring changes in tumor growth, as well as changes in signaling pathways, like Wnt and Hedgehog signaling. Preliminary data demonstrates enhanced tumor growth in the absence of primary cilia, thus supporting our hypothesis that primary cilia may act as tumor suppressor organelles. Citation Format: Nadia B. Hassounah, Martha Nunez, Raymond Nagle, Kimberly M. McDermott. Role of primary cilia in breast and prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3517. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3517
The use of high pressure liquid chromatography to study chemically induced alterations in the pattern of benzo[α]pyrene metabolism

Abstract The metabolism of radiolabeled benzo[α]pyrene (BP) by control, 3-methyl-cholanthrene (3-MC) induced, and 1,1,1-trichloropropene-2,3-oxide (TCPO)-inhibited rat liver microsomes was measured using fluorescence, radiometric, and high-pressure liquid Chromatographie (HPLC) assays. Significant differences in the total measurable metabolism of BP by the three microsomal enzyme incubations resulted from the use of the three assay procedures. Appreciable differences in the concentration of the metabolite fractions after 3-MC induction and TCPO inhibition are clearly demonstrated. NMR analysis revealed that while the 3-hydroxy-BP fraction is greater than 90% pure, the 9-hydroxy fraction contains a number of metabolites having essentially identical retention times.
Environmental Justice on the Streets: Advocacy Planning as a Tool to Contest Environmental Racism

This article argues that environmental racism should be broadened to include the maldistribution of beneficial environmental conditions and proposes that advocacy planning may be an effective way to address the spatial absence of beneficial environmental services and amenities. The article examines advocacy in the context of neighborhood improvement, specifically around the placement of a streetlight and stop sign. Neighborhood infrastructure and transportation planning are vital for safety and quality of life, especially for communities of color, yet planning at this level often revolves around physical aspects of the neighborhood with minimal attention paid to planning processes and outcomes likely to marginalize and even endanger communities. Through an examination of one municipality's neighborhood-based advocacy approach to neighborhood improvement, this article considers the opportunities and challenges in using advocacy planning as a strategy to promote environmental justice on the streets and side...
Factors Affecting the Passage of Liquids into the Rumen of the Dairy Calf. I. Method of Administering Liquids: Drinking from Open Pail versus Sucking through a Rubber Nipple

Summary 1.The frequency of the passage of milk and water into the ruminal and reticular cavities of calves was studied by administering the liquids from open pails and through valved nipples. Observations were made by slaughtering and by inspection through rumen fistulae. 2.There were marked variations in the responses of the calves. 3.When milk was ingested from an open pail, it frequently entered the rumen in small amounts but rarely in quantities equivalent to the major portions consumed. 4.When milk was sucked through a valved nipple, it rarely entered the rumen cavity and never in significant amounts. 5.Water consumed from an open pail frequently flowed from the cardia into the rumen in amounts almost equal to the quantity consumed. 6.Water sucked through a nipple occasionally spurted into the rumen but in relatively small amounts.
G Proteins and Opioid Receptor-Mediated Signalling

Most opioid receptor-mediated functions appear to be mediated through G protein interactions, therefore an understanding of opioid signalling requires knowledge of those interactions. This review chronicles the studies examining these interactions for all the opioid receptor subtypes, both in vivo and in vitro.
Solution- and solid-phase synthesis of natural product-like tetrahydroquinoline-based polycyclics having a medium size ring.

A solid-phase synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline-derived polycyclic 4, having a medium size ring with an enamide functionality, was achieved from tetrahydroquinoline derivative 3 in five steps with overall 40−45% yield. An enantiopure, tetrahydroquinoline-derived β-amino ester, 1, was converted into compound 2 that has a free phenolic hydroxyl group as an anchoring site for solid-phase synthesis. The solid-phase worked well for this sequence, in which the synthesis of the unsaturated eight-membered enamide lactam was obtained by a ring-closing metathesis approach. Compound 4 is a novel, natural product-like polycyclic derivative that could further be utilized in library generation for developing small molecule chemical probes.
Atomic ESR relaxation in tritiated solid hydrogen.

Electron-spin-resonance data taken at 9 GHz for hydrogen atoms in tritiated solid H[sub 2], HD, D[sub 2], D-T, and T[sub 2] are presented. Both linewidths and longitudinal relaxation times have been measured simultaneously with [ital J]=1 and hydrogen-atom concentrations. Data are presented to show that the line shapes can be inhomogeneous. Linewidth calculations using the weak dipolar interaction and hyperfine interaction are presented. Both predict Gaussian lines, and agreement is poor with the measured line shapes that are more often closer to Lorenzian. The Gaussian theories may be useful only for a few data points taken with high [ital J]=1 concentration and at high temperature. A dilute-spin theory for atom-atom interactions when little [ital J]=1 hydrogen is present, fails to work as well. The best line-shape agreement is obtained with a combination of [ital J]=1 and atom concentrations, both to the half power. D[sub 2] fails conspicuously with every approach. The longitudinal relaxation times appear constant at 0.1--1 s except at low [ital J]=1 concentrations, where the relaxation times increase. The electric-quadrupole mechanism is postulated for low [ital J]=1 concentrations, but it does not show the expected [ital J]=1 dependence. No information on hidden'' atoms is forthcoming from these data,more » but their presence is still a possibility.« less
Oligocene in California

RECENTLY, Eames, Banner, Blow and Clarke1 stated that strata of Oligocene age are missing in most of America. To support their conclusions, they noted that the Relizian Stage of California was Aquitanian in age and correlated it with the Chickasawhay Formation of the Gulf Coast region. They also noted that the Tumey Formation of California, formerly considered as Oligocene, contains Eocene Discocyclina clarki. By ignoring the strata between the Tumey Formation and rocks of the Relizian Stage in the context of a “Brief Review of Significant Faunas from Important Parts of the Central American Region”, they created the impression that California also lacks strata of Oligocene age. Indeed, for America they “conclude that in the whole region we have considered (and even as far north as the state of Washington), there are no published records of stratigraphical sections of fossilifer-ous marine beds which can be dated as Oligoceno”. Kleinpell long ago suggested that his ‘Miocene’ stages below the Relizian were equivalent to the Oligocene of Europe2. Later, Kleinpell and Weaver3 discussed ‘Oligocene’ molluscs and benthonic foraminifera from part of California, but stated that their local sequence did not necessarily coincide in age with that of the typical European Oligocene.
Yin outwits Yang at the IgE locus.

Serum IgE concentrations are kept low to avoid potential allergic complications. New data show how Id2 suppresses class switching to the e isotype and reduces IgE expression.
Neither clear nor present: The social construction of safety and danger

Perceptions of safety and danger are “intersubjective”—products of social construction, collective agreement, and socialization. While objective danger certainly exists, perceptions of danger do not derive directly from observation of the empirical world. The objective environment provides only inconsistent and ambiguous information, permitting ample room for socially constructed beliefs. Three cognitive frameworks—the Cautious, Confident, and Neutral frameworks—organize perceptions of safety and danger. Each framework begins with a default assumption about safety and danger and “marks” certain items as different from this default. In shaping expectations, these frameworks also contribute to perceptions of horror, humor, excitement, and fear. Finally, I use these frameworks to analyze the psychological concept “phobia” as a sociological phenomenon.
SCENARIOS FOR FUSION ENERGY

Abstract Are there scenarios for the near future (5–10 years) in which the public interest in, and political support for, fusion energy are likely to increase
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: A Discursus on Knowledge, Power, and Presence in “A Symposium”:

This article critiques the predominantly Eurocentric and phallocentric focus of Rachal’s “A Symposium,” recently published in Adult Education Quarterly. It is argued that Rachal constructs a dialogue that privileges a philosophical canon whose continued legitimacy is being challenged both in philosophical and adult education circles. The form of presentation in “A Symposium,” the Socratic method, belies the universal and eternal nature of knowledge, a theme that is evident throughout “A Symposium”’s dialogue. Also questioned is the selection of guests to the dinner party as reflecting a male and Eurocentric bias that masks the centrality of identity, social location, and power in the construction of knowledge. “A Symposium” represents a missed opportunity to raise some critical and substantive issues of relevance to adult educators concerning the construction and consequence of knowledge as reflected in current educational and philosophical debates on knowledge and power.
Comparison of anaesthetic and non-anaesthetic effects on depolarization-evoked glutamate and GABA release from mouse cerebrocortical slices

4 Our findings suggest that suppression of excitatory neurotransmitter release may not be directly relevant to the primary action of general anaesthetics. A mechanism involving inhibitory postsynaptic action is implicated, in which a moderate suppression of depolarization-evoked GABA release by the anaesthetic may be consistent with the enhancement of postsynaptic GABAergic activities.
Youth Identity Formation: Contemporary Identity Work

The study of youth identity and its formations today is diffuse and widely expansive, charted across a variety of disciplines, including Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Education, History, English, and Cultural Studies. This review essay is largely concerned with youth identity formation as a socially bound process as understood by sociologists. I sketch some of the thematic currents that guide contemporary sociologists’ investigations of youth identity formation as socially constituted process, and some of its exemplars. I highlight two conceptual framings of note: (a) youth identity formation as ‘project’ captured in the concept of ‘identity work’ and (b) youth identity formation as historically contingent phenomenon shaped by changes to the life course and changes in conceptions of the self in late modernity.
Biogenese der Betalaine Biotransformation von Dopa und Tyrosin in den Betalaminsäureteil des Betanins. Vorläufige Mitteilung

During studies on the biogenesis of betalains (I) in cactus fruits (Opuntia sp.). DL-dopa-1-[14C] and -2-[14C] were incorporated into betanin (III) which was obtained radiopure after crystallization. The specific activity remained constant after conversion to betanidin (IV) and to a neobetanidin derivative (IX). Reaction of radiobetanin with proline afforded indicaxanthin (V) carrying more than 90% of the radioactivity. Dopa (VI) is thus an efficient precursor for betalamic acid (VIII) but not for cyclodopa (VII). Decarboxylation of radiobetanidin and radioindicaxanthin showed that the carboxyl group of dopa remained a carboxyl group in the biotransformation to betalamic acid. It is concluded that the aromatic ring of dopa is cleaved and that re-cyclization involving the nitrogen generates the dihydropyridine moiety. Under the same conditions mevalonic acid, aspartic acid and phenylalanine showed low incorporations. Studies with beet seedlings and DL-dopa-1-[14C], -2-[14C] and DL-tyrosine-1-[14C] afforded similar results but with low incorporations.
An XML-based distributed metadata server (DIMES) supporting Earth science metadata

With explosively increasing volumes of remote sensing, modelling and other Earth science data available, and the popularity of the Internet, scientists are now facing challenges to publish and to find interesting data sets effectively and efficiently. Metadata has been recognized as a key technology to ease the searching and retrieval of Earth science data. In this paper, we discuss the DIMES (DIstributed MEtadata Server) prototype system. Designed to be flexible yet simple, DIMES uses XML to represent, store, retrieve and interoperate metadata in a distributed environment. DIMES accepts metadata in any well-formed XML format and thus assumes the "tree" semantics of metadata entries. Additional domain knowledge can be represented as specific links through XML's ID/IDREF mechanism. DIMES provides a number of mechanisms, including the "nearest-neighbor search", to navigate and to search metadata. Though started for the Earth science community, DIMES can be easily extended to serve scientific communities in other disciplines.
Percutaneous Angioplasty and Stenting of Carotid Artery: Study of 18 Cases

Background: Carotid angioplasty & stenting is becoming an emerging therapeutic option for carotid revascularization. The use of cerebral protection system has expanded the area of application of the procedure worldwide. Purpose: To assess the feasibility, success rate, safety as well as in-hospital & early 30 days outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous carotid intervention. Methods: A retrospective, observational study where a total of 18 (Eighteen) consecutive patients who presented with symptomatic and > 70 % carotid artery stenosis & asymptomatic but > 90% stenosis underwent percutaneous carotid intervention. All of them had coronary artery disease; CABG was done in 3 patients & PCI in 9 patients. Three of them had previous stroke (Ischemic) & 7 had TIA. Results: Technical and angiographic success was achieved in all patients. Carotid artery obstruction diminishes from 85 ± 14 % to 10 ± 5 % (p< .001). Mean lesion length was 12 ± 3 mm and mean time of carotid occlusion during balloon inflation was 10 ± 2.5 sec. distal protection devices used in all patents. No major stroke or death occurred during procedure. One patient developed No-flow because of obstruction of distal protection device which was managed by thrombosuction. One patient developed TIA. All patients were discharged from hospital after an average of 3 days & all of them were prescribed dual antiplatalet therapy for 6 months. During follow-up one patient died secondary to acute myocardial infarction and one patient developed major stroke. Conclusion: Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting associated with distal protective devices appear feasible, effective and almost safe endovascular treatment modality for carotid artery stenosis. Key words: Carotid artery disease; Carotid angioplasty DOI: 10.3329/cardio.v2i2.6644 Cardiovasc. j. 2010; 2(2) : 218-222
Hyperbolic Embedding and Routing for Dynamic Graphs

We propose an embedding and routing scheme for arbitrary network connectivity graphs, based on greedy routing and utilizing virtual node coordinates. In dynamic multihop packet-switching communication networks, routing elements can join or leave during network operation or exhibit intermittent failures. We present an algorithm for online greedy graph embedding in the hyperbolic plane that enables incremental embedding of network nodes as they join the network, without disturbing the global embedding. Even a single link or node removal may invalidate the greedy routing success guarantees in network embeddings based on an embedded spanning tree subgraph. As an alternative to frequent reembedding of temporally dynamic network graphs in order to retain the greedy embedding property, we propose a simple but robust generalization of greedy distance routing called Gravity-Pressure (GP) routing. Our routing method always succeeds in finding a route to the destination provided that a path exists, even if a significant fraction of links or nodes is removed subsequent to the embedding. GP routing does not require precomputation or maintenance of special spanning subgraphs and, as demonstrated by our numerical evaluation, is particularly suitable for operation in tandem with our proposed algorithm for online graph embedding.
Nonlinear conductance-volume relationship for murine conductance catheter measurement system

The conductance catheter system is a tool to determine instantaneous left ventricular volume in vivo by converting measured conductance to volume. The currently adopted conductance-to-volume conversion equation was proposed by Baan, and the accuracy of this equation is limited by the assumption of a linear conductance-volume relationship. The electric field generated by a conductance catheter is nonuniform, which results in a nonlinear relationship between conductance and volume. This paper investigates this nonlinear relationship and proposes a new nonlinear conductance-to-volume conversion equation. The proposed nonlinear equation uses a single empirically determined calibration coefficient, derived from independently measured stroke volume. In vitro experiments and numerical model simulations were performed to verify and validate the proposed equation.
Reference panel of cloned HIV-2 plasmid DNA for nucleic acid assay development, evaluation, and quality monitoring.

Abstract Background Currently, no FDA-approved HIV-2 nucleic acid assay is commercially available in the United States, although several laboratories have developed in-house assays to confirm HIV-2 infections. A major limitation in the development of novel HIV-2 diagnostic assays is the lack of reference materials that can be used to evaluate, optimize, and monitor assay performance. Study design Eleven viral stocks of HIV-2 isolates from various West African countries, including the Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau, were used to clone the entire LTR and pol regions from each virus. Results We successfully cloned, sequenced, and group classified 22 HIV-2 DNA plasmids including 11 full length LTR (∼849 bp) and 11 pol (∼2995 bp) sequences. There were eight HIV-2 group A and three group B in both the LTR and pol regions. Conclusions This reference panel provides a robust, quantifiable, renewable, and non-infectious set of reagents that can be used for the development and evaluation of new HIV-2 molecular diagnostic assays and quality assurance and quality control reagents for use in the clinical laboratories.
Suppressors of ipl1-2 in Components of a Glc7 Phosphatase Complex, Cdc48 AAA ATPase, TORC1, and the Kinetochore

Ipl1/Aurora B is the catalytic subunit of a protein kinase complex required for chromosome segregation and nuclear division. Before anaphase, Ipl1 is required to establish proper kinetochore-microtubule associations and to regulate the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). The phosphatase Glc7/PP1 opposes Ipl1 for these activities. To investigate Ipl1 and Glc7 regulation in more detail, we isolated and characterized mutations in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that raise the restrictive temperature of the ipl-2 mutant. These suppressors include three intragenic, second-site revertants in IPL1; 17 mutations in Glc7 phosphatase components (GLC7, SDS22, YPI1); two mutations in SHP1, encoding a regulator of the AAA ATPase Cdc48; and a mutation in TCO89, encoding a subunit of the TOR Complex 1. Two revertants contain missense mutations in microtubule binding components of the kinetochore. rev76 contains the missense mutation duo1-S115F, which alters an essential component of the DAM1/DASH complex. The mutant is cold sensitive and arrests in G2/M due to activation of the SAC. rev8 contains the missense mutation ndc80-K204E. K204 of Ndc80 corresponds to K166 of human Ndc80 and the human Ndc80 K166E variant was previously shown to be defective for microtubule binding in vitro. In a wild-type IPL1 background, ndc80-K204E cells grow slowly and the SAC is activated. The slow growth and cell cycle delay of ndc80-K204E cells are partially alleviated by the ipl1-2 mutation. These data provide biological confirmation of a biochemically based model for the effect of phosphorylation on Ndc80 function.
Answer Justification: Removing the "Trick" from Multiple-Choice Questions.

Answer justification (A]) is a technique that allows students to convert multiple-choice items perceived to be "tricky" into short-answer essay questions. Convincing justifications earn students credit for missed items. The procedure is easy to administer and is very popular among students. Over 90% of both users and nonusers like having AJ available to them and recommend its use in other classes. Our technique is compared and contrasted with a similar one described by Nield and Wintre (1986). Both procedures appear to yield important benefits for students and instructors.
Population regulation of the spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) in a reservoir: Implications for invasion

We conducted a 3-yr study of the population dynamics of the invasive cladoceran Bythotrephes longimanus in Island Lake Reservoir (Minnesota) and compared our results to other human-constructed reservoirs and natural lakes to examine ecological differences of B. longimanus between these ecosystem types and to investigate how reservoirs facilitate invasion of this zooplankter. The maximum and mean densities (n 5 number of individuals) of B. longimanus were larger in Island Lake Reservoir (. 100 n m23 and 20–57 n m23, respectively) and in most other reservoirs than in natural lakes. Island Lake Reservoir and most other reservoir populations also exhibited multiple (up to six) cycles of growth and collapse per season, and performed extensive diel vertical migrations (DVM) to near the lake bottom during the day. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that the population dynamics of B. longimanus in Island Lake Reservoir were governed by relaxed top-down control by fish predation and strong bottom-up control by food availability. Developmental stage-specific death rates predicted from a matrix model were density dependent, aligned with predictions of bottom-up control (e.g., largest for the smallest instars, and correlated with food resources), and were inconsistent with anticipated prey demands by fishes. The reproductive and DVM trends of B. longimanus also indicated food stress and abated top-down control, respectively. We propose a mechanistic basis for invasion success in reservoirs by linking several limnological attributes, including chlorophyll a, water level fluctuation, light penetration, and thermal conditions to increased growth potential of B. longimanus.
Identification of a small molecule inhibitor of serine 276 phosphorylation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB using in silico molecular docking

NF-κB is activated in many types of cancer. Phosphorylation of p65 at serine 276 is required for the expression of a subset of NF-κB regulated genes, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Thus, inhibition of serine 276 phosphorylation may prevent metastasis and angiogenesis in certain tumor types. Using in silico molecular docking, small molecules that are predicted to bind to a structural pocket near serine 276 were identified. One compound, NSC-127102, hinders serine 276 phosphorylation and the expression of IL-8 and VCAM-1. Small molecules such as NSC-127102 may be optimized for the future treatment of cancer.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons decreases blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) expression is increased by angiotensin II (Ang II) within paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons of normotensive rats and acts via its intrinsic thiol protein oxidoreductase (TPOR) to counterregulate the central nervous system-mediated pressor action of Ang II. Considering that the PVN-mediated actions of Ang II are enhanced in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and contribute to the development of hypertension in these animals, we investigated this MIF regulatory mechanism in SHRs. Here, we have demonstrated that Ang II failed to increase MIF protein expression in the PVN of SHRs. Furthermore, although basal levels of MIF protein and mRNA were similar in the PVN of SHRs and normotensive rats, immunostaining revealed that MIF was either absent from or diminished in PVN neurons of SHRs. AAV2-mediated increases in MIF expression within PVN neurons of young (8 wk old) SHRs produced a chronic attenuation of hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. However, similar AAV2-mediated transduction of [C60S]-MIF, which lacks TPOR activity, did not alter the development of hypertension or cardiac hypertrophy in SHRs. Collectively, these findings suggest that a lack of MIF expression within PVN neurons contributes to the development of hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in SHRs.—Li, H., Gao, Y., Qi, Y., Katovich, M. J., Jiang, N., Braseth, L. N., Scheuer, D. A., Shi, P., Sumners, C. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons decreases blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
The crystal structure of a major dust mite allergen Der p 2, and its biological implications.

The crystal structure of the common house mite (Dermatophagoides sp.) Der p 2 allergen was solved at 2.15 A resolution using the MAD phasing technique, and refined to an R-factor of 0.209. The refined atomic model, which reveals an immunoglobulin-like tertiary fold, differs in important ways from the previously described NMR structure, because the two β-sheets are significantly further apart and create an internal cavity, which is occupied by a hydrophobic ligand. This interaction is structurally reminiscent of the binding of a prenyl group by a regulatory protein, the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange inhibitor. The crystal structure suggests that binding of non-polar molecules may be essential to the physiological function of the Der p 2 protein.
On Serrated Plastic Flow in an AA5052-H32 Sheet

Temporal and spatial characteristics of serrated plastic flow or the so-called Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) deformation bands in a commercial Al-2.5%Mg sheet metal due to dynamic strain aging effects were investigated experimentally under quasi-static uniaxial tension. It was found that the thickness and width of test coupons, applied loading conditions (machine stiffness and crosshead speed). and mechanical polishing had an observable effect on the temporal characteristics of the serrated plastic flow while short and long interruptions during the tensile tests with stress relaxation and even completely unloading show minimal effects on the subsequent serrated flow behavior. Serrations in axial load in AA5052-H32 were found to associate with the appearance of discrete narrow deformation bands in the tensile test coupons with the bands aligned 59 ±1 deg with respect to the tensile loading axis. The detailed strain distribution across the deformation bands showed a bell-like instead of steplike shape, indicating that the formation of these deformation bands was controlled by a local nucleation and growth process at a cross section in the polycrystalline sheet.
Pattern Popularity in 132-avoiding Permutations

The popularity of a pattern p is the total number of copies of p within all permutations of a set. We address popularity in the set of 132-avoidng permutations. B ona showed that in this set, all other non-monotone length-3 patterns are equipopular, and proved equipopularity relations between some length-k patterns of a specic form. We prove equipopularity relations between general length-k patterns, based on the structure of their corresponding binary plane trees. Our result explains all equipopularity relations for patterns of length up to 7, and we conjecture that it provides a complete classication of equipopularity in 132-avoiding permutations.
Single-Particle States in Many-Body Systems

Relaxation of the wavefunctions of electrons in the region of a hole formed in an interband transition in a solid leads to a shift of the interband transition energy relative to that which would be predicted by a band structure calculation fit to fermi surface parameters. The theory of this relaxed orbital correction (ROC) is set up in terms of a Slater Koster model in which relaxed atomic and molecular cluster energies are introduced as parameters. Using this model a sum rule is found which gives the effect of band structure on the ROC for a core state hole. A perturbation theory is made of the effects of hole recoil for valence or d-band holes.
Vasa previa: prenatal diagnosis by transperineal sonography with Doppler evaluation.

Antepartum diagnosis of vasa previa is of critical importance because of the high fetal mortality rate in unrecognized cases. This report describes the sonographic findings in 2 cases of vasa previa and demonstrates that transperineal sonography with Doppler evaluation can successfully establish the diagnosis of vasa previa prenatally. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 26:405–408, 1998.
Medical Pluralism in the Life of a Mexican Immigrant Woman

This case study reflects on the variety of approaches to health care in a pluralistic immigrant urban enclave in Southern California. In-depth interviews were conducted with a Mexican immigrant woman to explore and understand her health worldview and the strategies she uses in deciding among the diverse health care options available to protect and maintain her family’s health. Kleinman’s typology of health sectors (professional, folk, and popular) is applied to the popular healing practices of the key informant and her own health-seeking behaviors. These expose the conflict between a professional community that relies on categories and binary comparisons and the existence of multiple, simultaneous health care sectors. This case study highlights the paradoxical world of health and illness in a pluralistic medical setting and how those who reside in an environment where medical syncretism exists apparently see their options very differently from their professional health care providers.
The Dynamics of "Dead Wood": Maintenance of Water Transport Through Plant Stems'

Abstract The lack of mobility in plants is often interpreted as a sign of their passivity in the face of environmental variation. This view is perhaps most firmly entrenched with regard to water transport through the xylem in which water flows through the lumen of cells that are “dead” (i.e., lack any cytoplasm or nucleus) at maturity. However, recent work demonstrates that a number of active, physiological processes may be involved in maintaining the transport capacity of this essential pathway. Here we review work relating to both embolism repair and the effect of ion concentrations on xylem hydraulic properties as examples of such dynamic processes.
Applications for Brain-Computer Interfaces

Brain-computer Interfaces (BCIs) have been studied for nearly thirty years, with the primary motivation of providing assistive technologies for people with very severe motor disabilities. The slow speeds, high error rate, susceptibility to artifact, and complexity of BCI systems have been challenges for implementing workable real-world systems. However, recent advances in computing and bio-sensing technologies have improved the outlook for BCI applications, making them promising not only as assistive technologies but also for mainstream applications. This chapter presents a survey of applications for BCI systems, both historical and recent, in order to characterize the broad range of possibilities for neural control.
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring hair loss that was originally termed “hot comb” alopecia and later follicular degeneration syndrome before being renamed CCCA. It affects primarily women of African descent with onset in the 20–40 age range. The exact etiology is unknown but hairstyling practices along with genetics have been implicated. Clinical diagnosis is supported by characteristic pathologic findings. Early diagnosis and discontinuation of potentially damaging hairstyling are keys to halting progression of the condition.
Improving therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with chimeric antigen receptor T cells

Adoptive cell immunotherapy for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has heralded a new era of synthetic biology. The infusion of genetically engineered, autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells directed against CD19 expressed by normal and malignant B cells represents a novel approach to cancer therapy. The results of recent clinical trials of CAR T cells in relapsed and refractory CLL have demonstrated long-term disease-free remissions, underscoring the power of harnessing and redirecting the immune system against cancer. This review will briefly summarize T-cell therapies in development for CLL disease. We discuss the role of T-cell function and phenotype, T-cell culture optimization, CAR design, and approaches to potentiate the survival and anti-tumor effects of infused lymphocytes. Future efforts will focus on improving the efficacy of CAR T cells for the treatment of CLL and incorporating adoptive cell immunotherapy into standard medical management of CLL.
Analog and LabView-Based Control of a Maglev System With NI-ELVIS

This paper investigates the control of a low cost vertical-axis maglev system for mechatronics and controls education. The tabletop maglev system consists of an electromagnetic coil that levitates a ferrous object using an infrared sensor to determine the object’s position. Based on the sensor output, the controller adjusts the coil current, thus changing the magnetic field controlling the levitated object’s position. A second electromagnetic coil is used to provide known disturbances. The paper develops the underlying theory for magnetic levitation and presents the results of experiments with classical controllers implemented both as analog circuits and in software-based virtual instruments. Analog controllers, such as PID-type controllers, were implemented as simple circuits on National Instruments’ Educational Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Suite (NI-ELVIS) prototyping board. NI-ELVIS offers a LabVIEW-based prototyping environment for readily experimenting with different controller circuits. It consists of a multi-function data acquisition device and a custom-designed bench-top workstation with a prototyping board. In addition to analog control circuits, a suite of LabVIEW-based controllers were developed which offer in software a rapid way to change control strategies and gains and explore the effect on the physical system.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
A Comparative Study of Methods for Course Assessment Used by Chinese and American Universities

This paper presents a comparative study of the methods for course assessment used by Chinese and American universities and their correlations to specific quality standards.Advanced overseas assessment methods and quality standards should be incorporated into China's reform in university course assessment to help accomplish the goals of education.
Brain and Serum Androsterone Is Elevated in Response to Stress in Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Exposure to lateral fluid percussion (LFP) injury consistent with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) persistently attenuates acoustic startle responses (ASRs) in rats. Here, we examined whether the experience of head trauma affects stress reactivity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were matched for ASRs and randomly assigned to receive mTBI through LFP or experience a sham surgery (SHAM). ASRs were measured post injury days (PIDs) 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28. To assess neurosteroids, rats received a single 2.0 mA, 0.5 s foot shock on PID 34 (S34), PID 35 (S35), on both days (2S), or the experimental context (CON). Levels of the neurosteroids pregnenolone (PREG), allopregnanolone (ALLO), and androsterone (ANDRO) were determined for the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. For 2S rats, repeated blood samples were obtained at 15, 30 and 60 min post-stressor for determination of corticosterone (CORT) levels after stress or context on PID 34. Similar to earlier work, ASRs were severely attenuated in mTBI rats without remission for 28 days after injury. No differences were observed between mTBI and SHAM rats in basal CORT, peak CORT levels or its recovery. In serum and brain, ANDRO levels were the most stress-sensitive. Stress-induced ANDRO elevations were greater than those in mTBI rats. As a positive allosteric modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors, increased brain ANDRO levels are expected to be anxiolytic. The impact of brain ANDRO elevations in the aftermath of mTBI on coping warrants further elaboration.
Hexahedral mesh quality improvement via edge-angle optimization

Abstract We introduce a simple and practical technique to untangle and improve hexahedral (hex-) meshes. We achieve that by enabling the deformation of the boundary surfaces during the untangling process, which provides more space to reach a valid solution. To improve the element quality, an angle-based optimization strategy is proposed, which has much simpler formulation than the existing methods. The deformed volume after optimization is then pulled back to the original one using an inversion-free deformation. In contrast to the current methods, we perform the untangling and quality improvement within a few local regions surrounding elements with undesired quality, which can effectively improve the minimum scaled Jacobian (MSJ) quality of the mesh over the state-of-the-art method. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods by applying it to hex-meshes generated by a range of methods.