cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
iPLA2 inhibitor blocks negative inotropic effect of HIV gp120 on cardiac myocytes

Recent improvements in survival from AIDS have been accompanied by an increased recognition of the potential importance of other manifestations of HIV infection, including cardiomyopathy. Mechanisms responsible for HIV cardiomyopathy are unknown, but may include direct effects of HIV proteins on the heart. We previously provided support for direct effects of HIV proteins by demonstrating a negative inotropic effect of the HIV coat protein, gp120, on isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVM). We now report that this negative inotropic effect of HIV gp120 is mediated by a signaling pathway involving p38 MAP kinase, iPLA2 and troponin I. Exposure of ARVM to HIV gp120 resulted in maximal activation of iPLA2 by 60 min as reflected in hydrolysis of arachidonyl thiophosphatidylcholine that was completely blocked by the iPLA2 inhibitor, bromoenol lactone (BEL) or the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, SB203580. The negative inotropic effect of gp120 was blocked by BEL, as well as SB203580. BEL did not block gp120 stimulated phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase itself, and/or its downstream effectors, ATF2 or MAPKAP2. However, BEL did block gp120-stimulated phosphorylation of troponin I. Thus, the negative inotropic effect of HIV gp120 requires activation of p38 MAP kinase and iPLA2; as well as troponin I phosphorylation. Activation of this novel p38 MAP kinase-iPLA2-troponin I signaling pathway may contribute to HIV cardiomyopathy.
Parameters associated with perioperative baffle fenestration closure in the Fontan operation.

Objective: To identify clinical parameters indicating perioperative fenestration closure in children who underwent the fenestrated Fontan operation. Design: Retrospective. Setting: Single children's hospital. Participants: Patients who underwent a fenestrated Fontan operation in 1996 through 1997 (n 101). Intervention: A fenestrated Fontan operation was performed in children with single-ventricle physiology. Measurements and Main Results: Early perioperative closure of the fenestration occurred in 14 patients (group 1), whereas the fenestration remained patent in 87 patients (group 2). The groups were compared by the following parameters: demographics, cardiac catheterization and ultrasound data, and use of aspirin or warfarin preoperatively and intraoperatively by assessing the composition of the cardiopulmonary bypass solution, use of ultrafiltration and antifibrinolytics, protamine dose, last hematocrit on cardiopulmonary bypass, and requirement of blood products. Immediately postoperatively in the intensive care unit (ICU), cardiac filling pressures (central venous and left atrial pressure), coagulation profile, cardiac rhythm, chest tube drainage, length of stay in the ICU, and use of atrial pacing were reviewed. Significant indicators of early fenestration closure in this study as determined by multivariate stepwise logistic regression were a high transpulmonary pressure gradient (p 0.015) and a higher oxygen saturation (p 0.001) 1 hour after arrival in the ICU, a low fibrinogen level (p < 0.0001), and the need for temporary atrial pacing (p 0.029). The fenestration was reopened in 13 patients in group 1. In 101 patients, there was no early mortality, and all patients survived to discharge. Conclusion: Factors that correlated with postoperative fenestration closure in the fenestrated Fontan operation in this study were a high transpulmonary pressure gradient and a high oxygen saturation 1 hour after arrival in the ICU, a low fibrinogen level, and the need for temporary atrial pacing. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
Ability to counselors to detect cognitive impairment among substance-abusing patients: an examination of diagnostic efficiency.

Counselors (N = 12) in 1 of 2 substance abuse treatment facilities were asked to identify which of their patients (N = 97) had general neurocognitive impairment. Counselors were required to base their judgements on information collected from patients during psychosocial history gathering, clinical interviews, physical examinations, brief cognitive screening tests, and substance abuse severity evaluations, but not on neuropsychological test results. All patients were subsequently administered a neuropsychological test battery. Diagnostic agreement between counselors' impressions of patients' cognitive status and patients' actual neuropsychological test performance was poor. Subsequent analyses revealed counselors' impressions about patients' neuropsychological functioning were based on information that did not reliably discriminate between cognitively impaired and intact patients (e.g., years of education and self-reported symptoms of cognitive dysfunction).
Molecular Structures and Photophysical Properties of Dirhodium Fluorophosphine Complexes.

The excited state properties of a series of singly bonded dirhodium compounds, consisting of Rh(0)(2), Rh(0)Rh(II)X(2), and Rh(II)(2)X(4) (X = Cl and Br) cores coordinated by three bis(difluorophosphino)methylamine ligands, have been investigated. The newly synthesized complexes with X = Br have been structurally characterized. The mixed-valence complex Rh(2)[m-CH(3)N(PF(2))(2)](3)Br(2)[(PF(2))CH(3)N(PF(2))] crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 13.868(7) A, b = 16.090(5) A, c = 11.614(5) A, V = 1591(3) A(3), and Z = 4; the structure was refined to values of R = 0.052 and R(w) = 0.062. Orange crystals of Rh(2)[m-CH(3)N(PF(2))(2)](3)Br(4) are monoclinic with a C2/c space group: a = 14.62(6) A, b = 12.20(2) A, c = 14.33(1) A; beta = 106.0(2) degrees; V = 2457(11) A(3); Z = 4; and R = 0.058 and R(w) = 0.056. Crystalline solids and low-temperature glasses of each member of the chloride and bromide series exhibit long-lived red luminescence. Excitation profiles and temperature dependencies of the emission bandwidths and lifetimes for all complexes are characteristic of luminescence originating from a dsigma excited state. Efficient nonradiative decay is observed upon the thermal population of an excited state proximate to the lowest energy emissive excited state of these complexes. The nonradiative decay rate constant of the upper excited state is 10(2)-10(3) and 10(3)-10(4) greater than that of the emissive excited state for complexes with X = Cl and Br, respectively.
Trade Union Policies towards the Youth Training Scheme: Patterns and Causes

The Youth Training Scheme (YTS) presented British unions with a mix of opportunities and threats. Patterns of interest in and policy towards YTS among the 42 largest unions are studied for 1983-8. Most unions showed interest in YTS but they divided sharply on whether or not to oppose it. Statistical analysis indicates a role for both economic and political factors in determining differences between unions in interest and policy. Opposition proved most intense and widespread among unions that represented the lower-grade occupations in the public sector. Such unions were heavily affected by trainee-employee substitution and in addition were relatively well placed to enforce its exclusion. Left-wing political orientation was also associated with opposition to YTS, but at the level of principle rather than action.
Embryonic Ultrastructure as a Guide in the Diagnosis of Tumors

The purpose of this article has been to illustrate the applications and limitations of comparing the ultrastructural morphology of certain poorly differentiated neoplasms with normal human embryonic tissues. The examples used--embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, Wilms' tumor, and fibrous mesothelioma, in comparison with embryonic mesoderm and its early derivatives--are but a few of the entities that can be investigated in this manner. Ewing's sarcoma was included in the report because of the long-standing and unsolved mystery concerning its histogenesis and because we believe it probably fits into the same category of poorly differentiated mesodermal neoplasms as the other lesions described. However, unlike the other more definite examples of primitive neoplasms manifesting focal markers of secondary mesenchymal differentiation, Ewing's sarcomas exhibit no ultrastructural evidence for myogeneous, nephrogenic, or mesothelial lines of maturation. Nor are there any morphologic indications of ectodermal or endodermal differentiation. The questions arise as to whether the category of Ewing's sarcoma has been perpetuated by so classifying all small-cell neoplasms having no recognizable line of differentiation, and whether this category may include cells of more than one type, that is, cells that are biologically determined to develop along several different pathways. This concept would be one explanation for the occurrence of Ewing's tumors in soft tissue as well as in bone, and we know that the cells contained in somites are ultrastructurally very similar to the least-differentiated cells making up the myotomes and sclerotomes. Apparently, questions such as these cannot be answered by morphologic studies alone. However, a number of other useful diagnostic and academic points of information can be gleaned.
DNA Testing and Molecular Screening for Colon Cancer

Colon cancer develops and progresses as a consequence of abnormal cellular molecular changes, many of which result in mutant DNA. Modern molecular techniques allow examination of individual patient genetic data that ascribe risk, predict outcome, and/or modify an approach to therapy. DNA testing and molecular screening are in use today and are becoming a critical and necessary part of routine patient care. Assessing at-risk patients for hereditary colon cancer is predicted to move from individual gene testing that is commonly performed today to whole exome or whole genome sequencing, providing additional vast information of the patient's genome that might not be related to the colon cancer syndrome. Detecting mutant DNA from shed tumor cells in fecal material for colon cancer screening will increase in diagnostic accuracy over time, with improvements in the panel of mutant DNA being examined and through clinical testing. DNA mutations and other molecular changes detected directly from within the colon cancer help to inform and guide the physician for the best approach for optimal patient care and outcome. The use of epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy in advanced colon cancer patients requires knowledge of the mutation status for KRAS and BRAF genes, and knowing the mutational status of PIK3CA may predict how patients respond to aspirin to prevent colon cancer recurrence. Biologically driven decision-making, or precision medicine, is becoming increasingly adopted for optimal care and outcome for colon cancer patients. Gastroenterologists will need to be increasingly aware.
Exposure to Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) Trees, Fruit, and Oil Enhances Mating Success of Male Mediterranean Fruit Flies (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann))

Previous laboratory tests revealed that exposure to oranges (Citrus sinensis L.) increased the mating success of male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (medfly). This advantage may have resulted from male exposure to α-copaene (a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon and known male attractant) in the peel, as pure α-copaene has been shown to increase the mating success of male medflies. Working with orange trees as well, we investigated whether male exposure to nonfruiting trees, leaves (also known to contain α-copaene albeit at a lower concentration than fruit), and fruit conferred a mating advantage to wild-like males in field-cage tests. Males exposed to entire nonfruiting trees or leaves had a mating advantage over control males (exposed to a nonhost plant) in trials conducted 1 day but not 3 days after exposure. Males exposed to orange fruits had higher mating success than control males (exposed to apples) in trials conducted 1 and 3 days after exposure. Enhanced mating success was observed only when males were permitted to contact the orange leaves and fruits; aroma alone did not affect male mating success. In addition, we examined whether exposure to commercially available orange oil, which also contains α-copaene, enhanced the mating performance of wild-like and mass-reared sterile males. Heightened mating success was observed in trials conducted 1 and 3 days after exposure for both types of males, and in this case aroma alone had a positive effect on male mating success. Future research should attempt to identify the behavioral, physiological, or chemical mechanisms underlying the observed increases in male mating success.
Measuring HIV Services Integration Activities

ABSTRACT Despite efforts for more than four decades to better integrate the delivery of health and human services, particularly for individuals with problems that cross service sectors, such as HIV, our understanding remains limited as to what successful services integration (SI) strategies look like and whether they translate into improved client health and well being. One obstacle to expanding our knowledge of SI is the absence of a conceptual vocabulary and corresponding measures that delineate the salient features that allow us to compare and contrast the many concrete forms of SI initiatives. Drawing on past research literature, this article presents a conceptual taxonomy for classifying different components of SI initiatives. We present operational measures for the concepts in the taxonomy and illustrate their application for a comparative analysis of services integration activities implemented by 34 HIV service demonstration projects.
The Effect of Tax Increment Financing on School District Revenues: Regional Variation and Interjurisdictional Competition

TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) is a technique that allows a local gov ernment to target a group of con tiguous properties for improvement?a TIF district?and earmark any future growth in property tax revenues in the district to pay for initial and ongoing improvements there. TIF has been used to fund everything from ambi tious downtown redevelopment projects to industrial facility expansions to retail attrac tion schemes. This financing mechanism is arguably the most popular urban economic development strategy in the United States (Krohe 2007), although suburban and rural municipalities have been some of the most frequent adopters. Cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Louis use TIF inten sively, but so do smaller jurisdictions such as Marion (Illinois), New Ulm (Minnesota), and St. Peters (Missouri). Not everyone is happy about the increas ing popularity of this local economic develop ment tool, which effectively freezes the prop erty tax base in the TIF district for overlapping
GeoTran-HC: Geometric transformation of highly coupled variable topology multi-body problems

Manipulating geometry to prepare a CAD design model for mesh generation is an important step in the finite element analysis (FEA) process. However, complex problems such as electronic chip packages often consist of hundreds or even thousands of sub-features with varying materials, complex geometrical shapes and changeable connectivity configurations. We define a subclass of such problems, termed highly coupled variable topology multi-body (HCVTMB) problems, where configuration and relative geometric sizes cause meshing changes in one body to propagate throughout much of the model. Today creating FEA models for HCVTMB problems typically requires manual geometrical manipulation which is labour-intensive and error-prone. In this paper we introduce an automated geometric transformation method-GeoTran-HC-within the context of a knowledge-based modeling method for CAD-FEA integration. Through five steps-geometry extraction, cell decomposition, associativity maintenance, feature recognition and associativity recovery-this transformation method automatically decomposes an HCVTMB analytical model into a meshable model. It also manages mesh quality and attribution of non-geometrical information such as material properties and boundary conditions. A plastic ball grid array chip package thermo-mechanical case study demonstrates the efficacy of GeoTran-HC within the context of our knowledge-based FEA modelling method. This and similar studies show reductions in total FEA modeling time from days/hours (using traditional methods) to hours/minutes (using the presented method), as well as enhanced modularity and reusability.
Molecular complexes of iodine with metal acetylacetonates

Abstract The ability of metal acetylacetonates to act as electron donors and form molecular complexes with I 2 was studied by examining the electronic, vibrational, and NMR spectra of the complexes. The specific compounds used in the study were Al(acac) 3 Sc(acac) 3 Zr(acac) 4 , and Th(acac) 4 . The electronic spectra of mixtures of the metal acetylacetonates with I 2 in CHCl 3 had, in addition to the absorption peaks characteristic of the free components, two peaks that were due to the charge transfer complexes. For each complex, the highest wavelength peak (near 360 nm) was assigned to the blue shifted I 2 band, while the lower peak (between 270 nm and 305 nm) was attributed to the intermolecular charge transfer. In the i.r. spectra of each complex, the major effect of complexation was to cause the I 2 stretching frequency to appear between 145 cm −1 and 160 cm −1 . The positions of the absorption peaks in both the electronic and vibrational spectra led to the conclusion that in these complexes, I 2 had received a large amount of charge from the donors. Complex formation had little effect on the NMR spectra of the donors. Association constants of 1:1 complexes were determined from the concentration dependence of the absorbance of the blue shifted I 2 bands. Values of Δ H dg and Δ S ° 298 for the complex formation were obtained from the temperature variation of the association constants. The data indicate that the complexes are extremely stable species. Both the stability of the complexes and the high degree of charge transfer were rationalized by considering a model for the intermolecular interactions that involved two M (acac) rings simultaneously transferring charge from one donor to an I 2 molecule.
New modalities for preventing and treating influenza

Abstract Influenza continues to plague children and adults annually, causing moderate to severe disease and, in some cases, leading to death caused by primary or secondary infection. New epidemiologic studies confirm that the impact of influenza on children is great. Public health officials expect a pandemic that is likely to dramatically increase the morbidity and mortality from influenza. New modalities that have arisen for prevention and treatment include the cold-adapted nasal vaccine and new neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir), which have been approved for use in children. Like older agents (amantadine and rimantadine), the neuraminidase receptor agents must be used within the first 2 days of illness to be effective for therapy. Correct and early diagnosis is, therefore, necessary. The greatest advantages of newer agents are the additional efficacy against influenza B virus and the low frequency of drug resistance. Shortened illness and a reduction in minor complications are the main observed benefits of therapy. Because new agents are much more expensive than are older ones, dynamic cost-benefit analysis specific for children is needed to determine the utility of these drugs. Vaccination remains the most cost-effective approach to influenza disease. Universal vaccination of children remains a consideration for the future. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Preparation of Early Intervention Personnel in a Rural State

There is a critical need to prepare early-intervention personnel resulting from the passage of the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986. This paper presents the results of a survey o...
Flow phenomena and separation over delta wings with trailing-edge flaps at Mach 6.

Hypersonic flow distribution and separation types over highly swept delta wings with trailing edge flaps at Mach 6
Maslow's basic needs theory and decision theory

Abraham H. Maslow's theory of basic needs provides the basis for a normative theory of decision making that does not fit within the presently used decision theory; a reformulation of the decision theory axioms provides the necessary wider axiomization.
Fissionable isotope identification using the time dependence of delayed neutron emission

Abstract An examination of delayed neutron emission decay rates allows for the detection and identification of fissionable isotopes. The dependence of the decay rates on bremsstrahlung end-point energies and accelerator repetition rates was examined. Delayed neutrons emitted following photofission in a 238 U target were detected between bremsstrahlung pulses from a variable-energy linear electron accelerator. Bremsstrahlung end-point energies of 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 MeV are used to show that the decay rates have no obvious dependence on the energy of the irradiating photons. Accelerator repetition rates of 3.75 , 7.5 , 15, 30, and 60 Hz demonstrate the expected frequency dependence of the decay rates.
Insulin sensitivity, lipids, and body composition in childhood : Is syndrome X present ?

Syndrome X, or the syndrome of insulin resistance, is a cluster of related metabolic abnormalities of hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, increased very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL), and hypertension in nonobese adults and plays an important role in the genesis of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships among insulin sensitivity, plasma lipid levels, and body composition in the pediatric age group to determine whether these associations are present in childhood. Twenty healthy Caucasian Tanner stage I (TI) children (age, 10.7 +/- 0.3 yr; body mass index, 18.9 +/- 0.8 kg/m2) and 22 pubertal Tanner stage II-IV (TII-IV) adolescents (age, 14.0 +/- 0.3 yr; body mass index, 20.0 +/- 0.4 kg/m2) were studied. In vivo insulin-mediated glucose disposal (Rd) was evaluated during a 40 mu/m2. min hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Body composition was assessed isotopically by the H218O dilution principle. Fasting blood was obtained for cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), VLDL, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and HDL determinations. In both groups, the strongest correlation of Rd was with percent body fat (%BF) (TI: r = -0.82; P < 0.001; TII-IV: r = -0.73; P < 0.001). In addition, in TI, Rd was correlated with TG (r = 0.64; P = 0.001), VLDL (r = 0.64; P = 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.50; P = 0.01). There were no such correlations in TII-IV. In TI, % BF correlated positively with LDL and negatively with TG and VLDL. In TII-IV, % BF correlated positively with cholesterol and LDL. After correcting for %BF, partial correlation analysis revealed no relationship between Rd and lipid levels in either group. This suggests that the relationship of insulin sensitivity to lipid levels was secondary to the effect of body composition on lipid levels. However, regardless of body composition, the basal insulin level was correlated with TG (r = 0.38; P = 0.04) and VLDL (r = 0.40; P = 0.04) in TII-IV subjects. We conclude that 1) the primary correlate of insulin sensitivity is %BF in both prepubertal and pubertal subjects, with no relationship to plasma lipids; 2) in prepubertal children, diastolic blood pressure is negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity and positively with insulin levels, independent of adiposity; and 3) after the onset of puberty, basal insulin levels are positively correlated with VLDL and TG regardless of the degree of adiposity. This observation could be a very early manifestation of the genesis of syndrome X in childhood.
Multiple wavelength observations of flaring active regions

The radio emission of quiescent active regions at 6 cm wavelength marks the legs of magnetic dipoles, and the emission at 20 cm wavelength delineates the radio wavelength counterpart of the coronal loops previously detected at X-ray wavelengths. At both wavelengths the temperatures have coronal values of a few million degrees. The polarization of the radio emission specifies the structure and strength of the coronal magnetic field (H ≈ 600 Gauss at heights h ≈ 4 x 109 cm above sunspot umbrae). At 6 cm and 20 cm wavelength the solar bursts have angular sizes between 5” and 30”, brightness temperatures between 2 x 107 K and 2 x 108 K, and degrees of circular polarization between 10% and 90%. The location of the burst energy release is specified with second-of-arc accuracy. At radio wavelengths the bursts occur within the central regions of magnetic loops, while the flaring Ha kernels are located at the loop footpoints. Coronal loops exhibit enhanced radio emission (preburst heating) a few minutes before the release of burst energy. The radio polarization data indicate magnetic changes before and during solar bursts.
Predictors of Outcomes after Pediatric Liver Transplantation: An Analysis of More Than 800 Cases Performed at a Single Institution

Background Pediatric liver transplantation (PLTx) is the standard of care for treatment of liver failure in children. Unfortunately, there are few studies with substantial numbers of patients that identify outcomes predictors. The goal of this study was to determine factors that influence outcomes in a large, single-center cohort of PLTx. Study Design This retrospective review between 1984 to 2006 included all recipients 18 years of age and younger undergoing PLTx. Multiorgan graft recipients were excluded (n = 48). Data sources included transplantation center database and hospital medical records. Outcomes measures were overall patient and graft survival. Demographic, laboratory, and perioperative variables were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis was undertaken using log-rank test and Cox’s proportional hazards model. A p value Results Eight hundred fifty-two PLTx were performed in 657 children; 55% were girls, 45% were Hispanic, and median age was 29.5 months. Biliary atresia and acute liver failure were the most common causes of liver disease. Fifty-two percent were hospitalized before PLTx. Graft types were whole (75%) and segmental (25%). Indications for re-PLTx (n = 195) included graft nonfunction (22%), immunologic (34%), and vascular complications (35%). Overall 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 85%, 81%, and 78% (patient), and 78%, 72%, and 67% (graft). Independent significant predictors of worse patient survival were renal function, pretransplantation ventilator dependence, and causes of liver disease. Independent significant predictors of worse graft survival were renal function and warm ischemia time. Conclusions As one of the largest, single-center analyses of PLTx, this study enables accurate statistical analysis and demonstrates excellent longterm outcomes. Independent prognosticators of graft survival were renal function and warm ischemia time, and those for patient survival were renal function, mechanical ventilation, and causes of liver disease. These factors can aid in the medical decision making required for optimal use of scarce donor organs.
THE CONCEPT OF THE PLACE-DEFINING NOVEL IN AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE∗

In the period between 1800 and 1950, 42 authors wrote American regional novels and poetry popular enough to be tentatively labeled place defining. These books provide concise statements of perceived regional values. As a group they suggest that the West has been dominated by the single, enduring image of youthful self-reliance; the Northeast by a set of small-scale characterizations; and the Midwest and South by more complex depictions of egalitarian pastoralism and cavalier society, respectively, each modified and challenged over time.
Critical Theory and the Paradox of Discourse

The work of public administration theorists who argue for a broader sphere of administrative discretion falls into three broad paradigms: the legitimacy paradigm, the guardian paradigm, and the critical paradigm. Legitimacy theorists argue for recognition within the Constitutional framework, and guardian theorists argue for more discretion for administrators to govern for the uninformed public. Neither view has much practical impact because neither fits American attitudes toward government. The critical paradigm advocates providing citizens with information so they may take action and free themselves from domination by elites. This critical view involves less, rather than more, formal power for professional administrators and puts them at odds with the elected officials who employ them. The paper seeks to determine whether this view of the role of the public administrator accurately portrays the nature of the relationship between citizens and government and whether the public administrator can be an effec...
Polarization Controlled Transport in PANI−BaTiO3 Nanofibers

The orientation of ferroelectric domains in particles embedded in nanofibers can be manipulated externally and used to control the electronic properties of the nanowires. Specifically the resistance of a conductive polymer fiber increases with the magnitude of voltage used to orient domains perpendicular to the current flow direction. The behavior can be understood in terms of the effect of the local electrostatic field due to the ferroelectric particles on the electron scattering volume and/or the potential barriers to variable range electron hopping in the polymer.
Two-way translocation of cations by the brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum

Abstract Wood decay fungi are known to translocate elements, but the details regarding mechanisms and specificity of translocation are not well understood. Gloeophyllum trabeum was grown on blocks of red spruce sapwood that had been previously soaked in salt solutions of CaCl 2 , KCl, NaCl, MgCl 2 and MgSO 4 . Decay-associated weight loss in most salted blocks was decreased by 80%. However, the concentration of the salting cations (Ca, K, Na, Mg) was reduced after 6 weeks of decomposition resulting from fungal activity. During decay, exchangeable ions lost during soaking treatments were replenished simultaneously with the depletion of the excess salting cations. These results indicate that wood decay fungi are capable of selectively translocating metabolically important mineral nutrients from the soil into the wood, while translocating interfering quantities of other cations out of the wood to external depositories.
A monkey wrench in the kinase machine

Last year Zhang, Kuriyan and colleagues demonstrated that an asymmetric dimer interaction between EGF receptor kinase domains is a key element of receptor activation. They now show that a cellular protein that inhibits receptor activity targets this dimer interface, not only uncovering an important regulatory mechanism but also opening a new route to therapeutic kinase inhibition.
Determination of ploidy level in “Mitchell” Petunias

Abstract Mitchell Petunia plants were analyzed for their level of ploidy by: (1) counting the number of chromosomes in root tips; (2) counting the number of chloroplasts per guard cell pair; and (3) using fluorescence microscopy to measure the amount of DNA stained with Hoechst 33258. The majority of plants propagated through tissue culture were chimeric rather than either completely diploid or haploid, and we have shown that one cannot distinguish between haploids and chimeric haploid/diploid plants based on chloroplast counts. One must use either chromosome counts or microfluorimetry to distinguish between these.
Evaluating uncertainty resiliency of Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Controllers for parallel delta robot

As a consequence of recent theoretical advancements in Type-2 (T2) fuzzy logic, applications of T2 Fuzzy Logic Controllers (FLCs) are becoming increasingly popular in various engineering areas. Nevertheless, the qualitative comparison of Type-1 (T1) and T2 FLCs and the assessment of the potential of T2 fuzzy logic can still be considered open questions. Despite this fact, researchers commonly claim superiority of T2 FLC in uncertain conditions based on a very limited exploration of the design parameter space. This manuscript provides a systematic analysis of the uncertainty resiliency of T2 FLC used for position control of parallel delta robot. In order to allow for objective comparison among different T1 and T2 FLCs, the controllers were constructed using a partially-dependent approach. Here, the T2 FLC is created based on an initially optimized T1 FLC. In this, manner the constrained design space allows for its full systematic exploration and analysis. The performance of each controller was evaluated on the real parallel delta robot under various levels of dynamic uncertainty. The experimental results support the theoretical claims about the superiority of T2 FLC. However, it was also demonstrated that there is a clear upper bound on the amount of “type-2 fuzziness” in the controller design, which can result in performance improvement. Exceeding such upper bound leads to performance deterioration.
Case report: maximum-intensity projection and minimum-intensity projection of computed tomography are helpful in the diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome in complicated liver cirrhosis.

Abstract Background Early detection of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) to give the appropriate therapy in time is crucial. Angiography remains the golden standard to diagnose BCS. However, to establish the diagnosis of BCS in complicated cirrhotic patients remains a challenge. We used maximum intensity projection (Max IP) and minimum intensity projection (Min IP) from computed tomographic (CT) images to detect this syndrome in such a patient. Case Report A 55-year-old man with a history of chronic hepatitis B infection and alcoholism had undergone previously a left lateral segmentectomy for hepatic epitheloid angiomyolipoma (4.6 × 3.5 × 3.3 cm) with a concomitant splenectomy. Liver decompensation with intractable ascites and jaundice occurred 4 months later. The reformed images of the venous phase of enhanced CT images with Max IP and Min IP showed middle hepatic vein thrombosis. He then underwent a living-related donor liver transplantation with a right liver graft from his daughter. Intraoperatively, we noted thrombosis of his middle hepatic vein protruding into inferior vena cava. The postoperative course was unevenful. Microscopic findings revealed micronodular cirrhosis with mixed inflammation in the portal areas. Some liver lobules exhibited congestion and sinusoidal dilation compatible with venous occlusion clinically. Conclusions We recommend Max IP and Min IP of CT images as simple and effective techniques to establish the diagnosis of BCS, especially in complicated cirrhotic patients, thereby avoiding invasive interventional procedures.
Ivy League Athletic Performance Do Brains Win

This article analyzes the determinants of undergraduate varsity athletic teams’ success in the Ivy League, a conference that prohibits athletic scholarships and holds its varsity athletes to high academic standards. The theoretical model suggests that the same factors that determine the enrollment decisions of all students who attend these institutions, namely, the institutions’ perceived academic quality and the generosity of their financial aid programs, should determine athletic performance success. In addition, the authors hypothesize that institutions whose athletes’ academic credentials are close to those of their class as a whole should have poorer records than those that accept scholar athletes whose credentials are relatively weaker as compared with their classmates. The empirical analyses use data for the 1981-1982 to 1996-1997 academic years on the number of male and female titles each institution in the conference won and the number of league games each won in men’s basketball, football, and h...
Time of neuron origin in the diencephalon of the mouse. An autoradiographic study

Time of origin of neurons of thalamus ventralis, thalamus dorsalis, and epithalamus was determined autoradiographically at three transverse levels in adults which received thymidine-H3 once during gestation. A ventrodorsal gradient in the entire region demonstrates a wave of neuron origin in the forebrain, probably rostrocaudal originally but revectored by rearrangement of neuromeres I–III. A caudorostral gradient in dorsal thalamus similarly may represent redirection of an earlier ventrodorsal one. A lateromedial gradient in dorsal thalamus and epithalamus (opposite that in cortex) may reflect lateral displacement of neuroblasts (or their nuclei) by younger elements. Large neurons generally arise before small ones, as seen in epithalamus; the two habenular nuclei illustrate programmed origin of large and small neurons and glia consecutively, with progressively restricted potentiality by the primitive ependyma. Phylogenetically, slight differences in duration of proliferation might radically alter the numbers of small neurons. Although dorsal thalamic nuclei “appear” in external germinal and mantle layers, their neuroblasts originate in primitive ependyma; time of origin accords with subsequent recognition of nuclei and appearance of thalamocortical connections. Massive proliferation (from the 10th to 15th days of gestation) and the gradients overshadow nuclear differences and demonstrate a developmental unity in the dorsal thalamus. The findings further validate Herrick's diencephalic zones and suggest some orderly mechanism, probably at the molecular level, underlying generation of the neurons in this complex brain region.
A hoatzin fossil from the middle Miocene of Kenya documents the past occurrence of modern-type Opisthocomiformes in Africa

ABSTRACT The fossil bird Namibiavis senutae from the early Miocene of Namibia was recently identified as an African stem-group representative of Opisthocomiformes (hoatzins). The species is known only from two wing and pectoral girdle bones, however, and the extent to which African Opisthocomiformes resembled their Neotropical relatives in skeletal morphology has remained elusive. I report a hoatzin tarsometatarsus from the middle Miocene of Maboko Island in Kenya, which, except for a peculiar autapomorphic fusion of the first metatarsal, closely matches the tarsometatarsus of the extant Opisthocomus hoazin. Although a well-founded classification on the species level is not possible, the new fossil documents the existence of essentially modern-type Opisthocomiformes in the Miocene of Africa. Being 2–2.5 Ma younger than N. senutae, the specimen further extends the temporal and spatial range of Miocene African Opisthocomiformes.
Putting home data management into perspective

Distributed storage is coming home. An increasing number of home and personal electronic devices create, use, and display digitized forms of music, images, videos, as well as more conventional files (e.g., financial records and contact lists). In-home networks enable these devices to communicate, and a variety of device-specific and datatype-specific tools are emerging. The transition to digital homes gives exciting new capabilities to users, but it also makes them responsible for administration tasks usually handled by dedicated professionals in other settings. It is unclear that traditional data management practices will work for "normal people" reluctant to put time into administration. This dissertation presents a number of studies of the way home users deal with their storage. One intriguing finding of these studies is that home users rarely organize and access their data via traditional folder-based naming—usually, they do so based on data attributes. Computing researchers have long talked about attribute-based data navigation, while continuing to use folder-based approaches. However, users of home and personal storage live it. Popular interfaces (e.g., iTunes, iPhoto, and even drop-down lists of recently-opened Word documents) allow users to navigate file collections via attributes like publisher-provided metadata, extracted keywords, and date/time. In contrast, the abstractions provided by filesystems and associated tools for managing files have remained tightly tied to namespaces built on folders. To correct the disconnect between semantic data access and folder-based replica management, this dissertation presents a new primitive that I call a "view", as a replacement for the traditional volume abstraction. A view is a compact description of a set of files, expressed much like a search query, and a device on which that data should be stored. For example, one view might be "all files with type=music and artist=Beatles stored on Liz's iPod" and another "all files with owner=Liz stored on Liz's laptop". Each device participating in a view-based filesystem maintains and publishes one or more views to describe the files that it stores. A view-based filesystem ensures that any file that matches a view will eventually be stored on the device named in the view. Since views describe sets of files using the same attribute-based style as users' other tools, view-based management replica management should be easier than folder-based file management. In this dissertation I present the design of Perspective, a view-based filesystem, and Insight, a set of view-based management tools. User studies, deployments and benchmarks using these prototypes show that view-based management simplifies some important tasks for non-technical users and can be supported efficiently by a distributed filesystem.
Propofol suppresses synaptic responsiveness of somatosensory relay neurons to excitatory input by potentiating GABAA receptor chloride channels

Propofol is a widely used intravenous general anesthetic. Propofol-induced unconsciousness in humans is associated with inhibition of thalamic activity evoked by somatosensory stimuli. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of propofol in thalamic circuits are largely unknown. We investigated the influence of propofol on synaptic responsiveness of thalamocortical relay neurons in the ventrobasal complex (VB) to excitatory input in mouse brain slices, using both current- and voltage-clamp recording techniques. Excitatory responses including EPSP temporal summation and action potential firing were evoked in VB neurons by electrical stimulation of corticothalamic fibers or pharmacological activation of glutamate receptors. Propofol (0.6 – 3 μM) suppressed temporal summation and spike firing in a concentration-dependent manner. The thalamocortical suppression was accompanied by a marked decrease in both EPSP amplitude and input resistance, indicating that a shunting mechanism was involved. The propofol-mediated thalamocortical suppression could be blocked by a GABAA receptor antagonist or chloride channel blocker, suggesting that postsynaptic GABAA receptors in VB neurons were involved in the shunting inhibition. GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were evoked in VB neurons by electrical stimulation of the reticular thalamic nucleus. Propofol markedly increased amplitude, decay time, and charge transfer of GABAA IPSCs. The results demonstrated that shunting inhibition of thalamic somatosensory relay neurons by propofol at clinically relevant concentrations is primarily mediated through the potentiation of the GABAA receptor chloride channel-mediated conductance, and such inhibition may contribute to the impaired thalamic responses to sensory stimuli seen during propofol-induced anesthesia.
CHARACTERIZATION OF A RURAL AEROSOL FROM EASTERN ARIZONA

Abstract The aerosol in a rural area in eastern Arizona was sampled in the spring and fall of 1980 and subsequently studied by scanning electron microscopy. The most abundant microparticles were ammonium sulfate, soil components and other salts (sulfates and chlorides). In May the geometric volume mean diameter (DGV) of the ammonium sulfates was 0.43 μm and the sulfate concentration 5.8 μg m −3 . In October the DGV was 0.28 μm and the sulfate concentration 4.5 μg m −3 . The salts (except ammonium sulfates) were probably derived from salt flats.
Structural basis of the antiproliferative activity of largazole, a depsipeptide inhibitor of the histone deacetylases.

Largazole is a macrocyclic depsipeptide originally isolated from the marine cyanobacterium Symploca sp., which is indigenous to the warm, blue-green waters of Key Largo, Florida (whence largazole derives its name). Largazole contains an unusual thiazoline–thiazole ring system that rigidifies its macrocyclic skeleton, and it also contains a lipophilic thioester side chain. Hydrolysis of the thioester in vivo yields largazole thiol, which exhibits remarkable antiproliferative effects and is believed to be the most potent inhibitor of the metal-dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs). Here, the 2.14 A-resolution crystal structure of the HDAC8–largazole thiol complex is the first of an HDAC complexed with a macrocyclic inhibitor and reveals that ideal thiolate–zinc coordination geometry is the key chemical feature responsible for its exceptional affinity and biological activity. Notably, the core structure of largazole is conserved in romidepsin, a depsipeptide natural product formulated as the drug Istodax re...
Notes on Three Species ofEleodesEschscholtz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Description of a New Species

ABSTRACT The taxonomic status and nomenclature of four species of Eleodes Eschscholtz are clarified. Eleodes anachronus, new species, which has been confused with Eleodes blapoides Eschscholtz, is described. Eleodes hepburni Champion, described from Mexico, is established as the valid name for a species found in both Mexico and the United States, with Eleodes compressitarsis (new synonymy), Eleodes beameri, Eleodes bryanti, and Eleodes palmerleensis, all described by Blaisdell, as synonyms. Eleodes ventricosus LeConte (new status) and Eleodes macrurus Champion (new status) are considered as subspecies of Eleodes spinipes Solier from Mexico. Eleodes ventricosa falli Blaisdell is a synonym of E. spinipes macrurus (new synonymy). Eleodes sonorae Champion is a synonym of Eleodes arcuatus Casey (new synonymy).
The Breeder Genetic Algorithm for Frequency Assignment

The Frequency Assignment Problem is an NP-complete problem which occurs during the design of a cellular telecommunication network. In this paper we describe a real-world frequency assignment scenario. We designed a Breeder Genetic Algorithm (BGA) capable of dealing with up to 5500 carriers which have to be assigned frequencies. The total number of available frequencies is about 50. The optimization goal is twofold: to assign as many frequencies as possible and to minimize the interference costs which are caused by the assignment.
A Framework for Understanding Radiation-Induced Interface States in SiO2 MOS Structures

An empirical model of radiation-induced interface states at the SiO2/Si interface in SiO2 MOS capacitors is developed. The formulation explicitly addresses the time-dependent two stage nature of the buildup process, and it gives the mathematical dependencies of the experimentally observed buildup on time, field, temperature, and dose. The model is applied to both wet and dry grown oxides. The implications of the empirical model for microscopic mechanisms involved in the buildup are discussed. In particular, it is argued that the experimental observations can best be understood in terms of a positive ion (probably H+) release in the SiO2 bulk and the subsequent transport of the liberated ions to the SiO2/Si interface (for positive gate bias). The induced interface states result from an interaction of the ions at the interface.