cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brain Mitochondria Catalyze the Oxidation of 7‐(2‐Aminoethyl)‐3,4‐Dihydro‐5‐Hydroxy‐2H‐1,4‐Benzothiazine‐3‐Carboxylic Acid (DHBT‐1) to Intermediates that Irreversibly Inhibit Complex I and Scavenge Glutathione: Potential Relevance to the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease

Abstract: We have proposed that a very early step in the pathogenesis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease is the elevated translocation of l-cysteine into neuromelanin-pigmented dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. This influx of l-cysteine was proposed to divert the normal neuromelanin pathway by scavenging dopamine-o-quinone, formed by autoxidation of cytoplasmic dopamine, to give initially 5-S-cysteinyldopamine, which is further oxidized to 7 - (2 - aminoethyl) - 3,4 - dihydro - 5 - hydroxy - 2H - 1,4 - benzothiazine-3-carboxylic acid (DHBT-1). In a recent report, it was demonstrated that DHBT-1 evokes inhibition of complex I respiration when incubated with intact rat brain mitochondria and a time-dependent irreversible inhibition of NADH-coenzyme Q1 (CoQ1) reductase when incubated with mitochondrial membranes. In this study, it is established that the time dependence of NADH-CoQ1 reductase inhibition reflects the oxidation of DHBT-1, catalyzed by an unknown constituent of the inner mitochondrial membrane, to an o-quinone imine intermediate that rearranges to 7-(2-aminoethyl) - 5 - hydroxy - 1,4 - benzothiazine - 3 - carboxylic acid (BT-1) and decarboxylates to 7-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-1,4-benzothiazine (BT-2), which are further catalytically oxidized to o-quinone imine intermediates. The electrophilic o-quinone imine intermediates formed in these mitochondria-catalyzed oxidations of DHBT-1, BT-1, and BT-2 are proposed to bind covalently to key sulfhydryl residues at the complex I site, thus evoking irreversible inhibition of NADH-CoQ1 reductase. Evidence for this mechanism derives from the fact that greater than equimolar concentrations of glutathione completely block inhibition of NADH-CoQ1 reductase by DHBT-1, BT-1, and BT-2 by scavenging their electrophilic o-quinone imine metabolites to form glutathionyl conjugates. The results of this investigation may provide insights into the irreversible loss of glutathione and decreased mitochondrial complex I activity, which are both anatomically specific to the substantia nigra and exclusive to Parkinson's disease.
983-36 A Novel Method of Sealing of Arterial Puncture Sites with a Biosealant

Achieving local hemostasis following coronary interventions especially in patients with massive anticoagulant therapy still remains a problem in clinical cardiology. The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacyof a new biosealant (modified fibrin glue) and hemostatic device (Global Therapeutics, Inc. I to reduce arterial compression time required to achieve hemostasis at the arterial puncture site. 25 New Zealand rabbits (3–5 kg) and 10 mongrel dogs (25–40 kg) were used in this study. 5F and 8F introducers were placed in the femoral arteries in rabbits and dogs respectively. After complete heparinization the hemostatic device was introduced into the puncture site through a guide wire and biosealant was applied to the outside of the vessel. Immediately after removing hemostatic device a light pressure was applied at the puncture site. Hemostasis was achieved in all animals. Mean time for hemostasis was 1.2 ± 0.8 min and 5.6 ± 4.1 min in rabbits and dogs respectively. Histopathology performed 1 month later of the puncture site in dogs revealed complete reabsorbtion of biosealant with re-endothelialization and no evidence of inflammation or hind limb thrombosis. We conclude that the hemostatic device with biosealant is a safe and effective method of hemostasis of arterial puncture sites,
Budgeting Strategies in Public Policy Formation

(2006). Budgeting Strategies in Public Policy Formation. Public Performance & Management Review: Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 127-130.
Auxiliary production of antibodies to ocular antigens in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis

In experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU), there are concurrent autoreactive humoral and cellular immune responses. Many studies have recently focused on T-cell reactivities in EAU, while analysis of autoantibody responses to uveitogenic epitopes has been less well characterized. In this study, a defined 16-mer uveitogenic interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP) peptide, designated #896, was used to induce EAU. Histological analysis of eyes at day 10 demonstrated extensive leukocyte infiltration of the anterior segment, with mononuclear and plasma cells in the posterior segment. The presence of plasma cells suggests local production of antibodies within the eye. ELISA analyses of serum, aqueous, and vitreous from rats with IRBP-induced, severe EAU revealed the presence of antibodies against peptide #896. There was little difference between the serum and intraocular antibody titers, presumably due to breakdown of the blood-ocular barriers. In addition to the anti-#896-IRBP antibodies, there...
The influence of pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) on nonsynaptic potentials recorded from the central and peripheral nervous systems in vitro.

The influence of pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) on nonsynaptic potentials recorded from the central and peripheral nervous system in vitro has been investigated. The population spikes (PSs) recorded from hippocampal slices during antidromic stimulation and compound action potentials (CAPs) recorded from the segments of the sciatic nerve were used as indicators of neuronal activity. The potentials recorded from both preparations were significantly and permanently enhanced following PMF (0.16 Hz, 15 mT) exposure. The increase in the antidromic PS occurred even in the presence of potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA) and was accompanied by multiple spiking. Among all frequencies of PMF tested (0.5, 0.16, 0.07, 0.03, 0.0 Hz), the frequency of 0.5 Hz was the most effective in enhancement of potential amplitude. The influence of PMF on the amplitude of two CAPs evoked by the pair of electrical stimuli applied in rapid succession has also been evaluated. In control conditions the potential triggered by the second stimuli was slightly smaller expressing the phenomenon of short-term depression (STD). Although PMF exposure amplified the amplitude of both potentials, the increase in the size of the first potential was significantly greater increasing further the magnitude of STD. The blocking of potassium channels reversed STD into facilitation. One of the possible mechanisms involved in PMF action could be the modification of the axonal threshold, which was significantly reduced following exposure to PMF. Bioelectromagnetics 30:621–630, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Stochastic Analysis of Shell Sort

We analyze the Shell Sort algorithm under the usual random permutation model. Using empirical distribution functions, we recover Louchard's result that the running time of the 1-stage of.2; 1/-Shell Sort has a limiting distribution given by the area under the absolute Brownian bridge. The analysis extends to .h; 1/- Shell Sort where we find a limiting distribution given by the sum of areas under correlated absolute Brownian bridges. A variation of.h; 1/-Shell Sort which is slightly more efficient is presented and its asymptotic behavior analyzed. 1. Introduction. Shell Sort is an algorithm that generalizes the method of sorting by insertion. It is essentially several stages of insertion sort. The algorithm was proposed in Shell (1959). The method received considerable attention over the past quarter of a century after Knuth's 1973 book popularized it (Knuth, 1973). From a practical point of view, the interest in Shell Sort stems from the fact that it is a rather practicable method of in situ sorting with little overhead and can be implemented with ease. From a theoretical standpoint, the interest is that insertion sort has an average of 2.n 2 / running time to sort n random keys, whereas the appropriate choice of the parameters of the stages of Shell Sort can bring down the order of magnitude. For instance, by a certain choice of the structure of the stages, a 2-stage Shell Sort can sort in O.n 5=3 / average running time. Ultimately, an optimized choice of the parameter can come close to the information-theoretic lower bound of O.n ln n/ average case. The analysis of Shell Sort has stood as a formidable challenge. Most research on Shell Sort has gone in the direction of making good choices for the parameters of the stages to obtain good worst-case behavior (see, for example, the review paper of Sedgewick (1996)). We propose here to take the research along a different axis and to analyze the stochastic structure of the algorithm. We rederive the limit result of Louchard (1986) for .2; 1/-Shell Sort, which he proved by essentially combinatoric arguments, and we generalize the approach to the analysis of .h; 1/-Shell Sort. The integrated alsolute value of the Brownian bridge appears in the limiting distributions; the moments of the distribution of this random variable were found by Shepp (1982), and Johnson and Killeen (1983) gave an explicit characterization of the distribution function.
On-sky performance of a high resolution silicon immersion grating spectrometer

High resolution infrared spectroscopy has been a major challenging task to accomplish in astronomy due to the enormous size and cost of IR spectrographs built with traditional gratings. A silicon immersion grating, due to its over three times high dispersion over a traditional reflective grating, offers a compact and low cost design of new generation IR high resolution spectrographs. Here we report the on-sky performance of the first silicon immersion grating spectrometer, called Florida IR Silicon immersion grating spectromeTer (FIRST), commissioned at the 2-meter Automatic Spectroscopic Telescope (AST) of Fairborn Observatory in Arizona in October 2013. The measured spectral resolution is R=50,000 with a 50 mm diameter spectrograph pupil and a blaze angle of 54.7 degree. The 1.4-1.8 m wavelength region (the Red channel) is completely covered in a single exposure with a 2kx2k H2RG IR array while the 0.8-1.35 μm region is nearly completely covered by the cross-dispersed echelle mode (the Blue channel) at R=50,000 in a single exposure. The instrument is operated in a high vacuum (about 1 micro torr) and cryogenic temperatures (the bench at 189K and the detector at 87K) and with a precise temperature control. It is primarily used for high precision Doppler measurements (~3 m/s) of low mass M dwarf stars for the identification and characterization of extrasolar planets. A plan for a high cadence and high precision survey of habitable super-Earths around ~150 nearby M dwarfs and a major upgrade with integral field unit low resolution spectroscopy are also introduced.
Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome

Abstract Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS), is a rare, acute clinical disorder of unknown etiology usually resulting in transient visual loss in young and healthy patients. Ocular manifestations may include: characteristic white dots in the fundus, granularity of the macula, retinal vascular sheathing, vitreous cells and optic nerve swelling. MEWDS affects primarily the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors. An overview of this syndrome, clinical features and differential diagnosis from primary optic nerve disease and other white dot syndromes are discussed.
TH‐D‐ValA‐03: An Improved Lung Model, Incorporating Realistic Random Anatomical Features, for Monte Carlo‐Based Dosimetry

Purpose: To investigate the effects of incorporating a more physically‐realistic lung model, preserving random anatomical features of the lung, on MC‐based dose distributions. Methods: A random lung model was built based on morphological data. The model homogenizes the lung parenchyma with structures of “chunk” sizes less than 0.05 cm, and models all larger chunks (branches of the bronchial and vessel trees, up to ∼1.5 cm) as randomly‐positioned 2‐D cylinders. The MC code PENELOPE was employed to calculate dose distributions in a water phantom containing a lung region, modeled by either a homogenized lung (as used in conventional planning) or the random lung model. Dose calculations used 6 and 18 MV photon beams with four different field sizes.Results: Depth dose curves in the random lung model illustrate significant perturbations when the structure size is comparable to the field size. For the 1×1 cm field size, large differences (up to 34% of Dmax) exist in the largest structures due to the loss of CPE with small field size. For large field sizes (10×10 cm or higher), little difference is observed between the random and the homogeneous models. The additional attenuation of the large structures also results in a region of dose reduction behind the lung.Conclusion: A new random lung model reveals significant dose perturbations from the homogeneous model, and shows that the homogeneous model breaks down when the field size is comparable to the structure size. This work is of importance in IMRT planning, where beamlets are used, or in the treatment of small tumors, where small field sizes are used in the planning. This work suggests that in such cases, a more precise description of the lung geometry, e.g. a high resolution CT‐based pixel‐by‐pixel density map, may be necessary for accurate dosimetry.
Rate of tension development in isometric contractions of a human hand muscle

Abstract The amplitude and rate of tension development during both electrical stimulation and voluntary activation of a human hand muscle were compared. The contractile responses from the first dorsal interosseous muscle of 14 normal human subjects were studied to provide the experimental data. At different forces less than 400g, under conditions of both electrical stimulation and voluntary contraction, force was directly proportional to speed of contraction. This linear relationship between the speed and force of contraction, as the proportion of active motor units varied, implies that these two parameters are similarly related in motor units of various sizes. In fast voluntary contractions, the rate of rise of tension at any given force level was greater than that observed in response to repetitive stimuli delivered to the motor nerve. Even at 200 and 500 impulses per second at maximal intensity, the speed of tension development was less than that found in fast voluntary contractions. The importance of asynchronous impulses and optimum discharge sequencing in generating a faster speed of tension development in fast voluntary contractions is underscored by these findings.
Transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide during the first half year of life in premature and normal term infants.

ABSTRACT: Repetitive polysomnograms were recorded from a total of 33 infants, 19 healthy preterm infants, and 14 term controls between 40 wk postconceptional age and 6 mo of age. These nighttime recordings lasted 2—4 h, except at 52 wk in preterm infants and at 3 mo of age in term infants when an overnight 12-h recording was performed. Minute by minute values of transcutaneous Po. (Ptco2) and transcutaneous PCO2 (PtcCO2) levels and variability during the awake state, active sleep, and quiet sleep were obtained through computer analyses of the polygraphic data. The results from preterm infants at corrected postconceptional age could not be differentiated from those of control infants. PtcO2 levels rose between 40 wk and 3 mo, and PtcCO2 levels declined. Sleep states modulated only the variability of PtcO2, not the level; in contrast, state modulation was seen in both variability and level of PtcCO2 throughout the age span studied. During sleep the number of transient declines in PtcO2 > 2.03 kPa (15 mm Hg) decreased with advancing age. Hypercapnic PtcCO2 values decreased with age as well, but their prevalence in healthy, young infants suggests the need for revaluation of criteria for hypercapnia based on transcutaneous measurements. The data demonstrate that ventilatory regulation continues to undergo changes between 1 and 3 mo, the age of highest risk for sudden infant death syndrome.
A PERSONAL HISTORY OF NUCLEON POLARIZATION EXPERIMENTS

The history of nucleon scattering experiments is reviewed, starting with the observation of large proton polarizations in scattering from light elements such as carbon, and ending with the acceleration of polarized proton beams in high-energy synchrotrons. Special mention is made about significant contributions made by C.L. Oxley, L. Wolfenstein, R.D. Tripp, T. Ypsilantis, A. Abragam, M. Borghini, T. Niinikoski, Froissart, Stora, A.D. Krisch, and L.G. Ratner.
Development of a six degree-of-freedom position and orientation sensing device: Design theory and testing

Abstract This paper focuses on methods of increasing the accuracy of sensor systems for servo controlled articulated structures. Various state-of-the-art motion measuring methods were reviewed and none were found to be entirely suitable for use with articulated structures. Accordingly, a six degree-of-freedom motion measuring system was developed that relied directly (only) on the stability and accuracy of non-contact displacement measuring sensors. A model was tested on a one degree-of-freedom structure and the measured errors were predicted by the error analysis. On the model tested, which had the same error amplification factor as a robot with a 2.3m (90 in.) reach, the one sigma endpoint error was on the order of 13 μm (520 μin.).
An X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic Investigation of the Nature of the Zinc Complex Accumulated in Datura innoxia Plant Tissue Culture

Abstract X-Ray absorption spectroscopy has proven to be a useful technique to investigate the nature of heavy metal complexes accumulated in metal tolerant and hyperaccumulating plant species. Zn K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been used to determine the nature of the zinc center in Datura innoxia plant tissue culture exposed to 250 μM, 500 μM, and 1000 μM Zn2+ for 4 days. Both edge and EXAFS data suggest that the zinc complex accumulated in D. innoxia cells is distinctly different from the types of zinc complexes expected to be associated with the accumulation, transport and storage of Zn2+ in plants. In D. innoxia at the levels of Zn2+ investigated, the X-ray absorption edges of Zn in the cell samples are similar to each other and occur at a similar energy to that of a complex between Zn2+ and free histidine, however, the shape and intensity of the edge suggests that the zinc center in the cells is not identical to that of this model solution. EXAFS analysis suggests that the zinc center is 4 coordinate with mixed N/O ligation at an average distance of approximately 1.98 A for the cells exposed to 250 μM and 500 μM Zn2+. For cells exposed to 1000 μM Zn2+, a 5 coordinate N/O zinc center with an average first shell bond length of 2.02 A was indicated. These bond lengths are significantly shorter than the ∼2.06/2.07 A bond length expected for a zinc-histidine or zinc-organic acid complexes and the ∼2.35 A bond length expected for a zinc complex with cysteine (errors in bond length determined by EXAFS are 0.02 A). Some possible interpretations of these results are that under the conditions of study, a zinc metalloenzyme is over expressed in the cells, or that a novel zinc-binding protein is produced by the cells.
Colloidally induced smectitic fines migration: Existence of microquakes

The phenomenon of colloidally induced fines migration is a challenge of both scientific and industrial importance. Its occurrence impacts permeability reduction and alteration of flow pathways in porous media, particulate contaminant migration in groundwater flow, and filtration. The release of smectitic fines is a threshold type of process resulting from discontinuous jumps, called microquakes in the interlayer spacing. There is a critical salt concentration at which these microquakes occur and produce fines migration in the porous media. The changes in the microstructure with decreasing salt concentration were analyzed using X-ray diffraction. The transition between crystalline and osmotic swelling regime is also shown to depend on the type of cation. A mathematical model developed using colloidal principles predicts the swelling behavior of smectites in aqueous solutions. The model can predict the transition of swelling from crystalline to osmotic regimes and explain the effect of different cations on the transition.
Vibrational response analysis: Non-destructive evaluation of ingrowth into porous coated implants

Quantitative methods of evaluating ingrowth into porous coated implants have traditionally involved destructive mechanical testing. In this study, it was hypothesized that the response to a vibrational stimulus could estimate the shear strength at the bone-implant interface as measured by pushout. A derived model predicts that the square of the frequency at resonance is linearly related to this interfacial strength. It was further hypothesized that the level of vibration required for a meaningful response would not be destructive. This study was done using nonloaded, porous coated cylindrical implants which were press fit in the distal femora of dogs. Femora were harvested at 2, 4, and 6 weeks postimplantation. The implants were sectioned into 4-mm slices and then evaluated by vibration, pushout, and light microscopy. Vibrational response analysis was conducted with broad band random excitation using Fast Fourier transform signal analysis. Pushout values were obtained using a materials testing machine. The resulting correlation was statistically significant (F = 201, r2 = 0.90, p < 10−6). Light microscopic evaluation of vibrated samples showed no difference at the bone-implant interface when compared to controls.
Mimicry Attack on Strategy-Based Behavioral Biometric

Biometric security measures are becoming a popular approach to securing computer systems, computer networks, as well as access to workplaces and recreational facilities. Unfortunately biometric systems can be a target of impersonation attacks, making their security questionable. In this paper we concentrate on ways of spoofing behavioral biometrics and analyze the types of spoofing attacks which can be employed against biometric systems. The concept of strategy-based behavioral biometrics is introduced followed by our experimental results from spoofing security systems based on strategy-based biometric technology. Finally an existing methodology is suggested to counteract spoofing attacks against behavior-based biometric systems.
A fuzzy set-theoretic regulator design for power plant components

A set-theoretic regulator design in which the bounds are fuzzy is proposed for power plant components. As a preliminary study, only box bounds, which are computationally much simpler than the ellipsoid bounds originally advocated in a book by F.C. Schweppe (1973), are considered. The definition of the membership function of a variable derived from fuzzy variables deviates from L.A. Zadeh's (IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern., vol.SMC-3, no.1, p.28-44, 1973) original work. A third-order example of a steam boiler, subjected to external load changes, is treated as an illustration of the theory. Results indicate that a range of allowed disturbance magnitudes is obtained for which the system does not violate a prespecified range of state and control constraints. >
Relationships among veteran status, gender, and key health indicators in a national young adult sample.

ObjectiveAlthough many risk behaviors peak during young adulthood, little is known about health risk factors and access to care. This study assessed health indicators and health care access in a national sample of young adult veterans and civilians.MethodsData were from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national telephone survey. Of 27,471 participants, ages 19–30 years, 2.2% were veterans (74.6% were male) and 97.7% were civilians (37.6% were male). Gender-stratified comparisons assessed health indicators and health care access by veteran status. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine health indicators and health care access as a function of gender and veteran status.ResultsIn the overall sample, women were more likely than men to have insurance, to have a regular physician, and to have had a routine checkup and yet were more likely to report financial barriers to care. Women also were more likely than men to report general medical and mental distress and higher lifetim...
Implementation design for a kernelized trusted DBMS

The implementation design of the Mitre kernelized trusted database management system (TDBMS) prototype is described. The prototype is intended to be a compartmented-mode DBMS, based on the Naval Surveillance DBMS security model. The TDBMS has been implemented by retrofitting security functionality onto the Mistress commercial database product. The TDBMS security kernel controls read and write access to the database. Mandatory access control is provided down to the data element level of granularity. The prototype supports a set of interactive user-supplied database commands. The TDBMS runs as an application on the prototype Mitre compartment mode workstation (CMW), and has incorporated much of the available CMW security functionality. >
Correlation between In Vitro Susceptibility Determined by E Test and Response to Therapy with Amphotericin B: Results from a Multicenter Prospective Study of Candidemia

Ninety-nine Candida bloodstream isolates underwent testing for susceptibility to amphotericin B by the E test, and the results were correlated with patients’ responses to amphotericin B. The MICs for isolates that were associated with therapeutic failure were significantly higher than the MICs for those associated with therapeutic success. A MIC of ≥0.38 μg/ml identified isolates likely to be associated with therapeutic failure.
DHHC2 Affects Palmitoylation, Stability, and Functions of Tetraspanins CD9 and CD151

Although palmitoylation markedly affects tetraspanin protein biochemistry and functions, relevant palmitoylating enzymes were not known. There are 23 mammalian “DHHC” (Asp-His-His-Cys) proteins, which presumably palmitoylate different sets of protein substrates. Among DHHC proteins tested, DHHC2 best stimulated palmitoylation of tetraspanins CD9 and CD151, whereas inactive DHHC2 (containing DH→AA or C→S mutations within the DHHC motif) failed to promote palmitoylation. Furthermore, DHHC2 associated with CD9 and CD151, but not other cell surface proteins, and DHHC2 knockdown diminished CD9 and CD151 palmitoylation. Knockdown of six other Golgi-resident DHHC proteins (DHHC3, -4, -8, -17, -18, and -21) had no effect on CD9 or CD151. DHHC2 selectively affected tetraspanin palmitoylation, but not the palmitoylations of integrin β4 subunit and bulk proteins visible in [3H]palmitate-labeled whole cell lysates. DHHC2-dependent palmitoylation also had multiple functional effects. First, it promoted physical associations between CD9 and CD151, and between α3 integrin and other proteins. Second, it protected CD151 and CD9 from lysosomal degradation. Third, the presence of DHHC2, but not other DHHC proteins, shifted cells away from a dispersed state and toward increased cell–cell contacts.
Simulating the function of sodium/proton antiporters

The molecular basis of the function of transporters is a problem of significant importance, and the emerging structural information has not yet been converted to a full understanding of the corresponding function. This work explores the molecular origin of the function of the bacterial Na+/H+ antiporter NhaA by evaluating the energetics of the Na+ and H+ movement and then using the resulting landscape in Monte Carlo simulations that examine two transport models and explore which model can reproduce the relevant experimental results. The simulations reproduce the observed transport features by a relatively simple model that relates the protein structure to its transporting function. Focusing on the two key aspartic acid residues of NhaA, D163 and D164, shows that the fully charged state acts as an Na+ trap and that the fully protonated one poses an energetic barrier that blocks the transport of Na+. By alternating between the former and latter states, mediated by the partially protonated protein, protons, and Na+ can be exchanged across the membrane at 2:1 stoichiometry. Our study provides a numerical validation of the need of large conformational changes for effective transport. Furthermore, we also yield a reasonable explanation for the observation that some mammalian transporters have 1:1 stoichiometry. The present coarse-grained model can provide a general way for exploring the function of transporters on a molecular level.
C-N bond rotation and E-Z isomerism in some N-benzyl-N-methylcarbamoyl chlorides : A DFT study

Abstract The current report presents the first theoretical study of the restricted C N bond rotation in carbamoyl chlorides. Several N -benzyl- N -methylcarbamoyl chlorides were investigated, with varying pattern of substitution in the aromatic ring. Optimizations and frequency calculations were conducted employing DFT at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory. Each of the studied structures exhibits a pair of rotamers (s- Z and s- E ), generated upon rotation around the C( O) N bond. The s- E isomer is the global minimum in every case, but the preference for it is usually less than 1 kcal/mol. Two possible transition state structures were identified for the rotamer interconversion: TS syn and TS anti , in close analogy to other related compounds, such as amides and carbamates. In contrast to the two latter types, however, the preferred transition state in the case of carbamoyl chlorides is TS syn , which we attribute to a stabilizing gauche effect. The optimized minima structures of the studied carbamoyl chlorides were subjected to GIAO B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) calculations, and the resultant isotropic shifts were found to be in excellent agreement with available experimental values. This has allowed us to provide unambiguous NMR signal assignments for the s- E and s- Z isomers of the studied compounds.
Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamases: multiple forms and their roles.

B. licheniformis 749/C secretes a hydrophilic penicillinase (detected by immunoprecipitation) which is a precursor of the usually isolated 29 500 molecular mass exoenzyme. This larger form carries an eight amino acid N-terminal extension with the sequence: Ser-Gln-Pro-Ala-Glu-Lys-Asn-Glu-exoenzyme (K. Izui, J. B. K. Nielsen, M. Caulfield & J. O. Lampen, unpublished results; K. Simons, personal communication). Translation of 749/C mRNA in an in-vitro protein synthesizing system from Escherichia coli yields an active hydrophobic penicillinase of molecular mass 34 000-36 000 with an N-terminal extension (C. N. Chang, K. Izui, G. Blobel & J. O. Lampen, unpublished results; M. Sarvas et al. (1978) FEBS Lett. 95, 76). Partial sequence data show at least one Lys residue in the 16 residues adjacent to the N-terminal Lys of exoenzyme. Both sequences are incompatible with the relatively polar, Lys-free extension reported for the previously characterized 33 000 molecular mass membrane-bound form (S. Yamamoto & J. O. Lampen (1976), Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 1457-1461). The biosynthetic interrelations among the several forms are discussed.
Parsing ink annotations on heterogeneous documents

Annotation is an integral part of reading, comprehending, commenting, and authoring notes and documents. In this paper we present a system for recognizing annotations in a flexible digital notebook that may contain a variety of content ranging from text, to images, to handwritten notes. To accomplish the recognition task in real-time makes the complicated annotation parsing problem more difficult.Our approach differs from previous approaches in several ways. First, our approach handles annotations on ink notes, which are significantly more ambiguous than annotations on printed documents and hence more difficult to recognize. Second, our approach is entirely learned from data, so it is easy to adapt to other scenarios. Third, our approach is more thoroughly evaluated than previous systems. On a test set of real user notes, the system has achieved an average recall of 0.9258 on all annotation types. Finally, the implementation of the approach will be commercially available as an API in the upcoming release of Windows® Vista® and Office 12®.
Shotgun Protein Sequencing with Meta-contig Assembly

Full-length de novo sequencing from tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of unknown proteins such as antibodies or proteins from organisms with unsequenced genomes remains a challenging open problem. Conventional algorithms designed to individually sequence each MS/MS spectrum are limited by incomplete peptide fragmentation or low signal to noise ratios and tend to result in short de novo sequences at low sequencing accuracy. Our shotgun protein sequencing (SPS) approach was developed to ameliorate these limitations by first finding groups of unidentified spectra from the same peptides (contigs) and then deriving a consensus de novo sequence for each assembled set of spectra (contig sequences). But whereas SPS enables much more accurate reconstruction of de novo sequences longer than can be recovered from individual MS/MS spectra, it still requires error-tolerant matching to homologous proteins to group smaller contig sequences into full-length protein sequences, thus limiting its effectiveness on sequences from poorly annotated proteins. Using low and high resolution CID and high resolution HCD MS/MS spectra, we address this limitation with a Meta-SPS algorithm designed to overlap and further assemble SPS contigs into Meta-SPS de novo contig sequences extending as long as 100 amino acids at over 97% accuracy without requiring any knowledge of homologous protein sequences. We demonstrate Meta-SPS using distinct MS/MS data sets obtained with separate enzymatic digestions and discuss how the remaining de novo sequencing limitations relate to MS/MS acquisition settings.
SELF- AND INTERPERSONAL EVALUATIONS: ESTEEM THEORIES VERSUS CONSISTENCY THEORIES

Two social psychological theories are contrasted and different predictions are derived concerning the relation between self and interpersonal evaluations. The prediction from self-esteem theory is that the higher an individual's evaluation of himself, the less his tendency to reciprocate evaluations from others, whereas the prediction from self-consistency theory is that the higher the individual's evaluation of himself, the greater his tendency to reciprocate evaluations from others. Studies bearing on these predictions are reviewed, and the evidence tends to support self-esteem theory. Furthermore, two extensions of the assumptions of self-esteem theory are presented and discussed in terms of accounting for results which apparently support self-consistency theory. Finally, whether or not the experimental subject is the direct target of another person's actions appears to distinguish esteem results from consistency results. The implications of this distinction for other problems of person perception and social evaluation are discussed. A general conclusion is that cognitive consistency theories may be somewhat overworked as explanatory frameworks for the study of social evaluations. Although the interpersonal events involving the evaluations an individual receives from other people occur experimentally and in the "real world" with some regularity, confusions arise in attempting to explain these regularities. We observe that people typically talk more (e.g., Bavelas, Hastorf, Gross, & Kite,
Utilization Changes Following Market Entry by Physician-owned Specialty Hospitals:

Physician ownership of specialty hospitals has become commonplace in recent years in several states where certificate-of-need laws do not exist. The study examines trends in utilization rates for complex and simple spinal fusion procedures performed on injured workers with back/spine disorders in two markets in Oklahoma. During the time period we examine, physician-owned spine or orthopedic specialty hospitals entered both market areas in Oklahoma. Because there were no market areas in Oklahoma without physician-owned spine or orthopedic hospitals to use as a comparison group, we also analyzed trends in utilization for these surgical procedures performed on Medicare beneficiaries. We compared utilization for these procedures in Oklahoma and three other states with a high concentration of physician-owned specialty hospitals (Kansas, South Dakota, and Arizona) to utilization rates for back surgery performed on Medicare patients who reside in the Northeast region. States in the Northeast constitute an appropriate control group because there are no physician-owned specialty hospitals in this region. Both analyses indicate that the entry of the physician-owned specialty hospitals was followed by substantial increases in the market area utilization rates for complex spinal fusion surgery. Conversely, such dramatic changes did not occur in the Northeast where physician-owned specialty hospitals do not exist. After considering but ruling out alternative explanations, the findings imply that the financial incentives linked to ownership coincided with significant changes in physicians' practice patterns.
Case for a temporally and spatially expanded Mazatzal orogeny

The interval between 1.78 and 1.63 Ga was one of major crustal growth and assembly in southwestern Laurentia. The prevailing view is that the culminating event for this tectonism was the ca. 1.654−1.633 Ga Mazatzal orogeny. We present evidence for a continuum of deformation, magmatism, metamorphism, and new mineral growth from 1.65 to 1.58 Ga from southern Wyoming to Sonora, Mexico. We suggest that the Mazatzal orogeny may have extended in time to ca. 1580 Ma and in space to the Cheyenne belt, southern Wyoming. If our interpretation for an extended Mazatzal orogeny is correct, the duration of the orogeny may have been ∼70 m.y., similar to many orogenies in Earth’s history. The ca. 1.6 Ga tectonism appears to represent a shift in tectonic style from that typically associated with the Yavapai (ca. 1.70 Ga) and “classic” Mazatzal (1.65 Ga) orogenies to widespread intracontinental deformation. If correct, a corollary to our interpretation is that newly accreted Paleoproterozoic crust stabilized rapidly and facilitated stress transfer far inboard of any active plate margin.
Age-Related Risk Factors for Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction A Cohort Study of 21,304 Patients From the Kaiser Permanente Anterior Cruciate Ligament Registry

Background:It is not clear whether risk factors for revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are the same throughout patients’ lives.Purpose:To assess (1) the risk of revision ACLR by age and (2) age-specific risk factors for revision ACLR.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods:A cohort study using patients having undergone primary ACLR who were registered in the Kaiser Permanente ACLR Registry (February 2005 to June 2013) was conducted. Aseptic revision was the main endpoint. Age was evaluated as a risk factor for revision. The cohort was stratified into 4 age groups: 40 years. Graft type, sex, body mass index (BMI), and race were assessed as revision risk factors within each group. Survival analyses were conducted.Results:Of the 21,304 patients evaluated, 7026 (33%) patients were aged 40 years. Allografts were used in 8671 (41%) patients, hamstring autograft...
Host Plant Suitability of the Orangestriped Oakworm (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Orangestriped oakworm, Anisota senatoria (1. E. Smith), suitability for oak (Quercus sp.) was determined by tree defoliation, percentage survival, developmental rate, pupal weight and oviposition. Suitable hosts, from the greatest to the least, were determined for the following oak species grown in southeastern Virginia: pin oak (Quercus palustris), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), willow oak (Q. phellos), northern red oak (Q. rubra borealis), and sawtooth, oak (Q. acutissima); intermediate in swamp white oak (Q. bicolor), chestnut oak (Q. prinus), southern red oak (Q.falcata), bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), and water oak (Q. nigra); and least in white oak (Q. alba). Planting less suitable species in the urban landscape, like white oak (Q. alba), may contribute to lower A. senatoria populations.
The optimal extent of discovery

We characterize how the process of publicly gathering information via discovery affects strategic interactions between litigants. It allows privately informed defendants to signal through the timing of settlement offers, with weaker ones attempting to settle prediscovery. Discovery reduces the probability of trial. Properly designed limited discovery reduces expected litigation costs. Stronger defendants gain more (lose less) from a given amount of discovery. We find that the court should grant more discovery when defendants are believed to be stronger and should grant discovery on more efficient sources of information, leaving less efficient ones to trial.
Advancing the Plastics Industry Through Education and Research

The Plastics Institute of America is a not-for-profit organization whose members come from industry, academia, and government. Its primary objective is to help advance the growth and progress of the plastics industry through education and research. Corporate members of the PIA include large and small producers of plastics products, commodity and engineering resins, additives for plastics, plastics packaging, and process machinery, as well as educators, international industry associations, government agencies, and trade publications. Major organizations that have representation on PIA’s board of directors include the Society of Plastics Industry, the Society of Plastics Engineers, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Plastics Pioneers Association, and the National Plastics Center.
Chondrichthyans from the Lower Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale (upper Cretaceous: Middle Turonian) of Emery and Carbon Counties, Utah, USA

The Lower Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale in southeastern Utah preserves a chondrichthyan assemblage of at least 13 taxa that include: Hybodus sp., Ptychodus cf. P. mammillaris Agassiz, 1843, Ptychodus whipplei Marcou, 1858, cf. Chiloscyllium sp., Scapanorhynchus raphiodon (Agassiz, 1843), Cretodus crassidens (Dixon, 1850), cf. Leptostyrax sp., cf. Cretalamna appendiculata (Agassiz, 1835), Squalicorax sp., Pseudohypolophus mcnultyi (Thurmond, 1971), Protoplatyrhina hopii Williamson, Kirkland and Lucas, 1993, Ischyrhiza schneideri (Slaughter and Steiner, 1968), and Ptychotrygon triangularis (Reuss, 1844). Although this assemblage is typical of other Turonian chondrichthyan faunas in North America, fossil teeth are preserved in two unique facies associations that consist of arenitic sandstones with mud interclasts and rounded chert, feldspar, and quartz pebbles. The coarser beds within these facies associations are previously interpreted to represent storm events and turbidity flows associated with a sea level lowstand. Chondrichthyan teeth occurring within these coarser beds are indicative of extensive transport and reworking and attest to the durable nature of chondrichthyan teeth for biostratigraphic and paleoecological interpretations. Similar studies of chondrichthyan teeth in shelf marine settings may also provide new insights for facies interpretations related to sequence stratigraphy and regional stratigraphic correlations.
Synthesis and Measurement of Magnetic Cobalt DNA-Templated Nanowire

Biomaterials such as DNA are currently being explored as potential application in nanotechnology. DNA templates were immobilized on crystal-violet-treated mica by spin coating as a grid-like network. The DNA templates were then activated with PdCl2, followed by reduction with dimethylamine borane (DMAB) to form seeding nanoclusters on the DNA chain. Afterward the DNA chain with deposition of zero-valence Pd nanoclusters was grew in a Co electroless plating bath. SEM/EDS analysis revealed that Co nanoparticles could be assembled on the DNA template to form magnetic nanowires with a diameter of 25nm to 250nm by a conventional electroless plating. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer analysis indicated that Co-DNA nanowires showed a paramagnetic characteristic. Grid-like networks of DNA template were effectively preserved after Co electroless plating. These characteristics indicated that DNA is an ideal template for the production of magnetic nanowires, which could be useful in the development of high-density memory storage or magnetic field sensors.
Minimizing Graphene Defects Enhances Titania Nanocomposite-Based Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 for Improved Solar Fuel Production

With its unique electronic and optical properties, graphene is proposed to functionalize and tailor titania photocatalysts for improved reactivity. The two major solution-based pathways for producing graphene, oxidation–reduction and solvent exfoliation, result in nanoplatelets with different defect densities. Herein, we show that nanocomposites based on the less defective solvent-exfoliated graphene exhibit a significantly larger enhancement in CO2 photoreduction, especially under visible light. This counterintuitive result is attributed to their superior electrical mobility, which facilitates the diffusion of photoexcited electrons to reactive sites.
Thermal Tolerance of Beet Armyworm Moths, Spodoptera exigua: Effects of Age, Temperature Acclimation, and Gamma Radiation

Upper temperature limits were established for beet armyworm moths, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Noctuidae), under controlled humidity–air flow conditions. Preliminary tests determined that a one-hour exposure to 45°C resulted in an approximately 50% reduction in the number of moths capable of flight following a 24-h recovery period. Subsequent tests using 45°C as the stress temperature indicated a rapid decline in thermal resistance of moths with increasing age. Moths maintained at each of 3 temperature regimes (22, 27, or 32°C) for 72 h post-emergence were inconsistent in their flight capabilities following exposure to the stress temperature. Developmentally acclimated moths whose pre-adult stages were reared at these 3 temperatures showed decreased heat resistance at the lower temperature, but inconsistent responses at the higher temperature. Flight capability of irradiated moths in the absence of heat stress was unaffected; however, flight capability following exposure to 45°C significantly decreased as dosage (20, 40, 80 krads) increased
Evidence of a Shockley-Read-Hall Defect State Independent of Band-Edge Energy in InAs/In(As,Sb) Type-II Superlattices

Semiconductor type-II superlattices (T2SLs) are of prime interest for medium- and long-wavelength infrared photodetectors, and possibly as thermophotovoltaics. Their properties can be spoiled, though, by defect states with energies in the band gap, which promote carrier recombination. This optical study of a series of T2SLs reveals that the SRH defect state presents just one energy, nearly independent of the band gap or edges. Thus it seems possible to engineer T2SLs with no defect levels in the gap, for improved performance.
A review of national guidelines on the clinical use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Abstract REVIEW IN DEPTH: In recent years noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has begun to find acceptance as a clinically diagnostic tool. Several national organizations, from Brazil, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the USA, have published guidelines concerning when and how it should be used. With one exception, all advocate its clinical use in selected categories of patients, including those with 'white-coat' hypertension, autonomic dysfunction, episodic hypertension, and refractory hypertension. None recommends it as a routine test. Monitoring for 24 h is generally recommended, with readings taken every 15-30 min. The area of greatest disagreement among the guidelines is the upper limit of normal ambulatory blood pressure.